News in Brief: Hot lips Hunniford, too rude Tonioli and bling coffins
Another ATV Sunday celebrating the world of showbiz and broadcasting with ATV Today’s Mike Watkins.
Strictly Slammed
Former Strictly Come Dancing regular James Jordan has hit out at judge Bruno Tonioli over comments made to celebrity ballroom contestant Davood Ghadami and his dance routines on the show. He described Tonioli’s comments towards the EastEnders actor as ‘disgusting’ according to The Sun.
Jordan took offense to the sexual purring took by the judge on the SCD edition which aired on October 1st. Now we all know Bruno is very flirty and gives his purring a regular outing, with this edition no different:
“That was the fast and furious of ballroom… That was a race straight to the bedroom… bit rough at times, but you got to it.”
Bruno of course didn’t say whose bedroom Davood would be rushing to, it could have been his own wife or even in his wildest dreams Bruno’s personal boudoir, but ex-pro dancer on the show James saw it as implying Davood and his dance partner Nadiva would be making cha-cha-chas behind closed doors. Speaking to The Sun James said that the comments were “joking with people’s lives” due to Davood being married and Nadiva having a long term boyfriend.
Corrie stars turn out for Liz Dawn
Many current and former cast of ITV Granada soap opera Coronation Street turned out on Friday (Oct 6th) to say farewell – or ta-ra chuck – to actress Liz Dawn who played Vera Duckworth regularly from 1974 to 2008.
Dawn, who also made appearances in shows such as Emmerdale, The Larry Grayson Show and Crown Court, died last week at the age of 77. The service was held at Salford Cathedral which saw faces from the soap including Nigel Pivaro, Helen Worth, Sally Dynevor, Alan Halsall, Michael Le Vell, Ken Morley, Bruce Jones, David Neilson and Samia Longchambon to name only a few.
“She had no idea how much she was loved or how funny she was and she’d have been totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love these last couple of weeks,” – Alan Halsall, speaking to BBC News
Liz Dawn (centre) was celebrated at Salford Cathedral on Friday
TV Highlight of the Week
This week the highlight had to be Coronation Street. Not the current episodes, although they have been quite entertaining of late, no I’m taking Classic Corrie which can be seen every afternoon in a double bill format over on ITV3. It’s Weatherfield back in 1986 and while greats like Annie Walker, Elsie Tanner and Ena Sharples have sadly all left the storylines by this point there are still some great characters around; gossip Hilda Ogden, deep-voiced cafe worker Phyllis Pearce, love of her life – only he doesn’t want to be – Percy Sugden, knicker stitchers Vera Duckworth and Ivy Tilsley and of course queen of the boozer Bet Lynch.
This week we’ve met Alan Bradley and poor Rita Fairclough thinks he’s a decent enough guy. It’ll all end in tears mark my words. Probably in Blackpool near a tram with a creaky plastic mac thrown in for good measure.
Telly that really is S**t
Keeping it classy, actor and singer Duncan James – currently giving it large in Hollyoaks – admitted he shit himself on live television. While hosting BBC One’s National Lottery Live the performer, best known for being part of boyband Blue, apparently crapped his pants while hosting the lotto draw show.
Digital Spy report that Duncan note the studio shatting is ‘arguably the most embarrassing incident’ of his life, while he added ‘I farted and, somehow, was unable to stop following through,’
“So I stood there, a boyband star turned primetime TV entertainer gazing out at the country’s biggest audience, eating their dinners, and I’m having a panic attack, secretly gay, taking anti-depressants to cope with stress and I have just soiled my underpants, live on air.”
The revelations are part of a new book charting the lives of the Blue band and its performers.
As far as we’re aware Duncan James hasn’t shit himself during his time on Hollyoaks
Quickies…
Fiona Bruce is the latest name to talk about the BBC gender pay gap. Speaking to the Daily Mirror the Antiques Roadshow and BBC News presenter said that ‘The salary list spoke for itself.’ adding ‘I know the Prime Minister felt the BBC needed to get its house in order. I was disappointed. The BBC is trying to get its house in order. Let’s see what comes out.’ Fiona is paid between £350,000 – £399,999 a year for her beeb appearances. However that’s still far less than news co-hosts such as Huw Edwards and John Humphrys.
The Sun, as always the bastion of morals, this week declared that ‘soap pervert’ and ‘ex-EastEnders actor Joseph Shade’ had been spared a prison sentence for ‘sexual offences against three teenage girls’ The 24-year old had phone-text three girls, aged between 14 and 17, asking them to have sex and share topless photos while he was a youth worker the tabloid reported on Friday (Oct 6th). Shade had appeared in the BBC Elstree production as Ian Beale’s son Peter from 1998 to 2004. The former actor was given an 18 months suspended jail term at Norwich Crown Court.
Media movers and shakers recently include Tom Eames who has joined Smooth Radio Online as a Senior Content Editor. Tom was previously a Senior Staff Writer for Digital Spy while LBC has made Oli Dugmore Content Editor. Oli was previously an Audience Development Editor at The Tab and Reuters has appointed Max Bower as a Reporter, covering European leveraged loans for Loan Pricing Corp/IFR. Max was previously a Leveraged Loans Reporter at GlobalCapital.
Paddy McGuinness has avoided being prosecuted over a speeding offence BBC News reported. The ITV personality was alleged to have been caught speeding in Manchester. The Take Me Out presenter and comedian’s Land Rover was said to have been caught by a speed camera driving at 53mph in a 40mph zone in Chorlton, in August last year, however the beeb report ‘The court heard Mr McGuinness had moved house three times in the last two years and although he was the registered keeper of the vehicle, he had not received a notice of intended prosecution or a reminder.’ BBC News note ‘The court heard that Greater Manchester Police took the lead in the prosecution and had not provided the documents, and the court dismissed the case.’
It’s seemingly not a great year for Simon Cowell, The X Factor has recorded some of its worst ratings in its history and how to top it off it seems former X Factor starlet Olly Murs joining rival ITV singing contest The Voice has ‘annoyed’ the media mogul even more. Murs is reportedly joining the UK version of The Voice as one of the star coaches. Olly is set to replace Gavin Rossdale on the production, where he’ll sit alongside Sir Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Will.i.am. Lucky its not Duncan James joining the panel, imagine if he shat himself while on a spinning chair, poor Sir Tom would need to pull out a can of Oust room spray. In happier news for The X Factor Cheryl is returning to the show for the judges houses segment. Has anyone told Sinitta yet?
Viewers were not happy with ITV’s Good Morning Britain and its handling of the Las Vegas shooting when as news broke they decided to carry on with an interview featuring singer Mariah Carey who was sat in front of a Christmas tree and sprawled out on a sofa, in a gown. The light hearted interview had started as a promotional piece for an upcoming festive music tour. However Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid changed tone and began to discuss the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shootings, which Carey had no idea had happened. One viewer, Fox News quoted, said, ‘I feel sorry for Mariah, she should have been briefed about the shooting before the interview,’. Others said it was ‘in bad taste’ and another asked ‘Is mariah carey joking, sprawled along a sofa in a fancy dress while talking about a terror attack, really?!’
Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders have travelled to the Bollinger vineyards for a festive travelogue for the beeb. The boxing day special will see how their Absolutely Fabulous characters’ favourite drink is produced. The Champagne special will see the pair sample the ‘bolly’ darling and take in the surroundings of its famous production hub.
ITV personality Paddy McGuinness avoided a driving ban after cops failed to deliver the documents
Katie Price Weekly
A weekly watch of one of our favorite telly personalities. Following in the footsteps of the likes of Antony Cotton and Roxanne Pallett ATV News turns to the one and only – thank God – Katie Price. What’s our darling of the television screen been up to over the past seven days?
Yesterday The Sun reported, and we had to check we hadn’t fallen asleep and woken on April 1st, how Katie is turning to death for a profit. The tabloid state, ‘She’s sold everything from books, beauty products, calendars and now Katie Price is turning her hand to coffins.’ The paper continues ‘Price is to sell her own blinged-up coffins and the busty TV star aims to adorn them with pink crystals.’
Well she’s not had much luck with marriage so maybe a change of direction could be just the thing to perk up her public persona.
“I’m bringing out coffins, crystallised coffins, I’m bringing out Katie Price coffins, would you want to put someone in a wicker basket or in a crystallised one?” – Price quoted by The Sun
Glo thanks Tel for fame and friendship
Gloria Hunniford has shared memories of her late pal Terry Wogan, talking about his friendship, career-boosting radio nicknames and general support.
The comments published in The Times – who are promoting her book- saw Glo note:
“Terry Wogan made me in England, there’s no doubt in my mind about that… I came over and we were friendly but nobody knew who I was, he used to call me ‘Hot Lips Hunniford’ and things like that on his radio show and it was how I started to get established…. “We had a little clique in London, we had our Irish in-jokes and our own ways of doing things. I loved all of his Irish expressions.”
The 77-year-old presenter who has hosted several series on television over the years, ranging from Sunday Sunday for ITV to Open House for Channel 5, has written a memoir entitled My Life. The book charts ups and downs across her career and life as well as the many people she’s met across her years working on TV and radio. Gloria also appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Friday talking about being a terrorist target.
“I remember we visited one family in Northern Ireland at their home, and after the niceties of tea and biscuits, the father said, ‘Look, I’ve got to tell you, you’ve been placed on the IRA hit list because of the army programme you’ve been doing’… It’s almost like an acceptance. You can’t let terrorists win. You have to get on with life. At first, I was aghast. But then I thought, ‘You know what, I’ve been doing this show for seven years now so whatever harm they think we’ve done, it’s already done’.”
Loose Women regular Gloria Hunniford has a book out if you hadn’t guessed
Doctor Who is in great hands says departing Capaldi
Doctor Who lead actor Peter Capaldi has spoken about his forthcoming replacement. Deadline Hollywood report that in a retrospective session at New York Comic-Con, the performer noted the role of The Doctor brings many pleasures but also proved all-consuming. After four years in the Cardiff-based production, he felt it was best to leave before it became a routine.
“It fills up your life… You don’t have a second where it’s not about Doctor Who. It’s a nice way to live… [However I] never wanted to get to a place where I knew how to do this because that’s not what being creative is. The actual amount of time we were spending on the show, I realised I was getting the hang of it. And that made me frightened.”
Speaking of the casting of Jodie Whitaker as his successor, the first time the title role has been played by a woman, Peter told the gathered audience;
“It’s in good hands… She is really great… It’s always really wonderful when there’s a transition to a new doctor.”
Its a sorrowful Solomon over ITV2 departure
Stacey Solomon has shared her sadness at leaving the companion ITV2 series to I’m A Celebrity. However has looked to the future and, wearing a brave face, suggests she’ll still enjoy watching the show as a viewer rather than a presenter.
Speaking to OK magazine Stacey gave a very professional stance to the departure, something a lot of ‘celebrities’ could learn from;
“I’ll definitely miss it loads, but I’m so excited. I love watching it from the comfort of my own home, so I can’t wait to see what the show brings. Every year they do something different, so it is really nice.”
The show which airs directly after the ITV, STV and UTV broadcast of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! over on sister station ITV2, was revamped only last year with a new presenting line-up of Solomon, Joe Swash, Vicky Pattison and Chris Ramsey. However, it is undergoing further changes this year with Pattison and Ramsey joining Stacey out of the door. Stacey’s partner and former EastEnders actor Joe Swash, said:
“You know, it’s the nature of the beast. It’s the job we’re doing, so we dust ourselves off, don’t we?”
Its believed I’m A Celebrity 2016 winner Scarlett Moffatt and contestant Joel Dommett will be part of the replacement hosting line-up.
Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash enjoy the sights and attractions at Disneyland Paris.
Remembering…
Singer and songwriter Tom Petty died aged aged 66. The American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist and record producer was best known for his work with The Heartbreakers, where he performed as lead singer. He was also a member and co-founder of the late 1980s super-group the Traveling Wilburys, and his early band Mudcrutch.
Also this past week we said farewell to former British boxer Terry Downes who passed away aged 81, stateside film critic and author Judy Stone who was 93, American actors Thomas Derrah aged 64 and Gerry Burkhardt who was 71. We also bid goodbye to Mexican actress, artist and singer Evangelina Elizondo who was 88 and Comedian Ralphie May died aged only 45, he had been performing nightly in Las Vegas with his last show on Thursday evening (Oct 5th) his body was found the following day.
Weekend Hunk
Our third Weekend Hunk comes in the form of Liam from the latest must-see series on ITV2, Bromans. If you’ve missed any of the episodes you can still catch up on the ITV Hub.
