Annette Bening felt safe working with Jamie Bell

OHMYGOSSIP — Annette Bening felt “safe” shooting intense age gap romance ‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool’ with Jamie Bell
The 59-year-old Academy Award nominee stars as real life actress Gloria Grahame who meets the unknown actor Peter Turner (Bell) in 1978 and the two start a vibrant love affair despite their age difference, and Bening admitted she loved working with the ‘Billy Elliot’ actor because he was a very supportive co-star.
Speaking on ‘This Morning’ on Thursday (12.10.17), Bening said: “I felt safe with him and you become so close when you work on something like this. I felt very supported by him and I hope he felt the same way. He’s a real professional, maybe because he started when he was young.
“He’s a great guy and he’s just a very solid guy and he really helped me. He was a doll. I loved it.”
The film is based on Turner’s memoirs about his affair with the B-Movie actress and Bening revealed he was part of the filmmaking process.
She said: “Peter has very much been a part of making the movie. He is a very beautiful man and when you meet him you completely understand why Gloria fell in love with him. She had a very difficult life. She was here doing theatre because she couldn’t really get any other jobs so she is one of those people that, after the 1950s, she couldn’t find work.
“Barbara Broccoli, one of our producers, was friends with Peter and she knew him when he was with Gloria so this was a long-time coming and I talked with Barbara about making the movie years ago. It means a lot to Peter. It was a very complicated period of his life and he was very much involved in any moment.”
Although Bening – who is married to Hollywood legend Warren Beatty – has been nominated for an Oscar on four occasions she has yet to win one but there is already Academy buzz about ‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool’, however, she won’t allow herself to be distracted by it.
She said: “People ask me about it [the Oscars] and I do talk about it. It’s a part of life and a part of my business. It’s exciting but then sometimes it doesn’t happen. I love what I do. It’s a labour of love for everyone, for each of us. We put everything we had into it. It means a lot to all of us.”

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Douglas Booth says Helen McCrory is a formidably talented actress

OHMYGOSSIP — Douglas Booth has praised Helen McCrory for being a “formidably talented actress”.
The 25-year-old actor is appearing alongside the ‘Harry Potter’ star in the haunting ‘Loving Vincent’, which looks at the troubled life and work of Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, and Booth admitted he loved working with the all-star cast, but in particular McCrory.
Speaking to FlickeringMyth.com, Booth said: “I had a really good time with Eleanor Tomlinson, we had some really nice scenes so I really enjoyed working with her, but also everyone, Saoirse (Ronan), Aidan (Turner), Helen McCrory – I mean I think she’s just one of the most formidably talented actresses of her generation, she’d come and she would just do something different on every take.
“So many options and she’s just great. Chris O’Dowd – very dry, very funny, so yeah, it was a pleasure, all of it.”
The film features around 6,500 frames all hand-painted on canvas in the style of the iconic artist and Booth stars as Armand Roulin, who was famously painted by Van Gogh who wore a bright yellow jacket, as he attempts to deliver the artist’s final letter to his brother following his suicide.
Due to the complete uniqueness of the film it took seven years to make altogether but Booth – along with the rest of the cast – were only brought in two years ago.
He said: “I was brought on board – it took seven years to make this movie, from conception to the final project, I got brought in two years ago.
“They got a casting director and they said, ‘We have these Van Gogh paintings, who looks like them?’ And then they approached me. They approached Saoirse, Helen, Chris, Eleanor, Aidan and we came on and we shot it in about three and a half, four weeks, very quickly, [we] didn’t have much money, in three studios and we shot a little bit in Poland.”
‘Loving Vincent’ is slated for release this October.

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Gerard Butler got a hernia while shooting 300

OHMYGOSSIP — Gerard Butler got a hernia while shooting ‘300’.
The 47-year-old actor starred as Leonidas in the hit 2006 action/adventure movie and in one particular scene, his character kicks a man down a pit while shouting “this is Sparta” and Gerald revealed while filming this now iconic scene, he suffered a hernia by the second kick.
Speaking to ShortList magazine, Butler said: “My whole psyche through filming was, ‘This guy’s been through hell, he’s been through much more than I’m going through, so the least I can do is get a hernia from doing a little kick.’ Which I pretty much had by the second kick. My hip flexor was gone, a hernia … but it was cool.”
The film follows the war between Persia and Greece and Leonidas leads an outnumbered warriors against the massive Persian army.
Although their certain death awaits the Spartans, their sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against their common enemy.
Butler’s hernia isn’t the only injury the actor has received while filming as his career nearly ended prematurely after an on-stage incident during a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Coriolanus’.
He recalled: “We were supposed to be these revolting citizens – not that they were disgusting they were in revolt, rebelling. So [the director] puts us all together and he gives us the script.
“At this stage we didn’t need the chisels that we had- we had these wooden chisels that they’re supposed to use as weapons – but we didn’t know our lines, and it’s very physical theatre so they wanted 12 guys running. Run, turn, say the line, run, turn, say the line. But we all had stakes in our hands so we go and I turn this way and the guy next to me goes and sticks a wooden stake right in my eye. I thought I’d lost my eye, and then I had a black eye probably for two weeks.”

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David Fincher apologises to Adam Driver for Star Wars criticism

OHMYGOSSIP — David Fincher can’t “apologise enough” to Adam Driver after saying it was a “terrible idea” to cast him in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.
Back in 2014 emails from Sony Pictures were hacked and leaked, and in one particular message the 55-year-old filmmaker wrote “Adam Driver is a terrible idea, I’m with you” after the then Sony chief Amy Pascal wrote “WTF” on a newsletter about Driver being cast as villain Kylo Ren in the resurrected sci-fi franchise.
Fincher is adamant his message was just intended to be “flippant” and he asked for Steven Soderbergh – who directed Driver in ‘Logan Lucky’ – to apologise on his behalf, even though he’s unsure if Soderbergh felt it was necessary to do so.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Fincher said: “Oh no, I like Adam Driver a lot. I was just being flippant. I’ve since asked Steven Soderbergh to apologise on my behalf, but I don’t think he thought it rose to the level of actually being addressed. I think he understood it was a joke. But if Adam Driver takes umbrage with it, I can’t apologise enough.”
Fincher has helmed a number of acclaimed Hollywood movies, including ‘Fight Club’, ‘Zodiac’ and ‘Seven’, but his latest project is Netflix TV series ‘Mindhunter’ and he admits he enjoys the freedom that Netflix gives to creatives due to the fact the bosses are not obsessed with box office numbers.
He said: “I feel like stories are stories and the fact none of the executives at Netflix are under the Sword of Damocles to provide ‘x’-million eyeballs from Friday till Sunday, is good. They’re ultimately a destination of content. They’re building the Library of Congress. They intend to cater to a lot of different tastes. And that’s way more interesting than Marvel to me.”
Fincher’s comments come after ‘Dunkirk’ helmer Christopher Nolan and Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar both slammed the streaming site as it doesn’t send its own exclusive movies to cinemas.
Nolan said in July: “Netflix has a bizarre aversion to supporting theatrical films. They have this mindless policy of everything having to be simultaneously streamed and released, which is obviously an untenable model for theatrical presentation. So they’re not even getting in the game, and I think they’re missing a huge opportunity. think the investment that Netflix is putting into interesting filmmakers and interesting projects would be more admirable if it weren’t being used as some kind of bizarre leverage against shutting down theatres. It’s so pointless. I don’t really get it.”

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Gal Gadot eyed up for revenge thriller Ruin

OHMYGOSSIP — Gal Gadot is set to star in the revenge thriller ‘Ruin’.
The 32-year-old actress has been high in demand since she dazzled fans with her portrayal of Wonder Woman earlier this year, so it’s no wonder she’s now being eyed up for the lead role in the upcoming drama directed by Justin Kurzel.
Not much is known about the project except the storyline – which will follow a former Nazi captain as he travels to post-World War II Germany to make amends for his crimes by hunting down the members of the SS Death Squad that worked under him.
Ryan and Matt Firpo wrote the script but, according to Empire magazine, no actors have been attached to the movie and it’s not known when it will go into production.
However, bosses will have to snap up Gadot quick as she’s also reportedly in talks to star alongside Bradley Cooper in ‘Deeper’ after she was approached by Max Landis.
The film is being produced by Landis and David Goyer, and if a deal can be closed between Gal and the studio fairly soon, filming will begin in early 2018.
The movie’s storyline centres on a former astronaut, played by Bradley, who has been hired to take a submersible to the deepest part of the ocean.
However, en route to his destination, the astronaut encounters a series of supernatural events that throw him off course.
Gadot will also be wanted for the follow-up to this year’s ‘Wonder Woman’ after Patty Jenkins – who helmed the hit movie – reportedly signed a deal last month to front the follow up alongside DC’s creative chief Geoff Johns and David Callaham.]
Details of the plot for the second film are being kept tightly under wraps but Jenkins recently said she’s keen to jump forward several decades from the first movie, which is set in Europe during WW1, and have it take place in America during the Cold War.

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Chris Hemsworth: I grew bored of playing Thor

OHMYGOSSIP — Chris Hemsworth had grown “bored” of Thor prior to working with director Taika Waititi.
The Australian actor has reprised the role of the Marvel superhero for the much-anticipated ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and Chris says working with Taika has helped to stimulate his enthusiasm for the character once again.
He shared: “Taika Waititi, the director that came in, is a genius and has such a left-of-centre, wildly odd sense of humour. He said: ‘I don’t ever want to hear ‘Loki’ and ‘this madness’ again.’ And I said: ‘No, I’m done. I’ve said that a thousand times.’
“And so anytime something felt familiar, we’d go the other way, throw it out of the window and start again. We may have pushed it too far; I don’t know.
“But it was a hell of a lot of fun and it’s going to be vastly different and unique to what we’ve done before.”
Chris, 34, said a conscious decision was made by himself and Taika to reinvent the character of Thor.
Speaking to the National newspaper, the Hollywood star explained: “That was our plan. To destroy him, destroy his world and everything he knows and everyone he loves, and just reinvent it.
“He happens to be on a planet where everyone else is pretty damn powerful too. So he’s kind of a regular guy in that sense. No one gives a damn if he’s the prince of Asgard or whatever. It doesn’t mean anything on this planet.
“We wanted to strip all that back and make him more relatable. I had also gotten kind of bored with how I was playing it. I wanted to do something different.”

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Ryan Thomas joins Neighbours

OHMYGOSSIP — Ryan Thomas has officially joined the cast of ‘Neighbours’.
The 33-year-old actor – who portrayed Jason Grimshaw in ITV’s longstanding soap ‘Coronation Street’ for 16 years – has confirmed he will be starring in the popular American show and will be jetting off across the globe to play the role of Rafael Humphreys.
And the dark-haired hunk is excited for the project because he has always been a fan on the show.
Speaking about his new role, Ryan said: “I grew up watching ‘Neighbours’ so to get the chance to join the cast is amazing.
“I was on holiday with my daughter when I got a phone call from my agent asking if I’d like to play this part.
“I spoke to the producer and found out more – it was very different from anything I’d played before – it was quite a deep, dark story, that really interested me.
“It’s a new challenge and I can’t wait to start filming.”
Not much is known about Rafael Humphreys except he is an individual with a dark secret who turns up on Ramsay Street to confront a difficult chapter from his past.
And Ryan has been hailed as the “perfect handsome devil” to take on the position.
Greg Barnett, commissioning editor at Channel 5, said: “With his good looks and Corrie years under his belt, Ryan is the perfect handsome devil.
“His arrival in Erinsborough marks the start of darker times for a particular Ramsay Street favourite. Prepare to be gripped.”
Ryan – who has eight-year-old daughter Scarlett with his former partner Tina O’Brien – left the cobbled streets of Weatherfield in 2016, and ever since he has been desperate to have a “complete change” in his career, and he was eager to break into Hollywood because he felt he needed to be taken out of his “comfort zone”.
Ryan – who is currently dating former ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ beauty Lucy Mecklenburgh – is set to make his debut on the Channel 5 show in early 2018.

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Stephanie Davis is dating Ricky Rayment

OHMYGOSSIP — Stephanie Davis is reportedly dating Ricky Rayment.
The former ‘Hollyoaks’ actress is believed to be dating the former ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ star, and it is believed the romance is “going well” for the pair, as they speak “a lot” to one another and enjoy a “very flirty” relationship.
A source close to Ricky told The Sun Online: “They have been seeing each other – and things are going well.
“They speak a lot and are openly very flirty; it’s the start of something new for them and they’re both seeing how it goes.”
Ricky was recently attached to Marnie Simpson, as well as Jessica Wright, but the ‘Geordie Shore’ star doesn’t seem fazed by the romance as she thinks Stephanie and Ricky are “well suited” to one another.
Speaking previously about her thoughts on the couple, Marnie said: “They’re well suited. They’re similar people so I wish them all the luck in the world.”
The news of Stephanie’s love life comes just months after her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy McConnell, was given a three-year restraining order, which banned the Irish lothario from visiting her and their child Caben after Jeremy was found guilty of assaulting the brunette beauty during a row at her home in Liverpool at the beginning of March.
However, the 24-year-old star’s “main priority” is her child, although she has enjoyed having “male company”.
Speaking previously, a separate source said: “Stephanie has been on dates with someone new and loves having her life back. It is still early days but she has been enjoying being treated again.
“Her main priority is Caben but she’s really liked having some new male company – and this time it really feels like a fresh start.”

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Dame Kelly Holmes’ battle with depression

OHMYGOSSIP — Dame Kelly Holmes used her appearance on ‘Loose Women’ on Thursday (12.10.17) to open up about her battle with depression.
The 47-year-old retired athlete has admitted she found herself in a dark place with her mental health in 2003 when she was preparing for the Athens Olympics, as her battle with constant injuries made her loathe her body for failing her, and caused her to develop depression.
Kelly admits that self-harming was a “release” for the pain she was feeling inside her head, after being angry that her injuries – which included a ruptured calf and a torn achilles – were preventing her from becoming Olympic champion.
Speaking on the talk show, Kelly said: “For me, 2003, it was a year before the Olympics in Athens, I’d already been to another Olympics where I’d got bronze, and off of only six weeks training because I’d got a 12 centimetre tear in my calf and I’d had glandular fever, tonsillitis, ruptured calf, torn achilles, all through these years. But I still believed I could be olympic champion. So this one year, 2003, I’d already won a silver medal in the world indoor championships, I was going to the world outdoor championships, and I got another niggle. I was in France, and just something came over me, like I suddenly hated myself. I couldn’t believe I’d had this other injury.
“No-one knew about this until I retired. It was just the pressure in my head of hating that I was injured again, I was on this rollercoaster. [I hated] my body. I think people will take it out on alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever it is, and, unfortunately, suicide. And for me, self harming was … it’s a horrible word but it was almost a release. The pain I was getting, but the pain was the mental pain, you know, the stress.”
But the sports star is conscious of making sure she doesn’t “glorify” her struggle, as she wants to make sure young people understand that many people battle mental illness.
She added: “I don’t want to glorify anything because young people need to understand that it’s a part of life that a lot of people go through, you know, we sit here now and there’s people watching this show, people in the audience, so many people would have suffered in different ways, it’s just the extremities of it really.”

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Alexandra Burke refuses to let ‘anything get in the way’ of Strictly

OHMYGOSSIP — Alexandra Burke has refused to let “anything get in the way” of her being crowned champion on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 29-year-old singer has been partnered with Gorka Marquez on the popular BBC One programme, and the musician has admitted she is doing everything she can to stay focused and be “in tune” with her professional dance partner, because she is adamant nothing will interfere with her bagging the glitterball trophy, including rumours her competitor Gemma Atkinson is flirting up a storm with the 27-year-old hunk.
Speaking on ‘Lorraine’ on Thursday (12.10.17), the ‘Bad Boys’ hitmaker said: “You literally can’t believe those kind of things, it’s all fun and it’s a lot of love with every contestant on the show and every pro too.
“My concentration is making sure me and Gorka are fully in tune with each other. We’re having so much fun at the moment, we won’t let anything get in the way.
“Gorka and I are doing 10 hours a day in rehearsal.”
The ‘The X Factor’ winner tragically lost her mother, Melissa Bell, in August this year, and she believes her late parent would be proud of her taking part on the programme because she always wanted Alexandra to compete on the series.
Alexandra added: “We’re all focusing on something positive, and it was a dream of my mum’s for me to do this show and it’s nice to do something and do something for her.”
When Alexandra received the offer to hit the dancefloor she was “over the moon” and decided to “cancel everything” in her work schedule to sign up for the show.
She said: “I cancelled everything, I was really over the moon, I really need to give this my all. You have to pinch yourself when you get asked to be a part of this show, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

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Strictly Come Dancing stars banned from showing off tattoos

OHMYGOSSIP — The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ stars were banned from exposing their tattoos during last weekend’s Disney theme because the film giant wanted the dances to be “wholesome.”
The media company worked closely with the ballroom and latin show last week to ensure the “sprit” of their business was accurate and, although they loved what the professionals had done with the routines, they requested that all inkings were covered up.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Disney wanted to make sure the performance was in keeping with their brand. The display included some trademarked characters, like Flounder from the ‘Little Mermaid’ and Simba from the ‘Lion King’.”
Aljaž Škorjanec played Aladdin and was told that his body art had to be concealed with make up if he were to wear a waistcoat with nothing underneath, while professionals Neil Jones and Kevin Clifton were told to put white shirts on under their skimpy outfits.
AJ Pritchard – who is paired with Mollie King this year – was the only man in the troupe allowed to flash the flesh as he doesn’t have any etchings across his upper body.
He explained: “I didn’t have any tattoos so Disney allowed me to take my top off. Most of the other guys have tattoos. I felt bad for them.”
And now that AJ, 22, has got a feel for stripping off, he is keen to do it more often.
He quipped: “I’ve been working out. I want to take my top off again.”
Meanwhile, the handsome dancer has been hitting the headlines as he recently admitted that he has a soft spot for his partner Mollie, 30, and thinks she has a “sexy bum.”
He said recently: “That question will have to stay on everyone’s lips! But she is gorgeous and has the sexiest bum on the show. Time flies when we are together. We are always laughing. We are spending so much time together. We are training eight hours a day – our bond can only get stronger. It was such a relief to get Mollie as it’s not good if you don’t get along with your partner. For me it’s a dream come true.”

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Prue Leith to write TV show?

OHMYGOSSIP — Prue Leith has written a trilogy of novel she hopes will replace ‘Downton Abbey’.
The ‘Great British Bake Off’ judge was an avid writer before she landed the gig on the baking show earlier this year, but she has admitted she’s now got back into penning books and is hoping her love story will be the inspiration for a new TV show that could fill the void left by the hit period drama when it concluded in 2015.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: “I’m finishing a trilogy of novels. It starts in the war, and there’s love stories through three generations of the same family. My big ambition is for it to be the new ‘Downton Abbey’.”
And, although she doesn’t want to land a starring part in the potential TV show, the 77-year-old restauranteur would like to have a little cameo appearance.
She explained: “I don’t want to be in it, I want to write it. Maybe a little cameo performance. A lot of it is based on personal experience – especially the middle book, that was my period, cooking in England from the 60s to now.”
And Prue looks set to have a lot of work on her hands if a broadcaster does decide to snap up the idea for a television show as it seems like she may be about to sign a new deal with the baking show – meaning she’ll be filming the second series soon.
She said recently: “I’m still hoping Channel 4 will ask me back for the second series. They’ve asked me about timings and schedules but I’ve not seen or heard anything about a contract. It could all change, like ‘The X Factor’.”

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Alexander Armstrong wants chat show

OHMYGOSSIP — Alexander Armstrong wants to have his own chat show.
The ‘Pointless’ host is on a desperate mission to make a name for himself as a singer, but he has admitted he has big plans for 2018 as he won’t just be working on new music material following the release of his festive album, he’ll be working on a new format whereby he and his friend Richard Osman will grill celebrities on TV.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: “I would love to do it. Maybe Richard and I could do it? I like the idea of getting guests on it as they arrive into London like [the late Terry] Wogan used to.”
However, before he puts his TV plans into action, the 47-year-old presenter is set for a 16-date music tour called ‘An Evening With Alexander in Concert’ to go hand-in-hand with his new Christmas album ‘In A Winter Light’ on November 24.
He explained to the publication “I’ve always wanted to do an album of Christmas music because it’s such a madly evocative repertoire.”
And when he’s not working on music and TV shows, Alexander likes to play croquet.
He said: “I joke about croquet but quite genuinely it is one of my favourite sports. I suppose it’s closest to snooker or golf in terms of its tactics.
“It seems incredibly straight-forward (much as tennis or chess might seem like a monotonous business on paper) but it’s full of nuance, strategy and skill.
“It deserves a proper leg-up because we would lose an elegant, properly exciting, British sport if it were allowed to fade into extinction. Oh and did I mention the violence? I know of no other game that brings on such fury and passion.”

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Generation Game reboot to feature Bruce Forsyth tribute

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘The Generation Game’ reboot is to feature a tribute to Sir Bruce Forsyth.
BBC bosses are planning to the give the late legendary entertainer, who hosted the popular game show from 1971 until 1977 and for four years between 1990 and 1994, the send off he deserves with plans to have Bruce – who sadly passed away at the age of 89 in August – appear to open the first episode as if he is “handing over the reins” to new co-hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “The plan is to have Bruce suitably honoured in the first episode — almost as if he’s handing over the reins.
“He’s such a huge part of the show that it seems the right thing to do.
“The plan is for him to feature on screen. The final details haven’t been ironed out but it’s going to be a touching moment, a big tribute to the man who started it all.”
After the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ host left, the late Larry Grayson took over as host from 1978 until 1982, with Jim Davidson then taking over until 2002.
Former ‘Great British Bake Off’ hosts Mel and Sue will front a four-episode run of the classic BBC One competition, which sees pairs of family members battle it out in a series of games before the winning team faced the conveyer belt memory test to win a host of prizes.
The excited presenters said of their gig: “It’s a cuddly toy, it’s a toaster, it’s a circular power saw, no it’s MEL and SUE DOING THE GENERATION GAME! We can’t believe it, we are so excited! (sic)”
The revamped show will combine aspects of the original series with new games and will see Mel, 49, and Sue, 47, joined by a panel of famous judges, while celebrity guests will also be making surprise appearances.
There were plans for Paul O’Grady to host a revival in 2004, but after shooting two pilot episodes, which were never broadcast, the presenter and production team were unhappy and he left the project.
Graham Norton hosted a one-off Christmas celebrity special, ‘Generation Fame’, in 2005 and Vernon Kay stepped in to front a Comic Relief special in 2011.

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Prue Leith to sign new contract with Great British Bake Off

OHMYGOSSIP — Great British Bake Off’s Prue Leith is yet to sign a contract for the second series.
The 77-year-old restaurateur has won over the hearts of the nation with her brutal judging manner on the baking show over the past few months but, despite her successful first stint, Channel 4 are yet to renew her contract for next year’s instalment.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, she said: “I’m still hoping Channel 4 will ask me back for the second series. They’ve asked me about timings and schedules but I’ve not seen or heard anything about a contract. It could all change, like ‘The X Factor’.”
Although her co-stars Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding would love to see her return, Prue has admitted she’s using her time now to get back into writing.
She explained: “I actually gave up writing before ‘Great British Bake Off’. I’d been doing it [writing cookbooks and novels] for years and it took up too much time. But I’ve been coaxed back into it and now I’m writing and cooking more than ever. It’s a busy time.”
Prue was hired by Channel 4 earlier this year after Mary Berry – who used to judge alongside the silver fox – announced her decision to leave the show “out of loyalty” to the BBC, who screened the programme since it first launched in 2010, after the broadcaster snatched the rights to the format in a mega-money deal last year.
But Prue has admitted she did reach out to Mary, 82, before she went for the job to find out what it would be like working alongside Paul, 51, on the cooking show.
She said recently: “I did ring Mary up and my first question was, ‘Is he workable with?’ She said, ‘Yes actually. He knows his stuff.’ ”

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Karthik Nagesan wants to be an actor

OHMYGOSSIP — Karthik Nagesan wants to become an actor.
The former ‘Apprentice’ star hit the headlines last year when he rubbed Lord Sugar up the wrong way during the business series, but he has admitted his love for television has grown deeper since taking part in ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ this year and he’s now keen to explore it further and has been receiving acting lessons from his co-star Shaun Williamson, who was known for playing Barry Evans in ‘EastEnders’.
Speaking to the Mirror Online, he said: “One of the people I did connect with [in the house] was Shaun, and I am in touch with Shaun Williamson.
“I’m asking him for acting tips because the way I see it, the celebrity life for me is supposed to work out instead of me going back into IT and focusing on business, which I am anyway. I have to learn acting and try presenting. I have an agent who is out there trying to get me a gig if I’m famous enough. And I said to Shaun, ‘Can you give me some tips? How do I get into acting?’ Theatre, film, TV, I want to give it a shot and see if I’m any good so he’s guiding me on that.”
Fans noticed that Karthik – known for his monobrow – was a lot quieter and chilled out when he competed in ‘Celebrity Big Brother’, but he has admitted that was a strategic move because he wanted to make sure he didn’t destroy his future TV career.
The 33-year-old star explained: “I’ve got something to lose, if I come out of the ‘Big Brother’ house and my celebrity career doesn’t take off, if I don’t get a presenting gig or a writing gig or as a travel presenter or a show host or something, which is what I want to do, then I have to go back to IT.
“And if I say or do something that is uncouth or unacceptable to the general society in the ‘Big Brother’ house, I could become unemployable.”

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