OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Lenny Henry quit ‘Comic Relief’ because he missed working with his ex-wife Dawn French.
The 65-year-old comedian was married to ‘Vicar of Dibley’ star Dawn, 66, from 1984 until 2010, and the pair were part of “a little gang” who were all involved in the biennial charity telethon.
But in recent years things have changed, and Lenny has decided to “hand the baton” to someone else after this year.
He told the Radio Times magazine: “We were like a little gang. But for a few years I’ve felt, ‘Where’s the new gang?’ [Comic Relief] is a baton to be handed on to a new group of people who are going to take on Comic Relief.”
The ‘Three Little Birds’ writer has backed former ‘Doctor Who’ star David Tennant to take over his role as host in the coming years, and thinks the new crop of talent currently involved in the campaign are “absolutely” qualified to take the show into the future.
He said: “I thought, well, actually, [David was] brilliant. And I think there’s other people, newer people, who are coming up like Romesh Ranganathan, Alesha Dixon, AJ Odudu.
“There are new people coming up now who can absolutely take the reins.”
The TV star will front a Red Nose Day appeal for the final time on March 15, but Lenny will continue to support the charity and projects relating to it throughout the year.
He told the BBC: “I love Comic Relief and I’ve been doing it for 39 years. I’m a Life President of the charity and I’m still going to be supporting other Comic Relief and Red Nose Day projects throughout the year, like recruiting new talent, doing voiceovers etc. so I’ll be around just not onscreen.
“I think it’s time to hand over the reins because there is an extraordinary new generation of talent and we need to give these people and their audiences access to what Comic Relief can do and how we can raise money together.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Katie Piper has been dubbed the “Queen of the Weekend” after landing a new presenting deal with ITV.
The 40-year-old TV star fronted two series of ‘Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show’ from 2022 until 2023 and while the initial run was only shown on Sunday mornings, the programme will be broadcast across both weekend mornings going forwards.
A TV insider told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s a massive show of confidence in Katie to not only recommission her show but to literally double it across the entire weekend. It’s little wonder she is being called the new Queen of the Weekend on the channel. Bosses have been delighted by the audience’s reaction and Katie is fast becoming one of ITV’s most loved presenters.”
Bosses are “delighted” the ‘Loose Women’ panellist has been given another chance to host her own series and teased that what is to come will be “distinctly different” from the chat show’s initial episodes.
Amanda Ross, Executive Producer and CEO of production company Cactus, said: “I’m delighted ITV have given us the chance to produce a third series with Katie Piper, this time across the whole weekend, recognising the success of her Sunday shows last year.
“We will be able to showcase more of a range of Katie’s talents as Saturday and Sunday mornings will have a distinctly different vibe.”
The announcement comes as the broadcaster have given weekend shows to a number of famous faces, including former ‘Love Island’ host Laura Whitmore and stand-up comedian Chris McCausland.
Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, said: “Our new weekend morning line ups on ITV provide a mix of brand-new formats and talent, plus a returning favourite.
“Away from the studio, Jimmy and Shivi’s ‘Farmhouse Breakfast’ will provide a wholesome start to your weekend mornings; we’re excited to welcome the funny talents of Chris McCausland with his brand new chat show; and we’re delighted to welcome back Katie Piper now across both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Your weekends start with us on ITV.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Caroline Quentin doesn’t watch ‘Men Behaving Badly’.
The 63-year-old actress became a household name through her role in the classic 1990s sitcom, but when asked if she has ever watched it back, the star admitted she isn’t really a fan of comedies and prefers to explore other genres.
She told Metro newspaper’s Sixty Seconds column: “No, I’m not very backward thinking. I tend to think about the future. And I’m not very nostalgic. I tend to watch dramas and documentaries about playwrights rather than television comedies.”
The former ‘Jonathan Creek’ star took part in the 2020 series of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and danced with Johannes Radebe, but admitted that because her series took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was actually a “horrible” experience, even though she bonded with her co-star.
She said: “I did it during COVID, so I didn’t meet anybody else. I saw Johannes Radebe last week and asked if I had the worst year to do it, and he said definitely, because normally we’d be socialising and meeting everyone.
“We were masked and had no audience. It was horrible, actually.
“I was able to do it because I wasn’t tied to any other projects, but on the other hand we got the short straw because I never got to meet any of the other contestants. So it was a unique experience for us that year.
“[Johannes] is the sweetest man alive and has become a very good friend. Every day with him was an absolute bloody joy.
“We used to laugh so much it was just me and him in a room, and then we would put our masks on and go to our separate digs, so it was pretty brutal. But he and I bonded, and I think that’s us now for life.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Susannah Constantine has ruled out reviving ‘What Not To Wear’ with pal Trinny Woodall.
The 61-year-old TV star and 60-year-old beauty entrepreneur Trinny – who launched premium beauty brand Trinny London in 2017 – shot to fame as straight-talking fashion gurus on the hit noughties makeover reality show, which ran for five series from 2001 and 2007, however, Susannah admits the programme “doesn’t have a place today”.
Speaking to The Sun, she explained: “What Not To Wear, no, I would not revive it, I think What Not To Wear was an incredible show.
“The way we did it doesn’t have its place today unfortunately, it would be great but it’s time for the next round of women or men to do it, Trinny and I had our time.”
She continued: “Trinny is so busy with her make-up brand which is phenomenal, and we’ve always been polar opposites and now our lifestyles reflect that so I am very happy living in the countryside, I now consider myself to be a mum first and a wife, very 1950s, who also happens to work.”
In fact, Susannah never wants to do reality television again following her failed stints on ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ in 2015 and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2018.
She said: “I’ll never retire, the most important thing about getting older is to always have a purpose in life.
“I think television has changed so much it’s all about speed and efficiency.
“I think that’s taken away the authenticity that was around in the early 2000s, so it’s a different animal now.
“I love doing the Jeremy Vine Show or Lorraine because you’re talking about things the viewers are interested in.
“Unless it was a documentary of some kind. But not reality TV.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — A ‘Star Trek’ episode was shelved after it boldly ventured into Irish politics and terrorism.
The BBC delayed showing an episode of ‘The Next Generation’ for 17 years after android Data was seen chatting with Captain Picard about the “Irish unification of 2024” following a terrorism campaign by the IRA.
It’s now emerged even when it was finally given approval to be aired in 2007, it was buried in a 2.40am slot and is thought never to have been repeated since.
Melinda M Snodgrass, who wrote the episode – which was first shown in the US in 1990 – said she was unaware of the controversy it had caused at the time, telling the BBC: “Writing for television is like laying track for a train that’s about 300 feet behind you. You really don’t have time to stop.
“We became aware of it later… and there isn’t much you can do about it.”
She added she wanted to use the now-controversial episode to that one man’s freedom fighter was another man’s terrorist, adding: “These are complicated issues. And when do people feel like their back is so much against the wall that they have no choice but to turn to violence? And is that actually ever justified?
“What I wanted to say was: if we’re talking and not shooting, we’re in a better place.”
The IRA was in the midst of a terrorist campaign to end British rule in Northern Ireland in 1990 – six years after it targeted then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a bomb attack at the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Tory party’s annual conference.
April 1998 saw the Good Friday Agreement bring an official end to the province’s Troubles, and last month saw Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, 47, make history as the first nationalist to hold the role of first minister at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
‘Star Trek’ fans have been highlighting Data’s prediction about a united Ireland 34 years after the episode – titled ‘High Ground’ – was made.
It’s now available on Netflix and the issue of Irish politics comes up in a chat between Data, played by Brent Spiner, 75, and 83-year-old Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard after their USS Enterprise starship gets entangled in a decades-long conflict between the people of Rutia IV and a group of rebel separatists called the Ansata in the 24th century.
Data says: “I have been reviewing the history of armed rebellion and it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change.
“There are numerous examples of when it was successful: the independence of the Mexican state from Spain, the Irish unification of 2024 and the Mackenzie rebellion (in Canada in 1837.)”
He asks Picard whether he believes that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change when all other options have been exhausted and the captain says: “Yes, it can be, but I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun.
“These are questions that mankind has been struggling with throughout history. Your confusion is only human.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Around 300,000 hopefuls are reportedly set to apply for the next series of ‘The Traitors’ – for only 22 places.
Insiders have claimed about 250,000 entries have already been received for the upcoming third season of the BBC One whodunnit series hosted by Claudia Winkleman, 52, which has become a ratings hit since it launched in November 2022, with tens of thousands more expected.
A source told The Sun about the flood of entries for limited spots: “They knew a lot of people would throw their hats into the ring after the first two series’ success but didn’t anticipate this.
“They’re facing a race against time to pick the final contestants because filming has to start in the spring.
“A lot of the show takes place at night and the daylight goes on too long for that in summer in the far north of Scotland.
“If they miss their window of opportunity to film, it causes problems.”
Hopefuls have been inspired to throw their hats in the ring after seeing the fame ‘Traitors’ brought its latest winner Harry Clark, 23, who has since been deluged with TV offers.
But The Sun added the wave of entries is a “headache” the ‘Traitors’ bosses as they are having to spend huge amounts of time trying to whittle down the numbers before filming can begin on the next series at Ardross Castle near Inverness, Scotland.
The first UK series of ‘Traitors’ is thought to have had around 5,000 entrants, with tens of thousands them said to have applied for the follow-up series.
Based on the Dutch series ‘De Verraders’, ‘Traitors’ features a group of contestants participating in a game similar to the party game ‘Mafia’, in which a small group of contestants become the titular traitors and must work together to eliminate the other contestants in order to win a prize, while the remaining contestants become “faithfuls” and are tasked to discover and banish the traitors by voting them out so they can claim victory.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Chris Packham has insisted ‘Just Stop Oil’ has the right to protest outside the homes of MPs.
The 62-year-old broadcaster, who presents ’Winterwatch’, has been giving the organisation “conditional” support for years, whilst the group have begun campaigning outside MPs homes to raise awareness for environmental decline.
After the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned “mob rule” was a threat to the country, Chris has emphasised the protests need to be “preserved” as long as they remain non-violent.
During an appearance on Times Radio, he said: “I think that we need a portfolio of protests, basically, because we need a radical flank and ‘Just Stop Oil’ are seen by many as that radical flank.
“They are the people who in some people’s minds go a step too far. And that might be, you know, standing outside an MP’s house.
“But the fact is that they are motivated, as I am by a manifest fear for the health of our future. And that is on a foundation of understanding of very good science. We listen to the science. The science tells us we have to act.”
Previously, Chris admitted he was worried he could be the target of “considerable violence” from “climate change deniers” after he voiced his opinions on ‘Just Stop Oil’.
He told Saga Magazine: “I had a death threat sent by email last week that was reported to the police.
“A threat of violence the previous week. On my social media platforms, the climate change deniers, the pro-shooting, pro-hunting lobbies are very active daily. I spend quite a lot of time alone in the countryside with my dogs and you don’t know who’s around the next corner.”
The TV star also revealed he had taken on extra security for ‘Springwatch’ after “specific threats” were made against him.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “A couple of times recently, before the Watches, we’ve had specific threats for me. So we’ve had a person who’s there and stays at the hotel, and then goes with me to the place.”
“We have had several threats recently that are not death threats but they’re saying, ‘We’re going to harm you.’ And they come, unbelievably, from emails. We’ve got the person’s email address, obviously, I’ve reported them to the police.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Jeremy Clarkson has insisted that ‘Top Gear’ was “never a car show”.
The 63-year-old TV star presented the motoring programme with Richard Hammond, 54, and James May, 61, from 2002 to 2015, and became a global icon once millions of fans over the world tuned in to watch the show. However, Jeremy has now emphasised that ‘Top Gear’ never focused on cars, and instead centred on giving viewers an “insight into a man’s mind”.
In his column for The Times, he wrote: “When I hosted it, people used to describe it as a car show, and when they tried to recast it, they looked for people who like cars. But it was never a car show.
“As its producer once said when asked why so many women tuned in, ‘Because it gives them an insight into a man’s mind, where let’s face it, nothing ever happens.’
“That sums up ‘Top Gear’ perfectly, and, more recently, ‘The Grand Tour’ as well. Because we spent 25 years making ourselves busy by doing nothing of any consequence at all.
“Can we drive a car on train tracks? Can we drive to the North Pole? Can you play football in cars? These were manly things to discuss. Pointless things. Stupid things. Dangerous things.”
The presenter is also celebrating the release of the trio’s latest special, ‘The Grand Tour: Sand Job’, where the threesome are challenged to take on the Sahara Desert and cross Mauritania in west Africa, all while following the route of the Paris-Dakar Rally.
Reflecting on the episode, Jeremy admitted he struggled to deal with the sweltering heat.
During an interview with the Evening Standard, he said: “In the middle of the night, it was still 38. It’s so hot it’s baffling.
“It messes with your head, and it certainly messes with your bladder, which seems to be capable of absorbing a gallon of water an hour and it doesn’t come out of you anywhere. And when it does come out finally, it’s the colour and consistency of a Rolo or a stair banister.”
Richard agreed and added: “You’re losing all your fluids through sweat. My eyelids were sweating. So I was peeing sand and steam. I’m probably riddled with kidney stones as a result. You can’t drink enough.
“We’re always told, ‘Stay hydrated’, but you can drink water constantly and still get dehydrated. It’s hard work. It’s exhausting, trying to drink enough.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — A.J. Odudu has said the rumoured line-up for ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ is exciting.
The 36-year-old broadcaster will take to the screen to host the ITV reality show with Will Best, 39, tonight (04.03.24) and has teased that the cast, which is rumoured to include former ‘X Factor’ judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, will make for a “great” programme.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I’m excited. If even half of the rumoured line-up is true, it’s going to be great.
“We’re really excited and the success of the last series was all down to the incredible cast.
“You’d never see them put together in a million years, and that’s what I want from this celebrity line-up too.”
Other stars that are rumoured to be appearing on the programme is ‘Love Island’ winner Ekin-Su, former ‘This Morning’ presenter Fern Britton and Gary Goldsmith – Catherine, Princess of Wales’ uncle.
However, an insider has claimed that Kate’s mother Carole Middleton is “infuriated” Gary agreed to join the show, and fears that he could spill damaging royal secrets.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “Gary said he’s been read the riot act by Kate’s mum Carole and her dad Michael. They aren’t happy he’s going into ‘Celebrity Big Brother’.
“It is infuriating for them. Kate doesn’t need this stress.”
The insider added Gary is intending to “defend his family” on the programme, and “wouldn’t do anything” to embarrass his niece.
They said: “In the eyes of the public, Gary’s become the black sheep of the Middleton family. Carole is his sister, so there will always be love, but they no longer see eye-to-eye on lots of things.
“He has said he doesn’t have their blessing to go into the house but is going full steam ahead anyway.
“He wants to defend his family. Gary wouldn’t do anything to embarrass Kate or William, who he thinks a lot of.
“With Kate being out of the public eye at the moment and William shouldering a lot, the last thing they want is for Uncle Gary to be causing any embarrassment on television.
“Gary has said he knows what he is doing and has told his friends he’d never do anything to hurt his family.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — More than half the top acts on the next series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ are reportedly not from Britain.
Out of the nine Golden Buzzer performers sent through to the semi-finals of the ITV series during auditions, only four are homegrown, according to The Sun.
A TV source told the newspaper: “People know the show often features foreign acts – some of them are brilliant and, in many cases, go on to win the contest.
“But it’s a surprise to think that the cream of the crop, who are sent through on Golden Buzzers, are often from other countries.”
The Sun added the revelation will come as a “big shock” to viewers of the ITV1 show when it returns this spring for its 17th series.
The Golden Buzzer acts are those put straight through to the live semi-finals where they have a chance of going on to win the top prize of £250,000 and gigging at the Royal Variety Performance.
They are chosen either by show hosts Anthony McPartlin, 48, and Declan Donnelly, also 48, or one of the judging panel – consisting of Amanda Holden, 53, Alesha Dixon, 45, Simon Cowell, 64, and 68-year-old former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge Bruno Tonioli.
It is not the first time foreign acts have had a huge presence on ‘BGT’ – in 2022, it emerged one in four of the performers on the series were already known or came from other countries’ versions of the show.
Out of 60 acts, 15 of them had already appeared on one of the Got
Talent shows around the globe, or were already professionals.
And 2023’s winner was Norwegian comic Viggo Venn, 34, who danced in circles wearing a high-vis vest.
A decade earlier, a Hungarian shadow theatre group called Attraction won.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘Casualty’ veteran Derek Thompson has landed a role on ‘Blue Lights’.
The actor, 75, who quit playing emergency nurse Charlie Fairhead on the BBC hospital drama in 2023 after more than 30 years, has said he is overjoyed at his upcoming new part as retired police officer Robin Graham in the new series of BBC One’s crime drama.
He told the BBC: “I loved the first series of ‘Blue Lights’ and thought, as did the majority of my friends and colleagues, that it was the best new TV series of last year.
“I was thrilled and excited when I got the invitation to take part in series two.
“I’m sure the fans will love the second series every bit as much as the first.”
Derek has already been filming scenes for the cop show in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and his character will be at the centre of a major new storyline he is convinced will keep fans gripped.
His character Robin’s secret past will be exposed when a trainee solicitor starts investigating an old case.
Others returning for the new series include Siân Brooke, 44, as Grace Ellis and Andi Osho, 51, as Sandra Cliff.
‘Blue Lights’ returns this spring on BBC One and will continue telling the story of probationary police officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the experienced officers who train, mentor, and work with them.
The series was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, premiering on 27 March 2023, with third and fourth series also already commissioned.
It features Siân’s character as a mother in her 40s who left her job as a social worker to join the PSNI, but only weeks into the job she wonders if she’s made the right decision.
The series also focuses on fellow rookies Annie Conlon and Tommy Foster as they also struggle under the pressures of the job.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Michael McIntyre has been forced to cancel a gig after undergoing a medical surgery.
The 48-year-old comedian was due to appear at Southhampton’s Mayflower Theatre today (04.03.24) but had to cancel the show after he was left “unable to perform” once he had undergone an operation to remove kidney stones.
Taking to X, Michael’s team wrote: “We regret to inform customers that Michael McIntyre will be unable to perform on Monday at the Mayflower Theatre in Southhampton. Unfortunately, he has had an operation to remove kidney stones.
“The show will be rescheduled to a later date which will be announced shortly. Tickets will remain valid for the new date. If you are unable to make the new date, you will be entitled to a full refund.
“We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
This will be the second show the comedian has had to cancel, as he also recently pulled out of a Plymouth gig after suffering an “illness”.
On Facebook, his account posted: “Due to illness, Michael McIntyre is sadly unable to perform tonight’s show (Thursday 29 Feb) at Plymouth Pavilions.
“The show will be rescheduled to a later date which will be announced soon.”
As well as touring, the comedian has been busy filming for his gameshow, ‘Michael McIntyre’s Big Wheel’, where three contestants are quizzed on a number of topics, all while being guided by seven celebrities in an effort to win a cash prize.
Michael has emphasised that he would love to see the programme, which has featured Claudia Winkleman, Gabby Logan and Jamie Laing, get a special episode where a celebrity takes the hosting reigns.
He told the BBC: “There have been so many personalities on ‘The Wheel’ who would all make great hosts.
“The person who has made me laugh the most is, unexpectedly, the England Rugby player Joe Marler. I just love him. I’d like him to host!”

Source: VacationHunter.Online