OHMYGOSSIP — Iolo Williams will be joining Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Gillian Burke for a new series of ‘Winterwatch’.
The TV conservationist, 61, is best known for his work on ‘Springwatch’ and is set to appear alongside the three ‘Winterwatch’ presenters as they capture the beauty of nature at the RSPB Arne in Dorset for the first time in seven years.
In an interview with the BBC, Iolo said: “This series we can look forward to seeing Arne at its brilliant, best. Winter in and around Arne is a fantastic time.
“Some of the summer highlights are not there, the nightjars have gone back down to Africa. A lot of the reptiles will have disappeared underground into hibernation. But the shallow lagoons and the harbour there just comes into its own now because it’ll be alive with thousands of waders and wildfowl.
“And that’s what I’m looking forward to seeing more than anything else.”
During the interview, Chris added that the BBC nature programme would showcase an “enormous amount of activity”, and insisted that winter wasn’t a time of “death hand decay”.
He said: “There’s always this lingering misconception that winter is a time of death and decay, where everything has hibernated or migrated, and it couldn’t be further from the truth, there’s always an enormous amount of activity. Practically, there are no leaves on the trees. It makes it easier to see some species.
“We probably won’t see some species which 20 years ago, 30, 40 years ago would have been quite common in that area because it would have been much colder further north in Europe, but it isn’t this year. So that will that will have an impact.”
Michaela agreed and emphasised that the theme of ‘Winterwatch’ is “resilience and renewal”.
She explained: “In the Winter wildlife needs to be resilient to get through the colder, leaner months. Only the tough survive. Then Spring brings warmth, respite and renewal.
“2023 has been a tough year for people too. Many people are still recovering from the trauma of covid and now there is so much more trauma and stress to cope with. Two wars playing out in real time on the news.
“We’re all witnessing so much heartbreak, so much sadness, trauma and horror. We’re also experiencing a huge amount of anxiety including eco anxiety.
“I hope Winterwatch will bring people some joy, a programme to look forward to.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Zara McDermott only has three toenails left after taking part in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 27-year-old reality star took part in the most recent series of the BBC Latin and ballroom show along with professional Graziano Di Prima but the pair were eliminated fifth and she has now revealed that the intense training left her without some of her toenails as she spared a thought to a woman who serviced her recently in a beauty shop.
She is quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as saying: “I literally danced my toenails off no joke, I only have three toenails left…the poor lady in the nail shop the other day!”
The documentary host – who is currently dating ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ winner Sam Thompson – was the first ‘Love Island’ contestant to be given a slot on the dancing competition and went on to add that she is “incredibly grateful” to show bosses for giving her a chance and dedicating her run to all the “die-hard” ‘Strictly’ fans like herself.
She added: “I pretty much landed from Ibiza and went straight into ‘Strictly’, a show I never dreamed I’d get the opportunity to be a part of. I am so incredibly grateful to the team for choosing me to be a part of the series. You know who you are, and I love you. As a die-hard ‘Strictly fan’, I felt like I did it for all the super fans out there.”
During her time in the competition, Zara recalled how she and her late nan would watch early series of the show together and felt as if she had a “guardian angel” looking over her.
She told Best magazine: ” remember watching the first series when I was seven, with my nan. We would replicate the dances in the living room. She’s sadly passed away now but she’d be over the moon if she knew I was doing this. I feel like she’s looking down on me. She’s my little guardian angel.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Michelle Collins was left stranded in Spain on New Year’s Day after losing her passport.
The ‘EastEnders’ actress was desperate to return home from Malaga airport on Monday (01.01.24), because she is supposed to be filming scenes as Cindy Beale on Tuesday (02.01.24), but Michelle wasn’t allowed to board an easyJet flight after losing her passport.
In a New Year’s Day plea to the airline, she wrote on X: “Please @easyJet can you help me I have lost my passport at Malaga airport the police ( I have been there ) say it is up to the airline to let me fly home ,, my flight is at 8 30 pm tonight I am heading to the airport having just left the police station . Thank you Michele x (sic)”
She later posted: “Nobody is very helpful @easyJet this is awful (sic)”
Michelle later updated fans, and revealed she wasn’t allowed to fly after trying to obtain a temporary passport from the embassy, but it was closed.
She added: “Thank you most of you for your helpful comments , I wasn’t allowed to fly , went to embassy was closed applied for an emergency document online so let’s see what happens will go there when it opens in the morning . (sic)”
Despite admitting she was due to film ‘EastEnders’ scenes, Michelle tried to look on the bright side by reflecting that she was “alive and safe”.
She posted: “Supposed to be filming @bbceastenders but I m alive and safe (sic)”
Michelle’s eventful start to 2024 comes after she made a shock return to ‘EastEnders’ last year, despite her character Cindy previously being killed off more than 20 years beforehand.
The actress – who has also appeared in ‘Coronation Street’ – nearly turned down the chance of an Albert Square return.
She recently told TV Times magazine: “It has taken a year for it to happen; I was doing ‘Cluedo’ on tour when I was asked if I would be interested. Initially, I was like, ‘No, I don’t know… and then my agent and I met with Chris Clenshaw, the executive producer.
“He showed us the storyline on his laptop and I thought, ‘Wow, if they can make it work, then maybe, yes!’ I suppose things are about timing, aren’t they? It just felt like it was the right time.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Craig Revel Horwood wants Simon Cowell to do ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 58-year-old star serves as a judge on the BBC Latin and ballroom competition alongside Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse, and while the panellists often say they would love to see a member of the royal family take to the dancefloor, he thinks music mogul Simon – who was behind ITV’s former ‘Strictly’ rival ‘The X Factor’ – would be a worthy contender on the series.
Speaking on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’, he said: “We always dream of royalty but I always say I would like to see Simon Cowell on it.
“I think he’d suit the costumes, I think his wit would be brilliant, and I would love it. It would be sort of good, a little bit of a taste of his own medicine I suppose.”
Craig – who is a regular in pantomime and recently starred as Miss Hannigan in a UK tour of ‘Annie’ – went on to defend his own reputation as a “completely honest” judge on the show, and he quashed recent rumours that he might step back from the panel.
He said: “I think people deserve the truth at some stage in their lives and that is why I’m there, to be completely honest and straight down the line. Hopefully, in order for them to become better dancers. That is my only intention. It’s not to slag people off for no reason at all. It’s not about that. I’m a trained professional and I react to the dancing that I see. It’s only fair that I’m honest with them.
“And I’m not leaving, by the way. I am not leaving. I want to quash any of those rumours out there!”
Craig and his fellow judges will be taking part in the upcoming ‘Strictly Come Dancing Live!’ arena tour, which will see recent winner Ellie Leach, runners up Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams as well as a host of other star contestants from the most recent series take the show around the country, and he joked his co-stars take some “controlling” when on the road.
He said: “Judges Shirley and Anton are both very naughty on the tour. They take some controlling on the tour, darling, that’s all I’m saying!”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘BBC Breakfast’ will be extended by 15 minutes each day, as part of a schedule shakeup.
The news programme – which has aired on the channel since 2000 and continues to be the most-watched programme block of its type in the UK – normally airs from 6am until 9:15am on weekdays, but will now wrap up at 9:30am, according to host Jon Kay.
On Monday (01.01.24), he wrote on X: “It’s a big week for the #BBCBreakfast team. From now on, the programme will be 15 minutes longer Mon-Fri.”
Jon – who fronts the programme with Sally Nugent from Monday to Wednesday while Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt take the reins for the rest of the week – also revealed BBC magazine show ‘Morning Live’ will be extended, too.
He added: “Then at 0930 our friends and neighbours @BBCMorningLive take over – and their show has been extended, too! The UK’s two biggest morning shows just got BIGGER! (sic)”
‘Morning Live’ – which is hosted by Michelle Ackerley, Gethin Jones, Kym Marsh and Helen Skelton – was launched in October 2020 in Manchester following the channel’s move from Broadcasting House in London.
Last year, the ‘BBC Breakfast’ studios underwent a makeover for the first time in a number of years, with bosses promising viewers they would enjoy tuning in to see a “bright, modern space” on their screens.
Richard Frediani, BBC Breakfast Editor, commented: “After celebrating 10 years in Salford and 40 years on BBC One it was time for a new look and studio for the UK’s most watched morning show.
“Breakfast is how millions of Britons start their day, and I hope they’ll enjoy seeing their favourite presenters in a bright, modern space.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Georgia Kousoulou has made Tommy Mallet “sign a contract” so they can get married for a second time.
The 32-year-old reality star initially tied the knot with ‘TOWIE’ co-star Tommy, 31, towards the end of last year in a secret ceremony, but she has now revealed they plan to have a more lavish ceremony in Spain next year, and she has bound him to a contract after fearing he wouldn’t go through with another set of nuptials.
She told OK! Magazine: “I have made Tommy sign a contract – I wrote it myself – so the Spain wedding still happens.
“I was worried he would go, ‘We are married now,’ but it has done me a favour. It has made him want to get married even more! Part two will be so different. There were some things we didn’t do for part one, so we can do them in Spain.
“Part two will be so different. There were some things we didn’t do for part one, so we can do them in Spain.”
Georgia – who struck up a relationship with Tommy almost a decade ago, and now has two-year-old son Brody with him – wants the second wedding to be “special”, because her family will be there and she is planning to give her little one a role in the proceedings.
She said: “I want the second one to feel so special. We will do all the vows, the first dance, my dad walking me down the aisle – we wanted to keep that for part two.
“Brody didn’t have a role last time around, but he will. He will be a bit older. He can maybe carry the rings.”
Georgia and Tommy – who documented their journey to parenthood on the ITVBe series ‘Georgia and Tommy: Baby Steps’ – decided to push their second wedding back to 2025 after she suffered a miscarriage.
She said: “We have pushed it back to 2025. Because of losing the baby … I want a baby first. This series of ‘Baby Steps’ is a full 360. We go through all of the little things. It is all of the aftermath, then we got married.
“It was an intimate thing. I pushed part two back as it relieves a lot of pressure. Basically, it was Tommy’s idea. First of all I was really upset – I think deep down it was the best thing to do but I just didn’t want to hear it.”
At the time of their initial wedding, Georgia revealed to her two million followers that they had decided to go through with the secret wedding so they could end such a “challenging year” on a high.
She wrote on Instagram: “1st December… we done a thing. After a challenging year. We decided we wanted to end the year happy, in love together as husband wife. wedding part 2 coming soon. (sic)”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Tony Audenshaw thinks it is “extraordinary” ‘Emmerdale’ managed to cast real-life twins.
The 59-year-old actor plays Bob Hope on the ITV1 soap opera and saw his character welcome children Heath and Cathy (played by Sebastian and Gabrielle Dowling) in 2007, but after the shock death of his on-screen son – who was killed in a car crash on New Year’s Day – the star admitted the two of them have been “brilliant” since starting on the show as babies.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s been brilliant because they’re the kids that were here since they were born.
“I remember, and it doesn’t seem that long ago since we shot up on the moors the babies being born.
“It just doesn’t seem that long ago and obviously it’s nearly 17 years now. And for those two, it has been totally part of their life. It’s been their lives since they were babies. We come into a show after 30, 40 years or whatever of our lives – but it has always been their lives. And I think it’s quite extraordinary that they’re real twins and the playing real twins. They’re fabulous kids, the two of them; they’re absolutely brilliant. They’re lovely.”
Tony admitted it is often “difficult” for young actors on soaps, because their screen time can be so sporadic they end up coming back to set “rusty” after months of time away.
He said: “He’s always been there. There were great stretches of time when they weren’t used at all and they’d be in it like twice a year. I think it’s always difficult for young actors – when we have a few months off, you always come back rusty, you think, ‘ooh, can I still do it?’
“You always feel a bit awkward. And I think it’s probably more difficult for kids coming back in when they’re not used much.
“We all get on dead well and it’s gonna be quite an emotional time, I think, over the next couple of weeks.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof’ has been shelved by the BBC after one series.
The Holly Willoughby and Lee Mack-fronted show saw celebrities take on epic adventures amid freezing temperatures with Iceman Wim, who pushed their minds to the limit, but there are no current plans for a second series.
A TV insider told The Sun newspaper: “This bad news caps off what’s been an extremely difficult year for Holly, which has seen her drastically reassess her life and career.
“Having ‘Freeze the Fear’ axed reduces her options and leaves a question mark over where she goes next after leaving her biggest gig as co-host of ‘This Morning’.
“It’s also disappointing for her husband Dan, who runs the production company Hungry Bear that made the show.
“But they’ll be consoled with the fact that this month they’ll be delivering ‘Michael McIntyre’s Big Show’ and ‘Gladiators’ for BBC One.”
A BBC spokesman said: “There are no immediate plans for another series of Freeze the Fear on the BBC.”
Holly – who is married to TV producer Dan Baldwin – quit ‘This Morning’ in October, following her discovery of an alleged plot to kidnap her.
But it was recently confirmed the 42-year-old star will return to co-host ‘Dancing on Ice’ alongside new sidekick Stephen Mulhern later this month.
Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, said: “Holly and Stephen are two of our best loved presenters, so reuniting them 20 years after they first appeared on screen together to host ‘Dancing on Ice’ marks the start of an exciting year for the show. Celebrating 20 years since they first worked together on ‘Ministry of Mayhem’, Willoughby and Mulhern will preside over the action on the high octane skating show as this year’s celebrities compete to become champion of the ice. Judges Torvill and Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse are back on the panel.”.
Stephen has replaced Holly’s former ‘This Morning’ co-host Phillip Schofield on ‘Dancing on Ice’, after he quit ITV last year after admitting he lied to bosses of the brunchtime show about an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Claudia Winkleman wants to take a “massive slap” of CBD with Tess Daly when they are both retired from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 51-year-old presenter – who has kids Jake, 19, Matilda, 15, and 10-year-old Arthur with husband Kris Thykier – fronts the BBC Latin and ballroom show in the run-up to Christmas every year with Tess, 54, and after admitting she rarely touches alcohol but once tried “full-fat CBD capsules”, the star claimed she would invite her co-star to indulge once their TV careers are over.
Asked if she would ever take CBD capsules again, she is quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as saying: “Maybe. When the kids have left home. When I’m alone and fired from everything, I’ll text Tess ‘Babe, do you remember when we used to do ‘Strictly’? Can I come to yours and just say, ‘The judge’s scores are in!’ Then maybe, yes, I’ll take a massive slab of it!”
The ‘Traitors’ host has been a regular face on television since the early 2000s and during that time has become noted for sporting a thick black fringe.
Claudia revealed the hairdo was how she used to make sure she became known in the industry.
She said: “Because I have a fringe. I used to get work because if you couldn’t remember a name, they’d say ‘That weird one with a fringe.'”
Last year, Claudia revealed she threatened to quit ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ because of a scheduling disagreement that clashed with taking her son to university.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’, she said: “I phoned the boss of ‘Strictly’, quite dramatically and said through tears, ‘Sarah, I love you and I never want to leave, but if the first show is September 13th, I’m out’. It’s not because I love him more than other people love their kids. I think this is something that parents have to go through and I don’t know how it’s going to work exactly.’
“And there was a beat. And she said, ‘Quite dramatic. We don’t start that week.’ ”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Michelle Collins is heading back to the UK after paying £100 for an emergency passport when she was left stranded in Spain.
The 61-year-old actress – who plays Cindy Beale in ‘EastEnders’ – has reassured viewers she is able to go home after she purchased an emergency document, after losing her passport at Malaga airport on New Year’s Day (01.01.24).
Michelle had taken to X to appeal for help after she was left stranded in Spain, but she managed to book an appointment at the British Consulate on Tuesday morning (02.01.24) to get her travel plans back on track.
She wrote: “Going home ! Sorted online , paid 100 quid for emergency document , appt this morning at 9 am at british consul . (sic)”
Michelle admitted it was a “stressful” experience, but she was just glad to be “safe, fit and healthy”.
She added: “Phew little stressful to say the least but could’ve been lot worse am safe , fit and healthy
“Thanks to all the lovely people on here and friends who helped me xx (sic)”
On Monday, Michelle wasn’t allowed to board an easyJet flight after losing her passport.
In a New Year’s Day plea to the airline, she wrote on X: “Please @easyJet can you help me I have lost my passport at Malaga airport the police ( I have been there ) say it is up to the airline to let me fly home ,, my flight is at 8 30 pm tonight I am heading to the airport having just left the police station . Thank you Michele x (sic)”
She later posted: “Nobody is very helpful @easyJet this is awful (sic)”
Michelle later updated fans, and revealed she wasn’t allowed to fly after trying to obtain a temporary passport from the embassy, but it was closed.
She added: “Thank you most of you for your helpful comments , I wasn’t allowed to fly , went to embassy was closed applied for an emergency document online so let’s see what happens will go there when it opens in the morning . (sic)”
Despite admitting she was due to film ‘EastEnders’ scenes, Michelle tried to look on the bright side by reflecting that she was “alive and safe”.
She posted: “Supposed to be filming @bbceastenders but I m alive and safe (sic)”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘Derry Girls’ creator Lisa McGee finds the disparity between male and females employed in the TV business “incredibly depressing”.
The 43-year-old writer spoke out after the publication of a report from the Creative Diversity Network that analyses the gender disparity of those working behind the scenes at broadcasters.
She told The Irish Times about the findings: “The schemes and programmes created to address this very issue seem to, at best, merely paper over the cracks or, if I were to be cynical, were not created with the intention of creating real change.
“There’s a real sense of exhaustion out there among my fellow writers.
“People are asking why men are still writing female stories when that certainly doesn’t go both ways – male writers dominate most genres.”
Lisa – who won an Emmy this year for her work on Channel 4’s ‘Derry Girls’ – added women in television would be “disappointed by the fall” their representation within the business – but not “shocked”.
The gender report analysed six years of data provided by television broadcasters such as ITV, BBC and Sky and showed the amount of women directing television programmes was down 6 per cent over the six-year period studied.
It also found the amount of television programmes written by women had plunged from 43 per cent to 32 per cent.
And the report found female directors are more likely to be working on serial dramas than long-running dramas, while the overall amount of directors are aged between 40 and 49 years old.
Lisa is set to return to Channel 4 in 2024 with a new thriller comedy ‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’.
It will follow school friends Saoirse, Robyn and Dara who are now aged in their 30s who find themselves caught up in a mystery after an old classmate dies.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Jamie Dornan says he is getting too old to pull off his TV show stunts.
The ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ actor, 41, had to tackle a series of daredevil scenes that wrecked his already “dodgy” shoulder during the making of the second series of his hit thriller series ‘The Tourist’, which makes a comeback on the BBC on New Year’s Day.
He told the Irish Post: “I had to hang off a cliff for a long time. I was harnessed but you couldn’t really see it and the whole point of the scene is that I’m hanging there for a comically long period of time.
“So, this does mean to film it, I really was hanging there for a long time, and I have a dodgy shoulder which really paid the price for hanging there for a whole morning.
“That was the most tricky and annoying scene to shoot because I’m an old man and my shoulders don’t work.”
Jamie, who is married to composer Amelia Warner, 41, with whom he has three daughters, is returning in ‘The Tourist’ as Elliot, and it sees him and probationary constable Helen Chambers (played by Danielle Macdonald) continuing to hunt for answers relating to his lost identity.
The Northern Irishman said the drama, which was shot in his homeland, is like a “a Tourism Ireland advert” due to its scenery.
Its first series followed amnesia-stricken car crash survivor Elliot from Northern Ireland who attempts to retrace his life before unravelling a larger mystery, with the action happening while the character is stranded in Australia’s outback.
Jamie said about being an executive producer on the second series of the programme: “It’s been great. It was one of those opportunities that presented itself to me and I was excited to do it.
“It’s also nice to do it in a capacity where I already have the relationship with everyone involved and to come into this realm having already committed so much to the project.
“It’s been nice to have a bit more say over the creative aspects of the show and it’s something I’m proud of.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Jimmy Carr is fretting artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity.
The ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’ host, 51, also said he’s worried the masses are not doing enough to fight the looming threat, which has also been highlighted this year by the world’s leading technology experts.
Jimmy said on Matt Morgan’s latest podcast his fears were sparked that humans could be destroyed by Terminator-style cyborgs after he read a book by Toby Ord titled ‘The Precipice’, which claims there is a one-in-10 chance AI could destroy mankind in the next century – and states the tech is more of a threat to us than climate change.
Jimmy said: “The climate crisis is on the list, he goes, ‘Yeah it’s bad but it won’t wipe us out, it won’t wipe out humanity, AI could wipe out humanity.’”
The TV presenter added he does not fear nuclear weapons could make humans extinct, but still worries they could be used to wipe out swathes of the population.
Jimmy also told on the podcast how he once met Tony Blair, 70, and the former UK prime minister hinted there had been secret probes into alien life, about which even those in power were kept in the dark over.
The comic said he and TV cook Jamie Oliver, 48, cornered Tony at a party to ask him about UFOs.
He said: “We’re sort of quite drunk, a bit giddy and excited, and Tony Blair was in the corner of the room.
“We went, ‘We should go and ask him something.’
“I was like, ‘I don’t know, what are we going to ask him?’
“We sort of concocted the plan,: ‘Why don’t we go and ask him if there’s aliens.’
“Jamie chips in and goes, ‘Are there aliens?’ And (Tony) gave like a really good, sort of really good political answer – and he goes, ‘It’s a need-to-know basis. I would be told if I needed to know. If I don’t need to know then they don’t tell me.’”

Source: VacationHunter.Online