Love Islanders including Kodie Murphy setting sail to world’s first ‘OnlyFans Island’

OHMYGOSSIP — Love Islanders including Kodie Murphy are getting ready to set sail to the world’s first ‘OnlyFans Island’ – where influencers will compete to see who can shoot the raunchiest content.
The Casa Amor bombshell, 21, made waves in the last series of the ITV2 dating show, and is now hoping to make millions by shooting raunchy content at the exotic location.
He and two other Love Islanders – whose names are still to be released – have signed up to influencer management firm the Rebel Agency, which is running the island contest.
The competition will see its roster of kinky influencers set up camp on a luxury island where they will partner up with other influencers just like on Love Island.
Unlike the ITV dating show, they will shoot no holds barred content, and the couple voted to have captured the steamiest romps will be crown king and queen of the island.
Kodie – who has just launched his £11-per-month OnlyFans account – told the Daily Star: “I can’t wait to get going to the island.
“I’ve already started giving my fanbase what they want on OnlyFans, and I’ve told some of them more is to come from an exotic island.
“I can’t wait to team up with other influencers and Islanders and see what we come up with.
“It’s going to be brilliant, and I’m hoping the videos I’m going to be shooting there are going to make me seven figures.”
Rebel Agency CEO Jordan Smith came up with the concept of an ‘OnlyFans Island’ after the success of a Playboy-style mansion he has opened in the English countryside.
Dubbed ‘Rebel Mansion’, in the past month it has seen the world’s kinkiest influencers come to party and film content with each other.
The digital entrepreneur said: “Our clients have made themselves millions from the content they have shot and sold at our ‘Rebel Mansion’.
“It seemed like a no-brainer to extend the concept and start bringing them together at a ‘Rebel Island’ location.”
Jordan said the location of the island is being kept secret until the contest launches as the Rebel Mansion has been hit with stalker scares.
He added: “We have had to beef up security at the Rebel Mansion after two fans found out where it was and sneaked onto the grounds.
“But we’ve got minders, CCTV and even drone patrols there now to keep our clients safe.
“The location of the island will be released when the content is released as we don’t want any obsessed fans getting boats over to try and watch the action.”
Jordan says his clients have made at least £12million in profits from the videos and pictures they have shot at the Rebel Mansion.
He added: “The island content is going to be the raunchiest ever and it should set help set some of them up for life once we start releasing it.
“We’re going to livestream the contest and have fans judge which footage should win for being the most X-rated and creative.”
Along with focusing on boosting OnlyFans creators’ revenue, Rebel Agency represents some of the world’s other biggest influencers on platforms including Instagram, TikTok and X.
Jordan said: “Any of them are welcome to set sail to the island too, but it’s going to be no-holds barred so it probably isn’t the best fit for some of their images.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

‘We’re done’: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to leave ‘The Grand Tour’

OHMYGOSSIP — Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are to leave ‘The Grand Tour’.
The trio have opted to depart the Amazon Prime series after five seasons, bringing an end to the popular presenting partnership that started on the BBC’s ‘Top Gear’ in 2003.
Asked if the hosts were leaving, Jeremy told The Times newspaper: “We’re done. I have reviewed cars on TV since 1989. That’s 34 years. And after next year, I won’t be doing that any more.”
‘The Grand Tour’ launched in 2016 when the trio secured a big-money deal with the streamer following Clarkson’s departure from the BBC the previous year amid a fracas with a ‘Top Gear’ producer, however the presenters are now keen to focus on their individual projects.
A TV insider told The Sun newspaper: “It’s a surprising decision and everyone realises it very much marks the end of an era for the three presenters. ‘The Grand Tour’ is one of Prime Video’s most watched shows and Jeremy, James and Richard have a devoted following. But the guys have made no bones about the fact they’re all advancing in years and they have lots of other projects to pursue.
“They just felt like the time was right and wanted to go out on a high when the show remained popular.”
The publication added that Amazon could continue to make the car show but with a new team of hosts.
Jeremy, 63, is set to release at least one more series of his popular show ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ on Prime Video while James, 60, has another of his ‘Our Man In…’ travelogues in India coming to the streamer very soon.
The news has been revealed just a week following the BBC’s announcement that ‘Top Gear’ would be “rested for the foreseeable future” after presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff suffered serious injuries in an accident while filming last year.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Improvised dating show based on ‘Sex and the City’ in the works!

OHMYGOSSIP — An unscripted dating show based on the ‘Sex and the City’ book is in the pipeline.
The series is in the works at Bunim/Murray Productions, according to Variety, and will be titled ‘Is There Still Sex in the City’ in a nod to writer Candace Bushnell‘s book that inspired the hit show starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
It’s said the programme will follow four friends in their fifties as they navigate the immersive dating experience in a “love do-over” where they trade in their busy city lives for a “dating utopia”.
Variety said a pitch for the show read: “They’ll live together in a cosy country chateau where they’ll have their pick of a different group of men in each episode.
“They’ll try the boy toys, sample a senior age player, be romanced by the rich guys and even get to flirt with their fantasy man. But in the end, who will really steal their hearts, and will our ladies be able to bring the sex back to the city?”
Bunim/Murray, a division of Banijay Americas, is set to take the new series out to potential buyers next month.
Candace, 64, said: “Fifty-something women (and above) are the hottest new dating demographic, and I should know – I am one of them.
“Over the decades, I’ve dated men of all ages and I’m so excited to be working on a show that combines my passion for relationships with the chance to help women, like me, navigate a love do-over.”
Bunim/Murray president Julie Pizzi said: “We feel that Candace’s brand has grown with her audience and her expertise in the dating space is an incredible entry point for an immersive dating experiment.”
Famously known as the real-life Carrie Bradshaw, Candace invented the character as an alter-ego while writing her 1996 novel.
The book inspired HBO’s popular series of the same name, which ran for six seasons, spawned two movies and a TV reboot called ‘And Just Like That’.
Candace’s other books include ‘Four Blondes’, ‘Lipstick Jungle’ and ‘The Carrie Diaries’ – with the latter two also being made into network TV series on NBC and The CW respectively, for two seasons each.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Cailee Spaeny reveals ‘Alien: Romulus’ will be set between first and second movies in sci-fi franchise

OHMYGOSSIP — Cailee Spaeny says the upcoming ‘Alien: Romulus’ film will be set between the first and second movies in the franchise.
The ‘Priscilla’ star, 25, has landed a leading role in the Fede Alvarez-directed revival in the series, which had been described as a standalone story in the aliens universe.
But she told Variety at the Gotham film awards about the film, due out in August 2024: “It’s supposed to slot in between the first movie and the second movie.
“They brought the same team from ‘Aliens,’ the James Cameron film. The same people who built those xenomorphs actually came on and built ours.
“So getting to see the original design with the original people who have been working on these films for 45-plus years and has been so much of their life has been really incredible.”
Ridley Scott’s original 1979 sci-fi horror film concluded with Sigourney Weaver’s heroine Ellen Ripley hurling a xenomorph out of her escape pod and putting herself into cryogenic sleep for a voyage back to humanity.
Seven years later, James Cameron’s ‘Aliens’ showed her being rescued from deep sleep before she ended up accompanying a military mission to investigate a potential xenomorph attack on a space colony.
Referring to her part in 2018’s ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’, Cailee added: “My first film was big-budget sci-fi. I feel like I’m going back to that world. And I have so much fun.
“I like trying to do as many different things as I can. So I swapped my high heels and my beehive for spacesuits and lots of wire work.
“I love watching those old ’70s, ’80s action sci-fi films. And I’m such a fan of that IP and Sigourney Weaver. It’s legendary to get to be a part of it.”
Cailee was nominated for outstanding lead performance for her role as Elvis Presley’s wife in ‘Priscilla’, but it went to Lily Gladstone, 37, for her work in ‘The Unknown Country’.

Source: IconInsider.com

Brookside legend Dean Sullivan dies aged 68

OHMYGOSSIP — Dean Sullivan has died aged 68.
The ‘Brookside’ legend – who played Jimmy Corkhill on the Channel 4 soap from 1986 to 2003, becoming the show’s longest serving cast member – passed away peacefully on Wednesday (29.11.23) after a short illness.
A statement from Hamilton Management and his family said: “To millions he was and very much still is remembered as ‘Jimmy’, to family and friends he was ‘Dino’.
“Dean’s family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support.
“We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief.”
His cause of death has not been confirmed.
Sullivan was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, and last year he was discharged by his doctor after radiotherapy.
He urged people to “listen to their bodies” while sharing his own early symptoms.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “The strength of my flow when I used to go to the loo to have a pee was reduced.
“The first time I went to the doctor’s surgery he said, ‘we’ll just keep an eye on it and see how you go on’. It was a few weeks later, I just knew that wasn’t right.”
He went back to see a doctor who “specialised in prostate treatment”, and he was set up with a consultant “within tow weeks”.
He added: “If I’d have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut. 11 times out of 10, you’re right. We’ve still got that fight or flight instinct.”
Sullivan joined the ‘Brookside’ cast in 1986, four years into its run, and went onto become one of its most memorable characters until it was cancelled in 2003.
During his stint on the show, the Liverpool-born star won two British Soap Awards, including a special recognition prize.
Other credits included the likes of ‘Doctors’, ‘The Royal’ and ‘Crime Stories’, while last year he appeared in Netflix short film ‘Wings’.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Sebastian Stan to star as a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice biopic

OHMYGOSSIP — Sebastian Stan is to play a young Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice’.
The 41-year-old actor has been cast as the former US president in a new biopic from the acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi while Maria Bakalova and ‘Succession’ star Jeremy Strong are also set to feature in prominent roles.
‘The Apprentice’ has been billed an exploration of both power and ambition and will chart Trump’s attempts to build his real estate business in New York during the 1970s and 1980s, as well as delving into his relationship with the infamous attorney Roy Cohn.
Sources have told Deadline that Strong will portray Cohn, with ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ actress Bakalova taking on the part of Trump’s first wife Ivana.
The picture is being written by Gabriel Sherman, whose biography of the disgraced Fox News chief Roger Ailes ‘The Loudest Voice in the Room’ inspired the TV series ‘The Loudest Voice’ – which starred Russell Crowe as Ailes.
‘The Apprentice’ is the latest chapter in Sebastian’s versatile acting career – which includes the role of the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as well as playing Motley Crue rocker Tommy Lee in the Hulu miniseries ‘Pam and Tommy’.
The star recalled his “pretty wild” transformation into the drummer and explained how he only saw co-star Lily James – who played ‘Baywatch’ icon Pamela – in character for the first time after filming had wrapped.
Sebastian told Entertainment Tonight: “It’s really wild, with Lily, because the first time I saw her as herself was actually at the end of the shoot five months later, and I was like, ‘Who are you?’ That’s when we actually formally met.”
The ‘Avengers: Endgame’ star explained that the shoot was so demanding as it took several hours for the pair to get into character.
He said: “I think it took two hours for myself and then three hours for Lily almost every morning. Then you pile that on to a 12-hour day and it just definitely gets interesting by the end.”

Source: IconInsider.com

BBC star Clive Myrie’s travel show green-lit for season 2

OHMYGOSSIP — Clive Myrie’s travel show will be receiving a second season.
The BBC broadcaster, 59, whisked viewers away to show them the wonders of Italy in ‘Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip’ earlier this year, and it has now been revealed the star has more of the world he wants to showcase.
As reported by The Sun newspaper’s TVBiz column, Clive will be heading to the Caribbean next, which will no doubt have a special place in his heart, given that his parents came from Jamaica.
A TV insider said: “The first series proved so popular that doing a second was a no-brainer — and could lead to even more in the future.
“Clive has become a bit of a national treasure with his soothing style on the news, contrasting with a more fun, endearing side of him displayed on his road trips.
“Italy was somewhere he has always loved, having holidayed there on numerous occasions, but his visit to the Caribbean will have a more personal feel to it.”
The ‘Mastermind’ presenter showed off the sights all over Italy in the first season, heading to many iconic destinations, including Lazio, Florence and Capri to give viewers a closer look at the country.
Clive also travelled to Venice, and had a go trying to steer a gondola, which was something he struggled with.
He told the Daily Express newspaper: “Trying to steer a gondola was really hard. I know programme makers would love me falling in.
“But I was not going to fall in, so I’m gripping this oar which is huge, I’m gripping it for dear life.
“You have got the oar and you are maneuvering it in a cup that’s on the edge of a vessel all with just gentle movements of the wrist and it’s so difficult.
“I just didn’t want to fall in because there was no way I could have gone to the producers and said ‘Look, you can’t put that in, cut that out’, and that’s what’s really hard.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Only Fools And Horses prop was saved from bin could sell for thousands

OHMYGOSSIP — A rare water bottle used in ‘Only Fools And Horses’ could sell for a hefty price.
The prop was used as one of Del Boy’s bottles of Peckham Spring in the 1992 Christmas special of the BBC sitcom, which saw Sir David Jason’s character try to sell his tap water as of the mineral variety created “from an ancient and natural source”.
The bottle was kept by a camera operator after filming, and it is being sold by Auctioneum of Bristol with an estimate of £3,000 to £5,000.
The spokesperson for the auction house Andrew Stowe revealed that the prop was rescued from a glass recycling bin, because its owner thought it held no value.
He said: “A couple of hundred bottles were made for filming, and when it concluded, any extras were given away to the cast and crew as souvenirs.”
Andrew then emphasised that the bottle was very rare, as only a small handful are still around.
He added: “Less than 20 are thought to survive, most being lost or thrown away over the years.”
The bottle is part of a British Comedy Auction that is being held by Auctioneum Ltd. on December 8.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Lyndhurst (Rodney Trotter) has been dubbed “the most talented actor” ‘Frasier’ star Kelsey Grammer has ever worked with.
The pair have been working together on the rebooted comedy show for Paramount+, and the American TV icon has nothing but good things to say about Nicolas.
He told Deadline: “He’s stealth warfare. He is just the sneakiest most talented actor I’ve ever worked with.
“We worked together in ­London on the musical, Man of La Mancha [in 2019].
“We made plans to get [our partners] together and we became best friends. So when the idea of Frasier having a best friend came into the mix, it was always Nicholas.
“I asked him when we were back in England if he’d like to be in the new Frasier. He said, ‘Are you kidding? I would do anything to work with you again every day for the rest of my life.’ The feeling is mutual.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

‘I cannot wait!’ Helen Flanagan announces exciting acting comeback

OHMYGOSSIP — Helen Flanagan has announced plans to return to acting.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star – who played Rosie Webster on the cobbles from 2000 until her exit in 2018 – has since appeared on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’, but has largely stayed away from acting.
This week, she confirmed her casting as Miss Scarlett in a theatre production based on classic board game Cluedo.
She wrote: “I am super excited to announce that I will be making my stage debut as Miss Scarlett in the UK tour of ‘Cluedo 2: The Next Chapter’ @cluedostageplay. I can not wait to play this iconic character and start the tour early next year. Hope to see you all in a theatre near you in 2024.”
Her former ‘Corrie’ co-stars and ‘I’m A Celebrity’ campmates were quick to react to the exciting announcement.
Lucy Fallon replied: “Ahh amazing Helen xxx”
Sally Ann Matthews commented: “Fab news! x” And Carol Vorderman added: “Hoorayyyy.”
Helen had quit ‘Corrie’ to focus on being a mother to children Matilda, seven, Delilah, four, and Charlie, two, who she shares with footballer Scott Sinclair, 34.
And just last month, the proud mum admitted while she was desperate to return to acting, her family life meant she’s too busy for a TV career.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: “I definitely want to do some more acting, I really want to.
“There are so many things I want to do. But I’m just so busy with my kids.
“It’s difficult. I’m sure my time will come though.”
Despite happily co-parenting with Scott, with whom she split from 13 years ago, Helen has found that her hands are very full with being a mother.
Speaking with OK! last year, she recalled the horrifying moment she lost one of her children during a visit to the supermarket: “I was in a supermarket with Matilda and I must have turned my back for one second.
“I just remember having that horrible, sinking feeling [when she wandered off]. I always keep my eyes on my kids, but I couldn’t see her for about one minute.
“There’s nothing worse than that – it is the worst, worst, worst feeling in the world. I can’t explain it.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

The Traitors gets spin off show for new series

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘The Traitors’ is getting a spin-off podcast.
The BBC’s game of bluff and deception is returning for a second season early in 2024 with Claudia Winkleman at the helm, but fans will be treated to even more content for the upcoming run.
As reported by The Sun newspaper’s TVBiz column, the BBC is planning a podcast delving into all the drama and treachery.
It’s said each episode will feature celebrity superfans breaking down the events.
Meanwhile, the BBC Sounds podcast will also be filmed for television.
The main series sees 22 strangers pulled together in a Scottish castle, facing daily challenges to increase the cash prize.
However, among the Faithfuls are three Traitors, with the group tasked with eliminating one of their own in a bid to get rid of the Traitors.
News of the podcast comes as the broadcaster has already commissioned a third run, with applications open for people wanting to become one of the 22 strangers taking part.
Earlier this month Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, said: “The massive unscripted hit ‘The Traitors’ will be back for a third series.
“Expect to see more psychological gameplay, exciting challenges and of course Claudia at the helm.
“It will be a thrilling ride for both avid fans and newcomers to the series for sure. The BBC will always remain faithful to ‘The Traitors.’ ”
Studio Almbert CEO, Stephen Lambert, added: “We’re delighted a third series of ‘The Traitors’ has been confirmed today ahead of the second series’ arrival on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
“‘The Traitors’ has been so warmly received by viewers, critics and award juries alike.
“Claudia and the team look forward to keeping audiences on the edge of their seats again with ever more thrilling missions and exceptional players competing in this gripping game of bluff and skill.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Disney boss Bob Iger is aiming to revive the Marvel Cinematic Universe

OHMYGOSSIP — Disney chief Bob Iger is prioritising a return to success for Marvel.
The 72-year-old media executive – who made a surprise return as Disney boss after his short-lived successor Bob Chapel was ousted last year – feels that the studio has made “too many” movies in recent years that has led to a decline in box office performance and is desperate to get back on to a successful path.
Speaking at The New York Times DealBook summit, Iger said: “Quality needs attention to deliver quality, it doesn’t happen by accident. And quantity, in our case, diluted quality – and Marvel has suffered greatly from that.
“I would say right now my number one priority is to help the studio turn around creatively.”
Iger believes that Disney have made “too many sequels” that have not been well received by either critics or audiences – a statement justified by recent blockbuster ‘The Marvels’ bombing at the box office.
He said: “There has to be a good reason to make them.
“Often, the story is not as strong as the original story, that can be a problem, but it just has to have a reason, you have to have a reason to make it beyond commerce.
“There has to be an artistic reason to make it, and we’ve made too many.”
Iger also cited a lack of executive control of movies that were shot during the coronavirus pandemic – including ‘The Marvels’ – as a potential reason for the reduction in quality.
He said: “‘The Marvels’ was shot during Covid, there wasn’t as much supervision on the set, so to speak, where we have executives there, really looking over what’s being done day after day after day.”

Source: IconInsider.com

‘It’s not a straightforward Marvel movie’: Wyatt Russell teases complex Thunderbolts plot

OHMYGOSSIP — Wyatt Russell has promised that ‘Thunderbolts’ will be far from a “straightforward” Marvel film.
The 37-year-old actor is playing John Walker/US Agent in the forthcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project and has full confidence that director Jake Schreier will make a picture that differs from a typical superhero flick.
Speaking at an event in New York with his father Kurt Russell on Wednesday (29.11.23), Wyatt told the audience: “I know [director Jake Schreier] so well and I know how smart Jake is and how much he cares about making something interesting and different and utilising everyone’s talents to the best of their ability. And the story that I think they’ve come up with is really interesting — I know parts of the story and how the story works, I can’t talk about it.”
The movie – which features Florence Pugh, Harrison Ford and David Harbour – is slated for release in 2025 and Wyatt explained how the cast and crew are hard at work to impress Marvel fans amid suggestions of ‘superhero fatigue’ having an impact on box office performance.
The ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ actor said: “But it’s not a straightforward Marvel movie as you’ve seen in the past. I think that it’s gonna be a lot of fun but I think it will be something that hopefully Marvel fans will look at and go, ‘Oh OK, this is a little different, let’s go hard at it.’ And as far as how we are approaching it, it’s time to go to work a little bit, it’s time to make a good Marvel movie so let’s do that and work hard at it and don’t take things for granted.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Fred Sirieix is always ‘taking his clothes off’

OHMYGOSSIP — Fred Sirieix always “wants to take his clothes off”.
‘First Dates’ waitress Laura Tott, 29, has admitted the 51-year-old Maitre d’ is proud of his figure and loves to show it off, with ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ fans already seeing that during his workouts with Marvin Humes.
She told new! magazine: “I think I’ve seen the top half of Fred’s body more than I’ve seen my own.
“When we’re filming, he’s like, ‘Do you want me in Speedos?’ He just wants to take his clothes off.
“We’ve seen it already, like on the platform with Marvin. His shift was straight off and he had the smallest shorts on.
“That man will take any opportunity because he’s worked so hard.”
She revealed her co-star works out every day, which is the reason he has such a big appetite all the time.
She recalled: “When we were filming in Italy, I’d be eating croissants and he’d have just done 300 press-ups!
“That’s why he can eat so much. I’ve never known someone to eat as much as Fred.”
Laura insisted everyone has a thing for Fred – who is engaged to fiancee Fruitcake – whether it’s because of his looks or his personality.
She added: “Half the country love him for his personality and the other half fancy him – men and women. Everyone fancies Fred.”
And she is backing him to go all the way in ‘I’m A Celebrity’, while she reckons he could even try to reapply in 2024 if he isn’t crowned King of the Jungle this year.
She said: “Yes, he’s definitely got a chance of winning. He’s just a normal guy and he’s provided a lot of entertainment already.
“And Fred won’t have it any other way. He’s the most competitive person. If he didn’t win, I think he’d go back in and do it again.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Strictly’s Ellie Leach terrified of hurting dance partner during routine

OHMYGOSSIP — Ellie Leach was petrified she would hurt ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ partner Vito Coppola during their routine.
The ‘Coronation Street’ star, 22, has been putting on her dancing shoes every week on the BBC show, with her most recent performance being an Argentine tango, which required Ellie to step on Vito’s thighs whilst she wore high heels.
During an appearance on spinoff show ‘It Takes Two’, host Janette Manrara asked Vito if the move was painful.
He admitted: “Yeah, actually my calf was screaming, there are a few bruises here.”
The ITV soap star then added that she was terrified of performing the move all week out of fears that she would injure her partner.
She said: “I was actually really scared to do that and throughout the week, we’d get to that bit and I’d be like, ‘I don’t want to do it’.
“I’d kind of like freeze, because I felt like I was hurting you.”
Vito then jumped in to reassure her that she should’t have been concerned.
He said: “I just told her to go for it, don’t worry.”
Luckily, the pain Vito endured as a result of the move was worth it, as the pair topped the leaderboard with a jaw-dropping 38 points, with contestants Bobby Brazier and Dianne Bushwell trailing close behind with 37 points.
The pair have gotten closer and closer over the course of performing on the BBC show, with Ellie revealing to Bella magazine what her favourite things about Vito were.
She said: “I love that you want to be a teacher who brings fun into the training room, because that’s what you need.
“As well as pushing me and the hard work, we just really enjoy ourselves … I just laugh at Vito all the time, even when he’s trying to be serious.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

BBC makes sweeping Newsnight cuts

OHMYGOSSIP — The BBC has sparked controversy with sweeping ‘Newsnight’ cuts.
The move comes after the TV licence free was frozen at £159 for two years in 2022, with the company also struggling to cope with the effects of inflation.
According to the BBC, over half of the current 57 reporters on Newsnight will be let go, leaving only 23.
Mark Urban, who has hosted the show for decades, took to X (formally Twitter) to express the disappointment he had in losing so many of his colleagues.
In a post to the social media platform, he wrote: “The honour of presenting @BBCNewsnight falls to me tonight. I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism.
“You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50 percent.”
The BBC insisted that the cuts were essential to keeping the programme on air.
In a statement, the BBC News and Current Affairs CEO Deborah Turness admitted that the corporation has been forced to make “difficult choices”.
She said: “When we started work on this announcement, I did not know if it would make financial sense to keep Newsnight on air.
“We, like many other news organisations, have streamlined our editorial teams to avoid duplication. It simply no longer makes sense to keep a bespoke reporting team dedicated to a single news programme with a small and declining audience, however good that programme is.”
Deborah then revealed that the show will now have a shorter runtime that will be formatted as a “30-minute late-night news-making debate, discussion and interview programme.”
The cuts are expected to save the company £7.5 million, with the BBC boosting its budget for its online outlets.
The National Union of Journalists reacted to the announcement, with broadcasting organiser Paul Siegert emphasising that concerns were growing for the future of traditional investigative journalism.
He said: “While we welcome investment in digital, we have grave concerns that the axe is falling disproportionately on investigatory news output.
“The proposals would, on the face of it, diminish a part of the BBC’s output that has already been negatively impacted by previous rounds of cuts. The extension of BBC Breakfast and News at One would not provide an equivalent in-depth analytical and agenda-setting news product.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

Grace Dent feels ‘overwhelmingly sad’ after I’m A Celebrity exit

OHMYGOSSIP — Grace Dent is “overwhelmingly sad” after being forced to leave ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’
The 50-year-old food critic left the jungle this week on medical grounds, and she has now taken to social media to thank everyone for their support while noting she is “determined to keep alive the huge breakthroughs [she] made over the weeks”.
In a candid letter shared with fans on Instagram, she wrote: “Dear friends. Thank you for the outpouring of love I’ve received since I was removed on Monday.
“I am overwhelmingly sad right now, but determined to keep alive in my heart the huge personal breakthroughs I made over the weeks.
“I spent 15 days without a phone or any contact with loved ones, living much of the time outdoors in a rain forest in very wet weather.
“It gave me a short, sharp glimpse into the pain some folk worldwide endure. Normal life, forever, will always feel beautiful.
“Until now, I had no idea I could find a mental space where I could calmly climb down the side of a sky scraper and then slide out on a pole, unlocking stars,as the cars below on the street felt the size of ants.”
The ‘MasterChef’ star referenced getting up close and personal with cockroaches, including one that found its way into her ear canal.
She continued: “For as long as I live, I shall never forget the cockroach that entered my ear canal and the sound of its little feet creeping closer down to my brain.
“It took us two goes to lure him out. Sat on the grass behind the ‘Scarena’ he finally washed up.
“The jungle showed me how quickly I could become blasé about sleeping with hungry rats, noisy toads, moths and Huntsman spiders.
“It taught me that when you have to sleep close to the enemy the trick is to stay calm, have empathy and that screaming achieves nothing but wasted calories.”
Being on the ITV reality show has shown her she is “physically stronger” than she realised, while she hopes her time in the jungle kept viewers entertained.
She said: “I hope I gave you all a smile. I didn’t go out as I planned or I wanted, but I did what I could, and I did it in a siren red gel manicure without chipping a nail.
“I didn’t cry when I took off my bra to find a family of mealworms living in the right cup. At some level, this *must* be an achievement.
“My plan is to recover…and when the adrenaline finally ebbs away, to make some serious plans for dinner. Three courses, extra potatoes, definitely pudding. I think I deserve it.
“I love you all and miss my jungle crew. Miss Grace Dent xxx”

Source: VacationHunter.Online