OHMYGOSSIP — David Tennant and Michael Sheen’s hit lockdown series ‘Staged’ is to come to an end after three series.
The actors started filming the comedy during the COVID-19 pandemic playing versions of themselves trying to organise a stage show over Zoom calls during 2020 – but now the ‘Doctor Who’ star has confirmed it’s time to bring the BBC One series to a close because it no longer reflects the world we live in.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, Tennant explained: “We’ve had a wonderful time filming the series but have no plans to do more. It was a show borne out of a particular period of time – lockdown – when we were all in our houses communicating via Zoom, as our characters did in the show.
“We couldn’t get out. Now, as the characters demonstrate in some of the scenes in the new series, we can.”
The show also featured appearances from Tennant’s wife Georgia and Sheen’s partner Anna Lundberg as well as writer/director Simon Evans and it also featured cameos from Hollywood stars including Samuel L. Jackson, Dame Judi Dench, Whoopi Goldberg, Ewan McGregor, and Cate Blanchett.
The first series aired in the summer of 2020 and it was followed by a second the next year as well as a Christmas special.
The third series was released on streaming service BritBox in 2022.
Michael previously told the BBC the show was a hit because the actors poked fun at themselves. He said: “We didn’t take ourselves too seriously and made fun of ourselves – I think people enjoyed that. I’m using the sort of format and medium that everyone is using. Having to do calls on Zoom and all that kind of stuff – so we’ve been able to tap into what’s funny and absurd about that as well. Also, having lovely surprises like Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson, we have lots more of those surprises in this new series.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Claire Sweeney “never dreamed” she would land a part in ‘Coronation Street’.
The 52-year-old actress – who shot to fame when she took on the part of Lindsey Corkhill on ‘Brookside in the early 1990s before going on to appear in West End shows like ‘Chicago’ and ‘9 to 5’ – has now joined the cast of the long-running ITV1 soap opera as the long-lost mother of established character Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) and explained that she is “so grateful” to bosses of the show for giving her a chance because she wanted to get back on screen.
She said: “I’ve spent the last few years doing little bits – a little bit on ‘Benidorm’, ‘Scarborough’, a drama I filmed last year, not massive parts, but wanting to get back and do some really great acting.
“I never dreamed ‘Corrie’. Iain [Macleod, Corrie executive producer] has given me a chance.
“It just takes that one person to believe in you and go ‘yeah, you can do it. Give her a chance.’ And I’m so grateful for that.”
The former ‘Loose Women star – who will make her first appearance as Cassandra Plummer in scenes set to be aired on 28 June – is mother to eight-year-old Jaxon with former partner Daniel Reilly and went on to add that landing a job on ‘Coronation Street’ also serves as a form of “stability” and will “never take anything for granted” in the precarious world of show business.
She added: “I’m a single mum, to my eight year old son Jackson and my decisions are not only based on the love of what I do, they are based on stability for me and my son.
“I’m 52 years of age now and for this, not only is it the best soap for me, not only is she a wonderful part, working with Maureen [Lipman] and Alan and all these wonderful people, the had for stability.
“I don’t know how long it will last. I never take anything for granted in this business. But just to have that stability for a while as well. It’s just come at the right time as well.
“I’ll get my full weekends with my boy now, which is lovely.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Dr. Hilary Jones was “stunned” to be offered a job by ITV after becoming frustrated as a viewer.
The GP has appeared as the resident doctor on various incarnations of the broadcaster’s breakfast schedule since 1993 and as he celebrated his 70th birthday on Monday’s (19.06.23) episode of ‘Lorraine’, he was heard explaining in an archive clip as part of a celebratory montage that he asked them for a job when other doctors failed to “get to the point” of medical issues on television.
He said: “I was watching ‘TV-am’ one day and I thought ‘Get to the point, tell us what want to know!’ and I wrote a letter basically saying ‘Give me a job’ and I was stunned to get the letter saying ‘Come in for a screen test’ and two weeks later I was the TV-AM doctor.”
The TV star has fronted campaigns for breast cancer checkups and worked with the late Dame Deborah James – who passed away in June 2022 aged 40 – on her No Butts bowel cancer campaign and explained that his aim has always been to “empower” others with knowledge of health.
He said: “I like to keep it simple because that’s as far as my intelligence goes! No, it’s just about empowering people about their health and to not be frightened, and to make healthcare more accessible to them. On this programme, we’ve had letters from viewers who have said ‘Thank you for covering that’, we’ve broken some taboos, we’ve had testicular examinations on the programme. ”
As part of the birthday celebrations, host Lorraine Kelly presented Dr. Hilary with a cake and has even organised for him to go on the longest zip wire in Wales whilst studio runners and staff all donned party hats bearing a picture of his face.
He said: “I just want to say thank you to everyone I work with in front of camera and behind camera, you do a fantastic, astonishing job!”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Catherine Tate is shocked by the success of ‘Doctor Who’ in America.
The 53-year-old comedienne first appeared on the BBC sci-fi series as the titular character’s assistant Donna in the 2006 Christmas Special and went on to appear in the role throughout the fourth series but had no clue that the show “had a big audience” across the pond but feels as if it is still “pretty niche” when compared to Hollywood blockbusters.
She told Daily Star newspaper: “They’re enormous fun. I didn’t realise it had a big audience in America.
“Compared to the Marvel films franchise though it’s pretty niche.”
The sketch show legend admitted that while she loves the show so much – which has had 14 people assume the title role, including Tom Baker,89, Matt Smith, 40, Jodie Whittaker, 41, and the upcoming star Ncuti Gatwa, 30 – but not in the same way that two-time Time Lord David Tennant, 52, is a “fan”.
She said: “I must make full declaration – I don’t know anything about ‘Doctor Who’.
“I love it and I love being in it but I’m not the fan that David Tennant is.”
The former ‘US Office’ star is to return to the show alongside David Tennant for a three-episode stint as part of the series’ 60th anniversary celebrations later this year and confessed that the on-set tech “has come up a pace” from her original stint on the show/.
She said: “We worked in a green studio, and it has come up a pace from when David and I had been on it before, I can tell you that.
“The budget and the scale and the studio have all increased.
“Genuinely it used to be a tennis ball on a stick. And the director would say, ‘That’s a monster.’
“Now the tennis balls and sticks are much bigger – they’re absolutely enormous now.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Amy Dowden is determined to be back on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ this year despite her cancer diagnosis.
The 32-year-old star has appeared as a professional on the BBC Latin and ballroom competition since 2017 but was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer in May and has now insisted that her goal is to back on the dancefloor in time for the next series in September provided she completes radiotherapy by then.
She told The Daily Mirror newspaper: “If I only have radiotherapy I’ll be back on ‘Strictly’ this series. Once radiotherapy is done there’ll be nothing to stop me, there’s no pressure but ‘Strictly’ is leaving the door open. It’s having something to work towards.
“I’m visualising myself on that Strictly dance floor. Just being back in the ­ballroom with the live audience, the adrenalin, and the atmosphere. And the support from the whole Strictly family. We can choreograph around me doing things with lifting, putting ­pressure on my arm. You can adapt.”
Amy – who has competed with the likes of McFly star Tom Fletcher, ‘EastEnders’ actor James Bye and reached the final with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual in 2019 – went on to add that if she wants to inspire other women with her potential comeback and insisted that if she has to undergo chemotherapy, she would like to present parts of the series and will wear wig on television if she has to.
She added: “Imagine what it would show everyone, getting back out there? Women who have been diagnosed can think, well Amy got straight back out. And if I have to have chemotherapy, I’ll be present in some way, even if I’m in a wig. I know amazing hair people with ‘Strictly’. Whether it’s on ‘It Takes Two’, or being up in Claudia’s area waiting for the scores, I’ll be there.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Frankie Essex wants to make sure her children aren’t “spoiled”.
The former ‘The Only Way is Essex’ star finds it important to keep her 13-month-old twins Luella and Logan aware how how “lucky” they are to have si many things like plenty of toys and a playroom in their Essex home as her boyfriend and their father Luke Love experienced the care system as a child.
The 35-year-old reality star OK! Magazine: “The twins are going to make so many memories in the playroom and they’re so lucky to have one. I remember going round friends’ houses when I was little who had playrooms and I loved it, but we weren’t fortunate enough to have one. And these babies, they’re so lucky.
“Me and Luke both want everything for the babies. And Luke was fostered as a child so he obviously just wants the babies to have the life the best life ever. But then on another note, we don’t want to spoil them. So they have this playroom but we’ve kept some toys back from their birthdays and they can have them as and when, otherwise it’s just too much.”
Frankie warned how parents to be “careful” about sleeping arrangements in the current heatwave and dished about her bedtime routine.
She said: “You’ve got to be really careful what you put them in overnight, like recently it’s just been a vest and their nappy, and for the last two nights, it’s just been their nappies. I’ve got a thermometer in their room and it’s been 27 degrees at night time in their room, so it’s really warm.
“For the first couple of nights, I was worried about how warm it was. And I would never leave their window open at bedtime while they’re babies. So we had a little fan on in there and we’re just trying to keep them cool at night.”
Frankie also detailed how her little ones were beating the heat with water like their own paddling pool and visiting pals with an actual pool.
She said: “We’ve got a little paddling pool in the garden and I’ve put an umbrella up and made it all shady. And they are just loving it. Louella is obsessed with ducks, so we’ve put loads of rubber ducks in the paddling pool for her.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Alison Steadman wants a ‘Gavin and Stacey’ reunion.
The 76-year-old actress starred as Essex matriarch Pam Shipman alongside James Corden, Ruth Jones, Joanna Page, Mathew Horne and Larry Lamb on the hit BBC Three sitcom over the course of three series and after the 2019 Christmas special ended on a proposal cliffhanger, is hoping that she is called back to reprise her role at some point.
Speaking on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’, she said: “That’s one of the things I think everyone loves – the warmth of the show. Yes, the family argues but they love each other. Believe me, if I had any news, I would tell you. I have no idea. I’m hoping, of course, that a special comes up or indeed a series but we’ll see. I’m sure we would [all do it].”
Her comments come just weeks after writers James Corden – who recently relocated back to the UK after an eight-year stint in the US fronting ‘The Late Late Show’ – and Ruth Jones promised they would only pen another ‘Gavin and Stacey’ episode if they can do something which “won’t let people down.”
He said: “”‘ Gavin and Stacey’, look, Ruth is one of my best friends. I’m going to see her but I don’t know if we’re gonna talk about it.
“I saw her at Christmas, we didn’t even really mention it if I’m honest, it didn’t come up because we were talking about so much other stuff.
“Every day when we do the show here [in the US], when we’re on our little breaks, I ask if anyone has got any questions and there’s normally always a Brit in the crowd.
“Three days out of five, somebody asks ‘What happens to Smithy and Nessa, are we ever gonna find out?’ All I know is we won’t do it unless we can do something that won’t let people down.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Katie Piper “almost” feels as if she has “been to prison” after filming her new documentary.
The 39-year-old TV star is fronting the new two-part documentary ‘Katie Piper’s Jailhouse Mums’ about incarcerated mothers in facilities in the US and described filming it as “an intense experience” but a memorable one.
She told HELLO! Magazine: “I almost feel as if I’ve been to prison to myself! It was an intense experience, but it was essential to immerse myself and get to know the women as individual characters. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the people I met.
The ‘Loose Women’ panellist – who is married to carpenter Richard Sutton and has daughters Belle, nine, and five-year-old Penelope with him – went on to admit that she found it “difficult” to leave her own children at home in the UK but knew it was nothing compared to what her interviewees go through as mothers in prison.
She said: “It was really difficult because you’d spend all day talking about children being separated from their parents, knowing you’re not seeing yours, and I remember feeling a bit guilty.
“I was going to see my children in a week or two, but some of these women are looking at 30 years until they see theirs.”
The former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant also highlighted that those women who were able to keep their children with them were in locations with the “lowest reoffending rates” and hopes that her new series is able to “humanise” those behind bars.
She said: “There are only nine prisons in America that have nurseries where your child can live with you.
“We went to one of them and we also saw alternative detox centres with parenting classes. Those were the places that had the lowest reoffending rates.
“I really hope that the series humanises people in prison. Often we read about inmates just as bad people, but it’s in all of our interests that prisoners get the right support and are successfully rehabilitated.”
‘Katie Piper’s Jailhouse Mums’ begins at 10pm on Wednesday (21.06.23) on W.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Lisa Riley wants Adele Silva to return to ‘Emmerdale’.
The 46-year-old actress played Mandy Dingle on the ITV1 soap opera from 1995 until 2001 and after making a comeback to the serial in 2019 has called for Adele – who starred as her character’s best friend Kelly Windsor – to join her so viewers can learn what happened in the years they were both away.
She told Inside Soap: “I want Kelly Windsor back! And I think it would work because she has a link to Jimmy [King]. She was Mandy’s best friend, and me and Adele Silva are still really close. I think she’s a great actress and there’s a lot of untold stories there. For example, what did Kelly and Mandy get up to when I wasn’t in the show for all those years?”
Towards the end of 2022, Adele – who left the soap in 2000 but returned in 2005 for a two-year stint and last made a brief reappearance in 2011 – admitted she would “definitely” go back to the show if she was asked by bosses and is still regular contact with Lisa in real-life.
She said: “I’d definitely go back if they asked me. Obviously Kelly’s son is there and she’s not seen him for years. Then there’s little April. You can imagine Marlon’s face if her auntie Kelly turned up. He’d be horrified. Mandy was Kelly’s best friend – I love that Lisa’s back as Mandy. We’re still really close. We try to catch up as much as we can. She’d make the bitchiest comments. But as an actor she was a joy of a character as she’d say things you’d never dream of saying in real life.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Rob Mallard gets a Valentine’s Day card from the same mystery fan every year.
The 31-year-old actor has played Daniel Osbourne on ‘Coronation Street’ since 2016 and revealed that he has received the same card from a mystery admirer for the romantic February holiday every single year but has “no idea” who it could be when the token of affection arrives at the TV studio offices.
He told The Daily Star: “I get a Valentine’s card from the same person every year, they don’t put their name in it but I know it’s the same person. You know when you’re a kid and you write something out and you write over it eight or nine times to the point where it looks like it’s been written over eight or nine times? It comes to me every year in the same style handwriting in the office and I don’t know who it is.”
Rob – who is currently thought to be dating modelling agent Matthew Martin but previously had a relationship with ‘Corrie’ co-star Daniel Brocklebank – went on to beg the secret admirer to come forward and put their name in the next card because he is being “driven mad” by the mystery of the situation.
He added: “Whoever it is who’s doing it, can you put your name it please because it’s driving me mad!”
The soap star – who appeared briefly in ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Fresh Meat’ before joining ‘Coronation Street’ – previously admitted that he would like to see his ‘Coronation Street’ character turned into “the villain” even though it often proves to be a “swift way” to be wrtten out of the show altogether.
He told The Daily Mirror newspaper: “I’d love to play the villain, but that is a very swift road out of the show isn’t it? So no, not from that perspective but with the fun they seem to have being villains though, definitely!”.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Angela Thorne has died aged 84.
Best known for starring in ‘To The Manor Born’, and the mum of actor Laurence Penry-Jones, the acting veteran passed away peacefully at her home, it was announced on Monday. (19.06.23)
A statement from her son Rupert said: “The actress Angela Thorne died peacefully at her home on the 16th of June. She was 84 years old.
“She was the beloved wife of Peter Penry Jones, and is survived by her two sons Rupert and Laurie Penry Jones and her grandchildren, Florence, Peter, Giorgio and Delilah.
“We will all miss her very much.”
Angela played Marjory Frobisher in the BBC’s ‘To The Manor Born’ sitcom opposite Penelope Keith from 1979 to 1981 as well as appearing in a string of long-running TV shows including ‘Midsomer Murders’.
Highlights of her career included being nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in TV movie ‘Anyone for Denis?’
Angela is also known for her roles in ‘The Human Factor’, ‘North Sea Hijack’, ‘The BFG’ and ‘Cold Comfort Farm’.
Her acting career began with the Caryl Jenner Children’s Theatre and she later appeared in ‘Night Must Fall’ at the Theatre Royal in Windsor.
She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on a scholarship and later performed in repertory seasons.
Her other credits include 1980s BBC One sitcom ‘Three Up, Two Down’, police drama ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Elizabeth R’, which starred the late Glenda Jackson, who died on 15 June aged 87.
In 2013, Angela also appeared in a stage adaptation of Alexander Mackendrick’s 1955 black comedy ‘The Ladykillers’ alongside Ralf Little, Simon Day and John Gordon Sinclair.
Angela married Peter Penry-Jones in 1967 and they had two sons.
They also acted alongside each other in ‘To the Manor Born’, and the actress was left devastated when he died in 2009 after a long bowel cancer fight.
Born in Karachi, British India, in 1939, to William and teacher Sylvia, Angela lived in India for the first five years of her life.
In 2010, she and her son Rupert were featured in an episode of the BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ which saw the actress discover her dad William had served with the Indian Medical Corps at the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Two ‘Gladiators’ stars have been forced to pull out due to injury.
The iconic show is returning to the BBC but two stars – known as Comet and Sabre – won’t be taking part after suffering horror injuries leaving them unable to continue.
Comet – whose real name is Ella-Mae Rayner – has broken her ankle and foot, while Sabre (Sheli McCoy) suffered a torn hamstring.
Sharing a photo of herself in hospital, Comet said on Instagram: “‘Life is not about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving’ – right now, this quote couldn’t ring truer.
“During the filming of one of the games I sustained a severe foot injury.
“Multiple scans and X-rays later I found out that I had broken my ankle and foot in multiple places, including the talus and something known as a lisfranc injury, ruptured 3 ligaments and dislocated a bone.
“I am now resting up following an operation to fix my foot and stabilise the broken bones.
“This is just a minor blip in the road and ignites the fire in me to come back better and stronger than ever before.”
Meanwhile, Sabre described her hamstring tear as a “little battle injury”.
She wrote on her own Instagram: “Up to that point, every single day was a blessing and every event an unforgettable experience that I would repeat in a second.
“The rehabilitation process is underway and going very well to date, with a lot of continued guidance from our fantastic physio Alfie.”
Both injuries occurred while filming was underway at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, although it’s been noted by The Sun newspaper that producers had a robust health and safety policy in place for filming, as well as insurance, risk assessments and extensive training for both Gladiators and their challengers.
There were also doctors, paramedics, physios, technicians, a Health and Safety advisor and two private ambulances.
A BBC spokesman said: “The health and well-being of all Gladiators, contenders and crew is of paramount importance.
“‘Gladiators’ is one of the toughest and most physically demanding programmes on TV and due to the high-impact nature of the show it is not unusual for those competing to suffer injuries.
“In each instance, as soon as it became apparent that a potential injury had occurred, the correct protocol was immediately followed.
“The injured Gladiators are currently following medical advice and working on their recoveries.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online