OHMYGOSSIP — Jeremy Clarkson has been hailed as a great polar explorer like Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
17 years ago Clarkson, 64, and ‘Top Gear’ co-host James May, 61, raced across frozen Canadian seas to the North Pole in a modified pick-up truck and polar expert Dr Linda Parker called the daring journey a “watershed moment”.
She wrote in The European Magazine: “Like it or loathe it, the ‘Top Gear’ expedition was a watershed moment in the development of Polar research and exploration. Light-hearted and comedic as it was, Clarkson and May’s attempt was in many ways in the same tradition of the early pioneers. Yes, they had support vehicles and camera crews in tow, and yes, they no doubt had some of the best technological innovations available to them. But was Clarkson’s mindset really so different to that of the early 20th-Century explorers? Their journeys, financial backers, and equipment were different, certainly, and the risk of physical injury and death substantially smaller, but their ‘derring do’ attitude – one shared by the Russian cosmonauts, no doubt – is common to all who have set foot in a polar region. In the annals of history, true explorers push the boundaries of what is possible, and Clarkson, May, and Kornienko et al did just that. It pains me to say it, but in the long annals of history, the ‘Top Gear’ presenters will go down as true explorers and pioneers.”
Clarkson and May beat their colleague Richard Hammond, 54, who was on a traditional dog sled, to the North Pole.
Meanwhile, Jeremy recently admitted he doesn’t think a show like ‘Top Gear’ would get commissioned these days.
Clarkson – who fronted the BBC motoring show from 2002 to 2015 before launching a similar series, ‘The Grand Tour’, on Prime Video in 2016 – doesn’t believe that he and co-hosts May and Hammond would have the same appeal to executives now and feels lucky that they have enjoyed the run for as long as they have.
He reflected to The Sun newspaper: “It wouldn’t get commissioned now in a million years.
“Monkey tennis would be more likely to be commissioned than this, I think.
“It would be so difficult — three middle-aged, middle-class guys, driving cars around in other countries, I think they’d probably say no.
“Fortunately, our ‘Top Gear’ grew out of something else. I started in 2002, doing originally just with Hammond, and then May came along in the second season of the series.
“Then Hammond had his accident and then a lot of people started watching the show and it grew some more and then we accidentally did a special in America.
“But you couldn’t get it commissioned from the get-go now.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Phillip Schofield claims he was “thrown under the bus” when he was forced to leave ‘This Morning’ and he has hit out at former employers ITV.
The scandal-hit former presenter is making his TV comeback on the brand-new three-part Channel 5 series ‘Cast Away’ next week, and believes he was unfairly treated by certain people amid his departure.
According to The Sun, he said: “I miss parts of being on TV, certainly. I miss most of it, if I’m honest, I miss most of it.
“But there are bits that I really, really, really don’t miss. You learn a lot about people, I don’t miss that.
“When you throw someone under a bus, you’ve got to have a really good reason to do it.
““It is inconceivable that I would quit. I don’t quit. I’m fired. But I never quit.”
Phillip, 62, slams his former employer ITV by saying: “I’m apparently 4/1 to do the other jungle programme (ITV’s ‘I’m A Celebrity’).
“Although my best mates host it, there are some channels you just won’t work for.
“There are just some people you won’t work for.”
He also appears to mock the moment former co-host Holly Willoughby brought up the subject of his departure on ‘This Morning’, as she opened the show with the question “Are you OK?” to viewers.
In a clip from ‘Cast Away’, he is seen having a family barbecue with wife Stephanie Lowe and their daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28, and saying: “If you’re OK, then we’re OK, and I’m OK . . . are you OK?”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ is set for a movie-length Christmas special.
While ‘The Only Way Is Essexmas’ was axed two years ago, it is set to return to ITVBe in 2024 for a 90-minute special.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “The latest series of ‘TOWIE’ has been a huge hit and there has been a lot of drama. It made sense to bring back the Christmas special.
“It’s a movie-length episode and fans can expect some real festive fun, romance and probably a few feuds.”
The last ‘TOWIE’ Christmas special aired in 2021 but it was announced in 2022 that it would not return due to “budget” constraints.
A show insider told The Sun at the time: “The cast were floored by the news as ‘TOWIE’s Christmas specials are something of a tradition, so none of them were expecting to not be filming this time round.
“They were all told that the scheduling didn’t work out and the budget is being spent on other things, but it’s left them all feeling really nervous about the future for the show.
“It’s not a good sign for the series in general if bosses have decided it doesn’t make financial sense to film the celebratory one-off.
“Many of them rely on the Christmas special for additional work, and also because it helps maintain their profile as the regular show doesn’t air as frequently throughout the year anymore.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Tommy Mallet has just £5,000 left in the bank after once being worth £4 million.
The former star of ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ revealed that most of the fortune he made from his trainer brand Mallet London – which he set up with former business partner Evren Ozka – has gone as a result of the pair spending the past year locked in a bitter feud.
Speaking on Ben Gallaga’s ‘Everybody Wants To Be Us’ podcast, Tommy said: “I was very cash rich at one point. I’d always have four mil in the bank.
“But now I’ve probably got five grand in and I’m like f****** hell, how am I going to pay for everything?”
Tommy, who has three-year-old son Brody and is preparing to welcome a second child with his wife and former ‘TOWIE’ co-star Georgia Kousoulou, has referenced an ongoing court case centred on Mallet London and described how he had offloaded his assets after departing the firm in 2023 – although he was unable to provide further detail on what had happened.
The 32-year-old TV star posted on social media: “It’s probably not over, but as it stands I can work and support my family.
“I’ve sold all my assets to defend myself and starting from scratch, but I’ve got some wonderful companies, and I will give it my all to get it back so my family can continue living the life I worked so hard to give them.”
Tommy added: “Just call me the monk who’s sold his Ferrari for a bit.”
The reality star has now launched a new trainer company called CTRNE World and explained that his aim is to be “content” with what he has achieved in life by the time he reaches his 60s.
Mallet told the podcast: “I wanna get to the point where I’m in my 60s and I’m so content I’ve done everything that I was destined to do that I’m at peace with my life. And I’m not going to do that by worrying about everything else.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Charlie Brooks is set to take part in ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The 43-year-old actress – who is best known for her portrayal of villain Janine Butcher in ‘EastEnders’ – is set to take part in another ITV reality show, 12 years after she was named Queen of the Jungle on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “Charlie’s a brilliant signing.
“She has a huge fanbase from ‘EastEnders’ and has tons of personality and feisty energy.
“The ITV bookers hope she can recreate some of her on-screen ‘I’m a Celeb’ magic.
“They are making the most of the fact many female stars have avoided ‘Strictly’ this year amid all the scandal.
“It’s going to be a belting line-up.”
Charlie will face competition from another soap star, ‘Hollyoaks’ actress Chelsee Healey, who was a finalist on rival show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2011.
A source recently said: “Chlesee is absolutely hilarious and of course incredibly glamorous.
“She made it to the final of Strictly back in 2011 so there are high hopes that she will once again wow viewers with her dance moves.
“Bosses are determined to get a sexy female line up especially given the lack of women on Strictly this year and Chelsee is one of the hottest soap stars out there.
“Everyone is very excited to have her on board.”
In addition, ‘TOWIE’ favourites Dan Edgar and Fern McCann, and Mollie Pearce from ‘The Traitors’ are also rumoured to have signed up to take part in the celebrity skating contest.
A source said of Dan: “Dan has agreed to appear on ‘Dancing On Ice’.
“He had meetings with ITV this week and is excited to start his training.
“Dan is best known for reality TV but he’s never done anything outside of ‘TOWIE’ so he is excited about trying something new.”
However, ITV have played down talk of any stars signing up yet.
An ITV spokesperson said: “The line up for ‘Dancing on Ice’ 2025 will be announced in due course.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Ferne McCann knew the time had come to end her reality show when her daughter asked if she was famous.
The 34-year-old star left cameras into her life for ‘First Time Mum’ when she was pregnant with Sunday, now six, and she’s subsequently charted her life as she fell for fiance Lorri Haines and welcomed their daughter Finty into the world 14 months ago.
While Ferne always expected her show to last for years, she has decided to pull the plug after her eldest child began questioning her life in the spotlight.
She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “The show has been going on for so long that we joked we’d still be filming when Sunday had children and be calling it ‘Second Time Nan’.
“But I knew the time would eventually come to either have a break or stop altogether, and for the last year I’ve been thinking about it. The point where everything changed was when Sunday actually said to me, ‘Am I famous?’ A few of her friends had seen her on an advert.”
The former ‘Only Way is Essex’ star admitted Sunday was devastated when she told her they wouldn’t be filming their lives any more, but she thinks the time is right to move on to a new project.
She said: “When I told Sunday we weren’t going to be filming anymore, she was really sad. It was heartbreaking, she said to me: ‘But the camera people aren’t going to play with me anymore?’
“We’ve been filming for so long that the crew are like family to us. And I can’t ever see my life without cameras – I love making TV and I’ve had some great experiences.
“But I think it is time for me to move into other projects and do something different that doesn’t involve my family so much. I’m in talks with ITV about some projects and I’m really excited about what the future holds.
“And I’m always going to be an open book whatever I do, because I always wear my heart on my sleeve.”
If the youngster wants to pursue a reality TV career in the future, Ferne won’t stop her.
She said: “I have thought about that. What would I do if Sunday was 18 and asked to go on ‘Love Island’? The answer is, I would support her in anything she wants to do – but I want her to create her own path.
“I actually think she’d be amazing behind the camera, she’s always been really interested in what the crew are doing. She’d be an amazing editor.
“But I’m still hoping she’s going to go to the Olympics because she is insane at sport. I’m biased – and I don’t want to be a momager or a pushy parent – but she really is amazing. It’s one of the great things about being a parent – when they’re good at something, and it just makes you so proud.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Shayne Ward has delayed his wedding because of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The former ‘X Factor’ winner and his partner Sophie Austin – who are parents to Willow, eight, and two-year-old Reign – had been planning to tie the knot later this year but have now postponed their nuptials after he was approached to take part in the “incredible” dance contest.
He told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “It’ll be happening. Sophie and I were actually looking at the end of this year, but we couldn’t because this incredible show happened.”
And the 39-year-old star insisted the former ‘Hollyoaks’ actress doesn’t mind because she was the one who had encouraged him to take part.
He said: “It was actually Sophie who put me forward for the show. For many years she’s talked about Strictly, she loves, loves the show, so every year the music would come on and she’d whisper: ‘You’d be good at this’.
“She always had that belief in me, she’d say: ‘I just think you’d really enjoy it, and I want people to see you’. This year she said to me: ‘Can I please put your name forward?’ and I said: ‘Yeah’ because it felt like the right time.
“So she did, and now I’m so happy I said yes because it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
Shayne is particularly happy that his daughter is rehearsing for a dance competition of her own so they have been very supportive of one another.
He said: “What’s so beautiful is that Willow’s dance school asked her to be part of a competition and perform with them, so not only is she going to be supporting me with a banner at home, I’m going to be making a banner for her.
“I’m going to be in the front row at her competition, shouting: ‘Go team Willow’. She has been so sweet since I started the show, she’s just so proud of daddy, she says: ‘Daddy looks so handsome, daddy can really dance’.
“Last night on ‘It Takes Two’, Janette gave me a ‘Strictly’ paddle with a 10, so she’ll be watching daddy with that. I am excited about people seeing me as I am now on the show.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Kevin McCloud has blasted huge hikes in building costs for slowing down dream architecture projects.
The 65-year-old ‘Grand Designs’ host is fronting a new series of the Channel 4 self-builds show after it hit its 25th anniversary, and has opened up about the crippling impact of the soaring costs of the projects since the series first aired in 1999.
He told the Daily Record: “So 15 or 20 years ago, to build a decent self-build home from the slab up would cost about £3000 per square metre, and that was doing a nice job.
“Now it would be £4500-£5000 per square metre. So in 15 years, it’s gone up by 50 per cent but the big hikes have happened in the last 10 years.”
Kevin added the homeowners on his show are having to come up with ingenious ways to construct their dream houses in the face of the skyrocketing costs – but said it is taking them years for finish their homes.
He added: “They’re thinking their way out of trouble. Designing better buildings, making them a bit smaller, being careful and clever.
“But they’re taking much longer, that’s the trouble. In the past, on average it took two to four years to build a ‘Grand Designs’ house.
“Now it’s taking four to six years, and all the projects we’re planning to air this year, it’s like, ‘When is it going to be ready?’ So that’s had a big impact on us.”
Kevin said the issue has led him to tell the subjects of his shows big isn’t always better.
He added: “I know people, when they build a ‘Grand Design’, often think the word ‘grand’ in the title refers to the size of the building – it’s got to be huge.
“And I didn’t used to have to do this, but I now go to great pains to say to people, ‘grand’ is all about the vision.
“Size isn’t everything. Size is almost irrelevant. It’s about the grand scale of imagination, not physical space.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Sue Cleaver was knocked out with an uppercut while filming a fight scene on ‘Coronation Street’.
The veteran soap actress, 61, has spent nearly 25 years playing no-nonsense Eileen Grimshaw on the ITV show, and has now recalled one of her most shocking moments on the set of the series.
She told in her memoir ‘A Work in Progress’ she was accidentally knocked out on set in 2012 with a punch from co-star Judy Holt, 64, who played Lesley, the wife of Eileen’s firefighter boyfriend Paul Kershaw (Tony Hirst.)
Sue said: “We had a stunt adviser and had spent some time practising our manoeuvres but unfortunately during a take Judy got a bit carried away.
“An upward punch made contact with my face. I don’t remember anything else but apparently I dropped like a stone, out cold.”
Sue added she was rushed to hospital for a scan before she got the all-clear from medics to return to work.
She added: “They ended up using the sound of the real punch, so it wasn’t all for nothing!”
Sue has also told how she has quit being dependent on alcohol.
Sue told Prima magazine: “I don’t have any fear around alcohol any more, and that is really freeing.
“I never imagined getting to that state. I thought I had a dependency. I thought I couldn’t get by without having a glass of wine at night.
“I thought life wouldn’t be great without a glass of wine. It would be absolutely great without wine. I just thought it wouldn’t.
“It’s the thinking around it that is the problem.
She also said about ageing: “So many people my age are depressed about 60, like it is the end of the line.
“I absolutely don’t feel that way. I feel like the world is my oyster now.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Richard Armitage’s new audiobook thriller was inspired by a sinister graveyard conversation with a man who tormented his family.
The ‘Robin Hood’, ‘Spooks’ and ‘Red Eye’ actor, 53, who has become one of the world’s most popular audible book creators, has released the tale after the success of his first novel ‘Geneva’, which is set to be adapted for TV.
He told presenter Nick Grimshaw and chef Angela Hartnett on their ‘Dish from Waitrose’ podcast about the inspiration behind the release: “I was in a cemetery in my local village putting flowers on my mum’s grave and a guy across the way was doing the same to his mother’s grave.
“And he came up to me and said, ‘I’m really sorry for what we did to you as kids, but you’ve done really well for yourself. Congratulations.’
“And I walked home with my dad and went, ‘I just don’t remember who that was,’ but my dad did and he sort of said his name and I still couldn’t remember and I just thought, ‘Oh, he’s carried around this thing with him and I’ve let it go.
“And I thought that’s a really interesting premise for, you know, what, what we do as kids and how we take it into life.’
“And, you know, ‘Can I weave a drama around that? So I did.”
A summary for Richard’s book says: “You can’t escape your past. The cut always reopens.”
It adds a character called Ben moves his family back to the village where he grew up before he is haunted by a murder from his past.
Richard also told how he had an embarrassing incident on the set of ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’ when he thought he was talking to Natalie Portman – but it turned out to be her body double.
The actor, who had an uncredited role as a Naboo fighter pilot in the 1999 film, added: “I was sort of hanging out in the director’s chairs, you know, in the little circle, and then this actress that I thought was Natalie Portman.
“So I was like trying to be cool about it, but sort of thinking, ‘I’m gonna go and say hi.’
“So saying ‘hi’ and chatting her up a bit, not in a romantic way, just, just like being an actor going, ‘I think your work’s great.’
“Anyway, I’m doing that over a number of few days and she was being really nice, at the end of the shoot somebody said to me, ‘That’s not Natalie Portman.’
“It was Natalie Portman’s body double – her stand in. But the funny part of it was Natalie Portman’s double on the set was Keira Knightley.”
‘Dish from Waitrose’ is available on all podcast providers.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Maya Jama is replacing Rita Ora as a judge on ‘The Masked Singer UK’.
The ‘Love Island’ presenter, 30, who will also still be hosting the ‘All Stars’ version of the dating show, is joining the panel for the new series of the singing series alongside presenters Jonathan Ross and Davina McCall as well as comic Mo Gilligan.
She said in a statement about the new role: “I’m such a ‘Masked Singer’ fan, so joining the panel alongside Davina, Jonathan, and Mo – and of course working with (host) Joel (Dommett) – is going to be so much fun!
“I can’t wait to figure out who’s underneath all those incredible costumes, vibe to their performances, and get front-row seats to the unmaskings.
“I’ve watched the show for a long time, so I’m definitely bringing my A-game to the panel!”
Maya has hosted ‘Love Island’ since 2023, with her third run on the show airing this summer.
Daniel Nettleton and Derek McLean, co-founders of ‘Masked Singer UK’ production company Bandicoot TV, said: “When we decided to add a bombshell to the panel, we knew we need not look any further than Maya.
“She might be a style icon and fashion magazine cover girl, but when it comes to music, she’s an absolute nerd, which might help her solve the clues as our newest celebrity detective.
“We are delighted to welcome her to the ‘Masked Singer’ family.”
Rita, 33, was a judge on the hidden identity celebrity singing competition since 2020, but quit after five series following her frequent replacement by guest judges due to her hectic work schedule.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Nick Knowles is still unsure whether he can perform on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ this Saturday (28.09.24) after injuring his shoulder and arm – but he will find out on Thursday afternoon.
The ‘DIY SOS’ presenter was changing a tyre when he hurt his shoulder and arm, but he has been rehearsing with his professional partner Luba Mushtuk this week, to show producers he is still able to dance the American Smooth on Saturday night.
The 62-year-old star admitted his shoulder is “repairing very well”, and following a successful training session on Wednesday, he revealed a decision will be made on Thursday afternoon (26.09.24) about his potential weekend performance.
Speaking in a video posted to his X account on Wednesday night (25.09.24), he said: “So a bit of an update for you. I’ve just got out of soaking in the bath after a day’s training, which went very, very well.
“The shoulder is repairing very well. I saw a great physio today as well that’s helped enormously.
“So, I get another day’s training tomorrow.
“The decision will be made tomorrow afternoon, whether I can actually compete on Saturday. I’m doing my level best to get there – keeping my fingers crossed. So, hopefully see you Saturday.”
Nick is said to have been “pleading” with show bosses to let him perform on the programme this weekend.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “Nick is desperate to carry on and is insisting he is fine to perform but the BBC are naturally wary.
“If Nick continues and does more damage to himself in the long run it puts them in a tricky position.
“His health comes first but Nick is pleading with them to continue.”
However, the pair won’t have much time to perfect their routine if they are cleared to perform.
A source said: “Nick needs to learn a whole routine, he has barely any time at all.
“If he is cleared he will need to learn quickly. Luba is an amazing teacher and she is confident they can do it. But, ultimately, it might get to a point that the BBC just put their foot down.”
Following his injury, Nick has been spotted with his arm in a sling.

Source: VacationHunter.Online