OHMYGOSSIP — Simon Bird says ‘The Inbetweeners’ “wouldn’t be made today”.
The ‘Friday Night Dinner’ star doesn’t think the 00s E4 comedy – which starred himself, Joe Thomas, Blake Harrison and James Buckley as four teenagers – is now for the archives due to the series containing “causal homophobia”.
The 38-year-old actor told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “I honestly think it wouldn’t be commissioned today.”
After being questioned if this was because of sexism and other jokes, Simon said: “Yeah, and the casual homophobia.”
But the ‘Days of the Bagnold Summer’ director justified the show’s legacy, saying the series – which spanned three seasons between 2008 and 2010 and spawned two movies – was supposed to be “an accurate representation” of teen life.
Simon said: “I rationalise it to myself by saying that at the time it was an accurate representation of the way teenagers talk to each other. Is that still the case now? I assume not.
“Although the programme was set in the 2000s, it was based on a pilot set in 1990, so even in the 2000s it wasn’t really an accurate reflection of how teenagers spoke.”
Simon called the Jimmy Carr-presented reunion, ‘The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited’, a “terrible idea” after it sparked numerous complaints in 2019.
He said: “That was just a terrible idea from the get-go. We all knew that. We all had suggestions about how it might be possible to do one that wasn’t totally embarrassing. Those suggestions were not heeded.
“Frankly, we got paid quite a lot to do it, and there was a certain amount of pressure from Channel 4.”
The ‘Everyone Else Burns’ star detailed how he “always wanted” to work in TV, but admits it was “scary” to taste some success so early in life.
Simon said: “I always wanted to be a sitcom actor and I assumed if it ever happened it would be because I did my time for 10 years and wrote on other shows and eventually got a part … but I somehow skipped those stages.
“I remember at the premiere for the second film, Iain [Morris, co-writer of ‘The Inbetweeners’] took me to one side and said, ‘This will never happen again.’
“Part of it is scary, to have that success young. You’re like, ‘What will I do with the rest of my life?’ ”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Lord Alan Sugar has told Gordon Ramsay to “stick to your day job” after accusing him of trying to “rip off” ‘The Apprentice’.
The 75-year-old businessman claims several channels have tried to “replicate the elimination process” of the BBC show, and he went a step further by alleging the celebrity chef, 56, was part of a “virtual rip-off” of the programme last year.
He said: “I think broadcasters, Channel 4, Channel 5, and ITV have tried for many years at least for 17 years to try and replicate the elimination process of ‘The Apprentice’. I say this with great respect to them but they’ve failed.
“Last year, Gordon Ramsay had some cockamamie idea … I like Gordon and I think he’s very good and should stick to what he should do, cooking and all that stuff.
“He had some thing, which was like, I don’t know how the lawyers allowed it because it was a virtual rip-off of ‘The Apprentice’. No disrespect to Gordon but stick to your day job mate that’s all I would say.”
Lord Sugar appears to have been referencing ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars’, which aired on the BBC last year and saw 12 entrepreneurs compete for an £150,000 investment of Gordon’s cash to start their own food business.
Over the years, Lord Sugar has been involved in several spats with Piers Morgan, but he has now defended the TV presenter over his numerous rants about Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
He added to MailOnline: “I can see where Piers is coming from and I know a lot of people tend not to like her for some reason.
“My only opinion is she joined the royal family and you have to say what do you expect? There’s a certain protocol that you were joining and maybe she didn’t understand the intensity of what is needed to be a member of a royal family.”
Lord Sugar will fire another flurry of contestants on this year’s ‘Apprentice’, which returns on Thursday night (05.01.23), and invest £250,000 into one lucky winner’s business.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Malin Andersson isn’t “scared” to post bikini pictures on social media anymore.
The former ‘Love Island’ star – who has 11-month old daughter Xaya – has told how she will no longer let the fear of “being judged” stop her from sharing lingerie or swimwear posts.
The 30-year-old television personality wrote on Instagram: “So sadly I haven’t done my funny reels in lingerie or many posts in bikinis etc. God I even wore a t shirt in yesterdays reel cos I wanted to cover up. I was so scared of being judged about not looking the same – I’ve done a few stories but I seriously have hidden myself and I don’t even know why I let it bother me…
“Now that’s sad. That isn’t like me at all to care what people think. But isn’t it mad it can go the opposite way? (sic)”
But now, Malin no longer “gives a flying monkeys” about what she shares on social media.
She said: “So today I woke up and thought I don’t give a flying monkeys anymore because it’s my body and I feel strong and mentally better.. if I can inspire somebody to embark on better wellbeing and a strong body as long as it’s healthy and you’re happy then go for it. I will never shove any fitness or diet plan in any of your faces cos that’s not me.. but all I can say is that exercise and eating lots of nourishing food has brought my head into the best place.
Now queue all the sexy underwear pics honeys [red heart emoji] (sic)”
Malin also defended herself from criticism for embarking on her “fitness and mental wellbeing journey” that led her to shed some pounds.
She said: “So I wanted to be honest and open with you all about my journey with fitness and more primarily the response it’s had. Whilst I’ve had so many amazing messages and support and encouragement on my fitness and mental well-being journey.. I’ve also had followers unfollow me and slate me for ‘losing weight’. Let me note losing weight came with me opting for healthier lifestyle choices over a year long.
“Now I’ve always been an advocate for body positivity and that means embracing every part of you. Whatever size. But what I don’t like seeing is people judging me for embarking on my fitness and health.. and saying I’ve lost weight and they don’t like it. (sic)”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Emma Browne has become the first contestant to exit the new series of ‘The Apprentice’.
The senior account executive left the BBC show prematurely after she failed to impress during a tour challenge in Antigua – but Emma insisted she doesn’t have any regrets about her experience on the programme.
She said: “Everyone’s there for the same reason so naturally, there were clashes et cetera but there were absolutely no hard feelings at all.”
Emma made an early exit from the show after the girls lost out to the boys during the first task of the new series.
As part of the task, the girls sold catamaran tours to tourists in Antigua. But they failed to match the efforts of the boys – who organised a rum tasting and historic site tour – and Emma soon found herself heading home.
She said: “It was a little bit more intense than I expected, but there’s nothing like a bit of pressure.
“Watching at home, you only see an hour, but it’s completely cut down. So that’s obviously one of the biggest things, because I would have thought from watching at home ‘that’s an hour and that’s it’, but in reality, it’s filmed across hours upon hours.”
The efforts of the girls were undermined by disagreements within the team. The boys, on the other hand, managed to attract interest in the centre of Antigua and they ultimately sold all of their 16 tickets.
The girls’ team made $487.50, once costs were deducted from their total. By contrast, the boys’ team performed much better, making as much as $989 in profit, including $75 in tips.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Alan Fletcher has led tributes to Joan Sydney, who has died aged 86.
The late actress starred as recurring ‘Neighbours’ character Valda Sheergold – the mother of Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha) – and Alan, who portrays Dr. Karl Kennedy in the Australian soap, has remembered Joan as an inspiration to him during his younger years.
He wrote on Instagram: “Vale the luminous Joan Sydney. Her work was an inspiration to me as a young actor in the 70’s in Perth theatre days. She was loved dearly by all who knew her and had the pleasure to work with her. We had the happiest of days working together on @neighbours. Farewell beautiful spirit. #valdasheergold #countrypractice (sic)”
After starting out locally in theatre, Joan – who was born in Sydney – was also known for portraying Maggie Sloane in Australian soap ‘A Country Practice’, and she appeared in ‘E Street’ as publican Mary Patchett.
Joan’s friend Sally-Anne Upton confirmed the star “passed away peacefully” late last month.
She wrote on Facebook: “My darling colleague and longtime friend Joan Sydney passed away peacefully last Wednesday 29th Dec 2022 and I want to pay tribute to her.
My first introduction to Joan was when she portrayed the delightful character of Matron Maggie Sloane in ‘A County Practice’.
But I personally first met Joan through Anne Phelan when we were putting together Nightingala a fundraiser for the Australian Nurses Federation (Vic Branch) in the 90’s. I asked Joan if she would appear as Matron Solane and at first she was very reluctant. She thought it wouldn’t work, as Wandin Valley had been a long time off our screen and I said “Are you kidding me, everyone will know who you are and it will be the highlight of the show.” and sure enough, as I’m MC ING the second half, she appeared through the curtain in her White Nurses uniform and 70’s Nurses cap, no words spoken and brought the house down!
Later in the green room, she was still in shock, of the response “WELL I NEVER!”
She gave me her uniform and cap and told me to use it for my Nursing Stand up gigs, which I wore with such pride and still have in my wardrobe today.
Our friendship blossomed and I would delight in spending time with Joan and Maggie wherever they lived, enjoying their fabulous hospitality, they were hilarious raconteurs, great cooks and their gardens looking spectacular!
The last production Joan ever worked on was Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries and I was privileged and lucky enough to finally work along side her as ‘Sisters in Crime’. Her short-term memory was fading, it was a difficult and worrying experience for her but we laughed and worked through the script together and she triumphed in the end. Good old Dr Theatre kicked in!
She told me that this was her last time performing and although I wanted to say “NO you have so much more to give”, I knew that would be selfish and a great leading lady knows when to exit the stage and bow out with dignity.
The last time we saw each other was at Maggie’s memorial gathering. Although not knowing many of our faces, the recognition of my voice was apparent, her eyes lit up, our connection was still strong and, although COVID has kept us apart, I am relieved for you,that you are now released and with your sister Maggie and darling friend Annie in spirit again, up their together “Dirty Dusting”
Thank you for all you have taught me, love, friendship, many memories shared that will be treasured forever RIP DARLING JOAN
As per her wishes, she will be buried privately and there will be no funeral ceremony or memorial to attend. (sic)”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘EastEnders’ Zack Hudson will be diagnosed with HIV.
The BBC soap have teamed up with the Terrence Higgins Trust to help raise awareness of the condition from diagnosis, to treatment options, to living with the virus, with the hard-hitting plot set to kick off next week.
The chef – who is played by James Farrar – will meet with an old friend, Brett, who tells him he has HIV and urges his pal to get tested, with him eventually told he also has the virus.
Ian Green, Chief Executive of The Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “It’s been incredible to work with ‘EastEnders’ on Zack’s story to show people across the UK that an HIV diagnosis doesn’t have to stop you from living life to the fullest.”
The organisation previously worked with the soap when Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) contracted HIV in the 1990s and they hope the new storyline will show how treatment options have progressed in that time.
Ian added: “During the height of the HIV epidemic in the 1990s, we worked with EastEnders on Mark Fowler’s story to ensure HIV was portrayed accurately on screen.
“Mark was the first mainstream British TV character to be diagnosed with HIV.
“His story was viewed by millions and helped change attitudes about the virus when fear and misinformation was rife.
“Over 30 years on from Mark’s storyline and sadly myths about HIV are still held by far too many people.
“The incredible progress we’ve made around HIV means people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass on the virus and can have a normal lifespan.
“We hope that Zack’s storyline will educate viewers on the reality of HIV in 2023 and spark conversations in living rooms across the UK.”
‘EastEnders’ bosses welcomed the charity’s help.
Showrunner Chris Clenshaw said: “’EastEnders’ has never shied away from covering sensitive issues and Zack’s story is one of these.
“There are still so many myths and disinformation surrounding HIV, so working closely with Terrence Higgins Trust has enabled us to really understand what it is like for those that are diagnosed with HIV and we hope that this storyline will bring more awareness of HIV and what it is like to live with the virus in 2023.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Christine McGuinness is to make another documentary about autism.
The 34-year-old star will front ‘Unmasking My Autism’ about the lifelong developmental disability – which she was diagnosed with aged 33 – after her first effort, ‘Our Family and Autism’, alongside ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, 49, landed a National Television Award.
A BBC source said: “Christine was shocked by how autism is seen as something mostly affecting men and what felt like a gender bias in diagnosis.
“The second film follows her on a journey in search of answers for the thousands of other women like herself in the UK, who are spending years undiagnosed or masking their symptoms to the detriment of their mental health.”
Christine – who has nine-year-old twins Leo and Penelope and six-year-old daughter Felicity, who all have the condition, with Paddy – is to embark on “an incredibly personal journey” on the documentary, which is expected to air this spring.
A source added to The Sun newspaper’s TV Biz column: “This second film is an incredibly personal journey for Christine as she investigates why it took so long for her to find her own truth and learns it’s indicative of systemic failings for other women and girls.
“It’s taken on additional weight as her first solo project.
“Away from Paddy, she’s been part of ensemble casts like The Real ‘Housewives Of Cheshire’ and ITV’s ‘The Games’ but this is Christine, standing alone and owning her space.”
The ‘A Beautiful Nightmare’ author has previously told how finding out about being autistic allowed her life to make “sense”, but there was a lot to process.
Christine wrote in her memoir: “It all makes sense now. And as much as I’m not totally surprised, it’s still been emotional to accept, but it’s a relief as well. It was a lot to take in and I broke down in tears. I think it’s because the news conjured up a mixture of emotions. I’m just really sad for my younger self.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Jeremy Kyle’s daughter was hospitalised after being bitten by a spider.
The former ‘Jeremy Kyle’ presenter revealed his 17-year-old daughter Ava was rushed for medical care after being nibbled by an arachnid during the festive period.
The 57-year-old broadcaster explained to Mike Graham on his TalkTV show: “This is a genuinely true story. Two days before Christmas my daughter was bitten by a spider in her sleep. Nobody knew anything about it.
“She ended up in hospital.”
Jeremy – who also has kids Harriet, 32, and Alice, 18, and Henry, 13 with his ex Carla Germaine, and two-year-old son Oliver with his wife Vicky Burton – recently returned to screens with ‘Jeremy Kyle Live’ on the new channel, after sitting in for Piers Morgan on his primetime show.
He said: “I’m so excited to be going back to live television from October 10th. Sitting in for Piers over the summer has given me a taste for what the new show will be.
“‘Jeremy Kyle Live’ will be making sense of the stories that matter; speaking the language of the British people and providing practical help as we all try and navigate our way through current times. I can’t wait to be a part of TalkTV’s amazing new primetime lineup.”
Jeremy fronted his previous daytime family conflict show for 14 years until it was canned in 2019 following the death of guest Steve Dymond.
At the time, he said: “I don’t want to sound ‘woe is me’, and as I’ve said the whole thing was a terrible tragedy – devastating for Steve Dymond’s friends and family, of course, and for the many people who worked on the show.
“But it did hit me hard. And it’s been awful to feel so scapegoated, and without being able to have my say about the accusations that often seemed to be levelled only at me. I’ve felt hunted and made out to be responsible for everything that ever took place around that show. But I was just the face of it.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Prince Harry has told how his ex-girlfriend Caroline Flack was “funny”, “sweet” and “cool”.
The Duke of Sussex has opened up for the first time about his romance with the late TV presenter, which was formed after they met at a restaurant in 2009 with mutual friends.
He wrote in his new memoir ‘Spare’: “She wasn’t taken aback that I didn’t recognise her. She didn’t have a big ego.”
But Harry insists their short-lived romance was doomed once he and the former ‘Love Island’ presenter – who took her own life in February 2020 aged 40 – were pictured together.
He added: “Very soon after they papped me and Flack, those photos set off a frenzy. Within hours a mob was camped outside Flack’s parents’ house, and all her friends’ houses, and her grandparents’ house.
“She was described in one paper as my ‘bit of rough,’ because she once worked in a factory or something. Jesus, I thought, are we really such a country of insufferable snobs?
“We kept on, I think, because we genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, and because we didn’t want to admit defeat at the hands of these a********.
“But the relationship was tainted, irredeemably, and in time we realised it just wasn’t worth the grief and harassment. Especially for her family. Goodbye, we said. Goodbye and good luck.”
Harry recalled Caroline was “so light and funny” when they first met, after he heard the tragic news about her death, and says she was the “definition of carefree”.
He said: “I felt so awful for her family. I remembered how they’d all suffered for her mortal sin of going out with me.
“She’d been so light and funny that night we met. The definition of carefree.”
Caroline confirmed the romance in her own memoir, ‘Storm in a C Cup’, which dropped in 2014.
She wrote at the time: “I was no longer Caroline Flack, TV presenter, I was Caroline Flack, Prince Harry’s bit of rough.
“Once the story got out, that was it. We had to stop seeing each other.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Davina McCall is “begging” to front a “mid-life” ‘Love Island’ spin-off.
The former ‘Big Brother’ presenter has suggested a middle-aged version of the ITV2 dating competition to the network’s bosses, because she believes the Islanders would have “the best backstories”, and the channel were already thinking about “something similar”.
The 55-year-old TV presenter said: “I’m literally begging ITV to let me present mid-life ‘Love Island’.
“I could fill a villa in ‘Love Island’ with middle-aged people with the best backstories you have ever heard in your life.
“They’ve lived a life, they’re widows, they’re people who have been through horrific divorces. They’re people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with people of the same sex.
“They are interesting people, I’d watch that show! They said, ‘We’re thinking of doing something similar, we’ll think about you for that.’
“Well if I hadn’t sent that email they would have never though of me!”
Davina acknowledged her belief in “waiting” for something interesting to come along workwise.
Speaking on the ‘Diary of a CEO’ podcast, she added: “I got offered ‘Long Lost Family’, and I’ve been filming that programme now for 13 years. It makes me feel so good that show. And I’ve helped so many people on it.
“So I always think, ‘Well just start walking in that direction and something else will come along.’
“But never just sit down and wait. You know I’ve never sat down and just thought, ‘I’ll wait for something to happen to me.’ ”
Last summer, it was reported ITV were developing an idea, titled ‘Your Mum, My Dad’, which was dubbed a ‘Love Island’ for the over-40s.

Source: VacationHunter.Online