OHMYGOSSIP — Alexandra Mardell is the latest celebrity confirmed for this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Christmas special.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star will be paired with ‘Strictly’ pro dancer Kai Widdrington in the festive episode, and the actress admits being part of the Latin and ballroom show is the “best Christmas present” she could give her ‘Strictly’ super-fan mum.
She said: “I’ve grown up with ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and my mum always said she’d love to see me on the show so this really is the best Christmas present I could give her.
“I can’t wait to get into the training room and see what festive moves I can bring to the table!”
In the Christmas special, each of the six couples will perform a festive routine in the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, head judge Shirley Ballas, and the voting audience.
Alexandra is the third celebrity to be confirmed for the show, after it was revealed earlier this week that radio DJ and presenter Rickie Haywood-Williams, and presenter and author Rosie Ramsey had signed up for the festive show.
Former KISS FM breakfast show co-host Ricky, 42, can’t wait to take part.
He said: “I have watched ‘Strictly’ over the years and always said I’d be too scared to do it.
“But here I am ready to go for it, sequins n’ all.”
Rosie – who is married to comedian Chris Ramsey – has been “desperate” to appear on the show since watching her husband strut his stuff in 2019.
She said: “I am thrilled to be dancing in this year’s ‘Strictly’ Christmas special!
“After watching my husband Chris compete a few years ago, I’ve been desperate to get on that dance floor myself!
“I also absolutely love Christmas, and my partner Neil is lovely, so this is just perfect. Best. Christmas. Ever!”
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Rob Burrow will read the first CBeebies Bedtime Story using an eye-controlled computer.
The retired rugby league player was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019 and will become the first person to read a book on the BBC show by using the technology – that was adapted to showcase his Yorkshire accent – to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday (03.12.22).
The 40-year-old star said: “I used to love reading to my own children as part of their bedtime routine. I was so excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to read a CBeebies Bedtime Story.”
Rob – who will be reading ‘Tilda Tries Again’ by Tom Percival, a story about a little girl learning to succeed after being given a whole host of new challenges – labelled books and learning to love literature “so important” for everyone, including his own family, including his children Macy, Maya, and Jackson with his wife Lindsey.
He said: “Reading and literacy are so important. It doesn’t matter what your disability is, reading is accessible to everyone. Anyone can enjoy reading and develop a love of books and bedtime stories, just like me and my family.”
In 2018, ‘Catastrophe’ star Rob Delaney became the first person to sign a CBeebies Bedtime Story.
He used Makaton to read ‘Ten in a Bed’ by Penny Dale, in honour of his late son Henry, who tragically died at the age of two, after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
At the time, the 45-year-old comedian said: “Our family learned Makaton to be able to communicate with our son Henry, who couldn’t speak due to a tracheotomy.
“My family loves to read together so naturally we’re fans of ‘CBeebies Bedtime Stories’.
“I am beyond honoured to be the first person to read and sign a book using the Makaton language.
“We’re sad Henry isn’t here to see it, but we’re happy other families will get to enjoy a story told in Makaton.”
Rob reads CBeebies Bedtime Story at 6.50pm on Saturday 3rd December (CBeebies and BBC iPlayer).

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OHMYGOSSIP — Jennifer Ellison has shed three stone since being on ‘Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins’.
The former ‘Brookside’ actress, who branded the Channel 4 reality show “terrifying and unbearable”, has dropped to ten-and-a-half stone after the programme made her believe in herself again.
The married mum of three – who has sons Bobby, 12, Harry, seven, and Charlie six, with her husband Rob Tickle – told Closer magazine: “’SAS’ was hell at times a million – it was like giving birth! It’s the most horrific experiences as you’re going through it, but then the reward at the end is life-changing.
“It’s probably been the best thing I’ve ever done show-wise, or for me personally, because it made me believe in myself again.
“I lost a stone doing it. I’ve lost more because it really gave me a kick up the backside, because the gym is daunting to me, I was scared of the gym, then then after SAS, I said if I can do that, I can do anything.”
While on the show the Jennifer, 39, broke down in tears to former Commando Jason “Foxy” Fox as she spoke about her traumatic past.
Jennifer was embroiled in a turbulent relationship with a gangster lover at 16 years old, who she alleges subjected her to a catalogue of abuse that involved him breaking her collar bone.
The musical theatre star has previously spoken about her past weight gain.
She said: “It was just self neglect … I went from being a West End star – had the baby and got post-natal depression.
“I’d had three babies. I am happily married and content and the weight creeps on
“I’m not embarrassed. When you sell pictures of yourself, people are going to be interested when you don’t look great. I’ve never got upset over it.
“I was in ‘Brookside’ when I was 12, I’ve grown up with it. You have to take the rough with the smooth.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Mo Gilligan says his British accent has got him out of “a lot of sticky situations” in the US.
The stand-up up star found fame in 2017 after his online comedy skits went viral, partly thanks to Canadian rapper Drake sharing his content.
Despite his international success, the London-born comedian admits he fears sticking out because of his British accent, but was grateful for his twang when it got him out of a potentially tough situation in Hollywood.
He told OK! magazine: “I have this fear, yeah, I don’t know why I have this fear. I have this weird fear of being successful in America one day and it goes well and something mad happens.
“When you go to the US the one privilege you have, especially being a Black person there, is your accent. It can get you out of a lot of sticky situations.
“I went out by myself once on Hollywood Boulevard and some guy said to me, ‘You look like you got money, man.’
“He looked like a real bad man, like one of the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ characters. I had Nike Air Jordans on and he was like, ‘Look at the homie with Nike Jordans on.’
“I have never been so British in my life. I was like, ‘Oh good evening, chaps,’ and these people were so baffled. They were like, ‘What you doing here, Harry Potter?’ ”
The 34-year-old comedian recently travelled to the US to film a pilot of a UK version of musical game show ‘That’s My Jam’.
The eight part series, which debuts on December 17 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, will follow the original format of the US show, which is presented by Jimmy Fallon.
Mo said: “It was such a thrill to work with Jimmy and his outstanding team on the pilot of this show – and now we get to do a series! This is such an exceptional format and I’m so honoured that the BBC and NBCUniversal are letting me bring it to the UK.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Louis Theroux was inspired to start making his own shows after seeing a BBC boss flying business class, when he was in economy.
The 52-year-old documentary-maker admitted he questioned why an executive should be “living the high life” when he was the star of the programmes.
He said: “I remember flying out to location and I saw someone from BBC Studios – they were in business class and I was in economy.
“I thought, ‘I make the programmes and I fly economy and you sell the programmes, and you’re sipping champagne.’
“I saw behind the veil. Why should someone selling the programmes be living the high life and eating salted peanuts until they get sick? That is my angry socialist rant.”
While Louis has interviewed a number of stars over the years, he would love to sit down and chat to singer Beyonce and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, at some point in the future.
He added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I want to interview people who I have a level of interest in and a level of admiration. I want more intriguing celebrities with something to say.”
The TV presenter will be speaking to more stars soon, after a second series of his ‘Louis Theroux Interviews’ show was commissioned this week.
It comes after he got up close and person with Stormzy, Dame Judi Dench, Yungblud, Bear Grylls, Katherine Ryan, and Rita Ora in the first series of the BBC Two programme.
He said: “It was a huge pleasure making the first series of and I’m thrilled it connected with audiences and now we’re allowed to make some more.
“Massive thanks to the BBC for believing in the idea and for supporting us every step of the way. Expect more big stars, intimate access, and three times BAFTA winning excellence from yours truly.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Holly Willoughby missed hosting a part of today’s (01.12.22) ‘This Morning’ to attend her son’s nativity.
The 41-year-old presenter skipped just over an hour-and-a-half of the ITV brunchtime show to see her seven-year-old son Chester take on the starring role of Santa Claus in his Christmas play, leaving her co-host Phillip Schofield to front the first part of the programme alone.
Phil told viewers on Thursday morning: “You may notice that someone is missing. That’s because Holly is busy doing something that parents up and down the country can relate to.”
Holly – who also has son Harry, 12, and daughter Belle, 10, with her television producer husband Dan Baldwin – appeared on the show via video link to admit she was “very excited” to see her son take to the stage.
She told how the curtain would go up at 10.15am and the cast list featured gingerbread men and ‘Clarence the camel’, and Chester taking on the role of Father Christmas.
With her little boy’s headmaster acting as the camera operator, Holly said: “It’s all going off,” before confessing she was “ready to have a cry”.
Holly returned to the show’s iconic sofa later in the episode, and admitted she shed a tear at watching her son in the nativity.
Sitting alongside Phil, she said: “It was the sweetest thing. It was very good.
“Clarence got to the nativity on Santa’s, aka Chester’s, sleigh. So, Chester saved the day.
“He remembered all his words. He was very good and very clear and I could hear him right at the back. It was perfect.
“I did [need my tissues]. It’s when they’re all set up in a nativity at the end and they sing something beautiful and lovely. It always gets me.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Helen Skelton felt “sorry” for West End audiences when she was made to sing on stage.
The ‘Countryfile’ presenter – who is currently gearing up for Musicals Week on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ this Friday (02.12.22) – loved performing in ‘Stomp’ and ‘We Will Rock You’ for a Comic Relief challenge in 2013, but admitted it was “mortifying” having to sing on stage.
The 39-year-old star told The Sun newspaper’s TV Biz column: “I was once made to sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in ‘We Will Rock You’. It was the most mortifying moment of my entire life.
“When it went out on TV I was so physically embarrassed I crawled under the desk into a ball.
“I loved appearing on the West End stage, although I do feel a bit sorry for the audiences.”
However, Helen – who is planning on embodying ‘Cabaret’ leading lady Sally Bowles to her Couple’s Choice dance to ‘Mein Herr’ with her professional partner Gorka Marquez, 32, on the BBC One Latin and ballroom competition this Friday – would return to tread the boards, and named her dream role as a “sassy” version of Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
She said: “It would be sassy, ballsy Belle from ‘Beauty And The Beast’.
“She takes on the Beast for crying out loud, and you get to dance with a teacup.”
The BBC Radio 5 Live host admitted she “underestimated” the positive impact competing on the show would have on her life following her split from her ex Richie Myler, 32 – with who she has sons Ernie, seven, Louis, five, and 11-month-old baby daughter Elsie – and described the experience as an unexpected “rollercoaster of emotions”.
She said: “I came into this and I underestimated it because I thought ‘it’s dancing and nice dresses and interesting people.’ But it’s weird, it’s so much more than that. It makes you ask questions of yourself you don’t want to ask.
“I’m a 39-year-old woman with three kids. You do your job and your relationships and your house and career and all of that and you don’t really just challenge yourself and find joy in yourself. So it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions I didn’t expect.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Amanda Holden wants to “look like Dame Joan Collins” when she’s older.
The ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge – whose choice of outfits on the ITV show have attracted some Ofcom complaints over the years – has no interest in toning down the glamour and will ramp it up even further when her two daughters Lexi, 16, and Hollie, 10, grow older.
The 51-year-old star told The Sun newspaper: “My children always say, ‘Mummy, you are not going to look like an old granny when we have children, are you?’ I say, ‘No, I’ll look like Joan Collins.’ I want to be called Glammy, not Granny or Nanny.
“We’ve got Jennifer Aniston, Kylie Minogue, J.Lo, all looking incredible and these people are older than me, so I’m just inspired by them every single day.
“Hopefully it means we can shift that old-fashioned attitude of, ‘Well, I can’t wear that because I’m 51’, or, ‘I can’t do my hair this colour because I’m in my fifties’.
“Also, not feeling you have to get to an age and give up on yourself.”
Amanda finds it funny how much “controversy” her outfits have created.
She said: “It’s hilarious how much controversy my outfits have caused – people have got so much time on their hands.
“I mean, no really one paid much attention to what I wore when I was in my twenties or thirties.”
The ‘I Can See Your Voice’ star would prefer to be “overdressed than underdressed” when it comes to putting together a look.
Amanda said: “I enjoy it, it’s all good fun. I would always rather be overdressed than underdressed for any situation. That’s been a general rule for me since I was about five.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Larry Lamb is the fourth celebrity contestant to be confirmed for the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Christmas special.
The ‘Gavin and Stacey’ actor, 75, who will be paired with pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova, 33, for the episode, said about the opportunity: “Christmas has come early! I can’t wait to get on the dance floor and learn a brand new skill ready for all those festive parties.
“I am excited yet incredibly nervous but I know Nadiya will look after me, and I look forward to adding a bit of extra sparkle to Christmas day.”
Larry was revealed as the latest famous face to be taking part in the ‘Strictly’ festive special on ‘The One Show’ on Thursday night. (01.12.22)
Larry, who played Mick Shipman in the BBC’s multi-award winning comedy series ‘Gavin and Stacey’ and Archie Mitchell in BBC One’s ‘EastEnders’, is also a keen traveller who presents the Channel 5 docuseries ‘Britain by Bike’.
It sees him and his TV presenter son George, 42, cycling across the UK, and Larry regularly works with BBC One’s ‘The One Show’, fronting their history and heritage films.
On Thursday morning it was revealed former ‘Coronation Street’ actress Alexandra Mardell would also be taking part.
Rosie Ramsey and Rickie Haywood-Williams were announced as the first two contestants for the special, which will feature a total of six celebrities.
Each of the couples will perform a Christmas inspired routine for judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas, and the voting audience.
There are now only six celebrities still left in this year’s series of ‘Strictly’ – Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Helen Skelton, Kym Marsh, Molly Rainford and Will Mellor.
Comedian Ellie Taylor became the most recent star sent home when she and Johannes Radebe ended up in the bottom two on last week’s episode.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Daniel Mays finds it “surreal” that Queen Elizabeth watched ‘Line of Duty’.
The late monarch – who passed away in September aged 96 – is said to have been a fan of the BBC police procedural drama, but it is thought she disliked “mumbling” on the show.
Daniel – who played Sergeant Danny Waldron in 2016’s third series of the programme – said: “It’s surreal to think that the queen is sitting there watching it.”
Author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth claims in his new royal biography, ‘Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait’, that the queen liked watching ‘Line of Duty’ to “keep her spirits up”, but wasn’t a fan of the “mumbling” in that and other shows.
But Danny insists his character is innocent when it comes to speaking in a quiet and indistinct way.
He said: “I’m not guilty of mumbling in ‘Line of Duty’. My diction is always on point.”
The star has gone on to appear in TV shows ‘Good Omens’ and ‘Inside No. 9’, and films ‘1917’ and ‘Fisherman’s Friends’, but he is still regularly asked about ‘Line of Duty’, despite only appearing in the show briefly because his character was killed off.
Speaking on ‘Good Morning Britain’, Daniel added: “What is extraordinary is ‘Line of Duty’ was a two-week shoot for me. I was going on to do a play at the National Theatre.
“My character didn’t last very long. It was a really intense two-week shoot, and on every talk show I go on now they talk about ‘Line of Duty’.
“But I’m not complaining. I’m so proud of that role. It was such an amazing show to be part of.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Jill Scott will return to work in her coffee shop next week, after winning ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’.
The former England pro footballer and her fiancée Shelly Unitt own BOXX 2 BOXX COFFEE in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and Jill cannot wait to head back to the shop to thank all their “loyal” customers.
She said: “I’ll definitely be going back in BOXX 2 BOXX.
“We have customers that have been so loyal to us and have kept the shop going running, especially through COVID.
“Just like the Euros, I’m not going to change who I am. So it will be about getting round there and thanking everyone really.”
The 35-year-old star feels “grateful” for being a part of this year’s series of the ITV show, and insists all of her co-stars are “winners”.
She added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I am in disbelief. It has been the most incredible journey and one I’m most grateful for.
“I don’t want to say something cheesy but you’re in there as a team and it’s not like you’re competing against each other so I thought the team was a winner.
“At times, I just felt like I was camping with my friends and that was probably the best part about it really.
“I know I have been given the crown but for me the whole team were winners.”
Former Man City and Aston Villa player Jill admitted this week she missed watching the World Cup “so much” during her time in the jungle.
She said: “Don’t get me into trouble, it’s got to be Shelly and obviously my family and friends but I have missed the World Cup games so much. Me and Owen were begging for the scores and then the day that we had an ice lolly and the scores were revealed on the stick, that was one of the best days in the jungle.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online