Former Contestants Blast X-Factor
X-Factor has come under fire after ex-contestant Sarah Smith – of pop duo Same Difference – complained of the lack of support offered to those who had appeared on the programme.
Smith and her brother Sean limped over the finishing line to come in 3rd when they appeared on the X-Factor back in 2007. The two were popular with audiences but couldn’t quite beat off their competition.
Obviously still bitter after failing to claim the top spot, Sarah told TV Biz: “When you’ve just been in the public eye so much, that’s when you need help. It was just crazy for us.
“It’s something the X Factor should look into, the protection in the week or so afterwards when the attention’s at its highest.”
Her comments coincide with a desperate attempt to get publicity for her new single ‘Shine On Forever At Pontins’ which she performs with brother Sean and Churchill the dog. Yup, Churchill the dog. The star added that Same Difference have moved on from their cheesy image and instead aimed for “something grittier”. Ahem.
Amanda Holden To Leave Britain’s Got Talent?
Turmoil in the Britain’s Got Talent camp as Amanda Holden revealed to Metro that she is contemplating leaving the popular variety contest to pursue other avenues.
It has been a busy week for the Britain’s Got Talent panellists. First it was confirmed that Piers Morgan is to replace Larry King’s in his coveted spot on CNN whilst Simon Cowell – perhaps feeling a bit left out of the media loop – announced that he will not feature in the show until the semi-finals if this year’s show is rgiven the go ahead.
Holden told Metro: “I don’t know if I’ll be back. I would like to but I’m happy either way.
“For me it comes down to the scheduling of the stuff I have planned and if that fits in with the show then great. But if not, I won’t be able to do it.”
Fans have been warned by Satan himself – Simon Cowell – that there will be modifications to Britain’s Got Talent amidst growing rumours that he is considering departing the UK for good to concentrate on his more lucrative US deals. Personally, I’ll be relieved when he’s gone.
Derren Brown: Hero At 30,000 Feet Clip
Despite countless comments which say different, we count ourselves as a pretty charming group here at OTB. Yet even we were unable to prise any details about Derren Brown’s latest stunt from Channel 4 execs this week. They did give us a clip however – not that it helped us much…
Twin Peaks Cast To Re-Unite
Fans of David Lynch’s cult TV programme Twin Peaks will be ecstatic to hear that the original cast will reunite for a one-off episode of US drama Pysch. The upcoming episode will take inspiration from the infamous whodunit.
Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne) and Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs) are all due to star in the episode that, like Twin Peaks, will concern a small town reeling from the death of a local student. Also connected to the project are Catherine Coulson (best known for her work as the Log Lady), Lenny Von Dohlen (Harold Smith) and Robyn Lively (Lana Budding Milford).
Ray Wise (Leland Palmer) will be returning to Pysch in his guest role as Father Westley in the same episode.
The episode will air in the US in the fall.
Clarkson VS The Stig
Jeremy Clarkson has gone public to defend Top Gear’s honour, perhaps sensing that the show’s demise will send a clear signal that it’s his time to go too. A spanner was truly thrown into the works last week when negative press concerning Top Gear’s The Stig started getting splashed across the tabloids.
Clarkson also reserved some venom for Ben Collins who was revealed to be the real man behind the motoring programme’s anonymous racing driver. The information was only revealed after the BBC lost a High Court Battle regarding the affair. Clarkson had this to say: “Put it this way, he’s history as far as we’re concerned. He’s sacked.
“I’ve spent the last three weeks doing nothing but trying to work out what to do instead. Trust me, we have many, many thousands of people queuing up to be whatever it is we create.”
Clarkson was also asked if it were possible one of his co-presenters would be manning the helm: “Richard [Hammond] can’t drive and James [May] is too slow. We’ll get somebody, don’t you worry. Top Gear is damaged but not out.”
Strictly Come Dancing Line-Up Revealed
The line-up for Strictly Come Dancing has been announced ahead of the show’s opening episode at the weekend, and top of the bill will be Tory sex object Anne Widdecombe. The former prisons minister said that she was looking forward to a “nice, slow waltz”.
Also in the line-up will be Destiny Child singer Michelle Williams, ex-Corrie actress Tina O’Brien and EastEnders duo Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) and Kara Tointon (Dawn Swann). Rugby player Gavin Henson, The Good Life actress Felicity Kendall, ex-Blue Peter star Matt Baker and Holby City’s Patsy Kensit have also been confirmed.
Completing the list are surprise additions DJ Goldie, TV magician Paul Daniels, ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and comedian and psychologist Pamela Stephenson.
News of political battle-axe Anne Widdecombe’s inclusion will remind viewers of John Sargeant’s controversial appearances in 2008 in which the political commentator was a show success despite his shocking dance moves.
This year’s Strictly.. has also come under fire from Simon Cowell after the BBC announced that they would not be moving the show to avoid a clash with the X Factor.
Jimmy Carr Heads Up New Live Topical Comedy Show
September 7, 2010 by Emily Moulder
Filed under - Home, News
Stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr has signed on to appear in a new topical comedy show with Lauren Laverne, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell.
If that wasn’t good enough, the show’s going to be broadcast live, so hopefully it’ll be all right on the night.
According to The Guardian, the show is currently titled 10 O’Clock Live and will see the comics waxing lyrical about the week’s events. Channel 4 commissioned the show after the success of The Alternative Election Night which featured the same comics.
Entertainment and comedy commissioning editor Darren Smith said of the show, “The success of the Alternative Election Night proved that there is an appetite for a show that mixes comedy and the news agenda together in a way that produces genuine insight as well as laugh-out-loud moments. 10 O’Clock Live will provide a fresh and unashamedly intelligent take on current affairs from a young perspective.”
U.S. Skins New Images
MTV started filming the American version of Skins (in Canada strangely enough) earlier this year and they have released another new image of the cast. By all accounts the tone of the show was not lost as it crossed the pond, but instead of knocking about in Bristol, our new group of sexy young rebels (seen left) will be hanging about in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Having personally pursued the U.K. project for almost two years, I am beyond thrilled to bring it to MTV in the U.S,” said Liz Gateley, senior VP, MTV Series Development. “We intend to preserve the authenticity of the British version and are excited to collaborate with the original team to develop stories that will speak to American youth.”
Davina Apologises For Nadia Jibe
Shoutiest television presenter in the world Davina McCall was forced to apologise for a rather tame poke at transexual housemate Nadia over the weekend.
The winner of BB5 was evicted from the Ultimate Big Brother house on Friday to a chorus of boos from fans and later described how she felt ’suicidal’ after her bad reception from the viewers.
Her mood wouldn’t have been improved if she happened to catch Big Brother’s Big Mouth, in which Davina introduced comedian Jarred Christmas by saying: “He has the charm of Coolio and the warmth of Ulrika. And he has the boyish good looks of Nadia.”
McCall apologised for her comments after fans complained and went on to insist that Nadia was one of her favourite housemates. She stopped just short of trotting out the old “some of my best friends are transexuals” line.
A rather hassled Big Brother spokesman later said that Channel 4 would keep a watchful eye over Nadia in the coming weeks, adding: “A full aftercare system is in place for all housemates.”
Christine Tells Daybreak Co-Star To Shave His Ears
Former One Show hosts Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles debuted their new Breakfast TV show Daybreak on ITV1 this morning to generally warm reviews from critics, but Chiles has been advised to trim his ear hair by his colleague as she fears it might put viewers off their breakfast.
The new show – which kicks off at 6am every week day – will be screened in high definition, letting viewers see every detail and Bleakley told The Sun of her fear that Chiles furry logs might put audiences off their corn flakes.
“I was chatting away the very first time we met and all I could look at was his ears,” she told The Sun. “I just thought, ‘He’s got the hairiest ears I’ve ever seen on a man’ – that you could even braid the hair!”
“I’ve got unconscionably hairy ears and in HD that’s going to be a real issue,” laughed Chiles when told of Bleakley’s comments.
Despite a few voices lamenting the end of GMTV on internet message boards, many viewers seemed to warm to the couple this morning as they revived their popular on screen relationship from The One Show.
