Holmes and Turner Bury 12 Year GMTV Hatchet
After a twelve year feud that at one stage threatened to tear ITV itself apart – well maybe not – Eamonn Holmes and Anthea Turner have kissed and made up.
The TV presenters who hosted GMTV between 1994 and 1996 will make a sofa appearance together on Eamonn’s new programme The Friday Show.
“We have put the past behind us. It is nice that we are at a stage in our lives where we can finally do just that,” said Holmes.
Which is quite magnanimous when you consider that it was he who demanded she be sacked over a decade ago when he reportedly told bosses it was “me or her”.
He also famously nicknamed her “Princess Tippy Toes” – whatever that means..
Turner admitted that “being back on the sofa with Eamonn seems like the easiest thing in the world.” (She’s obviously got an evil plan to wreck things..)
The Friday Show – Eamon’s new BBC talk show in Northern Ireland – will air tomorrow night at 9pm.
Channel 4 May Lose Deal or No Deal
Considered by many to the most annoyingly watchable show on daytime television, Deal or No Deal could be moving away from Channel 4.
The programme which has been big hit with students and shift-workers since its inception in 2005, also brought Noel Edmonds and Mr Blobby (the banker) back from the TV wilderness.
According to The Daily Mail, the show’s production company Endemol has been told that the current £100,000-per-show budget would be slashed under a new contract.
Sky and BBC bosses have apparently expressed an interest in taking it on when its current deal expires at the end of 2010.
A source close to host Noel Edmonds said: “He has been told about budget cuts. What he is most worried about is how this will affect the actual format of the programme.”
“They are talking about lowering the cash prize and other changes, which would completely change the tone of the show.”
Have a shave Edmonds.
X Factor: China Breaks Silence Over Show!
The Chinese ambassador who was last week caught up at the centre of a diplomatic row over X Factor has today sent a letter to The Sun newspaper explaining that she is actually a big fan of the show.
She also said that it would be ‘unfair’ for her to name her favourite housemate – but phone bills retrieved from her rubbish bin show that she employs a team of people to vote against the twins….
Ambassador to the UK Madam Yu Fing sparked fears of a break-down in Sino-British relations after a mob of teenage fans caused her ‘irritation’ with their wild exploits over half-term.
“It was fun finding myself caught up in X Factor fever and reading about the “diplomatic row” involving my Embassy,” she writes.
“My daughter emailed me wondering if she could fly in and join the screaming fans!
“I have to admit that I also enjoy watching the X Factor when there is time and have my favourite contestants.
“I think it would be unfair to mention who my favourites are, but I think all the acts have some great qualities.”
How diplomatic.
Joe Swash Loses All His Dosh
Swash, in happier times
In fact, he’s awash (in poverty).
Less than a year after the ex-EastEnder was crowned king of the Aussie jungle in “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” 27-year-old Swash has been declared bankrupt.
The Sun reports Swash owes the Inland Revenue a whopping £120,000. Having neglected to pay his taxes, the Official Receiver has now taken control of his assets. Swash’s accounts are effectively frozen.
Which makes him the British answer to Wesley Snipes, apparently.
Despite an uplifting triumph on “I’m A Celeb” and his most recent forays with Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson in “Living WIth My Idol,” Swash is going nowhere but down.
30 Rock Bags James Franco
James Franco never ceases to amaze us.
The latest ongoing for Spider-Man/Milk actor is allegedly a guest appearance on NBC’s critically-acclaimed show 30 Rock, reports Entertainment Weekly.
Sources confirm that the 31-year-old actor will be involved in a faux romance with Jenna (Jane Krakowski). Whilst the studio has declined to comment, creator/producer/star Tina Fey confirmed “a high-profile relationship with a movie star that is arranged by their agents.” Oh boy, oh boy.
Franco is currently in Los Angeles, shooting for ABC soap opera General Hospital and will return to the Big Apple later this week to shoot 30 Rock.
X Factor: Olly Murs Struck By Throat Infection
Olly Murs fans are mourning the latest tabloid reports.
According to The Sun, the X Factor hopeful is suffering from a throat infection, allegedly the same illness that the Essex singer Lloyd Daniels was raving about last weekend.
In order to avoid ending up like final 12 X Factor contestant Diana Vickers, who missed a show after being diagnosed with laryngitis, doctors have instructed both Murs and Daniels to rest their voices. Seems like the most obvious advice, no?
So fret not X Factor aficionados, an ITV source reports that the two lads will make it for Saturday night’s show.
Coronation Street Bosses Want Noel Gallagher
Coronation Street bosses have developed quite a taste for popstar cameos in recent years.
We’ve already had members of Boyzone and Hear’say working in the Rovers and now jobless rocker Noel Gallagher has revealed that producers keep pestering him to make an appearance on the cobbles.
“Me and Sara (his partner) are obsessed with Coronation Street. I’ve been asked to appear loads of times but I’ve always turned it down,” said the former Oasis frontman.
But maybe that’s because they won’t give Noel the part he really wants.
The singer previously said he had an idea for a cameo he could play in the show, which involved beating up Jack P. Shepherd’s bad boy character David Platt.
Jack said: “When Noel was asked on the radio what he’d like to do if he was in the show he said he said he’s like to punch that David Platt fella!”
We’re sure that Liam would give you a hand in a scrap though Jack…
Radio: Vernon Kaye To Replace Moyles?
You spend ages waiting for a radio news story and then two come along at once!
Last Thursday we reported the sad death of Archers legend Norman Painting and this week we can bring you news of another radio icons demise.
Chris Moyles, the self-styled “savior of Radio 1″ seems set to get the boot from his breakfast slot next summer after he managed to lose 700,000 listeners in just three months.
TV presenter and all-round lovely bloke Vernon Kaye is thought to be the favourite to replace the tubby loud-mouth.
If he does get the job, morning listeners can expect to hear more than one song per hour for the first time in five years.
A senior (and very candid) BBC radio source said: “Moyles is still the saviour of Radio One, but he will go sooner rather than later.”
Cheryl Cole Lined Up For Doctor Who Part
We remember the days when Cheryl Cole was just another singer who went around beating up toilet attendants, but now it seems she can do no wrong.
If an enthusiastic hack at The Mirror is to be believed, the singer is being pursued by the BBC for a guest slot in the new series of Doctor Who.
The X Factor judge has yet to sign a deal with bosses but could end up playing “a big part” in the fifth series which is currently shooting in Wales.
In a statement which as good as guarantees Cole’s appearance in the show, a spokesman from the beeb said: “The BBC will not be commenting on casting or storyline speculation for the new series of Doctor Who.”
Now all they’ve got to do is persuade her to sign for Strictly.
X Factor: Twins To Clean Out Bookies?
Love them or loathe them (it seems that most people loathe them) the twins are fast becoming some of the biggest stars in Britain.
It’s all temporary of course – we hope.
Last night they upstaged a host of A-List stars at the London premiere of Jim Carrey’s new film, A Chrstmas Carol.
We don’t mind seeing less of Peter Andre, but when good old Colin Firth has his spotlight dimmed, we here at OTB start to ask questions.
Some other people scratching their heads this morning are the nation’s bookmakers.
Last night Ladbrokes revealed that a mystery punter had put £10,000 on the boys to win (the highest amount ever staked on one X Factor contestant.) Witnesses described him as a short grey-haired man with dark glasses and an Irish accent.
“Since Saturday we’ve had more bets on the twins than the others put together. It would be catastrophe if they won.” Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams told The Sun.
Bookies are facing a £20million payout if the tuneless pair win after their odds plunged from 150/1 to 4/1.
