While every year there are moans and groans about the Christmas TV schedules being packed with repeats, there’s one show that we definitely don’t mind watching again and again – the original Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.
The BBC sitcom had been running for two seasons by the time we got the first festive episode in 2008, and what a Christmas special it was.
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While we’d seen plenty of interactions between the entire Shipman and West clan in the years previous, there was a real moment of joy seeing them all prepare for their first Christmas together following Gavin and Stacey’s wedding.
Not only did the hour-long episode deliver on comedy and plot, but it also highlighted all those little Christmas foibles that go on in households up and down the country come 25 December.
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And while it was a burst of nostalgia having the gang back together in 2019 for the much-anticipated reunion episode, there’s something magical about the original that made it such a festive masterpiece.
Here’s why it’s a show that’s worthy of repeat viewing every December…
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1. Pam’s stance on Christmas cards
Pam had strong views on when to send Christmas cards
Prior to 2008, we were always baffled as to why some people would send their Christmas cards before December had even rolled around, but Pam Shipman imparted some serious wisdom on us that made us completely reverse our stance.
“What is the point of sending cards that arrive on Christmas Eve? They’ll get taken down in a few days. That’s why I send all mine on the first of November. Gives people seven weeks to enjoy them,” she said.
You have to admit, she has a point, right?
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2. John who?
Step-brother John!
Speaking of Christmas cards, Pam and Mick also tapped into something we’ve all heard our parents say when they receive a festive greeting from someone they cannot quite place.
“Oh, look at that, ‘From John’… It could be mechanic John… It won’t be John from Ann and John.”
3. Doris being “absolutely twatted” before lunchtime on Christmas Eve
Oh how we miss Doris
A relatable queen.
4. Nessa in the grotto
“Oh! Oh! Oh! Merry Christmas” was an inspired piece of writing from Ruth Jones and James Corden.
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It’s the scene that inspired James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, and despite the fact he’s had the likes of Adele, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga join him in his car to sing along to their biggest hits, it’s still Smithy’s duet down the phone on Do They Know It’s Christmas? that remains the original and the best.
We’ve also never been able to say Midge Ure’s name the same way since.
The scene where Gwen and Bryn share their first ever mint Baileys before boarding the coach to Essex wasn’t big or flashy, but it had a quiet comfort and poignancy about it, which Gavin & Stacey always nails so perfectly.
7. Mick’s turkey saga
The turkey scene in Gavin and Stacey
Are you basting it? Are you soaking it overnight? Are you doing it the Nigella way? Or are you sticking to Jamie Oliver, because you “know where you are with him”?
Through the characters of Mick and Pete, the Christmas special managed to perfectly encapsulate the bizarre obsession and competitiveness dads have with other men about their turkeys each year.
8. The fight
Pam wasn’t exactly thrilled with Gavin’s news
Pam’s eruption after finding out her “little prince” was planning on relocating to Barry set off a chain of events that made this scene one of the most memorable in Gavin & Stacey history.
Not only did Alison Steadman absolutely commit to the moment, but we also saw Gwen finally stand up to Pam, Nessa threaten to “see her outside” (and Pam stupidly believe she could take her on), before Pete went toe-to-toe with Dave Coaches to defend Dawn’s honour.
Admittedly, there’s some language that we’d hope wouldn’t make it into the script in 2021 and we were very pleased when they all put the row behind them. But it has to be said, this scene shook up the dynamic between all the characters and also sent up those fights that happen in every family each festive season.
9. Pam and Mick’s royal romp
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Mick in his comedy Prince Charles ears
We learned that Pam’s obsession with the Duchess of Cornwall translated into the bedroom as she prepared to be “knighted” with Mick’s “special sword” while he was wearing a comedy pair of Prince Charles ears.
10. Pam’s vegetarianism comes unstuck
As “Three Steaks Pam” faced the prospect of a turkey-less Christmas after her long-standing lies about being a vegetarian, it transpired she hadn’t fooled anyone with her stance on meat – except for Gwen that is, who had bought her a vegetarian cookbook for Christmas.
11. The opening of the “presents”
Nessa and Dave gifted everyone a single chocolate from a box of Celebrations
Never before had we been so eager to see which Celebration someone was eating, and we definitely still relate to Smithy wrapping all his presents in tin foil for ease.
Doris gifting Gwen talcum powder, despite her still having a stack of it unused at home from previous years, was also a foible we’ve seen play out during present openings over the years.
12. The Nessa and Smithy sexual tension
Smithy didn’t want Nessa to marry Dave
Years before we got the 2019 Christmas proposal, there was a special moment between Nessa and Smithy that gave fans hope that the characters would finally end up together as Smithy urged her not to marry Dave Coaches.
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All episodes of Gavin & Stacey are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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If you’re anything like us, you’ll currently be poring over the Christmas TV listings, picking out all the unmissable shows you need to see this year.
And while the BBC, ITV, Netflix and co have put on a veritable buffet of televisual treats for us over the festive period, we’ve been feeling all nostalgic about the telly of Christmases past.
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So join us as we head back in time to 2001, to see what we were all sitting down to watch (and perhaps fall asleep to) 20 years ago…
CHRISTMAS EVE
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Dale’s National Lottery Christmas Cracker
7.15pm on BBC One
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Dale Winton
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The late Dale Winton hosted a special edition of his National Lottery show, which saw him joined by Will Smith and Vinnie Jones, while Westlife, S Club 7, the Corrs and Cher were on hand to provide the music.
Des O’Connor Tonight At Christmas
8.30pm on ITV
Des O’Connor and Will Smith
There was a double dose of Will Smith on 24 December, as he was also one of the guests on a special festive edition of Des O’Connor’s chat show.
It was a chat show extravaganza on Christmas Eve back in 2001, as no sooner had Des finished up his ITV show than Parky was welcoming a host of famous faces onto his iconic interview series.
Dame Edna Everage swung by for a chat, while Robbie Williams teamed up with Lenny Henry to perform some big band numbers in support of his Swing When You’re Winning album, while Charlotte Church was on hand to sing a special Christmas Carol.
But the absolute highlight was Geri Horner (then Halliwell) performing an acoustic medley of Spice Girls songs, mixed in with her own hits and some Christmas classics (complete with beatboxer), for reasons we’re not entirely sure about.
While Christmas editions of daytime favourites like This Morning and Lorraine have become more commonplace in recent years, Channel 4’s defunct (and much missed) breakfast show was serving up a televisual treat to open your stocking to 20 years ago.
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Back in 2001, Top Of The Pops was still a weekly part of the TV schedule, compared to the annual festive one-off it is now following its axe in 2006, but it still pulled in the biggest chart names for its Christmas Day episode.
In what is truly a marker of the time, the list of performers included Shaggy, S Club 7, Wheatus, Westlife, Atomic Kitten, Hear’Say, Kylie Minogue and Afroman, as well as a rendition of that year’s Christmas number one by Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman with Something Stupid.
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The EastEnders Christmas special was still split into two 30-minute parts back in 2001.
That year saw Phil Mitchell discover he was Louise’s real father, with Lisa Shaw and Mark Fowler having made the Square believe the baby was his.
Elsewhere, the domestic abuse storyline between Trevor Morgan and Little Mo reached grim new levels as he pushed his wife’s face into her Christmas dinner and made her eat the remains off the carpet.
There was some cheer to be had, however, as Jim Branning proposed to Dot Cotton, but not before a mix-up with Sonia Fowler, who believed Jamie Mitchell was about to pop the question to her after finding the ring.
This was BBC One’s big Christmas drama in 2001, with the two-parter spread over Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Based on Arthur Conan-Doyle ’s novel, it followed a maverick professor who led a party from London to South America in search of plateau where dinosaurs are rumoured to roam.
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Christmas Day 2001 heralded one of Corrie’s most iconic – and unexpected – storylines ever, as it marked the beginning of Deirdre Barlow’s affair with Dev Alahan.
It wasn’t a peaceful Christmas at the Barlows, as a drunken Peter accused his stepmother of being responsible for the death of his sister Susan.
After slapping him and storming out to leave the family to make their own Christmas dinner, she ended up at her boss Dev Alahan’s where they wallowed in how disastrous their respective days have been. But as the wine started flowing, it wasn’t long before they ended up in bed together…
Elsewhere on the Street, the law caught up with Terry Duckworth as he was arrested while trying to take dad Jack to hospital with chest pains.
Impressionist of the moment Alistair McGowan landed a prime-time slot on Christmas Day, as him and Ronnie Ancona took off celebrities including Davina McCall, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Des Lynham, Pete Waterman, the cast of EastEnders and Helen and Paul from Big Brother 2.
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The Only Fools And Horses Christmas special was a long-held tradition, with the 2001 catching up with the Trotters five years after they were last seen on TV.
It saw Del and Rodney return to Peckham after losing the riches they’d made in the 1996 special after making a bad financial investment that saw them declared bankrupt. But they were given a chance to win their fortune back when Del Boy appeared on a gameshow, but things didn’t exactly go to plan.
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The show went up against Only Fools And Horses in the Christmas Day ratings war, and more members of the public walk through those famous doors to emerge as their pop icons – although this time performing festive classics.
Among them were Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone, Karen Carpenter and Merry Christmas Darling, and, errrm, Gloria Gaynor & Aretha Franklin doing It’s Raining Men – quite how that fitted into the festive theme, we can’t tell you because it’s not on YouTube.
Snow Graham Norton
11pm on Channel 4
Snow Graham Norton
To finish off Christmas Day, Channel 4 showed a late night repeat of the festive edition of Graham Norton’s pre-BBC chat show, which saw the comedian joined by Kate Beckinsale, Martine McCutcheon, Alison Moyet and S Club 7.
BOXING DAY
Cilla’s Surprise Surprise
5.15pm on ITV
Cilla went to Disneyland for the 2001 Surprise Surprise Christmas special
Ken McKay/Shutterstock
Cilla Black was on hand to bring some festive surprises to a host of unsuspecting members of the public with a special edition of Surprise Surprise, which saw her travel to Disneyland Paris.
Ultimately, it would prove to be Cilla’s last episode hosting the long-running show, which had been on air since 1984.
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A 20th anniversary episode that was made for transmission in late 2003 never made it to air after Cilla sensationally quit ITV live on an episode of Blind Date earlier that year. However, the lost episode did eventually air during the Christmas period some 12 years later.
There was even more Graham to be had over the Christmas of 2001, with the chat show legend journeying to Dollywood, Tennessee, at the invitation of the great lady herself – Dolly Parton.
It is also one of the few shows on this list that is still available to watch in full, with the episode on All4.
Jonathan Creek
9.05pm on BBC One
Jonathan Creek
Bill Bailey and Steven Berkoff joined Alan Davies for a new adventure for Jonathan Creek as part of BBC One’s Boxing Day schedule.
The latest supernatural mystery saw him join forces with the police to solve the murder of an actress on a film set, baffled by how the window she was shot through had managed to remain in tact.
After what was undoubtedly one of the most exhausting years in living memory, it will no doubt come as a relief that the way Christmas and Boxing Day have fallen in 2021 means we’re in for a bumper string of Bank Holidays.
More days off means more time to sit at home watching films, and this year there are some real corkers to tune in for.
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Here’s our guide to the most unmissable of the lot – plus who they’re such ideal viewing for…
Moana
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When’s it on? 20 December at 3.05pm on BBC One
Perfect for: When you’re sick to death of the British winter weather and are in dire need of some sunny escapism… even if the scenic view in question is completely CGI.
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Crazy Rich Asians
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When’s it on? 22 December at 10.35pm on BBC One
Perfect for: If you’re in the mood for a rom-com, but you’re not quite near enough to Christmas to break out The Holiday and Love Actually.
Die Hard
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When’s it on? 22 December on at 10.45pm on BBC One
Perfect for: Those with strong feelings about whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas film, who feel like proving a point to anyone in the immediate vicinity.
Matilda
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When’s it on? 23 December at 5.10pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: Let’s be honest, when’s it not the “perfect” time for the cosiness and magic of Matilda?
The Holiday
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When’s it on? 23 December at 11pm on ITV
Perfect for: Getting the ball rolling on a few days’ worth of non-stop Christmas films and TV specials with a comfort film you’ve seen a million times before.
Frozen
When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 1.30pm on BBC One
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Perfect for: Anyone who has some little ones that you might need to distract while you do some last-minute Christmas wrapping.
It’s A Wonderful Life
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When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 2pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: If you’ve got a couple of hours free to have your heart broken and then put back together again.
When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 2.15pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: That moment the dysfunction levels reach new highs, and you need to remind yourself that it could be worse.
Home Alone
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When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 6pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: When nothing says Christmas quite like watching an intruder getting smacked in the face with a paint can.
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Don’t Look Up
NIKO TAVERNISENIKO TAVERNISE/NETFLIX
When’s it on? Christmas Eve on Netflix
Perfect for: If you’ve well and truly reached your tolerance for festive cheer, and need a bit of a break from it all.
Meet Me In St Louis
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 12.50pm on BBC Two
Perfect for: Those who understand that no one is ever going to top Judy’s version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Mary Poppins Returns
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 3.10pm on BBC One
Perfect for: The whole family, which makes it the perfect Christmas Day watch. And trust us, even the most cynical fans of the original 1964 classic will be charmed by this star-studded modern follow-up.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 3.15pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: Those who think they’ve overcome their childhood fear of the Child Catcher (spoiler alert, you probs haven’t).
Love Actually
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 10.40pm on ITV
Perfect for: When everyone is starting to wind down and you can finally put your festive fave on without any interruptions.
When’s it on? Christmas Day at 12.20am on Channel 4
Perfect for: When you’re absolutely not ready to call it a night, and a critically-acclaimed Oscar-nominated film is as good a reason to stay up as any.
Paddington
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When’s it on? Boxing Day at 4.20pm on BBC One
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Perfect for: Literally everyone, so whoever you happen to be spending Boxing Day with, this is a great one to sit them in front of.
Sister Act
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When’s it on? Boxing Day at 5.10pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: Anyone in need of a really big laugh.
Dirty Dancing
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When’s it on? Boxing Day at 8pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: One maaaassive nostalgia trip.
A Star Is Born
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When’s it on? 27 December at 10.05am on BBC Two
Perfect for: Anyone who feels like using the Bank Holiday as an excuse to dive into some classic cinema. Trust us, this is a brilliant place to start.
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My Fair Lady
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When’s it on? 27 December at 1.10pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: Anyone who wants to see the above outfit in motion (which, we assume, is everyone).
Misery
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When’s it on? 28 December at 11.15pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: If four days’ worth of Christmas cheer has got you in drastic need of the antidote to all things festive.
Inside Out
Inside Out
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When’s it on? 29 December at 1.40pm on BBC One
Perfect for: When you need a bit of Pixar magic in your life.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
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Absolutely Fabulous
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When’s it on? 29 December at 12.55am on BBC Two
Perfect for: If you’ve been a bit naughty over Christmas and need to watch people being even naughtier to make you feel better.
Judy
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When’s it on? 30 December at 9pm on BBC Two
Perfect for: If you’ve enjoyed Meet Me In St Louis and A Star Is Born and feel like learning a bit more about the woman at the centre of them all.
The star appeared alongside Paul in the original film version of Clueless, where he played Cher’s love interest Josh.
After Paul received the sexy honour earlier this week, Alicia celebrated with a Clueless moment on TikTok, keen to remind everyone that her character Cher Horowitz always knew how handsome he was.
She shared a clip of where Cher suddenly realises her feelings for Josh, but with an image of Paul’s People cover shoot superimposed over the top.
“I mean… Cher’s been saying he is a kind of a Baldwin since 1995 #Clueless #PaulRudd,” Alicia wrote.
Of course, she’s not the only one of Paul’s former co-stars to remark on his new title.
Paul’s Friends co-star, who he also shared the silver screen with in 1998 film The Object Of My Affection and 2011′s Wanderlust, wrote on her Instagram Story: “This makes me so happy. We’ve ALWAYS known this, but Paul Rudd is officially @people’s Sexiest Man Alive!”
She then shared a snap of them from The Object Of My Affection, writing: “You don’t age, which is weird. But we still love you.”
Paul, who is best known for playing Phoebe’s husband Mike in Friends, previously revealed his wife had an equally sweet reaction to his win.
He said Julie Yaeger, who he has been married to since 2003, was “stupefied” by his new title.
Having teased fans for the last three years, ABBA finally confirmed earlier this year that not only would they be launching a unique residency in London in 2022, they’d also be dropping their first album of new material in 40 years.
Dubbed ABBA Voyage, the Swedish band’s “concert experience” will take place at a specially-constructed arena in East London, and will feature digital recreations of all four members performing their old favourites (as well as recent hits I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down).
Explaining how it all works, producer Ludvig Andersson (yes, Benny’s son) previously explained: “Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Björn got on a stage in front of 160 cameras and almost as many VFX geniuses and they performed every song in this show to perfection over five weeks, capturing every mannerism, every emotion.
“When you see this show it is not a ‘version of’, or a ‘copy of’, it is actually them.”
While fans have long been curious about exactly how the so-called ABBAtars would look in motion, the first trailer for Voyage was released on Thursday morning, and the whole thing just looks incredible.
ABBA VoyageThe ABBAtars have been seen in action for the first time, and we can’t wait to see more
Accompanied by the ABBA classic Summer Night City, all four ABBAtars are seen performing in the 20-second clip, while dressed in neon-inspired outfits and surrounded by colourful lights.
ABBA Voyage will launch in May 2022, with tickets available until the following December.
And if the sight of the ABBAtars in motion has got you hungry for more, you’ll be excited to know that ABBA’s ninth album (also named Voyage) is released on this Friday (5 November).
Beretta/Sims/ShutterstockLittle Mix pictured in December 2011
In the 10 years they’ve been in the public eye, Little Mix have topped the charts, dominated the headlines and become style icons in their own right.
But it wasn’t always that way.
You see, they’ve come so far in the past decade it’s easy to forget that the hit girl group started life as four girls who auditioned for The X Factor as soloists, only to be put together as a four-piece group by the judges at the eleventh hour.
And as these old photos show, they were still a long way off establishing themselves as the group we know and love today in that first year.
On the 10th anniversary of Little Mix’s formation, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and remember the girls as they were – clashing prints, patterned braces, questionable dye jobs and all…
Like One Direction before them, Little Mix were formed at Bootcamp, after originally auditioning as solo artists. It was Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland who first saw the potential in the four-piece as a group.
ITV
A month later, the newly-formed Rhythmix (as they were then known) were off to Greece, where they performed for the first time in front of the very 2011 crowd of Tulisa and Jessie J.
ITVLittle Mix
In those days, X Factor was synonymous with its makeovers. After making it through to the live shows, here’s what X Factor’s team of stylists did to Jade, Jesy, Leigh-Anne and Perrie…
Ken McKay/Shutterstock4 October
As live shows got underway, the newly-formed band became known for their wardrobe, which included lots of bright colours, bold prints and shiny materials.
Ken McKayKen McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock8 October
Seriously, they loved a print.
Ken McKayKen McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock16 October 2011
It was this eerie Halloween week performance that cemented the girls’ place as contenders in what became a stiff competition…
Ken McKayKen McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
We’re giving you fair warning, do not look directly at these skirts…
Ken McKayKen McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
Or, frankly, these skirts (though that has less to do with their luminous properties)…
Ken McKayKen McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
As the renamed Little Mix’s popularity grew, they began being papped on their way to X Factor rehearsals.
BerettaBeretta/Sims/Shutterstock
Is this photo making anyone else want to buy some Dove soap? Just us?
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
Eventually, Little Mix made it all the way to the X Factor final where they went up against Marcus Collins.
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock11 December
And we all know how that turned out by now…
Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/Shutterstock
The morning after their win, Little Mix made an appearance on Daybreak.
Ken McKay/Shutterstock12 December
Here they are posing with the oft-forgotten fifth member of Little Mix: Kate Garraway…
Ken McKay/Shutterstock
Fresh from their X Factor victory, Little Mix opened the show at the NTAs in January 2012.
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
And, a month later, made their Brits debut. Later in their career, Little Mix would eventually go on to deliver a string of iconic Brits performances and – almost a decade after forming – became the first girl band in history to scoop Best British Group.
Dave Hogan via Getty Images
With superstardom within reach, the band made a string of public appearances in early 2012 in the lead-up to their debut album’s release.
Chris Lobina/Shutterstock
There is a lot going on here…
Alex Moss via Getty Images
On the band’s first birthday, they performed their debut single Wings at G-A-Y, and Jade was over the moon that the group got some balloons.
Jo Hale via Getty Images
And a year after that first performance in Greece, they topped the charts with their debut single Wings (like the band themselves, we’re just pretending that Cannonball doesn’t exist).
This month marks 18 years since one of the most entertaining films to leave Walt Disney Pictures graced our cinema screens – Freaky Friday.
It showcases a mother-daughter duo – played by Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis – who switch bodies once a spell takes effect, with unexpected consequences.
A remake of Disney’s previous 1976 and 1995 adaptations, the 2003 family comedy was a major success, with many young people and their parents finding it hilariously relatable to their lives in one way or another.
To mark Freaky Friday’s milestone anniversary, we’ve uncovered 13 facts you probably didn’t know about it.
DisneyLindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday
1. Lindsay’s character was originally supposed to be a goth
When the Parent Trap star read the original script, she thought Anna’s character was a bit too scruffy. “There was nothing there, no one can relate to the character when she’s really goth,” she told Vanity Fair in 2006.
To recreate her own envision, LiLo turned up to the audition dressed extremely preppy, which worked to her benefit as the character was rewritten.
2. The shots in the opening credits are actual photos of Jamie Lee Curtis and her daughter Annie Guest
DisneyJamie Lee Curtis and her daughter Annie Guest
We all love a fake snapshot or two at the beginning of a film, but who knew the photos at the start of Freaky Friday actually captured true moments from Jamie Lee’s real life.
One sees her daughter as a toddler laying on her mother’s back, with her arms tightly placed around her neck.
3. Lindsay had to give Jamie Lee precise lessons on how to say ‘shut up’
During a promotional interview on YouTube, the True Lies actor admitted to needing help from her then-teenage co-star with the specific way she said ‘shut up!’
“There’s a way she says shut up that I couldn’t get. She had to give me a ‘shut up’ tutorial because it’s a very specific way,” she said.
Jamie Lee, who was raising 16-year-old daughter Annie Guest at the time, claimed that starring in this film with a young person helped her see things from her child’s point of view.
“I think I probably have a judgmental bitch badge that I put on because I can be harsh, and I think that walking a mile in some very uncomfortable teenage shoes gave me the opportunity to see what it’s like on the other side,” she said.
4. Gwen Stefani was offered a role as a member of the band
Paul Archuleta via Getty Images
According to IMDB, the US singer was offered a role as a member of Anna’s band, but sadly we didn’t get to see that happen – although we think she would have been a perfect addition to that cast.
5. Michelle Trachtenberg was supposed to be Anna
MICHAEL TRAN via Getty Images
The Ice Princess star was first to be cast as the mouthy teenager, but had to back out of the project due to her her contract with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she played Dawn Summers.
This was actually the second film Michelle turned down in which LiLo later landed the lead gig – the first being The Parent Trap in 1998, in which Lindsay made her name.
6. Kelly Osbourne also auditioned for the role
Denise Truscello via Getty Images
The star, known for her family reality show The Osbournes, was also offered the part of Anna after auditioning, but had to pull out after her mother Sharon was diagnosed with cancer.
Kelly later described how people told her it was the biggest mistake of her career, due to the success of the film.
7. Lindsay’s mum made an appearance in the movie
Disney
LiLo’s mum Dina can be seen in the final scene where Anna is dancing with Jake. Dina is in the background dancing with an older man, but there is an awkward moment where she is seen looking directly at the camera.
8. The famous Anna and Tess collision scene is similar to a scene in Bewitched
Anna and Tess’ idea to collide at full force in an attempt to reverse the spell is similar to a scene in 1966′s Bewitched: Divided He Falls, where Darrin is split into two people and Endora suggests he do the same to break the spell.
However, in this scene, the trick had the desired effect.
9. Lindsay had her first on-screen kiss in Freaky Friday
Disney
In a behind the scene YouTube clip, Lindsay admitted that the kiss she shared with co-star Chad Michael Murray was the first she had done on screen.
10. Lindsay went on to win three awards for the movie
Freaky Friday quickly became a Disney fan favourite in the early 2000s and Linday took home three awards for her performance of both Anna and Tess Coleman.
At the 2004 Teen Choice Awards, she won Choice Breakout Movie Star and Choice Hissy Fit. She then added to that at the MTV Movie Awards, receiving the Best Breakthrough Award in 2004.
11. The film paid homage to Jamie Lee Curtis’ mother
A character named Mr Bates appears in the film as a tribute to the actor’s mother, Janet Leigh who is best known for her performance in the 1960 film Psycho.
Mr Bates is a reference to Norman Bates’ character in the classic movie.
12. A member of the band Orgy instructed Jamie on how to play the guitar for the last scene
Moviestore/Shutterstock
Orgy, an American rock band formed in 1994, offered up one of their members to teach Jamie Lee how to play the guitar, and although the actor practiced making the concert scene look as authentic as possible, a studio musician dubbed over the guitar solo in the finished film.
13. Freaky Friday is based on Mary Rodgers 1972 novel of the same name
Rodgers’ story was adapted many times, including the original Disney version in 1976.
In 2020, it was the source for the movie Freaky, which focuses on a teenage girl who unintentionally swaps bodies with a middle-aged male serial killer.
Speaking to the New York Post, Lisa said of the Baby singer: “I was like, ‘Wait, that’s Justin Bieber, right? Would he be here? Is he here? He’s really here – that’s Justin Bieber!’
“That was kind of exciting. I’m throwing in a ‘kind of’ so that I seem a little cooler. It was exciting. I don’t get excited about meeting people – but Justin Bieber, he’s exciting.”
As well as celebrity guests, the reunion will see the main cast joined by some supporting actors from the series, including James Michael Tyler and Maggie Wheeler – better known as Gunther and Janice.
Joining them will be Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles (who played Monica and Ross’ parents, Jack and Judy Geller), Reese Witherspoon (who co-starred as Rachel’s sister in two episodes of the sitcom) and Tom Selleck (who played Monica’s love interest, Richard).
Kevin Mazur/AMA2020 via Getty ImagesLisa admitted she was starstruck by Justin Bieber
The reunion marks the first time since the show wrapped in 2004 that all six of the main cast have been in the same room together in front of the cameras.
Lisa said that she felt “every emotion” while filming the episode.
“It was a lot of laughing and then real blubbering — which, I don’t know if that will be in there, but the puffy eyes are in there, so that’s good. It was an emotionally exhausting and great few days,” she told the New York Post.
HBO MaxThe cast of Friends in a promo shot for the reunion
On Thursday, the first trailer for the forthcoming episode was unveiled, showing all six of the original cast members walking in slow motion on the studio lot where the Friends special was filmed.
As well as the short trailer, details of the special’s guest stars have also been revealed in Variety, with James Michael Tyler and Maggie Wheeler – better known as Gunther and Janice – set to appear in the episode.
Joining them will be Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles (who played Monica and Ross’ parents, Jack and Judy Geller), Reese Witherspoon (who co-starred as Rachel’s sister in two episodes of the sitcom) and Tom Selleck (who played Monica’s love interest, Richard).
Getty Images via Getty ImagesJennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon previously shared the screen in Friends
That’s where things start to get really interesting.
Also appearing in the show will be a string of famous Friends fans, which includes James Corden, Justin Bieber and Cindy Crawford, alongside the aforementioned Gaga, Beckham and Malala.
The One With Beckham And Malala is definitely not a Friends episode we saw coming, but we’re kind of here for it.
MARLA AUFMUTH/Johnny Louis/John Shearer/GettyLady Gaga, David Beckham and Malala Yousafzai
Completing the line-up are K-Pop stars BTS, model Cara Delevingne, Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington and US actor Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon and Larry Hankin, who played minor roles in Friends.
It’s also been confirmed that the Friends reunion will be available to stream on HBO Max in the US from 27 May, exactly a year after it was supposed to launch, before the pandemic scuppered plans to begin production.
It’s still not clear exactly when or how British fans will be able to watch, but HBO productions typically come to Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
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There were rumours of a rift between the pair after Pauline decided not to reprise her role as Sharon Theodopolopodous in the sitcom’s Christmas special last year.
Linda has now said the pair remain firm friends and Pauline skipped the reunion because she’s keen to step away from the limelight.
Fremantle Media/ShutterstockPauline Quirke and Linda Robson in Birds of a Feather in 1998
She told The Sun: “Take no notice of what you’ve heard about me and Pauline falling out. It’s a load of old codswallop.
“Pauline just chose not to do Birds Of A Feather. She wants to concentrate on her acting academy, that’s that.
“We’ve known each other since we were ten. We’re friends. Will Pauline return to the show? I don’t know.
“I just know that the Christmas special went down really well. ITV were really, really pleased.”
Rossie Hallam – PA Images via Getty ImagesPauline and Linda with c-star Lesley Joseph
Linda also remains close to Lesley Joseph, who plays Dorien Green in Birds of a Feather.
She shared: “Lesley lives close to me in Wandsworth so I’d go with my husband and we leave things on her doorstep.
“It’s mostly funny things like lady’s tweezers to pluck the hair on her chin, them sort of things, funny things.
“And then some flowers and that. But Pauline lives in Buckinghamshire so it’s not as easy to get to hers. I’ve not left any funny things on her doorsteps.”
Birds Of A Feather originally aired for nine series on BBC One between 1989 and 1999, before returning to ITV in 2014, where it has aired three full series and four Christmas specials.
