Tag Archives: Entertainment

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 Launch Date Revealed – And We Don’t Have Long To Wait

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The launch date for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing has been announced – and we don’t have long to wait for this year’s celebs to take to the dance floor.

Former contestant and TV presenter AJ Odudu announced that Strictly will return to BBC One on 17 September on Saturday’s edition of The Big Breakfast.

The 34-year-old, who was forced to withdraw from the final of the dancing competition last year after suffering a torn ligament said: “We do have the exclusive that the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2022 is going to be September 17. How exciting.”

AJ Odudu made the announcement on Saturday's edition of The Big Breakfast.
AJ Odudu made the announcement on Saturday’s edition of The Big Breakfast.

BBC via PA Media

Professional dancer Johannes Radebe, who was a guest on the Channel 4 morning show, said: “It is exciting, everyone else is waiting for it, we know we can’t face winter without Strictly so I am happy it is back on our screens.”

The launch show is expected to reveal which professional dancer will be paired up with each celebrity contestant.

Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly

Karwai Tang via Getty Images

The new series of the BBC’s flagship entertainment show will see 15 contestants including TV presenter Helen Skelton, EastEnders actor James Bye, singer Fleur East and former England footballer Tony Adams.

Ted Lasso actress Ellie Taylor will also take to the floor, alongside Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, actor Will Mellor, Loose Women star Kaye Adams and Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh.

Bros singer Matt Goss, Kiss radio host Tyler West, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford, comedian and actress Jayde Adams, Radio 2’s Richie Anderson and Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin complete the 2022 line-up.

The Strictly judges
The Strictly judges

BBC/Guy Levy

Head judge Shirley Ballas is set to return for the 20th series of the BBC show alongside Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will also resume their roles as the show’s hosts.

The last series of Strictly was won by Rose Ayling-Ellis with professional partner Giovanni Pernice.

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Jamie Oliver Reveals ‘Deeply Scary’ Long Covid Battle Of Wife Jools

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Jamie Oliver has opened up about his wife Jools’ “deeply scary” two-year long Covid battle.

The TV chef hailed the mum-of-five as “an absolute superstar”, revealing the 47-year-old has been “really affected” by the virus.

He told the Daily Mail Weekend magazine: “She’s had bad Covid and long Covid so she’s been really affected by it, sadly.

“She’s okay but still not what she wants to be. It’s been two years, she finds it deeply scary.”

Jools and Jamie Oliver
Jools and Jamie Oliver

Samir Hussein via Getty Images

Jamie explained they had seen specialist medical professionals but have been unable to solve her symptoms as the condition is still being learnt about.

“We’re all over Harley Street like a rash but no one really knows anything. The data on long Covid is still piling in. She’s been an absolute superstar,” he said.

There are 1.8million Britons estimated to have long Covid, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

This month, experts from King’s College London said there appears to be three “subtypes” of the condition, each with their own set of symptoms including, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, muscle ache and heart palpitations.

David M. Benett via Getty Images

Jamie and Jools have been married for 22 years and have five children together.

Speaking about his relationship, the TV chef said: “Me and Jools have been together since we were 18.

“We went to London with nothing but dreams and aspirations. Luckily, we were able to solidify our relationship before it all kicked off. Then we did it together. It was exciting.

“When I first started going out with Jools, she was like, ‘I’ll never be able to have kids.’ She had polycystic ovaries. But here we are with five.”

The couple are parents to Poppy, Daisy, Petal, Buddy and River.

Jamie Oliver, Jools Oliver and their family pictured in 2016.
Jamie Oliver, Jools Oliver and their family pictured in 2016.

Ian Lawrence via Getty Images

Oliver added: “I haven’t done teenage boys yet but I found teenage girls very hard. I tried to be an on-point dad, I’d give myself nine out of 10 for effort.

“The the minute they get to 13, you’re dumped. You’re outside looking in. All you want is a few hugs a day and to be appreciated but there’s a lot of chemistry going on.

“You never get the kid back after 13, they completely change. Just when you start to get them back, they’re off to university. So it’s like a bereavement.”

In 2020, Jools revealed she had had a miscarriage during lockdown and the couple have spoken openly in the past about losing “five little stars in the sky”.

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Schitt’s Creek Star Dan Levy Is Joining Sex Education And Delighted Fans Are Here For It

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Sometimes the planets truly align in the TV universe – and sometimes they brilliantly collide.

Case in point, the new series of Sex Education, which has just cast Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy in the new series.

The VERY serious news was announced on Twitter on Friday evening…

The 39-year-old Canadian actor is best known for his portrayal of David Rose in the award-winning Schitt’s Creek, which he co-created with his father Eugene, who also plays his dad in the much-loved series.

Dan will play Thomas Molloy, a famous author and Maeve Wiley’s US course tutor at an Ivy League college, in the Netflix series.

News of his casting has gone down a treat with fans of both shows…

Sex Education follows the lives of the students, staff and parents of the fictional Moordale Secondary School as they face a variety of teenage dilemmas, including relationships, sexual identity and sexual assault.

Ncuti Gatwa, who was recently announced as the new Doctor in Doctor Who, will return to his role as Eric Effiong for the fourth series of Sex Education.

Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Aimee Lou Wood, Emma Mackey and Connor Swindells will also make their highly-anticipated return.

Dan Levy as Thomas Molloy in Sex Education
Dan Levy as Thomas Molloy in Sex Education

Filming of series four is currently under way in Wales and will continue until 2023.

The new season will begin shortly after the closure of Moordale Secondary as Otis and Eric face their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College.

Otis is nervous about setting up his new sex clinic, whilst Eric is praying they will not be losers again.

The Sex Education cast
The Sex Education cast

However Cavendish is a culture shock for all the Moordale students as they come face to face with the college’s progressive students.

The Moordale students are shocked to find daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability focus and a group of teenagers who are popular for being kind.

Alongside Dan, the cast will also welcome Doctor Who star Thaddea Graham and Marie Reuther, best known for her role in 2021 TV series Kamikaze.

Newcomers Felix Mufti, Anthony Lexa, Alexandra James, Reda Elazouar, Bella Maclean and Imani Yahshua will all also make their Sex Education debuts.

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Rose Ayling-Ellis Leaves EastEnders A Year After Beginning Her Strictly Come Dancing Journey

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Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis has announced she is leaving EastEnders after two years with the BBC soap.

Rose began playing Frankie Lewis in 2020, becoming the first deaf actor to play a regular character on the soap.

On Thursday afternoon, the Bafta winner revealed she was stepping down from the role, just over a year after it was first announced she had signed up for last year’s series of Strictly.

Rose with her Strictly professional partner Giovanni Pernice
Rose with her Strictly professional partner Giovanni Pernice

Ray Burmiston/BBC

She explained: “It’s been incredibly special to be EastEnders’ first regular deaf actor. I have loved my time on the show and Frankie has been such an awesome character to play, however now feels like the right time for me to move on and I am excited and ready for new challenges.

“I will always treasure my time on the show and all the incredible people I have worked with, who have supported my growth as an actor these last two years and given me so many amazing memories.

“I am excited for viewers to see Frankie’s exit storyline; I think it’s a really important one that will hit home for lots of people.”

Frankie will leave Walford this autumn, with Rose’s final scenes in the role having already been filmed.

Rose is probably best known for her participation in the most recent series of Strictly, which she won alongside Giovanni Pernice.

As well as being the first deaf contestant to ever compete on the long-running reality show, Rose and Giovanni later bagged a TV Bafta for the Must-See TV Moment thanks to their stunning Couple’s Choice routine.

Earlier this week, Rose teamed up with Barbie to launch the brand’s first doll who has behind-the-ear hearing aids.

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Netflix Releases Trailer For Their New Series Based On Wednesday Addams

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Netflix has released the first trailer for their new show Wednesday, based around the iconic Addams Family character.

The upcoming comedy-horror series reimagines Wednesday as a teenager, who arrives at the suitably spooky Nevermore Academy after being expelled from her eighth school in five years due to a grisly piranha-based incident.

In the newly-released clip (released, fittingly, on Wednesday), we also see footage of the character playing cello, learning to fence, getting to know her schoolmates and attending a school dance where blood appears to rain down from the ceiling.

“Little did I know, I’d be stepping into a nightmare, full of mystery, mayhem and murder” says Wednesday – played by 19-year-old Jenna Ortega – in voiceover, before adding: “I think I’m going to love it here.”

Wednesday Addams as depicted in the trailer for Netflix's new show
Wednesday Addams as depicted in the trailer for Netflix’s new show

Wednesday is directed by Tim Burton – known for his work on films like Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands – while Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones play Wednesday’s parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams.

The teaser ends with the teenager clicking twice, in a nod to the original sitcom’s infamous theme music.

The role of Wednesday Addams was originated by Lisa Loring in the 1960s, with Christina Ricci playing the character twice on the big screen, including in the cult classic Addams Family Values.

Interestingly, Christina is also set to play a role in the new series, though details about her character are yet to be revealed.

Jenna Ortega in character as Wednesday Addams
Jenna Ortega in character as Wednesday Addams

MATTHIAS CLAMER/NETFLIX

Before landing the role of Wednesday, Jenna appeared in Jane The Virgin, You and the recent Scream revival.

A release date for Wednesday is still to be announced, although it’s reportedly coming later in 2022. Fingers crossed it’ll be here in time for Halloween…

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