After five years at the helm of GMB, Piers announced suddenly in March 2021 that he would be stepping down as host with immediate effect.
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News of his exit came the day after he made headlines for casting doubt on claims made by Meghan Markle that she had experienced suicidal thoughts during her time as a senior member of the Royal Family, with Piers’ remark eventually inciting a record number of complaints to Ofcom.
During a press event to promote his show Piers Morgan Uncensored, the divisive broadcaster was asked about his exit from GMB, which he branded “ridiculous”, “absurd” and “a farce”.
“I used to think that I was uncensored,” he claimed. “And then, of course, when I left Good Morning Britain it turned out that I actually was being censored, in the sense that I was told I had to apologise for disbelieving Princess Pinochio, or I would have to leave the building. So I took the ‘leave the building’ option.”
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He described the decision as a “sad moment” for himself, the show and his “poor TV wife” Susanna Reid, joking: “It was a very dramatic divorce. And I thought it was the wrong call by ITV.
“They had the hottest show on TV, it had just beaten the BBC to become the number one-rated breakfast show in the country. I wasn’t expecting a carriage clock, but I wasn’t expecting to be escorted out of the building. So it was all a bit dramatic.”
Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid pictured on his final day as a presenter on GMB
ITV/Shutterstock
He continued: “It’s interesting to me that Ofcom, the government-appointed TV regulator, five months later, found in my favour, and said that it would have been a chilling infringement on my rights to free speech had I not been able to say, ‘I don’t believe somebody’. So the whole thing seemed to me a bit ridiculous.”
He said: “The moment you try and get me fired, as Megan Markle did on Good Morning Britain, where she personally writes to the boss of ITV and demands my head on a plate, that is cancel culture right there. And the idea that ITV rolled over to it is ridiculous.
“But that’s why I’m here, and I feel, in a way, grateful to them, because I think this is a very exciting new platform and opportunity.”
Meghan Markle
NDZ/Star Max via Getty Images
“The mystery about the ITV thing was that I was hired specifically to have strongly-held opinions,” he added. “So, that’s why I felt the way I had to leave in the end was so absurd. And the more you look back on it, the more you go, ‘what was that all about?’.
“I thought the whole thing was a farce, and I’m delighted that as a result of the farce, we’ve ended up with a whole network that is now dedicated to preventing that kind of farce from recurring.”
Making a somewhat questionable comparison, Piers added that he felt “like Nelson Mandela when he came out of prison”, joking: “It’s like the long walk to free speech freedom.”
Piers went on to insist that he would not be “looking to steal Good Morning Britain viewers”, before throwing some shade at the daytime TV show, which has brought in a string of rotating guest hosts since Piers’ exit.
“I would be looking to pick up all those who’ve stopped watching [GMB],” he claimed. “Which, judging by when I walk around and judging by their ratings, is a lot of people.
“So if you loved Good Morning Britain when I was on it, and you miss me in that way, you know where to find me. There are a lot of people who I think were annoyed about what went down. And they’d be the ones I’d be after.”
Piers Morgan in the GMB studio
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Since stepping down from GMB over a year ago, Piers has made a number of seemingly conflicting comments about the nature of his exit.
The morning after the news of his exit, Piers told reporters: “I had a good chat with ITV and we agreed to disagree. I’m just going to take it easy and see how we go.
“If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly-held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it,” he added at the time.
“Effectively I was censored at my previous job,” he claimed. “[I was] told to apologise to Meghan Markle for an honestly-held opinion, which obviously I wasn’t going to do.”
Piers Morgan Uncensored will launch on TalkTV at 8pm on Monday 25 April.
In March 2021, Piers announced that he would be stepping down as host of GMB with immediate effect, after five years with the breakfast TV show.
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His exit came at a time the divisive presenter was embroiled in controversy, having just a day earlier made headlines for casting doubt on claims made by Meghan Markle that she had experienced suicidal thoughts during her time as a senior member of the Royal Family.
Now gearing up for the launch of his own TalkTV show, Piers has spoken about how his departure affected his relationship with his former “TV wife”.
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Speaking at a press event to promote his nightly show Piers Morgan Uncensored, he explained: “It’s difficult, you know. We had this arranged marriage, which turned out to be very successful. And then we suddenly got divorced one afternoon. And that was it! Gone!
“I went from seeing Susanna Reid in her curlers and her nightie every day at four in the morning to not seeing her. We stay in touch through texting and stuff, but it was all a bit dramatic and sad, really. I think we both feel that.”
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Piers and Susanna in September 2021, five months after he left Good Morning Britain
David M. Benett via Getty Images
He continued: “We both felt like we had one of the great on-screen chemistries and it all got ended, in my opinion, in a rather silly way. But [ITV’s] loss is going to be TalkTV’s gain.”
“We went through some really difficult times together as a team and those were very powerful moments,” she continued. “And when it came to the lockdown, the pandemic and holding the government to account, he was just unrivalled at holding their feet to the fire, but then it ended.”
Susanna added: “He’s a friend of mine and that won’t change.”
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Piers and Susanna worked together for five years before his sudden exit from GMB
“Effectively I was censored at my previous job,” he claimed. ”[I was] told to apologise to Meghan Markle for an honestly-held opinion, which obviously I wasn’t going to do.”
Piers Morgan Uncensored will launch on TalkTV at 8pm on Monday 25 April.
This year marks three whole decades since Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone burst onto our screens in a Bolly-drenched, drug-fuelled blaze of ridiculousness in Absolutely Fabulous.
The BBC sitcom followed the antics of PR guru Eddy and fashion magazine editor Patsy, sending up the industry and the colourful characters that inhabited it.
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Ab Fab originally spawned three series and a special between 1992 and 1996, before subsequent revivals in 2001 and 2012, with a big-screen outing seemingly serving as a swan song for the outrageous duo, played sublimely by creator Jennifer Saunders and co-star Joanna Lumley.
Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders as Patsy and Eddy in Absolutely Fabulous
Radio Times via Getty Images
There’s never any shortage of cries for Jennifer to resurrect Eddy and Patsy, and as we approach Ab Fab’s 30th anniversary later this year, speculation is bound to intensify as to whether the comedian has something up her Lacroix sleeve.
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As we wait patiently to find out, we’re continuing our celebration of nostalgic TV in our Rewind To The 90s series with 18 surprising facts about Ab Fab you probably won’t have known…
1. Ab Fab started life as a French & Saunders sketch
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Absolutely Fabulous was first conceived after Jennifer and Dawn devised a sketch for their show French & Saunders called Modern Mother and Daughter.
The skit aired in 1990, and featured the characters that would later become known as Eddy and Saffy – although Dawn played the original “Saffy”.
2. There was originally some concern that the show might be too London-centric for everyone to get it
Ab Fab producer Jon Plowman – who later became the BBC’s head of comedy – said that when they started work on the show, there was concern that “an audience outside the square mile of Soho would not know what this was about”, he told the LA Times in 1994.
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3. It originally started out on BBC Two, before being promoted to the main channel
Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley in the first episode of Ab Fab
According to the LA Times, the BBC originally hoped the show would find a modest cult following, but it proved such a hit with critics and viewers that it was promoted from BBC Two to BBC One for its second series.
“Maybe one of the things about comedy is that if you set out to make something of huge mass appeal, you’re less likely to make something that really catches fire,” Jon Plowman said.
4. The show proved to be a difficult sell in the US, however
A number of the big networks turned down the chance to show Ab Fab in the early 90s, with one TV boss telling Plowman that Eddy and Patsy were not very good “role models.”
Plowman said he was repeatedly told that execs thought the show was “wonderful, but we could never show it”.
The show was eventually picked up by Comedy Central in 1994.
“As soon as we saw it, we knew it was absolutely right for us,” Comedy Central’s senior vice president of programming at the time Mitch Semel said. “For us, it’s dead on target.”
5. Two attempts to make a local US version failed
In the 90s, Roseanne Barr put the wheels in motion to produce a US version of Ab Fab, which would have starred Carrie Fisher and Barbara Carrera as Eddy and Patsy, but it never came to fruition.
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In 2008, another attempt was made with Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Johnston set to play the lead roles, with Zosia Mamet (aka Shoshanna from Girls) as Saffy, but Fox passed on commissioning a full series.
6. Eddy and Patsy did appear on an episode of Rosanne’s comedy, though
After Rosanne’s planned adaptation of Ab Fab did not work out, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley appeared as their characters in an episode of the US star’s hit sitcom in 1996.
Fellow Ab Fab star Mo Gaffney also appeared in the episode, but did not play her character Bo.
The episode saw Roseanne, Jackie, and Nancy visit New York City’s Upper West Side, where they mingled with celebrities and were invited to Martha’s Vineyard.
7. Bananarama was a huge inspiration for Ab Fab
Jennifer and comedy partner Dawn French with Bananarama in 2017
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Jennifer spent a lot of time with the 80s pop group in their heyday, describing having “some of the best nights of my life” with them.
She told Caitlin Moran during a Radio 4 interview: “I got a lot of gags from Bananarama because they were big vodka drinkers… when I started doing Ab Fab, I remembered all of the falls that I saw Bananarama do.
“I once saw one of them coming out of a cab bottom first and hitting the road, and I thought ‘that’s class’.”
8. PR exec Lynne Franks was also a rumoured influence for Eddy’s character
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Lynne Franks pictured in 2004
Gareth Davies via Getty Images
Jennifer has long cited publicist Lynne Franks as someone she based the character of Eddy on.
When the show was originally on air, Lynne was rather displeased about her link to the show, but in 2018, she said that it no longer “upsets as much as it used to”.
Lynne, who appeared as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007, told the BBC: “It is a very funny programme and I love it but it can get a little bit tedious when it gets mentioned every time.
“If it creates an interest in me and I can then talk about things I really care about, then it is a really useful and helpful tool.”
9. Eddy Monsoon is named after Jennifer’s husband Adrian Edmondson
Jennifer Saunders and Adrian Edmondson in 1989
Dave Benett via Getty Images
It is a play on his name that he used in an episode of Channel 4 show Comic Strip Presents in 1984, in which Jennifer also starred.
10. Adrian can also be heard on the show’s theme tune
Wheels On Fire was originally recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967, before Julie Driscoll recorded a cover a year later.
Adrian’s vocal was added to a reworking of Julie’s version, appearing alongside her on the theme. It was remixed when the show returned for a fourth season in 2001, with Julie credited under the surname Tippetts.
Kylie Minogue also recorded a cover as the soundtrack to the 2015 film.
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11. Jennifer was frightened by Julia Sawalha in her original audition
June Whitfield, Jennifer Saunders and Julia Sawalha on set in 1992
Radio Times via Getty Images
In the 2001 series companion book Continuity, Jennifer said that they had already seen quite a few people for the role of Eddy’s daughter, but none were right – but then Julia auditioned.
“She didn’t try to make Saffy funny,” Jennifer explained. “I found her quite frightening to read with because she was so serious I couldn’t look her in the eye.”
12. There is only 10 years between Jennifer and on-screen daughter Julia
Julia Sawalha (left) and Jennifer Saunders in a scene from episode Fat in 1992
Radio Times via Getty Images
When Ab Fab started, Eddy was just turning 40, while Saffy was 16, but in actuality, Jennifer was 34 and Julia was 24.
13. Joanna Lumley was cast after appearing on Ruby Wax’s sketch show
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snDMz3Uruo8","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Joanna Lumley on The Full Wax (1992)","author":"UtterlyHeleno","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ZPVDUvse0oAv_mmdet6cQ","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"This is Joanna’s second appearance on The Full Wax; here Ruby tries to convince her audience that she and Miss Lumley are actually very good friends and her appearance on last year’s show was completely above board. This is considered by many to be the performance that inspired Jennifer Saunders to cast Joanna as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous.\r\n\r\nI apologise in advance for any issues concerning the quality of this video. It’s taken me a while to track this episode down and this was the only version I could find. In fact, I’m only uploading this because it’s so bloody difficult to find and I’ve seen quite a few people requesting this episode on other Joanna Lumley/Ab Fab related videos.\r\n\r\nAnyway, enjoy the video! Comment, rate, subscribe and all that jazz. Or don’t. It’s really up to you! :)\r\n\r\nP.S. I do not own the contents of this video.","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/snDMz3Uruo8/sddefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":640,"thumbnail_height":480,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
During the sketch on a 1991 episode of The Full Wax, Joanna – who was known for her roles in the likes of The Avengers – showed a different side when she sent herself up as a drunk, drug-taking has-been, which cast her in a new light.
14. Joanna used her own hair to create Pasty’s beehive hairstyle
In a promo photo for the show
Radio Times via Getty Images
Pasty’s barnet is nearly as iconic as the woman herself, and it was all Joanna’s own hair used to create it.
Jennifer compared it to “the Tardis” from Doctor Who, writing in Companion: “When it’s down and normal it looks perfectly safe, but once a hairdresser gets inside and whips it up, you realise the extraordinary volume.”
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15. Jane Horrocks actually auditioned to play Saffy
Jane Horrocks pictured in 1992
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Jane tried out for the part of Eddy’s daughter, but Jennifer instead cast her as the character’s assistant Bubble instead.
In the 2001 series companion book Continuity, Jennifer said: “She looked nothing like me and was frankly too old, even though she’s not as ancient as Dawn French… But Jane is so talented and funny and attractive that we immediately offered her Bubble.”
16. Bubble was originally conceived as a very different character
Jane was cast as Eddy’s assistant Bubble after auditioning as Saffy
Radio Times via Getty Images
Jennifer wrote in Continuity: “When I first wrote Bubble, I had imagined a useless ‘Sloane Ranger’ secretary. A girl so posh but very stupid that she might either become a secretary or do a cordon bleu course or work for a high-profile charity.”
Of how the part changed after Jane’s casting, Jennifer added: “What was upper class eccentricity became bizarre and surreal.
“The costumes which always seemed rather childlike and extreme were always based on the very newest ideas in magazines like i-D. Fashion taken to its limits.”
17. Idris Elba appeared in the show before he was famous
Idris Elba appeared in the third series of Absolutely Fabulous
The actor is now world famous, but prior to hitting the big time, Idris appeared in the 1995 episode Sex, where he played an escort.
18. Jennifer thought the original finale of the show was “disjointed”
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When Jennifer decided to wrap up Ab Fab after three seasons in 1996, she responded to criticism from a newspaper critic who called the last episode “an idea flogged well past its sell-by date”.
In an interview with The Independent, Jennifer said that the episode was “disjointed”, but added: “I just had to get rid of all those jokes I’d always wanted to do. It would have been tragic to look back in 2000 and think, ‘I wish I’d done that’.”
As it turned out, Ab Fab ended up returning for two more series between 2001 and 2004.
With her infectious laugh, naughty sense of humour and incredible interview style that can have even the most notoriously difficult A-listers in stitches, Alison Hammond is a real one-off.
In recent years, her fame has skyrocketed after a much-deserved promotion to one of the main hosts on This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary, as well as her role on the BBC’s I Can See Your Voice, which has even seen her nominated for a Bafta.
In fact, we’d go as far to say that she’s basically now the best thing about British telly – and here are 25 clips that prove it…
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1. When Alison accidentally pushed a man into the Albert Dock
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgXf-tYWsWQ","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Makes a Splash on the This Morning Weather Map | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nIt was a staple of This Morning for years at the Albert Dock, and today, for one day only, the This Morning Weather Map is back. And there was only one person we could think to send – the fabulous Alison Hammond!\nBroadcast on 03/10/18\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QgXf-tYWsWQ/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX8xG1WyL6w","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Dwayne Johnson Proposes to Alison!? | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nIn an extended interview, Dwayne Johnson chats about running in slow motion for the new Baywatch film and possibly becoming the next American president, for which Alison has a suggestion as to who should be his First Lady – herself!\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fX8xG1WyL6w/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q0-GnMRxow","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Hammond Gets Stuck On A Door! | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nBroadcast on 25/04/2016\nWhile doing a tour of the competition prize holiday home, Alison gets herself caught on one of the doors.\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Chris Steele answers all your health questions.\n\nStay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, save money with Martin Lewis and get gardening with David Domoney.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv \nhttp://www.u.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Q0-GnMRxow/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
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","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLmU5n4qplE","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Has a Bone to Pick With Bradley Cooper | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nAlison asks Bradley Cooper about the challenges of directing, producing and acting all at once. He also reveals what made him choose Lady Gaga as his co-star in A Star Is Born.\nBroadcast on 02/10/18\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RLmU5n4qplE/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiX_2s3-vI8","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Hammond Interviews A Tree… No, Really | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nIf you think our days of voting in European elections were over, think again. The European Tree of the Year competition is open for votes until this Saturday – and there’s a UK nominee! We’ve sent Alison to meet The Allerton Oak in its hometown of Liverpool, to find out about its history and why it should win the ‘Eurovision of trees’. Alison will even be able to interview the tree directly, through the power of the tree whisperer, Holly Worton.\nBroadcast on 26/02/20\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV and STV from 10:00am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv\n\n#thismorning #phillipandholly #eamonnandruth","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DiX_2s3-vI8/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xktf3nYb7Cc","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Hammond Takes a Hilarious Ride on the New Toy Story Land Slinky Dog Coaster | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nShe has quite the time!\nBroadcast on 28/06/2018\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xktf3nYb7Cc/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9YvBZvN0wU","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Hammond performs Missy Elliot’s ‘Get Ur Freak On’ – Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief","author":"BBC","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCj956IF62FbT7Gouszaj9w","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe and 🔔 to the BBC 👉 https://bit.ly/BBCYouTubeSub\nWatch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 https://bbc.in/iPlayer-Home Programme website: http://bbc.in/2mBgEcV Alison Hammond performs Missy Elliot’s ‘Get Ur Freak On’\n\n#bbc\nAll our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the ‘Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?’ FAQ 👉 https://bbc.in/2m8ks6v.","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W9YvBZvN0wU/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB4DC3qRLvQ","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison has Tricks up her Sleeve – Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 2014 – BBC Two","author":"BBC Strictly Come Dancing","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-p7mK8hRVvV86yREq342A","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Stream Strictly LIVE on BBC iPlayer 💃🕺 https://bbc.in/2MyAdzw\nSubscribe and 🔔 to BBC Strictly ✨ https://bit.ly/2kzjjAT\nSubscribe and 🔔 to BBC 👉 https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\n\nSUBSCRIBE to BBC Strictly Come Dancing: https://bit.ly/2kzjjAT\n\nSUBSCRIBE to BBC for more entertainment highlights: https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\n\nhttps://bbc.co.uk/ittakestwo\nAlison can’t stop laughing after a wardrobe malfunction temporarily blinds Aljaz!\n\n#strictly #bbcstrictly #strictlycomedancing","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yB4DC3qRLvQ/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnPAFk5lG9Q","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"How Well Do Harry Styles and Sir Kenneth Branagh Know Their Shakespeare? | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nSir Kenneth Branagh and Harry Styles share their experiences of filming Christopher Nolan’s new film ‘Dunkirk’, but how will they fare when Alison tests them on their Shakespeare knowledge? \nBroadcast on 14/07/2016\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DnPAFk5lG9Q/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5QqJqUATzs","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Alison Loses It During a Lifeboat Launch | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nAlison can’t contain her excitement as she launches a lifeboat down the slipway at the St. Davids RNLI station. \nBroadcast on 27/04/2017\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N5QqJqUATzs/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAb8KIhgVAI","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford Lose It at Hilarious Interview! | This Morning","author":"This Morning","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFsYLqPUyLiZnfRog6wiZA","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF\nAlison Hammond attempts to interview Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford on their upcoming film ‘Blade Runner 2049’, but it doesn’t quite go to plan.\n\nLike, follow and subscribe to This Morning!\nWebsite: http://bit.ly/1MsreVq\nYouTube: http://bit.ly/1BxNiLl\nFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1FbXnjU\nTwitter: http://bit.ly/1Bs1eI1\n\nThis Morning – every weekday on ITV from 10:30am.\n\nJoin Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!\n\nDr Zoe and Dr Ranj answer all your health questions, stay stylish with Gok Wan’s fabulous fashion, be beautiful with Bryony Blake’s top make-up tips, and save money with Martin Lewis.\n\nhttp://www.itv.com\nhttp://www.stv.tv","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bAb8KIhgVAI/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
Come on, hands up – who’s ready to put their feet up and enjoy laying low over Easter? The four-day bank holiday weekend is finally upon us, and we can’t be the only ones who feel like it can’t have come soon enough.
If you’re among those planning to use their time to rest up at home, you’re in luck, because there’s a string of films both old and new for pretty much everyone to enjoy.
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To save your channel-hopping, here’s our guide to 22 films being shown on telly over Easter, and when to watch them…
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 10.15am on ITV2
Tell me more: A young rabbit named E.B. announces he doesn’t want to follow in his predecessors’ footsteps by becoming the Easter Bunny, and instead wants to pursue his dream of becoming a drummer.
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Even more random than that plot is the fact the animated bunny is voiced by Russell Brand, with live-action appearances from James Marsden and Chelsea Handler – not to mention some extremely cute chicks.
Recommended for: At this time of year? Everyone! Come on, who doesn’t want to kick off Easter weekend with this sweet story?
Matilda
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 2pm on ITV
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Tell me more: Six-year-old Matilda is unappreciated by her neglectful parents and mistreated by the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull, finding solace in books. She has some fun of her own and schemes to get her own back when she discovers that, in addition to her superior intellect, she also possesses telekinetic powers.
Recommended for: To be honest, we’re struggling to think of a time we wouldn’t recommend the cosy and pure magic of Matilda.
Space Jam
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 2.15pm on ITV2
Tell me more: Get ready for a serious dose of nostalgia. Perhaps the most 90s film to ever exist, Space Jam mixes space travel, basketball and Looney Tunes, with some impressive A-list cameos including Bill Murray and, of course, sports icon Michael Jordan.
Recommended for: Anyone who was disappointed by the 2021 Space Jam sequel and needs to remind themselves of what it was they loved so much about the original film.
King Of Kings
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 2.30pm on BBC Two
Tell me more: It wouldn’t be Good Friday without some class of biblical epic airing on the BBC in the middle of the afternoon, would it?. This year they’re showing King Of Kings, with Jeffrey Hunter and Rip Torn in the lead roles of Jesus and Judas.
Clocking in at just under three hours, it’s a bit of a bum-number, but it pales in comparison to The Greatest Story Ever Told, which goes for four hours and 20 minutes in total.
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Recommended for: If you’re already on a bit of a chocolate-induced sugar high and you need some help settling down for the afternoon.
Ice Age
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 4pm on ITV2
Tell me more: A snow-covered family favourite that started a whole animated franchise, Ice Age introduces us to a sloth, saber-tooth tiger and wooly mammoth who team up to help return a lost human baby to his tribe.
Unlike a lot of animated films, the voice cast were encouraged to improvise during the recording process, which helped provide some of the humour that helped make Ice Age a favourite for all generations when it debuted 20 (!!) years ago.
Recommended for: If the bank holiday weather doesn’t quite work out in your favour and you decide to just lean into the cold.
Tell me more: Often held up as one of the best films of all time, Back To The Future introduces us to high school student Marty McFly, who winds up being catapulted back in time to the 50s thanks to mad scientist Doc Brown and his souped-up DeLorean.
Recommended for: Anyone who has somehow made it this long without watching Back To The Future.
Tell me more: Written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, this historical drama centres around Queen Victoria in the early years of her reign, shining a light on her turbulent relationship and her romance with the eventual Prince Albert.
Alongside Emily Blunt in the lead role, the cast also boasts appearances from Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson and Paul Bettany.
Recommended for: Those who can’t quite hang on for season five of The Crown for a taste of royal drama and scandal.
Tell me more: Speed was a breakthrough moment for Sandra Bullock when it was released in the 90s. She and Keanu Reeves play passengers who find themselves on board a bus that has been rigged by terrorists to explode if it goes beneath 50mph in this fast-paced action thriller.
Recommended for: If you’ve been watching animated family favourites all day, and need something a bit more high-stakes.
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Skyfall
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 8pm on ITV2
Tell me more: Skyfall is the third of Daniel Craig’s five outings as James Bond, and is often considered by fans of the 007 franchise to be the best of the bunch. This instalment sees Bond squaring off against former MI6 agent turned cyberterrorist Raoul Silva, while Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw also make their debut appearances in the franchise in the film.
Recommended for: Anyone whose idea of a good Friday night includes big explosions, chase scenes, shock twists and generally being shaken (but not stirred).
Whiplash
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 9pm on BBC Three
Tell me more: This seriously intense Oscar-winning film centres around an ambitious jazz drummer who is pushed to the extreme by his ruthless (and, at times, abusive) teacher, played by JK Simmons.
Recommended for: Anyone who wasn’t put through the trauma of school band rehearsals and wants a taste of what it was like.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
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When’s it on? Good Friday at 10.40pm on BBC One
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Tell me more: In The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a group of British pensioners decide to ditch the humdrum of retirement in Blighty and embrace the new by moving to a new residence in India, with romance and drama ensuing.
If that doesn’t convince you, the cast includes Dame Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Dame Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Celia Imrie.
Recommended for: If you want something gentle to wind down to after a hectic Good Friday.
Joker
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When’s it on? From Good Friday onwards on Netflix
Tell me more: Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for his portrayal of the titular supervillain in this complete rewrite of the Joker’s backstory.
Joker draws heavily on the work of Martin Scorsese, which means there’s considerably more graphic violence and unsettling action than you might expect from a DC Comics adaptation, but despite polarising reviews at the time, the film was hugely successful upon its release in 2019.
Recommended for: If you want the complete opposite of something gentle to wind down to after a hectic Good Friday.
Jason And The Argonauts
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When’s it on? Saturday at 9.50am on Channel 4
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Tell me more: A true cult classic from the 60s (Mr Hollywood himself Tom Hanks once named it his favourite film ever), fantasy adventure Jason And The Argonauts reimagines stories from Greek mythology with a mix of live-action and stop-motion animation.
Recommended for: Those who want to kickstart their Saturday morning with some old-school adventure.
Shrek 2
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When’s it on? Saturday at 4.10pm on ITV2
Tell me more: Probably the best offering from the surprisingly-elaborate Shrek universe, this film picks up where the first film left off with Shrek and newly-permanent ogre Fiona adjusting to married life.
We could go on and on about the plot, but realistically you’ve already seen this film 100 times and know full well it’s all about the Fairy Godmother’s musical number.
Recommended for: Literally everyone. Enjoy!
Captain Marvel
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When’s it on? Saturday at 9.25pm on Channel 4
Tell me more: Captain Marvel is the first female-led film in the MCU, and what a best foot forward it was. Oscar winner Brie Larson takes the lead in this action adventure, which also boasts appearances from Samuel L Jackson, Lashana Lynch and Jude Law.
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Recommended for: Marvel fans who still have a few films to check off their ever-growing MCU list.
Hot Fuzz
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When’s it on? Saturday at 10.40pm on ITV
Tell me more: The second (and biggest) film in Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s “Cornetto trilogy” the police comedy sees Simon and regular co-star Nick Frost teaming up to play a pair of coppers investigating grisly murders in a West Country village. We promise it’s funnier than it sounds.
Recommended for: Anyone who just needs a good chuckle.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
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When’s it on? Easter Sunday at 3.25pm on ITV2
Tell me more: One of the most beautiful stories of unlikely friendship ever shown on screen, E.T. became the biggest box office smash of all time when it debuted in the 1980s.
The film introduces us to Elliott, a young boy whose life is turned upside down when he befriends a lost alien who has crash-landed on earth.
Recommended for: Anyone, as long as you’re prepared to cry your eyes out in those final moments.
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The Lion King
When’s it on? Easter Sunday at 5.45pm on BBC One
Tell me more: Undoubtedly one of the most shining jewels in the Disney renaissance crown, this animated classic is a rough retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as told through animals in the Pride Lands of Africa.
With stunning animation, unforgettable music (by Sir Elton John, no less!) and some of the most iconic characters in Disney history, it’s a film everyone should watch at least once.
Recommended for: The term “fun for all the family” gets thrown around a lot, but The Lion King truly is.
Spectre
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When’s it on? Easter Sunday at 8pm on ITV2
Tell me more: What, did you think the long weekend was only going to have one James Bond film on TV? Don’t be silly.
Skyfall follow-up Spectre introduces Andrew Scott (otherwise known as Fleabag’s Hot Priest) as 007’s new adversary Max Denbigh, with Sam Mendes returning as director.
Recommended for: If Skyfall piqued your interest on Good Friday.
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Shrek
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When’s it on? Easter Monday at 2.05pm on ITV
Tell me more: Pretty much throwing out the fairytale rulebook, Shrek helped put Dreamworks on the map, and made sure they were the go-to for family comedy over Disney in the 2000s.
In the first film of the series, we meet grumpy ogre Shrek, who is furious to find his isolated swamp has been overrun by fairytale creatures, after they’re all banished by Lord Farquaad.
Recommended for: When you enjoyed Shrek 2 so much two days earlier, you want to go back and watch the first film. No, we’ve got no idea why ITV is showing them in this order, either, but let’s not question it.
Beauty And The Beast
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When’s it on? Easter Monday at 2.30pm on BBC One
Tell me more: Remember how many times you watched Disney’s animated Beauty And The Beast when you were growing up? Well, this is the slightly-less-good live-action version, with Emma Watson as Belle. If ever there was proof of the power of great animation, it’s comparing this film’s photo-real Mrs Potts with the version we all knew and loved from the 90s.
Recommended for: Disney devotees, for sure. But if you’ve never seen the original, we’d probably start there.
Spider-Man
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When’s it on? Easter Monday at 6.35pm on ITV2
Tell me more: Long before Tom Holland and even Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire swung into action (literally) as Spidey. This was the film that started it all, introducing us to Peter Parker as he’s bitten by a radioactive spider and slowly discovers his unusual abilities.
Recommended for: Any Marvel fans who want some nostalgia from those pre-MCU days.
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday that it will ban Will Smith from attending the Oscars for the next decade.
In a statement, academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said Smith will be banned from “any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually,” for a 10-year period starting April 8.
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“The action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy,” the statement reads. “We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.”
Smith issued a brief statement on the decision, per The Hollywood Reporter: “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”
The news comes less than two weeks after Smith slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head while the comedian was presenting an award at the March 27 ceremony. Jada Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggles with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.
Rubin and Hudson also apologized for not addressing the incident during the telecast.
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“This was an opportunity for us to set an example of our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short — unprepared for the unprecedented,” they wrote.
The incident shocked viewers around the world and led to several days of reaction and discussion. Will Smith, who was awarded Best Actor for his role in “King Richard” just minutes after slapping Rock, has since apologized for his actions. He also resigned his membership in the academy and said he was prepared to “accept any further consequences” that the organization deemed appropriate.
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences,” Smith said in a statement on April 1.
“I’m still processing what happened, so at some point, I’ll talk about that shit,” he said at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre. “It’ll be serious. It’ll be funny. But right now, I’m going to tell some jokes.”
The government’s decision to press ahead with plans to privatise Channel 4 has been condemned as “very unconservative” by a senior Tory MP.
The channel was launched in 1982 as a publicly-owned, commercially-funded public service broadcaster with a remit to deliver content to under-served audiences.
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It does not receive public funding but is ultimately owned by the government, with all money going back into the broadcaster, which commissions all of its programmes from independent producers.
On Monday, a statement by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport said the sell-off would allow the channel to “thrive in the face of a rapidly-changing media landscape” while a government source said the move would “remove Channel 4’s straitjacket”.
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A spokesperson for Channel 4 said it was “disappointed” with the decision, but would “continue to engage” with ministers on the process to “ensure that Channel 4 continues to play its unique part in Britain’s creative ecology and national life”.
The move represents Boris Johnson’s government’s latest broadcasting shake-up after signalling it wants to find a new funding model for the BBC after the licence fee funding deal expires in 2027. Ministers have previously indicated Channel 4 could be sold off by the end of the current parliament in 2024.
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The announcement faced an immediate backlash, with Labour calling it a “shameful decision” and even Conservative MPs joining the criticism.
Damian Green, Tory MP and a former Cabinet minister, said: “The sale of Channel 4 is politicians and civil servants thinking they know more about how to run a business than the people who run it. Very unconservative. Mrs Thatcher, who created it, never made that mistake.”
Conservative MP Sir Peter Bottomley said he opposes the privatisation as he feels it is “bad for the diversity of television, bad for viewers and bad for independent producers”.
Labour’s shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell described the move as “cultural vandalism”.
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She said: “Selling off Channel 4, which doesn’t cost the tax-payer a penny anyway, to what is likely to be a foreign company, is cultural vandalism. It will cost jobs and opportunities in the North and Yorkshire, and hit the wider British creative economy.
“This shows that the Conservatives have run out of ideas and run out of road. Of all the issues the public wants action on, the governance of Channel 4 isn’t one.”
The sale of Channel 4 is politicians and civil servants thinking they know more about how to run a business than the people who run it. Very unconservative. Mrs Thatcher, who created it, never made that mistake.
Minister’s refuse to help rocketing energy bills and food prices. Yet happy to privatise Channel 4, which doesn’t cost the public a penny. Shameful decision, driven by Tory dogma. Channel 4 is at the forefront of levelling up, investigative journalism and nurturing new talent. https://t.co/lyiUFsFmUA
They asked for ‘a debate’; 90% of submissions in that debate said it was a bad idea. But still they go ahead. Why do they want to make the UK’s great TV industry worse? Why? It makes no business, economic or even patriotic sense. https://t.co/aokG0yZPlm
No price tag has been set by the government yet, but reports suggest the channel could be sold for as much as £1 billion in a process that could take several months, with the proposals needing to pass through both the House of Commons and Lords.
The government has been consulting on plans to privatise the broadcaster following concerns for its survival in the streaming era.
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries said in a tweet that she wanted the broadcaster to remain a “cherished place in British life”, but felt that government ownership was “holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon”.
She added: “I will seek to reinvest the proceeds of the sale into levelling up the creative sector, putting money into independent production and creative skills in priority parts of the country – delivering a creative dividend for all.”
Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon has previously questioned the “logic” behind such a move and whether privatising the broadcaster would help with efforts to “level up” outside of London.
In an internal email to staff on Monday, Mahon said her priority was to “look after all of you and the wonderful Channel 4 spirit” following the announcement.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “With over 60,000 submissions to the government’s public consultation, it is disappointing that today’s announcement has been made without formally recognising the significant public interest concerns which have been raised.
“Channel 4 has engaged in good faith with the government throughout the consultation process, demonstrating how it can continue to commission much-loved programmes from the independent sector across the UK that represent and celebrate every aspect of British life as well as increase its contribution to society, while maintaining ownership by the public.
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“Recently, Channel 4 presented DCMS (the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) a real alternative to privatisation that would safeguard its future financial stability, allowing it to do significantly more for the British public, the creative industries and the economy, particularly outside London.
“This is particularly important given that the organisation is only two years into a significant commitment to drive up its impact in the UK’s nations and regions.”
The statement continued: “Channel 4 remains legally committed to its unique public service remit. The focus for the organisation will be on how we can ensure we deliver the remit to both our viewers and the British creative economy across the whole of the UK.
“The proposal to privatise Channel 4 will require a lengthy legislative process and political debate. We will of course continue to engage with DCMS, government and parliament, and do everything we can to ensure that Channel 4 continues to play its unique part in Britain’s creative ecology and national life.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an appearance during the Grammys ceremony on Sunday night, urging those in attendance to “support us in any way you can”, other than “silence”.
Zelenskyy delivered an impassioned speech in a pre-recorded video message, which preceded a performance from singer John Legend.
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“One thing that has always made music so powerful is the way it responds to the times,” host Trevor Noah said.
“Even in the darkest times, music has the power to lift spirits and give you hope for a brighter tomorrow. And there’s nobody who could use a little help right now more than the people of Ukraine.”
“Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died. And we’ll never see them drawing.
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“Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning, in bomb shelters, but alive. Our loved ones don’t know if we will be together again. The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence.”
Zelenskyy continued: “Our musicians wear body armour instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded. In hospitals.
“Even to those who can’t hear them. But the music will break through anyway. We defend our freedom. To live. To love. To sound. On our land, we are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music! Fill it today. To tell our story.
“Tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way you can. Any – but not silence. And then peace will come.”
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He concluded: “To all our cities the war is destroying, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol and others. They are legends already. But I have a dream of them living. And free. Free like you on the Grammy stage.”
John Legend performing with Ukrainian singer Mika Newton
VALERIE MACON via Getty Images
Following his speech, John Legend debuted his new song Free.
The performance included vocals from Ukrainian musicians Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton, as well as poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, while images from the war were shown on video screens behind them.
Actor and comedian Jim Carrey recently hinted that he plans to step away soon from his Hollywood career.
In an “Access Hollywood” interview that aired Thursday, Carrey said he’s strongly considering retirement. “Well, I’m retiring,” he told host Kit Hoover. “Yeah, probably. I’m being fairly serious. It depends, it depends. If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road. But I’m taking a break.”
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Carrey has earned praise ― and, at times, stirred controversy ― as a visual artist in recent years. He said he’d like to focus more extensively on his work in that realm moving forward, but didn’t give an exact idea of when that might happen.
“I really like my quiet life,” he said. “I really love putting paint on canvas, and I really love my spiritual life. And I feel like ― and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists ― I have enough. I’ve done enough. I am enough.”
Watch Jim Carrey’s “Access Hollywood” appearance below.
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HuffPost reached out to a representative for Carrey for clarification on his remarks, but did not immediately hear back.
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Carrey made his screen debut in the 1981 Canadian comedy “Rubberface,” but his big Hollywood break came 13 years later in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.”
He later garnered critical acclaim for more dramatic fare like 1998’s “The Truman Show” and 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” the latter of which co-starred Kate Winslet.
Elsewhere in his “Access Hollywood” interview, Carrey suggested he could be coaxed back to the screen by none other than Dolly Parton, who has said she’d like him to portray her musical partner, Porter Wagoner, in a forthcoming biopic about her life.
“I would always speak to Dolly,” he told Hoover. “Dolly’s just, to me, an otherworldly talent that is just bigger than you can imagine.”
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For now, Carrey fans can get their fill of the actor as Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” which opens in theaters next week.
Comedian Ricky Gervais, known for burning celebrities as a frequent host of the Golden Globes, said he would not have joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head at the Oscars. So Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock would not have happened, he concluded.
“I’ll get it out of the way,” he said at a show in London, per the Mirror. “I have not got any Will Smith material. I trended when that happened, and I was not even there.”
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“What has it got to do with me? People were going, ‘What would have happened if Ricky Gervais had been doing it [presenting an Oscar award)]?’” he continued. “Well, nothing, as I would not have made a joke about his wife’s hair. I would have made a joke about her boyfriend.”
Gervais was referring to Jada Pinkett Smith’s “entanglement” with rapper August Alsina, which she revealed in 2020. While Will Smith hinted last year that he and his wife had an open marriage, the couple said they were separated at the time of Jada Pinkett Smith’s dalliance with Alsina.
Gervais, however, is no stranger to jokes about alopecia, Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss condition. At the Oscars on Sunday, Rock made a “G.I. Jane” dig about it and an offended Will Smith hit him in the face onstage in a stunning TV moment.
Gervais joked at his recent show that he might change his tour name from “Armageddon” to “Alopecia,” the Mirror reported.
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After the Oscars incident, the comedian also shared a cringe-worthy tweet of his character from “The Office” making fun of people with alopecia.
Gervais could be considered somewhat of an expert on dishing out political incorrectness to a celebrity crowd. Watch him eviscerate Hollywood during his fifth Golden Globes hosting gig.
