Joe Wicks has shut down the rumours he will be appearing on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing – or any future series of the BBC dance show.
And the Body Coach’s reason for “definitely not” ever appearing isn’t exactly the healthiest of excuses.
In a new interview with Radio Times, Joe explained that he’d need to “steaming” in order to take to the floor.
Ian West – PA Images via Getty ImagesJoe Wicks
“Publicly dancing on a dance floor, out there and exposed on my own, is my worst fear,” he explains.
“I can only ever really have a dance when I’ve had a drink, so to do Strictly I’d have to be steaming.”
And don’t expect to see Joe on any other non-dancing reality shows either – even though he’s been offered pretty much all of them, including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! And Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
“To be honest, I just love being at home with my kids too much,” he says. “Being away for three weeks at a time, I wouldn’t enjoy that experience because I’d be missing them.”
Read the full interview with Joe in this week’s Radio Times, out now. www.radiotimes.com
The actor, who played Central Perk manager Gunther in the hit sitcom, was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago, but it has now advanced.
James, 59, opened up about living with the disease during an interview with the Today show in the US on Monday.
NBC via Getty ImagesJames Michael Tyler as Gunther in Friends
“In September 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones,” he said.
“I’ve been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years.”
He continued: “It’s stage 4 (now). Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it’s gonna probably get me.”
Actor James Michael Tyler (@slate_michael) played Gunther on “Friends” for 10 years, but he was unable to attend the recent cast reunion in person because he’s been battling a serious health issue. Now he’s sharing his news for the first time with @craigmelvin. pic.twitter.com/272tg4Sbvc
Speaking about his original diagnosis that came during a routine check up, James said: “I was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen. That came back at an extraordinarily high number… So I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there.
‘Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said ‘Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate.’”
James initially underwent hormone therapy to help treat the disease and said he felt “fine” with no symptoms.
However, during the pandemic, his cancer mutated and he is now unable to walk after it further spread to his bones and spine.
Jason Kempin via Getty ImagesJames pictured on a replica of the Central Perk set in 2015
“I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing,” he said. “So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it’s progressed.”
James also said his illness meant he was not able to appear in person during the recent Friends reunion, appearing via video call instead.
“It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t wanna bring a downer on it, you know? … I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer,’” he said.
James added that he wishes he’d gone to get checked out by his doctor earlier, and urged others to do the same.
“My goal this past year was to see my 59th birthday, he said. “My goal now is to help save at least one life.”
Cheryl has only just returned to the spotlight, but fans shouldn’t expect to see as much of her as they did before.
The ex-Girls Aloud singer has said she will not go back to being as busy, as she no longer has the energy to do things that “make her feel stressed or nervous”.
Speaking to Marie Claire, the former X Factor judge said: “I’m not doing that to myself again. I’m only going to do stuff that makes me truly happy.
“I think life falls into place when you focus on that intent. Only happiness. Only authenticity. I won’t spend time on anything that makes me feel stressed or nervous. I haven’t got the energy.”
Karwai Tang via Getty ImagesCheryl pictured in 2019
Cheryl revealed that the pandemic had helped her to learn a “really valuable lesson” in evaluating what is important.
She continued: “It’s not worth it. The pandemic actually taught us that. You speak to people now and they don’t want to go back to their normal lives.
“I think we’ve learnt a really valuable lesson, as horrible and tragic and despicable as it was, and it brought a lot of awareness and self reflection, for the better. It’s about what’s important, and what makes you happy, and what makes you miserable.”
Over 15 months into the pandemic, we are all officially sick of Zoom calls, so you can’t blame Helen Mirren for killing two birds with one stone as she dialled in to a US talk show from her bath.
The actor appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon on Thursday evening live and direct from her tub, telling the host it was her “favourite place in the world”.
A shocked Jimmy told her she had the honour of being his first guest ever to appear from their bath.
“That’s the brilliant thing about Zoom,” she said. “I was thinking, why not be in the place that you love to sit and chat to people? I love having a chat to my husband while I’m sitting in the bath, so why not do it to the whole of America?”
However, Helen encountered one big problem.
“I’m running out of bubbles!” she said. “You were chatting away and I was waiting and my bubbles were going down.”
The soapy location was not the only iconic thing from Helen’s interview, though.
She also shared a video of her shooing away a bear that was trying to make its way onto her porch.
Helen previously recounted her meeting with the bear during an interview with US comedian Marc Maron on his podcast WTF.
She also revealed she’d learned how to react when faced with a bear “looking aggressively at you” and “hunching its back like it is about to charge” from a pamphlet.
Dame Helen explained: “They said you make yourself look as big as possible, if you can grab a stick, make yourself look big and then it literally said and then shout, ‘Bad bear, bad bear!’”
The ITV presenter has spoken out amid speculation Piers could return to the channel’s breakfast show after making an abrupt exit earlier this year.
Speaking to The Sun, Lorraine said: “He will be back in some shape or form, I have no doubt. I know nothing, but never count him out of anything.
ITV/Shutterstock Lorraine Kelly and Piers Morgan
Shutterstock/ITVPiers Morgan on what would prove to be his penultimate episode of Good Morning Britain in March
Despite Piers’ controversial public profile, Lorraine maintains he is actually a big softie.
She said: “I have a lot of time for him. He’s very kind to me. He goes crazy when I say this – he doesn’t like me doing it – but he’s actually a really nice guy.
“He says to me ‘will you stop saying that I’m a nice person because it’s very bad for my brand’. That makes me want to do it even more!”
The presenter, who has been with Sky News since its inception in 1989, apologised at the time, tweeting: “It doesn’t matter that I thought I was Covid-compliant on a recent social event. The fact is I was wrong, I made a big mistake, and I am sorry.”
Political editor Beth Rigby and north of England correspondent Inzamam Rashid were also taken off air for three months after attending their colleague’s 60th birthday party.
Following an internal review in December, Sky News found that “a small number of staff attended a social event in London” where Covid-19 guidelines were breached.
It said: “All those involved regret the incident and have apologised. Everyone at Sky News is expected to comply with the rules and the company takes breaches like this very seriously indeed.”
Burley returned to her breakfast slot on Sky News earlier this month.
And it would appear that former BBC News anchor Simon has had enough of it.
Taking the moment to address viewers during his show on Wednesday afternoon, he began: “I’m just going to say something because if you’ve seen the papers, if you’ve seen Twitter, some people think it’s really funny to send in texts and messages on the basis that if we read them out we’ve been had.
“And you’re still doing it, and I’m watching them, and it doesn’t help anybody.”
Co-host Alex Phillips then offered: “We’re just not going to read surnames from now on.
“Well,” Simon continued. “So, to the person that’s just messaged in… grow up!
“We’re a new company, we’re a new broadcaster, there are systems that we’re putting in place that would stop idiots like you getting through. They’re getting through at the minute but… please? We’ve got other things to worry about.”
“Come on, now,” Alex agreed.
Referring to the show’s repeated technical issues, Simon then joked: “Mind you if you can hear us, that’s an improvement. All of you with serious views, we still welcome them.”
Unfortunately, this was then immediately followed by… another of the aforementioned technical issues that have blighted the channel for the past few days.
GB NewsSimon McCoy and Alex Phillips earlier this week
During the show, presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield led a discussion with three members of the stripping troupe the Dreamboys about how the government’s delay to easing coronavirus restrictions.
However, things took a bit of a turn when performer Zac Smith decided to seize the opportunity of being on telly to show off his *ahem* talents.
“Hold on a second,” he told Holly and Phil, as they tried to wrap up the interview. “I’ve been in a cage for a year, and I’m sure I won’t have any objections if I just let my hair down a little bit.”
“Feel free,” Holly then urged him, at which point he ripped open his shirt and declared: “With all due respect, this is what a Dreamboy is.”
Bringing his point home, he then leapt into a backflip, while his fellow dancers applauded via video-link on the screen behind him.
ITVBelieve it or not, things only got stranger from this point on.
Believe it or not, things then got even more surreal later in the episode, when Holly and Phil threw it back to 2015, when Olga Liashchuk broke the world record for crushing three watermelons between her thighs in under 15 seconds live on This Morning.
The duo then introduced Emmajane Smith, who said she wanted to break Olga’s record six years on.
“What I love about it is that it’s something everyone can relate to,” Emmajane explained. “It’s a great way to show everyone how strong women can be. And everyone knows what a watermelon is, so…”
Although Guinness officials weren’t able to be present for Emmajane’s attempt due to Covid restrictions, she appeared to smash Olga’s record with almost two seconds to spare.
The fact the whole thing was accompanied by the sound of what appeared to be construction work as Emmajane sat on the pavement outside Television Center crushing watermelons with her thighs only added to the strangeness.
ITVEmmajane appeared to set a new world record when she crushed three watermelons with her thighs live on ITV
We know This Morning is famous for its wacky segments, but we really think there might be something in the water at the moment, as the week started with Phil frightening Holly with some class of haunted doll.
In Monday’s show, Phil presented his co-host with an old doll, telling her: “This is allegedly absolutely rabid with spirits and ghosts.”
“And you thought you’d bring this… why?” Holly questioned, shifting even further away than the current two-metre requirement.
Receiving the top honours of a damehood are Bake Off star Prue and former Strictly Come Dancing judge and legendary choreographer Arlene Phillips.
Musical theatre star and Oscar-nominated actor Jonathan Pryce is also set to receive a knighthood – ahead of his debut as Prince Philip in the fifth series of the royal Netflix drama The Crown.
Gareth Cattermole/David M Bennett/Jeff Spicer/GettyPrue Leith, Arlene Phillips and Jonathan Pryce
Footballer Raheem Sterling is set to receive an MBE this year, for his work to promote racial equality in sport, with his England teammate Jordan Henderson also getting the same honour.
Patrick Elmont/UEFA/Getty/David M Bennett/Harry HerdRaheem Sterling, Robert Rinder and Alison Moyet
Several public figures will also receive CBEs, including TV presenter Sue Barker and singer Lulu.
Artist Edmund de Waal, Yes musician Rick Wakeman and former England manager Roy Hodgson are also among those who have been awarded CBEs.
Tristan Fewings/Cameron Spencer/John Walton/PA Images/GettyEdmund de Waal, Lulu and Sue Barker
It’s also been confirmed that rock singer Skin and children’s author David Almond will receive OBEs.
As well as public figures and celebrities, it’s also been noted that those who came together to prepare thousands of meals for key workers during the pandemic have been rewarded for their efforts in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Members of the scientific community have also been recognised for pulling together to combat coronavirus.
It’s been reported that this year’s Birthday Honours list is the most diverse to date, both in terms of gender and race.
Karwai Tang via Getty ImagesJanette at the Strictly red carpet launch in 2019
Janette announced the news on Thursday’s edition of The One Show, revealing: “It’s a dream come true to become part of the It Takes Two team! Although it’s impossible to fill in the shoes of a legend like Zoe Ball, I hope to make her and all of the Strictly fans proud.”
She added: “I will miss dancing on that iconic dancefloor weekly, but forever grateful to continue being a part of the Strictly Come Dancing family!”
Janette will be joining current It Takes Two presenter Rylan Clark-Neal – who first began co-hosting with Zoe in 2019 – on this year’s series.
Lia Toby – PA Images via Getty ImagesZoe Ball will not be returning to It Takes Two after 10 years with the spin-off show
During her time on Strictly, Janette has been partnered with fashion designer Julien Macdonald, EastEnders legend Jake Wood, singer Peter Andre, broadcaster Melvin Odoom, JLS star Aston Merrygold, This Morning’s Ranj Singh, Paralympian Will Bayley and pop star HRVY.
Although she’s never lifted the Glitterball trophy, she has won the Strictly Christmas special on two occasions – with Melvin and Aston – and made it to last year’s final with HRVY.
