There’s a reason why the original Gavin & Stacey Christmas episode is consistently hailed as one of the best festive TV specials ever made – it is a masterpiece, as we’ve previously written ourselves.
The episode, which sees the West and the Shipmans come together for their first Christmas as an extended family, originally pulled in more than 7 million viewers when it first aired on Christmas Eve back in 2008.
Advertisement
Here we share the behind-the-scenes secrets even the biggest fans might not even know about…
1. The special was filmed in October 2008 over 12 days in and around Barry, leaving the team just two months to edit it until it was on TV.
2. It was conceived after writers and creators Ruth Jones and James Corden didn’t have time to do a whole new series, but could fit in making a special.
The episode was filmed just over two months before it aired
3. They had also been fascinated with the idea of bringing together the Shipmans and the Wests for Christmas, and the chance to explore different festive foibles.
Advertisement
4. Many of the cast fell sick with flu during filming, according to a 2017 interview Ruth Jones (Nessa) gave to Radio Times, and there was an on-set doctor.
Filming of the 2008 Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special
5. The first scene that the cast and crew filmed was the one where Smithy visits Stacey at work to ask her to help him with his Christmas shopping.
6. The scene was shot at the Culverhouse Cross Marks & Spencer, which is located just outside Cardiff – despite the store being set in Essex.
7. James (Smithy) admitted he hadn’t learned his lines properly before starting the shoot, and also had fun wheeling Joanna Page (Stacey) around in shopping crates in between takes.
Advertisement
Joanna Page and James Corden in between takes
8. Another location you might have spotted in the special is the Welcome Break at Cardiff Gate, where the Barry lot stop off en route to Essex.
9. The baby who played Neil was sick all over Melanie Walters (Gwen) while filming on location at the services.
10. James wasn’t driving Smithy’s car in the scene where he’s singing Do They Know It’s Christmas down the phone with Gavin – the crew used what’s called a low loader, which essentially tows the car.
Smithy’s car on the low-loader
Advertisement
11. Mathew Horne (Gavin) was sat in the back of the low loader while James was filming his parts of the scene, and sang along down a microphone so that James could hear him in the car. He then filmed his turn as Gavin in the scene separately.
12. The child who visited Nessa’s grotto was played by Ruth’s real-life nephew, Zakk.
Ruth Jones with her real-life nephew
13. Mathew ripped his trousers while filming the scene where Gavin and Stacey come home on Christmas Eve.
14. The Christmas Eve fight scene struck fear into the director because it featured all 12 characters, and Ruth admitted she had to give him a warning after writing it.
15. The Christmas dinner the gang all tuck into was actually cooked on-location in Pam and Mick’s real-life kitchen, Ruth revealed to Radio Times in 2017.
Advertisement
The Shipmans and the Wests spent their first Christmas together
16. The mammoth scene was filmed on the penultimate day of the 12-day shoot, with press and promotional pictures also being taken in the house in between takes.
17. James was also caught taking naps on the Shipmans’ living room sofa during his downtime, where Juila Davis (Dawn) drew on his face.
James Corden asleep on the sofa
18. The final scene to be filmed on the last day of the shoot was the unwrapping of the presents, with Dave’s proposal to Nessa being the final shot in the can.
Advertisement
19. There was a feeling from James that the cast would “never make another Christmas special again” – but thankfully, that proved not to be the case, when in 2019, a follow-up finally arrived…
The Gavin & Stacey 2008 Christmas Special is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. You can also purchase behind-the-scenes documentary Gavin & Stacey: 12 Days Of Christmas on iTunes and Amazon Prime Video.
“As makeup artists, and people who want to be creative and push boundaries and go to the next level, what other show on TV at the moment is there a chance to do that on?” Lisa Armstrong says of her role as Strictly Come Dancing’s makeup designer. “That’s why we feel so lucky.”
Lisa is now in her 14th year heading up the makeup department on the hit BBC ballroom show, and when HuffPost UK catches up with her, it’s clear she loves working on it as much now as when she first joined.
Advertisement
Her glittering career in TV makeup artistry started after a chance meeting with Ozzy Osbourne during her days working on photo-shoots as a jobbing MUA, which eventually led to Lisa being recruited by his wife Sharon to be her personal makeup artist for the first series of The X Factor in 2004.
Having climbed the ranks of the ITV talent show during its early years, Lisa – who originally found fame as part of 90s girlgroup Deuce – was called into a secret meeting with BBC bosses about joining the show’s Saturday night rival and heading up its hair and makeup team.
“It was beyond my wildest dreams,” she says. “It was just incredible from a makeup artist’s point of view to be going from the biggest show on ITV to the biggest show on the BBC, and to be heading up the team and be in charge, it was literally, OMG!”
Having built her team of professional MUAs, the makeup department on Strictly has gone from strength to strength with their incredible looks, even being recognised by the industry when Lisa won both a Bafta Craft and Royal Television Society awards.
Advertisement
Lisa Armstrong attends the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2019
Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images
As our behind-the-scenes look at Strictly continues in our Backstage At The Ballroom series, Lisa reveals the astonishing pace at which her team works, the inventive ways she brings the show’s famous themed weeks to life, and names her favourite looks of all time…
I wanted makeup and hair to push boundaries when I joined Strictly..
I wanted it to look and feel very much like modern day, bringing all those aspects of Latin and ballroom up to date, and making them relatable to the public.
I wanted us to be the leaders, not the followers, so I wanted people to watch our show and go, ‘OMG, did you see her hair? I want that hair for my wedding or my prom’. I wanted us to be up there and pushing boundaries.
The technique of doing makeup on a show like Strictly is completely different to other shows…
You have to take into consideration that these dancers will be pinging around the dance floor at 100mph, turning themselves upside down and inside out, sweating and being out of breath. Makeup smudging and hair falling out is just something I could not have. So attention to detail is an absolute must, and to be the best of the best.
Advertisement
Lisa in the Strictly makeup room with Aljaz Skorjanec and Giovanni Pernice
Instagram/Aljaz Skorjanec
At the start of a series, it’s me, seven makeup artists and two assistants…
When [the cast gets] smaller, there are six, and it goes down as the series goes on. It’s the same for hair. We have Lisa Davey who is the designer of the hair now, who has seven artists and two assistants.
There’s quite a team of us, but we’re working with so many people, including all the dancers, and we now have 20 pros. With all the extra numbers it’s a very busy show, with lots of looks in one night.
Makeup can come on and off the dancers as many as four times on filming days…
For example, in Blackpool this year, we put that orange graphic eye makeup and blue liner on Nancy four times during the day. We had to dress-run her concept look with Will, then we had to take that off to do the celeb reveal in the opening number, then we had to put that back on to go into the live show for her and Will’s dance, then take that off again to go into the opening number of the results show, and then put it back on to do the rest of the results show – and that’s just one person!
Will Mellor and Nancy Xu performing at Blackpool
Advertisement
It’s a lot of skill and a lot of technique to be able to do that whilst the pressure is mounting the minutes are ticking down, and the floor manager is saying, “Five minutes ’til live!”
A typical week on Strictly for me looks like…
On the Saturday evening, we get a confirmed concept document about midnight on how the next week’s show is going to look. It gives us a style of dance and staging, how the lighting is, if there are any props, the era it’s in and potentially what colours are on the screens or what colour the costume is.
Through the week, it’s a process where it builds and builds with every department pulling together to make decisions. On Friday, it’s confirmed with the execs the exact hair and makeup looks you’re going to do, so that’s then handed out to the team members who are actually executing them.
And then it’s fingers crossed for Saturday morning and that it runs like clockwork – and sometimes it doesn’t!
We don’t actually know what the makeup is going to look like on everyone’s face until each Saturday morning…
What I don’t think people really understand is how complicated, stressful and creative it is, because those looks are all there down on paper, but it’s completely different seeing it on paper to on someone’s face. The only chance we get to do that is on the show day.
We come in early in the morning and then the couples will be coming into hair and makeup when the schedule allows. We have them all pretty much tip-top perfect for the dress run, then we have two hours to fix any things that didn’t quite work.
It’s meticulously planned, but you can’t execute it until the day. All my ducks are in a row and ready to go, but where they waddle off to is anybody’s guess, because we are live!
We really have to think outside of the box for some looks, especially on theme weeks…
People don’t realise that we have to get really creative. They think it’s all professional makeup – and predominantly it is – but stuck around Tyler West’s face when he was Beetlejuice on Halloween Week was porridge oats, which were glued with eyelash glue and painted green to give him that grubbiness of the character.
It’s about thinking out of the box when we don’t have a million pound film budget or 100 hours to do something.
Advertisement
Tyler West dressed as Beetlejuice in Halloween Week this year
Every makeup artist will bring their own kit to work, and then I have the main Strictly kit there with all the extra bits…
Everyone is different because everyone likes and uses different things and everyone uses different things in our main kits.
You go to different places for different things – so, at the moment, I am sourcing a Santa beard for one of the couples on the Christmas show, but I can’t go and get that from Boots, so I have to get that from a specialist makeup shop. There are quite a few of them around, like ScreenFace or PAM, the professional makeup artistry shop. We go to them and then we can get all the adhesives, glues and if you needed things like bald caps.
It’s like a mass shopping list – preplanning and going over and over it to make sure that we’ve got that wig or those devil horns, or if we’ve remembered the paint for that.
Advertisement
After we film the results show straight after the live show, we have to bring everyone back into makeup and do a ‘de-rig’…
It’s taking off all the wigs, cutting out hair pieces, removing glue, taking eyelashes off, washing paint off faces if they’ve been characters, and then placing bits and bobs back in their boxes, clean down all the sides, pack all the make up away, clean the brushes, clear the room, and then go again the next week!
It’s gone midnight, sometimes 1am, by the time we get out. It’s a long day.
My favourite looks I’ve created on Strictly are…
I did think [Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton’s] Minions were genius – who knew that a metal coat hanger would come in so handy?
","type":"video","meta":{"author":"BBC Strictly Come Dancing","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-p7mK8hRVvV86yREq342A","cache_age":86400,"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\nStacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton Jive to ‘Happy’ from Despicable Me 2\n\nWatch Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC: https://bbc.in/2xMhHKg\n\nStrictly Come Dancing | Series 16 | BBC\n\nSUBSCRIBE to BBC for more entertainment highlights: https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\n\n#strictly #bbcstrictly #strictlycomedancing","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KABjoVp8JMw/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Stacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton Jive to ‘Happy’ – BBC Strictly 2018","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KABjoVp8JMw","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"featured","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isMt":false,"entryId":"638f38b6e4b0214ec9831166","entryTagsList":"uktv,strictly-come-dancing,we-love-tv,lisa-armstrong,backstage-at-the-ballroom","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":true,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"638f38b6e4b0214ec9831166","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"uktv","slug":"uktv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/uktv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv"},"relegenceId":4255579,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"UK TV","slug":"uktv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv/"},{"name":"Strictly Come Dancing","slug":"strictly-come-dancing","links":{"relativeLink":"news/strictly-come-dancing","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing"},"relegenceId":3457896,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Strictly Come Dancing","slug":"strictly-come-dancing","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing/"},{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"lisa armstrong","slug":"lisa-armstrong","links":{"relativeLink":"news/lisa-armstrong","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lisa-armstrong","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lisa-armstrong"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lisa-armstrong/"},{"name":"backstage at the ballroom","slug":"backstage-at-the-ballroom","links":{"relativeLink":"news/backstage-at-the-ballroom","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/backstage-at-the-ballroom","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/backstage-at-the-ballroom"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/backstage-at-the-ballroom/"}],"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
Then I loved Halloween Week with Faye and Giovanni. That hair never stayed put until the live show – every time we did it, it dropped and collapsed. Her hair was quite short, so to have it scraped up and that big, thick plait stitched on there and then using in the choreography swinging it, we were like, ‘How is this going to stay up?!’
Advertisement
One of the girls just pinned it, gaffer taped it, sewed it, and then we all watched it on the screen through an open hand, and thankfully it worked on the night. It does get a bit hairy sometimes!
","type":"video","meta":{"author":"BBC Strictly Come Dancing","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-p7mK8hRVvV86yREq342A","cache_age":86400,"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\nFaye and Giovanni take to the floor in a bid to impress the judges with a Theatre and Jazz to ‘Fever’ by Peggy Lee\n\nWatch Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC: https://bbc.in/2xMhHKg\n\nStrictly Come Dancing | Series 16 | BBC\n\nSUBSCRIBE to BBC for more entertainment highlights: https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\n\n#strictly #bbcstrictly #strictlycomedancing","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pklFxYRI4i4/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice Theatre and Jazz to ‘Fever’ by Peggy Lee – BBC Strictly 2018","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pklFxYRI4i4","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"featured","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isMt":false,"entryId":"638f38b6e4b0214ec9831166","entryTagsList":"uktv,strictly-come-dancing,we-love-tv,lisa-armstrong,backstage-at-the-ballroom","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":true,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"638f38b6e4b0214ec9831166","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"uktv","slug":"uktv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/uktv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv"},"relegenceId":4255579,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"UK TV","slug":"uktv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv/"},{"name":"Strictly Come Dancing","slug":"strictly-come-dancing","links":{"relativeLink":"news/strictly-come-dancing","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing"},"relegenceId":3457896,"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Strictly Come Dancing","slug":"strictly-come-dancing","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing/"},{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"news/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv"},"section":{"title":"Life","slug":"lifestyle"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"lisa armstrong","slug":"lisa-armstrong","links":{"relativeLink":"news/lisa-armstrong","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lisa-armstrong","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lisa-armstrong"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lisa-armstrong/"},{"name":"backstage at the ballroom","slug":"backstage-at-the-ballroom","links":{"relativeLink":"news/backstage-at-the-ballroom","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/backstage-at-the-ballroom","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/backstage-at-the-ballroom"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/backstage-at-the-ballroom/"}],"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
I also loved the creative journey I had with Sophie Ellis Bextor…
Her face is just insane and so beautiful, and she is so up for anything. I’d do big blue eye makeup and then stick orange crystals over the top, and she’d be like, ‘OK!’. It’s very on trend now, like when I did Ola Jordan for a spooky Alice In Wonderland group number and I couldn’t decide whether to do a pink or orange lip, so I did both – orange on the outer corner and then pink in the middle.
Then what happened a couple of months later on the pages of Vogue? The ombre lip! I’m claiming that!
Sophie Ellis Bextor with partner Brendan Cole on the show in 2013
Advertisement
It feels overwhelming to have won a Bafta and RTS award for my work…
It’s amazing and incredible and really overwhelming. You think, ‘Wow, my work is being looked at and is being noticed and being recognised by the industry.’
I’m not blowing up own trumpet, but Strictly is one of the biggest and best and most-watched shows on telly, so I feel it does deserve [awards for the show]. But when it comes to personal ones, I find it very emotional.
My top tips for getting the Strictly look this party season are…
You need a good eye shadow base, some loose glitter you can pop all over the lid and then a fabulous big lash.
On the market at the moment, there are so many things that don’t have to be for professional use – those glitter pen sticks from Collection 2000 in Superdrug or Boots. Just whack on a glittery eye, whack on a lash and off you go – party!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Sunday at 7.15pm on BBC One.
Alex Scott has been praised by football fans after she wore a “One Love” armband during the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup just hours after Fifa threatened sporting sanctions against players who did so.
On Monday morning, England, Wales and other European countries who had been set to wear the anti-discrimination armbands at the tournament in Qatar u-turned on their decision after Fifa said that they would introduce yellow cards to players who opted to wear them during matches.
The armbands were intended “to promote inclusion and send a message against discrimination of any kind”. In Qatar, same-sex relationships are illegal.
Advertisement
Former Lioness and England captain Alex was seen sporting the armband during a pitch-side discussion with Kelly Somers ahead of England’s opening World Cup match against Iran.
Alex made no mention of her armband but her powerful statement did not go unnoticed by fans watching.
Alex scott a women who has just come out and now is in a country where she she can be killed or imprisoned for being part of the community is wearing the one love armband, brave and powerful stuff from her pic.twitter.com/1f2RYvtpDg
Loving all these moments of personal protest. Alex Scott. The Iran team. Some real courage and solidarity on display when there’s such cowardice on such a major scale.
— Sophie Petzal (parody mustard account) (@Sonic_Screwup) November 21, 2022
Advertisement
Action speaks louder than words. No protest in history ever needed permission. Massive respect to Alex Scott for donning the OneLove armband despite multiple national team U-turns. pic.twitter.com/8HcCBEKk6D
A joint statement from seven national Football Associations, including the English and Welsh FAs, about the armbands said they could not put their players “in a position where they could face sporting sanctions”.
The statement read: “We are very frustrated by the Fifa decision which we believe is unprecedented.
“Fifa has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play.
Advertisement
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband.
“However, we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
Captains of teams are allowed to wear “No Discrimination” armbands for the duration of the World Cup.
Advertisement
On Sunday, Alex spoke about LGBT rights in Qatar during the opening of the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup.
She said: “A whole heap of fans from around the world from the LGBTQ+ community not wanting to travel here…
“We reference (FIFA president) Gianni Infantino from what he said… you are not gay, you will never understand travelling to a country where you are fearing for your life just because of who you choose to love.
“To keep saying football is for everyone, we sit here and it’s not, because people have not been able to travel to watch their teams, to support their teams, out of fear.”
Infantino delivered an hour-long speech in a pre-tournament press conference in Doha in which he declared “today I feel gay” and “I feel (like) a migrant worker” before taking aim at European critics of Qatar.
Saturday’s show opened with a spectacular extravaganza celebrating Strictly’s long awaited return to Blackpool after two years away due to the pandemic.
During Sunday’s dance-off, Tyler and his dance partner Dianne Buswell performed their Salsa, while Molly and her dance partner Carlos Gu performed their Jive again in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
Advertisement
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts, but it was down to head judge Shirley Ballas to cast the deciding vote after Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke failed to unanimously decide who should go home.
Mollie and Tyler found themselves in the dance-off during Blackpool Week.
Craig and Motsi both chose to save Molly and Carlos, but Anton believed Tyler and Dianne deserved to stay in the competition.
With two votes for Molly and Carlos and one vote for Tyler and Dianne, it meant that Shirley would have to make the final decision.
Advertisement
Shirley said; “Well, I agree with my fellow judges, this is probably one of the most difficult dance off’s that we’ve ever had to choose.
“Both couples were outstanding, both improved their performances but I am going to go with what I believe in, and that is a quality of movement and precision in partnering, and I am going to go with Molly and Carlos.”
Tyler West and Dianne Buswell failed to impress after their Salsa in Blackpool.
Guy Levy via PA Media
When asked by Tess about his time on the show, Tyler said: “I’m more than a two step now! When you watch the show at home, you wonder what it must be like to dance on it, it’s everything and more, it’s changed my life.
“This girl here, has changed my life for sure. To think I was some shy kid who never used to talk to anyone, to dancing in front of millions, I can’t put it into words.”
Advertisement
He continued: “It’s my mum’s favourite show, I bought her to Blackpool, my nan bless her was always watching over me on this journey. But more importantly this show has changed my life in the sense it’s given me confidence, a new found family, every dancer, everyone in hair and make-up, costume. The judges, it’s been amazing to dance in front of you every week, I genuinely mean that.
“But this girl here, I have been blessed with the best, she is what Strictly is about and she’s changed my life, I have no doubt she will be in in my life forever.”
Tyler said his Strictly experience had “changed my life”.
Dianne was then asked if she had any words for her partner. She said: “Endless words! You have been an absolute joy to work with, when I say that, you have come in every single session with the biggest smile on your face and it lights up this whole ballroom.
“You are such a talent, you really are and you should feel so proud, I am so proud of you, your family are so proud and your nan is so proud of you. Thank you so much for everything.”
Advertisement
The remaining seven couples will take to the dance floor next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday 26 November at 7.15pm
Millie Gibson has been announced as Doctor Who’s latest companion live on Children In Need.
The 18-year-old Coronation Street actor will star opposite Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, who takes over as the Doctor in 2023.
The 15th Doctor’s companion, who will be called Ruby Sunday, will travel alongside him as they embark on a new set of adventures.
Millie said in a statement: “Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion.
Advertisement
“It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have travelled in before me.
“What better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started.”
Millie Gibson
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
She received the best young performer award for her role as Kelly Neelan in Coronation Street at The British Soap Awards earlier this year.
Advertisement
Millie has also appeared in ITV’s Butterfly and BBC’s Love, Lies And Records.
Jodie Whittaker faced her final battles as the time lord in October in a special episode of Doctor Who to mark the BBC’s centenary.
The actor became the first woman to portray the Doctor when she took over the role from Peter Capaldi in 2017.
During the feature-length programme, viewers were left surprised as Whittaker’s 13th Time Lord regenerated into David Tennant, who previously played the 10th incarnation of the Doctor.
Following the special, it was confirmed David will become the 14th incarnation, with Catherine Tate reprising her role as his former companion Donna Noble for three special episodes set to air in November 2023.
Ncuti will then take control of the Tardis as the 15th Doctor, with his first episode due to air over the festive period in 2023.
Advertisement
Ncuti Gatwa
Taylor Hill via Getty Images
The 30-year-old said: “Millie just is the companion. She is full of talent, strength, she has a cheeky sparkle in her eye and is sharp as a razor.
“From the moment she walked into the room she captured all of our attention with her effervescence and then solidified that attention with the sheer torque of her talent.
“This adventure is going to be so wild and so fun, I cannot wait to sail the universe with Millie!”
Russell T Davies, who has returned as showrunner as the BBC show teams up with Disney, said: “It’s the great honour of my job to find the next generation of talent and Millie shines like a star already.
“She’s brilliant, dynamic, clever and a wonderful actor.
“As a Coronation Street fan, I’ve seen Millie survive chases, guns and sieges, but that’s nothing compared to what lies ahead for Ruby Sunday.”
Advertisement
The BBC launched a new collaboration with Disney Branded Television which will see Disney+ stream upcoming seasons of Doctor Who outside of the UK and Ireland.
The new episodes of Doctor Who will be broadcast in November 2023 to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the show.
The BBC ballroom show had to cancel its latest elimination after the former footballer sustained an injury ahead of having to perform in the dance-off.
Host Tess Daly explained to viewers: “Due to an injury sustained on Saturday night, Tony is unable to take part in the dance-off and has decided to withdraw from the competition. This means there will be no dance-off tonight and Tyler and Dianne are through to Blackpool.”
Tony later said of his time on the show: “It’s been emotional guys, I cried for the first month. I came in here with one message, if you’ve got an issue with mental health then please don’t suffer in silence and reach out for help.
“Little did I know that I was going to learn a lot about myself in the process. I thought this ‘journey’ rubbish was nonsense, but my god the rollercoaster of emotion. I’ve got to be honest, it’s tough, physically it’s really tough out there, but dancing is really fantastic for you. Go out there and enjoy it and pick up new skills and explore. I suppose I had better mention this one [Katya] hadn’t I, she is an exceptional human being, she really is.”
Tony and Katya performed a Jive on Saturday’s live show
BBC/Guy Levy
Advertisement
Katya was then asked if she had any words for her partner.
“Tony Adams, I will be forever grateful that I was partnered up with you, do you know what I loved? I loved us, I loved that we didn’t care what people thought, we did every single dance our way!” she said.
“You have come here with a message, you led by example, and put yourself out there, and showed everyone you can do anything. And everyone deserves love and to be loved! I love you.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas added: “On behalf of the judges, we’ve enjoyed watching every second, you are truly what this show is all about, and we can only wish you the very best as you move forward. Please carry on dancing, carry on entertaining people, because you are a star.”
The remaining eight couples will take to the dancefloor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns to the Blackpool on Saturday 19 November at 7.45pm, with the results show following on Sunday at 7:20pm on BBC One.
The fifth season of the royal drama dropped on the streaming service earlier this week and sees the two actors take over the roles of the now-married couple from predecessors Josh O’Connor and Emerald Fennell.
Advertisement
In a new interview with Variety, Dominic and Olivia were posed with comments from some social media users labelling them “too hot” for their characters, who are depicted in the 90s, when the then-Prince Charles was still married to Diana, Princess Of Wales.
“Well I think there’s something in that, you know. I’ve had worse,” Dominic joked.
Olivia continued: ”[The producers] will just have to try and suppress how very deeply hot we are for season six.”
The King and Queen Consort pictured earlier this week
JAMES GLOSSOP via Getty Images
She added that she was not taking much feedback on board as she has an “astonishing ability to ignore all press”, unlike Dominic, who said he “reads every single” review.
Advertisement
He continued: “Because I always find if you don’t read it and then you go in – I remember doing a play on Broadway once and I thought, ‘Well, I’m not gonna read the reviews.’ And I came into the theatre and it was like a morgue. Everyone looked at me as if my dog had just died.
“And from then on I’ve read reviews. I think what’s obvious is this season, probably more than previous ones, has stirred up a lot of controversy, partly because the Queen has died. And also because it’s about probably the most tumultuous time of their lives and over a time that more people remember than ever before.”
While many have said it is a strong start for its third cast – led by Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II – others have absolutely torn it to sheds.
It was described in different reviews as “boring”, “dull”, “tawdry” and “addictive”, with some referring to it as a low-point for The Crown, while others hail it as strong as ever.
Both couples performed their routines again, with James and his dance partner Amy Dowden performing their Charleston and Fleur and her dance partner Vito Coppola performing their Salsa in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges were unanimous in their choices, with all four choosing to save Fleur.
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the show, James said: “I’ve said this from the very beginning, all I can do is go out there and do my very best. I am dancing against Fleur East, I went and did my best but she is phenomenal.
“I’ve had the best time on this show and I have a friend for life [in Amy], all I can do is thank the family, and I have a new family now. It’s a competition but you don’t feel like that backstage, you honestly feel like everyone has each other’s backs and everyone is just willing everyone to do their best.”
Amy then told James: “You came on here to show your boys they can throw themselves into any challenge in life, and you are the best role model they could ever have as their daddy! I am so proud of you!”
The remaining ten couples will take to the dancefloor next Saturday when Strictly Come Dancing returns on 5 November at 7pm, with the results show following on Sunday 6 November at 7:15pm on BBC One.
On Friday’s episode of the BBC’s news and politics comedy panel show, guest presenter Steph referred to his TalkTV show Piers Morgan Uncensored as “Piers Morgan Unwatched”.
“What’s she been up to this week?,” Steph asked panellists Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.
Paul replied: “She took over Piers Morgan’s TV show. He’s been on holiday, and it didn’t go well.”
Steph then sarcastically told the audience: “Nadine Dorries has been sitting in on Piers Morgan’s ‘smash-hit’ TalkTV show, Piers Morgan: Unwatched!”
On Saturday, Piers fired back at Steph on Twitter, sharing a screenshot of a two-year-old story in the Sun that claimed Steph’s own Channel 4 show registered zero viewers when it first launched.
“Hear you were gobbing off about my @PiersUncensored ratings on #HIGFY last night @StephLunch – you sure you’re the best person to do that?” he tweeted.
Steph has yet to respond.
Despite it taking Dorries just 12 seconds to mess up during her presenting of Piers’ TalkTV show, she was a ratings hit.
The MP reportedly pulled in 26,000 viewers, while Piers averages 14,000-19,000 viewers.
The legendary Culture Club singer dubbed himself the ‘Lion Queen’ as he walked through Brisbane airport wearing a huge lion mask.
Despite his attempts to go incognito, the singer’s hand tattoos gave him away as he made his way to his car.
Advertisement
When asked by reporters at the airport if he was heading to the jungle, the 61-year-old said: “I’m here to do a version of the Lion Queen.”
Boy George wore a Lion Mask as he arrived at Brisbane Airport, Australia.
James GourleyJames Gourley/Shutterstock
Asked if the mask will be staying on inside the camp, he said: “Let’s hope so.”
When the vegan star was pushed on whether he would eat any creepy crawlies in the jungle or if he was simply a “vegan lion”, he added: “I’m a Lion Queen, I have told you,” before adding: “I love all creatures.”
James GourleyJames Gourley/Shutterstock
Advertisement
The Karma Chameleon singer is the latest star to arrive Down Under ahead of this year’s I’m A Celeb, which kicks off on ITV on Sunday 6 November.
In a video clip posted on the pair’s social pages, the presenters discover which stars will be heading into the Australian jungle next week.
Boy George
Rick Kern via Getty Images
The Geordie duo, who have hosted the ITV reality show since 2004, exude a mixture of shock, excitement and approval as they find out the campmates’ identities – although these details are kept secret from fans.
Advertisement
Dec said of one celebrity: “She’s fun and feisty,” adding about another: “She would hate every minute of it.”
Meanwhile, Ant said: “We knew we’d get you on there one of these days,” with Dec adding: “We saw him and he never let on. Sneaky boy.”
Speaking of another male celebrity, Ant added: “Now I can’t believe we’ve got him. You don’t know what you’ve let yourself in for my friend.”
As well as George, a number of other celebrities have already touched down in Australia.
Charlene White and Jill Scott were spotted at Brisbane Airport
Among those also rumoured to be taking part in the series are former England rugby player Mike Tindall, comedian Seann Walsh and property presenter Scarlette Douglas.
This year’s celebrities will live together in the Australian outback, after the show relocated to Gwrych Castle in Wales for the last two series due to Covid travel restrictions.
Advertisement
ITV has officially announced this year’s series is earlier than previous years as bosses are avoiding the show clashing with World Cup, which kicks off at the end of next month.
