TV
TV
James May says 'Top Gear' without Jeremy Clarkson just "wouldn't work".
The 52-year-old star thinks it's "virtually impossible" for someone to do a good job of replacing his former co-host, who was fired from the BBC show following a fracas with producer Oisin Tymon last month.
James - who also starred on 'Top Gear' with Richard Hammond - told the MediaGuardian: "Me and (Richard) Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter, it just wouldn't work ... it has to be the three of us. I don't think you could carry on with two people and put someone in as the new Jeremy because they are not going to be the new Jeremy. That would be short sighted and I don't think it would work. Virtually impossible."
The car enthusiast added that he hopes there is a "future" for the three presenters to work together somewhere down the line, and said "the BBC haven't completely closed the door" on Jeremy.
James said: "In the future when all this has blown over there might be an opportunity for three of us to get back together on the BBC to do 'Top Gear' or a car show of some sort.
"The BBC haven't completely closed the door on Jeremy's return. They've not banned him or fired him, only just not renewed his contract for the moment. It's a subtle difference but an important one."
James May: Top Gear without Clarkson wouldn’t work
James May says 'Top Gear' without Jeremy Clarkson just "wouldn't work".
The 52-year-old star thinks it's "virtually impossible" for someone to do a good job of replacing his former co-host, who was fired from the BBC show following a fracas with producer Oisin Tymon last month.
James - who also starred on 'Top Gear' with Richard Hammond - told the MediaGuardian: "Me and (Richard) Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter, it just wouldn't work ... it has to be the three of us. I don't think you could carry on with two people and put someone in as the new Jeremy because they are not going to be the new Jeremy. That would be short sighted and I don't think it would work. Virtually impossible."
The car enthusiast added that he hopes there is a "future" for the three presenters to work together somewhere down the line, and said "the BBC haven't completely closed the door" on Jeremy.
James said: "In the future when all this has blown over there might be an opportunity for three of us to get back together on the BBC to do 'Top Gear' or a car show of some sort.
"The BBC haven't completely closed the door on Jeremy's return. They've not banned him or fired him, only just not renewed his contract for the moment. It's a subtle difference but an important one."
TV
Ola Jordan has been confirmed for the 2015 'Strictly Come Dancing' line-up just months after she sustained a career-threatening injury.
The 32-year-old dancer underwent major surgery at the end of last year for a freak accident while training for Channel 4 show 'The Jump' sparking fears she would never dance again, but the 'Strictly...' professional line-up has been revealed and the blonde beauty is on the list.
Three new performers are joining the show; 'Dancing with the Stars' favourite Gleb Savchenko, 2012 Italian Champion Giovanni Pernice and eight-times South African Latin American Champion Otlile Mabuse.
Executive Producer Lousie Rainbow said: "We are thrilled with our pro dancer line up this year. Not only are some of the viewers' favourites returning, but we also have some exciting new dancers joining the 'Strictly...' family. I think it's safe to say that this year's 'Strictly...' will be as exciting and entertaining as always."
Two other pro dancers, however, are bowing out of the series. Trent Whiddon, who danced with Pixie Lott last series, is leaving the show after just one series, as well as Iveta Lukosiute, who sparked rumours of a romance with Thom Evans last series.
Iveta said: "I really enjoyed my experience on 'Strictly Come Dancing'. I loved everything about the show, dancers, judges, BBC, celebrities, fans ... all of it was a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful show."
The show returns to BBC One in the autumn when the celebrity line up will be revealed.
The full 'Strictly Come Dancing' professionals line-up:
The Men:
Aljaž Škorjanec
Anton Du Beke
Brendan Cole
Giovanni Pernice
Gleb Savchenko
Kevin Clifton
Pasha Kovalev
Tristan MacManus
The Women:
Aliona Vilani
Janette Manrara
Joanne Clifton
Karen Hauer
Kristina Rihanoff
Natalie Lowe
Ola Jordan
Otlile Mabuse
Ola Jordan returning to Strictly Come Dancing
Ola Jordan has been confirmed for the 2015 'Strictly Come Dancing' line-up just months after she sustained a career-threatening injury.
The 32-year-old dancer underwent major surgery at the end of last year for a freak accident while training for Channel 4 show 'The Jump' sparking fears she would never dance again, but the 'Strictly...' professional line-up has been revealed and the blonde beauty is on the list.
Three new performers are joining the show; 'Dancing with the Stars' favourite Gleb Savchenko, 2012 Italian Champion Giovanni Pernice and eight-times South African Latin American Champion Otlile Mabuse.
Executive Producer Lousie Rainbow said: "We are thrilled with our pro dancer line up this year. Not only are some of the viewers' favourites returning, but we also have some exciting new dancers joining the 'Strictly...' family. I think it's safe to say that this year's 'Strictly...' will be as exciting and entertaining as always."
Two other pro dancers, however, are bowing out of the series. Trent Whiddon, who danced with Pixie Lott last series, is leaving the show after just one series, as well as Iveta Lukosiute, who sparked rumours of a romance with Thom Evans last series.
Iveta said: "I really enjoyed my experience on 'Strictly Come Dancing'. I loved everything about the show, dancers, judges, BBC, celebrities, fans ... all of it was a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful show."
The show returns to BBC One in the autumn when the celebrity line up will be revealed.
The full 'Strictly Come Dancing' professionals line-up:
The Men:
Aljaž Škorjanec
Anton Du Beke
Brendan Cole
Giovanni Pernice
Gleb Savchenko
Kevin Clifton
Pasha Kovalev
Tristan MacManus
The Women:
Aliona Vilani
Janette Manrara
Joanne Clifton
Karen Hauer
Kristina Rihanoff
Natalie Lowe
Ola Jordan
Otlile Mabuse
TV
The BBC has delayed the launch of their latest prime time Saturday night show because they don't want to go head-to-head against 'Britain's Got Talent'.
'Prized Apart' - which will be presented by Emma Willis and Reggie Yates - has been postponed by bosses because they fear a ratings wipeout if they take on Simon Cowell's talent show which airs on ITV and regularly attracts over 10 million viewers.
The new program has been hailed as a "game-changing" format and had been scheduled to start in the spring.
According The Sun newspaper, the show will now launch in the summer after 'BGT' finishes.
Despite long-running favourites 'BGT', 'The X Factor' and 'Strictly Come Dancing' coming under fire for having outdated formats and their viewing figures falling, they have still managed to see off a string of big money shows, many of which have been axed after just one or two series.
BBC delay launch of Prized Apart
The BBC has delayed the launch of their latest prime time Saturday night show because they don't want to go head-to-head against 'Britain's Got Talent'.
'Prized Apart' - which will be presented by Emma Willis and Reggie Yates - has been postponed by bosses because they fear a ratings wipeout if they take on Simon Cowell's talent show which airs on ITV and regularly attracts over 10 million viewers.
The new program has been hailed as a "game-changing" format and had been scheduled to start in the spring.
According The Sun newspaper, the show will now launch in the summer after 'BGT' finishes.
Despite long-running favourites 'BGT', 'The X Factor' and 'Strictly Come Dancing' coming under fire for having outdated formats and their viewing figures falling, they have still managed to see off a string of big money shows, many of which have been axed after just one or two series.
TV
'Coronation Street' star Ryan Thomas has traded partying for a "spiritual" lifestyle.
The 30-year-old actor - who plays Weatherfield builder Jason Grimshaw - has decided to ditch the late nights to find his "spiritual side" after starting to have sessions with a life coach.
Ryan has found a new love of poetry and literature and his favourite poet is William Wordsworth.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "He's been getting a bit of stick because he is always out on the town with a beautiful woman on his arm but now he is very much in touch with this spiritual side."
Ryan - who previously dated actress-and-model Amy Jackson - is enjoying "stretching" himself and his favourite spot to read poetry is "looking out over the mountains and waters of the Lake District".
The source added: "It's where he feels calmest and now he has a life coach, it is all about finding places where he can be in contact with nature and his inner self. The party scene is all very well now and again but it doesn't nourish the soul and that's what he is about these days."
Ryan Thomas gives up partying for poetry
'Coronation Street' star Ryan Thomas has traded partying for a "spiritual" lifestyle.
The 30-year-old actor - who plays Weatherfield builder Jason Grimshaw - has decided to ditch the late nights to find his "spiritual side" after starting to have sessions with a life coach.
Ryan has found a new love of poetry and literature and his favourite poet is William Wordsworth.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "He's been getting a bit of stick because he is always out on the town with a beautiful woman on his arm but now he is very much in touch with this spiritual side."
Ryan - who previously dated actress-and-model Amy Jackson - is enjoying "stretching" himself and his favourite spot to read poetry is "looking out over the mountains and waters of the Lake District".
The source added: "It's where he feels calmest and now he has a life coach, it is all about finding places where he can be in contact with nature and his inner self. The party scene is all very well now and again but it doesn't nourish the soul and that's what he is about these days."
TV
Charley Webb believes "there's always been something between" her 'Emmerdale' character Debbie Dingle and Ross Barton.
The 27-year-old actress has opened up about her alter ego's love triangle with the mechanic and his half-brother Pete, who is Debbie's current partner, and she knew it was coming.
Charley said: "Pete brings a lot to her life that she's never had. He's that person she can always go to. Ross is the excitement. He's the person that's a bit more like her; so that's what attracts her to him.
"Obviously the safer option is the better option in the long run, because it's more security for her kids. But there's always been something between Debbie and Ross."
In the episode of the ITV soap airing tonight (23.04.15), viewers will see Debbie and Ross end up in a hotel together after he ropes her into a dodgy scam and Charley has revealed a line is "crossed" between the two characters.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "There's a bit of a line that is crossed. They get to the point where it could just happen, but I think Ross blows it. He gets too serious with Debbie and that snaps her back into reality somehow. She's like, 'Oh my God, what am I doing here?' "
Charley Webb says Debbie and Ross have always had a spark
Charley Webb believes "there's always been something between" her 'Emmerdale' character Debbie Dingle and Ross Barton.
The 27-year-old actress has opened up about her alter ego's love triangle with the mechanic and his half-brother Pete, who is Debbie's current partner, and she knew it was coming.
Charley said: "Pete brings a lot to her life that she's never had. He's that person she can always go to. Ross is the excitement. He's the person that's a bit more like her; so that's what attracts her to him.
"Obviously the safer option is the better option in the long run, because it's more security for her kids. But there's always been something between Debbie and Ross."
In the episode of the ITV soap airing tonight (23.04.15), viewers will see Debbie and Ross end up in a hotel together after he ropes her into a dodgy scam and Charley has revealed a line is "crossed" between the two characters.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "There's a bit of a line that is crossed. They get to the point where it could just happen, but I think Ross blows it. He gets too serious with Debbie and that snaps her back into reality somehow. She's like, 'Oh my God, what am I doing here?' "
TV
Bear Grylls was "nervous" around the women from 'The Island'.
The 40-year-old adventurer - who fronts the Channel 4 programme in which he abandons men and women on remote islands in the Pacific Ocean - was noticeably anxious when he had to converse with the women from the show, according to participant and former foster carer Julie, 55.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Julie explained: "He did seem nervous. But I don't know whether that was because he was in the company in a group of women, and he might have felt more comfortable facing a crowd of men.
"But of course, he was facing a group of women, so he did seem a little bit nervous and unsure of himself."
However, Julie revealed Bear was markedly more warm and friendly at the conclusion of the show, when he congratulated the successful participants for surviving on the island.
She shared: "When he came to pick us up again, he came onto the island and have a look around, to see where we'd been living and how we'd done.
"He was really, really nice and he shook all of ours hands. He looked us in the eye and said, 'I've got every respect for you women.' He was really sweet and he spent quite a bit of time with us on the island."
'The Island with Bear Grylls' continues tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
Bear Grylls was ‘nervous’ around women from The Island
Bear Grylls was "nervous" around the women from 'The Island'.
The 40-year-old adventurer - who fronts the Channel 4 programme in which he abandons men and women on remote islands in the Pacific Ocean - was noticeably anxious when he had to converse with the women from the show, according to participant and former foster carer Julie, 55.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Julie explained: "He did seem nervous. But I don't know whether that was because he was in the company in a group of women, and he might have felt more comfortable facing a crowd of men.
"But of course, he was facing a group of women, so he did seem a little bit nervous and unsure of himself."
However, Julie revealed Bear was markedly more warm and friendly at the conclusion of the show, when he congratulated the successful participants for surviving on the island.
She shared: "When he came to pick us up again, he came onto the island and have a look around, to see where we'd been living and how we'd done.
"He was really, really nice and he shook all of ours hands. He looked us in the eye and said, 'I've got every respect for you women.' He was really sweet and he spent quite a bit of time with us on the island."
'The Island with Bear Grylls' continues tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
TV
Denise Van Outen feels too old for presenting roles.
The former 'Big Breakfast' host - who presented the Channel 4 series in the late 90s and early 2000s - has noticed she's been met with "fewer opportunities" to front shows on the small screen since she turned 40 in May last year.
She explained: "As you get older there are fewer opportunities. I was very much the face of the Nineties."
However, the blonde beauty - who has a four-year-old daughter with her ex-husband Lee Mead - was offered the chance to star on ITV panel show 'Loose Women' but turned down the opportunity as she isn't prepared to talk about her personal life on TV.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I love the show, but for me it just doesn't work because I've worked so hard to make my situation with Lee work.
"It wouldn't feel respectful to talk about him and our daughter on national TV."
However, Denise insists she isn't worried about the lack of hosting work and is happy to focus on her acting career after making her debut on 'EastEnders' this year.
The star - who plays Karin Smart on the BBC One soap - appeared on the show to coincide with its 30th birthday celebrations and is now said to be in talks to join the cast full time.
She said: "I'd rather be acting now. My roots are East End. I've always said I'd one day do it."
Denise Van Outen feels too old for presenting roles
Denise Van Outen feels too old for presenting roles.
The former 'Big Breakfast' host - who presented the Channel 4 series in the late 90s and early 2000s - has noticed she's been met with "fewer opportunities" to front shows on the small screen since she turned 40 in May last year.
She explained: "As you get older there are fewer opportunities. I was very much the face of the Nineties."
However, the blonde beauty - who has a four-year-old daughter with her ex-husband Lee Mead - was offered the chance to star on ITV panel show 'Loose Women' but turned down the opportunity as she isn't prepared to talk about her personal life on TV.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I love the show, but for me it just doesn't work because I've worked so hard to make my situation with Lee work.
"It wouldn't feel respectful to talk about him and our daughter on national TV."
However, Denise insists she isn't worried about the lack of hosting work and is happy to focus on her acting career after making her debut on 'EastEnders' this year.
The star - who plays Karin Smart on the BBC One soap - appeared on the show to coincide with its 30th birthday celebrations and is now said to be in talks to join the cast full time.
She said: "I'd rather be acting now. My roots are East End. I've always said I'd one day do it."
TV
Mark Wright is "sick of waiting" to marry Michelle Keegan.
The former 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestant is getting ready for his Las Vegas stag party and is just weeks away from tying the knot with the 'Ordinary Lies' star and he is very excited about becoming her husband now.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Florence & Fred Autumn Winter 2015 show, Mark said: "Obviously now I'm just really excited to get married and I'm kind of sick of waiting for it."
Mark attended the event without his fiancée Michelle - who has been busy working on her new movie 'Strangeways Here We Come' - while the Essex star has been busy on a new children's presenting project, 'The Dengineers'.
After watching the F&F AW15 show, Mark admitted he loved the clothes being modelled.
Mark said: "I was just saying to the guys, I'm actually quite surprised at the collection. It's really great and I'd wear a lot of what I saw today. I think it's amazing the way they layered things up and styled all the looks, it looks really high end."
"I tend to buy a lot of high street really, probably my biggest spurge I think I ever did was a leather jacket. I'm not really a big spender though when it comes to clothes.
"Obviously now I'm just really excited to get married and I'm kind of sick of waiting for it."
Mark Wright is ‘sick of waiting’ to marry Michelle Keegan
Mark Wright is "sick of waiting" to marry Michelle Keegan.
The former 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestant is getting ready for his Las Vegas stag party and is just weeks away from tying the knot with the 'Ordinary Lies' star and he is very excited about becoming her husband now.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Florence & Fred Autumn Winter 2015 show, Mark said: "Obviously now I'm just really excited to get married and I'm kind of sick of waiting for it."
Mark attended the event without his fiancée Michelle - who has been busy working on her new movie 'Strangeways Here We Come' - while the Essex star has been busy on a new children's presenting project, 'The Dengineers'.
After watching the F&F AW15 show, Mark admitted he loved the clothes being modelled.
Mark said: "I was just saying to the guys, I'm actually quite surprised at the collection. It's really great and I'd wear a lot of what I saw today. I think it's amazing the way they layered things up and styled all the looks, it looks really high end."
"I tend to buy a lot of high street really, probably my biggest spurge I think I ever did was a leather jacket. I'm not really a big spender though when it comes to clothes.
"Obviously now I'm just really excited to get married and I'm kind of sick of waiting for it."
TV
'Emmerdale' star Kelvin Fletcher would like his character Andy Sugden to be with someone "prettier" than Katie.
The farmer has been seen trying to come to terms with his grief since his wife was murdered by his brother Robert, but the 31-year-old actor thinks it's time his alter ego moved on and he was joked he wants his next romance to be with a "prettier" member of cast than Sammy Winward, who played Katie.
Kelvin told Inside Soap: "It's hard to picture [Andy] with anybody else after everything that happened with Katie. He literally went from 'couldn't have been any happier' to a broken man, so to picture him with somebody else is quite tricky. I'd probably get in trouble if I said I'd like to go with one of the prettier cast, so I'd better not say too much!"
Despite his quip, Kelvin admits he misses working with Sammy as she "always had a smile on her face" on set.
Kelvin said: "I miss her enthusiasm and commitment. It's infectious, and when someone enjoyed work as much as she did, it spurs you on. Sammy always had a smile on her face. We keep in touch, and I think she's enjoying having her life again. Sometimes these big storylines can take up quite a bit of it!"
Kelvin Fletcher wants new Emmerdale romance
'Emmerdale' star Kelvin Fletcher would like his character Andy Sugden to be with someone "prettier" than Katie.
The farmer has been seen trying to come to terms with his grief since his wife was murdered by his brother Robert, but the 31-year-old actor thinks it's time his alter ego moved on and he was joked he wants his next romance to be with a "prettier" member of cast than Sammy Winward, who played Katie.
Kelvin told Inside Soap: "It's hard to picture [Andy] with anybody else after everything that happened with Katie. He literally went from 'couldn't have been any happier' to a broken man, so to picture him with somebody else is quite tricky. I'd probably get in trouble if I said I'd like to go with one of the prettier cast, so I'd better not say too much!"
Despite his quip, Kelvin admits he misses working with Sammy as she "always had a smile on her face" on set.
Kelvin said: "I miss her enthusiasm and commitment. It's infectious, and when someone enjoyed work as much as she did, it spurs you on. Sammy always had a smile on her face. We keep in touch, and I think she's enjoying having her life again. Sometimes these big storylines can take up quite a bit of it!"