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Russell Tovey: Watching TOWIE is great research


Russell Tovey claims watching 'The Only Way Is Essex' is great "research".
The 33-year-old actor is "obsessed" with the reality show and thinks watching moments of "raw emotion" between the stars provide great material for his work.
He said: "I am obsessed with 'TOWIE'. I love it.
"I think Dani Armstrong is a sweetheart who has had a bad time. There was a scene the other night where she was talking to Ferne [McCann] about losing her baby - that was a genuine moment caught on camera.
"That's why I love the show so much.
"As an actor, in a weird way, it's research. It's raw emotion that can't be faked.
"Those moments are superb, which is why I'm obsessed with it."
Despite his own fame, the 'Looking' star gets "star-struck" when he sees the 'TOWIE' cast.
He told heat magazine: "'Being Human' was nominated for BAFTA the year 'TOWIE' won one so I was there that night.
"I remember when they won I stood up and cheered and I was the only one who did. Then they walked past me and ignored me and I was gutted.
"I get star-struck when I see them.
"I saw Harry Derbidge recently in a club and kissed him hello, then later he said on Twitter that he met me.
"And I met Lydia Bright once and she said she was following me on Twitter and it was like the best day of my life."

Michelle Heaton to partner Anton du Beke on Strictly?


Michelle Heaton wants to partner Anton du Beke into the 'Strictly Come Dancing' final.
The 35-year-old star has confessed she is keen to appear on the BBC One ballroom dance show and would love to partner the professional dancer, 48, as she wants to see him go far in the competition.
She exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I would love to do something like 'Strictly' or if 'Dancing On Ice' ever came back. Something that you learnt a craft with, it would be amazing.
"I'd quite like Anton du Beke. I think he's really underrated. I think he's so good and I'd love him to have a partner one year that gets him to the final.
"I was never a dancer per say, I never did dancing as a thing."
However, the brunette beauty added she would never appear on ITV reality show 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' as she fears she wouldn't cope well with sleeping rough in the Australian jungle.
She said: "I don't think I would do I'm a Celeb no I think it would expose me to be a massive wuss when it comes to sleeping rough and getting all dirty. I wouldn't subject anybody to that."
Michelle recently helped launch the Year of the Penguins at Chessington World of Adventures and dressed up along with 500 other guests on Sunday (15.03.15) to break the World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as the animal.
She said: "Chessington World of Adventures Resort is one of our favourite places to go to spend time together as a family, so being part of setting the world record at the Year of the Penguins launch is exciting and I'm pleased to see so many families getting involved and having a good time.
"I wasn't quite dressed as a penguin. I managed to get away with wearing a penguin poncho. There were about 500 people. We gave them a penguin poncho because it was raining. It was a really lovely day considering there was a bit of drizzle."

Olympia Valance teases ‘illegal’ Neighbours plot


Olympia Valance has promised "a lot of illegal stuff" is in store for her 'Neighbours' character Paige Smith.
The 22-year-old actress has revealed her character will find herself in a tricky situation in upcoming scenes in the soap resulting in her resorting to breaking the law, with the huge plot meaning she is rushed off her feet with filming.
Speaking about what's coming up for her character, she told BANG Showbiz: "A lot of illegal stuff.
"Paige is getting into some full on stuff, so it will be fun. There's a lot of storylines coming up so it'll be exciting. I'm doing six until six, 12 hour days."
However, while celebrating the show's 30th anniversary in London on Tuesday (17.03.15), the brunette beauty - who is the half sister of Holly Candy who previously featured in the show as Felicity Scully - revealed she sometimes wishes the family friendly soap was a bit more "filthy" like 'EastEnders' because it would be hilarious for the cast to have the opportunities to push boundaries.
Despite having only seen a "couple of episodes" of the BBC One soap, she said it, "actually seems like a show I'd want to watch because it's filthy and dirty and I love it."
She continued: "We always joke on 'Neighbours' that we'd love it to be an M rating - I don't know if you have ratings here - but we're a G rating, so to go up like two ratings where we could swear and be filthy. It would be fun if we could go all out."
'Neighbours' turns 30 today (18.03.15), and airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

James Nesbitt serenaded Babylon cast


James Nesbitt entertained the cast of 'Babylon' "on every occasion possible".
The 50-year-old actor's director John S. Baird has revealed the Northern Irish star kept his co-stars from getting bored during breaks on the set of the British comedy/drama by singing Boys' Brigade songs, and it led to the pair forming a great friendship.
John exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I rate James very highly, I would say me and James have become very good friends since doing 'Babylon'.
"We had quite a similar upbringing and funnily enough we were both in The Boys' Brigade when we were younger and we found out coincidentally.
"You get bored on set when they're taking a while and James had been, as usual, entertaining the crew on every occasion possible.
"He was marching around his office and singing these Boys' Brigade tunes and nobody knew what he was going on about ... it's not that common anymore ... and I started joining in with some of the songs and we really clicked.
"I've kept in contact with him probably more than anyone else in the show so I hope to work with him again."
The 'Filth' director admits she tries to be a "big brother or uncle" figure to actors and actresses when he is helming a TV series or a movie because he thinks stars would "lose all respect" for him if he ever adopted a hard-line approach.
He added: "I have a really good relationship with the actors on set, I really do. I try to be as much help as possible.
"You've almost got to be a big brother or an uncle, a paternal guiding figure, when it comes to directing. You've got to look after them and I really like that dynamic.
"You just can't have a hard-line approach. Maybe if you did it then it would last for a day and they would lose all respect for you."
'Babylon' is out now on Blu-Ray and DVD courtesy of Entertainment One.

Cate Blanchett wants Downton Abbey role


Cate Blanchett wants to appear in 'Downton Abbey'.
The 'Blue Jasmine' star - who is currently starring alongside the ITV period drama's Lily James and Sophie McShera in 'Cinderella' - has revealed she's been in touch with the producers about a part in the show.
She told ITV's 'Lorraine': "I did have words and I followed up with my agent, no call has yet been received - but I'm seeing the girls again today, so I'll get them to put a good word in."
The 45-year-old actress plays the wicked Stepmother to Lily James' Cinderella while Sophie plays her daughter Drizella in the upcoming adaptation of the Disney classic.
Meanwhile, Cate's fellow Hollywood star George Clooney recently made a cameo appearance in a special 'Downton' charity sketch.
Other actors who have made appearances in the popular drama include Richard E. Grant, Paul Giamatti and Shirley Maclaine.
However, Cate's hopes of starring in the show may be shot down as the upcoming sixth series will reportedly be the last ever but creator and writer Julian Fellowes has revealed he has no say in when the show comes to an end.
He said previously: "It's not really my decision. I don't own 'Downton Abbey' now.
"NBC Universal [which owns Carnival Films] owns 'Downton Abbey. So I could walk away. But I wouldn't walk away. It's too much my baby."

Catherine Tyldesley has given birth to baby boy


Catherine Tyldesley has given birth to her first child.
The 'Coronation Street' actress has welcomed her and her fiance Tom Pitfield's little boy into the world and they've also announced that they've decided to name him Alfie.
She wrote on Twitter: "We made a wish and you came true. Welcome Alfie James Pitfield. We love you beyond words @TP_PTfitness #Besotted. (sic)"
Tom added: "Welcome to the world Son. Alfie James Pitfield. @Cath_Tyldesley you made the happiest man in the world. Thank you x (sic)."
The 31-year-old star announced she and Tom were expecting their first child together last August, less than a year since they first go together.
The personal trainer then asked the blonde beauty to marry him just a week later.
Meanwhile, Catherine recently confessed she was looking forward to giving birth to her first child as she was tired of being pregnant.
She said previously: "When you're halfway through you feel like nine months is such a long time, but now it's really close I'm actually excited about going into labour. I'm so impatient and that's when I'll know he's on his way."
The soap star, who plays Eva Price in 'Corrie', also claimed she was planning to use hypnobirthing, where the fear and tension associated with going into labour is diminished or eliminated with hypnotherapy, to help welcome her son into the world instead of drugs.
She added: "I got into meditation a while ago ... A few of my friends told me to look into hypnobirthing because it made sense with the meditating - the more relaxed you are, the calmer the baby will be."


Dragons’ Den announces new line-up


Three new entrepreneurs are joining 'Dragons' Den'.
Nick Jenkins, Sarah Willingham and Touker Suleyman will join existing Dragons Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones on the upcoming 13th series of the BBC show, which sees budding entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas in a bid to receive investments.
Nick is the founder of the online greeting card website Moonpig.com which he sold to the company to Photobox.com for £120 million in 2011.
He said: "I am very excited about joining Dragons' Den and using my experience to back some great new businesses and help them through the turbulent first years."
Touker - who owns fashion brands Hawes & Curtis and Ghost - has 40 years worth of retail and manufacturing experience to bring to the panel and can't wait to see what opportunities he'll be presented with.
He shared: "It is a privilege to join the panel of Dragons' Den and support the next generation of UK entrepreneurs. Dreams and big ideas are plentiful, but few people have the courage to realise their ambitions. I want to support those people with the guts to pursue their dreams and provide the financial backing, opportunities and support that will ease their path to success."
Meanwhile, Sarah- who began working in the food and drink industry at just 13 years of age - owns the restaurant chain The Bombay Bicycle Club and is the co-founder of The London Cocktail Club.
She said: "I can't wait to meet some more brilliant people with brilliant businesses to invest in and support. I've been at the coalface with every business I've ever launched and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty and do what it takes to help small businesses grow."
The new additions come after former Dragons Kelly Hoppen, Piers Linney and Duncan Bannatyne decided to quit the show after the 12th series.

Richard Hammond shoots friend’s peacock


Richard Hammond shot dead his friend's peacock.
The 'Top Gear' presenter was reportedly left mortified after he accidentally killed the bird while shooting pheasant on a friend's estate.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Richard was incredibly embarrassed. He loves shooting and often goes out on the estate neighbouring his grounds.
"The guy who owns the estate also owns peacocks. One flew out and Richard just reacted. He was hugely apologetic."
Richard - who lives in a £2 million six-bedroom castle in Herefordshire - isn't the only 'Top Gear' presenter to come under fire recently.
His co-star Jeremy Clarkson is currently under investigation over claims he punched one of the producers on the BBC One driving series.
However, while upcoming episodes of the show have since been cancelled, the 53-year-old host will be returning to the channel to front the upcoming series of 'Have I Got News For You'.
A source said: "Jeremy Clarkson is returning to the BBC despite his Top Gear suspension - fronting Have I Got News For You."

Stefan Dennis wants Neighbours romance


Stefan Dennis wants an on-screen romance in 'Neighbours'.
The veteran soap star's character, Paul Robinson, hasn't had a partner on the show since he split from wife Rebecca Napier in 2010, and now believes it's time for the businessman to start dating again.
Speaking at the 'Neighbours' 30th anniversary party at Cafe de Paris in London, he told BANG Showbiz: "I think it's time for Paul to have another long-term romance, and that's always a good, fun storyline because it takes you everywhere, particularly with a character like Paul and the women he's attracted to. It's all about clash."
The dastardly mayor of Erinsborough has had several wives on the show during his 30 years in the role, including Lyn Scully and Gail Lewis, but is hoping his next romantic interest will be a Hollywood star instead.
When asked who his top choice of actress to play Paul's next girlfriend is, he said: "Charlize Theron. Can we go out to her please? We'll have to have a word with the producers! That would rock."
And after three decades on the Australian soap, Stefan, 56, insists he has no plans to slow down and will stay on the show as long as he continues to be part of exciting plotlines.
He added: "As long as they keep paying me, as long as they keep giving me good storylines, I'll keep doing it."
Neighbours turns 30 today (18.03.15). Neighbours airs weekdays 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

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