TV

Juliette Kaplan is to join the cast of 'Coronation Street'.
The actress has revealed she will make her debut in the ITV soap for a run of at least eight episodes as Beth Tinker's grandma, Agnes.
She took to her blog to share the happy news, writing: "THEN it got better when I was asked to audition for CORONATION STREET!!!! I got the part -YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!
"I got 4 episodes which then turned into 7 and last week I got another script so I'm doing 8 in total - so far.......
"So, on January 5th I make my debut in Corrie as AGNES, Beth's grandma. (sic)"
The former 'Last of the Summer Wine' star asked her fans to keep their "fingers crossed" that she'd appear in more episodes, also joking that she'd be "hung, drawn and quartered" if she revealed any details about the plot.
She continued: "All of you keep your fingers crossed that I get written in regularly.
"No, I'm not telling you the plot - I'd get hung drawn and quartered!"
Juliette - whose character will arrive in time for Beth (played by Lisa George) and Kirk Sutherland's (Andy Whyment) marriage - was full of praise for her new co-stars.
She added: "What surprised me was how friendly they all are and how welcome I was made to feel.
"If you watch it never mind the characters they play just know they're a great bunch of really lovely people who work terribly hard all the time."

Ben Haenow wants to be like Pharrell Williams.
The 29-year-old 'X Factor' winner - who scored his first number one last week with a cover of One Republic's 'Something I Need' - has revealed that he hopes to look as good as the 'Happy' hitmaker when he turns 40.
When asked if he was too old to be a pop star, he said: "Ha, imagine if they stopped me signing my contract? I don't think age means much any more.
"Pharrell is 40 and he doesn't look a day over 20, I want what he's having."
Ben - who beat Fleur East, 26, to the crown - has revealed that the show's boss, Simon Cowell, is letting him make his own decisions.
He explained: "Simon is happy for me to have a lot of input.
"One idea is to have a band, me with a bunch of permanent musicians together."
Meanwhile, Ben has revealed that whilst his Christmas celebrations will be different this year, he won't be splashing out as he hasn't earned any money yet.
He told the Daily Star newspaper's Off the Record column: "I was doing my normal 9 to 5 job, driving around in me van with a bit of tinsel wrapped around it. Things couldn't be more different this year - I feel like all my Christmases have come at once.
"I don't get any money whatsoever from my single because it's for charity. For now it's normal time spent with the family, which will be enough of a gift."

Mark Wright has found himself at the centre of a bidding war between ITV and BBC.
The former 'The Only Way Is Essex' star - who has hosted and starred on a number of shows for ITV since finding fame on the ITV2 reality series in 2010 - has revealed he has also entered into negotiations with rivals BBC after his stint on their dance competition 'Strictly Come Dancing' this year.
Mark - who also presents 'The Gossip', the ITV2 spin-off show of dating series 'Take Me Out' - told TV Biz: "I have just filmed Take Me Out, which will run for ten weeks, and I have meetings about projects from a few channels, including ITV and BBC."
Mark also announced plans to front a serious documentary about abuse in care homes - a topic close to his heart.
He said: "I want to make a documentary about abuse in care homes.
"My uncle was put in a care home about six months ago, so it is personal for me.
"I was really upset by seeing the stories about abuse and although my uncle is fine and nothing like that has happened to him, it made me want to do a documentary."
ITV bosses are hoping the 27-year-old star - who is engaged to former 'Coronation Street' actress Michelle Keegan - will stay "loyal" to the channel.
A source said: "ITV have been good to Mark. They will hope he stays loyal."
However, the insider added that Mark's change in direction may be better suited to another channel.
They explained: "That said, if he wants to start making more serious programmes they may be a better fit on another channel."

Kimberly Wyatt found 'The Jump' to be the "hardest thing I've ever done".
The former Pussycat Dolls star appeared in the first series of the Channel 4 reality TV show and she's warned her former band-mate Ashley Roberts and JLS singer JB Gill to expect a stern test when they appear on the show in 2015.
The 32-year-old beauty - who gave birth to a baby girl called Willow on December 2 - revealed: "They've been asking me for advice and I've told them it is the hardest thing that I've ever done - much harder than it looks on TV. But I loved it. It was such a challenge."
With the second series of the show set to begin in January, Kimberly has been reflecting on the dramatic changes in her life over the last 12 months.
The singer, who got married to model Max Rogers in February, told HELLO! magazine: "I remember last year [TV presenter and co-competitor] Laura Hamilton had given birth only a few weeks before the show and I was holding her tiny baby. And now I'm holding mine and she's pregnant again.
"I could never have imagined that in the time I was in the show to now, just how much our lives could change. We've got married, moved into a new house and have our little girl.
"JB is the same - he married Chloe and they had baby Ace. We keep joking about Ace and Willow's arranged marriage, so I can't wait for them to meet."

Alan Carr's mum wants a Fabergé egg for Christmas because she thinks he earns "£20 million a year".
The 38-year-old comedian is expecting his mother to be disappointed when she opens her gift because media speculation about his wage means she thinks he can afford much better presents than he gives.
When asked if he was planning on giving any special gifts, he said: "Well, the trouble now is the papers reporting how much comedians earn, which is so inflated, so my mum's getting a bit above her station. She's after Fabergé eggs and mink coats. She says, 'You earn £20 million a year, I read it in the paper.'"
However, the host of 'Alan Carr: Chatty Man' insisted he doesn't earn as much as people think, because if he did, he would be on holiday and not still living in the UK.
He continued: "Trust me, Mum, no I f***ing don't. And if I did, I wouldn't be spending it on you, I'd be off on a yacht."
Speaking about his own favourite present, the talk show host and radio personality admitted it hasn't been anything as lavish as one of the expensive jeweled decorations which his mum desires, and was actually his pet pooch, given to him by his partner.
He added to Notebook magazine: "Paul got me a dog, Joyce, for Christmas. That was the best. I know you're not supposed to get dogs for Christmas but I love her to bits."

Rochelle Humes is the "biggest child" at Christmas.
The 25-year-old television presenter loves the festive holidays more than her daughter, Alaia May, according to her husband and the 19-month-old's father, Marvin Humes.
He revealed: "Rochelle is like the biggest child at Christmas and decorates the house like Santa's grotto.
"We've three Christmas trees and a Father Christmas that goes 'ho, ho, ho' when my little girl goes up to him. It's quite cute."
Marvin - who married The Saturdays singer in July 2012 - also revealed that he's looking forward to jetting off on holiday for some family time.
He told the Daily Mirror's 3am column: "We always go away on holiday just after Christmas and we are looking forward to spending some family time with our little Alaia."
Meanwhile, Marvin, 29, recently revealed that he'll be cooking breakfast for the family on Christmas Day.
He previously said: "Now we've got Alaia, we're up early. It used to be a lie-in on Christmas Day but now we're up early with the little one opening presents. I'm on breakfast duty - that's my job.
"And then we get ready for family and friends to come over for a massive game of Monopoly. Me, my dad and brothers - we're not friends when the Monopoly board's on the table."

'Downton Abbey' may be made into a movie.
The show's cast has revealed there is a "definite possibility" that the hit ITV drama will be heading for the big screen.
Raquel Cassidy explained: "There have been talks and there is definitely a possibility of a 'Downton' film.
"There is real hope. It's been mentioned more than once and there's a lot of commercial and artistic interest. Stranger things have happened, so watch this space."
Meanwhile, Raquel - who plays housemaid Phyllis Baxter in the period drama - has admitted that Maggie Smith, who stars as Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley, can be "intimidating" to work with.
The 46-year-old actress revealed to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "[Maggie] is a genuine grand dame of the industry and doesn't suffer fools gladly. She can't stand people who approach her all nervous and intimidated - that ­immediately gets her back up.
"She wants you to operate on her level or not at all. Then again, if you're like that she probably won't even notice you.
"At the same time she's very talented and also game for a laugh if she thinks you're worth it. She's intimidating if you're easily frightened. Actors need a thick skin - especially in the presence of ­somebody as iconic as her."

Ricky Gervais is likely to make his last appearance in 'Derek' tonight.
The 53-year-old comedian - who writes, directs and stars as the title role in the Channel 4 comedy - has revealed that tonight's (22.12.14) Christmas special is likely to be his last outing as the popular character.
He said: "I think it's the end but never say never."
Admitting that he considered a third series, he added: "I was really tempted to do a third series of this for lots of reasons.
"I loved the atmosphere, I loved the working environment, it's probably the best ever. We had so much fun on it. I will miss the set and the filming and all the cast and the crew more than I did with 'The Office' and 'Extras'. It was like having loads of grans and grandads around.
"And I love being the character more than any other acting role. I don't know why, because it's the first hero I've played. It's just nice to be Derek, the world is nicer when you're Derek. It's all positive and he says all the things he likes.
"It was sad that it's the end but you should always go out on a high."
Meanwhile, Ricky has promised viewers that tonight's (22.12.14) episode will bring tears of happiness.
He told The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column: "It ends just right. It's the most dramatic but also the most uplifting episode. I do like a happy ending. Whatever people have wished or hoped for throughout the series, I think they get a taste of that ...
"There's no devastatingly traumatic ugly crying. A little lump in the throat maybe but then it ends on a funny line. I really think it's a lovely, sweet, uplifting hour of Christmas telly."

Caroline Flack's heartbreak inspired her win on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The 35-year-old television presenter - who recently split from Jack Street - has admitted that she put all the pain she felt into her performance on the BBC One show's final.
She said: "I think it might have been a whole year's worth of emotions put into a minute and a half of showdance.
"That felt really nice. It's amazing to end it on a high like this. It's been an interesting year but it's been very testing in a lot of ways.
"It's the way you handle things sometimes that makes you feel stronger in yourself and if you handle them right then you come out feeling good."
Caroline - who previously presented the 'Xtra Factor' - credited her dance partner, Pasha Kovalev, for helping her get back on her feet again.
She explained: "I believe in myself a lot more. I feel a lot more confident. Pasha's changed me more than 'Strictly'.
"I'm such a worrier about everything and he's the opposite. So he rationalises a lot of things that I think and worry about. He levels out my thoughts for me."
The 34-year-old professional dancer - who is dating Rachel Riley after partnering up with her on the show's previous series - admitted Caroline's performance in the final moved him.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I was moved the most about how Caroline danced in this final. It was just unbelievable.
"When you can sink that much into the dance it just gives me chills. The feeling you cannot describe.
"I was dancing with her and looking at her and she was there and nothing else existed. That was the most amazing feeling."