Friday, May 1, 2026

Hot Chocolate co‑founder and You Sexy Thing co‑writer dead at 78

Tony Wilson, the bassist, songwriter and co‑founder of Hot Chocolate, has died at the age of 78. His...
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Lucy Mecklenburgh and Gethin Jones split


Lucy Mecklenburgh and Gethin Jones have split up.
The former 'The Only Way Is Essex' star and the 36-year-old TV presenter - who was previously engaged to Katherine Jenkins - were rumoured to be dating earlier this year but she's now spoken out to reveal they're no longer seeing one another due to their busy schedules.
She said: "We're not dating. We went out a few times a while ago but it was bad timing for both of us.
"I was so busy after 'Tumble' and he travels a lot, so it wasn't the best time."
However, 23-year-old Lucy - who competed on the BBC show with professional gymnast partner Billy George - insists they parted on good terms.
She continued: "[We're in touch] as friends. He's the nicest guy. It was a mutual thing."
Meanwhile, the brunette beauty - who previously dated co-stars Mario Falcone and Mark Wright - claims she isn't on the lookout for a boyfriend at the moment as she's too busy focusing on her career after quitting TOWIE earlier this year.
She added to new! magazine: "I haven't really got time! I've been single for two years and I have so much I want to do. I'm enjoying my life the way it is."

Crawleys threatened by secret in Downton Abbey Christmas special


The Crawley's holiday will be haunted by a secret in the 'Downton Abbey' Christmas special.
The two-hour long episode of the ITV period drama - which follows on from the dramatic fifth series - picks up with the family in autumn 1924 during grouse shooting season and will see their family break troubled by the threat of a "scandalous secret".
The drama kicks off when the Crawleys are invited to a party hosted by Rose's (Lily James) new father-in-law Lord Sinderby (James Faulkner) at Brancaster Castle in Northumberland, where the Sinderby's butler Stowell (Alun Armstrong) has an axe to grind.
The Christmas special will also see Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt) take "drastic measures" in a bid to clear her name as she faces "an uncertain future behind bars" back in London.
In addition to the return of Lily, Joanne and James, regulars Dame Maggie Smith (Dowager, Countess of Grantham), Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley) and Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Crawley) will also feature in the upcoming episode.
Meanwhile, a number of new faces including 'New Tricks' actor Alun and Jane Lapotaire, who will take on the role of Kurgin's wife Princess Irina, are also set to appear.

Michael Buerk wants jungle exit


Michael Buerk is reportedly on the verge of quitting 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'
The 68-year-old star entered the jungle over a week ago, but after struggling to connect with his fellow campmates he's reported to have told producers he "deeply regrets" agreeing to the show.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Just as things were settling down, now Michael wants to go. Frantic efforts are being made to persuade him to stay.
"He adds a certain gravitas to the camp atmosphere. He would be a huge loss."
If he does quit the ITV programme, the broadcasting legend - who was enticed to take part by the promise of a £120,000 fee - will be the third star to walk after 'The Only Way is Essex ' star Gemma Collins and 'Coronation Street' actor Craig Charles.
The star has befriended rapper Tinchy Stryder, 26, on the programme, but was heard moaning in yesterday's episode (24.11.14) because he feels like younger campmates need to look after him.
He said: "There are two or potentially three weeks ahead banged up with people you don't know. My thoughts were, 'I'm regretting this, why on earth did I agree to do it?'
"I feel like the younger campers have to take care of me. This is their world in a sense and not mine. They have got to take care of me, I need help. I am not helping them, they are helping me."
The show's producers are now believed to be in emergency talks to arrange for extra stars to be flown out to Australia to replace the news anchor, with Olympic diver Tom Daley and cricketer Freddie Flintoff both being rumoured.

Dame Judi Dench ‘loved’ her revealing costumes


Dame Judi Dench "loved" showing off her breasts in 'Esio Trot'.
The 79-year-old actress plays Mrs. Silver in the BBC One adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic alongside Dustin Hoffman, and Dame Judi has admitted to "loving" her character's racy wardrobe.
She said: "I loved my costumes, they are very unlike me. I was offered one of these dresses to take with me but it hangs in my wardrobe and I think, 'Where am I ever going to wear that?' "
However, Dame Judi told The Sun newspaper she's been donning low cut dresses for over six decades.
She joked: "I have showed my cleavage for 60 years nearly! Is it very low? It is because a lot of the shots are from above. [Mrs. Silver] gets on with what she has got and makes the best of it."
Meanwhile her 77-year-old co-star Dustin - who plays Mr. Hoppy in 'Esio Trot' - revealed his love for the veteran actress.
He told the newspaper: "I said to Judi, 'If I'd met you then, I wouldn't have let you get away.' "
Dustin wasn't as keen on starring alongside the 60 tortoises on set, however.
He added: "I had four days when I just filmed with tortoises. You have never smelled anything like it."

Steve Backshall wanted Anton du Beke as Strictly Come Dancing partner


Steve Backshall would've chosen Anton du Beke as his 'Strictly Come Dancing' partner.
The 'Deadly 60' host was voted off the BBC One celebrity dance contest on Sunday (23.11.14) after he and partner Ola Jordan lost the dance off to 'Casualty' actress Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole and he's now revealed he would've liked to have danced with Anton - who was paired with Judy Murray earlier in the competition - if he'd been given the choice.
He said: "You don't get a choice. I probably would have chosen Anton because he was the only person I knew."
The 41-year-old presenter claims he won't miss his gruelling dance training and performing in front of the nation as he found it more terrifying than tracking deadly animals for his day job.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I don't think I will get withdrawal symptoms, my passion is wildlife, the outdoors and adventure.
"The dancing was more frightening if I'm honest. It was so out of my comfort zone. I'd only been doing it for two months and I'm still not very good at it.
"I'm looking forward to going back to river kayaking. I'll be out climbing, I'll be going bird watching because that's who I am and that's what I've always done."
Speaking about rumours Ola had bullied him during training, Steve added: "You go through so much together as a couple and I know it's only dancing and only an entertainment show, but you genuinely put in so much work and so many hours.
"You don't want people thinking that it was absolute hell - that would be awful."

Kendra Wilkinson brands Edwina Currie a ‘heartless ass politician’


Kendra Wilkinson has branded Edwina Currie a "heartless ass politician".
The Playboy model and the former Conservative MP - who are starring on this year's series of 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' - became embroiled in a heated debate after Kendra shared her philosophy on life with fellow contestant Michael Buerk.
The reality TV star told the 68-year-old journalist: "You should never live your life for other people, ever."
Overhearing her comments, Edwina, 68, interrupted, and insisted the 29-year-old mother-of-two should put her kids first.
She said: "Count me out. I don't agree with you.
"You can't say you should never ever live your life for other people ever.
"Sometimes you have to make decisions that benefit others but put you at a disadvantage. You're a mother. I'm sorry, sometimes you put other people first."
The blonde beauty quickly became upset and launched into a foul-mouthed rant.
She said: "You're not seeing the heart of what we're saying. Shut the f**k up and get the f**k out of our conversation because you're not seeing the heart of it."
"Heartless ass politician. Shut the f**k up. She can't even see that I'm trying to be a good person here."
While contestants Jake Quickenden and Nadia Forde tried to restore peace to the camp, Edwina continued to push Kendra's buttons, saying: "Kendra, you can't dominate me so don't try. I'm allowed to disagree with everybody here.
"We're all free people, we live in a free society and we're allowed to disagree."
Earlier in the day, Kendra had also suffered a meltdown after discovering Edwina has accidentally taken a pair of her clean socks.

Simon Cowell to quit X Factor?


Simon Cowell has sparked speculation he is leaving 'The X Factor' again.
The 55-year-old music mogul - who left the talent show in 2011 to launch the programme in America - only returned this year but could be off at the end of the series because he has several US projects in the pipeline.
He said: "There's another show that I will be on in America -- a new one, which we've been working on for a few months.
"Next year we'll have a minimum of four shows on US networks."
Meanwhile, Simon said goodbye to another of his acts, Stevi Ritchie, at the weekend but with two of his Over 25s - Fleur East and Ben Haenow - down to the final five, he thinks either of them could win the show.
He told The Sun newspaper: "As long as Fleur and Ben are in there, we'll have a proper final -- where you just don't know who's gonna win.
"I love that idea."
However, one person Simon doesn't want to see in the final is Andrea Faustini, who competed with Stevi in the sing-off on Sunday (23.11.14).
Asked if he thinks Andrea - who is mentored by Mel B - should be in the final, he said: "No, because I think he's peaked. It's the same thing week after week."
And the judge - who has 10-month-old son Eric with girlfriend Lauren Silverman - wasn't impressed by the Italian's performance at the weekend.
He said: "I actually watched it back at home and didn't think he sounded great and I told Mel that, so she got the needle with me.
"So when he was in the bottom I was kind of gloating a little bit."

Jake Wood is missing his kids


Jake Wood is missing his children because he's training so hard on 'Strictly Come Dancing.
The 'EastEnders' star twerked his way to the top of the leaderboard last weekend with a near-perfect score of 38 for his samba, and although he is really enjoying the experience he has found it frustrating spending less time with his kids, Amber, nine, and Buster, six.
He said: "It's tough. I'm not seeing as much of the kids as I'd like, normally I'd do the school run a few times a week."
The 42-year-old actor - who has appeared as Max Branning in the BBC One soap since 2006 - began dancing on the competition in September, and has shown a great improvement to become one of the favourites to win the Glitterball Trophy, along with pop stars Pixie Lott and Frankie Bridge.
Despite the gruelling rehearsals and tough training, Jake is still loving working with his dance partner Janette Manrara and is very proud that his kids and wife Alison Wood are rooting for him ever week.
He gushed: "They've done a score board for me at home on the wall and have little tea parties when the show is on. It's just a real family experience, they are really proud of me."
The handsome actor is now looking forward to having a good break at Christmas when the dancing competition is over.
He said: "It's fine as there's a cut-off - we're focused on having a lovely family Christmas and shutting the door. I have a two-week break from 'EastEnders' too."

Charlie Higson writing Jekyll and Hyde drama


Charlie Higson is creating a new 'Jekyll and Hyde' drama for ITV.
The 'Fast Show' comic is to write a 10-part series for the broadcaster which will be inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Victorian era novella about kind-hearted Dr. Jekyll who becomes the monstrous Mr. Hyde after drinking a potion he has concocted.
Higson's story will be set in 1930s London and the main protagonist will be the character Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the doctor and he is very excited about revisiting such an iconic horror character.
The 56-year-old writer said: "It's an exciting challenge to take Stevenson's work and use it as the basis for a new 'Jekyll and Hyde'.
"So many superheroes with secret dual personalities have been brought to life thanks to 'Jekyll & Hyde'. He's one of literatures most important and influential characters and it's a privilege to be rediscovering him."
The plot will focus on Robert Jekyll's investigation into his past to try and discover his true identity and the reason for his "curse" which sees him transform into the evil Hyde when he becomes extremely angry or when a person is in mortal peril.
Higson's previous writing includes the 'Young Bond' novels - which explore the early life of British super-spy James Bond - and 'The Enemy' young adult book series. He has also adapted Norman Hunter's 'Professor Branestawm' children's books into a TV movie, 'The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm', which will be broadcast over Christmas on BBC One.
Shooting on the drama series is due to begin early next year and it is scheduled to be broadcast on ITV in 2016.

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