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Olly Murs snubbed X Factor judging role


Olly Murs turned down an 'X Factor' judging role.
The 'Dear Darlin'' hitmaker has admitted he snubbed an offer to appear on Simon Cowell's talent show because he didn't want to take on a project that could "distract" from his own music career.
He told The Sun newspaper: "It was true - it was massively tough, but it didn't feel right at the moment. To go the whole circle with 'The X Factor' would have been amazing.
"I think I'd be really good for the contestants, too. But I didn't want to distract from where I was musically.
"It was an appealing offer to sit next to [Cheryl Fernandez-Versini] - I could have stopped her from marrying [Jean-Bernard]."
The singer has experience on the show before - having previously hosted 'The Xtra Factor' in 2011, as well as being a runner-up in 2009 - and he admitted while it was stressful enough, he isn't ruling out a future appearance as a judge.
He added: "When I was presenting 'The Xtra Factor' I was burnt out.
"I can only imagine what it would be like being a judge on 'X Factor' and having a career at the same time ... We'll see what happens.
"I've always said I'd love to do it. It would depend on Simon and where the show goes. Having Simon back is amazing. He's the main cog in this machine."

Darcey Bussell has ‘soft spot’ for Strictly Come Dancing contestants


'Strictly Come Dancing' star Darcey Bussell admits she will have a "soft spot" for some of this year's contestants.
The 45-year-old judge has said she is delighted with the diverse line-up for the current series, and explained it is down to a mix of "very strong personalities" and "beautiful" stars.
She told the Daily Express newspaper's Saturday magazine: "There are some very strong personalities this year, which I really enjoy.
"There are also some very beautiful people! Will I have a soft spot for any? Of course!"
Darcey insisted the dance competition gets more difficult for the celebrities every year because the bar is raised each series, but she has confidence in the competitors.
She added: "Every year it gets tougher for the celebrities because of what you have seen in the past series.
"But all of this year's celebrities can do something, which is a massive bonus. When you already have that, it's then about believing in yourself."
She also discussed the pressure the stars are under, and admitted she tries to be "sensitive" to their nerves.
She said "I am still incredibly sensitive to the contestants' nerves. They are literally shaking in their shoes in those first few weeks and you do sense that.
"You just want them to remember the advice you give them, so that their confidence comes out the following week."

Emmerdale to be rocked by new family


'Emmerdale' is set to be rocked by a new family.
Emmerdale's Home Farm is to be bought by the White family, with John Bowe taking on the role of the wealthy Lawrence White while newcomer Louise Marwood will play his daughter Chrissie White and Thomas Atkinson her 14-year-old son Lachlan in the ITV soap.
John Bowe - who has previously starred in 'Silent Witness', 'DCI Banks' and 'Coronation Street' - said of his new role: "I am delighted to be joining the cast of Emmerdale ... It is now fantastic to have been given the keys to Home Farm. I can't wait to stir things up..."
The White family will make their debut when Chrissie shows up at an open house at Home Farm and is rudely spoken to by feisty Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler), who is soon left speechless when Chrissie's fiance and former villager Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) - who previously had an affair with brother Andy's (Kelvin Fletcher) wife Katie (Sammy Winward) - turns up to view the home with his wife-to-be.
Lawrence will then arrive to inspect the property and after realising Ryan - whom he doesn't deem good enough for his daughter - is reluctant to return to the village, he promptly puts in an offer.
Series Producer Kate Oates said of the new arrivals: "Home Farm has always been the seat of power in Emmerdale. In Lawrence, we have a family man, with serious status and complex history.
"Robert's going to have to prove himself worthy - not just of the big House on the Hill, but of Lawrence's daughter, Chrissie. But will the ghosts of his past hold him back?"

Celia Sawyer wants to design home for Jack Nicholson


Celia Sawyer wants to design a home for Jack Nicholson.
The 'Four Rooms' star - who is a businesswoman, interior designer and art dealer both through television shows and her own companies - has revealed she'd love to work on the Hollywood legend's home.
She exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I think he's funny. I think he would be quite quirky and quite interesting to design for.
"Although, sometimes I have found people with those kinds of characters tend to have a very basic home. They don't tend to be like you'd imagine so I'd be quite intrigued to know what he would be like and what his home would be like."
The 38-year-old claims, however, that despite working with a number of celebrities on the interiors of their homes, she never finds herself in awe of them and maintains a strictly professional attitude.
She added: "I don't get starstruck. I'll tell you why - I do a lot of celebrities, high-network business people ... I've got quite used to working with that level of people that they're just like normal people to me and they're all quite lovely."
Celia's new show 'Your Home in Their Hands' - which sees two desperate homes put in the hands of amateur interior designers - airs on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One.

Ripper Street returns next month


'Ripper Street' is set to return next month on Amazon Prime after being axed from the BBC earlier this year.
The Victorian crime drama is to air its third series exclusively on Amazon Prime starting this November before being broadcast on BBC One and BBC America in 2015 after fans petitioned for its return.
Characters including Detective Inspector Reid (Matthew Macfadyen), Detective Inspector Drake (Jerome Flynn), Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg) and Long Susan (MyAnna Buring) are all set to return.
Matthew said: "[I'm] delighted and excited to be back for a third series of Ripper. Thank you to Amazon, thank you to our fans who wanted more, and thank you to our wonderful writers and producers for giving us the most thoroughly brilliant, gripping and heart-rending opening episodes."
The upcoming third series will be released from 9pm every Friday starting on November 14 and is available to all Amazon Prime Instant Video members, who will also be able to enjoy a special extended "Amazon cut" of all eight episodes which include exclusive scenes which won't be seen on the BBC.
The action kicks off with a double bill and the series - which follows the lives of men and women living in crime-ridden 19th Century Whitechapel in east London - will come to a close with an explosive finale on Boxing Day.
Jerome added of the upcoming drama: "It is brilliant to be coming back ... There are many great stories and twists and turns for all the characters. The Drake we meet in episode one has certainly been on a journey since viewers last saw him."

Chloe Sims reignites Ferne McCann feud


Chloe Sims says her relationship with Ferne McCann is "going nowhere".
The glamorous television personality has admitted that she is no longer on speaking terms with her 'The Only Way Is Essex' co-star, who is currently dating her brother Charlie Sims.
Speaking about her relationship with Ferne on ITV's 'This Morning' earlier today (03.10.91), Chloe vented: "We are nowhere. We are way past nowhere now.
"I'm done. I've got nothing else to say about her. This series I just want to concentrate on happy stuff and Charlie is happy and I want to let them get on with it and not be provoked by Ferne."
Charlie - who had joined his sister on the 'This Morning' sofa - confirmed that his relationship was "definitely on" before adding that he was "sick and tired of playing happy families" and wants to concentrate on the new series instead of focusing on the drama between his girlfriend and sibling.
He said: "Do you know what? I'm just sick and tired of playing happy families all the time, I don't really want to keep going down the same road.
"I always find when you try and fix things together you always force it and it never really works, and we've done it so many times that sometimes you've just got to give things a little bit of time."

Danny Dyer set to sign new EastEnders contract


Danny Dyer is set to sign a new three-year deal with 'EastEnders'.
The new contract for the 36-year-old actor - who plays Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter on the popular BBC One soap - is thought to be worth an estimated £400,000.
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, who produces 'EastEnders', explained to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "We're in negotiations with Danny. He and I are very happy. He's lovely - clever, warm and loyal. We've got a bit of a bromance."
Danny, who's also appeared in 'The Football Factory' and 'Adulthood', was named Best Actor at the Inside Soap Awards earlier this week.
And speaking after the event, the London-born star said he finds filming 'EastEnders' to be hard work, but a challenge he's really enjoying.
He commented: "I've done 155 episodes now, I'm shattered, but a good shattered. It could have been a car crash and I think there were a lot of people who were hoping that it would be."
Meanwhile, Danny was recently reduced to tears when he watched his daughter - Dani - pose for photographers at the screening of her new film, crime drama 'We Still Kill The Old Way'.
Speaking at the event, Danny said: "She's a chip off the old block, but she's just done her first lead role and she didn't ask her dad for one bit of advice through the whole thing."

Caroline Flack ‘intimate’ with Strictly Come Dancing partner


Caroline Flack feels "intimate" with her 'Strictly Come Dancing' partner, Pasha Kovalev.
The former 'Xtra Factor' host has been speaking about her relationship with the professional dancer and revealed she's surprised by how close they've become in such a short space of time while training for the BBC One dance contest.
She said: "It's funny how intimate it becomes though, like quickly.
"You don't know this person and then you are doing the tango and you have your thigh between their thighs all day."
However, Caroline - who is dating music manager Jack Street - insists there are no romantic feelings between her and Pasha, 34, who is dating his celebrity partner from last year's series, 'Countdown' beauty Rachel Riley.
The 34-year-old beauty also rubbished claims she's taking part in Strictly to get back at ITV rivals 'The X Factor' after her 'Xtra Factor' job was given to her pal Sarah-Jane Crawford, 29, earlier this year.
Speaking on 'Alan Carr: Chatty Man', she's reported by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: "People have said I have done it on purpose, I have gone to the rival.
"I watch 'The X Factor' on catch up. I don't see it like that. The job I was doing was no longer mine and Strictly came up at the right time and it was good timing.
"I had three brilliant years on X Factor but this year is really good."

Downton Abbey release Christmas album


'Downton Abbey' are planning to release a Christmas album.
The cast of the popular ITV period drama are said to be planning to produce a festive record just in time for Christmas, The Sun newspaper reports.
The project - which is titled 'Christmas at Downton Abbey' - has been backed by classical music label, Rhino, and will feature the vocal talents of Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham.
It is uncertain, however, whether any of the other stars of the show, such as Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville or Dame Maggie Smith will be joining Elizabeth in the recording studio.
The ITV show has previously released an album which showcased original classical music from the composer John Lunn, but this will be the first featuring vocals from the cast themselves.
Meanwhile, Hollywood star George Clooney is set to make an appearance in the upcoming 'Downton Abbey' Text Santa charity appeal.
Downton creator Julian Fellowes said of the cameo: "He very, very, very kindly agreed to come and be a part of a little special we did that supports the ITV group of charities.
"It was a great privilege and pleasure to have him on the set, and he was very sweet to do it."

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