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Susanna Reid confirms split from partner


Susanna Reid has confirmed her separation from partner Dominic Cotton.
The 'BBC Breakfast' host has asked for "space and privacy" following her split from the father of her three children, Sam, 11, Finn, nine, and eight-year-old Jack.
A spokesperson for the TV star said: "Susanna Reid and Dominic Cotton have agreed to separate but remain good friends. The welfare of their children remains paramount for both of them at this time. Please respect their space and privacy."
News of the couple's separation after 15 years together first emerged last night (27.02.14) as Dominic, 46, posted a profile on a dating website, listing his relationship status as "recently separated".
His profile states: "Underneath my blokeish exterior I am a sensitive soul. I enjoy sharing things and am someone who doesn't shy away from commitment. Life is for living with someone special."
Former 'Strictly Come Dancing' star Susanna, 43, has been splitting her time between London and Salford, Greater Manchester, where she films 'BBC Breakfast'. Her gruelling schedule sees her make a 415-mile round trip between the two cities three times a week.
Susanna has recently been linked with a move to ITV to take over its morning show, 'Daybreak', which is set to be revamped under the title 'Good Morning Britain'.

BBC orders Lenny Henry biographical drama


BBC One has commissioned a one-off drama based on Lenny Henry's childhood.
The comedian will pen 'Danny and the Human Zoo', a fictionalised 90-minute special drawing on his own experiences as a young teenager growing up in 1970s Dudley with a dream of being a comic.
Lenny said in a statement: "I'm so excited about bringing my fictional teen memoir to the nation! I've crammed the first two years of a very long career into 90 minutes - it's gonna rock. I think, although it's not exactly what happened, that we'll get a strong sense of what it might have been like for a young black kid from Dudley to be suddenly hurled into the maelstrom of this business we call show. Can't wait!"
The story follows talented impressionist Danny Fearon, as well as his working class Jamaican family, as he finds his feet in the world of comedy.
Danny must not only juggle his burgeoning comedy career after winning a talent competition, but his home life, including his fiercely traditional mother, and his love life.
Producer Nicola Shindler of RED Production Company added: "I'm extremely excited to be making 'Danny and the Human Zoo' with Lenny, whose skill as a writer has been so impressive and assured. This is a funny, moving and important script about growing up as a black, comic talent in a white, crazy world - in the not too distant past."

Shayne Ward welcomes Simon Cowell’s X Factor return


Shayne Ward can't wait to hear Simon Cowell's critiques on 'The X Factor'.
The 29-year-old singer, who won the second series of the singing competition in 2005, is looking forward to the original judge returning to the show's panel this year - because of his unique, and often harsh, comments to pop wannabes.
He told BANG Showbiz: "We all, over the years ... we all wait for what Simon's gonna say because he loves [those] little lines he says. It's gonna be good!"
Shayne would also like to see former judge Cheryl Cole return to the panel, adding: "She'd be fantastic on the show. Obviously, she's won a show like that. She's great on the panel, she's won with her act on 'The X Factor', so it'd be nice to see her return as well."
Shayne is set to join the cast of 'Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds' later this year, playing the role of the Artilleryman.
Fellow 'X Factor' alumni Joseph Whelan is also in the stage musical and says Simon's brutal honesty will be a welcome return to the show's panel.
He added: "I reckon the ratings will shoot up again as soon as he's back on it. Everyone just seems to be too nice. He's got that sort of sobering honesty that sometimes can be devastating to people, but that's what the show's about and that's why people fell in love with the show in the first place."
'Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds' begins its final UK arena tour in November. Visit www.thewaroftheworlds.com for tickets.

Tinie Tempah didn’t watch The Voice


Tinie Tempah admits he didn't watch any episodes of 'The Voice' before appearing on the programme.
The 'Pass Out' rapper, who will help Sir Tom Jones coach his 12 chosen acts on the BBC show tomorrow night (01.03.14), didn't even known who was on the judging panel and was surprised to get the call.
He told The Sun newspaper: "To be honest with you, I hadn't really met Tom before.
"My manager called me and said, 'They want you to do it. Are you up for it?' and I said yes.
"He was on before me at V Festival one time and I met him before that and introduced myself to him, but not really so it was a lovely experience to hang with him."
Asked if he thinks he has more in common with the other judges, he struggled to name the new line-up after The Script's Danny O'Donoghue and Jessie J left last year.
He said: "Danny's not doing it any more? It's the Kaiser Chiefs? And Kylie now?
"So it's whatshisname, Tom from the Kaiser Chiefs? The other Tom ... Tom Jones, and who is the other one? will.i.am? Oh, sorry Ricky? My bad."
But Tinie, 25, eventually praised the judges - Kylie Minogue, will.i.am, Ricky Wilson, and 73-year-old Tom - who he says is still "alive and kicking".
He said: "He looks amazing, he's up for it, he's charismatic, very funny, a pleasure to be around.
"will.i.am is cool! I like the way he delivers his criticism, he's not really an a***hole about it. And I like the way he dresses so well. It's like he's come from the future.
Tinie added: "I'll watch The Voice from this weekend and from then on."

Call the Midwife gets fourth series


'Call the Midwife' and 'Death in Paradise' have been commissioned for new series.
Both hit BBC shows will return for a fourth series, BBC's controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson and BBC One controller Charlotte Moore have confirmed.
Period drama 'Call the Midwife', which stars Jessica Raine as midwife Jenny Lee, has been a consistent draw on Sunday nights, with more than eight million viewers tuning in each week.
Meanwhile, 'Death in Paradise' has continued to enjoy strong ratings despite losing lead actor Ben Miller, who has been replaced in the new series by Kris Marshall.
In addition to the renewals, BBC One has commissioned several dramas including a new adaptation of 'Poldark'.
'Being Human' star Aidan Turner has been cast in the lead role of Ross Poldark, who returns to his beloved Cornwall in 1783 after fighting in the American War of Independence, only to discover nothing is the same as he left it.
Aidan said: "I'm very excited to play Ross Poldark for the BBC and it's obviously a huge challenge to honour the extraordinary character Winston Graham created and who Debbie Horsfield has brought new life to."
Meanwhile, BAFTA-winning actress Sheridan Smith will star in one-off cancer drama 'The C Word', which is based on the real-life experiences of Lisa Lynch, who was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after getting married and turning 28.
The 90-minute drama will begin filming in May.

David Walliams to star in Agatha Christie series


David Walliams is set to star in a new crime series on BBC One.
The comedic star will take a lead role as one half of married detective duo Tommy and Tuppence in 'Partners in Crime', a six-part series based on novelist Agatha Christie's two books, 'The Secret Adversary' and 'N or M'.
David - who also co-wrote the series - said: "In bringing these thrilling stories to the screen, it is our ambition for Tommy and Tuppence to finally take their rightful place alongside Poirot and Marple as iconic Agatha Christie characters."
The programme is the first in a string of novels which will be adapted for television in a bid by the BBC to celebrate what would have been the author's 125th birthday.
The famous crime writer - who died in 1976 - will also have her life explored in a series of documentaries to mark the occasion.
Next year, BBC will air a three-part adaptation of 'And Then There Were None', written by playwright Sarah Phelps.
Much of Christie's famous works have been adapted by ITV over the past 20 years, with the broadcaster recently ending its long-running 'Poirot' series starring David Suchet as the iconic Belgian detective.

Ofcom rejects Corrie gay kiss complaints


'Coronation Street' will not be investigated by Ofcom over a gay kiss scene.
The ITV soap featured a raunchy half-naked embrace between Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) and Marcus Dent (Charlie Condou) last week, which resulted in around 100 viewers to complain to Ofcom because the "sexually suggestive" footage aired before 8pm when many children were watching.
However, the broadcasting regulator refuses to act on the complaints since they don't want to "discriminate" between homosexual and heterosexual relations on screen.
A spokesperson for Ofcom told MailOnline: "Ofcom can confirm that it is not investigating the scene in 'Coronation Street' as it was not in breach of generally accepted standards. Our rules do not discriminate between scenes involving opposite sex and same sex couples."
Ofcom was forced to assess whether any broadcasting guidelines had been broken but it seems the "majority" of viewers didn't have a problem with the footage since it simulates a real life situation.
An insider told the Daily Star newspaper: "The vast majority of the audience have no trouble with this. It's real."
This isn't the first time Todd has caused controversy on the show, emerging as Weatherfield's first gay character and initially leaving the street in 2005 after he came out to then girlfriend Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien).

ITV’s Daybreak renamed Good Morning Britain


Susanna Reid is set to host a revival of 'Good Morning Britain' from next week.
The newsreader will replace Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly as the face of the revamped ITV breakfast show, which is being renamed from its current moniker 'Daybreak', according to The Sun newspaper.
The new name harks back to the show's 80s heyday and TV bosses are hopeful the long-running programme will be revitalised and ratings boosted by its fourth dramatic overhaul to date.
Susanna, who currently helms BBC1 rival 'Breakfast', will anchor 'Good Morning Britain' from Mondays to Thursdays with the help of two new male presenters and one woman, while Lorraine returns to her flagship show and Aled has landed a new weekend magazine slot.
A source told the paper: "The 'Daybreak' saga is the most pressing issue on ITV's agenda. By ditching the 'Daybreak' name bosses are admitting it has no hope of being rescued. Instead, they are putting all their energies into a revamped 'Good Morning Britain' brand.
"With Susanna Reid riding a wave of popularity, they hope she will be the one to inject some success into ITV breakfast."
'Good Morning Britain' was first launched in 1983 as a mix of current affairs, weather, cartoons, music and famous guests.
This comes as it was revealed 'Strictly Come Dancing' star Susanna has split from her husband Dominic Cotton after the father-of-three posted an ad on a dating website and listing himself as "currently separated".

Susanna Reid splits from Dominic Cotton


Susanna Reid has split from Dominic Cotton.
The 'BBC Breakfast' host and former 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestant's relationship has come to an end, with Dominic posting a profile on a dating website and listing himself as "currently separated".
Dominic - who has three children, Sam, 11, Finn, nine, and Jack, eight - with Susanna lists his occupation as executive/management and claims his best feature is his "bum".
His profile states: "Underneath my blokeish exterior I am a sensitive soul. I enjoy sharing things and am someone who doesn't shy away from commitment. Life is for living with someone special."
Susanna's punishing schedule - which sees her undertake a 415-mile round trip from London to Salford to present 'BBC Breakfast' three times a week - is unlikely to have helped their relationship, and her current involvement in the 'Strictly Come Dancing' tour could have put even more strain on the couple.
After 'Strictly' finished in December, Dominic admitted Susanna's schedule had been "tough" and "really full on" for them both, adding he was "looking forward to having his partner back."
Just last year Susanna, 43, talked about her strong bond with Dominic, but said marriage wasn't important to her.
She told the Daily Express newspaper: "People get confused - they think maybe I'm not attached because I don't wear a ring. But it's quite common now for couples not to be married, and it works for us.
"I was a commitment-phobe until I met Dominic. But he's taught me a lot. He's very supportive and accepts why I don't want to get married. I had a choppy childhood after my parents divorced, and I want us to do it our way.
"The commitment and wanting a family unit for the children is our priority."

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