Fan favourite Celebs Go Dating star lands huge new show after ‘stepping more into the limelight'
AFTER years behind the reception desk at the Celebs Go Dating agency, Tom Read Wilson has now been promoted.
I can reveal he is finally stepping into the spotlight with a show of his own, called The Grand Tour With Tom Read Wilson.
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The historical travelogue for Channel 5, which is currently in production, will follow a similar format to that of Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder's successful BBC show — which won the twosome a Bafta earlier this year.
So Channel 5 hopes to strike gold with their offering, which comes from the team behind Ross Kemp's documentaries, and Josie Gibson's First Class Travel Show.
A source revealed: 'The success of Rob and Rylan's series has proved that there's a healthy appetite from viewers for smart, entertaining and comedic journeys through history — and now Channel 5 want some of the pie.
'Tom has long been a big fan favourite on Celebs Go Dating, thanks to his dry wit and one- liners, so it makes sense for him to step more into the limelight.
'Famous landmarks'
'This new series, which will see Tom take on a solo presenting role, combines history and culture as he explores famous landmarks and delves into the stories behind these attractions.
'Filming has already begun and fans can expect to tune in later this year.'
Tom first rose to fame as a contestant on ITV singing contest The Voice before finding a home on the E4 dating show.
He also made his debut on Channel 5 last year, as presenter of The Christmas Taste Test, which saw him put brands to the test to uncover the best supermarket festive goodies.
He has featured, too, in BBC cooking show Celebrity Best Home Cook, as a talking head on Channel 5 documentary Aldi Vs Lidl, and on Channel 4 gameshow Darling, What Have You Done To Your Hair?
Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour took home won the Entertainment award at the Baftas last month, after fighting off competition from the likes of Stacey Solomon's Sort Your Life Out and the BBC's Race Across The World.
Tom will now hope that when he hits the road, his Grand Tour will enjoy similar success with viewers.
Christine McGuinness signs up for Celebs Go Dating as we reveal full line-up including pop legends & reality TV icons
THE IT Crowd star Katherine Parkinson is to play Ron Weasley's mum Molly in the Harry Potter HBO TV series.
In further casting, child star Lox Pratt will be Draco Malfoy, and Johnny Flynn his dad Lucius.
Filming will start soon, at London's Warner Bros Studios.
AS series two of queer dating show I Kissed A Boy airs on BBC Three, it's been revealed spin-off I Kissed A Girl will also get a second run.
The girls' show, the first of its kind in the UK, made its debut last year – after 2023's first season of I Kissed A Boy.
It will return later this year with ten singles meeting for the first time with a kiss.
Applications to take part are now open on the BBC Take Part website.
Dannii Minogue, who hosts both the boys' and girls' shows, in TV house the Masseria in Italy, said: 'I Kissed A Girl [series one] was groundbreaking for female representation, and I can't wait for the return.
'Let's see what the Italian sun does for kisses and connections.
'I'm ready to be Cupid – get ready for Masseria mania.'
KITCHEN queen Mary Berry struggled to help Alan Carr cook when he appeared on her BBC series Foolproof Dinners last year – but it's no secret the comic is NO chef.
He proved as much on The Great British Bake Off's Stand Up To Cancer special in 2018 – two years after Mary quit as a judge – when he served up a disastrous tribute cake to children's TV show Rainbow . . . that was rock solid.
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Now, he has revealed his bake was so bad, that after filming stopped on the Channel 4 show even production crew declined to take a bite, except for one particularly hungry cameraman.
Chatting on his Life's A Beach podcast, with guest Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, Alan revealed: 'What people don't know is, they leave all the cakes at the back for the cast and crew to tuck in.
'Mine was intact.'
Paul said of show leftovers: 'If I eat it, it all goes and savoury stuff tends to disappear first on set more than the desserts.'
But he said of Alan's creation: 'It was bad.
'I've tried to delete it from my mind.'
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