Strictly star gets chance to reboot career with C5 doc revealing Britain's favourite motorway service station
The former JLS singer turned farmer and TV host is getting the chance to reboot his career courtesy of Channel 5 with a one-off documentary on a surprising topic.
4
Former JLS singer turned farmer and TV host is getting the chance to reboot his career courtesy of Channel 5 with a one-off documentary on motorway service stations
Credit: PA
Jb will host Britain's Favourite Service Station, in which he stops off to look at our long-standing love of these roadside retreats which, apparently, are something of a national institution.
A TV insider said: 'Joking aside, this is a show that will probably get pretty impressive viewing figures. After all, service stations are a bit of a guilty pleasure for most of us.
'Though it is still a bit of a surprise to see someone has come up with the idea of devoting an entire show to looking at them.
'Even more surprising is the fact they've got a former pop star in as the host, but execs seem to think it will work.'
READ MORE TV NEWS
He was originally paired with
Since then he has been pretty quiet, despite the fact he has shifted his focus from JLS to carving out a
television
career.
In the new hour-long show, Jb will be travelling up and down the nation's motorways, and discovering what makes some service stations more popular than others.
Most read in News TV
This isn't all based on a random whim by Channel 5 chiefs, however. The show is in conjunction with a genuine poll by consumer champions Which? identifying the best and worst.
Jb will be revealing which is our number one roadside stop-off, and which is parked at the bottom of the list.
Strictly star reveals heartbreaking behind the scenes moment between JB Gill and Amy Dowden that was never seen on camera
The suspense is killing me.
Insider Ekin has Deja-Su
The Love Island and
Celebrity
Big Brother star is now in reality series Inside, alongside a string of famous Americans.
4
Ekin-Su Culculoglu has landed a major new Netflix series, Inside, joining a star-studded American cast as her popularity in the US continues to grow
Credit: Getty
She went to the States just after Love Island All Stars in January to
film
for the show, a huge YouTube hit which was then bought by Netflix.
Ekin is a fan favourite there due to her stint last year on the US version of The Traitors.
A TV source said: 'Ekin flew to America just after All Stars to film Inside and it's all wrapped and in the can.'
Inside sees ten celebrities locked in a house where they compete for a prize fund.
The source added: 'The irony that Ekin had such an awful time on Celebrity Big Brother but went and did another strikingly similar show won't be lost on telly fans.'
The finale of Doctor Who's latest series will be available globally in its first ever worldwide premiere.
The Reality War will air on BBC One and Disney+ simultaneously in a prime-time evening slot on May 31.
A synopsis teases: 'The Doctor is doomed, Belinda is lost, Ruby is trapped …'
Sophie's Geordie u-turn
Just weeks after quitting Geordie Shore amid a pay row,
Sophie, who has been on the hit reality show on and off since its 2011 debut, joined the rest of the cast in
Portugal
, alongside boyfriend Jordan Brook, after her team pulled a dramatic u-turn by coming to a resolution over wages.
4
Just weeks after quitting Geordie Shore amid a pay row, Sophie Kasaei has returned to the MTV series
Credit: PA
Insiders told me the dispute was resolved after eleventh-hour talks with show bosses.
A source said: 'Execs were determined to keep Sophie in the show and didn't want to lose her, so after some last-minute meetings, they managed to secure a deal everyone was happy with.
'Sophie and Jordan missed the beginning of filming, but they stunned the cast over the weekend when they turned up to surprise everyone.'
EastEnders is working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People on a new storyline as Lauren and Peter's son is diagnosed with a visual impairment.
Struggling to settle Jimmy, Lauren (Jac Jossa) takes him for tests. The results shock her and Peter (Thomas Law).
Elaine's seniors salute
West End legend
Take a Bow, written by the mastermind behind the
4
West End legend Elaine Paige is to lead the cast of a new sitcom about retirement
Credit: Getty
Elaine's own production company will be behind the series, which will feature an international cast to be announced soon.
Writer Jason Cook teased to industry website Broadcast that the programme will aim to 'show that life really starts once you get that awful work stuff out the way'.
Elaine added: 'It's a bold, funny celebration of friendship, freedom, and the joy of still being very much alive.'
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi welcome first child via adoption
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have adopted a daughter, the first child for the married couple, this summer, they have announced. 'We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy,' the couple wrote in a social media statement. No further details were released. Brown, 21, and Bongiovi, 23, were married in a private ceremony in May 2024. Brown gained recognition for her starring role as Eleven in the Duffer brothers' sci-fi series Stranger Things. The fifth and final season will air this November and December, a culmination of nine years of the show's production. The British actor has pursued other acting and business ventures in that time, including the Netflix original Enola Holmes films and a Godzilla film. She even released a romance book in 2023. Bongiovi is the son of Jon Bon Jovi, founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi. Bongiovi debuted his own acting career as the star in Rockbottom, which released last year. Brown stressed the importance of family during the 2024 premiere of her Netflix film Damsel, where Bongiovi and his parents were in attendance. 'I'm just so lucky that they're here tonight and it just means so much to me,' Brown told The Associated Press then. 'Family is everything and just to have my second family here means everything.' The couple lives in Georgia. She recently told the AP she enjoys living on a farm, largely disconnected from social media, while promoting her 2025 Netflix film The Electric State.
The Irish Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Strictly Come Dancing's new contestant revealed after Game of Thrones star forced to pull out
The star was drafted in at the last minute following Kristian Nairn's exit on medical grounds KEEP DANCING Strictly Come Dancing's new contestant revealed after Game of Thrones star forced to pull out EMMERDALE hunk Lewis Cope has been confirmed as the new contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 – being drafted in at the last minute. The star was announced on The One Show tonight, making an appearance after an 11th hour casting following the exit of Game of Thrones star, Kristian Nairn. 4 Emmerdale star Lewis Cope has been drafted in last minute to hit the Strictly dancefloor 4 Kristian Nairn was forced to withdraw on medical grounds Credit: PA The 20-year-old from Hartlepool, County Durham, played Nicky Milligan on the ITV soap from 2022 to 2024. The character was the secret son of Caleb Miligan, and the grandson of Faith Dingle and Frank Tate. Speaking about accepting the challenge, Lewis admitted that he was drafted in "over the past two days" and wasn't initially in the running to take part. "If anything, it's probably helped me," he said of joining late. "Because I haven't really had time to think about it or anything. "So now the excitement has kind of just taken over, and I'm just like all inside." As for who he wants to impress, he said: "I'd probably say Shirley, just because she seems to be very particular on technique and all of that. "So if I can manage to learn some of the technique, and I think that'll be, like, a nice achievement for me." Without a preference for a partner, he added: "All of them are going to be fantastic. I know they're at the top of the game. "So for me, I probably want someone that's going to push me, like, literally push me." Lewis might just be accused of having unfair dance experience, however. At the age of 11 he was appearing in one of the leading roles in Billy Elliot: The Musical in London's West End. Luckily he managed to avoid too much Mickey taking at school. He said: 'I never got any stick at school – it probably helped that I had brothers in every year and that they were boxers. 'But I was also able to charm and joke with classmates, so it was never a big thing. I was very lucky, for somebody else it could have been different.' Nairn, famed for playing Hodor on Game of Thrones, was confirmed to be leaving the show today on medical grounds. He said in his official statement: "With a heavy heart, I have to step back from this season of Strictly Come Dancing due to unexpected medical reasons. "I was truly looking forward to the journey, and I'm deeply sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking forward to seeing me on the dance floor. "Thank you all for your support, and I will be back on my feet very soon, in every sense. Love to all, Kristian." The 49-year-old actor later took to social media with a video, explaining that his vitals had spiked due a combination of stress and grief. Apologising to fans, he explained that doctors had advised he withdraw from the show so he could get back to normal. He is now under treatment expected to make a full recovery, with Nairn adding that the doctors didn't see the spike as a major concern. "I'm not going to have time for the show - I'm not going to have time for the training," he said. "I also don't want to leave them, you and my other contestants hanging, that's not really fair." Kristian admitted he was "gutted" to be out saying he spent months preparing and "looking forward to taking part". 4 Lewis is best known for playing Nicky Milligan on Emmerdale But he thanked Strictly bosses for their "understanding" and support. "So, let's see what happens when I get sorted. I'm gonna be taking it easy for now and I'll be able to return to work very shortly," he continued. "It's always been my honour to, in some way and my weird way, to just to be... just to show that I'm from Northern Ireland. "I'm very proud and I'm sorry I've let you down in any way. But I'll continue to do my best." Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said of the exit: 'We've absolutely loved getting to know Kristian in this short time, and he has all the makings of a brilliant Strictly Come Dancing contestant. "We're incredibly sorry to lose him from this year's series and we all wish him a speedy recovery.' Strictly Come Dancing kicks off next month on BBC One.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Celebrity Big Brother set for huge shake up as ITV boss admits ‘it's hard to book famous celebs' on a budget
The ITV boss laid out what the future holds for the series in a blunt chat at Edinburgh TV Festival EYES ON THE PRIZE Celebrity Big Brother set for huge shake up as ITV boss admits 'it's hard to book famous celebs' on a budget THE boss of ITV says the channel is "in a battle" with the show's production company over the cost of bringing it back - and if the Celebrity spin-off returns, it won't go on ITV1. Kevin Lygo, ITV's Managing Director of Media & Entertainment, said they wanted to air both versions of the show which have been big hits for them, particularly on their streaming service, ITVX. 5 Big Brother's future could look very different due to restraints Credit: Rex 5 The series grew international attention for controversial comments including Mickey Rourke's behaviour Credit: ITV 5 The series also sparked a romantic connection between Chris Hughes and Jojo Siwa Credit: ITV But talking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, he was asked about the future of the programme, and revealed it might not be that easy. Earlier this year, Big Brother caused a huge buzz when it movie star Mickey Rourke made a controversial entrance, and exit, on the celeb version. The series was eventually won by Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd, and kick-started the whirlwind romance of fellow housemates Chris Hughes and Jojo Siwa. Kevin said: "Celebrity Big Brother we're looking at. We're thinking NOT on the main channel, that's the answer. "It's so difficult now to book big celebrities, famous people, which is what we need on the main channel. "Whereas you can go more interesting and niche on ITV2." He added: "We're in a battle with Endemol about the price." But he also sounded a note of confidence insisting it was a ratings winner and he personally loved the show. Kevin said: "It does really well for us on ITVX. It's a really important, crucial show. I love it and it does a tremendous job for us so, yes, it's coming back." He also responded to Channel 4 boss Ian Katz saying that their rivals - like ITV - weren't taking risks and were instead "falling back on old ideas" for their programming. Mickey Rourke KICKED OUT of Celeb Big Brother after 'threatening and aggressive' behaviour towards housemate This felt particularly pertinent given that Big Brother was a show taken on by ITV, even though C4 had abandoned it years ago. Kevin pointed out that two of C4's biggest show were also "imports" which had been developed on other channels. He said: "I don't know what he's on about - they do have Bake Off and Taskmaster." 5 Kevin Lygo spoke about the show's future at Edinburgh TV Fest Credit: Rex
