Eilis O'Hanlon: 'Are we really meant to believe that Kat Slater, with the vaguest of employment histories, could buy the Queen Vic?'
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RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Two 'incredible' new professional dancers join Strictly Come Dancing cast
Two "incredible" new professional dancers will join the Strictly Come Dancing cast, the BBC has announced. American-born Alexis Warr and Australian-born Julian Caillon will join the hit dance competition series as it returns to BBC One and iPlayer this autumn. Warr, who is best known for winning the US dance series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022 and was crowned America's favourite dancer, became the first female ballroom and Latin dancer to claim the title. On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Warr said: "I've admired Strictly for years, so joining this incredible family is such an honour. "I can't wait to step into the ballroom, pour my heart into every moment, and share my love of dance with the UK." 🪩✨ Please welcome our two new Strictly Professional Dancers! 💃🏽🕺🏼Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon join the #Strictly Come Dancing family when the series returns this autumn on @BBCiPlayer Info ➡️ — BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) July 27, 2025 Caillon, who specialises in ballroom and Latin American, has appeared as a professional dancer for three seasons of Australia's version of Strictly Come Dancing, titled Australia's Dancing With The Stars. He said: "Joining the cast of Strictly really is a dream come true. "I've watched it for years, especially cheering on all the amazing dancers I know and work with who've been part of it. "I can't wait to get stuck in, have some fun, and be part of something special!" The newcomers will join the current cast of professional dancers, which includes Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer and Katya Jones. Neil Jones will also return in the autumn along with Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal. The new series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, will also welcome back Johannes Radebe, Aljaz Skorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola. Warr and Caillon will join the professionals each week for group routines, music acts, theme weeks and Strictly's annual trip to Blackpool. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas will also return to the judging panel. Sarah James, executive producer at BBC Studios, said: "We've been big fans of Alexis and Julian for some time, so it's with great excitement that we now welcome them both to the Strictly family. "They're two incredible dancers with bright futures ahead of them, and we know viewers are going to love getting to know them both." Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, added: "Alexis and Julian are the perfect additions to Strictly, and we can't wait for you to see them light up the ballroom this autumn. "With our fantastic professional dancers, plus everything else we love about Strictly, the new series promises to be bigger, better and even more glitter-packed than ever before." The news comes after the series faced a string of incidents this year, including Welsh tenor and former BBC Radio Wales presenter, Wynne Evans, being dropped by the broadcaster after he made an apology saying that he used "inappropriate language" during the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing tour. Months later, EastEnders star James Borthwick was also suspended from the BBC after a video emerged of the actor using a disabled slur on the set of the dance programme.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Michael McIntyre's The Wheel in fix row as fans claim last question was ‘far too easy' – would you have got it correct?
The Wheel has been engulfed in a new fix row as fans claimed the last question was 'far too easy'. Michael McIntyre took to the airwaves to front the hit BBC game show. 9 Fans who tuned into Michael McIntyre's show on the BBC have a major problem Credit: BBC 9 Contestant Anjad wanted to win thousands of pounds to buy a new convertible car 9 Jo Brand was announced as the worst performing expert throughout the show Credit: BBC Three players were welcomed into the BBC One studio to win a possibly huge monetary prize. Experts on the wheel included McFly's Danny Jones, TV presenter Anneka Rice and Oscar nominated actor The other stars to take part included The third player named Anjad was the contestant to clear the initial categories on the wheel and play for the jackpot prize. READ MORE ON THE WHEEL All the players managed to add £38,000 to the total throughout the game, Jo was ranked as the worst-performing expert when it came to the questions, so by choosing her to be the on-hand help in the final round, Anjad was able to double the potential winnings. However, fans of The Wheel claim the considering the money at stake, the last question was far 'too easy'. In a multiple choice question, Michael asked: "Which of these pastas resembles ribbons?" Most read in News TV The contestant was given four potential types to choose from which included tortellini, rigatoni, orzo and pappardelle. Anjad and the famous personality both correctly guessed that pappardelle was the type of food referred to in the question. Donna Preston on Michael McIntyre's Big Show But droves of viewers took to social media as they were left fuming by the seemingly unchallenging question. One game show fan enquired: ""Is The Wheel running out of questions? "Never seen such a piss easy run of q's for 76k. That final pasta question would be a who wants to be a millionaire £500 er." A second stated: "I'm sorry I think that last question on #TheWheel was FAR too easy." "Honestly, it's very hard to think this isn't fixed," exclaimed a third viewer. While a someone else angrily asked: "76K for naming a pasta type? I'm sorry, but anyone with simple common sense can do that!" And a fifth fumed: "And this is why I hate situations like this on #thewheel, you contributed hardly anything to the show, just to win 76k off of a f****** easy pasta question? F*** off." 9 If Anjad was to choose Jo for the final, he double the prize pot and potentially win £76,000 Credit: BBC 9 The comedian seemed to be informed about the different shapes Credit: BBC 9 Taking Jo's advice, Anjad correctly guessed the question referred to pappardelle Credit: BBC 9 Jo was relieved on-screen after she gave the player sound advice Credit: BBC 9 However, fans were left fuming as they thought the question was far too easy Credit: BBC 9 They claimed it should not have been chosen for such a huge prize pot Credit: BBC The Wheel continues on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island is like Hunger Games…I'm 30 & still never had boyfriend – here's reason I blame show, says Olivia Hawkins
LOVE Island 'villain' Olivia Hawkins has compared her two stints on the show to The Hunger Games – and admits they led to her 'losing herself'. 6 Olivia Hawkins, who now stars on Celebs Go Dating, has compared her two stints on Love Island to The Hunger Games Credit: ©Nic Serpell-Rand 2024 6 The reality star, above with Maxwell Samuda, says she lost herself after appearing on Love Island Credit: Rex 6 Olivia, 30, says fellas never ask her out after she was first painted as a troublemaker in the villa Credit: Rex In fact, the beauty, who has been an actress and a ring girl, claims she has never had a proper 'boyfriend'. In an exclusive chat with the Sun on Sunday, Olivia said the telly dating contest reminds her of the brutal fight for survival in dystopian movie series The Hunger Games because 'you never know when you're going to be dumped'. She explains: 'It can feel competitive with everyone the same age, feeling like you're at risk of being dumped. "I find dating hard because the majority of people I meet have watched Love Island, or know of my character on the show. It's hard not to be prejudged. 'I was the villain of the villa. They just saw me as a fiery character. Now I get told I'm quite intimidating. Men don't approach me because they think I won't be responsive. 'But that's a misconception. I'm the most approachable person ever. Men think I'll be hard work, and of course I like the finer things in life, but I provide that for myself.' Recalling how the programme affected her, Olivia adds: 'After Love Island, I got to a point where maybe I just lost myself a bit. "You've been painted as this one person, and then it's almost like a persona that you think, 'Oh, that's obviously not me, but do I have to keep that up?'.' The Brighton-born beauty, who starred in James Bond film No Time To Die with Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas, is now taking part in another TV show, Celebs Go Dating, in search of romance. During her first Love Island appearance, she coupled up with Will Young, Olivia Hawkins' Bold New Chapter in Reality TV "She slated the boys who kissed new women behind their original partner's back, despite female friends also doing that. And when she took part in Despite dating a string of hunks — including EastEnders star She says: 'All I want is a partner to be there for me and be my soulmate, and to have a shoulder to lean on. I'd just love someone to take me for being me and get to know the person away from the screen. 'I felt like I really had to try and prove everyone wrong or show a different side to me. 'But really, I needed to just put myself first, and as long as I'm happy with myself, that's all that matters. 6 Olivia with Luca Bish on the show 6 The beauty says she has never had a proper 'boyfriend' Credit: Rex 6 She feels her reputation on Love Island has put men off committing to her Credit: Getty 'My romantic life has been a real journey, a rollercoaster. I've never been in a relationship. Throughout my twenties, I really settled for the bare minimum and I didn't, I guess, realise my worth. 'I'm now finally at that place where I just don't want to settle for any less. I don't need to put up with a d**khead. 'I know what I bring to the table, so if someone else can't match that, then my time is so precious, as is theirs . . . I don't want to waste my time on anyone.' All I want is a partner to be there for me and be my soulmate, and just to have a shoulder to lean on Olivia Hawkins Olivia will put her romantic fate in the hands of matchmakers She will be joined on the show by singletons Kerry Katona, Christine McGuinness, S Club 7's They will be paired with non-celebrity strangers the TV experts believe could be perfect for them — and fans will see the couples then go on a string of dates. After the brutality of Love Island, Olivia says she is enjoying the process. She explains: 'On Celebs, you're never dumped unless you do something really bad! 'Sod the haters' 'That is the nicest part about it. I have full control and I'm not competing with anyone. 'But also, it's in my hands to make sure I'm making the right decision for myself. And I really do feel like I put myself first on this series.' Olivia insists she knows what she wants in a man, revealing. 'At this stage in my life, looks only go so far. 'I've met some absolutely gorgeous men and it just hasn't been there because the personality wasn't there to match. Sometimes, guys can be so attractive and that's all they rely on, and that makes them unattractive. 'I definitely wouldn't say looks are the be all and end all. I don't want to get to 90 and think, 'Oh, the only reason I went for him was because he was 6ft 5ins and so good-looking'. 'I want to be like, 'Haven't we had the best life? We've laughed so much'. 'I need banter. I can't have someone super-sensitive, because I am quite sarcastic. So someone that can give it back to me — that's playful — and I really wanted someone communicative and considerate.' Revealing her dating priorities, Olivia says: 'I need someone that's family orientated. I can't compromise on that.' The Celebs Go Dating stars got a baptism of fire on the new series with a singles night straight away, where they had to pick a match to take on a sun-kissed trip to Ibiza. On Celebs, you're never dumped unless you do something really bad! And despite spending weeks on national TV wearing just a bikini, Olivia says she was more nervous walking into that party — or a 'mixer', as it is called on the show — than she was entering the villa. 'I've never been so nervous,' she admits. 'I know it's ridiculous, but because this was more focused on me and my journey, it's different.' Olivia hopes that by showing her vulnerability, fans will finally see a different side to her. And if they don't, she is past caring. She says with a laugh: 'Sod the haters. They're always going to be there. I don't worry about other people's opinions. I just live life and be happy.' Celebs Go Dating 2025 cast S Club 7 singer Jon Lee The Chase quizzer Too Hot To Handle hunk Louis Russell Love Island All Stars contestant, Singer Kerry Katona Made in Chelsea heartthrob Sam Prince QUIT -
