Latest news with #BBC1
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy claims huge pop star used to BULLY her at school and reveals awkward confrontation
Former EastEnders star NATALIE CASSIDY has claimed that Paloma Faith used to BULLY her at school. Actress Natalie, 42, who played Sonia Fowler on the BBC1 soap, made the shock confession about popstar Paloma, 43, who grew up in the same area of East London as Natalie, on her podcast 3 Natalie claimed a huge pop star used to bully her at school Credit: Shutterstock 3 She told how Paloma has since apologised for her actions Credit: Getty 3 Natalie quit as EastEnders' Sonia Fowler earlier this year Credit: BBC She revealed: 'Paloma Faith, she bullied me at school. She went to Islington Green and was in the year above me. We've spoken about it and she has said sorry about that. Gutted.' Indeed, the pair both used to attend the same secondary school, now called the City of London Academy Islington. However, the Make Your Own Kind of Music hitmaker had a VERY different experience to Natalie at school, describing it as 'one of the best periods of my life'. She said: 'I had a really amazing experience. People were always criticising it but the teachers were just so brilliant. More on Natalie Cassidy "It was really creative, with really great art, music and dance departments. I really enjoyed it.' We have reached out to Paloma Faith's representative for a comment. Natalie - who It was confirmed earlier this month that Most read in News TV A spokesperson told The Sun: "What started as a six month project turned into more than a year of joyous TV chatter, and over 80 heart-warming episodes. "Thank you to Nat and Jo for their warm recommendations and insider analysis, and to the whole team for keeping listeners in the loop with what to watch. EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy drops biggest hint yet about when Sonia Fowler will return after shock exit from soap "We look forward to working with Nat and Jo again soon!" But it's not all bad news as It will follow the actress as she fulfils her longtime ambition of wanting to train as carer.
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Doctor Who's 'risky' gamble paid off in the best way possible
Doctor Who is no stranger to risk. After all the tenacious Time Lord has spent the last six decades battling Daleks, Cybermen, and other terrors beyond our imagination. Yet the Doctor, or Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies to be more specific, has just pulled off an incredibly risky gamble. While plotting this year's series, Russell rather cleverly devised an episode that was essentially a love letter to the Eurovision Song Contest… or The Interstellar Song Contest, as the episode was called Even better, the 62-year-old pulled off a piece of scheduling wizardry that ensured the episode would air on BBC1 on the same day as the Song Contest. It was a marketing coup and one that earned the episode a lot of publicity. To make a sweet situation even sweeter, the FA Cup final was due to be shown before Doctor Who, offering the sci-fi series an impressive audience lead-in. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. In theory, then, The Interstellar Song Contest was set up for success, but here's where the risk comes in. Scheduling the episode around two live TV events had the potential to massively backfire. If the FA Cup went to extra time or penalties, then Doctor Who would have to move to a later timeslot, but because Eurovision is also live, it couldn't be pushed later. That meant Doctor's latest adventure was at risk of being bumped from the schedule entirely, a possibility that terrified fans online as at best it would have undone all Russell's carefully laid publicity plans and at worst thrown off later episodes of Doctor Who which have all been building to a cataclysmic event happening on May 24. Thankfully, the worst didn't come to pass. In fact, it seems like Russell's bet that this would get the show more attention has paid off splendidly. According to BARB – an organisation dedicated to measuring television ratings in the United Kingdom – The Interstellar Song Contest has been watched by 3,754,000 so far, including streaming. That makes it the most viewed episode of the season, not including the Christmas Special, and it was the ninth most watched show the week of May 12 to May 18. Of course, not everyone will have been watching the show right before Eurovision, but it's clear that the effort that went into promoting this episode has had a positive effect on audience numbers. More Trending Time will tell if the series can keep up these viewing figures. Ncuti Gatwa's second series has been a hit with fans and critics, who've praised the writing and performances, but sadly, this has failed to pull in viewers. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The episode Lux has the ignominy of being the lowest viewed episode since the show's revival in 2005, and there has been endless press speculation that the show may be running out of road. Last we heard, the BBC hit back at claims that Ncuti had been axed from the show, but with rumours swirling of a possible regeneration during Sunday's episode, The Reality War, it's likely that the grand finale will attract a lot of attention, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Doctor Who: The Reality War will air on May 31 at 6:50pm on BBC1 Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Doctor Who boss promises finale will address 'controversial' Time Lord change MORE: Doctor Who fans convinced unexpected character will change show forever after finale MORE: Doctor Who star 'had his eye on' Fantastic Four role that went to Pedro Pascal
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
New BBC drama smashes records despite viewers ‘switching off' after 5 minutesNew
BBC's new cosy crime drama Death Valley has smashed an impressive record already despite some less-than-enthusiastic reviews of the show. The six-episode Timothy Spall comedy-drama secured a whopping 2.9million viewers in its overnight ratings for the first episode. This not only made it the biggest audience for a new BBC Scripted Comedy title in five years but it even beat David Mitchell's fellow crime-solving sitcom Ludwig which landed 2.8million viewers for its premiere in September. The unexpected frontrunner, which came out last week, follows retired TV actor John Chapel (Spall) who has made a name for himself as a crime-solving sleuth the likes of Poirot and Sherlock. When one of his groupies DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) tracks him down she hopes he can help her crack some mysteries and climb the career ladder in one fell swoop. It's already been compared to everything from Gavin and Stacey (which has broken its own record or two) to Midsomer Murders as we witness the hijinks of this chaotic duo. But not everyone has had glowing thoughts about the show. 'Five mins & switching off – this is AWFUL soooooo baaad,' X user Philgals Swigott wrote. 'I really wanted to like Death Valley on BBC1, but it's beyond terrible,' SonnerSounds added. 'Sorry, but I could only watch a quarter of an hour of this before turning off and cancelling all future recordings,' CaroleBlain shared. Anne Sharman called it 'so dreadful on every level' and Robert Halpert said it was '45 minutes of life' they aren't getting back.# Of course, it has also managed to win over some viewers. 'I will watch Timothy Spall in anything, and Death Valley seems pretty good so far,' Roz Laws shared. 'Contrary to those who hate it I'm loving Death Valley so far,' Signoramac declared. 'Only ten minutes in but Death Valley is a breath of fresh air,' Danny Denay echoed. And if it's following the footsteps of Ludwig (also starring Anna Maxwell Martin), we can expect a season two renewal sooner rather than later. So there's likely more to come for this plucky young detective and our reclusive actor. Speaking about their dynamic to Radio Times, the Bafta-winning Harry Potter star said: 'They recognise each other instantly in their souls. They cut straight through any generational difference, any bizarre sexual difference or anything like that.' He described it more akin to an 'uncle and niece' aesthetic. More Trending It's been a standout run for BBC comedies over the past year. In December, the epic Gavin and Stacey finale drew in 19.3million viewersmaking it the 'most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002'. Not an easy feat. View More » All episodes of Death Valley are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Harry Potter fans say new Hermione is 'perfect casting' after unearthed clip MORE: Doctor Who boss promises finale will address 'controversial' Time Lord change MORE: Yet another celebrity discovers they're related to a king 9 years after Danny Dyer
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ellie Simmonds has heartbreaking call with birth mum in an ITV doc tonight
In a new ITV documentary, the swimming champion explores societal views of having children with a disability - and whether she should have kids herself In a deeply personal journey on Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?, on ITV1 tonight at 9pm, the former Paralympian swimmer explores the controversial views of having children with a disability - and whether she herself should have kids. Ellie was given up for adoption by her birth mother when she found out that Ellie had dwarfism, so it's a hugely confronting subject. In the documentary, she speaks to parents who have faced these fraught decisions, and asks, What would she do? Ellie says: 'Being a 30-year-old woman, this is the time people think about starting a family. It's different because I'm living with a disability every single day so I know what it's like to be a disabled person. If you find out you've got a disabled baby, do people think they can't actually cope with it? 'Are they nervous? Do they want a picture-perfect baby?' Meeting with doctors and geneticists, counsellors and expectant families facing life-changing decisions, Ellie asks big questions around prenatal testing and societal perceptions of disability. She meets Rosie and Lloyd, who discovered that their son Arlo had dwarfism at a 28 week scan. Rosie says: 'I didn't know what dwarfism was. It was one of the hardest times of my life, I was so scared. As soon as he was Earth-side, it was totally eradicated.' The documentary ends with a moving phone call between Ellie and her birth mum, who admits: 'I remember thinking I can't cope. All I could see was your disability. The guilt is horrendous. You're a completely perfect person in every way. I think it was cowardly.' *Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children is on ITV1 tonight (Tuesday 27 May) at 9pm There's plenty more on TV tonight - here's the best of the rest.. BAKE OFF: THE PROFESSIONALS, CHANNEL 4, 8pm The posh, upper crust cousin of Bake Off, this is the grown-up version that produces spectacular souffles instead of soggy bottoms. It's the contest that sees professionals fight to make the best foam or fondant with ever-incredible desserts. Ellie Taylor and Liam Charles welcome pastry chefs hailing from hotels, restaurants, patisserie shops and small ventures from around the UK, as they face testing challenges set by world-class top pâtissier experts, Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden. First the chefs face a secret challenge but unlike any ever set before. Without a proper recipe to hand, they need to rely on pastry instinct, innate knowledge and teamwork to create one of Cherish's very own creations, the Apple Tin. For their second challenge, they must become masters of illusion with a food-and-drink-inspired showpiece with a hidden Victoria sandwich elevated to new heights. Expect towering creations, the occasional breakage and several raised eyebrows from the harsh judges. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? BBC1, 9pm It shouldn't come as a surprise that TV's top cupid has a war-time romance in his history. Matchmaking maitre d' and presenter Fred Sirieix returns to France to explore his family roots where he discovers an epic love story and ancestors who survived against the odds. He says: 'There are so many things that I don't know and I realise all those conversations I missed when I was a young boy. I didn't think to ask my grandparents about where we came from and what happened.' In particular, Fred's mother's side is a mystery. The family story is that his maternal grandparents met during World War Two, when Fred's grandfather Rene was taken as a prisoner of war in Burgundy and Genevieve, his grandmother, was living in the area. The tale goes that Rene escaped and fled from Nazi-occupied France to Free France, where Genevieve later joined him. Intrigued by this love story, Fred returns to France to see what he can find out. EMMERDALE, ITV1, 7.30pm John is still having nightmares as he envisions the new threat of Aidan interrupting his wedding. Sarah heads alone to get her biopsy results. Her fears are confirmed when the consultant reveals she has the early stages of cervical cancer. Joe realises he and Clemmie have a lot of work to do to improve their relationship. Mack struggles to steal the stash as it's just too big. Lewis gets a phone alert that there is an intruder in his attic. EASTENDERS, BBC1, 7.30pm Nicola tries to deny Zack's paternity but is forced to come clean when Teddy continues to press her on the facts. A painful confrontation unfolds as Teddy demands answers, but he and Nicola are shaken when Harry reveals Zack's plan to leave with Barney. Harry takes drastic measures to stop Zack and bundles him into his car boot before speeding out of Walford. Barney comforts Avani over the abusive messages. Nicola finds them and assumes Avani is leading Barney astray.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The Traitors star Meryl Williams reveals results of secret forehead reduction surgery
THE TRAITORS star Meryl Williams has revealed the results of her secret forehead reduction surgery. The Scots star, 28, won the first series of the hit BBC1 psychological reality show in 2022. Advertisement 5 The Traitors' star Meryl Williams has revealed the results of her secret forehead reduction surgery Credit: SWNS 5 Meryl said her forehead had made her feel insecure for years Credit: Tiktok 5 The star showed a map of where the surgeon would operate Credit: Tiktok Edinburgh - posted pre-surgery photos in a new reel, showing off her forehead from the side, before later unveiling her new look . After the first snap, she added a mirror selfie, explaining how she was having hairline lowering surgery. Meryl shared a snap of the mapped out lines on her forehead, where the surgeon would operate. Advertisement The Traitors The video explained how Doctor Greg Bran, from the GBA London clinic, cut along Meryl's hairline, then pulled her skin up to remove extra skin, before stitching it all back together. Meryl confessed that to her, it has been worth it. Alongside her video, she said: "Sharing my forehead reduction / hairline lowering surgery journey. "Not a lot of people know I under went the surgery it was something I have wanted for years & dealt with one of my biggest insecurities my forehead #surgery." Advertisement Most read in News TV Fans flocked Meryl with overwhelming support and one said: "Looks unreal! You were beautiful before and after." "Proud of you your such an inspiration don't ever let anyone make you feel down because you have such a bright and bubbly personality I loved you on the traitors and so glad you won!" exclaimed another. The Traitors star forced to hide on train toilet in fear after cruel teens 'laugh in her face' While a third said: "Slay! You are beautiful." The news comes after Meryl tragically Advertisement She said: "Currently hiding in the toilets on the train down to London away from four teenagers who are sitting opposite me and giving me abuse. "Now I think living with my condition or having this condition is something you can't hide. People see you straight away, they notice you straight away, you're just an easy target." Speaking "Because of my condition I don't look like my parents. Advertisement "The world was not made for me. I have to adapt myself to the world. "It is a struggle but it makes me unique. I am so lucky to have [my] people around me." 5 Meryl had wanted the surgery for years Credit: Tiktok 5 Meryl said that she felt the operation had all been worth it Advertisement
