Latest news with #HelenGeorge
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Celebrities in new series Shark! taught by diving instructor with missing limbs
The celebrities were said to be taking a big risk as they swam with ever-increasing sized sharks in the Bahamas in a new ITV series to mark the 50th anniversary of Jaws The seven celebrities who agreed to swim with sharks in an ITV series which marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, were taught to dive by an instructor with missing limbs. The seven stars - who all admit to being scared of the sea - were Call the Midwife's Helen George, comedians Sir Lenny Henry and Ross Noble, Countdown's Rachel Riley, McFly's Dougie Poynter, Amandaland's Lucy Punch and TV presenter Ade Adepitan. All have now returned from filming Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters with their lives intact, but were constantly reminded of the dangers involved by their Australian instructor - who was missing an arm and a leg, courtesy of a tiger shark. For the five-part series, due to start next month, the celebs were challenged to confront their greatest fear and flown to the island on Bimini in the Bahamas, home to around 10 different species of shark. Once there, they took the plunge together alongside hammerhead, bull and tiger sharks. While there is no voting or elimination process in the show, the dives got progressively harder, with each involving a bigger and tougher breed of shark, and the celebrities were allowed to sit out if they felt overwhelmed. One insider said: 'The sharks they were free diving with were definitely dangerous and they were shocked when they realised what had happened to the expert, who'd had an arm and a leg bitten off.' Despite the series being shown as tribute to half a century since the Oscar-winning Jaws was released in 1975, the 'ocean-phobic' stars did not attempt to recreate the movie scenes. 'There were no Great Whites involved in the making of this show,' the source said. 'But it was not for the faint-hearted, that's for sure. Some were more scared than others.' Viewers will have to wait to see if any of the stars sustained injuries during the making of the programme, which was filmed last year. Yesterday presenter Rachel said that taking part was a 'dream come true' adding: 'It was the best trip, the best experience, the best everything, of my life.' Describing it as 'wet and wild' she added: 'Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters is a totally new type of entertainment show, with so much integrity and a love of sharks and conservation at its heart. And with the best bunch of people you could hope to work with.' The mum-of-two said she'd first been asked to take part a year ago. 'They said we're thinking of sending some celebrities out to the Bahamas for a few weeks to swim with some of the biggest, scariest wild sharks in the world.' Helen agreed that it had been brilliant, saying: 'One of the most insane experiences of my life, learning about this incredible creatures, with equally incredible humans.' Ross described it as a 'great adventure' and quipped: 'No, it's not a wind up, it's a real thing.' And pop star Dougie marvelled that it was the closest he'd ever get to a 'real Jurassic Park experience'. ITV entertainment boss Katie Rawcliffe said audiences should enjoy the combination of blue chip natural history programming with ITV's skill at entertainment, and called the famous faces taking part 'some of the bravest celebrities out there'. Karen Plumb, of Plimsoll Productions, said the aim was to give viewers a new perspective on sharks. 'We're constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin – delivering 50 years after Jaws – will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Call the Midwife's Helen George confirmed in line-up for new "wildly entertaining" ITV series
Call the Midwife star Helen George has been confirmed for a new "wildly entertaining" series from ITV. Titled SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, the new entertainment show will challenge a group of ocean-fearing celebrities to face nature's most terrifying underwater predator – sharks. Confirming the line-up today, ITV revealed that Ade Adepitan, Sir Lenny Henry, Ross Noble, Dougie Poynter, Lucy Punch, and Rachel Riley will be joining George on the show. Set to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's Jaws, the show is described as an "adrenaline-fueled, challenge-heavy journey in the Bahamas". Each celebrity will be tasked with diving with a different species of shark, with each breed getting bigger and more dangerous with each turn. Related: Call the Midwife responds as Olly Rix makes shock remarks about exit: "We do not accept this" The show will take place on Bimini, the Bahamas island, which is home to around 10 different types of shark including Bull sharks, Hammerheads and Tiger sharks. Speaking about the show, Karen Plumb, Head of Factual Entertainment at Plimsoll Productions, said: "The team at Plimsoll is uniquely positioned to pioneer this format that blends conservation with wildly entertaining pop culture. "We're constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin – delivering 50 years after Jaws – will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late." Related: Best streaming services As well as swimming with sharks, the celebrities will also "face fear inducing challenges" along the way while learning about the role sharks play in our ecosystem and in the oceans. Per the press release, the show hopes to provide a new perspective on the misunderstood creatures, and will see the group of celebrities learn about the predator's "valuable place on the food chain and in our ecosystem, recognizing that a world devoid of these notoriously terrifying creatures is downright frightening". SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters is coming soon to ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy British Comedy Legends in newsagents or online, now priced at just £3.99. at at EE£49.99 at at Audible£99.00 at Amazon£328.00 at at £18.99 at at at EE at at at £91.40 at at at at at at at Amazon£29.98 at at at Game at at EE at Pandora at at at at Sky Mobile at at at at at at Pandora£79.99 at at at at Game at Three at at at AO at at at at at at £39.99 at at at at Fitbit£49.99 at at at at John Lewis£119.00 at at at at at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis & Partners£44.99 at at at at at John Lewis at at Amazon£90.00 at at at John Lewis & Partners at Three at at Amazon£15.99 at Amazon£6.62 at at at at at at Fitbit at at at at at at at Three at Apple£189.99 at at at at at Amazon£699.00 at at at at at at EE at at John Lewis£379.99 at at at at at at Audible at at John Lewis at EE at at £379.00 at at at at Amazon at at at Apple at at at Samsung at at Three at at Apple£229.00 at John Lewis at at Microsoft at at at AO at at John Lewis at at Amazon at at at crunchyroll£79.00 at Samsung at at Microsoft at John Lewis & Partners£92.98 at at at at at Microsoft at at at John Lewis at at Amazon£269.99 at at at at John Lewis & Partners at at now at at at at at Microsoft at at John Lewis at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at You Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Call The Midwife star Helen George lands new TV role on rival channel
BBC Call The Midwife star Helen George lands new TV role on rival channel Helen George, who's best known for playing Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife, has landed a new TV role on a rival channel Call the Midwife Christmas Special trailer Helen George, famed for her role in Call the Midwife, is set to appear in a thrilling new TV series on ITV. The upcoming reality entertainment show, titled SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, will see a star-studded cast encounter sharks up close. ITV has announced that 40-year-old Helen will be joined by Sir Lenny Henry, Ade Adepitan, Ross Noble, Dougie Poynter, Lucy Punch, and Countdown's Rachel Riley. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's iconic film Jaws, the show promises an "adrenaline-fuelled, challenge-heavy journey in the Bahamas". The format involves celebrities confronting their deepest fears as they swim among increasingly formidable shark species. Filmed on the picturesque island of Bimini in the Bahamas, known for its diverse shark population including Bull and Hammerhead species, the show offers both excitement and stunning scenery, reports the Express. Helen George is famous for Call The Midwife (Image: BBC ) Article continues below Casualty star Olly Rix addresses future on BBC medical drama READ MORE: Karen Plumb, Head of Factual Entertainment at Plimsoll Productions, shared her enthusiasm: "The team at Plimsoll is uniquely positioned to pioneer this format that blends conservation with wildly entertaining pop culture. "We're constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin - delivering 50 years after Jaws - will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late." The cast has now been confirmed for the new ITV series (Image: ITV ) Away from her aquatic adventures, Helen Skelton, established BBC presenter, offered a fleeting glimpse into the upcoming 15th series of Call The Midwife, a programme she has been intricately involved with since its inception in 2012, playing Trixie Franklin. Recently, Helen excited her social media followers with an update on Instagram, posting a charming photo of a small Nativity setup located within Nonnatus House and captioning it: "Summer nativity scenes," hinting that production for the beloved Christmas special was still underway. Helen shared a glimpse of the Christmas special (Image: BBC ) Fans are full of anticipation as this year's double Christmas episode is set to intrigue audiences as it switches between the usual setting of Poplar and a departure to Hong Kong. Moreover, eight more series are rumoured to be gracing screens on BBC One starting January 2026, following the festive episodes. Audiences can look forward to catching SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, coming soon to ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player. Article continues below Call the Midwife enthusiasts can binge-watch past episodes on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly and Call the Midwife stars to swim with sharks in new ITV show
The new reality show will see celebrities tasked with completing hair-raising challenges in shark infested waters ITV has announced the line up for its brand-new wildlife-meets-entertainment series SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, and the casting is nearly as exciting as the show's premise. SHARK! is set to air this year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of arguably the most famous shark attack film of all time, Jaws. In the ITV reality series seven well-known figures, including Strictly Come Dancing's Ade Adepitan and Call the Midwife's Helen George, will dive headfirst into shark-infested waters in the Bahamas. Also joining the cast are Sir Lenny Henry, comedians Ross Noble and Lucy Punch, McFly bassist Dougie Poynter, and Countdown co-host Rachel Riley. Each celeb will be tasked with facing their fear of sharks through a series of adrenaline-filled challenges they will have to complete underwater. The series has been filmed on the island of Bimini, which is known as the shark capital of the world. Thankfully celebs will get the chance to slowly build up their shark tolerance by starting off with swimming alongside safer species, before progressing to hammerheads, bull sharks, and even the formidable tiger shark. The show is being produced by Plimsoll Productions, who hope to blend entertainment with a strong message about conservation. Alongside their nail-biting adventures, the celebs will also learn about the ecological importance of sharks, which play a critical part in keeping our oceans healthy. A synopsis for the ITV show teased: "The celebrities will confront their greatest fear – sharks. Their first-hand experiences will provide immeasurable excitement and new perspective; they'll come to appreciate sharks' valuable place in our ecosystem, recognising that a world without these creatures is more frightening than one with them." Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, shared: "We're super excited to be combining the work of Plimsoll – a Blue Chip natural history production company – with the expertise of ITV Entertainment. SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime challenge for some of the bravest celebrities out there." Karen Plumb, Head of Factual Entertainment at Plimsoll Productions, added: "The team at Plimsoll is uniquely positioned to pioneer this format that blends conservation with wildly entertaining pop culture. "Our fish-out-of-water spin – delivering 50 years after Jaws – will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late." As well as facing their fears underwater, the cast will be tasked with land-based challenges designed to push their physical and emotional boundaries, all while learning from leading marine experts about the threats sharks face in today's oceans.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters' brave line-up revealed where stars swim with sharks
The brave stars taking the plunge in new reality series SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters have been revealed from Call the Midwife star Helen George to Countdown's Rachel Riley. Forget SAS: Who Dares Wins and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, celebrities will be confronting their fear of sharks on this new reality series format. To mark the major milestone of 50 years of the three-time Oscar-winning film Jaws, ocean-phobic celebrities will swim with sharks. Filmed in the shark capital of the world, AKA the Bahamas, the stars will be pushed to their limits. They will be diving with different sharks and the breeds will get more dangerous each time. The show is filmed on the Bahamas island Bimini where there are 7-10 different breeds of sharks. On the island there are Hammerheads, Bull sharks and Tiger sharks. The stars must tackle fear inducing challenges head on while learning about the important role of sharks in the ocean. Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning ITV said: "SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters promises to be a once in a lifetime challenge for some of the bravest celebrities out there." Karen Plumb, Head of Factual Entertainment, Plimsoll Productions added: "We're constantly looking for innovative approaches to wildlife storytelling and are certain that our fish-out-of-water spin — delivering 50 years after Jaws — will transform the world's perception of these critical predators before it's too late." So who are the courageous celebrities diving with sharks? Rachel Riley, 39, is best known as the co-presenter of Channel 4 show Countdown and its spin off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. The mathematics graduate has undertaken a totally different challenge by swimming with sharks in the Bahamas. She teases on Instagram of the experience: "I'll finally be able to talk about what was a completely life changing experience. You'll wish I was still embargoed for how much I'll want to talk about it. One more sleep…!" Actor Helen George, 40, is best known for her role as Trixie in BBC show Call The Midwife but she has a new unexpected role this year. She has experimented with reality TV before, having starred on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 but this time she's heading to the Bahamas to swim with sharks. Of the experience, she says: "One of the most insane experiences of my life, learning about this incredible creatures, with equally incredible humans." McFly's Dougie Poynter, 37, is putting his bravery to the test once again. It's been more than a decade since he was crowned the king of the jungle on I'm a Me Out of Here! in 2011. Now he's stepping back into the reality TV world with a stint on SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters. As a supporter of environmental causes, he has previously released a children's book Plastic Sucks! You Can Make A Difference to raise awareness about the small changes we can make to help save the planet. Sir Lenny Henry, 66, says he keeps saying no to Strictly — so instead he said yes to diving with sharks! The British-Jamaican comedian, actor and writer has been on our screens since he was 16 years old but he has never done anything as daring as SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters before. Paralympic medalist and TV presenter Ade Adepitan, 52, has set another huge goal to achieve as he goes diving with sharks. Of the adventure, he says: "I'm buzzing to announce I'm diving into a brand new show — SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters with these legends!" Stand-up comedian and actor Ross Noble, 48, has made regular appearances on Have I Got News for You? No doubt the funnyman will be cracking jokes as he conquers the real-life fears of sharks on the new reality series. Lucy Punch, 47, is immediately recognisable as Amanda in the BBC sitcoms Motherland and Amandaland. The actor is back on our TVs soon again with an unforeseen challenge. This time, she is going to be in the water with sharks for real on SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters. SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters is coming soon to ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
