Latest news with #HotGossip
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Arlene Phillips: ‘My biggest disappointment? Being let go from Strictly'
Born in Lancashire, Arlene Phillips, 82, created the dance group Hot Gossip in the 1970s. She went on to become a world-renowned choreographer, and was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004-8. In 2021, she was made a dame for her services to dance and charity and in 2024 received an Olivier award for her work on Guys and Dolls. Her current shows include Starlight Express and A Midsummer Night's Dream in London. She is an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and is supporting its Forget Me Not appeal. She lives with her partner in London and has two daughters. What is your most treasured possession? An old biscuit tin, which was my mum's jewellery box – she passed away when I was a teenager. Describe yourself in three words Loving, creative, demanding. What has been your biggest disappointment? Being let go from Strictly. Would you choose fame or anonymity? Fame, because I had a taste of it. Who is your celebrity crush? It's always been, since I first met him, David Tennant. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Sneaking cheese from the fridge. Aside from a property, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? A Biba dress when I really couldn't afford it. It was every scrap of my money and I've never parted with it. What is your most unappealing habit? Never sitting still at a meal: if anybody drops a crumb or spills a bit of sauce I go and get the kitchen roll and wipe it up. What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating. What is the worst job you've done? In a Dagenham factory at 6am, picking soldiers' greatcoats from wars around the world to sell at the market in Chelsea. I smelled like mothballs, and no one would come near me. Which book are you ashamed not to have read? The Bible. What is your greatest fear? Dying. What does love feel like? Like you've got hot-water bottles all over you. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion What has been your closest brush with the law? I was travelling late at night from Strictly to a country cottage. I thought someone was following me, and the faster I drove, the more this follower was shining lights on me. Then I realised it was a police car! They laughed. It didn't occur to me that I had been speeding in the first place. What do you consider your greatest achievement? My daughters and granddaughters. What keeps you awake at night? One after the other, thoughts come banging in – and it's no sleep for you tonight, dearie. What would your superpower be? Good health for all. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I'm just coming. When did you last cry, and why? I play Classic FM in the car – emotional music brings me to tears thinking about people I've loved and lost. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Life is never fair. How would you like to be remembered? Kind, thoughtful and gave damn good advice.
The Guardian
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Arlene Phillips: ‘My biggest disappointment? Being let go from Strictly'
Born in Lancashire, Arlene Phillips, 82, created the dance group Hot Gossip in the 1970s. She went on to become a world-renowned choreographer, and was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004-8. In 2021, she was made a dame for her services to dance and charity and in 2024 received an Olivier award for her work on Guys and Dolls. Her current shows include Starlight Express and A Midsummer Night's Dream in London. She is an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and is supporting its Forget Me Not appeal. She lives with her partner in London and has two daughters. What is your most treasured possession? An old biscuit tin, which was my mum's jewellery box – she passed away when I was a teenager. Describe yourself in three words Loving, creative, demanding. What has been your biggest disappointment? Being let go from Strictly. Would you choose fame or anonymity? Fame, because I had a taste of it. Who is your celebrity crush? It's always been, since I first met him, David Tennant. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Sneaking cheese from the fridge. Aside from a property, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? A Biba dress when I really couldn't afford it. It was every scrap of my money and I've never parted with it. What is your most unappealing habit? Never sitting still at a meal: if anybody drops a crumb or spills a bit of sauce I go and get the kitchen roll and wipe it up. What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating. What is the worst job you've done? In a Dagenham factory at 6am, picking soldiers' greatcoats from wars around the world to sell at the market in Chelsea. I smelled like mothballs, and no one would come near me. Which book are you ashamed not to have read? The Bible. What is your greatest fear? Dying. What does love feel like? Like you've got hot-water bottles all over you. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion What has been your closest brush with the law? I was travelling late at night from Strictly to a country cottage. I thought someone was following me, and the faster I drove, the more this follower was shining lights on me. Then I realised it was a police car! They laughed. It didn't occur to me that I had been speeding in the first place. What do you consider your greatest achievement? My daughters and granddaughters. What keeps you awake at night? One after the other, thoughts come banging in – and it's no sleep for you tonight, dearie. What would your superpower be? Good health for all. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I'm just coming. When did you last cry, and why? I play Classic FM in the car – emotional music brings me to tears thinking about people I've loved and lost. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Life is never fair. How would you like to be remembered? Kind, thoughtful and gave damn good advice.
The Herald Scotland
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Claudia Winkleman ‘incredibly grateful' for MBE in King's Birthday Honours
Winkleman, 53, said: 'I am incredibly grateful to receive this honour. 'It's a real privilege to work with extraordinarily talented people and I have only got this because of them. So this is for the BBC, the traitors and the faithful, for pianos and for the cha cha. 'I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.' Claudia Winkleman joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 (Matt Crossick/PA) Born and raised in London, she studied history of art at Cambridge University and after graduating began her career as a TV and radio presenter, fronting a range of BBC TV shows including Comic Relief and The Great British Sewing Bee. She also presented on BBC Radio 2 until 2024, hosting different programmes on the station including the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip, the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show and Claudia On Sunday. In 2004, she joined BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, presenting its weekday companion show It Takes Two until she passed it to broadcaster Zoe Ball, with her taking on the Sunday night results show alongside Daly. The presenter joined Daly for the main show every Saturday from 2014, after Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down. The Bafta-winning presenter is also behind the hit BBC game show The Traitors and won best entertainment performance at the 2023 awards. Claudia Winkleman at the Bafta TV Awards 2024 (Jordan Pettitt/PA) She will be fronting its charity spin-off series, The Celebrity Traitors, in which 19 famous faces will enter the castle in the Highlands, including comedian Alan Carr, actor and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry and retired diver Tom Daley. Stephen Lambert, who is also recognised in the King's Birthday Honours and is the founder and chief executive of Studio Lambert, said: 'I'm thrilled that Claudia Winkleman is being honoured too; her brilliant hosting has played such a key role in the success of The Traitors.' Studio Lambert is the production company behind The Traitors, Gogglebox, Race Across the World, and Squid Game: The Challenge. Winkleman hosts the Channel 4 general knowledge gameshow One Question, where she recently described wanting to cry after a father and daughter won £100,000, making history on the programme for winning the top prize without looking at all of the possible answers. She also presents Channel 4's The Piano, in which she is joined by singer-songwriter Mika and Grammy-winner Jon Batiste, as they hunt for Britain's most talented undiscovered pianists. She will host a concert for this year's BBC Proms, including a matinee and evening Traitors-themed performance, which is expected to have a range of famous classical works, alongside new arrangements of some of the music from the popular psychological reality programme. Winkleman is a trustee of the The British Museum and a patron of Child Bereavement UK.
South Wales Guardian
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly reportedly named in King's Birthday Honours
The two TV presenters, who have fronted the series together since 2014, will be recognised in this year's list which will be revealed on Friday, The Daily Mail said. Queen Camilla, who attends Silver Swans – classes for elderly ballet dancers run by the Royal Academy of Dance – is known to tune in to BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and has described herself as one of Strictly's 'greatest fans'. Winkleman, 53, is also behind the gameshow, The Traitors, for which she took home the 2023 award for Entertainment Performance at the Baftas. The London-born broadcaster formerly presented on BBC Radio Two until 2024, helming different slots and programmes on the station including the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip, the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show and Claudia On Sunday. Her co-host, Daly, 56, presented the series since it first launched in 2004 alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth until he stepped down from the role in 2014. During that time the model took part in the 2008 Strictly Children In Need special where she won the title with professional dancer Anton Du Beke. The recognition comes amid a turbulent year for the Strictly team with reports alleging inappropriate behaviour from contestants and professional dancers. Most recently, EastEnders star James Borthwick was suspended from the BBC after a video emerged of the actor using a disabled slur on set of the dance programme. This comes after Welsh opera singer and BBC Radio Wales presenter, Wynne Evans, said he had been dropped by the BBC, following an apology saying that he used 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing tour. In 2024, the BBC launched a review into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice after accusations from contestant Amanda Abbington of 'inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying' behaviour during her time on the 2023 series. Italian dancer Pernice, who 'rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour', and welcomed the conclusion of a BBC review which upheld 'some, but not all' of the complaints made by the actress against him. David Beckham is expected be awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours, according to reports last week, having previously been awarded an OBE in 2003.
Rhyl Journal
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly reportedly named in King's Birthday Honours
The two TV presenters, who have fronted the series together since 2014, will be recognised in this year's list which will be revealed on Friday, The Daily Mail said. Queen Camilla, who attends Silver Swans – classes for elderly ballet dancers run by the Royal Academy of Dance – is known to tune in to BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and has described herself as one of Strictly's 'greatest fans'. Winkleman, 53, is also behind the gameshow, The Traitors, for which she took home the 2023 award for Entertainment Performance at the Baftas. The London-born broadcaster formerly presented on BBC Radio Two until 2024, helming different slots and programmes on the station including the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip, the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show and Claudia On Sunday. Her co-host, Daly, 56, presented the series since it first launched in 2004 alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth until he stepped down from the role in 2014. During that time the model took part in the 2008 Strictly Children In Need special where she won the title with professional dancer Anton Du Beke. The recognition comes amid a turbulent year for the Strictly team with reports alleging inappropriate behaviour from contestants and professional dancers. Most recently, EastEnders star James Borthwick was suspended from the BBC after a video emerged of the actor using a disabled slur on set of the dance programme. This comes after Welsh opera singer and BBC Radio Wales presenter, Wynne Evans, said he had been dropped by the BBC, following an apology saying that he used 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing tour. In 2024, the BBC launched a review into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice after accusations from contestant Amanda Abbington of 'inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying' behaviour during her time on the 2023 series. Italian dancer Pernice, who 'rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour', and welcomed the conclusion of a BBC review which upheld 'some, but not all' of the complaints made by the actress against him. David Beckham is expected be awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours, according to reports last week, having previously been awarded an OBE in 2003.
