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The Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Dover 24/7: Britain's Busiest Port review – you won't believe the fact about the bananas!
This documentary is a meat-and-two-veg slice of British television, comfortable and familiar and sturdy. It's the sort of TV that doesn't ask much of you, only that you raise an eyebrow, nod along, and say yes, that is an interesting fact about bananas, I'd never thought about that before. The statistics are plentiful and free-flowing, so much so that without them being breathlessly relayed every few seconds, you suspect it could have been a 20-minute show. Even so: 3m bananas! Which must be stored at exactly 14C (57F), so they don't ripen too soon! Dover is the UK's biggest ferry port. According to the film-makers, 10 million passengers pass through it every year, as does a third of Britain's trade with the EU. During the summer, upwards of 10,000 freight vehicles and 15,000 passenger vehicles make use of it daily. It's a busy place, with multiple purposes, and many different teams, attempting to form a gigantic sort of interlocking puzzle. The show borrows from various sections of the jobs-based reality-documentary toolbox. As a result, it feels like a bit of a hybrid of many other programmes. It's Border Force meets Traffic Cops meets Inside the Factory, with a tiny splash of late-90s series Airline, though sadly it is nowhere near as camp as that minor classic. It begins with the Border Force element. The Port of Dover has its own police force, of 'nearly 40' officers, in charge of the safety and security of passengers. We see two of them patrolling the white cliffs, to check, excitingly, whether anyone is carrying out 'hostile reconnaissance'. They might be a famous tourist attraction and a renowned beauty spot, but the cliffs also offer a view of the entire port, perfect for bad actors to do some spying. It does make you wonder if making television viewers aware of this is in the best interests of national security. But there are no spies today, merely some evidence of alcohol consumption. They stop a man driving to Europe from Birmingham, because he's got eight people in the car, three of whom are children not wearing seatbelts, and when they check his documents, that turns out to be the least of his worries. Then the radios crackle with a message that a freight driver is claiming to have a gun and is 'irate', and everyone runs. It looks like the camera crew has struck gold. This is properly exciting. But it turns out to be a misunderstanding involving flashcards, and the driver gets escorted away for the day, with a slap on the wrist. Minor dramas bubble up to the surface, then pop, and dissipate gently. On a national security level, it's reassuring that there is so little threat here, even though it does make for steady television. Michelle, the duty operations officer, has got a busy day ahead: she needs to figure out how to get a convoy of six coaches on board the ferry to Dunkirk, without blocking the lanes. She manages to pull it off without a hitch. We get to meet the ferry's head chef, Paolo, who caters to the coach passengers, and has a run on fish and chips. I am no logistics mastermind, but if you asked me what six coach-loads of passengers of a certain age, travelling to Dunkirk, might want to eat, fish and chips wouldn't be an outside bet. I am also surprised to learn that ferries have head chefs, after recently travelling on a ferry myself – not this company, I should add – and eating what can only be described as the most beige meal that has ever been plated up, and paying £25 for the privilege. We learn that to compensate the residents of Dover for the fact that 3.8m vehicles pass through the town every year, and traffic can occasionally get a bit much, the Port of Dover throws an annual regatta for locals, to give back to the community. Unfortunately, on the day, it is very windy, but it goes quite well. That's all there is to it. Running a busy port sounds like a difficult task, but everyone here seems pretty competent, and on the basis of this documentary, it all looks as if it's going well. Again, reassuring, in terms of that safe pair of hands, if not the most lively television you'll ever see. Apart from the bananas, that is. They arrive on a boat so big that it needs tiny boats to help it dock. It requires remote-controlled cranes to offload the endless crates of bananas. One of the cranes gets stuck. The weather starts to turn. The cargo ship must leave quickly, before the tide goes out. The music is dramatic, the stakes are high. I'll leave you to guess how it all turns out. Dover 24/7: Britain's Busiest Port is on Channel 4.
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Celebrity Big Brother star is late shock signing for Celebs Go Dating – and vows to WALK OUT if date is boring
The star previously toyed with the idea of joining the dating show but 'felt CBB was a better career move' READY TO GO DATING Celebrity Big Brother star is late shock signing for Celebs Go Dating – and vows to WALK OUT if date is boring Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHE'S not long been out of the Celebrity Big Brother house, but now Donna Preston has joined another reality series. The comedian is a late signing to the latest series of E4's Celebs Go Dating. 4 Celebrity Big Brother star Donna Preston has joined Celebs Go Dating Credit: Raw Image Ltd 4 Donna will appear on the dating show alongside Kerry Katona, Mark Labbett, Jon Lee, Olivia Hawkins and Louis Russell Credit: Channel 4 Donna will appear with Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona, The Chase's Mark Labbett, S Club 7's Jon Lee, Love Island's Olivia Hawkins and Too Hot To Handle's Louis Russell. She completes the line-up following the exit of Christine McGuinness, who, after a few days, realised she wasn't yet ready to date in the public eye. She said: 'I'm buzzing to be joining the show and finally crack the code on what men really want, besides snacks and not being asked what they're thinking. 'I'm intrigued to meet new people, but let's be honest, if a date's boring, I won't waste anyone's time. "Life's too short to sit through tales of someone's coin collection, I'll be gone before the starter arrives.' The Apocalypse Wow host was previously tipped to take part in the E4 dating show before joining Celebrity Big Brother last month. An insider told me at the time: 'Donna was toying with dipping her toe in the dating pool on TV and had been in talks with bosses on the E4 show, but then she was also offered CBB. 'She felt it was the better career move.' CHERRY SOLD ON PADDY 4 Paddy McGuinness on BBC's Inside The Factory with co-host Cherry Healey Credit: BBC PADDY MCGUINNESS is a man in demand – but his co-host Cherry Healey is not surprised. He was already filming Channel 4 reality series Tempting Fortune when he added the BBC's Inside The Factory to his roster after replacing Gregg Wallace. Watch shock moment Mickey Rourke 'weight shames' Donna Preston just hours after formal warning over homophobic slur Paddy and Cherry made their debut together on the series, which takes a deep dive into the making of some of the nation's favourite snacks, earlier this year and are due to return for another later this year on BBC Two. Cherry said: 'I can see why he's at the top of his game, because you give him a script and he works with it really fast, he just knows how to 'Paddify' it. He's really good at everything.' She added: 'We've got a couple of abroad trips coming up for the show. It's utterly delicious, don't be hungry when you watch it.' RETURN A 'SAUR THING 4 Hit BBC science series Walking With Dinosaurs is returning to our screens from Sunday Credit: BBC AFTER a quarter of a century, hit BBC science series Walking With Dinosaurs is returning to our screens, packed full of new discoveries. But even with the latest science, palaeontologist Dr Nizar Ibrahim, who features on the show, says there is no way of creating a real-life Jurassic Park. He said: 'With dinosaurs, the genetic material isn't in the state we need to bring them back. 'Though, dinosaurs haven't really become extinct – birds are surviving dinosaurs.' Walking With Dinosaurs airs on Sunday at 6.25pm on BBC One. DELAYED ITV comedy C*A*U*G*H*T will finally hit screens from June 1. The show, which had its release date pushed back over a year, follows four Australian soldiers, who are captured when mistaken as Americans. They feature in a viral hostage video that propels them to global fame.
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Celebrity Big Brother star is late shock signing for Celebs Go Dating – and vows to WALK OUT if date is boring
SHE'S not long been out of the Celebrity Big Brother house, but now Donna Preston has joined another reality series. The comedian is a late signing to the latest series of E4's Celebs Go Dating. Advertisement 4 Celebrity Big Brother star Donna Preston has joined Celebs Go Dating Credit: Raw Image Ltd 4 Donna will appear on the dating show alongside Kerry Katona, Mark Labbett, Jon Lee, Olivia Hawkins and Louis Russell Credit: Channel 4 She completes the line-up following the exit of Christine McGuinness, who, after a few days, realised she wasn't yet ready to date in the public eye. She said: 'I'm buzzing to be joining the show and finally crack the code on what men really want, besides snacks and not being asked what they're thinking. 'I'm intrigued to meet new people, but let's be honest, if a date's boring, I won't waste anyone's time. Advertisement READ MORE IN TV "Life's too short to sit through tales of someone's coin collection, I'll be gone before the starter arrives.' An insider told me at the time: 'Donna was toying with dipping her toe in the dating pool on TV and had been in talks with bosses on the E4 show, but then she was also offered CBB. 'She felt it was the better career move.' Advertisement Most read in News TV Exclusive CHERRY SOLD ON PADDY 4 Paddy McGuinness on BBC's Inside The Factory with co-host Cherry Healey Credit: BBC PADDY MCGUINNESS is a man in demand – but his co-host He was already filming Channel 4 reality series Watch shock moment Mickey Rourke 'weight shames' Donna Preston just hours after formal warning over homophobic slur Paddy and Cherry made their debut together on the series, which takes a deep dive into the making of some of the nation's favourite snacks, earlier this year and are due to return for another later this year on BBC Two. Advertisement Cherry said: 'I can see why he's at the top of his game, because you give him a script and he works with it really fast, he just knows how to 'Paddify' it. He's really good at everything.' She added: 'We've got a couple of abroad trips coming up for the show. It's utterly delicious, don't be hungry when you watch it.' RETURN A 'SAUR THING 4 Hit BBC science series Walking With Dinosaurs is returning to our screens from Sunday Credit: BBC AFTER a quarter of a century, hit BBC science series Advertisement But even with the latest science, palaeontologist Dr Nizar Ibrahim, who features on the show, says there is no way of creating a real-life Jurassic Park. He said: 'With dinosaurs, the genetic material isn't in the state we need to bring them back. 'Though, dinosaurs haven't really become extinct – birds are surviving dinosaurs.' Walking With Dinosaurs airs on Sunday at 6.25pm on BBC One. Advertisement DELAYED ITV comedy C*A*U*G*H*T will finally hit screens from June 1. The show, which had its release date pushed back over a year, follows four Australian soldiers, who are captured when mistaken as Americans. They feature in a viral hostage video that propels them to global fame.
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
BBC presenter and SAS star in shock feud with best friend after job together turns sour
A TELLY favourite and her best mate are locking horns after their latest joint project turned sour. After their collaboration on a new book faltered, one author was praised for speaking out as "part of my healing." 6 6 6 Writer Alexis Lee, who found fame with her fashion blog Style Me Sunday and book Feeling Myself, took to her Instagram grid for a lengthy post exposing her feud with Cherry Healey. She opened up on her clash with the TV presenter, who tackled Channel 4 's hit show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2024. In her caption, uploaded alongside a slew of text slides, Alexis posted her mindset behind her upload. She wrote: "Something I wanted to share. It won't change anything but at least I can say I used my voice. This is an important part of my healing." Her upload featured white text on a grey background, and recalled the pair were "incredibly happy" to have bagged a book deal with an "great" publisher. Yet former midwife Alexis, who was formerly known as Natalie, told how the tide of good vibes apparently turned mid-way through the project. She alleged: "Since the book deal in 2022 and after writing at least 70/80 per cent of the book my co author Cherry Healey pulled out. "It coincided with her TV work increasing at the time, so I can only assume this was the real reason." The Sun has gone to Cherry's rep for comment. Alexis then alleged Cherry had told her she was "difficult" and "intimidating" to work with, claims she branded as "ridiculous." TV star Cherry Healey goes Instagram official with handsome new boyfriend as he races in Marathon Alexis claimed her former pal was resistant to suggestions she had her own literary agent. She added: "When she told me she wanted out, the book was almost finished. "I explained I couldn't afford to pull out as I was banking on the income and I wouldn't be able to pay back the advance as well as all the work we'd both put into the project." Alexis continued: "Aside from the money it's the betrayal and lack of care/kindness from someone who I viewed as one of my closest friends that hurts most. Cherry Healey's TV career CHERRY Healey is a firm favourite with telly fans. Yet what has she starred in? Cherry is best known for her stint on the BBC, where she made documentaries tackling modern life's problems. They covered topics from money to anti-aging products to childbirth and sex. She then became the face of BBC2's Inside The Factory in 2015, alongside Gregg Wallace. In 2024, she returned to the show alongside new co-host Paddy McGuinness. In the same year, she also starred in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Cherry took on the shortened SAS course alongside Boris Johnson's sister, Rachel, and actor John Barrowman, who quit just 32 minutes into the first episode. "I think we underestimate friendship heartbreak sometimes. "But this and the repercussions of it rocked my entire world." Alexis vowed not to be silent on the issue in her final few slides of text. She vowed: "If you're gonna harm me - the whole house, the whole street and the neighbourhood will hear my voice even if it is accompanied by my last breath! "How's that for drama?" The duo were often seen attending events together, including the BAFTAs in 2023. They also collaborated and created a course, Manifest That S**t, with a series of straight-talking advice. The £45 course promised to help users "become the conscious creator of a fulfilling life." It included exercises, tasks and videos, which were emailed out twice a week. CHERRY'S TV CAREER Cherry is best known for her stint on BBC, where she made documentaries tackling modern life's problems. They covered topics from money to anti-aging products to childbirth and sex. She then became the face of BBC2's Inside The Factory in 2015, alongside Gregg Wallace. In 2024, she returned to the show alongside new co-host Paddy McGuinness. 6 6 6
