Latest news with #LaurenOakley
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly star gets chance to reboot career with C5 doc revealing Britain's favourite motorway service station
Rod McPhee, TV Editor Published: Invalid Date, Never let it be said appearing on Strictly Come Dancing doesn't put you on the fast lane to renewed fame and fortune — just look at last year's runner-up Jb Gill. The former JLS singer turned farmer and TV host is getting the chance to reboot his career courtesy of Channel 5 with a one-off documentary on a surprising topic. Jb will host Britain's Favourite Service Station, in which he stops off to look at our long-standing love of these roadside retreats which, apparently, are something of a national institution. A TV insider said: 'Joking aside, this is a show that will probably get pretty impressive viewing figures. After all, service stations are a bit of a guilty pleasure for most of us. 'Though it is still a bit of a surprise to see someone has come up with the idea of devoting an entire show to looking at them. 'Even more surprising is the fact they've got a former pop star in as the host, but execs seem to think it will work.' Jb and his pro dance partner Lauren Oakley came second on Strictly last December after a sensational run on the 22nd series. He was originally paired with Amy Dowden, who had to drop out after week six due to illness. Since then he has been pretty quiet, despite the fact he has shifted his focus from JLS to carving out a television career. In the new hour-long show, Jb will be travelling up and down the nation's motorways, and discovering what makes some service stations more popular than others. This isn't all based on a random whim by Channel 5 chiefs, however. The show is in conjunction with a genuine poll by consumer champions Which? identifying the best and worst. Jb will be revealing which is our number one roadside stop-off, and which is parked at the bottom of the list. The suspense is killing me. Ekin-Su Culculoglu has landed a huge new Netflix show as her star continues to rise in the USA. The Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother star is now in reality series Inside, alongside a string of famous Americans. 4 She went to the States just after Love Island All Stars in January to film for the show, a huge YouTube hit which was then bought by Netflix. Ekin is a fan favourite there due to her stint last year on the US version of The Traitors. A TV source said: 'Ekin flew to America just after All Stars to film Inside and it's all wrapped and in the can.' Inside sees ten celebrities locked in a house where they compete for a prize fund. The source added: 'The irony that Ekin had such an awful time on Celebrity Big Brother but went and did another strikingly similar show won't be lost on telly fans.' The finale of Doctor Who 's latest series will be available globally in its first ever worldwide premiere. The Reality War will air on BBC One and Disney+ simultaneously in a prime-time evening slot on May 31. A synopsis teases: 'The Doctor is doomed, Belinda is lost, Ruby is trapped …' Sophie's Geordie u-turn Just weeks after quitting Geordie Shore amid a pay row, Sophie Kasaei has returned to the MTV series. Sophie, who has been on the hit reality show on and off since its 2011 debut, joined the rest of the cast in Portugal, alongside boyfriend Jordan Brook, after her team pulled a dramatic u-turn by coming to a resolution over wages. Insiders told me the dispute was resolved after eleventh-hour talks with show bosses. A source said: 'Execs were determined to keep Sophie in the show and didn't want to lose her, so after some last-minute meetings, they managed to secure a deal everyone was happy with. 'Sophie and Jordan missed the beginning of filming, but they stunned the cast over the weekend when they turned up to surprise everyone.' EastEnders is working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People on a new storyline as Lauren and Peter's son is diagnosed with a visual impairment. Struggling to settle Jimmy, Lauren (Jac Jossa) takes him for tests. The results shock her and Peter (Thomas Law). Elaine's seniors salute West End legend Elaine Paige will lead the cast of a new sitcom about retirement. Take a Bow, written by the mastermind behind the Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson comedy Murder, They Hope, will look at ageing in a similar format to Netflix's popular Grace and Frankie. Elaine's own production company will be behind the series, which will feature an international cast to be announced soon. Writer Jason Cook teased to industry website Broadcast that the programme will aim to 'show that life really starts once you get that awful work stuff out the way'. Elaine added: 'It's a bold, funny celebration of friendship, freedom, and the joy of still being very much alive.'
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing bosses 'are in talks with a HUGE British dancer and choreographer' to join next season's professional line up
Strictly Come Dancing producers are reportedly in talks with a huge British dancer and choreographer to join next season's professional line up. Professional dancer Luke Miller, who has been performing since he was five, has made several appearances as a guest dancer on the show in the last few years. But he is now believed to be in talks to join the BBC pro dancing team as a permanent member, according to The Sun. An insider told the publication: 'Luke has so much experience and is already loved by everyone so he seems like a very obvious fit. 'There have been some very big clues recently that haven't gone unnoticed. Everyone thinks it's just a matter of time before Luke is announced.' The award-winning dancer has joined the team for Strictly experience weekends, which will take place in Warner Hotels across the UK. The spin off part of the show are typically billed as a chance for guests to meet the BBC show's well-known professional dancers. Luke is on the line up alongside Kai Widdrington, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsakis, Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk. In 2024 Luke was asked to join the team to assist with choreography for some routines and is currently working with Kai on his solo tour. Strictly bosses revealed to the publication the list of pro dancers who would be returning to the show this year. The list included Katya, Jowita Pryzstal, Kai and 2024's winner Dianne Buswell- who took home the glitterball with celebrity partner Chris McCausland. Nadiya Bychkova, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Gorka Márquez, Karen Hauer, Lauren Oakley, Luba , Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Vito Coppola and Michelle are all also returning for this years season. During the start of his dancing career, Luke saw huge success including a British, European and World Junior Champion all before the age of 20. Luke's TV credits and appearances also included The UK National Television Awards and the popular 'Britain's Got Talent' making the semi-finals. Further stage credits include being a dancer in Backlash Ballroom 2017/2018, UK Pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk 2018 and joined Burn The Floor onboard Norwegian Cruise lines in 2019. In recent years, the Strictly pro lineup has seen Italian dancers Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni be axed following complaints about their conduct in the training room. Giovanni faced bullying accusations from former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington while Graziano 'kicked' ex-Love Island star Zara McDermott during rehearsals. There were also reports of a 'mass cull' with producers keen to revamp the Strictly pro cast. Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said : 'The excitement is already building ahead of the new series and in addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning Pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new Professional Dancers to the line up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025.' As well as the pros taking part in the competition itself, all of them will be taking to the floor each week in group routines.
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Last chance to nominate for BBC WM Make a Difference Awards
It is the last chance to nominate people and organisations for this year's BBC Radio WM Make a Difference awards recognise ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their include The Volunteer Award, the Green Award and the Community Group Award, given to those who have changed the lives of others in their categories for 2025 are the Active Award, for those who have used sport as a way of improving the lives of others in their community and the Young Hero Award, for someone under 16 who has made a positive impact. This year, judges include Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Strictly Come Dancing's Lauren Oakley. Last year, Ben Newman, aka Spudman, won the community award for his work promoting and supporting the community of Tamworth. This year the TikTok star will be back as a judge. Former BBC Radio WM presenter Richie Anderson, now on Radio 2, will return as a judge this year along with BBC Midlands Today legend Nick Owen. The full list of categories this year is:The Volunteer Award, is awarded to an individual who makes a notable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help Young Hero Award, will be awarded to someone under 16 who has made a positive impact in their community or achieved something Great Neighbour Award, is awarded to an individual who helps to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work in, either on a regular basis or through a single act of Active Award, awarded to an individual or group of people who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their Animal Award, is awarded to either a remarkable animal that improves people's lives or an individual or group of people who improve the welfare of Green Award, which is awarded to an individual or group of people who improve or conserve their local Fundraiser Award, is awarded to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good Community Group Award is awarded to a group of people who have helped to change the lives of others within their details of how to nominate someone, go to the Make a Difference webpage, where you can also see full terms and our privacy are open now and close on 31 March at 17:00 winners will be announced at our Make a Difference Awards ceremony at the Birmingham Hippodrome in September. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
