Latest news with #TVpresenters
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Gregg Wallace claims he was ‘touched and groped' during MasterChef filming
MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has claimed he was regularly "touched and groped" and subjected to sexual comments during the show's filming. Wallace stated he never made a formal complaint about these incidents, believing he would have addressed them privately. His claims emerge after a recent report upheld over half of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him on the programme. Wallace criticised the BBC's complaint handling process and suggested his experiences challenge the perception of TV presenters as bullies. He also defended former co-presenter John Torode, who was dropped after a racist language allegation, and addressed Rod Stewart's "tubby bully" comment.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘A sheer delight to watch': the 20 most lovable people on British television
There's a lot to be said for lovability on TV. Whether it's charming presenters or experts who entertain as they educate, we decided it was high time to salute the people who make our every day viewing a pleasure. Consider it a 'soft power list' of TV's most affable talents. The likes of Mel and Sue, Chris Packham, Clare Balding, Guy Martin, Kaleb Cooper, Roman Kemp, David Olusoga, Joe Lycett, AJ Odudu, Tom Allen and Stephen Mangan narrowly missed the cut. But they're all just an adorable viral moment away from breaking into the agreeable elite. Here's our selection of the people who cheer us up whenever they come on-screen. We'd love to hear yours, too. The fringe. The teak tan. The penchant for goth garb and daft gags. You know you're in safe hands when La Winkle is fronting something. Engaging, welcoming and effortlessly witty, she is the perfect mix of slickness and spontaneity. Happily, Winkleman also has impeccable taste in projects. The Traitors, The Piano, and Strictly Come Dancing are all killer, no filler. Probably the best presenter on primetime TV. The Middlesbrough mirth-maker's ascent to national treasure status has been joyous to behold. Emerging from the shadow of double act partner Vic Reeves, genial Mortimer's mischievous energy and funny bones have made him a bona fide hero. His heart condition prompted riverbank larks with Paul Whitehouse on Gone Fishing. His turns on Would I Lie To You? leave viewers breathless. He recently romped to victory on Last One Laughing UK, where even the professionally deadpan Richard Ayoade was powerless to resist. Whatcha gonna do? And away … Who'd have predicted that The X Factor finalist with Roland Rat's voice would be an award-winning broadcaster 15 years later? She is routinely underestimated by snobs but our Stace is steely and smart. She charmed the nation on I'm A Celebrity and was crowned Queen of the Jungle. Like a relatable Marie Kondo, Solomon is full of can-do compassion on decluttering series Sort Your Life Out. Even professionally hapless husband Joe Swash is made bearable by her winning presence on the couple's chaotic reality show. There's nobody you'd rather tend your herbaceous borders. 'Donty Mon', as Alan Partridge drunkenly called him, is the undisputed, well, don of TV horticulturalists. All muddy fingernails and crinkly smile, he eloquently conveys his wholesome passion for all things earthy. Don't even get me started on his loving relationships with dogs. I'll start over-watering from my eyes. A firm favourite since he eased our hangovers on cult teen strand T4 and managed to make a must-see. O'Leary's biggest primetime gig was hosting The X Factor in its imperial phase. He now helms weekly editions of This Morning alongside La Hammond, plus Reel Stories, Soccer Aid, and Silence is Golden. Nimble-witted with infectious enthusiasm, he always radiates good vibes. Deserves a bigger gig if you ask us. Another X Factor alumnus with a surprise second chapter. After going viral for his tear-sodden meltdown when put through to the live shows ('I can't breathe! Promise this ain't a wind-up?'), the resilient Rylan bounced back by winning Celebrity Big Brother. He has since become an in-demand host on Eurovision and This Morning. Far cleverer than he is given credit for, he's a Celebrity Gogglebox scene-stealer alongside Mummy Linda, while last year's BBC travelogue with Rob 'Judge' Rinder was an unexpected treat. As a superfan steeped in TV lore – see his unalloyed glee at his recent Doctor Who cameo – Rylan hits all the right beats with warmth and subversive wit. Proud owner of the most infectious laugh on TV, Hammond is always a sheer delight to watch, bab. She has brought a fresh energy to The Great British Bake Off, while her playful Friday stints co-hosting This Morning with Dermot O'Leary have become the flagging daytime fixture's weekly highlight. Hammond is one of the few people who could have conceivably taken over For the Love of Dogs from the much-missed Paul O'Grady. Last month, she finally got her own interview series, Alison Hammond's Big Weekend. Writer Jack Rooke even named the protagonist's goldfish after her in Big Boys. Can you pinpoint the moment when Sir Danforth of Dyer went from laddish joke to national gem? Calling David Cameron a 'twat' on live TV? Discovering his royal ancestry on Who Do You Think You Are? Providing the heart, soul and moustache of Jilly Cooper's Rivals? Turning the airwaves blue during his grilling by a neurodivergent panel on The Assembly? Either way, from Queen Vic landlord to masculinity guru, Dyer is a total ledge. It takes a lot for a financial journalist to win the public's affections but the money-saving expert has managed it. After well-received slots on Good Morning Britain and This Morning, the tireless campaigner landed his own primetime series, The Martin Lewis Money Show. The people's champion when it comes to banking, energy bills and other everyday rip-offs, Lewis is precise, practical and increasingly influential over government economic policy. An all-round good egg. Among the most universally adored faces on our screens, Davina is like the viewing nation's cool, canny big sister. She became synonymous with Big Brother during its Noughties pomp. McCall now plies her trade mainly on ITV as an empathetic presenter of Long Lost Family, a midlife matchmaker on My Dad, Your Mum and an excitable judge on The Masked Singer. Her menopause documentaries and heath battles have only made her more beloved. Ian Wright-Wright-Wright was a Marmite figure on the pitch but since swapping playing for punditry, he's become universally adored. This process accelerated when he was tearfully reunited on-screen with Mr Pigden, the teacher Wright called 'the first positive male figure in my life'. Wrighty brings a fan's passion and a frisson of spontaneity which livens up the dullest of matches. He gets the nod over fellow sporty types such as Micah Richards, Emma Hayes, Ally McCoist, Kelly Cates, Annabel Croft, Michael Johnson, Steve Cram, Freddie Flintoff and David 'Bumble' Lloyd to make our list. No TV academic wears their knowledge more lightly than the Cambridge mathematician. Determined to explode the stereotype that maths is boring, Fry frames it in populist ways that laypeople can understand – and she does so with an impish grin. Regular appearances on Radio 4, 6 Music and BBC Four led to her own BBC Two series, The Secret Genius of Modern Life. Fry made a moving, maths-heavy documentary about her recovery from cervical cancer and was resident number-cruncher on Channel 4's election coverage. Carol Vorderman for millennials, anyone? Having won best presenters at the viewer-voted National Television Awards for an astonishing 23 years running, it's safe to say that Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are the best at what they do. Standing in patented left-right formation, the cheeky geordie chipmunks steer many of our top-rated terrestrial entertainment franchises – I'm A Celebrity, Britain's Got Talent, Saturday Night Takeaway – with a glint in their eyes. The duo's chemistry and comic timing has been honed since their boyhood roles on Byker Grove. Watch the way they link the clips in the Aussie jungle this autumn and appreciate master craftsmen at work. Howay the lads. What's not to love about a great big cuddly bear of a man being moved to happy tears over a nice piece of crockery? The undisputed star of The Great Pottery Throwdown is ceramicist and expert judge Brymer Jones. His punk past can be seen in his sharp dress sense and penchant for anti-establishment designs. Keith's tendency to become emotional over clay is hugely heartwarming. It has become a badge of honour among the amateur potters to make him blub. Stop it, you'll set me off too. Last week's Glastonbury coverage became even more exciting when viewers spotted Zuhair 'Big Zuu' Hassan acting as hype man to his cousin, homegrown rapper AJ Tracey, on the Woodsies stage. The TV chef and grime MC from west London via Sierra Leone has won loyal fans for his rambunctious foodie travelogues. Big Zuu's Big Eats won two Baftas, at which he was endearingly surprised. When he scored the winning goal for the World XI at Soccer Aid last month, his face was a picture. The prolific TV producer didn't step in front of the camera until 2009 but quickly became a cult hero. An owlishly wise, gently witty presence on quiz shows Pointless and House of Games, he is always excellent value on panel shows. Osman's mega-selling Thursday Murder Club novels (the starry Netflix adaptation drops next month) and his pleasingly gossipy podcast with our own Marina Hyde, The Rest Is Entertainment, have only made him more admired. Nobody can carry a Channel 5 cruising series or lux travelogue like the Wakefield Whitney. All glitter, gags and good time glamour, she's like your camp auntie. The leather-lunged singer's appearances on Celebrity Gogglebox, alongside her makeup artist and best pal Sue, have only boosted her appeal. The unpretentious duo guzzle goblets of rosé and cackle away like the ultimate huns. While watching Bridgerton, McDonald cheerfully admitted that she lost her own virginity in the back of a parked Vauxhall van, not noticing that someone was siphoning off its petrol. What's not to love? The wry, twinkly Monty Python veteran has always been jolly nice but it is only in his latter-day career as a TV globetrotter that we witnessed just how all-round lovely he is. In Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, and Full Circle, he journeyed at ground level, engaging with the culture and winning the hearts of locals, just as he did viewers. The unfailingly polite, eternally apologetic Palin is like the nation's much-loved uncle. Aged 82, he's soon packing his bags again, with a Channel 5 trip to Venezuela this autumn. He has been TV's top documentarian for 30 years, blending award-winning journalism with a humane approach and deadpan humour. His nerdy, naive, bumbling Brit schtick isn't just adorable, it's hugely effective at disarming interviewees. Theroux has become an elder statesman, producing series such as Gods of Snooker and Boybands Forever, while mentoring next-gen documentary-makers such as Alice Levine and Jamali Maddix. He's as amusing as you might expect from a close mate of Adam and Joe – see his viral rap Jiggle Jiggle, as well as his entertaining celebrity interviews – and remains an unlikely sex symbol. Remember, his money don't jiggle, it folds. Who doesn't feel a warm glow when the legendary biologist appears on-screen? Or his reassuringly familiar whisper narrates some awe-inspiring wildlife footage? Someone without a heart, that's who. Having spent 70 mighty years as the face and voice of the BBC Natural History Unit, David Frederick Attenborough isn't just the nation's grandad. He's the planet's grandad. The perennially passionate mensch recently turned 99. Life (or TV) without him doesn't bear thinking about. Who did we forget? Who do you think are the most lovable people on TV? Let us know in the comments section below
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kirstie and Phil reveal 'what happens when the wheels come off' on Location, Location, Location anniversary special - and FINALLY broach the question that's been on everybody's lips
'Our relationship's lasted longer than most marriages,' Phil Spencer reminds Kirstie Allsopp, his Location, Location, Location co-presenter of 25 years, in a new programme marking the show's quarter-century milestone. Yet the sentimental moment is brought to an abrupt end when Phil adds, 'probably because we've never slept together' - a quip that sets the tone for 'Kirstie & Phil: Bleeps, Bloops & Best Bits'. His remark finally put paid to the question the pair are often asked. Kirsty then further consolidation the point by saying they had never been a couple. The two TV presenters agreed that their time together has actually been 'great fun', Phil, 55, and Kirstie, 53, cheerfully agree - but that's not to say it's been free from the faux pas that inevitably pepper any long partnership. In Channel 4 's amusing trip down memory lane, which aired this evening at 10pm, the pair took great pleasure in revisiting the hilarious moments which landed on the 'cutting-room floor'. From sibling-like taunting to slapstick humour, including a very near miss with a hidden trapdoor, the 20-minute show revealed 'what happens when the wheels come off'. And, crucially, it also provided a definitive answer to the question that's been on the tip of viewers' tongues for the past two-and-a-half decades. 'We have never been an item - but we are very good friends, most of the time,' Kirstie declares. Fans of the house-hunting show would, of course, be forgiven for thinking otherwise - the presenters' on-screen chemistry is undeniable while their playful banter is even better. Moving between the current day, with Phil and Kirstie sitting together reminiscing about the last 25 years, and shocking clips from previous episodes, the programme showcased 'belly laughs and bungled lines'. When, during filming for an episode of Location, Location, Location, Kirstie interrupted Phil's introduction, complaining that he sounded like he was ready to shoot himself, the pair laughed it off before Kirstie went into drama teacher mode and told her co-star to 'ramp it up'. There was also a period when Kirstie was 'permanently whacking' Phil - something she stopped doing only when his sister complained. Phil, however, gave as good as he got in the show, teasing Kirstie about her 'habitual potty mouth', a claim backed up with an expletive-filled montage. 'Why am I standing in a woodyard on the motorway in the p****** rain?' Kirstie exclaimed during one particularly challenging day of filming. 'Kirstie & Phil: Bleeps, Bloops & Best Bits' was equally packed with a number of highly unfortunate moments - which were nevertheless amusing. Among the hijinks, Phil fell backwards off a tiny, girls' bike one day and got stuck to a wrought-iron garden chair on another. On a third occasion, the pair were waiting at a train station when Phil asked his co-presenter if she'd ever smelt ice cream. Before Kirstie knew it, Phil had shoved her vanilla cone in her face leaving a splattering of the sweet treat across her nose. It seems neither of the co-presenters ever shied away from having fun at work. Both jumped at opportunities to bounce on property owners' trampolines while Phil gleefully enjoyed playing with a football when he pair were meant to be filming. A desperate Kirstie pleaded: 'Stop it! It's like being with my boys.' Yet, no less amusing than Phil and Kirstie's unique dynamic were the house viewings themselves. Kirstie readily admitted that viewings 'can go wrong in a million different ways', from taking house-hunters to a property they've already seen - and rejected - to almost slipping through a trapdoor that had been carpeted over. On another occasion, Kirstie took a house-hunter to a property whose ceiling had fallen in, leaving it looking more like a building site than a dream home. And then there were the times when the viewers were sorely disappointed by the houses they'd been taken to see. One man didn't mince his words when, utterly unimpressed by a property's exterior, said: 'It could be Buckingham Palace inside, it doesn't matter.' Similarly, a woman who was shown a home with low ceilings and wooden beans declared: 'I feel like I've been put in a coffin.' But, while there have undoubtedly been times when Phil and Kirstie have got it wrong, there have also been regrettable moments when 'the property gods are angry' and the co-presenters have had to 'expect the unexpected'. During filming one day, Kirstie was forced to ask members of the TV crew to 'Google wasp sting' while on another occasion she was struck down by an 'obstacle', namely a fence she'd missed. Yet, a 'bleeps and bloops' programme about a show that's been running for 25 years would be incomplete if it didn't recall the presenters' fashion faux pas. Not only was Phil forced to do a viewing in trousers that were ripped down the back - a mishap that Kirstie delighted in and even pointed out to their house-hunters - but he was also instructed to lie down on the floor in a brand new suit. For her part, Kirstie is 'haunted' by some of her fashion choices since Location, Location, Location first aired in the year 2000. She fiercely regrets 'that fringe' from the early days - 'what was I thinking?' - along with the businesslike skirt suits she used to wear - 'not me'. Despite racing through all the things that went wrong, tonight's show equally made it clear why Location, Location, Location has lasted so long. More than once Phil has moaned that Kirstie's 'mad' - while she has never missed an opportunity to tell him he's 'failed' - but the truth is that the co-presenters share a special bond having 'grown up' together. Describing Kirstie as 'irreplaceable, absolutely irreplaceable', Phil admitted that people often ask him if his co-star is as 'scary as she seems'. Meanwhile, Kirstie, whose most scary trait may be her penchant for knocking down walls, is always asked if Phil is 'as nice as he seems'. And, while the co-presenters agreed that they 'bring different things to the party', it's surely the fact that they both 'want to have fun' that has brought them - and the show - such success.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Amanda Holden takes savage swipe at Holly Willoughby live on air as she's scolded by co-host
AMANDA Holden appears to have reignited her feud with rival TV presenter Holly Willoughby. Today the Britain's Got Talent star, 54, took a savage swipe at the former This Morning host, 44, live on air - and was even scolded by her co-host over the comment. 6 It all happened when Amanda poked fun at Holly 's presenting skills during a chat on air with her Heart Breakfast radio show co-host Jamie Theakston, 54. It came about when Jamie teased her about the possibility of her new Netflix dating series Cheat: Unfinished Business being renewed. Amanda said she had seen reports suggesting it will be, but she "didn't know for sure". Jamie then cheekily remarked: "What are they suggesting, they getting Holly Willoughby?" A shocked Amanda then stammed: "I… what?!" However, she quickly said: "No, they want a proper presenter." - implying Holly was not a good TV host. Jamie then mock scolded her and said: "You're going to be in trouble." But cheeky Amanda just replied: "No one's listening." ANOTHER SWIPE This isn't the first time Amanda has taken a cheeky swipe at Holly. Amanda Holden & Paul C Brunson reveal secrets to better sex - and what counts as cheating It all kicked off back in June 2023, when Holly returned to This Morning after two weeks off following the Phillip Schofield scandal, which caused him to leave the show. As she started the show, she said to the viewers at home: "Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you ok? I hope so." On the same day, Amanda - who is well known for her dislike of Phillip - appeared to poke fun at this and shared a video where she was wearing a similar outfit to Holly. She then addressed her fans and said: "Hello, it is Tuesday. Are you OK?" 6 6 6 HOW THE FEUD BEGAN The feud all started on the set of This Morning and mainly involved former presenter Phillip. Amanda famously used to cover for Holly when she was on maternity leave. However, The Britain's Got Talent judge was left furious after losing out on the role to cover Holly on This Morning during her stint on I'm A Celeb in 2018, claiming Philip was at fault Instead Rochelle Humes was picked for the job. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Amanda was so excited when she learnt she had secured the role. "She is ITV's golden girl and has always been a firm favourite with This Morning. 'She's an experienced co-host and has filled in on the sofa on many occasions, including alongside Phil. 'So she was shocked when she was taken out to lunch by ITV executives who told her that unfortunately they couldn't follow through with the offer. "During the lunch they let slip they thought the decision had been heavily influenced by Phil and that he had thrown a spanner in the works. 'Their meeting was a few weeks before the news broke that Rochelle would be covering for Holly - and Amanda was understandably upset."
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amanda Holden takes savage swipe at Holly Willoughby live on air as she cheekily criticises her presenting skills
Amanda Holden has taken a savage swipe at Holly Willoughby as she criticised her talents live on air. The TV presenter, 54, made a jibe at Holly's presenting skills while chatting to her co-host Jamie Theakston on their Heart Breakfast radio show, according to The Mirror. Amanda seemed to compare her Netflix dating series Cheat: Unfinished Business to Holly's reality show Celebrity Bear Hunt, which airs on the same platform. Discussing the prospect of her and Paul C Brunson's new show getting renewed, Amanda said she has seen reports suggesting it will be, but doesn't know for sure. Her co-host Jamie then cheekily remarked: 'What are they suggesting, they getting Holly Willoughby?' implying that Amanda might be replaced by her fellow TV star. A shocked Amanda then stammered with: 'I... what?!', before quickly adding: 'No, they want a proper presenter,' in what appeared to be a swipe at Holly's talents. Jamie then told her she was going to 'get in trouble' for her remark, prompting Amanda to reply with: 'No one's listening.' MailOnline has contacted Amanda's representatives for comment. Holly's representatives declined to comment when approached. Amanda and Holly are both very familiar faces on ITV and they have both previously hosted breakfast TV show This Morning. Holly fronted the programme alongside Phillip Schofield for 14 years before stepping down in 2023, while she also helmed Dancing On Ice until its cancellation this year. Meanwhile, Amanda memorably stood in for Holly during her maternity leave and hosted alongside Phillip while she also featured on the show from 2014 to 2019. Amanda, who still works with ITV as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, was even rumoured to be replacing Cat Deeley on This Morning late last year. At the time, Amanda addressed the hearsay during a chat with Ashley Roberts as she denied she was being lined-up for the role. 'I saw this morning some rumours stirring about you replacing Cat Deeley on This Morning. What's the tea?' Ashley asked. After her remarks, Amanda was spotted looking as stylish as ever as she stepped out after her morning hosting her Heart Radio show 'Oh, well, do you know what? I'm really glad you've asked me this. First of all, I absolutely love Cat Deeley,' Amanda said. 'She's super successful, I've always admired her, she's brilliant, and she's a real laugh. I hate seeing headlines that say, 'I'm taking over from Cat Deeley' when I think she's doing such a good job on This Morning.' The TV personality added that she believes Cat is 'going nowhere'. 'I'm already on the biggest morning show in the country, and that is Heart Breakfast, thanks to our lovely listeners,' she went on. 'So, I don't know where it's come from it is categorically not true.' Ashley reaffirmed Amanda's point, saying: 'Not true, you heard it here!' But she has now swapped ITV for global streamer Netflix with her brand new series, Cheat: Unfinished Business, was released on Netflix last week. The dating show follows eight ex-couples whose relationships were torn apart because of infidelity. The presenter, who shares daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, with husband Chris Hughes, told MailOnline she has always longed to present a dating series. She said: 'It is my dream job, if I could have manifested a job… this would have been it. It is the job I have wanted my whole life and it's finally happening.' The Heart Breakfast host added: 'A series about second chances and unfinished business. 'I can't wait, along with Paul, to meet and help these couples work out whether they can forgive and forget. I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of it.'
