Latest news with #TheLastLeg
South Wales Argus
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Adam Hills not hiding passionate love for rugby league
The Australian comic, known for hosting late-night talk and sketch show The Last Leg, makes no attempt to hide his passion for the 13-player code either. After all, the 55-year-old was adorned in Australia's rugby league kit from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup on a traditional London bus kitted out to mark 100 days to go until the return of the ABK Beer Ashes. It will mark a revival of one of rugby league's most iconic series which last happened in 2003 when Australia toured the UK to play Great Britain. 'I'm so excited,' the Sydney native said. 'It's been 22 years since the last Ashes, and I've been shocked by that; this is something that should be happening all the time. 'I'm so excited to show rugby league off to my London friends and go, 'OK, guys you have to watch this. I know you don't know what it's about, or you might think you know, but this is five levels up, especially when it's an Ashes Test'.' The launch began in Clapham – London's unofficial Australian capital – and also featured England captain George Williams, international teammate Jack Welsby and rugby league legend Martin Offiah. But Hills' presence at the event goes beyond his celebrity status, he is also the Rugby Football League president, a role he has held since the start of the year, and one that fills him with enormous pride. 'I honestly got goosebumps when the email came through offering it to me,' he beamed. 'Initially I was a little bit hesitant because I thought, 'How's it going to look having an Australian as the president of the RFL?' 'But I think it's good to have an Australian shouting about stuff, because sometimes rugby league gets a little bit forgotten over here. 'I come from a city where you go, 'this is the best sport in the world' and I'm not ashamed to say that. 'So, I thought, okay, I'll take the role so I can shout about rugby league in a positive way.' And Hill's has been doing just that, trying to raise the profile of the sport in every way possible, from the national to the community game, to everything in between, including speaking to Artur Martirosyan, the president of Ukrainian Rugby League. 'Off the back of [a Last Leg episode where the plight of rugby league in Ukraine was highlighted] that, I was put in touch with the president,' he explained. 'I had a FaceTime with him, and I said, 'when's the best time to chat?' 'He replied, 'Sunday is, because I'm in the army.' And I was like, 'because you get Sunday's off?' He said, 'no, no, Sundays are when my commanding officer is off so I can make a phone call. 'I was amazed at this point. I asked him what he did, and he just sent me a picture of himself behind an anti-aircraft gun. I was like 'holy s**t!' 'When then ended up talking about rugby league for an hour. We asked them what they needed, which was kit, balls etc, so we put out a plea on the Last Leg and the guys from Keighley Cougars said they'd make the Ukrainian national kit for them. 'So, as we speak, they've flown out to Poland to then take a 15-hour bus to present them with the kit. I'm loving stuff like that.' Hills was a member of the Australian side at the inaugural Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup in 2022 and hopes, through his role as RFL president, to try a promote disability rugby league as much as he can too. 'Regardless of the sport, there has to be an England v Australia Ashes,' he continued. 'I've played disability rugby league, and since becoming president, and even before then, I'm doing what I can to make sure there's disability rugby league at the next World Cup. 'We did it once and it can't be a one off. And I also think there should be a disability rugby league Ashes too. 'I really want that to be a thing.' The series kicks off at Wembley Stadium on October 25, before heading to Liverpool a week later, where a sold-out Bramley-Moore Dock will take centre stage. Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium is the venue for the third and final Test on November 8, which is also a sellout. More than 60,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the priority sales window, which was a record-breaking figure for any rugby league series launch. Hills predicted a close series and expressed his desire for a winner-takes-all decider come the third Test. 'It's going to finish 2-1 to someone,' he said. 'Rugby League will be the winner, and I think that final game at Headingley will be unbelievable. 'As an Australian, where do you not want to be playing? I'm absolutely pumped for that match.' Marking the milestone with a '100 days to go' London Trophy Tour were Rugby League legend Martin Offiah MBE, current England captain George Williams, star player Jack Welsby, and Aussie comedian and Rugby Football League President, Adam Hills MBE.
Powys County Times
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Adam Hills not hiding passionate love for rugby league
There aren't many people more enthusiastic about something than Adam Hills is about rugby league: he absolutely loves it. The Australian comic, known for hosting late-night talk and sketch show The Last Leg, makes no attempt to hide his passion for the 13-player code either. After all, the 55-year-old was adorned in Australia's rugby league kit from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup on a traditional London bus kitted out to mark 100 days to go until the return of the ABK Beer Ashes. It will mark a revival of one of rugby league's most iconic series which last happened in 2003 when Australia toured the UK to play Great Britain. 😆 A new cover photo! 🏴 #EnglandRL — England Rugby League (@England_RL) July 17, 2025 'I'm so excited,' the Sydney native said. 'It's been 22 years since the last Ashes, and I've been shocked by that; this is something that should be happening all the time. 'I'm so excited to show rugby league off to my London friends and go, 'OK, guys you have to watch this. I know you don't know what it's about, or you might think you know, but this is five levels up, especially when it's an Ashes Test'.' The launch began in Clapham – London's unofficial Australian capital – and also featured England captain George Williams, international teammate Jack Welsby and rugby league legend Martin Offiah. But Hills' presence at the event goes beyond his celebrity status, he is also the Rugby Football League president, a role he has held since the start of the year, and one that fills him with enormous pride. 'I honestly got goosebumps when the email came through offering it to me,' he beamed. 'Initially I was a little bit hesitant because I thought, 'How's it going to look having an Australian as the president of the RFL?' 'But I think it's good to have an Australian shouting about stuff, because sometimes rugby league gets a little bit forgotten over here. 'I come from a city where you go, 'this is the best sport in the world' and I'm not ashamed to say that. 'So, I thought, okay, I'll take the role so I can shout about rugby league in a positive way.' And Hill's has been doing just that, trying to raise the profile of the sport in every way possible, from the national to the community game, to everything in between, including speaking to Artur Martirosyan, the president of Ukrainian Rugby League. 'Off the back of [a Last Leg episode where the plight of rugby league in Ukraine was highlighted] that, I was put in touch with the president,' he explained. 'I had a FaceTime with him, and I said, 'when's the best time to chat?' 'He replied, 'Sunday is, because I'm in the army.' And I was like, 'because you get Sunday's off?' He said, 'no, no, Sundays are when my commanding officer is off so I can make a phone call. 'I was amazed at this point. I asked him what he did, and he just sent me a picture of himself behind an anti-aircraft gun. I was like 'holy s**t!' 'When then ended up talking about rugby league for an hour. We asked them what they needed, which was kit, balls etc, so we put out a plea on the Last Leg and the guys from Keighley Cougars said they'd make the Ukrainian national kit for them. 'So, as we speak, they've flown out to Poland to then take a 15-hour bus to present them with the kit. I'm loving stuff like that.' Hills was a member of the Australian side at the inaugural Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup in 2022 and hopes, through his role as RFL president, to try a promote disability rugby league as much as he can too. 'Regardless of the sport, there has to be an England v Australia Ashes,' he continued. 'I've played disability rugby league, and since becoming president, and even before then, I'm doing what I can to make sure there's disability rugby league at the next World Cup. 'We did it once and it can't be a one off. And I also think there should be a disability rugby league Ashes too. 'I really want that to be a thing.' The series kicks off at Wembley Stadium on October 25, before heading to Liverpool a week later, where a sold-out Bramley-Moore Dock will take centre stage. Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium is the venue for the third and final Test on November 8, which is also a sellout. More than 60,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the priority sales window, which was a record-breaking figure for any rugby league series launch. Hills predicted a close series and expressed his desire for a winner-takes-all decider come the third Test. 'It's going to finish 2-1 to someone,' he said. 'Rugby League will be the winner, and I think that final game at Headingley will be unbelievable. 'As an Australian, where do you not want to be playing? I'm absolutely pumped for that match.'
Evening Standard
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Lorraine Kelly signs major deal with Channel 4 for travel show
'I've always been a bit naughty. Not so much in the morning but if I do a wee show on Channel 4 or The Last Leg, or something like that, you can be unleashed. I quite like that.'
Edinburgh Live
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Lorraine Kelly 'to front' new Channel 4 series as ITV show faces cutbacks
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Lorraine Kelly has embarked on filming a travel series for Channel 4 while her ITV morning show, Lorraine, faces cutbacks in the wake of budget trimming across ITV daytime schedules, it's been reported. Despite being a staple on ITV since 1984 and sharing the screen with Eamonn Holmes on GMTV, Lorraine took flight to Norway last month for a covert new project, as revealed by The Sun. A source disclosed: "Channel 4 were delighted to have Lorraine on board. It was exciting for Lorraine to do something different and be on location again." Elaborating further, they added: "Despite the apparent slight in the ITV daytime shake up, Lorraine's loyal fanbase isn't to be underestimated and they will follow her wherever she goes. She's survived in this business a long time and she's a master at rolling with the punches," reports the Express. (Image: ITV) Edinburgh Live has approached Channel 4 for comment. The well-known presenter, aged 65, is navigating changes at ITV after the Head of Lorraine role was reportedly eliminated, leading to her producers now answering directly to the This Morning bosses. The insider noted: "This latest shake-up and slimming-down of Lorraine's dedicated team casts further doubt on the long-term future of the show after her contract finishes next year. She's opening her eyes up to the many options available to her." An insider from the Lorraine show expressed their dismay: "The team's been left reeling by the changes. They're at a loss to understand why ITV would want to disassemble a programme that's consistently delivered high ratings. It's truly a shame." Last month, Lorraine, a frequent guest on Channel 4's comedy panel show The Last Leg, shared her enthusiasm for exploring new horizons. (Image: ITV) During a conversation with chef Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she mentioned: "Forty years in TV last year was incredible. I got a Bafta. 'Here's a Bafta for being alive'. "I thought, 'Hang on a minute, I'm not done yet'. I think now I can be a lot cheekier. I've always been a bit naughty. Not so much in the morning but if I do a wee show on Channel 4, or The Last Leg, or something like that, you can be unleashed. I quite like that." ITV stated: "We have always said that from January 2026, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will be three editorially distinct shows which will be produced by one team. "These changes are not about the performance of the shows or the staff. We can assure our viewers that their favourite daytime shows will remain familiar to them on screen." Lorraine airs on ITV weekdays at 9am and on ITVX.
Daily Record
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Lorraine Kelly's 'deal' with Channel 4 to front new travel series after ITV shake-up
Lorraine Kelly is said to have signed a big-money deal with Channel 4 for a new travel show, as her ITV series Lorraine faces cuts and changes amid a major shake-up Lorraine Kelly weighs in on Salt Path story Lorraine Kelly is reportedly embarking on a new venture with Channel 4, filming an extravagant travel series as her longstanding ITV daytime programme faces reductions. The move to a high-profile project follows ITV's cost-cutting measures affecting its daytime schedule, including her eponymous show Lorraine, which currently airs weekdays at 9am. The Scottish host's year-round hour-long slot is set to be halved to just 30 weeks of 30-minute episodes amid the network's changes. Lorraine, who has been a staple on ITV since 1984 and co-hosted GMTV with Eamonn Holmes, was in Norway last month working on the undisclosed project, according to reports from The Sun. An insider revealed: "Channel 4 were delighted to have Lorraine on board. It was exciting for Lorraine to do something different and be on location again." They added: "Despite the apparent slight in the ITV daytime shake up, Lorraine's loyal fanbase isn't to be underestimated and they will follow her wherever she goes. She's survived in this business a long time and she's a master at rolling with the punches," reports the Express. The Daily Record has approached Channel 4 for comment. This transition for Lorraine, aged 65, occurs after the role of Head of Lorraine was eliminated, leading to her two producers now reporting directly to the bosses of This Morning. The source further commented: "This latest shake-up and slimming-down of Lorraine's dedicated team casts further doubt on the long-term future of the show after her contract finishes next year. She's opening her eyes up to the many options available to her." A source from the Lorraine show expressed disappointment, remarking: "Amid these changes the team have been gutted. They can't understand why ITV would want to dismantle such a successful rating-busting programme. It's a great shame." Lorraine, who frequently appears on Channel 4's comedy panel show The Last Leg, disclosed last month her enthusiasm for new challenges. While chatting with chef Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she reflected: "Forty years in TV last year was incredible. I got a Bafta. 'Here's a Bafta for being alive'." She continued, revealing her mindset: "I thought, 'Hang on a minute, I'm not done yet'. I think now I can be a lot cheekier. I've always been a bit naughty. Not so much in the morning but if I do a wee show on Channel 4, or The Last Leg, or something like that, you can be unleashed. I quite like that." In response, ITV stated: "We have always said that from January 2026, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will be three editorially distinct shows which will be produced by one team." They further clarified: "These changes are not about the performance of the shows or the staff. We can assure our viewers that their favourite daytime shows will remain familiar to them on screen." Catch Lorraine on ITV weekdays at 9am and on ITVX.
