WASN’T it great to see the Ashes To Ashes cast back on screen last night?
Complete with Alex’s new hairstyle and those much trailed highlights for Chris.
Though, sadly, no sign of Shazza.
I’ll be going on set soon for interviews ahead of the second series.
Though, as usual, the material will be embargoed until nearer transmission next year.
So in the meantime, let’s reflect on last night’s Top Gear Meets Ashes To Ashes in aid of Children In Need.
If you haven’t donated any cash yet, now’s a good a time as any.
Click here to go to the official Children In Need site.
The running sum raised at the end of the show at 2am today was £20.99m.
Month: November 2008
ROY has the scented bubble bath ready for Hayley.
There being only showers in Mozambique.
Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who plays Hayley, is back in Coronation Street on Monday after a year off screen.
There’s a feature interview with Julie in today’s MEN.
You can read the online version here.
As usual, there was more material from the interview than I could use on the page.
So here are some extra quotes from Julie.
Starting with the important stuff.
THERE were a few surprises when the I’m A Celebrity “reveal” release arrived in my in-box yesterday afternoon.
Embargoed until one minute after midnight today, it confirmed the names of the ten celebs in the starting line-up.
You can read the online version of this morning’s MEN story here.
Short audio interviews with eight of the celebs are also available at the bottom of this blog.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Martina Navratilova.
There had been speculation that the tennis legend might be going in to the jungle.
But I couldn’t quite believe it.
I’d guess that she’s receiving one of the bigger pay cheques for taking part.
Not that she needs the money.
THE ashtrays were full when I walked into The Jockey on a recent set visit.
Shameless returns for a sixth series in January.
And it promises to be another dramatic – and at times darker – rollercoaster ride through the wonderful world of the Chatsworth estate.
Stopping off along the way for many of those joyful Shameless comedy moments.
As you can read in today’s MEN, Frank Gallagher and the rest of the locals are set to re-ignite the smoking ban debate.
Regulars at The Jockey protest by lighting up outside the pub, drinking cheaper booze from the local shop.
So with the bar empty and facing financial disaster, Jamie (Aaron McCusker) and Karen (Rebecca Atkinson) decide to flout the law.
LAURA White was interviewed live on ITV1’s This Morning today.
Her comments echoed those at her press conference yesterday.
While news has arrived about her “secret” No 1 hit.
Laura was asked today about her thoughts in the moments after she was voted off The X Factor.
“I was just heartbroken because I’m just so, so passionate about my music,” she replied.
“I really felt like I could have gone a lot further in the competition and the judges really, really believed in me for a long time.
“They gave me such fantastic comments. It was really strange to hear that I was going home. It was tough.”
She repeated what she told us yesterday about mentor Cheryl Cole’s anger after the show.
LAURA White was already looking to the future when I spoke to her at a London press conference this morning.
Less than 12 hours after one of the biggest shocks in X Factor history, she arrived on her own.
Walking into the building to sit and wait in reception with the assembled media.
Before we began the Q&A, Laura insisted on shaking everyone’s hand.
And then went on to give possibly the most accomplished and level-headed press conferences I’ve ever seen given by a 21-year-old.
Especially one left stunned and in tears the night before by her unexpected exit from the series.
It is, of course, only a TV show…not a matter of life and death.
But there’s so much I could write about the events of Saturday night.
Instead – aside from the story here in tomorrow’s (Mon) MEN – I thought fans might simply want to read Laura’s account in full.
And perhaps listen to several audio files of her talking – they’re at the bottom of this blog.
JOHN Nettles was his usual dry-witted self when we spoke to him yesterday.
Including after I asked him about a certain Holly Willoughby.
The venue was a pub in a sleepy Oxfordshire village, which came complete with a stone church.
A group of us were there to talk about all things Midsomer, including Days Of Misrule.
That’s a special festive episode to be screened in the UK this Christmas.
Guest stars include Tim Pigott-Smith, who was also there yesterday.
You may have seen him in his most recent big screen role – as the Foreign Secretary in Quantum of Solace.
THERE should be red faces at the BBC today after a blunder on last night’s Have I Got News For You.
I almost dropped my tea when the comedy quiz turned its attention to last Sunday’s Michael Ball Show on Radio Two.
And in particular an email question sent in for his guest, Ashes To Ashes star Philip Glenister, about his new ITV1 drama Demons.
Michael said: “Someone has written in. This is from Helvetica Bold. What a great name.”
Phil joked: “I think she’s in Demons, isn’t she? Sounds like it.”
But the clue was in Helvetica’s question:
“Phil, there’s a bunch of us sitting in The Railway Arms, waving at our radios to say hi.”
Mr G then realised the context.
ALBERT Nugent lies buried in a foreign field.
He was just 23 when he died – the same age as new Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Matthew Kelly tells the story of his great uncle Albert in My Family At War on BBC1 at 10.35pm tonight.
The First World War was supposed to be the war to end all wars.
You can read about Matthew’s emotional journey in the MEN TV feature here.
“He was 23. That’s terrible,” reflects the Manchester-born actor.
WELL, it’s been a while.
Filming for the second series of Ashes To Ashes is approaching the half way mark.
I’ll be on set to talk to the cast later this month.
And, hopefully, also talking to Philip Glenister at the launch of his ITV1 drama Demons the following week.
Phil gave an update on the new series of Ashes when he was interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live this afternoon.
As we know. It’s set a year on in 1982 – the year of the Falklands War.
He told the always excellent Simon Mayo that he hoped it would be screened on BBC1 from next March.
Update: My hunch had been that this may be the last series of Ashes To Ashes.
And that Phil was possibly getting ready to say farewell to Gene Hunt.
Life of Wylie 