THE sun burst out from behind rain clouds when I arrived at the Ashes To Ashes set this afternoon.
Philip Glenister (Gene Hunt) and Keeley Hawes (Alex Drake) were filming today.
Along with Dean Andrews (Ray Carling), Marshall Lancaster (Chris Skelton) and Montserrat Lombard (Shaz Granger).
Phil very kindly looked through a 1982 copy of the MEN I dug out from my loft.
While producer Beth Willis was on hand to provide an overview of the second series.
The team are about to start filming episodes five and six and are on course to finish the entire shoot in early February.
I’ll be doing more interviews with cast members ahead of the start of the new eight-part series.
Author: ianwylie
NEWS today that former Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs could be heading for Coronation Street in 2009.
Writers are aiming to create a role for him as the brother of Norris Cole, co-owner of The Kabin, played by Malcolm Hebden.
But I’m told the potential role is in no way a result of recent events involving a certain Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.
Andrew, 78, was at the centre of the storm over prank phone calls made to his answerphone by the pair.
He actually began talks with Corrie several months before the BBC Radio Two controversy about remarks made in relation to his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
A Coronation Street spokeswoman told me this morning: “It’s very early days.
LOOK at the stars…look how they shine for you.
X Factor favourite Diana Vickers hit back at her critics last night.
And then burst into tears when she was saved in the public vote.
Almost certainly helped by a canny comment from Simon Cowell.
After her slightly wobbly performance of Coldplay’s Yellow, Simon commented on her comeback from severe laryngitis:
“I don’t think you’re well enough still, because your vocal was really off in parts.
“You know it, I can see it all over your face.”
And then he added: “For the first time ever, I’m nervous for you.”
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.
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.
Life of Wylie 