THIS is the striking image of former Coronation Street star Lucy-Jo Hudson released today.
The actress, who played Corrie killer Katy Harris, has since gone on to star as Rosie Trevanion in Wild At Heart.
And this Sunday’s ITV1 episode sees Rosie’s screen wedding to boyfriend Max (Martinus Van Der Berg).
Or does it?
An uninvited guest, in the form of a bushfire, threatens disaster for Leopard’s Den and possible tragedy for one of the residents.
Viewers will have to wait until the final episode in the current series a week on Sunday to see the conclusion of the dramatic storyline.
As is the way with TV weddings, there are problems even before we get to the main event.
THE BBC is to screen tonight’s episode of Ashes To Ashes despite concern about its content.
The decision comes in the wake of the verdicts in the Suffolk murders trial, which a jury returned this afternoon.
Steve Wright, 49, of Ipswich was found guilty of murdering five women, who were working as prostitutes.
He will be sentenced tomorrow at Ipswich Crown Court.
Tonight’s scheduled episode of Ashes To Ashes involves a police investigation into the murder of a young choir girl and rape and attempted murder of a prostitute.
It also includes scenes which feature a prostitute being abducted and threatened with death.
After hours of deliberation, BBC executives decided to go ahead with tonight’s episode of the drama, the third in the new series.
CARDS on the table, as Alex Drake said last week.
Episode three of Ashes To Ashes, screened tomorrow night, is my least favourite so far.
It’s nothing to do with the subject matter – the treatment of rape victims and prostitutes in the 1980s.
More linked to some uncharacteristic leaden lines, a few unconvincing scenes, plus an altogether odd feel to a generally slower paced episode.
Having said that, it’s still not to be missed – and I did like the episode more after re-watching it a second, third and fourth time.
There’s an extract from Larry Grayson’s Generation Game via the TV in Alex’s second floor flat above Luigi’s.
Also more of the fleeting light that appears to be linked to Alex’s daughter Molly.
We meet the 1981 version of Molly’s godfather Evan White.
HE’S back tonight in a new series of Hotel Babylon.
But off screen Max Beesley has already checked out of the five star establishment to seek a Hollywood role.
Perhaps I’m wrong, but there appeared to be a slight undercurrent when Max was talking about Hotel Babylon recently.
He was, rightly, upset when the BBC failed to re-commission Bodies.
As for Hotel Babylon, he told us: “I’ve done half of this new series and then I’ve left.
“I suspect it’ll probably get re-commissioned. Those type of shows do.
“Babylon has, without doubt, been good for me in the fact that we get such a huge audience base.
“It enables you to then go off and do other projects.
WHO is watching you?
That’s one of the questions posed in new BBC1 thriller The Last Enemy, which began last night.
The series is set in a near future when virtually our every move, and possibly keystroke, can be monitored.
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as brilliant mathematician Stephen Ezard alongside Anamaria Marinca as the mysterious Yasim Anwar.
I met up with them recently – you can read Friday’s MEN TV feature here.
Anamaria became the first Romanian actress to win a BAFTA for her role as Elena in Channel 4’s Sex Traffic.
She is also the star of film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which won the Palme d’Or earlier this year.
While we debate ID cards, CCTV, hi-tech surveillance and other issues, Anamaria’s parents experienced an earlier version of Big Brother.
THE news that Raquel Welch is starring in an American sitcom brought back a few memories.
Scan the web today and you’ll find plenty of stories about how, at 67, she is still one of Hollywood’s sexiest women.
Back in the day, Raquel was voted the most desired woman of the 1970s, having also been a sex symbol of the 1960s.
So imagine how I felt in October 1984 when, still a young reporter, I was sent to interview her.
Having done my research, I turned up one Sunday morning at The Savoy Hotel in London as church bells rang nearby.
Having seen Raquel on the big screen in films like One Million Years BC, I was surprised to see how relatively petite she was – just 5’ 6”.
And I was also taken with how relaxed she was in the interview – with just the pair of us and her, then, husband in the room.
Part of the interview appears to have become mangled in our digital library, but I thought you might like to read the extract below.
There are also links at the bottom of this blog to Raquel and her role in CBS comedy Welcome To The Captain.
GENE Hunt inspired by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Feguson.
Philip Glenister banned from driving the Ashes To Ashes Audi Quattro.
Both stories have appeared in a certain newspaper this week.
At least one of them is, how shall we say, a touch economical with the truth.
Let’s take the Fergie claim first.
It appeared the morning after the United v City Manchester derby under the headline: “Hunt Has Fergie In His Genes.”
The story provided an excuse for a mocked up pic of Gene – but with Ferguson’s face superimposed – beside Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes).
And the intro read: “Ashes To Ashes star Philip Glenister has revealed his inspiration for TV’s gruff detective Gene Hunt – Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson.”
I’ve since checked with Phil and, as I suspected, he maintains he said no such thing.
Since series one of Life On Mars, he has told the story of how he researched the role of Gene Hunt.
SHE grew used to dealing with the wild animals of Walford.
Now former EastEnder Jessie Wallace has swapped the hardmen of Albert Square for a spot of real animal magic.
The actress, still known to millions as Kat Slater, joins the regular cast of Wild At Heart this weekend as Essex girl Amy Kriel.
But Jessie, 36, has another ambition, as yet unfulfilled.
There wasn’t room to include it in today’s MEN TV feature – the online version is here.
So here it is:
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play Nancy in Oliver,” she says.
“I’d love to do that. I think I’m getting a bit old now, actually,”
Having already played music hall queen Marie Lloyd, you might think Jessie would make a great Nancy.
Especially as a new stage revival of Oliver is being produced in London’s West End later this year.
THE former Sheriff of Manchester looks the part in episode three of Ashes To Ashes.
Gene Hunt does his best Clint Eastwood impression as the 1981 team go undercover at a fancy dress party.
As I’ve said before, it doesn’t do to get ahead of ourselves.
Episode three isn’t on screen until a week on Thursday.
But I thought you might like to see these newly released photos from the episode – with Ray as James Bond and Chris as Superman / Clark Kent.
Before that, there’s a dynamite episode of Ashes this week, with Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) right on cue.
If anything, it’s better than last week’s opener with a story set around the Docklands development in east London.
There’s also that marvellous Blitz Club sequence, including Steve Strange singing Fade To Grey.
Plus more clues about what may be happening to Alex (Keeley Hawes).
That scary clown still appears to symbolise death, telling DI Drake: “We are waiting for you, Alex.”
SHAMELESS star Jody Latham is hoping to return to the Chatsworth estate this year.
Lip Gallagher went back to university after a spot of women trouble in the first episode of the current Channel 4 series.
Salford-based Jody was written out to enable him to work on two new projects.
One is a new ITV1 drama series, and Kudos production, called The Fixer, due on screen next month.
The other is a feature film – with Jody as associate producer – called Act of Grace.
You can read all about them in last Friday’s MEN feature interview with Jody here.
Having asked him about a possible return to Shameless, it was interesting to hear Jody talk about previous cast members who had “disconnected” themselves from the series.
Not something he plans to do.
Life of Wylie 