Adrian Chiles is said to be 'angry' after the BBC officially announced Chris Evans's new position on The ONE Show, a press report has claimed. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that a deal had been agreed for Evans to front each Friday's episodes of the early evening magazine programme. Regular host Chiles, who is currently on holiday, had previously admitted that he was unhappy over plans to replace him in Friday's editions. A source told the Daily Star: 'Things have turned ugly. Adrian is not pleased this has been announced while he's on holiday. He feels it's a stitch-up.' BBC sources insisted that the corporation had not planned to reveal the news, but were forced to go public after Evans spoke about the matter on his Twitter page.
Charlie Brooker has said he has no interest in making an appearance on a reality TV show.
Speaking to the Digital Spy website, the media critic-turned-presenter said that he would be too boring for people to watch. 'I don't think anyone would want me to [go on a reality show]!' he said. 'I'm really not that interesting. I wouldn't interact very well with people - I'd just sit in a corner on my own and mind my own business and I'm not sure that makes for great television. I don't know that I'm what anyone would be looking for!'
Sendhil Ramamurthy has urged British television executives to spend more on drama. The former Heroes actor claimed that the sector is 'sad and depressed,' BBC News reports. Ramamurthy said that his friends in the UK are struggling to find work 'because there's actually nothing to audition for' and added: 'It's such a shame when talented people are not allowed to do what they want to do because of money.' He also revealed that he had signed up to take part in a BBC drama but explained: 'The funding went south - it was a real shame.' Ramamurthy continued: 'I think that people need to concentrate more on programming here and I hope that's what happens. I don't think that the audience wants all reality television and that kind of thing and I hope that the people in charge know that. They're putting out what they think people want to watch so I hope people will speak up and say, "Listen, we would like more scripted drama."' However, Ramamurthy insisted that the British television industry has produced some good programmes. He said: 'There are some brilliant shows that have come out of here - I mean, unbelievable - like Waking The Dead and [Spooks], all these shows.' Ramamurthy made some of his first TV appearances on British shows including Casualty and ITV's SAS drama Ultimate Force.
Ian McKellan has claimed that the themes of his new drama The Prisoner are relevant today. The actor plays Number Two in the remake of the 1960s series and told the Sun that the idea of surveillance is explored during the show. He explained: 'It's ingenious and telling and frightening and all very much to do with the sort of world that we live in, where people are being observed.
You're probably being observed right now. Who gave them permission to observe you? Well, we all know the answer to that - nobody. I think we're all looking over our shoulder and suspicious of government wanting too much control. That is a matter which is dealt with in The Prisoner, but there are others too.' McKellan also claimed that the new series is different to the original version, which was set in Wales. 'With all respect to the Portmeirion version, it was never really all tied up in the end, was it?' he said. 'All you were really left with each week was will Patrick [McGoohan]'s character escape or will he not? How will he try to escape? This time relationships will make sense and people's motives for being in The Village will make sense. And you will actually find out where The Village is, physically.' He added: 'I'm not allowed to criticise the original but to that extent I'll say it's different.'
FlashForward has been tipped for another season. Despite the shows low rating in the US, its success overseas and low production costs is expected to secure it another series.
According to E! Online, 'there is most definitely a chance FlashForward will be renewed, because it actually does fairly well overseas and doesn't hemorrhage as much money as you'd think.' A source told the website: 'This is a rare case where a low domestic performer could get a surprise pickup.' We'll find out 18 May, when ABC announces its schedule. If this does happen it won't, quite, be the most surprising renewal in TV history (that's still got to be Dollhouse, against all expectations, last year) but it'll still be pretty high of the list of 'well, I never expected that!' occurrences.
And, speaking of Dollhouse, Joss Whedon is apparently rewriting the script for Marvel's Avengers movie. It was reported yesterday that the Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel creator is in final talks to direct the picture. Variety now claims that he is also penning a new draft of Zak Penn's screenplay. Penn has written a number of Marvel movies, including X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. Whedon has written for the Marvel comic books Runaways and Astonishing X-Men. The Avengers is scheduled for a 2012 release.
Catherine Tate is to play Hollywood legend Bette Davis in a BBC Radio 4 play about her rivalry with Joan Crawford.
Crawford will be played by former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is also making her debut as a radio playwright for the project. Bette And Joan And Baby Jane explores the reported enmity between the duo as they filmed Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? the 1962 movie which spectacularly revived both of their careers. The play will be aired on Thursday 29 April. It examines the dynamics behind the scenes of the movie, which many in Hollywood thought would never be made because of the rivalry between the two stars, which went back decades.
Production has been halted on the A&E series Steven Seagal: Lawman amid sex trafficking allegations against the action star. According to Entertainment Weekly, the sheriff of the Jefferson Parish police force which deputised the actor as an honorary deputy has made the decision to stop shooting the show. The programme follows Seagal as he makes arrests and helps the local community. 'We are aware of Sheriff [Newell] Normand's decision to halt production on Steven Seagal: Lawman at this time and we have no further comment,' said an A&E spokesperson. 'The lawsuit filed by Kayden Nguyen is a ridiculous and absurd claim by a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired,' stated the Marked for Death actor's lawyer in response to the current legal action.
Piers Morgan claims he has stopped Britain's Got Talent from being a flop. Yes, mate, of course you did. Mental as toast. The judge insists that without him the show would not feature any of the comedy acts - which are a huge hit with viewers - because his fellow panellists Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell only like acts who have sob stories. Piers told the Daily Star newspaper: 'Simon Cowell likes the young, good looking ones and Amanda Holden likes the ones who have bravely bounced back from a broken toenail. Without me there, every finalist in the live shows would be twenty two, singing 'You Raise Me Up' and with a tragic sob story.' You mean, it isn't already? He added: 'I still think I'm more talented than some of the contestants I see on stage.' Yes, of course you do. Like I say, mental as toast.
The Conservatives has defended using a song by Keane at their manifesto launch in London on Tuesday.
The party’s decision to play ‘Everybody’s Changing’ was criticised by the band's drummer, who said he was 'horrified.' Richard Hughes also told his Twitter followers that he would not be voting for the party and that they had been given consent to use the 2004 single. A Conservative spokesperson failed to clarify whether they had approached the band about the song, but said that party leader David Cameron was an admirer of the band. Oh well, that's all right then. I trust the Conservative party will be fine if, the next time a bank robber is up in court, he uses a similar excuse. 'Your honour, my client is a great admirer of the Halifax. He particularly likes those adverts with Howard in them. That's the only reason he blagged them.' However, some, it would seem, agree with such an approach -
Charlie Brooker has said he has no interest in making an appearance on a reality TV show.
Speaking to the Digital Spy website, the media critic-turned-presenter said that he would be too boring for people to watch. 'I don't think anyone would want me to [go on a reality show]!' he said. 'I'm really not that interesting. I wouldn't interact very well with people - I'd just sit in a corner on my own and mind my own business and I'm not sure that makes for great television. I don't know that I'm what anyone would be looking for!'Sendhil Ramamurthy has urged British television executives to spend more on drama. The former Heroes actor claimed that the sector is 'sad and depressed,' BBC News reports. Ramamurthy said that his friends in the UK are struggling to find work 'because there's actually nothing to audition for' and added: 'It's such a shame when talented people are not allowed to do what they want to do because of money.' He also revealed that he had signed up to take part in a BBC drama but explained: 'The funding went south - it was a real shame.' Ramamurthy continued: 'I think that people need to concentrate more on programming here and I hope that's what happens. I don't think that the audience wants all reality television and that kind of thing and I hope that the people in charge know that. They're putting out what they think people want to watch so I hope people will speak up and say, "Listen, we would like more scripted drama."' However, Ramamurthy insisted that the British television industry has produced some good programmes. He said: 'There are some brilliant shows that have come out of here - I mean, unbelievable - like Waking The Dead and [Spooks], all these shows.' Ramamurthy made some of his first TV appearances on British shows including Casualty and ITV's SAS drama Ultimate Force.
Ian McKellan has claimed that the themes of his new drama The Prisoner are relevant today. The actor plays Number Two in the remake of the 1960s series and told the Sun that the idea of surveillance is explored during the show. He explained: 'It's ingenious and telling and frightening and all very much to do with the sort of world that we live in, where people are being observed.
You're probably being observed right now. Who gave them permission to observe you? Well, we all know the answer to that - nobody. I think we're all looking over our shoulder and suspicious of government wanting too much control. That is a matter which is dealt with in The Prisoner, but there are others too.' McKellan also claimed that the new series is different to the original version, which was set in Wales. 'With all respect to the Portmeirion version, it was never really all tied up in the end, was it?' he said. 'All you were really left with each week was will Patrick [McGoohan]'s character escape or will he not? How will he try to escape? This time relationships will make sense and people's motives for being in The Village will make sense. And you will actually find out where The Village is, physically.' He added: 'I'm not allowed to criticise the original but to that extent I'll say it's different.'FlashForward has been tipped for another season. Despite the shows low rating in the US, its success overseas and low production costs is expected to secure it another series.
According to E! Online, 'there is most definitely a chance FlashForward will be renewed, because it actually does fairly well overseas and doesn't hemorrhage as much money as you'd think.' A source told the website: 'This is a rare case where a low domestic performer could get a surprise pickup.' We'll find out 18 May, when ABC announces its schedule. If this does happen it won't, quite, be the most surprising renewal in TV history (that's still got to be Dollhouse, against all expectations, last year) but it'll still be pretty high of the list of 'well, I never expected that!' occurrences.And, speaking of Dollhouse, Joss Whedon is apparently rewriting the script for Marvel's Avengers movie. It was reported yesterday that the Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel creator is in final talks to direct the picture. Variety now claims that he is also penning a new draft of Zak Penn's screenplay. Penn has written a number of Marvel movies, including X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. Whedon has written for the Marvel comic books Runaways and Astonishing X-Men. The Avengers is scheduled for a 2012 release.
Catherine Tate is to play Hollywood legend Bette Davis in a BBC Radio 4 play about her rivalry with Joan Crawford.
Crawford will be played by former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is also making her debut as a radio playwright for the project. Bette And Joan And Baby Jane explores the reported enmity between the duo as they filmed Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? the 1962 movie which spectacularly revived both of their careers. The play will be aired on Thursday 29 April. It examines the dynamics behind the scenes of the movie, which many in Hollywood thought would never be made because of the rivalry between the two stars, which went back decades.Production has been halted on the A&E series Steven Seagal: Lawman amid sex trafficking allegations against the action star. According to Entertainment Weekly, the sheriff of the Jefferson Parish police force which deputised the actor as an honorary deputy has made the decision to stop shooting the show. The programme follows Seagal as he makes arrests and helps the local community. 'We are aware of Sheriff [Newell] Normand's decision to halt production on Steven Seagal: Lawman at this time and we have no further comment,' said an A&E spokesperson. 'The lawsuit filed by Kayden Nguyen is a ridiculous and absurd claim by a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired,' stated the Marked for Death actor's lawyer in response to the current legal action.
Piers Morgan claims he has stopped Britain's Got Talent from being a flop. Yes, mate, of course you did. Mental as toast. The judge insists that without him the show would not feature any of the comedy acts - which are a huge hit with viewers - because his fellow panellists Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell only like acts who have sob stories. Piers told the Daily Star newspaper: 'Simon Cowell likes the young, good looking ones and Amanda Holden likes the ones who have bravely bounced back from a broken toenail. Without me there, every finalist in the live shows would be twenty two, singing 'You Raise Me Up' and with a tragic sob story.' You mean, it isn't already? He added: 'I still think I'm more talented than some of the contestants I see on stage.' Yes, of course you do. Like I say, mental as toast.
The Conservatives has defended using a song by Keane at their manifesto launch in London on Tuesday.
The party’s decision to play ‘Everybody’s Changing’ was criticised by the band's drummer, who said he was 'horrified.' Richard Hughes also told his Twitter followers that he would not be voting for the party and that they had been given consent to use the 2004 single. A Conservative spokesperson failed to clarify whether they had approached the band about the song, but said that party leader David Cameron was an admirer of the band. Oh well, that's all right then. I trust the Conservative party will be fine if, the next time a bank robber is up in court, he uses a similar excuse. 'Your honour, my client is a great admirer of the Halifax. He particularly likes those adverts with Howard in them. That's the only reason he blagged them.' However, some, it would seem, agree with such an approach - 
And, finally, the singer Pink was reportedly injured this week whilst riding her husband Corey Hart's motorcycle. 
The pop star is said to have burned her leg quite badly on the bike's hot metal exhaust pipe. Let this be a warning to all. That's what tends to happen when you have something hot and throbbing between your thighs. Oh yes. Thank you, thank you, yer Keith Telly Topping is here all week. Try the veal.
