Newcomers dominate British Comedy Awards
Despite relatively small audience numbers, the BBC Three comedy Gavin & Stacey emerged as the big winner at this year’s British Comedy Awards.
The show’s writers and co-stars Ruth Jones and James Corden were also named as best newcomers in the low-key event which was not broadcast as a result of the scandal surrounding the 2005 event.
However, Gavin & Stacey, was pipped to the Best Television Comedy post by Channel 4’s Peep Show, with lead actor David Mitchell being recognised as the best actor for his portrayal of Mark Corrigan.
Picking up his prize, Mitchell admitted that the lack of a live broadcast had done little to settle his nerves, stating that he still had to make a speech in “a big room full of all the people we’ve worked with or have yet to work with.”
“The day 1,000 people in a room don’t make me panic will be a sad day,” he told the BBC.
Other winners on the night were Never Mind the Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell, stand-up star Alan Carr and Simon Pegg, while Stephen Fry took home a lifetime achievement award.
Ellison to star in re-worked Nativity story
Former Brookside babe Jennifer Ellison is to star in a new BBC adaptation of the Nativity story.
The new show will be broadcast live on BBC Three on December 16th and will see Ellison playing the part of a pregnant Mary who is fighting to stop her asylum-seeker boyfriend Joseph from being deported.
Just like the BBC’s controversial take on the Easter story, ‘The Liverpool Nativity’ will also see the broadcasters team up with the north-west city as the cast wander through the streets to a soundtrack provided featuring local acts including The Zutons and The Beatles.
Commenting on the show, the channel’s controller Danny Cohen said: “This is going to be a fantastic collaboration between the BBC and the city of Liverpool. I’m delighted with the cast in place, and can’t wait to see ‘The Liverpool Nativity’ on BBC3.”
However, some Christians have already expressed their concerns about the planned modernisation of the biblical story.
Tony Kilmister, vice-president of the The Prayer Book Society, said: “The BBC are (sic) indulging in gimmickry. This is not the sort of thing that Christmas needs.”
Cerys “can’t wait” for reunion with Marc
Cerys Matthews has revealed that she “can’t wait” to see her fellow jungle celebrity Marc Bannerman, fuelling rumours of a future romance.
While participating in I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out of Here! the couple were seen to become extremely close, much to the annoyance of Marc’s girlfriend, who decided not to meet her errant-partner after his eviction.
Now the 37-year old has announced that she has only been interested in one thing since leaving the Australia-based show.
“When I came out of the jungle, I didn’t go to any parties. I was just getting my children sorted and then we’ve been flying since Sunday,” she said.
However, it is still unclear whether the former Eastenders actor shares the singer’s enthusiasm.
Bannerman has said that he is completely to blame for his relationship girlfriend.
“I can’t look for a scapegoat. The buck stops here. I can’t even look at myself,” he said.
Hollyoaks Round Up
A troubled Gilly is still fretting following his discovery at Simon’s house and decides that he has to talk to someone. Max proves a less-than sympathetic ear for his worries, but when Gilly realises that Simon is looking after Tom for the afternoon he is terrified for the youngster’s safety. It seems their is a reason for Simon’s odd behaviour however, as his wife explains when she turns up later in the week. By then, unfortunately it could be too late.
Amy is looking forward to Leah’s first Christmas, but her festive spirit is dampened by their unwelcome guest, Nige. And Amy isn’t the only one not full of Christmas cheer. Tony is in a foul mood when Santa and the elves go on strike on the day of the toy appeal. Desperate for a replacement he enlists the help of Jack, Sarah and Nancy.
Coronation Street Round Up
Sarah is still fuming about her uncle Stephen’s offer to David, and tells him not to bother packing as he won’t be going anywhere with Stephen.
Sarah has started to drip poison into Gail’s ear by telling her she’s glad she won’t have to put up with his mood swings anymore and implies that they could be drug induced. Later, she buys some ecstasy tablets and slips them into David’s drawer at the Salon, priming Audrey to discover them.
Michelle is on edge about Ryan going out alone but finally decides to let him return to school provided he is escorted to and from the premises. When Lloyd drops Ryan off, he spots the stalker’s car outside and follows it back to a house. As soon as Michelle is alerted she decides to go to the house and get some answers from the man who is stalking her son. She approaches the house but is stunned when she’s greeted by a 15-year-old boy who is the spitting image of her late partner Dean. Who is the boy and why does he look like Ryan’s dead father?
Rosie is getting increasingly frustrated by her few furtive moments with John. She threatens to tell Fiz about their affair, and he suggests they go away for a night. Rosie’s appeased somewhat and when John calls her later to tell her he’s booked a room on Sunday night, Rosie promises he won’t regret it, but will he?
Tony sends the staff home early to be alone with Carla, but Liam is furious when he finds out. But is he angry over Tony’s involvement with the factory or with his involvement with Carla?
Elsewhere, Dan is shocked when he discovers Abi is a copper, but he still thinks he can make an arresting development, until they arrive back at his flat to find Harry has moved in after being chucked out by his estranged wife.
Jim arrives at the pub to collect Amy and Vernon’s upset when he notices Liz and Jim getting on as he is reminded of their shared past. Is
Emmerdale Round Up
Lisa is shocked to learn that Andy has asked Jo to adopt Sarah, and insists that Sarah already has a mother in Debbie. Meanwhile, Jo approaches Debbie and asks her about her feelings towards the adoption. Will Debbie’s reaction change Jo’s mind?
Elsewhere, Val crashes Pollard’s car into another car. Rosalind, the lady in the other car, is a little shaken and Pollard invites her back to the pub for a drink. Rosalind admits all responsibility and it is clear that there is a spark between the pair. When Rosalind later offers herself on a plate, will a tempted Pollard cheat on Val?
Jimmy demands money from Scarlett for the damage caused at her party, and Debbie offers to help by getting her a job. She also puts a word in for her with Daz. What is Debbie’s ulterior motive?
Jimmy and Scarlett argue and Scarlett insinuates that she and Daz have slept together. Jimmy rushes over to the garage and hits Daz. Will Scarlett admit she was lying?
Over at Home Farm, Eli spots Lily emerging from the polytunnel. She is forced to admit that she is growing cannabis and Eli demands half of her crop to sell, but Lily insists she only uses the drugs for medicinal purposes.
Val chooses her engagement ring, but Pollard has a plan to save some dough.
At the Beach BBQ bash in the Woolpack, Chas tells Diane that Lexi is planning on fixing the votes for the raffle. Diane is angry but waits until the results are being announced to punish Lexi.
Meanwhile, over at the cafe, Viv is upset when her few customers make their way over to the pub, so she turns up at the pub with her bucket and guilt trips everyone into making a donation for her charity.
Neighbours Round Up
Toadie’s gutted when Steph turns his very public marriage proposal down, but later Steph offers Toadie her heart up with some moving, personal vows. Steph and Toadie finally announce their engagement, but it is not quite the romantic vision Toadie had in mind.
Stingray’s memorial wall is about to be repainted, and Steph is caught between her Erinsborough neighbours and the council’s decision. Declan and Bridget uneasy relationship continues to bloom, but when they take another joyride, they get involved in an impromptu drag-race with school nemesis, Justin Hunter. The pair end up being chased across town, and when they next meed Justin he challenges them to a real race, upping the stakes with their cars as the prize.
Unfortunately, a third car enters the race - a police patrol car driven by Adam and Sophie. Declan and Bridget manage to escape but they are later ambushed by the police - and their parents - and Declan is threatened with jail.
Rachel returns the exam to Susan’s briefcase, but Karl puts two and two together and confronts her with his suspicions. Covering for Ringo, Rachel stoically accepts first Karl’s then Susan’s recriminations.
Ringo confesses, however, and accepts his punishment of suspension but hits the roof at the threat of Frazer preventing him from competing in the marathon. Later, Ringo and Rachel get intimate. Are they getting back together? And is it for the right reasons? Frazer and Rosie delay dealing with the compensation money again, but Frazer is tempted to ‘invest’ it in a sure thing a racing mate puts him onto.
Laura’s shame at lying to Paul and Rebecca gets too much, and Nick has to push hard to make her try one last ploy for ‘justice’ - asking Paul for a big pay out. Elle’s misgivings about Laura only escalate and she sneaks into Laura’s hotel room where she overhears Nick and Laura reveal their true colours. After Adam is distant with her, Pepper realises that their relationship has suffered after her attack on his partner Sophie. But when messed-up Sophie makes a move on Adam, Pepper decides enough is enough and tells all - the high school bulling, boyfriend stealing, the lot!
EastEnders Round Up
Sean is back and looking threatening. Stacey’s worried he’s going to ruin things for them. Carly finds him asleep in a car at the
Abi has a new role in the school nativity play, but is beginning to behave like a diva, and Ronnie invites Jack to dinner with the family in the hope of sorting things out with Phil.
Romantic rumours surround Strictly dancing pair
Former Eastender Matt Di Angelo and professional dancer Flavia Cacace could be more than just dancing partners, if rumours are to be believed.
During the pair’s latest outing on the hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, host Tess Daly made a number of references to their possible off-screen relationship, though she declined to pay any attention to reports that Flavia has just recently spilt with her dancer boyfriend Vincent Simone.
After the pair completed their version of the rumba, they explained that it is the dance of love, to which Ms Daly quipped “That should be a walk in the park for you two!”
Speaking to the Sun, a show insider said: “It’s obvious to everyone on set - and the viewers - that something is happening between them.”
The revelations come as the former international rugby player Kenny Logan became the latest celebrity to be voted off the show after failing to impress the judges in his dance-off against actress Letitia Dean.
With Kelly Brook having pulled out, former pop-star Alesha Dixon has become the bookmakers’ favourite to claim the Strictly Come Dancing crown.
