BBC

MasterChef returns with new format

TV Gossip

10 Jan 2012

'MasterChef's eighth season will feature a new format. The BBC One show will see 24 contestants chosen from a selection of amateur chefs who are tasked with cooking a dish for judges Gregg Wallace and John Torrode, with the group then whittled down…

Andrew Lloyd-Webber quits BBC

TV Gossip

6 Jan 2012

Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber has quit the BBC to film a new show for ITV. The musicals supremo will head up the judging panel in a search to find an actor to play Judas in a touring production of rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and has joined the…

McFly to front Saturday night variety show?

TV Gossip

6 Jan 2012

McFly have been approached to front their own Saturday night variety show. Both the BBC and ITV have reportedly expressed an interest in the 'Star Girl' hitmakers - made up of Dougie Poynter, Harry Judd, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones - in the hope of…

Outnumbered axed by BBC

TV Gossip

7 Dec 2011

'Outnumbered' won't be back for a new series next year. The BBC One comedy - which stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner as stressed parents trying to control their three children - will now only be brought back for one-off specials as bosses are…

Children in Need to auction Doctor Who outfit

TV Gossip

18 Nov 2011

'Doctor Who' fans have the chance to bid for one of his costumes on BBC Children in Need tonight (18.11.11). As part of the annual charity fundraising telethon held on BBC One, viewers will get a sneak peak of the Christmas Special of the sci-fi…

Peter and Theo could quit the Den over BBC move

TV Gossip

18 Nov 2011

Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis may quit 'Dragons' Den' if the series is moved to Manchester. The entrepreneurial challenge show is currently filmed in London but bosses are deciding whether to shift production to the BBC's new home in North West…

Graham Norton happy to take payc cut

TV Gossip

28 Oct 2011

Graham Norton would "absolutely" take a pay cut to keep working at the BBC. The TV talk show host is currently re-negotiating his deal with the channel and insists he would have no problem taking a cut in his salary because the network are trying to…

BBC to sue Italian channel for 'pornographic' Strictly

TV Gossip

20 Sep 2011

BBC Worldwide is to sue an Italian TV channel for launching a "pornographic" version of 'Strictly Come Dancing'. The corporation's commercial arm has called in lawyers over claims Mediaset - a network owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi…

Doctor Who joker David Walliams

TV Gossip

17 Sep 2011

David Walliams reduced the 'Doctor Who' cast to hysterics with his constant on set jokes. The comic actor guest stars as mole-like alien Gibbis in tonight's episode 'The God Complex' and Arthur Darvill - who plays Rory Williams - admits it was hard…

Sugababes sing Dancing Queen for Children in Need

TV Gossip

16 Sep 2011

The Sugababes had the audience dancing in the aisles at 'MAMMA MIA!' last night (15.09.11) for BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical. The girl band - made up of Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen - took to the stage in 70s-style at the…

Matt Smith wants new hat for the Doctor

TV Gossip

15 Sep 2011

Matt Smith wants to wear a "pork pie" hat in 'Doctor Who' next year. The 29-year-old actor has enjoyed getting to don unusual headwear, including a Stetson and a fez, as the Time Lord and he is pushing for a new hat for the 2012 run. He told BANG…

Robbie Savage couldn't eat before Strictly

TV Gossip

13 Sep 2011

Robbie Savage couldn't eat before his first appearance on 'Strictly Come Dancing'. The retired footballer - who has played matches in front of crowds thousands of people during his career - has revealed his "tummy was in bits" before he took part on…

Harry Judd signs up for Strictly

TV Gossip

3 Sep 2011

McFly star Harry Judd and Lulu have signed up to 'Strictly Come Dancing'. The musical hunk - who has previously dated Lindsay Lohan - and the 'Shout' hitmaker are the latest names to be added to line-up of the BBC show, joining stars including…

Jonathan Ross: I am worth 6m

TV Gossip

1 Sep 2011

Jonathan Ross insists he was worth his £6 million-a-year salary at the BBC. The outspoken presenter - whose £18 million three-year deal with the corporation was highly publicised - claims he deserved his huge pay cheque because he was good at his job…

Jonathan Ross: The BBC is 'over cautious'

TV Gossip

31 Aug 2011

Jonathan Ross has blasted the BBC as "over cautious and defensive". The TV star - who resigned from the channel in the wake of the Andrew Sachs prank phone-call scandal with Russell Brand in 2008 - will launch his new chat show on ITV1 on Saturday…

David Tennant and Billie Piper to reunite in BBC drama

TV Gossip

26 Aug 2011

Former 'Doctor Who' co-stars David Tennant and Billie Piper will be reunited on screen in a new BBC romantic drama. The tenth Doctor will join forces with Billie - who played his companion Rose Tyler from 2005 to 2010, when they both left the sci-fi…

Matt Smith is a 'funny' Doctor

TV Gossip

17 Aug 2011

'Doctor Who' showrunner Steven Moffat cast Matt Smith in the title role because he was "funny". The writer-and-producer has revealed he wanted an actor who could do comedy as well as action when he was looking for David Tennant's successor in the…

Spooks axed after 10 series

TV Gossip

11 Aug 2011

'Spooks' has been axed by the BBC. The spy drama - which has been shown on BBC One since 2002 and focuses on main character Harry Pearce, played by Peter Firth - will come off air after the end of its upcoming tenth series, which begins later this…

Amy and Rory to leave Doctor Who

TV Gossip

9 Aug 2011

'Doctor Who' companions Amy Pond and Rory Williams are reportedly leaving at the end of the current series. The married couple - played by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill - will leave The Doctor (Matt Smith) following the autumn run of episodes after…

Ruth Negga lands Shirley Bassey role

TV Gossip

4 Aug 2011

Ruth Negga has been cast in the titular role for 'Shirley Bassey: A Very British Diva'. The actress - who has previously appeared in 'Misfits', 'Criminal Justice' and 'Five Daughters' - will play iconic singer Dame Shirley in the drama - which spans…

Doctor Who is staying Britain

TV Gossip

29 Jul 2011

'Doctor Who' will never relocate to the US, according to Steven Moffat. The showrunner insists the BBC One sci-fi programme will always be mainly shot in Britain, even though some of the most recent episodes have been filmed in America and it has…

Channel Hopper: The Hour

Taut, Abi Morgan-penned period news drama starring Ben Wishaw, Romola Garai and Dominic West

21 Jul 2011

Let’s get this straight: here we have a modern BBC drama about a 1950s BBC news programme called ‘The Hour’ with each of its six episodes lasting an hour? Yes, The Hour (BBC2, Tue, 9pm) may originate from a confusing place, but through the spandex-tight…

Cee Lo Green to judge The Voice

TV Gossip

4 Jul 2011

Cee Lo Green will judge 'The Voice' when it airs in the UK. The 'Forget You' hitmaker currently sits on the panel of the US version of the singing competition - which sees hopefuls perform for the judges without them seeing their face - alongside…

Unknown actress to star in new BBC drama

TV Gossip

17 Jun 2011

New BBC drama 'Call The Midwife' will star an unknown actress. Bosses at the broadcaster are taking a gamble by casting Jessica Raine - whose previous work has mainly been in theatre - in the lead role of Jenny, for the 50s drama, set in the East…

Jonathan Ross: The BBC is too cautious

TV Gossip

15 Jun 2011

Jonathan Ross thinks the BBC is too "cautious". The 50-year-old TV presenter - who quit his long-running chat show on BBC One 'Friday Night with Jonathan Ross' in January 2010 - thinks the broadcaster has gone "too far" because they are so worried…

ITV and BBC both want The Voice

TV Gossip

7 Jun 2011

ITV and the BBC are at the centre of a bidding war over 'The Voice'. The BBC had been close to signing a deal to air the UK version of the hit US talent show but now ITV have entered the frame, leaving bosses of 'The X Factor' nervous as they fear it…

Christine Bleakley's BBC pressure

TV Gossip

11 Mar 2011

Christine Bleakley was put under pressure by the BBC to re-sign her contract with 'The One Show'. The 'Daybreak' presenter - who left the BBC One series to co-host the ITV1 morning programme alongside Adrian Chiles in September - admitted making her…

Jim Davidson's Brucie rant

TV Gossip

3 Mar 2011

Comedian Jim Davidson has branded 'Strictly Come Dancing' host Bruce Forsyth as a "miserable old b*****d". The former 'Generation Game' presenter suggested the 83-year-old TV legend is only being kept on the BBC One celebrity dancing show so the…

Matt Smith says Doctor Who is the 'greatest' role

TV Gossip

21 Feb 2011

Matt Smith says starring in 'Doctor Who' is the "greatest television part" in Britain. The 28-year-old actor met fans young and old as he attended the opening of the 'Doctor Who Experience' at the Olympia venue in London on Sunday (20.02.11) and…

David Walliams to play cowardly alien

TV Gossip

19 Feb 2011

David Walliams will play a cowardly mole-like alien in 'Doctor Who'. The 'Little Britain' star will have to spend hours in make-up for the role in the BBC sci-fi series in an episode which has been written by 'Being Human' creator Toby…

Bruce Forsyth's Strictly job is safe

TV Gossip

4 Feb 2011

Bruce Forsyth has been told his job presenting 'Strictly Come Dancing' is safe by the boss of BBC One. Speculation had been growing the 83-year-old entertainer was set to be replaced on the show, with his co-host Tess Daly's husband Vernon Kay and…

Dragon James Caan replaced by Secret Millionaire

TV Gossip

4 Feb 2011

James Caan is being replaced on 'Dragon's Den' by Hilary Devey. The multi-millionaire announced he was quitting the entrepreneurial show last month to focus on his charity The James Caan Foundation and his recruitment company business. The BBC…

Gavin and Stacey star Margaret John dies

TV Gossip

2 Feb 2011

'Gavin and Stacey' star Margaret John has died. The actress, who played Doris in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom, passed away in her sleep at around 2am this morning (02.02.11) at the age of 83. Tributes have already started to flood in from…

Jonathan Ross 'glad to have left BBC'

TV Gossip

26 Nov 2010

Jonathan Ross is relieved to have left the BBC. The chat show host - who announced he would be leaving the channel earlier this year - admitted there was a great deal of "pressure" on him while he was fronting 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross'. He…

Jonathan Ross to front new Big Brother

TV Gossip

26 Nov 2010

Jonathan Ross is to host the new 'Big Brother'. The legendary presenter - who quit his BBC chat show 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' earlier this year - and his company Hotsauce TV have signed a multi-million pound deal with 'Big Brother' creators…

BBC reveals festive schedule

TV Gossip

23 Nov 2010

The BBC have announced their Christmas TV schedule with comedy and dramas taking top billing. One of the main attractions will be 'The One Ronnie', which will see Ronnie Corbett to host his first solo show for the BBC - five years after the death of…

Jason Manford quits The One Show

TV Gossip

19 Nov 2010

Jason Manford has quit 'The One Show' after admitting to saucy internet sessions with female fans. The 29-year-old comedian has confessed to spending hours in hotel rooms chatting to scantily-clad fans via twitter and video calls on Skype. He…

Adrian Johns - Death of a Pirate

History of rogue broadcasters' ideological quest resonates with Pirate Bay trial

19 Nov 2010

(WW Norton) The groovy aspect of 1960s British pirate radio has already been dramatised in Richard Curtis’ film The Boat That Rocked. University of Chicago professor Adrian Johns charts the story’s more serious side: how rogue broadcasters were…

T in the Park 2010: Edith Bowman interview

23 Jun 2010

BBC presenter and Anstruther lass-done-good Edith Bowman is coming to Balado for this year’s T in the Park. But she’s not bringing her wellies, right?

Premier of BBC’s World of Wonder series among highlights of Edinburgh Science Festival Film strand

31 Mar 2010

The film strand of the Edinburgh’s Science Festival taking place between the 3-17 April includes preview screenings of the BBC’s new World of Wonder series films, American documentary Blast! – a giddy journey in to the complex world of astrophysics and…

Five reasons to: Save BBC 6Music

4 Mar 2010

First came a collective up-in-arms from indie fans across the land; then came the validation of their anguish by the BBC: its small but much-loved digital radio station, 6Music, is to close next year – alongside the Asian Network – pending a public…

Doctor Who - Space Oddity

19 Mar 2009

In four years time Doctor Who will be 50 years old, but still it remains one of the most popular and imagination-grabbing shows on television. While the best of British actors and television writers are lining up to work on it, the series’ first…

Doctor Who - The making of a time lord

19 Mar 2009

TIMELINE Nov 1963 Doctor Who is devised as an educational science fiction show to appeal to viewers of all ages and is given an evening time slot. The screening of the first episode is overshadowed by a power cut in parts of the country and the…

The People's Story - Days Like This project launched

19 Jun 2008

Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Arts Council and BBC Radio Scotland join forces for groundbreaking book and radio project Days Like This. People the length and breadth of Scotland are being offered the chance to share their stories, as part of a unique…

BBC search for Lottery show contestants

1 May 2008

The BBC are now inviting applications for their new Saturday night Lottery game show This Time Tomorrow. Auditions will take palce in Glasgow in May, and applicants with 'big personalities' are advised to get in touch now. Further information and…

Ian Wright quits the BBC

18 Apr 2008

Ex-England and Arsenal player Ian Wright has quit the BBC's live commentary team, claiming he no longer wants to be seen as a 'comedy jester' 'Times are changing. I don't know how long young people are going to want to sit down and watch that same…