Radio Times
type: channel
link: https://www.radiotimes.com
date: 2024-10-30T14:34:13.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: The Outlaws: Start date, time, cast and latest news on Stephen Merchant drama
items: The Larkins release date: Cast, plot and latest news for Darling Buds of May adaptation
items: The Baby-Sitters Club season 2 release date: cast, trailer and latest news for Netflix comedy drama
items: Ted Lasso season 2: release date, cast, trailer and latest news
items: Rebel on Disney+ release date: The new drama inspired by Erin Brockovich
items: Panic release date: Cast, trailer and plot for Amazon's YA novel adaptation
items: Halston release date: Cast, trailer and latest news for Netflix fashion drama
items: The Pact release date: Cast, plot and latest news for the BBC drama
items: Darcey Bussell to present new talent contest BBC Young Dancer
items: Celebrity Big Brother's most shocking moments
items: Celebrity Big Brother 2015: Alexander O'Neal
items: Rita Ora's outfit sparks hundreds of complaints from One Show viewers
items: Ricky Gervais, Seth Rogen and the celebrities who've written for The Simpsons
items: National Television Awards 2015 shortlist revealed
items: It's Simon v Cheryl and Sherlock v Doctor Who as NTA shortlist is revealed

The Outlaws: Start date, time, cast and latest news on Stephen Merchant drama
type: item
date: 2021-10-25T14:37:37.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
description: Stephen Merchant directs and stars in the upcoming series.
encoded: Stephen Merchant's brand new series The Outlaws kicks off on BBC One tonight, following a diverse group of people carrying out community service, who find themselves united by a common threat. The drama features moments of comedy, which is to be expected from the co-creator of The Office and Extras, as well as some quite thrilling scenes as our unlikely gang finds themselves in way over their head. Merchant himself appears in a supporting role alongside rising star Rhianne Barreto, Hollywood legend Christopher Walken and a number of other familiar faces. The BBC must be very happy with The Outlaws as the brand new show secured a second series long before the first had even wrapped filming, which is a strong vote of confidence if ever there was one. Read on for everything you need to know Stephen Merchant's The Outlaws on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, including start date, cast and trailer. The Outlaws release date CONFIRMED: The Outlaws premieres tonight, Monday 25th October, at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer The series was filmed in Bristol (Merchant's hometown), and is a co-production between the BBC and Amazon Studios, which means it will be distributed on Prime Video in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The shoot got underway in March 2020, but had to be halted after just 12 days of production due to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down much of the entertainment industry for several months. On the bright side, during the hiatus, Merchant was approached by the BBC to write a second series which has since been officially ordered by the broadcaster. View oEmbed on the source website The Outlaws series one and two were ultimately filmed back-to-back, with production resuming in late November 2020 and continuing for just shy of a year. As the cast and crew returned to work, Merchant said: "Like so many other productions, we’d just begun filming when COVID-19 struck and we had to shut down. I’m delighted that we’re now finally able to resume film…

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The Larkins release date: Cast, plot and latest news for Darling Buds of May adaptation
type: item
date: 2021-10-10T13:03:25.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
description: A new ITV adaptation of H. E. Bates's 1958 novel stars Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, as well as Joanna Scanlan and Peter Davison.
encoded: ITV's brand new adaptation of The Darling Buds of May, The Larkins, looks set to be one of the most popular British television shows of the autumn season, with a star-studded cast bringing life to its beloved source material. Doctor Who and Coronation Street alum Bradley Walsh leads the cast as Pop Larkin, patriarch of a family who are at the heart of all the goings on in their quaint Kent village in the 1950s. The show will also feature a guest appearance from his real-life son Barney Walsh, whom he regularly collaborates with on the popular Breaking Dad travelogue series. Rounding out the rest of The Larkins cast are The Thick Of It star Joanna Scanlan and former Time Lord Peter Davison, while Bridgerton's Sabrina Bartlett takes the role originally held by Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones. Read on for everything you need to know about The Larkins on ITV, including start date and time on ITV. When is The Larkins on TV? CONFIRMED: The Larkins will premiere on ITV tonight, Sunday 10th October at 8pm. ITV officially confirmed the start date in September. The series is expected to air every Sunday night for six weeks. For more information see our guide to when The Larkins episodes are released. READ MORE: Meet the cast of The Larkins The Larkins review The Larkins episodes - how many are there in the first season? Bradley Walsh admits he wasn't familiar with Pop Larkin before taking the role The Larkins Christmas special - stars confirm festive return at end of 2021 The Larkins cast: Who plays who? Bradley Walsh plays Pop Larkin in The Larkins cast, taking on the role previously held by David Jason in the 1990s adaptation. When the casting was announced, Walsh said he was "thrilled" to be involved in the "much loved and iconic series of stories," adding: "The warmth and affection that H. E. Bates has generated through his books is so uplifting and I cannot wait to be part of the Larkin family. It’ll be a hoot!" His wife Ma is played by The Thick of It star Joanna Sc…

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The Baby-Sitters Club season 2 release date: cast, trailer and latest news for Netflix comedy drama
type: item
date: 2021-10-08T15:29:56.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: The series is based on the lengthy children's book series by Ann M. Martin.
encoded: The Baby-Sitters Club returns for a second season next week, hooray! But unlike the original book series on which the programme is based, there are unlikely to be a further 129 series to follow. Ann M. Martin's original series of children's books spanned a total 131 novels (of which she wrote the first 35), plus almost 100 spin-off books. We're exhausted just thinking about it! The author acted as producer on Netflix's reboot of the stories, the first 10 episodes of which were released on the streaming platform in July 2020. The series follows five middle-schoolers, who run a baby-sitting business together in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. Here's everything you need to know about season two. When is season two of The Baby-Sitters Club released? CONFIRMED: Netflix has now announced a release date for season two, and there's not long to wait. Series two of The Baby-Sitters Club will drop on Netflix on Monday 11th October. View oEmbed on the source website For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. What is The Baby-Sitters Club about? The programme follows five friends who run a baby-sitting business together, and charts their friendship dramas and anxieties about growing up (from parental punishments to crushes and first periods). The girls also encounter baby-sitting rivals in the form of teenager-run business The Baby-Sitters Agency, the members of which attempt to sabotage the BSC. Not every part of the story is derived from the original books, and one storyline sees club member Mary Anne babysitting a transgender child called Bailey. "The Baby-Sitters Club books were so inclusive for the time that they were written, and we wanted to carry that through to the present day," series creator Rachel Shukert told Vanity Fair last year. "Trans kids exist, and they need baby-sitters, and they need to be acknowledged. And to see Mary Anne recognise that and be a…

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Ted Lasso season 2: release date, cast, trailer and latest news
type: item
date: 2021-07-21T16:47:15.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Comedy
subject: TV
subject: Apple TV
subject: On demand
description: Jason Sudeikis stars as an optimistic American football coach who finds himself leading a Premier League team.
encoded: Ted Lasso has secured its position as the jewel in the Apple TV+ crown, with an impressive 20 Emmy nominations at this year's ceremony, including seven shared out among the principal cast. The breakout hit of Apple's streaming platform stars Jason Sudeikis as the eponymous American football coach, who jumps across the pond to the UK to try his hand at steering a Premier League 'soccer' club to trophy success. The series has amassed a large and dedicated fanbase with its positive messages about life, but the upcoming second season won't be afraid to mix things up by delving into the topical issue of mental health. “Mental health still has stigmas around it in this country [the USA], and even more so in England, and even more so in sports, so we take a little time to explore that, and where our characters are at with that,” co-star Brendan Hunt, better known as Coach Beard, told Deadline. “Now, I know that all sounds hilarious. But we’ll still get our yuks in.” Previously, it had been announced that I May Destroy You star Sarah Niles would be joining the Ted Lasso cast as sports psychologist Sharon, who could very well play a key role in this new focus. Here’s everything we know so far about Ted Lasso season two on Apple TV+. Ted Lasso season 2 release date CONFIRMED: Ted Lasso season two will be released exclusively on Apple TV+ on Friday 23rd July. There are 12 episodes in the season, but the show will premiere with two episodes, followed by one new weekly episode each Friday. Season two comes less than a year after the first episodes dropped back in August 2020 – which is particularly impressive given that the pandemic has caused many films and television shows to be substantially delayed. Co-creator Brendan Hunt revealed that filming on Ted Lasso wrapped at the start of June 2021, suggesting a quick turnaround from the editing team to get the show ready to stream in about six weeks. View oEmbed on the source website Ted Lasso has already been renewed for a third s…

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Rebel on Disney+ release date: The new drama inspired by Erin Brockovich
type: item
date: 2021-05-18T14:27:44.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
description: Katey Sagal stars as a blue-collar legal advocate ready to take on the world.
encoded: A new drama series inspired by the life of environmental activist Erin Brockovich is coming to Disney Plus. Rebel, which comprises 10 episodes, follows Annie “Rebel” Bello, a character based on Brockovich. But - unlike the 2000 film named after the activist - this is not strictly a biographical drama. Here's what we know about the series so far. When is Rebel released? Rebel will be released on Disney Plus on 28th May 2021. In the US, it premiered on ABC on 8th April 2021. Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now Has Rebel been cancelled? Rebel has unfortunately been cancelled before the first season has even finished airing on TV, and before it has even arrived on Disney Plus in the UK. According to Deadline, it underperformed in the ratings, but calling it quits was "clearly a tough decision for the network." What is Rebel about? Is it a true story? Rebel follows the work of Annie “Rebel” Bello, a passionate legal advocate who doesn't have a law degree. Disney describes Rebel's character as "funny, messy, brilliant and fearless", adding that she "cares desperately about the causes she fights for and the people she loves". One theme of the show is female empowerment, and it and features a storyline which sees Rebel act to protect a woman from her abusive boyfriend. The legal advocate's husband regularly picks up the pieces at home while Rebel champions various causes. Erin Brockovich, the legal clerk and activist who inspired the series, became involved in a lawsuit against The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in 1993 over contaminated drinking water, despite her lack of legal qualifications. Brockovich went on to write two books and receive two honorary doctorates. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. Who stars in Rebel? Katey Sagal (who voiced the character of Leela in Futurama) plays Annie “Rebel” Bello, and Rebel's third husband and…

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Panic release date: Cast, trailer and plot for Amazon's YA novel adaptation
type: item
date: 2021-05-16T09:16:00.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
subject: Amazon Prime Video
subject: On demand
description: Teen series Panic is based on the 2014 Lauren Oliver novel of the same name.
encoded: Amazon's latest novel adaptation Panic was written and created by the author of its source material, Lauren Oliver. So, if die-hard fans aren't happy with how the young-adult book has been treated, they might just have to lay blame on their own imaginations this time. The 10-part Amazon series, which sees teens take part in life-or-death challenges in the pursuit of a better life, may scream "Hunger Games" to some viewers but Oliver has dismissed any comparisons. Way back in 2014, the author told MTV she wished her book was like Suzanne Collins's trilogy. "It's completely realistic, so the book takes place in modern times and it does not read, unfortunately for me, anything like the 'Hunger Games'," she said. Read on for everything we know about the series so far. Panic release date on Amazon All 10 hour-long episodes launch on Amazon Prime on 28th May 2021. Panic trailer Yes, and some of those challenges sure do look dangerous... View oEmbed on the source website Panic cast Protagonist Heather Nill is played by Olivia Welch (Unbelievable), while Oliver's least favourite character, Ray, is portrayed by Ray Nicholson (who plays a small supporting role in popular 2020 film Promising Young Woman). Also starring are Skins's Jessica Sula, Enrique Murciano (Miss Congeniality 2, Black Hawk Down), Mike Faist and Camron Jones. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. What is Panic about? Panic is set in a small, poor Texas town where, each year, graduating seniors take part in dangerous challenges as part of a game called Panic. The winner takes home a life-changing sum of money, enabling them to access a better life and leave the dead-end town. This year, the prize is bigger than ever, and the game is even more dangerous (which is saying something, considering that two teens died playing it the previous year). Heather Nill wants to win in order to go to college, but her best f…

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Halston release date: Cast, trailer and latest news for Netflix fashion drama
type: item
date: 2021-05-05T20:20:02.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: Ewan McGregor stars as influential fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick.
encoded: Netflix has released a trailer for its upcoming drama series Halston, which stars Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Trainspotting), Rory Culkin (brother of Macauley), Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Kelly Bishop (Gilmore Girls). The five-part miniseries, executive produced by Ryan Murphy, portrays the life of 1970s American fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick (known simply as Halston). In the trailer, which is set to Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence, we see the ambition, hedonism and power-lust of McGregor's character in its full glory. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter last month, McGregor defended being cast as Halston, who was gay. “If it had been a story about Halston’s sexuality more, then maybe it’s right that gay actors should play that role,” McGregor said, discussing comments made by Billy Porter in 2019 about the fact that gay men frequently lose out on straight roles, while the same is rarely true in reverse. “But in this case – and I don’t want to sound like I’m worming out of this, because it’s something I did think a lot about – I suppose ultimately I felt like it was just one part of who he was.” Read on for everything you need to know about the biopic. When is Halston released on Netflix? Hotly anticipated mini-series Halston comes to Netflix on Friday 14th May 2021. The super-stylish biopic will drop all five episodes in one go, so it could provide the perfect weekend binge watch. What is Halston about? The series follows Halston's life and rise to fame in the 1970s – and the sex, drugs and runway shows that came with it. The designer's work was favoured by the likes of Liza Minnelli (who is portrayed by Broadway star Krysta Rodriguez in the drama), Greta Garbo and Elizabeth Taylor. Halston also designed the pillbox hat that Jackie Kennedy wore to John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961. The designer was infamously controlling, self-obsessed and liable to throw a fit if he didn't get what he wanted. For the latest news and expert tips on getti…

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The Pact release date: Cast, plot and latest news for the BBC drama
type: item
date: 2021-05-05T17:24:07.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Drama
subject: TV
description: A shocking unexplained death turns the lives of four friends upside down in a new BBC One drama.
encoded: If you're looking for a meaty new British crime drama, Doctor Who screenwriter Pete McTighe's latest offering, The Pact, could satisfy your cravings. The female-led crime thriller tells the story of four women, who work together at a brewery. They enter a pact of silence after their young boss is found dead. The series is the first commission for Cardiff-based independent production company Little Door Productions, which was established in 2019. Wales's Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, has praised the commission, and said the series would "further enhance Wales’ reputation as a top class destination for high end TV drama production" - which you can read more about in our The Pact filming location guide. When does The Pact air? The first episode of the series will debut on Monday 17th May on BBC One at 9pm, and the second episode airs on Tuesday 18th May at 9pm. Episodes will then air on BBC One on Mondays and Tuesdays for the remainder of the series. The entire series will drop on BBC iPlayer on 17th May, so you can binge the whole lot in one go if you'd like (if you've already done so, you can read our The Pact ending explainer). What is The Pact about? The drama follows four co-workers, Anna, Nancy, Louie and Cat. They are bound together by a dark secret, which changes their lives forever when their boss Jack (Aneurin Barnard) is found dead. The group is forced into a pact of silence, with Anna's police officer husband Max (Jason Hughes) completely unaware that his wife is linked to the case as he investigates the shocking death. Meanwhile, one of the women's colleagues, Tish (Abbie Hern), begins to suspect her co-workers. Calling the drama an "exciting commission" for BBC Cymru Wales, Head of Commissioning Nick Andrews said: "It builds on our strong portfolio of impactful drama, and like Hinterland, Keeping Faith and Hidden before it, brings together the best in the business to do their best work. It’s a brilliant story and…

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Darcey Bussell to present new talent contest BBC Young Dancer
type: item
date: 2015-01-15T09:33:52.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Entertainment
subject: News
subject: Talent Shows
subject: TV
description: The Strictly judge will appear on the BBC's newest dance talent show
encoded: Darcey Bussell is getting ready to swap celebrity ballroom battles for a crop of young hip-hop hopefuls this year. The Strictly judge and ballet legend will be part of a team of presenters for BBC2’s Young Dancer 2015, a new talent competition searching for exceptional dancers aged 16 – 20. The show will air later this year and allows hopefuls to compete in four styles: hip-hop, ballet, contemporary and South Asian. Bussell admits that hip-hop is not her forte. “I've tried to do some hip-hop and it's so difficult and an extraordinary strength and ability,” she says. “You need so many things to be able to do hip-hop.” The talent show will consist of four BBC4 programmes featuring highlights from the finals in each category, culminating in a live final at Sadler's Wells that will air on BBC2. Despite opportunities like Young Dancer, the 45-year-old former ballet dancer thinks that being a professional dancer isn’t getting any easier. “Dance is definitely getting harder, dancers have to be more and more diverse,” she says. “They have to be open and that is harder for everybody to step out of their comfort zone.” Bussell explains that as a youngster her own performance in competitions was far from the polished primetime personality we see now. “I was awful,” she says. “I think even one was televised once actually but it was done in Le Sain so it was probably a European competition that didn't air in England, which was probably quite lucky!” BBC Young Dancer 2015 will air on BBC2 in May.

Celebrity Big Brother's most shocking moments
type: item
date: 2015-01-13T13:16:44.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Entertainment
subject: News
subject: Reality TV
subject: TV
description: Jeremy Jackson is only the latest housemate to court controversy...
encoded: Ken Morley became the second Celebrity Big Brother contestant to be ejected from the series yesterday, only two days after Jeremy Jackson made CBB history as the first housemate to be kicked out early. But while this may be the only year that producers have had to banish housemates from CBB before their time, is it really the most controversial series yet? Judge for yourself with our run-down of the five most shocking incidents in the programme’s history. 5. Germaine Greer quits the house and brands Big Brother a bully Feminist writer Germaine Greer walked out of the house early in 2005, accusing the show of acting like a playground bully. Greer described the late addition of Jackie Stallone, who had a difficult relationship with contestant and former daughter-in-law Brigitte Nielsen, as a “complete irresponsibility”. The author also criticised Big Brother for taunting horse racing pundit John McCririck. Greer tried and failed to incite her fellow contestants into joining her in a naked protest against Big Brother and left on day six. View oEmbed on the source website 4. Vinnie Jones calls Davina McCall a "retard" During the 2010 series, actor Vinnie Jones sparked protests from disability charities when he said that presenter Davina McCall had been "walking like a retard". He made the comments on Big Brother’s Big Mouth in response to an audience member asking how he knew it was McCall who entered the house in a chicken costume. Ofcom initially said that the incident did not breach its guidelines but later changed its decision, finding that the remark broke a rule stating that offensive material must be justified by its context. View oEmbed on the source website 3. Pete Burns’ "gorilla fur" coat is seized by police Police removed series four housemate Pete Burns’ coat from the house after he claimed it was made from gorilla fur. The singer’s coat turned out to be made of fur from Colobus monkeys, which are also an endangered species, but no charges were brought as t…

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Celebrity Big Brother 2015: Alexander O'Neal
type: item
date: 2015-01-07T20:50:00.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Entertainment
subject: News
subject: Reality TV
subject: TV
description: The R & B singer is warning his fellow housemates to keep their bodily functions to themselves…
encoded: Name: Alexander O’Neal Age: 61 Twitter: @alexandero_neal (with fewer than 400 followers, the singer needs all the help he can get) Famous, why? For being an R & B singer. Oh, and he once took part in Celebrity Wife Swap… Alexander O’Neal is best-known for hit singles Saturday Love and Criticize. The singer’s 1987 album Hearsay went triple platinum in the UK but none of his subsequent LPs have managed to match its success - and his 2010 release Five Questions: The New Journey sank without a trace. But absence from the chart hasn't stopped O’Neal putting in a string of TV appearances. The musician has found his way onto Celebrity Wife Swap, The Weakest Link and Just The Two Of Us, a BBC talent show where professional singers were partnered with non-musical celebrities to perform duets for the public vote. We’re a little confused as to why O’Neal has chosen CBB for his next reality TV conquest. Admitting the format may prove a challenge, the singer says: “Big Brother is everything that Alexander O'Neal is not. I'm a very private person, I don't hang out with people. I'm never around people.” And we would advise O’Neal’s fellow housemates to be mindful of their personal hygiene. “I don’t like smelling people,” he says. “I don’t want to smell their breath, I don't want to smell their feet, I don't want to smell their ass. I do not want to smell their farts. When you're in the House with a bunch of people you can't behave like that.” Consider us warned. Video: Here's O'Neal's song, Criticize (watch out for some incredible eighties hairstyles) View oEmbed on the source website Meet the rest of this year's Celebrity Big Brother housemates And vote for your favourite ever Celebrity Big Brother contestant in CBB Champion

Rita Ora's outfit sparks hundreds of complaints from One Show viewers
type: item
date: 2015-01-07T09:28:58.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Entertainment
subject: News
subject: TV
description: More than 400 viewers complained to the BBC about The Voice UK judge's revealing trouser suit
encoded: Rita Ora wasn't the one doing the judging when she appeared on The One Show earlier this week to promote the upcoming series of The Voice UK. The 24-year-old singer’s revealing outfit sparked hundreds of complaints after she was interviewed alongside fellow judges Tom Jones, Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson on Monday evening. The BBC received 424 complaints about the plunging neckline of Ora’s white trouser suit, and many viewers took to the Points of View message board to vent their disapproval about the new judge’s attire. In a thread entitled ‘One Show boobs…’, viewers complained that Ora’s decision to wear nothing underneath her Ermanno Scervino blazer worn wasn’t suitable for a family show. One user wrote: “Thankfully my 7 year old boy is elsewhere.. Come on BBC, make the woman put a vest on”, while another asked: “Where on earth have the BBC's standards and sense of moral responsibility gone?” A BBC spokesperson said: "The One Show allows guests to choose their own attire and pop stars often opt for something glamorous or striking. We didn’t feel that Rita’s outfit would be outside of most viewers’ expectations of that of a major pop star, but we appreciate that tastes vary.” Offcom also received 28 complaints but Twitter users have rushed to defend the Hot Right Now singer’s garb: View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website View oEmbed on the source website Ricky Wilson has claimed that Ora is “naughtier” than previous judges Jessie J and Kylie Minogue. He said: “She’s a lot naughtier than Kylie and Jessie. Look at her!” The Voice UK returns at 7pm on Saturday (10th January) on BBC1

Ricky Gervais, Seth Rogen and the celebrities who've written for The Simpsons
type: item
date: 2015-01-06T13:46:00.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Comedy
subject: News
subject: TV
description: Not just anyone gets to write an episode of the long-standing animated comedy - but we've tracked down some of the famous faces who were given a shot...
encoded: During its 25 years, The Simpsons has played host to a gaggle of celebrity guest stars. A succession of famous faces (well, voices) have graced the cartoon with everyone from Stephen Hawking to Lady Gaga being immortalised in yellow. But while starring in the show might seem like a given once you reach certain heights of fame, a guest writing spot on the show is far more difficult to come by. Here are the chosen few celebrities fortunate enough to have written one of The Simpsons’ 526 episodes. Judd Apatow Knocked Up director Jude Apatow wrote his episode of The Simpsons back in 1990, when he was a 22 year-old stand-up comedian with TV writing aspirations. The show wasn’t interested in his ideas at the time but Apatow’s dreams of writing for The Simpsons were finally realised after producer Al Jean heard him mention the spec script in an interview. The Superbad producer’s episode, ‘Bart’s New Friend’, focuses on Homer, who has been hypnotized into thinking he is a ten year old and ends up becoming friends with Bart. The show will air on Fox on January 11. Ricky Gervais Ricky Gervais is one of just a handful of stars in the show’s history to have both written and starred in an episode. In ‘Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife’, the comedian plays Charles, a man who attempts to woo Marge when the family features on a Wife Swap-style reality show. Marge rejects The Office creator’s advances, even after he serenades her with her very own love song, entitled Lady In Blue. The episode was first shown on Fox in 2006 and was watched by an audience of 10 million. Seth Rogen In 2009, comedy actor Seth Rogen became another of the few celebrities to both write and star in an episode of the cartoon. Rogen voices the character of Lyle McCarthy, a celebrity fitness trainer tasked with getting Homer into shape for a role in a superhero blockbuster. The Superbad star and friend of Judd Apatow co-wrote ‘Homer The Whopper’ with his childhood friend Evan Goldberg, his collaborator on films…

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National Television Awards 2015 shortlist revealed
type: item
date: 2015-01-06T06:30:17.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Entertainment
subject: News
subject: TV
description: See a full list of the nominees in this year's viewer-voted awards...
encoded: Unlike the Baftas and the RTAs, the National Television Awards are voted for by you – the licence fee payer, armchair dweller, popcorn chewer and (probably) secret Gogglebox fanatic. Whether you can be found yelling joyously at lairy louts on the Jeremy Kyle show or crave some gritty crime action in the form of BBC1’s Happy Valley, the NTAs have got you covered. There are even a couple of new categories for 2015: TV Judge (Mary Berry, it’s your time to shine) and Skills Challenge Show (a category comprised entirely of cookery programmes – plus The Apprentice). The shortlist for this year’s NTAs has been revealed, and you’ve got until 21st January to vote for your favourite small screen stars. To have your say you can either vote online at www.nationaltvawards.com or call 0901 888 2015 The full nominees for the 2015 National Television Awards are as follow: Chat Show Host 1 Alan Carr 2 Michael McIntyre 3 Graham Norton 4 Paul O’Grady 5 Jonathan Ross Comedy 1 Benidorm 2 Mrs Brown’s Boys 3 Outnumbered 4 The Big Bang Theory Daytime 1 Pointless 2 The Chase 3 The Jeremy Kyle Show 4 This Morning Drama Performance 1 Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock) 2 Sarah Lancashire (Sgt Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley) 3 Dame Maggie Smith (Violet, Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey) 4 Sheridan Smith (Cilla Black in Cilla) Drama 1 Cilla 2 Doctor Who 3 Downton Abbey 4 Sherlock Entertainment Presenter 1 Ant and Dec 2 Keith Lemon 3 Dermot O’Leary 4 Bradley Walsh Entertainment Programme 1 Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway 2 Celebrity Big Brother 3 I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 4 Through The Keyhole Factual 1 Gogglebox 2 Long Lost Family 3 Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs 4 Top Gear Multichannel 1 Celebrity Juice 2 Game of Thrones 3 Geordie Shore 4 The Walking Dead Newcomer 1 Maddy Hill (Nancy Carter in Eastenders) 2 Lee Mead (Ben “Lofty” Chiltern in Casualty) 3 Cameron Moore (Cameron Campbell in Hollyoaks) 4 Michael Parr (Ross Barton in Emmerdale) Talent Show 1 Br…

It's Simon v Cheryl and Sherlock v Doctor Who as NTA shortlist is revealed
type: item
date: 2015-01-06T06:26:00.000Z
creator: Natasha Preskey
subject: Entertainment
subject: News
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
description: The shortlist for the 2015 National Television Awards has thrown up a couple of tasty battles
encoded: Who doesn’t love a good showbiz scrap? The shortlist for the 2015 National Television Awards has thrown up some great battles – and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top. Starting a fight between Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell is hardly difficult, but we predict a grudge match for the sparring judges as they compete alongside Mary Berry and Cowell's Britain's Got Talent co-panellist David Walliams for the Best TV Judge award. Simon and Cheryl have had an entertainingly tempestuous relationship over the years, and after a tense few months back on the X Factor judging panel again, Cheryl hinted last month that she may not return for another series. Could beating Simon to the NTA for Best TV Judge be her best chance of having the last laugh? Then again, David Walliams would take just as much pleasure from lording it over Simon... Another tasty clash sees BBC1’s cult favourites Doctor Who and Sherlock both shortlisted for Best Drama along with ITV’s Cilla and Downton Abbey. Peter Capaldi has settled into the Tardis brilliantly in his first series of Doctor Who, while Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is also nominated for Best Drama Performance in the show. See a full list of the nominees here.