Showbiz Newswrap
Showbiz 5: From lack of sex to Strictly no pay issues
Penelope Teeth casts her views over five showbiz headlines from this past week…
STRICTLY NOT PAY PROBLEM
Shirley Ballas has poo-pooed suggestions that behind the scenes of Strictly Come Dancing lays rows over pay. Speaking on ITV’s GMB Ballas cha cha cha’d all over rumours there has been disagreements between the ballroom talent over money.
Ballas leads the judges on the long-running celebrity dancing contest alongside Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood.
“First of all, I can clarify that there was no arguing with the BBC over pay… I want to say particularly… we’re in a crisis, a living crisis, where finances in different homes are very, very difficult. This is absolutely not true. So I can honestly say that there are no pay rises, it’s just not true, and no arguing. It is what it is.”
PRICE OF DEATH
Katie reminds me of my mother, I went on holiday with my grandparents – many years ago now – and left mother dearest in charge of my beloved goldfish, which she casually neglected for the course of the week and I returned to find a dirty fishbowl with the skeletal remains of said fish. Mother was always far too interested in herself to care about anything else unless it benefited her financially or publicity-wise. Although the only publicity she ever got was winning a Boots Haloween colouring-in contest. Anyway, I digress…
Now this week The Mirror reported that a ‘petition to ban Katie Price from owning pets has now gathered 27,000 signatures after a slew of animal deaths prompted the action.’ The tabloid added, ‘It comes after news Katie, 44, was allegedly recently reported to the RSPCA amid accusations that she has been ‘neglecting her chihuahuas’.’
I think we’ve all seen her chihuahuas and frankly, they’ve been going off for years.
JEFF STELLING TO LEAVE SKY SPORTS – AGAIN!
When Sky Sports made changes to Soccer Saturday in 2021 Jeff decided to quit, announcing his departure in October. However, as Sky Sports noted in March last year; ‘Following discussions with Sky Sports, he has decided to stay on as host of Soccer Saturday for at least the 2022/23 season.’ Now in April 2023 he’s decided not to carry on.
Jeff, who announced his decision live on air on Saturday, noted his regular decisions to quit, “It’s that time of year every year when I announce I am leaving Sky Sports and Soccer Saturday but this time it is true.” He added he’d had “Thirty fantastic years on Sky.”
The former Countdown host will broadcast for the last time on Sky Sports on May 28th.
I’M LOVING ORANGES INSTEAD
Robbie Williams and wife Ayda Field have addressed their sex life and lack of sex, whilst sharing a cheeky underwear video of Robbie dancing in his pants The Daily Star reported. The former Take That singer, dancer and sex-symbol has revealed he’d ‘rather eat tangerine’ than bonk his wife of 13-years.
Speaking to The Sun, Robbie said: “Everyone knows there is no sex after marriage. That’s just the way it is. I was on testosterone for a while but, because I’m an addict, that had to stop. I got these massive square shoulders and started to look like a doorman. It wasn’t a good look. But the sex we had when I was on testosterone was incredible; it was all the time. We were insatiable.
“I miss that. That was a fun period. Sometimes now, though, Ayda will turn to me on the sofa and say, ‘We should do sex,’ and I’m sitting there eating a tangerine and just sort of shrug. So, ya know, sometimes we try.”
RIP
Actress Barbara Young, best known for her roles in ITV serial Coronation Street and BBC One sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, died this week aged 92. Her daughter, Liza Pulman – who is a singer – announced the death of her performer mother, noting Young had “remarkable care” at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. Barbara’s other work included Channel 5 soap Family Affairs and BBC One’s medical saga Casualty.
“Just to let people know, my beautiful, brilliant, opinionated, loud, warm-hearted, talented and singular mother died on Thursday night at 10.30pm. My sister Cory and I were by her hospital bed for 30 hours straight and in the end, as is so often the case, she slipped away in our absence with a beautiful nurse called Mercy (you couldn’t write it) caring for her.
“The care she received in those last days at Addenbrookes was remarkable – considered, careful and empathetic – and to a person, they all said how much they had loved my mum, how she had made them laugh and how she had always been interested in them. She was 43 years without my father, 30 years without a cigarette and 20 years without a drink but never without a humbug. I have no words to describe how much I will miss her. You did well mum. Safe travels.”
