Showbiz 5: Failures, farewells and flashing

Another newswrap as Penelope Teeth casts her views over recent entertainment news…

Beeb ‘sorry’ over Westwood failures

The BBC board this week issued an apology for “missed opportunities” in addressing “bullying and misogynistic behaviour” by former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood. An independent report, released on Tuesday, examined the BBC’s awareness of Westwood’s conduct and detailed multiple incidents and allegations, describing them as a “considerable body of evidence” that the broadcaster failed to properly investigate.

The report also criticised the BBC for “inadequate record-keeping and communication with those who raised complaints or concerns,” as well as an “insufficiently rigorous attempt to address the substance of concerns raised.”

Previously, the BBC acknowledged six complaints regarding bullying and sexual misconduct. Westwood has denied all allegations, calling them “false” in a video shared on social media last year.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the allegations as “very serious,” adding that the media industry has seen “far too many instances of appalling behaviour.”

The BBC board admitted it had not taken “adequate action,” stating: “It is clear that in the past, the BBC has not only been too siloed but too deferential to high-profile individuals. … The board also wishes to take this opportunity to apologise on behalf of the entire BBC to anyone affected by the findings of this review,” it added.

Strictly not right

A 37-year-old man has admitted to stalking Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas over a six-year period. Kyle Shaw pleaded guilty to stalking the 64-year-old dancer and television personality between 31 August 2017 and 29 November 2023.

The charge states that his actions caused Ballas “serious alarm or distress, resulting in a substantial adverse effect on her daily life.”

The court heard that Shaw repeatedly attempted to contact Ballas, including sharing an image of her home on social media. He also tried to reach out to her family, friends, and colleagues, monitored her online and TV appearances, and even made plans to attend her book tour.

Due to her concerns, Ballas took additional security measures, relocated her mother, and adjusted her social and work commitments, the court was told. Shaw, of Whetstone Lane in Birkenhead, was granted bail at Liverpool Crown Court ahead of his sentencing on 1 April. He also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

James Bye swaps Mr Fowler for Mr Darcy

Having bid farewell to Albert Square in the recent live episode James Bye is now heading to the theatre in a new stage adaptation of PD James’s Death Comes to Pemberley. The production is set to tour the UK, with the EastEnders star leading the cast as Mr Darcy. The production will have its world premiere at the Mill at Sonning from 1 May to 28 June before embarking on a nationwide tour.

The murder mystery, adapted for the stage by Duncan Abel and Rachel Wagstaff, is based on James’s sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Joe Harmston, the story takes place six years after the events of Austen’s novel, following Elizabeth and Darcy as their life at Pemberley is upended by a shocking murder. When Elizabeth’s sister Lydia arrives in distress with news of a death in the woods, suspicion falls on her husband, George Wickham. As the investigation unfolds, secrets emerge, threatening the stability of Pemberley.

The cast also includes Jamie-Rose Duke (Casualty) as Elizabeth Darcy, Celia Cruwys-Finnigan (Mrs Littlewood) as Georgina Darcy, Sean Rigby (Endeavour) as Colonel Fitzwilliam, Paul Jerricho (Casualty, Doctors) as Mr Bidwell, Mogali Masuku as Lydia Wickham, Sam Woodhams (Mickey 7, Parasite) as George Wickham, and David Osmond (The Tempest, RSC) as Henry Alveston. Additional casting is yet to be announced.

The production marks the first national tour for the Mill at Sonning and its first collaboration with co-producers Studio RA. The award-winning dinner theatre, which remains a family-run venue under Sally Hughes and film producer Adam Rolston, has previously received accolades such as the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production for Gypsy in 2023.

Nikki looking to grow new oaks

Nikki Sanderson this week announced she had decided to depart E4 soap Hollyoaks. Nikki joined the long running – 30 this year – saga in 2012 as Maxine Minniver. At the time of her arrival she’d already become a personality to ITV viewers with roles in serial Coronation Street and sixties-set police drama Heartbeat. ‘Now, she’s said to be keen to move on and take her career in a new direction – with her character’s final scenes due to air in just a couple of months’ The Mirror reported.

“She met with bosses and told them of her plans to leave, she’d just turned 40 and felt the time was right to say goodbye to Maxine so she could explore other opportunities” a source was quoted by The Sun.

Hollyoaks has seen a lot of voluntary departures over the past year (and a few sackings too) as the show’s format was rejigged into a thrice-weekly offering down from its original five-days daily soap output. In September the soap jumped a year in the storylines. Prior to this revamp – the only second time in UK soap a show has jumped a year (Crossroads, 2003) – Nikki had spoken about the years to come for the character.

“I think she’d love to have more children. I think that if we’re thinking where she’d like to go forward, I think she’d like to advance in her career, as much as Maxine is ditsy and I love that about her, she is also very switched on,” She was quoted by The Sun.

Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon Ratliff & Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratfliff in HBO/Sky Atlantic’s The White Lotus

Site offers to show more Schwarzenegger

Patrick Schwarzenegger is getting a lot of publicity for his revealing appearance in the second series of Sky Atlantic’s The White Lotus, and now leading adult platform, CamSoda, has taken notice.

Vice President, Daryn Parker, of the adult webcam site seems to be awestruck by the actor’s package, just like brother-in-law, Chris Pratt. In fact, the company is offering the actor up to $250K to perform a live webcam show in which he’d flaunt his package.

Parker cites this as a great opportunity for Schwarzenegger to prove he’s not a “nepo baby,” as some have suggested. The open letter to Patrick Schwarzenegger is below. Catch up with The White Lotus on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Dear Patrick, 

I’m not sure what you did to put him under your spell, but Chris Pratt can’t stop talking about your region below the belt, even going so far as to say that “he had his eyes firmly on the prize” referring to your genitals. To be quite honest with you, I agree with him. 

My name is Daryn Parker, Vice President of popular adult webcam platform, CamSoda, and I wanted to reach out with an offer to keep showing off that White Lotus weapon of yours, but in front of a new audience. In exchange for up to $250,000, I would love nothing more than to see you perform your own one-hour live webcam show on our site. 

Think about it: not only does this give you an opportunity to lure in some ladies with your baby maker, but you can get Chris Pratt off your back, while also silencing all those haters saying you’re a nepo baby. Why not hop on the CamSoda site and prove them all wrong? You’re not your father and may even have a bigger package than Arnold! 

Please consider this offer as I think you’d be a great addition to our show slate. I look forward to hearing from you very soon. 

Best regards, 

Daryn Parker

VP, CamSoda

In the showbiz departure lounge this week…

We said goodbye to Eggheads star Chris Hughes who died aged 77 and Game for a Laugh and Going For Gold presenter Henry Kelly passed away at 78.

The views expressed are of Penelope Teeth and not ATV Today. Penelope Teeth, Judi Dentures and Joanna Gumley are ATV’s exclusive showbiz drag queens with bite.