Author: bang5

The Cheltenham Festival is in full swing with thousands of punters descending on Prestbury Park to celebrate St Patrick’s Thursday, with a few famous faces also in attendance

The celebrities are out in force at the Cheltenham Festival today for St Patrick’s Thursday, one of the most distinctive and celebrated days of the four-day festival.

There is a sea of green and gold at Prestbury Park today, contributing to one of the most distinctive and joyful atmospheres as the build-up to Gold Cup day on Friday continues, with a few famous face popping up at the racecourse in their Sunday best,

Gates opened at 10.30am, with the first race scheduled for 1.20pm and the last at 5.20pm, and former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer was one of the first to embrace the spirit of the day and swig down at few pints in the AM.

Gemma Collins and Danny Dyer caught up at the festival ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

The pair were in the same box watching the racing ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Newly married Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo, 30, also made an appearance at the famous racecourse. The former Made in Chelsea star, who tied the knot with Brew Dog found James Watt earlier this month, was all smiles as she posed for snaps in a skirt, tweed jacket and red jumper.

Retired footballer Peter Crouch, 44, did his best Peaky Blinders impression as he arrived at Cheltenham in a flat- cap, suit and overcoat. Former Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly is also enjoying a day of racing and rubbing shoulders with royals. The actress was spotted chatting with Mike and Zara Tindall by the track at one point, with Anne, Princess Royal also present at the racecourse.

Georgia Toffolo is a regular at Cheltenham Festival ( 
Image:
PA)

Peter Crouch did his best Peaky Blinders tribute ( 
Image:
PA)Marching Powder star Danny Dyer, 47, seemed to be enjoying himself this morning as he sunk a glass of fizz in the Paddy Power suite at Cheltenham today, alongside the likes of Peter crouch and Gemma Collins. The former soap star looked dapper in a grey suit and blue shirt combo, donning shades and clutching his cigarettes as he entered the grounds.

Despite attending a posh event like Cheltenham and running the risk of bumping into a royal, Danny hasn’t lost touch with his working class roots. Speaking earlier this week to promote his new film with Nick Love, Marching Powder, the former soap star called for change in the arts and the world of politics.

“It seems like the elite are just looking after each other. I don’t know how we’ve regressed so much that there’s pensioners in this country that can’t turn on the radiator,” Danny told Time Out. “I don’t know how the f**k we got to the point where young people have no hope of getting on the property ladder, and that wages don’t match bills. How the fuck has that happened?”

Danny Dyer cut a dapper figure as he arrived at the racecourse ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

The former soap star sunk back some fizz before midday at the star-studded event ( 
Image:
PA)
He added: “We had a f**king Tory government for far too long to fuck things up, but now we’ve had a Labour government and it’s hard to trust them. Keir is not a leader. He is a sir. The first thing he did was drop the ‘Sir’, that fu**ed me off immediately. So straight away, you’re playing smoke and mirrors. It doesn’t matter that you’re a ‘sir’, just be kind and open. So I struggle with him. Angela Rayner I did like, but she seems like a puppet as well. The whole Grenfell thing is a f**king disgrace. Who do you believe? Who have we got to lead us through these times?”

Marching Powder sees Danny reunite with The Football Factory director Nick Love to play Jack, a middle-aged man who spends his weekends fighting and getting high outside football matches. When an arrest leaves him just six weeks to get clean or face a stint behind bar, Jack faces a battle to stay out of prison.

“It’s a working-class film made for the working-class masses,” Danny says of Marching Powder. “We’ve found ourselves in the realm of people making films that have been a bit beige and a bit boring. People are frightened to actually make a film with boll**ks. I watched the BAFTAs recently, and the films they chose seemed like obvious choices. You need a film that’s in your fucking face, that’s slightly controversial.”

David Beckham and Prince William have been close friends for a number of years, but after a quick Q&A and putting his footy knowledge to the test, the future King may have just put his foot in it

It’s no secret Prince William is a huge football fan – but he may have upset close pal David Beckham after a candid confession.

The future king is regularly spotted at Villa Park as one of Aston Villa’s biggest fans, and William definitely knows his stuff when it comes to the game.

In a candid interview, the royal was involved in a fun game of a spin-off of the viral ‘Football Legends – Head 2 Head’ game, where he was given some tricky questions and decisions to answer.

When asked by The Sun who he would choose in a shoot-out between Zinedine and England legend Beckham – who joined the prince celebrating Air Ambulance heroes last October, Wills grimaced and said: “This gonna hurt. Becks, I think – just… I think Becks might kill me if I don’t say him.”

The pair often work together ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

However he had no hesitation when choosing between Cristiano Ronaldo over the former England and Man United winger.

It comes after Beckham opened up about his royal connections and how he responded to a request from Prince William. The former England captain has made a string of high-profile appearances with both the Prince of Wales and King Charles in recent months.

The 49-year-old was recently appointed an ambassador for the King’s Foundation and also joined a royal engagement with William to unveil the London Air Ambulance’s new helicopters and during an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Becks was asked about his royal pals and recent work with the monarchy. And he became emotional and admitted he always gets “emotional talking about anything that I do with our Royal Family

When it came to William, Becks said that he’s joined forces with the Prince “whenever he’s asked me to get involved”. He explained: To be involved in that has always been a ‘yes’ for me. Whenever the Prince of Wales sends me a message and says ‘I need you to do this’ or ‘be there’, it’s always a ‘yes’.”

When it came to his role with Charles’ King’s Foundation, he praised the monarch as an incredible man and revealed his mum Sandra burst into tears when he told her he’d been asked to be an ambassador for the charity.

Prince William has spoken about his long obsession with Aston Villa as well as his favourite players, managers, and even his match day superstitions to make sure his team wins

Prince William was seen celebrating with Aston Villa fans on Wednesday, as the heir to the throne’s favourite team made it through to the quarterfinal of the Champions League for the first time. Amid his team’s success, the lifelong Villa fan has opened up about the depths of his obsession.

The royal even has a few odd superstitions and match-day rituals to try and help Aston Villa win a match, including telling his children where they can sit. 42-year-old William has followed the Midlands team since he was a boy, forming an interest after friends took him to see a game

But it wasn’t until later in life that he began to follow the team in earnest and develop a “sense of belonging”, the prince said to the Sun. His interest in the minutiae of everything Villa blossomed In 2016, as they were being relegated.

He told the publication: “There were a few moments that happened. I had some family friends who took me to my first Villa game when I was younger because they are big Villa fans.”

Prince William was there to witness Aston Villa make it through to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time ( 
Image:
PA Wire/PA Images)

He continued: “It was against Bolton and I sat in the stands with my Villa beanie hat on and I remember Paul Merson was playing for Villa at the time. With the camaraderie among the fans and the chanting and the singing, I just felt like I belonged there.

“I kept an eye on Villa from then on but didn’t get too involved initially. But Villa being relegated to the Championship in 2016 got me even more interested, strangely.

“A few years earlier, we’d finished sixth under Martin O’Neill and now we weren’t even in the Premier League.

When the Prince fell down the Villa rabbit hole

Prince William watching Aston Villa play Celtic ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The prince attributed his increased attention to Villa in 2016 to his rising smartphone use and easy access to results, data, and forum rumours.

He said: “I’d grown up looking at Ceefax on the television or the back pages of newspapers and if you didn’t have those to hand you were a bit out of the loop.

“But now you can get so much data and follow how your team is doing all the time and there’s so much more discussion and debate. That’s how my passion really increased.”

Now that Villa’s fortunes are on the rise, Prince William’s love for the team has only grown, but he continues to be excited for the future. He shared: “I’m incredibly proud of the club and the journey it’s been on.

“It’s hard to put into words and a lot of Villa fans are still pinching themselves a bit that we’re here and we’ve done this.”

Do his children follow Aston Villa?

Prince William cheers on Aston Villa during their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich ( 
Image:
AP)
But whether the prince’s children will also be Aston Villa fans remains to be seen. Prince George has often been seen attending matches with father William, but he has decided not to force Charlotte or Louis to pick the team.

He told the Sun: “I’m kind of hoping they’ll all find their own teams in time. They don’t all have to be Villa fans. I’m trying not to be biased but obviously they see how passionate I am about it and they watch the matches with me. I’m trying to spread the love a little bit.

“They do have Villa shirts, and ask to come to games with me, but they have other shirts as well. There’s been a bit of courting going on by other managers too.”

That is not to say that the whole family don’t have a role in cheering the team on. When William is forced to watch on TV, the position of everyone – on and off the pitch – can prove pivotal.

The prince shared: “If I’m home alone with the children, I probably don’t have the pre-match pint but I do have a bit of superstition about where I sit when I’m watching them.

“If we’re not doing very well, I start moving round the house quite quickly and I put the children in different positions hoping that’s going to change our luck.”

Why Prince William was at a Birmingham Wetherspoons

Prince William chats to fans in the pub at Birmingham New Street Station ( 
Image:
PA)If you are not at Villa Park, the next best place to see a game is surrounded by other fans. William said: “I like mixing with the fans. Anything Villa I love and they all love their Villa.

“It’s a family within a family and I do feel part of the Villa family. This club does an awful lot — and I know lots of clubs do it too — but I particularly feel it with Villa in my life that I’m very included.

“The morals and the vision and the general atmosphere and the culture of the club really matters.

“For me, it’s always been very welcoming, very diverse, and all-encompassing.”

However, Prince William will likely be making it to Villa’s quarterfinal match, in order to the “make the most” of his team’s run of success. He shared: “Getting up to Villa Park isn’t the easiest thing for me but I like to watch as many games as I possibly can either by being there or on TV.

“I’ve tried to really make an effort to get there for all the Champions League games because it feels like that’s something you’ve got to make the most of when you’re in it.

“The biggest thing at home is trying to find it on TV sometimes because obviously you’ve got the Saturday 3pm blackout which is irritating.”

Anonymous double life on Villa forums

You could be arguing with the Prince of Wales if you frequent Aston Villa fan forums ( 
Image:
The LIFE Images Collection via G)
But the prince does not just mingle with fans in Spoons and at Villa Park. Unbeknownst to many of them, he lurks in online forums for discussion. However, the heir to the throne only posts using anonymous profiles.

He said: “I like going on the forums, I can be on there for ages. I listen to what other fans have to say and give them my opinions. I get quite into it, definitely. It’s important to have that debate.”

He added: “Having said that, while I may be an armchair fan, I wouldn’t presume to tell Unai if he’s doing anything wrong.

“I’m fascinated by what Unai is doing and how he tweaks his system and what he sees.

“I’d love to know more about how he goes about managing the team better and how do you see those little details which no one else does.”

Gregg Wallace appeared on the final of MasterChef: The Professionals, after the Christmas specials of the series were pulled from BBC schedules

Gregg Wallace was shown on the BBC for what is potentially the last time in tonight’s MasterChef: The Professionals final, where he praised winner Dan Merriman, 29, for his “dish after dish of absolute beauty”.

Throughout the competition Dan has wowed the judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace and impressed restaurant critics and some of the country’s leading chefs – delivering outstanding, innovative food and skilful cookery.

Reacting to his win, Dan said: “To walk away as MasterChef Champion, it means the world to me. There’s not been that many times where I’ve been proud of myself in my life, but I’ve hit the pinnacle! This whole competition has changed my life. I’m forever grateful.”

The judges had so much to say about Dan, with Marcus Wareing commenting: “We have a star. I see Dan’s cookery as fine dining at its very, very best. His food is precise, technical, it’s incredibly creative. I think it’s outstanding. This guy is shining. I can’t wait to see what this chef is going to do in the future.”

Monica Galetti added: “From the moment he walked in, he let his cooking do the talking. I don’t think Dan realises how good he is. The kind of cooking he’s been doing takes years to get right.” Gregg Wallace said: “Dan’s food has been blowing us away, not just in this Final but for round after round. Dish after dish of absolute beauty. Watching this chef grow in stature has been a wonderful thing to witness. I think this has been a turning point in Dan’s life.

The final three ( 
Image:
BBC/Shine TV)
The Christmas specials of MasterChef have been pulled from the BBC ’s schedules after allegations surfaced about Gregg’s behaviour. BBC bosses previously said the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect” and will continue to champion “a culture that is kind, inclusive and respectful”.

Last week, Gregg apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”, adding he will “take some time out”. Lawyers for the presenter have previously strongly denied “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, according to BBC News.

With regard to the Christmas specials, a BBC spokesperson said: “As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned. The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.”

It comes after Sir Rod Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster has claimed she was “bullied” by Gregg on Celebrity MasterChef. The model and Loose Women star, 53, said she believes he “used his position of power to intimidate and cause distress” on set, and claims production

Last month, Sir Rod, 57, alleged that the presenter “humiliated” his wife when she took part on the show in 2021, saying “good riddance” to Gregg after he stepped away from the BBC programme while the show’s production company Banijay UK investigates claims of misconduct.

Now, Penny has spoken about her experiences with Gregg, 60, for the first time, saying on Loose Women: “I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace, and unfortunately, a lot of those involved in the production team were also witness to that.

“I really feel that he used his position of power to, I believe, intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set. And it’s really unfortunate that someone like him is allowed to get away with that, and while others sort of stand by and let it happen at the same time

She added that Rod had posted his now famous critique of the presenter as a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” without her knowledge. “I didn’t realise my husband had sent that post out until it was out,” she said, adding she was “in shock” when she read it.

Penny continues: “I felt a little bit vindicated that something was put out there, going back to sort of that whole Me Too (movement), it’s shocking to think how many women do suffer in the hands of… (men) in a powerful position and are too afraid to talk out. They don’t feel at the time that they’re going to be supported or listened to. So sometimes it can take a few years later for someone to mention something. It gives the other victims and people that have suffered the confidence to come forward.”

Pickle Cottage has been decked out for weeks, with Stacey Solomon preparing the house for her and Joe Swash’s blended family’s Christmas – but there are significant changes to their festive plans this year

Joe Swash has revealed that he and wife Stacey Solomon have made a major change to their Christmas plans, just weeks after they were allegedly seen rowing in the street.

The couple have been preparing for Christmas at their £1.2 million Pickle Cottage with their children, with Loose Women star Stacey, 35, starting her decorating back at the start of November. She shared a video on social media showing a section of their home covered in multi-coloured lights and Christmas decorations swinging from the ceiling.

Between them, Stacey and Joe have six children, sharing their youngest three, Rex, five, Rose, three and one-year-old Belle. Stacey has two boys, Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 12, from a previous relationship, while Joe’s eldest Harry, 16, is from his relationship with Emma Sophocleous.

Their blended family shared last Christmas together, with Stacey going all out. She even has her own BBC show Stacey Solomon’s Crafty Christmas, in which she shows viewers how to make homemade gifts and decorations.

Joe Swash and Stacy Solomon make major change to their Christmas plans ( 
Image:
@staceysolomon/Instagram)

But this year’s festive celebration will be a significantly smaller affair than last year, with the couple toning down the occasion compared to last year. Joe, 42, told Metro : “Last year, we had about 28 people at our house for Christmas dinner. This year is a bit more quiet: just me, Stacey, the kids and three or four other people coming.”

Fans will be hoping their pared back Christmas is nothing to do with their argument, which saw Stacey appearing to be consoled by a film crew in the street after the pair had fell out. The couple ended up leaving separately, according to a source, with Stacey appearing to be hugging a production member.

Joe and Stacey will have a pared back Christmas ( 
Image:
BBC/Optomen TV/Mark Dolman)
The onlooker said that Joe left a building alone and “stormed off down the street” while vaping. He was then taken to one side while someone else went to check on him, it was claimed.

They added that 15 minutes after their “tense” exchange, Stacey shouted at Joe, with the pair leaving separately. The Sun shared footage and photos of the incident, with a witness claiming: “Joe came out of a building on his own and stormed off down the street, he looked upset and was sitting on some steps for a while. Stacey came out of the building in tears and she looked really emotional, she was hugging someone.”

They added: “About 15 minutes later Joe was having an animated talk with the man. Eventually Stacey walked towards Joe in the car and shouted something. They ended up leaving separately. It all looked very tense.”

Emmerdale saw Ruby Fox-Miligan make a major admission about her dad Anthony to her daughter Steph – and fans think it will land John Sugden in hot water

Emmerdale fans think they’ve clued into what will happen next on the show after a very emotional episode.

In the March 13 episode of the ITV soap, character Ruby Fox-Miligan admitted to her daughter Steph that the person Steph knew as her grandad – Anthony Fox – was also her dad, after Anthony abused Ruby when she was a teen.

Anthony was killed back in January by Ruby, but John Sugden thought his partner Aaron Dingle was responsible for the murder and “buried” Anthony’s body in the woods. After Ruby confessed Anthony’s crimes to Steph, fans thought that Steph’s next move would be to dig up her real father’s body – only to find it missing.

On Reddit, one fan shared: “I enjoyed the episode because it pushed a few of the storylines on, I wonder if this now leads to Steph trying to dig up her grandad and his body not being there? Because I don’t believe for a second that John buried him there!”

Steph finally found out that her grandfather Anthony is also her father – and viewers suspect she’ll undertake an action that could unearth several major secrets ( 
Image:
ITV)

Others were just pleased that Steph believed Ruby, agreeing that the storyline will develop quickly now that she’s in the know about her true parentage.

“Definitely glad Steph believed Ruby, I did wonder if they were going to go another direction with that!” one person said, with another saying: “It makes sense that she jumped to it. She has said herself she always knew she was conceived around Ruby’s 16th birthday. She knows Ruby left bc of Anthony, so with the timeline it’s pretty easy to figure out that it’s a possibility.”

Another fan praised: “Beth Cordingly’s performance during the reveal was great. If you listen very closely there’s a slight hesitant stutter before she says ‘sexually,’ which just adds to the scene. Really emphasises that she doesn’t want to have to say it, but knows she needs to. And Steph, was good to see her express some completely new emotions/mood today. Shows more of the actress’s range.”

While viewers were impressed with actress Beth Cordingly’s performance as Ruby, the star herself has admitted that she cries a lot off-screen to help her decompress from her intense storyline.

“I cry a lot in real life, it’s a joke with my own family,” she told the Mirror. “My daughter doesn’t even notice when I’m crying now. Most people just laugh at me when I’m crying because it happens so much.”

Beth only joined Emmerdale on January 25, 2024, and has already dived into some very emotional scenes. She’s dating former Emmerdale star Ian Kelsey, and revealed this year that Ian was vital in encouraging her to take on the role of Ruby.

Considering how they live in Sussex while the show films in Leeds, and Beth has a daughter and Ian has two, she knew it would be a lot to juggle. She described: “Ian was really supportive and wanted me to do it, which is lovely. There is that thing as an actor where you are always taken away from home. But he totally gets it.”

The Kelly Clarkson show saw model Molly Sims step in to cover for the host, and fans begged to know if something was wrong as Kelly’s absence was extended without warning

Fans have become even more concerned for Kelly Clarkson after her leave of absence from her own talk show was suddenly extended.

The Kelly Clarkson Show host has taken days off over February and into early March, and has now been absent this entire week without explanation. TMZ reported that she was due to be back for her March 13 show, but instead was again replaced by another star

In place of Kelly, 42, actress and model Molly Sims took over the morning broadcast today. On the show’s Instagram account, it was confirmed that Molly, 51, would also be stepping in to cover March 14.

The comment section of the announcement of Kelly’s replacements was full of messages from concerned fans, many of whom begged to know that the American Idol star was okay.

Molly Sims has stepped in to cover Kelly on the mornings of March 13 and 14 – despite reports that the host was supposed to be back today ( 
Image:
Instagram/kellyclarksonshow)

“We love Kelly and respect her privacy but y’all definitely need to put out some sort of statement because this is worrisome,” said one, with another adding: “I respect Kelly Clarkson’s privacy, but I am very concerned about her.”

“We don’t need to know her business but we need to know she is ok please,” a third wrote along with a crying emoji, while a fourth fan echoed: “I’m not going to watch until Kelly comes back. I’m concerned, where is she?”

Prior to Molly filling in, previous episodes over the last few weeks have seen celebs such as Marvel superhero Simu Liu, comedians Roy Wood Jr and Wanda Sykes, Hollywood star Brooke Shields, and Sunday Today anchor Willie Geist step into Kelly’s shoes.

While Kelly has been away the show has kept to its usual roster of big-name guests, with TV and film stars such as The White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger, Amanda Seyfried, Smokey Robinson, Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley, Joshua Jackson, Kneecap’s Michael Fassbender, and the four winners of the newest series of US The Traitors on the show to discuss their latest projects.

Fans said they found it ‘worrisome’ that a slew of stars had been covering for Kelly in recent weeks, and asked for confirmation that the host was ‘okay’ ( 
Image:
The Kelly Clarkson Show/Youtube)
Despite Kelly seemingly having a full deck of hosts and guests ready to step in, Barbie star Simu hinted that things weren’t running so smoothly behind the scenes.

When presenting the chat show last week, he explained to confused fans: “Before we get things started, I do have a confession to make. I am not…Kelly Clarkson. I know this may shock many of you. But Kelly was not able to make it today, we’re sending her our very best.”

He then explained that his hosting role was hoisted on him at the very last minute, sharing: “Here’s the thing, I did not know that I was doing this until five minutes ago when I arrived here to promote my new movie Last Breath.

“…So I’m here now, and I’m not one to back down from a challenge,” he said, even going on to interview his own co-stars from the upcoming film.

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway was told to ‘move on’ as she was discussing a topic on the show, which she said she could talk about ‘all morning’

On Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway was urged to change the subject and ‘move on’.

The 57-year-old presenter, along with colleague Ed Balls, was dissecting the day’s hot topics, which included an unusual story of a dive-bombing hawk attacking tall men in a village in Hertfordshire

Co-presenter Ranvir Singh didn’t hold back her thoughts, speculating on the bird’s motives for targeting people. This led to Kate quipping: “She’s all over this!” while Ed chimed in with: “All these theories going around this morning!”

Even though the production team signaled it was time to wrap up the hawk saga, Kate confessed: “The producers are saying to ‘move on’ but I’d be quite happy to talk about this all morning, I’m fascinated here!” to which Ed wittily retorted: “Or… if we wait long enough, the hawk will appear!”

It comes as the hawk has caused chaos in a Hertfordshire village as it targets unsuspecting tall men, attacking their heads. It is believed that the bird is responsible for around 20 attacks in Flamstead.

Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway was told to ‘move on’ as a topic went off-piste on Thursday ( 
Image:
ITV)
Elsewhere, Kate will soon be swapping ITV for Channel 4 as she’s entering The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer.

Prior to this baking challenge, Kate shared: “I’ve never really done it. I love cooking and always seem to know how to combine ingredients to make something delicious but that’s different because you can taste it as you go. Baking is a different ball game entirely”, reports the Manchester Evening News.

“You take egg and flour and butter, that taste and look like one thing on their own, then put them together and they create something completely different. Baking is alchemy

“So, I don’t think I’ve come out proving myself a Merlin, but I’m hoping not to be the Wicked Witch of the West.”

As the topic continued about the hawk, Kate admitted: “The producers are saying to ‘move on’” ( 
Image:
ITV)
Talking about her favourite bakes, she added: “You can’t go wrong with a Victoria Sponge with a fresh cream middle, I love cake. But I also love savoury bakes – sausage rolls and so on. It’s all delicious.”

The celebs are all taking part in support of Stand Up To Cancer, a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK
and Channel 4.

Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will be providing encouragement as the stars take on a signature bake, a technical bake and a showstopper.

Meanwhile, judge Paul Hollywood is back, while Prue Leith’s long-standing friend and former colleague Caroline Waldegrave is standing in for Prue.

Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV X

Gino D’Acampo’s ITV show Family Fortunes has been replaced following alleged bullying and sexually inappropriate comments, which the TV presenter has strongly denied

TV chef Gino D’Acampo’s ITV gameshow has been replaced following allegations made against the presenter.

The TV chef, 48, is facing allegations from dozens of people who have worked with him over a 12-year period. Complaints of alleged bullying and sexually inappropriate comments have been made – that he denies. The This Morning regular and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner came under the spotlight last month.

ITV News reported that dozens of former staff and freelancers made allegations about working with Gino, calling his behaviour over a reported 12 year period “unacceptable,” “distressing,” and “horrendous”. Since the allegations, D’Acampo’s shows have been pulled from ITV’s schedule.

Now, his show Family Fortunes has been shelved by ITV. A new series of Stephen Mulhern’s Celebrity Catchphrase will move from its traditional Saturday slot to Sunday nights. The slot is where Family Fortunes once took over airways. ITV commissioner Gemma John-Lewis said: “We’re delighted to announce a further series of the much loved family favourite, Celebrity Catchphrase.”

Family Fortunes has been shelved by ITV ( 
Image:
ITV)

“The only show where you say what you see, the hugely popular series continues to win legions of fans and with Stephen’s infectious and playful humour it’s a firm favourite with our viewers,” she told TV Zone. Gary Chippington, Executive Producer and Creative Director of STV Studios Entertainment, added: “It’s testament to Catchphrase’s fantastic format and universal appeal that it’s still one of the UK’s most-loved entertainment shows, four decades after ITV first commissioned it…

“The incomparable Stephen Mulhern is a huge part of the show’s success, and we’re looking forward to getting back in the studio with him and a great line-up of stars later this year for what promises to be another brilliant series of Celebrity Catchphrase.” It was previously reported D’Acampo’s pre-recorded Family Fortunes episodes would not air amid the investigation into Gino’s alleged behaviour.

The episodes are said to have been filmed in 2023 and were due to air this spring. D’Acampo has hosted the game show since 2020. He has firmly denied the allegations, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”. In the investigation, one woman claimed D’Acampo told her he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter” while working on a photoshoot.

Another alleged that when she went to brief him about a location shoot, he opened the door in his boxer shorts and made jokes about his privates, leaving her feeling uncomfortable. While a separate claim accused D’Acampo of threatening a junior member of staff on Gino’s Italian Express. “I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto, I will f*** your girlfriend’,” one female crew member said

Responding to the claims in their entirety in a statement to ITV News, Gino said: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago. I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.

“Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately. I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting.”

Britain’s Got Talent has been axed from Saturday night’s schedule in a major ITV shake up, meaning fans of the talent show will have to wait another week for the next round of auditions

Hit series Britain’s Got Talent has been removed from the schedules on Saturday night to make way for the Six Nations Live match on ITV1.

Fans tuning in to see the latest instalment of the talent show hosted by Ant and Dec will instead be treated to live coverage of the France v Scotland rugby union final being held at the Stade de France. The kick off is at 8pm, with ITV’s coverage beginning at 7.15pm, when Britain’s Got Talent usually airs.The talent show will return next week, following last Saturday’s episode that saw the show being branded ‘fake’ by fans, following an act in which Simon Cowell said he was left ‘fearing for his life’ during a bizarre audition. Producers intervened when contestant Kranthi Drillman, wielding a sledgehammer, ignored Simon’s desperate pleas to stop. Kranthi had instructed Simon to lie on stage in an angel position, surrounding him with watermelons and coconuts. He then blindfolded himself and began smashing the fruit wildly, continuing even when the audience appeared uncomfortable

Some fans have decided one BGT act was ‘fake’ on last week’s show ( 
Image:
ITV)
Simon later admitted he was genuinely worried for his safety during the act. However, many BGT viewers accused Kranthi of faking his intense performance. Fans claim to have spotted the secret behind his act, suggesting that his blindfold was actually see-through. One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Obviously see through the blindfold.” Whilst another echoed: “He could obviously see through the scarf and he thinks he’s won

A third penned: “You can tell the coconuts and the watermelons have been weakened and you could tell he could clearly see what he was doing when Simon was laid down.” A fourth wrote: “There is no way that hammer swinging idiot could not see.” Whilst a fifth said: “What a load of b******s! If that yoga teacher was totally blindfolded he wouldn’t hit a coconut or watermelon every single time with 100% accuracy.”

Simon had to be helped from the stage on Britain’s Got Talent ( 
Image:
ITV)
A sixth said: “Yeah. He could see through the blindfold. Idiots, these people.” One eagled eyed viewer claimed that Kranthi locked eyes with a crew member penning: “For anybody wondering if he could see through the blindfold or not (fairly obvious though) take a look at the end when the stagehand puts his hand up in front of his face to tell him to stop.”

During the dangerous act, Simon, who was advised to stay still, didn’t listen and moved around, making the move extra risky. Alesha Dixon, 46, and Amanda Holden, 54, were keen for the act to stop as the sledgehammer landed centimetres from Simon’s face. “I genuinely thought my days were numbered,” admitted Simon.

So far in the new series there have been multiple acts who have received the Golden Buzzer, which guarantees a place in the semi final rounds of the talent show. Singer Vinnie McKee, impressionist Will Burns and singer Stacey Leadbeatter are all through to the live rounds that will be shown later this spring.