Brenda Blethyn has revealed she would love to continue filming Vera for as long as she can – even if she has to play her on a ‘zimmer’.

The actress will be back as our much-loved detective DCI Stanhope in January 2020 as we embark on series 10.

Ahead of the new season, Brenda exclaimed that she will continue to play Vera for as long as she can.

‘I’m fit and well. Why not? It’s a comfort. You want Vera to go on,’ she began.

‘You look forward to doing more. After you’ve had a breather. But I don’t think I can play Vera on a Zimmer. Or maybe I can.’

Recently ITV dropped a first-look clip of series 10 and sees Vera moaning at Aidan Healy (Kenny Doughty) ‘you haven’t got peas with mine, have you?’

To which he responds? ‘Have I ever got peas in yours?’

The trailer then skips to different clips of our favourite detective asking questions and just being generally well…Vera.

‘Get out and start searching,’ she shouts.

‘What have we got? Where did you run? What did you talk about? What do you know?’

Taking to Twitter ITV posted: ‘Aye pet, we’re heading up north because DCI Stanhope is back on the scene.  The new series of Vera. Starts Sunday 12 January only on @ITV @BrendaBlethyn @VeraSeries.’

We can’t wait to see our favourite detective back in action.

Brenda had previously let slip that the show was back filming in April, while talking about the success of the series with Lorraine Kelly.

She told her: ‘You always hope… when we did the pilot that they will make it in a series and it’s always a wonderful thrill each year when it’s recommissioned, and we are starting season ten end of April.’

‘The enthusiasm and warmth shown to Vera has been overwhelming and we can’t wait to get started. Newcastle here we come!’

Joining DCI Vera Stanhope for the next episodes will be the ever-reliable DC Kenny Lockhart (Jon Morrison), DC Mark Edwards (Riley Jones), DC Jacqueline Williams (Ibinabo Jack) and Pathologist Dr. Malcolm Donahue (Paul Kaye) will be rounding out the team once more.

The show has become a massive hit with ITV viewers, averaging at 7.9million viewers as North-East detective Vera beats out the best when it comes to cracking down on crime.

It’s also one of the most successful imported drama titles in Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands and Norway, and has been sold to more than 150 territories worldwide.

Series 10 will focus on four brand-new, self-contained stories.

Vera will be back on 12 January on ITV at 8pm.

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The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco is feeling the New Year’s celebrations as she prepares to go back to work on The Flight Attendant. Although, unlike some of us she has still got another 10 day break ahead.

The 34-year-old recently admitted her new drama has been the ‘most challenging’ project of her career as she yawned over a hot cuppa in her new series A Cup of Cuoco.

In her latest video on Instagram, the former Penny Holfstader actress realised she needs to get her ‘s**t together’ before she’s back in her flight attendant uniform.

‘It’s 2020, I feel like I got run over by a truck,’ she told her 5.8 million Instagram followers. ‘It’s so unfair – the older we get the less fun we’re supposed to have because we get punished for it.

‘I swear I had two glasses of wine – two. I’m being honest, I would tell you if I had, like, raged. I feel like I drank 20 bottles. Now it’s like the more we do the more we’re punished, but I didn’t even do that much – it’s so unfair! I used to be able to drink two bottles not two glasses and feel totally normal.’

She continued: ‘I go back to work in 11 days so we need to get girlfriend’s shit together. I might even do a double workout today. She’s coming in hot. She’s coming in hot.’

Kaley – who comically hit back at her former The Big Bang Theory co-star Johnny Galecki with a dig this week – has done anything but slow down since waving goodbye to the sitcom.

As well as playing Harley Quinn in the Batman villain’s foul-mouthed animated series, she’s starring as Cassandra Bowden in The Flight Attendant, who wakes up in a hotel room with the worst hangover of her life after a night out in Dubai.

And to make her morning from hell even more unbearable, there’s a dead body beside her and she has a sneaking suspicion she may have something to do with said corpse’s demise. Bummer.

The Flight Attendant is expected to air on HBO Max in 2020 while The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on Netflix UK.

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***Warning: The Witcher season 1 spoilers ahead***

The Witcher’s Yennefer definitely doesn’t have it easy during her time in season 1 – and Anya Chalotra had to tackle a lot of challenges in order to portray her.

But in one of the most hard-to-watch scenes of the lot (which is saying something, considering there’s a moment we literally see her break her bones into a new shape), is when she’s left cradling the lifeless body of a baby girl.

After trying to save the tot and her cold-hearted mother queen Kalis (Isobel Laidler) from a magical assassin, Yennefer eventually fled with the baby through a portal, after Kalis cruelly offered her daughter as a sacrifice in a bid to save herself.

However, landing in the ocean, the baby didn’t survive, and a devastated Yen is seen burying the baby in the sand before heading off for a new life.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Anya explained: ‘It was [really hard] and it’s also hard when the sun’s going down and we have to get the shot then, and but what it is, it’s like it’s also a gift, because what the writers have created in Yennefer’s journey just gives you so much more…

‘It’s just a deeper understanding of the character where she’s going, her motives, and yeah, I lift those things where we can connect with the heart of Yennefer, behind the facade.’

Yennefer’s life plans are forever altered as a result of caring for the young girl, suddenly desiring her own after giving up her ability to have children in exchange for her looks.

Despite every effort she could conjure to keep the baby alive, it was too late to save her, and in an emotional moment, Yennefer talks bitterly about the life the child could have led, but missed out on.

It’s something that eventually leads her to cross paths with Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), attempting to take the abilities of a wish-granting djinn to allow her to finally have children.

With Anya willing to take on anything thrown at her, whether it’s this heartbreaking scene, the sass of Yen’s interactions with Geralt, or even refusing body doubles and doing nude scenes herself, Anya has proven she’s not afraid to take on the challenge.

No wonder casting director Sophie Holland couldn’t resist hiring her immediately for the bewitching role – before even Henry Cavill had landed the part of the leading man.

The Witcher is available now on Netflix.

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Brendan O’Carroll, creator and star of sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys, has said his grandson asked him to use his show to raise awareness of environmental issues.

However, the 64-year-old says he turned down his request, claiming the tone of his show is not right for such a message.

Brendan furthermore revealed that the 10-year-old accused him and his generation of not doing enough to save the planet.

Awkward.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: ‘I wrote it in a script where somebody said to Mrs Brown, “Your generation has f***ed up this planet” but it never made an episode as I thought, “No, it’s too serious!”’

The star also denied that his generation are to blame for the eco-crisis, saying: ‘Our generation were doing it right. It’s the disposable generation who are ruining the planet.

‘Everything is disposable now, even furniture. We had a couch all our lives, they change their couch now like they change their wallpaper.

‘We recycled bottles and washed out nappies. We had the right idea back then.’

A New Year’s Day special of Mrs Brown’s Boys aired yesterday, with another special aired on Christmas Day.

Speaking about the possibility of another series in the future, Brendan recently told Metro.co.uk: ‘I’m happy with Christmas specials. At some stage… they continually hint at some stage of having a full series back. Just having a full series.

‘The agreement with the BBC is that when they decide it’s over, it’s over and that suits me fine… But as long as they want to keep running it on Christmas Day I’m gonna keep doing it on Christmas Day and hopefully get better and better and better.’

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It’s been 18 years since Emma went down for her nap in Friends, and Noelle Sheldon – who starred as the baby alongside her twin sister Cali – assured she has finally woken up.

In The One With The Cake, the gang reluctantly celebrate Emma’s first birthday causing Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) to miss their vacation, even though the birthday girl basically slept through the whole thing.

And Chandler didn’t hesitate letting Emma have it when Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) made their pals film a special 18th birthday message for their first daughter – which is coming up in May this year. WE KNOW. Although, we’d bank on Rachel and Ross forgetting altogether.

‘Hi, Emma. It’s the year 2020. Are you still enjoying your nap?’ Chandler snapped.

‘We’re Aunt Monica and Uncle Chandler, by the way – you may not recognise us because we haven’t spoken to your parents in 17 years,’ Monica moaned.

Chandler jumped in: ‘We used to be married but then we missed a weekend away together and things kind of unravelled… Because of you.’

As we all recovered from our New Year’s Eve celebrations, Emma finally got out of bed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6y9H46BE53/

Noelle joked to her 36,000 Instagram followers: ‘Just woke up from the best nap of all time, happy 2020!! (ft. my poorly done photoshop) Hope everyone has an excellent year full of family, friends, and laughter!!’

Her twin commented beneath: ‘Finally.’

Friends fans had been patiently waiting to ring in 2020 because if you watched season 10 episode four at 11.48pm on January 31, you could start the year with Chandler’s NYD message. If you actually did that, there’s no judgment here. Well, maybe a little bit.

Friends airs daily on Comedy Central and is available to stream on Netflix.

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BBC One got 2020 off to a bloody good start on New Year’s Day with the first episode of its new adaptation of Dracula.

The series stars Danish actor Claes Bang as the titular vampire, and kicked off with a blood-soaked episode which included some pretty graphic scenes, including that naked bloodbath as Dracula took on a convent full of nuns.

And there were surprises and twists also as Drac’s unfortunate houseguest Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) recalled his stay with the count to Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells) and another nun who was later revealed as his fiancee Mina (Morfydd Clark).

It all ended on a whopper of a cliffhanger, meaning we can’t wait for more – but just how many episodes are left and when is the next one on?

Here’s what you need to know…

How many episodes of Dracula are left on BBC One?

There are two episodes of Dracula remaining in the current series.

When is the next episode of Dracula on BBC One?

The good news is you don’t have to wait too long, as the next episode is on BBC One on Thursday night at 9pm.

The concluding episode airs on Friday night on BBC One at the same time.

If you’ve missed any episodes you can catch up with them on BBC iPlayer.

What can we expect from episode two of Dracula?

The second episode is entitled Blood Vessel, and sees the Count heading to sea in a bid to reach England, leading to the inevitable mayhem between the passengers and their vampiric shipmate.

The synopsis reads thus: ‘The Russian ship The Demeter is a perfectly ordinary vessel, but her new voyage seems different.

A motley collection of remarkable passengers includes one Count Dracula. Soon the crew are locked in a life-or-death struggle to stop the vampire before he reaches England. The ship of death has a new captain…’

The next episode of Dracula will be on tonight at 9pm on BBC One.

MORE: Where have you seen the Dracula cast, including Claes Bang and Dolly Wells, before?

Vikings star Alicia Agneson has finally made her return to the show, however this time she’s back as Prince Oleg’s wife.

The star was originally cast as Freydis, who seduced Ivar The Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen) in season five, where she pretended to be pregnant with his child.

However, when the war broke out between the king and his brothers, the new mum turned her back on her husband and helped Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) take the throne.

Ivar caught wind of her plan and ended up savagely murdering his love by strangling her to death.

But that didn’t mean we’d seen the last of the actress, who has now returned to the historical saga, just this time around she is Prince Oleg’s (Danila Kozlovsky) bride.

That’s right, the 23-year-old is now the new character, Princess Katya, and has sent chills down Ivar’s spine.

Walking into his chambers, the Oleg announces his bride to his guests: ‘I want to introduce you to my intended bride, this is Princess Katya.’

Ivar turns his head to see the newcomer and looks pretty perplexed – as though he’d just seen a ghost enter the room.

‘My dear Katya, may I introduce you to my cousin lord, Prince Igor,’ Oleg says as Igor (Oran Glynn O’Donovan) gets up to meet her.

‘And this is the Viking king I told you about,’ he continues: ‘This is Ivar, the famous Ivar The Boneless.’

Lost for words, the Son of Ragnar manages to splutter up: ‘Princess.’

Not much is known about the new (or should we say old) face of the History Channel hit, however, Alicia did tease what’s to come in a recent Instagram Q&A.

Here she smirked: ‘I can’t really tell, but you will be seeing her pretty much throughout the whole of season six.’

Sounds as though we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the upcoming episodes, and we cannot wait.

Vikings season six continues Wednesday on the History Channel and Amazon Prime.

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James May has dealt with some difficult machinery in his day thanks to The Grand Tour (we’re not talking Jeremy Clarkson)… but he may have met his match in new series, Our Man in Japan.

The TV presenter heads over to the tech-savvy country and learns a thing or two in the first look clip – which sees him tackle life as an actual robot.

Meeting up with a scientist who created the device – which is essentially a pod on legs – James got a very unreassuring giggle when he asked: ‘Are you mad?!’

But while he might be used to being in the driver’s seat normally, it turns out the 56-year-old isn’t a massive fan of being in a robot control centre.

Walking it around a car park centre, they’re also not very fast.

‘It’s exactly what a robot should be,’ he then told him… but the best is yet to come.

Urged to follow the scientist around the corner into a new garage, James looks horrified as he’s confronted with a giant robot that looks suspiciously like a real-life transformer.

With a blue and yellow that bright, Michael Bay would be proud and Optimus Prime would be shaking in his boots.

Clearly horrified, James answered his own questions by declaring: ‘He is mad!’

This is only the start of the start’s adventures though – considering that he’s off on an eight-episode trip around Japan.

Which comes just as he suggested that has time on The Grand Tour alongside Hammond and May could be coming to an end.

Speaking ahead of the Our Man in Japan launch, James said: ‘I’m in the second half of my fifties now and in all honesty, I’m slightly falling apart.’

‘I’m developing nervous disorders and aches and I don’t think I’ll do this much longer because I don’t want to fall apart in public,’ he told The Sun.

‘It would just be a bit undignified and I don’t think people want to see it.’

So we guess in the meantime he’s trying something more dignified. Like going to a penis festival.

James May: Our Man in Japan airs 3 January on Amazon Prime Video.

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In Netflix’s Don’t F**k With Cats, when we discover Luka Magnotta was finally locked up in prison for the violent and disgusting murder of Jun Lin, most would’ve assumed justice would have been served.

But in a complete gutpunch, that’s actually far from the case.

The sickening killer, who filmed stomach-churning videos starting with the murder of cats before eventually escalating to the death of 33-year-old student Jun, is now actually thriving after being locked up, despite his heinous crimes.

He’s even married.

While the family of Jun Lin continue to grieve their son and brother, who was taken unnecessarily and violently before his death was broadcast on the internet in a sickening snuff film, Magnotta has created a full life for himself behind the prison walls.

In letters obtained by Toronto Sun in 2015, Magnotta wrote: ‘Our doors are open 90% of the time so for me I feel like I’m in a university setting.’

‘I just bought Celine Dion’s album and a lot of others. I have a stereo and a portable for when I suntan outside,’ he added.

He talks highly of playing hockey and tennis, as well as being sent chocolate on Valentine’s Day from admirers.

In another letter to his pals, who he addresses as ‘Rosebud’ and ‘Sugarplum’, Magnotta asked: ‘I wonder what it would be like to be f***ed by one of the royal family? I bet Will and Harry know just how to use their crown jewels lol.’

He also complained about the amount of chocolate in the facility was ruining his diet, with arguments breaking out of Ferrero Rocher.

Magnotta lured Jun Lin to his death by putting up a Craigslist ad for a casual hookup, before tying him to a bed and stabbing him to death with a screwdriver.

The killer had modified the weapon to look like an icepick – in a vile and twisted homage to Basic Instinct – then dismembered and defiled the body, before mailing Lin’s body parts to political headquarters around Canada.

Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014, Magnotta is able to apply for parole in 2039 and is currently residing in a prison in Quebec.

Since then he’s been decorating his cell with photos of Marilyn Monroe and from ‘admirers’ who communicate with him, and has found himself a husband.

Magnotta’s mother Anna Yourkin served as witness at the wedding ceremony in 2017, with Magnotta tying the knot with fellow inmate Anthony Jolin.

They met on a dating website called Canadian Inmates connect back in 2015.

Jolin is also currently serving a life sentence for murder, after stabbing a fellow convict to death in 2003, while serving time for another offence.

As a married couple, they will be entitled to ‘trailer visits’ together.

At the time, Daniel Benson, a social integration worker at Pont-Cartier Penitentiary in Canada told TVA Nouvelles: ‘I do not want to make any value judgment on Mr. Magnotta, but with the offense he committed … leaving that person alone with his spouse unattended for 2-3 days, I have a certain (unease).’

This is the same man who, in a cruel and calculated attack too sickening to describe, took the life of a young man whose family were depending on him in their old age.

After the conviction, the Lin family were promised by the Canadian police force that justice would be served to Magnotta to its fullest extent.

Is this supposed to be justice?

Don’t F**k With Cats is available now on Netflix.

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*Warning: This episode contains spoilers from last night’s Dracula, episode one titled The Rules of The Beast.

Dracula gave viewers plenty of goodies to sink their teeth into last night, which left us with a heap of questions. But did you notice the subtle connection to Doctor Who?

Stephen Moffat was at the helm of Doctor Who – which returned with one of its biggest shocks yet last night – as showrunner from 2008 right until Peter Capaldi’s exit as the Time Lord in 2017, while Mark Gatiss was among its writers too. And, in turn, during last night’s premiere the Dracula producers couldn’t resist paying homage to one of the great heroes of their time on sci-fi epic, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman).

Did you spot it?

The episode’s first 60 minutes followed Dracula’s (played Cleas Bang) unfortunate house guest Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan), who received a letter from his fiancé, Mina (Morfydd Clark) mentioning the ‘adorable barmaid’ at The Rose and Crown.

If the pub’s name rings a bell and you’re a Whovian – it’s not a coincidence. Clara worked as a barmaid at The Rose and Crown during the 2012 Christmas Special, the Snowmen.

And plenty of fans went wild over the nod:

When Mina Murray mentioned the attractive barmaid at the Rose & Crown, did anyone think that was a sly Doctor Who reference?

One of Clara’s incarnations was in Victorian London and worked as a barmaid in the Rose & Crown pub. @bbcdoctorwho @Markgatiss #DoctorWho #Dracula pic.twitter.com/n7WcL54Gh5

— Stephen J Pye (@Spyero42) January 2, 2020

Mina writing about „the adorable barmaid at the Rose and Crown“ is god tier referencing. I love it. #Dracula #DoctorWho #ClaraOswald pic.twitter.com/vhNeBrZBPU

— Raffael (aka Ulysses Illustrations) 🏳️‍🌈 (@UlyssesArtist) January 2, 2020

@Markgatiss and #StevenMoffat “The adorable barmaid at the Rose & Crown” Nice one and thank you. 😘 #Dracula Can't wait for ep 2 & 3. pic.twitter.com/l79R41hxet

— E i n e z 🎬🍷🏁 (@EinCrespo1) January 2, 2020

In another blink-and-you’ll miss it moment, Dracula also had a sneaky Sherlock Easter egg.

Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells) floored Jonathan by revealing the suspiciously quiet nun beside her throughout his interrogation was actually his fiancée, Mina

‘I apologise for the deception; it was necessary she heard the story from your own lips,’ Agatha, who later turned out to be revealed as Van Helsing teased.

And then you may have overlooked: ‘Having established your identity, it was not difficult to trace you back to England and find your worried fiancé. I have a detective acquaintance in London.’

During the Dracula world premiere, Moffat and Gatiss confirmed said detective is, of course, our Sherlock.

Dracula continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One.

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Disney CEO Bob Iger has hinted we could get even more Baby Yoda in the future – as he says shows like The Mandalorian could be made into full-blown movies, too.

Following the success of the Disney+ show, Bob admitted it would be easy for the Star Wars show to cross over to the big screen too.

He said on The Star Wars Show: ‘I don’t look at it as just television, I look at it as an extension of Star Wars storytelling.

‘What Disney+ has given us the ability to do is to do just that, is to bring Star Wars to people in new ways, and to bring new Star Wars to people. It’s not the same places or the same characters.

‘Just look at Mandalorian. While, obviously, there’s a lot shared, there’s a lot that’s really fresh, and I love that.’

He added: ‘I love the ability to really be agnostic in terms of what platform it’s being made for. And so it could be, down the road, that a TV show becomes a movie and a movie becomes a TV series. I’m not making any announcements here or not, but I think it’s important for us to be agnostic.’

Despite Disney+ not being available in the UK until at least March, The Mandalorian has proven so popular in the USA that a second series has already been commissioned to arrive in the second half of 2020.

Other TV series in the Star Wars franchise will include and Obi-Wan series as well as an untitled Cassian Andor show which is in development.

The Obi-Wan series, which stars Ewan McGregor, was also originally intended to be a film before becoming a Disney+ series.

Disney Plus will launch in the UK on 31 March 2020.

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The BBC have dropped one hell of a teaser for their 2020 – including Stormzy’s TV debut, a first look at Little Mix: The Search, and the return of Killing Eve for season 3.

It’s clear the Beeb are going all out for this year with their output, with the two minute long trailer showcasing everything from comedy to dramas to old favourites.

Halfway through, we get our first glimpse of Stormzy in action in the adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses – giving a knowing nod as he tilts his head and declares: ‘Let’s party!’

The rapper has only ever acted in one other role, starring in film Brotherhood back in 2016 as character Yardz (plus his music videos, if you want to count them, but we’re not.)

It was announced in March last year he will be making an appearance in Noughts and Crosses, the BBC adaptation of the book series of the same name that’s been produced in part by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

If that’s not for you, then there’s always classics returning including Call The Midwife and Killing Eve season three, with tiny glimpses revealing next to nothing about what happens.

Fresh from his first public appearance in months, there’s due to be a new series of Peter Kay’s Comedy Shuffle – which documents the star’s best sketches from his decades in the industry.

Then there’s Little Mix: The Search, which will see the band take on a talent hunt to find their support act for their 2020 tour, after finding fame on the X Factor.

Chuck in some new Line Of Duty, Michelle Keegan in Our Girl, Mary Berry searching for Britain’s Best Home Cook and All Round to Mrs Browns, and we’ve officially booked ourselves up for the year.

Basically, you want it? The BBC have you covered.

Seeing as they’ve had a pretty stellar start just two days in with Dracula and Doctor Who delivering the goods, we can’t wait to see what they bring up next.

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Love Island’s Iain Sterling is set to give his first TV interview since Caroline Flack was arrested and charged with assault by battery during tomorrow’s Loose Women.

The voiceover, who has narrated the ITV2 reality series since its birth in 2015, will join tomorrow’s show, marking his first TV appearance since the host confirmed she was stepping down from the Winter edition of Love Island and will be replaced by Iain’s girlfriend, Laura Whitmore.

Today’s Loose Women panel – which consisted of Jane Moore, Stacey Solomon, Saira Khan and Andrea McLean – confirmed Iain’s slot during today’s show.

The sixth series of Love Island marks a sad and unexpected turn for the popular reality show after Caroline was charged with assault, subsequently pulling out of the next run.

Announcing her decision to step down, Caroline said in a statement: ‘There have been a significant number of media reports and allegations in regard to my personal life.

‘While matters were not as have been reported I am committed to cooperating with the appropriate authorities and I can’t comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.

‘However Love Island has been my world for the last five years, it’s the best show on telly. In order not to detract attention from the upcoming series I feel the best thing I can do is stand down from Series 6.

‘I want to wish the incredible team working on the show a fantastic series in Cape Town.’

The 40-year-old appeared in court on December 23 and pleaded not guilty to the charges, as it was claimed she hit her boyfriend Lewis Burton over the head with a lamp, which both she and the former professional tennis player have denied.

Caroline and Lewis were both been banned from communicating with each other at all costs, before she jet off to Los Angeles to escape and ‘clear her head’.

However, Lewis publically pledged his support to the presenter on social media.

On New Year’s Eve, Lewis denounced photos that emerged of bloodied sheets, insisting his girlfriend is ‘harmless’.

Loose Women continues tomorrow at 12.30pm on ITV. Love Island returns to ITV2 on January 12.

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Eamonn Holmes wants to have his beloved dog Maggie stuffed when she dies.

The This Morning host unveiled his taxidermy plans on his return to the show following the festive break, after Ruth Langsford revealed a viewer had received a stuffed pet for Christmas from their husband.

As you do.

‘I couldn’t think of anything more horrible to be given on Christmas Day. I have to say Victoria. But you like it…’ she said.

An impressed Eamonn perked up over the chat, getting some ideas for gifts he could eventually give himself.

‘Woody lives on. And you know, well you’re reading my mind,’ he replied.

‘Has anyone had their dog stuffed? I would like to know because it’s my intention.’

However, it doesn’t look like Ruth is a fan of his plans, shutting him down instantly.

‘You’re not having that done to our dog, absolutely not,’ she hit back.

‘It’s not happening. No.’

So, that’s that then…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwHAdcIltsc/

Eamonn and Ruth rescued Maggie nearly nine years ago, and the 60-year-old has shared a string of photos of the adorable dog on social media ever since.

Blessing us all with a loving tribute to the pooch on National Pet Day, he thanked her for making him a ‘better person’.

‘8 years ago this little darling came into my life and made me a better person,’ he wrote alongside the snap.

‘She was a rescue dog and I couldn’t understand why someone would not have cared for her before we came along.

‘She has given me so much unconditional love, attention and companionship. She makes me feel good about myself and about the world.

‘On this National Pet Day I just want to say Thank you Maggie.’

Anyone else feeling a little emotional?

This Morning continues on weekdays, at 10.30am, on ITV.

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Netlix built an elaborate recreation of the Sistine Chapel for its new film The Two Popes after the Vatican denied access to the real thing, it’s emerged.

A set designer also revealed that Netflix’s take on the holy building is technically bigger than original!

The drama dropped on the streaming service on 20 December 2019.

Designer Mark Tildesley told the LA Times: ‘Ours is actually two inches bigger than the original so we can technically say we made the bigger Sistine Chapel.’

Creators used a studio in Rome to build the set – which was completed in less than 10 weeks – because narrative filming is banned in the religious building, known for its beautiful paintings by Michelangelo.

(That said, documentaries are approved on a case-by-case basis, FYI.)

According to reports, the artist’s 16th century tableaus were recreated using a dye process similar to transfer tattoos applied to skin with water.

The Two Popes, which is inspired by true events, details the friendship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Pope Benedict is played by Anthony Hopkins and the current Pope by Jonathan Pryce.

Speaking about his role to Deadline recently, Hopkins said: ‘What I liked about him was this kind of isolation that I myself experience. I’m not a very touchy-feely person, and I’m a little reserved, and I mind my own business. I thought, I can really get this man.’

He furthermore added: ‘It was a very easy role for me to play. I’d have to play an old man, and I am an old man. I know he had bad legs, and I have bad legs, and I have a bad back.

‘So, working with Jon and then going into the scene in the Sistine Chapel, I really did have to deal with getting up the steps. So, it was no big stretch for me.’

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Disney+ just dropped an exciting new sneak peek for the Lizzie McGuire reboot and fans can’t handle it.

The hugely popular streaming platform took to social media on the very first day of the year to share a compilation of what’s coming up in 2020.

But it’s three particular seconds within the one minute clip causing a stir.

At about the 0:45 mark, Lizzie McGuire (played by Hilary Duff) popped her head through a car window and excitedly said: ‘Hi, it’s me!’

And it’s truly what dreams are made of.

Disney+ wrote in the caption: ‘Is this not what 2020 vision means? From #ToyStory 4 and Aladdin to #LizzieMcGuire and WandaVision, here’s a look into our future at the blockbusters and Originals coming to #DisneyPlus this year.’

It’s unclear who Lizzie’s talking to in the car and fans are eager to find out (as well as see the actual show, of course).

One fan tweeted: ‘Did I just see an older version of #LizzieMcGuire all grown up?’

While another wrote: ‘Grew up with Lizzie. I’m excited for the new show!’

And another commented on Instagram: ‘This is what dreams are made of’.

With one fan adding: ‘Can’t wait for Lizzie!’

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh HI ITS ME AHHHHHHHH #LizzieMcguire pic.twitter.com/iToi0WiQKQ

— 𝑀 (@MattVaq) January 1, 2020

Lizzie😍😍😍

— Luca Azzola (@LucaCharmedFan) January 1, 2020

The new Lizzie McGuire series sees our teen protagonist all grown up and living in New York in her 30s.

However, it seems she will be returning to California soon enough to rejoin her mum Jo (Hallie Todd), dad Sam (Robert Carradine) and brother Matt (Jake Thomas).

Lizzie McGuire only ran for two seasons – but 65 episodes – from 2001 until 2004, but had a huge fanbase, which was only boosted with the release of The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003.

The show followed Lizzie, a 13-year-old girl, as she navigated family drama, first crushes and school with her best friends Gordo (Adam Lamberg) and Miranda (Lalaine) – with an animated version of Lizzie sharing her innermost thoughts.

The reboot, however, will see Lizzie as a 30-year-old, with Hilary – who is now a mum-of-two – telling E! News: ‘What are the struggles of a 30-year-old right nowWhat are the pressures that life throws in front of a woman who is 30 and doesn’t have all the things yet?’

Who else can’t contain their excitement?

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2020 is already getting off to a flying start as Drake has confirmed that Netflix’s Top Boy will be returning for a second series.

The God’s Plan rapper, who was integral in bringing the notorious crime drama back into our lives, made the announcement we’ve all been waiting for in a comment posted on GRM Daily’s Instagram page and honestly, we’re still shaking.

The picture celebrated the success of the new Top Boy released in 2019 and asked whether we’ll be seeing another chapter this year.

Drake then replied: ‘Of course.’

Dreams really do come true, huh?

Drake helped to bring Top Boy back in 2019, six years after it last aired on Channel 4.

The 10-part series saw Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson reprise their roles as Dushane and Sully, with the likes of Dave and Lil Simz also joining the cast.

Back in November, Top Boy star Ashley told Metro.co.uk that the crew was already working on a script.

‘We haven’t had the actual green light yet but it’s looking promising,’ he said.

‘In preparation for that we’ve already been working out storylines and writing so it’s looking good. Obviously I won’t give anything away but it’s looking dope and we’re all looking forward to going again with the show,’ Ashley teased.

Showrunner Ronan Bennett also confirmed to us that the wheels were already in motion for another innings.

Ahead of the series one release, he teased: ‘We want to do a new season and we’re talking to Netflix about it. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve all achieved with the new season.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Netflix for comment. 

Top Boy is available to stream on Netflix.

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Busy Philips has finally spoken out after E! axed her chat Busy Tonight show after just one season nine months ago.

The actress, most known for 90s cult classics including Dawson’s Creek and Freaks & Geeks revealed that when she found out the news she sat in the airport crying and drank shots of tequila (wouldn’t we all have done that?).

Taking to Instagram to reflect on 2019 (like most of us have) the star looked back at the past year starting with how she reacted when her show got cancelled.

The post began: ‘Final round of #almostgrams 2019! The Busy Tonight was cancelled round!! On APRIL 5, 2019! I flew to Dallas to shoot commercials over the weekend for Michael’s. When my plane took off, the song that came on shuffle was my favourite Deerhunter song He Would Have Laughed. I felt like it was a good sign. When I landed, my manager texted me to call her. Which I did. And she told me E! would not renew my show after the order was finished in a month.

‘It was effectively cancelled. I was blindsided, especially since the last text I had from the head of E(who’s now gone) was about marketing for busy tonight that he was excited to tell me about. Anyway. I did what anyone would do. I sat in the lobby of the hotel in Dallas and ordered three tequilas and called Marc, Caissie, Eric, Tina, Caissie again and I cried.’

Along with the post the mum-of-two shared a selection of pictures that really captured the moment she found out the news, there are photos of her in the lift (crying), a selfie of her in the bathroom (crying) – and she even got a tattoo on the day.

The post continued: ”I waited for a call or email from someone at E, which never came so I sent a text to the head of the network that truly makes me lol to this day(slide 3). Then I took some selfies(first 2 pics), got a text from Marc reminding me about the Deerhunter song(slide 4), made a music video in my hotel room to it(which I posted to my stories at the time), then I went and got a tattoo on my ankle; the illustration from my book from the chapter where I got super f***ed over by some dudes in this business(slide 5).’

It then ended with her thanking her fans – so it’s safe to say she’s looking forward to the year ahead.

‘THEN before I went to bed, I saw it was a new moon and what that moon meant(slide6). And. Anyway. It all started to become clear and I knew things were going to be better than fine. Right before the show was finished, I found a letter my daughter wrote to E! and I feel like as this year is almost over, the decade is closing, it’s the right time to post the letter(slides 7,8,9🤣). And all the rest of it from April 5,’ she added.

‘Because here’s the thing. The moon was right, the song WAS a good sign, my girl knows something about her mom- I work hard AF and love to prove people wrong and finally, the men will always try to fuck you over so fuck em and figure out something else. Which is exactly what Caissie and I have been doing. And next year; in 2020 we will finally be able to share it. 😍 So Happy New Year everyone!!Goodnight you guys! I love you SO much!!!’

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Dracula’s latest reinvention on the BBC has struck a nerve with viewers – so much so that some have gone as far as threatening to cancel their licence fee.

Because of the beast brutally decapitating a nun, tearing off a dying man’s face and wearing it as a mask? It’s a lot for the BBC, but it wasn’t that.

Have writers Stephen Moffatt and Mark Gatiss lost their touch? Perhaps the jokes just didn’t land? Of course not.

No, it was the threat that Bram Stoker’s fictional creature could be gay. He’s a parasite who slaughtered an entire convent – but it’s the notion he could sleep with another man which really creeped people out.

Actually, he’s not – nor ever has been – interested in sex at all.

‘He doesn’t really have sex with people, he drinks their blood and that’s a distinction you have to make in life – they’re not the same thing,’ Moffat clarified, although, really, he shouldn’t have to at all.

‘I think Dracula has correctly identified the weakness in the human race: that we lose our minds when sex is involved, and he romances [victims] into a clinch with his teeth into their necks.’

He stressed: ‘He’s not bisexual, he’s bihomicidal – and that’s the point people should make.’

They didn’t, though.

Without even mentioning his own sexuality, Dracula (played by Claes Bang) managed to offend a pool of traditionalists, who somehow jumped to their own conclusions.

‘The #BBC has made #Dracula gay… I have no words, when or more worryingly where will it all end?’ wrote Darren from Plymouth. Who knows, Darren? Perhaps next the BBC will revive Bob The Builder as a ‘woke’ Drag Queen, solely put on the TV so children will never look at the opposite sex again.

Ideally, ‘Darren from Plymouth’ would have been awash with backlash, but actually his fears were echoed by plenty of other social media users with Union Jack flags in their Twitter bio.

‘I’d agree it probably could be if they called it the gay vampire or bent bloodsucker. But it’s Dracula. A classic story that the BBC have walloped into an unrecognisable lump just to virtue signal for bonus woke points (sic.)’ and ‘It’s total s***e, most stuff on the bbc is, started watching Dracula last night, according to the beeb he’s gay, turned it off, utter baloney (sic.)’ were among the heap of viewers who couldn’t – or refused to – allow a sexually fluid Dracula in 2020.

But Dracula isn’t the only fictional character whose sexuality is cemented by those without any imagination. Just put ‘James Bond’ and ‘gay’ in the same sentence and you’ll be chased off social media by an army of homophobes for treason.

What’s perhaps more bewildering here though is Dracula has never been considered ‘ultra-masculine’ – whatever that may be. If anything, throughout countless portrayals of the Count, being ‘camp’ is among the qualities which has been fairly consistent over the past century.

‘If you look at the first Hammer one, the person he’s most excited about biting is Peter Cushing. There’s a real homoerotic moment – he really goes for it,’ Moffatt recalled.

But the fact Moffat even had to state the above proves there’s still a warped fascination with Dracula’s sexuality when he doesn’t even have one. But why? Why would anyone care that a fictional character written over 100 years ago could, as one tabloid put it, ‘bat for both sides’?

Can the inclusion of LGBT figures only be a tool to drive the BBC’s ‘PC b*****s’? Thankfully, sexuality is becoming more irrelevant in dramas.

Gay characters are written less as victims or clowns, and they’ve traditionally always been secondary – never a lead. But in Dracula, there really couldn’t be a character whose sexuality is less relevant or let alone offensive – he doesn’t have one.

Even if he did, it would change little. Stoker’s Van Helsing was written as a man, but Moffat and Gatiss’ added a slight twist in episode one to reveal Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells) was the vampire hunter, and Dracula’s arch-nemesis.

But at no point does the cat and mouse chase of Dracula versus Helsing feel any different to anything we’ve read or seen before (if anything, Dolly Wells should just accept her BAFTA now). So why would an LGBT Dracula?

I wish the reaction to Dracula came as a surprise last night, but it didn’t – not even in the slightest – but that didn’t make trawling through the posts – which blew my ‘woke’ mind into a blizzard of snowflakes – an easier read.

But when nothing has been amended, updated or altered from the original source material in Dracula, I don’t see how there is a problem. His sexual ambiguity is, if anything, a welcomed change.

The LGBTQ community are still yet to recover from New Year’s Eve celebrations to tuck into a primetime drama with a gay lead on January 1, and clearly with the reaction to Dracula, it’s going to be a long time until we get one.

Unfortunately, even the idea of a figure we’ve actually grown up with being gay is just too threatening for some.

Dracula continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One.

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Love Island 2020 is hitting our screens soon with the very first winter edition of the show that seeks to help singles find love on TV.

The latest series of the show – and the first ever to be filmed and air in January as opposed to over the summer – will be based in a brand new villa in South Africa.

The villa, located in an exclusive neighbourhood in Cape Town, has been refurbished and fitted out especially for the show, which will apparently feature a more body-diverse cast than previous seasons of the reality TV series.

Although the cast of Love Island 2020 has not been announced yet, there are rumours that Sophie Piper, sister of TV host Rochelle Humes, will be heading into the villa, as well as Pete Wicks’ friend Alisha LeMay.

When does Love Island 2020 start?

The brand new series of winter Love Island starts next week on Sunday 12 January on ITV2.

Following Caroline Flack’s alleged row with boyfriend Lewis Burton, arrest for assault and subsequent court appearance, the original Love Island host has been replaced by TV presenter Laura Whitmore for the new series starting next week.

Caroline pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating during an appearance at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court at the end of December 2019. The star is due to appear in court again on 4 March.

Meanwhile, Laura said she was ‘in disbelief and shock’ at having landed the Love Island presenting gig.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6SlG03nWEq/

After it was confirmed that Laura would be replacing Caroline, the Irish-born star said: ‘To say I’m excited to be heading to Cape Town to host Love Island, the biggest show on television, is an understatement.

‘I want to thank ITV for trusting me at the helm of this huge show. I wish it was in better circumstances; Caroline is a brilliant host and also a friend. We’ve spoken a lot in the last few days since she stepped down. She has been very kind to me and strongly pushed me for this role.

‘I’ve watched her host every series and know I have big boots to fill. I will try and do it justice.’

She continued: ‘Above all, I am a massive fan of this show. I’ve never been to a Love Island villa, and I can’t wait to get in there to meet all the new Islanders looking for love. The Love Island team are the best in the business… including the voice and heart of the show, Iain. He thought he was getting a holiday away from me… not a chance!’

Love Island returns to ITV2 on Sunday 12 January 2020

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