The Great British Sewing Bee isn’t exactly the most scandalous show on TV, but it’s still faced criticism from a couple of viewers who have argued that it’s becoming too racy.

Yep, seriously.

Luckily, host Joe Lycett had a genius response to those getting a little worked up about all the innuendos used on the show.

Tweeting a photo of a report telling him there had been ’10 contacts (six complaints and four comments)’ about the show, he wrote: ‘I appreciate the feedback.

‘I try not to do innuendo but it’s so hard. It’s really so hard. Omg it’s getting harder.’

Naturally, that only encouraged his fellow comedians and fans, who were quick to share their thoughts on the matter.

Aisling Bea commented: ‘So glad to see you coming to grips with it Joey, even when it is so hard.’

‘I can’t believe this!’ one fan told him. ‘You put your all into something just to give pleasure, and people start to moan and groan over your exhausting efforts.’

One more weighed in by saying: ‘I think they resent you constantly ramming it down their throats.’

Well then.

The popular sewing competition, which was originally broadcast on BBC Two, sees amateur sewers compete to be named ‘Britain’s best home sewer’, while having their skills critiqued by a judging panel of Esme Young and Patrick Grant.

Host Joe, who took over from Claudia Winkleman in 2019, is back again for this year’s series, with the contestants who all hope to become the next sewing champion.

Elsewhere, Joe recently switched his name back from Hugo Boss, after changing it by deed poll.

In a statement made on Twitter, he wrote: ‘A little over a month ago I changed my name by deed poll to Hugo Boss. This was to raise awareness about the fact that fashion behemoth Hugo Boss have issued cease and desist letters to small businesses that have the word ‘Boss’ in their name, including independent Swansea brewery, Boss Brewing.

‘And raise awareness it did – it became world news with headlines across the globe and also Dick n Dom from da Bungalow said I should be knighted.’

On why he decided to return to the House of Lycett, Joe continued: ‘Hugo Boss released a statement saying they “welcome the comedian formerly known as Joe Lycett to the Hugo Boss family.”

‘Well I have decided to go back to the Lycetts. They don’t target small businesses, if you ignore the time mum posted a dump to the local florist.’

‘It’s time for me to return to Joe Lycett. In tomorrow’s episode me and my team secure one of the biggest financial victories ever seen on a consumer TV show,’ the star added.

‘It is worth millions. It would be wrong for the company Hugo Boss to in any way take claim of this victory, or indeed many other victories across the series.’

The Great British Sewing Bee continues on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.

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Blind Date has ‘probably’ been axed, three years after the series returned to our screens.

The reboot of the Cilla Black love-match classic was launched in 2017, moving over from its original home of ITV – where it was aired for 18 years.

Paul O’Grady fronted the Channel 5 dating show, alongside a voiceover from Melanie Sykes.

However Ben Frow, the Director of Programmes at Channel 5, opened up on the future of the series, as well as Gino’s Win Your Wish List, and it doesn’t look promising.

‘They are both very expensive shows, they are hard to schedule on Channel 5,’ he said.

‘Blind Date we haven’t recommissioned at the moment. I probably won’t if I’m honest about it.

‘Gino, we still have episodes to play out and who knows how they will land? We are always looking at the schedule.’

Blind Date was rebooted three years ago, and was praised for including an LGBT-focused episode, as well as the inclusion of bisexual and trans contestants.

But, despite making headlines – and love connections – viewing figures reportedly dropped to below one million for the latest series.

And an insider recently told the Daily Star that bosses were thinking of ‘ditching’ the show.

‘After a number of series on Channel 5, it’s been decided that it’s time to ditch it,’ they said.

‘Execs loved reviving such an iconic show, but it hasn’t gone as well as they hoped. Everyone involved is sad to see it go.’ 

According to the source, the corporation is hoping to turn their focus onto documentaries instead of the entertainment schedule, as that area has proven more successful for the channel.

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Simon Cowell was left speechless after an astonishing card trick on Britain’s Got Talent.

In a first-look clip of Saturday night’s instalment, we are introduced to street magician, Magical Bones.

And while Simon is not usually won over by magic or card tricks for that matter, Magical Bones definitely left the music-mogul impressed.

The teaser video begins with the 37-year-old asking Simon to pick a card from a normal deck of cards, and then getting him to sign his name on the back.

As the 60-year-old shows his fellow judges and the audience his card, the magician then takes it from him (without looking) and places it in the middle of the pack.

‘I want you to focus on that card in your mind,’ he explained to Simon.

He then throws the entire pack of cards in the air while doing a back flip and then catches one single card, it can’t be Simon’s can it?

During his performance, Magical Bones also incorporated escape artistry into his act while telling the story of escaped slave Henry Box Brown.

Speaking about how much the audition meant to him he explained: ‘I was really nervous about this audition.

‘Personally I think that this is one of the biggest shows in the world, so a lot is on the line. Hopefully doing a show like this, it would take my career to the next level and I could spend more time with my family.

‘Now that I’ve got a son, my career means a lot more to me. I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing this for my family now.’

The dad-of-one is also not shy of the spotlight as he has featured in West End magic show, Impossible as well as performing at the Bafta Television awards.

You may have also seen him on ITV’s This Morning, and despite getting his name out there, he is hoping his audition on BGT will give him the platform to take him to the next level.

Britain’s Got Talent continues next Saturday at 8pm on ITV.

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Virtual pub quizzes have become all the rage since the coronavirus lockdown started, what with video calls being pretty much the only way we can see most of our friends and family.

With the dizzying amount of invites to quizzes that so many of us have been fielding over the last couple of weeks in mind, it would be little wonder if you’ve run out of question inspiration for the next one in your calendar.

Regardless of why you’re after putting some questions together, here is a list of TV-related trivia for you to quiz your buddies with.

TV questions for your pub quiz

Q: At the venue this show is set in, ‘everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came’.
A: Cheers

Q: What is the title of episode one of Game of Throne?
A: Winter Is Coming

Q: What year did Friends start?
A: 1994

Q: ‘The Carlton Dance’ originated in which show?
A: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Q: What year was the first series of X Factor?
A: 2004

Q: When The Sopranos first start airing?
A: 1999

Q: What is Fleabag’s main occupation in the show of the same name?
A: She owns a guinea pig cafe

Q: BBC Three’s Normal People is based on a book by which author?
A: Sally Rooney

Q: What city is The Wire set in?
A: Baltimore

Q: What state did ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic run to be governor of?
A: Oklahoma

Q: Which comedian narrates reality series Love Island?
A: Iain Stirling

Q: Who played Inspector Morse?
A: John Thaw

Q: What is Postman Pat’s last name?
A: Clifton

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Share your views in the comments below.

Jeff Hardy has revealed he called WWE for help around the time of his arrest last year.

The former world champion – who was pulled over in October and arrested for driving under the influence – has opened up about the ongoing legal issues, with the coronavirus pandemic meaning he still hasn’t had his day in court over the incident.

Speaking on WWE’s After The Bell podcast, he said: ‘Now I still have a legal situation, a black cloud, I haven’t been convicted from when I got pulled over on October 3, 2019, the day before I called WWE and said, “I need help. I need treatment. There’s something wrong with me with this alcohol thing.” ‘

Jeff’s road to redemption has been played out in a series of short films on SmackDown the past few weeks, and he has found it tough reliving his past demons.

However, it has also made him realise he has one more chance ‘to get it right’ and make the most of his career.

‘Now, being in rehab, I’ve learned a lot about the disease known as alcoholism and addiction. Watching SmackDown, when they aired the mugshots, that’s some heavy stuff,’ he admitted.

‘This is my last chance to get it right. I want to get a few more years out of this body and do the best I possibly can.’

The Charismatic Enigma reflect on how ‘little’ lessons have helped the most, and he has learned to acknowledge that his vices have been the root of his problems.

He told host Corey Graves: ‘I learned so much in recovery, just little things, like focusing on one day at a time, not drinking, not [doing drugs], and calling my sponsor every day and talking to another alcoholic.

‘There’s something powerful when you admit what you are. There’s a huge piece in my mind knowing that if I never drink again, I’ll never be in trouble.

‘Jeff Hardy, plus no drinking, equals no trouble. All my trouble has come from drugs or alcohol.’

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Channel 5 boss Ben Frow has admitted that he’s debating airing a ‘beautifully-made’ show about the plague during the current coronavirus crisis.

Director of Programmes Ben Frow was speaking at the digital Edinburgh TV Festival today, where he spoke about how the channel was dealing with the wide-spread industry problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

One such show that might not make it to air given the current climate is Epidemic: The Great Plague, a three-part documentary exploring the last great bubonic plague to hit Britain in 1665-1666.

Often called The Great Plague of London, it was estimated to have killed 75,000 people.

Frow said the series was ‘a beautifully-made programme,’ but said that it may be pushed back given the current climate.

‘Do people really want to watch a programme about the plague right now?’ he asked.

During the conference, Frow also mentioned that the Channel 5 revival of Blind Date starring Paul O’Grady was ‘probably’ axed.

‘They are both very expensive shows, they are hard to schedule on Channel 5,’ he said, also discussing Gino’s Win Your Wish List.

‘Blind Date we haven’t recommissioned at the moment. I probably won’t if I’m honest about it.’

Blind Date was rebooted three years ago, and was praised for including an LGBT-focused episode, as well as the inclusion of bisexual and trans contestants.

ITV boss Kevin Lygo also spoke at the Edinburgh TV Festival yesterday, and he revealed that this year’s summer series of Love Island may be axed altogether – with a UK-set version definitely off the cards.

‘We don’t have to make a decision yet… we’re proceeding on the basis it’ll happen in a normal way,’ he said.

He pondered: ‘We have to factor all of that in and also what signal might it be sending out if we’re doing a show where everybody is crammed together slathering over each other, and the rest of the world is told don’t go near anyone in the park?’

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Kelly Ripa unleashed her inner hairdresser as she cut her son Michael Consuelos’ hair with kitchen scissors on live TV.

The Live with Kelly and Ryan star was being given a live lesson on how use the household tool to do a quarantine haircut and her 22-year-old was forced to be her assistant for the task.

‘I have scissors. Kitchen scissors,’ she revealed during the segment, in which she was instructed by Xavier Cruz, founder of Barba Men’s Grooming Boutique in New York City.

As Xavier gave instruction, the TV presenter managed to give Michael a pretty decent trim, all while co-host Ryan Seacrest tried to tame his own locks.

Mark recently made his TV acting debut on Riverdale alongside dad Mark Consuelos, in season three of the show.

The budding actor played a younger version of his father’s character Hiram Lodge in the show in a flashback episode.

Meanwhile, Kelly and her husband Mark recently made a generous $1million donation to help with coronavirus relief efforts.

The couple aim for the money to help a number of worthy causes in New York, as it continues to tackle the spread of the virus.

Kelly and Mark split their money so that some can be used by the New York Governor’s Office to buy urgently needed ventilators to help treat those affected by coronavirus.

The cash will also go towards WIN, and organisation that provides emergency shelter and runs 11 women’s shelters in NYC, reports People.

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Outer Banks fans are not-so-patiently waiting for Netflix to confirm that the show will officially return for a second season.

But things are looking pretty good after the show’s co-creator Josh Pate admitted that he’s already been working on the script for the next season.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that he had already been discussing a second season with the streaming service ‘before [the first season] even came out.’

He said: ‘Netflix had greenlit us to write some [season 2] scripts, so we’ve been working on that for a few months now.’

And the showrunner hopes the story could keep going for a good few years if things work out as he plans.

He added: ‘Ever since we started, we always viewed it as something that was probably like a four-season, maybe five-season show, but definitely four seasons.

‘We’ve sort of long-arced it out pretty far. I’m just hoping that we get a chance to actually tell those stories.’

He then told the publication: ‘We feel like we really just played the opening round of that story.’

‘And now that the audience knows our characters and the baseline engine of the mystery is going, we just feel like we have a lot more good twists and turns left to explore, so we’re excited for more.’

Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the mystery-drama follows a group of wild teenagers’ attempts to find out what happened to their leader John B’s (Chase Stokes) missing father and the legendary treasure he found.

Spoiler alert, but the heart-stopping final moments of the first season sees John B and Sarah (Madlyn Cline) had set off for the Bahamas.

The very place Sarah’s father had sent the stolen $400 million (£322,000) in gold bullion.

In another interview, Josh teased what fans can expect from a second season of episodes if Netflix renews the show.

He told USA Today: ‘This is a teenager who is about to take on the biggest journey of his life and do right by the memory of his father. That’s really exciting to think about.’

‘There would be a couple of episodes that take place, at least partially, in the Bahamas.

‘It unfolds into a bigger mystery. We keep our old villains and we add some new ones. But it always comes back to the Outer Banks.’

Outer Banks is available to stream now via Netflix.

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Normal People’s Daisy Edgar-Jones has shared some adorable behind-the-scenes snaps from everyone’s favourite new drama and, tbh, we’re already crying.

Daisy stars alongside Paul Mescal as sweethearts Marianne and Connel, through their time in both secondary school and university in Dublin.

Viewers see the duo weaving in and out of each other’s romantic lives, and Daisy has now given us an adorable insight into filming the adaption of Sally Rooney’s best-selling 2018 novel.

In the snaps, she can be seen alongside Paul, holding a bottle of beer alongside a clapperboard.

Other pictures include the cast rambling about in the Irish wilderness, Daisy posing with a co-star in the sunshine and a certain book that we recognise on display in a bookshop.

We wonder how the adaption of that went, by the way? Well?

‘Here are just a few of the beautiful faces involved in the making of NP, more to come later. The most wonderful cast and crew and my best pals,’ she wrote.

Honestly, you’re not crying, we are.

Daisy also previously shared some insider info into the auditioning process on the show – admitting that she had to ‘snog the air.’

Which, we’re sure looked totally fine.

Normal People has become an international obsession since it dropped, but it seems to have caused more than a little controversy in Ireland over its depiction of sex.

The intimate scenes in the drama managed to spark a lively debate on Joe Duffy’s Liveline, and let’s just say there were a lot of opinions flying around.

Normal People is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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The Last Dance launched last week and immediately became a must-watch for all basketball fans, Space Jam fans, or anyone old enough to remember the 90s being all about one man: Michael Jordan. 

The 10-part series is an all-access deep dive into one of the most extraordinary teams in sporting history, the Chicago Bulls’ meteoric rise from mediocracy to the single most popular squad in the world, thanks to Jordan’s unprecedented determination, talent, and superstardom. 

It’s been almost 20 years since Jordan’s final professional slam dunk, but despite the world’s press and all eyes on the Bulls, it turns out we only knew a glimmer of the greatest story the game has ever known. 

From the team’s days as a ‘cocaine travelling circus’, to behind-the-scenes fall outs and sneaky trading deals, The Last Dance leaves no stone unturned. 

But if you’re loving the gripping cocktail of basketball, sex, drugs and unmissable drama, look no further. 

Here’s seven more sporting documentaries that come with an added dose of WTF. 

Icarus (2017)

Investigating the dark underbelly of competitive cycling’s doping problem, author and playwright Bryan Fogel accidentally uncovers more than he could have imagined when he turns to Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory. 

What follows is a disturbing game of cat and mouse, and suddenly the documentary itself is at the centre of one of the biggest sporting scandals in history . 

Icarus is available to stream on Netflix now. 

Sunderland ’tIl I Die 

After a painful relegation to The Championship, Sunderland FC allowed Netflix to film their lowest point as a club in years and their challenge for promotion. Some of the players may have been reluctant for a second series, but thankfully we got one anyway. 

Sunderland ’til I Die is available to stream on Netflix now. 

Last Chance U

Last Chance U is a fresh look at the most successful football program in the US at East Mississippi College. 

Four seasons in, the heart-wrenching docuseries explores the academic struggles of some of the top players, many with difficult pasts looking to football as their last shot at turning their lives around.

Last Chance U is available to stream now.

Cheer

If you haven’t gobbled up Cheer in one sitting already, and hopes of becoming the next Sally Rooney in coronavirus lockdown are slowly slipping away, make sure you watch the highs and lows of the Navarro College cheerleading team. 

Prepare to sob and scream to seven episodes of teenagers being tossed to great heights and breaking bones as they tirelessly rehearse for the annual Daytona Championships – the biggest event in the cheerleading calendar. 

Thanks to coach Monica’s unforgiving regime, they’re the undisputed number one college squad in the US, but how long can they hold on to their title? 

Read our interview with Monica here.

Cheer is available to stream on Netflix now.

Formula 1: Drive to Survive 

From the team who brought you the monumental Senna, Formula 1: Drive to Survive is two seasons down and has had millions gripped with behind-the-scenes unlimited access to the biggest names on F1 during the 2018 and 2019 Formula One World Championship, following their lives both on and off the track.

Formula 1: Drive to Survive is available to stream on Netflix. 

Killer Inside: The Trials of Aaron Hernandez 

Aaron Hernandez was one of the most promising American professional footballers in the NFL before his career came to an unthinkable end when he was arrested and convicted for the murder of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life behind bars. 

It was the most high-profile case of any celebrity since OJ Simpson.

Killer Inside: The Trials of Aaron Hernandez catches up with his friends, teammates, attorneys and journalists who look back at the disturbing trial while Netflix describes the series as ‘a tumultuous and often abusive upbringing, a growing fascination with gang life, and other discoveries that painted a maelstrom of motivations behind his violent behaviour.’

Killer Inside: The Trials of Aaron Hernandez is available to stream on Netflix now. 

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Read the countless glowing reviews of the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s bestseller Normal People and you will see the same two words popping up time and time again – ‘relatable’ and ‘realistic’.

It’s the reason the book was such a huge success; young people could see themselves in every aspect of the story. Whether they were Marianne having sex for the first time, or being an outcast at school, or becoming popular at college, or they were Connell struggling with loneliness when moving away from home, or worrying too much about their friends’ opinions, or someone dealing with the prospect of a long distance relationship. 

And with its move to the screen, the realism has increased tenfold, with reviews praising the sex scenes in particular for being so awkward and sexy – everything that makes sex, sex.

Daisy Edgar-Jones (Marianne) and Paul Mescal (Connell) are both shown nude, bringing a level of equality rarely seen on TV. While most shows would initiate a love scene with a loaded pause, followed by a passionate clinch, the hitch of a skirt and three thrusts culminating in simultaneous orgasms, the scene in episode two in which Marianne and Connell have sex for the first time is slow-paced, careful and… well, real. 

But try telling that to the handful of people who see Normal People as something abnormal. On Thursday afternoon, the Irish radio talk show Liveline started a debate about the show – set in Sligo and Dublin – and while there were plenty of callers who praised the depiction of sex in the series, others weren’t so impressed.

One caller (a devout Catholic) said: ‘I have two daughters and if they think that’s what’s going on in secondary school, it’s shocking. I wouldn’t like a daughter of mine to be engaging in sexual promiscuity before she gets married, I think most parents wouldn’t. It’s morally wrong, it’s fornication. Is the national broadcaster promoting fornication?’

Others suggested Normal People was like a ‘porno’, that it’s essentially watching ‘children’ having sex and it’s promoting behaviour that can ‘damage the immortal soul’; while one man delcared it was ‘shoving sexualisation down the throats’ of young people. 

Now, I don’t want to alarm any of those callers, but I don’t think any teenager is going to decide to have sex because of Normal People. Shockingly, teens have been having sex before Normal People, they will continue having sex after Normal People and it will not be because of Normal People. It will be because of them fancying other teenagers, and having raging hormones, and being a young adult exploring their sexuality, and because it’s FUN. 

Listening to Liveline from my bedroom in Dublin, I remembered the moral panic that erupted when Skins aired. Newspapers shouted ‘THIS IS RUINING YOUR CHILDREN’, believing that teenage sex and MDMA originated on E4. While I’m sure there were some teenagers with lives exactly like Tony, Michelle and co, my own teenage life couldn’t have been further from it – a West Coast Cooler was my vice of choice – but watching Skins wasn’t going to make me trash a house and fall into a K-hole. And those who were trashing houses and falling into K-holes certainly didn’t get the idea from Skins.

Normal People isn’t coercing teenagers into sex. It’s simply a mirror to what happens everyday in teenage lives – and frankly, is a mirror providing a reflection far more flattering and ideal than to many real life examples. One of the most deservedly praised moments of Normal People is how consent is portrayed in the sex scenes. In episode two, Connell tells Marianne, who has never had sex before, that she doesn’t need to do anything she doesn’t want to do. He reiterates his point, adding that if it’s hurting her, they can stop at any time. It’s a masterclass in portraying consent – it doesn’t detract from the sexiness of a situation, and makes it more comfortable and natural when everybody knows that they can retract consent at any time and they won’t be judged. 

I’m lucky that my first time was respectful and consensual, but I know for many young people, that’s not the case. Normal People shows that you’re not prudish or frigid – or whatever other ridiculous words that are thrown around – for wanting consent to be a big part of sex, it just makes the sex better for everyone involved. Have you seen the level of thirst for Connell on social media? It’s not all down to his GAA shorts, you know.

The show also ensures that safety is just par for the course, with Connell obliging without fuss when asked for a condom, and later in the series, him only proceeding with sex without a condom when Marianne says she is on the pill. These shouldn’t be afterthoughts – they’re vital parts of sex that are often glossed over.

If Normal People showed two teenagers having sex fully clothed against a wall, with no mention of a condom and no checking for consent, I could understand the backlash. But as someone who grew up with very little sex education in school, bar ‘penis + vagina = baby’, in a society where most young adults’ idea of sex is formed by performative porn, I would have loved to see such a healthy depiction of sex and relationships when exploring my sexuality. It shows that as long as everyone is of age (both characters are of the age of consent), consensual and safe, sex can be loving, fun and pleasurable for both people – yes, women too! 

Another caller into Liveline, arguing against a man who insisted sex should be preserved for marriage, said: ‘Sex outside of marriage can be precious as well, it depends who you’re with.’ Those first times are some of the most precious, whether that’s when you’re 17 and sleeping with a friend, or 19 in a relationship, and whatever is shown on TV – chastity or healthy sexual appetites – those first times will happen. Nobody will fight their urges.

But what we can change is the depictions of these acts and what is expected – a counteraction to the coercion and performance and solely male pleasure that dominates a lot of porn. Showing a sex scene on television will not influence a teen to have sex, but it may influence them to think about how they want to be treated when they do. 

The reality of the world is that sex is natural. Normal People reflects that in all its consensual, sexy glory, and if you don’t like it, reach for the remote control. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk 

Share your views in the comments below

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The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons is taking on the role of Henry Willson in Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood.

Willson is known as one of the most notorious agents of the industry, with long-held rumours that he would coerce his male clients into sex – decades before the Weinstein scandal catapulted the ‘casting couch’ abuse of power into public view.

He was also known as ruthlessly fierce of his clients by any means necessary, using underhanded tactics to make himself one of the most influential men of the industry.

Here’s everything we know about the real star.

Who is Henry Willson?

Henry was born into the theatre and acting industry in 1911, son of Horace Willson, who became president of the Colombia Phonograph Company in 1922.

Moving to Hollywood in 1933, Willson started work as a journalist for the Hollywood Reporter and New Movie Magazine.

It was a public secret that Willson was a gay man, and would frequent gay bars despite it being illegal at the time. He would also use this to pick up clients, often going for their looks over their capabilities as actors.

Becoming an agent, Henry became notoriously savage for his persistance, looking after and rebranding stars to make them famous – including Tab Hunter, Robert Wagner, Rory Calhoun, Troy Donahue and Guy Madison.

Many of his clients are also rumoured to have been gay, with Willson hiding their sexuality for them. Most notably Rock Hudson, who was only outed as gay following his death in 1985 from HIV complications.

In order to hide this from the public eye, he was known to sell stories on his clients to bury exposes, and create sham marriages in order to further bury their sexuality.

Willson is also credited for the ‘beefcake’ craze of the 1950s, with his published photos of his heavily muscled clients in swimsuits often being used as promotion for their films.

However, after he was outed publicly as gay, instead of just an ‘industry secret’, his clients distanced himself from him, and he struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction.

Leaving the industry broke after funnelling money into his clients looks and brands, Willson moved into the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital – a retirement industry in LA.

He died in 1978 at the age of 67, and was buried in a polystyrene coffin in and unmarked grave because he didn’t have the money to cover his funeral, and noone else stumped up the money.

Was Henry Willson a sexual predator?

Willson has been accused for decades since his death of coercing and soliciting sex from his clients in exchange for representation.

Among those who have come forward is Quentin Tarantino’s father, Tony, who claimed Willson propositioned him in the 1960s as an actor.

He said that Willson offered him fame, a Cadillac, a new wardrobe and a place to live in exchange for sexual favours

‘He says, “You will treat me like your best girlfriend.” … I looked at him and said, “I don’t understand,”‘ Tarantino told New York Daily News.

‘He explained in detail what he meant. He explained to me about oral sex … He explained to me about anal sex, and made that very clear.’

Several books on his sordid practices have also been published documenting his behaviour, including The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson, and Full Service: The Secret Sex Lives of The Stars.

Despite Netflix’s Hollywood representing as such, it has never been certainly known that Willson coerced Rock Hudson into any sexual activity.

Who is Jim Parsons?

Jim Parsons is known to most as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, having played the character in the sitcom for 12 years.

He still acts as producer and provides voiceover for the show’s spin-off series, Young Sheldon, which follows the character through his tricky teens.

Jim had previously appeared in Zach Braff’s 2004 film, Garden State and TV series Judging Amy.

Now, he is often working behind-the-scenes, producing series including Netflix’s Special, which followed a gay man with cerebral palsy navigating life in LA.

He’s due to appear in another Murphy project, Boys in the Band, after performing in the Broadway production of the same series.

What is Hollywood about and where can I watch it?

Ryan Murphy’s latest series Hollywood is a semi-fictional tale about life in 1950’s Hollywood – dubbed the Golden Age of Cinema.

It follows the story of Jack Castello (David Corenswet), a wannabe actor who has his sights set on getting his name in lights.

During the seven-episode run, he encounters some of the major names of the time – including Rock Hudson (Jake Picking), notorious agent Henry Willson (Jim Parsons) and Hattie McDaniel (Queen Latifah) as he tries to make his name.

Getting his big break on a picture based on the life and death of Peg Entwhistle, will Jack finally be able to make it in Tinseltown?

Hollywood launches 1 May on Netflix.

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It seems Piers Morgan is pretty happy at the idea that the summer series of Love Island could be axed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The upcoming edition of the dating show is in doubts due to the outbreak of Covid-19, with flights across the world cancelled and government guidelines urging people to stay at home and self-isolate in order to prevent the spread of the illness.

Taking to Twitter earlier today, Piers, 55, had quoted a tweet which mentioned Kevin Lygo, the director of television at ITV suggesting he would feel ‘a little bit uneasy’ if the show was to be broadcast during the pandemic.

‘BREAKING: Finally, some good news in this crisis,’ Piers wrote.

Lygo had previously stated that while a final decision has yet to be made for the next instalment of Love Island, producers are deciding whether or not it is ‘feasible’.

They had also considered the idea of the show being filmed in the UK rather than in Mallorca, with Cornwall as a possible location, but this was eventually ruled out.

Speaking at a controller session at the Edinburgh TV festival, Lygo said: ‘With Love Island, you know, it’s the first of these big shows with I’m A Celebrity, it’s November/December, I don’t think we can talk about it now but we’re looking at alternatives.

‘We don’t have to make a decision yet… we’re proceeding on the basis it’ll happen in a normal way.’

It comes after an insider had also claimed that contestants for the forthcoming edition of the ITV2 show will have to test for coronavirus before they will be allowed to enter the villa.

‘Producers are optimistic the series could go ahead, but they don’t want to take any risks with coronavirus spreading on set so are looking at testing contestants in advance,’ they told The Sun.

‘Talk of hosting the show in the UK has been vetoed. There would be nothing more depressing than seeing lovers huddled under blankets and umbrellas and stomping around in wellies.’

The source added: ‘But if lockdown restrictions are lifted soon crew will work towards and August or September start date.’

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The BBC has dismissed complaints against RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

In its fortnightly report, the channel released the results of several complaints filed against shows, also including The One Show, Question Time and Big Night In.

For Drag Race UK, the Beeb decided to not uphold complaints made against the queer reality show that it was ‘based on a misogynistic premise.’

The Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) dismissed these claims in the new report.

They also decided to not uphold accusations that The Graham Norton Show made an offensive comment saying that ‘men had it easy’ or the BBC News at Ten, for suggested bias against Israel.

Drag Race – which has run for 12 seasons including four ‘All-stars’ spin-offs in the US – made its British debut last year, with guest judges including Cheryl, Maisie Williams and Andrew Garfield.

The inaugural season of the show was won by The Vivienne, who faced off against Baga Chipz and Davina De Campo in the final.

Series two of the popular show has already been commissioned – but filming had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Confirming the news, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, production on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will be temporarily pausing filming both in consultation with and supported by the BBC.

‘We will continue to review all productions on a case by case basis and will continue to follow the latest news and advice from the Foreign Office, World Health Organisation and Public Health England.’

And it seems like two more superstar judges may be along for the ride, as Dame Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley have apparently signed up to appear.

Apparently, Supermodel of the World, Naomi Campbell will also be along for the ride.

Buckle up your belts, girls.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK airs on BBC Three.

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Celebrity Gogglebox is preparing to launch in the US – and its attracted an all-star cast, with the likes of Meghan Trainor and Rob Lowe getting in on the fun.

Based on the original UK show, Celebrity Watch Party will see a host of well-known names sitting down on their sofas and reacting to the biggest TV moments of that given week.

We don’t know what inspired the change in name – maybe Gogglebox was too British?

Joining the No singer and Parks and Rec star will be Disney icon Raven Symone, and YouTub/ hair bow sensation JoJo Siwa.

Speaking on the new show, Stephen Lambert, chief executive of producer Studio Lambert, said: ‘We’re delighted so many famous people love the idea of this show and want to be part of it.

‘It’s a show which asserts the indispensable role of TV in the fabric of people’s lives and the way it’s at the heart of the nation’s weekly conversation, especially in these unusual times.’

We hope Meghan sings some All About That Bass, what a bop.

In the UK, Gogglebox has become something of a national institution, running for 15 series since starting in 2013 and making a star out of Scarlett Moffatt.

British viewers will also recognise Meghan, since she’s just finished a stint on The Voice on this side of the Atlantic, joining Sir Tom Jones, Olly Murs and will.i.am as a coach.

As for Rob, just yesterday he (finally) reunited with the cast of Parks and Recreation for a special, one-off episode set during the current coronavirus climate.

Because if we need anyone to save us right now, it’s Lesley Knope, right?

Maybe he can react that Gogglebox, sorry, we mean Celebrity Watch Party.

Celebrity Watch Party airs on Fox in the US.

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The Story of Soaps is a new ABC special which will celebrate the incredible impact soap operas have had over the years.

The special not only takes a look back at the history of soaps, but it will also have some of the familiar faces appearing to talk about their time on daytime dramas.

In a promo for the show, Bravo’s Andy Cohen said: ‘When people think about soaps, they think about daytime, that’s not the whole story.’

While Alec Baldwin says: ‘It was one of the most important moments of my life.’

And Bryan Cranston notes ‘daytime created serialized television, which we love now’.

Before Jon Hamm adds: ‘There are elements of soap opera in every dramatic television show. It was the first binge-watch.’

When is the Story of Soaps on ABC?

The Story of Soaps air on May 19 and it ‘explores how no genre of television has laid deeper roots into our cultural consciousness and serialized storytelling than the soap opera.’

ABC said in a news release: ‘In today’s shifting television landscape, The Story of Soaps traces how female creators migrated from radio to television to become the dominant force in daytime for more than three decades.’

The statement added: ‘The Story of Soaps takes an extensive look at this iconic, impactful genre and the cultural phenomenon its massive impact has had on the world at large.’

Who features in the Story of Soaps?

The two hour special will deliver stories from (and about) All My Children creator Agnes Nixon and Susan Lucci (Erica).

Bold and Beautiful’s head writer Brad Bell will be joined by Denise Richards (Shauna) and John McCook (Eric) while Days of our Lives’ Deidre Hall (Marlena), Drake Hogestyn (John), Greg Vaughan (Eric) and John Aniston (Victor) also feature.

General Hospital’s co-head writers Chris Van Etten and Shelly Altman will be joined by casting director Mark Teschner, Chandra Wilson (Sydney/Dr. Massey/Tina), Donna Mills (Madison), Finola Hughes (Anna), Genie Francis (Laura), John Stamos (Blackie), Laura Wright (Carly), Marc Samuel (Felix) and Maurice Benard (Sonny).

While One Life to Live’s Erika Slezak (Viki) will appear, as will The Young and the Restless’ Eileen Davidson (Ashley), Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki), Vivica A. Fox (Stephanie), Erika Jayne (Farrah).

As well as Jill Farren Phelps, the former executive producer of multiple soaps.

In addition, actors who moved on from soaps into other TV and film roles are set to appear such as Alec Baldwin, who used to star inThe Doctors, Billy; Knots Landing and Joshua.

There’s also Bryan Cranston (Loving, Douglas), Eddie Mills (Dawson’s Creek, Tyson), Mary Crosby (Knots Landing and Dallas) and Susan Sullivan (Another World, Lenore; Falcon Crest, Maggie).

The Story of Soaps airs May 19 at 8pm (ET) on ABC.

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Beat The Chasers fans have gone into meltdown as a contestant on the show has won a whopping £100,000 – with just one second to spare.

A mega-sized spin-off of its daytime counterpart, the show sees all five chasers – Paul Sinha, Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Jenny Ryan and Anne Hegerty – team up to face down individual contestants.

Participants can bargain for more money if they choose to face more than one Chaser, and can win a jackpot-sized amount of money if they face down all five at once.

And tonight, Jean from Chester managed to scoop an absolutely massive prize at (literally) the last second.

Bradley Walsh asked her what social media company launched IGTV (which was Instagram), but Jean decided to pass and he went to the Chasers for another question.

However, there was just two seconds remaining in their timer, meaning that the clock ran out before Brad could even finish the question – and Jean managed to walk away with 100k!

As a clearly shocked Jean hugged him, Brad said: ‘It just goes to show, the greatest quiz team in the world can be defeated.’

And fans on social media were lapping up Jean’s win – mostly because it was some nail-biting telly.

‘The roaring and the shouting in my house at the woman winning 100k,’ one fan wrote. ‘Is what I can only imagine a football stadium celebrating a goal sounds like.’

Another added: ‘Perfect finish. The show’s been a brilliant twist on what already was an excellent quiz show.’

One happy viewer also just simply said they were ‘buzzing for Jean’ and do you know what, so are we.

Jean is the new national treasure we all need. Lend us a fiver?

Well, we can’t say it any better than that.

Beat The Chasers aired on ITV.

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Gogglebox viewers have criticised the show for once again airing a segment which spoils an upcoming episode of Killing Eve season three.

The spy-thriller drops new episodes every Monday on BBC iPlayer, but airs episodes on terrestrial TV the following Sunday.

Fans have already called out the show for showing spoilers before the show airs on British TV, and they’re incensed that this week’s episode was no exception.

And to be fair for those at home who haven’t already seen the episode – it’s a big ‘un, as Villanelle (Jodie Comer), finally discovering Eve (Sandra Oh) is alive goes to London to visit her.

To say things get a bit complicated whilst on a moving bus would be a bit of an understatement. There’s fights, snogs and even a headbutt thrown in for good measure.

But taking to Twitter, fans were enraged that spoilers to the episode had been aired for people who had chosen to wait to watch the episode on TV.

‘Again, Gogglebox has ruined the next episode of Killing Eve,’ one viewer wrote. ‘We don’t all watch it on iPlayer.’

Another incensed fan added: ‘Why for two weeks running have you shown long clips from this coming week’s episode of Killing Eve?

‘I do not watch on iPlayer in advance and do not appreciate this being shown before mainstream TV.’

So, what do you think? Should Gogglebox take viewers who don’t watch new episodes of the drama in advance of iPlayer?

Or, actually, do viewers have plenty of time to catch up on the latest episode given the six-day gap in between episodes dropping digitally and airing on TV?

Let us know in the poll below.

Killing Eve is available to stream via BBC iPlayer and airs Sundays at 9.15pm on BBC One.

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Scrubs actor Sam Lloyd has died, aged 56.

His agent confirmed the sad news to Metro.co.uk, simply telling us: ‘A good man is gone’.

His cause of death has yet to be revealed.

Scrubs co-star Zach Braff led tributes to the late star – who played Ted Buckland on the sitcom.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote: ‘Rest In Peace to one of the funniest actors I’ve ever had the joy of working with.

‘Sam Lloyd made me crack up and break character every single time we did a scene together.

‘He could not have been a kinder man. I will forever cherish the time I had with you, Sammy.’

While show creator Bill Lawrence commented: ‘Thinking a lot about Sam Lloyd today. (Ted). Truly such a kind, sweet guy. He will be missed by so many.’

Co-star Robert Maschio penned: ‘Simpler times, happier days, the kindest man I ever met. 

‘Easy going Sam, Rest In Peace. #RIPSamLloyd.’

Sam was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the beginning of last year, with his comedy castmates rallying around to raise money for his healthcare.

The latest update shared on the GoFundMe page informed fans that his treatment not as successful as they had hoped.

Close friend and fundraising organiser Tim Hobert explained he endured another health scare in February when he was rushed to hospital with swelling on his brain.

After doctors removed a tumour, there were more complications and he underwent two emergency brain surgeries, days after his initial operation. 

Sam was then transferred to ICU at Cedars Sinai hospital in LA, and put on a ‘breathing tube and feeding tube’. 

‘Through all of this, Sam has continued to fight and his wife, Vanessa, has never left his side,’ Tim explained. ‘Spending nights sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room.

‘Now, Sam is preparing for a new fight. A fight that will come with bigger challenges. So please send Sam all of your prayers and positive energy. 

‘He continues to read all of your posts and he is overwhelmed by the incredible love that has come his way from around the world.’

Sam enjoyed a 30-year acting career, appearing on the big screen in Robin Williams’ hit Flubber, as well as The Brothers Solomon.

But his biggest role came as lawyer Ted in the medical comedy, alongside Zach, Donald Faison and John McGinley. 

He appeared in nearly 100 episodes of the show, and later reprised his part during a cameo in Cougar Town.

His other TV credits included Desperate Housewives, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Seinfeld and Modern Family.

Sam is survived by wife Vanessa, and their one-year-old son Weston.

Terry Crews has revealed he was ‘this close’ to chasing a career in wrestling.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star appeared as arrogant bad boy T-Money on US Gladiator-style show Battle Dome back in 1999, which even led to a brief stint on World Championship Wrestling later the following year – just months before the company was bought out by WWE.

Speaking to Titus O’Neill for WWE.com, Terry said: ‘What you do every week, every other day up there in that wrestling ring is phenomenal. You know, I almost ended up in wrestling, man. I was this close.’

The actor’s history with the industry didn’t end at the turn of the century though, as he delivered a hyped introduction for 2018’s SummerSlam event.

His experiences on screen – and his lifelong love for the business – means he has a great appreciation for the stories being told every week in the ring.

‘When you look at what WWE it’s about heroes, villains – it’s the core of why you are entertained,’ he explained while drawing comparisons to the Marvel and DC big screen universes.

‘It’s literally the greatest theatre on earth. Again, literally you guys put your body on the line every time you go out there. Anything can happen.’

It’s probably safe to say the ship has sailed on Terry stepping between the ropes for a WWE stint, but he was delighted to make his SummerSlam appearance and learn a whole other side to the art form.

‘When you grab that mic, it’s yours. You got thousands and thousands of people watching you at one time,’ he added.

‘This is why I was so honoured to do the WWE intro, because I knew that it’s one thing to be physical, but it’s a whole other thing to be magnetic.’

Terry even had a message for the WWE Universe, as he insisted anyone who has an issue with wrestling has a major problem with one of its biggest fans.

He said: ‘Listen up right now! This is your boy Terry Crews, and I’m here tell you that WWE is compromised, it is all amazing, 100% real! And anybody got a problem with that, you can see me!’

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