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The Three Stooges: Cher as a nun? And Benicio del Toro's not out ... latimes.com

'Narnia' executive producer Perry Moore found dead in SoHo home after apparent overdose

BY Simone Weichselbaum and Joe Kemp www.nydailynews.com

Benidorm Loses Its Writer

The ITV comedy Benidorm has lost its main writer, Derren Litten, after he told them he would quit after four series.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to series four although it is mixed with emotions because it is the end of my Benidorm journey. I won't be writing any more episodes.

"For me, the story of the Garveys and all the other characters I created, ends at episode six of series four. The time is right."

The show won the Most Popular Comedy award at this year's National Television Awards.

Benidorm series four starts Friday at 21:00 on ITV1.





Caroline Quentin

Caroline Quentin presents a new three-part ITV1 series in which she takes a journey of discovery through India, starting on Tuesday March 8.

The actress and presenter said: “I celebrated a really big birthday this year so I thought well, I’m not very well travelled, so I’m going to go somewhere that really takes me out of my comfort zone, and I chose India.”

She begins her journey in Varanasi, also known as Benares, which is one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world where she meets her guide Ravi, who takes her to the River Ganges, where thousands of Hindus flock to worship.

Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India occupies the 21:00 to 22:00 timeslot.



Doctor Who Brigadier Dies

Veteran Doctor Who actor Nicholas Courtney, best known for playing Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart, has died in London at the age of 81.

The series regular passed away after a short illness, his agent said.

The actor appeared on screen opposite five different Doctors and worked with two more - David Tennant and Paul McGann - on Doctor Who audio stories.

In 2008 he reprised his Brigadier role in Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Courtney had already appeared in such series as Escape and The Saint before making his first Doctor Who appearance in 1965, playing a character named Bret Vyon.

He returned to the show in 1968 to make his first appearance as the Brigadier opposite the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton.

After Doctor Who he had parts in such popular dramas as The Bill, Casualty and Doctors.

In 1997 he became honorary president of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society in recognition of the 107 episodes in which he appeared.

waveguide.co.uk

The big names keep on coming for the fall TV derby: Silver screen veteran Anjelica Huston has been cast in NBC and executive producer Steven Spielberg’s musical pilot Smash. insidetv.ew.com

Julianne Hough on 'Rock of Ages' casting: 'It's just a dream come true' -- EXCLUSIVE
by Jeff Labrecque insidemovies.ew.com

Fangs for that: Colin Firth follows up Oscar-winning role in The King's Speech by starring in
horror movie as a vampire

By Jody Thompson Mail

Magnet launches free online Dail and Seanad stations

www.siliconrepublic.com

Julianne Moore to be Sarah Palin for HBO
By Lisa de Moraes washingtonpost.com

Hollywood's newest star Mia Wasikowska wows in ruffles at the première of Jane Eyre Mail

New BBC One Crime Drama

Keith Allen is to star alongside Tara Fitzgerald in BBC One's new modern crime series The Body Farm.

Allen plays Detective Inspector Hale who calls upon Waking The Dead's pathologist Dr Eve Lockhart (Tara Fitzgerald) and her private forensics facility to help solve crimes and find justice for the victims.

Allen said: "I'm delighted that the BBC has given me the chance to delve into the murky world of The Body Farm."

Kate Harwood, BBC Controller, Drama Series and Serials, said: "We are tremendously excited to have such a wonderful cast line-up and to be following the character of Eve Lockhart into a new job as she leads her pioneering forensic team out to fight crime; Eve will face her challenges in the same way that she did in Waking The Dead, with cool professionalism and quiet compassion."

waveguide.co.uk

Paul O'Grady Celebrates The Avengers

Paul O'Grady has stood in for John Steed to team up with Honor Blackman ahead of a milestone celebration for TV hit The Avengers.

The cult series - in which Blackman starred as Cathy Gale - reaches its half century this year with a weekend-long event this summer.

It will feature the largest cast and crew reunion for four decades, according to organisers, when it takes place on June 25 and 26.

The University of Chichester will host the celebration with Avengers fan O'Grady acting as a guest host for one of the discussions with key figures from the show.

The ITV1 presenter wore a smart suit and brolly - in the style of Avengers hero John Steed (Patrick Macnee) - as he posed with Blackman on the steps of the Langham Hotel in London, to recreate a famous cast photo.

waveguide.co.uk

Graham Norton Wants A 'Gay-Off'

Graham Norton has challenged fellow comedian Alan Carr to a chat show "gay-off".

The 47-year-old TV presenter - who fronts BBC One's The Graham Norton Show - explained there is always competition among chat show hosts to secure the juiciest guests, regardless of who is billed against who in the ratings.

However, the Irish funnyman insisted he isn't threatened by Chatty Man host Carr.

Norton said in an interview: "There's always competition for guests, it doesn't matter who you are, when your show is on, what time or what channel. It's always a scrum to try and get guests.

"I'm not threatened by other hosts. You just have to try and make the show the best you possibly can. Is Alan Carr gayer than I am? I don't know. We could have some kind of gay-off and find out!"



Coleen Nolan Leaves Loose Women

Coleen Nolan confirmed today on ITV's Loose Women that she will be leaving her role as regular panellist on the daytime show.

Nolan, who has been part of the show for the last ten years, will leave at the end of the series this summer but will still appear as a guest panellist from time to time.

Appearing on today’s Loose Women, she said: “I am going to be kind of moving on to pastures new I’m afraid…but I have still got four and a half months left with you girls, so don’t relax too soon – there’s many more things I can be getting up to in four-and-a-half months!”

“Although I’m saying that – that obviously I won’t be here as often as I am now – but if I’m watching that telly and one of you sneezes, I’ll be on that phone saying ‘She’s ill, I need to come back!’”

Nolan said after the show: “I've loved every moment of my ten years on Loose Women but there comes a time when you have to move on to new adventures and now feels like the perfect timing - but I'm not quitting TV and I've got some exciting offers to consider so watch this space! I always wanted to go out on top so when I leave the show later this summer I'm sure they'll be tears and laughter but I certainly wouldn't have missed it for the world!”

Fiona Keenaghan, Creative Director of ITV Daytime and Lifestyle said: “We have loved working with Coleen for the last 10 years and can’t thank her enough for the huge contribution she has made to the success of Loose Women. She remains part of the ITV Daytime family and we look forward to working with her on other projects.”






Julie Walters leads a star cast in new drama series for ITV1 - The Jury.

Julie Walters plays Emma Watts, a defence barrister who is determined to free Alan Lane (John Lynch), a man convicted for the violent murder of three women he met on the internet. New evidence has come to light which calls his conviction into question and there is a fierce battle between Watts and John Mallory (Roger Allam) who is the prosecution barrister for Lane.

The five-part drama has been commissioned by ITV’s drama commissioning team Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes.

Laura Mackie said: “Peter Morgan’s original series in 2002 was a hugely popular state of the nation drama so we were delighted when he came up with a brand new, equally compelling, case. Peter is one of the best writer’s in the country so we are delighted to have his work back on ITV1."

ITVS Creative Director of Drama, Kate Bartlett added: “We are thrilled that Julie Walters will be playing defence barrister Emma Watts opposite Roger Allam’s prosecution barrister John Mallory in Peter Morgan’s drama that sees his return to television. We also have an exciting ensemble of actors playing our juror’s – Steven Mackintosh, Jodhi May, Natalie Press and Ronald Pickup – to name a few and John Lynch as the convicted Alan Lane.” Bartlett continues “Peter Morgan’s original Jury was a stunning drama and Peter has written another original, complex, character based serial for ITV1 that we hope will make compelling viewing.”

The Jury will be in production in and around London throughout the rest of March, April and May. The drama will transmit on ITV1 this autumn and will be stripped over a week, Monday to Friday.

waveguide.co.uk

Chilling: Latest pictures of The Wire star Dominic West as serial killer Fred West in ITV drama Appropriate Adult Mail

Jet Harris, The Shadows bassist, dies aged 71



Jet Harris, the original bass player with The Shadows, has died of cancer aged 71.

The guitarist, who played on number one hits including Apache, died at his partner's home in Winchester, his agent Peter Stockton said.

Sir Cliff Richard paid tribute to his former bandmate, saying: "Jet was exactly what The Shadows and I needed - a backbone holding our sound together."

Earlier this month, Harris cancelled all his appearances due to ill health.

BBC

New Wonder Woman Adrianne Palicki whips up a frenzy in PVC catsuit (bet she's glad they ditched those big pants!) Mail