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Desperate Housewives stars to be paid '£12million each' in new two-year deal

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"Are You Being Served?" Actor Dies

Are You Being Served? actor Trevor Bannister has died aged 76, his brother has confirmed.

The actor suffered a heart attack yesterday at his allotment in Thames Ditton, Surrey, John Bannister said.

The actor was best known for his role as ladies' man Mr Lucas in the 1970s BBC sitcom set in a department store but he also worked in the theatre..

Frank Thornton, who appeared as Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?, said he had "many, many happy memories" of his co-star.

"He was a very good friend over a long time," he said.

"We often met with him and his wife - he was recently at my 90th birthday celebrations in January and that was the last time we saw him. We shall miss him sorely."

More recently, Trevor Bannister had a stint in the long-running BBC series Last of the Summer Wine.

In 2009, the actor led the tributes to his Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard and gave a reading at her funeral.

Waveguide

Lord Sugar Tackles Football

Lord Sugar is to present a new documentary for BBC Two in which he is takcling an industry close to his heart – football.

In the on-off Lord Sugar Tackles Football he will embark on a revealing a journey into the business side of the beautiful game.

Over the last 20 years, English football has changed beyond recognition. Premier League clubs now make nearly £2bn a year from TV, match day and sponsorship income. But despite becoming a successful global export beamed into more than 500 million homes around the world, English football is an industry that's struggling to make ends meet.

Investigating the financial problems facing football, Lord Sugar will interview bosses, owners, agents and players and ask what has gone wrong, who is to blame and what can be done. In typically forthright fashion, he will deliver his verdict and his own five-point business blueprint designed to help the game he's followed since childhood.

Lord Sugar said: "For the good of the game – a game that entertains so many people – a game that people look forward to, that's part of their lives, there needs to be some very, very big actions taken. Football needs a dose of hard business reality."

Martin Davidson, Commissioning Editor, History and Business, added: "Football is big business and our national game has become a successful global brand, but behind the star players and billionaire owners it's surprising to hear so many teams are struggling to makes ends meet.

"It's a fascinating business model to explore and I'm very excited that Lord Sugar will be offering BBC Two viewers his expert business analysis – and I look forward to seeing what surprises he has in store for us."

Lord Sugar Tackles Football features interviews with: West Ham's Vice Chairman, Karren Brady; former player and Tottenham Hotspur's manager Harry Redknapp; Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore; the Premier League's all-time record goal-scorer Alan Shearer; chairman of Wigan Athletic, Dave Whelan; and President of Uefa Michel Platini.

waveguide.co.uk

Russell Brand shows off his real-life leading lady Katy Perry at Arthur premiere as they put on a passionate show for the cameras
By EMILY SHERIDAN Mail

Doctor Who's Elisabeth Sladen dies aged 63

Doctor Who star Elisabeth Sladen, who was also in spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, has died aged 63.

Sladen appeared as Doctor Who assistant Sarah Jane Smith in the BBC television sci-fi series between 1973 and 1976 opposite Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

In more recent times the Liverpool-born actress had appeared in four series of The Sarah Jane Adventures on children's channel CBBC.

Sladen, who had a daughter, had been battling cancer for some time.


BBC

Jamie East: I didn't sell half of Holy Moly to Endemol without TV in mind
Will the celebrity site's tie-up with Endemol damage its credibility? Not a bit of it, says Holy Moly's founder Guardian

Ab Fab Set To Return

The BBC is “putting the finishing touches” to a deal to resurrect the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

The show, which ran for five series starring Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders, was first broadcast in 1992.

Lumley, who played Patsy Stone in the show, told Hello! magazine three new episodes would be filmed later this year.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “We’re putting the finishing touches to the deal to bring it back and as soon as we’re in a position to confirm it we will.”

Saunders, who wrote the show as well as playing flaky PR guru Edina Monsoon, is also writing the story for the Spice Girls musical, called Viva Forever.


Have I Got News For You

BBC One's satirical news quiz Have I Got News For You is to have its first co-hosts in the shape of Masterchef's John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

The duo will record their show on Thursday May 12 for transmission on Friday May 13, shortly after the final of the current series of Masterchef is broadcast.

Wallace said: "It's brilliant being on Have I Got News For You. I've watched it for years and never dreamed I'd ever be on it. Mum's going to be so proud!"

Torode added: "Have I Got News For You is a fantastic show and I'm really excited to be asked to be part of the first-ever double act to host it. Quizzes don't get tougher than this!"

Other hosts confirmed for the current series include Rhod Gilbert, who will be joined by Marcus Brigstocke and Louise Bagshawe tomorrow; Alexander Armstrong, who will be joined by Ross Noble; Sharon Horgan; and Jo Brand.

waveguide.co.uk

CW Renews 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Gossip Girl,' More www.hollywoodreporter.com

Iron Lady? Not quite, Mrs Thatcher sang Abba's greatest hits to me, says Richard E Grant
By FRANCES HARDY Mail

New Green Lantern Trailer! Ryan Reynolds Totally Saves the Universe!
uk.eonline.com

Neil Diamond uncut: The singer on dancing with Princess Diana and how he nearly played Travis Bickle
By LINA DAS Mail


Neil Diamond’s album of classic hits, ‘The Bang Years 1966 – 1968’, is released on May 23. He tours the UK in June and July. Visit livenation.com

Koch brothers under attack by leftwing film-maker

Even for the Lincoln Centre it was an unusual show, and an unscheduled one. Several hundred protesters turned up outside the arts complex on Manhattan's Upper West Side last week for the guerrilla screening of a short film. From a hotel on the other side of the street, a video was projected on to the centre's walls. The unwitting stars of the films were David and Charles Koch, the reclusive rightwing billionaire brothers whose secretive empire and network of influence and funding is emerging as a liberal rallying cause in America.
Guardian

Willy Wonka cast reunite. Youtube

Farewell to Kathy Kirby, the 60s Golden Girl of Pop has died aged 72

Iconic 1960s pop star Kathy Kirby has died aged 72 after a short illness, it was announced yesterday.

She was best known for her cover version of Secret Love in 1963, but during her career had two top-ten hits and three other singles in the top 40.

Nicknamed the ‘Golden Girl of Pop’, in 1963 she won Top British Female Singer in a New Musical Express poll and cemented her place as one of the biggest stars of the mid-1960s by appearing in the Royal Variety Performance and three television series.


DailyMail