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Hoff Not Returning To BGT

David Hasselhoff will not be returning to Britain's Got Talent, the US actor has confirmed on Twitter.

The 59-year-old confirmed his exit following reports that he had been dropped as a judge from the ITV1 show.

He said: "It's official. I'm not coming back to Britain's Got Talent. So if you want to see me live come check me out in Bristol as Hoff the Hook in Peter Pan XXX."

Comedian Michael McIntyre announced his departure in September.

The only confirmed judge for the sixth series of the talent show, which starts with auditions in January, is pregnant actress Amanda Holden.



Fern Britton Wants To Do Strictly

Fern Britton has revealed she "definitely" wants to compete in next year's Strictly Come Dancing.

The TV presenter and former This Morning host performed a jive with professional Matthew Cutler on the Christmas special of the BBC contest last year.

And asked by Woman's Own if she would like to take part in 2012, she said: "Definitely. It has always clashed with my charity bike ride but next year the ride is taking place in the spring, so I've certainly got the time."

She added: "Doing Strictly is amazing. It makes you feel life is wonderful. When people say they feel sad after getting kicked out, it's true."

Fern said she and her celebrity chef husband Phil Vickery are preparing for the festive season - despite the fact she's "not mad about Christmas".

"We've been busy making jams, jelly, vodka and sloe gin, too," she said.




Emmerdale Actor Quits

Emmerdale's James Thornton has confirmed he will be leaving the Yorkshire the soap next year.

The 36-year-old, who is married to Gavin And Stacey star Joanna Page, joined the ITV1 series in July 2009 as John Barton as part of a new farming dynasty, who took over running Butler's Farm from the Sugden family.

Thornton said: "I have had a fantastic time playing John for the past three years, but it's the longest I have ever played one part and the time now feels right to move on.

"I have decided to leave on a high with a big exit storyline in 2012, which I'm really excited about. I will miss all my colleagues at Emmerdale and have many very fond memories of my time in the Dales."

Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn added: "James has created a truly memorable character in John and he will be greatly missed but his decision to leave has enabled us to play a hugely gripping and dramatic storyline which will be a highlight in Emmerdale in the coming months."


No More TV For Hugh Laurie

After playing Dr. Gregory House for eight seasons, Hugh Laurie wants to call it quits.

The British actor said that once House has completed his run, he wants to retire from TV roles.

Laurie said: "I think I have been rather spoiled here [in America]. I can't imagine there will be another one quite like this. And I think I am extremely lucky to have had the one shot that I have had at it, and I wouldn't go looking for lightning to strike twice."

The actor has received two Golden Globes and several Emmy nods as House.

Laurie also stated that he is interested in behind the scenes work, such as writing, producing, and directing in the near future.

Fox has not yet announced if House will be renewed for a ninth season.

Laurie's contract is up after season eight.

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Harry Hill set to spark channel war after split with agent and TV Burp boss Mirror

UEFA Euro 2012 Broadcast Rights

UEFA announced today the appointment of the BBC and ITV as the official broadcasters of UEFA EURO 2012 in the United Kingdom.

All 31 matches will be transmitted live across BBC and ITV. The broadcasters will further exploit all 31 matches via their respective internet and mobile platforms.

A daily highlights programme will also be shown on each match day during the tournament and the BBC has the right to provide extensive coverage of the competition across its radio channels.

The BBC and ITV also confirmed the full split of matches between the two broadcasters across the tournament.

The broadcasters will show a total of 16 matches each including the final, which will be broadcast by both ITV and the BBC.

Niall Sloane, ITV Controller of Sport said: “Major events such as the Euro 2012 Championships have huge significance for our viewers and attract some of the biggest audiences on television. I’m delighted that ITV has secured an outstanding selection of games through the tournament, which includes England’s opening game against France as well as a potential peak time group decider against hosts Ukraine.

“ITV1 will also be the home of some terrific clashes between the top teams in Europe including Spain v Ireland, Spain v Italy, Portugal v Holland and Ireland v Croatia.”

Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport said: "The BBC is delighted to be showing the UEFA European Football Championship, a huge football event, which, along with the London Olympics, should ensure a fantastic sporting summer for BBC viewers.

"We are very happy with the live matches on BBC One, as they give us a strong climax to the event, with both semi finals, as well as England's quarter final if they progress. We also have some very appetising group games, including England's second match, against Sweden, in peak time, Ireland's final match, against Italy, and heavyweight clashes between Holland and Germany and Germany and Portugal."
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Movie Trailer #2 - Official HD 2011 Youtube

Local TV - Locations Announced

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has unveiled 20 UK towns and cities which are expected to get their own local TV stations.

The first 'pioneer' areas include Belfast, Brighton and Hove, Cardiff, Glasgow, Grimsby, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Swansea.

The locations were chosen from 65 towns and cities which applied earlier this year.

The government hopes to license the first local stations from summer 2012.

Jeremy Hunt said: "I am confident these new stations will provide local communities with programming which is relevant to their daily lives, will support local democracy, boost the big society and enhance local communities.

The other areas included are Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston and Southampton.

The towns and cities earmarked were chosen by media watchdog Ofcom, which examined the interest from potential operators and local audiences, as well as ensuring the projects were technically viable.

Ofcom will now begin a further consultation on those areas, starting at the end of next week.

The process is expected to take between eight and 12 weeks, after which the licences will be awarded.

A further 24 areas have been identified for a future round of licensing, four in Scotland - Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee and Inverness.

In Northern Ireland - Bangor, Londonderry and Limavady.

Mold in Wales and in England - Barnstaple, Basingstoke, Bedford, Cambridge, Carlisle, Guildford, Hereford, Kidderminster, Luton, Maidstone, Malvern, Salisbury, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent, Stratford upon Avon and York.

Legislation enabling the stations to be set up has still to be passed, but this is expected to be laid down shortly.

The BBC licence fee will finance some start-up costs.

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Justin Lee Collins Harassment Charge

Justin Lee Collins has said he is "shocked and upset" after being charged with harassing an ex-girlfriend.

The Friday Night Project host will appear before magistrates next week over allegations of causing his former partner "fear of violence".

Justin, 37, who is appearing in West End show Rock Of Ages, was released on bail after being charged by officers at Watford police station on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the Bristolian comic said he will deny the charge.

"He is shocked and upset by the allegations," she said.

"He is unable to comment on the circumstances and the events to which the charge relate because of the proceedings, but he is confident that he will prove his innocence."

He is due to appear on bail at St Albans Magistrates' Court on December 22.

A Hertfordshire Police statement said: "Police can confirm that Justin Lee Collins, aged 37 and from London, has been charged at Watford police station with Section 4 harassment (causing fear of violence)."



June Brown

EastEnders actress June Brown is to write her autobiography, it has been announced.

The 84-year-old actress, who has been in the soap since 1985 is best known for her role as Walford's Dot Branning. It is believed that she will begin working on the title next year ahead of publication in autumn 2013.

Brown's memoirs will be published by Simon & Schuster, which acquired the rights to the title after paying a six-figure sum, The Bookseller reports.

"June has undoubtedly lived a full and fascinating life - she is one of the few national treasures left not to have done her autobiography and she has more to say than most," Simon & Schuster's deputy non-fiction editorial director Carly Cook commented.

"As big celebrity non-fiction prospects stand for 2013, June Brown's story is a proper one, the life of someone who is hugely respected and much loved.

"Although best known for her brilliant portrayal of Dot Branning, she is seen as an institution - an outstanding TV and stage actress whose appeal is far-reaching and ageless."

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Exclusive: Jane Fonda Joins Aaron Sorkin's HBO Series (And You Won't Believe Who She's Playing) http://www.tvline.com/2011/12/jane-fonda-aaron-sorkin-hbo-newsroom/]www.tvline.com

[b]'Batman' star Bale punched, stopped from visiting blind Chinese activist CNN

Russell Brand and Katy Perry to divorce

Comic calls end of marriage with pop star after just 14 months Sun

ITV Programme Tops Christmas Viewing

ITV1's Downton Abbey was the most watched TV programme at Christmas, final viewing figures have revealed.

Initial overnight figures put EastEnders in the top slot, but confirmed figures compiled by Barb showed that Downton Abbey had 11.59 million viewers, compared to EastEnders' 11.33 million.

The final total varies because it includes HD viewers, and those who recorded shows to watch later.

However, it does not take into account viewers who tuned into repeats or who watched the programmes on the BBC iPlayer or ITV player, or other catch-up services.

The confirmed figures show the BBC's Doctor Who came third, with 10.77 million viewers, while ITV1's Coronation Street was close behind with 10.56 million.

Absolutely Fabulous, starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, was fifth with 9.07 million.

With EastEnders coming out top in "real time" on Christmas Day, there may be implications for ITV in terms of advertising - viewers watching a recorded version of Downton Abbey could have just skipped over the commercials.

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Melancholia named best film of 2011 by US critics

Lars von Trier's drama wins top prize at National Society of Film Critics awards, while Terrence Malick is named best director
Gusrdian

KIEFER SUTHERLAND has confirmed hit show 24 is coming to a big screen near you. Sun

Blue Peter Presenter Breaks Record

Helen Skelton has reached the halfway point in her South Pole challenge and looks to have added another world record to her haul.

The Blue Peter presenter attempted to set a record for the fastest 100km kite surf, covering the distance across Antarctica in seven hours and 55 minutes.

Skelton, 28, has completed the equivalent of heading from London to Northampton in temperatures which plunged to -48degC and she has completed the journey through tummy troubles, snow storms, blisters and dehydration.

The Guinness World Record officials have clarified that she has broken the World Record with her kite surfing stunt. The 500-mile dash to the South Pole for Sport Relief has now passed the 250-mile mark in seven days.

Skelton has previously set two records for her solo kayak along the Amazon for Sport Relief in 2010 and added: "250 miles down, 250 miles to go. I know I've got a lot of hard work still to do, but at least I am closer to the end than the beginning now. Every single day here is tough so all I can do is take each one at a time and get through it."

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ITV Commissions Mrs Biggs Drama

The story of the life of Charmian, ex-wife of Ronald Biggs, is to be told in a five part ITV drama

Written by writer and Executive Producer Jeff Pope, Mrs Biggs, will chronicle Charmian’s life from the fateful moment that, as a teenager on a train, she first met and fell in love with the flirtatious and worldly Biggs.

It will recount the story of their struggle to stay together in the face of fierce opposition from Charmian’s family - aghast at Biggs’ criminal record - and their idyllic life as the parents of young children before money worries forced Biggs to ask for a loan from an old friend to pay the deposit on a house they wanted to buy for their growing family. That friend was Bruce Reynolds, at that moment planning the most famous crimes in British history - the Great Train Robbery of August 1963.

Blissfully unaware of what her husband was up to, the consequences of the robbery were to devastate Charmian’s life.

Set on location in London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Paris, Adelaide, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro, Mrs Biggs is a co-production with Melbourne based December Media for Seven Network in Australia.

Charmian has acted as consultant to the production. She said: “If my story were to be dramatized I wanted it to be done as accurately as possible. It seemed to me this was an opportunity to convey the rollercoaster of emotions involved, rather than just the bare facts."

Jeff Pope has been developing the drama for four years.

He said: “Charmian’s is one of the great untold stories of the 20th Century, set against the backdrop of one of the greatest crimes of all times. But at the heart of it is a simple love story between Charmian and Ron.”




Channel 4 Top Programmes

Channel 4's top three most watched programmes of last year were all part of the My Fat Gypsy Wedding brand, the network has announced.

According to consolidated audience figures the, most watched episode, which was broadcast in February, attracted 9.71m people.

The Christmas special was seen by 7.24m viewers, while 5.32m people tuned in for a Royal wedding episode in April.

Embarrassing Bodies was the fourth most watched show, followed by Shameless.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, which follows young Irish travellers as they prepare for their traditionally extravagant weddings, has been a big hit for Channel 4.

First broadcast in 2010 as a one-off documentary, the show attracted a lot of attention mainly because viewers were amazed by the outrageous wedding plans set out by the gypsy brides.

The documentary also gave viewers an insight into the travelling community and how different their courting system was to the more typical way people date today.

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