Doctor Who Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

With Not Going Out airing its 100th episode this Christmas, fans are well acquainted with the lives of chaotic couple Lee and Lucy, played by comic Lee Mack and Beyond Paradise ’s Sally Bretton. However, Lee has revealed there was originally a different actress playing his love interest – Doctor Who ’s Catherine Tate. The 55-year-old, who created the sitcom in 2004, revealed that Catherine originally filled the role of Kate in the pilot after the pair performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe together.

Doctor Who.The BBC revealed that the Sex Education actor was set to play the titular role in the beloved series in May of last year, taking over from Whittaker.Gatwa made his debut as the fifteenth doctor opposite Tennant in the episode ‘The Giggle’ this month, but is set to officially take the reins as the next Time Lord for this year’s Doctor Who special Christmas episode, premiering December 25 on Disney+.Gatwa has since revealed that he received a supportive phone call from his predecessors after he was announced as the next Doctor.“Thank God for that call on that day,” he recently told Empire Magazine. “Because it was such a huge day for me, and they just wrapped me up in warmth like a welcome blanket.”Whittaker in particular had one simple piece of advice for the newcomer: “Embrace the madness.”Elsewhere in the interview the Barbie actor opened up about being “wracked with nerves and anxiety” when he started filming.“I was very, very nervous and questioned everything I did.

Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths) first landed on EastEnders back in 2018 as the father of Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) and ex-boyfriend of Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley). While his stint was only temporary to begin with, Mitch later returned as a regular character in 2019 with his daughter Chantelle (Jessica Plummer) in tow. Over his time in Walford, the character faced many ups and downs, with his departure prompted by the Taylor family's involvement in a kidnapping plot.

Fans will soon see Neil Patrick Harris back on-screen, as he’ll appear in the third and final Doctor Who 60th anniversary adventure. Airing on Saturday, December 9, he is set to play “the greatest enemy” that The Doctor (David Tennant) has ever faced. Neil, 50, has pretty much done it all, and has worked as an actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host.

Charlie De Melo, 34, played Imran Habeeb as a series regular in ITV’s Corrie from 2017 until 2022. He was recently confirmed to be the latest star to be involved in Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary specials, where he will play a character named Charlie Banerjee. Revealing the news last month, he shared on X (formerly Twitter): “Keeping this quiet has been a minor torture.

Belle & Sebastian were spotted in last night’s episode of The Simpsons.The iconic animated series, which has been running since December 1989, premiered its latest and 35th season on October 1, 2023.In the most recent episode, Groundskeeper Willie is shown falling in love and getting married to a character named Maisie, voiced by Marvel’s Karen Gillan.Another Doctor Who star is credited in this episode, with actor David Tennant providing the voice of Pa MacWeldon, the patriarch of the bride’s family.Alongside these famous voices was Scottish band Belle & Sebastian providing the music at the rehearsal dinner. Featuring a brand new original song by the indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1996, ‘Willie And The Dream Of Peat Bogs’, the episode was followed by a music video for the track.The band’s lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, posted on X/Twitter a snap of the animated group, in front of a drum set saying, ‘The Belle And Sebastian Experience’ with the caption: “I think they did us pretty well, what do you think? Beans and Stevie are particularly well represented.”i think they did us pretty well, what do you think? Beans and Stevie are particularly well represented.

Actress Brigit Forsyth, who starred in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? has died at the age of 83, her agent Mark Pemberton has confirmed.The Scottish actress played battleaxe Thelma Ferris, the long suffering wife of Rodney Bewes’ character Bob, in the cult 70s BBC sitcom. Her agent confirmed she died “peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family” in the early hours of Friday morning.

Asha Alahan’s coming out story was huge on Coronation Street, and fans were thrilled when she finally got together with close friend Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher). So it’s no wonder actress Tanisha Gorey is desperate for their romance to survive stormy waters when smitten new love interest Isla arrives to rock the boat.The pair have been dating for almost two years, and have become the golden couple on the cobbles with fans creating their very own nickname for the pair – Nasha. “It really surprises me at how many people love Asha and Nina together,” says Tanisha.

David Tennant's wife, Georgia, has shared her emotional journey with cervical cancer, revealing that she even started planning her own funeral. The mum-of-five, who is married to the Doctor Who star, credits a simple smear test for saving her life as it caught her cancer early before it could spread. Georgia, 38, was diagnosed with the disease five years before NHS England pledged to eliminate it by 2040.

Catherine Tate returns as Donna Noble in Doctor Who special The Star Beast, as she reunites with the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. The last time she was seen, Donna's mind was wiped in order to protect her from knowledge that would destroy her. In the new instalment, Donna recognises the Toymaker (played by Neil Patrick Harris) from her travels with the Doctor.The pair reunite but the Time Lord panics Donna may remember her past and she could die.

Louise Jameson has revealed she was "annoyed" over her Eastenders exit in 2000 as she felt the way TV bosses went about it "wasn't respectful" at the time.The actress, 72, who many will recognise as Mary Goskirk from Emmerdale, portrayed Rosa di Marco in the BBC One soap from 1998 until 2000. In total, Louise appeared in over 200 episodes of EastEnders as matriarch Rosa but was suddenly axed after two years. Two years after Rosa's exit from Walford, it was revealed she died following a heart attack.This storyline then led the way for Beppe's (Michael Greco) departure from the soap.

All aboard the Tardis for an adventure in space and time as Doctor Who celebrates its 60th anniversary. Fan favourite David Tennant returns as the Doctor and Catherine Tate as his companion, Donna Noble, in three specials from showrunner Russell T Davies. All three left the hit series 13 years ago, but Russell says that despite having moved on to write such series as A Very English Scandal, It’s A Sin and Nolly, he has never stopped thinking about Doctor Who.

Miriam Margolyes has taken a swipe at I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, saying she would never go into the jungle because she has ‘class’. The 82 year old Harry Potter actress, known for her outspoken ways and chaotic guest appearances on This Morning, opened up on how she had been offered big money deals to appear on the gruelling ITV show - as well as BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Coronation Street alumni Charlie De Melo has landed a huge role in an iconic BBC show after leaving the ITV soap. The 34 year old actor played Imran Habeeb on the Cobbles from 2017 until 2022 - when his character was killed off in a dramatic car crash storyline.

The new John Lewis Christmas advert has been released, meaning that it's basically 25 December now.This year's centres around a young boy who wants to grow his own Christmas tree- but not everything is as it seems. The tree turns out to be a mischievous Venus flytrap which causes chaos for the family. Viewers will see how the boy lovingly nurtures the plant from a seed bought at a local market, in the belief he is cultivating a perfect Christmas tree.The fast-growing plant becomes an equally big personality who wants to join in all the fun of Christmas, before the inevitable tear-jerking moment when he is cast out into the cold to make way for a traditional tree.

As Emmerdale ’s Caleb Miligan once again finds itself at the heart of trouble this week, fans at home will no doubt anxiously be awaiting the news as to what part, if any, he played in rapist Craig Reed’s death. As regular viewers will know, Craig recently raped his childhood sweetheart Lydia Dingle in harrowing scenes, with the police refusing to pursue the allegation due to insufficient evidence.

Time was a huge hit when it first appeared on TV screens with Stephen Graham taking on the role as prison officer Eric McNally, while Sean Bean portrayed Mark Cobden. Eric and Mark won't feature in the second series of the Jimmy McGovern-penned drama as it's set to take places in a women's prison. Arriving at Carlingford Prison on the same day, Orla, Abi and Kelsey are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world.

Gareth Pierce has played the long running character, Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street since 2020, and since joining the cast, has seen himself at the centre of multiple storylines. Most recently, the son of veteran character, Eileen Grimshaw, has had strained relations with her partner, George Shuttleworth after the two used to work together at Shuttleworth's funeral parlour. Viewers will know that the tensions were caused by Todd's ambitions as a funeral director - he was nominated for the Young Funeral Director of the Year award - and believed he deserved a pay rise.

All Creatures Great and Small series four airs on Channel 5 tonight as James Herriot and Helen Alderson return to Skeldale House.The couple are settling into life as a newly wed couple while waiting to hear if James will be called up to serve in the RAF. Meanwhile, Siegfried Farnon is getting to grips with his brother Tristan fighting in the war and trying to run the vet surgery without him. Elsewhere a new trainee veterinary student Richard Carmody arrives, causing complications in the house.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate can be seen reunited as The Doctor and his sidekick in a new trailer for the 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who. David, 52, originally starred as the 10th Doctor from 2005 until his final episode aired on New Year’s Day in 2010, with Catherine, 53, playing one of his companions, Donna Noble, in the beloved BBC series.The pair will return to their roles for three special episodes which will air this November to coincide with the celebrations marking six decades of the show. Moments before the first live show of Strictly Come Dancing 2023, viewers were given a glimpse of what to expect later this year when the Tardis lands.

Miriam Margolyes has landed a new role on an iconic BBC show - days after causing chaos with a sweary guest appearance on This Morning. Harry Potter actress Miriam, 82, will star alongside David Tennant in new episodes of Doctor Who in the 60th anniversary specials that will air this November.The BBC said Miriam was set to be the voice behind the Meep, an "iconic creature" adapted from The Star Beast comic strip. After her new role was announced, Miriam said: "I'm relieved I got to work on Doctor Who before I died.” She added: "With sci-fi you never know.Thank you for making an old woman very happy." It comes after This Morning was taken off air on its ITV +1 repeat on Wednesday following the obscene language Mirriam used during her guest appearance as an agony aunt.

The BBC has recommissioned TV drama Waterloo Road for two further series.The TV show, which explores the lives of students at a state school in Greater Manchester, initially ran on the BBC between 2006 and 2015. Earlier in the year, the show returned with two new series and a cast ensemble that included Coronation Street stars Angela Griffin and Kym Marsh and Emmerdale’s Adam Thomas.The next two series of the show will each comprise eight hour-long episodes, with filming set to begin in Greater Manchester in the autumn.

Louise Jameson shot to fame when she was cast as the companion to the fourth Doctor in Doctor Who back in 1977. Louise stunned as the leather-clad Leela in the role, and her newfound fame would go on to help her secure roles in crime series Bergerac, soap Eastenders and classic hospital drama Holby City. In 2022, the 72 year old veteran star joined the cast of Emmerdale.

Emmerdale favourite Lydia Dingle experienced a blast from her past this week, when her childhood sweetheart Craig arrived on screen after bumping into her at a job fair held at The Hide.Taken aback by the appearance of someone from her childhood, Lydia appeared to be visibly shaken when Craig kept addressing her as “Jenny” her former name before she changed it following the loss of her infant son. In scenes airing on Thursday, 17 August 17, it was soon revealed that Craig was actually the father of Lydia’s baby son, Toby, who tragically was stillborn when she was just a teenager.

Swapping the wards of Holby City for a new role in Hollyoaks, actor David Ames delighted fans this week when a first look episode, saw the star make his debut in the Channel 4 soap as new headteacher Carter Shepherd. The exciting episode first got underway when Goldie McQueen (Chelsee Healey) poignantly admitted to (Ross Adams)that she had been struggling recently. Later, Goldie continued to lament about her situation at Bronzer’s memorial bench, while asking for a sign to help her through the particularly rough patch.

As Coronation Street ’s resident villain Stephen Reid comes face to face with the ghost of his past this week, all eyes will undoubtedly be on the serial killer as he attends a memorial service for his former business associate Rufus Donahue. Playing innocent, Stephen smoothly pretends he is deeply troubled by the loss of his former colleague, even as Rufus’ son Jools quizzes him on how he knew his dad.

Since first arriving on our screens in 1996, EastEnders icon Ben Mitchell has been instrumental in a number of high profile storylines, ranging from child abuse, through to male rape and even the current ongoing storyline of Ben’s battle with Bulimia. However, in his 27 year run, the character has been played by six actors in total, something which even prompted a long running joke among fans about how he had more iterations than Doctor Who.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 14 years since Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince first hit cinemas, but as the entire franchise returns to our screens this week, a new generation of magic lovers have been able to fall in love with the adventure of Harry Potter and his wizarding pals. While many of the movie’s stars such as Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have scarcely changed in the years since the film’s debut, one cast member, Georgina Leonidas is a far cry from her on screen persona of Katie Bell.

As the Harry Potter films once again return to our screens this week, countless fans have been hit with a wave of nostalgia over the magical film series which dominated the lives of many 90’s and 00’s kids growing up. But one star of the franchise who continues to surprise fans at home with their real age, is Moaning Myrtle star Shirley Henderson, who despite playing a ghostly teen on screen, was actually in her mid-thirties while filming! Well known for her petite stature and youthful face, Shirley easily looks decades younger than her true age, 57 - and has had no shortage of varied roles over the years thanks to her versatility and finesse on screen.

David Tennant may play an immortal demon on Good Omens but he's revealed that he came close to death whilst filming the second series. The Doctor Who star said "it's a miracle" he wasn't "hit by a car" on the Good Omens set after struggling to see thanks to his character's costume.

Bradley Walsh is perhaps best known for his longstanding role as presenter on popular ITV quiz show The Chase, or even his acting parts over the years. But it turns out he also had another famous job.The 63 year old TV star, who now sits on £18.6million and has overtaken Ant and Dec as the richest UK present after years presenting some of ITV's biggest shows, swiftly became a fan-favourite for his ability to put contestants at ease, build a rapport with the fierce chasers and make constant wisecracks.

He’s been a mainstay on our screens for decades now and has enjoyed a wide range of roles to put his acting chops to the test, from the likes of Teletubbies to EastEnders. But don’t expect him to slow down anytime soon. Despite being 83-years-old, he recently told Metro: “Retiring? What’s that?! No, I enjoy it, I enjoy being there, I enjoy working." "I’m sure there are going to be storylines that are going to come up, having been here for a number of years.

When Catherine Tate developed the idea for a brand-new royal comedy, she never thought it would take her all the way to Australia. Catherine created the series with producer Borga Dorter, who pitched for the show to take place on another continent entirely. “The series was originally Queen of Canada,” explains Catherine.

As Eurovision reaches it’s exciting conclusion on Saturday, actress and comedian Catherine Tate will be the lucky star reading out the results of the UK’s vote at the annual song contest. The actress and comedian, 53, will deliver the results of the country’s national jury – including the coveted “douze points” – live from the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday. It will be the first time a UK spokesperson has announced the scores from the same location as the contest itself.

Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman has returned to her signature brunette roots as she debuted her new chocolate brown hair colour during a casual stroll around London on Tuesday.The actress, who played companion Clara Oswald in the sci-fi series, was known for her brunette locks during her time on Doctor Who, but had recently switched up her style in favour of a blonde tone for her stint in West End play titled Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons. However, now her time in the two-person rom com has come to an end, it seems Jenna couldn’t wait to get back to her darker shade, as she headed out in London and stopped at Planet Organic with her new lighter brown colour.

Actor Terrence Hardiman, best known for playing the title role in the CBBC series The Demon Headmaster, has died at the age of 86, his agent has said.The stage and screen star also appeared in TV series such as The Crown, Wallander, Doctor Who and Prime Suspect, but it was his role as The Demon Headmaster in the same-titled show in the 90's that he is perhaps best known for. He also lent his voice to 150 audiobooks, such as Colin Dexter, Anne Perry and Ruth Rendell, which took 4,500 hours of his time to record. His death was announced “with great sadness” by Scott Marshall Partners, which said he was a “beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor”.Terrence's cause of death has not been revealed.