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Lily Allen is to make her West End debut in a new supernatural thriller play launching in the summer.

The 36-year-old singer will star as Jenny in 2:22 – A Ghost Story, appearing alongside EastEnders actor Jake Wood, City Of Angels’ Hadley Fraser, and Julia Chan of Silent House.

Written by Danny Robins – best known for his docudrama horror podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, which is being made into a TV series – the play tells the story of four friends at a dinner party, but all is not what it seems.

(L-R) Hadley Fraser, Lily Allen, Julia Chan, Jake Wood will star in a new play by Danny Robins at the Noel Coward Theatre
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Hadley Fraser, Julia Chan and Jake Wood will join Allen on stage

In a statement, Allen said: “I am so excited about getting to work on this play. The live performance aspect of my career has always been the most thrilling part for me, connecting with a group of individuals and the spontaneity of whatever happens on the night.

“I feel that stepping into this play is an exciting natural extension of that and affords me the best of all worlds. I get to explore mature subject matter, be a woman with a real point of view and show the West End audiences how much I love live performance and being in front of an audience. I can’t wait.”

The play follows Jenny, who believes her new home is haunted – but her husband Sam (Fraser) is not convinced.

After inviting old friend Lauren (Chan) and her new partner Ben (Wood) over for dinner, a “strange and frightening” feeling develops – and they all decide to stay awake until 2.22am to discover the truth.

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Allen, who married Stranger Things actor David Harbour in September 2020, added that the play is a “brilliant investigation into the ghosts that haunt us and the hows and whys they come to be”.

Olivier Award-nominated director Matthew Dunster, who will helm the project at the Noel Coward Theatre, described it as “a unique combination of horror and social commentary”.

The play opens on 3 August.

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Gogglebox star George Gilbey has died aged 40

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Gogglebox star George Gilbey has died aged 40

Gogglebox star George Gilbey has died aged 40, a spokesperson for the show said.

The reality star appeared on the Channel 4 series alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who died aged 71 in 2021.

He also appeared on the 14th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, reaching the final.

George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock
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George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock

Gilbey reportedly died following an accident at work on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the show said: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and stepdad Pete.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda and George’s family and friends at this very sad time. The family has asked for privacy.”

Essex Police said they were called to an incident in Shoebury in Southend-on-Sea on Wednesday.

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A spokesperson for the force said: “We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (27 March), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury.

“The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene.

“We will continue liaising with partners including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

“A cordon remains in place at the scene.”

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Gilbey joined the award-winning programme in its second series in 2013 before he and his family were dropped in 2014 after he signed up for Celebrity Big Brother. The family later returned to the series.

The reality star from Essex appeared on the then-Channel 5 reality show alongside celebrities including The Hills star Stephanie Pratt and American actor Gary Busey, who won the series.

Gilbey’s representatives and the HSE have been approached for comment.

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Beyonce releases tracklist for upcoming country album

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Beyonce releases tracklist for upcoming country album

Beyonce has released her tracklist for her forthcoming country album Act II: Cowboy Carter. 

On the superstar‘s Instagram account, fans were given a sneak peek of her new songs which included the previously released Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages.

The tracklist also contained American Requiem, Blackbird, Protector, My Rose, Bodyguard, Daughter, Spaghetti, Alligator Tears, Smoke Hour II, Just For Fun, II Most Wanted, Levi’s Jeans, Flamenco, Ya Ya, Oh Louisiana, Desert Eagle, Riverdance, II Hands II Heaven, Tyrant, Sweet Honey Buckin’ and Amen.

One song appears to be called The Linda Martell Show, a reference to the groundbreaking country performer who became the first black woman to play at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

There is also mention of Dolly P – likely a reference to Dolly Parton – and a track titled Jolene, a reference to one of Parton’s best-known songs.

Parton revealed earlier this month that she thinks Beyonce has recorded a cover of her 1973 hit.

“Well, I think she has,” she said.

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“I think she’s recorded Jolene and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about.”

The tracklist also mentions Smoke Hour Willie Nelson, but it is not immediately clear if Nelson is involved with the project.

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Ed Gamble: Comedian swaps hot dog for cucumber on tour posters after falling foul of TfL’s ad rules on junk food

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Ed Gamble: Comedian swaps hot dog for cucumber on tour posters after falling foul of TfL's ad rules on junk food

A comedian has been forced to remove a picture of a hot dog from posters promoting his stand-up tour after falling foul of Transport for London’s (TfL) advertising policies.

Ed Gamble used an image of the popular barbecue staple in advertising posters for his upcoming Hot Diggity Dog tour.

But when the billboards were sent to TfL for display on the London Underground, the stand-up comic was told to alter the poster because it failed to comply with the organisation’s advertising policy on junk foods.

So the 38-year-old, who recently starred as the host of the Traitors: Uncloaked, improvised by offering to replace the hot dog with a cucumber.

“I actually don’t have a problem with the TfL regulations, they make sense to me,” he said.

“But the new posters promote something way more harmful – the idea that cucumbers pair well with ketchup and mustard.

“I’m not sad to have to remove the hot dog, it was only featured on the poster because I wanted to eat during the photoshoot.

“Hopefully it’s not too late to change the title of the show to Cu Diggity Cucumber?”

Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

In a post on Instagram, he described the incident as a “career highlight” and added: “TfL told me I couldn’t have a hot dog on my poster to promote my @hackneyempire shows in June.

“I guess I’m dangerous? So I’ve replaced it with a cucumber. Eat your greens, Kids!”

A spokesperson for TfL said: “We welcome all advertising on our network that complies with our published guidance.

“Following a review of the advert, we advised that elements would need to be removed or obscured to ensure it complied with our policy.

“A revised advert is now running on the network and we are always happy to work with people to ensure adverts follow our policy.”

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The ban on junk food advertising across London’s public transport network came into force in 2019.

Regulations forbid posters for food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar on the Underground and Overground, as well as buses and bus shelters.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the rules would help tackle child obesity rates in the capital.

The organisation uses a model developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to define foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

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