Strictly Come Dancing is back – and Amy Dowden gives star performance

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5 days ago

September 14, 2024

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Strictly Come Dancing has returned for its 20th anniversary series – launching with pizazz as usual, despite the controversy surrounding the show in recent months.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, the opening show saw this year’s celebrities – including former England footballer Paul Merson, TV presenter Nick Knowles, JLS star JB Gill, singer Toyah Willcox and Olympic hockey gold medallist Sam Quek – paired with their dancing partners.

It also marked the return of professional dancer Amy Dowden, who underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. Dressed in hot pink, the 34-year-old Welsh star took centre stage during a group performance to a medley including Dua Lipa’s Training Season and Jungle’s Busy Earnin’.

The emotional number ended with a hug between the star, who now has “no evidence of disease”, and her fellow professionals.

Strictly returns following a wave of controversy over the alleged treatment of celebrity contestants from previous series – which has led to chaperones being introduced to be present “at all times” during rehearsals.

An investigation was launched by the BBC following allegations made about Giovanni Pernice by actress Amanda Abbington, who took part in 2023, but the findings are yet to be revealed.

Pernice, who left the show, has strongly denied the claims. His departure was followed by that of fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima, after a complaint was raised about his behaviour towards reality star Zara McDermott. Afterwards, Di Prima said he “deeply” regretted the events that led to his departure but said he “wasn’t meaning to kick” McDermott.

‘You could end up killing the show’

Earlier on Saturday, Strictly’s co-creator, Karen Smith warned continued criticism “could end up killing” the much-loved series.

Speaking to BBC News, the former executive producer said it was “terrible” to think of how the production, celebrities and dancers felt, but added: “It would be a shame if it was picked apart to death and was allowed to die.

“Because journalists, if you keep picking and you keep criticising, you could end up killing the show that you spend weeks and months of the year talking about. So, be careful.”

But the controversy was not addressed during the opening show of this year’s series, which was full of glitz and glamour, a rainbow of pastel and sherbert colours – and a retro opening dance number mash-up including songs by Vengaboys, Whigfield, 2 Unlimited and Gina G.

This year’s line-up also includes Chris McCausland, who is the first blind contestant on the show, opera singer Wynne Evans, reality TV star Pete Wicks, Gladiator and Olympian Montell Douglas, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, Olympian Tom Dean, and Morning Live resident doctor and NHS GP Dr Punam Krishan.

‘It feels like my first year again’

Also taking part are Love Island star Tasha Ghouri – the second deaf contestant to compete after former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis won the series with Pernice in 2021 – X Factor winner Shayne Ward, and Miranda actress Sarah Hadland.

Dowden, who is paired with JLS star Gill, said: “I’m delighted, it just feels like my first year all over again. I just want JB to have the best time and fall in love with dancing.”

Gill said of Dowden: “She’s brilliant, plus she’s got experience with popstars, so I know I’ll be in good hands.”

Who’s paired with who?

Former footballer Paul Merson – Karen Hauer

Love Island star Tasha Ghouri – Aljaz Skorjanec

Olympian Montell Douglas – Johannes Radebe

Reality star Pete Wicks – Jowita Przystal

Presenter and former hockey player Sam Quek – Nikita Kuzmin

JLS star JB Gill – Amy Dowden

Singer Toyah Willcox – Neil Jones

Miranda actress Sarah Hadland – Vito Coppola

This Morning star Dr Punam Krishan – Gorka Marquez

Olympic swimmer Tom Dean – Nadiya Bychkova

DIY SOS star Nick Knowles – Luba Mushtuk

Comedian Chris McCausland – Dianne Buswell

Opera singer Wynne Evans – Katya Jones

X Factor star and actor Shayne Ward – Nancy Xu

EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick – Michelle Tsiakkas

Willcox, who has been partnered with dancer Neil Jones, said she was “in heaven” to be dancing with him, and promised she would be the first pensioner to “abseil through this studio”.

McCausland, who is partnered with Dianne Buswell, joked: “We’re going to make mistakes and have a laugh about them. Then we’re going to turn up here and show you all of the mistakes that we’ve learnt.”

Dean warned the audience he has “delicate feet” as he is not used to being on land. “We don’t do any land stuff, no running or jumping, so I’ve never really gone against gravity in my sporting career,” he said.

Entertainment

Kylie Minogue reveals major world tour news – her biggest in more than a decade

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2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

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Kylie Minogue reveals major world tour news - her biggest in more than a decade

Kylie Minogue has announced her biggest tour in more than a decade – as well as a new album.

The pop star’s Tension tour will open in her home country, Australia, before heading to Asia and reaching the UK in May 2025. More countries and dates in Europe and North and South America are set to be announced over the coming weeks.

It comes after huge success last year with her viral sensation hit Padam Padam and album Tension, as well as a Las Vegas residency and a big show at Hyde Park in London earlier in the summer.

“I am beyond excited to announce the Tension tour 2025,” Minogue said in a statement sent to Sky News. “I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more!

“It’s been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action… and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!”

The UK dates include shows in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham and Birmingham, and two at London’s O2 Arena.

Minogue first teased the news as she announced her new album, Tension II, earlier today – revealing the sequel will be released in October, with the lead single, Lights Camera Action coming on 27 September.

“But wait! There’s more…” she added.

The tour announcement followed this afternoon. It will be Minogue’s first since her Golden shows in 2018 and 2019 and her biggest since the Aphrodite: Les Folies tour in 2011, which followed the Aphrodite album and hits including All The Lovers and Get Outta My Way.

The new album includes the dance hit Edge of Saturday Night with The Blessed Madonna, as well as collaborations with Orville Peck, Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo, and Sia.

“The Tension era has been so special to me,” the star said. “I can’t possibly let it be over just yet!”

Minogue, who rose to fame on Australian soap Neighbours in the 1980s before becoming a pop mega star, has had hits throughout the decades ever since – from I Should Be So Lucky, Hand On Your Heart and Better The Devil You Know, to Confide In Me, Spinning Around and Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.

Padam Padam, released in 2023, marked another reinvention with a move into electronic dance, and became a viral hit.

Earlier this year, she was named a global icon at the Brit Awards, and won the Grammy for best pop dance recording for the single.

Entertainment

Geoff Hinsliff: Star who played Coronation Street villain Don Brennan has died

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2024

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Geoff Hinsliff: Star who played Coronation Street villain Don Brennan has died

Coronation Street star Geoff Hinsliff has died aged 87, ITV has said.

The actor was best known for playing Don Brennan on the soap from 1987 to 1997. He died last weekend.

Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt in the show, paid tribute to Hinsliff on behalf of Coronation Street and ITV, saying: “Geoff was a lovely, quiet man who will be sadly missed by us all.

“His partnership with Lynne Perrie was something rather special and they gave the viewers huge pleasure for many years.”

Born in Leeds, Hinsliff studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and initially appeared on Coronation Street in 1963 and 1977 as different characters.

He joined the cast as taxi driver Don in 1987.

His 10-year stint on the cobbles saw him commit kidnap and attempted murder after several business deals went wrong before his character died when he crashed his car into a viaduct.

Hinsliff made his television debut in an episode of Z-Cars and also appeared in Doctor Who, Brass and the film A Bridge Too Far.

He made his last TV appearance in Heartbeat in 2003.

Entertainment

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs refused bail a second time as he faces sex trafficking charges

Published

6 hours ago

September 19, 2024

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs refused bail a second time as he faces sex trafficking charges

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been refused bail a second time as he faces several charges including sex trafficking, drug possession and firearms offences.

US district judge Andrew L Carter said the government had proved “by clear and convincing evidence that there is no condition or set of conditions” that will ensure the safety of the community and that the rapper and music mogul will not tamper with witnesses.

The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty after he was first arrested by officers at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, New York, on Monday.

He was originally denied bail and told he would be detained after pleading not guilty to three felony counts during an initial court appearance on Tuesday.

Lawyers representing Combs asked a judge on Wednesday to let him await his trial at his luxury home on an island near Miami Beach, as opposed to in jail in Brooklyn.

But prosecutors argued against the proposal, saying there was too great a risk that Combs could threaten or harm witnesses.

Combs’s lawyers offered a $50m (£37.8m) bail package in exchange for his release to home detention with GPS monitoring and strict limitations on who could visit him.

Arguing to keep him behind bars, prosecutor Emily Johnson told the judge that Combs had a long history of intimidating both accusers and witnesses to his alleged abuse.

Ms Johnson cited text messages from women who said Combs forced them into “Freak Offs” and then threatened to leak explicit videos of them engaging in sexual acts.

She also said that Combs’s own defence team was “minimising and horrifically understating” his propensity for violence.

The defence and prosecution were wrangling over the request before the judge passed his ruling.

“I am feeling confident. We’re going to go get Mr Combs out of jail,” Combs’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo said on his way into court on Wednesday, before the judge decided Combs would spend his time before the trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

A legal indictment released after Combs’s arrest detailed allegations dating to 2008, accusing him of abusing, threatening, and coercing women for years “to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct”.

He allegedly induced female victims and male sex workers into drug-fuelled sexual performances, dubbed “Freak Offs”, according to the report.

Combs, formerly known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, was once one of the most influential figures in hip-hop – famous as a producer and manager of the late Notorious BIG, as well as a rapper in his own right for hits including I’ll Be Missing You, Come With Me, and Bad Boy For Life.

However, in November, his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit accusing him of coercing her, and others, into unwanted sex in drug-fuelled settings.

The suit was settled in one day, but months later CNN aired hotel security footage showing Combs punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her to the floor.

He apologised after the video aired, saying: “I was disgusted when I did it.”