Former Strictly star Ann Widdecombe signs up for another reality show
ONE made a name for herself cooking up trouble in politics, while the other became a household name after being burnt by Sven-Goran Eriksson.
And now Ann Widdecombe and Nancy Dell’ Olio are joining forces after signing up to E4’s Celebrity Cooking School.
Former MP Ann and Italian lawyer Nancy have started filming the show this week.
A source said: “Ann and Nancy are two formidable women who need a little bit of help in the kitchen.
“Nancy appeared on Celebrity Masterchef last year but it was obvious she was useless hence why she was booted off first.
“As she said herself then, the main ingredients in her fridge were ‘water, champagne and wine,’ so she needs to go back to basics.
“Ann, meanwhile, just needs a refresher. But host Melvin Odoom and chef Giorgio Locatelli will have to be wary of her temper.
Ann is not a woman you can boss around.
“Producers imagine she could be quite the menace once she gets behind the hob so they are expecting fireworks.”
The pair will be joining Towie star James Argent and television troublemaker Scotty T on the show.
I am sure Ann will have some words of wisdom for the latter.
Ann is no stranger to reality shows, after appearing in Celebrity Fit Club back in 2002, before upgrading to Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and later Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
Nancy also appeared on Strictly the year after Ann, long before her doomed appearance on MasterChef.
I am sure she will have made Gregg Wallace and John Torode proud by the end of this series.
Danny’s shot in the dark
DANNY DYER doesn’t think there’ll be a second series of his new Channel 4 show, Scared Of The Dark – and the first one hasn’t even aired.
It features a gaggle of celebrities, including Paul Gascoigne and Scarlett Moffatt, who have to perform tasks in a bunker almost totally devoid of light.
Speaking on Radio 2, Danny said: “The concept is it’s Big Brother in the pitch black.
“They had to build a space where no natural light gets in.
“I’m very excited about it but I don’t really know if they’d get a second series because I don’t know if you’d find celebrities that’d be willing to do it.
“Obviously the first one is a bit of test.”
I’m sure Channel 4 will be thrilled to hear these words.
Jamelia's back on
FORMER Loose Women star Jamelia has re-joined Hollyoaks.
The singer, who first appeared on the C4 soap as Sharon Bailey in 2021, has signed up full-time for a storyline with co-stars Jennifer Metcalfe and Richard Blackwood. She said: “I can’t tell you how happy I am.”
KEMPS TO MAKE ALL TRUE No2
MARTIN and Gary Kemp have started filming a follow-up to their 2020 mockumentary The Kemps: All True.
Comedy writer Rhys Thomas is once again behind the project, in which the Spandau Ballet siblings parody their showbiz lives.
The original programme, which is available on BBC iPlayer, featured Martin attempting to launch a new film franchise – The Hardest British Bastards Of The Galaxy – and Gary promoting his own vegan meat substitute, Wonge.
The follow-up will air later this year on BBC2.
SPENCER DOC ON
SPENCER MATTHEWS has confirmed his Disney+ documentary Finding Michael is back on track.
The heart-wrenching film had been delayed on Friday over sensitivity concerns about some of the footage.
The docu follows Made in Chelsea star Spencer going to Mount Everest to try to bring home the body of his brother Michael, who died in May 1999 after becoming the youngest Brit to conquer the mountain.
Yesterday Spencer confirmed the special was available to stream.
He said on Instagram: “Thank you for your patience and overwhelming support.”
I have heard amazing things about Finding Michael and I’m looking forward to sitting down and watching it myself.
LOOK OUT FO SONGY BOTTO
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF: THE MUSICAL
Noel Coward Theatre, London
★★★★☆
WITH a spoonful of mockery, half a cup of innuendo and a baker’s dozen of very talented stars, Bake Off: The Musical is a recipe for success.
The hosts, played by Phil Hollinghurst and Pam Lee, are based on Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, who are both are sent up in the most brilliant way.
Housewives’ favourite Paul is held up as a sex bomb and sings a particularly risqué song, Slap It Like That, which shows him manhandling a phallic- shaped strudel.
Meanwhile, Prue’s love of a boozy cake sees her sipping on cans of gin and tonic during breaks and complaining she can not taste the brandy in a bake – despite there being half of a litre of the stuff tipped in.
The contestant bakers are chips off the block of the real ones. I will leave you to decide who is who, but some of them are glaringly obvious – and their voices are all impressive.
It’s a must watch for fans and anyone in need of a good laugh.
- ELLIE HENMAN
Feline down
TRIBUTES have poured in for Minou, the cat seen in the credits of Antiques Roadshow.
His owner, show expert Marc Allum, revealed the 17-year-old kitty was put to sleep by a vet due to deteriorating health – but footage of Minou slinking through trinkets at the start of the show will remain.