Zoe Ball working on huge new TV show – with a surprising co-star
ZOE BALL and son Woody Cook are ditching the sofa to become the latest parent-child presenting team.
I can reveal the Celebrity Gogglebox pair have held secret talks with various production companies about fronting a new show together.
Telly bosses have been impressed with their banter and on-screen chemistry — and the two are keen to work alongside each other, following in the footsteps of Gladiators hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh.
A TV insider said: “Zoe and Woody are in big demand and they would like to work on new projects together.
“A mother and son presenting team is fairly rare on British television so they can bring something different.
“They’re bang up for it.”
Radio 2 DJ Zoe shares Woody with ex-husband Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim, and the pair reunited to support their son, an aspiring DJ himself, at his recent gig on Brighton seafront.
As well as Celebrity Gogglebox, Woody has also appeared on reality show The Circle in 2019, ITV series Cooking With The Stars in 2022 and in Danny Dyer‘s recent Channel 4 documentary How To Be A Man.
But fronting new shows with his mum appears to be the next step on his career ladder.
Woody exclusively told me: “Me and my mum keep being pitched for really cool stuff. The industry is so hard, but we’ll get there. I’m excited for whatever we end up landing on.”
But Woody, who will perform at the Mucky Weekender Festival in Winchester, Hants, in September, says he’ll reject offers from the big reality shows until he’s famous in his own right — and not just known for having celebrity parents.
He added: “Things like Strictly and Big Brother I would love to do but only once I’m known for making something, music or festivals.
“I don’t want to be the guy from the celeb circuit. At the moment it would put me in danger of being ‘someone’s son’, rather than standing on my own two feet.”
A nice presenting gig with his mum will certainly change that.
Wrong type of bird, Freddie
OLD flames Anna Knight and Freddie Slater are treading on dangerous ground as they join Mo Harris for a spot of bird watching on EastEnders next week.
And it’s not long before Big Mo (Laila Morse) notices there are hidden feelings between the pair, played by Molly Rainford and Bobby Brazier.
So Mo gives Anna, who is dating Freddie’s pal Bobby Beale, some food for thought. It’s been a rocky few weeks for Bobby and Anna after Anna had her drink spiked on a night out, with Freddie there first to support her.
It follows a love triangle between the trio last year, which sparked up again last month when Freddie helped Bobby plan a romantic date night for Anna.
EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC Two, with these scenes airing on Thursday of next week.
Jack’s full of Malice
JACK WHITEHALL is on a mission of destruction in new Prime Video drama Malice.
The comedian plays Adam Healy, a charming male nanny who infiltrates the wealthy Tanner family, which sees David Duchovny as dad Jamie and Carice van Houten as his wife Nat.
The psychological thriller will unpick the Tanner family’s dark secrets, as well as Adam’s manipulation and betrayal.
Jack said: “What an incredible 18 weeks it’s been.
“From shooting in London in February to ending in 37C heat in Paros, it has been an amazing experience and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved.
“I feel so lucky to have been able to go to work every day with so many insanely talented people.
“I can’t wait for you to see the end result when it launches worldwide next year on Prime Video!”
Sue: No question for me
FORMER A Question Of Sport host Sue Barker says she would love the show to return – but she wouldn’t host it.
The veteran presenter was sensationally given the elbow by the BBC in 2021, with Paddy McGuinness taking the reins. But the programme was then canned last year.
Now Sue has told the Monday Mile podcast: “They haven’t said that they’re going to bin it for ever, so bring it back and have fun again, it’ll be great.
“If I was 20/30 years younger I would jump at it, absolutely.
“I loved it, loved it, loved it, but everybody has their time.
“My time was then. It’s time for someone else to take up the baton and really enjoy it.”
She should never have had the baton taken from her in the first place.
NETFLIX’S terrifying Unsolved Mysteries format is back after two years off screen.
The fourth series, which launches tomorrow, will look at the case of Jack The Ripper, along with sightings of folklore creature the Mothman and three unsolved killings across America.
YOUTUBER YUNG FILLY is bringing together rappers, comedy icons and a Premier League footballer for a new digital series from Channel 4.
Minor Issues, available on YouTube now, sees a panel of three pre-teens dishing out their fiercest insults to the celebrity guests.