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I’m a Celebrity’s 2024 lineup is far too nice. Where are the dreadful politicians?

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I’m a Celebrity’s 2024 lineup is far too nice. Where are the dreadful politicians?


Britain is broken” is a phrase we hear a lot these days, probably a bit too much if we’re all being honest with ourselves (we’ve still got running water, after all), but it seems that the televisual institution that is I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is the latest to suffer from the national malaise.

The problem is that the lineup for this year’s contest on ITV looks to be far too nice and is, for that reason, a regrettable downgrade from more recent years, when at least one despised figure from public life would gamely take part in the jungle challenges. Usually, though not exclusively, this wretch was a politician in urgent need of money, rehabilitation or just missing the attention, and the producers were more than happy to oblige them.

Last year, you may recall, the odious Nigel Farage went to the outback to replenish his undernourished Coutts bank account with the £1.5m fee and to remind the voters that, in what was soon to be an election year, he was still around to inflict further damage on the economy and national cohesion.

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The year before, it was Matt Hancock, the great lothario of the National Health Service; his political career in ruins. He was looking for forgiveness and, presumably, some sort of role in life (he’s still only 46). So appalled were people about the guy apparently being rewarded for failure by ITV, that an online petition to stop Hancock from appearing on the show attracted more than 40,000 signatures.

The same sense of public outrage, or at least disquiet, attached itself to various random others who transitioned from in or around the political jungle to the reality TV version – Carol Thatcher (who won in 2005); Christine Hamilton, professional and self-described battleaxe; Nadine Dorries (who should surely be given another run now to publicise her conspiracy theories); Lembit Opik, the light-hearted Lib Dem; the controversial Katie Hopkins; the silky Robert Kilroy-Silk; Stanley Johnson, who has a lot to answer for; and obscure ex-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale. The absurd former royal butler Paul Burrell also gave people a focus for irrational anger on a winter’s evening. And that is how it should be.

But this year, it seems that ITV is no longer prepared to act as a laundromat for those who find themselves stained by their public life, with only the redoubtable newspaper columnist Jane Moore giving us much hope for getting our sensibilities bruised by “outspoken” views.

Those who populate the political and allied trades are a shrewd bunch who know full well that any of the exotic offal they’re required to consume on camera is still fit for human consumption and, in principle, no different to what they get served up at a constituency function or in the Green Room at the BBC. Being covered in creepy crawlies is a bit much, true, but it’s not for long, and think of the cash…

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‘I’m a Celeb’ 2024 lineup
‘I’m a Celeb’ 2024 lineup (ITV)

I’m a Celebrity had become a case of “who’s using who”, and the likes of Farage and Hancock were cynically using the telly people rather than the other way around. It was an unbearable inversion of media culture for ITV, though it sometimes made for unbeatable viewing. In due course, the renewed interest in Farage and the gilding of his “bit of a character” image helped him get into parliament. For Hancock, I’m told he became an unlikely heartthrob in sections of the Mumsnet generation. The rest of us were just reminded about how grim they were and are.

I mean, I can’t say I’m that bothered about seeing a soap star like Alan Hansall going through ritual humiliation when they do that every time a script lands on the doorstep, or N-Dubz Singer Tulisa Contostavlos opening up to presenter and DJ Melvin Odoom. Coleen Rooney is a more consequential sort of celeb I suppose, but she’d really make more sense as a contestant if rival WAG Rebekah Vardy was also there (Vardy came ninth in 2017, by the way).

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It’s not as if there aren’t some spectacular prospective recruits out there. You could actually make quite a good series just by filling the camp with all the extant former leaders of the Conservative Party – Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Michael Howard, Iain Duncan Smith, William Hague and John Major. The chat around the fire would be fascinating. Is it too much to ask that Ant and Dec might open up their contacts book and ring Prince Andrew, a man with an expensive home to keep up? Is it out of the question to ask Justin Welby, who may soon have more time on his hands? How about one of them gets parachuted in, to liven things up halfway through?

It seems that the only people ITV is rumoured to have lined up in the way of surprise late entries are Love Island favourite Maura Higgins and the Reverend Richard Coles, Vicar of Kindness. Barry McGuigan, who’ll be entering the jungle on day one, is similarly the sweetest of boxers ever to enter the ring, and I’d be surprised if dancer Oti Mabuse, DJ Dean McCullough, influencer GK Barry or McFly’s Danny Jones are going to spark demos in Trafalgar Square.

It’s wintertime, it’s panto season, we’re celebrating the birth of Christ, and we need to hate some people on the telly. There are literally hundreds of failed, unemployed ex-MPs with tarnished reputations out there worried about who’s going to pay for their next two-bottle lunch. They’re thoroughly unlikeable failures… get them into there!

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Heartbreaking moment MAFS’ Kristina breaks down in hysterical tears after shock twist from experts on marriage to Kieran

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Heartbreaking moment MAFS’ Kristina breaks down in hysterical tears after shock twist from experts on marriage to Kieran


MAFS star Kristina was left heartbroken and broke down in hysterical tears after a shock twist from experts on her marriage to Kieran.

Kristina came face-to-face with her ex-husband as the couples were brought back together for a special dinner party in the E4 show.

MAFS star Kristina was left heartbroken and broke down in hysterical tears after a shock twist from experts on her marriage to Kieran

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MAFS star Kristina was left heartbroken and broke down in hysterical tears after a shock twist from experts on her marriage to KieranCredit: Channel 4
Kristina fought back tears

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Kristina fought back tearsCredit: Channel 4
Mafs expert Paul questioned why they weren't together

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Mafs expert Paul questioned why they weren’t togetherCredit: Channel 4

And it certainly made for an emotional reunion, with dog walker Kristina’s emotions getting the better of her on Wednesday night.

But in a teaser clip ahead of the second part of the reunion, Kristina is seen breaking down in hysterical tears as she and Kieran sit in front of experts Paul, Charlene and Mel.

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Kristina says: “How much did it mean to Kieran, because it meant the absolute f****** world to me.”

Kieran and Kristina both cry as they sit beside each other on the sofa.

But then emotions are heightened even more as Paul leans forward and questions: “Why are you not together?”

Kieran looks up at Paul while Kristina can be seen in tears, and holds her hand over her face.

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The episode then drew to a close, with MAFS viewers set to find out what is going on between the pair on Thursday night.

The episode before saw Kristina tell her ex husband: “I have really struggled. I feel like now I’m still just trying to adjust.

“I still pinch myself where I think, I was married. Do you know what I mean?”

Kieran told Kristina: “I think I’m quite numb.”

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Laura Vaughn’s MAFS diary: Adam and Polly are childish and Luke’s hiding something – this series has been unhealthy

She then asked if he was “ever 100 per cent in it”, adding: “I feel it hasn’t really left an impact on you.”

Kieran told his ex wife: “Just because I don’t get as emotional as you, doesn’t mean that I’m not feeling anything. It’s sad for me.”

Kristina started to cry as she said: “I feel like I put my life on the line for you but nothing stands out for you.”

Mafs couples that have stood the test of time

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Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.

The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam’s Doncaster home.

Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.

Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.

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Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out – and excited for everything to come.”

Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.

Owen recalled: “I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.

“While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.

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“The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I signed up?’

“A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.”

Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.

Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna’s vegan lifestyle, the show’s first same sex pairing are still going strong.

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They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.

Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: “We’re not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship.”

She then stormed out of the room, closely followed by her girl pals.

Sitting out the back, Kristina told Emma, Sacha and Lacey: “I don’t want to cry.

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“He’s so f***ing forgetful. What did this journey mean to you? Because it meant the f***ing world to me.”

Kieran was shown looking concerned before admitting: “I’ve got to watch how I tread. I hate seeing her upset, I hate it.

“I just feel bad for her, really f***ing bad.”

Once Kristina had calmed down, Kieran appeared and they sat down together for a chat.

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He then tried to reassure his ex wife that he cares about her before apologising for upsetting her.

“If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here,” Kieran told her.

“I don’t want to see you upset. I just…I’m sorry you feel the way you feel.

“I’ve not given you the time you need or the attention you need and I’m sorry for that.”

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Kristina and Kieran quickly became fan favourites when the 2024 series of MAFS UK kicked off.

However, Kristina soon starting struggling with the lack of intimacy in their relationship.

Kieran later made the heartbreaking confession that “the spark had gone” and they split during a commitment ceremony.

Kristina burst out crying at the end of the teaser

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Kristina burst out crying at the end of the teaserCredit: Channel 4



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Kelly Cates on the Match of the Day job, working with Gary Neville and following her TV idols

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Kelly Cates on the Match of the Day job, working with Gary Neville and following her TV idols


Her odds to succeed Gary Lineker as the next Match of the Day host have shortened dramatically, but Kelly Cates seems happy enough with her lot in life right now.

“Do you know, and you never want to say this, but at the moment I’ve got a really lovely mix of everything,” the Sky Sports presenter tells The Independent from her home in London.

“I’ve got TV, live matches, radio, and when it gets towards the end of the season I do live Champions League games too. I could be at an Olympics or a World Cup during the summer so the balance of everything feels really nice. But I’m not tempting fate.”

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Cates has earned huge acclaim for her presenting on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, including its flagship Super Sunday programme, working alongside pundits such as Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards.

She also hosts on BBC Radio 5 Live and recently started her own podcast, Not Just Football, with Hayley McQueen and Christine Lampard.

Cates’ easy-going style has gained her a reputation as one of the UK’s leading sports presenters. She is behind Mark Chapman and Alex Scott in the early running to succeed Lineker on Match of the Day, but ahead of Kelly Sommers and her close friend Gabby Logan at the time of writing.

Speaking last week before news officially broke of Lineker’s exit at the end of the season, the daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish was diplomatic when asked about her chances.

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Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are in the frame to replace Gary Lineker

Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are in the frame to replace Gary Lineker (PA)

“Gary is still very much in the job and I know him,” said Cates. “Chappers and Gabby, who are also being mentioned as frontrunners, are really good mates of mine.

“I’m certainly not going to put myself in the frame for a job that still has somebody in it and where the people being linked with it are my friends. And I love doing live football. I’m happy where I am.

“When I cover Liverpool games at Anfield, I get to catch up with my mum and dad, even if it’s just five minutes because they’re always the last ones out of the building. I usually head straight back to London if it’s a Sunday game, but I always pop up and say hello.

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“I do some work at Premier League Productions out of Stockley Park on a Monday morning show with Ian Wright. We pick out the big stories of the weekend, so I get to do all kinds of really interesting things and I’m really busy.

“Moreover, I do them all in different places so people don’t get sick of me! I’m not angling or looking to do something different because I’m genuinely happy with what I’m doing.”

Whether or not that will change should Cates’ BBC bosses table a tantalising offer to host the greatest sporting institution in British television history remains to be seen.

Cates first joined Sky Sports in 1998

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Cates first joined Sky Sports in 1998 (Getty Images)

Cates grew up in a football-dominated household and has always been around the game.

In her early twenties, she quit her maths degree at university in Glasgow to take up a role at the newly created Sky Sports News channel in 1998 and has never looked back.

The 49-year-old remembers: “Suddenly Sky took on a load of kids, basically, who came straight in and they said, ‘We’ll let you go and make telly’.

“There wasn’t a massive budget but Sky just wanted young, enthusiastic people and they didn’t want to take too much of a risk by putting their best people on it. It was a huge decision to leave university, but I thought, ‘This isn’t an opportunity I’m going to get again’.”

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Cates grew up watching Des Lynam presenting Match of the Day and cites him and Logan as her inspirations.

“Des was the gold standard,” says Cates with a huge smile. “He had that sense of being engaged with fans and got every single aspect of it right – I loved that tone. It’s the kind of tone that I like watching and listening to. It kind of makes sense that I would aim for, but not quite reach, that.

“I worked for ESPN years ago and they had a mantra of ‘Take the sport seriously but don’t take yourself seriously’. For me, that’s the best approach to take.”

At 51, the more experienced Logan is someone Cates has long admired.

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“I always looked at Gabby’s career progress and watched her journey,” she explained. “It was brilliant to see and, even though she’s not much older than me, it felt like she was always the next step.”

Women such as Cates, Logan and Laura Woods have enjoyed hugely successful broadcasting careers but the industry remains largely male-dominated.

“Obviously you see a lot more women on screen, but I’d like to see that backed up in the same numbers behind the cameras as well,” she says. “Now I’m older, I feel much more protective of younger women coming into the industry.”

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville had led Sky Sports’ football analysis for over a decade

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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville had led Sky Sports’ football analysis for over a decade (Getty Images)

How does she enjoy working with Neville and Carragher?

“I don’t know how Gary has time for everything he does – he just can’t stop,” laughs Cates. “He just needs to be on the go all the time, his mind works that quickly. It is great working with him, but sometimes the producer will need to rein him in a little bit, saying, ‘We can’t do all of that and we certainly can’t do it with five minutes’ notice, we might need to put a bit of planning into this.’

“But I’m lucky in that I work with some of the most respected voices in football. If you have any questions you want to ask, these guys are the best people to ask. It’s really nice to work with people when you’re always interested in what they have to say. Sometimes I have an idea of where they’re going to go with an answer, but I always care about what they’re going to say and that’s great.”

Cates’ relationship with them is largely professional, though, with little socialising away from work.

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“We wouldn’t phone each up and go for a coffee outside of work,” she admits. “But I get on with them and they’re in that bit between mates and colleagues. I’m not saying I wouldn’t go out for a coffee with them! But everyone is always so busy so it never really works out.”

Cates helming a live Sky Sports broadcast

Cates helming a live Sky Sports broadcast (Getty Images)

Cates split from her husband Tom Cates in 2021 but their relationship is amicable, which helps her juggle a hectic work schedule and bringing up their two teenage daughters.

“The girls are with their dad at weekends,” she says. “Although we’re not together, we get on fine and he’s really flexible with the girls, so we manage it mostly between us. The girls are getting a bit older now and they think they don’t need as much; that’s what they tell us but they do!”

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TPS Hopes To Double Enrollment In Film, TV Program For Students

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TPS Hopes To Double Enrollment In Film, TV Program For Students



Wednesday is the last day for open enrollment for Tulsa Public Schools. That includes enrollment in the district’s dozens of career tech programs. Students in the broadcasting program said they’re looking forward to some of the changes happening next year. .

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The Consultant – Official Trailer | Prime Video

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The Consultant - Official Trailer | Prime Video



The Consultant starring Christoph Waltz, Brittany O’Grady, Nat Wolff and Aimee Carrero arrives on Prime February 24, 2023.

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London Games Festival Interview – What does the future of gaming look like?

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London Games Festival Interview - What does the future of gaming look like?



ScreenUK, at the London Games Festival, asked members of the Games industry … What does the future of gaming look like to you?

For the latest updates follow ScreenUK on socials @WelcomeScreenUK :

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To explore more brilliant UK film, TV, animation and games visit https://screenuk.org

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Top 10 Greatest Musical TV Shows

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Top 10 Greatest Musical TV Shows



These musical TV shows hit all the right notes. For this list, we’ll be looking at the best television series to watch if you love a good song and dance. Our countdown includes “Glee,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” and more! What’s YOUR favorite musical TV show? Let us know in the comments!

Watch more great musical videos here:
Top 10 Musical Episodes of Non-Musical TV Shows – https://youtu.be/wgKU8GIV00M
Top 10 Musical Episodes in Animated Shows – https://youtu.be/FqwsVjQ5G0Q
Top 10 TV Musical Numbers That Didn’t Have to Go THAT Hard – https://youtu.be/91ABTcZEb5s

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