A TOP BBC show judge has quit their series in a shock move – and been replaced by a Celebrity Big Brother star instead.

The line-up shake-up was revealed in the trailer for the new season – and fans have claimed they are “already obsessed.”

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The change will now see RuPaul, 63, give up their presenting role on Drag Race Down Under, with reality TV favourite Michelle Visage, 56, stepping up.

Former Strictly star Michelle has starred on the show franchise, aired in the UK on the BBC, since the US series in 2011, yet has only hosted an episode solo once.

A show trailer for the fourth Aussie series starts with the narrator stating: “The new host of Drag Race Down Under, Michelle Visage.”

Dressed in a sparkling body-con dress, Michelle then addressed the camera and said: “Start your engines, and may the best drag queen win.”

The camera then panned to a teaser of the series and saw Michelle say: “We’re back!

“And you’re in Michelle’s house now.”

In a statement, RuPaul – who will continue to act as executive producer for the series – addressed the switch up.

They said: “It has been my great honour to bring Drag Race to Australasia.

“I can’t wait to see the franchise continue to flourish under the leadership of the incredible Michelle Visage.”

Much-loved Michelle, who hosted a Drag Race season 4 episode in the UK, said: “Thank you, RuPaul, for entrusting me with one of your beloved shows.

“The colour, humour, and outrageousness of Down Under drag holds a special place in my heart.

“I’m ready to do everything in my power to encourage these beautiful queens to believe in themselves and let their inner light shine through.”

Fans have been quick to react to the news of the 2015 Celebrity Big Brother star’s instalment, with one taking to YouTube to write: “I’M OBSESSED ALREADY.”

A second put: “I get a good feeling about this Season!” as a third commented: “Wait! So we get Michelle, Rhys, Sasha, Kween AND all of these fabulous queens?

“I am so locked in. Slay, babies.”

Another gushed: “I’m here for Mother Michelle.”

One then cheered: “Yesss Michelle we love you.”

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STRICTLY Come Dancing star JB Gill has opened up on his “surreal” rehearsals with Lauren Oakley after his professional partner Amy Dowden pulled out due to illness.

The JLS hitmaker, 37, will perform a Couple’s Choice routine to a series of Bruno Mars tracks on tonight’s live BBC show.

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Yet Strictly Come Dancing bosses this week confirmed JB‘s partner Amy Dowden, 34, would be replaced both for rehearsals and the live show following her collapse last week.

The Welsh dancer, who has Crohn’s Disease and has been battling cancer, missed the results programme last week after she was rushed to hospital.

The medical drama – which happened shortly after the live episode aired – saw BBC star Lauren Oakley, 33, step in as Amy‘s replacement.

The pair opened up on their first week of training together on Friday’s It Takes Two.

Lauren told the Strictly spin-off show how the duo were “starting afresh” with the footwork as it was choreographed by an external dancer.

She said: “We both came in on Monday on a level playing field, so we were both learning the routine.

“It was nice to make that progression together.”

Eyes Wide Shut singer JB then added of his rehearsals without Amy: “I mean it was surreal obviously.

“Because I am very much used to working with Amy, although there have been times we have had to work with Lauren.

“Lauren’s lovely, she’s amazing, she’s an incredible dancer.

“Of course we have been watching her do the group numbers and so on through the series so far.

“For me it was just a case of we’ve got Lizzie [choreographer] and it’s a completely different style of dance as well, so I feel there was less pressure, certainly on Lauren, and on both of us in terms of executing the dance.

“It was fun for us to let go and be in the moment and to enjoy the music, thats what its all about.”

During the same show Amy, who joined the duo on the It Takes Two sofa, gave a health update after her ordeal.

Strictly Amy’s cancer ‘nightmare’

The Sun’s Jamie Downham takes a look at the beloved Strictly star’s ups and downs…

AS Strictly Come Dancing viewers know, you’ll struggle to catch Amy Dowden without a huge smile on her face.

But recently the Welsh star – one the best-rated Ballroom and Latin American professional dancers the UK has ever produced – has suffered a string of “nightmare” blows to her health.

She was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May last year and underwent a full mastectomy, before having chemotherapy towards the end of 2023.

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However, she later reported docs had found a clot on her lung, telling fans sadly: “Unfortunately I’ve had another nightmare this week.”

Nonetheless, brave Amy, seen here dancing with James Bye, made an epic return to Strictly the following month with an appearance that left many viewers in floods tears.

As 2024 dawned, she admitted: “I feel I was robbed of the year I had planned and reflecting for me makes me upset and angry.”

However, she was soon smiling again. Amy, her hair starting to grow back after her cancer treatment, was seen messing around with her co-stars Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola on the Strictly tour earlier this month.

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And despite another spell in hospital in February, she still mustered a cheeriness many would struggle for, telling fans: “The sun is shining – and I certainly can’t wait for Spring.”

And we certainly can’t wait to see you dancing again, Amy…

She also revealed the sweet way the She Makes Me wanna singer and Lauren have supported her through her show break – with the help of a WhatsApp group.

MASSIVE PRESSURE

Earlier this week, we reported how JB’s bandmate Aston Merrygold – who starred on Strictly in 2017 – suggested his pal would be under “pressure” due to the partner change.

He spoke out on Thursday’s Lorraine as he offered some sage advice to JB.

He told Lorraine Kelly‘s stand-in host Ranvir Singh: “It is him and Lauren.

“For him, obviously having to switch partners last minute, that whole thing is going to obviously play a big part on pressure.

“Sending lots of love to Amy as well,” before giving a wave to the camera.

When asked what more his Beat Again bandmate could bring to the table, Aston said: “I think for J now it’s bringing out the personality a bit more.

“I think we have only scratched the surface of JB.”

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A US drama has axed a brand new lead star weeks before their debut episode, leading to anger from fans.

The move has raised eyebrows among viewers of long-running CBS procedural FBI, with many questioning the intention behind the decision to drop Lisette Olivera after announcing her as a series regular.

This latest development arrives one year after FBI: Most Wanted fans threatened to boycott the series after the unceremonious firing of lead star Alexa Davalos.

It’s unknown why exactly Olivera got the chop from the Dick Wolf-produced series, especially considering she was lined up to become the fixed new partner for lead character Stuart Scola (John Boyd).

Scola has been in need of a partner since the departure of Tiffany Wallace Katherine (Rebee Kane) in the season seven premiere.

The search was thought to be over with the arrival of Olivera’s Syd Ortiz, who will be introduced in a future episode, but Deadline reports this is no longer the case.

A source told the outlet that the decision stemmed from a belief that the 25-year-old was “miscast” in the role of a seasoned FBI Special Agent – a role designed to be played by somebody older.

However, viewers of the show have called this “unfair” as producers would have known Olivera was too young ahead of her casting.

“I am so confused by this,” one fan wrote, with another stating: “The Dick Wolf curse rears its ugly head once more.” One fan added: “WHY BRING HER IN THE FIRST PLACE – THEY KNEW HOW OLD SHE WAS???”

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An additional fan wrote on X/Twitter: “Apparently she reads too young… why didn’t we get this figured out before they gave her the role…”

The Independent has contacted Universal Television and Olivera for comment. Olivera previously starred in National Treasure: Edge of History, the Disney+ series based on the National Treasure films.

When Davalos was dropped from FBI: Most Wanted, fans were mainly frustrated due to the fact there had been no hint the character would be leaving before she did.

THE Exorcist movie has sent chills down the spines of horror film fans ever since the Seventies.

The 1973 scenes, branded the “scariest ever”, centred on possessed 12-year-old child Regan MacNeil and saw terrified cinemagoers vomiting and fainting when the flick hit screens.

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Yet the nail-biting plotline, showing Regan play with a Ouija board to tap into the terrors of the spiritual world, also prompted series of unfortunate events that happened off-screen.

Several surprising occurences led to claims that the film was “cursed” – after deaths and injuries on set.

Now we take a look at some of the troubled film’s cast – and where they are now.

Ellen Burstyn

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Ellen, now 91, played actress and single mother Chris MacNeil who relocated to Washington DC with her daughter.

She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Regan’s petrified parent.

Yet during filming, she suffered a spinal injury while being hoisted around on a harness.

The Michigan-born actress was left on crutches for the rest of the production and recalled the accident during a 2018 interview with The Guardian.

She has since starred in Requiem For A Dream, Queen Bees and The Exorcist: Believer spin-off.

Linda Blair

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Linda, now 65, played possessed schoolgirl Regan MacNeil.

The actress won an Academy Award for her absolutely terrifying role, which saw her head left spinning in a worrying paranormal moment and killing her friends and family.

During filming, she suffered a back injury after being strapped to a harness which suffered a technical malfunction.

In an eerie moment off-screen, she also suffered the loss of family members while the project was being filmed.

Linda then went on to star in movies Savage Streets, Roller Boogie and Born Innocent.

Jack MacGowran

Best horror films to watch this Halloween

By Conor O’Brien

Halloween is the perfect time for horror movie to fans to indulge in all the scares, shocks and thrills.

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Whether old favourites or a new chilling tale, here are some top picks to watch this Halloween.

• Alien (1979): Starring Sigourney Weaver, this film follows a spaceship crew who investigate a derelict spaceship and are hunted by a dangerous extra-terrestrial creature.
• The Shining (1980): Based on Stephen King’s novel, the movie stars Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who takes a  a job as winter caretaker for a haunted resort hotel. Meanwhile, his young son possesses clairvoyant powers.
• Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven’s horror classic introduced audiences to legendary villain Freddy Kreuger. This movie also notably marked Johnny Depp‘s film debut.
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): An independent horror film, the story follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals. It also introduces the character Leatherface.
• Friday the 13th (1980): Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this film kicked off a franchise and introduced Jason Vorhees.  follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer. Among the cast is a young Kevin Bacon.
• Scream (1996): Written by Kevin Williamson, this film sees Wes Craven pay homage to horror classics – including his own Nightmare on Elm Street. The beginning of a long-running franchise; the cast includes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
• Poltergeist (1982): Directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, this supernatural horror film focuses on a family whose home is invaded by ghosts who abduct their daughter.

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Jack played the eccentric film director Burke Dennings and in the film, he was killed by demon-plagued Regan.

His character was attacked by the possessed child, who used her superhuman strength to break his neck and then flung him out of her bedroom window.

Ahead of the film’s release, Jack tragically died from complications related to influenza, which he caught during the London flu epidemic in 1973.

Some believe this was a sign of The Exorcist film’s “curse.”

Vasiliki Maliaros

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The actress played Father Damien Karras’ mother, Mary.

She passed away that same year before The Exorcist hit the big screen.

The star, who had no previous acting experience and was cast after being spotted at a restaurant, was ruled to have died from “natural causes” at an inquest.

In the film, Vasiliki’s character died after being admitted to a hospital and later haunted the dreams of Father Karras.

Max Von Sydow

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He played man of the cloth and paleontologist, Father Merrin, who performed Regan’s exorcism.

He died, aged 90, in 2000 at his home in France.

Yet prior to his passing, the Swedish-born star enjoyed a stellar career on screen.

He starred in more than 200 films, TV and radio programmes including Shutter Island and the Game of Thrones TV series.

Jason Miller

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Jason played Father Damien Karras, who helped Father Merrin in Regan’s exorcism.

Yet his role was short-lived, as the demon jumped into his own body instead, causing him to kill himself.

Since the movie he starred in a host of Exorcist spin-offs before his death, aged 62, in 2001.

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus has recalled her “excruciating” first rehearsal for Saturday Night Live.

The actor became the show’s youngest female cast member when she joined season eight in 1982 at the age of 21, landing the spot while still in college.

In a new interview with People magazine, Louis-Dreyfus, 63, reflected on her time on the programme, which celebrates its 50th season this year.

“When I was just getting started, I was part of the Practical Theatre Company in Chicago,” she told the publication. “The producers of SNL came to see the show and they loved it, and they hired all of us to come to New York and be a part of SNL.”

For her first rehearsal, Louis-Dreyfus recalled having to perform the first act with three “complete and total unknowns”.

The rehearsal took place “under fluorescent lights in the middle of the day in front of 20 very cynical, unfriendly SNL cast members and writers”, she said.

The actor went on to claim that the rest of the cast “already hated us because a bunch of their best friends had just been fired to make room for us”.

“We never had a chance,” she said. “Sketches that had killed in Chicago died a terrible, terrible death that day. It was excruciating.

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“I think that humiliation influenced our whole SNL experience for the next couple of years, to tell you the truth.”

She continued: “I’ve learned a lot since that cringey day in a carpeted office on the 17th floor of 30 Rock.”

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Louis-Dreyfus went on to become a much-loved presence on SNL, known for characters including televangelist April May June, Let’s Watch TV co-host Consuela, and Weekend Update teen correspondent Patti Lynn Hunnsucker.

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During her time on the show, she appeared alongside Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Christopher Guest, Martin Short, and her husband Brad Hall – who she married in 1987.

She exited in 1985, having spent three years on the series, and went on to star in Seinfeld as Elaine for nine years between 1989 to 1998.

Louis-Dreyfus has earned 26 Emmy nominations and 11 Emmy wins for her work on the small screen, most recently as vice president Selina Meyer on HBO’s comedy Veep.

The seventh and final season of the political satire aired in 2019.

EMILY Atack dazzled in a plunging black top and bold eye make-up as she posed for a glam new selfie.

The actress, 34, styled her blonde hair into bouncy waves, donning a back-combed style for extra volume.

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Emily, who admitted she found stripping off for her new role in TV series Rivals “liberating”, donned a skintight top with a scoop neckline in the sassy image promoting her new show.

She accessorised with gold hoop drop earrings with pearl detail and a huge ring.

The Inbetweeners star then opted for a golden glow, with bronze powder and a pop of pink blusher on her cheeks.

Blue eyeliner and mascara and baby pink lip gloss finished off her look.

In her Instagram Stories caption, Emily made a huge reveal about her racy new series – based on the book by Jilly Cooper.

She wrote: “Calling all Hulu folk.

“Rivals is now available to watch in the US.”

She added: “Bring back blue mascara!”

ON SCREEN

Emily’s telly return came after she gave birth to her baby boy in June.

She has candidly told how she felt “sexier than ever” after her pregnancy journey.

Emily then bagged a role on TV’s “horniest” series, Rivals.

Rivals is an adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel and follows a group of characters as they vie for business and each other’s affections in the cut throat world of independent television.

Emily plays the Deputy Prime Minister, Sarah Stratton, and can be seen playing naked tennis with gigolo Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black, played by Alex Hassell.

Everything you need to know about Emily Atack

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But the actress is not fazed by getting naked in front of the cameras, as it is all part of the job.

Speaking to Sky News about getting bare for her Rivals debut, Emily said: “It’s so liberating.

“Of course there are going to be people out there that take what you do and try and spin a negative narrative on it. I’m a woman, of course people are going to do that.

“But what I have to keep stressing to people is I’m exactly where I need to be. I’m at work, I’m playing a role, I’m very comfortable and I’m on a closed set.

“We have intimacy coordinators, I get on very well with my director, the crew, the actors and I’m very happy and comfortable.

“It’s other people’s characters that need to be looked at if they’re going to twist it into some grotesque negativity.”

The series stars a host of British TV favourites, including former EastEnders star Danny Dyer, Doctor Who‘s David Tennant, and Skins heartthrob Luke Pasqualino.

Dame Jilly Cooper is known for her kinky books and, although there is a lot of saucy scenes, body-confident Emily has defended their purpose.

“We keep saying that the nudity and the sex scenes are a huge part of this but there’s always a reason for them,” she said.

“We’re not just getting our kit off for no reason. They’re very integral to the storylines and characters.”

Her co-star Alex Hassell then revealed an X-rated moment in one scene that wasn’t in the original script – and thought it would “break the ice.”

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