THEY think it’s all makeover . . . it is here, with this gallery of famous faces virtually unrecognisable in TV and movie roles.

Hollywood starlet Sydney Sweeney, 27, has shocked fans by posting a shot of herself with straggly brown hair and bulging biceps after working out to play former US boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic.

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It came in sharp contrast to the Euphoria beauty’s usual blonde look.

But as wigs, prosthetics and body transformations evolve, she is far from the first movie A-lister to get a whole new appearance for a role.

Here, Thea Jacobs challenges you – with a few helpful clues – to match these shots from filming to the stars below.

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Answers – disguised stars revealed

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Pokémon voice actor Rica Matsumoto has addressed rumours that the popular anime ended because of a rift between its leading stars.

Matsumoto, played the voice of Ash Ketchum, a young boy who pursues his dream of becoming the best at the monster based battle game.

Accompanied by his sidekick and beloved Pikachu, voiced by actor Ikue Otani, Ketchum goes on a series of adventures that have spanned over 1,300 episodes. The popular show first aired in 1997, and came to an end last year.

Last week, Game Freak, one of the co-owners of the Pokémon franchise, was subject to a huge data breach, leading to the details of thousands of employees being leaked.

Among the information was a leaked transcript that is alleged to point to “strained relations” between Matsumoto and Otani.

According to Dexerto, the leaks claimed that the company had considered recasting Matsumoto due to the tension between her and Otani impacting the morale of the team.

Matsumoto responded to the claims saying “someone is making this up”.

In a post on X/Twitter, she wrote: “Don’t worry, nothing like this has happened. I’ve been friends with Iku-chan since she was a newbie, and she even came as a guest on Rika’s fan club tour.

“For those of you who don’t know me, I wonder if you enjoy writing something like this. No one is happy about it. I think it’s in poor taste and childish.”

Fans posted their support in the comments as one wrote, “That’s right. Rika Matsumoto and Ikue Otani have always been the two of them as Satoshi and Pikachu, so the bond between Satoshi and Pikachu will never be broken!”

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Another added: “I am so happy that you and Ōtani-san are still good friends. I have ignored (and will continue to ignore) these supposed leaks, and I am glad that you have too.”

The post that purported to reveal the leaks has since been deleted. However, the anime community have continued to speculate that there may be some truth to the suggestions with Otani reprising her role as Pikachu in Pokemon Horizons, while Matsumoto does not appear to be returning.

EMMERDALE newcomer Samantha Power has teased a future return for Tina Dingle after she took over the role.

Viewers watched stunned tonight as Tina made her dramatic comeback – 28 years after her last appearance.

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Only this time she wasn’t played by original star Jacqueline Pirie, instead Samantha Power has taken over the role.

The Brassic and Ackerly Bridge actress crashed the funeral before clashing with her on-screen family.

And despite Tina being carted off by the police for breaching her probation – she will be back – and it may not be for just a short stint.

Asked if she wants to make a return following her stint, Samantha said: “Definitely! 

”Emmerdale is an amazing place to work and Tina is just fantastic to play so I would love the opportunity to come back and cause more mischief.”

Samantha also opened up about her nerves on taking the role.

She said: “Yes! I absolutely do remember Jaqueline who played Tina. She was absolutely fantastic, I remember her character vividly! So I am very lucky to get the chance to pick up where she left off!

“I was so nervous. It’s an iconic role to fill so I wanted to do it justice.

“My husband said he had never known me to be this nervous! My first scene on my first day was at the graveside with ALL the Dingles! That’s a lot right! 

“Luckily everyone was so nice and welcoming! I have to say a special shout out to Lisa Riley, the nicest human being! 

“When I met her at the screen test I felt so safe, she couldn’t have been more giving and supportive and encouraging and that continued daily on set! I loved working with her!”

However Tina is hiding a big secret – that’s connected to Mandy – with actress Lisa Riley teasing it would develop into a big story for her character.

And now Tina has made it clear she wants her share of Wishing Well cottage – will she get it?

Samantha added: “Well, she has no filters and she will literally do anything to make sure she gets her way including her claim to the house. She is not one to be trusted! I loved it!”

And she added that Tina would meeet her match in brother Cain and cousin Mandy.

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“With Mandy and Cain for sure!” she said. 

“Tina is really good at manipulating people, especially the Dingles so I don’t think any of them are safe.”

Thank you for Tara Conlan’s excellent article about the working conditions of television crews (‘I fell asleep driving around London’: TV workers on fear, danger and fatalities in an industry in crisis, 3 October). Recently, as a freelancer still trying to recover from the financial catastrophe of Covid-19, I worked two seasons of a reality TV series back-to-back. It was three months’ work and, frankly, I desperately needed the money. The terms were 12-hour days, six days a week. With travel time, that was an 80-hour week. For three months. It took weeks for any of the crew to receive money; and the wage slips took even longer.

Under their whistleblower policy, I contacted the production company’s HR department to report, among other things, the alarming and widespread drug use by the crews, my concern as a supervisor of female staff and them potentially being in an abusive working environment, and the unsafe working hours and conditions. Ironically, we were given compulsory Covid tests each day before being allowed on site. If this had been applied to testing for cannabis and cocaine, I seriously doubt that the show could have operated each day.

I reported my concerns at the time to my on-site supervisor, but subsequently wrote a multi-page, highly-detailed report for the production company’s HR that resulted in a cursory, disinterested and short Zoom interview that produced no further action, other than me learning from an insider that my services would never be used by them again. Subsequent correspondence to the production company has been ignored. I have been “ghosted”.

This is why people have died. It’s a catastrophe wrapped in glamour, and the industry calculatingly feeds on the hopes, dreams and needs of aspiring professionals, making a cruel and complete mockery of these companies’ “modern day slavery” declarations.
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THIS is the awkward moment Strictly’s Pete Wicks addresses romance rumours with Maura Higgins AND Jowita Prystal.

The former Towie personality appeared on the So Wrong It’s Right podcast hosted by fellow reality TV personality, Olivia Attwood.

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However, if the Strictly Come Dancing contestant thought he was going to be in for an easy ride, he had another thing coming!

Olivia, 33, is known for her sharp mind and the former I’m A Celebrity star was keen on probing her pal.

“Your dating life. Maura Higgins,” said Olivia as she wanted the real tea behind the rumoured romance.

“Me and Maura have known each other for a long time,” began Pete Wicks, 36, as he wanted to seemingly clear up any confusion.

Olivia was keen on hearing more as she interrupted him by saying: “You’ve had a kiss, we’ve seen it!,” Olivia.

But Pete denied there was anything more than friendship between the duo, replying: “No, you haven’t seen it.”

However, Olivia seemed insistent on getting to the bottom of the story as she continued to press her pal.

Doubling down, she stated: “We’ve seen a picture of it,” as Pete continued to deny the existence of such an image.

So Olivia moved the conversation along as she shifted the topic to Jowita Prystal and the hot chemistry he supposedly shares with her.

Pete has been seen looking extremely close to his professional and the duo previously further fuelled romance rumours after she made a very flirty comment.

Earlier this month the pair even seemed to have shared a passionate kiss during the live show.

More snaps taken behind the scenes of Pete’s rehearsals showed the pair getting steamy once again.

The former Love Island star asked: “Next thing I need to know, are you and your dance partner romantically involved?”

Pete couldn’t help but laugh, stating: “My God!”, as he was creased over his chair.

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“You don’t get awards by not asking the questions!” said Olivia.

“One of the biggest problems is my b*******.” Pete then explained with a cheeky smile.

“Well I’m having to wear like Spanx … because otherwise Shirley will end up with a couple of black eyes.

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Sir Trevor McDonald has hit out at the cast of Mrs Brown Boys for a “crude, offensive, and insulting” joke reportedly made during filming.

Earlier this week it was reported that work on the episodes were “halted” after Brendan O’Carroll made a “clumsy” joke where a “racial term was implied” during rehearsals. The term has not been officially disclosed.

A Black crew member on the show has reportedly resigned following the incident.

The 69-year-old Irish writer and actor told PA: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, in the character of Agnes, where a racial term was implied.

“It backfired and caused offence which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.”

McDonald said that the joke “couldn’t have been said without a desire to hurt and insult, really. It’s not even funny” in an interview with the Daily Mail.

One of the most familiar faces on TV, the broadcaster became ITN’s first Black reporter in 1973.

“I would probably have very harsh words with the person who said that,” he said when asked how he would handled the situation.

“And said the society and the community in which we live regards that sort of stuff as unnecessarily crude and offensive.”

However, he said he wouldn’t cancel the production, which has split audiences with its presence on the annual Christmas schedule for years.

The Independent’s Nick Hilton gave the previous New Year’s Day special a zero-star review, writing: “Observing that it’s unfunny is like observing that the sea is wet.”

The show is still popular, with more than four million tuning in last Christmas, but there have still been calls to reassess the programming in recent years, since critics say it is outdated, nauseating and unfunny.

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A BBC spokesperson said: “While we don’t comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism, and we have robust processes in place should issues ever arise.”

It comes as a resurfaced clip from O’Carroll’s interaction with Tyler Perry from 2018 was branded “racist”.

While appearing on The One Show in 2022 alongside Perry, O’Carroll said that Mrs Brown’s Boys had never had anyone of Perry’s “colour” feature on the show before.