Mark Wright snubs The Only Way Is Essex’s ten year anniversary special as he’s ‘moved on’ from the show
TELLY bosses had hoped for fireworks, romance and familiar faces back in their old stomping ground for the tenth anniversary specials of The Only Way Is Essex.
But there’s one former star who has decided he will play no part in the celebrations — Mark Wright.
The ex-womaniser turned radio DJ doesn’t want to be in the ten-year specials because he has “moved on” from the show that made him famous.
A source said: “It’s a shame as Mark has clearly forgotten his roots. The show made him who he is and he wouldn’t have had all of his work gigs, like his radio show, without Towie putting him on the map.
“He’s said he’s in a different part of his life now and doesn’t want to go back to Towie again.
“ITV bosses have got the real king of Essex back, Joey Essex, though, so they aren’t losing any sleep over Mark’s decision.
“They hope Mark will be the only former castmate who has refused to take part.”
The specials were set to follow the usual Towie format, with a load of familiar faces coming back to film. But social distancing due to Covid-19 has forced producers to tweak plans.
So instead they will feature a countdown of the best Towie moments voted by fans.
And a series of famous faces – everyone else who has done the show previously — will provide a running commentary over the clips.
Towie made its debut on ITV2 in October 2010, featuring just 16 full-time cast members. Since then the reality show has notched up 25 series.
That should provide plenty of fodder for fans to pick their favourite snippets.
Alison gets life lessons
It’s tea for two of the biggest stars in BBC1’s upcoming drama Life.
The six-parter, which starts this autumn, sees Gavin & Stacey’s Alison Steadman, play Gail, a woman whose world is turned upside down as she approaches her 70th birthday.
Life is written by Mike Bartlett, who also wrote Doctor Foster – and the two shows “share a universe”.
It also stars Victoria Hamilton, who will reprise her troubled character from Doctor Foster, but living under a new name.
QI game for a laugh
If you are gagging to get back to watching some live comedy, head to QI’s studios.
The BBC2 quiz show hosted by Sandi Toksvig and featuring comics including Alan Davies, is the first programme to resume filming in front of a studio audience after coronavirus halted the practice.
Episodes start filming on Monday at BBC Television Centre in West London.
But fans turning up to watch the long-running programme being recorded will be subject to a number of strict protocols.
A TV insider said: “The audience will be temperature checked and there will be sanitisation and social distancing.
“So for those who have been before it will be a little smaller than usual. But the main thing is – we’re back.”
Groups of four are being accepted, as long as they are in the same bubble or household.
The pandemic put a stop to audiences for TV shows back in March.
ITV has announced that Family Fortunes and Catchphrase will return to filming soon.
Things are looking up.
A Bryne hazard
The line-up for the first celebrity version of BBC1’s Best Home Cook has been revealed.
Host Claudia Winkleman and judge Mary Berry will be joined by ten stars next year.
They are comics Ed Byrne and Desiree Burch, former MP Ed Balls, TV personality Ferne McCann, journalist Rachel Johnson, Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas and actors Ruth Madeley, Tom Read Wilson, Shobna Gulati and Karim Zeroual.
They will all be observing social distancing.
Claudia said: “I’m so happy the team is back together – albeit two metres apart.”
bizbit
EASTENDERS returns on September 7 and will show how the residents have coped in lockdown.
Dotty decides Sharon deserves to know the truth about Denny’s death and Chantelle plucks up the courage to finally leave her husband.
Tom's so striking as 'tec
Holliday Grainger says co-star Tom Burke is so convincing as amputee detective Cormoran Strike that she often forgets he is not missing a leg.
The actress, who plays his sidekick Robin Ellacott in Strike, revealed: “The amount of times in between scenes I’ve put my hand out to help him up or something. I just get completely brainwashed.
“I find him inhabiting Strike so well that I forget that Tom has two legs.”
Holliday and Tom are returning for a fourth series of the BBC1 crime drama.
The four-parter is titled Lethal White and will kick off on August 30.
Strike is based on the stories written by JK Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The titular character is a war veteran who solves complex crimes out of his tiny London office.
In 2018, 7.7million viewers watched the final episode of the previous series.
must watch
WHAT? Jack Whitehall’s Sporting Nation, BBC1, 8.30pm.
WHY? The final episode sees Jack Whitehall look at the UK’s biggest sporting failures.
He covers everything from Olympic disasters to Eddie The Eagle.
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]