BGT winner Richard Jones gets ITV special called Operation Magic that will see him perform for his fellow troops alongside Katherine Jenkins
NOT many winners of Britain’s Got Talent have been able to use their victory as a springboard to greater success.
But last year’s champ RICHARD JONES has enjoyed a national tour showing off his magic skills since his triumph last summer.
And now I can reveal that the Army lance corporal is set to have his own hour-long ITV prime-time show.
Called Operation Magic, the programme will show him entertaining his fellow troops and forces’ sweetheart singer KATHERINE JENKINS.
It will also follow him during his busy schedule of magic shows while he combines his duties in the Household Cavalry band.
An insider said: “There’s been a lot of interest to see what Richard has been up to since he was on BGT.
“The new programme is a one-off special before this year’s new series starts and will catch up with what he’s been up to.
“He’ll be performing some magic tricks to his mates and having a joke with recruits when he makes himself disappear after their lesson in camouflage.
Richard’s a lovely guy and people generally like watching him so we could be seeing him on TV more regularly if it goes down well.”
The soldier, who now works part-time in the forces, became the first magician to win BGT when he stunned judges SIMON COWELL, DAVID WALLIAMS, AMANDA HOLDEN and ALESHA DIXON with his tricks.
His final performance saw him paint a picture of 97-year-old war veteran and Britain’s oldest magician, Fergus Anckorn, with playing cards before bringing him out on stage.
The guest appearance helped him to beat singer WAYNE WOODWARD by less than three per cent of the vote.
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PRINCE CHARLES became his assistant from the audience when he took to the stage at the Royal Variety performance.
The mind-reading trick went down a storm with the Royals during the show, which also featured LADY GAGA.
He would have been in trouble if he had made Charles disappear.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZ TV COLUMN
Arg and Gemma's romantic meeting in Marbs
JAMES “ARG” ARGENT paid a visit to TV matchmaker PADDY McGUINNESS in a bid to find love on Take Me Out last week.
But it seems the Towie star’s no longer in need of the ITV love guru’s services – as I can reveal he enjoyed a secret romp with ex-lover GEMMA COLLINS during a trip to Marbella.
And in true reality TV spirit, Arg kept things close to home – as his and Gemma’s tryst happened during the same holiday he bedded another former girlfriend, LYDIA BRIGHT.
A source said: “It was one night of passion but had been a long time coming after years of flirting on and off screen.
“James was single at the time but the revelation came as a big shock to Lydia, who also rekindled her romance with Arg during filming in Marbella last year.
“Arg is currently on a break from the show but the cast hope he will return soon.”
Gemma will spill the beans about their intimate night in the new series of the ITVBe show, revealing the former couple sought comfort in each other following a string of failed romances.
Arg, who split from Lydia last May after she allegedly caught him taking cocaine, previously admitted he had no plans to get back with Gemma.
The Essex lounge singer said: “GC is just a friend, I have no desire to head back there.”
He certainly didn’t manage to stay true to his word.
bizbit
- KARA TOINTON would love to see EastEnders legend DAME BARBARA WINDSOR play the Queen. The actress, who stars in Gold’s new sitcom Henry IX from April 5, said: “Barbara is our queen of drama.”
- STRICTLY star MELVIN ODOOM has landed a new hosting role – as presenter of Bauer Network’s ‘Live at the BRITs’ Radio Show. The KISS host said: “This year’s BRIT Awards are going to be huge and we’ll be there to bring you even closer to the action on the night than ever before.”
Billie's a pout to win
BILLIE PIPER looked pumped up for her latest awards ceremony.
The telly star, who split from husband LAWRENCE FOX las year, was named Best Actress at the 17th annual WhatsOnStage Awards for her role in Yerma.
Not that anyone noticed her gong, given the size of her pout and her extremely low-cut polka dot print maxi dress which she donned underneath a black blazer.
Billie, who played Rose Tyler in Doctor Who opposite CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON and DAVID TENNANT, recently backed calls for the new Doctor to be female when the Time Lord regenerates.
It seems as though Billie’s lips may have also regenerated recently.
Tim: I was Healy-ed by music
TIM HEALY spent weeks in a Spanish hospital, fighting for his life after falling ill while filming Benidorm last year.
But he revealed it was his son MATT HEALY’s band THE 1975 that helped him wake up from a coma.
Tim told how his wife Joan, who kept a bedside vigil, was “in bits”.
He said: “She said that while I was in a coma she kept playing my son’s music to me. She had his album on a loop.
“After a few days I started smiling and then I eventually came round.”
Tim, who lost three stone, was airlifted back to hospital in the UK, and his character Lesley had to be written out of the ITV show.
Despite putting a stone back on, he no longer drinks or smokes.
He added: “I don’t miss it, to be honest, so some good has come out of all this.” I’m glad he’s on the mend.
soapbox
DENISE already has a lot on her plate – what with giving up her baby for adoption and discovering she and Kim aren’t really sisters in EASTENDERS.
The last thing she needs is a head-to-head with the Square’s wannabe villain, Keegan.
After a visit from a social worker who updates her on the baby’s progress, an emotional Denise finds herself in a bust-up with Keegan.
As Denise confronts him for being disrespectful, their argument soon spirals out of control.
Down under, over on NEIGHBOURS, Paige finally reveals that she lied about who the father of her unborn tot is.
I’m sure her confession will cause shockwaves throughout Ramsay Street.