mark wright

Plus more X Factor news

Reality TV star Mark Wright – who has of course starred in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and TOWIE – has told the Sun’s TV Biz that he takes inspiration for his own career from that of Ant and Dec.

Mark of course met the Geordie duo while competing in I’m A Celeb, and he also revealed that they’ve helped him with his forthcoming new show, My Man Can.

He said, “Ant and Dec are heroes of mine. What they do is amazing. They are total professionals.

“When I knew I was doing this new show I approached them for some advice.

“I said I find myself practising the links loads as I’m worried about getting them wrong and they said that’s exactly what you have to do.

“Dec was saying they practise over and over so when it comes to the actual show they feel confident.

“They even said it was fine to be nervous as it keeps you on your toes.”

He added, “I just think to myself that I must be able to do this as if I couldn’t, they wouldn’t have asked me to do it.

“I know that sounds weird but it gets me through and I think that I’ve done OK with it.”

The premise of My Man Can is that women have to bet on what their men can or can’t do, such as eating chillies or limbo-dancing.

Melanie Sykes will co-host the show, and of her, Mark said, “It was great working with Mel too as she’s a proper pro and has done these things for years.”

We’ll keep you posted as to when the show will air.

In other news, Simon Cowell is apparently trying to arrange it so that he can be a judge on both the UK version of the X Factor, and the US version.

He said, “I’ll see if we can move the dates so I can do both because I do miss it and they are not as good as me.”

Apropos of judges, Cheryl Cole has put to bed the rumour that she could return to the show this year.

She tweeted, “X factor was a great experience and time in my life and career but is now part of my past ..

“Please #letsmoveonnow #newnewspls Zzzzz *yawns*.”

Earlier this week, Louis Walsh had sparked the rumour by saying, “I’ll tell you who the panel will be. It will be Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, Tulisa and perhaps Cheryl Cole.”

He added, “She could be back. I’m not saying she definitely will but I’d love to see her.”

Our final snippet of reality TV news today remains with the X Factor, as it seems the show’s live tour could be in jeopardy as a number of last year’s finalists have been struck down with illnesses.

The Daily Star reports that Misha B, Marcus Collins and Amelia Lily have all been suffering throat problems. A spokeswoman said, “There is a lurgy going around and some of the singers have been told to rest their voices.

“But we’re expecting everyone to be on stage when the show opens.”

The tour kicks off at the Manchester Arena and will also feature 2011 first girl group winners, Little Mix…

Assuming they don’t come down with the plague or something!

More reality TV news soon!

It’s been a busy old week on the reality TV front, and some of the best news I’ve heard in ages is that the lovely Mark Wright – late of TOWIE, and more recently of the Aussie I’m A Celeb jungle – has landed a role in a movie!

The Sun reports that Essex boy Mark will star alongside Kelly Brook as her “love interest” in a British-based gangster movie. Danny Dyer and Tamar Hassan are to star as well.

A source close to the movie told the paper, “Mark is keen to get into acting and Cockney gangster films are right up his street.

“He loves The Business and Football Factory, so it’s a dream for him to work with Danny and Tamar.

“Add Kelly into the mix, he’s made up.”

I’m really chuffed for him! He’s such as nice guy – as witnessed on I’m A Celeb – so good on ya Mark!

More good news today – and also from the Sun – is that BGT judge Amanda Holden and her new baby daughter Hollie are back at home, safe and well.

As you’re probably aware, Amanda and Hollie were both critically ill following the baby’s birth, and had to spend several days in intensive care, where Amanda received blood transfusions.

Amanda’s spokeswoman, Alison Griffin, confirmed that Amanda and Hollie were now at home, saying, “She is thrilled to be home with her family.

“Hollie is absolutely beautiful — and Amanda and Chris are completely besotted with their girls.”

So glad for them it all ended happily!

Finally, it seems that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new search for an singer/actor to take the part of Jesus Christ in a remake of Jesus Christ Superstar is open to both men and women.

The search for the new star is to be televised, X Factor styly, and ultimately, the new musical will play at venues all across the UK.

A source close to the project said, “Andrew wants to create the best performance he can and if that means hiring a woman to be Jesus then so be it.

“For him it’s all about the talent.”

However, it seems Lloyd Webber is braced for a backlash from Christian groups, who have already started muttering “blasphemy”…

But there again, if he hadn’t opened it to both genders, surely Equity would have had something to say about inequality?

Guess you can’t please all the people all the time, however, as Mary Magdalene is expected to be played by Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, that could end up being a sticky wicket if a woman was cast as Jesus.

However, auditions kick off this month, and will see Andrew himself heading up the panel of judges.

The contestants will be whittled down to join a boot camp, and from there, the best acts will be invited to the judges’ houses round, where 12 of them will be selected for the live TV shows.

I can’t wait to see how this turns out actually! I smell c.. c… controversy!

More reality TV news soon.

The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright was cleared yesterday of attacking a man during a bar brawl.

Here’s the story from The Sun…

Wright, 24 – who appears in the ITV2 series The Only Way Is Essex – smiled and shouted “Yes” when the verdict was announced.

Wright was accused of using threatening words and behaviour against builder Tom Grantham outside a bar in Chigwell, Essex.

He was acquitted after a two-day trial at Redbridge Magistrates Court, East London.

Jade Goody’s widower Jack Tweed and his brother Lewis pleaded guilty on Wednesday to common assault over the same incident.

They are due to be sentenced on August 16.

After the case, Wright, of Abridge, Essex, said: “I am happy with the verdict, which I believe is correct. I am now looking forward to putting this behind me.”

Gathering the entertainment news, so you don’t have to

The Sun today reports that The Only Way Is Essex was thrown into chaos last night after Mark Wright threatened to quit in a row over money.

Here’s the report…

Mark has been offered big money by other shows, including £250,000 from Celebrity Big Brother.

But he gets just £50 A DAY on TOWIE. Mark has told producers he is prepared to follow busty co-star Amy Childs and leave if he isn’t allowed to make more while being on the show.

Other stars – who have got a fortnight to sign for the show – are also said to be pushing for more money.

That means plans for the new ITV2 series are going down to the wire.

Contracts forbid the cast working on other TV programmes, with a clause banning them from doing anything else for six months after each series.

An insider said: “There is disquiet over pay. A lot of big names have been offered serious money for other shows. Mark is now seriously considering his future on the show.”

But producers say the stars can cash in on personal appearances and ad deals on the back of TOWIE’s success.

TV Biz can reveal Mark, 24, turned down £250,000 to be on Celebrity Big Brother. Amy snapped it up instead and quit TOWIE.

Mark has also been offered shows on two other channels and work in Hollywood.

A pal said: “There has been a lot of interest in him from elsewhere. He has yet to decide if he will return for the new series. He loves it but he has to decide what is best for his own career.”

But a TOWIE insider said: “If people think they can make more money elsewhere they are free to go. Nobody is bigger than the show.”

Gathering the entertainment news, so you don’t have to

new! magazine reports today that Mark Wright’s brother Josh is reportedly set to star on The Only Way Is Essex.

Here’s the story…

Two Wright’s are better than one it seems – at least where TOWIE is concerned, as Mark Wright’s brother is set to join the cast for the third series.

Footballer Josh Wright – brother of star Mark Wright – has reportedly been asked to appear on the third series of The Only Way Is Essex to “ruffle a few feathers”.

Josh has been described as “a bit of a bad boy” who has been papped on the streets wearing women’s underwear!

It’s thought Josh and his girlfriend Hollie Kane could rival Mark and Lauren Goodger as the golden coupe of the show.

Very interesting – we wonder what Mark reckons about it.

Could end up being the Mark Wright show though, what with even more members of his family on there!

Gathering the entertainment news, so you don’t have to