'CHALLENGING'
Celebrity Traitors star lifts lid on ‘intense’ and ‘brutal’ series – and lets slip which celeb is the smartest
The celeb also reveals who she enjoyed hanging out with on the show
SPORTS presenter Clare Balding says Celebrity Traitors saw the stars’ friendships abandoned when they came together to take part in the BBC challenge show.
She is one of 19 famous faces who’ve just finished filming the spin-off series at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highland for BBC One with Claudia Winkleman returning to host.
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And although many of the celebs had become quite pally over doing various shows and events together over the years, the long-standing loyalties counted for nothing.
Talking at the Goodwoof event this week, Clare said: “It is so intense, and you get completely obsessed with the game.
"Obviously I knew quite a lot of them before I went in, but the friendships you had before go out the window!
“That, for me, is very challenging because I like to be friends with everybody! It’s brutal, but I think I’m glad I did it. It will make good television and there are some really strong moments.”
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Clare was keeping quiet about whether she was a traitor or a faithful, and would only let slip one thing about one of her fellow competitors.
She said: “There are some people who are so clever. I mean, Nick Mohammed from Ted Lasso, he can solve problems and puzzles in like four and a half seconds. He’s amazing.
“It was lovely to get more time to hang out with people like Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Charlotte Church who’s an absolute superstar, and a really cool young singer called Cat Burns - I would not have met her and Ruth Cobb who’s an actress in any other situation, and I loved that.
“Yeah it was great fun.”
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Clare also admitted that one of the main reasons she agreed to take part was because she was such a fan of The Traitors, which is currently filming its fourth “civilian” series.
She said: “I wanted to do it because I wanted to experience the show, and I was really lucky they said yes to letting me. I think I was one of the first ones signed up actually, me and .”
Claudia Winkleman reveals BBC bosses have slapped her with a big rule ahead of first ever Celebrity Traitors
Clare added: “I wasn’t even allowed to say I’d done Celebrity Traitors until they made the big announcement last week, and I certainly can’t talk about any of the detail.”
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GARETH IN TIGHT SQUEEZE
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GARETH MALONE will have no trouble hitting the high notes in the dangerously tight outfit he squeezes into for The Horne Section TV Show.
The choirmaster makes a cameo appearance in the new series of the sitcom, which kicks off tonight on Channel 4.
He stars alongside Taskmaster’s Alex Horne, who plays himself as a host of his own late-night chat show alongside his band, The Horne Section.
Alex says the series involves “six men who are nearly 50 years old, who should know better, but have been given a TV show, so we’re mucking around, trying to make each other laugh”.
Also taking part in the chaos are Ghosts star Kiell Smith- Bynoe and impressionist Ronni Ancona.
Alex adds: “It’s really childish, it’s very silly. We’re just going to have a laugh.”
Gareth’s clearly on board with that mantra, too.
GAVIN & Stacey star Rob Brydon will star as divorcee Bill Beam in sitcom Bill’s Included.
The show – which sees his character renting his spare rooms to students – is one of a raft of new comedies announced by the BBC, including Reluctant Vampire starring Bafta-winner Lenny Rush.
NAGA: I’M TROLLS’ TARGET
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BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty has revealed that trolls love to have a pop at her appearance.
She said: “The number of times I’ve had comments like, ‘You shouldn’t be wearing that dress, you’ve got a bit of a belly’.
“People are quite happy to comment on social media.
“I’m very happy with my body. I’m fit, I’m strong, but women have bellies.”
She added to Gabby Logan on her The Mid-Point podcast: “You get a lot of nice comments, but women are expected to portray a certain aesthetic.
“And when you dress for news you have to be mindful that what you wear cannot be distracting.
“Women are more highly criticised and noticed.”
GLAM LIZ IS A DEAD ZINGER
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WHAT better way to exhume your career than in a coffin.
That seems to be the motto of Liz Hurley, who has just been announced as the leading lady on new Channel 4 reality game show The Inheritance.
The Austin Powers actress is being joined by Rob Rinder on the upcoming series, which sees 13 strangers summoned to a grand stately home to compete for a chunk of the fortune left in the will of The Deceased, a rather glamorous woman played, naturally, by our Liz.
Rob acts as her executor and legal counsel – which is understandable given he is a trained barrister – and formerly TV’s Judge Rinder.
He said: “As The Executor I enforce the rules, keep the chaos in check – more or less – and make sure our players are deserving of every glittering penny left by our dearly departed deceased.”
The show will air this autumn.
TANYA’S BUNCH HUNCH
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THERE could well be a second series of The Bardsley Bunch – if Tanya Bardsley gets her way.
The former Real Housewives Of Cheshire star reckons fans are chomping at the bit for a sequel to the ITVBe reality show that focuses on her, hubby Phil, a former footballer, and their children.
The mum of four said: “It resonates with people because there’s no filter with us. I’ve not had one bad comment.
“Kids can be little t****rs no matter how much you dress them up, but all the mums out there understand that.
“We’re having talks about series two with ITV soon. No one else would employ me, so what else am I going to do?
“I got sacked when I was a cleaner, so this will be it!”
SURANNE SHOW IS SPELLBINDING
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SURANNE JONES is to star in a TV drama about witchcraft – having become obsessed with the subject after making a documentary about the phenomenon.
The Gentleman Jack actress has paired up with the production team behind Disney historical thriller series A Thousand Blows and Bafta-winning Sky comedy Mr Bigstuff.
Suranne and her husband, producer Laurence Akers, are both fascinated by the supernatural and were spurred on to make the show after co-creating last summer’s Channel 4 documentary, Investigating Witch Trials.
The drama is in its early stages but is expected to go into production within months.
Though they have yet to attach it to a channel, the creators say the biggest hurdle is financing it.
Tom Miller, of production firm Water and Power, told the British Television Society: “We’re currently developing a TV drama with Suranne and Laurence about witchcraft.
“Increasingly, as we build a reputation, we get sent books and scripts, though developing them can be expensive.
“We don’t have backers — we’re completely independent — so we have to bear development costs.”
Two-parter Investigating Witch Trials saw Suranne exploring some of the stories behind the infamous 17th century prosecutions for witchcraft.
She delved into the myths surrounding sorcery while exploring the historic trials and the supernatural in England, America and beyond. And she also exposed how age-old prejudices still affect women today.
She said: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of witches. I would love to be cast as a witch.
“When I was younger I didn’t gravitate towards princesses, I loved fairy tales and folklore.
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“But I loved witches and the wild women who got their hands dirty.”
I’d roll your sleeves up now, Suranne — you’ll have channels and streamers banging on your door for this drama.
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