SO far, everything she’s touched has been TV gold – but one of Alison Hammond’s shows is now heading to the TV scrapyard.
Over the past few years the This Morning presenter has landed a string of big programmes including ITV’s For The Love Of Dogs, Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off and her Big Weekend chat show for the BBC.
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But I can reveal that after just two series, the axe is falling on Rob Beckett’s Smart TV, the Sky panel show which featured her as a team captain alongside host Rob and fellow captain Josh Widdicombe.
A TV insider said: “It’s a surprise, given the show was well received.
“But Sky are increasingly turning their focus towards talent-led shows.
“They’ve already announced they’re bringing to an end another hugely popular stablemate, the sports panel contest, A League of Their Own.
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“It’s part of a pivot towards shows which don’t just feature talent but are fronted by them on a personal level — for example Danny and Danni Dyer‘s upcoming show where they operate a caravan park, as well as the new Gemma Collins documentary following her getting married and having IVF.”
Alison was being talked about as a major signing for Sky in 2022, which was before details of Smart TV had even been confirmed.
Bosses heralded her as “a brilliant addition”, saying they hoped to give her more projects, adding: “We don’t really golden handcuff any of our entertainment talent, but we do keep them busy so they sort of feel ‘a bit Sky’.”
A spokeswoman for Sky said yesterday: “After two brilliant series testing the telly knowledge of the nation, it is time for us to roll the credits on Rob Beckett’s Smart TV.
“Our huge thanks to the TV quizzing trio, Rob Beckett, Alison Hammond, and Josh Widdicombe who brought all the laughs to screen.
“We look forward to working together again.”
Bizbit
IRISH detective drama Borderline is coming to ITVX in October.
Starring Line Of Duty’s Amy De Bhrun, and Eoin Macken, the six-part series follows two clashing police officers who are forced to collaborate on a serious crime.
It comes from the writer of Cold Feet, John Forte.
STEEL IN TEST OF METTLE
STEEL the Gladiator’s heart is as big as his biceps.
The BBC muscle man – real name Zack George – heads into the final stages of his 13 Days Fighting challenge for a baby-loss charity.
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He has so far raised more than £25,000 for Leo & Friends, to honour his son Leo who died at 13 days old.
Since August 18, Zack has completed a mile of burpees every day, with a stage in Cambridge today, followed by Loughborough later this week.
Pals including Gladiator Legend and fitness guru Joe Wicks have joined him along the way.
Zack said yesterday: “Extremely tired, body is sore and can hardly walk with the calf – but we’re getting it done.
“I wanted a challenge where I had to fight, like Leo did for 13 days.”
For more details and to support, see Zack’s Instagram page @zackgeorge.
SHERIDAN SHOCK AT KATE JOB
MANY will recall the bizarre moment on This Morning when Gyles Brandreth wrongly claimed Sheridan Smith was going to play Kate Middleton in a new drama.
But not Sheridan, who was blissfully unaware of the clanger 17 months ago.
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She was shown the clip during an interview on Capital Radio yesterday and seemed as stunned as the rest of us.
The actress said: “How have I missed that?
“They actually announced that like it was real?
“Oh stop it, this is getting out of hand.
“That’s hysterical.”
Strangely, Sheridan’s pals often send her clips and memes, but didn’t pass on the one from This Morning.
A BLUE PETER BADGE? THAT’S F.A.B., ANTHEA
HERE’S one that Anthea Turner wishes she made earlier.
The veteran TV presenter has finally been awarded the top Blue Peter badge, more than three decades after her two-year stint on the children’s TV show ended in 1994.
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She picked up a highly-coveted Gold badge to mark the BBC series’ new era as HACKER T DOG joins cast members Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan.
Anthea said: “I have coveted the golden Blue Peter badge for so many years and never got one – and now they’ve put this right.
“All these years I’ve been without one, and at every Blue Peter event I’ve hoped I would get one.
“It’s now even become a standing joke. So this is my proudest moment and I won’t forget it.”
Meanwhile, I’ll always remember her as the brains behind Blue Peter’s most famous “make” – a loo roll Tracy Island from The Thunderbirds.
Totally F.A.B.
DANNY’S RIVALS LIFELINE
DANNY DYER was “thrown a lifeline” when Rivals show boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins gave him the role of Freddie Jones in the Disney+ bonkbuster.
The actor and director had worked together on EastEnders.
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But after Danny left in 2022, it’s fair to say his career was a bit patchy.
Talking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Angellica Bell recalled speaking to him behind the scenes when he was a guest on The One Show and she was hosting.
She said: “I took him to one side and I said, ‘Oh my gosh you are insane in Rivals, and he was almost brought to tears.
“I saw him again and he sat down and he said to me, ‘Dominic gave me a lifeline, he saw something in me and it is like a renaissance.’
“He said not many people have given him an opportunity where he can grow in his art.
“It was really moving.”