DAME KELLY HOLMES — who came out during a moving TV documentary — is preparing to make waves as the new star on Loose Women.
The Olympic Gold-winning runner will be able to give her insight into LGBTQ issues as a full-time panellist on the ITV daytime show.
Olympic legend Dame Kelly came out during a moving TV documentary[/caption]
Kelly, who won the 800m and 1,500m titles at the 2004 Games in Athens, will appear in her role for the first time on Monday.
She said in an exclusive interview: “I am extremely excited about joining Loose Women.
“Having met a few of the panellists recently, I know that the shows will be full of energy, smiles, tears and lots of laughs.
“I hope I can bring my energy to the show and I will be up for doing any mad experiences that they throw at me.”
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Kelly added that she was inspired to join the show’s regular roster of presenters after the reaction to her emotional ITV documentary, called Kelly Holmes: Being Me, which was screened in June.
She added: “It will be so different to anything I have done before in my career, but now I have found my authentic voice since the airing of my documentary, I will join in on many conversations that I felt I never could before.”
The show revealed Kelly’s life journey over the past 30 years and its effect on her mental health.
Loose Women’s editor Sally Shelford said: “We are thrilled and honoured to have Dame Kelly Holmes join the Loose Women panel.
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“She is a national treasure and an inspiration to us all. We can’t wait to get her take on the topics of the day.
“Plus, she has already set us the challenge of taking her out of her comfort zone and putting her sense of adventure to the test.”
I think Kelly is a fantastic addition to the Loose Women team and will bring a new energy to the panel.
Michelle is back to brassics
WE’RE all feeling Brassic – and no, not because of soaring energy bills.
The stars of hit Sky sitcom celebrate series four airing on Sky tonight at 10pm – just as they return to work to start filming series five.
Michelle Keegan, who plays Erin, and Joe Gilgun (Vinnie) return with the rest of the cast to their usual haunt, fictional Lancashire town Hawley.
The show has proved a winner since its launch four years ago – and asked what is in store for the new series, Joe teased: “Well, more madness, of course.
“But till now, we’ve done the girls of Brassic a bit of a disservice at times, because they’re just so good.
“The gang of girls are just as funny as the lads. I’m looking forward to everyone seeing the new series because the gang are a bunch of crafty b*stards up to their own sh*t.”
Meanwhile Michelle hinted at what awaits in series five: “It is going to find the gang in a position we’ve never seen them in.
“Their world is kind of turned upside down and could change them for ever.”
Roll on series six.
Chip off the gold block
THE son of music producer and DJ turned actor Goldie will be a contender in new Channel 4 show Make Me Prime Minister.
Danny Price is competing in the series that starts this month and puts 12 opinionated people through tasks to test if they have the skills to actually run the country.
DJ Goldie’s son Danny Price will be a contestant on C4’s Make Me Prime Minister[/caption]
They will be judged by former No10 spin doctor Alastair Campbell and Tory peer Baroness Warsi.
Goldie, real name Clifford Price, played a Bond baddie in The World Is Not Enough and was also in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch. That’s before he went on Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly and EastEnders.
Danny, a social media content creator, will take on a series of challenges to examine leadership skills, resilience and integrity.
Good luck to him. But I must admit, I’d like to see his dad on there too.
HOUSE Of Dragon has broken Sky’s viewing records in the UK.
The fantasy saga has been watched by more than 4million people, beating the 2011 launch of the first Game Of Thrones.
It places the medieval romp, starring Matt Smith, on a par with the likes of Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Martin’s port in a storm
MARTIN CLUNES feared for his life when Storm Eunice hit the set of Doc Martin earlier this year.
The gentle ITV drama is filmed in tiny Cornish fishing village Port Isaac.
Martin said: “We had to take the cast out of their trailers because there was a genuine chance they could have been blown away.
“There were slates being blown off roofs, the wind speed was incredible. It was pretty scary.”
They had to find shelter in the barns of a nearby farm.
Caroline Catz, who plays the Doc’s wife Louisa, added: ‘We had no choice but to take refuge.
“The storm was one of the most dramatic things I have ever seen.”
Doc Martin returns for its final series tonight at 9pm.
Matt: My Darcy’s not dishy
SUCCESSION’S Matthew Macfadyen has revealed he is haunted by his role as Mr Darcy in Pride And Prejudice – because he worries he wasn’t hunky enough.
The actor, who is favourite to win the Best Supporting Actor Emmy this weekend for his role as Tom Wambsgans, first found fame as the Regency romantic hero in 2005 opposite Keira Knightley.
Matthew Macfadyen has revealed he is haunted by his role as Mr Darcy in Pride And Prejudice[/caption]
But he said becoming a pin-up did not feel right.
Matthew added: “I think inevitably you worry about getting it right. I didn’t feel I was dishy enough and sort of brooding enough.
“In your mind’s eye, as an actor, you always want to be a little more of this and a little more than that and my confidence wasn’t great.
“But it was a brilliant adaptation. Keira was great. It was a lovely thing to be a part of. I hoped for the best.”
Only tiny violins will be playing for Matthew, though, as he has spent the past 18 years married to screen stunner Keeley Hawes.
FORMER England striker Kelly Smith has joined Sky’s WSL panel alongside Caroline Barker and Karen Carney for the new season.
Sky Showcase will broadcast 35 games live, have 360-degree coverage on TikTok, plus launch a Snapchat show called The Dub.
Bishop in masked return
KEEPING things under wraps is key to the success of wacky celebrity guessing game The Masked Dancer.
And it is something presenter Joel Dommett could do well to remember.
The Masked Dancer presenter Joel Dommett[/caption]
The comic, who hosts alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Oti Mabuse and Peter Crouch, welcomes guest judges to the panel as the ITV series goes along.
Joel told me: “I’m not sure I am allowed to say who the guest judges are.
“But I will say John Bishop is back. He is great.
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“He really is perfect for the show.”
Er, was that info supposed to be kept a secret, Joel?
