This Morning and Dancing On Ice presenter Phillip Schofield isn’t the first person you might guess had uttered this sentence – “We ended up drinking vodka, eating caviar with a couple of East German hookers…”

You would be forgiven for thinking it more likely that Frankie Cocozza or Bill Wyman might’ve uttered those words, but no, it was indeed silver fox Phil who made the revelation during an interview with fashion magazine, The Hunger.

Revealing that despite the fact he shot to telly fame by presenting children’s TV shows, he was far from “squeaky clean.” Read more & comment »

As we reported recently, TV veteran Rolf Harris has been arrested and questioned by police after allegations of sexual offences were made against him.

The arrest was part of the inquiry that was set up by police in the wake of the Sir Jimmy Savile scandal – and entitled Operation Yewtree – which is investigating allegations made not only about Savile but also, “others.”

Several high-profile male celebrities have been quizzed as part of the investigation, and so far, all the men in question – with the exception of convicted paedophile Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd – have strenuously denied any wrongdoing, Rolf included. Read more & comment »

It’s been reported this morning that telly favourite Rolf Harris has been arrested as part of the Jimmy Savile and “others” police inquiry which is named Operation Yewtree.

The Sun reports, “The 83-year-old TV star and singer was held over historic sex abuse allegations by police from the inquiry set up following the Jimmy Savile scandal.

“Senior detectives have been investigating Harris, who once painted the Queen, for more than four months.” Read more & comment »

Former Saved by the Bell actor Dennis Haskins is in support of a reunion show and says deserve new episodes.

The actor, 62, who once played Principal Belding on the popular children’s show would love to work together with the original cast again and says he has always been in favour of bringing the show back. Read more & comment »

The BBC has made a hasty apology to viewers who complained to the broadcaster about an episode of childrens’ telly show Tweenies which featured a puppet dressed as the late Sir Jimmy Savile.

Horrified viewers took to internet forums and social networking sites to express their disgust at seeing puppet character Max impersonating the shamed DJ and TV presenter during a repeat showing of an edition of Tweenies.

In a Tweenies spoof of Top of the Pops, stunned viewers watched as Max said, “Hello all you guys and girls out there, ah ah ah. Welcome to the Tweenies chart countdown.

“At No 4 in the Tweenies chart with One Finger, One Thumb, it’s Milo.” Read more & comment »

It’s been reported today that the late TV presenter and DJ Sir Jimmy Savile allegedly sexually abused an 11 year old girl as she lay dying in her bed at Great Ormond Street hospital.

Branding Savile as the UK’s “worst sex beast,” The Sun reports that the young victim alleged that Savile had fondled her when he made one of his frequent visits to the hospital. She apparently told a relative about the shocking incident shortly before she died.

In a report released yesterday about the Savile scandal, police heading up Operation Yewtree – the inquiry into allegations against Savile and “others” – it was revealed that Savile “used his position as a BBC star to prey on vulnerable children — and fool the country into thinking he was a loveable national treasure.” Read more & comment »

It is simply one of the weirdest celebrity pairings ever known, and would seem far too fantastical to believe if the Daily Mirror hadn’t published pictures proving it – Elvis Presley’s former wife, Priscilla is dating British BBC kids presenter, Toby Anstis!

Pictures in yesterday’s publication showed 67 year old Priscilla and Anstis, 27 years her junior, tenderly embracing after enjoying a romantic meal at San Lorenzo restaurant in Wimbledon.
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When I was younger the BBC always used to air an adaptation of popular children’s tale in the run-up to Christmas these included the great Chronicles of Narnia series as well as Five Children and It and The Magician’s House. As the BBC’s children’s output has evolved this tradition has died out however with tonight’s adaptation of David Walliams’ Mr Stink it feels like it may just have returned. While watching this warm, funny and traditional tale I was put in mind of the programmes of my youth and wondered why this one-off special couldn’t have been extended into a two or three part series.

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The Snowman and The Snowdog is the brand new charming sequel to the Christmas classic The Snowman which will be at the centrepiece of Channel 4′s Christmas schedule this year celebrating a magical end to a special year.

Raymond Briggs’ iconic children’s book The Snowman follows the wonderful adventures of a young boy and the remarkable Snowman he creates.

Adapted for the screen in 1982, the Oscar-nominated film – wordless, apart from its evocative theme, Walking in the Air – has been screened by Channel 4 every year since it was first transmitted and has enchanted generations of children. On the 30th anniversary of the original film, Briggs has given his blessing to a brand-new sequel and the magic is about to begin all over again, this time with a new set of friends… Read more & comment »

Fans of the Harry Potter films will no doubt be happy, and probably a tad surprised, to hear that a ninth film is currently being filmed!

It had been thought that the eighth movie would be the last, however, The Sun reports that the stars of the mega-hit films – including Helena Bonham Carter who’s reprising her role as witch Bellatrix Lestrange – are filming scenes for the ninth installment at the Potter studios in Hertfordshire.

A source confirmed last night, “The cast have really enjoyed getting back together — they are so tight-knit.”

However, branded a “mini-movie”, the new film will only be screened at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction in Florida and when they’re completed, at two new Hogwarts theme parks which are currently under construction in California and Japan. Read more & comment »

The BBC have now released details of the full line-up of shows across all their channels for Christmas Day, and we have the full details for you as well as a look at Aunty Beeb’s Christmas trailer and a brand new and bumper set of images from the Doctor Who Christmas special, The Snowmen!

So without further ado, here’s what’s in store for us on Christmas Day!

Tuesday 25 December
BBC ONE

Christmas Day Eucharist

The traditional Christmas Day service comes live from St Mary Redcliffe, which has stood in the city of Bristol for the last 800 years and which was once described by Elizabeth I as ‘The fairest, goodliest, and most famous parish church in England’… Read more & comment »

It has been announced today that ITV are to embark on a major rebranding across the entire company, including a new logo and a refresh on all its channels current identities, including the mother ship broadcaster, ITV1.

From now on ITV1 will go back to its original name of ITV as part of this new “unifying brand identity” which is expected to be introduced early next year across ITV Plc, the ITV Network and ITV Studios, the broadcaster’s production arm.
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Mark Williams-Thomas, the criminologist who exposed allegations of child abuse against the late TV presenter Sir Jimmy Savile – in Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile – is preparing a follow up documentary entitled, Exposure Update – The Jimmy Savile Investigation…

And in the film, which will air on ITV1 next Wednesday at 10.35pm, we’ll hear Williams-Thomas allege that Savile purposely proposed ideas for childrens’ TV shows in order to have unfettered access to minors.

The Radio Times quotes Williams-Thomas as saying, “I can very clearly tell you now that he created his television series as a vehicle for his offending.

“I believe he engineered his programmes within the BBC and Radio Luxembourg in order to gain access to children… Read more & comment »

The BBC have revealed that it’s to air a lavish adaptation of children’s book Room on the Broom over Christmas, and they’ve lined up an all star voice-over cast including Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams, X Files star Gillian Anderson and former Gavin & Stacey star, Rob Brydon.

The corporation says of the show, “The premier of the half-hour animated special Room on the Broom, will light up faces and warm the cockles of every family on their sofa this Christmas, when it broadcasts as a festive highlight on BBC One.”

Room on the Broom is described as an “enchanting tale” of friendship and family that has been adapted by the same creative team that made The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.

The award-winning book was written in 2001 by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It features a kind witch who invites a collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her pet cat… Read more & comment »

The Jimmy Savile scandal has continued to unearth new revelations over the weekend, and today, a former bodyguard to the late DJ and TV presenter claims that Savile regularly bribed police officers into “losing” allegations of child sexual abuse made against him.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Savile’s former employee Dennis Lemmon claimed it first happened in 1958 when Savile was boss of the Mecca Locarno Ballroom in Leeds.

Police had apparently received complaints that Savile was allegedly “messing about with young girls” but Mr Lemmon said they dropped their investigation after “cash changed hands.”

Mr Lemmon, who’s now 80, said, “When all these cases came to light recently I thought back to one night and what was said.

“I was on the door and I saw Jimmy arriving and he looked a bit angry… Read more & comment »