MTV finally dumps new series of Ex On The Beach after months of delays
AFTER months of being on again then off again, MTV has finally dumped the new series of Ex On The Beach.
The wild dating show was due to start filming its 12th series in Colombia this summer after originally being pushed back from February because of the Covid crisis.
Georgia Steel was set to star in Ex On The Beach in Colombia[/caption]But now bosses have decided to pull the plug after accepting that travel restrictions made it impossible for production to go ahead.
Cast members including former Liverpool and Stoke City footballer Jermaine Pennant and Love Island’s Jack Fincham and Georgia Steel have now been told, ‘It’s not you, it’s us’ by producers. A TV insider said: “Bosses were really optimistic Ex On The Beach would be able to go ahead as the world began unlocking.
“They secured a luxury villa for the new series on a breathtaking island off the coast of Colombia in a bid to lure Brits pining for a tropical holiday. But, like with last year’s Love Island, there was no back-up location organised.
“After some frantic attempts to get everyone out to South America, they accepted it just wasn’t meant to be.
Stoke City footballer Jermaine Pennant was also a member of the cast[/caption]“Execs spent last week breaking it to cast and crew that the series is off for the foreseeable future.”
MTV had been hoping to go back to the beach after launching London-based spin-off Celeb Ex In The City amid lockdown last year.
Love Island’s Megan Barton Hanson and Amy Hart were joined on the show by the likes of Paul Hollywood’s ex Summer Monteys-fullam, Hollyoaks star Malique Thompson-dwyer, former Sugababes singer Amelle Berrabah and Calum Best.
With any luck it won’t be long before the green list of foreign destinations allows for some red hot passion.
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One point for the Germans
AFTER last year’s Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled this year’s acts look wackier than ever, as these snaps show.
Germany’s Jendrik will be joined by a dancing hand for his song I Don’t Feel Hate.
Germany’s Jendrik performs next to a dancing hand[/caption] Britain’s Eurovision contestant James Newman[/caption] Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri is a dead ringer for J-LO[/caption]The UK’s James Newman practised his song Embers in a leather trench coat, but couldn’t outshine Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri – a dead ringer for J-LO.
The first semi-final airs on BBC4 tomorrow at 8pm. Fingers crossed James can beat Jendrik and his giant mitt.
SAS: Who Dares Wins instructor Mark “Billy” Billingham has insisted the Channel 4 series is even more intense than it seems on TV. He said: “You need resilience, you need grit, you need determination. You’ve not come here to get your 15 minutes of fame – this isn’t Love Island.”
T-Ruth on gambling
CHANNEL 4 is tackling the issue of whether gambling is blighting football with help from a political heavyweight.
Former Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson will front the investigation in her maiden TV documentary.
Former Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson will front an investigation on gambling[/caption]Ruth Davidson Tackles Gambling And Football will look at the growth of gambling advertising in football, the impact of new technology and concerns over the harm it is doing to fans, particularly young supporters.
Dunfermline Athletic supporter Ruth said: “From leagues to broadcasts, shirts to stadiums, gambling firms have infiltrated every nook and cranny of the game.
“I wanted to find out what potential harm this has caused and whether we need a radical rethink to wean football off its gambling addiction.”
The hour-long exposé is expected to air later this year.
BRIDGERTON actress Phoebe Dyvenor says she is proud of her alter ego Daphne for bagging Rege-Jean Page’s Duke. She told website Deadline: “At a time when women had only one option . . . I admired her more because she made it happen but she called the shots, and also found love.”
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Dying pal inspired Dr Alex
LOVE Island star turned government adviser Dr Alex George has revealed the tragic inspiration behind him taking part in the show.
He was about to reject the offer to enter the villa in 2018 when he remembered the last words of his university pal Freya Barlow, who lost a battle with cancer at the age of 22.
He said during a talk with events firm Fane Productions: “We sat down and said our goodbyes. She said, ‘I know you’re an introvert who hides away from stuff. I’m not able to live the life I want. I want you to go out there and take opportunities’.
“It would be easy for me to say, ‘I’m a doctor, I’m not doing this’, and I thought, ‘No, I’m going to do it’.”