Category Entertainment News

Bargain Hunt star Thomas Forrester has revealed that not everyone has been a fan of the long-running BBC daytime antiques show.

The series will celebrate its 25th anniversary next week with a special episode on Thursday 13 March, and Thomas has been remembering that legendary TV star Terry Wogan was not shy in sharing his opinion on the series when it first aired.

In a documentary about the show, Thomas, who is now 50, said he was only a “very young boy” when he joined the series. In one early episode, he and fellow antiques dealer Philip Serrell, now 70, spent more than £300 on two objects thinking they were items which would rake in the cash at auction. However, they both ended up making a huge loss when the items went under the hammer.

Thomas said: “I was a very young boy when I joined as an expert. I’d say my most memorable object was when Philip and I were at Shepton Mallet in the early 2000s. It was a prime-time show back then and on in the evening. I bought a pedal car and Philip had bought a cut-out wooden turkey fairground ride”.

“Now we spent over £300 on this and, the next day, Terry Wogan on the radio said ‘ I have just watched two supposed BBC experts burn through over £300 in under 20 minutes’. Sir Terry witnessed my downfall”.

On the show, viewers watch as two rival dealers guide two teams of contestants as they buy items at antique shops and fairs. They then sell their items at auction, with the winning team being the one that has made the most profit.

There has been some controversy over the upcoming Bargain Hunt documentary, as Tim Wonnacott, who hosted the show for 12 years, gets less than a minute of screen time in the anniversary special. &nbsp,

Tim, aged 73, hosted the antiques game show from 2003 until 2015 but quit the show for “personal reasons”. At the time, the BBC said in a statement: “We would like to thank Tim Wonnacott for his dedication to Bargain Hunt over the last twelve-years and for the great expertise that he has brought to the show in that time. Bargain Hunt will be moving in a new direction next year utilising a team of experts who present a number of shows each. Tim continues to work with the BBC on Antiques Road Trip”.

25 Years Of Bargain Hunt features famous faces from over the years including Anita Manning, Philip Serrell, Kate Bliss, Danny Sebastian and Thomas Forrester recalling their best buys and favourite moments from the past.

But one TV insider said Tim “barely gets a look-in” despite his 12 years with the show. Instead he gets just 20 seconds of airtime in clips which are flashed up on screen during the 45 minute tribute.

The anniversary show’s presenter Charlie Ross does salute Tim for being the man who introduced the famous Bargain Hunt “high kick” which the contestants and experts all do at the end of every show. Clips are shown of Tim being the first to kick his leg in the air and then later footage of everyone doing it as a gimmick to end each episode. Charlie tells viewers: “It started with Tim Wonnacott”!

25 Years of Bargain Hunt is on BBC1 on Thursday March 13

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A top Netflix actress is rumoured to be in discussions to replace the late Dame Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.

Janet McTeer, an Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress, could be the new face of the beloved Hogwarts deputy headmistress, according to Deadline. The 63 year old actress is best known for her role in the 2000 comedy Tumbleweed and as attorney Helen Piece in the popular TV show Ozark. Meanwhile, Paapa Essiedu is reportedly finalising his deal to play Severus Snape, originally portrayed by Alan Rickman.

The 34 year old actor has been involved in projects such as The Lazarus Project and Gangs Of London. HBO recently stated: “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals”.

John Lithgow is currently the only confirmed cast member, announcing he will be playing Albus Dumbledore in the HBO series. The 79 year old actor expressed surprise at being chosen to fill the shoes of the magical headmaster, a role first played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.

“It’s a new chapter of my life. I’m afraid”, he confessed, “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes”.

Dumbledore, the fictional headmaster of Hogwarts and a mentor to Harry Potter, is one of the most cherished characters among fans of Rowling’s original books and the film series. However, not all die-hard fans were thrilled with his casting, arguing that a British actor should have landed the role, not an American, as per the original films.

On X, fans expressed their disappointment: “I can’t understand why John Lithgow is the new Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter HBO series. Dumbledore is British, Lithgow is from the USA”. Another said: “Nothing against John Lithgow, but Dumbledore and the whole Harry Potter franchise is British”.

A third commented: “I love John Lithgow. Absolutely bananas they’re not hiring a British actor to play Dumbledore”. A fourth chimed in: “WarnerBros quite literally need to pull something out of their hat to save Harry Potter. John Lithgow as Dumbledore certainly feels like it’s going to put a lot of people off wanting to watch it. Whatever happened to keeping it all British”?

The new Harry Potter television series promises a deeper exploration of the wizarding world and could run for up to 10 years.

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Coleen Nolan has paid a gorgeous tribute to her late sister Linda on International Women’s Day.

The Loose Women star, 59, took to Instagram on Saturday to celebrate all the strong, loving, and incredible women in her life – including her five sisters. Coleen wrote: “Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing women in my life and to every other woman! Here’s to lifting each other up and celebrating our power”.

The first image was a picture of Coleen embracing her daughter Ciara, 24, while at a family gettogether. Coleen then posted a throwback photo from her childhood alongside sisters Maureen, Anne, Denise, Bernie, and Linda. Next, Coleen shared another throwback photo from her time in The Nolan’s. Lastly, she shared a group photo alongside all of her Loose Women co-stars including Linda Robson, Katie Piper, Olivia Attwood, and Judi Love, among others.

Last month, Coleen penned an emotional tribute to her sister Linda on the day she would have turned 66. The Loose Women star lost her beloved sister Linda in January following a courageous battle with cancer. Linda, a member of the renowned pop group The Nolans, passed away at the age of 65.

To mark Linda’s birthday, Coleen shared a touching tribute on her Instagram Stories, showing a moment of them both dancing together. Linda’s passing followed a long and public battle with breast cancer, which she had been fighting for over 20 years. Despite her health challenges, she remained positive and hopeful and inspired people around her with her cancer story.

The singer’s funeral service was held on February 1, 2025, at St. Paul’s Church in Blackpool, where she had spent much of her life and was attended by the star’s close family and friends. Back in January, mum-of-three Coleen shared a heartfelt message, describing Linda as a “beacon of love, kindness, and strength” and expressed that Linda’s memory would “live on in the many lives she touched”.

She penned: “I am utterly devastated by the passing of my sister, Linda. Lind was a beacon of love, kindness, and strength. Her wit, humour and laughter was infectious, her presence could light up any room. Linda had a heart full of compassion and always knew how to bring comfort and joy to those around her.

” Her memory will live on in the many lives she touched, and while we will miss her more than words can express, we take solace in the love and warmth she shared with all of us. Rest in peace, Linda. You will forever be in our hearts. Love you, Coleen xxx (Colette), “she added.

For more information or support about cancer, you can contact Macmillan Cancer Support.

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Amanda Holden supported a Britain’s Got Talent act who was left in tears during their audition.

The latest episode of the ITV show saw guitarist Olly Pearson, 11, from Wrexham, take to the stage in Blackpool with a performance of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. The musician told the judges that he had learned to play the guitar from his grandad, who was stood at the side of the stage with BGT hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, and said that the dream was to “become the greatest guitarist in the world”. He ended up receiving the golden buzzer from Amanda, 54, who was particularly impressed – with her saying “a star is born” as part of her feedback.

Addressing the performance, she said: “Oh my God, Olly, I mean literally a star is born. I have never, ever seen anything like that in my life”. Following chants from the audience at the venue, she said: “I just think you deserve the golden buzzer”.

Olly was seen in tears after golden confetti fell onto the stage, before being joined by Amanda, who provided some comfort. She said: “Don’t cry it’s good”. She went on to add: “It’s a good thing. Well done, well done. So good”.

Alesha Dixon said in her feedback that she had thought he was “gonna go far” from early on in the audition. She added: “Congratulations on a well deserved golden buzzer”.

Guest judge KSI said: “You’re eleven and you’re already a star. I love it! It was crazy. You were like a completely different person, especially when you’re right here in front of us looking in our eyes and just playing your heart out. Fully deserved that golden buzzer.

Whilst Simon Cowell told Olly, who is now through to the semi-finals:” You already have your own distinct sound, which usually people take decades. You’re that good. I mean, seriously good. That was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Good for you. “

Following the audition airing tonight, fans took to X to share their thoughts on Olly’s performance. One viewer said:” Olly is definitely a guitar virtuoso! What a great Golden Buzzer selection, Amanda! “Another commented:” Absolutely well deserved of that Golden Buzzer. This kid’s some rock ‘ n ‘ roll genius! “

Sharing their thoughts, someone else said:” Never before have I got goosebumps from a rock guitarist! Wow! “Another viewer wrote on the platform:” Awesome kid, great to see the young ones keeping classic rock music alive and kicking. “And one fan said:” Best act of the series so far. Well done, Olly. “Whilst one person said:” He was amazing and deserved the golden buzzer. “

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Pregnant Jesy Nelson has received support from fellow X Factor winner Sam Bailey over the news that she’s having a procedure to help her unborn twins amid complications.

Jesy, 33, and her partner Zion Foster, 26, announced earlier this month that she’s facing “complications” due to being pregnant with identical twins, adding that she was pre-stage twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). They then shared this afternoon that she will now be having a procedure to give their twins “the best chance of surviving” after “feeling a bit poorly” recently and a worsening of her symptoms.

The update prompted well wishes on Instagram, including from Sam, 47. She wrote in the comments section: “Sending so much love and strength to you both. You’ve got this darlin. You’re in the best possible hands, having had a couple of tricky births myself, I know what ya going through”.

Sam – who won the X Factor in 2013, two years after Little Mix did – has previously spoken about her family, including having discussed experiencing a&nbsp, miscarriage whilst carrying twins more than a decade ago. She told the Mirror&nbsp, back in 2014 that she had lost her now 15-year-old son Tommy’s twin and hadn’t realised she was expecting twins until then.

Sam, now also a parent to Brooke, 19, and Miley, 10, told us once: “At the time when I was pregnant with Tommy, I had no idea I was carrying his twin as well. It was only after the miscarriage that I found out I had lost a child and it hit me really hard. But I had Tommy and that was a happy thing. I told myself that for whatever reason, that other baby wasn’t meant to be and that was what was supposed to happen”.

Her supportive message to Jesy came in response to the latest update from her and Zion. Jesy told fans in a video message earlier: “So I’ve been feeling a bit poorly like the past few days. Been having a few of the symptoms that I need to watch out for – which is like my belly tightening, struggle breathing. So today we came into the hospital to just have a check-up basically. Just in case. And unfortunately the symptoms have got worse so we now have to have… they have to perform the procedure, which is obviously not what we wanted to happen”.

Jesy said: “But it’s necessary because it’s gonna give our babies like the best chance of surviving. So yeah, we’re just waiting to go in. And we’re just hoping and praying for the best really. I feel gutted. I feel absolutely gutted because I really was hoping that we wouldn’t even be in this position”.

She was then reassured by Zion as she appeared in tears. He told his partner: “They’re doing it to give us the best chance. Our babies the best chance”. Jesy added: “Yeah, like that’s why they do this procedure. So that it literally gives you the best chance of your baby surviving but it’s obviously just really scary cause there’s so many things that can happen. We just wanted to update you guys. Keep you in the loop with what’s going on. So yeah just pray for us please. Thank you”.

The update follows Jesy and Zion revealing just days ago that she was having complications with the pregnancy. She said in a previous video: “So we are having identical twins, which is so exciting. We’re just like… we actually can’t believe it. But unfortunately, there are complications that come with having identical… having identical twins.

” The type of twins we are having are called Mono/Di twins, and with that, so normally, most twins will have two placentas that they feed off of. But when you have Mono/Di twins, that means your twins live off one placenta, which can lead to lots of complications. One of them being one baby might take all the nutrients, the other might. Which is really awful to say, but could lead to both babies dying and at the moment, I am currently pre stage TTTS, which is twin to twin transfusion, and I’m being monitored very closely. “

Jesy added at the time that she has to be” scanned twice a week “and shared:” Every time I’ve gone it’s got a little bit worse. “She continued:” But we are just hoping and praying for the best. We feel like so blessed that we’ve been given twins but it’s just really sad that unfortunately it does come with its complications, which we had no idea about. We honestly had no clue that this kinda thing happens when you have twins and we just really wanna raise awareness about this because there’s so many people that don’t know about this. “

If you or somebody you know is in a similar position to Jesy and Zion, Twins Trust are on hand to offer support to families with twins, triplets and more.

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at the Miscarriage Association. You can call them on 01924 200799 or email info@miscarriageassociation.org. uk

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at childbereavementuk. org or you can call them on 0800 02 888 40.

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Justin Bieber has raised eyebrows with a cryptic post on Instagram, leaving fans worried after he told them, “we don’t owe anyone anything”.

The pop sensation, 31, shared the message with his 294 million followers just days after a video surfaced showing him smoking a bong. In recent weeks, Justin has been drawing concern for his disheveled appearance, with some even accusing him of “acting like a teenager” and “losing touch with reality”.

His latest post read: “We have nothing to prove today. Just the gift of life today to accept and receive. Nothing is owed to us. And we don’t owe anyone anything”.

In recent weeks, Justin has left his fans increasingly worried for his health and wellbeing – and they are only growing more worried for the star given his glum appearances of late. Earlier this week, the Sorry hitmaker left fans more worried than ever after seeming to take drugs in a new Instagram post – with the star also appearing to have ditched his wedding ring in the snaps amid concerns about his marriage to Hailey Bieber.

The post in question saw Justin share six very similar photos of himself appearing to use a bong to smoke marijuana. The shots showed the Canadian singer sitting on a bike, with several quad bikes parked behind him. Justin kept his head down and covered with a hood, layering his hoodie with a navy and purple jacket, paired with loose black trousers and light brown boots.

The singer made a clear glass bong the star of the photos, alternating between lighting it and blowing out huge streams of smoke. If the photos weren’t clear enough, he chose the song Hits from the Bong by Cypress Hill to play in the background. While Justin, however, seemed pleased with his bong-oriented post, fans weren’t too impressed.

“Jesus freed you from that, bro, why are you going back to that”? one fan asked, with another slamming: “Aren’t you in your 30s? This is a post a 14 year old would make. Man up and be a DAD”. A third agreed: “At least do it discreetly, such a bad role model for your son and fans”. Justin and Hailey welcomed their first child, son Jack Blues, last August, and the young boy was the topic of many people’s concern. “I hope Jack doesn’t have to be around all this smoke. A kid doesn’t deserve it”, one person wrote, with a second blasting: “Get off the drugs and raise your son”.

Fans were particularly concerned seeing as Justin has been frank about his addiction issues in the past. During an episode of the docuseries Justin Bieber: Seasons, Justin confessed that he started using marijuana when he was only “12 or 13”. After struggling to grow up in the public eye Justin’s substance misuse escalated to “pretty heavy drugs”, with the star also abusing alcohol as a coping mechanism. By 2021 he started working on sobriety, worrying he “was dying” due to his years of issues.

Justin has shared more drug content in recent days, rapping about being high and filming himself smoking. Despite the worrying content, however, Justin’s reps said rumours of him using hard drugs were “absolutely not true”, and that he was “simply in one of the best places in his life ‘ as they shut down the rumour he was using hard drugs as” absolutely not true. “

Speaking to TMZ, Justin’s rep said the past year has been” very transformative for him as he ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him. “They added that fans ‘ concerns about his physical and mental health are” exhausting and pitiful and shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive. “

In relation to his worrying appearance of late, fans have said:” This young man looks decidedly unwell. I hope he gets the help he appears to desperately need. “While another echoed:” He looks 40 years old. This young man needs help. Serious help. Something is eating at him. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. He has a son to raise. “

It comes amid speculation on his marriage to Hailey – who he married in 2018. Fans have been claiming” it doesn’t look like things are going well “in the couple’s romance. The singer added more fuel to the fire when he unfollowed his wife on Instagram in January. Before unfollowing his wife, he unfollowed his father-in-law Stephen Baldwin and shared another controversial photo of a bong.

Naturally, his huge fanbase were concerned by his decision to share the photo of the bong on his Instagram, and questioned the state of his mental health amid his seemingly declining appearance. However, after headlines hit about Justin and Hailey’s apparent ‘ troubled ‘ marriage, Justin put the rumours to bed as he took to Instagram to insist that he and his wife are still very much happily married. Justin hit back by posting a number of photos of Hailey.

He claimed he wasn’t the person to unfollow his wife on social media, writing to fans on his Stories:” Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife. S**t is getting suss out here. “Justin then quickly followed his wife again on Instagram as fans breathed a sigh of relief.

*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.

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