A FEW eyebrows were raised in the TV world when two of the biggest stars of hit drama Rivals were revealed to be fronting a gameshow for ITV.
Actors and will host the big new Saturday night entertainment show, which is due to air next year.
But the parallels between and the new programme, called Nobody’s Fool, don’t end with ITV’s choice of hosts.
A TV insider said: “Rivals is the story of a web of rival individuals which is spun around a stately house, Penscombe Court, and their efforts to constantly outdo one another.
“That’s exactly the basis for the new gameshow, which also has the background of a country pile and sees all the competitors try to outwit one another.
“Those in the know are already describing it as: ‘A game of intellect and deception’ which could be the catchline for one of Jilly’s novels.”
In , which debuted last year, Emily played an MPs saucy wife, , who was caught playing naked tennis with sexy lothario at his country house.
The scene caused such a stir it was nominated for for the top TV moment of the year.
Meanwhile, Danny plays , who’s trapped in a loveless marriage, but finds romance elsewhere.
The second half of Jilly’s book, first published in 1988, is now being turned into a second series which also airs in 2026.
Which could be particularly awkward if both shows drop around the same time...
LEO’S INSPECTOR NORSE
HE made a pec-tacular impression starring in the on Netflix - but the historic drama’s once muscly leading man looks to have trimmed down.
Leo Suter played hirsuite Harald Sigurdsson in two series of the show, which required him to lift some serious weight toget to get that warrior physique.
Now the actor’s sporting a more refined look to play Tommy Lynley, a police detective in new BBC One thriller, Lynley, which drops this autumn.
The four-parter, which also stars and Sofia Barclay, is an adaptation of best-selling crime novels by Elizabeth George.
All the action is spurred on by the dynamic between central character Tommy, who comes from a posh background, and a working class sergeant, Barbara Havers, played by Sofia.
Together the “mismatch” turns them into a formidable crime-fighting partnership...plus Sofia can always spot Leo if he ever starts hitting the gym again.
has gone straight to the top of the trending chart.
The sequel has been released nearly 30 years after the original, the highly anticipated sequel to the cult 1996 comedy sees reprise his role as the golfer at the heart of the comedy.
APPLE TV+ has renewed Stick for a second season.
The golfing comedy drama is exec produced by Owen Wilson and also sees him play Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago.
Then he finds new purpose after meeting a troubled 17-year-old golfer called Santi.
PADDY’S SUNDAY BLUES
has had, erm, a bit of a paddy after not being able to sail into his own show.
The comedian, TV presenter and DJ revealed security at the entrance of the studios refuse him entry unless he shows his work pass.
Shortly after kicking off his Sunday morning show last week, Paddy took to the airwaves to moan: “How long have we been doing this show? It’s been over a year, actually.
“I’m just wondering when security are going to know it’s me.
“I’m not even bothered about them recognising me off the telly, or anything I’ve done throughout my career.
“Just the fact that I come in every Sunday for a year and a bloke still wouldn’t let me in this morning.”
