Latest news with #CarolVorderman
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson bags new TV gig 18 years after being killed off as Barry - and it's worlds away from the BBC soap
EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson has bagged a new TV gig 18 years after being killed off as Barry. Soap fans may remember Shaun as Barry Evans who first appeared on the show back in 1994. Barry died after being pushed off a cliff edge by his wife Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) in 2004. Shaun's new role is worlds away from the popular BBC soap and it has been revealed he will be featuring on Channel 5 's Celebrity Puzzling. Hosted by Jeremy Vine, the spin-off is set to see stars take on mind-bending puzzles across eight instalments. The new series is set to being on Monday, June 23 and Jeremy will be joined by Sally Lindsay and Carol Vorderman who act as team captains. Shaun will play on Sally's team in the finale episode against The Chase star Paul Sinah, also known as The Sinnerman. Other celebrities set to feature across the series include former England goalkeeper David James, comic Les Dennis, TV doctor Ranj Singh, actor John Thomson, and Olympic gold medallist Sam Quek, amongst others. Commenting on the spin-off, Jeremy said: 'It's amazing to do a quiz that's so simple and yet feels so fresh in every way. 'Celebrity Puzzling is one of those shows where, from the very first edition, everything fell into place with our amazing 5 team, with Carol and with Sally, and we just had the greatest fun in the studio. 'Not to mention burning through quite a few brain cells as we all tried to solve those beastly puzzles!' Just last year, Shaun delighted the crowd at Alexandra Palace by performing Sweet Caroline. The crowd at the World Darts Championship certainly welcomed his performance, which generated a superb atmosphere. In addition, he also performed 1980s song '(Something Inside) So Strong'. The darts cheerleaders joined in with his performance by dancing along. There was much applause for Shaun, who is frequently referred to by the name of his EastEnders character. After leaving EastEnders in 2004, Shaun went on to appear in sitcom Extras as 'Barry off EastEnders'; a satirical version of himself.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders' Shaun Williamson lands new TV job 18 years after being killed off soap as Barry
EASTENDERS legend Shaun Williamson has landed himself a brand new TV gig. The star became well known for playing Barry Evans on the BBC One soap opera before he was brutally killed off. 5 5 5 Many viewers will remember his death scenes when he was pushed off a cliff by his scorned wife, Janine, played by Charlie Brooks. In the years that have followed, he has become well-known for constantly being referred to as "Barry from EastEnders" in his media appearances as himself. And it's likely to be no different when he takes on his next TV challenge. Shaun will be a part of Channel 5 programme Celebrity Puzzling. It is the starry spin-off of the quiz show which has been given a revamp ahead of its return. Shaun will be one of the participants on the programme, which is set to be hosted by Jeremy Vine. Sally Lindsay and Carol Vorderman will be regular team captains on the programme and each be joined by a different famous face each week. Whoever lands Shaun on their team is in for a treat with the actor becoming known for his successful appearances on television quiz programmes. Other famous faces who will appear across the run include Stephen Bailey, Miles Jupp, Les Dennis, Gareth Malone John Thomson and Dom Joly. Russell Kane, Melvin Odoom, Paul Sinha, David James, Ore Oduba, Scarlett Moffatt, Dr Ranj Singh, Sam Quek and Rav Wilding will also be taking to the hot seat to try and work out the puzzles. EastEnders icon Shaun Williamson stuns Ally Pally as 'Barry' belts out 1980s hit on stage at World Darts Championship Speaking about hosting the programme, Jeremy told OK Magazine: "I didn't always have the answers [to the puzzles]. "But I quickly realised that, as the quiz master, you feel locked out. "You can't shout the answer out. That's the price you pay for watching these competitors do battle." Most devastating soap deaths SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust. Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years. EASTENDERS Barry Evans - Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying. Her plan to inherit Barry's fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files. Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was 'fake'. Bradley Branning - Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater's rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died. He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape. Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death. CORONATION STREET Tina McIntyre - Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow - despite him being married to Carla Connor. When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla's brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her. Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony - then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her. In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe. Molly Dobbs - Molly was one of the victims in Corrie's 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold). Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death. This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth. As fate would have it, Kevin's wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly's side in her final moments. Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack's father, before dying of her injuries. Vera Duckworth - Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character. Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap's most beloved couples. Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair. Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey's exit as Jack. Paul Foreman - Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease. Introduced in 2018 as David Platt's (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance - and marriage - with vicar Billy Mayhew. The MND storyline was announced in 2023 - with the expectation it would result in the character's death. EMMERDALE Sarah Sugden - After the family got into financial problems, Sarah's son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn. He didn't realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze. Nine villagers - The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale. Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash. Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died. HOLLYOAKS Carmel McQueen - The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family's car. Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble - but got stuck in it herself. Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel. 5
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carol Vorderman unveals brutal 'competitive' streak as she stars in new game show
Carol Vorderman, best known for her extraordinary maths skills, couldn't suppress her competitive side while participating in the show Celebrity Puzzling. "At first, I thought I'd be very gracious and allow my fellow guests to answer the question so the world can see how clever they are," she says. "But after about half an hour, the genteel lady aspect went out of the window. I'm very competitive." Series host Jeremy Vine was impressed by Carol's tactics, commenting, "During the final round, Memory Bank, Carol had a technique that I'm still trying to work out," and adding, "But the look of concentration she had - it was like Roger Federer, a laser!". READ MORE: Coronation Street spoilers see party horror as Aadi Alahan's exit storyline 'confirmed' READ MORE: Coronation Street 'to bring back' icon 33 years after first episode as Lou's mum 'revealed' In this new Channel 5 competition, with Jeremy at the helm, team captains Carol Vorderman and Sally Lindsay tackle brain-teasing challenges, joined each episode by a roster of celebrity brains ready to test their intellect. The lineup kicks off with Gareth Malone and Ore Oduba, followed by stars such as Scarlett Moffatt, Stephen Bailey, Melvin Odoom, Miles Jupp, Dom Joly, and others determined to put their cognition to the test. Host Jeremy admits he often felt tempted to jump into the action himself saying, "I didn't always have the answers," but recognises the restraint needed in his role. "I quickly realised that, as the quiz master, you feel locked out. You can't shout the answer out. That's the price you pay for watching these competitors do battle." Some guests on the show also took him by surprise. "I knew Shaun Williamson would be nervous about it," he commented, highlighting how different this was from Shaun's comfort zone. "It's not his usual territory. But I could see he knew stuff and was having a good time." He found former England goalkeeper David James' approach to the challenges fascinating: "Sportspeople's brains just work differently. It was enjoyable to watch." Every episode's six-round structure meant there was never a dull moment, yet Carol particularly struggled with one part: Cinema Cypher, where film titles were disguised as cryptic symbols. Carol explained her difficulties with the game, "I found it hard because I had to go backwards," revealing her weakness when it comes to recalling movie titles. "I'm absolutely rubbish with movie titles. I know The Godfather series, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars but I couldn't tell you what their names are, though I've probably seen all of those multiple times." She got especially tripped up on School of Rock, despite the hints. "When the clue said it was a Jack Black film, I thought of all the movies I knew and tried to make them fit," she confessed, acknowledging that she might have been too forceful in her attempts. Even though she stumbled, Carol relished the challenge, "That's the worst thing I did but I really enjoyed trying to work it out," she expressed. Aside from the brain-teasers, for Carol, becoming a team captain brought unexpected joy. "I can't remember ever being a team captain before and I really enjoyed it." TV legend Carol Vorderman spilled the beans on her recent game show experience, revealing she was starstruck by the knowledge of fellow contestants. "This was interesting because I was with Scarlett Morfatt on one show and then Paul Sinha another show. In terms of general knowledge, that's vast - Paul is one of the top quizzers in the country!". She also praised the show's format for playing to celebrity strengths. "The questions were totally geared to those celebs," Carol shared, "I didn't know pop bands but Scarlett did. It was brilliantly done." Carol gushed about working with her close pal Sally Lindsay, adding a touch of personal warmth to the set. "Sally is just a joy," she beamed, "She's actually one of my best friends so it was a joy to be with her even though the way our brains work is different. We're both Northern, feisty women and we like a laugh. So I loved being in that studio." Reflecting on her lifelong puzzle passion, Carol reminisced about her childhood hobbies. "I've always loved puzzles. When I was a child, I used to buy old maths books," she recalled. Those books were her early challenges, as she raced against time with pencil in hand. "They were my puzzles. I would sit at home with my pencil and go against the clock. Chess is one of the big ones." Her enthusiasm for chess even led her to host a historic match in 1993 between chess giants Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short. The event marked a milestone as the Kremlin's first commercial venture, a speed chess championship. Nowadays, Carol is an avid Sudoku enthusiast, finding joy in solving complex grids during her train journeys back to Bristol after filming. Jeremy's bond with puzzles holds a special place in his heart. "My dad, who died about six years ago, was a big fan of Carol's," he shares, "He was a mathematician and he spent his life in higher education and he was obsessed with one thing which was aligning the prime numbers, only divisible by one. He spent half a century with notepads trying to work it out. That's my memory of holidays - my dad sitting with a pad and a pencil, trying to work it out this living secret." Celebrity Puzzling is fundamentally a show about human connections. Expect competitive spirits, fits of giggles and genuine matey vibes that make for utterly delightful viewing. So fetch your favourite brew, plump up those pillows and get cosy - Celebrity Puzzling is the perfect chance to tune out the world and give your grey cells a workout.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Carol Vorderman shares ruthless 'competitive' streak as new show kicks off
Tackling thrilling puzzles in Celebrity Puzzling, Carol Vorderman revealed she tried to be a good sport - but her competitive nature eventually caught up with her. She's famous for her quick mathematical brain, but that didn't stop Carol Vorderman 's competitive streak coming out in Celebrity Puzzling. 'At first, I thought I'd be very gracious and allow my fellow guests to answer the question so the world can see how clever they are,' she says, 'But after about half an hour, the genteel lady aspect went out of the window. I'm very competitive.' It didn't go unnoticed by host Jeremy Vine, who fronts the eight-part series. 'During the final round, Memory Bank, Carol had a technique that I'm still trying to work out,' he says, 'But the look of concentration she had - it was like Roger Federer, a laser!' In this brand new Channel 5 show, Jeremy plays quizmaster and referee as team captains Carol Vorderman and Sally Lindsay take on mind-bending mental challenges alongside a rotating cast of celebrity guests. Each episode sees a fresh pair of famous faces join the fray - Gareth Malone and Ore Oduba start us off, with Scarlett Moffatt, Stephen Bailey, Melvin Odoom, Miles Jupp, Dom Joly and more queuing up to flex their grey matter. Jeremy says he often found himself 'constantly' itching to join in. 'I didn't always have the answers,' he says, 'But I quickly realised that, as the quiz master, you feel locked out. You can't shout the answer out. That's the price you pay for watching these competitors do battle.' Some of the guests surprised even him. 'I knew Shaun Williamson would be nervous about it,' he says, 'It's not his usual territory. But I could see he knew stuff and was having a good time.' He was particularly interested in watching goalie David James take on the challenge. 'Sportspeople's brains just work differently. It was enjoyable to watch.' The show's six-round structure keeps things lively, but one segment in particular gave Carol a headache: Cinema Cypher, where film titles are hidden behind a string of symbols. 'I found it hard because I had to go backwards,' she says, 'I'm absolutely rubbish with movie titles. I know The Godfather series, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars but I couldn't tell you what their names are, though I've probably seen all of those multiple times.' She came unstuck when trying to work out School of Rock. 'When the clue said it was a Jack Black film, I thought of all the movies I knew and tried to make them fit,' she admits. 'I forced it rather than trying to work it out. I didn't know the movie title.' But she revelled in the challenge. 'That's the worst thing I did but I really enjoyed trying to work it out,' she says. For Carol, however, the biggest novelty wasn't the puzzles - it was being a captain. 'I can't remember ever being a team captain before and I really enjoyed it." 'This was interesting because I was with Scarlett Morfatt on one show and then Paul Sinha another show. In terms of general knowledge, that's vast - Paul is one of the top quizzers in the country!' But what makes the show shine is its clever tailoring: questions are curated for the guests' strengths. 'The questions were totally geared to those celebs,' says Carol, 'I didn't know pop bands but Scarlett did. It was brilliantly done.' Her long-standing friendship with Sally Lindsay added an extra layer of warmth to filming. 'Sally is just a joy,' she says, 'She's actually one of my best friends so it was a joy to be with her even though the way our brains work is different. We're both Northern, feisty women and we like a laugh. So I loved being in that studio.' Carol's lifelong love of puzzles runs deep. 'I've always loved puzzles. When I was a child, I used to buy old maths books,' she remembers. 'They were my puzzles. I would sit at home with my pencil and go against the clock. Chess is one of the big ones.' That passion led her to hosting the 1993 world chess match between Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short. It was the Kremlin's first ever commercial event - a speed chess championship. These days, she's a devoted Sudoku fan, happily losing herself in grids during long train rides back to Bristol from filming. Jeremy's relationship with puzzles is equally personal. 'My dad, who died about six years ago, was a big fan of Carol's,' he says, 'He was a mathematician and he spent his life in higher education and he was obsessed with one thing which was aligning the prime numbers, only divisible by one. He spent half a century with notepads trying to work it out. That's my memory of holidays - my dad sitting with a pad and a pencil, trying to work it out this living secret.' Celebrity Puzzling is, at its heart, a show about connection. There's rivalry, bursts of laughter and moments of real camaraderie that make it a joy to watch. So grab a cuppa, fluff the cushions and settle in - Celebrity Puzzling invites you to switch off the chaos and stretch your brain.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TV star, 56, says she's juggling string of secret hunks & ending ‘one guy' romances after Carol Vorderman sex confession
LIZZIE Cundy has opened up about her vibrant love life, revealing she's currently juggling several secret romances and has no intention of settling down with just one man anymore. TV star Lizzie, 56, who was married to footballer Jason Cundy, 55, until 2012, spoke candidly in the newly-released BBC documentary, Sex After Celebrity. 7 7 And it comes two years after Carol Vorderman, 64, stunned fans with her own polyamorous sex confession on live TV. Over the years, Lizzie has been linked to a number of high-profile men, including her ex-husband Jason, with whom she shares two sons, as well as rugby ace Danny Cipriani, 39, and nightclub boss Jeremy Gordeno, 59. Appearing in the film, former WAG Lizzie told viewers how she's keeping her love life spicy. She said: 'Dating is great now. I am loving dating. I do a long-distance relationship, which is fantastic.' Lizzie went on to spill the sexy secrets of juggling multiple men, sending 'little naughty pics' to keep the flames burning. She teased: 'So, you know, you can send little naughty pics and you just keep it fresh. They're not there all the time, getting on your nerves.' Lizzie admitted she's now enjoying the best of all worlds with a number of companions who each bring something different to her life. She said: 'You know, guys are good for different things. I used to have one guy and I'd think, 'Oh, if only he was a little bit more fun and wanted to go out at night.' 'So I've got guys, you know, one likes football, one likes going out for dinner, one makes me laugh, one's good in bed, you know. Got it all! "I'm free, I love it, and I've never been happier.' Lizzie Cundy in new feud with Carol Vorderman as she delivers cheeky swipe Earlier in the show, Lizzie recalled a horrific ordeal when an ex attempted to film a sex tape without her consent. She said: "I'm more aware, now I'm a celebrity, of how I am, I suppose, in bed. 'I remember dating a guy and he kept using his phone. I was like, 'What are you doing?' And then I thought, 'He's filming me. He's going to make a sex tape!' "And I'm more wary and watching, rather than more relaxed. But I'm a free girl." During a discussion with glamour model Danielle Lloyd and former politician Lembit Opik, she explained being forced to shut down a similar attempt on a date. 7 7 7 Lizzie said: 'I've actually been on a date where, sitting there, and I've seen him push his phone. "And I've thought, 'I think he's recording me.' So I just said, 'Yeah, is your phone on? Are you recording?' "And he just went, 'Yeah.'" Lizzie's revelations come after Carol's own headline-making confession in 2023. The Countdown legend admitted to having five men in her life - with no exclusive commitments, allowing everyone to move on freely. However, Carol recently revealed she had since dropped two of those relationships. She told The Times with a shrug: "Life's moved on, it's free-spirited. There's no ownership but it works. "I haven't had many relationships but I've had a couple of bad ones — they're a gamble." She continued: "I love being single. I couldn't think of anything worse than being with a full-time partner. "Most women, even happily married ones, would say if something happened to their partner they'd feel the same. They to me say, 'Yay! Good for you!'" What is polyamory? Polyamory is the practice of having romantic relationships with more than one person at the same time, with the knowledge and consent of all parties. It can refer to relationships where one person has multiple partners or spouses, or where all parties are in a relationship with each other, for example in a throuple. According to You Gov, 6.8% of people in the UK have been in a polyamorous relationship. 7
