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Metro
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Really upsetting' ITV axe will devastate show that's been on for 26 years
Loose Women appears set to lose its studio audience (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Loose Women stars are reportedly concerned about the impact of another major change to the show. The ITV programme – which first aired in 1999 – is already looking at a reduced schedule to just 30 weeks a year, with sweeping changes to the channel's daytime TV output. Now, it's said the shorter run will also be taking place without a studio audience. A source told Metro: 'While there is a proposal to not have a studio audience for Loose Women from 2026, that doesn't necessarily mean that we'll never have a studio audience again, it just won't be in the same way as it is now. 'At this stage we are still exploring new ways of working and producing the show when we move to a new studio next year.' Meanwhile, MailOnline has reported that 'the panelists are really upset over the decision to axe the live studio audience from the show'. The live audience is believed to be a key part of the show's appeal (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Loose Women is facing some major changes (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) 'It's what sets the series apart from the rest of ITV daytime and now there are massive fears that viewers will switch off completely,' the insider added. 'The only concern now is to cut costs and having a live studio audience can be expensive, with the added need for security and a warmup artist.' Loose Women cutback leave a bad taste in my mouth After the reports, Metro's deputy tv editor Tom Percival gives his thoughts on the Loose Women changes and the state of television… I'm not a huge fan of Loose Women, nor am I a die-hard morning TV viewer. Yet I must admit the recent news of cutbacks and changes to ITV's morning schedule has left a bad taste in my mouth – like a noxious combination of toothpaste and orange juice. I just can't shake the feeling that this is the thin edge of the wedge, a wedge that poses an existential crisis to what I believe is one of the UK's most important exports. No, not Loose Women, but television Everywhere you turn in the industry right now, it feels like things are breaking down, getting worse, and just becoming a bit rubbish. Look at a show like Doctorr Who, previously the BBC's golden child. Now, if rumours are to be believed, the Beeb are struggling to finance it. ITV meanwhile is rumoured to bemaking cutbacks at TV stalwart Corrie to save cash, and just last year, Channel 4 laid off 200 members of staff. It stinks and demonstrates how little we value our creative industries here in the UK. For years, TV (and movies) have allowed the UK to punch well above our weight in the pop-culture boxing ring and played an important part of the UK economy. It's heartbreaking then to see one of the UK's most vibrant industries fall to rack and ruin. So while Loose Women losing its live audience might not seem important to those who don't watch it, you may regret that when it's your favorite show on the chopping block. Viewers and presenters – including the likes of Ruth Langsford, Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha and Charlene White – already got a taste of empty studio shows during the pandemic. According to the insider, the feel is that having no studio audience 'creates low mood and lack of atmosphere'. Panelist Kaye Adams recently opened up about the cuts, which she said came 'out of the blue'. Some panelists are said to be 'upset' by the change (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) The show will also only air for 30 weeks a year from 2026 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) She said on her How To Be 60 podcast: 'I didn't anticipate it, which is probably stupid in retrospect. You get into a sort of rhythm of life. 'I had a couple of sleepless nights I have to say, because it's just like the rug's been pulled from under your feet – what has been familiar.' When Loose Women moves to its 'seasonal' schedule, Lorraine will do the same, while also seeing its run time cut in half. Currently the show airs from 9am to 10am, but from January 2026 its start time will change to 9:30am. ITV's daytime shows are getting an overhaul (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Lorraine's runtime is being halved as well as a reduced schedule (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Instead, GMB will run from 6am to 9:30am – and it'll be extended another 30 minutes when Lorraine isn't on air. Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV's Media and Entertainment Division, said in a statement last month: 'I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off-screen in our Daytime production teams, and we will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition. 'Daytime has been a core element of ITV's schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award-winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.' Metro has contacted ITV for comment. Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. Arrow MORE: Inside Emmerdale star Amelia Flanagan's life with fellow soap actor siblings Arrow MORE: Who won at the British Soap Awards 2025? Full list of winners revealed Arrow MORE: All episodes of 'thrilling' axed historical drama dropping on free UK streamer
Metro
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Race Across The World fans have limited time to apply for BBC series
Race Across The World is edging towards the finish line, and time is running out to apply for sixth series. The BBC reality travel show is currently on air with two weeks to go, and this time round it's tasked five partners to race across China, Nepal and India. In an added twist, they've had the challenge of doing it on the lowest budget in the show's history at just over £1,000 per person. The Beeb describes the show as a journey of self-discovery, as much mental as it is physical. If you reckon you'd be up to the task, you've got just a few weeks left to get your form in, with the deadline fast approaching after the final two episodes air on June 11. Here's everything you need to know about applying. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If you want to apply to Race Across The World, click here for all the details. Just make sure you don't miss out – the deadline is Sunday, 6th July 2025. On the application page, the BBC have said: 'This experience is open to all, whether you're a seasoned traveller or total novice. 'We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, to what lengths you would go to win.' They added: 'Maybe you're looking to change something in your life? Or are keen to share the journey with someone special like a family member, best friend, or someone you've lost touch with. 'You may even have a very personal reason for wanting to travel at this time in your life or want to explore a particular part of the world.' There are a few points to note while you register too, with each team of two applying together for the series. You must both be over 18 years old at the time of applying, as well as being a legal resident in the UK, and be free to take up to eight weeks off between September and November 2025. Meanwhile, you'll also need a valid passport, and the right to 'travel to all locations as we specify'. While this season of Race Across The World has been a hit with viewers, there have still been some grumbles from certain quarters around the balance between personal backstories and the drama of getting from A to B on a budget. 'The sob stories have ruined it for me. It's nice to see couples bond and improve their relationships (or argue) but the constant sob stories are ridiculous,' wrote @_I__yes__I_ echoed on Reddit. And @purpletshirtz added that they thought the show's runtime would be better spent on the ins and outs of the race, writing: 'I think we're missing out on the main story of their travel.' More Trending However, Metro's Deputy TV Editor Tom Percival argued that the backstories teach 'us about the teams, their relationships, and their lives'. He pointed out: 'It lets us know who to root for, who's come the furthest, and who's got the longest left to go. If you cut the sob stories, you might as well cut the whole show.' View More » Race Across The World airs Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Popular BBC series to return to TV as huge cast changes are confirmed MORE: Casualty fans confused by BBC soap change as end of an era is confirmed MORE: Zoe Ball suffering from painful condition weeks after returning to Radio 2
Metro
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Race Across the World fans share their biggest problem with new season
The fifth season of Race Across The World is well underway. The BBC reality travel show has tasked five partners to race across China, Nepal and India. And they've been set the challenge of doing it on the lowest budget in the show's history – just over £1,000 per person. While this season of Race Across The World has once again been a hit with viewers, there have been grumbles from certain quarters. The complaints largely centre around the show's balance between the personal back stories of the duos and the high-wire drama of getting from A to B on the cheap. Many fans think the so-called sob stories have occupied too much screen time, as @fish-and-cushion posited in a buzzy Reddit discussion which playfully dubbed the show Sob Story Across The World. (Ouch). @bobblebob100 agreed that the focus on contestant backstories can be 'a bit irritating', but added: 'But that's on the producers not the contestants. They clearly ask them the questions.' 'The sob stories have ruined it for me. It's nice to see couples bond and improve their relationships (or argue) but the constant sob stories are ridiculous,' @_I__yes__I_ echoed. @purpletshirtz added that they thought the show's runtime would be better spent on the ins and outs of the race, writing: 'I think we're missing out on the main story of their travel. More Trending 'Ie where they sleep each night, what/where they eat for each meal, hotel, hostel etc, when they get ill, what they do when they all meet up at a nice hotel. We're not even sure of the timings this series. The behind the scenes programme is much more informative and, imo, interesting.' Our Deputy TV Editor Tom Percival shares his thoughts… Honestly,I don't get why people are complaining about the 'sob stories'. One of the best things about Race Across the World is the way the challenge gives those taking part the confidence to discuss whatever it may be that motivated them to go on this incredible journey. And while I get why people might think there's a bit more backstory than previous series, the series would be incredibly dull if all we were doing were watching people silently go from train, to plane, to car and back again. It would be the equivalent of watching someone do their morning commute! No backstory teaches us about the teams, their relationships, and their lives. It lets us know who to root for, who's come the furthest, and who's got the longest left to go. If you cut the sob stories, you might as well cut the whole show. However, other fans were keen to defend the emotional beats in the show, with @IceKalisto writing: 'I find that it's the stories that make the show different from other travel programmes. Without getting to know the teams it wouldn't be that interesting.' 'I like the stories too,' wrote @Constant_Oil_3775. 'I like hearing everyone's stories it would be great to hear from the people they stay with as well.' View More » Race Across The World airs Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 7 TV shows to watch after Clarkson's Farm season 4 MORE: Doctor Who has fixed a big mistake – but it might be too late MORE: One bold but brilliant Doctor Who decision just saved the finale
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
UK libraries facing growing calls to remove LGBT+ books
Librarians are facing growing calls for LGBTQ+ books to be removed from shelves, industry leaders have warned, as the influence of US pressure groups is felt in the UK. Some library workers who fight back against censorship are being trolled online or even losing their jobs, according to members of the sector. LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall has raised concerns after new research seen by The Independent revealed the vast majority of book removal requests in UK school libraries have been focused on LGBTQ+ content. Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series about two schoolboys' romantic relationship and Billy's Bravery by Tom Percival about a boy who wants dress up as superhero Nature Girl were among the titles reported to have faced calls for removal. After interviewing 10 UK school librarians about book censorship, Alison Hicks, an associate professor in library and information studies at UCL, said: 'Almost all the UK attacks reported in my study centred on LGBTQ+ materials, while US attacks appear to target material related to race, ethnicity and social justice as well as LGBTQ+ issues.' Her study, to be published in the School Library Association (SLA)'s journal The School Librarian, suggested US action groups are increasingly targeting UK libraries, although the study was small and the level of influence is currently still not clear. Respondents revealed instances of 'finding propaganda from one of these groups left on her desk', being 'directly targeted by one of these groups', and 'being trolled by US pressure groups on social media, for example when responding to free book giveaways'. Meanwhile, respondents also reported UK pupils 'vandalising library material, annotating library books with racist and homophobic slurs', as well as damaging posters and displays, in behaviour that Ms Hicks said she had not seen in the US, illustrating how the situations between the two countries do differ. Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip), said that although 'the situation here is nowhere as bad, censorship does happen and there are some deeply worrying examples of library professionals losing their jobs and being trolled online for standing up for intellectual freedom on behalf of their users'. President of Libraries Connected Ed Jewell said anecdotal evidence from his charity, which represents public libraries, showed book removal requests are on the rise. Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA, also said her organisation has seen an increase in member queries about censorship this year. The majority of challenges in the UK are still launched by individuals or small groups, whereas in the US, pressure groups and government-related entities led censorship demands in 72 per cent of cases, according to data released by the American Library Association last week. The US has an organised system of book challenging that involves bans and burnings and is spearheaded by right-wing groups. But Mr Jewell warned it is 'certainly possible that the scale of censorship we're seeing in the US will influence the debate over here'. Last year, librarians revealed LGBTQ+ books were being banned from UK schools after complaints from parents. A six-month investigation by Index on Censorship, the results of which were shared exclusively with The Independent, found that 53 per cent of UK school librarians polled had been asked to remove literature and in more than half of those cases books were taken off shelves. The snapshot survey found that more than two dozen librarians had experienced such censorship, with one saying they had been told to remove every book with an LGBTQ+ theme after a single complaint from one parent about one book. In the wake of the latest research demonstrating the continuation of this trend, Stonewall said: 'It is troubling to see reports that LGBTQ+ books are being removed from libraries as we know that many students find great importance and reassurance in seeing themselves reflected in books and media ... 'It's vital that schools ensure that all young people have access to inclusive educational materials and books that represent the world we live in and the communities everyone is a part of.' Ms Hicks said attacks on books in the UK are having a 'huge impact', despite differences from the situation in the US, where book banning measures have been implemented in multiple states over recent years. 'My research demonstrates that UK school librarians are facing equivalent levels of distress and hostility in the face of book ban challenges such as these.' Mr Coiffait-Gunn warned: 'Perhaps more concerning is the lack of robust evidence about how widespread the issue is here, it's hard to evidence what doesn't happen and which books are not available, illustrating the 'chilling effect' of censorship.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ALCS Annual Awards ceremony celebrates literacy, creativity and educational writing
How To Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone, written by Alex Norris, wins the 2024 ALCS Educational Writers' Award. Author Tom Percival wins the Ruth Rendell Award for outstanding commitment to promoting literacy Lisa Blower wins the 2025 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize for her story 'Blessing in Burslem' LONDON, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The ALCS Annual Awards, hosted by the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), features the V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize, Ruth Rendell Award and the ALCS Educational Writers' Award. The ceremony took place at the Goldsmith's Centre in London on 20 February and was hosted by multi-award-winning children's author, playwright and poet, Joseph Coelho, who was Children Laureate from 2022 to 2024. The ALCS Educational Writers' Award, launched by ALCS and the Society of Authors in 2008, is the UK's only award for educational writing that inspires creativity, encourages students to read widely and builds up their understanding of a subject beyond the requirements of exam specifications. The award was won by How To Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone, a guide to relationships of all shapes and sizes aimed at teenagers, written and illustrated by popular webcomic artist Alex Norris. This year's judges were School Library Services' librarian Cassie Hands, primary school teacher Kevin Cobane, and novelist and short story writer Ardashir Vakil. Judge Kevin Cobane said: "How to Love was a book that won the hearts and minds of all of the judges. Warm, witty and wise, and beautifully illustrated throughout, this is an accessible, inclusive and insightful guide to friendships, relationships and love in all its many forms. Brimming with empathy and compassion, Alex's brilliantly written and illustrated book will resonate with teens and adults alike and this is a book that should be in every school and library." The Ruth Rendell Award, launched by ALCS and the National Literacy Trust in 2016, recognises the writer or author who has had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year. The award was presented to author Tom Percival for his work promoting literacy in disadvantaged communities. His book, The Wrong Shoes, highlights the levels of inequality in the UK today, with £1 of every sale donated to the National Literacy Trust to promote literacy. He also spoke about the joys of reading to over 1,000 children in some of the UK's most deprived schools and donated over 15,000 books to young readers. Judge Di Redmond said: "Tom Percival has a Robin Hood talent for directing support to those who need it most, gifting 15,000 books to National Literary Trust communities around the UK as well as donating his appearance fee to local food banks when promoting his latest book. Whist travelling the country entertaining thousands of children he's raised vital funding for schools and libraries, and gifted books into the hands of young people, many of whom previously didn't even own a book of their own." The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize was founded by the Royal Society of Literature in 1999 and is awarded to the best unpublished short story between 2,000 to 4,000 words in length. Lisa Blower was awarded the prize for her story 'Blessing in Burslem', receiving £1,000 and the publication of her winning entry in the RSL Review. Stories are judged anonymously by a panel of writers. This year's judges were Tash Aw, Tania Hershman and Fiona Mozley. Judge Tania Hershman said: "This brilliantly written short story brings in so many enormous topics so lightly: the idea of not belonging, how it is to move through the world with the colour of skin you are born in, and with the body you have grown into, and what it is to feel whole and be truly seen. A piece of writing that offers a reader more and more each time you read it, I feel privileged to have been one of those who could make sure it finds its way out into the world with all of the celebration it deserves." #ALCSAwards EDITOR'S NOTES Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) ALCS is a not-for-profit organisation started by writers for the benefit of all types of writers. Owned by its members, ALCS collects money due for secondary uses of writers' work. It is designed to support authors and their creativity; ensure they receive fair payment and see their rights are respected. It promotes and teaches the principles of copyright and campaigns for a fair deal for writers. It represents over 125,000 members, and since 1977 has paid over £700million to writers. Society of Authors (SoA) The Society of Authors is the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers. They have more than 11,500 members and have been advising individuals and speaking out for the profession for more than a century. In 2023 they gave out just over £1M in grants and prizes. In all, the Society of Authors administers twenty-one prizes, including the ALCS Educational Writers' Award and the Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. Royal Society of Literature (RSL) Founded in 1820, the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is the UK's charity for the advancement of literature. We act as a voice for the value of literature, engage people in great literature, and encourage and honour writers at all stages of their careers. The RSL's awards and prizes celebrate the value of writing in all its forms, whilst supporting emerging and established writers at some of the most challenging moments of their careers. National Literacy Trust (NLT) The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that empowers children, young people, and adults with the literacy skills they need to succeed. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills give you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. For over 30 years the National Literacy Trust has continued to support schools, families and communities on a local and national level to help people change their stories. Photo - - - - View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
