Singer Jimmy Osmond, Strictly pro Gleb Savchenko and The Only Way Is Essex’s Amy Childs are among the eclectic mix of stars set to turn up the heat on Celebrity MasterChef.

The Jump competitor Sid Owen will also be making the leap to the less risky environment of the MasterChef kitchen.

There he will be joined by fellow ex-EastEnders star Laila Morse, who played Mo Harris, among the 20 famous faces signed up for upcoming series 11.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Kimberly Wyatt and hoping they will not have to sing for their suppers are pop stars Sinitta, Blue’s Simon Webbe and Sugababe’s Amelle Berrabah, plus former Communard-turned-vicar Richard Coles.

Actress Donna Air will hope to have picked up some tips on dessert from ex-boyfriend James Middleton, who owns his own marshmallow company.

Meanwhile, Shameless actress Tina Malone, who lost 11 stone after gastric band surgery, will put her new cooking skills to the test.

Wowzer, EastEnders’ executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins may have bowed out of the BBC soap last Friday but he saved one heck of a clanger for the very end, admitting that he toyed with the idea of bringing actual Benedict Cumberbatch into Walford.

How bloomin’ amazing would that have been?

And it wasn’t even as far-fetched as it sounded with the Oscar-nominated actor previously expressing an interest in appearing in the show and having ties to the BBC due to his work with Sherlock.

Unfortunately Dominic ended up deciding that a cameo from a Hollywood A-lister would be way too flashy, telling Radio Times: “I thought about the idea of some stunt casting.

"Ben Cumberbatch has said that he seriously wanted to do ‘EastEnders’ if he had the time. So I toyed with him for a while.

"But it would have been too unreal and flashy. I’ve got to think about the show going on.”

A wise choice we reckon; as much as we’d love to see Benedict in Albert Square he’d definitely look a bit out of place next to the likes of Phil Mitchell and Shirley Carter.

Dominic has been widely-praised for his work on EastEnders following his departure, with the 38-year-old being the one who brought in the much-loved Carter family, lead by the incredible Danny Dyer.

EastEnders fans will finally see Peggy Mitchell reunited with her sons Grant and Phil, but the 10-year wait for a family reunion is doomed to end in heartbreak.

In Monday’s episode of the BBC One soap, Mitchell matriarch Peggy, played by Dame Barbara Windsor, arrived back in Albert Square.

In Tuesday’s instalment, she will learn her cancer has spread and nothing more can be done.

News that his family needs him reaches Grant (Ross Kemp) and, worried about his mother, he rushes back to Walford.

Sparks are set to fly as the turbulent relationship between Grant and his older brother Phil (played by 57-year-old Steve McFadden) comes to the fore once more.

Can they put their differences aside for the sake of their dying mum?

Documentary maker Kemp, 51, was a full-time member of the cast for nine years until 1999.

As a nation of mourning viewers prepares itself to say a final ‘Get out of my pub’ to the icon that is Peggy Mitchell, BBC1′s The One Show will air a special edition live from Albert Square.

BBC

There will be an extensive interview with Dame Babs, who will reveal all about her time as Walford’s most memorable matriarch, including how she felt when she got the part, her memories of the Square’s most iconic moments and what Peggy Mitchell means to her. 

Not only that, but viewers will also see Barbara introduce her last ever episode as the much loved Mitchell mum. We just can’t even cope with this sadness.

BBC

The One Show presenter, Alex Jones said: “It was wonderful to meet my all-time favourite EastEnders character. She was very welcoming and we had a fascinating chat about her long and fabulous career, on and off the square. 

“Dame Barbara and Peggy certainly share the same warmth and infectious laugh! She is a living showbiz legend and although it will be sad to say goodbye to Peggy, Matt and I hope that we will continue to see Dame Barbara on our screens for a long time yet.”

After Peggy bows out of Walford for good, we’ll be able to tune into a special PM featurette on iPlayer called Peggy Mitchell: Last Orders. You know, if we can find the red button through all the tears.

The special will feature behind the scenes footage, along with interviews from EastEnders past and present.

It’s something that die-hard EastEnders fans have been looking forward to since January. This week we finally see Walford legend Grant Mitchell back on our screens.

BBC

As most people know, actor Ross Kemp agreed to reprise his iconic role for the his on-screen mum’s final storyline.

This week, viewers will see Peggy Mitchell arrive back in the Square with the sad news that her cancer has spread and nothing more can be done. Sob!

The devastating news soon spreads to Portugal, where Grant has been living with daughter, Courtney. 

If anything can bring him back to Walford, it’s the loss of his beloved mum. But what will happen when Phil and Grant com face to face again? And will Phil even be sober enough to remember it?

Speculation has been rife with EastEnders fans since it was revealed that Kat Moon (nee Slater) actually gave birth to TWINS when she had baby Zoe way back in the 1980s.

Fame/Flynet

It was revealed that Kat, who fell pregnant at 13 after being abused by her uncle, had a son she didn’t know about, as well as daughter Zoe. She was told the news by Sister Ruth, a nun played by June Whitfield, who helped her give birth to Zoe.

Since then fans have held onto the theory that Kat’s secret son is actually Sean Slater. Sean (played by Rob Kazinsky) is Stacey’s brother. Or is he? This is Walford we’re talking about. Anything could happen.

Geoff Moore/Rex/Shutterstock

Their hopes appeared to be dashed however when Sister Ruth made an appearance in the Square and told Kat that her son was living in Ireland.

Kat, Alfie and their three children quit the Square for Redwater in Ireland, in the hope of finding her long lost boy. Their adventures are being filmed as part of a spin-off show called, yep, Redwater.

And if these scenes from Redwater’s filming are anything to go by, fans will have to let the Sean Slater theory go once and for all.

Danniella Westbrook has started filming her EastEnders return as Sam Mitchell.

Copyright [BBC]

The 42-year-old actress is to reprise her role as the former lap dancer, and the BBC has released an official picture of the new-look character to mark her upcoming return.

Danniella took to Twitter to post a picture on set of the Walford East tube station.

She added the caption: “First day back in Walford … #Samisbackintown (sic)”

Sam will return to Walford as part of her mum Peggy Mitchell’s (Barbara Windsor) cancer storyline, which will see the soap veteran sadly pass away.

Speaking of her return, Danniella recently told Loose Women: “I feel immensely lucky that I’m here. I didn’t think all the Mitchells would get back together.

Spencer Matthews only just survived his grilling when he joined the Loose Women ladies last month – but he is set to return to the hot seat.

Luckily this time the former Made In Chelsea lothario will be doing the interrogating as he joins actor Larry Lamb, who played nasty Archie Mitchell on EastEnders, as a guest panellist for the second instalment of Loose Women & Men on Friday.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here Now! presenter Joe Swash will be on hand as a roving reporter as the men join regulars Andrea McLean and Linda Robson to delve into the hot topics of the day.

Spencer said: “I’ve been referred to as a ‘Loose Man’ many times over the course of my life, but now for the first time I can be proud of it! Joining the lovely Loose Women team is a really exciting time for me – I can’t wait to get started!”

Larry joked that the experience could be educational for him. “I’m really looking forward to getting on the panel – I’d like to think I might make a bit of a difference, maybe learn a little!” he said.

A flustered Spencer was quizzed by the panel in April about his relationship with Loose Women panellist Vicky Pattison after they met in the I’m A Celeb… jungle.

Welp, it’s almost time to bid farewell to the TV legend that is Peggy Mitchell, with Barbara Windsor returning to EastEnders in order for her beloved onscreen character to be killed off.

Is it too late for everybody involved in this monstrosity to change their minds?

The 78-year-old actress has now opened up about saying goodbye to Peggy, who she has played in the hit BBC One soap for 22 years, admitting that she was left so emotional by her final scenes that she was left speechless.

She shared: “When I finished filming the last scene, I couldn’t say anything. I knew that if I opened my mouth I would sob but I couldn’t do that, because this is my choice.

"There were lots of tears from everyone. Everybody was sad. I love everyone here, I kind of got that ‘have I made the right decision?’ feeling in my stomach but I knew I had.

Jacqueline Jossa promised fans are in for a “shock” as her character Lauren Branning returns to EastEnders.

Lauren has been living in New Zealand in the soap with Peter Beale and their baby Louie while Jacqueline was on real-life maternity leave with her own daughter Ella.

But she’s set to make her comeback later this year and teased fans that they can expect her to arrive back in the square with a bang.

“It is a dramatic return. It’s not your average EastEnders thing where people are screaming and shouting, but it will shock people,” she told the Daily Star.

Lauren left the square in February 2015 but she was seen briefly in September when she returned for dad Max’s murder trial and to have a baby boy.

But she’s set to make her comeback later this year and teased fans that they can expect her to arrive back in the square with a bang.

“It is a dramatic return. It’s not your average EastEnders thing where people are screaming and shouting, but it will shock people,” she told the Daily Star.

Lauren left the square in February 2015 but she was seen briefly in September when she returned for dad Max’s murder trial and to have a baby boy.

Ever since Stacey Branning discovered that her dad had a secret family, we’ve been waiting to meet The Other Woman.

BBC

Stace’s dad, Brian, had been living a double life, with a wife and kids up north, as well as Jean, Stacey and Sean in London.

We’ve already met Kyle - who used to be Sarah - and now it’s time to meet his mum, Alison, played by ex Coronation Street star and CBB legend, Denise Welch.

BBC

These pics show Alison arriving at Stacey’s flat, where Kyle has been living - and she doesn’t look particularly happy to see her son.

Viewers know that Kyle, who is transgender, has a fractious relationship with his family, who couldn’t deal with his transition. He was beaten up by his sister Shannon’s boyfriend and disowned by Alison.

And it doesn’t look like a happy family reunion is on the cards, judging by everyone’s faces in the new pics. How will fragile Stacey cope when she comes face to face with her dad’s bit on the side?

Doctor Who fans will have to tune into the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday to find out who the Doctor’s new companion is.

The news will be revealed live on BBC One during half time as Everton face off against Manchester United.

The BBC confirmed in September last year that Jenna Coleman would depart as the Doctor’s companion during the show’s ninth series.

Blackpool born Jenna bowed out after three years as the longest-serving companion since the show was rebooted in 2005.

She replaced Karen Gillan, who played Amy Pond, and went on to star alongside Peter Capaldi.

Fan theories about who the new companion is went into overdrive recently, following remarks made by Peter to a South American outlet.

One Twitter user pondered whether the new companion could be John Malkovich.

Among the people considered a favourite for Coleman’s replacement is EastEnders actress Rakhee Thakrar.

A new companion is not the only change to the popular sci-fi series of late.

In January Steven Moffat revealed he was stepping down as the lead writer and executive producer of the show.

Jonny Labey has confirmed his exit from EastEnders, but has promised viewers that the best is yet to come for his character Paul Coker. The star took to Twitter to thank fans for all their well wishes following the news of his departure, and suggested Paul would go out with a bang. "WOW Thank you for your support but there's still SO MUCH to happen for Paul so don't lose hope, this is JUST THE START! @bbceastenders," he wrote.

A spokesperson for the soap added: "We can confirm Jonny will be leaving the show later this year. We wish him all the best for the future."

Jonny joined the EastEnders cast in June 2015. A show insider told Digital Spy: "Jonny is leaving in a couple of months as part of an explosive storyline.

"Bosses are keeping tight-lipped about what's in store, but there's plenty of drama in store for Paul before he leaves."

Hairdresser Paul has been at the centre of a major ongoing storyline thanks to his secret romance with Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid), the son of notorious 'bad man' Phil Mitchell. Next week, viewers will see Paul and Ben finally go public with their romance at the Queen Vic – but the nature of Paul's exit seems to suggest there won't be a happy ending for the couple.

If you haven’t had enough of drab drama, an EastEnders extension is getting a major spot in the BBC’s evening schedule – and may be commissioned for more series.

Redwater, featuring Albert Square characters Kat and Alfie Moon – played by Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie, below – will be a six-part drama.

Filmed in Ireland, it will be based around Kat’s search for her longlost son, which leads the couple to the remote fishing village of Redwater.

It was originally intended as a one-series project but BBC bosses were so impressed with the way filming has gone that they have given the green-light for it to return in extended form in a primetime 9pm slot.

A BBC source told The Sun: “Everyone thought Redwater would be just a one-off, but plans are being drawn up for it to return once the six episodes are done.

“There are high hopes that it will become a brilliant new long-running series.

“Apart from Kat and Alfie there are numerous characters living in this lovely village who all have stories to tell.”

An all-Irish cast will join EastEnders’s Kat and Alfie Moon in their spin-off drama series Redwater, the BBC has said.

Set in a fictional village in Ireland, the six-part adventure has been created by outgoing executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins.

Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace, Alfie and Kat respectively, will appear alongside Downton Abbey’s Maria Doyle Kennedy, Lost’s Fionnula Flanagan, and Ian McElhinney from Game Of Thrones.

Redwater’s ensemble also includes Shameless star Angeline Ball, Brooklyn’s Peter Campion and The Tunnel’s Stanley Townsend.

The cast is rounded out by Oisin Stack, Stephen Hogan, Susan Ateh, Ian Toner and Ebony O’Toole-Acheampong.

London-born Jessie, 44, said: “I walked into the drama read-through to a table full of wonderful Irish actors and it was thrilling.

“They all made me feel so very welcome as we started to read the first script. It’s going to be a roller coaster.”

Shane, 52, said: “Wow! What an honour to be in this unbelievable drama and working alongside some of Ireland’s finest actors.

“At the moment it’s a whirlwind so I’m just getting into the new scripts, which are electric.”

Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon have been loved up for five long months now, but the former EastEnders star has admitted that he still hasn’t introduced her to his eight-year-old son, Harry, who he has with ex-fiancee Emma Sophocleus.

And he has no plans to do so any time soon.

[Copyright: Rex]

Speaking out about his new romance, Joe explained: “She’s [Stacey] brilliant. We’ve been together four or five months. Harry hasn’t met Stacy yet.

"It’s something I want to take really slowly because there are a lot of emotions involved when it comes to kids so it’ll be a while before they meet.”

And we’re sure that Stace more than understands considering she is mum to eight-year-old Zachary and four-year-old Leighton, although it’s unclear whether they have already met Joe.

Despite both stars having busy careers the actor added to BANG Showbiz that he and Stacey are sure to make time for one another, sharing: “I’ve been working a lot so we haven’t really seen each other a lot recently but any time we get together, we do sort of just chill out or go for dinner.

Ross Kemp has started filming for EastEnders and fans will hope his nerves are calmer as the star has previously admitted to “wetting himself” over his return to Albert Square.

The 51-year-old posted a message on Twitter about having “Walford work” to do.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins, EastEnders’ outgoing executive producer, joked it was “National Ross Kemp Day”.

The award-winning documentary maker’s much-admired series include Ross Kemp In Afghanistan, broadcast in 2008, in which he shadowed the Royal Anglian Regiment while they were stationed in the country.

But even coming under attack from enemy fire was not as daunting as the prospect of going back to the BBC One soap that made him a household name.

Ross will reprise his role as hardman Grant Mitchell for Dame Barbara Windsor’s final scenes as Albert Square’s terminally ill matriarch Peggy Mitchell.

The TV Bafta nominations have been announced.

Here are the contenders for the awards, which will be handed out on Sunday May 8.


Leading actor:
Ben Whishaw – London Spy
Idris Elba – Luther
Mark Rylance – Wolf Hall
Stephen Graham – This Is England ’90



Leading actress: 
Claire Foy – Wolf Hall
Ruth Madeley – Don’t Take My Baby
Sheridan Smith – The C-Word
Suranne Jones – Doctor Foster


Supporting actor:
Anton Lesser – Wolf Hall

Cyril Nri – Cucumber
Ian McKellen – The Dresser
Tom Courtenay – Unforgotten

Supporting actress: 
Chanel Cresswell – This Is England ’90
Eleanor Worthington-Cox – The Enfield Haunting

Lesley Manville – River
Michelle Gomez – Doctor Who


Entertainment performance:
Graham Norton – The Graham Norton Show
Leigh Francis – Celebrity Juice
Romesh Ranganathan – Asian Provocateur
Stephen Fry – QI

Female performance in a comedy programme:
Michaela Coel – Chewing Gum
Miranda Hart – Miranda
Sian Gibson – Peter Kay’s Car Share

Sharon Horgan – Catastrophe

Male performance in a comedy programme:
Hugh Bonneville – W1A
Javone Prince – The Javone Prince Show
Peter Kay – Peter Kay’s Car Share
Toby Jones – Detectorists

Single drama: 
The C-Word
Cyberbully
Don’t Take My Baby
The Go-Between

Mini-series: 
Doctor Foster
The Enfield Haunting
London Spy
This is England ’90

Drama series: 
Humans
The Last Panthers
No Offence
Wolf Hall

Soap and continuing drama:
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Holby City

International: 
The Good Wife
Narcos
Spiral
Transparent

Factual series: 
The Detectives
Great Ormond Street
The Murder Detectives
The Tribe


Specialist factual: 
Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners
Grayson Perry’s Dream House
The Hunt
Rudolf Nureyev’s Dance To Freedom

Single documentary: 
Bitter Lake
Life After Suicide
Louis Theroux: Transgender Kids
My Son The Jihadi


Features: 
Back In Time For Dinner
The Great British Bake Off
Kevin McCloud: Escape To The Wild
Travel Man

Reality and constructed factual:
First Dates
Gogglebox
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The Secret Life of 5 Year Olds

Current affairs: 
Children of the Gaza War
Escape From Isis (Dispatches)
Jihad: A British Story
Outbreak: The Truth About Ebola (This World)

Entertainment programme:
Adele At The BBC
Britain’s Got Talent
Strictly Come Dancing
TFI Friday Anniversary Special

Comedy and comedy entertainment programme: 
Charlie Brooker’s Election Wipe
Have I Got News For You
QI
Would I Lie To You


Scripted comedy: 
Chewing Gum
Peep Show
People Just Do Nothing
Peter Kay’s Car Share

Radio Times audience awards (voted for by members of the public):
Doctor Foster
The Great British Bake Off
Humans
Making A Murderer
Peter Kay’s Car Share
Poldark

EastEnders couple Stacey and Martin have had more than their fair share of ups and downs, but the loved-up duo appear to be truly serious about each other.

Martin (James Bye) has, in the words of Beyonce, “put a ring on it” and surprised Stacey, played by Lacey Turner.

The watching millions finally have some cheer in Albert Square, for a change. It’s probably best to savour any good news – we all know it won’t last for long.

This week, Stacey left Martin in no doubt of her true feelings for him when she proposed with the words: “I don’t want to be your not-wife any more.”

If you recall, he had previously popped the question when Stacey was pregnant. But she suffered a life-threatening electric shock and was rushed to hospital.

To say it didn’t exactly go as planned is putting it mildly.