Astrologer Russell Grant was voted off the show on Sunday after his delight at making it to Wembley Arena, where he and his partner Flavia Cacace danced to S Club Seven’s Reach for the Stars in front of a live audience of 6,000.  This makes them the seventh couple to leave Strictly 2011.

Despite his routine starting with him being fired from a cannon and then doing some pretty energetic jiving for a man of his size, the judges gave Russell a score of just 24.  Although judge Alesha Dixon, did say that his entrance was the best she had seen on the show.  She added: “What you lacked in your jive technique tonight you more than made up for in entertainment, Russell, and I love you.”  Craig’s comment of “Dumbo springs to mind” was slightly less flattering and drew the usual jeers and boo’s from the audience who had given Russell a standing ovation after his performance.
Showman Russell was a popular contestant on the show and initially surprised everyone with his nifty footwork and great rhythm.  Unfortunately his size prevented him from competing with the younger, fitter contestants when it came to lifts and more strenuous moves.  He has, however, reportedly lost a lot of weight since his training began which has got to be a healthier way to slim down and cheaper than a gastric balloon cost.

Surprisingly Aussie singer Holly Valance and Artem Chigvintsev – who scored 31 and were fifth on the leader board – landed in the bottom two with astrologer Russell and Flavia, but the Australian beauty and her Russian professional partner lived to dance another day.

Week 8 had Alex and James rising to joint first place on the leaderboard along with Chelsee and Pasha scoring 35 points each. They were closely followed by Harry and Aliona also in joint second place with Jason and Kristina, both scoring 34 points. The competition now heats up, as the seven remaining couples will have to dance twice in the remaining shows.

Meanwhile Eastenders star Charlie Brooks, who plays scheming Janine Butcher in the show, is in rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special to be aired on Christmas day.  Charlie is apparently a big fan of the show but has been unable to commit to a full series because her storylines in Eastenders keep her too busy, so an appearance on the Christmas Special is perfect for her.

Eastenders: The Moon Family - Anthony (Matt Lapinskas), Eddie (David Essex) and Tyler (Tony Discipline) - photo: BBC

Tony Discipline and Matt Lapinskas will join Eastenders as brothers in the Moon family.  They will join father Eddie, played by David Essex, later this year.

Tyler will be first to arrive in Albert Square looking for his Dad, shortly followed by older brother, Anthony.

Tyler is a bit of a lad who lives for the weekend and is one of those characters who seems to find trouble wherever he goes.  A fair share of his trouble comes from women. The two brothers share similar traits though viewers will soon see that Tyler has a short fuse when faced with trouble.

An Eastenders source revealed: “Where Tyler is quick to use his fist to sort things out, Anthony will rely on his brains and natural wit to find a more sensitive solution to any conflict. The two new Moons are a couple of likely lads who are more than likely to cause a stir in Albert Square.”

Speaking of his casting as Tyler, Discipline commented: “It’s really exciting to be able to work on a show that you have grown up watching and have followed your whole life. I am very grateful to be given this opportunity and am looking forward to working on the show and becoming an East-ender!”

While Lapinskas said of his new role as Anthony: “I’m absolutely over the moon! It’s has been my lifetime ambition to be on EastEnders – I have watched it growing up with my nan, who is a big fan. I’m so pleased to get my first TV role, I just didn’t believe it would be so big. I’ve met some of the cast I will be working with who were very friendly and welcoming and I can’t wait to start filming.”

Phil Mitchell

Steve McFadden the 51 year old actor who plays the part of hard man Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap Eastenders, has been arrested by police in Haringey North London following complaints from a former partner of harassment.

It is alleged that the complaint came from McFadden’s former partner Dr Rachel Sidwell, the pair have a daughter aged 17 months, Amelie Tinkerbell.

A police spokesman confirmed only that,  “On Wednesday November 3 officers from Haringey arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with alleged harassment to cause violence against a female. He has since been bailed until a date in January.”

Just like the TV soap isn’t it!?

kat moon

News being leaked from the Eastenders set suggests that there will be trouble in store for Alfie Moon when he finally realises his dream and the Queen Vic re-opens on the square next month.

First miserable Kat Moon catches Roxy flirting with Alfie, but things turn from bad to worse when the vixen like Roxy steps in to help behind the bar and Alfie sings her praises in front of the whole pub.

And as the new landlord turns to peck her on the cheek, the temporary barmaid manages to land her lips on his, with Kat seeing the whole thing and exploding with anger.

With shades of the Pat and Peggy cat fight of the past, Kat grabs Roxy by the hair and pulls out a few hair extensions, followed by a full on bar brawl, hopefully including those famous Eastenders expressions ‘You Bitch!’, ‘You Cow!’ etc etc.

Can’t wait!

Peggy Mitchell

It has been announced that a reworked composition of the Eastenders theme tune for Peggy Mitchell’s exit has been made and will be available for download on September 13.

The original theme tune composed by Simon May but has been revamped especially for Peggy’s final episode which is now only weeks away.

According to the new ‘Peggy’s Theme’ website, the EP will also contain past songs from Nick Berry, Letitia Dean, Paul Medford and Anita Dobson and can be pre-ordered on September 9th for iTunes.

Stefan Booth

Stefan Booth, best known for his role as Jamie Nash in Hollyoaks and as Sergeant Marc Rollins in the Bill, has landed the role of the fiancé of Tanya Branning in Eastenders.

The 30-year-old actor will be appearing on our screens next month as he takes on the role of his character Greg opposite the actress Jo Joyner.

Jo is due to make her full-time comeback soon following her maternity leave after the birth of her twins born on the 7th December 2009, a son Freddie, and a daughter Edie.

Inside Soap Awards 2010

The nominations for the 2010 Inside Soap Awards sponsored by Littlewoods.com have been made and now it is up to you to vote for your own particular soap favourites and special moments from the last twelve months.

Once again the UK soaps have thrown up some extraordinary story-lines, of particular note Corrie’s Tony Gordon blowing up Underworld, Jan Slater moved to tears when Eastenders Stacey Branning gave birth to baby Lily, Emmerdale Natasha Wylde shooting her husband Mark or how about Hollyoaks Sarah Barnes’ ill fated parachute jump.

Inside Soap magazine has made a short list of the nominations for this years awards and now it is up to you to decide who should go home with the prizes.

There are to ways to cast your votes, the simplest way is to visit the Inside Soap website and follow the instructions, alternatively you can vote by post, by picking up the current Inside Soap magazine.

WIN A VIP TRIP TO THE INSIDE SOAP AWARDS!
Everyone who votes in the 2010 Inside Soap Awards – be it on the web or by post – is eligible to be entered into a prize draw to win a VIP trip for two to the hottest awards show in town. The prize includes transport to London and a night in a top hotel. Readers need to make sure they enter their details at the end of the form.

The 2010 Inside Soap awards take place in London on Monday 27th September 2010

Inside Soap Awards  – Nominations 2010:

Best soap – Sponsored by Littlewoods.com
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks

Best Actor
Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow, Corrie)
Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald, Corrie)
Gray O’Brien (Tony Gordon, Corrie)
Nitin Ganatra (Masood Ahmed, EastEnders)
Don Gilet (Lucas Johnson, EastEnders)
Scott Maslen (Jack Branning, EastEnders)
Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)
Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle, Emmerdale)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale)
Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Kieron Richardson (Ste Hay, Hollyoaks)
Glen Wallace (Malachy Fisher, Hollyoaks)

Best Actress
Sally Dynevor (Sally Webster, Corrie)
Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald, Corrie)
Alison King (Carla Connor, Corrie)
Diane Parish (Denise Johnson, EastEnders)
Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning, EastEnders)
Nina Wadia (Zainab Masood, EastEnders)
Emma Atkins (Charity Tate, Emmerdale)
Charlotte Bellamy (Laurel Thomas, Emmerdale)
Amanda Donohoe (Natasha Wylde, Emmerdale)
Claire Cooper (Jacqui McQueen, Hollyoaks)
Gemma Merna (Carmel Valentine, Hollyoaks)
Carley Stenson (Steph Cunningham, Hollyoaks)

Best Young Actor
Alex Bain (Simon Barlow, Corrie)
Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow, Corrie)
Lorna Fitzgerald (Abi Branning, EastEnders)
Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher, EastEnders)
Oscar Lloyd (Will Wylde, Emmerdale)
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)
Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham, Hollyoaks)
Lydia Waters (Holly Hutchinson, Hollyoaks)

Best Newcomer
Cherylee Houston (Izzy Armstrong, Corrie)
Holly Quin-Ankrah (Cheryl Gray, Corrie)
Zoe Lucker (Vanessa Gold, EastEnders)
Ricky Norwood (Arthur ‘Fatboy’ Chubb, EastEnders)
Natalie J Robb (Moira Barton, Emmerdale)
Marc Silcock (Jackson Walsh, Emmerdale)
Dean Aspen (Duncan Smith, Hollyoaks)
Kris Deedigan (Des Townsend, Hollyoaks)

Funniest Performance
Patti Clare (Mary Taylor, Corrie)
Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor, Corrie)
Himesh Patel (Tamwar Masood, EastEnders)
Nina Wadia (Zainab Masood, EastEnders)
Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)
Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)
Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Bronagh Waugh (Cheryl Brady, Hollyoaks)

Sexiest Male
Keith Duffy (Ciaran McCarthy, Corrie)
Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw, Corrie)
Scott Maslen (Jack Branning, EastEnders)
Neil McDermott (Ryan Malloy, EastEnders)
Rik Makarem (Nikhil Sharma, Emmerdale)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale)
Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Anthony Quinlan (Gilly Roach, Hollyoaks)

Sexiest Female - Sponsored by Littlewoods.com
Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre, Corrie)
Alison King (Carla Connor, Corrie)
Zoe Lucker (Vanessa Gold, EastEnders)
-Samantha Womack (Ronnie Mitchell, EastEnders)
Alice Coulthard (Maisie Wylde, Emmerdale)
Suzanne Shaw (Eve Jenson, Emmerdale)
Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes Fisher, Hollyoaks)
Carley Stenson (Steph Cunningham, Hollyoaks)

Best Exit
Tony Gordon (Gray O’Brien, Corrie)
Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale, Corrie)
Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning, EastEnders)
Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell, EastEnders)
Maxwell Caulfield (Mark Wylde, Emmerdale)
Sian Reeves (Sally Spode, Emmerdale)
Loui Batley (Sarah Barnes, Hollyoaks)
Ricky Whittle (Calvin Valentine, Hollyoaks)

Best Wedding
Steve McDonald & Becky Granger (Corrie)
John Stape & Fiz Brown (Corrie)
Ricky Butcher & Bianca Jackson (EastEnders)
Syed Masood & Amira Shah (EastEnders)
Jimmy King & Nicola De Souza (Emmerdale)
Charity Tate & Michael Conway (Emmerdale)
Tony Hutchinson & Cindy Cunningham (Hollyoaks)
Calvin & Carmel Valentine (Hollyoaks)

Best Dramatic Performance
Alison King (Carla Connor) –  Tony Gordon holds the factory hostage (Corrie)
Helen Worth (Gail McIntyre) – Joe McIntyre’s death (Corrie)
Don Gilet (Lucas Johnson) – Lucas murders Owen Turner on his wedding day (EastEnders)
Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning) – Stacey is sectioned (EastEnders)
Amanda Donohoe (Natasha Wylde) – Mark Wylde’s murder (Emmerdale)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) – Aaron beats up Paddy (Emmerdale)
Carley Stenson (Steph Cunningham) – Steph’s cancer (Hollyoaks)
Stephanie Waring (Cindy Hutchinson) – Little Holly’s disappearance (Hollyoaks)

Best Stunt
Tony Gordon holds the Underworld factory hostage (Corrie)
Joe McIntyre accidentally kills himself (Corrie)
Bradley Branning’s death (EastEnders)
Home Farm shop crash (Emmerdale)
Laurel Thomas trapped in the church fire (Emmerdale)
Josh Ashworth’s car crash (Hollyoaks)
Sarah Barnes’ parachute death (Hollyoaks)

Best Drama
The Bill
Casualty
Holby City
Waterloo Road

Best Daytime Soap
Doctors
Home and Away
Neighbours

Best Daytime Star
Donnaleigh Bailey (Michelle Corrigan, Doctors)
Matthew Chambers (Daniel Granger, Doctors)
Selina Chilton (Ruth Pearce, Doctors)
Adrian Lewis Morgan (Jimmi Clay, Doctors)
Esther Anderson (Charlie Buckton, Home and Away
Luke Jacobz (Angelo Rosetta, Home and Away)
Todd Lasance (Aden Jefferies, Home and Away)
Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson-Baker, Home and Away)
Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson, Neighbours)
Ryan Moloney (Jarrod ‘Toadie’ Rebecchi, Neighbours)
Kym Valentine (Libby Kennedy, Neighbours)
Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy, Neighbours)

Patsy Palmer ( Bianca Jackson)

Patsy Palmer better known to all of us as Bianca Jackson in Eastenders, has confirmed that she is pregnant with her fourth child.

The 38-year-old British actress returned to our screens to play her soap character once again in April 2008 following a 10-year absence after declaring she would like to spend more time with her young family.

Patsy is married to taxi driver Richard Merkell and they have two children together, Fenton, 9, and Emilia, 8, Bianca also has a 17-year-old son Charley from a previous relationship.

The couple are said to be shocked but delighted about the pregnancy and are looking forward to the new arrival in December.

Emmerdale

The 17-year-old son of Shane Richie and Coleen Nolan, has landed a role as a college student in the popular ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

Jake Roche is to become a potential boyfriend of Hannah Barton played by Grace Cassidy in the programme as he follows in the footsteps of his dad who played the part of Alfie Moon in the BBC’s Eastenders.

Jake’s character Isaac will appear on our screens from August and will be part of the show for at least the next few months.

Jake along with his brother Shane are also trying to make their name on the music scene after supporting their mother and aunts on their recent concert tour with their cover versions of popular pop songs.

jessie wallace

Jessie Wallace who played Kat Slater in Eastenders is to star in a BBC drama depicting the birth of Coronation Street, she will play the part of Pat Phoenix who starred in the early days of Corrie as feisty Elsie Tanner.

The documentary/drama will tell the story of how Tony Warren brought together the actors for the first episodes of Coronation Street, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.

Filming is taking place in Manchester and the film will be shown on BBC4 later this year.

Among the star studded cast assembled for the project are Lynda Baron, playing Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), Celia Imrie as Doris Speed (Annie Walker), Jane Horrocks as casting director Margaret Morris and John Thompson.

The longest serving cast member on Coronation Street, William Roache (Ken Barlow) will be played by his son James Roache.