News round-up: Sam's debate, Jonty's tour, Reality TV deaths

Has the Isle of Man really changed their name to "Isle of Sam" in honour of Sam Barks? And aren't they overdue another invasion, anyway? Thinking about it, she's got a whole island of nationalistic manxies on her side - there's a good chance that could help her win. Join the debate here (and ask yourself, yes, it's publicity for the IoM... but is it really good publicity?)


As Big Brother fever sweeps the nation (oh is it that time again already? Sorry, I was asleep, etc) look what I found for you! It's Jonty! Doing a virtual museum tour! Come on, click on it. Call yourself a BB fan? WATCH IT.


Morbid reading, but oddly fascinating: The Mirror brings us a list of reality show deaths...

Reality TV news: Bigger Brother, Fergie's back, Brucie's replacement? The Baron's insulting...

This year the Big Brother house will be a third bigger. Sounds good, but does it just mean that they're going to up the number of housemates too? I sure hope not. LESS IS MORE, Big Brother bosses. LESS. IS. MORE.

As you'll recall, Fergie's fly-on-the-wall show about telling poor people how to eat properly was cancelled after a dead man was found at the home of the family the cameras were following. Well, it is going ahead after all, and will be screened at the end of the month.

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Reality TV news round-up: Chantelle's dress? American Idol's mess? X Factor for the US?

Over the pond, Brooke White's gone. David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado battle it out for the American Idol crown.

Speaking of America, US hacks ask "are we ready for The X Factor? As American Idol viewing figures continue to plunge, could importing the more successful Cowell show be the answer?

It's been a bad week for Darius "Pop Idol" Danesh, as Trevor Nunn's Gone With The Wind opens in the West End to a critical battering. I had high hopes for this and I honestly can't bear to repeat what they've been saying about it (but that link will give you all you need.)

And we'll all have an excuse to do our mogwai voice again in a few weeks ("Bright light! Bright light!" come on, it can't just be me) - as Dragon's Den star Peter Jones is going to be starring in an advert, surrounded by Gremlins.

Oh and Chantelle, do you know what time it is? That's right, it's time for a new look.

Is Iceland right to sign Kerry again?

Iceland have renewed Kerry Katona's contract, with what's been reported as a "six-figure sum". Sounds like we'll have to watch her pretending to be a 'normal mum' and pulling things out of freezers for a while yet. I don't like watching those adverts. Not because they're bad, but because they make me feel, somehow, as though I'm complicit in a much bigger lie. It's like listening to I'm The Leader of the Gang. However, vote below!

Reality TV news: Fergie's show, Ant's pants, Lembit's photos, Barrymore's pool, Chanelle's video

Oh here's a good one. Remember when I told you about the new Fergie reality show, where she was going to a help a low-income family to learn to eat healthily? Well, it's hit a bit of trouble. The stars were just arrested on suspicion of murder. Not Fergie! The other stars. Oh yes, they were released again, and it's probably all fine, but you know... doesn't look good.

Meanwhile, Ant went commando on live tv; butcher's windows spring to mind; Lembit and Gabriela's holiday snaps defy description; the man found in Barrymore's pool might not have drowned after all; and Chanelle's pop video has been banned from kids' tv for being too 'saucy'. There. That should keep you busy for a while.

Reality round-up: Chanelle's sex tape in full, Arlene's revelations, BNTM reviewed and Gillian McKeith's in rubber

We weren't fooled by the Chanelle 'sex tape' publicity stunt, but now the whole clip has been released I have to admit even Panto didn't expect it to be quite so... horrid. Here's the full thing. Do you find it amusing? Do you also laugh at those 118 118 posters?

And it's nail-biting stuff over at Strictly, as Arlene reveals the judges' contracts haven't been renewed. They've all been demanding more money, of course, which might have something to do with it.

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Reality news round-up: Alesha's suitors, Kelly's smart, Ramsay's law suit

Alesha Dixon has split from Aston Villa star John Carew, according to The Sun. She's said to be focusing on her new album instead. You go, girl! Who needs men when we have art?

Great picture here of Amanda Holden's mouth looking unpleasant, while Heat thinks Kelly Brook looked good at the Baftas.

...and over the pond, Gordon Ramsay is being sued for mild theatrical rudeness. The restaurant manager claims that Ramsay called him a lazy tosser, and that this has damaged his career to the tune of £500,000. One suspects that they should both have known what they were getting into. Welcome to America, Gordon...

Reality news round-up: Francesca's gone, Brucie's disdain, Connie's teeth, Niamh's skin

Francesca, you looked and sang like you were permanently in the middle of an allergic reaction to something, and now you're gone. The surprise, I think, was that you were up against Ashley, the one Andrew described as having a voice he "just doesn't rate"... and he still got rid of you.

We're live-twittering I'd Do Anything every Saturday over on the Panto twitter. Why not follow us?

Bruce Forsyth doesn't like reality shows. Apparently someone "just walking across the screen" is boring. Presumably "dancing across the screen" is fine though.

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Chanelle offers tips to new BB wannabes

Everyone's favourite sometime Posh lookalike has been dispensing advice for new Big Brother hopefuls in The Star today. Some of her pearls below:

Be yourself: "Don't try and be someone you're not because the producers have seen it all before and will just dismiss you straight away. They are looking for bubbly characters, not complete freaks."

Don't dress up: "People think that they have to go to the auditions in fancy dress just to be noticed, but the reality is those people are instantly overlooked. They don't want to turn the show into a circus, so leave your clown feet and naughty nurses outfits at home."

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Big Brother 9 coming soon - with children?

The sun is shining, it's not always necessary to wear a heavy coat (but bring a brolly) - the British summer feels like it might almost be around the corner. And we know what that means... the new Big Brother house is undergoing its annual shape-shift.

According to The Star, which has never been wrong, BB bosses are planning to install a kid-sized bed in the house. Will there be a young child in the mix? Or just a short person? Or perhaps one of the hopefuls will just have to curl up tight and deal with it?

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Reality news round-up: Ant and Dec are married, Sharon's coma message, the traits of the wannabe, Ian's loss, Kerry's gain

Ant and Dec are set to appear on Mr & Mrs. Which is which though?

Sharon Osbourne, Richard Hammond and Johnny Depp have recorded messages for a teenager in a coma to try to, what, persuade her to wake up? Wouldn't you just think you were having the weirdest dream ever?

A new study has identified a set of characteristics that the fame-hungry possess. Two of the traits - ambition and social access - are positive, with the remainder: trying to escape real life, psychological vulnerability, attention-seeking and vanity, are basically negative. Sorry guys.

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Chantelle to appear in ITV drama

Miss Celebrity Big Brother 2006 Chantelle Houghton has landed an ITV show that mirrors her own rise to, um, 'fame'. Chanters will appear in Whatever It Takes alongside starring The Legend Shane Richie.

In the new drama, a policewoman has an affair with a football player (Richie? Seriously?) and wakes up to find she's an overnight "celebrity" with her name in all the newspapers. Chantelle will play herself, offering advice to the policewoman as she tries to cope with her new-found fame. Whatever It Takes is due to be screened later this year.