SAS: Who Dares Wins’ Staz’s star on rise as fans wonder if he is set to replace Ant Middleton
WITH a sensational body and a stunning fiancée, Anthony “Staz” Stazicker looks like he should be on Love Island rather than SAS: Who Dares Wins.
But it’s a winning formula with viewers of the show, which he’s joined this year as a DS, or Directing Staff member.
Some even wonder if he is being teed up to replace Ant Middleton, who quit as chief DS earlier this year.
Dad of three Staz, who is engaged to beauty Ruby McClafferty, took on his new role in the C4 show last Sunday.
He has a sad backstory to joining the military aged 20, becoming a sniper with the Royal Marines, then joining the Special Boat Service in 2008 and serving for ten years.
Speaking previously, he said: “I’d say my life’s biggest slap in the face was when my mum suddenly passed away. I was about 11, it was totally unexpected, it was a brain haemorrhage.
“I remember spending a few days in hospital, not really understanding what was going on.
"She was on life support and then a few days in, a decision was made to turn the life support off. I think it was a deciding factor for me.
“It made me quite resentful, quite angry, but I think it also gave me a purpose, a fire, something to prove and do somebody proud.”
After starting off in this year’s series as a “mole” among the trainees, he has now revealed his true DS self on the show.
And Staz seems equally adored by his fellow DS, Jason Fox.
He recently posted a picture of the two men on social media and discussed the military comrades he could trust his life with.
I think we may have a new and improved Ant on our hands . . .
OUTLANDER TO AIR
FANTASY drama Outlander, starring Sam Heughan as Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, will finally air early next year on Starz after filming was delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
But this sixth season will be shortened to eight episodes, including a 90-minute premiere to kick things off.
Roman's up to old tricks
HE’S already revealed an obsession with pranks while presenting his Capital FM show, now Roman Kemp is moving them off the radio with a new ITV2 show.
The DJ and TV presenter is getting his own vehicle to go wild with tricks on Prank Kings, which is currently in development and has a similar vibe to Ashton Kutcher's Punk’d.
Roman is famous for pulling fast ones on members of the public as well as guests on his show, including Marvin Humes and Zara Larsson.
A TV insider said: “Roman is clearly a talent who bosses at ITV have their eye on, particularly after the success of Martin & Roman’s Weekend Best, the show he hosts with his famous dad, Martin Kemp."
But like all prank lovers, Roman knows that payback is always just around the corner...
REDKNAPP BACK AS VIOLET
SINGER Louise Redknapp has announced she’s going to reprise her role as Violet Newstead in 9 To 5: The Musical as it goes on a UK tour.
The news comes just days after she was revealed as one of the celebs showing off her moves on ITV’s The Masked Singer – she was Flamingo.
We G-av it good
WHILE many comedy partnerships are fraught with tension, that’s not the case with Mat Horne and Joanna Page.
The Gavin & Stacey stars, who played the couple in the BBC1 sitcom, have a unique relationship.
Mat told the latest Gaby Roslin podcast: “Regardless of what either of us do in our career, we will always be Gavin and Stacey to many, many people.
“It’s an easy working relationship Jo and I have because we do feel like husband and wife.
“We don’t really see each other when we’re not filming. But when we come together there’s something about that relationship which is very very natural to us.”
GOREY THE NEXT KEN
CORRIE star Tanisha Gorey says she wants to stay on the ITV soap for ever – and hopes to become the next Ken Barlow of the cobbles.
She has played Dev Alahan’s daughter Asha since she was six and recently featured in a major storyline when her lesbian love interest Nina Lucas, and Seb Franklin, were attacked by Asha’s boyfriend Corey Brent and his gang, resulting in Seb’s death.
On the Conversation Street podcast Tanisha said: “I will only leave when they kick me out, 100 per cent. There’s nothing to not love, I love going to work.
“Honestly, I didn’t call it work until about two years ago. I genuinely didn’t see it as a job whatsoever. It was just something I felt so privileged to be doing.”
Ashback!
MEDICAL dramas are proving a godsend for Leslie Ash.
The actress not only announced her comeback in BBC1 daytime soap Doctors, she is also set to reprise her role as scheming Vanessa Lytton on Casualty.
Her character started out on Beeb sister show Holby City, above, as the CEO of the hospital, appearing between 2009 and 2010.
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Leslie said: “It’s been a few years since she graced the wards of Holby City hospital and I’m excited for viewers to see what’s in store for her.”
She’ll probably end up on Call the Midwife and The Good Karma Hospital next.