Comedy superstars join Hollyoaks and film special scenes in iconic Channel 4 soap
Plus scroll down to find out which popular comedy-drama could be returning for a fourth series
HOLLYOAKS is getting two rather unlikely new cast members – Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
But the comedians aren’t permanently signed up for the E4 soap — they’re just enjoying cameos as part of the new series of Rob And Romesh Vs on Sky Max.
The duo dropped into the set mid-recording to see just how tricky it is to make the show and get a few tips from its long-standing stars, including Jamie Lomas and Jennifer Metcalfe.
Rob and Romesh’s key scene centred around a prison visit.
Romesh plays a jail guard trying to break up a fight, while Rob is a prisoner who gets involved in the tussle as the central characters watch the drama unfold.
Jennifer said: “It was ace filming alongside Rob and Romesh.
“The scene is incredible and they were so much fun and very professional.
“It was great having them on set and we’d have them back any time.”
Last week I exclusively revealed how Rob and Romesh are set on fire in their forthcoming series after travelling to Hollywood to see how the experts perform deadly stunts on movies.
They will also take on wildlife as they go behind the lens as part of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, and head to Alexandra Palace to try their hand at the nation’s favourite sport, darts, for a one-off special showing early next year.
But for the many fans who watch Hollyoaks, it will be the pair’s visit to the Chester-based drama that is likely to be the most anticipated episode of the series.
At least they’ll be better than dancer AJ Pritchard and his Love Islander brother Curtis when they guest-starred on the soap in 2021.
Ben and Cat on eye level
THEY may have got off to an underwhelming start as the new hosts of This Morning, but at least Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley have one thing sorted – their nightly eyecare regime.
The duo say they are both fans of eyepatches used to keep puffiness at bay, and it is not the only thing they found they have in common.
Talking ahead of returning to the ITV1 show from September 2, Cat said: “I think we learnt quite a lot about each other by about day four here.
“I asked him for a chewing gum, and it fell on the floor, but I picked it up saying, ‘Three-second rule, it’s fine’ and he said, ‘You’re just really the female version of me, aren’t you?’
“And I was like, ‘Yeah. And you’re probably the male version of me!’”
Ben added: “We approach things in life very similarly.”
Sheri’s agony as mum
SHERIDAN Smith gives one of the most moving performances of her career as a mother who discovers her daughter had been killed.
She is playing Ann Ming in new ITV drama I Fought The Law, chronicling the tragic real-life story of 22-year-old Julie Hogg, who was murdered in 1989.
Labourer Billy Dunlop was tried for the offence but acquitted – and despite admitting the crime at a later date could not face justice because of the double jeopardy rule.
But Ann, who has met with Sheridan ahead of the show starting, tirelessly campaigned for a change in the law, which she eventually won in 2005.
A year later Dunlop was jailed for life.
Love Island split
POPULAR Love Island couple Tanya Manhenga and Shaq Muhammad have split after getting together on the show last year.
They shared matching social media posts confirming they are no longer an item, writing: “We can’t thank you enough for loving us together until now!”
Spooky Alan link for Daisy
THEY may both have come from the world of comedy to star in new ITV1 gameshow Password – but team captains Alan Carr and Daisy May Cooper took a while to get to know each other.
It turns out they broke the ice thanks to one of Jonathan Ross’s famous Halloween parties.
Daisy recalls: “The two of us plus alcohol was like an explosion in a science lab.
“I was dressed as a zombie Anna from Frozen and he was dressed as one of the twin sisters from The Shining.
“All I can remember is it being three in the morning, the only three people left at the party were Alan, me and Mel C from the Spice Girls.”
Here’s hoping the show launch, fronted by Stephen Mangan, goes better this Saturday at 9.40pm.
Game on for Ted’s return
A FOURTH series of hit comedy-drama Ted Lasso could be on the way.
According to reports, Hannah Waddingham is one of three stars of the show who’ve been approached for a new season on Apple TV+.
However, there’s no news yet on whether lead star and exec producer Jason Sudeikis is also ready to return as Ted.
There was always a big question mark over whether series three would really be the last we would see of AFC Richmond, with fans keeping their fingers crossed that it wasn’t the final whistle.
Plus virtually all the key cast members have said they’d be back for another run if asked.
Now let’s see if they’re true to their word.