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VINE TIME
Fresh career boost for huge Brit pop star after second series of TV show gets greenlight
A TV insider said: 'The first series got a great reception and doing a follow-up was a no-brainer'
TAKE That have just finished touring in Australia – but I can reveal performing isn’t the only thing that Gary Barlow’s been doing Down Under.
The singer is also making another series of his “Wine Tour” show, which aired earlier this year on ITV1 and saw him visit South Africa.
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Now he’s making a sequel which is likely to air in 2025, and he’ll probably be joined on screen by bandmates Howard Donald and Mark Owen.
A TV insider said: “The first series got a great reception and doing a follow-up was a no-brainer — particularly for Gary who loves travel, wine and presenting.
“Heading to Australia was also a natural move given that it’s home to some of the world’s greatest vineyards.
“But it does open up endless opportunities for more series as Gary heads to other locations famous for their wines, including California, South America and Italy.”
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The clues to Gary’s next venture Down Under were there in the first series of Wine Tour, as the last three dates were actually staged in Australian vineyards.
He posted an image on Instagram of himself with audience members in the background at the Hunter Valley with the words: “An absolute delight to meet you all — and the wine was fab too.”
I exclusively revealed in February that Gary was starting to make his wine shows, partly because he has his own range of vino and knows a thing or two about the subject.
The production side of things will also be in experienced hands as the second series will once again be made by the Rock Oyster production company, which also made Ainsley Harriott’s Taste Of Malta.
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Gary is also embarking on a string of gigs in the UK next year. The Songbook tour starts in April and ends in June. Tickets have already gone on sale and about half the dates are sold out.
And, as a happy coincidence, his new wine show will probably air around the same time.
Gary Barlow treks round Europe as telly show host
OOOOOH, SO B****Y STEPHEN
TELLY renaissance man Stephen Fry has recalled how he led pal Nigella Lawson into a spectacular faux pas over cocktails.
He revealed on the Dish podcast that, in conversation with airline cabin crew during a flight, he discovered a vodka-and-soda tipple had the nickname Skinny Bitch.
It was a fact he later gleefully passed on to culinary queen Nigella at one of her parties.
He said: “She went, ‘God, that’s good’.”
But Stephen added: “I saw her three weeks later, she said ‘Oh my god, I made such a fool of myself’, and I said: ‘What happened?’ She said: ‘I went into a bar and asked for a Skinny Slut.’
“Isn’t that fabulous. Oh dear, oh dear.”
I wonder what the bar tender’s reaction was – and what they ended up serving Nigella.
ITV POSTS WINNING FIGURES
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ITVX is celebrating its second birthday as Britain’s fastest growing major streaming platform.
Over the past two years viewing hours have soared 35 per cent and it attracted the biggest audiences in 2024.
Including ITV’s coverage of England’s semi-final victory over The Netherlands at Euro 2024, plus Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which took the top two spots.
Meanwhile I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – with Oti Mabuse as a current campmate – is the top rating entertainment show of the year so far.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo said: “Two years on, ITVX is now firmly established as a superior streaming destination, for a wealth of must-watch content.”
SISTERS ARE KEY FOR BEEB
THE antics of an endearing Irish family will be brought to life in new telly drama The Walsh Sisters.
BBC bosses have acquired the series featuring five siblings, a devout mother and a bemused father.
The six-parter is inspired by five novels from author Mariah Keyes – one of Ireland’s most successful writers of all time.
Talking about the TV adaptation of her books, Marian said: “This is SO exciting!!!! I’m beside myself! I love the scripts.
“They’ve really kept the spirit of the books.
“It’s been almost impossible to keep this a secret.
“And it’s a great feeling that the news is now out in the world.”
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