The Crown bosses cut paedophile Jimmy Savile out of new series of Netflix show
FROM the Nazi-loving Duke Of Windsor to treacherous KGB spy Sir Anthony Blunt, The Crown has featured a long line of villains.
But it seems the Netflix show’s creators drew the line at sex monster Jimmy Savile, erasing him from a key scene.
The paedophile met the royals at the 1984 Royal Variety Performance, which features in the upcoming fourth series.
A TV insider said: “Savile was characteristically ingratiating with the Windsors.
“He dressed as a theatre doorman to greet the royals as they arrived for the performance and featured in the after-show line-up backstage.
“But the creators felt it would be insensitive for such a sadistic predator to have even a second of airtime.”
The Crown’s creators have taken some artistic licence with the episode featuring the Royal Variety Performance, which was hosted by Max Bygraves on November 19, 1984.
The Queen Mother and the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the show, but in this version, the guests of honour are the Queen and Prince Philip, played by Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies.
And although in reality the show took place at the Victoria Palace Theatre – which is on the doorstep of Buckingham Palace in central London – The Crown filmed the scenes earlier this month at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End.
I think cutting out Jimmy Savile was one change The Crown’s creators should be applauded for.
Weight is over for Ant
ANT Middleton is taking his team place on Soccer Aid For Unicef so seriously he has vowed to slim down.
The SAS Who Dares Wins star wants to lose some of his famous bulk so that he’ll be speedier on the pitch.
He said: “Last year was nerve-wracking, I wanted to take a back seat, and now I’m raring to go.
“I want to implement a lot of my leadership skills now.
“I’m going to be forceful this year – we’ve got to get that trophy back.
“I’ll be starting this year, after just being on during the second half.
“I’m going to lose a bit of weight, as I want to be a bit more agile.
“I’m training with my local football team.”
The former serviceman, who will play for Soccer Aid’s England team, said: “I’ll be doing a motivational speech and pep talks to rile the team up.
“I come from a competitive background and I hate losing.”
He added: “It’s great that we have men and women playing.
“Once we win the trophy, I’ll have a beer or two.”
That’s the spirit . . .
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Ronan's jungle fever
ROMAN Kemp enjoyed his time on I’m A Celebrity so much that he wants his famous father Martin to experience it too.
But the clock is ticking. The Capital Radio DJ is determined to see his Spandau Ballet star dad take part in the reality show before he enters his sixties next year.
Speaking at the TRIC Awards, Roman said: “My dad is nearly 60 and I want him to be on that show on his own.”
But the DJ is also pleased his dad didn’t join him in last year’s series.
Roman – whose father-and-son ITV show Martin & Roman’s Sunday Best! starts on April 19 – said: “I think it’s something you have to do on you own and having the comfort of family is not part of the show.”
His dad agreed.
He said: “It is about missing people, being without a phone, living on your own, discovering who you are.”
Martin would be TV gold . . .
bizbit
COMEDIAN Chris Ramsey's stint on Strictly Come Dancing has paid off with a high-profile new presenting role.
He has just been signed up to host new BBC1 talent contest, Little Mix: The Search.
Georgia's frog woe
VIKINGS regular Georgia Hirst has a fear of frogs after co-star Travis Fimmel put one down her dress as a prank on the set of the Amazon Prime show.
The Torvi actress, who stars in new horror comedy movie Ravers (which can be downloaded from March 16), said: “I’m an easy target because I’m such a wuss despite my character on Vikings being badass.
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“Travis put a frog down my dress and traumatised me.
“The boys were a lot worse to each other so I got off lightly.
“But the frog thing stayed with me. It was horrific.
“I have a horrible fear of frogs now.”
bizticker
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- Martin & Roman’s Sunday Best! show starts on ITV April 19
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