Michelle Keegan drama Our Girl cancelled after bosses failed to secure Jacqueline Jossa to take over her role after exit
AFTER four series, Our Girl has been demobbed.
Show creator Tony Grounds confirmed today he was resting BBC1’s hit military drama because he felt it had come to a natural end.
But insiders told me the decision to axe it was in part due to the failure to sign up Jacqueline Jossa.
I revealed in January that the ex-EastEnders star was first in line for the job after Michelle Keegan — who played army medic Georgie Lane following lead actress Lacey Turner’s exit in 2014 — announced she was stepping down.
However, talks between the camps fizzled out.
An insider said: “Jacqueline was a shoo-in to take over from Michelle in Our Girl but ultimately it would have been tough for her to commit to being away for so long.
“Jacqueline knew it was a massive role for her but after the initial call it all went quiet and nothing more was said.
“With the pandemic and restrictions on filming, they felt it was best to just pull the plug for the moment.
“It’s a shame because everyone thought Jacqueline could have had huge success in the role but the chance never really came off.”
After the announcement, Tony said he would consider bringing back the series but only if Michelle returned.
He revealed in a statement: “With the finale of series four showing Georgie ready to move on with her life, it feels like the right time for us to do the same.
“Michelle and I are keen to continue our working relationship and, who knows, maybe we’ll catch up with Georgie in the future.
“I wanted to say a big thank you to the fans of the show. It’s been a joy to write.”
bizbit
EAMONN Holmes revealed on This Morning that he’ll be taking part in a celebrity fundraising edition of ITV game show The Chase.
It was prompted by a chat about how people can keep their brains active as they grow old.
Hairy Aidan's got da look
JUDGING by his tangled beard and long hair, Aidan Turner looks like he’s been in lockdown for the past four years not four months.
In fact, the Poldark hunk has made himself more bushy to take the lead role in a new drama about Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci.
The historic epic was one of the first to start work again after Covid-19 restrictions eased and the production has just finished filming.
Aidan sweltered in several layers of period costume as he filmed the final scenes in Italy.
That was a contrast to Poldark, when he had to strip off to swim in the freezing waters off Cornwall.
Neither he – nor female viewers – were complaining about that, though.
must watch
WHAT? Inside Missguided: Made In Manchester, Channel 4, Wednesday 10pm.
WHY? New documentary goes behind the scenes of the fashion giant. Bosses try to land Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague as an ambassador.
Bomber horror retold
NETFLIX is ticking off the worst of crime history one by one after looking at Jimmy Savile, the Yorkshire Ripper and Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.
Now it is delving into the London nail bomb attacks.
I am told the streaming giant’s Nailbomber documentary to be screened next year will investigate the twisted actions of David Copeland.
The right-wing militant was jailed for targeting Brick Lane, Soho and Brixton in 1999 during a 13-day nail bombing campaign that left three people dead and 139 injured.
A source said: “Netflix is really stepping up its hard-hitting documentaries more than ever, particularly those aimed at a UK audience.
“Brits of a certain age will remember the news reports surrounding these attacks vividly, and they hope that their sensitive look at Copeland’s actions will be a captivating watch.
“The film will try to be positive too, and show how London’s communities bonded together to overcome the hate, which was the exact opposite of what he was aiming to achieve.”
Copeland was given six life sentences for his crimes.
bizbit
BBC Three will show HBO drama We Are Who We Are, the first TV adaptation by director Luca Guadagnino, best known for Call Me By Your Name starring Armie Hammer.
It is about two US kids on a military base in Italy.
Bel-Air back on air
NINETIES sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is to be rebooted as a gritty series.
Star of the show Will Smith is working with film director Morgan Cooper on a new version based on a viral YouTube trailer that reimagined the series as a hard-hitting drama.
Bel-Air is described as a “dramatic take” on the comedy that catapulted Will to stardom.
It ran on NBC from 1990 to 1996.
It's Maur hassle
AS one of the most memorable contestants on Love Island, Maura Higgins has had to find ways to escape her new celebrity status.
That usually involves going back to visit friends and family in her native County Longford in Ireland.
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But even then, she is constantly reminded of her famous phrase.
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Maura said: “I do forget sometimes and I come home and say, ‘I am just going to the shop’. Then I step outside and people shout ‘fanny flutters’.
“Everyone shouts out of their car windows at me.”
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