Zombie-loving Emmerdale stars Dominic Brunt and Mark Charnock plotting a flesh-eating Halloween episode
Dominic and Mark — vet Paddy and chef Marlon — revealed their fiendish fantasy episode as Bizarre TV joined them on set in Northern Ireland, where they were shooting scenes to be aired in March
CHARACTERS coming back from the dead are not unheard of in soap land — but there could well be an entire Emmerdale episode dedicated to the phenomenon.
Actors Dominic Brunt and Mark Charnock — vet Paddy and chef Marlon in the ITV series — want to turn their love of zombies into a special Halloween episode.
Among the three films Dominic has directed was 2013 walking dead horror flick Before Dawn. And with Mark, he hosted a zombie film festival in Leeds.
Dominic said: “I want to do a Halloween special — it’d be great. Everybody could be bitten to death by zombies and we all turn into zombies.”
Mark said: “It might be genius. Someone get me a pen and paper. I need to speak to the producer immediately.”
Bizarre TV had joined the stars on set in Northern Ireland, where they were shooting scenes soap fans will see in March.
Marlon and new wife Jessie (Sandra Marvin) are having a honeymoon while his best mate tags along hoping to find out if wrestler Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) is his real dad.
Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) also heads to Belfast — to hunt for daughter Amy.
Amy fled the farm in 2013 in a bid to avoid being caught by police after kidnapping her son.
Rebellious Amy was played by Chelsea Halfpenny from 2010 to 2013 but soap newbie Natalie Ann Jamieson will take up the reins.
And if it’s up to Dominic and Mark, she won’t last long.
READ MORE FROM ANDY HALLS' BIZARRE TV COLUMN
It's Chris hugs
JESY NELSON and Chris Hughes look like they’re on cloud nine as they cosy up at an airport, below.
Their romance came to light last month as they were seen snogging in a kebab shop.
But the Little Mix singer and Love Islander’s romance was held up in more ways than one. They split up and got back together before a romantic weekend to Ireland was delayed due to fog forcing their flight to be cancelled.
Yesterday the couple were all smiles as they posted a video selfie on board a flight.
I hope they had their phones on airplane mode.
GERE UP FOR SEX SCENES
IT turns out Richard Gere – the star turn in BBC2’s MotherFatherSon – isn’t the most sensational role of the new drama.
It is his character’s playboy son Caden Finch who provides the most shocking moments with endless cocaine binges and bizarre sex encounters with hookers.
It means Billy Howle, the actor who plays him, had to deliver full-frontal nudity, not to mention some explicit language.
The eight-parter – which starts on March 6 at 9pm – sees Richard’s character, media mogul Max Finch, struggle to cope when his son’s destructive lifestyle leads to a stroke.
Richard’s first meeting with screen wife Helen McCrory – who starred in the Beeb’s Peaky Blinders – was almost as racy as his scenes in MotherFatherSon.
Helen explained: “I met him years before in Los Angeles at a party, at a bar, just so fittingly it’s exactly how you should meet Richard Gere – it had a glass-ceiling swimming pool below it so you could swim and look up people’s skirts.”
No wonder the drama turned out so steamy.
Must watch
WHAT? 24 Hours in A&E, Channel 4, 9pm.
WHY? Another nail-biting trip inside a casualty department. An elderly man is brought in with serious injuries after a crash and a little boy is struggling to breathe.
Beeb in Jacko u-turn
THE BBC has performed a major U-turn on a high-profile Michael Jackson documentary following the latest sex abuse allegations.
Originally it had been commissioned to be a gushing celebration of his career called Michael Jackson: The Greatest Showman.
But now it will be called Michael Jackson: The Rise And Fall.
The move follows new claims in the documentary Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson And Me, screened at the Sundance Film Festival last month and being shown on Channel 4 on March 6 and 7.
Jacques Peretti, who is behind the latest BBC2 film, has made three programmes about the singer, including one on his last days.
His latest documentary will explore his early Jackson 5 days when Michael was regularly beaten by his dad, his years on the Neverland ranch and This Is It – what were meant to be his last concerts.
Mark Bell, commissioning editor at BBC Arts, said: “When Jacques Peretti approached us early last year with an idea of making a fourth film about Michael Jackson, there was no doubt that he was uniquely placed to take a broad look at the mysterious and controversial life and reputation of this man.
“We are looking forward to premiering this film on BBC2.”
It will be shown later this year.
Joel on quiz is good call
JOEL DOMMETT has landed his first solo presenting gig. The comedian will be the face of a new ITV2 quiz show Hey Tracey!
The series will feature celebs trying to win cash for members of the public by attempting to answer tricky questions.
If they don’t have a clue, they shout “Hey, Tracey” and Joel’s personal assistant – think Alexa/Siri but with a twist – will phone someone who could help.
A TV insider explained: “The concept is hilarious – it’s like comedy cold-calling rather than phone a friend. The celebs could be speaking to anyone, from dog groomers to piano tuners to equine dentists in a bid to get the answer right.
“And they’re not allowed to say they’re on the show, they just have to say who they are to try and get the answer to win the cash. It could be seriously funny if it goes wrong.”
Judging by the calibre of the celebs taking part, many from Towie and Love Island, I think it’s more than likely it will.
SOAPBOX
In EASTENDERS, Jean is put out when Stacey books her a doctor’s appointment, worried her daughter will learn the truth about her condition.
Meanwhile, Ruby ignores Jay’s calls and Shirley revels in seeing Mick fitted in his outfit for the wedding.
Rainie attends a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, where she is stunned to recognise one of the other members.
In NEIGHBOURS, Leo pitches up outside Terese’s place and vents his emotions in a drunken rant.
And Sonya encourages Nell to pursue her ambitions.
Debbie fears the result of her recent actions in EMMERDALE, while Maya offers some reassurance and Kerry refuses to back down.
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