Showbiz 5: From Friday free Lorraine to bets off for Holly

Another newswrap as Joanna Gumley casts her views over recent entertainment news…

Bets are off

ITV darling Holly Willoughby has decided not to continue with the revived You Bet! series, prompting tabloid speculation she might be off to the Beeb for future work. Phillip Schofield’s former best pal is unable to co-host the second series due to ‘scheduling commitments’ the broadcaster noted.

Willoughby is best known as the co-host of daytime magazine series This Morning, which she quit in October 2023. Her co-star Schofield had already departed ITV after admitting to an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young male colleague on the programme.

It was just one in a number of controversies the show had been plagued with in the past few years.

Five for Feltz

With the recent news Vanessa Feltz is to host a weekday hour-and-a-bit magazine show for 5 it came as no surprise that it was announced she won’t be continuing as a regular contributor to This Morning. Vanessa is regularly seen pondering the newspaper headlines as part of the long running ITV series.

Feltz has ‘quit This Morning after 33 years’ newspapers note. Although I don’t recall Vanessa being a regular for 33 years so that seems a little generous. However, the former chat show hostess has revealed she is stepping away from ITV to concentrate on her self-titled daytime show, which launches on Monday, 24th March.

“It’s been a long time. But I’m now doing my own show and I can’t do both… When I told everyone I wouldn’t be able to do the show anymore, they were lovely about it. I heard from Alison Hammond and Holly Willoughby immediately and the bosses were charming. I’ll miss working with them all,” Vanessa said, according to the Daily Star

Vanessa has hosted programming for ITV, BBC One, LBC, Radio 2, BBC local radio and Talk TV. Her new format is a mix of several of these programmes including issue-based phone-in debate, celebrity guests and advice slots.

Where’s Lorraine Today?

In America the daytime hosts work Monday to Friday, for years the ITV personalities have had it easy. None more so than Lorraine Kelly who in the 1990s and 2000s worked three days, pre-recording her last two shows of the week. In recent times the chirpy Scottish lass who boasts being an actress for tax reasons has taken Friday’s off, despite the show remaining called Lorraine. Now, to avoid such issues ITV could have called the Friday show After Nine – like it was in the 80s, or maybe brought back GMB Today – the more lighter Good Morning Britain offering.

But they didn’t, and so the absence of Lorraine has for years become a television joke for viewers. Now though, opinionated Kelly isn’t so keen when others are having a social media opine about her as The Sun reports ‘an account that keeps track of Lorraine Kelly’s absences on her morning TV show has shut down after the presenter described it as “really hurtful”‘.

Lorraine said her recent absence has been due to her ill mother. Before this it was to look after her child, and f*ck knows what the excuse was before that. Either way, dear Lorraine, you’ve been having it off for years, and not in a good way – as the low percentage of attendance that now defunct Twitter account showed. And isn’t that the real reason you didn’t like it…

Emmerdale write-off

Digital Spy this week reported how Emmerdale has had to withdraw its entry for the Best Soap award at the 2025 BAFTA TV Awards after writer Martin Fustes was convicted of domestic abuse. ‘Fustes admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional suffocation at Hull Crown Court earlier this week.’ The site noted. DS added, ‘He was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work, 15 days’ rehabilitation and a 26-session probation service domestic abuse programme.’ Fuste also was ordered to pay £2,000 compensation as well as £150 in costs.

And ITV Statement noted: “ITV and Emmerdale have taken the decision to withdraw the episode nominations from this year’s BAFTA TV Awards. This is in consideration of developments in recent days involving a member of the scriptwriting team.”

The writer has worked for ITV Yorkshire, who made the long running issue based soap since 2014. Last December he wrote the episode which featured the trial of Tom King, who was seen over several months inflicting wife Belle to emotional abuse, physical assaults and coercive control. His last penned episode, one of nearly 200, aired in February. The company have confirmed he is no longer employed by them.

Coronation Street fans got a chance to have ‘an audience with’ fans a chance to get up close to Todd Boyce, who played baddie Stephen Reid, in September 2023

A night with The Street stars

For the first time ever, the current performers of The Street are stepping out of the endless misery, cop scenes and social plots and onto the stage for something much more entertaining.

Yes, we’ve had audiences with Ken Dodd, and Elaine Paige and even The Bee Gees. Now it’s the turn of the cast of Coronation Street only this isn’t for ITV, instead some of the Weatherfield regulars are hitting the road. Fans of the show – 65 this December – have the chance to get up close and personal with Corrie stars as they spill behind-the-scenes secrets, share hilarious stories, and relive heart-warming moments from the ITV show.

The venture follows a successful run of audience events by Neighbours, which has seen the cast of the Aussie saga entertaining UK audiences in theatres as part of a 40th anniversary tour. The Street have also held one-off intimate specials including giving fans a chance to get up close to baddie Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) in September 2023. Emmerdale last year also hosted ‘an audience with’ event featuring the ever-popular Claire King who plays super-bitch Kim Tate.

Hosted by This Morning’s resident soap plot provider Sharon Marshall, this show will be packed with laughter, nostalgia, and more than a few jaw-dropping surprises.

The line-up will vary from show to show, with different fan-favourite cast members appearing at each venue and a surprise Corrie legend. Whether you’ve been watching since 1960 or you’ve just discovered the world of Weatherfield, An Audience with Coronation Street promises an evening of laughter, nostalgia, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Tickets onsale priced from £29.50 (+ booking fee)

The views expressed are of Joanna Gumley and not ATV Today. Penelope Teeth, Judi Dentures and Joanna Gumley are ATV’s exclusive showbiz drag queens with bite.