The stars of Strictly Come Dancing are set to take part in a glitzy and ground-breaking new series for BBC Three that will see them unite wheelchair users and celebrities in a dance competition with a difference.

Wheelchair Dance Sport is something many British people have never heard of, although it originated in this country. Dancing On Wheels hopes to change that and put the sport back on the UK map!

The lead choreographer, coach and expert on the show is Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer and semi finalist in this year’s Strictly. He has been teaching wheelchair dancing for the past eight years and will be putting the couples through their paces with help from his professional dance partner Kristina Rihanoff, who danced with Joe Calzaghe in this year’s competition.

Their challenge is to produce a pair of dancers good enough to represent the UK at the European Wheelchair Dance Sport Championships in Tel Aviv – in just nine weeks.

After an intensive five weeks of training, the couples will perform weekly before a panel of judges: presenter and Paralympian Ade Adepitan and Strictly’s professional dancers – James Jordan, and his wife and reigning Strictly champion, Ola Jordan. They will decide each week which pairs stay in the competition and, ultimately, who will be the couple selected to represent Britain in the European Championships.

The celebrities taking part are singer Heather Small, gold medallist swimmer Mark Foster, actress Michelle Gayle, actor Kevin Sacre, rugby legend Martin Offiah and presenter Caroline Flack. They will partner wheelchair users from around the country. And none have ever attempted wheelchair dancing before.

The wheelchair users are: Simone, a 22-year-old Cambridge graduate; Diana, a 49-year-old magazine editor and mother; 27-year-old Carolyne, who enjoys nothing more than a night out; James, a 31-year-old whose impressive acrobatic ability puts most able-bodied people to shame; Paul, a 24-year-old festival-goer who is looking forward to Glastonbury this summer; and 24-year-old Harry, who recently got married to a girl he met while travelling in Thailand.

They will all be learning from scratch the art of Wheelchair Dance Sport, a popular international sport where at least one dancer is a wheelchair user. It is practised widely by athletes in 22 countries, with competitions and championships held across the world.

In Dancing On Wheels the couples will compete in the “combi” event where a standing able-bodied dancer partners a wheelchair user. Through the competition they must learn all the dances, which include the cha-cha, paso doble, waltz, tango and rhumba. The winning couple will then represent the UK at the Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships in Israel.

Brian Fortuna says: “Dancing On Wheels was the most challenging and rewarding project that I have ever worked on. It touched the lives of everyone involved and I hope that the show will prove to the public that physical disabilities are only as limiting as you let them be.

“Wheelchair Dance Sport is one of the only activities that brings together the disabled and able-bodied worlds. The level of dancing achieved by the couples far surpassed my expectations.”

Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC Three, says: “This is a really important project for BBC Three, and underlines our commitment to covering disability in a mainstream way following the success of Britain’s Missing Top Model last year. The series will be surprising, fun and glamorous.”

View the original post Brian Fortuna brings Dancing On Wheels to BBC Three on Unreality TV

Michael Jackson was a legend – one of the world’s most successful singers and an amazing dancer too. Tonight, to celebrate the greatest performer in the history of pop, who died earlier this year, BBC Three begins the search for the UK’s best dance act – someone who can move as well as Michael in his prime. Hosted by Reggie Yates, this unique contest has dancers battling it out to win an amazing opportunity – to perform with the world’s superstars at the Michael Jackson official tribute concert in 2010.

Dance Experts travel from the streets of Glasgow to the playing fields of Cardiff and from the bus stops of Manchester to the shopping malls of London to find the UK’s best dancers.

Solo performers, duos and crews all attempt to dance their way to a place in the studio shows, but first they have to impress legendary choreographer Lavelle Smith Junior, who worked with Michael for more than 20 years, and Mark Summers, who had been tasked with finding the UK’s most talented dancers for Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour.

The best are invited to call backs – it’s their final chance to win a place in the studio shows and perform for Jermaine Jackson – Michael’s brother – as well as singer Jamelia.

Reggie goes to America to meet those who worked with Michael and find out exactly why he was the king of dance. The day starts with 25 acts, but only eight will make it through to the studio shows.

Monday 14 December
8.30-9.30pm BBC THREE

View the original post Watch Move Like Michael Jackson on BBC Three tonight! on Unreality TV

Loads of dancers turned up for BBC Three’s MOVE LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON auditions and performed their hearts out.

The judges were impressed by the talent on show. But only 16 finalists will get the chance to work with Michael Jackson’s choreographer and friend Lavelle Smith Jr. Then they’ll go head-to-head in a dance-off which will be judged by Jermaine Jackson, Jamelia and Mark Summers (European casting director for the THIS IS IT Tour).

Stay tuned for all the action when the six-part series, hosted by Radio 1’s Reggie Yates starts on BBC Three on Monday 14th December and ends with the Live Final on 20th December.

But the fun is just beginning – now it’s your chance to join in!

Lavelle Smith Jr has created a new routine exclusive to BBC Three to ‘BEAT IT’, featuring five classic Michael Jackson moves – the Moonwalk, Toe Pop, Crotch Grab, Lean and Leg Kick.

All you need to do is go to the BBC Three website and choose one of the moves to learn using Lavelle’s easy-to-follow tutorials, film yourself copying the choreography and then upload it. Simple!

Whether your interpretation is smooth or just plain criminal, your video may be featured on television during the live final on BBC Three! Plus once you have submitted your entry you can enter your name to win one of a pair of tickets to the LIVE FINAL itself. For more information visit www.bbc.co.uk/movelikemichaeljackson/goldenticket

The Routine in full:

Leg Kick:

Crotch grab:

Moonwalk:

Lean:

Toe Pop:

View the original post Want to be on BBC’s Move Like Michael Jackson? on Unreality TV

Jackson 5 legend Jermaine Jackson is to be one of the judges on brand new BBC Three entertainment series Move Like Michael Jackson.

Celebrating the greatest pop icon of our time, this six-part dance series will see a nationwide search to find Britain’s most talented and original dancers who can demonstrate they have the spirit, showmanship and technical ability of the great man.

Back in the studio, Jermaine and the rest of the panel will be seeing who can put their true versatility and ingenuity to the test as they perform to classic Michael Jackson tracks.

Aimed at finding dancers who best embody the spirit of Michael Jackson on stage, the show will include competitors from all backgrounds, individuals and group performances.

The winner won’t necessarily be the dancer who simply mimics Jackson’s choreography, but rather someone who can move like him, creating and inventing their own iconic steps and styles to most impress the judges and viewers.

Jermaine said: “Michael was a superb dancer who inspired people across the world to master his moves and create their own unique routines. I’m really excited and delighted to be part of this show and look forward to finding the UK’s most talented and inspiring dancers.”

Executive Editor for BBC Entertainment Commissioning, Karl Warner, said: “Michael Jackson was one of the greatest performers of all time and we think this is a brilliant way to honour him. We want to hear from anyone who’s ever been inspired by the Moonwalk, the Smooth Criminal lean or the crotch grab, and find out if they can move like Michael Jackson.”

Move Like Michael Jackson was commissioned by Karl Warner and will be made by Gogglebox Entertainment and Fever Media.

The executive producers are Karl Warner for BBC, Adam Wood and Mat Steiner for Gogglebox Entertainment and Richard Hopkins for Fever Media.

Move Like Michael Jackson will be broadcast later in the year and will be stripped across one week.

View the original post Jermaine Jackson joins Move Like Michael Jackson for BBC Three on Unreality TV

Comedian Robert Webb has slammed Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum, the reality show which he provides voice-overs for.

The show took eight young people between the ages of 17 and 25 – who’d never done a day’s work and lived off their parents – and plonked them in a house. The results were predictable, but no less disgusting for it.

Webb has admitted he only did the voice-overs “for the money” – and even kept the gig a secret from his on screen partner David Mitchell.

Robert told The Sun: “It’s a reality show where t***s aged 17 to 25 live in a house together and have big, stupid rows which I narrate.

“And then, amazingly, the feckless idiot parents get to vote for the least annoying one and whoever is left, by default, wins the show.”

View the original post Robert Webb slams Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum on Unreality TV

Actor Kevin Sacre, rugby legend Martin Offiah and presenter Caroline Flack are also set to partner wheelchair users who have never danced before – with only five weeks to master everything from the cha-cha to the paso doble.

The wheelchair users are: Simone, a 22-year-old Cambridge graduate; Diana, a 48-year-old magazine editor and mother; 27-year-old Carolyne, who enjoys nothing more than a night out; James, a cocky 31-year-old whose impressive acrobatic ability puts most able-bodied people to shame; Paul, a 24-year-old festival-goer who is looking forward to Glastonbury this summer; and 23-year-old Harris, who recently got married to a girl he met whilst travelling in Thailand.

They will all be learning the art of Wheelchair Dance Sport, a popular international sport where at least one dancer is a wheelchair user.

Wheelchair Dance Sport is practised widely by athletes in 22 countries, with competitions and championships held across the world.

In Dancing On Wheels, the couples will be compete in the “combi” event where a standing able-bodied dancer partners a wheelchair user.

The winning couple will go on to represent the UK at the Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships in Israel this autumn.

Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC Three, says: “This is a really important project for BBC Three, and underlines our commitment to covering disability in a mainstream way following the success of Britain’s Missing Top Model last year.

“The series will be surprising, fun and glamorous.”

Lead choreographer Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer who appeared in the last series of Strictly Come Dancing and who has been teaching wheelchair dancing for the last eight years, will be putting the couples through their paces.

Under the guidance of Brian and some of the other top names in dance, the couples will be trained intensively each week to compete in a variety of exhausting and challenging dance disciplines as they battle for supremacy.

A panel of judges will decide each week which couples stay in the competition.

The judges will then select the two strongest couples who will get the chance to take part in a final dance-off, before a winning couple is chosen to represent Britain in the European Championships in October 2009.

Dancing On Wheels will be made by Fever Media.

David Mortimer, Managing Director at Fever, says: “We’re so excited to be back in business with BBC Three and can’t wait to launch our search to find Britain’s best new wheelchair dance talent.

“Wheelchair Dance Sport is every bit as graceful, glamorous and entertaining as regular ballroom, so we can all look forward to some amazing action.”

View the original post Dancing On Wheels Coming To BBC Three on Unreality TV

Aisleyne Horgan Wallace is the newest make-under victim on BBC Three’s Snog Marry Avoid.

During her time inside the POD, the Personal Overhaul Device Aisleyne admits to having had a boob job, botox and eyebrow tattoos. Could she be more fake? But its all good, because she claims to be “very real inside.”

Do you believe her?

Watch Aisleynes full make-under on 2nd March, 8:30PM, BBC Three.

View the original post Watch Aisleyne Horgan Wallace On Snog Marry Avoid on Unreality TV

Jodie Marsh come under attack from the Personal Overhaul Device (POD) on BBC Three show Snog, Marry, Avoid?

POD identified Marsh as the leader of all people fake and said: “All of these girls came before POD with their tiny clothes, layers of slap and fake tan and I have defeated them. It is now time for me to conquer their leader.”

The device then asked Marsh why she didn’t stick to being a “natural beauty” instead.

Marsh said: “Because I don’t have it, I don’t think. And I am often very jealous when I see a girl who is naturally beautiful.”

Jodie added: “If they met me in the flesh, most men do wanna shag me – sorry, snog.”

POD replied: “You are the ultimate enemy in the war against fakery. Your plastic boobs, brazen belts and fake face are a disgrace and you will undergo my ‘Stop The Jodie Clones Make-Under’.”

MONDAY 23RD FEBRUARY, 8:30PM, BBC THREE

View the original post Jodie Marsh Under Attack On Snog Marry Avoid on Unreality TV

Ultimate party girl, Bianca Gascoigne has revealed that she may be tempted to reduce her boozing after taking part in a tell all show for BBC Three.

Speaking at the VIP screening of Disney’s new movie Bolt Gascoigne said:

“It called Make My Body Younger on BBC3 and they’re doing a celebrity edition. It’s very exciting but very frightening,” she said.

“It’s nothing to do with getting slim,” she explained at the . “It’s to do with the inside so I’ve had my brain scanned, I’ve had my liver scanned, everything, and they’re going to explain what it looks like in my body and I’ve four weeks to turn it around.”

“I drink a lot and my excuse is I’m only 22,” she added. “Hopefully young girls will see it does do damage. Hopefully it’ll shock me a bit and I’ll calm down a bit.”

View the original post Bianca Gascoigne To Star In Make My Body Younger on Unreality TV

It’s growing into something more than a regular TV channel. It’s building a whole world for itself, one that will live on your computer and your mobile as much as it does on your telly. It’s not finished yet, but it’s happening now. This second. And for it to be as good as it could be, it needs you to get involved.

All of you.

So we tried to get your attention with some cheeky stunts that saw holes leading to the new world of BBC Three open up on some of Britain’s most infamous streets. We even made films of ourselves doing it in case you weren’t there to see it happen. Why? Simple, because we can’t finish changing BBC Three without you

We want you to film yourself introducing your favourite BBC Three programmes, as well as your ideas about what your ideal world would look like. Upload your mobile or video clips via enterthreetv.co.uk then click on “Be on TV” and find out exactly how you could end up as one of the new faces of BBC Three. On top of that you can sneak a look at what BBC Three is becoming and find out how people like Lily Allen are already involved.

View the original post Be The Face Of BBC Three on Unreality TV