Well you learn something new everyday. Just before this pair kicked off their performance on tonight’s Let’s Dance For Comic Relief, Zoe revealed that the first time she met Suggs was when he sang at her wedding ….weird!

The pair took on cool Pulp Fiction track ‘Never Can Tell’ and were dressed up as Jon Travolta and Uma Thurman. It wasn’t the funniest dance of the night but it was quite possibly the best.

That Zoe really rocks on the dancefloor, though I suppose given her and her husbands career it’s not really surprising!

Zoe Ball & Suggs, Dom Joly, sports stars Martin Offiah and Denise Lewis, The Bill actors Lisa Maxwell and Patrick Robinson, Fern Britton and Angela Rippon will all appear in the third heat of Let’s Dance For Comic Relief this Saturday night on BBC One.

Lisa Snowdon and Dara O’Briain will be guest panellists alongside head panellist Anton Du Beke.

In the final, Anton will be joined by guest panellists Denise Van Outen and Michael McIntyre who is back by popular demand.

Read more & comment »

Grease Is The Word presenter, Zoe Ball has revealed that she and husband Norman Cook are desperate for baby number two to make their family complete.

Zoe, 36, told The People “We’ve been trying for another baby but it’s just not happening.

“At the moment we’re playing the game of ‘Let’s pretend we don’t want one’ in the hope that we’ll suddenly surprise ourselves by getting pregnant.”

She added: “We’d love a brother or sister for Woody, though, especially for later in life when I’m an old woman.

“That way he can ring up his brother or sis and say, ‘You deal with Mum, she’s being bonkers!’”

Phew! I’m just back from a whirlwind trip to the Grease Is The Word launch party in London.

Those guys at ITV know how to throw a party – from the pink carpet outside the venue as I arrived to the T-shaped stage, everything was Grease-themed from the get-go. Even the London Eye has been coloured pink for the event (and will remain pink for the next few days).

The Preview

We were treated to previews of the auditions and the ITV2 show, Greased Lightnin’. If you’re a fan of The X-Factor, you’re going to love GITW (yes, I had to shorten it!).

All the golden elements of reality TV contestants are here: complete wackos, talented unknowns and…drumroll…. a failed 90’s pop star hoping for a career comeback. That brings back memories of Peter Andre and Andy Scott-Lee and the cast of Re-born In The USA… We love 90’s pop stars – we were there first time round!

The ITV2 aftershow, Greased Lightnin’ looks set to be a lot of fun as well, providing the usual opportunities to get closer to the contestants and find out more about them.

Judges and Presenters

After a few drinks, the presenters (Zoe Ball and Holly Willoughby) and three of the judges (David Ian, David Gest and Sinitta) were brought on stage for a Q&A session. Holly looks much cuter in the flesh, by the way.

David Ian came across as very business-like. He said “We’re looking for Danny and Sandy for the live show and rehearsals will start immediately after the final.” He also revealed that they are auditioning for the rest of the cast simultaneously, and that some auditionees who didn’t make the show are being considered for other roles. So there may be more than a few unknowns in the final stage show which will be opening at the Piccadilly in August

When asked if he was worried about GITW going head-to-head with the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do, David replied that he thought it was fantastic for the theatre industry that there are two primetime shows centred on casting for West End shows.

David Gest thinks that Grease has stronger songs than Joseph, and will triumph because it’s more popular.

Judge Rivalry

Expect tensions between David Ian and David Gest (who’s swiftly being renamed DG). I’m not sure how authentic the verbal sparring is between the two, but a few insults were traded on the night!

It looks like Sinitta is taking the role of ‘fair’ judge. She said that she thinks David Ian is the toughest judge, but from what I saw, David Gest was being the most blunt a la Cowell.

Having said that, if I’m A Celebrity turned David Gest into a household name, his role as a judge in GITW will seal the deal. The entire room was guffawing at some of his comments to awful auditionees.

The Grand Finale

To finish off the launch, there was a performance of songs from Grease by the cast of the West End show, including Hayley Evett of Pop Idol fame as Sandy. A very nice end to an exciting evening, and thanks to the nice folks at ITV for inviting us along!

Zoe Ball, host of the new ITV show Grease Is The Word, has denied that she will be taking over from Kate Thornton on The X Factor.

She said: “The thing is, I think with what’s happening with X Factor is that anyone who’s ever presented anything is going to be connected with it.

“The thing is I love Kate Thornton. I think she did a great job, she’s a great lass and I think it’s a real shame what’s happened.

“So I haven’t spoken to her, but she’s a good lass and she’ll bounce back and I’m sure the press has exaggerated a lot of it.”

She added: “Whoever takes over has got a huge job on their hands. I wouldn’t want it to be me.”t

“You couldn’t pay me enough money to make me audition for Sandy…
Perhaps Principal McGee or Sandy’s mum!”

An Avid fan of Grease from her childhood, Zoe Ball is thrilled to be hosting the show but admits to being much more like rebellious Rizzo than pure and innocent Sandy! Convinced she could never stand up in front of the judges and audition herself, Zoe has an admiration for all the potential Sandys and Dannys, and is more than ready to give any dejected contestants a ‘mushy’ hug.

What’s your first Grease memory?
“I remember Grease coming out and my next door neighbours, Mark and Kirsty, going to see it, but I was only seven and wasn’t allowed to go. My dad bought me the album though and I knew that off-by-heart long before I ever got to see the film. I still have it now.

“I had a Grease party for my 8th or 9th birthday; everyone dressed up and the DJ had us all singing and dancing on opposite sides. It was before boys got embarrassed about singing and dancing at parties! Read more & comment »

After a variety of jobs including au pairing for five children in France, teaching English to Italian doctors in Florence, and a brief stint at modelling, Zoe began her TV career in 1989.

She started out as a runner at Granada TV, in Manchester, and was quickly promoted to researcher on BSkyB’s children’s programme, Cool Cube. She joined Action Time in 1990 and spent two years as a researcher on the quiz shows Love At First Sight and Cluedo, which led to a role as Assistant Producer at Planet 24, in 1992, on The Big Breakfast.

After auditioning for Children’s BBC in 1994, Zoe presented The Birthday Slot, The Ozone, Playdays, Short Change and The Broom Cupboard. In 1995 she fronted Fully Booked and the BAFTA award-winning SMART, an art programme for CBBC.

In 1996 Zoe took over Gaby Roslin’s presenting role on The Big Breakfast, soon returning to the BBC to front LIVE & KICKING with Jamie Theakston for three years. Their final show in 1999 won an Entertainment BAFTA.

In 1998 Zoe was invited to co-host the Radio One Breakfast Show with Kevin Greening, and in 1999 she became the first female to front the show solo, earning her a Sony Gold Award. She remained there until April 2000.

During 2001, Zoe completed her fourth series presenting Channel 4’s The Priory with Jamie Theakston. She co-presented The Brit Awards 2002 with Frank Skinner, and hosted Class Of…, the BBC2 gameshow. She appeared as a guest alongside Ozzy Osbourne on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross (BBC) and was a panellist on BBC’s Shooting Stars.

In 2003 Zoe co-presented the V Festival with Lisa Snowden, voiced VH1’s Rock The Box, The Jennifer Lopez Documentary and The Kylie Minogue Story (MTV). She narrated BBC Radio 2’s music documentary, The Second Summer Of Love, and spent 2004 hosting an Xfm Show and attending Film School.

Zoe hosted BBC3’s coverage of Strictly Dance Fever and recorded a special for ITV, Queenmania!, in 2004. The following year (2005) she narrated the In The Loop Radio 2 documentary, was a presenter on Faking The Band, The Match and Elvis Mania and did very well indeed in Strictly Come Dancing!

In 2006 she made a welcome return to the dance floor, competing in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special and coming second. That year she also hosted the Elle Style Awards, and stood in for Dermot O’Leary on his BBC Radio 2 show. She presented BBC1’s Dancing In The Street with Bruce Forsyth, and hosted the Vodafone TBA: Razorlight gig for Channel 4.

More recently, Zoe co-presented the wildlife series Extinct with Sir Trevor MacDonald and hosted the second series of Soapstar Superstar, both on ITV1. She has a whole host of other presenting and guest appearance credits to her name!

The Daily Star has reported that John Travolta, the best known Danny Zuko ever, is hotly tipped to be attending the launch party for ITV’s Grease Is The Word tomorrow night.

Now I really am furious! Brad and I were invited to the party in London, but I opted out and Brad is going alone. I had no real desire to meet David Gest, Sinitta or Zoe Ball…..but John Travolta? I would have paid money to shake his hand or maybe even dance the Greased Lightnin with him. Gutted!

ITV have today announced the lineup of their judging panel for their newest reality show ‘Grease Is The Word’.

Putting his reputation on the line judging the potential hopefuls, as well as producing the eventual winners in the new West End show, is renowned theatre producer David Ian. Joining David on the judging panel is; I’m A Celebrity favourite, multimillionaire American showbiz impresario and producer David Gest, American choreographer Brian Friedman and The X Factor mentor, 80’s pop icon and West End star in her own right Sinitta (Mutiny, Hair, What A Feelin’).

David Ian said of taking part in the series, “I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to be working with ITV on this project looking for a brand new Danny and Sandy for the West End production of Grease. It’s so exciting to be looking for genuine new UK talent to fill the boots of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John and to perform in one of the greatest musicals of all time.” Read more & comment »

ITV have revealed that Zoe Ball will be replacing Cat Deeley as host of their newest reality TV, Grease Is The Word.

This deal comes hot on the heels of Zoe presenting the recent series of Soapstar Superstar for ITV. Seems like the girl is hot property at the moment.

Zoe will be joined by previous I’m A Celebrity contestant David Gest, who will be one of the judging panel.

Zoe Ball’s agent has today confirmed that the brave contestant has been the first celebrity to sign up for Strictly Come Pole Dancing.
Strictly Come Pole Dancing will air on our screens this summer as a part of The BBC’s Sport Relief. As part of the Sports Relief campaign we will also see a celebrity show jumping show on BBC1 although the contestants have not been announced yet.