She’s come a long way since leaving the Coronation Street cobbles, with roles in everything from Our Girl to Brassic. But Michelle Keegan has taken her biggest leap yet for her next role — quite literally. She’s flown 10,000 miles to Australia to film a new BBC drama from the team behind Netflix’s raunchy Sex Education.

The six-part series, Ten Pound Poms, follows a group of British emigrees as they leave dreary post-war Britain in 1956 to embark on a life-altering adventure on the other side of the world. And the role will let Michelle tick off one of the jobs on her bucket list. A friend of Michelle’s told me: “Michelle has always had one big dream, which is appearing in a period drama and Ten Pound Poms will let her dip her toe in those past times”.

Danny Brocklehurst, Michelle’s boss on Sky Max’s Brassic and BBC One’s Ordinary Lies, is behind the show. He said: “It is a big, bold character piece about what it means to start again, to be an outsider in a new land. It asks questions about success and failure, identity, parenthood and belonging. The assisted migration programme is a little-known part of British and Australian history but offers endless stories about the people who travelled to the other side of the world in search of a better life”.

The show will expose Michelle to a whole new audience as Ten Pound Poms will air in Australia too. But there’s just one problem — it will mean being away from husband Mark Wright for months.

Source : thesun.co.uk

Michelle Keegan is expected to take a break from acting when Brassic filming comes to an end this week.

The 34-year-old, who plays Erin Croft in the hit Sky show, has just shot seasons three and four back to back and will now be taking time out before starting her next project.

A source said: “Michelle is one of the hardest working actresses in the country. She has been non-stop over the last year and hasn’t really had a breather. It hasn’t been easy filming during covid times, there have been lots of stops and starts so everything has taken longer. She barely had any time off after Our Girl before she started Brassic, but is expected to take a little step back before she announces her next big project. She just hasn’t decided how long for yet”.

Michelle, who is married to Mark Wright, has been travelling back and forth between Manchester for filming and London, where the couple have been living in a hotel as they wait for work to be completed on their £1.3 million mansion. The pair, who tied the knot in 2015, have often been forced to spend time apart due to their various work commitments, including Mark’s stint working in LA.

The source added: “It will be a great chance for them to enjoy the new home together. Both Mark’s brother Josh and sister Jess are expecting their first children, so it’s the perfect time to concentrate on family for a bit”. Mark recently told how they are both looking forward to playing hosts in their new home. He said: “Me and my wife do like entertaining. We’re definitely excited about entertaining our family and friends there. It’s not going to become a party destination because it’s our home, but family barbecues and entertainment moments, for sure”.

Michelle previously admitted that their families have stopped asking her and Mark about having kids. She explained: “Not anymore! People don’t mean any harm by it, but they know what the answer’s going to be”.

Michelle rose to fame in 2008 when she landed the part of Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street. The star, who was crowned sexiest soap actress six years on the trot, left the soap in 2014 when a dramatic story-line saw her being killed off after being pushed off a balcony. Shortly after she landed a part in BBC drama series Ordinary Lies with Jason Manford and then joined the cast of Plebs. The star then went on to wow audiences in 2016 in Our Girl, playing medic Georgie for three series. In 2017 Michelle continued to impress by playing Tina Dean in the ITV drama series Tina and Bobby, based on her relationship with West Ham and England footballer, Bobby Moore.

The Sun approached Michelle’s rep for comment.

Source : thesun.co.uk

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Versus The World will be hitting BBC Three next month – and it’ll be hitting a whole new level entirely.

On February 1, a brand new series will hit the screens and it will be taken to an entirely new level as multiple new judges will join the series.

The new judges will come alongside the main panel which will feature Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, Graham Norton, among a variety of special guests. The special judges will include Clara Amfo, Daisy May Cooper, Jonathan Bailey, Jade Thirlwall, Melanie C and Michelle Keegan – but they won’t be stopping there.

Michelle Keegan said that it was “the most fun to film”, and said that she was “honoured” to be a part of it.

“This series has got some mega-stars joining us. It is a real celebration of global drag – and I feel so much love from the community. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

Drag Race will hit screens on February 1 for their biggest season ever – and fans can’t wait to see what is coming next.

Source : dailystar.co.uk

The return of Sky original Brassic to Sky One and streaming service NOW TV has seen enthusiastic fans bingeing the entire series as a box set in record time for the broadcaster. To date, the new series has seen 5.9 million requested downloads.

The second series launched with a seven-day cumulative audience of 1.51 million for the opening episode, with more than 800,000 viewers completing the box set within the first fortnight of launch. Newcomers to Brassic also caught up on the mad-cap world of Vinnie (Joe Gilgun) and his unlikely gang of loveable Lancastrian rogues by binging on series one, with a further 2.8 million downloads.

The series, which is co-created by Joseph Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst, received widespread critical acclaim (see below) and Danny has been recognised for his writing with a 2020 BAFTA TV Awards nomination.

The cliff-hanger ending of Brassic 2 saw Vinnie finally admit his feelings for Erin (Michelle Keegan) before being apprehended by the police after raucous stag and hen dos and the theft of an entire wedding reception. The third series is set to start production later this year.

Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy, Sky Studios, said: “What a thrill to see record numbers of our customers enjoy Brassic in super quick time. It’s captured the imagination of fans, including England cricket vice-captain Ben Stokes who tweeted his love for the show. The combination of brilliantly honest writing and an outstanding cast have left them hungry for more – roll on season 3!”

Brassic 2 is one of the latest in a run of Sky original comedies launching on Sky One with audiences of more than one million – including Avenue 5 (starring Hugh Laurie, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Rebecca Front), Intelligence (with Nick Mohammed and David Schwimmer), Breeders (Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard), Hitmen (Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins) and Code 404 (Daniel Mays, Stephen Graham and Anna Maxwell Martin). And Sky original comedy In the Long Run, created by and starring Idris Elba, which returns for a third series on Wednesday 22nd July.

The comedy was produced by Calamity Films. It is executive produced by David Livingstone for Calamity Films and Jon Mountague for Sky. Joseph Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst are also executive producers with Mike Noble as series producer. Directors Saul Metzstein (Block 1) and Jon Wright (Block 2). The series was commissioned by Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy at Sky Studios and Zai Bennett, MD of Content at Sky UK & Ireland.

Source : beyondthejoke.co.uk

The actress is set to leave the role of Georgie Lane after four years in order to pursue new roles, with her Sky comedy Brassic already being cleared for a season three before season two even launches. But despite her previously saying that she wouldn’t be up for joining the dance competition, bookies are now reckoning that she could be on the line-up – and is now even a 3-1 fave.

‘Michelle Keegan is very popular and we think she would be a big hit on Strictly where many punters are backing her to appear on the show this year,’ said Coral’s John Hill.

She’s also 7-1 with the bookmakers to lift the glitterball trophy if she were to compete. The new odds come despite Michelle’s husband Mark Wright saying that she has too much anxiety to ever do Strictly, after he took part in it himself back in 2014.

‘I mean never say never. I just think her nerves would go to another level, she gets quite nervous,’ he explained to Metro.co.uk. ‘I mean I do, [but] I’m a bit more like, “Come on, let’s just have it.” Whenever she watches me or when I’ve sent her the dance before she’s like, “I don’t know how you do it!”’

Rumours that the Strictly team want to sign up Michelle have been rife for years, but she’s never made it to the ballroom floor.

Source : metro.co.uk

Gritty comedy Brassic is to return to Sky and NOW TV for a third series. The news has been confirmed before the second series has been transmitted.

Sky’s most successful comedy drama in years will be back with its trademark mix of the hilarious, ridiculous and deeply poignant. Co-created by Joseph Gilgun and BAFTA-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst, the series  stars Joseph Gilgun, Michelle Keegan and Damien Molony.

Danny Brocklehurst, co-creator and writer said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be doing a third series of Brassic, the response to series one was overwhelming as people took our gang of potty mouthed misfits to their heart. Sky has been truly amazing in its love and support and I can’t thank them enough for allowing us to go again.”

Joseph Gilgun, co-creator, said: “I’m so grateful to everyone involved in the making of Brassic season 1 and 2, they’re some of the kindest and most resilient people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Each and every one of them friends. Also the public played a huge role, it’s very relieving to know your life story isn’t incredibly boring. I want to thank my close friends and colleagues and the creative team; David Livingstone, Danny Brocklehurst, Emily Bray and Dave Quayle. As for Sky, I couldn’t imagine making it with any other channel. Big loves Monty and Bennett!”

Brassic 3 was commissioned by Jon Mountague, Sky Studios’ Director of Comedy and Zai Bennett, Sky’s Managing Director of Content, and will be produced by Calamity Films. It is executive produced by David Livingstone for Calamity Films and Jon Mountague for Sky Studios. Joseph Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst are also executive producers. The series will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios.

Source : beyondthejoke.co.uk

The ex-Coronation Street star, 32, will bow out of the hit show, which sees her play British Army medic Georgie Lane, with a final series later this year.

The Stockport-born actress has left in a bid to pursue new acting jobs and plans to spend more time at home in the UK after her husband Mark Wright, also 32, moved back from Los Angeles last year, where he was working on US TV.

She had previously spent several months each year filming in far-flung locations including South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia.

Michelle told the Sun: “I’ve had the most incredible four years on the show and I want to thank the BBC for giving me such an amazing opportunity.

“Playing Georgie has been a life changing role for me. I’ve loved every second of the adventure so it was a very hard decision to make not to return. I feel it is the right time to explore other exciting opportunities but I’m so happy to be part of the new series coming soon so it’s not the end just yet.”

Producers are currently looking for another female to play the lead in the hit series, which starred former EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, 31, for its first run in 2014.

Michelle spent much of last year shooting her third series of the drama and more recently has shot a second series of Sky1 comedy Brassic and continued her lucrative clothing deal with online retailer Very.

The actress, who wed telly host Mark in 2015, will now be freed up to spend more time near their home in Essex.

But last year she revealed she was sick of “everybody’s obsession” with her becoming a mum in the near future, including from her friends and family.

She said: “It’s horrible. It’s like, ‘You’re 32. Are you not planning to have a baby yet?’

“They don’t know the background of what’s happening. It’s no one else’s business. In this day and age you shouldn’t ask questions like that.

“I get so frustrated. I’m asked purely because I’m a woman. But I’m immune to it now — it’s like a reaction and as soon as I hear it I brush it off, as it’s no one else’s business.”

Source : thesun.co.uk

Stars from the world of music, comedy, sport, television and film join in the 15th series of the Bafta-award winning genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? from Wall To Wall (a Warner Bros Television Production UK Ltd company) when it returns to BBC One this summer.
Multi-award winning actor Olivia Colman, musician, DJ, fashion designer and British icon Boy George, Strictly Come Dancing’s Head Judge Shirley Ballas, comedian and Not Going Out actor Lee Mack, presenter and former JLS member Marvin Humes, barrister and television personality Robert ‘Judge’ Rinder, Our Girl star Michelle Keegan and gold medal winning Paralympian Jonnie Peacock all discover their families’ pasts in this year’s series.

Series fifteen reveals shocking discoveries, laughter and tears along the way, as our eight celebrities travel around the world to unearth the secrets of their ancestors. Michelle Keegan uncovers some exceptional women on her family tree as she unearths a special connection to suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. Olivia Colman’s journey is one of equal contrasts as she voyages from her family home in Norfolk to India, discovering that her ancestry is more diverse than she had originally thought. While Lee Mack’s investigation brings to light a comedy connection to his great-grandfather who performed on the frontline during WW1. From adultery to asylums, illicit drinking dens to revolutions, our celebrities travel round the world, from Gibraltar to Genoa, India, Jamaica, South Africa and Latvia, as they solve the mysteries in their family trees.

The series will air on BBC One over the summer with Michelle Keegan’s episode launching the series as part of the Hear Her season on the BBC which marks the centenary of women getting the vote.

The BBC is set to showcase women’s voices in a dedicated season of content across TV, radio and online to mark 100 years since suffrage and the centenary anniversary of women being able to vote in the UK.

Executive Producer for Wall to Wall, Colette Flight, says: “Britain’s best loved stars are once again delving into their family trees, uncovering hidden secrets and solving mysteries. The stories they unearth are revelatory, often unexpectedly humorous but always affecting.”

BBC Commissioning Editor Fatima Salaria says: “The enduring appeal of Who Do You Think You Are? is set to continue as BBC One broadcasts a huge host of names in series 15 including Olivia Colman, Boy George, Marvin Humes and Judge Rinder, which are guaranteed to move and entertain audiences. We’re particularly honoured to launch the series with Michelle Keegan’s episode which uncovers her special connection to Emmeline Pankhurst, as part of the BBC’s Hear Her season. This is must see TV at its best.”

Series 15 was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content and Tom McDonald, BBC Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The Commissioning Editor is Fatima Salaria.

Source : bbc.co.uk

STRICTLY Come Dancing chiefs are ready to “break the bank” to sign up Michelle Keegan for this year’s show.

They have a hit-list of celebrities they want to see strutting their stuff on the dance floor this autumn. And former Coronation Street actress Michelle, 30, is a top target. They are so determined to get her that insiders say they are prepared to spend more than ever. A source for the show said: “Everyone knows that having Michelle Keegan out on the Strictly dance floor would be ratings gold. She has a huge and loyal fanbase, but more importantly to bosses they know her supporters are young. That’s a demographic that they are desperate to attract to the show and something they are willing to break the bank for. And, of course, all the male professional dancers would be desperate to be paired with Michelle. Everyone behind the scenes thinks she would set the dance floor alight. It’s now a matter of convincing her to sign up.”

But Strictly chiefs could face a tough battle because Michelle has previously warned she couldn’t cope with the stress of dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday night. Her husband Mark Wright, 31, competed on the show in 2014 and made it all the way to the final with Karen Clifton, right. That gave Michelle a taste of what it’s like to compete for the famous glitterball trophy. Asked if she would be following in his footsteps after his stint on the show, she said: “It was so horrible watching Mark! Mark’s a more confident person than me. I remember seeing how nervous he was and thinking, ‘If he’s like that, I just couldn’t do it’.” But the Our Girl star also says she can’t “ever rule the show out”, giving bosses a chance at persuading her to sign up. Our source added: “Michelle might have an issue with nerves but we hope she’ll be able to put them to one side and enjoy all the glitz and glamour Strictly offers.”

Source : dailystar.co.uk

Michelle Keegan is already a star in the UK, but it appears she’s breaking the showbiz realm Stateside too.

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright – who got hitched in 2015 – have been spending their time in Los Angeles after Mark landed himself the opportunity of a lifetime. The former TOWIE cast member moved to Hollywood in 2017 after becoming a TV presenter on entertainment programme Extra. It is believed the genetically-blessed couple could make their move permanent after they were recently spotted house-hunting in the Hollywood Hills.

The 30-year-old gave the game away that she too was set to make it big in America like her hubby in a post shared to Michelle Keegan’s Instagram. Dressed in a pair of checked trousers, a knit top and sunglasses Michelle beamed away from the camera. Michelle fuelled speculation and captioned the image: “What an exciting 1st day!” before adding the video camera and action board emojis.
Michelle’s first big acting gig was on Coronation Street back in 2008. The bombshell beat around 900 people for the part of Tina McIntyre, who was killed off in 2014. Since leaving the role Michelle’s career has only gone from strength to strength. Michelle has starred in Our Girl, Plebs and ITV drama series Tina and Bobby, based on the relationship of footballer Bobby Moore and his wife Tina Dean.

She hasn’t made a secret of her desire to transition to more Hollywood roles and now has an agent based in LA. “I’ve been spending some time in Los Angeles with Mark and it’s so nice to have some time together,” she admitted to Now Magazine. “My US agent is in LA too, so I’ve had a few meetings set up over there.”

Source : dailystar.co.uk