'X Factor' Dermot O'Leary: 'I'm not concerned by Steve Jones axing'

'X Factor' Dermot O'Leary: 'I'm not concerned by Steve Jones axing'

X Factor host Dermot O'Leary has claimed that he is not concerned by the axing of his US counterpart Steve Jones.

Jones confirmed on Twitter this week that he will not be presenting a second season of The X Factor USA following a difficult stint on the contest's debut run.

Speaking in the wake of the announcement, O'Leary claimed that he has not dwelled on the high-profile dismissal.

"I don't pay attention to the criticism Steve got," he told the Daily Star. "That did not bother me. I've just come back from holiday and when you are away you realise how inconsequential people's views are."

O'Leary admitted in January that he has yet to sign a contract for the next UK series of The X Factor.

"The next month or so will be telling. I'll either be doing it or I won't," he explained. "You never know. That's the thing working for Simon Cowell."

Jones's axing from The X Factor USA preceded confirmation that Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul will both be leaving the judging panel.

Amanda Holden 'will return to Got Talent for Edinburgh auditions'

Amanda Holden 'will return to Got Talent for Edinburgh auditions'

Amanda Holden is expected to return to the Britain's Got Talent judging panel next week, it has been revealed.

The reality TV judge was only discharged from hospital earlier this week after a life-threatening childbirth with her second daughter Hollie.

However, Holden is apparently feeling "upbeat" and may be back filming the ITV1 talent show as soon as the Edinburgh auditions on February 11.

A friend of the TV star told PA: "It is fantastic how well she is recovering, and she is feeling upbeat and very happy. Amanda is overwhelmed by all the lovely messages she has received."

Holden missed auditions in Manchester, Blackpool and Cardiff following the birth. Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams have carried on with the tryouts without a replacement fourth judge.

Britain's Got Talent airs in the Spring on ITV1.

Lara Pulver keen on 'Sherlock' return, 'Doctor Who' role

Lara Pulver keen on 'Sherlock' return, 'Doctor Who' role

Lara Pulver has admitted that she is eager to work with Steven Moffat again.

The Sherlock star told Assignment X that she would be happy to work with the writer on Doctor Who.

"We haven't spoken about Doctor Who at all," she clarified. "I think they are very separate entities for Steven, and I think he puts on very different hats."

However, Pulver added: "I love working with him, and if we found another project to work together on - whether it is Doctor Who or another season of Sherlock - then I'm sure we'd want to work together again."

The actress - who has also appeared on HBO's True Blood - told Digital Spy in December that she was keen to reunite with Moffat and his Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss.

"It would be a privilege to work with Steven, Mark and the entire team [again] on this project, and on other projects," she said.

The second series of Sherlock concluded on Sunday, January 15, pulling in 7.9m for BBC One. A third run is expected to follow in 2013.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One in late 2012.

Sir David Jason interested in making British 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

Sir David Jason interested in making British 'Everybody Loves Raymond'

Sir David Jason has revealed that he is interested in remaking US sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond for British viewers.

The Only Fools and Horses actor told BBC News that the CBS show, which aired between 1996 and 2005, was one of his favourite sitcoms of recent times.

Raymond, which starred US comic Ray Romano, airs in the UK on Channel 4 and Comedy Central.

Jason said: "I've always thought it needs a wider audience. I could never understand why they didn't put it out at primetime because it's so good. And so I said, 'Why don't we do an English version?'

"So watch this space. It could happen."

The veteran actor is currently directing a comedy pilot for the BBC about an undertakers firm. Pearly Gates will star The Fast Show's Mark Williams and a decision will be made on whether it gets a full series later this month.

BBC One's 'Inside Men' begins with 4.5m

BBC One's 'Inside Men' begins with 4.5m

New drama Inside Men premiered to more than 4.5m on BBC One last night, according to overnight data.

The Steven Mackintosh show took 4.54m (19.9%) in the 9pm hour, comfortably beating its competition.

In the same timeslot, ITV1's Eternal Law could only muster 2.72m (11.9%), a series low. A further 211k (1.2%) watched on timeshift.

Elsewhere on BBC One, Motorway Cops averaged 3.78m (15.5%) from 8pm.

Channel 4's Location, Location, Location took 2.06m (8.4%) in the 8pm hour (+1: 393k/1.7%). It was followed by Restoration Man, which had 2.06m (9%) and 274k (1.6%) on +1.

Raymond Blanc: The Very Hungry Frenchman was seen by 1.66m (6.8%) on BBC Two, with Putin, Russia and the West averaging 801k (3.5%) afterwards.

On Channel 5, 8pm's World's Scariest Near Misses had 1.15m (4.7%) and 9pm's Winter Road Rescue grabbed 1.56m (6.9%).

Overall, BBC One edged the night with 21.7% against ITV1's 21.2% (+1: 0.7%). Channel 4 finished with 6.9% (+1: 1.1%) beating BBC Two's 5.4% and Channel 5's 4.4%.

On the multichannels, Sky1's Mad Dogs took 660k (2.9%) from 9pm. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory also impressed, attracting 657k (2.8%) and 176k (0.8%) on timeshift.

'Dark Knight Rises' Tom Hardy 'left embarrassed on Jonathan Ross Show'

'Dark Knight Rises' Tom Hardy 'left embarrassed on Jonathan Ross Show'

The Dark Knight Rises actor Tom Hardy was reportedly upset during his interview with Jonathan Ross.

According to The Sun, Hardy was uncomfortable when Ross showed footage of him winning a modelling contest on Channel 4's iconic The Big Breakfast in 1998.

An insider recalled: "Tom really wasn't happy about the footage being shown and said he looked like a total idiot.

"After that moment, the interview was a squirm-fest. Especially when Tom said he couldn't talk about his part in the new Batman film.

"When he walked off, Jonathan turned to the audience and said, 'He is genuinely p*ssed off with me'."

However, the pair apparently reconciled in the end, with the source adding: "They did have a hug at the end though to show there were no hard feelings."

The Jonathan Ross Show continues tomorrow (Saturday) at 9pm on ITV1.

'Lost' star Ken Leung joins Sarah Silverman NBC comedy pilot

'Lost' star Ken Leung joins Sarah Silverman NBC comedy pilot

Ken Leung has joined Sarah Silverman's NBC comedy pilot.

The untitled project will star Silverman as a woman readjusting to being single after a decade spent in a relationship.

Lost star Leung will play a neighbour and love interest for Silverman's character, according to TVLine.

Described as a "shut-in", Leung's character spends most of his time watching TV in his apartment.

The actor played Miles Straume on Lost from 2008 to 2010 and has since appeared in an episode of The Good Wife.

His additional credits include episodes of the The Sopranos and Law & Order and film roles in 2004's Saw and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand.

Harris Wittels and Party Down actress June Diane Raphael previously joined the cast of Silverman's pilot.

The project landed at NBC in August after reportedly sparking a bidding war between the television networks.

Roseanne Barr's Downwardly Mobile, The Munsters reboot Mockingbird Lane and a remake of UK sitcom Friday Night Dinner are among the other comedy projects in the works at NBC.

TV Tonight 4th of February 2012

TV Tonight 4th of February 2012

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing.

    48 Hours Mystery S25E14: "The Dark Side of Paradise"
    Area no Kishi S01E05: "Episode 5"
    Austin City Limits S37E15: "Wilco"
    Bakuman. S02E18: "Complaint and Roar"
    Bayou Billionaires S01E03: "Animal Magnetism"
    Behind The Music S12E35: "Blondie"
    Ben 10: Ultimate Alien S02E24: "Inspector #13"
    Cardfight!! Vanguard S02E05: "Episode 5"
    Casualty S26E21: "The One You Love"
    Color Splash S10E11: "Contemporary Living/Dining"
    Cops S24E18: "Chases, Guns and Cars"
    Cops S24E17: "Caught in the Act #3"
    Dan vs. S02E04: "Dan vs. Dancing"
    Fairy Tail S03E21: "Divine Power"
    Harry Hill's TV Burp S11E15: "Series 11, Episode 15"
    How to Rock S01E02: "How to Rock a Messy Bet"
    How to Rock S01E01: "How to Rock Braces and Glasses"
    Last Exile (JP) S02E15: "Triangulation"
    Match of The Day S47E33: "Season 47, Show 33"
    Metal Evolution S01E11: "Progressive Metal"
    My Big Redneck Vacation S01E03: "There Goes the Neighborhood"
    My Cat From Hell S02E05: "Cat Fight!"
    My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic S02E16: "Read it and Weep"
    Oddities S03E09: "Mummy's Private Collection"
    Oddities S03E08: "Insane and the Membrane"
    Pit Boss S03E04: "When Good Rescues Go Bad"
    Pit Bulls and Parolees S03E11: "Don’t Blow It"
    R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour S02E19: "The Return of Lily D"
    Saturday Kitchen S10E32: "February 4, 2012"
    Saturday Night Live S37E13: "Channing Tatum/Bon Iver"
    Shakugan no Shana S03E17: "Episode 17"
    Take Me Out (UK) S03E05: "Series 3, Episode 5"
    Take Me Out: The Gossip S01E05: "Episode 5"
    The Dog Whisperer S08E06: "Hounded by Fear"
    The Football League Show S03E23: "Series 3, Episode 23"
    The Jonathan Ross Show S02E05
    The Magicians (2011) S02E05: "Series 2, Episode 5"
    The Million Pound Drop Live S08E08: "Series 8, Episode 8"
    UFC on FX S01E02: "UFC 143
    UFC PPV Events S20E02: "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit"
    Ultimate Factories S04E13: "Ford F-150"
    Vanilla Ice Project S02E05: "The Killer Kitchen"
    Victorious S03E02: "The Gorilla Club"
    Wakfu S02E23: "Les griffes pourpres"
    Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry? S02E17: "Gold Digging Grandma"
    Zero no Tsukaima S04E05: "Episode 5"

'Britain's Got Talent' David Walliams: I was scared of pressing buzzer

'Britain's Got Talent' David Walliams: I was scared of pressing buzzer

David Walliams has admitted that he initially found it difficult to buzz Britain's Got Talent contestants.

Speaking on Radio 2 today, the ITV talent show judge said he originally believed his experiences at auditions would make him reluctant to criticise acts.

"I thought the hardest thing would be pressing the buzzer because, you know, I'm an actor," he said. "I've been in an audition and I know what it's like to get rejected."

Of how he overcame his fear, the Little Britain comic explained: "It's tough, but actually sometimes people are rubbish and you want them to stop what they're doing.

"And also sometimes you want to save their embarrassment because the audience are shouting, 'Off'. So you want to press the buzzer too, so they don't humiliate themselves any more."

Meanwhile, describing his banter with boss Simon Cowell, he added: "Simon's laughing, the audience are laughing and it's all good. I didn't need to worry because he's got a great sense of humour and he's like the king and I'm the court jester."

Britain's Got Talent will return to ITV1 with new panellists Walliams and Alesha Dixon in the spring.

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl to produce FX rock music comedy show

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl to produce FX rock music comedy show

Dave Grohl is developing a rock band comedy with cable network FX.

The Foo Fighters frontman will executive produce the project, which has been created by comedian Dana Gould, according to Deadline.

Gould will also write and star in the untitled sitcom, which will follow a troubled rock group who turn to a misanthropic therapist to help solve their musical conflicts.

Beavis and Butt-head's Tom Lassally, Louie's Dave Becky and Bill Gerber will executive produce alongside Gould and Grohl.

In 2010, Gould wrote, executive produced and starred in the comedy pilot Nolan Knows Best, but the project was not picked up by ABC.

Other projects currently in the works at FX include Charlie Sheen's new sitcom Anger Management and an adaptation of the comic series Powers.

Actor and comedian Eddie Izzard is also working on a new political drama pilot, provisionally titled The Politician, with the channel.

Adam Levine: 'Randy Jackson's The Voice comment was irresponsible'

Adam Levine: 'Randy Jackson's The Voice comment was irresponsible'

Adam Levine has said American Idol judge Randy Jackson was "irresponsible" in saying The Voice was a place for people seeking a second chance.

Jackson made the comments during the TCA press tour last month, suggesting that The Voice was like a "second chance theater", pointing out first season winner Javier Colon previously had a contract with Columbia Records.

However, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to air today (February 3), The Voice mentor Levine said: "Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that because he, of anybody, should know that if you're in this business you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances.

"We love embracing that on the show."

Levine added: "God bless Randy. He was a working musician for a long time and had a lot of success and then Idol kind of blew him out of the water and he's a household name now [but] it was an irresponsible thing to say that."

'Smash' Katharine McPhee: 'Steven Spielberg is the most wonderful man'

'Smash' Katharine McPhee: 'Steven Spielberg is the most wonderful man'

Katharine McPhee has said that she was not intimidated by auditioning for Steven Spielberg for Smash.

The actress, who plays aspiring Broadway star Karen on the new NBC musical drama, revealed that she had a "simple" audition for the role and finds the director and producer to be a wonderful man.

"I did have to audition for this. It was actually one of the more simple auditions I've been through. I auditioned, put myself on tape, flew to New York the next week, was testing for it," McPhee told MTV News.

"I waited two days for Mr Spielberg to watch the tape and I got the part... Mr Spielberg, when you meet him, he is not intimidating at all. He's the most lovely, wonderful, gentle man."

McPhee went on to say that she feels a strong connection with Karen as she personifies Smash's message about "dreaming big".

"My character, Karen, is the biggest dreamer of them all, she dreams big... She has a big heart, she has a lot of drive and she's very determined about what she wants in her career and what she wants out of it and how she's gonna go about doing it, and keeping a real strong moral code," she explained.

"I think she is a little green when you first meet her. She's not quite sure how things go and how things are worked in the business, [and] she learns a lot throughout the course of the first season."

Smash premieres on Monday, February 6 at 10/9c on NBC. It will air on Sky Atlantic in the UK.

Development News....

AMERICAN JUDY (A.K.A. UNTITLED JUDY GREER PROJECT) (ABC) - The Judy Greer-led comedy, about "a cosmopolitan woman who marries and becomes a fish out of water in the suburbs juggling the demands of stepchildren, her mother-in-law and her husband's ex who happens to be the town sheriff," has been greenlit to pilot. Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont penned the single-camera project for ABC Studios with Greer and Principato-Young Entertainment's David Gardner, Peter Principato and Paul Young also serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)

ARROW (The CW) - Stephen Amell ("The Vampire Diaries") has booked the title role on the netlet's Green Arrow drama pilot, from executive producers Andrew Kreisberg, Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim. He'll play Oliver Queen, a wealthy playboy who assumes the guise of vigilante Arrow to bring justice to his native Starling City. Warner Bros. Television is behind the hour, to be directed by David Nutter. Justin Hartley played said role in the character's previous incarnation on "Smallville." (Deadline.com)

BAD GIRLS (NBC) - The Peacock has given a pilot commitment to its import of the U.K. drama, which "follows the ins-and-outs of a group of unlikely women in a federal prison: a scandalous female warden, her new protege and a host of inmates - some mothers, some friends - who struggle with loyalties to people on the inside and the outside." Nancy Pimental penned the hour, which is set up at the Warner Bros. Television-based John Wells Productions and Shed Media. Pimental, Wells and Andrew Stearn are the executive producers. (Deadline.com)

DEVIOUS MAIDS (ABC) - The Marc Cherry-penned drama, about four ambitious Beverly Hills maids, has landed a pilot commitment at the Alphabet. ABC Studios is behind the hour, which is based on the Mexican telenovela "The Disorderly Maids of the Neighborhood." Sabrina Wind, Larry Shuman, David Lonner and Televisa Internacional's Michael Garcia and John Mass and executive producing alongside Cherry. (Deadline.com)

GOTHAM (A.K.A. UNTITLED MICHAEL GREEN PROJECT) (ABC) - Michael Green has scored a pilot order for his drama, about "a female cop who, after pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, discovers a magical world that exists within New York City." 20th Century Fox Television is behind the hour, which Green will executive produce alongside his manager Erwin Stoff. (Deadline.com)

JOEY DAKOTA (A.K.A. DANNY HOLLYWOOD) (The CW) - Bert V. Royal's import of the Israeli series "Danny Hollywood" has scored a pilot order from the network. CBS Television Studios is behind the hour, which revolves around a documentary filmmaker who "travels back in time to the 1990s where she falls in love with the rock-star subject of her film, and then has to figure out how to prevent his death when she returns to the present." Mark Harmon, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Martha Haight are also executive producing. (Variety.com)

PENOZA (ABC) - The Alphabet has ordered a pilot for the drama, about "the widow of an assassinated criminal who is dragged into his role at a crime syndicate," Melissa Rosenberg penned the ABC Studios-based hour, which is based on a Dutch format, and is executive producing alongside Endemol Studios' Alon Aranya and Howard Klein. (Variety.com)

THE SELECTION (The CW, New!) - Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain's have booked a pilot order from the netlet for a new drama based on an upcoming series of books by Kiera Cass. Said effort, from Warner Bros. Television, is "set 300 years in the future revolves around a poor woman who is chosen by lottery to compete to become the next queen of a war-torn nation." (Variety.com)

SHELTER (A.K.A. MAINE) (The CW) - Mark Schwahn's drama, about the staffers and guests at a New England summer resort, is moving forward to pilot at the netlet. Bad Robot's J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk then will executive produce alongside Schwahn's Mastermind Laboratories for Warner Bros. Television. (Variety.com)

ZERO HOUR (ABC) - Paul Scheuring's drama, about "a man who, in a bizarre twist of fate, is pulled into one of the most compelling conspiracies in human history after spending 20 years as the editor of a skeptics magazine," has snagged a pilot order. ABC Studios is behind the hour, which also comes from fellow executive producers Dan McDermott and Lorenzo di Bonaventura. (Deadline.com)

'Sons of Anarchy' Re-Upped for 2 More Seasons; Kurt Sutter Gets Overall Deal

'Sons of Anarchy' Re-Upped for 2 More Seasons; Kurt Sutter Gets Overall Deal

Good news, Samcro fanatics; "Sons of Anarchy" has been renewed for two seasons, guaranteeing a fifth and sixth season for FX's hit motorcycle-gang drama.

Sons of Anarchy was renewed for two more seasons on FX

The renewal comes as part of a new overall deal for "Sons" creator Kurt Sutter. Under the three-year pact with 20th Century Fox TV and FX Productions, Sutter will remain in control of the show, and will develop programs for both cable and networks.

Though the renewal extends "Sons of Anarchy" to six seasons, the show is expected to run at least seven seasons.

Famously outspoken showrunner Sutter came up through the ranks at FX as a staff writer for "The Shield."

FX's confidence in "Sons of Anarchy" and Sutter is well-founded; its fourth season was its highest-rated season to date, with an 18 percent boost in the adults 18-49 demographic and and a 21 percent leap in total viewers over the previous season. Season 4's two-part finale, which aired in December, also grew 22 percent over the previous season's finale.

'Glee' Sidelined 2 Months to Make Room for Tuesday Fox Comedy Block

'Glee' Sidelined 2 Months to Make Room for Tuesday Fox Comedy Block

The "Glee" club is getting a long winter break: Fox said Friday it will sideline the musical comedy for nearly two months to make room for a new Tuesday night comedy block.

Beginning March 6, "Raising Hope" will air at 8 p.m., followed by the new series "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" at 8:30 p.m. Fox's biggest new show of the season, "The New Girl," will air at 9 p.m., followed by "Breaking In," which looked to be canceled last season but made a surprise comeback. Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") joins the cast.

The "Glee" winter finale will air Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 8, and the show will return to the schedule on Tuesday, April 10. The hit show has slipped significantly in the ratings this season, its third, after its highly successful first and second seasons.

A special live two-hour Tuesday broadcast of "American Idol" will air on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management' Casts Selma Blair and Shawnee Smith

Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management' Casts Selma Blair and Shawnee Smith

Charlie Sheen has just lined up two more goddesses for his harem -- on the small screen, at least.

Selma Blair and Shawnee Smith have been cast in Sheen's upcoming adaptation of the 2003 Jack Nicholson/Adam Sandler film "Anger Management." "Cruel Intentions" star Blair will play Sheen's therapist and potential love interest. Shawnee Smith, who played ditzy assistant Linda on the Ted Danson sitcom "Becker," will play his ex-wife.

Smith coyly tweeted: "My sweet and loyal friend and fans... I can finally "officially" tell you I am back in the half hour comedy business:)"

The series will run on FX, with an initial order of 10 episodes, with the possible addition of 90 more episodes if it succeeds.

Sheen, who was ousted from the CBS hit "Two and a Half Men" last year following a run of bizarre behavior, will have a "significant ownership stake" in the series.

Ellen DeGeneres/Portia de Rossi Comedy Picked Up By ABC

Ellen DeGeneres/Portia de Rossi Comedy Picked Up By ABC

ABC has picked up the Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's pilot "The Smart One."

DeGeneres -- who's been generating headlines this week after One Million Moms protested her spokesperson deal with JCPenney -- will executive-produce the half-hour, multi-camera project with Lauren Corrao.

DeGeneres' wife De Rossi will star as "a brilliant and successful woman who begrudgingly goes to work for her less-brainy but more popular sister -- a former beauty queen, weather girl…and now big-city Mayor."

Donald Todd ("Ugly Betty," "Hart of Dixie," "Samantha Who?" will write as well as executive-produce.

A Very Good Production, which is behind DeGeneres' daytime talk show, will produce in association with Warner Bros. Television.

NBC's 'Awake' Gets an Airdate (Finally); 'The Firm' Bumped to Saturdays

NBC's 'Awake' Gets an Airdate (Finally); 'The Firm' Bumped to Saturdays

NBC will give the new sci-fi-tinged drama "Awake" the Thursdays-at-10 timeslot now held by "The Firm" beginning March 1, and is moving the struggling legal drama to the Saturday-night TV no-man's land.

"The Firm" will move to Saturdays at 9 p.m. beginning Feb. 11, and "Grimm" repeats will air on Thursdays at 10 beginning Feb. 9, until "Awake" takes over the timeslot.

The scheduling of "Awake" was one of the biggest question marks for NBC this season after it was not given a place on the midseason schedule. "Awake" (which, in the opinion of your humble correspondent, has the best pilot of the season) stars Jason Isaacs as a detective who survives a horrible car accident. His world splits into two realities: One in which his son lives and his wife dies, and another in which his wife lives and son dies.

The tricky structure of the show, from executive producers Kyle Killen ("Lone Star") and Howard Gordon ("Homeland," "24"), could engross or alienate audiences. And its new timeslot is a challenging one: Both "Prime Suspect," which has halted production, and "The Firm" have wilted there this season.

"The Firm" has earned the kind of ratings that might ordinarily earn it a quick cancellation. But the legal thriller based on the John Grisham novel is unusually cheap for NBC to air.

The show's production partners, Sony and Entertainment One, sold "The Firm" to international networks to cover almost the entire cost of production before they sold it to NBC. That means NBC pays a much lower licensing fee for the series than it normally would.