Britney Spears and Demi Lovato Named as 'X Factor' Judges

Britney Spears and Demi Lovato Named as 'X Factor' Judges

Britney Spears and Demi Lovato will take to the judges' panel when the American version of "The X Factor" returns for a second season, it was offiically announced Monday at Fox's upfront presentation to advertisers at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

"The X Factor" executive producer and judge Simon Cowell made the reveal after weeks of reports, arriving onstage accompanied by fellow judge L.A. Reid along with their new colleagues.

"I am so excited about this whole experience," Spears said. "I'm ready to find the true star."

Declaring herself "totally stoked," Lovato said that she's "excited to represent my generation."

Despite the shakeup -- and less-than-hoped-for ratings -- that marked the first season of "The X Factor," Cowell promised the advertisers in attendance that the series would rebound for its second go-round.

"This year we are seriously ready to kick ass with these two," Cowell noted.

Cowell teased the reveal moments before taking the stage, tweeting a picture of the four of them with the note, "Can't believe it's finally happened. Very exciting!"

As reported by TheWrap in April, "Womanizer" singer Spears will receive $15 million for the gig -- about $13 million to judge on the series, and another $2 million as a bonus for performing on the show.

The $15 million was arrived at after negotiations, during which Spears rejected a $10 million dollar offer to judge on the show, instead seeking $20 million.

It is not yet known how much 19-year-old Lovato -- who, like Spears, spent time in the service of Disney and has made headlines with her personal difficulties -- will receive.

Spears and Lovato are coming aboard after a major house-cleaning effort on the show that saw judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, along with host Steve Jones, get the axe after the series' first season.

Cowell and record executive Antonio "L.A." Reid will remain on as judges for the second season.

Following the implosion after the first season, a number of names were mentioned as potential replacement judges, including Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.

The "X Factor" portion of Fox's upfront presentation made much of its rivalry with NBC's singing competition "The Voice," with Kevin Reilly, president of Fox Entertainment, making note of the "precipitous decline" of "The Voice"'s ratings this season since its post-Super Bowl premiere, and Cowell noting that he was eager to compete with "The Voice" this season.

During the upfront presentation, which was hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the network also offered previews of its upcoming comedies "The Mindy Kaling Project," "Ben & Kate" and "The Goodwin Games."

The beginning of the presentation featured a procession of stars from Fox's existing and upcoming series, including Kevin Bacon from the upcoming drama "The Following"; Jane Lynch, Cory Monteith and several other members of the "Glee" cast, Seth MacFarlane and Mila Kunis from "Family Guy"; and Gordon Ramsay of "MasterChef."

Real Housewife NeNe Leakes Lands Role in Ryan Murphy Comedy

Real Housewife NeNe Leakes Lands Role in Ryan Murphy Comedy

The latest addition to the Ryan Murphy's upcoming NBC comedy "The New Normal" is "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star NeNe Leakes.

Leakes will play a woman who provides her eggs to a surrogate mother who is having a baby for a gay couple. The reality personality/actress has worked with Murphy -- she also has a recurring role on "Glee," as Coach Roz.

The single-camera series also features Andrew Rannells ("Girls"), Justin Bartha ("The Hangover") and Ellen Barkin. In clips shown at NBC's upfront presentation to advertisers Monday, her character had a feisty argument with Barkin's character.

"The New Normal," from 20th Century Fox TV and Ryan Murphy Productions, is executive produced by Murphy, co-creator Allison Adler, and Dante Di Loreto

Stephen Fry confirms Hugh Laurie reunion: We're cooking up new project

Stephen Fry confirms Hugh Laurie reunion: We're cooking up new project

Stephen Fry has announced that he is working again with former comedy partner Hugh Laurie.

The pair, best known for their BBC sketch show A Bit of Fry & Laurie, will reunite for a "project" in the near future.

The QI host tweeted today: "M'coll Hugh Laurie and I are cooking up a project together.

"We will be working again soon. Sorry to be mysterious but more news when I can."

The duo also starred alongside each other in sitcom Jeeves and Wooster between 1990 and 1993.

Their critically-acclaimed sketch show A Bit of Fry & Laurie ran for four series between 1989 and 1995.

Fry and Laurie reunited in 2010 for a GOLD retrospective, celebrating 30 years of their TV partnership.

Laurie, who is currently the highest-paid actor on US television, recently shot the final season of his hit Fox medical drama House.

Our long national nightmare is over: Bret Michaels has made peace with the Tony Awards.

Bret Michaels Settles With Tony Awards Over 2009 Stage Accident

Our long national nightmare is over: Bret Michaels has made peace with the Tony Awards.

The Poison rocker has settled his lawsuit against the Tonys, over the injury he suffered while performing at the 2009 Tony Awards. The terms of the settlement will not be made public.

"Mr. Michaels would like to thank his fans for their continued support," Michaels' attorney, Alex Weingarten, said of the settlement.

Michaels filed the suit last March, naming the Tony Awards and CBS, which broadcast the awards ceremony.

The 49-year-old was struck in the head by a descending set piece after completing the song "Nothin' But a Good Time" with the "Rock of Ages" cast at the Tonys. The lawsuit alleged that the injury may have been responsible for the subarachnoid hemorrhage he suffered in 2010.

"One of the most common causes of this type of hemorrhage is head trauma -- exactly like the one Michaels suffered at the hands of the Tony Awards," the suit read.

Michaels claimed that the producers neglected to warn him about any special "blocking" instructions that might have been necessary because of the scenery, which began to descend in preparation for a subsequent performance.

The legal saga took an ugly turn in February, when the Tonys filed a third-party cross-complaint against Rock of Ages Broadway LLC. At the time, Michaels' attorney called the move a "desperate" attempt to duck responsibility.

“This is a desperate act," Weingarten said. "The producers of the Tony Awards and their co-defendants cannot credibly deny that they almost killed Bret while he was performing with the cast of 'Rock of Ages,' so instead they are trying to point the finger elsewhere."

'The Only Way Is Essex' Sam Faiers may quit show

'The Only Way Is Essex' Sam Faiers may quit show

Sam Faiers has hinted that she may leave The Only Way Is Essex.

The reality TV star explained that she could quit the ITV2 series after five years if she isn't given any new storylines.

"I haven't decided yet. I've done five series so there will come a time when I leave," she told The Sun.

"I don't want to be there with no new storylines because I've already done everything I can do."

Faiers also revealed that she doesn't plan on losing too much weight before her upcoming holiday to Las Vegas.

"I'm not obsessed with my weight. I might lose a few pounds before I go away to look good in a bikini but every boyfriend I've had has loved my curves so I wouldn't want to be skinny."

Faiers is dating her former lover and TOWIE co-star Joey Essex, according to the tabloid.

The star recently revealed that her sex life with Essex "wasn't amazing".

Sam Faiers launched her autobiography Living Life the Essex Way: TOWIE and Me last week at London's G-A-Y nightclub.

'30 Rock's' Final Season Details Revealed

'30 Rock's' Final Season Details Revealed

"30 Rock" will run for 13 episodes for its seventh and final season, the network said at its upfront presentation Monday. The series will also run a one-hour series finale.

NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt also said that "30 Rock" creator Tina Fey will remain involved with the network in some capacity long after the show is gone.

News broke that "30 Rock" had been renewed last week, along with word that the comedy "Parenthood" will return for another season.

"30 Rock"'s current season has averaged a 2.1 rating in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic.

Telemundo Announces More Than 800 Hours of New Programming

Telemundo Announces More Than 800 Hours of New Programming

Telemundo announced a whopping 800 new hours of original programming on Monday, marking a nearly 40 percent increase in the network's original programming.

Among the new shows: six telenovelas, "El Rostro de la Venganza" ("The Face of Revenge"), "El Señor de los Cielos" ("The Lord of the Heavens"), "La Patrona" ("The Patron"), "Pasión Prohibida" ("Forbidden Passion"), "Nace un Idolo" ("An Idol is Born") and "Fina Estampa" ("Fine Pedigree"); a pair of daytime shows, "Cuauhtemoc" and "Virgen Morena" ("The Virgin of Guadalupe"); and a reality competition series, "Yo Me Llamo" ("My Name Is").

The network also unveiled a new logo in an effort to capture "the essense of the Hispanic experience in the U.S.," according to a release, and launched Telemundo Entertainment App, which allows viewers access to Telemundo content "wherever and whenever" they want it.

"This season we are presenting our most ambitious original programming slate ever, a testament to our commitment to produce the most relevant Spanish-language content for the largest Hispanic audience possible," Telemundo media president Emilio Romano (pictured at left) said. "Fueled by our record-breaking performance and the support of Comcast and NBCUniversal, together with a leading team of executives, our mission is to become the number one Hispanic media company in the U.S. and the leading producer of Spanish-language content in the world."

Descriptions of the network's new shows, as provided by Telemundo:

TELENOVELAS
"El Rostro de la Venganza" ("The Face of Revenge")
After spending most of his life in jail paying for a crime he has no memory of committing, 30 year-old Diego Mercader Carrasco is released and adopts a different identity to begin a new life and protect himself from his past. With the help of his psychiatrist Antonia Villarroel and Ezequiel Alvarado, who becomes his benefactor and a father figure, Diego gets a second chance as he will now be known as Martin Mendez.

Antonia and Martin (Diego) become romantically involved, and she teaches him about life and love. As her love for Martin grows, Antonia digs deeper into Diego's case, trying to find out what really happened 20 years earlier. Determined to prove his innocence, Antonia gets involved more than she should and will pay a very high price for her investigation. Meanwhile, Martin must uncover the past and piece together clues and memories of the tragedy that unfolded 20 years ago to reveal…what really happened that day?

"El Rostro de la Venganza" is a Telemundo Studios production.

"El Señor de los Cielos" ("The Lord of the Heavens")
Damian Torres is a man of humble beginnings who dreamed of having it all. Through relentless will and fearless determination, Damian transforms himself from a poor peasant into one of the world's richest men and a powerful drug trafficker, wanted by the DEA. Damian embodies the entire spectrum of what the human soul is capable of, from the virtuous to the unthinkable, all fueled by his immeasurable desire for power and wealth.

Damian's life turns into a quest for survival when his numerous enemies start hunting him down and the DEA closes in.  He realizes that his only way out is to start a new life as literally a new man, so he decides to undergo facial reconstruction. Damian will discover that on the dangerous path to riches he chose to take, there is no turning back.

"El Señor de los Cielos" is a Telemundo Studios production.

"La Patrona" ("The Patron")
Adriana Ordoñez's life has led her to endure unexpected hardships, but because of her immeasurable strength, she will ultimately experience the greatest of transformations, both physically and emotionally, in a quest for redemption. After her parents died in an accident, Adriana is taken in by Mari Cruz Perez, the distinguished Beltran family's chef. Mari becomes Adriana's foster mother giving her the love and affection she craved. Adriana's misfortune comes as a result of falling in love with Alejandro, the fiancé of one of the Beltran family's daughters, which makes Adriana a target for many in the family. Her enemies conspire and have her locked up in an asylum, but a terrible fire destroys the facility. Adriana narrowly escapes with her life; however everyone believes she is dead. While she is recovering, Adriana learns that she inherited her father's valuable lands. Adriana vows to take advantage of the opportunity and change her life forever. Transforming herself into a powerful and wealthy woman, Adriana hides her true identity to take revenge upon those who wronged her. But will her plans for revenge eclipse the only true love she has ever known?

"La Patrona" is a Telemundo Studios production.

"Pasión Prohibida" ("Forbidden Passion")
Mariana is driven by hatred against Deborah, her mother, whom she blames for the death of her father. Mariana marries Juan Pablo, an older, wealthy widower, whom Deborah has set her eyes on, seeking his fortune. Despite Juan Pablo's kindness and love towards her, in reality, Mariana does not genuinely love him. When Mariana discovers a hidden truth and realizes her vengeance is unfounded, she tries to find happiness alongside Juan Pablo. However, Mariana never imagined that she would find the passion and true love she was seeking in Bruno, her husband's nephew. For his part, Bruno has an internal struggle because of the passion he feels for Mariana and the loyalty he owes to Juan Pablo, a man whom he considers his adoptive father. Ultimately, Mariana and Bruno will live a love that is passionate but forbidden and which will turn Mariana into a victim of her own game.

"Pasión Prohibida" is a Telemundo Studios production.

"Nace un Idolo" ("An Idol is Born")
The serialized biography is based on the real-life story of José Sosa Ortiz -- better known as José José, "El Príncipe de la Canción" (The Prince of Song), a Mexican musical icon adored by millions around the world.

His story embodies a man's journey to reach the status of an idol – including fame and fortune -- and the high price he had to pay to achieve his dreams.

"Nace un Idolo" highlights the passion and excitement that a superstar artist feels for his craft and the adoration of his fans. It also displays the frailty of the man coping with his addiction and its damaging effects. His is a story of hope and new beginnings and the
success to regain all that he almost lost—his family, his voice, his life.

"Nace un Idolo" is a Telemundo Studios production.

"Fina Estampa" ("Fine Pedigree")
After her husband apparently disappears at sea, Griselda is determined to do anything to provide for her family, even if it means taking on the job of a "handyman," an unusual profession for a woman. Hard-working and humble, Griselda is proud of her job because it
allows her to prove that someone can have a decent, happy life without compromising one's values. One of her sons is getting engaged to the daughter of Teresa Cristina, a wealthy, elegant and superficial woman. Teresa Cristina is horrified at the prospect of being related to a woman from a lower class so she continuously humiliates Griselda, even though her husband, Rene, reproaches her for her actions.

After many years playing the same lottery numbers, Griselda wins $25 million dollars, and her life suddenly changes, but not her nature. Her fortune doesn't just bring Griselda a better life; it also "resurrects" her husband who had supposedly been dead for years, leading to a series of unexpected complications for Griselda and her family. Despite having more money than she ever imagined, Griselda learns that life is never easy; but for someone with integrity, anything is possible -- even finding true love.

"Fina Estampa" is a Telemundo Studios and TV Globo co-production.

"La Reina del Sur 2" ("Queen of the South 2")
Telemundo also announced today it has acquired the rights to the sequel of "La Reina del Sur," the blockbuster hit that captivated viewers night after night, making it the highest-rated novela in the company's history. Production and air dates to be announced.

DAYTIME
"Cuauhtemoc"
The daytime talk show stars Carlos Cuauhtémoc Sánchez, a bestselling author and international motivational speaker, as the host of this program where couples and families will overcome their personal issues and struggles.

"Virgen Morena" ("The Virgin of Guadalupe")
"Virgen Morena" is a dramatic series featuring self-contained episodes that highlight moving stories inspired by true events where people facing a life struggle look to Our Lady of Guadalupe (affectionately known in Mexico as "La Virgen Morena") for a miraculous resolution to their problem. The series marks the first time in the industry a daytime novela is produced exclusively for U.S. Hispanics.

REALITY COMPETITION
"Yo Me Llamo" ("My Name Is")
"Yo Me Llamo," an international hit, is a talent competition where the country's most talented amateur singers/performers compete to win a grand prize by transforming themselves into their favorite musical icon.

Alistair McGowan's 'You Cannot Be Serious!' to air on ITV in June

Alistair McGowan's 'You Cannot Be Serious!' to air on ITV in June

Alistair McGowan sketch show You Cannot Be Serious! will air in primetime on ITV next month, it has been confirmed.

Ex-TV Burp comic Harry Hill acts as an executive producer on the Saturday night format which will mix clips, sketches and impressions.

England manager Roy Hodgson and ex-footballers-turned-pundits Robbie Savage and Gareth Southgate are among the sports stars McGowan will impersonate, as the programme coincides with Euro 2012.

The Big Impression star will also assume the characters of celebrities Jessie J, Peter Andre and Louie Spence.

McGowan said: "I've always had more feedback about my impressions of sport stars than anyone else and it's been brilliant to be working on a new generation of people we see on TV all the time.

"This show won't just be for the sports nuts though and I'm really looking forward to putting some surprising showbiz faces into the middle of it all too."

McGowan and Hill have previously worked together on BBC Radio 4 show When Harry Met Ally back in 1992.

You Cannot Be Serious!, produced by Clyde Holcroft (Fantasy Football) and directed by Paul Wheeler (Have I Got News For You), premieres on Saturday, June 2.

'True Blood' Season 5 Trailer: Eric and Bill Team Up

'True Blood' Season 5 Trailer: Eric and Bill Team Up

The newest trailer for the fifth season of HBO's vampire drama "True Blood" comes with the Twitter hashtag #WaitingSucks, an appropriate sentiment after an action-packed clip that features vampire king Russell wanting "anarchy," and Chris Meloni joining the cast as Vampire Authority head Roman.

Vampire-human relations have broken down, to say the least, and Roman is none-too-pleased about it. And now that 3,000-year-old Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare) is back to wreak havoc, Roman, as well as the newly-formed partnership of Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bill (Stephen Moyer), have their work cut out for them.

Sookie (Anna Paquin), as usual, is at the center of it all, even if she doesn't want to be, as Eric points out.

"I don't think she wants anything to do with us again," says Eric.

"I don't think we give her the choice," Bill replies.

Season five, which premieres on HBO on June 10, will also include new cast members Scott Foley as Patrick, an old war pal of Terry's; Louis Herthum as Alcide's dad; "General Hospital" star Carolyn Hennesy as vampire Rosalyn Harris; and Kelly Overton as werewolf Rik

TV Tonight 15th of May 2012

TV Tonight 15th of May 2012

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

    16 & Pregnant S04E09: "Sarah"
    16 & Pregnant S04E10: "Sabrina"
    60 Minute Makeover S09E34: "Series 9, Episode 34"
    90210 S04E24: "Forever Hold Your Peace"
    America's Got Talent S07E02: "Season 7, Episode 2"
    Amish: Out of Order S01E05: "Amish in Public"
    Ancient X-Files S02E03: "Decoding the Incas"
    Best Ink S01E08: "For the Love of Ink"
    Big Brother Sverige S08E75: "Del 75"
    Blockbusters (2012) S01E02: "Series 1, Show 2"
    Britain Unzipped S01E04: "Series 1, Episode 4"
    Britain's Got More Talent S06E16: "Kids and Pets Unleashed"
    Cash In The Attic S18E67: "Series 18, Show 67"
    Chasing Classic Cars S05E08: "Kissimmee: Trucks are Hot"
    Chelsea Lately S06E81
    Conan S02E92: "Ep 92"
    Cougar Town S03E12: "Square One"
    Cougar Town S03E13: "It'll All Work Out"
    Dance Moms: Miami S01E06: "Pushed to the Edge of the Dance Floor"
    Dancing With the Stars (US) S14E17: "Season 14, Episode 17"
    Dating In The Dark Australia S02E06: "Season 2, Episode 6"
    Days of our Lives S47E132: "Ep. #11842"
    Deadliest Catch S08E06: "Vital Signs"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E237: "Episode 1917"
    Diagnosis Live From the Clinic S02E01: "Series 2, Episode 1"
    Dickinson's Real Deal S08E109: "Series 8, Episode 109"
    Doctors S14E29: "The Morning After the Night of the Living Dead"
    Dream Machines S01E06: "The Battleship Shredder"
    EastEnders S28E79: "May 15, 2012"
    Éden Hotel S02E42: "Season 2, Episode 42"
    Emmerdale S41E115: "May 15, 2012"
    Escape To The Country S12E56: "Surrey"
    Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files S02E17: "Battleship Ufo"
    Fashion Star S01E10: "Finale"
    General Hospital (US) S50E32: "#12560"
    Giuliana & Bill S05E07: "48 Hour Hustle"
    Glee S03E21: "Nationals"
    Glee S03E20: "Props"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S22E182: "Season 22, Episode 182"
    Great British Menu S07E27: "The Olympic Feast - 27"
    Haiyore! Nyaruko-san S01E06: "TBA"
    Halv åtta hos mig S08E54: "Falun - Britt-Marie"
    Hidden Talent S01E04: "Episode 4"
    Holby City S14E31: "Wolf's Clothing"
    Hollyoaks S18E97: "May 15, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E82: "Episode 5517"
    Hotel cæsar S29E14: "Season 29, Episode 14"
    House Hunters S48E96
    House Hunters International S25E99
    Jeopardy! S28E172: "Show #6377"
    Killer Trials: Judgment Day S01E24: "The Ties That Bind"
    Kuba Wojewódzki S18E11: "Anna Rusowicz, Paweł Małaszyński"
    Last Call with Carson Daly S10E55
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E270
    Late Show with David Letterman S19E74: "Brian Williams, El-P"
    Later Live - With Jools Holland S09E05: "Series 9, Show 5"
    Let's Stay Together S02E19: "Owners, Players and Thieves"
    Live with Regis and Kelly S29E185
    Luna, el misterio de Calenda S01E06: "TBA"
    Masterchef Australia S04E09: "Tuesday - Week 2"
    Million Dollar Rooms S02E04
    My Ride Rules S02E12: "Hemi Meets Hybrid"
    Mysteries at the Museum S03E08
    Naruto SD: Rock Lee no Seishun Full-Power Ninden S01E07
    NCIS S09E24: "Till Death Do Us Part"
    NCIS: Los Angeles S03E23: "Sans Voir, Part I"
    NCIS: Los Angeles S03E24: "Sans Voir, Part II"
    Neighbours S28E92: "Episode 6402"
    Nitro Circus S03E08: "Season 3, Episode 8"
    No Kitchen Required S01E07: "Koh Lanta"
    Off Limits S02E05
    Packed To The Rafters S05E05: "Judgement Day"
    Pointless S06E50: "Series 6, Episode 50"
    Pregnant in Heels S02E01: "Homebirth With a Side of Placenta"
    Private Practice S05E22: "Gone, Baby, Gone"
    Queen's Blade: Rurou no Senshi S03E07: "Episode 7"
    Repo Games S02E09: "Don't Tell Tom, The Babysitter's Down"
    River City S10E36: "Episode 780"
    Salatut elämät S14E162: "Elias ei innostu naamioleikistä"
    Savage U S01E07: "Rhodes"
    Silk S02E01: "Series 2, Episode 1"
    The Big Break S13E07: "Big Break Academy - School's Out"
    The Block S05E27: "Day 27"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S26E38: "Ep. #6322"
    The Chase (2009) S05E71: "Series 5, Episode 71"
    The Devils Ride S01E02: "Vegas Repo Mission"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E160
    The Estate S01E08: "Episode 8"
    The Game S05E18: "Let Them Eat (Cup)Cake!"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E170: "May 15, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E80
    The Little Couple S05E14: "Adopting A New Approach"
    The Matt Lucas Awards S01E06: "Episode 6"
    The Murdoch Mysteries (2008) S05E12: "Murdoch Night in Canada"
    The Project S04E115: "Season 4, Episode 115"
    The Real Housewives Of Orange County S07E14: "Happily Never After"
    The Revolution (2012) S01E77: "Season 1, Episode 77"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S19E301
    The View S15E160: "President Barack Obama"
    The Young and the Restless S40E37: "Ep. #9906"
    Thuis S17E187: "Season 17, Episode 187"
    UFC on Fuel TV S01E03: "UFC on Fuel TV 3: Poirier vs. Jung"
    United Stats of America S01E02: "Moving On"

Robbie Williams, Michael Sheen start Soccer Aid mind games

Robbie Williams, Michael Sheen start Soccer Aid mind games

Soccer Aid captains Robbie Williams and Michael Sheen have begun the war of words and mind games ahead of the celebrity football match's kick-off later this month.

Soccer Aid, which raises money for UNICEF, takes place on Sunday, May 27 and will air live on ITV1.

The 2010 event saw Williams's England team lose 7-6 on penalties to the Rest of the World after a 2-2 draw. Hollywood star Woody Harrelson scored the winning penalty for Sheen's XI, and the Cheers actor will return for this year's match.

Speaking about gaining revenge in this year's match, Williams said: "Sometimes the English sense of politeness can stretch too far. As hosts, I think we made our guests too comfortable last time out.

"Servility over, time for some 1966 style passion. Good luck Rest of the World, you will need it."

Rival and last year's winning captain Sheen said: "We can't wait to get at the England team again. We had them running scared last time as we held our nerve when they bottled it in the penalty shootout. They're all a bunch of fancy dans who will have to be very careful they don't lose two on the spin.

"We've got a brilliant squad this year and everyone is really up for it - bring it on!"

The current teams for Soccer Aid include:

England:
Captain: Robbie Williams
Team: Jason Isaacs, Mark Owen, Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold, Olly Murs, John Bishop, Jonathan Wilkes, Ben Shephard, Jamie Theakston and Paddy McGuinness.
Football legends: Teddy Sheringham, David Seaman, Kevin Phillips, Des Walker and Martin Keown.
Coached by Bradley Walsh.

Rest of the World
Captain: Michael Sheen
Team: Will Ferrell, Gerard Butler, Mike Myers, James McAvoy, Patrick Kielty, Sergio Pizzorno, Gordon Ramsay, Woody Harrelson and Edward Norton.
Football legends: Edwin van der Sar, Roy Keane, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Hernan Crespo and Jaap Stam.
Coached by Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush.

Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker Guesting on 'Glee'

Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker Guesting on 'Glee'

Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Paker will guest on "Glee" next season, Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly announced Monday.

Hudson will join the show for eight episodes when it moves to Thursday nights next season, and Parker will also appear for multiple episodes, Reilly said. The season will also feature a "show within a show" as the "Glee" club members who have graduated move to New York City, he said.

He also said Fox hopes to announce new "X Factor" judges Monday. The network is delivering its upfront presentation of next season's shows to advertisers in New York.

Fox hopes "Glee" will have a resurgence in its next season, which will be its fourth, after it slipped in the ratings this season. It will air after the "X Factor" Thursday results show in the fall, and after the "American Idol" Thursday results show in midseason.

Fox 2012-13 Schedule Pairs Mindy Kaling With 'New Girl,' Moves 'Glee' and 'Touch'

Fox 2012-13 Schedule Pairs Mindy Kaling With 'New Girl,' Moves 'Glee' and 'Touch'

Fox is adding the new comedies "Ben and Kate" and "The Mindy Project" to its Tuesday lineup to create two hours of comedy, plus bumping "Glee" from Tuesday to Thursday and moving Kiefer Sutherland's "Touch" to Friday to create a sci-fi block with "Fringe."

Fox also announced in its 2012-13 schedule released Monday that the new drama "Mob Doctor" will air on Monday nights in the fall, after "Bones." The new Kevin Bacon serial killer drama "The Following" will air on Mondays in midseason.

"Ben & Kate" and "The Mindy Project," starring "Office" veteran Mindy Kaling, will air with "Raising Hope" and "New Girl" on Tuesdays. Fox tried out a two-hour Tuesday block of half-hour comedies this season when it benched "Glee" from late February to early April. The new sitcom "The Goodwin Games" will join the Tuesday lineup in midseason.

"X Factor" and "Idol" will air for two hours each on Wednesdays, and the "Glee" move to Thursday nights will pair it with the "X Factor" results show in the fall and the "American Idol" results show in midseason.

Fox also announced that Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker will guest on "Glee" next season.

"Touch," which had a promising debut this midseason, will be moved to Friday night, where networks often place shows that have devoted followings but small audiences. The logic is that their audiences will follow them anywhere, even to the low-rated night. "Hells Kitchen" will return to Friday nights in the fall.

In the fall, Fox will air the NFL followed by its "Animation Domination" lineup.

Here is the schedule. More to come...

FOX 2012-2013 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

(All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          BONES   

9:00-10:00 PM                        THE MOB DOCTOR (new)

THE FOLLOWING (new) joins in midseason.   

TUESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM                          RAISING HOPE

8:30-9:00 PM                          BEN AND KATE (new)

9:00-9:30 PM                          NEW GIRL

9:30-10:00 PM                        THE MINDY PROJECT (new)

THE GOODWIN GAMES (new) joins in midseason.

WEDNESDAY

8:00-10:00 PM                        THE X FACTOR (fall) / AMERICAN IDOL (midseason)                 

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          THE X FACTOR Results (fall) / AMERICAN IDOL Results (midseason)

9:00-10:00 PM                        GLEE                  

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM                          TOUCH

9:00-10:00 PM                        FRINGE (fall)

HELL’S KITCHEN returns in midseason. 

SATURDAY

7:00-10:30 PM                        FOX SPORTS SATURDAY (fall)

  COPS returns in midseason.

  ANIMATION DOMINATION HIGH-DEF (new) will join late-prime in 2013.

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM                          NFL Game (fall) / ANIMATION DOMINATION (encores)

7:30-8:00 PM                          THE OT (fall) / THE CLEVELAND SHOW

8:00-8:30 PM                          THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM                          BOB’S BURGERS

9:00-9:30 PM                          FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM                        AMERICAN DAD

Rhod Gilbert hails teachers: 'We should give them 300% pay rises'

Rhod Gilbert hails teachers: 'We should give them 300% pay rises'

When we were speaking to Rhod Gilbert about the DVD release of his BBC show Work Experience, we asked him what the best job he tried out was.

He told us that not only did he love his three-day stint as a teacher, he might even give up comedy to do the job full time.

Naturally, we pressed him on that a bit more, and here's what he had to say.

"I absolutely fell in love with it to the degree that I possibly may retrain... Primary. 4-11. I absolutely loved it," Gilbert told Digital Spy.

"In and out in three days, that's how we film it. I usually get one day having a look around, one day training and I'm in. I totally didn't want to leave. I just loved it. It was just three of the most inspirational days of my life, if that's not too absurd a claim. It was phenomenal.

"There's a lot of crap that goes along with teaching. There's the stress and the pressure. They're downtrodden and beaten up by every angle. They're hammered upon really, politically, by poxy league tables and Ofsted. I just think they're put upon."

He continued: "There can't be a more important role in society than this. These people are absolutely fundamentally shaping the future, in the sense of their impact on those kids.

'TOWIE' Amy Childs, Harry Derbidge to present BAFTA Audience Award

'TOWIE' Amy Childs, Harry Derbidge to present BAFTA Audience Award

The Only Way Is Essex stars Amy Childs and Harry Derbidge have been announced as presenters of this year's BAFTA YouTube Audience Award.

The reality stars will return to the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards to present the prize that they won as part of the ITV2 series last year.

The trophy is the only award that is voted for by the public, and has so far received over 100,000 votes, which is over 30,000 more votes than last year already.

A media panel of 15 TV and showbiz journalists - including Digital Spy - chose the six shows to be nominated for the award, which will now be voted for by the public.

The Only Way Is Essex stars have also filmed a short video about their hosting duties. They said: "It was such an honour to win last year's YouTube audience award and we're really excited to be presenting at the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards this year, and of course bring a little Essex sparkle to the red carpet."

The nominated shows this year are Sherlock, Fresh Meat, Celebrity Juice, The Great British Bake Off, Educating Essex and Frozen Planet.

Fans can vote for their favourite from the list until 5pm on Thursday, May 24.

The TV BAFTAs will be hosted by Dara O'Briain at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, May 27, and will air on BBC One.

'Downton Abbey' star Dan Stevens Joining Jessica Chastain in 'The Heiress' on Broadway

'Downton Abbey' star Dan Stevens Joining Jessica Chastain in 'The Heiress' on Broadway

Dan Stevens, who plays Matthew Crawley on the PBS series "Downton Abbey," will make his Broadway debut in a revival of "The Heiress," with Jessica Chastain and David Strathairn.

Stevens has appeared on the stage in London in David Leveaux’s 2009 West End production of Tom Stoppard’s "Arcadia," André Previn’s "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" at the National Theatre in 2009 and Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" in 2006 at the Royal Haymarket Theatre.

He also played Orlando opposite Rebecca Hall in Peter Hall's 2004 touring production of "As You Like It."

Stevens will take on the role of Morris Townsend in Ruth and Augustus Goetz's adaptation of the Henry James 1880 novel "Washington Square."

Chastain, who is also making her Broadway debut, will play Catherine Sloper, the object of Townsend's affection. Strathairn will play Catherine's protective father, Dr. Austin Sloper. He last appeared on Broadway in 2003 in a staged reading of "Salome," opposite Al Pacino and Marisa Tomei.

The revival will be staged by playwright-director Moises Kaufman ("The Laramie Project," "33 Variations") and is scheduled to begin performances in October at a Broadway theater to be announced.

The play was last seen on Broadway in 1995 in a production that won four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play and Best Actress for Cherry Jones, who played Catherine.

"The Heiress" is produced by film and TV producer Paula Wagner, along with veteran Broadway producers Roy Furman and Stephanie P. McClelland.

'Made in Chelsea' does Mills & Boon: 'Ollie, give me your sperm'

'Made in Chelsea' does Mills & Boon: 'Ollie, give me your sperm'

Made in Chelsea pair Ollie Locke and Cheska Hull have posed together for a Mills & Boon-inspired book sleeve.

Despite posing for the saucy faux cover, the pair insisted that they would never sleep with one another.

Asked if she would have sex with Locke, Hull said: "Not in a million years. Not even if you said, 'I would pay you all the gold in the world'.

"If I wasn't married by my late 40s and wanted to have kids, I'd say, 'Ollie, give me your sperm'. But it would need to be injected into me."

She added of Locke: "He's got a big willy, but it's a funny colour. Because he's this colour [points to Ollie] and that part doesn't get sprayed [with fake tan], it's a bit ashen.

"Elephant's breath. That's a Farrow & Ball paint colour we were going to paint our flat with. They should call it 'Ollie Locke's Willy'."

Of being an openly bisexual star, Locke said: "I can't think of one openly bisexual man in Celebville, apart from myself. It's difficult."

"Girls don't generally want to go there. Who's going to want to marry me? That sounds really silly, but..."

He quipped: "I'll always have [ex-girlfriend and former Made in Chelsea co-star] Gabriella [Ellis] if all else goes wrong. I'm pretty sure she'll still have me."

The full interview appears in this week's Heat magazine, on sale now.

Made in Chelsea continues on Mondays, at 10pm on E4.

'Geordie Shore' Ricci, Vicky get engaged during Cancun filming

'Geordie Shore' Ricci, Vicky get engaged during Cancun filming

Geordie Shore duo Ricci Guarnaccio and Vicky Pattison have got engaged while filming the summer special of the MTV reality show in Cancun.

Self-proclaimed "king of Newcastle" Guarnaccio, who has been dating Pattison for less than a year, popped the question while on location in Mexico.

"When I came into the Geordie Shore house I had been single for a long time and certainly didn't expect to fall in love - but that's what happened," said the 25-year-old.

"I couldn't be happier with Vicky and know I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Pattison said: "'I'm so excited to be engaged to Ricci. He's an amazing person and I knew that as soon as he walked through the door and into the house, there was an instant connection between us.

"I'm very lucky to have found him."

The couple met during filming of Geordie Shore season two, when Pattison dumped her boyfriend to start a relationship with her new co-star.

Pattison and Guarnaccio's relationship hasn't always run smoothly and during a screening of the series two premiere, the pair walked out of a live spinoff aftershow following a slanging match at the event,

The latest summer special, Geordie Shore: Chaos in Cancun, starts on Tuesday, June 26 at 10pm on MTV.

Rufus Hound confirms 'Celebrity Juice' exit

Rufus Hound confirms 'Celebrity Juice' exit

Rufus Hound has confirmed that he has left Celebrity Juice.

The comedian has served as a regular panellist on Keith Lemon's ITV2 programme since 2009, but was mysteriously absent from later episodes of its most recent series, which concluded on May 3.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary performance of We Will Rock You in London tonight, Hound revealed that he is "not on that show anymore" and a return to Celebrity Juice in the future is "frankly unlikely".

Asked why he had decided not to come back, Hound said only that he is "very busy with other projects".

He added: "Celebrity Juice is 'The Keith Lemon Show' isn't it, so as long as Keith's there most people are getting everything they want from it. So onwards and upwards for them."

Celebrity Juice has been nominated for 'Best Entertainment Programme' and the 'YouTube Audience Award' at this year's BAFTAs. The ceremony takes place on May 27.

4 Big TV Gambles That Failed This Season, and What That Means for the Next One

4 Big TV Gambles That Failed This Season, and What That Means for the Next One

If next season turns out to be a tame or even timid one on network television, you can thank the season that's winding down.

This week, networks are debuting their plans for next season at their upfront presentations to advertisers -- and their decisions about what new shows to air are rooted in hard looks at the big gambles of their 2011-12 lineups.

From Fox's multimillion-dollar dino-drama "Terra Nova" to NBC's sexy '60s set piece "The Playboy Club," networks took some very big risks this season – and few of them panned out.

Fairly safe shows like singing competitions and sitcoms were the biggest hits. Fantasy series – like ABC's "Once Upon a Time" and NBC's "Grimm" –  fared surprisingly well. But shows set in the past – from the 1960s to the Mesozoic era – didn't succeed. Neither did high-concept science fiction like Fox's "Alcatraz" or NBC's "Awake." They were canceled last week, joining "Terra Nova" and "The Playboy Club."

The networks' most successful gambles this season were with existing shows, not new ones. CBS successfully revamped "Two and a Half Men" with Ashton Kutcher in place of Charlie Sheen. NBC ran "The Voice" in midseason against a CBS Monday night lineup, anchored by "Men," that had looked bulletproof in the fall. "The Voice" ended up briefly surpassing Fox's "American Idol" as the top-rated non-NFL programming on television, though "Idol" eventually retook the lead. NBC also used a strong lead-in from "The Voice" to successfully launch the ambitious musical drama "Smash," which scored decent ratings.

For the sake of full disclosure, an aside: We like risky shows. They keep TV fresh and interesting, and without some rolls of the dice, we would never have gotten "Seinfeld," "Modern Family" or "Lost." But for every risk that pays off, there are many more that make average viewers shake their heads and wonder what those network executives were thinking.

This was a season that seemed to depressingly reinforce stereotypes about the TV landscape: Networks remain the main home for mass-market reality shows, broad comedies and procedurals, while cable is the domain of novelistic period shows like "Mad Men" and "Boardwalk Empire" and hit genre series like "Game of Thrones" and "Walking Dead."

Whatever is happening doesn't seem to be good for TV: Overall, according to Nielsen, viewing was down 0.5 percent, or about 46 minutes per viewer per month in the fourth quarter of 2011 that included the start of the season. The decline came after years of consistent year-over-year growth.

Every show is a huge potential risk, and getting one on the air requires beating the odds again and again. But some shows are bigger gambles than others because of their setting, subject matter, complexity or flat-out weirdness. The flip side? Dark, complex, jarring shows are often the best ones, from "Lost" to "Breaking Bad."

Networks have already taken some gambles for the upcoming season -- but none that seem as risky as the ones from this one.

NBC's midseason "Hannibal," about the cannibalistic "Silence of the Lambs" villain, would sound insane if not for the success of the Hannibal Lecter film franchise.

NBC's "The New Normal," from "Glee" veterans Ryan Murphy and Allison Adler, features an extended family consisting of a gay couple and the surrogate mother of their child. That might be more challenging to traditional notions of family if not for the fact that "Modern Family," which is tied for the top-rated sitcom on TV, hadn't featured a gay couple with an adopted daughter for the last three seasons. NBC winkingly says the show features a "post-modern family."

One of the most ambitious shows of the upcoming season is NBC's "Revolution," produced by "Lost" co-creator J.J. Abrams, which imagines a world in which all power suddenly disappears. Past "Lost"-influenced network shows in which a bizarre occurrence suddenly changes the world – from ABC's "Flash Forward" to NBC's "The Event" – haven't fared well. But NBC is giving the show a plum timeslot after "The Voice," its biggest hit.

Fox's upcoming series -- including "The Following," a serial-killer drama led by Kevin Bacon, and a comedy starring "Office" vet Mindy Kaling, sound fairly straightforward -- especially compared to last season's Fox slate.

CBS is rolling the dice with another '60s set show, "Vegas," about a rodeo cowboy-turned-sheriff. Star power should help the show's odds: It stars Dennis Quaid in the lead, and it also features Michael Chiklis, Carrie-Anne Moss, and "Terra Nova" vet Jason O'Mara. CBS's "Elementary," a Sherlock Holmes update set in modern-day New York, finds Jonny Lee Miller saying the magic word to a female Watson played by Lucy Liu.

ABC's edgier offerings, meanwhile, include "666 Park Avenue," about a young couple managing a historic apartment building that is home to dangerous supernatural happenings, and "Last Resort," about a nuclear submarine crew that goes rogue after getting a sketchy order to deploy their weapons.

Here's a look at some of the current season's swing-and-a-misses, God rest their souls, and what lessons can be learned from them:

Terra Nova

The story of a family catapulted from the near future to the distance past died from a thousand cuts, administered by too many cooks. Too mixed metaphorical? Okay: It had a dozen executive producers, to go along with a massive budget, and tried to hedge by offering something for everyone. There was sci-fi. Family drama. Teenage romance. Action. A dystopian future. But in trying to please everyone – you know how this one goes, right? – it ended up pleasing very few. Fox canceled it amid low ratings. Still, good for Fox for giving it a shot. It's impressive whenever a top-rated network strays from what's safe, and this was the season's biggest gamble by far.

The Playboy Club

Some people will take it as a good sign that the fastest-canceled show of the season was also the one with the most T&A. "The Playboy Club" was beautiful to visit, and not just because of its cast. The set design was lovely, the music was hot. The idea to include musical numbers in every episode was a lot of fun, like when country stars used to drop in at the Boar's Nest on the Dukes of Hazzard. But "The Playboy Club," like "Terra Nova," didn't seem to have a soul. Like "Terra Nova," it was all over the place with subplots, none of them very original. You'll keep watching a good-looking but dumb show, the way you'll keep dating a dim bulb because of their physical attributes. But if they don't have a soul, you can't keep time with a person or a show.

ABC's "Pan Am," had lots of similarities with "The Playboy Club": Good looks, a swinging '60 setting, and, unfortunately, storylines that didn't really grab you by the throat. It was canceled last week.

Alcatraz

This one didn't look like much of a gamble at all, at least to "Lost" fans: It starred endearing Lostie Jorge Garcia, was produced by Abrams and other "Lost" veterans, and was co-created by "Lost" writer Elizabeth Sarnoff. It was set partly on an island, for gosh sakes.

But since the rather open-ended conclusion of "Lost," viewers have been awfully careful about mythology-filled shows that may or may not go anywhere. "Alcatraz" had one big central mystery – how did the former prisoners disappear in 1963, and why do they keep reappearing in modern times? "Alcatraz" hedged its bets, doling out clues as it kept viewers occupied from episode to episode with an escaped criminal of the week. The half-and-half approach didn't engage enough of them.

Awake

The NBC drama was your humble correspondent's favorite network show of the year. But it took some of the same have-it-both-ways approach as "Alcatraz." The LAPD detective lead character was split between two realities – one in which his wife is alive and his son is dead, and another where the reverse his true. He also solved crimes in both worlds. The idea was that viewers would be entertained by the procedural within each episode, even as all the crimes – which may or may not be in the lead characters dreams – brought him closer to deciding which reality was real. If either one was real. Yes, it's complicated. And attention spans are short. We really don't know what "Awake" could have done differently. Its setup either fascinated or repelled viewers, and seems mostly to have repelled them. We'd like to wake up in a world where a show as strange as it "Awake" could survive on a major network.