'I'm Spazticus' groping prank axed after police contacted

'I'm Spazticus' groping prank axed after police contacted

Channel 4 has axed a sketch from disabled prank show I'm Spazticus after horrified onlookers called police during filming.

Students at Southend Adult Community College in Essex contacted authorities after a blind performer started groping a life model during an art class. Though both the disabled man and the model were in on the joke, others in the room were unaware that they were being filmed.

Police did respond to emergency calls, but no further action was taken, according to the BBC.

College Principal Stephen Layman said that they agreed to participate after being told that I'm Spazticus "was aimed at challenging people's attitudes to disability".

He added: "We were shocked and surprised to discover the filming that took place within the class did not reflect the brief supplied.

"Since this incident took place three weeks ago we have received categorical assurance from both [producers] Zeitgeist Television and Channel 4 that none of this material will be used."

A spokesperson for the channel confirmed: "[Students] didn't see the funny side, so as a gesture of goodwill we won't be broadcasting the footage."

I'm Spazticus producer Jamie O'Leary said upon its commissioning in February that he hoped the show would be "both barrier and ground-breaking".

'Only Way Is Essex' axes Dino and Georgio, hires Gemma Collins mum

'Only Way Is Essex' axes Dino and Georgio, hires Gemma Collins mum

The Only Way Is Essex producers have dumped brothers Dino and Georgio Georgiades from the show's cast.

Ahead of the show's fifth series, which launches on Sunday at 10pm, the twins have been officially dropped from the programme, reports The Sun.

"Producers are pulling out all the stops for the new series, but Dino and Georgio have been told their services are no longer required," a source told the newspaper.

"They never made much of an impact and bosses want to focus on other characters."

Georgina Dorsett, who joined the show in series four, has also apparently been told to "raise her game" if she wants to stay on board.

A new addition to the TOWIE cast in series five will be Gemma Collins's mum Joan, who is being billed as "upbeat, fun and bubbly".

Russell Howard on 'Good News' return: 'It takes over my life'

Russell Howard on 'Good News' return: 'It takes over my life'

Russell Howard has said that he feels under pressure to please viewers with his new series of Good News.

The comedian explained that he would rather throw himself into work on his BBC Three show than "feel terrible" about disappointing fans.

"My personal life suffers," he admitted to Digital Spy. "If you do something that has your name on it, it has to be good.

"It's like an extension of your dissertation. I've not worked as hard on anything since being at university. Because it says Russell Howard's Good News it has to be good, or else I just feel terrible about myself.

"So I might as well just do it well. Then see my girlfriend and go on holiday after... try to patch it up."

Howard also said that he would "love" his own sketch show, as long as it was fast-paced liked the scenes on Good News.

"We put a lot of effort into the sketches," he said. "I've watched other sketch shows and they're so laboured and floppy.

"But maybe that's the nature of the show we do. It's just disposable telly, you can watch it doing the ironing or eating food... so the sketches have to be the same."

Russell Howard's Good News returns tonight (April 12) at 9pm on BBC Three.

Simon Cowell 'running scared' of 'The Voice' UK, say BBC

Simon Cowell 'running scared' of 'The Voice' UK, say BBC

The BBC has allegedly accused Simon Cowell of "running scared" after Britain's Got Talent was moved to avoid clashing with The Voice UK.

It was announced yesterday (April 11) that Cowell's ITV programme has been pushed back half an hour to 8.30pm next Saturday (April 21), meaning that viewers will be able to watch both shows live for the first time.

The Voice has triumphed every time the two programmes have clashed and last week came out on top in the overnight ratings (excluding +1 viewers).

In response to the scheduling change, an apparent BBC insider commented to The Mirror: "Cowell tried to disrupt the launch of The Voice and failed and now he's running scared. It's great news for us and for TV viewers that there will be no overlap."

Meanwhile, an ITV source accepted that Cowell's attempts to diminish The Voice's audience had "backfired spectacularly".

"Simon and ITV boss Peter Fincham hoped to ruin the start of The Voice but the clash has backfired spectacularly," they said. "By going to a later slot they are waving the white flag.

"Cowell will not be happy and hates to be second-best. He has never moved The X Factor for Strictly Come Dancing and is used to calling the shots. This is very much a first - and a humiliating one at that."

The Syco boss tweeted a "slightly irritated congrats" to BBC One controller Danny Cohen last Sunday after The Voice's ratings victory.

The Voice UK and Britain's Got Talent will clash in the schedules again this weekend (Saturday, April 14). The Voice UK kicks off with another 80-minute episode at 7pm on BBC One, while BGT launches at 8pm on ITV1.

CBS Goes to the Dogs With New Reality Series

CBS Goes to the Dogs With New Reality Series

CBS is totally dogging it with its latest reality TV venture.

"Dogs in the City," a new unscripted offering, will premiere May 30 at 8 p.m., the network said Thursday. The show will star "New York City dog guru" Justin Silver, who's a "master at resolving issues between canines and their owners -- no matter whose behavior is at fault," according to the network.

"In each episode, he meets with clients who present a range of relationship problems, lifestyle changes or domestic issues – from a couple looking to move in together, but she’s terrified of his golden retriever, to a recently divorced couple whose dog is having a rough time adjusting to joint custody," a CBS press release revealed.

The series is produced by CBS's Raquel Productions Inc., in association with Shed Media US Inc. and Carol Mendelsohn Productions. Mendelsohn, Julie Weitz, Jen O’Connell and Nick Emmerson serve as executive producers.

“Dogs are at the center of the story here, but this is a show that reveals as much about human nature as man’s best friend,” Mendelsohn said of "Dogs in the City." “Dogs are often a lightning rod for their owners’ emotions and dysfunction at home. Justin has an amazing gift to break down these complex issues with incredible heart, humor and, sometimes, much-needed candor.”

Time will tell if CBS follows up "Dogs in the City" with such canine-related fare as "Two and a Half Mutts" and "The Big Bone Theory." That will probably depend on whether the new show's ratings go through the woof or not.

Sky Tyne and Wear service launches mobile app

Sky Tyne and Wear service launches mobile app

Sky Tyne and Wear, the satellite broadcaster's local news service currently being piloted in the North-East of England, has today launched a new mobile app for people to access its content on the go.

In February this year, Sky launched the Sky Tyne and Wear service to serve people in the area with region-specific news, sport and events listings on the move.

The move, similar to the STV Local service operated in Scotland by broadcaster STV, is intended as a way of serving communities with more tailored news and information.

Following the launch, Sky Tyne and Wear built an audience of nearly 180,000 monthly unique visitors in March and racked up around 106,000 video views, including popular content such as 'Fight breaks out in Whitley Warriors ice hockey match against Blackburn Hawks' and 'Singer could be the third X Factor winner from South Shields'.

After observing that nearly one in four visitors came to the service via a mobile device, Sky has decided to extend the pilot by investing in a dedicated Sky Tyne and Wear mobile app.

The full-screen app is available to download now for free on the iPhone, and will soon expand to Android devices. The Sky Tyne and Wear website has also been optimised for mobile smartphones and tablets, said Sky.

Users of the mobile app will get the most up-to-date news and views from across the region, covering local stories and sports.

People can even contribute to the news by uploading photos, videos or reports via the app, as well as see what events are close by them via GPS.

Simon Bucks, the associate editor at Sky, said: "We are really pleased with the reception which Sky Tyne and Wear has had since launch. There is a great buzz about it in the area, and we are especially gratified that our videos have had 100,000 plus views.

"It confirms our belief that there is a real appetite for high quality video coverage of local news, sports and events. Our reporting of sport, especially at a grass root level, has attracted a lot of interest and has been widely shared via social media.

"This new iPhone app means people will be able to access the service more easily when they are on the move. It will also be even simpler for them to upload their own photos and videos."

As national news services on TV and online become ever more saturated, many media organisations view local news as an important tool for more effectively serving consumers, as long as it can be done in a financially sustainable way.

Negotiations are currently underway over the creation of a raft of new local TV services across the UK, but that could take a while to come into operation. In the mean time there is demand for alternative news services to the BBC.

It is unclear at present whether Sky intends to expand the Tyne and Wear beta to other areas, but this will presumably depend on whether the experiment has been deemed a success at the end of the pilot.

'Neighbours' casts Sebastian Gregory as maths genius Ed Lee

'Neighbours' casts Sebastian Gregory as maths genius Ed Lee

Neighbours bosses have announced that actor and musician Sebastian Gregory is currently filming a guest role on the soap.

The 22-year-old is playing the part of Ed Lee, a mathematics genius who becomes an unlikely ally for Natasha Williams (Valentina Novakovic) in an upcoming storyline.

Ed will appear on screens for four months, and has been tipped to make a big impact on Ramsay Street life as he introduces Tash to "some of his unusual pastimes".

Gregory commented: "He is very different but also likeable - I'm really enjoying playing him."

Neighbours fans previously saw Gregory in Erinsborough briefly a few years ago, when he appeared as a boyfriend for Rachel Kinski (Caitlin Stasey).

Gregory joked: "It was a very short romance - about three episodes!"

Ed's first scenes will air in late June on Channel 5 in the UK.