'The Voice' UK contestants 'told to change image'

'The Voice' UK contestants 'told to change image'

The Voice UK contestants have reportedly come under pressure to change their appearance.

Matt Clubb clashed with stylists after they tried to cut off his long hair, while Jaz Ellington has hired a personal trainer to help him lose weight over fears he's not "pop star material", the Daily Star reports.

"They tried to cut my hair and shave my beard and I said, 'I can probably take two or three of you down before you pin me down and shave it'. I said, 'No, it's part of me'," Clubb commented.

Ellington confessed: "I know it's The Voice but I want to be the whole package. I do feel the pressure to make myself look good."

The Voice has differentiated itself from other shows like The X Factor by claiming to focus on vocal talent rather than appearance, particularly during the blind auditions.

Meanwhile, will.i.am is said to have spent most of the week in America, only communicating with his team via email.

"We saw him a few days ago but he is a busy man. He will nip back to America for two days. But we can tweet him and we have his email," Tyler James said.

His singers have apparently spent a total of one hour with their coach. It has also been reported that one of his acts, Joelle Moses, was unable to choose her own song and was instead given a track she had never heard before - 'I'm Going Down' by Mary J Blige.

"will.i.am did go to the States but was available on email and by Saturday he will have had as much time with his acts as the others," a BBC insider told the paper.

"There was a suggestion that Matt lose a couple of inches off his hair and he declined. And as for song choices, the coaches work with their acts to choose the songs they feel best suit them."

Team will.i.am and Team Tom Jones will perform on the first Voice UK live show, which airs tonight (April 28) at 7pm on BBC One.

Two acts - one from each team - will be voted off the reality programme on Sunday's (April 29) results show.

Oprah Winfrey's Struggling OWN Announces 6 New Series, Summer Schedule

Oprah Winfrey's Struggling OWN Announces 6 New Series, Summer Schedule

Oprah Winfrey's struggling OWN network announced on Friday the launch of six new series that will debut during its summer schedule.

The push for new programming comes amid a prolonged period of tumult for the flegdling network. OWN has seen a number of high-level personnel shakeups, layoffs and disappointing ratings that included Rosie O'Donnell's talk show, which was canceled in March, after just five months. (The network is, however, up 14 percent year-to-date in its key demo of women 25-54, and 9 percent in total viewers.)

First of the new programming to debut, at 9 p.m. June 4, is "Are You Normal, America?" -- a game show in which two contestants  compete to determine their normalcy. "Along the way, audiences will be entertained, enlightened and ultimately comforted by the fact that we’re all pretty abnormal … but that’s what makes life fun!" is how the network describes it.

Next to premiere will be "Lives on Fire," which explores " the extraordinary worlds of four remarkable women who risk their lives every day to take command during California’s most dangerous disasters." That will debut June 8 at 9 p.m.

Other additions to the roster include: "Million Dollar Neighborhood" (June 9 at 9 p.m.), in which a debt-ridden town is challenged to increase its net worth by $1 million in three months; "Real Life: The Musical" (June 9 at 10 p.m.), where amateur singers team with a vocal coach and choreographer to stage a live "flash musical" that "surprises someone they love."

"Super Saver Showdown," a July competition reality series that pits " two obsessed bargain hunters competing to see whose coupon clipping, super saving, and DIY skills are THE BEST!"; and "Lovetown, USA" (August), which chronicles Winfrey's visit to Kingsland, Georgia, where she called on the community to holda "love rally" and challenged the populace to "open their arms and hearts to the possibilities of all kinds of love."

"Oprah's Next Chapter" and the documentary series "Our America With Lisa Ling" will also be returning. Winfrey's interview show "Oprah's Next Chapter" will feature episodes devoted to Neil Patrick Harris and spiritual healer John of God.

Read the full summer schedule below.

OWN SUMMER SCHEDULE

FRIDAYS (beginning June 8)
9:00 – 10:00 p.m. LIVES ON FIRE

SATURDAYS (beginning June 9)
9:00 – 10:00 p.m. MILLION DOLLAR NEIGHBORHOOD
10:00 – 11:00 p.m. REAL LIFE: THE MUSICAL

SUNDAYS
9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Oprah’s Next Chapter
10:00 – 11:00 p.m. Our America with Lisa Ling (returns June 10)

MONDAYS (beginning June 4)
9:00 – 10:00 p.m. ARE YOU NORMAL, AMERICA? (sneak preview after “Oprah’s Next Chapter” Sun., June 3, 10:00 p.m.)

Celebrity Big Brother targets Janice Dickinson

Celebrity Big Brother targets Janice Dickinson

Janice Dickinson is being lined up for an appearance on this year's Celebrity Big Brother, according to tabloid reports.

The 57-year-old has reality TV experience as a judge on America's Next Top Model and found fame in the UK thanks to her stint on I'm A Celebrity in 2007 when she ended up taking part in ten bushtucker trials in a row.

Other TV roles have included spots on Celebrity Come Dine With Me and Celebrity Rehab, as well as acting cameos in Charmed and 90210.

Her rumoured list of celebrity lovers include Mick Jagger, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Dolph Lundgren.

EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison, Corrie's Julie Goodyear and comic Julian Clary are among the names linked to the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother. 'Beautiful' journalist Samantha Brick has also reportedly been offered £50,000 to take part.

This year's second series of Celebrity Big Brother, as ordered by Channel 5, will air in late summer after the regular series.

Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' Tops a Night of Lows; Fox Wins Night With 'Idol'

Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' Tops a Night of Lows; Fox Wins Night With 'Idol'

CBS' "Big Bang Theory" won the ratings race on a Thursday night that was marked by series lows, while Fox took an overall ratings win on the strength of "American Idol," according to preliminary numbers.

Fox took first place in ratings and second in total viewers with an average 2.9 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and 10.5 million.

"American Idol" at 8 p.m. remained steady in the demo compared to last week with a 3.9/12 and 14.4 million total viewers (the largest total viewership of the night). "Touch" the following hour dropped 10 percent in the demo from last week's low, drawing a 1.9/5 with 6.5 million total viewers.

CBS drew second place in ratings and first in total viewers with an average 2.6/7 and 11.6 million. "The Big Bang Theory" at 8 dropped 9 percent from its last original two weeks ago, hitting a season low of 4.0/13 in the demo but still grabbing the top ratings spot. "Big Bang" had 12.5 million total viewers.

"Rules of Engagement" grew 14 percent versus last week, receiving a 2.5/7 in the demo and 8.3 million total viewers. "Person of Interest" at 9 dropped 20 percent from its last original two weeks ago for a series low of 2.4/6 in the demo, with with 12.5 million total viewers. "The Mentalist" the following hour was also down, dropping 13 percent in the demo for a 2.1/6 with 11.9 million total viewers.

ABC was third in ratings and total viewers with an average 2.2/6 and 7.7 million. "Missing" at 8 inched down to demo a low of 1.3/4 with 6.9 million total viewers, while "Grey's Anatomy" the following hour received a 3.2/8 with 9.3 million total viewers. The network's new offering "Scandal" continued its modestly upward trajectory, inching up to a 2.1/6 with 7 million total viewers.

Univision came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with an average 1.5/4 in the demo and 3.7 million. "Una Familia Con Suerte" drew a 1.5/4 with 3.9 million total viewers, while "Abismo de Pasion" the following hour drew a 1.5/4 in the demo and 3.6 million total viewers. "La Que No Podia Amar" at 10:30 received a 1.5/4 in the demo and 3.6 million total viewers.

NBC took fifth place in ratings and total viewers with an average 1.4/4 and 3 million. "Community" at 8 grew 8 percent from last week for a 1.4/4 and 3.3 million total viewers, while "30 Rock" at 8:30 was also up slightly with its much-hyped live episode, receiving a 1.6/5 an 3.5 million total viewers.

"The Office" at 9 saw a minor dip from last week but still touched a series low of 2.1/6 with 4.1 million total viewers. "Parks and Recreation" at 9:30 also had a minor drop to a series low, posting a 1.6/4 with 3.2 million total viewers.

Development Update: the 29th of April

Development Update: the 29th of April

THE AUDIENCE (CBS, New!) - The Eye has ordered a pilot for a new reality series in which "a troubled participant, who is at a crossroad in their life, opens up to 50 people, who offer counsel to get them back on the right track." ITV Studios is behind the project, the format of which was developed by London-based The Garden Productions. No other details were given. (Variety.com)

NANCY GRAVE'S ELEVENTH VICTIM (LMN, New!) - Jennie Garth is set to star in a new telefilm at the cable channel based on Nancy Grace's debut novel of the same name. She'll play Hailey Dean, a highly successful Atlanta assistant D.A. who, after her fiance is murdered, relocates to Manhattan for a new career as a therapist only to have a serial killer she put away be released and begin stalking her and killing her patients. John Fasano penned the adaptation which Grace is executive producing alongside Ted Bauman and Josh Sabarra. (Deadline.com)

RECTIFY (Sundance) - Abigail Spencer, Clayne Crawford, Adelaide Clements, Jonah Lotan and J. Smith Cameron are the first to be cast in the network's upcoming original drama, about "the life of Daniel Holden upon his release from jail after serving nineteen years on Georgia's Death Row before DNA evidence disputed the State's original case." Cameron will play Daniel's mother; with Spencer as his sister; Crawford as his step-brother Ted; Clements as Ted's wife; and Lotan as Daniel's lawyer, who works for the non-profit Justice Row. Ray McKinnon is behind the hour, which he'll executive produce alongside Mark Johnson and Melissa Bernstein of Gran Via Productions. (Deadline.com)

TERMINALES (ABC Family) - Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz (HBO's "Washingtonienne") have been tapped to pen the cable channel's import of Miguel Angel Fox's Mexican drama. They'll take over from Del Shores on the hour which "chronicles the life of young and successful publicist April Marquez who is diagnosed with terminal cancer." Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan and Televisa's Paul Presburger are also executive producing for Lionsgate Television. (Deadline.com)

SUPER CITY (ABC, New!) - Madeleine Sami is looking to import her New Zealand comedy of the same name at the Alphabet, which has given the project a pilot presentation order. Said half-hour, from the ABC Studios' new low-cost division, follows five different characters (all played by Sami) whose lives intersect - "an aging cheerleader, an immigrant taxi driver, a closeted lesbian gym instructor, a woman fostering impoverished artists, and a homeless girl who finds and adopts a baby." Taika Waititi (MTV's "The Inbetweeners") is on board to direct from a script by Sami with Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan and Fumes' Carthew Neal also serving as executive producers. Production is expected to begin later this year. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED TONY DANZA PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Tony Danza is on track to star and executive produce a potential comedy at the Alphabet about three old friends who "looking for a fresh start, move into a bachelor pad near their children and grandkids." The multi-camera project is set up at Wild West Picture Show Productions with the company's Vince Vaughn and Peter Billingsley executive producing alongside Danza and his manager Dan Farah. The search is underway for a writer. (Deadline.com)

'Piers Morgan's Life Stories' closes in on 'Have I Got News For You'

'Piers Morgan's Life Stories' closes in on 'Have I Got News For You'

Piers Morgan's Life Stories moved within touching distance of overtaking Have I Got News For You last night (April 27), overnight data shows.

The CNN anchor's Carol Vorderman interview interested 4.43m (19.1%) on ITV1 in the 9pm hour, adding 243k (1.3%) an hour later on +1.

Have I Got News For You, meanwhile, averaged 4.67m (20.2%) for BBC One between 9pm and 9.30pm, a drop of over 600,000 viewers week-on-week.

Lee Mack's Not Going Out maintained a respectable 4.06m (17.6%) at 9.30pm, then The Graham Norton Show entertained 3.3m (22.8%) from 10.35pm.

Would I Lie To You? amused 3.15m (13.8%) at 8.30pm, while ITV1's respective 8pm filler Poms and Paradise picked up 2.94m (13.3%).

Channel 4's new spring comedy night made a slow start: 8 Out of 10 Cats kicked off with 1.11m (4.8%) at 9pm (+1: 202k), after which 1.05m (4.5%) stuck around for brand new sketch show Very Important People at 9.30pm (+1: 188k/1.1%).

Anchoring the 10pm slot, Alan Carr: Chatty Man attracted 1.65m (9.2%) and 223k on timeshift, the network's highest audience of the night.

BBC Two fared much better, with its Mastermind (1.84m/8.3%) and Gardeners' World (1.98m/8.7%) combination coming up trumps as usual in the 8pm hour.

John Le Mesurier documentary It's All Been Rather Lovely was seen by 2.2m (9.5%) at 9pm, before QI quizzed 2.46m (12.3%) at 10pm.

The Mentalist led Channel 5's evening with 1.41m (6.1%) at 9pm, while Dirty Great Machines mustered 999k (4.5%) an hour earlier.

Overall, ITV1 topped primetime with 21.9% (+1: 0.8%), ahead of BBC One's 19.4%. BBC Two claimed third place with 8.8%, followed by Channel 4's 5.1% (+1: 0.7%), and Channel 5's 4.1% (+1: 0.1%).

A League of their Own scored 447k (1.9%) on Sky1, down slightly on its premiere last week.

Madonna to perform on 'The Voice' UK?

Madonna to perform on 'The Voice' UK?

Madonna is reportedly being lined up to perform on The Voice UK.

Producers are trying to get the 'Hung Up' singer on an upcoming Sunday night results show in a bid to attract record ratings, the Daily Star Sunday reports.

"Getting Madge on to sing is bound to pull in the viewers. You don't get much bigger than her - she's a living legend," a source told the paper.

"The show has regularly been getting ratings of over ten million. Having Madonna, plus the all-important results, could push it past the 12 million mark.

"X Factor's finest hour was getting Britney Spears on - but there's no doubt Madonna is a much bigger name. Simon Cowell will be furious if The Voice upstages him with a massive guest performer like Madonna in its first series."

Lana Del Rey will perform on tonight's results show (April 29), while Emeli Sandé will sing next weekend.

Madonna recently claimed her 9th UK number one album with her latest release MDNA.