Michelle: It’s Darling Buds of Maybe not Corrie beauty too busy to step into Zeta-Jones role
Telly bosses thought the show. They enquired about her availability but she wasn’t free.”
Talk TV understands she was never formally offered the role.
Filming for a new season of The Darling Buds of May, which ran from 1991 to 1993, was due to begin this summer before it hit the skids due to coronavirus.
The Thick Of It actress Joanna Scanlan is set to play Ma Larkin alongside Bradley Walsh as husband Pop.
The original series, following the trials and tribulations of the Larkin family in 1950s Kent, starred Pam Ferris and David Jason. Filming of the much-anticipated reboot has been pushed way back into next year – and might not air until 2022.
A source has said: “It needs to shoot in full summer. We’re resigned to it being The Darling Buds of next May now.”
Michelle was due to film the third series of Brassic next month, but that’s looking unlikely.
Co-creator Danny Brocklehurt says: “Filming is supposed to be this August, so theoretically it could still happen, but realistically it will encounter some sort of delay.
“It takes about 40 or 50 people to make a TV show, some of whom need to be close together, some of whom might be hugging or kissing, and you can’t really film the show with masks on.”
Could one green shoot to come from the delays be that Michelle will be available for Darling Buds?
Maybe she will, maybe she won’t...
Netflix has won a bidding war over a new reality show to rival Love Island.
Parties in Paradise will see young singletons sailing around on a yacht to the world’s hottest party destinations, where they will dance, drink – and potentially find love.
The new dating show is currently casting, and wants the sexiest guys and girls on board.
The streaming giant has a big budget to make it huge and producers are going after influencers and models.
With Love Island not yet casting, Parties in Paradise could snap up the best of the bunch first. The shows are due to go head-to-head next summer.
Sounds like there’ll be no love lost there then...
Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness bring their banter to classic Total Wipeout episodes.
“We need those big red balls back in our lives!” insists Paddy. “The show, not Fred...”
The Top Gear pals reunite for the special – and Paddy says the show suits them well: “I’ve always loved the mix of contestants that take part in the show – they’re up for anything and aren’t afraid of looking daft, a bit like myself and Fred.” ■■■Total Wipeout: Freddie and Paddy Takeover, BBC One, Saturday, 7.10pm