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Stacey stays the night with more extraordinary families Stateside as her eye-opening series returns…
Stacey Dooley is back in America for a new three-part run of the documentary series which has her staying over at the homes of families living their own unique lives. As Stacey returns to the USA for a second spin of the show’s Statesidebased version, another eclectic mix of hosts are ready to welcome her…
Hello, Stacey! Who are you visiting this time? There’s a family with two mums and one dad, a family of Mormons and polygamists, and we hang out with a load of courtesans in a legal brothel in Nevada.
The series opens at the Mustang Ranch Brothel – how was your stay there?
For years I’ve said I don’t understand why all brothels aren’t made legal. I think it would ultimately mean that women are safer and able to contribute legitimately to society. I found the madams fascinating. It was really refreshing to see that they were paid appropriately and had a safe space to work.
You were pregnant with daughter Minnie while filming the last US series – how different was it this time?
I was secretly pregnant when we filmed last year, staying in a trailer and having to run round the back to throw up in 40-something degree heat! This time [Stacey’s partner] Kev and Minnie were staying nearby, so I was able to see them in between shoots.
What’s your favourite thing about making this show?
I love how you are forced to accelerate the relationship that you have with your contributors because of the way we’re filming – often in their bedroom or living room. You’re in their space, so it feels more intimate. I love that I have the freedom to ask the questions I know that everyone will be screaming at the telly!
How is the response to the series?
I love how much people have embraced it, and people remember the characters from Sleeps Over, which I love.
Having explored Giovanni Pernice’s homeland of Sicily, it’s now Anton Du Beke’s turn to introduce his best pal to his special part of Spain, having spent many childhood summer holidays there with his Spanish family. Inside TV had a fab chat with the duo to hear what they got up to…
Hi, both! Where did you go on this journey? Anton I haven’t been back to the north of Spain, where my mum comes from, in about 40 years. And we wanted to discover areas we hadn’t seen – let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve done an aqua aerobics class in Benidorm! Giovanni It was the perfect way to do it because we went all the way around together, and the beauty at the end was to go back to where Anton grew up, and see his twins playing with him in the same place where he had played.
Were there any Spanish traditions you learned about that surprised you? Giovanni In Seville, they showed us the language of the fan. We both didn’t know that, in old times, people used to talk with fans, so that was interesting. Anton The fan was the precursor to the mobile phone! It was a wonderful way of communicating with somebody across the room. I think it’s so romantic.
And what was it like to see authentic flamenco in its home of Granada? Giovanni Well, obviously, we know the style – but when you got into specific things, we’d both look at each other like, “We’ve been doing something wrong all these years!”
You also meet up with your fellow Strictly pal Gorka Márquez on your travels… Anton Well, we did try to avoid him…
Giovanni Gorka’s from Bilbao, so he showed us where he’s from. He likes a gin, that guy…
You obviously like spending time with each other…
Anton That is the joy of it. I mean, I don’t think it would work if you just put the two of us together without us having known each other for 10 years.
Giovanni At the end of the day, he’s my best friend, so I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else.
Anton We do have such fun together. It’s just us genuinely having a great time. We’re very like-minded – I mean, he’s much older than I am, of course, but we’re cut from the same cloth.
Giovanni Anton has said that in the last year, he’s spent more time with me than with his wife!
Anton Yes, I totalled it up, and I spent more time with this one than I did with the other one! But he’s a lovely kisser. Although his beard gets on my nerves a bit…
I’ve spent more time with Giovanni than I have with my wife!”
Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding invite 20 more celebrities to the iconic tent in Welford Park to put their baking prowess to the test in this year’s charity version of the show. And as Alison confirms, cancer is a subject that has had an impact on the lives of many of this year’s star bakers…
“They all spoke personally about their experiences and why they wanted to do the show,” she confirms. “We all know a friend or family member whose life has been touched by cancer. It touches us all in different ways, doesn’t it?”
The first of four groups of famous faces to march into the marquee are actor Jodie Whittaker, reality star Spencer Matthews, comedian Munya Chawawa and singer Paloma Faith, each of them hoping judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will bestow them with the Star Baker apron while, more importantly, raising awareness of and cash in aid of Stand Up To Cancer. Before hilariously recreating Paul and Prue in biscuit form for the Showstopper, the Signature challenge sees them making cake pops – and Alison found some a little hard to swallow…
“The thought of Paloma’s cake pops was off-putting,” she grimaces. “If you thought about what she was actually making, you’d be gagging. But they actually tasted quite nice!”
As well as Alison’s ‘telly hubby’ Dermot O’Leary, also appearing are Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse, broadcaster Sara Cox, Heartstopper actor Joe Locke, comic Adam Hills and ex-EastEnder Danny Dyer.
“He is so funny!” cheers Alison. “Danny has just got a natural comedy about him. And his bakes tasted really good, although he found it frustrating how hard it was. He’s so nonchalant… Honestly, it’s very funny to watch!”
Cancer touches us all ways” in different