Louis Back On The X-Factor

The bizarre choice to replace Louis Walsh with Brian Friedman on the X-Factor has been reversed - just days into filming the new series.

Louis has rejoined the panel following his sacking which garnered loads of publicity a couple of months ago.

New judge Brian Friedman has been sent back behind the camera and will now help the talent on their chereography and dance techniques. Leaving Louis to re-stablish his on screen war with Cowell, Sharon and new judge Danni Minogue.

The original choice to sack Louis wasn't a shock to us, after all, he made many a ridiculous decision and frequently favoured Irish acts ie, the dreadful Conway sisters.

However the decision to replace him with Freidman was ridiculous - this guy is nothing more than a dancer - fine for Grease Is The Word - but someone should remind Simon Cowell and the producers that the X-Factor is a singing contest.

Good news for Louis then, but we don't envisage that Kate Thornton will be getting 'the call' anytime soon.......

Louis is BACK!

Four new stars join Prison Break

Sky One's latest acquisition Prison Break welcomes four new faces for the up coming third season as the popular prison based drama aims to go in a slightly new direction. Joining Michael Schofield (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) in season three will be:

Robert Wisdom - who takes on the role of a Panama drug lord (you may know him from The Wire).

Chris Vance - will play a mysterious con named 'The Whistler.'

Danay Garcia - takes the role of Sofia and is Whistler's girlfriend - she looks like she could be the top totty this year.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe - joins as unamed villain operating for 'The Company.'

The action is set to go down in Panama where Michael Schofield has been incarcerated following Season 2's shock ending.

Full Story: New cast takes shape

Bad week for 2 Dragons + New Godfather joins the Den

Shocking news from Dragon's Den as Richard Farleigh has been axed from the panel. The brilliant business mind, who proves you don't have to be an arrogant jerk to be successful, has been given his cards by the BBC and is rightfully furious. This was the aussie's reaction:

"It would be disappointing if that was the reason - rather than anything fundamental - if it was because I was the wrong colour."

"I don't know why this has happened and I am very disappointed and bemused - I wasn't expecting it because all the feedback I got was very positive."

"I had even moved back to the UK to focus on commitments for the show. I am gutted that I have not been invited back."

In our opinion this move is a joke for several reasons, one, Farleigh as mentioned above is a nice guy and is the only Dragon who is always polite to the inventors - no matter how barmy they are. Two, he consistently invests unlike a couple of others and doesn't wait for other Dragon's before making his choice. Three, he consistently invests in businesses that go on to do something after the show - take Reggae Reggae Sauce from Levi Roots which is now an exclusive product at Sainsburys. He also invested, along with Duncan Bannatyne in Igloo, which has grown into a profitable transport business that has made it's founders millionairres.

All in all a real mistake by the BBC.

Richard's replacement is investor James Caan, who shares his name with The Godfather screen legend. Caan is worth £130 million and frankly, better be good. On his appointment James said:

"I'm thrilled to be invited to be in one of the highly coveted Dragon positions.

"In business I make a point of investing in people, as I'm a great believer that it is people who create a success in business through their passion and conviction."

And finally onto the King of Puns Peter Jones whose ITV business show Tycoon has taken a kicking in the ratings. For once Peter's midas touch hasn't been upto it and ITV have ditched the program's one hour time running time and time slot. Tycoon will no longer go out on a Tuesday night between 9pm and 10pm. It will instead return on Monday nights at 10pm in a half hour timeslot from the 9th of July.

The big problem for this show has been the quality of the contestants - unlike the Apprentice these entreprenuers are neither particularly sharp or media savvy. Frankly they are ruddy boring. Peter has also changed his Dragon's Den persona which hasn't helped. On the Den the pun happy Dragon comes across as being shrewd but also as a good fellow with a sense of humour - as he does when on other shows ie, Chris Moyles. Sadly he's decide to reinvent himself on this show as being a hardman but really he should leave the tough guy act to Sir Alan and concentrate on being himself.

Links:
Godfather replaces Aussie

Tycoon goes the way of Titanic

Billi Gets Bullet - No Surprise

The bookies get it right once again and the Big Brother dream is over for another housemate. Billi (left) failed to capture any public support and succeeded in turning over the half the house again as his strategy went the way of the pear. Cheerio old bean.......

Next week the smart money is surely on Charley barring another 'save' from Big Brother. Get ready for a lynching......

Seany Out, Geordie Wins £100K & Brian Wets The Bed

Another interesting week from the Big Brother 8 House.

Seany boy got the chop in Friday's eviction after failing to win over the voting public - strangely despite claiming he was a gay man, his family are now rubbishing these claims and say it was just a strategy he employed to get into the house.

The show winner may not be announced for many moons yet, however Geordie Tree Surgeon Liam appears to be the clear winner so far - he's already won the £100K prize money. He's also enjoying a love triangle with self proclaimed IT Girl Charley (left) and Nikki (formerly a 'man hater').

Meanwhile, Ziggy has finally got jiggy with Chanelle (according to the papers anyway) and poor old Brian has managed to wet the bed.

Also, Brian and Charley both confessed to not knowing who Shakespeare was.

We kid you not.

Nominations to follow.........

Female President on 24?

24 could be set for it's first ever female president in Season 7 according to numerous online sources. The ground breaking show was the first program to put a black politician in the President's chair and the producers are said to be lining up a women to boss The White House in Season 7.

This comes off the back of news that there will be few surviving cast members from previous 24 outings. Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer remains a certainty and Chloe O'Brien (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is also extremely likely but anyone else remains unclear.

As reported earlier, Tom Lennox (Peter MacNicol) looks to be out of the equation due to his re-transfer to Numbers, while Wayne Palmer (DB Woodside) and Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe) are almost definitely out should a new charge be cast in the Presidential position.

Intersetingly, it has been stated the producers would like to cast a women due to the fact Hillary Clinton may be running for the Presidency in real life. If the producers were to go a step further and cast Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald) or Martha Logan (Jean Smart) then it could really be a case of art imitating life. Both are unlikely though - storyline wise Martha Logan wouldn't appear to have the mental strength, while Sherry's 'dead or alive' status is very much unconfirmed.

Female President for Season 7

Numbers up for Tom Lennox

Bad news for fans of 24 as Season 6 favourite Tom Lennox (Peter MacNicol) has been ruled out of having a major role in Season 7.

Despite the critical pasting that Day 6 received, the character of Lennox shone like a beacon and was undoubtedly one of the best things about the previous season. As Wayne Palmer's Chief of Staff Lennox became a key player in day 6 with some double deals, blackmail and even heroics. As a unanamanous fan favourite he was one of the few truly multi dimensional characters of the season and many will gutted to find out he will not be returning to operate in the corridors of power at the White House.

Peter MacNicol has instead signed up to a full season of popular US drama Numbers where he will reprise his role as Dr. Larry Fleinhardt.

With a political plotline 99% confirmed for 24 Day 7, that leaves us to speculate which political animals, if any, will be returning to the show. Karen Hayes (Jayne Atkinson) seems unlikely after being forced into retirement along with Bill Buchanon (James Morrison). While President Wayne Palmer (DB Woodside) and ex-President Charles Logan (Greg Itzen), last seen on the operating table and a life support machine respectively, it seems unlikely that either will be back in the frame.

Former Sec Def James Heller (William Devane) would be a welcome re-addition to the cast but his political status is unclear. If Heller is still in politics then a return could happen but I've given up hope that he'll be a series regular following a half season in Day 4 and limited but key roles in Day 5 & 6.

The best chance we have of a former political face returning has to be Mike Novick (Jude Ciccolella). The former chief of staff to both David Palmer (Dennis Heysbert) and Logan, Novick is one of the few characters still with us from Day One and has a big following amongst hardcore fans.

Those hoping for a Lennox return may get their wish in the shape of a 'Special Guest Star' cameo but for the moment we have no news on this.