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Downton Abbey -
Shirley MacLaine Joins Cast
Oscar-winning US actress Shirley MacLaine is to join
the cast of Downton Abbey for its third series as the mother of Lady
Grantham.
MacLaine - whose character is named Martha
Levinson - will begin filming with the rest of the cast next month.
ITV's director of drama Laura Mackie said: "It is
so exciting to have an actress of Shirley MacLaine's stature joining
our brilliant Downton Abbey cast.
"It is a tribute to the show's success on both
sides of the Atlantic."
MacLaine has starred in more than 50 films during
her career and won an Oscar in 1984 for Terms of Endearment.
She has been nominated for a further five Academy
Awards and recently received France's most prestigious cultural
award, the Legion of Honour.
January
30
2012 - waveguide.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer On Sky
Up to five million Sky customers will be able to catch up on
BBC programmes later this year when the iPlayer arrives on the satellite
service.
The iPlayer will be available on Sky's Anytime+ service - where customers
can catch up on Sky programmes - and is available to those with Sky Plus HD.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said the move "can only be fantastic news
for audiences".
The project is due to launch later this year.
The BBC said Sky's plan to make Anytime+ available to customers, even if
they didn't have Sky broadband, was "an important development" in helping
bring the iPlayer to the satellite service.
It is understood that Sky only wanted the iPlayer made available to Sky
broadband subscribers but that the BBC would not agree to this.
In a statement the corporation said: "A core BBC value is to reach all
audiences on a universal basis."
Sky's chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: "We are delighted that the
addition of BBC iPlayer will allow Sky customers to enjoy the best of the
BBC whenever they want."
January
30
2012 - waveguide.co.uk
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Amanda Holden - No Replacement On BGT
Simon Cowell has spoken at his relief that Amanda Holden is
recovering after her recent childbirth ordeal - and said he has kept a seat
for her on the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent.
Speaking at Saturday's auditions at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the mogul
- who left a seat on the panel empty in her honour - said it had been a
"worrying" time, but added: "She is quite cheerful and hopes to be out of
hospital soon."
The 40-year-old actress was critically ill for three days and needed several
blood transfusions following the birth of her daughter Hollie Rose last
Monday. However she is now reportedly doing well and is expected to leave
hospital this week.
Simon added that there were no plans to replace Amanda on the judging panel
of the show, which returns to screens in the Spring with new judges David
Walliams and Alesha Dixon.
"We are not looking at a replacement," he said. "We want Amanda back when
she is good and ready."
January
30
2012 - waveguide.co.uk
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