Sir Lenny Henry to join Olivia Colman and David Tennant for hit ITV crime drama Broadchurch
Star previously criticised the hit show for lacking diversity ahead of the drama's third and final series
BROADCHURCH bosses were clearly listening to SIR LENNY HENRY when he criticised British dramas for being too white.
They have announced he will be joining the cast for the third and final series of the hit crime-drama.
Filming in Dorset started yesterday and saw DAVID TENNANT and OLIVIA COLMAN back in their roles as DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller starting work on a new case.
It will see the detectives investigate a serious sexual assault and deal with its consequences for the small rural community.
In 2014, Sir Lenny had named Broadchurch in his mocking list of shows that lacked any diversity.
He said: “The evolution of black and ethnic minority involvement in British drama seems to lurch one step forward and two steps back, a bit like JOHN SERGEANT in Strictly Come Dancing.
“Except he had a job at the end.
“In Broad-church, at least the boyfriend of the deceased is mixed race, so there’s someone in there.”
Former Corrie star ROY HUDD, who played Archie Shuttleworth on the cobbles, has also joined the all-star cast of regulars from the first two series.
The drama is due to be on screens in the autumn.
Let’s hope this final run is more like the first one after that “difficult” second series.
Get your kit Hoff
BAYWATCH was one of the sexiest shows of the Nineties and made PAMELA ANDERSON and DAVID HASSELHOFF household names.
But now a new documentary reveals the stars were quick to strip out of their beach gear when the cameras were off.
Actors told ITV’s Where Are They Now?: The Reunions that the sea air led to romance.
GENA LEE NOLIN, who played lifeguard Neely Capshaw, said: “I learned very quickly as this was my first acting gig: when trailers are rocking, don’t go a knocking! I learned that quick!”
Now we see why so many wanted cameos on the upcoming movie version.
Corden’s Carpool bonanza
JAMES CORDEN has already conquered Hollywood after taking over the Late Late Show.
And now his Carpool Karaoke segment, which has almost 600million hits on YouTube, is being sold around the world.
James’s feature, where he picks up a celebrity in a car in LA before singing and chatting as they drive, will now be made with other presenters in different countries, earning him and his team a fortune.
But it is hard to imagine other hosts matching his star power and charisma.
CBS is touting the format which could see a UK version being snapped up starring James. His trips with ADELE and JUSTIN BIEBER are currently the most-watched Late Night clips online.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, STEVIE WONDER, GWEN STEFANI, ELTON JOHN and ONE DIRECTION have all raked in millions more viewers.
Executive producer BEN WINSTON said: “This is a very exciting format which gets the best interviews and fun out of every guest that appears due to its most intimate setting.”
This is another sign that James is becoming one of the biggest TV exports in the world.
It wouldn’t surprise me if channels here very soon enter a bidding war for what has become an amazing format.
I hope I soon see James driving guests around London in a black cab.
As you mic it...
ANGRY viewers have lashed out at BBC2 – claiming canned laughter is ruining its Bard-based sitcom, Upstart Crow.
The BEN ELTON comedy, based loosely around the life of Shakespeare and starring DAVID MITCHELL, is filmed in front of a live audience.
But hundreds of people took to social media to say that the barrage of belly laughs after every gag was “annoying” and sounded “fake”.
Others suggested it made it sound like a US show.
One viewer tweeted: “Quite liked Upstart Crow but the canned laughter is truly awful.”
Another added: “Please kill the canned laughter. Probably the most intrusive I’ve heard this side of the Atlantic.”
The BBC denies laughter was added and says all the sound comes from a studio audience.
A spokesman said: “At no point was laughter manipulated to misrepresent the audiences at the recordings.”
The warm-up act must have been hilarious.
Soapbox
THINGS are set to go from bad to worse for Carla Connor during tonight’s explosive episode of CORONATION STREET as Tracy Barlow eventually turns up at the wedding.
Tracy, who has been held captive by Johnny Connor and Jenny Bradley, manages to make an escape from the factory.
And it looks as though the Weatherfield villain is set on ruining the ceremony by disclosing the closely guarded secret of Carla’s affair.
I wonder if Carla and Nick Tilsley’s love will triumph over Tracy’s evil?
Over on HOLLYOAKS, Grace Black makes an upsetting discovery about Darren Osborne in tonight’s episode.
How will she feel about him doubting their relationship?