Elton John has achieved EGOT status after his Live show won Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards for Farewell From Dodger Stadium.
John is the 19th person ever to get an EGOT.
He has won five Grammys (his first in 1987 for That’s What Friends Are For), an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1994 for The Lion King’s Can You Feel the Love Tonight and in 2000, he won a Tony Award for his Aida score.
Unfortunately, John was recovering from a knee operation and couldn’t attend the ceremony; however, his team, including his husband David Furnish, accepted the award on his behalf.
Farewell From Dodger Stadium showcased the icon’s final North American show as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour which began in 2018 and was then postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blessings Chilufya, who plays Cyclone, is ready to rain down on the contestant’s parade on Gladiators 2024.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the super-fit athlete is no stranger to lengthy gym sessions. However, a lesser-known fact about him is that he’s actually been on two huuuge productions.
Blessings played a part in the Golden Globe award-winning movie Elvis, and was also in Young Rock, a popular sitcom series inspired by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s life growing up.
While many of Blessing’s fellow Gladiators are CrossFit Games competitors, he prefers the similar HIIT workout program F45. The 22-year-old is a F45 training coach, and regularly shares workout programs online. You can check out one of them below.
As well as being an F45 coach, Blessings also works as a model. In the past, he’s been a basketball player and pro runner.
Where is Blessings from?
Blessings was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Australia in 2009. He currently lives on the Gold Coast.
Blessings Chilufya. Instagram.
Gladiators Australia 2024 airs on Sundays at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
As TV star after TV star sashays down the carpet in show-stopping gowns and get-ups, it’s obvious that the excitement in the air is palatable on the red carpet at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards
If you haven’t found yourself in a position where you can stream the red carpet live (boo!) because you have more pressing things to do on a Tuesday morning, then don’t worry because we have you covered.
We’ve popped together a rolling coverage of all the best ~*lewks*~ at the prestigious awards, and it will be updated as more stars and nominees make their way into the event.
Check out some of the best looks from the 75th Annual Emmy Award red carpet.
Guy Ritchie’s highly-anticipated TV spin-off, The Gentlemen is set to get your crim fantasy juices flowing!
And for fans of The White Lotus (and OG’s Sanditon – IYKYK) who have been trying to fill a HUGE brown-eyed bae-sized hole in their lives, it stars Theo James who learns how to become a criminal mastermind!
Here’s everything we know about the new eight-part series.
The Official Synopsis
You’ve heard of drug lords, now get ready for drug dukes!
The Gentlemen sees Eddie Horniman (James) unexpectedly inherit his father’s sizeable country estate – only to discover it’s part of a cannabis empire. Moreover, a host of unsavoury characters from Britain’s criminal underworld want a piece of the operation.
Determined to extricate his family from their clutches, Eddie tries to play the gangsters at their own game. However, as he gets sucked into the world of criminality, he begins to find a taste for it…
Theo James. Netflix
Who is in the cast?
Appearing alongside James are Ray Winstone, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, Chanel Cresswell, Michael Vu, Max Beesley, Jasmine Blackborow, Harry Goodwins, Dar Salim, Pearce Quigley, Ruby Sear and Peter Serafinowicz.
When will it be released?
While we don’t have an official date yet, The Gentlemen will be released on Netflix in March 2024.
Is there a trailer?
On January 16, Netflix released a brand-new teaser for the series. You can watch it below!
The return of Gladiators has taken viewers on a trip down memory lane, however, there was one element that was noticeably missing in the revival; an enthusiastic, over-the-top live audience.
While many fans celebrated the nostalgic details of Gladiators Australia 2024 on X, a few were quick to point out the lack of people watching on in the audience.
“Those people standing on the side in groups of like 6, looking like they’re at the local footy, is that the WHOLE [Gladiators] audience? Genuine question,” one person posted.
Those people standing on the side in groups of like 6, looking like they’re at the local footy, is that the WHOLE #Gladiators#GladiatorsAU audience? Genuine question.
Another user compared the audience size on the original 90’s edition to the lack thereof in the reboot.
“1990s version: 13,000 seat stadium packed to the gills. 2008 version: Olympic handball arena, ~1000 spectators. 2024 version: Abandoned Dancing with the Stars studio with ~25 people standing around boneheading in shots,” they wrote.
1990s version: 13,000 seat stadium packed to the gills.
A third pointed out that there seemed to be some fake crowd noises on the premiere episode.
“Please tell me I am not crazy and that the new Gladiators lacked any live audience and used a tacky soundtrack instead of a live audience I cannot stop laughing.”
Please tell me I am not crazy and that the new gladiators lacked any live audience and used a tacky soundtrack instead of a live audience I cannot stop laughing #GladiatorsAu
I’m surprised they didn’t wheel him off and add a single shotgun sound for extra drama. Not that you’d be able to hear over the awful fake crowd noises anyway #gladiatorsAUhttps://t.co/yagdBLoNTY
@GladiatorsAUS Why are they doing it with a recording of an audience? There's no atmosphere. I think this will be my one and only viewing of this. They should have watched the proper BBC version to see how to do the programme better.👍#Gladiators#GladiatorsAU
While the lack of a live audience in Gladiators Australia 2024 was a downer for some, many viewers posted praise about the show.
In particular, they commented on how the show was very reminiscent of its original version which played out on Australian TVs in 1995-1996.
The show has used many of the same challenges, like the Pyramid, and the iconic Eliminator, which features a travelator. Original Gladiator Hammer also features as the referee on the revival.
Congrats ch10 – great reboot of Gladiators. Very entertaining. My kids LOVED it!! #GladiatorsAu
Four months after originally being scheduled, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place with five Aussies among the nominees.
Murray Bartlett received two nods for his work on Welcome to Chippendales in the Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category, and another for his guest role in Binge’sThe Last of Us.
Australian director and producer Fletcher Moules is also nominated while Elizabeth Debicki (who won a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award) is nominated for The Crown and Anna Torv for The Last of Us.
Finally, Succession star Sarah Snook has also been nominated following both her Golden Globe and Critics Choice wins.
Sarah Snook. Succession, HBO
When it comes to your fave TV series, streaming services lead the charge with multiple noms including Binge’s The White Lotus and Succession, Disney+’ The Bear and Netflix’s Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
The White Lotus season one cleaned up last year with 11 Emmy nominations and five wins, and season two looks to match – if not beat that accomplishment.
The drama has been nominated 23 times, and five of the eight spots in the Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category were taken up by the hit show.
Check out the full list of Emmy 2023 nominations below.
Outstanding Drama Series
Succession. HBO.
Andor Better Call Saul The Crown House of the Dragon The Last of Us Succession The White Lotus Yellowjackets
Outstanding Comedy Series Abbott Elementary Barry The Bear Jury Duty The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Only Murders In The Building Ted Lasso Wednesday
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Beef Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Daisy Jones & the Six Fleishman Is In Trouble Obi-Wan Kenobi
Lead Actor in a Drama Series Jeff Bridges, The Old Man Brian Cox, Succession Kieran Culkin, Succession Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us Jeremy Strong, Succession
Lead Actress in a Drama Series Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us Keri Russell, The Diplomat Sarah Snook, Succession
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Ted Lasso. Apple TV.
Bill Hader, Barry Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Christine Applegate, Dead to Me Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face Jenna Ortega, Wednesday
Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Taron Egerton, Black Bird Kumail Nanjiani, Welcome to Chippendales Evan Peters, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Daniel Radcliffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Michael Shannon, George & Tammy Steven Yeun, Beef
Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Lizzy Caplan, Fleishman Is In Trouble Jessica Chastain, George & Tammy Dominique Fishback, Swarm Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six Ali Wong, Beef
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series F. Murray Abraham, The White Lotus Nicholas Braun, Succession Michael Imperioli, The White Lotus Theo James, The White Lotus Matthew Macfayden, Succession Alan Ruck, Succession Will Sharpe, The White Lotus Alexander Skarsgård, Succession
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The White Lotus. HBO.
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown Meghann Fahy, The White Lotus Sabrina Impacciatore, The White Lotus Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul J. Smith-Cameron, Succession Simona Tabasco, The White Lotus
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Carrigan, Barry Phil Dunster, Ted Lasso Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso James Marsden, Jury Duty Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Juno Temple, Ted Lasso Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Murray Bartlett, Welcome to Chippendales Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird Richard Jenkins, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Joseph Lee, Beef Ray Liotta, Black Bird Young Mazino, Beef Jesse Plemons, Love & Death
Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Annaleigh Ashford, Welcome to Chippendales Maria Bello, Beef Claire Danes, Fleishman is in Trouble Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales Camilla Morrone, Daisy Jones & the Six Niecy Nash-Betts Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Merritt Wever: Tiny Beautiful Things
Guest Actor in a Drama Series Murray Barlett, The Last of Us James Cromwell, Succession Lamar Johnson, The Last of Us Arian Moayed, Succession Nick Offerman, The Last of Us Keivonn Montreal Woodward, The Last of Us
Guest Actress in a Drama Series Hiam Abbass, Succession Cherry Jones, Succession Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us Storm Reid, The Last of Us Anna Torv, The Last of Us Harriet Walter, Succession
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jon Bernthal, The Bear Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Nathan Lane, Only Murders in the Building Pedro Pascal, Saturday Night Live Oliver Platt, The Bear Sam Richardson, Ted Lasso
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Becky Ann Baker, Ted Lasso Quinta Brunson, Saturday Night Live Taraji P. Henson, Abbott Elementary Judith Light, Poker Face Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso Harriet Walter, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Competition Program
Survivor. CBS.
The Amazing Race RuPaul’s Drag Race Survivor Top Chef The Voice
Outstanding Structured Reality Program Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Love Is Blind Queer Eye Shark Tank
Host for a Competition Program Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye Nicole Byer, Nailed It! Padma Laksmi, Top Chef Amy Pohler, Maya Rudolph, Baking It RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Outstanding Variety Talk Series The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Jimmy Kimmel Live! Late Night with Seth Meyers The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The Problem with Jon Stewart
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series A Black Lady Sketch Show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Variety Special (Live) The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna Chris Rock: Selective Outrage Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium The Oscars 75th Annual Tony Awards
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded) Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter John Mulaney: Baby J Lizzo: Live in Concert Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
Vanderpump Rules. Bravo.
Indian Matchmaking RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked Selling Sunset Vanderpump Rules Welcome to Wrexham
Outstanding Television Movie Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas Fire Island Hocus Pocus 2 Prey Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Outstanding Animated Program
Simpsons. Fox.
Bob’s Burgers Intergalactic Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal Rick and Morty The Simpsons
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special Being Mary Tyler Moore Judy Blume Forever My Transparent Life Pamela, A Love Story Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Dear Mama 100 Foot Wave Secrets of the Elephants The 1619 Project The U.S. and the Holocaust
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Beau Willimon, “One Way Out,” Andor Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, Brett Baer, “The Prick,” Bad Sisters Gordon Smith, “Point and Shoot,” Better Call Saul Peter Gould, “Saul Gone,” Better Call Saul Jesse Armstrong, “Connor’s Wedding,” Succession Mike White, “Arrivederci,” The White Lotus
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Bill Hader, “wow,” Barry Christopher Storer, “System,” The Bear Mekki Leeper, “Ineffective Assistance,” Jury Duty John Hoffman, Matteo Borghese, Rob Turbovsky, “I Know Who Did It,” Only Murders in the Building Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, “Cary & Brooke Go To An AIDS Play,” The Other Two Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Jason Sudeikis, “So Long, Farewell,” Ted Lasso
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie Lee Sung Jin, “The Birds Don’t Sing, They Screech in Pain,” Beef Joel Kim Booster, Fire Island Taffy Brodesser-Akner, “Me-Time,” Fleishman Is In Trouble Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, Prey Janine Nabers, Donald Glover, Swarm Al Yankovic, Eric Appel, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Khan Porter has taken on the role of Spartan on Gladiators 2024, but he’ll already be a very familiar face to some.
Khan boasts a whopping 186,000 followers on Instagram, where he regularly shares photos of himself travelling the world and working out.
It goes without saying that he’s absolutely ripped, which may have gained him a follower or two. See for yourself:
Khan Porter. Instagram.
Khan is a CrossFit Games competitor
Like many of his fellow Gladiators, Khan has competed in multiple CrossFit Games. In 2022 he came first in the regional men’s category and has played in the top ten numerous times.
“I stumbled upon CrossFit in a globo gym a few years prior and had always had an interest in it, particularly the competitive outlet it provided,” he told the blog Before You Speak Coffee.
I grew up playing rugby, competing in surf lifesaving and then found myself working as a journalist fresh out of uni. I saw a CrossFit gym had opened up near my house and I proudly walked in and said I wanted to sign up to make the CrossFit Games.
“In a weird serendipitous flash, the place I was writing for closed down, I started coaching at the gym I was training at and did a few local competitions and did well. Six months later, I went on to qualify for Regionals.”
Khan Porter. Instagram.
He’s studied psychology and philosophy
He’s not just a brawny bod, Khan has a big brain to match. According to his Gladiator bio, he “studied psychology and philosophy to help him better manage his mental health.”
“Having dealt with anxiety, ADHD and periods of depression since he was young, Khan is proud to share his mental health journey with his fitness community.”
Khan regularly posts about his mental health struggles on Instagram.
Times have changed since the original Gladiators series, however, the fighters in Gladiators Australia 2024 are just as impressive as the OG’s.
But, don’t expect to see Delta, Tower or Storm, because Gladiators 2024 has completely new character names, with the exception of Elektra who was a reserve in the originalseries.
Every single one of the fighters is in an insane physical condition and the battles are undoubtedly going to be off the charts.
The revival is hosted by sporting and reality TV elite Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis.
Check out all the Gladiators in Gladiators Australia 2024.
Arrow (Harriet Roberts)
Chaos (Jaymii Morris)
Cobra (Damien Rider)
Comet (Tatyanna Dumas)
Cyclone (Blessings Chilufya)
Dragon (Tyson Pedro)
Elektra (Alethea Boon)
Halo (Chanique Greyling)
Maximus (Kwame Duah)
Phoenix (Sandor Earl)
Raven (Katelin Van Zyl)
Spartan (Khan Porter)
Viking (Jett Kenny)
Gladiators Australia 2024 premieres on Sunday, January 15 at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
Harriet Roberts, who represents Arrow on Gladiators 2024, is one of the most recognisable faces in the CrossFit world, having competed in the CrossFit Games for over a decade.
In 2013 and 2014 her team came second in Australia.
Harriet credits her love of fitness and her role on Gladiators Australia 2024 to the sport.
Find out how Harriet became one of the fittest women in Australia.
Gladiators. Ten.
Harriet was originally a gymnast
Harriet started gymnastics at an early age, which she says ignited her passion for training.
“Not long after, I began competitive swimming and enjoyed many years of early mornings, dedicated training and staring at that dam black line. After moving on from years of gymnastics and swimming, I felt empty with the lack of discipline and routine that came with an athlete’s life,” she explained on her website.
After searching for her next venture, she discovered CrossFit.
Then along came the big bad world of CrossFit. She said “Fast forward 10 years and my life has been completely consumed by competing, coaching and filled with amazing friends and communities, all brought together by CrossFit!
Arrow loves a good handstand
Harriet’s Instagram page is littered with photo after photo of her doing very impressive handstands. You can check some of them out below:
Damien Rider, who depicts Cobra on Gladiators Australia 2024, is no stranger to reality TV, he competed in Ali Oetjen’s season of The Bachelorette Australia in 2018.
When Damien’s not looking for love, he’s (probably) going hard in the gym, considering his impressive physical accomplishments over the years.
The Gladiator has pushed a three-tonne truck down the Gold Coast, became the first person to skateboard the entire Route 66 in the Mojave Desert, which took 56 days and paddled 800km from the Gold Coast to Bondi to raise awareness for “Paddle Against Child Abuse”.
Damien Rider. Instagram.
He was named Men’s Health Man of the Year
After Damien’s gallant physical effort, Rider was announced as Men’s Health’s Man of the Year in 2015.
“Was an honour to be awarded Men’s Health Man of the Year!,” He wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him holding his magazine cover.
Damien was also nominated twice for Australian of the Year.
After appearing on The Bachelorette, where he was eliminated in episode three, Damien was approached about appearing on another reality TV show, this time in Indonesia.
Damien Rider. The Bachelorette. Ten.
Damien was contacted by a person pretending to be Wendy Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife. He told 2GB’sBen Fordham that the person said they wanted to discuss a possible television series idea after reading about him in the Australian edition of Men’s Health.
“Everything fit with who I am or what I do. They sent me NDAs, pilot scripts, they sent me schedules of where we’re going to go.”
Damien paid out of his own pocket to meet what he thought were the showrunners in Jakarta. Once he arrived he was driven 4.5 hours away from the airport and put up in a five-star hotel. Once there, he handed over $1000.
“I thought you know what everything’s checking out here,” he said. “Am I being paranoid?”
“At night I was having what turned out to be a three-way conversation with an assistant, with Wendy Murdoch and with Lorraine Jobs (Steve Jobs’ widow),” he said.
Feeling suspicious about the ordeal, Damien returned to Australia and followed up with the police. It turned out that the ‘reality tv show’ was a scammer, and the matter was handed to the FBI.
Gladiators Australia 2024 airs Sundays – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
It’s a novel that captured the attention of celebrity fans including Reese Witherspoon, Gillian Anderson and Gwyneth Paltrow and now Three Women has been turned into a TV series premiering on Stan.
Written and created by internationally best-selling author Lisa Taddeo, the story is an “intimate and haunting portrayal of female desire that finds three women on a crash course to radically overturn their lives.”
Hooked already? Here’s everything you need to know!
When and where to watch it?
Three Women will premiere on February 16 with all episodes dropping at once and only on Stan.
Shailene Woodley and DeWanda Wise. Stan
Who is in the cast and what is the official synopsis?
Lina (Betty Gilpin), a homemaker in suburban Indiana, is a decade into a passionless marriage when she embarks on an affair that quickly becomes all-consuming and transforms her life.
Sloane (DeWanda Wise), a glamorous entrepreneur in the Northeast, has a committed open marriage with Richard (Blair Underwood) until two sexy new strangers threaten their aspirational love story.
Betty Gilpin. Stan
Maggie (Gabrielle Creevy), a student in North Dakota, weathers an intense storm after accusing her married English teacher of an inappropriate relationship.
Gia (Shailene Woodley), a writer grieving the loss of her family, persuades each of these three spectacular “ordinary” women to tell her their stories, and her relationships with them change the course of her life forever.
Shailene Woodley. Stan
Is there a trailer?
Sure is! Check it out below.
The brand new series Three Women premieres February 16, all episodes at once and only on Stan.
Not only will John and Sam be back for season two of Last King of the Cross, but they’ll be joined by two more Ibrahim brothers, Michael and Fadi.
Filming of season two is underway in and around Sydney, SVP Content & Programming, Paramount ANZ, Daniel Monaghan revealed that the new season will be centred around the city’s iconic Oxford Street.
“After the phenomenal success of the first season, we’re excited to kick off filming for Last King of The Cross,” he said.
“The second season promises to captivate audiences with a gripping tale of power, loyalty, and the evolving dynamics of Kings Cross with all new challenges on Oxford Street. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride as we delve deeper into these intricate, decadent and dangerous worlds.”
Last King of the Cross. Paramount+.
Who’s in it?
Fans will be relieved to know that the leads Lincoln Younes and Claude Jabbour will return as the characters of brothers John and Sam Ibrahim. Their two younger brothers will join them, Michael Ibrahim played by popular digital creator Dave Hoey and Fadi Ibrahim, played by Alex Kaan.
The cast also includes Detective Liz Doyle (Tess Haubrich), Big Tony (Matt Nable), Tongan Sam (Uli Latukefu) and Simone (Janet Anderson).
Dave Hoey. Instagram.
Where does Last King of the Cross season two pick up?
Last King of The Cross season two begins 18 months on from the events of season one, with Kings Cross a shadow of what it once was, John lying low overseas and Sam locked up in jail.
What will The Last King of the Cross season two be about?
Returning to Sydney, John focuses on taking over Oxford Street’s nightlife empire. However, he faces new challenges and enemies, including Ray Kinnock, the reigning queen of the street.
As John deals with the scrutiny from Senior Sergeant Liz Doyle and her task force, he also confronts threats from his own family. Sam, recently released from jail, builds the biggest bikie chapter in Australian history, causing John to clash with the criminal world.
Meanwhile, their youngest brother Michael debates between a promising future and a life of crime.
Last King of the Cross. Paramount+.
When does it come out?
No release date has been confirmed for Last King of The Cross season two just yet, but it’s expected to air sometime late this year.
Stream Last King of the Cross season one on Paramount+.
OG Gladiator Hammer is returning for the Gladiators 2024 revival, but he’s in a very different role.
Mark McGaw will be reprising his role of Hammer, but this time he will be a referee on the competition reality show.
Mark appeared in all three seasons of the original Gladiators series from 1995-1996. Speaking of his return, Liz Ellis, who is hosting the reboot alongside Beau Ryan, said that Mark helped show the new team the ropes.
“He was great to have on set because he schooled us in the 1990s version of Gladiators,” she told Chattr in an interview during December 2023, in preparation for the January 15 launch. “And he told us about the international test series, America versus Australia versus England.
“He also had all the old [costume] sets so the bomber jacket, the unitard that he used to wear when he was Hammer. It was just amazing because it was a beautiful link back to the original show. He was able to tell us all about it.”
Hammer, Tower and Vulcan. Gladiators.
Hammer was a well-known NRL player
It’s been a minute since the Gladiator-Challenger-turned-referee played NRL, but he was once very successful at it.
He played professional rugby for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs. He’s competed in more than 12 State of Origin clashes, with the first being in 1987.
Mark McGaw in State of Origin. Twitter.
Will Hammer be refereeing the same challenges he used to compete in?
He sure will! Many of the challenges from the original edition of Gladiators Australia will be returning in the 2024 version.
Some of those returning challenges include Hang Tough, the well-known Pyramid, and the iconic Eliminator, which features a travelator.
“I love that the new series is so obviously made for an audience that’s thirty years on,” Liz said.
“There are lots of things about the original series that are still there,” Ellis said, adding that the cast has the same characteristics. “The Gladiators are larger-than-life. They have different names but are the same big characters, with big bodies and big everything!”
She later added: “I just think that people who loved the series will immediately recognise it in the new one.”
Gladiators Australia 2024 airs Sundays – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
It goes without saying that all of the Gladiators cast are strong, but Jaymi Morris takes it to a whole new level.
The Nowra native is the fourth strongest female powerlifter in the world and the largest deadlift record holder under 90kg.
One of her flashiest accomplishments is lifting an actual car while in Russia. Jaymi told ABCthat the organisers of the event put a rack on the front of the car to help her lift it.
“They put the wheels on [the bar] and then you lift the deadlift bar and it basically just picks the end of the car up,” she explained.
“Depending on how far you drive the car up, the ramp it makes the weight change. So I put on a little bit of a show for the Russians.”
“For me, it wasn’t that hard, but they were very impressed,” she humbly added.
She’s also pulled a huge truck.
“When I won New South Wales strongest woman. I was harnessed up to a 10 ton truck and I basically had to pull a rope [to pull the truck]. You have to just keep the momentum going.”
Jaymi Morris. GoFundMe.
Jaymi’s rank as the world’s strongest woman
Jaymi is currently sitting at number nine as the strongest woman in the world. She’s number three in her weight class internationally.
“In Australia, in my weight class, I’m number one, and in Australia of all time, I’m number two,” she said.
Jaymi Morris. Instagram.
How did Jaymi get into powerlifting?
Jaymi only started powerlifting eight years ago after realising she was very strong but “kind of unfit”.
“I taught myself how to deadlift 160 kilos,” she said.
“I just realised I was leg pressing with one leg what people are struggling to do with two, so I thought, ‘You know what? I think I’m kind of strong.'”
Around the same time a powerlifting coach reached out to her and the rest was history.
“I basically always just keep striving for the next comp to try and be better.”
Gladiators Australia 2024 airs on Sundays at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
The Emmy Awards are known as the biggest night of TV and attract hordes of celebrities to see who receives the big gold gongs.
In fact, with the rise in streaming culture in recent years, there are more A-listers than ever starring in TV series.
This year’s ceremony sees big names like Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Sudeikis and Christina Applegate all nominated for awards. Plus, Selena Gomez’s show Only Murders In The Building is also nominated, so we can only hope for another round of the Globes gossip-gate.
If you’re keen to tune into all of the action of the 2024 Emmys then we have you covered!
Selena Gomez. Instagram.
How to watch it
The great news is that we Aussies down under will be able to livestream the event as it happens, thanks to Binge.
The streaming platform will air the show from 12PM AEDT on January 16 with the broadcast available on-demand after the event finishes.
Who is hosting the event?
The Emmy Awards will be hosted by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson of Grown-ish, Black-ish,and Scary Movie 3.
“I’m excited. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, and, you know, it happened when it was supposed to happen,” Anderson told ET of his appointment. “I wanted it to happen years ago, but everything happens when it’s supposed to happen. So I’m really excited.”
Anthony Anderson. Instagram.
Where are the Emmys held?
The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards are being held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Who’s nominated?
The White Lotus has been nominated 23 times, and five of the eight spots in the Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category were taken up by the hit show.
White Lotus. HBO.
But, it’s Succession that leads the charge with a whopping 27 Emmy nominations including outstanding drama series and three nominations for lead actor in a drama series.
Watch Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in action in the brand-spanking new Mr and Mrs Smith trailer.
The film which is otherwise known for launching Brangelina, is being turned into a TV series. The new series follows the premise of the infamous 2005 film and features a married couple who both work as assassins.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith was initially scheduled to air on September 14 but has been pushed back due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, and will now premiere on February 2.
Watch the new trailer:
When and where can we watch Mr. and Mrs. Smith?
The new series will premiere all eight episodes on February 2, 2024, on Prime Video.
Erskine and Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Prime Video
What is Mr. & Mrs. Smith about?
In this version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, two lonely strangers land jobs working for a mysterious spy agency that offers them a glorious life of espionage, wealth, world travel, and a dream brownstone in Manhattan. The catch? New identities in an arranged marriage as Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith.
Now hitched, John and Jane navigate a high-risk mission every week while also facing a new relationship milestone. Their complex cover story becomes even more complicated when they catch real feelings for each other. What’s riskier: espionage or marriage?
Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Prime Video
Who’s in Mr. & Mrs. Smith?
Glover and Erskine will play the titular leads as John Smith and Jane Smith. The cast also includes Parker Posey, Wagner Moura, Michaela Coel, John Turturro and Paul Dano.
Maya Erskine and Donald Glover. Prime Video
Stream all eight episodes of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on February 2, 2024, exclusively on Prime Video.
It’s no secret that some of The Block 2023 contestants cleaned up at the auctions, however, all of them are allegedly yet to see any money from the sales.
A source told Yahoo Lifestyle Australiathat the Blockheads don’t get paid their winnings “the way audiences would think”.
“It’s not like Big Brother or Australian Idol in the early 2000s where the money would be in your account a week later,” they said. “Channel Nine doesn’t actually pay the prize money straight away. It comes into their account in blocks.”
The payment information was apparently nutted out in their contracts, but some of the contestants failed to read the fine print.
“All the contestants are told this before signing up for the competition, but at that stage of the process, excited applicants don’t really turn their nose up when reading that part of their contract,” the insider continues.”
The Block. Nine.
Why don’t the contestants get paid immediately?
Of course, like any house sale, there is usually a chunk of time before the owner receives the money. Most sales require a cooling-off period and a settlement period, which can take several weeks, and sometimes months.
“There are quite a few processes that need to be completed before the money can be exchanged,” the source adds.
However, the move to hold onto the funds may also be a way for producers to make sure the contestants don’t break their contracts when speaking to the press.
“And while it is a lengthy process, it does make you wonder if this is a tactic to keep their contestants in line for longer and make sure the secrets of The Block are kept quiet while contestants are still in the media.
The Block. Nine.
The contestants are struggling to fund their lifestyles
Thanks to the popularity of the show, the Blockheads were catapulted from anonymity into a world where they were recognised while walking down the street.
After the auctions aired, most of the contestants were in demand at events and appearances and adopted a pretty high-flying lifestyle. However, without any of their winnings in the bank, they had to fund their social outings themselves.
“Their lives have been thrown into complete chaos, and the perception that some of these contestants are now millionaires couldn’t be further from the truth,” the insider said.
“Some of these contestants have been really struggling to keep up with their usual spending. Their friends and family treat them like millionaires. However, it is fair to expect that these guys have less cash flow than they usually would.”
“They all want their money,” the insider confirms, adding: “The realities are setting in for sure.”
How much did The Block 2023 contestants win?
Four of the five houses up at the auction sold, and those sales scored money for each team of contestants.
Ash’s and Leah’s house was passed over on the day, and it still hasn’t sold.
Leah and Ash’s House. The Block.
The house that sold at auction went for the following amounts:
Jett Kenny is the man behind Viking on Gladiators 2024, and you probably already know who he is.
Not only is Jett an Australian Ironman, but he has some very famous parents and he’s been on multiple TV shows.
Find out more about him.
Jett Kenny. Instagram.
His parents are very well-known
Jett Kenny is the son of Ironman Grant Kenny and competitive Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry.
Lisa is the winner of 15 gold, seven silver and eight bronze international medals and Grant holds the Australian record as the only Ironman to claim both the Junior and Open Australian Ironman crowns, which he set in 1980.
Jett had two siblings, Jaimi and Morgan. Jaimi sadly passed away in 2020 after suffering from an undisclosed health battle.
Grant and Lisa married in 1986 and split in 2009.
Jett Kenny. Instagram.
What TV shows has Jett been on?
Jett works as a model but has also been part of multiple TV shows. In 2018, he competed in Australian Ninja Warrior and that same year he was one of eight celebrities to appear on The Real Full Monty.
He’s not! Jett and his girlfriend influencer Lily Brown have been together for just over a year. They celebrated their one-year anniversary in December and Lily shared a vide of them together on a romantic getaway.
12 of the most iconic Islanders of all time are coming back to graft again on Love Island All Stars.
The well-known singles who will be looking for love are all from the UK, but that doesn’t mean that us Aussies will be deprived of watching them pie each other off.
Fortunately for us, Channel Nine will be fast-tracking each episode so that we can watch it from the comfort of our living rooms here in Australia.
Love Island UK. ITV.
When is it on?
Love Island All Stars premieres in the UK on January 15 on ITV2. It will be available to stream on 9Now from January 17, at 6.00pm AEDT with new episodes available daily.
Who’s hosting?
Love Island host Maya Jama will be returning to host the new series. She’ll be joined by the series’ popular narrator and famed comedian Iain Stirling.
Love Island UK. ITV.
Who’s in Love Island All Stars?
The cast list is a doozy, and there are some massive names and memorable faces amongst the cast.
It includes Georgia H from series three, Kaz from series seven), Georgia S from series four, Hannah from series one, Demi from series six and Liberty from series seven.
Mitchel from series ten (otherwise known as messy Mitch) will also be joining, as well as Luis from series one, Jake from series seven, Anton from series five, Chris from series five and Toby from series seven.
There will be bombshells entering the villa throughout, however, their identities are still under wrap!
Is there a trailer?
There is! In fact, there’s an extended video which you can watch to refamiliarise yourself with the Islanders.
Will there be Casa Amor?
Executive producer, Mike Spencer, told The Sun that there won’t be a Casa Amor on All Stars because the series is running for five weeks, rather than the usual eight.
“We aren’t doing Casa Amor this time, but there may be another big twist at the halfway mark. I think we have got to be reactive.
“Casa Amor, as we know and love it, doesn’t really work for a five-week run because you need time to bed in, get to know each other, see if they are for you and if you want to switch it up,” he continued.
3 Body Problem is the series poised to be the next big thing in sci-fi TV, and for good reason.
It comes from the Emmy award-winning creators behind the global sensation Game of Thrones David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, as well as True Blood’s Alexander Woo.
The trailer shows scientists being targeted and killed because of their knowledge of aliens. The series is based on Liu Cixin’s 2008 novel The Three-Body Problem which tells the story of what happens when humans discover that aliens exist, and prepare for their arrival.
Is there a trailer?
There sure is, you can watch it below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mogSbMD6EcY
When does it come out?
3 Body Problem airs on Netflix from March 21.
Who’s in it?
Saamer Usmani plays Raj Varmer, Jess Hong portrays Jin Cheng and Marlo Kelly plays Tatiana.
The cast also includes Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González Alex Sharp, Sea Shimooka, Zine Tseng, Benedict Wong and Jonathan Pryce.
What’s it about?
The official Netflix synopsis reads: “A young woman’s fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time into the present day.
“When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel before their eyes, a close-knit group of brilliant scientists join forces with an unorthodox detective to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history.”
