triple j’s Hottest 100 2023 is comin’ atcha and it’s high time to save the date! With voting commencing in December and the official countdown taking place in January 2024, let’s see who will dethrone Flume!
Celebrating its 30th birthday, the countdown is the radio frequency’s annual poll of your favourite songs. And so you don’t miss one thing, here are all the dates you need to know.
Voting
Voting opens on December 12 at 8.00 am AEDT and you’ll be able to place ’em here.
Here, you will be able to pick out your fave songs of the year, submit your votes and join millions of people from across the country in creating a summer playlist for the ages.
Saltburn has become one of the most talked about films of 2023 and after a popular cinema run, it is now hitting a streaming service in Australia.
On December 5, Prime Video announced that the Jacob Elordi-led film would be dropping for you to watch, re-watch and drool over, on December 22.
In case you don’t know much about the flick, here’s everything you need to know.
Synopsis
The beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire sees student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) struggling to find his place at Oxford University. He finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
Barry Keoghan, Saltburn. Prime Video
Who else is in the cast?
Starring alongside Elordi and Keoghan is an all-star cast including Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe, and Carey Mulligan.
Rosamund Pike, Saltburn. Prime Video
Who is behind the film?
Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and produced by Margot Robbie and Josey McNamara, it’s refreshing to see women leading the charge.
Is there a trailer for Saltburn?
You bet! Check it out below.
Stream Saltburn in Australia on Prime Video from December 22.
The Bachelors Australia 2023’s WesCortes has dropped a massive bombshell while on a date with Brea and let’s just say, we are v surprised.
After the weird AF underwater photoshoot, Wes invited Brea back to his Bach Pad where things took an unexpected turn.
After admitting that he had never had a girlfriend before, he said he had grown up with “Christian values” and didn’t want to be “another reason for girls not to trust men”.
“I never saw myself as being a one-night stand guy and as a matter of fact, I’ve never had sex,” he said.
Brea:
Brea, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
“You’ve never had sex?” she asked, before saying: “Awwwwww!”
During a confessional, Brea said it was “very rare” to meet a 32-year-old who has “amazing qualities” and to be a virgin.
He then went on to say it was because of his religion and “values”.
“I hold onto them so strongly. Sex is potentially one of the most vulnerable things you can ever do with someone.”
Was, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
Brea, a little shook, used the word “wow” approx. 1000 times before saying that she was “nervous” at the beginning of the date that he would try to progress too quickly, but now she was nervous that he wouldn’t “progress at all”.
“I still want to get to know you even more,” she told him.
Their date ended in a hug.
The rose ceremony note
Meanwhile, Holly — who has been torn between Ben and Wes (although she’s def more keen on Ben) — was given a rose by Wes.
After Angie had been sent home, Wes then slipped Holly a note.
“To the girl on the stairs…” she began, before an eff off huge “to be continued” played.
The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
What was in the note? We’ll just have to wait and see…
Stream The Bachelors, Sunday to Wednesday at 7.30 pm on 10 and 10Play.
The Bachelors 2023 has a bevvy of new babes looking for their forever after – as well as (probably) blue ticks on Instagram.
Unsurprisingly, this season has a fair few models and micro-influencers, but who will Bachelors Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and Luke Bateman give their final rose to?
If you’re looking to find out a bit more about each of the ladies gunning for the three men, you’re in luck. We’ve popped together every contestant’s Instagram account below.
Melissa Leong debuted a dramatic new look at the NGV Gala which apparently left more than a few people confused about who she was.
The Dessert Masters judge hit the red carpet with a new short blonde do – and shared pics of her hairstyle on Instagram.
“The vision for this year’s NGV gala: bigger, bolder, blonder. The transformation was epic. This whole incognito thing was a walk on the wild side!” She captioned the photo.
Melissa’s friend Samuel Gordon commented on the picture saying that he saw her, but didn’t recognise her, to which she responded: “So many double takes, I felt like I was at the supermarket!”
The TV host credited her transformation to hairdresser Ben Dniprowskij who explained how he created her new look.
“I used @mrsmithhair exclusively for Mel’s hair: Spray hair with sea salt spray, apply a generous amount of Foundation and serum while scrunching and let air dry. Finish off with Texturiser. (Pre styling I also used peach blonde to warm the colour up a bit),” he wrote on Instagram.
Ben Dniprowskij. Instagram.
Melissa Leong’s new look got a lot of attention on social media
Mel’s followers were here for her new look and flooded the comments section of her Instagram with compliments.
“Stunning Mel! I love it all,” one wrote. Another commented: “Oh myyy! 😍 you look incredible!”
Dessert Masters contestants Anna Polyviou and Kirsten Tibballsboth jumped in on the action too.
“Wow @bendniprowskij can I have a Mel please 🙏,” Kirsten wrote, while Anna posted five flame emojis.
The NGV Gala has been dubbed Australia’s answer to the Met Gala. It’s a black-tie event that celebrates art, fashion, performance and fine food. It marks the opening of its blockbuster summer exhibition, the NGV Triennial 2023.
The event attracted some big names including Liam Hemsworth, Gabriella Brooks, Elvis star Olivia DeJonge, models Bambi Northwood-Blythe, Jessica Gomes, Charlee Fraser, and, of course, Melissa Leong.
It was held at the National Gallery of Victoria on Saturday, December 2nd.
There’s one question on everyone’s lips about The Bachelors Australia 2023’s hottest and most eligible men, Ben Waddell, Luke Bateman and WesleyCortes — just how old are they?
With the season premiere on December 3 (and December 2 on 10Play if you couldn’t wait), fans got their Google on to find out everything they could about the leading men.
From their ages to their occupation and even their all-important height, we’ve compiled a cheat sheet to help you navigate the hot new Bachie babes.
Luke Bateman
Luke Bateman, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
Age: 28
Birthday: 23 January 1995
Star Sign: Aquarius
Occupation: Former NRL Player turned lumberjack
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Height: 182cm or 5’9
Ben Waddell
Ben Waddell, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
Age: 36
Birthday: November 4 1986
Star Sign: Scorpio
Occupation: International model and environmentalist
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Height: 187 cm or 6’2
Wesley Cortes
Wesley Cortes, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
Age: 33
Birthday: August 28, 1992
Star Sign: Virgo
Occupation: Marketing Consultant
Location: Sydney, NSW
Height: 187cm or 6’1
Stream The Bachelors, Sunday to Tuesday at 7.30 pm on 10 and 10Play.
The Bachelors Australia 2023 has kicked off and the premiere episode was packed full of drama, bold personalities and, erm, grass-cutting between the guys?
Despite the fact that 24 women were looking for love at the mansion, Bachelors Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and Luke Bateman all made a bee-line for one particular woman.
Tennessee-born Mckenna was first pulled for a chat by Luke, who was interrupted by Ben. After they began to hit it off, Wesley swooped in for conversation.
A lot went on during the first episode of The BachelorsAustralia, and – as always – Twitter had a thing or two to say about it. Check out some of the best reactions.
Can we have name tags for like the first 27 episodes #TheBachelorsAU
Anastasia from The Bachelors Australia 2023 is as blunt as a hammer which is fitting given she started a building company at age 25.
According to her 10 bio, the property developer from Victoria is a woman of “unwavering determination” and has a strong sense of self, which is also why she has extremely high standards when it comes to dating.
When looking for a partner, she has one question: “What do you bring to the table”, which frankly is what all people should aspire to.
Her parents have also been together since they were 14 (cute!) and while dating hasn’t been at the top of her priority list, she does aspire to be like them.
Anastasia and her daughter. Instagram
When asked why she thinks she is still single, her answer is simple.
“I had no interest in dating, I wanted to focus on my daughter, work and just didn’t feel the need to have a man around,” she said. “I don’t like meeting people via social media, only if I’m out for dinner and meet in person but I am also quite a homebody.”
In fact, she’s been engaged twice and is an independent woman (throw your hands up that wayyy), who has worked hard to achieve a comfortable life, holding herself to a high standard.
In terms of what she’s looking for, she wants a partner who allows her to embrace her feminine energy and nurturing nature.
Anastasia, The Bachelors 2023. Instagram
In terms of what she isn’t looking for, basically, she just wants the bare minimum. No drama, gaslighting, lying or insecure men who need validation from another woman. Oh, and they can’t be unhygienic, which also seems like a basic need.
As a business owner, her produces achievement has been building her company from scratch at 25.
“I didn’t realise at the time but when I look back, I’m proud of my younger self,” she said.
She is now ready to write the next chapter of her love story and hopes to find a man who truly appreciates her for who she is… and we bet, he’s not one of The Bachelors.
Well, sh-t. We’ve had our first taste of DRAMA on The Bachelors Australia 2023 thanks to a comment made by Mel asking if Anastasia was a, *checks notes*, stripper.
For those of you who couldn’t wait to watch at 7.30 pm on Ten, others witnessed a truly baffling conversation when the first episode was uploaded to 10Play on Saturday, December 2.
But, before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s rewind and talk about Anastasia.
Anastasia is as blunt as a hammer and said that Ben made the “best first impression”, given that she was “expecting someone as ugly as from last season and she was “shocked they had someone decent looking.” LEL.
Anastasia, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
While Kristen said she “would smash” Ben, Anastasia believed that there was zero competition because she was “in a situation with 20 idiots.”
Even though we’re not going to tell her that there are actually 23 other “idiots” as she calls them, we’re getting the sense her candid outlook will provide some hilarious moments throughout the season…
Mel asks Anastasia if she was a “stripper”
Anyway, back to #StripperGate…
During the Bridgerton-esque ball (?!) Mel asked Anastasia how she felt given that she had “been really quiet” before asking her new comrade what she did for work.
“You’re not going to guess what I do,” Anastasia told her before Mel said SHE wanted to, well, guess.
Mel, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Ten
“I think I might know,” Mel told her. “Are you a stripper?” WOW.
Clearly surprised by this comment, Anastasia is all like, “Da fuq?” because she’s actually a property developer and builder, calling the comment “disrespectful”.
Backtracking, Mel tries to smooth it over by calling her a “hot b–tch” and says she “didn’t mean to offend” her. 👀 Meanwhile, she also thought they were “just having fun” and goes on to say how much she “loves strippers”.
“I love sex workers and I will support them. Personally, for me, in my world, it’s not a taboo thing. It’s not something to be embarrassed about.”
Firstly, Anastasia wasn’t embarrassed about it since she wasn’t one. In fact, she was — and rightly so — confused by the whole thing.
“I’m a builder. It’s the complete opposite. Men work for me. I don’t work for men.”
Well then. Their relationship will be interesting moving forward!
Stream The Bachelors, Sunday to Tuesday at 7.30 pm on 10 and 10Play.
If you’re looking for a wifey on The Bachelors Australia 2023, then look no further than Ellie, the 29-year-old from Byron Bae who is “passionate, spontaneous, and loving”.
According to her 10 bio, the beauty therapist (who is originally from WA) has aspirations of being her own boss and shares a close bond with her parents, who have been married for 30 years.
Ellie is down to earth and spiritual and admires her mum and dad who share a romantic connection that dreams are made of — including individuality and independence.
Ellie, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Instagram
Described as having “a unique charm” that makes men fall in love with her she’s ready to start a family and settle down with someone special.
When asked what her family thought of her applying on the show, she said: “They are so excited for me and I have been told by more than one family member that ‘this was always going to happen to you’, because I have always loved watching The Bachelor and I am such a soppy, romantic girl.”
While she’s a romantic, she dislikes disloyalty, emotional immaturity or men who are closed off. She also doesn’t like those who are not driven or flaky.
Ellie, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Instagram
“I want a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to communicate that. I’m done with wishy-washy ‘let’s just see where it goes’ men.”
The Bachelors Australia wouldn’t be Bachie without a villain and Lisa, an interior design student from NSW is the perfect fit.
The German-born 23-year-old is worldly and adventurous and has seen her life spread over many continents including Russia, England and now Australia.
According to her 10 bio, she has an incredible passion for travel and is on the hunt for a partner who wants to explore the world. She’s also a thrill-seeker, always on the lookout for heart-pounding experiences and is even happy to swim in shark-infested water, so naturally, the Bach mansion is a fantastic choice.
Lisa, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Instagram
“I love going to the gym or going for walks to keep my body healthy and fit. Other than that I enjoy cooking and learning new cooking techniques to make new dishes. Other hobbies of mine are scuba diving and travelling,” she said.
One thing you’ll find about our blunt redhead is that she has a keen sense of what she wants and what she doesn’t, including a list of “icks” including sleeping in too late and poor debating skills.
In terms of her likes, she loves “tall, dark and handsome men” (ahem, Wes) and grew up watching The BachelorGermany, so the show is a natural fit for her.
Lisa, The Bachelors Australia 2023. Instagram
“Absolutely!” she said when asked if she believed in soulmates. “I believe there is a right person for everyone out there, we just have to find them.”
Mckenna is looking for love on The Bachelors Australia 2023 and is searching for an authentic connection with a partner, prioritising profound conversations above all else.
According to her official 10 bio, she is an entrepreneur with her own PR Agency and grew up on a military base in Tennessee before moving to Hawaii and then the Gold Coast in QLD.
McKenna. Instagram
Given her parents recently separated and she is an only child, the stunning brunette has a belief that love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship and even though she has a large family, she knows that sharing is caring while also maintaining an independent side.
When asked what her proudest moment in her career has been, she said: “The journalistic work I was able to create. Going to India to create a range of journalistic content in HIV/ AIDS orphanages and the Aparajita One Stop Crisis Centre for women.”
As for her romantic relationships, her most recent one helped her recognise what she needs in a partner — which she believes will not be found on an app.
Instead, she hopes Bachie will give her a “meet cute” fairytale ending to share with her grandkids one day.
Meanwhile, a former partner surprised her with a candle-lit hotel room covered in rose petals, her favourite macarons and a dress to wear to dinner. While obvi they’re not together anymore, sounds like being on the ~MoST RoMAnTiC~ season of The Bachelors yet is right up her alley!
The Bachelors Australia is back for a second round in 2023, and it’s time to meet the leading ladies a.k.a the supporting cast who are looking for love, in arguably, all the wrong places.
It’s once again triple the love, triple the sparks and triple the butterflies as three new eligible suitors — Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and Luke Bateman — search for the one.
Entering the Melbourne mansion for the most romantic season yet are 24 beautiful and intelligent women, all looking for the romance of a lifetime.
So, without further adieu, it’s time to meet the cast of The Bachelors 2023!
Aarthi
Amelia
Anastasia
Angela
Angie
Brea
Caitlin
Carla
Chrystal
Dana
Ellie
Evie
Holly
Jade
Kristen
Lana
Lisa
Maddison
Mckenna
Mel
Natalie
Nella
Tabitha
Yasemin
The Bachelors Australia airs Sundays and Mondays from December 3, on 10 and 10Play.
The Bachelors Australia has made a seachange for season 11. This time, the three leads won’t be returning to the Bach Pad from earlier this year; instead, they’ll be heading down to another epic mansion in Brighton, Victoria.
Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and Luke Bateman are the lucky three men dating a bevvy of influencers ladies in a quest to find love in the upcoming season.
The Bachelors. Ten.
While doing just that, the trio should have plenty of room for activities, as they’re holing up in a sprawling six-bedroom historic residence.
“Filming The Bachelor franchise in Melbourne gives us the perfect backdrop for love to blossom; a beautiful, sophisticated city filled with incredible restaurants, secret sexy bars, art galleries, live music, the list goes on,” Caroline Swift, the head of entertainment for Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia said in a statement.
Where is The Bachelors Australia 2023 filmed?
The mansion that The Bachelors is being filmed in has a much more romantic vibe than the 2023 Bachpad, suggesting that the franchise may be bringing the show’s focus back to good, old-fashioned love.
The Bachelor Pad 2023. Realestate.com.au
Of course, it comes with all the trimmings that a Bach mansion should; it’s set on a whopping 1500 sqm block, has a big swimming pool and even a floodlit grass tennis court – and it’s just down the road from one of the houses that the late Shane Warne owned.
The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.
The house, which was built in the 1850s was sold for $6.4 million back in 2015, and you can take a virtual stroll around the rest of the house, including the bedrooms where Wesley, Ben and Luke (might) be getting down and dirty.
The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.The 2024 The Bachelors house. Realestate.com.au.
What does the listing for the house say?
Who can describe a house better than the listing agent who sold it back in 2015? If you’re looking for even more details about The Bachelors mansion, you can check out the listing description below:
This magnificent 1850s Victorian residence set within 1553 sqm, approx, resort-style grounds with a swimming pool and north-south floodlit mod grass tennis court perfectly preserves its illustrious originality while offering first-class spaces for contemporary living in this premier location.
Exceptionally secure, private and quiet, the six-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom residence with interiors designed by Charlotte Heine has been carried into the 21st Century with exuberance and vision; while towering ceilings and grand room sizes convey a sense of openness and elegance.
The floor plan. Realestate.com.au.
Impressive period features from Carrara marble fireplaces updated with gas inserts to intricately detailed cornices and intricate stained glass features highlight the interior. Grand formal living and dining rooms complement a north-facing family living and dining room overlooking a self-cleaning heated swimming pool and spa and expansive alfresco entertaining terrace. A billiards room with a bar features a picture window outlook across a trompe l’oeil transporting you to the English countryside. The bespoke marble kitchen is elegantly appointed with French doors to the terrace, glass-fronted cabinetry and quality appliances from an Ilve stove to a Miele coffee machine.
The six-bedroom accommodation includes a palatial main bedroom suite with a study, his and her walk-in robes and a luxurious en suite with a freestanding bath. Two further bedrooms and a bathroom are positioned in a private top-floor wing perfect for teenagers or nanny accommodation and there is a further family bathroom with a spa on the ground floor.
Comprehensive appointments include a triple remote garage plus further off-street parking, a security system with surveillance cameras, ducted heating, air conditioning, a powder room, a floodlit garden and a watering system.
The Bachelors Australia will air in 2024 on Network Ten and 10Play.
Courtney Clarke’s role as Jade Hart in Paramount+’s Paper Dolls is a far cry from her previous gig as a member of the kid’s musical group Hi-5.
Yep, just a few short years ago the glamorous Courtney was busting out catchy tunes for little ones in Hi-5.
“The audition process was a very full on run. It was like five or six days and it was supposed to only be three,” she told My Child Magazine in 2017.
Hi-5. Nine.
“Everyone at the beginning of the audition kind of dropped off from hundreds down to fifty, and fifty down to twenty, and then it would go back up to thirty. It was really confusing but they had a really hard time deciding who would be that five because they did just have a miraculous amount of talent in the audition process. I still don’t know how they chose it.”
Courtney was a part of the kid’s group from 2016 until 2018. While she was with Hi 5, the performers toured Asia and headed to various countries including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Indonesia.
She left Hi 5 in 2018 and was replaced by her predecessor Tanika Anderson for the last stop of the Hi-5 Supers tour in December of the same year.
Hi-5. Nine.
What else has Courtney Clarke been in?
Fans may recognise Courtney from her role in Last King of the Cross. She played Brooke and appeared in the first two episodes.
Courtney has also played parts in Christmas Neeve, The Gift and Balaclava Lane.
Christmas Neeve. BC Pictures.
What else is known about Courtney Clarke?
Courtney Clarke seems to be dating actor Lincoln Younes, and it appears the two met when they were both working on Last King of the Cross. Lincoln plays the lead character of John Ibrahim on the series.
While neither Lincoln or Courtney have confirmed their romance, they’ve been papped out and about together together holding hands. They were first spotted on a lunch date together in April, and recently attended an event for GQ Australia together.
Lincoln Younes in The Last King of the Cross. Paramount+.
Paper Dolls airs on Paramount+ Australia from Sunday, 3 December.
The Bachelors 2023 is gearing up to be an absolutely chaotic season with WesleySenna Cortes a.k.a Wes, Luke Bateman and Ben Waddell suiting up to find love — and there’s a huge twist.
You may have already seen in the trailer that there’s a little squabble where either Luke and Ben were seen stealing a woman from the other, so, we decided to ask the guys all about it!
Speaking to Chattr ahead of the series premiere, Ben admitted that it was a “free-for-all”.
“There was one big group and 24 ladies,” he said. “They had a chance to choose as well so there was no designated person that we could be with. It was a free-for-all.”
“I think, honestly, we were trying to impress the girls, not the girls trying to impress us at the end of the day,” Luke added.
The Bachelors 2023: Wes, Ben and Luke. Ten
Had the new Bachelors seen the show before applying?
After joking he’d “never date 24 women again”, Wes admitted that he hadn’t seen a single episode of The Bachelor before applying. While we find this a little hard to believe — and even told him so — he did say that it “didn’t exist back home” in Brazil.
When pushed even further, he finally admitted he’d watched three episodes of the last season to “get a sense” of what to expect.
For Ben, obviously, there had been an opportunity to watch previously, but he never had, including in preparation for their turn on the series.
“I didn’t want it to have an effect on how I would approach the show myself or find myself looking for love if something worked for someone else,” he said. “I didn’t want to not be myself, which I think watching other seasons would have had an effect on the way I approached it, so I kept it raw.”
Luke, meanwhile, fessed up to “knowing what the premise was”, which is truly code for: “I watched it and I loved it.”
Ten.
10 weren’t lying when they said it was “the most romantic season” yet
If you’ve seen ANY promo for the new season of The Bachelors you’ve probably realise that this will be the ~most RoManTic SeAsOn yeT~”.
According to Wes, this is 100% a true story.
“The romance was dialled all the way up,” he said, while Ben added: “Shooting in Melbourne. It’s beautiful. We left it all out there for you guys.”
As for the drama, Luke “was avoiding drama like the plague”, revealing that the other two, were not.
“There was plenty of drama,” Ben said. “Because we don’t live in the mansion with the girls, it definitely all kicked off in there and some of it flows onto us.”
He added: “If you see us looking exhausted after episode six, it’s because it’s non-stop.”
The Bachelors Australia 2023 airs Sunday – Tuesday on 10 and 10Play.
Naomi Sequiera latest gig is playing Annabel Tonkin in Paramount+’s Paper Dolls, but she’s actually had a little-known MAFS Australia 2023 crossover.
If you’re scratching your head trying to remember when Naomi got married off on the popular reality show, then you can’t be blamed. The actress wasn’t actually on last season of Married At First Sight, but she did head to the alter in the trailer.
Channel 9 uses actors in their MAFS trailers so that fans can’t find out who is on the season before it airs.
Back in 2021, the network did the same thing and hired X Factor finalists Jess and Matt Price to share a kiss on a rooftop with fireworks behind them to tease the new season.
At the time, Jess and Matt detailed the experience on Instagram.
“We’re tragic MAFS fans, so when Channel Nine hit us up saying they needed a real-life couple to kiss on camera (coz Covid) and asked if we’d be up to putting on our Hollywood acting shoes to re-enact some 50 Shades wedding vibes for their epic new promo… We threw ourselves into the deep end,” they wrote.
What has Naomi Sequeira been in before Paper Dolls?
Naomi has a pretty stacked resume when it comes to acting and presenting.
Naomi Sequiera. Instagram.
In 2013, she began her role as the host of Hanging With which aired on the Disney Channel until 2019.
Sequeira was nominated for Favourite Personality – Female and Most Outstanding Presenter – Female at the ATRA awards for her part on the show, and she left the role in 2017.
Since then she’s been filling up her IMDB profile with various movies and TV shows, including Pearl in Paradise, Hearts Down Under and Totally Completely Fine.
Aside from acting, Naomi also dabbles in singing and released her first single Edge of The Sun back in 2013. She regularly posts clips of herself singing on Instagram.
While Paper Dolls is technically a scripted drama, it was created by Belinda Chapple who was famously part of the all-girl band Bardot.
As most millennials already know, Bardot was formed on one of Australia’s first reality TV shows, Popstars. Of course, Paper Dolls follows a similar sort of premise.
Paper Dolls sees a girl band put together on a reality show, and the official synopsis for the new series reads: “At the cusp of the new millennium, five aspiring singers are thrust into the spotlight in pursuit of pop-stardom and fame.”
Paper Dolls. Paramount+.
So, it’s not hard for viewers to draw parallels between Chapple’s real-life experience of being a part of Bardot, and the storyline of Paper Dolls.
However, it’s been over two decades since Bardot was formed, so even if you’re familiar with their story, it’s easy to draw blanks. So, in light of the new series, we take a trip down memory lane to find out what exactly happened with Bardot.
What happened at the time?
Channel Seven released its first season of Popstars in 1999. The series saw hundreds of young women audition to be part of an all-girl group. It was Chantelle Barry, Katie Underwood, Belinda Chapple, Sally Polihronas and Sophie Monk who were picked and formed Bardot.
Two weeks later, Chantelle was accused of stealing and kicked out of the band, and Tiffani Wood replaced her.
Bardot. Instagram.
Bardot had phenomenal success, and their first single Poison sold 60,000 copies in its first week and went on to achieve double platinum status. Their self-titled album hit the charts at number one too, making them the first Australian act to debut both the single and album at the top.
The band’s success continued until April 2002, when they suddenly issued a statement saying they were taking a “well-earned break”. Bardot never returned.
What actually happened?
Details around Bardot’s split were shrouded in mystery until earlier this year, when Belinda Chapple released a book about her experience with the band, titled The Girl in the Band: Bardot – a Cautionary Tale.
“I’m almost 50, so I don’t really have any fear around being blacklisted from the entertainment industry and the people who run it. It’s a very honest account. It’s what happened,” Belinda said of deciding to release the book.
Belinda Chapple. Instagram.
In The Girl in the Band: Bardot – a Cautionary Tale, Belinda said that the hundreds of contestants on Popstars were whittled down to just ten finalists and they were given a contract to sign.
Belinda took her contract to her lawyer. “He said you’re not going to make a cent, basically,” she reflected.
The contract allegedly stated that the women would receive between $25 and $35 a day to live off, and have their basic living expenses taken care of.
Against her lawyer’s advice, Belinda signed the contract and Bardot was formed.
As we already know, Bardot went on to be very successful, which meant the women had gruelling schedules but received very little money.
Then, when the band took a ‘break’ (ended) in 2002, Belinda said she was basically blindsided. According to the book, she believed that management decided to end Bardot so that they could focus on Sophie Monk’s solo career.
Paper Dolls airs on Paramount+ Australia from Sunday, 3 December.
Modern Family star Sofía Vergara is donning her most unrecognisable look yet in thebrand-new Netflix series, Griselda.
Inspired by Colombian Griselda Blanco’s fascinating rise to create one of the most profitable cartels in history, the new show will certainly fill the Narcos-sized hole in your life!
Here’s everything we know!
What is Griselda about?
The official synopsis reads: Set in 1970s-80s Miami, Griselda Blanco’s (Vergara) lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as “the Godmother.”
Sofía Vergara, Netflix
When will it be released?
Griselda streaming from January 25 only on Netflix.
Who is in the cast?
Starring along Vergara is Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappan, Martín Rodríguez, Juliana Aidén Martinez and Vanessa Ferlito.
Also making an appearance are Carolina Giraldo (a.k.a Karol G), Fredy Yate, Paulina Dávila, José Zúñiga, Camilo Jiménez Varón, Julieth Restrepo, Gabriel Sloyer, Diego Trujillo and Alberto Amann.
Griselda, Netflix
Who is the creative team?
Loved the aforementioned Narcos? Well you’re in luck because this new series is from the same clever minds, Eric Newman and Andrés Baiz.
The series was also created by Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda and Carlo Bernard with Vergara serving as executive producer.
Is there a trailer?
On December 1, Netflix released a brand-spankin’ new trailer. Watch it below!
Griselda streaming from January 25 only on Netflix.
Courtney Monsma seems to have her finger in every pie when it comes to the entertainment industry. The talented 26-year-old is an established, actress, singer and dancer, and her next massive gig is the part of Lillian Milton on Paramount+’s Paper Dolls.
The series is about five young women who form a female musical group through a reality TV show and follows the women’s lives and touches on the dark side of fame.
Find out more about the woman behind the character of Lillian.
Paper Dolls. Paramount+.
Courtney plays Glinda in the Wicked Musical
Courtney was cast in the role of Glinda the Good Witch in the hugely successful musical Wicked. The popular Broadway performance is scheduled to run in Sydney in December, January and February and will play in March and April in Melbourne.
Courtney announced the part on the Today show and posted a photo of the interview to her Instagram.
“Pretty wicked day. Thankyou so much for all the love on the announcement and the birthday wishes 🎂 🥳 Couldn’t be happier,” she captioned the pictures.
Courtney performed a captivating rendition of a Frozen song at Telethon 2022. That same year, she played Princess Anna in Disney’s Australian tour of Frozen.
“Such an honour to sing at this year’s @telethon7 with @frozenthemusicalau and an honour to get to sing this music every day,” she wrote on Instagram.
Considering that Courtney has been cast in a number of huge musicals, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that she’s a released an album.
Her debut album titled In The Light dropped in 2022 and features nine covers and one original song ‘The Light That You Are’.
Courtney Monsma. Instagram.
“I have chosen songs that resonate with me, whilst also celebrating or marking key moments in my career. Connecting with an audience means a lot to me and I hope the songs I’ve included on In The Light have an impact for listeners as well” she said of the album.
Paper Dolls airs on Paramount+ Australia from Sunday, 3 December.
