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BAFTA today announced that it will move its annual film awards to the Royal Festival Hall at London’s Southbank Centre for its 2023 edition.

The switch sees the prestigious event move across the city, leaving behind the Royal Albert Hall, which has housed the awards show since 2016. Other previous venues include the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square.

“The Royal Albert Hall has been a wonderful home to us for the last six years,” said Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards and Content. “As we embark on the next chapter in an incredibly exciting year for film, we can’t wait to kick off our new residency at the Royal Festival Hall with BAFTA’s most ambitious celebration yet.”

BAFTA did not disclose the length of its new partnership with the Royal Festival Hall, which has also hosted the BFI London Film Festival...

After six years at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Ee BAFTA Film Awards are shifting venue across the city to the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, which also hosts the BAFTA TV and games awards.

The venue is located in the heart of London on the River Thames, close to landmarks including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the National Theatre, BFI and the London Eye. In recent years, the Royal Festival Hall has become the flagship venue for red carpet galas at the BFI London Film Festival. “The move will see BAFTA program its most ambitious and accessible night yet, bolstered by a refreshed production and format,” the organization said.

Entries are now open for the 2023 awards, due to be presented on Feb. 19, 2023. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC One HD, BBCiPlayer and syndicated globally.

Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content, said:...

Little more than a week after ITV Director of Television, Peter Fincham, announced his departure, the broadcaster’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy, Elaine Bedell, is also set to exit. Bedell is a seven-year veteran of the UK’s leading commercial network and has been responsible for ordering and overseeing a wide-ranging slate of hit programs including Britain's Got Talent, The X Factor, I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night…...

Kara Tointon is to star in a live broadcast of 'The Sound of Music'. The 32-year-old actress - who's previously starred as Dawn Swann in 'EastEnders' - is to play the part of Maria in the two-and-a-half-hour TV dramatisation of the popular musical, which is being broadcast on ITV over the Christmas period. Looking forward to the landmark event, ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: ''This is the first time in the UK that this type of project has been attempted - a musical drama both performed and broadcast live - but big ambitious live television events is what...

A live broadcast of The Sound of Music is coming to ITV over the Christmas period.

The Sound of Music Live! is a two-and-a-half-hour TV dramatisation of the popular musical, and will star Kara Tointon as Maria.

Julian Ovenden will play Captain Georg von Trapp, while Katherine Kelly and Alexander Armstrong are announced as Baroness Elsa Schraeder and Max Detweiler respectively.

Richard Valentine is directing the project, which will include all of the songs from the classic soundtrack including 'How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria' and 'My Favourite Things'.

ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: "This is the first time in the UK that this type of project has been attempted - a musical drama both performed and broadcast live - but big ambitious live television events is what ITV does well.

"We've assembled some of the very best talent both in front of and behind the camera,...

A live broadcast of The Sound of Music is coming to ITV this Christmas Day.

The Sound of Music Live! is a two-and-a-half-hour TV dramatisation of the popular musical, and will star Kara Tointon as Maria.

Julian Ovenden will play Captain Georg von Trapp, while Katherine Kelly and Alexander Armstrong are announced as Baroness Elsa Schraeder and Max Detweiler respectively.

Richard Valentine is directing the project, which will include all of the songs from the classic soundtrack including 'How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria' and 'My Favourite Things'.

ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: "This is the first time in the UK that this type of project has been attempted - a musical drama both performed and broadcast live - but big ambitious live television events is what ITV does well.

"We've assembled some of the very best talent both in front of and behind the camera,...

Kara Tointon is to star in a live broadcast of 'The Sound of Music'. The 32-year-old actress - who's previously starred as Dawn Swann in 'EastEnders' - is to play the part of Maria in the two-and-a-half-hour TV dramatisation of the popular musical, which is being broadcast on ITV over the Christmas period. Looking forward to the landmark event, ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: ''This is the first time in the UK that this type of project has been attempted - a musical drama both performed and broadcast live - but big ambitious live television events is what...

As if it didn't take over our phones enough, now QuizUp is set to come to our television screens.

ITV has ordered a pilot of a playalong gameshow based on the popular app from NBC Universal International Studios, reports Broadcast.

It will see contestants given the chance to earn cash prizes by answering a series of questions, as well as battling against viewers based around the UK playing in real-time at home.

The show is a collaboration between NBC and game studio Plain Vanilla Corp, which designed and developed the app. NBC has already ordered a ten-episode series in the Us.

NBC Universal is promoting the format at Mipcom, with the added bonus of offering people attending the chance to win a Tesla sports car by playing the app.

QuizUp was ordered by ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell.

Last year, ITV axed playalong singing show Rising Star before it aired,...

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have apparently got closer to signing a deal with ITV.

The former Top Gear trio and executive producer Andy Wilman met with ITV's programme chief Peter Fincham on Wednesday night (May 6), according to The Guardian.

After Clarkson's Top Gear contract was not renewed due to his assault on a producer, May and Hammond have declined to sign new BBC deals. Since then, ITV has been named as the most likely UK channel to pick up the trio.

The meeting took place at Fincham's London home, with ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell also attending.

However, ITV has remained coy in regards to the reports. A spokesman said: "We haven't commented and aren't planning to comment on the continual Top Gear speculation which is swirling around the television industry."

If the three presenters were to sign a deal with ITV, they...

Newzoids has unveiled puppet versions of The Queen, Prince Harry and Prince George.

The trio will be among the members of the Royal family featured in ITV's new topical sketch show, which premieres tonight (April 15) on ITV.

First-look images show The Queen, her grandson and Prince William and Kate Middleton's son Prince George. They will all star in sketches entitled Mrs Crown's Boys alongside Prince Charles and Camilla, whose puppets were previously revealed.

"Wills and Kate have got a problem - Prince George seems to have got 'the commoner gene' but which of his parents did he get it from?" ITV teased.

Newzoids will feature impressionists Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson in a number of roles, with other celebrities set to feature including Ant & Dec, David Cameron, Harry Styles and Simon Cowell.

Culshaw and Stephenson will be joined by a mixture of established and up-and-coming talent including Pete Sinclair,...

Jon Culshaw is to star in a new topical puppet sketch show. The 46-year-old impressionist - who is best known for his starring role in BBC Two comedy 'Dead Ringers' - will play a leading role in new ITV programme 'Newzoids', which promises to tackle the week's news events using ''state of the art animation''. Elaine Bedell, the director of entertainment and comedy for the broadcaster, explained: ''ITV has a rich history of playing popular satirical comedy in peak time on its main channel, and it seemed a good time to revive it this year. ''We are pleased to be adding to...

ITV has commissioned a new topical puppet sketch show.

Newzoids will tackle the week's news events, while featuring some of the world's most recognisable faces in unique ways.

The six-episode series will feature the voices of impressionist duo Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson, with a mixture of low-tech puppetry and animation from the award-winning team at Factory bringing the stories to life.

"Imagine a world where David Cameron and Nick Clegg battle it out on Jeremy Kyle, where Ed Miliband joins Ant and Dec on I'm A Catastrophe…Get Me Out Of Here, and where Professor Brian Cox finds an extraordinary new planet in the solar system - Kim Kardashian's backside," ITV teased.

Among those set to feature are Beyoncé, Harry Styles, David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Barack Obama, Prince Harry, Simon Cowell, And & Dec and Wayne Rooney.

Elaine Bedell, Director of Entertainment and Comedy for ITV, said: "ITV has...

Jon Culshaw is to star in a new topical puppet sketch show. The 46-year-old impressionist - who is best known for his starring role in BBC Two comedy 'Dead Ringers' - will play a leading role in new ITV programme 'Newzoids', which promises to tackle the week's news events using ''state of the art animation''. Elaine Bedell, the director of entertainment and comedy for the broadcaster, explained: ''ITV has a rich history of playing popular satirical comedy in peak time on its main channel, and it seemed a good time to revive it this year. ''We are pleased to be adding to...

ITV's Your Face Sounds Familiar will not be returning for a second series.

The entertainment show, presented by Paddy McGuinness and Alesha Dixon, involved six celebrities impersonating iconic singers in a bid to win money for their chosen charity.

Asked by Digital Spy whether the show would be returning, he said: "No, because they're bringing back Stars in Their Eyes.

"Which, for instance, when we did Your Face Sounds Familiar - which I absolutely loved - I really thought we could have done something with that.

"But at the time when they told me about Your Face Sounds Familiar and we were just going to do it, I actually said, 'Why don't you just do Stars in Their Eyes?' And then lo and behold, I've talked myself out of a job and they are doing it and I've really shot myself in the foot."

In August, ITV officially announced...

Jonathan Ross has signed a new deal with ITV.

The chat show host's new contract will run until at least the end of 2015.

Ross will record two new series of The Jonathan Ross Show and a Christmas special next year as part of the deal.

He said: "I've been lucky enough to interview some of the biggest stars around on The Jonathan Ross Show and I'm delighted that I'll continue to do so for ITV until at least the end of 2015 with two series booked for the channel for next year.

"This Saturday I have Russell Brand, Lindsay Lohan, Daniel Radcliffe and Rio Ferdinand on the couch and there's plenty more to come."

ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell added: "Jonathan is the king of talk shows and a valued member of the ITV family. He continues to attract the biggest names in showbiz onto his sofa and...

ITV has vowed not to launch Rising Star unless the technology completely works.

The new singing competition, which is due to begin in January, sees viewers voting for their favourite acts on an app as they are singing - with only the contestants who reach a certain level of votes making it through to the next round.

The format is somewhat similar to Channel 4's The Singer Takes It All, which faced some technical problems with its app in its first week.

However, ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell told Broadcast that she does not foresee any problems.

"We won't launch Rising Star unless the technology works and we'll be doing a lot of robust testing - which is just beginning now," she said. "It has worked in other countries - brilliantly in the Us, although there are issues with the time difference across the country. I...

ITV has officially announced that Stars in their Eyes will return.

Harry Hill will host a rebooted version of the musical talent show, which originally ran from 1990 to 2006.

Members of the public will be transformed into popstars by top makeup and wardrobe artists, before impersonating them in a brand new arena.

Hill said: "Without a doubt, appearing on Stars in their Eyes as Morrissey all those years ago (although beaten, unfairly in my view, by Kirsty Young's Peggy Lee) was one of the highlights of my light entertainment career.

"So imagine the smile bought to my lips when I was asked by ITV at a secret breakfast meeting in a top London hotel to take the reigns of this Rolls-Royce of pop-impression talent shows and walk in the footsteps of showbiz giants Crowther, Kelly and Deeley! And on ITV too!

"Dust off the wigs and sequins - I'm coming home!

ITV has confirmed more details about The Job Lot's second series.

The sitcom will begin its second run on its new home of ITV2 in the autumn, with Russell Tovey and Sarah Hadland returning as Karl and Trish.

Casualty's Laura Aikman has joined the cast as new Deputy Manager Natalie, while Sophie McShera, Tony Maudsley, Jo Enright, Martin Marquez, Angela Curran and Adeel Akhtar all return.

Among the second series' guest stars are Meera Syal as a CEO of a Midlands hot tub company and Keith Duffy as a telephone engineer with a 'roving eye'.

Mark Benton will appear as a job centre advisor who fancies Angela, and Rosie Cavaliero as Trish's rival job centre manager.

"It's great to welcome back the brilliantly beleaguered workers and job seekers of the Brownall Job Centre - and this time round with some excellent guest stars, who'll be joining our regular ensemble comedy cast,...

The X Factor has confirmed that Mel B will be the fourth judge this series.

The news was announced in a tweet from Simon Cowell's record company Syco, following reports last night that the Spice Girl had signed a £1m deal to join the show.

Breaking News: @OfficialMelB confirmed as the fourth and final judge of @TheXFactor, joining Simon, Cheryl and Louis pic.twitter.com/rQlKcMzOli

— Syco Entertainment (@syco) June 11, 2014

Mel B has been rumoured as the fourth judge for some time, following her experience as a guest judge in 2012.

"I'm so excited to be joining The X Factor - I loved being a guest judge back in 2012," she said.

"I've always thought honesty is the best policy when being a judge and that's what I'm going to bring more of this year - whether it's spotting an incredible singer, giving someone a reality check or debating with Simon over who's got it wrong!

Tim Vine and Him and Her star Joe Wilkinson have signed up to join ITV's reboot of Celebrity Squares.

The duo will be resident celebrities in the programme, and will take a place in one of the squares for each episode.

Celebrity Squares, which will be hosted by Warwick Davis, sees celebrities sitting in squares and contestants deciding whether or not they agree or disagree with their answer to a question.

If they get it correct they win the square, with the first contestant to get three boxes in a line winning the round.

Details of the famous faces joining Vine and Wilkinson in the squares have not yet been revealed, but ITV's Elaine Bedell promised some "great celebrities".

Meanwhile, the show's producer Bob Massie said: "We're thrilled to have the talented Tim Vine and Joe Wilkinson as our resident comedians on Celebrity Squares. Joining host Warwick Davis, their irreverent...

London –‎ U.K. TV powerhouse ITV on Thursday named BSkyB executive Saskia Schuster its new head of comedy commissioning as it continues to push into original comedy programming. She will take on the new role this summer, reporting to Elaine Bedell, ITV director of entertainment and comedy. The hire is part of a reshuffle in the British TV comedy executive ranks.‎ Schuster at ITV replaces Myfanwy Moore who earlier this year was tapped to become the controller of in-house comedy at the BBC. Meanwhile, BSkyB on Thursday said that it has promoted Ben Boyer to the role

read more...

ITV2 has commissioned a new sitcom from Bad Education writer Freddy Syborn.

Cockroaches will be a post-apocalyptic romantic comedy starring Daniel Lawrence Taylor (Uncle) and Esther Smith (Skins).

The pair play Tom and Suze, two 19-year-olds hoping for a better future, before nuclear war hits. With the world about to end, they have sex, but unexpectedly survive the apocalypse.

Ten years later, the pair return from Suze's basement as 29-year-olds searching for the remnants of pre-war England.

The comedy will deal with what happens after a nuclear holocaust, including boredom, laziness, relationships, money, cannibalism and leadership.

Nigel Planer, Jaime Winstone, Caroline Quentin, Dan Renton Skinner, Sarah Daykin and Tom Davis will also make appearances.

Jack Whitehall will also cameo as Oscar, the irritating ex-boyfriend of Suze.

Angela Jain, Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions for ITV, said: "I never thought I'd be happy to say we have Cockroaches at ITV...

ITV has recommissioned Through the Keyhole for a second series.

Keith Lemon will return for eight hour-long episodes of the comedy entertainment show, in which a panel of guests attempts to guess which celebrity "habitates in a house like this".

Last year's first series attracted a peak audience of 6.1 million on Saturdays in the autumn.

Celebrities including Louis Walsh, Mary Berry, Daryl Hannah and John Prescott opened up their homes, while the panel included the likes of Jonathan Ross, Terry Wogan and Cilla Black.

ITV's Director of Comedy and Entertainment Elaine Bedell said: "Through the Keyhole was a brilliant comedy entertainment hit for us last autumn, and we're really looking forward to Keith poking around more celebrity pads, plus more in-studio fun, with series two."

Lemon added: "Can't wait t' start through t'keyhole again. I can't fink of what's suitable to describe my excitement but it is the same excitement...

Johnny Vegas is to return to 'Benidorm'. The 42-year-old comedian - who starred in the ITV show from 2007 to 2009 - is set to make a comeback to the sitcom next year as his well-loved character Geoff Maltby, alongside Crissy Rock, who will play Janey York again, and Elsie Kelly as Noreen Maltby. Show favourites Sherrie Hewson, who plays manageress Joyce Temple Savage, Tim Healy, who plays Les/Lesley, and Jake Canuso, who plays hunky bar worker Mateo, will return to the Spanish Solana resort as usual. The ITV director of entertainment Elaine Bedell said:''After another successful run on screen we're...

Benidorm is to return for a seventh series, ITV has confirmed.

Johnny Vegas, Elsie Kelly and Crissy Rock have also been announced to be making returns as The Oracle, Noreen and Janey York, respectively.

The Oracle was last seen in the third series, when he began dating Chantelle Garvey, while Noreen last appeared in series five and Janey stopped managing the Solana resort in the fourth run.

Benidorm's sixth series averaged 6.8 million viewers for ITV, scoring its highest figures since 2011.

The new series will also include returning characters Joyce Temple Savage (Sherrie Hewson), Les/Lesley (Tim Healy) and Mateo (Jake Canuso) among others.

ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell said: "After another successful run on screen we're thrilled that a new series is about to start shooting on location in Spain.

"We're equally pleased that some familiar faces from the Solana's past will be making a welcome return to the sunshine.

ITV are ''thrilled'' to have Cheryl Cole return to the 'X Factor' judging panel. The 30-year-old star will reprise her role as a judge on the talent show for its eleventh series later this year, and ITV are delighted to have her on board since she was extremely popular when she first appeared on the show in 2008. Elaine Bedell, Director of Comedy and Entertainment, said: ''We're thrilled to be announcing Cheryl's return to 'The X Factor' panel. ''She was an extremely popular judge who struck a real chord with our viewers, and we're looking forward to welcoming her back on...

ITV has expressed its delight at Cheryl Cole's return to The X Factor.

The 'Fight For This Love' singer, who served as a judge on the talent show for three series from 2008 to 2010, confirmed her involvement in this year's show last night (March 10).

Cheryl Cole returns to The X Factor - are you happy? Vote in our poll!

ITV's director of comedy and entertainment Elaine Bedell announced: "We're thrilled to be announcing Cheryl's return to The X Factor panel.

"She was an extremely popular judge who struck a real chord with our viewers, and we're looking forward to welcoming her back on screen this autumn."

Simon Cowell previously revealed that he would also be returning to the series.

Thames TV managing director Richard Holloway added: "I'm delighted to welcome Cheryl back to the show.

"She has the unique experience of having started out on a show like this...

ITV has recommissioned Birds of a Feather for a further series.

The channel revived the former BBC sitcom earlier this year following a 15-year break, and it has become ITV's most successful comedy launch in over a decade.

The new series - starring Pauline Quirke, Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson - will be the comedy's second run for ITV and the eleventh overall.

The eight-part run will once again be penned by original writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran with Gary Lawson and John Phelps, and will begin filming later this year.

Gran said: "We're delighted Birds of a Feather was such a success on ITV and really pleased to be asked to write another series. We hope the further adventures of Sharon, Tracey and Dorien will continue to thrill audiences young and old."

ITV's Director of Comedy and Entertainment Elaine Bedell added: "We're very pleased that the brilliant chemistry...

London -- U.K. TV giant ITV said Thursday that it will bring its version of Israeli hit singing competition Rising Star to British audiences. The Keshet International hit format, which features real-time voting, has also been picked up by ABC in the U.S., as well as being ordered up for Italian, Hungarian and other versions. The U.K. version will be co-produced by ITV Studios and Keshet International UK. Financial details weren't disclosed.   ITV director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell, said it is "rare that you find a genuinely innovative new entertainment format, but Keshet have come

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Ant & Dec have signed a new three-year exclusive deal with ITV, which will see the pair through to December 2016.

The duo will continue to host I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain's Got Talent, the last of which was recently confirmed for three more series.

Ant & Dec said: "We are thrilled to be extending our relationship with ITV for a further three years.

"After 15 years at the network we are still excited about continuing to make great shows for a great channel."

ITV director of television Peter Fincham said: "Ant & Dec are consummate entertainers, their talent is such that they make it look effortless, and their ability to connect with our audience is unrivalled.

"Our creative relationship with them is a strong one, and I'm delighted we are extending it."

ITV's director of comedy and entertainment Elaine Bedell added: "We love working with Ant...

John Kaye Cooper is to step down from his position as Controller of Entertainment at ITV at the end of 2013.

Kaye Cooper leaves the role after five years in order to spend more time with his family, but plans to remain in the industry on a freelance basis.

The TV mogul has managed ITV hit shows such as X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and Surprise Surprise.

In 2011, he helped the channel secure an exclusive ten-year deal for The Royal Variety Performance.

He is also responsible for commissions such as The Cube, Take Me Out, Piers Morgan's Life Stories and Catchphrase - the early version of which was the first show he ordered while he was Controller of Entertainment at Tvs in the 1980s.

Kaye Cooper said: "The last five years have been some of the most exciting and enjoyable in my career.

Stephen Mulhern is to host a new entertainment show for ITV.

The Catchphrase host will front Big Star's Little Star, in which Britain's best-loved stars team up with their own children to win money for charity.

The show also promises to give viewers a peak into each star's home life, possibly revealing "embarrassing secrets" and "cringeworthy crushes".

"Big Star's Little Star is a really lovely new show where kids talk about their famous mums and dads," said Mulhern.

"Everyone's a winner and even the viewers can play along. I can't wait to hear the funny stories and anecdotes about some of our best loved stars from the people who know them best... their kids!"

Elaine Bedell, ITV's Director of Comedy and Entertainment, added: "Stephen is a fantastic talent, and a brilliant host for this show, which is a real family entertainment gem."

Mulhern's recent Catchphrase revival proved a hit for ITV,...

The lineup for the 38th Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival has been released today and a special edition of The Great British Bake Off will open the event.

Hosted between August 22 to 24, the festival celebrates the best in television and features lectures, discussions and Q&As with talent from the UK and Us.

It was previously announced that House of Cards star Kevin Spacey would be delivering this year's MacTaggart Lecture at the event, discussing the rise of Netflix and new methods of TV consumption.

Mel and Sue, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will be opening the festival with a Bake Off session, testing the cookery skills of top TV execs.

Brian Henson, the son of Muppets creator Jim Henson, will host a festival session discussing the use of puppets on TV and the big screen, while James Bond composer David Arnold will hold a session about making music for the small screen.

Hollywood star Kevin Spacey will deliver this year's prestigious James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Spacey, who starred in this year's groundbreaking Netflix drama House of Cards, will discuss the shift in viewers' consumption of entertainment from traditional broadcasters to online.

"As a newcomer to the TV industry I am honoured to be invited to give the MacTaggart Lecture. Clearly this has been an exciting period for me personally but also I believe this is a time of huge opportunity, innovation and creativity for all of us who live to tell stories and engage audiences," said Spacey.

"I'm excited to share my thoughts and meet players from across the media industry. I'm also an Edinburgh TV Festival virgin so have no idea what I am letting myself in for!"

Edinburgh's exec festival chair Elaine Bedell said: "I'm thrilled that Kevin Spacey has agreed to deliver this year's...

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow will look after BBC Four during an interim period while the broadcaster searches for a replacement for Richard Klein.

Klein announced yesterday (May 8) that he would be leaving BBC Four to take over as director of factual at ITV.

Hadlow will be assisted by channel exec Adam Barker and schedulers Don Cameron and Owen Courtney, reports Broadcast.

Whoever takes over at BBC Four will have to handle a significantly reduced budget and a channel that no longer develops original drama output.

The BBC's new director of television Danny Cohen has two controller positions to fill, including his own former job as controller of BBC One.

BBC Drama boss Ben Stephenson and ITV's director of entertainment Elaine Bedell are believed to be in the running for the BBC One job.

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway has been renewed by ITV.

The network confirmed that the popular series will return next year via itsTwitter account, posting: "ITV today announces the recommission of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway for 2014."

The show has averaged 7.1 million viewers since its return in February, making it the most watched series since 2005.

Ant McPartlin said: "We've been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to this series, especially after four years off air."

Declan Donnelly added: "We've absolutely loved every minute of the shows this year and can't wait to get working on another series for next year."

ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: "Takeaway has burst back into the schedule this year with some brilliant, original and inventive pieces.

"It is a great tribute to Ant and Dec, and to the team, that it feels so fresh - and its success has shown...

'Splash!' has officially been picked up for a second series. The ITV celebrity diving show, starring Olympic bronze medal winner Tom Daley, will be back on screens in 2014 after the final of the first series - which was won by ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards - peaked with an impressive 6.6 million viewers on Saturday night (02.02.13). Elaine Bedell, ITV's director of entertainment and comedy, said: '''Splash!' has proved itself by building a big, enthusiastic, primetime family audience. We've seen some quite incredible bravery from our celebrities this series, and the scale of the dives they were achieving is in...

'Splash!' has officially been picked up for a second series. The ITV celebrity diving show, starring Olympic bronze medal winner Tom Daley, will be back on screens in 2014 after the final of the first series - which was won by ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards - peaked with an impressive 6.6 million viewers on Saturday night (02.02.13). Elaine Bedell, ITV's director of entertainment and comedy, said: '''Splash!' has proved itself by building a big, enthusiastic, primetime family audience. We've seen some quite incredible bravery from our celebrities this series, and the scale of the dives they were achieving is in...

Splash! will return in 2014 with a second series.

British and Olympic diving champion and bronze medallist Tom Daley will return to host the show next year.

© ITV

"I am over the moon to hear Splash! will run for a second season," Daley said.

"It's a dream come true for me to be involved in an entertainment show which has been so successful and also fits so well around my training schedule."

He added: "Splash! has put diving on primetime TV and diving clubs all across the country have kept telling me that they now have waiting lists, following the popularity of the show.

"That in itself is an incredible achievement and I'm very excited to be part of it."

© ITV

ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell added: "Splash! has proved itself by building a big, enthusiastic, primetime family audience.

"We've seen some quite incredible bravery from our celebrities this series,...

Splash! will return in 2014 with a second series.

British and Olympic diving champion and bronze medallist Tom Daley will return to host the show next year.

© ITV

"I am over the moon to hear Splash! will run for a second season," Daley said.

"It's a dream come true for me to be involved in an entertainment show which has been so successful and also fits so well around my training schedule."

He added: "Splash! has put diving on primetime TV and diving clubs all across the country have kept telling me that they now have waiting lists, following the popularity of the show.

"That in itself is an incredible achievement and I'm very excited to be part of it."

© ITV

ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell added: "Splash! has proved itself by building a big, enthusiastic, primetime family audience.

"We've seen some quite incredible bravery from our celebrities this series,...

ITV's director of entertainment Elaine Bedell has insisted that The X Factor is not in a ratings crisis. Speaking to Broadcast, Bedell branded the media criticism of the revamped show "ludicrous" and spoke highly of the new lineup. She reserved special praise for Tulisa Contostavlos for bringing "rawness" to the talent show, which has grown its share of younger viewers aged between 16 and 34 from 26% to 27%. However, (more)...

Christine Bleakley has been confirmed as the presenter of the National Movie Awards next month. The Daybreak host will present the live event at Wembley on Wednesday, May 11. It will be broadcast on ITV1 at the same time. ITV's director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell announced: "The results of the National Movie Awards are voted for by the public and we're delighted to be broadcasting (more)...

Caroline Aherne is writinga new sitcom. The 'Royle Family' creator has teamed up with Jeff Pop to pen 'The Security Men', a four-part series following security guards working the night shift in a Manchester shopping centre. ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: "We're absolutely delighted to be working with Caroline and Jeff - two writers at the top of their game. I believe together they have created some of the best comedy scripts for television. Combined with the talent and wit of our cast, The Security Men is a very fresh and exciting project for ITV." Caroline is now...

Caroline Aherne is developing a comedy for ITV. The Sun reports that the Royle Family star penned The Security Men with Jeff Pope. However, she is not currently expected to appear on screen. The four-part series focuses on the security guards working the night shift at a shopping centre in Manchester. Ashes To Ashes actor Dean Andrews and comedian Bobby Ball will star alongside Brendan O'Carroll, Paddy McGuinness and Peter Wight. ITV's director of entertainment and comedy Elaine Bedell said: "We're (more)...

Paul O'Grady's ITV1 chatshow has been recommissioned for a second series, the broadcaster has announced. The veteran comic, who returned to ITV in 2010 after four years at Channel 4, pulled in mediocre ratings last autumn. He said in a statement: "I'm really looking forward to being back behind my desk! We've got some fabulous guests lined up and I'll be having a good gossip and getting up to my usual antics!" Meanwhile, ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell announced: "Paul brings his own brand of irreverent humour and chat to the channel and we are delighted to welcome him back to ITV1 for (more)...

David Hasselhoff may have just lost a job when his reality show on A&E was canceled but he is not out of it. It has just been made official that the former "Baywatch" star would be one of the judges on "Britain's Got Talent", joining Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and also newly-added Michael McIntyre.

Piers Morgan who is one of the original judges left the show this year to replace Larry King on his late night show starting this January. Morgan also serves as one of the judges on "America's Got Talent" where Hasselhoff used to be.

"Britain's Got Talent is one of the UK's biggest entertainment shows and I'm delighted to unveil Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff alongside Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden in a stellar new lineup of judges," the ITV director of entertainment and comedy, Elaine Bedell, said.

As for McIntyre, he is signed to a...

ITV have confirmed that Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff will join Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell on the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judging panel.

The British comedian and the former ‘Baywatch’ hunk – who was dropped this year from ‘America’s Got Talent’ for his heavy drinking earlier this year – have been confirmed as judges for the upcoming series of the ITV1 show, which will return to TV screens in early 2011.

Piers Morgan left his Bgt judging position, so he could replace Larry King on CNN’s evening chatshow in the Us, Simon Cowell will be returning to judge the show’s live stages alongside Michael, David and existing judge Amanda.

Elaine Bedell, ITV director of entertainment and comedy, said: “Michael has established himself as one of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment in this country and, as someone who made his big breakthrough on the Royal Variety Performance, he...

ITV has confirmed that Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff will join Britain's Got Talent as judges for the next series. The pair will appear on the panel alongside the returning Amanda Holden when the series comes to ITV in 2011. Simon Cowell will not be present for the auditions but will reprise his role for the live stages. Elaine Bedell, ITV Director of Entertainment and Comedy, said: “Michael has established himself as one of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment in this country and, as someone who made his big breakthrough on the Royal Variety Performance, he knows exactly the pressures facing the acts on Britain’s Got Talent." Of his new role, McIntyre said: “I'm (more)...

Edinburgh--ITV1 boss Peter Fincham has defended the controversial use of voice-modulation technology in the British version of "The X-Factor," saying that he had not issued an outright ban on its use.

Fincham said he trusted the show's producers to "faithfully reflect" contestant performances and was confident that the technology had never been used to make performers sound worse.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival that wrapped Sunday, ITV's director of television and channels said his team had been reassured by conversations with "Factor" production companies Syco and Talkback Thames about the quality of post-production.

"We expect producers of 'The X Factor' to deliver the show in a way that the performances of the contestants faithfully reflect what went on," he said. "I am satisfied that they will deliver me a show that faithfully reflect the performance."

Fincham said the use of post-production in such programs was...

ITV's Elaine Bedell has claimed that Simon Cowell was "bowled over" by the talent on this year's X Factor. Speaking at the launch of the seventh series, the broadcaster's director of entertainment and comedy said that there had been no drop in the quality of contestants taking part in the reality show. "Both the production team and Simon this year agree that the quality of auditionees has been the best yet," she said. "I know Simon called me very late at night after the first Glasgow auditions and he called just to say how pleased he was with the day and how bowled over he was with the talent. "I know there are constant conversations about whether there are too many talent shows out there following up X Factor and Bgt, and whether there is a big enough talent pool out there. (more)...