Television

Irish acting great Mick Lally dies

The actor Mick Lally, known to millions for his role as Miley Byrne in 'Glenroe', has died.

The 64-year-old passed away peacefully this morning after a short stay in hospital.

A native of Tourmakeady, Co Mayo, he was a graduate of University College Galway and taught briefly before becoming a full-time actor and founder of the Galway theatre company Druid in 1975.

Jedward

X-Factor rejects Jedward will record a new version of the Shake and Vac jingle later.

The Irish twins gained notoriety for their musically challenged performances on the TV talent show.

They've been hired to update the sound of the carpet freshener's adverts - which were hugely successful in the 1980s.

Graham Norton

Graham Norton is a frontrunner to take over from Jonathan Ross when he quits his Radio 2 show this summer

"Over The Rainbow" host Norton is lined up as a guest host next month as he steps in for Chris Evans on the breakfast show.

A source at the station confirmed he is being considered to step in for Ross's Saturday show when his contract ends, but nothing has been confirmed.

NO MORE SLAPPERS IN EASTENDERS

Eastenders stars have been banned from slapping each other - over health and safety fears.

Most famous Albert Square 'slaps' have always been done for real - like the time Peggy slapped Frank and Pat within seconds of each other at the Queen Vic.

But now actors have been told, the slaps must be 'staged' over fears they could injure each other.

CORRIE

Coronation Street star William Roache has revealed he's partially deaf. It means the veteran actor, who plays Ken Barlow, has to have special treatment on set.

He is 50-percent deaf in both ears, and needs visual cues from the  show's Floor Manager.

His hearing was damaged in a botched training exercise when he was a young soldier in the Army.

TV GOES INSANIA

Peter Andre has landed a 600 thousand pound deal with Channel 4 to host his own chat show.

The Insania singer's contract means he's set to go head to head with Jonathan Ross on Friday nights.

Stars being lined up for the first series include Cheryl Cole, Kerry Katona and intriguingly his ex-wife Katie Price.

The series is due to hit our screens in the summer.

SIEGE ON THE STREET

Coronation Street will be rocked by one of the soap's most dramatic storylines - just months ahead of their 50th anniversary.

Two long-running characters will be killed off after Tony Gordon returns and takes Hayley and Carla hostage at the factory. In later scenes,

Tony's former lover Maria, Becky and Roy are also taken hostage by Liam's killer.

TOUCH OF FROST

A Touch of Frost has come to a bittersweet end. DI Jack Frost's sidekick - Detective Sergeant George Toolan - was killed off in the final episode of the long running detective series.

Fans of the show starring Sir David Jason had been kept in suspense about the main character's fate after two alternative endings were filmed.

SNORONATION STREET

Filming at Blanche's funeral in Coronation Street was interrupted - after a member of the cast fell asleep.

Actress Anne Kirkbride was halfway through a moving eulogy to her screen mum Blanche when filming had to be stopped as the snoring grew louder and louder.

The culprit was none other than Malcolm Hebden - the actor who plays Weatherfield busybody Norris Cole.