TEN newsreader found dead

TEN's Perth newsreader Charmaine Dragun has died after an incident at The Gap in Sydney this afternoon.

"Police are investigating an incident at Watsons Bay," a police spokesman told the Daily Telegraph.

"Shortly before 4pm a woman, believed to be aged in her 30s, was sitting at Jacob's Ladder."

"Police arrived and located the woman deceased at the scene."

Network TEN has released a statement of condolence.

"Colleagues and friends of Charmaine Dragun, co-presenter of TEN's Perth News at Five, mourn her tragic passing this afternoon,'' CEO Grant Blackley said.

"We are all in a state of shock and sadness at this terrible news.

"Charmaine was a highly intelligent, vibrant and caring person, universally liked and admired by her colleagues."

"Our deepest sympathies go to her partner, Simon, and her family.

"We are doing what we can to support them and urge everyone to respect their privacy at this time."

The death is believed to be non-suspicious.

Ms Dragun was 29. Read more...

World of Animalia

Animalia, the highly successful illustrated books by children's author Graeme Base, will have its premiere on TEN next weekend.

But the Australian-made animated series has been given a low-profile timeslot of 12pm Sunday afternoons, which for a debut series is rather disappointing.

Crafted on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne, the $20m series of 40 episodes had its premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August. It will be translated into other languages meaning the alphabet-link of the stories is no longer a part of the storytelling. The series will also sport a modified appearance from the book illustrations, but Base, who served as one of the 5 producers, remains happy with the finished product.

He said the TV series will take viewers "somewhere quite profound and give you a depth that is really exhilarating."

Alex and Zoe are two kids who find themselves in an extraordinary situation. After stumbling across a magical portal hidden in the town library they're led to a parallel dimension, a sophisticated world called ANIMALIA.

www.animalia.tv

Animalia premieres at 12pm Sunday November 11 on TEN.

Additional source: The Age
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Nine in Food Fight

Nine is developing a new reality show, Food Fight, in which two local family-run restaurants compete for an overhaul.

Described as "a rehash of My Restaurant Rules, with a dash of Gordon Ramsay's trouble-shooting show, Kitchen Nightmares" the show is under the eye of former Block producer Julian Cress.

Cress left Australia with co-creator David Barbour to work at Granada Productions under David Gyngell after a falling out with local Nine management.

So far Cress is said not to be making a permanent move back to Australia despite media speculation about a return to The Block itself.

Food Fight is a great title, let's see how the show fares!

Source: Confidential
Read more...

Morning stars on song

Hungry for a taste of Take That's reunited success, the Backstreet Boys (minus Kevin) were back on the NBC Today Show this week, with their new single, "Inconsolable."

It's probably a good time to remind you that you can see quite a roll call of American music acts on those two early morning shows screening on Seven and Nine.

Coming up are Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and Duran Duran. Just add 24 hours to the date.

Here's the list:

Today 4am on Seven
Friday, Nov. 2 Andrea Bocelli (In Studio)
Tuesday, Nov. 6 Chris Brown
Wednesday, Nov. 7 John Ondrasik (In Studio)
Friday, Nov. 9 Fats Domino (In Studio)
Monday, Nov. 12 Aretha Franklin (In Studio)
Wednesday, Nov. 14 Celine Dion (In Studio)
Friday, Nov. 16 Trisha Yearwood
Monday, Nov. 19 Faith Hill
Tuesday, Nov. 20 James Taylor
Wednesday, Nov. 21 Natasha Bedingfield
Friday, Nov. 23 Wynonna Judd (In Studio)
Monday, Nov. 26 KT Tunstall (In Studio)
Tuesday, Nov. 27 Brian Setzer Orchestra (In Studio)
Thursday, Nov. 29 One Republic (In Studio)
Monday, Dec. 3 Chanticleer (In Studio)

Good Morning America 4:30am on Nine
Nov 13 Alicia Keys
Nov 16 Duran Duran
Nov 20 Jordin Sparks
Read more...

ABC bounces live netball final

The ABC has come under fire for making viewers in Victoria, NSW Tasmania and the ACT miss live coverage of the upcoming World Netball Championship on November 17.

With daylight saving viewers in those states won't see the game, expected to include the Aussie team, until 9:20pm following the ABC's regular programmes.

"Oh please, The Bill isn't even Australian," said Sydney-based defender Mo'onia Gerrard.

"That's really disappointing, that they can't get behind a national team in those states. That's where most of the players come from.

"It's sad. I reckon if it was soccer or footy it would be different."

According to the Daily Telegraph an ABC spokeswoman said, "We have adjusted our schedule to bring the netball final to viewers to the earlier timeslot of 9.20pm in the eastern states. We also have a commitment to the audiences that are coming in large numbers to other ABC programs such as New Tricks and The Bill," said last night.

Other states will see the game live. Read more...

UK's TV winners

David Tennant picked up the Best Male Actor and Doctor Who scored Best Drama at Britain's National Television Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall this week.

Who beat out tough competition from Life on Mars, Shameless and The Bill.

Other winners of shows popular in Australia included Catherine Tate and Top Gear.

Most Popular Entertainment Programme
An Audience With Take That Live
Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Deal Or No Deal
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
8 Out Of 10 Cats

Most Popular Entertainment Presenter
Ant and Dec
Fern Britton
Graham Norton
Jonathan Ross
Paul O'Grady

Most Popular Drama
Doctor Who
Life On Mars
Shameless
The Bill

Most Popular Actress
Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who)
Kara Tointon (EastEnders)
Lacey Turner (EastEnders)
Sue Cleaver (Coronation Street)

Most Popular Actor
Anthony Cotton (Coronation Street)
Charlie Clements (EastEnders)
David Tennant (Doctor Who)
James Sutton (Hollyoaks)

Most Popular Newcomer
Gemma Merna (Hollyoaks)
Jo Joyner (EastEnders)
Joseph Gilgun (Emmerdale)
Kym Ryder (Coronation Street)

Most Popular Serial Drama
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks

Most Popular Comedy Programme
Harry Hill's TV Burp
My Family
The Catherine Tate Show
Ugly Betty

Most Popular Factual Programme
Gordon Ramsay's F Word
The Jeremy Kyle Show
This Morning
Top Gear

Special Recognition Award
Jeremy Clarkson

Most Popular Talent Show
Any Dream Will Do
Britain's Got Talent
Dancing On Ice
Strictly Come Dancing
The X Factor

Most Popular Reality Programme
Big Brother
I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Shipwrecked: Battle Of The Islands
The Apprentice

Denotes winner.
Source: Digital Spy Read more...

Extra lifts lid on Chaser sketch

It's not a complete expose by any means, but one of the extras in The Chaser's "Jesus poo" sketch this week has detailed her involvement in a fairly unflattering light. Still as anyone who has been an extra knows, it's hardly a glamorous affair.

The sketch, which mocked apparitions of Jesus as having appeared in a toilet bowl, has since drawn the ire of Sydney's Anglican Archbishop. "It was gross and outrageous, a distressing and disrespectful parody," said Dr Peter Jensen.

Extra Alicia Hamilton has told The Bulletin, "the skit appeared on ABC and drew a furious response from religious groups. Just as The Chaser intended."

Hamilton was one of about 15 people dressed as miracle-seekers lining up outside a (somewhat pungent) toilet block.

"The only relief from the stench was the peasant character standing nearby waving citronella incense sticks around her head like a mad woman," she wrote.

The sketch was led by Chris Taylor who "appeared subdued on set compared with his exuberant persona onscreen.

"After four hours of waiting and filming, the Chaser crew's efforts yielded just a minute of film."

Not sure what confidentiality clauses the ABC has....
Read more...