BBC ONE

POP superstars Madonna and Kylie Minogue get into the groove as they film a comedy bar sketch for Madge’s special with Graham Norton.

Madonna, 67, invited Kylie, 58, to take part in the top-secret filming last month, having admired her career for over a decade, the Sun can reveal.

A source said: “Madonna and Kylie have long been fans of each other, so when Kylie got the call to make a cameo in the BBC special, it was a no-brainer. Rather than a performance, Kylie actually appears in the show in a light-hearted skit.

“She plays a barmaid, though, awkwardly, Madonna doesn’t like the drink Kylie gives her. It’s all very light-hearted.”

The Sun understands the pair have discussed hitting the studio together in the future.

The TV special, Madonna & Graham, airs tonight at 10.40pm on BBC One.

in vogue

Madonna, 67, looks half her age as she goes braless in sheer blue minidress at PFW

HUG UP ON YOU

Madonna & Charli XCX END feud with hug weeks after ‘dancefloor is dead’ swipe

It was filmed in Camden at Koko, where Madonna performed for the first time in the UK for just 200 people in 1983 when it was called the Camden Palace.

Graham said: “As a lifelong fan it is always a thrill to interview Madonna. But to meet her on the dance floor where she first performed in London over 40 years ago felt incredibly special.”

Kylie made a surprise guest appearance at Madonna’s The Celebration Tour in LA in 2024.

They performed Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 hit I Will Survive in a nod to Kylie’s 2005 breast cancer battle.

EastEnders Elaine Peacock star Harriet isn’t the only member of her family to star on the BBC soap

EastEnders star Harriet Thorpe is the sister of a well-known television actress.

As fans of the BBC soap will know, Harriet arrived in Walford as Elaine Peacock in May 2023 to reunite with her daughter Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

The former Queen Vic landlord was soon revealed to be in a relationship with George Knight (Colin Salmon), Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) former husband. Over the past three years, Elaine has gotten divorced, opened up her own Bed and Breakfast, and enjoyed a romance with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).

Away from EastEnders, the 69-year-old actress has starred in a number of other popular shows, and is famed for playing Carole Parkinson in the 1990s show The Brittas Empire.

She also worked with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders many times over the years, from starring in eight episodes of their programme French and Saunders between 1987 and 2003 to portraying the recurring role of Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous from 1992 until 2012.

Harriet has held roles in Alexei Sayle’s Stuff, A Bit of Fry & Laurie, Casualty, Material Girl, Endeavour, Midsomer Murders, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, and The Bill.

Away from the small screen, Harriet has appeared in several films, including Calendar Girls, and has worked extensively on stage, with her acting in productions at the Royal National Theatre and in London’s West End.

Harriet previously opened up about her childhood and her relocation abroad with her family.

Appearing on Loose Women in 2024, Harriet discussed all things EastEnders and revealed that she has a famous sister who is an actress.

Talking about her childhood, where her family’s move to Los Angeles, Harriet said: “My sister and I, who is also an actress, Matilda Thorpe, we were little children at a normal state primary school. Do you remember the food? It was all sort of grey? Memories!

“Suddenly I was in Beverly Hills and we went to school and they had an ice cream machine. They had pizza and chocolate milk!”

Who is Harriet Thorpe’s famous sister?

Harriet’s sister, Matilda Thorpe, has certainly followed in her sibling’s footsteps and also has an impressive acting career.

Matilda is best known for her role as Mandy Mosgrove in Desmond’s from 1989 to 1994, before landing the roles of Mother in How to Be a Little Sod and Mandy in Porkpie.

More recent roles include Claire Glass in Sick Note, Nina in One Life, and Auntie Melody in Back to Black, a biographical film about Amy Winehouse.

However, in a coincidence, Matilda’s early career saw her land a role in EastEnders years before her sister Harriet’s debut. Matilda played Rachel Ford on the BBC One soap back in 1998.

Family life

Harriet and Matilda are the daughters of novelist Gillian Freeman, who penned The Leather Boys, and Edward Thorpe, an actor, novelist and the ballet critic of the Evening Standard.

Harriet welcomed two children, a son and a daughter, with her husband, Howard Baker, whom she reportedly married in 1989.

Her son, Jack Thorpe-Baker, previously acted and starred in The Brittas Empire, Life is Sweet, and Ballet Shoes, which also starred Emma Watson.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer

Ella Bruccoleri shot to fame on Call the Midwife in 2018 and has recently bowled over period drama fans on The Other Bennet Sister

Ella Bruccoleri has made a surprise confession about her rise to fame as a television actress.

The 36-year-old star recently appeared as the lead in the BBC One drama The Other Bennet Sister, inspired by Jane Austen’s timeless Pride and Prejudice.

Based on the popular novel of the same name by author Janice Hadlow, The Other Bennet Sister turns the spotlight onto Mary Bennet, the seemingly unremarkable middle sister in Pride and Prejudice.

Upon its March launch, the period drama became an instant hit with viewers, with some critics branding Ella’s performance “absolutely lovely” and the show a “must-watch”.

It’s no surprise that Ella captivated viewers with her portrayal of Mary Bennet, as she is no stranger to historical dramas. In 2018, the actress rose to fame when she joined Call the Midwife as Sister Frances, a role she held for 4 years.

The popular character’s final episode in 2022 saw her playing a game with the children at the Mother House to correctly guess the name she had before becoming a nun. On her way back from her day of work, she injured her shoulder after a bike crash.

While she hasn’t been seen since Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) sent her to Chichester to recuperate, viewers did get some closure when they learned her given name is Rosemary.

Following her exit from Call the Midwife, Ella has gone on to play Miss Barragan in the third season of Netflix’s Bridgerton and appeared in all three entries of the recent Strangers horror movie trilogy.

In 2021, she starred as Anabel Dinsdale in All Creatures Great and Small and played a nun in the series The Last Kingdom.

Enjoying great success in her career, Ella has now revealed that she struggled to watch herself on-screen during her earlier acting days, including on Call the Midwife.

She told the New York Times: “The first year of seeing myself on camera, I was just miserable because I was like, ‘I don’t think that looks like me'”. But on The Other Bennet Sister, Ella was happy to retreat from vanity and relished Mary’s characteristic of an unflattering haircut and geeky glasses.

The story of an overlooked and undervalued young woman finally realising her worth resonates with her. “I relate to her a lot, and I see a lot of her in me”, she added.

Earlier this year, Ella also opened up to the Radio Times about her feelings on her earlier work on Call the Midwife, including why she quit the role:

“When I look back at my early episodes, I’m thinking, ‘Oh, that’s not good’. I learnt screen acting on the job, and it was invaluable”, she said. “It felt crazy quitting a great job but I’d started getting different offers, and I realised I love the variety of different things.”

The Other Bennet Sister and Call the Midwife are both available to stream on BBC iPlayer

EUROVISION fever is back in full effect as the 70th Song Contest kicks off at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle tonight.

The first semi-final will see 15 countries battle it out for 10 spots the Grand Final.

Can I vote in the Eurovision semi-final tonight?

In short – no.

Aside from enjoying the show, UK viewers are unable to take part in tonight’s Eurovision semi-final.

This is because we have been drawn into the second semi-final on Thursday May 14, 2026.

Eurovision rules state that you can only vote in the semi-final in which your country is performing.

FLYING THE FLAG

Where UK Eurovision stars are now, from £67k fraud case to phone shop staff

NUL POINTS?

UK dealt brutal blow days before Eurovision final as favourites to win revealed

That means Brits will have to wait until Thursday to vote, when viewers can have their say alongside France and host nation Austria, as well as the 15 competing nations.

How do you vote in the Eurovision semi-final?

UK viewers will be able to vote on Thursday.

Don’t worry, as full instructions will flash up on screen during the BBC broadcast.

The official website explains: “If you’re in a participating country, you can vote by phone or SMS.

“The instructions you will need will be on the screen during the broadcast, and you can also find them at esc.vote.

“Voting opens after the last song has been performed. You can vote up to 10 times, and you’ll have around 18 minutes to do so. Use your power wisely.”

You cannot vote for the UK’s own entry, in line with long-standing Eurovision rules designed to prevent home-nation advantage.

Why does the UK only take part in one semi-final?

The UK is a member of the Eurovision Big Five alongside France, Germany, Italy and Spain, all of whom automatically qualify for the Grand Final.

These nations are are the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – the organisation that runs Eurovision.

That pre-qualified status means the UK does not have to fight its way through the semi-finals, but is instead allocated to broadcast and vote in one of the two semis.

For 2026, Germany and Italy were drawn into the first semi-final, while the UK and France will join Austria in the second.

Spain has, however, pulled out of the contest entirely in protest of Israel’s participation amid the Gaza war, alongside Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia.

When are the two Eurovision 2026 semi-finals?

The Eurovision 2026 semi-finals will take place ahead of Saturday’s showpiece, with 30 of the 35 nations battling it out for 20 Grand Final spots.

Both start at 8pm and are live on BBC One and iPlayer, with the first on tonight – Tuesday, May 12 – and the second following on Thursday, May 14.

Rylan and Angela Scanlon will be providing commentary from the Wiener Stadthalle during both semis.

The order for the first semi-final is as follows:

• Moldova – Satoshi, Viva, Moldova!
• Sweden – Felicia, My System
• Croatia – Lelek, Andromeda
• Greece – Akylas, Ferto
• Portugal – Bandidos do Cante, Rosa
• Georgia – Bzikebi, On Replay
• Italy (non-competing) – Sal Da Vinci, Per sempre sì
• Finland – Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, Liekinheitin
• Montenegro – Tamara Živković, Nova zora
• Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, Too Epic to Be True
• Israel – Noam Bettan, Michelle
• Germany (non-competing) – Sarah Engels, Fire
• Belgium – Essyla, Dancing on the Ice
• Lithuania – Lion Ceccah, Sólo quiero más
• San Marino – Senhit, Superstar (featuring Boy George)
• Poland – Alicja, Pray
• Serbia – Lavina, Kraj mene

While the schedule for the second semi-final is:

• Bulgaria – Dara, Bangaranga
• Azerbaijan – JIVA, Just Go
• Romania – Alexandra Căpitănescu, Choke Me
• Luxembourg – Eva Marija, Mother Nature
• Czechia – Daniel Žižka, Crossroads
• France (non-competing) – Monroe, Regarde !
• Armenia – Simón, Paloma Rumba
• Switzerland – Veronica Fusaro, Alice
• Cyprus – Antigoni, Jalla
• Austria (non-competing) – Cosmó, Tanzschein
• Latvia – Atvara, Ēnā
• Denmark – Søren Torpegaard Lund, Før vi går hjem
• Australia – Delta Goodrem, Eclipse
• Ukraine – Leléka, Ridnym
• United Kingdom (non-competing) – Look Mum No Computer, Eins, Zwei, Drei
• Albania – Alis, Nân
• Malta – Aidan, Bella
• Norway – Jonas Lovv, Ya Ya Ya