BBC Two

A SONG by Pulp was wrongly subtitled with lines from Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple in a BBC blunder.

Phrases such as “Morning, Miss Marple. How’s the leg?” accompanied Jarvis Cocker.

Hard-of-hearing viewers were baffled as the frontman belted out Spike Island at the Mercury Prize awards ceremony on Thursday night.

Subtitles as he prowled the stage included, “Oooh then… Then the secretary girl came up with Heather Babcock”.

He also appeared to sing, “Dr Haydock, I would be very distressed if I thought you believed”, as well as “On and on she went” and “Honestly, she did go on so!”

Jarvis, 62, later posted snaps online, and wrote: “It appears our performance was accompanied by…… the subtitles to an episode of Miss Marple!”

LAUR & DISORDER

Brit tennis star in painfully awkward live TV blunder at US Open

Kat-ch up

Glam Sky presenter who made TV blunder is Wimbledon host & dating football chief

The singer, quizzed by police when he wiggled his bum at Michael Jackson at the 1996 Brit Awards, wrote: “Whodunnit?”

He added: “I suspect the butler….”

Fans lapped it up, with some saying they could be real Pulp lyrics.

Another joked, in the style of 1995 classic Common People: “Miss Marple from St Mary Mead she had a thirst for sleuthing.”

Christie’s 1980 movie The Mirror Crack’d, with Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, was shown earlier on BBC4.

Pulp were up for the award with new album More — but Sam Fender won for People Watching.

CHANNEL 4 is making a documentary on the Dunblane massacre to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the tragedy next year.

The BBC has already announced it will be doing its own programme, which will also mark three decades since 16 pupils and a teacher were killed by a gunman at Dunblane Primary School.

4

4

But I can reveal the Channel 4 one will have special meaning for its creators.

A TV insider said: “It is being made by production company Candour whose founder, Anna Hall, grew up in the Scottish town that was hit by the tragedy on March 13, 1996.

“So it will be imbued with real ­poignancy and, of course, it will be handled with extreme sensitivity.”

Chief Creative Officer Anna’s first ever film was about the tragedy — Dunblane: Remembering our Children premiered on ITV on the first anniversary of the shootings in 1997.

The programme was nominated for numerous awards including the RTS Best Single Documentary, an Emmy and a Prix Italia.

Now she and the rest of the Candour team — who also made the recent C4 documentary about the death of Jay Slater — are taking another look at the events of that dark day.

The massacre, which also left 15 people injured, remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history and led to a change in the law prohibiting the possession of most handguns in the UK.

Shooting

Last week the BBC announced it had commissioned a one-off hour-long documentary called Dunblane: The Shooting that Changed Britain.

Made by IWC Media it also looks at what happened in Dunblane, as well as the effect it had on the law.

Channel 4 have yet to confirm the commissioning of its documentary, though it is expected to be filmed this autumn, ready for broadcast in March.

4

Top Bill in Caddy Craic

4

HOLLYWOOD star Bill Murray is heading to Ireland for a new BBC travelogue.

The six-parter will see Ghostbusters and Caddyshack legend Bill and celeb pals tour the Emerald Isle’s top golf courses.

Insiders say the show’s about life, chance encounters and the joy of going off course.

Bill said: “I started out caddying, and golf was the best education I ever received.

“Ireland feels like the right place to put all that to work.

“They’ve got this wonderful word there, ‘craic,’ which means fun, but it means a lot of other things.

“A lot of good things.

“And this show will be about us finding it.”

Off Course (working title) is on BBC Two later this year.

LOVE Island winner Jess Harding has caused a stir after being spotted cosying up to a mystery man, now unmasked as BBC Three presenter James Blake.

The pair were seen getting cosy at the NTAs after party at London’s O2 Arena, sparking whispers of a new romance.

6

6

Eyewitnesses say the two looked “hot together” and “couldn’t stop laughing and flirting”.

One told The Sun: “From what I could gather, there was definitely a little bit of flirting going on.”

“There was a lot of giggling, a bit of charm, and they looked like they were having a good night for sure.”

Another source told The Sun: “They were introduced at the NTAs after-party and didn’t stop talking for the rest of the night.

“She was being pulled away by her Love Island friends who wanted her to have fun with them, but she kept going back to be with James.

“At the end of the night they exchanged contact details so it looks as though there could be a date on the cards.”

Onlookers say the Love Island bombshell and the BBC star were glued to each other for “nearly an hour”.

Meanwhile, Jess’ pals, some of whom were Love Island co-stars, were seen partying on the dancefloor.

“There was quite a lot of eye contact,” the insider said.

“It seemed flirtatious to me.

“They were definitely enjoying themselves.”

Harding, 24, who won Love Island last year, has enjoyed her singledom after splitting with her ex Ben.

Blake, 32, is a fast-rising broadcaster, fronting BBC Three docs like Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang and Hunting the Online Sex Predators.

The Belfast-born star even scooped the RTS Breakthrough Talent gong in 2024, making him one of the BBC’s most exciting new names.

Jess has been embracing single life lately after splitting with her ex.

We told how she had called it quits with her boyfriend Ben back in July of this year.

Harding won ITV2 show Love Island back in 2023 with her then-boyfriend Sammy Root.

They clinched a shock victory but did not last and split just months after leaving Majorca together.

The Sun has contacted a representative for Jess Harding for comment.

6

6

6

6

BBC star Michael Ball has been supported by fans after revealing the heartbreaking news that his mum has died. 

The star took to X to share a post of his mum, Ruth Parry Ball, to announce her passing. 

4

4

She looked in great spirits in the throwback photo, in an all white outfit with a wide brimmed hat on. 

Ruth died at the age of 91, and Michael penned to his followers: “Ruth Parry Ball1934-2025x” 

Fans flooded the comments with their condolences, as one person wrote: “Awww Michael I’m so so sorry.  Your heart must be broken.  I honestly know how you feel.  My Mum died on Tuesday and the tears has not stopped.” 

A second person said: “Michael I’m sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.” 

A third commented: “What a beautiful photo. So sorry for your loss.” 

And someone else said: “So sorry to see this. God bless her and all who love her and will miss her.”

Michael shared a close bond with his mum, and would often post photos of her on social media. 

Last year, he spoke about how they’d celebrated her 90th birthday with a post of them all doing a zipline. 

He said: “We celebrated my dear mum’s 90th birthday this past weekend with a trip to Wales with the whole family. What did we get up to, I hear you ask – well we took a 90 year old on the fastest zipline in the world of course! Mx” 

Michael and his dear mum could be seen smiling away as they got ready to take the zipline on. 

The star has an English father, and his mum Ruth was Welsh.

Michael’s dad is Tony Ball, who was awarded an MBE for services to the industry. 

Meanwhile, Michael was appointed an OBE in 2015 for his services to musical theatre.

As a teenager Ball joined a youth theatre, then studied at Guildford School of Acting.

His first role was in Godspell in Aberystwyth, but he got his first major break in The Pirate of Penzance in Manchester.

He later went on to play Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera before going on to represent the UK in the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest – where he finished in second place with the song One Step Out Of Time.

More recently, Michael has taken stage roles in shows like Hairspray and Sweeney Todd.

4

4

THE Repair Shop viewers have demanded the BBC show be axed – after ex-host Jay Blades’ rape arrest.

The Sun reported Blades, 55, has been charged with two counts of rape.

3

3

3

On Tuesday (August 5), the show returned to its usual 8pm slot, although Blades was not featured.

Writing online, fans have called for The Repair Shop to be axed after nearly a decade on air.

One penned: “Could never see the point of him being in the Repair Shop he never restored anything but worn a new leather apron the show is better without him now.” 

Another added: “Surely you must take the Repair shop off now if the presenter is accused of physical rape.”

A third queried: “Will the BBC be pulling repeats of The Repair Shop now?”

Police confirmed the allegations against the dad of three from Shropshire.

He fronted the hit BBC show for seven years before stepping back last year.

King Charles appeared alongside him on a special episode in 2022.

West Mercia Police confirmed charges against the dad of three, with a magistrates’ court date set for next Wednesday.

A spokesperson said: “Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape.

“He is due to appear at Telford magistrates’ court on 13 August 2025.”

The TV star is currently awaiting trial on a separate charge of controlling and coercive behaviour against estranged wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen, which he has denied.

He was arrested in May 2024 – on the same day fitness instructor Lisa announced her decision to end their 18-month marriage.

In September, Blades was charged.

His actions allegedly caused Lisa “to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against her”.

The presenter pleaded not guilty to the charge — which relates to the ­period between January 1, 2023 and September 12, 2024 — at a court hearing last October.

As well as fronting The Repair Shop since 2017, Blades also hosted BBC shows including Money For Nothing and Jay Blades’ Home Fix.

NAGA Munchetty “went ballistic” at intern for getting her porridge wrong insiders claim as the host is hit by a bullying probe.

The insider previously worked with Naga, 50, on BBC Breakfast and revealed the host is an “absolute nightmare” and would “kick off about the smallest of issues”.

2

2

A source has claimed that under-fire BBC presenter Naga Munchetty has a reputation for going “ballistic” at junior staff.

They also revealed that she humiliated an intern who didn’t make her porridge perfectly.

An insider told the Mail: “She has a reputation for going at young members of staff and making them out to be fools.

“She would kick off about the smallest of issues, including one time she went ballistic over her breakfast not being prepared exactly how she likes it by an intern.”

This included the occasion where Munchetty refused to eat porridge delivered to her by an intern during an ad break as it was too hot for her to eat in the time she had.

“The guy walked off the set utterly humiliated and went back to chuck it away before trying again in time for the next ad break, it was pretty brutal to watch,” the insider added.

A BBC spokesperson said: “While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. 

“We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed.” 

It comes as the BBC is set to launch an investigation into Munchetty following a string of complaints.

The Breakfast host has been placed “under review” while bosses consider escalating matters to a formal investigation. 

A source said bosses had heard from a number of aggrieved colleagues, logging concerns over her “hard” and “bullying” behaviour on BBC Breakfast and her Radio 5 Live show. 

She had also been hauled in by bosses over allegations she made an off-air sex jibe at 5 Live. 

The source said: “Following the amount of people who have come forward to share their experiences with Naga, the BBC has officially moved to place the complaints under review.

“The review is to ascertain whether a full-on investigation is required and that could come in weeks.” 

The Sun previously reported Munchetty faced complaints on 5 Live including a bullying claim and the use of crude, sexual language. 

Bosses were forced to apologise on her behalf after a tense interview with Spice Girl Geri Horner in 2023. 

Munchetty began work on BBC Breakfast in 2014 and covers Thursday to Saturday alongside Stayt, as well as presenting a Radio 5 programme three times a week. 

She is the BBC’s 10th highest earner, on around £355,000. 

We reported since the bullying row had erupted on BBC Breakfast, her team had approached LBC radio to seek out new opportunities. 

BBC Radio 2’s presenter switch-up has seen the channel lose half a million weekly listeners.

Back in December, former Radio 1 broadcaster Scott Mills, 51, was revealed as Zoe Ball’s replacement as she took a break from the plum presenting spot.

7

7

7

7

At the time Zoe, 54 – who had been absent from a handful of shows due to issues off air – told how December 20 would be her last early-morning programme after six years as she chose to “focus on family.”

Listeners were quick to spot three clues she was set to up sticks, including a family tragedy.

She has since returned to the BBC Radio 2 fold with The Zoe Ball Show, which airs every Saturday.

Yet between April and June 2025 the station has lost half a million listeners compared to figures from three months earlier.

Scott took over in January 2025.

Between January and March 2025, 13.11million listeners tuned into the station overall.

Yet during the most recent time period reviewed, this dropped to 12.62million.

Specifically for the Breakfast Show, figures marked 6.45million average weekly listeners from January to March.

Yet between April and June, this has dropped to 6.22million.

ALL CHANGE

Zoe’s last BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show was on Friday, December 20 – with “plenty of fun and shenanigans” ahead of Christmas.

Yet at the time, Zoe said she would remain on BBC Radio 2.

She said: “After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family.”

Telling her listeners about her decision, she said: “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.

Zoe Ball’s career so far

Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.

She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.

The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.

After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.

In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.

But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.

Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.

The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.

As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.

In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.

In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.

In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.

She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.

After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe announced she was quitting her role on BBC Two in May 2021.

Zoe’s journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.

After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.

In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and he personally announced that Zoe would take over his popular slot. She started presenting the breakfast show on 14 January 2019.

“We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.”

She added she would also miss her colleagues, saying they were “like family to me”.

The early morning presenter added: “But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest.

“You know I love you all to bits.”

7

7

7

A DRAGON’S Den winner and former Team GB gold medallist fraudulently used Covid loans to buy himself a £1.8million mansion.

Rick Beardsell illegally pocketed £100,000 worth of taxpayers cash to purchase his home – despite receiving a £75,000 investment during his stint on the BBC show.

6

6

6

The 46-year-old fiddled two Covid Bounce Back loans to buy himself five-bed Holly House in the exclusive village of Prestbury, Cheshire.

Dad-of-two Beardsell was only entitled to apply for one loan worth £50,000, but fraudulently applied for two and greatly exaggerated his annual turnover by up to 23 times.

It came after the world champion sprinter had successfully secured investments from TV Dragons Tej Lalvani and Deborah Meaden for his successful protein shake bottle business, ShakeSphere.

Chester Crown Court heard he applied for the loan to prop up his other company, Sports Creative Ltd, but none of the money went towards the sportswear business.

Prosecutor Geoff Whealan told the court Beardsell made the fraudulent applications to HSBC in December 2020 and then to NatWest in January 2021.

He said: ”The defendant stated on the HSBC form that the turnover of Sports Creative was £485,000 and on the NatWest form said it was £320,000.

“But unaudited financial statements showed turnover for the year end February 2020 was £20,622.

”The turnover was clearly exaggerated to secure the maximum bounce back loan.

“Subsequent transactions showed the bounce back loan funds were not being used for the economic benefit or business purposes of Sports Creative at this time.”

The money arrived in Sports Creative’s account in January 2021, but then almost £400,000 was transferred to Beardsell’s personal Santander account in the space of six months.

Then £431,160.80, including the remaining bounce back loan funds, was transferred to a firm of solicitors for the purchase of Holly House he bought with his wife Ezster.

Mr Whelan added: ”In effect the bounce back loan funds had been used for this purchase.

“It can be inferred from the defendant’s conduct that it was his intention to use the bounce back loans for this purpose at the time he made the application for it.”

Beardsell, who won two World Records for sprinting, faced three years in jail after he admitted two charges of fraud.

In October 2024, he attended an interview under caution at the Insolvency Services offices.

In a statement he said: ”The guidance pertaining to Bounce Back Loans indicated that the proceeds of such loans may be utilised for any purpose that yields a direct benefit to the company.

”At that juncture, I sought professional advice and was advised that such purposes include, but are not limited to, the coverage of overhead expenses or outstanding liabilities, as well as the investment in company assets or property.

“The funds that were transferred to my personal account constituted a director’s loan and other economical overheads for the business.”

Mitigating, his counsel Nichola Cafferkey explained that the loans had been repaid in full to the banks.

She said: ”The loss of his good character is of some significance in respect of a man who has dedicated his life to his family, his professional entities and also his sporting endeavours.

“These offences were out of character and were committed four years ago.

“He has taken responsibility and repaid the money back. He knows that it’s his own fault.

“He has brought shame on his family and brought shame on himself.

”His wife is also his business partner and concerns that they have had about the ability to provide financially for their young children have been significant.”

The court also heard that Beardsell had suffered a series of medical issues both before and after securing the loans.

Ms Cafferkey continued: “A year prior to the submission of the first loan application, the defendant was diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer and required surgery and extensive chemotherapy.

“The chemotherapy was successful but led to some significant side effects.

”One of those being vertigo, of which he had a severe episode which required hospitalisation and thereafter there are ongoing long-term issues as a result of that.

6

6

“The investigations brought on by the defendant’s own actions has had an impact on his family which has led to a situation where he has been experiencing significant stress over the past few years.

“On top of that there are ongoing knee pains associated with his athletic success at national and international level.

“He has been running a business for many years without issue and it is plain he is extremely remorseful and regretful for his actions.

“The impact on his wife’s physical health in terms of stress and strain has been significant. There has been significant weight loss and insomnia.

“This will be the only time that Richard Beardsell appears before the court.”

Beardsell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £11,142.70.

Judge Simon Berkson told Beardsell: “You fraudulently lied and lied again in your applications for these loans.

“They were supposed to be for use in keeping your business running but the money was used for your own personal needs and the needs of your family.

“This is not a victimless crime. The government was trying to help struggling businesses at the time of national crisis.

“People were in lock down, people were dying and people were very ill at the time when people required their public services.

“You used fraudulently obtained public funds for your own use, depriving honest people of the scheme’s funds when the country was in crisis.

“You are a generally successful man both in business and in sports, particularly your involvement with athletics.

“You continue to run your business and it was on the TV programme Dragons’ Den.

“You are a married person with two children and they are young children. You have survived an aggressive form of cancer.

“I have concluded that an immediate custodial sentence would have a significant harmful impact on your wife and children.”

6