The UK entertainment industry is abuzz with recent developments, from the return of popular reality shows to significant legal victories and evolving industry dynamics. Here's a roundup of the latest news involving UK celebrities.
**Celebrity Big Brother 2025 Returns with Star-Studded Line-Up**
Celebrity Big Brother 2025 has made a grand return, airing nightly on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, with its live final scheduled for April 25 at 9pm. Hosted once again by AJ Odudu and Will Best, the show features a diverse group of celebrity housemates, including EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, actor Mickey Rourke, Coronation Street's Jack P Shepherd, Olympic athlete Daley Thompson, and singer JoJo Siwa. As of now, Chesney, Chris, Danny, Donna, Jack, and JoJo are the six finalists competing for the top prize. The house has moved to a new location, and viewers can connect with the show through behind-the-scenes content and late-night coverage. The series continues to captivate audiences, with over 100 million streams on ITVX, and includes exclusive interviews with evictees and commentary from hosts and guest celebrities.
**Celebrity Traitors UK Set to Premiere with Star-Studded Cast**
Celebrity Traitors UK is set to premiere on BBC1 later in 2025, likely in late summer or early autumn, following the success of The Traitors UK season 3. Hosted once again by Claudia Winkleman, this celebrity edition will see well-known faces competing in the popular murder-mystery format. Confirmed participants include Tom Daley, Bob Mortimer, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, and Clare Balding, among others. The show, filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, will follow the usual format: celebrities will start as Faithfuls, with a few secretly selected as Traitors aiming to deceive the rest. Through missions, players build a prize fund of up to £120,000, with celebrities aiming to win up to £100,000 for charity. Regular banishments and “murders” spice up the gameplay, culminating in either the Faithfuls or a remaining Traitor claiming the prize.
**Prince Harry's Legal Victory Over Murdoch's Newspaper Group**
Prince Harry has achieved a significant legal victory over Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper group, News Group Newspapers . The publisher admitted for the first time to unlawful actions at its tabloid, The Sun, and agreed to a substantial damages payment. Harry had accused NGN of illegally obtaining private information about him from 1996 to 2011 and intruding into the private life of his late mother, Princess Diana. The settlement is reported to be over £10 million, mainly covering legal fees. NGN issued an apology for the serious intrusion into Harry's private life. This case marked a significant moment in the ongoing battle against media intrusion in the UK.
**Industry Shifts: Politicians Engage with Social Media Influencers**
The British political landscape is witnessing a media shift as an increasing number of voters, including older age groups, consume news via online videos and platforms like YouTube. Reflecting this trend, Downing Street is set to host its first-ever reception for social media influencers, with 70–90 attendees across various niches. Labour leader Keir Starmer will address them, acknowledging the growing influence of digital media in reaching swing voters. A key chart from Ofcom’s Media Nations report underscores the broad uptake of video-on-demand, even among over-75s, highlighting the changing nature of how information is consumed.
**Upcoming: Strictly Come Dancing 2025**
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in Autumn 2025, following the success of its 2024 season, won by Chris McCausland and partner Dianne Buswell. While the official celebrity lineup has not yet been confirmed, rumored participants include actress Martine McCutcheon, TV presenter Stacey Solomon, and comedian Miranda Hart. The show will welcome two new professional dancers: Alexis Warr, a winner of "So You Think You Can Dance" USA, and Julian Caillon, an alum of Australia’s "Dancing With The Stars." Returning professionals include established names like Dianne Buswell, Gorka Marquez, Katya Jones, and Johannes Radebe. The judging panel remains unchanged, featuring Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke. Veteran hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will also return. As usual, fans can look forward to themed weeks, dazzling group routines, and a trip to Blackpool’s iconic Tower Ballroom. Further details, including the full celebrity line-up and the premiere date, will be announced closer to the season's launch.
