Bobby Brazier’s whole family set for stardom as dad and brother land major reality show
After dancing his way to the final, Bobby can sit back and revel in his dad and brother feeling the pressure for a bit
JEFF Brazier is making the most of his family being in the spotlight after son Bobby was a sensation on this year’s Strictly.
The presenter, who is a familiar face to millions on the Postcode Lottery ads, is seeing his career get a real boost, this time courtesy of his other lad.
I can reveal that Jeff and his youngest son Freddie will be appearing on next year’s Celebrity Race Around the World on BBC One.
It comes after I revealed that EastEnders actor and Strictly finalist Bobby and his dad were already in talks about another travelogue that would also air on BBC.
A TV insider said: “Being in the audience almost every week on Strictly has certainly helped to raise the profile of Jeff.
“Bobby’s done wonders for the Brazier name and it seems producers want to get in on the action as soon as possible.
“It’s a bit of a coup to have got on Celebrity Race Against the World, as it turned out to be one of 2023’s biggest telly hits.”
The show, a spin-off of the non-celeb version that started in 2019, had more than 4million viewers tuning in.
The show challenges family pairs to get from one point on the globe to another, with only limited time and resources.
In the the first celebrity series this autumn, Good Morning Britain weatherman Alex Beresford triumphed alongside his dad Noel.
The pair narrowly beat McFly drummer Harry Judd and his mum Emma as they journeyed from Morocco to Norway on a 6,200-mile route that took them through 24 countries.
Jeff and Freddie are likely to face a similarly gruelling challenge.
After dancing his way to the final, Bobby can sit back and revel in his dad and brother feeling the pressure for a bit.
ABBEY IS A WHIZZ AT WHEEL
ABBEY Clancy is the star at the top of the festive tree on Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel quiz show.
Proving her brains as well as beauty, the model turned TV host joins Scott Mills, Judi Love, Joe Marler, Nigel Havers, Carol Vorderman and Aled Jones for the BBC One Christmas Day show.
Viewers might think Abbey has it easy when given the category Father Christmas but I can reveal she was more than up for the tricky questions.
She ends the show as top expert, answering the most questions correctly.
A source said: “Abbey will no doubt surprise viewers with her general knowledge on the Christmas Wheel, despite going up against seemingly brainier experts like Carol and Nigel.
“The other celebrity guests were no match for her.”
FESTIVE tunes are banned at Claudia Winkleman’s till December – on hubby Kris Thykier’s orders.
But the star, whose Channel 4 show The Piano returns for a festive special at 8.45pm on Monday, loves when the boycott ends, saying: “From December 1, all we play is Christmas music.”
A GRUFF ATTITUDE TO XMAS
JULIA DONALDSON’s animated stories are part of the festive TV tradition.
But deep down the children’s writer is a bit of a Grinch who hates celebrating the big day too early.
Gruffalo creator Julia, whose story Tabby McTat is on BBC One on Christmas Day, said with a laugh: “If somebody asks me to turn on their Christmas lights in November, I won’t do it.
“And the idea of buying a Christmas present before December is shocking.
“If Christmas can start two months before December 25, then it should go on for at least a month afterwards.
“January is the month when we need a lift.”
The tale of Tabby McTat, the busker’s cat, features Rob Brydon as the voice of musician Fred, and Jodie Whittaker as the narrator.
WHO’S A JOELLY SANTA?
FOR a man who says he hates Christmas, Joel Dommett looks fabulously festive for the Masked Singer Christmas special.
But it is not presenting the ITV1 series’ first ever Christmas show, on Christmas Day at 7:30pm, that’s got him getting into the spirit – it’s becoming a dad for the first time.
His wife Hannah Cooper gave birth in September to their son Wilde.
He told me: “I’ll be honest, I don’t like Christmas usually, but because I have a new baby I’m very excited this year and I’ve got my son so many silly outfits.
“It’s what Christmas is all about – wrap them in a bit of tinsel and put them on Instagram. It’s why you have a child, right?”
DAVIDE’S ON SONG FOR EKIN
ITALIAN stallion Davide Sanclimenti admits he used the upcoming Britain Get Singing to serenade his girlfriend and fellow Love Islander Ekin-Su Culculoglu.
The ITV show, to be fronted by Roman Kemp on Christmas Eve, will see celebrities join a festive sing-off to encourage more conversations about mental health.
It is a second outing for the show, which first aired last Christmas.
And for Davide it was the perfect excuse to romance Ekin-Su, who was watching the action from the audience.
He told me: “I can’t sing at all so watching me has been quite entertaining, and Ekin came to support me and enjoy the show.
“When I was singing, I watched her in the audience and dedicated them to her.
“It was a romantic moment for us, it was lovely.
“Luckily, I didn’t forget my words, I sang some in Italian.”
KING Gary comic Tom Davis is the latest celebrity to join host Greg James for Sports Funniest 2023, on Sky Max and NOW on December 27 at 9pm.
Comedians Guz Khan and Maisie Adam are also lined up for the show, which will look back at sporting mishaps from the year.
BAD CALL WITH FAKE FLAKES
FILMING the Call The Midwife Christmas special in summer always throws up challenges – because of the snow machine.
According to the cast, scenes with fake flurries never go to plan.
Olly Rix, who plays aristocrat Matthew Aylward, revealed: “There’s always fake snow and it’s nightmarish.
“You’re on a set that looks like a bubble bath.
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“Or it’s not enough and you have to keep cranking up the machine.”
His co-star Stephen McGann, who will appear as Dr Patrick Turner in the BBC One special on Christmas Day, added: “We filmed the episode in summer, but still they managed to convert these Victorian streets to look freezing, misty and dark.”
