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Tales from the Celebrity Trenches
Richard Bacon is in the Trenches
This week Richard Bacon joins Jamie for a brilliantly nostalgic trip through the celebrity trenches, reflecting on the highs, the lows and complete madness of British television.
Richard opens up about the infamous Blue Peter scandal that changed his life forever, why getting fired led to The Big Breakfast and how he accidentally found himself banned from Parliament for life after turning up with a six-foot rabbit.
There's also stories from the wild days of Live TV, getting banned from his local McDonald's, Glastonbury disasters, '90s nostalgia, and why television used to feel like the most magical place on Earth.
Along the way they discuss addiction, sobriety and the bizarre moments that only seem to happen in live broadcasting.
It's honest, nostalgic and packed with behind the scenes stories from one of British television's most fascinating careers.
Welcome to the Celebrity Trenches!
Got a tale from the trenches? Get in touch! Either leave a comment, drop an email to hello@celebritytrenches.com or WhatsApp us on: +44 7796 65712 starting with the word CELEB.
Follow us on socials @celebritytrenches
A Seriously Popular production.
Host and Producer: Jamie East
Co-Hosts: Alice Brine, Matt Richardson
Producer: Phil Stocker
Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard
Additional research: Chris Lockery
Editor: Rowan Jacobs, Alan Harris
Booker: Hannah Wetton
Artwork: Daniel McGarry
Editorial Support: Joseph Palmer
Social Media: Jack Webb
Youtube Manager: Sam Owen
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
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21. Brand Beckham: The Inside Scoop!
43:31||Season 1, Ep. 21The Beckhams are back in the trenches! Journalist and author Alison Boshoff joins Jamie and Alice to talk about her new book ‘Brand Beckham’, lifting the lid on David and Victoria and all the family drama that has had everyone watching VERY closely!Are the Beckhams the ultimate celebrity brand? Or has the whole thing become one giant family group-chat gone wrong? We talk Brooklyn, THAT first wedding dance & the fallout!In other news, Netflix has unleashed ‘Let’s Marry Harry’ and we have QUESTIONS! What makes 20 women want to compete to marry Harry Jowsey? Is this a new low for dating shows? Or is this just reflecting the “princess treatment” that some young men view as the new normal? Jamie and Alice share their hot-takes on the chaos, controversy and what the show says about the state of modern dating.Plus, we’ve all your listener’s comments & voice-notes as usual!It’s your Celebrity Trenches Weekly Dispatch! Let’s go!
20. Tom & Zendaya: Have they NAILED celeb life?
44:16||Season 1, Ep. 20Tom Holland and Zendaya hosted a secret private party to celebrate their wedding (after getting married earlier this year) at a posh hotel, but are they also the nicest couple in Hollywood? Jamie has met them IRL (his story is WILD!) and he has a theory about how they’ve managed to be the biggest stars in the world AND survive the celebrity machine without completely losing the plot!Meanwhile, has Raye finally found the husband she’s been singing about? A rollercoaster, Michael B. Jordan and quite a lot of phone footage has us asking: Is this the soft launch of Hollywood’s hottest new couple?One very lucky New Yorker discovers she’s been living in a mega star’s old apartment AND has been receiving their mail, leading to one of the strangest celebrity meet-ups we’ve seen in a while!Plus, Will Ferrell’s musician son Magnus has a song out, and it’s actually alright. So where do we stand on nepo babies? Is being “born lucky” enough to get you “through the door” to global fame? Or do you actually have to be good to survive?Buckle up, it’s your Celebrity Trenches Weekly Dispatch!
19. Ariana NEEDS A Break
34:24||Season 1, Ep. 19Welcome back, Trench Dogs, as we unveil this week’s incoming meteorites of news on our celebrity radar!Alice and Jamie dive headfirst into Ariana Grande’s sudden announcement that she’s taking a step back from public visibility after her ‘Eternal Sunshine’ world tour. Could anyone have predicted this? Do we underestimate the toll it takes being in the public eye?We react to Bruno Mars’ “audio-only" tickets sold for his recent Wembley gigs - where you can hear the gig, but can't see the stage OR sometimes even the screens! Is this the answer for budget-conscious gig goers? Or is it trading on the goodwill of super-fans who’ll do anything to see their idols?Elsewhere, classic 90s teen movie ‘Clueless’ is returning to our screens as a TV series, complete with Alicia Silverstone! Can a modern reboot ever live up to the iconic original? (I'm sure you can guess Jamie’s thoughts) Which reboots have worked? Which didn’t? Or is it just better to rewatch the classics we know & love?Holiday mode is still very much activated, so Jamie’s live from Cornwall, Alice is in her flat. Plus, she’s got a great take on a certain celeb who Alice thinks is one of the most honest celebs on socials at the moment!In other news, we cover making celebrity friends for life in the smoking area backstage at the Brit Awards years ago (who did Jamie befriend? How many tickets did he blag from them?). Plus, we can’t wait for Luke Littler’s new Netflix darts show. Could Jamie or Alice beat Luke at darts? You’ll have to listen to find out!It’s the Celebrity Trenches Weekly Dispatch - open for business! Go get it!
18. Holly on Youtube: Is TV Dead?
42:18||Season 1, Ep. 18This week, Alice and Jamie take a look at Tyra Banks’ new gig on ‘Project Runway’ (and her past on ‘America’s Next Top Model’). Is she now officially back in fashion? Or is Banks still in need of some runway redemption? YOU decide!Meanwhile - Is TV dead? Holly Willoughby’s back! She returns to our screens on Youtube. Is this the beginning of the end for TV as we know it? Or is starting your OWN channel the only way celebs can be in control of their careers?Elsewhere, the legendary singer of “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”, Bonnie Tyler, will have her funeral live-streamed for her fans across the world. Is saying farewell to your fave celeb just more “content”? Or has it become the done thing to do for “celebrity send-offs”?In other news, we talk about why influencers don’t make good TV hosts, why being a red carpet reporter is one of the hardest gigs in showbiz, Alice has an idea for what Claudia should do next, & Jamie takes us through his highlights of Latitude festival!Finally, as it’s summer, we’ve recorded this week’s episode at home - so if you watch us on Youtube you can be nosey & see what Jamie & Alice’s houses look like! Trench-dogs assemble!Follow us on Instagram @celebritytrenches Email us via hello@celebritytrenches.comOr WhatsApp us on 07796657512, starting your message with ‘Trenches’New episodes each & every Wednesday!Hosts: Jamie East and Alice BrineProducer: Phil Stocker
16. Can celebs ever UN-CANCEL themselves?
35:48||Season 1, Ep. 16James Franco has resurfaced on TikTok claiming he's seen an alien... but is this a genuine meltdown or Hollywood's strangest comeback strategy yet?This week Jamie and Alice dive into the bizarre return of James Franco and ask the big question: can cancelled celebrities ever really make a comeback? From Armie Hammer and Louis C.K. to Pete Doherty and Winona Ryder, they decide who deserves another chance and who should stay firmly cancelled.Elsewhere, they unpack the World Cup's star-studded new halftime show featuring Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira and ask why so many people thought it completely missed the mark. Plus ITV's ‘The Voice’ lands itself in hot water after a bakery publicly exposes the show's request for free cake, sparking a conversation about celebrity freebie culture, blagging and whether public shaming is ever justified.Throw in your listener comments and plenty of dispatches from the deepest corners of celebrity culture and you've got another week in the trenches!Welcome back…Follow us on Instagram @celebritytrenches Email us via hello@celebritytrenches.comOr WhatsApp us on 07796657512, starting your message with ‘Trenches’New episodes each & every Wednesday!Hosts: Jamie East and Alice BrineProducer: Phil StockerProducer - Osk Petursdottir
15. Pitbull Paparazzi Pandemonium
36:15||Season 1, Ep. 15Jamie East and Alice Brine are back with another Weekly Dispatch and this week Alice reports from the front line after surviving not one but two very different gigs. From joining thousands of bald-cap-wearing Pitbull fans to becoming a world record holder to navigating the picnic blankets and “call the manager” energy of a Lewis Capaldi crowd, there’s plenty to unpack.Elsewhere, the pair dive into the strange world of paparazzi culture from Lando Norris’ hilariously unconvincing escape attempt to the clever tricks celebrities have used to outsmart the cameras. Jamie also revisits some of the most infamous and shocking paparazzi moments in pop culture history proving that fame and flashbulbs have always been a chaotic mix.There’s also a chat with the Harry Styles tribute act who found himself face-to-face with the real thing at Wembley!As ever, expect hot takes, questionable analogies and plenty of celebrity chaos.Welcome back to the celebrity trenches!Produced by - Osk Petursdottir
14. Scream if you want to get richer! The INSANE fairground prizes at Taylor's wedding!
35:10||Season 1, Ep. 14Taylor Swift finally did it… and somehow turned Madison Square Garden into the most over-the-top wedding venue of all time!Jamie and Alice unpack THE celebrity event of the century, from Adam Sandler officiating and Paul McCartney performing, to Cartier claw machines, and one very questionable white tuxedo. Also is someone selling wedding napkins on eBay?Jamie nerds-out, transatlantic style, with our very own NYC reporter Margaret Abrams with all the rumours & fallout from Taylor & Travis’ wedding.Alice has a champagne hangover after going to the F1, so she lifts the lid on what VIP hospitality at Silverstone is really like at the British Grand Prix. Including: Henry Cavill sightings, backstage access and Martin Brundle's latest awkward celebrity interview.Harry Styles shares a wholesome moment with his own lookalike at Wembley, Adele sparks new album rumours, and the Trench Dogs are back in force.Welcome back to the Celebrity Trenches!
13. Taylor and Travis Are Getting Married At a Basketball Arena?
14:25||Season 1, Ep. 13Jamie and Alice are back in the Celebrity Trenches with Daily Mail US Showbiz Correspondent, Margaret Abrams – to talk about the one story taking over New York right now.Is Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding really happening this weekend... at Madison Square Garden?As rumours reach fever pitch, Jamie and Margaret separate fact from fiction, unpacking everything we know so far. From reports that the world's most famous arena has been transformed into a giant indoor garden, to the celebrity guest list, the extraordinary security operation and the Swiftie theories convincing fans it's been years in the making.Could this really be the celebrity wedding of the decade? Or is the whole thing an elaborate decoy worthy of Taylor herself?Whether you're a die-hard Swiftie or just trying to work out why Manhattan is buzzing, this is everything you need to know before the weekend begins.