The UK's entertainment landscape continues to captivate audiences with a series of high-profile reality television series and significant legal developments involving celebrities. From the return of beloved shows like "Celebrity Gogglebox" and "Celebrity Big Brother" to groundbreaking legal settlements, the past few months have been eventful for the nation's stars.
"Celebrity Gogglebox" has returned for its seventh season, airing weekly on Channel 4. The show features British celebrities sharing their humorous and candid reactions to popular TV shows from their living rooms. This season introduces new celebrity pairs such as Jess Glynne and Alex Scott, and James and Clair Buckley, alongside returning fan favourites like Rylan Clark and his mum Linda, Nick Grimshaw and his niece Liv, and comedy duo Babatunde Aleshe and Mo Gilligan. Episodes feature a mix of popular and niche programming including "Squid Game" season 3, "Love Island 2025", "Clarkson’s Farm", "Celebrity Bridge of Lies", and more.
Similarly, "Celebrity Big Brother 2025" has returned, airing nightly on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, with its live final scheduled for April 25 at 9pm. Hosted again by AJ Odudu and Will Best, the show features spin-offs including Late & Live and a nightly live stream. This year’s celebrity housemates include EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, Mickey Rourke, Jack P Shepherd, Olympic athlete Daley Thompson, and JoJo Siwa, among others. 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. Previous winner David Potts won the 2024 season. The show continues to gain popularity, with over 100 million streams on ITVX, and features include exclusive interviews with evictees and commentary from hosts and guest celebrities.
In the realm of legal affairs, Prince Harry has settled his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group, News Group Newspapers , which included an apology for unlawful actions related to The Sun. Harry sued NGN over alleged unlawful activities by journalists and private investigators at The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World from 1996 to 2011. NGN, owned by News Corp, has settled claims from over 1,300 people. The phone-hacking scandal emerged in 2006, leading to arrests and the closure of News of the World in 2011. This settlement is significant as NGN admitted unlawful activity at The Sun for the first time and avoids a potentially damaging trial. Harry's deal is seen as a victory, and he plans to pressure politicians and police to revisit the scandal. This lawsuit is one of three major lawsuits Harry has pursued against British media, including successful litigation against Mirror Group Newspapers and pending action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Additionally, "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. Rumoured additional participants include Judy Murray, Lisa Riley, Richard Osman, and Daisy May Cooper. Production began in spring 2025, and fans can anticipate plenty of deception, strategy, and entertainment in this new twist on the hit series. A trailer has not yet been released.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the UK's entertainment industry, where reality television continues to engage audiences, and legal proceedings involving celebrities remain a focal point of public interest.
