Queen singer Adam Lambert joins Sheridan Smith as a judge on ITV’s rebooted Stars In Their Eyes

HE knows all about stepping into his idol’s shoes after joining Queen in 2012 to sing the songs that were made famous by late superstar Freddie Mercury.

And now Adam Lambert is going to be judging members of the public on their own efforts after signing up to ITV’s revamp of Nineties classic Stars In Their Eyes.



Adam Lambert will be a judge on ITV’s rebooted Stars In Their Eyes

Adam is joining Sheridan Smith as a judge on Starstruck when filming begins next May.

An insider said: “Adam was delighted to be asked to join Starstruck and he snapped up the offer. As part of Queen his job is not to replace Freddie but to emulate his brilliance on stage, which he has done to huge success.

“And now he’ll be helping wannabe singers to do the same with their idols.

“Adam is a talented artist in his own right and bosses believed he was the perfect person to sit alongside Sheridan.



Gary Mullen as Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury with the show’s host Matthew Kelly

“Adam is fun, lively and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He seems a great fit alongside Sheridan and bosses are hopeful they’ll make a great on-screen duo.”

I revealed last month how Sheridan had signed on the dotted line for the job — her first big TV gig since she welcomed her baby son Billy in May.

The pair will begin work on the show in the New Year, dishing out advice to members of the public brave enough to take on their favourite singer’s hits.

It’s about time we had a new duo on screen, so seeing Adam and Sheridan together will be a breath of fresh air.



Adam Lambert on stage with Queen at a London concert

Stars In Their Eyes was a hit so I’m not surprised ITV bosses decided to breathe new life into the format.

Starstruck takes inspiration from the best bits of the Nineties show, which was hosted by Matthew Kelly and Cat Deeley.

So as well as singing their favourite artists’ songs, contestants will be given a makeover to help them look like as well as sound like their idols.

It’ll be interesting to see if they dust off the smoke machines too . . . 

Witches looking Goode

SKY series A Discovery of Witches is back next month – and here’s the first look at its two leads Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode.

The show, based on the similarly-named novel of the ‘All Souls’ trilogy, written by Deborah Harkness, follows historian Diana Bishop, played by Teresa, and vampire Matthew Clairmont, played by Matthew. 



Sky series A Discovery of Witches starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode is back next month

It pulled in a respectable two million viewers and was subsequently renewed – with the next two instalments following the second and third books in the series, Shadow of Night and The Book of Life.

Thankfully for fans, the series managed to get all wrapped up before Covid brought the world of telly to a halt earlier this year.

Crown star blasts MP ‘low blow’

I LOVED The Crown but I am beginning to wonder whether there’s more drama off-screen than on it.

The Netflix royal hit has yet again been a source of controversy as star Josh O’Connor blasted Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden for backing calls to have a disclaimer added to the series to remind viewers it’s fictitious.



The Crown star Josh O’Connor has slammed the Culture Secretary for calling for the show to add a disclaimer to the series

Josh said Dowden’s remark was a ‘low blow’ when ‘the arts are struggling’

Josh, who played Prince Charles in the latest series, said: “In my opinion, it’s pretty outrageous. Particularly in this time when he knows that the arts are struggling and they’re on their knees. It’s a bit of a low blow.”  

The actor said viewers are aware The Crown is a work of fiction.

He added: “You have to show them the respect and understand that they’re intelligent enough to see it for what it is, which is pure fiction.”

Netflix asserted that they had “no plans – and see no need” to add a disclaimer.

I think anyone who watches will understand it’s a TV series based on elements of truth, and not a documentary.

Good elf from C4

HERE is Channel 4’s Christmas advert for itself – with Bake Off co-host Matt Lucas narrating and doing his bit to spread a bit of festive cheer. 

Airing just before Gogglebox at 9pm tonight, it opens with Santa’s Head Elf breaking the news to his co-workers that Santa is thinking about cancelling Christmas.

The group – Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, St Patrick’s Day Leprechaun, Cupid and the Halloween Ghost – then descend into a bickering row about how to ensure Christmas goes ahead.

Hopefully it’ll bring a smile to a few faces after a truly rubbish 2020.