The star-studded lineup for the new Stand Up To Cancer celebrity edition of the Great British Bake Off has been announced.
And it’s a wild ride.
Bolton-born comedic actor and presenter Paddy McGuinness, radio and TV presenter AJ Odudu, Radio 1’s Adele Roberts, and actor David Morrissey are some of the North West names joining famous faces like Olympic diver Tom Daley, reality star Gemma Collins, former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson, Loose Women star Colleen Nolan, and Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden on the upcoming The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off.
But while comics, reality stars, TV presenters, and British actors of varying fame levels are all who you’d expect to see a lineup like this, one famous face has really thrown people off – David Schwimmer.
Yes, that’s right. Whether you can believe it or not, the star of the most famous sitcom of all time, and everyone’s favourite wrongly-accused Blackpool corner shop cans thief, David Schwimmer, has laced up his apron and headed into the Bake Off tent.
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Say hello to our baking friends. Meet the stars hitting the Bake Off Tent to raise some dough for a very special cause!
What’s even more surprising is that the US actor, who is of course best-known for playing Ross Geller in Friends, was already supposed to have appeared in celebrity special of the hit Channel 4 baking reality TV show a few years back, but he had to pull out right of filming right at the last minute.
It comes after Schwimmer said in an interview that he’s a huge Bake Off fan.
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He told Radio Times back in 2020: “It’s competitive, but everyone’s so lovely with each other. It’s so not American!”
Finding out the now 56-year-old actor was a fan was what lead judge Paul Hollywood to naming Schwimmer as the celebrity he’d most like to see take part in the show after he had to back out of competing at the 11th hour.
David Schwimmer is on The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off 2023 lineup / Credit: Channel 4 & Love Productions
After the lineup was unveiled yesterday, fans have been taking to social media to share their shock at Schwimmer’s unexpected inclusion.
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“You managed to get actual David Schwimmer? Ridiculous!!!” one fan wrote on Twitter.
Other people were more literal in their shocked reactions, with another fan simply tweeting: “DAVID SCHWIMMER!!!!!” and a third person commenting: “… and David Schwimmer!! Wait! What???”
Plenty of Friends jokes and references were also made, of course.
The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off sees celebrity bakers enter Britain’s most famous tent and put their baking skills to the test as they tackle signature, technical, and showstopper challenges in a bid to be named Star Baker, while raising awareness and funds for cancer research and inspiring viewers to do the same.
The new series is set to air on Channel 4 later this year.
Featured Image – Channel 4
TV & Showbiz
Billie Eilish reveals the reason why chose Manchester to film her new movie
Danny Jones
Global superstar Billie Eilish has revealed the reason why she chose Manchester, of all places, to film her upcoming new movie.
The answer won’t surprise you, but we were buzzing with it nonetheless.
In case you were unaware, Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour is the new documentary and live concert film directed by Billie herself, along with some help from none other than James Cameron.
Being screened not only in cinemas but also in 3D (yes, that’s still a thing), the performance-based movie captures content taken from her run of gigs right here in Manchester. Here’s why she picked us:
Though it’s still no surprise, really, we always find it so surreal seeing some of the world’s most famous artists speaking so highly about our city.
As you can see, while she did quip that the schedule lined up production-wise, it was an easy decision to pick her four – yes, FOUR sold-out nights at Co-op Live, as the place to film the project based on the atmosphere alone.
“I fricking love Manchester”, said the 24-year-old, going on to add, “Honestly, Manchester is one of my favourite audiences ever.”
Manc fans simply couldn’t get enough of her, hence why she was able to book so many big dates at the massive arena.
Here’s the big surprise she brought out for the show we were lucky enough to be at:
We love Billie and, as it turns out, she feels the same about us.
The release date for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour movie is coming around early next month, with the film set to be screened in selected cinemas across the UK and beyond on May 8, 2026.
Speaking in the recent interview on the red carpet with the BBC, she also detailed how fellow Academy Award-winner Cameron contacted her first about the prospect of creating this immersive music project.
Imagine just picking up the phone to James Cameron – as you do…
Will you be watching? Better still, were you at one of the shows and plan to look out for yourself in the crowd, which is now soon to be splashed on the big screen?
Michelle Keegan to star in The Woods, another new Harlan Coben drama filmed in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Michelle Keegan is back with another Harlan Coben Netflix adaptation, once again filmed here in Manchester.
The Woods is a new eight-episode limited series, adapting Coben’s 2007 novel of the same name.
The chilling new mystery series begins with the disappearance of a young girl, Camille, from summer camp, then flashes forwards 20 years with the body of a man turning up – a man who was believed to have been murdered alongside Camille.
The missing girl’s brother Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland, now a top barrister and devoted single father to ten-year-old daughter Cami, becomes determined to uncover the truth about his sister’s disappearance, uncovering years of lies and family secrets.
It will be adapted for screen by Danny Brocklehurst, following on from the run-away success of previous Netflix series, like Fool Me Once, Run Away, and Stay Close.
The Woods will star Michelle Keegan, Tom Bateman, Mandeep Dhillon, Pearce Quigley, and more, with filming taking place right across the North West.
The book has previously been adapted for Netflix, but as a Polish language TV series – this time, it’s a thoroughly Northern affair.
Michelle Keegan to star in The Woods, another new Harlan Coben drama filmed in Manchester. Credit: Netflix / Ben Blackall
Coben said: “It’s one of my most personal novels. Like the story’s hero, Paul Copeland, I worked as a counsellor at a sleepaway camp when I was too young for the job.”
Tom Bateman said: “Harlan Coben’s shows are always such gripping events, so the opportunity to be part of his world is really exciting,.
“The worlds are so rich and interesting to play as an actor because they deal with ghosts and secrets, and they pull the characters into the most unexpected places. I cannot wait to go on the journey with the audience, step by step, as the buried secrets of the story come to light.”
And Michelle Keegan said: “What’s really exciting for me as an actor is that Lucy is dealing with these deep, personal secrets.
“So, I get to really explore her vulnerability and that emotional push and pull, which just makes the story feel so real and powerful.”
Of the cast for The Woods, Harlan Coben said: “What a thrill I get to collaborate again with the amazing Michelle Keegan [Michelle was the lead in Netflix’s Fool Me Once]. And Tom [Bateman] is such a huge talent and the perfect leading man. You can’t take your eyes off either one of them. They are the ideal Paul and Lucy.”
Netflix hasn’t yet confirmed a release date for The Woods.
Emily Sergeant -
8th February 2023 
