JORDAN NORTH won over the nation when he screamed his way through I’m A Celeb as a contestant in 2020.
Now the Burnley-born radio host has become one of the most in-demand names in the industry — and he has his eyes on the biggest job on the airwaves.
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As well as hosting Radio 1’s drivetime show alongside Vick Hope, Jordan has landed a regular slot on the new series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and is fronting BBC challenge show Go Hard Or Go Home.
Now he has his sights on the station’s flagship breakfast show, which has been hosted by Greg James since 2018.
In an exclusive chat, Jordan told me: “Being on the radio really is a privilege. It genuinely is the best job in the world.
“There isn’t a day I go on air with Vick and we don’t have a laugh.
“Yeah, I’ve got a plan, I do want to do the breakfast show. Not right now as Greg is my best mate and he is absolutely smashing it, but I do want to do breakfast one day.
“It’s always going to be in the back of your mind that one day you are going to have to leave, that you won’t be in the job for ever.
“You would be stupid to think you are fine and you have years left, as you might not get your contract renewed.
“But I am really happy with our show at the moment and we are doing really well on the figures, so hopefully that is enough to let the bosses keep us for a bit longer.”
BBC radio bosses have hit the headlines over the past week for their shake-up of Radio 2, with Vernon Kay replacing Ken Bruce, who they have told to leave his hugely popular mid-morning show a month earlier than he planned.
Jordan said of new job for his former I’m A Celebrity campmate: “I am so chuffed for Vernon, I genuinely think he is going to be great in that slot.
“When we were in the I’m A Celeb castle, for ages he was saying to me, ‘The thing is, you kind of know you are not going to be at Radio 1 for ever’.
“He’s right, though I’d like to stay with the BBC and maybe go down the 5 Live route a bit then I’d love to go over to Radio 2, like Scott MIills.”
In a full-circle moment, Jordan has swapped the trials he was put through in I’m A Celeb’s Welsh castle for hosting BBC Three’s Go Hard Or Go Home, where he encourages eight contestants through a series of hellish challenges as they work to turn their lives around.
But old habits die hard for Jordan, who admitted he was just as much of a wimp hosting this time round as he was as a contestant on I’m A Celeb.
He said: “I had a nightmare the first day and fainted. It was a bit of a Gilian McKeith moment.
“I went dizzy due to the heat and I went down in stages.
“The medical team came rushing over and put all these wet towels on me, but it was nothing compared to what the contestants went through with their trainers.
“They were smashing it in the hotel gym. For a lot of them it’s all about mental health, why they train, rather than to get a six-pack. I did get them to give me a training day but it beasted me.
“I did one session and thought, ‘Never again’, and went to my room for a lay down.”
Kim’s gift of the Gab
Hundreds of fans lined the streets to get a glimpse of Kim Kardashian as she visited Dolce & Gabbana’s flagship store in Italy.
It was pandemonium when she arrived as fans clamoured to snap a selfie with her.
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The reality star wore this matching biscuit-coloured crop top and skirt as she dropped by the shop in Milan.
Kim had been in the city for fashion week and sat front row at the fashion house’s runway show over the weekend.
She shared pictures of her whistle-stop visit, where she posed next to an enormous photograph of herself modelling for the brand, on Instagram.
She told her 346million followers: “I love you Milan. I had to stop by the store to see the collection in stores since it just all arrived.
“What a surreal dream come true! And thank you all for coming to say hi to me there!
“I love you Domenico (Dolce) and Stefano (Gabbana) for making my dreams come true.”
Given all the free advertising they’re getting from Kim, I think she is helping make theirs come true, too.
Perri dates gig co-star
SMOOTH-moving Diversity dancer Perri Kiely has been using his charms to impress the ladies.
The Kiss FM DJ dumped his girlfriend of almost three years, Dancing On Ice producer Laura Smith, last month after falling for his panto co-star Jess Pickles.
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Insiders say the pair met while working on Snow White in Southend, Essex.
And after breaking up with Laura, who he met while competing on Dancing On Ice in 2020, Perri has moved on with Jess, even whisking her off on a romantic holiday to Milan, Italy, over the weekend.
A source said: “Perrie and Jess are an official item now and it’s been hard for Laura to see that.
“Perri really hit it off with Jess while working with her and even invited her to the Diversity Christmas party.
“Everyone was really shocked when he dumped Laura and even more surprised when he took Jess off on a fancy holiday over the weekend.
“Laura has been blindsided by the whole thing.”
It seems to me like Perri has a penchant for meeting women through work.
Let’s hope he doesn’t find someone new at Kiss FM – else Jess might find of this relationship that “It’s behind you . . .” sooner than she may have hoped.
Who will get a top gong?
DAVID TENNANT will go up against Paul Mescal, Tom Hollander, Rafe Spall and Giles Terera for a top theatre gong.
The Doctor Who star, nominated for the play Good, will battle them in the Best Actor category at next month’s Olivier Awards, which celebrate achievement in British theatre.
The nominations were announced yesterday and another TV star, Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, got a nod as Best Actress for Prima Facie.
Former EastEnder and Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis is in the running for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role for As You Like It.
The awards are at the Albert Hall on April 2.
Solo life is taxing for Alan
ALAN CARR has admitted he is gagging for attention in the bedroom since he divorced Paul Drayton last year.
The comedian said he is desperate for a man but is struggling to find anyone to get down and dirty with.
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He quipped: “I went through a divorce and I’m in that sl*gy stage now. I want to be a sl*g.
“I’ve got needs. My curse needs to be broken.”
Recalling a recent trip on his Life’s A Beach podcast, Alan explained: “I went to Sri Lanka with two couples and I was single.
“I felt like I was in the single bed with the mosquito bed, and I had to pay the supplement – it’s like an ugly tax.
“It’s not fair. I’m going to get a sex worker and I’m going to take them on holiday with me. They can carry my bags. I basically need a carer. A sex carer.”
Post to deliver on tour
POST MALONE is to tour here for the first time in four years.
The Sunflower singer has already played across North America with his Twelve Carat shows but there isn’t long to wait until he UK fans get the chance to seem him.
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He will play London’s O2 Arena on May 4 and 6, followed by Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on May 13, Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena on May 14 and Manchester’s AO Arena on May 16.
Fans will hear some of Post’s biggest hits from his fourth record Twelve Carat Toothache, including Reputation and I Like You.
Tickets for the shows, where he will be supported by Rae Sremmurd, go on sale on Friday.
Chris’s strip boost
CHRIS EVANS gave the shirt off his back in aid of charity – and his trousers.
The Virgin Radio presenter hosted an intimate event and celebrity auction which raised more than £400,000 for Buttle UK.
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And some of that came from generous souls who dug deep after Chris put the clothes he was wearing up for auction.
The charity helps children and young adults with grants at crisis points in their lives.
Gary Barlow was on hand to lend his support at the do near London Bridge, serenading five ladies with A Million Love Songs to raise £16,000 for the cause.
A day cycling with Tour de France hero Mark “Manx Missile” Cavendish saw the coffers boosted by £14,000.
Other celebs at the bash included singer Louise Redknapp, telly’s Richard Arnold and Peta Todd, otherwise known as Mrs Cavendish.
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