Ed Balls

The Tower

ITV

Monday 8 November, 9pm

Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones) leads ITV’s new crime thriller The Tower, adapted from former Met Police Officer Kate London’s Metropolitan series of novels.

Driven by dramatic technological and cultural advancements, the celebrity industry has seen seismic growth in recent times.

The series will chart the rise from the early days of reality television, through the emergence of social media stars and celebrity politicians, to our present day obsession with fame, which now impacts every aspect of our lives.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman’s critique of Ed Balls’ The Mask-themed Samba spoke for the nation a few weeks ago. Ed Balls has defied expectations to become one of the most popular contestants on the show.

Despite coming bottom of the leaderboard throughout the series, Balls and dance partner Katya Jones have escaped elimination each week.

“Even those who didn’t like him before are warming to him now” Jones says. “He’s just a normal human who came in knowing nothing about dance, and he’s trying so hard.”

“Every ballroom dancer in the competition world, once they stop competing, they want to join the programme,” says Gorka Marquez.

Marquez is one of six new professionals who joined the Strictly Family in 2016, along with husband and wife dancing duo Katya and Neil Jones, AJ Pritchard, Chloe Hewitt and Oksana Platero.

Until the shock elimination last weekend, he was partnered with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson.

“I think the time wasn’t right for her because she was a good dancer. I think it was too early” he protests.

Rutherford has just returned from the Rio Olympics where he won a bronze medal in the long jump final. He announced his taking part in the celebrity dance contest on BBC's The One Show alongside actors Lesley Joseph and Tameka Empson.

Joseph is most remembered for her role in the 1990's hit sitcom Birds of a Feather, where she played promiscuous neighbour Dorien, while Empson rose to prominence in her hidden camera comedy 3 Non-Blondes in 2003. She currently stars on EastEnders as the bubbly but vicious Kim Fox.

This year’s famous cohort of willing amateur bakers features comedians, singers, sports personalities and politicians.

One face that you will not be seeing however, is regular host Sue Perkins who is leaving her long-time performing partner Mel Giedroyc to host it alone for one episode.

Comedians Ed Byrne, Jennifer  Saunders and Sarah Millican will also each take a turn at helm.