UK MP back after Aussie jungle jaunt

UK politician Nadine Dorries has been reinstated in to Parliament after she came to Australia for the filming of the British reality TV show I'm a Celebrity .. get me out of here. Source: Supplied

A BRITISH politician booted out of Parliament after she flew to Australia to star in the British version of the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity ? Get Me Out Of Here has been reinstated after apologising for her jungle jaunt.

Nadine Dorries made headlines on both sides of the world after she was spotted frolicking in the jungle on the NSW-Queensland border instead of taking her place as a Conservative whip in Westminster.

The 55-year-old at the time defended her absence claiming that being filmed in the Aussie jungle with other B-grade celebrities gave her a platform to discuss important issues affecting her East England Mid Bedforshire constituents. She insisted that she had sought permission to be absent, a claim that was denied by her party.

Today Ms Dorries had her position restored after apologising for taking part in the show while parliament was sitting and missing key parliamentary issues and votes.

Chief Whip Sir George Young restored her to parliament and declared the issue over.

"Nadine has apologised to the Chief Whip for absenting herself from her parliamentary duties without permission and has given assurances to the Whips Office that she will follow the same procedure as other Conservative Members of Parliament before going away when the House is sitting," a Conservative Party spokesman said.

Ms Dorries has been a Member for more than seven years and earns more than AUD$100,000 a year as a politician but potentially earned another $60,000 for her appearance on the TV show, which requires contestants to take challenges such as eating crocodile penises, kangaroo testicles and tolerate spiders and insects.

"I am delighted, it is long overdue," Ms Dorries said of her reinstatement.

There is some speculation for being restored followed fears she could defect to the Ukip party following a surge in popularity and plummeting confidence in the Tories.

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Ten says Aussie Bachelor confirmed

The US Bachelor show is well established, but will the idea come up roses in Australia? Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: News Limited

CHANNEL 10 has started its search for a little ratings love after commissioning an Australian version of the international dating series The Bachelor.

In a positive sign the embattled network is not averse to prime-time punts like this one, producers have begun casting the net widely for the country's most eligible man who will then court 25 single ladies - in the hope of wooing one down the aisle.

While local audiences are familiar with the US series, which airs on Nine's digital channel Go!, the new Shine production is the first time the series has been made in Australia.

It comes as the US series, now in its 18th season, pulled record ratings for its broadcaster ABC (America), with the 'final rose' episode watched by more than 10.8 million viewers.

Ten's programming boss Beverley McGarvey said the network was poised to announce a number of new shows ("a mix of shiny floor and drama'') in the coming weeks and would continue to take risks on big brand programming despite a run of disappointments.

"Our audience responds well to new shows and it's important to find that balance between new franchises and the programs we have returning like Offspring and MasterChef that work so well for us. The Bachelor is part drama, part soap opera.''

Dating shows have been hot property around the world, with Channel 7 ordering a second season of Please Marry My Boy while Nine is yet to confirm a comeback for The Farmer Wants A Wife.

With more than six million Australians counted as single in the 2011 Census data, Ten will be hoping to tap into the growing market for matchmaker services and the luckless singletons looking for love.

The network will be hoping The Bachelor (to air later this year) will break its dating show curse, after its last effort Yasmin Is Getting Married went down as one of the biggest flops in Australian television history (not helped by the late name change, after the original heroine Renee ran off and got married before the show made it to air).

To nominate a bachelor or sign up to date one, click here

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Abdul paid $1.2m to host Aussie TV show

Paula Abdul has reportedly been offered $1.2 million to host a new Aussie TV show. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

A MELBOURNE producer claims former American Idol judge Paula Abdul will host a new Australian television show.

Anthony Chidiac, producer of start-up show Turn It Up TV, claims "Abdul has accepted a $1.2 million offer to host the first episode," which will be filmed at the Royal Melbourne Show Entertainment Dome in September.

In a statement released yesterday, Chidiac, said: "Paul Abdul will visit Australia for the very first time in the week of 16-23 September, 2013."

Chidiac said Abdul will do a "possible special performance in Sydney on September 18 or 19."

He claimed Abdul will host Turn It Up TV at the Royal Melbourne Show Entertainment Dome on September 21.

He said: "The goal for Paula to come out for the first time to Australia and do some amazing things with us is an honour, priviliege, and history in itself."

Abdul, a singer and choreographer, had hits including Straight Up, Opposites Attract and Rush Rush.

She also starred as an American Idol judge alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.

Abdul is yet to confirm Chidiac's claims.

Her management and publicity teams could not be reached for comment.

A manager at the Royal Melbourne Show said he was unaware of Abdul’s visit, and referred the matter to the event’s publicists, Wrights PR.

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Sick Ellen postpones Aussie tour

More than 1000 Ellen fans flocked to Sydney Opera House for the chance to win a trip to Hollywood to watch the filming of her show.

Vocal fans of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres flocked to Southbank in anticipation of meeting her.

The two lucky ladies, chosen from the thousands at Ellen's live cross from the Sydney Opera House have landed in the USA and met their talk-show idol

Talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres Source: AP

EXCLUSIVE: ELLEN DeGENERES has been forced to postpone her imminent Australian tour at the last minute after being sidelined with illness.

The Emmy winning host cancelled episodes of her LA talk show due to ill health during the week, including her final show ahead of her scheduled departure to Australia.

Although television production sources in the US are refusing to comment on the illness that has grounded their star, airline sources yesterday hinted that the trip would be delayed.

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has surprised her audience, announcing the show is coming to Australia

The 55-year-old is believed to gave contracted the flu.

The personality and her partner, Australian actress Portia DeGeneres, formerly de Rossi are due to board a flight from Los Angeles to Australia tomorrow but the popular celebrity is said to be too too sick to travel.

Two Ellen fans in Sydney have sung and won a trip to go to Ellen's show. See who won? Courtesy: EllenTV.com

"Unfortunately Ellen is still feeling under the weather and will not be taping today," one said today, Thursday US time.

DeGeneres has been tweeting about her illness from her LA sickbed all week, giving rise to speculation she would postpone her trip.

"Trying to get over a bug before I go to Australia. Nobody wants to be down under the weather," she wrote.

In a candid and very open interview for A Current Affair, Ellen DeGeneres talks of tough times after her public coming out. Source Nine Network

"Between my humidifier and Portia making me tea non-stop, there's so much steam coming from our house people think we picked the new Pope," she posted in an upbeat Tweet a day earlier.

Postponement news will throw into chaos her much-hyped Australian expedition - a tour that has been almost 12 months in the planning.

Ellen presents Forestville brothers Dailius and Julian Wilson with $25,000 to help support their father's recovery from a brain tumour. Courtesy: Nine

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Sick Ellen postpones Aussie tour

More than 1000 Ellen fans flocked to Sydney Opera House for the chance to win a trip to Hollywood to watch the filming of her show.

Vocal fans of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres flocked to Southbank in anticipation of meeting her.

The two lucky ladies, chosen from the thousands at Ellen's live cross from the Sydney Opera House have landed in the USA and met their talk-show idol

Talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres Source: AP

EXCLUSIVE: ELLEN DeGENERES has been forced to postpone her imminent Australian tour at the last minute after being sidelined with illness.

The Emmy winning host cancelled episodes of her LA talk show due to ill health during the week, including her final show ahead of her scheduled departure to Australia.

Although television production sources in the US are refusing to comment on the illness that has grounded their star, airline sources yesterday hinted that the trip would be delayed.

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has surprised her audience, announcing the show is coming to Australia

The 55-year-old is believed to gave contracted the flu.

The personality and her partner, Australian actress Portia DeGeneres, formerly de Rossi are due to board a flight from Los Angeles to Australia tomorrow but the popular celebrity is said to be too too sick to travel.

Two Ellen fans in Sydney have sung and won a trip to go to Ellen's show. See who won? Courtesy: EllenTV.com

"Unfortunately Ellen is still feeling under the weather and will not be taping today," one said today, Thursday US time.

DeGeneres has been tweeting about her illness from her LA sickbed all week, giving rise to speculation she would postpone her trip.

"Trying to get over a bug before I go to Australia. Nobody wants to be down under the weather," she wrote.

In a candid and very open interview for A Current Affair, Ellen DeGeneres talks of tough times after her public coming out. Source Nine Network

"Between my humidifier and Portia making me tea non-stop, there's so much steam coming from our house people think we picked the new Pope," she posted in an upbeat Tweet a day earlier.

Postponement news will throw into chaos her much-hyped Australian expedition - a tour that has been almost 12 months in the planning.

Ellen presents Forestville brothers Dailius and Julian Wilson with $25,000 to help support their father's recovery from a brain tumour. Courtesy: Nine

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