Teach My Pet To Do That!

Alexander Armstrong will present a newly-commissioned series, Teach My Pet To Do That, on ITV. The eight programmes will follow Xander and his team of specialist pet trainers as they train a range of animals to pull off incredible tricks. Throughout the show, Xander will also introduce a host of funny and entertaining pet videos from the internet.

In each episode, three animals will receive a personalized training session for the same skill. They’ll be given time to hone their talents before squaring off in a final competition. Xander is an animal-lover (current furry friends: two dogs, two cats, three ponies, five chickens, five llamas) so he sounds like the ideal host!

Teach My Pet To Do That is scheduled to be broadcast later in the year. More in due course.

Alexander Armstrong's Drunk History

Alexander Armstrong will be part of the new series of Drunk History, which starts on Comedy Central on Wednesday March 8th. The format consists of comedians trying to recall historical events while intoxicated, with the resultant misremembered facts illustrated by actors lip-syncing to the words. It's very funny.

The line-up of comedians for this series includes Daniel Sloss, Joe Lycett and Adam Hess. As well as Xander, other actors taking part include Michelle Keegan, Katy Brand, and Emma Bunton.

Comedy Pointless Celebrities, 4th March

Saturday 4th March's Pointless Celebrities, at 6pm, is a repeated Comedy special.

The contestant duos are former TV to Go co-stars Hugh Dennis and Pauline McLynn, comedy writer Charlie Higson and Citizen Khan actor Adil Ray, ex-'Allo 'Allo stars Richard Gibson and Vicki Michelle, and Last of the Summer Wine's Jean Fergusson, who teams up with Tina Malone - better known as Shameless's Mimi Maguire.

Radio Pointless Celebrities, 25th February

There's a repeat of the radio-themed Pointless Celebrities at 6pm on Saturday 25th February.

Taking part are Toby Anstis and Jenni Falconer, Janice Long and Bob Harris, Peter White and Steve Punt, and Angie Greaves and Steve Penk. And very good it was, too.

Alexander Armstrong makes promotional video for the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

Alexander Armstrong has made a promotional video for the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. He is a patron of the charity, set up by the family and friends of Charlie Waller, who very sadly killed himself aged 28 in 1998.The Trust aims to increase awareness of the symptoms and dangers of depression and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness. It has, among other things, produced this excellent Parents' Guide To Depression.

The short video describes the work of the Trust with school and university students, teachers, and healthcare professionals to help them recognise the signs of depression. I urge you to watch it, visit the CWMT's website, and support them if you are able to.

Alexander Armstrong and The Real Full Monty

Alexander Armstrong has had a live testicular cancer check on ITV's This Morning, as part of a new project to raise awareness of male cancers. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged up to 49, but can be cured with early detection.

Xander, along with Ashley Banjo, will be making a documentary marking the 20th anniversary of The Full Monty as part of the awareness project. A group of male celebrities will learn to recreate some of the iconic dances from the film, culminating in a live performance at the London Palladium later in the year.

More of that once I have it!

Law and Order Pointless Celebrities, 18th February

Pointless Celebrities on Saturday 18th February, on BBC1 at 6.10pm, is a repeat of the Law and Order special.

The teams are Helen Fraser and Victoria Alcock from ITV's Bad Girls, The Bill's Roberta Taylor and Chris Ellison, Arthur Bostrom ('Allo 'Allo!) and Mina Anwar (The Thin Blue Line), and consumer champions Dominic Littlewood and Matt Allwright.

Third album to come from Alexander Armstrong

Following the success of 2015's A Year Of Songs, which reached number 6 in the album charts and topped the classical charts for some months, and Upon A Different Shore, which was released in 2016 and peaked at number 8 in the charts, Alexander Armstrong will begin work on his third album this week.

Xander made the announcement in an interview with the Chronicle while in Newcastle cutting the ceremonial ribbon on a new wheelchair lift at the entrance of the Lit and Phil, the largest independent library outside London, where he chairs the fundraising committee.

Alexander Armstrong will 'duet' with Dame Vera Lynn

I've posted previously about the forthcoming concert to celebrate Dame Vera Lynn's 100th birthday. Dame Vera will also be releasing a new album, making her (it is thought) the first centenarian to release a music album.

The album will feature Dame Vera's original vocals, accompanied by new orchestral arrangements. She will be joined by British singers including Alexander Armstrong on White Cliffs of Dover, Alfie Boe on We'll Meet Again, and Aled Jones on As Time Goes By.

Vera Lynn 100 will be released on 17th March. It can be pre-ordered from Amazon and all other usual outlets.