SEX PISTOLS singer Johnny Rotten will be infuriated by their track God Save The Queen appearing in ITVX’s new documentary on the royals.
Four years ago the anarchist-turned-monarchist stopped Netflix using recreated scenes of him performing the controversial song on The Crown.
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But he failed to do so with new series The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which drops on Thursday.
The documentary will also feature original footage of the Pistols singing on board a boat called the Queen Elizabeth as it floated down the Thames during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
A TV insider said: “Johnny always hates reminders of his past, particularly when they’re used in the context of any anti-royal sentiment.
“That was why he didn’t want the track to be used in The Crown, because he felt the show was disrespectful to The Queen, whom he grew to adore after turning his back on his anti-monarchist youth.
“But he hasn’t been able to stop it from being used in the new show, and is likely to be mortified by the fact it appears.”
A 2021 court clash between Johnny — real name John Lydon— and the rest of the Sex Pistols reaffirmed the fact that he cannot have complete control over use of their music.
It was sparked by Danny Boyle’s biopic about the band on Disney+ which featured many of the group’s tracks — against the wishes of their ex-frontman.
In the court case Johnny revealed producers of The Crown also wanted to use the embarrassing boat event in series three, claiming they “wanted to distort the history of the day and depict me as a political protester”.
The new five-part documentary by 72 Films strives to provide the full story behind plotlines in The Crown during the run-up to King Charles III’s Coronation.
The series looks at other stories surrounding The Windsors, including the political and social unrest the Queen faced in the 1970s.
ITV and 72 Films declined to comment.
MAX: MY BOOZING BATTLE
MAX George opens up about the extent of his booze battle in tomorrow night’s instalment of Channel 4 reality show Scared Of The Dark – and is comforted by recovering alcoholic Paul Gascoigne.
The Wanted singer admits he drank heavily while his boyband were on tour.
He explains: “When I was drunk I was more confident, thinking, ‘This is great’. The more we worked, the more I drank.
“And then it became that we were working 360 days a year.”
Max adds that he hasn’t touched a drop for two years, after his doctor warned him about potential liver problems.
He also speaks about the effect the death of his late bandmate Tom Parker had on him, saying: “I don’t think I’ll ever be OK with it.”
Fellow contestant Gazza tells him: “You’ve done the hardest thing, which is get it out. He’s looking down now and listening to you, he’s probably got a smile on his face thinking, ‘It’s OK’.”
AJ’S BIG BATTLE AHEAD
AJ ODUDU shows off her style as she fronts a new Channel 4 series highlighting talents of interior designers.
She presents The Big Interiors Battle, which starts on Friday at 8pm, alongside US architect Dara Huang as judge.
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Eight contestants will display their skills inside the Eyewitness Works housing development in Sheffield.
It is being transformed by “impact developer” Capital & Centric, which breathes new life into unloved buildings.
Over the show’s eight episodes, battling designers will be handed the keys to an apartment.
And they have to work their creative magic on a different room every week.
Hel of a long way to walk
STRICTLY stars Dan Walker and Helen Skelton are swapping their dancing shoes for walking boots in a new Channel 5 series that explores the Pennines.
The pair, who are both based in Yorkshire, appeared in the 2021 and 2022 series of the BBC1 dance show respectively.
They will take on the 268-mile Pennine Way that runs from the Peak District in Derbyshire to the Scottish Borders.
Each episode of the four-parter will join Dan and Helen on a different leg of their journey, using different forms of transport and taking part in fun activities.
Channel 5 newsreader Dan said: “It will be nice to escape the studio for a while and join a good friend to discover a beautiful slice of the UK and meet some amazing people.”
Ex-Blue Peter presenter Helen added: “I’m really looking forward to it and grateful for the opportunity to have some incredible adventures with my friend Dan. And it’s on my doorstep.”