Dubai One’s B&B connection

The stars of Dubai One’s That’s Entertainment have been living it up in Hollywood with the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful ahead of the soap’s trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, writes Chris Newbould.

DJ Bliss, right, and Dina Butti, far left, got to shoot with The Bold and the Beautiful’s Hope and Liam. Courtesy DJ Bliss

The excitement has been palpable among the region’s soap fans since February’s revelation that the daytime favourite The Bold and the Beautiful will be shooting in the UAE this month. It seems, however, that the love affair is mutual, as we’ve learnt that not only is the UAE set to welcome the stars of B&B to these shores, but the show’s creators have hosted UAE stars in Los Angeles, too.

When photos of That’s Entertainment’s hosts Marwan Parham Al Awadhi (aka DJ Bliss) and Dina Butti surfaced on Twitter, showing the pair on set with the stars of the show, we thought the crew must have slipped into the UAE unnoticed and started shooting early.

In fact, they could hardly have been farther away. As Al Awadhi explains from his LA hotel: “We were providing Dubai One’s live Oscars coverage, and at the same time Dubai One was planning a special episode of That’s Entertainment celebrating the soap’s 27th birthday this month. I had some music projects to work on out here, too, so it all came together nicely. We interviewed all the main characters and, of course they’re coming to the UAE soon, so that was great.”

That’s all very well, but the pictures looked suspiciously like the B&B team was shooting scenes featuring Al Awadhi and Butti acting alongside the cast. Have they been moonlighting as soap stars while they’re in LA?

Al Awadhi reveals: “The B&B crew shot a mock scene for us. It was the first time they’d ever done anything like this – it’s basically going to look like an episode of the show. We’ll be screening it at the end of our 27th birthday show.”

So, has Al Awadhi’s brief star turn in one of the UAE’s most popular TV imports left him yearning to carve out a new career path as a soap star? “I think they are looking for extras in the UAE, but they’re shooting this weekend so I’m still going to be here. I did appear in a short film for last year, though [Alwiya A Thani’s Faith in Love appeared in the Muhr Emirati shorts section]. I’m already doing TV presenting, radio, DJing, acting, so who knows? Never say never.”

• That’s Entertainment is on Dubai One on Fridays at 3.30pm and 9.30pm. The Bold and the Beautiful is broadcast daily at 6pm