Two of the UK’s leading presenters have engaged in a public spat over the fading fortunes of one of the country’s most established sports shows.
The BBC’s Football Focus – a studio show inviting football pundits to analyse the day’s games following the final whistle on Saturday afternoons – has been running for 49 years, but was revealed this week to have lost more than a third of its viewing audience in the space of four years.
That dip coincided with the departure of presenter Dan Walker, who left the show in 2021 after 11 years as host, whereupon he was replaced by former women’s England team player Alex Scott.
He wrote on social media platform X on Saturday:
“It’s hard to see Football Focus struggling. I loved it growing up and it was an honour to present it and I still miss it. We poured everything into that...
The BBC’s Football Focus – a studio show inviting football pundits to analyse the day’s games following the final whistle on Saturday afternoons – has been running for 49 years, but was revealed this week to have lost more than a third of its viewing audience in the space of four years.
That dip coincided with the departure of presenter Dan Walker, who left the show in 2021 after 11 years as host, whereupon he was replaced by former women’s England team player Alex Scott.
He wrote on social media platform X on Saturday:
“It’s hard to see Football Focus struggling. I loved it growing up and it was an honour to present it and I still miss it. We poured everything into that...
- 9/23/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Jerusalem Film Fest Unveils 2023 Industry Program
Nir Bergman and Yona Rozenkier will be among the Israeli filmmakers presenting new projects at the Jerusalem Film Fest’s Pitch Point event this year. The annual meeting connecting Israeli directors with international partners is one pole of the festival’s Jerusalem Industry Days, running July 13 to 15. Jurors will be Olivier Père (Arte Cinema France), Thorsten Ritter (Beta Cinema), Kevin Chan (Mubi) and Claudia Solano (The Match Factory), alongside Helge Albers and producer Yael Fogiel (Les Films du Poisson). The Industry Days will also host the final pitching session for the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab. Other highlights include a focus on Austria, accompanied by Austrian Films’ Anne Laurent-Delage and Emilie Dauptain and producers Antonin Svoboda (coop99), Oliver Neumann (FreibeuterFilm), Sabine Gruber (Golden Girls) and Barbara Pichler (Kgp Filmproduktion). Filmmakers Sebastian Meise,...
Nir Bergman and Yona Rozenkier will be among the Israeli filmmakers presenting new projects at the Jerusalem Film Fest’s Pitch Point event this year. The annual meeting connecting Israeli directors with international partners is one pole of the festival’s Jerusalem Industry Days, running July 13 to 15. Jurors will be Olivier Père (Arte Cinema France), Thorsten Ritter (Beta Cinema), Kevin Chan (Mubi) and Claudia Solano (The Match Factory), alongside Helge Albers and producer Yael Fogiel (Les Films du Poisson). The Industry Days will also host the final pitching session for the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab. Other highlights include a focus on Austria, accompanied by Austrian Films’ Anne Laurent-Delage and Emilie Dauptain and producers Antonin Svoboda (coop99), Oliver Neumann (FreibeuterFilm), Sabine Gruber (Golden Girls) and Barbara Pichler (Kgp Filmproduktion). Filmmakers Sebastian Meise,...
- 7/3/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The heartrending search to locate and rescue the Titan submersible before it runs out of its four-day air supply will be the focus of a new fast-turnaround documentary on U.K. broadcaster Channel 5.
“Titanic Sub: Lost at Sea” has been scheduled to air on Thursday at 7 p.m. local time. The doc will be presented by 5 News host Dan Walker.
The ITN-produced documentary promises to “go beyond” news coverage and bring viewers up to date, while examining the wider context about the voyage, its passengers and the fascination with the Titanic shipwreck. The film will also talk to experts and look at the rise of extreme tourism.
ITN is a go-to production company in the U.K. for fast-turnaround films that react to current events. The outfit recently produced a special on British woman Nicola Bulley, who vanished in January without a trace while walking her dog, and...
“Titanic Sub: Lost at Sea” has been scheduled to air on Thursday at 7 p.m. local time. The doc will be presented by 5 News host Dan Walker.
The ITN-produced documentary promises to “go beyond” news coverage and bring viewers up to date, while examining the wider context about the voyage, its passengers and the fascination with the Titanic shipwreck. The film will also talk to experts and look at the rise of extreme tourism.
ITN is a go-to production company in the U.K. for fast-turnaround films that react to current events. The outfit recently produced a special on British woman Nicola Bulley, who vanished in January without a trace while walking her dog, and...
- 6/21/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Len Goodman, the former Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars judge, has died. He was 78.
Goodman’s agent confirmed his April 22 death and said he had “died peacefully, surrounded by his family” in hospital.
Update Oct 1: Goodman’s cause of death has been revealed, and it is reportedly related to his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Goodman was a popular judge on the BBC’s smash entertainment format Strictly Come Dancing from its inception in 2004 until 2016, where he became well known for his light-hearted enthusiasm and witty banter. He was replaced by Shirley Ballas in 2016.
Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
Goodman was simultaneously head judge on Strictly Come Dancing’s U.S. version Dancing with the Stars, taking on that role from 2005 until last year, when he announced he would be retiring during the semi finals of the show to spend more time with his family back in the UK.
Goodman’s agent confirmed his April 22 death and said he had “died peacefully, surrounded by his family” in hospital.
Update Oct 1: Goodman’s cause of death has been revealed, and it is reportedly related to his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Goodman was a popular judge on the BBC’s smash entertainment format Strictly Come Dancing from its inception in 2004 until 2016, where he became well known for his light-hearted enthusiasm and witty banter. He was replaced by Shirley Ballas in 2016.
Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
Goodman was simultaneously head judge on Strictly Come Dancing’s U.S. version Dancing with the Stars, taking on that role from 2005 until last year, when he announced he would be retiring during the semi finals of the show to spend more time with his family back in the UK.
- 4/24/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chris Shaw has left the building. The Oscar-nominated British news executive is calling it quits after an on-off love affair with news producer ITN that has spanned 40 years, affording him a front-row seat to the biggest stories of his generation. Semi-retirement beckons, but not before a valedictory interview.
So is this Shaw unleashed? Has he, as Andrew Marr memorably put it when he left the BBC, found his voice after being constrained by ITN’s duty to impartiality? Not quite. It will take more than a jolly phone interview to break the habit of a career. But there is little doubt that he is looser-lipped on his final day at the office — and that’s good news because few are better placed than Shaw to reflect on the state of news in the UK.
His decorated résumé includes helping Rupert Murdoch launch Sky News in 1989 and, nearly a decade later,...
So is this Shaw unleashed? Has he, as Andrew Marr memorably put it when he left the BBC, found his voice after being constrained by ITN’s duty to impartiality? Not quite. It will take more than a jolly phone interview to break the habit of a career. But there is little doubt that he is looser-lipped on his final day at the office — and that’s good news because few are better placed than Shaw to reflect on the state of news in the UK.
His decorated résumé includes helping Rupert Murdoch launch Sky News in 1989 and, nearly a decade later,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Nordic Networks Team For ITV Studios Drama Deal
Five Nordic public broadcasters have pooled resources to strike a multi-title drama deal with distributor ITV Studios. Svt in Sweden, Nrk in Norway, Yle in Finland, Dr in Denmark and Ruv in Iceland unified their buying power to snap up buzzy tennis drama Fifteen-Love, relationship drama You & Me, medical thriller Malpractice and the Russell T. Davies-penned Nolly. True crime-dramas The Hunt For Raoul Moat, The Walk-In and Four Lives and miniseries Tom Jones were also packaged. Fredrik Luihn, Head of Acquisitions at Nrk, speaking on behalf of the group said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring such a great line-up of top-quality British drama series to the Nordic audience.” The deal was struck last week at the ITV Studios Drama Festival during the London TV Screenings.
CGI Format ‘Bingo Blitz’ Emerges From Israel To Save On Costs...
Five Nordic public broadcasters have pooled resources to strike a multi-title drama deal with distributor ITV Studios. Svt in Sweden, Nrk in Norway, Yle in Finland, Dr in Denmark and Ruv in Iceland unified their buying power to snap up buzzy tennis drama Fifteen-Love, relationship drama You & Me, medical thriller Malpractice and the Russell T. Davies-penned Nolly. True crime-dramas The Hunt For Raoul Moat, The Walk-In and Four Lives and miniseries Tom Jones were also packaged. Fredrik Luihn, Head of Acquisitions at Nrk, speaking on behalf of the group said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring such a great line-up of top-quality British drama series to the Nordic audience.” The deal was struck last week at the ITV Studios Drama Festival during the London TV Screenings.
CGI Format ‘Bingo Blitz’ Emerges From Israel To Save On Costs...
- 3/9/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Jenna Ortega has said she was “devastated” not to return to You in its fourth season.
The 20-year-old actor was unable to appear in the latest episodes of the hit Netflix serial killer drama due to her starring role in Wednesday.
In season two of You, released in 2019, Ortega played Ellie Alves, the 15-year-old sister of Delilah (Carmela Zumbado).
Series showrunner Sera Gamble recently revealed that she had wanted Ortega to return in season four, but the actor’s commitment to Wednesday posed too many scheduling problems.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ortega described her disappointment at being unable to reprise her You role.
“I was devastated,” she said. “It was easily one of my favorite sets that I’ve ever, ever been on. I was so devastated. I miss Ellie, and I’ve been wanting to go back to Ellie for a long time, but I was in Romania shooting Wednesday.
The 20-year-old actor was unable to appear in the latest episodes of the hit Netflix serial killer drama due to her starring role in Wednesday.
In season two of You, released in 2019, Ortega played Ellie Alves, the 15-year-old sister of Delilah (Carmela Zumbado).
Series showrunner Sera Gamble recently revealed that she had wanted Ortega to return in season four, but the actor’s commitment to Wednesday posed too many scheduling problems.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ortega described her disappointment at being unable to reprise her You role.
“I was devastated,” she said. “It was easily one of my favorite sets that I’ve ever, ever been on. I was so devastated. I miss Ellie, and I’ve been wanting to go back to Ellie for a long time, but I was in Romania shooting Wednesday.
- 3/3/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - TV
Dan Walker has branded Piers Morgan “bitter” and a “numptie” after the TalkTV presenter accused him of “milking” his recent bike crash.
In February, former BBC Breakfast host Walker shared a picture of his bloodied face to Instagram, explaining that he’d been hit by a car.
On Wednesday (1 March), Walker made his first public appearance since the accident at the Rts Television Journalism Awards, where he joked he was “up to my eyeballs” on painkillers.
He then proceeded to make a dig at Morgan – his long-standing rival – over his 2021 departure from Good Morning Britain.
Morgan didn’t take kindly to the comments, tweeting on Thursday (2 March): “If I were Dan Walker, and I’d been kicked off Match of the Day & BBC Breakfast, then washed up on Channel 5 daytime, and only got press these days by falling off a bike, getting a few grazes, and milking it...
In February, former BBC Breakfast host Walker shared a picture of his bloodied face to Instagram, explaining that he’d been hit by a car.
On Wednesday (1 March), Walker made his first public appearance since the accident at the Rts Television Journalism Awards, where he joked he was “up to my eyeballs” on painkillers.
He then proceeded to make a dig at Morgan – his long-standing rival – over his 2021 departure from Good Morning Britain.
Morgan didn’t take kindly to the comments, tweeting on Thursday (2 March): “If I were Dan Walker, and I’d been kicked off Match of the Day & BBC Breakfast, then washed up on Channel 5 daytime, and only got press these days by falling off a bike, getting a few grazes, and milking it...
- 3/3/2023
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Woody Harrelson has caused controversy by making an anti-vax joke during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.
Appearing on last night’s episode (25 February), the True Detective star, 61, told a long and rambling story about the “craziest script” he’s ever read.
He took about six minutes to get to the punchline, after getting distracted talking about smoking weed, his love of drinking and what kind of tree he was sitting against when he read the script.
Eventually, he concluded: “So the movie goes like this. The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes.
“And people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over.”
The actor told an awkwardly quiet crowd: “I threw the script away.
Appearing on last night’s episode (25 February), the True Detective star, 61, told a long and rambling story about the “craziest script” he’s ever read.
He took about six minutes to get to the punchline, after getting distracted talking about smoking weed, his love of drinking and what kind of tree he was sitting against when he read the script.
Eventually, he concluded: “So the movie goes like this. The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes.
“And people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over.”
The actor told an awkwardly quiet crowd: “I threw the script away.
- 2/26/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
Ant and Dec have been criticised for a prank on the opening episode of the new season of Saturday Night Takeaway.
Fans of the show were left upset last night (25 February) by a baby scan prank on a father-to-be.
Liam, described on the programme as a “serial jokester”, was pranked by wife Amy, who was in cahoots with ITV presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to get revenge on him.
The prank saw the couple (who were genuinely expecting a baby boy who has since been born) attend a fake scan, in which they were shown a video of a baby that was not theirs, making rock star signs when the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” played.
In the clip of the prank happening, Liam says he is left “speechless” by what he’s seen.
Viewers were not impressed. “Fake baby scan?? Too far, nothing but cruel,” posted one fan on Twitter.
Fans of the show were left upset last night (25 February) by a baby scan prank on a father-to-be.
Liam, described on the programme as a “serial jokester”, was pranked by wife Amy, who was in cahoots with ITV presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to get revenge on him.
The prank saw the couple (who were genuinely expecting a baby boy who has since been born) attend a fake scan, in which they were shown a video of a baby that was not theirs, making rock star signs when the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” played.
In the clip of the prank happening, Liam says he is left “speechless” by what he’s seen.
Viewers were not impressed. “Fake baby scan?? Too far, nothing but cruel,” posted one fan on Twitter.
- 2/26/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
Ant and Dec have been criticised for a prank on the opening episode of the new season of Saturday Night Takeaway.
Fans of the show were left upset last night (25 February) by a baby scan prank on a father-to-be.
Liam, described on the programme as a serial jokester, was pranked by wife Amy, who was in cahoots with ITV presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to get revenge on him.
The prank saw the couple (who were genuinely expecting a baby boy who has since been born) attend a fake scan, in which they were shown a video of a baby that was not theirs, making rock star signs when the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” played.
In the clip of the prank happening, Liam says he is left “speechless” by what he’s seen.
Viewers were not impressed. “Fake baby scan?? Too far, nothing but cruel,” posted one fan on Twitter.
Fans of the show were left upset last night (25 February) by a baby scan prank on a father-to-be.
Liam, described on the programme as a serial jokester, was pranked by wife Amy, who was in cahoots with ITV presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to get revenge on him.
The prank saw the couple (who were genuinely expecting a baby boy who has since been born) attend a fake scan, in which they were shown a video of a baby that was not theirs, making rock star signs when the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” played.
In the clip of the prank happening, Liam says he is left “speechless” by what he’s seen.
Viewers were not impressed. “Fake baby scan?? Too far, nothing but cruel,” posted one fan on Twitter.
- 2/26/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
British TV presenter Dan Walker has written in the Sunday Times of his ordeal earlier in the week, saying he “knew he could have died” when he was involved in a horrifying bike crash.
The Channel 5 anchorman was hit by a car while cycling in northern town of Sheffield, and added that he had been eating and drinking through a straw since the accident. He was battered and bruised at the scene, but X-rays taken when he arrived at hospital revealed no bones were broken.
Although he could remember little of the ordeal, Walker described lying on the ground for 25 minutes after the crash, struggling to breathe – and he thanked the driver of the car for sticking around to care for him until paramedics arrived. Once in the ambulance, Walker was told by the medics that his cycling helmet “had probably saved my life.”
“I know I could have...
The Channel 5 anchorman was hit by a car while cycling in northern town of Sheffield, and added that he had been eating and drinking through a straw since the accident. He was battered and bruised at the scene, but X-rays taken when he arrived at hospital revealed no bones were broken.
Although he could remember little of the ordeal, Walker described lying on the ground for 25 minutes after the crash, struggling to breathe – and he thanked the driver of the car for sticking around to care for him until paramedics arrived. Once in the ambulance, Walker was told by the medics that his cycling helmet “had probably saved my life.”
“I know I could have...
- 2/26/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Dame Joan Collins has issued a complain to Sadiq Khan after being almost knocked down by a cyclist.
The Dynasty actor, 89, was getting out of a taxi in Covent Garden when she says she was “crashed into” by a “masked cyclist with no lights and weaving on the pavement”.
The incident prompted her to post an Instagram message to Mayor of London to “do something” about cyclists who ‘consider themselves above the law”.
“Getting out of a #blackcab on the way to @rules_restaurant, we discovered #maidenlane was closed to all traffic,” she wrote on Thursday (23 February).
“However, that didn’t stop a masked #cyclist with no lights and weaving on the pavement from crashing into me, almost knocking me over. How much longer must we live with closed roads and cyclists who consider themselves above the law?
She continued: “Why don’t you do something @mayorofldn @sadiq before this...
The Dynasty actor, 89, was getting out of a taxi in Covent Garden when she says she was “crashed into” by a “masked cyclist with no lights and weaving on the pavement”.
The incident prompted her to post an Instagram message to Mayor of London to “do something” about cyclists who ‘consider themselves above the law”.
“Getting out of a #blackcab on the way to @rules_restaurant, we discovered #maidenlane was closed to all traffic,” she wrote on Thursday (23 February).
“However, that didn’t stop a masked #cyclist with no lights and weaving on the pavement from crashing into me, almost knocking me over. How much longer must we live with closed roads and cyclists who consider themselves above the law?
She continued: “Why don’t you do something @mayorofldn @sadiq before this...
- 2/24/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Dan Walker was knocked unconscious for 20 minutes when he was involved in a bike crash earlier this week.
The former BBC Breakfast host was struck while cycling on Monday (20 February), which left him with a bloodied face and needing treatment in hospital.
On Wednesday, Walker said that he had no recollection of the accident, as he had been “out cold” for 20 minutes.
“It happened in Sheffield on the way to the train station,” he told The Mirror. “I think I got hit by a car but was out cold for about 20 minutes. I have no memory of it.
“I can’t believe I haven’t broken anything or that it is so much worse. I came round on the tarmac with paramedics and police standing over me. I’m very thankful to still be here and just have a beast of a headache.”
After the accident, Walker – who departed BBC...
The former BBC Breakfast host was struck while cycling on Monday (20 February), which left him with a bloodied face and needing treatment in hospital.
On Wednesday, Walker said that he had no recollection of the accident, as he had been “out cold” for 20 minutes.
“It happened in Sheffield on the way to the train station,” he told The Mirror. “I think I got hit by a car but was out cold for about 20 minutes. I have no memory of it.
“I can’t believe I haven’t broken anything or that it is so much worse. I came round on the tarmac with paramedics and police standing over me. I’m very thankful to still be here and just have a beast of a headache.”
After the accident, Walker – who departed BBC...
- 2/22/2023
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Pink has denied claims that she was making a dig at Christina Aguilera in a recent interview regarding the filming of the “Lady Marmalade” music video.
The artists collaborated alongside Mya and Lil’ Kim on the 2001 hit song. However, Pink recently echoed previous sentiments that alleged that the music video was not without its difficulties.
While being interviewed by Buzzfeed, the 43-year-old singer ranked the “Lady Marmalade” video as her least favourite to work on because it “wasn’t very fun”.
“I’m gonna put that right down here at 12,” she began, before explaining her positioning.
“It wasn’t very fun to make; I’m all about fun, and it was a lot of fuss. There were some personalities… Kim and Mya were nice,” she explained, listing everyone in the video except from Aguilera.
“I guess it is iconic, but I remember I kept crying because my skin didn’t like the makeup.
The artists collaborated alongside Mya and Lil’ Kim on the 2001 hit song. However, Pink recently echoed previous sentiments that alleged that the music video was not without its difficulties.
While being interviewed by Buzzfeed, the 43-year-old singer ranked the “Lady Marmalade” video as her least favourite to work on because it “wasn’t very fun”.
“I’m gonna put that right down here at 12,” she began, before explaining her positioning.
“It wasn’t very fun to make; I’m all about fun, and it was a lot of fuss. There were some personalities… Kim and Mya were nice,” she explained, listing everyone in the video except from Aguilera.
“I guess it is iconic, but I remember I kept crying because my skin didn’t like the makeup.
- 2/21/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
Dan Walker has shared an update with his fans following his bike crash, saying that his helmet “saved his life”.
The TV presenter was hit by a car while cycling on Monday (20 February). He shared a picture of his bloodied face and told his followers that he was being treated by medical professionals.
Later that day, he confirmed that he was recovering at home.
Noting that he was “blown away” by the messages of support he’d received, the 5 News anchor shared an additional picture of his injured face with a thumbs-up.
“Just got home from hospital. Battered and bruised but – amazingly – nothing broken,” his caption reads.
“Very thankful to still be here. I have no memory of anything and just remember coming round on the tarmac with paramedics and police around me.”
He went on to namecheck some of the hospital staff that helped him in his time of need,...
The TV presenter was hit by a car while cycling on Monday (20 February). He shared a picture of his bloodied face and told his followers that he was being treated by medical professionals.
Later that day, he confirmed that he was recovering at home.
Noting that he was “blown away” by the messages of support he’d received, the 5 News anchor shared an additional picture of his injured face with a thumbs-up.
“Just got home from hospital. Battered and bruised but – amazingly – nothing broken,” his caption reads.
“Very thankful to still be here. I have no memory of anything and just remember coming round on the tarmac with paramedics and police around me.”
He went on to namecheck some of the hospital staff that helped him in his time of need,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
John Cleese has issued an “apology” for rebootingFawlty Towers with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
- 2/21/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
John Cleese has issued an “apology” for rebootingFawlty Towers with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
- 2/20/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
In a new podcast hosted by Megan Phelps-Roper, Jk Rowling will give a rare interview in which she addresses her controversial remarks on transgender rights.
The forthcoming seven-episode podcast, titled The Witch Trials of Jk Rowling, has been made after the Harry Potter author sat down with US writer Phelps-Roper at her home in Edinburgh.
But who is Phelps-Roper and how did the podcast come about?
Here’s what we know...
Megan Phelps-Roper is 37 and she lives in rural South Dakota. She is best known for escaping what Louis Theroux called “the most hated family in America” in his 2007 documentary on the extremist Westboro Baptist Church, led by Phelps-Roper’s grandfather Fred Phelps.
The hate group, founded in Topeka, Kansas, picketed the funerals of soldiers and Aids victims. It is known for its hate speech against atheists, Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ+ people, and numerous Christian denominations. Their theology and practises have...
The forthcoming seven-episode podcast, titled The Witch Trials of Jk Rowling, has been made after the Harry Potter author sat down with US writer Phelps-Roper at her home in Edinburgh.
But who is Phelps-Roper and how did the podcast come about?
Here’s what we know...
Megan Phelps-Roper is 37 and she lives in rural South Dakota. She is best known for escaping what Louis Theroux called “the most hated family in America” in his 2007 documentary on the extremist Westboro Baptist Church, led by Phelps-Roper’s grandfather Fred Phelps.
The hate group, founded in Topeka, Kansas, picketed the funerals of soldiers and Aids victims. It is known for its hate speech against atheists, Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ+ people, and numerous Christian denominations. Their theology and practises have...
- 2/20/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
Charlie Simpson, recent winner of The Masked Singer, has revealed that he chose his rhino costume on the show as a nod to his wife’s childhood and family.
The former Busted frontman won ITV’s secret singing competition on Saturday evening, after he performed three songs including Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go”.
Now, the 37-year-old has explained the sentimental reason why he decided to opt for a rhino costume.
“My wife grew up in Kenya so I spend a lot of time in Kenya, and we spend a lot of time on safari,” said Simpson. “I actually walked with rhinos, and some of the rhinos, there’s only a handful of them left.”
He continued: “They’re really endangered and they have to be guarded by military personnel now, so the poachers don’t get them and I actually got to go and walk around with them, with these guards,...
The former Busted frontman won ITV’s secret singing competition on Saturday evening, after he performed three songs including Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go”.
Now, the 37-year-old has explained the sentimental reason why he decided to opt for a rhino costume.
“My wife grew up in Kenya so I spend a lot of time in Kenya, and we spend a lot of time on safari,” said Simpson. “I actually walked with rhinos, and some of the rhinos, there’s only a handful of them left.”
He continued: “They’re really endangered and they have to be guarded by military personnel now, so the poachers don’t get them and I actually got to go and walk around with them, with these guards,...
- 2/20/2023
- by Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - TV
Your Place or Mine is attracting a number of hostile reviews from audience members and critics, with many taking aim at the apparent lack of chemistry between its two leads.
Netflix’s latest romcom stars Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon as two best friends of 20 years living on opposite coasts.
When Kutcher’s free-spirited Peter offers to swap homes with Witherspoon’s routine-loving Debbie for a week, they both come to realise that what they need might be more than just a change of scenery.
Following its 10 February release, just in time for Valentine’s Day, the movie has quickly jumped to No 3 on the streamer’s most-watched list.
Yet still, much of the chatter around it has leaned critical, with many pointing out Kutcher and Witherspoon’s “lack of chemistry”.
“Your Place Or Mine on Netflix is pretty much the guide on how not to make a romcom,” one tweeted.
Netflix’s latest romcom stars Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon as two best friends of 20 years living on opposite coasts.
When Kutcher’s free-spirited Peter offers to swap homes with Witherspoon’s routine-loving Debbie for a week, they both come to realise that what they need might be more than just a change of scenery.
Following its 10 February release, just in time for Valentine’s Day, the movie has quickly jumped to No 3 on the streamer’s most-watched list.
Yet still, much of the chatter around it has leaned critical, with many pointing out Kutcher and Witherspoon’s “lack of chemistry”.
“Your Place Or Mine on Netflix is pretty much the guide on how not to make a romcom,” one tweeted.
- 2/20/2023
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - Film
Channel 5 news anchor Dan Walker is set to miss Monday evening’s broadcast after he was involved in a bike accident.
Bit of an accident this morning.
Glad to be alive after getting hit by a car on my bike. Face is a mess but I don’t think anything is broken. Thanks to Shaun and Jamie for sorting me out and the lovely copper at the scene.
This is my smiling...
Bit of an accident this morning.
Glad to be alive after getting hit by a car on my bike. Face is a mess but I don’t think anything is broken. Thanks to Shaun and Jamie for sorting me out and the lovely copper at the scene.
This is my smiling...
- 2/20/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy has mocked Yungblud after the musician called him out over controversial comments he made on a podcast.
Earlier this month, Healy, 33, appeared on an episode of The Adam Friedland Show with comedians and podcast hosts Friedland and Nick Mullen.
The musician came under fire after he and the hosts appeared to make a number of derogatory remarks about women. He also mocked the indigenous Scots language, and Chinese and Hawaiian accents.
Healy also encouraged the hosts to do impressions of Japanese people working in concentration camps, later joining in himself. Healy’s representative did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment.
In a now-viral tweet, Yungblud – Dominic Richard Harrison – appeared to call out Healy for the comments.
“Love listening to three privileged white dudes sit around and objectify a young black female artist who’s blowing up. Welcome to your thirties I guess,...
Earlier this month, Healy, 33, appeared on an episode of The Adam Friedland Show with comedians and podcast hosts Friedland and Nick Mullen.
The musician came under fire after he and the hosts appeared to make a number of derogatory remarks about women. He also mocked the indigenous Scots language, and Chinese and Hawaiian accents.
Healy also encouraged the hosts to do impressions of Japanese people working in concentration camps, later joining in himself. Healy’s representative did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment.
In a now-viral tweet, Yungblud – Dominic Richard Harrison – appeared to call out Healy for the comments.
“Love listening to three privileged white dudes sit around and objectify a young black female artist who’s blowing up. Welcome to your thirties I guess,...
- 2/20/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - Music
Pink has denied claims that she was making a dig at Christina Aguilera in a recent interview regarding the filming of the “Lady Marmalade” music video.
The artists collaborated alongside Mya and Lil’ Kim on the 2001 hit song. However, Pink recently echoed previous sentiments that alleged that the music video was not without its difficulties.
While being interviewed by Buzzfeed, the 43-year-old singer ranked the “Lady Marmalade” video as her least favourite to work on because it “wasn’t very fun”.
“I’m gonna put that right down here at 12,” she began, before explaining her positioning.
“It wasn’t very fun to make; I’m all about fun, and it was a lot of fuss. There were some personalities… Kim and Mya were nice,” she explained, listing everyone in the video except from Aguilera.
“I guess it is iconic, but I remember I kept crying because my skin didn’t like the makeup.
The artists collaborated alongside Mya and Lil’ Kim on the 2001 hit song. However, Pink recently echoed previous sentiments that alleged that the music video was not without its difficulties.
While being interviewed by Buzzfeed, the 43-year-old singer ranked the “Lady Marmalade” video as her least favourite to work on because it “wasn’t very fun”.
“I’m gonna put that right down here at 12,” she began, before explaining her positioning.
“It wasn’t very fun to make; I’m all about fun, and it was a lot of fuss. There were some personalities… Kim and Mya were nice,” she explained, listing everyone in the video except from Aguilera.
“I guess it is iconic, but I remember I kept crying because my skin didn’t like the makeup.
- 2/20/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
Broadcaster Dan Walker has said he is “glad to be alive” after being hit by a car while cycling.
The 45-year-old former BBC Breakfast presenter shared a series of images of his bloodied face while sitting in an ambulance, alongside a selfie with the NHS staff who were caring for him.
Walker tweeted: “Bit of an accident this morning. Glad to be alive after getting hit by a car on my bike. Face is a mess but I don’t think anything is broken.
“Thanks to Shaun and Jamie for sorting me out and the lovely copper at the scene. This is my smiling. Thankful for our NHS.”
A number of Walkers’ colleagues and fans shared their well-wishes with him after his post.
“Oh wow! Get well soon,” Strictly Come Dancing star Motsi Mabuse replied.
ITV’s Sally Biddulph wrote: “So glad you are Ok Dan, what a shock. Rest up and feel better soon.
The 45-year-old former BBC Breakfast presenter shared a series of images of his bloodied face while sitting in an ambulance, alongside a selfie with the NHS staff who were caring for him.
Walker tweeted: “Bit of an accident this morning. Glad to be alive after getting hit by a car on my bike. Face is a mess but I don’t think anything is broken.
“Thanks to Shaun and Jamie for sorting me out and the lovely copper at the scene. This is my smiling. Thankful for our NHS.”
A number of Walkers’ colleagues and fans shared their well-wishes with him after his post.
“Oh wow! Get well soon,” Strictly Come Dancing star Motsi Mabuse replied.
ITV’s Sally Biddulph wrote: “So glad you are Ok Dan, what a shock. Rest up and feel better soon.
- 2/20/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
Sales
Abacus Media Rights have sold S4C’s Welsh-language crime caper drama, “Dal y Mellt” to Netflix. This will be the first Welsh-language only drama licensed on Netflix and will stream on Netflix U.K. from April 2023.
The drama follows the troubled story of the main character Carbo as he is drawn into a world of wrongdoing, lies, secrets and heartbreak. The series starts out on the dark back streets of Cardiff then moves back and forth between Cardiff, Soho, Porthmadog and Holyhead. The cast includes Mark Lewis Jones, Gwïon Morris Jones, Graham Land, Siw Hughes, Dyfan Roberts, Lois Meleri-Jones, Owen Arwyn and Ali Yassine.
The series was released in October 2022 as a box set on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer. Produced by Vox Pictures, the drama is an adaptation of Iwan ‘Iwcs’ Roberts novel of the same name. The novelist also wrote the script and co-produced the drama...
Abacus Media Rights have sold S4C’s Welsh-language crime caper drama, “Dal y Mellt” to Netflix. This will be the first Welsh-language only drama licensed on Netflix and will stream on Netflix U.K. from April 2023.
The drama follows the troubled story of the main character Carbo as he is drawn into a world of wrongdoing, lies, secrets and heartbreak. The series starts out on the dark back streets of Cardiff then moves back and forth between Cardiff, Soho, Porthmadog and Holyhead. The cast includes Mark Lewis Jones, Gwïon Morris Jones, Graham Land, Siw Hughes, Dyfan Roberts, Lois Meleri-Jones, Owen Arwyn and Ali Yassine.
The series was released in October 2022 as a box set on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer. Produced by Vox Pictures, the drama is an adaptation of Iwan ‘Iwcs’ Roberts novel of the same name. The novelist also wrote the script and co-produced the drama...
- 1/19/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
It’s a big year for UK quiz shows shaking up the presenter bench. University Challenge and Pointless have lost presenting stalwarts Jeremy Paxman and Richard Osman respectively, Anne Robinson made an early exit from Countdown, and now her replacement Colin Murray has vacated the chair temporarily to welcome a series of special guest hosts.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Channel 4 this month, the very first show broadcast on the channel has opened its door to four broadcasting greats, each of whom will host Countdown for one week. Let’s meet the new presenters joining lexicographer Susie Dent and mathematician Rachel Riley on the words and numbers puzzle game.
Oct 31st – Nov 4th: Baroness Floella Benjamin
First up was children’s television legend, and House of Lords life peer Baroness Floella Benjamin, who hosted Countdown from Monday October 31st to Friday November 4th. The presenter and campaigner is...
To mark the 40th anniversary of Channel 4 this month, the very first show broadcast on the channel has opened its door to four broadcasting greats, each of whom will host Countdown for one week. Let’s meet the new presenters joining lexicographer Susie Dent and mathematician Rachel Riley on the words and numbers puzzle game.
Oct 31st – Nov 4th: Baroness Floella Benjamin
First up was children’s television legend, and House of Lords life peer Baroness Floella Benjamin, who hosted Countdown from Monday October 31st to Friday November 4th. The presenter and campaigner is...
- 11/7/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Strictly Come Dancing star Kai Widdrington has opened up about competing against his girlfriend Nadiya Bychkova in the dance-off.
The British dancer was partnered with Kaye Adams on the new series of Strictly, with the couple the first to be eliminated from the competition on Sunday (2 October).
Adams and Widdrington faced off in the dance-off against Matt Goss and his partner Bychkova, with the judges choosing to save Goss and sending Adams home.
Appearing on It Takes Two on Monday (3 October), host Rylan Clark joked to Adams that while he’d usually focus on the celebrity’s experience in the dance-off, he wanted to know how it had been for Widdrington.
“There is a bit of an elephant in the room, isn’t there?” he said. “Because it wasn’t just you v Matt, it was Kai versus his lovely lady Nadiya. How was that when you got home?”
Luckily,...
The British dancer was partnered with Kaye Adams on the new series of Strictly, with the couple the first to be eliminated from the competition on Sunday (2 October).
Adams and Widdrington faced off in the dance-off against Matt Goss and his partner Bychkova, with the judges choosing to save Goss and sending Adams home.
Appearing on It Takes Two on Monday (3 October), host Rylan Clark joked to Adams that while he’d usually focus on the celebrity’s experience in the dance-off, he wanted to know how it had been for Widdrington.
“There is a bit of an elephant in the room, isn’t there?” he said. “Because it wasn’t just you v Matt, it was Kai versus his lovely lady Nadiya. How was that when you got home?”
Luckily,...
- 10/3/2022
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Strictly Come Dancing is one of the biggest shows on TV – but do the celebrities get paid to take part?
Unlike other reality shows, including I’m a Celebrity, each star who signs up to Strictly is given the same flat fee to appear and is unable to negotiate with producers.
According to a 2021 report in The Sun, every celebrity receives £25,000 just to appear.
It turns out there’s more incentive to remain in the competition until the very end – not only could you win the honour of taking home the Glitterball trophy, but fees are said to rise to £40,000 if you make it to the end of October.
Last year’s final few – EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Great British Bake Off star John Whaite, Cbbc’s Rhys Stephenson and TV personality Aj Odudu – reportedly made £60,000 for getting to the quarter-finals.
Contestants reportedly earn another £15,000 if they get to the semi-finals,...
Unlike other reality shows, including I’m a Celebrity, each star who signs up to Strictly is given the same flat fee to appear and is unable to negotiate with producers.
According to a 2021 report in The Sun, every celebrity receives £25,000 just to appear.
It turns out there’s more incentive to remain in the competition until the very end – not only could you win the honour of taking home the Glitterball trophy, but fees are said to rise to £40,000 if you make it to the end of October.
Last year’s final few – EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Great British Bake Off star John Whaite, Cbbc’s Rhys Stephenson and TV personality Aj Odudu – reportedly made £60,000 for getting to the quarter-finals.
Contestants reportedly earn another £15,000 if they get to the semi-finals,...
- 9/6/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Former BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull has died at the age of 66.
The news was announced by his family on Thursday morning (1 September).
Fellow TV personalities including Dan Walker, Susanna Reid and The Apprentice’s Alan Sugar have paid tribute to Turnbull in wake of the news.
The presenter was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and took a leave of absence from his radio show at Classic FM to focus on his health in October 2021.
He returned to his radio show in August, but died at home on Wednesday (31 August).
A spokesperson on behalf of the family said: “Following a challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family on Wednesday, 31 August.
“Bill was diagnosed in 2017 and has had outstanding medical care from the Royal Marsden and Ipswich Hospitals, St Elizabeth Hospice and his Gp.”
Read more about it here.
The news was announced by his family on Thursday morning (1 September).
Fellow TV personalities including Dan Walker, Susanna Reid and The Apprentice’s Alan Sugar have paid tribute to Turnbull in wake of the news.
The presenter was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and took a leave of absence from his radio show at Classic FM to focus on his health in October 2021.
He returned to his radio show in August, but died at home on Wednesday (31 August).
A spokesperson on behalf of the family said: “Following a challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family on Wednesday, 31 August.
“Bill was diagnosed in 2017 and has had outstanding medical care from the Royal Marsden and Ipswich Hospitals, St Elizabeth Hospice and his Gp.”
Read more about it here.
- 9/1/2022
- by Louis Chilton and Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
Tributes are pouring in for Bill Turnbull after it was announced that the veteran broadcaster had died from prostate cancer on Wednesday (31 August).
The former BBC Breakfast presenter’s family confirmed on Thursday (1 September) that Turnbull had “passed away peacefully at his home” after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017.
Piers Morgan honoured Turnbull as “one of the best broadcasters in Britain” in a tribute posted on Twitter.
His tweet read: “Rip Bill Turnbull, 66. One of the best broadcasters in Britain, and such a smart, funny, warm & generous-spirited man.
“Fought his illness with typical stoicism, courage and humour. Bill made presenting live TV look so effortless, which was his great talent. Such sad news.”
Turnbull was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, and had taken a leave of absence from his radio show Classic FM to focus on his health in October last year. However, he returned to the show last month.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter’s family confirmed on Thursday (1 September) that Turnbull had “passed away peacefully at his home” after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017.
Piers Morgan honoured Turnbull as “one of the best broadcasters in Britain” in a tribute posted on Twitter.
His tweet read: “Rip Bill Turnbull, 66. One of the best broadcasters in Britain, and such a smart, funny, warm & generous-spirited man.
“Fought his illness with typical stoicism, courage and humour. Bill made presenting live TV look so effortless, which was his great talent. Such sad news.”
Turnbull was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, and had taken a leave of absence from his radio show Classic FM to focus on his health in October last year. However, he returned to the show last month.
- 9/1/2022
- by Maanya Sachdeva
- The Independent - TV
Strictly Come Dancing is one of the biggest shows on TV – but do the celebrities get paid to take part?
Unlike other reality shows, including I’m a Celebrity, each star who signs up to Strictly is given the same flat fee to appear and is unable to negotiate with producers.
According to a report in The Sun, every celebrity receives £25,000 just to appear.
It turns out there’s more incentive to remain in the competition until the very end – not only could you win the honour of taking home the Glitterball trophy, but fees are said to rise to £40,000 if you make it to the end of October.
Last year’s final few – EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Great British Bake Off star John Whaite, Cbbc’s Rhys Stephenson and TV personality Aj Odudu – reportedly made £60,000 for getting to the quarter-finals.
Contestants reportedly earn another £15,000 if they get to the semi-finals,...
Unlike other reality shows, including I’m a Celebrity, each star who signs up to Strictly is given the same flat fee to appear and is unable to negotiate with producers.
According to a report in The Sun, every celebrity receives £25,000 just to appear.
It turns out there’s more incentive to remain in the competition until the very end – not only could you win the honour of taking home the Glitterball trophy, but fees are said to rise to £40,000 if you make it to the end of October.
Last year’s final few – EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker, Great British Bake Off star John Whaite, Cbbc’s Rhys Stephenson and TV personality Aj Odudu – reportedly made £60,000 for getting to the quarter-finals.
Contestants reportedly earn another £15,000 if they get to the semi-finals,...
- 8/30/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Ben Frow, the man who has spent the past decade turning around the fortunes of Paramount-owned Channel 5, has labelled some shows on BBC One, BBC Two, ITV and Channel 4 “lazy,” “second-rate” and “mediocre.”
In a typically candid Royal Television Society Q&a session with Apple Europe Video boss Jay Hunt, who has run programing for BBC One, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the past, Frow urged the UK’s Public Service Broadcasters to “ensure we do our very best to keep our viewers watching us” in the face of mega competition and rising budgets.
Including his own channel in this analysis, Frow said he “sometimes looks across the schedules and thinks ‘Is this the best we can really be?’.”
He went on to call some competitors’ shows “lazy,” “second-rate” and “mediocre” and said “99 out of 100 times I can tell when they won’t work.”
“Viewers aren’t stupid...
In a typically candid Royal Television Society Q&a session with Apple Europe Video boss Jay Hunt, who has run programing for BBC One, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the past, Frow urged the UK’s Public Service Broadcasters to “ensure we do our very best to keep our viewers watching us” in the face of mega competition and rising budgets.
Including his own channel in this analysis, Frow said he “sometimes looks across the schedules and thinks ‘Is this the best we can really be?’.”
He went on to call some competitors’ shows “lazy,” “second-rate” and “mediocre” and said “99 out of 100 times I can tell when they won’t work.”
“Viewers aren’t stupid...
- 6/8/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Rose Ayling-Ellis, the actress who this year became the first deaf contestant on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, is now also the first deaf winner of the British dance competition series, after triumphing in its 19th season.
Ayling-Ellis shared her win with professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice—prevailing over John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, who together comprised the series’ first same-sex partnership.
Ayling-Ellis is best known on the acting side for her turn as Frankie Lewis in BBC One’s long-running soap opera, EastEnders. The 27-year-old performer and advocate of deaf awareness has also previously appeared in the series Summer of Rockets and Casualty, among other projects.
Live shows for Strictly Come Dancing‘s 19th season kicked off on September 25. Additional non-professional contestants included actresses Nina Wadia and Katie McGlynn, actor and comedian Robert Webb, actor Greg Wise, rugby pundit (and former player) Ugo Monye, comedian and talk show...
Ayling-Ellis shared her win with professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice—prevailing over John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, who together comprised the series’ first same-sex partnership.
Ayling-Ellis is best known on the acting side for her turn as Frankie Lewis in BBC One’s long-running soap opera, EastEnders. The 27-year-old performer and advocate of deaf awareness has also previously appeared in the series Summer of Rockets and Casualty, among other projects.
Live shows for Strictly Come Dancing‘s 19th season kicked off on September 25. Additional non-professional contestants included actresses Nina Wadia and Katie McGlynn, actor and comedian Robert Webb, actor Greg Wise, rugby pundit (and former player) Ugo Monye, comedian and talk show...
- 12/19/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
England’s hopes of capturing its first major soccer championship since the 1966 World Cup were crushed on Sunday as Italy defeated them in the UEFA Euro 2020 finals, which went to a penalty shootout for only the second time in the history of the tournament.
The match opened with the sold-out Wembley Stadium roaring as English midfielder Luke Shaw scored just two minutes into the match, the earliest goal ever scored in the finals of the Euros. But in the second half, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci scored for Italy off of a corner kick to level the score at 1-1.
The score would stay there through extra time, leading to a penalty shootout that ended 3-2 in favor of Italy. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma secured the victory for Italy by deflecting the final penalty shot from England’s substitute midfielder Bukayo Saka.
Italy has won the World Cup four times, the most...
The match opened with the sold-out Wembley Stadium roaring as English midfielder Luke Shaw scored just two minutes into the match, the earliest goal ever scored in the finals of the Euros. But in the second half, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci scored for Italy off of a corner kick to level the score at 1-1.
The score would stay there through extra time, leading to a penalty shootout that ended 3-2 in favor of Italy. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma secured the victory for Italy by deflecting the final penalty shot from England’s substitute midfielder Bukayo Saka.
Italy has won the World Cup four times, the most...
- 7/11/2021
- by Jeremy Fuster and Samson Amore
- The Wrap
The BBC has got itself into “deep, deep trouble” after publicly reprimanding one of its top presenters for expressing her views about a Donald Trump tweet that was widely decried as racist.
That’s the view of Marcus Ryder, a prominent campaigner for diversity in British broadcasting, who rallied against the BBC’s decision to censure Naga Munchetty, a host of BBC One’s flagship Breakfast show. He helped organize an open letter from high-profile figures including actors Lenny Henry and Adrian Lester slamming the ruling.
Munchetty, who has Indian and Mauritian heritage, was told last week she broke BBC policies on impartiality when she said on air in July that she was “furious” with Trump for tweeting that Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”
The ruling prompted uproar,...
That’s the view of Marcus Ryder, a prominent campaigner for diversity in British broadcasting, who rallied against the BBC’s decision to censure Naga Munchetty, a host of BBC One’s flagship Breakfast show. He helped organize an open letter from high-profile figures including actors Lenny Henry and Adrian Lester slamming the ruling.
Munchetty, who has Indian and Mauritian heritage, was told last week she broke BBC policies on impartiality when she said on air in July that she was “furious” with Trump for tweeting that Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”
The ruling prompted uproar,...
- 10/3/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Epic Pictures has ramped up the scares for its Dread Central Presents horror label, acquiring Slay Belles and Lasso to release in North American and sell internationally.
Directed by Dan Walker (credited as "Spooky Dan Walker"), Slay Belles is a holiday horror-comedy in which three cosplaying women accidentally unleash Krampus and have to team up with Santa Claus to save the world. Kristina Klebe (Hellboy, Halloween), Susan Slaughter (Ouija House) and Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) star, with horror icon Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed Saw 2, Saw 3 and Saw 4, as well as 11-11-11 and Tales...
Directed by Dan Walker (credited as "Spooky Dan Walker"), Slay Belles is a holiday horror-comedy in which three cosplaying women accidentally unleash Krampus and have to team up with Santa Claus to save the world. Kristina Klebe (Hellboy, Halloween), Susan Slaughter (Ouija House) and Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) star, with horror icon Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed Saw 2, Saw 3 and Saw 4, as well as 11-11-11 and Tales...
- 5/8/2018
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Epic Pictures has ramped up the scares for its Dread Central Presents horror label, acquiring <i>Slay Belles </i>and <i>Lasso</i> to release in North American and sell internationally.
Directed by Dan Walker (credited as "Spooky Dan Walker"), <i>Slay Belles</i> is a holiday horror-comedy in which three cosplaying women accidentally unleash Krampus and have to team up with Santa Claus to save the world. Kristina Klebe (<i>Hellboy</i>, <i>Halloween</i>), Susan Slaughter (<i>Ouija House</i>) and Barry Bostwick (<i>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</i>) star, with horror icon Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed <i>Saw 2</i>, <i>Saw 3 </i>and <i>Saw 4</i>, as well as <i>11-11-11</i> and<i> Tales of Halloween</i> for Epic Pictures,...
Directed by Dan Walker (credited as "Spooky Dan Walker"), <i>Slay Belles</i> is a holiday horror-comedy in which three cosplaying women accidentally unleash Krampus and have to team up with Santa Claus to save the world. Kristina Klebe (<i>Hellboy</i>, <i>Halloween</i>), Susan Slaughter (<i>Ouija House</i>) and Barry Bostwick (<i>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</i>) star, with horror icon Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed <i>Saw 2</i>, <i>Saw 3 </i>and <i>Saw 4</i>, as well as <i>11-11-11</i> and<i> Tales of Halloween</i> for Epic Pictures,...
When BBC football commentator Guy Mowbray visited Digital Spy to talk about tomorrow's Fa Cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa, we couldn't resist asking him to name five of his favourite sports shows of all time.
Which programme would Mowbray resurrect? Which show is the definition of English summer? Find out below...
Guy Mowbray looks ahead to the Fa Cup final on BBC: 'It's still the best competition to me'
1. Match of the Day
"Match of the Day is top obviously, because I've been working on it for 11 years!
"I grew up watching it. My first memories of football were on it. So that's without a doubt the best - the longest-running consecutive television programme, not just sport. 50 years of consecutive broadcast."
2. Grandstand
"I've got to put Grandstand up there as well. I would love to see Grandstand on now.
"I grew up watching Grandstand, and I used to...
Which programme would Mowbray resurrect? Which show is the definition of English summer? Find out below...
Guy Mowbray looks ahead to the Fa Cup final on BBC: 'It's still the best competition to me'
1. Match of the Day
"Match of the Day is top obviously, because I've been working on it for 11 years!
"I grew up watching it. My first memories of football were on it. So that's without a doubt the best - the longest-running consecutive television programme, not just sport. 50 years of consecutive broadcast."
2. Grandstand
"I've got to put Grandstand up there as well. I would love to see Grandstand on now.
"I grew up watching Grandstand, and I used to...
- 5/29/2015
- Digital Spy
Ian Wright has been appointed co-host of BBC Radio 5 live's 606 programme for the 2013/14 season.
The former Arsenal striker will present the live football phone-in show with Kelly Cates on Sundays.
Wright - who previously worked as a pundit on Match of the Day - said he was pleased to be back on the BBC.
"There will be lots to talk about and a lot of divided opinion," he said. "For me, it's all about the fans and what the fans think. I like to hear all sorts of opinions, everyone is entitled to one."
Cates - daughter of Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish - said of Wright: "As well as having been a brilliant footballer, he's a real fan of the game."
"You don't know what somebody's going to ask," she continued, "what point somebody's going to make, which way the conversation is going to go.
"When it does get heated and it does get passionate,...
The former Arsenal striker will present the live football phone-in show with Kelly Cates on Sundays.
Wright - who previously worked as a pundit on Match of the Day - said he was pleased to be back on the BBC.
"There will be lots to talk about and a lot of divided opinion," he said. "For me, it's all about the fans and what the fans think. I like to hear all sorts of opinions, everyone is entitled to one."
Cates - daughter of Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish - said of Wright: "As well as having been a brilliant footballer, he's a real fan of the game."
"You don't know what somebody's going to ask," she continued, "what point somebody's going to make, which way the conversation is going to go.
"When it does get heated and it does get passionate,...
- 8/1/2013
- Digital Spy
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