The BBC has set its election night coverage for the July 4 poll as broadcasters battle to secure debates with Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer as soon as possible.
Established presenters Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie will helm the BBC’s coverage in six weeks time, replacing Huw Edwards, who resigned from the BBC last month following a scandal involving his allegedly paying a young person for explicit images.
Kuenssberg, who hosts a topical Sunday show, and newsreader Myrie, will “bring insight, experience – and perhaps a little wit” alongside BBC political editor Chris Mason, according to the BBC, whose announcement on the coverage was always expected today.
Others set to feature on the night include Reeta Chakrabarti and Jeremy Vine analyzing results with the famous ‘swingometer’, Kirsty Wark, Fiona Bruce, Victoria Derbyshire, Naga Munchetty, Nick Watt and Alex Forsyth. Nick Robinson and Rachel Burden will be on the radio and Martin Geissler,...
Established presenters Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie will helm the BBC’s coverage in six weeks time, replacing Huw Edwards, who resigned from the BBC last month following a scandal involving his allegedly paying a young person for explicit images.
Kuenssberg, who hosts a topical Sunday show, and newsreader Myrie, will “bring insight, experience – and perhaps a little wit” alongside BBC political editor Chris Mason, according to the BBC, whose announcement on the coverage was always expected today.
Others set to feature on the night include Reeta Chakrabarti and Jeremy Vine analyzing results with the famous ‘swingometer’, Kirsty Wark, Fiona Bruce, Victoria Derbyshire, Naga Munchetty, Nick Watt and Alex Forsyth. Nick Robinson and Rachel Burden will be on the radio and Martin Geissler,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Channel 4 and The Rest is Politics have struck a first-of-its-kind deal that will see episodes of the smash hit podcast air on the network in the run up to the general election.
Rest is Politics hosts Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell are already going to be part of Channel 4’s general election night coverage and the deal deepens the relationship.
The first episode will go out on Channel 4 and Channel 4 streaming next Wednesday late at night, with subsequent episodes being broadcast each Tuesday up until the week of election day, which takes place on July 4. On that night, Campbell and Stewart are part of a team featuring the likes of Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Emily Maitlis and Cathy Newman. Clare Balding – who had previously been announced as part of the line-up – will not be able to join the studio team due to Wimbledon commitments, and her replacement will be announced in due course.
Rest is Politics hosts Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell are already going to be part of Channel 4’s general election night coverage and the deal deepens the relationship.
The first episode will go out on Channel 4 and Channel 4 streaming next Wednesday late at night, with subsequent episodes being broadcast each Tuesday up until the week of election day, which takes place on July 4. On that night, Campbell and Stewart are part of a team featuring the likes of Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Emily Maitlis and Cathy Newman. Clare Balding – who had previously been announced as part of the line-up – will not be able to join the studio team due to Wimbledon commitments, and her replacement will be announced in due course.
- 5/24/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Anthony Scaramucci To Host U.S. Edition Of ‘The Rest Is Politics’
Anthony Scaramucci is getting into podcasting. The former White House Director of Communications will host an American edition of British podcast The Rest is Politics alongside Katty Kay, U.S. Special Correspondent for BBC Studios. Starting Friday (April 26) The pair will look to uncover secrets from inside Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s inner circles, and take a wider look at the intricacies of U.S. society and how they shape the world’s most important economy. New episodes will be released every Friday. Produced by football veteran Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Films, The Rest is Politics launched in the UK in 2022, with former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and former Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart at the helm. This week, hosts Campbell and Stewart were announced to be presenting UK network Channel 4’s...
Anthony Scaramucci is getting into podcasting. The former White House Director of Communications will host an American edition of British podcast The Rest is Politics alongside Katty Kay, U.S. Special Correspondent for BBC Studios. Starting Friday (April 26) The pair will look to uncover secrets from inside Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s inner circles, and take a wider look at the intricacies of U.S. society and how they shape the world’s most important economy. New episodes will be released every Friday. Produced by football veteran Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Films, The Rest is Politics launched in the UK in 2022, with former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and former Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart at the helm. This week, hosts Campbell and Stewart were announced to be presenting UK network Channel 4’s...
- 4/24/2024
- by Hannah Abraham and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Any British broadcaster who breaches general election programing rules will be hit with an Ofcom sanction, the regulator has said, a warning likely informed by a number of Gb News breaches over the past year.
In a strongly-worded broadside to the broadcasting community, Ofcom said it is putting broadcasters “on notice to maintain due impartiality ahead of the general election.”
“In particular, broadcasters are reminded that Rule 6.6 of the Code prohibits candidates in UK elections from acting as news presenters, interviewers or presenters of any type of programme during the election period,” Ofcom said today.
The right-leaning Gb News has been found to be in breach a number of times for its practice of having politicians host news programs, with the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey and Phillip Davies falling foul. Gb News has been investigated more than a dozen times for a variety of potential breaches by Ofcom...
In a strongly-worded broadside to the broadcasting community, Ofcom said it is putting broadcasters “on notice to maintain due impartiality ahead of the general election.”
“In particular, broadcasters are reminded that Rule 6.6 of the Code prohibits candidates in UK elections from acting as news presenters, interviewers or presenters of any type of programme during the election period,” Ofcom said today.
The right-leaning Gb News has been found to be in breach a number of times for its practice of having politicians host news programs, with the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey and Phillip Davies falling foul. Gb News has been investigated more than a dozen times for a variety of potential breaches by Ofcom...
- 4/24/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Channel 4 News has landed a major coup in booking Prince Andrew interviewer Emily Maitlis to head up its general election coverage.
Maitlis, who was portrayed by Gillian Anderson in Netflix movie Scoop about the notorious interview, will present alongside regular helmer Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Channel 4 News has focused on Britain’s biggest podcasts by booking Maitlis, who co-hosts smash hit The News Agents, along with landing Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, who present the popular Rest is Politics pod, as contributors.
The pair will bring “inimitable analysis,” according to Channel 4. The “eclectic line-up” will also feature some of the cast of Gogglebox, the network’s second most popular show. Cathy Newman will present from campaign HQs for the ruling Conservative and opposition Labour parties. Sports presenter CLare Balding will front the data coverage.
“Delighted to be involved with this election night and it’s brilliant cast of people,” said Maitlis.
Maitlis, who was portrayed by Gillian Anderson in Netflix movie Scoop about the notorious interview, will present alongside regular helmer Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Channel 4 News has focused on Britain’s biggest podcasts by booking Maitlis, who co-hosts smash hit The News Agents, along with landing Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, who present the popular Rest is Politics pod, as contributors.
The pair will bring “inimitable analysis,” according to Channel 4. The “eclectic line-up” will also feature some of the cast of Gogglebox, the network’s second most popular show. Cathy Newman will present from campaign HQs for the ruling Conservative and opposition Labour parties. Sports presenter CLare Balding will front the data coverage.
“Delighted to be involved with this election night and it’s brilliant cast of people,” said Maitlis.
- 4/22/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Gary Lineker, host of popular BBC soccer highlights show “Match of the Day,” said Tuesday he didn’t feel constrained at the broadcaster when it came to expressing his point of view, despite the BBC’s social media guidelines.
Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch, Lineker – who has attracted criticism for some of his Tweets on politics – said: “I don’t think I’m constrained. I think I’ve Tweeted now like I’ve always done: i.e. sensibly. I know the guidelines inside out, and the new guidelines actually allow you more freedom to Tweet. We’re allowed opinions on stuff.”
He added: “We know what it’s like with the BBC… that people will say we are biased this way or biased that way. But the truth is there are thousands of people who work there. It is an institution that has to try to be neutral...
Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch, Lineker – who has attracted criticism for some of his Tweets on politics – said: “I don’t think I’m constrained. I think I’ve Tweeted now like I’ve always done: i.e. sensibly. I know the guidelines inside out, and the new guidelines actually allow you more freedom to Tweet. We’re allowed opinions on stuff.”
He added: “We know what it’s like with the BBC… that people will say we are biased this way or biased that way. But the truth is there are thousands of people who work there. It is an institution that has to try to be neutral...
- 2/6/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Notorious former UK government spin doctor Alastair Campbell was pondering legal action against the BBC 20 years ago over its reporting of the controversies surrounding the Iraq War.
News stories have been emerging this week about the premiership of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who Campbell advised, due to the release of archived documents under the UK’s 20-year rule.
In one letter, Campbell wrote to Blair stating: “If the BBC remain belligerent, I think the rhetoric has to be stepped up, up to and including the threat of putting the issue in the hands of lawyers.” The threat went no further, as events took over the situation.
Campbell, who now hosts the hit Rest is Politics podcast, had been setting out the ruling Labour Party’s PR operation to handle the Iraq War, which was being met with stiff opposition.
Campbell and Blair were furious with the BBC’s coverage...
News stories have been emerging this week about the premiership of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who Campbell advised, due to the release of archived documents under the UK’s 20-year rule.
In one letter, Campbell wrote to Blair stating: “If the BBC remain belligerent, I think the rhetoric has to be stepped up, up to and including the threat of putting the issue in the hands of lawyers.” The threat went no further, as events took over the situation.
Campbell, who now hosts the hit Rest is Politics podcast, had been setting out the ruling Labour Party’s PR operation to handle the Iraq War, which was being met with stiff opposition.
Campbell and Blair were furious with the BBC’s coverage...
- 12/29/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Rest is Politics, The Rest is History and Political Currency have taken the British podcasting world by storm of late and one man connects them all – Alex Bewley.
The podcast supremo launched WME’s London digital department a decade ago and has pivoted over the past few years to focus almost solely on the audio format. The past year has seen his team’s methods seriously begin to bear fruit, with Bewley’s clients Goalhanger and Persephonica occupying a front row seat to the runaway success of informal political chatshows The News Agents and The Rest is Politics, which continue to dominate the weekly UK charts. The former is hosted by ex-BBC heavyweights Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, taking an in-depth look at daily talking points in the world of current affairs, while the latter has seen the oddball pairing of former Labour Party spin doctor Alastair Campbell...
The podcast supremo launched WME’s London digital department a decade ago and has pivoted over the past few years to focus almost solely on the audio format. The past year has seen his team’s methods seriously begin to bear fruit, with Bewley’s clients Goalhanger and Persephonica occupying a front row seat to the runaway success of informal political chatshows The News Agents and The Rest is Politics, which continue to dominate the weekly UK charts. The former is hosted by ex-BBC heavyweights Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, taking an in-depth look at daily talking points in the world of current affairs, while the latter has seen the oddball pairing of former Labour Party spin doctor Alastair Campbell...
- 11/7/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Persephonica, the producer behind hit daily news podcast The News Agents, has signed with WME in a bid to win more work across the pond.
The indie founded by Brexitcast creator Dino Sofos is also forging a podcast about slavery reparations, in which a former BBC World News anchor whose ancestors were slaveowners heads on a journey with a Labour politician whose ancestors were most likely enslaved by the journalist’s.
Alongside this new untitled podcast, Persephonica is developing a “big slate of shows,” according to Sofos, and has signed with WME’s Alex Bewley, who also reps Gary Lineker’s The Rest is Politics indie Goalhanger.
“Pushing into America is a big thing for us,” Sofos told Deadline. “It’s really important in this industry to have someone like Alex with their finger on the pulse in terms of commissioning and gaps in the market, and linking us...
The indie founded by Brexitcast creator Dino Sofos is also forging a podcast about slavery reparations, in which a former BBC World News anchor whose ancestors were slaveowners heads on a journey with a Labour politician whose ancestors were most likely enslaved by the journalist’s.
Alongside this new untitled podcast, Persephonica is developing a “big slate of shows,” according to Sofos, and has signed with WME’s Alex Bewley, who also reps Gary Lineker’s The Rest is Politics indie Goalhanger.
“Pushing into America is a big thing for us,” Sofos told Deadline. “It’s really important in this industry to have someone like Alex with their finger on the pulse in terms of commissioning and gaps in the market, and linking us...
- 9/11/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Visit https://podnews.net/update/podcasts-podcasters for all the links, and to get our newsletter.
Tink Media's Lauren Passell asked people at Podcast Movement last week what they were listening to and released a great list. Michael Osborne, from Famous & Gravy, shares our Editor's choice; disappointingly, nobody mentions the Podnews Weekly Review, but we'll forgive you all.. Podcasting represents 11.4 minutes of every hour listening to "ad-supported audio". Cumulus Media and Westwood One has written up its analysis of Edison Research's Share of Ear Q2/23. “I know some podcasts we could play,” said the cat. “I know some good shows,” said the Cat in the Hat. Wondery is to make podcasts with Dr Seuss, with The Cat in the Hat Cast launching first on Sep 18, exclusively on Wondery+. Classifieds - your job or ad herePodcast Hosting starting at $9 — The Podcaster's Utopia. I mean, seriously. Disctopia offers podcasters the most features...
Tink Media's Lauren Passell asked people at Podcast Movement last week what they were listening to and released a great list. Michael Osborne, from Famous & Gravy, shares our Editor's choice; disappointingly, nobody mentions the Podnews Weekly Review, but we'll forgive you all.. Podcasting represents 11.4 minutes of every hour listening to "ad-supported audio". Cumulus Media and Westwood One has written up its analysis of Edison Research's Share of Ear Q2/23. “I know some podcasts we could play,” said the cat. “I know some good shows,” said the Cat in the Hat. Wondery is to make podcasts with Dr Seuss, with The Cat in the Hat Cast launching first on Sep 18, exclusively on Wondery+. Classifieds - your job or ad herePodcast Hosting starting at $9 — The Podcaster's Utopia. I mean, seriously. Disctopia offers podcasters the most features...
- 8/29/2023
- Podnews.net
Exclusive: Joseph Fiennes has scored a winner with playwright James Graham’s knockout stage play Dear England, which will transfer from London’s National Theatre to the West End in the fall.
The play is an uplifting dramatization of Gareth Southgate’s inspirational leadership of the England’s men’s soccer team and has garnered strong reviews.
Dear England will run at the Cameron Mackintosh-owned Prince Edward Theatre in Soho, London for a 14-week season from October 9. National Theatre Productions is producing.
Fiennes will transfer with the drama. He has been praised for capturing Southgate’s determination to reignite the England team’s pride, plus the sense that the bloke’s a darn good egg. England stars such as captain Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are also played in the show by actors.
Joseph Fiennes portrays Gareth Southgate in Dear England at National Theatre.
The play is an uplifting dramatization of Gareth Southgate’s inspirational leadership of the England’s men’s soccer team and has garnered strong reviews.
Dear England will run at the Cameron Mackintosh-owned Prince Edward Theatre in Soho, London for a 14-week season from October 9. National Theatre Productions is producing.
Fiennes will transfer with the drama. He has been praised for capturing Southgate’s determination to reignite the England team’s pride, plus the sense that the bloke’s a darn good egg. England stars such as captain Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are also played in the show by actors.
Joseph Fiennes portrays Gareth Southgate in Dear England at National Theatre.
- 8/7/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Three of the most recognisable names in English football; Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards are teaming up to co-host a brand-new football podcast.
The Rest is Football will see the three top pundits release new episodes at least twice a week to review the week’s matches, debate the biggest topics in the game and answer listeners’ questions.
The new show, which launches on Monday August 7th ahead of the new Premier League season, will give the trio the opportunity to voice their opinions in addition to their work for mainstream broadcasters.
The series is being produced by the UK’s biggest independent podcast production company, Goalhanger Podcasts, which was launched by Gary Lineker in January 2022.
Goalhanger Podcasts already makes two of the UK’s most popular podcasts, The Rest is Politics (hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart) and The Rest is History (hosted by Tom Holland...
The Rest is Football will see the three top pundits release new episodes at least twice a week to review the week’s matches, debate the biggest topics in the game and answer listeners’ questions.
The new show, which launches on Monday August 7th ahead of the new Premier League season, will give the trio the opportunity to voice their opinions in addition to their work for mainstream broadcasters.
The series is being produced by the UK’s biggest independent podcast production company, Goalhanger Podcasts, which was launched by Gary Lineker in January 2022.
Goalhanger Podcasts already makes two of the UK’s most popular podcasts, The Rest is Politics (hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart) and The Rest is History (hosted by Tom Holland...
- 8/7/2023
- Podnews.net
Given the state of British politics, I’m not sure that using a reality TV format to choose our next prime minister is such a terrible idea. Of course, Make Me Prime Minister (Channel 4) isn’t actually designed to do this – that’s the task of a tiny handful of unrepresentative Tory activists in Liz Truss’s case – but rather to entertain and to educate us a little.
I have to say, having been badly jaundiced by over-exposure to politics and politicians over some decades, I am pleasantly surprised at how well the show works. Somehow it actually manages to make the political process look like God’s work. A minor miracle.
Basically, it’s a bit of a rip-off of The Apprentice, with two teams of members of the public taking it in turns to be their “team leader”, ie Pm, and to take on assignments and make fools of themselves.
I have to say, having been badly jaundiced by over-exposure to politics and politicians over some decades, I am pleasantly surprised at how well the show works. Somehow it actually manages to make the political process look like God’s work. A minor miracle.
Basically, it’s a bit of a rip-off of The Apprentice, with two teams of members of the public taking it in turns to be their “team leader”, ie Pm, and to take on assignments and make fools of themselves.
- 9/27/2022
- by Sean O'Grady
- The Independent - TV
Exclusive: Goalhanger, the company formed by legendary England striker Gary Lineker, is looking to further expand its audio output after signing its podcast division with WME.
The agency has signed London-based Goalhanger Podcasts, which the former Barcelona and Leicester footballer set up in January with Tony Pastor and former BBC podcast executive Jack Davenport. It comes after Lineker and Pastor set up TV production company Goalhanger Films, which has produced sports docs including Wayne Rooney: The Man Behind the Goals and Hand of God, in 2015.
It comes on the back of a number of growing audio series for the company including The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and Match of the Day: Top Ten. These three shows have collective monthly downloads of around 5M.
The Rest is History, which is fronted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, has around 2.7M downloads a month, and The Rest is Politics,...
The agency has signed London-based Goalhanger Podcasts, which the former Barcelona and Leicester footballer set up in January with Tony Pastor and former BBC podcast executive Jack Davenport. It comes after Lineker and Pastor set up TV production company Goalhanger Films, which has produced sports docs including Wayne Rooney: The Man Behind the Goals and Hand of God, in 2015.
It comes on the back of a number of growing audio series for the company including The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and Match of the Day: Top Ten. These three shows have collective monthly downloads of around 5M.
The Rest is History, which is fronted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, has around 2.7M downloads a month, and The Rest is Politics,...
- 6/17/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Roku Originals has tied with UK network Channel 4 for the first time on Tempting Fortune, in which a group of 12 strangers will spend 19 days in paradise but have to resist the temptation to spend money, while Channel 4 has also greenlit an Apprentice-style politics competition format.
The show from UK indie Voltage will have a substantial cash prize on offer but contestants will eat into the prize if they can’t resist the temptation to spend it. Their wilderness will be full of expensive enticements and at every turn a mirage of home comforts will tempt them to indulge in the luxury on offer.
The show is the first to be co-produced by Channel 4 and Roku Originals and will air exclusively on the Roku Channel in the U.S.
Roku Head of Alternative Originals Brian Tannenbaum called it a “broadcast-level, social experiment that will excite our Roku streamers,” coming a...
The show from UK indie Voltage will have a substantial cash prize on offer but contestants will eat into the prize if they can’t resist the temptation to spend it. Their wilderness will be full of expensive enticements and at every turn a mirage of home comforts will tempt them to indulge in the luxury on offer.
The show is the first to be co-produced by Channel 4 and Roku Originals and will air exclusively on the Roku Channel in the U.S.
Roku Head of Alternative Originals Brian Tannenbaum called it a “broadcast-level, social experiment that will excite our Roku streamers,” coming a...
- 5/17/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Channel 4-backed Spirit Studios has signed ITV’s Father’s Day and Walking on the Moon writer Martin Sadofski in the newly-created Head of Scripted role.
Sadofsksi will develop projects in scripted drama and comedy aligned to the company’s vision of “telling stories that break out of traditional silos whilst changing the world for the better.”
He is well known in UK drama circles, having penned Peter Kosminsky bullying drama Walking on the Moon and Father’s Day, which won a Cannes Lion and starred Ray Winstone. Other credits include feature Seamonsters, BBC One comedy Come Fly With Me and documentaries such as the Grierson Award-nominated Alastair Campbell: Depression & Me and Stv/Amazon Prime Studios’ Undercover in the Alt Right.
Sadofski said he wants to “mentor new marginalized writers and help them to tell their stories,” adding: “My role is to develop contemporary dramas about big...
Sadofsksi will develop projects in scripted drama and comedy aligned to the company’s vision of “telling stories that break out of traditional silos whilst changing the world for the better.”
He is well known in UK drama circles, having penned Peter Kosminsky bullying drama Walking on the Moon and Father’s Day, which won a Cannes Lion and starred Ray Winstone. Other credits include feature Seamonsters, BBC One comedy Come Fly With Me and documentaries such as the Grierson Award-nominated Alastair Campbell: Depression & Me and Stv/Amazon Prime Studios’ Undercover in the Alt Right.
Sadofski said he wants to “mentor new marginalized writers and help them to tell their stories,” adding: “My role is to develop contemporary dramas about big...
- 3/7/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
ITV’s Director of Television Kevin Lygo has defended the viewing figures and rejected criticism of its ITV2 jewel Love Island, following the finale of the fifth series of the show earlier this week, saying claims the show is past its peak are well off the mark.
With ratings for the finale down on previous years, Lygo told the Edinburgh Television Festival: “This is a pattern you see when new programs come along and they’re huge phenomenons. On catch up, it’s the best performing series ever. Who would think you could invent a program that runs every night at 9pm for eight weeks and keep viewers, especially young viewers who are hard to find now? There’s many years left in it. The challenge thrown down to producers is to make some subtle changes to spice it up a bit and keep it as fresh as you can.
With ratings for the finale down on previous years, Lygo told the Edinburgh Television Festival: “This is a pattern you see when new programs come along and they’re huge phenomenons. On catch up, it’s the best performing series ever. Who would think you could invent a program that runs every night at 9pm for eight weeks and keep viewers, especially young viewers who are hard to find now? There’s many years left in it. The challenge thrown down to producers is to make some subtle changes to spice it up a bit and keep it as fresh as you can.
- 8/25/2021
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC is exploring the rise of Tony Blair’s New Labour movement and the triple murder of a family in a Telford blaze as part of its latest documentary orders.
BBC Two has given a greenlight to a five-part series about former British Prime Minister Blair’s political party, which dominated the late 90s and early 2000s. New Labour (w/t), which is produced by BBC Studios, will look at how Blair and his colleagues including Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell, John Prescott took control of the Labour Party before becoming elected.
It will chart their leadership of the country through a tumultuous period of war and peace, terror and national trauma and exploring their controversial political legacy and the powerful personalities and emotional fault lines that ran through their years in charge in Britain.
It comes on the back of the success of Thatcher: A Very British Revolution.
BBC Two has given a greenlight to a five-part series about former British Prime Minister Blair’s political party, which dominated the late 90s and early 2000s. New Labour (w/t), which is produced by BBC Studios, will look at how Blair and his colleagues including Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell, John Prescott took control of the Labour Party before becoming elected.
It will chart their leadership of the country through a tumultuous period of war and peace, terror and national trauma and exploring their controversial political legacy and the powerful personalities and emotional fault lines that ran through their years in charge in Britain.
It comes on the back of the success of Thatcher: A Very British Revolution.
- 10/29/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC is piloting a comedy chat-show format hosted by a CGI Vladimir Putin. The British broadcaster is testing out the semi-scripted talk show featuring a pastiche of the bear-wrestling global strongman.
Tonight with Vladimir Putin will launch on BBC Two as two episodes of 12 minutes. The episodes will feature Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, Your Face or Mine? host June Sarpong and C-lister Joe Swash.
It will use live VFX, created using performance capture technology developed by creative studio Framestore, to enable a 3D digital cartoon of Putin to walk around and sit behind the desk, interviewing real human guests in front of a studio audience, all in real time.
Putin jokingly thanks Campbell for his part in making such a mess of things, while he makes Sarpong play a game of “Diversity Challenge.” In Episode 2, Vlad asks his first guest the same question he asked...
Tonight with Vladimir Putin will launch on BBC Two as two episodes of 12 minutes. The episodes will feature Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, Your Face or Mine? host June Sarpong and C-lister Joe Swash.
It will use live VFX, created using performance capture technology developed by creative studio Framestore, to enable a 3D digital cartoon of Putin to walk around and sit behind the desk, interviewing real human guests in front of a studio audience, all in real time.
Putin jokingly thanks Campbell for his part in making such a mess of things, while he makes Sarpong play a game of “Diversity Challenge.” In Episode 2, Vlad asks his first guest the same question he asked...
- 5/21/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Prince Harry is speaking out on the dangers of spending too much time on social media.
On Thursday, the prince kicked off day two of his visit to Denmark with a visit to the Lagkagehuset bakery in Copenhagen, where he opened up about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health.
Addressing ambassadors for the “One of Us” mental health campaign — which provides support to young people with mental health issues — the prince said, “People are spending far too much time online and it’s like a mental running machine that they can’t get off. You...
On Thursday, the prince kicked off day two of his visit to Denmark with a visit to the Lagkagehuset bakery in Copenhagen, where he opened up about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health.
Addressing ambassadors for the “One of Us” mental health campaign — which provides support to young people with mental health issues — the prince said, “People are spending far too much time online and it’s like a mental running machine that they can’t get off. You...
- 10/26/2017
- by Maria Pasquini
- PEOPLE.com
Just call him the Royal Dog Whisperer.
On Tuesday, Prince Harry met an old four-legged friend when he came face-to-face with service dog Cooper, 2 who helps his owner, former Marine Phil Eaglesham, break the ice when meeting people and assist with practical tasks like opening doors and loading a washing machine.
The Labrador-Retriever mix “recognizes Harry straight away and gets so over-excited. Dogs are a very good judge of character — they can smell when something’s wrong,” says Eaglesham, who joined Harry at St. James’s Palace to mark World Mental Health Day. “We all look up to him for doing this.
On Tuesday, Prince Harry met an old four-legged friend when he came face-to-face with service dog Cooper, 2 who helps his owner, former Marine Phil Eaglesham, break the ice when meeting people and assist with practical tasks like opening doors and loading a washing machine.
The Labrador-Retriever mix “recognizes Harry straight away and gets so over-excited. Dogs are a very good judge of character — they can smell when something’s wrong,” says Eaglesham, who joined Harry at St. James’s Palace to mark World Mental Health Day. “We all look up to him for doing this.
- 10/10/2017
- by Simon Perry
- PEOPLE.com
Should young Prince William and Prince Harry have been made to march behind the coffin of their mother Princess Diana?
At the time, Diana’s brother, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, argued against them being part of the procession — and some government advisers were wary too. But friends of the royal family have said that it was their grandfather, Prince Philip, who told the princes — then ages 15 and 12 — “If I do it, will you?”
Now, William confirms in the new BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, “It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was a collective family decision to do that. It...
At the time, Diana’s brother, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, argued against them being part of the procession — and some government advisers were wary too. But friends of the royal family have said that it was their grandfather, Prince Philip, who told the princes — then ages 15 and 12 — “If I do it, will you?”
Now, William confirms in the new BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, “It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was a collective family decision to do that. It...
- 8/23/2017
- by Simon Perry
- PEOPLE.com
Princes William and Harry are sharing more of their mother's story.
The royals revisit the week following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in the BBC-commissioned special, Diana, 7 Days.
Related: Prince William and Prince Harry Open Up About Princess Diana's Parenting Style For the First Time
The two-hour documentary reflects on the tumultuous week after Diana's Aug. 31, 1997 death, and how the tragedy affected the world. William and Harry, as well as other family members, close friends, political figures and journalists -- including Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, Earl Spencer and Lady Sarah McCorquodale -- also speak on camera about Diana.
“Part of the reason why Harry and I want to do this is because we feel we owe it to her … I think an element of it is feeling like we let her down when we were younger. We couldn’t protect her," William said in a statement. "We feel we at least owe her 20 years...
The royals revisit the week following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in the BBC-commissioned special, Diana, 7 Days.
Related: Prince William and Prince Harry Open Up About Princess Diana's Parenting Style For the First Time
The two-hour documentary reflects on the tumultuous week after Diana's Aug. 31, 1997 death, and how the tragedy affected the world. William and Harry, as well as other family members, close friends, political figures and journalists -- including Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, Earl Spencer and Lady Sarah McCorquodale -- also speak on camera about Diana.
“Part of the reason why Harry and I want to do this is because we feel we owe it to her … I think an element of it is feeling like we let her down when we were younger. We couldn’t protect her," William said in a statement. "We feel we at least owe her 20 years...
- 8/10/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The world may know that Prince William lost his mother, Princess Diana of Wales, after a fateful car crash in Paris in 1997, but they do not know how he's privately dealt with that pain for the past two decades— that is until now. In a rare and raw interview with the royal, the Duke of Cambridge, who is usually known for his sense of humor, sits down with Alastair Campbell for the July issue of British GQ and talks about the 20th anniversary of his mother's death, what it's like without his mother today and dealing with grief in the spotlight. On the imminent 20th anniversary of the Princess of Wales' death, William said, "I am in a better place about it than I have been for a long...
- 5/29/2017
- E! Online
You might have noticed there's a General Election happening. But how can you keep up with all the bewildering swingometer and poll-closing action on TV? Fear not, because we've put together a handy guide to all of the best coverage.
What to watch now
If you missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start getting in the spirit of it early. Our pick for tonight is...
What to watch now
If you missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start getting in the spirit of it early. Our pick for tonight is...
- 5/6/2015
- Digital Spy
You might have noticed there's a General Election happening this week. But how can you keep up with all the bewildering swingometer and poll-closing action on TV? Fear not, because we've put together a handy guide to all of the best coverage over the next few days.
What to watch now
You might have missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? last night (May 5), but fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start...
What to watch now
You might have missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? last night (May 5), but fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start...
- 5/6/2015
- Digital Spy
Life is Sacred
Directed by Andreas M. Dalsgaard
Columbia, 2015
Chances are when one conjures Colombia to mind a less than salubrious image springs to mind – staggeringly wealthy drug kingpins, endemic kidnapping plots, paramilitary foisted crime and corruption. Andreas M. Dalsgaard challenges these preconceptions with his instructive documentary Life is Sacred, a welcome opportunity to learn and see the quiet and hard-fought revolution that has been occurring in Colombia’s body politic. The film follows unorthodox presidential candidate Antanas Mockus and his enthusiastic young activist supporters attempts to reverse the vicious cycle of violence that is part of everyday life in Colombia, as an academic turned charismatic role model he fights an imaginative and positive election campaign designed to be a glint in the media’s eye. As mayor of Bogota he dresses his colleagues in Superman costumes as his campaign executes a procession of flash-mobs, publicity stunts and social media activities.
Directed by Andreas M. Dalsgaard
Columbia, 2015
Chances are when one conjures Colombia to mind a less than salubrious image springs to mind – staggeringly wealthy drug kingpins, endemic kidnapping plots, paramilitary foisted crime and corruption. Andreas M. Dalsgaard challenges these preconceptions with his instructive documentary Life is Sacred, a welcome opportunity to learn and see the quiet and hard-fought revolution that has been occurring in Colombia’s body politic. The film follows unorthodox presidential candidate Antanas Mockus and his enthusiastic young activist supporters attempts to reverse the vicious cycle of violence that is part of everyday life in Colombia, as an academic turned charismatic role model he fights an imaginative and positive election campaign designed to be a glint in the media’s eye. As mayor of Bogota he dresses his colleagues in Superman costumes as his campaign executes a procession of flash-mobs, publicity stunts and social media activities.
- 3/10/2015
- by John
- SoundOnSight
According to Anna Wintour hearing the phrase "You're fired!" isn't always a bad thing. "Everyone should be sacked at least once in their career because perfection doesn't exist," Conde Nast's editorial director revealed in an interview with Alistair Campbell for his upcoming book Winners And How They Succeed. "It's important to have setbacks, because that is the reality of life," the fashion icon further explained. And yes, in case you're wondering the now 65-year-old has received a pink slip. Back in 1975, after just nine months as a junior fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar she was let go. But clearly that didn't stop her! 13 years later she was named...
- 3/2/2015
- E! Online
Take that pink slip and love it! Anna Wintour dished out career advice inside Alastair Campbell's new book, Winners: And How They Succeed, and here's the most surprising (and sobering) tip Vogue's editor-in-chief shared: Get fired. "Everyone should be sacked at least once in their career because perfection doesn't exist," Wintour, 65, told the author. "It's important to have setbacks, because that is the reality of life." And yes, even the style doyenne has gotten the boot before. In 1975, Wintour was fired from her position as a junior [...]...
- 3/2/2015
- Us Weekly
Ever since we heard Roy Keane's thoughts on Gone Girl ("Rubbish. Absolute rubbish."), we've been consumed with wondering what celebrities think of all the latest movies. So we did some research. Here are some of the entertainment world's best and brightest on the films nominated for this year's Best Picture Oscar.
(Just make sure you read Arnie's tweets in his accent. Please. It makes them ten times funnier.)
American Sniper
American Sniper not Clint Eastwoods finest work for me. I did shed a tear for the story though. #ChrisKyle
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) January 26, 2015
American Sniper was truly great. I should have learned by now to never let Clint surprise me, but I didn't expect to cry through the credits
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) December 22, 2014
Saw Two Days One Night. Long & boring & depressing. English sub titles, so u have to really concentrate. My fave movie American Sniper
— Jackie Collins (@jackiejcollins) January 25, 2015
Birdman...
(Just make sure you read Arnie's tweets in his accent. Please. It makes them ten times funnier.)
American Sniper
American Sniper not Clint Eastwoods finest work for me. I did shed a tear for the story though. #ChrisKyle
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) January 26, 2015
American Sniper was truly great. I should have learned by now to never let Clint surprise me, but I didn't expect to cry through the credits
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) December 22, 2014
Saw Two Days One Night. Long & boring & depressing. English sub titles, so u have to really concentrate. My fave movie American Sniper
— Jackie Collins (@jackiejcollins) January 25, 2015
Birdman...
- 1/29/2015
- Digital Spy
Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.
Malcolm Tucker swearing is funny. He does it a lot. The comedy creation – based on former Pm Tony Blair’s “spin doctor” Alistair Campbell – is the highlight of BBC Two comedy The Thick of It and its movie spin-off In The Loop, and is a horrendous grotesque, a spitting, threatening pig of a man
The post How Do You Stop Malcolm Tucker Swearing? [Video] appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
Malcolm Tucker swearing is funny. He does it a lot. The comedy creation – based on former Pm Tony Blair’s “spin doctor” Alistair Campbell – is the highlight of BBC Two comedy The Thick of It and its movie spin-off In The Loop, and is a horrendous grotesque, a spitting, threatening pig of a man
The post How Do You Stop Malcolm Tucker Swearing? [Video] appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.
- 7/27/2014
- by Christian Cawley
- Kasterborous.com
Flies can be a nuisance at the best of times, let alone when you're trying to talk live on television.
Sky News' political editor Adam Boulton was trying to deliver important details about the government cabinet reshuffle, when a fly decided to die for a share of the limelight.
Presenter Dermot Murnaghan urgently asked his colleague if he needed a break, as he starts to choke up and pull bizarre facial expressions.
"No I'm fine, I swallowed a fly but I've recovered now," Boulton replies while pulling at his tie and attempting to move on from the subject.
This isn't the first on-air spat for the outgoing editor. In 2010, he clashed with Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell. Watch the moment below:...
Sky News' political editor Adam Boulton was trying to deliver important details about the government cabinet reshuffle, when a fly decided to die for a share of the limelight.
Presenter Dermot Murnaghan urgently asked his colleague if he needed a break, as he starts to choke up and pull bizarre facial expressions.
"No I'm fine, I swallowed a fly but I've recovered now," Boulton replies while pulling at his tie and attempting to move on from the subject.
This isn't the first on-air spat for the outgoing editor. In 2010, he clashed with Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell. Watch the moment below:...
- 7/16/2014
- Digital Spy
Football, football, football. It's all anybody is going to bang on about for the next month. Or at least until England get knocked out on penalties anyway.
However, even for those who don't care for the delights of 22 men running around hoofing a ball and rolling around like pansies, there is something to enjoy tonight. The World Cup Opening Ceremony.
Jack Wilshere, Gerard Pique: World Cup 2014's hottest footballers, part 1
BBC pundits' World Cup guide: Who will win? Are England doomed?
Announcing Digital Spy's World Cup of football games
8 World Cup anthems for 2014: The Good, The Bad... and The Macarooney
World Cup 2014: Andy Bates teaches DS how to make Brazilian footie snacks
With Jennifer Lopez booked to perform, and the promise of an extraordinary samba festival, the party in Sao Paulo promises to be great entertainment.
If nothing else, we can also enjoy chuckling at Adrian Chiles bumbling...
However, even for those who don't care for the delights of 22 men running around hoofing a ball and rolling around like pansies, there is something to enjoy tonight. The World Cup Opening Ceremony.
Jack Wilshere, Gerard Pique: World Cup 2014's hottest footballers, part 1
BBC pundits' World Cup guide: Who will win? Are England doomed?
Announcing Digital Spy's World Cup of football games
8 World Cup anthems for 2014: The Good, The Bad... and The Macarooney
World Cup 2014: Andy Bates teaches DS how to make Brazilian footie snacks
With Jennifer Lopez booked to perform, and the promise of an extraordinary samba festival, the party in Sao Paulo promises to be great entertainment.
If nothing else, we can also enjoy chuckling at Adrian Chiles bumbling...
- 6/12/2014
- Digital Spy
Alex's series looking back at the film careers of actors who've played the Doctor finishes with Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi...
Feature
Read the previous part in this series: the film careers of Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, here.
By 2009, the new version of Doctor Who had become not only an integral part of Saturday night television and a huge Christmas ratings winner but also an international success all over again. David Tennant, who had played the Time Lord since 2005 and was, arguably, more popular than any Doctor since the mighty Tom Baker hung up his scarf in 1981, had announced his resignation from the part he loved in October 2008. Many wondered how the incoming showrunner, Steven Moffat, would follow Tennant and what kind of show would emerge.
Tennant spent much of 2009 on stage in Hamlet and was only able to devote small amounts of time to Doctor Who. Occasional specials...
Feature
Read the previous part in this series: the film careers of Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, here.
By 2009, the new version of Doctor Who had become not only an integral part of Saturday night television and a huge Christmas ratings winner but also an international success all over again. David Tennant, who had played the Time Lord since 2005 and was, arguably, more popular than any Doctor since the mighty Tom Baker hung up his scarf in 1981, had announced his resignation from the part he loved in October 2008. Many wondered how the incoming showrunner, Steven Moffat, would follow Tennant and what kind of show would emerge.
Tennant spent much of 2009 on stage in Hamlet and was only able to devote small amounts of time to Doctor Who. Occasional specials...
- 6/4/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
By publicly showing their vulnerability, the likes of Bay, Scott Stossel and Allison Pearson are helping to break wider taboos
The gags were inevitable. Within minutes of Transformers director Michael Bay's panicked exit from a presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – apparently overcome with stagefright after the autocue broke down – Twitter was sniggering that at last he had done what thousands of others had wanted to do before him: he'd walked out of a Michael Bay production.
But mockery – laced with schadenfreude at witnessing the discomfort of someone otherwise blessed by wealth and success – will not be the only reaction to the footage of Bay's onstage meltdown. Many, many more will feel empathy. After all, fear of public speaking routinely takes first place in the league table of phobias. Psychology Today describes it "the thing we fear more than death". For those who have woken in...
The gags were inevitable. Within minutes of Transformers director Michael Bay's panicked exit from a presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – apparently overcome with stagefright after the autocue broke down – Twitter was sniggering that at last he had done what thousands of others had wanted to do before him: he'd walked out of a Michael Bay production.
But mockery – laced with schadenfreude at witnessing the discomfort of someone otherwise blessed by wealth and success – will not be the only reaction to the footage of Bay's onstage meltdown. Many, many more will feel empathy. After all, fear of public speaking routinely takes first place in the league table of phobias. Psychology Today describes it "the thing we fear more than death". For those who have woken in...
- 1/7/2014
- by Jonathan Freedland
- The Guardian - Film News
Heard something inflammatory and outrageous this year? Odds are one of this lot said it. So in a head head-to-head contest, who's the most horrible troll of them all?
Don't feed the trolls. That's rule number one of the internet. When you're confronted with someone who enjoys deliberately making unnecessarily inflammatory statements, the best course of action is to deny them the emotional response they crave. Everyone knows that.
But, oh, it's hard. Especially when, as this year has proved, some people can actually make a pretty good living from being a troll. We've picked eight of the most recognisable – some politicians, some entertainers, some only known for how unremittingly awful they are – and pitted them against each other to find our Troll of the Year. So, yes, we're feeding the trolls. But at least we're feeding them to each other.
The contenders
Richard Dawkins Evolutionary biologist, 72. Favoured targets: Christians,...
Don't feed the trolls. That's rule number one of the internet. When you're confronted with someone who enjoys deliberately making unnecessarily inflammatory statements, the best course of action is to deny them the emotional response they crave. Everyone knows that.
But, oh, it's hard. Especially when, as this year has proved, some people can actually make a pretty good living from being a troll. We've picked eight of the most recognisable – some politicians, some entertainers, some only known for how unremittingly awful they are – and pitted them against each other to find our Troll of the Year. So, yes, we're feeding the trolls. But at least we're feeding them to each other.
The contenders
Richard Dawkins Evolutionary biologist, 72. Favoured targets: Christians,...
- 12/30/2013
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
It’s been brought to the fore of our attentions the importance of Social Media this week (for those unaware, read on to find out what everyone’s been talking about in the office this week).
Fortunately for John Lewis (the retailer), their namesake is a stand up fella, and something of a funny guy to boot. We have collated 6 of the finest cases of 21st century mistaken identity for you to sink your teeth into, and we think you’ll appreciate them.
6. @DavidCameron
The Current Prime Minister is, naturally, a target of abuse in most public spheres. The man that once advised Britain to “Hug a Hoodie” is on twitter, but is found @David_Cameron. American citizen David Cameron, however, is a less controversial character. The man found @DavidCameron is just your Average Joe from Oregon, and has had to resort to changing his profile to even state he...
Fortunately for John Lewis (the retailer), their namesake is a stand up fella, and something of a funny guy to boot. We have collated 6 of the finest cases of 21st century mistaken identity for you to sink your teeth into, and we think you’ll appreciate them.
6. @DavidCameron
The Current Prime Minister is, naturally, a target of abuse in most public spheres. The man that once advised Britain to “Hug a Hoodie” is on twitter, but is found @David_Cameron. American citizen David Cameron, however, is a less controversial character. The man found @DavidCameron is just your Average Joe from Oregon, and has had to resort to changing his profile to even state he...
- 11/15/2013
- by Greg Larmouth
- Obsessed with Film
The former foreign reporter and New Labour insider on his brush with MI6 and being played by Steve Coogan
Martin Sixsmith is already well known as a BBC foreign correspondent (Moscow, Washington, Warsaw), but the film Philomena, may make him very famous. The film is based on his 2009 book and stars Steve Coogan as "Martin Sixsmith" and Judi Dench as Philomena Lee, the woman whose son (taken as a baby by nuns in 1950s Ireland) he helped search for. Sixsmith (the real one) has also been a communications director for New Labour – until he was forcibly "resigned" in 2002 – as well as an adviser on the TV series The Thick of It.
What do you think of how you are portrayed in the film?
It's tricky for me to give an objective judgment, but I think the character traits are exaggerated for dramatic effort. So in the beginning of the movie,...
Martin Sixsmith is already well known as a BBC foreign correspondent (Moscow, Washington, Warsaw), but the film Philomena, may make him very famous. The film is based on his 2009 book and stars Steve Coogan as "Martin Sixsmith" and Judi Dench as Philomena Lee, the woman whose son (taken as a baby by nuns in 1950s Ireland) he helped search for. Sixsmith (the real one) has also been a communications director for New Labour – until he was forcibly "resigned" in 2002 – as well as an adviser on the TV series The Thick of It.
What do you think of how you are portrayed in the film?
It's tricky for me to give an objective judgment, but I think the character traits are exaggerated for dramatic effort. So in the beginning of the movie,...
- 10/20/2013
- by Tim Lewis
- The Guardian - Film News
Sir David Frost died yesterday (August 31) after suffering a suspected heart attack on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.
Following news of the 74-year-old's death, his friends and colleagues - from fellow journalists to politicians - have paid tribute to the esteemed broadcaster.
My heart goes out to David Frost's family. He could be - and certainly was with me - both a friend and a fearsome interviewer.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 1, 2013
Rip David Frost. Met the man for the first time at the Ashes test at Lord's. What a legend.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) September 1, 2013
Frostie was a Giant to me in an industry now full of Pygmies.Broadcasting will never see his like again.The.King of versatility
— Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) September 1, 2013
Oh heavens, David Frost dead? No!! I only spoke to him on Friday and he sounded so well. Excited about a house move, full of...
Following news of the 74-year-old's death, his friends and colleagues - from fellow journalists to politicians - have paid tribute to the esteemed broadcaster.
My heart goes out to David Frost's family. He could be - and certainly was with me - both a friend and a fearsome interviewer.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 1, 2013
Rip David Frost. Met the man for the first time at the Ashes test at Lord's. What a legend.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) September 1, 2013
Frostie was a Giant to me in an industry now full of Pygmies.Broadcasting will never see his like again.The.King of versatility
— Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) September 1, 2013
Oh heavens, David Frost dead? No!! I only spoke to him on Friday and he sounded so well. Excited about a house move, full of...
- 9/1/2013
- Digital Spy
The star of Django Unchained and Ray, Kerry Washington wasn't even going to audition for a new TV series set in the White House. Now she's the bad-ass spin doctor at the heart of America's favourite new drama. Prepare to become addicted
When the Scandal box set dropped on to our mat, my partner took one look and said he'd be having an early night. Seven hours later we peeled ourselves away from the screen, having watched the entire series together back-to-back – but when I report this to Kerry Washington, she doesn't look surprised, just amused. "Yeah," she smiles, "I'm finding a lot of people telling me that. They watch it with their grandmother, or their girlfriend."
Now into its third series in the Us, Scandal is the hit creation of Shonda Rhimes, who made Grey's Anatomy. Washington plays Olivia Pope, an elite crisis manager in Washington DC, part lawyer,...
When the Scandal box set dropped on to our mat, my partner took one look and said he'd be having an early night. Seven hours later we peeled ourselves away from the screen, having watched the entire series together back-to-back – but when I report this to Kerry Washington, she doesn't look surprised, just amused. "Yeah," she smiles, "I'm finding a lot of people telling me that. They watch it with their grandmother, or their girlfriend."
Now into its third series in the Us, Scandal is the hit creation of Shonda Rhimes, who made Grey's Anatomy. Washington plays Olivia Pope, an elite crisis manager in Washington DC, part lawyer,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Decca Aitkenhead
- The Guardian - Film News
In the past couple of days former high profile News International employees Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks have pleaded not guilty to charges related to phone hacking. Several other former News of the World journalists who appeared at Southwark Crown Court have also pleaded not guilty. Mr Coulson, was editor of the paper from 2003 to 2007 and then became the Conservative Party’s director of communications working for David Cameron in government after the 2010 election, before he resigned in January 2011. Mrs Brooks was the editor of both the News Of The World and The Sun before becoming the News International chief executive in 2009 and resigning in 2011. The trial, set to start in September, promises to be the Mother of all spectacles.
The recent history of the phone hacking scandal goes back to 2006 when Clive Goodman, Royal Editor for Rupert Murdoch’s (he pops up a lot doesn’t he?) News Of The World,...
The recent history of the phone hacking scandal goes back to 2006 when Clive Goodman, Royal Editor for Rupert Murdoch’s (he pops up a lot doesn’t he?) News Of The World,...
- 6/7/2013
- by Basil Creese Jr
- Obsessed with Film
If celebrity bipolar suffering is beginning to trigger automatic compassion fatigue, that's bad for everyone's mental health
A new book, Strictly Bipolar by Darian Leader, in part examines the "rebranding" of depression, almost as a lifestyle term, which seems rather timely. Certainly, I've come to wonder if the term "bipolar" has become a trigger for automatic compassion fatigue.
A while ago, bipolar sufferer Kerry Katona's drunken meltdown on morning television was sneered at with a viciousness that, at the time, seemed class-based, but now I wouldn't be so sure. These days, I would wonder if it were also her bipolar condition being mocked – just because people are "so tired" of bipolar being "everywhere", or, more specifically, celebrity bipolar sufferers being everywhere.
Only last week, Ronnie O'Sullivan, who suffers from depression, was back playing snooker, and ended up being reprimanded for making an "obscene gesture" at fellow player Judd Trump.
A new book, Strictly Bipolar by Darian Leader, in part examines the "rebranding" of depression, almost as a lifestyle term, which seems rather timely. Certainly, I've come to wonder if the term "bipolar" has become a trigger for automatic compassion fatigue.
A while ago, bipolar sufferer Kerry Katona's drunken meltdown on morning television was sneered at with a viciousness that, at the time, seemed class-based, but now I wouldn't be so sure. These days, I would wonder if it were also her bipolar condition being mocked – just because people are "so tired" of bipolar being "everywhere", or, more specifically, celebrity bipolar sufferers being everywhere.
Only last week, Ronnie O'Sullivan, who suffers from depression, was back playing snooker, and ended up being reprimanded for making an "obscene gesture" at fellow player Judd Trump.
- 5/4/2013
- by Barbara Ellen
- The Guardian - Film News
Upstairs Downstairs
Grey Feeney
“Yes Minister” Ended 1988 – Revived 2013
The knives were out for BBC executives when it emerged that they had passed up the opportunity to resurrect the much loved political satire Yes Minister – no less than 25 years after it was last seen on the small screen. Satellite TV channel UK Gold quickly swooped in to pick up the new version of the show which is largely based upon the long running stage version of the saga. Despite the fanfare, it quickly became apparent that Britain has moved on since the Jim Hacker era. TV cameras weren’t even allowed in parliament when the original version of the show was aired so people were genuinely intrigued by the comic insight into life in Downing Street. A generation later and Rupert Murdoch, Edwina Currie and Alistair Campbell have ensured that we all know about anything and everything that goes on behind closed doors at Whitehall.
Grey Feeney
“Yes Minister” Ended 1988 – Revived 2013
The knives were out for BBC executives when it emerged that they had passed up the opportunity to resurrect the much loved political satire Yes Minister – no less than 25 years after it was last seen on the small screen. Satellite TV channel UK Gold quickly swooped in to pick up the new version of the show which is largely based upon the long running stage version of the saga. Despite the fanfare, it quickly became apparent that Britain has moved on since the Jim Hacker era. TV cameras weren’t even allowed in parliament when the original version of the show was aired so people were genuinely intrigued by the comic insight into life in Downing Street. A generation later and Rupert Murdoch, Edwina Currie and Alistair Campbell have ensured that we all know about anything and everything that goes on behind closed doors at Whitehall.
- 1/23/2013
- by Edited by K Kinsella
Travel brand Contiki Holidays has repositioned its brand to boost its appeal among young people.
“The feedback we were getting about our marketing was that we weren’t articulating the emotional rewards of Contiki,” the brand’s international brand director Alastair Campbell told Mumbrella.
“We wanted to position ourselves around the emotional benefits of travelling while you’re young,” he said.
The brand, which is targeted at 18-35 year olds, has introduced the new slogan, #noregrets.
Advertising around the brand revamp has kicked off in Europe and is now to roll out in Australia.
“We are competing with the many distractions young people have in their lives. Do they buy a Mac book, or do they go on holiday?” Campbell said.
The news come as Contiki’s owner, The Travel Corporation, is undergoing an advertising pitch. Oddfellows Affinity, Bohemia, 303Lowe and Carat are among those in contention for the business.
“The feedback we were getting about our marketing was that we weren’t articulating the emotional rewards of Contiki,” the brand’s international brand director Alastair Campbell told Mumbrella.
“We wanted to position ourselves around the emotional benefits of travelling while you’re young,” he said.
The brand, which is targeted at 18-35 year olds, has introduced the new slogan, #noregrets.
Advertising around the brand revamp has kicked off in Europe and is now to roll out in Australia.
“We are competing with the many distractions young people have in their lives. Do they buy a Mac book, or do they go on holiday?” Campbell said.
The news come as Contiki’s owner, The Travel Corporation, is undergoing an advertising pitch. Oddfellows Affinity, Bohemia, 303Lowe and Carat are among those in contention for the business.
- 12/6/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
Rupert Everett returns to dish the dirt in his second fearless and witty account of life with the A-list crowd
As sexist old Samuel Johnson said of a woman preaching, when an actor writes a book "it is not well done, but you are surprised to find it done at all". These are adults who spend their whole lives raiding dressing up boxes and speaking the words of others for a living, after all. Rupert Everett, like Richard E Grant and Kathy Burke, is the exception that proves the rule; he really can write, as his 2006 bestseller Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins – which took a bejewelled hatpin to the blow-up egos of co-stars Madonna and Sharon Stone, among others – proved. But despite reviews that, above the sound of easily impressed critics noisily wetting themselves, could be heard comparing him to Evelyn Waugh, Noël Coward and Lord Byron, the question...
As sexist old Samuel Johnson said of a woman preaching, when an actor writes a book "it is not well done, but you are surprised to find it done at all". These are adults who spend their whole lives raiding dressing up boxes and speaking the words of others for a living, after all. Rupert Everett, like Richard E Grant and Kathy Burke, is the exception that proves the rule; he really can write, as his 2006 bestseller Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins – which took a bejewelled hatpin to the blow-up egos of co-stars Madonna and Sharon Stone, among others – proved. But despite reviews that, above the sound of easily impressed critics noisily wetting themselves, could be heard comparing him to Evelyn Waugh, Noël Coward and Lord Byron, the question...
- 9/20/2012
- by Julie Burchill
- The Guardian - Film News
A 'swear-athon' involving Alastair Campbell and Peter Capaldi has been accidentally broadcast in a children's creche. Campbell and Capaldi, aka Malcolm Tucker from The Thick of It, were taking part in city trader Bgc's charity day to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research when they were asked to appear in a swear battle. The ensuing outbursts were broadcast throughout the whole building until the organisers realised that it was also being played in the creche. According to the Daily Telegraph, Campbell accepted the swear-off challenge and told Capaldi: "[Your] f**king programme and it's f**king anti-politics (more)...
- 9/13/2012
- by By Amy Woodhouse
- Digital Spy
“The bastard banks… £50 billion, how can you lose £50 billion and still pay bonuses?”
Dave Fishwick summed up the problem thus - £50 billion quid gone missing and banks continuing to pay their bonuses while stopping handing out any more money to the little people, leading to unemployment and decline among many areas of Britain, including Dave's beloved Burnley.
Dave Fishwick decided to take on the big boys and start his own bank
The solution – a simple one. Dave would open his own bank, return people 5% on their savings, lend money to local people, and give the profits to charity. Fine – so what shall we do After lunch?
Dave wasn't exactly driving around in a Morris Minor himself – was that a helicopter in the garage? – so we just had to take his word for it that he was committed to helping the little man, and – let's face it – there aren't many people with the combination of brains,...
Dave Fishwick summed up the problem thus - £50 billion quid gone missing and banks continuing to pay their bonuses while stopping handing out any more money to the little people, leading to unemployment and decline among many areas of Britain, including Dave's beloved Burnley.
Dave Fishwick decided to take on the big boys and start his own bank
The solution – a simple one. Dave would open his own bank, return people 5% on their savings, lend money to local people, and give the profits to charity. Fine – so what shall we do After lunch?
Dave wasn't exactly driving around in a Morris Minor himself – was that a helicopter in the garage? – so we just had to take his word for it that he was committed to helping the little man, and – let's face it – there aren't many people with the combination of brains,...
- 7/19/2012
- by Caroline Frost
- Aol TV.
Armando Iannucci has revealed the highly anticipated Alan Partridge movie will see the hapless presenter doing battle with a media giant.
The writer-director revealed the film, starring Steve Coogan as the bumbling host, will see Partridge taking objection when his local digital TV channel is taken over and renamed Shape.
The plot comes in the wake of Coogan taking his own stand against the media and pursuing a legal action against News International for phone hacking.
The case was settled earlier this year, but the star - whose company has gone on to sign a deal with Sky - has continued to be vocal about media intrusion.
Armando Iannucci who is writing and directing the Alan Partridge film
Iannucci, speaking at a Bafta screening of his new HBO political comedy Veep, said: "Alan is in Norwich.
"It's not 'Alan goes to Hollywood'; it's not 'Alan invaded by aliens' or anything like that.
The writer-director revealed the film, starring Steve Coogan as the bumbling host, will see Partridge taking objection when his local digital TV channel is taken over and renamed Shape.
The plot comes in the wake of Coogan taking his own stand against the media and pursuing a legal action against News International for phone hacking.
The case was settled earlier this year, but the star - whose company has gone on to sign a deal with Sky - has continued to be vocal about media intrusion.
Armando Iannucci who is writing and directing the Alan Partridge film
Iannucci, speaking at a Bafta screening of his new HBO political comedy Veep, said: "Alan is in Norwich.
"It's not 'Alan goes to Hollywood'; it's not 'Alan invaded by aliens' or anything like that.
- 6/21/2012
- by PA
- Huffington Post
Steve Coogan's character will do battle with a media giant – in an echo of real life
Writer-director Armando Iannucci has revealed that the new Alan Partridge movie will see the hapless presenter doing battle with a media giant.
Iannucci said the film, starring Steve Coogan as the bumbling host, would see Partridge objecting when his local digital TV channel is taken over and renamed Shape.
The plot has echoes of Coogan taking his own stand against the media and pursuing a legal action against News International for phone hacking.
The case was settled earlier this year, but the star – whose company has gone on to sign a deal with Sky – has continued to be vocal about media intrusion.
Iannucci, speaking at a Bafta screening of his new HBO political comedy, Veep, said: "Alan is in Norwich. It's not 'Alan goes to Hollywood'; it's not 'Alan invaded by aliens' or anything like that.
Writer-director Armando Iannucci has revealed that the new Alan Partridge movie will see the hapless presenter doing battle with a media giant.
Iannucci said the film, starring Steve Coogan as the bumbling host, would see Partridge objecting when his local digital TV channel is taken over and renamed Shape.
The plot has echoes of Coogan taking his own stand against the media and pursuing a legal action against News International for phone hacking.
The case was settled earlier this year, but the star – whose company has gone on to sign a deal with Sky – has continued to be vocal about media intrusion.
Iannucci, speaking at a Bafta screening of his new HBO political comedy, Veep, said: "Alan is in Norwich. It's not 'Alan goes to Hollywood'; it's not 'Alan invaded by aliens' or anything like that.
- 6/21/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Alastair Campbell has questioned comedian and writer Armando Iannucci's acceptance of an OBE, prompting a Twitter spat between the pair. "So @AIannucci OBE joins the Establishment he claims to deride," tweeted Campbell this morning (June 16). "Malcolm Tucker [from Iannucci's The Thick of It] and I do not approve of honours system." "@campbellclaret It's probably more Establishment to order your army to march into other countries for no reason," the Alan Partridge writer replied, referring to Campbell's involvement in the Iraq war. "Swings and roundabouts." Campbell went on to claim that he had turned down offers of a peerage twice, and told the political satirist that "three little letters can have more impact than you realise". Iannucci then quickly replied (more)...
- 6/16/2012
- by By Alison Rowley
- Digital Spy
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