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Actor Edward Woodward dies at 79…
Nov 16th
Veteran actor Edward Woodward has died aged 79, his agent has confirmed.
The Croydon-born star had been suffering from various illnesses, including pneumonia, and died in hospital, said Janet Glass.
Woodward is most famous for his roles in the cult 1973 horror film The Wicker Man, alongside Sir Christopher Lee, and US TV series The Equalizer.
Sir Christopher described Woodward as “a very good friend and a splendid actor”.
Ms Glass said he had been ill for several months and passed away surrounded by members of his family.
The actor, who lived in Hawker’s Cove near Padstow, died at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
“I knew him a very long time and he was a superb human being,” she said.
“That integrity shone through in the roles he played. I can’t ever remember, in all the productions he undertook, anyone having a bad word to say about him and he never had anything bad to say about anyone else either.”
Ms Glass added: “Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles in classic productions, he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humour throughout his illness.
“His passing will leave a huge gap in many lives,” she said.
Albert Square
He was last seen on screen in BBC One soap EastEnders as Tommy Clifford earlier this year.
Barbara Windsor said she was “deeply saddened” at the news.
“I have such fond memories of our time working together,” she added.
Diederick Santer, executive producer of EastEnders, said: “All of us at EastEnders are very sad to learn that Edward has passed away.
“We were thrilled when he joined us for a stint of six episodes earlier this year. He was a delight to work with, and delivered a characteristically touching and layered performance. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Robin Hardy, who directed The Wicker Man, said of Woodward: “He was one of the greatest actors of his generation, without any question, with a broad career on American television as well as British film.
“He was the absolute star of The Wicker Man. He was an extremely nice human being.”
Film critic Barry Norman described Woodward was a “very fine” actor.
“He made about three dozen movies but he was rarely given the chance to star in a movie, ” he told BBC News.
“The two films that do stand out are obviously The Wicker Man and Breaker Morant, about three British soldiers in the Boer War. In both he gave excellent performances.”
Actor Simon Pegg, who was a big fan of Woodward and cast him in his 2007 film Hot Fuzz, said on Twitter: “So sorry to hear we have lost the great Edward Woodward. Feel lucky to have worked with him.”
He later released a statement, saying that Hot Fuzz rehearsals “were often gleefully tossed aside just to hear him (Woodward) recount stories from his life and career.
“Edgar Wright and myself sought him out because we were fans of his work, by the time the cameras stopped rolling, we were devoted fans of the man. My love and sympathy goes out to Michelle and his family.”
Woodward is survived by his second wife, the actress Michele Dotrice, and four children, three of whom he had during his first marriage.
Actor Carrey switches on lights…
Nov 4th
London’s festive season is officially under way with the first co-ordinated switch-on of the capital’s Christmas lights.
The lights in Regent Street and Oxford Street were turned on together for the first time.
And they were joined by celebrations in the City at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The event on Tuesday was marked by street concerts and themed around the work of Charles Dickens.
The switch-on coincided with the world premiere of Disney’s A Christmas Carol film at three cinemas in Leicester Square.
Dickens’ Victorian morality tale, written in 1843, became one of the most popular and enduring works of all time, helping to popularise the notion of a traditional Christmas season.
Record gathering
Stars of the Disney film took part in the celebrations alongside acts from music and the theatre.
Actor Colin Firth led the switch-on in Regent Street and Hollywood’s Jim Carrey lit up Oxford Street.
In the City, in the heart of Dickens’ London, Bob Hoskins got the festivities under way at St Paul’s Cathedral.
He was joined by opera singer Andrea Bocelli and the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir in a world record gathering of carol singers.
Big screens relayed the record attempt to visitors in Regent Street and Oxford Street, where entertainment was provided by The Noisettes, Taio Cruz and the London Community Gospel Choir.
Other acts taking part in the joint switch-on included Spandau Ballet and Daniel Merriweather alongside performers from the West End musicals Hairspray and Sister Act.
This year’s lights will be lit after dark each day until 6 January 2010.
Fry ponders leaving Twitter site….
Oct 31st
Actor and presenter Stephen Fry has said he is considering giving up on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
“Think I may have to give up on Twitter. Too much aggression and unkindness around,” said Fry, who has more than 900,000 followers.
His comment followed an online disagreement with another user of the social networking site.
Fry is known as one of the most prolific celebrity “tweeters” and has openly supported it in interviews.
‘I retire’
He sent a message – or tweet – to the user with whom he fell out, saying: “You’ve convinced me. I’m obviously not good enough. I retire from Twitter henceforward. Bye everyone.”
However, he later posted another tweet which indicated that he may change his mind about leaving the site.
“Well maybe I’ll see how I feel in a few days. Very low and depressed at the moment and any drop of meanness makes it so much worse. Sorry.”
The disagreement began when the other tweeter said “I admire and adore” Mr Fry, but that he found his tweets “a bit… boring… (sorry Stephen)”.
That same tweeter later revealed that Mr Fry had blocked him as a result.
Fry suffers from bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, and has talked openly about his condition.
In 2006, he made a two-part BBC documentary called Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, which investigated the reality of living with bipolar disorder.
Simon Cowell Brings Happiness To Hospice…
Oct 30th
X Factor judge Simon Cowell showed off his softer side when he became patron of charity Children’s Hospices UK.
At a visit to CHASE hospice care based in Surrey to announce his patronage, the talent show judge was a surprise guest for the families and children who used the centre.
Speaking to Sky News, Cowell, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday with an A-list bash, said: “I came into the room – there were probably about 80 families there, and they gave me a real grilling.
“The kids were asking who I liked and who I didn’t; even if I was a boxer or y-front man. I offered three of them jobs on the show to replace me.”
Cowell – who has visited the hospice before – spoke of a friendship he had struck up with a teenager Sian Tolfree and said visiting the hospice had given him more perspective.
Cowell said of Sian: “It was something that developed, more as a friendship than anything else.
“We became buddies.
“You get to know her family. She’s a regular at the show now – she’s the best critic. I’m always getting text messages from her.”
Sian, of Leatherhead, Surrey, said: “He’s like an uncle. He’s got a heart of gold really.
“He loves animals, children and chocolate. He’s a bit of a softie. He’s not a hard man at heart.”
Cowell has supported CHASE – the hospice he visited – for four years, but now joins Xtra Factor presenter Holly Willoughby and PR guru Max Clifford as a patron for Children’s Hospices UK.
He said: “The irony is when you come down to a place like this, what should be an incredibly sad place is a very happy place.
“That’s the weird thing. That’s why they do such a special job here. They make this an incredibly happy environment for the kids and it’s helpful for the families.
“You come away from a place like this thinking whatever troubles you have in the world are nothing. We get involved in silly ratings wars and battles and things that don’t matter, genuinely.”
And, Cowell said, the children he met all said they were not fans of fellow X Factor judge Louis Walsh.
He said: “They can’t stand Louis and they like me. So we’re absolutely on the same side.
“But they would probably say the opposite if Louis came down here!”
Talking of X Factor, Cowell reiterated his dislike for controversial Irish twins John and Edward – Jedward to their fans.
He said: “When you do a show like this and allow the public to vote you have to live with vote but it’s not going quite according to plan at the moment.
“I genuinely thought they would last a week or two weeks at the most.
“But they seem to be building up popularity which I have to confess is terrifying.
The idea, at the end, where they say the winner is Jedward – like I said before, and I mean it – I would be on the fastest plane out of the country that night.”
But the twins were not the only ones to get criticism.
Cowell likened Essex-girl Stacey Solomon to a singing candle.
He said: “She hasn’t moved in three weeks. I’d rather see Danyl than that any day.”
And Cowell also dismissed reports of warring judges – saying the competitive rivalry stretched only as far as the live shows.
He said: “In truth, deep down we all really like each other. But there is something about that show when you hit the live shows, everybody gets seriously competitive.”
He also revealed a meeting was called last Sunday night after the second live show of the weekend, but denied it was a “crisis meeting”.
He said: “It was simply to say I thought that Saturday’s show song choices and performances weren’t as good as I would have expected and that we have got to dig a bit deeper.
“We’ve got a responsibility while they’re in the show to make them as good as possible.”
One young fan happy to see Cowell was nine-year-old Grace Cann, who has had leukaemia twice.
She said: “I was really excited to meet him because I watch X Factor. My favourites are Ollie and Lucie.
“I asked him if he would have picked John and Edward and he said no.”
Cowell added he would not rule out lobbying the Government to change the way hospices were funded by “doing a Jamie Oliver” style campaign and approaching Downing Street.
He said: “100%. If you don’t ask you don’t get.”
Actor Hopper has prostate cancer….
Oct 30th
Actor Dennis Hopper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is cancelling all forthcoming appearances to focus on treatment, his manager has said.
Sam Maydew revealed the star is undergoing a “special programme” of treatment in California, adding, “we’re hoping for the best.”
Earlier on this month the 73-year-old was admitted to hospital in New York.
It was disclosed the Easy Rider star was treated for severe flu-like symptoms and dehydration.
Hopper had been expected to appear at an exhibition in Australia, entitled Dennis Hopper And The New Hollywood, which was a collection of his artwork and photography.
Tony Sweeney, a spokesman for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, said: “Obviously his health is the number one priority and we wish him a very speedy recovery.”
The Oscar-nominated actor, who is also an accomplished writer, director and artist, is also known for films including Blue Velvet and Apocalypse Now.
He is currently appearing in a TV adaptation of the 2004 Oscar-winning film Crash.
Microsoft cancels Family Guy deal…
Oct 28th
Microsoft has pulled out of sponsoring a TV spin-off show of animated comedy Family Guy because of concerns over edgy material.
The software giant was to have sponsored Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show, to promote the launch of Windows 7.
The one-off special includes sketches by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
But after seeing a recording of the show, the company said “the content was not a fit with the Windows brand”.
The show is still due to be broadcast in the US on 8 November.
It is part of a special night of programming on the Fox TV network dedicated to MacFarlane, who voices Family Guy characters including patriarch Peter Griffin.
The show, which stars MacFarlane and Alex Borstein – who voices Griffin’s wife Lois – is billed as a half-hour special of comedy sketches and animated shorts.
But after attended a taping of the show, which reportedly contained jokes about deaf people, the Holocaust and incest, Microsoft bosses pulled the plug on its sponsorship deal.
“We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas,” Microsoft said in a statement.
Fox made no comment on Microsoft’s decision.
Ricky Gervais to host Golden Globes….
Oct 27th
Ricky Gervais has been announced as the host for January’s Golden Globe Awards.
The 48 year old British comedian will be the first official host of the ceremony since 1995.
Gervais, who has made several films in Hollywood, said: “I have resisted many other offers like this, but there are just some things you don’t turn down.”
Paul Telegdy, head of alternative programing at NBC which will broadcast the ceremony said Gervais, who is also a stand-up comic, “has provided some of the most hilarious and memorable awards show moments in recent history.”
Winners of the Golden Globes are often considered frontrunners for the world’s top film honors, the Oscars.
Nominations for the 67th annual Golden Globes will be announced on December 15 and handed out in Beverly Hills on January 17.
HMV launches first instore cinema….
Oct 23rd
HMV is opening its first instore cinema in London, causing some to question what this means for the future of high street music retailers.
The music store is launching a three-screen digital cinema in its Wimbledon branch in collaboration with independent cinema chain Curzon.
With the disappearance of stores like Zavvi and Woolworths, HMV is one of the few places you can still buy music on the high street.
The chain has already had to branch out into selling things like DVDs and video games to help stay afloat, thanks to the fact that high street music stores are losing millions to online downloads.
HMV Chief Executive Simon Fox explained: “Our mix of sales now is about a quarter music, a quarter is computer games and half is DVD.
“Music has declined, as you’d expect. One of the reasons why we are putting cinemas into our stores is because we know the brand has to stretch, it has to stretch beyond the traditional music store into new areas.”
‘Last man standing’
“We are described as the last man standing on the high street and indeed we are, in terms of being the last entertainment specialist.”
However Fox is keen to deny that HMV is struggling, saying that 30 new stores have opened this year and 10 temporary stores are planned in the run up to Christmas.
Joe Mount from electro pop band Metronomy told Newsbeat why he thinks HMV have made the move.
“People don’t think music is worth any money.
“That’s why HMV’s opening cinemas and that’s why Virgin tried to re-brand itself as like a hang-out spot and all that phone stuff,” he said.
However he doesn’t blame music retailers for moving from music to movies and thinks the problem runs deeper.
‘Crippling the industry’
He said: “You need to educate the people who think music is worth nothing, you have to teach them that it is worth something because otherwise they’re accidentally crippling the whole music industry.
“Young people have to be taught that music is actually worth money otherwise you’re just going to lose shops, and you’re going to lose record labels and you’re going to lose new bands.”
Depending on the success of the first instore cinema HMV say more could follow.
The space will come from unused areas like basements but Fox admits that in the future there might be more space available when product sales change.
It remains to be seen whether this means that music will end up making room for movies.
Wimbledon HMV’s screens have between 70 and 103 seats and will start by showing films like The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus and The Fantastic Mr Fox.
Columnist defends Gately comments….
Oct 23rd
Jan Moir has expressed regret over her Daily Mail column on late Boyzone star Stephen Gately, while maintaining that aspects of his death were “sleazy”.
But she insists that there was nothing homophobic in the column, published on the day before the singer’s funeral.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) received more than 21,000 complaints about the piece, which called Gately’s death “strange, lonely and troubling”.
“I regret any affront caused,” writes Moir in her latest Mail column.
She goes on to apologise to Gately’s family and friends for any distress caused by her column’s “insensitive timing”.
However, the writer stands by her earlier assertion that the circumstances surrounding his death were “more than a little sleazy”.
She also maintains there was “nothing natural” about his demise on 11 October, but claims her remarks have been “misinterpreted”.
“What I meant by ‘nothing natural’ was that the natural duration of his life had been tragically shortened in a way that was shocking and out of the ordinary.
‘Over-reaction’
“Absolutely none of this had anything to do with his sexuality.”
Moir faced particular censure for suggesting that Gately’s death had struck a blow to the “happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships”.
In her follow-up column, though, she insists there was “nothing in my article that could not be applied to a heterosexual couple as well as to a homosexual one”.
According to the PCC, Moir’s column provoked the most complaints ever made about a single newspaper article.
In Friday’s Daily Mail, however, the writer suggests that the “hysterical over-reaction” was part of “an orchestrated campaign”.
Her column, she continues, was “generally and gleefully accepted into folklore as a homophobic rant”.
According to Moir, though, she received “thousands of supportive emails” from readers who felt it “perfectly reasonable” for her to comment on Gately’s death.
Celebrities, friends and family gathered in Dublin last Saturday for the singer’s funeral.
Among them was X Factor judge Louis Walsh, who absented himself from the ITV1 show to attend the ceremony.
According to the show’s creative director, though, Walsh will be back this weekend to resume his duties.
“Louis is definitely going to be back,” said Brian Friedman. “We’ve been talking about his song choices and I think they’re really good.”
Russell backs BBC over Griffin….
Oct 22nd
Russell Brand has defended the BBC for inviting BNP leader Nick Griffin to appear on Question Time, declaring his faith in the British public to recognise “prats peddling rhubarb”.
The comedian said his former employer made the right decision and predicted it would make for “amusing TV”.
Writing in The Sun, the 34-year-old – who quit his Radio 2 show in disgrace last October after he and Jonathan Ross left a series of lewd messages on Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs’ answering machine – said: “I think the BBC are right to grant a forum to nitwits, Lord alone knows I’ve said some silly things on the Corporation’s dime (did they mention it?) and I have great confidence in the ability of British people to recognise prats peddling rhubarb and that’s what the BNP are.”
The star, who is currently working in Los Angeles, described Mr Griffin as “daft” and said there was “no risk” of him persuading people with his arguments.
“The more people who witness Nick Griffin equivocate on myopic loathing the better it is,” he wrote.
He concluded his article by saying: “Right-wing views can be seductive and toxic in troubled times when astutely rendered by Machiavels but belched out by that t*t Griffin I’m sure it’ll just be an amusing bit of irrelevant TV.”
But The Specials founder Jerry Dammers attacked the BBC as being naive.
He explained: “The BBC are just naive, they are being used and they don’t fully understand how they are being used because they don’t understand their own power and their own respectability which is being transferred onto the BNP.”
