David Korda, the British film producer and financier who hailed from a family of notable filmmakers including his father Zoltàn Korda, has died. He was 87.
Korda’s death was disclosed Nov. 16 by film historian Charles Drazin via social media. Korda died Sept. 18 at Cromwell Hospital in London following a battle with cancer, according to Drazin who wrote a 2011 biography of Korda’s uncle, producer-director Alexander Korda. News of David Korda’s death was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
Korda’s father was the director of films such as 1939’s “The Four Feathers” and 1951’s “Cry, the Beloved Country.” His mother was actress Joan Gardner, known for roles in such films as 1934’s “The Scarlett Pimpernel” and 1937’s “Dark Journey.” His uncle Alexander Korda founded London Films, owner of British Lion Films, which produced the 1933 feature “The Private Life of Henry VIII” and 1949’s “The Third Man.” His uncle Vincent Korda...
Korda’s death was disclosed Nov. 16 by film historian Charles Drazin via social media. Korda died Sept. 18 at Cromwell Hospital in London following a battle with cancer, according to Drazin who wrote a 2011 biography of Korda’s uncle, producer-director Alexander Korda. News of David Korda’s death was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
Korda’s father was the director of films such as 1939’s “The Four Feathers” and 1951’s “Cry, the Beloved Country.” His mother was actress Joan Gardner, known for roles in such films as 1934’s “The Scarlett Pimpernel” and 1937’s “Dark Journey.” His uncle Alexander Korda founded London Films, owner of British Lion Films, which produced the 1933 feature “The Private Life of Henry VIII” and 1949’s “The Third Man.” His uncle Vincent Korda...
- 11/16/2024
- by Andrés Buenahora
- Variety Film + TV
David Korda, a prominent member of the Korda family movie dynasty who served as a producer and important film financier in a show business career that spanned more than 60 years, has died. He was 87.
Korda, chairman of the British company Film Finances Ltd., died Sept. 18 at Cromwell Hospital in London, author, editor and film historian Charles Drazin told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been in poor health after a battle with cancer.
Korda’s parents were Zoltan Korda, director of the Ralph Richardson-starring epic The Four Feathers (1939), and actress Joan Gardner (Dark Journey, The Scarlet Pimpernel).
One of his uncles was Alexander Korda, the founder of London Films, the owner of British Lion Films, a producer of such classics as The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) and The Third Man (1949) and the first filmmaker to receive a knighthood. Another uncle, Vincent Korda, was a painter and Oscar-winning art director.
Korda, chairman of the British company Film Finances Ltd., died Sept. 18 at Cromwell Hospital in London, author, editor and film historian Charles Drazin told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been in poor health after a battle with cancer.
Korda’s parents were Zoltan Korda, director of the Ralph Richardson-starring epic The Four Feathers (1939), and actress Joan Gardner (Dark Journey, The Scarlet Pimpernel).
One of his uncles was Alexander Korda, the founder of London Films, the owner of British Lion Films, a producer of such classics as The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) and The Third Man (1949) and the first filmmaker to receive a knighthood. Another uncle, Vincent Korda, was a painter and Oscar-winning art director.
- 11/14/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Veteran British actor and Gentleman Jack star Timothy West has died, his family confirmed on social media on Wednesday, November 13. The 90-year-old was married to Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales. “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening,” his children Juliet, Samuel, and Joseph West wrote in a joint statement shared on X. The statement continued, “Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.” “We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s hospital, Tooting, and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days,” the statement concluded. pic.twitter.com/nyseesGugy — Samuel West (@exitthelemming) November 13, 2024 Born on October 20, 1934, in Bradford,...
- 11/13/2024
- TV Insider
Timothy West, the English star of stage and screen known for memorable turns in U.K. soaps “Coronation Street” and “EastEnders,” died on Tuesday. He was 90.
His children released a statement on Wednesday confirming the news. They said that West died “peacefully in his sleep” and was “with friends and family at the end.”
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England on Oct. 20, 1934, West went on to have a long career on stage and screen. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for three seasons in the ’60s, and throughout his life frequently played the leading roles in “Macbeth,” “Uncle Vanya” and “King Lear.”
His first big screen role came in 1975 with the TV series “Edward the Seventh,” in which he portrayed the titular king from the age of 23 until his death. From 1983 to 1990, he starred as patriarch Bradley Hardacre in the comedy drama “Brass,” and also appeared in...
His children released a statement on Wednesday confirming the news. They said that West died “peacefully in his sleep” and was “with friends and family at the end.”
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England on Oct. 20, 1934, West went on to have a long career on stage and screen. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for three seasons in the ’60s, and throughout his life frequently played the leading roles in “Macbeth,” “Uncle Vanya” and “King Lear.”
His first big screen role came in 1975 with the TV series “Edward the Seventh,” in which he portrayed the titular king from the age of 23 until his death. From 1983 to 1990, he starred as patriarch Bradley Hardacre in the comedy drama “Brass,” and also appeared in...
- 11/13/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Timothy West, a British star of stage, film and TV and the husband of Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales, has died, his family said Thursday on social media. He was 90.
His career ranged from Shakespeare plays and such films as The Day of the Jackal to famous soap operas EastEnders and Coronation Street.
“After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening,” his children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West said in a statement shared on X.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.” The family added: We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s hospital, Tooting, and at...
His career ranged from Shakespeare plays and such films as The Day of the Jackal to famous soap operas EastEnders and Coronation Street.
“After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening,” his children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West said in a statement shared on X.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.” The family added: We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s hospital, Tooting, and at...
- 11/13/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
British theater and screen actor Timothy West died Tuesday. He was 90.
His children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph, released a statement today that said he said died “peacefully yesterday evening” surrounded by friends and family.
West was one of the UK’s most beloved actors, known on-screen for roles in soaps EastEnders and Coronation Street, comedy-drama Brass and for Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys, a touching series in which he traveled around the country on a boat with his wife, Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales. He also had many theater roles in productions such as Macbeth and King Lear.
“After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully I his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old,” his children wrote in their note.
“Tim was with his friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years,...
His children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph, released a statement today that said he said died “peacefully yesterday evening” surrounded by friends and family.
West was one of the UK’s most beloved actors, known on-screen for roles in soaps EastEnders and Coronation Street, comedy-drama Brass and for Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys, a touching series in which he traveled around the country on a boat with his wife, Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales. He also had many theater roles in productions such as Macbeth and King Lear.
“After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully I his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old,” his children wrote in their note.
“Tim was with his friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years,...
- 11/13/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Monty Python legend/old man yelling out cloud John Cleese recently appeared on BBC One’s Morning Live to promote the stage revival of Fawlty Towers that’s currently playing in London. Cleese doesn’t act in the play, but he scripted the adaptation, hence why it’s billed as “John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers” (an unforgivable act of Connie Booth erasure).
Cleese also took the opportunity to discuss the production of the original series, specifically how it was as stressful and chaotic as Basil Fawlty’s hotel. “There wasn’t time to hang around — we had two hours to record that show,” Cleese recalled. “We started at 8 and finished at 10, and if it wasn’t in the can, there wasn’t an ending to the show.”
Cleese also claimed that the hurried schedule frequently led him to worry that episodes wouldn’t be completed: “Whenever there was a break,...
Cleese also took the opportunity to discuss the production of the original series, specifically how it was as stressful and chaotic as Basil Fawlty’s hotel. “There wasn’t time to hang around — we had two hours to record that show,” Cleese recalled. “We started at 8 and finished at 10, and if it wasn’t in the can, there wasn’t an ending to the show.”
Cleese also claimed that the hurried schedule frequently led him to worry that episodes wouldn’t be completed: “Whenever there was a break,...
- 10/25/2024
- Cracked
The first preview for the West End adaptation of “Fawlty Towers — The Play,” based on the legendary British comedy series created by and starring John Cleese and Connie Booth, hits the boards later this week. The show is an amalgamation of three of the 12 episodes of the zany resort-set series, one of which is the most famous: “The Germans.”
Most remember that episode for the catchphrase “don’t mention the war,” the talking moose, and Cleese goosestepping around his humble Torquay hotel lobby. But it also included its share of envelope-pushing material. Indeed, the character The Major – an old senile drunk played by Ballard Berkeley – tells a rambling story about his time in India in which someone got their racial slurs confused. The scene includes the use of the N-word, as well as a derogatory term for Indians.
In 2020, UKTV removed it, but later reinstated it after Cleese called the move “stupid.
Most remember that episode for the catchphrase “don’t mention the war,” the talking moose, and Cleese goosestepping around his humble Torquay hotel lobby. But it also included its share of envelope-pushing material. Indeed, the character The Major – an old senile drunk played by Ballard Berkeley – tells a rambling story about his time in India in which someone got their racial slurs confused. The scene includes the use of the N-word, as well as a derogatory term for Indians.
In 2020, UKTV removed it, but later reinstated it after Cleese called the move “stupid.
- 5/2/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Prepare for the chilling return of the Romford Horror Festival, an extended four-day plunge into the heart of cinematic horror, starting on Thursday, 29th February 2024. Now in its fourth year, this festival, a twisted offshoot of the Romford Film Festival, is gearing up to unleash an unparalleled experience, unveiling its most diabolical lineup to date.
Plunge headfirst into a blood-curdling cinematic odyssey, featuring 168 feature films and shorts, including eight timeless classic horror masterpieces. The festival, spreading its dark influence across two screens and introducing a third exclusively for spine-tingling talks, continues its legacy of premiering global cinematic nightmares, boasting an astounding 33 world premieres that are sure to send shivers down your spine. The resurrection of fan-favorite segments like “Short, Sharp Shocks” and “Cheap Thrills” is now joined by two electrifying additions: “Student Bodies,” showcasing student films, including seven from New City College, and the unpredictable “Horror Roulette,” a pulsating party...
Plunge headfirst into a blood-curdling cinematic odyssey, featuring 168 feature films and shorts, including eight timeless classic horror masterpieces. The festival, spreading its dark influence across two screens and introducing a third exclusively for spine-tingling talks, continues its legacy of premiering global cinematic nightmares, boasting an astounding 33 world premieres that are sure to send shivers down your spine. The resurrection of fan-favorite segments like “Short, Sharp Shocks” and “Cheap Thrills” is now joined by two electrifying additions: “Student Bodies,” showcasing student films, including seven from New City College, and the unpredictable “Horror Roulette,” a pulsating party...
- 2/5/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
John Cleese has adapted three episodes of Fawlty Towers into a play, which will premiere in the West End in May.
Fawlty Towers is often, quite rightly, cited as one of the best sitcoms ever made. Starring John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs and Connie Booth, it was written by Cleese and Booth who, according to the DVD commentaries, took six weeks to plot and write each episode.
The show was based on a real hotel the Monty Python team stayed at, with Basil Fawlty based on its proprietor Donald Sinclair, after whom Cleese later named his character in Rat Race.
According to the British Comedy Guide, Cleese has adapted three episodes for the stage as a play which will premiere at the Apollo Theatre in the West End in June. Caroline Jay Ranger will direct.
The episodes are The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from Series 1 and Communication Problems...
Fawlty Towers is often, quite rightly, cited as one of the best sitcoms ever made. Starring John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs and Connie Booth, it was written by Cleese and Booth who, according to the DVD commentaries, took six weeks to plot and write each episode.
The show was based on a real hotel the Monty Python team stayed at, with Basil Fawlty based on its proprietor Donald Sinclair, after whom Cleese later named his character in Rat Race.
According to the British Comedy Guide, Cleese has adapted three episodes for the stage as a play which will premiere at the Apollo Theatre in the West End in June. Caroline Jay Ranger will direct.
The episodes are The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from Series 1 and Communication Problems...
- 2/5/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
The Fawlty Towers revival continues apace.
Not content with rebooting the TV series with Rob Reiner, John Cleese has now penned a stage adaptation of three episodes of the 40-year-old BBC series, which is widely considered one of the best British shows of all time.
Fawlty Towers: The Play is based on three episodes: “The Hotel Inspectors,” “The Germans” and “Communication Problems,” and will merge the three into one. One of the episodes, “The Germans,” has caused a stir in recent years as a character repeatedly uses the N-word in reference to members of the West Indies cricket team. It was briefly taken down from UKTV’s streaming service four years ago before being reinstated.
Cleese said he has “assembled a top-class group of comedy actors” and written “one huge finale” to the play.
It was originally staged in Australia but is now coming to London’s West End Apollo Theatre,...
Not content with rebooting the TV series with Rob Reiner, John Cleese has now penned a stage adaptation of three episodes of the 40-year-old BBC series, which is widely considered one of the best British shows of all time.
Fawlty Towers: The Play is based on three episodes: “The Hotel Inspectors,” “The Germans” and “Communication Problems,” and will merge the three into one. One of the episodes, “The Germans,” has caused a stir in recent years as a character repeatedly uses the N-word in reference to members of the West Indies cricket team. It was briefly taken down from UKTV’s streaming service four years ago before being reinstated.
Cleese said he has “assembled a top-class group of comedy actors” and written “one huge finale” to the play.
It was originally staged in Australia but is now coming to London’s West End Apollo Theatre,...
- 2/2/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The Romford Horror Festival, an extended four-day plunge into the heart of cinematic horror, returns for its Fourth(!) year on Thursday, 29th February, with a lineup that promises a star-studded affair, featuring Tony Todd, Prunella Scales, Sean Young, Jamie Lomas, Kane Hodder, Kierston Wareing, Lynn Lowry, Caroline Munro, Graham Cole, Diane Franklin, Caroline Pickles, Pauline Peart, Guy Henry, Dani Thompson, Ayvianna Snow, and a myriad of other captivating talents, all ready to plunge audiences into a world of terror.
Plunge headfirst into a blood-curdling cinematic odyssey, featuring 168 feature films and shorts, including eight timeless classic horror masterpieces. The festival, spreading its dark influence across two screens and introducing a third exclusively for spine-tingling talks, continues its legacy of premiering global cinematic nightmares, boasting an astounding 33 world premieres that are sure to send shivers down your spine. The resurrection of fan-favorite segments like “Short, Sharp Shocks” and “Cheap Thrills” is now...
Plunge headfirst into a blood-curdling cinematic odyssey, featuring 168 feature films and shorts, including eight timeless classic horror masterpieces. The festival, spreading its dark influence across two screens and introducing a third exclusively for spine-tingling talks, continues its legacy of premiering global cinematic nightmares, boasting an astounding 33 world premieres that are sure to send shivers down your spine. The resurrection of fan-favorite segments like “Short, Sharp Shocks” and “Cheap Thrills” is now...
- 1/29/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Classic sitcom Fawlty Towers is set to be rebooted by John Cleese and his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
The Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor, who starred in the original series as irascible hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is making the new series in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Both Cleese and his daughter will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
According to Deadline, the series will “explore how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world”.
“John Cleese is a comedy legend. Just the idea of working with him makes me laugh,” Reiner said.
As well as Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi, and Matthew George will all serve as executive producers.
Speaking to the outlet, John Cleese praised George’s “understanding of the ‘creative process’” and claimed that their initial meeting had yielded “one of the best creative sessions I...
The Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor, who starred in the original series as irascible hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is making the new series in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Both Cleese and his daughter will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
According to Deadline, the series will “explore how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world”.
“John Cleese is a comedy legend. Just the idea of working with him makes me laugh,” Reiner said.
As well as Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi, and Matthew George will all serve as executive producers.
Speaking to the outlet, John Cleese praised George’s “understanding of the ‘creative process’” and claimed that their initial meeting had yielded “one of the best creative sessions I...
- 2/28/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - TV
John Cleese has issued an “apology” for rebootingFawlty Towers with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
- 2/21/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
John Cleese has issued an “apology” for rebootingFawlty Towers with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
It was recently announced that the Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor – who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty – is making the reboot in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Cleese, 83, and Camilla, 39, will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The actor told fans that the forthcoming series – which follows Basil discovering he has a secret daughter and struggling to navigate the modern world – won’t be an “anti-woke nightmare”. He also ruled out BBC hosting the series.
News of the reboot divided fans of the original series, with many critics urging that Fawlty Towers should be left alone.
Cleese responded to the criticism with a sarcastic apology posted to Twitter on Monday (20 February).
“I must apologise,” he wrote. “I had no idea that the idea...
- 2/20/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - TV
Fawlty Towers co-creator and actor, Connie Booth has said she didn’t know the show was getting a reboot.
The former actor – who played Polly in the show – claims she found out about the news the same way as anyone else, by reading it “in the papers”.
Last week, John Cleese announced he would be rebooting the classic sitcom with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
The Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor, who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is currently working on the new series in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Both Cleese and his daughter will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The original series starred Connie Booth – Cleese’s then-wife who co-created the series – along with Prunella Scales as Basil’s wife Sybil and the late Andrew Sachs as hotel employee Manuel.
The new series will not...
The former actor – who played Polly in the show – claims she found out about the news the same way as anyone else, by reading it “in the papers”.
Last week, John Cleese announced he would be rebooting the classic sitcom with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
The Monty Python’s Flying Circus actor, who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is currently working on the new series in collaboration with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
Both Cleese and his daughter will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development.
The original series starred Connie Booth – Cleese’s then-wife who co-created the series – along with Prunella Scales as Basil’s wife Sybil and the late Andrew Sachs as hotel employee Manuel.
The new series will not...
- 2/14/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
John Cleese has said his surprise revival of Fawlty Towers won’t be returning to its original home on the BBC because the UK broadcaster would not give him sufficient editorial freedom.
The 83-year-old British comedy icon said the revived series, which is in the works at Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment, would find a new home as he writes scripts with his daughter Camilla Cleese.
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Asked if he wanted to work with the BBC, he said: “No, because you wouldn’t get the freedom.”
He told Gb News, the right-leaning British news channel, that the series will take the central character of...
The 83-year-old British comedy icon said the revived series, which is in the works at Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment, would find a new home as he writes scripts with his daughter Camilla Cleese.
Related Story ‘Fawlty Towers’ Reboot In The Works With John Cleese, Camilla Cleese & Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment Related Story Volodymyr Zelensky Surprises BBC Ukraine Journalist With Hug During Historic UK Visit Related Story Former Ymu Business Exec Joins Rebranded Digital Content Indie Cowshed Collective
Asked if he wanted to work with the BBC, he said: “No, because you wouldn’t get the freedom.”
He told Gb News, the right-leaning British news channel, that the series will take the central character of...
- 2/9/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
John Cleese is rebooting his classic BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, it was announced this week.
The British actor and writer, who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is collaborating on the new show with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
He will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development, along with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
The Fawlty Towers reboot will reportedly explore “how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world”.
Cleese claimed that an initial meeting about the series had yielded “one of the best creative sessions I can remember”.
So what happened to the main four castmembers of Fawlty Towers?
John Cleese
After Fawlty Towers finished, Cleese, who played bedraggled hotelier Basil Fawlty, went on to enjoy a successful film career.
Highlights include 1981’s Time Bandits, directed by fellow Monty Python star Terry Gilliam, and the screwball...
The British actor and writer, who starred in the original series as hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is collaborating on the new show with Spinal Tap filmmaker Rob Reiner.
He will write and star in the revival, which is currently in development, along with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
The Fawlty Towers reboot will reportedly explore “how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world”.
Cleese claimed that an initial meeting about the series had yielded “one of the best creative sessions I can remember”.
So what happened to the main four castmembers of Fawlty Towers?
John Cleese
After Fawlty Towers finished, Cleese, who played bedraggled hotelier Basil Fawlty, went on to enjoy a successful film career.
Highlights include 1981’s Time Bandits, directed by fellow Monty Python star Terry Gilliam, and the screwball...
- 2/8/2023
- by Louis Chilton and Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - TV
Pack your bags, friends, because we’re traveling to the seaside town of Torquay on the English Riviera for a Fawlty Towers reboot! The British television sitcom is returning with John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, and he’s bringing friends and family along for the ride. In addition to reprising his iconic role as the cynical proprietor of the hotel Fawlty Towers, Cleese is writing and starring in the series alongside his daughter Camilla Cleese.
The Fawlty Towers reboot hails from Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment and focuses on Basil Fawlty as he navigates the modern world. Further plot details remain a mystery. However, we know the show explores Basil’s relationship with his estranged daughter as the pair attempt to buck fate and run a boutique hotel as a team. Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi, and Matthew George executive produce.
Cleese spoke about George’s “understanding of the...
The Fawlty Towers reboot hails from Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment and focuses on Basil Fawlty as he navigates the modern world. Further plot details remain a mystery. However, we know the show explores Basil’s relationship with his estranged daughter as the pair attempt to buck fate and run a boutique hotel as a team. Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi, and Matthew George executive produce.
Cleese spoke about George’s “understanding of the...
- 2/7/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
One of the most acclaimed comedy series of all time is returning to TV more than four decades later. “Fawlty Towers,” the beloved British sitcom starring John Cleese, is getting a revival, with the “Monty Python” star set to return.
The show is being developed at Castle Rock Entertainment, with Matthew George, Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner, and Derrick Rossi executive producing for the studio. Cleese will write and star in the revival with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
“What I like about Matt is that, unlike many producers, he really ‘gets’ the creative process,” Cleese said in a statement announcing the project. “When we first met, he offered an excellent first idea, and then Matt, my daughter Camilla, and I had one of the best creative sessions I can remember. By dessert we had an overall concept so good that, a few days later, it won the approval of Rob and Michele Reiner.
The show is being developed at Castle Rock Entertainment, with Matthew George, Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner, and Derrick Rossi executive producing for the studio. Cleese will write and star in the revival with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.
“What I like about Matt is that, unlike many producers, he really ‘gets’ the creative process,” Cleese said in a statement announcing the project. “When we first met, he offered an excellent first idea, and then Matt, my daughter Camilla, and I had one of the best creative sessions I can remember. By dessert we had an overall concept so good that, a few days later, it won the approval of Rob and Michele Reiner.
- 2/7/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Basil Fawlty is back. A reboot of John Cleese’s British comedy sensation Fawlty Towers is in the works and Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment is developing.
More than 40 years after the second and final season drew to a close, Monty Python star Cleese is set to write and star alongside daughter Camilla Cleese, in news that will bring joy to a generation of British comedy fans.
The new series will explore how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world. Plot details are largely being kept under wraps but the development will bring the story forward to explore Basil’s relationship with a daughter he has just discovered he had, as the pair tempt fate and team up to run a boutique hotel.
The Cleeses have joined with Reiner’s Castle Rock on the development, with Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi and Matthew George exec producing.
More than 40 years after the second and final season drew to a close, Monty Python star Cleese is set to write and star alongside daughter Camilla Cleese, in news that will bring joy to a generation of British comedy fans.
The new series will explore how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world. Plot details are largely being kept under wraps but the development will bring the story forward to explore Basil’s relationship with a daughter he has just discovered he had, as the pair tempt fate and team up to run a boutique hotel.
The Cleeses have joined with Reiner’s Castle Rock on the development, with Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi and Matthew George exec producing.
- 2/7/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to become a film and television character while she was still on the throne. Raucous historical romps about Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were all very well, but showing what a living king or queen got up to behind closed palace doors? That was another, almost treasonous matter. Even as recently as 1991, when Prunella Scales starred in a BBC film of Alan Bennett’s National Theatre play “A Question Of Attribution,” Bennett said “it still feels quite bold to portray her in the flesh.” And the practice was still contentious enough in 2020 for the UK’s then Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, to ask Netflix to put a disclaimer on screen before every episode of “The Crown,” explaining that the show was not actually a documentary.
But like so much else during Elizabeth II’s uniquely long reign, the protocol changed to a...
But like so much else during Elizabeth II’s uniquely long reign, the protocol changed to a...
- 9/8/2022
- by Nicholas Barber
- Indiewire
Robert Morse, a legend of the New York stage who had a late-in-life resurgence as the eccentric businessman Bertram Cooper on “Mad Men,” is dead at the age of 90. His death was made public by writer-producer Larry Karaszewski on Twitter.
My good pal Bobby Morse has passed away at age 90. A huge talent and a beautiful spirit. Sending love to his son Charlie & daughter Allyn. Had so much fun hanging with Bobby over the years – filming People v Oj & hosting so many screenings pic.twitter.com/H1vCD3jjul
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) April 21, 2022
Morse had some small roles on the boards beginning in the mid-1950s, then got his big break in “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” in 1961. Indeed, this iconic Camelot-era musical later reworked into a film in which Morse also starred, worked as a significant wink to insiders when Morse appeared in “Mad Men” decades later.
My good pal Bobby Morse has passed away at age 90. A huge talent and a beautiful spirit. Sending love to his son Charlie & daughter Allyn. Had so much fun hanging with Bobby over the years – filming People v Oj & hosting so many screenings pic.twitter.com/H1vCD3jjul
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) April 21, 2022
Morse had some small roles on the boards beginning in the mid-1950s, then got his big break in “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” in 1961. Indeed, this iconic Camelot-era musical later reworked into a film in which Morse also starred, worked as a significant wink to insiders when Morse appeared in “Mad Men” decades later.
- 4/21/2022
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
The actor on his pandemic poetry jukebox, life lessons of the Moomins, the pros and cons of Twitter, and how to reboot regional theatre
Samuel West, 54, one of the best verse speakers of his generation, has played Hamlet, Anthony Blunt (twice) and recently become Siegfried Farnon in Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small; he is currently working on the second series. The son of Prunella Scales and Timothy West, he lives with his partner, the playwright Laura Wade, and their two daughters, aged six and three. West’s production of Wade’s The Watsons was due to open in the West End when the first lockdown struck.
What has been the best bit of home schooling?
Teaching my daughters chess. The three-year-old doesn’t really play yet but she knows how the pieces move. It teaches them pattern recognition, which helps with music and maths – and how to lose well and fight peacefully.
Samuel West, 54, one of the best verse speakers of his generation, has played Hamlet, Anthony Blunt (twice) and recently become Siegfried Farnon in Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small; he is currently working on the second series. The son of Prunella Scales and Timothy West, he lives with his partner, the playwright Laura Wade, and their two daughters, aged six and three. West’s production of Wade’s The Watsons was due to open in the West End when the first lockdown struck.
What has been the best bit of home schooling?
Teaching my daughters chess. The three-year-old doesn’t really play yet but she knows how the pieces move. It teaches them pattern recognition, which helps with music and maths – and how to lose well and fight peacefully.
- 3/7/2021
- by Susannah Clapp
- The Guardian - Film News
One of the first ‘kitchen sink realist’ films of the British New Wave is also one of the best English films ever — believable, absorbing, and emotionally moving. The adaptation of John Braine’s novel launched Laurence Harvey as a major star, and English films were suddenly touted as being just as adult as their continental counterparts. It attracted a bushel of awards, especially for the luminous Simone Signoret. Unlike the average Angry Young Man, Joe Lampton’s struggle feels universal — bad things happen when ambition seeks a way through the class ceiling, ‘to get to the money,’ as says Donald Wolfit’s character.
Room at the Top
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1959 / B&W / 1:66 widescreen / 115 min. / Street Date January 14, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, Heather Sears, Ambrosine Phillpotts, Donald Wolfit, Donald Houston, Hermione Baddeley, Allan Cuthbertson, Raymond Huntley, John Westbrook, Richard Pasco, Ian Hendry, April Olrich,...
Room at the Top
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1959 / B&W / 1:66 widescreen / 115 min. / Street Date January 14, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, Heather Sears, Ambrosine Phillpotts, Donald Wolfit, Donald Houston, Hermione Baddeley, Allan Cuthbertson, Raymond Huntley, John Westbrook, Richard Pasco, Ian Hendry, April Olrich,...
- 1/28/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Someone save Judith Hearne, for she can’t save herself. Jack Clayton’s film of Brian Moore’s novel has stunning performances by Maggie Smith and Bob Hoskins — but whew, for many of us its social cruelties will feel like traumatic emotional abuse. Not enough nasty people and clueless victims in your life? … this show will give you your fill.
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1987 / Color / 1:75 widescreen / 116 min. / Street Date June 24, 2019 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, Wendy Hiller, Marie Kean, Ian McNeice, Alan Devlin, Rudi Davies, Prunella Scales.
Cinematography: Peter Hannan
Film Editor: Terry Rawlings
Original Music: Georges Delerue
Written by Peter Nelson from the novel by Brian Moore
Produced by Richard Johnson, Peter Nelson
Directed by Jack Clayton
Fine acting doesn’t get finer than that seen in The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, a book adaptation...
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1987 / Color / 1:75 widescreen / 116 min. / Street Date June 24, 2019 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, Wendy Hiller, Marie Kean, Ian McNeice, Alan Devlin, Rudi Davies, Prunella Scales.
Cinematography: Peter Hannan
Film Editor: Terry Rawlings
Original Music: Georges Delerue
Written by Peter Nelson from the novel by Brian Moore
Produced by Richard Johnson, Peter Nelson
Directed by Jack Clayton
Fine acting doesn’t get finer than that seen in The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, a book adaptation...
- 8/3/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
There's a beginning to every end. Starz has announced Kenneth Lonergan's Howards End TV show adaptation will debut in April of 2018. The premium cable service has also released a new trailer for the miniseries, which is based on the E.M. Forster 1910 novel of the same name. In UK, the series premiered on BBC One, on November 12, 2017. A Starz period drama, Howard's End stars Hayley Atwell, Philippa Coulthard, Alex Lawther, Tracey Ullman, Matthew Macfadyen, Julia Ormond, Joe Bannister, Jonah Hauer-King, Bessie Carter, Joseph Quinn, and Rosalind Eleazar. In 1992, the story was adapted as a feature film starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, James Wilby, Samuel West, Jemma Redgrave, and Prunella Scales. Read More…...
- 12/8/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Aooowww — Woo! Jack Nicholson summons his inner dog — and dons the makeup and scary contact lenses — to go the Larry Talbot route. Unfortunately, his moon-howling nighttime life isn’t as interesting as the dog-eat-dog infighting in the publishing house where he works – where feral instincts and sharp lupine senses are a major aid to ‘getting a leg up’ on the competition. I know, cheap metaphors are the ruin of promising writers.
Wolf
All-Region Blu-ray
Indicator
1994 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 125 min. / Street Date November 20, 2017 / £14.99
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Plummer, Richard Jenkins, Eileen Atkins, David Hyde Pierce, Om Puri, Ron Rifkin, Prunella Scales, David Schwimmer, Michael Raynor.
Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno
Film Editor: Sam O’Steen
Production Design: Bo Welch, Jim Dultz
Makeup Effects: Rick Baker
Original Music: Ennio Morricone
Written by Jim Harrison, Wesley Strick
Produced by Douglas Wick
Directed by Mike Nichols
I think my mother...
Wolf
All-Region Blu-ray
Indicator
1994 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 125 min. / Street Date November 20, 2017 / £14.99
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Plummer, Richard Jenkins, Eileen Atkins, David Hyde Pierce, Om Puri, Ron Rifkin, Prunella Scales, David Schwimmer, Michael Raynor.
Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno
Film Editor: Sam O’Steen
Production Design: Bo Welch, Jim Dultz
Makeup Effects: Rick Baker
Original Music: Ennio Morricone
Written by Jim Harrison, Wesley Strick
Produced by Douglas Wick
Directed by Mike Nichols
I think my mother...
- 11/28/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
There’s a thing that’s been happening in London since 2012 (and elsewhere around the world for 20 years). Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience is exactly what it sounds like, if not what it spells like. It replicates the abusive experience of being served a meal by noted hotelier and ball of rage Basil Fawlty in the just-about-serviceable dining room of his Torquay lodging establishment Fawlty Towers, where they are always out of waldorfs for the salad. Faulty Towers has started a new permanent residency at the Kingsway Hall Hotel in Covent Garden (not far from Holburn tube station), and I recently attended a performance.
Manuel has a most likely foolproof method of clearing the table between courses.
It is an absolute riot. I have not laughed so hard in ages.
The production goes out of its way to explain that the original scripts for the classic 1970s BBC sitcom are not used in this event.
Manuel has a most likely foolproof method of clearing the table between courses.
It is an absolute riot. I have not laughed so hard in ages.
The production goes out of its way to explain that the original scripts for the classic 1970s BBC sitcom are not used in this event.
- 5/18/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Guy Buckland Apr 12, 2017
We took at look back at 1994's Wolf starring Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer, and found it to be a highly entertaining watch...
The animal is out. Nicholson. Pfeiffer. Wolf.
See related Labyrinth: looking back at an 80s fantasy classic Labyrinth at 30: Brian Froud conceptual designer interview Labyrinth: rare behind the scenes pics and promo shots
Frankly, that sparse poster copy would have been enough to tempt most punters into the cinema in 1994, but a werewolf movie starring a man who already appeared to be mid-transformation in real life would have been a deal-sealer for many a horror aficionado. Which is perhaps why, when appraising Smiling Jack’s extensive filmography, Wolf is often drudged up from the file marked ‘oh yeah, I forgot about that one’.
Because Wolf is many things; but it ain’t a horror film.
In fact, trying to pin Wolf...
We took at look back at 1994's Wolf starring Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer, and found it to be a highly entertaining watch...
The animal is out. Nicholson. Pfeiffer. Wolf.
See related Labyrinth: looking back at an 80s fantasy classic Labyrinth at 30: Brian Froud conceptual designer interview Labyrinth: rare behind the scenes pics and promo shots
Frankly, that sparse poster copy would have been enough to tempt most punters into the cinema in 1994, but a werewolf movie starring a man who already appeared to be mid-transformation in real life would have been a deal-sealer for many a horror aficionado. Which is perhaps why, when appraising Smiling Jack’s extensive filmography, Wolf is often drudged up from the file marked ‘oh yeah, I forgot about that one’.
Because Wolf is many things; but it ain’t a horror film.
In fact, trying to pin Wolf...
- 3/23/2017
- Den of Geek
The Torquay hotel that inspired John Cleese and Connie Booth to create Fawlty Towers is being demolished. The Guardian reports that retirement flats will be built in its place. Cleese and Booth starred in the BBC Two sitcom with Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs. Fawlty Towers ran for two non-concurrent series (seasons) in 1975 and 1979.
The Monty Python comedy group (aka The Pythons) reportedly stayed at Torquay's Gleneagles Hotel in the early '70s, while shooting Monty Python's Flying Circus. Flabbergasted by the rude behavior of then-owners Donald and Beatrice Sinclair, most of the team moved on. Booth and Cleese, who were married at the time, stayed on to study the couple's behavior. Per The Guardian, Cleese described Mr. Sinclair as "the most wonderfully rude man I have ever met."
Read More…...
The Monty Python comedy group (aka The Pythons) reportedly stayed at Torquay's Gleneagles Hotel in the early '70s, while shooting Monty Python's Flying Circus. Flabbergasted by the rude behavior of then-owners Donald and Beatrice Sinclair, most of the team moved on. Booth and Cleese, who were married at the time, stayed on to study the couple's behavior. Per The Guardian, Cleese described Mr. Sinclair as "the most wonderfully rude man I have ever met."
Read More…...
- 3/18/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Let me get a tissue. I’ve just finished watching the short The Phone Call starring Sally Hawkins, Jim Broadbent, Edward Hogg and Prunella Scales.
Heather is a shy lady who works in a helpline call centre. When she receives a phone call from a mystery man, she has no idea that the encounter will change her life forever.
Watch it and you’ll feel like you’ve been run over by a Mack truck.
(via Indiewire)
In April, this 20 minute tear-jerker won Best Narrative Short at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.
Jury Comments:
“This film demonstrates the sheer power of the human voice to convey compassion and understanding via a one-on-one telephone conversation. We have selected it for its simplicity and directness in showing how emotional bonds can be formed by empathetic communication and for its beautifully-measured performances.”
Writer James Lucas’s, producer Michelle Kirkman’s and director Mat Kirkby...
Heather is a shy lady who works in a helpline call centre. When she receives a phone call from a mystery man, she has no idea that the encounter will change her life forever.
Watch it and you’ll feel like you’ve been run over by a Mack truck.
(via Indiewire)
In April, this 20 minute tear-jerker won Best Narrative Short at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.
Jury Comments:
“This film demonstrates the sheer power of the human voice to convey compassion and understanding via a one-on-one telephone conversation. We have selected it for its simplicity and directness in showing how emotional bonds can be formed by empathetic communication and for its beautifully-measured performances.”
Writer James Lucas’s, producer Michelle Kirkman’s and director Mat Kirkby...
- 10/27/2014
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Katie Piper's Bodyshockers is among a batch of shows that have been renewed by Channel 4.
The series launched in 2014, following Piper as she meets people who regret their body modifications. The contributors are introduced to those who are about to undergo similar procedures.
The new run will also feature Piper finding out about the latest strange beauty procedures in the UK, and meeting people addicted to extreme body modifications.
Meanwhile, The Supervet will return for eight more episodes, following the work by Noel Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
More4's Great Canal Journey has also been renewed. Prunella Scales and Timothy West will travel along more of the best waterways in the UK and France.
Philip Glenister's For the Love of Cars will also return, following the Life on Mars actor as he discovers stories about cars that were built in the UK, before rebuilding...
The series launched in 2014, following Piper as she meets people who regret their body modifications. The contributors are introduced to those who are about to undergo similar procedures.
The new run will also feature Piper finding out about the latest strange beauty procedures in the UK, and meeting people addicted to extreme body modifications.
Meanwhile, The Supervet will return for eight more episodes, following the work by Noel Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
More4's Great Canal Journey has also been renewed. Prunella Scales and Timothy West will travel along more of the best waterways in the UK and France.
Philip Glenister's For the Love of Cars will also return, following the Life on Mars actor as he discovers stories about cars that were built in the UK, before rebuilding...
- 8/4/2014
- Digital Spy
John Sergeant is to host a new ITV travel series.
Barging About Britain will be an eight-part series with Sergeant journeying through the UK's most iconic waterways in a canal boat.
The former political broadcaster will travel through Somerset and the Hebrides, while discovering the history of eight different routes.
ITV commissioning editor Andrew O'Connell said: "There's nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats and what better way to do it than on an English narrowboat."
Ian Lamarra from production company Alaska TV added: "John has huge warmth, massive broad appeal and is enthusiastic about the subject. He's even sleeping on the barge. Shooting in the summer months is a real treat, the end result will look amazing and showcase the best of the British Isles."
Timothy West and Prunella Scales recently featured in Channel 4's Great Canal Journeys, travelling through narrowboat routes in England and France.
Barging About Britain will be an eight-part series with Sergeant journeying through the UK's most iconic waterways in a canal boat.
The former political broadcaster will travel through Somerset and the Hebrides, while discovering the history of eight different routes.
ITV commissioning editor Andrew O'Connell said: "There's nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats and what better way to do it than on an English narrowboat."
Ian Lamarra from production company Alaska TV added: "John has huge warmth, massive broad appeal and is enthusiastic about the subject. He's even sleeping on the barge. Shooting in the summer months is a real treat, the end result will look amazing and showcase the best of the British Isles."
Timothy West and Prunella Scales recently featured in Channel 4's Great Canal Journeys, travelling through narrowboat routes in England and France.
- 7/10/2014
- Digital Spy
★★★★★Sometimes a film comes along where the viewer can do nothing but sit back and let the whole blissful business wash over them. Hobson's Choice (1954) - director David Lean's spirited screen adaptation of playwright Harold Brighouse's humorous drama about Victorian social mores - is one such film. This witty delight, starring Charles Laughton, Brenda de Banzie, John Mills and a young Prunella Scales - restored by StudioCanal to mark its sixtieth anniversary - is every bit as sharp and relevant as when it was first released. Following his wife's death, Henry Hobson (Laughton) runs both his house and his successful shoemaker's business in suburban Manchester with an iron fist.
- 5/6/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Let Me Entertain You: ITV, 6pm
Premiering tonight and hosted by Michael Underwood, the brand new ITV show celebrates all things musical.
Viewers opt to send in clips of themselves, their children or even their grandparents participating in a musical act, be it singing or dancing, and then have it broadcast on the show.
Britain's Got Talent: ITV, 7pm
Ant and Dec continue the nationwide search for talent in the third instalment of weekly auditions.
Out of the four judges, only Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon still have the possibility of pushing the golden buzzer and sending someone straight through to the live semi-finals.
Tune in to see more singing, dancing, magic and other downright crazy acts this week.
Britain's Funniest Comedy Characters: Channel 5, 9.15pm
Counting down the nation's 50 funniest comedy characters is a whole host of celebrities, writers, producers and showbiz critics.
Narrated by Olivia Colman, they...
Premiering tonight and hosted by Michael Underwood, the brand new ITV show celebrates all things musical.
Viewers opt to send in clips of themselves, their children or even their grandparents participating in a musical act, be it singing or dancing, and then have it broadcast on the show.
Britain's Got Talent: ITV, 7pm
Ant and Dec continue the nationwide search for talent in the third instalment of weekly auditions.
Out of the four judges, only Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon still have the possibility of pushing the golden buzzer and sending someone straight through to the live semi-finals.
Tune in to see more singing, dancing, magic and other downright crazy acts this week.
Britain's Funniest Comedy Characters: Channel 5, 9.15pm
Counting down the nation's 50 funniest comedy characters is a whole host of celebrities, writers, producers and showbiz critics.
Narrated by Olivia Colman, they...
- 4/26/2014
- Digital Spy
Inspector George Gently
The latest batch of George Gently episodes come to DVD on 1 April and you’d be a fool to miss out on this boxset. As you will recall, season five ended with Gently and Bacchus, shot and wounded on the floor of Durham Cathedral. Would they recover? Would they ever work again? Well given that there is a season six I don’t think you can accuse me of releasing a “spoiler” if I tell you that the duo made a full recovery. However, it wasn’t an easy road, especially for Bacchus whose wallowing in self-pity eventually led him down an unhealthy path of booze and gambling. Older and wiser, Gently realized that work was the best therapy and he quickly got back to doing what he does best — solving murders.
Even by George Gently‘s own standards, season six features a lot of introspection as...
The latest batch of George Gently episodes come to DVD on 1 April and you’d be a fool to miss out on this boxset. As you will recall, season five ended with Gently and Bacchus, shot and wounded on the floor of Durham Cathedral. Would they recover? Would they ever work again? Well given that there is a season six I don’t think you can accuse me of releasing a “spoiler” if I tell you that the duo made a full recovery. However, it wasn’t an easy road, especially for Bacchus whose wallowing in self-pity eventually led him down an unhealthy path of booze and gambling. Older and wiser, Gently realized that work was the best therapy and he quickly got back to doing what he does best — solving murders.
Even by George Gently‘s own standards, season six features a lot of introspection as...
- 3/26/2014
- by Edited by K Kinsella
BBC Two has announced a series of special programmes to mark its 50th anniversary.
The channel celebrates the milestone on April 20, and will broadcast several one-off programmes featuring the likes of Dara Ó Briain and Sue Barker.
Earlier today (March 19), it was announced that Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse will star in a spoof look back at the history of the channel in The Story of the Twos, while there will also be a one-off Goodness Gracious Me reunion.
Ó Briain will host All About Two, a 90-minute quiz and celebration of BBC Two. Pointless star Richard Osman will reveal facts and figures, while celebrity teams and special guests will also appear.
50 Years Of BBC Two Comedy will look back at the channel's biggest comedy programmes and performers, including Fawlty Towers, Spike Milligan, Shooting Stars, The Office, Victoria Wood, and The Fast Show.
The two-hour special will feature Armando Iannucci,...
The channel celebrates the milestone on April 20, and will broadcast several one-off programmes featuring the likes of Dara Ó Briain and Sue Barker.
Earlier today (March 19), it was announced that Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse will star in a spoof look back at the history of the channel in The Story of the Twos, while there will also be a one-off Goodness Gracious Me reunion.
Ó Briain will host All About Two, a 90-minute quiz and celebration of BBC Two. Pointless star Richard Osman will reveal facts and figures, while celebrity teams and special guests will also appear.
50 Years Of BBC Two Comedy will look back at the channel's biggest comedy programmes and performers, including Fawlty Towers, Spike Milligan, Shooting Stars, The Office, Victoria Wood, and The Fast Show.
The two-hour special will feature Armando Iannucci,...
- 3/19/2014
- Digital Spy
'Fawlty Towers' star Prunella Scales is suffering from dementia. The actress, who played hot-headed hotel manager Basil Fawlty's patient wife Sybil in the classic sitcom, has been struggling with the degenerative memory loss illness, her husband of 50 years Timothy West has revealed. Speaking in new TV documentary 'Great Canal Journeys', he explained: ''When you think this person that I loved and enjoyed this and that and the other with doesn't really exist anymore, that's quite painful. ''Prunella can't remember things very well but you don't have to remember things on the canal. You can just enjoy things as they happen - so...
- 3/4/2014
- Virgin Media - TV
Actor known for his Shakespearean roles, but who also appeared on TV and in films including Winstanley and Orlando
Jerome Willis, who has died at the age of 85, was an actor who might have described himself, without bitterness, as an "attendant lord". He was a natural Shakespearean, in possession of a strong physique and the ability to speak verse with enviable confidence. In a distinguished career spanning almost 60 years, he brought to every part he undertook a perceptive intelligence that illuminated even the smallest cameo. He also became a familiar face on television from 1974 to 1978 as Charles Radley, the deputy governor of Stone Park prison in Within These Walls, with Googie Withers as his boss.
Jerome began his career as a disc jockey, newsreader and actor by turns, posted to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1946 for his national service in the Raf and serving in communications for the Ceylonese station Radio Seac.
Jerome Willis, who has died at the age of 85, was an actor who might have described himself, without bitterness, as an "attendant lord". He was a natural Shakespearean, in possession of a strong physique and the ability to speak verse with enviable confidence. In a distinguished career spanning almost 60 years, he brought to every part he undertook a perceptive intelligence that illuminated even the smallest cameo. He also became a familiar face on television from 1974 to 1978 as Charles Radley, the deputy governor of Stone Park prison in Within These Walls, with Googie Withers as his boss.
Jerome began his career as a disc jockey, newsreader and actor by turns, posted to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1946 for his national service in the Raf and serving in communications for the Ceylonese station Radio Seac.
- 1/27/2014
- by Paul Bailey
- The Guardian - Film News
With all the paparazzi pictures that have appeared of her new film, Taking Stock, you may feel you have already seen it. Still, if it's going to save the industry …
Once again, Lost in Showbiz contemplates paging Jimmy Carr's tax accountant, in search of an urgent explanation for a forthcoming work of British cinema.
I am joking, of course. Admittedly, none of us is yet clear what precise percentage of Britflicks are deliberately conceived as Producers-style calamities, which nonetheless result in millions plopping into various tax-avoiders' bank accounts. But I seek absolutely no explanation for news that Kelly Brook has landed a movie role other than the notion that cinemagoers will gladly pay to see her act.
For Kelly, appearances on the silver screen are second nature. "I can't wait to get back to doing what I love," she informed fans. Which is? "Which is being on set and...
Once again, Lost in Showbiz contemplates paging Jimmy Carr's tax accountant, in search of an urgent explanation for a forthcoming work of British cinema.
I am joking, of course. Admittedly, none of us is yet clear what precise percentage of Britflicks are deliberately conceived as Producers-style calamities, which nonetheless result in millions plopping into various tax-avoiders' bank accounts. But I seek absolutely no explanation for news that Kelly Brook has landed a movie role other than the notion that cinemagoers will gladly pay to see her act.
For Kelly, appearances on the silver screen are second nature. "I can't wait to get back to doing what I love," she informed fans. Which is? "Which is being on set and...
- 7/18/2013
- by Marina Hyde
- The Guardian - Film News
Gielgud, London
Well, I didn't believe in it but I was seduced by it. At least for a while. The Audience – the first surefire, unstoppable hit of the year – has been created to disarm all comers. Helen Mirren sparklingly reprises her passive-faced but steely-eyed performance as a Queen who is both stalwart and wistful. Stephen Daldry, the man who once said he would not mind being mayor of London, and who would do a spectacular job, brings to the production the giant flair that he brought to Billy Elliot and An Inspector Calls. Peter Morgan's script nods at those not enamoured of all things monarchical, suggesting that underneath the perm there is something of a lefty brain. Real live corgis are unleashed.
Still, zinging moments are not finally enough to disguise the fact that Morgan's very entertaining play is a skinny thing, a string of sketches dependent on high-grade mimicry.
Well, I didn't believe in it but I was seduced by it. At least for a while. The Audience – the first surefire, unstoppable hit of the year – has been created to disarm all comers. Helen Mirren sparklingly reprises her passive-faced but steely-eyed performance as a Queen who is both stalwart and wistful. Stephen Daldry, the man who once said he would not mind being mayor of London, and who would do a spectacular job, brings to the production the giant flair that he brought to Billy Elliot and An Inspector Calls. Peter Morgan's script nods at those not enamoured of all things monarchical, suggesting that underneath the perm there is something of a lefty brain. Real live corgis are unleashed.
Still, zinging moments are not finally enough to disguise the fact that Morgan's very entertaining play is a skinny thing, a string of sketches dependent on high-grade mimicry.
- 3/10/2013
- by Susannah Clapp
- The Guardian - Film News
Run for Your Wife is already a contender for worst Britfilm ever made, but could that have been the cunning plan all along?
After the fashion of any self-respecting prime minister, I have not actually seen the thing on which I am about to pass judgment.
In my defence, nor has anyone else. Or rather, a mere £747 worth of cinemagoers have – for it is Run for Your Wife, a film some are already calling the worst Britflick ever made. Which gives you a sense of the scale of its horror.
A movie version of the Ray Cooney farce, Run for Your Wife was billed as a "Danny Dyer comedy vehicle" – and if that didn't suggest the brakes were cut from the start, the presence of 'Allo 'Allo's Vicki Michelle as executive producer should have. (Having said that, Lost in Showbiz does have a soft spot for Vicki Michelle, not so...
After the fashion of any self-respecting prime minister, I have not actually seen the thing on which I am about to pass judgment.
In my defence, nor has anyone else. Or rather, a mere £747 worth of cinemagoers have – for it is Run for Your Wife, a film some are already calling the worst Britflick ever made. Which gives you a sense of the scale of its horror.
A movie version of the Ray Cooney farce, Run for Your Wife was billed as a "Danny Dyer comedy vehicle" – and if that didn't suggest the brakes were cut from the start, the presence of 'Allo 'Allo's Vicki Michelle as executive producer should have. (Having said that, Lost in Showbiz does have a soft spot for Vicki Michelle, not so...
- 2/22/2013
- by Marina Hyde
- The Guardian - Film News
We may all remember him for sitcoms such as The Good Life – but his career encompassed everything from Doctor Who to Shakespeare. And who can forget the classic Roobarb?
With more than 50 years of work to his name, Richard Briers was one of the most instantly recognisable – and most beloved – actors in Britain. Much of this is down to his sitcom work, primarily The Good Life. Although it only ran for three years, The Good Life managed to latch onto a prevailing public mood – that of suburban alienation and a desire to connect with the earth – which is why it has been so endlessly repeated (and used as the basis for more than one reality show) over the years. Despite being the work he'll be most remembered for, Briers never got on with his character, often calling him stubborn and unlikable in the press.
There was much more to Briers's...
With more than 50 years of work to his name, Richard Briers was one of the most instantly recognisable – and most beloved – actors in Britain. Much of this is down to his sitcom work, primarily The Good Life. Although it only ran for three years, The Good Life managed to latch onto a prevailing public mood – that of suburban alienation and a desire to connect with the earth – which is why it has been so endlessly repeated (and used as the basis for more than one reality show) over the years. Despite being the work he'll be most remembered for, Briers never got on with his character, often calling him stubborn and unlikable in the press.
There was much more to Briers's...
- 2/18/2013
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
Veteran stage and screen actor Richard Briers passed away at his London home on Sunday. He was 79. Briers is best known to UK audiences for his work in such BBC series as The Good Life, Ever Decreasing Circles and Monarch Of The Glen. His TV breakout was the 1960s sitcom Marriage Lines in which he starred opposite Prunella Scales, but it was The Good Life (1975-1978) that made him a household name as the obstinate Tom Good. Briers began acting in the theater in the late 1950s and went on to become a member of Kenneth Branagh’s Renaissance Theatre Company, taking on parts in classic Shakespeare works. He also had roles in several of Branagh’s movies including Peter’s Friends, Much Ado About Nothing, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Henry V and Hamlet. Branagh said today, “He was a national treasure, a great actor and a wonderful man. He...
- 2/18/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
Richard Briers has died at the age of 79.
The Good Life actor had recently revealed that he was battling with emphysema as a result of his smoking addiction and his agent confirmed that he died "peacefully" at his London home yesterday (February 17).
> Richard Briers 1934-2013: Career highlights in video
"I've got emphysema, you see, so I'm buggered," Briers told the Daily Mail only last month.
"I haven't even got the strength to garden anymore. Five hundred thousand cigarettes, darling - that's the trouble."
He added: "It's totally my fault. So, I get very breathless, which is a pain in the backside. Trying to get upstairs - oh God, it's ridiculous. Of course, when you're bloody nearly 80 it's depressing because you've had it anyway.
"The ciggies got me. I stopped ten years ago but too late. If you do it in your 30s then you're okay, but after 30 it gets you.
The Good Life actor had recently revealed that he was battling with emphysema as a result of his smoking addiction and his agent confirmed that he died "peacefully" at his London home yesterday (February 17).
> Richard Briers 1934-2013: Career highlights in video
"I've got emphysema, you see, so I'm buggered," Briers told the Daily Mail only last month.
"I haven't even got the strength to garden anymore. Five hundred thousand cigarettes, darling - that's the trouble."
He added: "It's totally my fault. So, I get very breathless, which is a pain in the backside. Trying to get upstairs - oh God, it's ridiculous. Of course, when you're bloody nearly 80 it's depressing because you've had it anyway.
"The ciggies got me. I stopped ten years ago but too late. If you do it in your 30s then you're okay, but after 30 it gets you.
- 2/18/2013
- Digital Spy
Nina Bawden has died at the age of 87. The author's publisher Virago confirmed that Bawden passed away at her London home today (August 22), BBC News reports. She was surrounded by her family. Bawden was best known for her 1973 novel Carrie's War. Carrie's War was adapted by the BBC in 1974 and again in 2004. A stage adaptation ran at Sadler's Wells and enjoyed a second run on the West End starring Prunella Scales. Other works among her 55 books include On the Run and Guardian Children's Fiction Prize winner The Peppermint Pig. Bawden was badly injured in the Potters Bar rail crash in 2002, her ankle being smashed. Austen Kark, her husband since (more)...
- 8/22/2012
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Sky Atlantic will air retro ads for products such as Kit Kat and Cadbury's during tonight's season five launch of Mad Men. The broadcaster will be airing the first episode of the hit 1960s ad agency drama since 2010 and its first since picking up the rights for the critically-acclaimed drama from AMC. As part of the premiere launch, Sky Atlantic will treat fans to special advertisements, which will move through time during the breaks. Adverts confirmed to air during the broadcast include the original Flake girl commercial, Prunella Scales's Tetley Tea promo, a Milk Tray man advert, Tony Hancock's 'Go (more)...
- 3/27/2012
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Twickenham Film Studios' sad end, gunfight at a vacant lot near the Ok Corral and Joely Richardson's family semaphore habit
✒ Round where we live we're very sad indeed about the likely closure of Twickenham Film Studios. Many great British and foreign films have been made there, including the Beatles movies, Alfie, The Italian Job, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, A Fish Called Wanda, Blade Runner and more recently My Week with Marilyn and War Horse. The studio, which occasionally brought a faint dusting of star glamour to our suburb, has been on the site for 99 years. Now there's a petition to save it, signed by among others Steven Spielberg, Colin Firth and John Landis.
There is some puzzlement about why it has gone into administration. Someone who works there told me this week that it had been badly managed for years. Now comes the horrible news that Taylor...
✒ Round where we live we're very sad indeed about the likely closure of Twickenham Film Studios. Many great British and foreign films have been made there, including the Beatles movies, Alfie, The Italian Job, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, A Fish Called Wanda, Blade Runner and more recently My Week with Marilyn and War Horse. The studio, which occasionally brought a faint dusting of star glamour to our suburb, has been on the site for 99 years. Now there's a petition to save it, signed by among others Steven Spielberg, Colin Firth and John Landis.
There is some puzzlement about why it has gone into administration. Someone who works there told me this week that it had been badly managed for years. Now comes the horrible news that Taylor...
- 3/3/2012
- by Simon Hoggart
- The Guardian - Film News
Canada's VisionTV report they have signed a deal with BBC Worldwide Canada, to air more classic Brit TV including "Fawlty Towers", the comedy series starring John Cleese as hotel owner 'Basil Fawlty' and Prunella Scales as his domineering wife 'Sybil'. Episodes to be aired include Series 1-2 and the Special "Basil the Rat".
VisionTV has also acquired "Jam & Jerusalem", written by Jennifer Saunders ("Absolutely Fabulous"), starting October 6, 2011, airing Series 1-3 and two Specials;
"Yes, Minister", starring Nigel Hawthorne, airing Series 1-3 and one Special;
"Yes, Prime Minister", airing Series 1-2;
"The Vicar of Dibley", starring Dawn French ("French & Saunders"), airing Series 1-3 and five Specials;
"The Old Guys", starring Clive Swift ("Keeping Up Appearances"), airing Series 1-2.
"We're very pleased to have acquired these powerhouse series from BBC Worldwide and to bring them to audiences across Canada," said Mark Prasuhn, Chief Operating & Content Officer of Zoomer Media Ltd, Television Division.
VisionTV has also acquired "Jam & Jerusalem", written by Jennifer Saunders ("Absolutely Fabulous"), starting October 6, 2011, airing Series 1-3 and two Specials;
"Yes, Minister", starring Nigel Hawthorne, airing Series 1-3 and one Special;
"Yes, Prime Minister", airing Series 1-2;
"The Vicar of Dibley", starring Dawn French ("French & Saunders"), airing Series 1-3 and five Specials;
"The Old Guys", starring Clive Swift ("Keeping Up Appearances"), airing Series 1-2.
"We're very pleased to have acquired these powerhouse series from BBC Worldwide and to bring them to audiences across Canada," said Mark Prasuhn, Chief Operating & Content Officer of Zoomer Media Ltd, Television Division.
- 9/26/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
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