News

Acast - the world’s largest independent podcast company - today announces the launch of Talent-Voiced Ads. The new format will allow advertisers to leverage podcast talents’ recognizable voices across scripted audio ads.

Brands can now pay to have Acast talent voice their scripted ads, run across Acast’s network of more than 140,000 shows. Talent-Voiced Ads is available programmatically, allowing advertisers to harness Acast’s network at scale and opening up further revenue streams for creators. The Acast network is home to the most established personalities in podcasting, including Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo, Adam Buxton, Katherine Ryan, ShxtsnGigs, and Toni and Ryan.

Talent-Voiced Ads have been successfully tested so far with Acast talent including Couples Therapy, We Mean Well and Equity Mates, for advertisers including Telstra and Officeworks.

“When Acast brought us the opportunity to be a test partner for Talent-Voiced Ads, we saw the potential to connect with podcast listeners in a new,...

World of Wonder (Wow) founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato – two of the most successful creators in the documentary and unscripted spaces – have been named Guests of Honor at the upcoming Sheffield DocFest.

The Emmy-winning executive producers of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and directors of documentaries The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Inside Deep Throat, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, fact-based drama Party Monster (starring Macauley Culkin and Seth Green), and many other films, will be honored at the cinematic event that runs from June 18-23 in the north of England. Sheffield DocFest, the U.K.’s leading documentary festival, has programmed a 20th anniversary special screening of Inside Deep Throat, which investigated the notorious porn classic starring Linda Lovelace. DocFest calls the film “thought-provoking and hugely entertaining.”

In addition, the festival will preview the first episode of Murder in Glitterball City, the upcoming HBO docuseries directed by Bailey and Barbato. “The...

The Sheffield DocFest will feature producers and directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the co-founders of production company World of Wonder (Wow), who have been behind the likes of RuPaul’s Drag Race, as this year’s guests of honor, screening several of their films and TV series.

Among the programming in tribute to the duo, the U.K. festival will feature an exclusive preview of the first episode of HBO’s upcoming Murder in Glitterball City, which they directed. The DocFest will also include a session called “Ronan Farrow in Conversation: From Podcast to Screen,” in which organizers say the “Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and broadcaster Ronan Farrow joins us virtually for a rare and revealing conversation about adapting podcasts into TV series,” which will be hosted by his long-time collaborators Bailey and Barbato.

In addition, the duo will explore the past, present, and future of their careers in an “In Conversation” event,...

Exclusive: UK radio host Greg James has become Creative Director of the nascent Crossed Wires podcast festival.

James, who hosts one of the BBC’s most popular radio shows, has been tasked with helping grow the one-year-old Sheffield fest and has joined the company that runs it alongside My Dad Wrote a Porno host Alice Levine, ex-News Agents producer Dino Sofos and James O’Hara.

The fest launched last year with the likes of Katherine Ryan, Jon Ronson, comedian Adam Buxton and Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing on the bill. Announced so far this year are DJ Jordan North, etiquette expert William Hanson and a group of Qi researchers.

James is well known to millions of UK radio listeners via his BBC Radio 1 Breakfast show. He also presents the Tailenders cricket podcast and was host of Channel 4’s short-lived Rise and Fall gameshow.

James said: “After banging on...

On Sunday 6 April 2025, Channel 4 broadcasts The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer!

Season 8 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer” promises a delightful mix of fun and creativity. This episode features a unique lineup of celebrity bakers: popstar Self Esteem, comedian Tommy Tiernan, actress Meera Syal, and comedian Adam Buxton. Each contestant will bring their own flair to the iconic baking tent.

In this episode, the challenge revolves around crumpets, a beloved British treat. The bakers will need to showcase their skills in creating the perfect crumpet, which could lead to some entertaining moments in the kitchen. Viewers can expect plenty of laughter as the celebrities navigate the ups and downs of baking.

In addition to crumpets, the contestants will also recreate their own celebrity heroes in pastry. This task will test their artistic abilities and imagination. Each...

There’s another delightful helping of “The Great Celebrity Bake Off,” as four new celebrities brave the heat of the iconic tent. This week, musician Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor), comedian Tommy Tiernan, actress and writer Meera Syal, and comedian Adam Buxton don their aprons, ready to tackle the signature, technical, and showstopper challenges. The signature […]

The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Season 8 Episode 4...

The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer is back with an exciting new episode this Sunday. Season 8, Episode 4 promises plenty of fun and creativity as four well-known personalities step into the tent. Popstar Self Esteem, also known as Rebecca Taylor, joins comedian Tommy Tiernan, actress Meera Syal, and comedian Adam Buxton for a baking challenge like no other.

In this episode, the bakers will tackle crumpets, a classic British treat that requires skill and precision. Each contestant will also recreate their own celebrity heroes in pastry, adding a personal touch to their creations. Viewers can expect a mix of laughter, friendly competition, and some surprising baking techniques as these stars showcase their culinary skills.

As the clock ticks down, the pressure will rise, and the bakers will need to impress the judges with their unique takes on both crumpets and their celebrity inspirations. With the stakes high for Stand Up To Cancer,...

Acast, the world’s leading independent podcast company, today announces the grand opening of its new UK headquarters in the heart of London’s Old Street. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to be the ultimate home for podcasters and advertisers, as well as Acast’s 100-strong UK-based team.

The new London HQ boasts a ground floor designed exclusively for creators, featuring four cutting-edge multimedia studios equipped for both audio and video production, including state-of-the-art cameras for large-scale video podcasts as well as a photographic studio with infinity wall. The studios will serve Acast’s rich network of UK podcasters which includes The Fellas, Off Menu, Katherine Ryan and Help! I Sexted My Boss as well as every major UK news publisher. Acast’s in-house brand team has infused the space with a warm, inviting atmosphere, complete with stunning murals and a living wall, creating a welcoming, home-like environment.

"This is...

Taron Egerton has made an impressive career with films like Kingsman: The Secret Service and the upcoming Netflix film Carry-On, which arrives on the platform at the end of this year. In one of his most iconic roles, Egerton played famed singer Elton John in the Oscar-winning biopic Rocketman. Three years before that, viewers could witness Egerton demonstrate his musical talents in the 2016 animated movie Sing.

Sing was created by Illumination, the animation studio that found success with films including Despicable Me, The Lorax, and The Secret Life of Pets. Just like Rocketman, Sing falls into the category of a jukebox musical, which means it's composed of new renditions of previously-made songs performed by the actors. Even alongside other vocal talents such as Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton's performance was a highlight of the film, demonstrating how he became the perfect choice to play Elton John three years later.

Digital production studio Penny4 are due to release their first podcast on Tuesday October 22nd.

Starring Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac (RSC) and Adam Buxton (The Adam Buxton Podcast), Up In Smoke is a true-crime podcast about a fictional mystery.

Ten years after a teenage boy disappears in a horrific house fire, disgraced tabloid journalist Kay McAllister (Mei Mac) starts a podcast to prove to the world what really happened to Mason Miller - however implausible.

Through both modern day presenting and her own archive tape, Kay recounts the 2014 fire, the bizarre happenings in its wake, her questionable ethics as a reporter, and how Dci Roy Burgess (Adam Buxton) came to convict an innocent man.

Up In Smoke is not a radio play. It is a dark, supernatural drama told in the style of a factual, true-crime investigative podcast.

It’s Serial meets Twin Peaks.

With a hybrid fiction and factual production team,...

London’s Scala Theater has loomed large in legend for those who remember its heyday. Operating from 1978 to 1993, it carved a unique space showing cult films far removed from the mainstream. Audiences flocked there to immerse in the strange, freewheeling spirit the Scala embodied. Directors Jane Giles and Ali Catterall bring this theatrical landmark vibrantly back to life through Scala!!!.

Their documentary immerses viewers in the Scala’s grimy atmosphere, rekindling nostalgia for its outrageous screenings and loyal community. Today, cinema culture continues evolving rapidly, and independent theaters face challenges to survive. But Scala!!! assures the Scala’s rebellious spirit of discovery lives on through those who keep its memory alive.

The Scala forged a home for cinema devotees seeking experiences beyond Hollywood. Housed in a crumbling King’s Cross building, it screened everything from midnight movies to uncensored genres. Programmer Jane Giles welcomed diverse patrons, making the Scala an underground bastion.

In a repeat of an incident from last year, Forrest Gump star Tom Hanks has warned that his likeness has been faked using AI for a medical ad campaign.

Don’t let a digital Tom Hanks fool you into buying drugs. That’s the message direct from the Hollywood star himself, as Hanks warns of an online advertising campaign which has used an AI-generated version of him in order to sell “miracle cures.”

It’s a curious echo of an incident from last October, in which Hanks was forced to warn his Instagram followers that his likeness was being used to sell some form of dental plan.

Of this latest scam, Hanks wrote in an Insta statement (via Deadline), “There are multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness, and voice promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs. These ads have been created without my consent, fraudulently and through AI.

One of the UK’s leading podcast production companies is establishing its permanent headquarters and studios in Sheffield, as part of its plans to create a world-leading podcasting hub in the North of England

It will mean some of the country’s biggest podcast shows are made and produced in Sheffield, as the city benefits from a multi-million pound revamp of its city centre and capitalises on its cultural and creative history.

Persephonica make some of the UK’s biggest podcasts, including Miss Me?, with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver for BBC Sounds, and Political Currency, with Ed Balls and George Osborne.

It has had international success with Dua Lipa’s interview series, At Your Service, and it was the co-creator of the UK’s biggest daily podcast, The News Agents, with international media brand, Global.

Persephonica’s founders, Dino Sofos and Tom O’Hara, are from Sheffield. They established the...

Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, today celebrates a decade of leading the podcast industry. Over the past 10 years, Acast has continued to expand its global footprint and today is home to nearly 125,000 podcasts, enabling advertisers to reach listeners in practically every country worldwide. Today, this has led to more than 37 billion ads served globally. Additionally, since launch, Acast has paid more than $300 million directly to creators around the globe.

In 2014, Acast opened its doors in Stockholm, Sweden, its name inspired by the idea Anyone Can Make A Cast. The business quickly expanded internationally to the UK, then around Europe with offices opening in Norway, Ireland, France, and Germany. In 2016, Acast shifted its sights to the other side of the Atlantic and opened its first North American office in New York City. Sydney, Australia soon followed. In 2021, Acast undertook an initial public offering to be traded on the Swedish stock exchange.

Since 2015, there’s been no need to go on a minibreak to a cultural European destination. Richard Ayoade and Joe Lycett have gone for us. They’ve waited at airport security lines displaying their miniature toothpaste tube in a clear plastic bag. They’ve bought mystery crisps from railway vending machines. They’ve been to the museums, tried the local delicacies and gone on the sightseeing tours, so that we could stay luxuriously put.

Indeed, for a good chunk of 2020, staying put was the only option, which is when Travel Man: 48 Hours In…really came into its own. During lockdown, you could spin the globe, choose a location, load up All4 (as it was then known), and have a packed weekend there from the comfort of your sofa. All the experience of short haul travel with none of the having-to-mime-migraine-symptoms-to-a-Hungarian-pharmacist. Bliss!

Now Travel Man: 48 Hours In… is back...

My Dad Wrote a Porno host Alice Levine and The News Agents producer Dino Sofos are launching a British podcast festival.

The Crossed Wires festival will take place in Sheffield from May 31 to June 2, featuring the likes of Katherine Ryan, Jon Ronson, comedian Adam Buxton and Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing.

It is being organized by Levine, Sofos and James O’Hara, the latter of whom co-founded the Tramlines Festival, which also takes place in Sheffield.

“Crossed Wires is set to be podcasting’s biggest party,” said the organizers. “This new festival will host the most exciting podcasting talent in Sheffield for three days, so expect to bump into the voices you always have in your headphones at one of the food pop-ups, or rub shoulders with your favourite presenters at one of the many after parties.”

In a similar vein to Tramlines, Crossed Wires said venues around the city...

The Podcast Show, the biggest international festival for the business of podcasting, is back for a third year. The one-of-a-kind event will bring together industry leaders, brands, platforms and the sharpest new creators from across the globe to celebrate and help shape the future of podcasting. The festival will take place across two days at The Business Design Centre in Islington, London on 22 & 23 May 2024, in the heart of the city’s media district.

In May 2023, the show brought together over 10,000+ visitors (day and night) from the audio industry globally, to learn, do business and network. It was an extraordinary international celebration of the industry, with 40% of visitors coming from outside the UK. Over 40 countries were represented including: the US, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Canada, Spain, Denmark, South Korea, Brazil and more. The show featured some of the most recognisable names in podcasting including: Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel & Lewis Goodall,...

This Friday at 9:00 Pm on Channel 4, prepare for a night of hilarity and brainy banter as “8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown” returns with Season 25 Episode 9. Hosted by the quick-witted Jimmy Carr, the episode features an exciting clash between the dynamic duo of Rob Brydon and Katherine Parkinson, who take on the formidable team of Jon Richardson and Babatunde Aléshé.

With laughs guaranteed, the show promises an entertaining battle of words and numbers, as Adam Buxton joins Susie in Dictionary Corner, offering his own unique insights. Adding to the comedic charm, Joe Wilkinson brings his inimitable style to assist Rachel with the numbers game. As the teams go head-to-head in this clever twist on the classic game show, viewers can expect a blend of wit, wordplay, and unscripted humor. Don’t miss the chance to join the fun this Friday on Channel 4 and witness the comedic brilliance...

Lorna Tucker’s documentary about homelessness and ways to help end it will be heading to UK cinemas in February.

Director Lorna Tucker has turned her own experiences of homelessness into a touching, rousing documentary. Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son is heading to UK screens 16 February 2024 and arguably, it’s exactly the film we need right now as we face an unprecedented housing crisis. The film is narrated by Colin Firth.

But the future didn’t always look too bright for Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son. The team had to crowdfund in order to secure a theatrical release and they’ve now hit that milestone. Their Kickstarter campaign met the £30 000 goal just recently and Sam Fender, Adam Buxton and Bryan Adams, who wrote a song for the film, are among some of the project’s supporters.

There’s a trailer for Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son too,...

Writers and actors have been speaking out this year about the threat of artificial intelligence to their respective crafts, with contention over AI playing a key role in the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Well, now Tom Hanks is a case study in what’s now possible.

He warned social media followers on Sunday that he has nothing to do with a dental plan using an AI version of the actor.

“Beware!! There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me,” Hanks wrote. “I have nothing to do with it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks)

The AI version of Hanks he shared looks a bit like a cross between the actor and his son Colin Hanks. A photo of Hanks that appears to have been used for the ad’s AI modeling was posted online as far...

Our friends at Celluloid Screams, the genre film festival based out of Sheffield, England, have announced the lineup for this year's festival.    We Are Zombies, the horror comedy from our friends at Rkss, is this year's Opening Gala. Rep screenings of Hellraiser 2 and Killer Klowns From Outer Space mark each movie's 35th anniversary. Carlota Pereda's (Piggy) new film The Chapel will close out this year's festival.    Check out the complete lineup in the announcement below.    Celluloid Screams Announces 2023 Programme!   A horror-themed music show from comedian and podcast host Adam Buxton and anniversary screenings of a trio of cult classics are among the highlights at Celluloid Screams 2023 (Presented by Arrow Video), along with the UK Premiere of We Are...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Star Trek: Lower Decks is the greatest and most affectionate parody of the franchise, but its official canon status sets it apart from other spoofs. Various TV shows and sketches, like Chewin' The Fat, The Muppet Show, and The Adam & Joe Show, have successfully parodied Star Trek with humor and deep-cut references. Other parodies, such as Ömer the Tourist in Star Trek and Black Mirror's USS Callister, offer unique and sometimes dark takes on Star Trek, pushing the boundaries of the franchise.

Star Trek has been a cultural institution for nearly 60 years, and its place in the popular imagination has spawned all manner of spoofs and parodies. Arguably Star Trek: Lower Decks is the greatest parody of all time, given how it perfectly, and affectionately, sends up the entire franchise. However, its official placing within the Star Trek canon means that it wouldn't be fair to place it alongside the countless comedy sketches,...

Film includes interviews with John Waters, Ben Wheatley, Mary Harron.

BFI Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland rights to Scala!!!, a feature documentary about the legendary London cinema which ran from 1978 to 1993, from production company Fifty Foot Woman.

The film will make its world premiere in the ’Documents and Documentaries’ section of the 37th edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna in Italy this Sunday, June 25.

The full title of the film is Scala!!! Or, the incredibly strange rise and fall of the world’s wildest cinema and how it influenced a mixed-up generation of weirdos and misfits. Directed by Jane Giles...

Film includes interviews with John Waters, Ben Wheatley, Mary Harron.

BFI Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland rights to Scala!!!, a feature documentary about the legendary London cinema which ran from 1978 to 1993.

The film has its world premiere in the Documents and Documentaries section of the 37th edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy this Sunday, June 25. BFI Distribution acquired the film from production company Fifty Foot Woman.

The full title of the film is Scala!!! Or, the incredibly strange rise and fall of the world’s wildest cinema and how it influenced a mixed-up generation of weirdos and misfits. Directed...

The Podcast Show 2023 has announced speakers including Adam Buxton, The News Agents, Nish Kumar, Alice Levine and more. In addition to previously announced official partners, new one joining the roster include Dolby, Tortoise Media, Simplecast, Adswizz, Sennheiser, Neumann, Bumper, Frequency, Musixmatch, Evergreen Podcasts and AudioPlus. This year the show has partnered with Ymu Entertainment (a division of leading global talent group Ymu), who will be taking part in the Preview Night, as well as taking over The Origin Theatre between 9.30am and 12.30pm on both show days.

The Podcast Show, the biggest international festival for the business of podcasting, is back for a second year. This one-of-a-kind event is open to industry professionals, independent podcast creators, business leaders, emerging talent and fans alike, and will see the podcast community gather for two days at The Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 24th & 25th May. Day and night, thousands of visitors are expected from around the world, with visitors from 25 countries already represented.

Headline partners for The Show this coming May are Acast and Amazon Music and Wondery. As well as bringing well-loved voices from its extensive network, Acast will offer podcasters and advertisers a "choose your own adventure"-style experience, to learn how the creator economy in podcasting can work for them. Amazon Music and Wondery will be hosting their own exclusive sessions across the two days as well as delivering, for the second year, an...

In "House of the Dragon," the Targaryens are the main attraction. A dragon-riding royal family filled with ambitious personalities and a talent for terrible decision-making? The levelheaded Stark honor is looking pretty damn boring compared to the utter chaos that Daenerys' ancestors are capable of. Instead of sulking bastards and brooding princelings, the prequel series follows the antics of a wife-murdering agent of chaos (Daemon), an emo princess with a fiery spirit (Rhaenyra), and *checks notes* a spineless king with a love for Legos (Viserys).

When we first meet him, Viserys (Paddy Considine) is a bit of a Targaryen anomaly. He no longer rides a dragon, spends much of his time reminiscing about the historic greatness of Old Valyria, and, despite being the one with a crown on his head, doesn't always seem to be in charge of what's happening. By the time the first few episodes draw to a close,...

Click here to read the full article.

Ryan Reynolds is set to headline Just for Laughs’ inaugural comedy festival in London.

Just for Laughs London, set to run March 2-5, 2023, will see Reynolds take part in an informal conversation about his career as a Hollywood actor, producer and co-owner of U.K.’s Wrexham soccer club, with Deadpool 2 co-star Rob Delaney moderating.

As Just for Laughs crosses the pond in partnership with Aeg, the Montreal-based chuckle fest will bring its trademark comedy club and arena shows and celebrity in-conversation and panel format. The four-day event will include U.K. TV host Graham Norton and The Duchess creator Katherine Ryan emceeing gala shows, and Richard Curtis, co-founder of Red Nose Day, hosting his own showcase of comedy talent.

Other stand-up show hosts include Aisling Bea, creator and star of Channel Four’s This Way Up, while Reggie Watts, Randy Feltface and...

The BFI London Film Festival’s annual Works-in-Progress showcase, now in its third edition, will present nine new feature films and documentaries by U.K.-based filmmakers.

The showcase, which is part of the festival’s U.K. Talent Days focus, will be an in-person event on Oct. 8 screening extracts from each project introduced by their producer to an invited audience of international buyers and festival programmers. The projects are either in production or post-production. Clips will also be available online via a secure platform to a wider pool of invited international industry professionals.

The annual Buyers & Sellers event returns as an in-person fixture at which international sales agents can meet with U.K. buyers, and Network@Lff will host masterclasses and events for 12 U.K.-based writers, directors and producers to interact with international filmmakers and industry executives at the festival.

Festival director, Tricia Tuttle, said: “Connecting independent filmmakers...

In “Sing 2,” the sequel to Illumination’s animated box office hit, “Sing,” Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) and his troupe sneak into the Vegas-like tourist oasis and con their way into mounting “Out of This World,” a Cirque du Soleil-inspired musical space show, climaxing with a surprise appearance by reclusive lion rock star legend, Clay Calloway (Bono).

The third act musical extravaganza represents Illumination’s most ambitious work to date in terms of design, costumes, animation, choreography, playlist, and performance. The theme of breaking artistic barriers was also personal to director Garth Jennings, since the “Sing” sequel marked only his second animated feature.

“The whole movie, when you break it down into its parts, is incredibly simple and relatable,” Jennings said. “The Clay story and his grief is the emotional soul of the film. There was no one else we had in mind besides [U2 star] Bono. It had to...

So, did you blow out your vocal cords when you went from house to house caroling this holiday season? Would you rather watch somebody else croon some tunes for your entertainment? And if they’re cute and fuzzy, why all the better! After you knock back some hot tea and lemon, head over to the multiplex because an encore concert is about to start. Encore? Yes, can you believe that it’s been five years and a day since a menagerie of cuddly critters warbled dozens of pop tunes and standards. Yes, that long ago! So take a break from the Christmas “crunch” and shuttle the whole family to the moves to tap your toes (but please refrain from joining vocally) along with the cartoon cast of Sing 2.

During those years it appears that all’s going well at the New Moon Theatre. The current musical revue based on “Alice in Wonderland...

Sing 2 Review — Sing 2 (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Garth Jennings and starring Matthew McConaughey, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Bono, Eric Andre, Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Chelsea Peretti, Garth Jennings, Adam Buxton and Jennifer Saunders. Director Garth Jennings’ animated sequel, Sing 2, [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Sing 2 (2021): U2 Music And Bono, Himself, Add Adult Appeal To Animated Sequel...

Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish built a cult following with their DIY Channel 4 show – but the pressure got to them. They reminisce over Britpop, getting cancelled and patching up their friendship

It’s a weird experience, meeting two of your closest friends for the very first time – even if it is over Zoom. Perhaps that sentence only makes sense to you if you’ve spent countless happy hours in the company of Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish, who have built, through their cult Channel 4 programme The Adam and Joe Show and various radio shows and podcasts ever since, a devoted fanbase, who consider themselves personally acquainted with the pair. That must be a weird experience. “Every now and again I’ll get a sense of people saying: ‘I don’t think you should have said that to Joe’ or ‘Joe was a bit mean to you there’ and I...

Some director’s careers are easier to wrap your head around than others. While it can be refreshing when a director refuses to be pigeon-holed into one genre and defies expectations by producing something completely unexpected, some filmmaker’s lists of credits are truly chaotic. Take British director Garth Jennings, for example. He’s directed some of the best music videos of all time, including Blur’s “Coffee & TV” and the Grammy-nominated “Lotus Flower” for Radiohead. He made an ambitious adaptation of the beloved “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and the lovely ’80s-set indie comedy “Son of Rambow.”

Then in 2016, he unexpectedly made the hit animation “Sing” for Illumination (the studio behind “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets”). In the inexplicable five year gap between “Sing” and its inevitable sequel, Jennings has only directed once — and that was a short horror film. The problem with leaving such...

After teasing it on social media earlier in the week, U2 has released the full-length “Your Song Saved My Life,” an original song the group and recorded for “Sing 2,” an animated musical set to hit theaters Dec. 22.

Although the new song doesn’t represent any vast jump in genre, U2 fans will recognize it as a departure from the group’s usual style, starting off with a gospel-pop style piano and elevating into orchestral accompaniment before wrapping up with a falsetto chorus and not many guitars in sight.

Several U2 catalog songs, including “Joshua Tree” favorites and “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of,” also appear in the movie, which has Bono taking on a lead voice role for the first time, envisioned as a lion. His character, Clay Calloway, is a legendary rock star who’s lived in seclusion since a tragedy 15 years earlier, and...

Vic Reeves, aka Jim Moir, the UK comedian and TV personality known for his pairing with Bob Mortimer, has spoken for the first time publicly about being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

Appearing on the Adam Buxton Podcast, Reeves said he has vestibular schwannoma, also known as acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous brain tumor. He added that it is being monitored for any changes and that it has left him deaf in one ear.

“It’s benign. They can’t remove it. They can shrink it or they can just leave it and keep an eye on it, and that’s what they’re doing,” he told host Buxton.

“I would rather hear than not but this happened so you just get on with it, don’t you?” Reeves continued, “I’ve got used to it, I like going out bird watching and I never know where the birds are.

It’s been eight years since Attack the Block, the darkly comic, genre-blending indie sci-fi film in which a gang of youths battle ferocious alien creatures in a London tower block and the film that first introduced the world to a pre-Star Wars John Boyega (not to mention a pre-Time Lord Jodie Whittaker).

Alongside its soon-to-be interstellar cast, the film lit some rocket fuel under the career of its debut director, Joe Cornish. Already a cult hero in the U.K. thanks to his long-running comedy pop TV series The Adam & Joe Show with childhood friend Adam Buxton, Attack the ...

It’s been eight years since Attack the Block, the darkly comic, genre-blending indie sci-fi film in which a gang of youths battle ferocious alien creatures in a London tower block and the film that first introduced the world to a pre-Star Wars John Boyega (not to mention a pre-Time Lord Jodie Whittaker).

Alongside its soon-to-be interstellar cast, the film lit some rocket fuel under the career of its debut director, Joe Cornish. Already a cult hero in the U.K. thanks to his long-running comedy pop TV series The Adam & Joe Show with childhood friend Adam Buxton, Attack the ...

Like many directorial debuts, Attack the Block was an ideal venture for writer-director Joe Cornish to exercise his pet obsessions. The cult-film-in-the-making was the product of Cornish’s longstanding cinephilia, inspired by a childhood filled with horror films and Fangoria magazines, and parodic, deconstructive impulses honed on his Channel 4 sketch series co-hosted with his comedy partner Adam Buxton. Attack the Block was generally acclaimed for its genre-bending/mixing and sharp humor, but retrospectively, its sociopolitical filter sets it apart from its contemporaries. Cornish’s not-so-subtle political subtext lends his debut some much-needed weight, especially its final scene: a whole neighborhood cheering for a black teen who’s unlawfully arrested for saving mankind. Strip away the monster-movie elements and Attack the Block falls squarely into the social realism playbook; “marginalized teens living in a council estate forced to defend a neighborhood that rejects them as hoodlums” could conceivably be the...

20th Century Fox won distributor of the year; Disney takes home marketing team of the year.

20th Century Fox, Disney and Curzon Artificial Eye were among the big winners at the Screen Awards 2018, which recognises excellence in UK distribution, exhibition, marketing, publicity and brand partnerships.

Scroll down for full list of winners

The prizes were handed out at the Ballroom Southbank in London tonight (Nov 29). Comedian Adam Buxton hosted the ceremony for the first time.

20th Century Fox won distributor of the year award for a busy 2018 during which it released Deadpool 2, The Greatest Showman, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,...

Even though I’ve enjoyed what Lucasfilm has been doing with the Star Wars franchise since Disney bought it, I still can’t help but wonder what these films, particularly the saga trilogy, would have been like had George Lucas been the one that made them.

The filmmaker was in the process of developing a new trilogy of Star Wars film because he decided to sell everything to Disney and walk away.

A lot of fans aren’t happy with the direction of the saga, which is understandable. Simon Pegg feels like there’s something missing with the franchise and he believes that something is the influence of of George Lucas, which he misses.

While visiting The Adam Buxton Podcast, Simon Pegg explained:

“I must admit, watching the last Star Wars film, the overriding feeling I got when I came out was, 'I miss George Lucas.' For all the...

It will run a £10 sweepstate at the event.

UK medical charity MediCinema will be the charity partner for the 2018 Screen Awards, which take place on November 29 at London’s Ballroom Southbank.

The charity will run a fundraising sweepstake on the night with a £10 minimum donation.

MediCinema builds, installs and runs cinemas in hospitals and other places of care, providing a theatrical service for patients and families.

It has six MediCinemas at health facilities across the UK, through which it runs 21 screenings a week. Locations include St Thomas’ Hospital in London and the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Expansion plans include...

The awards take place on November 29 in London.

Comedian, writer and actor Adam Buxton will host the 2018 Screen Awards, taking place on November 29 at The Ballroom Southbank in London.

For more information on the awards, including how to book a table, visit the Screen Awards website.

Buxton commented: “I love going to the movies and watching both blockbusters and tiny little niche arthouse films so I am very excited to be hosting the Screen Awards this year.”

Buxton is widely known for his comedy partnership Adam And Joe with filmmaker Joe Cornish, which they have presented on BBC Radio 6...

It is just three short weeks until Arrow Video FrightFest 2018 kicks-off, and they are still unveiling their incredible line-up. Today proves no exception, with the announcement of this year's Short Film Programme - a veritable smorgasbord of enticing talent from upcoming filmmakers and established talent from around the world. Big name stars including Maisie Williams, Alice Lowe, Gemma Whelan, Asa Butterfield, Adam Buxton and even Lady Vengeance star Lee Young-ae are just some of the familiar faces on screen. But the real talent lies behind the camera, and FrightFest has always prided itself on providing an incredible platform for showcasing the best new voices from the UK. In that regard, this year’s line-up includes the World Premiere of Tom de Ville’s Corvidae, Paul...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Marvel Studios has had a very good track record for hiring directors to make their movies. Now it looks like British filmmaker Ben Wheatley actually might be one of them. This is the guy who previously made the films such as Kill List, A Field in England, and Free Fire. Wheatley is definitely an interesting choice and one that I wouldn't have expected. The guy just makes wickedly crazy films!

The news comes from actor and comedian Bob Mortimer while he was a gues ton Adam Buxton's podcast. While he was discussing a project that he is working on with Wheatley, he revealed:

"We were about to start that but then Ben got offered one of the big Marvel films, so it wasn't for us to say 'you ain't doing that Ben'."

That certainly sounds to me like Wheatley is directing a Marvel movie! Marvel obviously hasn't confirmed anything,...

As you sit down for a breakfast with simply no confrontations, we have a treat for all the hungry boys out there. Arriving on Digital HD today is Paul Thomas Anderson’s engrossing, playful, decadent, and decidedly unchic drama Phantom Thread. With its sly tenderness and comedic warmth, this shape-shifting look at relationships was one of last year’s finest films, and we’re pleased to debut an exclusive clip from the release, also included on the forthcoming Blu-ray/DVD and 4K Ultra HD editions.

One of the special features is a 12-minute treasure trove of previously unreleased behind-the-scenes photographs, laid over a gorgeous unused piece of Jonny Greenwood’s score. In our exclusive clip one can see Paul Thomas Anderson and crew hard at work, including Daniel Day-Lewis’ sketching and sewing, Vicky Krieps peparing for a confrontation, models posing, and, of course, gorgeous, the over-buttered asparagus.

I also had...

As we approach the Academy Awards ceremony in March, many filmmakers will be doing the rounds for various interviews and podcasts. Oftentimes, these interviews are very surface-level and don’t really shed much light on the films. Recently, on the Adam Buxton Podcast, “Phantom Thread” was featured in two (well, technically one-and-a-half) episodes, and they’re well worth a listen.

First, Buxton welcomed Jonny Greenwood for a quick chat.

A major historical event of the 20th century is getting made into a movie, and you could grab a lead or supporting role. Casting is now underway for “Angry Men,” a film based on the true story of the night in 1986 before the Challenger explosion, where “a hot-headed engineer leads a desperate race against the clock to stop the launch, and then the subsequent cover-up and whistleblowing.” The film will largely take place in the engineering facility, while its third act will revolve around the presidential hearing investigating the disaster. A male actor, aged 35–67, is sought to play the lead role of Adam, the o-ring engineer who blows the whistle and challenges organizations intending to launch. There are also several supporting roles in the film for male and female talent, aged 34–69, including Dr. Sally Ride. “Angry Men” will shoot for 16 days beginning Jan. 3 in San Antonio, Texas. The film pays $75–$100 per day,...

Mark Harrison Oct 19, 2019

The movie adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Stardust took on a life of its own thanks to Matthew Vaughn.

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

“A philosopher once asked, 'Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?' Pointless, really. Do the stars gaze back? Now, that's a question.”

Comic book movies are Matthew Vaughn's speciality. Between Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, and the Kingsman franchise, he's been a constant and eclectic presence as these films have boomed, and if reports are to be believed, his next film could be about either Flash Gordon or Superman.

But going back even further than Mark Millar or Marvel, Vaughn's first comic book movie was his adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Stardust. Before it was published as a novel in 1999, Gaiman conceived the postmodern fairy tale as a 'prestige'...

Mark Harrison Oct 19, 2017

We salute the 10th anniversary of Matthew Vaughn's wonderful Stardust...

“A philosopher once asked, 'Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?' Pointless, really. Do the stars gaze back? Now, that's a question.”

Comic book movies are Matthew Vaughn's speciality. Between Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and the Kingsman franchise, he's been a constant and eclectic presence as these films have boomed, and if reports are to be believed, his next film could be about either Flash Gordon or Superman.

But going back even further than Mark Millar or Marvel, Vaughn's first comic book movie was his adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Stardust, which arrived in UK cinemas ten years ago this week. Before it was published as a novel in 1999, Gaiman conceived the postmodern fairy tale as a 'prestige' comic; the four-issue mini-series...