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Arise, Sir Gary Oldman! The Oscar-winning Darkest Hour and Slow Horses actor has been knighted by King Charles III in the monarch’s birthday honors.

Oldman has been knighted for his services to drama — the first time he has received a royal accolade for his body of distinguished work. He joins contemporaries including Sir Kenneth Branagh and Sir Daniel Day-Lewis in receiving recognition from Buckingham Palace.

Oldman was last year asked about why he had not been previously honored, telling BBC News that he had not turned down an accolade. “You should ask them. No nod from the royals, but there we are,” he said. “Maybe it’s in my future.”

Oldman was one of 1,215 people to receive recognition from King Charles, with many names from the world of film, TV, and theater making the list. Also knighted was Rufus Norris, the outgoing director of the National Theatre, for his services to stage.

On Wednesday 20 November 2024, Sky Mix broadcasts Portrait Artist of the Year!

Heather Mills, Kevin McCloud, Martha Kearney Season 11 Episode 7 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Portrait Artist of the Year,” titled “Heather Mills, Kevin McCloud, Martha Kearney,” promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and creativity. This episode will air on Sky Mix and features artists from across the UK and Ireland competing to create stunning portraits of well-known personalities.

In this episode, the sitters include Heather Mills, a prominent activist and former model, Kevin McCloud, a well-respected television presenter known for his work on home design, and Martha Kearney, a familiar face in broadcasting and journalism. Each artist will have the challenge of capturing the essence of these famous figures within a limited time frame, pushing their skills and creativity to the limits.

The competition is fierce, as the artists not only aim to impress the judges but...

On Wednesday 20 November 2024, Sky Arts broadcasts Portrait Artist of the Year!

Heather Mills, Kevin McCloud, Martha Kearney Season 11 Episode 7 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Portrait Artist of the Year,” titled “Heather Mills, Kevin McCloud, Martha Kearney,” promises to be an exciting showcase of artistic talent. This episode will air on Sky Arts and features a diverse group of artists from across the UK and Ireland. Each artist will face the challenge of creating a portrait of one of the famous sitters, adding an extra layer of pressure and excitement to the competition.

Heather Mills, known for her work as an activist and businesswoman, will be one of the sitters. Her presence is sure to inspire the artists as they capture her likeness and personality on canvas. Kevin McCloud, the well-known television presenter and designer, will also be featured. His creative background may influence the way artists approach his portrait.

Michael Caine took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his iconic role in The Dark Knight Trilogy. The 91-year-old actor shared some nostalgic moments on X, posting throwback images of himself as Alfred in Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed Batman films.

Along with a screen capture from one of the movies, Caine captioned, "Alfred was alright, wasn't he?" Fans quickly responded with praise for his performance, overwhelmingly agreeing with his sentiment. Central to the trilogy's emotional and narrative depth is Caine's portrayal of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's loyal butler and confidant. Caine's performance infused the series with warmth; his paternal wisdom and unwavering support for Bruce were pivotal. His role humanied the Dark Knight, offering moments of vulnerability and moral clarity amidst the chaos.

Alfred was alright wasn't he? pic.twitter.com/RzJAmsx9I8 Michael Caine (@themichaelcaine) August 1, 2024

Related The Dark Knight Trilogy Co-Writer 'Absolutely' Wants a Fourth Installment...

Greta Gerwig says she got the joke when Jo Koy told the Golden Globes audience on Sunday that Oppenheimer was based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book but Barbie is about “a plastic doll with big boobies.”

The writer-director addressed the quip he delivered during his first Globes hosting gig while appearing on BBC Radio 4 Today. The joke has been criticized by some for being reductive or sexist, but Gerwig offered host Martha Kearney a different take on Koy’s joke.

“Well, he’s not wrong. She’s the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he was right on,” she said. “And you know, I think that so much of the project of the movie was unlikely because it is about a plastic doll.”

Gerwig went on to add that Barbie, a toy her own mother was hesitant about her playing with when she was young, “by her very construction,...

Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer has confirmed Kirsty Young’s first podcast as part of a range of new commissions for BBC Radio 4. The announcement was made during a speech at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer conference, with shows hosted by some of the country’s best-known names. The new content led by Kirsty Young, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mary Beard and Martha Kearney will range from ancient Rome to an ambitious partnership with The National Portrait Gallery and stories from the unsung war heroes of the Second World War.

King Charles III’s historic Coronation on May 6 starts at 10 a.m. BST in the UK at 5 a.m. Et/2 a.m. Pt in the U.S. Every major British and American network will have live coverage of the event, which you can watch live in the player embedded below.

The Itinerary

The first Coronation for seven decades will see Charles and Queen Consort Camilla take a King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. There will then be a service during which the official Coronation will take place, beginning around 10:20 a.m. GMT (2:20 a.m. Pt)

King Charles III will be officially crowned, and his wife Camilla will become Queen Camilla during the ceremony. King Charles technically became King upon his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September, but the Coronation — the first in the UK since 1953 — will make it official. Camilla has been Queen...

The BBC has unveiled its presenter line-up for King Charles III’s Coronation next month.

Presenters revealed this morning include Huw Edwards, who will provide commentary on the Saturday May 6 proceedings, Anita Rani and Clare Balding. Rani will join the gathered crowds while Balding, the new face of the BBC’s tennis coverage, will provide commentary on the ceremonial route.

The event will take place on Saturday May 6 and involve a number of ceremonial proceedings with King Charles III and his wife Camilla, who will be crowned Queen alongside him in London.

Other presenters revealed this morning include Kirsty Young, JJ Chalmers, Sophie Raworth and radio presenters Mishal Hussain, Martha Kearney and James Naughtie.

The BBC said the event, which comes around eight months after King Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II passed away, will “be at the forefront of technology with proceedings on iPlayer streaming live from multiple locations in...

Paul Mescal, nominated for best actor at the BAFTAs and Oscars for “Aftersun,” has reacted to the emotional timing when the latter nod was announced.

The Oscar nomination announcement came as Mescal’s mother Dearbhla was preparing to go into chemotherapy for cancer, as revealed by his sister Nell.

my mum got a haircut today in prep for her chemotherapy and then paul got nominated for an oscar life is so crazy

— nell mescal (@nellmescal_) January 24, 2023

Speaking to Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program on Thursday, Mescal said: “The universe works in very interesting ways.”

“It’s all a bit overwhelming, especially for my family. I don’t think anybody, or even I, was expecting this,” Mescal said. “I always knew I was willing to work hard, from the time of graduating from drama school to now hasn’t been an awfully long time. But last Tuesday,...

James May has suggested that Jeremy Clarkson’s infamous column about Meghan Markle was “a little too creepy”.

Back in December, Clarkson faced widespread condemnation after The Sun published an article in which he fantasised about the duchess of Sussex being paraded through the streets naked and pelted with excrement.

In the column, published on 16 December, the 62-year-old ex-Top Gear host wrote that he hated the duchess on a “cellular level”.

Reports subsequently claimed that Amazon was looking to “cut ties” with Clarkson, and would not be commissioning any further projects from him beyond those which had already been agreed upon.

On Monday (30 January), May was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I don’t think The Grand Tour is under [threat],” May said.

“To be brutally honest I didn’t read the thing [Clarkson’s column] because I was away – is that a terrible thing to say?” he continued.

Host...

James May has suggested that Jeremy Clarkson’s infamous column about Meghan Markle was “a little too creepy”.

Back in December, Clarkson faced widespread condemnation after The Sun published an article in which he fantasised about the duchess of Sussex being paraded through the streets naked and pelted with excrement.

In the column, published on 16 December, the 62-year-old ex-Top Gear host wrote that he hated the duchess on a “cellular level”.

Reports subsequently claimed that Amazon was looking to “cut ties” with Clarkson, and would not be commissioning any further projects from him beyond those which had already been agreed upon.

On Monday (30 January), May was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I don’t think The Grand Tour is under [threat],” May said.

“To be brutally honest I didn’t read the thing [Clarkson’s column] because I was away – is that a terrible thing to say?” he continued.

Host...

Amazon Prime Video’s “The Grand Tour” presenter James May has described his co-host Jeremy Clarkson’s comments about Meghan Markle as “too creepy.”

In December 2022, Clarkson’s column in U.K. tabloid The Sun suggested Markle be made to “parade naked” through Britain while people “throw lumps of excrement at her.” Clarkson has since apologized.

On Monday, May appeared on on the BBC Radio 4 “Today” program. Host Martha Kearney asked May what he thought about Clarkson’s article in The Sun and if “The Grand Tour” was under threat.

May replied: “I don’t think ‘The Grand Tour’ is under [threat].”

“To be brutally honest I didn’t read the thing [Clarkson’s column] because I was away – is that a terrible thing to say?,” May added.

Kearney then proceeded to read excerpts from Clarkson’s column to May who said: “He said something like all people my age think the same way.

Miriam Margolyes has said she was so upset after she accidentally said “f*** you” to Jeremy Hunt live on Radio 4 that she was “shaking all the way home in the taxi”.

In October, the actor broke the first rule of radio by swearing on the Today programme.

Margolyes was reacting to seeing the newly appointed chancellor, Hunt, in the BBC Radio 4 studio, when she used the expletive.

“When I saw him there,” she told the hosts Justin Webb and Martha Kearney towards the end of her interview, “I said, ‘You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really wanted to say was, ‘F*** you, bastard.’ But you can’t say that.”

“Oh no, no, no, you mustn’t say that,” said Webb at the time. “We’ll have to have you out of the studio now.”

“We will,” added Kearney. “With many apologies.

Daniel Craig says he has no regrets about leaving James Bond behind and has revealed that he discussed killing the character with franchise producer Barbara Broccoli.

“No, none at all,” Craig said when asked by Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4’s “Best of Today” podcast. “I had an incredibly fortunate 17 years of my life making this. I literally want to spend the next 20 years of my life trying to unhook it all and try and put it into a place because it was incredible. I left it where I wanted it to be. And that I was given the chance to do that with the last movie.”

When Kearney said that Bond had been killed off, Craig said: “He’s not really dead. I’m gone, but it says right at the end [of “No Time to Die”] that Bond will return, so he must return at some point.”

Asked...

David Baddiel, Kathy Burke and Krishnan Guru-Murthy are among the celebrities who have reacted with joy to Miriam Margolyes swearing about Jeremy Hunt live on Radio 4’s Today programme.

At the end of an interview on the Saturday morning episode of the show (15 October), actor Margolyes told the hosts her reaction to seeing the new chancellor, Hunt, in the studio.

“When I saw him there,” she told Justin Webb and Martha Kearney, “I said, ‘You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really want to say was, ‘F*** you, bastard.’ But you cant say that.”

“Oh no no no you mustn’t say that,” replied Webb. “We’ll have to have you out of the studio now.”

“We will,” added Kearney. “With many apologies.”

Reacting to the chaotic scenes on Twitter, comedian Baddiel posted: “I love the panic on the presenters’ parts. They know...

Miriam Margolyes broke the first rule of radio this morning (Saturday 15 October) as she said “f*** you” live on the Today programme.

The actor was reacting to seeing the new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in the BBC Radio 4 studio, when she swore.

“When I saw him there,” she told the hosts Justin Webb and Martha Kearney, as she was finishing her interview, “I said, ‘You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really want to say was, ‘F*** you, bastard.’ But you cant say that.”

“Oh no no no you mustn’t say that,” replied Webb. “We’ll have to have you out of the studio now.”

“We will,” added Kearney. “With many apologies.”

Margolyes made the remark at about 8.30am, at the end of an interview about her Harry Potter co-star, Robbie Coltrane, who died aged 72 on Friday (14 October).

Speaking about her friend,...

Miriam Margolyes broke the first rule of radio this morning (Saturday 15 October) as she said “f*** you” live on the Today programme.

The actor was reacting to seeing the new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in the BBC Radio 4 studio, when she swore.

“When I saw him there,” she told the hosts Justin Webb and Martha Kearney, as she was finishing her interview, “I said, ‘You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really want to say was, ‘F*** you, bastard.’ But you cant say that.”

“Oh no no no you mustn’t say that,” replied Webb. “We’ll have to have you out of the studio now.”

“We will,” added Kearney. “With many apologies.”

Margolyes made the remark at about 8.30am, at the end of an interview about her Harry Potter co-star, Robbie Coltrane, who died aged 72 on Friday (14 October).

Speaking about her friend,...

He was the king of improv comedy. Now he's playing second fiddle to a dancing dog. What happened? John Sessions talks about stage fright, voting Ukip and life after the 'twinkly years'

John Sessions is drinking coffee and making a call on a prehistoric mobile phone when I arrive at the Soho hotel where we are having lunch. Sessions holds it up proudly. "I don't have an iPhone, I don't do apps," he exclaims. At 61, he has embraced bufferdom. Grey-haired and wearing large spectacles, he looks like Ronnie Barker, or a retired colonel you might run into at a golf club in Surrey.

He admits it, rejoices in it. "I rang the BBC the other day," he tells me. "I'm sick to the back teeth of hearing people say 'mitigate against'. 'Militate' is the verb. Martha Kearney did it. I said: 'Will you please tell Ms Kearney, it's militate.'" He votes Ukip,...

Flagship BBC2 arts and culture show loses its weekly status but retains presenters Martha Kearney and Kirsty Wark

For nearly 20 years it has brought BBC2 viewers the latest developments in the world of arts and culture, in various incarnations and featuring bickering panellists including Tom Paulin, Allison Pearson and Tony Parsons.

But now The Review Show, one of the BBC's flagship arts programmes, is to be moved from BBC2 to BBC4 and cut from a weekly to monthly slot – as new director general Lord Hall prepares to join the BBC on 2 April from one of the UK's leading arts institutions, the Royal Opera House.

Arts coverage on BBC1 and BBC2 is being cut as a result of the BBC's £700m cost-cutting measures, Delivering Quality First.

The BBC's arts commissioning editor, Mark Bell, said the reduction in arts coverage was minimal across BBC1 and BBC2, amounting to a "couple of hours" a year.

The BBC has announced that The Review Show is to move from BBC Two to BBC Four.

The revamped show will also be reduced from a weekly broadcast to a monthly hour-long episode.

Martha Kearney and Kirsty Wark will remain as presenters in a new primetime slot on the digital channel.

The Review Show has been one of the BBC's flagship arts programmes for nearly 20 years, and features contributors looking back at the week's cultural highlights.

The move has been criticised by various quarters, with Channel 4 News culture editor Matthew Cain tweeting: "Who's going to start a petition to save the BBC's Review Show? I want to sign it!"

It has also been described as a "typical piece of BBC cowardice" by Guardian writer Stephen Moss.

BBC Four controller Richard Klein defended the changes, saying: "The range of topics will be, I think, broader, but also we'll do what...

The first footage from the Great British Bake Off Comic Relief special has been released and it features comics Jo Brand and Stephen K Amos taking an unusual approach to challenges in the kitchen. Amos jokes that his secret relationship with Mary may work in his favour, while Brand adopts a unique method of sitting on her butter to melt it before baking. Watch the Comic Relief Bake Off teaser:

Amos and Brand are among the list of celebs tackling the baking reality show, which also includes Andy Akinwolere, Duncan Bannatyne, Julia Bradbury, Ed Byrne, Warwick Davis, Helen Glover, Martha Kearney, Bob Mortimer, Ingrid Oliver, Simon Reeve, Ellie Simmonds, Kirsty Wark, Lorna Watson and Claudia Winkleman. At the end of every episode, one celebrity will be crowned the Star Baker. The show's purpose is to inspire (more)...

Warwick Davis, Bob Mortimer and Duncan Bannatyne have signed up for the 'Great British Bake Off for Comic Relief'. The 'Life's Too Short' star, comic, and 'Dragon's Den' mogul will also be joined in the baking contest by TV presenters Julia Bradbury, Claudia Winkleman, Andy Akinwolere, Simon Reeve and Kirsty Wark. Paralympic gold medal winner Ellie Simmonds, stand-up comedian Ed Byrne, Olympian Helen Glover and journalist Martha Kearney have also been confirmed for the charity version of the popular show. Completing the line-up are the previously-announced Jo Brand, Stephen K. Amos and TV double act Lorna Watson and Ingrid Oliver. The show...

From a full programme of film and stage adaptations to a new James Bond novel, unpublished works by Rs Thomas and Wg Sebald and a new prize for women writers, 2013 is set to be a real page-turner

January

10th The Oscar nominations are announced unusually early this year. Keep an eye out for a bumper crop of literary adaptations, including David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, Yann Martel's Life of Pi, the David Nicholls-scripted Great Expectations, as well as Les Miserables, Anna Karenina and The Hobbit.

18th A new stage adaptation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw at the Almeida theatre in London. In the year of the centenary of Benjamin Britten's birth, his musical version will also feature around the country in both concert and stage performances.

24th The finalists for the fifth Man Booker International prize will be announced at the Jaipur festival.

London -- Top BBC news presenters have urged broadcast unions not to strike during the Conservative Party conference next week, warning that it could damage the BBC's reputation for political independence.

The planned 48-hour strike had been targeted to impose a blackout on key political speeches at the conference, after government pressure to cut pension payouts at the BBC.

Prime Minister David Cameron's speech is thought to be a target.

But now top anchors including "Newsnight" presenters Jeremy Paxman, Emily Maitlis and Martha Kearney, political editor Nick Robinson, "Today" presenter Jim Naughtie and "Six O'Clock News" anchor Huw Edwards have written to the National Union of Journalists warning against the move, which they say "risks looking unduly partisan, especially when none of the other [political] party conferences have been targeted."

The letter said there were "serious concerns" about the implications of such a political act.

"Impartiality is the watchword for the...