Entertainment News

Singing sensation, Millie Small, has died after suffering a stroke.

The Jamaican-born star was most famous for her hit single ‘My Boy Lollypop’ which reached No.2 in both the UK and US pop charts in 1964. And, it was her country’s first ever million-selling hit.

It remains one of the biggest-selling ska songs of all times, with well over seven million record sales.

Chris Blackwood, the founder of Island Records, announced her passing and said that she will always remember her as “a sweet person…really special”.

He (Blackwood) brought Millie to the UK in 1963 before producing her childlike voice on the hit single. Chris said: “The single became a hit pretty soon and pretty much everywhere in the world.

“I went with her around the world because all of the territories wanted her there to do TV shows and the likes.

“She was so sweet, with a sweet personality. She was a very special person”.

‘My Boy Lollipop’ also featured in the 2012 London Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.
Millie was 73.

Best known for his hits which include ‘Walk The Dinosaur’ and ‘Spy In The Hose Of Love’, the fedora-wearing lead vocalist of the band, Was (Not Was) it has been reported that Hillard ‘Sweet Pea’ Atkinson has passed away.

The singer, who also performed with the likes of Bonnie Raitts, Iggy Pop and Bob Dylon, “had the voice I always wished I had”, according to band member Don Was.

“When I was writing songs, I was always writing with Sweet Pea in mind”.

Atkinson died of a heart attack in Los Angeles where he lived.

He was 74.

The Stranglers keyboard player, Dave Greenfield, has died after testing positive for Coronavirus.

He died after having contracted the virus after he spent a prolonged period of time in hospital for heart problems.

He penned one of the punk band’s biggest commercial hits, Golden Brown, a song about heroin, which went to No.2 in the UK charts in 1982.

The Stranglers bass player Jean-Jacque “JJ” Burnel paid tribute to his colleague by calling him “a musical genius”.

He was 71.

Idris Elba and wife after coronavirus in Africa

Screen superstar, Idris Elba OBE, is looking for the ultimate tonic, after the coronavirus pandemic is cleared worldwide, with plans for creating a

The multi-award winning actor and star of stage, small screen and big’, is looking to launch a luxury eco-friendly resort in the birth-land of his father, Sierra Leone, with would be lined with hotels, restaurants and bars, and he is already said to be in the process of seeking investment opportunities.

The East London-born star of movies and TV shows, which include; The Wire, Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom, Star Trek Beyond and Luther, has said that the idea of the grand project, although on his mind for some time, came to fruition, after he, and his wife, Sabrina, were in isolation after contracting the Covid-19 virus whilst out of the UK.

Following a meeting with the wife of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Sophie – who, herself (with her husband), tested positive for coronavirus –

After falling in love with the land of his father, after first visiting the country’s capital, Freetown, the 49-year-old screen idle was set on putting down some sort of roots in the land of his father, Winston, and as such, the idea of investing in the country has borne fruit.

The fact that he also gained citizenship there - he called it “the biggest ever honour in my life” - it has made him doubly-determined to pull it off.

He said: “America and the UK can’t house my ambition - Only Africa can house my ambitions.

“I can create Africa’s own Disney right here…in Sierra Leone”.

The son of a Sierra Leone father and mother from Ghana, he declared: “The son of the soil is coming home to fertilize the soil”.

A star if American Gangster, Thor: The Dark World (and Thor: Ragnarak), Avengers: Age of Ultron (and Infinity War), Yardie and much more, Hackney-born Idris Elba is also making a massive splash as in the music scene.

Under the guise of DJ Big Driis, he’s also making waves in world of Hip-Hop, holding his own against the best there is on the scene.

After his time in quarantine, whilst filming in Mexico, Elba declared himself (and wife, Sabrina) “OK and raring to get things going back home”.

Disney has been accused of trying to claim media ownership of the popular hashtag ‘MayThe4th’ on Twitter.

The company’s streaming service, Disney Plus, encouraged fans to share their favourite Star Wars memories using the hashtag on Monday.

It follows up with a legal warning suggesting that any user who tweeted that hashtag was agreeing to Disney’s terms and letting it use their content.

It backtracked after a huge protest by fans and widespread mockery.

The hashtag – a play on the franchise’s phrase ‘May the force be with you’, has been used for years to coincide with the made-up fan holiday.

The tweet said; ‘Reply with your favourite #Star Wars memory and you may see it somewhere special #MayThe4th.

‘By sharing your message with us during #MayThe4th, you agree to our use of your message and account name in all media and our terms of use’.

Many fans rushed to share their confusion over Disney’s tweet.

Aaron Wood, IP lawyer at Keystone Law, said that due to the popularity of the hashtag, it was unlikely that Disney’s tweet would have been seen by everyone who used it

Twitter’s policy states that users own the unique content that they post on the social media service.

Wood said: “A user can give permission to someone else to use their tweet. However, Disney’s risk is whether users who simply use the hashtag are really giving them that permission”.

The governing body behind the Oscars has changed its rules so that films that debut on streaming services or video on demand serves are to be made eligible for next year’s awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’ current rules say that films can only enter if they have been shown in a LA cinema for at least a week.

But with picture houses closed during the coronavirus pandemic, organisers have said that a “temporary” exception was necessary.

Many films that are due for releases have been delayed, with others going straight to digidal.

In a joint statement, Academy president, David Rubin and chief executive, Dawn Hudson, said: “The Academy firmly believes that there is no great way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theatre.

“Nonetheless, the historically tragic Covid-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules”.

The Academy said the exemption would end when cinemas reopen.

In recent years, the Oscars have admitted films made by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon – but only if they have also had a cinema release.

He was due to be welcomed to the Utilita Arena Birmingham for their big launch night *wipes tears from eyes*, however, with safety the priority, the good news for his fans is that British pop singer-songwriter and actor, Harry Styles will be back next year.

Well-known as a member of the insanely popular boy-band One Direction, the Redditch, Worcestershire-born star was due to perform on 15 April 2020, but he sent out an open, personal letter to his hordes of fans:

“Anyone who knows me knows that performing has always been my favourite part of working in music. However, during times like these, the safety and protection of touring crew, fans, and everyone else around the world is an immediate priority.

For obvious reasons, the upcoming tour in the UK and Europe will be rescheduled to 2021.

Tickets already purchased will be valid for these shows. In the meantime, we will be closely monitoring the situation around the world and will continue updating you in the months to come.

For the safety of yourself and others, please self-isolate. We’re all in this together.
I can’t wait to see you out on the road as soon as it’s safe to do so. Until then, treat people with kindness.

H”

Harry Styles will now be performing 1 event in Birmingham on Thursday 11th March 2021 at the Arena Birmingham.

All existing tickets will remain. If you purchased your tickets through their official box office,
The Ticket Factory, please see their FAQs or contact your point of purchase directly.

BBC hospital drama series, Holby City and Casualty have both donated fully working ventilators from its set in Elstree to be used in London’s new Nightingale Hospital.

The British-led Corporation shared the news in a tweet, with a photo of workers unloading equipment from a van.

The Holby City’s executive producer, Simon Harper, said: “We are only too willing and we wanted to help the courageous and selfless real-life medics”.

NHS staffs are still worried about the lack protective equipment they need to treat coronavirus patients.

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said that there was enough kit for everyone before he unveiled a plan for addressing shortages.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, made a sort of an apologised for the lack of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), during a coronavirus press conference at No.10 Downing Street.

After twice being asked if she was sorry, she said: “I am sorry if people feel that thy have been failed.

“But, at the same time we are in an unprecedented global health pandemic right now”.

“it is inevitable that the demand and pressure on PPE are going to be incredibly high.

“And of course we are trying to address that as a government”.

The government was slammed or not providing health workers with enough personal protection equipment, putting the lives of key workers at risk as they treated patients infected with coronavirus.

The BBC said that they were only too happy to donate the ventilators from the sets to help the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Set in a fictional city in the Wet Country, multi-award winning Holby City, and Casualty, have both paused their respective productions during the coronavirus crisis.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is set to auction items from his personal collection to raise money in aid of the NHS in the UK during the present coronavirus crisis.

Amid the personal items up for sale is one of the legend’s prise possession; a guitar which will be signed by the Sabbath frontman.

With healthcare staff struggling as the Covid-19 pandemic is believed to yet peak, he said that he will also be auctioning CDs, vinyl disks and DVD box sets.

The money raised by the auction will go straight to the University Hospital Birmingham in Iomi’s home town.

The 72-year-old said: “Coronavirus was difficult for everyone but it has shown the great work being varied out by our NHS”.

Iommi, who is a patron of the specialist cancer ward at the city’s Heartlands Hospital, came up with the idea whilst he was clearing out his studio whilst he was self-isolating during the lockdown.

“It’s about realising what we have in this country with the NHS”, the Birmingham-born star said. “It’s horrible but, in some ways, it’s bringing people together more”.

The guitar has attracted almost US$4,940 in buds since the auction went live at the start of the week.

Head of fundraising at the healthcare organisation, Justin Davy, said: “The NHS was incredibly grateful for Tony’s support at this extremely difficult time”.

Global superstar, Lady Gaga has announced that she will be heading a special concert for health workers.

The multi-award winning singer is set to perform alongside Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Sir Elton John in a TV concert which will celebrate health workers amidst the coronavirus crisis.

She revealed that she was hard at working contacting prominent business people that she knows to ‘dip their hands into their pockets for a good cause’.

She said: “I’ve been making lots of phone calls and contacts helping to fundraise with the World Health Organisation and Global Citizens and we are really excited about the show because we didn’t want it to be a fundraiser.

“We wanted everyone to put wallets back and enjoy the show and we have already raised $35million for the solidarity response”.

Along with the group Global Citizen, Gaga has already raised $35m (£28m) for the World Health Organisation. The funds will allow the organisation to buy protective equipment for health workers and to support the efforts to develop drugs and vaccines.

Lady Gaga has also announced that she has co-curated a concert to recognise the efforts of health workers in the fight against Covid-19

Comedian, actor and writer, Stephen Fry, will star in a new online radio play to raise funds for the theatre industry as it deals with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Emily Atack, famed for her role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the multi-award winning E4 The Inbetweeners, multi-award winning actress, singer, model and composer, Sheila Atim, Sarah Hadland of BBC TV’s Miranda and Russell Tovey, who is best known for playing the werewolf, George Sands, in another BBC production; the supernatural drama Being Human, will all appear in ‘The Understudy’, based on the novel by David Nicholls.

Fry said: “I am just so delighted to be working on Henry Filoux-Bennett’s superb adaptation of David Nicholls’s ‘The Understudy’.

“I do hope lots of you will listen in and combine a good time with support for our wonderfull theatre industry”.

Nicholls added: “I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘The Undertaker’ and was hugely excited to see it come to life on a new online stage and with such a great team”.

The play will be broadcast online in two parts, in May, to members of the public who have bought a £5 ‘ticket’.

All of the actors taking part in the production will record their individual lines seperatley at their individual homes.

1980’s pop superstar, Rick Astley, is set to play a huge, one-off concert after he posted details of the massive gig, which is due for the Manchester Arena, on social media.

In a video message, the singer, probably best known for his greatest hit; ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, said that it is the very least he could do to say ‘Thank You’ for all the NHS and Emergency Services who are working on the frontline in the fight against the worldwide epidemic.

He said: “I promise you that my band and I will give it our all to give everyone there a great night out”.

Shows and concerts have been called off around the world and venues have been forced to close for week, possibly months, - or, even longer – due to the pandemic.

Astley’s concert is due to take place on October 28.

International movie superstar, Idris Elba, spent the time playing his guitar whilst he, and his wife, Sabrina, revealed that they passed their coronavirus quarantine.

The star of Luther, Mandela, Fast, Pacific Rim and Thor: The Dark World, spent two weeks in isolation after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus while shooting in New Mexico for a new film due for Netflix.

They kept themselves entertained whilst housebound as they got involved in the latest Tik Tok challenge – dubbed ‘Bored in the House’.

Idris, 47, made the most of the lockdown as he played his guitar whilst he was chilling out on the sofa.

Although they both passed their coronavirus quarantine period, they are currently stuck in the US awaiting a flight back to the UK.

Living his life with his own personal mantra of; “Let music build a bridge and let dance help you cross it” Dhol King Gurcharan Mall BEM, CEO, is the epitome of ‘If music be the food of life, then play on’.

The multi-award winning internationally renowned dhuol drumming master is a living legend in his relentless drive to promoting Dhol and Bhangra music throughout the world for over 52 gold-laden years.

The only recognised Asian artists of note, in the world, to hold three world recordsand who also received 8 ‘Lifetime Achievements Awards’ – including one from The Phoenix Newspaper three years ago.

A Bhangra historian, artistic director, organiser, teacher, singer, music producer, writer, choreographer and ambassador, Gurcharan, best known affectionately as King G, has not only been ‘banging the drum’ for the dhol drum, he has, since 1963, been promoting his home city, Birmingham, around the world to highlight the vast musical and cultural diversity his UK hometown has to offer the world.

And only recently he was further recognised; this time awarded with the “biggest honour for my 52 years of hard work sacrificing my family life in the pursuit of introducing the Dhol drum and making it popular worldwide”, as he put it.

At the Professional University, he was blessed and honoured to receive a special award for introducing the Dhol and making popular around the world, which was presented to him by RandeepSingh Kohli, president of World Book of Records – London, at the University, in Punjab, in India.

In addition to that he was presented with another ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ (his 8th L.A.A) for introducing the Dhol worldwide by Joginder S Jogi from Punjab Youth Club Origination at the Punjab Press Club Jalandhar and became the only Asian performing artists in the world to receive three world titles:- the Dhol Guinness World Record from 315 to 632 – the Bhangra Guinness World Record from 2,167 to 4,411 – and for introducing and making the Dhol drum popular worldwide (World Book of Records London) – 2 great titles on 1 certificate.

King G says: “God is great for blessing me that I am the ONLY Asian artists in the world who got 3 World Records and also who received 8 Lifetime Achievements Awards & 1 of them is yours 3 years ago”.

A founder member of Apna Sangeet and founder of:- Nachdey Hasdey, Nachda Sansaar, Hard Kaur, Dhol Blasters, Bhangra Blasters and Band Baja, King G Mall, a living legend within our midst, is stopping at nothing to spread the love of his musicical gift – the Dhol Drum – throughout the world.

New research has revealed the secret education behind some of today’s biggest stars, showing there may be more to certain celebrities than meets the eye.

With awards over for another year adult education charity, City Lit, has researched the topics and qualifications the big winners studied before they were famous, to showcase how education can help prepare you for life on the big stage.

Lizzo

Hip hop, pop and R&B star Lizzo, who recently took home a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance, studied Classical Music at the University of Houston, where she also developed her craft as a flute player.

Awkwafina

Similarly, Nora Lum, the actress also known as Awkwafina, who scooped a Golden Globe for Best Performance in a Motion Picture in Music and Comedy, majored in Journalism and Women’s Studies at the University of Albany in New York, before turning her attention to acting and comedy.

Roger Deakins

Experienced and acclaimed cinematographer, Roger Deakins, the winner of the Critics’ Choice Award for his work on the film 1917, was originally on a different path altogether. After studying to be a Graphic Designer at the Bath Academy of Art, Roger’s persistence and dedication to photography on the side eventually saw him admitted to the National Film School and his career took off from there.

Boon Joon Ho

It’s a similar story when looking at the reigning Critics’ Choice Best Directors. Parasite director, Boon Joon Ho, who shared the award with 1917’s director Sam Mendes. He has a degree in Sociology from the University of Yonsei in South Korea, whilst Mendes achieved a first-class degree in English from the University of Cambridge.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger, who scooped the Oscar for Best Leading Actress for her starring role in Judy, boasts an English degree from the University of Texas, again flying the flag for those in the showbiz industry who were very accomplished before becoming a global star. 

While some of these international stars benefitted from seeing out their education to the end, some of this year’s big players made a huge success of themselves through more unorthodox routes.

Billie Eilish

Pop artist, Billie Eilish, is a prime example. The young American musician is currently dominating the music industry and was recently crowned Best International Female Artist at the Brits without pursuing any further education. In fact, the global superstar was largely home-schooled in her youth and was taught the basics of song writing by her mother from a young age.

Chris Jones, Director of Sales and Marketing at City Lit, said: “From seeing the broad spectrum of educational journeys some of the very best in film and music went on before realising their fame, it is clear that the skills and knowledge you learn through school, college and university can help you to achieve huge success.

“At City Lit, we pride ourselves on the huge range of courses we offer, with more traditional subjects available alongside a variety of subjects and skills to suit anyone’s interests and desires to learn.”

City Lit also has its own share of famous faces gracing its corridors, with David Bowie, actors Steven Berkoff and Richard Wilson, authors Jake Arnott and Jenny Colgan, comedian Jimmy Carr and Britain’s first female Muslim comic, Shazia Mirza, all attending the college.

To mark World Theatre Day (Friday 27 March), the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) invited people to join a live ‘watch along’ from their living rooms on Saturday 11 April of a recording of their 2017 production of Shakespeare’s comedy ‘Twelfth Night’, featuring Adrian Edmondson as Malvolio and Kara Tointon as Olivia.

The production will premiere on Marquee TV on Saturday 11 April, with the watch-along starting at   (UK time).

Marquee TV, the international multi-genre performing arts streaming service, working with the RSC and other arts organisations, is responding to the current closure of theatres by offering everyone a no obligation free 30 day trial to watch some of the best in theatre, dance and opera.  There are already 17 RSC productions available to stream, including ‘Richard II’ and ‘King Lear’ with, respectively, David Tennant and Antony Sher in the title roles.

Marquee TV will also be streaming ‘premieres’ of productions that are new to the platform, including ‘Twelfth Night’, each Saturday. 

The RSC is inviting everyone to join the ‘watch along’ by posting their comments live on Twitter during the performance. People can get involved by following the RSC - @theRSC - and by using the hashtag  #AlmostLiveFromTheRSC

Directed by Christopher Luscombe and set in 1890s England, ‘Twelfth Night’ originally opened in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2017. As with all of its Shakespeare productions since 2013, the RSC also broadcast Twelfth Night into cinemas across the world and into schools for free.

Christopher Luscombe, director of ‘Twelfth Night’, said: “In these testing times it’s wonderful that theatres are sharing such a range of their productions online. I do hope Twelfth Night will help to keep everyone entertained. As the play centres on two lost souls trying to find their way in an unfamiliar world, it may well speak to us all as never before! I was blessed with a fantastic cast and production team on this show, and I’m thrilled that their work is being celebrated - especially at a time when live theatre has had to be put on hold. A ‘watch along’, with the audience commenting on Twitter, sounds like a great idea to me - it’ll be fascinating to hear what everyone has to say!”   

Marquee TV’s Susannah Simons said: “Twelfth Night is just the right play to lift the spirits, and this is a wonderful production.  We are thrilled to be able to bring it to a wider audience, cross garters and all.”