Entertainment News

Welsh actor Taron Egerton has transformed into Elton John for his role in the upcoming biopic about the iconic singer that tells the story of Elton John's life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.

The thinning hair, the ridiculous spectacles, the gold bomber jacket, the short-shorts and the winged platform boots…they are unmistakably Elton.

The film is now in production and also stars Bodyguard and Game of Thrones actor, Richard Madden, who is playing John Reid – Elton’s former lover and manager. Billy Elliot’s Jamie Bell stars as Bernie Taupin, who wrote a catalogue of hits with Elton and Bryce Dallas Howard and Steven Mackintosh are starring as Elton’s parents, Sheila Eileen Dwight and Stanley Dwight.

Rocketman is being directed by Dexter Fletcher, who worked with Egerton on 2015’s Eddie the Eagle – a biography of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper. Rocketman also features a screenplay that has been written by Lee Hall, the Oscar nominated writer of Billy Elliot and War Horse.

X-Men: First Class and Kingsman director, Matthew Vaughn, is on board as Producer and has predicted that the film “is going to make people’s jaws hit the ground”.

Vaughn also went on to say that Elton John himself gave them his blessing and told them to “Tell it all. Go as R-rated as you need to” and Vaughn says “We do just that. The flaws and the genius are all there.”

Elton John is also on serving as a Producer on the movie, showing that he isn’t afraid of the fact that this movie is going to highlight all aspects of his life, from the good to the bad to the ugly. Elton is notorious for how honest and outspoken he is, so it stands to reason that his biopic should be the same way.

Rocketman will hit UK cinemas on May 31^st, 2019.

Bruce Dern is set to play George Spahn in Quentin Tarantino’s hotly-anticipated ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The role originally went to Dern’s long-time friend and collaborator Burt Reynolds, who was unable to shoot after being hospitalised due to illness before sadly passing away on September 6^th.

Dern and Reynolds appeared together several times over the years and their relationship goes way back to 1965, when they both appeared in an episode of World War II series 12 O’clock High. They also appeared together in the 1999 TV-movie Hard Time: The Premonition and the 2003 Western, Hard Ground. It seems fitting that Reynolds would be replaced by his good friend, who also happens to be another icon of 1970’s cinema.

Bruce Dern first worked with Tarantino on Django Unchained in a brief role as Old Man Carrucan, before reteaming with the controversial director on 2015’s The Hateful Eight in a much larger role as Sanford Smithers – a despicable, former Confederate general who finds himself stuck in a haberdashery with the man who has a deep, personal grudge against him. It was an intense, mean-spirited performance with Dern commanding the screen with a furious presence.

Now, Dern is also set to star in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – a film that tells the story of a struggling actor and his long-time stunt double who embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the 1969 Los Angeles, around the time of the infamous Charles Manson murders.

Dern will play George Spahn, the real-life American rancher who would rent out his property to the film industry as a location for Westerns. However, Spahn is chiefly remembered for his association with the Manson Family, after housing Charles Manson and his followers throughout the late 60s. It is believed that the 1969 murders of Sharon Tate, Abigail Ann Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Earl Parent, Jay Sebring and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were planned by Manson and his devotees at the Spahn Ranch.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has what is arguably the single greatest ensemble cast ever assembled and is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Damian Lewis, Tim Roth, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, James Marsden, Clifton Collins Jr, Michael Madsen, Lorenza Izzo, James Remar, Zoe Bell, Dreama Walker and, of course, Bruce Dern.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is currently in production and set for release on July 26^th, 2019.

Kids Music Day is also being supported this year by CASIO EMI, Alfred Music, Remo, Conn-Selmer and Kala Brand Music, all leaders in the music industry.  Casio has been manufacturing quality keyboards for consumers and professionals alike for nearly forty years, while Alfred Music has been in the music publishing business since the early days of Tin Pan Alley.   The REMO name has been synonymous with quality drums and percussion equipment for over 60 years.  Conn-Selmer is the leading manufacturer & distributor of musical instruments for student, amateur and professional use.  Kala Brand Music has quickly made a name for itself with quality ukulele instruments played by both professionals and amateurs.  Keep Music Alive is honored to welcome these partners helping to share the Kids Music Day message, inspiring more kids to begin their musical journey.  

Kids Music Day is one of two international music holidays founded by the organization Keep Music Alive.  In March 2018, the organization partnered with over 600 music school and music retail locations in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and 10 additional countries to offer free lessons to new students (kids and adults) as part of the 3rd Annual Teach Music Week.  Some of the largest music chains in the world have participated in Kids Music Day and Teach Music Week with many of their locations including Music & Arts, Guitar Center, Kindermusik, Music Together, Gymboree, Long & McQuade, Bach to Rock and the legendary School of Rock.

The spectacular Arenacross Tour returns for 2019 with the fast-paced show set descend on Birmingham next year – coming to the Genting Arena 1-2 February 2019.

The UK’s fastest indoor action-sports show promises seat grabbing entertainment from the worlds craziest indoor Motocross racers and Freestyle MX stars from across the globe. It’s one of the most incredible family shows you’ll witness under a roof and it’s back, bigger, louder, faster than ever before! For 2019 the Tour takes on two nights in each city so fans can experience two nights of unpredictable racing action.

Matt Bates, CEO of ASL Active, who produce Arenacross, says “Arenacross never fails to entertain huge audiences year after year – and as we enter our seventh year of staging the tour, we’re more excited than ever to continue growing our audience of AX fans. Arenacross isn’t just indoor Motocross, it’s an entire night of choreographed entertainment that includes a great sound track, pyro, lasers and live screen back-stage action. We’re also a sports entertainment show that delivers so much more than a seated show – you can win bikes, bet on riders, get to meet the stars, walk the course and go back stage too. What other live show can offer this level if access?”

The fastest motocross racers flock to the six-round series to take part in the UK’s richest off-road series. With bragging rights and a huge jackpot up for grabs the riders leave nothing on the line resulting in knuckle to knuckle non-stop racing on the arena sized dirt battle field! Cheer on home bred riders as they battle the international superstars from the age of 7 up to the professionals.

Away from the racing, Arenacross hosts only the best motorsport mavericks who hail from all corners of the earth and specialise in whipping & flipping their bikes 40 ft above the arena floor. We’ve scoured the globe and to find some of the best Freestyle Motocross riders in the WORLD to take to the ramps for your viewing pleasure.

This wouldn’t be Arenacross without the lights, lasers and pyro that results in full throttle family entertainment. At every event expect giveaways, autograph sessions and a chance at each round to walk away with a bike of your own! Looking for more? Arenacross has a range of VIP packages to ensure you get the best seats in the house, meet & greet riders, enjoy an exclusive Freestyle motocross show and a tour around the pits.

So what lies ahead for 2019? We know there are championships to be claimed, money to be won and fans to entertain…will you be there?

Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, will be holding its first ever Ukelele Festival from the 16th to 21st March 2019.

The Golden Ukalele Festival is an initiative by enthusiasts in the Cook Islands wanting to enhance the culture of the instrument playing into a festival of celebration, for both Cook Islanders and visitors to this little paradise in the heart of the pacific.

The ukalele is recognised globally, with region-to-region and country-to-country adaptations of design and tones, making it highly personalised to each region or country. Not only do the Cook Islands spell Ukalele differently, but their ukulele also have a modified shape. Rather than a miniaturised version of the guitar, theirs is a distinctive pacific island instrument, shaped around the coconut shell. These ukalele have a higher tone which epitomises the capella style of traditional Cook Islands music and chants. The Golden Ukalele Festival will feature unique Pacific as well as International Ukalele Rhythms.

The overall aim of the festival is enjoyment by participation, giving every opportunity to participants attending the festival, to join in as ukalele players, or ukalele lovers throughout the festival week's events and activities.

The week's activities will include concerts, workshops, dance shows, church services that have special sermons focusing on ukalele music and a special concert on the beach, letting participants perform or just enjoy each others company in a tropical paradise setting.

The festival will also have expo days, allowing participants to learn to play local songs, visit local ukalele makers and browse and purchase their creations. The week will then culminate with the Golden Ukalele Award night, which is the festivals finale and will be the highlight of the festival.

The 15 islands of the Cooks are located in the heart of the Pacific, halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. An oasis of freedom with crystal blue waters, white sandy beaches, warm weather all year round and authentic, friendly locals.

Author Adam Weymouth, producer Charlie Fripp and director Chris Lucas will be headlining the South West Outdoor Festival this October, sharing tales from their adventures in the wild Yukon territory, Canada.

The three-day National Trust festival, held in Devon from 5-7 October 2018, offers adventure enthusiasts a comprehensive programme of talks, presentations and film screenings. Festival goers will also be able to participate in trail-running races, cycling challenges and a variety of water sports including coasteering, kayaking, swim/runs and paddleboarding.

During the weekend, screenings of The Yukon Assignment (a film about a dad-and-son team from Cornwall canoeing along the territory's mighty rivers) and readings by author Adam Weymouth from his book Kings of the Yukon will showcase this extraordinary, magical and untamed land.

Adam will host reading sessions from his book, published on 15 May 2018 by Penguin, which details his four-month journey canoeing the length of the great Yukon River. Paddling against the King salmon, Adam discovered how their decline is affecting the indigenous communities that have relied on them for survival for so long.

The Yukon Assignment follows British adventurer Chris Lucas (34) and his actor father Niall (64) as they canoe down one of the most remote rivers in Canada. The film is a breathtaking exploration of one of the earth's last wildernesses and the story of how adventure can bring people of all ages together.

The legendary guitarist and composer Gordon Giltrap recently released a new album, called Heartsongs, to raise money for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity. Gordon underwent two bouts of major surgery in 2016 and has since turned his attention to raising money for the hospital that treated him.

Heartsongs has proved to be a huge hit amongst music fans and charity supporters alike, with the initial run of the CD selling out, raising £2,500 for QEHB Charity. The CD is now back in stock online, and Gordon hopes to raise even more money for the hospital charity.

Gordon said: “Creating this album for QEHB Charity has been one of the most joyous and profound moments of my life. I have had many albums released since those far-off days of 1968 when my first recorded efforts were released onto the market.

“Over the years, I have had a degree of success commercially, but artistically that really belongs to another realm, outside the remit of record sales and big bucks. To that end I regard Heartsongs as one of the most significant albums I have ever produced.

“This is truly my way of saying a heartfelt thank you, and the opportunity to give something back for the life I am living right now.”

The album includes tracks featuring major artists from the rock worlds such as Brian May of Queen, Midge Ure, Steve Howe from Yes, Neil Murray from Black Sabbath, Simon Phillips from Toto and the national treasure Rick Wakeman.

Whilst music royalty may feature on the album, the reverse of the album booklet features medical royalty in the form of Mr Samuel Ford, who was Gordon’s surgeon at QEHB. Gordon said: “Mr Ford is truly a beautiful and gifted man. On the day that the photograph was taken I told him that ‘I owed my life to him’. His reply was something along the lines of ‘No Gordon, I just did my job and you got better.’”

Heartsongs has raised money for QEHB Charity, which works to provide equipment, facilities and research that go ‘over and above’ that which the NHS is able to provide, helping to improve the hospital experience for patients and their families at Birmingham’s busiest hospital.

Justine Davy, Head of Fundraising at QEHB Charity, said: “The Charity is hugely grateful for Gordon’s generosity in releasing Heartsongs to raise money for patients here at the hospital. It is so special that he has used his musical talents to raise money for a cause that is close to his heart. Heartsongs is a wonderful album and it has been flying off the shelves, which is credit to Gordon’s talent and popularity.”

Heartsongs is available to purchase online at hospitalcharity.org/shop for £10, including postage and packing. If you’re at the hospital, you can also pop into the Hub in the atrium to pick up your copy.

The Royal Shakespeare Company will be taking part in EGX BIRMINGHAM, the UK’s biggest gaming event at the NEC between 20-23 September

The Company will be showcasing a brand-new trailer for its upcoming production of Troilus and Cressida created in Epic Games Unreal Engine, and set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The RSC will also be spotlighting some of its latest AR technology as it continues to push boundaries with digital technology, interactivity and live theatrical performance. Troilus and Cressida, one of Shakespeare’s more rarely performed plays, will run in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre between 12 October – 17 November 2018, with a live cinema broadcast on 14 November.

Troilus and Cressida swear they will always be true to one another. But in the seventh year of the siege of Troy their innocence is tested, and exposed to the savage corrupting influence of war, with tragic consequences.  Mad Max meets Shakespeare in an epic tale of war-crossed lovers.

RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, will collaborate with virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie and designer Niki Turner in a production that will feature a 50/50 gender split company with Gavin Fowler as Troilus and Amber James as Cressida.

Kerry Radden, Head of Marketing at the RSC, said: “We are always striving to make our work as accessible and appealing to as many people as possible.  We regularly make video trailers to give audiences a flavour of what to expect.  The creative team behind Troilus and Cressida is aiming to create a sardonic futuristic vision of a world resounding to the rhythm of battle, so using the video game genre seemed perfect for this particular trailer. We’re really excited to be working with our in house video team to continue to push the boundaries in the content we create for audiences.”

British actor Henry Cavill, who played Superman in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman and Justice League is said to be hanging up the red cape.

The Hollywood Reporter has reported that negotiations between Warner Bros and Henry Cavill recently broke down, meaning Henry Cavill will no longer be playing the Man of Steel going forward.

This is yet another crushing blow in a string of crushing blows for Warner Bros and DC, which began with the disappointing box office performance of Justice League – a film that should have been their biggest movie to date, but actually ended up being their lowest grossing movie, failing to out-gross Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman. Couple that with reshoots that saw the budget balloon out of control and the poor reception from critics and audiences alike, Justice League is considered by many to be a full-blown flop.

Just five movies in to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), things are already looking rocky and the future of the franchise isn’t looking good, but with Aquaman due for release on December 14^th 2018, Shazam due for release on April 5^th 2019 and Wonder Woman 1984 already deep in to production with a scheduled release date of November 15^th 2019, it is likely that the future of the entire DCEU rests on those three movies.

A representative for Warner Bros released a statement on the Cavill situation, saying “While no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films, we’ve always had great respect for and a great relationship with Henry Cavill and that remains unchanged.”

Henry Cavill’s manager Dany Garcia addressed the situation on Twitter and gave fans hope that the report isn’t true. “Be peaceful, the cape is still in his closet. Warner has been and continues to be our partners as they evolve the DC Universe” she said.

Cavill himself addressed the situation in a cryptic video posted to his Instagram, which features him staring blankly into camera while wearing a t-shirt that reads “Krypton Lifting Team” and slowly bringing a Superman action figure into frame, then slowly dropping it back out of frame, never breaking his gaze. The bizarre video was also accompanied by the caption “Today was exciting. #Superman”

Exactly what this video means is anybody’s guess – some fans are taking it as confirmation that the rumours are false and that Cavill is indeed staying on-board as Superman, while others assume it is just Henry Cavill having a little fun and stirring up the rumours, much in the same way Idris Elba did last month with the James Bond casting rumours.

While nothing has been confirmed by either party and all those involved seem unwilling to provide fans with a simple, straight-forward answer, it is still pretty evident that things seem to be in need of a shake-up at Warner Bros/DC, especially with the rumours that Ben Affleck has also dropped out as Bruce Wayne/Batman. If both of these reports are true, Warner Bros have lost their Superman and Batman, the two biggest superheroes on their roster, leaving the future of the DCEU hazier than ever.

American superstar comic and award-winning actor Chris Tucker is delighted to announce he is returning to the UK to perform a limited five shows later this year. In his first shows since his UK debut in 2012, this tour will see the stand up bring his brand new live comedy show to Birmingham (Arena Birmingham), Manchester (O2 Apollo), Glasgow (SEC Armadillo) and two London shows at the Eventim Apollo this autumn.

Chris Tucker is an international award-winning actor and comedian best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour film series. He became a favourite on Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Comedy Jam in the 1990s and came to prominence in his first starring role, the 1995 film cult classic Friday along-side Ice Cube, which celebrated its’ 20th Anniversary in 2015. In 1997, Tucker embarked on his first production as executive producer and co-starred in the hit movie, Money Talks with Charlie Sheen and shortly after appeared in the highly successful Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element. In 2006, Tucker negotiated an unprecedented $25 million salary to appear in Rush Hour 3, which at the time made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood.

Chris co-starred in the 2013 Oscar-nominated film Silver Linings Playbook with Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. In 2015, his first standup film, Chris Tucker Live, was released exclusively on Netflix, and marked the first project that Tucker has starred in and produced through his own company, Chris Tucker Entertainment. Tucker’s latest project was Ang Lee’s powerful Iraq war-centric film, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk co-starring with Vin Diesel and Steve Martin, which was released in theatres in November 2016. To date, Tucker has starred in films that have collectively grossed over one billion dollars in box office sales world- wide.

In 2017, Chris embarked on a successful U.S. and international comedy tour, receiving rave reviews from all over the world. Outside of comedy, Tucker is a dedicated humanitarian, spending much of his spare time traveling around the world, doing philanthropic work to make a difference through his Chris Tucker Foundation.

Following a sell-out run in London’s West End, innovative Afrobeats musical Oliva Tweest heads out on a whistle-stop UK tour this year, coming to the Belgrade Theatre 4-6 October.

Created, produced and directed by radio presenter and producer Yinka Ayinde, aka PureYinkz, this energetic, feel-good show returns to the stage with an exciting lineup of new black British talent.

Leading the cast as London hustler, club promoter and self-professed “gyali” (ladies’ man) Tobi will be rising star Luke Wilson, a recent RADA graduate whose West End theatre credits include the Olivier Award-nominated The Scottsboro Boys and award-winning Disney musical The Lion King.

Doubling up as Testimony and Joanna will be Latisha Antoine, an alumnus of the prestigious Anna Fiorentini Theatre and Film School. As well as starring in BBC Three drama Excluded, she has performed with Leona Lewis at the Royal Albert Hall and as part of BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend Festival. Her theatre credits include Dick Whittington And His Cat at both the Hackney Empire and Broadway Theatre, and Eternal Ages at Shaw Theatre.

Completing the lead cast will be rising star Emmanuel Imani, who reprises his role as fan favourite character Pastor Bayodele. A graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Imani is currently starring alongside Michaela Coel and John Goodman in the hotly anticipated BBC and Netflix series Black Earth Rising. Previous roles include 2016’s Criminal alongside Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit alongside Chris Pine and Keira Knightley.

First staged in London in 2013, Oliva Tweest is the UK’s first ever Afrobeats musical, the brainchild of Sky Academy Arts Scholarship recipient PureYinkz. This refreshingly original production tells the story of a young man with big ambitions as he attempts to shake off his shady reputation and carve out a serious career in the entertainment business.

Driven by his need to succeed, Tobi plans the ultimate concert in the hopes of attracting his idol, the Afrobeats legend D’Banj, even naming his show after the musician’s international hit song Oliver Twist. But when he finds out that the landlord of his chosen venue, Pastor Bayodele, is planning to convert the building into a church, Tobi is forced to disguise his true intentions…

Join Tobi as he navigates comedic and sometimes explosive clashes with women, family, tradition, and his reawakened conscience, all set to an irresistible mix of classic and original hit songs, performed by a live African band alongside high-energy choreography.

Oliva Tweest shows at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 October. Tickets

Students and graduates from Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire are celebrating after achieving critical success at the world’s largest arts festival, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Events website The List ranked the top-rated shows from all reviews, with ‘Trojan Horse’ named as the third best at The Fringe. Starring recent Conservatoire graduate Shobat Kadara, the play also won the Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award and a ‘Scotsman’ Fringe First award.

Based on real-life events that saw several Birmingham schools being investigated following claims of ‘hardline’ Muslim teachers and governors plotting to control them, ‘Trojan Horse’ depicts a community torn apart by racial division, British values and the culture of the counter-terrorism strategy known as Prevent.

In 2017, while studying Acting at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Shobat played Dan in the first BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) production of Patrick Marber’s multi-award winning play ‘Closer’.

Produced by theatre company Strictly Arts, which was founded by graduate and Honorary Member of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Corey Campbell; ‘Freeman’ was written with graduate Camilla Whitehill and directed by Danièle Sanderson Head of Undergraduate Studies – Acting and BA (Hons) Acting Course Director at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As well as Conservatoire alumni featuring among the cast, ‘Freeman’ was overseen technically by Stage Management graduate Connor Dickens.

Inspired by the first man in America to plead Insanity as his defence, ‘Freeman’ examines the unspoken link between mental health and systemic racism. The List placed it as the 13th best production at The Fringe and it received recognition in the Mervyn Stutter’s ‘Spirit of the Fringe’ Awards, known as The MERVs. These awards acknowledge and celebrate the talent, hard work, pluck and sheer doggedness demanded of performers to make a show a success from all genres at The Fringe.

Writer and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumnus Camilla Whitehill, said: “I’m so thrilled that so many people connected with the show in Edinburgh. Its success is a reflection of how hard Strictly Arts worked and how talented they are.

“We would never have met and collaborated if it wasn’t for Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. I think it’s a great reflection of the kind of work we’re encouraged to make whilst training.”

Elsewhere, The List placed musical ‘Six’, starring alumna Alexia Macintosh as Anne of Cleves, as the fifth best production at The Fringe; with ‘Kids Play’, featuring current Acting student Clement Charles, came in at 26th; and ‘Our Boys’, starring recent alumnus Christopher Lowry, was ranked 63rd out of more than 1,600 shows. The latter also won a Derek Award for Best Overall Show.

The open-access festival has been providing opportunities for creative groups and individuals for over 70 years, and offers anyone with the desire to perform – from emerging artists to big name acts – with an exceptional platform to do so.

Professor Stephen Simms, Vice Principal and Head of Acting at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said: “The highly anticipated festival is a significant occasion for our actors, as it provides a unique platform to showcase their talent and develop their practice. Festival-goers not only find our established graduates in shows and productions as part of The Fringe, but some of our most recent graduates and even some current students headed to Edinburgh, in some cases with original shows they have written and produced.”

In 2018, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire had a particularly strong presence at the festival, with six current students and several graduates all performing throughout the three weeks in August at various venues around the Scottish capital.

Formerly known as Birmingham School of Acting, the Conservatoire’s Acting Department is one of the leading drama schools in the country, with roots dating back to 1936. Graduates typically go on to pursue successful careers in theatre (including musical theatre), television and film.

Notable alumni include Nicol Williamson, Tom Lister, Catherine Tyldesley, Rachel Bright, Nicola Coughlan, Barbara Keogh, Luke Mably, James Bradshaw, Stephen Laughton, Jeffrey Holland, David Holt, Anna Brewster, Jimi Mistry, Helen George, Ainsley Howard, Nicholas Gledhill and Tania Hales-Richardson.

In addition to the BA (Hons) Acting, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire also offers foundation courses, short courses, and undergraduate degrees in the associated disciplines of Stage Management and Applied Theatre, as well as taught postgraduate courses in acting and professional voice practice.

Burt Reynolds, the Oscar-nominated star of such classics as Smokey and the Bandit, Boogie Nights and Deliverance, has passed away in Florida after suffering a heart attack, a spokesperson confirmed.

He died at the Jupiter Medical Centre in Florida, surrounded by family. Reynolds’ niece, Nancy Lee Hess, told the BBC that his death had left her and the family “with a broken heart.”

“My uncle was not just a movie icon” She said. “He was a generous, passionate and sensitive man who was dedicated to his family, friends, fans and acting students.” She explained that, although he had health issues, his death was “totally unexpected” and has left the family in a state of shock. "I want to thank all of his amazing fans who have always supported and cheered him on, through all of the hills and valleys of his life and career” she added.

While his acting career began in the late 1950s, he got his breakout role in 1972’s Deliverance – the story of four friends on a canoeing trip deep in the backwoods of Georgia, who must fight for their lives after crossing paths with a group of hostile locals. Deliverance went on to be nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Editing and it shot Burt Reynolds into a whole new realm of fame.

From there, Reynolds went on to star in countless films that combined both action and comedy, in a unique formula that became synonymous with Burt Reynolds and echoed his fun-loving personality. Films like The Longest Yard, the Smokey and the Bandit Trilogy and The Cannonball Run perfectly represent the kind of man Burt Reynolds was and the kind of actor he wanted to be.

In 1997, Burt Reynolds was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Jack Horner; a charismatic, pornographic film director in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights. In a now infamous story, the working relationship between Burt Reynolds and Paul Thomas Anderson was so tumultuous that it ended in a physical altercation, with Reynolds reportedly throwing punches at Anderson. After seeing a rough-cut of the film, Reynolds was so unhappy with it that he immediately fired his agent for recommending the role to him and refused to join the promotional tour for the movie. However, once the final film was released and was inundated with rave reviews, many of which praised Reynolds specifically, he had a change of heart and eventually and went on to receive the first and only Oscar nomination of his storied career.

Unsurprisingly, there has been an outpouring of love and support for Reynolds and his family during this dark time, from many of Reynolds’ fellow Hollywood heavy-hitters.

Arnold Schwarzenegger shared a tribute to Reynolds;

“Burt Reynolds was one of my heroes” He said. “He was a trailblazer. He showed the way to transition from being an athlete to being the highest paid actor, and he always inspired me.” He added. “My thoughts are with his family.”

Actor Wesley Snipes, who became a bona-fide action hero throughout the 1990s in films like Demolition Man and Blade also tweeted a tribute to his close friend;

“I will never forget our dinners, laughs and the gems you dropped.” Snipes said. “Meeting you was one of the greater joys of my adult life and artistic career. You were the “Man” then, now & forever in my book.”

Snipes then ended his tribute with an emotional reference to 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit – one of Reynolds’ biggest and most famous roles.

“10-4 Bandit – you’ve got nothing but open road now. Love, WS.”

The screen is sure to be a lesser place without the cheeky, undeniable charisma of Burt Reynolds – a man who dedicated sixty-years of his life to the entertainment of others.

Rest in peace; Bandit.

Warner Bros has become the first major Hollywood Studio to adopt a company-wide policy designed to increase the diversity of their employees, both on and off-screen, expanding upon a concept popularised by Frances McDormand earlier this year during her acceptance speech at the 2018 Academy Awards, where she won Best Actress for her performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

An “inclusion rider” is a clause that an actor/crew member can insist on being inserted in to their contracts that requires cast and crew on a film to meet a certain level of diversity.

Dr Stacy Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at the University of Southern California, is responsible for the concept after conducting research on diversity in films produced in the United States, which showed that the casting was rarely representative of the population as a whole. Smith suggested that an “equity clause” or “inclusion rider” could be a part of the solution.

“The typical feature film has about 40 to 45 speaking characters in it” she explained. “I would argue that only 8 to 10 of those characters are actually relevant to the story. The remaining 30 or so roles, there’s no reason why those minor roles can’t match or reflect the demography of where the story is taking place. An equity rider by an A-lister in their contract can stipulate that those roles reflect the world in which we actually live.”

Smith’s research conducted on the top 100 American movies of 2017 shone a harsh and revealing light on the issue of diversity and inclusivity in the film industry, finding that just 31.8% of characters with dialogue were women and that white actors occupied 70.7% of all speaking roles, with men cast in more than twice as many roles as women.

Warner Bros announced their new initiative on Wednesday, stating that it will also apply to their sister companies, HBO and Turner, with the initiative going into full affect for the first time with Just Mercy; an upcoming film starring Michael B. Jordon, who was one of the first actors to commit to the idea back in March.

“Inclusivity has always been a no-brainer for me, especially as a black man in this business” explained Michael B. Jordan, star of Creed and Black Panther. “It wasn't until Frances McDormand spoke the two words that set the industry on fire – inclusion rider – that I realized we could standardize this practice.”

WarnerMedia, the parent company of HBO and Warner Bros, did not provide and specific details in the announcement, but said in a statement that “we will engage with our writers, producers and directors to create a plan for implementing this commitment to diversity and inclusion on our projects, with the goal of providing opportunities for individuals from under-represented groups at all levels”.

Michael B. Jordan called the WarnerMedia policy an “enormous step forward” for the industry and added that “This is a legacy-bearing moment.”

WarnerMedia said it would issue an annual report on its progress.

With the Edinburgh Festival Fringe coming to a close, Philadelphia CVB is encouraging UK travellers with a passion for performance art to head to the 'City of Brotherly Love' this September for its very own Fringe Festival showcasing local, national and international artists as well as ground-breaking world premieres.

Every September since 1997, FringeArts hosts a 17-day Fringe Festival throughout the city to celebrate the innovation and creativity in contemporary performance and to promote Philadelphia's vibrant arts community.

This year, from 6th – 23rd September 2018, visitors at Philadelphia's Fringe Festival can choose from more than 1,000 curated and artistically-daring performances, including Le Super Grand Continental by Sylvain Émard, which will see hundreds of performers join together outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Travellers can also enjoy hearing a 3,000-pipe organ play during In Plain Air at the International Contemporary Ensemble at Christ Church Campus and spectate the unusual manger by Boris Charmatz.

The dynamic Festive Gift Fair, now in its 23rd fabulous year, continues to be the best place to start your Christmas experience and is one of the most popular Christmas Shopping events in the UK at Birmingham’s NEC 15-18 November.

As well as finding great gifts for your loved ones, treats for yourself and all your sparkling Christmas essentials, you’re sure to have a fun-packed day! The Fair will be bursting at the seams with a colourful eclectic mix of unusual stocking fillers and presents, traditional gifts, festive food and great home decorations. With 325+ stalls all under one roof, the variety is huge, with clever gift ideas for all ages and tastes… and lots of Special Show Offers! There’s even a Present Creche to drop off your full bags.

The festive atmosphere is always fantastic and there’s even more this year with new icicle lighting throughout the hall and a new Victorian bandstand where live Bands will take centre stage. While browsing the stalls, let the music get you into that Christmassy mood and be entertained by Santa himself, Stilt walkers and Pantomime characters.

Make sure you visit the popular Festive Food & Drink area where you’ll find 40 tempting stands selling everything from cheese to chutneys, spices to spirits, puddings to preserves, chocolates to champagne, beer to brownies and hampers to hog roasts! Of course, it’s also time to set the mood and get creative…. decorate your table, your stairwell, your mantelpiece and garden with greenery, twinkling lights, door wreaths, baubles, candles and so much more.

So, take the strain out of Christmas, enjoy a day out at the Festive Gift Fair and get your festive preparations off to a cracking start! There’s no better reason to indulge than Christmas, and at The Festive Gift Fair you’ll discover a vast array of tasty treats and boozy delights that are sure to tantalise your taste buds.

For your chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to The Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham, just answer this simple question!

Which decoration would usually be found on a Christmas Tree? a) Bauble b) Snowman c) Wreath

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Festive Gift Fair 2018 Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 2nd November 2018. There is no cash alternative.