Entertainment News

Now one of the most-visited garden attractions in the UK, it's remarkable to think that Trentham Gardens only re-opened its gates to the public thirteen years ago, on May 29th 2004. Owned previously, for over 400 years, by the Dukes of Sutherland the 725-acre estate on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, had fallen into a state of despair at the end of the last century, when the UK's leading regeneration specialist, St. Modwen Properties PLC stepped-in to not only revive the sleeping giant, but to also make it one of the most visited “paid entry” garden in the country.

It's all about Christmas at The Glee this December as the famed Birmingham comedy club celebrates the festive season in style, with top-notch comedy line-ups and a brand new menu. Perfect for work parties and seasonal treats, December’s three-course meal has been especially designed to cater for a variety of tastes, and kicks off with a Xmas Starter Plater, featuring Champagne pate, kiln smoked salmon pate, flat breads, focaccia, and more.

Their 2017 Tour follows a very busy twelve months for Mrs. Brown’s Boys.  After a sell out Tour of Australia and New Zealand, and following the “Live” Episode of Mrs. Brown’s Boys as a special for BBC’s 60 Years of Comedy, with an Audience of over 11m in July – SHE’S BACK with the hilarious “Good Mourning Mrs. Brown”. Recently voted as the Best British Sitcom of the 21st century by the Radio Times, Mrs. Brown’s Boys will make a triumphant return to UK arenas in 2017.

Weird and wonderful objects from deep in Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s stores have surfaced in a quirky Pop Art exhibition. Cultural Curiosities from the Collection are on show at the Lichfield Street gallery until Sunday 11 December, 2016. The gallery is home to a wealth of art, artefacts and archaeology with some of the more unusual objects featuring in this show. Objects have been chosen with a link to Wolverhampton’s famous Pop Art collection to show how some artists like Roy Lichtenstein are inspired by the everyday, throwaway and cheap novelty items.

Glow in the Dark outdoor Mini Golf, the only outdoor course in the UK, makes a welcome return to the beautiful city of Bath over the festive season. It is located in Victoria Park in the centre of Bath, within a short walk of the world famous Christmas market and shops.

3 Doors Down has announced a headlining European tour in support of the band's recently released Us And The Night album out now on Spinefarm Records.  The 13 confirmed dates will bring the group in to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, and The United Kingdom.  The run kicks off on October 19 at Berlin's Columbiahalle, and wraps at UK's Hammerstein Apollo on November 6. Pop Evil will be direct support on all dates.

Visitors and Londoners alike are invited to enjoy a top night out and channel their inner diva this winter with an unforgettable night of burlesque brilliance. Leading river sightseeing operator, City Cruises, will launch the exclusive Burlesque Cabaret Cruise on Saturday the 19th November 2016, with additional dates to be announced in the New Year.

Hair and Media Make-up students at Walsall College will be using their skills to create frightening faces at this year’s Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust’s special Halloween Boat Trips. From horrifying vampires to spine-chilling ghosts, Level 2 and 3 students have been perfecting their looks as part of an assessed unit on their course. The students will also be providing makeovers for the college’s Travel and Tourism students, who will be supporting the trust with co-ordinating the event and frightening guests at the attraction.

Looking for a different UK Christmas destination this festive season? Look no further than Penzance! The UK's most south-westerly seaside town has got an array of exciting offerings to enjoy. Christmas in Penzance is a “Celebration of Light” with unique festive celebrations full of entertainment, culture and history, from traditional Christmas lights to artist inspired light installations to torch-lit parades to a midwinter beacon on a hillfort high above the town! 

The Birmingham Film Festival has announced that Steven Knight has agreed to be patron of the festival. The creator of ‘Peaky Blinders’ and writer of such films as ‘Eastern Promises’ starring Viggo Mortensen, ‘Burnt’ starring Bradley Cooper and ‘Allied’ starring Brad Pitt (due out in November), Steven is a well established and highly respected screen writer.

As part of the British Film Institute (BFI) BLACK STAR season, some of the best films starring Black actors is being shown at mac birmingham, showcasing international as well as local talent. Visitors young and older have the opportunity to enjoy comedy, classics, music inspired and issue based screenings alongside events and debates from now to December. 

Starting in 2015, the Stockholm Songwriting Camp has gathered some of the world's top songwriters and producers for a three day writing session in a hotel in Stockholm. Now, the Swedish songwriting initiative is going global, including a ‘Paris Songwriting Camp’ in September and a ‘London Songwriting Camp’ in October. The Songwriting Camps in Stockholm have been well received by writers and producers, resulting in several released songs, including “Awesome” by Nicole Cross and many more on hold and being actively recorded by major acts.  

Birmingham scooped a Gold award in the Champion of Champions category at the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom UK Finals Awards Ceremony, also held in Birmingham.  The event was hosted by TV Gardening Expert Chris Beardshaw. Birmingham, which represented the Heart of England region, was one of only six areas from across the UK chosen to compete in the coveted Champion of Champions category of the awards.

It’s taken 30 years, but former choirboy Aled Jones, who found fame in his early teens when his single Walking in the Air reached No.5 in the charts, finally performed his signature song in the air. To launch his brand new album, One Voice at Christmas (released on 25th November on the Classic FM label), the nation’s favourite chorister treated passengers on FLYBE Flight BE1324 from London City to Cardiff Airport to a totally unique Christmas concert above the clouds where he dueted with his younger self.

Jackie Brown supplements her meager income as a stewardess by smuggling cash into the U.S. for gunrunner Ordell Robbie--until the day an ATF agent and an L.A. cop bust her at the airport. The cops pressure her to help them bring down Ordell, threatening prison if she refuses. With a sympathetic bailbondsman, Jackie arrives at a bold plan to play the opposing forces against each other. Matters are complicated by Ordell's confederates, Louis Gara and Melanie Ralston who have agendas of their own.

Felix Xaba (14), a brilliant young self-taught musician dreams of becoming a saxophonist like his late father, Zweli, (ex famous Bozza Boys). His mother, Lindiwe’s ambitions for Felix exclude jazz, “the devil’s music”, which she bans from her home because of Zweli’s history. Felix’s world is turned upside down when he leaves the comfort of Gugulethu township to take up a scholarship at a prestigious private school. Here three bullyboys led by a handsome jock, Junior Junior, make his life a misery.