Entertainment News

Finding Dory – the sequel to Pixar's Finding Nemo - is set to be this summer's blockbuster animated film, following the underwater adventures of forgetful fish, Dory (voiced by Ellen De Generes) and her amphibian pals.  With a UK release date of 29 July (perfect timing for the school summer holidays) and a voiceover cast that includes Hollywood big hitters Idris Elba, Michael Sheen, Dominic West and Diane Keaton, Finding Dory is set to make the underwater world a big draw for summer 2016.  

Victoria Wood, singer, writer and comedian died yesterday after a "short but brave" battle with cancer aged 62. Her publicist announced that the star "died peacefully at her north London home with family" on Wednesday. Known best for her BBC comedy Dinnerladies and sketch Acorn Antiques, Wood found fame in the 1980's, winning 5 BAFTA's including 2 for her ITV drama Housewife, 49.

In May, Coventry’s Mead Gallery will invite local people to take part in a unique opportunity to help curate a new exhibition based on the work of celebrated poet T. S. Eliot. A Journey with The Waste Land is part of a project, led by Coventry-raised Michael Tooby, which will lead to exhibitions in 2018 at Turner Contemporary in Margate, Leeds Art Gallery and the Mead Gallery in Coventry to coincide with the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Blenheim Palace has announced a very special party for the Queen's 90th Birthday on 12 June. The Great Court will be transformed for the celebrations with brass bands playing at times throughout the day. At 1pm the seven brass bands will come together to play Happy Birthday and the National Anthem in celebration of our longest reigning monarch. Her Majesty has been a regular visitor to the Palace, staying with the Duke & Duchess of Marlborough on in 1958 and visiting most recently in 1975.

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, Trinity Leeds will host a day of activities in collaboration with the University of Leeds, celebrating the life and work of the national icon. There will be boards in the centre which visitors can record their favourite Shakespeare quotes and plays, which will be live-tweeted throughout the day, giving a snapshot of what the bard means to the city.

With first time cruiser numbers increasing by nearly a third, record breaking new ships launching, exciting destinations and exhilarating excursions plus out-of-this-world onboard features, the number of people holidaying at sea is sure to rise again in 2016. Seven glorious new ocean vessels, adding approximately 18,500 berths, are set to make waves in oceans across the world when they launch during 2016; there’s the first I-MAX Theater at sea, a bionic bar, a micro-brewery, a Culinary Arts Centre and much more! 

Now in its 17^th year Musicport Festival is launching its 2016 programme which includes some of the finest major international world class acts playing alongside some of the best local and regional acts.  It is an inclusive and wide-ranging event that has all the feel of an outdoor summer festival but all indoors under one roof – there’s even an indoor camping option to complete the festival experience.

Two City of Wolverhampton Council arts and entertainment venues have scooped prestigious awards voted for by the readers of What’s On Magazine. The Slade Rooms won the What’s On Readers’ Award for Best Small Music Venue, Wolverhampton & Black Country, and Wolverhampton Art Gallery was named Best Art Gallery/Exhibition Space Outside Of Birmingham.

A major new multi-sensory experience packing a historical punch and plenty of heat will get pulses racing and temperatures rising at the London Dungeon when it opens on 21 May. Marking the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, 'Escape the Great Fire' will recreate the drama of one of the world's most famous disasters with live actors, themed settings and sizzling special effects.

FlyOver America – a fully immersive flight experience has opened at the Mall of America. Using the most advanced flight-ride technology, the $20 million attraction provides guests with a breathtaking aerial tour of some of the nation's most popular landmarks and spectacular sights.

Citizen Khan is one of the most watched comedy shows on British television and has been bestowed four awards by the Royal Television Society – including ‘Best Performance in a Comedy’, awarded to Adil Ray in both 2013 and 2014. The success of the critically acclaimed, hugely popular, BBC One series has been attributed to its family audience and popularity with younger viewers over alternative comedies on TV. 

Organised and founded by a mother and daughter team, Fiona Hewitt and Trishana Fearon, The Mr & Miss West Indies UK Beauty Pageant is a pageant supporting both male and female contestants with West Indies or Caribbean backgrounds. Unlike other pageants, Mr & Miss West Indies UK isn’t all about glam, it’s about what the contestants can do, speaking out, and having a voice about the things you strongly believe in.

Stunning images showcasing the natural world’s most astonishing sights will be going on show in Wolverhampton this summer courtesy of London’s Natural History Museum. Wolverhampton Art Gallery is hosting the prestigious 51st Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, featuring 100 awe-inspiring images capturing fascinating animal behaviour and breath-taking landscapes.

QHotels has underlined its long-term commitment to delivering a high level of service, quality and value to UK golfers by unveiling a further investment of around £700,000 in its golf facilities. As part of an on-going group expenditure programme, the UK's largest golf resort operator has revealed plans to spend a total of £670,000 this year upgrading a range of facilities at its 10 golf resorts across England and Scotland.

Birmingham is launching a Cultural Investment Inquiry to look at new ways of investing in the arts and culture sector. Working together, the partners (including Aston Business School, Birmingham City Council, Culture Central, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Arts Council England) will draw heavily on the commercial and analytical skills of the city’s business community, as well as national and international exemplars, to explore the potential for new models of investment to support the city’s arts & culture offer and deliver on future ambitions.

Having just announced his own fond farewell to fans worldwide, Avicii's previously announced season at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel will now serve to be the superstar's last and eternal tribute from 10 July to 28 August. Serving himself to bring Dance along with some of the most highly attested live experiences of the genre to millions – certainly over five years at Ushuaïa – the legend is now sadly retiring from performance.