It has been announced that one of Jamaica’s leading pioneer reggae legends, U-Roy, has died. The star had been undergoing surgery at a hospital in the Jamaican capital, Kingston.

U-Roy, whose real name is Ewart Beckford, and who is credited with popularising the vocal style known as "toasting", died late on Wednesday, leaving a whole host of his piers to pay their tribute, including Grammy award-winning artist Shaggy and British singer-songwriter Ghostpoet.

His partner, Marcia Smikle, said that the artist was receiving treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure, and he also suffered with kidney problems. She said that he was frequently in and out of hospital and had undergone an operation to address an issue of internal bleeding.

She said: "It was successful, and the bleeding stopped." But the doctors had to take him back into the operating theatre at the University Hospital of the West Indies before he later died. Following news of U-Roy's death, tributes began to pour in, with reggae artist Shaggy describing him in an Instagram post as a "hero" and a "true legend" who was "a master at his craft". British musician Ghostpoet, who was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2011 and 2015, tweeted "RIP".

BBC Radio 1Xtra reggae music presenter David Rodigan described U-Roy as "the iconic toaster who changed the paradigm of Jamaican music".

Born in Jones Town, Kingston, in September 1942, U-Roy's professional music career began as a DJ in 1961. It was at this point that he adopted "toasting", a rhythmical vocal style performed over reggae and dance tracks that then became popular in Jamaica in the later 1960s and 70s.

U-Roy recorded a number of singles and albums, with some of his most popular being Dread in a Babylon in 1975 and Natty Rebel in 1976. Years later, in 2004, he featured on the Jamaican group Toots and the Maytals' Grammy award-winning True Love album.

In 2007, the Jamaican government awarded him the Order of Distinction for his contribution to music.

He was 78.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to talk about their decision to step away from the monarchy in a TV interview with US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, to air next month. Oprah With Meghan And Harry: A CBS Primetime Special has been described by the US television network as an intimate conversation. The interview will be broadcast on March 7.

The news follows the announcement that the royal couple are expecting their second child. According to CBS, Meghan will be interviewed about "stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood" and "how she is handling life under intense public pressure".

She will then be joined by Prince Harry, and the couple will speak about their move to the United States last year and their future plans. The decision to speak publicly comes just over a year after the couple announced they had decided to "step back" from life as senior royals and work to become financially independent. They carried out their final formal royal duties last March.

Ms Winfrey is a personal friend of Meghan and attended the couple's wedding in 2018. It is not known whether Harry and Meghan informed the royal household about their plans to be interviewed. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Oprah is seen as a "very close acquaintance" of the royal couple and it is said that she had apparently been angling for the interview for some time.

The Duke and Duchess have taken part in video calls from their new home in Montecito in California but they have insisted the focus of attention remained on the causes and charities they were promoting rather than their own personal situation. They have since announced deals with Netflix and Spotify, and started a podcast series, but beyond a brief introduction to their son Archie, they have not revealed any private information.

Icon Film Distribution is proud to announce that The Icon Film Channel will be launching as a brand-new streaming service on Amazon Prime in the UK from March 18. This fantastic new monthly subscription channel will initially showcase more than 150 of the long-standing distributor’s most exciting, unique and entertaining films all made with a fiercely independent spirit. Additional titles both catalogue and new, will then be added to the service monthly.

Every film on The Icon Film Channel is handpicked to deliver a special cinematic experience.  Often award-winning, frequently critically acclaimed, but always memorable, you will be taken on a journey of pure thrill and delight. The channel will showcase titles including Academy Award Nominated Drive and triple Academy Award nominated features Apocalypto and The Passion of the Christ. 

Critically acclaimed additions include Buried, The Butterfly Effect Trilogy, House of Sand & Fog, La Vie En Rose, Looking For Eric, The Guest, Enigma and The Mummy.  Remastered titles such Academy Award winner Gosford Park and double Academy Award nominated Malcolm X are also included, with many being only available to stream in the UK through The Icon Film Channel. From multi award-winning directors including Roman Polanski, Kenneth Branagh, Robert Altman, Spike Lee, Wolfgang Petersen, Mel Gibson, Stephen Fry, Lars Von Trier, Nicolas Winding Refn and Ken Loach, The Icon Film Channel will offer an unrivalled spectrum of visually and narratively stunning films.

Featuring multiple A-list favourites fit for any Cannes Film Festival premiere, you will have an array of on-screen legends to choose from including Dennis Hopper, Sigourney Weaver, Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Helen Mirren, Jeff Bridges, Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Paul Newman, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, Russell Crowe, Ewan McGregor, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Jamie Bell, Nicole Kidman and many, many more. Hours of trawling through streaming services trying to find a good film to watch will be saved.

With The Icon Film Channel, you are guaranteed new and classic films that stand the test of time, and these can now be yours at a touch of a button in the comfort of your own home or on the move.

The Icon Film Channel will be available via the existing Prime Video app to watch anytime, anywhere on smart TVs, iOS and Android mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire tablets and games consoles and through the web. Prime members will be able to access this on demand content with the convenience of a single account, login and user experience through Prime Video.

Classic British motorbike maker BSA has announced that the brand was being revitalised under its Indian billionaire owner, continuing a growing trend. Another famous British bike brand - Norton - was taken over by an Indian firm earlier this year with equally ambitious growth plans.

They follow in the footsteps of the historic Royal Enfield, which is enjoying success under new Indian ownership. Business experts are not surprised: Indian manufacturers are known for liking to buy into well-known but struggling brands in the hope of turning them around.

Anand Mahindra says he hopes to resurrect the British motorbike industry with a plan to build electric motorcycles in the UK under the BSA brand. The Mahindra group wants to start assembling motorbikes in Birmingham by the middle of 2021.

The revived BSA will begin building a research facility in Banbury, in Oxfordshire, to develop high-end electric motorbike technology, although it will still be making motorbikes with petrol engines. Mr Mahindra, who is said to be worth $1.7bn (£1.3bn), says he has chosen to invest in the UK because of its history of motorcycle production.

BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) was originally founded in 1861. By the 1950s, it was the world's largest motorcycle maker, owning the Triumph and Sunbeam brands. But it went bankrupt and ceased production in the 1970s before being bought by the Mahindra Group in 2016. It is officially owned by Classic Legends, which the Mahindra group of companies has a 60% stake in.

Mr Mahindra said: “I hope this small venture signals the renaissance of the entire UK bike-building business". The joint venture has received support from the UK government, which awarded BSA a £4.6m grant to develop electric bikes, in the hope of creating at least 255 jobs.

"The lure of a classic British machine would appeal to a young buyer as well as a returning rider that wants to relive their youth," says motor sports consultant Scott Lukaitis. "If they can find a way to capture the look and feel but offer it in a performance electric bike, they might have a winner."

British-bred Royal Enfield is expanding aggressively as it aims to tap into the world's biggest motorbike-buying market in Asia.

This past festive season, audiences were asked to Save A Seat as part of a new fundraising campaign by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Today, both Birmingham cultural institutions are pleased to announce that over £15,000 in donations were raised thanks to the generosity of audiences and the incredible support of match-funders, global law firm DLA Piper in Birmingham.  

The fundraising initiative aimed to help cover the lost income from some of the seats left empty during the run of The Nutcracker at The REP after performances in front of socially-distanced live audiences were cancelled due to local tier restrictions. All proceeds will be split equally between The REP and Birmingham Royal Ballet. 

Audiences now have the opportunity to watch another extraordinary cast of Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers in The Nutcracker at The REP streaming online until 21 February. Tickets cost just £10 per household and can be purchased at brb.org.uk. 

Trevor Ivory, Birmingham Managing Partner at DLA Piper said; “Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet are two of the city’s cultural crown jewels and we are extremely proud to have supported their Save A Seat campaign during a particularly difficult time for the arts. We encourage everyone to maintain their support for these ever-important institutions when possible and look forward to a time in the not-too-distant future when the curtain can rise once again.” 

Sean Foley, Artistic Director at The REP added; “2020 proved to be an unprecedented and extremely difficult year for theatres across the country, including here at The REP. However, in these challenging times, we have been overwhelmed by the incredible support of audiences and partners – including the fantastic response from supporters to our Save A Seat campaign and the generous match-funding from DLA Piper LLP. We very much look forward to a time in the not-too-distant future when we can welcome all of those who have helped us over the course of the year back to The REP.” 

Carlos Acosta, Director at Birmingham Royal Ballet added; “Birmingham Royal Ballet are so grateful for the incredible support from The Nutcracker at the REP audiences and to DLA Piper LLP for match funding the Save a Seat campaign. 2020 was a difficult year for Birmingham Royal Ballet and the arts industry, but the unwavering support from audiences has been a constant source of encouragement for the Company and we cannot wait to return to the stage as soon as we can!” 

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many arts organisations being unable to open and perform in front of audiences for over seven months. Since March, over 80% of The REP’s income has come to an abrupt and unexpected halt, however, the theatre’s talented workforce has committed to finding inventive new ways of engaging a diverse spectrum of people and communities.   

The impact of the pandemic has also had a huge impact on Birmingham Royal Ballet. With so much uncertainty, it has proven difficult for the company to confirm plans and performances or to deliver its outstanding and life changing education work to the thousands of young people across Birmingham who would ordinarily benefit from this. 

The first CGI image of a fantastic new family-friendly outdoor adventure experience set to open at Blists Hill Victorian Town this summer has been released today after the council gave plans the thumbs up. With children locked down for the best part of a year, bosses at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust said the unique outdoor adventure would be the only place for families to be this summer.

Exciting plans approved by Telford & Wrekin Council feature elevated walks above the woodland floor, a log-style basket swing, seesaw and lookout tower with a coal chute slide.

And visitors will be able to have unlimited access through the successful passport programme.

Built among trees and inspired by the area’s rich mining past, Shropshire’s newest attraction will also feature wheelchair-accessible multi-level themed buildings, immersive play areas and a toddler zone with a faux mine-cart track play buildings, a slide and miniature zip-line.

And when they’re done playing, families will be able to get refreshments from a food and drink kiosk with a covered seating area. The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Chief Executive, Nick Ralls, said; “We’re so excited to be bringing this landmark project to life, it’s a huge milestone development for us,” said Mr Ralls. “We know this lockdown has been extremely difficult and that families are currently chomping at the bit to get out and about and have adventures, so now seems like the perfect time to give them a little teaser of what we’ll have waiting for them this summer.”

The Trust – a registered heritage conservation and education charity which cares for 35 listed buildings and structures in the Gorge – has called the experience the ‘Madeley Wood Company Outdoor Adventure’, after the Madeley Wood Company that historically ran mine operations on the site. “Here at the Trust, we do everything we can to bring our proud local history to life for our visitors – and the new playground is another fantastic way for us to do this,” said Mr Ralls.

“I’m delighted the scheme has now been approved by the Local Planning Authority and we can make a start on the next phase. Our museums might have been closed due to lockdown, but hopefully this project will show that we’ve been working relentlessly behind the scenes. We’ve got lots more exciting plans to put into place too, so when we’re finally able to welcome visitors back, they’ll have lots of reasons to want to return again and again.” The play area has been designed by Creating Adventurous Places (CAP.Co), who are creating a similar playground on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate and specialise in the design and build of truly immersive, imaginative, narrative led bespoke adventure play.

Mr Ralls added: “We’re thrilled to be working with such a highly-respected partner as CAP.Co on the project. They are the best in their field and thanks to their planned prestigious Sandringham adventure playground on the Queen’s estate, it seems they also have the Royal seal of approval too.”

Accessibility and access for all has been a key design principle. Visitors of all ages and abilities can play together on much of the built structure within the woodland and the Outdoor Adventure will be enclosed by a fence with a single entry and exit point. The Trust will ensure the natural environment is protected as far as possible and will be enhancing the woodland and animal habitat management in the area as part of the project, including creation of new habitat spaces and adding bat and bird boxes and hibernation points.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is one of the region’s premier tourist attractions, sited at the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution with 10 museums along the Gorge. The Ironbridge Gorge was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and to date approximately 16 million tourists have visited the Ironbridge Gorge Museums.