Originally published in the Manchester Evening News: Flawless, unforgettable and emotionally charged: William and Kate sparkled on an […]
Month: April 2011
IT is now just over 24 hours until the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Which means I can finally say that I will be one of the reporters inside Westminster Abbey tomorrow for the ceremony.
“I couldn’t have a better time than I’m having now.”
Jim Broadbent was nominated for another BAFTA TV Award this week, for his role in Any Human Heart.
I met up with him again back in January to talk about his latest TV project – BBC1’s Exile.
Our round table chat included a look back at his career and his next part, alongside Meryl Streep.
“WHO invented this?”
Tom Ronstadt, played by John Simm, is in a pub, unimpressed with the world of karaoke.
“Have you any Smiths, Leonard Cohen?” he asks his screen sister Nancy (Olivia Colman), perusing the songbook in three-part BBC1 thriller Exile.
Who then proceeds to treat the locals to her version of Britney Spears’ Toxic.
There is much to love about Danny Brocklehurst’s drama, with a script as fresh as the day Morrissey first waved gladioli on Top Of The Pops while singing This Charming Man.
“THE following story is based on real events.”
It was a freezing cold day in January when I visited the cast and production team on their final day of filming for BBC2 drama United.
The location was Seven Kings Park in Ilford, east London, which contains a number of relatively isolated football pitches.
Plus a small sports pavilion, including changing rooms, straight out of the 1950s.
It was here, in the space of one day, that many of the training scenes (both before and after the crash) featured in United were filmed.
With the production wrapping just before the fading afternoon winter light turned to darkness.
“DON’T measure me against him. He’s won an Oscar,” smiles John Simm.
We’re sat in a conference room at BBC TV Centre in west London, where a few days before I’d also interviewed Jim Broadbent.
John and Jim co-star in superb new BBC1 drama Exile, to be screened over three consecutive nights from Sunday May 1.
Relaxed in a grey V-neck jumper, white T-shirt and blue jeans, an unshaven John was in good spirits during the small round table chat back in January.
Where the conversation ranged from Hamlet to Harry and Paul via Exile, Doctor Who and Sam Tyler.
DOES Peter Capaldi watch himself on TV?
“I don’t really have a hard and fast rule about it,” he replied.
“I’m always disappointed, anyway. I always look much worse.”
We met in March for a small round table interview high above the South Bank in London.
When Peter was both charming and gracious.
Which just goes to show what a good actor he is when tackling roles like The Thick Of It’s Malcolm Tucker.
He stars this Easter weekend in a new two-hour ITV1 drama.
My feature is in today’s Manchester Evening News and below, along with a few extras.
“ME and Jimmy here, we’re men of grass and boots and beauty.”
Manchester United manager Matt Busby (Dougray Scott) is sitting next to his assistant Jimmy Murphy (David Tennant).
Leaving Football League Secretary Alan Hardaker (Neil Dudgeon) in absolutely no doubt as to who is the boss.
You don’t need to be a football fan to appreciate BBC2 drama United, which tells the story of the Busby Babes, the Munich Air Crash and the months that followed.
My second feature on the film is in today’s Manchester Evening News – and below – ahead of a preview screening at The Lowry in Salford tonight.
BACK from the London press launch for Britain’s Got Talent 2011.
Where the media saw most of the first audition show to be broadcast on ITV1 at 8:20pm this Saturday.
Followed by a Q&A with judges Michael McIntyre, Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff.
Michael and David are new to the show this year, thanks to the absence of both Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan.
And on the evidence of programme one, neither Simon nor Piers will be missed.
“YOU saw the good, the bad and the damned ugly.”
Theo Paphitis is talking about his new BBC2 series which starts tonight.
The first episode of Britain’s Next Big Thing includes a Professor of Architecture who discovered how to turn minerals and stones into luxury silk scarves.
And some other fascinating product ideas.
My feature on Theo and the show is in today’s Manchester Evening News – and below, with added extras.
Life of Wylie 