
Balamory returns - filming begins on new series to premiere on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in 2026
The new series will blend familiar faces with a host of new characters, offering preschoolers a joyful mix of stories, comedy, songs and adventures. At its heart remains the charming fictional town of Balamory and its lively inhabitants, where brightly-coloured houses cluster around a scenic harbour and life revolves around the nursery school and its caring teacher.
Read more: See the Beloved Balamory stars returning to the iconic children's series
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Telegraph
35 minutes ago
- Telegraph
SNP leader suggests Edinburgh Fringe comedy venue was right to cancel Jewish comedians
John Swinney has suggested an Edinburgh Fringe comedy venue was right to cancel a run of shows by Jewish performers because staff had 'safety concerns'. The First Minister said he could not 'dismiss' concerns raised by bar staff working at the venue because of his own security risks as a high profile politician. But he made his comments only minutes after delivering a keynote speech in which he pledged to protect freedom of speech to inaugurate the Edinburgh International Festival. Comedians Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon were due to perform at Whistlebinkies during the month-long Fringe festival but had their gigs dramatically pulled after bar staff at the venue allegedly expressed fears of feeling 'unsafe'. Ms Creeger was set to perform her show Ultimate Jewish Mother, while Mr Simon was due to host a Jew-O-Rama – a showcase of different Jewish comics that has played at the venue for years. The concerns were initially raised after the venue was told it would get extra police supervision amid continued worries over the safety of Jewish acts, it has been claimed. Neither show is political or about the Israel-Hamas war, but were still deemed a security risk. Speaking to reporters ahead of the Fringe's opening weekend, the First Minister said: 'I think the individual venues will make an assessment of their circumstances and the issues around security that might need to be considered. 'I live in an environment where issues of security are considered all the time about my whereabouts so I can't dismiss these issues, where security concerns are raised, but I think that has to be very carefully considered in the steps that are taken about judgements by individual venues.' Asked if another venue should come forward to host the cancelled comics, he said: 'A venue would have to make its judgement about the security situation.' The comments appeared to clash with Mr Swinney's commitment to 'always protect' freedom of speech as part of a speech inaugurating the beginning of the Edinburgh International Festival set to start on Friday. The First Minister warned prominent figures in the arts industry: 'Freedom of expression is under attack both at home and abroad. 'I want to ensure that Scotland, the birth of the Enlightenment, remains a country of robust debate and inquiry. 'I firmly believe that arts and culture must be able to challenge us, to ask tough questions and to force us to look at things from different perspectives.' Days after Whistlebinkies cancelled Mr Simon's show, a separate venue cancelled another run of performances by the comedian, Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way?, for attending a vigil held for victims of the Oct 7 attacks. The Banshee Labyrinth pub said it made the decision because of alleged 'rhetoric and symbology' linked to Israel that they had discovered after scouring Mr Simon's social media pages. The alleged concerns identified by the venue included a series of photos posted by Mr Simon from a vigil 100 days since the attack on southern Israel; a message on his X account saying that it was powerful to 'stand strong against terror'; and a post warning that Oct 7 rape victims were being forgotten. Simon said the only opinion he had expressed on the Gaza conflict was a desire for peace and to see the hostages freed. The pub told The Telegraph: 'If we hadn't found anything of concern he would obviously still be performing with us.' Mr Swinney said pro-Israeli performers should have their rights to perform protected, saying: 'I think what I feel is that our society is healthier where we have an expression of our views respectfully and courteously, so all of us are able to do so on all subjects – in particular on the issues of the greatest sensitivity in our society.'


Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The funniest jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe 2025
August is the most exciting month on the comedy calendar. Over the coming weeks, comedians from around the world are making the pilgrimage to the Scottish capital to test out their new jokes at the largest arts festival on the planet, the Edinburgh Fringe. As a taster of the treats in store, we've asked a few Fringe-bound comics – including former Best Joke of the Fringe winner Olaf Falafel – to share with us the funniest one-liners they're telling in their new shows. Below is the Telegraph critics' pick of the bunch. We will be updating this list until the end of the Fringe (on Aug 25): if you are performing there, and think you might have a joke that can make our critics laugh, email it to fringejokes@ If you're not going to the festival, you can still get involved: click the buttons in the piece to vote for your favourites, or share your own original one-liners in the comments section below. Ian Smith People who say bath bombs are relaxing have clearly never tried to carry one home in the rain. Ian Smith: Foot Spa Half Empty, Monkey Barrel Comedy (Monkey Barrel 1), July 29-Aug 24 (not Aug 13), 12.30pm


Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Brian Cox: Trump talking 'b*******s' on Scottish independence
Why you can trust Sky News Hollywood actor Brian Cox has told Sky News that Donald Trump is talking "bollocks" after suggesting there should be 50 or 75 years between Scottish independence referendums. The US president said a country "can't go through that too much" when questioned by reporters during his visit to Scotland this week. The Emmy-winning star, who is an independence supporter, has hit back, branding him "that idiot in America". The 79-year-old told Sky News: "He's talking bollocks. I'm sorry, but he does. It's rubbish. Let's get on with it and let's get it [independence] done. We can do it. "It's been tough as there's a great deal of undermining that has gone on." 2:13 SNP fraud probe causing 'harm' Mr Cox said the police fraud investigation examining the SNP's finances has done "enormous harm" to the party and wider independence movement. Nicola Sturgeon was arrested as part of the long-running police probe but cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this year. The former first minister's estranged husband Peter Murrell, who was SNP chief executive for two decades, appeared in court in April to face a charge of alleged embezzlement. He has entered no plea. Brian Cox is preparing to return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade in a play about the Royal Bank of Scotland's role in the 2008 financial crash. Ahead of the Edinburgh festival performances, the veteran actor told Sky News: "I think it's a masterpiece. It's certainly one of the best pieces of work I've been involved in. 'My friend Spacey should be forgiven' The Succession star was also asked about his "old friend" Kevin Spacey. The former House of Cards actor, 65, was exiled from the showbiz world in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct. Spacey has admitted to "being too handsy" in the past and "touching someone sexually" when he didn't know they "didn't want him to". Spacey stood trial in the UK for multiple sexual offences against four men in July 2023 but was acquitted on all counts. Mr Cox told Sky News: "I am so against cancel culture. Kevin has made a lot of mistakes, but there is a sort of viciousness about it which is unwarranted. "Everybody is stupid as everybody else. Everybody is capable of the same mistakes and the same sins as everybody else." Asked if he could see a return to showbiz for Spacey, Cox replied: "I would think so eventually, but it's very tough for him. "He was tricky, but he has learnt a big lesson. He should be allowed to go on because he is a very fine actor. I just think we should be forgiving."