Latest news with #AfterLife
Metro
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
First Dates fans rave about ‘cutest man to grace our screens in a long time'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video An 89-year-old Essex man, Derek, has captured the hearts of First Dates viewers everywhere as the new season gets underway. The Channel 4 show sets people looking for love up on a dreamy first date with the hopes that they might just find their perfect person, or at least make a sweet new connection. Now in its 24th season, each episode brings together a wide variety of people from all walks of life. In the latest episode alone, we saw a couple pushing the boat out to see if they could add a third into their relationship in a surprise twist. But there's one unexpected dater who has melted everyone's hearts with his charm – old-timey tune singing Derek. The almost 90-year-old was introduced on the show as someone 'ready to serenade his way into one lucky lady's heart'. 'I don't feel I age because at 89 I feel 65 or less,' he said with a chuckle, joking to the host and French maître d'hôtel Fred Sirieix that he is '89 going on 20′. 'I'm old school, open doors, lift the chair, take a lady's coat,' he said about his courting style with the hopes of meeting someone who is 'bubbly and outgoing'. Enter June, 77, from Avesbury who also has a love for music (including the iconic Dolly Parton). The pair instantly hit it off, complimenting one another's looks. Elsewhere in the episode, Derek spoke about losing his late wife three years ago. 'I sent my wife Valentine's cards every year we were married for 65 years,' he told the show as he started tearing up. 'I miss her terribly, still think about her everyday, I say good night to her, I say good morning to her, she's there. All in all, she made me a better person. 'But as my friends and family say you got move on Derek, live your life,' he concluded, talking about how his children have encouraged him to find someone new. Needless to say, June wasn't the only person Derek was wooing. 'Watching Derek 89 on First Dates reminds me of how magically Ricky Gervais captures the importance of the person's backstory which he's scripted beautifully in After Life. 'Life's characters can be fabulous & fascinating & by actively listening to their journey it's just magic,' bikegotold said. 'The cutest man to grace our screens in a long time on First Dates,' X user orangepanther wrote. 'Awww the old'uns are the best,' baroness beckie shared. 'Derek is a National Treasure – protect him at all costs!,' boudicassister posted. 'Derek and June are the essence of this show,' Daz reflected. 'Derek is adorable,' travelprincess99 agreed. 'Aww wanna give Derek a hug,' Andrea Davies said. 'Love Derek and June They could be an old romantic comedy sitcom due,' Jon Y echoed. 'June 77 … wow she looks amazing and Derek 89 so sweet,' Francescaj77 added. 'Derek is just so adorable,' suey307 said. In a happy ending for all, Derek and June had a 'lovely' time and were already planning to go and have a coffe together. More Trending The same episode also featured mum-of-three Sophie who is going on a date with a woman for the first time – Emily, a massage therapist. During the date, Sophie reveals she is married to a man called Ricki and the couple are exploring polyamory. In the end, the trio get on so well that they agree to all meet one another again. View More » First Dates is available to watch on Channel 4. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Surprise, Surprise: The Blind Date reboot already sounds awful MORE: I never expected my one-night stand to pursue me after our casual fling
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Philomena Cunk star calls for farms to be licensed like zoos to protect animals
Best known for role of Philomena Cunk, Diane has teamed up with organisation Animal Equality to demand a licence scheme for farms to give better protection to chickens, cows, pigs and sheep After Life, Motherland and Mandy have helped turn Diane Morgan into one of our best loved actors. Now the Bolton-born comic is using her platform to give animals a voice after backing a campaign calling on the Government to introduce a zoo-like licensing scheme for farms to protect chickens, cows, pigs and sheep. We meet at The Retreat, a sanctuary near Ashford, Kent, which rescues ex-farm animals, where Diane, 49, tells me about the most important animal in her life - her rescue dog. She said: 'When I first got Bob I was doing Afterlife and took him on set. He was incredible. It was like he'd been on set his whole life. He was like Judy Garland. He would be quiet the minute they shouted action and he'd go and sit behind the cameras. 'He's a toy poodle, so they're very intelligent. It's almost like having a small, furry man, like Ronnie Corbett following you around.' READ MORE: Moby shares the reason why he went back on tour - and it's incredibly on-brand Diane, perhaps best known for role as Philomena Cunk, now lives in London with her partner Ben. She told how they are both completely obsessed with Bob, who was rehomed by the Blue Cross after his previous owners kept him in a cage for 10 hours a day. She said: 'We got him just after my dad had died and he really helped with the grief. If I was sad, he'd pick up on it and come over to me. He is our best friend. I think if you have a pet and you have that connection, it means you look at other animals and think "oh they're not that different.' In 1998, the UK became the first country to ban experiments on animals for cosmetics products and their ingredients. But some brands still sell products made in regions where animal testing is still legal. While on set filming BBC two comedy series Mandy, Diane ensured the whole production used cruelty-free make-up and said she would like to see all sets follow. Another issue she would like to see fixed is clearer labelling on products. She explained: 'It is annoying that things like a handwash are labelled vegan but that just means it doesn't contain animal products. It doesn't mean it hasn't been squirted in the eyes of a rabbit. The labels are very confusing labels. There needs to be clearer messaging.' Asked whether drama and comedy shows should tackle more environmental issues, she said: 'Definitely. I mean, I had an episode of Mandy that was about a fatberg. I was surprised at how many people didn't know what one was. They are an absolute nuisance.' After being vegetarian for 10 years, she participated in Veganuary - a global campaign that encourages people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month of January - last year with Peter Andre.' I found it hard because I loved cheese so much but this year I said to myself, right I am going to put an end to this. Weirdly I have gone off cheese now.' Earlier this year she also contributed a voiceover to a TV advert which encourages people to choose compassion and move away from dairy products - the first of its kind to be aired in cinemas and on Sky and Channel 4. Her passion for animals has seen her team up with Animal Quality who are pressuring the government to bring in licensing for farms and slaughterhouses. She said: 'We are fed this story about all animals running around fields but the reality is most are kept in intensive conditions. Most are not checked and those are done infrequently. 'Anyone can just have a farm. I think if people knew that and knew how animals were treated, more would put pressure on the government to make change. 'I know most people don't want to look at horrible footage, and I understand that. It'll really put a crimp in your day. But I'd much rather be aware and try to do something about it.' A recent report by the The Animal Law Foundation found that fewer than 3% of the UK farms are inspected each year on average, while just half of complaints made against farms in the UK are investigated. When wrongdoing is found, most farmers receive little more than a written caution Abigail Penny, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK, said: "Pubs, taxis, beauticians, and many other sectors are required to have licences to operate - why not farms too? The animal agriculture industry breeds and slaughters over one billion animals every year – we expect far greater scrutiny, transparency, and meaningful consequences when laws are broken. It's the least these animals deserve.'
Forbes
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ricky Gervais Working On New Netflix Project With ‘After Life' Co-Stars
Ricky Gervais said he's partnering with some of his After Life and Derek co-stars for a new animated project at Netflix. The standup comedy great and BAFTA- and Emmy-winning writer-director-actor mentioned the project during a livestream on X on Sunday when a viewer asked if he'd be working with actor David Earl again in a drama/comedy. Earl was a series regular in Gervais' After Life and Derek, and also appeared in an episode of Extras. 'I am. I'm doing something with him at the moment,' Gervais said. 'In fact, half the gang from After Life and Derek [are in it]. I'm working with David Earl, Diane Morgan, Kerry Godliman, Tom Basden, Jo Hartley … Andrew Brook, Tony Way — they're all voices in a new animation [project]. I'm still working on it for Netflix.' Gervais wrote, directed and starred in all three seasons of After Life as Tony, a writer for the newspaper the Tambury Gazette in the fictional English village of Tambury. Throughout the series, Tony struggles with the loss of his wife, Lisa (Godliman), to breast cancer as he revisits their home movies together on his laptop. Earl played Brian in After Life, a lonesome loser who wants to be featured in Tambury Gazette, while Morgan and Way play Tony's co-workers Kath and Lenny. Basden also stars as Tony's boss and brother-in-law Tom, who is Lisa's brother. Hartley plays Lenny's girlfriend, June, while Brook plays an obnoxious podcaster named Ratty. During his livestream on X on Sunday, Ricky Gervais didn't give any more details about his upcoming animated project for Netflix, nor did he reveal if it was a film or a series. Gervais did note, however, how long the process for an animated project could stretch out. 'I found some of the original sketches that I did from like September of 2023,' Gervais said, adding, 'It's mental. It takes so long.' Gervais, who famously torched several celebrity egos while hosting the 2020 Golden Globes also said of the animated project, 'It's good. It's different.' He also noted to the user who asked the question that he couldn't speak any further of what it was about. Meanwhile, Gervais, who is no stranger to voice acting, is connected to the upcoming Illumination Entertainment animated comedy adventure Flanimals. Gervais is listed on IMDb as one of the writers of Flanimals, along with Matt Selman (The Simpsons) and Rob Steen. IMDb only lists Illumination — the animated studio behind the Despicable Me/Minions franchise — as the producer of Flanimals, so it's unlikely the Netflix project that Gervais was talking about in his livestream. Per IMDb, the logline for Flanimals reads, 'Fifty species of creatures are so ugly and misshapen they become cute and endearing. One of these creatures, a pudgy, perspiring purple creature, goes on a mission to change the world.' While fans are awaiting Ricky Gervais' new animated Netflix project, they can stream all three seasons of After Life on the platform as well as Derek's two seasons. Gervais' standup comedy specials Armageddon, Supernature and Humanity are also streaming on Netflix.
Metro
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Lucy Beaumont makes 'amazing' gesture after costing charity £79,000 on The Wheel
Lucy Beaumont has made a huge gesture towards a cancer charity after losing £79,000 on The Wheel. The comedian was competing in Michael McIntyre's BBC game show to win money for various contestants. The game sees a series of participants, guided by celebrity experts, attempting to answer their way to a fortune. However, after leading one of the participants astray, Lucy is now pleading with the public to help raise some money. Taking to Instagram, Lucy wrote to Newcastle City Hall saying: 'Hello, I'm a comedian (Lucy Beaumont) I recorded an episode of Michael McIntyre's The Wheel the other night and I lost a cancer survivor £79,000. 'I've done the show before and lost someone £98,000. 'The contestant in question is a Newcastle lad and top bloke and was trying to raise money for the charity Maggies. 'Could I put on a comedy charity night at your venue with a great line up to try and raise some money?' The comedian went on to add: 'I'll put my hand in my pocket too.' Towards the end of last year, Lucy finally broke her silence regarding her split from fellow comedian Jon Richardson. The pair announced they had 'jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce and go our separate ways', just after the fifth season of their show hit screens. It was also reported that Jon agreed to a seven-figure payout from Lucy. The comedians were married in 2015 after being set up by a fellow comedian and mutual friend, After Life's Roisin Conaty. The pair welcomed their daughter in 2016. But Lucy told OK! Magazine: 'People might think I should talk about it because we were so public and everyone knew us as a couple, but I won't, and not because there's any animosity. More Trending 'We both agreed that while it might be weird for other people not hearing anything about it, we wouldn't talk about anything to do with the marriage or each other.' The couple's relationship was well-known to the public, largely due to their comedic collaborations, including the popular TV show Meet The Richardsons, which showed the world their married life. View More » Their chemistry both on and off-screen made them a favourite among fans, but despite their working partnership, their marriage ended with Jon paying Lucy a settlement of £1.625million. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Race Across the World's Sioned shouldn't be sneered at for her tears MORE: We travelled 14,000km on Race Across the World — this is the one place everyone should visit MORE: 'He's not coming back': Casualty confirms death tragedies as BBC drops new trailer
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dumfries set to feature in Diane Morgan episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
Tonight's episode of the BBC's popular ancestry show will see the Philomena Cunk star visit Dumfries. Dumfries is set to feature on tonight's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? The latest episode of the BBC's popular ancestry show will see actor and comedian Diane Morgan research her family tree. And as well as taking her to Wales and Bolton, Diane's search will also bring her to Dumfries. Diane – known for her portrayal of spoof historian Philomena Cunk as well as appearances in Motherland and After Life – is her aware her two-times great-grandmother Isabella Robson came from Dumfries. She meets genealogist Emma Maxwell in the library to investigate this part of her ancestry further. Emma is able to show Diane some court documents which shed light on Emma's story. Her trip also involves a meeting with local photographer Graeme Robertson. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. The filming took place in Dumfries in the spring of 2024, with filming locations including Dumfries Museum and St Michael's Churchyard – the final resting place of Robert Burns. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Who Do You Think You Are? will be shown on BBC One at 8pm tonight. It will then be available on iPlayer
