Latest news with #AntheaTurner
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Stop it, Zippy. Why we all love a naughty puppet
Last week came the news that Hacker T Dog is to join the presenting team of Blue Peter. Hacker, for those of you unfamiliar with CBBC fare, is a gruff but extremely adorable puppet canine, given to dropping outspoken comments and mugging significantly to camera. He is making history as the first non-human host of Blue Peter, though some had doubts about Anthea Turner. Hacker's increased profile can only be a good thing. The splintered mirror of modern television has seen every factional taste and genre siloed off into its own isolated shard – including children's programmes, which not so very long ago were part of the cultural glue that bound the nation together. And puppets have started to disappear. It was once impossible to avoid them, from Muffin the Mule in the 1950s to Gordon the Gopher in the 1990s. Although nearly always aimed at children, they delighted us all. And Hacker continues the grand tradition of the best TV puppets: that they are naughty. Often, puppets were employed as tools for the socialisation of younger children, object lessons in how to go so far, and no further; Sooty and chums, and the Rainbow gang, fit this classic template. In both, we met three distinct characters: the good puppet (Soo the panda; George the hippo), the naughty puppet (Sweep the dog; and whatever Zippy was meant to be) and the median, well-adjusted puppet (Sooty and Bungle, both bears). The situation always turned on misbehaviour. So, for example, pushy Zippy would try to eat all the biscuits, doormat George wouldn't get his pink finger on a single biscuit, then Bungle would distribute the biscuits fairly. The guard rails were provided by the hapless human adult, Geoffrey, who ensured the return to social order. This was drama reduced in function to its barest Aristotelian bones. But whatever the moral lesson, the naughty puppet was always the most fun, and always the break-out star. My personal favourite of the era was Hartley Hare, of the 1973-81 ATV show Pipkins. How to capture him in words? He combined the manners of David Starkey and the looks of an item of roadkill, a fortnight since it had met its untimely end. Indeed, Hartley swaggered with a vanity perhaps unusual in such a flea-bitten and bedraggled article. A clip of Hartley sometimes goes viral on social media; when young people see him, they are terrified. Hartley had his own 'Geoffrey', in the form of Johnny, played by Wayne Laryea, who trailed in the hare's destructive wake, alternately apologising and affirming like a long-suffering wife. Basil Brush had a whole string of such enablers, and Rod Hull was literally inseparable from his Emu. As a child, I longed to be one of these puppet wranglers. It was my dream job. I even stage-doored Sooty's Matthew Corbett for career advice, and he was infinitely patient and kind to the small, voluble creature I was aged seven. But then, he'd had a lot of practice. Some naughty puppets made it out of children's TV and into the sphere of family entertainment. These characters tended to be naughtier in a different way. Basil Brush expressed carnal desire for star guests such as Clodagh Rodgers and Lulu, shuddering from his ears to the tip of his tail while emitting a full-throated 'phwoarr'. This only sowed confusion in infant minds. What exactly was his aim? How would such a congress be achieved? But the crown of puppet bawdry must go to Miss Piggy, and 1982's ABC special The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, easily locatable on YouTube, catches her devilry at its height. Miss Piggy behaves spectacularly badly in this spectacular. Guest star John Ritter lusts after her. She spurns him – but, in turn, Piggy herself pants for an uninterested George Hamilton, pinning him down on her chat-show sofa. But this is merely a cover to spur Kermit's jealousy. We live today in an age when the lightest of confections, from sci-fi to comedy, often come carrying a freight of significance, and often collapse laughably under that load. The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show is one of those rare fripperies that, by accident, genuinely does contain wisdom for the ages, addressing the human foibles of love, jealousy and sex – flesh and blood reflected back through foam and latex. The show culminates in its star discovering that this is only a special, and not the first episode of a series – at which point she proceeds to karate chop the head of the network, and brings the set crashing down. This is the apex of Miss Piggy's misconduct, and goes entirely unpunished. In the last few precious years before the culture wars kicked off, naughty puppets made a bit of a comeback, and even took a leap into adult entertainment. The comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti; the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q; and BBC Three's scabrously adolescent Mongrels: all took the unruliness of the naughty puppet and amplified it to comic effect. All used puppets to broach icky subjects, in ways that would be unthinkable today. One of Avenue Q's hit tunes is a toe-tapper with the lyric: 'Everyone's a little bit racist sometimes. / Doesn't mean we go around committing hate crimes.' I hope that Hacker's elevation is a sign that misbehaving marionettes are on their way back again, for children and for adults. Television and puppets go hand in glove.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Scotsman
Holidaymakers reveals top 10 items they pack when they go abroad, research by TUI River Cruises reveals
Even though (36 percent) are keen to travel abroad every year, a staggering three quarters of the nation are put off by not being surrounded by the comforts of home and familiarity as (75 percent) stated it was important to be surrounded by familiarity when abroad. Nearly half (43 percent) say that being around smiley staff and friendly crew means the most to them and a third (37 percent) say that being taken care of is the most important thing when they are abroad, allowing them to make them feel more at home. With (33 percent) stating that friendly crew and staff make them feel more relaxed whilst they are abroad on their holidays. It's no surprise that three quarters (75 percent) want familiarity of home when they are on an abroad holiday, so TUI River Cruises has invited TV Presenter, Anthea Turner to spot all of those home from home comforts she can get onboard a TUI River Cruise this summer. With Anthea sailing the Danube, she felt like she was able to travel in comfort and premium style whilst visiting famous landmarks in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria along the way. With TUI River Cruises, every aspect of your holiday is taken care of. Providing all-inclusive river cruise holidays with full end-to-end service, including flights, a selection of cabins, entertainment, exceptional food and drinks and transfers. The river cruise line provides choice and flexibility with its three- to eight-night sailings and various river offerings from the cultural Danube and festive Rhine to the sunny Nile. Anthea Turner hopped onboard TUI River Cruises to try out the All Inclusive river sailing with Twinings Tea bags and afternoon tea all in tow. Whilst sailing, she tried out a range of varied excursions from the Walking Tour of Passau where she was able to explore the Baroque-designed St Stephen's Cathedral and Italian-inspired buildings which are surrounded by cobbled stone lanes, for the first time. Anthea Turner, TV Presenter says: 'A river cruise is a brilliant way to explore different cities in a relaxed environment. I was able to explore the grand cities along the Danube in the comfort of familiarity onboard TUI Skyla. From branded tea to hearty British classics onboard, TUI River Cruises has Brits covered so they can relax and unwind and visit the scenic sights along the river in style.' Surprisingly, two out of five Brits (39 percent) don't even know where they want to go on holiday before they book it. To help the nation choose the right river cruise for them, with the familiar comforts from home, TUI River Cruises has created the 'Which river cruise is for me?' tool, which showcases all of the different options customers can get with TUI River Cruises if they're interested in history, cities or scenic wonders, there's a river cruise for everyone. Showcasing the vast destinations from the sunny Nile to the scenic Danube, excursions, length and offerings, customers have a vast range of variety available at their fingertips 10 HOME FROM HOME OBJECTS BRITS NEED WHEN THEY GO AWAY: 1 . Contributed Anthea Turner has teamed up with TUI River Cruises exploring the European cities along the river Danube and the home from home comforts onboard TUI Skyla. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed Anthea Turner has teamed up with TUI River Cruises exploring the European cities along the river Danube and the home from home comforts onboard TUI Skyla. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Anthea Turner has teamed up with TUI River Cruises exploring the European cities along the river Danube and the home from home comforts onboard TUI Skyla. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Anthea Turner has teamed up with TUI River Cruises exploring the European cities along the river Danube and the home from home comforts onboard TUI Skyla. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: Holidaymakers
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Steve Coogan reprises Alan Partridge alter-ego while opening his own SOUND BATH as he joins Charlotte Hawkins and Anthea Turner at Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Steve Coogan reprised his iconic Alan Partridge alter-ego as he celebrated the opening of his very own sound bath at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival on Monday. A far cry from the straight-laced tone of the inept broadcaster, Alan was on hand to present the opening of his own space, struggling to keep cool in the hot weather. The garden reflected the inept presenter's 'meticulous approach to design, aesthetics, and materials' and is described as being 'a tribute to structure, to durability, and to personal resonance.' The RHS invited visitors 'to experience a space that is both purposeful and forward-looking.' It's no surprise that the garden comes with a unique comedic twist, and the character's observations about his creation are channelled through sound waves. Designers Joe and Laura said: 'We have had a test-run of the garden during the pre-build stage, and the moment we heard Alan's voice come through the sculptural speakers - everything made sense, in a very funny, very Alan sort of way.' Alan appeared to be up to his usual antics as he was photographed speaking into a seemingly non-existent mic and fanning himself with headphones on. The designers admitted: 'We developed the idea that Alan would want to showcase his broadcasting mastery... ' Also in attendance at the garden festival on Monday were presenters Anthea Turner, 65, and Charlotte Hawkins, 50. They were a vision in bright floral colours as they took in some of the many displays at the show, which is running from July 1 to 6. The pair were all smiles as they posed with flowers from the exhibits, with this year's show featuring a new Gardens of Curiosity category - designed to be interactive and thought-provoking for visitors. Anthea stunned in a patterned pink dress, keeping herself cool in the UK's ongoing heatwave with a straw hat. Charlotte similarly wore a bright orange dress, adding a touch of glamour to the look with gold jewellery. Steve's appearance at the Alan Partridge Sound Garden comes after he recently admitted that the character became an albatross around his neck over time. Speaking to Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett for the seventh season of their Dish from Waitrose Podcast, he said: 'There was a time when I felt saddled with it. 'So, when I do Partridge, I do it through choice. Not because I have to.' 'I'm doing some stuff at the moment, and it does make me laugh, so… I make notes in my phone. 'I think, I have a funny idea, I'm on the train and I'm chuckling to myself. I will laugh at myself as a Partridge comes into my head, and put it in my phone, on my own. 'Or I'll look in a shop window and think about, I might say, "oh, what would Alan say about that. I'm still doing it now thirty years later, so it's like a condition now.' Steve's career-defining character earned him no less than six awards - the most recent coming in 2017 at the TV BAFTA's, where Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle secured Best Male Comedy Performance for the actor.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Anthea Turner reveals she may have accidentally once smuggled something illegal into Singapore: 'I could've been in Changi Jail!'
She's been on our TV screens since the 80s, and has fronted everything from Top of the Pops to GMTV. But it could've been a completely different story for Anthea Turner after getting too friendly with a fellow plane passenger on her first holiday abroad. 'You might not be speaking to me! I could have been in Changi Jail!' Anthea, 65, jokes in an exclusive interview with MailOnline Travel. Anthea was 18 and gone to visit her cousin who was working for Barclays bank in Singapore. She recalls: 'I saved up all my pocket money, everything I had, really, working in a pottery factory. 'And I just thought it was utterly and totally amazing to get on a plane. And, of course, I was getting on a plane and going nearly to the other side of the world, on my own, to meet my cousin at the other end.' 'But, looking back, I cannot believe what I did,' she continues. 'I was chit-chatting to this guy on the plane, and he told me he worked on an oil rig. 'He was quite charming and a bit of fun and I was 18. 'I had quite a big suitcase with me - you didn't have suitcases on wheels in those days, so everybody lugged their case around – and we're going through Nothing to Declare at Singapore. 'He said to me, 'Oh, that's a big suitcase. Why don't you take my haversack through and I'll take your suitcase through?' 'And I thought, 'What a nice chap. That's really kind of you, because it's so heavy.' 'And we went through and then swapped over the suitcase and haversack, and I went about my way, and my cousin met me. 'I would never do that now – To this day, I wonder what was in that haversack?!' Despite the potentially accidental smuggling, that wasn't the last time Anthea travelled solo. She says: 'I'm quite big and brave about travelling on my own to meet up with TV crew or friends, but I've only been on one holiday on my own. 'There would've been a bloke involved, and I thought 'Oh, I just need to clear my head.'' But, despite recently visiting a solo traveller hotel in Crete for a TV show, and now pushing the idea onto her friends, Anthea confesses she's much more comfortable holidaying with her millionaire fiancé Mark Amstrong. She says: 'I love traveling with Mark, and he's really useful because he speaks about four languages fluently. 'He's also the person who actually enjoys mapping the journey and sorting things out, so it's like I live with my own rep.' Anthea and Mark recently went on a TUI River Cruise, exploring the European cities along the Danube – and had a great time onboard the TUI Skyla. 'I had never really thought about going on a river cruise before, and I don't particularly know why,' Anthea says. 'I live by the river, and I look at the Thames every day. 'It's not quite as pretty as the Danube or the Rhine, but it has its moments of gorgeousness, and I do like being by water. 'We loved the river cruise because Mark and I had to plan nothing - and we're not completely used to that. 'From the moment you arrive at the airport, you're scooped up, you get to your location, you get to dinner, then they take you to where the boat is, and from there on, all you have to do is decide what you're going to eat. 'From the moment you arrive at the airport, you're scooped up - and all you have to do is decide what you're going to eat,' she says 'For both of us, it was a joy, and all the excursions, everything, oh my goodness. 'I actually came back really relaxed!' And Anthea was very happy about being recognised 'quite a lot' on the ship. 'I felt like I had a ship full of friends by the time I left,' she finishes. 'And I think everybody felt like that, because there's only about 150 of you, which is just like a big wedding. 'You speak to people, say hello, all the pleasantries, you'll go on a few trips with them, so after seven days, everybody got to know each other.'
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Anthea Turner, 65, reveals she was reluctant to go on a first date with her millionaire fiancé Mark Armstrong, 59, because she feared she'd have to pay
Anthea Turner has revealed she didn't want to meet up with her younger date because she feared she would have to pay for it. The TV personality, 65, who is now engaged to millionaire business Mark Armstrong, has spoken about her initial concerns about going on the first date. Speaking to Lizzie Cundy, Anthea opened up about her engagement and how the couple first met - which was down to Lizzie herself. Lizzie said: 'You're engaged, I won't say thanks to me...', to which Anthea admitted that their relationship was down to Lizzie. The former WAG added: 'You didn't want to go on the date.' Discussing her reasoning, Anthea admitted: 'I said I didn't want to go on the date, he was a bit younger than me and I'm not paying. 'And you said, yes you are and I'm coming with you. And that was it.' When asked if there was going to be wedding bells soon, Anthea said: 'We will sort this out, we've got to sort it out and we fully intend to. But we keep going on holiday! We're just having honeymoon after honeymoon.' Elsewhere in the chat, Anthea and Lizzie discussed her many trips abroad and even broached the idea of Anthea and Mark hosting a travel show. Lizzie said: 'Are you going to do a travel show together. You did wish you were here!' Anthea replied: : I did, I used to do about 24 locations a year. 24 different destinations, I didn't like all of them. I love travelling and Mark does as well. We're good travellers together.' Lizzie added: 'This might be a good idea, a travel show. Judith chalmers!' While Anthea said: 'Well yes I took over from the great Judith Chalmers on Wish You Were Here when she retired. Which I was very proud of. Social media is fabulous because it gives us an opportunity to travel, to work with travel companies. Or for instance in Tanzania I worked with the tourist board.' Anthea previously revealed she didn't think she was 'glam enough' Mark Twice married Anthea has been engaged to the businessman since 2019 following their whirlwind romance. But their was a point, the broadcaster, who famously presented BBC's Blue Peter between 1992 and 1994, nearly ditched their first date entirely. Anthea said that if it wasn't for match maker Lizzie, who introduced the couple to one another, she would never have even turned up to the dinner because she thought Mark was 'too young' for her. 'I saw some pictures and I was thought "Ooh Gorgeous!" but he was younger than me and his background had been in events, clubs, he did the club awards and things like that. 'And I thought "No, no, no he's going to want something glamorous, that's not me. I wasn't going, she [Lizzie] told Mark that I was desperate to see him and then she couldn't get me there so she said "Right, I'm coming with you". 'So she arranged a dinner. I was intrigued by this man. And he seemed to be lavish and give me a lot of attention', Anthea admitted. Recalling his proposal during a romantic trip to Italy, she told HELLO: 'I had a hunch. It was all very quick (we were engaged within just a few months of meeting),' 'But when you are older it does tend to move a bit quicker because 'when you know, you know' and there is no point in messing around is there?!'. The couple postponed their wedding in November 2022. They previously delayed the nuptials due to covid restrictions, the death of both parties beloved mothers and an eye injury that left her 'moments from going blind'. Anthea told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden that the lavish nuptials would now be taking place in Italy saying: 'We're definitely going to do it next year!' It comes after the TV veteran has offered her fans advice on how to survive divorce in her new book, after going through two failed marriages. She was previously married to ex-husband Grant Bovey for 13 years, but the couple split after he cheated on her with a woman half her age in 2013. Anthea's first marriage was to her manager, former DJ Peter Powell, in 1990, with the couple splitting up eight years later. She shared advice on how to have a healthy divorce, including three main tips: 'Ditch blame, put the kids first, and avoid lawyers for as long as you can.' Anthea also wrote alongside the Instagram video earlier this year: 'Divorce is always a tricky subject and no 2 are exactly the same. I was like a rabbit it the headlights and everyone seemed to have advice'.
