Latest news with #BBCNewsbeat
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Taylor Swift fans had no idea iconic song was originally written for movie
Taylor Swift fans have been left baffled after discovering one of the singer's tracks was actually written to be part of a 2013 film - and it's not one you'd expect Taylor Swift fans are just discovering the origins of one of her lesser-known songs. The singer-songwriter has 11 studio albums to her name and has released hundreds of songs, including tracks that have been written as part of film soundtracks or standalone singles that don't appear on her albums. But one little-known Taylor Swift track has got people talking lately, as some of her fans have only just found out how it came into existence. Following the 2019 dispute over the ownership of Swift's back catalogue, the singer began re-recording some of her earlier albums and often included unreleased tracks that hadn't been on the original release. On the Tangerine Edition of 1989 (Taylor's Version), released in 2023, Swift included a track titled Sweeter Than Fiction. She also performed it live for the first time during her Eras Tour in Amsterdam in 2024. But although the song had never appeared on an album before, it was not a new song - and it was actually released in 2013 as part of the soundtrack for a very unlikely film. In a TikTok clip shared by the podcast Talk of the Townsends, co-hosts Benedict and Hannah Townsend talk about the little-known song and reveal that it was created for the 2013 film, One Chance. One Chance is a biographical film about Britain's Got Talent winner and opera singer Paul Potts. It stars James Corden as the singer and Julie Walters as Paul's mother, Yvonne. In the video, Hannah stated: "I genuinely think a Taylor Swift fact that a lot of people won't know is that she wrote Sweeter Than Fiction for the Paul Potts movie. "At the time, Taylor Swift was out of cycle, meaning she wasn't releasing any more music until the next album. But the Paul Potts story, with James Corden, apparently, she was like, 'I have to be involved in that'. I'm not sure if she was just so enthralled with Paul Potts and his story. "So she wrote Sweeter Than Fiction [for it]. And she sang it on The Eras Tour, I believe it was in Amsterdam. She sang Sweeter Than Fiction. A song from the Paul Potts movie was sung on The Eras Tour." Swift previously spoke about wanting to be involved in the film during an interview with BBC Newsbeat in 2013, where she said her record label didn't want her to take on the project until she begged them to be a part of it. She said: "My management, my label were like, 'No new music until the next album comes out.' Then I saw the movie and I was like, 'I have to be a part of this.' "I think this movie is so incredible, it's funny, it's adorable, it's heart-warming, and I'm lucky to be a part of it." The song even earned Swift a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song, although it lost out to Ordinary Love by U2, which was written for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Commenters on the Townsends' video were baffled to learn of the song's origin. Even some who declared it their "favourite Taylor Swift song" had no idea where it came from. One person said: "I do love Taylor, but sometimes I am just flabbergasted by some of the projects she's been involved in." Another added: "This is how I learn there's a whole Paul Potts movie."
Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Stormzy felt 'challenged' by Big Man role
Stormzy found it difficult to "totally separate" himself from his Big Man character. The 31-year-old star plays a rapper in his first lead role, and Stormzy admits that he struggled to distance himself from his movie character. The award-wining star - who plays Tenzman in the new film - told BBC Newsbeat: "It was really tough if I'm honest. "It felt like I'm playing a rapper but I am a rapper, it's tough to totally separate." Big Man is the first release from Stormzy's #MerkyFilm production company, and the rapper has revealed his long-term ambition for the enterprise. He shared: "What we've tried to do at Merky, whether it's music, sports, whatever, we do we just want to stand in our truth, tell our stories, but also not from the same perspective that it's always been told from. "Even being black British, it's such a nuanced experience – you've got the black experience, you've got the British experience, and then you've got the black British experience. "We want to tell it from our perspective which is nuanced, it's brilliant, it's different, it's not always the same, it's not a monolith." Stormzy felt "challenged" while making the movie, but he still enjoyed the creative process. The Vossi Bop hitmaker said: "It was really tough but it was a challenge I was so honoured to be a part of. "I like to be challenged, I like to be a bit uncomfortable so I love it." Stormzy previously explained that his acting debut was "all about the joy, spirit and fearless energy of youth". The rapper also hopes that the 24-minute short film will serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring stars. He said: "I hope you love our first project, Big Man, as much as we loved making it. 'For me, it's all about the joy, spirit and fearless energy of youth – that feeling like life is one big adventure and the world's your playground. "I hope it inspires you to dream bigger, live louder, and hold on to that unapologetic energy that comes with being young."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Steer clear, drink beer': Teach teens the dangers of methanol poisoning says best friend of killed Laos tourist
The best friend of a woman who died from suspected methanol poisoning while on holiday in Laos has called for the government to do more to warn teenagers of the dangers of drinking alcohol abroad. Simone White, 28, a lawyer from London, was one of six tourists who died in November after becoming unwell whilst visiting the town of Vang Vieng, a popular stop along the backpacker route in Southeast Asia. Simone had been backpacking with two childhood friends, staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which offered free shots thought to be tainted with methanol. Also hospitalised was Bethany Clarke, Simone's best friend, but she has since recovered. Bethany is now campaigning for a greater awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol abroad and methanol poisoning. She told BBC Newsbeat that the group did not realise anything was wrong until they were kayaking the next day. Both she and Simone were flat on the backs of the kayaks, unable to move their arms. "That was a moment where I thought I really don't understand what's happening to us. It just seemed like I was just having to accept my fate." It took them a while to get treated for methanol poisoning, as Bethany said the doctors kept blaming their sickness ion food poisoning. Methanol, which is tasteless and odourless, has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, such as vodka. The chemical can rapidly lead to serious illness, with long-term effects such as blindness and permanent damage to the nervous system, as well as comas, or even death if there is substantial exposure. Bethany is now hoping that the dangers of methanol poisoning will be taught in schools, and is warning others to be mindful when drinking alcohol. "The advice is from me: 'steer clear, drink beer'. Look up the symptoms, be mindful about where you're drinking,' Bethany told the BBC. "Just don't let it be your best friend that dies from methanol poisoning." Bethany has also set up a petition calling for the dangers of methanol poisoning to be put in the school curriculum across the UK. The petition states, "children should be taught the dangers of consuming bootleg alcohol as part of the PSHE and/or Biology curriculum in school". "I think it just needs to be a five-minute talk or possibly even some kind of public health advert, just giving the case study of Laos and saying this can happen," Bethany says. "If people want to take the risk and drink it, at least they've been educated, and then they might even be able to spot some of the symptoms if they do happen to drink it." A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.' The Foreign Office has also included in its travel advice for Laos the warning to take care if alcohol is offered, particularly for free, or when buying a spirit-based drink. 'If labels, smell or taste seem wrong, then do not drink,' it states. It adds that to protect yourself from methanol poisoning, you should buy alcohol only from licensed liquor stores, at licensed bars and hotels, avoid homemade alcoholic drinks, check bottle seals are intact and check labels for poor print or incorrect spelling. The Independent has contacted the Department for Education for comment.
