Latest news with #Copacabana
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Mr Bigstuff season two review: Danny Dyer's talent is wasted in this slight, forgettable comedy
The Bafta winner's talents have long been underestimated, but his performance in season two of Mr Bigstuff can't make up for stiff script Can there be anything more quintessentially Danny Dyer than Danny Dyer sitting on a tattered armchair on the street in his boxers and dressing gown, sucking Bloody Marys through a tube at breakfast time and singing along through a microphone to Copacabana by Barry Manilow on a Walkman (remember those?) he has retrieved from a neighbour's wheelie bin? This is were we find Dyer's character, Lee Campbell, at the start of season two of Mr Bigstuff (Sky Max, Thursday, July 24) the broad, knockabout comedy created by Ryan Sampson. Sampson co-stars as Lee's brother Glen (yes, that's Glen Campbell!), a meek carpet salesman whose life was turned upside down by the arrival of his previously estranged older sibling in season one. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Dyer won a Bafta earlier this year for his performance in Mr Bigstuff. It was a typical reaction from people who, whether blinded by ignorance or snobbishness, have been underrating Dyer as an actor almost from the beginning of his career. He has repeatedly proved over the years that he's capable of much more than the stereotypical hardman performances he gave in a string of mostly awful films directed by Britflick geezer-gangster specialist Nick Love. He was particularly outstanding in two early films: Human Traffic and novelist William Boyd's directorial debut The Trench (both 2009). Harold Pinter saw something very special in Dyer and cast and directed him in three of his plays in the West End: Celebration, No Man's Land and The Homecoming, which transferred to Broadway. The two men, an unlikely pair on the face of it (Dyer dubbed them 'the likely lad and the Nobel winner'), became close friends. Dyer considered Pinter his mentor and was hit so hard by his death that he says he 'went off the rails' for a time. He is currently developing a stage play about their relationship. Dyer brought warmth, pathos and vulnerability to his role as kind-hearted Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter in EastEnders. By common consent, he also gave the standout performance last year in the star-studded, gleefully bawdy Rivals, the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper's 1980s novel. You expect certain things from a Cooper romp – chiefly sex, sex and more sex, and you certainly get it here – but what you don't expect is depth, nuance and poignancy. ADVERTISEMENT Dyer brings all three to his role as self-made electronics entrepreneur Freddie Jones, who is trapped in a loveless marriage and somewhat out of place in this sexual playground of the decadent upper classes who were born into wealth and privilege. His tender, slowly developing relationship with lonely romantic novelist Lizzie Vereker, played by Katherine Parkinson, is in sharp contrast to the cartoonish antics going on around them. Dyer probably deserved a Bafta nomination at the very least for Rivals, which will hopefully have changed quite a few people's narrow opinion of him. The irony is that the role which actually won him a Bafta doesn't exactly push him out of his comfort zone. Dyer is great fun as Lee. He handles the slapstick side of things very well, his comic timing is excellent, and his natural charisma and swagger dominate the screen. But the laughs he generates are more down to him than to anything in the script, which is slight stiff. You are left with the feeling Dyer could do this sort of thing in his sleep. Given all the other things he has done, it's a shame to see him revert to type – even if it is a comic variation on the kind of character he's played too many times before. For what it's worth, Lee and Greg – having learned at the end of season one that their father is not dead after all, but simply ran out on them – set out to find him. This involves tangling with an old associate their dad fleeced before running off with his wife, and Lee having a tryst with a boozy, oversexed pensioner (Rula Lenska). Meanwhile, Greg's fiancee Kirsty (Harriet Webb), who is eager to get him into some bondage games, is facing blackmail from someone who photographed her and Lee kissing in her car. Without the presence of Dyer, Mr Bigstuff would be instantly forgettable. With him, it's worth an extra star.
North Wales Live
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Las Iguanas has a Kids Eat Free offer running through the summer holidays
Las Iguanas is running its with Kids Eat Free offer throughout the school summer holidays. Children can order a meal completely free with every adult main course purchased from the a la carte menu. Each kids' meal (usually £7.50) includes a main, two sides, a dessert, and a drink. The Niños menu includes mac & cheese, burgers, fish fingers, mild coconut chicken curry and cheesy quesadillas. Sides include fries and baked beans, salad and veggie sticks with guacamole. Dessert includes ice cream, fruity lollies, warm chocolate brownies and cinnamon churros. Adults can also order 2-for-1 cocktails every day during Happy Hour, or take advantage of the weekday lunch deal offering a main and drink for £10, as well as the Bottomless Brunch every day Last month Las Iguanas announced a summer of deals to enjoy almost every day of the week. From Burgers and Burritos on Monday for just £8, 2-4-1 tortillas on Tuesday, Copacabana curry club on Wednesday for £15 with a drink, Thursday is tapas, any three for £10, Sunday is fajitas for £15.
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Lady Gaga's epic Mayhem Ball Tour leaving fans speechless as she kicks off global trek in Las Vegas
LADY GAGA proved she is still at the top of her game on the opening night of her Mayhem Ball tour – which was as much performance art as power pop. The Bad Romance singer took over the Advertisement 6 The show had a string of costume changes, multiple wigs and seriously impressive choreography Credit: Getty 6 Her new show included a 12-foot-high skull Credit: Getty In one segment, Gaga was buried alive in sand before emerging in a tattered white dress and armour, limping on crutches. The show is a dramatic depiction of Gaga's lifelong battles with the 'light and dark' inside herself. Despite being one of the biggest-selling singers of all time, Gaga halted the show to admit she can't believe she's still selling out giant venues and that she still practices her singing and her piano playing daily. Fighting back tears as she sat at her piano in a gothic veil, the humble star said: 'I hope that you know that the ritual of being yourself is a beautiful practice. Advertisement Read more on Lady Gaga Multiple wigs 'I know you know that. It's a practice that you deserve to have every day of your life. When things get hard, you can return to you. 'You can practice the small things that you're good at, the things that you've always held true to your heart. "I practice singing every day. I play piano. "I do it again and I do it again.' Advertisement Most read in Bizarre She added: 'When I feel sad, I do it again. That's how I've learned to have my own back.' Going all-out from the start with her opera-inspired first act, she served up a two-hours-and-ten-minute spectacle, including a string of costume changes, multiple wigs and seriously impressive choreography. Lady Gaga's Copacabana Concert: Bomb Plot Foiled Amid Historic Crowd And if that wasn't enough, at one point the pop icon made her way down the catwalk in a gondola, steered by her dark alter ego Mistress of Mayhem. Advertisement 6 The singer's energetic routines showed that she has fully recovered from a hip injury Credit: Getty 6 The show is a dramatic depiction of Gaga's lifelong battles with the 'light and dark' inside herself Credit: Getty Singles Abracadabra and Disease broke into the Top Ten, while her She will reach the UK in September for four sold-out shows at London's O2 Arena and two gigs at Manchester's Co-op Live. Advertisement Speaking to Bizarre as Mayhem was released, a source explained that Gaga has finally found inner peace after years of struggling with her pop star persona and the real person behind it, Stefani Germanotta. The person she wakes up as is the same person who hits the stage. Insider The insider explained: 'Gaga has never hidden her real self from the world. "But she's more comfortable now in her ability to associate herself as the creator instead of the product. "The person she wakes up as is the same person who hits the stage.' Advertisement The singer's energetic routines showed that she has fully 6 Lady Gaga brought things back to her old-school, dark-pop roots with jaw-dropping visuals Credit: Getty Delivering the biggest arena production of the year, The show was watched by Gaga's proud fiancé Michael Polansky and her parents Joe and Cynthia. Advertisement Prior to the show, her mum and dad were spotted checking out an exhibition of their daughter at Las Vegas resort, Park MGM. Keeping coy about the gig, Cynthia told one fan she was sworn to secrecy before adding: 'I can't say much, but you'll be very happy.' And judging by the reaction from fans in the audience and online, Gaga has achieved that and then some. The countdown is on until Advertisement 6 She was buried alive in sand before emerging in a tattered white dress and armour, limping on crutches Credit: Getty
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Michelle Keegan 'torn' after baby Palma's birth with 'struggle to say no'
Former Coronation Street and new mum Michelle Keegan teased an upcoming project last week, but a source says it will bring up conflicting emotions After being tipped for Hollywood stardom, Michelle Keegan is feeling 'torn' between being a full-time mum and making the most of some exciting job offers. The former Corrie actress gave birth to baby Palma just four months ago, but already has TV execs vying to hire her, a source says, leaving her with a dilemma. 'Michelle has always been a hard worker, so she's torn between staying at home with Palma and getting back out there,' our source claims. 'It's not an easy industry – you're self-employed so you never know when your next job might be. It's still really early days, but these are the questions she's asking herself, because she's very much in demand. Everything Michelle touches lately seems to turn to gold.' READ MORE: 'Lightweight and sturdy' expandable carry-on suitcase is slashed by £130 for Prime Day Just weeks ago it was reported that Stockport-born Michelle had signed a six-figure deal to become the new face of Sky – alongside Luther star Idris Elba. And Michelle recently shared some photos of herself stepping back in front of the camera for a mystery project. Stylish in linen trousers and a top with 'Copacabana' written across the front, the 38-year-old was having her hair and make-up done. This could be her first big professional commitment since having Palma – her first child with her husband, former TOWIE star turned presenter Mark Wright – on 6 March. But for Michelle, who shot to fame in 2008 as barmaid Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street, it also means stepping away temporarily from the most important role of her life – motherhood. Parenting expert Joy Randolph tells OK!, 'What Michelle is feeling is completely normal – and incredibly common for new mothers; that emotional tug between wanting to be there for every moment with your baby, and also honouring the career you've worked so hard to build. It's not a lack of love or commitment. It's the reality of being a working mother today. 'Her situation reflects the reality of many. She's not choosing one over the other. She's trying, like millions of women do, to hold both her baby and her career in the same hand. That's not a weakness. That's motherhood.' With Michelle's Sky comedy Brassic wrapping on its seventh and final season, she is clearly eager to stay connected with the network, in a new capacity. Our source goes on to say, 'The Sky deal is her dipping her toe back in the water and working out what she's comfortable with. She knows she won't get this time back with Palma, but it's hard saying 'no' when you're in demand and you don't know how long that will last." The source continued, 'The thought of leaving her baby even for a short time is really hard, even though Mark is an amazing dad and very supportive. She's really ambitious and had such success with Fool Me Once that it's hard for her to think about staying away from work for too long.' Post-Corrie, Michelle's career skyrocketed, as she took lead roles in BBC military drama Our Girl, Sky's Brassic and BBC Australian period drama Ten Pound Poms. But her star power was cemented last year, with her impressive turn as Maya Stern in Netflix 's Harlan Coben thriller Fool Me Once – which became a global hit and sparked rumours she was being touted for roles across the pond. Between jobs, she'll no doubt return to the couple's Essex home to pick up where she left off. And Michelle and Mark have evidently been enjoying their time as new parents, sharing glimpses of Palma on their social media accounts. The couple and daughter Palma – whose name is believed to have been inspired by the Spanish island of Majorca, where they own a property – recently returned from Spain's £300-a-night SO/Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel after a break with Mark's extended family, Palma's first holiday abroad. And, as our source claims, Mark has taken to fatherhood 'like a duck to water' and will support Michelle in whatever she decides. Mark, also 38, was back at work in the Heart FM studio with pal and co-presenter Olly Murs just days after Palma's birth. Speaking to the Dance With Me Tonight hitmaker, who also became a dad for the first time last year, a besotted Mark said he'd be videocalling his wife and daughter during their studio breaks. 'It makes you realise what our mums did for us, and makes me have so much more respect than I already had for what women go through,' he added, praising Michelle as a 'superhero'. 'Michelle has really bonded with Palma – as has Mark – and she is loving every second of being a mum, they both feel it's all been worth every second of the wait for her. She's such a happy baby and Michelle and Mark are brilliant parents – nothing seems to faze them. They're both in their element.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pajar Inks Deal to Distribute Grendene's Footwear Collections in US and Canada
Grendene is expanding its distribution across the United States and Canada with a new partner. The Brazilian footwear company said this week that it's teaming up with Pajar as the exclusive distributor of its footwear brands – which include Ipanema, Cartago, Zaxy, Rider, Azaleia, and Copacabana – in North America. The deal also includes Grendene's Melissa brand, which will now be available through Pajar's sales network in Canada. More from WWD Inside Pajar's Bold Strategy for Cougar, Which Includes the Reintroduction of Kids' and Men's Shoes Grendene CEO Talks New Growth Strategy for Melissa, Ipanema and More Brands How Pajar Canada Is Adapting Its Old-School Values for Today's Tech-Driven World Pajar noted that this move expands its 'seasonal reach' with the addition of a significant summer business through Grendene's brands. The Canadian shoe company also said that its dedicated 12-person sales force across key markets from Hawaii to Florida will spearhead the distribution and promotion of Grendene's collections. Pajar is expected to debut the new spring/summer 2026 collections at several prominent trade shows and events this year including AFA in Toronto, Atlanta Shoe Market, Chicago Collective, FSNYE, and Surf Expo in Orlando. This move follows Pajar's October acquisition of Cougar. Based in Montreal, Pajar Canada is a fifth-generation family shoe business founded in 1963. According to the company, its acquisition of Cougar 'aligns with its vision' to expand its footprint in both the Canadian and U.S. markets and leverage its international outreach across Europe and Asia. In an interview with FN in February, Pajar president Michel Golbert spoke about the company's strategy for Cougar. 'Cougar, in the past, only sold women's in the U.S.' Golbert said. 'We're going to be introducing kids, which is a huge part of the business in Canada — probably 40 to 50 percent of the business; it's pretty sizable.' What's more, the exec confirmed at the time that Cougar will once again offer a men's collection, starting in 2026. '[Cougar] had dabbled in men's maybe 10, 15 years ago, but basically abandoned the men's division. We feel there's a big opportunity for men's as well,' Golbert said. Additionally, Golbert noted that Cougar will launch several other categories including outerwear, hosiery and bags. This new partnership between Grendene and Pajar also follows a similar deal announced last week between Havaianas owner Alpargatas S.A. and The Eastman Group to distribute the flip-flop brand in the U.S. and Canada. According to Alpargatas, the pair will work together throughout 2025 on a transition process so the new model to have it ready in time for the 2026 season. The move essentially shifts Alpargatas' operating model from direct operation to distribution. Alpargatas will remain focused on brand building, 'strengthening Havaianas brand power while focusing in portfolio assertiveness and brand competitiveness, aligned with Havaianas brand positioning and global strategy,' it said. Alpargatas said the partnership provides it with cost efficiency as it relies on a leaner local structure, In addition, it leverages the firm's presence in strategic channels via the expansion of the distribution network. Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Sign in to access your portfolio
