Latest news with #CultureSecretary
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Bayeux Tapestry to return to England after almost 1,000 years
The Bayeux Tapestry, the 11th-century artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England, will be displayed in the UK for the first time in almost 1,000 years. Officials said on Tuesday that the treasured medieval tapestry will be on loan from France and arrive next year at the British Museum. The loan was announced during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the UK. The fragile 70-metre cloth depicts the events leading up to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. The artwork was believed to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has been displayed in various locations across France, including most recently at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy. 'The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026," Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a statement. 'This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure," she added. British Museum Trustees chair George Osborne promised a "once-in-a-generation" exhibition that "eclipses all others". "The Bayeux Tapestry will be THE blockbuster show of our generation," he said in a statement. "I know it will capture the imagination of an entire nation. There is no other single item in British history that is so familiar, so studied in schools, so copied in art as the Bayeux Tapestry. "Yet in almost a thousand years it has never returned to these shores. "Next year it will and many, many thousands of visitors, especially schoolchildren, will see it with their own eyes." In return, the British Museum will loan treasures from the Sutton Hoo collection — artefacts from a seventh century Anglo Saxon ship burial — to museums in Normandy. The excavation of Sutton Hoo was dramatised in the 2021 film The Dig starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan. Other items to be loaned to France include the Lewis Chessmen, the mysterious medieval chess pieces carved from walrus tusks and whales' teeth dating from around the 12th century that were discovered on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It will be a blockbuster exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. AP/ ABC
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
The Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed in the U.K. for the first time in nearly 1,000 years
This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) LONDON — The Bayeux Tapestry, the 11th-century artwork depicting the conquest of England, will be displayed in the U.K. for the first time in almost 1,000 years. Officials said Tuesday that the treasured medieval tapestry will be on loan from France and arrive next year at the British Museum, where it will star in a blockbuster exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. The loan was announced during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the U.K. The fragile 70-metre (230-foot) cloth depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. The artwork was believed to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has been displayed in various locations across France, including most recently at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy. 'The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the U.K. and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026,' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a statement. 'This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure,' she added. In return, the British Museum will loan treasures from the Sutton Hoo collection — artifacts from a 7th century Anglo Saxon ship burial — to museums in Normandy. The excavation of Sutton Hoo was dramatized in the 2021 film 'The Dig' starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan. Other items to be loaned to France include the Lewis Chessmen, the mysterious medieval chess pieces carved from walrus tusks and whales' teeth dating from around the 12th century that were discovered on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. The Associated Press
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Nandy demands ‘accountability at highest levels' after Bob Vylan broadcast
Ministers expect 'accountability at the highest levels' for the BBC's decision to screen Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, the Culture Secretary has said. Lisa Nandy told the Commons she has heard from the BBC but was 'not satisfied with the response'. Punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)' during their Worthy Farm set last weekend, and face an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police. London's Metropolitan Police is also investigating the two Bobs – who perform using the aliases Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan – for allegedly making similar comments at Alexandra Palace in May. Conservative shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew told the Commons: 'Given the BBC are seemingly able to pull live broadcasts when things go wrong at football matches, for example, it's extraordinary that this didn't happen on this occasion. 'Can the Secretary of State update the House on the discussions she's had with the BBC, and why the same thing didn't happen on this occasion? 'What due diligence was carried out by them about the acts that were performing? 'And given as she's said we're still waiting for a response to the previous Hamas documentary, is she satisfied with those conversations she's had and the urgency that the organisation are taking?' Ms Nandy replied: 'No, the answer is that I'm not satisfied with the response that I've had.' The Culture Secretary previously made a ministerial statement in the Commons on Monday, when she said 'it should have been foreseeable that there would be problems with broadcasts'. She told MPs then that she wanted 'rapid action to make sure this cannot happen again'. In Thursday's update, Ms Nandy told MPs: 'I have received a reply to the very many questions that were raised by colleagues on all sides. 'I'm not satisfied with that, and I have gone back to the BBC leadership to ask for further information, in particular, as he mentioned, about the failure to pull the live feed, about the due diligence that was done prior to deciding to screen this act, and also about the level of senior oversight that took place in the BBC during the Glastonbury weekend. 'I think the BBC leadership will hear and have heard the strength of feeling in this House about this, and I expect further answers to be forthcoming imminently.' The corporation removed the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone from its online iPlayer platform in February after it emerged its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. In a follow-up question, Mr Andrew said: 'I'm as disappointed as she is that they haven't been able to come back with even basic facts. 'There were hundreds of BBC staff there and not being able to identify who ultimately had the final decision on whether to broadcast or not is not acceptable, and I think the chairman (Samir Shah) needs to inform her as a matter of urgency who that was and what action they are going to take. 'While I absolutely understand the independence of the BBC, just as artists can't hide behind artistic expression for vile commentary, neither can the BBC hide behind independence for accountability, and I hope she knows she has the full support of this side of the House as she pushes them for clarity.' Ms Nandy said she was 'grateful' that Mr Andrew had made 'the very important distinction between independence and accountability'. She continued: 'Given the seriousness of what happened – and particularly we heard in the House and I was able to bring to the House the absolute shocking stories of the impact that this has had on the Jewish community in this country – given the seriousness of this, I would expect there to be accountability at the highest levels.'
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nandy demands ‘accountability at highest levels' after Bob Vylan broadcast
Ministers expect 'accountability at the highest levels' for the BBC's decision to screen Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, the Culture Secretary has said. Lisa Nandy told the Commons she has heard from the BBC but was 'not satisfied with the response'. Punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)' during their Worthy Farm set last weekend, and face an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police. London's Metropolitan Police is also investigating the two Bobs – who perform using the aliases Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan – for allegedly making similar comments at Alexandra Palace in May. Conservative shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew told the Commons: 'Given the BBC are seemingly able to pull live broadcasts when things go wrong at football matches, for example, it's extraordinary that this didn't happen on this occasion. 'Can the Secretary of State update the House on the discussions she's had with the BBC, and why the same thing didn't happen on this occasion? 'What due diligence was carried out by them about the acts that were performing? 'And given as she's said we're still waiting for a response to the previous Hamas documentary, is she satisfied with those conversations she's had and the urgency that the organisation are taking?' Ms Nandy replied: 'No, the answer is that I'm not satisfied with the response that I've had.' The Culture Secretary previously made a ministerial statement in the Commons on Monday, when she said 'it should have been foreseeable that there would be problems with broadcasts'. She told MPs then that she wanted 'rapid action to make sure this cannot happen again'. In Thursday's update, Ms Nandy told MPs: 'I have received a reply to the very many questions that were raised by colleagues on all sides. 'I'm not satisfied with that, and I have gone back to the BBC leadership to ask for further information, in particular, as he mentioned, about the failure to pull the live feed, about the due diligence that was done prior to deciding to screen this act, and also about the level of senior oversight that took place in the BBC during the Glastonbury weekend. 'I think the BBC leadership will hear and have heard the strength of feeling in this House about this, and I expect further answers to be forthcoming imminently.' The corporation removed the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone from its online iPlayer platform in February after it emerged its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. In a follow-up question, Mr Andrew said: 'I'm as disappointed as she is that they haven't been able to come back with even basic facts. 'There were hundreds of BBC staff there and not being able to identify who ultimately had the final decision on whether to broadcast or not is not acceptable, and I think the chairman (Samir Shah) needs to inform her as a matter of urgency who that was and what action they are going to take. 'While I absolutely understand the independence of the BBC, just as artists can't hide behind artistic expression for vile commentary, neither can the BBC hide behind independence for accountability, and I hope she knows she has the full support of this side of the House as she pushes them for clarity.' Ms Nandy said she was 'grateful' that Mr Andrew had made 'the very important distinction between independence and accountability'. She continued: 'Given the seriousness of what happened – and particularly we heard in the House and I was able to bring to the House the absolute shocking stories of the impact that this has had on the Jewish community in this country – given the seriousness of this, I would expect there to be accountability at the highest levels.'
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: BBC boss Tim Davie was at Glastonbury on day hate chants were broadcast live... as police launch criminal probe
BBC boss Tim Davie faced mounting calls to quit last night as it emerged he was at Glastonbury on the day death chants against Jews were broadcast from the festival. In a Commons debate, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said there was clearly 'a problem' with the BBC's leadership because it has had 'several' editorial failures in recent months. She threatened to hit it with sanctions if the corporation drags its feet over admitting what went wrong after it expressed 'regret' at not pulling the live feed. She said she was still waiting for answers over another fiasco in February, when the BBC aired a Gaza documentary featuring the son of a Hamas official without telling viewers who the boy was. Mr Davie was present at the festival on Saturday at the time of the livestream of the punk duo Bob Vylan, who launched the rant that Ms Nandy described as 'the equivalent to calling for the death of every single Israeli Jew' due to conscription laws. The band's frontman, who goes by Bobby Vylan, repeatedly chanted 'death, death to the IDF' during a performance – referring to Israel's military, the Israel Defense Forces. BBC boss Tim Davie faced mounting calls to quit last night as it emerged he was at Glastonbury on the day death chants against Jews were broadcast from the festival. Bobby Vylan (pictured) repeatedly chanted 'death, death to the IDF' during a performance at Glastonbury BBC boss Tim Davie (pictured) faced mounting calls to quit last night as it emerged he was at Glastonbury on the day death chants against Jews were broadcast from the festival In a Commons debate, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said there was clearly 'a problem' with the BBC's leadership because it has had 'several' editorial failures in recent months The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Davie visited staff at the festival and was informed of the chant shortly after it was made. He is reported to have decided the performance should not be made available to watch back later, but decided against pulling the livestream from iPlayer, which was available to view for another five hours. A BBC source told the newspaper: 'Tim was there for a few hours to see the team. He was made aware during the time he was there of what had been said on stage. He intervened to make sure the performance was not made available on demand and he was very clear about that. 'Pulling the livestream brings certain technological challenges. With hindsight, we would have taken it down.' Last night, the BBC confirmed Mr Davie attended the festival on Saturday but did not give further details on who decided not to make the broadcast available on demand. The corporation also said the timings of Mr Davie's visit did not align with the Bob Vylan performance. The force said it was also probing footage and audio of a performance by Irish-language rap trio Kneecap. Pictured: Their performance at Glastonbury One member of Kneecap is already facing a terror charge for allegedly brandishing a flag in support of the proscribed group Hezbollah at a gig in London in November. Pictured: Their performance at Glastonbury Avon and Somerset Police have now launched a criminal probe into the chants, which have been recorded as a public order incident and potential hate crime. Footage shows some of the crowd joining in with the chants. The force said it was also probing footage and audio of a performance by Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, one of whom is already facing a terror charge for allegedly brandishing a flag in support of the proscribed group Hezbollah at a gig in London in November. Ms Nandy raised questions about why Glastonbury's organisers gave the artists a stage amid wider concerns about Left-wing extremist hate at the festival, saying the death chant 'raises very, very serious questions at the highest levels of the BBC'. Richard Tice, Reform UK's deputy leader, said many will have concluded that the BBC was 'institutionally anti-Semitic', while Sir Michael Ellis, a former attorney general, joined calls for Mr Davie to resign. Regulator Ofcom said 'the BBC clearly has questions to answer' and that it was seeking more infomation 'as a matter of urgency'.
