Latest news with #DavidNeilson
NZ Herald
14-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Rugby league star Kalyn Ponga considering leaving Newcastle Knights
Kalyn Ponga lines up the conversion of his own try. Newcastle Knights v Vodafone Warriors. NRL Rugby League. McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia.14th March 2020. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen. Kalyn Ponga lines up the conversion of his own try. Newcastle Knights v Vodafone Warriors. NRL Rugby League. McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia.14th March 2020. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / Australian rugby league star Kalyn Ponga has hired a New Zealand rugby union agent in a hint at a possible code switch, an Australian paper reports. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 27-year-old has begun exploring other options despite having two years left on his Newcastle Knights contract. Newcastle currently sit 13th on the NRL ladder, having only won six out of their 17 games. Kalyn Ponga lines up the conversion of his own try. Newcastle Knights v Vodafone Warriors. NRL Rugby League. McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia.14th March 2020. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / Anonymous sources told the newspaper Ponga is concerned about wasting his prime playing years at the Knights and is open to leaving at the end of the 2025 season.
South Wales Argus
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Coronation Street bosses urged to wake up over bad stories
The programme has been slammed by viewers for its over-reliance on serious crime stories and the under-utilisation of established characters, something that many believe was the reason for its poor showing at the British Soap Awards. Corrie, which first aired all the way back in 1960, was outshone by rival soap operas like EastEnders last week, leading to concern from some ITV viewers. How many awards did Coronation Street get at the 2025 British Soap Awards? The only title won by Coronation Street at the British Soap Awards last week was claimed by David Neilson (Roy Cropper) for the Outstanding Achievement category. According to the Radio Times, the rest were won by Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and EastEnders. Coronation Street bosses told to 'wake up' as show 'worst' it has been in years Taking to the Coronation Street Reddit, one fan simply demanded that the showrunners "wake up" and added that it "absolutely deserved to get no awards" last week. They wrote: "The soap awards should be a massive wake-up call. Corrie absolutely deserved to get no awards, sorry to say, not compared to EastEnders. "The show has been a constant crime saga with pointless loopholed stories carried by meaningless characters. I remember corrie in the 2017/18 days when they did Aidan's suicide, Bethany's grooming plot, David's rape. "Going even further back, I remember Kirsty and Tyrone's domestic abuse storyline, which was heavily lauded. Even the racism with Max/Lauren and Alia alongside Geoff's abuse of Yasmin was heartbreaking to see. "Yes, they were miserable and dark stories, but they were relevant stories and had us hooked, and we cared so much about what these characters were going through." They added: "It's ridiculous how established characters are being sidelined for newer ones who haven't even built a rapport with audiences. "Work with some charities and do further research on issue-based stories that can be explored instead of being lazy and recycling constant cheating and crime storylines with the same predictable characters. "I get the newer actors are probs cheaper to use and easier to fit in anywhere to make up a storyline but overusing them creates resentment towards them. "Use them sensibly and start giving the older cast members more meaty storylines." Recommended Reading: Finishing the complaint, the ITV viewer said: "Listen to your audiences for once, otherwise these pointless stories that always revolve around cheating and crime are further going to decrease your popularity." Other fans of the show agreed with one user writing: "Not going to lie. I do still enjoy Corrie. But there needs to be more 'kitchen sink'/Rovers scenes. The occasional trauma-based storyline better executed. It's like they pick and choose which they want to do well." Another added: "Coronation Street has been the worst I have ever known it in the past 12 months."
North Wales Chronicle
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Coronation Street bosses urged to wake up over bad stories
The programme has been slammed by viewers for its over-reliance on serious crime stories and the under-utilisation of established characters, something that many believe was the reason for its poor showing at the British Soap Awards. Corrie, which first aired all the way back in 1960, was outshone by rival soap operas like EastEnders last week, leading to concern from some ITV viewers. The only title won by Coronation Street at the British Soap Awards last week was claimed by David Neilson (Roy Cropper) for the Outstanding Achievement category. According to the Radio Times, the rest were won by Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and EastEnders. Taking to the Coronation Street Reddit, one fan simply demanded that the showrunners "wake up" and added that it "absolutely deserved to get no awards" last week. They wrote: "The soap awards should be a massive wake-up call. Corrie absolutely deserved to get no awards, sorry to say, not compared to EastEnders. "The show has been a constant crime saga with pointless loopholed stories carried by meaningless characters. I remember corrie in the 2017/18 days when they did Aidan's suicide, Bethany's grooming plot, David's rape. "Going even further back, I remember Kirsty and Tyrone's domestic abuse storyline, which was heavily lauded. Even the racism with Max/Lauren and Alia alongside Geoff's abuse of Yasmin was heartbreaking to see. "Yes, they were miserable and dark stories, but they were relevant stories and had us hooked, and we cared so much about what these characters were going through." They added: "It's ridiculous how established characters are being sidelined for newer ones who haven't even built a rapport with audiences. "Work with some charities and do further research on issue-based stories that can be explored instead of being lazy and recycling constant cheating and crime storylines with the same predictable characters. "I get the newer actors are probs cheaper to use and easier to fit in anywhere to make up a storyline but overusing them creates resentment towards them. "Use them sensibly and start giving the older cast members more meaty storylines." Coronation Street icon of 25 years leaves show tonight after huge decision Fans cry soap is 'robbed' at British Soap Awards as 'chaos' halts start to show Coronation Street legend accidentally reveals Emmerdale crossover spoiler Finishing the complaint, the ITV viewer said: "Listen to your audiences for once, otherwise these pointless stories that always revolve around cheating and crime are further going to decrease your popularity." Other fans of the show agreed with one user writing: "Not going to lie. I do still enjoy Corrie. But there needs to be more 'kitchen sink'/Rovers scenes. The occasional trauma-based storyline better executed. It's like they pick and choose which they want to do well." Another added: "Coronation Street has been the worst I have ever known it in the past 12 months."
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Furious ITVX viewers slam channel as service crashes stopping them watching British Soap Awards
ITV viewers have slammed the channel as the service crashed - stopping them watching The British Soap Awards 2025. Soap fans were tuning into watch the awards ceremony, which was meant to start at 8pm. 1 But the programme was delayed by a few minutes with just a message from the broadcaster and a black screen. The message read: "We're sorry for the disruption." Fans were quick to take to social media with their complaints. One wrote: "What the hell is going on ? Will it ever come on?" A second said: "Oh dear looks like we got major problems on ITV1." A third commented: "Well, I guess I am not watching The Soap Awards on ITVX. What's going on?" Despite the delay, the ceremony, which was filmed earlier this week, kicked off with ane McDonald hosting for a second year. It comes after Coronation Street were brutally snubbed at the awards as they failed to pick up any of the previously announced awards at this year's ceremony. The annual soap event made a return this year after ITV mysteriously axed the contest in 2024. But it was bad news for Coronation Street as the programme suffered a devastating loss after managing to bag just the specially curated Outstanding Achievement Award which went to Roy Cropper star David Neilson. The show failed to secure wins in any of the main panel or viewer-voted categories amid ITV's ongoing cash crisis and the mass cast exodus at the soap over the past six months. Its ITV counterpart Emmerdale also faced a crushing blow ahead of the impending ITV schedule changes which will see 30 minutes worth of each programme cut a week from January 2026. BBC rival EastEnders swept the board after collecting a total of eight gongs in its 40th anniversary year - more than double its nearest rival, Channel 4's Hollyoaks who got three awards. EastEnders was awarded Best Soap after its huge live episode and anniversary week which saw Anita Dobson return as Angie Watts and Martin Fowler killed off in the arms of his love, Stacey. It was certainly not the only award that they picked up with actress Lacey Turner receiving the trophy for Best Leading Performer ahead of her impending exit from the show. The 40th anniversary also managed to clutch the Scene of the Year thanks to Angie's shock return. Steve McFadden a won a trophy for Best Dramatic Performance as Phil Mitchell but did not attend the ceremony with Angela Wynter and Rudolph Walker also receiving prizes as Patrick and Yolande - beating Corrie fan favourites Lisa Swain and Carla Connor, affectionately known as Swarla, to the Best On-Screen Partnership award. The Walford based soap also collected the Comedy Performance gongs and Villain of the Year. In a major blow to Coronation Street, only David Neilson picked up the Outstanding Achievement Award as Roy Cropper which was presented to him by by his on-screen wife Julie Hesmondhalgh. Hollyoaks managed to win three awards with Isabelle Smith winning as Best Newcomer with The Osbourne family taking home Best Family and the sibling sexual abuse storyline being named Best Storyline. Emmerdale managed just two awards with Amelia Flanagan beating her Corrie star brother Will to the Best Young Performer prize. Mike Plant, one of the show's camera operators, picked up the prestigious off-screen Tony Warren Award accolade for his contributions to the soap behind the scenes. ITV's crushing defeats come amid a period of unrest backstage at the shows. Both Corrie and Emmerdale have lost a number of stars over the past 12 months amid cuts at the channel. In particular, Coronation Street has faced increasing criticism of its far-fetched storylines and dwindling viewer interest in many of its plots.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders star Tameka Empson breaks silence on ‘intense' Celebrity Traitors and what part of show took her by surprise
EASTENDERS legend Tameka Empson has lifted the lid on her time in the 'intense' Celebrity Traitors mansion. The soap star, best known for playing Kim Fox on the BBC show, swapped Albert Square for the grand Scottish castle as part of the all-star line-up in the hit reality series. 5 Tameka, 47, admitted the pressure of the game left her feeling "intense." Speaking out for the first time since filming wrapped, she said: "It was great, really great, but it was a lot." Tameka will be joined by 18 other celebrities including comedians Alan Carr and Joe Wilkinson, actors Celia Imrie, Ruth Codd, and Mark Bonnar, singer-songwriters Cat Burns and Paloma Faith, and broadcasters Clare Balding and Kate Garraway. The other contestants are Charlotte Church, David Olusoga, Joe Marler, Jonathan Ross, Lucy Beaumont, Nick Mohammed, Niko Omilana, Stephen Fry and Tom Daley. The participants will be seen competing for up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice. BBC has confirmed the new series will air on BBC One and iPlayer this autumn. Meanwhile, The British Soap Awards returned after ITV mysteriously axed the contest in 2024. But it was bad news for Coronation Street as the programme suffered a devastating loss after managing to bag just the specially curated Outstanding Achievement Award which went to Roy Cropper star David Neilson. The show failed to secure wins in any of the main panel or viewer-voted categories amid ITV's ongoing cash crisis and the mass cast exodus at the soap over the past six months. Coronation Street and Emmerdale humiliated at British Soap Awards as rival soap wins EIGHT gongs Its ITV counterpart Emmerdale also faced a crushing blow ahead of the impending ITV schedule changes which will see 30 minutes worth of each programme cut a week from January 2026. BBC rival EastEnders swept the board after collecting a total of eight gongs in its 40th anniversary year - more than double its nearest rival, Channel 4's Hollyoaks who got three awards. EastEnders was awarded Best Soap after its huge live episode and anniversary week which saw Anita Dobson return as Angie Watts and Martin Fowler killed off in the arms of his love, Stacey. It was certainly not the only award that they picked up with actress Lacey Turner receiving the trophy for Best Leading Performer ahead of her impending exit from the show. British Soap Awards 2025: Winners List Here's who took home trophys at the 2025 British Soap Awards Best Single Episode - Eastenders: Phil's Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985 Best Young Performer - Emmerdale Scene Of The Year - Eastenders: Angie Watts' Shock Return Best Newcomer - Hollyoaks: Isabelle Smith as Frankie Osborne Villain Of The Year - Eastenders: Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar Best Family - Hollyoaks: The Osbornes Best Dramatic Performance - Eastenders: Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell Best On-Screen Partnership - Eastenders: Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter as Patrick & Yolande Trueman Outstanding Achievement Award - Coronation Street: David Neilson Best Comedy Performance - Eastenders: Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson The Tony Warren Award - Emmerdale: Mike Plant Best Storyline - Hollyoaks: Sibling Sexual Abuse Best Leading Performer - Eastenders: Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater Best British Soap - Eastenders The 40th anniversary also managed to clutch the Scene of the Year thanks to Angie's shock return. Steve McFadden a won a trophy for Best Dramatic Performance as Phil Mitchell but did not attend the ceremony with Angela Wynter and Rudolph Walker also receiving prizes as Patrick and Yolande - beating Corrie fan favourites Lisa Swain and Carla Connor, affectionately known as Swarla, to the Best On-Screen Partnership award. The Walford based soap also collected the Comedy Performance gongs and Villain of the Year. In a major blow to Coronation Street, only David Neilson picked up the Outstanding Achievement Award as Roy Cropper which was presented to him by by his on-screen wife Julie Hesmondhalgh. Hollyoaks managed to win three awards with Isabelle Smith winning as Best Newcomer with The Osbourne family taking home Best Family and the sibling sexual abuse storyline being named Best Storyline. Emmerdale managed just two awards with Amelia Flanagan beating her Corrie star brother Will to the Best Young Performer prize. Mike Plant, one of the show's camera operators, picked up the prestigious off-screen Tony Warren Award accolade for his contributions to the soap behind the scenes. ITV's crushing defeats come amid a period of unrest backstage at the shows. Both Corrie and Emmerdale have lost a number of stars over the past 12 months amid cuts at the channel. In particular, Coronation Street has faced increasing criticism of its far-fetched storylines and dwindling viewer interest in many of its plots. Fans will be able to see all the reaction from the ceremony held at the Hackney Empire during the broadcast of the ceremony this Thursday evening on ITV. 5 5 5
