Latest news with #DearEngland
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Jaw-dropping TV documentary series on romance frauds and cheats back for a second series
CHANNEL 4 is playing dirty once again by lining up a fresh batch of adulterous scandals for viewers to shake their heads disapprovingly at. I can reveal bosses have commissioned a second instalment of docu- series Advertisement 8 Fake aristocrat Lord Bertie Underwood — real name Robert Madejski — was jailed for fraud offences Credit: facebook 8 Megan Clarke was scammed by Madejski leaving her £30,000 in debt Credit: Channel 4 And the broadcaster is on the hunt for more real-life victims of relationship scams and lying partners. The original run hit the headlines courtesy of a fake aristocrat called He was later jailed for fraud offences involving another victim. Advertisement Read More on TV A TV insider said: 'The first series made such a big impact Channel 4 chiefs couldn't wait to green light a follow-up.' Research teams are collating more extreme cases to feature and cast their net far and wide. The source added: 'It's shocking so many people's lives have been destroyed by these con artists but there is some consolation that the culprits' actions can be outed in such public fashion.' Other big storylines from series one included a man falling in love with a mum of one who faked having cancer to con him out of almost £10,000, plus twin sisters who were defrauded by a scammer posing as a firefighter. Advertisement Most read in News TV Plus, across the pond, a comic-loving man fell for the charms of an equally geeky girl with He paid for her medical care, as well as rent, before digging deeper into his pockets to fund the 'life-changing treatment' she desperately needed. I was scammed by fake 'lord' who left me £30K in debt In all, he paid out £80,000 of money he didn't have. And when he realised his dream girlfriend was a scammer, she falsely accused him of domestic abuse, fled to Japan, and targeted more victims. Advertisement Not a very likeable bunch . . . A GRAVE ERROR ON TRAITORS Stephen joined the Chatty Man on his Life's A Beach podcast – and the topic turned to the BBC1 show, which was filmed in Scoland and will air this autumn. 8 Stephen Fry is staying tight-lipped about his time on Celebrity Traitors Credit: Alamy Advertisement Alan said: 'We holidayed recently near Inverness in a castle. But we can't say anything.' Stephen replied: 'Not a word.' Alan continued: 'Nothing. And there's already clickbaity things happening. Apparently there's a funeral. There's no bloody funeral. 'We are obviously talking about Celebrity Traitors, which was a wonderful experience. I had to mention it but our lives wouldn't be worth living if we start giving out spoilers.' Advertisement Ok, we get it . . . PERFECT MATCH, ENGLAND IT'S a line up of look-a-likes almost as impressive as the team they're impersonating. The cast of Dear England, the BBC adaptation of the West end play about Gareth Southgate's career, came together to start filming last week. 8 Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in Dear England Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH Advertisement 8 Michael Watson as Kieran Trippier in the BBC adaptation Credit: Click News and Media 8 Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling Credit: Click News and Media 8 Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford Credit: Click News and Media And it was incredible just how much like the England players who feature in the show, which was using posh public school Harrow to double up as the squad's Stafordshire training ground. Advertisement Former Shakespeare in Love star But the rest of the 'players' were just as convincing - right down to some of the ball skills they were showing off too. We can all witness for ourselves when it airs next year on BBC One. CHANNEL 5 has unveiled a raft of new dramas. Advertisement They include Imposter, starring ex Corrie actress Kym Marsh and Neighbours' Jackie Woodburne. While detective mystery Cooper and Fry, from Stephen Booth's novels, features Downton Abbey's Robert James-Collier. FANS ARE BROWN'S BUOYS The Irishman says having a live reaction to the gags brings something extra special in an age where hardly any sitcoms are filmed in front of fans. Advertisement 8 Brendan O'Carroll says Mrs Browns Boys would be nothing without its studio audience Credit: BBC Brendan, who also co-writes the hit series, will be back as matriarch Agnes Brown as the show returns to BBC One for a new four-part mini series, on August 1. Agreeing with 'So many times, at the end of rehearsals, our director, Ben Kellett will say, 'All this needs now is the audience' and he is so right. Advertisement 'They follow every move, every line and add so much to our performances. We would be lost without them.' Sadly, it's a dying art.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE There's only one Gareth Southgate? Don't you believe it, writes KATIE HIND... As Joseph Fiennes is the spitting image of ex-England coach in TV remake of stage hit, do the other lookalikes match up?
He was widely praised for his 'almost AI-grade exactness' in playing Sir Gareth Southgate on stage. And as these pictures show, Joseph Fiennes, with his neat beard and focused expression, has lost none of his uncanny resemblance to the former England manager. The actor is reprising his role for the BBC adaptation of Dear England. Fiennes, 53, was seen on set for the first time as filming got under way this week for the highly-anticipated four-part series, which will air next year. The Shakespeare in Love star was spotted wearing an England training kit while recording scenes at top public school Harrow, which is being used for the squad's Staffordshire training ground, St George's Park. He was joined by former Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker, who is playing the team's psychologist Pippa Grange, and was seen wearing an official navy polo shirt. He was joined by former Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker (left), who is playing the team's psychologist Pippa Grange (right), and was seen wearing an official navy polo shirt The series, which is being made by Leftbank, the production company behind The Crown, will feature an all-star cast including Bafta winner Jason Watkins, 62, as FA chairman Greg Dyke. A cast of actors has also been hired to play various members of the England team, including Will Antenbring as Harry Kane, Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling, and Jacob Greenway as Jude Bellingham. Wayne Rooney will be played by Bobby Schofield, who most recently appeared in Liverpool-based drug mafia drama, This City Is Ours. Dear England has been adapted for television by James Graham, who also wrote the play, and tells the story of Sir Gareth's efforts to transform the team's performance and address the nation's long history of footballing disappointments – particularly penalty shootouts. The show begins with a flashback to 1996 when Sir Gareth missed a penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final defeat by Germany at Wembley. The plot charts the successes and failures of the men's team under Sir Gareth: the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when England reached the semi-finals, the 2020 European Championships which led to defeat in the final, and the team's quarter-final exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Mr Graham has confirmed that the TV show will also include Euro 2024, where the team made the final, only to be beaten by Spain, Southgate's last act as England manager before resigning. Much of the action will take place in the grounds of £75,000-a-year Harrow. Josh Barrow will feature as goalkeeping star Jordan Pickford Adam Hugill will feature as centre-back Harry Maguire Lewis Shepherd will star as Como player Dele Alli Hamish Frew will play Monaco's Eric Dier Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson will be played by David Shields Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier will be played by Michael Watson Further scenes were filmed at Wolverhampton Wanderers' ground Molineux last week, which is believed to be standing in for Wembley. The play premiered at the National Theatre in 2023 to five-star reviews, winning an Olivier award for Best New Play and enjoying a sell-out run. Joseph Fiennes was nominated for an Olivier award. It returned to the National Theatre earlier this year before embarking on a national tour. James Graham said bringing football to the stage had been 'one of the most rewarding moments of my writing life'.
Leader Live
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Observer's editor-in-chief to deliver MacTaggart lecture on media landscape
James Harding, co-founder of Tortoise Media, which acquired broadsheet newspaper The Observer in April, will speak about the media landscape during the festival's flagship address. He follows in the footsteps of former keynote speakers that include: Dear England playwright James Graham; I May Destroy You screenwriter Michaela Coel; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis; and broadcaster Louis Theroux. Mr Harding said: 'Some years ago, I covered the MacTaggart lectures as a reporter and know how important it is for television, journalism and the wider creative industries. A post shared by Edinburgh TV Festival (@edinburghtvfest) 'I am hugely honoured to be asked to give the lecture in its 50th year. I hope it will be a moment to call out the challenges to truth and trust – and suggest how we can renew the media to meet them.' Before he co-founded Tortoise Media, Mr Harding was editor of The Times from 2007 to 2012 and was in charge of the BBC's news and current affairs programming from 2013 up until the beginning of 2018. He also co-presented On Background on the BBC World Service and wrote the book Alpha Dogs: How Political Spin Became A Global Business. Jane Tranter, chief executive of production company Bad Wolf and advisory chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, said: 'James' demonstrable determination to protect truth and trust in public service broadcasting and the media – coupled with his belief that in order to protect we need to change – makes him the MacTaggart lecturer that we need in this seismic year. 'In James' hands, our lecture promises to be a provocative, kick-ass and insightful view from a visionary leader. We couldn't ask for more.' The festival, which is celebrating 50 years of its MacTaggart lecture, brings together leading industry figures and a broad, diverse range of delegates to debate the issues facing the television industry.
Rhyl Journal
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Observer's editor-in-chief to deliver MacTaggart lecture on media landscape
James Harding, co-founder of Tortoise Media, which acquired broadsheet newspaper The Observer in April, will speak about the media landscape during the festival's flagship address. He follows in the footsteps of former keynote speakers that include: Dear England playwright James Graham; I May Destroy You screenwriter Michaela Coel; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis; and broadcaster Louis Theroux. Mr Harding said: 'Some years ago, I covered the MacTaggart lectures as a reporter and know how important it is for television, journalism and the wider creative industries. A post shared by Edinburgh TV Festival (@edinburghtvfest) 'I am hugely honoured to be asked to give the lecture in its 50th year. I hope it will be a moment to call out the challenges to truth and trust – and suggest how we can renew the media to meet them.' Before he co-founded Tortoise Media, Mr Harding was editor of The Times from 2007 to 2012 and was in charge of the BBC's news and current affairs programming from 2013 up until the beginning of 2018. He also co-presented On Background on the BBC World Service and wrote the book Alpha Dogs: How Political Spin Became A Global Business. Jane Tranter, chief executive of production company Bad Wolf and advisory chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, said: 'James' demonstrable determination to protect truth and trust in public service broadcasting and the media – coupled with his belief that in order to protect we need to change – makes him the MacTaggart lecturer that we need in this seismic year. 'In James' hands, our lecture promises to be a provocative, kick-ass and insightful view from a visionary leader. We couldn't ask for more.' The festival, which is celebrating 50 years of its MacTaggart lecture, brings together leading industry figures and a broad, diverse range of delegates to debate the issues facing the television industry.
Glasgow Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Observer's editor-in-chief to deliver MacTaggart lecture on media landscape
James Harding, co-founder of Tortoise Media, which acquired broadsheet newspaper The Observer in April, will speak about the media landscape during the festival's flagship address. He follows in the footsteps of former keynote speakers that include: Dear England playwright James Graham; I May Destroy You screenwriter Michaela Coel; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis; and broadcaster Louis Theroux. Mr Harding said: 'Some years ago, I covered the MacTaggart lectures as a reporter and know how important it is for television, journalism and the wider creative industries. 'I am hugely honoured to be asked to give the lecture in its 50th year. I hope it will be a moment to call out the challenges to truth and trust – and suggest how we can renew the media to meet them.' Before he co-founded Tortoise Media, Mr Harding was editor of The Times from 2007 to 2012 and was in charge of the BBC's news and current affairs programming from 2013 up until the beginning of 2018. He also co-presented On Background on the BBC World Service and wrote the book Alpha Dogs: How Political Spin Became A Global Business. Jane Tranter, chief executive of production company Bad Wolf and advisory chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, said: 'James' demonstrable determination to protect truth and trust in public service broadcasting and the media – coupled with his belief that in order to protect we need to change – makes him the MacTaggart lecturer that we need in this seismic year. 'In James' hands, our lecture promises to be a provocative, kick-ass and insightful view from a visionary leader. We couldn't ask for more.' The festival, which is celebrating 50 years of its MacTaggart lecture, brings together leading industry figures and a broad, diverse range of delegates to debate the issues facing the television industry.
