Latest news with #Eccleston
South Wales Argus
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston filming in Newport
Everyone's favourite northern timelord Christopher Eccleston rocked up in the city centre for a cheeky bit of filming however, he wasn't fighting the Daleks or stopping Cybermen taking over John Frost Square! No instead, Salford born Eccleston was sighted on Corn Street for the filming of 'About a Bell.' Doctor who star Christopher Eccleston with Newport local Mark Vrettos (Image: Mark Vrettos) About a Bell is an independent film about Sami, a Syrian refugee, and Bryony, a young librarian, who embark on a highly personal quest to preserve a bell from a demolished church. Th brains behind the operation Welsh production company Hello Deer have been in the city for around three weeks. Eccleston was sighted by Newport local Mark Vrettos who then only moments later bumped into some key Welsh politicians. Speaking about Eccleston Mark said: 'He couldn't have been any nicer and was very enthusiastic about working in Newport again.' Mark then revealed who was just around the corner… He told the Argus: 'I hopped off the bus and there was another filming job with Elenid Morgan and Ken Skates!' First Minister, Eluned Morgan with Ken Skates at Newport bus station (Image: Mark Vrettos) The politicians were in the city for a launch event at Newport Bus Station. Under new legislation young people aged 16 to 21 will be able to ride on buses across Wales for just £1 from September. Speaking at the event First Minister, Eluned Morgan will said: 'Cutting the cost of travel for young people and providing better transport for all is one of our top priorities. We are delivering our promises to young people across Wales. 'This investment will make a real difference to communities all over Wales, but especially in rural areas.' Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates added: 'I am delighted to be launching a scheme that offers affordable bus travel for young people to help them access education, training, employment, and leisure, as well as supporting our efforts to encourage more people to use public transport, reduce carbon emissions and tackle poverty.'
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bargain Hunt contestant 'lost for words' as they make BBC history for all the wrong reasons and auction goes 'badly, badly wrong'
A Bargain Hunt contestant was 'lost for words' as they made BBC history - and their auction went 'badly, badly wrong'. The iconic BBC show sees two teams - the blues and the reds - compete to find three antique items, with expert advice, and flog them for the highest possible profit. A resurfaced episode from 2022, hosted by Eric Knowles, sees experts Charles Hanson and Caroline Hawley head to the village of Eccleston, Lancashire. The instalment stands out from all others in the show's 25-year history - for all the wrong reasons. For the first time ever, the red team - made up of Geraldine and Washington - did not find a third item to go under the hammer, taking just two to auction. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. For the first time ever, the red team - made up of Geraldine and Washington (pictured) - did not find a third item to go under the hammer, taking just two to auction The pair were themselves 'lost for words', explaining how they found themselves in that position, with a rare Doulton jug and two vintage tennis racquets 'Because there are so many things here - but it's just finding that item that meets the criteria', they said. The voiceover further clarified that the team simply 'ran out of time' to select their third antique. The criteria in question was that one of their items had to be worth at least £75. The pair did not manage to achieve this, only securing a rare Doulton jug and two vintage tennis racquets - both worth under the threshold. Host Eric told them: 'I've got to say, you have made Bargain Hunt history by virtue of you only managing to buy two items.' The team's expert helper Charles Hanson was just as flabbergasted by the unusual turn of events. Outside the antiques shop, he addressed the reds: 'I like to play to the wire but it went badly, badly wrong. Outside the antiques shop, he addressed the reds: 'I like to play to the wire but it went badly, badly wrong' 'We failed on the challenge. We failed with our big spend. I'm sorry, team. It really happened.' Sticking to the rules of the show, host Eric said: 'The ruling is that because you didn't do the £75 spend, you start with minus £75.' But the reds were soon thrown a lifeline, offered the chance to make a bonus buy and purchase an art deco clock for £200 - a style 'always in demand', Eric assured them. The team ended up selling the clock for a massive £380 at auction, leaving them with a profit of £130 - and leaving them not so impacted by their error after all. Viewers at the time were scandalised by the outcome on X: 'They shouldn't have been allowed a bonus if they hadn't bought three items!' Another said: 'Shouldn't have been allowed to compete with only a £75 forfeit. 'Others can just do that now, but like the red team, still win! Should have been disqualified in my opinion!' But someone else took the misdemeanour less seriously: 'Brilliant! This has got be the best episode ever! What larks!' The rules of Bargain Hunt were similarly put to the test on a celebrity episode featuring Bez and Rowetta Idah of Happy Mondays and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Candida Doyle. The now iconic instalment from 2018 famously had to be reshot when a major rule infringement was discovered after filming had finished. It transpired Bez's girlfriend bid on and won his team's auction items, securing an £8 profit for them - as well as the overall victory. When the infraction came to light, Pulp's team - despite making a £95 loss - was awarded the win, with the end of the episode refilmed to reflect that. The unusual moment saw the host of the episode read out the relevant Bargain Hunt rule, 'Tis completely forbidden for friends or family members to bid on a team's item', before exclaiming: 'I'm speechless!' Bez, who gave the £8 back, said: 'It was a genuine error. My girlfriend thought she was helping out.' Bargain Hunt's executive producer Paul Tucker said at the time: 'We have rules and regulations on Bargain Hunt and we have to make sure they abide by them. 'It was picked up by a runner and we verified there were clearly misdemeanours going on. 'It was a genuine rule that was broken and we had to reshoot the end. 'They are rock and rollers and they live on the edge as they did in the eighties. 'It's not a surprise but in the end, it was quite amusing.' The resurfacing of these rule-breaking moments comes after Charles Hanson made an emotional return to the show after being cleared of abusing his wife. The antiques expert, 46, came back to the long-running show last month, marking his first TV appearance since 2023. Hanson, who has also starred in Antiques Roadshow, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, had been off air while facing serious allegations of assault and coercive control against his wife Rebecca. He had denied all the charges. In February, a jury at Derby Crown Court found him not guilty on all counts. It came after a three-week trial which laid bare the collapse of his marriage to the 42-year-old radiographer. The couple are now divorcing. During the trial, Hanson was accused of a decade of abuse, including putting his pregnant wife in a headlock, pushing and scratching her, and controlling her behaviour. He told jurors she was a 'fantasist' and claimed he had been a 'slave' to her demands. After his acquittal, the TV star sobbed in the dock before punching the air in relief and embracing his parents, Phillip and Gillian, who sat in court throughout proceedings. Speaking outside court in February, Hanson said: 'I'm delighted after a year and half that the truth has finally come out and can finally live my life and feel this burden has finally been lifted. 'It has been a tormentous time and all I want now is to readjust to what has been such an ordeal. 'These last 18 months have been extremely upsetting. I have missed my children and quite simply I can now get back to my life and I relish that. It has been very impactful. 'I am very lucky my parents have stood by me from start to finish – without my family it would have been a very, very testing time.'
The Sun
18-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
We live in shadow of abandoned UK theme park left to rot for over decade – new plans could DESTROY our peaceful village
DISGRUNTLED residents living next to an abandoned theme park have slammed plans to bring it back to life. Locals who live a stone's throw away from the former Camelot Theme Park, in Lancashire, fear their peaceful sleepy town could be ruined. 6 6 6 It comes after plans to build 350 homes on the site have been submitted. The once thriving theme park has lay derelict since the attraction shut down in 2012 due to dwindling visitor numbers. This is not the first time plans have been proposed, with similar applications turned down in 2017 and 2019. But Developers Story Homes haven't given up, despite the area being greenbelt land. They have now approached Chorley Borough Council with a 'screening opinion' request to identify environmental issues before requesting a full planning application. The firm claim planned housing would blend seamlessly with the local landscape. However, residents in the nearby villages of Heskin and Eccleston, once home to Olympic bike legend Bradley Wiggins, believe the new homes will 'spoil' the character of the area. They object to the use of greenbelt land and claim it will lead to an increase in traffic. And residents are also worried there isn't 'sufficient infrastructure' such as schools and doctors to cope. Sue Warburton, 57, said she moved to Heskin a month a go so she 'could be in the countryside'. We live in UK's 'boy racer capital' - wannabe Vin Diesels in souped up cars tear up streets in illegal races EVERY night 'Personally, I think it would cost too much to develop the land - it must all be rubble now," she told The Sun. 'The reason I moved her was to live in the countryside. 'I can see lots of trees from my home and it's lovely. 'I would't like to live in a town now. 'There used to be reason to not build on the greenbelt because there's not enough countryside. 'And I don't want to see trees cut down for new homes.' Fellow resident Melvin Otter, 75, who's lived in Heskin for more than 50 years, said he disliked the theme park because of the 'loud screaming and shouting'. And he's also against the plans to develop the site. 'Where's all the new infrastructure coming from?' he said. 'It's not just a case of the new homes, what about the stuff to go with it? 'The schools must be oversubscribed round here and I'm really glad I haven't got children of my own - where would they go?' 'And the footpaths are just not big enough either. 'The there's the noise from additional traffic.' He added: 'I hope the council reject the plans. 'But perhaps it won't be as easy this time because the government have said they want to build more homes.' 'WE'RE NOT NIMBYS' A couple, who didn't wish to be named, claimed it was 'impossible' to get an appointment with their local GP already and the addition of 350 new homes would only make the situation worse. They added: 'It will be a big problem for existing residents. 'They have been building other new homes in the area too. 'I don't know why they can't look at developing derelict sites on the edges of towns or cities. 'We're not Nimbys. It's just wrong to build so many new homes here.' Ian Bridge, 65, who lives in nearby Chorley, added: 'I'm of the mind that greenbelt land should remain greenbelt. 'And it's the wrong policy to allow it. 'We hear all this blather about about climate change but it seems this is being ignored when it comes to building on the greenbelt. 'I fear the council may have to fall in the line with government policy and there's nothing they'll be able to do about it." According to the application by Story Homes, the proposed development would "deliver a mix of much-needed family homes and a community hub that can offer an accessible local facility for the community" while protecting "existing sensitive habitats, such as areas of ancient woodland'. It said' "While the proposed development proposes a change in land use, predominantly from a vacant former theme park site to residential dwellings, this is in keeping with the surrounding environment. "The area is characterised by development including residential dwellings to the west, and M6 to the east which is already an urbanised area and would therefore not distinctly change the character of the area." Camelot enthralled punters with rides and restaurants inspired by the mythical king, the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's legendary sword Excalibur for 29 years. It even boasted a live jousting ring. Local legend has it that the area was once covered by the largest freshwater lake in England, Martin Mere, until it was drained in 1692. Councillor Alex Hilton, Executive Cabinet Member for Planning and Development at Chorley Council said: 'We are yet to receive a planning application for this site. "If a planning application is submitted, we will review the application in the same way as we would all applications and in full consideration of public and other stakeholder feedback. "The decision would then be made after consideration by our planning committee.' This comes as a couple who have lived next to one of the UK's biggest theme parks for 40 years can watch rollercoasters from their garden. Bert Forse, 90, and his wife June, 88, say they've grown to like the rickety noise of the rides coming from Oakwood Theme Park, near Tenby, Wales. When they bought their detached house 58 years ago, the action-packed park wasn't there. Oakwood opened in 1987 - quickly becoming a hit with locals and tourists. And an influx of visitors even meant an overflow car park spilled onto Bert and June's back door. Despite the pair, who have been married for 65 years, getting free tickets for having it on their doorstep, the pensioners have only visited once. Elsewhere, residents of a village by the site of the UK's first Universal theme park claim it's going to be horrendous and ruin their quiet way of life. Plus, furious locals living near the site of a proposed £600million 'ride-free' theme park have objected to the plans. What are your rights? By Summer Raemason Every planning application submitted to a local authority must undergo a period of public consultation which varies in length between three and eight weeks. Most councils publish details of planning applications on their websites. You can find the website address for your local planning authority on the Planning Portal. Alternatively, open applications can be viewed at your local town hall and the offices of your local planning authority. The Planning Portal does not offer the facility to comment on applications directly. Therefore you will need to contact your local planning authority if you want to have your say on a planning application in your area. There are a number of ways to do this: If you are a neighbour affected by a planning application the local planning authority will either notify you directly or display a site notice on or near the land to which the application relates. You could contact the planning offices of your local authority to involve yourself in the consultation process. The local planning authority may offer a service on its website. You are allowed to attend planning committee meetings to hear applications being considered. You are also allowed to have your say at these meetings but you must notify the council in advance of the meeting. 6 6 6
The Independent
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Doctor Who announces reunion of Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper after 20 years
Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are reuniting under the Doctor Who umbrella for the first time in 20 years. Eccleston played the ninth incarnation of the much-loved Time Lord and Piper played his companion, Rose Tyler, in the revived series in 2005. Since then, Matt Smith, Jodie Whitaker, Peter Capaldi, David Tennant and current star Ncuti Gatwa have all played the Doctor in the BBC show. Eccleston, 61, and Piper, 42, were especially adored by fans of the series. Now, the pair will reunite for the first time in two decades to front a new Doctor Who audio drama series. While both have starred in Big Finish audio dramas separately, the new project will mark their first time together. "Back to the Powell Estate, where the Doctor's past returns to haunt him, and out into the universe where enemies old and new are waiting,' reads a synopsis for Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures, out later this year. The show will be made up of 12 hour-long episodes and is the fourth season of the audio drama. Commenting on their reunion, Eccleston said: "I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. I don't think my Doctor exists without Rose. "He's a 'one man, one companion' kind of alien. We've explored him on his own at Big Finish, as a loner. But there's a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose, that's why I do this. They complete each other." Piper added: "I can't think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now. Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together." Matt Fitton, the show's producer has said that the episodes will slot 'neatly into that 2005 series', featuring 'more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space'. "Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season," he added. "And Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto. They're having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime – and they sound fantastic!" The episodes are available to pre-order before their release in August 2025. They cost from £9.99 per story to download and own or £11.99 to download along with a collector's edition CD from A mutlti-buy bundle is available to pre-order at £102 or £126 including the collector's edition CD.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston to reunite for Doctor Who audio dramas
Doctor Who stars Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston are reprising their roles for a new audio series. Eccleston, 60, appeared as the ninth incarnation of the time-travelling alien 20 years ago when showrunner Russell T Davies revived the sci-fi show. I Hate Suzie actress Piper starred as his companion Rose Tyler and they filmed one series together before Scottish actor David Tennant took over Eccleston's role. A description of the new adventures says the Doctor's past 'returns to haunt him', adding that 'enemies old and new are waiting'. Eccleston said: 'I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. 'I don't think my Doctor exists without Rose. He's a 'one man, one companion' kind of alien. 'We've explored him on his own at Big Finish (Productions), as a loner. 'But there's a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose, that's why I do this. They complete each other.' Piper, 42, added: 'I can't think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now. 'Twenty years after she first ran into the Tardis and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe, and the monsters, together.' Producer Matt Fitton said: 'Twenty years after the ninth Doctor and Rose burst on to our screens, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are back with that brilliant dynamic – the Doctor showing Rose the universe and Rose showing him the best of humanity. 'Across 12 episodes, slotting neatly into that 2005 series, we have more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space. 'Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season, and Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto. 'They're having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime and they sound fantastic.' Doctor Who audios have been produced by Big Finish since 1999 and have featured actors including Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Tennant, Jodie Whittaker and Sir John Hurt. Listeners can pre-order The Ninth Doctor And Rose, starting at £11.99 (per story on collector's edition CD plus download) or £9.99 (download only) from
