Latest news with #HarryHill
Wales Online
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Harry Hill wants TV Burp to return - but with one major change
Harry Hill wants TV Burp to return - but with one major change The 60-year-old comedian fronted the ITV comedy clip series - which saw Harry make jokes relating to the previous week's hottest TV shows, with episodes also featuring sketches and parodied scenes - from 2001 until it ended in 2012 (Image: BBC ) Harry Hill wants TV Burp to come back – but with a new presenter. The 60-year-old comedian fronted the ITV comedy clip series - which saw Harry make jokes relating to the previous week's hottest TV shows, with episodes also featuring sketches and parodied scenes - from 2001 until it ended in 2012. And whilst Harry thinks he would not succeed in re-creating the award-winning show, the star is open for someone to replace him in reviving the programme. In an interview with the new issue of Radio Times magazine, he said: "I don't have any plans [to bring back Harry Hill's TV Burp]. "These things are best left undone. We did all the jokes. Trying to re-create that, I'd be on a hiding to nothing, but I'd love someone else to do it. "There's a space for that sort of show and I'm surprised no one's filled it." Article continues below The Knitted Character was a recurring character in many series of Harry Hill's TV Burp until it was replaced with Mr. Fluffy in series 11. And Harry said the Knitted Character does not want the "weekly stress" of the show either if it came back. Speaking about the Knitted Character - who appears in Harry's new live show New Bits and Greatest Hits - he said: "He's in my live show. He comes on at the end as part of the badger parade, riding on the back of a heron. "Blink and you'll miss him because he's only tiny, but he's still working. "Knitted Character is older and wiser now. He doesn't necessarily want the stress of a weekly show, either." The comic - who married artist Magda Archer in 1996 - binged-watched property shows, such as Homes Under the Hammer and EastEnders, for Harry Hill's TV Burp, and now he gets annoyed by them if he tries to tune in. He quipped: "I used to watch them all for TV Burp, so they're a bit triggering, which is unfortunate because they're the only shows my wife watches." Harry - whose real name is Matthew Hall - said the sketch comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus is what inspired him as a child to become a comedian. He explained: "Brucey [Forsyth], Eric [Morecambe] and Ernie [Wise] and The Two Ronnies [Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett] were big in our house, but what really got me was Monty Python's Flying Circus. Article continues below "The problem was, my dad decided what was on, and at 9pm, he wanted to watch the news on BBC One. "I wanted to watch Not the Nine O'Clock News on BBC Two. We'd sneak it on, turn the sound down and hope he wouldn't realise what the time was."
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK seaside town loved by celebrities who flock there every summer
Already a holiday hotspot for tourists and locals alike, this seaside town is a magnet for the rich and famous, with celebrities regularly flocking to the stunning coast This idyllic Kentish town on the coast, has become a firm favourite among Londoners, locals, and a host of celebrities. Tucked between Herne Bay and Seasalter, merely five miles north of Canterbury, Whitstable offers more than just its picturesque views. Boasting a rich heritage, a plethora of eateries and watering holes, and attractions like the enchanting Whitstable Castle and Gardens, it's an unmissable spot for any traveller. The town's sprawling beach is a gem, luring in both locals and visitors from afar. Whitstable has also turned into a hotspot for celebrities who now call the town home. The late Peter Cushing, famed for his Hammer Horror roles and a Whitstable local, has left an indelible mark on the town. Other well-known personalities such as comedians Harry Hill and Alan Davies, along with journalist Janet Street-Porter, have also called Whitstable home over the years, reported Nottinghamshire Live. Even A-listers from across the pond, like Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul and adult film star Mia Khalifa, have been captivated by Whitstable's allure. Following her visit to the town, Mia took to Instagram to proclaim that Whitstable was "better than Miami". During 2022, the 32 year old stayed for a fortnight at a luxury Airbnb right on the beachfront in Whitstable, shelling out £580 per night for the privilege. As she prepared to depart, she shared her disappointment on Instagram, telling her followers, "I've been in Whitstable the past two weeks, and I'm heartbroken to leave." If you fancy a pint with the stars, be sure to pop into the Old Neptune pub. This delightful establishment, fondly referred to as the Neppy by locals, is not only a hop, skip and a jump from the beach but also a hotspot for celebrities. The dog-friendly pub offers an impressive array of local brews and wines, and its Facebook page is often graced with the delighted owners posing alongside their famous clientele. Among the celebs caught enjoying a tipple here are Louis Dunford, famed for his tune The Angel (North London Forever), and EastEnders' Sean Williamson, best known for his portrayal of Barry in the soap. The list of celebs who've popped in for a pint is lengthy, featuring big hitters like celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, telly presenter Stacey Dooley, and Love Island's Montana Brown. Whitstable provides the ideal blend of seaside allure and star allure, attracting not just those seeking breath-taking views but also the glitterati. But it's not all about rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous; Whitstable Beach has become a favourite spot for film and TV crews, appearing in hits such as Acorn TV's Whitstable Pearl, Interior Design Masters, and even Celebrity Antiques Roadshow. It's worth noting that Whitstable Beach has also served as a backdrop for films, including Still Life starring Eddie Marsan, which hit cinemas in 2013. Whitstable Beach, famed for its lengthy shingle stretch segmented by wooden groynes, draws in crowds from all corners. Despite lacking the golden sands or typical seaside attractions like a pier or rides, The Beach Guide has lauded it for encapsulating the 'best of the traditional British seaside' due to its 'quirkiness and charm'. A stroll along the seafront unveils a collection of vibrant beach huts and fishing boats hauled right up onto the shore. There are ample spots nearby to grab a bite, including the acclaimed Whitstable Oyster Company. Just a stone's throw away is the South Quay Shed, a relatively new addition to the area that houses a variety of top-notch eateries and independent shops. Whitstable Beach is also a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing, with the Whitstable Yacht Club situated towards the northern end. Furthermore, thanks to its westerly facing direction, it's the perfect place to watch the sunset.
Fox News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Popular UK comic scoffs at being canceled, says no one cares unless you've ‘done something really awful'
English comedian Harry Hill said he doesn't really wince at the idea of being canceled in an interview published Monday. Speaking to UK outlet The Times, Hill — whose real name is Matthew Hall — talked about how so many people are canceled for politically incorrect things these days that it almost doesn't matter. "I've had friends who have been 'canceled.' They worry about it. But on the whole, unless they've done something really awful, everyone has forgotten about it," he said. Hill has been a stand-up comedian since 1992 and the host of various British TV shows, including "Harry Hill's TV Burp," a three-time BAFTA TV award-winning program that aired from 2001 to 2012. On the topic of cancel culture, the veteran comic added that there are "so many people being canceled every day; it's like a build-up of bodies." Like other modern-day comics, Hill has had to navigate an era when audiences are more prone to being offended by jokes or public statements made by celebrities. "Audiences are more alert to the idea that they might be offended," the comic told The Times. "Certain words or things make them anxious. They're thinking, 'Oh no, I hope he's not going to say something that we will need to be offended by.'" Though Hill told the outlet that being canceled is not a huge deal, he did note he tries to avoid offending people as much as he can, adding that he lets his kids help him figure out what's too far in his comedy material. "My kids pick me up on stuff – they say, 'No, you can't say that, Dad.' Which is helpful, because you don't want people to be offended," he said. Though Hill has made a successful showbiz career for himself, he says he has tried to keep his kids out of the industry. "I kept my kids away from the TV studio and showbiz. I didn't want them going into it just because it looked glamorous or fun. The truth is, for any success in this game you've got to be very pushy," he said. "They've come with me on the road for my most recent tour. It's been interesting for them to see what it involves: a lot of time spent on the North Circular and eating sandwiches." Other comics have rejected the idea of cancel culture in recent months. During an interview in April, "Scary Movie" star Marlon Wayans stated, "I've never succumbed to that. I've been the same comedian that I was since we first started. Real comedians – we stayed the course." Wayans claimed that the cancel culture is "all in society's mind" and that comedians have to risk offending people to tell a good joke. "Because humor is something you have to be honest about, and you have to dig deep, and you're gonna touch nerves, and you're gonna hurt feelings. That's part of finding a good joke," he said. Roast comic Jeff Ross slammed those who get too offended over jokes during an interview in January. "What's funny is funny, you know?" the comic said. "There will always be people who are going to pretend to be offended, but those are the people that offend me, you know? Hypocrites."
Times
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Harry Hill: My kids tell me, ‘You can't say that, Dad'
Comedian Matthew Hall, known as Harry Hill, 60, grew up in Kent and started his career as a doctor. His comedy breakthrough came when he won the Perrier award for best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1992. Harry Hill's TV Burp, the show he presented for 11 years, won three Bafta TV awards. He also narrated You've Been Framed! for 18 years and now presents Junior Bake Off. He lives in Kent with his wife, Magda Archer, with whom he has three daughters. I've had friends who have been 'cancelled'. They worry about it. But on the whole, unless they've done something really awful, everyone has forgotten about it. There are so many people being cancelled every day; it's like a build-up of bodies. I typed into Chat GPT, 'Write an original routine in the style of Harry Hill.' It wasn't even funny, ironically — AI doesn't have any idea about writing jokes. So I don't worry about it taking my place. I went to school in my glasses and got teased. Kids would say, 'Can I have a go with your glasses?' They'd take them off me and pass them around. It was an awful feeling. To this day, if anyone asks to try on my glasses for selfies, it makes me really antsy. I made a conscious effort to wear glasses when I became a comic because I remember whenever someone wore glasses on TV. Audiences are more alert to the idea that they might be offended. Certain words or things make them anxious. They're thinking, 'Oh no, I hope he's not going to say something that we will need to be offended by.' My kids pick me up on stuff – they say, 'No, you can't say that, Dad.' Which is helpful, because you don't want people to be offended. The responsibility of being a doctor was pretty scary. I was never as nervous going on stage as I was being 'on call'. It was people having heart attacks and strokes, so I was thinking, if I get this wrong… We were all doing these long hours and were treated really badly by our superiors and we couldn't push back. It was one of the low points for the health service. • Read more TV reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews It shows you how bad things have got when doctors are going on strike. Because the whole health service is run on the goodwill of the doctors and nurses. Once that's gone, the whole game's up. Bill Bailey and Chris McCausland have screwed it up for every comedian who thought about going on Strictly Come Dancing. If you're a 60-year-old out-of-shape bloke who can't dance, what hope have you got? Everyone gets divorced now, but in the Seventies it was a bit taboo. You had to do a lot of explaining to people because it was quite unusual. [Hill's parents divorced when he was just starting primary school.] It wasn't very pleasant. When you get a bit older, you don't particularly want to go and stay with your dad for the weekend. Chris McCausland is an inspiration. I did a TV show with him and it was fantastic spending time with someone who can't see — a real education for me. I was supposed to be looking after him, but the first day he got in the car and banged his head. The producer was saying, 'Where were you?' I kept my kids away from the TV studio and showbiz. I didn't want them going into it just because it looked glamorous or fun. The truth is, for any success in this game you've got to be very pushy. They've come with me on the road for my most recent tour. It's been interesting for them to see what it involves: a lot of time spent on the North Circular and eating sandwiches. I don't have fond memories of a lot of the stuff I did, even though it was successful. It just seems like a blur and a lot of stress. I don't do any exercise. I never have. It's revenge. At school, PE is the one subject where, if you're not very good at it, the teacher picks on you. I always had crappy kit — I used to get a lot of hand-me-downs. Art is therapeutic. At medical school, I had a sketchbook on which I used to take out my frustration. People spend money on meditation and yoga, but art is a very low-cost hobby. In the old days, I'd do a gig then have a drink and a laugh. Now I get in the car, fall asleep, do the show, get back in the car and fall asleep. But I don't think I've ever enjoyed it as much as I do now. Harry Hill voices Bristles the talking paintbrush in Go Get Arty, available on CBBC and BBC iPlayer
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Go Get Arty launches - a new children's show featuring Harry Hill, Katherine Ryan, Romesh Ranganathan and the Kwapong Family
A brand new fun-filled 'How To' art series for the next generation is launching on CBBC and BBC iPlayer next month. The show, produced by Ranga Bee for the BBC, is hosted by real-life arty YouTube family, the Kwapongs, and their hilariously irreverent animated sidekick - Bristles the talking paintbrush, voiced by comedy legend Harry Hill. In each episode, the Kwapongs dive into exciting Family Art Challenges, from crafting their very own table football 'Kwembly stadium', to creating magical stained-glass effect wearable wings, and even constructing fire-breathing dragons! Every challenge starts with one Kwapong stepping into the role of judge, while the rest compete to make the most inventive masterpiece. With lots of relatable family banter, hilarious mistakes, and wildly different creative approaches, Go Get Arty encourages kids to have a go - proving that the fun is in the making, not the masterpiece. The show features Celebrity Drawalongs where many famous faces join in to lead viewers in a personalised sketch penned by their own hand. Highlights include Katherine Ryan's playful cat, Romesh Ranganathan's rapping T-Rex, Tom Allen's fancy unicorn, Aisling Bea's potato eating puffin, Gladiators' Dynamite/Emily Steel's weightlifting alpaca and Rob Biddulph's furry monster and other pictures from Tracy Beaker illustrator Nick Sharratt, footballer Jill Scott MBE, internet star Dan TDM, Horrible Histories artist Martin Brown and star of Ghosts Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Go Get Arty is a 15' x 15' show with different segments to inspire children to get creative. This includes game segments Is It Paint? - spotting hyperrealistic art from the real thing - and Zoom Out, Shout Out - racing to guess the subject of famous paintings from extreme close-ups. Plus, in Portrait Copycat, there are makeovers in the style of iconic works by artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Frida Kahlo, and Gustav Klimt. In Art Showdown, it's a fast and furious face-off as two family members battle to create their best art in under thirty minutes - proving that you don't need hours to make something amazing! And in Art In The Wild, the Kwapong family visit The National Gallery, where they reimagine masterpieces by the likes of Henri Rousseau, Georges Seurat, and JMW Turner, with graphics bringing their wild ideas to life right inside these world-famous paintings. In the awe-inspiring Art Wow segments, viewers get to see incredible professional artists in action creating a piece from start to finish , including David Shrigley's giant praying mantis sculpture, TikTok sensation Milly Bampini's transforming food into an uncanny replica of her face, Sophie Ryder's 20ft minotaur, and Nathan Wyburn's portrait of England footballer Bukayo Saka made entirely from toast! Meanwhile, Bristles' Brief Guide To… offers a whirlwind tour through art history - with side-splitting speed and loads of brilliant archive footage. From Banksy to Yayoi Kusama, Vincent Van Gogh, and Yoko Ono, it's a bite-sized art masterclass, served up with Bristles' trademark comic twist. Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning 7+, BBC Children's and Education, says: 'Making shows that are entertaining and educational is at the heart of everything we do, and Go Get Arty is a brilliant show that encourages children to get creative and learn something along the way. The show is packed with creative inspiration, playful competition, and tons of laughs. It's an invitation for all children across the UK to pick up their paintbrushes and express their imagination and creativity.' Benjamin Green, MD of Ranga Bee Productions, says: 'Go Get Arty proves that art isn't just for galleries – it's for living rooms, kitchen tables, and very chatty paintbrushes! We have absolutely loved creating this ambitious, funny, modern take on an art show for BBC Children's and Education. And I think we can all agree, the world needs more gold pens and googly eyes right now.' Go Get Arty is a Ranga Bee Production for the BBC. The series was commissioned by Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning 7+, BBC Children's and Education. The Executive Producers are Shereen Docherty, Benjamin Green and Romesh Ranganathan from Ranga Bee and the Series Producer is BAFTA winning producer Nick Hutchings. The Senior Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Melissa Hardinge. EG
