Latest news with #RayWinstone
Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Hurrah, budgie smugglers are back! I wear mine supertight
Budgie smugglers are back! So says The New York Times, only it prudishly calls them 'swim briefs'. But whichever, the fact is, for some of us — well, me and Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast, anyway — wearing smugs never went away. Here's why. When do you wear swimming trunks, eh? Well, first and foremost, to state the obvious, for swimming. And for proper swimming, such as I do, you want tight and skimpy. I don't swim often enough or well enough to merit a pair of competition-standard 'jammers', the longer version of smugglers favoured by the likes of Adam Peaty. But I'm sufficiently serious about hydrodynamics to not want to thrash up and down the lido in baggy board shorts, the pockets all inside out and bulging with trapped air. Score one for smugs. The other main activity you do while wearing swimming trunks is you don't have sufficient privacy to go naked, like I do on my roof, observed only by passing 747s circling east London before heading upriver to Heathrow, then you want as little covering material as is necessary to not get arrested. You want to maximise the tanning area, right? And minimise the tan line? I see guys sunbathing in shorts, sometimes quite long shorts, and I think, 'Lightweight.' Go hard or go home. I draw the line at a thong, though. Bit too close to sumo wrestler for comfort. Plus, as an 11-year-old, I was traumatised by the sight of an elderly Frenchman on a beach in Corsica wearing nothing but a lime-green thong, skinny mahogany buttocks sagging down for all to see. It was not a good look, especially as the front of the thong, the pouch, was made of mesh. Dirty old goat. Third, counterintuitively given their name (you might call it the Budgie Paradox), smugglers are actually less revealing of what must not be revealed than their looser, more voluminous competitors. Fair enough, the genital outline is undeniably defined, with little left to the imagination. And yet, thanks to this very smuggler snugness, you are in no danger of what I learnt from Friends the Americans call 'showing brain'. Basically, your goolies aren't going to suddenly squirm free of captivity and burst out into the fresh air to frighten people, not when held in the rigorous containment provided by the Tom Daley-style micro-trunks I favour. So, while they might be more suggestive, smugglers do as promised and hide the contraband, never bringing it up on deck to shout at customs, 'It's a fair cop! Where do I pay the duty?' Obviously, you've got to monitor the state of your elastic. Growing up, we had a dear family friend we'd visit every summer in Cambridge. Having spent most of his life in the tropics, this chap — a natural eccentric to start with — had become more than a little disinhibited. Punting on the Cam, he wore smugglers so loose they qualified more as a loincloth. Each time this chap pushed off the riverbed with his, ahem, pole, first one testicle, then the other, would swing rhythmically into view. Push, left testicle, push, right testicle, like a pendulum. It was mesmeric. No one seemed to mind. They were less puritanical times, the Seventies. On that same holiday to Corsica, 1976, the one where I encountered the lime-green mesh thong, I also discovered women sunbathing topless. That remained the norm around the Mediterranean — well, the European bit of the Mediterranean — until the early Nineties. If you'd asked me then, I'd have predicted that by 2025, on a hot day, never mind the beach, we'd probably all be coming to the office or going shopping naked, or at a minimum in just shoes and pants. That was before I realised social progress doesn't move in a straight line, but in peaks and troughs. And also before I realised that coming to the office in just your knickers is not in fact the stuff of social progress, but individual nightmares. Oh yes, we have these taboos for a reason. Years ago, at an especially dull Labour Party conference in Blackpool, I bunked off to go for a swim at a swanky golf hotel in the suburbs. Lacking a costume, but with a pair of tight black underpants to hand, I risked wearing them. All went well until, showering poolside, in full view of a dozen ancient golf widows, I looked down to see my penis hanging impudently through the flies of my improvised trunks. Not good. A dangerously quick 180 to restore modesty, followed by a hasty exit, and, still damp, a retreat to the railway station to get the hell out of town. I learnt my lesson. On the road, some colleagues keep their golf clubs in the car boot in the hope of a cheeky nine holes post-deadline. Others pack their trainers and gym kit. I always travel with a pair of emergency smugs. They take up remarkably little room.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Leslie Ash, 65, shows off her taut visage as she reunites with Phil Daniels, 66, at Quadrophenia event - 45 years after filming cult classic
Quadrophenia stars Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels looked delighted to be in each other's company again as they reunited 45 years after filming the cult classic. The actors, aged 65 and 66 respectively, looked in great spirits as they posed on the red carpet at a ballet adaptation of the 1979 British drama at Sadler's Wells in London. Leslie looked more youthful than ever in the snaps, while casually clad in a black polo neck jumper and trousers teamed with white trainers. The Men Behaving Badly star was aided by the use of a pink walking stick, two decades after contracting an MSSA superbug that nearly left her unable to walk. By her side was Phil, who sported a brown T-shirt and navy blazers with tinted shades. The duo were impressed by the production, calling the cast 'fantastic'. Quadrophenia, which was set amid the real-life drama of mods and rockers fighting on Brighton beach in 1964, also starred the likes of Sting and Ray Winstone. The cult classic was based on the eponymous 1972 double-album by The Who. While it was one of his most famous roles, Phil previously confessed he could barely remember filming the drama. He said: 'All I can remember about the film is working really hard. We shot it all in six weeks and we did the end first. 'It was quite interesting and it's kind of a nice way of doing a film where you do the end first, so at least you know where you've got to go with the character.' However, in 2010, Phil confessed that he is constantly asked about his sex scene with Leslie, quipping: ' If I had a pound for every time someone asked me exactly how intimate, I'd be a very rich man.' Writing for the Mail, he continued: 'I can see it coming a mile off, although people think they're being subtle. 'Since no system of automatic remuneration exists for this routine conversational exchange, I would like to take this opportunity to say once and for all: It didn't happen.' He added: 'That scene looks good on the screen but I remember it being quite awkward - Leslie really didn't want to do it. 'The problem with Leslie and me --well, it wasn't a problem, because it worked really well in the film - was that I was very raw and young at that time, whereas she already had a boyfriend who was a lot older than her and drove a Porsche. 'I couldn't compete even though obviously I wanted to because she was pretty. 'And while me having the sense that I was not in her league was good for Quadrophenia, it wasn't so good for me. 'Especially as I'd seen her jealous boyfriend hanging around the set a few times - not exactly giving me the evil eye, but almost. It wasn't my fault, was it? But you know what boyfriends are like, especially those who are going out with actresses. 'It wasn't just the boyfriend issue. The whole scene was tricky for Leslie and director Franc Roddam had to coax her into it by saying, 'Get in there for the old wallbanger.' 'You wouldn't generally do too many rehearsals before a scene like that so we were very new to each other. 'It was meant to be a closed set, but there's always someone who shouldn't be there - one of the crew trying every means possible to get a glimpse of the action. 'Excepting the occasional setbuilder with a wandering eye, Roddam was good at keeping people at arm's length. 'I never got The Who's Roger Daltrey coming up and telling me how to do it. Well, we did have a bit of a chat one day while sitting on a couple of deckchairs in Brighton, but that was fine by me.'
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Eamonn Holmes hits out at ‘horrible' celebrities on TV and admits ‘there are so many false' stars
EAMONN Holmes has hit out at 'horrible' celebrities and admitted 'there are so many false' stars. The GB News presenter, 65, hosts podcast Things We Like with Eamonn and Paul, alongside Paul Coyte. 3 3 While speaking to guest Ray Winstone, Eamonn opened up on inner-workings in the industry. He said: "If I don't like someone, they'll know I don't like them. "And there's so many horrible people that you end up... people say, "He's lovely, he's fantastic". "They'll say to me, 'What's that Ray Winstone like?' and I'll say, 'He is lovely, he is fantastic'. "People won't believe me because I wouldn't say if you weren't. "There are so many who are just false, false, false." Tensions boiled over in 2019 when Schofe cut off Ruth while she was in the middle of a live link, teasing what was coming up on Loose Women. The incident ultimately led to Ruth making a complaint over his behaviour to ITV. Emotional moment Eamonn Holmes fights back tears on his podcast Previously speaking about it, Eamonn said: "Phillip is renowned for snubbing people. "He's very passive-aggressive. It's up to Ruth to say how she felt, but I was feeling hurt for her. No one would have snubbed me like that. "I have a good Belfast street fighter in me… I would be direct. I don't go for presenters who think they have a special privilege or aura or influence." Earlier this year, Eamonn posed with Anthea Turner after ending their bitter 10-year feud. The Northern Irishman affectionately placed a hand over Anthea's shoulder. Eamonn captioned the snap: 'We're the same age @antheaturner and I and have had careers of similar length but my paper round must have been harder than hers! Top Girl.' This reunion came more than two decades after their infamous fallout. 3
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ray Winstone reignites feud with Hollywood legend calling him ‘very rude' and ‘up his own a**e'
RAY Winstone has reignited his ongoing feud with Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson - branding him "very rude" and "up his own a**e". The actor, 68, has had a 20-year feud with the Hollywood A-lister after the pair worked together on the Oscar-winning film The Departed back in 2006. 4 4 Ray appeared on Eamonn Holmes and Paul Coyte's podcast Things We Like with Eamonn & Paul, where discussed his feud with the star. Eamonn asked Ray if he liked Jack, to which the Sexy Beast actor replied: "No. We just didn't get on. I just found him... Listen, he's getting older, and maybe there are a lot of things going on with him. "I didn't like him, I thought he was so far up his own a**e it was unbelievable. And he was very rude. "He was very rude to me, he was rude to my wife, if he had been a younger man, I'd have definitely knocked him out." Despite not seeing eye-to-eye, Ray praised his talent in the industry. He said: "But you've got to give him because he's an older man, much older than me. "He's fantastic at what he does, brilliant at what he does. He's a great writer as well, by all accounts, at least that's what he kept telling us.' "But at the same time, I can't make an excuse for him. My grandfather was an old man, but he was a gentleman. He was a lovely man. 'So f**k him, basically. Really. Why should I say I like him? I don't. You ask me the question, you get the answer." The pair both starred in Martin Scorsese's Oscar -award winning movie about a mob boss. Ray has previously addressed his feud with Jack back in 2014 at the BAFTA Life In Pictures event in 2014. He said: "Me and Jack did not seem to get on too well. Maybe he was going through a funny time. "Everyone else loves him to death – I just wanted him to be a great guy. We just did not click." Ray later admitted that he had no idea why Jack did not warm to him and he admitted he disliked stars who were "arrogant". 'It doesn't worry me. It doesn't shock me. You clash a little bit. He's not the first person I've clashed with. He won't be the last," he said in an interview with The Independent. "I don't like arrogance. There's no need for it. This kind of feeling of being above everyone else. "We all end up in the same hole in the ground. "But some people have this smarmy little side mouth.... And there are different ways of dealing with that. "You either say your piece and tell them to shut the f**k up. Or you punch them in the mouth." Although they may have clashed, Ray insisted he would work with Jack again if the opportunity arose. He added: "Of course I want to work with him again! He's a fantastic actor." 4
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ray Winstone reignites feud with A-list actor as he brands him 'rude' and 'up his own a***' and admits he almost 'knocked him out' after working together on Oscar-winning film
Ray Winstone didn't hold back as he revealed what he really thinks of Jack Nicholson as he branded the Hollywood star 'rude' and 'up his own a***'. The Quadrophenia star, 68, reignited his 20-year feud with the American A-lister after the pair worked together on the Oscar-winning film The Departed back in 2006. While the pair were known to have clashed at the time, almost two decades later it appeared Ray's opinion of the now 88-year-old still hasn't changed. Speaking on Eamonn Holmes and Paul Coyte's podcast Things We Like with Eamonn & Paul, the Irish presenter straight up asked him whether he liked Jack. Confirming the pair struggled to see eye to eye he confirmed: 'No. We just didn't get on. I just found him... Listen, he's getting older, and maybe there are a lot of things going on with him. 'I didn't like him, I thought he was so far up his own a--e it was unbelievable. And he was very rude. Confirming the pair struggled to see eye to eye he confirmed: 'I didn't like him, I thought he was so far up his own a--e it was unbelievable. And he was very rude' (Jack pictured in 2023) 'He was very rude to me, he was rude to my wife, if he had been a younger man, I'd have definitely knocked him out.' Giving credit to Jack's talent in the industry he added: 'But you've got to give him because he's an older man, much older than me. 'He's fantastic at what he does, brilliant at what he does. He's a great writer as well, by all accounts, at least that's what he kept telling us.' 'But at the same time, I can't make an excuse for him. My grandfather was an old man, but he was a gentleman. He was a lovely man. 'So f**k him, basically. Really. Why should I say I like him? I don't. You ask me the question, you get the answer.' Ray starred as Arnold 'Frenchie' French, the murderous enforcer to Jack Nicholson's mob boss in the Oscar-winning film directed by Martin Scorsese. The star has spoken about his feud with Jack in the past after he admitted they 'didn't click'. Speaking at a BAFTA Life In Pictures event in 2014 he confessed: 'Me and Jack did not seem to get on too well. Maybe he was going through a funny time. 'Everyone else loves him to death – I just wanted him to be a great guy. We just did not click.' Later in an interview with The Independen t, Ray admitted he had no idea why Jack didn't like him but confessed: 'It doesn't worry me. It doesn't shock me. You clash a little bit. He's not the first person I've clashed with. He won't be the last.' He added: 'I don't like arrogance. There's no need for it. This kind of feeling of being above everyone else. We all end up in the same hole in the ground. 'But some people have this smarmy little side mouth.... And there are different ways of dealing with that. You either say your piece and tell them to shut the f**k up. Or you punch them in the mouth.' Yet despite not connecting with him on a personal level, Ray insisted it wouldn't stop him working with Jack in the future as he added: 'Of course I want to work with him again! He's a fantastic actor.' Elsewhere in the interview, Eamonn also didn't hold back as he let rip on his former colleagues in the TV industry as he branded them 'false'. As Ray spoke about his time living in Los Angeles and how the artificial buzz of Hollywood ultimately drove him back to the UK, Eamonn jumped in to express his dislike for the fake relationships he has found in the entertainment industry. The presenter said in a mocking tone: '''I don't like this character, I don't like so and so, I like that person, I didn't get on with them''.' He went on: 'That's what the business is based on. I mean, I'm like you [Ray]. I get myself into trouble because if I don't like someone, they'll know I don't like them.' 'And there are so many horrible people that you end up with. People say: ''Oh, he's lovely, he's fantastic'',' he added.
