Latest news with #SueJohnston
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Now it's The Royle Family's turn for BBC trigger warning: Sitcom contains 'discriminatory language'
It left fans in stitches across three critically acclaimed seasons with its slice of Manchester life, spawning some classic catchphrases. But the fun is over for The Royle Family after the iconic sitcom became the latest show to be slapped with a BBC trigger warning. Seven episodes have been flagged by regulators thanks to 'discriminatory language some viewers may find offensive'. The notices, which can be seen on iPlayer, do not explain which scenes contribute towards the warnings, The Sun reports. No episodes from series one have received the content alert but episodes one, three and six from series two, which aired in 1999, and episode one from series three, which went out in 2000, have been deemed offensive. The latter perhaps has something to do with Anthony Royle, played by Ralf Little, describing a friend as a 'batty boy'. Two of the five Christmas specials, from 2008 and 2009, have also been adorned with the warning. It's not the first time the corporation has flagged the show to viewers for being potentially problematic. In 2021, a scene where TV-obsessed protagonist Jim, played by Ricky Tomlinson, calls celebrity interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen a 'nancy boy' was highlighted. At its peak, 12 million people watched each episode of The Royle Family with lead character Jim a fan favourite, partly for his famous catchphrase, 'my a*se'. The show also starred Sue Johnston as his wife Barbara and Caroline Ahern as their daughter Denise Best, as well as Craig Cash, Little and Liz Smith. The last of the series' 25 episodes was broadcast on Christmas Day 2012. The BBC has been approached for comment. It comes just days after the BBC also hit The Fast Show with a disclaimer. Originally airing in the 90s, the classic stars Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson with quick-fire sketches that depicted British society at the time. However, its infamous Suit You, Sir scenes have been hit with a 'woke' warning by BBC bosses. The Sun revealed two episodes contain the warning, which advises viewers of 'discriminatory language' before they can play the show. One episode from series three, that aired in December 1997, carries a scene where the tailors ask a customer if they would like to have sex with a 'she-male'. In reply, the customer says: 'Come on you tr**nies!' Meanwhile, an episode from the second series that originally broadcast in 1996, sees two men make advances on women. When they're swiftly rejected, the pair declare the women are 'lesbians'. The Fast Show aired for four series on the BBC before it was axed by bosses in 1997 after 28 episodes, which are all now available on iPlayer. The BBC also recently hit Ricky Gervais's comedy series The Office with a similar warning. The hit mockumentary sitcom created by comedian Gervais, 64, as well as Stephen Merchant, famously stars him as paper company boss David Brent. Both series of the noughties programme were already labelled with a G symbol on BBC iPlayer, which flags parental guidance for younger viewers. But nearly half of the BBC series' 14 episodes, following life at Wernham Hogg's Slough office, now also carry the additional content notice. In series one, which aired in 2001, the first and last episodes - Downsize and Judgement - bear the alert. Meanwhile, a whopping half of the second series, released in 2002, has been hit with trigger warnings - episodes one, three and five, named Merger, Party and Charity. At the start of the year it was revealed how Only Fools and Horses was hit with various disclaimers around 'racial language', words that 'may offend' and 'dated attitudes and behaviours'. Only two of seven series of the eighties hit show - which is available to watch on ITV and often reruns on digital channel U&Gold - did not have any episodes at all slapped with the warnings.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Calls for new feature on Aussie roads after 'powerful' photo highlights sad crisis
A joey kangaroo left startled and injured on the side of the road while his mother lay dead metres away. It's the scene a Victorian woman, Vicki, stumbled upon this past week and one that wildlife rescuers say is becoming increasingly common in the area as drought and habitat loss push kangaroo populations into danger. While a parliamentary inquiry is currently seeking to address the matter of wildlife road strikes, those on the ground say the problem is reaching "crisis point". In this case, it's believed the driver who collided with the mother kangaroo failed to stop and alert authorities. It wasn't until Vicki arrived at the scene along Wellington Road, southeast of Melbourne, taking the above photo showing the distressed joey in the foreground, that the mother was finally euthanised. "She just happened to be driving along the road and saw it," Sue Johnston, who runs a kangaroo rescue and rehab centre in the region, told Yahoo News on Sunday. "The little baby was just sitting there, watching the traffic. "It's a powerful, haunting photo." A confluence of factors including drought and development is seeing a huge number of kangaroos struck by motorists along the busy stretch of road with rescuers urging drivers to do one simple thing – to at least make sure they stop and call for help. "It is your legal responsibility under Section 61 of the Road Safety Act — you must stop and render assistance. I'm not asking you to rescue the away from it. Just make a simple phone call," Sue, who is well known in the local community, implored on social media on Friday when the joey was found. Along with Vicki, fellow wildlife rescuer Lea Sultana routinely responds to vehicle strikes along Wellington Road, which snakes past the extensive bushland of Lysterfield Park. "It's rife at the moment, it's absolutely horrendous," she told Yahoo News. "In the last 15 months I've been tracking and recording all the data. In June alone, in a very small section – basically in that section of road where that joey was hit – 38 roos have died already just in June." Lea uses the iNaturalist app to record the strikes with photos from each scene amounting to a grim catalogue showing the extent of the problem. "This is the worst I've ever seen it. The numbers are absolutely staggering," she lamented. "No one is calling them in, they're leaving the animals half dead." While she is "fighting" for the wildlife populations, she believes the frequency of strikes is also putting drivers at serious risk. "It's only a matter of time, someone is going to get killed," she said. An ongoing state parliamentary inquiry into wildlife road strikes in Victoria has seen more than 300 submissions in recent months. The wide ranging inquiry is examining everything from the volunteer networks that respond, as well as new and emerging technologies and infrastructure used to prevent road strikes and the overall impact on motorists including trauma and vehicle damage. While public submissions have now closed, the inquiry has an online survey and today is the last day people can have their say. A final report to parliament is due by 30 November 2025. Despite the government interest, it hasn't stopped people like Lea campaigning for more funding and effort to address the issue. She has even launched a petition, with nearly 3,000 signatures, specifically drawing attention to the frequency of fatal collisions on Wellington Road. While the inquiry's remit includes technology-based prevention, rescuers on the ground say a lack of commitment to date has been the problem. At least that has been the case with virtual fencing. The 'fencing' sees roadside posts fitted with technology that is triggered by vehicle headlights, causing the posts to emit sound and light to deter animals from crossing the road at night into oncoming traffic. Such virtual fencing was previously installed by VicRoads along Wellington Road but has since fallen into disrepair, rendering it useless. Lea, who has lived in the area for some 15 years, said it was obvious how effective the fencing was. "We had noticed straight away how much that reduced it... [but] they've just not been maintained over the years." When she has pressed local MPs and state government departments on why the fencing hasn't been maintained she is invariably told it is simply too expensive. Sue is also calling for the fencing to receive greater support. "All the sensors [along Wellington Road] are now broken. I've been trying to push for the council or VicRoads to change them, but no one wants anything to do with it," she told Yahoo. When done right, it works, she said, pointing to virtual fencing established along the western and southern parts of Lysterfield Park by the City of Casey years ago. "When Casey put in the first 1km along a little stretch near me, we were rescuing 83 kangaroos a year on average along that 1km stretch of road, and when the virtual fencing went it, it dropped down to 12. "It was amazing."
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Channel 4 axes comedy series after one season starring Robert Lindsay and more
A Channel 4 'darkly comic' zombie series has been axed after just one series, the broadcaster has confirmed. Generation Z which starred the likes of Sue Johnston, Robert Lindsay and Anita Dobson first aired towards the end of 2024 but sadly it won't be returning. The six-episode series was set in the fictional town of Dambury where an apocalypse began after an army convoy overturned outside a care home and a chemical leak started to have an adverse effect on the residents. Generation Z was about 'intergeneration justice and community breakdown that boldly satirizes a world where truth is stranger than fiction, exploring not just the political fault lines in our society but also the very real issues facing teenagers today,' according to its Channel 4 summary. The broadcaster previously added: 'On the night of the outbreak, teenagers – Charlie, Kelly, Steff and Finn, are living normal teenage lives: tinnies, messy feelings, complex relationships and ignoring their A-Level prep. But the gang abruptly find themselves at the centre of the virus when Kelly's nan Janine, becomes infected and attacks her. 'However, just because it's the end of the world, it doesn't mean your home life and relationship problems come to a halt; battling with parents, friendship betrayals and old family secrets rearing their ugly heads. 'Life is just as complicated for the zombies, with the virus fuelling single-minded desires, bringing a whole new dimension to their zombie rampage." The final episode ended on a cliffhanger when Cecily (Sue Johnston) was reborn into a young woman's body. An insider told The Sun: 'It had seemed with Cecily being reborn, there was more to come in this series. 'The fate of a lot of the other characters in Dambury was also left unclear. 'But Channel 4 decided to put this one on the shelf, and there are no plans to bring it back. Generation Z aired for six episodes (Image: Channel 4) 'That's certain to be disappointing news for those who did like it — many likening it to a bizarre spin-off of hugely popular American zombie drama The Walking Dead. Recommended reading: Harry Potter and Doctor Who star Simon Fisher-Becker dies aged 63 'Where is Lorraine?' comes to an end after ITV's Lorraine Kelly breaks silence Holly Willoughby quits ITV series as co-host Stephen Mulhern set to take over 'But sadly it didn't win everyone over and it's likely that was behind the decision to rest it.' In a statement to Newsquest, a Channel 4 spokesperson said: 'We're very proud of Generation Z and would like to thank Ben Wheatley, The Forge and the wonderful cast and crew involved in the show's success. 'We look forward to working together on future Channel 4 projects."
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The fancy new re-brand promising to bring ‘pizzazz' to Greater Manchester's biggest town
Bolton has launched a 're-brand' with hopes to celebrate the best of the borough and grow its economy. Brand Bolton, a government funded partnership between businesses, the council and third sector, launched this week promising 'a new way of promoting Bolton'. A newly formed 'Brand Bolton' board has set out plans to grow the local economy, boost footfall and celebrate the best of the borough on a global stage. Those leading Brand Bolton say the programme can 'create a platform for future growth and investment' for the largest town in the region. They said they hope to support the creation of 4,300 jobs along with new housing for 5,000 residents and boost to the visitor economy by £11m a year. The brand presents a 'big idea' of 'Bolton – Born To Perform' with the launch event audience hearing that means the borough has always been successful and that will breed even more success. READ MORE: LIVE M62 traffic updates as section of motorway shut after air ambulance called to 'serious' crash READ MORE: Two Greater Manchester towns handed £40m 'game-changing' windfall as major plans revealed The three themes surrounding the central idea are that the borough 'means business, is better connected and is in the middle of a cultural and leisure renaissance'. Bolton Council's chief executive Sue Johnston told guests at the launch event at the Octagon Theatre that the authority realised the need for a new 'place brand' for the borough 'to help us stand out from the rest'. She said: 'We secured grant funding from the Government's UK shared prosperity fund. We've now produced the final brand material that you see today. 'It has striking graphics and imagery, themes and a crucial underlying big idea. The place grant does not belong to the council, it belongs to every single person and business in Bolton. 'The brand is a clear statement of intent, it projects what this place is about, what it stands for and what is important.' An ambassador programme has been created with representatives from retail, sport, business, charity, leisure and the council recruited to promote the borough. John Till works for Thinking Place, who were involved in developing the brand. He said: 'This approach can help you put back the pizzazz in your place. 'The great bit about Bolton is the passion you have for your place is palpable. 'Places like Bolton are changing, post-Covid, the cost of living and internet shopping but there are also loads of opportunities, it's not all doom and gloom. Bolton can't stand still. 'The heart of place branding isn't just producing a logo it's changing a culture, it's trying to help a place think and act differently.' Becci Martin, founder of Bolton-based Boo Consulting is co-chair of the Brand Bolton board. She said: 'We really believe that Bolton is a thriving town with only great things in its future. 'Bolton is born to perform. We don't need to follow the old set of rules here. We can do things the way that Bolton wants to do them for the future of our town. 'We want to encourage businesses and large employers to come and do business here in Bolton, to open up new opportunities for local people and to enhance the town centre and surrounding areas.' More information on Brand Bolton can be found at
