Latest news with #TheVicarofDibley
NZ Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Comedic brilliance in Theatre Hawke's Bay's The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley cast expertly represent the characters' quirks and eccentricities. ■ The Vicar of Dibley, shows at Playhouse Theatre in Hastings until July 19. Tickets through i-ticket Theatre Hawke's Bay's production of The Vicar of Dibley was a hilarious, laugh-out-loud production, inspired by the iconic 90s British sitcom of the same name. I got
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Unholy' row breaks out between Charles' vicar and choirmaster with King asked to broker peace deal
The bitter fallout has been likened to an episode of 'The Vicar of Dibley' KEEP PSALM AND CARRY ON KEEP PSALM AND CARRY ON 'Unholy' row breaks out between Charles' vicar and choirmaster with King asked to broker peace deal Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE King has been asked to mediate a row at his local church between the vicar and choirmaster. The bitter argument is said to be over the future of the choir at the Sandringham landmark. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 King Charles has been asked to intervene in a row at a church in Sandringham Credit: Getty 4 The row is said to be over the future of the choir at the parish church of St Mary Magdalene Credit: Alan Keith Beastall Rev Canon Paul Williams, the Domestic Chaplain to the King, is said to want to modernise — including getting a social media account for the choir at St Mary Magdalene Church. But director of music Dr Claire Stewart is said to have responded to a report into her role with a 28-page grievance dossier. King Charles, who worships at the church near his Norfolk estate, has been made aware of the row. Several weeks ago, he made a point of staying behind after a service to chat to parishioners. The Bishop of Norwich is said to have been inundated with letters over the simmering row. This month, local councillor Lord Greville Howard, Baron Greville of Rising, held a meeting with church leaders in a bid to sort out the mess. Meanwhile, numbers in the 'tight knit' choir at Sunday services and practices have dwindled. A source said yesterday: 'It feels like an episode of Vicar of Dibley. 'But it's turning into an unholy row and it's starting to get very bitter and damaging. 'It is overshadowing what should be a harmonious parish church on the King's royal estate and heads need to be banged together.' End of an era as King Charles AXES royal train after 150 years as cost of keeping iconic vehicle going hits £1.2m a year Another source said: 'The King has been made aware that there is an issue between the vicar and choirmaster.' Dr Stewart has been director of music at the church for 12 years. Parishioners say she is 'hugely adored' and has been put under a lot of pressure. Rev Williams joined in 2023 after moving from Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucs. 4 Rev Canon Paul Williams, the Domestic Chaplain to the King, is said to want to modernise the church's choir Credit: Times Media Ltd
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dawn French's moronic outburst on Israel spells the death of celebrity virtue-signalling
There's no denying that Dawn French's video about Israel was mind-bogglingly crass. In particular the bit when she put on a silly, babyish voice and referred to the October 7 massacre as 'a bad fing'. Even so, let's not be too hard on her. In time, I believe, we may end up owing her our deepest gratitude. Because, thanks to the sheer, blistering ferocity of the backlash she's received, other mush-brained luvvies may finally take the hint – and stop inflicting their witless political views on the rest of us. To be clear: I'm not suggesting that these people deserve to be cancelled for their opinions. Cancel culture is a blight on our age, and famous actors have got just as much right to free speech as anyone else. The problem is that, all too often, what they say is so cluelessly conformist. It's obvious that they're only passing comment because they think trotting out the fashionable line on a given topic – Israel, gender identity, net zero or whatever – will make them look good. With any luck, therefore, Ms French's experience will deter them from expressing a view on such issues until they've bothered to give them some actual thought. And if that sounds too much like hard work, and they'd prefer not to say anything, that's absolutely fine. Why on earth should we expect actors to have intelligent opinions on current affairs, anyway? Their day job is to recite words that have been written for them by other, much smarter people. It doesn't require them to think. So you might as well seek geopolitical analysis from a performing seal, or a parrot. Ms French, however, seems to have believed she had some kind of duty to air her criticisms of Israel's military strategy. In a subsequent statement apologising for her 'tone', she wrote: 'I have felt my silence is complicit or even somehow sanctioning.' Allow me to put her mind at ease. Dear Ms French, I promise you: your previous 'silence' was not responsible for a single death in the Middle East. Even if you'd published your video months ago, Benjamin Netanyahu would not have said, 'Stand down, everyone – I'm ordering an immediate ceasefire. Look, I know we want to defeat Hamas and save the hostages. But, as a nation, we simply can't afford to incur the wrath of that woman from The Vicar of Dibley.' So please, dear Dawn, try not to feel guilty. In fact, be proud. Because if your calamitous own goal does indeed prompt other celebrities to abandon their narcissistic virtue-signalling, it will be the greatest contribution to human happiness you'll ever make. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Coming to ABC: Comedy Legend Dawn French to star in Sean Tan's animated series about growing up in Perth
Comedy legend Dawn French is set to star in the animated series based on Sean Tan's best-selling illustrated anthology, Tales From Outer Suburbia. The celebrated comedian and actress, best known for her starring role in classic 90s sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and for being one half of the iconic 'French and Saunders' comedy duo, will join the voice cast for the 10 x 22-minute series, currently in development and coming soon to ABC. Described as 'a uniquely Western Australian take on growing up in Perth', the 10-episode series will make its world premiere this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. Created by Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, the series was produced out of both Flying Bark in NSW and WA-based Siamese, with Tan, an Academy Award-winning writer/artist/filmmaker, overseeing the series as Creative Director. Based on Tan's memories of growing up in the northern suburbs of Perth, the story centres around 'almost 13 year-old' Klara and her six year-old brother Pim, who move to Outer Suburbia with their newly single mother, Lucy. 'The siblings' summer holiday turns into a series of unexpected and surreal adventures, with the family encountering weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality,' the release reads. Dawn French voices Klara and Pim's Grandma. 'Grandma is amazing. She's courageous and adventurous, she's quite chaotic, she's a bit bonkers,' French said. 'What drew me to the character, and the whole project, is it's quite possibly the strangest thing I've ever read! 'It's very surreal — you understand it on a visceral level but you also don't understand it, so you're drawn in to try and make sense of slightly surreal things. 'This is a series about big, big themes: themes of rejection, forgiveness, absence, loss, grief, judgment, friendships. 'I think it's absolutely crucial that we make good quality shows for children and for families because it's a shared experience when you watch something together.' 'Dawn brings a unique warmth, confidence and levity to a character that audiences really needed to trust during difficult moments, and I can't imagine a better performance,' Creative Director Shaun Tan said. 'She is the anchor of reassurance in a sea of animated weirdness, the hand you want to hold tight as the tide fills the room.' Alongside French, the series also stars Geraldine Hakewell (Lucy) and newcomers Brooklyn Davies (Klara) and Felix Oliver Vergés (Pim) as the family at the centre of the story — Austin and Love on the Spectrum's Michael Theo also lends his voice. Sreenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said: 'Screenwest is beyond proud to support this quintessentially Western Australian take on growing up in the 'burbs of Perth — and what a coup to have Dawn French amongst the cast. 'Shaun Tan is an incredibly talented creative whose works resonate with young and old. 'We cannot wait to see this series on screen, and congratulate everyone involved for Tales From Outer Suburbia being selected to make its world premiere at Annecy.'
Perth Now
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Dawn French to star in animated series about Perth's ‘burbs'
Comedy legend Dawn French is set to star in the animated series based on Sean Tan's best-selling illustrated anthology, Tales From Outer Suburbia. The celebrated comedian and actress, best known for her starring role in classic 90s sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and for being one half of the iconic 'French and Saunders' comedy duo, will join the voice cast for the 10 x 22-minute series, currently in development and coming soon to ABC. Described as 'a uniquely Western Australian take on growing up in Perth', the 10-episode series will make its world premiere this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. Created by Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, the series was produced out of both Flying Bark in NSW and WA-based Siamese, with Tan, an Academy Award-winning writer/artist/filmmaker, overseeing the series as Creative Director. Based on Tan's memories of growing up in the northern suburbs of Perth, the story centres around 'almost 13 year-old' Klara and her six year-old brother Pim, who move to Outer Suburbia with their newly single mother, Lucy. Tales From Outer Suburbia is coming soon to ABC. Credit: Supplied 'The siblings' summer holiday turns into a series of unexpected and surreal adventures, with the family encountering weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality,' the release reads. Dawn French voices Klara and Pim's Grandma. 'Grandma is amazing. She's courageous and adventurous, she's quite chaotic, she's a bit bonkers,' French said. Dawn French stars as Grandma. Credit: Supplied 'What drew me to the character, and the whole project, is it's quite possibly the strangest thing I've ever read! 'It's very surreal — you understand it on a visceral level but you also don't understand it, so you're drawn in to try and make sense of slightly surreal things. 'This is a series about big, big themes: themes of rejection, forgiveness, absence, loss, grief, judgment, friendships. 'I think it's absolutely crucial that we make good quality shows for children and for families because it's a shared experience when you watch something together.' Tales From Outer Suburbia will debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France this week. Credit: Supplied 'Dawn brings a unique warmth, confidence and levity to a character that audiences really needed to trust during difficult moments, and I can't imagine a better performance,' Creative Director Shaun Tan said. 'She is the anchor of reassurance in a sea of animated weirdness, the hand you want to hold tight as the tide fills the room.' Alongside French, the series also stars Geraldine Hakewell (Lucy) and newcomers Brooklyn Davies (Klara) and Felix Oliver Vergés (Pim) as the family at the centre of the story — Austin and Love on the Spectrum's Michael Theo also lends his voice. Newcomers Brooklyn Davies and Felix Oliver Vergés star as the kids at the centre of the story. Credit: Supplied Sreenwest Chief Executive Officer Rikki Lea Bestall said: 'Screenwest is beyond proud to support this quintessentially Western Australian take on growing up in the 'burbs of Perth — and what a coup to have Dawn French amongst the cast. 'Shaun Tan is an incredibly talented creative whose works resonate with young and old. 'We cannot wait to see this series on screen, and congratulate everyone involved for Tales From Outer Suburbia being selected to make its world premiere at Annecy.'
