Latest news with #Wicks
South Wales Guardian
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Vogue Williams and Joe Wicks among celebrities taking part in Gladiators special
Wicks and Williams, who is married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, will take on the Gladiators alongside former boxer Nicola Adams and radio presenter and former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson on the BBC game show. Williams said: 'This is wild. I have loved this show since I was little and I'll be living out my childhood dream just stepping into the arena. 'But I can't quite process how I'll actually face these amazing Gladiators. I'm just delighted to be a contender.' Wicks, who rose to fame when his PE With Joe YouTube channel amassed millions of followers during the Covid lockdown, said: 'Gladiators is one of the most iconic shows of all time, and I'm absolutely buzzing to be taking part. 'I grew up watching it, so to now step into the arena myself is going to be an incredible experience. I know it's going to be tough, but I'm ready to give it everything I've got.' In the special edition of the show, celebrities will take on challenges such as Duel, The Wall and The Eliminator to be crowned champion. Adams, who has won two Olympic gold medals for boxing, said: 'I'm absolutely buzzing to be part of the Gladiators: Celebrity Special. 'It's such an iconic show, and growing up I loved watching the epic battles and strong personalities. 'Now, getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it's a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring, but this is different. I'm ready to give it everything I've got.' The show will see Gladiators Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel and Viper all return to the arena in Sheffield. Thompson, who recently completed a 260-mile run to transport the Soccer Aid match ball from London to Manchester, said: 'Just when I've finished one challenge I'm on to the next, and this time I'm up against real-life Gladiators. 'Bring it on and get me up that travelator! But on a serious note, I genuinely can't wait to take part, I'm so excited. I grew up watching the show, so to now be taking on the Gladiators in real life is really cool.' An air date is yet to be announced for the show. Last year's edition of the show was won by TV presenter Joel Dommett and comedian Ellie Taylor, who beat presenters Rob Beckett and Louise Minchin respectively.
Irish Independent
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Vogue Williams set to take part in new celebrity Gladiators special
Wicks and Williams, who is married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, will take on the Gladiators alongside former boxer Nicola Adams and radio presenter and former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson on the BBC game show. Williams said: "This is wild. I have loved this show since I was little and I'll be living out my childhood dream just stepping into the arena. "But I can't quite process how I'll actually face these amazing Gladiators. I'm just delighted to be a contender." Wicks, who rose to fame when his PE With Joe YouTube channel amassed millions of followers during the Covid lockdown, said: "Gladiators is one of the most iconic shows of all time, and I'm absolutely buzzing to be taking part. "I grew up watching it, so to now step into the arena myself is going to be an incredible experience. I know it's going to be tough, but I'm ready to give it everything I've got." In the special edition of the show, celebrities will take on challenges such as Duel, The Wall and The Eliminator to be crowned champion. Adams, who has won two Olympic gold medals for boxing, said: "I'm absolutely buzzing to be part of the Gladiators: Celebrity Special. "It's such an iconic show, and growing up I loved watching the epic battles and strong personalities. "Now, getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it's a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring, but this is different. I'm ready to give it everything I've got." The show will see Gladiators Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel and Viper all return to the arena in Sheffield. Thompson, who recently completed a 260-mile run to transport the Soccer Aid match ball from London to Manchester, said: "Just when I've finished one challenge I'm on to the next, and this time I'm up against real-life Gladiators. "Bring it on and get me up that travelator! But on a serious note, I genuinely can't wait to take part, I'm so excited. I grew up watching the show, so to now be taking on the Gladiators in real life is really cool." An air date is yet to be announced for the show. Last year's edition of the show was won by TV presenter Joel Dommett and comedian Ellie Taylor, who beat presenters Rob Beckett and Louise Minchin respectively.
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks, RB MarShawn Lloyd out with new soft-tissue injuries
Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and running back MarShawn Lloyd are not practicing on Tuesday after suffering soft-tissue injuries during Monday's practice in Green Bay. Wicks has a calf injury, while Lloyd has a groin injury, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Wicks exited practice midway through and did not return. Lloyd was injured on a play during an 11-on-11 period. While initially believed to be caused by a low hit from cornerback Nate Hobbs, the Packers said before practice that they think Lloyd's injury happened before the hit. A soft-tissue injury all but confirms this suspicion. According to both Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur, Lloyd was attempting to plant while turning the corner on a perimeter run when the injury occurred on Monday. It's unclear the severity of the two injuries, but both players will miss at least one training camp practice. Wicks was enjoying a strong start to training camp and is in line for a big role in the passing game. The Packers will likely be cautious with an injury in the calf, where re-injury rates are high, especially for a receiver who depends so heavily on stopping and starting explosively. The groin injury is the latest in a long history of unfortunate injuries for Lloyd, who played in just one game as a rookie after dealing with injuries to his hip, hamstring and ankle and an appendectomy. "You feel for him," Gutekunst said. "He's worked so hard to get his body into elite shape and overcome these injuries." Both Wicks and Lloyd have time to heal. The Packers have their annual Family Night practice inside Lambeau Field on Saturday, and the first preseason game arrives a week after on Saturday, Aug. 9. The regular season opener is still over a month away.
Politico
a day ago
- Politics
- Politico
Can YIMBYs win without Scott Wiener?
BIG SHOES — Activists with the pro-housing YIMBY movement have scored win after win at the California Legislature in recent years. But they could soon face a conundrum: What happens when state Sen. Scott Wiener isn't around? Wiener, in tandem with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, has been the tip of the spear, pushing through a host of aggressive bills to turbocharge housing construction. Most notably, Wiener and Wicks championed a proposal this year to bypass environmental reviews for new housing in urban areas — the biggest reform to the landmark California Environmental Quality Act in a generation. His time at the state Capitol is winding down, however. Wiener recently opened a campaign committee to run for San Francisco's congressional seat currently held by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. There are a lot of 'ifs' surrounding Wiener's political aspirations. Pelosi, who's represented the city in the House since 1987, hasn't ruled out running for another term in 2026. Wiener's fundraising committee is ostensibly earmarked for a 2028 campaign, but he could easily transfer it to a 2026 run. And Wiener's campaign has been ambiguous lately about whether he would consider running against Pelosi. All of that said, activists with the YIMBY — 'Yes in My Back Yard' — or Abundance movement are grappling with the reality that their champion legislator may soon depart. At stake is whether those groups will have the legislative muscle to continue pushing through efforts to solve the housing shortage by slashing state and local regulations. More lawmakers aligned with the YIMBY movement have been elected in recent years, but it's unclear who among them has the skills to be a cudgel in the Senate like Wiener. 'The honest answer is, 'We'll know in time,'' said Todd David, political director for Abundant SF and a member of Wiener's inner circle of advisers. 'Senator Wiener has loomed so large on this issue. The question is, 'How long will it take for some of these (new) legislators to come into their own?'' Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action, said she's not sweating Wiener's eventual exit. She said the group's success reforming CEQA and passing other pro-housing legislation is a reflection of the movement's grassroots, with YIMBY chapters that have canvassed and raised money to help elect lawmakers. 'There's going to be elected officials that want to claim that mantle,' Foote said. She listed a handful of new-ish legislators who are YIMBY-friendly: Sens. Jesse Arreguín and Christopher Cabaldon and Assemblymembers Juan Carrillo, Lori Wilson, David Alvarez and Nick Schultz. Wicks won't be forced out due to term limits until 2030. Wiener told Playbook he's not worried about the plight of housing bills after he's gone: 'Listen, we're all replaceable. We all have expiration dates,' he said. 'There are various members in both houses who are deeply committed to housing, so I'm confident the work will continue.' But YIMBY advocates have another problem, too — one that is cropping up before Wiener leaves Sacramento, and regardless of when he runs for Congress. Incoming Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, one of the chamber's biggest environmental champions and a lukewarm supporter of housing legislation, is widely expected to remove Wiener as chair of the powerful budget committee (this year's CEQA reforms advanced through budget bills). Moreover, the YIMBY movement has faced sharp criticism in recent months from some labor union leaders and environmentalists, who argue the effort to streamline construction has undermined other priorities, such as protections for workers and wildlife habitats. California Labor Federation leader Lorena Gonzalez, a fierce opponent of recent YIMBY legislation, said a sizable group of Democratic lawmakers are uncomfortable as pro-housing groups take bigger regulation-cutting swings. She predicted that discomfort will grow regardless of Wiener's plans. 'The (YIMBY) movement has moved the bar … it finally got to a point where lawmakers were like, 'Hold up, I didn't sign up for that,'' Gonzalez said. 'It's a natural reaction to people opening their eyes.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Like what you're reading? Sign up to get California Playbook in your inbox, and forward it to a friend. You can also text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. CA vs. TRUMP DUKING IT OUT OVER DATA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James are leading a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department over its efforts to obtain sensitive information on participants in the country's largest anti-hunger program, our Grace Yarrow reported for POLITICO Pro subscribers. The officials allege USDA's request for state data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and participants violates federal privacy laws. Bonta has also sued the Department of Health and Human Services for sharing patient data with immigration authorities. This latest development tees up another fight over jurisdiction as immigration advocates seek to keep wide swaths of undocumented Californians' data out of the Trump administration's hands. 'President [Donald] Trump continues to weaponize private and sensitive personal information — not to root out fraud, but to create a culture of fear where people are unwilling to apply for essential services,' Bonta said in a statement. NUMBER OF THE DAY 100,947: The record number of California residents admitted to University of California campuses for the upcoming academic year. CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: KHANNA'S NOD — Rep. Ro Khanna is backing Democratic entrepreneur Brandon Riker in his bid to unseat Rep. Ken Calvert, Riker's campaign exclusively told Playbook. The crowded race to oust Calvert — a top target of Democrats this cycle — also includes Katherine Aleman, a teacher who announced last week, and Riverside attorney Anuj Dixit, who was recently endorsed by Rep. Dave Min. MONEY MEADE — In case you missed it while we were off, Democratic labor organizer Perry Meade last week joined the field challenging Republican Rep. Young Kim. And he raised $250,000 in the 24 hours after he announced his candidacy, his campaign told Playbook on Monday. Read more on his launch from our Juliann Ventura STATE CAPITOL EYES ON GAZA — Sacramento leaders have joined national and international leaders in condemning the starvation and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza amid a growing global outcry. Wiener, who is chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus, shared an X post on Friday condemning the Israeli government's actions. 'What the Israeli govt is doing in Gaza — inflicting mass displacement & starvation on Palestinians — is indefensible & has to stop,' he said. 'The Israeli govt's actions won't bring the hostages home or bring peace. This gruesome campaign will do nothing except continue to inflict misery.' Jewish Caucus member Matt Haney called for an end to the 'despicable, inhumane assault on the people of Gaza' yesterday in an Instagram post. State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez also shared an Instagram post calling for a ceasefire. 'We will not let people starve in silence,' she said. Gov. Gavin Newsom — who took a trip to Israel shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — hasn't weighed in on the topic in recent days. Asked whether he planned to comment on the situation, Newsom's team pointed to a statement he made during his appearance on 'The Shawn Ryan Show' podcast two weeks ago. 'Just enough,' Newsom said on the podcast. 'Come on, all these poor children. Enough. When's enough, enough? I mean, fuck Hamas … But Jesus. Look at these children starving.' — Lindsey Holden Top Talkers SOUNDING THE ALARM — Wiener, in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, warned against dismissing Trump's idea to reopen Alcatraz as a prison. The San Francisco Democrat wrote that 'we can't assume this idea is fake' and that 'we need to be planning now for how to stop this awful plan — or at least slow it down.' UNIVERSITY EXPANSION — A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University said that the school is considering expanding into San Francisco and has been working with Mayor Daniel Lurie's office, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The spokesperson said that the university is exploring the idea of 'establishing a presence downtown.' CHECKING IN — Rep. Robert Garcia said he spoke to Andry Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan migrant whom the U.S. deported to El Salvador, about the makeup artist's recent release from a Salvadoran prison. Garcia on X said Romero was in good spirits but spoke of horrific conditions in the CECOT detention facility. AROUND THE STATE — A U.S. citizen arrested during a July 17 immigration raid at a Sacramento Home Depot store was charged Monday with vandalism and accused of puncturing a tire on a van being used to transport undocumented immigrants, The Sacramento Bee reports. — The union representing thousands of grocery store workers from the U.S.-Mexico border to Bakersfield authorized a strike against a major supermarket chain. (The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Environmental groups sued California over a state climate rule, alleging it increases air pollution. (POLITICO's E&E News) — A city in Mexico that has more than a thousand dentists draws patients mostly from across the border who are seeking more affordable dental care. (The New Yorker) PLAYBOOKERS SPOTTED: WEDDING CRASHER — Kamala Harris in the Cotswolds region of England, attending the reportedly $6.7 million wedding of Olympic equestrian Harry Charles and Eve Jobs, the daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. PEOPLE MOVES — Rhonalyn Cabello has been promoted from communications manager to communications director in the office of Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. — Stuart Leavenworth has rejoined the Los Angeles Times as state editor, based in Sacramento. He'll oversee general assignment reporters across the state. BIRTHDAYS — former Rep. Jeff Denham … author Jason Levin … documentary filmmaker Ken Burns … actor Wil Wheaton … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Monday): Josh Curtis WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Vogue Williams among celebrities taking part in Gladiators special
TV presenter Vogue Williams and fitness social media personality Joe Wicks are among the stars announced to take part in Gladiators: Celebrity Special. Wicks and Williams will take on the Gladiators alongside former boxer Nicola Adams and radio presenter and former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson on the BBC game show. Williams said: "This is wild. I have loved this show since I was little and I'll be living out my childhood dream just stepping into the arena. "But I can't quite process how I'll actually face these amazing Gladiators. I'm just delighted to be a contender." Wicks, who rose to fame when his PE With Joe YouTube channel amassed millions of followers during the Covid lockdown, said: " Gladiators is one of the most iconic shows of all time, and I'm absolutely buzzing to be taking part. "I grew up watching it, so to now step into the arena myself is going to be an incredible experience. I know it's going to be tough, but I'm ready to give it everything I've got." In the special edition of the show, celebrities will take on challenges such as Duel, The Wall and The Eliminator to be crowned champion. Adams, who has won two Olympic gold medals for boxing, said: "I'm absolutely buzzing to be part of the Gladiators: Celebrity Special. "It's such an iconic show and growing up I loved watching the epic battles and strong personalities. "Now, getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it's a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring, but this is different. I'm ready to give it everything I've got." The show will see Gladiators Apollo, Athena, Bionic, Comet, Cyclone, Diamond, Dynamite, Electro, Fire, Fury, Giant, Hammer, Legend, Nitro, Phantom, Sabre, Steel and Viper all return to the arena in Sheffield. Thompson, who recently completed a 260-mile run to transport the Soccer Aid match ball from London to Manchester, said: "Just when I've finished one challenge I'm on to the next, and this time I'm up against real-life Gladiators. "Bring it on and get me up that travelator! But on a serious note, I genuinely can't wait to take part, I'm so excited. I grew up watching the show, so to now be taking on the Gladiators in real life is really cool." An air date is yet to be announced for the show. Last year's edition of the show was won by TV presenter Joel Dommett and comedian Ellie Taylor, who beat presenters Rob Beckett and Louise Minchin respectively.
