Exclusive: Comedian and writer Julian Clary (Julian Clary: Live – Lord of the Mince) will play the title role in this festive season’s London Palladium pantomime Robin Hood, with singer and travel show presenter Jane McDonald (Cruising with Jane McDonald) topping the bill as Maid Marion.
The annual Palladium show, now in its ninth consecutive season, has become an eagerly awaited staple in the West End’s calendar. It runs from December 7 through January 12, 2025. Priority booking opens 10 Am (GMT) April 25.
Last year’s production, Peter Pan, with comedy legend Jennifer Saunders making her pantomime debut as Captain Hook, and with Clary playing Seaman Smee, was a sold-out success, playing 56 performances -often two a day – to an audience of more than 123,000 at the 2,200 capacity variety house.
When tickets went on sale, there was a moment when 90,000 people were in the queue, waiting their turn to book seats.
The annual Palladium show, now in its ninth consecutive season, has become an eagerly awaited staple in the West End’s calendar. It runs from December 7 through January 12, 2025. Priority booking opens 10 Am (GMT) April 25.
Last year’s production, Peter Pan, with comedy legend Jennifer Saunders making her pantomime debut as Captain Hook, and with Clary playing Seaman Smee, was a sold-out success, playing 56 performances -often two a day – to an audience of more than 123,000 at the 2,200 capacity variety house.
When tickets went on sale, there was a moment when 90,000 people were in the queue, waiting their turn to book seats.
- 4/21/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
British veteran comedy actress Josephine Tewson, who found her biggest success in her sixties starring in one of the 1990s’ biggest TV sitcoms, has died aged 91.
Tewson was best known for playing Elizabeth, the living-on-her-nerves neighbour of Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, from 1990 to 1995.
But she appeared in a string of other shows too, such as Shelley with Hywel Bennet and No Appointment Necessary with Roy Kinnear. Following the success of Keeping Up Appearances, the show’s writer Roy Clarke gave Tewson the role of Miss Davenport in Last of the Summer Wine, which she played from 2003 to 2010.
In a statement, her agent Jean Diamond said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josephine Tewson.”
The actress died on Thursday at Denville Hall, a care home for actors and other members of the entertainment industry in north London.
Several decades before she enjoyed sitcom stardom,...
Tewson was best known for playing Elizabeth, the living-on-her-nerves neighbour of Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, from 1990 to 1995.
But she appeared in a string of other shows too, such as Shelley with Hywel Bennet and No Appointment Necessary with Roy Kinnear. Following the success of Keeping Up Appearances, the show’s writer Roy Clarke gave Tewson the role of Miss Davenport in Last of the Summer Wine, which she played from 2003 to 2010.
In a statement, her agent Jean Diamond said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josephine Tewson.”
The actress died on Thursday at Denville Hall, a care home for actors and other members of the entertainment industry in north London.
Several decades before she enjoyed sitcom stardom,...
- 8/20/2022
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
• Game of Thrones' Pedro Pascal is in talks for director Zhang Yimou's untitled Great Wall pic. The film, which marks Yimou's English-language debut, follows a group of people who fight to protect the iconic landmark. Matt Damon is also in talks for the film. Tony Gilroy wrote the most recent draft of the script. Production is scheduled to begin this Spring, with a U.S. release date set for Nov. 23, 2016. [The Wrap] • Michael Stuhlbarg has signed on for Universal's Steve Jobs movie. Danny Boyle is directing the film, which has Seth Rogen in the role of Steve Wozniak and Michael Fassbender...
- 12/20/2014
- by C. Molly Smith
- EW - Inside Movies
Musical theatre star known as 'the champagne soprano'
Lizbeth Webb, one of the great forgotten stars of British musical theatre in the 1940s and 1950s, has died aged 86. Known as "the champagne soprano", she was the first to sing one of the BBC's most requested songs of all time, This Is My Lovely Day, written for her by Vivian Ellis and AP Herbert and included in their musical comedy Bless the Bride (1947).
Starting out during the second world war as a teenage singer with dance bands – she worked later with such conductors as Mantovani, Geraldo, Max Jaffa and Vilém Tauský – Webb was discovered by the bandleader Jack Payne and turned into a West End star by the impresario Charles B Cochran in 1946. Over the next 10 years she made her mark as a soprano of great range (often singing in two different registers), vibrancy and vivacity. She was dark, petite and...
Lizbeth Webb, one of the great forgotten stars of British musical theatre in the 1940s and 1950s, has died aged 86. Known as "the champagne soprano", she was the first to sing one of the BBC's most requested songs of all time, This Is My Lovely Day, written for her by Vivian Ellis and AP Herbert and included in their musical comedy Bless the Bride (1947).
Starting out during the second world war as a teenage singer with dance bands – she worked later with such conductors as Mantovani, Geraldo, Max Jaffa and Vilém Tauský – Webb was discovered by the bandleader Jack Payne and turned into a West End star by the impresario Charles B Cochran in 1946. Over the next 10 years she made her mark as a soprano of great range (often singing in two different registers), vibrancy and vivacity. She was dark, petite and...
- 1/27/2013
- by Michael Coveney
- The Guardian - Film News
In 1963, the Beatles became the biggest band in Britain. Here are some authentic slices of the hysteria that greeted their concerts, courtesy of the British Pathé newsreel archive
Along with much of the mainstream British media, Pathé came to the Beatles comparatively late in 1963. Its October feature Tribute to Disc Stars is the first clip I've found that mentions the group, and that's in the context of a Variety Club bash at the Savoy – a 60s equivalent of today's BPI awards.
Here is the British music establishment of the day. The run-down of the guests gives you an idea of what the Beatles were up against in 1963: Frank Ifield, Joe Brown, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson, Acker Bilk, Cyril Stapleton, Anne Shelton, Eddie Calvert, Charlie Drake, Dickie Valentine. Apart from Joe Brown and Frank Ifield, nary a hint of pop flash among the lot of them.
The point of...
Along with much of the mainstream British media, Pathé came to the Beatles comparatively late in 1963. Its October feature Tribute to Disc Stars is the first clip I've found that mentions the group, and that's in the context of a Variety Club bash at the Savoy – a 60s equivalent of today's BPI awards.
Here is the British music establishment of the day. The run-down of the guests gives you an idea of what the Beatles were up against in 1963: Frank Ifield, Joe Brown, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson, Acker Bilk, Cyril Stapleton, Anne Shelton, Eddie Calvert, Charlie Drake, Dickie Valentine. Apart from Joe Brown and Frank Ifield, nary a hint of pop flash among the lot of them.
The point of...
- 11/28/2012
- by Jon Savage
- The Guardian - Film News
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