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Tag: BBC

  • Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan Return To ‘The Fall’ For A Third And Final Season

    The Fall, the Belfast-set psychological thriller starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, is set to return for a third season. In the show, Anderson plays police detective Stella Gibson while Dornan plays serial killer Paul Spector. The show proved to be a hit not only in the United Kingdom, but also internationally through Netflix. The series, which is created by Alan Cubitt, will be concluding it’s storyline in the third season which will feature five episodes. The second season finale, which ended with a cliffhanger, was watched by 3.6 million consolidated viewers with a 12.7 percent share.

    Cubitt had nothing but kind words for BBC executives Kim Shillinglaw, Ben Stephenson and Stephen Wright. According to the showrunner, season 2’s cliffhanger was made “in the hope of further exploring the characters and the themes that are at the heart of The Fall”. According to Stephenson, it was clear that Cubitt has a plan for The Fall and that greenlighting the show for a third and final season makes perfect sense. “The story is far from over. Allan has known the end game from the beginning — the cat-and-mouse game between Gillian and Jamie has one last act to play out. Who will win?” Stephenson said.

    Jamie Dornan got his start when he was cast in the role of Spector in The Fall. He has since become a huge star because of his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation. Dornan famously said that his role as a serial killer in The Fall left him scarred.

    The show has been criticized for its portrayal of violence against women, however, Anderson (who is also one of the show’s producers) said that it’s actually vilifying misogyny. Talking about her character, Anderson said, “She makes it very clear how she feels about violence against women, how these women are represented and how they are perceived. She is a supporter of women and women being treated respectfully and she doesn’t mince words. It’s in her bones. I like that about her.”

  • The Fall Season 3 Is Happening with Jamie Dornan on Board

    The Fall Season 3 Is Happening with Jamie Dornan on Board

    Though we were pretty sure that the BBC show The Fall would get a third series, we didn’t have official confirmation until today. The show, whose second season aired first across the pond and then came exclusively to Netflix, will return.

    The third season will feature five episodes.

    And both Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan are back – meaning we haven’t seen the last of Paul Spector (despite season two’s crazy ending).

    “The story is far from over. Allan has known the end game from the beginning — the cat and mouse game between Gillian and Jamie has one last act to play out. Who will win?” said the BBC’s Ben Stephenson.

    “We’d like to thank the BBC — Kim Shillinglaw, Ben Stephenson and Stephen Wright — for showing such confidence in the drama we have created with Artists Studio. The cliffhanger ending of season two was conceived in the hope of further exploring the characters and the themes that are at the heart of The Fall. We’re grateful to be given this opportunity by the BBC,” said show creator Allan Cubitt.

    Expect it on Netflix a few months after airing on the BBC. Get excited.

  • ‘Black Mirror’ Is Likely Getting a U.S. Version

    ‘Black Mirror’ Is Likely Getting a U.S. Version

    Black Mirror, the British sci-fi anthology that you should have already blown through on Netflix, could be hopping across the pond for an American spin.

    Speaking at a conference, prodcers Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin of Endemol Shine North America told the audience that a U.S. version of the breakout series in in the works.

    Well, what he actually said was “there is a plan”, but wouldn’t elaborate further.

    From Variety:

    “We’re going to take every advantage of that to bring amazing shows from around the world to American audiences,” said Corwin. Examples include Shine’s crime drama for FX, “The Bridge,” and Fox’s “Gracepoint,” a rendition of U.K. series “Broadchurch.”

    Neither of those Yank adaptations were commercially successful, but that hasn’t deterred Endemol Shine from pursuing other formats. With the heat that “Black Mirror” generated simply from word of mouth on Netflix, a U.S. version was all but inevitable.

    Black Mirror hit Netflix last month and almost instantly took over water cooler conversation. Of course that water cooler conversation was probably done in whispers, as the first episode of the series involves the British PM being forced to screw a pig on live television. It would be interesting to see how the show morphs when translated for an American audience. Hopefully not a lot, as Black Mirror‘s original creator Charlie Booker has said in the past that he would be involved in any American spin-off.

    Black Mirror is kind of hard to explain, but the best way to do it is to call it a sci-fi anthology – like a modern-day Twilight Zone. Every episode is different – completely untethered from the previous one – except they all seem to explore common themes: technology, media, voyeurism, the future, to name a handful.

    As with most great things from other countries that receive the inevitable red, white, and blue makeover, the sentiment is the same: Don’t fuck it up.

  • The Fall Season 2 Is Now Available on Netflix

    The Fall Season 2 Is Now Available on Netflix

    Looks like your weekend plans are set, people. Season two of the The Fall is now available to stream on Netflix.

    In season two, detective Stella Gibson continues her pursuit of serial killer Paul Spector, “a battle that gets personal as they delve into each other’s private life”, according to Netflix. All six episodes of season two are available.

    The Fall stars Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. It airs originally on the BBC, and Netflix maintains exclusive US distribution rights.

    Netflix users can go here to watch.

    Image via Netflix

  • Netflix May Lose a Bunch of BBC Shows at the End of the Month

    Netflix May Lose a Bunch of BBC Shows at the End of the Month

    As the days tick down to the end of January, be on the lookout for news of a deal extension between Netflix and the BBC. If not, many of your favorites could be vanishing from the streaming service.

    At 12am on February 1, a longstanding deal with between Netflix and the BBC is set to expire. And when that deal expires, shows like Doctor Who (both old and new), Fawlty Towers, House of Cards (the original), Little Britain, Luther, Primeval, Torchwood, and Top Gear will no longer be available. The BBC and Netflix first teamed up to stream content in the summer of 2011.

    Of course, there’s always the chance that the deal will be extended or the two will come to a new agreement. Judging by blog comments, social media chatter, and even online petitions – it’s pretty clear that many Netflix users would be incredibly upset by the loss of this content. Of course, Netflix probably knows this already and though the company no doubt cares about the wants and needs of its customers, public outcry is not enough to save shows from leaving Netflix.

    Netflix blog The Best of Netflix claims that a source close to Netflix has some good news, however.

    But a source close to Netflix has told me that Netflix is in fact in talks with BBC to ensure that even if the show is not renewed immediately come February 1st, the odds are very good that a deal will be reached within months, or perhaps even weeks, following the February deadline. They commented that there is even potential that the deal could prevent any removal at all (a similar thing just happened to Scrubs which was recently extended at least a month). The contract negotiation is likely to be a “BBC package” renewal, so for fans of less popular BBC shows, the odds are fairly good that your shows will return as well.

    Sounds promising. Anyone who’s been a Netflix user for some time will be very familiar with this scenario. Doctor Who fans are just going to have to wait it out – something they’re likely pretty good at.

    Image via Doctor Who, Facebook

  • BBC Reporter Gets High From Second Hand Smoke

    “Burning behind me is eight and half tons of heroin, opium, hashish and other narcotics… huehuehehe” elegantly guffawed BBC Reporter Quentin Sommerville.

    Like a dumpy Disney character, the journalist then told the cameraman in a slur to record another take, saying: “Come on… hehehe, let’s go.”

    It only got worse.

    The BBC’s Middle East correspondent then tried another take, only managing to squeeze off “Burning behind me” before erupting in giggles, retracting inwards like a roly-poly, squinting his eyes, and lighting up the camera with a bigger smile than the flames of intoxication behind him.

    Shushing like he’s done something wrong, Sommerville then says to the cameraman: “Quick, quick, quick, quick, we just need one more” in the third attempt of a retake. Attempting to maintain his composure in all serious news fashion, he realizes he just can’t do it.

    Sommerville uploaded the video yesterday, titled “Don’t inhale”, on his YouTube page as a “Christmas present” to his 24,000 Twitter followers, according to Daily Mail.

    Sommerville who is based in Jerusalem, reports on an array of Middle Eastern affairs, including the Islamic State crisis. As a gift for his viewers, he wanted to shed some light on news unrelated to the despairs of war.

    The journalist wrote to his fans: ‘Dear tweeps, it’s been a year of bullets & bloodshed. You’ve earned a xmas laugh, at my expense.” Unfortunately, Sommerville had to remove the video shortly after due to copyright related issues.

    According to Inquisitr, a BBC spokesman told reporters, “The video of Quentin corpsing, which has now been deleted, was posted in the spirit of a blooper. It was filmed four years ago – it hasn’t been seen before and was never broadcast.” “Corpsing” is a term used in the world of media as collapsing into a fit of laughter.

    Merry Christmas Mr. Sommerville.

  • ‘The Fall’ Season 2 Gets Netflix Release Date

    ‘The Fall’ Season 2 Gets Netflix Release Date

    Last year, Netflix acquired U.S. streaming rights to BBC crime drama The Fall, which stars Gillian Anderson of The X Files fame. Now, the second season has a Netflix release date.

    According to Variety, the streaming heavyweight has picked the second season up, and will debut it on January 16, 2015. This comes through a deal with Endemol, and Netflix will have it exclusively in the U.S. and Latin America.

    While The Fall has been on Netflix for over a year, it was only recently branded with the “Netflix Original” banner in the user interface.

    The show description is as follows:

    When the Belfast police are stalled in their investigation of a spate of murders, Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson is drafted to investigate.

    Image via Netflix

  • Netflix Gets U.S. Rights To ‘The Honourable Woman’

    Netflix Gets U.S. Rights To ‘The Honourable Woman’

    Netflix has reportedly acquired the U.S. rights to The Honourable Woman, a spy thriller miniseries from the BBC starring Maggie Gyllenhall.

    This is according to The Hollywood Reporter, which says BBC Worldwide has also made deals with Canada’s CBC, Spain’s Canal Plus, Norway’s TV2, and Israel’s Hot for the series in those countries.

    The miniseries is eight parts, and was written and directed by Hugo Blick for the BBC and SundanceTV. It aired on BBC Two in the U.K. and on SundanceTV in the U.S. in July.

    Other cast members include: Andrew Buchan, Stephen Rea, Lubna Azabal, Janet McTeer, Katherine Parkinson, Tobias Menzies, Eve Best, Yigal Naor, Genevieve O’Reilly, and Lindsay Duncan.

    The Honourable Woman debuted to high praise in the U.K., with The Guardian calling it “the most satisfying, densely plotted TV series for years.”

    It’s unclear when the miniseries will debut on Netflix.

    Image via YouTube

  • Judi Dench Joins Cast Of The Hollow Crown: The War Of The Roses

    Judi Dench has officially joined the cast of the BBC miniseries, The Hollow Crown: The War of The Roses. Her role? Cecily, Duchess of York, who will appear next to Richard III in the series, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The series is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s history plays concerning the War of the Roses, namely Henry VI (part one and two) and Richard III.

    “This extraordinary cast and production team will raise the bar of British drama once more,” controller of the series Ben Stephenson said according to the BBC.

    He was echoed by the executive producer, Pippa Harris, who added: “To have the chance to work with some of Britain’s most talented actors is a dream come true. We couldn’t be more delighted to have them on board.”

    The first Hollow Crown series adapted Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV (parts 1 and 2), and Henry V. They aired in July 2012.

    The Hollow Crown: The War of The Roses is not the only sequel Dench has up her sleeve. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is set to come out March 6th, 2015 in the United States. According to the movie’s website, it takes place in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful where Dench plays opposite Bill Nightly who both “have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead”.

    Staying politically relevant as well, Judi Dench joined several other British celebrities in an open letter encouraging Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom. “The decision on whether to leave our shared country is, of course, absolutely yours alone,” the letter reads, “Nevertheless, that decision will have a huge effect on all of us in the rest of the United Kingdom. We want to let you know how very much we value our bonds of citizenship with you, and to express our hope that you will vote to renew them. What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let’s stay together.”

  • Netflix Gets ‘Happy Valley’ In U.S. And Canada

    Netflix Gets ‘Happy Valley’ In U.S. And Canada

    Netflix announced today that it is about to start offering exclusive streaming access to hit BBC drama Happy Valley in the U.S. and Canada.

    Here’s the canned statement they’ve been tossing around from content acquisition VP Elizabeth Bradley:

    “We’re proud to add this highly lauded, masterfully crafted and brilliantly acted British series to the exclusive offerings Netflix viewers in the US and Canada can enjoy. Already recognized as one of the top dramas of 2014, Happy Valley, is sure to keep our viewers on the edge of their seats.”

    All six episodes of Season 1 will be available on August 20th. The day before that, they’ll be adding From Dusk Till Dawn in the U.S.

    Here’s what Netflix is adding in the U.S in the coming week.

    Image via Twitter

  • Lisa Kudrow Previews New Season of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’

    Lisa Kudrow recently previewed the new season of TLC’s celebrity genealogy documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? for TV Guide.

    The season, which kicked off on Wednesday with an episode about former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixson’s great-great-great grandmother, will feature Valerie Bertinelli, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lauren Graham, Kelsey Grammer, and Rachel McAdams.

    Who Do You Think You Are? is an adaptation of the British series of the same name that has aired on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for 11 seasons.

    The US version of the series premiered on NBC in 2010 and ran three seasons before being canceled by the network in 2012.

    The series was subsequently picked up for a fourth season by TLC and in June the network renewed the series for a six-episode fifth season.

    Season four set a strong precedent with celebrities such as Christina Applegate, Kelly Clarkson, Cindy Crawford, Zooey Deschanel, Chelsea Handler, Chris O’Donnell, and Trisha Yearwood.

    In the first episode of season five, Cynthia Nixson discovers that her great-great-great grandmother was a victim of domestic violence and, in an act of self-defense, killed her husband with an ax.

    “Real life is much more riveting and powerful. We were bug-eyed by that story!” Kudrow said.

    She went on to reveal that three more season five celebrity guests – Bertinelli, Ferguson, and McAdams – had a murderer in the family.

    Kudrow said it’s not unheard of for a celebrity to back out due to the personal nature of the information uncovered by the show:

    “…and we respect that. Sometimes they’ll talk to their family and the family says, ‘Nope. Not for us.’”

    Kudrow serves as executive producer of the series along with former Scandal star Dan Bucatinsky. Along with Don Roos (Boys on the Side, Marley & Me, Single White Female) Kudrow and Bucatinsky comprise the production company Is or Isn’t Entertainment.

    The company’s first television series, The Comeback, aired for one season on HBO and starred Kudrow and Malin Akerman (Couples Retreat, The Proposal, 27 Dresses.) The series received three Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Kudrow.

    “If they had left it on, it would have been fine. Because I think in a couple of years, TV caught up to it,” Kudrow said of the series.

    Those words proved true earlier this year when HBO revealed it would bring the show back almost ten years later for a six-episode second season.

    In 2008 Is or Isn’t launched the web series Web Therapy with Kudrow and Bucatinsky starring as an Internet therapist and her assistant.

    In the summer of 2011 the series transitioned from the Internet to television in the form of a half-hour Showtime series.

    “I feel like we snuck in through the back door, almost [like] being a recurring character that finally becomes a regular. So that was easy. Painless, sort of,” Kudrow has said of the transition process.

    In January the network announced it would renew the series for a fourth season, set to premiere in October.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams Addresses Supporters

    The arrest of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams under accusations of ordering the 1972 murder of a mother of 10 has “put a rocket under the Sinn Féin European and local election campaign,” party activists said at a political rally, according to The Irish Times.

    The rally, which was attended by 800 supporters, served as both an election rally and a reception for Gerry Adams, who was released from police custody without being charged for any crime. He spent four days and five nights being questioned in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville.

    Gerry Adams was welcomed with a loud and long ovation from the crowd and said that “the sham I was put through” sent the wrong signals about policing to the public, because the police ultimately did not present any evidence against him.

    He focused his comments primarily on the upcoming elections, where he said that Sinn Fein would not be diverted from “the job of building peace” and that the political organization had a responsibility “to bring genuine civil policing that will respect every man, woman and child.”

    After his release, Adams addressed reporters in a Belfast hotel about the allegations brought against him, saying, “I am innocent of any involvement in any conspiracy to abduct, kill or bury Mrs. McConville. I have worked hard with others to have this injustice redressed.”

    The arrest has galvanized people in the community, with protests held on both sides. According to Time Magazine, Adams’ release was delayed for two hours by angry loyalist protestors who attempted to physically block his release until police officers in riot gear escorted Adams out through an alternate exit.

    Furthermore, Sinn Fein politician and Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said his party may no longer be able to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland following the time Adams was in custody.

    Democratic Unionist Party First Minister Peter Robinson said that he plans to meet with the McConville family to see what can be done to help them. ““Whilst Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein have been playing the victim, it is important to remember that the real victims are the McConville family. Ten children were left orphaned and have never received justice. This was a horrific and brutal crime.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Courteney Cox to David Letterman: No ‘Friends’ Reunion

    Courteney Cox recently told David Letterman that a Friends reunion show is “not gonna happen.”

    Cox appeared on The Late Show Monday night and Letterman asked the inevitable question: will there be a Friends reunion?

    Cox said she can’t even get the six former cast members together for dinner due to conflicting schedules and the fact that they all live on opposite coasts now. If she hasn’t been able to accomplish that – and she claims to have been trying since the show went off air – how could a reunion show or movie happen?

    Cox is still on the west coast, living in Malibu with her nine-year-old daughter Coco and boyfriend, Snow Patrol rocker Johnny McDaid.

    Cox has played Jules Cobb on Cougar Town since the series premiered in 2009. She’s also worked as a director on the show since 2012.

    Former Friends star Jennifer Aniston has continued to be a household name in the years since the series ended in 2004, but what about the other cast members?

    Matthew Perry is still involved in television. News broke in December that he would write, produce, and star in an Odd Couple reboot on CBS.

    “Ever since seeing the movie The Odd Couple when I was 10 years old, it has been a dream for me to play Oscar Madison,” Perry said. “To be given the opportunity to develop a modern version of it for CBS has put a permanent smile across my face.”

    Lisa Kudrow recently voiced a character in Lovesick Fool: Love in the Age of Like. The animated short co-stars Janeane Garofalo and Fred Willard. It’s written and directed by Dominic Polcino who is well-known for his work on Family Guy, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons.

    Kudrow is also collaborating with Scandal’s Dan Bucatinsky and Dan Savage on the documentary series It Got Better, after having made a few guest appearances on Scandal herself in 2013.

    Matt LeBlanc has starred as a fictional version of himself on the BBC/Showtime series Episodes since 2011. In 2012 he won a Golden Globe for the role.

    Finally, David Schwimmer is voicing a character in The Penguins of Madagascar which is slated for a March 2015 release. Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Ben Stiller will also lend their voices to the film.

    Image via YouTube

  • Richard Hoggart, British Academic, Dies at Age 95

    Richard Hoggart, a prominent British cultural historian and an important witness in the court case that ended British censorship of Lady Chatterley’s Lover died Thursday at a nursing home in London. He was 95 years old.

    Hoggart, a university lecturer at the time, defended D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover in a trial in London in 1960, calling the novel “highly virtuous and, if anything, puritanical.” In the end, the jury found the book not obscene. It was a landmark case regarding censorship and free expression.

    Hoggart’s classic, The Uses of Literacy, published in 1957, portrayed urban working-class life in the 1920s and 1930s, and how it was affected by mass media and the influence of American culture. In the book, Hoggart argued that the working classes deserved better in educational and cultural terms than society provided for them.

    He passed away after suffering for many years from senile dementia.

    Hoggart’s son, journalist Simon Hoggart, died of cancer in January.

    He grew up in Leeds with a working-class background, and became an orphan at the age of eight.

    Hoggart spent his life advocating against popular consumerism, and described it as “the corrupt brightness of mass entertainments.”

    In his long career, he Hoggart served with the Royal Artillery in North Africa and Italy, and went on to become a professor of English at Birmingham University, assistant director general of Unesco, and vice-chairman of the Arts Council.

    He also founded the Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies which influenced academic interest in cultural and media studies around the world.

    Hoggart was also a party behind the Pilkington Committee on broadcasting, which led to the founding of BBC Two.

    He refused knighthood and a peerage.

    Hoggart died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday morning in a north London nursing home. He is survived by his wife, who lives in the same nursing home.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in ‘Hamlet’ and Coloring Book

    You’ve seen him in Sherlock, you’ve seen him in 12 Years a Slave, and now you’ll see him in Hamlet. Yes, Benedict Cumberbatch, the actor with perhaps the best name ever, will play the role of Hamlet for 12 weeks this summer.

    Cumberbatch will star in the Shakespearian drama at the Barbican theatre in London. This will mark the actor’s first return to the stage since his role in the 2011 production of Frankenstein, in which he alternated the role of Frankenstein and his creature with Jonny Lee Miller.

    Sonia Friedman, who will produce the production, called Cumberbatch “one of the most gifted actors of his generation.” Lyndsey Turner, who has had recent success with the plays Chimerica and Posh, will direct the play.

    And if seeing the dashing actor on the screen and stage still isn’t enough for you, you can get your fill with the help of the new coloring book, Colour Me Good Benedict Cumberbatch.

    You read that right; you can purchase a book filled with 16 black outline drawings of the star, and let your imagination run wild.

    Created by British artist Mel Simone Elliott, the book invites fans to imagine themselves as the star’s boyfriend or girlfriend and draw pictures that depict their life together. The book will feature contemporary facts and jokes, and even a picture of Cumberbatch where you can “photobomb” him.

    Witness just one of the reasons why fans love Cumberbatch, here:

    And fans really love him, as you can see from the tweets below:

    This isn’t the first celebrity coloring book the artist has created; similar works on stars like Ryan Gosling and Kate Moss are available at galleries, overseas, and at trendy shops like Topshop and Urban Outfitters.

    Colour Me Good Benedict Cumberbatch is available on the I Love Mel website or the retailer Maiden.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • David Beckham Warned of Genital Devouring Fish

    While filming a 90-documentary concerning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil for the BBC, soccer superstar David Beckham was advised by producers to stay clear of the Amazon river, to avoid the feared and genital-attacking Candiru fish.

    Also called the “vampire fish,” the Candiru swims into the urethras of its hosts, and commences to feed on blood meals. The process is said to be so excruciating that many victims die of shock, and surgeries to remove the tiny fish are sometimes fatal.

    The Candiru, scientifically known as Vandellia cirrhosa, a is a species of parasitic freshwater catfish native to the Amazon Basin, where it is found in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The body of the Candiru is translucent, making it very difficult to see, and there are small sensory nodes around the head, along with backward pointing spines on the gill covers, which helps the fish to stay inside a host.

    Amazonian lore states that a Candiru can swim up one’s urine stream, even if only a victim’s feet are in the water.

    A source from the BBC told Confidenti@l that, “Talent and crew were given full-length medical and terrain awareness courses before the journey. It was a key part of their process and necessary to get insurances before their trip under BBC guidelines. One of the most dangerous creatures in the world lives in the Amazon River, and for men it is both deadly and painful.”

    Beckham joined friends Dave Gardner and Derek White, along with filmmaker Anthony Mandler to produce what BBC One Controller Charlotte Moore describes as being a program in which “David Beckham embarks on a top-secret expedition to the Amazon that will see him encounter the other side of Brazil and journey through the tropical rainforest, a TV first for the global icon.”

    The Brazilian government will urge visitors to stay out of the river during the World Cup games, while various news outlets have reported men having their penises removed after Candiru attacks.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • “Two Fat Ladies” Star Lived Life, Inspired Many

    Two Fat Ladies star Clarissa Dickson Wright died Saturday at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary of an unspecified illness, according to CBS.

    The surviving member of the hilarious duo that made the world laugh on the hit BBC show was 66 years old. Her full name was Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright, and like her name, her personality was larger than life itself.

    She was described as “a marvelous cook and hugely knowledgeable about food and food history” by the shows producer, Patricia Llewellyn. “She was a force of nature and a true character, someone who knew how to tell a great story and had a fabulous sense of humor.”

    After Two Fat Ladies ended in 1999 with the death of co-star Jennifer Paterson, Clarissa Dickson Wright moved on to make other TV series and wrote books including A History of English Food and her memoir called Spilling the Beans.

    Dickson Wright began life in an affluent London family as the daughter of a brilliant and respected surgeon who also happened to be a violent alcoholic.

    She grew up to become a lawyer, but alcohol addiction brought an early end to her promising career. So, she ran a cookbook store until she was discovered for the BBC show. The rest is BBC history.

    Her agent Heather Holden-Brown said of her, “Her fun and laughter, extraordinary learning and intelligence, will be missed always, by so many of us.”, according to the BBC.

    She went on to say, “Loved dearly by her friends and many fans all over the world, Clarissa was utterly non-PC and fought for what she believed in, always, with no thought to her own personal cost.”

    She led the fantastical life comparable to her huge personality, and is recently quoted as saying, “I’ve had a fantastic life and I’ve done everything I could have wanted to do and more”.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons

  • Clarissa Dickson Wright Of “Two Fat Ladies” Fame Dies At 66

    Clarissa Dickson Wright Of “Two Fat Ladies” Fame Dies At 66

    Clarissa Dickson Wright rose to fame for being one of the cooks in BBC Two’s cooking program called Two Fat Ladies. The series ran from 1996 to 1999.

    In the show, Wright, together with her co host, Jennifer Paterson, travel to different places in the United Kingdom and cook big meals using unique ingredients. Both women have a knack for using strong flavors, and typically cook with garlic, seasonings, and anchovies.

    Wright’s agents, Elly James and Heather Holden-Brown, said that she had been sick for months. She had been confined in the hospital since the year started. Wright died on Saturday at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. Details regarding her death were not specified.

    Wright, born Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmeralda Dickson Wright, was born to an affluent family. Her father, an excellent surgeon who treated members of the royal family, became an alcoholic. Her mother is of Australian descent and also came from a wealthy family.

    Wright became a lawyer at the age of 21. She also became an alcoholic, just like her father, but opted for a a lifestyle of sobriety when she stopped drinking on her 40th birthday. Reports say that she spent around £2.8 million of her inheritance on alcohol in the span of 12 years.

    She then focused more on her cooking and ended up being the host of Two Fat Ladies in her forties.

    Wright and Paterson became popular, as they went against health-conscious cooking and used large amounts of bacon, lard, and other “unhealthy” food items. According to Suzanne Hamlin of The New York Times, the women did not follow anything “by the book” in their show.

    Two Fat Ladies finished its run in 1999, as Paterson died of cancer.

    Sources said that a few weeks before she passed away, Wright had been calling friends and asking them for help for a crossword puzzle clue that she was having trouble with. Close friends say that her intelligence, fun, and laughter will be missed by many.

    Two Fat Ladies Cook Lard

    Image via Facebook

  • ‘Two Fat Ladies’ TV Star Clarissa Dickson Wright Dies at 66

    The last TV personality of Britain’s Two Fat Ladies has passed away.

    At the age of 66 years old, Clarissa Dickson Wright died Saturday at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.

    Her cause of death was said to be unknown.

    Born on June 14, 1947 as Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmeralda Dickson Wright, the TV star grew up in London.

    According to CBS News, Dickson Wright dealt with alcoholism later in life during her career as an attorney. After recovering from alcoholism and leaving the legal profession, she became a caterer and ran a cookery bookstore.

    BBC scouted her for the TV show series while she was working at the bookstore.

    At the time, Dickson Wright said she had no professional experience in cooking, but she became a dynamic duo along with co-host Jennifer Paterson.

    Here is a 1998 interview of the pair:

    The international program became an immediate hit, showing the pair touring Britain in sidecars and on motorcycles. Dickson Wright and Paterson were mainly known for traveling to various locations to cook exotic meals and share culinary advice.

    “She [Dickson Wright] was a force of nature and a true character, someone who knew how to tell a great story and had a fabulous sense of humor,” said show producer, Patricia Llewellyn.

    The show came to an end, however, in 1999 when Paterson died from cancer at the age of 71.

    The TV cook celebrity later released an autobiography in 2007 titled Spilling The Beans. She also appeared in other TV series.

    Her agent, Heather Holden-Brown, told BBC News Monday, “Her fun and laughter, extraordinary learning and intelligence, will be missed always by so many of us. Loved dearly by her friends and many fans all over the world, Clarissa was utterly non-PC and fought for what she believed in, always, with no thought to her own personal cost.”

    The clip below shows the pair cooking together:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi Appears At BBC Showcase

    This past Christmas, we got a glimpse into the character of Peter Capaldi, the emerging 12th Doctor, during the 2013 Christmas Special. From that point on, Capaldi is now the “new face” of the Doctor in the Doctor Who series, and recently, we got a taste of how Capaldi’s Doctor will look from the released Facebook photos. Now, Capaldi introduces himself to the public as “The Doctor” at the well-known 2014 BBC Showcase.

    According to The Digital Spy, Capaldi made an appearance at the BBC Worldwide Showcase this past Monday (February 24th). As Capaldi appeared, he stepped out of the TARDIS (in the Doctor’s new character wardrobe) and greeted announcer and comedian Graham Norton.

    In The Hollywood Reporter‘s story on Capaldi’s appearance at the BBC Worldwide Showcase, Capaldi made the following statement to Norton:

    “As a lifetime follower of the show, I’m delighted to see its global success. And I’m looking forward to sharing with the world the very exciting journey the new [season] is taking us on.”

    Many Whovians are eagerly awaiting the date when the new season of Doctor Who involving Capaldi will start, and unfortunately, no dates were mentioned during Capaldi’s appearance; however, according to The Digital Spy, filming is currently in production at Cardiff as seen in these on-set pictures.

    In other Doctor Who-related news, DoctorWho.tv stated that well-known actor and The History Boys star Samuel Anderson will join the cast of the British sci-fi show in a recurring role during Capaldi’s first season.

    Image via YouTube (0:50)

  • Snowboarding Commentators Receive Criticism

    The BBC welcomed 22-year-old British snowboarder Aimee Fuller into the announcing booth for the women’s snowboarding slopestyle on Sunday.
    Broadcasters Ed Leigh and Tom Warwood joined Fuller, commentating the event.

    The network faced criticism after Fuller and the commentators cheered when fellow-British snowboarder’s competitor fell.

    While Fuller didn’t make the finals as a competitor, she rooted for teammate Jenny Jones to take home the gold. Austria’s Anna Gasser fell during her turn, resulting in Fuller’s controversial cheers.

    Viewers complained that the cheering of the commentators lacked standards.

    Shortly after celebrating, Fuller said, “Are we supposed to do that? Probably not.”

    All three commentators then began crying when it became clear that Jones had won the bronze medal.

    Warwood immediately took to twitter, seemingly unaware of his unprofessional and bias cheers.

    When US snowboarder Karly Shorr began her run the comment, “She’s got a face that could help bread rise”; “this feels like I’ve got slugs in my knickers”; and “riding switch [back-to-front] is like writing left-handed while wearing a chip hat and being attacked by seagulls,” was said.

    Twitter ignited with comments about the remarks and commentators.

    A BBC spokesperson chalked the commentary up as a “truly historic occasion.” ”

    “However we acknowledge that on occasion this excitement got the better of them and this is something that we will work on for future events,” they continued.

    Image Via Twitter