Australia’s On-Screen TV Diversity Is Increasing, But Not Yet Representative

Helen Flanagan has shared her thanks to viewers of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa after they branded her a 'different person'. The former Coronation Street star has been wowing fans of the ITV reality show as she returned to compete for 'Legend' status in the brand new spin-off.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Jock Zonfrillo, the colorful and controversial chef and TV personality who died suddenly on Sunday, is to be honored on air with twin broadcasts this weekend on Australia’s Network Ten#. A new season of “MasterChef,” the reality TV show on which Zonfrillo was a judge, will now launch on Sunday evening, the broadcaster said on Wednesday. The show was due to have begun airing on Monday, but transmission was postponed as news of Zonfrillo’s sudden death was digested by the industry and public. The network said that it had the Zonfrillo family’s blessing for the move.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Jock Zonfrillo, a Scottish TV presenter and former chef, known for his recent role as a judge on “MasterChef Australia,” has died suddenly. He was 46. Zonfrillo died on April 30 in Melbourne, TV broadcaster Network Ten said in a statement on Monday. No cause of death was disclosed. “With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” said Zonfrillo’s family carried as part of the Network Ten new release. “So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we’re too overwhelmed to put them into words. For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky.”

It’s well documented that in recent years the heart of Stockport has experienced something of a renaissance.

Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie knew about the £100,000 campervan linked to an on-going probe into the party's finances - but only after it was purchased and he saw the annual accounts.

A Disney Junior-branded Twitter account has been suspended after receiving a gold tick from the social media platform.

Watch Below: Kourtney Kardashian's birthday flowersWhether it's a birthday or anniversary, baby shower or Valentine's Day, the Kardashian family will always go above and beyond. From personalised signs to extravagant food spreads, over-the-top party themes and impeccable outfits, the family know how to celebrate and often share a behind-the-scenes look at their special day on social media. But fans have had enough, calling the family out for their extravagant gifts - and now Kourtney Kardashian has clapped back.    A Sign of Love or Excessive Display of Wealth?Kourtney's latest birthday was just like any other family member's big day.

Mobile phone owners have been left confused as the emergency alert - which was scheduled to hit the nation's devices at 3pm - sounds on some phones but not others.

Rob Brydon, Ricky Gervais, Matt Lucas and Carol Vorderman were among the famous faces remembering “true great” Barry Humphries following his death aged 89.The stage and screen veteran, best known for his comic character Dame Edna Everage, died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney Australia on Saturday night (11am GMT). David Faktor, a spokesman for St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, told the PA news agency: “I can confirm Barry Humphries passed away this evening Sydney time, around 7pm on Saturday evening." His death came following a readmission to hospital after suffering complications following hip surgery last month. Dozens of celebrities have now shared touching tributes to the late star on social media.

Chris Evans wants in on the next James Bond movie!

botched rocket launch that same day.“Bye checkmark!” wrote the Pod Save America host, who happens to have the same name as the “Iron Man” director, along with a photo of the exploding Starship. The AFL-CIO account updated a Drake meme to show the rapper cringing at a blue checkmark and smiling at the suggestion “form a union.” The caption read, “We’re still here, but we don’t give our money to union-busting billionaires.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Sydney Film Festival will present ‘Jane Campion – Her Way,’ a retrospective of films by the pioneering director. Campion herself will appear in conversation with David Stratton on June 10 at the 2023 edition of the festival, its 70th anniversary presentation (June 7-18). Held in association with ACMI and the National Film and Sound Archive, ‘Jane Campion – Her Way’ will encompass screenings of all nine of Campion’s feature films, as well as a selection of her short films. The selection will go on to tour the ACMI in Melbourne (June 15 – July 2) and at NFSA in Canberra (July 20-30). “For our 70th edition, we wanted to present a retrospective commensurate with the milestone, reflecting the audacious and boundary pushing filmmaking synonymous with our festival and region. Campion is a ground-breaking filmmaker who has made a profound impact on cinema with her daring and unforgettable films,” said Sydney Film Festival director Nashen Moodley.

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains details of Your Honor Season 2.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Competition reality TV format “Lego Masters” has been picked up by Tokyo Broadcasting System for adaptation in Japan. The deal is the 19th for the Banijay Rights-represented format and the third in Asia. Production is currently underway for the show, which will see pairs compete against each other to wow judges with inspiring designs and brick builds. “I am looking forward to working with Banijay Rights and not only learn about the production of the show, but also to closely examine the essence of creation behind it,” said Aso Kunihiro, producer, contents solution department at TBS in a prepared statement.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Wanda, the Chinese conglomerate that once threatened to take over Hollywood, has put up for sale the Hoyts cinema chain in Australia that it bought in 2015. Hoyts is Australia’s second largest movie theater operator with 46 multiplexes housing 412 screens, according to 2022 data from Screen Australia. It also owns Val Morgan, Australia’s biggest cinema advertising firm.Wanda Cinema Line, itself China’s biggest theater operator, has appointed Credit Suisse and Nomura to handle the sale. Bidders are understood to have access to a “stapled debt” package (a line of agreed financing arranged by the banks) if the potential buyer cannot arrange sufficient finance of their own. A first deadline for bids is set at the beginning of May, with final offers to be submitted by the end of June.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief A growing range of Thai, Japanese and Chinese-language films and TV shows are reaching global audiences – joining the by-now well-established international viewership for South Korean shows.Netflix’s Global Top 10 for the week April 3-10, sees made-for-streaming Korean title “Kill Boksoon” on top of the non-English-language films list, with 27.5 million hours watched in its second week of release. It is immediately followed by Thai film “Hunger,” about a young woman apprentice in an upmarket restaurant working under a tough boss. The film is directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and stars “Bad Genius” breakout Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying.

Quentin Tarantino is now on the international leg of his book tour for “Cinema Speculation,” the director’s first work of film criticism. And the tour also now serves as a way for the press to, well, press Tarantino about his upcoming tenth and final film, “The Movie Critic.” With its late-1970s LA setting, many believed the titular main character could be based on Pauline Kael, the lauded long-time critic for The New Yorker who had a brief stint working in Hollywood.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief U.K.-based sales agent Mister Smith Entertainment has picked up international rights to “Grafted,” a New Zealand-set horror film which marks the feature directing debut of Sasha Rainbow. The film is now in production. Mister Smith will launch sales next month in Cannes. The film tells story of a Chinese student who travels to New Zealand to complete the scientific work of her deceased father only to find a new way of achieving popularity, one body at a time.

was confirmed by the American Society of Cinematographers. Along with “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” for which he received his only Academy Award nomination in 1976, and the game-changing summer movie blockbuster, he also lensed films such as “The Conversation,” “Grease,” “Child’s Play,” “Anaconda,” “Frailty” and the first three “Rocky” sequels. Along with an Oscar nomination an BAFTA award both for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Butler won Primetime Emmys for “Raid on Entebbe” in 1977 and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1984.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Sydney Film Festival, which this year will celebrate its 70th edition, has unveiled its first dozen selections. Seven are feature films, five are documentaries. “The 2023 program will expand on this legacy, promising to ignite stimulating dialogues and present powerful ideas that will broaden audience perspectives,” said festival director Nashen Moodley. He noted that over the previous 69 editions the Sydney festival has showcased more than 10,000 films. Highlights among the documentaries are two Australian titles. “Rachel’s Farm” follows actor-director Rachel Ward as she revitalizes her beef farm using sustainable farming practices. In “The Last Daughter” Wiradjuri woman Brenda Matthews documents her search to uncover the truth about her government-ordered abduction as a child and to find her white foster family. Both Matthews and Ward will attend the festival in person.