Frank Turner set for first ever UK Number 1 album with FTHC

An Oscar nominee for Best International Feature, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom marks a first for the country of Bhutan, which has only ever submitted two films for consideration (and actually entered Lunana two years in a row following its earlier disqualification on a technicality). Filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji and star Sherab Dorji joined us for Contenders Film: The Nominees to discuss the making of the movie, a charming story of a teacher who is reluctantly transferred to a remote village and ends up learning quite a bit throughout his journey.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorAs Disney’s “Encanto” continues to break music chart records, a much more personal moment stands out to composer Germaine Franco. It’s a viral moment, captured on social media, of a little boy who lights up at realizing that he looks just like the young character Antonio. “It’s so beautiful because he sees himself on screen,” she tells Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast.“Encanto” features eight original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, while Franco’s score cuts in and out of the songs, evoking a sense of magical realism.

Super Furry Animals have shared their first ever recorded song that features vocals from actor Rhys Ifans.The song – ‘Of No Fixed Identity – has remained in the band’s archives for almost 30 years but is now available on Bandcamp for a limited time.Before Gruff Rhys took over vocals, Ifans fronted the Welsh band. The group first recorded at Gorwel Owen’s studio on Ynys Môn in summer 1993 and ‘Of No Fixed Identity’ was the first song ever recorded by the band.In a statement about the song, the group said: “Our first, ever recorded work is out, in part an exploration of the past and in part a criticism of the present and a future where corporate interests are prioritised ahead of health, wellbeing and the natural world.”“Please download the track, support the cause and rediscover the considerable singing talents of Mr Rhys Ifans.”You can download the song here.The band are donating a percentage off the profits to ‘Save The Severn’ campaign.

Central Cee storms to Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart this week, fighting off strong competition from Tears For Fears in what proved a thrilling race to the finish. 

Gayle King's much-anticipated exclusive interview with Melissa French Gates aired on CBS Mornings on Thursday, as the journalist sat down with Bill Gates' ex-wife – who discussed her divorce for the first time.MORE: Gayle King's grandson steals the show in adorable new photoMelinda reflected on her "journey of healing" as she opened up to Gayle about the breakdown of her 27-year marriage.Gayle - who was applauded for the interview - asked Melinda: "Did you have moments you were just so angry? Did you have moments that you were just in so much pain? Because people look at you Melinda French Gates and think you have it all."VIDEO: CBS Mornings' Gayle King sits down with Melissa French GatesMelinda replied: "Well, I think it's really important to say that I had a lot of tears for many days. I mean, days where I'm literally laying on the floor and the carpet, you know this close to me, and thinking 'How can I get up? How am I going to move forward?' And days I certainly was angry.MORE: Gayle King wows in her iconic yellow dress as she celebrates a decade with CBSEXCLUSIVE: Tony Dokoupil teases future plans with wife Katy Tur"That’s part of the grieving process.

SEVENTEEN are set to premiere their first-ever feature film next month.SEVENTEEN’s label, Pledis Entertainment, announced earlier today (March 3) that the 13-member group would be premiering their first-ever full-length movie, titled SEVENTEEN Power Of Love: The Movie, next month.According to the company, the forthcoming film will be a “love letter in movie form from SEVENTEEN”.

She'll soon be back on our screens as Daphne Bridgerton in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton.

Megan Thee Stallion has announced the first ever VR concert tour.The singer will hit road for a series of shows in the US entitled ‘Enter Thee Hottieverse’.The VR concert will feature a multi-song set that moves through a series of environments, and features “hot custom” wardrobes.Fans will be able to go to local cinemas and put on the VR headsets dubbed “Hottie Mounted Displays”, before watching Megan perform. Tickets go on sale on tomorrow (March 2) and can be purchased here.“Virtual reality has always been an interest of mine, and I’m glad that we’ll be able to make history with this experience,” the rapper said in a statement via Billboard.

William Earl  Leading up to releases of her original novel, “Run, Rose, Run,” co-written with best-selling author James Patterson, and its companion music album, Dolly Parton is partnering with Fox Entertainment’s Blockchain Creative Labs to launch “Dollyverse,” an audience-centric Web3 experience, at the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals starting next week.Parton will make her first-ever appearance at SXSW on March 18, when she and Patterson will speak about the project at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater.  Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee Connie Britton (“The White Lotus,” “Nashville,” “Friday Night Lights”) will moderate the conversation with Parton and Patterson.  Immediately afterwards, she will give a live performance featuring songs from “Run, Rose, Run,” along with other hits.  Scheduled to open for Parton and Patterson are Kovic, Callie Twisselman, Electra Mustaine and The Brothers Moore. The entire event will be streamed live for free on “Dollyverse” by Eluvio, which also will power the “Dollyverse’s” NFT sales.

EXCLUSIVE: The prestigious Yale Drama Series Prize for emerging playwrights has announced eight contenders selected for its first-ever short list.

Bad Boy Chiller Crew have landed their first-ever UK Top Five album thanks to their new mixtape ‘Disrespectful’.In a close week, which saw the Bradford boys and Sea Power vying for Number One, Ed Sheeran ended up taking back the top spot with his latest album, ‘=’. Bad Boy Chiller Crew earned this week’s highest new entry at Number Two.“We’ve got nothing but love for our fans, thank you,” the group told The Official Charts.

Metallica’s first-ever recording of ‘Hit The Lights’ from 1982, featuring former bandmate Dave Mustaine, is set to receive a reissue on vinyl this April.‘Hit The Lights’ will feature on Metal Blade Records’ 40th anniversary reissue of its ‘Metal Massacre’ compilation, which was available from 1982 to 1984. The reissue – set to release on April 22 – will mark the first time that the rare recording has been made available since 1984.The 1982 recording of ‘Hit The Lights’ includes a guitar solo performed by Dave Mustaine, who played in Metallica for 11 months before being kicked out of the band shortly before they recorded their 1983 debut album, ‘Kill ‘Em All’.

Piers Morgan has asked Meghan Markle to be his first ever guest on his new TV show because they have "unfinished business".

(G)I-DLE have unveiled details for their forthcoming comeback, including a release date as well as the record’s title.On February 24 at midnight KST, the South Korean girl group announced their debut full-length studio album through their official social media pages.

Frank Turner has scored his first ever UK Number One album with ‘FTHC’, his ninth studio LP.The singer/songwriter’s record claimed the top spot with almost 90 per cent of physical sales, topping the UK Official Record Store Chart and the Official Vinyl Albums Chart.It is his highest ever charting position after his last album, ‘No Man’s Land’ went in at Number Three in 2019 and his 2015 album ‘Positive Songs For Negative People’ peaked at Number Two.“Getting a Number One album is crazy, it’s not a thing I ever thought would happen to me and it’s happened on my ninth album,” Turner told the Official Charts Company.“That feels particularly crazy and awesome, and I’m proud of it. It feels quite fitting that, of all the records I’ve put out, this is the one that got the Number 1 trophy.

Frank Turner secures his first ever Number 1 album this week, as FTHC reigns on the Official Albums Chart. 

The first look at HBO Max’s The Staircase eight-episode series just debuted online!

Frank Turner has said that it would be “pretty funny and cool” if he triumphed in this week’s battle for the UK’s Number One album.The singer/songwriter is currently on course to secure his first-ever UK Number One album with ‘FTHC’, his ninth studio LP.Speaking in a self-filmed video that was posted on his social media channels yesterday (February 14), Turner said that ‘FTHC’ is “in [a] good position, but with a challenger” approaching.“It’s important to say when I was a kid I didn’t really care about the charts, and part of me still doesn’t,” he continued.“At the same time, like so many things in my career, it feels like the kind of thing I’m not really supposed to get. Therefore, it’d be pretty funny and pretty cool if I did get that top spot.”Right folks, it looks like FTHC has a chance at the #1 slot in the UK charts this week.

Frank Turner is on course to achieve his first Number One album this week.According to The Official Charts Company, ‘FTHC’, which stands for Frank Turner Hardcore – is currently leading the charts with more than double the sales of his closest competition, Alt-J’s ‘The Dream‘.It would be Turner’s highest-charting album to date following on from ‘Tape Deck Heart‘, which recached Number Two in 2013.Others looking to claim their highest UK albums chart entry include Slash and Myles Kennedy.Their latest collaboration ‘4’ is set to chart at Number Three, while James Morrison’s ‘Greatest Hits’ collection is on track to enter the charts at Number Five.Elsewhere in the charts, Viola Beach’s self-titled debut album is set to re-enter the chart at Number Seven, following a special vinyl release.The posthumously-released album debuted at Number One in August 2016 after the group suffered a fatal incident alongside their manager in February of that year. Last month, Turner shared his new single ‘A Wave Across A Bay’, written as a tribute to the late Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison.The track has been released with the blessing of Scott’s younger brother Grant, and was first performed by Turner back in 2020 during a set of Frightened Rabbit covers.“I still miss my friend Scott every day,” Turner said about the single.