Iceland Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Sam Hewson only ever wanted to be a footballer growing up.

If there's one thing supermarkets sell a lot of, it's eggs.

Supermarket giants Aldi, Tesco and Iceland have sent out a warning to customers. The retailers are urging shoppers not to eat some foods which are being recalled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Björk incorporated over 800 drones into her performance at Coachella 2023 yesterday (Sunday April 16). Check out footage of the moment below, along with the full setlist.The career-spanning set, which saw Björk perform with an orchestra conducted by Bjarni Frímann, prioritised “simplicity” – according the Icelandic singer – but also enlisted over 800 drones as a visual aid for the crowd.Initially, the set was scheduled to be livestreamed onto Coachella’s YouTube channel.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Eco-thriller “The Swarm,” which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, has been acquired in the U.K. by pay-TV operator Sky. Negotiations with a U.S. partner are in the final stages. The show, produced by multiple Primetime Emmy award winner and “Game of Thrones” executive producer Frank Doelger and NDF IP’s managing director Eric Welbers, is set to play on the Sky Max channel in the U.K. later this year. “The Swarm” scored huge ratings in Germany on ZDF and on Austria’s ORF. In Germany, it attracted up to 10 million views per episode (linear and catch-up combined), multiple prime time wins, and big successes within the younger target group (between the ages of 14-49).

One of the UK's most scarce shopping centres has just one store left and is now a shell of its former self.

Thania Garcia Palm Springs will be the it-destination for thousands of music lovers across the next two weekends where the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is taking place on April 14–16 and April 21–23. As one of the world’s most in-demand music festivals, the fun extends far beyond Coachella grounds with a lineup of events — including one taking place in Leonardo DiCaprio’s former desert digs — that will serve as an oasis for artists and attendees. Coachella 2023 will see a historically international lineup that includes Bad Bunny (first Latin headliner) and Blackpink (first K-pop act to headline); other top-billed artists include Icelandic icon Bjork, Spain’s Rosalía, Nigeria’s Burna Boy and British-Indian singer Jai Paul. For those looking to catch the action at home, both weekends will be fully live-streamed on YouTube.

Annika Pham REinvent International Sales has secured global rights to “Vigdís,” the next big Icelandic TV show from the talent-driven shingle Vesturport and local public broadcaster RÚV, after the 2021 Series Mania winning show “Blackport.” Filming is due to start this fall. As announced in Variety, the four-part series, co-penned by Björg Magnúsdóttir (“The Minister”) and Ágústa M. Ólafsdóttir, chronicles the inspiring true story of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Iceland’s former president and the world’s first woman democratically elected head of state.  Created in full cooperation with Finnbogadóttir, the show centres on the young woman’s transformation from a teenager to a single working mother who defies the nation’s patriarchal society and her election as president in 1980.

Detour Discotheque (via MixMag) who have previously worked on events at “the edge of the world” in Iceland.Running for two nights from September 22 and 23, music lovers wanting the club can do so by taking the CalMac ferry from Oban.Names alreaady announced to play the venue include Auntie Flo, Free Love and the Cosmic Ceilidh Band, who are made up of musicians from Coll.Organiser Jonny Ensall said in a statement to DJ Mag: “Detour Discotheque is back for another spellbinding weekend.“The event is a wormhole that opens in unexpected places around planet Earth, and this year that cosmic phenomenon is happening on Coll – a tiny Scottish island famous for its star-filled skies.“It’s all about community – bringing disco-lovers and Coll residents together for two nights of unabashed joy, amid plenty of stunning nature and with the Milky Way to admire above us.”You can buy tickets to visit the world’s “most remote” nightclub here.Last year, a study said that the UK could soon be left with just 5,000 nightclubs in operation across the country.The findings were made by two hospitality-focused software companies, Stampede and StoreKit, using data obtained from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).The results showed that, despite an uptick in registered hospitality businesses since 2019, the UK’s nightlife sector is in decline. Between 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, the number of pubs, bars and clubs in the UK dropped, continuing a trend that has seen businesses in the sector shutting in high numbers for a decade.According to the ONS, there were 10,040 registered clubs in the UK in 2010.

A show parodying cult 1981 movie Mommy Dearest in Manchester this week has been cancelled following the tragic death of co-star and legendary San Francisco drag queen Heklina.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Natasha Lyonne is enjoying something of a career renaissance, and she’s attributing the undeniable success to her female friendships. As she took the stage at Variety‘s annual Power of Women event — on her birthday, no less — she toasted to her “community of women,” among them Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, who have cheered on each other’s rise in Hollywood. “It’s pretty eccentric to see how much we grow up together in this business and how meaningful it is to stick together along that ride,” she said on Tuesday afternoon at midtown Manhattan’s The Grill. Lyonne joked that she and her “dear pal” Rudolph started the production company Animal Pictures to “ensure we’d have time to hang out with each other,” and that she co-created “Russian Doll” as an excuse to “get existential with my friend and co-creator Amy Poehler.”

J. Kim Murphy Stefan Grygelko, a pillar of the San Francisco drag community who performed under the persona Heklina, was found dead Monday in London. Heklina was 54. Heklina was discovered by Peaches Christ (fellow drag performer Joshua Grannell) on Monday morning. The pair had been touring with their stage production “Mommie Queerest,” a parody of the 1981 cult feature “Mommie Dearest,” which was slated for a two-week run at the Soho Theatre. No official cause of death has been released. “I am shocked and horrified to bring this news to you. I am living in a real-life nightmare so forgive me if I don’t have all the answers just now. This morning, in London, England I went to collect my dear friend Heklina, who is costarring with me in a Mommie Queerest show here, and found her dead,” Peaches Christ wrote in a statement on social media. “Heklina is not just my best friend, but a beloved icon of our community. I am a mess.”

A money saving expert is urging everyone to go to Aldi on a Wednesday for the biggest reductions. His advice comes as supermarket inflation continues to skyrocket, leaving many people struggling to afford their weekly food shop.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Sagafilm Nordic, the Icelandic banner behind Cineflix’s hit show “The Minister,” is set to produce another politics-themed series, “President Salka.” The six-episode comedy series is penned by Jóhann Ævar Grímsson, the talent behind the critically acclaimed series “Stella Blómkvist.” It has been commissioned by leading Icelandic streamer Siminn, and is expected to go into production this year for a delivery during the second quarter of 2024. An up-and-coming stand-up comedian is in negotiations to take on the lead role. “President Salka” follows the adventures of a vivacious and prominent influencer, Salka Guðrúnar Eddudóttir, who gets elected as the president of Iceland in a stunning nationwide upset. The unexpected news throws the government into a state of emergency, leading to an intense all-night crisis meeting. Meanwhile, Salka moves into the luxurious presidential residence at Bessastaðir and captivates the whole country with her charisma. However, her unconventional methods put Iceland’s independence and sovereignty at risk, causing concern among those around her.

Kate Middleton this week urged business leaders to prioritise wellbeing in the workplace to support family life as she launched her Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, of which supermarket giant Iceland is a member. A video shared on Kensington Palace’s social media channels on Saturday shows Kate’s recent visit to an Iceland food warehouse in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, with the firm’s executive chairman Richard Walker.They discussed the long-term Shaping Us campaign, spearheaded by Kate, which aims to “transform the issue of early childhood from one of scientific interest to one of the most strategically important topics of our time”.

Get your sweet tooth ready. Zac Efron’s favorite chocolate brand is dropping one of its best-selling candies in the U.S. for the very first time.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s attendance at King Charles’ Coronation has got to be the most talked about royal issues of the moment.

Alissa Simon Film Critic The ninth edition of Iceland’s Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, which runs March 23 to April 2, is innovating under an ambitious new team that includes one of Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch, Hrönn Kristinsdottír (“Lamb”), as artistic director and festival veteran Carolina Salas as managing director. Among the highlights will be a masterclass with Oscar-nominated cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister (“Tár”), who is currently in Iceland shooting the fourth season of HBO’s “True Detective.” The screening program opens with Ukraine’s “Pamfir,” directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk and includes tributes to Oscar-nominated Polish helmer Jerzy Skolimowski and U.K. producer Mike Downey, recipient of the fest’s first “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” kudos.

Eurovision 2023 Semi-Final running orders have been revealed – check it out below.The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool from May 9-13, with Mae Muller set to represent the UK with ‘I Wrote A Song’.The UK city was announced to stage the contest on behalf of Ukraine, after organisers deemed the country unable to host the event due to the ongoing war with Russia.You can find all the songs that are entered for this year’s competition here.This week, Eurovision shared the running order for the Semi-Final shows, which take place on Tuesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 11.Norway will kick off proceedings for the first Semi-Final, closed out 15 acts later with a performance by Finland. The second event is set to be opened by Denmark, with Australia hitting the stage last.We got #Eurovision2023 Semi-Final running orders ✨➡️ https://t.co/V1tz85qvRD pic.twitter.com/hSjYqudp6j— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 22, 2023The Big Five participants – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom, which make the biggest financial contributions to the contest – along with Ukraine, automatically qualify for the Grand Final.Check out the full schedule below.First Semi-Final Eurovision 20231. Norway2. Malta3. Serbia4. Latvia5. Portugal6. Ireland7. Croatia8. Switzerland9. Israel10. Moldova11. Sweden12. Azerbaijan13. Czechia14. Netherlands15. FinlandSecond Semi-Final Eurovision 20231. Denmark2. Armenia3. Romania4. Estonia5. Belgium6. Cyprus7. Iceland8. Greece9. Poland10. Slovenia11. Georgia12. San Marino13. Austria14. Albania15. Lithuania16. AustraliaMeanwhile, Eurovision final 2023 tickets sold out in just 36 minutes.Tickets for all nine shows including the live Grand Final went on sale

As Kate Middleton urged business leaders to prioritise wellbeing in the workplace to support family life following the launch of her business taskforce on early childhood, one body language expert believes she is "not afraid to push boundaries" in her new role. Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Darren Stanton shared his opinion on Kate, as she stepped out to deliver a speech for the business-based campaign in London yesterday.

Kate Middleton has urged business leaders to prioritise wellbeing in the workplace to support family life as she launched a business taskforce on early childhood. The Princess of Wales is hoping global firms who have joined her taskforce will be the catalyst for change, encouraging businesses across the country to train and help staff to maintain their social and emotional welfare, aiding their work and home life.

Kate Middleton is today launching a business taskforce to support her campaign to transform early childhood development. The Princess of Wales, 41, is hosting the inaugural meeting of the taskforce at NatWest’s headquarters in the City of London on Tuesday – arriving for the event in an effortlessly chic outfit that included a cream blazer, black cigarette trousers and simple black court heels.The global firms and major brands on board include Unilever, Ikea, Deloitte, Lego, Aviva, Co-op and Iceland.

Icelandic Political Drama ‘The Minister’ Greenlit For Season Two

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Mobile 101, a Nokia Story,” a series about the dramatic rise and fall of the Finnish phone company, has been acquired by Disney+ and Walter Presents in multiple territories. The series was produced by Finland’s Rabbit Films and is represented in international markets by the outfit. The six-part series, which sheds light on how a small Finnish company specializing in rubber boots became the world’s biggest mobile manufacturer at the turn of the 21st century, has been picked by Disney+ Italy, Netherlands and Belgium. Walter Presents, meanwhile, bought it for the UK & Ireland. RUV Iceland has also acquired season one of the series.

A brave mum died from a cancer so rare that some of the nurses had never even heard of it.

Iceland shoppers have been left buzzing about a recent announcement regarding an exciting collaboration with a much-loved food brand. The budget supermarket, along with its sister store The Food Warehouse, is known for its affordable deals on frozen goods as well as bakery items and cupboard essentials.

Daði Freyr, Iceland’s 2021 representative in the Eurovision Song Contestant, has announced his debut album and shared four songs from it.‘I Made An Album’ will be released in late summer, and today (March 17) Freyr has released the tracks ‘I’m Fine’, ‘Limit To Love’, ‘Shut Up’ and ‘Thank You’.Of the upcoming release, he said: “Good vibes only. Love who you are, unless you’re a horrible person, then change! I’m making an album. I started making it in 2021 and I’m almost done with it.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Xavier Henry-Rashid’s London-based sales agency Film Republic has closed deals for multiple territories on “F*cking Bornholm,” a tart comedy of social discomfort. The film had its international premiere in the main competition section of Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where it won the Europa Cinemas Label award. In his review, Variety’s Guy Lodge commented that Polish writer-director Anna Kazejak‘s “precise, piquant film deserves wider festival exposure and discerning distributor interest.” It has now been acquired by Iceland’s Bio Paradis, Arsenal for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Lithuania’s Garsas, Slovenia’s RTV, Israel’s Yes and Sweden’s Lucky Dogs. The international trailer has its debut below.

Sigur Rós have confirmed the upcoming release of a new album and announced a limited run of dates across Europe and North America – find tickets here.The band will release their first studio record in 10 years this June, with the upcoming shows coinciding with the release.Sigur Rós will kick off their tour at Meltdown Festival in the UK, where the band will perform with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The LCO will also accompany them on their following European tour dates.They will be then accompanied by the Wordless Music Orchestra in North America.

Frozen food supermarket Iceland has closed a number of stores in the last few weeks - and now, a further three are set to shut within the next two weeks.

Shoppers can get £10 off a food shop this month as part of a supermarket cashback deal. The offer, which runs for a month, could be a lifeline for those struggling in the cost of living crisis.

teenage sex offender who targeted girls for online and in person abuse was ordered to be detained for four years today. A judge also ordered that Logan Summers should be supervised for a further four years and warned that if he failed to comply with licence conditions during that period he could be returned to custody. Lady Poole told Summers that he was being given a chance to rehabilitate and contribute to society and urged him: "Take it.

King Charles III's Coronation is fastly approaching with it taking place this May at Westminster Abbey, and it is believed Queen Consort Camilla has a special role in mind for her grandchildren during the ceremony. It has been reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children Archie, three, and Lilibet, 21 months, won't be attending the ceremony on May 6 as they are thought to have been deemed "too young" to attend.

Alissa Simon Film Critic Icelandic writer-director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson (“Under the Tree”) makes a smooth transition to English-language directing with the high-concept comedy “Northern Comfort,” co-written with longtime collaborators Halldór Laxness Halldórsson and Tobias Munthe. It centers on a disparate group of people who share a disabling fear of air travel, which they are trying to overcome through a high-end fearless flyers course. As a final challenge, the class is scheduled for a short, roundtrip “exposure” flight during which they should face and conquer their phobias. But this practical plan soon runs into some literal and figurative turbulence. Combining human drama and absurdist comedy, “Northern Comfort” should fly into other festivals before making a comfortable landing at a boutique art-house distributor or streamer.

Björk has revealed that Frank Ocean asked her to perform with him at Coachella 2023.The Icelandic singer-songwriter was being interviewed on the radio when she spoke about her excitement playing the upcoming edition of the music and arts festival in Indio, California that’s again held over two weekends this summer.“[Coachella] is going to be a fun challenge,” Björk told Rás 2 radio last month, according to translations and recordings of her interview by people on Twitter.“I’m going to take a bit of a risk and I’m going to have Orkestral. Just strings and me.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children will "not be invited to King Charles' Coronation in May, it has been claimed. Whilst Archie, three and Lilibet, 21 months, are thought to have been deemed "too young" to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, Queen Consort Camilla's grandchildren are expected to be invited in an official role.