Mercury Prize shortlist announced

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains spoilers from the Season 2 finale of Fox’s “Crime Scene Kitchen.” While the final bake of Fox’s “Crime Scene Kitchen” Season 2 turned out to be a “Dark and Stormy” cake, inspired by the cocktail of the same name, it was a light and sunny treat for contestants Amber Croom and Yassmeen Haskins. The classically trained baking duo beat out the other two teams competing for the Joel McHale-hosted mystery baking competition’s second-season trophy in Monday’s finale episode, titled “I Need a Drink.” And they did it without even making the exact right recipe, as they had first decided to make a “Dark and Stormy” cake, they pivoted to a piña colada-flavored version when they started to doubt their detective work.

Freddie Mercury exhibition featuring personal possessions of the late Queen frontman have gone on show at an exhibit in London.Back in April, it was revealed that 1,400 items from Mercury’s London home – which had gone untouched for 30 years – would be put up for auction by Sotheby’s this September.The extensive collection of items, including handwritten lyrics, personal Polaroid photos and costumes, have now gone on show in London.“This summer, we invite you to step into Freddie’s Mercury’s personal world in an extended takeover at Sotheby’s London,” the website reads.The Queen frontman, who died in London on November 24, 1991, left his home, Garden Lodge in Kensington, and possessions to close friend Mary Austin, who is now sharing them with the public.Highlights of the ‘Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own’ exhibit include the crown and cloak ensemble Mercury wore on ‘The Magic Tour’ in 1986, his red kimono covered with fans and his Yamaha grand piano on which he composed ‘We Are The Champions’.

Iranian filmmaker Ali Ahmadzadeh clinched the Golden Leopard in the main international competition of the 76th Locarno Film Festival with his latest feature Critical Zone (Mantagheye Bohrani).

More than 1,400 of Freddie Mercury ‘s personal items, including his flamboyant stage costumes, handwritten drafts of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the baby grand piano he used to compose Queen’s greatest hits, are going on display in a free exhibition at Sotheby’s London ahead of their sale.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “The Conners” is making its way to off-net syndication, as Tom Werner’s Werner Entertainment has stuck a deal with both Lionsgate Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury to distribute the sitcom’s first five seasons (and future seasons as well). “The Conners” will be sold for a fall 2024 launch in domestic syndication.

Tom Werner’s Werner Entertainment, the production company behind ABC’s popular comedy series The Conners, has signed a global licensing deal with Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury.

EXCLUSIVE: Gersh on Tuesday announced its signing of Amanda Nell Eu, the rising filmmaker whose debut feature Tiger Stripes recently made history at the Cannes Film Festival.

Belarusian-set pic Mother Vera has picked up Locarno’s Creativity Media First Look Award, the biggest prize handed out by the festival’s industry section. 

“Freddie was a hoarder, he didn’t throw anything away,” said Thomas Williams, a Sotheby’s director who is running an auction of Queen icon Freddie Mercury’s lifetime accumulations. “His possessions give us an extraordinary 360-degree view of the man, from his childhood until his death.”

Brittney Griner is sitting out the Phoenix Mercury’s game against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, August 1.

Shygirl and Tinashe are going on tour together. Their co-headline tour of North America will take place in October and November, with tickets going on sale at 10 a.m.

Jess and Sammy have been crowned Love Island winners as Monday night's final saw the happy couple win the whopping £50,000 prize money. During the live instalment, hosted by Maya Jama, finalists Tyrique Hyde and Ella Thomas, Jess Harding and Samy Root, Zachariah Noble and Molly Marsh, and Whitney Adebayo and Lochan Nowacki, eagerly awaited to find out who would take home the crown.

Lankum have spoken to NME about the loss of Sinéad O’Connor – as well as trying to capture the “broader spectrum of the human experience” on their Mercury-shortlisted album. Watch our interview above.The Dublin folk band – with Cormac MacDiarmada with Daragh and Ian Lynch from the quartet in attendance – were speaking at the launch of the Mercury Prize 2023, where their highly-acclaimed fourth album ‘False Lankum’ latest was shortlisted alongside albums by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, J Hus, RAYE, Jockstrap, Young Fathers, Shygirl, Fred Again..

Another season of Love Island is set to soon draw to a close, with the final of the 2023 summer series scheduled to air on Monday 31 July. Just four couples are left in the villa and one pairing will be crowned the winners of the series, with viewers being asked to vote for either Jess and Sammy, Molly and Zach, Ella and Tyrique or Whitney and Lochan. Host Maya Jama, 28, will present the Love Island final live from the villa in South Africa, where she will reveal which couple will be taking home the prize fund of £50,000.The amount has remained the same since Love Island launched on ITV back in 2015.

EXCLUSIVE: Buchwald on Monday announced its signing of Juan Pablo González, the Mexican filmmaker whose first narrative feature, Dos Estaciones, claimed a Special Jury Award for Acting and a Grand Jury Prize nom upon its premiere in World Cinematic Dramatic Competition at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

Prince William proved he lost his hair — but not his sense of humor — while discussing his Earthshot Prize initiative.

Shygirl has spoken to NME about having a friend, fan and collaborator in Björk, her Mercury Prize nod, and how “falling in love” is shaping her next album. Watch our video interview above.The London experimentalist was speaking at the launch of the Mercury Prize 2023, where her acclaimed 2022 debut ‘Nymph‘ was shortlisted alongside albums by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, J Hus, RAYE, Jockstrap, Young Fathers, Jessie Ware, Fred Again.. and more.Asked about how she was feeling to be among the shortlist, she replied: “I’m so torn, because half of me is like, ‘You totally deserve this’ and the other half is like, ‘I’m so grateful!’ That’s why Shygirl is like a juxtaposition in itself.

Thania Garcia Arctic Monkeys, Fred Again, Raye and numerous other British and Irish acts are behind some of the top albums shortlisted for the U.K.’s esteemed Mercury Prize. The annual ceremony is set to take place on Sept. 7 at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London and will feature live performances from many of the highlighted artists.

The list of nominees for the 2023 Mercury Prize has been revealed with Shygirl, Arctic Monkeys, Jockstrap, J Hus, and Fred Again.. set to compete for this year's title.

Mercury Prize nominations were announced this morning (July 27), fans online have been having their say.On the shortlist for this year were the likes of Arctic Monkeys, J Hus and RAYE alongside Loyle Carner, Jockstrap, Young Fathers (‘Heavy Heavy’), Fred again.. and more.With the nominations now out there, fans, bands and more have been sharing their reactions and wishes for the September 7 ceremony.Many have shared their hopes for the winner of the ceremony, with others highlighting albums they wish had been nominated.See a range of reactions to the shortlist – which is completed by Jessie Ware, Olivia Dean, Ezra Collective and Lankum – below.Jockstrap absolutely must win the Mercury prize— Phil Jones (@PhilRDJones) July 27, 2023It's going to be really dull when Fred again..