Michael Cieply: Party Like It’s 1988, People Clearly Want Some Laughs From The Movies (And The Globes)

State Pension payments are due to rise by 8.5 per cent and most benefits by 6.7 per cent in April, however, many people may not be aware that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will implement the annual uprating on two separate dates. New HMRC payment rates for 2024/25 will start from April 6 while DWP rates will begin on April 8.

Fans of The Traitors can't get enough of the backstabbing, mistrust and betrayal lurking around every corner, not to mention the fingerless gloves and Fair Isle jumpers that Claudia Winkleman, 52, can't get enough of.The BBC1 hit show is keeping viewers hooked until the bitter end when we'll see who finally takes home a cash prize of up to £120,000 but with the final looming, we're keen to dive in a bit deeper to see what really goes on behind the scenes and what secrets lurk behind the murder mystery show. Does Claudia have any real say in who she chooses as a Traitor? Are the game players under lock and key? And do they really sleep in the gigantic Saltburn-esque Scottish Ardross Castle? Contestants are banned from the real world No access to the outside world is allowed - whether you're a Faithful or a Traitor you can't have access to a mobile where the contestant could easily Google the others and gain unfair advantages.

It's the series on everyone's lips at the moment - Traitors' second season has dominated our week nights once again. The hit BBC One show first aired in January 2023 and returned earlier this year for another instalment.

A new online petition is calling for the concessionary bus pass for people of State Pension age to be extended to cover travel across all parts of the UK. Petition creator, Charles David Smith, argues that giving older people the option to travel for free across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland would “enhance their lives”.

The enduring success of Call the Midwife has captivated viewers since its debut in 2012, and one standout star, Laura Main, has become a beloved figure on the midwifery drama. Known for her roles as Sister Bernadette and later Nurse Shelagh Turner, Laura has earned a special place in the hearts of fans having been part of the cast since the TV show first aired in 2012. While she is open about her professional life, the Scottish actress has managed to keep her private life away from the glitz and glam of the showbiz world.

Studio Ghibli‘s animated adventure movie The Boy and the Heron is continuing to blaze a trail for anime, in Europe, Asia and North America.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Given the current dismal political and cultural climate as well as streaming services’ massive appetite for celebrity driven content, it comes as no surprise that the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival is chock full of portrait documentaries. Frida Kahlo, Christopher Reeve, Luther Vandross and Tammy Faye are just a few of the boldface names that are being examined in various docus featured in the Sundance nonfiction lineup. The festival is no stranger to star-driven docus.

Thania Garcia Mitski has expanded her North American tour to include a slate of new dates in Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Oregon and California. In support her last full length LP “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We,” Mitski will open the jaunt in Miami on Jan. 26 with support from already-announced acts Tamino, Sunny War, Julia Jacklin, Cowboy Junkies, and Sarah Kinsley.

Annika Pham Paris-based The Party Film Sales has boarded renowned Icelandic auteur Rúnar Rúnarsson’s fourth pic, “When the Light Breaks,” which is selected for Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market’s works in progress session.Rúnarsson serves as producer together with Heather Millard of Iceland’s Compass Films, in co-production with local banner Halibut, Holland’s Revolver, France’s Eaux Vives/Jour2Fête and Croatia’s MP Film. Lauded for his coming-of age tales set against Iceland’s majestic scenery, Rúnarsson saw his international breakthrough in 2008 with his Oscar-nominated short “Two Birds.” Since then, he has delivered equally poetic fare in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2011 entry “Volcano,” San Sebastian 2015 winner “Sparrows “ and 2019 Valladolid and Lübeck fest winner “Echo.” As in his earlier works, Rúnarsson was inspired by a personal event for “When the Light Breaks”.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Anthony Anderson took the stage at the top of the Emmys on Monday night to open the much-delayed awards show on Fox with a musical number paying tribute to hit TV theme songs alongside his mother, Doris Bowman, Blink-182’s Travis Barker and actor Christina Applegate. The opening segment took place in Anderson’s “living room” set, with the “Black-ish” star entering following a title card for “Mister Anderson’s Neighborhood.” Upon his entrance, Anderson got a round of cheers — and another set when he mentioned the Emmys were taking place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

I’m trying to stay optimistic. It takes some effort, as just about everyone seems to think the film business is a mess–strike-thinned schedule, cultural chaos, streaming models in flux. But, hey, the Golden Globes audience was up by half, never mind critical reaction to the show. There are still signs of life out there.

Following the shock news of Queen Margrethe of Denmark's, 83, abdication, speculation grew as to whether a decision to step away from the throne would be something King Charles would ever consider. While we do not know what will happen in the years to come, it is important to point out that monarchy in the UK and European monarchies are very different. While crowned heads, like Queen Margrethe, are proclaimed by the Prime Minister, Kings and Queens in the UK take an oath and are consecrated during their Coronation meaning it is a far more religious undertaking and one that is a lifetime commitment to God.The suggestion that King Charles may follow in the Danish Queen's footsteps was refuted by former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond.

Karen Idelson Though there are still those who view animation primarily as a kids or family form of entertainment, over the last year many of the most challenging, risky stories have been told by the modern masters of animation. Films like “Suzume,” “The Peasants” and “The Boy and the Heron” have all been lauded for taking on compelling stories that often attract more adult audiences or even becoming crossover hits that draw diverse viewers. Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” earned well over $300 million in international box office.

Morrissey has claimed that he has been “deleted” from the “essence” and history of The Smiths in a new post.Taking to his official website Morrissey Central yesterday (January 11), the singer-songwriter defended his role in his former band amid numerous reports that – according to him – have downplayed his contributions.“There is also an obvious media shift to delete me from being the central essence of The Smiths,” he began, “but this cannot work because I invented the group name, the song-titles, the album titles, the artwork, the vocal melodies, and all of the lyrical sentiments came from my heart.“And so it’s a bit like saying Mick Jagger had nothing to do with the Stones.”Morrissey continued: “Several news sites now claim that the initial meeting at Rough Trade Records was with ‘Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke,’ even though Andy wasn’t even a committed band member at that point. The meeting, of course, was Morrissey and Marr.“Even Geoff Travis [Rough Trade founder] has now suddenly decided that he ‘can’t remember who was with Johnny,’ even though Geoff looked me squarely in the eye on that very day and said ‘we’d like to release [The Smiths’ 1983 debut single] ‘Hand In Glove’ immediately,’ and he then more importantly said to me that his name was Geoff with a G, not Jeff with a J.

Alex Ritman The BAFTA film awards longlists, announced on Jan 5. ahead of the final nominations on Jan.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland have used free community spaces to keep warm this winter, according to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS). The charity estimates more than 230,000 people have visited community centres, libraries and cafes this winter to heat themselves up and save money on home energy bills.

The minds behind Aquarius Creative, Scotland's largest influencer agency, have opened up on the idea behind their business and the nitty-gritty that goes on away from social media.

Valerie Wu Intern Ernst Goldschmidt, member of the founding team of Orion Pictures and an international film executive, died Dec. 2 from heart failure in Badenweller, Germany. He was 92.

Benny Safdie got his start in Hollywood as a director alongside his brother Josh, but now they’ve gone their separate ways.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director News broke in 2015 that John Ridley, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “12 Years of Slave,” was joining the Marvel family to develop a mystery superhero project for ABC. The network was already home to Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” at the time, and a spinoff series had just been announced prior to the Ridley news. Ridley was already a favorite at the network thanks to the acclaim for his anthology series “American Crime.” Suffice to say, Ridley’s Marvel project never happened.