Sky UK & Ireland CEO Stephen Van Rooyen Stepping Down

BAFTA-winning Once Upon a Time In Northern Ireland creator James Bluemel has found his next project, an exploration of space.

Irish police are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy whose body was found in a car in Co Waterford. The discovery was made shortly before midnight.

Christopher Nolan had a Shakespearian moment when he came to The Late Show. In a reverse of Marc Antony, he came to praise Robert Downey Jr., his Oppenheimer star, not to bury him.

The Last Dinner Party have announced a UK and Ireland tour for 2024 – check out the details below.The British baroque-pop group will be playing 16 dates this autumn, including their biggest headline show to date at London’s Eventim Apollo in October.The tour will kick off at O2 City Hall in Newcastle on September 23, followed by dates in Leeds, Norwich, Birmingham, Dublin and more, before they wrap up in London on October 16.The tour will follow the band’s lengthy run of European and North American dates this year in support of debut album ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’ (out February 2).Fans can pre-order the album before 5pm GMT next Tuesday (February 6) to access a pre-sale code for the tour. Pre-sale tickets will be live from 8am GMT on Wednesday (February 7), before general sale at 8am on Friday (February 9).

Bambie Thug will be representing Ireland in this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.Ireland held Eurosong, their annual contest to select their Eurovision entrant, last night (January 26). Bambie Thug triumphed with their song ‘Doomsday Blue’ after winning the most combined votes from a combined vote from viewers, and national and international juries.Speaking to Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty after winning, Bambie Thug said: “I don’t know how I feel – I feel incredible.“My words are gone – as a lyricist you’d think I’d have more to say but I’m speechless – I’m so excited and I promise I’m going to do you so proud.”The self-described “ouija pop” artist was born in Macroom, County Cork, and is now based in London.

David Ellison’s Skydance is said to have made a preliminary offer to buy Shari Redstone’s stake in National Amusements, the family holding company that controls Paramount Global, according to a Bloomberg report.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Shortly after the Oscar nominations were announced on Tuesday morning, “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan recalled watching Cillian Murphy transform into J. Robert Oppenheimer for the first time. “It was really in the hair and makeup tests, which we shoot on Imax and in black-and-white,” Nolan told Variety.

Naman Ramachandran Paramount’s “Mean Girls” debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office with £3.2 million ($4.1 million), according to numbers from Comscore. After a stellar reign at the top, Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” slid to second place with £1.6 million and after seven weekends, has a total of £58.3 million.

K.J. Yossman Stephen van Rooyen, CEO of Sky U.K. and Ireland, is stepping down after almost 17 years at the company.

Robert Downey Jr. has claimed that the runaway success of Oppenheimer has become “a terrible tragedy” for its introverted director Christopher Nolan.Downey made the comments while presenting Nolan with the inaugural Trailblazer Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, an honour which recognises the director’s contributions to independent filmmaking.“Confidentially, he needs his spirits lifted,” Downey joked.

Naman Ramachandran Warner Bros. Discovery, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Pitch International have signed a package of rights that will see them broadcast live international cricket hosted in India on its linear and digital platforms, TNT Sports and Discovery+, for the next five years.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Robert Downey Jr. trekked to Sundance Film Festival‘s opening night gala to reveal that a “terrible tragedy” has befallen Christopher Nolan. But don’t worry about the filmmaker behind “Oppenheimer.” His hardship is really just a bad case of the blues, and it’s because Nolan — as Downey explained on Thursday while bestowing Nolan with the first-ever Trailblazer Award — “has become recognizable on the street.” According to Downey, the critical and commercial success of “Oppenheimer” causes the British director to recoil, “as though from a hot flame, from this new and unwelcome reality.” Well, Nolan may not be retreating from the spotlight anytime soon.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Christian Wikander, the well-respected Swedish executive who joined Banijay nine months ago as global head of scripted, will be stepping down from his role on Feb. 2.

The Motion Picture Association has renewed chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin‘s contract for another three-year term.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Ben Fowlie, executive and artistic director of the Points North Institute and founder of Camden Intl. Film Festival, is stepping down from his position after 20 years with the organization. Longtime board member Rick Rector will serve as interim executive director until a search for a permanent replacement is completed.

Ben Fowlie, founder of the Camden International Film Festival, is departing as executive and artistic director of the Points North Institute, the nonprofit that produces the highly-respected documentary festival in coastal Maine.

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.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake is exiting the company, and handing over executive duties and title to Motion Picture Group Vice Chair Adam Fogelson.

EXCLUSIVE: Jack Sussman is leaving CBS after 25 years.

K.J. Yossman William Astor, who co-founded kids TV juggernaut Silvergate Media, has stepped down as the company’s chair. Silvergate, which was acquired by Sony Pictures Television in 2019, quietly re-branded as Sony Pictures Television – Kids in 2022.