Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens to make stage debut at London's Young Vic
Stephens said: 'I love the Young Vic and feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity. I'm terrified and excited.
'I couldn't have imagined my stage debut arriving in this way, with such an iconic, wicked play and under the certified guidance of Nadia Fall as well as stage veterans in Tamzin, Daniel and Chris. What an honour.'
The play follows the story of Mr Sloane, who is rented a room by the lonely Kath. Her businessman brother Ed does not approve at first, however, he quickly becomes taken by the young man, as their convenient living arrangement descends into a dangerous game of desire and deceit.
Director and Young Vic chief executive Nadia Fall said: 'Jordan Stephens is an artistic polymath, from writing and screen to music and his campaigning. I'm incredibly excited to be directing his stage debut.
'He has the ear of a new generation who will be discovering (Joe) Orton for the first time through Jordan's Sloane; the thought of that is simply thrilling.
'Together with the rest of the brilliant cast, I cannot wait to channel the downright audacity of this play.'
As one half of Rizzle Kicks with Harley Alexander-Sule, Stephens has had five UK top 10 singles, including one number one in Heart Skips A Beat, which featured Essex-born singer Olly Murs, and two UK top 10 albums.
The duo recently performed at this year's Glastonbury Festival, and released their first studio album for more than a decade, Competition Is For Losers, in February.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Harry's response to charity row is typically him – blame others and then flounce off instead of trying to fix things
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRINCE Harry has flounced out – yet again. This time, not from the monarchy. Not from a podcast deal. Not from the Army, that many believe he quit too soon. 6 Prince Harry's response to the Sentebale row is typically him Credit: PA:Press Association 6 Harry exited the charity following an ugly row with the chair of trustees, Dr Sophie Chandauka Credit: PA 6 Harry co-founded the charity in memory of his mother, Princess Diana Credit: PA:Press Association This time, from Sentebale – the worthy African children's charity he co-founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana. Once a passion project. Now just another scorched bridge. The exit wasn't quiet or dignified. It followed an ugly row with the chair of trustees, Dr Sophie Chandauka, a punchy Zimbabwean-born lawyer and major donor. Several trustees stepped down, too. What followed was familiar: leaked emails, bullying allegations, duelling statements and headlines Harry tried — and failed — to control. Now comes the Charity Commission's verdict: No laws broken. But the rebuke was clear: governance failures, damaging behaviour and a serious lack of leadership. Harry insists he was forced out. That the chair was impossible to work with. That the environment had turned toxic. What else could he do? Harry always throws toys out of pram - latest charity move is childish But leadership isn't about walking away when the mood turns. In any serious institution — royalty, the boardroom or charity — you don't storm out. You stay in the room. You resolve the problem for the greater good. Instead, Harry bailed. Same old story. And like so many of his recent exits, this one fits the pattern. When pressure mounts and compromise is needed, he withdraws. Rather than engage, Harry flushed red and scarpered back to the luxury of Montecito, and Megs to mop his furrowed brow Robert It's a shame. Because Sentebale mattered. Founded in 2006, it provides long-term support to children in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV and poverty. It wasn't a vanity project. It was purposeful — touching the lives of 100,000 youngsters — and at one point, so was Harry. I travelled to Lesotho with him twice. I saw the work up close. Those children in need of help didn't see him as a prince. They saw someone who listened, who cared, somebody who came back. His presence wasn't performative. It was real. His royal rank and media profile opened doors. His conviction helped break stigma of HIV/AIDS, just as his late mother had done right at the outset of the fight. For years, he gave Sentebale visibility and momentum. It was, without question, his most meaningful contribution. But cracks appeared. His decision to quit royal life was costly. In 2023, Dr Chandauka initiated a financial review. She flagged a sharp drop in donations following Harry's withdrawal from royal duties; income fell to £2.39million in 2020, though later rebounded. She reportedly labelled his image a 'reputational risk' and raised questions about whether he was now more liability than asset. Rather than engage, Harry flushed red and scarpered back to the luxury of Montecito, and Megs to mop his furrowed brow. No formal rebuttal. No quiet diplomacy. No attempt to repair. He threw his toys out of the pram. He could have shown resolve, offered solutions, and strengthened the structure. Instead, he vanished. And that's what makes this so frustrating. Harry had no shortage of templates to help lead through turbulence. His grandfather, Prince Philip, oversaw the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for more than six decades — often in silence, always with rigour. His son Edward, the new Duke, is its leader. His father, King Charles, spent years building The Prince's Trust — now the King's Trust — from a niche programme into a national institution. 6 Harry listens to American PR consultants and is guided, above all, by his Duchess, Meghan Markle Credit: Instagram His sister-in-law, Catherine, champions important causes such as early years development with longevity, consistency and focus. His brother, William, leads Earthshot, a well-structured mission with financial backing. None of them walked out mid-crisis. They worked through it. Harry could have done the same. He could have stayed on the board in a non-executive role. Helped recruit new trustees. Brought in independent mediators. Stabilised the organisation rather than adding to the unrest. But that would have required discipline — and a willingness to listen. 'Squandered legacy' Instead, he defaulted to the same script: leave, blame, reposition. And this time, the people most affected weren't palace courtiers or out-of-pocket podcast executives. They were the children of Lesotho — many living with HIV, others orphaned, some still stigmatised. Those were the ones who stood to lose most. The pattern goes back further. His early exit from the Army — ten solid years of exemplary service, but he chose not to be a career soldier and go on, to rise further through the ranks and gain his braided uniforms on merit rather than royal birthright. His abrupt departure from working royal life. His mudslinging. His family ties frayed. Promises to reinvent himself in California have mostly yielded media spats, stalled projects and carefully lit documentaries. What's missing is institutional maturity. And staying power. This isn't about empathy or charisma; Harry has plenty of both. But he's never learned to sit with discomfort, to fix what's failing. Instead, he blames. Then bails. Since relocating to Montecito, his inner circle of advisers has narrowed. 6 The Prince defaulted to the same script: leave, blame, reposition, pictured with charity leaders and Dr Chandauka far right Credit: Getty He listens to American PR consultants and is guided, above all, by his Duchess, Meghan Markle — who built her brand around control and survival, not compromise or tradition. The problem is that leadership — particularly in the charitable sector — requires grit, continuity and people willing to challenge you, not flatter you. It's not that Dr Chandauka is beyond reproach. Under her tenure, annual accounts remain unpublished, and the next set is delayed until 2025. She may face valid questions. But here's the telling detail: the Commission didn't ask her to go. She stayed. Harry didn't. Now his team says Harry will support African kids 'in new ways.' In practice, that means nothing. His seat at the Sentebale table is empty. His voice, once essential, is absent. It's the institutional equivalent of ghosting. And this wasn't just another cause. This was personal. A living tribute to his mother. One of the few initiatives he helped build from the ground up. He could have pushed for reform. Brought in fresh trustees. Set a better standard. The Harry I saw in Lesotho back in 2006 –- he had a purpose. A spark. A sense of something larger than himself. Now, all we're left with is another clean break, and another promise unkept Robert The options were there. What they didn't need was drama. What they couldn't survive was abandonment. This isn't scandal. It's waste. A squandered legacy. A cautionary tale. Another institution left to sweep up the debris of brand-driven burnout. The headlines will fade. The charity may recover. But something has shifted. The Harry I saw in Lesotho back in 2006 –- he had a purpose. A spark. A sense of something larger than himself. Now, all we're left with is another clean break, and another promise unkept. When Harry chose the name Sentebale, it meant forget-me-not — a tribute to Diana and her favourite flowers. It was a promise never to let her memory fade. Well, sadly, it looks like he's done just that. Robert Jobson is a royal editor and the No1 bestselling author of Catherine, The Princess of Wales – The Biography
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Adrian Dunbar says ‘everybody jumped to conclusions' about rap trio Kneecap
The group, known for their provocative lyrics and championing of the Irish language, were also banned from entering Hungary to appear at a music festival. Kneecap have had several shows cancelled in recent months, including TRNSMT festival in Glasgow and at the Eden Project in Cornwall in July. The group has said there is a smear campaign against them because of their support for Palestine and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. Line Of Duty actor Dunbar, 67, who recently went to a Kneecap gig with his daughter, was asked if the BBC was wrong not to live stream their Glastonbury performance in June. He told Times Radio: 'Were they wrong not to stream it? I think that's a question for the BBC, not for me. 'But I do think that everybody got too heated about them. I think everybody jumped to conclusions about them. 'I think they're a band of good musicians. They make great music. They're promoting the Irish language. Very clear about who they support and who they don't support. 'We had a great time. But those decisions are for the BBC.' Glastonbury organisers faced pressure to drop the group from the line-up amid criticism from politicians, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it would not be 'appropriate' for the band to perform. Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap performing at Glastonbury Festival (Ben Birchall/PA) The BBC decided not to live stream their performance but later uploaded the set to BBC iPlayer. Kneecap – comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – were formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017. They hit headlines in April when footage emerged that appeared to show a band member saying 'Kill your local MP' at one gig and and 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at another. In May, O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig in November 2024. O hAnnaidh and his bandmates were cheered by hundreds of supporters when they arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. Musicians including Nadine Shah and Gurriers have said they will attend court to support the group when O hAnnaidh returns on August 20. Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs and said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. They were also investigated over their set at Glastonbury in June, but Avon and Somerset Police said they would be taking no further action.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Adrian Dunbar says ‘everybody jumped to conclusions' about rap trio Kneecap
The group, known for their provocative lyrics and championing of the Irish language, were also banned from entering Hungary to appear at a music festival. Kneecap have had several shows cancelled in recent months, including TRNSMT festival in Glasgow and at the Eden Project in Cornwall in July. The group has said there is a smear campaign against them because of their support for Palestine and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. Line Of Duty actor Dunbar, 67, who recently went to a Kneecap gig with his daughter, was asked if the BBC was wrong not to live stream their Glastonbury performance in June. He told Times Radio: 'Were they wrong not to stream it? I think that's a question for the BBC, not for me. 'But I do think that everybody got too heated about them. I think everybody jumped to conclusions about them. 'I think they're a band of good musicians. They make great music. They're promoting the Irish language. Very clear about who they support and who they don't support. 'We had a great time. But those decisions are for the BBC.' Glastonbury organisers faced pressure to drop the group from the line-up amid criticism from politicians, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it would not be 'appropriate' for the band to perform. Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap performing at Glastonbury Festival (Ben Birchall/PA) The BBC decided not to live stream their performance but later uploaded the set to BBC iPlayer. Kneecap – comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – were formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017. They hit headlines in April when footage emerged that appeared to show a band member saying 'Kill your local MP' at one gig and and 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at another. In May, O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig in November 2024. O hAnnaidh and his bandmates were cheered by hundreds of supporters when they arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. Musicians including Nadine Shah and Gurriers have said they will attend court to support the group when O hAnnaidh returns on August 20. Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs and said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. They were also investigated over their set at Glastonbury in June, but Avon and Somerset Police said they would be taking no further action.
