TV tonight: the wild story of how Falun Gong hacked Chinese news
10pm, BBC Four
In 2002, activists from the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong managed to commandeer a Chinese state news broadcast to rebut what they saw as slander by the authorities. Two decades later, the comic-book artist Daxiong, who took part in the audacious plot, has painstakingly researched the guerrilla operation that changed his life. Featuring striking animation, this gripping film dramatises the hijack and its aftermath, including police raids that forced Daxiong to flee the country. Graeme Virtue
8pm, BBC One
Katrina Bowen, a newly single mum, needs a fresh start. Having moved herself and her four children to the Welsh countryside, she calls on Stacey to help her sort through years of accumulated possessions. But 'things' aren't just 'things', are they? These items also tell the story of a difficult few years for the Bowens. Ellen E Jones
8pm, Channel 4
This new documentary series charts two plucky groups of teens – one from a diverse south London secondary school, the other from a rural Arkansas high school – as they trade places. Despite a very real sense of cultural dislocation, everyone's heart seems to be in the right place as they get to grips with energised cheer squads and scratchy school blazers, respectively. GV
9pm, BBC One
Professional judgments clouded by personal dilemmas, love lives under threat and an 8.30am breathalyser test – sounds like another chaotic day at Waterloo Road. After learning that her abusive ex is getting married, Amy intervenes in the relationship of two of her students. Hollie Richardson
9pm, Sky Atlantic
What is particularly fascinating about this drama on Mussolini's rise to power in Italy is how he bypassed established levers of democracy. Now, as his authority hardens, Il Duce (Luca Marinelli) uses the party list system to undermine rival political groups. Jack Seale
9pm, Sky Witness
Kathy Bates excels as a lawyer on a secret mission to avenge her daughter's death. The list of suspects at the law firm is shrinking, which means Matty has to consider whether the answer is the one she doesn't want. As usual, the case of the week – a pregnant woman apparently fired for trying to unionise – keys smartly into that theme. JS
Racing: Cheltenham festival 12.45pm, ITV1. Day one of four, concluding on Friday with the Gold Cup.
Champions League football: Liverpool v Paris Saint-Germain 8pm, Prime Video. The second leg of the last-16 tie.
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Wales Online
27 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Oasis' links to Wales including one member who is actually Welsh
Oasis' links to Wales including one member who is actually Welsh Legendary indie band Oasis are coming back to Wales as they embark on an epic comeback tour next month. The Gallagher brothers have performed together many times in Cardiff before, and the band actually has very strong links with the city and other parts of Wales Noel Gallagher performs with Oasis in Cardiff back in 1996 (Image: Media Wales ) Oasis are gearing up to launch their massive reunion tour in Cardiff, with the Gallagher brothers set to take to the stage together for the first time in 16 years in under a month's time. The concerts, part of the Oasis Live '25 tour announced last year, take place on Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5. Many were surprised and delighted that the iconic '90s band chose the Welsh capital as the city to kick-start what is one of the most eagerly awaited musical tours in rock or pop history. They could have chosen any city in the UK - or the world - to start Oasis Live '25, but all eyes will be on the Principality Stadium in early July. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here, reports Wales Online. Perhaps the venue for the first two comeback concerts should not come as a surprise, given the band's strong connections to Wales. After all, they recorded their hit second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? around 40 miles from Cardiff at the world-famous Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire. The album went on to sell more than 22 million copies across the world. It's regarded by many as the band's finest work, boasting hits including Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Some Might Say, and Champagne Supernova. Three miles away from Rockfield Studios you'll find The Royal Oak pub in the market town of Monmouth, and had you popped in there in the summer of 1995 there's a fair chance you would have seen frontman Liam Gallagher drinking pints late into the night. Article continues below During the recording of the album at Rockfield - which was released in October 1995 - Liam admitted that he 'spent more time in the pub than I did here". He said: "I'd do my singing and I'd come back and our kid (Noel Gallagher) would still be playing the same f****** riff over and over and over again". You can read much more about Liam's experiences of Rockfield and Monmouth here. Oasis have also performed numerous times in Cardiff, including at the then-Millennium Stadium in 2009 on the Dig Out Your Soul Tour and back in 2005 as part of the Noise and Confusion show, where they were supported by the Foo Fighters. It seems odd to think it now, given Oasis have totally sold out stadium shows all over the UK and Ireland this summer, but the band actually played Cardiff International Arena - with its relatively small capacity of around 7,000 people for a music gig - as recently as October 2008. Liam Gallagher performs with Oasis at Cardiff International Arena in 1997 (Image: PA ) Oasis also played the arena, located on Mary Ann Street in the centre of Cardiff, in 1996, 1997 and 2002. Meanwhile, the band performed in more modest surroundings in the Welsh capital back in 1994 when they played at Cardiff University and, later that same year, at the Astoria, which was a legendary nightclub on Queen Street. Principle songwriter Noel Gallagher also has personal ties to Wales. He is the father of three children, Anais, Donovan and Sonny, with his first child Anais being born to his ex-wife Meg Matthews. Anais, who works as a model and a photographer, is currently in a relationship with Welsh actor Callum Scott Howells, known for his role in It's A Sin. The couple have been together since autumn 2023. Perhaps Oasis' biggest tie with Wales is the fact that one of their members is actually Welsh. In 1999, original bassist and founding member Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan left the band, along with guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs. The pair were replaced by English guitarist Gem Archer and another musician called Andy Bell, who had formerly founded a rock band called Ride. Bell, now 54, was born in Cardiff in 1970 and later moved to Oxford and then Sweden. Bell has confirmed that he will take to the stage with Oasis just a couple of miles from his birthplace when the Principality Stadium shows kick-off this summer's tour. Article continues below With now less than a month to go, you can find all the details about the Principality Stadium gigs here. For all the latest information about tickets, including resale sites, click here.
ITV News
6 hours ago
- ITV News
EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick suspended by BBC after using disabled slur on Strictly set
EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has been suspended by the BBC after using a slur against people with disabilities on the set of Strictly Come Dancing. Borthwick is said to have made the offensive remark on a phone video while the Strictly cast were at Blackpool Tower Ballroom last November. A video emerged of the actor, who plays Jay Brown on the soap, using the term to describe the people of Blackpool, the town where the show was being filmed, and was first reported in The Sun on Sunday. A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'This language is entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect at the BBC. 'We have robust processes in place for this.' Warren Kirwan, media manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: 'Attitudes and language like this are never acceptable. 'It's not just ignorant and hurtful to disabled people, it has wider consequences. 'Negative attitudes hold disabled people back in all areas of life, from getting a job to shopping on the high street. 'Mr Borthwick needs to reflect on what he said, educate himself and do better. 'We hope he takes the opportunity to get to know the reality of disabled people's lives.' Borthwick won the Strictly 2023 Christmas special with Nancy Xu, and won the best actor gong at the Inside Soap Awards in September that year. His suspension comes after Wynne Evans last week said he had been dropped by the BBC, following an apology which said he used 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing tour. The Welsh opera singer, 53, known for the "Go Compare" insurance advertisements, will no longer be a BBC Radio Wales presenter, he announced on May 30. Earlier this year, he apologised for language that he called 'inappropriate and unacceptable' after The Mail On Sunday reported that Evans was heard making a remark to a woman in a video filmed during the Strictly launch event. It is understood he was given a warning over the remark by tour producers. In January, he said: 'I've agreed with the BBC that I'll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing. 'I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection. 'Apologies to those I won't get to see at the remaining performances and I'm grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.' The singer, who performed in the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Of The Opera and also won 2023's Celebrity MasterChef, told The Sun on Sunday earlier this month that the Strictly comment was not sexual or directed at one of the female cast but was a nickname for fellow contestant Borthwick. He told the paper: 'I didn't see the statement - 'Old Spit-roast Boy' was a nickname for Jamie Borthwick. I'm not a bad guy, I'm not a misogynist, I'm not any of these things. 'When I read the apology within the context of the story as it had been written, I was absolutely horrified.' The Strictly tour saw contestants of the most recent series return to the dancefloor and tour the country alongside Strictly judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
EastEnders star Shane Richie reveals cancer storyline has saved lives
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHANE Richie has revealed that EastEnders has saved lives following his powerful prostate cancer storyline. The actor, 61, loveable Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap, embarked on the hard-hitting storyline nearly two years ago, to raise vital awareness and encourage more men to get checked out. 2 Shane Richie has revealed his prostate cancer storyline has saved lives Credit: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron 2 Kat and Alfie are set to marry for a third time this week Credit: BBC One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to Prostate UK, who along with Macmillan Cancer Support, worked with Shane and the EastEnders writing team on the storyline. And now, the popular actor and entertainer, reveals the huge impact Alfie's cancer story has had. He said: 'I was going to events, men my age were coming up to me, but mostly women, wives saying 'thank you so much for covering that storyline, because my husband, my brother... they don't want to go to the doctors.' 'One guy in particular, and I don't personally take credit for saving his life, but that storyline did. 'He got checked. His daughter was a big EastEnders fan, and just quite casually said, come on, we love Alfie, you should go and get checked and he did just to appease his daughter. 'He found out he had prostate cancer but it was at the early stages, had it left in any longer it could have been fatal. So if we just save one life, that's the power of soaps.' This week viewers will see Alfie once again struggle with intimacy, a common side effect of his cancer treatment, as he prepares to marry Kat, actress Jessie Wallace, 53, for a third time. Shane filmed the emotional scenes before going off on an extended break where he spent a month touring with best mates, Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley and Joe Pasquale. Dubbed The Prat Pack! the quartet performed all over the country, and provided Shane with a welcomed respite from Alfie's cancer story. Shane said: 'It was one of the most brilliant experiences I've had in a long time. Watch the moment EastEnders' Shane Richie takes cheeky swipe at ex-wife Coleen Nolan as he appears on This Morning 'EastEnders are brilliant at letting me go off. I did a lot of stuff before I became Alfie so they're very accommodating, hopefully again next year I'll do the same thing, another tour.' Shane also revealed how they turned down a big money deal from streaming giant Netflix to film the tour. He said: 'We got approached by Netflix to go behind the scenes, and we were like, not a hope in hell!.' What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? Symptoms of prostate cancer can include: needing to pee more frequently, often during the night needing to rush to the toilet difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy) straining or taking a long time while peeing weak flow feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully blood in urine or blood in semen Source: NHS Explaining how they weren't tempted by the offer he said: 'No, because once we do it the gags are gone. Maybe in five years time if we're all still alive we may do it.' Shane was speaking on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards where EastEnders scooped eight gongs. Fans can watch the ceremony on ITVX.
