Josh Kennedy and Will Schofield in Geraldton for fan event to reminisce about West Coast's 2018 premiership
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Swingathon boss lifts the lid on England's notorious ‘sex festival'
If you think festival season is all about flower crowns and muddy fields, think again. Deep in England's Lincolnshire countryside, there's a gathering in the sleepy town of Allington that only those 'in the know' dare to visit. Dubbed by The Sun 's sex writer as 'Glastonbury with orgies and Love Island -style beauties,' Swingathon, now in its fifth year, isn't your typical festival. But speaking to 's In the Newsroom podcast, its organiser, Matt Cole, insists it still has elements of a standard festival. 'It's got live music and entertainment, but it's for people in the lifestyle,' Mr Cole told the podcast. For those not familiar with 'the lifestyle', swinging involves people from all walks of life – LGBTQIA+, queer, couples, and anyone willing to explore non-monogamy. The three-day event held last weekend marked its biggest turnout yet, with nearly 1000 revellers descending on the small town – which was more than the entire local population. But despite its fun ethos, the event drew serious complaints last year from nearby residents who claimed they heard loud, hours-long 'moaning' sounds coming from the campgrounds. Mr Cole insists that this was only half true. 'Yes, we had (moaning), but the complaints are basically a lie. We are three miles (4.8km) from the nearest village, so if anyone can scream that loud … that's a scream,' he laughed. He believes that much of the negative press comes from locals disagreeing with the festival's premise. The event is mainly made up of couples, with a two-person ticket setting you back around $470 AUD and singles around $400. This year, there were around 100 single men and 50-60 single women in attendance. In terms of the age bracket, the average age is 37, which is much younger than many would expect. 'The youngest that we let in was 21 and the oldest guy was 69,' he shared. So what actually goes on behind the gates? By day, the festival – which sees people rock up in anything from their birthday suits, lingerie and fancy dress – hosts lots of different events. 'We have a UV party, a social night, workshops, live talks, and demonstrations,' Mr Cole explains. But they're not just standard demonstrations. 'Some of them might be like flogging, wax play or rope play,' he says. 'Or pole dancing, burlesque classes and massage classes'. There are also hot tubs, sex games, foam parties, and mobile dungeons. Butt plug bingo is one of the more interesting events, which is bingo with a cheeky twist to it (you win the adult-themed toy at the end). In terms of the actual swinging, there are sanctioned tents where people can go if they're interested in exploring some adult fun. 'It's all controlled,' Mr Cole explains. 'There's group tents, then there's voyeur tents – all sorts of tents for everybody'. But before you think it's all debauchery, Mr Cole says that many don't even go for that reason. Many simply attend for the liberating, body positivity aspect. 'They just go to be around like-minded people,' he says. 'It's not what people think. You don't just turn up and start swinging. A lot of friendships get made, and people leave with so much more confidence than when they started.'
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
‘Left it a while': Bend It Like Beckham director confirms sequel plans
A sequel to the 2002 sports-drama movie Bend It Like Beckham is in the works. The film, which starred Keira Knightley, Parminder Nagra and Johnathan Rhys-Meyers, is widely credited with inspiring a generation of women to play football, and director Gurinder Chadha thinks now is the perfect moment to launch a sequel. 'We've been part of changing the game for women, so it felt like this was a good time for me to go back and investigate the characters,' the 65-year-old filmmaker told the BBC. The England women's team has enjoyed significant success in recent years and faced Spain in the final of Euro 2025 overnight, a repeat of the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Australia won 1-0 by the Spanish. Chadha says attitudes towards women's football have changed since the first movie, but admits more progress is needed. 'A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don't think that women should play football,' she says. 'There are people who still don't take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high. 'I've left it a while, but I thought: look at the Euros, look at the Lionesses.' Chadha hopes the sequel will spread a positive message and 'challenge' stereotypes. 'What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all, and I think that's a really great message to put out again,' she says. 'I think there's still stuff to say, and stuff to challenge.' Bend It Like Beckham proved to be a big moment in Keira Knightley's career, but the actress previously revealed that her friends scoffed at the idea of making the movie. During an appearance on The Tonight Show, she told host Jimmy Fallon: 'I literally remember telling people I was doing it and it's called Bend It Like Beckham, and them going, 'Oh that's really embarrassing'. And they were all like, 'Don't worry. Nobody will see it. It's fine.'' Knightley noted that 'women's soccer was not as big' in 2002 as it is now, and so her friends assumed that the movie would flop at the box office. 'Women's soccer was not as big back then, and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous,' she says. Despite this, the film proved its doubters wrong, earning more than $70 million at the box office and even inspiring a musical adaptation. And Knightley — who also starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — is still constantly reminded of her role in the movie by fans. 'It's amazing because it's still the film even today, you know, if someone comes up to talk to me about my work, it's that one,' she says. 'It's so loved. It's amazing.'
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Miss Austen
Miss Austen NEW SERIES Period Drama Relationships Heartfelt Watch Episode 1 Article share options Share this on Facebook Twitter Send this by Email Copy link WhatsApp Messenger The drama begins in 1830, a while after Jane has died. Cassandra races to see her young friend Isabella who is about to lose her home following her father's death. Cassandra is there to help her friend, but her real motive is to find a stash of private letters which could destroy Jane's reputation.
