Little ships set to sail for Dunkirk commemoration from Ramsgate
The little ships are due to sail from Ramsgate Royal Harbour at 06:00 BST on Wednesday and arrive at Dunkirk at 16:00 BST, depending on weather and sea conditions.The organisation, set up in 1966 to preserve the vessels, added this was the first time they have made the crossing since 2015. The ADLS organises a crossing every five years, but the expedition was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The ships will be escorted by the Royal Navy and the RNLI, with a spectator fleet of modern craft present in Ramsgate and Dunkirk.The little ships made their first return to the French port in 1965. The idea came from former Second World War Spitfire pilot, Raymond Baxter OBE, who later became a presenter for BBC's Tomorrow's World programme.
Dubbed the "Miracle of Dunkirk" by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the evacuation is seen as one of the outstanding moments of fortitude and perseverance during the Second World War.The rescue was overseen by Admiral Bertram Ramsay, who also played a pivotal role in masterminding the Normandy Landings in 1944. The operation has also inspired films, and Christopher Nolan's 2017 Dunkirk featured several original little ships, and their owners and crew members made guest appearances.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Playing politics gets dangerous for Julie Delpy and Suranne Jones in ‘Hostage'
Only a few people know what it's like to stand outside 10 Downing Street and address the world's media. Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy aren't politicians, but they got that opportunity playing rival stateswomen in thriller miniseries 'Hostage.' No. 10 is where the British prime minister lives and works and it's at the heart of Matt Charman's new Netflixshow releasing Thursday. During a tense Anglo- French summit, Jones power-dresses as Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, while Delpy wears the red lipstick of the pristinely presented French President Vivienne Toussaint. Also starring Ashley Thomas, Corey Mylchreest and Lucian Msamati, both women wrestle with power and their personal lives when Dalton's husband is kidnapped and Toussaint is threatened with a career-ruining scandal. 'The speeches is the hardest thing to do in the show,' says Delpy, who stood at a podium on the set of an impressive recreation of Downing Street. 'I had the same anxiety as if I was doing it for real.' Jones also had to address the House of Commons, with everyone shouting at her. It's a common sight in British politics, with politicians yelling and making noise over the top of a rival to drown them out in Parliament. Once everyone started braying at her, Jones 'couldn't remember anything' she was saying. Then they'd retake it without the extras shouting, which threw her after she'd got used to the all the noise. And words are weapons in this thriller, as negotiations veer between solidarity and betrayal. 'Every word is being scrutinized, like if you use a term instead of another, it's going to be judged by the press. And I mean, it happens a little bit in our business, but nothing compared to a politician,' adds Delpy. Delpy and Jones sat down with The Associated Press to talk about politicians and power pants. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: How do you think France will feel about you being president? DELPY: I think they might get upset, I don't know, at my representation — no I'm joking — of a French president with a sex scandal and all that. I don't know, French are not very big on judging sex scandals with people. I don't think it works in France, like it works everywhere else, but not in France so much. Like they don't care when a president has an affair. It's more the politics. AP: These aren't specific politicians, but you did research and speak to female politicians. What did you learn? JONES: I wanted to talk to loads of women that were in it and from lots of different parties as well. So some on the phone, some were in person. I interviewed a couple of people high in power. We went to the Commons, watched the PMQs (Prime Minister's Questions), felt the atmosphere, walked the halls, talked to the speaker. And it was all, it was all so ... to be in the world that I know nothing about. I've been invited as a creative or a celebrity, but to actually talk to people about the balance and the cost of what it takes and what it does to your kids ... that was really helpful. DELPY: I've listened to a lot of politicians about their life, about what it's been like after they were in power and stuff and the pressure and stuff, but I didn't want to inspire myself on someone specific so there's no reference. It's like, 'Oh, she's like the blah blah blah or she's like so.' I made her different than some French women politician that would be the obvious persons to be inspired by. AP: These characters are in power and they are holding on to it. How do you use your own power in your life? JONES: I feel like I sometimes put power pants on, do you know what I mean? Because actually I also quite like to hide away. So I like the duality of power, which Abigail doesn't have that choice really. But, so I like to go, 'Right today. ... I'm going to use it for good.' Or I need it as energy, so I have power pants, but I like to take them on and off. AP: Can I establish, when you say pants — do you mean English pants (underwear) or American pants (trousers)? JONES: Big knickers. Yeah, power knickers, what about you? You got any power pants? DELPY: No, I don't know. It's funny. I was thinking of a joke I made years ago about like how when women are directors, they have to wear fatigues, not like literal, you know. If you go direct a movie wearing a dress, people don't take you as seriously. But it's kind of a joke on, you know, the power thing. JONES: But it's the same thing, isn't it? DELPY: Yeah and I think I've noticed that ... if you give a vibe that's more in charge, I think people have a certain respect. AP: So you both, like your characters, put a lot of thought into what you are wearing? JONES: What you're wearing emotionally that day, what you're giving out, what you're putting on. … And wearing the heels to make yourself taller, wearing the shoulders to not feminize yourself in that historically masculine situation. So yeah, all of that comes into play. DELPY: Toussaint, for me, it was important that she was really pristine all the time. And we talk about the white coat, that she has never put lipstick on a white coat. I would put lipstick on my white coat in 10 seconds. But she's like really the kind of person they will never be, you know, she'll never be walking like this (folds over her lapel) into a room… JONES: With a lapel up! Julie on the other hand, definitely. DELPY: And I'll step in a hole and fall.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Beauty queen ‘headbutted' by celeb chef ex who rubbed shoulders with Beyonce and A-list fans at Michelin star restaurant
A FORMER Miss Europe beauty queen has claimed her celebrity chef ex-boyfriend headbutted her so hard it broke her nose. French model Alexandra Rosenfeld, 38, alleged that Jean Imbert - head chef at multiple glitzy restaurants in France - smashed her face while they were together in 2013. 6 6 6 The model also claimed that Imbert subjected her to emotional abuse in the form of "scorn" and "belittling" comments. Imbert, 44, who shot to fame when he won the TV cooking competition Top Chef in 2012, denies the allegations. He heads up the Michelin-starred Plaza Athenée in Paris - where he has welcomed the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z. The chef claims he was in fact the victim of Alexandra's violent behaviour. Alexandra won the Miss France competition in 2006, and was crowned Miss Europe later that year. She is one of four women who have told Elle magazine that Imbert showed allegedly controlling behaviour while they were in relationships with him. Their allegations add to a growing mound of claims that the French culinary industry is entrenched in sexism and violence. Alexandra first made the allegations under a false name and gave no identifying information. But this week, she posted a bombshell statement on Instagram along with the results of a scan reporting that her nose was broken. The medical notes said she had suffered a 'traumatism from a direct shock'. I thought my sister's doctor boyfriend was the 'perfect gentleman' but he abducted & killed her as she ran for her life Alexandra wrote: 'Over 10 years ago, I was with someone. He headbutted me once. But strangely, that wasn't what left a mark on me. 'The contempt, the belittling, the silences, the perfectly placed words to make me doubt myself, my worth. It was slow, insidious. "I thought the problem was me. I stayed. Because I loved him.' Alexandra said her relationship with Imbert because he left her for someone else. 6 6 But in January, he invited her and her family to the opening of La Forêt Secrète - a new restaurant at Disneyland Paris. She wrote: "I was surprised, touched," but added she suspects his intention was really to win her favour after learning of the Elle article. Alexandra continued: 'And then everything came back, this impression of being approached nicely in order to be placed in a hold.' Imbert's team has denied any allegations against him. They said the headbutt happened during a "moment of violence to which Jean Imbert was subjected when he was grabbed by the wrist and freed himself. "He profoundly regrets the consequences of this for her." The chef's publicists said the relationship had been "unsustainable, marked by insults and fits," and that Alexandra had sent insulting texts when it ended. They also denied the claims of jealousy and controlling behaviour made the other women in the Elle article. 6
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Hostage review – five hours of fast, furious fun, featuring Suranne Jones as prime minister
You know how it is. One moment you're on a romantic walk in the woods with your saintly, supportive husband as he convinces you to stand for election as prime minister, the next you are that prime minister (with the shorter but still flattering haircut to prove it). You're knee-deep in a cancer drug supply crisis and about to meet with the French president who alone can solve your problem, when news arrives that your saintly, supportive husband – who is, of course, a doctor with Doctors Without Borders – and his team have been abducted by unknown terrorists in French Guiana. What is a Suranne Jones with a Netflix budget behind her to do? That is the set-up from which five punchy hours – Hostage fully swerves the curse of streamer-bloat – of great, globetrotting fun proceeds. Jones is the no-nonsense (in a good way, not a Thatcher way) politician-turned-PM Abigail Dalton; Julie Delpy is the icy president and master strategist Vivienne Toussaint; and Ashley Thomas is Dr Alex Anderson, Dalton's blameless and soon deeply traumatised husband. Before news of the kidnappings arrives, Dalton is hoping to cut a deal with Toussaint that will involve the UK taking in a boatful of Ebola-ravaged refugees that were refused entry at Calais in return for France giving the UK a large amount of lifesaving medicine. Deux political crises averted with une stone, you see. Then the terrorists step in and demand as their ransom Dalton's resignation by 1pm the next day. I should add that also in the mix are: Abigail and Alex's semi-stroppy daughter Sylvie (Isobel Akuwudike) and Abigail's dying father Max (James Cosmo), both of whom are strongly of the opinion that she should resign and bring Alex home; private secretary Kofi Adomako (Lucian Msamati), an appointee of the previous government and as yet unsure of his new boss's fitness for purpose; Adrienne Pelletier (Jehnny Beth), the ice queen's warmer and surely trustworthy assistant; and last but decidedly not least, Toussaint's stepson Matheo (Corey Mylchreest), who deplores his stepmother's political shift to the right, and his new girlfriend Saskia (Sophie Robertson). Think of them as a quiverfull of arrows ready to be fired the moment we need another plot twist, red herring, complication, revelation or downright treachery, and always landing on target. Offshore accounts, leaks, misplaced and well-placed loyalties abound, with ever-changing political considerations and their ramifications woven credibly in. Oh, and did I mention that Dalton is considered to have 'gutted the military' to fund her promises to fix the NHS? Though I'm sure this won't have repercussions if and when she needs their help to rescue her husband and his equally saintly, supportive team. The first rescue mission, however, is by the French because it is their territory. Alas, it is aborted at the last minute when Toussaint receives a very effective blackmail video that threatens her leadership and would, if she were ousted, leave the way clear for a truly fascistic candidate to stand, which is what her apparent pandering to the right-wing has been designed to deflect. Hidden depths, you see, and subtleties. Hostage onion-skins its episodes very nicely. It's a rollicking, propulsive and compulsive yarn that also manages to give two great parts to two women of a certain age then leaves them to get on with it as characters rather than symbols. There is perhaps a little too much of Dalton kicking off her high heels in relief every time she's alone, but other than that the two leaders are as unremarkably female as the usual players would be unremarkably male. Of course, this shouldn't still be rare, but it is, and feels refreshing and worthy of note. As losses mount, the question of how much a leader should be expected to sacrifice for her country comes under greater scrutiny. Does there come a point when you have to give in to terrorists? How do you appraise a concept like the greater good, which has become so emptied of meaning in modern times? And what if the great British public has been baying for your blood beforehand? And the sympathy they have for your predicament lasts no longer than the next viral video showing the death or suffering of an individual unable to procure the drugs they need? Everyone is terrific in this, and the budget is well spent on location shoots in French Guiana (or somewhere very like it), with Jones doing her usual sterling work as an everywoman in extraordinary circumstances. Or at least everywoman as prime minister in extraordinary circumstances. I do find myself occasionally wishing that she would treat herself and us to a comedy – or something with a comic aspect – more often, but when the dramas are this much fast, furious, intelligent fun, I suppose we shouldn't ask for more. Hostage is on Netflix
