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Sarah Beeny's £3m mansion hit with demolition order
Sarah Beeny 's £3 million Somerset mansion, featured on Channel 4 's Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country, is facing a demolition order.
An extension built without planning permission, and documented on the show, was retrospectively refused by the council.
Ms Beeny and her husband Graham Swift appealed against the decision, but that was rejected. They have been ordered to demolish the extension.
The original planning permission stipulated that existing buildings on the property be torn down, but Beeny chose to renovate and extend instead.
She has transformed the property into a stately home, complete with two libraries, a vineyard, a boathouse and a greenhouse.
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Powys County Times
a day ago
- Powys County Times
Ladbrokes ads banned over use of ‘Ladbucks' likely to appeal to under-18s
Ads for gambling firm Ladbrokes have been banned for using the term 'Ladbucks', found to resemble gaming references likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s. The TV ad, seen in December, featured a voiceover that stated: 'This is a Ladbuck, the new way to get rewarded at Ladbrokes, and these are some of the 100 million Ladbucks that will be dropping weekly. 'Collect them on our free to play games and choose rewards like free spins, free bets and more … Plus you can even use them to play your favourite games for free in our Ladbucks arcade. Like Fishin Frenzy and Goldstrike.' A Video on Demand ad, seen on Channel 4 around the same time, was the same as the TV ad. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received two complaints that the term 'Ladbucks' was likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s. Ladbrokes said the term 'Ladbucks' was chosen as a play on the word Ladbrokes, and because it referenced, through the use of the term bucks, that it had value on the Ladbrokes website. They said the word had no origins in youth culture and believed that it was not of inherent strong appeal to under-18s, and highlighted that both ads had targeting restrictions to reduce the likelihood of children viewing them. The firm said it believed that the term was not associated with any coins from video games which were popular with under-18s, adding that 'V-Bucks' from Fortnite and 'Robux' from Roblox were in-game currencies that had to be purchased before being used to buy in-game items. Further, it did not believe the term 'lad' referred to a boy or young man and said its brand had never been used in that context. The ASA said several online games popular with under-18s, such as Roblox and Fortnite, had their own in-game currencies, which were called Robux and V-Bucks respectively. These currencies, which could be both bought and earnt through gameplay, were depicted as coins, and spent within in-game stores, usually on cosmetic items that enhanced gameplay. According to Ofcom's 2024 report into media use and attitudes, 60% of children aged between three and 17 years gamed online, while 89% of 11 to 18-year-olds gamed online weekly, with categories of games that were most popular including building games, such as Roblox, followed by games played against others, such as Fortnite. The ASA said it considered the term 'Ladbucks', through the suffix 'bucks', had strong similarities to the in-game currencies Robux and V-Bucks. It said the name 'Ladbucks', when considered alongside the imagery and the application of the coin in the ads, was 'depicted in a manner which was similar to features in video games popular with children'. 'We therefore considered the term in the ads was likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s and breached the Code,' it said. The watchdog ruled that the ads must not appear again in their current form, adding: 'We told Ladbrokes not to include content in ads that was reflective of youth culture or which had strong appeal to those under 18 years of age.' A spokesman for Entain, which owns Ladbrokes, said: 'We are disappointed by the ASA's ruling on our 'Ladbucks' advertising campaign, and we are seeking an independent review of what we consider to be a flawed decision. 'For example, it is based on an inaccurate comparison with games such as Fortnite or Roblox and their in-game currencies. Entain works extremely carefully to ensure that its advertising does not target or appeal to under-18s.
BreakingNews.ie
04-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Paul Hollywood: I put on Coldplay and make some bread
The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, known for his icy stares and no-nonsense feedback of contestants' masterpieces, says he's his own biggest critic too. 'I'll always be critical, because nothing's ever really perfect, even the stuff I make – nothing is perfect,' says the 59-year-old. Advertisement Merseyside-born Hollywood, who is releasing his latest cookbook, Celebrate, has been the only mainstay on the popular baking show since its conception on the BBC in 2010, before it moved to Channel 4 seven years later. Running the family bakery at 20, his on-screen persona certainly hasn't been created for TV. 'I've always been like that [at the] bakery, with the lads I was working with. My dad [John] was like that with me – so I'm just passing the buck. 'I am very critical, but I think it's healthy. It's not a destructive criticism. It's constructive because you get better and better.' (Haarala Hamilton/PA) Sometimes his more balanced comments don't make the edit on the programme, he says. 'I'll say, 'That's terrible' and then they'll go, 'That's the cut!'' Advertisement His own family, apparently, don't even like baking for him – 'Yeah I didn't know to what depth they worry about it!' he laughs. 'I was at a party a couple of years ago and someone made something and wanted me to tell them what my thoughts were. I thought it was pretty good but they pushed me to give a proper Bake Off response, so I did and they were a little bit upset.' Of course, the other thing he's become strangely famous for is his handshakes – given out to contestants he deems to have done a great bake in the Bake Off tent. People come up to him on the street 'all the time' asking for a Hollywood handshake. 'It's charming,' he insists, 'but I normally say, 'Where's my cake?'. 'It's been 13-odd years and anywhere in the world people will offer me a handshake. It's quite strange.' Advertisement Home baking has had somewhat of a renaissance through the TV show that solidified Hollywood's stature as a household name, and the rise in popularity of making sourdough and banana bread during the pandemic. But baking, he says, is one of the oldest trades, along with fishing. 'It's one of the oldest things mentioned in the Bible. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Hollywood (@ 'It's one of the rare things in the world that you take a lot of raw ingredients, and [transform them] completely differently by putting into an oven. 'It's a very prehistoric thing to do. Bread making goes back many, many years, and I think with modern technology, machines and ovens, we can produce proper baking that rivals all the professional bakeries – and you can do all that in your safety of your own kitchen.' Hollywood bakes, usually, every other day. 'I put a bit of Coldplay on and then make a bit of bread. When it's fully risen you knock it back and gently shake it. I find that extremely relaxing. Advertisement 'I can picture how that breads going to come out the oven before it's even gone in the oven. You just know it's going to be a good loaf. It comes from years of making doughs and sponges and batters. I enjoy that side of things. Quite therapeutic.' Plus, amidst the cost-of-living crisis, Hollywood says savings can be made by baking more at home – particularly for a celebration or party. 'Often we just buy something cheap and I think it's important that people bake, because, A, they realise what does into their bakes and, B, it's actually cheaper overall to bake yourself. 'When you buy ingredients to make something, you're probably going to be able to make more than own. You might even be able to do two or three.' (Haarala Hamilton/PA) Hollywood's tips for beginner bakers 1. Don't be scared 'If you see something that you really want to make in the book and you want to have a go. It's very 'stagey'… when you break down the stages it's actually very simple. You take things nice and slow and at the end you'll go, 'My God, look what I've just made – it's amazing!' Advertisement 2. Start with something easy 'I'd say the easiest bake is a Victoria sandwich. Either make two or one and split it. Traditionally, it's just raspberry jam and a dusting of icing sugar. Because I'm from the North, I like to add cream to it as well. A whisked sponge is slightly different, because you're whisking up a sponge, which makes it very light. When you put a spoon into it, with cream [which is] silky smooth and soft, It's just delicious with a cup of tea.' 3. Make sure you're prepared Baking, especially for a celebratory event, might feel a bit daunting but Hollywood says: 'It's about preparation. It's like anything. When we're working in a professional kitchen, they call it 'mise en place' – it's about getting everything in place so when you start to make something, everything's there at hand.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Hollywood (@ 4. Get a table mixer They can be quite expensive but, 'Some models start from £200-£300, but you're going to use it to death. It's going to last you a long time, probably the rest of your life if it's looked after. I think a good table mixer takes the worry out of making bread because people don't want to knead the bread.' Some recipes in his book are 'no knead' though. 'Basically just stir it together, leave nature to do most of the work, and then you just fold it. But a table mixer is essential.' 5. Keep a clean oven A rookie mistake most people make is not cleaning their ovens, he says. 'I'm quite fanatical about cleaning my oven. The glass especially, so I can peer in without opening the door. Most people, I can probably guarantee you can't see anything that's on there. 'If you open the oven door, you're losing temperature straight away – especially with breads and cakes. Mid-rise on a cake, if you open the door and introduce cold heat, it will drop and create a little dip in the middle and then sort of concertina up.' (Bloomsbury Publishing/PA) Celebrate by Paul Hollywood is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing. Photography by Haarala Hamilton. Available June 5th
South Wales Guardian
03-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
‘Ridiculous' for Channel 4 to start making in-house TV shows, says Sony
Under a new strategy, launched in May, the broadcaster unveiled how it would start to develop in-house production capabilities with a separate company focused on 'entertainment, reality and entertainment genres with international potential'. Wayne Garvie, the president of international production at Sony Pictures Television, whose division's companies and partners have made Channel 4 shows such as Hullraisers and The Undeclared War, told the Media And Telecoms 2025 And Beyond Conference in London on Tuesday that the broadcaster's plan is 'ridiculous' and 'it won't work'. He added that those 'who run in-house production businesses' know that when you start 'you lose money for the first three years'. He claimed that Channel 4 is doing this without owning many intellectual rights or having an 'institutional knowledge of how to run a production business'. Mr Garvie said: 'It could be potentially disastrous for Channel 4, because it's got limited resources. It's got to adapt to a change in (the) broadcast market.' However, he did praise outgoing Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon with helping the broadcaster continue, but pointed out that even with 'good people' it is going to take half a decade to make money. Mr Garvie said the UK having multiple public broadcasters is 'unsustainable', and added: 'The future has got to be, surely, Channel 4 and the BBC coming together, and that should be the focus for a new chair of Channel 4 (who replaces Sir Ian Cheshire).' Responding later in the day, Ms Mahon said: 'Wayne was a bit excitable this morning, wasn't he?' She added: 'The good news is that Channel 4 has a sensible, modest, intelligent plan for in-house production, but I do agree with Wayne that it's not easy… to be a producer.' Ms Mahon also dismissed a 'coming together' of the BBC and Channel 4, saying the UK has 'such a strong public service broadcasting ecosystem' because of the 'plurality and competition'. She added: 'I think there are ways that we should all operate together, and Freely is the best example of that, but we also shouldn't believe that by popping us all together in one service, we would end up with more impact on the audience.' Netflix's vice president of content for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Larry Tanz, dismissed that the streaming giant would not have commissioned Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, at the event, which is hosted by Enders Analysis and Deloitte at Convene Sancroft in the St Paul's area. '(Vice president of UK Content at Netflix) Anne Mensah, and her team in the UK, commissioned Adolescence, Baby Reindeer and Toxic Town for the UK audience first and foremost,' he said. 'Maybe I can finally put that to rest here and say we absolutely would have commissioned Mr Bates in the UK if we had the opportunity, we think our audience would have loved it.' It follows Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky, who has pushed for a levy on streaming companies to finance public broadcasters, which include ITV, BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Mr Kosminsky told the BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that Adolescence, which explores themes such as incel culture and bullying and has been a global hit for Netflix, is a 'fantastic programme', but the streaming giant would not make the show if it was not successful outside the UK. He claimed that streamers would not make issue-led dramas such as Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and Hillsborough as they are too British-focused, and voiced concerns that public broadcasters do not have the money to finance such commissions.
