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Nicola Sturgeon accuses actor of misogyny after he calls her ‘a witch'

Nicola Sturgeon accuses actor of misogyny after he calls her ‘a witch'

'I think we've completely lost the way—both sides of the Border, by the way,' he said. 'We've got what I dreamt was going to happen and it looks to me like a mess.
'I once loved Nicola Sturgeon. Now I cannot bear her.'
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'The witch Sturgeon ruined Scottish arts,' says English actor Rupert Everett
My wild days of sex and drugs and being mates with Madonna are over
The actor and writer, who first shot to fame in the 1980s in Another Country and later appeared in My Best Friend's Wedding and The Happy Prince, also said he no longer votes and sees little hope in the current political class.
'They are all useless. Useless people. Useless ideas. And everything going so badly I do not see who is going to pull us out of the hole we have dug for ourselves.'
(Image: TINO ROMANO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) During the interview, he also reflected on his time at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow.
'It was a European theatre in the same vein as Peter Stein, Pina Bausch. It was a national European theatre. And unlike those theatres, it never ran at a loss. It presented an uncompromising array of work to people that it never patronised.'
He added: 'As soon as the witch Sturgeon came into power, everything changed in Scottish arts and everything had to be about being Scottish.'
Sharing a screenshot of the article on Instagram, Ms Sturgeon wrote: 'What is it with (some) men who cannot disagree with a woman without resorting to deeply misogynistic tropes? (Btw—his substantive point is baseless rubbish too.)'
(Image: Instagram) A recent Holyrood magazine survey found that female MSPs of all parties faced rape threats, death threats and severe misogynistic abuse.
One female MSP recently told The Guardian that Holyrood is becoming a hostile environment for women.
In 2022, Ms Sturgeon apologised for Scotland's witch trials, calling the persecutions 'injustice on a colossal scale, driven at least in part by misogyny'.
She warned that the misogyny behind those events 'has not' gone away—today it 'expresses itself not in claims of witchcraft, but in everyday harassment, online rape threats and sexual violence'.
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Efteling Grand Hotel review: Sheer opulence amid a brilliantly bonkers theme park
Efteling Grand Hotel review: Sheer opulence amid a brilliantly bonkers theme park

Scotsman

time17 minutes ago

  • Scotsman

Efteling Grand Hotel review: Sheer opulence amid a brilliantly bonkers theme park

Expect the unexpected at Efteling where there are surprises around every corner and sheer opulence greets you at the Grand Hotel. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Stepping into Efteling was like walking straight into the pages of a childhood fairytale book with surprises around every corner leaving us amused, bemused and laughing our heads off at every turn. Taking inspiration from European fables and folklore this theme park is seriously bonkers. My family and I were invited for a sneak preview of the brand new Efteling Grand Hotel ahead of its official opening this month and we simply could not wait to find out what all the fuss was about. It became immediately obvious we should expect the unexpected at this place and that maxim was no less true when it came to the hotel, set directly in the grounds of the park. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While outside you needed to watch out for giant puppets and coins flying from a donkey's backside, it was sheer splendor at the hotel with grandeur greeting you wherever you went. After a relatively chilled journey - flying into Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, hopping on a (double decker) train to 's-Hertogenbosch and taking a cab the short distance to the park - we were nonetheless grateful to arrive at Efteling to check out the place we would call home for the next couple of days. At the front gates we were welcomed by a friendly bellhop who immediately took our luggage and escorted us inside, our jaws dropping as we took in the impressive interior, reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. There was no need for checking-in, I'd already done that on the handy app which activated our in-app key - buzzing us in with the same ease as Google Pay allows us to spend money. From the decor to the impeccably dressed staff, for whom nothing was too much trouble, this place felt rather like returning to a time when customers were treated as esteemed guests. As we entered our room, or more accurately, our suite, it was another in a long series of 'wow' moments. We stayed at the brand new Efteling Grand Hotel and it was pure luxury | Jamie Jones / National World Definitely more like an apartment than a hotel room, a short hallway led us through to a lounge complete with mini bar and views across the iconic entrance. With two separate bedrooms, one a double and the other housing two bunkbeds, there was plenty of space to stretch out. And don't get me started on the bathroom filled with divinely scented products and a bath so vast I was tempted to go for a swim. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After a short rest break the kids were champing at the bit to explore - and, if I'm honest, so was I. Passing through a private gate just for Grand Hotel guests, we had a short time to explore some of the 72 hectare site before our dinner reservation. As we meandered through the Fairytale Forest, surrounded by trees and greenery, we were all stopped in our tracks when a friendly-looking but ginormous head with great, staring eyes rose above the tree tops before taking a quick look around and disappearing back into the canopy. I did tell you to expect the unexpected. Dinner on our first night was at the Brasserie 7 which we were informed was the more informal option of the hotel's two restaurants - nevertheless it was still pretty fancy. More of that good old fashioned service was lavished upon us as we experienced a three course meal with a twist - incorporating seven magical ingredients including dragon's breath and fairy dust. And that wasn't the only magical moment during the meal - to keep young ones entertained between courses, the most adorable lift pixie joined our table, playing a quick game of noughts and crosses with my two children and making us all chuckle so much my six-year-old declared, 'my face hurts from smiling!' Absolutely pooped from a long day, we turned in for the night in the most comfortable bed known to man, but returned to Brasserie 7 the following morning for breakfast. There can surely be no better place to fill up ready for a day of adventure than this place, serving not only every breakfast food you can imagine but those you hadn't thought of as well. Continental and cooked breakfast options, you would need to stay at least a week if you wanted to sample all of the variety they have on offer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jamie Jones / National World With a full day ahead of us we tried to cram in as much as possible, and cram we did with my 10-year-old telling me by the end it felt like we had passed days in the park since stepping out that morning. This is only made possible due to the short queues everywhere - forget lining up for hours for your favourite rides, we mostly waited no longer than 10 minutes, and a couple of times went straight back round to rejoin the end of the queue to experience a ride all over again. Ordering lunch from a kiosk using a QR code meant the children continued enjoying rides while we waited for our food which my husband collected when an alert went off on his phone. Not a minute wasted! With a young family, it was the more tame Max & Moritz rollercoaster which was a highlight and we all enjoyed a moment of tranquillity on the Gondoletta boats peacefully transporting us around a lake. The Stoomtrein (mini steam train) also gave our feet a break taking us to another area of the park in the most delightful way. However, there are some seriously big and scary rides we saw thundering past us, for anyone with older kids or who are braver than I am. We set aside some time that afternoon so we could head to the spa. Beneath the Efteling Grand Hotel lies more magic, an underground world with pool and spa that was the perfect spot to ease tired muscles after all that walking - families of all ages have been catered for there with a baby pool, just a few centimetres deep complete with floating toys, a toddler pool, deeper swimming pool and whirlpool. The spa offers a steam bath, sauna and ice cold shower, and has an extra room for massages too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What made the experience even more enjoyable is the fluffy bathrobes and slippers in every room mean you can get ready for your swim there, taking the lift straight down to the spa, and when you're finished, there's no wrestling children out of soggy lycra in a small changing room, instead we simply donning the bathrobe and slippers once again and got dry and dressed in the comfort of our own suite. I find little things like this make all the difference when travelling with kids. After smartening ourselves for dinner, we headed for the refined Restaurant & Bar Mystique, and because no corner of Efteling is free from the strange and unusual, there we experienced an evening-long culinary journey quite unlike any other. First up, there isn't really a menu - you instead choose a selection of flavours by placing small stones on a slate found in the centre of the table and the chef just works with that. And if that's not strange and unusual enough for you, well, let's just say we buttered our bread using the [butter] candle which had just moments before been illuminating our table. While described as a three course meal, plate after plate of appetisers and palette cleansers were served, so many I eventually lost count. These small amuse bouche were as adorable as they were delicious, from tiny crispy tacos to sauces served from a teapot by a chef - the meal was totally weird and absolutely wonderful. The dining experience offered here is recommended for children aged 9+ - maybe due to the time it takes to move through all those plates of food - but the attention of even my youngest was held for the most part due to the anticipation of what was to come next. Both children gave most things a try, despite some of the combinations and flavours being, perhaps, for a more discerning palate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While they didn't clean every plate - which I absolutely did by the way - I was pleased they both got to try a range of food they probably wouldn't have chosen for themselves otherwise, opening their minds to different culinary possibilities in the future I hope. And they absolutely wolfed down their mains and desserts, everyone leaving the table stuffed and thoroughly entertained. This was a meal that got all of us talking and laughing together and was genuinely one of the most fun meals we've ever sat down to and - along with the delicious food - that is not something that should be overlooked. Our day finished in the most spectacular way, heading out to the Aquanura Water show. This show of water and light was akin to a fireworks display without the horrible bangs and was, in the truest sense of the word, awesome. A 14-minute musical journey through Efteling, it was the perfect way to wrap up our day at the park. Efteling theme park is brilliantly bonkers with a surprise around every corner offering memories that will last a lifetime | Jamie Jones / National World Staggered by quite how much we'd managed to cram into the previous 12 hours, we sunk into our beds and slept solidly until morning. We awoke to our final morning at Efteling, travelling home later that day, so we filled up again with a hearty breakfast and headed out. Making full use of our half-an-hour early access to the park, we headed for the Piraña - a rapid river ride which the day before had a 30-minute queue, and were able to go on twice before any crowds arrived. We laughed until our sides hurt - mostly at how wet my husband had managed to get on Piraña - and then went to get one last sweet treat before the journey home. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I couldn't leave before making one or two purchases in the luxury boutique store within the hotel where you can pick up many of the items you see around the hotel, one of those fluffy bath robes for example, along with jewellery and quality dressing up options for the children. I was unable to resist taking a little of my holiday home with me, picking up some of the shampoo and conditioner I had used in the spa following my swim, as well as an 'ambiance trigger' which is the exclusive fragrance made for and used at the hotel that you can spray around when you get home and imagine you are still there. Efteling really is bonkers, but it is brilliantly bonkers. Somewhere you can't help but enjoy, a place to make memories with the family full of laughter and nonsense. And with the new addition of the Efteling Grand Hotel, mums and dads, and grandparents too, can soak up a little luxury amid the madness. There was so much more we didn't have time to see and do there, the vastness of the place means you can fill your days and still not get around to everything, so, I guess that just means we'll have to go back. Sigh. In the meantime, fetch me that ambiance trigger…

Ryan Reynolds says he and Rob McElhenney don't make Wrexham ‘football decisions'
Ryan Reynolds says he and Rob McElhenney don't make Wrexham ‘football decisions'

The Herald Scotland

timean hour ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Ryan Reynolds says he and Rob McElhenney don't make Wrexham ‘football decisions'

Reynolds and McElhenney were at the SToK Cae Ras on Saturday to watch Wrexham play their first home game in the second tier of English football since May 1982. Wrexham's celebrity owners Rob McElhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds watch in the stands during West Brom's 3-2 win at the Racecourse Ground (Cody Frogatt/PA) But there was no Hollywood ending as West Brom won 3-2 to leave the Red Dragons without a Championship point after two games. 'We have a very hands-off management style,' Deadpool star Reynolds told Sky Sports. 'Our job is to listen, learn, and tell the story. And that's I think a great position for any ownership group to be in, to really just be there to support and tell the story. 'We don't make football decisions. And it's actually the great gift of that is that we're able to have relationships with the players at Wrexham, whereas most people in our position can't. Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds (centre) and Rob McElhenney (left) speaking with the club's former striker Steven Fletcher following the 3-2 home defeat to West Brom (Cody Froggatt/PA) 'So we have a relationship with every single one of our players.' The Welsh club's commercial success – fuelled by Reynolds and McElhenney's celebrity status and the award-winning 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary series – has allowed them to invest heavily in Phil Parkinson's squad with nine summer signings. Wrexham have broken their transfer record three times this summer and Wales striker Nathan Broadhead, signed from Ipswich in a deal worth up to £10million, made his debut against West Brom. McElhenney said: 'It's interesting to get accolades when you hear people say, 'Oh, you guys have done a pretty good job with the club. Wrexham have yet to pick up a point in the Championship after opening defeats to Southampton and West Brom (Cody Froggatt/PA) 'The truth is we don't really have anything to do with what happens out on the pitch. 'We've got our very specific job, which is to be clowns and to tell the story as best we can. 'But also to be as respectful as we possibly can to what Phil does on the pitch and what the executive team, Michael (Williamson) and Shaun (Harvey) and Humphrey (Ker) and everybody does off the pitch. 'We just have an incredible team and we just get to sit back and be fans and document the process.'

Netflix's scariest horror films including 'masterpiece' that'll leave you covering you eyes
Netflix's scariest horror films including 'masterpiece' that'll leave you covering you eyes

Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Netflix's scariest horror films including 'masterpiece' that'll leave you covering you eyes

Want to have your mind messed with? These options are sure to have you turning to a night light Netflix offers a plethora of choices for movie night, spanning every genre imaginable. ‌ The horror category is no exception, with an array of spine-chilling films and eerie comedies. However, these options may not necessarily deliver the level of terror some viewers crave, offering a more subdued experience instead. ‌ Finding a film that delivers pure, unadulterated horror can be a challenge. This was the dilemma faced by one Netflix user recently, who took to Reddit in search of recommendations. ‌ Their post read: "I'm in the mood for a horror movie that will actually terrify me, like builds dread, makes my heart pound or messes with my head. Ideally supernatural (ghosts, demons, witches, gore, monsters, curses, that kind of vibe), and I'm totally down for non-English films too (plus jump scares! ) Let me know what truly got under your skin or made you sleep with the lights on. Looking to be deeply unsettled tonight." The responses were filled with excellent suggestions. Here are some of the top recommendations for those seeking a truly terrifying viewing experience, reports the Express. Talk To Me Boasting an impressive 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film follows a group of friends who discover how to summon spirits using an embalmed hand. They become addicted to the thrill and high-stakes party game, until one of them takes it too far and unleashes horrifying supernatural forces. One fan who suggested the film commented on the subreddit thread: "Rarely have any recent horror flicks got me under the skin, but yo, this one did." It comes from the Philippou brothers who have more recently released Back to Her in cinemas. ‌ One fan said of the film: "Talk to Me isn't just a movie; it's an otherworldly journey that immerses you in a realm of unrelenting terror and profound introspection. A chilling masterpiece directed by the visionary Philippou brothers, this film reignites the horror genre with a searing intensity reminiscent of its illustrious predecessors." Talk To Me is streaming on Netflix. ‌ His House Released in 2020, His House has quickly become a firm favourite amongst devoted horror enthusiasts. It even secured a flawless 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie centres on a refugee couple who make a terrifying escape from war-ravaged South Sudan, only to find themselves battling to adapt to their new existence in an English town harbouring sinister forces beneath its façade. The Reddit user who championed the title wrote: "His House on Netflix was terrifying (I had to cover my eyes and plug my ears multiple times) and also a very thought provoking movie. Very well done." ‌ While a fan review shared online claims: "His House is an absolute masterpiece that delves deep into the harrowing journey of migrants seeking refuge in a new country. From the moment the film begins, viewers are immersed in the struggles and challenges faced by the protagonists as they flee their war-torn homeland in search of a better life." His House is streaming on Netflix. ‌ Veronica The third most popular suggestion via Reddit was Veronica. Whilst it may boast the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of the three choices, it still maintains an impressive 86%. A Spanish film, set in 1991, during a solar eclipse, a teenage girl and her mates attempt to contact the spirit of the girl's father using an Ouija board. ‌ Yet during the séance she loses consciousness and soon it becomes apparent that sinister demons have materialised. It draws inspiration from true events which involve the mysterious death of a young girl who performed a similar ritual at school in Madrid in the 1990s. Nevertheless the director Pedro Plaza did not seek to recreate the real events with the film. This is a choice that abandons jump scares and instead seeks to leave you feeling unsettled. As one fan explains: "Really, one of the best horror movies I ever saw. Veronica may not have those jump scares but still will keep you anxious through out the movie."

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