logo
The Assembly: Gary Lineker review — is this the best interview show on TV?

The Assembly: Gary Lineker review — is this the best interview show on TV?

Times12-05-2025
'You play football?' Gary Lineker's inquisitor asked in ITV's splendid series The Assembly. He replied that, yes, he used to. 'Did you shit yourself?' she asked. Ah.
Imagine having a career as glittering as he had and then getting hit with that as your first question (it referred, I assume, to the unfortunate moment during Italia 90 when Lineker, feeling unwell, had an on-pitch event).
But this is what has made The Assembly such refreshing and different television. The autistic, neurodivergent and learning-disabled people asking celebrities whatever blunt questions they like, do so not with 'gotcha' snark but with genuine curiosity, which is why it injects new life into the tired old celebrity TV interview.
• Gary Lineker: I'm a better presenter now, which
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Edinburgh Fringe shows that put accessibility centre stage
The Edinburgh Fringe shows that put accessibility centre stage

BBC News

time14 minutes ago

  • BBC News

The Edinburgh Fringe shows that put accessibility centre stage

The Edinburgh Fringe can be a maze for blind and visually-impaired pop-up venues, jam-packed schedules and minimal thought given to access, it often feels like an afterthought, if it's considered at year, though, one venue is trying something Playground has teamed up with Extant, the UK's leading professional company of visually impaired artists, to put accessibility centre stage. What is the mission? The Fringe can overwhelm me. It's loud, crowded, and I'm left wondering: will the venue work for me and my guide dog, Major? These thoughts hit me before I even book a year, three shows at ZOO Playground were marked as among the most accessible. I tried one.I picked Big Little Sister, a solo show by Holly Gifford. Before the 10:35 morning performance, Holly herself took me and other audience members on a touch tour, guiding us around the stage, letting us handle props, feel the layout and even try a prop from the the time she stepped out to perform, I already had a clear picture of the space, her actions, and captions she uses on a screen. Because the show was built to be accessible, I didn't need audio description. It flowed without visual reliance. Making it part of the show Usually, I'd use a headset for live description. I do welcome it, but it splits your focus, one ear on the live performance, the other on a describer. This was different. Holly had done the groundwork in advance, so I didn't need that extra at ZOO had genuinely thought things through. From arrival to departure, I felt looked after as they clearly had training in how to guide visually-impaired audiences. That's rare. ZOO Playground, known for emerging artists and smaller productions, took on a challenge this year. They worked with Extant, the UK's leading professional company of visually impaired artists, to rethink access. Extant is led by Maria Oshodi, a blind theatre director and says the aim is long-term change: "We're showing that accessibility can be built in from the start, not tacked on at the end. Once you work this way, you don't go back."Three headline shows, Big Little Sister, Small Town Boys, and I Think It Could Work, are part of Extant's Enhance includes a touch tour, live programme notes, and visual awareness training for staff and creators. Other shows were encouraged to include audio introductions or describe their stage setting at the start where possible."This is about breaking down barriers," says James Mackenzie, ZOO's artistic director."We can't alter buildings or knock down walls, most spaces are temporary, but we can change attitudes and the way we operate." 'It's just a different way to tell the story' Holly Gifford's show, Big Little Sister, is based on her relationship with her older brother Patrick, who is deafblind, has cerebral palsy, and severe learning disabilities."He's my big brother, but in a lot of ways I've had to be the one taking responsibility," she says. "That's where the title comes from."She wanted the show to speak to people who actually live with disability, not just those watching from the outside."I didn't want to make something that makes non-disabled audiences feel moved or uplifted, but doesn't change anything. This show is about telling the truth of our story."Working with Extant helped her shape the experience for blind audiences."We looked at what parts needed describing and how to do it in a way that felt like storytelling, not a bolt-on. It wasn't a chore. It made the show better."The performance includes pre-recorded lines from Patrick's communication aid, and Holly plays both herself and her dad, complete with a full drag beard, one of the props she includes in her touch says making her show accessible didn't cost a fortune or require a technical overhaul."People assume it's going to be expensive or really difficult. It's not. It just takes a bit of effort and a willingness to try." 'It shouldn't be the exception' As a blind audience member, this felt different, not just because I could follow the show without strain, but because someone had thought about what I might need. It's rare at the Fringe to feel that happening at ZOO Playground shouldn't be a one-off. If a small venue can pull this off at the busiest arts festival in the world, there's no reason others can't do the same.

Amanda Holden joined by lookalike daughters in sweet holiday snap
Amanda Holden joined by lookalike daughters in sweet holiday snap

Daily Mirror

time16 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Amanda Holden joined by lookalike daughters in sweet holiday snap

Amanda Holden is enjoying family time on a lavish holiday in Greece and took to social media to share a sweet snap alongside her daughters with her followers Amanda Holden shared a loving photo with both her daughters as they enjoyed a lavish holiday together. The Britain's Got Talent judged, 54, took to Instagram to share the sweet snap, although she admitted the moment was to be short lived. ‌ Amanda and her children, Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, posed for the camera while sitting on a rock by the sea. They all beamed in the image, while Amanda gazed away from the camera. ‌ Amanda donned a lightweight white dress and went barefoot, while her daughters matched in sleeveless looks. Captioning the post, Amanda gushed: "And then there were 3 … just for a day or so," before adding love heart emojis and a crying with laughter face. ‌ Fans were quick to compliment the trio in the comments section. Former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts wrote: "Gawjus," while sharing an emoji with love heart eyes. Melissa Odabash also penned: "Total beauties," while Kaniz Ali said: "Absolutely stunning you all. Sooo pretty." ‌ Also appearing in the comments section was Amanda's best friend, Alan Carr, who had recently been holidaying with her. Her wrote: "Missing you already," alongside a love heart emoji. She had shared a stunning sunset snap with the Chatty Man star at the weekend. Labelling it "my and my other hubby," Amanda hugged into her best friend as the sun set behind them. She revealed using a hashtag that they were in Varkarola in Greece. The Corfu spot was once the setting for an ITV comedy-drama about a British family adjusting to life on the Greek island of Corfu. Posting to her Instagram Story, Amanda revealed just how much she and her daughter, Hollie, also nicknamed 'HRH', loved the show it featured in. "If you know you know," she wrote on Sunday. ‌ "The Durrells... @ionianestates." The TV star also added: "Me and #HRH were big fans of The Durrells. TV show." Airing from 2016 to 2019, The Durrells was a popular ITV comedy-drama about a British family adjusting to life on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s. The series was looesely based on a true story. It followed Gerald Durrells' Corfu Trilogy, with the ITV series primarily filmed in the village of Danilia. A number of famous faces starred on the show, including Keeley Hawes as Louisa Durrell. Amanda has been regularly updating her followers during her holiday. She also showed off her incredibly toned figure in a tiny bikini as she twinned with her 19-year-old model daughter. ‌ The pair looked stunning as they soaked up the sun and enjoyed some family time while on a boat. The 54-year-old stunned in a white bikini paired with a bandana tied around her head and some stylish oversized sunglasses. Amanda looked relaxed as she lay by the sea with a drink in one hand.

Rochelle Humes shares cryptic post as Myleene Klass feud rumbles on
Rochelle Humes shares cryptic post as Myleene Klass feud rumbles on

The Sun

time16 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Rochelle Humes shares cryptic post as Myleene Klass feud rumbles on

HARD DAY? It comes after The Sun revealed how Rochelle let Myleene's ex stay at her house after she threw him out , Showbiz Reporter Published: 22:50, ROCHELLE Humes has shared a cryptic post as the Myleene Klass feud rumbles on. The former friends are understood to have fallen out after Myleene, 47, believed Rochelle, 36, 'took her ex-husband Graham's side' during their bitter split 5 5 5 5 5 Tension between the two women reignited last week after Myleene claimed her ex-husband - who Rochelle and her husband Marvin Humes are good friends with - had cheated on her during their ,marriage. Now, as the feud rumbles on, the former Saturdays star has posted a cryptic message. It came as she shared an update on her life on her latest Instagram Story tonight. Posting pictures of messy cups on a brown surface, Rochelle wrote: "It's been a day." It's understood Myleene and Rochelle ended their friendship over Rochelle's seeming support of Myleene's ex-husband, Graham. The singer and presenter split from showbiz security manager Graham in 2013, with Rochelle giving Graham somewhere to stay after moving out of the marital home. Rochelle and her JLS pop star husband Marvin have also been pictured having dinner with Graham in Ibiza. Their continued friendship with Myleene's ex, is said to have caused a rift between the two women. The Sun also exclusively revealed how Rochelle let Graham stay at her house when Myleene dumped him. A source told us: 'Rochelle was doing what she saw as looking out for a friend in a time of need. Emotional Myleene Klass claims she caught ex cheating on her with another celebrity at a party 'Rochelle and Marvin are still clearly very much friends with Graham. "Myleene is of the view that Rochelle took sides from the beginning of her marriage breakdown. "The fact Rochelle and Graham's friendship is still there after all these years has put an everlasting rift between Myleene and Rochelle. 'They both do everything in their power to avoid each other.' Myleene's shock feud explained Myleene Klass has found herself embroiled in a bitter feud. It all kicked off when she made shock claims about her ex-husband Graham Quinn. The former Hear'say star claimed that she walked in on her ex and a famous woman in the industry "unzipping" each other's clothes. Myleene said the heartbreaking moment happened in her home at her own birthday party. Speaking on We Need To Talk podcast, Myleene said: "It was in my house, it was my party. "They weren't having sex but they were unzipping each other. 'It's not what you think,' but it is what I think. It's the first thing they both said. "I kicked everybody out of the party including his mum and dad." Graham is yet to respond publicly to the accusations. However, it has ignited a feud with fellow noughties popstars, Rochelle Humes and Frankie Bridge. The two Saturdays stars are both former clients of Graham, and have remained friends with him. Friends told The Sun that Myleene's claims about Graham have caused tension between her, Rochelle and Frankie. Shortly after she dropped the cheating bombshell, Frankie then posted a cryptic video, which said that somebody was 'dead to me'. Rochelle then shared a cosy snap with Graham, along with husband Marvin Humes. In a further twist, sources claim that Rochelle gave Myleene's ex a place to stay when she dumped him.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store