
Rick Astley reflects on lasting impact of his biggest hit as he picks up Silver Clef award
'If you cut me open, it says 'Never Gonna Give You Up' in the middle,' he told The Independent at the ceremony where he was presented with the Outstanding Achievement in Music award.
The song recently surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, amounting to more than 6,700 years of continuous listening.
'I'm kind of super grateful that I am the age I am, and I started in the eighties because we didn't have social media, we didn't even have the internet,' he said. 'I think things were a little bit softer and fuzzier back then.'
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Times
7 minutes ago
- Times
The Bear's Will Poulter on his secret London favourites
When I come to meet Will Poulter, best known for his performances in We're the Millers, The Maze Runner and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, it's not on set or within the glitzy confines of a film premiere. Instead, it's in a bustling London kitchen where he's hand-delivering a taco. Crafted in collaboration with Side Hustle at the NoMad London, it is a delicious concoction of crispy pork, pickled honeydew melon and sharp shiso verde — and serves as a nod to his guest appearance on The Bear and his love of bold, layered flavours. This foray away from fictional cooking is both a credit to his love of food and in support of City Harvest, a London-based charity tackling food waste and food insecurity. For Poulter, food isn't just sustenance; it's a way to connect communities, preserve traditions and support vital causes: 'London has enriched my life in so many ways — through music, film and food, to name just a few. It only makes sense to give back in a small way where possible,' he explains. Away from the heat of the stove, he talks about the capital's culinary diversity, his favourite hidden gems, why Brixton Village should be protected and the importance of community work. South London. I've quickly come to love it. I've felt very embraced by the south and my local community. Paradise, which is a really special Sri Lankan restaurant tucked away on a Soho backstreet. It serves amazing food, working with a lot of Sri Lankan producers, and has a lovely team. Tayer + Elementary in Old Street. Monica Berg is a genius mixologist. I think it's one of the best cocktail places in the country and the snacks are also delicious. Black Axe Mangal in Highbury and Islington. There's no sign and it's very inconspicuous from the outside, but it's quietly and consistently one of the best and most unique meals you can get in the city. It's truly special. Dizzee Rascal, in Bow in the early 2000s. I would have loved to go to some house parties and early grime sets. Chishuru. Think stunning west African food served in both traditional and new creative ways. The growth of the restaurant and its impact is typical of so many African restaurants in London right now. I'd make free school meals available to all young people. Brixton Village. It has an incredible array of cuisines in one place and such a great atmosphere. It must be protected at all costs. • Get more ideas for things to do in London To learn how to slow things down for yourself. It's important in a city that can feel as though it's moving at 100mph at all times. Try and make time to take care of yourself or that can pass you by. I miss the diversity of cuisines available. Most of all I miss the Indian and Pakistani food that is so well represented here. Premiering [the film] Detroit at the Fox Theatre in Detroit with the entire cast and several of the survivors. New Horizon Youth Centre is a charity supporting young people who are homeless or unsafe, based in north London. It does vital work to meet the issue of supporting young people who are often not thought about in conversation and provisions that pertain to people experiencing homelessness. • Read more about London: the latest news, interviews and features I'm so honoured and disbelieving of the fact that I get to be on the same menus as these brilliant chefs like Tomos Parry, and work with the talent in both the NoMad and the Side Hustle kitchen. The pickled melon is a nod to my first episode in The Bear, which was called Honeydew. It is otherwise a homage to my mum, who is the best cook I know. Her party trick is to eat a habanero chilli like a cherry, so there's a good amount of spice in there. All the proceeds of the 'Tacos with Friends' series will go to the critical work City Harvest does — to re-divert food waste towards people who are experiencing food insecurity. I'd urge more restaurants to partner with them to reduce waste and support those in need. I would love to see more communal spaces for enjoying food. I would love to see more places that are in a position to donate to do so, and I would love it if more training programmes could be introduced in local communities because kitchens and restaurants should be protected as meritocracies.


Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Oasis reunion: A high-five and a hug - the gestures were there, but ultimately it was all about the music
Oasis have reunited on stage for the first time in almost 16 years - with brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher sharing a high five and the briefest of hugs as they closed a performance that for fans was more than worth the wait. After the split in 2009, for many years Noel said he would never go back - and for a long time, as the brothers exchanged insults through separate interviews (and on social media, for Liam), it seemed pretty unlikely to ever happen. But now, here they are. As they walked out on stage at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, all eyes were on the Gallaghers for a sense of their relationship - dare we say it, friendship? - now after all these years. There was no reference to their fall-out or making up, but the gestures were there - lifting hands together as they walked out for the first time. Headlines and tweets of speculation and then confirmation of the reunion filled the screens as the show started. "This is happening," said one, repeatedly. In the end, it was all about the music. Liam has received criticism in the past for his voice not being what it once was, but back on stage with his brother tonight he delivered exactly what fans would have hoped for - a raw, steely-eyed performance, snarling vocals, and the swagger that makes him arguably the greatest frontman of his day. This was Oasis sounding almost as good as they ever have. 2:56 They opened with Hello, because of course, "it's good to be back". And then Acquiesce, and those lyrics: "Because we need each other/ We believe in one another." The song is said to be about friendship in the wider sense, rather than their brotherly bond and sibling rivalry, but you can't help but feel like it means something here. Over two hours, they played favourite after favourite - including Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Supersonic and Roll With It. In the mid-section, Liam takes his break for Noel to sing Talk Tonight, Half The World Away and Little By Little; the tempo slows but there is by no means a lull, with the fans singing all his words back to him. Liam returns for hits including Stand By Me, Slide Away, Whatever and Live Forever, before sending the crowd wild (or even wilder) with Rock And Roll Star. When the reunion announcement was made last summer, it quickly became overshadowed by the controversy of dynamic pricing causing prices to rocket. As he has done on X before, Liam addressed the issue on stage with a joke. "Was it worth the £4,000 you paid for the ticket?" he shouted at one point. "Yeah," the crowd shouts back; seemingly all is forgiven. After Rock And Roll Star, the dream that very quickly became a reality for this band, Noel introduced the rest of the group, calling Bonehead a "legend". Then he acknowledges all their young fans, some who maybe weren't even born when they split. "This one is for all the people in their 20s who've never seen us before, who've kept this shit going," he says before the encore starts with The Masterplan. Noel follows with Don't Look Back In Anger, and the screens fill with Manchester bees in reference to the arena bombing and how the song became the sound of hope and defiance for the city afterwards. 1:31 During Wonderwall, there's a nice touch as Liam sings to the crowd: "There are many things I would like to say to you, but I don't speak Welsh." It is at the end of Champagne Supernova, which closes the set, that it happens; Noel puts down his guitar, and they come together for a high-five and a back-slap, a blink-and-you'd miss it hug. 0:26 "Right then, beautiful people, this is it," Liam had told the crowd as he introduced the song just a few minutes earlier. "Nice one for putting up with us over the years." From the roar of the audience, it's safe to say most people here would agree it's been worth it.


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Young Archie competition 2025: Australia's awards for child portrait artists
'This is a portrait of my dad. He is kind and strong, and always takes care of me' 'This is my soccer coach. He always says 'Give it your best shot!' so I painted him giving HIS best shot! He loves showing us cool tricks, like bicycle kicks, even though he sometimes falls on his back. His hair is spiky because he runs so fast and his face looks serious because scoring goals is serious business. I think this is the best goal he ever scored … even if it's just in my painting!' 'This is me with Cinnamon the chicken. I really love birds and I want to be a birdwatcher when I grow up. My favourite part of my picture is the crest and the criss-cross feet of the chicken' 'I wanted to show how my dad feels when he listens to music. It's like the music takes him to a new place when he closes his eyes. I used colours to show how the sound turns into waves and light. Music isn't just something we hear, it's something we feel, too' 'I chose Dan because he is my good friend Dawar's dad and he's an artist. He turns people into pirates in his paintings, makes big artworks on buildings that have nice shadows, makes artworks with lots of round mirrors that you can see different reflections in, and he is famous for his art. He is really nice and cool. He is from Kudjala, Ghungalu, Wangerriburra, Wakka Wakka, Gubbi Gubbi, Kuku Yalanji, Bundjalung – and Yuggera Countries and lives on Gadigal land. He's really good at basketball. The whole family does lots of sport. They have a pug named Solo' 'This is my great grandma, Oma. She has lived for 93 years. She has seen a lot. She was originally from Lithuania. I love that I can connect with that side of my family' 'This is my brother. I watched him cradling the tiny kitten with his arms wrapped around it as if protecting the most precious treasure. His face was calm and his breath was in rhythm with its tiny purrs. I used to think he was just a noisy kid, but in that moment I saw something else – a heart big enough to love so completely, to care so deeply. As they slept, I realised how lucky I was to grow up alongside a soul as gentle as his' 'When I was little, I had a favourite stuffed toy. I would often hug it and bite it. This portrait blends my memory of biting the toy's ear with things from my imagination. Half of my face transforms into my favourite animal – a cat. Cats are curious and adventurous, always wanting to explore and discover. This represents my way of seeing the world – mixing real experience with fantasy' 'This is my goofy brother, Joey. He's evil; he ate the forbidden peach and broke the straw brush. He likes LEGO and would do anything to get it but then he uses it to make booby traps all over our bedroom floor. Sometimes he's sweet, though. He does jobs that I don't want to do, such as asking for screen time and then getting into trouble from Mummy instead of me' 'There's something special about a box – the treasures inside, the possibilities it holds and the people who find magic in them. Whenever my grandpa visits, we struggle to throw anything away. 'You know what that's good for?' he'll ask, turning a pill jar or cookie tin in his hands like a treasure. Cereal boxes, shoe boxes, chewing gum containers – each one has a purpose. But maybe it's not about the boxes at all. Maybe it's about the love of saving them and the environment – a quiet reminder that even the smallest things are worth holding onto' 'This artwork depicts my little sister as its main subject through the lens of my own perspective. To me, this portrait is about showing familial love and appreciation for my sister. As I reflected on why I chose her for this portrait, I realised how truly grateful I was to have her in my life as both a sister and a friend. Her support and love are unconditional and unmatched and no amount of paint can express how much I admire her kind, caring and brave personality' 'In my artwork I have depicted my grandpa and younger brother, some of the most important people in my life. Both of them have taught me valuable lessons in life, like how to show leadership and empathy. Through my artwork I have tried to portray how hard it was for them to separate at the airport when we moved to Australia. We regularly FaceTime each other to show our love for one another and catch up' 'I wanted to draw my teacher, Ms Jensen, because she is kind, encouraging and caring, and I know she will continue to support me as I progress through school. I am part of an extracurricular group at my school for students interested in human rights and inclusivity that Ms Jensen runs. Here she is wearing a hand-painted, wooden pendant from the Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission, representing her support for the Indigenous peoples of Australia. Ms Jensen inspires me to be the best person I can be!' 'I owe my love of reading to my mum. She has collected many books that line the walls of our house. Despite their contents being unknown to me, they have always had a presence in my life. Here she sits and reads as research for her own book, which will be about child therapy (she works as a child psychologist). She has been writing it all summer. As I get older, I begin to steal all her old books and read them for myself' 'I decided to paint a self-portrait as a tribute to myself and my strength. My bedroom is a representation of me and all the factors that contribute to who I am today, including pictures of my friends and memories pinned on my walls. Our spaces are a reflection of our minds, and the walls behind me offer a look into my personality' 'Brahmi is a drawing of one of my best friends who was in the grade above me at school. I have chosen to make her the focus of this piece as she is the first of my friends to go off to university. I wanted to find a way to show her how much I will miss her during my last year of high school, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do just that' 'I have chosen to depict my grandad in this portrait. I chose him because he is a great supporter of my art. I love how he would crack jokes and give me life advice when I was facing a problem. He's always been there for me, and I wanted to encapsulate his warmth and wisdom in one of my artworks' 'I have chosen to depict my mum and her younger self in this portrait. Over the years, she's faced many challenges that have left lasting impacts on her, both physically and mentally. She was once a beautician and developed a sickness that changed her appearance. She also had an operation in order to give birth to me. Without her, I would not be in this world right now. I am very grateful for the care and love that she has nurtured me with' 'What does a mother's love look like? Is it the warmth of her smile, the softness of her eyes, or the way she always turns back to make sure you're still there? This is my mum, Monette, drawn in the glow of a bustling street. The world blurs behind her into passing figures and neon lights, but she remains radiant, her endless kindness an anchor and a guide for my family. This portrait reflects of the love that shapes me – a love that needs no words to be felt'