Latest news with #40th
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Anita Dobson admits major EastEnders return took lots of persuasion and why she agreed to come back
ANITA Dobson has opened up on her shock EastEnders comeback for this year's 40th anniversary celebrations. The legendary actress left fans gasping and open-mouthed when she made an unannounced return to the programme as Angie Watts in February of this year. 5 Anita Dobson has admitted that her EastEnders return took lots of persuasion Credit: Getty 5 She reunited with her co-star Gillian at the glitzy Soap Awards Credit: Getty 5 She made a shock cameo as Angie Watts in February of this year Credit: BBC As Sharon was left almost crushed in the horror Queen Vic explosion, she had a vision from mum Angie who appeared in a dream sequence to speak once more to her precious little girl. Now, in an interview at the British Soap Awards, Anita has admitted that her grand soap return did take some persuasion as she wanted to ensure the scripts were top-notch before agreeing her comeback. Chatting to The Sun alongside co-star Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale, Anita admitted: "It took a lot of talking because I wanted it to be right and I didn't want to do it if it wasn't going to actually work. "So we did have a bit of chatting over the script and it just felt like the right time." She also confirmed she would not be back for any future cameos as she revealed she viewed her one-off return as a final outing for Angie. Anita said: "It was a nice way to say goodbye to Angie for me. Her return as Angie was kept such a closely-guarded secret that even most of her co-stars were unaware it was happening until it aired on-screen in all its glory. Co-star Gillian added to The Sun on the red carpet: "We knew nothing about the scene that she did with Tish [Dean, Sharon Watts]. "When we watched it, we all went, 'Wow, this is what the 40th is all about! This icon coming back to our show!' "Absolutely amazing, and I truly mean that." Patsy Kensit breaks silence on EastEnders role and begs for a soap return after confessing it was her 'dream job' Anita's comeback proved all the worthwhile after it managed to bag the Soap Award for Scene Of The Year. It was one of a whopping eight awards that EastEnders managed to pick up on the night amid their current soap dominance. ITV's offerings Emmerdale and Coronation Street suffered badly, with the Dales-based soap taking home just two awards, with Corrie only being awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award prize. Hollyoaks ended the night in second place after collecting a total of three gongs. The British Soap Awards airs tonight at 8pm on ITV. British Soap Awards 2025: Winners List Here's who took home trophys at the 2025 British Soap Awards Best Single Episode - Eastenders: Phil's Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985 Best Young Performer - Emmerdale - Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor Scene Of The Year - Eastenders: Angie Watts' Shock Return Best Newcomer - Hollyoaks: Isabelle Smith as Frankie Osborne Villain Of The Year - Eastenders: Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar Best Family - Hollyoaks: The Osbornes Best Dramatic Performance - Eastenders: Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell Best On-Screen Partnership - Eastenders: Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter as Patrick & Yolande Trueman Outstanding Achievement Award - Coronation Street: David Neilson Best Comedy Performance - Eastenders: Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson The Tony Warren Award - Emmerdale: Mike Plant Best Storyline - Hollyoaks: Sibling Sexual Abuse Best Leading Performer - Eastenders: Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater Best British Soap - Eastenders 5 Anita as Angie in the 1980s Credit: BBC
Metro
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Anita Dobson fights tears as she reflects on friendship with EastEnders co-star
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video EastEnders fans everywhere were left gobsmacked during the BBC soap's 40th anniversary when the iconic Angie Watts (Anita Dobson) made an unexpected appearance. The character appeared as an hallucination to daughter Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), who was fighting for her life after being caught in the Queen Vic collapse. Some words of encouragement from her late mum were enough to keep her hanging on until help arrived. With the iconic moment having taken even the cast by surprise, it was no wonder it won the award for Scene of the Year at this year's British Soap Awards. Ahead of the star-studded ceremony, I was privileged enough to be able to chat to the icon herself, Anita Dobson, as well as her partner-in-crime, Kathy Beale star Gillian Taylforth. In the early days of the show, Kathy and Angie were the best of friends, and their relationship is still fondly regarded by fans today. During our chat, both women enthused about their long-lasting friendship, with Anita getting emotional. 'We haven't been able to see each other as much [as we'd like], but I know as soon as I look at her…' Anita said, with Gillian going on to finish the thought. 'It's true. As soon as we see one another the memories come flooding back.' Despite their close bond, even Gillian didn't know about Anita's return to the show until it aired on TV. 'We knew nothing about the scene that she did with Tish. When we watched it, we all went, 'Wow, this is what the 40th is all about! This icon coming back to our show!' Absolutely amazing, and I truly mean that.' The actresses went on to reflect on their first meeting in years, which was captured on an episode of EastEnders revealed before the live episode. 'When we did the Revealed show, we just cried when we met again. We still keep in touch now,' Gillian explained, before revealing how they still send each other birthday and Christmas cards. More Trending Reflecting on her decision to return to the show, Anita said: 'It took a lot of talking because I wanted it to be right. I didn't want to do it if it wasn't going to actually work. 'So we had a bit of chatting over the script and it just felt like the right time. And it was the best way to say goodbye to Angie, for me.' View More » One thing is for certain, Angie's return to EastEnders will certainly be remembered for a long time to come! MORE: All 69 EastEnders pictures for next week as unexpected custody battle is ignited MORE: Peter rocked to the core in EastEnders by discovery about Lauren – and it spells the end MORE: EastEnders scene could have revealed Ben's return story already – did you spot it?
Malaysian Reserve
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Timor-Leste confident of gaining full ASEAN membership by October
by HIDAYATH HISHAM & FARAH SOLHI TIMOR-LESTE is optimistic about becoming a full member of ASEAN by October this year, according to Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao (picture). Its Minister of Foreign Affairs Bendito Dos Santos Freitas also expressed confidence that the country will meet all requirements during Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN this year.'Yes, I do believe. We are doing our best to meet the necessary requirements,' he told the media at the 46th ASEAN Summit today. He said the country is working hard to fulfil all the criteria laid out by the regional bloc. 'What the ASEAN foreign ministers have conveyed is that as long as we fulfil part of the criteria, we can become an ASEAN member. We are completing the remaining criteria step by step,' he said. First applying to join ASEAN back in 2011, the bloc granted it observer status and accepted its membership in principle during the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh in November 2022. During a press conference yesterday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia supports Timor-Leste's admission into ASEAN and has proposed a phased timeline to allow the country to meet all entry conditions. 'We are doing our best to facilitate Timor-Leste's membership in ASEAN because the majority of member countries want it to be part of the bloc's big family,' he said. Mohamad added that a Timor-Leste Unit has been established to assist the country in fulfilling its roadmap, which supports its integration into the bloc. 'The ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting will continue discussions on the guidelines under the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting,' he said. As part of ongoing efforts, the establishment of a dedicated task force on Timor-Leste has also been proposed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Consumer Stock to Target This Week and 2 to Think Twice About
Regarded as defensive investments, consumer staples stocks are generally safe bets in choppy markets. Unfortunately, the sector hasn't provided much protection lately as it pulled back by 12.2% over the past six months. This drop was worse than the S&P 500's 4.7% fall. Only some companies are subject to these dynamics, however, and a handful of high-quality businesses can deliver earnings growth in any environment. On that note, here is one consumer stock boasting a durable advantage and two that may face trouble. Market Cap: $3.14 billion Short for 'Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try', WD-40 (NASDAQ:WDFC) is a renowned American consumer goods company known for its iconic and versatile spray, WD-40 Multi-Use Product. Why Does WDFC Worry Us? Annual revenue growth of 5.7% over the last three years was below our standards for the consumer staples sector Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $610.6 million, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals 10 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last year reflects the company's increased investments to defend its market position WD-40 is trading at $224.50 per share, or 40.3x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including WDFC in your portfolio, it's free. Market Cap: $11.22 billion Founded in 1919 as Nebraska Consolidated Mills in Omaha, Nebraska, Conagra Brands today (NYSE:CAG) boasts a diverse portfolio of packaged foods brands that includes everything from whipped cream to jarred pickles to frozen meals. Why Do We Pass on CAG? Falling unit sales over the past two years suggest it might have to lower prices to stimulate growth Demand will likely fall over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last year, causing its operating margin to decline by 7.9 percentage points Conagra's stock price of $23.55 implies a valuation ratio of 9.6x forward P/E. If you're considering CAG for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Market Cap: $3.82 billion Short for "eyes, lips, face", e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF) is a developer of high-quality beauty products at accessible price points. Why Are We Positive On ELF? Remarkable 50.8% revenue growth over the last three years demonstrates its ability to capture significant market share Differentiated product offerings are difficult to replicate at scale and result in a best-in-class gross margin of 70.8% Earnings per share grew by 52.9% annually over the last three years and trumped its peers At $67.69 per share, e.l.f. Beauty trades at 16.8x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Axon (+711% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
From Powering Spacecraft To Showing Off Its Manufacturing Might, Ascent Solar Is Making Its Name In Spacetech
By Meg Flippin Benzinga DETROIT, MICHIGAN - May 1, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ: ASTI), the maker of featherweight, flexible and durable CIGS thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions that have the potential to power everything from spacecraft to satellites in space, was busy at the 40th annual Space Symposium held earlier in April. The company met with space industry executives, potential customers and partners and showed off its cutting-edge 5MW production facility at its nearby headquarters via guided tours. It's not surprising that Ascent was flexing its prowess at the premier conference for the space industry. Its PV cells weigh little, are flexible and bendable and perform well in the dark, which is ideal for space settings. It's the reason it already counts NASA, DARPA and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as partners and recently announced the delivery of spaceflight-ready PV blankets to a leading European space systems provider, enabling what the company says is an innovative new capability for making spacecraft lighter and more powerful. The company's PV technology enables energy beamed from satellites or orbital vehicles to be captured by these thin, flexible PV panels that can be affixed to spacecraft or other vehicles via microwave or laser beam. Once captured in the CIGS PV modules, the spacecraft and orbital vehicles will be able to go further, for longer periods of time. Those benefits are also why Ascent received an additional order from one of the multiple third parties evaluating technologies for receiving beamed power. Ascent had designed, prototyped and delivered an initial beamed-power optimized module to multiple third parties for testing and evaluation in under a month. This customer requested revisions and Ascent is now fine-tuning module design modifications. 'As interest grows for power beaming and space-based solar power, our thin-film PV technology will stand out as a clear solution for maximizing efficiency while mitigating the risks around solar solutions in space,' said Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent. 'As we continue to fine-tune our technology to meet each of our customers' unique needs, we expect to experience increased demand and revenue opportunities.' Ascent's Technology On Display The Space Symposium unites global space professionals from commercial, civil and defense markets to connect and explore critical space issues. Julian Miller, director of space solutions at Ascent Solar, spent his time during in-person meetings at the symposium discussing hardware developer kit partnership opportunities, providing insight for trade studies for prospective missions and spacecraft. He also explained how Ascent's technology can be used for drop-in replacements and is backward compatible with existing capabilities. Ascent's hardware developer kit program is aimed at making it easier for space mission managers and spacecraft engineers to unlock both savings and increased performance with Plug & Fly(TM) solar array hardware assemblies. Miller also highlighted the performance and benefits of Ascent's thin-film PV in orbital and planetary surface environments. During tours of the company's 5MW manufacturing facility – located at Ascent's headquarters – potential customers and partners got a peek into a manufacturing facility that will be able to ship orders in excess of 100kW this summer. Ascent says its spaceflight-proven, high-TRL solar array products allow for rapid customization and short delivery timelines, thanks to its 5MW production facility and refined manufacturing processes. The focus didn't end there. Ascent also spent time during the symposium and guided tours discussing how its CIGS PV products can be leveraged for new applications in space, such as orbital manufacturing. 'Our team is actively working to establish standard combined offerings to make a greater depth of test data available for prospective space industry buyers evaluating how to best interface and integrate lighter-weight, lower-mass solar arrays,' said Miller. 'As we continue to hold discussions with industry-leading providers of solar array structures and deployable mechanisms that enable satellites and other spacecraft to utilize our efficient thin-film PV products, we welcomed new entities to connect with us and take a tour of our facilities.' Tariffs A Boon To Business Beyond making connections at the symposium that could translate into new customers, Ascent reports it is benefiting from the global tariffs instituted by the Trump Administration. The company says the tariffs have resulted in an influx of prospective contract manufacturing and thin-film PV product design/development opportunities for investing in U.S. domestic manufacturing capability, and it is currently exploring ways to support the surge of new interest in Ascent's manufacturing prowess. 'Fabless production arrangements under consideration could enable providers to more quickly and capitally efficiently serve U.S. market demand with breakthrough new power generation products via the utilization of ASTI's vertically integrated facility and specialized machinery,' reports the company. Space Market Taking Off It's not surprising that Ascent is focused on powering the space industry of tomorrow. The solar space market is projected to reach $6.8 billion by 2040, growing from an estimated $4.7 billion in 2030. Demand for sustainable energy and technological advancements are driving the growth. The company is engaged with multiple strategic partners in the space market and says it expects to secure long-term agreements that will bring consistent annual revenue from a diverse set of customers in the space market. 'Our latest solar efficiency milestones are opening new revenue streams driven by the increasing demand to power space vehicles and beam solar energy,' says Warley. 'Ascent products – all produced domestically in our facility in Thornton, CO – are uniquely poised to reliably meet that demand in the harsh environment of space, reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency for customers in the public, private and government sectors.' Featured image bySpaceXonUnsplash. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This content was originallypublished on further disclosureshere. View the original release on
