Latest news with #AufWiedersehen
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Death Valley's Timothy Spall's 'pain and horror' over health scare
Death Valley's Timothy Spall's 'pain and horror' over health scare The award-winning actor said his leukaemia diagnosis was 'a shock' Timothy Spall stars as John Chapel in the new BBC comedy crime dram Death Valley Actor and BAFTA winner, Timothy Spall has shared his harrowing experience of facing leukaemia, revealing there was a point where he feared he "might not make it". The 68-year-old will star in BBC's new comedy crime drama, Death Valley, where he plays retired TV detective John Chapel. The esteemed actor, is celebrated for his decades of work on TV and film, notably his roles as Barry in '80s classic Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter series as well as his performance in the 2014 film Mr Turner. After receiving a diagnosis of the life limiting condition, he described the prospect of leaving his family as "unbearable". In an intimate discussion with Saga Magazine, Spall recounted the moment he received his leukaemia diagnosis in 1996, and the ensuing "horror" at the thought of dying and its impact on his family. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . He said: "I was 39 and we had three kids, and out of the blue I was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease called acute myeloid leukaemia. When I was told I had it, I got down on my knees and asked God to spare me for my family." Timothy continued, reflecting on the darkest times: "There was a time when they thought I might not make it. The only really unbearable thing was what my family would do if I went? I wouldn't be there to look after them, and that was my job as a husband and father." The English actor is happily married to writer Shane Spall and is the proud father of three children: Rafe, Pascale, and Mercedes. Article continues below Spall delved deeper into his emotional turmoil: "The pain and the horror of what me dying would do to the people I loved was the only unbearable side of it. The rest I could take. "One day, between treatments, the doctors had done tests and they thought I'd relapsed. A massive mushroom-type thing had grown in my lung. I was about to go and have full body radiation and a bone marrow transplant knowing there were things in my body that'd potentially kill me. That morning, I woke up and thought, sod this, I'm not going to die." When discussing his relationship with his wife of 44 years, he said that the pair were inseparable and practically joined at the hip. He explained: "We got married four months after we met. I think there is a lot to be said for marrying someone you don't know. I was just in love with her. She is also my best mate." Timothy and his wife, also share a love for Wales. His new venture, Death Valley, was filmed and is set in South Wales which the actor called "extremely beautiful." He said: "I have worked in Wales a couple of times, and my wife and I also went all along the coast on our boat. I know every port along the way, so I've spent a bit of time there, the coast is so beautiful." Timothy continued: "Cardiff is a lovely, very friendly, and welcoming place. We were based in Cardiff, but you are half an hour away from the most exquisite countryside." Article continues below The leading actor, who plays TV detective John Chapel, even calls it "god's country" at one point in the series. Death Valley will air on Sunday, May 25 at 8.15pm on BBC One, however the whole boxset will be launching on BBC iPlayer at the same time.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Campaign to restore Hexham Art Deco cinema
A campaign to restore an Art Deco-style cinema has of the features in the independently-run Forum Cinema in Hexham, Northumberland, have not been refurbished since it first opened in recently formed Forum Cinema Supporters Association (FCSA) is now bidding to replace the 88-year-old lights and curtains which became discoloured from decades of cinema-goers smoking in the Crump, from the FCSA, said it is the "first stab at restoring the ambiance of the cinema". Mr Crump said the FCSA formed because the cinema has not got the funds for the restoration work."They're a very small cinema, they're very local, well-loved in the town, but they haven't got a lot of resources to do the restoration work," Mr Crump said. The building was bought by JD Wetherspoon in the 1990s and the auditorium size was reduced to just occupy the first floor of the Crump said the work to the auditorium is "pretty urgently required"."The lights have been through a lot," he said."They've had decades of people smoking in the cinema, so you can imagine the state they're in. They haven't been cleaned."He added the lights currently give off a yellow hue but they should be white. Auf Wiedersehen, Pet actor Kevin Whately has come out in support of the campaign and said he remembers going to the Forum while growing up in Hexham in the 50s and 60s."A visit to the Forum was a real treat," Whately said."It was the only place you could get to see a film for miles around."The FCSA hopes after restoring the lights and curtains it can focus on the next stage of refurbishment. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Noel Clarke attends planned start of libel trial against Guardian publisher
Actor Noel Clarke appeared at the High Court on Wednesday for the start of his libel and data protection trial against the publisher of the Guardian. The 49-year-old is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles, including one from April 2021 which said 20 women who knew Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with allegations of misconduct. In a statement when the articles were published, Clarke 'vehemently' denied 'any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing'. GNM has said it will defend its reporting as true and in the public interest. On Wednesday morning, he arrived in Court 13 of the Royal Courts of Justice in a dark suit, blue shirt and tie. But his barrister, Philip Williams, did not open the trial as lawyers for both sides dealt with several procedural issues about how the case can be argued. A Guardian spokesperson previously said that 32 witnesses are set to give evidence against Clarke. The trial in London is expected to only deal with liability, and not the assessment of any damages if Clarke is successful. Clarke made his first TV appearance more than 20 years ago in the Channel 4 series Metrosexuality, and gained fame for his roles as Mickey Smith in Doctor Who and Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He later wrote and starred in the acclaimed film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, and directed two of them. Clarke was first recognised by Bafta in 2009, when he won the Rising Star prize, before being awarded the outstanding British contribution to cinema award in 2021. Following the allegations reported in The Guardian, Bafta suspended his membership and his outstanding British contribution to cinema award. Clarke filed a libel claim against the publisher in April 2022, and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in the case. The trial before Mrs Justice Steyn could be opened on Thursday, with the hearing due to resume at 10am. The trial is scheduled to last between four and six weeks, with a judgment expected in writing at a later date.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Noel Clarke attends planned start of libel trial against Guardian publisher
Actor Noel Clarke appeared at the High Court on Wednesday for the start of his libel and data protection trial against the publisher of the Guardian. The 49-year-old is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles, including one from April 2021 which said 20 women who knew Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with allegations of misconduct. In a statement when the articles were published, Clarke 'vehemently' denied 'any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing'. GNM has said it will defend its reporting as true and in the public interest. On Wednesday morning, he arrived in Court 13 of the Royal Courts of Justice in a dark suit, blue shirt and tie. But his barrister, Philip Williams, did not open the trial as lawyers for both sides dealt with several procedural issues about how the case can be argued. A Guardian spokesperson previously said that 32 witnesses are set to give evidence against Clarke. The trial in London is expected to only deal with liability, and not the assessment of any damages if Clarke is successful. Clarke made his first TV appearance more than 20 years ago in the Channel 4 series Metrosexuality, and gained fame for his roles as Mickey Smith in Doctor Who and Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He later wrote and starred in the acclaimed film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, and directed two of them. Clarke was first recognised by Bafta in 2009, when he won the Rising Star prize, before being awarded the outstanding British contribution to cinema award in 2021. Following the allegations reported in The Guardian, Bafta suspended his membership and his outstanding British contribution to cinema award. Clarke filed a libel claim against the publisher in April 2022, and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in the case. The trial before Mrs Justice Steyn could be opened on Thursday, with the hearing due to resume at 10am. The trial is scheduled to last between four and six weeks, with a judgment expected in writing at a later date.
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Trial of Noel Clarke's libel claim against The Guardian publisher due to begin
The High Court trial of Noel Clarke's libel claim against the publisher of The Guardian newspaper is set to begin. The 49-year-old is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles, including one from April 2021, which said 20 women who knew Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with allegations of misconduct. In a statement when the articles were published, Clarke 'vehemently' denied 'any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing'. GNM has said it will defend its reporting as being true and in the public interest. The trial of the libel and data protection claims is now due to begin on Wednesday, lasting between four and six weeks with a Guardian spokesperson previously saying that 32 women are set to give evidence against Clarke. The trial in London is expected to only deal with liability, and not the assessment of any damages if Clarke is successful. Clarke made his first TV appearance more than 20 years ago in the Channel 4 series Metrosexuality, and gained fame for his roles as Mickey Smith in Doctor Who and Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He later wrote and starred in the acclaimed film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, and directed two of them. Clarke was first recognised by Bafta in 2009, when he won the Rising Star prize, before being awarded the outstanding British contribution to cinema award in 2021. Following the allegations reported in The Guardian, Bafta suspended his membership and his outstanding British contribution to cinema award. Clarke filed a libel claim against the publisher in April 2022, and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in the case. The trial before Mrs Justice Steyn is due to begin on Wednesday at 10.30am.
