Latest news with #BigBoys
Metro
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
‘Danny Dyer running about naked doesn't even touch Mr Bigstuff season 2's chaos'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Sofas engulfed in flames, a budding dominatrix and a naked cul-de-sac chase-down, and that's just the first episode of Mr Bigstuff season two. The offbeat comedy about two chalk and cheese brothers – the trauma-ridden lad Lee (Danny Dyer) and the by-the-book Glenn – is back after an astounding first run. The storied layers of how this comedy-drama came to be seems almost prophetic – Ryan Sampson moulding a character in the vision of Danny, Danny's tenure on EastEnders coming to an end, the stars aligning. Add Big Boys star Harriet Webb, as the ambitious (if not downtrodden) Kristy, to the mix, and you are onto a surefire winner. So, when the Rivals star scooped up the Bafta for best actor in a comedy, it was a victory in more ways than one – proof of Danny's star quality post-soap opera and a testament that Ryan had created a show that could capture both a devoted fan base and critical acclaim. Not that he had any doubt after seeing the magic Harriet and Danny concocted in the flesh, as he told Metro ahead of Mr Bigstuff season two. 'It's absolutely mad, honestly, and I was sat there at the Baftas and Danny did this lovely shout out, and I was like, 'What is this?' 'The first read through. You hear these two [Danny and Harriet] doing it and putting their own spin on it. And I was like, 'oh, that's quite good. That's quite sexy.' And then you see bits of it as we're shooting it, you're like, 'oh, it really does work'. I'm just so chuffed. I'm really glad,' Ryan said about the Bafta win. Season one of Mr Bigstuff introduced the gruff, drug-fuelled Lee, on the run from a dangerous path and forever living in his dead father's shadow. When he is unexpectedly reunited with the endearingly dweebie Glenn, his brother, their lives are turned upside down, ending in an epic season one cliffhanger – the dad is, in fact, very much not dead. The bar has been set high, with the grimy humour and outrageous scenes in season one and yet season two easily surpasses it with even more mental moments. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In the first episode, as seen in the trailer, Lee ends up disrobing and chasing some hooligans down the street – a scene that somehow has a more chaotic story behind-the-camera. 'Chaos was when we did the naked chase bit. We had to do it in real life. Danny has to run down this actual suburban street with real people in it, and he's almost completely naked, and it was on Halloween,' Ryan recalled. 'So as he was running down the street, there were little kids literally around the corner. And the producer was like 'you need to go now. You need to do it now. There are small children dressed as Tinkerbell'.' And yet, this only scrapes the surface of the absurdity to come. For Danny, his most chaotic moment on set was the day a bunch of retired stuntmen shot a scene set in a working man's club that soon descends into violence. 'We only had one day to get that. We called on all of the old retired stuntmen that were still alive, and they were so happy to be doing [it]. 'You know the old stuntmen that haven't got all their fingers because they've been around since the 60s and there was no health and safety and stuff. They made me look good. In fact, as Ryan revealed, one of them was Roger Moore's James Bond stuntman. 'Yeah he was like 80 and getting thrown around, bowling over tables and you go 'wow this is an art',' Danny added. Meanwhile, the storylines lean right into the bonkers tone of the show, not least Kristy's journey to dominatrix in a bid to spice up her sex life with Glenn. Harriet shared: 'I was really excited about some of the more playful dominatrix [scenes]. I was very excited for Kirsty, weirdly, to explore that and to have those more outrageous scenes. 'Also some of the more emotional stuff, delving into her relationship with her mum, and that really coming to a head throughout season two, was a really cool thing as an actor to be able to do.' To whet the appetite, Ryan teased an 'impressive' moment from episode five that Harriet executes that is 'amazing to watch'. Meanwhile, Glenn and Lee are thrust into a paternal wild goose chase that takes them to some 'really weird places'. Danny added: 'Obviously, Lee's not dealing with it very well with the trauma of his dad. Lee loves his dad and looks up to him, and it was Glenn who wasn't as fussed. 'The idea of [his dad] lying, Lee [has taken] it badly, so he needs to get his mojo back and then go on a crusade to go and find him that takes some nutty little twists.' Unlike their dad, the vibrant world Ryan has created, revolving around these two brothers who form the most unlikely bond, is showing no signs of disappearing. In fact, Ryan has already teased the multi-season vision he has for the show, provided the audience stays. 'I know sort of where we're going so we've got a few series to get to the actual peak. I want to do a slightly weird thing, which is that I want it to be a comedy which ends up with [more] drama than is normal [in a show like this]. More Trending 'We have really good actors so long as it feels real and we go really slowly, I think we can [do it].' Although in an industry increasingly defined by audience numbers, Danny provides some sage advice for Mr Bigstuff fans if they want to see this larger-than-life plot come to fruition. 'Watch it, download it, gorge on it. The whole series in less than Lord of the Rings so get amongst it and you can get another series out of it,' he declared. Mr Bigstuff season two airs on Thursday, July 24, with all episodes available to watch on Now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Major stars and Hollywood icons who've appeared in Casualty from Tom Hiddleston to Kate Winslet MORE: Danny Dyer and Louis Tomlinson among famous faces at Oasis' Cardiff comeback MORE: Danny Dyer leaves daughter Dani horrified with X-rated honeymoon confession
Time Out
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
What does an Elvis superfan make of the King's new London immersive experience?
It's a 25C evening in July, and I'm standing outside an exhibition centre in a black leather suit. These are the sort of things I do for the love of Elvis Presley. And I'm not alone. Almost 50 years after his death, the King of Rock 'n' Roll continues to inspire an intense devotion that borders on the religious. This is the bet that the creators of Elvis Evolution, the newest immersive live experience to arrive at the ExCeL Waterfront, are banking on. No, this isn't a bloated sequel to Baz Luhrmann's 2022 biopic, or yet another expensive showcase for his bejewelled Las Vegas suits. According to the show's website it's a 'first of its kind' 110-minute experience that combines cutting-edge VR and AI technology with live music and theatre, allowing superfans like myself to 'relive The King's most iconic moments'. If that description has you scratching your head, you're not alone – I have next to no idea what I'm about to see during this exclusive sneak peek at the experience. The King Lives On So what exactly is Elvis Evolution? Am I about to see my greatest idol come back from the dead thanks to the power of VR and AI? And are high-tech homages like this one the future of live entertainment or the devil in disguise? The show begins in a neon-drenched 1950s diner that evokes a nostalgic sense of Americana. This is the first in a trio of themed bars that each group of up to 160 Elvis fans passes through on their walkthrough. It's the kind of mom and pop joint where you might imagine the black-quiffed idol chowing down on peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwiches between recording sessions on GI Blues. The retro decor is good campy fun, and the attention to detail is likely to please even the most discerning Presley fan (the diner was based on Bob's Big Boys, a celebrated soda shop opposite the NBC studios where his '68 Comeback Special was recorded). The menu also leans into the world building: there are Memphis Muffins, Nashville Nachos, Moonlight Mules, and Pepsi Floats. When my Hounddog arrives, it's satisfyingly plump, juicy, and indulgent (gas station glizzies, these are not). After inhaling the posh weenie, an announcement comes over the tannoy – signalling in shrill southern Californian tones that my group is moving onto the next location. This is where the immersive theatre aspect of the show really begins. As fast as a stolen Cadillac, an all singing, all dancing actor, dressed as a 60s television executive, whisks us through some double doors and into the offices of NBC Studios (another impressive set that evokes New Hollywood through space age televisions, avocado green carpets, and far out furnishings). Here, we're given a briefing that doubles as a prologue, setting the scene for where we are in the Elvis story. Spoiler alert: it's 1968, and the hip-thrusting heartthrob, now a husky 33-year-old man, is preparing to take to the stage for the first time in seven years, following a long stretch of lousy Hollywood flicks and declining album sales. This one-off televised show (immortalised in rock 'n' roll lore as the '68 Comeback Special) is his last shot to reclaim his star and recapture the excitement of his '50s heyday. Fail and he'll enter the dustbins of pop culture history alongside all the tableware sets, bobbleheads, and novelty mugs bearing his likeness. If you saw the 2023 Netflix documentary, Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, you'll be very familiar with this episode. This is not the tragic story of the womanising white-suited crooner who died on the can. Instead, it recasts good old EP as the hero of his own story – during the moment he triumphantly rediscovered his voice. More spoilers: Elvis Evolution puts a new spin on the saga, by telling it from the perspective of Sam Bell, a childhood friend of the star, who grew up with him in Tupelo, Mississippi. With this unlikely figure as our narrator and guide, we're lead onto a time travelling mystery train that transports us back to their bible belt upbringing. AI Elvis Has Left The Building Much has been made of Elvis Evolution 's use of 'groundbreaking multimedia technology', allowing audiences to 'experience Elvis like never before'. According to the show's press run, this includes (but is not limited to) holographic projections, soundscapes, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and sensory immersion. This is the kind of language that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman might use on his latest fundraising drive. While these impressive buzzwords might be a good way of justifying the price of the £75 standard ticket – the high-tech touches I do notice, like AI-rendered backdrops and environmental scents, do little to enhance the viewing experience (giving these lofty claims a touch of the Colonel Tom Parkers). Luckily, Elvis Evolution has enough going for it without the need to bask in the reflected glory of high-tech spectaculars like ABBA: Voyage. In fact, the most important thing for audiences to know about Elvis Evolution is that it is not ABBA Voyage, and audiences expecting a fully rendered virtual concert, featuring a wiggling hologram of The King in his white-suited pomp, will be left all shook up. Instead, the format of this experience has more in common with something like Secret Cinema, and the imaginative physical environments, solid acting, and costumes are more impressive than the much-hyped use of VR and AI. When the show's main event – the recreation of the '68 Comeback Special – does eventually take place (by way of a visit to the Blue Hawaii tiki bar and a tour through The King's dressing room), it's a medley of Elvis hits, brought to life by live musicians, and remastered footage from the original performance, projected onto giant screens. Still, the absence of the great man himself doesn't deter fans from dancing in the aisles and joining the cast for a singalong of Blue Suede Shoes and other favourites (even this dispassionate reporter couldn't resist wiggling his be-leathered leg to Jailhouse Rock). Elvis Evolution is a welcome entry into the Presley Universe that breathes new life into his rags-to-riches story in a way that will entertain younger audiences and delight older fans. But for all its fancy tech trimmings, the most compelling part of the show is the original footage of songs like If I Can Dream. There's a valuable lesson here. While advanced technologies may power virtual concerts and immersive musical experiences like this one, they are not the reason that audiences attend. As Elvis learned during his '68 comeback special – sometimes, it's best to let the music do the talking.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lexington men find community at White Castle, spinning yarns and downing sliders
It's 9:30 on a Saturday morning at the White Castle on Reynolds Road, and the party is in full swing. Ten men, several wearing caps noting their military service, are gathered around tables that have been pushed together, and the coffee and conversation are flowing. This group of Lexington White Castle regulars, most of whom are in their 80s and 90s, has become like a family, and some of them have made these chats over breakfast part of their daily morning routine for 30 years or more. 'They just cuss and discuss anything,' Randall Dowell joked. 'Mostly yarn spinning.' 'It's a camaraderie thing,' said Ed Parker. 'I come to White Castle for cheap food and fellowship. The food is great and the fellowship is great,' said Jim Atkins. 'Sometimes I come for breakfast and lunch.' Wayne Tullis says he's 'the baby' of the group, at 82 years old. On May 31, they celebrated their most senior member, John Hughes, who turned 99 May 9. There was cake for everyone, and restaurant employees feted Hughes with a pair of White Castle socks, a White Castle gift card and a cookie jar shaped like a slider in the signature blue and white box. 'Ain't everybody got one of them,' an admirer called from the other end of the table. There were blue and gold tablecloths, streamers hung from the ceiling, and a gold crown was placed atop Hughes' cap. 'You're king of the castle today,' said Gail Gurney, a White Castle district manager who has known the men for years. Hughes said he doesn't know how his 100th birthday could top his 99th. 'I'm shocked,' he said of the celebration. Hughes, a World War II veteran, thumbed through old photos of past gatherings with his buddies at White Castle, including one of another birthday party there years ago. 'I was an old man then,' he said. Bob Niles is a 95-year-old veteran who served during World War II and the Korean War. He said he's been eating sliders at White Castle since he was a youngster growing up in Louisville. 'We were really upset in high school when it went from a nickel to seven cents,' he said. Niles said he thinks the sliders still taste the same as they did back then, though. Dowell said he's been coming to the White Castle on Reynolds Road for 'forever... off and on probably 40 years.' He said he used to live in a complex behind the restaurant, but he now drives over from his home in Versailles to visit with his friends. White Castle, he said, is 'welcoming to service people. It has a good feel about it. We know most of these (employees) by name.' 'I don't think there's any subject that's sacred here,' said Dowell. 'We discuss anything and everything: the media, horse racing, farming.' Ray Wedding gives 'the tomato report.' 'Every year I put out 28, 30 plants or more just to have something to do,' said Wedding, showing off a cell phone photo of the tomato plants lining his backyard fence. When his Big Boys and Better Boys are ripe, he brings them in to share with his breakfast buddies. 'They're a friendly bunch and would do anything for you, I think, if they could,' said Wedding, 88. The men's relationships with the employees are as close as their bonds with each other. 'They're special to us,' said Gurney, the district manager. The regulars always order the same thing, and the staff knows what each wants before he says a word. 'As soon as we see their cars pull in the lot, we start making their food,' she said. 'We are all just like family.' Gurney started working at White Castle as a 16-year-old and has been with the company for 37 years now, working her way up to district manager. Dowell told her Saturday he thinks he can remember her first day on the job. 'She is the cornerstone behind all of this,' Dowell said. 'They've watched me go from this store to the other store' across town, she said. When her son had a bone marrow transplant, she said the morning regulars took up a collection to help out, since Gurney had to be off work for six months. 'They wanted to make sure that I was OK to take off work,' Gurney said. 'My customers took care of me.' And she takes care of them too. Gurney said staff members have contact numbers for some of the guys in the back, and if someone doesn't show up for breakfast for a few days, they'll call to check on them. And they make sure the egg on Hughes' bologna and egg sandwich comes with an unbroken yolk, something not just anyone can get at White Castle. Hughes doesn't come in to White Castle every day anymore, Gurney said, so 'it's a special day when he walks in the store.' Hughes still drives, but not as far as he used to. He said Saturday that he usually spends his mornings at the McDonald's on Winchester Road, because it's closer to his home. But the group at White Castle knows he reserves the last Saturday of every month for them. 'We solve all problems,' Hughes said. The makeup of the White Castle regulars group has changed over the years, as some members have died or moved away. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 12 or 15 guys getting together every morning, Tullis said. 'The pandemic got some of them,' Atkins said. But the regulars didn't let even a pandemic keep them from getting together. Tullis said they sat outside during those days, and the staff brought food out to them. 'We were in our cars and trucks,' Tullis said. 'We yelled at one another,' Parker added. How did they all come together in the first place decades ago? 'It was just a couple people, and they had a friend' who they invited, Tullis said. 'It just kept collecting.' Tullis invited Dick LeMaster, 90. 'I'm here every day, six days a week,' LeMaster said. He always gets the same thing: a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee. LeMaster, in turn, invited Mike Blackard. 'I show up about once a week. It's a fun group,' Blackard said. He said he enjoys the wealth of knowledge the men have accumulated over their lives. 'They've done it all,' he said. LeMaster said his granddaughter, a University of Kentucky student, once brought some of her classmates out to observe the group. And what did they learn? LeMaster, who served in the Army and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War, said her assessment was that the guys liked to talk about the past, not the future. His assessment: 'We're social people. We just like to chat and visit., tell the same stories over and over.'
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Hollyoaks star signs up to huge BBC show alongside EastEnders actress
It's set to be a huge series of Celebrity Race Across the World as a Hollyoaks and Derry Girls star is the latest celeb to join the line-up, according to reports A former Hollyoaks star is the latest famous face to sign up for BBC's Celebrity Race Across the World, according to reports. Fans of the Liverpool based soap will remember Dylan Llewellyn as cheeky character Martin "Jono" Johnson, as he's set to appear on screens once again. Since leaving the soap in 2016, the star has appeared in a number of high profile TV shows including Derry Girls, Big Boys and Beyond Paradise. Dylan's latest venture will now see him racing across the globe with a team mate in hopes to beat his competitors, without the help of a phone or credit card. The Mirror has contacted a representative of the show for comment. Despite his TV success, Dylan previously admitted to going through a rough patch in his career. While chatting on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, he shared his near brush with giving up acting: "I was struggling a bit and I was almost like going to give up on acting, you know?" 'And I just wasn't getting any auditions, and yeah, it was just a really quiet period and I was working in a coffee shop and just grafting because that's like the realities of acting. You've got to graft, you know, it's a really tough industry.' He revealed to the Guardian that his breakthrough role as James in Derry Girls came just in time. "It was emotional, really. I was about to give up. It really meant the world to me. It saved me," he said. Earlier this week it was reported that Molly Rainford and Tyler West have signed up for Celebrity Race Across the World, according to reports. The EastEnders star, 24, and Kiss FM presenter, 29, who met on BBC dance show Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, are said to have already filmed the smash-hit series in which a bunch of celebrities partake in an epic race across the world without their phones or credit cards to help. The last series, which aired last summer saw stars, including Kelly Brook, Scott Mills, Jeff Brazier and Kola Bokinni race across South America. Speaking on the reported signing of the Strictly couple, a source told The Sun: "Molly and Tyler are a huge coup for the show. They're popular with millions of viewers from their stints on Strictly, and Molly will bring in loads of EastEnders fans too." Molly and Tyler's relationship blossomed during the Strictly Live Tour in 2023, and things have been going from strength to strength ever since.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Derry Girls star 'becomes latest to sign up for Celebrity Race Across the World' after Strictly couple Molly Rainford and Tyler West
A sitcom star has reportedly become the latest star to sign up for the next series of Celebrity Race Across the World. Derry Girls star Dylan Llewellyn has joined the line-up taking on the travel challenge on the popular BBC series, according to The Sun. The actor, 32, began his career with roles in some of the UK's biggest soaps, including The Bill, Hollyoaks and Holby City. However, it was playing only boy and Englishman James Maguire, on beloved comedy Derry Girls that saw him shoot to fame. Dylan then took on the lead role in comedian Jack Rooke's semi-autobiographical Channel 4 series Big Boys for three seasons, playing a closeted uni fresher grieving the loss of his father. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Speaking about the show to Attitude: 'Everything about it was beautiful to me. I really wanted the part and to tell Jack's story as best I could. I'm really proud to be in it.' He also starred in 2022 miniseries Pistol, playing Wally Nightingale, who formed a band with schoolmates Paul Cook and Steve Jones in 1972, but was replaced by Johnny Rotten when they transformed into the Sex Pistols. And since February 2023, Dylan has starred as PC Kelby Hartford in Beyond Paradise, a spin-off of the hit show Death In Paradise. He will allegedly be taking a break from studio sets to race across continents in the gruelling Race Across the World special, with a teammate and no mobile phones. Representatives for the show declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. The last series of the celebrity version of the series saw Kelly Brook, Scott Mills, Jeff Brazier and Kola Bokinni face off against each other as they dashed across South America. Dylan's casting for the new series could see him joined by Molly Rainford and Tyler West, who were reported to have also signed up last week. The EastEnders actress, 24, and the broadcaster, 29, who met during BBC 's Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, are said to be taking on the travel challenge together. A source told The Sun: 'Molly and Tyler are a huge coup for the show. 'They're popular with millions of viewers from their stints on Strictly, and Molly will bring in loads of EastEnders fans too. 'They are a very adventurous pair and have brilliant chemistry, so bosses are confident they will become huge fan favourites.' Last year, Molly and Tyler moved into their first home together and began sharing their home improvements journey with their followers. Alongside a clip of the couple inside their new home and in the 'Strictly' ballroom doing a clapping routine, Molly wrote on Instagram: 'Well guys, it was only right that we let you into our little home, the next part of our journey starts now @homewithmolty.' At the end of the clip, Tyler quipped: 'We've got a lot of cleaning up to do babe.' After previously denying speculation they were dating, the pair posted a TikTok with Tyler seen placing his hand on Molly's leg as they recited lines from 'Friends'. The audio they used was of Rachel Green and Joey Tribbiani telling each other they knew Monica Geller and Chandler Bing were dating in secret. The clip was captioned: 'Did you know? @MollyRainford,' with Tyler adding a red love heart and a crying with laughter emoji. Molly has played Anna Knight on EastEnders since 2023, after starting her career on the CBBC, presenting Friday Download and starring as the titular character in sci-fi series Nova Jones. While she first came to fame after getting to the finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2012 and made new fans with her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022. After failing to win BGT when she was 11 years old, Simon and his record label sponsored her to go to the coveted Sylvia Young Theatre School. The prestigious London school has been a hotbed of talent for decades, producing singers including Adele, Dua Lipa, Amy Winehouse, Rita Ora, and Emma Bunton, plus actors Keeley Hawes, Nicholas Hoult and Daniel Kaluuya. Molly previously explained: 'I did Britain's Got Talent in 2012 when I was 11 years old. That definitely changed my life because after getting to the finals, I was sponsored by Sony Music and Simon Cowell to go to the Sylvia Young theatre school. From those auditions throughout school, I got into the CBBC world.' Music mogul Simon agreeing to sponsor her stage-schooling when Molly's family turned down his offer of a record deal, determined their daughter would not become a one-hit wonder. Molly voiced her gratitude to the Daily Mail in 2022, gushing: 'Simon is Mr BGT and he made that happen, I will always be grateful. It meant I could do what I love.'
