Latest news with #Cardiff
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
From I Know What You Did Last Summer to Washington Black: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
I Know What You Did Last SummerOut now Alongside the superior Scream, the original I Know What You Did Last Summer embodied the late 20th-century quippy slasher movement. In an era defined by new takes on old IPs, it's perhaps surprising it's taken so long to get around to a reboot of this one, but it's here now, and it's a sequel, with Freddie Prinze Jr and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising their roles. HarvestOut now This dark historical drama, which premiered at the Venice film festival, is the English-language debut of the well-regarded Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, and is an adaptation of the Jim Crace novel. Set in an ambiguous preindustrial time period, a juicy ensemble cast (Harry Melling, Caleb Landry-Jones, Rosy McEwen) contend with universal themes: the march of progress, harmful traditions and the scapegoating of the outsider. FriendshipOut now Paul Rudd plays Austin, a charismatic weatherman who moves to a new neighbourhood and is initially open to a new friendship with Tim Robinson's misfit marketing executive Craig. Those familiar with Robinson's oeuvre will know that the path of true bromance n'er did run straight, with the escalating awkwardness and discomfort in this cringe comedy about male loneliness. Human Traffic 4K restorationOut now Nice one bruvva! The quintessential 90s night out in Cardiff starring a baby-faced John Simm returns to the big screen in the sort of glorious 4K restoration too often reserved for the kind of films that don't feature a young Danny Dyer AKA 'pill monster' Moff getting caught masturbating by his mum. Catherine Bray Judas Priest & Alice CooperScarborough (Judas Priest only), 23 July; London, 25 July London's O2 arena descends into darkness, augmented by dry ice and pyro, as the rock and metal legends co-headline a one-off spectacular. Two days prior, Birmingham heavy metallers Judas Priest also head to Scarborough with guests Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. Michael Cragg LatitudeHenham Park, Suffolk, 24 to 27 July Even if you're not a fan of headliners Sting, Fatboy Slim and Snow Patrol, there's plenty to enjoy further down the bill at this East Anglia festival. French band Air, a returning Sigrid and a raucous Lambrini Girls, for example, plus a stellar comedy lineup. MC Soweto KinchFire Station, Sunderland, 24 July Dynamic UK saxophonist, rapper and radio presenter Soweto Kinch hosts a special BBC Proms edition of his Round Midnight Radio 3 show, with guests including genre-bridging and Grammy-nominated American trumpeter Theo Croker and vivaciously skilful UK pianist Joe Webb, the latter celebrating the centenary of piano giant Oscar Peterson. John Fordham BBC Philharmonic premieresRoyal Albert Hall, London, 21 and 22 July Significant new works look thin on the ground in this summer's Proms, but two of the most promising come in the BBC Philharmonic's first pair of concerts. John Storgårds conducts tenor Allan Clayton in Tom Coult's Monologues for the Curious, while the next night Sean Shibe is the soloist in Mark Simpson's guitar concerto, ZEBRA (or 2-3-74: The Divine Invasion of Philip K Dick). Andrew Clements SpaceNatural History Museum, London to 22 February 2026 This accessible, interactive and fact-filled show is fun for all ages. It looks at how science is closing in on extraterrestrial life, taking you from the deserts of Mars to the icy moons of the gas giants, and beyond the solar system to see how life may exist orbiting remote stars. Folkestone TriennialVarious venues, Folkestone, 19 July to 19 October This contemporary art festival sees venues – which range from genteel civic gardens to the atmospheric port with its decaying concrete ferry terminal – taken over by ambitious, often provocative installations. Dadaist mayhem-maker Monster Chetwynd stars along with Cooking Sections, Dorothy Cross, Katie Paterson and more, all exploring landscape and deep time. Sculpture in the CityVarious public sites, City of London, to spring 2026 Ai Weiwei and Jane and Louise Wilson are among the artists unveiling new public sculptures in this annual free event that leads you on an intriguing walk through the City of London's jumble of ancient and modern buildings. There are also works by Julian Opie, Elisa Artesero and Daniel Silver. Louise Bourgeois, Robert Mapplethorpe, Helen ChadwickModern One, Edinburgh, to 2026 Three artists who investigated the body and desire are celebrated by the Artist Rooms collection, whose excellent holdings guarantee insight. Bourgeois carried the surrealist imagination into this century while Mapplethorpe pioneered the art of shock with his stunningly sensual monochrome photographs and Chadwick brought new organic truth to British art. Jonathan Jones St Albans Comedy GardenVerulamium Park, 24 to 27 July If you can't find anyone to your taste at this household name-packed four-dayer, standup might not be for you after all. Highlights include observational maestro Phil Wang, harried mum-era Sara Pascoe, inimitable absurdist Sam Campbell, apologetic old Etonian Ivo Graham and the bluntly witty Fern Brady. Rachel Aroesti Rachel Aroesti Scottish Dance Theatre: Pirates!His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, 19 & 20 July This family show is a lot of fun: warm, engaging and silly, it's the story of a daydreaming ship assistant whisked away by a ragtag bunch of pirates for an adventure on the high seas, featuring zombies, strange sea creatures, acrobatics and funny squelchy noises. Lyndsey Winship Inter AliaNational Theatre, London, to 13 September A searing new play from writer Suzie Miller, who penned Prima Facie – a huge hit for Jodie Comer. It's about a maverick crown court judge whose life is unravelling, played by Rosamund Pike. Miriam Gillinson The Railway ChildrenKeighley and Worth Valley Railway, to 7 September Mike Kenny's Olivier-winning stage adaptation has been reworked for Bradford 2025 City of Culture. Audiences will be taken by steam train on an immersive soundscape journey before watching the show in an auditorium built at Oxenhope station. MG Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Washington BlackDisney+, Wednesday 23 July Esi Edugyan's historical novel becomes an epic TV adventure, taking our titular hero from slavery on a sugar plantation in Barbados to a new start in Nova Scotia, partly via hot air balloon. Sterling K Brown leads a predominantly British cast including Tom Ellis, Charles Dance, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Sharon Duncan-Brewster. UnforgivableiPlayer/BBC Two, Thursday 24 July, 9pm Ever since his 2006 anthology series The Street, screenwriter Jimmy McGovern has been synonymous with stories about the troubling underbelly of ordinary British life – and this new drama about grooming and abuse within a family unit may well be his most distressing yet. Anna Friel, Anna Maxwell Martin and David Threlfall star. The Narrow Road to the Deep NorthiPlayer/BBC One, Sunday 20 July, 9.15pm The BBC has been buying in Australian TV at a rate of knots, but tThis adaptation of Richard Flanagan's Booker-winning novel is clearly a cut above. Jacob Elordi is Dorrigo, who falls in love with his uncle's wife before becoming a prisoner of war; Ciarán Hinds plays his older self, a celebrated surgeon entangled in another affair. HitmakersNetflix, Thursday 24 July This new series reality-gamifies songwriting camps – the backbone of the 21st-century pop music biz – by getting the brains behind songs sung by some of the planet's biggest stars to compete, writing tracks for John Legend, Shaboozey and Blackpink's Lisa. Expect equal parts musical insight and unhinged interpersonal drama. RA Wheel WorldOut Wednesday; PS4/5, PC, Xbox Like a futuristic Forza Horizon for cyclists, this open-world racing game has you pedalling around an eye-catching cel-shaded world on a fully customisable ride, taking on races to a soundtrack comprised of chill beats. FretlessOut now; PC/Mac A pixel-art adventure game about a lone musician out to save the world from a demonic record executive, who has used dark magic to ensnare all the world's bands with soul-stealing contracts. Each new riff you learn helps tear through monsters and win people to your Macdonald Jade Bird – Who Wants to Talk About Love?Out now Bird, and follow up to last year's Mura Masa-produced stopgap EP was inspired on this third album by the breakdown of her relationship with her former fiancee (and bandmate). On songs such as Who Wants and Dreams, heartbreak is laid bare over folksy arrangements that highlight her weather-worn voice. Alex G – Headlights Out now American indie rock experimentalist Alex Giannascoli returns, three years after the critically acclaimed God Save the Animals, with this first major-label album. On lead single Afterlife he makes the mandolin sound cool, while opener June Guitar is built around a wheezing accordion solo. Alex Warren – You'll Be Alright, Kid Out now Retired influencer turned earnest troubadour Alex Warren adds 10 tracks to last year's EP of the same name to create this debut album. Featuring blustery acoustic collaborations with Jelly Roll and Rosé, its calling card is the loved-up anthem Ordinary, a recent US and UK chart-topper. Fletcher – Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me? Out now On Boy, the first single from her third album, queer singer-songwriter Cari Fletcher has a confession: 'I kissed a boy / And I know it's not what you wanted to hear,' she sings delicately, like a stripped back, reverse I Kissed a Girl, ushering in a transitional record for the 31-year-old. MC Rāgas and Redemption25 July, BBC World Service Alam Khan, son of sarod virtuoso and Ravi Shankar collaborator Ali Akhbar Khan, has a weighty legacy to carry. This intimate documentary uncovers his complex relationship with Indian classical music since his father's death in 2009. AI & UsPodcast Actor Stephen McGann's series on the future of AI and its uses is informative as well as concerning. From influencing our choices of housing to intervening in mental health care, we explore how embedded AI has already become. New Economic ThinkingYouTube The Institute of New Economic Thinking's YouTube channel is full of slick and engaging explainers even the most numerically illiterate will be able to follow. Experts delve into the racial wealth gap, global debt and more. Ammar Kalia
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Welsh Somalilanders: 'I can be the one to make a change'
In a conference room overlooking Grangetown in Cardiff, chairs are set out and Welsh flags are hung alongside the tricolour flag of Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the horn of Africa with deep ties to Wales."Today is a historical day for the Somaliland Welsh community," says Prof Eid Ali Ahmed."We are commemorating the 65-year anniversary, when Somaliland got its independence from Great Britain."It is an important milestone for the long-standing community, which has existed in Cardiff for more than 150 years. "Today we are showing that journey and connection between Wales and Somaliland," the 75-year-old adds. 'Embrace your culture' Filing into the room are community elders, as well as guests from Somaliland's parliament. But most importantly for many, young Welsh Somalilanders are here to learn about their history."I think it's important, especially as the youth now, to embrace your culture, embrace your identity on either side," says 27-year-old Munirah Hashi, who was born and raised in Cardiff and describes herself as a Welsh Somalilander. "It's important to embrace it, be part of the community and partake in events such as this." As the event gets under way, 17-year-old Zaynab Ahmed is translating speeches made in English and Somali into Welsh. "I would say that I am a Welsh person, I would say I am a Somali person, and I don't think someone should have to compromise one to claim another," she who attended Welsh medium primary school, adds: "Welsh speaking was something that I always knew like the back of my hand so to come into a place where a lot of people are surprised and shocked about it and are interested in learning more is really special." Munirah and Zaynab take to the stage to lead a panel about their experience as Welsh Somalilanders. It has a big impact in the room."Amazing," says Prof Ahmed."I was so really impressed that many of our young generation, they came," he adds."The questions they're asking… the commitment they're making…They're showing they are Somalilanders, but they are also Welsh, and they were speaking the Welsh language as well."That was really giving me motivation, and telling me that legacy… will not die, it will continue." The legacy Prof Ahmed refers to is the campaign for Somaliland to be recognised as an independent country. Somaliland has a complicated history - it was under British colonial rule for 72 years, until it gained independence on 26 June 1960. "We were all very happy," says Prof days later, on 1 July 1960, Somaliland voluntarily joined with in 1991, after years of civil war and the overthrow of the military dictator Siad Barre, Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia. It developed a working political system, government institutions, a police force and its own currency, but 34 years later Somaliland remains unrecognised by the international community, and Somalia still considers it a part of its territory. 'Cardiff was the first place we found refuge' In 1991, Fatima Saeed Ibrahim, who was raised in Newport, returned to Somaliland and eventually became a senior foreign affairs advisor to Somaliland's parliament.'I'm a Welsh lass," she says, "but I've lived in Somaliland for a very long time."She says when the conflict first broke out, "Cardiff was the first place that we found refuge, we found understanding".She adds: "The Welsh youngsters now, they're realising that they have roots, they have a history, that their history is extraordinary." Overseeing the day's proceedings is Ali Abdi, a key figure in the community. "It's so important to be passing that baton down to the younger generation," he says. "I want to see Somaliland get recognised in my lifetime."He adds: "We've moved away from the generation of taxi drivers and security guards, although those jobs still exist. We're professionals across IT, HR, government and business as well."With about 50 members of the community in attendance, Ali seems pleased with how the day has gone so far. But he insists the best is yet to come."We're now heading to the heart of Grangetown on the junction of Corporation Road where we're going to enjoy some traditional Somali food – Bariis and Hilib [meat and rice]." In a small restaurant adorned with Welsh and Somaliland flags, traditional dishes - lentil soups, meat and rice, stews and chopped salads - are brought out in quick succession."This is the best part of the day, literally!" says Mr Abdi."Nice and hot spicy food. Somali Bariis and Hilib, can't go wrong."Also enjoying the meal is Munirah. "I think it was a good way to close the event today, everyone enjoys having a nice meal – even better that it's Somali traditional food," she inspired by today's event, says: "In the near future I would like to see if I can be the one that makes a change in my own country."The UK government's position is that Somaliland's status needs to be resolved in the local region. A Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "The UK believes that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Mogadishu and Hargeisa to decide through a consultative process and dialogue, in which we encourage both parties to engage. "Alongside others in the international community, we do not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence."The UK is a leading partner of Somaliland, supporting its stability and promoting economic, human and social development. For a decade the UK has been the only Western country with a permanent diplomatic presence in Hargeisa."
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Cardiff man says triple dog attack has left him with nightmares
Dog attack survivors have described the devastating physical and mental impact of their injuries, as new data shows thousands have sought medical treatment for dog attacks over the past five Newbury, 22, who was attacked by three dogs in April and suffered severe injuries across his body, said the ordeal had left him unable to cope."I'm unable to work and as a result I'm down more than £8,000. I'm also struggling with being at home all the time," said Mr Newbury, who lost the use of two fingers in the forces across England and Wales have seen an increase in the number of dog attacks on people during the past five years. Warning: Article contains graphic images of dog bites Mr Newbury, from Cardiff, was visiting a friend and her baby when they were attacked by three dogs and he stepped in to protect them."The support coming out of hospital was phenomenal, but now I'm not coping," said Mr Newbury, who has been unable to return to his job in security since the attack."It's affected my confidence, when I'm out I get funny looks because I have scars on my arms, and it makes me want to wear a jumper so no-one can see it," he Newbury said while colleagues, friends and family had been supportive, people generally "don't understand the aftermath".He said he was paying for weekly counselling sessions due to NHS waiting Welsh government said it was making progress to reducing waiting times for mental health services in the face of increasing demand for support. Mr Newbury said his experience meant he looked for what he described as "safe spaces" when he leaves his home."I still love dogs but naturally I'm wary of them. I love dogs from a distance, shall we say."He added: "The other day I went for a walk through St David's shopping centre, and parked there because I know dogs aren't in there unless it's for a medical reason like a guide dog."He said he had been overwhelmed by kind gestures and comments which he was incredibly grateful for.A garage in Cardiff replaced his car key - which was damaged in the attack - for free, while another company sent him a free watch."They said they knew how tough it was for me to be stuck inside, so that it's something to look at to cheer me up."He said his girlfriend Jamie-lee, who witnessed the attack through the window, had helped him with everything since leaving hospital."I don't know where I'd be without her," he added. BBC Wales requested information from health boards in Wales which showed 2,910 people sought medical treatment for a dog bite or attack over the last five latest data for England showed there were more than 43,000 reports of dog attacks made by health boards and trusts from 2020 to November 2024. Police forces across England and Wales have also seen an increase in the number of dog attacks on people during the past five were 32,568 recorded offences in 2024 - a 4% increase on 2023's total of 31,398, according to Freedom of Information figures obtained by the BBC from every police force in England and actual attack figures are likely to be higher as the data only counts incidents that were reported to police. 'Dogs can pose a serious risk' Prof Vivien Lees, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said the severity of injuries caused by dog attacks could vary greatly."In the most severe cases patients may require reconstructive surgery and long-term rehabilitation to regain mobility and quality of life," said Prof Lees."There is an ongoing need for awareness and vigilance. Dogs can pose a serious risk, particularly when they are poorly trained, neglected, or mistreated."Erin Evans, 22, from Gwynedd, was bitten by a dog on her face four years ago while out with friends."It's a bit of a blank, I just remember there was loads of blood and then I collapsed," said Ms left her needing four years of surgery to reconstruct her top lip."When it started to sink in what had happened, I started feeling really low. Looking back I should have asked for help," Ms Evans said. The attack led to Ms Evans dropping out of her nursing degree and losing confidence."I used to be bubbly and happy all the time, but I really struggled and couldn't carry on. I was constantly back and forth to the hospital and found it hard to talk about."She said she still experienced flashbacks and was wary of dogs, despite having three herself and being an animal lover."After what I've been through I'm cautious, but I still love all breeds of dogs."Once she had the all clear from the NHS that her reconstructive procedures had healed, Ms Evans had a cosmetic tattoo on her lip."Before I'd try to hide my lip, but I'm not like that anymore, I even get lots of compliments now," she said. Imogen Hughes, a permanent make up artist based in Conwy who carried out the cosmetic work on Ms Evans' lips, said she focused on making them appear "more symmetrical".A before and after social media post online by Ms Hughes of the work has had more than a million views, thousands of likes and hundreds of positive comments."I had so many messages that week from girls who had similar experiences, including as far as the US," said Ms she warned that this sort of tattooing could be complex."The last thing you want to do is add any more trauma to the area, so seek reviews and healed results from companies you're interested in," she Evans has since graduated from a degree in childhood and youth studies, and said she felt much more positive about the future. "I wish someone had been there to tell me it would get better, and now I want to do that for other people," she said. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story you can visit the BBC Action Line for details of organisations who can offer support.
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Glamorgan finish second as Kent earn dramatic win
Women's Vitality Blast, CardiffGlamorgan 132-5 (20.0): Gammon 69*, L Parfitt 22Kent 133-4 (20.0): Streets 41*, Barnfather 29, Callaghan 21Kent Women won by 6 wicketsMatch scorecard Glamorgan missed out on top spot in the Vitality Blast Women League 2 South Group as they were pipped in a dramatic finish against visitors won only their second game of the campaign with Grace Poole striking the winning runs off the last ball at Sophia Gardens, hosts set a target of 132-5 with Bethan Gammon's 69 not out the highlight of their the visitors also provided their own heroics as Coco Streets hit 41 not out and Poole stepped up to earn defeat means Middlesex have won the division, leaving the Welsh county to face runaway North Group winners Yorkshire in the tier-two finals at Northamptonshire's County Ground on Saturday, 26 July.
Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Iris Williams obituary: Welsh singer compared to Shirley Bassey
In the pantheon of celebrated Welsh female singers, comparisons between Iris Williams and Shirley Bassey were inevitable. Born barely a dozen miles apart in south Wales, both were mixed race, born to white mothers and black fathers, and their chosen career paths followed similar courses. Both possessed big, rich voices and a classy stage elan that stood out on the club circuit at a time when black or mixed-race British singers were a rarity. Both recorded Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth's He Was Beautiful, although it was Williams's version that was the Top 20 hit. Popular at royal command performances, both were recognised in the honours list, Bassey first as CBE and then as a Dame, and Williams, who in 2004 was appointed OBE. Yet much as Williams admired Bassey, she found the constant comparisons irritating. 'We're both dark-skinned and come from the Cardiff area but it ends there for me and my style is completely different,' she insisted. 'She is a great singer, with a wonderful voice, but I hate being compared to her and have tried everything to rid myself of it. I want to be me.' Certainly, there were differences as well as the obvious similarities. In Williams's own words she was not as 'gregarious' as Bassey, less inclined towards 'the big belter numbers' and in the view of many her singing boasted a greater emotional depth. 'I don't use half of the voice that she does because I don't need to — as I see it, I am telling a story,' she noted. Yet when she chose to let rip there was no doubting the strength, power and sheer vivacity of her delivery. Terry Wogan, who championed her on his radio shows, was a particular fan of the creamy resonance of what he called her 'basso profundo'. Her singing took her from the factory floor to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and then into the charts and to her own BBC series. She later moved to the United States but remained proud of her Welsh heritage. Alongside Bassey, Tom Jones and a 13-year-old Charlotte Church, she sang at a concert to mark the opening of the Welsh National Assembly in 1999 in front of an audience that included Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and the future King Charles. 'Wales will always be my great passion,' she said. When she was the subject of a 2002 documentary film on Welsh TV, she gamely insisted on being interviewed in Welsh. She had learnt Welsh as a child but had barely spoken the language in decades and 'brushed up' by practising on her dog Mimi. She was subsequently admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Her two marriages, to Clive Brandy and Edward Jones, both of whom served as her manager, ended in divorce. 'A lot of female singers make the mistake of making their husband their manager,' she said. 'It generally doesn't work because you should be able to go home and leave work behind. When you're married to your manager all you do is talk showbusiness.' She is survived by her son Blake from her first marriage. She was born in 1946 in Rhydyfelin, near Potypridd, in south Wales, the illegitimate daughter of an African-American GI who was stationed in Britain during the Second World War and who met her mother — who was already married — in a local dance hall. A romance blossomed but the taboo-breaking relationship was doomed and the daughter who resulted was given up for adoption. Williams spent her first five years in a children's home until she was fostered by Bronwen Llewellyn, a miner's wife from Tonyrefail, who encouraged her to sing. She was subsequently reunited with her birth mother and a half-brother in the mid-1980s after she found them via an advert placed in a local newspaper. Growing up as the only black child in her village was 'a bit of a problem', but she argued that the prejudice made her tougher, which served as an asset as she began to 'mingle into the world'. On leaving school she worked in a glove factory in Llantrisant, and when it closed and she found herself without an income her former piano teacher put her name forward for a scholarship at the Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff. She won a place and after appearing on the Welsh BBC pop music TV show Disc A Dawn, she had a hit in the country of her birth in 1971 with Pererin Wyf, a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. Three years later she won the annual Cân i Gymru (A Song for Wales) competition. Her breakthrough outside Wales came in 1979 when she had a Top 20 UK hit with He Was Beautiful, a song based on the theme from the film The Deer Hunter. During the 1980s she ran a pub near Ascot named The Pheasant Plucker with her first husband while continuing to appear on the nightclub circuit. By the early 1990s she had moved to New York, where she appeared in concert with Bob Hope and Rosemary Clooney. She also sang at gala benefits for the clinics started by Betty Ford, whose husband, the former US president Gerald Ford, helped her to access classified files to find her birth father. By the time she discovered his identity he was already dead and she did not contact his family. Suspecting that they did not know of her existence, she had no wish to cause any posthumous upset. In later years she was a popular entertainer on cruise ships, singing jazz standards and show tunes and joking with audiences that Bassey, who was a decade older, was her 'younger sister'. Iris Williams, singer, was born on April 20, 1946. She died of undisclosed causes on July 9, 2025, aged 79
