Latest news with #CharlesDale
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Protein review – gym-obsessed serial killer bites off more than he can chew
'It's basic detective work,' says veteran smalltown cop Stanton (Charles Dale), trying to justify pressurising a lead about her love life. 'Very fucking basic,' says Patch (Andrea Hall), a London colleague who has come to the sticks because of a possible connection with a grisly serial killer. That's the narky style of this ramshackle but moreish Welsh thriller, which takes place in the coke-sniffing milieu of endemic poverty and petty criminality, under ubiquitous sallow street lighting, in which everyone's looking for an out. Patch is right about the serial killer: drifter Sion (Craig Russell) has pitched up in town and blags a cleaning job at a local gym. A traumatised ex-squaddie with an inferiority complex, he takes offence at the group of hoodlums lording it over the machines. So he hammers in the skull of bouncer Dwayne (Kai Owen) and stores some choice morsels in a freezer; an extra protein source for his iron-pumping. But Sion is oblivious to Dwayne having recently cut in on a drug deal with rival Albanian gangsters – so his seemingly brutal murder threatens to kick off a turf war. The title suggests some kind of exposé or The Substance-style satire on modern gym-culture toxicity. And with the meatshake-quaffing Sion, and an ambient whiff of stale testosterone among most of the cast, it is to some extent. But the protagonist – for whom we're ladled out a facile backstory but who is also off the screen much of the time – is too marooned within the film to fully bring that aspect home. More nutritious are the ratty comic exchanges at which debut director Tony Burke excels, like a cokehead Mike Leigh. From five guys arguing about guns in a Yaris, to Stanton and Patch expeditiously shaking down suspects, the repartee not only effectively conveys the diminished expectations in this seedy bearpit, but also squeezes out unexpected vulnerability for the actors to capitalise on. The standouts are Dale, as the ironclad stalwart hiding tragedy, Hall with her personable cynicism, and Steve Meo as the would-be playas' whipping boy, spiralling out into uproarious panic. Too diffuse and unfocused it may be, but Protein has a hotline into great British bathos. Protein is released in UK cinemas from 13 June, and available on digital platforms from 14 July.
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Coronation Street star's epic bike ride in honour of friend who died after slipping on the stairs
Coronation Street star's epic bike ride in honour of friend who died after slipping on the stairs Charles Dale, who has starred in Coronation Street and Casualty, was left devastated when his friend died after falling down the stairs Welsh actor Charles Dale will ride around Britain in memory of his friend (Image: WalesOnline/ Gayle Marsh ) A Welsh soap star will set off on an epic month-long motorbike ride in honour of his pal who died from a brain injury. Charles Dale, 62, who played Dennis Stringer in Coronation Street and Big Mac in Casualty was left devastated when his friend died after falling down stairs. Shaun Griffiths, 63, suffered a brain injury in the accident before he died in October 2024. So, Charles - who also appeared in Emmerdale, Holby City and The Bill - will rev up his motorbike to set off from Tenby to ride around Britain visiting 100 motorcycle cafes in a sponsored ride. He will be joined by other fundraisers in the month-long adventure dubbed 'Shaun's TT One Hundred' to raise money charities Brain Tumour Research and Headway. Charles said: "Just over six months ago one of my oldest and best friends suffered a catastrophic brain injury because of what can only be described as a 'silly' household accident - he slipped on the stairs. "Unfortunately for Shaun this resulted in a bleed on the brain and just over a week later his family had to make the most difficult decision ever, to withdraw life support. Shaun died shortly after; he was 63. "When you get to my age you are unfortunately no stranger to death, but losing loved ones to old age or illness, though no less painful, has always sort of made sense to me. This however was different, I couldn't make sense of it. "Shaun slipped on the stairs, something we've all done, and yet my lovely, always smiling friend of over 40 years, was gone. I had to do something, so after talking with his family, 'Shaun's TT One Hundred' was born." Charles said he will set off from his hometown of Tenby where he serves as deputy mayor has also become an Ambassador for Brain Tumour Research after seeing friends and their relatives suffer in recent years. They include Charles' Corrie co-star Bill Tarmey, whose son Carl died of a brain tumour, as well as poet Benjamin Zephaniah, also died from a brain tumour in 2023 Charles is also very good friends with fellow actor and Ambassador Craig Russell who underwent surgery to remove a meningioma two years ago. He said: "Seeing the devastating impact brain tumours have had on my friends' lives has been awful - so I'm deeply honoured to become an Ambassador for Brain Tumour Research, the leading voice of the brain tumour community and a cause that's very close to my heart. "Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2022. This must change - enough is enough." Dan Knowles, CEO of Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are deeply honoured to announce Charles as our new Ambassador. He has been a huge support to the charity, playing a key role in some of our biggest campaigns such as Shine A Light and Wear A Hat Day during Brain Tumour Awareness Month. "One in three people knows someone affected by a brain tumour and we look forward to working with Charles to drive the much-needed change which brain tumour patients and their families so desperately deserve. Article continues below Headway provides support, services and information to brain injury survivors, their families and carers. Headway - the brain injury association supports a network of more than 100 independent Headway charities and volunteer-led branches throughout the UK. You can find out more about Charles' ride here.
