Latest news with #ChittyChittyBangBang
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
EastEnders legend lapping up 'unemployment' after dramatic soap exit
Charlie Brooks has been making the most of unemployment, with the former EastEnders star and I'm A Celebrity winner using her newfound spare time to read and go to gigs with her pals EastEnders star Charlie Brooks has been making the most of her "unemployment", having spent Friday night at a gig in London. The former Janine Butcher actress saw Martha Wainwright on the UK leg of her tour, when she played at Union Chapel in Islington. Charlie, 44, left the soap in 2012 but went on to set up her own acting training business, iampro, which offers mentoring and industry classes for creatives. She also took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2011 and was crowned queen of the jungle after winning I'm A Celebrity in 2012. But aside from some smaller roles, she's remained off the screen for some time, but she is lapping up her so-called "unemployment". Writing on Instagram, she said: "Joys of unemployment. Getting to watch Martha Wainwright at Union Chapel with my gorgeous friend @shazzleydazzley for belated birthday celebrations. "Having time to read her book. Martha was everything and more. Thank you x." The star shared a series of photos and a video from the gig, as well as a snap of singer-songwriter Wainwright's book, Stories I Might Regret Telling You. Charlie first appeared in Albert Square way back in 1999, and remained rher euntil 2004, before going on to have roles in Robin Hood and Beverley Allitt: Angel of Death, in which she portrayed a killer nurse. She returned to the Square in 2008 until 2012. The mum-of-one returned to the soap in 2022, before competing in Dancing on Ice, alongside Olympic skater Eric Radford. Back in January, she addressed whether a return to Walford was on the cards. "I'm going straight back into Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for a while, and then I probably need a little bit of time off," she said. "And then we're in talks about another theatre project at the moment, so I don't know yet. "I'm biding my time. So who knows." Charlie starred as the Childcatcher in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, taking to the stage alongside Coyote Ugly's Adam Garcia last year. Charlie shares her daughter, Kiki Truman Brooks, 20, with her ex partner, Ibiza club owner Tony Truman, who she split up with in 2006. But despite their relationship breakdown, the pair are still on good terms - so much so, that he lives in the flat above Charlie's home in Surrey. She also dated architect Ben Hollington for around five years, but they split in 2017. Tony had got so attached to her new fella that he sobbed when they called it a day. More recently, she's been linked with advertising producer James Fuller. Speaking on Yahoo UK' s White Wine Question Time podcast, she said: "My ex partner Ben, who I was with for five or six years, who's an amazing human being, you know, we woke up on Christmas Day together, all of us. Tony would come down, we'd all get into bed and open the presents together with Kiki, cos she adores Ben, and I think it can be problematic. "I think he probably has more issues with that sort of thing than I do. I've been single for four years, so that's the longest I've ever been single. Then I was with Ben before that for five or six years, who was just really accepting. Tony absolutely adored him, we all went on holiday together. Tony cried when me and Ben broke up. He actually cried."
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Maserati, Porsche and Peugeot lead the pack as Wicklow vintage car show goes off with a bang
There was a truly unique selection of motors on display in St Patrick's Church, including a very original 1920s Bentley, a rare 1950s Maserati and a magnificent 1980s Ferrari, as well as a rank of unique Ford vehicles, spanning the decades, showing how the marque has evolved over the years. All were hoping to impress the special guest judge for the show, expert dealer and social media influencer, Nadia Adan from Ashford Motors. Remarking on the turnout, organisers Andrew and Philippa Bailey said: 'We are delighted with the huge amount of support for the show, both from those exhibiting cars and those attending as visitors. It was an event run by the community for the community and was a fantastic example of everyone coming together to create something special. "The atmosphere was really uplifting, with the Stedfast Band providing wonderful music, children playing games, the parish refreshment tent being a central focus for socialising and the golden ticket raffle for rides in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang causing great excitement. It was also an honour to have the winning Deutz tractor from the 1964 World Ploughing Championship on display too,' they continued. "We had a remarkable array of cars on show, many from private collections, but there could only be three winners. The public voted an exceptional 1956 Maserati 150S as their car of choice, the entrants voted for a 1933 Peugeot 301CR and Nadia Adan of Ashford Motors, who was the celebrity judge, chose a 1973 Porsche 911 E as her favourite. 'We would like to thank everyone who travelled to come to the show, all the amazing volunteers and also our sponsors: Ashford Motors, Auto Care, AXA, Glen Fuels, Goggin Insurances, King Tree Services, Panda, Pension & Financial and Powerscourt Estate,' they concluded.
STV News
3 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Ice cream vans to continue selling in parks as council refuse to be 'fun police'
Ice cream vans will be able to continue selling in Glasgow parks despite a councillor's concerns for children's health, after licensing chiefs refused to be the 'fun police'. Cllr Ken Andrew, SNP, objected to applications from ice cream van firm Mr Cool to trade from stances in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow Green and near Hogganfield Loch. The Hillhead councillor was 'uncomfortable' with plans for the van to sell 'high sugar, high fat foods' near a 'children's play park and sports facilities' in Kelvingrove Park. He claimed allowing an ice cream van to be situated near the skate park 'sends the wrong message to our young children'. 'The very least we want to do for our young people is get them into good eating habits,' Cllr Andrew told the city's licensing committee. However, Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the committee, said: 'This is basically down to whether we agree that children should be fed ice cream at the park. 'Do we become the fun police and not allow them to have a treat when they are skateboarding, running around, burning off calories galore and then having an ice cream?' After hearing committee members support for ice cream vans in parks, Cllr Andrew joked: 'I now feel like the childcatcher from 'Chitty Chitty Bang bang'.' Cllr Wilson retorted: 'If you were the childcatcher from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', with your healthy options, I think they would stay out of your van.' The committee agreed to grant six applications for street trader licences which allow the holders, who all work for Mr Cool, to sell from the three sites. Andrew Hunter, the licensing lawyer representing the firm, said the council had determined the stances and held a tender process to find an operator. 'If you don't licence it and you don't regulate it, then you potentially have a free for all,' he added. 'Members of the public who are out and about have the option to use it or not to use it.' He said the company has been operating for over 25 years, including more than 12 years in Kelvingrove Park. Mr Cool, which also sells slushy drinks and soft drinks, including zero sugar options, is 'very much a traditional ice cream van', Mr Hunter said, with ice cream supplied by Glasgow firm Crolla's. He agreed childhood obesity is an issue, but 'targeting that on a single van in this particular location is perhaps unfair'. Cllr Andrew said he wasn't objecting to the company 'having an ice cream stand somewhere in the park' but he was concerned about 'its adjacency to the play park and the skateboard rink'. 'I think we do have an obesity crisis, we do have instances of teenagers now exhibiting type two diabetes, there is a problem here,' he added. 'I'm sure it's a well-managed and a well-run business but I think at some point we have got to do something about this.' Cllr Wilson said: 'I think it's a perfectly valid opinion about trying to get young people to eat healthier and good on you for doing that. 'We have to then decide whether we become the fun police or not.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Dick Van Dyke's wife says there's a 'curse' that comes with her husband living to almost 100
Dick Van Dyke may be 99 years old and leading an active life, but longevity comes with its own set of challenges too. During a "Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp" event in California, the actor and his wife, Arlene, spoke about the heartbreaking reality that comes with him living to almost 100. Van Dyke reflected on the death of his longtime friend Ed Asner and shared that they were supposed to remake "The Odd Couple," a 1965 Broadway play about two roommates that has been adapted into a movie and a TV sitcom over the years. Asner died in 2021 at the age of 91. "That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends," Van Dyke said, per People. "He's outlived everybody," his wife, 53, said. "That's the curse of living to almost 100." Despite losing so many friends and costars over the years, the " Mary Poppins" star is "still so positive," she said. "Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain," he added. This isn't the first time that Van Dyke has spoken about aging and longevity. In a 2023 CBS interview, the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" actor said he would have taken better care of himself if he had known he was going to live such a long life. He also reflected on outliving his friends Norman Lear, who died a few weeks before the interview, and Carl Reiner, who died in 2020 at 98. "Everybody I knew and worked with, there's no one left," Van Dyke said. In 2024, Van Dyke told Entertainment Tonight that regular exercise has been the "secret" to his longevity. "I've often tried to think, 'What did I do to live this long?' and I can't figure out," he said. "The only thing is I've always exercised. We still go to the gym three days a week and work out." According to the CDC, the average life expectancy in the US is 74.8 years for males and 80.2 years for females. However, the number of centenarians in the US is projected to increase from 107,000 in 2025 to about 444,000 in 2055, per estimates from the United States Census Bureau. But living that long often means outliving friends, partners, and peers, making loneliness a growing concern among older Americans. Additionally, Rose Anne Kenny, a professor at Trinity College Dublin whose work focuses on aging, said that research has shown that having social interactions and good friendships could be as important as exercise and diet for longevity. Several baby boomers told BI that they are finding budget-friendly ways to maintain a healthy social life, including taking up new hobbies and returning to work. A representative for Van Dyke did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Dick Van Dyke has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of nearing 100, saying: ‘I've lost a lot of friends'
Dick Van Dyke has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of nearing 100, saying: 'I've lost a lot of friends'. The 99-year-old star of Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang made the comments during a question and answer event in Malibu, California, alongside his wife, Arlene Silver, 53.
