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Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dressing gown-clad Bishop who told choir to get out of his house and stop their 'terrible racket' was also the vicar at the church when a 'blasphemous' satanic-style fashion show took place
The dressing gown-clad Bishop who told a choir to stop their 'terrible racket' was the vicar at a historic church when it held a 'blasphemous' fashion show featuring satanic images. Models wearing devil horns and displaying upside-down crosses paraded down the aisle-turned-catwalk of St Andrew Holborn church for a London Fashion Week event in 2017. A former Bishop said at the time that the 'satanic' aspect of the show was 'not acceptable', adding: 'Christ's name is being dishonoured, it is blasphemous.' And theologian Dr Adrian Hilton wrote of the event: 'How is it possible that a sacred space can be used for what can only be described as Lucifer lauding? How does hosting a Satanic Fashion Show glorify God?' The show was highlighting the work of controversial Turkish designer Dilara Findikoglu, whose creations have been worn by celebrities including singer Rihanna. In a statement at the time, the church said: 'We took this booking in good faith and were not aware of the content or design before the show took place' Bishop of Fulham Jonathan Baker, who was the vicar of the 1,000-year-old church at the time, didn't comment on the fashion show and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing. But the church was forced to admit it had made a 'mistake' in allowing the show which did 'not reflect the Christian faith of the Church'. Bishop Jonathan, who is still the vicar at St Andrew, once again found himself at the centre of controversy last weekend after he told a choir to stop their 'terrible racket' and get out of his house. The City Academy Voices choir was coming to the end of their performance at St Andrew on Friday night when the barefooted Bishop took to the stage and grabbed a microphone to tell bemused performers and a 300-strong audience to leave. Social media footage of the altercation - which has been viewed more than 500,000 times - shows Bishop Jonathan telling the choir: 'You are in my house. It's gone past 10pm and this is a terrible racket.' 'Goodnight. You are in my house - can you leave it now please. Thank you, it's over.' A church employee then asked the crowd to leave quietly and the musicians to depart the stage because 'this is a residential home', attracting boos and jeers from the audience. Before leaving the choir performed one final song - an a cappella version of ABBA's Dancing Queen - to cheers and applause from the crowd. The choir was performing a special summer concert last Friday and had booked the venue, which is available to hire, having used it previously with no issue. The performing arts academy which runs the choir said the venue had been booked until 11pm - almost a full hour after the concert was interrupted - and that it had 'received a full apology which we have accepted'. Meanwhile a member of the choir said that Bishop Jonathan had been 'hovering' and 'glowering' in the wings for half an hour before asking the choir and crowd to leave as he 'obviously just didn't like us being in 'his house''. The choir member added: 'He was hovering - glowering - in his dressing gown in the doorway from 9:30… he didn't seem terribly rational.' Benedict Collins, who was attending the concert with his 10-year-old daughter and has been to all of the choir's previous performances at the church, said that concertgoers who paid £20 for a ticket had not received an explanation or apology. He told the Mail: 'It's ridiculous, they're happy to take the money, they don't give this place up for free. It's a commercial venue and they rent it out as a commercial agreement. 'It seems like the only person affected is the Bishop and he chooses to rent the thing out doesn't he. It's all rather ridiculous. 'His complaint was that this was a residential site, well it's the site of his residence and he chooses to rent it out as a concert venue.' Mr Collins added: 'But I don't think anyone is bitterly upset, either in the choir or in the audience. We'll talk about it for the next ten years. 'And If this Bishop was having a bad day then I'm sorry for him and I really hope it blows over quickly.' Before he became the Bishop of Fulham, the Right Revd Jonathan Baker was previously made Bishop of Ebbsfleet by former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams despite being a Freemason. This marked a significant U-turn by Dr Williams who had previously said that Freemasonry was 'incompatible' with Christianity and had refused to promote Masons to senior posts. Rising to the rank of Deputy Grand Chaplain, after initially refusing to leave the Masons Bishop Jonathan changed his mind and in 2011 said he would leave so he could concentrate on being a bishop. The Bishop of Fulham declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail at the St Andrew vicarage and the diocese of London did not respond to a request for comment. At the weekend a diocese spokesman said: 'Bishop Jonathan reached out to the organisers on Saturday to apologise for his late-night appearance at the concert, which he now understands had overrun due to earlier technical difficulties.'
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How to get rush and lottery tickets to Mamma Mia on Broadway
Mamma Mia opens for previews on Broadway on Saturday, August 2, 2025 Mamma mia, here we go again! Following a decade-long hiatus, Mamma Mia the musical returns to Broadway this summer. Previews will begin at the Winter Garden Theater (1634 Broadway), Mamma Mia's home from its Broadway opening in October 2001, on Saturday, August 2. The production's official opening night is Thursday, August 14, and the show is slated to run eight performances a week for a six-month engagement. Since premiering in London in 1999 and on Broadway in 2001, over 70 million people have seen the musical. Set to the hit songs of ABBA ('Dancing Queen,' 'The Winner Takes It All,' 'Money, Money, Money,' and 'Take a Chance on Me'), Mamma Mia is Broadway's ninth-longest running show of all time, playing a record-breaking 14 years and 5,773 performances at the Winter Garden, where it opened in 2001, and then at the Broadhurst Theatre through September 2015. Felicia Finley, Judy McLane and Lauren Cohn perform on stage during curtain call at the 5,000 ... More performance celebration of "Mamma Mia!" on Broadway at Broadhurst Theatre on November 9, 2013 in New York City. Tickets are now available for Mamma Mia at the Broadway box office, and the show will also offer a digital lottery and in-person rush tickets at the theater. Here's how to see it: Mamma Mia Digital Lottery Tickets Mamma Mia's digital lottery will run daily on Telecharge. The lottery opens on at midnight the day before each performance to win one or two tickets for $49 each. Winners are drawn daily at 10 a.n. and 3 p.m. Winners will be notified by email shortly after each drawing and have five hours to claim and purchase tickets online. Mamma Mia In Person Rush Tickets A limited number of in-person Mamma Mia rush tickets will be available at 10 a.m. the day of the performance (and 12 p.m. on Sundays beginning August 24) at the Winter Garden Theatre's box office. Rush tickets are $45, subject to availability, with a limit of two rush tickets per person. Mamma Mia Standard Tickets Single tickets for the limited six-month-only engagement, which plays through Sunday, February 1, 2026, are on sale through Telecharge or by calling 212-239-6200. The Winter Garden Theatre box office is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Jalynn Steele (Tanya ), Christine Sherrill ( Donna Sheridan), and Carly Sakolov (Rosie) in the ... More current touring production of Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia Showtimes Mamma Mia is scheduled for 7 p.m. shows on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The 2 p.m. matinee plays on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Saturday night shows start at 8 p.m. and Sunday night shows are at 7:30 p.m. There are no performances on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year's Eve. Mamma Mia 2025 Broadway Cast The 2025 Broadway company of Mamma Mia includes Christine Sherrill as Donna, Amy Weaver as Sophie, Carly Sakolove as Rosie, Jalynn Steele as Tanya, Rob Marnell as Harry Bright, Jim Newman as Bill Austin, Victor Wallace as Sam Carmichael, and Grant Reynolds as Sky. The ensemble includes Lena Owens as Lisa, Justin Sudderth as Pepper, Ethan Van Slyke as Eddie, Haley Wright as Ali, Sarah Agrusa, Alessandra Antonelli, Caro Daye Attayek, Adia Olanethia Bell, Emily Croft, Madison Deadman, Andy Garcia, Jordan De Leon, Nico DiPrimio, Patrick Dunn, Danny Lopez-Alicea, Makoa, Erica Mansfield, Jasmine Overbaugh, Gray Phillips, Blake Price, Dorian Quinn, and Xavi Soto Burgos. The Broadway 2025 production team is led by associate director Martha Banta, associate choreographer Janet Rothermel, and associate music supervisor David Holcenberg, along with associate designers Jonathan Allen and Brian Webb (scenic), Lucy Gaiger (costumes), Ed McCarthy (lighting), David Patridge (sound) and Jeff Knaggs (hair). Mamma Mia is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East, and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal Music Group. Amy Jacobs of Bespoke Theatricals is the Executive Producer.
Sky News
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Bishop in dressing gown interrupts church concert - and asks crowd to 'leave my house'
A disgruntled bishop in a dressing gown has interrupted a church concert in London - telling singers to stop their "terrible racket" and "leave his house". The City Academy Voices choir was coming to the end of their performance at St Andrew's in Holborn on Friday night when the lights were suddenly turned off. Footage on TikTok shows Jonathan Baker, the bishop of Fulham, standing barefoot at a microphone - as bemused performers and a 300-strong audience look on. "You are in my house. It's gone past 10pm and this is a terrible racket," he said. "Goodnight. You are in my house - can you leave it now please. Thank you, it's over." A church employee then asked the crowd to leave quietly and for the musicians to step down from the stage, attracting boos from the audience. The choir went on to perform one last song, an A cappella version of ABBA's Dancing Queen, before bringing their show to a close. Benedict Collins, who was attending the concert with his 10-year-old daughter, told Sky News he initially thought the interruption was a staged joke. "The church willingly rents out the premises for performances, for money," he said. "They can hardly be surprised if they take bookings for concerts and there is music in the hall." Mr Collins said the talented choir had "worked like mad" on the performance - and criticised the bishop's remarks. "This work deserves respect, not to be disparaged as a 'terrible racket'," he added. "The people here had put their heart and soul into it. The bishop cut them off in midstream, preventing soloists who had worked their hardest from singing - and preventing the audience, which included people of all ages, from enjoying it to the end." A spokesperson for the Diocese of London had told The Guardian: "Bishop Jonathan reached out to the organisers on Saturday to apologise for his late-night appearance at the concert, which he now understands had overrun due to technical difficulties." But Mr Collins told Sky News that he felt this statement was "mealy mouthed". He added: "I hope the bishop is well and okay. It's possible he just had a bad day. An unambiguous apology would help, one that recognises why his behaviour wasn't acceptable."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Shocking moment bishop tells choir 'get out of my house' in his dressing gown
Bizarre footage of Jonathan Baker, the Bishop of Fulham, has gone viral after he walked on stage and told the choir to leave St Andrew's church in front of shocked audience members A shocking video has captured the moment a bishop stopped a choir performance and told people to get out of his house. Churchgoers at St Andrew's church in Holborn, central London, were left gobsmacked when Jonathan Baker, the Bishop of Fulham, stormed onto the stage. The City Academy Voices choir were wrapping up their performance when the bishop appeared with no shoes and a dressing gown on. The lights abruptly went on as the crowd, made up of 360 people, looked on with confusion on Friday. Bishop Jonathan, 58, suddenly started to shout and branded the music a "racket". In a clip, which has since gone viral online, he said: "You are in my house. It's gone past 10pm and this is a terrible racket." He added: "Goodnight. You are in my house – can you leave it now please. Thank you, it's over." A church worker then asked everyone to leave the premises, which they referred to as a "residential home". The choir decided to sing a rendition of Abba's Dancing Queen, which saw the audience erupt into cheers. Leigh Stanford Thompson, the choir's director, branded the incident "bizarre" and said he had mistaken the moment for some kind of "comedy act." He stated: "I've never experienced anything like it. A lot of people thought it was some weird thing that I had organised, like a parting thing, but I knew exactly what was happening." Benedict Collins, who took his 10-year-old daughter to the concert, initially thought the outburst was a joke. He told Sky News: "The church willingly rents out the premises for performances, for can hardly be surprised if they take bookings for concerts and there is music in the hall." Another choir member commented: 'There were boos and everything, it's just really disappointing. At the end of these concerts, we always end on a real high and everyone goes home full of joy, but this dampened things.' A diocese of London spokesperson said: "Bishop Jonathan reached out to the organisers on Saturday to apologise for his late-night appearance at the concert, which he now understands had overrun due to earlier technical difficulties."
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Bishop in dressing gown tells choir to stop 'terrible racket' and leave church
A grumpy bishop in a dressing gown and bare feet told a choir in London to stop their 'terrible racket' and get out of his church. Jonathan Baker, the Bishop of Fulham, turned up as City Academy Voices were nearing the end of their concert, grabbed a microphone and demanded the performers and 300-strong audience leave. The bishop, who had also switched the lights off, told those gathered at St Andrew's Church in Holborn: 'You are in my house. It's gone past 10pm and this is a terrible racket.' As murmurs of disbelief were heard, he repeated: 'Goodnight. You are in my house – can you leave it now please. Thank you, it's over.' The incident was filmed and shared on social media, and has now had more than 400,000 views. After the bishop moved away from the stage, a church employee took themicrophone and asked the crowd to leave quietly because 'this is a residential home'. She was met with boos and jeers. According to a post under the video on TikTok, the concert was supposed to finish at 10pm and overran slightly due to technical issues. However the space was booked till 11pm. @Katiegeek wrote: 'We've sang here as a choir numerous times before with no problem! 'We had the space booked until 11pm – there was no earlier curfew of any kind. The concert should have finished by 10 (given our running order) but tech issues meant we were a little later. 'BUT we had every contractual right to still be there AND still be singing!! 'He interrupted in the middle of our last number – turning the lights off and getting on the stage in his dressing gown and barefoot! 'There were numerous people trying to talk to him offstage so he will have been made aware that we only had a few minutes left – and that we had every right to still be there.' She said there were 300 people in the audience who had all paid £20 each to be there. In the end, choir, who sing classical, choral, musical theatre and pop, walked out while singing Abba's 'Dancing Queen'. '(It) was supposed to be our encore so we started singing that on the way out – to try and leave the concert on a better note after the utterly BIZARRE behaviour of the interrupting bishop!!!' Benedict Collins, who was in the audience with his ten-year-old daughter, said he initially thought the interruption was a staged joke. 'The church willingly rents out the premises for performances, for money,' he told Sky News. 'They can hardly be surprised if they take bookings for concerts and there is music in the hall.' The choir's director, Leigh Stanford Thompson, described the incident as 'bizarre' and said the choir also thought at first it was a 'comedy act'. 'We all went out to the pub afterwards and took it all in. Everyone was in astonishment really,' he told the Guardian. More Trending 'I do find it funny. I'm not particularly upset. We had a really good concert but I think it's a real shame that we didn't get a chance to finish. 'But now looking back, what a way to go out.' One member of the choir said the bishop's comment about the singing being a 'racket' did not sit well because 'I think we produce a beautiful sound'. A diocese of London spokesman told the Guardian: 'Bishop Jonathan reached out to the organisers on Saturday to apologise for his late-night appearance at the concert, which he now understands had overrun due to earlier technical difficulties.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Thief hides 76 bottles of stolen wine in wheelie bin and flees in tuk-tuk MORE: TikTok star found dead after 'refusing marriage proposal' MORE: Influencer Emilie Kiser's husband dodges criminal charges after toddler son's drowning death
