Latest news with #EasterBankHoliday
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Heist film starring British acting royalty now streaming on Prime but fans all say the same thing
Although the movie's cast is dotted with acting royalty as well as thrilling source material, the film failed to make an impact — both commercially and critically. Directed by James March, King of Thieves is a 2018 British heist film based on a true story. Co-written by Joe Penhall, Duncan Campbell, and Mark Seal, the movie depicts the real-life events of the Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary — a heist that was executed over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in April 2015 by a group of experienced elderly thieves. Starring acting heavyweights like Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Francesca Annis, Charlie Cox, Jim Broadbent, Paul Whitehouse and Ray Winstone — the true crime movie follows a gang of retired criminals (and one young-blooded alarms expert). The group plans and executes a daring robbery in London's jewellery district during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. However, greed quickly turns their last hurrah into a collapsing nightmare. Although the movie's cast is dotted with acting royalty as well as thrilling source material, King of Thieves failed to make an impact — both commercially and critically. According to Box Office Mojo, the film garnered only $7,518 domestically in the United States and Canada, of which $3,502 was earned during the opening weekend. The movie grossed approximately $11.5 million at the worldwide box-office. Most of its scenes were filmed in central London and around Margate in Kent, featuring locations such as the Wig and Pen Pub, the Nayland Rock Hotel, Harbour Arm, the area outside Turner Contemporary, and Margate railway station. Abbott's Cliff in Dover is also visible in the train scene where Brian Reader (Michael Caine) travels to Margate. With a 31 per cent review rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie didn't manage to make too many waves. Critics and audiences were left unimpressed with the film's execution, with one reviewer writing: 'The Hatton Gardens heist was a ballsy operation. You can't say the same about King of Thieves.' Another critic said: 'King of Thieves really should have delivered way more cinematic swag than it does.' While one wrote: 'Torn between jaunty genre hijinks and a bleaker streak of realism, it's a strangely stiff, lethargic account of a cracking tale.' A harsh critical review of the film said: 'There is one joke in King of Thieves, and it's that the thieves are old. That's it—that's the whole movie,' while another one said: 'Marsh had his hands on some very fancy jewels. What he didn't have, sadly, was the script to make them gleam.' Audiences were left disappointed as well, with one viewer saying: 'Passes the time but little else. Tries hard to be both a comedy and a thriller but doesn't really succeed at either. For such a daring burglary, this could have surely been done a lot better.' Another audience review compared the film to the botched heist and wrote: 'Based on a real account of a robbery in London and featuring a superb all British cast. Very much like the botched heist, the plot here is in shambles all over the place.' Yet another viewer couldn't hide their disappointment and said: 'It's poorly written. The heist isn't that exciting. The humour isn't funny.' While one viewer added: 'Not a gripping tale. At times the audience were laughing - was this supposed to be a comedy??? Difficult to remember the names of the was who?" They further said: "Undoubtedly the royalty of British male actors but the story was weak. It could have been much better if there was character and story development of the Police activity pitted against the perpetrators. Shame - not worth a look.'
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Heist film starring acting royalty now on Amazon Prime but fans say same thing
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Directed by James March, King of Thieves is a 2018 British crime film inspired by true events. The screenplay, penned by Joe Penhall, Duncan Campbell, and Mark Seal, brings to life the notorious Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary - a heist carried out over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in April 2015 by a band of seasoned elderly criminals. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Francesca Annis, Charlie Cox, Jim Broadbent, Paul Whitehouse and Ray Winstone. It tells the tale of a group of retired crooks (and one young alarms expert) who plan and pull off a daring robbery in London's jewellery quarter during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. However, their final big score quickly descends into chaos as greed takes hold. Despite its stellar cast and gripping real-life story, King of Thieves failed to make a significant impact either commercially or critically. Box Office Mojo reports that the film only raked in $7,518 domestically in the United States and Canada, with just $3,502 earned during its opening weekend. Globally, the film grossed around $11.5 million at the box office, reports the Daily Record. The film's scenes were predominantly shot in central London and around Margate in Kent, showcasing venues like the Wig and Pen Pub, the Nayland Rock Hotel, Harbour Arm, outside Turner Contemporary, and Margate railway station. Additionally, one can spot Abbott's Cliff in Dover during the train sequence when Brian Reader (played by Michael Caine) heads to Margate. (Image: Publicity Picture) Despite its cinematic setting, the movie didn't quite stir up a storm, settling for a 31 per cent review score on Rotten Tomatoes. Both critics and audiences seemed underwhelmed by how the film was brought to life. Echoing the sentiment, a critic wrote: "The Hatton Gardens heist was a ballsy operation. You can't say the same about King of Thieves." Another reviewer pointed out: "King of Thieves really should have delivered way more cinematic swag than it does." Meanwhile, a commentator dissected the film's tone: "Torn between jaunty genre hijinks and a bleaker streak of realism, it's a strangely stiff, lethargic account of a cracking tale." The stinging critiques continued with a reviewer saying: "There is one joke in King of Thieves, and it's that the thieves are old. That's it-that's the whole movie," while another lamented: "Marsh had his hands on some very fancy jewels. What he didn't have, sadly, was the script to make them gleam." The audience feedback was similarly tepid, with one viewer saying: "Passes the time but little else. Tries hard to be both a comedy and a thriller but doesn't really succeed at either. For such a daring burglary, this could have surely been done a lot better." Another cinema-goer likened the film to the bungled robbery it portrays, adding: "Based on a real account of a robbery in London and featuring a superb all British cast. Very much like the botched heist, the plot here is in shambles all over the place." A different viewer didn't mince their words expressing their disappointment, saying: "It's poorly written. The heist isn't that exciting. The humour isn't funny." Meanwhile, another audience member remarked: "Not a gripping tale. At times the audience were laughing - was this supposed to be a comedy? ? ? Difficult to remember the names of the was who? "Undoubtedly the royalty of British male actors but the story was weak. It could have been much better if there was character and story development of the Police activity pitted against the perpetrators. Shame - not worth a look."
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
How to tell the difference between hay fever a cold or Covid
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. These are the common symptoms of each that you should know about 🤧 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A leading pharmacist has urged people not to ignore symptoms of hay fever. Symptoms of hay fever are similar to both summer colds and Covid. Covid cases have been rising since the Easter Bank Holiday. Well Pharmacy outlines the key symptoms and how to tell the difference. A leading pharmacist is urging people not to ignore these common symptoms of hay fever - because they could be early signs of something much worse. With the UK enjoying a week-long warm spell, the rising temperatures combined with increased pollen has caused misery for the estimated 16 million of us who live with hay fever. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Common symptoms can include a blocked nose, often accompanied with sneezing and a sore throat. But, while antihistamines can help keep the worst of hay fever at bay, these symptoms are similar to that of summer colds and Covid, Covid cases have been rising since the Easter bank holiday, with NHS England reporting 1,233 cases up to April 29, up 5.5% or 64 cases on the previous week. There were also 61 deaths associated with Covid, up 10, over the same period. The percentage of people testing positive for Covid was at 5.74% up to May 2, more than double the 2.32% recorded on January 1 this year. The common symptoms that could be a sign of hay fever, a cold or even Covid as cases continue to rise. | Pexels, Brandon Nickerson Well Pharmacy's Deputy Superintendent George Sandhu says it is important for people to distinguish between the three conditions so they can seek out the best treatment to help them feel better. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Over spring and summer as people mix more frequently with friends, there is the possibility that colds and Covid spread more easily. 'Hay fever will always affect people however if they take their allergy medication just a week before pollen increases, they could feel a marked improvement in their symptoms. 'Well Pharmacy can help those suffering with a cold through the use of decongestants and a variety of products that ensure patients are feeling back to their best as soon as possible. Our pharmacists are trained to ensure that they can help patients no matter their medical issue be it Covid, the common cold or hay fever.' What are the symptoms of Covid? If you have a blocked nose, continuous cough and chills, it could be Covid. Similar to hay fever, early symptoms can include a runny or blocked nose or a sore throat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Covid can be detected using Covid tests, which have remained in use since the pandemic brought the world to a halt in 2020. But, if relying on a home test, it is important to check if it is still in date. When suffering from Covid it is recommended that patients get lots of rest and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If the cough becomes severe and painful, the NHS recommends having a teaspoon of honey to soothe the throat. It is also advised to open a window to help with breathlessness. Covid spring boosters are still available through the spring booster vaccine programme for those who are aged over 75 or those who are immunosuppressed. As of last week, more than three million people in England had received a spring Covid booster - 2.4 million of those were pensioners aged over 75. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are the symptoms of hay fever? If you have puffy itchy eyes, a blocked or runny nose and sneezing, this means it could be hay fever. Hay fever affects one in four Brits, leaving sufferers with coughs, sneezes and puffy eyes. It is an inflammation of the nasal lining caused by an allergic reaction to allergens in the air, including pollen, dust and pet hair. Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes although it is advised to avoid itching the eye area because this increases the need to be scratched. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are the symptoms of a cold? If you have a blocked or runny nose, a phlegm producing cough and a hoarse voice, this means it could be a cold. A common cold presents itself with the same early symptoms of hay fever and Covid. Over a period of two or three days, symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose and cough, alongside feeling generally unwell are to be expected. Some people may also begin to notice their voice going hoarse. While a cold differs from Covid, the recommendation for rest and hydration is the same as well as ensuring to soothe the throat using honey. If patients suffer from a blocked nose, it is recommended to breathe in steam to ease the tension - this can be done by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Products such as decongestant nasal sprays can be used alongside medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen to help ease aches and lower a potential temperature. 🧪 Boots COVID-19 Test Kits While free testing is no longer widely available, Boots continues to offer a range of COVID-19 lateral flow kits for home use, with results in under 30 minutes. They're available individually or in multipacks, with options for general use, travel, or workplace settings.
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
How to tell the difference between hay fever a cold or Covid
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. These are the common symptoms of each that you should know about 🤧 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A leading pharmacist has urged people not to ignore symptoms of hay fever. Symptoms of hay fever are similar to both summer colds and Covid. Covid cases have been rising since the Easter Bank Holiday. Well Pharmacy outlines the key symptoms and how to tell the difference. A leading pharmacist is urging people not to ignore these common symptoms of hay fever - because they could be early signs of something much worse. With the UK enjoying a week-long warm spell, the rising temperatures combined with increased pollen has caused misery for the estimated 16 million of us who live with hay fever. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Common symptoms can include a blocked nose, often accompanied with sneezing and a sore throat. But, while antihistamines can help keep the worst of hay fever at bay, these symptoms are similar to that of summer colds and Covid, Covid cases have been rising since the Easter bank holiday, with NHS England reporting 1,233 cases up to April 29, up 5.5% or 64 cases on the previous week. There were also 61 deaths associated with Covid, up 10, over the same period. The percentage of people testing positive for Covid was at 5.74% up to May 2, more than double the 2.32% recorded on January 1 this year. The common symptoms that could be a sign of hay fever, a cold or even Covid as cases continue to rise. | Pexels, Brandon Nickerson Well Pharmacy's Deputy Superintendent George Sandhu says it is important for people to distinguish between the three conditions so they can seek out the best treatment to help them feel better. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Over spring and summer as people mix more frequently with friends, there is the possibility that colds and Covid spread more easily. 'Hay fever will always affect people however if they take their allergy medication just a week before pollen increases, they could feel a marked improvement in their symptoms. 'Well Pharmacy can help those suffering with a cold through the use of decongestants and a variety of products that ensure patients are feeling back to their best as soon as possible. Our pharmacists are trained to ensure that they can help patients no matter their medical issue be it Covid, the common cold or hay fever.' What are the symptoms of Covid? If you have a blocked nose, continuous cough and chills, it could be Covid. Similar to hay fever, early symptoms can include a runny or blocked nose or a sore throat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Covid can be detected using Covid tests, which have remained in use since the pandemic brought the world to a halt in 2020. But, if relying on a home test, it is important to check if it is still in date. When suffering from Covid it is recommended that patients get lots of rest and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If the cough becomes severe and painful, the NHS recommends having a teaspoon of honey to soothe the throat. It is also advised to open a window to help with breathlessness. Covid spring boosters are still available through the spring booster vaccine programme for those who are aged over 75 or those who are immunosuppressed. As of last week, more than three million people in England had received a spring Covid booster - 2.4 million of those were pensioners aged over 75. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are the symptoms of hay fever? If you have puffy itchy eyes, a blocked or runny nose and sneezing, this means it could be hay fever. Hay fever affects one in four Brits, leaving sufferers with coughs, sneezes and puffy eyes. It is an inflammation of the nasal lining caused by an allergic reaction to allergens in the air, including pollen, dust and pet hair. Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes although it is advised to avoid itching the eye area because this increases the need to be scratched. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are the symptoms of a cold? If you have a blocked or runny nose, a phlegm producing cough and a hoarse voice, this means it could be a cold. A common cold presents itself with the same early symptoms of hay fever and Covid. Over a period of two or three days, symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose and cough, alongside feeling generally unwell are to be expected. Some people may also begin to notice their voice going hoarse. While a cold differs from Covid, the recommendation for rest and hydration is the same as well as ensuring to soothe the throat using honey. If patients suffer from a blocked nose, it is recommended to breathe in steam to ease the tension - this can be done by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Products such as decongestant nasal sprays can be used alongside medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen to help ease aches and lower a potential temperature. 🧪 Boots COVID-19 Test Kits While free testing is no longer widely available, Boots continues to offer a range of COVID-19 lateral flow kits for home use, with results in under 30 minutes. They're available individually or in multipacks, with options for general use, travel, or workplace settings. If you have a health story to share with us, we'd love to hear from you. You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Number of people caught by Gardaí driving while on mobile phones has soared
The number of people caught by Gardaí driving while on their mobile phones has soared. A total of 59,602 drivers were prosecuted for the deadly offence over the last three years, the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has revealed. Last year 21,888 were caught and fined for using their phone while behind the wheel - 2,782 more than 2023. And so far this year with only four months gone 6,073 have been found to be either illegally chattering away or texting while driving. The data was disclosed by the Minister in response to parliamentary questions from Padraig O'Sullivan TD. Minister O'Callaghan warned drivers to stop using a mobile phone behind the wheel because it can have deadly consequences. He said; "The message from An Garda Siochana is very clear. Driving while on your phone distracts the driver and takes both their eyes and full attention away from the road. "This is highly dangerous and potentially life threatening for drivers and other road users. "Over the recent Easter Bank Holiday weekend 225 fixed charge offences were issued to drivers using mobile phones while driving, 73 were issued for no seatbelt and over 10 notices were issued to unaccompanied learner drivers. "Every frontline Garda member now has a mobility device which is essentially a mobile phone that allows them to access a number of specialised Garda apps at the roadside. "These include the ability to issue a Fixed Charge Notice, to check a vehicle's insurance status, if a vehicle is taxed and whether a driver is disqualified. "These tasks can now be done within moments without the need to return to the station making much better use of their time." He also confirmed that the Gardai now have more unmarked cars and motorbikes out on the roads than ever before as part of the national road safety clampdown. He said 18609 were given fixed notice charges for driving while holding a mobile phone in 2022, 19,106 in 2023, 21,888 in 2024 and 6,0774 up until March 31 this year.
