Latest news with #ElaineCSmith
STV News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Two Doors Down star teases show's return with Christmas special
Two Doors Down star Kieran Hodgson has teased the return of the sitcom in the form of a Christmas special. The BBC One comedy stars the likes of Elaine C Smith and Grado, with the most recent episode airing in November 2023. The show's co-creator Simon Carlyle died at the age of 48 in August, shortly after filming finished on the recommissioned seventh series of the show. The series is set around the residents of the fictional Glasgow suburb Latimer Crescent. Hodgson, who plays Gordon in the series, told Scotland Tonight there has been no official announcement on a Christmas special. But the comedian teased there may be some filming this year. He said: 'I cannot possibly say things I can't possibly say…but I might be doing some filming in the next couple of months I don't know. 'We're like a family, it's great to reunite as we do socially. Were we to get back together there would be lots of love, happy memories and desire to make even more memories.' Kieran will also take his new show Voice of America to this year's Edinburgh Fringe in stand-up form. He added: 'This time I'm grabbing the mic and getting in your face in a very polite way. 'The story of the show is looking at this huge thing that is America with a little bit of a silly slant.' Watch the full interview on Scotland Tonight at 10.50pm on Wednesday on STV and STV Player. 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
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's best pantomime to be honoured for first time
Theatre critics have agreed to recognise festive shows after nearly 20 years of their annual awards with a new 'outstanding pantomime' prize. They have hailed Scotland as 'the natural home of pantomime' thanks to the long history of star performers like Stanley Baxter, Jimmy Logan, Andy Gray and Gerard Kelly, as well as modern favourites including Elaine C Smith and Johnny McKnight. Read more: The new prize will recognise 'the best overall panto' produced in Scotland each year. And the panto award will be sponsored by one of Scotland's leading ice cream producers, Mackie's. The prize will be presented for the first time at the annual Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) at their annual ceremony, which is being staged in June at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. Elaine C Smith was recently honoured for her outstanding contribution to pantomime productions. (Image: Andrew Billington Photography) Michael Cox, co-convenor of the CATS judging panel, said: 'Scotland has long been considered the natural home of pantomime, from the early-20th-century music hall productions to the heyday of Stanley Baxter, Rikki Fulton, Jimmy Logan, Una McLean and Johnny Beattie, who then passed on the baton to acclaimed performers such as Elaine C Smith and the late Gerard Kelly and Andy Gray. 'In recent times, writers and performers such as Forbes Masson and Johnny McKnight have further added to Scotland's panto reputation by rethinking the artform for the 21st-century. 'Our new award recognises the breadth of talent that goes into making the perfect panto.' Co-convenor Mark Brown added: 'The judges are excited to add the category of outstanding pantomime to our annual awards. 'We are grateful to Mackie's – a Scottish company whose ice cream is so closely associated with a trip to the pantomime – for sponsoring the inaugural panto award.' Stuart Common, managing director of Mackie's, said: 'We are proud to sponsor the very first Outstanding Pantomime award at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland. 'Pantomime and interval ice cream go hand in hand, making up a cherished part of the Christmas tradition for families across Scotland.' Tickets for the awards ceremony, which is open to the public, go on sale on May 1 from the Traverse Theatre website. The new award for best Scottish pantomime has been announced weeks after Elaine C Smith was honoured for outstanding achievement at the UK-wide Pantomime Awards. Johnny McKnight, one of Scotland's best-known panto creators, delivered a prestigious lecture at Glasgow University in January on his long-time involvement with festive shows dressed in the costume of his character Dorothy Blawna-Gale, from his show The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Win two VIP tickets to this year's Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards
Forget the Baftas and the Brits, when it comes to awards ceremonies, Pride of Scotland is the hottest ticket in town... and you could be there too. It's nearly time for this year's event and we are giving one lucky reader the chance to win two VIP tickets to the star-studded bash at the Hilton Glasgow. Since 2020 the glittering Awards have been honouring the nation's unsung heroes - ordinary people quietly living extraordinary lives and making a difference in their communities. Hosted by Elaine C Smith and Sanjeev Kohli, the Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards, with P&O Cruises, will be attended by a host of big names from TV, sport, film and politics. Last year, stars included singing sensation Susan Boyle, Love Island's Paige Turley, Game of Thrones star James Cosmo and Sheli McCoy aka Sabre the Gladiator. The evening was packed with smiles, surprises, tears of joy, emotional moments and stunning reunions, and this year's event, which will take place on Monday, June 23, is promising to be just as memorable. To be in with the chance of winning the VIP tickets, scan the QR code with your mobile and fill in your details. As well as the chance to walk the red carper and mingle with the stars, this once-in-a-lifetime package also includes an overnight stay and breakfast at the Hilton Glasgow. To be in with a chance of winning either scan the QR Code or go to
The Herald Scotland
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
BBC in England understands the value of soaps. Why can't BBC Scotland?
Did BBC Scotland consider these statistics when making its decision, did it even know about them, will it be able to match these figures on its new, shorter-form productions? BBC Scotland has made a one-dimensional decision based on falling ratings while not taking into account many other crucial factors, which is why over 250 actors and writers like Peter Mullan, Elaine C Smith, Irvine Welsh, Robert Carlyle, Blythe Duff and Alan Cumming have signed a letter fundamentally disagreeing with the decommission. Maybe the BBC in England has understood the wider context and value of soaps in a way that BBC Scotland has singularly failed to do, and therefore EastEnders is recognised with a Special Bafta Award rather than with a decommission. If that isn't cultural vandalism, what is? Rob Jarvis (cast member, River City), The Wirral, Merseyside. • Mark Smith ('A message to the BBC from a child of the BBC: everything has changed and you can't fight it', The Herald, April 28) says that he thinks that the £174 licence fee has started to feel like a lot. It works out at just 47p per day, you can't even get a tabloid newspaper or a rubbish cup of burger-van coffee for 47p and yet for that tiny amount you get all of the BBC, TV radio, online and World Service. I agree that the licence fee model is no longer viable but until a better solution is found, I'm happy to pay my licence fee. Stuart Neville, Clydebank. Read more letters Stop the sham consultations Noting that there is yet another "consultation on chronic pain" by the Scottish Government ("Over 300 people die as they wait to see pain specialist", The Herald, April 26), given that in Scotland hundreds of thousands myself included suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, Neuropathy and suchlike we are now sick and tired of their procrastination. Whilst understanding the cost of finding solutions is daunting, supporting chronic pain sufferers, many of whom may in supported circumstances be able to work, would surely be a better and more productive way forward than another sham consultation which excludes actual pain sufferers from contributing in favour of pain-free professionals. We don't need more platitudes, we need a plan to examine and develop ways to eradicate chronic pain or at least improve support services, allowing sufferers the dignity and hope to feel we actually count towards our society. Eddie Phillips, Kilwinning. Disrespecting Arctic Convoy I note with interest your front page article headed "Former navy chief recalls the day atomic bomb was dropped" (The Herald, April 28). The second paragraph describes the Arctic Convoy as 'a gesture of support to the Soviet Union in 1941'. The word "gesture" struck such a discordant note that I looked it up in the Oxford Dictionary to find that, as I suspected, a gesture is "an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect". This is so wrong and disrespectful to the crews of the 85 merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships which were lost during the 78 convoys which sailed between 1941 and 1945. There were 1,400 ships from not only the Royal Navy and merchant navy but also the Canadians and the US in the convoys. In addition Germany also lost a battleship, three destroyers, 30 U-boats and many aircraft. Far from being an action with no effect, the convoys not only demonstrated the Allies' commitment to helping the Soviet Union by delivering essential supplies prior to the opening of a second front, but also tied up a substantial part of Germany's naval and air forces. Linda Gillies, Stewarton. Eilish McColgan finishing eighth in the women's elite race during the TCS London Marathon on Sunday (Image: PA) Marathon disgrace Eilish McColgan certainly did Scotland proud by finishing among the top 10 women in the recent London Marathon ("McColgan eyes 'big goal' after setting marathon record on debut", Herald Sport, April 28). Unfortunately she will not be able to run in the Commonwealth Games Marathon in Glasgow next year. Why? Because the powers that be have decided to exclude the Marathon. Some of the fastest Marathon runners come from Commonwealth countries like Kenya but they will all be deprived of the opportunity of running in the 2026 Commonwealth Games Marathon and we shall all be deprived of the opportunity of seeing some of the greatest Marathon athletes in the world competing in Scotland. On January 11, despite my republican loyalties, I wrote to the King in his capacity as Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, expressing my concern about the exclusion of the Marathon. Co-signatories of the letter included a former First Minister of Scotland, a former Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow, a former Commonwealth Games marathon runner, a Team Scotland Press Officer for a previous Commonwealth Games and several MSPs, including a former Minister for Sport. After a couple of months, I had to chase up Buckingham Palace before eventually getting a response, suggesting that I contact The Commonwealth Games Federation . I wrote to the CEO of the Federation on March 21 and sent a reminder on April 14. So far I have not even had an acknowledgement. I am beginning to wonder if the powers that be would be capable of organising an egg and spoon race. I fear that the Commonwealth Games may be facing an existential threat. Dennis Canavan, Founder and former Convener of the Scottish Parliament Cross- Party Sports Group, Bannockburn.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Comedian Elaine C Smith honoured with Freedom of Glasgow
Actress and comedian Elaine C Smith says it is "quite the honour" to be granted the Freedom of Glasgow as part of the city's 850th birthday star, one of only five women to have received the award, now has the right to graze cows on Glasgow Green and fish in the River joked: "I had hoped I would get the keys to every pub in Glasgow but, sadly, I don't."Smith joins a distinguished list, dating back to 1800, which includes Marie Curie, Nelson Mandela, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Billy Connolly. The city's highest honour also entitles her to bear arms for the city and have a jail cell to herself if she is ever will be officially recognised at a civic reception for her contribution to the arts and support for women's rights. Asked about the fact she is only the fifth female recipient, Smith told BBC Scotland News: "All I think of are all the women I know and from history in this city who should have been given this award."I do feel I'm standing on the shoulders of giants."Smith exercised some of her new rights in a photoshoot by grazing cattle borrowed from Glasgow's Pollok Park. Smith is best known for her roles in Rab C Nesbitt and Two Doors Down in a showbiz career that has spanned more than 40 has starred in her own series Elaine on BBC Scotland and has had roles in a string of comedy series, including City Lights and Naked is a regular on the Glasgow pantomime scene and on stage has starred in shows including Calendar Girls, Annie and the Susan Boyle musical, which she is also a charity campaigner and political activist, particularly on issues such as poverty and women's Lord Provost Councillor Jacqueline McLaren said: "Elaine's dedication to advocating for and supporting women, and her successful and impactful work in the arts, makes her a deserving recipient of the Freedom of the City.
