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West Australian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
What to Watch: The Survivors, Stick, This City Is Ours, Lego Masters and Guy Mont Spelling Bee
There has been a plethora of book-to-TV adaptations hitting screens of late. Some have been incredibly watchable (Boy Swallows Universe), some have missed the mark (hello series two of Nine Perfect Strangers). This one, based on the book by Jane Harper, will be hoping to land with audiences — and if the trailer is anything to go by, then viewers can certainly expect a twisty-turny tale. It sees The Rings Of Power star Charlie Vickers playing a young man, Kieran Elliott, haunted by events that shaped his life some 15 years earlier, when a storm took the lives of two boys close to him. He survived and is haunted by what happened, still wrestling with his complex survivor guilt as he revisits his childhood home with partner Mia (played by Yerin Ha), who also grew up in the town. Almost as soon as they land back in the tiny Tasmanian town they once called home, a body washes up on the shore, and as events unfold, it begins to look increasingly as though the death is connected to the devastating events that happened all those years ago and the death of another girl they all grew up with. Shot in Tasmania and produced by the award-winning team at Tony Ayres Productions (Fires, Clickbait, Stateless), The Survivors boasts a stunning ensemble cast, including Robyn Malcolm (pictured), Jessica De Gouw, Catherine McClements, Thom Green and Martin Sacks. With a cast like that, you know it's going to be worth a watch. Seven seasons on, it's truly a marvel there's still blood to be squeezed from the Lego Masters stone. But you can't keep a good Brickman down. And he's back, along with host Hamish Blake, to preside over builders from seven countries — Canada, China, Finland, Sweden, USA, New Zealand and Australia — to see who'll be crowned 'the ultimate grandmaster of the galaxy'. It's a stretch, but we'll allow it. Family-friendly fun. This series, starring Owen Wilson as a washed-up golf pro who finds new purpose in mentoring a young golfing prodigy, has 'TV hit' written all over it. Heartfelt performances, believable characters and clippy dialogue make it an incredibly watchable proposition, even if the idea of a show about golf makes you want to stick a tee in your eye. Even the biggest haters will fall hard for this delightful series — you're going to love it. Love yourself a gritty British crime drama? This could be about to become your new favourite. And even better — it stars Sean Bean! This series, about a gang of cocaine smugglers, has been getting great reviews in the UK, and is BBC's most-watched new drama launch of 2025, which gives you an idea of what to expect. Also stars James Nelson-Joyce (pictured) and Hannah Onslow. One for Scouse crime fans. Watching high-profile Australians try to spell on national TV will never not be funny. Throw in comedian Guy Montgomery and his comedy offsider Aaron Chen and you've got a laugh-out-loud quiz show guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. This season's line-up includes Hannah Gadsby, Hamish Blake, Rove McManus, Denise Scott and Dave Hughes. Looking forward to seeing how they fare — the worse, the better!
The Courier
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Dundee mum's 'heartbreaking' search for answers over why son, 9, died a year ago
A Dundee mum has told of her 'heartbreaking' wait for answers over why her nine-year-old son died a year ago. Stuart Gauld, from Whitfield, died in Toni Hunt's arms in hospital in Edinburgh last May, just over a fortnight after becoming unwell with a mystery illness. Toni has been unable to move on since, as the cause of his death is still not known. The schoolboy's room is the same as when he left it with his family – including his two little sisters – buying him presents at Christmas. Speaking to The Courier ahead of the year's anniversary of Stuart's death, Toni said: 'We still don't know why Stuart died and that just makes me so angry with the world. 'I have been given no answers and I won't rest until I know what caused him to die. 'I know it won't bring him back but at least it will bring me some peace knowing what took him.' Stuart first fell unwell with what was thought to be a virus but his condition deteriorated, leading to him being taken to hospital by ambulance. The P5 Rowantree Primary School pupil was eventually transferred to the Sick Children's Hospital in Edinburgh, where he was put on kidney dialysis. Stuart died on May 13. Tributes were later paid to the Dundee FC fan at the club's game against Kilmarnock. Toni says at the time of Stuart's death, doctors discussed the possibility of Stuart suffering from conditions known as Norse – new-onset refractory status epilepticus – and febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome, known as Fires. However, post-mortem results were inconclusive. Toni said: 'I'm not good, I've not been OK. 'I have been on an emotional rollercoaster and it's not getting any better. 'I am now having to try to explain to Stuart's three-year-old little sister, Ocean-Reine, why her big brother died. 'She keeps asking why he isn't coming home and I have to tell her that he never will. 'That is a heartbreaking thing to have to do. She has so many questions that I can't answer.' Stuart's other sister, one-year-old Amber-Rose, is still too young to understand but Toni knows the time will come when she will also need to explain to her what has happened. Toni says as her quest for answers from medics continues, she has kept Stuart's room the same. She said: 'His things are still there and his room still smells of him. 'At Christmas time, myself and all my family left presents in his room. 'The girls were getting presents so how could I not leave presents for Stuart?' Eventually, she hopes to turn Stuart's room into a gaming room for the girls as 'Stuart loved gaming'. Toni added: 'I just feel so badly let down. No one is telling me what happened. 'I have been told a review into his case will be carried out. 'I hope that will give me the answers I am looking for and help me to understand what happened to my boy.'
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
California consumer group sues to block insurers from adding surcharge following LA fires
A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit this week to block insurers from charging California customers for $500 million in costs associated with the deadly Los Angeles fires. California's insurance commission in February ordered insurers doing business in California to provide $1 billion to the FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, to help it pay out claims related to the LA wildfires. The order allows insurers to recoup half the cost from its policyholders in the form of a one-time fee. The commissioner must approve the costs. The lawsuit, filed by Consumer Watchdog in Los Angeles, alleges Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara overstepped his authority and violated state laws for allowing for such cost shifting without going through the proper process. Such regulations have never been authorized in California and should have been vetted and approved by the Legislature or other oversight agencies before enforcement, Consumer Watchdog argued. The suit is asking the court to block Lara from approving the requests. There were at least three pending applications to implement a surcharge as of Tuesday, according to Consumer Watchdog. 'We look forward to defending the rights and pocketbooks of Californians and stopping this socialization of FAIR Plan losses at the public's expense, while the FAIR Plan's profits will wholly remain with the insurance companies,' Consumer Watchdog staff attorney Ryan Mellino said in a statement. The Department of Insurance said the lawsuit could make California's insurance crisis worse. 'This hurts homeowners, small business and nonprofits who need access to insurance options, while doing nothing to address the insurance crisis,' Gabriel Sanchez, a department spokesperson, said in a statement. "It also serves to undermine our efforts to restore competition to all areas of our state, so people can get off the FAIR Plan and back to the regular market.' The FAIR Plan is the state's last resort option for people who can't get private insurance because their properties are deemed too risky to insure. The plan, with high premiums and basic coverage, is designed as a temporary option until homeowners can find permanent coverage, but more Californians are relying on it than ever. There were more than 555,000 home policies on the FAIR Plan as of March, more than double the number in 2020. The plan estimated a loss of roughly $4 billion from the Eaton and Palisades Fires, which sparked Jan. 7, destroyed nearly 17,000 structures and killed at least 30 people. The plan had already paid out more than $914 million as of February. The lawsuit will not affect the FAIR Plan's ability to pay out claims, Consumer Watchdog said. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the largest national trade association representing home, auto and business insurers called the lawsuit 'a reckless and self-serving stunt.' Insurers have paid ten of billions in claims and contributed more than $500 million to sustain the FAIR Plan after the LA fires, the group said. 'Blocking recovery of the additional costs insurers have paid to prop up the Fair Plan would jeopardize the last-resort coverage option for homeowners — and push our fragile insurance market closer to total collapse," Denni Ritter, the group's representative, said in a statement. 'It is critical that the costs be spread equitably across a broader pool of insured customers to help restore California's insurance market and protect access to coverage for all consumers.' The regulation to allow insurers to shift some of the costs used to sustain the FAIR Plan is among the strategies unveiled by Lara last year. California is undergoing a yearlong effort to stabilize its insurance market after several major insurance companies either paused or restricted new business in the state in 2023, which pushed hundreds of thousands of homeowners onto the FAIR Plan. Wildfires are becoming more common and destructive in California due to climate change, and insurers say that's making it difficult to truly price the risk on properties. Of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in state history, 15 have occurred since 2015, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The state now gives insurers more latitude to raise premiums in exchange for issuing more policies in high-risk areas. That includes regulations allowing insurers to consider climate change when setting their prices and allowing them pass on the costs of reinsurance to California consumers.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mike White's ‘The White Lotus' Has Become Much More Than A TV Show
Everyone is dying to check in at The White Lotus. As fans know all too well, some leave in body bags, but the promise of a lavish travel experience makes it worth the risk. The White Lotus has gone from a popular television series to a phenomenon with fans seeking to live the extravagance seen on the show. Though creator Mike White does an incredible job of keeping viewers guessing as to who dies each season, in real life, it's the lure of these gorgeous resorts and exotic locations that people are looking for. Season three saw White's brilliant social satire set at an exclusive Thai resort over a week. He has a way of tapping into the human experience like no one else. He writes, directs, and executive produces every episode. This is unique in Hollywood wherein most shows have a team of writers and directors, but he does it all himself and he's a genius at it. Immediately following the first season set in Hawaii, which premiered in July of 2021, the show received 20 Emmy nominations across 13 categories, with ten wins. That was the most wins of any series that year. The second season, set in Italy, which premiered in December of 2022, followed with 23 Emmy nominations and five wins. This show is life and career-changing for those hired on. Joining the cast has turned lesser-known actors into award-winners and known actors into stars. This season's ensemble includes Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou Wood, Nicholas Duvernay, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Scott Glenn, Dom Hetrakul, Julian Kostov, Charlotte Le Bon, Morgana O'Reilly, and Shalini Peiris. As for that sought-after lived experience, White's imagination came to life, at least for two days, when the Four Seasons in Westlake Village became The White Lotus. Guests were transported from sunny Southern California to Thailand for a fully immersive experience that began immediately when travelers arrived at the hotel. HBO partnered with American Express and the 269-room hotel, which was completely transformed from the signage outside to the lobby, restaurants, spa, pool areas, and individual rooms for the first-of-its-kind experience created by agency partners MKG, zakHill, and RQ. Event-planning for this two-day extravaganza began two years ago, and it was meant to celebrate the third season's premiere, but was postponed due to the catastrophic L.A. Fires to coincide with the season's absolutely wild finale episode. The finale episode of the award-winning series broke previous viewership records set for HBO for the third consecutive week with 6.2 million U.S. cross-platform viewers. The finale surpassed the penultimate episode's record by 30%, and this season's finale outperformed season two's finale, which had 4.1 million U.S. viewers, by 51%. Season three is averaging between 16 and 20 million viewers an episode. As an avid White Lotus fan, this event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, unless they do it again next year. There was a mix of influencers, journalists, and members of the cast in attendance. Immediately upon arrival, guests were able to participate in Thai cooking and mixology classes, meditation and yoga classes, and there was also the option to have facials or Thai Petal massages. Guests were also gifted with beauty products from Kiehl's and Supergoop!, as well as an array of themed items from CB2 and NEST. Those in attendance had the unique experience of watching the highly anticipated finale with the cast and there was even a redo of the Full Moon party that took place this season, albeit not on a yacht, and instead at the hotel. The Four Seasons in Westlake Village, which is north of Los Angeles, is a hidden gem. In large part, this is because the hotel itself has very little curb appeal. It is, however, a gorgeous oasis once you step onto the property. For fans wanting to do The White Lotus tour, season one was filmed at the 383-room Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, season two was filmed at the 111-room Four Seasons in Italy's San Domenico Palace, Taormina, and season three was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, which has 71 rooms total, including 60 pool rooms and 11 residence villas. Rooms at Koh Samui start at $1,600 a night with villas ranging from $5,700 to over $13,000 per night. Each time the show films in a location, that hotel sees a huge boost in bookings, and the area benefits from a spike in tourism. This latest season has Thailand's government promoting the region as a premier filming destination, having increased cash rebates for international productions to 30%. This initiative has already seen success, with more than 400 productions generating 6.58 billion baht in 2024, including The White Lotus and Jurassic World. Conversations on social media also drive travel interest. Following season three's February 16 premiere, there was a 60% increase in social-media conversations about Thailand travel, with social-media analytics company Sprout Social noting nearly 1,385,000 mentions of The White Lotus and Thailand, with 99% positive sentiment. The show's influence, known as the "White Lotus effect," is significant, with more than 775 million impressions. In addition, having Manobal (Lisa of Blackpink) in the cast as Mook saw huge bumps in online searches for the resort and travel to the region. These productions are a huge help to local economies, and following the devastating 7.7 earthquake on March 28, which struck the Sagaing region of Myanmar, the help is needed. The show hires locals, which is another benefit. Fans are dying to know where season four will be filmed. With every season filmed at a Four Seasons, and the fact that there are currently 133 locations worldwide, it's anyone's guess, but if Mr. White is reading this, Africa, Egypt, or the Mediterranean would be amazing! One thing is certain: once HBO announces where the next group of travelers will go, there will be an immediate jump in travel plans from fans all over the world.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Justine Bateman tells young voters to ignore the media 'panic frenzy' and make up their own minds
"Family Ties" star Justine Bateman implored young voters to think for themselves in elections rather than pledging themselves to a "political team." "If you're under 30, you've most likely been convinced that you need to politically 'resist the other side.' You've been cheated," Bateman wrote in a post on X Wednesday. Instead, she said voters should "insist" candidates "audition for your vote" and that voters "examine their actions objectively and decide if, in the big picture, this is benefiting America as a whole." Justine Bateman Calls For Gavin Newsom To Be Removed Amid La Fires 'Before Something Worse Happens' "This is not about parties or pledging fealty to a 'political team.' This is about your right as an American adult to not be told by the media or the oldest people in either party how you should be interpreting policies and actions," Bateman wrote. She added people need to ignore the "ridiculous insistence that you give yourself a heart attack over nothing" and tell anyone who insists otherwise to "zip it." Read On The Fox News App "They disrespect your intelligence and innate wisdom," Bateman wrote. "Their weird panic frenzy is an anomaly, birthed in 2016. It's not the norm, and you intuitively know it. You don't need them. Make up your own mind. And then let it go, so you can so all those things that have nothing to do with politics." Bateman made a similar declaration in a viral X thread after President Donald Trump's election in November, describing the last four years as "walking on eggshells." "I have found the last four years to be an almost intolerable period. A very un-American period in that any questioning, any opinions, any likes or dislikes were held up to a very limited list of 'permitted positions' in order to assess acceptability," Bateman posted on X. 'Family Ties' Star Justine Bateman Slams 'Un-american Period' Over The Last 4 Years: 'Common Sense Discarded' "I am neither one extreme or the other, but am one of the millions of people who believe in common sense, and that everyone should be free to live their lives however they want, unless that freedom interferes with someone else's freedom to live their own life. That's it," she concluded. Bateman also described Trump's election as a "kind of suffocating cloud" being lifted on free speech. "Regular people who had questions about decisions that were being made were threatened subtly or obviously into silence. And I feel like that's been broken, that sort of suppression has been kind of broken," Bateman told Fox News article source: Justine Bateman tells young voters to ignore the media 'panic frenzy' and make up their own minds
