Latest news with #FrankSkinner
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
‘You don't build a medieval manor house with a great hall to sit on your own'
Charlie Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon, has been having a clear-out. At his home, Powderham Castle near Exeter, 'up in the attics and roofs there's what we refer to as the 'wild archives',' he says, 'just a bunch of stuff that we never really get to'. Now the wild archives are no more. Next week Dreweatts auctioneers will sell 209 pieces from the Powderham attics, as well as 172 lots from the Earl of Yarborough's Brocklesby Park in Lincolnshire. It isn't a downsizing sale; more of a consolidation. 'Powderham spends a lot of its time being used for public events, and every time you do that you're lifting and shifting, so it's not nearly as fully furnished as it once was,' says Lord Devon. The castle is open six days a week, nine months of the year, with a vibrant events calendar. This summer it will host Duran Duran as well as comedian Frank Skinner, food festivals and Shakespearean productions. This is exactly what it ought to be doing, says Lord Devon. 'You don't build a medieval manor house with a great hall to sit on your own and not see people. You build it for the purpose of entertaining and bringing people together. I'm strongly of the view that Powderham does today what Sir Philip Courtenay intended to do when he built it in the 1390s.' The auction is an eclectic mix. Lots range from a pocket telescope (est. £80-120) to a George VI coronation chair (est. £300-500), a pair of three-metre tall mahogany and parcel-gilt cabinets (est. £5,000-10,000), and a pair of rare Chinese imperial Qiangjin and Cloisonné sedan chair poles (est. £8,000-12,000). Lord Devon has long had 'a bit of heartburn around sales'. In August, it will be a decade since he succeeded his father to both the earldom and Powderham, and the same week he will turn 50. With this has come a realisation. 'It's very easy to sit there and do nothing, and hold on to everything like the dragon in Lord of the Rings,' he says. 'But that's not creative. I've done a lot of work retaining stuff and it's time to get my arms around the collection and responsibly manage it. That requires letting some stuff go to make room – and hopefully raise some funds to assist in our programme of works.' Lord Devon's father Hugh was born in the state bed at Powderham in May 1942, on the night the Luftwaffe bombed Exeter. Since it was wartime, no beacons were lit nor cannons fired in recognition of his arrival, and his mother Venetia was heard to remark: 'poor little heir. No church bells. No fireworks.' Post-war, Venetia and her husband Christopher Courtenay, 17th Earl of Devon, poured all of their efforts into Powderham. First, they established a finishing school, before in 1960 the house opened to the public, with Powderham's 116-year-old tortoise Timothy in tow with a label attached that read: 'My name is Timothy. I am very old. Please do not pick me up.' 'They were very enterprising,' says Lord Devon of his grandparents. 'I often think that I run their business, which my dad did a great job developing.' The Devons were totally wedded to their titular county. Christopher never once spoke in the House of Lords in his 63 years as a member, nor did he partake in much of aristocratic society – possibly since his 1939 marriage to Venetia had been preceded by scandal. The pair had met when Christopher was still at prep school, and Venetia was the young bride of his second cousin, Mark Pepys, 6th Earl of Cottenham. After Venetia attended Christopher's coming-of-age in July 1937, the pair fell in love, and when Mark Cottenham sought a divorce from Venetia, he cited Christopher as a co-respondent. Following both this, and his experiences in North Africa – where he was shot through his helmet on Christmas Day – Christopher retreated to Devon with what would likely be diagnosed now as PTSD. He pursued a policy of never opening any of his post and, as his stepdaughter Lady Rose Pepys remembered, 'set about becoming an old man,' in his 30s. Finances were tight. By the time Christopher succeeded his father the Reverend Frederick Courtenay, 16th Earl of Devon, in June 1935, there had been a succession of deaths meaning that Powderham came with triple death duties. The Devons' estate, which had been over 53,000 acres in the 1880s, was severely reduced. Today, it is just 3,500 acres. The Courtenays' legacy is ancient: they were founding members of the Order of the Garter; fought at Poitiers, Agincourt and Bosworth; and had William of Orange to dinner on the first night of the Glorious Revolution. Lord Devon is the 19th earl dating from the fifth creation in 1553, but his ancestors have been earls of Devon, one way or another, since the 1140s. When both his father and aunt Lady Kate Watney died within two months of one another in 2015, Lord Devon became not only head of the family but also 'the authority,' he says. 'I was always the one asking the history questions and I thought, 'there's no one I can go to to tell me whether that's right or wrong'. That was a big loss.' He is also almost the last of the line, only his 15-year-old son Jack, Lord Courtenay, is in line to succeed him. 'Despite being a very long-established title, the earldom of Devon is a very weedy one.' He feels strongly about his role, and was elected to the House of Lords as a cross-bencher in 2018, becoming the most visible Lord Devon for several generations. 'I had a real interest in what the earldom meant and it wasn't until I got into the Lords and started offering some of the stories in the context of providing perspective to our legislative process that I realised there aren't many of us who are feudal earls with that sort of continuity,' he says. He believes that part of being a hereditary peer is to have a role in the Lords, though when the remaining hereditaries exit the upper chamber, he will remain a 'flag-waver' for Devon. 'I am fortunate to live in and run a business in the county of which I am the earl,' he says. 'We call Powderham 'the home of Devon'. Just because I'm not able to contribute to the legislative process, there's still that ability to provide a sense of perspective for the country – and a sense of identity for the region.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
BBC Sounds announced as the official fringe festival partner for Crossed Wires 2025
BBC Sounds has been announced as the official Fringe Festival partner of Crossed Wires Festival – the UK's biggest podcasting celebration which will take place in Sheffield from 4 to 6 July 2025. Over three jam-packed days, BBC Sounds will invite podcast and radio fans to experience live recordings and special sessions in the old Cole Brothers Department Store in Barkers Pool, Sheffield. The famous Grade II listed building – which originally opened in 1963 – will be transformed into a vibrant BBC Sounds hub for the weekend, reimagining the historic retail space for an entirely new purpose. Inside the venue, visitors can listen to special live recordings of popular podcasts including Football Daily, Newscast and Evil Genius, all of which will air later in the year on BBC Sounds. Literary lovers can settle down with Sara Cox and bestselling author David Nicholls for a special edition of Radio 2 Book Club, and for Radio 4's Rewinder Greg James will be joined by a special guest to dig deep into the BBC Archives and uncover an array of audio gems - including some with Sheffield connections. Fans of Radio 4's investigative series will be able to go behind the scenes of their favourite narrative podcasts with Gabriel Gatehouse (The Coming Storm) and Sue Mitchell (To Catch a Scorpion), whilst Frank Skinner will bring top comedians to Sheffield for two special recordings of One Person Found This Helpful. And to celebrate 100 years of the Shipping Forecast, Radio 4 announcers Lisa Costello and Viji Alles will take us behind the scenes of the beloved radio broadcast. For those looking for a moment of tranquillity, there will also be an immersive session of music and mindfulness with Radio 3 Unwind. Outside the venue, the BBC Sounds Garden will offer a relaxed, open-air listening experience, where visitors can settle into a deck chair, slip on some headphones, and enjoy their favourite audio in an outdoor setting. Jonathan Wall, Director of BBC Sounds says: 'We're delighted to join forces with Crossed Wires as the official fringe festival partner. Delivering value for audiences all over the UK is a big priority for us, so to be able to bring this level of talent and creativity to Sheffield - and for free - is really exciting. These will be memorable live shows and experiences that money can't buy. Crossed Wires is exactly the kind of event we want to be part of.' Tickets for the BBC Fringe are free and the line up goes live on Friday 6 June at 11am. You can reserve seats for individual shows via the external Crossed Wires website. Do note that entry on the day will be first-come, first-served, even with a ticket, so we recommend arriving early to secure your place. The festival will take place from 4 to 6 July 2025. The BBC Sounds Garden The BBC Sounds Garden will offer a welcoming space where you can lose yourself in the audio you love. Settle into a deck chair or bean bag, slip on some headphones, and enjoy a moment of calm with live radio, on-demand music, or your favourite BBC podcasts. You'll find the BBC Sounds Garden in Barkers Pool, right across from Sheffield City Hall and beside our Fringe venue in the Cole Brothers Department Store. There's also a photo booth where you can snap some shots with friends and family. AT2
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Manchester group Hot Milk to perform in Glasgow SWG3
Hot Milk, famous for their hit song Breathing Underwater, are set to perform at SWG3 Galvanizers Yard on Monday, November 17. READ NEXT: American star to perform at iconic Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow The band, which formed in 2018, is known for their genre-blurring sound and for songs which often focus on a range of social and political issues. They have toured with acts including Foo Fighters and You Me at Six. READ NEXT: Festival favourite announces huge Glasgow show The upcoming Glasgow gig will follow the release of their sophomore album, Corporation P.O.P, which is set to be released on June 27. The album will feature the new single, 90 Seconds To Midnight. British icon Frank Skinner features in the song's music video. To purchase tickets for the show, click HERE Pre-sale will go live at 10am on May 29. General sale will be available from May 30 at 10am.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Frank Skinner's real name revealed - after he confirmed he's secretly tied the knot to long-term love
He's starred as a comedian, a radio host, a television presenter and was even awarded an MBE in 2023 for his services to the entertainment industry. And after 24 years with his girlfriend and four proposal rejections, Room 101 host Frank Skinner, 68, made headlines this week after announcing he has finally tied the knot with Cath Mason. However Frank Skinner is not actually the comedian's real name. His real name is Christopher Collins - a fact which even bemused Princess Anne herself. During a visit to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE in April 2023, Frank said Anne told him it was 'confusing' that he had two names. He too revealed the strange reason why he ended up choosing the name Frank Skinner. 'If I didn't make the Princess Royal laugh today I wouldn't feel like I deserved the medal,' he told PA. 'I had her laughing throughout, it was pretty consistent. She was a pretty good audience because she couldn't go anywhere. 'She said it was a bit confusing that I've got two names. I had to explain that when you're in the actors' union, only one person can have a name. 'Frank Skinner was someone from my dad's dominoes team, so I chose that. 'I think she just found it funny how I'd chosen my name - dominoes doesn't sound glamorous enough to be discussing at Buckingham Palace.' Having met Cath all the way back in 1998 when she was working for his management company, the couple were together for 24 years before their marriage this week. Frank had regularly joked about Cath, who he shares a son with, rejecting his proposals but insisted he would 'keep plugging away'. At last, Frank revealed on Monday that the couple had tied the knot in the latest episode of his Frank Off The Radio podcast with co-hosts Emily Dean, who burst into tears, and Pierre Novellie. The comedian excitedly shared: 'Can you brace yourselves? You'll never guess what I did on Monday: I got married. I got f***ing married! 'Don't be offended, we didn't invite anyone. Buzz was a witness. We got married not in a room but on the stairs at Camden Town Hall. 'I said to Cath, "Will you marry me?" and she said "I'm not having a f***ing party! I don't want a load of guests. I'm not going in a church. I don't want a ring. I'm not wearing a stupid f****ing white dress". 'So it went on. "I'm not doing this!" I said "Oh, forget it." And then about two weeks later I said, "Okay we'll do it your way". I felt bad for the friends. I would have invited everyone.' Hampstead-based Frank added: 'We went for a walk on the Heath in the morning and I said "Why are we doing this?" She said "I don't know. Shall we not do it?" I said "They're gonna be upset aren't they, the witnesses." We hadn't told anyone else to be upset, and we actually did think "Shall we not bother?" 'The thing that no one ever says about getting married is it's quite embarrassing. How can I put it? It's a bit basic getting married. We've been together 20-odd years. Cath's not gonna wear a big white fluffy dress. 'We hadn't told anyone except our child - I think you have to have them now, it's a modern marriage! Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue… and your children! 'Anyway, we walk up the stairs me and Cath, and they said to Buzz "Just plug your phone in there and you can play the music. So we entered to Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul by The Fall. That sounds gimmicky, like getting married by Elvis in Vegas, but in fact The Fall meant so much to me and Cath when we were in our early days, so it was actually quite an emotional thing.' When asked what Cath wore, Frank replied: 'She just wore a flowery dress. She moaned about that. I said "you can't have leggings!" When she was stripping away all the things we couldn't have at the wedding, I said, "Can you at least wear…?" She said "I'm not changing my name and I'm not wearing a ring. I don't wear jewellery", which is true. She said "If I wear a ring, I'll feel trapped." I said "you'll be married, you're supposed to feel f***ing trapped! That what it symbolises. It's like a shackle!" 'This was the most difficult thing and this just isn't me and Cath… what you have to do is hold hands, both hands, and face each other… like we're gonna do The Gay Gordons! Me and Cath, we don't hold hands unless… I mean, as I get older! So that was difficult. We had to look each other in the eye, and I know she's thinking, "Why are we doing this?" Anyway, I'm holding both her hands, I mean come on it's like a f***ing seance! And then we had to repeat the vows. 'She said, "You may kiss the bride". I kissed Cath. I'm not kidding you it was like kissing a reluctant employee under the mistletoe. I thought, "You're my wife now!" Anyway, the wedding ended. We played Container Drivers by The Fall.' When asked why he has tied the knot now, he said: 'I don't know why. I just thought, "Maybe I've got too much money, I'll give her half in about five years time!" I don't know why we got married. 'It wasn't even like a tax thing, so I'm not planning on dying anytime soon, and by the time I do die Reform will be in and there'll be no Inheritance Tax!' He added: 'The night before I got married, I lay in my bed thinking "If she f***s off and takes my money, I could end up in a p***-covered bed in a council care home in my 80s, with no money and nothing." But what's great about our relationship is I could have those thoughts and come down and tell Cath on the morning of our wedding and she'll say, "Yes, I know what you mean", and then we still go and get married! We were alright with that; it was the holding hands and looking at each other that we didn't like!' Frank added: 'As you get old, "my partner", which is what I tend to call her, sounds like we're solicitors. 'A man my age saying "my girlfriend" is nearly as bad as a man my age saying "my skateboard". 'There's not a good word for someone you've been with for 24 years when you're our age - other than wife or husband.'
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Frank Skinner gets married after being turned down four times
Comedian and presenter Frank Skinner said he has married his long-term girlfriend, Cath Mason, after she rejected his proposals four times. Skinner, 68, previously presented The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio's breakfast slot for 15 years, leaving the station in May 2024, and now hosts the podcast Frank Off The Radio alongside co-hosts Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie. Speaking during an episode released on Friday, Skinner told his co-hosts that the pair got married on Monday at Camden Town Hall after being together for 24 years. He said: 'You'll never guess what I did on Monday. I got married. 'Don't be offended. We didn't invite anyone. We got married on the stairs, not in a room, but on the stairs at Camden Town Hall. 'What the thing that no one ever says about getting married is it's quite embarrassing. How can I put it? It's a bit basic, getting married.' In an interview with The Sun in 2024, the comedian shared that he proposed and got rejected by Mason, a talent agent, four times. When she agreed to his latest proposal, he said Mason told him that she did not want to have a big party with lots of guests or wear a white dress. Instead she wore a 'flowery dress'. The couple share a son together, Buzz, who Skinner said attended the wedding as a witness. He said: 'We had our child there. I think you have to have them now to a modern marriage, it's like something old, something new, something boring, something blue and your children.' He also added that the pair entered to the song Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul by The Fall. 'That sounds gimmicky. That sounds like getting married by Elvis in Vegas,' he said. 'But in fact, The Fall meant so much to me and Cath when we were in our early days, so it was actually quite an emotional thing.' When asked why they decided to get married, he said: 'I don't know why, I just thought maybe I got too much money. I'll give her half of it in about five years' time.' The comedian is best known for presenting BBC One's comedy talk show Room 101 and several series of Portrait/Landscape Artist Of The Year for Sky Arts. He also co-wrote the football anthem Three Lions with David Baddiel. He was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list and was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in December 2015. His show won a number of gold awards at the Radio Academy's Audio And Radio Industry Awards (Arias), including best entertainment/comedy production in 2017 and best community programming for his conversation with Al Gore.
