Latest news with #FrankSpencer
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BBC sitcom slapped with trigger warning for 'discriminatory language' in ANOTHER woke crackdown
BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do Ave Em have been slapped with trigger warning for 'discriminatory language' in another woke crackdown. Streaming service, iPlayer, shows a message at the start of the 1975 festive episode that says the show may 'contains discriminatory language.' The episode prompted a slew of complaints of a homophobic slur as Michael Crawford's character Frank Spencer is called a 'p**f' after dressing up as a pixie. In the scene, Frank says: 'I'm the chief of the pixies, I'm the friend of all the little boys and girls.' A boy turns to him and replies: 'Oh no you're not, you're a p**f.' Frank responds: 'I beg your pardon! Block your ears!' The warning reads: 'This episode contains discriminatory language which some may find offensive.' It comes after a Doctor Who spin-off was also slapped with 'discriminatory' trigger warnings, just one month after a 'lost' episode was re-released. The Savages first aired back in 1966 and starred the first ever Time Lord William Hartnell, but has since been declared as 'missing from the archives' by the broadcaster. However, an animated remake has recently been released on DVD, albeit with a string of warnings. The British Board of Film Classification reportedly warned the show contained 'verbal references to discrimination and the discriminatory social structure of an alien society'. It is listed as PG-rated and episodes carry references to 'mild threats,' 'scary scenes,' discrimination references,' and 'mild violence'. Last year, Matt Smith, who played the 11th Doctor in the series, shared his dislike for trigger warnings on movies. The actor said he used to walk into local video shops as a teenager and rent erotic thrillers, like Basic Instinct, to enjoy the scare-factor of the film - but now worries movies and programmes are being dialled down. Matt claims the point of a 'thriller' or an 'uncomfortable' watch has been taken away through trigger warnings. He told The Times: 'I worry everything's being dialled and dumbed down. We're telling audiences they're going to be scared before they've watched something.' The House Of Dragons star added: 'Ah, trigger warnings — the tedious modern idea that adults cannot cope with being upset by art. Isn't being shocked, surprised, stirred the point? 'Too much policing of stories and being afraid to bring them out because a climate is a certain way is a shame. I'm not sure I'm on board with trigger warnings.' He explained how after starring in family favourite Doctor Who he has actively pursued roles focusing on 'messed-up people' adding that 'that's the f***ing point. We should be telling morally difficult stories, nowadays in particular.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Classic sitcom becomes latest show slapped with woke trigger warning for ‘discriminatory language' in Christmas special
The classic episode now appears on iPlayer with warnings - find out what they're for here TRIGGERED Classic sitcom becomes latest show slapped with woke trigger warning for 'discriminatory language' in Christmas special Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CLASSIC sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em has been slapped with a warning by the BBC for its Christmas Day special from 1975. The seasonal special of the second series was titled Learning to Drive, and aired prime time at 6:55pm, featuring festive scenes of Frank Spencer working in Santa's grotto dressed as a pixie. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 The BBC has slapped a warning on the classic 1975 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Christmas special 2 The show has main character Frank Spencer working in Santa's grotto - with quips about 'fairies' prompting the warning Credit: BBC Press Handout But when iconic character Frank performs to children and introduces himself as 'the Chief of the Pixies, the friend of all the little boys and girls', a young boy heckles him on stage, shouting: 'Oh no you're not, you're a poof.' Frank, played by Michael Crawford, responds: 'I beg your pardon? Block your ears. I'll remember your face - you needn't bother cleaning your chimney this Christmas.' His typically calamitous performance as a pixie, in which he plays a bugle and a magic flute, is criticised by Mr Wheeler, played by George Sewell, who gets laughs from the audience for making several quips about 'fairies', which may also be considered outdated humour due to the term's connotations. The episode now appears on iPlayer with the warning that the episode contains: 'Discriminatory language which some may find offensive.' READ MORE TV NEWS TV TENSIONS Watch awkward moment feuding stars Myleene & Frankie come face to face on TV The episode also sees Frank attempt to pass his driving test, and show off his shoddy DIY attempts to Any Questions? host David Jacobs when the BBC invites him to appear in a home improvements TV show. The beloved series ran for three series from 1975 until 1978, and only one episode contains a warning to modern viewers. Previously, viewers of the The Fast Show have been warned about 'discriminatory language' in a Suits You scene from an episode which aired in February 1996. It could concern a scene where the series' lusty Middle Aged Guys declare women who rebuffed their advances 'lesbians'. The Office and Only Fools and Horses are also screened with warnings about their appropriateness for modern audiences. Channel 4 has previously been branded 'humourless' for flagging a series of Father Ted episodes on its streaming service, and ITV has a similar caution on 1970s comedy George & Mildred.
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
The future of solar PV in South Africa: Insights from industry experts
South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) in an interview with the Business Report said that they believe there is still a big future for the Solar PV industry despite a significant reduction in loadshedding by Eskom. Image: Supplied. South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia) in an interview with Business Report said that they believe there is still a big future for the Solar PV industry despite a significant reduction in loadshedding by Eskom. Frank Spencer, the spokesperson for Sapvia, said the association sees the solar PV industry in South Africa as the most important component of future electricity supply. 'Solar PV is already being deployed at all scales in South Africa, from small home rooftop systems to large solar farms spanning many hundreds of hectares. In all these cases, solar PV is providing the lowest cost source of new electricity to South Africans, whether through private installations or through public supply by Eskom and municipalities.' Solar offers low costs, clean electricity, deployable at all scales, and when coupled with battery storage, can also provide reliable electricity outside of sunshine hours. 'The rapid deployment of Solar PV significantly helped to reduce load shedding," Spencer said. "However, South Africa still needs to build many more new clean power plants to help the economy grow and also to replace the old polluting coal power plants as they are decommissioned. Thus, solar PV will be a major contributor for decades to come.' Solar is perhaps the most important technology as it is the lowest cost source of clean electricity and will be a major contributor to South Africa's carbon emission reduction goals, he said. Ruse Moleshe, the managing director of RUBK, an energy and infrastructure consulting and advisory firm, said that solar PV, both large utility and smaller scale residential solutions, have and will play a role in the country's energy mix. 'They have an advantage of being sources of cleaner energy and shorter lead times in terms of construction and installations. Affordability, however, for the decent energy user remains a challenge. Without government support, only the affluent can afford rooftop energy solutions. In terms of the electricity system in general, South Africa needs a mix of technologies, including but not limited to solar PV.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Moleshe said the variability or intermittency of renewable energy solutions means that there is a need for flexible capacity that is available during periods of cloud cover. Even though loadshedding has been reduced significantly, he said there is still a need for reserve capacity and future new projects to meet demand, giving some plants need to be decommissioned post-2030. "Infrastructure development has long lead times; therefore, planning needs to take place in advance, not to wait for the country to face constraints,' Moleshe said. Professor Vally Padayachee, an energy expert and former Eskom generation executive manager, said he believes that there remains a significant future for solar PV in South Africa's energy landscape. 'As noted by Sapvia, solar energy is not only a low-cost source of electricity but also a clean and renewable option that aligns with our commitment to a Just Energy Transition (JET). This transition is essential as we move from a high carbon to a low carbon economy, ensuring we meet both economic and environmental goals.' Padayachee added that while the reduction of load shedding has provided a temporary respite, it's crucial to recognise that our electricity grid has its limits. 'Overloading the grid with too much renewable energy, such as solar, without adequate management can lead to instability and potential failures, similar to the recent blackouts experienced in Spain and Portugal. Therefore, there must be a careful balance in how we integrate solar PV into our energy mix.' To achieve a stable and resilient energy system, it's imperative to combine renewable sources like solar with dispatchable energy options such as gas, hydro, and nuclear power. 'These dispatchable sources can provide the flexibility required to meet demand fluctuations and ensure a continuous supply of electricity, especially during peak times or when renewable output is low," Padayachee said. "A diversified energy portfolio will not only enhance grid stability but also support the reliability of our power supply as we transition toward more renewable solutions.'
North Wales Live
10-05-2025
- North Wales Live
Review: I tried out the M-Cube 02 Anti-Gravity Laser Level - and it has changed the way I look at DIY
My DIY skills are almost non existent. I have very little in the way of practical ability and to say I am accident prone, is an understatement. My wife calls me Frank Spencer, and she does the majority of our household DIY. When things need building or repairing - I'm holding the screws, and trying to be useful rather than a hinderance. Which is why when I was sent the state-of-the-art revolutionary M-Cube 02 Anti-Gravity Laser Level to look at, I was a bit hesitant. However, we live in an old Victorian house without a straight wall in the whole building, so it's probably found its perfect home. What is it? It's a hands-free laser version of a spirit level - but it's much more than that. What does it do? It does an awful lot, but the core principle is that it is a tool to level your DIY projects. However, it does so by providing a hands-free experience due to the suction mounting system incorporated into it. That allows it to sit unaided on a wall, and it then gives you a complete 360 degrees of rotation and a laser to line up everything to perfection. It works on all surfaces and sticks around as long as you need it to, so don't worry about it falling off. The horizontal and vertical lasers can go in any direction you need to due to the rotation system, and really, it's just ever so clever. It probably says a lot about the family that I live in that we tested the suction on every surface we could find, even the ceiling, and then we spent about 30 minutes measuring each other's height. More fun than it sounds. The suction is brilliant, I loved the way it keeps readjusting the pressure itself to ensure that it never moves. The only time that would ever happen is if the battery died, but it sounds an alarm to warn you of that eventuality. The device comes with a detachable main console unit that acts as the laser measuring tool, and the touch screen hub for everything you want to do. Having a spirit level and laser level all in one is genuinely something that I was really impressed with, imagine what someone in the trade would think! We didn't just use it for measuring each other's heights though. We bought a new TV and had to get a better wall bracket for it, which meant a lot of measuring, marking and drilling. That's where this really came into its own. The days of trying to hold a spirit level on the wall and making marks with a pencil and hoping it doesn't move, are long gone. This just sits in place and marks out a line for you to follow. It's so simple it's genius. The device is absolutely packed with features, each of which helps you perform your tasks with the ultimate precision. If you want to display angles, you can. If you want to find central points, there's tools to do that. It's a gadget lover's dream, in all honesty, especially when you can also hook it up to an accompanying app. This sends you real time updates, let's you set up projects and work out floor plans. Verdict It's a very smart bit of tech, but it's a gadget that identifies a problem and really goes to town in sorting it out. The few tests I have done it has passed with flying colours. My wife is impressed with it, my kids are impressed with it, and two of my friends want to borrow it. I can imagine in the building industry, this would get a really rigorous testing. And I imagine a handyman would appreciate it far more than I ever could. It does what it says on the tin though, and for DIY disasters like me, it provides a bit of hope. Reviews AndroidGuys: What really sets it apart, though, is the vacuum adsorption tech. You can literally stick this thing to a wall, smooth or slightly textured, and it just holds, no nails or tape needed. It leaves no marks, doesn't wobble, and somehow manages to feel secure even during longer sessions. I've used it on drywall, tile, and even painted wood, and it's held firm every time. Seerofsouls: The HOZO Design M-Cube 02 isn't just 'a laser level.' It's a precise, well-thought-out tool that respects your time and effort. It sticks to things without damaging them, saves you from extra trips up and down the ladder, and adapts to how you like to work. If you're serious about getting things right the first time, or just want fewer crooked frames in your life, this is a worthy addition to your toolbox.
Wales Online
10-05-2025
- Wales Online
Review: I tried out the M-Cube 02 Anti-Gravity Laser Level
My DIY skills are almost non existent. I have very little in the way of practical ability and to say I am accident prone, is an understatement. My wife calls me Frank Spencer, and she does the majority of our household DIY. When things need building or repairing - I'm holding the screws, and trying to be useful rather than a hinderance. Which is why when I was sent the state-of-the-art revolutionary M-Cube 02 Anti-Gravity Laser Level to look at, I was a bit hesitant. However, we live in an old Victorian house without a straight wall in the whole building, so it's probably found its perfect home. What is it? It's a hands-free laser version of a spirit level - but it's much more than that. What does it do? It does an awful lot, but the core principle is that it is a tool to level your DIY projects. However, it does so by providing a hands-free experience due to the suction mounting system incorporated into it. That allows it to sit unaided on a wall, and it then gives you a complete 360 degrees of rotation and a laser to line up everything to perfection. It works on all surfaces and sticks around as long as you need it to, so don't worry about it falling off. The horizontal and vertical lasers can go in any direction you need to due to the rotation system, and really, it's just ever so clever. It probably says a lot about the family that I live in that we tested the suction on every surface we could find, even the ceiling, and then we spent about 30 minutes measuring each other's height. More fun than it sounds. The suction is brilliant, I loved the way it keeps readjusting the pressure itself to ensure that it never moves. The only time that would ever happen is if the battery died, but it sounds an alarm to warn you of that eventuality. The device comes with a detachable main console unit that acts as the laser measuring tool, and the touch screen hub for everything you want to do. Having a spirit level and laser level all in one is genuinely something that I was really impressed with, imagine what someone in the trade would think! We didn't just use it for measuring each other's heights though. We bought a new TV and had to get a better wall bracket for it, which meant a lot of measuring, marking and drilling. That's where this really came into its own. The days of trying to hold a spirit level on the wall and making marks with a pencil and hoping it doesn't move, are long gone. This just sits in place and marks out a line for you to follow. It's so simple it's genius. The device is absolutely packed with features, each of which helps you perform your tasks with the ultimate precision. If you want to display angles, you can. If you want to find central points, there's tools to do that. It's a gadget lover's dream, in all honesty, especially when you can also hook it up to an accompanying app. This sends you real time updates, let's you set up projects and work out floor plans. Verdict It's a very smart bit of tech, but it's a gadget that identifies a problem and really goes to town in sorting it out. The few tests I have done it has passed with flying colours. My wife is impressed with it, my kids are impressed with it, and two of my friends want to borrow it. I can imagine in the building industry, this would get a really rigorous testing. And I imagine a handyman would appreciate it far more than I ever could. It does what it says on the tin though, and for DIY disasters like me, it provides a bit of hope. Reviews AndroidGuys: What really sets it apart, though, is the vacuum adsorption tech. You can literally stick this thing to a wall, smooth or slightly textured, and it just holds, no nails or tape needed. It leaves no marks, doesn't wobble, and somehow manages to feel secure even during longer sessions. I've used it on drywall, tile, and even painted wood, and it's held firm every time. Seerofsouls: The HOZO Design M-Cube 02 isn't just 'a laser level.' It's a precise, well-thought-out tool that respects your time and effort. It sticks to things without damaging them, saves you from extra trips up and down the ladder, and adapts to how you like to work. If you're serious about getting things right the first time, or just want fewer crooked frames in your life, this is a worthy addition to your toolbox. Alternatives 3D Laser Level Laser level with tripod Where to buy The HOZO Design M-Cube 02 Anti-Gravity Laser Level is available to back now on Kickstarter with early bird offers starting from £148 for the Anti-Gravity Combo and £298 for the All-inclusive M-Cube Ultra Combo that includes all modules.
