Latest news with #Gareth
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Samantha Womack felt 'emotional' reading Dear England script ahead of tour
The former EastEnders star, 52, who described taking time off work after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, will soon portray the team psychologist, Pippa Grange, in a nationwide tour across England of James Graham's award-winning play. The play follows former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate as he navigates the pressures of the team – and the nation. Speaking to the PA news Agency about the role, Womack described Ms Grange as 'wonderful', despite not meeting her in person yet. She added: 'I hadn't really appreciated Pippa's position in that whole transformation of culture, not just football. 'This introduction of this woman, this kind of culture coach and watching some of her YouTube videos, and her warmth, her ability to speak to people in a way that is completely leftfield, but also to be tackling that predominantly male environment, quite incredible. 'And the kind of marrying of her and Gareth (Southgate) with his experience, I just thought was a fantastic way to tell a story. 'I found myself really emotional reading it, which I just didn't expect, I didn't expect at all and then all the humour and the pulling focus on the various different worlds, commenting on the football but also commenting again on failure. 'I just thought, what an incredible piece of work. I just immediately said, please, I'd love to do this. '(It will be) my first National Theatre collaboration, so I'm excited about that. I'm excited to be doing a play and it will just be great for me to get back to work.' The play had a sell-out run at the National Theatre before it transferred to the West End in 2023, securing best new play at the Olivier Awards in 2024. Womack will be joined by English actor David Sturzaker, who will take on the role of Sir Gareth for its 16-venue tour. The production will start in Plymouth on September 15 before stopping in major cities including Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham, until the tour comes to a close on March 14 2026. Speaking about the play, Womack added: 'I think we all can empathise with that feeling of pressure, that feeling of failure, that feeling of kind of being alienated and set loose from the pack. We as humans function like that. 'We want very much to be accepted and to be loved and I think that's quite a difficult thing to feel in this world. It's complicated, isn't it? 'The football world becoming a metaphor for what it feels like to walk into an arena of expectation. 'We often see footballers, particularly these kind of young kids, these kind of shiny, faultless rich people who are winners in life, and to actually see that mask dropped and how these human beings feel in that world, and the pressures of that, whether you're a black player or a white player, for different reasons, that pressure and the conflict of what that might feel like, I think it's so important. 'With the Lionesses now we've got this wonderful world of female football capturing the nation's imagination. But I think looking into that predominantly male world, it's a really good thing to show what's going on backstage.' Dear England received nine Olivier Award nominations last year, winning best new play and best actor in a supporting role for Will Close for his turn as Harry Kane. It was later announced the play would be adapted into a four-part BBC TV drama, with Joseph Fiennes reprising his starring role as Sir Gareth and Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker, taking on the role of Pippa Grange. Sir Gareth ended an eight-year stint as the national team boss in the wake of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain and the play has been updated to reflect his final chapter as England manager.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Samantha Womack felt 'emotional' reading Dear England script ahead of tour
The former EastEnders star, 52, who described taking time off work after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, will soon portray the team psychologist, Pippa Grange, in a nationwide tour across England of James Graham's award-winning play. The play follows former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate as he navigates the pressures of the team – and the nation. Speaking to the PA news Agency about the role, Womack described Ms Grange as 'wonderful', despite not meeting her in person yet. She added: 'I hadn't really appreciated Pippa's position in that whole transformation of culture, not just football. 'This introduction of this woman, this kind of culture coach and watching some of her YouTube videos, and her warmth, her ability to speak to people in a way that is completely leftfield, but also to be tackling that predominantly male environment, quite incredible. 'And the kind of marrying of her and Gareth (Southgate) with his experience, I just thought was a fantastic way to tell a story. 'I found myself really emotional reading it, which I just didn't expect, I didn't expect at all and then all the humour and the pulling focus on the various different worlds, commenting on the football but also commenting again on failure. 'I just thought, what an incredible piece of work. I just immediately said, please, I'd love to do this. '(It will be) my first National Theatre collaboration, so I'm excited about that. I'm excited to be doing a play and it will just be great for me to get back to work.' The play had a sell-out run at the National Theatre before it transferred to the West End in 2023, securing best new play at the Olivier Awards in 2024. Womack will be joined by English actor David Sturzaker, who will take on the role of Sir Gareth for its 16-venue tour. The production will start in Plymouth on September 15 before stopping in major cities including Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham, until the tour comes to a close on March 14 2026. Speaking about the play, Womack added: 'I think we all can empathise with that feeling of pressure, that feeling of failure, that feeling of kind of being alienated and set loose from the pack. We as humans function like that. 'We want very much to be accepted and to be loved and I think that's quite a difficult thing to feel in this world. It's complicated, isn't it? 'The football world becoming a metaphor for what it feels like to walk into an arena of expectation. 'We often see footballers, particularly these kind of young kids, these kind of shiny, faultless rich people who are winners in life, and to actually see that mask dropped and how these human beings feel in that world, and the pressures of that, whether you're a black player or a white player, for different reasons, that pressure and the conflict of what that might feel like, I think it's so important. 'With the Lionesses now we've got this wonderful world of female football capturing the nation's imagination. But I think looking into that predominantly male world, it's a really good thing to show what's going on backstage.' Dear England received nine Olivier Award nominations last year, winning best new play and best actor in a supporting role for Will Close for his turn as Harry Kane. It was later announced the play would be adapted into a four-part BBC TV drama, with Joseph Fiennes reprising his starring role as Sir Gareth and Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker, taking on the role of Pippa Grange. Sir Gareth ended an eight-year stint as the national team boss in the wake of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain and the play has been updated to reflect his final chapter as England manager.
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Penmaenau Farm welcomes Gareth Wyn Jones for Royal Welsh
A FARM bordering the Royal Welsh Show is busily preparing for next week's event and has announced an entertaining line-up of events for the show. Penmaenau Farm Camping will be hosting live music and a whole host of fun-filled events during show week, including its own speed shear, which is returning after a successful debut in 2024. The Royal Welsh Show takes place on the showground in Llanelwedd – a stone's throw from Penmaenau – from Monday to Thursday next week, July 21-24. Celebrity farmer Gareth Wyn Jones will also be in attendance at the farm during the week, as well as the Wilson & Ashley podcast. The Penmaenau Speed Shear will be taking place in the main shed at 6pm, with money from it to be donated to local cancer charity the Bracken Trust. Gareth will be hosting a live podcast on Tuesday evening, complete with special guests, as part of an evening called 'Farming Faces'. This will also feature the all-female podcast Wilson & Ashley, hosted by farmers Rebecca Wilson and Charlotte Ashley. 'This will be a Q&A session as we want young people's thoughts on how tough farming is at the moment and what will be faced in the future,' said Gwyn Davies, of Penmaenau farm. 'We're trying to get young farming families involved. There's never been a tougher time to get into farming. 'We're excited to have the Wilson & Ashley podcast too, as we thought it was time for a bit more female interaction. 'There's too many male stereotypes in farming and there are of course lots of women in farming too.' There's also a foam party, with live music at the farm every night from 8pm, with the bar and venue open until late.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Merrion Hotel joins Four Saints Hotels portfolio
Hospitality company Four Saints Hotels has acquired The Merrion Hotel in Llandudno, North Wales, UK. The transaction, facilitated by UK-based business property adviser Christie & Co, saw the property purchased for an asking price of £4.5m ($6.02m). The hotel was owned by the Bream family for 75 years, and was sold by brothers Gareth and Paul Bream as they are retiring. The Merrion Hotel directly faces the promenade, nestled within a five-storey Victorian building featuring 62 en-suite bedrooms. The majority of these rooms offer views across Llandudno Bay. It features a bar and lounge area, as well as a restaurant open to the public. Christie & Co associate director Tom O'Malley said: 'The Merrion is one of the nicest hotels in Llandudno, and probably in the best location, making it a wonderful addition to the portfolio of Four Saints Hotels. "I wish brothers Gareth and Paul all the very best with their retirement and thank them for trusting me with the sale of this hotel.' Gareth and Paul Bream said: 'The Bream family are pleased to announce the sale of the Merrion Hotel, through Christie & Co, to Mr and Mrs Rozek of the Four Saints Hotels. We congratulate them as the new owners and wish them every success in the future.' The property's new owner, Four Saints Hotels, also owns Brig Y Don, Lauriston Court, and Headlands hotels in Llandudno. Four Saints Hotels director Shoukry Rozek said: 'We are delighted to welcome Merrion Hotel into the Four Saints Hotels family. I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Bream family for their decades of exceptional stewardship and to all the legal, financial, and professional advisors who made this transaction possible. 'This acquisition strengthens our position in Llandudno's hospitality market and creates exciting opportunities for our guests and team members. We look forward to building upon Merrion Hotel's strong foundation while maintaining the high standards of service that define our group.' This acquisition follows Christie & Co recent announcement of facilitating the sale of the Mour Hotel, a boutique-style establishment near Nottingham, UK. "Merrion Hotel joins Four Saints Hotels portfolio" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Leader Live
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Leader Live
Drivers in UK warned as thousands are being wrongly fined
New data has revealed a surge in car cloning in the UK over the past five years, with motoring experts warning the crisis is now spiralling. Criminals typically use cloned plates to commit further crimes, including stealing fuel from petrol stations, evading tolls or fleeing the scenes of accidents. As a result, it is the innocent drivers who have had their number plates cloned who end up with fines, insurance claims, or letters from the police. (Image: KevinHolt/Getty) Valuation specialists at one of the UK's leading car-buying platforms, say the crime is not only damaging innocent motorists' finances and reputations, but also undermining trust in vehicle ownership systems. The experts said: 'Car cloning is fast becoming one of the most distressing issues facing ordinary drivers. 'The worst part is how quickly this issue can snowball. One cloned plate can lead to police letters, insurance claims, even blacklisting from fuel stations – all to someone who's done nothing wrong." also warned that cloning disproportionately affects drivers who own high-demand cars such as German makes or premium SUVs – which are frequently cloned by criminals looking to avoid detection. They said: 'We'd advise drivers of popular models like the BMW 3 Series, VW Golf, or Mercedes GLA to be especially cautious. 'These are among the most commonly cloned vehicles because they're everywhere – and that makes it easier for a cloned version to blend in." These are the best ways to keep yourself safe from car cloning: When buying or selling a car, it's crucial to check for anything that seems off – including mismatched documents, suspicious plate bolts, or unusual recent traffic fines. Here are some other common speed camera myths: No. There are no laws about visibility, so nothing is stopping an officer from operating in the dark. But they don't often choose to do this and maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent in its own right. Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer, Gareth Thomas said: "Legally, we don't have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I wanted to - but it's all about being fair, education and preventing an accident. Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away." If drivers choose to flash to warn others about a speed van, they could be in breach of the law. Under section 89 of the Police Act 1997 it is an offence to "wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty". However, Gareth says while it is an offence, it is very difficult to prove. He said: "It doesn't bother me that people flash to warn them of the speed van - I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent." It all comes down to the circumstances within which you were caught speeding, and how much you were more than the limit. The minimum penalty for being caught speeding on the UK's roads is a £100 fine. But Gareth explained in some circumstances, police can offer the option of attending a speed awareness course - an alternative to a fine and penalty points. Gareth, said: "An accredited course is far more likely to improve driver behaviour and consequently make our roads safer. "Courses are available to drivers who respond quickly to the 'notices' and who were driving at no more than 10 per cent, plus 9 mph above the posted speed limit." So for example, anyone travelling over 86mph on a motorway would not be offered the awareness course. Those who don't have a clean licence at the time of the office, or if you have been on the course in the last three years, it is unlikely you will be offered the awareness course as an option.
