Latest news with #GinaMcKee
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Durham University honorary doctorates for Mark Gatiss and Gina McKee
Two award-winning actors have received honorary doctorates from Durham University. Mark Gatiss, who co-created BBC series Sherlock and was a founding member of The League of Gentleman, and Gina McKee, who was born in Peterlee, were both made a Doctor of said: "Although I grew up near Sedgefield, Durham has always held a place in my heart and to receive this degree in the cathedral where I come every Christmas was really special."Thousands of students from the university are graduating in July. Gatiss added: "It was lovely to speak with the students but I told them you are graduating into a very uncertain world, but my mantra is work hard, be kind - to me that's the meaning of life."We have to be honest to graduates about the world of work, as you do face setbacks, there's been times when I've been shaking thinking 'I can't do this' but you've got to get back on the horse and be tough." Gatiss has previously been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leeds and the University of Huddersfield. McKee has appeared in films including Notting Hill and shot to fame in the Peter Flannery BBC series Our Friends in North, which earned her three best actress awards, including a BBC Science Editor David Shukman and TV executive Lorraine Heggessey, who was the first woman to be controller of BBC One, have also been honoured. Both were former Durham campaigner Becky Rogerson, former chief executive of My Sister's Place, a domestic abuse charity in Middlesbrough, and who has led Wearside Women in Need since 2018, has been made a Doctor of law experts Dato' Faiz Azmi and Dapo Akande have also been ceremonies have been taking place at Durham Cathedral. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Metro
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix drops every episode of 'suspense-filled' period drama with Line of Duty
Netflix has added two seasons of a period drama starring Line of Duty's Gina McKee, with heaps of praise from viewers who have already watched all 10 episodes. The Forsyte Saga will be catnip for fans of Downton Abbey, with a similar time period and even premise, as the show chronicles the lives of three generations of the wealthy Forsyte family. Based on Nobel Prize winner John Galsworthy's novel, the show is a sweeping portrait of the well-off British family in 1880s London, running up to 1920. This Bafta-winning adaptation – which is now available in its entirety to stream on Netflix – was originally released in 2002 on ITV, with a cast including Wolf Hall's Damian Lewis as well as Gina McKee. The novel had previously been adapted for TV by the BBC in 1967 and was watched by audiences of up to 18 million – in the heyday of terrestrial TV. It is widely considered to be the first modern costume drama. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Lewis stars in the drama as Soames Forsyte – an uptight man in an evolving London – who is married to Gina McKee's chilly character Irene, who quite openly marries for money and loathes her husband. She strives to redefine herself as a woman in a changing England. The rest of The Forsyte Saga is one of rivalries, resentments and sumptuous manor houses, set against the dying embers of the British Empire. 'It's a family of power that saw its world crumbling around it,' Lewis told The New York Times in an interview on the show. 'It's a moment in time encapsulated by Downton Abbey and The Forsyte Saga that people really respond to, I think.' Viewers have shared their glowing reviews of the show on Google, with Reba Hatfield describing it as a plot that evolves over 'suspense-filled episodes'. 'Tour de force performances from the entire cast,' wrote Bill Ranieri in his review. 'Very moving story with many emotional moments. Worth the trouble. Old Jolyon was a favorite of mine.' More Trending Kitty Black added: 'I love to watch this every 5 or 10 years. Long enough so I don't remember everything. It's such a top notch production. The costumes, the properties, the drama of it all just sweeps you into another time.' It comes amid another adaptation of Galsworthy's novel for Channel 5, starring Doctor Who's Millie Gibson and Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson. This third TV version was confirmed by Deadline, with Poldark writer Debbie Horsfield on board as the writer of the adaption, which is set to become a returning series. The show does not yet have a release date. View More » The Forsyte Saga is available to stream on Netflix. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix viewers sobbing as WWE match gets stopped due to 'freak' injury MORE: 'We are aware': Coronation Street issues statement and urges fans to act MORE: Netflix thriller reveals major TV return for 'underrated' Hollywood legend after 6 years
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mark Gatiss and Gina McKee to receive Durham honorary degrees
Award-winning actors Mark Gatiss and Gina McKee are among those who will receive honorary degrees from Durham University this Gatiss, founding member of The League of Gentlemen and co-creator of the award-winning BBC series Sherlock, is from Sedgefield in County Durham and said he was thrilled to be honoured by his "almost" home BAFTA-winning actor Gina McKee, from Peterlee, said it meant a "great deal" to David Shukman and Lorraine Heggessey, charity campaigner Becky Rogerson, and international law experts Dato' Faiz Azmi and Dapo Akande will also be honoured in July. They will each receive their honours during Durham University's summer Congregation ceremonies held at Durham of students would also be graduating alongside them, the university said. Gatiss said Durham held a "very special place" in his heart."From the Cathedral to the Castle, from Mugwump to the Shakespeare pub, Durham is a citadel of joy."Gatiss has previously been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leeds in 2024 and the University of Huddersfield in who has appeared in films including Notting Hill and Atonement and has been nominated for Olivier awards, will be made a Doctor of said: "I'm looking forward to the ceremony, to seeing the graduates celebrate their achievements and to enjoying the special atmosphere of the magnificent Durham Cathedral." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
