Latest news with #JamesNesbitt
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Fun on the fairways as tens of thousands descend on Portrush for The Open
It was fun on the fairways in Portrush as tens of thousands flocked to the north coast to see the world's top golfers tee off on the first day of The Open. The crowds included actor James Nesbitt, US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly. While anticipation was high to see returning hero Rory McIlroy in action, during the wait there was an opportunity to recreate his famous television clip chipping golf balls into a washing machine. McIlroy was a primary school child in 1999 when he appeared on UTV's Kelly show as a promising youngster showing off his skills with the trick. Ms Little-Pengelly, herself a keen golfer, was among those who tried the 'chipping it like Rory' challenge. Despite the watching crowd, the deputy First Minister showed no sign of pressure as she took a moment to carefully line up the perfect shot, which resulted in the ball deftly landing in the drum. Breaking into a huge smile she punched the air amid cheers. The crowds, ten deep in places, endured heavy rain showers in the early afternoon before the sun finally broke through not long before McIlroy himself appeared at the first fairway. You could have heard a pin drop as people stretched every sinew and used all possible vantage points to get a glimpse of the Holywood man taking his first shot of the tournament. Almost 280,000 fans snapped up tickets for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, which will be the second best attended in history. Among them on Thursday were Lilian Kennedy and Norman Kennedy from Coleraine, and her niece Tracey Bradley from Dungannon, with Karl Holmes, originally from south Wales. They said they were delighted to see some of the biggest names in golf, including McIlroy, as well as Shane Lowry, who won The Open last time it was held in Portrush in 2019. It was Mrs Kennedy's birthday, and she was enjoying the experience thanks to Ms Bradley, who gave her the ticket for The Open as a birthday gift. 'I couldn't have asked for anything better than that, a great birthday present,' she said, giving her niece a hug. Mr Holmes said they had been there all week and it had been 'fantastic'. 'It's great, the facilities are fantastic, we haven't seen much today because of the weather, but I saw Rory McIlroy right in front of me yesterday which was fantastic,' he said. 'Good old brolly,' he added, in reference to the rain. Mr Kennedy laughed and said it had been hard to see much with all the umbrellas earlier, before the sun re-emerged, but praised the good atmosphere. Gene Fleming, Bart Lewis, Brian Halloran and William Bell, friends who had been fraternity brothers at Eastern Kentucky University in the US, said they were enjoying the true European golf experience with the rain. Mr Lewis said it was his second Open, after attending the 150th at St Andrews in Scotland. 'It was awesome so we came back, and so far so good,' he said. 'Actually when we were in Scotland the weather wasn't bad at all, so I wanted to experience a British Open that had the actual weather, that's part of it. 'The weather does seem to have a bigger play in the tournament result (in the UK compared to tournaments in the US), but I do enjoy the hospitality in Europe all over, I think it's a great place, we've had a fantastic time.' Mr Fleming said they had loved the experience of playing golf in the rain on the island of Ireland themselves, before the Open tournament. 'What's so amazing is that if we had this weather in the United States, the complaining and carrying on at the golf course would be unbearable, but there is no sympathy here, the weather is the weather, we're learning about it, we played two rounds in it, enjoyed it thoroughly,' he said. 'We got great weather one day and we got the whole Irish experience the other day. 'We loved it, I'll never forget it, I'm so glad I came here. My mother's maiden name of O'Brien, so I've got some Irish in me.'
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix to remove 'gripping' drama from streaming and Death in Paradise fans will be gutted
Death in Paradise will not have long to catch Ben Miller in another hit crime drama before it is removed from the streaming site Death in Paradise fans haven't got much time remaining to catch the actor who previously portrayed Detective Inspector Richard Poole in another gripping crime drama series. Back in 2014, Ben Miller broke the hearts of countless viewers when he revealed he would be departing the show during its third season. With his character meeting his demise, any possibility of a comeback was ruled out entirely. His position was subsequently filled by DI Humphrey Goodman, portrayed by Kris Marshall, who arrived on the programme to investigate Richard Poole's mysterious murder. At the time, Ben clarified that his departure was motivated by the need to put his family first, particularly his wife Jessica, after discovering she was expecting whilst he was filming in the Caribbean. Speaking to Digital Spy some years back, he disclosed: "Two weeks after I arrived in the Caribbean, Jessica found out that she was pregnant," reports Wales Online. "I've just got divorced and I've finally met somebody and now I'm on the other side of the world and we're having a baby. That's a proper curveball to be on the end of. So I knew what I had to do to get my wife back – quit Death in Paradise." Following a period dedicated to his expanding family, Ben made his return to acting, appearing alongside James Nesbitt in the edge-of-your-seat eight-part thriller Suspect. The programme debuted on Channel 4 in 2022 and garnered glowing praise from audiences who described the production as "thrilling" with numerous "twists and turns" that left viewers "gripped". On X - the platform formerly known as Twitter, one fan posted a rave review: "Thrilling from start to finish! Perfect mix of suspense and family time," while another concurred with "#Suspect this is so gripping, it's brilliant." Further praise was heaped on the series and James Nesbitt's performance, with a comment saying: "I just finished #Suspect on @Channel4. James Nesbitt was excellent throughout. What an actor. Well worth watching this weekend." Although Suspect has been a smash hit with viewers, those looking to dive into the drama should plan a viewing marathon, especially if they want to catch both series before they disappear in the coming weeks. Netflix has announced that Suspect will soon be removed from its library. The show is set to leave the streaming service on 31st July. The plot revolves around detective Danny Frater, a seasoned investigator who is relentless in uncovering the truth behind his daughter's death. Danny is called to the hospital mortuary for what should have been a standard identification procedure, but is stunned to discover that the body he's there to examine is that of his own estranged daughter, Christina. The synopsis states: "Danny is traumatised by the news that, according to the post-mortem report, she's taken her own life. Danny and Christina had a complicated father-daughter relationship in recent years, but he refuses to accept that she would have ended her own life. He sets out on a mission for the truth, retracing her last days and hours, in an agonising crusade to discover what really happened to his only child." It adds: "He is forced to confront his own failings as a father whilst struggling to make sense of a mass of contradictory testimony and circumstantial evidence, and he must decide who, if anyone, is responsible for Christina's death and what he's going to do about it." Heading up the stellar ensemble is James Nesbitt as Danny Frater, alongside Imogen King (Clique, Hotel Portofino) portraying Christina, Anne-Marie Duff (Sex Education, Bad Sisters) as Danny's former spouse Susannah, and Ben Miller (Death in Paradise, Bridgerton) taking on the role of Richard, Danny's Detective Superintendent superior. Following the show's remarkable success, a follow-up series launched in 2024, this time focusing on Danny's former wife Susannah as she embarks on her own journey to uncover the truth. Suspect is available to stream on Netflix until 31st July. Both seasons one and two are available to watch on Channel 4.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Riverside Theatre: Pressure grows on Ulster University over closure
Ulster University is coming under increasing pressure over its decision to close the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine, County Londonderry. The university, which owns and operates the theatre, has said it will close the building at the end of July due to financial pressures. University officials will meet councillors on Tuesday to look at options. In a statement, Ulster University said it "remains open to working with local partners and stakeholders to explore new ways to support arts and culture in the region, even as we navigate these constrained times". Steven Millar, from the Save Riverside campaign, told BBC News NI: "This isn't just a local theatre story, this is a warning to every community in Northern Ireland."He added: "If Ulster University can shut down our only theatre, despite community protest and widespread support, what's to stop them or other institutions from closing more public spaces anywhere?"Mr Millar said the university has not given the community enough time to make proposals for other ways the theatre could be funded, such as a charitable trust or community asset transfer."This isn't just about Coleraine," he said."It's about every town and every family that values public spaces, local arts, and the right to be heard." Actor James Nesbitt was Ulster University's chancellor for more than a decade."It's so disappointing that the university of which I was chancellor for 10 years finds itself in the position that it feels it necessary to close this iconic arts venue which was the launch pad of my career," he said."However, I'm also disappointed in the long-term reduction in investment in the arts by the Arts Council, the NI Executive and the local authority in performing arts in the north west."I think the agencies involved need to get together to invest in the future of the arts in this community. It will be sorely missed." Can Ulster University afford to keep the theatre running? By Robbie Meredith, BBC News NI Education & Arts CorrespondentUlster University's most recent accounts for 2023/24 do not paint a picture of a university facing significant financial the documents themselves say the university's financial results are "positive".However, like other universities, UU is facing challenges due to government funding falling below inflation and what the university says is a "significant downturn" in international student in Northern Ireland recently made a failed bid for tuition fees to rise, arguing they had not kept pace with to its accounts, UU received basic funding of about £84m from Stormont in 2023/24 and about £131m in student fees of various kinds as well as other self-generated three big campuses to run and staff though, the university also has significant the costs of running the Riverside Theatre, although not insignificant, are a very small part of the university's overall budget. The Department for the Economy has said that during the 2024/25 academic year, Ulster University received £88m of core grant funding for teaching and research from the department, along with funding of £7.6m for other specific research programmes. In addition, the department provided the university £13.8m in funding during financial year 2024-25 to support capital projects. 'Oldest professional theatre outside of Belfast' A spokesperson for the Department said the minister "recognises the cultural and historical significance of the Riverside Theatre as the oldest professional theatre outside of Belfast". But they added the decision to close it was taken by the university, adding that support for the arts does not come under the department's remit. "The minister and officials remain open to discussing any issues affecting the institution and its campuses," they said. In a statement, Ulster University said unprecedented financial challenges means it has to focus resources on "core academic activities"."Having supported and delivered this civic asset for 50 years, the building itself has now come to the end of its life and requires significant capital investment to remain in use."The university estimates this to be £745,000 in the immediate term, and is in addition to the annual running costs of £495, added they "appreciate that this news will come as a disappointment to many" and they remain open to exploring "new ways to support arts and culture in the region". A spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said taking on the extensive repair bill and ongoing running costs of the theatre would impact on the council's ability to invest in other projects such as play parks or health and wellbeing facilities."Council currently operates two vibrant arts and culture centres at a significant cost of almost £900k p.a. to the local ratepayer; one of these facilities is just two miles from the Riverside Theatre (Flowerfield Arts Centre)."A council spokesperson added that a community delegation will be offered the chance to present to the council at the end of June.
ITV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
James Nesbitt 'disappointed' at closure of 'iconic' Coleraine theatre where career began
Hollywood actor and Coleraine native James Nesbitt says he is 'disappointed' over a decision by Ulster University to close the Riverside Theatre. Nesbitt, who honed his craft at the venue and was Chancellor of the university for 10 years also expressed his sadness at the long term reduction in arts investment across the North West. Ulster University says the cost of running the theatre does not align with their academic goals and available funding stating the building would require significant capital investment to remain in use, with refurbishment works estimated to cost nearly £750,000, in addition to annual running costs of almost £500,000. The Riverside Theatre at Ulster University's Coleraine campus has been at the heart of performing arts in the town since it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II almost 50 years ago. Its stage has been graced by the likes of Liam Neeson and of course James Nesbitt. After hitting the stage in Coleraine, he went on to superstardom with hits including ITV's Cold Feet and the Hobbit movies. In January 2025, the university announced that it was looking into how the theatre was funded. In March it proposed Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council consider a lease agreement for the venue with a meeting expected to take place in June. However on 29 May the university announced the closure in August. Mr Nesbitt expressed his sadness at the closure: 'It's so disappointing that the university of which I was Chancellor for 10 years finds itself in the position that it feels it necessary to close this iconic arts venue which was the launch pad of my career. "However, I'm also disappointed in the long- term reduction in investment in the arts by the arts council, the NI Executive and the local authority in performing arts in the North West. "I think the agencies involved need to get together to invest in the future of the arts in this community. It will be sorely missed.' Mr Nesbitt is not the only one disappointed by the news of the theatres imminent closure. A protest outside Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council offices in Coleraine is planned while a petition to save the venue has got more than 3,500 signatures. In a statement Ulster University added: "We remain focused on the university's core purpose: to deliver high-quality teaching and impactful research across our multiple campuses; and in the face of unprecedented financial challenges, with the funding model in Northern Ireland acknowledged as unsustainable, it is more important than ever that we focus our resources on core academic activities. "Having supported and delivered this civic asset for 50 years, the building itself has now come to the end of its life and requires significant capital investment to remain in use. "This is estimated at £745,000 in the immediate term alone and is in addition to the annual running costs of £495,000. "While we appreciate that this news will come as a disappointment to many, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the artists, audiences, staff, and supporters who have made the Riverside Theatre such a special place for so many years." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Where Cold Feet cast are now from Hollywood movies to shocking revival demands
Cold Feet became a cult show in the '90s and was so popular it made a return in 2016, but with the series now on a 'prolonged hiatus' the cast strayed onto very different paths TV shows have often struggled to get across the reality of relationships on screen, but one show that managed to show the ups and downs was Cold Feet. The original series ran from 1997 to 2003, and was equally likely to make you cry as it was to make you laugh as it followed three realistic couples in Manchester. Revolving around couples Adam and Rachel (James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale), Pete and Jenny (John Thomson and Fay Ripley), and David and Karen (Robert Bathurst and Hermione Norris), the ITV show was an instant hit. Alongside providing laughs, Cold Feet was also known for tackling hard-hitting storylines including fertility issues, illness, and financial woes - and went even further by killing off main character Rachel in a car crash. Considering its popularity, Cold Feet came back for a revival in 2016, with all the main stars returning apart from Helen. Like the cast, the characters all had very different lives compared to the original, with teen kids and career changes alongside new partners. Ending in 2020, the show is now on a 'prolonged hiatus' with no confirmation about whether it will return or not. That doesn't mean that the stars of the show haven't been busy with other projects, with some having launched incredible careers after Cold Feet set them on the path to fame.. James Nesbitt James Nesbitt's first major TV role was playing the charming Adam Williams in Cold Feet. The serial womaniser settled down with Rachel while still having an eye for his next-door neighbour, but became a single dad to their son Matthew when Rachel was tragically killed. At the start of the revived series we saw Adam marrying a woman he met in Singapore but the relationship fell apart and he eventually started a romance with his late partner's best friend Karen. Nesbitt won the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actor in 2000 and NTA for Most Popular Comedy Performance in 2003 for his role. Thanks to his success, the Northern Irish actor continued getting TV roles in shows such as Murphy's Law, Jekyll and TV movie Bloody Sunday. Away from TV he also became a movie star, appearing in Danny Boyle drama Millions in 2004 and a small role in Woody Allen's thriller Match Point in 2005. Then, in 2012, Nesbitt really hit the big time when he was cast as the Bofur the dwarf in all the three of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit films. He is also well known for his appearances in Sky's Premier League coverage TV adverts and plenty of crime show hits. He's recently starred in Stan Lee's Lucky Man, BBC dramas The Missing and Bloodlands, Line of Duty, and this year's Netflix hit Missing You. Nesbitt has also opened up about working on his looks to stay Hollywood-ready after noticing that his hairline was receding. In 2019, he admitted: "I began losing hair several years ago. I felt it could affect my career." That February it was reported that the actor was having his sixth £20,000 hair transplant, and he has openly discussed how he believes it has "probably helped" his ability to get leading roles. Fay Ripley Ripley's character Jenny Gifford spent most of Cold Feet being on and off with husband Pete. The ballsy character threw Pete out after discovering his affair, let him back, separated again, started dating a millionaire, got back together, then divorced when she went off to America. Jenny came back for Rachel's funeral, moved back in with Pete and they actually stuck together this time, with Pete being her rock through her cancer ordeal. Ripley left the show to take more varied roles and spend more time with her family, telling writers to either kill Jenny off or have her lose a limb. Luckily they decided to send her character to New York so she could return for a guest appearance in the final episode of the original seasons and then come back for the revived series. Fay went on to play a murderer in BBC drama Green-Eyed Monster and was also in Fungus The Bogeyman, Hustle, New Tricks, Reggie Perrin and Moving On. She has also fronted her own ground-breaking drama series Suspects on Channel 5, appeared in comedy The Delivery Man and been a guest host on The One Show. Most recently, she bagged a role in the Channel 4 drama Finders Keepers. John Thompson Pete Gifford was Adam's childhood friend and Jenny's husband, whom he cheated on in series two with colleague Amy. When Jenny left for America with their son Adam he got into a relationship with Jo and they got married, but it was doomed. In the revived series, we saw Pete struggling with crippling depression while struggling to hold down multiple jobs. Before Cold Feet, John Thompson was best known for his comedy turns in sketch hit The Fast Show, particularly as a black polo-necked jazz expert. After five years as Pete, John spent some time on stage and appeared in various one-off dramas as well as New Street Law and the third series of ITV show Kingdom. The Mancunian actor returned to high-profile telly with a role in Coronation Street as struggling children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick. After his stint in Corrie he moved onto Waterloo Road, and has also been in The Keith Lemon Sketch Show, Casualty and Trollied. He changed things up when he was unmasked as Bush Baby in the second series of singing contest The Masked Singer, before getting back to acting with roles in Father Brown and Silent Witness. Hermione Norris Karen Marsden was the well-to-do and very middle-class mum who had a successful career as a publishing editor. Karen's husband David sadly became an alcoholic and had an affair - with her also cheating in return. The couple got divorced but remained friends while bringing up their son and twin girls, but there were tensions in the later series when Karen got into a relationship with David's pal Adam. After Cold Feet, Norris went on to become the queen of TV dramas, starring in Robson Green police thriller Wire In The Blood. She then moved over to the BBC to star as super spy Ros Myers in Spooks, Kingdom, Outcasts, In the Club and Doctor Who. She also delighted fans by reuniting with her Cold Feet co-star Robert Bathurst in Sky One's Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, and also appeared in series five of Luther. She went on to star in Doc Martin and Riches, and joined Thompson with a 2024 feature in Silent Witness. Robert Bathurst Bumbling David Marsden had a high-paying management consultant job but his life was turned upside down when he got made redundant in series two. David went on to have an affair, with wife Karen then cheating on him afterwards. They soon divorced and he got into a relationship with his solicitor Robyn, but that also ended. Before Cold Feet, actor Robert Bathurst has been a theatre star and appeared in Red Dwarf, The Lenny Henry Show and Joking Apart. He joined the cast of the popular children's sitcom My Dad's The Prime Minister, playing a bedraggled PM, then had a role in Kingdom, alongside former Feet co-stars Hermione Norris and John Thompson. Bathurst's television career went from strength to strength with roles in The Pillars of the Earth, Wild at Heart and Downton Abbey. More recently he appeared in Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie, Sky One's adaptation of best-selling novel Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death alongside fellow Cold Feet star Hermione Norris and Channel 4 comedy Toast of London. He reunited with Matt Berry for the spin-off Toast of Tinseltown, and has most recently appeared in Casualty. Helen Baxendale Baxendale played Rachel Bradley, who shocked boyfriend Adam when she admitted that she was already married. She got a divorce but slept with her ex and had an abortion which caused her to become infertile, but she married Adam and they had a miracle baby together. The infertility plot was rewritten because actress Helen Baxendale was pregnant in real life while filming series four. Rachel tragically died in a car crash in series five, which obviously meant Helen couldn't come back for the revived series aside from a guest appearance in series eight. The acclaimed actress, who shot to fame in series Cardiac Arrest, is best known for playing Ross Geller's demanding wife in Friends. She only appeared in 14 episodes but her character dated, married then divorced Ross, and her appearance made Baxendale well-known on the other side of the pond. Since then Helen has appeared in Cuckoo and Kidnap and Ransom, Poirot and Noughts + Crosses.
