Latest news with #JulianGlover
South Wales Guardian
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
When is VE Day and why do we celebrate it in the UK?
It's no surprise that VE Day is being brought up in conversations as we head towards its 80th anniversary. Here's what we know about the celebration and why it's marked in the UK calendar. VE Day will take place on May 8, as it does every year - in 2025, May 8 falls on a Thursday. Celebrations are expected to take place across the country on and leading up to May 8. VE Day, short for Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated every year on May 8 to mark the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. Commemorations will mark the end of the war, including a Red Arrows flypast in London and a service at Westminster Abbey with members of the royal family. Street parties, an installation of 30,000 ceramic poppies and more are also expected. While the UK is being encouraged to enjoy celebrations, there is no bank holiday scheduled for May 8. It will instead be considered a normal day with celebrations taking place throughout the day and week. You can find out more about the government's decision to not schedule an extra bank holiday for VE Day in our article, linked below. Award-winning actors will star in a Second World War film released to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The National Theatre's short film will use connected stories to present intergenerational perspectives on the end of the war. Olivier Award-winning actor Julian Glover, who starred in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Wars film franchises, will feature in The Next Morning screened on May 8. It was written by James Graham who wrote Dear England, a play about former England football manager Gareth Southgate. The film will also feature Sian Phillips, who won a Bafta for her role in I, Claudius, and Joseph Mydell, from the Academy Award-winning film Conclave. Recommended reading: Is VE Day a bank holiday as the UK celebrates its 80th anniversary? Full list of UK Bank Holidays for 2025 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'It is absolutely right that we ensure that the stories of those who lived through and fought in the Second World War are remembered by generations to come. 'Through the National Theatre, the VE Day 80 concert and our UK-wide exhibition, we will bring to life the stories of those no longer with us so that the next generation are able to honour their sacrifice and recognise the legacy of peace that they fought to secure.' More than 12,500 people including Second World War veterans are expected to attend the VE Day 80 concert on May 8, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
VE Day: War film The Next Morning 'will bring stories to life'
A short film looking at intergenerational perspectives of World War Two is being released on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe National Theatre's film, The Next Morning, features award-winning actors Julian Glover and Sian Phillips and includes connected stories to present views of the end of World War will be screened on 8 May at the VE Day 80 concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. To coincide with the short film, an interactive mobile exhibition of war stories will also tour across the UK, beginning in Coventry, the British city which suffered the most concentrated air attack during the war. The For Evermore Tour, which launches at Coventry Cathedral on 2 May, has been created by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and will bring to life histories and stories from World War CGWC has collated the war experiences of members of the public with funding from the Post Office Remembrance the evening of 2 May, a concert will be held in Coventry Cathedral to commemorate VE Day 80 in aid of the charitable arm of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation. A CWGC spokesperson said: "Set in the stunning historic Coventry Cathedral, this promises to be a magical evening of music, commemoration, and remembrance."And added the event would, "mark the incredible legacy of liberation left by the veterans of the Second World War and remember over 600,000 men and women of the Commonwealth who lost their lives in this world-changing conflict". Claire Horton, director general at the CWGC, said: "By collating these stories in what will become the definitive resource of the stories of those who died in the world wars, we have created an enduring tribute to the men and women from across the Commonwealth who gave their lives, and we ensure that they will never be forgotten."The CWG's Torch for Peace will also be present throughout the tour, which will travel to iconic locations and landmarks across the UK, acting as a baton to pass and share stories with future generations, the CWGC said. Ms Horton said stories of people whose lives were "cut short by conflict must be told and shared". On 8 May, The Next Morning film, which has been written by James Graham, who wrote Dear England - a play about ex-England football manager Gareth Southgate, will be will feature Julian Glover, 90, who starred in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Wars films, as well as Sian Phillips, 91, who won a Bafta for her role in I, Claudius, and Joseph Mydell, from the Academy Award-winning film film airs at the VE Day 80 concert, which more than 12,500 people, including war veterans, are expected to attend, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. The Royal British Legion, the British Evacuees Association and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission are among the organisations that are allocating VE Day 80 concert tickets to people across the than 2,500 young people, who include Duke of Edinburgh ambassadors and Commonwealth scholars, will also watch the show live on Horse Guards Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Through the National Theatre, the VE Day 80 concert and our UK-wide exhibition, we will bring to life the stories of those no longer with us so that the next generation are able to honour their sacrifice and recognise the legacy of peace that they fought to secure."The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One at 20:00 BST. Additional reporting by PA Media Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Award-winning actors to star in Second World War film released for VE Day
Award-winning actors will star in a Second World War film released to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The National Theatre's short film will use connected stories to present intergenerational perspectives on the end of the war. Olivier Award-winning actor Julian Glover, who starred in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Wars film franchises, will feature in The Next Morning screened on May 8. It was written by James Graham who wrote Dear England, a play about former England football manager Gareth Southgate. The film will also feature Sian Phillips, who won a Bafta for her role in I, Claudius, and Joseph Mydell, from the Academy Award-winning film Conclave. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'It is absolutely right that we ensure that the stories of those who lived through and fought in the Second World War are remembered by generations to come. 'Through the National Theatre, the VE Day 80 concert and our UK-wide exhibition, we will bring to life the stories of those no longer with us so that the next generation are able to honour their sacrifice and recognise the legacy of peace that they fought to secure.' More than 12,500 people including Second World War veterans are expected to attend the VE Day 80 concert on May 8, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said. Royal British Legion, British Evacuees Association and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission are among the groups connected to VE Day that are allocating concert tickets to people across the UK. More than 2,500 young people including Duke of Edinburgh ambassadors and Commonwealth Scholars will watch the show live on Horse Guards Parade. DCMS said this is to 'ensure that the legacy of the stories of our veterans are saved for the next generation'. An interactive mobile exhibition will also take Second World War across the country, organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) that works to ensure those who died as a result of conflict are properly commemorated. The For Evermore Tour will start in Coventry, which suffered the most concentrated air attack on a British city during the war. Director general of the CWGC, Claire Horton, said: 'Stories of individual people whose lives were cut short by conflict must be told and shared, their contribution provides the human connection to an important aspect of our global history. 'For us, the VE and VJ 80th commemorations are a pivotal moment to come together and remember the immense loss of life during the Second World War – a devastating and deadly conflict that impacted people of all ages and from all corners of the world. She added: 'At the heart of the tour – and joining many of the national ceremonial events – is the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace. 'The lit torch is an enduring symbol, honouring the contributions made by individuals, yet it is also a baton to pass the responsibility of commemoration to future generations, helping us acknowledge our shared histories and complex pasts. 'As the world wars fade from living memory, we urge everyone to take time to take part in these important commemorations.' These events will run alongside the government's national programme to mark VE Day and VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day). During the programme a military procession and flypast of current and historic military aircraft will be held, poppies will be returned to the Tower of London, and there will be a national call for families to search their lofts for Second World War stories. Events will also be held at commemorative sites in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One at 8pm. The Next Morning will be released online on May 8 and made available to schools.
