Latest news with #LOL:LastOneLaughing
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Prime Video Exec To Rainbow; AI Film ‘Echo Hunter'; MGM Alternative Makes BBC Show; HiddenLight Producer Joins Sky News Unit
Ex-Prime Video Italy Boss Joins Rainbow Group Marco Azzani, the former Country Manager for Prime Video Italy, has joined Rainbow Group as Executive VP of Digital Channels and Distribution. He had exited Amazon in February after a decade and his appointment at Italy-based animation house Rainbow comes at a crucial time following investment from TEC Movie, an indie vehicle formed by members of The Equity Club, which operates on behalf of ultra-high net-worth individuals connected to Mediobanca. The cash injection was part of a plan to expand internationally. Azzani, a 20-year industry veteran, led Prime Video between 2021 and 2025, having previously joined as Country Manager for Audible. He oversaw the local launch of comedy entertainment format LOL: Last One Laughing and acquired UEFA Champions League rights. 'The arrival of Marco Azzani represents a very important step for our group, which for years has undertaken a path of expansion and development in terms of quality and content offering,' said Iginio Straffi, founder and President of Rainbow, which is best known as the company behind the Winx Club brand. 'His experience in the digital and international media sector will be extremely valuable in developing new business lines and pushing Rainbow towards unprecedented goals in the world of entertainment.' More from Deadline 'Doctor Who' Ratings Dive, Supercharging Uncertainty About Future Of Sci-Fi Series BBC Content Supremo Latest: Banijay UK Boss Patrick Holland Out, Kate Phillips Person To Beat BBC Unveils 10-Strong Comedy Slate Featuring Diane Morgan, Michael Palin, Mackenzie Crook, Lenny Rush, Rob Brydon, & Guz Khan AI Filmmaker Kavan The Kid Making Dystopian Thriller EXCLUSIVE: A 30-minute dystopian sci-fi thriller from AI filmmaker Kavan Cardoza, aka 'Kavan the Kid', is headed to a new artificial intelligence-powered streaming platform. Echo Hunter will roll out after production on Arcana AI, a new platform operated by Arcana Labs that provides provides production tools. The film will be set in a dystopian future, where the elite harvest clones for spare parts. Per the synopsis, it follows a relentless clone hunter, who begins to unravel when echoes of his former life surface, leading him to a harrowing truth that could destroy the very world he protects. Cardoza's AI films have generated millions of views to date. Breckin Meyer (Robot Chicken) stars, with Taylor John Smith (Warfare, Where the Crawdads Sing), Danielle Bisutti (God of War, Insidious), Gedeon Burkhard (Inglourious Basterds), Hanna Balicki (The Wolf and Lamb), and Xander Bailey among the cast. Meyer is represented by IAG, Artists First, Danis, Panaro, Nist Talent, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. 'Echo Hunter is a project I hold deep in my heart,' said Cardoza. 'Telling this story through the combined power of Arcana AI and traditional filmmaking – alongside phenomenal performances from an incredible cast – has made this experience truly unforgettable. This film not only highlights what AI can achieve, but also offers a glimpse into the future of cinema and the emerging voices shaping its direction.' Let's see if the industry agrees. The film is powered and produced by Arcana Labs in association with Phantom X, with Mike J Mitch serving as producer and Arcana Labs CEO Jonathan Yunger as executive producer. Footage from the film played at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday with a digital premiere expected later this month. Last month, we revealed Arcana Labs had secured $5.5M from a funding round that allowed the company to launch Arcana AI. MGM Alternative Making BBC Daytime Series MGM Alternative UK's latest series is a BBC Daytime series, The Marvellous Miniatures Workshop (working title). BBC TV and radio presenter Sara Cox will front the series, in which professional model makers bring place, people and iconic moments to life via miniature models. MGM Alternative is planning to use new tech and microscopic cameras to get up close to the mini-models, as audiences are introduced to the people who want their special moment captured. The series will run on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, ordered the show. Nicki Stoker is the series producer. MGM Alternative, which is part of Amazon MGM Studios, already makes The Apprentice and Gladiators for the BBC. 'This show taps into our fascination with the tiny, from fantasy film to classic literature and as a naturally very nosey person, I personally can't wait to find out the beautiful backstory that inspires each creation,' said presenter Cox. HiddenLight's Siobhan Sinnerton To Lead Full Story Films Siobhan Sinnerton, the HiddenLight Productions producer with credits for Netflix's In Her Hands, is joining a new long-form doc label within Sky News. She will be Creative Director of Full Story Films, reporting into Sky News Group Executive Chairman David Rhodes. The unit will focus on developing long-form programs out of Sky's new coverage and archive. Sinnerton will shape and implement the editorial and creative strategy, working to complement the Sky Documentaries division and strike partnerships with talent from across the doc industry. 'This new production unit with Siobhan Sinnerton at the helm will epitomise the premium offering from Sky News,' said Rhodes. 'We see tremendous editorial and commercial opportunities in long-form journalism online and on TV. We're very fortunate to have Siobhan guiding and developing a slate of bold projects as the new Creative Director of Full Story Films.' Besides working at the Clintons' HiddenLight, Sinnerton was a commissioner at Channel 4 in the UK, where she commissioned the BAFTA-winning Myanmar's Killing Fields and the Oscar-nominated For Sama. Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'The Testaments,' Sequel Series To 'The Handmaid's Tale' So Far
Metro
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Inside Joe Lycett's private life with 'secret' girlfriend and surprise baby
Joe Lycett left fans in shock last year when announcing the news that he'd become a father. The comedian, 36, is best known for appearing on shows including Taskmaster, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and LOL: Last One Laughing, as well as presenting The Great British Sewing Bee, Travel Man and his talk show Late Night Lycett. Over the years Joe has largely kept his private life out of the spotlight, so left many surprised when revealing he'd welcomed a child in October. At the time he shared a photo of himself cradling his son, sharing he was 'loving being a dad'. This week he explained that becoming a parent was 'so beautiful'. Here's everything we know about Joe's growing family, including his relationship with his 'secret' girlfriend. Joe has regularly referred to his bisexuality and pansexuality in his stand-up routines. In a 2015 interview with Attitude magazine, he described how being bisexual 'presents its own challenges' when people had 'no box to put you in', going on to share it 'just means you fancy people of all genders'. In 2023 he told The Guardian that 'homophobia was rife' while he was in school and there were 'very, very few openly queer kids in my year group'. A few days before announcing he'd become a dad, Joe spoke opened up about his relationship and spoke about his sexuality at length. Speaking on Bimini Bon-Boulash's podcast The Pieces, Joe discussed his girlfriend 'Denise' revealing that he uses a pseudonym to keep her name out of the public eye. 'So, I've got Winston the cat, and my partner Denise. And, um, she's not called Denise, but I don't talk about her, because she has a job that she can't be in the public eye,' he said. 'I call her Denise because she hates the name Denise, so, uh, I live with Denise. He went on to discuss his sexual identity, which he admitted was a difficult conversation at times. 'Well, it's interesting now being in a long-term relationship with a woman because loads of people are like, sorry what? There was a brief period when I was at school when I thought because I was attracted to men, I was gay, and then I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on,' he began. 'Then I use the term bisexual when anyone asks, and I just want to give a quick answer because people understand that. 'But I think the most accurate way of describing myself is pansexual, in that I'm not attracted to people, just because of their gender. Joe added that he sometimes struggled to explain his sexuality to 'idiots' as it was more nuanced than fancying every person on earth. 'I also don't really know how it works because, I don't know, how does it work? As in, I don't know how it works in terms of like, explaining it to idiots. Because it is hard to sort of go, well, no, I am attracted to men sometimes, but not all men. And it's not often to do with the fact that they are men,' he said. 'Yeah, it doesn't matter what the gender or whatever. And I don't know why that is, but that is how it is. It's a strange one because to me that suggests that sexuality is not just man, woman.' 'So, the intellectual side of me goes it's pansexual, which means all. So, that's how I feel about myself.' He went on to say that he 'doesn't really care what anyone else thinks about it these days, because I just think it's nothing to do with you'. However, Joe said many people still assumed he was gay because of his 'camp' television persona. 'I do think it's interesting. A few years into a relationship with a woman and going like, I am a straight man now, that dresses like this. I am still struggling with it in different ways of course. And particularly because lots of people just presume I'm gay because I'm camp on telly,' he shared. In November he was snapped out walking with his partner on a weekend stroll with their baby. However, Joe's not revealed any personal details about the mother of his child, nor has the baby's name been shared publicly. When announcing the arrival of his firstborn, Joe wrote that he is 'LOVING being a dad'. Posting Instagram, he praised the staff working at hospital where his partner gave birth. 'An appreciation post from me for the extraordinary @bham_womens hospital. My first encounter with them was years ago when they looked after a pal of mine through surgery, and then most recently when they masterfully welcomed a little boy into the world, who happens to be my son,' he wrote to his 1.4million followers. 'The care and compassion his mum and he received was exceptional; from the antenatal classes, incredible midwives, consultants, doctors, nurses and the ongoing care in the community. We also loved their baked potatoes. 'Birmingham is so lucky to have them, and I will be forever grateful for everything they've done.' He also appeared on Lorraine this week to promote his new series, Joe Lycett's United States of Birmingham, and got candid about parenthood. More Trending 'I'm amazed I've strung a sentence together 'cause I'm so underslept,' he told host Lorraine Kelly. 'It's so beautiful, the whole thing. It's so hard to not be clichéd when you talk about parenthood because everything everyone says about it is exactly right. 'It's sort of everything, and maddening, and beautiful and yeah. I'm having a lovely time with it; I'm really in love with it. It's great.' Joe Lycett's United States of Birmingham stars tonight at 9pm on Sky Max and NOW TV. 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: Watch 7 best moments from Amazon Prime show declared 'funniest ever seen' MORE: Amazon Prime series 'breaks records' after being hailed funniest TV show ever
