Latest news with #MadAbouttheBoy
Metro
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Bridget Jones author claims she was repeatedly groped while working at BBC
The woman behind Bridget Jones has claimed she was groped repeatedly while working for the BBC. Helen Fielding, who penned the legendary 1996 novel Bridget Jones's Diary and spawned a multimedia franchise, joined the BBC as a researcher in 1979. After leaving the broadcaster, she worked as a journalist, where the idea for the Bridget Jones character began as an unattributed column in The Independent. From there, she became a novelist and penned several books, including three Bridget Jones novels—Bridget Jones's Diary in 1996, The Edge of Reason in 1999, and Mad About the Boy in 2013. The books became a major film franchise, with Renée Zellweger in the titular role of Bridget, starring opposite love interests Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. As a result, Helen, 67, is one of the biggest names in British publishing, but her latest story comes from when she was making her first steps in the industry. She joined the BBC at the age of 21, when, as she told the Soho Summit, workplace sexual harassment went unpunished across several industries and trades. 'I worked at the BBC when I was in my 20s, and you just got used to the fact that people would actually put their hand on your boob while they were talking to you about work,' she said, via MailOnline. Helen did not directly name any of her BBC colleagues in relation to her claims, nor did she directly accuse any other members of staff at the organisaiton. Describing groping as an everyday occurrence, Helen added that women her age were expected to 'put up with' harassment from older male colleagues. When contacted for comment, a BBC spokesperson told Metro in response to Helen's claims: 'We're sorry to hear of these experiences. Attitudes and behaviours have changed significantly in the last 40 years and the BBC—like the rest of society—is very different place now to what it was then.' Elsewhere, Helen also reflected on the industry as a whole and the era of Bridget Jones: 'I first wrote Bridget pre-#MeToo—and when I look at that film now, I can't believe that that stuff was going on,' she said of the male characters in the novel who harass Bridget on a daily basis. One such character, who makes it into the 2001 film adaptation, is Bridget's leering boss, Mr. Fitzherbert, whom Bridget refers to as 'Mr. T**spervert'. Speaking about the movie industry today, Helen argued that, while they might be better disguised, the same attitudes remain from the 1970s and 1980s. More Trending 'You still have to fight much harder as a woman, even a successful woman, and you get treated in ways that men would not be treated. And there's no denying that it is still going on and it needs to change.' Helen's first novel was a 1994 satirical story titled Cause Celeb, which was based on the relationship between celebrities and refugees in a fictional East African country. Aside from the Bridget Jones novels, she also penned the 2003 comic spy book Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination, which tells the story of a woman following a man she believes to be a terrorist. 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: Xzibit reveals $1,000,000 reason he rejected Pimp My Ride return MORE: Disgraced BBC star Huw Edwards 'refuses requests to return £200,000 he was paid after arrest' MORE: 'I wrote huge songs with popstars at their lowest points but turned down millions'
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
I'm a Bridget Jones superfan. Inspired by her latest movie, I travelled to London to follow in her footsteps
On a recent spring night in London's bustling Borough Market, I gazed in awe at a space I had seen many times before but only on screen: the living room that once belonged to Bridget Jones, one of my all-time favourite movie characters. On the table in front of me sat a coupe of blue 'soup,' a nod to Bridget's revolting first course from the hilariously botched birthday dinner she cooked for her besties. However, the culinary creation I sipped on wasn't soup at all but a frothy, blue cocktail, which, unlike its ill-fated inspiration, tasted downright divine. Sweet, coconutty and irresistible, Bridget's Blue (Soup) is a bestseller at Khao Bird , a Thai food hot spot with a hip yet cosy vibe. But for guests like me, the restaurant is best known as Bridget's beloved flat from her singleton days. Khao Bird is a Thai food hot spot located in Bridget Jones's former living room. I've been a superfan of Helen Fielding's charming, relatable protagonist since she first stumbled into pop culture three decades ago — long before the phrase ' set-jetting ' was coined to describe the current trend of travellers flocking to film locations. So when I learned that Renée Zellweger's fourth reprisal of this iconic character would be released in theatres in only a few countries, including England, London was calling. A Bridget-themed trip was the perfect excuse for a girlfriends' getaway, so I invited my dear friend Silvia, and we set out to follow in the footsteps of the rom-com heroine I've practically grown up with. Toasting to Bridget with a cocktail named in her honour, right in her former living room, was the ideal opening scene for our trip. Named after a hilariously botched dish, Bridget's Blue (Soup) is a bestseller at Khao Bird. On our first morning, Silvia and I caught a showing of 'Mad About the Boy,' expecting a lighthearted chick flick. Instead, I found myself in tears multiple times. The film deftly portrays poignant themes of loss and identity while Bridget navigates a life chapter I'm also enmeshed in: the middle-age challenges of juggling parenting, work and love in a world that sometimes mistakes us for grandparents. But there were plenty of laughs, too, and seeing the London landmarks we were also glimpsing in real life added an extra thrill. After the movie, we returned to Bridget's old neighbourhood for a late lunch at Bedales of Borough . Nowadays, it's an upscale wine bar. But for Bridget fans, it's better known from the first film as the Greek restaurant where the hysterical (and mostly unchoreographed , I later learn) brawl breaks out between her love interests: upstanding lawyer Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver, the publishing playboy. In true Bridget style, Silvia and I enjoyed a leisurely, boozy afternoon of girl talk over bubbles and bites, while watching the crowds walk past the window that Mark and Daniel had famously crashed through. (Another fun fact I soon learn: It was sugar glass.) We resumed our Bridget-inspired exploration the next morning, joined by another dear friend, Johanna, who happened to be in town. This time, we enlisted an expert from the award-winning Brit Movie Tours to lead us on a private walking tour of filming locations from all four Bridget Jones movies. (This summer, the company will also launch taxi tours specific to 'Mad About the Boy' locations.) Fiona Johnston, a guide with Brit Movie Tours, will lead travellers to filming locations from all four Bridget Jones movies. Our outstanding guide, Fiona Johnston, a lifelong Londoner, was a fellow superfan, and she and I were soon firing off quotes and cackling like hyenas. Johnston boasted an astounding breadth of knowledge about the films, including those fight-scene tidbits, and the lesser-known history behind certain sites. Outside the Clink Street flat that served as Daniel's sleek bachelor pad, she told us Zellweger's comedic timing helped her land the role over British actors. We also learned that the beautiful St. Clement Danes Church , where the memorial service from 'Bridget Jones's Baby' was filmed, is the central church of the Royal Air Force. Post-tour, two-and-a-half hours and nearly 12,000 steps later, I had a new-found appreciation for the films, the actors and London itself. From past trips (and living in the city's outskirts when I was a kid), I was already well acquainted with the most famous tourist attractions, like Big Ben and Kensington Palace. But this time around, I appreciated getting to know other areas, including Bridget's bustling neighbourhood, plus a few quieter, quirkier corners with their own stories to tell. Seeing it all in the spirit of Bridget — and alongside cherished friends — was the cherry on top. Writer Blane Bachelor, far right, with her friends on their 'set-jetting' getaway to London. On my last day, I took the tube to Hampstead, the tony north London neighbourhood featured prominently in 'Mad About the Boy.' I hailed a cab, and the driver, Kenny, also a fan of the movies after watching them with his girlfriend, whizzed me around to various locations that Johnston had written down, including Bridget's Victorian townhouse, which was being renovated for some lucky inhabitant. In Hampstead Heath , a park with rolling hills and knockout skyline views, I managed to find the 'magical man tree,' as Bridget calls it during a funny scene in which two handsome men magically appear to help her and her kids after they get stuck while climbing it. Instead of hugging it as Bridget did (I already have a magical man at home, thank you very much), I snapped a few photos of this unlikely tourist attraction — a seemingly ordinary, old oak tree — then made a mental note to spend more time in this delightful area on my next trip. The Light Bar, housed in a former Victorian power station, appears in 'The Edge of Reason.' For my final toast to Bridget, I headed that evening to the Light Bar , housed in a former Victorian power station in the trendy Shoreditch neighbourhood. The bar appears in the second film, 'The Edge of Reason,' during a scene when Bridget's friends convince her over drinks to dump Mark because it appears he's cheating on her. When I arrived, the bar was already packed with suited-up blokes clinking pints, and fashionable women laughing over wine. I managed to snag a prime corner table, but no relationship advice would be dispensed across it — I was all by myself. After ordering a cocktail, I peeked at my fellow patrons and felt a twinge of loneliness. Without my own trusty girlfriends, there was only one thing to do. I reached into my purse, pulled out my journal — rather, my diary — and started writing. Blane Bachelor travelled with some trip support from Visit London , which did not review or approve this article.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Sienna Miller spotted at 'party rottweiler' Fran Cutler's 62nd birthday - but former Primrose Hill friend Kate Moss is nowhere to be seen
Sienna Miller was among the guests at Fran Cutler's 62nd birthday party this week, but there was no sign of Kate Moss, for whom the host used to act as 'gatekeeper'. In the 1990s, Fran was known as the 'party Rottweiler' for the Primrose Hill set. She would organise hedonistic gatherings for Moss, 51, and her friends, while refusing to admit anyone who she deemed not important enough to join them. The supermodel was conspicuous by her absence at the birthday bash in London, at South Kensington's Nexus Club. Surely Moss can't still be sore about an unfortunate incident that happened between the pair back in 2018? That year, Cutler, pictured, accidentally sent an unflattering message about Moss's appearance directly to her. Hollywood star Sienna, 43, wore a white slip dress under a brown Denebola jumper and was joined at the party by her boyfriend, actor Oli Green, 28, who appeared in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. The smart set's talking about... Pearson follows polo pal and pops the question too My colleague Vere Harmsworth's engagement to horse-loving Alexandra Wood seems to have inspired another. I hear Vere's best friend George Pearson also got down on bended knee last week. 'I proposed while we were on holiday in the south of France,' says George, 29, whose father, Charles Pearson, is the half-brother of Viscount Cowdray and owner of Dunecht estate in Aberdeenshire. George's bride-to-be is lawyer Chesca Durnford, 30. 'Vere and I did discuss things beforehand,' George tells me. The double engagement amused the family of Vere, 30, whose father is Viscount Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail Online and The Mail on Sunday. 'George and I were at Eton and Oxford together,' Vere says. 'We also played in the same polo team.' They will not, however, have a joint celebration. George says, laughing: 'I think we'll stick with separate weddings.' (Very) modern manners West End star Ruthie Henshall, an ex-girlfriend of Prince Edward, may return to the Big Smoke to find Mr Right. 'I've thought about moving back to London and getting an apartment,' says the Olivier Award-winning actress, who lives in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. 'I do have this lovely thatched cottage. I could stay here, but most of my life is in London. How can I meet people if I am not going anywhere?' Henshall, 58, who has two adult daughters with her ex-husband, actor Tim Howar, has not enjoyed online dating. 'I did that twice, but found it awful,' she says. 'I didn't match with many people and some would drop off halfway through a conversation. It's just swipe, swipe, swipe.' Fatboy's boy surprises DJ dad with award As superstar DJ Fatboy Slim, Norman Cook would fly to Ibiza one day and be back behind the decks in London the next. These days, the former Housemartins bass guitarist, 61, doesn't seem to leave his home in Hove, East Sussex, very often. But he did turn up at the Music Producers Guild Awards this week, in east London, to collect a prize for Outstanding Contribution to UK Music. And he was taken aback when his son, Woody, 24, came out to present it to him. 'It takes a lot to get me up the A23 [to London from Brighton], but this is great,' Cook joked. Woody's mother is the DJ's ex-wife, broadcaster Zoe Ball, who Cook last month said remains a close friend and his 'soulmate'. The awards were described as a 'magic moment' by his son. Medal for Wood's forgotten war hero He has walked the length of the Nile and been embedded with Iraqi troops fighting ISIS, and now Levison Wood has completed an even more poignant mission. The TV explorer went to India to present a Second World War veteran with a Burma Star medal and a letter from King Charles. Corporal Con Herh, of the Burmese Chin Rifles, who turns 100 in June, served in the Burma campaign. 'We tracked this guy down, he never received his medal,' says ex-Army officer Wood, 42. 'We thought it'd be a nice touch to go and meet him.' Aspinall curse as Tansy shuts brand Has the Aspinall name been jinxed? A week ago I disclosed that Aspers Group – the casino company founded by Damian Aspinall – had gone into administration. And his daughter, Tansy, has now put her jewellery firm, into liquidation. Tansy, pictured right, set up Tada & Toy with a friend in 2013 and fans were said to include Harry Potter star Emma Watson. But now £119,000 in debt, the company has been brought to a halt. 'It's not goodbye, it's see you later,' the website says. Tansy, 35, last night declined to comment. Townshend: the fame got to Rod and Jagger The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who turns 80 next month, clearly feels it's time to tell some home truths about his fellow rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Rod Stewart. Talking about the latter's band, he says: 'The Faces and The Who did a gig together at The Oval [in 1971]. It was such a great day, and they were such a great band. 'Then Rod became the "face" of The Faces, a sex symbol. And I hope he won't mind me saying this, because I love Rod, but I think it kind of went to his head.' Of Rolling Stones singer Sir Mick, Townshend questions whether riches have made him happy. 'I wonder, for example, whether Mick Jagger really gives a f*** whether he has a plot on Mustique where he can spend Christmas, or whether he'd prefer to come and have dinner with a bunch of friends in London,' he says.
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is now available to watch at home - here's how
Bridget Jones's Diary first leapt onto our screens in 2001, with a dashing love triangle and some seriously enormous pants. Since then, we have been utterly charmed by Bridget's quest for love and now, 24 years later, we finally have our happy ending – but is it what we expected? Mad About the Boy is the fourth and final film in the series and sees Bridget, now a widowed mother of two, coping with grief and learning how to love again. If you haven't managed to see it at the cinema, as of today (31 March), the final flick in the film franchise is available to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. All the things we love about Bridget are still there – including clumsy falls, blue soup, and Hugh Grant in a sports car. What more could you want? While the film inspires a night of nostalgia, there are some welcome new additions in the shape of heartthrob Leo Woodall, known for his roles in The White Lotus and Netflix's One Day. He takes on the role of Bridget's somewhat younger love interest. While the film is still showing in select cinemas across the country, you can now rent or buy the film at home from several different streaming sites. But before you go running to save your seats, make sure you're fully caught up on Bridget Jones's story so far. Here's how to watch the entire Bridget Jones film series. How to watch 'Mad About the Boy' in the UK Mad About the Boy was released in cinemas on 13 February, the Valentine's Day gift we all wanted. The film stars Renee Zellweger, who returns to the titular role as Bridget Jones. Having recently lost her long-time love, the dashing Mr Darcy (Colin Firth), the film explores the reality of grief, but also shows that once lost, love and joy can still be found again. In this new flick, Hugh Grant returns to his iconic role as notorious playboy Daniel Cleaver. After having turned down the third film in 2016, he has since publicly stated that the script for this final film was one of the best he had ever read, convincing him to take up the role once again. Alongside him, we have two new faces joining the cast: Leo Woodall and Bafta-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, who will form Bridget's newest love triangle. You can still catch the movie in many cinemas across the country but you can also now enjoy the film from the comfort of your own home. It officially became available for home premiere on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ on 31 March. Rental prices start from £15.99 and purchase prices from £19.99 Make sure you're fully up to date on Bridget's rocky romantic life before embarking on her latest chapter. 'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001) The film that started it all. The very first instalment in the franchise, Bridget Jones's Diary, sees Bridget described as an idiot when it comes to love. Leading her straight to devilish heartbreaker Daniel Cleaver (Grant) and mysterious human rights lawyer Mark Darcy (Firth), who as it turns out, likes her just as she is. It's the one with blue soup, enormous pants and not-so-manly street fights. Right now, you can watch the entire film series for free with a NowTV premium subscription, or you can rent or buy the films on both Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV+. In this sequel, we find Bridget in domestic bliss with Mr Darcey, only for her to inevitably muck it all up within the first 40 minutes and land herself in a Thai prison, naturally. 'Bridget Jones's Baby' (2016) The third instalment welcomes a new addition, Jack Qwant, a charming tech CEO played by McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy fame. Bridget finds herself in a love triangle and pregnant at 40 and with no clue who the father is. As is expected, chaos ensues. How to read the Bridget Jones's Diary books Like most great stories, Bridget Jones's Diary was originally a book series written by Helen Fielding (after a successful column in The Independent). The first was published in 1996, and the films stayed pretty close to the plot. The novel details Bridget's life from a premature spinster at 30, to an unexpected mother at 40, and finally a flailing widow at 50. If you're as obsessed with the series as we are, we suggest you pick up a copy (or four) to soak up every last detail and read them all in order.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is about to get its digital release
Bridget Jones's Diary first leapt onto our screens in 2001, with a dashing love triangle and some seriously enormous pants. Since then, we have been utterly charmed by Bridget's quest for love and now, 24 years later, we finally have our happy ending – but is it what we expected? Mad About the Boy is the fourth and final film in the series and sees Bridget, now a widowed mother of two, coping with grief and learning how to love again. If you haven't managed to see it at the cinema, as of today (27 March) the final flick in the film franchise is available for pre-order. All the things we love about Bridget are still there – including clumsy falls, blue soup, and Hugh Grant in a sports car. What more could you want? While the film is set to inspire a night of nostalgia, there are some welcome additions in the shape of heartthrob Leo Woodall, known for his roles in The White Lotus and Netflix's One Day. He takes on the role of Bridget's, somewhat younger, love interest. While the film is now on pre-order for it's digital release, it is also still showing in cinemas. But, before you go running to the cinema to save your seats, make sure you're fully caught up on Bridget Jones's story so far. Here's how to watch the entire Bridget Jones film series. How to watch 'Mad About the Boy' in the UK Mad About the Boy was released in cinemas on 13 February, the Valentine's Day gift we all wanted. Of course, the film stars Renee Zellweger returning to the titular role as Bridget Jones. Having recently lost her long-time love the dashing Mr Darcy (Colin Firth), the film explores the reality of grief, but also shows that once lost, love and joy can still be found again. In this new flick, Hugh Grant returns to his iconic role as notorious playboy Daniel Cleaver. After having turned down the third film in 2016, he has since publicly stated that the script for this final film was one of the best he had ever read, convincing him to take up the role once again. Alongside him we have two new faces joining the cast: Leo Woodall and Bafta-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, who will form Bridget's newest love triangle. You can still catch the movie in many cinemas across the country but you can also now pre-order the film for £19.99, so you can enjoy it all from the comfort of your own sofa. It will be officially out for home premiere on 31 March. Make sure you're fully up to date on Bridget's rocky romantic life before embarking on her latest chapter. 'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001) The film that started it all. The very first instalment in the franchise, Bridget Jones's Diary, sees Bridget described as an idiot when it comes to love. Leading her straight to devilish heartbreaker Daniel Cleaver (Grant) and mysterious human rights lawyer Mark Darcy (Firth) who as it turns out, likes her just as she is. It's the one with blue soup, enormous pants and not-so-manly street fights. Right now you can watch the entire film series for free with a NowTV premium subscription or you can rent or buy the films at both Amazon Prime Video or AppleTV+. In this sequel, we find Bridget in domestic bliss with Mr Darcey, only for her to inevitably muck it all up within the first 40 minutes and land herself in a Thai prison, naturally. 'Bridget Jones's Baby' (2016) The third instalment welcomes new addition Jack Qwant, a charming tech CEO played by McDreamy himself Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy fame. Bridget finds herself in a love triangle and pregnant at 40 and with no clue who the father is. As is expected, chaos ensues. How to read the Bridget Jones's Diary books Like most great stories Bridget Jones's Diary was originally a book series written by Helen Fielding (after a successful column in The Independent). The first was published in 1996 and the films stayed pretty close to the plot. The novels detail Bridget's life from a premature spinster at 30, to an unexpected mother at 40, and finally a flailing widow at 50. If you're as obsessed with the series as we are, we suggest you pick up a copy (or four) to soak up every last detail and read them all in order.
