Latest news with #MattSmith
South Wales Guardian
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Guardian
Noel Gallagher's Jaguar MKII Convertible up for sale
Gallagher, who is currently on tour with Oasis, owned the car in the 1990s and had the vehicle specially commissioned. Originally a four-door MKII saloon, the Jaguar underwent a high-specification transformation into a convertible model by specialists Vicarage. The two-year restoration period also allowed Gallagher the opportunity to learn to drive, as he had yet to obtain a driving licence at the time. The rear doors were removed and the front doors extended, while an electric hood and window system were added to create a fully-functioning convertible. From there, modern inertia-reel seatbelts, an electric cooling fan and an automatic gearbox transformed the Jaguar into a far more current affair. While the car was never driven by Gallagher in the end, it was kept in professional storage for many years, as well as making an appearance in a music video for Gallagher's High Flying Birds band, driven by Doctor Who actor Matt Smith. In 2022, the car was purchased by Jaguar Land Rover Classic, and it continued to make appearances in a number of high-profile events, including during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with model Twiggy riding in the back. Now for sale via Twyford Moors, the MKII Convertible remains in 'stunning' condition according to the seller. Harry Rochez from Twyford Moors Classic Cars said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to be offering such an extraordinary car with a story as rich as its spec. 'Commissioned by Noel Gallagher at the height of Britpop and built by the renowned team at Vicarage, this MKII Convertible is more than just a classic Jaguar—it's a cultural icon. With Oasis back on tour, it feels like the perfect time for this very special piece of motoring and music history to find its next custodian.' The Jaguar is currently available to purchase with its price released on application. However, it was last accompanied by a price of £144,950 when sold by Jaguar Land Rover Classic in 2023.
Leader Live
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Leader Live
Noel Gallagher's Jaguar MKII Convertible up for sale
Gallagher, who is currently on tour with Oasis, owned the car in the 1990s and had the vehicle specially commissioned. Originally a four-door MKII saloon, the Jaguar underwent a high-specification transformation into a convertible model by specialists Vicarage. The two-year restoration period also allowed Gallagher the opportunity to learn to drive, as he had yet to obtain a driving licence at the time. The rear doors were removed and the front doors extended, while an electric hood and window system were added to create a fully-functioning convertible. From there, modern inertia-reel seatbelts, an electric cooling fan and an automatic gearbox transformed the Jaguar into a far more current affair. While the car was never driven by Gallagher in the end, it was kept in professional storage for many years, as well as making an appearance in a music video for Gallagher's High Flying Birds band, driven by Doctor Who actor Matt Smith. In 2022, the car was purchased by Jaguar Land Rover Classic, and it continued to make appearances in a number of high-profile events, including during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with model Twiggy riding in the back. Now for sale via Twyford Moors, the MKII Convertible remains in 'stunning' condition according to the seller. Harry Rochez from Twyford Moors Classic Cars said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to be offering such an extraordinary car with a story as rich as its spec. 'Commissioned by Noel Gallagher at the height of Britpop and built by the renowned team at Vicarage, this MKII Convertible is more than just a classic Jaguar—it's a cultural icon. With Oasis back on tour, it feels like the perfect time for this very special piece of motoring and music history to find its next custodian.' The Jaguar is currently available to purchase with its price released on application. However, it was last accompanied by a price of £144,950 when sold by Jaguar Land Rover Classic in 2023.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Norton seen filming at Leavesden Studios in leaked video
Happy Valley actor James Norton has been spotted in Watford filming scenes for House of the Dragon. A leaked video from the set of the Game of Thrones prequel at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden shows the 40-year-old acting alongside Matt Smith's Daemon Targaryen. A child actor, who appears to be playing a member of the Targaryen family due to his white hair, also features in the clip which has made the rounds online and been shared by Splash News. James Norton seen on the 'House of the Dragon' set for the first time, filming scenes with Matt Smith 🐉⚔️🎬 — Splash News (@SplashNews) July 18, 2025 In January, it was announced that the Happy Valley and Grantchester star had been cast as Ormund Hightower, who is a major lord and the cousin of Oliva Cooke's character Alicent. Filming for the third series started at the studio off Aerodrome Way in March, according to Comic Basics, and is apparently set to continue there until series is then expected to be released via Sky Atlantic in the UK next year. House of the Dragon is based on George RR Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood and is set before the A Song of Ice and Fire books, which formed the basis of Game of Thrones. Previous series of the HBO show were also filmed in Leavesden and this summer it is joined by the broadcaster's Harry Potter TV adaption, which began production last week. James Norton (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA)
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
New season of Parliament opens in Canberra - with old hands and newcomers
"I just want to say that it augurs well for this Parliament because the weather today is spectacular. The calm on that lake, the sun, the clear skies, in a remarkably cold time for Canberra." That's Australia's Governor General, Sam Mostyn, welcoming the cohort of new members to Canberra in a formal ceremony days ahead of the official start of Parliament. Among the new arrivals is Matt Smith - a stand-out among Labor's coterie, at more than two metres in height. The former basketball player is now in Canberra after taking the far north Queensland seat of Leichhardt from the Coalition for the first time in almost two decades. He's a vocal advocate for the far north, and has made clear on his own social media that adjusting to life in Canberra has not been without challenges. "Now I'm going for a walk here in Canberra. Obviously the Chihuahuas aren't here with me, but it's cold. It's so, so cold... Look, if there was ever an excuse to go to far North Queensland, because right now at Trinity Beach it's 20 degrees and you could be watching the sun come up over the ocean would be beautiful." Then there's New South Wales One Nation senator Warwick Stacey, who dropped out of high school and headed to France where he worked as a handyman and English teacher before joining the British army. He eventually settled into a job as a kidnap and response consultant, advising clients on ways to navigate kidnappings, and even planning and implementing a ransom delivery to Somali pirates. Ahead of the federal election in May, Senator Stacey told 2GB radio his past life experience offers him an important point of difference from other politicians, and keeps him connected to voters. "When I was trained at Sandhurst, the motto of Sandhurst is serve to lead. And as a leader, you put your men, your people before yourself, and that is certainly not being done by the so-called leaders that we have in Parliament today. They're not putting Australia and Australians first." These new faces are among about 40 politicians who are entering parliament for the first time. During an event for new and returning politicians hosted by the Governor-General at Government House, Prime Minister Albanese reminded newcomers to take their responsibilities seriously. "It is such a privilege to sit either in the House of Representatives or the Senate. And something that none of us should ever take for granted. There are always far more people wanting to be in this position than can fulfil it, and it is an honour each and every day." And while he skipped the ceremony at Government House, National Party's Barnaby Joyce has echoed this sentiment, telling Seven's Sunrise working in politics is a privilege not to be taken lightly. "I had to split firewood and check the cattle before I headed off for a while. But look, it is really important. It's an incredible honour to come in the door here. It's an incredible honor to work here and you've got to understand part of the ritual is government house." Alongside those new to parliament house, there are some old hands as well. Goldstein MP Tim Wilson, for example, is no stranger to politics, and will return to parliament as the only Liberal to win back their seat from a 'teal' independent at the 2025 election. Both major parties are stepping into Parliament with a few items already on the agenda. Back in May, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made it clear what his first task would be. REPORTER: "What is the first item on the agenda for you?" ALBANESE: "A 20 percent cut in student debt, as I promised." Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth has already flagged the government wants to introduce a bill to protect penalty rates for award workers. The legislation would ensure workers on award wages can't have their penalty rates reduced in return for higher rates of base pay, if that would leave individual workers worse off. "We know there are a number of cases on foot in the commission where worker's take home pay could be reduced. And we want to make it clear in law that these penalty rates and overtime rates should be protected because we don't want people earning less and working harder." And Liberal Senator Dave Sharma has told Sky News improving productivity will be high on his party's list. "We need to fix our productivity. We need to improve our living standards. We need to get government spending under control. We need to balance the fiscal books again. We will work with Labor constructively on all of those if they're prepared to actually grasp the net and deal with these challenges." Also looming large is the prospect of new childcare safety laws. Legislation to strip childcare centres of federal funding if they do not meet national safety standards will be brought to federal parliament when it resumes. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has told Sky News the government is also working with states and territories on developing a national register of childcare workers. "We've got different states and territories with their own schemes for working with children checks and reportable conduct. They do not talk to other states and there is no system of oversight." The new term will see Labor with an increased majority, holding 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives after a landslide election win. The win has Prime Minister Anthony Albanese returning to Parliament in high spirits. "Look, we have a clear plan for the second term of government, and I will work constructively with the Parliament as I did in the first term. And what I want to see is a positive agenda going forward, and we'll see how we go." Opposition Leader Ley says the coalition are ready to support policies in the national interest, including new childcare legislation. But she says they also return to parliament ready to put up a fight. "Australians deserve the strongest possible opposition. Now, Mr. Albanese is giving interviews and he's suggesting that we should just get out of the way. Well, we won't be getting out of the way. If they bring forward legislation that is not in the national interest and it is not in the interest of Australians, then we will fight them every step of the way."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Federal parliament's newbies are steppin' out
Politics makes strange bedfellows and the 48th parliament is full of them. After the May election, Canberra will welcome about 40 new politicians including one of its tallest-ever MPs, a former pirate negotiator and a few familiar faces. At more than two metres in height, Matt Smith is a stand-out among Labor's coterie. The former basketball player wrenched the far north Queensland seat of Leichhardt from the coalition for the first time in almost two decades after years spent forging ties with the community during his time with the Cairns Taipans. Mr Smith held the team's record for blocked shots when the Taipans went into administration in 2008. The news broke the players, he says, but locals' efforts to save the team transformed his perception of community. "At the height of the global financial crisis, people dipped into their own pockets to keep the team afloat," he tells AAP. He could have returned to his Victorian roots after retiring from basketball in 2018 but Mr Smith says he now belongs to Cairns. "The Taipans, as we know them now, are a community-funded team because of the never-say-die attitude, because of the passion from far north Queensland," he says. "There is an obligation to give back to everyone who's given so much and this is the best way that I can help and improve the community that I love and that has been so good to me over the last 20 years." The Queensland MP isn't the only new politician with outsized life experience. NSW One Nation senator Warwick Stacey dropped out of high school and headed to southern France where he worked as a handyman and English teacher before joining the British army. He eventually settled into a job as a kidnap and response consultant, advising clients on ways to navigate kidnappings, and even planning and implementing a ransom delivery to Somali pirates. Senator Stacey hopes his past can differentiate him from other politicians, who comparatively have "very little life experience". "(They've) gone from university into the union or into a parliamentarian's office as a staffer and then they put their hand up for a seat," he says. "I'd like to bring my experience." But a few newcomers can lean on their extensive political experience to offer specific insights into their communities. MP for Lyons Rebecca White has already spent 15 years serving voters in Tasmania's parliament and even led the state's Labor opposition for about half her tenure. "I've had a pretty long apprenticeship," she tells AAP. Her federal electorate has the exact same boundaries as her former state seat. But entering parliament as part of Labor's significant lower house majority offers new opportunities. "I've had the privilege of being able to represent my community for a long time in the state parliament but a really large part of that was in opposition, which has been frustrating at times," she says. "There are things we could have done if we were elected to government in Tasmania and we weren't able to progress. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to make change." Goldstein MP Tim Wilson is also no stranger to politics and will return to parliament as the only Liberal to win back their seat from a 'teal' independent at the 2025 election. The contest in the inner-Melbourne seat was so close it took almost a month, and a partial recount, before Mr Wilson was officially declared the victor over independent Zoe Daniel. But the Liberal Party's broader defeat cast a shadow over his win. "I always privately had this fear that I would be the only one who would defeat a teal but I never voiced that publicly," he says. "I had never imagined a scenario where I would be the only one to win a seat, the only liberal in a capital city and one of two in metropolitan Australia. "So despite the excitement, I think that actually hit me with a sense of responsibility." Still, he's not the only newcomer to defeat a well-known politician. Experienced foster carer Sarah Witty beat former Greens leader Adam Bandt and took the seat of Melbourne back to Labor for the first time in 15 years. It was one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 election and while she never expected to win, from her first day on the campaign, the appetite for change was clear. "I knew there was definitely a swing away, I just wasn't sure how far we would go," she says. Parliament will resume on July 22.
