Latest news with #Mitch
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Do singletons have 'huge fatigue' with dating apps like Tinder?
The founder of a new in-person dating and friendship network has told the BBC he created it because of people's "huge fatigue" with dating five million adults use online dating services each month in the UK, according to an Ofcom report released in who did not want the BBC to use his surname, established the Date IRL (In Real Life) network in Oxford for people to meet partners and said he decided to form the group after "grappling" with how hard it could be to "make friends who are not your colleagues" having left university. Mitch, who is originally from the American Midwest, told BBC Radio Oxford: "For me personally, no one really prepares you for life after university and when you enter the workforce."No one tells you about the magnitude of the shift from when you enter into a nine-to-five job when you're trying to make friends, you're trying to have a social life, but also balancing all the rights and responsibilities of being an adult in society."He explained Date IRL would involve regular meet-ups, such as pub quizzes, and was as much about finding friendships as it was dating. Last year's Ofcom report found that the four most popular dating apps in the UK - Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr - all lost UK users between May 2023 and May 2024."I think everyone has a bit of a gripe about how dating apps are superficial and the conversations are very surface level," Mitch said."It leads to this huge fatigue, not anger but in frustration, with the dating app experience."Explaining why he created Date IRL, Mitch explained: "In that process from moving away from connecting with people in pubs and out and about with friends, we've spun the pendulum too far in the opposite direction."As technology is increasingly taking over parts of our life, real people, real places and real connections is going to be something that everybody needs more of."The first Date IRL event takes place at The Cape of Good Hope pub in Oxford on 14 June. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Fitness trainer shares walking 10k steps won't be enough to stay fit after 60, suggests 4 exercises to pick up
After 60, bodily agility may decline, but staying active remains vital for healthy ageing. Walking, a low-impact exercise, is one of the most popular ways to keep moving. The daily goal of 10,000 steps is generally considered the benchmark, a gold standard for everyday activity. But walking alone may not be enough. It cannot be the sole exercise, as one instead requires a more well-rounded fitness routine for healthy ageing, which targets muscle strength as well. Generally, muscle strength weakens after 60, which makes it even more important to prioritise it. Senior fitness trainer Mitch, who regularly shares exercises and fitness tips for elderly people on Instagram, posted on May 15 about the limitations of walking and what else to include in your routine. A post shared by Mitch | 71 y/o Senior Fitness Trainer (@foreverfitwithmitch) When you rely only on walking, you leave behind some crucial gaps. Walking doesn't improve muscle strength or rectify posture. Fitness trainer Mitch identified the main areas where walking fails to benefit: Along with walking, the fitness coach recommended adding some other exercises to the routine that target posture, balance, and essential muscle groups. Here are the exercises he shared: ALSO READ: Morning vs evening walk: Doctor shares which one is more efficient for weight loss Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
My favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie is still a terrifying watch — stream 'The Birds' now on Netflix
One of Netflix's major drawbacks for people like me who enjoy classic films is the streaming service's near-complete lack of any movie released more than a decade or two ago. This month, Netflix takes a tiny step toward broadening its cinematic horizons by adding several movies by master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. While it's an imperfect — and most likely temporary — remedy, it still gives Netflix viewers the chance to watch some of the greatest movies ever made, by one of the greatest directors of all time. That includes my personal favorite Hitchcock movie, "The Birds," which is still a masterpiece of filmmaking precision and a viscerally terrifying experience. It's one of Hitchcock's most overt horror movies, and he handles what could have been a simple 'creature feature' with finesse and sophistication, without holding back on the terror. As influential as 'The Birds' has been on dozens of later movies of wildly varying quality, it's still completely immersive from its first frame. That first frame is an almost abstract image of birds flapping wildly against a white background, alongside the opening titles. The story begins in the busy streets of San Francisco, but the background sound of birds lingers as Hitchcock follows wealthy socialite Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) into a pet store, where she has a run-in with the somewhat smug lawyer Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor). Their encounter has all the hallmarks of a rom-com meet-cute, as Mitch appears to mistake Melanie for a store employee, and she stumbles through her efforts to help him find a present for his sister's birthday. After watching her squirm, Mitch reveals that he knows exactly who she is, and he doesn't approve of her frivolous party-girl antics, which recently landed her in court. Even as this seemingly lighthearted courtship plays out, there's an undercurrent of menace. The title and opening-credits sequence hint at something sinister to come, and the sounds of nature are often uncomfortably present, amplified by the lack of any musical score. Melanie's single-minded obsession with getting back at Mitch — which involves purchasing the lovebirds he was seeking for his sister and traveling to his family home in the seaside town of Bodega Bay — comes off as slightly unhinged even while she's laughing it off as a prank. The initial instances of bird-based violence in 'The Birds' seem mild, starting with a seagull scratching Melanie as she's rowing her rented boat away from the Brenners' private dock. There's nearly as much tension between Melanie and the people she meets, especially Mitch's dour mother Lydia (Jessica Tandy), who immediately fixes Melanie with a withering gaze. Melanie's free-spirited (and possibly promiscuous) ways shake up the staid community of Bodega Bay, and the bird attacks could be read as a reflection of her disruption of community morals. They could also be read as an allegory for environmental destruction, as the natural world violently turns against humanity. As the horror becomes almost abstract in the eerie final act, the bird uprising could be interpreted as a metaphor for Melanie's own troubled psyche, the unresolved issues that pushed her to pursue this arrogant man all the way up the California coast for reasons she doesn't quite understand. Or they could just be freaky, blood-curdling set pieces designed to keep the audience on edge. Hitchcock is equally brilliant at creating pure entertainment and complex subtext, and both aspects of 'The Birds' are immensely satisfying. Hedren, Taylor, Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette as Mitch's schoolteacher ex Annie Hayworth all give layered performances, with outward charm that gives way to inner doubts and fears. As the movie progresses and the attacks become more intense, the characters' personal turmoil comes to the surface. Ultimately, 'The Birds' is best remembered for its haunting, indelible images, like the crows slowly and inexorably gathering on a playground jungle gym behind Melanie, or the jagged jump-cuts depicting a dead man with his eyes gouged out. While the special effects may look shaky at times to modern viewers, they're no less realistic than most contemporary CGI, and the actors make the danger feel imminent and genuine. 'I hardly think a few birds are going to bring about the end of the world,' scoffs a local busybody and self-described ornithologist in the Bodega Bay diner, but 'The Birds' makes it easy to believe that they could. You'll never hear the flapping of wings or the bellowing of birdsong the same way again. 'The Birds' is now streaming on Netflix.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
There's an LGBTQ+ film festival you can attend without even leaving the house
Not everyone has the ability to jet off to Cannes or Venice to attend glittering film festivals, but there's an LGBTQ+ event that you can watch from the comfort of your own home. Soho Horror Film Festival began in 2018, presenting three days of spine-tingling genre offerings right in Central London. When the COVID-19 pandemic sent us into lockdown in 2020, Sohome Horror Pride was born, a virtual festival allowing film fans to enjoy a slate of new films as well as live events from the comfort of their own home while also celebrating Pride Month. Sohome Horror Fest also takes part every November following the annual in-person weekend festival at the Whirled Cinema. Despite many film festivals going virtual during the pandemic and ditching at-home events once lockdown lifted, Soho Horror Film Festival has maintained its online event in a bid to make film festivals more accessible. The 2025 addition of Sohome Horror Pride is set to take place from June 13 to 15, with feature films, shorts, and special events, including a live presentation on the Queerest moments in horror history, a live commentary for Scream 3 from podcast Horror Queers, and a 40th anniversary celebration of A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2. 'During the first national lockdown in 2020, we pioneered with the first virtual genre festival in the UK, and the response from it was so overwhelmingly positive that we simply had to forge a follow-up,' festival director Mitch Harrod tells Metro. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! 'Supporting LGBTQ+ filmmakers and narratives has been a cornerstone of the festival since its inception, so it was only natural to host our take on Pride celebrations, especially at a time when they weren't allowed to happen. 'Since then queer horror has grown from strength to strength, both in quantity, quality, brazenness and nuance to the degree that these horror films cover a spectrum as wide as that of the LGBTQ+ community.' What's more, Sohome Horror Pride runs on a donate-what-you-can basis, eliminating the sky-high costs that price out many film fans when it comes to attending film festivals. 'Accessibility has always been a major focus of our festival. What we found through the advent of the pandemic and virtual events is that there is a community of people who desperately want to attend film festivals, but due to reasons such as medical or financial constraints, had never been able to,' Mitch continued. 'The virtual festival created such a sense of community during the periods of isolation and lockdown, and we couldn't shut the door on those people that found refuge and entertainment with it, just because the rest of the world went 'back to normal'.' As for what to expect from Sohome Horror Pride, the festival runs much like any other – screening after screening, with a little break in between to chat with fans about what you thought. There are also introductions hosted by Mitch as well as the creatives behind the films, and a fun-filled afterparty to get to know other festivalgoers. Films are shared via an online screening portal accessible through computers and mobile devices, while live introductions and events are hosted through a private Facebook group. Screening blocks go live according to the Sohome Horror Pride schedule, but will be accessible until June 22 for those who can't join in as it happens. While it's a fun-filled weekend for all involved, it takes months of organisation on Soho Horror Film Festival's behalf to pull off an entire virtual event. Mitch runs Soho Horror Film Festival as a solo operation – so every film, short, event, social media post, or party throughout the year is solely down to him. Despite the stress of programming on average 50 films, including shorts and features, he describes the positive reactions from attendees both in person and online as 'very rewarding.' And it comes at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under threat, following the Supreme Court ruling, meaning trans women are not considered women under the Equality Act 2010. Black Theta, screening with Gender Reveal and Tapped – European premiere FriGay The 13th: Queerest Moments in Slasher History Bystanders, screening with Bath Bomb – special preview There's A Zombie Outside, screening with Rat! and Perfect Boy Next Door – special preview A United Queerdom: Short Film Showcase Psychonaut, screening with Restore and Last Night – European premiere The Premiere, screening with I Hope He Doesn't Kill Me – European premiere Horror Queers: Scream 3 Live Commentary The Brooklyn Butcher, screening with Knock Off and Demonboy – International premiere Hauntology, screening with Spookable and The Shroud – special preview Sunset on the River Styx, screening with I'm In Love With Edgar Allen Poe and Traditional Family Vampires (25th Anniversary) – UK premiere The Judgment, screening with The Boy Was Found Unharmed and Broad Daylight – UK premiere Binary, screening with Gummies and Dead Body – UK premiere Jesse's Revenge: A 40th Anniversary Homage The Rebrand, screening with Blue Violet and Belly Belly – special preview The festival was born out of a desire to be an inclusive, safe space for minority or marginalised filmmakers and film fans, with both the virtual event and in-person fest at the Whirled Cinema championing LGBTQ+ creatives and themes. 'We wouldn't have it any other way. It's become a bit of our mantra but horror is -always has been and always will be queer. From the clandestine guised movies of James Whale made during the height of the Hays Code, through the queer coded delights of Clive Barker, to the recent co-opting of gay icons like The Babadook, or even better, the brazen queer celebration of the Chucky franchise,' Mitch explained. More Trending 'Horror is Queer. The intersection between LGBTQ+ and horror is fascinating, centuries deep, entirely natural, and extensively written about. I implore everyone to check out the book It Came From The Closet by Joe Vallese as a brilliant starting point.' The festival founder said we are living in an 'incredibly difficult and regressive time' for LGBTQ+ people, but Sohome Horror Pride and the festival's other events will continue to fly the flag for Queer horror filmmaking. Mitch concluded: 'Pride has always been both a celebration and a protest, and we will always use our platform for solidarity and allyship to those being oppressed and marginalised, and a lighthouse of how truly fervent and excellent the genre of queer horror filmmaking is.' Soho Horror Pride will take place virtually from June 13 to 15 on a donate-what-you-can basis, Film blocks will be available to watch until June 22. For more information, visit the Soho Horror Film Festival website 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: Remake of cult 80s horror with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes gets extreme rating MORE: I got gonorrhoea, but my doctor doubted my explanation MORE: Netflix horror sequel soars to number 1 after viewers stay up to watch
Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts debuts footballer fiancé after secret engagemen
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts has finally shared a snap with her fiancé Mitch Hahn a year on from their secret engagement. The singer, 39, is currently in Monaco with her family to celebrate her father's milestone birthday and shared a variety of snaps with her followers of her holiday. The caption of the post on social media read: 'The most gorgeous Monday in Monaco for my dad's 60th with the whole family. The bestest trip 💙' Among the images was a snap of Nicola sitting at a table across from her fiancé Mitch. Mitch is a semi-professional footballer, and the couple has been together for three years, but this marks the first time the star has shared a snap of her partner. The snaps come a year after the singer flashed an engagement ring during an on-stage performance for the Girls Aloud reunion tour. Reports suggested that Mitch got down on one knee during a holiday in the south of France in July 2024. A source previously told The Sun last year that the singer was completely besotted with Mitch but preferred to keep her relationship out of the spotlight. 'Nicola has met her soulmate in Mitch. She couldn't be happier. 'The couple first made their relationship public when seen together at a Sir Elton John concert in 2022, but tend to keep their romance away from the spotlight and social media.' More Trending The Masked Singer winner and Strictly Christmas special star previously dated businessman Charlie Fennell for six years, before the relationship 'fizzled out'. Fans loved the images from the star, and many commented with their compliments. Nicola even took the time to help out when a fan commented asking for recommendations. The star replied: 'Wear trainers or comfy slides for the hill. I love lunch at cafe de Paris. Coffee or a cocktail at hotel du Paris if you want to be super boujee. Have a lovely time ✨🤍' 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: Jamie Foxx addresses wild conspiracy theory Diddy tried to kill him with stroke MORE: Justin Bieber shares warm message for Chris Brown after singer was bailed MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial shown shocking pictures of Kid Cudi's charred car after Molotov cocktail attack
