Latest news with #Ronni
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic BBC duo take swipe at ‘cheap shot' modern comics ahead of one-off Fringe return
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RONNI Anconca believes her impressions of celebrities including Victoria Beckham hit the back of the net because they were never cruel - unlike today's copycats. The Scots performer shot to fame over 20 years ago alongside Alastair McGowan in the smash BBC comedy The Big Impression with their hilarious mickey takes of Posh and Becks. 5 Ronni and Alastair McGowan became famous for their Posh & Becks skits 5 Sarah Sherman mocking Aimee Lou Wood on Saturday Night Live. 5 Hal Cruttenden and Ronni are bringing their podcast show called Hal and Ronni in Pieces to the Fringe. 5 Ronni out and about this week at the Fawlty Towers play in London. But White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood was seen in floods of tears earlier this year following a skit on US institution Saturday Night Live, where comic Sarah Sherman mocked the actress's prominent teeth. Ronni, 56, called that a 'cheap shot' saying: 'Aimee was the victim of that old archetype, a very tired trope that the British all have bad teeth. I personally think she's got beautiful teeth. 'It was very, very different in the days of The Big Impression as it was pre-social media. 'You could imagine scenarios, like Posh and Becks sitting at opposite ends of their huge dining table talking about their ISAs and savings. 'But you can't do that now because these celebrities put absolutely everything out there now.' She adds: 'I mean look at Harry and Meghan twerking to help induce birth. 'That would seem like an outlandish sketch if written down, but they actually put that up on social media for all to see. 'I find it extraordinary the way people are very happy to put all everything and anything out there. 'I'm more into that kind of Audrey Hepburn thing - you've got to keep a bit of that mysticism.' Ronni was born in Lincolnshire, but was raised in Scotland as her dad was in the military. She says: 'I grew up here because when I was a tiny baby we moved to Lossiemouth. 'And then we moved to Edinburgh when I was about five before we settled in Troon from six onwards. 'It was fine but we were literally the only family in Troon that didn't play golf. We were golfless people unlike our golf-fearing neighbours. But I'm very proud of my Scottishness.' Ronni left home at 18 to pursue her acting dream and has had a string of serious acting roles including in Midsomer Murders, Father Brown and Death in Paradise. But it's comedy she remains best known for starting her career in Scotland in the Beeb series Pulp Video and Only An Excuse? before starring in The Big Impression for four years from 1999. While she recently launched a podcast with comedian Hal Cruttenden called Hal and Ronni in Pieces featuring major guests including Sally Phillips, Jo Brand and Sadie Frost. The podcast pals will also be doing a one off show at Edinburgh Gilded Balloon on August 22 during Hal's month-long run of his Fringe show Can Dish It Out But Can't Take It. But while mum of three Ronni has been happily married to film producer Gerard Hall for over 20 years, Hal is back on the dating scene after the collapse of his marriage to illustrator Dawn Coulter. The Pointless Celebrities and Mock The Week stalwart says: 'The last girlfriend I had was from Glasgow. My ex-wife was from Northern Ireland. That is very much a fire and frying pan situation. 'But the truth is I thought I would only be single for about 10 or 11 months. Now I'm stuck with the reality of being middle-aged and single and dating. 'My life is going up and down while Ronni is in a very stable marriage.' However Ronni's short on sympathy. She says: 'He's had many more women interested than I ever thought possible.' But Londoner Hal reckons that's because men his age set the bar low. He explains: 'I do think so many middle-aged men are crap. So if you're vaguely nice, vaguely interesting, can string a sentence together, then yes, you're ahead of the pack. 'It's actually given me a really good idea for a dating app. Instead of Bumble, it should be called Stumble, for old people. 'You can swipe right, left, up or down, it doesn't matter as you will just stumble onto the next date.' The pair also moan about their careers on their show and question why they've never been invited on to Channel 4's Taskmaster. Ronni says: 'Hal and I are traumatised by the fact that we're the only comics left in the whole of the UK who haven't been on the show and I'm actually a good friend of Alex Horne who hosts it.' But of late the impressionist has seen sketches, including The Wedding Photographer, from her old TV shows go viral. She says: 'That's the one where after the photographer, who is me, asks for the father of the bride to pose for pictures she then starts asking for the drunk uncles and then the people who were invited but you hoped wouldn't show up. 'Apparently it's gone viral but I'm a total Luddite so I don't really know what that means. All I can say is I'm really happy with that one in particular because I also wrote it.' However Ronni confesses that she and Hal are about '10 years late' jumping on the podcast bandwagon. She says: 'It's all a bit of a mess as we're basically two middle-aged comedians trying to copy everyone else by doing a podcast. 'Every Gen Z producer we've had hates us and leaves, but the great Alastair McGowan does these parody adverts for us. 'He does impressions of all these other comedians like Stewart Lee and Rod Gilbert while his Frank Skinner is absolutely extraordinary.' But Hal reckons they always have Ronni's own impressions to fall back on if they hit a tight spot. He says: 'Whenever there's some dead air Ronni can pop up with Queen Camilla or someone.' She says: 'I love doing Olivia Colman lately because she says everything in five words, and oh so very quickly. 'So I can always pretend we have Olivia if one of our guests fails to turn up.' Hal jokes: 'Yes, so or we could change the title to Hal and Victoria in Pieces.' But after David Beckham's knighthood in King Charles' Birthday Honours, Ronni is quick to point out: 'It's Lady Victoria, if you don't mind.' *Hal Cruttenden: Can Dish It Out But Can't Take It is on at the Pleasance Courtyard, Cabaret Bar from July 30 - August 24. His one off show at Gilded Balloon with Ronni is on August 22.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Five stray dogs die of suspected poisoning in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A 52-year-old owner of a restaurant in Battarahalli, east Bengaluru, filed a complaint with police over the death of five stray dogs, suspecting that unknown persons had poisoned them. KR Pura police registered a case under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 325 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal) against unknown persons and are investigating. The incident happened on I Cross, Garden Avenue Road, Battarahalli, between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on June 18. Ronni D' Costa, owner of Ronni Restaurant, who has been feeding stray dogs for the last 15 years, said in his complaint that around five bled after suspected poisoning. He asked police to ascertain the cause and take action against those responsible. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Ronni told TOI, "I used to feed strays in the area for years. On June 18, multiple dogs were poisoned and killed. They were innocent, harmless souls. Some of them were even sterilised and being looked after. Around 15 minutes before the dogs started bleeding, they were playing with me. Then I saw them collapsing one after the other in front of my restaurant. We tried to save them, but efforts went in vain." Residents of the area had named the dogs Tiger, Chinese, Chiku, Leo and Kalu. Residents took to social media and termed the act not just cruelty but murder. Soon after the first dog collapsed, Ronni rushed out of the restaurant and attended to it. Before he could grasp what was happening, he found another dog collapsing nearby. Residents gathered at the spot and tried to feed the dogs with water and called for the veterinary doctor. But they were helpless as the dogs breathed their last in front of them. A senior police officer said, "All five dogs were sent for postmortem. We are waiting for the reports and samples have been sent to forensic science laboratory to find out what was fed to the dogs. We checked CCTV cameras in the locality but didn't get any clue. Efforts are on to find out if someone has fed poison-laced food to the dogs." A senior BBMP official said, "There were no complaints about stray dogs from residents of the area. We have learnt about the deaths and are cooperating with police."
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Ponant & OzHarvest alliance is food for thought
Luxury small-ship cruise line Ponant Explorations has teamed with a leading food rescue group to support actions against food waste and deliver education programs on sustainability. Ponant's three-year partnership with OzHarvest involves financial, in-kind and hands-on support for the charitable group's northern Australia team in its work getting good food to those who need it most. Financial contributions will also go towards schools outreach in the Northern Territory over three years, including professional development training for teachers. Deb Corbett, CEO of Ponant Explorations Group for Asia-Pacific, says the partnership aligns with the France-founded expedition line's ethos built around giving back to the regions they visit. 'Working with local communities around the globe has been at the core of our vision since our beginning . . . It is only natural we give back as an acknowledgement of their contribution to the humbling experiences we deliver at sea, all around the globe. 'We look forward to contributing to OzHarvest's success in creating a sustainable future for many, the same way Ponant Explorations has led the way towards a more sustainable form of tourism. This alignment is an opportunity for our two organisations to make a great impact.' OzHarvest was founded in 2004 by Ronni Kahn, who put in place a practical solution to the huge amounts of food going to waste from her events business. Starting with a single van, the charitable group says it has grown to become Australia's leading food rescue organisation, with a few hundred staff and more than 3000 volunteers. Ronni says: 'Operating out of Darwin, we rescue and deliver 350kg of essential food hampers each week and run a pop-up store in the Jabiru community, ensuring remote communities have access to fresh, nutritious food close to home.' OzHarvest's striking yellow vans save about 250 tonnes of good food every week from donors, and deliver direct to 1500 food charities. Its goal is to halve Australia's food waste by 2030. Ponant's funding will also support OzHarvest's nutritional and educational development program, FEAST, reaching more than 4400 students in 74 schools. 'Over 10 weeks, students dive into the issue of food waste and its environmental impact, learn about healthy eating, and get hands-on in the kitchen . . . helping young people understand the true value of food and develop practical life skills to become future change makers,' Ronni says. Ponant has sailed in the Kimberley and other parts of northern Australia for more than a decade, limiting guest capacity of its small ships to about 200 people per voyage for low-impact exploration by sea. There are cabins still available on a wide choice of Ponant's 2025 Kimberley voyages. Two of its small ships — Le Jacques Cartier and Le Soleal — will sail the 10-night Australia's Iconic Kimberley itinerary between Broome and Darwin from early June 2025.
