Latest news with #RowanAtkinson
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The free streaming service with 25,000,000 users that's 'like DIY Netflix'
'Free' and 'streaming' are two words rarely seen together these days, and many of us spend upwards of £30 each month on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. If you're trying to cut costs, you might have considered one of the lesser-known free streaming services. Tubi, which boasts 97 million users, is one of these, as well as Pluto TV. But even more under the radar is Plex. It's what's known as a FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) service, meaning it collects shows into a playlist with ad breaks, giving the feel of watching a TV channel. You can watch on-demand content and stream live TV on Plex too, but it started off as a free media-server software, allowing users to stream content they already own on their computer onto a TV. According to its website, Plex now boasts 25,000,000 users. Plex launched in the late 2000s as a place where users could house their own music or video files. It still does this, and is popular for the way it organises the content in the same way services such as Netflix and Disney Plus do. In 2019, the app introduced an ad-supported on-demand streaming service and free-to-stream live TV channels. This means, just like with Tubi and Pluto TV, there are automated ad breaks while streaming on Plex. It's completely free, thanks to the revenue generated by the adverts, but there is a paid version of Plex too. The 'Plex Pass' costs £4.99 per month (or £49.99 per year and £189.99 for a lifetime pass) and allows users to record content, download content for offline streaming and skip intro credits. Meanwhile, it costs £1.99 per month or £19.99 per year to be able to stream from anywhere or on any device outside your own home. Last February Plex added a rental service, meaning users can pay to stream new releases in the app, rather than paying a regular subscription to watch them on Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Prime and the like. Plex can be accessed through a web browser, or you can download the app via your mobile device's app store, Amazon Fire TV, Android and Apple TV. When it comes to putting together your own library of downloaded content, you'll need to set up a Plex Media Server. It sounds complicated, but Plex guides you through the process. All you really need to do is provide the files and it automatically organises your library for you. If that's not for you, or you don't have any of your own downloaded content, you can go ahead and stream the content already provided by Plex straight away. As for what you can watch, Plex boasts thousands of free, on-demand movies and TV shows and over 600 channels of free, live TV. The most notable offerings include every episode of Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean, US zombie horror series Z Nation, 11 seasons of paranormal reality show Ghost Hunters, five seasons of Charlie Sheen's sitcom Anger Management and popular sci-fi series Sanctuary. There's also episodes of Baywatch and Kim's Convenience, while movies that are free to stream include 2004 romcom The Girl Next Door, 90s James Bond parody Austin Powers and 1992 drama Damage, which inspired hit Netflix show Obsession. Meanwhile, live channels include GB News, Homes Under the Hammer, Tennis+ and a wide variety of crime offerings. Plex also has a feature called Discover Credits, which allows you to find out more about the cast of the films and TV shows on the service, including their filmography and where you can watch their other roles. The service has proved popular with users and even has an entire subreddit dedicated to it, where users share advice on how to use Plex. One Reddit user described it as 'like Netflix, but for movies/shows you own', while another echoed 'I call it DIY Netflix'. More Trending On Amazon, reviewer Fiorina said: 'From the moment I downloaded Plex onto my Firestick, I was hooked,' adding 'the streaming quality is top-notch'. Chas E wrote: 'Fantastic app. This works with no problems at all,' and ItsGherks called it 'jaw-droppingly good'. However, some were disappointed with the frequency of the adverts, with Outsiderny complaining of 'too many adverts that increase once you're hooked'. View More » Dillonsauntie pointed out that it's 'worth the very annoying and very frequent ads to see things that are difficult or expensive to access elsewhere.' 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: Owen Wilson responds to series being compared to 'one of TV's biggest shows ever' MORE: Jonathan Joss' husband says he 'held his face together' in his final moments MORE: I binge-watch TV for a living – here are my recommendations for June
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Griff Rhys Jones declares Not The Nine O'Clock News deserves more respect
Griff Rhys Jones believes his iconic comedy series 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' has been erased from history by the BBC. The satirical sketch show was broadcast on BBC Two from 1979 to 1982 and starred Griff, Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson and Griff's late comedy partner Mel Smith, who died from a heart attack in July 2013 at the age of 60. At its peak it was attracting up to 18 million viewers an episode, but it is never repeated by the BBC and Griff says it's because the corporation doesn't want to pay him and the writers. Appearing on the 'Who's Tom and Dick' podcast, he said: 'The funny thing is it's not repeated. I don't think it's so topical that's it not. 'I think the reason is that it's written by a lot of people. The BBC finds it easy to repeat things like 'The Young Ones' now and the history of comedy is slightly being re-written as a result of that. 'People say, 'Oh Griff, you're amazing, you were in 'The Young Ones' playing Bambi, you know Bamber Gascoigne.' I go, 'Yeah, I think that's was an afternoon of my life, I don't remember much about it.' 'The thing is we were in a show that was 10 times the size of 'The Young Ones' at the time, absolutely massive, but it was written by so many people that the BBC have now sort of wiped it. They don't want to get involved in paying the rights of all those people. 'In fact, they went through the Millennium or some sort of thing of BBC Two and they didn't even mention it, it's just crazy because it was huge. It was like 18 million people watching at one point and that was with a difficult, edgy show. You're not talking about just a family favourite, you're talking about the one that kids said, 'Mummy, daddy, I want to stay up and watch it.' 'No, you can't, it's not for you.' 'It was a huge thing and lasted in people's memory for a long time but it was so long ago.' And Griff doesn't believe that 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' is snubbed from the repeat schedule because it is politically incorrect. The comedian - who went on to create 'Alas Smith and Jones' with Mel after 'Not the Nine O'Clock News' - said: 'Going back we laughed at gays, not offensively, but it was a sort a thing. We dressed up as women, but everyone did. They're all coming on dressed as women, Dick Emery, Les Dawson, every single sketch they were dressed as a woman. 'When we didn't have enough women I was dressed up as a woman, so I was the other singer in ABBA, but we had Pamela so it wasn't very often. But it was a bit more trans, I was expected to be a convincing woman, not a Les Dawson woman, or a Monty Python woman or even a Dick Emery woman.'
South China Morning Post
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Who is Rowan Atkinson's aka Mr Bean's daughter, Lily Sastry? The actor and comedian's second child with a make-up artist is a singer, painter and cabaret dancer who says she's from a ‘broken family'
Rowan Atkinson and make-up artist Sunetra Sastry's infrequently seen daughter, Lily Sastry, recently spoke about her parents' divorce and how it affected her throughout her twenties. Painter Lily Sastry with one of her acrylic portraits. Photo: @lilisastry/Instagram 'I went through so much chaos and loneliness in my twenties,' she wrote in a social media post, per Hello! 'Now I am [almost] 30, I can see clearly where I was at and what was happening inside me during the darkest days.' Advertisement Lily Sastry recently talked on social media about her 'broken' family. Photo: @lilisastry/Instagram 'I was so lost, and only really started to feel vaguely normal in my late twenties,' she added. 'I have always been trapped between worlds; I do not belong here, but also don't belong there.' Sastry, 29, noted that she struggled to find her identity in the midst of having 'no friends' and 'a broken family'. Art was her 'guiding light' and made 'all the suffering worth it', she wrote. Atkinson, 70, is the award-winning British actor and comedian behind Mr Bean. He has also starred in TV series including Blackadder and Not the Nine O'Clock News and films Johnny English, Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Lion King. He is collaborating with Netflix again for Man vs Baby, following the success of 2022's Man vs Bee, per Deadline. It's unclear what his relationship is now like with his daughter, but she was seen supporting him at the 2018 premiere of Johnny English Strikes Again, despite rumours that the pair were estranged, notes Hello! Here's what we know about Lily Sastry, Rowan Atkinson's elder daughter. She is one of Rowan Atkinson's three children
Buzz Feed
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
19 Celebs Who Are Soo Much Smarter Than You Thought They Were
Entertainers are often defined by their onscreen personas, but many of them have far more to offer the world. Of course, there are artists who excel at various mediums. However, we don't talk about the extremely brilliant minds whose intelligence isn't highlighted as much. Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean has a master's degree in electrical engineering, for example. He's not the only actor who has an impressive academic background. From Mensans to Harvard graduates, here are 19 celebrities who are way smarter than you thought. 1. Ken Jeong worked as a physician before his acting career took off. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Medicine, then worked for the health care provider Kaiser Permanente, per Duke Chronicle. 2. Marilu Henner has a condition called highly superior autobiographical memory that allows her to recall every detail of her life. She explained on 60 Minutes Australia that she could remember some details immediately while others might take more time. 3. Modern Family star Nolan Gould isn't just a stellar talent onscreen but also a member of Mensa, according to E! News. During an interview on Ellen, he revealed that he graduated from high school when he was 13. "Over the summer, I did a lot of studying and I took an exam and tested out of high school, so I'm hopefully going to go on and do some online community college courses," he said. 4. Wallace Shawn has taken on many lighthearted and comedic roles, from Rex in the Toy Story series to Vizzini in The Princess Bride. However, he's exceptionally brilliant, having graduated from Harvard University as a Fulbright scholar. 5. Dolph Lundgren has often taken on villainous roles, whether in Rocky IV or the Universal Soldier film series. But what most wouldn't expect is that he's extremely academically gifted. Like Shawn, he's a Fulbright scholar who was accepted to MIT. He eventually completed his Master's gegree in chemical engineering at The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm during an exchange program with the University of Sydney in Australia, according to his official website. 6. Playing a complete airhead in Phoebe on Friends seemed effortless for Lisa Kudrow. However, before her big break, she graduated with a biology major and a job as a headache specialist. She even started working on a study concerning hemispheric dominance and headache types, as she explained during her speech at her alma mater, Vassar College. 7. Kesha hasn't ever marketed herself as an intellectual type, but there's more than meets the eye with her. According to a profile with NPR, she got a near-perfect SAT score. 8. Cindy Crawford is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable models in the industry. However, what's just as impressive as her hefty resumé and accomplishments is her academic background. Not only did she graduate as valedictorian in high school, but she also enrolled at Northwestern University on an academic scholarship for chemical engineering. 9. Matt Damon's Hollywood feats are second to none. He's among the highest-grossing actors with a long list of nominations and awards. Good Will Hunting helped launch his career, but what's even more interesting is that he began writing its script while enrolled at Harvard. Although he left the school to pursue his career in acting, he was later awarded the Harvard Arts Medal in 2013. 10. Mayim Bialik's ability to tap into the role of neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler in The Big Bang Theory was practically second nature. Bialik graduated with a Bachelor of Science and PhD in neuroscience with minors in Hebrew and Jewish studies. 11. Brian May's contributions to music have been etched in the history books. In addition to his artistic successes, he also received a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial London College. Moreover, he also became the Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University. 12. Steve Martin's a man of many hats but perhaps the most overlooked fact is that he's extremely intelligent. He previously penned an article for the New Yorker titled, "How I Joined Mensa." 13. WWE superstar Raven has a surprising background that mirrors Martin's. The wrestling icon became a member of Mensa with an IQ of 140, per WWE. 14. Speaking of Raven, Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens reportedly scored above 132 on his IQ Test by the third grade, according to Sports Illustrated. 15. Jodie Foster has been in the entertainment industry since she was 3, which just so happened to be the same age when she learned to read. Per the New York Times, she was "a gifted child who could read at the age of 3, and within two years understand scripts on her own." What's even more impressive is that she graduated Magna cum laude with a degree in literature from Yale. 16. From One Tree Hill to MTV's Awkward, Ashley Rickards has flexed her acting prowess in various roles. She's also incredibly gifted, having graduated high school at 15 and becoming a member of Mensa in 2011. 17. Rebel Wilson has an impressive background outside of acting. Wilson graduated from the University of New South Wales with two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws. In an interview with the Guardian, she also revealed that she participated in the Australian junior maths olympiad and described herself as having "weird mathematical abilities" since an early age. 18. The Offspring frontman, Dexter Holland, made a career as a pioneering figure in the pop-punk scene. Yet his accomplishments have never been limited to music. He was valedictorian in high school and later earned a PhD in molecular biology with his thesis on HIV research, per Rolling Stone. Did we miss any gifted celebs? Let us know in the comments!
The Guardian
06-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
BBC and ITV slash big-budget TV spend as US streamers pour money into UK
UK broadcasters slashed their spending on big-budget TV shows to the lowest level in almost a decade last year, even as their US rivals Netflix, Disney and Amazon ploughed hundreds of millions more into British-made premium content. In a sign of the increasing competitive pressures of the streaming era, the amount spent on high-end TV shows costing more than £1m an hour to make by domestic operators such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky, plunged by a quarter last year to £598m. Stripping out the anomaly of 2020, when Covid shut down all film and TV production, this is the lowest level of investment since the £439m recorded in 2015, according to latest annual figures released by the British Film Institute, the industry body, on Thursday. While UK broadcasters remained under pressure – last year Channel 4 made its deepest job cuts in more than 15 years while Sky axed 1,000 roles in response to the shift away from satellite TV – investment from primarily US based media firms surged by a quarter. Spend on British-made shows by the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Disney increased almost £600m year-on-year to £2.82bn in 2024. 'Inward investment' on shows such as Netflix's The Immortal Man, a Peaky Blinders continuation, and Rowan Atkinson series Man vs Baby accounted for 82% of the total £3.44bn spent on premium TV production in the UK last year. Industry figures such as Jane Featherstone, co-founder of Sister, which co-produced Black Doves and Chernobyl, have warned that UK broadcasters are being 'priced out' of the high-end TV production market. Last month, Peter Kosminsky, director of Wolf Hall, provided written evidence to a select committee of MPs investigating the UK production market stating that he, the producer, the writer, and the star, Mark Rylance, had had to take 'significant' pay cuts to get a second series of the Golden Globe-winning drama made because no streamer would co-fund it. Nevertheless, the BFI figures show that the UK high-end TV market returned to growth last year, having shrunk by 39%, just over £2bn, between 2022 and 2023 as the post-pandemic rush to restock content for viewers ground to a halt. Last year, the total amount spent on high-end TV programmes produced in the UK grew by 11%, from £3.09bn to £3.44bn. The figures also reveal the dramatic effects of the surging costs of making productions and signing talent, with the increase in overall spend coming despite more than 40 fewer premium TV shows being made last year. In 2024, the BFI recorded 181 high-end TV productions, compared with 223 in 2023, the fewest since Covid hit in 2020. Sign up to The Guide Get our weekly pop culture email, free in your inbox every Friday after newsletter promotion In the UK film production market, spend on making blockbusters such as Jurassic World Rebirth, How to Train Your Dragon and the remake of The Running Man grew by almost a quarter to £2.12bn. As with the high-end TV market, almost 90% of this spend came from the main Hollywood film studios such as Disney and Universal. In total, 191 productions were completed or started last year – 131 fewer than in 2023 and the fewest since 2020. The BFI said the figures showed the impact of the long-running Hollywood actors and writers strikes in 2023. 'As a consequence of the strikes, many film and high end TV productions were paused or start dates were postponed, which impacted UK production spend over [three quarters of 2023] as well as rescheduling production starts in 2024,' it said. Overall, the combined spend on film and high-end TV production in the UK last year was £5.6bn, up significantly on the £4.7bn in 2023.
