Latest news with #Swansea-born
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gavin & Stacey's Jo Page announces exciting next move and it'll involve her iconic sitcom role
Gavin & Stacey's Jo Page announces exciting next move and it'll involve her iconic sitcom role For the first time the Swansea-born star will take fans behind the scenes of her most iconic roles and introduces them to a colourful cast including Ruth Jones, James Corden, Richard E. Grant, Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson. Actress Joanna Page has said the book will focus on her upbringing in Wales, going to drama school in London and her career in acting Gavin & Stacey star Jo Page has announced an exciting new career development and it will involve some insight into her most iconic sitcom role, Stacey Shipman. The Swasnsea star will be releaseing a memoir later in 2025, entitled Lush!: My Story - From Swansea to Stacey and Everything in Between. The book will launch in September, and will be a 'funny, candid and endlessly surprising memoir' in which Joanna 'shares her story in full for the first time.' The book is said to take readers behind the scenes of her most iconic roles as well as detail her early life growing up in Treboeth and the sudden shock of moving to London at 18 alone) to takeher place at RADA. Fans could pre-order the book now, which you can find out more here. In a video clip shared on her Instagram, the Welsh actress, who played Stacey in the BBC sitcom that concluded last Christmas after 17 years, said that she had "so much" fun writing the book. In the clip, she said: "I'm so excited to be able to tell you all about my book. "I'm going to be talking about all of the highs and the lows of my life and career so far. Article continues below "Everything that's got me up to this point now. I have had so much fun writing it, and this is going to be the very first time that you actually see the cover. "And I'm so, so happy to share it with you now." In the caption of the video, the Gavin & Stacey star provided further details on the focus of the book. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . The actress wrote: "From my early days growing up in Wales, to going to drama school in London and being on my own for the first time at eighteen, through those early auditions and right through my career and life to date. "There have been so many incredible moments and stories and re-visiting them has been such a journey – one I can't wait to share with you." Content cannot be displayed without consent Many have responded to the news, with fellow Gavin & Stacey star, Laura Aikman, who played Smithy's jilted bride Sonia replying with: "Congratulations!!" Psychologist Dr Julie Smith said: "Best title ever! Well done! Can't wait to read it!" Another fan said: "Awww that's lush! Can't wait to read". It has been over six months since we said goodbye to Jo Page's beloved character Stacey and the rest of the cast in Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, which was aired on Christmas Day last year. But the actress has kept herself busy since then, having been spotted filming in Barry Island with presenter chef Chris 'Flamebaster' Roberts in March and starring in the BBC One series Wynne & Joanna: All at Sea alongside presenter Wynne Evans. The star has also co-hosting a podcast alongside Eastenders icon, Natalie Cassidy, called On The Telly, where they talk about TV and the entertainment business. Article continues below
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dylan Thomas Prize celebrates 20 years of young talent as winner is announced
The Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize marks twenty years of celebrating young writers this year as the 2025 award is won by Palestinian author Yasmin Zaher for her debut novel The Coin Palestinian author Yasmin Zaher has been crowned the winner of the world-renowned Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for her debut novel, The Coin, as the literary award celebrates two decades of recognising outstanding young talent. The Coin, lauded by judges for its incisive examination of themes such as identity and heritage, emerged to unanimous praise from the judging panel, who were tasked with the arduous job of narrowing down a remarkable longlist to a single accolade-deserving work. Namita Gokhale, Chair of Judges, celebrated Yasmin Zaher's accomplishment, saying: "Whittling our exceptional longlist of twelve down to six brilliant books, and then again to just one, was not an easy exercise – yet the judging panel was unanimous in their decision to name debut novelist Yasmin Zaher as the winner of the 2025 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize." She continued: "Zaher brings complexity and intensity to the page through her elegantly concise writing: The Coin is a borderless novel, tackling trauma and grief with bold and poetic moments of quirkiness and humour." "It fizzes with electric energy. Yasmin Zaher is an extraordinary winner to mark twenty years of this vital prize," Gokhale added. Yasmin Zaher has been honoured with the £20,000 prize, a recognition of outstanding literary talent under 39, at an event in Swansea on Thursday 15 May. Her book, The Coin, released in paperback on 1 May 2025, is brought to readers by Footnote Press, a publisher dedicated to giving voice to marginalised narratives and viewpoints. The award pays tribute to Dylan Thomas, the Swansea-born writer, and his 39 years of creative output. It honours Thomas' legacy by supporting contemporary writers, fostering emerging talents, and applauding global literary brilliance across various forms such as poetry, novels, short stories, and drama. Other works that made it to the 2025 Prize shortlist include Rapture's Road by Seán Hewitt, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, I Will Crash by Rebecca Watson, and Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good by Eley Williams. The 2025 Prize was judged by a panel of esteemed literary figures, including Namita Gokhale, the multi-award-winning Indian author of over twenty-five works of fiction and non-fiction, and co-director of the renowned Jaipur Literature Festival. Yasmin Zaher now joins an impressive roster of writers who have previously won this prestigious prize, including Caleb Azumah Nelson, Arinze Ifeakandu, Patricia Lockwood, Max Porter, Raven Leilani, Bryan Washington, Maggie Shipstead, Guy Gunaratne, and Kayo Chingonyi.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Bit of a stinker' for Mark Harris after double goal of season snub
MARK Harris joked he had a 'bit of a stinker' after missing out on both the EFL and Oxford United goal of the season awards. The 26-year-old striker was on a three-man shortlist for the EFL goal of the season, nominated for his sumptuous 35-yard strike at Blackburn Rovers back in August. Harris opened the scoring just before half-time when Matt Phillips chested down Jamie Cumming's long ball forward, with Harris pinging a sweetly struck first-time volley which looped over Aynsley Pears in the Rovers goal. Rovers would ultimately fight back with an immediate Joe Rankin-Costello equaliser, before substitute Arnor Sigurdsson won the game with seven minutes to go. READ ALSO: How to get your souvenir supplement celebrating U's staying up Harris was beaten to the award by George Abbott for his volley for Notts County in their 3-0 win at Accrington Stanley. 'It's a good goal. I'd like to think mine was a little bit better, but I'm sure the winner deserved it. It was a good goal,' said Harris. Meanwhile, Cameron Brannagan scooped United's goal of the season gong for his sensational 35-yard leveller at Cardiff City on Easter Monday. Harris joked: 'I've had a bit of a stinker there haven't I? To be fair, I said to the lads I don't mind losing to that because that's a big point there. I said he can have it to be fair.' Harris' celebrations following last season's Sky Bet League One play-off final success became synonymous with the victory itself, with the striker often having a Birra Moretti in hand, but those festivities were comparatively toned down when Championship safety was confirmed last weekend. He said: 'Last year was a bit heavier, let's put it that way. I obviously had a little bit of a celebration on Saturday and Sunday. 'We've stayed up, but we didn't really win anything, so I tamed them down this year. Hopefully we'll go again next year.' CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE OXFORD MAIL ONLINE (Image: Newsquest) The U's end the season with this afternoon's trip to Swansea City, with mixed feelings for Swansea-born former Cardiff City player Harris. He said: 'That's where I'm from, but playing for Cardiff for all those years is a bit tricky. It'll be nice to go home type say and a play a game there, and I'm sure I'll have a few friends and a couple of family members in the Swansea end, and a couple of friends and family in the Oxford end as well. 'It'll be nice to go there now knowing we've done the job as well. There's no pressure on us, let's go and enjoy some football and hopefully score some goals. 'The gaffer has already been onto it. We want to be going there, and we want to be winning. We'll be doing everything we can to get set up as well as we can. 'Obviously the pressure is off a little bit, but then maybe that can just give us a bit more freedom and go and enjoy ourselves and hopefully put a few goals in the net.'
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales back row Plumtree signs new Scarlets deal
Wales back row Taine Plumtree has signed a new contract to remain with Welsh region has not disclosed the length of the extended deal, but 25-year-old Plumtree says it commits him to Scarlets "for the foreseeable future".Plumtree is in his second season in west Wales, the Swansea-born player having made the move from New Zealand in summer 2023."I am delighted to have signed with the Scarlets for the foreseeable future," Plumtree said."It's a club that has done a lot for me and made me so welcome, not only the players and staff, but the fans, with the support they have shown me for the last year and a half. It was a no-brainer to recommit to the club"Another reason why I wanted to re-sign was that I can see the potential the club has - the boys that are coming through and the talent that is here. I want to be part of that. "There are exciting times ahead. I think we have shown signs of that this year and hopefully we can keep on building over the coming years." Plumtree made his Wales debut in August 2023, coming off the bench in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game against head coach Dwayne Peel said: "Taine has been excellent since he arrived here in Llanelli a couple of years ago. He is a big character around the group and a key player on the field. He has also become a real leader for us."Taine is still a young man and we are excited that there is plenty more to come from him. He is athletic, carries strongly, is a great line-out option and is a player who puts a lot of work into his game - he is always looking to get better. "We are delighted he has signed a new contract with us and he has a big part to play in the evolution of this team."
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Dylan Thomas Prize: Swansea University award 2025 shortlist named
Six young writers from across the world have been shortlisted for the 2025 Swansea University Dylan Thomas award of £20,000 is given to writers aged 39 or younger for "exceptional" literary year's list includes writers from Palestine, the Netherlands, Ireland and the said the prize, in memory of the Swansea-born writer who died in 1953 at the age of 39, was the world's largest for young writers in the English language. The award celebrates the international world of fiction including poetry, novels, short stories and year's chairwoman of judges, Namita Gokhale, said: "The 2025 shortlist is varied and diverse: from ancient Sicily to tremulous nightwoods, it encompasses the historical, the contemporary, and the timeless through novels, short stories and poetry, showcasing startlingly fresh writing, style and energy."The winner will be announced during a ceremony in Swansea on 15 winners include Caleb Azumah Nelson, Arinze Ifeakandu, Patricia Lockwood, Max Porter, Raven Leilani, Bryan Washington, Guy Gunaratne, and Kayo Chingonyi. The full shortlist is: Rapture's Road by Seán Hewitt - poetry collection (UK/Ireland) Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon - novel (Ireland)The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden - novel (The Netherlands) I Will Crash by Rebecca Watson - novel (UK)Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good by Eley Williams - short story collection (UK)The Coin by Yasmin Zaher – novel (Palestine)
