Latest news with #TheAssembly
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Danny Dyer 'pulled out all of the stops' for daughter Dani's lavish wedding
EXCLUSIVE: Dani Dyer has married her footballer boyfriend Jarrod Bowen in a stunning ceremony attended by family and friends, with the reality star looking every inch the beautiful bride Danny Dyer is said to have pulled out 'all of the stops' for his daughter Dani's lavish wedding to West Ham player Jarrod Bowen in a 'thank you' as the actor is said to owe some of his career to his eldest. The former Love Island star looked every inch the beautiful bride on Saturday as she tied the knot to Jarrod in a stunning ceremony, surrounded by family and friends. The big day came four years after Dani and Jarrod's relationship began, with the pair meeting while the former was navigating life as a single mum to Santiago, her son with her ex, Sammy Kimmence. Beginning as neighbours, friendship blossomed into love for the couple and in May 2023, they had their own twin daughters, Summer and Star. And now that the duo are husband and wife, a source tells Mirror how Dani is hoping to have a long-lasting marriage like her own parents; Danny and Joanne Mas. 'Family is everything to Dani and Danny is the same way. He pulled out all of the stops to make sure it's a wedding no one would forget for his little girl – the best day of her life. He adores her and actually says he's got her to thank for some things because Dani winning Love Island boosted his career too. 'Dani feels she has found her soulmate in Jarrod and it's a relief after she's had so many ups and downs. Everyone else loves him too. Jarrod and Danny get on so well, which was important to Dani, so it was always going to be a wonderful celebration for the family.' Danny and Joanne were childhood sweethearts, but they only got married in 2016. They have been together for more than three decades – and their relationship has survived a few bumps in the road. Shortly after the birth of their first child, Dani, the couple ended up taking a short break from each other before reuniting and having two more children, Sunnie and Arty. In an episode of ITV series The Assembly, which was broadcast in April, Danny, 47, spoke about their relationship, which has survived multiple cheating allegations throughout his career. Describing how he felt about his wife after their wedding, Danny said, 'To be standing here with the girl I grew up with – looking so beautiful in her wedding dress – that is a lovely thing. Jo is my best girl, the love of my life. Without her, I would be nothing.' Dani previously admitted she was sceptical about getting serious with Jarrod and couldn't believe he wanted to 'take on' both Dani and her young son, who is now four. Opening up about their early days, Dani revealed it was in fact her dad who warned her she was going to 'lose him' if she didn't stop trying to 'put him off'. It was her parents' advice that gave her the motivation to make things work with the footballer. Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Dani said, 'I don't know why I kept doing that to him. In the end, I was getting to a point where my mum and dad were like, 'Listen, Dani, you're going to end up losing him. Stop it! He wants to take you and Santi on. He's more than happy to do that. So just appreciate that and be happy that he wants to.'' Indeed, Dani's dad has shown constant support for the couple since they got together. Chatting on The Jonathan Ross Show in February, he admitted he was 'on the verge of tears' when Jarrod called him to 'ask for her hand in marriage'. Gushing over the footballer, who is West Ham's captain, Danny described him as a 'very humble, brilliant, beautiful man who worships the ground she walks on'.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Shapiro visits Pitt research facility to push his budget's investment in innovation
Gov. Josh Shapiro continues to make the push for parts of his budget. He stopped by facilities at the University of Pittsburgh on Tuesday to make his pitch for investments in life sciences. Shapiro visited Pitt's The Assembly facility, which is an old auto factory that turned into a research building focused on knowledge and discoveries related to cancer biology. The governor's budget calls for $50 million to spur this type of innovation, with a one-time $30 million payment to grow life sciences and $20 million coming annually. "We know that this is a profitable sector of the economy. It's a place that not only employs a whole lot of folks, over 100,000, wages tend to be pretty high," Shapiro said. The challenge he faces is a divided legislature. Based on party lines, Shapiro has the votes in the House for his budget but not the Senate. He said this issue goes beyond party lines and would be to the benefit of the commonwealth. Currently, the budget is sitting in the House waiting for a vote. "Everyone is going to have to compromise. I'm gonna have to compromise. The Senate led by Republicans are gonna have to compromise. The House led by Democrats are gonna have to compromise," Shapiro said. According to Shapiro, the Pittsburgh area is losing out on the money that comes from the research in the region. He said Pittsburgh needs to make ways for universities to complete clinical trials quicker, get a fast track to commercialize their work and then keep the talent that's being created. "Instead of then allowing that research and development that's been done here to be taken elsewhere for commercialization, we've got to create the ecosystem where it's being commercialized right here," Shapiro said. The governor's comments were echoed by local leaders who say this type of investment is needed to continue success and growth.
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'It's hard': Amanda Keller gets emotional on-air while reflecting on 35 year marriage with husband Harley Oliver amid his ongoing battle with Parkinson's
Australian media personality Amanda Keller has broken down live on-air while celebrating 35 years of marriage to her ailing husband, Harley Oliver. The 63-year-old co-host of Gold 101.7 FM's breakfast show joined Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones on Tuesday morning and was almost immediately overcome with emotion. "Good morning, everybody, it's the 27th of May," Jonesy began, before Amanda echoed: "27th of May," clearing her throat. "Oh, I don't want to get emotional," she said, her voice cracking. "It's my wedding anniversary today. "And in the old days, Harley and I would have been going out to dinner tonight. But he's not well enough to do that." Trying to steady herself, Keller asked her longtime co-host how long he's been married. "Ah, 33 years," he replied. "When you stand there on your wedding day and you say forever, what does that even mean?" Amanda reflected. "And when you say the words, 'for better or worse', you know, what do they mean when you're in your 20s?" Jonesy gently added, "And in sickness and in health." The veteran journalist and comedian went on to describe the shifting nature of long-term love. "I don't think you can get to 35 years without the sands shifting between you beneath your feet," she admitted. "If you're living life, you don't get to cherry-pick life. You engage with it as you find it. "And Harley's very stoic, but it's hard." Keller first revealed Harley's diagnosis with Parkinson's, a progressive and degenerative neurological disorder, in October 2023. The couple reside in Sydney's coastal suburb of Coogee and share two sons: Liam, 23, and Jack, 21. Since going public with her artist husband's condition, Keller has been candid about the emotional toll and the strength it takes to face it. In a May 2024 interview with Stellar, she described Harley as "quite remarkable" but confessed it's been "hard to accept". "Every time I talk about this, sometimes I'm fine and sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming," she said. Appearing on ABC's The Assembly not long after, Keller became visibly emotional when asked by a young journalist if she still loved her husband. "That question is beautiful," she replied. "I think I'm going to cry because my husband is going through some stuff at the moment." Looking back on more than three decades together, Keller said she's still "grateful" she and Harley are "in it together". "I never think of the what-ifs because I think that's just where madness lies," she shared on the Jonesy and Amanda Show. "But you do fluctuate between dealing with what's in front of you and having the absolute sh**s that you're dealing with what's in front of you. "But as we've spoken about before, you scratch the surface (and) everyone is going through a story. "And to think of the journey you embark on 35 years ago, that's a very long time. "And we've lived a rich and wonderful life together, and we still do."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hunters form unlikely alliance amid emerging threats to animals and traditions: 'It's the whole process of making everything right'
Increasing temperatures have resulted in rising sea levels across coastal communities, including the Down East region of North Carolina. Sea-level rise in this region threatens ducks and other migratory birds, The Assembly reported, along with the tradition of hunting them. However, hunters and conservationists alike are taking action to keep the tradition –– and ducks –– alive. The Down East exists along the coast of North Carolina and is defined by its "relationship with water," as Our State described. The region hosts a history of commercial fishing, duck hunting, and duck decoy carving, among other activities. But increasing temperatures and a changing climate jeopardize all of it. According to The Assembly, coastal North Carolina has experienced about 11 inches of sea-level rise since 1950. The sea level in Beaufort –– which rests to the south of the Down East –– is estimated to rise nearly half a meter by 2050 and one meter by 2100, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data shared by Coastwatch. These rising seas are flooding marshes, which over 500 species of migratory birds –– like ducks –– stop at along their routes on the Atlantic Flyway. Some 389 migratory bird species are at risk of extinction due to the effects of warming temperatures, such as sea-level rise, according to the National Audubon Society. While sea-level rise threatens birds, it also hurts the tradition of duck hunting that people in the Down East value. Warming temperatures have shifted migration patterns, The Assembly explained, which results in fewer birds flocking to the region and fewer ducks to hunt. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Chris Yeomans is a longtime duck hunter and Down East resident, and per The Assembly, he appreciates the community that duck hunting creates. The loss of duck hunting means the loss of that community and the region's identity. "It's not just going out and killing ducks," he said. "It's the whole process of making everything right." Hunters and conservationists are attempting to protect ducks and the traditions surrounding them. Duck decoy carving is another tradition in the Down East, and some artists participate in the Federal Duck Stamp contest to conserve ducks and their habitats. The contest, as The Assembly described, brings together "duck hunters, enthusiasts, and artists" to design a stamp, from which 98% of the proceeds support habitat conservation. Other community members support conservation through research. Joel Fodrie, a friend of Yeomans, according to The Assembly, researches seagrasses and salt marshes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and restores these habitats by planting seagrass. Whether through science or art, the Down East community strives to keep its traditions alive. "It's still alive," Yeomans said about duck hunting. "You might say it's being passed down." Meanwhile, reducing the production of planet-warming pollution can help reduce the rate of rising global temperatures that are contributing to sea-level rise. Investing in solar panels, swapping a gas-guzzling car for an EV, and eating more plant-based meals can all make a difference in this endeavor. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside The Assembly: New groundbreaking ITV show sees a panel of neurodivergent and learning-disabled people interview celebrities
It can be hard sometimes to feel like celebrities are telling the public what they really think. In a hyper-vigilant era of elaborately constructed online personae, hawk-eyed publicists pre-approving questions and an increasingly liberal use of crisis PR, celebrity image is more carefully controlled and curated than ever. It is why a show like ITV 's new interview programme The Assembly is so appealing and refreshing - it cuts through all the noise. The set-up: a large panel of neurodivergent and learning-disabled people, who grill British celebrities in a no-limits interview, on topics ranging from death, to religion, to their favourite crisps - with both funny and poignant results. The first series, which finished on Sunday, saw guests as diverse as actors David Tennant and Danny Dyer, Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall and football commentator Gary Lineker face the no-holds-barred questioning. It makes for some of the warmest, most sincere television in recent memory - and its creators, Michelle Singer and Stu Richards, have now spoken out about their magic formula. The first series, which finished on Sunday, saw guests as diverse as actors David Tennant and Danny Dyer, Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall (pictured) and football commentator Gary Lineker face the no-holds-barred questioning The executive producers said in an interview with The Independent that the idea for the show's format is based on a French programme called Les Rencontres du Papotin, which first aired in 2022. Relatively early on in its two series, the programme managed to get French President Emmanuel Macron onboard. He was asked whether his marriage set a bad example after he met then-married Brigitte, his 39-year-old teacher and a mother-of-three, when he was just 15. The French politician responded, with candour: 'It's not about setting an example or not, you see? When you're in love, the choice isn't yours.' He also joked, to laughs from the interviewers: 'She wasn't really my teacher. She was my drama teacher. It's not quite the same.' The politician was astonishingly forthcoming - and the show's uniqueness immediately made an impact on The Assembly co-creator Stu. A pilot, on BBC One, soon followed, in April last year, with actor Michael Sheen, 56. He too was quizzed about his age-gap relationship, with partner Anna Lundberg, 30: 'How does it feel to be dating someone only five years older than your daughter?' The executive producers said the idea for the show's format is based on a French programme called Les Rencontres du Papotin, which first aired in 2022. Pictured: Gary Lineker on The Assembly He was asked whether his marriage - he met then-married Brigitte (pictured together last month), his 39-year-old teacher and a mother-of-three, when he was 15, wedding her after he graduated - set a bad example But it really worked. ITV took over, soon greenlighting a whole series, at the end of last year - and it began airing last month. Everything you see on-screen is completely real, according to the executive producers - also known for Channel 4 cooking chat show Dine Hard with comedian Rosie Jones and BBC sports mockumentary I Am Darren about a fictional Paralympian. The celebrities receive a short briefing from the crew but there are no scripts or rehearsals and all the questions do truly come from the panel themselves. This produced the bombshell age-gap question posed to Michael in the pilot - which saw the whole room, cast and crew, go 'Ohh, holy s***', producer Michelle said. But with no team to fly in to stop him responding, the actor was able to pause to really think and reply in a way he was happy with, she explained - and he ended up giving a wonderful response. The question was in reference to his daughter Lily, 26, who he shares with English actress Kate Beckinsale, following their relationship from 1995 until 2003. He has been in a relationship with Swedish actress Anna, 30, who he appeared with in BBC comedy series Staged, since 2019. They have two children together. He was, incidentally, also quizzed about his relationship, with partner Anna Lundberg, 30: 'How does it feel to be dating someone only five years older than your daughter?' Pictured: Michael and Anna in 2019 Michael replied on The Assembly at the time: 'I think because of the age difference, I think both of us were quite surprised when we got together. 'I don't think either of us were looking for that. It's not like I've dated lots of people who are much younger than me, but you meet who you meet. 'We were very aware of what differences that might make and how they might respond to that. 'It's not like it was the easiest thing to do. We were both aware it would be difficult and challenging. 'Ultimately, we felt it was worth it because of how we felt about each other. Now we have two beautiful children together. I'm really happy. 'Because of the age difference I know I'm a older father. It does worry me. It makes me sad thinking about the time I won't have with them. 'But I think if you find someone who brings you happiness and you make them happy, you've got to go for that I think and I'm so happy we did as we have this wonderful family now.' Some equally as powerful moments have been created on the episodes since then. He said: 'I was a p***k and she deserved better... She had every right to throw me out. She controls everything now' Danny tearfully revealed his wife Joanne Mas controls all their finances now, after throwing him out for his wild, drug-filled behaviour in his youth. He said: 'I was a p***k and she deserved better... She had every right to throw me out. She controls everything now.' Veteran Shakespeare actor David Tennant, performed a scene from Macbeth with a keen actor from the panel, while Jade Thirlwall spoke about how grounding her friendship with the late Liam Payne was in the early part of her career. Gary Lineker, meanwhile, was quizzed on his exit from Match of the Day and how it felt when his son George was diagnosed with leukaemia. David, Danny and Jade were all in tears by the close of the interview, which ended with musical performances from the panel - The Proclaimers' Sunshine on Leith, Primal Scream's Movin' On Up and Diana Ross's I'm Coming Out respectively. Gary watched on, captivated, by a beautiful contemporary dance by one of the interviewers, which ended his episode. Jade, after dubbing the process her 'favourite interview' on social media, asked for the name of each of the 35 cast members so she could hand write them a thank-you card. In fact, all the stars wrote to the production team via their agents to express how much of an impact the show made on them. Jade spoke about how grounding her friendship with the late Liam Payne was in the early part of her career Gary, meanwhile, was quizzed on his exit from Match of the Day and how it felt when his son George was diagnosed with leukaemia The show's creators are perfectly aware, though, that for less genuine celebrities, an appearance on the programme - in which the stars inevitably come off well - could cynically be viewed as a mere PR opportunity. Taking it back to the programme's origins with President Macron, Stu and Michelle laughed as they mentioned both US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as interviewees they would love to get involved. Any attempted PR stunt would likely soon be detected - there is no hiding from the panel, they reflected. Ultimately, Stu hopes the programme can challenge stereotypes about disabled people, in a different and more helpful way than viewers might be used to. It is the main aim of his disabled-led production company Rockerdale Studios, which he co-owns with his show co-creator Michelle: 'The boring way of doing that is to sit and talk about stereotypes in the actual show and look it in the eye. 'We don't do that. We make an entertaining show. And if it does nice things, then f***ing great.' Michelle added The Assembly is about self-expression, about letting the stars show off their natural excitement - and cheeky nature: 'It isn't, "Ah, aren't they lovely? Look at people like that".' One interviewer named Essin (pictured) - who has asked particularly hard-hitting questions about Danny's absent father and Gary's thoughts on why it is hard for gay footballers to come out - has already been recognised in the street and asked for a selfie Stu explained: 'It's being given agency and power to be the subject of something rather than the sort of object of our sympathy.' The panel have loved the experience, the producers said - and have already begun to develop a celebrity status of their own. One interviewer named Essin - who has asked particularly hard-hitting questions about Danny's absent father and Gary's thoughts on why it is hard for gay footballers to come out - has already been recognised in the street and asked for a selfie. It seems what Danny said near the end of his episode may ring remarkably true: 'Listen, I will say this. You better prepare yourself for a bit of fame, you lot, 'cause I think this show is gonna be f***ing massive.' The Assembly is available to stream on ITVX.
