Latest news with #TheSpecials
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Critically-acclaimed drama dropped by BBC after one season
BBC bosses have reportedly axed the critically acclaimed drama This Town after just one series. The show, created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, 66, was generally well-received by critics and viewers alike, and won praise for its portrayal of the 1980s, its music, and compelling storytelling. Set against the backdrop of Birmingham and Coventry, the series featured music from legendary local bands including UB40 and The Specials. It followed an extended family and four young people drawn into the explosive and iconic music scene of the early '80s. Steven had hoped This Town would follow in the footsteps of Peaky Blinders and become his next big hit. When the first series aired in March last year, he made no secret of wanting to continue the story, saying: 'I certainly have enough ideas for more episodes going forward.' He added at the time: 'I hope we are with these characters for a long time to come', however, the BBC has decided not to renew the series. A BBC spokesman told The Sun : 'We're hugely grateful to Steven Knight (pictured) and the cast and crew for bringing This Town to life — in no small part due to Steven's passion for the West Midlands. We look forward to working with him on new projects in the future, and we're in talks about what's next.' Despite winning the Royal Television Society Award for Limited Series and Single Drama earlier this year, the show lost over a million viewers during its six-week run – pulling in more than 3.2 million for its premiere but failing to maintain those figures. According to The Sun, a BBC insider confirmed that the decision to axe the show was not due to Steven's busy schedule – which includes the ten-part World War Two epic Roads To Freedom. Nor was it due to the availability of the star-studded cast, which included Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery. Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment. However, it's not all bad news for Steven, as he's just been signed to write the latest James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed earlier this week. The British screenwriter – best known for creating the hit BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders starring Cillian Murphy - said penning a 007 script has always been on his 'bucket list'. The latest Bond film is currently in development and is to be directed by Dune's Denis Villeneuve, with Amazon MGM Studios overseeing the project after longtime producer Barbara Broccoli gave up creative control. Meanwhile, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are on board to produce the movie via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films, respectively, while Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producer. Speaking about his involvement in the film, Steven told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast : 'It has always been on my bucket list and it's fantastic to be invited to do it - I can't wait to get started. 'I'm hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that's the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.' However, Steven failed to give any indication about who will replace Daniel Craig in the titular role. The actor, 57, stepped down from the iconic spy role after 2021's No Time To Die, having starred in five of the films over a 15-year period. Several actors have been tipped to step into his shoes, with stars including Taron Egerton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Mescal, and Theo James thrown into the mix. When pressed on who could be the new Bond, he responded: 'That is a very, very good question, and one I can't give you the answer to'. The last outing for James Bond was 2021's No Time to Die , with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Cary Joji Fukunaga on the writing team. Speaking of the selection process for the latest film, Steven shared: 'I was invited to a meeting with [producer] Amy Pascal, didn't know what it was about, and very quickly discovered what it was about and became very, very excited and hopeful. And then a process is followed where you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you've got it. So I found out a while ago, but it was announced last night, which is great.' He added that it was a 'high pressure' job, before noting: 'you've just got to do what you do, do it as well as you can'. It comes after Taron Egerton responded to speculation that he could be the next James Bond after Daniel Craig's exit. Many A-list names have been thrown into the ring during the months of speculation about who will play 007 next following Amazon's takeover of the franchise. Rocketman star Taron, 35, has been rumoured to be in the running to be Bond as far back as 2019, with Sir Roger Moore 's son Geoffrey even backing him for the role. However, Taron has now dashed fans' hopes as he poured cold water on the idea, insisting he is too 'messy' to play the suave secret agent. 'I don't think I'm a good choice for it, I think I'm too messy for that,' he told Collider. 'I really love James Bond and particularly Daniel Craig's tenure, but I think I wouldn't be good at it. I think there's so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it, I think it would be wasted on me, probably.' Taron also acknowledged that taking on the Bond mantel is quite an undertaking and insisted nobody has actually approached him about the role. But he didn't rule out taking on another major commercial project as he revealed he wouldn't turn down a different opportunity, though he remained coy about what that might be.
Hypebeast
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Engineered Garments 2026 春季系列「This Are Two Tone」發佈
本文看點 Engineered Garments2026 春季系列系列圍繞著黑白兩色展開，巧妙地命名為「This Are Two Tone」，講述了一個關於英國 2 Tone 和 ska 復興樂團 The Specials 的宏大敘事。 系列服飾採用來自世界各地的原創面料製成，主打一款印在棉質防撕裂布上的格紋圖案，以及品牌標誌性的 ska 音樂腳印圖案，後者則呈現在聚酯纖維飛行斜紋布上。在眾多亮眼的廓形中，三件式西裝讓人聯想到 The Specials 經典的制服，而三扣的 Andover 外套則展現了 Nepenthes 子品牌的實用主義。 此外，系列中還包括多款長褲，例如剪裁較窄的 Andover 長褲，以及版型較寬的 Carlyle 長褲。當這些長褲搭配新款外套，像是 Claigton 外套和 AN 外套時，每一款褲裝都為樂團的三件式西裝廓形提供了獨特的詮釋，而搭配系列中的緞帶和窄版領帶，則更能將其精髓完美呈現。 感興趣的讀者不妨瀏覽藝廊查看本季完整型錄。
Hypebeast
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Engineered Garments Spring 2026 Styles The Specials' Two-Tone Suit
Engineered Garments'Spring 2026collection was designed around two tones: black and white. Aptly titled 'This Are Two Tone,' the line's simple color story tells a much larger narrative about the British 2 Tone and ska revival band, The Specials. Made from original fabrics sourced around the world, the line champions a hero checkered pattern printed on cotton ripstop and a signature ska musical footprint motif, which appears on polyester pilot twill fabric. Among the standout silhouettes, the three-piece suit harkens back to The Specials' classic uniform, while a three-button Andover Jacket speaks to the Nepenthes sub-label's utilitarianism. Elsewhere, the lineup includes an array of trousers, such as the Andover Pant, which features a narrow construction, and the Carlyle Pant, which opts for a wider build. When paired with new coats, like the Claigton Jacket and the AN Jacket, each trouser offers an original take on the band's three-piece suit silhouette, which truly comes to life with the line's ribbon and narrow ties. Take a look at Engineered Garments' Spring 2026 collection in the gallery above.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Godiva Festival 'a must' for The Specials' Neville Staple
"I love being on stage and I had to do Coventry."Despite serious health concerns, there was no way The Specials' Neville Staple was going to miss playing the city's Godiva one of the founders of the legendary ska revivalists, has been told he can only play five gigs a year, after having to cancel several gigs and festival sets last year when he was diagnosed with a serious heart Godiva performance on Saturday saw him back in the city where The Specials first took to the stage after forming in 1977. "I've missed being on stage so much," Staple told BBC CWR, explaining that after discussions with his wife and his doctor he accepted he had to cut back on wife and fellow musician Christine "Sugary" Staple knew his heart was immediately set on playing Godiva, where she also played in the band's line-up."He said I've got to do Coventry – out of the five [shows], Coventry is a must," she said. The three-day Godiva festival, which showcases local acts as well as famous bands, will end later with a headline set from Ocean Colour Specials were at the forefront of the 2 Tone movement that started in Coventry in the late 1970s, quickly gaining national acclaim. The genre blended Jamaican reggae, ska, and British punk with the likes of The Beat, The Selecter and Madness, the band captured the mood of the late 1970s, when future prospects for young people looked bleak. Now firmly fixed in Coventry's cultural heritage, 2 Tone continues to inspire successive generations, with tributes posted across the city when The Specials' frontman Terry Hall died in of Hall's piano's has been on display at Godiva this year, alongside a stall from Tonic Music for Mental Health, a charity he supported. "Sugary" Staple described the gig as "a homecoming" and added that "we love Godiva, we've got history at Godiva."The couple have also been involved with anti-knife crime campaigning in recent years, after their grandson Fidel Glasgow was fatally stabbed in Coventry in Saturday, Staple's message to people in the city was: "Stay positive, love one another, and put away those knives." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I thought Derren Brown was fake until I copied him and made someone pass out, says albino hypnotist
HYPNOTIST Fraser Penman thought Derren Brown was faking it - until he had a hairy moment when he copied the TV sensation's techniques and made someone pass out in a barber shop. The 30-year-old from East Kilbride, was training to be a primary school teacher when he became 'fascinated' with the Londoner's mind control techniques. 3 Fraser Penman, who is known as The Imaginator. Credit: ANDY BARR 3 Fraser as a youngster growing up in East Kilbride with his big brother and poster for his new Edinburgh Fringe show. 3 Fraser puts Scottish Sun man Harry in a trance to help him get over his fear of spiders. Credit: ANDY BARR And after becoming hooked on Derren's Channel 4 shows, including The Experiments and The Specials, he would discover first hand that the telly mentalist was the real deal. He says: 'I've always been fascinated by Derren Brown - he has been a massive inspiration. 'I had no idea how he could influence the mind or change people's perception or the use of autogenics, which is a fancy way of saying a shift in mindset. 'He could make people believe or see or do the most incredible things simply by talking to them or looking at them.' He adds: 'So I got intrigued and discovered that there was this thing called hypnosis. And like everybody else, I thought, there's no way this is true. 'That was until I took a deep dive into the neuroscience behind it and I fell in love with it and taught myself about hypnosis through books and DVDs, which I watched a thousand times. 'Then one day I was in the barber shop getting a haircut and they were speaking about hypnosis and I piped up 'I'm a hypnotist' even though I'd never hypnotised a person in my life. 'I repeated what I'd learned from the DVD and this person dropped like a fly, unconscious, right in front of me. 'Inside my head, I'm thinking, 'oh my goodness, this crap works'. 'I quickly counted to three and woke that person straight back up. But that was the turning point for me.' Fraser now calls himself a psychological influencer and goes by the stage name Penman - The Imaginator, playing to audiences across the UK, US and beyond, while he will also be staging a special performance on Thursday May 29 at Alona Hotel by M&D's Theme Park in Lanarkshire. But not only did hypnotism change his career path, he also credits it with saving his life. Fraser, who grew up in the new town with folks Christne and Brian, both 63, and big brother Ross, 33, endured years of vicious bullying as a kid after being born with oculocutaneous albinism, which means he has no pigment in his skin and eyes. He explains: 'As you can tell by the bright white hair, I am albino, but I have the most severe level of albinism which means I'm visually impaired and cannot see enough to drive. 'Growing up, kids can be cruel. I experienced both physical and mental bullying from the age of eight 'Then when I was 14 I was attacked by a group of youths and kicked down a flight of stairs. 'It was at that point I didn't want to be part of society anymore. I put on fake tan and dyed my hair jet black - basically, I wanted to be anyone but me. 'Being bullied for something that was outwith my control was really hard to accept. It never left me.' He added: 'The reason I wanted to go into education was to make a difference for any other kids who were different. 'But then I was diagnosed dyslexic. It left me questioning, where do I belong in this life? 'I actually got so anxious and depressed that I was three days away from wanting to take my own life. 'But it was through the use of self-hypnosis that I gave myself one suggestion, which was 'you are enough.' 'The next day, I woke up, shaved off all my black hair, binned all my make-up and fake tan, walked to the shop in shorts, not caring how pale I looked. 'Fast forward six years, I'm now a certified clinical hypnotherapist, have performed in America and about to do a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe.' It's unlikely Fraser would ever be bullied now as he has sprouted into a lean, 6ft 5in, fighting machine as he's also a black belt in Taekwondo. Although he insists he's never had to use martial arts in self-defence, joking: 'There's no need to lift my hands. All I have to do is just click my fingers and put someone to sleep.' So can he hypnotise anyone? He replies: 'Yes, everybody can be hypnotized, it's just to what degree. 'They say younger people are more susceptible to it, but I've had 70 year old women giving it laldy on the stage. THE IMAGINATOR PUTS SUN MAN HARRY UNDER HIS SPELL HARRY is more of a Marv when it comes to spiders - emitting a piercing scream like the Home Alone villain during his close encounter with a tarantula. Actually he ends up turning the air blue when asked to get up close to a hairy arachnid at Amazonia in the M&D's theme park. Scottish Sun reporter Harry Williamson, 25, says: 'My normal stress level when it comes to spiders is around seven out of 10. 'The closer I got to the tarantula I would say that shot up to about nine out of 10.' But with a snap of Fraser's fingers, and some words of encouragement, Harry was then asked to pretend he was tickling the eight legged beastie like it was his bestie. Suddenly he is no more afraid of the Mexican Fireleg Tarantula than a domestic moggy. Fraser asks: 'And how do you feel now?' Harry beams: 'I feel fine. No fear at all.' But all that was about to change in an instant, with another click of the fingers, Harry is back in Marv mode again, jumping out of his skin, while screeching: 'Ya b*****d!' So what did it really feel like to be under the spell of Penman - The Imaginator? Harry explains: 'It was weird but everything that was done felt like instinct, as if it was the right thing to do.' Fraser adds: 'You never do something under hypnosis that you don't want to. But Harry will feel very relaxed now. Put it this way, he will sleep well tonight.' Unless he dreams about big hairy spiders. 'Being hypnotised feels like the air that you breathe. There's no pixie dust, magic potions or lotions. It's different for everybody. But the best way to describe it is like you're almost daydreaming.' Fraser is glad he embraced his albinism as it also means with his build and shock of white hair, he really stands out amongst other stage hypnotists. He says: 'Someone once told me, to be successful, you either have to be the first to do something or do something different. So why not be the most unique? 'Long gone are the days of fitting in society. I've decided standing out is pretty cool.' Fraser is now determined to follow in Derren's footsteps, as he continues to grow his fanbase and reputation. He says: 'Of course, I would love to be headlining in Vegas like Derren, but my main ambition is to put a modern twist on an age-old art. 'I want to make hypnosis and the psychology elements of what I do, approachable for all. DO you have a fear of spiders or snakes? If you do and want to beat it, then you can win a place at an EXCLUSIVE Scottish Sun event with Fraser Penman on May 29, from 10am to noon. Fraser uses innovative visualisation techniques to change your mindset in just a matter of minutes. By speaking to your subconscious on a deeper level, the certified hypnotherapist and mind reader can help you face your fears head on. To be in with a chance of winning one of 25 pairs of tickets to the show, at the Alona Hotel, next door to Amazonia at M&Ds, Strathclyde Country Park, simply answer the following question and tell us what you are afraid of. What is the full name of the 2006 movie starring Samuel L Jackson? A. SNAKES ON A PLANE B. SNAKES ON A CHAIN C. SNAKES ON A DRAIN Email your answer – along with the thing you are afraid of – and your name, address and daytime contact number to win@ Please put FRASER PENMAN in the email subject header. *Competition closes at midnight tonight. UK residents only, excluding any employees and their families or anyone professionally connected with this promotion. One entry per person. 25 winners will be selected at random from all entries received after the closing date. The prize is a pair of tickets to the Fraser Penman event on May 29, 10am-noon, at the Alona Hotel. Entrants must be over 18. No cash alternative will be offered. Prize is non-transferable. The Scottish Sun is under no liability whatsoever in connection with any loss, damage or injury which is suffered as a direct or indirect result of the prize. Usual rules apply. Editor's decision is final. 'The days of swinging a watch in someone's face while wearing a three piece suit are gone. I want to inspire people to believe in themselves and their dreams - to unleash the superhero within you.' And his new show called You is all about that. He says: 'This is something that's never been done before. It will be the biggest summer anthem party, without the drugs or alcohol, and taking hypnosis and mentalism and completely flipping it on its head. 'I wouldn't say I'm a poster boy for albinism, but I definitely want to inspire anybody who faced barriers in life as I did.' *Penman – The Imaginator – YOU is on at The Gilded Balloon from July 30 to August 24.
