Latest news with #WallaceandGromit
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Strictly star and YouTuber George Clarke revealed as secret nepo baby
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOUTUBER and new Strictly Come Dancing hopeful George Clarke has been revealed as a secret nepo-baby. The 25-year-old star has built up a loyal following after debuting on TikTok and YouTube almost five years ago. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Strctly hopeful George Clarke is a secret nepo-baby Credit: PA 4 His father Sean is the head of Aardman Animations Credit: YouTube/Shaun The Sheep's Circus Show 4 Nepo-baby George pictured alongside his father Credit: Instagram/georgeclarkeey Over the last 12 months, he has seen his stardom rise and has become one of the UK's leading and most famous content creators. Now, he has been confirmed as the first TikTok star to take on the Strictly ballroom. But the social media star is actually a secret nepo-baby with a very successful father who is the driving force behind one of the largest film productions companies in Britain. George's dad is Sean Clarke, the managing director of Aardman Animations. Aardman are the makers of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep and Sean has worked his way up the company since 1998. Sean currently leads the entire operation, including all of the executive board and has even co-produced some of the studio's biggest releases - and has earned a pretty penny or two in the process. He first joined as Head of Consumer Products in 1998 - a year before George was born. Prior to that, Sean was working for Disney as their UK Licensing Director. His work at Aardman has seen him co-executive produce on Early Man, the two Shaun the Sheep movies and the half hour musical short Robin Robin. In a nod to his father's film legacy, nepo-baby George even owns a pet mouse called Gromit and regularly pays tribute to the movies in his TikTok's. Strictly officially reveal Apprentice star for 2025 show - hours after he leaked show appearance on Insta Under a recent TikTok clip about the Clarke family's involvement with Wallace and Gromit, one fan laughed: "This how I found out George is a nepo baby lol." As another penned: "Fr? Bros rich af already." George was revealed this week as one of the stars who would be taking a spin around the BBC dancefloor. He is best known for hosting The Useless Hotline podcast alongside Max Balegdeh. It was recently revealed that the social media hunk was romancing lingerie model Yasmin Amelia after letting slip the pair were an item during a late-night live stream. Earlier this year he took part in the second series of the Netflix show Inside, fronted by BGT judge KSI, alongside Whitney Adebayo and DDG. Strictly 2025 rumoured line-up The following stars are rumoured to be taking part in Strictly - plus scroll to see who has been confirmed Angellica Bell: A familiar face on British television, Angellica is a seasoned TV presenter known for her work on shows like CBBC and The One Show. She's no stranger to reality TV, having recently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. Paul C. Brunson: The charismatic relationship expert and matchmaker from Married At First Sight UK, Paul is known for his insightful advice and warm personality. Swapping the sofa for the samba, he's tipped to bring a touch of class and intelligence to the competition. Vicky Pattison: A reality TV stalwart who first found fame on Geordie Shore, Vicky has successfully transitioned into a presenter and author. Having supported her friend Pete Wicks on the show last year, it seems she's ready to put on her own dancing shoes. Ashley Cain: Former footballer and reality TV star from Ex on the Beach, Ashley has more recently become known for his incredible charity work and campaigning. Stacey Solomon: Known for her down-to-earth charm and successful BBC shows like Sort Your Life Out, fans are eager to see if she can translate her infectious energy to the ballroom. Georgia Toffolo: Best known as "Toff" from Made in Chelsea and for winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017, Georgia is a seasoned reality TV star. Thomas Skinner: The lively entrepreneur who became a fan favourite on The Apprentice in 2019, Thomas is known for his larger-than-life personality and catchphrase "Bosh!". Despite admitting to no dancing experience, he's reportedly "up for giving it his best shot." Tom Parker Bowles: The renowned food writer and critic, and son of Queen Camilla, is a surprising but intriguing name on the rumour list. A regular on MasterChef, it remains to be seen if his culinary precision translates to ballroom finesse. Sir Mo Farah: The legendary Olympic long-distance runner is considered a national treasure. Balvinder Sopal: The talented actress known for her role as Suki Panesar in EastEnders, Balvinder would follow a long line of successful soap stars on Strictly. Jake Brown: The winner of The Traitors series three, Jake's name has emerged as a potential contestant. Stefan Dennis: The actor, 66, has played six-times married Ramsay Street lothario Paul Robinson since the first episode in 1985 and now the soap is coming to an end, his schedule is clear. Confirmed Strictly 2025 stars: Ellie Goldstein - Vogue cover model Ellie is the first contestant with Down syndrome to take part in a full Strictly series. As well as her modelling work, she is known for CBBC. George Clarke - Social media star George was the sixth person to be revealed. The influencer isn't the first YouTube star to appear, and follows Saffron Barker and Joe Suggs, Balvinder Sopal - The soap star is the latest EastEnders cast member to sign up to the show. The actress is known for playing Walford matriarch Suki Panesar. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: The former Premier League football striker, famous for his time at Leeds and Chelsea, is another sporting name being linked. Alex Kingston - Actress Alex has joined the line-up and his hoping to emulate the success of her friend Sarah Hadland last year. She is best known for shows like Doctor Who, EastEnders and ER. Dani Dyer: Rising to fame as the winner of Love Island in 2018, Dani has remained in the public eye with various TV appearances. The daughter of actor Danny Dyer, she's reportedly agreed to take part. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey: Known as "Nitro" from the BBC's Gladiators reboot and a former Team GB sprinter, Harry has already shown off some moves on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
The Sun
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump humiliated Starmer with ‘politics for dummies' lesson – Donald understands voters in way Labour never will
AS humiliations go, it was a humdinger served with deadly disdain on home soil but with a global audience. And judging by the gritted teeth expression that suggested he'd been fashioned from clay by Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman Animation, our Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer knew it. It came from US President Donald Trump and it involved the F-word — Farage. 'Politics is pretty simple,' he shrugged, as he offered unsolicited advice on how Sir Keir should handle 'the thing going on between you and Nigel' as though they were a married couple going through a rough patch. He added: 'Generally speaking, the one who cuts taxes the most, the one who gives you the lowest energy prices, the best kind of energy, the one that keeps you out of wars . . . a few basics . . . And in your case, a big immigration component.' And there you have it, in a nutshell. Politics for dummies, yet still the incumbent Labour government just don't seem to get it. Unlike Tony Blair and 'New Labour,' who understood that attracting and maintaining wealth promoted the growth that any country needs to thrive economically, 'Same Old Labour' seems intent on strangling it. Consequently, its policies are causing a mass exodus of the wealthy, who are taking with them their assets, taxes, and the jobs they generate. Meanwhile, thousands in need of financial assistance are arriving on small boats, nurses/doctors are demanding more pay and state-funded civil service jobs are now at a 19-year high of 550,000. You don't have to be a financial expert to know that it's economically unsustainable. Meanwhile, a Sun report revealed that nearly 50,000 businesses in the UK are on the brink of collapse as costs put them under 'significant' financial stress — with Chancellor Rachel Reeves's recent increase in National Insurance payments being one of the key reasons. The 'critical' financial level among bars and restaurants alone is up by 41 per cent. As f ormer Reform MP Rupert Lowe posted earlier this week, there is so much bureaucracy and high cost involved in starting up a small business in the UK, 'Why bother?' Indeed. It also might explain why the UK's 'dark economy' is flourishing, with nearly 1,000 businesses fined a total of £37million for employing illegal workers last year. Awkward moment Trump blasts 'nasty' Sadiq Khan for 'terrible job'… before Starmer interrupts: 'He's a friend of mine!' It's unclear whether all the businesses — including, natch, car washes, barbers and salons — have paid the fines, but it shows that Immigration Enforcement teams are working hard to tackle the issue. Perhaps if they put the same zeal into preventing those working illegally from entering the country in the first place, the problem would largely disappear overnight. But, yet again, Labour is showing the same paralysis that blighted the Tories for so many years when it comes to implementing blindingly obvious solutions that would have the backing of the majority of the electorate. So little wonder that elections expert Sir John Curtice recently declared that Starmer has had the 'worst start' for any newly elected Labour or Conservative Prime Minister. 5 He says that voters 'still don't know what [Starmer] stands for' and right now it's looking like Sir Keir himself doesn't know what he stands for. Trump is a wrong'un in so many ways, but he understands the basic principle that if you let people work, impose fair taxes, tackle crime and keep state interference in their lives to a minimum, they will take personal responsibility and thrive. Slick operator Farage understands that, too, and, unlike the Tories and Labour, his claims that he will fix the UK's problems remain untested. So, unless Starmer sticks Trump's vote-winning 'basics' on the fridge at Downing Street and acts on them, his tenure will be as short-lived as Wallace and Gromit's trip to the moon. MOLLY HAVING A BAWL THE Instagram account of hugely successful 'influencer' (8.5million followers on Instagram alone) Molly-Mae Hague shows a carefully curated collection of artfully shot photos depicting a seemingly perfect life. Beautifully blow-dried hair, designer outfits, luxury cars and holiday destinations, she's selling her fans their dream existence while funding her own via lucrative brand deals. Yet, in a couple of her recent live streams to fans, she's seen sobbing and riddled with anxiety after having her chain yanked by online haters. So perhaps those close to her might advise a spell away from social media altogether or, at the very least, the comments section. And at the same time, those being outright nasty (rather than expressing any valid criticism in a measured way) to someone whose clearly struggling with their mental health should give her a break too. It might just improve their lives as well. As Nelson Mandela once said: 'Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.' Sexy Syd's a jeanius seller AN ad for American Eagle jeans featuring Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney has sparked an online backlash. Why? Because the ad says 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes jeans.' Which, according to some, smacks of 'eugenics', 'Nazi propaganda' and promotes 'white supremacy'. Sigh. Is there literally anything now that someone, somewhere can't take offence at if they try hard enough? It's an eye-catching ad to sell jeans, featuring a gorgeous young woman with, yes, great genes. And that would apply equally if it was Naomi Campbell. A CASE STUDY IN FEES A VIRAL video shows a sobbing woman slumped to her knees at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria after a Ryanair flight left without her. Apparently, staff said her bag was too big to take on board, she rammed it in the measuring thing to prove it wasn't, they said no anyway, and she presumably refused on principle to pay the extra to put it in the hold. Who knows? But considering Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said last week he's considering raising the current bonus staff receive for identifying passengers with 'oversized bags', it might explain why they're so intransigent when a suitcase wheel or strap is one millimetre above the measuring line. You need an 'ology in airline suitcase sizing to travel stress-free these days. Meanwhile, me and my 55 x 45 x 25 hand luggage are currently stuck in Marseille, France, after a fire in the vicinity of the airport caused multiple cancellations, my BA flight among them. I know, I know. Pray for me. No time to age 5 LOOKING sensational on the cover of Harper's Bazaar UK, diva songstress Mariah Carey has given her views on getting older. 'I don't allow it – it just doesn't happen.' Er, right. Best scrap the £50billion a year anti-ageing industry then. She adds: 'I don't know numbers. I do not acknowledge time.' Which might explain why she's notoriously late for pretty much everything. JENNIFER ANISTON is reportedly dating an American life coach and hypnotist called Jim Curtis. She has liked some of his posts and, rumour has it, indulged in a spot of hypnosis herself after reading his book called Shift: Quantum Manifestation Guide: A Workbook For Coding A New Consciousness. Cripes. The title alone is enough to send you to sleep.
Hype Malaysia
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) Pokémon Announces 1st Outdoor Park In 2026 & Stop Motion Animated Series In 2027
With an active fanbase and loyal players globally, Pokémon continues to withstand the test of time with its evolving gameplay throughout various platforms, keeping the magic of the game alive in various forms. Aside from gameplay, Pokémon announced exciting news for fans releasing in 2026 and 2027. Posted yesterday (22nd July 2025), Pokémon Presents announced their upcoming projects launching throughout this year to 2027. Among them were the reveal of their first permanent outdoor theme park, PokePark Kanto, and a new animated stop-motion series, 'The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Picu'. PokéPark Kanto Launching in spring of 2026, Pokémon announced their first-ever permanent outdoor theme park, PokéPark Kanto! Located inside Yomiuri Land, Japan's largest theme park on the hillsides of Tokyo, the 26,000 square meters of the park features a Pokémon Forest filled with terrains where Pokémon reside in their natural habitat. The park also features Sedge Town, a town square where park-goers or trainers are able to meet in a life-sized Pokémon town, complete with its own Pokémon Centre, Poké Mart, Sedge Gym and a Pokémon parade. Fans can expect to purchase advanced tickets to the park starting at the end of 2025. The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu From the studios that brought us 'Wallace and Gromit', Aardman Animation Studio and Pokémon will be partnering for a stop-motion animated series called 'The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu'. Co-founder and Creative Director, Peter Lord, hints during Pokémon Presents that the setting of the animated series will take place in a region 'very close to our hearts', which was surmised to be located in the Galar Region. The released teaser, along with the announcement, showcases a first look of the show, with a Wooloo chomping on grass as a stray Picu and Sirfetch'd cause chaos in the background. Starring two unlikely Pokémon pairs paired with Aardman's signature witty comedy, the series will be premiering in 2027. Watch the full videos here: Sources: YouTube, IGN, Pokemon Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
Belfast Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast crafter goes viral after photo of Wallace and Gromit postbox topper proves an online hit
Debbie Thompson's crocheted creations sit on a postbox on the Glen Road in the west of the city, and her colourful design has gained attention around the world after she shared a photo in a popular craft group. The topper features characters Wallace and Gromit, with 'new topper in progress' spelled out in yarn. Debbie explained that she hadn't expected such a reaction, as it's a temporary piece placed to show that a new summer topper is being made. She said: 'In between seasons, some people put cones out to show a new topper is on the way. I wanted to put my own twist on that. 'I created a Wallace and Gromit, with Gromit knitting on the topper just because he's known for having a wee knit. 'It was always meant to be temporary until the summer one is finished, but the reaction on social media has been crazy since I posted it. Every time I look, the likes and comments have grown.' Debbie has been knitting since she was a child, learning at school and from her mother. She later taught herself to crochet by following instructions in a book. Although her recent craft has gained massive attention for its detail, Debbie had only made two other postbox toppers. 'I started making them at Easter. Someone on a local community site mentioned that the person who looks after the toppers nearby was wanting two bunny rabbits, so I offered to make them. 'Then I noticed a nearby postbox had nothing on it, so I decided to give it a go too. 'There is an online community for toppers, and I decided to post my creations in those groups. 'I shared it on the UK Post Box Toppers site to see the reaction and it got 2,000 likes. 'I thought, 'Flip me, that's absolutely brilliant', but I never expected the most recent one to get the attention that it has.' News Catch Up - Tuesday 17th June Debbie added that she finds creating the quirky designs 'therapeutic' and that crochet is a way for her to unwind. 'I have neurological problems and other health issues, and sometimes when I'm in pain, crocheting helps clear my mind and takes my focus away from it. 'Now, I can't sit without my crochet, I find it to be really relaxing. I love sitting in the evenings once everything's done and settled, just crocheting. That's my thing.' Debbie added: 'We're all very stressed out at the minute about what's going on in the world around us. 'I find the postbox toppers to be a nice wee light-hearted joy.'
STV News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Children's character Zog is celebrated on Royal Mint 50p coins
Children's character Zog is being celebrated with the launch of a Royal Mint 50p coin. The collectable coin marks 15 years since since Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's enthusiastic but accident-prone dragon first captured readers' hearts. The design features Zog flying, complete with tiny wings and a determination to earn a golden star at Dragon School. The 50p joins the Mint's childhood characters collection, which also includes The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: 'We're thrilled to welcome Zog onto an official UK 50p and as part of our childhood characters coin series. PA Media The new 50p coin is one of a series that celebrates children's characters (Royal Mint/PA) PA Media 'As the dragon who tries his very best – despite his mishaps – Zog represents determination and perseverance, qualities we can all admire. 'This coin celebrates a character who has become a firm favourite in households across the UK and continues our tradition of honouring beloved children's literature on our nation's coinage.' Zog author Ms Donaldson said: 'I'm delighted that Zog is being celebrated on a UK coin. When I wrote his story 15 years ago, I never imagined he would fly so far into people's imaginations. Seeing our determined dragon on a 50p piece would definitely earn him a golden star from Madam Dragon.' Illustrator Mr Scheffler said: 'Drawing Zog with his big friendly face and clumsiness has always been such a joy. To see my illustrations transformed onto a coin is an incredible honour.' Previous character coins from the Royal Mint also include the Snowman, Paddington Bear, and Wallace and Gromit. The Zog 50p coin was created in partnership with Magic Light Pictures, the company behind the animated adaptation of the story. Its release on Thursday coincides with Zog Day 2025, celebrating the character's qualities. The coin is available to buy from the Royal Mint's website in a range of precious metal finishes, with colour versions also available in Zog's orange hue. The range starts at £15 with colour version 50ps priced from £25. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
