Latest news with #Winnie
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brendan O'Carroll teases big shock for fans in new Mrs Brown's Boys mini-series
Mrs Brown's Boys is set for a 'huge shock' involving one of its most popular characters, according to show creator Brendan O'Carroll. The award-winning mini-series is set to return to our screens on August 1 on BBC One and RTÉ. Speaking ahead of the new series, Brendan said fans are in for a shock. He said: 'The mini-series focuses on the continuing life in the Brown family and surrounding households in Finglas. 'Cathy gets involved with a podcast producer, which obviously is commandeered by Agnes, Winnie and Birdy. Granddad decides that he wants to leave the family home for a care home, Agnes of course packs his bags for him. 'Winnie's husband's car, which has been lying up for ten years, is pressed into action by Winnie, leading to a disastrous driving test which ends with a huge shock for the Brown family. 'In Foley's lounge bar, Father Damien stages his annual Finglas talent show, with some hilarious entries. All capped off with a wonderfully hilarious 'trip' as Agnes is confined to a mobile chair.' The first episode kicks off on August 1 and sees Simon Delaney guest starring. Mrs Brown becomes a podcast sensation – without even leaving the house. Cathy is horrified to discover her mother accidentally hijacks her new podcast project. The second episode sees Grandad wanting to leave the house and check himself into a nursing home. Agnes, of course, is having none of it and immediately goes into detective mode to find out what's really going on. Meanwhile, Foley's Bar prepares for its big annual talent show, and Winnie is determined to take part (whether the bar wants her to or not). In episode three, Winnie's ready to hit the road – but first, she needs to pass her driving test. Naturally, Agnes and the gang volunteer to help her practise, and chaos soon follows. With Winnie behind the wheel and Buster instructing, Finglas becomes a danger zone. Guest stars Shobu Kapoor, formerly of Eastenders, and Marek Larwood add to the madness as things spiral out of control in true Brown family fashion. And in the final episode of the series, Cathy's book group gets an unexpected new member – Agnes. After accidentally picking up one of Cathy's novels, Agnes discovers she has a surprising fondness for steamy fiction. When she gatecrashes the next group meeting to share her 'insights', Cathy is mortified. Brendan admitted writing the mini-series is much more relaxing compared to the Christmas specials as he welcomes Paddy Houlihan as a writer onto the show. He said: 'The writing of the mini-series is much more relaxing for myself and Paddy Houlihan, who joins me as a writer. With the Christmas Specials, I have to keep it within the Christmas period (including the Christmas trees which have emerged as their own event), unlike the specials we can focus on anything, within reason.' Agnes gets a mobility scooter and enjoys an erotic novel on Mrs. Brown's Boys (Image: Graeme Hunter / BBC Studios / BOC) And the Dubliner revealed the inspiration behind some of the storylines – saying most of them are drawn from real-life scenarios. 'The ideas for these episodes are no different from the previous 53 episodes. 'Believe it or not, most of the story lines are based on true events that either happened to my family or have been told to me by people about their families. 'Everybody has a story, and it's quite common for someone in a family to say in the middle of a family disaster, 'This is like an episode of Mrs. Brown's Boys'.' Speaking about his favourite moment filming the series, he said: 'Oh yeah, having Agnes on that mobility scooter was such fun. She goes nuts, with hilarious consequences. 'Also in the Talent Show episode I love the interaction between Agnes and Granddad. Look, in every episode there is something that stands out for me, I love being Agnes Brown and I love her family, and her neighbours like Winnie and Birdy.' Brendan said filming in front of a live audience is 'essential to the show'. 'Filming in front of a live audience is essential to the show. So many times, at the end of rehearsals for a particular episode, our Director, Ben Kellett will say 'All this needs now is the audience' and he is so right. 'They follow every move, every line and add so much to our performances. We would be lost without them.' But he said that he doesn't know what the secret is to the show's success, saying: 'I write and perform what I think is funny and just hope that somebody somewhere watching gets a laugh out of it. That's it, and, although I sometimes try to include a 'family' message along the way, essentially it's just a bunch of actors trying to make you laugh.' The new four-part series of Mrs. Brown's Boys will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from Friday, August 1 at 9.35pm. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
She's back! Mrs Brown becomes a podcast sensation as Finglas chaos returns
Brendan O'Carroll and Mrs Brown's Boys is back for a new series next month, with Finglas legend Agnes becoming a podcast sensation while Winnie learns to drive. The new series kicks off on Friday, August 1, and will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, with star of the show Brendan O'Carroll revealing that the four-part series 'focuses on the continuing life in the Brown family and surrounding households in Finglas.' The gang returns with guest appearances from Simon Delaney, Shobu Kapoor and Marek Larwood. Brendan O'Carroll and Mrs Brown's Boys is back for a new series next month, with Finglas legend Agnes becoming a podcast sensation while Winnie learns to drive. Pic: BBC/BocPIX/Greame Hunter Speaking about the new series, Brendan said: 'The ideas for these episodes are no different from the previous 53 episodes. 'Believe it or not most of the story lines are based on true events that either happened to my family or have been told to me by people about their families.' One episode sees Mrs Brown becoming a podcast sensation much to the horror of her daughter Cathy, while elsewhere, Grandad decides he's planning to leave the house and move into a care home. Eilish O'Carroll as Winnie, Brendan O'Carroll as Mrs Brown and Fiona O'Carroll as Maria in Mrs Brown's Boys. Pic: BBC/BocPIX/Greame Hunter Finglas turns into a danger zone when Winnie decides she needs to pass her driving test. Pinpointing his favourite moment of the mini-series, Brendan said it was when his character Agnes was on the mobility scooter. He added: 'In every episode there is something that stands out for me, I love being Agnes Brown and I love her family, and her neighbours like Winnie and Birdy.' Mrs Brown's Boys in filmed in front of a live studio audience, a feat that Brendan said was 'essential to the show.' He said: 'So many times, at the end of rehearsals for a particular episode, our Director, Ben Kellett will say, 'All this needs now is the audience' and he is so right. 'They follow every move, every line and add so much to our performances. We would be lost without them.' The new 4 part series of Mrs. Brown's Boys will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from Friday August 1st at 9:35pm.
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Foster mom couldn't keep dog — but kept vow to return for her. ‘Wasn't a dry eye'
A foster mom couldn't keep a dog — but kept a promise to return for her. That's when the woman adopted Winnie Bean Pocket with 'no hesitation,' ending her longtime stay at a North Carolina shelter. 'There wasn't a dry eye in the building,' Danielle Deschamps, communications coordinator for the Watauga Humane Society, told McClatchy News in a July 15 email. 'This isn't an easy vocation we've chosen, and stories like Winnie's are what keep us going. Her resilience, the community's compassion, and a foster's promise fulfilled… it's a story we'll carry in our hearts for a long time.' The shelter celebrated the emotional adoption after Winnie had been in and out of its care for three years. She first arrived 'on a date as memorable as she is: 02/22/2022,' according to Deschamps. 'She's endured two foster homes, three intakes, 12 kennel moves, two failed adoptions, one surgery, and 56 vaccines,' the shelter wrote in a Facebook post. 'She's known more change — and more waiting— than any dog ever should.' Over time, Winnie became known as a charming pup with a diva-like personality. But she struggled at the shelter. 'Her most recent stay with us lasted 280 days — and it wore on her,' Deschamps wrote. 'The stress of the kennel, the constant noise, the emotional toll… it made her reactive and anxious. She would injure herself by repeatedly jumping in her kennel, and one injury was bad enough to require stitches and a cone. It was clear: she needed out, and she needed love.' At one point, a foster parent took in Winnie during Hurricane Helene. The woman fell for the dog, but her landlord wouldn't let her keep her. So, she vowed to come back to the shelter when her lease was over. Then nine months later, the woman 'kept her word.' She couldn't live without Winnie, leading to the heartwarming adoption, the shelter wrote in its email and on social media. 'They've already shared a home,' the humane society wrote. 'They've already shared their hearts. This time, it's forever. It was a good day — ugly crying happy tears and all.' The shelter is in the mountain town of Boone, a roughly 85-mile drive west from Winston-Salem.
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Tramper and dog winched to safety from freezing Tararua Ranges
The Royal New Zealand Air Force deployed a helicopter to rescue a freezing tramper and his dog in the Tararua Ranges north of Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Supplied A personal locator beacon has helped a near-hypothermic tramper and his dog be rescued from freezing conditions in the Tararua Ranges. On Monday Wellington man David Graham, an experienced tramper, and his Kelpie, Winnie, were on the second night of a tramp heading toward the Mid-King Bivvy, when the weather closed in with thick cloud reducing visibility to less than 20 metres. Unable to find shelter Graham and his dog settled under a large rock, which had icicles hanging off it that would provide water if needed. Graham said he'd since been told a hut in the area was notoriously difficult to find because the track had overgrown. By 9pm the cloud had lifted, bringing dew down and freezing Graham's sleeping bag. He then called emergency services and also set off his personal locator beacon. A Defence Force spokesperson said it was initially decided a Land Search and Rescue team would walk in the next day, but at 2am Graham contacted police again concerned about his health should rain set in. Winnie the Kelpie dog before she and her owner, Wellington tramper David Graham were rescued from the Tararua Ranges on Tuesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Supplied An NH90 helicopter from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base in Ohakea left for the Tararua Ranges by 4am on Tuesday. "The next thing I heard, it was about 4.30am, the chopper coming through," Graham said. Graham and his dog were winched into the chopper. "They took Winnie up first, which was lovely. They were very thoughtful and brought a specific bag for the dog," he said. "As soon as I got in the chopper I was given the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life. They gave me a Crunchie bar and put a heated pack down my front." For medic Corporal Sam Wardhaugh, it was his first time winching in a search and rescue mission after gaining his qualification a week earlier. No.3 Squadron NH90 pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Stewart, said Graham had done the right thing by taking a personal locator beacon with him, as it had meant they were able to fly almost directly to him. "When we arrived he shone his torch so we could see him easily," Stewart said. Stewart said the terrain was steep with bluffs directly below where Graham was with thick low cloud sitting on the eastern side of the ranges. "The temperature was pretty much on freezing - it was 0.5 degrees Celsius when we were up there where he was." After landing, Graham was assessed by medics who found early symptoms of hypothermia had begun to affect his feet. Following the rescue Graham said was was looking forward to being reunited with his wife and baby. "I was pretty tired, but I really appreciated all the expertise from everyone. I can't imagine all the complexities of pulling together something like that at 4am." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
RNZAF Helicopter Crew Rescues Tararua Tramper And His Dog
A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) helicopter crew has winched a near-hypothermic tramper and his dog to safety from freezing conditions in the Tararua Ranges north of Wellington. The rescue took place in pre-dawn darkness early on Tuesday, with the crew negotiating low cloud and steep terrain. Wellington man David Graham, an experienced tramper, and his Kelpie, Winnie, were on the second night of a tramp heading towards the Mid-King Bivvy, when the weather closed in with thick cloud reducing visibility to less than 20 metres. 'I've been told since then that it's a notoriously difficult hut to find because the track had overgrown,' Mr Graham said. Unable to find the shelter on Monday night, he and Winnie settled under a large rock, which had icicles hanging off it that would provide water if needed. However, by 9pm the cloud lifted, bringing dew down and freezing his sleeping bag. Mr Graham called emergency services and set off his personal locator beacon. It was initially decided a Land Search and Rescue team would walk in the next day, but at 2am, a shivering Mr Graham, concerned about his health should rain set in, contacted NZ Police again. An NH90 helicopter from RNZAF Base Ohakea left for the Tararua Ranges by 4am. 'The next thing I heard, it was about was about 4.30am, the chopper coming through. They took Winnie up first, which was lovely. They were very thoughtful and brought a specific bag for the dog. 'As soon as I got in the chopper I was given the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life. They gave me a Crunchie bar and put a heated pack down my front.' After landing at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome, Mr Graham was assessed by medics who found early symptoms of hypothermia had begun to affect his feet. It was an emotional journey out of the ranges and Mr Graham was 'pretty happy' to be flown to safety. He said he was looking forward to seeing his wife and their one-year-old baby. No.3 Squadron NH90 pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Stewart, said Mr Graham had done the right thing by taking a personal locator beacon with him which meant they were able to fly almost directly to him. 'When we arrived he shone his torch so we could see him easily.' The terrain was steep with bluffs directly below Mr Graham, so it was a potentially dangerous situation for him to have lost his bearings. The cloud was thick and low, sitting on the eastern side of the ranges, Squadron Leader Stewart said. 'The temperature was pretty much on freezing – it was 0.5degC when we were up there where he was.' Mr Graham wanted to pass his thanks to the NH90 crew and Police who helped him in the early hours of the day. 'I was pretty tired, but I really appreciated all the expertise from everyone. I can't imagine all the complexities of pulling together something like that at 4am. 'I'm just really grateful. And I hope the medic keeps tight hold of whatever recipe he has for that hot chocolate.' The rescue was medic Corporal Sam Wardhaugh's first time winching in a search and rescue mission since gaining his qualification a week earlier.
