Latest news with #WorldWarOne
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Huge BBC drama axed after just one series after viewers complained about sex, drugs and violence onscreen
IT was the racy Saturday night drama that stunned viewers with scenes of sex, violence and drug taking at every turn. There was even hope that the BBC One show might fill the gap left behind by might fill the gap left behind by similarly gritty thriller Peaky Blinders. 5 Dope Girls stunned viewers with scenes of sex, violence and drug taking at every turn Credit: BBC 5 The BBC series has now been axed Credit: BBC But I can reveal that after its debut series, which got a very lukewarm response, there will be no return for A TV insider said: "There was quite a lot of shock among viewers about the content of the show, and critics weren't exactly glowing either. "Despite that the writers of the drama had left a few storyline strands untied which could have easily led onto a second season.." A spokesman for the show today said: 'Dope Girls was a bold and groundbreaking series - which we are very proud of - but we can confirm that it will not return.' READ MORE ON DOPE GIRLS Dope Girls was set in the 1920s when women were increasingly gaining their independence following the end of World War One. That saw many go into the underworld of Soho in London where there was a boom in underground clubs where people would take drugs and have sex freely. They were considered the original "ladettes" and gained huge notoriety. Dope Girls had very strong echoes of the story of female 'gangster' Most read in TV But the resemblance didn't end with the leading lady. Her co-stars also had similar names to real life figures from the twenties, and many of the settings were the same, or similar. Watch the moment The Hit List star wins £10k jackpot for first time in show history with tricky music question The fact that it was believed by many to be based on a true story of bygone gangland culture had some hoping it might have been the new Peaky. But as I exclusively revealed earlier this year, a new series of STEVEN KNIGHT's classic is now in the works and is expected to air next year. Perhaps the Brummie boys have helped seal the fate of the Dope Girls. 5 Dope Girls was set in the 1920s when women were increasingly gaining their independence following the end of World War One Credit: BBC 5 The debut debut series received a very lukewarm response 5 There was hope that the BBC One show might fill the gap left behind by similarly gritty thriller Peaky Blinders Credit: © 2023 Sony Pictures Television
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Huge BBC drama axed after just one series after viewers complained about sex, drugs and violence onscreen
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT was the racy Saturday night drama that stunned viewers with scenes of sex, violence and drug taking at every turn. There was even hope that the BBC One show might fill the gap left behind by might fill the gap left behind by similarly gritty thriller Peaky Blinders. 5 Dope Girls stunned viewers with scenes of sex, violence and drug taking at every turn Credit: BBC 5 The BBC series has now been axed Credit: BBC But I can reveal that after its debut series, which got a very lukewarm response, there will be no return for Dope Girls. A TV insider said: "There was quite a lot of shock among viewers about the content of the show, and critics weren't exactly glowing either. "Despite that the writers of the drama had left a few storyline strands untied which could have easily led onto a second season.." A spokesman for the show today said: 'Dope Girls was a bold and groundbreaking series - which we are very proud of - but we can confirm that it will not return.' Dope Girls was set in the 1920s when women were increasingly gaining their independence following the end of World War One. That saw many go into the underworld of Soho in London where there was a boom in underground clubs where people would take drugs and have sex freely. They were considered the original "ladettes" and gained huge notoriety. Dope Girls had very strong echoes of the story of female 'gangster' Kate Meyrick - except the BBC drama's lead character was Kate Galloway and the corporation insisted any similarities between the two were coincidental. But the resemblance didn't end with the leading lady. Her co-stars also had similar names to real life figures from the twenties, and many of the settings were the same, or similar. Watch the moment The Hit List star wins £10k jackpot for first time in show history with tricky music question The fact that it was believed by many to be based on a true story of bygone gangland culture had some hoping it might have been the new Peaky. But as I exclusively revealed earlier this year, a new series of STEVEN KNIGHT's classic is now in the works and is expected to air next year. Perhaps the Brummie boys have helped seal the fate of the Dope Girls. 5 Dope Girls was set in the 1920s when women were increasingly gaining their independence following the end of World War One Credit: BBC 5 The debut debut series received a very lukewarm response
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Looking for a green getaway? Five great places in Central Scotland
Glasgow's Dear Green Place If you know you know, but it's remarkable how many Glaswegians I've met who have never had a good bash around the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. This oasis spreads its surprisingly wild tentacles across 108 square miles. Nature reigns supreme today, but there is the detritus of mankind's industrial follies to check out too. The views are superb, both back towards the city and out across the Ayrshire coast to the isles of the Firth of Clyde and beyond. Castle Semple Loch is also on hand with accessible outdoor activities. Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park (Image: Robin McKelvie) Penicuik Estate I have to admit that although I only live a half hour drive away I only recently 'discovered' this gorgeous country estate in the southern foothills of the Pentlands, just to the southwest of Edinburgh. That is partly because I sometimes find private estates closed off and unwelcoming. Not this one. The Clerk family have held sway here since the seventeenth century and today the welcomes visitors with 15km of walking trails. The North River Esk, a brace of ponds, thick forests and sweeping views make this a gorgeous green lung. You can take a peek inside into the dramatic ruin of Old Penicuik House. In 2024 they opened up half a dozen self-catering cottages too, with the old factor's house, Stable Park, the pick of the bunch, with its outdoor hot tub and fancy BBQ. Summer 2025 sees the grand old stables, Penicuik House, reborn as an events space and pop-up hotel. Bucolic Beecraigs Were they in most countries the Bathgate Hills would be celebrated, but in Scotland they will always sit in the shadows of the Highlands. That doesn't mean 913-acre Beecraigs Country Park is not a brilliant green lung. Walk around the eponymous loch, which was fashioned by German Prisoners of War during World War One, looking out for birdlife and badgers on the banks, then head uphill and stroll between the deer enclosures. You can buy ultra fresh venison to take home. There is also a massive children's play park, BBQs you can use and a campsite. The wee hill of Cockleroy lies on the edge of Beecraigs too, a cracking wee ramble with epic views down to Linlithgow and over the Forth Valley. Bucolic Beecraigs (Image: Robin McKelvie) Don't take the Queen's Ferry Since time immemorial people have descended on South Queensferry to vault over the Forth by boat, in more recent centuries by road and rail. But it is worth lingering longer as this trim wee town is home to a trio of green lungs in the form of three country estates that you can wander around thanks to the Land Reform Act. Hopetoun is the best set up for visitors, though you have to pay to enter grand Hopetoun House and the immediate grounds surrounding it. The Dalmeny Estate (Image: Robin McKelvie) The rest of the estate offers superb walking and cycling along the coast, up on its raised beach and further into its forested hinterland. Dundas Estate meanwhile keep it low key, focusing on the regular weddings they host, but you're free to amble around, with the area around Dundas Loch the most scenic. The Dalmeny Estate can be a touch on the unwelcoming side in my experience, but again you're allowed to walk here with the best option the gorgeous coastal walk that leads to within striking distance of the Edinburgh suburb of Cramond. John Muir Way This 130-mile long distance walk is recognised as one of 'Scotland's Great Trails'. And it is a great, despite the fact the man who it was dedicated to – who famously declared 'the mountains are calling and I must go' – may have bemoaned the lack of hills, bar the initial sections out of Helensburgh and across to Kirkintilloch. What I love about the John Muir Way is not just that it goes past my front door, but that it runs right through Central Scotland on route to Muir's birthplace in Dunbar too. Loch Lomond from the John Muir Way (Image: Robin McKelvie) You can just break off bite-sized chunks rather than struggle to find the two weeks you'll need to tackle it all coast-to-coast. I've almost completed it now after spending the last few years enjoying various parts with pals and family. I love the first section from the Clyde to Loch Lomond and the glorious parts along the East Lothian coast at the other end. Each section is an utter joy
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Bequest helps museum continue legacy in centenary year
The bequest will also be used to enhance and promote the Galleries and collections in years to come. While Ms Hubbard was born in Morningside, Edinburgh, in 1926, she grew up in Wemyssfield, [[Kirkcaldy]]. She went to Seaview Private School in the town and it was here that her passion for learning was nurtured. She developed a love for the arts and would spend a lot of time in the town's museum and art gallery with her parents. As it happens, the Galleries came into being as the result of another donation. When plans were being prepared for a war memorial to commemorate the soldiers who had died in World War One, local industrialist John Nairn donated further funding for it to be extended to include the creation of a gallery in memory of his only son, Ian, who died in France shortly before the armistice. Read More Argyll museum wins prestigious award after redevelopment success By coincidence, Ms Hubbard's father, Harry Hubbard, who was an architect in Kirkcaldy, was involved in drawing up the plans for the town's World War Two memorial. After leaving school, most of her working life was as a librarian at what was then [[Kirkcaldy]] Technical College, later to become Fife College. She never married and was known for giving many donations to worthy local causes. When she died in 2015, she left most of her estate 'for the benefit of Kirkcaldy Galleries.' Chris McLean, OnFife's Museum and Heritage Service Team Leader, explained: 'It took some time to settle Jean's estate, and it was not until 2023 that we began discussing how it should be used. 'We were very mindful of her wish that it be used for the benefit of Kirkcaldy and the Galleries, and with the Galleries' 100th anniversary coming up, along with the commemoration of the war memorial, which had also been given to the town and which her father had been closely involved in, it all tied in together and we started thinking about how to put this idea into action. Some of the money was used to purchase a piece of pottery, called the Referendum Teapot, by Scottish artist Susan McGill (Image: Supplied) 'With the centenary celebrations we wanted to be able to concentrate specifically on a special exhibition and other events around that, and we decided to create a temporary Project Curator post for a year to help do that. 'It was taken up on a job-share basis by two of our current team members, Jane Freel and Janice Crane, who have worked extremely hard with our Collections Development Manager, Nicola Wilson, and our Kirkcaldy Galleries' team to pull together all the activities around the KG100 events and exhibition.' Sadly, there are no paintings or photographs of Jean Hubbard but she is acknowledged in the A Century of Kirkcaldy Galleries exhibition that her bequest made possible. Some of the money was used to purchase a piece of pottery, called the Referendum Teapot, by Scottish artist Susan McGill. It was made to mark the Scottish independence referendum and reflects the thoughts and feelings of people at the time. The bequest has also been used to work with local groups such as the Beehive Nursery, with visits to the Galleries producing a wealth of animal-themed artwork for display in the art space, and with the Sewing Circle, which put together a banner illustrating 100 years of the Galleries in Kirkcaldy. With funding from Museums and Galleries Scotland, OnFife has also worked with The Hive, where young people from the LGBT+ community created a Pride banner which is on display in the centenary exhibition. And staff from OnFife worked alongside the Royal British Legion Scotland's Kirkcaldy branch to link the commemoration of 100 years of the War Memorial with the Galleries' centenary celebrations, including bringing Bud, Poppy Scotland's interactive touring exhibition to a Big Birthday Bash celebration in June, and culminating in a visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla in July 'We are very grateful to Jean Hubbard for her generosity which has enabled us to do a huge amount to celebrate the centenary and put the Galleries in the spotlight with displays and exhibitions,' said Chris McLean. 'From its very beginnings, the support of benefactors has enabled Kirkcaldy Galleries to become one of the best gallery spaces in Scotland and Jean Hubbard has continued that tradition, all to the benefit of the people of Kirkcaldy.' For more details of the centenary celebrations visit the KG100 page at
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
New 'Living Roof' installed on top of iconic memorial in tribute to WW1 dead
Commonwealth War Graves Commission installs new 'Living Roof' on top of iconic World War One memorial in tribute to fallen soldiers A pioneering new green 'Living Roof' has been installed on the top of one of the most iconic World War One memorials. The Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, has stood in tribute to British soldiers killed during the Great War for almost 100 years. And during recent extensive work bosses at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission decided to completely change the roof as part of the ongoing tribute to those who died. There is now a mini garden, with a range of plants, on the roof - the first one the CWGC have ever built. CWGC Director of Horticulture David Richardson said: 'As part of this restoration, we have introduced a new living – green - roof onto the site. "This living roof is a first for the CWGC and reflects our broader commitment to embedding sustainable practices into the care of our global sites. With structural modifications to the Menin Gate not permitted, we placed sustainability at the heart of our approach. Featuring two types of planting: a mixed sedum species, and a broader range of low-growing herbaceous plants, the plant distribution will naturally evolve over time.'" Princess Anne re-opened the memorial earlier this month. The Deputy Director of CWGC Central and Southern Europe Sarah Camerlynck said: "We didn't just restore the physical structure; we also renewed our promise to keep the names and stories of the fallen alive. This restoration focuses on the monument's long-term sustainable preservation, ensuring that future generations can continue to remember the important events linked to this commemorative site." The CWGC said they were preparing for the next century of honouring the fallen at the Menin Gate, with the introduction of a pioneering Living Roof system on the monument's newly restored roof. CWGC spokesman Lewis Brown said: "By implementing the Living Roof, the CWGC is demonstrating its dedication to finding practical solutions that contribute to the preservation of species and the mitigation of climate change effects. It marks a significant step in sustainable preservation, ensuring that the Menin Gate Memorial continues to stand as a symbol of remembrance for generations to come. "The installation of the Living Roof required various steps, executed by experts in the field. Several factors required careful consideration beforehand, as the Memorial holds UNESCO World Heritage status and is part of the protected Flemish National Heritage. "This required ensuring that the layout and design of the Living Roof would not compromise the historic integrity of the memorial. Additionally, no structural modifications could be made to the existing design, and the introduction of vegetation needed to be fully reversible." The Menin Gate Memorial is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders, covering the Ypres Salient. It bears the names of more than 54,000 members of the British and Commonwealth forces who died in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, the memorial was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. A Living Roof is a roofing system partially or entirely covered with vegetation. It includes a waterproof membrane, drainage system, growing medium usually soil and plants. Living Roofs offer numerous environmental benefits, such as reducing heat absorption (aiding in temperature regulation), improving air quality, managing rainwater run-off by absorbing rain and supporting biodiversity in the area. The Living Roof helps reduce the urban heat island effect and extends the lifespan of the underlying roof structure.
