Exclusive: Prasanna Puwanarajah said he jumped at the opportunity to appear in The Crown portraying infamous television journalist Martin Bashir, pummeled by a BBC inquiry that condemned the “deceitful” methods he used to obtain the controversial 1995 Panorama TV interview with Princess Diana, because ”roles like that just don’t really exist for Asian actors.”
Related Story Belfast Film Festival World Premiere For ‘Ballywalter’, Actor Prasanna Puwanarajah's First Feature; Seána Kerslake And Patrick Kielty Star Related Story Theo James Set To Lead Guy Ritchie's Netflix TV Series 'The Gentlemen' Related Story David Letterman Interviews Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy In Kyiv On Netflix's 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction'
The actor’s comments come as the UK print media continue to whip itself into a frenzied state over the Emmy-winning Netflix and Left Bank Pictures series, which takes a looking-through-the-keyhole approach to events that involved the late Queen Elizabeth II,...
Related Story Belfast Film Festival World Premiere For ‘Ballywalter’, Actor Prasanna Puwanarajah's First Feature; Seána Kerslake And Patrick Kielty Star Related Story Theo James Set To Lead Guy Ritchie's Netflix TV Series 'The Gentlemen' Related Story David Letterman Interviews Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy In Kyiv On Netflix's 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction'
The actor’s comments come as the UK print media continue to whip itself into a frenzied state over the Emmy-winning Netflix and Left Bank Pictures series, which takes a looking-through-the-keyhole approach to events that involved the late Queen Elizabeth II,...
- 11/3/2022
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Two boss Kim Shillinglaw has downplayed new Top Gear presenter Chris Evans's recent confirmation that there would "definitely" be a female co-host when the show returns.
Evans had yesterday indicated that at least one of his co-hosts would be female, saying: "Absolutely. But not for the sake of it. I can confirm that definitely 100%."
However, he clarified his previous comments on his Radio 2 breakfast show on Thursday morning (June 18).
"It was quoted in the papers, and it has been again this morning, that I said yesterday there would definitely be a female co-presenter," Evans told listeners.
"There'll definitely be a female presence on the show, and that could well be a co-presenter. It could be two. It could be no co-presenters, and film reporter or a driver."
Shillinglaw has also confirmed that while female presenters would be considered for the co-hosting roles, the final decision "will be about...
Evans had yesterday indicated that at least one of his co-hosts would be female, saying: "Absolutely. But not for the sake of it. I can confirm that definitely 100%."
However, he clarified his previous comments on his Radio 2 breakfast show on Thursday morning (June 18).
"It was quoted in the papers, and it has been again this morning, that I said yesterday there would definitely be a female co-presenter," Evans told listeners.
"There'll definitely be a female presence on the show, and that could well be a co-presenter. It could be two. It could be no co-presenters, and film reporter or a driver."
Shillinglaw has also confirmed that while female presenters would be considered for the co-hosting roles, the final decision "will be about...
- 6/18/2015
- Digital Spy
Reinventing the Royals: BBC Two, 9pm
The first of a two-part documentary begins tonight, chronicling the relationship between the Royal family and the media over the last 20 years.
Steve Hewlett looks into how the Royal family, especially Prince Charles, tried to rehabilitate their public image in the 1990s - including persuading the media to accept Camilla as Charles's eventual new wife in the years after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Cucumber: Channel 4, 10pm
Adam and Tomasz's online video business spirals out of control, while sexually ambiguous Daniel may not be as ambiguous as Lance thinks.
As always, Banana follows at 10 on E4, with In The Flesh's Luke Newberry starring tonight as gay teen Josh. The main question, however, remains: Will Henry ever actually buy anything from that supermarket?
Fortitude: Sky Atlantic, 9pm
The arctic set thriller, starring Stanley Tucci, continues tonight.
Morton takes charge...
The first of a two-part documentary begins tonight, chronicling the relationship between the Royal family and the media over the last 20 years.
Steve Hewlett looks into how the Royal family, especially Prince Charles, tried to rehabilitate their public image in the 1990s - including persuading the media to accept Camilla as Charles's eventual new wife in the years after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Cucumber: Channel 4, 10pm
Adam and Tomasz's online video business spirals out of control, while sexually ambiguous Daniel may not be as ambiguous as Lance thinks.
As always, Banana follows at 10 on E4, with In The Flesh's Luke Newberry starring tonight as gay teen Josh. The main question, however, remains: Will Henry ever actually buy anything from that supermarket?
Fortitude: Sky Atlantic, 9pm
The arctic set thriller, starring Stanley Tucci, continues tonight.
Morton takes charge...
- 2/19/2015
- Digital Spy
A BBC Two documentary that suggests 'spin' was used by the royal family to regain favour with the public after the death of Princess Diana has been handed a new air date.
Reinventing the Royals will now air on Thursday, February 19 at 9pm, nearly two months after it was pulled from the schedules due to legal intervention.
The programme was originally scheduled to air on January 4, but the BBC's head of news and current affairs James Harding is thought to have ordered that it be pulled.
"Before Christmas, it became clear that there were issues relating to the clearance of archive footage in the forthcoming programme Reinventing the Royals," a BBC spokesman said in a statement.
"These issues have now been resolved and all the archive material we planned to use is included in the finished programme.
"The first episode of Reinventing the Royals will be broadcast on 19th...
Reinventing the Royals will now air on Thursday, February 19 at 9pm, nearly two months after it was pulled from the schedules due to legal intervention.
The programme was originally scheduled to air on January 4, but the BBC's head of news and current affairs James Harding is thought to have ordered that it be pulled.
"Before Christmas, it became clear that there were issues relating to the clearance of archive footage in the forthcoming programme Reinventing the Royals," a BBC spokesman said in a statement.
"These issues have now been resolved and all the archive material we planned to use is included in the finished programme.
"The first episode of Reinventing the Royals will be broadcast on 19th...
- 2/4/2015
- Digital Spy
A BBC Two documentary that suggests 'spin' was used by the royal family to regain favour with the public after the death of Princess Diana has been pulled from the schedules.
Reinventing the Royals has had its transmission postponed after an intervention by lawyers representing senior members of the royal family, Radio Times reports.
The documentary had been created without the involvement of representatives from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.
It is presented by Steve Hewlett, the editor of current affairs show Panorama at the time when Diana gave a revealing interview to the programme in 1995.
The documentary also includes the first television interview with Sandy Henney, the press secretary to Prince Charles at the time of Diana's death.
Henney's interview details the public's attitude to the monarchy following Diana's death, particularly towards Charles.
"[Charles] was getting some pretty virulent criticism - bad father, unloving husband. I think he was pretty hurt,...
Reinventing the Royals has had its transmission postponed after an intervention by lawyers representing senior members of the royal family, Radio Times reports.
The documentary had been created without the involvement of representatives from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.
It is presented by Steve Hewlett, the editor of current affairs show Panorama at the time when Diana gave a revealing interview to the programme in 1995.
The documentary also includes the first television interview with Sandy Henney, the press secretary to Prince Charles at the time of Diana's death.
Henney's interview details the public's attitude to the monarchy following Diana's death, particularly towards Charles.
"[Charles] was getting some pretty virulent criticism - bad father, unloving husband. I think he was pretty hurt,...
- 12/30/2014
- Digital Spy
The last seven weeks has seen the judges bicker, disagree and walk out, though they have finally decided on the acts going through to the live semi-finals. But do you think they made the right decision?
The acts will now all be hoping for public votes to get them one step closer to winning £25,000 and showing their talents at the Royal Variety Performance.
The final 45 includes acts such as the little girl with the big voice Arisxandra Libantino and controversial magician Aaron Crow.
Hungarian shadow dance group Attraction and impressionist Francine Lewis are also among those who went through.
The Final 45 in full:
Bosom Buddies
Jack and Cormac
Freelusion
Chasing the Dream
MCBoy
Aaron Crow
McKnasty
Gabrielle Gardiner
Aliki
CEO Dancers
The Band of Voices
Poppin' Ron
Meat Diva
Joseph Hall
Rosie O'Sullivan
Modupe
Youth Creation
Steve Hewlett
Maarty Broekman
Martin Healy
Rob & Craig
Club Town Freaks
Pre Skool
Shockarellas...
The acts will now all be hoping for public votes to get them one step closer to winning £25,000 and showing their talents at the Royal Variety Performance.
The final 45 includes acts such as the little girl with the big voice Arisxandra Libantino and controversial magician Aaron Crow.
Hungarian shadow dance group Attraction and impressionist Francine Lewis are also among those who went through.
The Final 45 in full:
Bosom Buddies
Jack and Cormac
Freelusion
Chasing the Dream
MCBoy
Aaron Crow
McKnasty
Gabrielle Gardiner
Aliki
CEO Dancers
The Band of Voices
Poppin' Ron
Meat Diva
Joseph Hall
Rosie O'Sullivan
Modupe
Youth Creation
Steve Hewlett
Maarty Broekman
Martin Healy
Rob & Craig
Club Town Freaks
Pre Skool
Shockarellas...
- 5/26/2013
- Digital Spy
This week saw singers, ventriloquists and an array of animals on the stage. But with Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Amanda Holden to impress, who showcased enough talent to get through to the next round?
First up was diving team Le Quebrada High Divers. After taking the judges and audience outside, they impressed everyone with a range of dives from a whopping 25-metre height. The grand finale of their act was to set a diver on fire before a dive. Despite Cowell saying the act "needed to be bigger", all four judges gave them a yes.
Next up was illusionist Stevie Pink, who lived up to his name by having all his props in the same shade. Although both Holden and Dixon buzzed him early, both apologised after they witnessed his act. After mystifying all the judges with how he achieved his levitating act, he was given four yeses.
First up was diving team Le Quebrada High Divers. After taking the judges and audience outside, they impressed everyone with a range of dives from a whopping 25-metre height. The grand finale of their act was to set a diver on fire before a dive. Despite Cowell saying the act "needed to be bigger", all four judges gave them a yes.
Next up was illusionist Stevie Pink, who lived up to his name by having all his props in the same shade. Although both Holden and Dixon buzzed him early, both apologised after they witnessed his act. After mystifying all the judges with how he achieved his levitating act, he was given four yeses.
- 5/18/2013
- Digital Spy
What's It All About? Productions has acquired film and TV rights to Harold Evans' bestseller "Good Times, Bad Times" reports Variety.
Evans was the editor-in-chief of the British newspaper The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981, championing crusading investigative reporting which lead to such famous stories as civil settlements for the British Thalidomide children scandal and the exposure of Kim Philby as a Soviet spy.
When Rupert Murdoch bought Times Newspapers Limited in 1981, Evans was appointed editor of The Times and within a year resigned over what he considered to be unacceptable pressure from Murdoch regarding editorial independence.
U.K. media commentator Steve Hewlett, who has followed the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, will serve as a consultant on the production.
Despite no script being ready as yet (a writer is currently being scouted), shooting aims to begin before the end of the year. Evans is currently editor-at-large for the news service Reuters.
Evans was the editor-in-chief of the British newspaper The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981, championing crusading investigative reporting which lead to such famous stories as civil settlements for the British Thalidomide children scandal and the exposure of Kim Philby as a Soviet spy.
When Rupert Murdoch bought Times Newspapers Limited in 1981, Evans was appointed editor of The Times and within a year resigned over what he considered to be unacceptable pressure from Murdoch regarding editorial independence.
U.K. media commentator Steve Hewlett, who has followed the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, will serve as a consultant on the production.
Despite no script being ready as yet (a writer is currently being scouted), shooting aims to begin before the end of the year. Evans is currently editor-at-large for the news service Reuters.
- 4/17/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Dr. Conrad Murray, convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, candidly opens up in a new documentary, speaking about his patient and that fateful day in June 2009 when Michael Jackson didn't wake up from a propofol induced slumber.
"Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" was filmed in November 2009, prior to Murray being charged. The doc reveals some very intimate details about the singer. Watch this sneak peek, courtesy of TMZ.
"Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" was filmed in November 2009, prior to Murray being charged. The doc reveals some very intimate details about the singer. Watch this sneak peek, courtesy of TMZ.
- 11/8/2011
- Extra
MSNBC will air a documentary about Conrad Murray this Thursday that features an interview with the doctor who was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter. The interview for Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship was conducted in November 2009, prior to Murray being charged.
October Films, which produced the documentary, filmed Murray throughout the subsequent two years and continued to record him during the trial.
UK Broadcaster Steve Hewlett conducted the interview with Murray. Zodiak Rights, the international division of Zodiak Media Group, has pre-sold the program to major broadcasters around the world.
NBC has the rights to use limited...
October Films, which produced the documentary, filmed Murray throughout the subsequent two years and continued to record him during the trial.
UK Broadcaster Steve Hewlett conducted the interview with Murray. Zodiak Rights, the international division of Zodiak Media Group, has pre-sold the program to major broadcasters around the world.
NBC has the rights to use limited...
- 11/8/2011
- by Lynette Rice
- EW - Inside TV
'Michael Jackson and the Doctor' will premiere on MSNBC.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray
Photo: Al Seib/ Getty Images
Just five days after his conviction on a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, a documentary about Dr. Conrad Murray will air on MSNBC.
The special, "Michael Jackson and the Doctor," will include footage of Murray insisting that Jackson "begged and pleaded" for the surgical anesthetic propofol. It will hit the airwaves a few days after Murray settled into Los Angeles County Jail, where he is awaiting a November 29 sentencing hearing following his conviction.
"He asked me, 'Please, please, Dr. Conrad ... I need some milk [propofol] so that I can sleep," Murray says in the special, according to MSNBC. "If I don't get any sleep today, I cannot perform, I cannot do anything."
After nearly 10 hours of deliberation, the jury in the Murray case came back with a unanimous guilty verdict,...
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray
Photo: Al Seib/ Getty Images
Just five days after his conviction on a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, a documentary about Dr. Conrad Murray will air on MSNBC.
The special, "Michael Jackson and the Doctor," will include footage of Murray insisting that Jackson "begged and pleaded" for the surgical anesthetic propofol. It will hit the airwaves a few days after Murray settled into Los Angeles County Jail, where he is awaiting a November 29 sentencing hearing following his conviction.
"He asked me, 'Please, please, Dr. Conrad ... I need some milk [propofol] so that I can sleep," Murray says in the special, according to MSNBC. "If I don't get any sleep today, I cannot perform, I cannot do anything."
After nearly 10 hours of deliberation, the jury in the Murray case came back with a unanimous guilty verdict,...
- 11/8/2011
- MTV Music News
A transformed festival is now a marketplace for deal-making and fundraising by doc-makers, as some fine films are recognised with awards
This year's Sheffield documentary festival ended with veteran film-makers scratching their heads. Since Doc/Fest was launched 16 years ago, both the festival and the industry it covers have changed beyond recognition.
In its early days, Doc/Fest showcased the output of what was still a structured world in which elite gatekeepers called the shots. This year, 65 films were still shown, including 15 world, five European and 23 British premieres. Yet the emphasis was on networking, tip-swapping, deal-making and fundraising by the film-makers themselves, all of whom were grappling with a world ever more in flux.
During recent years, the number of industry delegates to Doc/Fest has increased four-fold: this year it stood at around 2,000. In Sheffield's fabled MeetMarket, 175 power-brokers haggled over 64 projects with film-makers from 22 countries; a thousand meetings were...
This year's Sheffield documentary festival ended with veteran film-makers scratching their heads. Since Doc/Fest was launched 16 years ago, both the festival and the industry it covers have changed beyond recognition.
In its early days, Doc/Fest showcased the output of what was still a structured world in which elite gatekeepers called the shots. This year, 65 films were still shown, including 15 world, five European and 23 British premieres. Yet the emphasis was on networking, tip-swapping, deal-making and fundraising by the film-makers themselves, all of whom were grappling with a world ever more in flux.
During recent years, the number of industry delegates to Doc/Fest has increased four-fold: this year it stood at around 2,000. In Sheffield's fabled MeetMarket, 175 power-brokers haggled over 64 projects with film-makers from 22 countries; a thousand meetings were...
- 11/9/2010
- by David Cox
- The Guardian - Film News
Sheffield Doc/Fest Board of Directors Chair Steve Hewlett (left) with the fest's Director Heather Croall, Programmer Hussain Currimbhoy, and Joan Rivers at the premiere of Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg's doc "Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work." Energetic as ever after over nine months of promoting the film, Rivers treated the audience to behind-the-scenes tidbits from the production of the doc. The film will get a British TV release on Channel 4 this Tuesday. [Photo Credit: Fiona Oliver Photography]...
- 11/4/2010
- Indiewire
Britain’s right-wing newspapers the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph protesting together against Rupert Murdoch controlling BSkyB have made it difficult for the British government not to intervene, media commentator Steve Hewlett tells me. Channel 4 and the BBC have also signed the letter calling on the government to halt News Corp’s proposed BSkyB takeover. Newspapers rivals including the left-wing Mirror Group and Guardian have all signed the letter to business secretary Vince Cable stating that a takeover of the country's biggest pay-tv company by its largest newspaper group would reduce media diversity. More interestingly, a document by law firm Slaughter & May setting out the legal argument is also attached. That will carry more weight than the letter itself, which will have been lawyered until it’s bland. Cable has the power to refer the merger to media regulator Ofcom for a public interest assessment. “Every true-blue Conservative...
- 10/13/2010
- by TIM ADLER
- Deadline London
Richard Desmond, new owner of Channel 5, could pay as little as £20 million ($30 million) for the reality show, one insider tells me. Desmond wants the Endemol show to transfer from Channel 4, where it ended its 11th series this week, to his new Channel 5. Channel 4 paid £60-65 million in a three-year deal for the Big Brother rights from Endemol. Like Desmond’s audacious £103.5 million swoop on Channel Five, it’s not as if there are any other bidders out there. Big Brother has been getting average daily ratings of 2.5 million – an all-time low for the reality show on Channel 4 – and would probably get 1.5-2 million daily on Channel 5. That is still healthy for a channel whose top-rated daily show, Aussie soap Neighbours, gets around 1.5 million viewers. Even more important is the audience Big Brother attracts. Channel Five doesn't need any more downmarket, older viewers. They're the easiest to attract...
- 8/26/2010
- by TIM ADLER
- Deadline London
London -- Jonathan Ross apparently has been punished enough.
The BBC Trust said Friday that it will take no further action against its most highly paid TV presenter, despite issuing a damning report on the circumstances that gave rise to the broadcast of obscene calls made by Ross and Russell Brand on BBC Radio 2.
In what amounts to a slamming of BBC editorial standards and management, Trust chairman Michael Lyons said that the BBC's oversight committee had found successive failures of compliance and editorial control relating to the incident and other shows on BBC television and radio.
"The primary failing is one of editorial judgment and that is an issue for the BBC, it is not primarily an issue for the performer, although they must bear some responsibility," Lyons said.
BBC director general Mark Thomson has yet to comment on the deeply critical report, but a statement is expected late Friday according to sources.
The BBC Trust said Friday that it will take no further action against its most highly paid TV presenter, despite issuing a damning report on the circumstances that gave rise to the broadcast of obscene calls made by Ross and Russell Brand on BBC Radio 2.
In what amounts to a slamming of BBC editorial standards and management, Trust chairman Michael Lyons said that the BBC's oversight committee had found successive failures of compliance and editorial control relating to the incident and other shows on BBC television and radio.
"The primary failing is one of editorial judgment and that is an issue for the BBC, it is not primarily an issue for the performer, although they must bear some responsibility," Lyons said.
BBC director general Mark Thomson has yet to comment on the deeply critical report, but a statement is expected late Friday according to sources.
- 11/21/2008
- by By Mimi Turner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.