Bernard Hill, the actor whose memorable tones and rugged visage brought to life a variety of fantastic performances, has died. He was 79.
Born in Manchester in 1944, Hill quickly gravitated towards stage work before taking the chance to make the jump to film and TV. Yet his early career was marked by few standout roles, mostly relegated to brief appearances on the likes of I, Claudius and the BBC's Tom Stoppard adaptation Professional Foul.
Still, he found one of the first parts that would define his career in Alan Bleasdale's The Black Stuff, a one-off TV play in 1980 that the writer would expand into classic comedy drama Boys From The Blackstuff. Hill scored a BAFTA nomination for his performance as the tragic, yet dimly self-aware Yosser.
Other TV work included Dennis Potter adaptation Lipstick On Your Collar, a huge swathe of Shakespeare adaptations including Wolf Hall, disability drama Skallagrigg,...
Born in Manchester in 1944, Hill quickly gravitated towards stage work before taking the chance to make the jump to film and TV. Yet his early career was marked by few standout roles, mostly relegated to brief appearances on the likes of I, Claudius and the BBC's Tom Stoppard adaptation Professional Foul.
Still, he found one of the first parts that would define his career in Alan Bleasdale's The Black Stuff, a one-off TV play in 1980 that the writer would expand into classic comedy drama Boys From The Blackstuff. Hill scored a BAFTA nomination for his performance as the tragic, yet dimly self-aware Yosser.
Other TV work included Dennis Potter adaptation Lipstick On Your Collar, a huge swathe of Shakespeare adaptations including Wolf Hall, disability drama Skallagrigg,...
- 5/5/2024
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Playwright James Graham has teamed up with Michael Sheen for three part BBC drama, The Way. Here’s the trailer.
Michael Sheen has spent a good portion of his career playing real-life figures, perhaps most notably David Frost in Ron Howard’s film version of Peter Morgan’s Frost/Nixon.
He has also played journalist Robbie Ross in Wilde, writer Jeremy Dyson in The League Of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse, Chris Tarrant in Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? scandal drama Quiz and he played a heightened version of himself opposite David Tennant in Staged. He’s about to take on the role of Aneurin “Nye” Bevan in Tim Price’s play Nye at the National Theatre. Likewise, James Graham often writes political plays based around recent events.
The two have now teamed up for BBC drama The Way, which although it takes its inspiration from real events, follows fictional characters.
The synopsis reads as follows:
Ambitious,...
Michael Sheen has spent a good portion of his career playing real-life figures, perhaps most notably David Frost in Ron Howard’s film version of Peter Morgan’s Frost/Nixon.
He has also played journalist Robbie Ross in Wilde, writer Jeremy Dyson in The League Of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse, Chris Tarrant in Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? scandal drama Quiz and he played a heightened version of himself opposite David Tennant in Staged. He’s about to take on the role of Aneurin “Nye” Bevan in Tim Price’s play Nye at the National Theatre. Likewise, James Graham often writes political plays based around recent events.
The two have now teamed up for BBC drama The Way, which although it takes its inspiration from real events, follows fictional characters.
The synopsis reads as follows:
Ambitious,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Reece Shearsmith has said that The League of Gentlemen could return one day, but has seemingly ruled out an imminent comeback.
The actor and writer told Digital Spy and other journalists that he, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Jeremy Dyson were wary of not ruining the legacy of the show.
The team previously confirmed that they had turned down approaches from the BBC for a comeback, and quizzed on the possibility of going with Netflix or doing a Kickstarter, Shearsmith said: "I don't know really, they [the BBC] make our things, so I can't really moan about it...
"But as far as a new League thing goes, we did some sketches last year for charity. Me, Mark and Steve did for the first time in eight years. We did some sketches on stage.
"It was great and there was a good response and we were surprised. I thought no-one would remember it,...
The actor and writer told Digital Spy and other journalists that he, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Jeremy Dyson were wary of not ruining the legacy of the show.
The team previously confirmed that they had turned down approaches from the BBC for a comeback, and quizzed on the possibility of going with Netflix or doing a Kickstarter, Shearsmith said: "I don't know really, they [the BBC] make our things, so I can't really moan about it...
"But as far as a new League thing goes, we did some sketches last year for charity. Me, Mark and Steve did for the first time in eight years. We did some sketches on stage.
"It was great and there was a good response and we were surprised. I thought no-one would remember it,...
- 3/6/2014
- Digital Spy
Reece Shearsmith has teased that a League of Gentlemen reunion may be in the works.
The BBC Two comedy's co-creator tweeted a photo of himself with Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton, hinting that he has been working with the pair.
There might be some news about these people - coming soon. Keep em peeled: pic.twitter.com/Y9JOiAme8V
— Reece Shearsmith (@ReeceShearsmith) October 2, 2013
When asked by fans about the extra hand on Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss's shoulder, he joked: "So much genuine bafflement at the extra hand on Marks shoulder in that pic. Like it wasn't deliberate. Come On people!! My blood pressure!"
The League of Gentlemen ran for three TV series from 1999 to 2002 following the 1997 radio series, and spawned several live shows and the 2005 movie The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse.
Shearsmith and Pemberton have since collaborated on BBC Two's Psychoville series, while they have also reunited for...
The BBC Two comedy's co-creator tweeted a photo of himself with Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton, hinting that he has been working with the pair.
There might be some news about these people - coming soon. Keep em peeled: pic.twitter.com/Y9JOiAme8V
— Reece Shearsmith (@ReeceShearsmith) October 2, 2013
When asked by fans about the extra hand on Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss's shoulder, he joked: "So much genuine bafflement at the extra hand on Marks shoulder in that pic. Like it wasn't deliberate. Come On people!! My blood pressure!"
The League of Gentlemen ran for three TV series from 1999 to 2002 following the 1997 radio series, and spawned several live shows and the 2005 movie The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse.
Shearsmith and Pemberton have since collaborated on BBC Two's Psychoville series, while they have also reunited for...
- 10/2/2013
- Digital Spy
Well under a year since Sightseers caravanned into our lives, there's already a new Ben Wheatley film almost upon us. Above is a new still from Wheatley's Civil War madfest A Field In England, in which Reece Shearsmith is either praying for deliverance, victory, his soul, or the deletion of The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse. And to go with the new image are the full details of how the film's UK release will play out. We have never seen its like before.In short, A Field In England will be the first film ever to be released in UK nationwide cinemas, on free TV, on DVD/Blu-ray and on Video-On Demand on the same day. The unprecedented multi-platform alliance has been hatched between Film4, Picturehouse Entertainment, 4Dvd and the Film4 Channel. That means you can choose to see it with an audience and a live-by-satellite Q&A; at home on...
- 5/8/2013
- EmpireOnline
Outnumbered, the multi-award-winning comedy series from Hat Trick Productions, which captures the turbulent chaos of family life, is back on BBC One with a new six-part series starting on Friday 2 September and followed by a Christmas special.
In the new series, the family is confronted by an array of issues ranging from death, drugs, terrorism and getting old, to food science, Top Gear, the joy of ventriloquism and the perils of Subbuteo.
The casting director avoided stage-school talent, instead undertaking a lengthy audition process which involved lots of game playing, determined to find children who would enjoy the filming process. So the three juvenile leads came out at the top of the fairly exhausting casting process. Andy: "They're all really interesting to watch and they've all got very interesting, funny personalities. Confident, but also excellent actors."
Tyger Drew-Honey returns as Jake Brockman
Tyger was born Lindzi James Tyger Drew-Honey, he is now 15 years old,...
In the new series, the family is confronted by an array of issues ranging from death, drugs, terrorism and getting old, to food science, Top Gear, the joy of ventriloquism and the perils of Subbuteo.
The casting director avoided stage-school talent, instead undertaking a lengthy audition process which involved lots of game playing, determined to find children who would enjoy the filming process. So the three juvenile leads came out at the top of the fairly exhausting casting process. Andy: "They're all really interesting to watch and they've all got very interesting, funny personalities. Confident, but also excellent actors."
Tyger Drew-Honey returns as Jake Brockman
Tyger was born Lindzi James Tyger Drew-Honey, he is now 15 years old,...
- 8/17/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (ScreenTerrier)
- ScreenTerrier
History is littered with European comedies set in the apocalypse. It's kind of early, so I can only really think of the fabulous British films The Bed Sitting Room and The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse, but there are a few more.
Now it appears there's a new one coming from Norway called People in the Sun which looks like your typical claustrophbic couples-retreat-gone-wrong mixed with worldwide devestation.
Synopsis:
It's Midsummer Eve, and the sun blazes from a cloudless sky. At the camping ground, vacation season has started. Buses arrive to transport the guests to the great Midsummer party some distance from the camping ground. However, two couples decide to stay behind and enjoy the tranquility and they decide to celebrate Midsummer Eve together.
They have not celebrated long before extraordinary natural phenomena surround them. With Mrs. Sørensen's arrival, the peculiar natural phenomena escalate. But the cabin guests continue partying. As nature steps up its attack,...
Now it appears there's a new one coming from Norway called People in the Sun which looks like your typical claustrophbic couples-retreat-gone-wrong mixed with worldwide devestation.
Synopsis:
It's Midsummer Eve, and the sun blazes from a cloudless sky. At the camping ground, vacation season has started. Buses arrive to transport the guests to the great Midsummer party some distance from the camping ground. However, two couples decide to stay behind and enjoy the tranquility and they decide to celebrate Midsummer Eve together.
They have not celebrated long before extraordinary natural phenomena surround them. With Mrs. Sørensen's arrival, the peculiar natural phenomena escalate. But the cabin guests continue partying. As nature steps up its attack,...
- 1/3/2011
- QuietEarth.us
Shaun of the Dead was good, Sex Lives of the Potato Men was bad. So how do you avoid a Britcom disaster?
Anywhere else, it would be a cause for celebration. Later this month, a debut feature is to be released by the director of one of Britain's most popular TV comedies. Bafta-nominated for his work on BBC2's The Mighty Boosh, Paul King is also an award-winning live comedy director – and his new film Bunny and the Bull was selected for both the Toronto and London film festivals. Here, then, is a cheering tale of a home-grown talent making his way in cinema, right? If only it were that simple. "There's a pack mentality with British comic films to go, 'What a heap of shit!'" says King. "Your worst nightmare is, 'Oh God, I just hope my film's not one of those …'"
One of those? Does he...
Anywhere else, it would be a cause for celebration. Later this month, a debut feature is to be released by the director of one of Britain's most popular TV comedies. Bafta-nominated for his work on BBC2's The Mighty Boosh, Paul King is also an award-winning live comedy director – and his new film Bunny and the Bull was selected for both the Toronto and London film festivals. Here, then, is a cheering tale of a home-grown talent making his way in cinema, right? If only it were that simple. "There's a pack mentality with British comic films to go, 'What a heap of shit!'" says King. "Your worst nightmare is, 'Oh God, I just hope my film's not one of those …'"
One of those? Does he...
- 11/13/2009
- by Brian Logan
- The Guardian - Film News
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