From a school prom in Durham to a cinematic phenomenon – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Everybody’s talking about Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, as the film finally hits screens after a pandemic-enforced delay.
The new all-singing and all-dancing Amazon Prime Video original movie about a teenager who wanted to live out his drag queen ambitions at his school prom, hails from humble beginnings.
Starting life as a BBC Three documentary in 2011, producers followed the real-life story of Jamie Campbell from Sheffield, who was told he would not be allowed to wear a dress for his year 11 prom, despite wanting to.
The film derives from a musical inspired by a real-life story. Pic: Amazon Studios
It captured the imagination of writer Tom MacRae and songwriter Dan Gillespie-Sells – the lead singer of The Feeling, who turned the story in to a musical which, initially, was only ever supposed to get a two-week run in a Sheffield theatre.
“It’s amazing that when we just got commissioned to do two weeks in Sheffield for a show that had no star names, no story, no new songs and basically no publicity budget,” MacRae told Sky News.
“And we thought we’ll have two weeks, we’ll do a nice show and have fun. Everything that’s happened from the back of that all those years ago – it’s still hard to take in.”
MacRae credits an unlikely group of people for the show’s success too – saying he’d lost hope after a disastrous dress run and was unsure if anyone would even see the musical, but was vindicated when punters queued round the block to see this new piece of work.
“I worked out it was our cleaning ladies who’d heard us rehearse and they told their friends, ‘you’ve got to see the show’.
“So as everything took off, I could say, hand on heart, we owe it all to the cleaning ladies at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre and just the people of Sheffield who had come and supported us.”
Pritti and Jamie are polar opposites – but are each other’s best friends. Pic: Amazon Studios
That short run in Sheffield though was all they needed to send the story stratospheric, with MacRae saying it was in that space of time that a West End show and a movie had been agreed.
Jamie Campbell, who inspired the show and film, says he never dreamed anything like this would be possible.
“I just didn’t think it would get to this point – but now it feels amazing,” he told Sky News, the morning after the film’s premiere.
And while the story centres on Jamie and his mission to wear a dress to his school prom, he says the story is much more than that – it’s about helping people take control of their own lives.
“The dress isn’t just a dress – the dress is almost like a metaphor for anything that you want to do,” he said.
“You might not want to go to a prom in a dress, but you might want to do something else, and I hope people take the power to do whatever that something else is and just go for it and not be scared and ashamed, and not to live for other people. It might be scary, but just go for it.”
BAFTA-winning Sarah Lancashire plays Jamie’s mum. Pic: Amazon Studios
And what about seeing the likes of Oscar-nominee Richard E Grant in a film based on his life? Or BAFTA and National Television Award winner Sarah Lancashire? Or Corrie royalty Shobna Gulati?
“It’s just madness,” Jamsaid.
“Sarah Lancashire (who plays Jamie’s mum in the film) is an absolute icon, I love her and was so happy with the portrayal as well.
“Richard Grant – he’s a national treasure, so for him to come in and play Loco Chanel (the drag queen mentor), so beautifully and so respectfully as well… I have a lot of love and respect for him because he wanted to do it justice, and I think he did do that.
“And I mean Shobna Gulati, who plays Ray (Jamie’s mum’s best friend), she is absolutely incredible as well, so funny and so very talented – it’s just been absolutely incredible.”
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Shobna Gulati: It’s so moving to watch on-screen representation
Gulati is a special member of the film’s cast, having previously performed the musical in the West End as well as currently touring the UK with it.
Best known for playing Sunita for 12 years on Coronation Street, Gulati says that diversity in this film is something truly worth celebrating.
She told Sky News: “It’s so moving to watch on-screen representation.
“I’ve been in the industry a long time and to be a part of this process, bringing this story, at this moment, means everything to me.
“Watching the kids dancing and everybody on that screen, I thought ‘I’ve never seen that before in my life’… and I’m just so happy to be there celebrating with everybody else.”
The story’s diversity is undoubtedly part of its success, with the stage show choosing to cast people from a number of ethnically diverse backgrounds and put them centrally in the narrative – something underlined by Jamie’s best friend, Pritti Pasha.
Pritti is a Muslim teenager who wears a hijab and is rarely made-up – a complete antithesis to the bombastic Jamie.
Richard E Grant is among the stars in the film. Pic: Amazon Studios
She’s played in the film by Lauren Patel, who told Sky News: “Any kind of story that one provides a bit of joy and a bit of comfort to people, and anything that makes people feel seen, deserves to be told.
“I think that the lovely thing about the representation in this film is it’s all just a small part of these very 3D characters to me. Jamie and Pritti, and the fact that it’s set in working class Sheffield and stuff, they’re all just small pieces of this whole little Jamie puzzle.”
But the biggest piece of the Jamie puzzle is Max Harwood, who makes his film debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as the titular character.
He told Sky News that he was proud to be part of such an openly queer film, but that the story could easily relate to others with bold ambitions.
“I think that the specificity of it is incredibly, incredibly important, but actually what I love so much about this story more than anything… is that this story has such universality about it and that it can be for everyone.
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“Gone are the days where hopefully queer films are sidelined and not in the mainstream and in a subsection of movies… this film is a family film for everyone.
“The lead character just happens to be queer, and it happens to be a story about him wanting to be a drag queen – it could easily be a story about him wanting to be a doctor or a surgeon. I hope that people can see and relate to the different things in it.”
But something everyone agrees on is the unbridled joy that this film exudes – and ultimately why the cast, crew and creatives want you to see it.
Entertainment
Quincy Jones: Oprah Winfrey, Elton John and Barack Obama among famous figures paying tribute to music legend
Oprah Winfrey, Sir Elton John and Barack Obama among the famous figures who have paid tribute to Quincy Jones following his death at the age of 91.
Following the announcement of his death on Monday, a string of friends, collaborators and admirers have been speaking out to praise the music producer and composer.
TV host Oprah Winfrey said her life “changed forever for the better” after meeting Jones as he helped secure her role in the 1985 film adaptation of The Colour Purple, which earned her an Oscar nomination.
Jones, the jazz musician known for collaborating with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson, wrote the film score and also co-produced the film.
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Quincy Jones dies aged 91
Winfrey wrote on Instagram: “My beloved Q. The world’s beloved Q. The one and only Quincy Jones ‘discovered’ me for The Color Purple movie in 1985. My life changed forever for the better after meeting him.
“I had never experienced, nor have since, anyone who’s heart was so filled with love.
“He walked around with his heart wide open, and he treated everybody as if they were the most important person he’d ever met. He was the Light. No shadows.
“He was love lived out loud in human form and he was the first person I ever loved unconditionally.”
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10 things about Quincy Jones
Whoopi Goldberg, who was also in The Colour Purple, also wrote on Instagram: “I was lucky enough to have him in my life for all these years.
“My heart is breaking for his friends and his extended family who loved and adored him… my condolences.”
Read more:
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Quincy Jones’s best-known collaborations
Former US president Barack Obama, who honoured Jones with the US National Medal of Arts in 2010, said: “For decades, Quincy Jones was music.
“From producing Thriller, to composing the score for The Color Purple, to working with Frank Sinatra to Ray Charles, it seemed like every big record – and every big film – had Quincy’s name on it.
“His music appealed to listeners of every race and every age. And by building a career that took him from the streets of Chicago to the heights of Hollywood, Quincy paved the way for generations of Black executives to leave their mark on the entertainment business.”
Barack Obama honoured Quincy Jones with the US National Medal of Arts in 2010. Pic: Reuters
He added: “Michelle and I send our thoughts to Quincy’s friends, family, and everyone who has lived their lives to his songs.”
Sir Elton John remembered Jones as someone who had a more “incredible” career in music than anyone else.
He shared a photo with him at the Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar viewing party, and called him a “loyal supporter of this important fundraiser”.
The singer added: “Nobody had a career as incredible as Quincy Jones. He played with the best and he produced the best. What a guy. Loved him.”
Rapper Ice T hailed Jones as a “genius”, while US Grammy-winner Lenny Kravitz said he was “speechless”, but added: “What a life. What an expression of authenticity. What a teacher. I am humbled that I was given the gift of your openness and friendship”.
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Singers react to death of ‘hero’ Quincy Jones
Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland thanked Jones for being “such a wonderful teacher” and creating the soundtrack to “some of the most extraordinary moments” in her life.
Jones also helped to launch and was an executive producer on the popular US sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, starring Will Smith.
Jones with his daughter, actress Rashida Jones, and Will Smith in 2007. Pic: Reuters
Smith said: “Quincy Jones is the true definition of a mentor, a father and a friend. He pointed me toward the greatest parts of myself. He defended me. He nurtured me.
“He encouraged me. He inspired me. He checked me when he needed to. He let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly.”
Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers, who was friends with Jones, shared a video that said “Rest In Power Quincy Jones. The Greatest of All Time”.
Peter Hook, the bassist and co-founder of Joy Division and New Order, wrote on social media: “It’s so sad to hear about Quincy Jones. When he signed us to his label, he made us feel so welcome – inviting us to dinner at his home every time we were in town.
“He made us big in America. He was so humble & sweet that you immediately fell in love with him.”
Hook added: “And to this day I still got a lovely message from him every year on Christmas and birthday cards! A musical genius and a great, lovely man.”
Amy Dowden will not take part in the rest of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The professional dancer made a return to the celebrity contest this series after undergoing treatment for breast cancer and had been partnered with JLS star JB Gill.
However, the 34-year-old has now had to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury.
In a statement on Instagram, she said: “I’m so sad, so upset and asking why me, why now that our journey has been cut short.
“My heart right now is breaking having to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury.”
Dowden added: “I know only too well ‘this too shall pass’ and I’ll be soon better and back dancing. Something I’ve had to get used to in my life. I’m sure at some point we will dance again JB.
“To all the fans, to my loved ones, my strictly family thank you.”
JB Gill and Amy Dowden. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston
A spokeswoman for Strictly added: “Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year.
“Whilst Amy focuses on her recovery following a foot injury, fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley will step in as JB’s dance partner.
“The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes.”
The news was first announced on Monday evening during the show’s spin-off programme Strictly: It Takes Two.
Lauren Oakley partnered with Krishnan Guru-Murthy last year.
Pic: PA
Dowden was taken ill during the live show the previous weekend and missed the Sunday results programme.
She was taken to hospital from the BBC show’s production centre, Elstree Studios, as a “precaution” after “feeling unwell”, a spokesman for Dowden said at the time.
Last year, Dowden found a lump in her breast while on her honeymoon in the Maldives with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones, and was unable to compete on Strictly.
After treatment for stage three breast cancer, she announced in February that tests showed she had “no evidence of disease“.
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Dowden was made an MBE in this year’s New Year’s honours list for services to fundraising and raising awareness of Crohn’s. She was diagnosed with the disease as a teenager and is a UK ambassador for the charity Crohn’s and Colitis.
She was also admitted to hospital in Manchester following a Crohn’s flare-up during the 2022 Strictly live tour.
Dowden also said in her statement that in the past few months she had “finally felt like me again”.
She added: “Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up. It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on. I felt free again.
“My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the strictly dance floor. It’s been such a challenge to get back.”
Dowden also praised JB Gill for being the “perfect partner” on the dancefloor.
“I know you and Lauren will continue to ace that dance floor. I’ll forever be your biggest cheerleader,” she added.
Quincy Jones, the music producer and composer, has died at the age of 91.
Jones worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and many other artists.
Among his best-known credits was as the producer of Jackson’s historic Thriller album.
Jones oversaw the all-star recording of the 1985 charity record We Are The World.
He also composed the soundtrack to the hit 1969 British film The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine.
Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Pic: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch /IPX/AP
Naomi Campbell, left, and Claudia Schiffer flank Quincy Jones. Pic: AP
His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed Jones died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday surrounded by his family.
In a statement, his family said: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’s passing.
“And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. Pic: AP
Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton. Pic: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch /IPX/AP
His family added Jones was “truly one of a kind” who they would “miss dearly”.
“We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,” they added.
“Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’s heart will beat for eternity.”
His career, which spans more than 75 years, saw him achieve 28 Grammy award wins out of 80 nominations.
He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time magazine.
Lionel Richie, who co-wrote We Are The World and was among the charity single’s featured singers, called Jones “the master orchestrator”.
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Jones, a father of seven, was married three times to Jeri Caldwell, Ulla Andersson and Peggy Lipton.
His children include music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for Parks And Recreation and the US version of The Office.
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