‘They paid me in custard creams!’ Reggie Yates on making the move to film

Published

3 years ago

November 26, 2021

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As an actor, presenter and documentary maker, Reggie Yates has been a regular fixture on our TV screens since he was a young child.

Now 38, the Londoner is making his debut as a filmmaker, having written and directed his latest project, Pirates – a coming of age tale about three friends trying to have a night to remember, set against the backdrop of Millennium Eve.

The story is relatively new for Yates, but he told Sky News he has always wanted to make a film, “from the minute I found myself on set as an eight-year-old”.

“I, as an actor, loved the idea of actually creating and running my own set but never really had the confidence to believe I could do it,” he said. “It wasn’t until I started writing quite quietly and privately that my confidence began to build.

“But this idea specifically is a new idea, it’s a recent idea, it wasn’t something that I’ve been sat on forever, but the elements in it – the version of London that we see on screen is something that I’ve always wanted to see on the big screen.”

As an actor, Yates has appeared in shows including The Bill, Grange Hill and Doctor Who, but rose to fame as a radio presenter and host of TV shows including Top Of The Pops and The Voice.

While he recognises the benefits of already having a presence in the industry, he said it took more than his reputation to get Pirates made.

“I’d be incredibly naive to say it didn’t have an influence on me being involved in this project and getting it over the line, but the truth is, if the script was rubbish, they wouldn’t have let it happen, and I work very hard, which is why I’ve had a three-decade career,” he said.

“I’ve pivoted in my career several times because I follow what I’m passionate about and I’m incredibly passionate about film and finding the right team to collaborate with and finding the budget to make this thing happen because of that passion.

“It happened because of the hard work and it happened because of ultimately the story that I wanted to tell.”

While all first-time filmmakers can expect to contend with a whole host of challenges, those working when the pandemic hit faced unprecedented issues.

“We had 10 days left to shoot and then COVID hit and we went from a 25-day shoot to having a 220-something day break and then finally getting back on set,” he said.

“So COVID – Auntie Rona, as we affectionately know her – definitely got in the way of Pirates being a slick process, but I’m really glad that it happened in a lot of ways because I found myself in a unique position that no first time writer-director gets. That is having a break to actually look at what I’ve done and edit everything that I’d shot up until that point and rewrite some stuff, throw some new bits in. And because of that I think the film was better.”

Pirates may have only just hit cinemas, but Yates says his next film is already written and he hopes to make it next year. He also hopes to work with his three young leading actors – Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters and Reda Elazouar – again.

“I think I’ve learnt a hell of a lot about collaboration and also the importance of investing in your cast,” he said. “I spent a lot of time with these boys, they’re my little brothers now, we talk pretty much every day.

“I learnt the hard way that you can’t really do that in documentaries because I would take everybody that I would make a documentary about with me. After, like, 40 documentaries, that’s a lot of people to carry, especially people that were carrying quite difficult stuff because at the heart of all of those documentaries was an issue.”

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While it’s too early to look at box office success, Pirates has already proved a hit within the industry, earning three nominations at this year’s British Independent Film Awards, including the best debut screenwriter prize for Yates.

But he’s not keen to talk about his own achievements – instead saying the nods validate the team effort behind the film.

“It’s a massive thing to get those three nominations for the movie and I just feel really proud because it’s a company effort, you know. I started out in theatre and the company is something that I love, this idea of people coming together to make things work, this idea of a team, this idea of people really pulling together and that is certainly what happened on this film.

“It means so much, and even if we don’t win on the night, I think for all of us, we’re going to be celebrating anyway because this movie is tiny, we have no money – they paid me in custard creams! For us to get nominations is huge.”

Pirates is out in cinemas now

Entertainment

‘The heartbeat of Blondie’: Drummer Clem Burke dies aged 70

Published

21 hours ago

April 7, 2025

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'The heartbeat of Blondie': Drummer Clem Burke dies aged 70

Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died at the age of 70

The band said Blurke had been diagnosed with cancer, and described his death as a “profound loss”.

He featured on all the Debbie Harry-fronted group’s studio albums since joining a year after their formation in 1975.

Blurke was with the band from their self-titled debut, through their 1978 classic Parallel Lines, to 2017’s Pollinator.

In a statement on Blondie’s Instagram, Harry and the band’s guitarist, Chris Stein, said: “It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer.

“Clem was not just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of Blondie.

“His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable.

“Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

“Clem’s influence extended far beyond Blondie, a self-proclaimed ‘rock and roll survivalist’, he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists.”

Burke featured on Iggy Pop’s 1982 album Zombie Birdhouse and also performed with Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend and Joan Jett.

The statement went on to say Burke had left an “indelible mark on every project he was part of”.

It added: “We extend our deepest condolences to Clem’s family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched.”

Burke, who performed on classic tracks such as Call Me, Heart Of Glass and One Way Or Another, made his final live appearance with Blondie last year.

Among those paying tribute to him was Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, who said: “I feel saddened that Clem Burke was taken from us so soon.

“May he rest in peace, spectacular drumming, we were friends.”

Nancy Sinatra said: “My heart is shattered. Clem became an icon as a member of Blondie, but he was also an important part of my band, the K.A.B. I was blessed to call him my friend.

“If I ever needed him, he was there. Always. Sending healing prayers and comfort to his widow, Ellen, his family, and all who loved him.”

Entertainment

Olivier Awards: US actor says ‘special relationship firmly intact’ despite Trump’s tariffs

Published

2 days ago

April 7, 2025

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Olivier Awards: US actor says 'special relationship firmly intact' despite Trump's tariffs

British star Lesley Manville and American actor John Lithgow have won the acting categories at this year’s Olivier Awards, which recognise excellence in London theatre.

Lithgow, 79, played Roald Dahl in Giant, which is about the children’s author wondering whether to make a public apology.

While accepting his award he appeared to reference the current controversy over Donald Trump’s second term as US president.

The Conclave star quipped: “It’s not always easy to welcome an American into your midst, and at this particular moment, it’s probably a little more complicated than usual.”

He also told the audience at the Royal Albert Hall that the “special relationship is still firmly intact”, despite Mr Trump imposing tariffs on British exports to the US.

His co-star, English actor Elliot Levey, took best actor in a supporting role.

Giant was also named best new play.

Manville, 69, was honoured for her performance in the Greek tragedy Oedipus at the Wyndham’s Theatre.

She said she felt “emotional” while accepting her statuette because it was a production she had “felt very strongly about being” in.

Manville, who played Princess Margaret in The Crown, added that she was taking an early flight to Dublin on Monday to do some filming, and would not be getting “much sleep tonight”.

Best actress in a supporting role went to Romola Garai for her performance in The Years, based on a memoir by French writer Annie Ernaux.

Garai, whose film credits include Scoop and Atonement, was nominated in the same category for Giant.

Dame Imelda Staunton won a fifth Olivier, for best actress in a musical for the London revival of classic musical Hello, Dolly!

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button won best new musical, a best actor musical award for Lark Rise To Candleford actor John Dagleish, and the outstanding musical contribution award.

The annual event was co-hosted by British singer Beverley Knight and Pose star Billy Porter.

Entertainment

Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia talked about modern masculinity before Gen Z was born

Published

3 days ago

April 5, 2025

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Pete Townshend's Quadrophenia talked about modern masculinity before Gen Z was born

Despite The Who’s Quadrophenia being set over 60 years ago, Pete Townshend’s themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.

The album is having a renaissance as Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia A Mod ballet is being brought to life via dance at Sadler’s Wells East, and Sky News has an exclusive first look.

As Townshend puts it, the album he wrote is “perfect” for the stage.

“My wife Rachel did the orchestration for me, and as soon as I heard it I said to her it would make a fabulous ballet and we never really let that go,” he tells Sky News.

“Heavy percussion, concussive sequences. They’re explosive moments. They’re also romantic movement moments.”

If you identify with the demographics of Millennial, Gen Y or Gen Z, you might not be familiar with The Who and Mod culture.

But in post-war Britain the Mods were a cultural phenomenon characterised by fashion, music, and of course, scooters. The young rebels were seen as a counter-culture to the establishment and The Who, with Roger Daltry’s lead vocals and Pete Townshend’s writing, were the soundtrack.

Quadrophenia the album is widely regarded as an essay on the British adolescent experience at the time, focusing on the life of fictional protagonist Jimmy – a young Mod struggling with his sanity, self-doubt, and alienation. 

Townshend sets the rock opera in 1965 but thinks its themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.

He says: “The phobias and the restrictions and the unwritten laws about how young men should behave. The ground that they broke, that we broke because I was a part of it.

“Men were letting go of [the] wartime-related, uniform-related stance that if I wear this kind of outfit it makes me look like a man.”

This struggle of modern masculinity and identity appears to be echoing today as manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate, incel culture, and Netflix’s Adolescence make headlines.

For dancer Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy, the story resonates.

“I think there’s a connection massively and I think there may even be a little more revival in some way,” he tells Sky News.

“I love that myself. I love non-conforming to gender norms and typical masculinity; I think it’s great to challenge things.”

Despite the album being written before he was born, the dancer says he was familiar with the genre already.

“I actually did an art GCSE project about Mods and rockers and Quadrophenia,” he says.

“I think we’ll be able to bring it to new audiences and hopefully, maybe people will be inspired to to learn more about their music and the whole cultural movement of the early 60s.”

In 1979, the album was adapted into a film directed by Franc Roddam starring Ray Winstone and Sting but Townshend admits because the film missed key points he is “not a big fan”.

“What it turned out to be in the movie was a story about culture, about social scenario and less about really the specifics of mental illness and how that affects young people,” he adds, also complimenting Roddam’s writing for the film.

Perhaps a testament to Pete Townshend’s creativity, Quadrophenia started as an album, was successfully adapted to film and now it will hit the stage as a contemporary ballet.

It appears that over six decades later Mod culture is still cool and their issues still relatable.

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal from 28 May to 1 June 2025, Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 10 to 14 June 2025 and the Mayflower, Southampton from 18 to 21 June 2025 before having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 24 June running to 13 July 2025 and then visiting The Lowry, Salford from 15 to 19 July 2025.