An Australian journalist whose “million dollar” interview with Adele was canned because he did not listen to her new Album 30 has apologised on air.
Matt Doran, of Channel 7 News, flew to London ahead of the singer’s first release in six years to speak to her.
However, after he finished his chat with her, Adele discovered that he had not listened to a preview copy of her latest work and her publisher, Sony, blocked the interview from airing.
It is reported the agreement for the interview and rights to other related content cost the channel a million Australian dollars – around £530,000.
Doran was castigated on social media after the issue came to light, and he was absent from on air duties last weekend.
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Speaking to his audience on Saturday morning, Doran said: “Now I want to address something that’s made headlines this week and something that I would like to apologise for.
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“This is a story that has sparked a torrent of abuse and mockery from around the world.
“And if I’m being honest with you, the bulk of this savaging I deserve and I totally own.
“I flew to London to interview Adele – an unspeakable privilege and what was to be one of the highlights of my career.
“I made the terrible mistake of assuming we weren’t to be given a preview copy of this album, because our interview was airing before it was released and Adele’s album was the industry’s most prized secret.
By an absurdly long margin, the most important email I’ve ever missed in my life.
“The day after – after we landed in London, an email came through from Sony.
“It didn’t mention Adele but it did contain a link to her album.
“The genuine dead set hand on heart truth is that I missed it.
“By an absurdly long margin, the most important email I’ve ever missed in my life.”
Doran went on to share some details of the chat – which has still not aired.
He also dismissed rumours that Adele had walked out of the interview.
“The interview itself, Adele didn’t walk out – it ran over time.
“At least half of the interview focused squarely on the new music, but I thought it was reductive to describe it as simply being about divorce; that it was about empowerment and what inspired people to summon the courage to steer their lives in a new direction.
“We spoke of the paradox that is being the world’s most famous artist, but hating fame.
“We also discussed at length the concept of pure artistry, the majesty of Adele’s voice – what it must be like to hear that sound come out of one’s own mouth.
“How Go Easy On Me (sic) was conceived in part by singing acapella in the shower, and how the album helped repair her relationship towards the end with her now late father.
“Throughout the 29 minutes Adele was profound. She was funny. She was raw, and then she was honest – honest enough to describe her depression as end of the world stuff.
“But all that doesn’t matter.
“Because by missing the album link – however I might try to justify it – I’ve insulted Adele.
“To Adele I say – I’d never have knowingly disrespected you by deliberately not listening to your work. I am so sorry.
“I also apologise to Adele’s Australian fans and to you, our viewers, who through my error have been denied this interview and the insight into her character.
“Adele – track 10, Hold On, in the bridge, after the second chorus, you write that ‘sometimes forgiveness is easiest in secret’.
Hollywood stars have begun campaigning for Kevin Spacey to resume his acting career “after seven years of exile”.
Sharon Stone, Liam Neeson and Stephen Fry are among the names speaking up for the Oscar-winner following the release of a Channel 4 documentary levelling fresh allegations against 64-year-old Spacey, which he denies.
The Oscar-winning actor was one of Hollywood’s biggest names when allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017, leading Netflix to cut all ties with him at the height of his House of Cards fame.
Despite being acquitted of numerous sexual offences after a trial in London, and winning a US civil lawsuit in which he was accused of making an unwanted sexual advance, Spacey said he still feels ostracised from the industry.
Basic Instinct star Stone told the Telegraph: “I can’t wait to see Kevin back at work. He is a genius. He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault, and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will.”
The 66-year-old said it was clear aspiring actors had “wanted and want to be around him”.
She added: “It’s terrible that they are blaming him for not being able to come to terms with themselves for using him and negotiating with themselves because they didn’t get their secret agendas.”
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Taken and Star Wars actor Neeson, 71, told the paper: “Kevin is a good man and a man of character. Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly.”
British actor and writer Fry said Spacey had been both “clumsy and inappropriate” on many occasions, but to “devote a whole documentary to accusations that simply do not add up to crimes… how can that be considered proportionate and justified?”
The 66-year-old said Spacey’s reputation had been “wrecked”, adding: “Surely it is wrong to continue to batter a reputation on the strength of assertion and rhetoric rather than evidence and proof?
“Unless I’m missing something, I think he has paid the price.”
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “Spacey Unmasked is an important film exploring the balance of power and inappropriate behaviour in a work environment, aiming to give a voice to those who have previously been unable to speak out.”
Spacey won two Academy Awards as best supporting actor for The Usual Suspects in 1996 and best actor in 2000 for American Beauty, which also scored him a BAFTA for leading actor.
The weapons supervisor for the Western film Rust is appealing against her conviction for involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on set, according to court documents.
She was in charge of weapons during the production of the film in October 2021, when a Colt 45 revolver fired by actor and co-producer Alec Baldwin went off during a rehearsal.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died, while director Joel Souza was injured.
A defence lawyer for Gutierrez, who is serving an 18-month sentence at a prison for women in New Mexico, filed a shortly worded appeal notice on Monday.
Her legal team has 30 days to submit detailed arguments. They previously requested a new trial following the verdict.
Gutierrez’s trial was told she unwittingly brought live ammunition to the set, where it was expressly prohibited, and failed to follow basic gun safety protocols.
During her sentencing hearing, she told the court she had tried to do her best while working on the production, despite not having “proper time, resources and staffing”.
Baldwin, who was a producer for the film as well as its star, has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
He maintains he pulled back the gun’s hammer – but not the trigger – before it fired, and is set to face trial in July. He denies any wrongdoing.
The 66-year-old was originally charged in January 2023, more than a year after the shooting, but those charges were dropped a few months later. He was charged again in January this year.
His legal team has filed a motion calling for the charges to be dropped. Prosecutors responded with a 32-page documentclaiming that footage of the star on set shows he had “absolutely no control of his own emotions” and “no concern for how his conduct” affected those around him.
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Assistant director David Halls, who also faced charges, entered a plea bargain for negligent use of a deadly weapon last year, receiving a six-month suspended sentence.
Gudrun Ure, the star of hit 1980s children’s TV show Super Gran, has died aged 98.
Ure’s portrayal of Granny Smith – who gained superpowers after being struck by a magic ray – won her legions of fans across the globe.
Her death was confirmed by her niece, Kate McNeill.
Ure was born in Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire, on 12 March 1926.
As an actress she starred as Desdemona in a 1951 stage production of Othello, directed by Hollywood legend Orson Welles. She also re-dubbed Suzanne Cloutier’s performance in Welles’ film adaptation.
Ure appeared in other television shows, including Casualty, Midsomer Murders, The Crow Road, The 10th Kingdom, and T-Bag and the Pearls of Wisdom.
However, it was her role in Super Gran that elevated her to cult status.
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The show, based on a series of books written by Forrest Wilson, saw Ure’s character use her powers to protect the residents of Chiselton from a series of villains, including the scheming Roderick ‘Scunner’ Campbell and his gang.
Many guest stars appeared on the programme, including George Best, Spike Milligan, Eric Bristow, Roy Kinnear and comedian Billy Connolly, who also sang the theme song.