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It’s time for London to get the Hollywood treatment, with the great and the good of the film world in town for this year’s BAFTAs ceremony.

All Quiet On The Western Front, The Banshees Of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Elvis and Tar are the films everyone is talking about ahead of this year’s ceremony, but of course there’s always more to the show than just the best picture prize.

Here are a few things to look out for ahead of the BAFTAs ceremony.

Celeb spotting

Cate Blanchett accepts the award for best actress for Tar at the 2023 Critics' Choice Awards in Los Angeles. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
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Cate Blanchett, pictured at the Critics’ Choice Awards earlier in 2023, is a favourite for best actress. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello

Organisers have said this year’s awards are shaping up to be one of the most well-attended on record, which hopefully means it’s a good year for A-list bingo.

Among the nominees confirmed to attend are – drum roll, please – Ana de Armas, Angela Bassett, Austin Butler, Baz Luhrmann, Bill Nighy, Brendan Fraser, Brendan Gleeson, Carey Mulligan, Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Thompson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Paul Mescal, Sam Mendes, Viola Davis, and loads more.

Plus, there are the awards presenters too, with Ana Taylor-Joy, Ariana DeBose, Brian Cox, Catherine-Zeta-Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Eugene Levy, Geri Halliwell Horner, Jamie Dornan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Julianne Moore, Lashana Lynch, Lily James, Martin Freeman, Rami Malek, Rege Jean Page, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sophie Turner, Taron Egerton and more all set to appear.

There’s also royalty too, thanks to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

And let’s not forget the host, Richard E Grant, who will be assisted by Alison Hammond presenting from the new BAFTA Studio area.

Moving house

The BAFTA film awards have moved to Southbank's Royal Festival Hall for 2023. Pic: BAFTA/Morley von Sternberg
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Pic: BAFTA/Morley von Sternberg

The BAFTAs ceremony has been held at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the last few years, but this year moves to the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall – the same venue as BAFTA’s TV and Games awards.

“The move will see BAFTA programme its most ambitious and accessible night yet, bolstered by a refreshed production and format,” the organisation said when it announced the move.

Don’t expect a roast from ‘fanboy’ Grant

Award-winning actor, presenter, author and BAFTA ceremony host Richard E Grant. Pic: BAFTA/Charlie Clift
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Pic: BAFTA/Charlie Clift

Speaking of Grant, the 65-year-old actor is taking over hosting duties from Australian star Rebel Wilson, who helmed the ceremony in 2022.

“I’m going to be singing like Billy Crystal, dancing like Fred Astaire, funnier than Bob Hope, more beautiful than Joanna Lumley,” he has said. But he’s just kidding: “I have no idea. It’s very hard to see yourself on the outside.”

Wilson made some risque jokes about the Royal Family, Vladimir Putin, the gender pay gap, her flop film Cats and her own weight loss during her time on stage last year. Known for his roles in Withnail & I, Gosford Park, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and Can You Ever Forgive Me? – for which he was BAFTA and Oscar nominated – Grant has said the humour may be a little different.

His own nominations in 2019 saw the actor becoming one of the stars of awards season that year, thanks to his unashamedly excited videos and posts on social media. “[Organisers] must know that I’m going to be a celebratory person rather than somebody who’s there to roast other actors so hopefully, that will work out, I don’t know yet,” he said ahead of the ceremony.

Grant also said he is “amazed” to be in the company of other previous hosts including Stephen Fry and Graham Norton – and that he is “such a fanboy” of fellow thespians that he found it an “incredible privilege” to meet BAFTA nominees.

Some of the show will be live for the first time ever

The BAFTA Awards 2023 take place on 19 February. Pic: BAFTA/Marc Hoberman
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Pic: BAFTA/Marc Hoberman

Unlike other awards shows, the BAFTAs ceremony has always previously been recorded a few hours before it is broadcast on air.

This year is sort of different. While most of the ceremony will air on a delay, the final four categories will be televised live for the first time in BAFTAs history.

Let’s hope the celebs are on their best behaviour, eh?

It’s clearly on Grant’s mind, as he’s said that rather than thinking about who will win those final prizes, he’ll be hoping that there are no fisticuffs on live TV.

As if that would ever happen at an A-list film awards show watched by millions…

The bookies’ faves

Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell reunite in The Banshees of Inisherinin. Pic: 20th Century Studios
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Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin. Pic: 20th Century Studios

All Quiet On The Western Front leads the nominations with 14, but The Banshees of Inisherin is the favourite to win the big prize, for best film, according to bookies including Betfair and William Hill. Banshees star Farrell is the favourite to take home the best actor gong.

In the best actress category, it looks like the prize will go to either Blanchett for her performance in Tar, or Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All At Once. And Everything Everywhere directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – aka The Daniels – are the ones to beat in the directing category.

How to watch

Everything Everywhere All At Once. Pic: A24
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Everything Everywhere All At Once. Pic: A24

The ceremony will be broadcast from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Sky News will be covering live from the red carpet beforehand and throughout the ceremony before the programme itself begins – follow our live blog here from about 2.30pm.

All the best actor nominees are first-timers

Brendan Fraser in The Whale. Pic: A24
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Brendan Fraser in The Whale. Pic: A24

This year has been a big year for acting first-time nominees at all the film awards – the Oscars as well as the BAFTAs – but in the best actor category, every single nominee is up for the first time.

Here’s a reminder of the shortlist:

• Austin Butler – Elvis
• Colin Farrell The Banshees of Inisherin
• Brendan Fraser – The Whale
• Daryl McCormack – Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
• Paul Mescal – Aftersun
• Bill Nighy – Living

Yes, even veteran Nighy has never been nominated before. And it’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for the likes of Mescal, just three years on from the release of his breakthrough series, Normal People; for McCormack, too, who is also in the running for this year’s BAFTA rising star award.

Fraser has received standing ovations at film festivals for his performance as an obese teacher in The Whale, and Butler’s performance has also received praise – but it looks like Farrell is the one to beat.

Read more:
The full list of nominees
How to watch all the big films

Overall, 14 of the 24 shortlisted in performance categories are first-time nominees, with de Armas, Danielle Deadwyler, Hong Chau, Kerry Condon and Ke Huy Qua among the newbies.

Tribute to the Queen

Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her portrayal of the monarch in The Queen, a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family during the days following the death of Princess Diana. Pic: Granada Screen (2005) Ltd/ Pathe Renn Productions/ Sky UK
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Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her performance in The Queen. Pic: Granada Screen (2005) Ltd/ Pathe Renn Productions/Sky UK

Who better to lead the BAFTAs tribute to the Queen than Dame Helen Mirren, who has portrayed the monarch on both the big screen and stage throughout her career.

The veteran actress, 77, won both an Oscar and a BAFTA for her depiction of the royal in 2006’s biographical drama The Queen.

The Queen had a close association with the BAFTAs which spanned 50 years, during which she attended many events and also supported the organisation’s initiatives.

In April 2013, the monarch received an honorary BAFTA from Sir Kenneth Branagh at Windsor Castle, for her “tireless support” for the industry.

William and Kate on the guestlist

Britain's Kate, The Duchess of Cambridge, right, and Prince William arrive at the British Academy Film Awards in London, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
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Pic: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP

In other royal news, William and Kate will be among those attending the ceremony – their first appearance at the show in three years.

The Prince of Wales has been the president of BAFTA since 2010.

The royal couple will watch the ceremony before meeting the winners and rising star award nominees.

Blue ribbon tributes

The Swimmers. (L to R) Nathalie Issa as Yusra Mardini, Manal Issa as Sara Mardini in The Swimmers. Cr. Laura Radford/Netflix © 2022
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The Swimmers (L to R): Nathalie Issa as Yusra Mardini, Manal Issa as Sara Mardini. Pic: Laura Radford/Netflix

Blanchett, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Yusra Mardini, who are goodwill ambassadors for the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are set to be among artists wearing a blue ribbon to show support for refugees and those who have been displaced due to war and other events such as the Turkey-Syria earthquake over the past year.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: “The human themes of displacement, separation and loss are present in many of the films nominated this awards season, including The Swimmers (based on the story of UNHCR goodwill ambassador Yusra Mardini and her sister, Sara Mardini); Bad Axe; and Marcel The Shell.

“Through effective storytelling, these films can help to erode prejudice and misunderstandings, offer new perspectives, and help to build compassion…

“The wearing of the blue #WithRefugees ribbon on the red carpet sends a powerful visual message that everyone has the right to seek safety, whoever, wherever, whenever.”

Little Simz due to perform

Little Simz is the winner of the 2022 Mercury Prize at the Eventim Apollo in London.

London-born rapper Little Simz will perform at the show and has said she is “excited and honoured” to take part.

The star’s 2021 album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert saw her win Mobo, Ivor Novello and Brit awards – plus the coveted Mercury Prize.

The musician also has a starring role in BAFTA-winning series Top Boy.

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Banksy’s piranhas police box put in protective storage ahead of museum display

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Banksy's piranhas police box put in protective storage ahead of museum display

A Banksy artwork, where a glass police box looks like a tank of piranhas, has been moved into protective storage ahead of its display at the London Museum’s new location.

The artwork made headlines last summer when it featured as part of the street artist’s animal-themed collection in the capital, which concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo.

The piranhas piece is now in the care of the London Museum and will be kept in secure storage before it becomes accessible to the public as part of a permanent display at the museum’s Smithfield location, which is opening in 2026.

The artwork is moved from London's Guildhall. Pic: PA
Image:
The artwork is moved from London’s Guildhall. Pic: PA

The police box had stood in Ludgate Hill since the 1990s before it was painted to resemble a fish tank.

The box was temporarily relocated by the City Of London Corporation to Guildhall Yard, where thousands of visitors viewed it from behind safety barriers, after Banksy confirmed he was responsible for the artwork.

It was later moved to Guildhall’s South Ambulatory.

Banksy’s London animals collection was made up of nine works including a rhino seemingly mounting a silver Nissan Micra, two elephant silhouettes with their trunks stretched out towards each other, and three monkeys that appeared as though they were swinging on a bridge.

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Some of the works, which also included a howling wolf on a satellite dish, were removed, covered up or vandalised, after being painted across the city from 5 to 13 August 2024.

Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, said: “Banksy stopped Londoners in their tracks when this piece appeared in the Square Mile – and now, we’re making it available to millions.

“By securing it for London Museum, we’re not only protecting a unique slice of the City’s story, but also adding an artwork that will become one of the museum’s star attractions.”

The artwork after it first emerged. Pic: PA
Image:
The artwork after it first emerged. Pic: PA

Brendan Barns, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s culture, heritage, and libraries committee, said: “Banksy’s Piranhas are already part of City legend – and soon, they’ll be part of London’s story, too.

“Moving this piece into the care of London Museum guarantees that millions of people will be able to enjoy it, alongside an extraordinary collection that celebrates the capital’s creativity and diversity.”

Read more:
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Glyn Davies, head of curatorial at London Museum, added: “With the arrival of Banksy’s Piranhas, our collection now spans from Roman graffiti to our first piece of contemporary street art.

“This work by one of the world’s most iconic artists now belongs to Londoners, and will keep making waves when it goes on show next year in the Museum’s new Smithfield home.”

London Museum’s London Wall site opened in 1976 and closed in December 2022 in preparation for the move to Smithfield.

London Museum Docklands remains open.

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Taylor Swift announces engagement to boyfriend Travis Kelce

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Taylor Swift announces engagement to boyfriend Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift has announced she is getting married to her NFL star boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

The pop star and Kansas City Chiefs tight end shared the news in a joint post on Instagram, with the caption: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

The announcement was liked more than 1.7 million times just over 30 minutes after it was posted.

Pic: Instagram / @taylorswift
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Pic: Instagram / @taylorswift

Swift and Kelce started their relationship in 2023, after the three-time Super Bowl winner said on his podcast New Heights that he tried and failed to meet the singer at her Eras Tour concert in Kansas City.

Rumours grew that the couple were dating after Swift was spotted at a number of Chiefs games. On her seventh time in the stands, she brought her father, Scott Kingsley Swift, along.

Kelce told the Wall Street Journal in November 2023: “There were definitely people she knew that knew who I was, in her corner [who said]: ‘Yo! Did you know he was coming [to the Eras Tour]?’

I had somebody playing Cupid… She told me exactly what was going on and how I got lucky enough to get her to reach out.”

More on Taylor Swift

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From January: Taylor cheers on Travis after Chiefs win

Earlier this month, Swift appeared on Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, and announced her 12th album, titled The Life Of A Showgirl.

Speaking to Kelce and his brother Jason, Swift said it was inspired by the Eras Tour – and also talked about his attempt at meeting her two years ago.

While she said his plan to give her his number on a friendship bracelet was a “wild, romantic gesture,” she joked he “didn’t do any proper logistical planning” and thought he would be allowed backstage.

“Because he knows the elevator lady, he thought he could talk to her about just getting down to my dressing room,” she added. “That’s how it works in 1973.”

Read more about Taylor Swift:
Swift’s final London show was the ‘best’
The impact of the ‘excruciating’ Era’s tour
Her new chart record

The new album, which will be released on 3 October, marks her first release since she took back control over her entire back catalogue from private equity firm Shamrock Capital.

Sky News culture and entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow said after her globe-trotting tour and a swathe of re-releases over recent years, the new album cemented Swift’s reputation “as the hardest-working star in pop”.

Despite rumours he would retire after losing this year’s Super Bowl, Kelce will play for the Kansas City Chiefs again this season.

He told GQ magazine his on-field performances “slipped a little bit” as he started acting, and added: “I’m just saying that my work ethic is such that I have so much pride in how I do things that I never want the product to tail off, and I feel like these past two years haven’t been to my standard.”

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Men should ‘demand’ prostate cancer test, ex-Sky presenter says – as he speaks about his stage-four diagnosis

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Men should 'demand' prostate cancer test, ex-Sky presenter says - as he speaks about his stage-four diagnosis

Former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has called on men to “demand” a prostate cancer test and for the government to actively offer screenings, after his own stage-four diagnosis.

Speaking to Anna Jones on Sky News, Murnaghan said he didn’t have any of the usual prostate cancer symptoms – such as frequent or urgent urination or the occurrence of blood – but “fell very ill on a foreign holiday”.

Upon being treated by the NHS, he was diagnosed with stage-four cancer.

Pointing to how prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are getting more accurate, Murnaghan said they should be offered in the same way as screenings for other cancers are.

“They might cost a little bit more money, but think about the money you save,” he said.

“Treating people who get to my stage, there’s an awful lot of things that are being thrown at me that are costing a lot of money.

“As in so many other cancers, if you are diagnosed much, much earlier, then of course you save money much further down the line.”

Symptoms of prostate cancer

According to the NHS, symptoms will usually occur only once the cancer has grown or spread.

People may notice changes to the way they urinate, such as:

• Finding it difficult to start urinating or straining to urinate

• Having a weak flow of urine

• “Stop start” urinating

• Needing to urinate urgently or often, or both

• Feeling like you still need to urinate when you’ve just finished

• Urinating during the night

Other symptoms can include:

• Erectile dysfunction (being unable to get or keep an erection)

• Blood in your urine or blood in your semen

• Lower back pain and losing weight without trying to (these may be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer)

He said he finished chemotherapy in early July and is currently waiting to see what the effect has been.

It comes as a coalition of more than 60 cancer charities, known as One Cancer Voice, is warning the government must take urgent steps to tackle cancer care in England – including faster diagnosis targets and better prevention policies.

According to analysis carried out by the charities, more than six million new cancer cases could be diagnosed in England between now and 2040.

This would equate to a diagnosis every two minutes, which is up from one every four minutes in the 1970s.

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Cancer cases to rise in England

Murnaghan said there is “no formal screening programme” for prostate cancer and men “actually have to ask for it rather than be offered it as so often happens with other cancers”.

In the absence of a screening programme, he said he would advise men of a certain age to “go and demand it”.

‘A real bolt from the blue’

Speaking of how he put off screening, Murnaghan said: “In my own case, I fell through those gaps.

“I foolishly sat in your [presenter Anna Jones] position for many many years speaking to people about this very issue and talking about men, particularly over the age of 50, men in high risk groups who may have a history of it in their family, to go and ask for this screening…

“And I kept thinking you know ‘once I got over that age I will go and do that’,” he said.

“I kept thinking, ‘okay well you know I’ll get round to it’, life intervenes, jobs, children, holidays…all kinds of things and I never did…

“So what happened was at the end of last year I fell very ill on a foreign holiday and kind of rushed back here to get treated by a wonderful health service and was diagnosed, a real bolt from the blue.”

Read more:
England warned it faces six million new cancer cases by 2040

The former Sky News presenter is planning to join Sir Chris Hoy on a charity bike ride to raise money for cancer charities.

Sir Chris was himself diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in September 2023.

Murnaghan is a familiar face to Sky News viewers as one of its main presenters from 2007 until 2023.

In September 2022, he announced the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II on the channel.

Before joining Sky, he presented ITV’s News At Ten and the BBC Ten O’Clock News – now known as BBC News At Ten – as well as Channel 4 News.

Murnaghan also presented the quiz show Eggheads on BBC Two for 11 years.

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