John Nettleton: Yes Minister star dies aged 94

Published

11 months ago

July 14, 2023

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Actor John Nettleton, who starred in Yes Minster, has died aged 94, his representatives have confirmed.

He was best known for portraying Sir Arnold Robinson in the political satire sitcom and in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, in the 1980s.

His agent, Scott Marshall Partners, said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor John Nettleton at the age of 94.

“He is survived by his wife Deirdre, three children and five grandchildren.”

A jobbing actor, he also found success in another political role, playing Conservative MP Sir Stephen Baxter in the British sitcom The New Statesman, opposite comedian Rik Mayall.

With numerous television credits in a career spanning seven decades, his TV appearances included police procedurals Z Cars and Walk A Crooked Mile, the Brideshead Revisited miniseries, spoof soap opera Brass, court room drama Rumpole Of The Bailey and long-running sci fi Doctor Who.

His film work included 1966 movie A Man For All Seasons, 1987’s East Of Ipswich, written by Monty Python star Sir Michael Palin, and the 2005 adaptation of Oliver Twist.

Nettleton’s one-off appearances across numerous popular TV shows included detective dramas Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Bill, Tales Of The Unexpected and long-running medical series Casualty.

His final TV credit was in 2008, in comedy drama Kingdom, opposite actor and comedian Stephen Fry.

Away from television and film, he performed in numerous productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic.

Other theatre credits include Harley Granville-Barker’s The Voysey Inheritance and an adaptation of The Wind In The Willows at the National Theatre.

Nettleton was born in Lewisham in London on 5 February 1929. He went on to marry fellow actor Deirdre Doone in 1954, and the couple had three children.

Entertainment

Eamonn Holmes opens GB News breakfast show with brief statement on Ruth Langsford divorce

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2024

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Eamonn Holmes opens GB News breakfast show with brief statement on Ruth Langsford divorce

Eamonn Holmes addressed his split from Ruth Langsford as he opened his Tuesday morning show on GB News.

The pair announced on Saturday that they were divorcing after 14 years of marriage.

Holmes spoke about the news briefly to thank people for their support.

He said: “Just before we move on I would just like to thank people for your support for Ruth and I over the last few days as to the news of our separation.

“Your support for both of us is very much appreciated.”

Earlier in the show, he had referenced having an “emotional” weekend watching the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Man City.

Holmes and Langsford presented ITV daytime chat show This Morning together for 15 years before quitting the show in 2021.

The 64-year-olds tied the knot in 2010, having started dating in 1997.

After leaving This Morning, Holmes joined GB News where he presents the channel’s breakfast show and Langsford is a regular on ITV’s Loose Women.

Together they also presented Channel 5 programmes including How The Other Half Lives and Do The Right Thing With Eamonn And Ruth, and made numerous appearances on Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox.

Holmes is also a former Sky News presenter.

Entertainment

Doug Ingle: Iron Butterfly lead vocalist who sang rock classic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida dies

Published

1 day ago

May 27, 2024

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Doug Ingle: Iron Butterfly lead vocalist who sang rock classic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida dies

Doug Ingle, the last surviving member of the original line-up of heavy rock band Iron Butterfly, has died aged 78.

Ingle was the lead vocalist and organist in the band he co-founded in 1966 – singing their 17-minute long signature hit In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, which featured in a 1995 episode of The Simpsons.

The musician’s son announced his father’s passing on social media but did not give a cause of death.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida featured on Iron Butterfly’s 1968 album of the same name, which spent 81 weeks in the top 10 in the US.

The record was eventually certified quadruple-platinum, meaning it sold at least 400,000 copies.

The title track became legendary and something of a running joke in rock circles, with its length meaning late-night disc jockeys could put it on while going for a cigarette or toilet break.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is a slurred version of “in the Garden of Eden” – as allegedly misheard by the band’s drummer Ron Bushy when Ingle was first presenting the song to the band.

In The Simpsons episode Bart Sells His Soul, the skateboarding mischief-maker sneaks a version of the song into his church’s worship service under the title “In The Garden Of Eden”.

“Hey, Marge, remember when we used to make out to this hymn?” Homer whispers in the episode.

The song was also covered by other bands, including Slayer, The Residents, Boney M and the Incredible Bongo Band, whose version was twice-sampled by the rapper Nas. It also appeared memorably in Michael Mann’s 1986 thriller movie Manhunter.

The track ended up being 17 minutes long partly due to Iron Butterfly’s studio engineer Don Casale asking the band to play through the song so he could set his levels and him hitting record without the band members realising.

The extended practice run ended up being the master take.

Ingle’s son, Doug Ingle Jr, said in a statement confirming his father’s death: “It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness to announce the passing of my father Doug Ingle.

“Dad passed away peacefully this evening in the presence of family. Thank you dad for being a father, teacher and friend. Cherished loving memories I will carry the rest of my days moving forward in this journey of life. Love you Dad.”

Ingle was the last-surviving member of the original line-up of the band, following the deaths of guitarist Erik Brann in 2003, bassist Lee Dornan in 2012 and drummer Ron Bushy in 2021.

Dozens of musicians have been part of the group in its various incarnations over the decades.

That’s not including the four musicians who tour as Iron Butterfly today – none of whom go further back with the band further than 1995.

Entertainment

Bruce Springsteen cancels shows over ‘vocal issues’

Published

1 day ago

May 27, 2024

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Bruce Springsteen cancels shows over 'vocal issues'

Bruce Springsteen has cancelled a series of dates due to “vocal issues”, days after performing in what he described as “hellacious” weather in Sunderland.

The US star, 74, postponed shows in Marseille, Prague and Milan over the next fortnight, with his European tour set to resume in Madrid on 12 June.

In an Instagram post on Sunday, he said he was “recuperating comfortably” and he and the E Street Band “look forward to resuming their hugely successful European stadium tour”.

With “further examination” and “consulting”, the statement also said, doctors determined Bruce “should not perform for the next 10 days”.

Springsteen had played at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on Wednesday, where he admitted the weather was particularly wet.

As he was honoured at London’s Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday, he said: “We just… came out of the plane in Sunderland last night, (it was) hellacious weather.

“Driving rain storm, the wind blowing, blowing, blowing, and standing… in front of me, in the rain, I realised: these are my people.”

Springsteen also treated the audience to his song Thunder Road, after Sir Paul McCartney presented him with his Ivors Academy fellowship.

New dates for his postponed shows will be announced shortly, according to his Instagram account, and anyone seeking a refund “will be able to obtain it at their original point of purchase”.