Connect with us

Published

on

Miranda Hart has shared she’s become a “young bride at 51” after marrying her “best friend”.

The actress and comedian announced the news on The One Show while promoting her new book, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You.

Hart also said she had had “a tough few years” after being diagnosed with Lyme disease, telling Alex Jones and Alex Scott “I’ve mainly been in bed,” but added it “hasn’t been all doom and gloom… someone put a ring on it”.

“I got married at 51, and it’s just so lovely,” she told the BBC programme.

Hart, who starred in her self-titled sitcom from 2009 to 2015, added she met her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic and while battling “chronic illness when I couldn’t get out of bed or get out of the house”.

“I’d written Gary for on-screen Miranda and it wasn’t until I was 49 that I met my person, and I met him and it’s a little undercurrent in the book.”

She joked that Tom Ellis, who played Gary, was not her husband.

“I’m not going to reveal how we met as that is a little bit of a twist,” she said. “He’s my best friend, we have the best fun and I’m just thrilled to be a young bride at 51.”

After appearing on The One Show, Hart posted on social media to thank supporters for their well-wishes, which she found “really very touching”.

The actress said: “I’ve got my best friend to do life with and it’s wonderful and I’m also utterly thrilled to be back in telly land and having a book out so thanks so much for all your support.”

In the video, she then high-fives her husband – who is just out of frame – and jokes that fans got an “exclusive – his hand”.

Read more:
Kent bear to have pioneering brain surgery
What Gaza has lost in a year of war
Tadpoles take top prize in greatest wildlife photos

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Symptoms usually present as a circular or oval rash and flu-like symptoms, according to the NHS.

Some people who are diagnosed with Lyme disease continue to have symptoms including tiredness, aches and loss of energy for years.

Hart’s new book, published by Penguin Books, will be released on 10 October.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Sally Rooney tells court new books may not be published in UK due to Palestine Action ban

Published

on

By

Sally Rooney tells court new books may not be published in UK due to Palestine Action ban

Irish author Sally Rooney has told the High Court she may not be able to publish new books in the UK, and may have to withdraw previous titles from sale, because of the ban on Palestine Action.

The group’s co-founder Huda Ammori is taking legal action against the Home Office over the decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws in July.

The ban made being a member of, or supporting, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Rooney was in August warned that she risked committing a terrorist offence after saying she would donate earnings from her books, and the TV adaptations of Normal People and Conversations With Friends, to support Palestine Action.

In a witness statement made public on Thursday, Rooney said the producer of the BBC dramas said they had been advised that they could not send money to her agent if the funds could be used to fund the group, as that would be a crime under anti-terror laws.

Rooney added that it was “unclear” whether any UK company can pay her, stating that if she is prevented from profiting from her work, her income would be “enormously restricted”.

More on Palestine Action

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Why was Palestine Action proscribed?

She added: “If I were to write another screenplay, television show or similar creative work, I would not be able to have it produced or distributed by a company based in England and Wales without, expressly or tacitly, accepting that I would not be paid.”

Rooney described how the publication of her books is based on royalties on sales, and that non-payment of royalties would mean she can terminate her contract.

“If, therefore, Faber and Faber Limited are legally prohibited from paying me the royalties I am owed, my existing works may have to be withdrawn from sale and would therefore no longer be available to readers in the UK,” Rooney added, saying this would be “a truly extreme incursion by the state into the realm of artistic expression”.

Rooney added that it is “almost certain” that she cannot publish or produce new work in the UK while the Palestine Action ban remains in force.

She said: “If Palestine Action is still proscribed by the time my next book is due for publication, then that book will be available to readers all over the world and in dozens of languages, but will be unavailable to readers in the United Kingdom simply because no one will be permitted to publish it, unless I am content to give it away for free.”

Sir James Eadie KC, barrister for the Home Office, said in a written submission that the ban’s aim is “stifling organisations concerned in terrorism and for members of the public to face criminal liability for joining or supporting such organisations”.

“That serves to ensure proscribed organisations are deprived of the oxygen of publicity as well as both vocal and financial support,” he continued.

The High Court hearing is due to conclude on 2 December, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Creator of AI actress Tilly Norwood addresses claims she’ll ‘steal jobs’ from real stars

Published

on

By

Creator of AI actress Tilly Norwood addresses claims she'll 'steal jobs' from real stars

The creator of an AI actress has told Sky News that synthetic performers will get more actors working, rather than steal jobs.

AI production studio Particle6 has ruffled feathers in Hollywood by unveiling Tilly Norwood – a 20-something actress created by artificial intelligence.

Speaking to Sky News’ Dominic Waghorn, actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden – who founded Particle6 – insisted Norwood is “not meant to take jobs in the traditional film”.

AI entertainment is “developing as a completely separate genre”, she said, adding: “And that’s where Tilly is meant to stay. She’s meant to stay in the AI genre and be a star in that.”

“I don’t want her to take real actors’ jobs,” she continued. “I wanted to have her own creative path.”

Norwood has been labelled “really, really scary” by Mary Poppins Returns star Emily Blunt, while the US actors’ union SAG-AFTRA said in a statement: “Tilly Norwood is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers – without permission or compensation.”

Responding to the criticism, Ms Van der Velden argued that Hollywood is “going to have to learn how to work with [AI] going forward”.

“We can’t stop it,” she said. “If we put our head in the sand, then our jobs will be gone. However, instead, if we learn how to use these tools, if we use it going forward, especially in Britain, we can be that creative powerhouse.”

Read more:
How AI music is fooling most of us
Tom Hollander ‘not scared’ of AI star

Ms Van der Velden said her studio has already helped a number of projects that were struggling due to budget constraints.

“Some productions get stuck, not able to find the last 30% of their budget, and so they don’t go into production,” she said. “Now with AI, by replacing some of the shots […] we can actually get that production going and working. So as a result, we get more jobs, we get more actors working, so that’s all really, really positive news.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Prince William tells John Cleese his kids have just discovered Fawlty Towers

Published

on

By

Prince William tells John Cleese his kids have just discovered Fawlty Towers

Prince William wasn’t close to being born when Fawlty Towers first aired – but now even his children have fallen in love with it.

The Prince of Wales, 43, revealed his kids’ love of the classic British sitcom – which first aired in 1975 – during a conversation with star John Cleese.

The pair shared a few words at the Tusk Conservation Awards at London’s Savoy Hotel on Wednesday night, which honoured those safeguarding the habitats and animals of Africa.

William told Cleese they were having “a lot of family laughs” watching the show, and his children “love it”.

The Prince of Wales and John Cleese were among those attending the Tusk Conservation Awards. Pics: PA
Image:
The Prince of Wales and John Cleese were among those attending the Tusk Conservation Awards. Pics: PA

The future king said he has also been “reminiscing” on the series and enjoying it “all over again”.

“It’s brilliant,” he added.

After their chat, Cleese said of Fawlty Towers: “I always explain it’s about ‘who’s scared of who’ and kids pick that up immediately. And mine, all those years ago, grew up watching it.”

Read more from Sky News:
Reeves facing more questions over budget
Trump condemns ‘monstrous’ shooting in DC

The veteran comic actor – an ambassador of the trust – was joined by his wife Jennifer Wade, and fellow ambassador Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones guitarist.

Other guests were Zara Tindall and husband Mike, and William’s cousins Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer.

Winners included Laban Mwangi, a head ranger working in Kenya; Rahima Njaidi, who has established a Tanzanian community-led forest conservation network; and Kumara Wakjira, who was honoured for his work in Ethiopia.

William said they “should inspire us to drive change”.

He added: “If we all want to continue to enjoy and benefit from the wonders of the natural world we must not be the generation that stands by as wildlife and biodiversity disappears.

“What we choose to do will have an impact on future generations, and tonight we must choose to do more.”

Continue Reading

Trending