He’s one of the finest character actors of his generation but Paul Giamatti says he’s “terrified” at the prospect of having to be himself as praise is heaped upon him this awards season.
So far his new film The Holdovers has won him a Golden Globe, seen him nominated for a Best Actor at the BAFTAs and he’s widely tipped to be a frontrunner in the same category at the Oscars.
Speaking to Sky News, the US actor admitted: “I’m terrified, I dread having to speak in public and having to be myself… but because I really like this movie it’s been easier to do.”
The movie sees him reunited with filmmaker Alexander Payne whom he last worked with 20 years ago on the film Sideways.
Giamatti’s portrait of middle-aged disappointment back then was as funny as it was painful to watch as his character embarked on a road trip through California wine country.
Image: Giamatti plays a boarding school professor in The Holdovers. Pic: Seacia Pavao/Focus Features
Two decades on, the pair seem to be repeating that cinematic success. The film’s premise centring around a professor at a prestigious boarding school in the early ’70s who reluctantly has to take care of those children whose parents don’t want them home for Christmas.
“The timing,” Giamatti explains, “it feels like the right movie at the right time, you know, this kind of nice movie about empathy and connection in times that feel pretty fraught and divisive.”
“I went to a school like that and I was raised around environments like that, I was stunned at how authentic it felt.”
Advertisement
Remarkably Giamatti has only ever been nominated for one Oscar, back in 2006 for Cinderella Man. While there’s speculation that this film could be the role that finally secures him an Academy Award, he is self-deprecating about whether he’s been overlooked in the past.
“I’m amazed that I was ever nominated for anything,” he insists.
Image: Giamatti with co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph who plays Mary Lamb. Pic: Focus Features/Seacia Pavao
For Giamatti, whose family were all teachers, there is a meta aspect to the role in acting out the career he almost embarked on.
“It was very much something I could have done. I’m glad I didn’t, I don’t think I would have been any good at it. So, you know, I had a moment when I dodged that bullet.”
While Giamatti says working with filmmaker Payne after all these years “felt like coming home” audiences hoping the pair will produce a third movie anytime soon could have a wait on their hands.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:01
Da’Vine Joy Randolph on awards buzz
“I hope it’s not another 20 years,” he says, “although it’ll be interesting. We’ll both be very old so it could make for an interesting movie.”
Whether this turns out to be Giamatti’s year or not in terms of awards, with its humour and pathos cinematically speaking The Holdovers has all the makings of a modern classic.
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
More on Bbc
Related Topics:
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Image: Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and sexual assault – which reportedly took place on the set of EastEnders.
The alleged incident happened on the set of the BBC soap at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, according to The Sun newspaper.
Hertfordshire Police confirmed a man in his 50s was arrested after the report in Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood, on 7 May.
The man is accused of sexual assault and common assault in relation to two victims, the force said.
The suspect is on bail while inquiries continue, police added.
EastEnders said in a statement: “While we would never comment on individuals, EastEnders has on-site security and well-established procedures in place to safeguard the safety and welfare of everyone who works on the show.”
BST Hyde Park festival has cancelled its final night after Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra pulled out of the headline slot.
Lynne, 77, was due to play alongside his band on Sunday but has been forced to withdraw from the event following a “systemic infection”.
The London show was supposed to be a “final goodbye” from ELO following their farewell US tour.
Organisers said on Saturday that Lynne was “heartbroken” at being unable to perform.
A statement read: “Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.
“The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today – and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.”
They later confirmed the whole of Sunday’s event would be cancelled.
“Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details,” another statement said.
Stevie Wonder played the festival on Saturday – now its final event of 2025.
US rock band The Doobie Brothers and blues rock singer Steve Winwood were among those who had been due to perform to before ELO’s headline performance.
The cancellation comes after the band, best known for their hit Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance due to take place at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena on Thursday.
ELO was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan.
They first split in 1986, before frontman Lynne resurrected the band in 2014.