Ralph Fiennes has admitted he has taken the “paycheck role” now and again during his career.

The renowned British actor, who stars in the new religious and political drama Conclave, told Sky News it is human nature when actors “succumb to cynicism” for “monetary gain” – but it doesn’t mean the industry as a whole is in a bad place.

“I do have faith that good films can be made that contribute to our cultural life and the same as the theatre,” he said. “But do we have moments of doubt that it’s full of corruption, opportunism? Have we indeed ourselves participated in the paycheck film and it’s not been that great?

“Yes. I mean, we can have our ideals and then we can, of course, succumb to it, can succumb to cynicism, monetary gain.”

In Conclave, which is based on the Robert Harris novel of the same name, Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, the clergyman responsible for the selection of the next Pope and leader of the Catholic Church.

The film, which also stars Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and Lucian Msamati, is tipped for awards success in the coming months.

Fiennes, who is known for his Oscar-nominated roles in Schindler’s List and The English Patient, as well as his portrayal of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film adaptations, said Conclave doesn’t shy away from the controversies surrounding the Catholic Church.

The film looks deeply at what it means to be human and what happens when you are faced with the path of success, he said.

“I think Robert Harris’s book and the subsequent strong script, they’re very smart about it, it’s not a facile takedown of the Catholic Church. I think it approaches it with curiosity…

“There’s obviously corruption. There are all kinds of transgressions that we know about that have taken place, but it also exists because the Catholic Church also offers, I think, a sort of support to communities. It’s a foundational place to go where the community has a structure, so I think it’s a big thing to sort of open up and discuss.”

Tucci, who plays another cardinal, said the politically charged film reflects on the environment the world finds itself in nowadays.

“Extremist views, whether they’re political or religious, are becoming more and more prominent – look at what’s happening in America,” the star said. “So I think that there will be a lot of people, Catholics or devout religious people, who might be offended by that sort of twist in this.

“Then, of course, there are others who will just enjoy it for what it is – which is, to me, a fascinating examination of a process and of this group of people.”

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Rossellini, who plays Sister Agnes, said she found it intriguing to play the only woman with any authority in a “sea” of men.

The character watches on as more than 100 high-ranking clergymen, each with their own checkered past, aim to elect the next Catholic figurehead while sealed off from the public in the secretive voting process.

“It is her role to remain silent, to not disagree with the cardinals,” Rossellini said. But in her silence, “there is a lot of information and a lot of presence”.

Conclave is in cinemas now

MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has stepped down over allegations he made a series of inappropriate sexual comments on a range of programmes over 17 years.

Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.

In an interview with the BBC, the Newsnight presenter, who was a celebrity contestant on MasterChef in 2011, claimed Wallace used “sexualised language”.

“There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic,” Wark said.

“I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really didn’t expect to happen.”

Sky News has contacted Wallace’s representative for comment.

Wallace avoided questions when asked by Sky News about the claims.

‘Fully cooperating’

Banijay UK said the complaints were made to the BBC this week by “individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with Gregg Wallace on one of our shows”.

The company said the 60-year-old, who has been a co-presenter and judge of the popular cooking show since 2005, was “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process”.

“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate,” the company said.

“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.

“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.

“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”

A BBC spokesman said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.

“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”

The TV star’s lawyers say “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, BBC News reports.

Previous investigation

Last month, Wallace responded to reports that a previous BBC review had found he could continue working at the corporation following reports of an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities.

Wallace said those claims had been investigated “promptly” at the time and said he had not said “anything sexual” while appearing on the game show more than half a decade ago.

In an Instagram post following an article in The Sun newspaper, he wrote: “The story that’s hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.

“And the outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. I’ll need to repeat this again. I didn’t say anything sexual.”

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Alongside MasterChef, Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015.

Wallace has featured on various BBC shows over the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, as well as being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2014.

He was made an MBE for services to food and charity last year.

Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will be transmitted as planned, the PA news agency understands.

The rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been denied bail again by a judge as he awaits trial on sex trafficking charges.

It means the musician and producer, also known as P Diddy, will stay jailed, despite a $50m bid to be released.

Combs was arrested on suspicion of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking in September. He has been imprisoned for the last 10 weeks.

The hip-hop mogul has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence – including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.

He says his sexual relationships were consensual, and denies all wrongdoing.

This was the 55-year-old’s fourth attempt at being released before his trial. His lawyers made two requests in the days after he was charged, followed by an appeal which was denied in October.

US District Judge Arun Subramanian announced the latest bail rejection decision in a written order, after hearing arguments during a two-hour hearing on 22 November in Manhattan federal court.

Combs is currently in custody in Manhattan awaiting a criminal trial scheduled to begin on 5 May next year.

He is also facing several civil cases, with one lawyer saying in October that his firm was representing more than 100 accusers.

Read more:
What is Sean Combs charged with?

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