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Shaun Williamson
Shaun Williamson (born 29 November 1965) is an English actor best known as Barry Evans in ''EastEnders'' and as a satirical version of himself in the BBC/HBO sitcom '' Extras'', 'Barry off EastEnders'. Early life Williamson was born in Park Wood, Maidstone. He attended Holy Family RC Primary School, followed by St Simon Stock Catholic School where he frequently played truant. Following school he became a postman, but developed a drink problem, consuming 12 pints of beer a day by the time he was 18. He later said he joined the Royal Navy at that point "to break that cycle". He completed his training at HMS ''Raleigh''. He intended to become a helicopter pilot but was rejected when it was discovered he was colour blind. He subsequently worked in various jobs such as a Bluecoat for Pontins, as a rep for Club 18-30 and one season at Camp America. Aged 26 he was working for Safeway when he decided to enlist at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Career Television Williamso ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest Town status in the United Kingdom, town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it with Rochester, Kent, Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river carried much of the town's trade as the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, known as the Garden of England. There is evidence of settlement in the area dating back before the Stone Age. The town, part of the borough of Maidstone, had an approximate population of 100,000 in 2019. Since World War II, the town's economy has shifted from heavy industry towards light industry and services. Toponymy Anglo-Saxon period of English history, Saxon charters dating back to ca. 975 show the first recorded instances of the town's name, ''de maeides stana'' and ''maegdan stane'', possibly meaning ''stone of the maidens'' or ''stone of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
This Is Your Life (British TV Series)
''This Is Your Life'' is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same title. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987. Michael Aspel then took up the role of host until the show ended in 2003. It briefly returned in 2007 as a one-off special presented by Trevor McDonald. In the show the host surprises a special guest, before taking them through their life with the assistance of the 'big red book'. Both celebrities and non-celebrities have been featured on the show. The show was originally broadcast live, and over its run it has alternated between being broadcast on the BBC and on ITV. The surprise element was a very important part of the show; if the guest heard about the project beforehand, it would be cancelled. History The British version of the show was launched in 1955 on the BBC and was first presented by Ralph Edwards to the first "victim", Eamonn Andrews, who was th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saturday Night Fever (musical)
''Saturday Night Fever'' is a 1998 jukebox musical based on the 1977 film '' Saturday Night Fever''. Its book is by Nan Knighton (in collaboration with Arlene Phillips, Paul Nicholas, and Robert Stigwood), and the songs mostly consist of songs that were featured in the film's soundtrack, which in turn were mostly written and performed by the Bee Gees. The musical focuses on Tony Manero, an Italian-American Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local discotheque. There he luxuriates in the admiration of the crowd and a growing relationship with Stephanie Mangano, and can temporarily forget the realities of his life, including a dead-end job in a paint store and his gang of deadbeat friends. In an effort to make it a family-friendly show, many of the film's darker elements, including references to racial conflict, drug use, and violence, were eliminated from the plot. Productions Original West End production (1998) Directed and choreographed by Phillips, the £4 million s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West End Theatre
West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes, "West End" in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London. Famous screen actors, British and international alike, frequently appear on the London stage. There are a total of 39 theatres in the West End, with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened in May 1663, the oldest theatre in London. The Savoy Theatre – built as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan – was entirely lit by electricity in 1881. Opening in October 2022, @sohoplace is the first new West End theatre in 50 years. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) announced ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spencer Jones (comedian)
Spencer Jones is an English actor, comedian and writer. He has performed regularly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and in 2017 and 2019 was nominated for the main prize in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He was co-creator and co-star of the BAFTA-nominated CBBC comedy ''Big Babies'', and has a regular role in the sitcom ''Upstart Crow''. Career Jones co-created with Jon Riche and co-starred in ''Big Babies'' for CBBC in 2010. The series was nominated for the BAFTA award for best children's comedy that year. In 2011 he appeared in the play ''Wedding Band'' at the Edinburgh Fringe. Subsequently, he has performed in solo shows. He first performed his own show at the Fringe in Bob Slayer's Bookshop in 2014, performing as his character, The Herbert. In 2015 he came joint second (with Jenny Collier) in the New Act of the Year final. He won the Comedian's Choice award (also known as The Barry Award) for both "best show" and "best performer" the same year for his Edinburgh show, ''The H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Celebrity Big Brother (British Series 20)
''Celebrity Big Brother 20'' was the twentieth series of the British reality television series ''Celebrity Big Brother'', hosted by Emma Willis and narrated by Marcus Bentley. The series launched on 1 August 2017, and concluded on 25 August 2017 after 25 days, making this the shortest series since ''Celebrity Big Brother 12'' in 2013. The series was on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom and 3e in Ireland with the spin-off show ''Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side'' presented by Rylan Clark-Neal. It was the thirteenth celebrity series and twentieth series of ''Big Brother'' overall to air on Channel 5. During the launch show on 1 August 2017, Willis confirmed that the winner would receive £50,000 for a charity of their choice. This is the first celebrity series to include a prize fund since '' Celebrity Big Brother 3'' in 2005. On 25 August 2017, Sarah Harding was announced as the winner of the series having received 35.33% of the final vote, with Amelia Lily as the runn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plebs (TV Series)
''Plebs'' is a British comedy series broadcast on ITV2. It was first broadcast in March 2013, and is produced by Tom Basden, Caroline Leddy, Sam Leifer and Teddy Leifer. It stars Tom Rosenthal, Ryan Sampson, Joel Fry (Series 1–3), and Jonathan Pointing (from Series 4), who play young residents of ancient Rome ( plebs were ordinary non- patrician citizens of Rome). The format has been compared to ''The Inbetweeners'', ''Up Pompeii'' and ''Chelmsford 123''. The first series, comprising six episodes, was broadcast between 25 March and 22 April 2013. Three subsequent series of eight episodes each were broadcast between 22 September and 3 November 2014, between 4 April and 16 May 2016, and between 9 April and 21 May 2018. A fifth series was commissioned with Rosenthal, Sampson and Pointing all returning. The fifth series started on 30 September 2019, ending on 11 November 2019. On 30 April 2020 it was confirmed the series would end with a feature-length special. Due to the pandem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stephen Merchant
Stephen James Merchant (born 24 November 1974) is an English comedian, actor, director, presenter and writer. Alongside Ricky Gervais, Merchant was the co-writer and co-director of the British TV comedy series ''The Office'' (2001–2003), and co-writer, co-director, and co-star of both '' Extras'' (2005–2007) and '' Life's Too Short'' (2011–2013). With Gervais and Karl Pilkington, he hosted ''The Ricky Gervais Show'' in its radio, podcast, audiobook, and television formats; the radio version won a bronze Sony Award. He also provided the voice of the robotic "Intelligence Dampening Sphere" Wheatley in the 2011 video game ''Portal 2''. Merchant co-developed the Sky1 travel series '' An Idiot Abroad'' (2010–2012) and co-created '' Lip Sync Battle'' (2015–present). Merchant has performed as a stand-up comedian, which led to him writing and starring in the HBO series ''Hello Ladies'' (2013–2014), based on his stand-up material. He starred in his first play, Richard Bean' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais ( ; born 25 June 1961) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and director. He co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the British television sitcoms ''The Office'' (2001–2003), '' Extras'' (2005–2007), and '' An Idiot Abroad'' (2010–2012). He also created, wrote and starred in ''Derek'' (2012–2014), and '' After Life'' (2019–2022). He has won seven BAFTA Awards, five British Comedy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the Rose d'Or twice (2006 and 2019). Gervais was listed in ''The Observer'' as one of the 50 funniest performers in British comedy in 2003. In 2007, he was placed at No. 11 on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups, and at No. 3 in their 2010 list. In 2010, he was included in the ''Time 100'' list of World's Most Influential People. Gervais initially worked in the music industry. He attempted a career as a pop star in the 1980s as the singer of the new-wave act Seona Dancing, and managed the then-unknown band Sued ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Waiting For God (TV Series)
''Waiting for God'' is a British sitcom that ran on BBC1 from 28 June 1990 to 27 October 1994 starring Graham Crowden as Tom and Stephanie Cole as Diana, two spirited residents of a retirement home who spend their time running rings around the home's oppressive management and their own families. It was written by Michael Aitkens. The show became very successful, running for five series. The programme is still repeated in the UK on various channels, most notably Gold and Drama. Series one to five have run (and in some cases continue to run) on PBS in the United States, and in New Zealand the show has aired various times since 2002. In 2004, it came 37th in the poll for Britain's Best Sitcom. Plot Set at the fictional Bayview Retirement Home near Bournemouth, the show was based on Diana Trent and her relationship with Tom Ballard, a former accountant with semi-feigned dementia. He has been exiled there for the convenience of his family. Diana is a cynical, retired photojournalist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
London's Burning (TV Series)
''London's Burning'' is a British television drama programme, produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network. It was based on the 1986 TV movie of the same name, and focused on the lives of members of the London Fire Brigade, principally those of the Blue Watch, at the fictional Blackwall fire station. It began with the movie (pilot), broadcast on 7 December 1986. This was then followed by a total of 14 series, which ran from 20 February 1988 to 25 August 2002. Movie Jack Rosenthal's original two-hour TV movie, directed by Les Blair, was broadcast on ITV on 7 December 1986. The Broadwater Farm riot, in north London, was one inspiration for the screenplay. Unlike the final years of the ''London's Burning'' TV series, the movie (along with the following early TV series), was a black comedy that also examined serious issues, primarily that while female and Black, Asian and minority ethnic firefighters had to deal with prejudice on the job, the prejudices in their ow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inspector Morse (TV Series)
''Inspector Morse'' is a British crime drama, detective drama television series based on a series of novels by Colin Dexter. It starred John Thaw as Inspector Morse, Detective Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Inspector Lewis, Sergeant Lewis. The series comprises 33 two-hour episodes (100 minutes excluding commercials) produced between 1987 and 2000. Dexter made uncredited cameo appearances in all but three of the episodes. In 2018, the series was named the greatest British crime drama of all time by ''Radio Times''’ readers. In 2000, the series was ranked 42 on the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute. It was followed by the spin-off ''Lewis (TV series), Lewis'' and prequel ''Endeavour (TV series), Endeavour''. Overview The series was made by Zenith Productions for ITV Central, Central Independent Television, and first shown in the UK on the ITV (TV network), ITV network of regional broadcasters. Between 1995 and 1996 the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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