Exclusive: Barry Sloane is currently appearing nightly on the London stage as Yosser Hughes, a proud, skilled laborer who has become mentally unstable due to lack of a job, in James Graham’s powerful adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s seminal 1980s TV drama Boys From the Blackstuff. During the day, he’s on set playing The Prodigal for the second season of Netflix cosmic horror series The Sandman.
So who is The Prodigal? Millions of keen Sandman followers know the answer. But for the rest, here we go: In Neil Gaiman’s expansive The Sandman graphic novel universe, upon which the Netflix series is based, The Prodigal is one of the “Endless Family” of spooky siblings.
The Sandman is Tom Sturridge aka Dream. The others are Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium.
Tom Sturridge as Dream in The Sandman. Image: Liam Daniel/Netflix.
As we’ve ascertained from the first season,...
So who is The Prodigal? Millions of keen Sandman followers know the answer. But for the rest, here we go: In Neil Gaiman’s expansive The Sandman graphic novel universe, upon which the Netflix series is based, The Prodigal is one of the “Endless Family” of spooky siblings.
The Sandman is Tom Sturridge aka Dream. The others are Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium.
Tom Sturridge as Dream in The Sandman. Image: Liam Daniel/Netflix.
As we’ve ascertained from the first season,...
- 7/22/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Théoden, King of Rohan, is dead. British film and television actor, Bernard Hill, best known for portraying the ruler of Rohan in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at the age of 79. No details have been provided, but it has been confirmed that he was in the company of his fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel. No official cause of death has been provided.
Bernard Hill had several memorable roles both on film and television, but younger audiences will probably best remember him for his role in The Lord of the Rings, but also for portraying Captain Edward J. Smith in James Cameron’s Titanic, which also earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
Bernard Hill was born in Manchester in 1944. He attended the Xaverian College, and then Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama at the same time as Richard Griffiths, another...
Bernard Hill had several memorable roles both on film and television, but younger audiences will probably best remember him for his role in The Lord of the Rings, but also for portraying Captain Edward J. Smith in James Cameron’s Titanic, which also earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
Bernard Hill was born in Manchester in 1944. He attended the Xaverian College, and then Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama at the same time as Richard Griffiths, another...
- 5/6/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
Among the evergreen cult classics in Hollywood, James Cameron’s blockbuster film Titanic is a top contender on that elite list. Using the tragic true-life disaster of the ill-fated ship as backdrop, Cameron wove a sweeping fictional romance that is still tugging at people’s heartstrings more than 25 years after its release.
A still from Titanic (image credit: 20th Century Fox)
Apart from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, the film also starred late British actor Bernard Hill who portrayed Captain Edward John Smith. The star appeared in an interview a few months before the re-release of Titanic in 3D and admitted that he did not expect the film to become such a massive hit. Hill also confessed that he was unable to understand the craze of fans who had seen the film innumerable times.
Bernard Hill Wasn’t Able To Comprehend The Hype Behind James Cameron’s Blockbuster
Among the many memorable films in Hollywood,...
A still from Titanic (image credit: 20th Century Fox)
Apart from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, the film also starred late British actor Bernard Hill who portrayed Captain Edward John Smith. The star appeared in an interview a few months before the re-release of Titanic in 3D and admitted that he did not expect the film to become such a massive hit. Hill also confessed that he was unable to understand the craze of fans who had seen the film innumerable times.
Bernard Hill Wasn’t Able To Comprehend The Hype Behind James Cameron’s Blockbuster
Among the many memorable films in Hollywood,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
“Arise, arise, riders of Rohan! Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered! A sword-day…a red day…ere the sun rises!”
So begins The Battle of Pelennor Fields, a centerpiece in Peter Jackson’s Best Picture-winning adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”. It’s a visually triumphant scene, with thousands of fighters on horseback and the horns of Howard Shore’s score lifting the sequence off the screen, but it’s Bernard Hill and his character King Theóden’s rousing speech to his troops that pulls the audience in and makes us a part of the action. That was Bernard Hill’s gift. He made things real. He offered a level of authenticity and commitment that transcends the screen and made movie-going a holy experience. Sadly, it was confirmed by his agent, Lou Coulson, that Hill died early this morning...
So begins The Battle of Pelennor Fields, a centerpiece in Peter Jackson’s Best Picture-winning adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”. It’s a visually triumphant scene, with thousands of fighters on horseback and the horns of Howard Shore’s score lifting the sequence off the screen, but it’s Bernard Hill and his character King Theóden’s rousing speech to his troops that pulls the audience in and makes us a part of the action. That was Bernard Hill’s gift. He made things real. He offered a level of authenticity and commitment that transcends the screen and made movie-going a holy experience. Sadly, it was confirmed by his agent, Lou Coulson, that Hill died early this morning...
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Bernard Hill, the English actor known for his parts in films like Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, and more, has died. He was 79 years old.
Hill’s passing was confirmed on Sunday by his agent Lou Coulson (per the BBC).
Born in Manchester, England on December 17th, 1944, Hill was the son of a miner and grew up in working class conditions. After graduating from the Manchester School of Theatre in 1970, he began his acting career with a string of television and film performances. In 1976, he had a small role in the show I, Claudius, and in 1979, he debuted as Yosser Hughes in the television play The Black Stuff, which then became the acclaimed series, Boys from the Blackstuff.
As Hughes, Hill gave a voice to the working class of England during the economic and social difficulties of the Thatcher era. An out-of-work tarmac layer struggling to hold on to a sense of dignity,...
Hill’s passing was confirmed on Sunday by his agent Lou Coulson (per the BBC).
Born in Manchester, England on December 17th, 1944, Hill was the son of a miner and grew up in working class conditions. After graduating from the Manchester School of Theatre in 1970, he began his acting career with a string of television and film performances. In 1976, he had a small role in the show I, Claudius, and in 1979, he debuted as Yosser Hughes in the television play The Black Stuff, which then became the acclaimed series, Boys from the Blackstuff.
As Hughes, Hill gave a voice to the working class of England during the economic and social difficulties of the Thatcher era. An out-of-work tarmac layer struggling to hold on to a sense of dignity,...
- 5/5/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Film News
Bernard Hill, the actor whose memorable tones and rugged visage brought to life a variety of fantastic performances, has died. He was 79.
Born in Manchester in 1944, Hill quickly gravitated towards stage work before taking the chance to make the jump to film and TV. Yet his early career was marked by few standout roles, mostly relegated to brief appearances on the likes of I, Claudius and the BBC's Tom Stoppard adaptation Professional Foul.
Still, he found one of the first parts that would define his career in Alan Bleasdale's The Black Stuff, a one-off TV play in 1980 that the writer would expand into classic comedy drama Boys From The Blackstuff. Hill scored a BAFTA nomination for his performance as the tragic, yet dimly self-aware Yosser.
Other TV work included Dennis Potter adaptation Lipstick On Your Collar, a huge swathe of Shakespeare adaptations including Wolf Hall, disability drama Skallagrigg,...
Born in Manchester in 1944, Hill quickly gravitated towards stage work before taking the chance to make the jump to film and TV. Yet his early career was marked by few standout roles, mostly relegated to brief appearances on the likes of I, Claudius and the BBC's Tom Stoppard adaptation Professional Foul.
Still, he found one of the first parts that would define his career in Alan Bleasdale's The Black Stuff, a one-off TV play in 1980 that the writer would expand into classic comedy drama Boys From The Blackstuff. Hill scored a BAFTA nomination for his performance as the tragic, yet dimly self-aware Yosser.
Other TV work included Dennis Potter adaptation Lipstick On Your Collar, a huge swathe of Shakespeare adaptations including Wolf Hall, disability drama Skallagrigg,...
- 5/5/2024
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
This list applies to UK streaming services
When I find myself in times of trouble/Streaming channels come to me/Speaking words of wisdom/ Watch TV/Watch TV-eeee/Watch TV-eeee/There will be an answer: watch TV (repeat to fade).
Go on, do it, it’s good advice – we all need a bit of escapism now and then. All of the below are British dramas currently available on UK streaming services, some free-to-air, some subscriber-only, some short, some long, some old favourites and some new arrivals, all in pleasing alphabetical order.
We’ll keep this list updated as new series are added and taken away. If you’ve children to entertain, then here’s our list of the top kids’ shows currently available on UK streaming services, and if you’re in need of a laugh, here’s our collection of the best British comedy TV shows. Sorted.
A Discovery of Witches...
When I find myself in times of trouble/Streaming channels come to me/Speaking words of wisdom/ Watch TV/Watch TV-eeee/Watch TV-eeee/There will be an answer: watch TV (repeat to fade).
Go on, do it, it’s good advice – we all need a bit of escapism now and then. All of the below are British dramas currently available on UK streaming services, some free-to-air, some subscriber-only, some short, some long, some old favourites and some new arrivals, all in pleasing alphabetical order.
We’ll keep this list updated as new series are added and taken away. If you’ve children to entertain, then here’s our list of the top kids’ shows currently available on UK streaming services, and if you’re in need of a laugh, here’s our collection of the best British comedy TV shows. Sorted.
A Discovery of Witches...
- 2/23/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Simon Brew Jun 20, 2017
Tim Burton recalls the moment when the Batman films turned into a franchise...
It’s – ready to feel nice and young? – the 25th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns this week, a movie that opened big, and then saw its box office peter out. It was still a hit of course, but its takings were notably down on 1989’s Batman film, and Tim Burton would depart before what would become Batman Forever went too far down the line.
In a new piece at The Hollywood Reporter to mark Batman Returns’ birthday, some of the key players have got together to look back on the film. In the piece, for instance, Michael Keaton reveals that he stripped away around half of Batman’s lines from the movie, reckoning that the sheer imagery of the suit would do some of the heavy lifting for him. Furthermore, Michelle Pfeiffer...
Tim Burton recalls the moment when the Batman films turned into a franchise...
It’s – ready to feel nice and young? – the 25th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns this week, a movie that opened big, and then saw its box office peter out. It was still a hit of course, but its takings were notably down on 1989’s Batman film, and Tim Burton would depart before what would become Batman Forever went too far down the line.
In a new piece at The Hollywood Reporter to mark Batman Returns’ birthday, some of the key players have got together to look back on the film. In the piece, for instance, Michael Keaton reveals that he stripped away around half of Batman’s lines from the movie, reckoning that the sheer imagery of the suit would do some of the heavy lifting for him. Furthermore, Michelle Pfeiffer...
- 6/20/2017
- Den of Geek
The creator of E4's hit sitcom Phoneshop Phil Bowker has spoken to Digital Spy about the secret of his show's success, his contempt for Twitter critics and why he feels sorry for Ben Elton.
Have you got any free phones off the back of Phoneshop?
"I haven't actually. I should complain. I'm like everybody else. I just want a simple phone. I've got an iPhone, but I don't even know if I want one with text on. Do you know what I mean?
"People can get hold of you all the time with texts, emails and photos. I'm fed up with it. I just want a phone to be a phone. I don't need to be able to play f**king Angry Birds on the way into work.
"You get the train in to London on a morning and it's full of grown men playing video games. Mate, read a book!
Have you got any free phones off the back of Phoneshop?
"I haven't actually. I should complain. I'm like everybody else. I just want a simple phone. I've got an iPhone, but I don't even know if I want one with text on. Do you know what I mean?
"People can get hold of you all the time with texts, emails and photos. I'm fed up with it. I just want a phone to be a phone. I don't need to be able to play f**king Angry Birds on the way into work.
"You get the train in to London on a morning and it's full of grown men playing video games. Mate, read a book!
- 7/25/2013
- Digital Spy
We have to pay our TV license fees or go to jail. And I happen to think that the license fee is a tiresome bother to pay, especially as I rarely watch BBC 1 or BBC 2 (I do watch BBC 3 and BBC 4 and listen to Radio 2 and Radio 4 so I suppose I can’t really bitch about it). For our hard earned money, we deserve some mighty good entertainment and thankfully, the BBC has delivered the goods over the years.
The series that I discuss in this article were mainly created before the boom in satellite television channels and our options were limited to watching hours of Pages From Ceefax (Rip) and the test card girl or watching what was going on Auntie Beeb in the evenings. Classic drama was produced in this fashion and the BBC earned their worth.
I’m not sure if the BBC still produce quality drama.
The series that I discuss in this article were mainly created before the boom in satellite television channels and our options were limited to watching hours of Pages From Ceefax (Rip) and the test card girl or watching what was going on Auntie Beeb in the evenings. Classic drama was produced in this fashion and the BBC earned their worth.
I’m not sure if the BBC still produce quality drama.
- 7/15/2013
- by Clare Simpson
- Obsessed with Film
As producer of Alan Bleasdale's The Black Stuff, I was immensely impressed by Jim Goddard's direction. Although it was transmitted as a BBC Play for Today, it was in fact a feature-length film. I recall Jim working in west London with the team of actors led by Bernard Hill playing Yosser Hughes, walking back and forth in a rehearsal room, to measure out a long tracking shot which was to be filmed on the roads of the north-east. With the actors in mind, Jim took full advantage by combining old-style television rehearsal with the economic need to keep the film camera turning.
This valuable preparation gave the team of actors the freedom of spirit which subsequently Michael Wearing and Philip Saville inherited when producing and directing, with newly introduced lightweight cameras, Bleasdale's compelling series The Boys from the Blackstuff.
DramaDrama
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies.
This valuable preparation gave the team of actors the freedom of spirit which subsequently Michael Wearing and Philip Saville inherited when producing and directing, with newly introduced lightweight cameras, Bleasdale's compelling series The Boys from the Blackstuff.
DramaDrama
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies.
- 7/4/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Prolific television and film director whose output included the internationally successful 1983 drama Kennedy
Jim Goddard, who has died aged 77, was among the most prolific and distinguished television drama directors of his generation. Bleak and violent atmosphere and vivid characterisation were the hallmarks of his more than 200 distinctive works over the course of four decades. His Kennedy (1983) was shown simultaneously on Us network television, in the UK and Germany, and achieved the highest recorded viewing figures to that date for a televised drama.
Goddard's work included the 13-part drama Fox (1980), Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983) and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982), the early Channel 4 version of the RSC production. The power and visual immediacy of his directorial style owed as much to arthouse film as it did to his abilities as a painter. Indeed, he never forsook painting, which he studied at the Slade in London, or his love of set design,...
Jim Goddard, who has died aged 77, was among the most prolific and distinguished television drama directors of his generation. Bleak and violent atmosphere and vivid characterisation were the hallmarks of his more than 200 distinctive works over the course of four decades. His Kennedy (1983) was shown simultaneously on Us network television, in the UK and Germany, and achieved the highest recorded viewing figures to that date for a televised drama.
Goddard's work included the 13-part drama Fox (1980), Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983) and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982), the early Channel 4 version of the RSC production. The power and visual immediacy of his directorial style owed as much to arthouse film as it did to his abilities as a painter. Indeed, he never forsook painting, which he studied at the Slade in London, or his love of set design,...
- 6/27/2013
- by Reg Gadney
- The Guardian - Film News
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