Oxford News
Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston coming to Oxford University
The Manchester-born actor brought the iconic Time Lord back to television screens in 2005 with a hugely popular revival series.
Starring alongside Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler, the duo became two of the UK’s most famous faces, battling aliens and monsters throughout time and space each week.
Another iconic role of Mr Eccleston’s was in Our Friends in the North, with the actor also starring in films such as roles in 24 Hour Party People, 28 Days Later and Thor: The Dark World.
READ MORE: Colin Baker claims Billie Piper ‘can’t be the next Doctor Who’
This weekend, the legendary star will be coming to Oxford University’s Sheldonian Theatre to talk to fellow actor Paterson Joseph, known for Peep Show and Wonka.
The pair will chat as part of the Oxford Literary Festival, which will see Mr Eccleston discuss his book, I Love the Bones of You: My Father and the Making of Me.
“One of Britain’s best-loved actors and star of Our Friends in the North and Dr Who, Christopher Eccleston, talks about his life and acting career in conversation with the Chancellor of Brookes University and fellow actor Paterson Joseph,” reads the event preview.
“Eccleston was born into a working-class family in Salford and strongly identifies with his roots.
“He has often spoken about a feeling that his northern accent and background held him back. Eccleston’s early roles included a teenage convict in the 1991 drama Let Him Have It and as DCI Bilborough in the crime drama Cracker.
READ MORE: Matt Smith wants Doctor Who return after shock regeneration
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“His big breakthrough came in the role of left-wing activist Nicky Hutchinson in the award-winning BBC drama Our Friends in the North.
“His film work includes the title role in Jude, based on the Thomas Hardy novel, and roles in 24 Hour Party People and 28 Days Later.
“In 2005, he became the ninth incarnation of Dr Who in the opening series of the BBC revival of the science fiction programme, where he spoke with his natural northern accent.
“The role won him the Most Popular Actor award at that year’s National Television Awards.
READ MORE: Billie Piper becomes new Doctor Who after Ncuti Gatwa regeneration
“Eccleston’s awards also include an International Emmy for Accused and Best Actor in the Broadcast Press Guild Awards for Our Friends in the North.
“He is the author of I Love the Bones of You: My Father and the Making of Me, a portrait of the relationship with his father, Ronnie, that he says shaped his entire career.
“Paterson Joseph has starred in recent television series, including Vigil, Noughts and Crosses and Boat Story and in the 2023 film Wonka.
“His recent debut historical novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, was based on the true story of the man born on a slave ship who went on to be a writer, leading abolitionist and one of the first people of African descent to vote in a British parliamentary election.”
The talk takes place from 4pm until 5pm on Sunday (March 29) at the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street with tickets priced between £10 and £25.
14 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot, Oxfordshire, travelled to Southampton’s Utilita Bowl to watch two ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches.
They saw New Zealand take on Sri Lanka and England face Ireland.
Rob Hayden, head of PE at Aureus School, said: “The first match was really close, with Sri Lanka hitting a four to win the match in the final over.
“There was a rain delay which delayed the England match by one hour and 30 minutes, but this allowed the group to watch the cricket match under the floodlights, which was a really good experience.
“Having England play well and win, created a special atmosphere at the ground.”
The trip is part of a yearly tradition at Aureus School, which has strong ties to the women’s game through a visiting coach, Queentor Abel of the Kenya Women’s Team.
Mr Hayden said: “We have currently got a coach who comes into school who is a current cricket player for the Kenya Women’s Team, Queentor Abel.
“This showed the students they have a great coach to help them improve.
“We took the group as a trip to inspire the students to play cricket outside of school.”
Aureus School is part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust.
GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles appeared on the 24th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2024.
GK and Rev Coles “struck up the best of friendships” while on the ITV reality show, one they have continued outside the jungle.
ITV axes GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles series
The pair had begun work on a new ITV series themed around life and death.
Speaking to Attitude Magazine, GK said: “We are exploring walks of life from two different generations — one from a gay godly man and a gay ungodly woman.
“There are some depressing bits in there, but one thing about me is that I will make a joke about it.”
A pilot episode for the series was filmed last year.
However, the new series has now been axed by ITV, according to The Sun.
An insider said: “There were high hopes for the project because producers were excited by the dynamic between GK and Richard, not least because it seemed to amuse viewers.
“They enjoyed the idea of the wise older man interacting with the streetwise millennial as they explored some pretty deep subjects.
“But after provisional filming took place, it was decided not to proceed with it as a series — much to the disappointment of everyone involved.”
GK had previously said it had been a “dream” working with Rev Coles on the series.
On Instagram, she said: “Working with you has opened my eyes to worlds I’d never heard of or dreamt of before.
“Some of them have been nightmares, but some of them have been dreams — and today has been a dream.”
ITV has been contacted for comment.
Freeview channel axed 2 years after relaunch
Meanwhile, News UK’s live streaming opinion channel, Talk, has been axed as part of the latest Freeview update.
Talk originally broadcast as TalkTV on channel 237 from April 2022, with 24-hour news and opinion programming.
Its most high-profile programme was Piers Morgan Uncensored, which later moved to YouTube, though Channel 5 continues to broadcast highlight segments.
TalkTV was eventually relaunched as Talk, a visual radio stream, on Freeview channel 280 in April 2024.
The change came after the channel struggled to attract viewers and ran up losses for News UK, according to RXTV.
News UK still operates similar visual streams for TalkSport and Times Radio.
Were you looking forward to GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles’ new ITV series? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
The 41-year-old pop icon was due to perform at Werchter Boutique festival in Belgium last night, Saturday, June 28, when the event was unexpectedly cut short.
The festival’s committee decided to end the day’s performances early, at 9pm just after a set from Pitbull, due to a weather forecast of ‘severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest’ and a government warning.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s pub staff ‘walk out after many problems’
Perry wrote on Instagram: “Sadly my set at Werchter Boutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.
“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice.
“I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”
The performance was due to mark the popstar’s return to the one-day event held in Belgium’s Festivalpark for the first time in more than 15 years.
READ MORE: Sara Cox in new venture as UK charity collapses with £430k owed
Perry added: “I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”
It comes just a week before the star’s next scheduled festival appearance, at the brand-new Blenheim Festival in Wodostock, Oxfordshire, where she is due to perform on July 4.
The current forecast for that date is sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s.
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