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Dame Jilly Cooper’s death ‘impacted’ show, says Rivals star

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The Disney+ show is based on the best-selling novel written by the legendary author who lived in the Cotswolds for over 40 years.

Dame Jilly died unexpectedly last October at the age of 88 years old, after suffering injuries from a fall.

The show is returning with series two, and Alex Hassell, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black, has spoken to PA about the impact of the author’s death during filming.

READ MORE: Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson share ‘unbelievable chemistry’ on Bake Off

“Her death in the midst of this whole show was really impactful,” he said.

“We were always thinking of her anyway because we’re completely in her world, her imagination and her taste.

“She’d come on set and be so encouraging, and she gave notes on all of the scripts in season two, which is so important.

“Her spirit really imbues every frame and every moment. She’s really missed, and we all hope this can be part of a testament to her skill and her nature and her outlook.”

READ MORE: New Clarkson, Hammond, and May show slammed as ‘shameless cash grab’

The second series of Rivals will return to Disney+ on Friday, May 15, and sees the return of Mr Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black.

Aidan Turner is journalist Declan O’Hara, while David Tennant stars again as the ruthless Tony Baddingham.

Nafessa Williams will play the ambitious Cameron Cook, while Bella Maclean returns as the earnest Taggie O’Hara.

The new series also welcomes guest star Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon, Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children.

Rupert Everett will play her husband, while Malise Gordon is Campbell-Black’s former showjumping coach and mentor.





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Westgate Oxford announces new store will open this spring

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Eye health specialist David Clulow will be opening a brand-new store at the retail location in the city centre this spring.

The new space will showcase the brand’s modernised retail format, with state-of-the-art optical testing rooms and improved accessibility.

A wide product range, including the latest designer and smart eyewear and lens technology, will also be stocked at the shop.

READ MORE: New Lego store opens this week at Oxford Westgate shopping centre

Clare Martin, Acting Centre Director at Westgate Oxford, said: “David Clulow’s new store will offer an unrivalled eye care experience for guests, alongside a stunning assortment of frames and sunglasses from notable designer brands.

“We look forward to sharing more details about the brand’s opening in due course.”

David Clulow will be celebrating its new opening with special events as well as luxury goodies on offer, with more details to be released soon.

The impending introduction of the store is the latest in a long line of recent Westgate comings and goings in recent weeks.

READ MORE: Two major UK restaurant chains set to close with 3,800 jobs lost

Shoe chain Russell & Bromley has departed its ground-floor store, leaving the unit empty, after the brand fell into administration.

Similarly, Claire’s has also closed at the Westgate after the beauty and accessory brand also collapsed into administration.

This week, the new Lego store will open on the ground floor with trading set to start on Thursday (May 7).

Oliver Bonas also recently moved from its home on the ground floor to a much larger unit on the middle floor, near the Queen Street and Bonn Square entrance.





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New Clarkson, Hammond, May show slammed as ‘shameless cash grab’

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The trio started the Prime Video show around a decade ago with producer Andy Wilman.

Having been a presenting team for 22 years, thanks to their work on BBC’s Top Gear too, the three stars called time on their adventures in 2024 with one last trip.

Venturing over to Zimbabwe and Botswana, the final Grand Tour, entitled One For The Road, marked the end of the trio professionally.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson reveals he’s on TikTok and this is what he watches

Despite the show coming to a close, Prime Video announced earlier this year that there would be four new retrospective specials.

These would feature new commentary from James May and Richard Hammond and show clips from the show.

The first of these, The Not Very Grand Tour, was released on the streaming platform back in April of last year.

Last week, the next in the series was released, this time reuniting the trio with the reintroduction of Mr Clarkson.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson invites girl, 4, to farm after yobs destroy her egg stall

However, fans were largely left unimpressed with the offering and took to social media to raise concerns.

One viewer described it as a “shameless cash grab” and added: “This brings nothing new, it’s three old men talking about how fun they had where they were young.

“It’s quite depressing. Yeah, they are legends, but this here, I’m sorry, it’s insulting.

“If it was unreleased footage, maybe, but no. It’s like a professional YouTube Shorts video.”

Another dubbed it as the “worst car show ever”, and explained: “Never thought I’d be here… yet here we are, and it is awful.





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Celebrity Traitors star reveals her private school passions

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The comedian was a pupil at Downe House School in Berkshire, a prominent independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11–18.

She is one of the stars who has been selected for the new series of Celebrity Traitors, which was won last time by comedian Alan Carr.

READ MORE: Miranda Hart teases Celebrity Traitors dare

The school is located on a 110-acre campus in Cold Ash, near Thatcham, about 10 miles south of the Oxfordshire border.

The comedian was a boarder at the school from 1984 to 1991 and remembers her school days being “full of lacrosse, laughter and custard”.

In an interview with Country & Town House magazine she said: “Lacrosse was my primary passion.

“I absolutely loved it. All sport really, but lacrosse suited me really well. I was a sprinter so I could whip down the field cradling the ball higher than most.

“I didn’t admit I wanted to act until quite late in my life so just played one line parts here and there in plays – mainly playing men in various smelly suits.

“Oh, and another passion was playing piano duets – I was good at the piano but it was playing duets I loved.”

When it came to acting at school, the comedian recalled a spell as director for the school play in sixth form.

She added: “I was going to add to the above that I do remember being really passionate about directing the play I did in sixth form.

“It was Hay Fever by Noel Coward and I was really proud of how many laughs it got, and I will never forget what Mr Palmer, the French Teacher, said.

“He was always rather an intimidating figure, and I never had him as a teacher as he only taught the top divisions (somewhere you wouldn’t find me), but he took the time to write me a note and tell me that it was one of the best plays he had seen on at the school in all his years there. It was so encouraging because we all need champions to support our unique skills.”

Miranda was also a big fan of the school dinner desserts, adding: “I refer to the puddings.

“The apple crumbles with the six-foot high yummy crumble topping and the thick custard.”

Her only real regret about her school days was not doing a third A-level as it affected where she could go to university.

“That said, I never regret following my passions, and I also gave it up to focus on lacrosse (at the time I thought I might be a PE teacher),” she added.

Pupils at Downe House School (Image: Contributed)

The comedian has been back to the school “a couple of times”, one of them coinciding with the peak of her fame when the TV series Miranda was being shown.

She told the magazine: “I was very flattered, but not expecting girls to be hanging out of their classrooms and screaming at me as I walked past. My moment of feeling like a pop star!”

Founded in 1907, Downe House School provides a ‘rigorous’ academic curriculum (GCSE/A-Level) alongside extensive extracurricular opportunities, including elite sports, arts, and a strong boarding community with dedicated day houses.

Miranda Hart will join celebrities including singer/songwriter James Blunt, Love Island host Maya Jama and actor Richard E Grant in the second series of the celebrity version of the hit BBC show, The Traitors.

The comedian shared a fan’s request on her Instagram story which asked her to “gallop throughout the castle”, referencing a move she’d often do on her BBC sitcom Miranda.

In 2013, the comedian and actress visited Oxford to host a dog show in South Park as part of a Red Nose Day challenge.

A transmission date for the second series of Celebrity Traitors has not yet been revealed.

Celebrity Traitors series 2 full line-up

These celebrities will be taking part in the new series of Celebrity Traitors:

Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster

Bella Ramsey – Actor

James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster

James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter

Jerry Hall – Model and Actress

Joanne McNally – Comedian

Joe Lycett – Comedian

Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor

King Kenny – Content Creator

Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter

Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur

Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter

Miranda Hart – Actor and Author

Myha’la – Actor

Professor Hannah Fry– Broadcaster and Mathematician

Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author

Rob Beckett – Comedian

Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian

Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter

Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor

Sharon Rooney – Actor





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