THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • Ben Haenow Dropped By Syco Is Louisa Next

    Odds aren’t looking for Simon Cowell’s roster at Syco as Ben Haenow gets the chop and Louisa’s future hangs in the balance.

    Plummenting viewing viewers and even poorer record sales Simon Cowell’s winners aren’t doing well.

    Ben Haenow who won the X Factor in 2014 has been dropped from Simon’s Sony imprint Syco following in the footsteps of Steve Brookstein, James Arthur and Leon Jackson.

    William Hill is offering odds of 5/1 that 2015’s winner Louisa Johnson is dropped before the end of 2016.

    “There has been a growing voice suggesting that the X Factor should at the very least be given a rest,” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly. “The fact that the winner from just 12 months ago has already been dropped is only going to add fuel to that fire.”

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Macbeth, Birmingham Rep

    When a story is often told, there is a risk of it getting old, however, with Carrie Cracknell and Lucy Guerin’s Macbeth told the same story but through a completely new lens. It was Stargate meets Resident Evil bent of Macbeth. It had moving chambers and symbols that lit up, just like in the pyramids of the former film, and it had the underground facility feel of Resident Evil, with dim lights, almost appearing like they were trapped in the sewers. ★★★★

    Having watched Macbeth the film starring Michael Fassbender, expectations were always going to be high. With this production, you just didn’t know what you were going to get, which made it so much more exciting, and John Heffernan’s Macbeth was his own, and it was genius.

    The marvel that was the set made the show start before the actors had even walked on, as the tunnel type design, by Lizzie Clachan, let your mind loose imagining what would be happening first. The set is worthy of stealing all awards for a production’s visual masterpiece.

    When the show did start, and through to the end there were no disappointments with the visual of this Macbeth, as every scene was coloured differently with physicality that was otherworldly. Particularly the witches of Macbeth, played by Ana Beatriz Meireles, Jessie Oshodi and Clemmie Sveaas, who stunned the senses with their movement, voice and visual shapes they created as an instrument of telling the story. I was glad to see them throughout the performance.

    John Heffernan owned the show with his careful, precise, yet troubled portrayal of Macbeth, where the transitions of the character were strategic and well thought out. There were no exaggerations or contrivance, and there were plenty of shades of Macbeth oozing out of Heffernan, and I particularly loved the end where his last soliloquy was quiet and understated, giving it more a solid effect, as it drew people in to listen.

    Unfortunately, Anna Maxwell Martin’s Lady Macbeth was not on the same level. The way she spoke was too quick, making it hard to understand what she was saying, and also overly predictable with presenting herself as mad throughout, not showing much depth to the character. The mad scene became expected and obvious.

    Overall, a stunning visual and an outstanding version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth that needs to be seen all over the country and beyond.

    Macbeth plays at The Birmingham Rep until 30th January, 0121 236 4455

     

     

  • Christopher Maloney The Fifth Housemate To Be Evicted

    Over the weekend, Big Brother gave housemates the opportunity to win immunity from tonight’s eviction in a series of tasks in the Forgotten Theatre.

    Gemma, Stephanie and Darren were all successful, meaning that Scotty T, Danniella, Jeremy, Christopher, John and Tiffany had to face eviction. The public has since being voting to save. During tonight’s 9pm Channel 5 programme, Emma Willis announced live to the house that the fifth person to leave would be Christopher.

    Following the announcement, Christopher had 30 seconds to say his goodbyes and left the house to cheers from the crowd; then was greeted by Emma.

    Asked how he felt about leaving the house, Christopher told Emma, “I’m so glad to be out of there to be honest with you.”

    Emma asked him how he thinks Danniella feels about his departure. He told her, “she’s going through an emotional rollercoaster at the moment. She’s getting a little bit upset and I’ve been there for her and stuff. She’s a great girl, good luck to her. She’s doing really well in there.”

    Emma then goes on to ask how it was on the first night when Christopher and Danniella saw each other for the first time following a period of not speaking. He said, “I was sh*tting myself. What did she say to me? We’ll have words, we’ll speak later. But we sorted it; you know it’s been great. I’m glad we sorted it because it wasn’t even anything to do with us, it was other people that were trying to stir sh*t.”

    Quizzed about his relationship with Gemma in the house, Christopher told Emma “I’ve got to say, I didn’t really get her at the beginning and I’d rather please her than upset her. But since we had that conversation the other day, I got her. I got who she was and what kind of a person she is. I found her intimidating a little bit, I found her a bit overpowering. She’s a great housemate and she’s doing really well.”

    Emma asked Christopher who he wants to win and he told her Danniella and Darren.

    Tonight, viewers also saw holistic food & lifestyle guru, Gillian McKeith, pay an unexpected visit to the Big Brother house. In the Diary Room, Big Brother informed her that there are high levels of toxicity in the house; she said “absolutely, could not agree with you more. I’m definitely the best person for the job. Bring it on, somebodies got to sort out the mayhem in this place. Shenanigans no more.”

    Gillian then entered the house and had to pick who she believed to be the four most toxic housemates to take part in her detox clinic. She chose Stephanie, Scotty T, John and Tiffany.

    Celebrity Big Brother returns tomorrow at 9pm on Channel 5. Emma will be back on Friday at 9pm for the next eviction.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Alright Bitches, Above The Stag

    THEATRE REVIEW | Alright Bitches, Above The Stag

    ★★★ Alright Bitches | Let’s go on a trip to Gran Canaria via Above the Stag Theatre in their newly-penned play ‘Alright Bitches.’

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  • HOUSE OF CARDS Teaser Released

    HOUSE OF CARDS Teaser Released

    Frank… Frank… Frank (more…)

  • Zayn Malik Wants To Sing About Sex

    So we now know the reason why Zayn left the most successful band on the planet and that is he has sex on his mind and wants to tell us all about it in song.

    The former One Direction singer took to Twitter on Sunday morning to reveal that his first ever single, ‘Pillow Talk’, will be coming out on Friday. He posted the artwork of in a shirtless black-and-white photo showing all his tasteful tattoos together with a 50-second clip of the video on YouTube. So what does it sound like? Well just imagine the next Nick Jonas single with a slight dancier edge and you will have it, yep Zayn wants to sound very American with his music maybe with his eye on that market but it is pure pop with a decent hook.

    This will mark the first material fans will hear from his upcoming debut solo album, this follows his sudden departure from One Direction a year ago as he wanted to have ‘the normal life of a young guy his age’ a young guy with a few million in the bank and an international recording contract of course! There was a lot of atmosphere in the group and Zayn seemed to become the odd one out and the band have ploughed on successfully as a four piece with a number one album and single all over the globe in the run-up to Christmas.

    Zayn had lead with a short clip of a song called ‘Be Four’, which appeared in a special video for Fader magazine 10 weeks ago. Speaking about what fans can expect from his solo material, Zayn explained in that article: “I don’t feel like people really know what I’m going to give them, musically. And once they hear it, I feel like they will understand me a little bit more, and they’ll understand why I did what I did, and why I left the band, and why I had to write this shit down.

    “Because for five – not even for five years, for ten years, this album has been in my brain, and it’s just been there, sat with me, needing to be out.”

    He went much further telling the Sunday Times this week the real meaning of his music – Sex “Everybody wants to have sex and it’s something people want. It’s part of everybody’s life and you don’t want to sweep it under the carpet. It has to be talked about ”

    The release of ‘Pillow Talk’ will be followed the same night by an appearance on the Graham Norton Show which will be his first TV interview and performance as a solo star. The song will then, of course, have a clear seven days of sales, downloads and streamlining to see if it can usurp Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber from the top of the charts. Of course with his band mates currently flying high in the top 10 with their third single from the massive current album, there will be an instant judge as to whether Zayn has made the right move or not.

    Let the 1D chart battle commence. Have the fans forgiven him for splitting from 1D or will they turn their backs on him and stick with the other four and their new faves Shawn and Bieber. The industry is keen to see whether Zayn is the next Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating or Justin Timberlake that were right to jump ship or whether he is the latest Charlie Simpson from Busted, Brian McFadden from Westlife or Gary Barlow from Take That who all left hugely popular outfits for very indifferent solo careers and poor sales.

    There are many rumours flying about that Harry Styles has officially recorded several solo tracks after collaborating with Snow Patrol so may fancy the soloist route himself too.

    Ironically Zayn’s announcement came on the same day as pictures were released of the first 1D baby. Louis Tomlinson’s son with Briana Jungwirth had a child last week and although as the couple are not married it is uncertain as to who’s name the young lad will take we do know that they have chosen the names Sydney Rain for him. The couple is no longer romantically involved although Louis did attend the birth and instantly tweeted the lyrics to Boney M’s debut hit ‘Daddy Cool’ and added: “I’m pleased to say my baby son was born yesterday; he is healthy and pretty amazing, i am very happy”.

    One Direction famously all auditioned separately for the X-Factor where Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger put the five lads together as a boy band after they failed to get picked as individuals.

    Four of them were keen but it was Liam that was the most reluctant as he still wanted to go forward as a soloist which may indicate that he will be the next on his own into a studio now the band are on an 18-month break. The boys after coming third in the X-Factor then found a great first song in What Makes You Beautiful which lead to 5 hit albums breaking America and everywhere else, movies, awards and endless merchandise before taking over the entire known universe. At THEGAYUK we love anything 1D orientated so we will keep our ears to the ground on all the developments of all 5 lads as they go forward with their many projects.

  • Gillian McKeith is to enter the Big Brother house

    Celebrity Big Brother producers have announced that holistic food & lifestyle guru Gillian McKeith will enter the Big Brother house in tonight’s live show.

    As part of this week’s task, tonight Gillian will be asked by Big Brother to select the four housemates whom she believes to be the ‘most toxic’.

    During her time in the house Gillian will not be treated like a housemate and will not be up for nomination or eviction.

  • FILM REVIEW | Naz & Maalik, a tender love story amidst barriers in their culture

    ★★★★ | Naz & Maalik

    Bedford-Stuyvesant is a tough neighbourhood to grow up and live in, it’s even tougher if you’re young, black, Muslim and gay.

    Naz & Maalik (Kerwin Johnson Jr. and Curtiss Cook Jr.) are two closeted Muslim teenagers who happen to be in love with each other. Their relationship remains a secret, not just to their families they are very close to, but also because of their religion’s condemnation of homosexuality. But Naz & Maalik shows us how both young men go about their daily routine on a Friday afternoon, it’s an afternoon that sees their relationship get tested over a series of events that take place on that day. They sell lottery tickets and saints cards on the streets to passersby to make a bit extra spending money, and then they go to their local mosque for afternoon prayers, where the preacher says a special welcome to any police or FBI who might be in attendance.

    A man on the street tries to sell them a gun that interests Maalik who tries to get the guy to bring the price down. They decide to just walk away and not buy the gun. But unbeknownst to them, the gun seller was an FBI agent (Bradley Brian Custer) who, along with his partner Sarah Mickell (Annie Grier), start following the young men around. But It’s Mickell who takes more of an interest, she corners them separately and questions them on where they were the night before, and while Maalik tells her that he was with Naz, it’s Naz who lies and tells her he was at another friends house as to not give Mickell an idea that him and Maalik are in a relationship. But the young men just want to be left alone, and to complete their day’s mission of getting a chicken to kill for Maalik’s mom’s birthday.

    Inspired by true events, Naz & Maalik poignantly tells what it’s like to be an outsider within your own community, a community that has been under constant surveillance since 9/11. And at its centre is a well-acted film by its two lead stars. Writer and Director Jay Dockendorf interviewed Muslims, including closeted gays, to get a realistic point of view. It’s an impressive first feature from Dockendorf.

    Available on Amazon

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Lady Lust, Birmingham Rep

    Lust be a lady tonight. ★★★★★

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  • TOP LIST | Top Foodie Films

    Here is our favourite eclectic selection of mouth-watering films where the real star is the FOOD. (more…)

  • THEATRE REVIEW: The Snowman, The Birmingham Rep

    The Snowman is a children’s picture book created by Raymond Briggs and was first published in 1978. The Snowman was televised as a 26-minute animated adaptation on the 26th of December 1982, Channel 4, and it conquered many people’s hearts thereon. It is also a production that has graced The Birmingham Repertory Theatre since 1993. ★★★ (more…)