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  • TV REVIEW | Red Dwarf XII Episode 4: Mechocracy

    So after a very divisive episode last week, we are presented with a very uniting one this week.

    Mechocracy has been hailed as one of the best episodes since series 6 and it’s easy to see why.

    This episode has Rimmer and Lister bickering, Kryten on cheeky form, the Cat in a bit of a pickle and the return of an old “friend” or rather “frennimy”.

    The Dwarfers find themselves in trouble when all the machines go on strike and demand a leader to do their bidding. Soon the boys find themselves locked in a gloves-at-dawn election battle complete with smear campaigns and Rimmer (or rather Chris Barrie) doing a pitch-perfect David Cameron impression.
    A wonderful idea with some very nostalgic moments that fit seamlessly into the episode and reminds us of the fact that this series leads us into the 30th anniversary year.

    Red Dwarf continues on Dave TV tonight at 9PM

  • Who is Anthony Rapp and What is he famous for?

    Anthony Rapp has been catapulted into the headlines in recent months, but who is he and what is he most famous for?

    Anthony Rapp on the right along with his co-star Wilson Cruz.

     

    Anthony Rapp is an American actor, currently starring in the Netflix/CBS sci-fi franchise, Star Trek: Discovery. Most notably his character in Star Trek forms one part of the franchises first openly and heavily featured gay couples, Lt. Paul Stamets and Chief Medical Officer Hugh Culber.

    Rapp is a prolific theatre actor, who has starred in productions dating back to 1981 when he was just a child. It wasn’t until 1986, however, that he got his first big break when he starred, alongside Ed Harris in the Broadway production of Precious Sons. The show was critically acclaimed and it is around this time, Rapp says he met with actor Kevin Spacey. He alleges that the American Beauty actor made “sexual advances” on him. He was just 14 at the time.

    He continued to work in theatre and his theatrical CV includes three stints of Rent (he also starred in the film version), Hedwig And The Angry Inch and Little Shop Of Horrors.  

    His first film role was in 1987 at the age of 15 in Adventures In Babysitting – a successful film made by Touchstone Pictures. His film CV has 28 credits.

    His TV career didn’t really take off until 1990 – when he got a role in the made for TV film, Sky High. Since then he has had many day parts and short recurring roles on TV, but Star Trek: Discovery is the first major TV role for Rapp, where he makes up part of the principle cast.

    By vagueonthehow – Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63033555

    Is Anthony Rapp gay?

    In 2012 Anthony Rapp was described in Metro Weekly as “one of the first openly gay men on Broadway” however, in 1997 Rapp did say that he preferred the identity “queer” rather than gay. He has a long-term boyfriend and the pair are regularly pictured together on social media.

    Why did it take Anthony Rapp so long to make allegations against Kevin Spacey?

    According to the report in Buzzfeed, Rapp had once approached a lawyer to discuss legal action against Spacey, but was told it was not a case worth pursuing. He also stated that because of the accusations levied against Harvey Weinstein that he was “really awake to the moment that we’re living in”.

    He reinforced this by saying, “Part of what allowed the Harvey situation to occur was that there was this witting and unwitting conspiracy of silence,

    “The only way these things can continue is if there’s no attention being paid to it, if it’s getting forgotten.”

    Rapp also spoke about how he felt “dread” whilst watching last year’s Tony Awards. The annual awards plays a central role in jelling the theatrical community. It is televised and boasts a world-wide audience. Last year’s awards was hosted by Spacey.

  • COMMENT | Kevin Spacey just handed bigots an open goal

    In any other moment, news that Kevin Spacey had come out would be met with worldwide acclaim.

    By Siebbi (ipernity.com) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
    He would’ve been welcomed openly, lauded for his bravery and provided a generation of his LGBT fans with another positive gay role model. Instead, Spacey decided to “come out” as a result of being accused of ‘sexual advances’ with a then-14-year-old boy. Criticism within the community was instant and deservedly brutal. But why aren’t the LGBT community not supporting Spacey in this moment? Well, because of history.

    “Gay Men are Paedophiles” has long been the right-wing attack on LGBT people. When Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed in America,  prominent right-wing leader Bryan Fischer said it would increase cases of paedophilia stating, “we’ve talked about the fact that homosexuals commit sex crimes against children at about 10 times the rate of the heterosexual population…there’s this proclivity toward the abuse of children.”

    The fact is that there has been zero scientific evidence that would back up such a claim doesn’t seem to bother him and his audience lapped it up.

    But how could people believe that? Primarily, in the UK and US, this way of thinking has come from mishandling of LGBT groups around pro-paedophile groups namely, PIE (Paedophile Information Exchange) and NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association). In the UK, PIE was formed in 1974 by a gay man who was, at the time, in a relationship with a 15-year-old boy. The group, which advocated for the removal of the age of consent, received support from the National Council for Civil Liberties (now known as Liberty) and thus the connection to paedophilia and homosexuality was born. Similarly, with NAMBLA, they were part of the International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA) which would, in 1993, achieve UN consultation status (the group lost their status in 1994 due to the NAMBLA association and quickly dis-associated with them). Again, this appeared to align paedophiles and homosexuals. Add in decades of reports of sexual misconduct towards boys of men in power such as Priests and you can easily see the picture that was being painted over decades. That is why LGBT groups have battled for years to avoid even the slightest air of support of this sexual misconduct.

    Then why are we mad at Kevin Spacey? What he has essentially done here is used the accusation of ‘sexual advances’ with a minor to announce he’s a gay man. This opens up the old wound that has been deeply damaging to the community. If allegations against Spacey and, let’s face it, any gay male celebrity are proven to be true, (we must state that these are just allegations, Kevin Spacey denies any recollection of misconduct), then it gives anti-LGBT groups ammunition and opens generations of us to violence, accusations and mistrust. By using his statement to link homosexuality and sexual misconduct with minors, Kevin Spacey has swung open the door to the past, ripped open the healing wounds of the 70s, 80s and 90s and exposed LGBT people to false equivalence.

    You may be sat reading this thinking it’s an over-reaction but you’re wrong. I implore you to search Kevin Spacey’s name and the word “faggot” or “homo” on Twitter and see for yourself people coming up with their own conclusions about gay men as a whole. Minority groups don’t have the privilege of common sense dissociation. When a straight Hollywood exec is accused of rape, nobody questions if all straight men are rapists but if a gay man is found to be a paedophile then, for some, ALL gay men are paedophiles.

    Decades of bigotry, ignorance and hatred have been battled and now Spacey has handed them an open goal yet for him, it’ll mean nothing. Unless further allegations occur, Spacey will likely be able to lie low in his mansion, wait for it to blow over whilst he counts his millions and protects himself with hired security. But the real damage will be felt out here in the real world, beyond the bubble of celebrity. It’ll be felt by the gay school teacher looking to make a difference, the gay Scout Leader looking to enrich lives, the gay social worker looking to keep our young people safe. All that it takes is for a bigot to question their motives. Bigots do not need concrete evidence, they just need tenuous links, fragments of a conspiracy to build upon. And now… they’ve got it.

  • COMMENT | Terrorism: Is the media part of the problem?

    “COWARDS ATTACK AGAIN”

    I really don’t understand the mentality of the media. Fighting terrorism includes you. The media makes me sick with the number of times they re-run the same newscast. This is publicity for terrorism. Free publicity no terrorist organisation could afford. Primetime advertising. When will you realise that in your haste to earn a buck you are just a glorified marketing man of the terrorist.

    What a shocking and terrible intrusion into the grief of the families of the dead to see the location and the belongings of their loved ones in disarray bloodied and on the street, on every channel hour after hour. Have some respect.

    When unarmed people are gunned down, blown up or mown down in a country that is at peace in the name of a cause and religion, that is not a holy war. It is cowardice. War requires armed combatants fighting against each other to defend their beliefs. This is not a state of war there is no glory in massacring innocent people, it is a crime against humanity.

    Delusional fanatics are traditionally told one of 2 stories, especially suicide bombers:

    1. They will be protected from the fire and explosion by their God to emerge victorious.
    2. This is a route to glory and everlasting paradise.

    In the absence of surviving suicide bombers and it generally being accepted their pebble dashed remains stay at the scene, the first would appear to be a lie.

    The second poses the question, is this is the route to glory and eternal paradise and it is such a desirable place to be; why have your leaders not gone before you? This lack of willingness to tread the path to the ultimate goal by those who endorse it would suggest it too is a lie.

    There is too much procrastinating among politicians; now is the time for a political “cough and drop test” to see who has the balls to take stronger action.

    If the UK and the USA really do have a special relationship I would like to see shared policy-making to protect our citizens in both countries. United we stand.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Legally Blonde – Sheffield Theatres and National Tour

    ★★★ | Legally Blonde – Sheffield Theatres and National Tour

    With a penchant for pink, an encyclopaedic knowledge of fashion and an excitable outlook on life, sorority sister Elle thinks she is about to get engaged to her sweetheart and live out a life of pink, fashion-filled happiness. But instead of proposing, he dumps her for not being serious enough, and she decides that the best way to win him back is to follow him to Harvard and graduate in law. Despite not being the average Harvard student, she soon surpasses everyone’s expectations and earns a place on her law professor’s internship, where she helps to represent a famous fitness guru who is charged with murder. But can Elle prove her worth in the courtroom, or will she forever be perceived as being Legally Blonde.

    Based on the hit 2001 film, this show has all of the usual musical elements present and correct. From cheerleading sorority sisters to the sleazy law professor; this feel-good musical has a will they/won’t they love story, an underlying moral message about being true to yourself and plenty of fun to be had along the way.

    Lucie Jones (X-Factor) is surprisingly impressive as Elle Woods, performing the lead role with a fine voice and a natural and affable stage presence. Rita Simons (Eastenders) provides strong support as Pauline, Elle’s hairdressing friend, and plays the part with just enough of a tongue-in-cheek feeling to pull off the role; and the ensemble cast give it their all whilst constantly looking like they’re having fun

    Unlike many musicals, Legally Blonde has a stronger second act and doesn’t sag in the middle, meaning that whilst the show doesn’t endear itself to you from the outset, the writing, pace and momentum keep building until you do eventually fall for its charms. At times, the show is not too far away from a sing-through musical; with a barrage of songs which are catchy, if ultimately forgettable, and that progress the narrative nicely. The musical numbers are varied, fun, colourful and broadly energetic with musical highlights including a courtroom witness dilemma and trying to decide Is He Gay or European, an eighties style workout number in Whipped Into Shape and a cheerleader ensemble in What You Want.

    Legally Blonde is a fairly shallow piece of fluff, which has an abundance of bubble-gum pink and giggly sorority sisters, but also has with it an infectious feel; a vibrant energy, good-natured humour, plenty of colour and, most importantly, lots of fun. The production is bold, brash, camp and loud, and whilst this is not life changing theatre (and it never pretends to be), it serves its role as a rather enjoyable couple of hours of escapism.

    Legally Blonde is currently playing at Sheffield Theatres until the 4th November 2017 before continuing on its national tour through to June 2018.

  • House Of Cards production suspended

    Netflix has officially suspended production of the Kevin Spacey drama House Of Cards.

    Apparently, House Of Cards has been suspended “until further notice”

    In a statement, both the streaming service and production company behind the massive hit said they “decided to suspend production… to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew.”

    Yesterday Star Trek Discovery actor, Anthony Rapp made allegations that the actor made “sexual advances” towards him when he a teenager. Reacting to the allegations, Spacey said, that he did not remember the encounter but owed Rapp a sincere apology.

    The allegation dates back to 1986 when Spacey allegedly befriended Rapp whilst the teenager was performing along with Ed Harris in the Broadway show, Precious Sons. Rapp revealed to Buzzfeed that he was 14 at the time Spacey was 26.

    Spacey responded to the allegations on Twitter, saying, “I’m beyond horrified to hear this story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.”

    It was also confirmed that season 6, the series that they are currently working on would be the last, but that decision had come months before the allegations levied at Spacey.

    Elsewhere, the theatre for which Spacey was the artistic director between 2004 and 2015, The Old Vic,  released their own statement saying they were “deeply dismayed” and had set up a confidential email for past employees to make reports of any “inappropriate behaviour”.

     

  • It’s official, Adam Lambert is officially Halloween King

    Singer Adam Lambert has been having a trip down Halloween memory lane.

    It’s fair to say that the former American Idol star, Adam Lambert is the king of Halloween – as proved by his Instagram postings over the last day.

    Wishing his fans a Happy Halloween, the singer uploaded some previous years’ looks to his Instagram page, and well they are totally amazing!

    Happy Halloween!

    A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    #halloween memories w Dad

    A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    #Halloween memories

    A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    Halloween 2013

    A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    Snake eyes

    A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

    Halloween Dreams

    A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

     

    So which is your favourite look?

  • Old Vic Theatre, where Kevin Spacey was Artistic Director releases statement: “deeply dismayed”

    Bosses at Old Vic Theatre are “deeply dismayed” on hearing the allegations against Kevin Spacey.

    The theatre for which Kevin Spacey was the artistic director from 2004 to 2015 has released a statement and is now offering support to anyone who might have been unable to come forward with their own allegations.

    Bosses at the theatre said they were “deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against Kevin Spacey”.

    They went on to affirm their position on “inappropriate behaviour” by saying,

    “Inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable. We aim to foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level, as set out in our joint statement with the theatre industry on 23 October. We want our employees to feel confident, valued and proud to be part of The Old Vic family. Any behaviour we become aware of which contravenes these goals will not be tolerated”.

    Is it not clear whether there have been further allegations against Spacey whilst he was the theatre’s artistic director.

    A confidential email has been set up for anyone they say might not have felt able to raise complaints in the past. They added, “Any experience shared will be treated in the utmost confidence and with sensitivity. We have appointed external advisors to help us deal with any information received”.

    Since the allegations of “sexual advances” was revealed yesterday, Netflix has announced that its flagship programme, House Of Cards for which Spacey is both a star and exec producer, will end after its sixth season, which is currently in production.

  • 13 Reasons Why Actor, Tommy Dorfman reveals he was sexually abused as a teenager

    Tommy Dorfman just revealed he was sexually assaulted as a teenager.

    Taking to Twitter, 13 Reasons Why actor, Tommy Dorfman, 24,  revealed that he was a victim of sexual assault and abuse that happened to him a decade ago, when he was just 14. He said that his abuser was 27 years old.

    The star, who married his husband last year, stood in solidarity with Anthony Rapp who alleged that Kevin Spacey had made “sexual advances” towards him when he was also just 14, whilst he was performing in a Broadway show.

    Dorfman wrote on Twitter, “As a person who was sexually asulted [sic] and abused at 14 by a 27 year old, I applaud @albinokid for his courage. It’s scary to speak out.”

    Tommy Dorfman rose to aim in the Netflix teen-drama, 13 Reasons Why, which has been renewed for a second series. He joins a long list of stars who are now coming forward about their abuse from those in positions of power in the entertainment industry.

  • REVIEW | Hair Replacement Hub, Hair today, gone tomorrow, back again today

    OK let me start off by saying that this is a personal journey I took, and obviously, this may not be for everyone, but for anyone dealing with hair loss, this is a viable option.

    So, what am I talking about? I’ll say it, the dreaded Toupee word. However this is not the sort of thing that looks like an Ikea rug strapped to your head, this is a sophisticated hair replacement system. Now I’ve been dealing with thinning hair for best part of 8 years, and 3 years ago I decided to bite the bullet and shave my head down to grade zero.

    Initially, I tried my damn hardest to rock the shaved head look and on the surface, I tried to portray confidence and not giving a s**t about my rapidly reduced hairline. But secretly I hated it and loathed having to re-shave my head every few days so that my natural 12 hairs, on the top of my head, wouldn’t show through.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BXn-hpkgprj/?hl=en&taken-by=phoenix0982

    I spoke to psychologist Emma Kenny about the psychological effect that hair loss can have on some people. She told me, Losing hair can be unbelievably traumatic and can make the individual feel unattractive and lead to low self-esteem. Hair is a hugely defining part of who we are and losing that aspect of our personality is painful. Being able to maintain and retain our image isn’t about vanity, it is about self-protection and helps to encourage positivity

    Obviously, some people really don’t care about hair loss and kudos to you for rocking that look friends, but to me, it was not a pleasant experience. When I was in my early to mid-20s I’d had every style and colour under the sun, and I loved the process of doing my hair in a morning before I went out. By 26 I noticed that my front hairline was starting to not be in the place it used to be. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, but as the years went on, I was having to spend longer in a morning styling my hair to hide the fact it was thinning. I even tried those hair fibres, but I was constantly worried that I would get caught in the rain and they would all come tumbling out.

    After shaving my head down to a grade zero I resigned myself to the idea that I wasn’t going to get it back, while the idea of a hair replacement system had been on the edge of my mind, I’d heard that these things could be horrendously expensive, with some systems setting one back nearly £2000, so I obviously pushed that idea to the back of my head, secretly hoping that maybe in 10 years, the price wouldn’t be that expensive.

    Every so often I would check some of the companies out, but still, the price made me think twice, but then I spotted a company near where I live that I hadn’t heard of before. I thought, maybe an independent company might be a little less expensive, especially if they didn’t have a bigger business name behind them…and so I met Tom Fish, owner of Hair Replacement Hub based in Telford. After initially emailing him about the price, I was pleasantly surprised to find out he only charged £450, with no hidden charges.

    So I spoke to him and immediately felt at ease, because he told me straight away he actually wore one of the systems himself. He was friendly, yet professional, and arranged a face to face meeting with me for a consultation. I wanted to ask him literally everything because this was still an investment to me. How could he charge so much less than some of the other companies? He was kind enough to come and visit me at home, and straight off I had to remind myself that he was himself wearing one of these systems, because I couldn’t clock it at all. It was only when I practically had my nose up against his head did I finally believe him.

    We spoke for over an hour, and I wanted to ask him about his experiences. He told me he’d started losing his hair at the young age of 21, and had paid nearly £2000 for one of these pieces, and he had felt this was way too expensive, so four years ago he started his own business. Determined that other guys who experience hair loss shouldn’t have to pay through the nose. During my own research, I had seen some of the pictures from other companies based around the UK that did kind of give me pause for thought. They looked a little too fake for my liking, almost like it was plonked on the head, and a little unnatural, and in some cases the colour was way off.

    Tom took his time to show me pictures of many of his clients, these systems all looked absolutely amazing and natural. Tom told me he used human hair in the systems and an “ultra-thin skin” base so that it looks as natural as possible. I kept scrolling through. Getting more and more comfortable in the decision I was making, and then I had a shock. A guy I recognised was among the pictures…I’d had no idea he even had one. I was suitably impressed. I asked why Tom worked alone, and his response was great. He wanted it to feel like a more personal approach, because he knew exactly the nerves one could feel walking into a salon when there are other people about, so he works from home, or will visit clients so that it’s just a one on one experience and having been through it all himself, he knows that for the people who choose to have one of these systems, the privacy he affords helps put people at ease.

    At the time of consultation, I still had a shaved head, so Tom asked that I let it grow out a bit first so he could get the best match and style for me.

    In the meantime, I contacted the guy I recognised, Hari and asked him about his experiences with Tom and Hair Replacement Hub. He told me,

    “Tom has literally changed my life, I’d spend about 90mins every morning styling my hair to hide my baldness and now it takes all of 10 minutes max! He’s given me hair confidence that I have always wanted. I know when I leave the house my hair is secure and unnoticeable which has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders after reading all the myths about hair systems and lastly, Tom inspired me not just from his hair systems but for Tom being Tom, To know that a man who actually wants to help people and has so much passion for his job is out there really restores your faith in humanity”.

    Fast forward 3 weeks, after letting my natural hair grow out a bit so that the system could be blended properly, I decided to visit Tom in Telford where he keeps a small home studio. He plopped me in the chair and turned on some music for me. He showed me the system, and it was an exact match to my hair colour, so we were already off to the promising start. I felt at ease as Tom styled the sides of my hair to help create a template for where the system would sit.

    He also trimmed my facial hair, and washed and practically massaged my head, before shaving the centre-right down so that the bond would adhere securely. Once the system was on I looked like a mad professor, but Tom being the professional that he is, expertly started to cut and shape the system to fit in with what I’d asked for. I wanted it longer than usual on top because I’ll be damned if I go three years without hair to then not whip it back and forth once I have it again.

    But this strange feeling came over me, I’d been so long without a full head of hair, I was kind of overcome with not only gratitude to Tom but a sense of relief that I was me again.  Another great service Tom provides besides the re-bonding and restyling of existing hair, which has to be done usually every 3-6 weeks, he also sells the products that are needed to keep the system in tip-top shape. The systems are fairly durable, and won’t need to be replaced often. Most last around 8 to 12 months depending on lifestyle, with even a very active person getting a solid 8 months out of them. But going back to Tom reduces the cost down, by £100 for the replacement

    I cannot express how friendly, and professional Tom is. He knows what he’s talking about, and he knows how it can feel to lose hair, so he wants every person who goes to him to feel 100% better about themselves, and I’ll tell you what, I certainly do.

    You can find the website for Hair Replacement hub here The Facebook page here and the Instagram page here.

    *Emma Kenny does not endorse this company or particular hair loss solution. She merely provided a psychological analysis of the effect hair loss can have on some people.

  • Netflix cancels House Of Cards – a decision apparently made months before

    Series 6 of House of Cards will be Netflix’s last offering of that show- but apparently, it has nothing to do with the recent allegations against its star, Kevin Spacey.

    Netflix announced yesterday that the sixth season, which is currently in production, will be it’s last, although it had apparently decided this before the “sexual advances” allegations against its star, Kevin Spacey.

    The show, which has been one of the main boosters for Netflix’s epic rise to the top of the on-demand streaming platforms, trended on Twitter with hundreds of thousands of mentions after the reports hit the headlines.

    The sixth season, which stars both Spacey and Robin Wright,  is due to air in 2018.

    A statement from the makers of House Of Cards for Netflix, Media Rights Capital,  said that the team were “deeply troubled” about the allegations made against Spacey, by Star Trek: Discovery actor, Anthony Rapp.

    The statement said,

    “In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time”.

    The decision to end the show happened months earlier, according to the Guardian.

    Many, implored Netflix to continue making House of Cards, without Spacey,  just focusing on Robin Wright’s character, Claire Underwood, other demanded that the programme-makers immediately halt production.

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