Someone is pretending to be the IT guy at Hogwarts and it's hilarious
Meet the Tumblr account bringing WiFi to Harry Potter
Let's be honest: magic is great and everything, but if Hogwarts didn't have WiFi, we probably wouldn't be so interested. A Tumblr account called The Setup Wizard took this premise and ran with it. The blog is the fictionalised account of an American muggle named Jonathan Dart working as Hogwarts' first IT guy. The somewhat grumpy character is constantly solving problems and handling the struggles of being a Muggle in a magic world. "It took them until 2016, but both students and staff alike have finally caved and demanded that their cell phones work on school grounds, and with that request they had to find a “muggle” (a term I’m quickly learning to detest) to install wifi and maintain any technology that functions on school grounds." The posts make light of just about everything Harry Potter-related. The blogger tries to convince the Headmaster that moving staircases don't make much sense; he struggles with trying to find a good cup of coffee in Hogsmeade; and he even gives Slytherin House access to Spotify so that they can "stream all the emo music their little hearts could ever desire." Poor Jonathan sounds like he has an uphill battle ahead of him – he really should have talked to Arthur Weasley before accepting the job. "Apparently it’s pretty well established that muggle tech and magic don’t seem to work too well together," he writes. "This very quickly drew disappointment from the Headmaster, who admitted with an air of defeat that he had neglected to write down or even attempted to remember his login password because he assumed he could use Alohomora to unlock his laptop. "It took some pressuring from me for him to not set the password as Alohomora, simply because half the school is already using it as theirs." Wonder if Dumbledore's started following JK Rowling on Twitter yet?
Finally we know the identity of some of Eddie Redmayne's Fantastic Beasts
Pottermore revealed the names of two of the film's creatures causing Newt Scamander a spot of bother
While the most recent trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them got us super excited for the upcoming Harry Potter spinoff, it did leave us with a lot of questions, like: "What kind of fantastic beast is that?" As always, Pottermore has some answers for us. Harry Potter author JK Rowling's official website published a report yesterday, revealing two of the creatures shown in the most recent trailer. The first to be revealed was the Niffler, a small beast that originally appeared in the Goblet of Fire. The vole-like animal is attracted to shiny objects and, in the books, gets some special attention from Ron Weasley during Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures course. Say what you want, but we think this little guy looks absolutely adorable. The second one is brand new – a flying creature seen in the latest trailer called the Swooping Evil. Not much is known about this beast: it starts out in a small cocoon-like shape and then expands out when it needs to fly, and that's about all the details we have so far. While the creature's origin and function in the film remain a secret, its name probably gives a rather large hint as to its intentions... Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in cinemas on 18th November 2016
10 Harry Potter characters who never made it into the films
While cramming 4,223 pages into 20 hours of screen time is decidedly difficult, some of these characters from the Harry Potter books were sorely missed
1 Don't let them be forgotten! This is easily the biggest oversight the films made. The annoying, prankster ghost Peeves was always just around the corner in the books, ready with a snarky comment or a practical joke to play on students. Sure, he would have been a nuisance to the characters in the film, but it all would have been worth it just to watch him forge a full-on assault against Argus Filch. Especially as Rik Mayall was originally cast to play him and even filmed scenes which were later cut from the final edit. Image via Wikia Yes, Charlie Weasley did technically make it into the back of a family photo in the third film (second from left), but he was simply absent from the rest of the films. The outdoorsy member of the charming wizard family was often pegged as the most charismatic by fans. We would have even been fine with a small cameo when the dragons are introduced in the Goblet of Fire, but nope, nothing. (Image via Wikia) This drunken, hilarious house elf was an integral part of the plot in the Goblet of Fire. She served Barty Crouch Jr, and ended up being the one blamed for casting the dark mark at the Quidditch World Cup after her master did so under an invisibility cloak. It was her treatment at the hands of Barty Crouch Sr that led Hermione to form the aptly named Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare (S.P.E.W.). If none of this sounds familiar, that's because Winky was ultimately cut from the films altogether. (Image via Pottermore) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a book that should be renamed Lord Voldemort: A History. While much of the plot of the sixth book focuses on Tom Riddle's life and times, the movie spends a shockingly short amount of time covering it. One glaring omission from the history of Tom Riddle in the movies is the story of his mother, Merope Gaunt. She was abused by her father, made a Muggle boy fall in love with her, had his baby (Tom Riddle) and died shortly afterwards. Seriously, we could have used a lot less Lavender Brown and a lot more of this tragic back story. The over-the-top Ludo Bagman was the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports for the Ministry of Magic, and served as a commentator during the Quidditch World Cup in the fourth book. Being a bit obsessed with gambling, he swindled Fred and George Weasley in a bet, prompting them to stalk him for the rest of the book. While that's something that we would've loved to see on the big screen, he was eventually replaced by the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge as the announcer at the games. While he may not have had a very large presence in the books, the adult son of the late Remus and Nymphadora Lupin was decidedly absent from the final film's epilogue. We wanted to see a grown-up Teddy at least exchange words with Harry, his godfather, while they stood on Platform 9 3/4 at the end of the film. Cornelius Fudge meets with the British Prime Minister at the beginning of the sixth book to inform him that he is being replaced as Minister of Magic and that the wizarding world is at war. It's a compelling moment of politics in the books that was replaced in the movie by…Harry chatting up a worker at a café. Really guys? For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides Ok, maybe the filmmakers knew what they were doing in this situation. The ghost teacher of the History of Magic was commonly described as the most boring individual at Hogwarts, forcing many students to fall asleep. In the books, he is the teacher who describes the story of the Chamber of Secrets. The filmmakers probably made the right decision by cutting him altogether and giving the explanation of the story to Professor McGonagall. (Image via Pottermore) In a particularly intriguing scene from the fifth book, Hagrid and Madame Maxime go to the last existing colony of giants to appeal to their leader, Karkus, and persuade him to join Dumbledore's Army, not the Death Eaters. While Karkus seems interested, it doesn't matter much as he is killed by another giant that evening. It's a pretty interesting moment in the series' longest book that was one of the many things to be cut for the fifth film. Augusta Longbottom is a fierce, stern and frankly badass witch throughout the books. She is the one who tells Neville's friends about the fate of his parents, and she is constantly pushing her grandson to be a better wizard. While she gets a few nods in the films (especially in the scene with the Boggart that turns into Snape), she is never featured, which is a huge let down based on how fun her character was in the books.
Adrian Lester and Sophie Okonedo star in the new BBC political thriller
Undercover, BBC's latest Sunday night drama, follows the story of Nick Johnson and Maya Cobbina. The two are happily married with three grown children, while Maya fights for justice in a broken system as a lawyer, and Nick trains for a triathlon. But soon a series of lies and secrets begin bubbling to the surface, jeopardising the life that the two have created with one another. Find out more about the couple, their family, and everyone else in between below. Nick Johnson — Adrian Lester On the surface, Nick Johnson is a typical man. He's a devoted husband and a loving father, training for a triathlon in his spare time. He would do anything to protect his family. But when his dark past emerges from the shadows and threatens the life he has made for himself, Nick is forced to make a difficult decision. Where you've seen him before: Playing con artist Michael "Mickey Bricks" Stone in the BBC series Hustle between 2004-2012, and as Henry Burton in the American film Primary Colours. Lester's also enjoyed a distinguished stage career, playing Othello at the National Theatre in 2013 and most recently starring in the revival of Red Velvet in the West End. Maya Cobbina — Sophie Okonedo Maya Cobbina is dedicated to her cause. She's a lawyer, defending an innocent man on death row, and working to change the system from the inside out. But when the chance to be Director of Public Prosecutions comes up, she can't resist the chance to get justice for the death of an old friend. Where you've seen her before: On the silver screen, playing alongside Will Smith in the film After Earth, and as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda. On TV, she received a Golden Globe nomination for miniseries Tsunami: the Aftermath and Bafta nods for both Criminal Justice and Mrs. Mandela. Rudy Jones — Dennis Haysbert Wrongly convicted and sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit, Rudy Jones sees his last shreds of hope in his defence attorney, Maya Cobbina. When it seems that he is nearing his end, he offers up a piece of advice that will stay with Maya for the rest of her life. Can she possibly save a man so doomed by the system? Where you've seen him before: As President David Palmer in 24, as Jonas Blane in The Unit, as Donald Breedan in the mob film Heat and as baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy Michael Antwi — Sope Dirisu Michael Antwi was a prominent, up-and-coming political activist calling for an end to racism in the police and justice system. But at the height of his career, he died in police custody. 20 years after the fact, can his close friend Maya uncover the truth of what happened to him? Where you've seen him before: While he is an actor on the rise, you may have caught Sope Dirisu as Fred on the AMC drama Humans, or as a young doctor in the BBC mini-series adaptation of The Casual Vacancy Paul Brightman — Derek Riddell A long-serving undercover policeman, Brightman is a man on a mission, responsible for bringing Nick back into the fold once Maya is offered the chance to become DPP. He has secrets he wants to keep hidden – but just how complicit was he in the death of Michael Antwi? Where you've seen him before: Derek Riddell has made his way around multiple British shows, but is best known for Channel 4 comedy drama No Angels. He's also played Richard Cawood in series one of Happy Valley and has guest starred in Doctor Who, Ripper Street and Ugly Betty. Abigail Strickland — Leanne Best A mysterious figure from Nick's past, Abigail Strickland is determined to reveal a truth that she has long held on to. But how far is Strickland willing to go to make sure that the facts are given to the public? Where you've seen her before: Leanne Best played Jane Cobden in Ripper Street, Celia Donnelly in Fortitude and appeared as the titular role In The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death. She also had a small role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and has worked on Home Fires and Line of Duty. Clemency Johnson – Tamara Lawrence Nick and Maya's eldest chid is about to head off to study at Oxford. But at 19, she's more than aware of the changes in her parents' relationship and it's not long before she discovers the terrible subplot to her childhood. Where you've seen her before: Tamara Lawrence makes her debut TV appearance in Undercover after graduating from RADA in 2015. She's recently appeared in the National Theatre production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Dan Johnson — Daniel Ezra The son of Maya and Nick, Dan has trouble understanding social situations and fears for the safety of his family on a regular basis. If Nick's secrets come to light, how are his family, especially Dan, going to handle the fact that he's been lying to them since the beginning? Where you've seen him before: You may have seen Daniel as Joseph in the TV film Murdered by My Boyfriend, or as Alan Gill in the mini-series Prey Ella Johnson A bolshy teenager, Ella spends most of her time worrying about popularity and parties, but don't be fooled – she has a deep love for her family, too. Where you've seen her before: Sharon is currently studying at Oxford University and is a member of the National Youth Theatre. Undercover is her television debut. Undercover continues on BBC1 at 9:00 pm on Sunday 10th April
Caitlyn Jenner to appear in Transparent series three
The show's creator announced Jenner's addition to the cast at the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards
Caitlyn Jenner is set to appear in Transparent series three. Jill Soloway announced the news at the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards, calling the casting "a dream come true." The showrunner said last summer that she'd love to have Jenner on her critically-acclaimed series, but added, "I don't know if she'd want to act." As it happens, she does. Transparent follows the life of father Mort Pfefferman (Jeffery Tambor), who comes out to family and friends as transgender woman Maura and is forced to deal with the expectations everyone has for her. The show won a Golden Globe in 2015 for best television comedy, where Tambor also won for best actor in a television comedy series. While no details were revealed as to what role Jenner would play on the show, Soloway admitted it's not that surprising that they were able to get her on board. “We are all part of the same community. A lot of the trans women who work on our show are also in her show, I Am Cait,” Soloway said. “Lots of crossover. Lots of friends.” Jenner will start filming next week for the show's upcoming third series.
The Little Prince picked up by Netflix after being dropped by Paramount
The animated movie is now set to be streamed rather than released in US cinemas
Fans were delighted when they found out that their favourite children's story, The Little Prince, was coming to the big screen in an animated adaptation. But then came bad news, for Americans at least: production company Paramount removed the film from its 18th March release date, throwing the movie's future into doubt. Now, The Hollywood Reporter reports that The Little Prince is now expected to be streamed on Netflix in the US, with a release date yet to be confirmed. Fans in the UK are in a similar situation as those in the US after the film was released in French cinemas last year: while we know that The Weinstein Company is handling the release of the film in the UK, there is currently no release date. While it's easy for us to be upset that we still don't know when we'll see this film, we should remember what the prince taught us; "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly." So let's all relax a bit.
Watch 11 minutes of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
This supercut edits together everything from all the trailers in chronological order, which turns out to be quite a bit...
Many DC fans have been criticising Batman v Superman for revealing too much in the trailers leading up to the movie's release. But how much have they really shown? Well, the edit below of everything from all of the trailers totals 11 minutes of footage which, given the movie's running time of 2h 31m, is almost 17% of the film. Quite a chunk. It sets up the conflict between Batman and Superman, shows their multiple confrontations, Lex Luthor's plot to defeat both of them, Wonder Woman's introduction… the list goes on. Of course whether you want to watch it is entirely up to you. Personally, we couldn't wait... View oEmbed on the source website
Jacob Tremblay went to work with his policeman dad and it was adorable
The nine-year-old actor spent the day eating doughnuts and riding in his father's police car
At the tender age of nine, Jacob Tremblay has done more than most of us ever will in our lives. He's starred in a critically acclaimed film, he's won a Critic's Choice Award, and he's even met Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, he can add being a policeman to his already impressive CV. Tremblay accompanied his father, a cop in Vancouver, to work on Tuesday."I always bring my Dad to my work, but today I went to his!!!," he said in an Instagram post. View oEmbed on the source website The actor pulled out all the stops to go to work with his dad. He wore the perfect outfit; a VPD hat, a black leather jacket and a pair of reflective aviator sunglasses. The young actor was also treated to what he referred to as the #bestdoughnutsever. Tremblay's dad has been put in the spotlight before. When he started attending red carpet events with his son, the internet took a liking to his good looks, affectionately referring to him as "Hot Dad." But let's hope young Jacob doesn't get too attached to life as a cop – we're rather looking forward to his long and distinguished acting career.
There's going to be a Where's Wally? movie
Comedy duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are bringing the man in red and white stripes to the big screen
If you thought finding Wally was hard before, just wait until he's running around on an even bigger screen. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have signed on to produce a live-action adaptation of the children's book Where's Wally for MGM studios. According to The Tracking Board, the script for the film has been written and re-written multiple times over the past few years, with help from screenwriters like Adam Rifkin, Marc Hyman and Todd Berger. The plot of the film will reportedly revolve around Wally, or Waldo as he's known in the US and Canada, a janitor/inventor who accidentally activates a time machine and is sent through different scenes of the past, present and future. The film has had a messy past; it was originally intended for Nickelodeon and Paramount before being given to Universal, and is now being overseen by MGM. While they have been confirmed as producers, Rogen and Goldberg have not confirmed whether or not they will write, direct or star in the project.
Someone found a How I Met Your Mother gag that we all missed
Does the show really spend this much time making fun of Canada?
Fans of How I Met Your Mother love to recite the show's series running gags. Barney's legen-dary high fives, the gang "eating sandwiches," Robin Sparkles — the list goes on. One subject that comes up again and again is Canada. Ted, Barney and co spend a lot of time making fun of the country and of Robin for her Canadian heritage. But we never realised just how long they spent until Imgur user Eclipezz pointed it out with this photo montage, which shows a couple in the background meeting, getting engaged, becoming pregnant, congratulating their son on his graduation and one of them even dying, all while the gang make a long, drawn out joke about Canada... Now that's a long joke...
Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks Sylvester Stallone was robbed at the Oscars
The actor nominated for his performance in Creed lost out to best supporting actor winner Mark Rylance at the 88th Annual Academy Awards
In one of the biggest upsets of the night, Sylvester Stallone did not win the Oscar for reprising his role as Rocky Balboa in Creed. Instead, the award went to Mark Rylance, the actor who portrayed a Soviet spy in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies. One celebrity was definitely not happy about the decision: Arnold Schwarzenegger. View oEmbed on the source website Schwarzenegger took to Twitter last night to send the actor a video message of condolence after his defeat. "Sly, just remember that no matter what they say, to me you were the best," he said. "You were the winner. I'm proud of you." Never have we seen a more heartwarming bromance in our lives.
Everything you need to know about new Netflix show Fuller House
The spin-off from the 90s American comedy Full House will land be available to stream from 26th February
Everywhere you look, classic shows and movies are getting rebooted into shiny, new productions. Netflix's new sitcom Fuller House is no different – but for those of you who weren't hooked on American telly in the 90s, you might a few questions. Like... What's Fuller House? Is it a new show or an old one? It's a new sitcom from Netflix that is a direct spin-off of an American sitcom from the 90s called Full House. The new show features characters from the previous show, but with a different storyline. Right, ok. So what's Full House all about? Full House is about Danny Tanner, a recently widowed man trying to raise his three daughters, DJ, Stephanie and Michelle, in San Francisco, California. Because he has a hard time balancing work and raising his kids, he calls on his best friends Jesse Katsopolis and Joey Gladstone to help him out, and they move into his home, effectively making it a "full house." Got it. So then what's Fuller House going to be about? Fuller House is about DJ Tanner-Fuller, Danny Tanner's eldest daughter, recently widowed and trying to raise her three sons, Jackson, Max and Tommy, in San Francisco, California. Because she has a hard time balancing work and raising her kids, she calls on her sister Stephanie and her best friend Kimmy Gibbler to help her out, and they move into her home, effectively making it a "full(er) house." (Again.) Danny, Jesse and Joey also stop by intermittently to help out. …Am I experiencing déjà vu? No, the two plots are basically carbon copies of one another. It's like they say — if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sure. So most of the original cast are coming back, but I didn't see Michelle in the description of the new show… Unfortunately you're correct. In the original series, Michelle was played by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, who went on to become successful teen stars before forging careers in the fashion industry. The two young entrepreneurs were simply too busy and too uncomfortable with acting again to sign on for the new show. Well that's a bummer. You got it, dude. …Pardon? Oh, sorry. In the old show, characters had catchphrases, like "You got it, dude," or "Have mercy," or "How rude." There were quite a lot, and they will definitely be referencing them throughout the new show, so take note. Alright. What can I expect from the first episode? The first episode will feature a family reunion of sorts as everyone gathers at the old Tanner family home where DJ is moving in. When Stephanie recognises that DJ is really struggling with single parenthood, she volunteers to move in with her and help raise the kids. Sounds good! When can I start watching? The entire first series will be available to stream on Netflix starting 26th February. Oh. Well do you have anything I can watch until then? Sure! Here's the most recent trailer: View oEmbed on the source website
David Bowie Instagram miniseries announces premiere date
The late musician gave the creators as InstaMiniSeries an early look at his album, Blackstar, so they could help create the show
Even in death, it seems that David Bowie is still blazing new trails with his art and his music. Last autumn, Bowie shared an early version of his latest album, ★ (pronounced Blackstar), with the creators at InstaMiniSeries in order to create a series of visual representations of it. The channel, which focuses on creating episodic programming via 15-second Instagram videos, announced the result of this collaboration on Monday; "UNBOUND: A★ InstaMiniSeries " "Each episode of the series is sure to capture the imaginations of all who experience it," the creators said in a statement on Instagram, "[It] will undoubtedly lead to endless speculation and discussion of meaning, metaphor and intention." The 16-episode series will star Rookie Magazine founder Tavi Gevinson and actress Patricia Clarkson. In their Instagram post, the creators said their focus would be less on creating a "literal, linear narrative," and more on showing their own visual representations of ★. The series premieres 25th February, with new episodes released every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Watch the trailer for the series below. View oEmbed on the source website
9 things we learned from the Friends reunion
5 of the 6 main cast members reunited last night to pay tribute to one of the show's directors, James Burrows
After years and years of pleading, the Friends cast finally showed that they'll be there for us, just like their theme song promised. In a televised tribute to legendary sitcom director James Burrows, 5 of the 6 main cast members of Friends were all in the same room for a discussion on the show, their friendships, and Burrows himself. Here's the best moments from their (sort of) reunion: 1. Matthew Perry was there, despite the fact that he really wasn't It turns out that Matthew Perry is quite the *serious* actor now — he couldn't be at the reunion special thanks to his new West End play, The End of Longing. But, the actor opened for the rest of his cast-mates via satellite, and made us miss him on the main stage's couch even more. 2. All of the Friends proved to the audience that they were still, in fact, friends While Andy Cohen asked the gang questions on stage, they continually teased one another, both verbally and physically. Lisa Kudrow especially poked fun at her former co-stars throughout the night, including an exchange with David Schwimmer where she asked him whether or not he had auditioned with Burrows. When Schwimmer said that he had met with the director before he was cast, Kudrow quipped back "Ok, that's not auditioning." 3. The Friends all hung out off-set and watched the show OK, we already knew this. But the cast discussed how, after the initial bonding period on the show, they would all get together at each other's apartments and watch the episodes as they went out during the first season. "Scenes you weren't in, you would watch and kind of try to think of ideas for one another," Matt LeBlanc said. "Everybody was really supportive of one another." 4. There was one question the friends had a difficult time responding to... View oEmbed on the source website Andy Cohen, the evening's host, brought up one myth that has been circling around fan communities for years: did the cast have to sign agreements saying that they would not sleep with one another? The group awkwardly looked around and refused to confirm or deny — except for Lisa Kudrow who said "I was not asked to sign anything like that." 5. The three girls on the cast had a lunchtime tradition While the cast bonded off-set relatively often, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston had an on-set tradition. "The three girls, we had lunch together every single day for 10 years," Cox said. "And we ate the same food." She went on to explain that they would eat a "Jennifer salad," and said that when it came to making salad, Aniston "had a way with it." 6. James Burrows let the cast use his dressing room for poker During the early days of the show when the cast were still bonding, Burrows would lend them his large dressing room so that they could play poker together. Aniston mentioned that their games of poker eventually inspired one of the show's most popular episodes, adequately titled "The One with All the Poker." 7. The cast revealed what their favourite episodes were Every Friends fan has their own favourite episode, but we've all wondered for years — what episodes are the Friends' favourites? LeBlanc said he was always fond of "The One With George Stephanopoulos," especially when Ross got "hit in the face with a puck." Cox cited "The One With The Blackout" as a personal favourite. Aniston didn't mention a specific episode, but said she always loved the ones that included "fat Monica and Rachel pre-nose job and Ross with his Afro." 8. One of fans' most burning questions was finally answered — how did the Friends afford that huge apartment? For years people have wondered how someone like Rachel Green, who made her living as a waitress for much of the show's run, could afford such an enormous, luxurious apartment in New York City. The answer, as it turns out, is simple; "It's inherited from my grandmother," Cox explained. But LeBlanc had an even more interesting explanation — "Rent control! Hello?" he added. 9. And finally, Friends would not have existed – or succeeded – without James Burrows "We would do anything for Jim Burrows." - Jennifer Aniston #MustSeeTV pic.twitter.com/54UYYf2tFh — NBC (@nbc) February 22, 2016 Despite all of the fun facts and tributes being made to the show throughout the special, the actors were all there for one reason — to recognise and pay tribute to James Burrows, one of the show's main directors. "He really gave us the opportunity of a lifetime, and probably the best 10 years of our acting careers that we will forever remember," Aniston told the audience.
Lady Gaga dresses as Ziggy Stardust for David Bowie tribute at the Grammy Awards
The pop star, fresh from her Super Bowl performance, performed a medley of the late singer's hits
There were a lot of memorable moments from last night's Grammy Awards: Taylor Swift winning Album of the Year, Adele struggling through some technical difficulties and Justin Bieber's acoustic version of Love Yourself were the talk of Twitter. But there was one performance which stuck out. Lady Gaga performed a six-minute tribute to the late David Bowie at the award show, wowing audiences both in the room and across the globe. View oEmbed on the source website Gaga started out her performance singing Space Oddity, while a projection of transformative space colours transfigured her face into different iconic Bowie looks. The singer continued the rest of her set in full Ziggy Stardust regalia, including bright orange hair, and powered through special effects-filled performances of songs like Ziggy Stardust, Changes, Suffragette City and Heroes. At one point during the performance, Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers – the main producer on albums Let's Dance and Black Tie White Noise – joined Gaga on stage. Last night's spectacle serves as yet another accomplishment in the star's already successful 2016. She performed the US National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 earlier this month, and is slated to take to the stage at the Oscars later this month following her Best Original Song nomination.
Donald Trump's review of Citizen Kane touches on some very personal themes
Long before he ran for president, the American billionaire made some acute observations about the cost of wealth and power...
Everyone knows Citizen Kane. Sure, most people haven't actually seen it, but almost everyone is aware of the story: a man becomes extremely wealthy, isolates himself from those he cares about and dies saying the enigmatic word "Rosebud". The film has been subject to many different critical analyses over time. But one person's views may be the most relevant yet — Donald Trump. In this video released way back in 2008, we see a much younger Trump talking about the themes of the film, especially the isolation and loneliness that can come from being filthy rich. View oEmbed on the source website "Citizen Kane is all about accumulation," the billionaire says. "And at the end of the accumulation, you see what happens, and it's not necessarily all positive." Seemingly wise words from the now-presidential candidate. And as the video goes on, you start to wonder: is this Donald Trump' cry for help? "The (dinner) table getting larger and larger, as he and his wife are driven further and further apart as he gets wealthier and wealthier," he says. "Perhaps I can understand that." It seems that Trump sees a bit of himself in Kane, saying "The wealth, the sorrow, the unhappiness, the happiness — it just struck lots of notes." But if you're concerned because Trump doesn't seem to acting like himself in the video, don't worry. While it may seem like the billionaire is making some rather astute and heartfelt statements about the personal cost of wealth and power, he then reveals what he thinks was Charles Foster Kane's real problem. "Get yourself a different woman," he says. Normal service resumed.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to be published as a book
The highly anticipated play's script is being published after an outcry from fan communities that want to take part in the new play
It's a big year for Harry Potter, what with a new film – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – and a new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, both teed up for release later this year. But what fans across the world have been calling for is a new Harry Potter novel from JK Rowling. Well, it seems that the author is answering fans' prayers — kind of. The script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a new stage play by Rowling, will be published in print and digital editions the day after the show's world debut on 30th July. The published script will be a "special rehearsal edition" of an earlier version of the script used during previews, and will later be replaced by the final script in a "definitive collector's edition." View oEmbed on the source website The play is the official eighth story in Harry Potter canon and is written by Rowling in collaboration with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. The plot finds Harry Potter 19 years after the end of the original series working as an Auror at the Ministry of Magic, while his three children all attend Hogwarts. Harry's youngest son, Albus, is at the story's centre as he struggles with his family's legacy. The show debuts at the Palace Theatre on 30th July, with Jamie Parker, Paul Thornley and Noma Dumezweni playing Harry, Ron and Hermione respectively Along with this new script coming out later this year, 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the series' first novel. For the anniversary, four special editions of the book will be released, each one representing a different Hogwarts house. The script will be released to the public on 31st July, 2017 — which, as it turns out, will be the 37th birthday of The Boy Who Lived.
Ryan Reynolds says making an X-Force movie is now his "first priority"
The actor wants to use Deadpool's success to explore the X-Men universe, including X-Force
Ryan Reynolds has finally tasted superhero success with Deadpool, and now he wants more. The actor said in an interview with FILMSTARTS that he wants not only to continue making Deadpool movies, but is also keen on creating an X-Force movie. "We're gonna really explore the X-Men a lot," he said, "And maybe X-Force. X-Force my priority. I really want to get that in." X-Force is a team of mutants within the X-Men universe that's grittier, darker and more mature than the main group of mutants. In the comic books, the group is typically led by Cable, Cyclops' son. Rumours of an adaptation have been floating around for a number of years. They began when Rob Liefeld sang the praises of a potential screenplay back in 2013. The project, however, may have been put off thanks to the latest X-Men movie instalment X-Men: Apocalypse. Or maybe what it needed all along was Ryan Reynolds...
Johnny Depp set to play The Invisible Man
The movie is the most recent addition to Universal's growing Monsters universe
Audiences are going to have a hard time finding Johnny Depp on screen in his upcoming film. According to Deadline, Universal has tapped the actor to play the titular character in their upcoming film The Invisible Man – the latest addition to the studio's growing Monsters universe. The film will be a reboot of the 1933 classic of the same name about a scientist who discovers the key to invisibility and goes mad. While it's still unclear as to who will be writing the film's script, Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan will be producing the film. Starting with The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise and set to come out in June 2017, Universal wants to establish monsters like Dracula, the Wolfman, the Bride of Frankenstein and now the Invisible Man into a shared universe where the characters will interact with one another. Depp enjoyed a successful 2015 thanks to his critically-acclaimed performance as gangster Whitey Bulger in Black Mass, and will be featured in yet another Pirates of the Caribbean film before the release of The Invisible Man. Get a good look at him while you can, because pretty soon, he'll be... invisible.
A special tribute to Terry Wogan in this week's Radio Times
Cuba Gooding Jr, Stephen Fry, Stacey Dooley, Ellen Page and Gogglebox's June and Leon are also featured in the latest magazine
In this week's Radio Times, we pay tribute to the late Terry Wogan, Britain's best-loved broadcaster who passed away last week. We talk with a childhood friend of Wogan's about what it was like growing up with the rising star. We also look back at all of Wogan's RT covers, interview his co-star on his final TV series and even show an early job application the star sent to then BBC2 controller David Attenborough! Also in this week's Radio Times... It was the murder trial that riveted the world. Now Cuba Gooding Jr plays OJ Simpson in an acclaimed docudrama that exposes America's race divide – again Stephen Fry is about to depart QI, so we explain the A-Z of his life The face of BBC3 Stacey Dooley on moving the channel online – and sex workers Ellen Page on the role that made her want to come out New BBC1 drama One Child will explore the brutal family policy in China — we have a BBC correspondent tell the actual story. Rachel Riley, Ben Miller and Romesh Ranganathan – hosts of daring new show Not Rocket Science – tell us why they're mad about science Gogglebox's June and Leon on how they keep their marriage happy with a secret TV Find it all in this week's Radio Times, available in stores and on the Apple Newsstand from Tuesday 9th February
ELO set to play Glastonbury 2016 'legends' slot
The band known for songs like Roll Over Beethoven and Mr. Blue Sky will feature in 2016
Beethoven won't be the only one who's rolling over for this show. Jeff Lynne's ELO will be performing in the 'legends' slot at Glastonbury this year. Lionel Richie performed in this slot in 2015, and Dolly Parton the year before, both attracting massive crowds. Formerly known as The Electric Light Orchestra, ELO has an array of hits, such as Mr. Blue Sky, Telephone Line and Roll Over Beethoven. They've been performing since 1970. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis confirmed the band's upcoming performance, tweeting, "Yes! ELO are playing this year's Glastonbury Sunday teatime slot. Can't wait!" View oEmbed on the source website While the headliners of the event have yet to be announced, rumours include acts such as Muse, Rihanna, Coldplay and even Adele. ELO will perform Sunday 26th June 2016.
Rachael Taylor says she would love to play Hellcat in Jessica Jones
The actress who portrayed Trish Walker in the show says that playing her comic book alias Hellcat would be "amazing"
This cat's got some claws, and it sounds like she's ready to start scratching. Rachael Taylor, the actress who portrayed Trish Walker in the hit Netflix show Jessica Jones, told Comic Book Resources that playing the character's comic book alter-ego Hellcat would be "amazing." In the show, Trish Walker is a former child star and Jones's foster sister. Fans of the comic began speculating at the beginning of the series whether Walker would eventually transform into Hellcat — a skilled martial artist who dons an ability-enhancing suit to fight criminals. “I try not to get ahead of myself and think about it too much, because it’s easy to get carried away and think about things,” Taylor said in the interview. "But of course, I mean, it would be amazing. "To take it that one step further is something that, yeah, I’d love to get my teeth stuck into whatever happens to the character.” There are already some hints dropped in series one that Hellcat could be coming; Trish begins to train in krav maga and is constantly showing how she wishes she could be a hero. So with Jessica Jones confirmed for another season, is it possible that Hellcat could be coming soon?
Coldplay to headline BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend 2016
The annual festival will be taking place in late May at Exeter in Devon
This year's BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend venue and headliners have been confirmed. Exeter, are you ready? Radio 1 announced that Coldplay would be headlining the annual BBC music festival, along with Chase & Status, Ellie Goulding, Craig David and Bring Me the Horizon. More artists and ticket information are set to be released on 21 March. This year's Big Weekend is set to take place at Exeter's Powderham Castle in Devon from 28-29 May. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, spent the early part of his life in Devon, and it seems that he's pretty excited to perform at the venue. "I lived the first few years of my life less than 500 yards from where we'll be performing so this couldn't be more of a homecoming for me," he told the BBC. "Guy, Will, Jonny and I are honoured to be on the bill and we're looking forward to a very special show." Last year's Big Weekend took place in Norwich, with Muse, Taylor Swift and Foo Fighters headlining. The event has been travelling around England since 2003.
Adnan Syed from Serial is set to return to court this week
The subject of the podcast series, currently serving a life sentence for murder, has been given a chance to have new evidence heard in court
Adnan Syed, the subject of the wildly popular American podcast Serial, is due back in court on Wednesday. in November, a judge in Baltimore granted Syed and his attorney to introduce new evidence regarding an alibi witness and substantial cell phone evidence. The date for that post-conviction hearing has now been set from 3-5 February. Syed was found guilty in 2000 of the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. He is currently serving a life sentence plus 30 years. Asia McClain, the witness being introduced, previously stated in an affidavit that Syed had been with her in the library when Lee was killed. The Hae Min Lee case was brought to national attention when it became the subject of the Serial podcast. The series, hosted by Sarah Koenig, examined the evidence in the case and raised questions about whether or not Syed was guilty, especially questioning the job done by his lawyer, the late Christina Gutierrez.
Robert Kazinsky: 'World of Warcraft saved my life'
The former EastEnder said that he was never happier than when he was "fat and playing video games"
As it turns out, even those we see as the "tough guy" have strong feelings. EastEnders actor Robert Kazinsky talked with Conan O'Brien on his chat show about his role as Sean Slater on the popular soap, and the effect that it had on his personal life. According to the actor, because of his character's debauchery on the show (including kidnapping a baby), fans could often get violent. "They'd walk up to me and hit me, they'd throw stones at me in the street," he said. "I'd be having dinner with my parents and they'd either throw insults or bread rolls." The actor went on to say that he then retreated to video games, and that World of Warcraft was his favourite. He loved interacting with people throughout the game and not being judged for who he was on television. "I was able to forge new relationships that didn’t come with any preconceptions and I was slowly given these rewards in game that, believe it or not, affected my confidence, gave me the boost and before you know it I was able to have a little bit of self-belief again," he said. "I credit World of Warcraft with saving my life." However, Kazinsky also recognises that this was not necessarily a healthy lifestyle, saying that he gained somewhere around 50 pounds, and would use the various empty soda cans he had around his computer as ashtrays. Kazinsky is currently starring in the film Warcraft — which is based on his favourite game — and features in the television show Second Chance. He said that he's extremely happy, but he still remembers his video game days with fondness. “I’ve never been happier than when I was really fat and no one had any expectations of me and I was playing video games," he said.
Netflix's Series of Unfortunate Events casts Violet and Klaus
Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes will play the orphan siblings in the upcoming Netflix series
For these youngsters, this is the beginning of a series of rather fortunate events. The upcoming Netflix show A Series of Unfortunate Events has announced two of the young actors who will be playing the Baudelaire orphans. Malina Weissman, known for portraying Young Kara in Supergirl, has been cast as Violet, with newcomer Louis Hynes as Klaus. The series will be an adaptation of the popular books written by Daniel Handler (under the pen name Lemony Snicket), about three orphans attempting to uncover the mysterious circumstances of their parents' deaths. How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris is currently in talks with the show's producers to portray the show's villain, the nefarious Count Olaf (played by Jim Carrey in the film adaptation).
Donald Trump has dropped out of the Fox News debate
... because Fox's moderator Megyn Kelly is doing her job
It's a truth that's stranger than fiction — Fox News and Donald Trump are actually fighting with one another. In one corner, we have Donald Trump, whose feelings are still hurt over Fox reporter Megyn Kelly calling him out for referring to women as “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals” in the past. Throughout the week, Trump has called for Kelly to be replaced by another moderator. After his demands seemed not to be met, Trump announced that he would not be participating in the debate via a campaign statement on Tuesday. “Mr. Trump knows when to walk away," the statement read. "Roger Ailes and FOX News think they can toy with him, but Mr. Trump doesn’t play games.” In the other corner is Fox News, claiming that they will maintain their journalistic integrity and not give into the politicians' "terrorisations", citing the ethical problems that come with allowing Trump to dictate who interviews him. “Capitulating to politicians’ ultimatums about a debate moderator violates all journalistic standards," the statement read. "Trump is still welcome at Thursday night’s debate and will be treated fairly, just as he has been during his 132 appearances on Fox News and Fox Business, but he can’t dictate the moderators or the questions.” The news network had been releasing taunting statements, saying that they were “surprised he’s willing to show that much fear” when it came to being questioned by Kelly, with another suggesting "Trump has his own secret plan to replace the cabinet with his Twitter followers.” Much like children fighting on a playground, perhaps it is best to keep these two separated for a bit.
Jon Hamm's name is spelled wrong on his Golden Globe
Yikes. It looks like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is going to need their foot surgically removed from their mouth. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Jon Hamm revealed that his name on his first Golden Globe, received in 2008, was misspelled as 'John Hamm'. "They spelled my name wrong, which was also awesome," he said, recalling what should have been the proudest moment in his acting career. "I was like, ‘Oh man. Uh, guys, there’s no ‘H,’” he added. Since then, Hamm has received six further Golden Globe nominations and two wins, all for his portrayal of Don Draper in the critically-acclaimed show Mad Men. The show aired its final season last year. "I haven't got the little plaque to stick over the new one yet, but hopefully, if you're out there watching, it's J-O-N." Better luck next time.
Corey Hawkins is the new Jack Bauer in 24 reboot
The Walking Dead and Straight Outta Compton actor will star as the new frontman in 24: Legacy
As the beloved series 24 gets a facelift for a new generation, so does its seemingly indestructible main character. Corey Hawkins, star of Straight Outta Compton and The Walking Dead, will be replacing Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer in the new series 24: Legacy. Hawkins will play Eric Carter, a former US Army Ranger who now works for the Counter-Terrorist Unit — the same organisation Bauer used to work for. According to his official character description, "Now back home in Virginia with his wife Nicole, he’s pulled back into action as his past comes looking for him." The new show will retain the original's format: every hour-long episode will take place in one hour of the plot's timeframe, eventually adding up to 24 hours. While Sutherland's hit character will not be a part of the shows main cast, CEO of the Fox Television Group Dana Walden said that there was still potential for Bauer to return in future episodes of the show. "Never say never," she teased.
New House of Cards teaser reveals Frank Underwood and Doug Stamper's dirty work
We have grave misgivings about season four
It looks like Frank Underwood is getting his hands dirty again in House of Cards season four. The newest teaser trailer for the show's upcoming series shows Underwood's Chief of Staff, Doug Stamper, shovelling dirt out of the ground. Is this more presidential dirty work, throwing us back to the shocking ending of season three? Nope, it's just some innocent tree planting ceremony for President Underwood's latest campaign. Still, sinister right? View oEmbed on the source website This tree isn't the only thing that Underwood needs to put in the ground. Following last season's cliffhanger, Underwood's job of covering up his shady past is going to be much, much harder. Series 4 of House of Cards will stream on Netflix from 4 March 2016.