News

Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed, Dua Lipa and Annie Lennox are among 300 public figures to have signed an open letter calling on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end the country’s “complicity” in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK’s complicity in the horrors in Gaza,” read the letter. “Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won’t feed Palestinian children – we need action. Every single one of Gaza’s 2.1 million people is at risk of starvation, as you read this.

“Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents – an entire people left to starve before the world’s eyes. 290,000 children are on the brink of death – starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days.”

The signatories called for an immediate suspension of all UK arms sales to Israel; immediate...

Artists have done some crazy things over the years. From Tracey Emin's disheveled bedroom setup to Shia Labeouf's 'I Am Not Famous Anymore' routine, it is really fascinating to see what stimulates the artistic mind, and how the ideas they come up with can stretch much further than the canvas and out into the real world. Almost as interesting are people's reactions to these works: some see them as pretentious fluff, others consider them a unique insight into the inner workings of an artist's mind, and others still are completely indifferent. In 2003, an American artist with a history of creative community projects came up with a wild idea that would serve as an extension of his previous works, offer his wide friendship circle something meaningful to work on together, and make a statement. The fact that it had to remain a complete secret didn't seem to dampen the importance of the latter.

On Friday 10 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts 100 Women!

Tracey Emin Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “100 Women” on BBC One is titled “Tracey Emin.” This episode focuses on the renowned artist Dame Tracey Emin, who is known for her bold and honest approach to art. The show will explore her journey over the past 25 years since she created her famous piece, “My Bed.”

In this episode, Emin shares her thoughts on how art has changed her life. She reflects on her experiences and the impact her work has had on both her and the art world. The conversation delves into the themes of vulnerability and self-expression that are central to her art.

Viewers can expect to gain insight into Emin’s legacy and the message she hopes to leave behind. This episode promises to be an inspiring look at a significant figure in contemporary art, highlighting her contributions and the personal stories that shape her work.

The upcoming episode of “100 Women” features the renowned artist Dame Tracey Emin, airing at 3:30 Am on Friday, January 10, 2025, on BBC One. This episode reflects on Emin’s journey, particularly focusing on her iconic artwork, “My Bed.” Created 25 years ago, this piece has sparked conversations about vulnerability and honesty in art.

In this candid interview, Emin shares insights into how her art has shaped her life and identity. She discusses the challenges she faced and how they influenced her creative expression. The episode delves into the deeper meanings behind her work and the impact it has had on the art world and beyond.

Emin also reveals her hopes for her legacy. She reflects on the importance of authenticity in art and how she wishes to inspire future generations of artists. This episode promises to be an enlightening exploration of Emin’s life, her art, and the lasting messages she aims to convey.

The Crown star Imelda Staunton has joined the list of the UK’s celebrated acting dames, after being given the title in the King’s Birthday Honors list.

Staunton, whose six-decade career includes her role of Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films and the title role in the movie Vera Drake, will join previous acting recipients of the honor, including Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Harriet Walter, Penelope Wilton and Maggie Smith.

The BBC reports Staunton responded to the announcement of her new title: “Theater, film and television are essential to our well-being, stand at the heart of our culture, and are admired throughout the world. I am proud to play my part in this important industry.”

The most heartwarming recognition in this year’s list goes to Alan Bates, the campaigner whose real-life story was told in the hit drama Mr Bates Vs. The Post Office. Bates spent years...

When I heard that there was going to be a Coronation Concert at Windsor Palace to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, my first thought was: “Wow, who would voluntarily perform at that?” Some international viewers might have expected the biggest stars the U.K. has to offer, like Adele or maybe even Elton John, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa or Ed Sheeran. But no, instead the baton seemed to fall primarily to people whose management didn’t get the memo that this was the most uncool gig ever: Americans!

Today is International Women’s Day (8 March). The global event commemorates the achievements of women and girls around the world, raises awareness of discrimination, and campaigns for gender parity.

The Independent is celebrating a diverse range of powerful women, with exclusive pieces by Tracey Emin, Annie Lennox, Emma Thompson, Joan Collins, Jordan Gray, Bianca Jagger, Akshata Murty and more.

It has also unveiled its list of 50 of the most influential women of the last 12 months.

This evening at 6.30pm, Maya Oppenheim, Dr Charlotte Proudman (“the Feminist Barrister” at Goldsmith Chambers), Emily Carver, Yvonne John (Author), and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (Political and Women’s Rights Activist), will be discussing what it means to be a woman in 2023.

We put that same question to a number of musicians, including Grammy-nominated artist Margo Price, who delivered a powerful poem in response, and pop singer Fleur East.

What It Means to Be (a woman...

Drawing inspiration from controversial artist Tracey Emin, brothers James and Harrison Newman’s sophomore short Do Not Touch, starring British Comedian Seann Walsh, thrusts one man’s infidelity into the critical glare of an art exhibition, forcing him into the desperate role of art saboteur in the hopes of destroying the evidence before his girlfriend discovers his betrayal. It’s a delightfully uncomfortable comedy which simultaneously shines a light on the very public nature of breakups and the divergent views on what can be considered art. We sat down with the Newman Brothers to learn about the creation of Do Not Touch and spoke to them about the unseen advantages to knowing who you are working with as intimately as family do, how they created a world in which the comedy is believable and not just farcical, and the nuanced ways in which they remind the audience of the emotional stakes at play.

"Modern day Elvis." Sony has released this music documentary to watch on VOD after a brief theatrical run in June this summer. George Michael Freedom Uncut is George Michael's last & final work. He reflects on a life changing period and allows access to his memories, thoughts, unseen footage and photographs never before seen. This is a documentary that George Michael was actually working on at the time of his sudden passing on Christmas Day in 2016. The doc was originally due to air in the UK in March of 2017 to coincide with the re-release of the 1990 Listen Without Prejudice album, but it was eventually finished and released in honor of the musician's life and career. The film also features interviews with some of Michaels' most famous friends and music legends, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Tracey Emin, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Jean Paul Gaultier,...

“George Michael Freedom Uncut” has received a moving new trailer ahead of the film’s global release on June 22.

Narrated and co-directed by Michael, the documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at the singer. In the trailer, Michael can be heard talking about his feelings on early fame, “I can’t really explain how overwhelming that kind of hysteria can be. I remember thinking I really don’t know if I’ll ever do this again.” Watch the trailer below.

The doc provides a look at his private and public persona as cameras followed him around during the turbulent period after “Faith” leading up to, during and after the making of his “Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1” album in 1990. The legendary singer — who died on Dec. 25, 2016 at the age of just 53 — can also be heard talking about his legacy. He says, “I want to leave songs, I believe I can leave songs...

Talk

Emmy-nominated Michael Sheen (“Good Omens”) will join the upcoming TEDxSoho talk on May 30 at London’s Cambridge Theatre virtually via a pre-recorded session. The event will also feature an in-person talk from actor Ray Panthaki, recently BIFA-nominated for “Boiling Point,” while Brit and Ivor Novello-winning singer-songwriter Tom Odell will be performing.

Hosted by “The Battersea Poltergeist” podcast creator Danny Robins, the curated program of short inspirational talks features previously announced speakers including U.K Cinema Association CEO Phil Clapp, Variety international editor Manori Ravindran, author and computational biologist, autism advocate and winer of the 2020 Science Book Award, Dr. Camilla Pang, and a performance from ex-Razorlight guitarist David Ellis. Confirmed speakers also include Karl Lokko, a former gang leader turned activist, poet, public speaker, adventurer and personal advisor to Prince Harry; Professor Katy Shaw, author of a report into post-covid cultural recovery; restaurateur Paulo De Tarso; author and journalist Janet Wang; and art critic,...

Exclusive: Controversial British artist Tracey Emin is getting the urban myths treatment at Sky.

The Comcast-owned broadcaster has ordered on a comedy drama about Emin’s infamous messy bed artwork with Inside No. 9 and The Windsors star Morgana Robinson (below) playing Emin.

One-off special In Bed with Tracey Emin, which will be a surreal telling of how Emin created the infamous work of art in less than a week, will air as part of Sky’s Urban Myths strand in 2020.

The strand, which airs on Sky Arts, is gearing up for its fourth season. Previous specials have seen Gemma Arterton star as Marilyn Monroe set against the backdrop of the 1959 rom-com Some Like It Hot, Sophie Rundle play Princess Diana in a story about a night out with Freddie Mercury, and Kelly Macdonald as Princess Margaret in a comedy about her relationship with Mick Jagger. The strand’s most controversial moment,...

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall definitely looked like they were having fun on Thursday night as they hosted a special reception ahead of the star-studded Elephant Family Animal Ball. The event raises funds for the wildlife foundation Elephant Family, which was founded by Camilla's brother, Mark Shand, so it is a cause that's particularly close to the duchess's heart, and she and her animal-loving husband were at the heart of the fun as they posed alongside the life-sized elephant statues that had been placed in the grounds of Clarence House.

Related: The Sweetest Things Prince Charles and Camilla Have Said About Each Other

During the event, attendees wore glamorous designer masks that depicted various animals, and Charles and Camilla were no exception, sporting bejeweled tiger masks by designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who was also a guest at the reception. The royal couple mingled with a crowd made up of plenty of other famous faces,...

In 1997, Tony Blair was the U.K. prime minister, and Oasis, Blur, Pulp, the Spice Girls, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, “Trainspotting” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral” were among the cultural touchstones of what was dubbed “Cool Britannia.” And bestselling writer Nick Hornby was making his first movie, an adaptation of his hit novel “Fever Pitch” — and earning his first mention in Variety. Hornby has since gone on the write yet more popular books — “About a Boy,” “Juliet, Naked” and “Funny Girl” are a few — and more movies, including “Wild,” “An Education” and “Brooklyn.” He’s now downsizing with Sundance TV’s “State of the Union” — ten, 10-minute episodes directed by Stephen Frears and starring Rosamund Pike and Chris O’Dowd as a couple working on their marriage. Each episode takes place in a pub 10 minutes before the characters are due to meet their marriage counselor, and delivers laughs and...

A two-day auction of George Michael’s art collection earned over $15 million, which will be used toward the late singer’s philanthropic efforts.

During his lifetime, Michael amassed dozens of works by contemporary British artists – like Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Michael Craig-Martin and Marc Quinn – who formed the Young British Art movement.

“Through visits to galleries and artists’ studios, [Michael] developed friendships with many of the Yba artists whose work he deeply admired,” Christie’s auction house in London said of Michael’s collection, which 12,000 people visitors viewed at a pre-auction exhibition.

The 27th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish raised over $6.3 million for the global effort to end AIDS.

Elton John and Taron Egerton perform onstage during the 27th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party

Credit/Copyright: Rich Fury/Getty Images for Ejaf

The gala, which took place on Sunday, February 24, at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, was generously supported by Presenting Sponsors IMDb and Neuro Drinks.

The Foundation welcomed Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mädchen Amick, Patricia Arquette, Alina Baikova, Jamie Bell, Thora Birch, Chad Buchanan, Candace Bushnell, Charlie Carver, Kristin Chenoweth, Erika Christensen, Chris Colfer, Chace Crawford, Terry Crews, Kaitlyn Dever, Taron Egerton, Dexter Fletcher, Peter Fonda, Isabeli Fontana, Georgia Fowler, Bryan Fuller, Toni Garrn, Willie Garson, Jeff Gum, Tiffany Haddish, Harry Hamlin, Marcia Gay Harden, Colton Haynes, Paris Hilton, Emile Hirsch,...

The photographer made his name with a series showing his dysfunctional parents, Ray and Liz, in their squalid Black Country flat. Now he’s turned their story into an award-winning film

It is just about 30 years since Richard Billingham picked up a camera and focused it on his alcoholic father, Ray, and his violent mother, Liz, and the Black Country council flat in which they lived. The pictures were intended as studies for paintings, but they took on a life of their own. A tutor on Billingham’s art degree course at Sunderland University came across the photographs in a plastic bag and Billingham ended up displaying them in all their flash-lit squalor: toothless and shirtless Ray cradling pop bottles of home brew; Liz, with her lavishly tattooed slabs of arms and vast floral print frocks, lost in her jigsaw puzzles or TV dinners. Taken together – “Ray’s a Laugh...

Liv Hill is astonishingly good as a teenage carer whose talent for comedy transforms her troubled life

Tracey Emin, who once told the story of fleeing the stage during a disco-dancing competition as teenager in Margate after men shouted “slag” at her, has got to be an inspiration for this impressive zero-budget social-realist drama set in Margate that features a similar act of cruelty against its teenage heroine. The film begins in kitchen-sink-grim mode, then multiplies in interest as it transforms into the origins story of a female talent – here in standup comedy rather than art. It’s a striking directorial debut by James Gardner, and has an astonishingly good performance by Liv Hill as Sarah, a 15-year-old written off by teachers as lazy and anti-social.

Related: From Three Girls to Jellyfish: Liv Hill, the young star giving a voice to outsiders...

Art imitates life “Ray & Liz,” the autobiographical debut feature by Turner Prize-nominated artist Richard Billingham; that’s nothing new. But it’s the way art imitates, reflects and recomposes other art — specifically, Billingham’s much-discussed photography — that lends complex layers of memoir and mimesis to this singular spin on the British kitchen-sink drama, preserving both the director’s childhood and his creative evolution in gorgeous, grainy amber. Collating multiple visual and thematic preoccupations from the director’s fine-art oeuvre (notably his bleakly intimate portraiture of his working-class parents) and filtering them through the ingenious compositional eye of d.p. Daniel Landin, “Ray & Liz” is formally arresting and rigorous, though not at the expense of its direct emotional force. Commercially, this Locarno competition entry is an uncompromisingly hard sell, though festival bookings will come thick and fast.

Familiarity with Billingham’s photographic output is by no means vital to an appreciation of “Ray & Liz,...

In partnership with Phillips Auction House, international water foundation One Drop is pleased to announce Art for One Drop, a contemporary art charity auction that will raise funds for One Drop’s safe water initiatives in Latin America.

David Hammons' sculpture

In an exclusive collaboration with the Sprüth Magers gallery, and under the direction of renowned curator and critic Philipp Kaiser, Art for One Drop will kick off Phillips’ fall sale season on September 21.

Fifty of some of the most recognized and admired artists worldwide have graciously donated works of art to the auction, including: Tracey Emin, David Hammons, Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer, Ugo Rondinone, Kara Walker, Sarah Lucas, Ed Clark, Jennifer Guidi, Nicolas Party and many more.

Established in 2007 by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, the One Drop foundation has 13 active water access projects in Latin America, Africa and India that will reach over 1.3 million beneficiaries once completed.

‘Stranger Things’ star David Harbour and ‘Fantastic Beasts’ star Alison Sudol are on board a Greenpeace ship heading for Antarctic waters.

They will help make the case for an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary backed by campaigners, scientists, over 40 international celebrities and 800,000 people around the world.

Following a Twitter challenge, resulting in more than 200,000 retweets in five hours, David Harbour secured a place on the Greenpeace ship alongside singer-songwriter and actress Alison Sudol. They have joined an expedition to gather scientific evidence of the need for an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary to safeguard species like whales and penguins.

More than 40 international celebrities have joined David and Alison as ambassadors for the ‘Protect the Antarctic’ campaign. From countries ranging from Argentina to China, Spain to Israel, the ambassadors include actors, presenters, explorers, musicians, chefs and fashion designers:

Gillian Anderson, Carlos Bardem, Javier Bardem, Sir Quentin Blake, Tanya Burr, Jim Chapman, Gwendoline Christie, Lily Cole,...

Sir Elton John and David Furnish will host the Elton John AIDS Foundation (Ejaf)’s 26th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

Bvlgari is the gala event’s generous Presenting Sponsor.

This year, through the support of Ejaf’s friends at Bbva Compass, the Roca Brothers of the Michelin three-star restaurant El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, will design and prepare a sumptuous dinner for Party guests to enjoy while watching a live telecast of the 90th Academy Awards. El Celler de Can Roca has been among the top three restaurants on the influential World’s 50 Best Restaurants list from Restaurant magazine the past three years, claiming the top spot in 2015. Alexander Gilkes of Paddle8 will return to conduct the evening’s highly anticipated live auction. Illusionist David Jarre will make a special appearance, and the event concludes with...

Showtime has acquired the George Michael documentary “Freedom” to premiere in the U.S. on Sunday, Oct. 21, the premium cable network announced on Monday. Directed by Michael himself along with David Austin, “George Michael: Freedom” chronicles the making of the 1990 album “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1” and the subsequent legal battle with his record label. Michael serves as narrator on the documentary, which he had been working on prior to his death last year. The film features interviews with Michael’s famous friends, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rogers, Mark Ronson, Tracey Emin, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige,...

On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (Ejaf) will host its annual New York Fall Gala at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

This year’s gala commemorates the Foundation’s 25th year and honors Founder Sir Elton John. President Bill Clinton, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Sharon Stone, and others will pay tribute to Elton John’s achievements as a philanthropist and humanitarian. The legendary Aretha Franklin will be the special musical guest, along with performances by violinist Joshua Bell and Broadway’s The Lion King, featuring Heather Headley. Neil Patrick Harris will host the event.

“Elton’s philanthropic endeavors and activism for human rights and the arts have inspired millions and made a positive difference in people’s lives around the world,” said Ejaf Chairman David Furnish. “But without a doubt, Elton’s greatest contribution as a humanitarian is his 25-year commitment to...

A version of this article originally appeared on ew.com.

Emma Watson loves to read.

The actress has that in common with her brainy Harry Potter character Hermione as well as bookish Belle, who she plays in the much-anticipated film Beauty and the Beast, out March 17. In addition to being a bookworm, Watson is also an outspoken feminist and as well as a Un Women Goodwill Ambassador and promoter of the organization’s HeForShe movement, which is dedicated to recruiting men into the movement for gender equality. As a response to her work with the Un, she launched the feminist...

They were married for over four years in the ’80s. But on Friday night, Madonna told Sean Penn — and a crowd full of celebrities — that she still loves him and would marry him again … for the right price.

The 58-year-old singer hosted a charity gala on Friday night at Art Basel in Miami, where she raised more than $7.5 million for the African nation of Malawi, the Associated Press reported.

Wearing a short, black, gold, and silver-patterned long-sleeve dress, Madonna auctioned off rare photographs, tour memorabilia, and pieces from her own art collection, the AP reported — for a star-studded audience that included Penn,...

How would you program this year's newest, most interesting films into double features with movies of the past you saw in 2015?Looking back over the year at what films moved and impressed us, it is clear that watching old films is a crucial part of making new films meaningful. Thus, the annual tradition of our end of year poll, which calls upon our writers to pick both a new and an old film: they were challenged to choose a new film they saw in 2015—in theatres or at a festival—and creatively pair it with an old film they also saw in 2015 to create a unique double feature.All the contributors were given the option to write some text explaining their 2015 fantasy double feature. What's more, each writer was given the option to list more pairings, with or without explanation, as further imaginative film programming we'd be lucky to catch...

Last week on Strictly was pretty special - with everything from our first 10 of the series to some "disappointing" dances from celebs we thought had been doing well. It just goes to show that anything can happen... so what will week four bring?

We're about to find out, so join us right here from 6.30pm when the show begins on BBC One and we'll bring you all the ballroom action as it happens...

20:21But that's your lot for this evening! Tomorrow: Will Young (yay!) and someone going home (boo). Let us know who you think it will be by leaving your comments, and be sure to stick with DS for all the Strictly coverage you need...

20:19Incidentally, Joan Collins has some thoughts about this week's Strictly.

#strictlycomedancing so sad about Jay stumbling - he's my favourite!

— Joan Collins (@Joancollinsdbe) October 17, 2015

Katie is good unfortunate dress #strictlycomedancing

— Joan Collins...

Dorret Conway became the third baker to be sent home from The Great British Bake Off tonight.

Conway followed Stu Henshall and Marie Campbell out of the door after failing to win over Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in a trio of bread-based challenges - news that Berry actually let slip on the radio this morning.

Nadiya's facial expressions are the best thing about The Great British Bake Off

Her quick bread in the signature challenge was criticised for its "tight" texture and lack of flavour, while Berry tactfully suggested that it looked "sort of homely".

Conway also came sixth in the technical challenge after under-proving her baguettes, but it was the showstopper challenge that really caused her problems as she admitted to Hollywood and Berry that she hadn't practised making her Tracey Emin-inspired unmade bed bread sculpture at home.

In the end, some of her bread was raw in the middle,...

Well, that was totally roarsome. It was Bread Week in the Great British Bake Off tent and the showstopper round - in which the 10 remaining hopefuls had five hours to whip up a 3D bread sculpture - produced some spectacular bakes. There was the Brighton Royal Pavilion, a bicycle, a frock, a snake, a bunch of flowers and a Tracey Emin-esque unmade bed.

But best by far was the lion made out of bread. Baked by Welsh prison governor Paul Jagger - himself something of a lookalike for judge Paul Hollywood - the 'King Of The Jungle' creation left Hollywood totally gobsmacked.

"That's one of the best things I've seen on bread, ever," murmured the notoriously hard-to-please judge. "It's exceptional."

Here's 12 things the majestic bready behemoth reminded us of...

1. Aslan - Chronicles Of Narnia

As Sue Perkins quipped when she saw Paul putting the finishing touches to...

Well, that was totally roarsome. It was Bread Week in the Great British Bake Off tent and the showstopper round - in which the 10 remaining hopefuls had five hours to whip up a 3D bread sculpture - produced some spectacular bakes. There was the Brighton Royal Pavilion, a bicycle, a frock, a snake, a bunch of flowers and a Tracey Emin-esque unmade bed.

But best by far was the lion made out of bread. Baked by Welsh prison governor Paul Jagger - himself something of a lookalike for judge Paul Hollywood - the 'King Of The Jungle' creation left Hollywood totally gobsmacked.

"That's one of the best things I've seen on bread, ever," murmured the notoriously hard-to-please judge. "It's exceptional."

Here's a few things the majestic bready behemoth reminded us of...

1. Bagpuss

"Breadpuss, breadpuss, oh floury old catpuss..." And when Breadpuss goes to sleep, all his friends go to sleep.

The artist best known for his work with his brother, Dinos, has turned out an unexpectedly entertaining adaptation of his own novel that is both gruesome and plausible

Here we have a true cinematic oddity, in every sense. Originally conceived as a feature film, eventually realised as a four-part TV series (which Sky Arts are currently mid-way through broadcasting), this adaptation by Jake Chapman of his own novel has now been cut together as a single entity for international release. Hence the screening that the Edinburgh film festival managed to secure is likely to be a one off, at least as far as UK filmgoers are concerned.

And it’s fair to say the film itself is a one off, too. Chapman, who is half of the stellar Yba brother-artists (his sibling, Dinos, isn’t entirely excluded from this project, having contributed music to the score); and he has become...

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: ITV, 7pm

More antics from the cheeky Geordie duo, who are back for the second instalment in this series of their hit variety show.

There's all the usual fun, games, celeb guests and musical performances, plus Richard Madeley teams up with the boys for their latest prank.

The Voice UK: BBC One, 7.15pm

No more button-thwacking, no more spinny chairs - it's time for the Battle Rounds!

Love 'em or loathe 'em, the Battles always provide scenes to remember - but who will survive into the Live Shows?

CSI: Channel 5, 9pm

Saturdays aren't a big night for drama, but Channel 5 continues to serve up all-new episodes of ever-popular Us import CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Tonight's outing 'The Twin Paradox' guest stars Saved by the Bell's Mark-Paul Gosselaar as twins - one of whom (or both of which) may be a killer.

The Jonathan Ross Show: ITV,...

Jonathan Ross has become the film critic for British Airways' in-flight magazine High Life.

The TV presenter and former host of the BBC Film programme has given his 10 top movie picks for the year ahead to mark the appointment.

Ross said: "I love flying and I love watching movies, so I look forward to a good long-haul journey more than most!

"Nothing beats spending a day on British Airways catching up on the latest films – and hopefully I can help steer my fellow film fans in the right direction the next time they fly too."

Editor of British Airways' High Life Kerry Smith added: "We're very excited that Jonathan Ross is joining the High Life team and our roster of fantastic contributors that includes John Simpson, Tracey Emin and Philip Pullman.

"Being both well-travelled and a film aficionado, he intuitively knows the best films to pick out for the millions...

James Bay, a 24-year-old British singer-songwriter, has been awarded the 2015 Brits Critics’ Choice prize, which is often seen as a forecaster of future success. The award, chosen by U.K. industry experts, is only open to artists due to release their debut album the following year. Bay’s debut is set to come out in the spring, while the musician will collect his award, designed by artist Tracey Emin, at the Brit Awards on Feb. 25. While Bay might not be a particularly familiar face internationally, previous winners of the Critics’ Choice Award have included the likes

read more...

The British art duo of sticking-to-their-guns well-into-their-40s punks, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, have always put on an oddball sort of performance of being a couple. Perhaps it's not surprising that they worked for Gilbert & George back in the 1990s: Noble and Webster have gained notoriety for their heterosexual artistic codependency ever since.It's hard to not be charmed by their spotlit assemblages of trash, bones, taxidermied animals, or cast body-parts that cast shadows forming portraits of the couple (and maybe apt metaphors for coupledom). Probably their most self-abnegating/self-celebrating romantic gesture was 1997’s The New Barbarians, which they commissioned a sculptor from Madame Tussaud's to create: a dual self-portrait as australopithecines (pre-cavemen who walked upright and had our teeth but had brains the size of apes'). In 2008, Noble and Webster were married by their fellow Yba artist-friend Tracey Emin, which was also the year they last had a...

Tracey Emin + Turner’S Erotic Sketches from Lilian Simonsson on Vimeo. Nice companion video to lay alongside today’s Cannes’ premiere of Mr. Turner. Tracey Emin and Tate curator Ian...

The Oscar-winning director of 12 Years a Slave has pushed back the boundaries of film because of the fearlessness that comes with a background in art

When the director Steve McQueen was an art student learning basic film-making skills at Goldsmiths College, London, he joked he was already aiming for the time when his name would eclipse that of his glamorous namesake, star of The Great Escape and Bullitt. "One day," he told his tutor, Professor Will Brooker, "when people talk about Steve McQueen, I am going to be the first person they think of."

Now, with an Oscar for his film 12 Years a Slave, the transition from Turner prizewinning artist to celebrated director has been made in style. It is a path to cinematography also taken by the British artist Sam Taylor-Wood, nominated for a Turner prize in 1998 and now editing her high-profile film of the erotic bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey.

Los Angeles, Feb 11: Former football star David Beckham is reportedly interested in taking up street art.

The 38-year-old is said to be keen on creating a graffiti painting of his wife Victoria, reports dailystar.co.uk.

"Having dabbled with classic painting in the past, he now wants to do street art style," a source said.

"First he wants to portray (his) wife...He's been inspired to take a more edgy approach by his vast art collection, which includes works by Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. It was his New Year resolution and he's finally getting round to it," the source added.

Ians...

Arctic Monkeys and ITV's Broadchurch were among the winners at today's South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

The Arctics' Am album beat David Bowie's The Next Day and Disclosure's Settle to the Pop Music prize

Meanwhile, Broadchurch toppled Top of the Lake and The Fall for the best TV Drama accolade.

Other winners at the event, which celebrates the best in visual art, theatre, opera, dance, comedy, classical music, pop, TV drama, literature and film, were Bridget Christie in the comedy category and The Selfish Giant, which scooped the Film title.

Stephen Mangan presented the Times Breakthrough Award to the comedian Nick Helm and Tracey Emin took home the Outstanding Achievement award.

The show airs on Sky Arts 1 on Thursday (January 30).

South Bank Sky Arts Award Winners 2014:

Comedy:

Bridget Christie: A Bic for Her

Theatre:

Let The Right One In, National Theatre of Scotland

Visual Art:

Katie Paterson,...

Think you recognize any of the characters in Grand Theft Auto V? Lindsay Lohan does, and according to TMZ, the scandal-surrounded actress has contacted her lawyers and is in the process of suing the video game honchos for using her image without her permission. Apparently the game features a woman who looks Lindsay-ish, and the character comes complete with an egotistical attitude and desire to escape the paparazzi. Sound familiar?

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Headlines and social media posts erupted on Saturday afternoon, as tragedy struck when The Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker and pro-racer Roger Rodas died in a fiery car crash in Southern California. Parallel to the outcome of the horrific event, the fate of the popular movie franchise was not looking good, since production for the seventh installment featuring Walker was already underway. However THR has reported that Fast & Furious 7 will not be scrapped. The Universal team met on Sunday and decided that,...

George Clooney is the camouflaged cover star for W magazine's art issue. He worked with five different female artists for the publication, and when he wasn't sitting in a spotted Armani suit, he chatted with Lynn Hirschberg about his personal life. George, who split with his latest long-term girlfriend, Stacy Keibler, earlier this year, admitted this about the great love of his life: "I haven't met her yet." In a departure from his usual leading ladies, George revealed that as a kid, he "was in love with Audrey Hepburn" and "thought she was as elegant as anything I'd ever seen. And I fell madly in love with her. I also always loved Grace Kelly. I mean, when she comes out of the water in To Catch a Thief, I thought, 'That's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.'" George also opened up to artist Tracey Emin, sharing his definition...

With his suave, debonair looks, George Clooney is a hard guy to miss. And the same goes for the Hollywood heartthrob's latest magazine cover despite being decked out in polka dots and nearly camouflaged on the cover of W's annual art issue. In a pictorial called "Spot the Star," the 52-year-old Clooney wore a polka dot suit as well as other dashing ensembles as he posed for a pictorial for the magazine to promote the release of his latest film, the art-themed World War II drama, The Monuments Men. But one particular shot didn't feature him at all. Rather, it was a "text" portrait done in neon by British artist Tracey Emin dubbed "The Passion of Your Smile." Emin...

London — Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and art collector Charles Saatchi said they intend to conclude a "swift and amicable" divorce by the end of the month, with neither receiving any financial compensation from the other.

The couple separated after a newspaper published photos last month of Saatchi grasping his wife's throat during an argument at a London restaurant.

A statement issued Monday on their behalf said neither would contest the divorce "and neither party will be making any financial claims against the other."

It said Lawson had hired powerhouse divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton – whose previous clients include Prince Charles and Paul McCartney – while Saatchi was representing himself.

The couple's "decree nisi," or initial divorce decree, is due to be pronounced July 31.

Lawson and Saatchi married in 2003 and lived in London with Lawson's son and daughter from her marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died of cancer in 2001, and Saatchi's daughter from a previous marriage.

London — Prominent art collector Charles Saatchi said Sunday he is divorcing his celebrity chef wife Nigella Lawson because she did not publicly defend his reputation after images emerged of him grasping her throat in a posh London restaurant.

Tabloid newspapers last month published photos of the incident, which Saatchi described as a "playful tiff" during an intense debate about the couple's children.

The 70-year-old Saatchi was given a police "caution" after admitting assault.

He told Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper that he was "sorry" to announce he will be divorcing Lawson, adding that they have become "estranged" and drifted apart over the past year.

"`I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way,...

London — Prominent British art collector Charles Saatchi has admitted assault and accepted a police caution after published photos showed him grasping the throat of his wife, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.

In Tuesday's editions, The London Evening Standard newspaper quoted him as saying that he had approached police to discuss the incident after seeking legal advice.

"Although Nigella made no complaint I volunteered to go to Charing Cross (police) station and take a police caution after a discussion with my lawyer because I thought it was better than the alternative of this hanging over all of us for months," he told the newspaper, where he is also a columnist. He said the questioning took four hours.

Tabloid newspapers this week published photos of the incident, which happened June 9 in a posh London restaurant.

Saatchi, 70, earlier had characterized the incident as a "playful tiff" during an intense debate about the couple's children.

London — British police said Monday they are investigating newspaper photos that show Nigella Lawson's husband Charles Saatchi with his hands around the celebrity chef's throat.

The pictures drew widespread condemnation after they were published by the Sunday People tabloid. The paper said the images were taken during an argument at a London restaurant on June 9.

Lawson's spokesman, Mark Hutchinson, declined to comment on the images. But Saatchi, Britain's best-known art collector, told London's Evening Standard newspaper that the pictures misrepresented a "playful tiff."

Saatchi, an Evening Standard columnist, said "the pictures are horrific but give a far more drastic and violent impression of what took place."

"About a week ago, we were sitting outside a restaurant having an intense debate about the children, and I held Nigella's neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasize my point," he was quoted as saying. "There was no grip, it was a playful tiff.

U2 singer and actors Goldberg and Cumberbatch and other celebrities turn artist for postcard sale to raise funds for school

To call the postcard-sized creation by Whoopi Goldberg a work of art, might be pushing it, but it is still expected to spark keen interest among buyers. The work will appear along with equally distinguished ones by Bono, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Julian Lennon in a silent auction to raise funds for a primary school in north London at the annual Affordable Art Fair

Cumberbatch and Bono have gone for self portraits – the Sherlock star's a Byronic profile, the U2 frontman's a quick slash of blue marker conjuring up his trademark sunglasses. Lennon has sent a sweetly traditional landscape in red marker on cardboard, complete with duck pond and cottage with smoking chimney, which any of the pupils might feel they could at least match in art class. Goldberg's is more a message than a painting,...

There are few L.A. events that reliably bring together A-listers from the art world and Hollywood; one that always draws the right mix is the annual Angel Art benefit held at CAA’s Century City headquarters. “Everybody shows up,” says CAA agent Thao Nguyen, who also helps oversee the agency’s extensive contemporary art exhibition. “We had one year where Orlando Bloom and [artist] Tracey Emin were bidding against each other to get a work up way above its value, and they were kind of heckling one another in the live auction. It’s all out of fun and

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Bernardo Bertolucci, Jeanette Winterson and Paul Weller also among 75 public figures revealing favourite works

BBC Radio 4 is lining up 75 leading public figures, including film director Bernardo Bertolucci, singer Paul Weller and novelist Jeanette Winterson, to reveal their most treasured cultural influences for what the station claims will be one of the most comprehensive arts events broadcast.

The network has already confirmed 30 names for the project, Cultural Exchange, which will see individuals selecting a single item to talk about, with the choices ranging from the King James Bible to an obscure 1960s album.

It will feature every weekday on Front Row until the end of July.

Artist Tracey Emin will launch the series on 22 April with her insights into a Vermeer painting – Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid. She describes Vermeer as "one of the first feminists", pointing to the unusual and fascinating way he depicted women. "He showed that...