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Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh star in Scottish sitcom Only Child, and the BBC has released a first trailer. More here.

Gregor Fisher will always be inextracably intertwined with Rab C. Nesbitt, the permanently plastered Glaswegian festering in squalor alongside long suffering wife Mary Doll, played by Elaine C. Smith. The show became so popular that writer Ian Pattison adapted it into a stage show, and stars like Sylvester McCoy, Stanley Baxter and Richard E. Grant appeared in the show. Series 3 episode Touch features a very early television appearance by David Tennant, who guest stars as barmaid Davina.

As we approach the festive season, Fisher also features in arguably the sweetest story in Richard Curtis’ Love Actually, about the friendship between his character Joe and Bill Nighy’s rock star Billy Mack.

Now though? Gregor Fisher is returning to the small screen for sitcom Only Child.

Watch the trailer below:

According to the BBC,...

Andrew Cumming’s Stone Age thriller Out Of Darkness leads the film nominations for the 2024 Bafta Scotland Awards, nominated in three categories including best feature film.

The film, which follows a gang of early humans who suspect a malevolent being is hunting them down, also received nominations for actor film for Kit Young, and actress film for Safia Oakley-Green.

Scroll down for the full list of nominees

Out Of Darkness premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in 2022, before a UK-Ireland release in February this year by Signature Entertainment under the title The Origin.

Cumming, writer Ruth Greenberg and Oakley-Green...

The cancellation of long-running Australian soap “Neighbours” has resulted in a multi-generational outpouring of nostalgia among audiences in the U.K., where the show has aired since 1986. In the run-up to its Aug. 1 finale, “Neighbours” has received a ratings boost that’s made it one of the most popular programs on its Paramount-backed broadcaster Channel 5. Not only that, but a nationwide tour featuring some of the show’s most famous characters has been announced. Why go visit the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, when Erinsborough can come to you?

Having aired for 36 years, the majority of them on the BBC, “Neighbours” has all the hallmarks of a modern-day soap: affairs, hospital visits, plane crashes, explosions, marriages that result in explosions, marriages that accidentally result in the bride and groom driving off a cliff and the bride being lost at sea, before turning up decades later to avenge a lookalike stealing her identity.

[caption id="attachment_48722" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Image via BBC./caption]

BBC Two has renewed the Two Doors Down TV show for a second season. Set in Scotland, this sitcom features a couple and their insufferable neighbors. The cast of Two Doors Down includes: Arabella Weir, Alex Norton, Elaine C. Smith, Doon Mackichan, Sharon Rooney, Jonathan Watson, Jamie Quinn, and Harki Bhambra.

Filming is set for mid-August, on location in Glasgow and at BBC Scotland's Dumbarton Studios. Two Doors Down is written by Gregor Sharp and Simon Carlyle. The season two recommissioning is for six 30-minute episodes.

Read More…...

Meryl Streep has been approached to play Susan Boyle in an upcoming film, according to the former Britain's Got Talent contestant.

Boyle's life rights were recently bought by Fox Searchlight, which intends to make a biopic about the singer.

In an interview with Metro, Boyle said: "I wouldn't like to be in the film myself. I'd like someone to play me. Probably Meryl Streep - I understand she has been approached."

A stage musical about the singer's life has previously toured the UK, with Boyle played by actress Elaine C Smith.

This would be the second time in recent history that Streep has played the lead role in a biopic. In 2012, she won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Earlier this year saw the release of One Chance, in which James Corden took on the role of previous Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts.

Last night, Edith Bowman played host to the British Academy Scotland Awards 2012, celebrating the year’s best and most promising talent in Scotland.

Previously known as the BAFTA Scotland Awards, the nominations were announced last month, with Ken Loach’s The Angel’s Share leading the pack, having taken home the Jury Prize at Cannes back in the spring.

The results have officially been announced, and Loach’s film didn’t disappoint, taking home the Best Writer award for Paul Laverty and Best Actor/Actress in the Film category for Paul Brannigan.

Zam Salim came away with the Best Director and Best Feature Film awards for his feature directorial debut, Up There, which was released in UK cinemas on Friday – if it’s playing in a theatre near you, this should definitely be encouragement enough to go and seek it out, if you haven’t done so already.

The great...

London, Nov 19: Singer Susan Boyle says watching a musical show based on her life made her feel both sad and happy.

The musical "I Dreamed A Dream" is about the struggle of Boyle, who rose to fame with reality show "Britain's Got Talent" in 2009.

The role of Boyle, 51, was played by Scottish actress Elaine C. Smith but the former had gone on stage herself most nights to sing the title song.

"It's funny when you see people playing people who you knew. It's very surreal. To begin with it was upsetting because I was not used to it. Once I got into it though, it was quite clever and amusing," thesun.co.uk quoted Boyle as.

Formerly known as the BAFTA Scotland Awards, the nominations for this year’s British Academy Scotland Awards 2012 have been announced, with the ever-brilliant Edith Bowman officially set to host the awards ceremony next month.

Leading the pack with four nominations to its name is Ken Loach’s The Angel’s Share, which took home the Jury Prize at Cannes earlier this year.

Following closely behind with two nominations each are Kevin Bridges and Zam Salim, the latter nominated in both the Best Director and Best Feature Film categories for the forthcoming, Up There, which will be released on 16th November in the UK.

The Scotland-born Bowman has a wealth of experience that makes her a perfect fit for the awards, having presented pretty much every major music festival the UK has to offer through her career, along with hosting the Q Awards back in 2005 on BBC Radio 1.

“I am delighted...

London -- She dreamed a dream, and it came true. But what happened next for Susan Boyle?

The middle-aged church volunteer from a small town in Scotland became an instant global celebrity in 2009 with her heart-stopping rendition of the "Les Miserables" number "I Dreamed a Dream" on a TV talent show.

A week is a long time in showbiz – and in our hyper-speed online age three and a half years is an eternity – but Boyle is still going strong. She has sold millions of records, received an honorary doctorate, sung for Pope Benedict XVI and performed in Las Vegas. A stage musical about her life has played to enthusiastic crowds across Britain and is headed for Australia, and next month she releases her fourth album, "Standing Ovation."

But the 51-year-old singer who entered the TV talent contest to make her late mother proud is remarkably unchanged. She's still a bit frumpy,...

The musical based on the life of singing sensation Susan Boyle — remember her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Britain’s Got Talent heard around the world? — are in from last night’s opening, and here’s a surprise: The show, fittingly titled I Dreamed a Dream, is supposed to be pretty darn good.

Starring Elaine C. Smith as Boyle — with a cameo appearance by Boyle herself in the finale — Dream premiered last night at Newcastle’s Theatre Royale, and we’ve rounded up the glowing notices it got (one of them calls the show “a delight”) for you...

Susan Boyle received a standing ovation as a new musical based on her life received its premiere last night (March 27). The 'I Dreamed A Dream' star took to the stage at Newcastle's Theatre Royal, where fans from all over the world had come to support the new production, in which Elaine C Smith is playing Boyle. Boyle herself will make a cameo after the curtain call most nights, performing the Les Misérables track which propelled her to fame on Britain's Got Talent. During the performance, one American fan shouted: "We love you!" to which Boyle responded: "I love you too, see you outside." Based on her autobiography The Woman I Was Born to Be, the musical tells the story from Boyle's birth, her time at school, being bullied for her learning difficulties, her decision to perform on stage for Simon (more)...

Our critics' picks of this week's openings, plus your last chance to see and what to book now

• Which cultural events are in your diary this week? Tell us in the comments below

Opening this weekTheatre

I Dreamed a Dream

SuBo is played by Elaine C Smith in this new musical based on the life of the Britain's Got Talent sensation, who has given her personal endorsement to this money-spinner – sorry, show. Theatre Royal, Newcastle (0844 811 2121), until 31 March, then touring.

Fierce festival

Birmingham gets ready for boundary-busting performances from UK and international performers, including Ann Liv Young, Playgroup and Graeme Miller. The festival takes place in unusual spaces all across the city, including the soon to be demolished library and under Spaghetti Junction. Various locations, Birmingham, Thursday to 8 April.

Film

The Hunger Games (dir. Gary Ross)

Suzanne Collins's teen bestseller is turned into an exciting dystopian thriller. Jennifer Lawrence stars.

Susan Boyle has promised that the upcoming musical based on her life will "have everything". The singer will make guest appearances in I Dreamed a Dream, which embarks on an 11-week tour of the UK later this month. Talking about the show's popularity, she told BBC Breakfast: "The story had an appeal, a magical story, a fairy story. It was a dream come true. "It can sort of be an example for other people, to inspire them to go on and see for themselves and to do something similar." Elaine C Smith plays the role of Boyle in the musical, and revealed that she felt nervous when the singer joined the production herself. "I didn't think initially that I would feel (more)...

I Dreamed A Dream, the musical biography of Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle, who walked onstage as a dumpy Scottish misfit and walked off a star, may come to America after an inaugural UK tour in 2012. Apparently the producer of the show, who cast West End Calendar Girls stage actress Elaine C. Smith as the 50-year-old Boyle, is in talks with stateside theater people to bring it over here.

Susan Boyle... the musical!

This is Susan Boyle covering Depeche Mode

At the end of the show, Boyle herself steps out and sings "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables, the song that made her famous. Do you think the Susan Boyle musical's got a chance aross the pond?

More importantly, I once had a big fight with a friend over Susan Boyle: my friend argued that she was a simple-minded woman being exploited and mocked, and I said...

Michael Harrison, producer of I Dreamed A Dream, the musical biography of Susan Boyle that starts its out-of-town UK tour in March 2012, tells me he is in talks with U.S. impresarios about bringing the show to America. “Obviously there is huge potential for the show in America, so that is very much part of the plan,” he says. I Dreamed A Dream is the musical life story of Boyle, 50, who was a dumpy Scottish misfit before Simon Cowell sprinkled his stardust over her and she became the Britain’s Got Talent and YouTube singing sensation. Boyle will step out onstage at the show’s finale and sing the show tune that made her famous. The clip of her singing I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables has had 300 million YouTube hits to date. And her Grammy-nominated debut album has sold just over 10 million copies, while follow-up The Gift racked up another 4 million.

Susan Boyle will make a guest appearance in a musical based on her life. The singer will join the cast of I Dreamed A Dream when it embarks on an 11-week tour of the UK next March. Boyle will not be playing herself as that role will be performed by Elaine C Smith, who was announced to be playing Boyle earlier this year. "I am thrilled to be a part of the musical about my life story and very much looking forward to stepping on stage and performing with the cast," Boyle said. "It is an honest portrayal of my life and has been a cathartic process to be involved in." The musical's producer Michael Harrison explained: "Having Susan join the cast to perform the finale of her musical is amazing for both ourselves and audiences across the UK and Ireland." Smith, who is (more)...

Susan Boyle has joined the cast of a musical based on her life. The Scottish singing sensation is the focus of touring stage production I Dreamed A Dream and while actress Elaine C. Smith will portray her journey from struggling recluse to global stardom after appearing on 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2009, the Wild Horses hitmaker will take to the stage for the finale of the show. Susan - who has not performed on the UK stage since the Britain's Got Talent tour - said: 'I am thrilled to be a part of the musical about my life story and very much...

So inspiring is Susan Boyle's life story that she would be the subject of a musical play. The Scottish singer's meteoric rise is brought to life in "I Dreamed a Dream" with actress Elaine C Smith portraying Boyle. Smith is best known as Mary in long-running Scottish sitcom "Rab C Nesbitt".

"I never thought my life story would end up on the stage but a lot has happened in two years and it is a very exciting prospect. I hope everyone enjoys the show and I promise there will be a few surprises along the way," said Boyle who came second on 2009 "Britain's Got Talent".

The play would open at Newcastle's Theater Royal in March next year and tour for about half a year in U.K., U.S. and Australia. Tickets would be sold next month.

"She is an inspiring woman and her story is an excellent one...

The 50-year-old singing sensation – who shot to fame on Simon Cowell's talent search show 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2009 before going on to sell more than 14 million albums worldwide – will see her inspirational tale take to the stage in 2012 in the international stage production 'I Dreamed A Dream.' Susan, who will be portrayed by 'Rab C. Nesbitt' actress Elaine C Smith, is thrilled at the prospect of seeing her life turned into a worldwide musical. She said: "I am happy that the musical is being produced, I never thought my life story would end up on the stage but a lot has happened in two years and it is a very exciting prospect. I hope everyone enjoys the show and I promise there will be a few surprises along the way." -------------------- Read More: Visit Susan Boyle's profile page Susan Boyle has been immortalized...

Susan Boyle will soon see her life story made into a stage show.

The former Britain’s Got Talent winner – who went on to break international sales records and sell more than 14 million albums worldwide – will see her childhood and teenage years become the focus of new international stage production ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ in 2012.

‘Rab C. Nesbitt’ actress Elaine C Smith will take on the role of Subo and the Scottish singer has confessed that she is thrilled at the prospect of seeing her life turned into a worldwide musical.

She said: “I am happy that the musical is being produced, I never thought my life story would end up on the stage but a lot has happened in two years and it is a very exciting prospect. I hope everyone enjoys the show and I promise there will be a few surprises along the way.”

Meanwhile, producer Michael Harrison...

Susan Boyle's life story will be told in a new musical, it has been announced. The Scottish singer rose to fame after auditioning for Britain's Got Talent. Despite failing to win the ITV1 show, Boyle has gone on to sell over 14 million albums around the world. Taking its title from Boyle's best-known performance, I Dreamed a Dream will see actress Elaine C Smith - best known for her part in Rab C Nesbitt - play the lead role. The show, produced by Michael Harrison, will premiere in Newcastle next spring, running from March 23 before beginning a 22-week UK tour. Productions will then launch similar tours in the Us and Australia the following year. Boyle commented: (more)...

Susan Boyle's life story is to be the subject of a new musical. The 50-year-old singing sensation - who shot to fame on Simon Cowell's talent search show Britain's Got Talent in 2009 before going on to sell more than 14 million albums worldwide - will see her inspirational tale take to the stage from 2012 in international stage production I Dreamed A Dream. Susan, who will be portrayed by Rab C. Nesbitt actress Elaine C Smith, is thrilled at the prospect of seeing her life turned into a worldwide musical. She said: I am happy that the musical is being produced, I...

We all remember it, don’t we? The moment Susan Boyle waddled out on stage having been patronised by Ant and Dec, looking like a can of corned beef beneath a pensioner’s merkin? She blew away the audience and sneering charmless judges with a bellowing classic from Les Miserables and thus won a nations and then a world’s hearts, didn’t she? Well, no, not quite. In spite of the fact that few people have enjoyed the pleasure of never having seen the youtube clip that launched the world’s biggest walking anti-virginity advert into stardom, relatively few people saw the original programme in question.

The reason for this is fairly straight-forward, while Simon Cowell’s X-Factor may receive the sort of viewing figures that make one yearn for a world war to cleanse this generation of its unrepentant vacuity, the majority of people were either out or...

She’s played several great roles in her career whether it be as deranged mistress Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction or as dog-hater Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians but now award-winning actress Glenn Close is set for one of her toughest performances yet by playing singing sensation Susan Boyle in an upcoming biopic.

Though not the most reliable of sources (or at all), The Sun, as reported by DigitalSpy, revealed that a biopic of the Scottish singer, who rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent a couple of years ago, is in the works with Hollywood bosses wanting to bring in a big name star to play Boyle. Should it be called A Star is Born Then Not Discovered For Years?

Close is set to play the singer amid a suggestion that Boyle wanted Rab C. Nesbitt star Elaine C Smith to play her instead. However on Close’s potential involvement,...

Role rumoured to have attracted Catherine Zeta-Jones and Robin Williams could finally have gone to Fatal Attraction actor

Glenn Close is to play reality TV star Susan Boyle in a forthcoming biopic of the Scottish singer's life, according to the Sun.

The newspaper says Close has agreed to take the role despite Boyle's preference for her compatriot Elaine C Smith, best known for playing Rab C Nesbitt's long-suffering wife in the BBC sitcom that shares his name.

A source told the paper's Bizarre column: "The film is full steam ahead now the leading role is sorted. It was always going to be a tricky one to cast. [Susan Boyle's] incredible story is so well-known across the planet that the film is bound to go down a storm.

"Glenn has played some imposing women in the past including Cruella de Vil and Alex Forrest, who boils the pet rabbit in Fatal Attraction. But...

Hundreds of fans lined the streets of Glasgow, Scotland on Friday to pay their respects to late actor Gerard Kelly, who died last month.

The 51-year-old star, known for his appearances on TV shows including Extras and Rab C Nesbitt, passed away on 28 October after suffering a brain aneurysm.

He was laid to rest in a memorial service at St Aloysius' Church in his native Glasgow and devotees took to the streets to watch his funeral cortege pass through the city.

The funeral was attended by family, friends and former colleagues including Scottish actors Elaine C Smith and Tony Rope.

Jennifer Ellison has posed topless on stage, five months after delivering her baby boy with boxer husband Robbie Tickle. On Tuesday, July 27, Ellison took off her shirt in the opening night of new production of "Calendar Girl" at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Playing trophy wife Celia aka Miss September in the touring production, Ellison is seen having a pair of strategically placed buns to cover her breasts. The production will take her, who brings her son along with her, to Llandudno, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and Liverpool over the next two months.

Ellison revealed that when she first accepted the role, she never thought that it would involve disrobing. "I thought I was playing the make-up artist, who doesn't strip. It turns out I've got a lead role - and I'm as naked as everyone else," Ellison said as quoted by Daily Mail. As for the nude scene,...