Liz Smith with her MBE for services to drama.

A statement issued on Monday night said: “The Bafta award-winning actress Liz Smith has died, on Christmas Eve, at the age of 95, her family has announced.” The Royle Family actor Ralf Little tweeted: “Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year.

From David Bowie and Prince to Victoria Wood and Terry wogan: The…

It’s my quinceanera and I’ll cry if I want to! Mexican girl looks unimpressed as THOUSANDS hijack her party and cause chaos after her father’s VERY awkward Facebook invitation went viral From David Bowie and Prince to Victoria Wood and Terry Wogan: 2016, the year our favourite stars were taken from us The world of entertainment has lost stars from all sections of the industry in 2016, bidding farewell to showbiz giants including David Bowie, Sir Terry Wogan, Victoria Wood, Prince and now George Michael.

Royle Family star Liz Smith dies aged 95

Actress Liz Smith , who played the role of Nana in The Royle Family , and Mrs Cropley in the Vicar of Dibley , has died aged 95. A spokesperson for the actress confirmed on Boxing day that she passed away on Christmas eve. Liz, who was awarded an NBE in 2009 and was also a Bafta-award winner, was a family favourite, having played roles in a plethora of TV shows including 2point4 Children and Lark Rise to Candleford .

Royle Family star Liz Smith dies aged 95

Actress Liz Smith , who played the role of Nana in The Royle Family , and Mrs Cropley in the Vicar of Dibley , has died aged 95. A spokesperson for the actress confirmed on Boxing day that she passed away on Christmas eve. Liz, who was awarded an NBE in 2009 and was also a Bafta-award winner, was a family favourite, having played roles in a plethora of TV shows including 2point4 Children and Lark Rise to Candleford .

Silent Witness stars dismiss idea to join forces in future series

Silent Witness stars Amanda Burton and Emilia Fox both agree it would be “weird” to see their respective characters join forces in a future version of the crime drama series. However, the two actresses – who have played the leading role in the hit BBC programme at separate times over the years – do think that their on-screen selves would work well together.

Silent Witness stars dismiss idea to join forces in future series

Silent Witness stars Amanda Burton and Emilia Fox both agree it would be “weird” to see their respective characters join forces in a future version of the crime drama series. However, the two actresses – who have played the leading role in the hit BBC programme at separate times over the years – do think that their on-screen selves would work well together.

Sanjeev Bhaskar hoping for more primetime roles for Asian actors

Goodness Gracious Me star Sanjeev Bhaskar has said he hopes an Asian actor in a lead role on a primetime TV show will soon be seen as the norm rather than the exception. The comedian revealed he saw his move into drama as a challenge to shatter preconceptions and will soon be back on screens in the second series of cold case drama Unforgotten.

Sanjeev Bhaskar hoping for more primetime roles for Asian actors

Goodness Gracious Me star Sanjeev Bhaskar has said he hopes an Asian actor in a lead role on a primetime TV show will soon be seen as the norm rather than the exception. The comedian revealed he saw his move into drama as a challenge to shatter preconceptions and will soon be back on screens in the second series of cold case drama Unforgotten.

Chetna crowned last ever winner of Bake Off on BBC

The Great British Bake Off’s renowned “flavour queen” Chetna Makan has been crowned the last ever winner of the show before it moves channels. Returning to the tent after storming through to the semi-finals in series five, judge Paul Hollywood said her showstopper masterpiece of miniature festive desserts “smashed it out the park”.

Chetna crowned last ever winner of Bake Off on BBC

The Great British Bake Off’s renowned “flavour queen” Chetna Makan has been crowned the last ever winner of the show before it moves channels. Returning to the tent after storming through to the semi-finals in series five, judge Paul Hollywood said her showstopper masterpiece of miniature festive desserts “smashed it out the park”.

George Michael achieved pop music success, but freedom eluded him

A drawing is left with flowers and tributes outside the Oxfordshire home of British pop singer George Michael on December 26, 2016 in Goring, England. Singer George Michael died on Christmas day in his country home in Oxfordshire at the age of 53 on December 25. A drawing is left with flowers and tributes outside the Oxfordshire home of British pop singer George Michael on December 26, 2016 in Goring, England.

George Michael achieved pop music success, but freedom eluded him

A drawing is left with flowers and tributes outside the Oxfordshire home of British pop singer George Michael on December 26, 2016 in Goring, England. Singer George Michael died on Christmas day in his country home in Oxfordshire at the age of 53 on December 25. A drawing is left with flowers and tributes outside the Oxfordshire home of British pop singer George Michael on December 26, 2016 in Goring, England.

Resurrection – ” A Journey Tribute band to play Thea

Resurrection – A Journey Tribute band to play The Dixie Journey tribute band to rock The Dixie Check out this story on jacksonsun.com: Lead singer Ryan Christopher began his love affair with music at a young age and has fronted various cover bands throughout his career. One night in 2005, he was challenged to perform “Don’t Stop Believing” in a karaoke competition and found his calling.

Chetna Makan triumphs over ‘cheating’ James Morton to win…

‘Cheatna-Gate’: Justice is done as Chetna Makan triumphs over ‘cheating’ James Morton to win GBBO’s farewell to the BBC. The Great Christmas Bake Off still left a sour taste, by Jim Shelley The Great British Bake Off said farewell to the BBC but its second festive special The Great Christmas Bake Off did not end the way viewers would have wanted – with a Showstopper Challenge of custard pies and Mary Berry unceremoniously shoving them in Paul Hollywood’s face.

Cheetah numbers decline as African habitat shrinks

Amid population declines for many wildlife species in Africa, conservationists are sounding alarm bells for the cheetah, the fastest animal on land. An estimated 7,100 cheetahs remain in the wild across Africa and in a small area of Iran, and human encroachment has pushed the wide-ranging predator out of 91 percent of its historic habitat, according to a study published on Monday.

The Nicest Thing David Duchovny Has Ever Heard In His Career

When you’re a small screen actor who has been nominated for numerous Emmys and Golden Globes several times over, flattery tends to come quite easily. However, that doesn’t mean that a guy like David Duchovny would ever get tired of hearing encouraging things about his work, and certain people made very specific impressions on him in his time as an actor.

Mac McCaughan – “Happy New Year (Prince Can’t Die Again)”

Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan has shared a sorta funny but mostly overwhelmingly bleak new song called “Happy New Year (Prince Can’t Die Again” that reflects on the horrible year we’ve just had. It was written and recorded on Christmas Eve “in a moment of trying to look at any possible bright side of the coming new year after the disaster that was this one,” per the song’s Bandcamp page .

Celebrities, fans mourn singer George Michael

George Michael, the British pop superstar who reached early fame with WHAM! and went on to a solo career lined with controversies and chart-topping hits that blended soul and dance music with social commentary, has died, his publicist said Sunday. He was 53. Michael died at his home in Goring, England.

OMG, Old Disney Shows Are Returning on New Year’s Day

There’s nothing better to do on New Year’s Day than binge-watch TV – and thanks to Disney Channel, your January 1 schedule is shaping up to be incredible. Starting at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Disney will air the pilot episodes of more than 30 past and present series, including The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Suite Life on Deck, Hannah Montana, JONAS, Sonny With a Chance, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up, That’s So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, Phil of the Future, The Proud Family, Kim Possible , and more.

Three men dead, one missing in separate NSW drownings

Three men have died and one remains missing after they drowned in separate incidents on Boxing Day, within hours of one another. The men were among thousands of holidaymakers who took to the water across NSW on Monday, as police warned people to remain vigilant when swimming during the festive season.

Doctor Who Series 10 Teaser Revealed

The BBC has revealed the Doctor Who Series 10 teaser, which you can watch below! The series will be the third starring Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor and will introduce Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts, the Doctor’s new traveling companion. Matt Lucas also plays Nardole, who previously appeared in the Christmas special “The Husbands of River Song.”

Steven Mnuchin Treasury Confirmation Will Cost a Fortune – …

Treasury Secretary hopeful Steven Mnuchin’s confirmation process will cost a huge chunk of his personal fortune, prized stocks and reveal complex financial ties, a new report says. The former Hollywood financier will face “some of the most stringent divestiture requirements” to win his presidential cabinet appointment, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday .

The Ten Best TV Shows of 2016

Fences is a film about how our environment shapes us, and how, no matter how noble their intentions, our parents can’t help but mess us Abundantly talented writer/director Maren Ade fully embraces the inherent awkwardness of a testy emotional bond and tackles it to the ground. “The Ballad of Narayama” is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty.

Nathan Mitchell Wraps Production on ‘The Marine 5: Battleground’

Actor Nathan Mitchell from the series “Arrow” takes on the role of Cole in the upcoming action film “The Marine 5: Battleground.” LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, December 26, 2016 / EINPresswire.com / — Actor Nathan Mitchell , who is known for his roles on The CW’s Leo Award winning TV series “Arrow” and CTV’s Canadian Screen Award winning crime drama “Motive,” recently wrapped production on the upcoming action film “The Marine 5: Battleground.”

It’s a 10 for Len as Strictly tops Christmas Day ratings in his final show

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special was the most popular programme on TV on Christmas Day, with an average audience of 7.2 million and a peak of 7.6 million tuning in to watch head judge Len Goodman’s final appearance on the panel. Strictly’s festive effort – which saw radio DJ Melvin Odoom crowned the winner, a success following his early exit from the recent series – helped BBC1 to become the most-watched channel of the day.

More on Learn

Travelscope “Ireland – The West Is Best” Joseph starts his Ireland adventure in the town of Shannon and then heads southwest to the Dingle Peninsula. While on the Peninsula he uncovers a few important Irish secrets like how to draw a proper pint, spout a wee bit of Gaelic without getting tongue-tied, how to root for your horse home at the Dingle races and which pub has the best Irish soda bread and stew.

The Queen’s speech wins festive ratings war for the third year running

Happy holidays from the Trump family! Ivanka, Eric Tiffany and Don Jr share sweet snaps of their Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations in last vacation before they become America’s First Family Rabbi draws parallels between Obama and terrorists for not stopping the UN vote against Israeli settlements as he hosts National Hanukkah Menorah ceremony outside the White House At least 27 people are shot in Chicago over Christmas weekend as the city’s number of homicides spike more than 50 PER CENT from last year ‘Revenge is like the sweetest joy next to getting p***y:’ Churchgoers in Sri Lanka are left stunned when they open their hymn books to find explicit lyrics to a Tupac song George Michael dies ‘peacefully in his bed’ at his Oxfordshire home aged just 53 as neighbors tell how the reclusive star looked ‘haggard’ in his final days and grieving fans mourn his death George Michael ‘had … (more)

The top 10 interesting-imperfect movies of 2016

This time of year brings a barrage of lists — critics and journalists telling you the 10 best movies you need to see, or need to feel bad for not seeing. Admittedly, many of us in media-land tend to lockstep to the same films, or throw in a requisite foreign outlier.

The One Show host Alex Jones: ‘I was a terrible looking child, my…

The One Show host Alex Jones: ‘I was a terrible looking child, my younger self would be chuffed with how I turned out’ Alex Jones attends the After Party dinner for the House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on May 10, 2015 in London, England. Alex Jones attends the After Party dinner for the House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on May 10, 2015 in London, England.

TrueVisions to drop HBO, Cinemax

Regulators have approved pay-TV operator TrueVisions’ request to drop six entertainment channels including HBO and Cinemax from Jan 1 as the cable operator claimed it had lost the rights to air them, according to a commissioner. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission made the decision at its Monday meeting, Col Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC’s broadcasting committee, said a briefing shortly after the meeting.

Music stars queue up to praise ‘talented soul’ George Michael

Stars from the world of showbiz have paid tribute to the “truly brilliant” George Michael, who died on Christmas Day aged 53. Pop stars from the former Wham! front man’s heyday were joined by more contemporary names in declaring their sadness. Martin Fry, lead singer and songwriter with Look Of Love band ABC, said on Twitter: “Absolutely devastated to hear of the loss of @GeorgeMichael Truly brilliant talent #sad #sad #sad.”

Former St. Louisan bakes up an acclaimed cookbook

When he was a child, Irvin Lin’s favorite dish at St. Louis’ Ted Drewes was an apple pie concrete, which had an entire slice of apple pie mixed into the frozen custard. Now, in his first cookbook, “Marbled, Swirled and Layered,” Lin honors that treat with a dessert inspired by it, Blueberry Crisp Buttermilk Ice Cream.

Bowie, Prince, George Michael: We’ve lost a triumvirate of icons who dared to do manhood differently

Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer View text version of this page Help using this website – Accessibility statement Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox. Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.

Things to do in the Myrtle Beach area on Dec. 27

This photo shows a poster for “Season of Light,” a show at noon and 6 p.m. as part of the Sky Theater schedule daily through Saturday at Ingram Planetarium, 7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach, N.C. Details at 910-575-0033 or www.museumplanetarium.org. Join Rabbi Avi Peret from Temple Emanu-El by the Sea, a Conservative Jewish congregation based at 65th Avenue North and Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, for the Menorah lighting on this fourth night of Hanukkah.

Meet the cast of The Witness for the Prosecution

The brutal murder of widow Emily French appears to have one suspect Leonard Vole a handsome young chancer who was also her lover and the man who was to inherit her vast wealth. Untangling the truth about this is John Mayhew, a penniless solicitor who takes on what seems like a hopeless case.

Shows of the Week: A ‘Fam-o-Lee’ Tradition From One of Texas’s Best

When he realized that “Merry Christmas From the Family,” his 1994 tune about a motley clan that gets along well enough during the holidays so long as the margaritas and homemade eggnog keep flowing, was well on its way to becoming the kind of song that can define an artist’s career – at the expense of anything else they’ve written, even – Keen … (more)

When David Bowie Was the Thin White Duke

Music photographer Andrew Kent is paying homage to Bowie with a new book, David Bowie: Behind the Curtain, that chronicles two years of the artist’s early career, when he assumed the persona of the Thin White Duke. After being introduced by Rolling Stone magazine’s reporter, Cameron Crowe, in 1975, Kent travelled around the globe with Bowie during his Isolar tour in support of the Station to Station album in 1976.

Untitled design

The year 2016 will go down in history as one during which many greats in the world of music and acting have passed away, many untimely – and not least following the tragic news yesterday of the sudden death of George Michael at the age of just 53. Here we look back at some of those big names who have passed away in 2016 and remember just briefly some of their work: Few knew the 66-year-old had been ill and his last album Blackstar was released just days before he lost his battle against liver cancer.

Where are the stars of Cheers now? Thirty years ago ‘everybody knew …

Where are the stars of Cheers now? Thirty years ago ‘everybody knew their names’ and now MailOnline looks at whether they got better with age Throughout the 1980s Cheers dominated the airwaves in both the US and the UK as fans were desperate to see the crazy antics of a group of Boston barflies. Running for 11 seasons between 1982 and 1993, it followed the fortunes of former baseball pitcher Sam ‘Mayday’ Malone, whose career was ruined by alcoholism and who bought a bar – Cheers – as a reminder to stay sober.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West pose at annual Jenner Christmas party amid rumours of breakup

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have silenced rumours that their relationship is on the rocks and appeared in good spirits at Kris Jenner’s annual festive party on Christmas Eve, according to reports. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have silenced rumours that their relationship is on the rocks and appeared in good spirits at Kris Jenner’s annual festive party on Christmas Eve, according to reports.

George Michael Put Our Faith in Pop

… singer-songwriter’s premature death at age 53 seemed terribly at odds with his splashy introduction to the entertainment world: the preternaturally bouncy Wham! hit ” Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go ,” whose upbeat eye-confection video turned “Choose …

Robert Randolph & the Family Band at the Warehouse at FTC

One of the biggest funk, rock and soul bands of the decade will be at Fairfield Theatre Company to ring in the new year. Robert Randolph & the Family Band take over the Warehouse at FTC on Saturday, Dec. 31. Renowned for wild live concerts, the members of this band marry fervent gospel tunes with an irresistible rock ‘n’ funk swagger.

Holiday magic with the kids over winter break

Holiday magic with the kids over winter break Don’t dread winter break, seize the day Check out this story on northjersey.com: http://northjersy.news/2hm66dX Michael Ruiz of Oradell helping six-year-old son, Lucas on the beginner’s ice rink on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. Bergen County residents enjoying Winter Wonderland, the new attraction created by the Bergen County administration that’s meant to provide residents with family-friendly holiday fun Remember all those days you wanted a break from the morning rush to school, calendar crushed with activities and monitoring of homework? Well, it’s here.

Comics shy away from Donald Trump jokes

The campaign season that was a gold mine for late-night hosts and “Saturday Night Live” has morphed into a post-election land mine for local stand-up comics, who say jokes about the president-elect go over like a gold-plated balloon. “This election was the most polarizing election in the history of our country,” said Jody Sloane, a Boston-based comic.

Rapper Troy Ave shot twice in New York City

The shooting unfolded in Canarsie at East 91st Street and Linden Blvd at around 4:20 p.m, according to police. The hometown hip-hop star was grazed in the head and struck once in the arm as he sat in the six-figure sports car with his girlfriend, sources said.