The Times Daily Quiz: Thursday June 19, 2025
1 Which Swedish furniture retailer makes the Landskrona sofa and Rocksjön armchair?
2 Which chocolate wafer bar completes the slogan: 'Have a break, have a …'?
3 Bart De Wever is the first Flemish nationalist to become prime minister of which country?
4 A 'Dizzyite' was a supporter of which Victorian prime minister?
5 Which Seaforth-born comedian and radio DJ released the 1983 single Snot Rap?
6 The Bahía de Cochinos is a coastal area of Cuba that is known by what English name?
7 Who played the Rumpo Kid in the 1965 film Carry on Cowboy?
8 Alexander Lenard's Latin translation of which 1926 children's book begins: 'Ecce Eduardus Ursus …'?
9 Opened in 1933, the Hoover Building in Ealing was designed in which architectural style?
10 In 1852, the Post Office installed the first four pillar boxes on which island?
11 The Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez ends at which London railway station?
12 Which bridge across the River Forth opened to traffic in 1936 and operated as a 'swing bridge' until 1987?
13 Who stars as the protagonist Seong Gi-hun in TV's Squid Game?
14 The newly unveiled Andy Murray Arena is the centre court at which London tennis venue?
15 Which wild cat species is pictured?Scroll down for answersAnswers1 Ikea
2 KitKat
3 Belgium
4 Benjamin Disraeli
5 Kenny Everett
6 Bay of Pigs
7 Sid James
8 Winnie-the-Pooh. The 1958 translation is titled Winnie ille Pu
9 Art deco
10 Jersey
11 Charing Cross
12 Kincardine Bridge
13 Lee Jung-jae
14 The Queen's Club
15 Lynx or Lynx lynx
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Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
What happened to EastEnders' 'Italian stallion' Marc Bannerman: Noughties lothario was axed from soap over co-star romance, then battled with booze before falling for Cerys Matthews on I'm A Celeb - while his girlfriend watched in horror
He was the 'Italian stallion' of Albert Square, who was so popular with female viewers that he once donated a sackful of knickers sent to him by lustful female viewers to Oxfam. From 1998 to 2000, Marc Bannerman stole the show in EastEnders as Gianni di Marco, after landing the role by fibbing to producers that he was half Italian, despite being born in Dublin. It was a rapid rise to fame that came crashing down equally quickly when his character was axed, and he descended into depression, piled on weight and turned to the bottle while struggling to cope. He later claimed that the BBC got rid of him because he was in a real-life romance with on-screen girlfriend Nadia Sawalha, and it was dimming his appeal for female fans. But whatever the truth of the matter, it was far from the last time that his romantic liaisons caused a headache. After being briefly linked with actress Suranne Jones in 2005, he found happiness with his Footballer's Wives: Extra Time co-star Sarah Matravers and the pair were said to be discussing starting a family together when he joined the 2007 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Imagine, then, Sarah's disbelief as he struck up a flirtation with campmate Cerys Matthews, from the Welsh band Catatonia, who had recently ditched her American music producer husband Seth Riddle after four years of marriage. Viewer watched the pair gaze into each other's eyes over the camp fire, having meaningful conversations. They also often cosied up together in the hammock, and fellow campmate John Burton Race even claimed that the pair were intimate under the stars and that producers decided to not air the footage. He told MailOnline: 'There were times when the pair disappeared off together. I have to say that. 'I know what I know. You can guess the rest. We are all grown men and women and know what the game is.' He said: 'There are things the viewers wouldn't have seen or heard in there. Relationships are formed.' Marc confessed he behaved like a 'rat' after breaking Sarah's heart. On the I'm A Celebrity... Coming Out Show he admitted: 'I just developed feelings for someone in there and I've got a Mrs at home, I'm a rat. I can't look for a scapegoat. The buck stops here.' However, he insisted nothing untoward had happened, despite their 'deep' connection. Nothing's going on [with Cerys], we got on fantastically. We bonded quickly. She's a fantastic girl,' he said. 'It's a difficult thing [being in the jungle]. It's a strange scenario.' 'I'm terrified. I'm gonna have to apologise. I've embarrassed her [Sarah] and I've embarrassed myself.' He was then told by Declan Donnelly that Sarah had flown out to Australia to meet him, but had changed her mind after witnessing his antics and was already back in London. While watching footage of himself and Cerys in the jungle, he said: 'I feel sick. I feel for Sarah watching that. I feel really stupid. 'There wasn't any sort of relationship between us in any kind of way. Anyway I can see why Sarah went home.' Visibly shaken, he then called Sarah on his mobile phone. The first words he said before the camera cut away were: 'I'm so sorry babe.' He also wrote an oddly formal letter to Cerys, saying: 'There are many problems in London and I've had to go back to try and sort them out - but I may well return to greet you when you come out, if that is your wish. Marc.' Bannerman flew back to Britain to confront his domestic crisis, but his apology to Sarah ultimately fell on deaf ears. Not only was there no hope of repairing the relationship, she also said there had been explosive rows during their two-year relationship. The father-of-two said that he 'doesn't know what he was doing' with his life before his children were born She revealed that she once reportedly had to stick her hand through a window pane to stop a drink-fuelled fight between them. She told The Sunday Mirror: 'I was very, very scared. I remember thinking, "he's a bloke, he shouldn't be doing this to me".' Sarah then explained how she their fighting, saying: 'I put my arm through the window in pure desperation. It was all I could think of doing. Yes, I've got a scar on my arm from it, but it worked. It stopped. Who knows where it could have gone - we could have unintentionally inflicted really very serious harm on each other.' Speaking about his romance with Cerys, she added: 'I don't care what happens with them now. He's dumped, it's all over and if he thinks he can come back grovelling he can think again. 'It honestly feels like my partner has died... and people don't come back from the dead.' She also claimed that she'd uncovered him cheating with a barmaid in the wake of his jungle tryst. 'Marc lied and cheated and if there's one barmaid, there's got to be more. I find it absolutely disgusting,' she said. Elsewhere in an interview with Closer magazine, Sarah said: 'This is a man she's only known for a week, a man who she knew had a girlfriend. It's either incredibly cold-hearted or incredibly screwed up. They deserve each other and I hope they rot in hell.' 'Thank God I'm not carrying his child. If they do go out, he's bound to cheat again.' Marc went on to have an on-off romance with Cerys, which finally came to an end the following year in 2008. She dumped him just before Valentine's day because, it was said, he could not cope with her responsibilities as a mother. Marc was also reportedly unimpressed with Cerys' wardrobe, commenting on several occasions that she should change outfits. Cerys told the News of The World at the time: 'I remember him saying 'Have you got any other jumpers?' I think he was surprised that I lived so simply, hate shopping and don't have a fancy wardrobe.' Cerys, who had two children at the time, also spoke of the complications being a single mother added to their relationship, explaining he was unable to cope with the kids when she took them to London to stay with him. 'It was a disaster. We all caught a cold and Glenys Pearl was screaming with a fever. We were switching beds all night and I remember Marc saying, 'This could be the rest of my life.' And he looked scared!' Cerys is now a mother-of-three and has been married to former Decay singer Steve Abbott since 2011. Since dating Cerys, Marc has continued to act, although EastEnders remains his most famous role. Last year, he appeared in the action thriller Fyre Rises, and he also had a small part in an episode of the hit Netflix series The Witcher in 2023. He also had a role in the TV series Snatch, a spin-off of the Guy Ritchie film. Marc has kept his personal life out of the spotlight however, during a rare appearance on Channel 4 in 2022, he spoke about his two children, Grace and Leo. Speaking on Steph McGovern's show, Packed Lunch, he said: 'I don't know what I was doing before I was a dad.' Marc was axed from EastEnders 25 years ago, after playing 'Italian stallion' Gianni Di Marco for three years. He explained that he had become depressed after the axe fell on the Di Marcos in EastEnders. He told the Mirror: 'I suffered depression and turned to the bottle to get me out of it.' He added: 'The whole thing was such a shock. It upset me so much that it's only now I feel able to talk about what it did to me. 'I remember feeling very bitter, especially at the way they got rid of us. There was no warning - we were just out. 'I have learnt to cope, but it hasn't been easy. I've not kept in touch with the other Di Marco actors because our departure was so traumatic. When I first found myself out of the show I didn't realise at the time but I started eating all the wrong things and I was boozing far too much.'
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Martin Freeman, 53, shops for rings at a London jewellers amid romance with French actress girlfriend Rachel Benaissa, 30
has been spotted shopping for rings at a high-end London jewellers, as his romance with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa heats up. The Sherlock star, 53, has been dating the French actress, 30, since 2020, and on Saturday, was seen perusing the pieces on offer at a Dinny Hall store in north London. According to onlookers, Martin splashed out £4,500 on an aquamarine and diamond ring, with The Hobbit attempting to keep a low profile in a baseball cap. A source told The Sun: 'Martin looked intent on a particular show-stopping ring in the front and centre of the window display. 'He even fetched the shop assistant so he could point out which one wanted to look at. He was wearing a cap so he could go incognito.' In April, Martin offered insight into his relationship with Rachel during an appearance on Jessie and Lennie Ware's Table Manners podcas t, sharing that they love cooking together in their spare time. The Sherlock star has been dating the French actress since 2020, and they recently made a loved-up appearance together at the BAFTA Television Awards Lennie asked: 'She's French. Is she [Rachel] Cordon Bleu?' Martin replied: 'She's not a Cordon Bleu… she's a massive cheese and wine w****. 'That's what she would say about herself. 'She says that about herself, "I'm a cheese and wine w****". It's not all she is, but no, she loves all that stuff. We like cooking.' Earlier this year, Martin made rare comments about his family life during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show. The actor shares two teenage children Joe, 18, and Grace, 16, with his ex-partner Amanda Abbington, 51. During his chat with host Jonathan, Martin touched on going to a Sherlock-themed escape room, based on the series in which he plays John Watson. Martin revealed that he and his family did not escape in good time: 'It did take us a while. 'He even fetched the shop assistant so he could point out which one wanted to look at. He was wearing a cap so he could go incognito,' the source added 'I went with my other half and my two kids… it wasn't even a Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes, it was [the BBC one]. I'm aware it did feel a little bit maybe t***ish to go to my own thing… but my kids said it was going to be fun. It is a really good one…' After Romesh Ranganathan questioned why Martin went to this, Martin laughingly added: 'My voice is in it… I hadn't seen or heard myself enough in that week, so I thought… and I wasn't stuck, I just wanted to stay in there longer.' The pair have been in a relationship for around five years, following his split from his ex-partner of 16 years, Amanda, who admits she was a 'mess' following their breakup in 2016, which came about after they 'just couldn't live with each other anymore'. While it's unclear when Martin found love again with Rachel, the couple were first spotted together in 2020 and she appears to have formed a strong bond with his children Joe and Grace. Martin went public with his romance with the Toulouse-born actress in 2021 but the pair are fiercely private about their relationship and she recently deleted her Instagram which gave fans a handful of glimpses into the couple's relationship. However, Rachel is happy to play the supportive partner and she's often by Martin's side on the red carpet to promote his film and TV projects. But a video shared to TikTok by Martin's daughter Grace shows that Rachel is firmly part of the family, dancing along to She's The Brightest Star from Martin's festive hit film Nativity with Joe and the family dachshunds. 'Merry christmas from Mr Maddens,' she captioned the clip, referring to her father's character in the hit film. Rachel had a small role as an unnamed teaching assistant in BBC hit Normal People, alongside stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones . The actress has also starred in Lindsay Lohan 's Netflix film Irish Wish, and Aisling Bea's sitcom This Way Up, as well as roles in commercials for Heineken, Santander and Dublin Airport. Her connection to Ireland has most likely arisen from her days training at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, where Colin Farrell, Aidan Turner and Olivia Wilde all honed their craft. In addition to acting, Rachel also writes screenplays and once came runner-up in Outstanding Screenplay's TV pilot competition. Her writing is said to 'blend drama with dark humour' and she's currently working on the script for a dark comedy-horror TV series called SELF CARE GIRLIE. They made their first appearance as a couple when they graced the red carpet at the Raindance Film Festival Opening Night gala screening of Best Sellers at The Dorchester. As for Martin's ex partner Amanda, she has insisted that they are on good terms and remain friends. However, sources have suggested that it wasn't easy for her to see him moving on with a much younger woman, while his career has also gone from strength to strength. In March 2023, Amanda candidly revealed that she considered suicide after their difficult split left her 'hating herself'. In an interview with the Full Disclosure podcast, Amanda told how suicide was a 'genuine option' during the dark period of her life, telling how she recently had a similar thought after a row with her daughter. She explained: 'It was breaking up with Martin and then realising I needed to sort myself out because I was a bit of a mess. I hated myself. 'It was funny because the other day, and I've never told anyone, not even my therapist, I'd had a row with Grace [her daughter] because she couldn't find her uniform and was late for school. The pair have been in a relationship for around five years, following his split from his ex-partner of 16 years, Amanda, who admits she was a 'mess' following their breakup in 2016 'So in the end I had to drive her to school instead of the bus and I was sitting in the car and I was having a go at her and I was getting nothing back from her because she's a 15-year-old and she's going through all this stuff. 'She's a girl, I'm a mother — rage, anxiety. And I was sat there as I was driving, in my head, and I haven't said this since I started therapy six years ago, 'you could always kill yourself'' 'And that was what my mantra used to be. If you've let people down and upset somebody or if you're not being the best you can or you're a bad mother, or you're not stepping up with your acting, you can always kill yourself.' Amanda went on to say that the idea of taking her life used to be an 'option' for her in the past, but that she last had the same thought six years ago - around the time of her separation from Martin. She continued: 'That was a genuine option for me, quite a few times in my life. Then I don't have to be this bad person because I don't have to be here any more. 'And I thought about that and I thought, "Oh my God I haven't thought about that in six years".'
Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Christopher Biggins: ‘I earned £1m after winning I'm a Celebrity'
Actor and director Christopher Biggins, 76, has graced the screen and stage for more than 50 years. He rose to prominence with his portrayal of Lukewarm in the prison comedy, Porridge, before taking on the scene-stealing role of Nero in I, Claudius. In 2007, he was crowned king of the jungle on I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! Biggins, as he is affectionately known, and his long-time partner, Neil Sinclair, live in east London. How did money shape your upbringing? My mother and father, Pam and Bill, bought a house in Salisbury, but couldn't afford the mortgage, so they sold up and we moved into a caravan. We eventually got a house with no bathroom, just an outside lavatory and a tin bath that was dragged out on Mondays. It was a pretty frugal life, but I never wanted for anything. My parents worked very hard. My father sold motorcycles, and then cars and doubled as a motor mechanic, so he worked all hours. My mother worked in the cocktail bar at the Cathedral Hotel, which was a very swanky place back then. They also took in a lodger, Jock, who stayed for 11 years. They saved and saved, and my father's business thrived. The result was they could afford to send me to private school, installed a bathroom and the tin bath was jettisoned. What was your first job? When I left school, I went to Salisbury rep as an assistant stage manager on £2 a week, with my parents heavily subsidising me, paying for my transport and letting me live at home. I was an only child until age 18 when, as I was preparing to leave to go to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, my mother suddenly mentioned she was pregnant. I couldn't believe that one's parents still did it at that age! But I got my brother Sean out of it, which was lovely. They still helped with money for another two years. Did you think you'd make a living out of acting? No, never. But my father and mother were brilliant in supporting me from 16 to 20, so I could pursue a career on the stage. When I was 20, though, my father said I needed a backup, not least as they now had Sean. He knew I wasn't interested in motorbikes and cars, so he suggested we open an antiques shop, as we both liked bric-a-brac, which I'd run, and I could earn enough for a deposit. Did your career in antiques take off? Well, I'd sit in this shop and see no one all day, and then suddenly at five o'clock, there'd be a rush of about 15 people who all stole from you. So, that didn't seem like much of a job, and I gave it up for acting. Eventually, my father sold up, although he dabbled in bric-a-brac from the back of his garage for many years. I put all my energy into acting and have never looked back. I must add, my father was right, as he recognised how precarious a career acting is. No regrets? No, I've been very fortunate to be able to look back on a wonderful 60-odd-year career, but my father was right. When people come to me for advice about going into theatre, I always say don't do it because it's a horrible profession. I know so many brilliant actors who never got a break. It's all about being in the right place at the right time. What was your big break? Playing Lukewarm in Porridge, alongside Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale and David Jason. I was on £90 an episode, which was great in 1974. When it was repeated on BBC One or BBC Two, I used to get over £1,000 an episode. However, in a bad moment, the BBC decided to sell all these sitcoms to the free-to-air stations, which means I get nothing for the repeats. If we were in America, I'd be a multi-millionaire because you get repeat fees forever over there. Did having this part make you feel more financially secure? I was very lucky because when I was in Salisbury rep, I met two actors: Jonathan Cecil and Vivien Heilbron. They had a lovely house in Fulham, and gave me two rooms, a bedroom and a sitting room, and the use of a kitchen, all for £4 a week. As you can imagine, being on £90 an episode, I became readily accustomed to a style of living that I have maintained ever since. I had enough money to afford to eat out in restaurants regularly, and in those days, you could go to a restaurant in Covent Garden called Luigi's and have a bowl of pasta, a glass of red wine and a coffee for £6. I don't know how young people these days exist, because restaurants are so expensive. What's been your career highlight? Nero in I, Claudius was a wonderful part, a great experience, and to this day, I believe I was Nero in a previous life. Soon after that, I played the sex-crazed vicar in Poldark, which was also marvellous. But I think the most life-changing experience was winning I'm a Celebrity through the public vote, which gives you amazing confidence. I got paid £50,000 for doing it, much less than they get now, but it opened doors and it was a wonderfully lucrative period. I earned £1m in the year after the jungle. Where do you live? We have a very pretty three-bed house near Victoria Park in east London, which was designed by the architect Piers Gough. It's chock-full of artwork, so much so that we don't know the word wallpaper. We also have a one-bed flat in Stratford East, which we let. Although with all the associated costs, cladding problems and so on, we may sell. Are you a spender or a saver? I'm a spender, but as you get older, you realise you have what you need. You don't need another microwave. All you need is to have a nice life. I suppose the most expensive thing in our lives is going abroad on holiday. What's been your best financial decision? Buying this house. I paid £50,000 for it 36 years ago. It's worth considerably more now. Do you have a pension? I have the state pension, which I paid in over all those years, and that gives me enough to get by on, before I earn through the day job. I'm not saying pensioners are rich, but it does help, especially with the shocking water, gas and electricity bills. I have no private pension. Do you have any plans to retire? No. I am a bit like the Frank Sinatra of the pantomime world. I finish a run and think that's it, but I keep coming back, and will be on stage as King Richard in Robin Hood at the Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas.
