Latest news with #LittleBritain
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones and husband announce separation
Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones and husband announce separation Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones and her husband David Peet have announced they have legally separated after more than two decades of marriage Ruth Jones has announced her separation from David Peet (Image: PA Archive/PA Images ) Gavin & Stacey star and co-creator Ruth Jones and her producer husband David Peet have announced their legal separation but "remain good friends", according to a joint statement. The pair, who tied the knot in 1999, told the PA news agency: "We amicably went our separate ways 18 months ago and are now legally separated. "We remain good friends. Since our separation Ruth is living in London and David is living in Canada, where he is in a new relationship." For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter. Jones gained recognition as the co-writer and star of Gavin & Stacey, portraying Vanessa 'Nessa' Jenkins across three series and three Christmas specials from 2007 to 2024. The concluding episode of the show, broadcast on Christmas Day 2024, featured Jones' character Nessa tying the knot with Neil 'Smithy' Smith, played by James Corden, who also co-wrote the series. Article continues below At the TV Baftas this year Jones clinched the award for best female performance in a comedy programme for her portrayal of Nessa. Her acting career includes roles in ITV's Fat Friends, BBC's Little Britain and Saxondale, as well as the dark comedy Nighty Night. She has also portrayed Carry On actress Hattie Jacques in a BBC biographical film. Article continues below In recognition of her contributions to entertainment she was honoured with an MBE in the New Year Honours list of 2014. Earlier this week it was confirmed she will be starring in a brand new BBC series alongside Saltburn star Richard E. Grant and Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Four youths accused of armed robbery facing charges
Four youths face criminal charges after police received reports about an armed robbery in progress at a bank in the City of Kawartha Lakes Monday afternoon. According to witnesses, a group of masked individuals armed with handguns held up a bank in the area of Eldon Road and Little Britain Road shortly after 4 p.m. in Little Britain. A heavy police presence was in the area for the investigation, with authorities urging the public to avoid the area. Police say one suspect was located in a vehicle in a parking lot and arrested, and three others were taken into custody a short distance away without incident. No injuries were reported. The accused, ages 14, 16 and two 17-year-olds, face charges of armed robbery, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, disguise with intent, and possession of property obtained by crime. The identities of the four youths are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The group was held in custody to await a bail hearing.
Metro
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
BBC apologises after David Walliams makes ‘completely unacceptable' Nazi salutes
The BBC has apologised after comedian David Walliams gave two Nazi salutes in front of a live audience. The incident took place during a taping of the Christmas special for panel show Would I Lie To You, with The Times claiming the Little Britain star, 53, made the grossly offensive gesture not once but twice. The salutes occurred while Walliams's teammate – Call the Midwife actress Helen George – who was recalling the time she sprained her wrist during the Strictly Come Dancing tour in 2015 'from waving too much'. As she tried to convince David Mitchell's team that the anecdote was true, she started re-enacting the waving, which is when Walliams joined in with his own exaggerated flailing, resulting in the Nazi salute. After being reprimanded by the host, Rob Brydon, the filming moved on but as lewd jokes were swapped, Walliams then repeated the action but this time with a 'sexual twist'. Per The Times, one audience member said: 'It was all very weird. There were gasps from the audience, and the other panellists all looked very uncomfortable.' Another X user, @mirrandaYC added: 'Didn't have david walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card.' Sources at the BBC and the show's production company, Zeppotron told the publication that there was no chance of the footage being broadcast. Facebook user Alan Robert Booth called him an 'entitled idiot'. A BBC spokesperson apologised to those present, saying: 'The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable and we apologise to all at the recording for the offence caused.' This has been echoed by Banijay UK (Zeppotron's owner) who added: 'Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context. 'It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.' It is the latest incident in a career filled with controversy. The former Britain's Got Talent judge was removed from his role in 2022 after leaked recordings showed him making offensive remarks about the contestants. Meanwhile, his tenure on the comedy series co-created with Matt Lucas, Little Britain, has faced mounting criticism for its depiction of certain characters branded 'explicitly racist' such as the use of blackface. Nevertheless, despite the show's controversial sketches, it has found a new audience on TikTok with clips regularly going viral among the Gen Z audience for its dark humour. In 2023, after rumours of a reboot, Lucas shut down the idea saying that it was simply 'not true'. The co-creators do have a podcast together, Making A Scene, where they 'turn their famous friends' lives into cinematic masterpieces.' In 2024, the children's author called cancel culture 'exhausting'. '[The issue] is complicated, but you just look at each joke as it comes really. 'Obviously if you were worried about every single thing you said or did might offend someone, that you wouldn't be able to say or do anything on stage. More Trending 'I kind of think people haven't lost a sense of humour in the way that it's often portrayed,' he told The Daily Telegraph at the time. He is not the first high-profile figure to be embroiled in a Nazi salute controversy this year. Elon Musk faced backlash after making a movement that resembled the salute in January. However, he firmly denied that the gesture he made was the one historically linked to German fascism. View More » Metro has reached out to David Walliams' representative and the BBC for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I don't want to see David Walliams on TV again after Nazi salutes MORE: 44 of the best last-minute Father's Day gifts for every kind of dad, stepdad or grandad MORE: Samurai sword killer 'screamed in delight' after nearly decapitating schoolboy
Metro
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I don't want to see David Walliams on TV again after Nazi salutes
I can't believe I'm having to say this, but Nazi salutes are not funny. This week, David Walliams, the comedian once renowned for Little Britain and as a ubiquitous judge on Britain's Got Talent, made two Nazi salutes while filming a comedy show, a Christmas special of Would I Lie To You for the BBC. The story, revealed by The Times, was a wholly humiliating and thoroughly embarrassing act. Call the Midwife actress and Walliams' teammate on the show, Helen George, was telling a tale about spraining her wrist after waving too much on the Strictly Come Dancing tour, before demonstrating the wave. That's when Walliams 'joined in with increasingly vigorous waves, culminating in him holding his arm out in a Nazi salute'. He then repeated it, with a 'sexual twist', essentially mocking its brutal origins. Audience members reportedly gasped, fellow panellists looked uncomfortable, and the host, Rob Brydon, was forced to reprimand him. The BBC has since confirmed the footage will never air, calling the gesture 'completely unacceptable,' and the production company quickly repeated those sentiments. To put it simply: I believe he has crossed a line. So he must be shunned from our screens. Walliams has been treading a tightrope of controversy for decades, with a pattern of behaviour that must ultimately be held to account. His comedy – particularly Little Britain – has been rightly criticised for racist stand-up and blackface. Something once celebrated as being edgy or irreverent now just exists as an embarrassing reminder of how the entertainment business once had so much less to answer for in terms of its power. Both Walliams and Lucas have since apologised for these portrayals, stating they regretted playing 'characters of other races', adding: 'we want to make it clear that it was wrong and we are very sorry.' In more recent times, Walliams stepped down from being a judge on Britain's Got Talent after tapes were released in which he made 'disrespectful comments' about contestants on the show. He apologised at the time, explaining they were private conversations that were 'never intended to be shared' but that he was 'sorry' nevertheless. And who can forget, HarperCollins – the publisher of his book, The World's Worst Children – removed a short story about a Chinese character called Brian Wong after accusations of 'casual racism'. As far as I can see, Walliams didn't apologise for this, but the publisher said: 'In consultation with our author and illustrator [Tony Ross] we can confirm that a new story will be written to replace 'Brian Wong'.' Quite a list. So when Walliams does a Nazi salute, even when it was an attempt at humour – a symbol of hate, genocide, and oppression – it isn't just a bad taste and off-colour remark. In my view, it's the record of someone who has repeatedly failed to listen or to know boundaries, after facing repercussions previously. And as far as I can see, he hasn't apologised or even addressed this latest controversy yet. It's not 'cancel culture' – as Walliams himself contended last year, calling it 'exhausting' – no, it's a matter of responsibility. It's about the obligation that comes with having a public voice and the very real consequences of downplaying serious wrongdoings. Bigger picture counts too. Globally, populism on the far-right is increasing, while fascist imagery and language are slowly reasserting themselves in popular culture. So a celebrity performing an offhand Nazi salute – even in what looks like a lighthearted setting and from someone who is not racist – is not an innocent nostalgic gesture or a misguided effort at humour. In my view, it's hate normalisation. In my opinion, Walliams' faux pas are a sure sign that he must be blacklisted on TV. It is not a matter of censoring comedy or stifling free speech, but more of not giving a forum to one who has violated the social line of decency and decorum. The BBC refusing to air the video was right, but not far enough. Walliams must not have access to the same forums that made him famous until he shows genuine accountability and respect to marginalised communities in Britain. It's not a witch hunt or social media outrage-driven over response. It's a call for standards – ones that I believe Walliams has repeatedly fallen short of. By continuing to grant him airtime, broadcasters send the message that his behaviour is acceptable as long as the perpetrator is a big enough name. More Trending Blacklisting David Walliams would be an absolute, necessary step towards sending the message that this kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated. It's about protecting the cultural topography from people who would belittle and hate others. If the BBC and other broadcasters who work with Walliams can commit – if they haven't already – to not including him on TV, radio, or any other media appearances in the future, the world would be much better off. It's about standing together with people who are targeted by these kinds of words and actions. And it's about getting the record straight that being 'funny' is no excuse for causing hurt or being hateful. View More » The time for excuses is over. The show has come to a close. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: The Ballymena riots are nothing to do with protecting women MORE: Brat summer is back: From tennis to the Euros to the Rugby World Cup, just watch as sporting queens go centre stage MORE: Doctor Who fans are convinced the show is dying – but they're wrong
Metro
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
David Walliams branded 'entitled idiot' for two joke Nazi salutes at BBC taping
Comedian David Walliams has faced criticism after he gave two Nazi salutes in front of a live BBC audience. The incident took place during a taping of the Christmas special for panel show Would I Lie To You, with The Times claiming the Little Britain star, 53, made the grossly offensive gesture not once but twice. The salutes occurred while Walliams's teammate – Call the Midwife actress Helen George – who was recalling the time she sprained her wrist during the Strictly Come Dancing tour in 2015 'from waving too much'. As she tried to convince David Mitchell's team that the anecdote was true, she started re-enacting the waving, which is when Walliams joined in with his own exaggerated flailing, resulting in the Nazi salute. After being reprimanded by the host, Rob Brydon, the filming moved on but as lewd jokes were swapped, Walliams then repeated the action but this time with a 'sexual twist'. Per The Times, one audience member said: 'It was all very weird. There were gasps from the audience, and the other panellists all looked very uncomfortable.' Another X user, @mirrandaYC added: 'Didn't have david walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card.' Sources at the BBC and the show's production company, Zeppotron told the publication that there was no chance of the footage being broadcast. Facebook user Alan Robert Booth called him an 'entitled idiot'. A BBC spokesperson apologised to those present, saying: 'The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable and we apologise to all at the recording for the offence caused.' This has been echoed by Banijay UK (Zeppotron's owner) who added: 'Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context. 'It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.' It is the latest incident in a career filled with controversy. The former Britain's Got Talent judge was removed from his role in 2022 after leaked recordings showed him making offensive remarks about the contestants. Meanwhile, his tenure on the comedy series co-created with Matt Lucas, Little Britain, has faced mounting criticism for its depiction of certain characters branded 'explicitly racist' such as the use of blackface. Nevertheless, despite the show's controversial sketches, it has found a new audience on TikTok with clips regularly going viral among the Gen Z audience for its dark humour. In 2023, after rumours of a reboot, Lucas shut down the idea saying that it was simply 'not true'. The co-creators do have a podcast together, Making A Scene, where they 'turn their famous friends' lives into cinematic masterpieces.' In 2024, the children's author called cancel culture 'exhausting'. '[The issue] is complicated, but you just look at each joke as it comes really. 'Obviously if you were worried about every single thing you said or did might offend someone, that you wouldn't be able to say or do anything on stage. More Trending 'I kind of think people haven't lost a sense of humour in the way that it's often portrayed,' he told The Daily Telegraph at the time. He is not the first high-profile figure to be embroiled in a Nazi salute controversy this year. Elon Musk faced backlash after making a movement that resembled the salute in January. However, he firmly denied that the gesture he made was the one historically linked to German fascism. View More » Metro has reached out to David Walliams' representative and the BBC for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Race Across The World 2025 winners revealed after nail-biting final dash MORE: Lucy Beaumont makes 'amazing' gesture after costing cancer charity £79,000 on The Wheel MORE: Race Across the World's Sioned shouldn't be sneered at for her tears
