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Exclusive: Matthew López, who won the Best Play Tony Award in 2020 for his drama The Inheritance, was at the BFI Imax theater in London’s Waterloo on Thursday night for the special preview- a premiere in all but name- of Prime Video’s romantic comedy feature Red, White & Royal Blue, which he directed and adapted from Casey McQuiston’s bestselling novel.

WGA member López stationed himself in a holding room inside the building, well away from the red carpet, because, he said, “I’m on strike as a screenwriter but not as a playwright and not as a director.”

His two stars Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez were not in attendance. As members of SAG-AFTRA “they’re on strike,” López said.

After our conversation, the filmmaker made his way into the Imax auditorium and addressed the audience as director of the film.

“Band on the Run” is a complex track by Paul McCartney that tells the story of a band escaping prison. McCartney has always been a great storyteller through his music, and he based this story on a memorable George Harrison quote from when they were with The Beatles.

‘Band on the Run’ is one of Paul McCartney’s biggest hits Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl | Harry Durrant/Getty Images

“Band on the Run” is the title track of the album of the same name. The track was released as a single in 1974 and reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in the U.K. It’s one of McCartney’s most significant hits from his time with Wings.

The song is a unique three-part medley that begins with a lonesome band stuck in prison, hoping to escape. The second half of the track sees their fortune turn...

Cliff Richard has opened up about the impact of being investigated for historic sex crimes.

The musician was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy during a religious rally at Sheffield United Football club in 1985.

In 2014, Richard’s home was searched by police as part of the Operation Yewtree investigation. However, he was not arrested and has always strongly denied the allegations.

In October 2016, Richard sued the BBC and South Yorkshire Police for invasion of privacy and misuse of private information.

The incident is the subject of The Accused: National Treasures on Trial, a new Channel 4 documentary airing on Wednesday (23 August).

It sees three household names, who were accused, but either never arrested, charged or convicted, reveal what it was like to be caught in the eye of the storm: Richard, DJ Paul Gambaccini and former Pop Idol judge Neil Fox.

Speaking about being under investigation, Richard said: “You cannot stop thinking about it.

The botched Operation Yewtree investigation, which sought to bring to light historic sex offences perpetrated by British celebrities in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, is set to be examined in a new Channel 4 documentary.

Singer Cliff Richard, radio DJ Paul Gambaccini and former “Pop Idol” judge Neil Fox were among those publicly accused of historic sex crimes during the operation, which launched 10 years ago. None of them were ever convicted of any crimes.

Richard went on to sue the BBC for invasion of privacy after the network broadcast a police raid of his home during the operation. He was awarded £210,000 in damages and over £2 million (2.4 million) in legal costs, although he said the sum didn’t cover the full cost of the legal bills he incurred in a bid to clear his name.

Curious Films (“Caroline Flack: Her Life & Death”) are producing the doc, which will...

What made Ben Affleck feel sad, and why did people get naked on national television? Test your knowledge of this year’s film and TV with these questions

In a year heavy on sequels and remakes, which one stands as the UK’s top grosser of 2016?

Captain America: Civil War

Bridget Jones’s Baby

Finding Dory

The Jungle Book

A social media war over which film led to Twitter’s permanent suspension of alt-right poster boy Milo Yiannopoulos for racist trolling?

Suicide Squad

Central Intelligence

Moana

Ghostbusters

Dubbed “Sad Affleck” on the internet, a reaction shot from a Ben Affleck interview went viral in 2016. What had the interviewer been asking about at the time?

The reviews of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Reviews of The Accountant

His future as Batman in the DC Comics “extended universe”

His brother Casey’s Oscar buzz for Manchester By the Sea

Which film...

Simon Brew Jul 21, 2016

Simon Mayo chats to us about writing, the importance of Stephen King, politics, Blame, and Basil Exposition...

Simon Mayo is a man of many talents. To cinema folk, he's one of the two voices behind Wittertainment, the BBC's flagship film programme (wassup, etc). To others, he plays choice songs on Radio 2. To me: he was also chairman of Melchester Rovers. And to a growing number of people, he's the author of some really fine works of fiction.

His latest, Blame, sees him heading into the world of Young Adult. And over a hot drink (him: civilised green tea, me: coffee caffeine rocket fuel concoction, no biscuits) we had a chat about what could almost be an accidental shift into non-fiction...

The last time I interviewed you I messed up my opening question when I tried to follow the Simon Mayo interview handbook, but I think I’ve got this nailed now.

Tony Perkins says Christians will be driven underground by Enda, Friendship Is Manly, Scientifically Accurate Thundercats kills your childhood

When Rep. Michele Bachmann decided to end her presidential campaign, she sat on the bus and said “God, I’m a loser.” While given Bachmann’s history, she was likely speaking to God, I like to imagine the sentence was said with the same inflection that we all use while talking about Bachmann.

Ender’s Game is set to win the weekend box office despite calls for a boycott, but with a pace for $28 million, that’s not exactly the numbers you’re looking for to launch a new franchise of an expensive movie, so maybe we had the desired effect after all.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin may sue the Pentagon to keep from having to have National Guard units issue ID cards to same-sex spouses. Her spokesman says “Gov. Fallin...

Tweet Of The Day | The Gatsby Factor | NPR's American Icons | Counterpoint | The First Time

All 256 two-minute episodes of new birdsong programme Tweet Of The Day (weekdays, 5.58am, Radio 4) will be kept online forever. This is the way all broadcasting is going, whether the programme-makers like it or not. You wonder how the above title will play 10 years from now, when the word tweet will be approximately as resonant as the word Betamax.

All access forever means you can compare The Gatsby Factor (Thursday, 11.30am, Radio 4), Sarah Churchwell's exploration of the enduring allure of Fitzgerald's novel, which appears in anticipation of Baz Luhrmann's hip-hop-inflamed movie version, with the programme Kurt Anderson made for NPR's American Icons series in 2010 and lives online (studio360.org). Neither has seen the new film. Consequently, Churchwell leads you to believe that The Great Gatsby is essentially unfilmable, because the elements of the story that...

'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' has failed to reach number one, after an online campaign by opponents of late former prime minister Margaret Thatcher propelled it into the charts.

The recording, taken from 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz', entered the charts at number two.

It was more than 5,000 sales short of this week's chart-topper 'Need U (100%)' by Duke Dumont featuring A*M*E.

The Official Charts Company described 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' as "one of the most controversial chart contenders of all time".

The 51-second song entered the charts at number 54 on Tuesday, the day after Baroness Thatcher's death, and climbed to number 10 on Wednesday. By Thursday, it had reached number four and was at number three by Friday.

There was a final rush of 18,000 sales between Friday morning and today, the Official Charts Company said, but its final total was 52,605 copies - 5,700 behind Duke Dumont,...

Famed for his inspired nonsense, Ross Noble is now switching to 'real things'. The comic tells Brian Logan why

I've no sooner turned on my tape recorder than Geordie comic Ross Noble unleashes a routine about Jimmy Savile. "Funnily enough," it begins, "I told a joke about him at an awards ceremony years ago ..." On the story goes – it features necrophilia and an appearance by Paul Gambaccini – while Noble's publicist shifts uneasily in her seat. But what else should we expect? Noble's current tour marks 21 years in standup for the 36-year-old, during which he has rarely stuck to the script.

Noble is comedy's great free-associator. Give him a line and he'll show you a tangent. Give him a stage and he'll digress for hours. Yes, there are strands of scripted material – but they're launchpads for his loopy flights of fancy involving snooker-playing pirates, ballerinas blasted by giant fans, and Gerry Rafferty...

The BBC has announced a series of programmes to mark the 60th anniversary of the UK singles chart. Shows across BBC radio and TV will be broadcast in November to celebrate the chart's birthday, after it was launched by NME in 1952 as a top 12. Pop Charts Britannia: 60 Years of the Top 10 will look back at the history and evolution of the chart, its place in British popular culture and its most groundbreaking moments. The documentary will feature contributions from BBC broadcasters such as David Jacobs, Pete Murray, Bob Harris, Paul Gambaccini and Reggie Yates, while stars including Sir Cliff Richard and experts Jon Webster and Rob Dickins will also appear. The programme will air on Friday, November 16 on BBC Four. The Joy of the Single will look at the changes of music formats from vinyl to downloads, and how the chart has been altered over the years (more)...

London — For decades, Jimmy Savile was a fixture on British television – an eccentric, aggressively jocular host of children's shows and a tireless charity fundraiser. When he died last year at 84 – by then knighted as Sir Jimmy – he drew tributes from Prince Charles and thousands of fans.

Now several women have come forward to claim "Sir Jimmy" was also a sexual predator who abused underage girls.

The allegations have set off ripples of shock – but not of surprise. There had, colleagues said, long been rumors. The main question being asked now is: Why did no one do anything?

"Maybe it was just the fact that Jimmy knew everybody," Esther Rantzen, a former BBC journalist and founder of the ChildLine child-protection charity, told Channel 4 news. "We made him into the Jimmy Savile who was untouchable, who nobody could criticize."

Child protection advocates say the case fits a pattern seen in the...

Stars have paid tribute to Bee Gees star Robin Gibb, who lost his battle with cancer last night (20.05.12). The music world has been rocked by the loss of the singer/ songwriter - who sold over 220 million records and changed the face of disco music alongside his brothers Barry and Maurice in the group - and many have rushed to offer their condolence and pay tribute. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini described Robin as ''one of the major figures in the history of British music''. He added: ''What must also be said is Robin had one of the best white soul voices ever.

Stars have paid tribute to Bee Gees star Robin Gibb, who lost his battle with cancer last night (20.05.12). The music world has been rocked by the loss of the singer/ songwriter - who sold over 220 million records and changed the face of disco music alongside his brothers Barry and Maurice in the group - and many have rushed to offer their condolence and pay tribute. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini described Robin as 'one of the major figures in the history of British music'. He added: 'What must also be said is Robin had one of the best white soul voices ever. He was singing lead on his first number one when he was 17. 'Everyone should be aware...

London, May 21: Fellow musicians and fans have been remembering Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, who died on Sunday after his long battle with colon and liver cancer.

The singer was 62 when he died and had provided decades of chart hits with the band including 'Night Fever' and 'Stayin' Alive'.

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said Gibb was "talented beyond even his own understanding".

"Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music," the Mirror quoted.

Veteran broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has taken a swipe at the BBC's new reality show The Voice UK. Radio 2 star Gambaccini described the Saturday night music series as "karaoke" and claimed that the Us version on NBC had only benefited the show's star coaches, rather than the musical acts. "The Voice is a karaoke competition, full stop," Gambaccini told the Radio Times. "Although the American series was fantastic to rejuvenate the careers of two of the judges [Christina Aguilera and Maroon 5's Adam Levine], it didn't give us a viable artist." Fellow DJ Mark Goodier also questioned the motives of Universal Music, (more)...

London — Margaret Thatcher chose Beethoven, Michael Caine picked Frank Sinatra and boxer George Foreman selected The Beatles' "All You Need is Love."

They are among almost 3,000 guests who have appeared on the radio program "Desert Island Discs," a British broadcasting institution that turned 70 on Sunday.

The show's simple format hasn't changed since 1942: Ask an illustrious or famous figure to choose the eight pieces of music they would take with them to a deserted isle, and talk about what the tracks mean to them. At the end of each program, the guest is sent into imaginary exile, along with their choice of a book, a luxury and one of their eight records.

Almost 3 million listeners tune in each week to the show, which has stranded royalty, prime ministers and movie stars, as well as scientists, poets and philosophers.

Its success is a mark of radio's enduring popularity in the age...

We’ve just been sent the winners list for The BFI London Film Festival 2011 and massive congrats to We Need to Talk About Kevin director Lynne Ramsay and all her cast and crew for winning the award. I’ll just make this post about the winners but I’m sure we’ll do a reaction post imminently. So watch this space. See see our review of We Need to Talk About Kevin, click here or here for all our Lff 2011 coverage.

Winners in a nutshell

Best Film: We Need to Talk ABout Kevin, directed by Lynne Ramsay Best British Newcomer: Candese Reid, actress, Junkhearts Sutherland Award Winner: Pablo Giorgelli, director of Las Acacias Grierson Award for Best Documentary: In the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life directed by Werner Herzog BFI Fellowship: Ralph Fiennes and David Cronenberg (as previously announced)

BFI London Film Festival Announces 2011 Award Winners

London – 10.30pm,...

Veteran broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has paid tribute to the late soul singer Amy Winehouse, claiming that the music business had been robbed of "20 years of good records". The DJ said that Winehouse was a performer who understood how to "invest in a lyric" and who had "great musical knowledge and taste". "This is a tragedy for young people who take drugs. This is a tragedy for the music business. This was a talented woman," Gambaccini told the BBC. > Obituary: Amy Winehouse

> Amy Winehouse 1983-2011: A life in pictures Speaking about his own personal encounters with the 'Back to Black' star, he said: "I parallel her decline with her three appearances at the Ivor Novello songwriting awards. "Her first triumph, she was accompanied by her dad and she was a shy, friendly woman. Second time, (more)...

Veteran broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has criticised the BBC for paying "preposterous" salaries and sidelining high quality programming in its schedule. Speaking to media website Beehive City, Gambaccini claimed that the corporation has become obsessed with attracting younger audiences at the expense of more "highbrow" content. The 61-year-old presenter has worked at the BBC since 1973, including stints at Radio 1, Radio 3, Radio 4 and, most recently, Radio 2. However, he will soon become the face of new digital channel Vintage TV, which will launch on Sky and Freesat on September 1 aimed at the over-50 audience. According to BBC figures, the corporation has at least 85 senior managers earning more than Prime Minister David Cameron's £142,500 annual salary. BBC director general Mark Thompson is paid a basic salary of £664,000, but he (more)...

✒Monkey hears that last Monday the News of the World held a training camp for top executives to teach them to be nice to their staff. Apparently James Murdoch is keen on such David Brent-like exercises, and the execs, in dress-down mode, were asked to perform simple tasks and then make encouraging comments about each other's efforts. They found the whole caper ludicrous, and a ghastly foretaste of a pallid future. It seems editor Colin Myler didn't stay for the whole course, and if so Monkey can see why – if you can't wear a suit or abuse anyone, what's the point of being a tabloid editor?

✒Reactions were swift and scornful following the bashing of other channels by Channel 4's Julian Bellamy in an Rts after-dinner speech on Wednesday. They rely too much on remakes of old shows such as Doctor Who and Minder (the terrestrials) or imports (Sky), said the normally amiable programming chief,...

The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival announced its winners at the high profile awards ceremony held at London’s Inner Temple this evening. Hosted by journalist and broadcaster, Paul Gambaccini, the six awards were presented by some of the most respected figures in the film world. Best Film In recognition of original, intelligent and distinctive filmmaking, the new award for Best Film was judged by an international jury chaired by Anjelica Huston and fellow jurors John Akomfrah, Jarvis Cocker, Mathieu Kassovitz, Charlotte Rampling and Iain Softley. The Star of London for Best Film was awarded to Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet and was presented by Anjelica Huston.. On behalf of the jury Anjelica Huston (Chair) said: “A masterpiece: Un Prophete has the ambition, purity of vision and clarity of purpose to make it an instant classic. With seamless and imaginative story-telling, superb performances and universal themes, Jacques Audiard has made a perfect film.

Yesterday marked the first time that The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival has held an awards ceremony and the winners of the first-ever Star Of London gongs are listed below...

At the event, hosted at London's Inner Temple by journalist and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, a panel of judges (chaired by Anjelica Huston) sifted through the brightest and best that this year's festival had to offer.

First up was the award for best film, which went to Jacques Audiard's A Prophet. Huston had this to say: "A masterpiece: Un Prophete has the ambition, purity of vision and clarity of purpose to make it an instant classic. With seamless and imaginative story-telling, superb performances and universal themes, Jacques Audiard has made a perfect film."

John Hillcoat's The Road was also singled out for praise for its "breathtaking vision, extraordinary performances and profound political statement".

The prize for Best British Newcomer went to Jack Thorne,...

At a brand new festival awards ceremony at London’s Inner Temple, Jacques Audiard’s “A Prophet” won the inaugural best film award at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival. Hosted by journalist and broadcaster, Paul Gambaccini, the five additional awards were presented at ceremony, including another first-time award, best British newcomer, which went to Jack Thorne, screenwriter of the film “The Scouting Book For Boys.” An international jury chaired by Anjelica …...

London -- Jacques Audiard's "A Prophet" won the inaugural best film nod presented during this year's The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival Wednesday evening.

The best film award, presented by jury chair Anjelica Huston during a formal black tie dinner, was one of two new awards presented by Lff organizers for the first time in the event's history.

Audiard's award was collected by the movie's star Tahar Rahim, who said it was amazing to pick up the nod. Host journalist and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini raised a few eyebrows and smiles when he advised Rahim after winning the nod to enjoy it because his future films are "not all going to turn out this well."

Huston also paused to give a special mention to John Hillcoat's apocalyptic father and son drama "The Road" for its devastating political statement and bleak but important message.

The second inaugural award, for best British newcomer,...

London -- The first best film nod to be presented during this year's The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival will come from a list comprising "Balibo," "Bright Star," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Micmacs," "Nowhere Boy," "A Prophet," "The Road," "A Serious Man" and "The White Ribbon."

Organizers, announcing the shortlist Tuesday for the annual event's freshest award categories, also unveiled the names in the running for the second inaugural award, for best British newcomer.

Directors Malcolm Venville, J. Blakeson, Jordan Scott, Lindy Heymann, and Tom Harper are in the running alongside writers Leigh Campbell and Jack Thorne.

Heymann directed Campbell's script for "Kicks," while Thorne's words provided Harper with a directing project with "The Scouting Book for Boys." Venville directed "44 Inch Chest," Blakeson helmed "The Disappearance of Alice Creed" and Scott directed "Cracks." All efforts feature in this year's London Film Festival lineup.

Festival regular accolades The Sutherland Trophy and...

Michael Jackson didn't stay long or say much - and apparently he didn’t have to. On March 5, the troubled singer made a five-minute appearance in the drafty, mall-like atrium of London's giant O2 Arena to announce an upcoming series of concerts. The results were astonishing: For each second he was on the small stage, Jackson sold 25,000 concert tickets, eventually expanding his roster of London shows from 10 to 50 dates. Beginning on July 8, and running through February 2010, more than an astonishing 750,000 seats were sold to fans hoping to see Jackson in action for what he calls his career "curtain call" in London.

Veteran Radio 2 DJ Paul Gambaccini has claimed that Jonathan Ross is viewed as an "icon of greed" in the UK. The 59-year-old argued that Ross's £18 million three-year salary is seen as insulting in the wake of the Manuelgate scandal and the stricken economy. He told The Guardian: "It may sound strange that I say this because you might think the more money the merrier, but I don't think any man, no matter how strongly rooted he is in family and friends, wants to be seen as the icon of greed in this country." He continued: "Whereas previously Jonathan's exorbitant contract may just have (more)...

LONDON -- Laurels for Stephen Frears' "The Queen"continued to mount Thursday after it was crowned with four of this year's London Film Critics' Circle awards.

The Helen Mirren starrer strolled off with British Film of the Year and British Actress of the Year for Mirren.

"The Queen" also took gongs for Frears as British Director of the Year and Peter Morgan as Screenwriter of the Year.

The awards were hosted by Mariella Frostrup and Paul Gambaccini at a ceremony held in aid of the NSPCC charity at London's Dorchester Hotel.

LFCC awards chair Marianne Gray said: "The Queen" symbolizes everything that is right with the British film industry at the moment and it is great to see that it can compete with the best that Hollywood can offer."

"United 93" clinched Film of the Year and Director of the Year for Paul Greengrass.

In the other two big awards of the evening, Forest Whitaker picked up Actor of the Year for "The Last King of Scotland" and Meryl Streep secured Actress of the Year for "The Devil Wears Prada".

Rising British star Emily Blunt won British Actress of the Year in a Supporting Role alongside Streep in "Prada" and Michael Caine took British Actor of the Year in a Supporting Role for his performance in "The Prestige".

The Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema was presented to veteran comic actor Leslie Phillips.