Entertainment Live: Paul Daniels death reaction; Heathers to get TV reboot

1. News and updates for 17 March 2016
2. Tributes paid to magician Paul Daniels who dies aged 77
3. Madonna angers fans with two-hour concert delay
4. The Who headline Isle of Wight Festival
5. Cult film Heathers to get TV reboot

Goodbye from us and Paul

Genevieve Hassan

Entertainment reporter

That's all we have time for today. It's been a sad one, but we'll leave you with a short video featuring some of Paul Daniels' magic tricks for which he will be best remembered.

In Paul's words: "You'll like this... not a lot, but you'll like it."

Some of Paul Daniels' best tricks

X-Men: Apocalypse gears up for war

The latest trailer for the forthcoming X-Men: Apocalypse has been released online and features a closer look at Professor Xavier's mutant students as they square off against villain Apocalypse in a fight to save the planet - as you do.

The film is out in UK cinemas on 18 May, but until then, take a look at the trailer.

Cult film Heathers to be turned into TV series

The Hollywood Reporter

Lakeshore

Cult 1988 film Heathers is to get a TV reboot.

The original movie saw Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as the outsiders who exact their revenge on the high school elite - a trio of populist princesses called Heather.

This time round, it's the Heathers who are the typical school outcasts: "Heather McNamara is a black lesbian; Heather Duke is a male who identifies as gender-queer whose real name is Heath; and Heather Chandler has a body like Martha Dumptruck," writes the Hollywood Reporter. But they're still as vicious as ever.

The pilot is being made by US channel TV Land, with insiders likening it to the recent Fargo reboot in terms of being an "anthology" series where a new group of Heathers could be featured across multiple seasons.

Read the full story.

Charlie heads to Broadway

Really Useful Theatre Company

The West End production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is heading to Broadway next year.

The musical, directed by Sam Mendes, first opened in London in 2013 and will close in early 2017.  

Tony award-winner Jack O'Brien will direct the revamped Broadway production which will pay homage to the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder. 

Sam and I have both spent our careers putting our personal spin on classics, be it William Shakespeare or Roald Dahl.

Since the first production was created for London, it's only fair we do an American version. And in America, our connection is to the 1971 movie and the indelible impression of Gene Wilder as the slyly wicked Wonka

Jack O'Brien

Turner Prize nominee to create 'ghost tree' in Manchester park

Alan Williams

A Manchester park is to get a "ghost tree", created by Turner Prize nominee Anya Gallaccio.

The public sculpture, which will sit in the park alongside the Whitworth gallery, will be a reimagining in steel of a tree that was removed during the recent £15m redevelopment of the building.

While work was being carried out, it was found the tree had died of natural causes and had to be taken down - noticing the absence when she visited, Gallaccio decided to create "a ghost of the real tree". 

The work will be unveiled during an arts festival at the gallery in June.

Your memories of Paul Daniels

I just want to acknowledge Paul's charity work. Both Paul and Debbie did a huge amount for the Windsor-based Thames Hospice. Nothing was too much trouble for them - visiting patients in the hospice and Paul doing tricks to cheer up patients and make nurses and volunteers laugh, as well as launching campaigns to get people to donate their clothing to the shops.

All done without having to negotiate through publicists, agents or any hint of personal interest in seeking publicity. They really cared and wanted to help and would say if it helped the hospice they were happy to help, and would give you their direct contact details - that meant a lot to everyone at the hospice.

Marcus Stanton

'Sofa-gate': One Show stars swap seats

More from Sofa-gate now... and last night saw a radical shift of position for The One Show presenters Alex Jones and Matt Baker, as Jones moved to sit on the left of co-host Baker.

It follows the furore about new BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker being placed on the left of fellow presenter Louise Minchin, a position traditionally associated with 'pre-eminence', according to media pundits.

A BBC spokesman stressed the segment was "light-hearted" and there was "no seniority attached to presenter seating positions on The One Show".  

BBC

Some of you may be freaked out because we’ve just swapped sides because of the news this morning that the male presenter always sits on the left so we thought we’d change it up.

Alex Jones

Former Countryfile host Miriam O'Reilly, who won an ageism case against the BBC after she was dropped from the show, told The Guardian, seating choices were the result of “deep-rooted misogyny in newsrooms”.

I’ve worked on enough news and current affairs programmes to know that men are seen by editors as having the "gravitas" to lead a show. Sadly women on breakfast news programmes, particularly, have the role of the bit of fluff by his side. They are there to smile, laugh, giggle or tease – and to show legs and cleavage.

On Thursday's BBC Breakfast edition, Minchin and Walker were replaced by Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty, with the former positioned on the left.

A BBC statement on Wednesday claimed seating positions on the BBC Breakfast sofa were "all about judging which is the best camera angle for the presenters”.  

Lumley and Moore set for Sheffield's Doc/Fest

Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

The "absolutely adventurous" Joanna Lumley is to give a talk about her career in TV and film at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre as part of the city's Doc/Fest in June.

The festival, which celebrates the "art and business of documentary", will be opened by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Moore, who will also host a Q&A after a showing of his latest work, Where To Invade Next.  

Alongside Lumley and Moore, the event will also see a showing of John Hull's Notes On Blindness, an immersive work which uses actors to lip sync the audio diaries Hull created after he went completely blind in 1983.  

Moore, Lumley and Hull have in their own distinct and brilliant ways creatively challenged the status quo with real and meaningful impact. I am thrilled to be able to announce these three incredible game changers will be part of Doc/Fest.

Elizbeth McIntyreDoc/Fest director

There will also be a celebration of Dr Clifford Shaw, the event's "oldest and most beloved audience member" who attended every festival until his death last October and who the organisers say was a "true cinephile", watching films "from morning til night each year".

Paul Daniels prop-maker pays tribute to 'down-to-earth genius'

Colin Young

Presenter, BBC Shropshire

A Shropshire magician who helped make props for Paul Daniels has described him and as a "genius" who was "down-to-earth".

Paul Rushworth said he used to stay with their family when he came to visit Shrewsbury and had been booked to appear at an event in the town this Saturday.

Mr Rushworth said his family made around a dozen illusions for Mr Daniels's TV and stage shows and in return he got advice on his own act:

He would send up the idea and my dad would work it out and then we would go in the workshop and make it at night time, so that nobody else could see what we were doing.

The Big Bang Theory's Leonard unveils his dad

Getty Images

So who is playing Leonard's dad in The Big Bang Theory?

Turns out his anthropologist father - briefly mentioned but never yet seen - will be played by Taxi star Judd Hirsch.

Johnny Galecki, aka Leonard, who announced the comedy's latest cast member at a fan session in LA, said he himself proposed the role to Hirsch at NBC's James Burrows tribute.

“I ran up to him and just kind of bombarded him with verbalisation,” said Galecki.

The Good Wife's Christine Baranski, has a recurring guest role as Leonard’s mother, Dr Beverly Hofstadter. 

West Wing star launches commentary series

Ten years after the cult show concluded, former West Wing alumni Joshua Malina has released the first of his West Wing commentary podcast series.

Fans of the political drama, which concluded in 2006 after seven seasons, can watch as they listen to Malina's blow-by-blow dissection of each episode in The West Wing Weekly.

Scandal star Malina, who played speech writer Will Bailey in the West Wing from 2002-2006, has promised there will be special guests, including more former co-stars - before turning his attention to another Aaron Sorkin show, Sports Night, perhaps...?  

Paul Daniels 'loved entertainment, not money'

BBC Radio 5 Live

Illusionist Uri Geller has paid tribute to “first-class magician” Paul Daniels.

Geller said although he eventually became great friends with the “extremely talented” magician, they had a rocky start to their relationship.

“Our careers started off by him trying to debunk me and so we had a kind of a row in the early 70s but then it turned into a very, very close friendship and I'm saddened for his family,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.

“He really cared about entertainment and not about money… it wasn’t financial, it was solely and purely entertainment,” he said.

Listen to the full interview below.

Illusionist Uri Geller pays tribute to “first-class magician” Paul Daniels, who has died.

Paul Daniels best tricks

BBC Newsbeat

If you'd like a reminder of some of Paul Daniels' best tricks, Newsbeat has put together a list of 10, including this tubes and bottles routine.

Warning: Third party content might contain ads

Paul Daniels from the archive

Remember when Paul Daniels appeared in BBC children's show Wizbit? We found this picture in the archive of the magician with alien Wizbit himself, Wooly the rabbit, former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan and presenter Phillip Schofield.

BBC

Your memories of Paul Daniels

So sorry to hear of Paul passing away, it was only a few days ago he left the hospital, what a shock. Our sincere condolences to Debbie and family.

RIP Paul, I won't forget the time you came into my garage to have your car repaired and you showed to some tricks to my customers - they all loved it.

Les Williams

So sad to hear that Paul Daniels has died. He was such a lovely man to work with. 

I still smile at him sneaking up behind me and yelling "Hello Tittch!" in my ear loudly.  He then ran off cackling when I shrieked and nearly dropped my phone, as I was in the middle of a call at the time. My heart goes out to Debbie. RIP Paul you sweet funny guy.

Rita McDonald

I have worked with Paul Daniels on at least six occasions and found him to be the nicest gentleman.  So very pleasant and down to earth.  On two or three of those occasions I also met his wife, Debbie. They were a delightful couple.

Anne Monks

The Who to headline Isle of Wight festival

Getty

Veteran rockers The Who are to headline the Saturday night slot at this year's Isle of Wight Festival.

Organisers said the gig will be the band's only UK music festival this year.

The band previously played Isle of Wight in 1969, 1970 and 2004.

Rock legends Queen will top the bill to close the four-day festival, which also features Stereophonics and Faithless.

Festival organiser John Giddings said:

The Who are part of the fabric of the Isle of Wight Festival, and it's great to welcome them back to the island as part of their ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations.

Eurovision: The exhibition

BBC

The Eurovision Song Contest has announced a new exhibition devoted to the history behind the annual singing extravaganza.

An interactive exhibition entitled Good Evening, Europe! will open in Stockholm's Abba Museum on 7 May, ahead of this year's contest on 10 May.

From the first winner, Switzerland’s Lys Assia in 1956, to Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow in 2015, visitors can immerse themselves in 60 years of the world's longest running annual television competition.

The exhibition will include digital footage of every contest since 1956, as well as offering fans the chance to sing on a Eurovision stage and test their Eurovision knowledge with an interactive quiz.

Aficionados of Scandi-noir need not apply.

More Paul Daniels Twitter tributes

Justin Bieber settles legal action with photographer

BBC Newsbeat

Getty Images

Justin Bieber has settled a legal action with a photographer who claimed the singer kicked and punched him.

Jose Osmin Hernandez Duran sued the singer for assault and emotional distress in 2013.

He alleged Bieber attacked him outside a shopping centre in Los Angeles while on a date with Selena Gomez in 2012.

A trial was due to start yesterday, but Duran's lawyer said the case had been resolved. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.

Read more.

Your memories of Paul Daniels

Incredibly sad to hear of another British icon passing this year and in such tragic circumstances. 

I remember meeting Paul at a big event he organised at Redcar racecourse in the mid-90's for a children's charity he supported. He spent the entire day mingling with the public and being a genuine, warm, human being as well as an incredible entertainer. 

So proud to be from his hometown. 

John Wright, Teesside (now living in Melbourne, Australia)

Very sad to hear of Paul Daniels' passing.  I was once on a kids TV show with him a long time ago (I'm 44)...he was a very kind unassuming man and handled being a star with humility.  

I asked him over coffee if he got annoyed of people asking for autographs etc and he said: "If they stop then I know i'm finished." He knew fame doesn't always last for ever for everyone. They say never meet your idols - not true in his case.

Rob Wilson

As a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy in 1997 on board HMS Gloucester on the way back from a six month Australia / NZ deployment, Paul and Debbie joined the flotilla waiting to transit the Suez canal to perform their magic show on each of the three ships.

I sat on the flight deck only a few feet away and watched them saw and cut apart my female Officer (Lt Crystal Gale) manager right in front of own eyes, separate her and put her together again and then walk away. Never seen anything like it in my life – totally amazing magic and no studio backdrop of stage to hide anything.

I asked Crystal the next day what it felt like and she said just a slight tingling feeling when it was taking place.

Truly amazing magician and will be sadly missed.

Christian Jennings, London