Durham Stick Makers, based in Fence Houses, has been awarded £1,836 from the Banks Community Fund to purchase specialist equipment that will help grow its membership and continue teaching the traditional craft of stick making.
The group meets twice weekly at the Fence Houses Community Centre and is the only club of its kind in the North East.
Members range in age from their 20s to their 90s and come from across County Durham and the wider region.
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Michael Timmins, secretary of Durham Stick Makers, said: “Our group was born out of a desire to keep this endangered heritage craft alive, and our aim is to preserve it, educate future generations about it and engage with the local community.
“The social side of what we do is also really valuable, with the chance to spend time in a welcoming environment a couple of times a week being especially important for the well-being of many of our older members.
“As a small community group, we don’t really have the cash available to make a capital purchase like this in one go.
“Having the Banks Group’s support is going to make a real difference to our long-term future, and we’d love to see more people coming along to our classes and workshops in the coming months.”
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The club is working to raise membership to at least 50 by next year, through evolving links with a number of Durham University colleges.
The grant has funded three new sets of frames, which are used to prepare the materials before work on carving them begins and will give them more capacity to accommodate the new members they are looking to attract.
The club teaches and promotes the heritage craft of constructing traditional walking sticks, canes and shepherds’ crooks from timber, animal horn and antlers—a skill which dates back more than 2,000 years.
Members have made a number of items for King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Duke of Northumberland.
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They also carry out stick repairs for a nominal fee and offer charitable help to people who require a walking stick due to injury, age-related disabilities and financial difficulties.
Beyond its craft work, the group provides a valuable source of companionship and social interaction for members, especially those who may otherwise feel isolated.
Mr Timmins said attracting younger members is key to ensuring the tradition continues.
He said: “Giving a craft like stick making a sustainable future means gaining younger people’s interest in it, giving them the chance to learn all about it from those who have the knowledge they need and providing the equipment they need to put their learning into action.”
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Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: “Incredible levels of skill and craftsmanship go into making these wonderful creations and it’s a pleasure to see these local experts at work.
“The Durham Stick Makers have a real commitment to pass their knowledge on to future generations and we’re very pleased to be supporting their drive towards doing so.”
The Banks Group’s community funds are independently managed by Point North, formerly known as the County Durham Community Foundation.
Anyone from a community close to a Banks Group project who is interested in applying for funding from the Banks Community Fund should contact the company via its website enquiry form to find out if their group or project is eligible.
Flash floods caused by a storm in northern Morocco killed at least four people as the country struggled with days of heavy rain and water releases from overfilled dams that forced mass evacuations, local authorities said Sunday.
Three children — a girl and two boys aged 2 to 14 — and a man in his 30s died in a car that was swept away in a village near Tétouan, about 270 kilometers (168 miles) north of the capital Rabat, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry citing local authorities. Another person remains missing.
Local authorities said they will open an investigation into what happened.
The flash floods were caused by a storm system known as Marta, which moved into Morocco over the weekend and dumped up to 92 millimeters (3.6 inches) of rain on some northern cities, Houssine Youabed of Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology told The Associated Press. Storm Marta also reached neighboring Spain and Portugal.
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Days earlier, another storm, Leonardo, hit northern Africa and the Iberian peninsula. In Morocco, it overfilled dams and rivers, damaging homes and crops, triggering minor landslides and forcing more than 150,000 people to evacuate.
The turbulent weather has also secured at least a year’s supply of drinking water for Morocco and boosted resources for the country’s critical agricultural sector, officials said, providing relief after a yearslong drought.
Everything you need to know about new Netflix series How to Get to Heaven from Belfast | Belfast Live
Need to know
It comes from the creative mind behind hit series Derry Girls
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast Season 1. Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara Friel, Roisin Gallagher as Saoirse Shaw, Sinead Keenan as Robyn Winters Cr. Christopher Barr/Netflix
Everything you need to know about the new show from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee:
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast was written and created by Lisa McGee, the award-winning mind behind the hit series Derry Girls . Lisa has reunited with director Michael Lennox and her original creative team to bring this new comedy-thriller to life
The eight-part series will premiere globally on Netflix on February 12 with each episode will running for 60 minutes, bringing a mash up of Lisa’s two favourite genres – mystery and comedy.
The story follows three lifelong friends in their late 30s: a chaotic TV writer named Saoirse, a stressed mother of three named Robyn, and a carer named Dara. Despite their different lives, the trio has remained a tight-knit group since their school days in Northern Ireland.
The plot is set in motion when the friends receive a mysterious email announcing the death of the estranged fourth member of their childhood gang. What begins as a trip to her wake quickly spirals into a dangerous journey across Ireland and beyond.
Roísín Gallagher stars as Saoirse, while Sinéad Keenan and Caoilfhionn Dunne portray Robyn and Dara respectively. The supporting cast features notable talent, including Michelle Fairley from Game of Thrones, Saoirse-Monica Jackson from Derry Girls and Oscar-winner James Martin.
Lisa explained that show, like Derry Girls, explores female friendships and the relationship between one’s older and younger selves. It specifically examines how life’s reality often contrasts with the expectations people held during their teenage years.
Filming took place across various locations including Belfast, Co Antrim, Donegal, Derry and Malta.
A Russian citizen has been detained in Dubai over the shooting of a general in Moscow.
The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB secret police, said in a statement that a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was arrested on suspicion of shooting Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev on Friday.
“With the assistance of partners from the United Arab Emirates… [he] was detained in Dubai and handed over to the Russian side,” the security service said. Korba has since been flown back to Russia, according to security officials.
Lt Gen Alexeyev was shot three times with a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer in an apartment block on the Volokolamsk highway in northern Moscow, according to investigators. The perpetrator then fled the scene.
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Image: Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev
The 64-year-old was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery, Russian media said.
Russian investigators have accused Ukraine of planning the shooting, but Kyiv has denied involvement.
Investigators said Korba, born in the Ternopil region of Soviet Ukraine in 1960, was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting.
Image: A view of the apartment building where Lt Gen Alexeyev was shot and wounded. Pic: AP
The FSB said it had identified two accomplices, also Russian citizens.
One, Viktor Vasin, was detained in Moscow, while another, Zinaida Serebritskaya, escaped to Ukraine. Sky News was unable to immediately verify the details of the suspects.
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The UAE did not give any details about how Korba was detained.
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Russia claims suspect in shooting of military chief detained
Vladimir Putin called the UAE leader, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after the detention of Korba and thanked him for his country’s help in the operation, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Meanwhile, Russia launched an attack on several Ukrainian regions overnight.
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Ukraine’s air force said 101 attack drones were fired towards the country, with the force repelling the majority.
Image: A damaged apartment building is seen in a residential neighbourhood following Russian strikes in the Donetsk region. Pic: AP
Apartments in the Donetsk region and nearby cars caught fire after a drone strike. One person died, and two others have been injured.
The overnight attack came almost 24 hours after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
400 drones, 40 missiles hit Ukraine overnight
More than 400 drones and 40 missiles were fired in that attack as the harshest winter in the near four-year war grips Ukraine.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced new sanctions in response to the strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Producing this weaponry would be impossible without critical foreign components, which the Russians continue to obtain by circumventing sanctions,” the Ukrainian leader wrote in a social media post.
“We are introducing new sanctions precisely against such companies – component suppliers, as well as missile and drone manufacturers. I have signed the relevant decisions.”
Davy Fitzgerald’s men have now lost three successive games in Division 1B after being thumped by 10 points by Kildare in Newbridge
Allianz National Hurling League, Division 1B, Round 3: Kildare 3-21 Antrim 0-20
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Antrim coach Seoirse Bulfin said the Saffrons were shocked to be crushed by Kildare – leaving them battling relegation.
Davy Fitzgerald’s side arrived in Newbridge as favourites but were thumped by 10 points and slumped to their third straight defeat.
They trailed the Joe McDonagh Cup title holders by three points at half time and were then demolished by a third quarter blitz.
Muiris Curtin fired 2-2 for Kildare while sub James Dolan struck their other goal with all three green flags coming in that third quarter.
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Freshly promoted Kildare led by double scores 3-19 to 0-14, with 15 minutes to go and cruised to what could be a hugely significant win in 1B.
Kildare can fancy their chances of staying up now while Antrim must be fearing the worst after three defeats and that second half humbling.
Fitzgerald left the media duties to Bulfin who said: “Physically Kildare were bigger and they were very strong in that middle third. They got a lot of bodies in there and we seemed to be running into brick walls a lot.
“It’s very hard to put a finger on it – we didn’t see it coming. We’re training very well and we started well in the first 15 minutes and then they seemed to get a grip and they got a run on us.
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“Goals win games and we were always going to be chasing the game when they got two quick goals like that. It was just one of those days.
“We’re playing Carlow at home next and it’s a massive game. Whoever loses that will be under savage pressure to get out of relegation. We’re in a relegation scrap now.”
It was a double delight for Kildare manager Brian Dowling who had a weekend to remember. He managed St Kieran’s College to Leinster schools success on Saturday.
The Lilywhites were poor in their League opener against Dublin and scored just two points from play but bossed this one on a heavy pitch in Newbridge.
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“The option was there to move this game to a different venue but I said, ‘no way, we’re playing here, this is our home patch’,” said Dowling, who will return with Kildare for the February 21 clash with Clare.
“We know we’ll be up against it that night but we’ll throw everything at it and see where it goes.”
Antrim’s day ended with a 73rd minute straight red card for sub Jack McCloskey who, after Antrim had won a free, struck the sliotar at a Kildare player who didn’t retreat.
Kildare: P McKenna; R Boran, S Leacy, L O’Reilly; P Dolan (0-2), Cian Boran, Conan Boran; D O’Meara, D Guerin (0-1); J Travers (0-2), G Keegan (0-1), C McCabe (0-2); C Dowling (0-1), J Sheridan (0-9, 6f) M Curtin (2-2).
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Subs: J Dolan (1-0) for Travers 35+1, A Goss for P Dolan 52, C Kehoe (0-1) for Dowling 60, H Carroll for O’Meara 65, T Power for Keegan 68.
Antrim: D Nugent; S Rooney, N O’Connor, P Burke; E McCormick, J Maskey, G Walsh; R McCambridge (0-4), E O’Neill (0-1), R Donaghy (0-1), S Elliott (0-11, 9f, 1 65), S Duffin; J McNaughton (0-1), C Cunning (0-2), C Johnston.
Subs: K Molloy for Duffin & S Walsh for Donaghy h/t, E McFerran for McCormick 42, J McCloskey for Johnston 57, P Boyle for O’Neill 57.
The Puerto Rican singer, 31, also known as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, made history last week at the Grammys for being the first artist to win album of the year for a record sung entirely in Spanish.
On Sunday, he will be at the centre of one of the most-watched broadcasts in the world, performing at the Super Bowl half-time show in Santa Clara, California.
– Why is the show such a big deal?
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Despite it being an American sporting event, the half-time performance blows up online every year with many tuning in to the entertainment portion of the game.
Previous headliners include Sir Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Rihanna, Coldplay and most recently Kendrick Lamar who have each performed a medley of their hit songs, often bringing out surprise guests to the stage.
Performances have often sparked some controversy for political statements during the live broadcast, such as Beyonce’s 2016 references to The Black Panther Party or Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s 2020 performance, which also featured Bad Bunny, and depicted children in cages, allegedly condemning US president Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Ahead of taking the stage, Bad Bunny’s appointment has already been met with criticism, including from Mr Trump, for his outspoken opposition to US immigration policies.
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– Who is he?
Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican singer, rapper and producer who rose to fame following his hit single with rapper Cardi B and singer J Balvin titled I Like It.
The Latin American musician blew up internationally last year with the release of his sixth studio album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos.
The 17-track record fuses a number of genres including reggaeton, pop, salsa and house along with traditional Puerto Rican music such as plena, in what can be described as a love letter to the Island.
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The intimate homage to the singer’s home went on to become the first album sung entirely in Spanish to win the coveted album of the year award at the 2026 Grammys.
He also won the Grammy for best global music performance for his hit track EoO and picked up best musica urbana album award for the fourth year in a row.
The record was accompanied with an economy-boosting 30-day residency in Puerto Rico with the singer refusing to schedule performances in any mainland US cities as a way to encourage tourism to the island as well as to protect fans from possible encounters with US immigration officers.
Following his run of gigs in Puerto Rico, the singer set off on his world tour with dates scheduled in Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Japan and the UK, with two nights in London this summer.
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– What to expect
Sunday’s show is expected to be a “huge party” infused with Puerto Rican culture and full of dancing.
The singer recently told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden: “I just want people to have fun. It’s gonna be a huge party. I want to bring that to the stage, a lot of my culture.
“People only have to worry about dancing. I know I told people they had a month to learn Spanish, but they don’t even need to do that! It’s better that they learn to dance. There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart.”
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It is also expected that he will make some form of political statement following his call for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers to leave cities alone and opt for love during his Grammy acceptance speech last week.
Ice officers have been sent to US cities as part of Mr Trump’s mass deportation initiative, and have come under strong criticism over their aggressive approach, most notably in Minnesota and Minneapolis, where about 2,000 federal agents have been deployed.
Most recently, Ice agents fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.
Super Bowl 60 will be available to watch live on Channel 5, Sky Sports and DAZN, but the time difference means it won’t begin until 11.30pm UK time.
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With just a few hours to go until Bad Bunny’s history-making performance at the Super Bowl half-time show, here is what to expect.
The Puerto Rican singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, will take the stage in Santa Clara, California, during the NFL showpiece clash between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, with millions expected to tune in around the world.
The 31-year old is expected to perform the show entirely in Spanish – a first for the Super Bowl’s near 60-year history which has been overwhelmingly English-led.
Before his show, rock band Green Day will perform in the opening ceremony with popstar Charlie Puth tasked with singing the US national anthem.
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As with most Super Bowl half-time shows, Bad Bunny is expected to bring out a surprise guest or guests, with many predicting appearances by Shakira or Jennifer Lopez.
He has promised 15 minutes of dancing and Puerto Rican culture, turning Levi’s Stadium into a “huge party” as he sings a medley of some of his biggest hits.
He is expected to perform songs from his record-breaking 2025 album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, which won the album of the year Grammy last week – the first time a record sung entirely in Spanish has claimed the prize.
Blending Latin pop, hip-hop, salsa and reggaeton, the album is seen as a love letter to his home in Puerto Rico and a celebration of his heritage.
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The rapper told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden: “I just want people to have fun. It’s gonna be a huge party. I want to bring that to the stage, a lot of my culture.
“People only have to worry about dancing.
“I know I told people they had a month to learn Spanish, but they don’t even need to do that. It’s better that they learn to dance.
“There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart.”
Known for his opposition to US immigration policies, he is also expected to make a political statement during his performance after he used his Grammy acceptance speech last week to call for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers to leave cities alone and opt for love.
He said: “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.
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“I would say to the people, I know it’s tough to know not to hate on these days, and I was thinking, sometimes… the hate get more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
Ice officers have been sent into US cities as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiative, most notably in Minnesota, where about 2,000 federal agents have been deployed.
They have been strongly criticised for their aggressive approach after Ice agents fatally shot two people – Renee Good and Alex Pretti – on the streets of Minneapolis last month.
The new bug is called Arsink, and it is an Android Remote Access Trojan (RAT).
“Arsink is a sophisticated malware that actively exfiltrates information, transmitting it directly to its operators while affording them complete remote control,” Zimperium explained.
More than 45,000 devices have already been infected by this virus, according to the tech experts, across 143 countries, including in the UK.
How the Arsink bug works
Android users are being tricked into downloading “pro” versions of official-looking apps, Zimperium said.
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These apps are usually advertised on social media and other similar platforms, rather than the official Google Play Store.
Once these apps are downloaded, the Arsink bug gets to work within the device, allowing hackers access to:
Text messages
Emails
Call logs
Contacts
Microphone recordings
Photos
Location data
And more…
Android users are being tricked into downloading “pro” versions of official-looking apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok. (Image: PA)
The bug also allows hackers to remotely control certain features of infected devices, including:
Using the torch
Playing audio
Setting wallpaper
Making calls
Changing various settings
Zimperium added: “In most cases, the apps don’t deliver real features, they display a minimal UI (user interface), immediately request sensitive permissions, and then operate silently.”
The sophisticated malware hides its icon to reduce detection and launches a foreground service that keeps running despite task killers.
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It will also display persistent notifications to prevent the service from being terminated.
Delete Any App Asking For Full Control 🚨
Malware abuses Android accessibility permissions to hijack devices, steal data & spy on users. If you didn’t install it for legitimate accessibility needs remove it immediately.
As mentioned previously, the Arsink bug is hidden within “pro” versions of official-looking apps, which trick users into downloading the malicious software and granting it “extensive” access.
Around 50 well-known brands are being used, including:
Fans say that everyone should make the time to stream this historically inspired film
19:07, 08 Feb 2026Updated 19:08, 08 Feb 2026
Content cannot be displayed without consent
What is considered by some as the best historical war movie of the last decade is now streaming for free.
The Woman King is currently not available via any other streamer. Thankfully for fans they can currently check it out at no extra cost on Channel 4.
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Originally released in cinemas back in 2022, it quickly became a much talked about release. Earning just shy of $100 million at the box office, it nearly doubled its budget of $50 million.
Not only that but it was a critical darling earning an incredible 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Even more impressively, it boasts a higher fan score on the same website with a near perfect 99%. It would go on to be nominated for several awards including a Golden Globe, a Grammy and three BAFTAS.
Set in the 1800s and inspired by true events, the film tells the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen.
According to its synopsis, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca, played by Oscar winner Viola Davis as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.
One critic recently labelled the film as ‘one of the best war movies of the decade’ while another named it ‘one of the decade’s most underrated masterpieces.”
Fans are just as vocal and full or praise for the film. As one person shared their thoughts online posted: “What a remarkable epic, heroic, emotional and inspiring journey it was. The acting was superb!”
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They continued: “This is so much more than a drama or an action movie – this is human spirit at its greatest and ugliest moments in a head to head clash. The story is deep and surprising and the fact it is based on true events only adds a unique spice to the whole creation. Not for the faint of hearts. Highly recommended!”
Another added: “Amazing story, action, and acting. Was a bit long, but worth the watch. Viola Davis is one of the best actresses I have ever seen.”
Someone else claimed: “The Woman King’ is an epic masterpiece, unlike any film you’ve seen before with its gorgeous visuals, action, honesty and representation. It will stir your soul, give you chills + make you cheer on every last one of these magnificent female characters.”
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While one fan declared: “This movie is incredibly stunning, moving, and awe-inspiring. I cannot thoroughly put into words how much I love this movie. Absolutely phenomenal performances all around. Viola Davis is pure perfection. Every second of this movie, I was captivated. Our world needs more movies like this untold story.”
The Woman King is streaming on Channel 4.
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website
The Footlights has turned out star names including Stephen Fry, John Cleese, Douglas Adams, David Baddiel and many more
For more than 50 years the Cambridge Footlights has been a conveyor belt of comic genius. A student sketch comedy troupe at the University of Cambridge which dates back to 1883, its alumni reads like a who’s who of British comedy – John Cleese, Eric Idle, Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis, all of the Goodies, Richard Osman, Jan Ravens, Nick Mohammed, Alexander Armstrong, Ben Miller, Phil Wang, Mirian Margolyes, David Baddiel and Douglas Adams are just a few of the big-name former Footlighters who have kept us entertained.
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Now a new book has offered a fascinating and entertaining deep dive into the Footlights, with more than 70 former Footlighters recalling their experiences and giving insights into why the troupe has been such a prolific comedy production line.
The Cambridge Footlights: A Very British Comedy Institution was written by Robert Sellers, the author of more than 25 books on subjects such as cinema, theatre, television, music and popular culture, and was released this month by Bloomsbury.
“You could call it a factory for churning out comedians since the 50s,” said Robert. “So I thought it was an interesting institution to examine. I’m a huge Monty Python fan so I knew that most of the Pythons went to Cambridge. I’m also a big Goodies fan and all of them went to Cambridge.
“I’ve been aware of it for a while but what interested me before I decided to pursue it properly…was it still churning out these people?
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“The high point was the 60s, 70s and early 80s – but it’s still remarkably consistent. Just look at The Inbetweeners, Richard Ayoade, David Mitchell and people like that. It’s still part of television, theatre and comedy. It’s still relevant.”
As he researched the subject and spoke to former Footlighters, it became apparent to Robert that the secret to the success of the Footlights conveyor belt of talent was the experience it gave those involved.
The opportunity to write and perform, not only in Cambridge but in the West End, theatres around the country and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, was both unique and invaluable.
“I wanted the book to be as much as possible an oral history,” said Robert. “I didn’t want it to be a staid, academic-type book. I wanted it to follow people through the years, their personal experiences. So I’ve interviewed over 70 people who are ex-Footlighters. It’s very much a personal history of their time there.
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“A lot of people said it’s the experience that it gives you. A lot of people said it’s better than a drama school. In a drama school you’re performing to your own classmates for most of the time. With the Footlights, because of the revue and the tour they go on, and when they go up to the Edinburgh Festival, they’re performing in front of the public from a very early age.
“There’s a thing called smokers which they put on every few weeks for the college. Anyone from the college and the university can come and watch, and you have to write your own material. Someone told me that when they arrived, they were quite surprised that they had to write their own material. They thought they were given material and they’d just have to go on stage and be funny. But no, you had to write it and perform it, and a lot of people found that a real challenge. That helps enormously, that you’re writing material every three weeks.
“Someone told me that when he left the Footlights and was performing stand-up on this quite big venue, a fellow comedian said to them, ‘This is your first time here – this must be a big moment for you, performing in front of an audience’. But he had spent three years going to the Edinburgh Fringe and performing in front of 1,000 people and going on tour to theatres around the country.
“It’s a real ladder of opportunity – also for producers and directors. Some people might not necessarily want to be a performer, but a writer or a producer or a director.
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“So they’ve left university having directed a professional production. It’s a huge advantage over your contemporaries and your competitors.”
The Footlights is still a thriving institution – and still supplementary to whatever academic course its members have chosen for their studies. “It was almost a release valve for their studies,” said Robert of the former Footlighters he interviewed.
“Once a week they could just be silly and do silly jokes. It was a wonderful release from the pressures of academia. It started as a hobby because people enjoyed doing drama and theatre but they had no ambition to be a professional performer.
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“John Cleese had no ambition to be a comedian even though he was in the Footlights. He wanted to be a lawyer or a barrister. Graham Chapman wanted to be a doctor.
“It started to change in the 70s when people went to Cambridge purely to be a comedian and join the Footlights after seeing so many people come through in the 50s and 60s – Peter Cook, and people like that. So in the 80s sometimes people were taking the Footlights more seriously than their academic work.”
But while students from colleges throughout the university took advantage of the opportunity to indulge themselves in drama, women were excluded from being full members of The Footlights until 1964. “An interesting element of the book is the role of women in the Footlights,” explained Robert.
“I interviewed Graeme Garden and he wanted to introduce women during the year he was president. But one of the high principals who was on the board and had quite a lot of significance, said he would resign if women were made members.
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“So the following year when Tim Brooke-Taylor was vice-president and Eric Idle was president, they said ‘this time we’re doing it – if the guy wants to resign we’ll call his bluff – but women have to be members this time’.
“Women could perform in the Footlights but couldn’t be members. They could do smokers and occasionally, like Miriam Margolyes, be in the revue show – but were treated abominably. Someone told me she (Margolyes) wasn’t even allowed to go to the after-show party, even though she’d been in the show. She went back home and cried all night.
“When Germaine Greer did a smoker, they just thought there was no way they could say ‘no’ to her. She was very powerful and that changed everything. She was the first female member.”
Not everyone who joined the Footlights went on to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, of course. One of the alumni Robert interviewed for his book was Peter Firth, who was 97 at the time, and was president of the Footlights in 1953. He went on to become a priest.
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“He was a lovely guy and his memory was crystal clear,” said Robert. “He was president of his year and he put the revue on. It was such a success that a West End producer said, ‘Can you put it on in the West End please?’ But he knew he wanted to be a priest so he didn’t do it.
“But the following year the revue was again a success and the same producer came back and this time they said yes, and that became the first Footlights revue in the West End.
“It became a bit of an institution in the 60s and 70s that the Cambridge revue would not only do a tour round the UK and Edinburgh, but also go into the West End. It became a big deal although it doesn’t happen any more. One revue even went to Broadway.”
What became clear to Robert is that members of the Footlights fully acknowledged the privileged position that attending the University of Cambridge put them in.
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“There were lots and lots of societies – each house had its own little comedy group,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any other institution in the country where you get that much practice. These guys left Cambridge pretty much a honed comedian.”
And for a time coming from The Footlights actually worked against any would-be comic looking to make their mark. The rise of alternative comedy in the 1980s meant that talent emerging from the Footlights was viewed as ‘the Establishment’ and therefore actively sneered at.
“For quite a long period of time, coming from The Footlights was actually a negative,” said Robert. “In the 1980s because of the rise of alternative comedy, if you came from The Footlights, you were almost cancelled – certainly looked down on. If you were Cambridge you were seen as rich and coming from a well-off family – you were dismissed as a rich tw*ts.
“Matthew Holness talks about it a lot – how hostile the environment was when he went to Edinburgh. David Baddiel told me that when he left the Footlights in the mid-80s he phoned up the Comedy Store in London to ask if he could do a gig or perform in some way.
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“They said, ‘That’s fine, interesting’ and asked if he had any experience. David said he was vice-president of the Footlights and they hung up on him! For many years he never mentioned he was a Footlighter.
“Nick Hancock is from the Midlands and people assumed he was never anywhere near the Cambridge Footlights – and he never revealed he was a Footlighter.
“There was a lot of hostility, I think because of the revue called The Cellar Tapes. It was Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. They won the first ever Perrier Award and I think there was a lot of resentment.
“Stephen, Hugh and Emma were all from very privileged backgrounds. You’ve got the Young Ones sketch where they’re on University Challenge (Fry, Laurie and Thompson all appear as obnoxious toffs in the opposing Footlights College team). That sums up how the Footlights was seen at that time. They were ‘posh tw*ts’.
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“But I spoke to a lot of people who were in it over the last few years and it’s different now. It’s very diverse. A lot of effort has gone into making it so, which is covered in the book as well.”
National Rail said Network Rail engineers are expected on the line and urgent repairs are underway.
Trains running between the sites will be cancelled, delayed or revised, the agency said.
⚠️Due to urgent repairs to the railway between York and Harrogate all the line is blocked until later tonight. This means trains will be short notice delayed or cancelled. Instead you will be able to make this journey via Micklefield. Network Rail engineers are expected on site…
York-based train operator Northern has provided rail replacement transport for some services and said some of its affected journeys could be made via Micklefield.
Passengers are advised to check the National Rail website for journey planning and service updates.
National Rail said disruption is expected until 10pm this evening.
The Press has contacted Network Rail and will add any more information here when we receive it.
The BBC judge opened up about a moment that happened while the cast tour across the UK
Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas praised Vito Coppola as she shared an on-stage moment during the live tour.
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Former professional dancer Shirley Ballas joined Strictly Come Dancing as the new Head Judge in 2017, making her debut in Series 15, replacing Len Goodman and judging alongside the established panel.
With Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman having stepped down from their hosting duties after the latest series, Shirley recently shared: “Everyone was surprised. I share the changing room next to them, and they are full of giggles and laughter.”
With Tess and Claudia being a major part of the BBC dance show for many years, Shirley admitted: “They also showed me the way from when I joined until now, so it will be a sad day when they go.”
At the moment, Shirley has joined some of the Strictly cast as they head out on another live tour for the BBC show. With their opening night in Birmingham, the tour will then conclude on February 15 at The O2 Arena in London.
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After the opening show, Shirley had shared: “I’m still on a high from last night’s opening @strictlycomedancinglive … Birmingham, you were beautiful. Thank you for coming out to see us. We are ready for the road. It’s going to be a blast. Hugs. X”.
Stars from the latest series who fans will be able to watch on tour are Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec, Lewis Cope and Katya Jones, and Vicky Pattison with Kai Widdrington.
Taking to her Instagram, Shirley posted a picture of her and professional dancer Vito Coppola on the stage where she praised her co-star for supporting her after a “slip” on the stage.
She penned: “When you slip and your partner has you safe in his arms. @vitocoppola simply the best xxx” to which Vito reposted the snap to his own Instagram story.
This comes just weeks after Shirley was rushed to hospital after falling backwards off a stool and hitting her head on a glass table. Following the incident, Shirley was given a brain scan and has since shared an update with her followers on social media.
In an Instagram story post, she wrote: “Thank you to all who reached out to see how I’m doing. Scary fall backwards hitting my head on the glass dressing table :(. Trip to hospital to get a brain scan.
“Fortunately for me no cracked skull,” she told fans. “I’ll rest a few days to heel my neck and back. [sic] Hugs thank you to @barbara_mccoll for getting my emergency appointment to Sammy Stopford for taking me, and sitting with me all day. [sic]”
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After explaining the incident, she then ended the message with: “Gratitude as the Dr said I was very lucky,” before ending the message with a heart emoji.
