‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ is back with new kitchenware in Cancer Research UK shops
BAKERS from Edinburgh and the Lothians are being urged to grab their mixing bowls and whip up some cash, as ‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ returns to Channel 4 tomorrow (March 22).
Everyone from baking beginners to patisserie pros are being asked to don their aprons in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, the joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
Getting started is a piece of cake with a free fundraising kit to download full of tips, recipes and ideas for getting friends and family involved in raising some serious dough for life-saving research.
Fans of the show can also support the cause with striking new Star Baker themed kitchenware available from Cancer Research UK shops in Edinburgh and the Lothians or online, as well as via retailer Next.co.uk.*
The range features everything foodies and fundraisers need to create their signature bakes in style including an apron, oven gloves, a trio of tea towels and a mug.
In Scotland, around 32,200 people are diagnosed with cancer a year.**
Stand Up To Cancer aims to get new cancer tests and treatments to people who need them the most. Since its launch in 2012, the campaign has raised more than £93 million to fund 59 clinical trials and research projects across the UK.
These include the development of new treatments that use viruses to fight cancer, clinical trials testing potentially more effective ways to deliver radiotherapy and improved surgical techniques for bowel cancer.
Linda Summerhayes, Cancer Research UK spokesperson in Scotland, said: “One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime***, but all of us can play a part to help beat it. That’s why we need people across Edinburgh and the Lothians to help us turn up the heat on this devastating disease.
“We hope these special episodes for Stand Up To Cancer will encourage viewers to host their own baking fundraiser. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a whizz in the kitchen, you can look the part with our new Star Baker range. The most important thing is raising money to help speed up research and save lives. Every last crumb will make a difference.”
The celebrity contestants putting their skills to the test in the Bake Off tent and hoping to inspire some show-stopping fundraising results include Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah; singer-songwriter Example; singer-songwriter and UN Environment Ambassador Ellie Goulding; TV presenters Sophie Morgan and Emma Willis; actor, Blake Harrison; comedian, writer and TV presenter Ruby Wax and judge, presenter and dancer Motsi Mabuse.
‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ will return for five special episodes on Channel 4 on Tuesdays at 8pm, from March 22.
10th April – Edinburgh Festival Theatre audition date
Leading entertainment industry training programme and talent management, Stagebox, has announced audition dates taking place across the nation from April 2022.
The annual search sees experts audition passionate performers aged 8-18 years old from across the country (and internationally), offering successful members the chance to benefit from world class training and opportunities in a contemporary supercharged industry accelerator for musical theatre, television and film.
Last year’s auditions saw the Stagebox team meet thousands of performers from across the UK and beyond, and this year they anticipate similar interest. This year, auditionees will be able to select whether they are auditioning for an acting or musical theatre membership and their audition day will see them be put through their paces in this discipline.
Many young performers training at Stagebox have already landed dream roles on stage and screen, thanks to the expert training and management.
Stagebox has secured their clients major lead talent screen roles in Oscar nominated and Emmy award winning productions, including Peaky Blinders (Netflix), Sex Education (Netflix), Robin Robin (Netflix), Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Avenue 5 (HBO), The Power (Amazon Studios), Pistol (Disney +), BAFTA anthology Superdad (Channel 4), Gentleman Jack (Netflix/HBO), Lagging (BBC) and many more.
Stagebox management clients also continue to star in West End and UK Tour musicals including Frozen, Matilda the Musical, School of Rock, Annie, The Grinch, Mary Poppins and Tina the Musical to name a few.
To further the opportunities for their clients, Stagebox Management has also brokered agency partnerships stateside, working alongside Innovative Artists, Paradigm Talent, Luber Roklin Entertainment, Gravity Hill, KMR, Maverick and more.
Commenting on the upcoming 2022 auditions, Stagebox’s General Manager, Jasmine Quinlan Gardner, said: “We are so excited to begin our nationwide search for the stars of today and tomorrow.
“We are proud of our inclusive, diverse and extraordinarily talented community and we can’t wait to meet those who will join us on the journey.”
Kirsti Bagger, Head Agent at Stagebox, adds: “At Stagebox, the training is second to none, preparing our young stars for careers on the stage and screen. 2021 was one of our most successful years ever with Stagebox Management clients wrapping on global award-winning feature films and television series and critically acclaimed theatre productions.
“We’re committed to making auditions for Stagebox free as part of our ongoing dedication to inclusivity in the arts. We only open for auditions once a year, and we’re excited to see our 2022 auditionees’ incredible new talent!”
These auditions are guaranteed to fill up fast and limited spaces apply. To register your spot for your preferred audition date, please visit the Stagebox website to apply.
Whether planting potatoes or cultivating herbaceous borders, the Scots have long been known as a nation of gardeners. In this series, green-fingered Murdo Macdonald visits some of the country’s most important designed-landscapes to reveal the fascinating story of Scotland’s gardening past.
Each programme explores a different garden, with Murdo picking out his favourite aspects of each and talking to the curators and gardeners who look after them today. He’ll learn about their design, plant-life, setting and history.
Murdo said: “Scotland is famed for its landscapes, for natural habitats of variety and great beauty. We also have an incredible history and culture of cultivation, of gardening and plant collecting.
“I’ve had a pretty varied career, from army officer to estate factor. I’ve worked across the UK and further afield but it’s only now that I’ve taken a step back from working full-time that I can indulge my hobbies – art and gardening.
“My own garden is my haven, there’s something very therapeutic about the solitary nature of gardening, the rhythm of it and the sights and sounds of nature.
“Gardening can feed you, heal you and educate. It also teaches you patience!
“Now is a fantastic time to start gardening given the background of what we’re all experiencing and the need to stay closer to home.
“With these gardens it’s the vision that’s gone into their creation that’s incredible and the continuing work that staff do to maintain them that surprises and delights.
“In essence these gardens are masterpieces and a testament to the skill and passion of those who look after them. They are all astonishing and when you walk through the gardens they inspire you to recreate some of what you see on a smaller scale at home.”
Four new episodes (5 to 8) start on Thursday, September 23 and they will also be available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards:
Programme 5 – Dawyck Botanic Garden near Stobo, Scottish Borders
Murdo travels to near Stobo in the Scottish Borders to visit Dawyck Botanic Garden when the autumn colours are at their most vibrant.
Dawyck Botanic Garden is one of the regional gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Its Cryptogamic Sanctuary is the world’s first reserve for mosses, liverworts, lichens and fungi.
Murdo speaks to a mycologist about the garden’s Cryptogamic Sanctuary and why fungi is important in the eco system and its various uses to produce medicines, chocolate, coffee and bread. It’s also fundamental for producing fizzy drinks, wine and cheese.
Roddy Maclean talks about an autumn favourite – the bramble, and Dr Mark Newman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh tells viewers about how trees reproduce.
The programme also features a rare Katsura tree which smells like candy floss.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“Dawyck’s a really interesting garden, somewhat out of the way yet it’s an oasis of horticultural genius. I was taken aback that someone has achieved what they did in this remote part of Scotland.
“There’s an incredible diversity of plants and shrubs and a beautiful landscape surrounding it.
“The Katsura tree was amazing, when you walk past it you can smell the sweetness and you wonder where it comes from. It sets your tastebuds tingling!”
Contributors:
Curator – Graham Stewart
Mycologist – Neville Kilkenny
Royal Botanic Garden press and marketing manager – Shauna Hay
Programme 6 – Ardkinglas, Loch Fyne, Argyll
Murdo visits Ardkinglas on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll. In the House Gardens he finds out about the model railway that used to run along the lochside, and wanders around the azaleas which are bursting with colour in the Ladies’ Garden.
He walks up to the Old Mill by the river, then explores the champion trees and renowned rhododendron collection in the Woodland Garden. He also finds out more about the fairy garden for children which is made up of lots of little houses next to the bottom of tree trunks, laid out in trail to follow, which tells the story of different fairy characters who have set up home there.
Roddy Maclean talks about the folklore associated with bluebells and Dr Mark Newman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh talks about the process of hybridising rhododendrons.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“The fairy garden attracts thousands of families each year so it’s become a destination in itself.
“Children can easily spend a day there and it’s a great way to get youngsters interested in the outdoors and gardening.
“The Ladies’ Garden with azaleas is also well worth seeing, in summer it’s stunning because it’s ablaze with colour.”
Contributors
Owner – David Sumsion
Estate manager – Jean Maskell
Programme 7 – Benmore Botanic Garden near Dunoon, Argyll
Murdo visits Benmore which is one of the regional gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The entrance to the garden is very impressive with a 50m high Redwood Avenue, planted in 1863.
The garden has areas with samples from different parts of the world, including Tasmania, Bhutan, Japan and Chile. Its Victorian fernery, built by James Duncan, a wealthy sugar refiner who once owned Benmore, has a collection of over 70 rare and varied ferns from across the world.
Murdo visits the Victorian fernery, the Tasmanian Ridge and the Chilean Rainforest Glade where he plants a monkey puzzle tree.
Dr Mark Newman of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh tells us about the important role of botanic gardens in conservation and education.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“Benmore is a dramatic garden in its terrain with amazing views and you could easily spend days walking around, just taking in what’s there.
“There’s a wildness to the garden that isn’t as apparent at some of the other more formal gardens which can almost make you feel as though you’re in a different country.
“I look forward to visiting from time to time to see how my monkey puzzle tree is getting on.”
Contributors:
Curator – Peter Baxter
Royal Botanic Garden press and marketing manager – Shauna Hay
Programme 8 – The Japanese Garden at Cowden, Dollar near Stirling
Murdo visits the Japanese Garden at Cowden near Stirling. He finds out about the two women who created the garden at the turn of the 20th century – Ella Christie, and Taki Handa.
Ella Christie is believed to have been the first western woman to meet the Dalai Lama, and when she returned from a visit from Japan she was so inspired by their gardens that she wanted to create her own at Cowden. She employed Taki Handa from Japan (it was very unusual for a female to work in garden design in Japan), to create this garden of Shã Raku En, ‘the place of pleasure and delight’.
The garden was badly vandalised in the 1960s, so Ella’s great, great niece tells Murdo what was involved in reconstructing the garden. He also learns more about the cultural significance of the Japanese design of the garden and the essential work that’s being carried out by volunteers and staff to maintain the beauty of the gardens. Part of their work involves creating a ripple effect in the gravel as though a stone has been dropped and raking the leaves from the pond to retain a clean reflection on the water.
Roddy Maclean tells us about the importance of moss and Dr Mark Newman of The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh explains why trees turn such beautiful colours in the autumn.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“The Japanese Garden is beautiful. It’s a completely different approach to gardening because it’s highly formalised. It’s almost an attempt to create perfection with such a minute approach to everything, even plucking a single weed at a time.
“There’s a lovely circulatory walk around it and each time you see something different. It creates a feeling of Zen-like tranquility.
“There’s also a fantastic backstory to this garden because of the involvement of three very formidable ladies who made such a success of it.”
Last night’s BBC One Mastermind final saw Jonathan Gibson, a 24-year-old student from Glasgow, crowned the youngest ever Mastermind Champion since the show began in 1972.
Currently studying a PhD in Modern History at the University of St. Andrews, Jonathan (above) won by a margin of four points in the Grand Final – scoring a perfect 11/11 in his specialist subject, comedy song writing duo, Flanders and Swann.
Jonathan’s other specialist subjects throughout the competition were Agatha Christie’s Poirot in the heat and William Pitt the Younger in the semi-final. He scored perfect scores on all three specialist subjects, as well as a perfect general knowledge score in his semi-final round.
Monday’s grand final was John Humphrys’ last episode as host of Mastermind. John presented 735 episodes and asked more than 80,000 questions during that time.
The new series with newly-announced presenter Clive Myrie, a BBC news journalist and regular presenter of the BBC News at Six and Ten, at the helm will be filmed in Belfast in the summer and will return to viewer’s screens on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
NEW SURVEY FOR TOP GEAR HIGHLIGHTS THE FAMILY ‘MOTORING MEMORIES’ THAT COULD SOON BE LOST TO HISTORY
Classic in-car ‘I-Spy’ style games, parents bickering over directions and children’s cries of ‘are we there yet?’are now all part of a bygone age of motoring according to a new study.
Survey into the history of family car travel identifies the motoring experiences that younger generations will never encounter
Research reveals six in ten (63%) adults aged 40 and over cherish childhood memories of family outings by car
60% say the most honest and heartfelt chats with family take place in the car
Study marks the launch of a new series of hit BBC One motoring show Top Gear on Sunday 14th March
First episode sees presenters Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris drive their old family cars as they reminisce about their childhood motoring memories
Mum and Dad bickering over maps and directions, playing ‘I Spy’ style car games with the kids and using wire coat hangers for replacement aerials are now all part of a bygone age of motoring, according to a new survey released today.
The research for Top Gear into family car travel over the last 40 years reveals a seismic change between generations and identifies the in-car travel experiences that could soon be consigned to the history books.
Tuning in the car stereo, picking up hitchhikers and the plaintive cries of ‘are we there yet?’ from listless children are also listed among the motoring expereince wthe motoring experiences that younger generations are unlikely to encounter.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults aged 40 and over was commissioned by BBC Studios to mark the start of the 30th series of flagship BBC One motoring entertainment show Top Gear on Sunday 14th March.
In the series opener, presenters Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris drive their old family cars and reminisce about their childhood motoring memories.
The top ten family car travel experiences which have been lost to history:
Unfurling of maps and arguments between parents over directions (54%)
One CD or tape in the car that you had to listen to every single time you went on a drive (53%)
Pre-planning routes (39%)
Using a coat hanger as a radio aerial (39%)
Using the cigarette lighter for its original intended purpose (35%)
Endless tuning to get a radio signal (34%)
Classic ‘in car’ games such as ‘I Spy’ (34%)
Picking up hitchhikers (30%)
The rallying cry of ‘are we there yet?’ (24%)
His and hers windscreen stickers (sunscreen strips) (23%)
Bygone experiences which just missed out on a top 10 placement included changing your own spare tyre (23%), the discovery of local radio stations being picked up as you drive through a hilly region (19%) and going for a Sunday family ‘leisure drive’ (19%).
The survey also revealed that the countless hours spent on childhood car journeys hold vivid and cherished family memories for the vast majority (68%) of British adults.
In car games such as ‘I Spy’ and imaginative checklists to spot road signs were also named as the most fondly remembered ‘motor memories’ of a now bygone era (67%) and whilst it may have been their parent’s worst nightmare the rallying cry of ‘are we there yet’ still has a place in our hearts, with over half of those surveyed (56%) saying it was one of their most vivid family road trip memories.
Conversely, arguments between parents over directions (44%), endlessly tuning to find radio stations (43%) and arguments over what radio station to listen to (37%) are the experiences we miss the least.
Paddy McGuinness commented: “Kids now will never witness the delights of an A to Z or the games of eye spy in a very warm car.
“It was great to take a drive down memory lane in our old family cars for the new series. One thing we all recalled with huge affection was the heartfelt chats we had with our parents on those long car journeys when we were growing up.”
The research, launched ahead of Mothers’ Day, reveals that over half of us find it easier to have deep and meaningful conversations with family whilst on a car journey.
53% of respondents recall memorable heart-to-hearts with mum on the road whilst 47% also delved into deeper ‘in-car’ conversations with their fathers. Six in ten of those surveyed said they connected most with their parents while chatting in the car.
Clare Pizey, Top Gear’s Executive Producer said: “As this new survey would seem to prove, whilst long car journeys back in the day took for ever, weren’t always very comfortable – or indeed safe given lots of us didn’t have rear seat belts – what they did have was loads of family chats and games that have made precious memories.
“Fred, Chris and Paddy certainly felt like they were driving down memory lane when they drove their Dads’ cars recently and they all remembered just being with their parents in the car very fondly.”
Further findings revealed that 59% of Brits now identify satellite navigation aids as the number one piece of modern tech they would not want to live without followed by Hi-tech entertainment systems (12%) and sophisticated security features (8%).
The new four-episode series of Top Gear, produced by BBC Studios, returns to screens this Sunday 14 March and will feature: a titanium-shoed presenting team being dragged down a Scottish runway by The Stig driving their cars; a tribute to the most famous and least well-known Bond cars; Freddie racing in the battery-powered-off-road Extreme E against a Jetpack man; and a ‘Mid-life Crisis Cars’ episode involving bicycles, lycra and jet skis!
Top Gear starts this Sunday 14 March at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
A new survey into the nation’s TV viewing habits reveals that, on average, Edinburgh viewers currently spend 28 hours of every week glued to their tellies, clocking up to 112 hours a month.
Commissioned by Samsung UK, the research shows that as many as 82 percent of those in the area surveyed said having good things to watch this January and February would help them get through the bleaker winter months.
With 80 percent of the British nation having enjoyed watching more TV during 2020, the research reveals that, in Edinburgh, the average household is set to enjoy 22 box set episodes, 10 sit-coms, six soap opera episodes and four football matches per month. Over a quarter of those polled said that in 2021 they could not live without their TVs.
In an average month this year, viewers in Edinburgh will also enjoy 14 reruns of their favourite shows, nine films, seven game shows and five reality shows – as well as a staggering 73 YouTube videos.
The research also uncovers that over the period of a month, people in Edinburgh will fall asleep in front of the TV three times, have four family feuds over what to watch, snuggle up with a furry friend five times and spill something on the carpet at least four times.
The True Crime genre TV capital of the UK is revealed to be London, with Brits in the city set to enjoy eight episodes each month.
Moreover, the research into TV habits reveals that the soap opera capital of the UK is officially Bristol, where residents will indulge in nine episodes of their favourite soap each month.
Meanwhile it was revealed that hardcore football fans are most likely to be found in Newcastle upon Tyne, watching up to six matches a month.
The research also found that Edinburgh is shifting from watching traditional terrestrial TV to using more modern streaming platforms.
Overall, 46 percent of the nation favours Netflix and this rings true for Edinburgh households, as 38 percent prefer to use this platform over anything else to get their entertainment fix.
Other popular streaming platforms across Edinburgh include Amazon Prime (10 percent), Disney+ (six percent) and BBC iPlayer (eight percent).
The old saying “Laughter is the best medicine” certainly rings true across the nation, as over half of Edinburgh based participants (68 percent) will be watching comedy shows to help keep spirits up throughout the beginning of the year.
In fact, viewers in the UK will laugh until they cry at least five times a month, with 66 percent of Edinburgh based adults admitting comedy is their favourite type of programme to watch. This was closely followed by documentaries (46 percent) true crime (36 percent), game shows (34 percent) and light entertainment (32 percent).
Deep Halder, Head of TV/AV Retail & Content Services, Samsung Electronics UK Ltd said: “As the nation is set to spend even more time at home this year, many of us will be turning to our TVs to provide some comfort and light relief during these times.
“At Samsung, we’re always listening to what our customers desire from their viewing experiences and with almost half turning to comedy shows, we’re proud to have recently launched Samsung’s own Comedy channel via Samsung TV Plus – our exclusive service which offers Smart TV owners instant access to over 80 live and on-demand TV channels for free, guaranteeing endless entertainment options.”
The survey also showed that selecting what to view on TV isn’t always plain sailing, with the average Edinburgh household spending 10 minutes per day bickering over what to watch and 15 minutes flicking through the channels.
One of the biggest frustrations, however, is often finding the remote in the first place, with the research revealing that they spend seven minutes every day searching for the elusive item.
To find out more about Samsung’s TV portfolio, from its pioneering QLED 8K TVs offering state-of-the-art technology, to its impeccably stylish range of lifestyle TVs with innovative features, please visit www.samsung.com/uk/.
BBC One secured the top five most watched programmes, and seven out of the top ten, as audiences turned to the channel across the Christmas Day.
BBC One was the channel of choice showcasing a range of entertaining programmes across drama, comedy and entertainment.
Kate Phillips, Acting Controller of BBC One, says: “BBC One had the most popular show on Christmas Day as audiences escaped to Poplar for the Call the Midwife special.
“I’m really proud of the range and quality of programmes we’ve shown across this special day. BBC One entertained the nation and provided something for everyone to enjoy after a particularly difficult year.”
Edinburgh chef Paul Hood will appear on MasterChef: The Professionals tonight at 9pm on BBC One – and it’s all thanks to his wife!
Cooking since his early teens, when he watched his father at work as a head chef in some of the world’s most famous kitchens, father of two Paul, 34, can’t reveal many details about his journey in the show but he can disclose that it was the experience of a lifetime.
As Development Chef for Heritage Portfolio for the past three years, Paul has conjured up some of the UK’s most memorable and exciting menus, serving up his diverse, quirky and edgy style for events such as the Scottish Food and Drink Awards.
It was Paul’s wife, Laura, who applied to the show in secret, whilst pregnant with their son who’s now one.
Paul explains, “I am so thankful to Laura for supporting my passion to cook. She used to look at me watching MasterChef and shouting at the screen when the skills challenges were on, and always said that I should go for it. In the end, she made the biggest career highlight of my life happen.
“I promise myself that nothing I do in the kitchen will ever be predictable. Behind the scenes, I work like a machine but this is my passion so it never feels hard and I’m driven to surprise and excite people at every turn.
“Seasonality matters so much to me, using ingredients when they are plentiful and at their best. Winter is a particularly interesting time, when we have less choice but that’s when a great chef can dial up the creativity and make magical food from fewer ingredients.
“Heritage Portfolio’s food values are my food values and I hope I showcased some of them on the show – you will have to wait and see.”
Founder of Heritage Portfolio, Mark Miller, says, “We are so proud of Paul’s achievements over the years and for him to be recognised at this level is richly-deserved.
“He brings a delicious thrill to every menu he creates for our clients, helping to make their events in some of the UK’s most iconic venues totally unforgettable.”
Pop-culture retailer Lost Universe is recruiting a professional binge-watcher
● £300 cash payment to binge-watch geek movies or TV from your sofa
● One-year subscriptions to ALL the top streaming services up for grabs!
Pop-culture online retailer Lost Universe is recruiting for a seriously dreamy job, a geek movies and TV binge-watcher. All that’s required for the role is to rate three movies or TV episodes of choice from the latest superhero/Sci-Fi/fantasy releases.
The opportunity is a one-off project which will pay one talented movie or TV fanatic £300 for their binge-watching efforts, gift them a £30 voucher to spend at lostuniverse.com and will also offer the ultimate binge-watching bundle: ONE-YEAR subscriptions to ALL the top UK streaming platforms, from Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime and NOW TV Entertainment all the way to YouTube Premium.
Five runners-up will also win a £30 Lost Universe gift voucher each, giving pop-culture fans even more reasons to enter.
The dream job winner will enjoy best-in-class entertainment, including the latest from the Marvel or DC Universe, all the 11 Star Wars movies and TV show the Mandalorian (on Disney+), all seasons of Game of Thrones (on NOW TV), exclusive YouTube content with no ads, and much more.
Binge-Watcher Dream Job requirements
Lost Universe is the home of all things geek, offering a wide range of fan favourite licensed merch, including the most sought-after limited editions and exclusives, so they are looking for someone who lives and breathes pop-culture for the fun role. Job requirements list someone who obsesses over their favourite superhero/Sci-Fi/fictional characters, follows the latest movies and TV releases and reviews them with friends for fun, and even cite “owner of comfortable sofa/armchair for binge-watching preferred”, but the role is open to pop-culture newbies and veterans alike.
Sounds like a tough job indeed!
How to apply
It couldn’t be easier to apply, with the company asking applicants to upload a picture of themselves recreating a superhero/Sci-Fi/fictional character pose, either on Facebook or Instagram, mentioning the name of their chosen character in the description. They will need to tag @lostuniverse.club and use the competition hashtag #bingewatcherdreamjob.
Applicants are free to snap a fun pic using social media filters or improvising with stuff they have around the house – Lost Universe will judge entries based on creativity and following the superhero/Sci-Fi/fictional theme, and don’t require professional pictures, costumes or attire. The one-off binge-watcher job opportunity is encouraging all pop-culture fans to enter!
Applications are open until 28th October 11:59 PM and the winner will be announced on 2nd November on the Lost Universe website and social media. The one-off role is open to UK residents aged 18 and over.
For the full description of the role and the terms and conditions, please visit:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on coronavirus
Good evening, the struggle against covid is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime.
In less than a year this disease has killed almost a million people, and caused havoc to economies everywhere.
Here in the UK we mourn every person we have lost, and we grieve with their families.
And yet I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win – and to achieve what we must I want to talk to you directly tonight about the choices that we face – none of them easy – and why we must take action now.
I know that we can succeed because we have succeeded before.
When the sickness took hold in this country in March, we pulled together in a spirit of national sacrifice and community. We followed the guidance to the letter. We stayed at home, protected the NHS, and saved thousands of lives.
And for months with those disciplines of social distancing we have kept that virus at bay.
But we have to acknowledge this this is a great and freedom-loving country; and while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches – too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected.
The virus has started to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing.
We can see what is happening in France and Spain, and we know, alas, that this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring, and that the vast majority of our people are no less susceptible, and the iron laws of geometrical progression are shouting at us from the graphs that we risk many more deaths, many more families losing loved ones before their time; and I know that faced with that risk the British people will want their government to continue to fight to protect them, you, and that is what we are doing, night and day.
And yet the single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves – the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress covid now.
So today I set out a package of tougher measures in England – early closing for pubs, bars; table service only; closing businesses that are not covid secure; expanding the use of face coverings, and new fines for those that fail to comply; and once again asking office workers to work from home if they can while enforcing the rule of six indoors and outdoors – a tougher package of national measures combined with the potential for tougher local restrictions for areas already in lockdown.
I know that this approach – robust but proportionate – already carries the support of all the main parties in parliament.
After discussion with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations, I believe this broad approach is shared across the whole UK. And to those who say we don’t need this stuff, and we should leave people to take their own risks, I say these risks are not our own.
The tragic reality of having covid is that your mild cough can be someone else’s death knell.
And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable – with all the suffering that would entail – I must tell you that this is just not realistic, because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers.
That’s why we need to suppress the virus now, and as for that minority who may continue to flout the rules, we will enforce those rules with tougher penalties and fines of up to £10,000. We will put more police out on the streets and use the army to backfill if necessary.
And of course I am deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions, or infringe anyone’s freedom, but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection such as we had in the spring.
If we let this virus get out of control now, it would mean that our NHS had no space – once again – to deal with cancer patients and millions of other non-covid medical needs.
And if we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend.
It would mean renewed loneliness and confinement for the elderly and vulnerable, and ultimately it would threaten once again the education of our children. We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again.
But if people don’t follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further. We must take action now because a stitch in time saves nine; and this way we can keep people in work, we can keep our shops and our schools open, and we can keep our country moving forward while we work together to suppress the virus.
That is our strategy, and if we can follow this package together, then I know we can succeed because in so many ways we are better prepared than before. We have the PPE, we have the beds, we have the Nightingales, we have new medicines – pioneered in this country – that can help save lives.
And though our doctors and our medical advisers are rightly worried about the data now, and the risks over winter, they are unanimous that things will be far better by the spring, when we have not only the hope of a vaccine, but one day soon – and I must stress that we are not there yet – of mass testing so efficient that people will be able to be tested in minutes so they can do more of the things they love.
That’s the hope; that’s the dream. It’s hard, but it’s attainable, and we are working as hard as we can to get there.
But until we do, we must rely on our willingness to look out for each other, to protect each other. Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour.
If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come.
And the fight against covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.
But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): What has changed?
The UK Government has today announced further national measures to address rising cases of coronavirus in England.
It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:
HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
FACE – Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
SPACE – Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.
Face Coverings
Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings (from 23 September).
Customers in hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings (from 24 September).
People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.
Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law. (from 24 September)
Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.
Working from home
To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so. Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary. Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work. The risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk.
Businesses
Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, and adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include take-aways but delivery services can continue after 10pm. (from 24 September)
In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume indoors, on site. (from 24 September)
Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally. (from 24 September)
Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure (from 28 September).
A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
Employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required to self-isolate to come to work.
Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.
Meeting people safely
Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September)
Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people. (From 24 September)
There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14. (from 24 September)
Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).
Government has announced an initial £60 million to support additional enforcement activity by local authorities and the police, in addition to funding that has already been awarded.
The spread of the virus is also affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibition halls and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this from 1 October.
The government’s expectation is the measures described above will need to remain in place until March.
These measures apply to England – but there may be different rules if you live in an area under local lockdown: and you should check local lockdown rules. If you are in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, different rules may apply.
