Rick Astley announces massive free gig for NHS workers and emergency services at Manchester Arena

K.J. Yossman The European Broadcasting Union, who organize the Eurovision Song Contest, have barred Russia from participating this year.In a statement, the EBU said:“The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that no Russian act will participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.The Executive Board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest’s governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.The Reference Group recommendation was also supported by the EBU’s Television Committee.The decision reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s Contest would bring the competition into disrepute.

Michael Appler On Wednesday evening in New York City, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered its return to the original movie musical with “Cyrano,” director Joe Wright’s musical adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” starring Peter Dinklage and Haley Bennett.At the New York City premiere, held at the SVA Theater, cast and studio executives reflected on the film’s unusual journey from an off-Broadway musical to a $30 million MGM feature film.“The whole reason I set out to do this project was because I really, really wanted to be on Broadway,” Bennett, who plays the leading role of Roxanne, told Variety at the premiere. “We started out in this tiny room six or seven years ago, and in my imagination, we might have ended up on a Broadway stage together.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBerlinale Competition title “Return to Dust,” written and directed by China’s Li Ruijun, has been sold to Modern Films for U.K. and Ireland, and BTeam Pictures for Spain.

Todd Gilchrist The NAACP Image Awards ceremony celebrates its 53rd year on February 26, commemorating more achievements by people of color than ever before: in addition to its multiple Outstanding Motion Picture, Television, Recording and Literary awards, the organization selected Nikole Hannah-Jones as its second-ever Social Justice Impact Award recipient, and has also added five new categories recognizing podcasts and social media.  After last year’s ceremony, which like many other awards shows was held remotely due to the pandemic, the prospect of packing a live stage with honorees while Anthony Anderson hosts for his eighth time felt like an exciting, overdue balm — not just for the show’s audience, but for Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chair of NAACP’s Board of Directors. But the latest and most aggressive strain of the Covid-19 virus led to the sensible decision to not endanger the lives of the people that made some of the most inspiring accomplishments of the last year, and instead to try and capitalize on the discoveries made both during the weeks and months of quarantining as well as in the adjustments implemented during the 2021 Image Awards that seemed to resonate most strongly with the community that they were conceived in order to honor.  “I think like most, we thought that in 2022 we would be back in person at the Dolby but that’s not where we are,” Boykin-Towns tells Variety.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards, Features EditorHelen Mirren is the perfect choice for the SAG Life Achievement Award, that rare performer respected and awarded for their work but also beloved by audiences. Able to effortlessly move between Shakespeare and Hollywood spectacle, Mirren joined the “Fast & Furious” franchise with 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious.” Fans loved that she was perfectly cast as the mother of Jason Statham’s Deckard and Luke Evans’ Owen. She’s set to reprise the role in the final two “Fast” films, but that’s only part of her busy schedule.The SAG Life Achievement Award, which will be presented to her by Kate Winslet, is an honor previously bestowed on the likes of Robert De Niro, Sidney Poitier and Rita Moreno.

EXCLUSIVE: Police officer turned video game writer and technical director Morley Nelson (MIB: Alien Crisis, The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct) is currently in production in Minnesota on Uncontained, a horror-thriller that he is directing from his original screenplay.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are speaking out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, the couple released a brief statement on their Archewell Foundation website, titled: «We stand with the people of Ukraine.»«Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same,» reads the statement.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are able to make such a declaration after officially stepping down from their roles as working members of the royal family last year. Royals usually do not comment on current events or politics, and no other member of the British royal family has publicly reacted to the situation in Ukraine and Russia.

The Talk co-host Amanda Kloots, who lost her husband Nick Cordero to Covid in 2020, has revealed she has tested positive for the virus.

“Like many of you, I’m praying for the people in Ukraine,” wrote Angelina Jolie at the start of the statement she posted to Instagram on Thursday (Feb. 24). Angelina, 46, said that as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, her focus “along with my UNHCR colleagues is that everything possible is [being] done to ensure the protection and basic human rights of those displaced, and refugees in the region. We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety.”

An Asian-American dancer en route to a first-performance celebration at New York’s Public Theater was attacked Wednesday night in what theater officials describe as the latest “disgusting and heartbreaking”  incident “in a long history of violence against Asian Americans.”

EXCLUSIVE: Production has begun this week in Natchez, MS, on supernatural horror From Black, starring Pitch Perfect and True Blood actress Anna Camp.

A taxi driver plied two girls with alcohol and drugs then raped them in a terrifying campaign of abuse.

Caitriona Balfe explained why she was in Los Angeles Thursday and not London for the “Outlander” season six premiere.

Peter Sarsgaard is no stranger to superhero films. Even before his upcoming role in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” as shady District Attorney Gil Coulson, Sarsgaard went full-on villain for the oft-maligned Ryan Reynolds film, “Green Lantern” back in 2011.

Heaux Tales tour will have to wait a few more weeks. The powerhouse songstress revealed on social media that she has unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19, and as such, will be unable to perform at any of her upcoming shows for the next week or so – including her scheduled appearance at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles today, Feb. 25.

Matt Lucas has been delighting fans with the latest starry performance of his Baked Potato song.

Shawn Desman and Tebey are bringing the ’80s back.

Rick Astley has announced that he putting on a free concert for NHS workers later this year.

Rick Astley has confirmed he will be putting on a free concert for the NHS heroes who are battling the coronavirus pandemic. 

The gig will take place in Manchester in October

Led by the likes of Rage Against The Machine, The Chemical Brothers and Lewis Capaldi