"Strip meddling Tory ministers of TV licence power so they can't bully BBC"

Manori Ravindran International EditorInternational powerhouse BBC Studios is leaning heavily into new and expanding SVOD partnerships with the likes of Discovery and its global-facing BritBox service as it looks to weather the COVID-19 era.In an exclusive interview, Paul Dempsey, president of global distribution, tells Variety that BBC Studios’ landmark Discovery deal, through which the “Blue Planet II” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet” distributor is supplying around $393 million worth of natural history programming to Discovery’s forthcoming streamer, is a “good example of what you can expect to see from us over the next few years.”“Over time, we’re moving from having a content sales business driven by relationships with 600-700 customers

After a massive explosion occurred in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, August 4, Hollywood celebrities have been sending their wishes. Local news organization LBCI reported the following day that at least 5,000 people were injured in the blast and that at least 135 were killed.

Angela Rippon has claimed the BBC tried to make her quit at 50 and described the move as ­“patronising twaddle”.

hereChelsea had an emergency cesarean with Barney after her baby's heart rate dropped.It was then discovered that she had suffered a placental abruption, a rare condition where the placenta comes away from the wall of the womb affecting up to one in 100 pregnancies.Placental abruption can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding in the mother.Chelsea, 39, who was induced after explaining that she had felt little movement from her baby in the late stages of pregnancy, lost one and a half litres of blood and narrowly missed needing a blood transfusion.She told us: "Barney's heart rate could have dropped so much that it would have been an emergency and that doesn't bear thinking about."

signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a current focus on how our governments are handling the coronavirus pandemic.To sign up, simply enter your email address into the pink box near the top of this article.Alternatively, you can visit our newsletter sign up-centre.

A Stirling councillor has dramatically resigned from the SNP amid claims of bullying, sexism and party in-fighting.Bannockburn ward councillor Maureen Bennison - the partner of former Stirling MP Steven Paterson - resigned from the party on Monday night “with immediate effect”.While she intends to continue to represent the ward, her former SNP colleagues have called for her to stand down.In an official statement she said she had resigned “with regret”, adding she had “no further comment at the present time.”However, her letter to Councillor Farmer was far more explosive.In it she wrote: “This has been an extremely difficult decision, but it is the only principled course of action left to me in regrettable circumstances.“Since being elected

Power fix? You’re not alone, sis. On Monday, Starz released the official trailer for the new 10-episode original series, Power Book II: Ghost, starring Michael Rainey Jr. as badass Tariq St.

Douglas Ross has made a gaffe within hours of becoming Scottish Tory leader after effectively conceding defeat at the next Holyrood election.He said after the election he hoped to lead a “strong” Tory party that would provide “opposition” to the SNP.SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: “This is a gaffe royale, even by Douglas Ross’ standards. He has conceded defeat before the election has even been called yet.

Kate Middleton and Prince William had the time of their lives when they visited the famous arcade that appears in the hit comedy Gavin & Stacey.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were all smiles as they played on the machines in Island Leisure amusement in Barry Island, South Wales. In the TV show, that stars James Corden and Ruth Jones, the arcade is called 'Nessa's Slots'.

a video released yesterday by the BBC which reportedly shows model Merdan Ghappar in a dank cell, handcuffed to a bare bed with swollen ankles and looking out over the mass detention facility where he is thought to have been interred since the beginning of the year, showed the stark reality of the crisis.It’s one in which the fashion world is now embroiled. Most of us will own at least one T-shirt, jacket or summer dress that has been partly made by forced Uighur labour.

John-Paul ClarkWest Lothian chart toppers The Snuts have sent an open letter to Nicola Sturgeon asking for industry support.The lads have been hit hard financially in recent times because they had to postpone planned gigs during the global health crisis.The West Lothian Courier reported last week how fans of the group had started a crowdfunder to help them pay their road crew.The letter to the First Minster, dated August 4, asks that she support the music industry whilst also listing the many virtues they believe artists bring to society.It says: “Art is the joy that helps you suppress the gloom. Art is your favourite Netflix show that allows you to spend that one precious hour that you seem to have these days with the person you love.

HOLBY City has been forced to take another extended break as the coronavirus lockdown takes its toll and the medical drama runs out of new episodes.  The BBC One show took a break back in April and returned on 2 June in order to ensure fans were still able to get their fix of their favourite soap over the summer. However, just days after production restarted, Holby City is now set to take another extended break after running out of episodes.

kicked off the BBC Great British Singalong to lift everyone’s spirits.It saw five radio stations – Radio 1, Radio 2, 6 Music, 1 Xtra and the Asian Network – join forces for a multi-way simulcast, playing Florence and the Machine’s You’ve Got The Love for everyone to sing along to.Got a story?If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us  – we’d love to hear from you.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been snapped enjoying a day trip to Welsh resort Barry Island – of Gavin and Stacey fame.

Spitting Image.New portraits of the caricatures show the Prime Minister smiling with his famous blonde mop of hair, while his chief adviser Cummings is portrayed with a seemingly enlarged head. Prince Andrew, meanwhile, sports a tartan coat with a paisley neckerchief.The reboot, which was announced in March, will air on BritBox later this year after a 23-year break.

A post shared by Keith Duffy (@officialkeithduffy) on Aug 4, 2020 at 1:24pm PDTOne picture sees the lads jamming out in the sitting room wearing a lot of plaid! Another sees them all cram into a selfie as they pull faces for the silly pic.It comes after Ronan Keating remembered Stephen Gately last month, as he spoke about his new duet The Big Goodbye honouring Stephen, on BBC’s The One Show.'It just blew my mind.'@ronanofficial's new album, 'Twenty-Twenty' features a very special collab track with @robbiewilliams that pays tribute to the late Stephen Gately.#TheOneShow | @missalexjones | @rylan pic.twitter.com/30zZKG750N— BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) July 23, 2020Chatting to hosts Alex Jones and Ryan Clarke Neale Ronan revealed that it

Activists have urged over-60s to cancel their TV licence direct debits as a letter goes out to millions of older people who must now pay.

50 Cent didn’t mince words in a recent social media post when it came to the Emmys snubbing his Starz series, “Power.” The 45-year-old musician and actor not only plays a character on the drama but acts as executive producer as well.The show focuses on a nightclub owner in New York City who lives a secret double life as a notorious drug kingpin. Since its debut in 2014, the show has not received any Emmy Award attention despite being one of the top hits for the network.

Jamie Lang ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) has appointed Kathryn Richardson as VP of business and legal affairs for its U.K. operations.

Kate and William helped get the "staycation" industry back on its feet with a seaside trip to Barry Island.

New Order have announced a special boxset for their seminal second album ‘Power Corruption & Lies’.Released in 1983 via Factory Records, the LP features the tracks ‘Blue Monday’, ‘Age Of Consent’ and ‘Your Silent Face’, and was hailed as New Order’s best album by NME back in 2018.Today (August 5), it’s been announced that the record has been remastered for the ‘2020 Definitive Edition’ collection, which is set to arrive on October 2. The boxset will be comprised of an LP, two CDs, two DVDs and a book.An extra CD will contain previously unreleased writing sessions from New Order’s rehearsal space in Manchester as well as their BBC John Peel Session from 1982.