Tom Jones recalls difficult childhood which saw him ‘bedridden for two years’

JD Linville There are few places on Earth more visually striking than the Black Sands of Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland, where tourists flock to take pictures and stand a fool’s chance to be smashed against the rocks by sneaker waves, then drowned at sea. These dangerous and beautiful beaches serve as backdrop for Icelandic showrunner Baldvin Z’s crime thriller series “Black Sands,” which will play at Berlinale Series. Written by Baldvin Z, Ragnar Jónsson, Andri Óttarsson and Aldís Hamilton, the limited series follows disgraced detective Anita (played by Hamilton) as she investigates a series of deaths at the beach while balancing the familial shadows of her past.The series, produced by Baldvin Z’s own Glassriver, brings a warmth to Nordic Noir not often seen, with scenes of Anita reconnecting and rekindling her hometown connections after expulsion from Reykjavik.

Tim Dams Since its launch in 2015, the Berlinale Series section has emerged as a kind of a boutique scripted TV fest set within a major film festival.The Berlinale was famously the first A-list festival to embrace changing viewer habits and to officially incorporate television drama into its lineup — and this head-start is reflected in the growing stature of Berlinale Series.Taking place over a concentrated three-day period (Feb. 14-16), Berlinale Series offers up seven world and international premieres from around 200 entries, giving each of them the red-carpet treatment at the Zoo Palast cinema.Running parallel, the Berlinale Series Market — part of the European Film Market — offers up an online conference program, showcases and screenings.

European Film Market has felt lopsided.Sony’s $60 million deal for Tom Hanks’ “A Man Called Otto,” an adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s bestselling Swedish-language novel “A Man Called Ove” — which was made into an Oscar-nominated  Swedish feature — that grabbed headlines early on (Variety understands it boiled down to a bidding war between the studio and Apple), but hasn’t necessarily spawned the usual flurry of deals from Berlin halfway through the festival.One buyer from a major U.K. distributor says the EFM vibe has felt “muted” for a company of its size, with an absence of broad-appeal product available once “Otto” was snapped up by Sony.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentImage Nation Abu Dhabi and low-budget Australian genre label Spooky Pictures have announced “Late Night With the Devil,” the second title under their multi-picture deal following Chloe Okuno’s  “Watcher,” which made a splash at Sundance.“Late Night With the Devil” will be helmed by writing/directing duo Colin and Cameron Cairns (“100 Bloody Acres,” “Scare Campaign”) and is set to start shooting in Australia later this year.Cinetic is handling the U.S./North American rights to the film. Stuart Ford’s AGC Intl.

Tim Dams One of the highlights of the Berlinale Series Market is the pitch event Co-Pro Series, which looks to match projects with suitable co-producers and financiers.Ten international series projects from Europe, Canada and Latin America have been selected to pitch at this year’s Co-Pro Series, where they will also have the opportunity of meeting one-on-one with potential partners.Taking place over two days (Feb. 15-16), and held online once again due to the pandemic, Co-Pro Series has a track record of showcasing drama projects that have not only gone on to be produced, but that have also achieved success.International hit “Babylon Berlin,” Austrian-German crime series “Freud,” Norwegian-German domestic terrorism drama “Furia,” Icelandic thriller “Blackport” and 1920s-set German drama “Eldorado KaDeWe” have all participated in previous Co-Pro Series pitches.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAudrey Diwan, the BAFTA-nominated filmmaker of the Venice Golden Lion-winning “Happening,” is set to make her television debut with Haut et Court TV in France, Variety has learned.Haut et Court TV is one of France’s leading production companies with credits ranging from the supernatural drama series “The Returned,” to “Panthers” with Tahar Rahim and more recently “Possession.”Diwan is currently writing the series, which will be an original story about a mother and daughter running a plastic surgery clinic. The plot is under wraps but the series will be similar to “Happening” in that it will deal with women’s relationships to their bodies.

Christopher Vourlias Peter Nadermann’s Nadcon Film and South African genre specialists Gambit Films (“Indemnity”) are teaming up to adapt a trilogy of best-selling crime thrillers, Variety can reveal.The “Revenge Trilogy” is based on the Cape Town-set novels from South African author Mike Nicol. The books will be adapted for screen by Gambit’s Daryne Joshua and will be produced by Gambit Films and Nadcon Film in cooperation with ZDF Enterprises, which co-owns Nadcon.The story begins with ex-gun-runners Mace Bishop and Pylon Buso, who made an illicit fortune while part of the struggle against Apartheid but are now at the helm of a private security company, trying to settle into a comfortable life in Cape Town.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“The Battle at Lake Changjin II” passed $500 million in total sales and remained unchallenged atop the mainland Chinese box office over the latest weekend.Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway showed no positional change among the top five films on a weekend that came a week after the Chinese New Year holiday wound down. Bona’s “Lake Changjin II” earned $43.5 million over the Friday to Sunday weekend, ahead of comedy “Too Cool to Kill” with $37.3 million over the same three days. In third place over the weekend was drama “Nice View” with $21.6 million and animation “Boonie Bears: Back to Earth” with $14.0 million.

Christopher Vourlias Belgrade-based Firefly Productions, one of the leading producers of high-end drama in the former Yugoslavia, is launching two new series as part of its slate at this year’s European Film Market.“The V Effect” is an eight-episode drama series inspired by the real-life case of an actor who commits suicide on stage during a live theater production. After the renowned actor’s death, Inspector Sorga will try to find out whether it was an unfortunate accident, a suicide – or possibly murder.“Domestic (Violence)” is a six-part true-crime anthology series set in a small town in Serbia.

Even with Bennifer flaunting their love left and right these days, Alex Rodriguez isn’t afraid to get out there. In fact, he came uncomfortably close to a run-in with his ex Jennifer Lopez at the Super Bowl on Sunday, where both were in attendance. While J. Lo and current beau Ben Affleck were seen dancing sweetly in the stands to the iconic halftime show, Alex shared a smiling selfie from the big game.

North Korea are reportedly being sent to labour camps after thousands of special flowers failed to bloom. The 'Kimjongilia' begonias - named after Kim Jong-un's father and former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il - are meant to be in bloom to mark the dead dictator's birthday on February 16. The event is known as the 'Day of Shining Star', and typically sees streets in the hermit country lined with red flowers honouring Kim Jong-il, who died in 2011 aged 69.

Super Bowl half-time show, where he was seen hanging upside down.The hotly anticipated concert also featured performances from Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar in a jaw-dropping spectacle.The musicians provided entertainment at SoFi Stadium in California during the Super Bowl match-up between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.Surprise guest 50 appeared upside down for a specially produced mix of his hit song "In da Club", which mirrored a key scene from the song's original music video.50 was welcomed on stage after both Snoop and Dre, who opened the show and sang their hit classic "The Next Episode" from the early 2000s.With screams and cheers darting around the stadium during 50's surprise medley, he was surrounded by beautiful women while he flaunted his buff physique.After his shock reveal, social media went absolutely wild, with many flocking to tweet their excitement about 50 joining the widely anticipated concert.One person tweeted: "5O Cent is in 'DA' house! This is the best Super Bowl ever. #SuperBowl."Another avid fan penned: "Could this line-up get any better? Legend after Legend and now 50 Cent! This is a 90s dream #SuperBowl." A third said: "50 Cent!!!!! This is sick! This performance is legendary.

Friends star Matt LeBlanc has reportedly split from his British girlfriend Aurora Mulligan after nearly six years together.It's claimed that 54-year-old Matt has split from 36-year-old Aurora, a Top Gear producer from Northern Ireland who he met when he previously hosted the motoring show in 2016.A source exclusively told The Sun that the couple struck a clean break.They said: "Matt and Aurora's relationship has run its course. It's all over."It's a huge shame and Matt has taken the news particularly hard, as anyone would."He and Aurora fell for each on Top Gear and although there was a pretty big age gap they were a really great match."After the speculation, the Hollywood star was spotted in California sporting some stubble and looking deflated over the weekend.He wore baggy pants and a motoring T-shirt as he kept his head down with shades.Until recently, Matt and Aurora had gone from strength-to-strength.In 2017, they made their red carpet debut at a New York film festival and in 2018 attended the UK launch of Top Gear's 25th series as a couple.Father-of-one Matt called her "honey" on social media while Aurora joked and replied with "old geezer".Matt's rare public sighting came after fans expressed their concern for one of his co-stars Matthew Perry and his battle with addiction.The Friends Chandler Bing actor announced he is bringing out a new book, which will feature his highs and lows over the years.

Sir Tom Jones, 80, has revealed why he decided to return to the UK, after spending more than 40 years living across the pond in the United States.The Voice UK coach shared he was encouraged by his late wife Linda Woodward before she died, to return to England and reconnect with his family.Welsh-born Tom spoke on Linda’s advice, as he explained he could not bear to remain in the house they had once shared in Los Angeles.He said: “I had to get out of the house we had together and try to start again."“She told me to come back to Britain, where the family is,” he added to The Telegraph.He also opened up on the couple’s home life in Pontypridd, Wales, before he became an international star.Showing the view of his London flat, Tom said: “She

READ MORE: WATCH Tom Jones describe the moment 'John Lennon called me a Welsh p**f and I nearly hit him'Jones said: "He was a lovely fella, you see. He was a sweetheart, really nice, down-to-earth fella. "I met him in LA then I was in Texas with him, Duran Duran.

The Voice UK. Sporty Spice was a surprise celebrity guest for the episode – joining Sir Tom Jones in rehearsals with his acts for the semi final stage of the competiton.Looking glamorous as ever, Melanie, 47, perched on a stool next to the Welsh crooner for the performances.

READ MORE: WATCH Tom Jones describe the moment 'John Lennon called me a Welsh p**f and I nearly hit him'Jones said: "He was a lovely fella, you see. He was a sweetheart, really nice, down-to-earth fella. "I met him in LA then I was in Texas with him, Duran Duran.

Saturday Night Takeaway fans were left stunning this week after spotting Sir Tom Jones using an old flip phone over a decade old.The Welsh music legend appeared in a short skit with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly ahead of performing during the End of the Show Show.While the phone wasn't referenced by either Ant or Dec or it was quickly noted by eagle-eyed fans.Flip phones were popular in the early 2000s, before the launch of iPhones and smartphones we use today. Taking to Twitter, fan wrote: "Erm...

Sir Tom Jones revealed his wife Melinda Trenchard, known as "Lady Linda", made a heartfelt plea to the musician, after he broke the news to his other half.

READ MORE: Elvis: Tom Jones 'RIDICULED The King's singing' behind his backThe second verse originally said: "I'm growing drowsy in my chair, and I no longer ponder life, And though I save a lock of hair, I seldom dream about my wife. "In his new version, Jones has changed the line to: "I'm growing drowsy in my chair, and I no longer ponder life.

Sir Tom Jones, 80, was a guest on the Later… with Jools Holland tonight as he opened up about his career and his new album.