Hollywood star Bradley Cooper has revealed that his latest film, which explores the life of a man finding purpose in the New York comedy scene, was “directly” influenced by British humour.
The film, titled Is This Thing On? is partially based on the life of British comedian John Bishop. The 50-year-old American actor, known for directing and starring in Oscar-nominated films Maestro (2023) and A Star Is Born (2018), directed the movie.
The idea for the film was born when Will Arnett, the voice behind BoJack Horseman, met Liverpool-born comic Bishop. Bishop shared his story of discovering stand-up comedy during a difficult period in his life, choosing to perform at an open-mic night to avoid paying the cover charge.
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Arrested Development actor Arnett’s character in the film, Alex, embarks on a similar journey, beginning his comedy career at New York’s renowned Comedy Cellar.
Speaking at the BFI London Film Festival, Cooper told PA news agency: “It’s inspired by John Bishop’s story, so that was the nugget of it and then he (Will) was working on that with John, and he was just telling me about it because we were friends.
“And I just sort of saw this image of him and I got excited about ‘What if we set it in New York, and what if it’s a movie about a relationship?'”
When asked how British humour had influenced the film, he said: “I think directly, I think all of us have grown up on British humour and love it so yes, it’s indelible.”
In response to whether it differs from US humour, he added: “It’s hard to put an umbrella over everybody, the great comics are so unique.”
Arnett, 55, shared with the PA news agency: “For me there’s a lot more nuance to British humour. And so we tried to inject some of that.”
Bishop reunited with his wife Melanie following a brief separation, and she joined him at the London screening along with their children.
Bishop, 58, revealed to PA: “I couldn’t write it because it was too personal, so (a producer) said, ‘Tell Will’. So that was eight years ago, and then Will said, ‘Look, I’d love to write it with my friend Mark (Chappell)’.
“And then we spent a bit of time developing it, and then it just became their baby, and it’s an act of faith. You’re handing over a part of your life to someone else, and you hope that they’re going to treat it properly, like you would with your child. And he’s done more than that. He’s treated it, he’s nurtured it, and he sent it off to college.”
The film is set to hit cinemas this December, as per Searchlight Pictures.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 offers an excellent alternative to the Apple Watch without breaking the bank, and it’s cheaper than the new Pixel Watch 4 thanks to this rare deal
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Google Pixel Watch 3 is on sale on Amazon(Image: GOOGLE . GETTY)
Amazon Prime Day may have come and gone, but Amazon still has some cracking deals on its website if shoppers dig deep enough – and we’ve spotted a smartwatch contender that gives the Apple Watch Series 11 a run for its money.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is Google’s latest generation of smartwatch. Despite being eclipsed by the new Pixel Watch 4, it still offers top-notch fitness tracking and a large, luminous screen to monitor workouts for Brits.
This smartwatch boasts a sizeable 45mm screen, which can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness, making it easy to read whilst on the go. It also comes packed with a host of Fitbit features and allows users to tailor their workouts to create the perfect routine.
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The Pixel Watch 3 offers 24 hours of battery life that can be stretched up to 36 hours with its battery life saver feature. When compared to its nearest competitor, the Apple Watch Series 10, it’s more affordable, provides longer battery life in certain situations, and is a viable option for those with Android phones.
For those browsing for alternatives to track their fitness, there are loads of brilliant smartwatches to grab. Android and Samsung enthusiasts can also get their hands on the Galaxy Watch Ultra for £599, one of Samsung’s flagship devices with absolutely glowing reviews, reports the Express.
TheGoogle Pixel Watch 3 (45 mm), which would normally sell for £399, is currently up for grabs for a massive 45% off, saving shoppers nearly £200 as it plummets to its lowest ever price of £219.99. This deal even beats last year’s Black Friday sale, according to price tracker CamelCamelCamel.
For those who prefer a more fitness-centric device, the Garmin Instinct 3 is available on Amazon. The Express has previously reviewed this alternative model and rated it ‘a true workhorse wearable’ – which you can read about here.
The tech gurus over at The Express have also given the Google Pixel 3 a whirl – and it nearly bagged full stars due to its performance. Deputy tech editor Henry Burrell stated: “Despite all its new features, the Pixel Watch 3 manages to feel simple and out of my way when I’m not using it, which isn’t something I feel when wearing a Galaxy Watch.
“Overall, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is an excellent Android smartwatch that doesn’t keep too many features away from buyers without a Pixel phone. It’s a better option over the latest Galaxy Watch, unless you have a Samsung phone.
“Improved battery life, a larger screen and tighter integration with existing Google products make the Pixel Watch 3 markedly better than its predecessors, but if you want a WearOS watch with multi-day battery life, you should go for the OnePlus Watch 2.”
But there are plenty of Amazon shoppers singing the Pixel Watch 3’s praises. One 5-star reviewer raves: “I’ve been using the Google Pixel Watch 3 for a few weeks now, and I’m very impressed. The design is sleek and modern, with a 45mm matte black aluminium case that looks great on my wrist. The display is stunning—bright, sharp, and easy to read even in direct sunlight. The rotating crown and side button make navigation feel intuitive and smooth. As someone who’s focused on fitness, I love the advanced tracking features. The heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and automatic workout detection are spot on. The running analytics from Fitbit are also a standout—having the ability to track pace, cadence, and more has really helped me improve my training.”
They go on to add: “Battery life is solid, and I easily get through a full day of use, including tracking my activities and sleep, with 24+ hours of battery life. Charging is quick too—gets back to 100% in around 80 minutes. If you’re looking for a high-quality smartwatch with top-notch fitness tracking and seamless integration with Android, the Pixel Watch 3 is definitely worth the investment. Highly recommended!”
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Another buyer beams: “Cannot recommend the Pixel Watch 3 enough: So far, it has been a very solid smartwatch. Have been wearing it for the last couple of weeks and have no complaints at all. I get notifications from my phone without any delays, such as emails, keep notes, Spotify, Fitbit, and so on. WhatsApp works perfectly with Bluetooth, can send and receive messages, and audio. The watch faces are 100% customisable with quick access, different colours and designs. Fitbit works fine, showing your overall progress, steps, and calories. I haven’t used the sleep tracking and other features, but I think it does its job well. The battery is long enough, around 1 and a half days, but tbh I don’t wear the watch all the time, only when I go out or for a workout, so I cannot help with that. The updates from Google didn’t cause any issues so far.”
EastEnders fans have flooded social media with heartfelt tributes to EastEnders legend Tony Caunter following his death just eight days after his wife
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Tributes pour in as EastEnders icon Tony Caunter dies eight days after his wife (Image: PA)
Tony Caunter, best known for his portrayal of Roy Evans on EastEnders, has died peacefully at the age of 88, his family has confirmed and tributes have come flooding in following the sad news.
Caunter, who played the beloved car dealer between 1994 and 2003, was introduced as a romantic interest for Pat Butcher, played by Pam St Clement, and the pair eventually married on-screen.
In a statement to the PA news agency, his family said: “It is with enormous sadness that we bring the curtain down on our wonderful and hugely loved father, Tony Caunter, who died peacefully yesterday evening, just eight days after his beloved wife of 63 years, Fran, also passed away.
“Dad was 88 years old. After a long and fulfilling life on and off screen and stage, Tony leaves a daughter and three sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He will be missed by all.”
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The family also expressed gratitude for the care Caunter received in his final weeks: “We would like to thank the NHS staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital for their incredible care during his final hours, and to everyone at Eastbourne Gardens nursing home for the care and compassion they have given dad over the past two months.”
The iconic EastEnders star’s family ended the heartbreaking statement by requesting privacy “at this extremely difficult time.”
EastEnders bosses also released a statement adding: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Tony Caunter.
“Tony will forever be loved and respected by everyone at EastEnders for his warmth, kindness and humour as well as being greatly remembered by all those at home who instantly took Roy to their hearts.
“Roy will always be remembered for his great love of Pat, despite him famously declaring his distaste in her choice of earrings, which gave us all one of Walford’s greatest love affairs.
“Tony will never be forgotten by all those who worked alongside him for many years and everyone at EastEnders sends their love and condolences to Tony’s family and friends,” the poignant statement concluded.
Fans have also paid tribute on social media following news of Tony’s sad death. One wrote on Twitter (X): “I’ve been watching 1998-2000 recently and Roy was one of the best characters. Always down on his luck but such a brilliant character! Sad to hear Tony Caunter has passed away.”
Someone else added: “RIP Tony Caunter, I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago at a signing and he was one of the sweetest and nicest men I’ve met. Very sad.”
Another said: “Very sad news. Roy was always a favourite of mine, and Tony an excellent actor.” A third added: “Sad news RIP Tony… Roy didn’t half put up with a lot of rubbish with his son Barry causing him trouble and Pat cheating with Frank. He was in a great era of the show.”
Another EastEnders fan wrote: “Tony Caunter was a reliable TV face, equally comfortable on either side of the law: always extremely dependable. That he was then rewarded with household name status in Eastenders was a deserved cherry on his acting cake. I visited at home some years back and he was lovely. RIP.”
“We’ve lost another versatile character actor. Tony will be best remembered for his long running stint on EastEnders as Roy Evans. Among his many other credits Tony appeared in Doctor Who 3 times. R.I.P. Tony Caunter,” someone else added.
During his time on the soap, Caunter’s character featured in some of the show’s most memorable storylines, including Pat’s affair with ex-husband Frank Butcher, played by Mike Reid.
Caunter’s career spanned decades beyond EastEnders , with appearances in Pennies From Heaven , Tumbledown , Juliet Bravo , and the drama Boon .
Caunter was married to Frances Wallace for 63 years, and the couple had four children together.
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Olympic golden girl Keely Hodgkinson has had a year plagued by injury and professional disappointment but she says she’s prouder than ever after learning how to handle the setbacks
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Bronze medalist Keely Hodgkinson (L) and silver medalist Georgia Hunter Bell wind down by doing karaoke in Japan.
It’s been a difficult year but becoming more spiritual has helped Mancunian Keely, 23, to take problems – including her hamstring tear and subsequent setbacks – in her stride.
The middle distance runner says: “This last year has been the most insane year of my life I would say – in every way possible, like personally, on and off the track.
“I had a lot of growth. I feel like a different person. Even though there’s been a lot of troubles and hardship. I’ve cried a lot this year – but I’ve also laughed just as much.
“One good thing would happen, like I went to get my MBE. Two days later I pulled my hamstring – out for the season.”
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She continues: “This is probably the first year I can look back – it sounds insane – where I actually feel proud of myself. Against all odds I kept pursuing, I kept pushing through. I think I’ve maybe just got a deeper understanding of life.”
Keely’s “more chilled” approach meant that, after achieving a bronze medal – a comedown from her 2024 Olympic gold – at last month’s World Championships, instead of wasting time brooding over what could have been, she headed straight to a Tokyo karaoke bar for a night of fun with family and friends.
She says: “”As much as I was disappointed, I wanted to cry and I was upset, I was also like ‘well, it’s done now, I can go and have a good time with my friends and family and with G (her training partner Georgie Hunter Bell) and with Trev (her coach Trevor Painter) and celebrate the fact that we made it through this terrible year. I think it’s really important that I went through it.
She attributes her new mindset to “spirituality,” adding: “I just believe that within the universe everything is already planned, it’s already made, it’s going to happen.
“That’s one thing I tell myself before races, ‘all you need is to show up’, it’s already planned anyway, what’s going to happen is going to happen. And not to stress too much about what’s going to happen. You can take that into everything in life. What’s going to be is going to be. The spirituality seems to be the best thing that fits me with that.
“I think everything for me always happens for a reason. So even looking back on this injury, it might take a couple of months or weeks or maybe even a year to figure out why that may have happened, but I’ll always be able to see the lesson and learn from it. “I think, for me, this year – all of this bad stuff happened – genuinely was for me to actually realise how strong I am.”
Keely, who sought advice on coping with injury from former Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes, has also had some real highs, despite her setbacks. She won the Diamond League event in August in Silesia, in a new 800m leading time for the year, and also her second fastest time ever.
But she was trolled after her World Championship bronze – with negative comments online about her media work, endorsement deals and even about her having fun with her friends.
Again, she refused to let it bring her down for long, telling the High Performance podcast: “There was this bunch of comments like ‘you should be embarrassed’, ‘what a let down of a show.’ And that’s obviously not nice – ‘oh she’s too busy making TikTok videos’.
“There’s so many hours to kill when you’re out there doing nothing. I’m like, ‘I’m going to do whatever I want’. I took one day to be sad about it and then I don’t think about it again.”
As well as honing her personal resilience, Keely has stopped being superstitious about races. She says: “People get into superstitions sometimes. I broke mine this year. I used to always race with my rings off, I would never, ever wear them. And my jewellery as well, I’d always take it off.
“This year I was like ‘no, Keely, we’ll keep it on’, and I raced with it on. It was like a change in me. We’re in a new era, this is a new me. Otherwise I’m there trying to pull my rings off my finger.”
And Keely has turned her anxiety to positive effect. Recalling how she started feeling anxious two years ago – but overcame it using visualisation – she says: “I was thinking ‘this is horrible’. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. I try and flip it into excitement. You can get anxious for a race, but I’ll call it excitement.
“I’m very much a visualiser, a drawer, a writer of notes. I just like to say little things to myself that I might write down that keep me in that confident, winning mindset. I might draw the podium and there’ll be a GB flag at the top, or look at the medal. I’ll see it and believe it so much that it’s got to happen. It hasn’t worked out every single time, but more often than not! For me this year, I feel like my 19 year old self again. I was such a carefree teenager.”
And, single at present, Keely now feels there is no reason why she can’t have it all. She explains: “I think you really can have it all. You can have the family and the amazing kids and the job and the career and you can be successful – and you can have great friends and family and it can actually all go right at the same time. I’m very young to be saying that, but I do think it’s possible.”
Keely is more chilled out than ever about every day life, but when it comes to training, she believes in following a punishing routine, asking herself: “How much pain can I put myself through?”
Describing her routine, she says: “I just think ‘the more pain I put myself through now the easier it is race day’. Your legs are burning, your head’s spinning, I literally can’t see for hours afterwards. I hate being sick, when I’m sick I cry, so I’m crying mid-session.”
Compared to training, the actual races are mild, according to Keely. She says: “Race day doesn’t hurt half as much. The race hurts, but the adrenaline’s so high sometimes I can hardly feel it.
“I think your body goes into fight or flight. You think you’re dead, but if you don’t give it that extra everything and then you fail, you’re going to look back and think ‘Why didn’t I try harder?’ I sit there sometimes and think ‘Why did I choose to be good at this?’”
But, despite his demands on the track, she has a laugh with her coach Trevor Painter. She says: “We have a laugh, we have a joke. He takes nothing too seriously.”
New details have emerged about a car crash in the Hamptons involving Stephen and Alec Baldwin, as police issue a statement about the incident
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Police break silence on Stephen and Alec Baldwin’s horror car crash(Image: Getty Images)
Local police have shed new light on a car crash involving Alec and Stephen Baldwin that took place on Monday (13 October). The 30 Rock star was driving his wide’s Range Rover in the Hamptons and crashed it into a tree.
The two actors are thought to have escaped unscathed from the incident. The East Hampton Town Police Department have now issued a statement about the crash, which happened in rainy conditions on the side of the Montauk Highway.
Police Chief Michael D. Sarlo said: “At approximately 12:01pm on Monday, October 13th, the EHTPD responded to a motor vehicle accident on State Route 27, Pantigo Road near Cross Highway.
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“A white 2023 Range Rover, operated by Alec Baldwin, with passenger Stephen Baldwin, was found to have struck a tree on the Eastbound shoulder of the roadway while avoiding the turning action of a 2020 Mack commercial truck, registered to National Waste Services out of Bay Shore, NY.
“There were no injuries reported or summons issued and the contributing factors to the accident were found to be a reaction to an uninvolved vehicle and the slippery and wet roadway conditions.”
Alec was driving Hilaria Baldwin’s white Range Rover, which is thought to have been severely damaged after hitting a tree head-on. In a video posted to Instagram on Monday, Alex blamed a rubbish truck he likened to a “whale” in size for the crash.
“I was in a car accident this morning, I’m fine,” Alec started. He continued to explain what happened. He said he had swerve to avoid a “the largest garbage truck I’ve ever seen”. He also thanked the police for their help.
He claimed another drive cut him off and that he had to swerve to avoid hitting the truck. As a result, he hit the tree. The owner of the truck assured press it was not the fault of the driver.
Fans flooded the comments with messages saying they hoped Alec and his brother were okay. In another video, Hilaria thanked fans for their kind messages and reassured fans that both Baldwin brothers were okay.
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Alec was in the Hamptons for the Hamptons International Film Festival, which runs from 5-13 October. A source told Page Six: “He has been out there all week, he attended films and moderated panels.”
Among many others, Alec has been in films such as The Hunt For Red October, Notting Hill and Beetlejuice. His brother is also an actor, though Stephen has not garnered the same level of fame. Stephen is also the father of Hailey Bieber.
Katie Price has been slammed by PETA after getting another dog despite her track record over animals being killed in her care, as the charity have unveiled a new Halloween fancy dress kit dedicated to her
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Katie Price branded ‘grim reaper’ as latest dog controversy rages(Image: BACKGRID/Instagram)
Model Katie Price has been branded the “grim reaper” amid fears another animal in her care could die.
The model, 47, last week revealed she had bought a dog who “doesn’t leave her side” despite charities having previously called for a ban on her owning animals after a string of deaths.
Now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has created a limited-edition Halloween fancy dress kit parodying the star after the news. The kit, available for £54.99, includes a paper mask depicting Price’s face, a vest with “Grim Reaper” written on it, a “coffin” filled with dogs and cats, and a scythe.
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The animal rights group previously offered Price £5,000 in exchange for a legally binding promise to stop owning pets. “Too many animals have met a grim fate under Katie Price’s ‘guardianship’,” says PETA Vice President for UK and Europe Mimi Bekhechi.
“This Halloween costume may be a joke – but the message is not: being responsible for lives and needs of animals who are entirely dependent on you is serious business. And anyone who doesn’t treat it as such needs to stick to stuffed toys.”
The Mirror has reported on how Price has been at the centre of a string of controversies around animals in her care. The star has previously been branded a “serial killer” by PETA over the deaths of at least eight animals.
Earlier this year she was blasted for letting one of her £2,000-a-pop bald cats get sunburnt during the last heatwave. In a video, she showed one with a red head and back. Stroking the cat, she said: “Oh Kevin you have been in the sun today, you have got sun burnt despite us putting sun cream on you? look at his little face.”
Four dogs – Blade, Queenie, Sharon and Sparkle – were killed by cars near her home. And one of Katie’s horses was hit by a car and killed in 2017 after escaping from a field. In 2020, dog Rolo suffocated in her home after getting stuck in an electric armchair.
Katie, 47, admitted giving him cannabis oil, but said she was unaware it was illegal to do so without a vet prescription. The mum-of-five has also announced the death of a chameleon and told how she had to put down another designer cat, Frog.
“He had a neurological disease”, she wrote in her memoir. “Within days it had spread through his body. So I cuddled him in my arms and he had to be put to sleep.”
In February, she hit back at critics of her record with animals, saying: “It’s circumstances that were out of my hands. It’s no lack of me not looking after them. I love animals, I love nurturing.”
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The Halloween outfit is available on the PETA website, and all proceeds will go towards the groups work to promote responsible animal guardianship.
