Neal

‘Gavin & Stacey’ star Ruth Jones and Damon Albarn to read Shipping Forecast to mark centenary

Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones and Blur‘s Damon Albarn are set to read the Shipping Forecast – a Met Office broadcast of weather reports and forecasts for the seas around the UK. READ MORE: Graham Coxon on the return of Blur: “We can’t leave it too long because we’re knocking on!” Jones will make her final appearance as Nessa from the BBC sitcom on Radio 4 on New Year’s Day (January 1) to celebrate 100 years of the weather service. She said: “Nessa has got quite a colourful history and one of her jobs was on the high seas. The Shipping Forecast was always very important and useful to her.” It comes following the finale of Gavin & Stacey which aired on Christmas Day (December 25) which saw Smithy (James Corden) stopping Nessa from going back to work on the ships after chasing her down to Southampton dock. In the penultimate scene he also proposed to her on a boat. Advertisement Along with Jones, Damon Albarn will also feature along with Stephen Fry and Line Of Duty star Adrian Dunbar. The Shipping Forecast, inspired the lyrics to Blur’s ‘This A Low’. The service was first broadcast on January 1, 1924 as… Read More →

27DECNews

All leaked upcoming heroes in ‘Marvel Rivals’

Marvel Rivals has had a staggering launch and become one of the biggest games of 2024. But, as we head into 2025, the game has no plans to slow down and is in fact only going to be releasing more content with each season. This includes several heroes every few months, and many have already been leaked. Here is what we know about the upcoming heroes and what you can expect from them. ‘Marvel Rivals’ upcoming heroes The leaked heroes for Marvel Rivals so far are: Ultron – Strategist Mr. Fantastic – Duelist Sue Storm – Strategist Human Torch – Duelist The Thing – Vanguard Angela – (referenced in game files) Blade – (referenced in game files) Captain Marvel – (referenced in game files) Deadpool – (referenced in game files) Emma Frost – (referenced in game files) Hit-Monkey – (referenced in game files) Jean Grey – (referenced in game files) The Hood – (teased) These heroes and villains are at various stages of being confirmed, but six of them have models and art in the game files or from different builds of the game. Some of them even have full ability lists: Ultron Advertisement Ultron is one of the characters we… Read More →

27DECNews

Denis Villeneuve says he bans mobile phones on his sets: “When you say cut, you don’t want someone checking Facebook”

Denis Villeneuve has revealed that mobile phones are banned on his film sets. READ MORE: ‘Dune: Part Two’ review: sandworm-sized sequel should blow a hole in the box office The Dune director was profiled for the Los Angeles Times and voiced his anxieties over how “human beings are ruled by algorithms right now.” “We behave like AI circuits. The ways we see the world are narrow-minded binaries. We’re disconnecting from each other, and society is crumbling in some ways. It’s frightening,” he said. This formed part of the rationale for him banning phones on the sets of films he is working on. Advertisement “Cinema is an act of presence,” Villeneuve said. “When a painter paints, he has to be absolutely focused on the color he’s putting on the canvas. It’s the same with the dancer when he does a gesture. With a filmmaker, you have to do that with a crew, and everybody has to focus and be entirely in the present, listening to each other, being in relationship with each other. So cellphones are banned on my set too, since Day 1. It’s forbidden. When you say cut, you don’t want someone going to his phone to look at his Facebook… Read More →

27DECNews

Third ‘Downton Abbey’ film to include “genuine, meaningful” tribute to Maggie Smith

The upcoming third Downton Abbey film will reportedly include a tribute to late acting legend Maggie Smith and her character, per a producer on the project. Dame Maggie Smith died in September this year at the age of 89. Throughout her esteemed career, Smith was celebrated for many roles, one of which was that of Dowager Violet Crawley in the Downton Abbey franchise. The franchise first began as an acclaimed TV series, before turning into a film series. So far, two films have been made in the franchise; Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022). Smith’s character Dowager Violet Crawley dies at the end of the second film. A third film is in the works and is due to premiere in September next year. Per executive producer Gareth Neame in a conversation with TVLine, the upcoming third film in the trilogy will include a tribute to the character and Smith herself. Advertisement Dame Maggie Smith attends The Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” at Odeon Leicester Square on February 17, 2015 in London, England. CREDIT: Dave M. Benett/WireImage Neame said: “The fact that Dame Maggie herself has now passed away… Read More →

26DECNews

John Corabi opens up on being fired from Mötley Crüe: “It felt like someone took a 300-pound man off my shoulders”

Former Mötley Crüe singer John Corabi has opened up about being fired from the band, saying that it was a relief. Corabi was part of the band from 1992 to 1996, serving as the singer after Vince Neil was sacked. However, Neil was ultimately brought back to Mötley Crüe in 1996 and Corabi was fired. While appearing as a guest on the YouTube show Rock Daydream Nation, the former vocalist opened up about how although being fired was not what he had wanted, there was some relief that was brought to him due to the intensity and chaos within Mötley Crüe. “There was so much drama in that band and turmoil,” Corabi told host Peter Kerr. “And so when they told me that they were bringing Vince back, there was a huge part of me that was bummed and kind of upset, but there was another part of me that felt like a 300-pound man was standing on my shoulders. So I was actually relieved at the same time, if that makes any sense at all.” Advertisement [embedded content] Corabi also revealed how he learned that he was being replaced by Neil, sharing that people at the record label –… Read More →

26DECNews

IVE tease new single in January, mini-album in February

K-pop girl group IVE have announced new releases for 2025, including a new single in January and mini-album in February. On Christmas Eve (December 24), IVE dropped a surprise teaser video for their upcoming third mini-album, titled ‘IVE Empathy’. The project will be preceded by its first single on January 13 at 6pm KST, before releasing in full on February 3. Meanwhile, the teaser combines clips of friends and lovers connecting as they hold hands, embrace and whisper secrets to each other as a snippet of a track plays. Details such as its track list are expected to arrive in the coming weeks [embedded content] Advertisement ‘IVE Empathy’ will arrive nine months after the girl group’s last comeback with their second mini-album ‘IVE Switch’, which they released this April with the dual singles ‘HEYA’ and ‘Accendio’. The six-member act spent most of the year on their ‘Show What I Have’ world tour, which took place from October 2023 to September 2024, spanning 35 concerts across 28 cities. It marked the girl group’s first world tour, following their 2023 ‘The Prom Queens’ Asia tour. In November, IVE teamed up with French DJ David Guetta to release the English-language single ‘Supernova Love’,… Read More →

25DECNews

Legendary record producer Richard Perry has died, aged 82

Acclaimed record producer Richard Perry has died aged 82. Perry passed away yesterday (December 24) in Los Angeles. His cause of death was cardiac arrest, as confirmed by his friend Daphna Kastner Keitel. “He maximized his time here,” Kastner said in a statement, per AP. “He was generous, fun, sweet and made the world a better place. The world is a little less sweeter without him here. But it’s a little bit sweeter in heaven.” Renowned as a producer, Perry received a Grammys Trustee Award in 2015. Over his four-decade career, he worked with acts such as Rod Stewart, The Beatles, The Pointer Sisters, Barbra Streisand and Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel and Diana Ross, among others. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 18 1942, and his parents manufactured and sold musical instruments and also worked as music teachers. Perry went on to study music and theatre at the University of Michigan, before graduating in 1964 and returning to New York to form his own independent record production company, Cloud Nine Productions. In 1967 Perry moved to Los Angeles, where he produced his first album – Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band’s debut, ‘Safe as Milk’. That year,… Read More →

25DECNews

Places to visit first in ‘Elden Ring’ as you begin your journey

Elden Ring is a huge and intimidating game. Its massive open world can easily take more than 100 hours to clear, and there are tonnes of dungeons, pathways, and areas to get lost in, which might make your first few hours a struggle. If you are finally jumping into the game, we have some key locations and areas to visit below. This guide will cover some initial main locations, side dungeons, and items to find that will give you that boost. Places to visit and things to do first in ‘Elden Ring’ Some key things to do and areas to visit first in Elden Ring are: Church of Elleh Third Church of Marika Fort Haight Castle Morne Most of these locations can be found in Limgrave and the nearby Mistwood. Therefore, you won’t have to explore too far beyond the initial area you start the game in. Advertisement Credit: Bandai Namco Church of Elleh The Church of Elleh can be found directly north of where you exit from The First Step Site of Grace in the game (after you wake up in Limgrave proper). Walk or run completely past the Tree Sentinel in front of it, and enter the ruins… Read More →

24DECNews

The Wanted’s Max George discharged from hospital in time for Christmas

The Wanted‘s Max George has been discharged from hospital after having a pacemaker fitted. Earlier this month, George revealed that he had been hospitalised after some tests revealed “issues” with his heart. He explained that he had been admitted after “feeling really unwell” and having some tests done. Later, he learned he would need surgery for a heart condition. The 36-year-old said he had “a 2:1 block” in his heart, which is where the heart beats slower or more irregularly than it should be. Subsequently, he needed to have a pacemaker, a small, battery-powered machine that is usually implanted into the chest or abdomen to help control an irregular or slow heart rate. Initially, he expected to have to spend Christmas in hospital, but circumstances changed when he found out he could have the operation sooner than expected. Advertisement Now, George has said that he is being discharged in time for Christmas after spending 11 days in hospital. He did, however, say he wasn’t completely in the clear as the doctors found there was more investigation needed into a potential issue with his lungs. “It’s time to go home. The numbers are way better. I feel knackered, slept a lot today,” he… Read More →

24DECHit Singles

Uncut’s Best New Albums of 2024

50OREN AMBARCHI/JOHAN BERTHLING/ANDREAS WERLIINGhosted IIDRAG CITY2022’s improvised mindmeld between Aussie experimental guitarist Ambarchi and the Swedish jazz rhythm section of Berthling and Werliin proved so successful that the trio reconvened for this lively sequel. Their telepathy now honed, Ghosted II was groovier and hookier than its predecessor, Berthling’s propulsive basslines providing structure and drive for Ambarchi’s shimmering bliss-outs. Advertisement THE NEW ISSUE OF UNCUT FEATURES KATE BUSH, QUINCY JONES, THE WEATHER STATION, THE DAMNED AND OUR ESSENTIAL 2025 PREVIEW – ORDER YOUR COPY NOW 49STILL HOUSE PLANTSIf I Don’t Make It, I Love UBISONThe post-rock trio, formed a decade ago at the Glasgow School Of Art, rocketed out of the improv underground with a fissile breakthrough album that recalled Life Without Buildings, Labradford and the slanted, enchanted skronk of Bill Orcutt. But tracks like the standout “Silver Grit Passes Thru My Teeth” were thrillingly all their own work. 48DAVID GILMOURLuck And StrangeSONYWorking with a new producer (Charlie Andrew, notable for his work with prog upstarts Alt-J) and new musicians (including Tom Herbert, bass player with Polar Bear), Gilmour sounded reinvigorated on his fifth solo album – never more so than on a startling cover of the Montgolfier Brothers’ magnificently bleak… Read More →

24DECNews

Robbie Williams wants to go back to school and re-sit his GCSEs

Robbie Williams is looking to head back to school and hit the books, he has revealed. Williams, who joined Take That at the age of 16 while preparing for the GCSEs, has shared in a new chat with The Sun that he’s been weighing his options in re-sitting for his exams, having left school without any qualifications. He told the publication: “I’ve been wanting to set up a university but, actually, I wouldn’t be able to attend if and when I do, because I didn’t get any GCSEs. I got nothing higher than a grade D, and everything else I failed or I didn’t turn up for. I really want to go back and get them.” Robbie Williams. Credit: Marc Piasecki/Getty Advertisement He continued, explaining that he hadn’t been diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD at the time: “All my life I’ve felt really stupid because we didn’t know about dyslexia in the seventies and eighties in Stoke-on-Trent. I’ve got dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, but we didn’t have those then, so I left school thinking I was a dumb-dumb and it’s taken ages to get over that. And now I just wanna go and prove a few people wrong — I’m… Read More →

23DECNews

Kim Kardashian releases Travis Barker-produced ‘Santa Baby’ cover with Macaulay Culkin-starring video

Kim Kardashian has surprise released a cover of festive classic ‘Santa Baby’ produced by brother-in-law Travis Barker. The lo-fi take on the song has Kardashian singing in a low, breathy whisper backed by a saxophone and piano. Notably, the accompanying music video – directed by Nadia Lee Cohen and Charlie Denis (who has previously worked with Tyler, the Creator and A$AP Rocky) – features a cameo from Macaulay Culkin. It features Kardashian crawling her way through an unhinged Christmas party, including some rather unfriendly-looking Santa’s helpers, models playing Twister and a person in a creepy reindeer costume. Culkin appears at the end of the music video, where Kardashian crawls up to him while he’s seemingly filming the whole nightmare party with an old-fashioned camcorder. Advertisement Check it out below: [embedded content] The song and visuals have been widely slated online by fans who were both confused by the entire release or believed it was poor quality. Recommended “Wow this is so fucking stupid. When cornballs think they can make art.,” one X/Twitter user wrote. “We need a way to communicate with the general public that just because something is lofi doesn’t mean it’s good,” said another. A third wrote: “Why… Read More →

23DECHit Singles

Uncut’s Best Reissues, Live Albums and Compilations of 2024

30ROYAL TRUXTwin InfinitivesFIREDiving straight in at the deep end, Fire kicked off their Royal Trux vinyl reissue series with this synapse-mangling 1990 double LP which found America’s most gloriously fucked-up rock’n’roll band careering wildly toward the outer limits of convention, taste and sanity. A work of deviant high art or the sound of two people having a breakdown? Let’s say both. Advertisement THE NEW ISSUE OF UNCUT FEATURES KATE BUSH, QUINCY JONES, THE WEATHER STATION, THE DAMNED AND OUR ESSENTIAL 2025 PREVIEW – ORDER YOUR COPY NOW 29JOHN LENNONMind Games: The Ultimate CollectionCAPITOL/UMeIn 1973, Lennon’s fourth album – which he himself described as “an interim record between being a manic, political lunatic to back to being a musician again” – failed to make the UK Top 10. Half a century later, it was refreshed by this sumptuous box set comprising multiple new mixes, unreleased outtakes, instrumentals, studio chatter and a lavishly detailed coffee-table book. 28OASIS Definitely Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)BIG BROTHERAs an aperitif for the forthcoming reunion tour, Oasis’s swaggering debut was reissued with bonus material telling the full messy story of its creation, including eight tracks from the 1993 Monnow Valley sessions and another seven from the January 1994… Read More →

23DECNews

André 3000 thanks Drake for leaking Kanye West’s ‘Life of The Party’

André 3000 has spoken about his feature on Kanye West‘s 2021 album ‘Donda‘ and why he wants to thank Drake – see what he had to say below. READ MORE: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – ‘Vultures 1’ review: mired in misogyny In 2021, André 3000 was approached by Kanye for his album ‘Donda’. Together, the two put together a track titled ‘Life Of The Party’. However, the song never made the final cut of the album as the two rappers were not able to come to an agreement on censorship. At the time, Kanye was adamant on not including swear words on the record, while André’s verse included profanities. André was unwilling to cut out the vulgarity as he felt that the verse would lose impact, and the song was left on the cutting room floor, though eventually being included in the record’s deluxe edition after it was leaked. Now, André has revealed while appearing on The New York Times‘ podcast that Drake – who was beefing with Kanye at the time – had a part to play in the song’s release. Advertisement [embedded content] “Ye was at a point where he didn’t want any curse words on the… Read More →

22DECNews

Tom Morello shares the one thing people get wrong about Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Tom Morello has revealed what he believes is the single most understood aspect of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The Rage Against The Machine guitarist has been present at multiple induction ceremonies over the years, including in 2014 when he inducted KISS and last year, when he accepted Rage’s induction alone. In a new interview with Guitar World, he was asked about the annual event and his opinion on its ongoing relevance to the guitar music industry. “I will say that one thing that people get wrong is that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should be just for rock ’n’ roll bands,” he said. “That’s not what it’s for. Public Enemy is more rock ’n’ roll than 95 percent of all the hair metal bands that ever picked up an instrument, you know?” Advertisement Tom Morello poses for a portrait at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. (Photo by Sara Jaye/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) He went on to explain what he believes are the true criteria that should qualify artists for the Hall. “It’s music that has spirit to it, like a youth spirit,” he said. “I think rock… Read More →

21DECNews

Normani promises new music for 2025: “A whole new body of work”

Normani has teased the possibility of a new full-length album in 2025, saying she is working on a “whole new body of work”. The pop/R&B star and former Fifth Harmony singer released her debut solo album ‘Dopamine’ in June this year, including the singles ‘Wild Side’, ‘1:59’ and ‘Candy Paint’. Now, in a new interview with Rolling Stone, Normani has given a sneak preview of what fans can expect from her in the New Year and she gave an enticing teaser that there might be a follow-up to ‘Dopamine’ earlier than some had expected. Answering a question about her 2025 aspirations, she said: “Putting lots more music out, festivals, and a tour. Leave it to me to put out a new album too, a whole new body of work. I promised I wouldn’t make you guys wait that long anymore! I’m just putting things out and moving more this year, as opposed to preparation.” Advertisement Credit: Marcus Cooper She followed up by speaking about her current inspirations. “Life,” she replied. “I’m experiencing so much in such a short period that I feel like I have a lot to talk about. Dopamine was curated over four to five years, so it’s… Read More →

21DECNews

Blake Lively sues ‘It Ends With Us’ co-star Justin Baldoni over “severe emotional distress”

Blake Lively has sued her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, claiming he caused her “severe emotional distress”. Reports of a rift between the two actors emerged in August, with suggestions that creative differences lay behind the fallout, but now the Gossip Girl star has filed a suit against Baldoni, claiming he sexually harassed her on the set of the film. As reported by TMZ, the suit claims that Baldoni exhibited behaviour that caused Lively “severe emotional distress” and states that a meeting was held between the two parties and their lawyers, as well as Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, to address the problems. It is said that the meeting included a number of demands made by Lively, including “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.” Advertisement [embedded content] It added that she demanded “no more adding of sex scenes, oral sex or on camera climaxing by BL outside the scope of… Read More →

20DECNews

Watch Waxahatchee perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk for the first time in 10 years

Waxahatchee has recently performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk series, marking her return to the show in 10 years. The singer-songwriter – real name Katie Crutchfield – appeared on the viral series in support of her Grammy-nominated album ‘Tigers Blood’. While at the iconic eccentric office space, Crutchfield performed a five-song set which included the likes of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘Fire’. While at Tiny Desk, the singer reflected on her previous debut appearance at the show back in 2013 in support of ‘Cerulean Salt’, revealing she has mixed emotions about it. “I have been here before, it was about 11 years ago. I sort of rolled out of the tour van, I didn’t realize I was going in be the NPR building, I sort of didn’t really know what I was doing at all. My amp broke in the middle. I’m really happy to be back,” she told the audience. [embedded content] Advertisement Waxahatchee’s Tiny Desk setlist was: ‘Much Ado About Nothing’‘Right Back to It’‘Crowbar’‘Tigers Blood’‘Fire’ Though her recent performance on the series marked her second time there, Crutchfield previously joined Kevin Morby during his set on the Tiny Desk (Home) Concert Series in 2020 during the pandemic. Recommended… Read More →

20DECNews

Watch Billie Eilish and Finneas teach first grade kids how to “write a hit song”

Billie Eilish and Finneas have taken the time to teach first graders how to “write a hit song” in a new video. The ‘Birds Of A Feather’ singer and her brother and collaborator appeared as the latest guests on the digital series Celebrity Substitute where they stopped by Garvanza Elementary School in Los Angeles to create a hit song titled ‘I’m Just A Polar Bear’ with a group of first grade students. Upon arriving at the classroom, Eilish and Finneas were treated with cheers and excitement with one student saying: “Am I dreaming right now?” while another noted that she had seen the singer on TV when she was sporting red hair. [embedded content] Advertisement From there, Finneas played a couple of different chords on a piano to begin the process of creating their song. Eventually, the class and the two Grammy-award winning artists created ‘I’m Just A Polar Bear’, a song about a lonely polar bear. The song features lyrics: “I’m just a polar bear / but nobody cares and it’s just not fair” in the chorus, but luckily throughout the song, the polar bear makes a friend. Finneas also took the time to explain to the students what… Read More →

20DECHit Singles

Ringo Starr joins Paul McCartney onstage at London’s O2 Arena

Ringo Starr joined Paul McCartney onstage at the London’s O2 Arena last night (December 19) for the final 2024 date of Macca’s Got Back tour. The former Beatles bandmates teamed up in the encore for a run through “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club (Reprise)” and “Helter Skelter”. THE NEW ISSUE OF UNCUT FEATURES KATE BUSH, QUINCY JONES, THE WEATHER STATION, THE DAMNED AND OUR ESSENTIAL 2025 PREVIEW – ORDER YOUR COPY NOW Earlier in the show, McCartney had welcomed Rolling Stone Ron Wood onto the stage to play “Get Back”. There was a third surprise special guest: McCartney’s long-lost Hofner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen from him in 1972 but returned earlier this year. “And here to make its first stage appearance in 50 years… is my original bass!” declared McCartney. “I haven’t played it in 50 years.” Read Uncut’s review of Paul McCartney’s Got Back tour in Manchester (December 14) here.

20DECHit Singles

Send us your questions for Vashti Bunyan!

It’s fair to say that Vashti Bunyan’s musical career hasn’t followed a conventional path. After a faltering attempt to make it as a pop singer in Swinging London, she dropped out of the rat race and journeyed by horse-drawn wagon to the Isle Of Skye, an experience that informed her startling 1970 debut Just Another Diamond Day, recorded with assistance from members of Fairport Convention and The Incredible String Band. Advertisement THE NEW ISSUE OF UNCUT FEATURES KATE BUSH, QUINCY JONES, THE WEATHER STATION, THE DAMNED AND OUR ESSENTIAL 2025 PREVIEW – ORDER YOUR COPY NOW It proved to be Bunyan’s last recording for more than 30 years, until her rediscovery by freak-folk luminaries such as Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and Animal Collective prompted a remarkable renaissance, leading to her 2005 Max Richter-producer comeback album Lookaftering and its 2014 follow-up Heartleap. Lookaftering is about to be reissued for its 20th anniversary, augmented by a host of demo versions, alternate takes and live performances. But before that, Vashti has kindly agreed to undergo a gentle grilling from you, the Uncut readers. So what do you want to ask a wandering soul? Send your questions to audiencewith@uncut.co.uk by Friday January 3 and… Read More →