Results tagged “JULIE WALTERS” from Coventry Telegraph - Pass the Remote

BBC 1 today announces that The One Show is set to be extended.

The 30 minute show will include an hour-long show every week from September to the end of the year.

The 60-minute shows will include a raft of new features, celebrating lives, landscapes and stories from all around the UK.

Presenters, Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles will be taking a fortnight's holiday this month and top names will be providing holiday cover over the summer including Gloria Hunniford, Gethin Jones, John Sergeant and Myleene Klass.

Gloria Hunniford and Gethin Jones take the helm from Monday.

DAME Judi Dench was named today the nation's favourite female role model in a survey carried out as part of a search to find the UK's real women of substance.

The actress came top of the poll of 1,000 British women between the ages of 18 and 65, 70 per cent of whom said she had real substance.

Dame Judi was followed by Joanna Lumley and Julie Walters, with JK Rowling and round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen McArthur in joint fourth position.

MIDLANDS actress Julie Walters is set to star in A Short Stay In Switzerland for BBC 1.

The drama is inspired by the true story of Dr Anne Turner and penned by award-winning writer Frank McGuinness.

Kate Harwood, Controller, Series and Serials, BBC Drama Production, says: "One of Ireland's foremost dramatists, Frank brings a lightness of touch, dark wit and a heart-wrenching humanity to this piece inspired by Anne Turner's story about life and death, love and family."

Having just witnessed the death of her husband Jack from an incurable neurological disease, Anne Turner (Julie Walters) is diagnosed with a near identical illness.

Writer Frank McGuinness adds: "As a doctor Anne Turner lived and worked by her principles, and she chose to die by them. This film recognises that rare courage."

Filming begins in London next month and the drama will be broadcast at the end of next year.

Writer Frank McGuinness' credits include an adaptation of Dancing At Lughnasa which starred Meryl Streep.

MAMMA Mia! star Julie Walters revealed on GMTV today that she was almost abducted as a child.

Speaking on The Richard Arnold Show, the actress said: "I had an incident when I was at junior school where a man tried to abduct myself and three other little girls. I was 10."

Talking about her upcoming autobiography, Julie admitted that recalling the childhood event for the book was a liberating process.

"I tell you, writing it - it was cathartic... It got really scary - every time I didn't want to open the computer - didn't want to do it, but I thought if I'm writing it, I've got to write about this."

MIDLANDER Julie Walters has compared her home life with the plot lines of radio favourite The Archers.

The actress lives on an organic livestock farm in West Sussex with husband Grant Roffey, aged 50, and said the two lead separate lives while she is filming.

Walters told Good Housekeeping magazine: "I love the wildlife, the quiet and the privacy, the owls at night and the fact that there is no light pollution. I love the way the moonlight illuminates the garden and the fact you don't need a torch when it's out. I love the smell of the earth and the animals."

She continued: "Farming is seven days a week, 365 days a year. We talk about the farm non-stop and wonder if The Archers have got a mole at our place because our little dramas always seem to end up in their story lines. Grant and I lead separate lives when I'm away filming, but it seems to suit us. It wouldn't suit everybody."

PIERCE Brosnan has been talking about his latest role in the movie version of hit musical Mama Mia!

The former James Bond star has teamed up with Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Midlander Julie Walters for the film, which tells the story of what happens when a girl, invites three men - one of whom could be her dad - to her wedding on a Greek island.

"Everyone's danced to Abba, everyone's been driven nuts by their songs," joked Pierce, "And I think the 'Mamma Mia!' experience has bled into this film."

"It's all about dreams, hopes and happiness," added Meryl. "They just enter your body, these songs - they have amazing hooks. It's just such a joy."