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Live Reporting

Steven McIntosh

All times stated are UK

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  1. See you tomorrow

    Thank you for joining us on today's Entertainment Live page, that's just about it from us for today but we're back tomorrow morning from 08:30 BST.

    But before we leave you for the evening, here's a little treat to tide you over until our return.

    Earlier today, BBC Radio 4 tweeted the audio of some episodes of The Archers broadcast in 2005, which were written by Victoria Wood to raise money for Comic Relief.

    View more on twitter

    Wood, who was described as a "devoted Archers fan" at the time, wrote a special episode called Victoria Goes To Ambridge, which ended with a starring role for a celebrity.

    The comedian died last week after a "short but brave" battle with cancer.

    Now, BBC Radio 4 have made the scenes she wrote for the radio soap available online.

    It's 18 minutes long, so maybe one to enjoy this evening over a cup of tea, but it's well worth a listen:

    Video content

    Video caption: The full 5 mini episodes of The Archers as written by Victoria Wood for Comic Relief.

    See you tomorrow!

  2. Here's the full setlist for Beyonce's Formation tour

    Beyonce

     As we mentioned earlier, Beyonce kicked off her Formation world tour last night in Miami. 

    For members of the so-called Bey Hive (i.e. Beyonce fans), here's the full set list from the night. 

    It's not certain she'll keep to this every night of her tour, but it gives you a flavour of the material she performed.

    Fans of her older stuff will be glad to see that music from her first four albums is well represented, alongside songs from Lemonade. She's also included a rendition of Prince's Purple Rain.

    Here's the setlist in full, according to Just Jared

    Formation / Sorry / Flawless / Run the World / Mine / Baby Boy / Countdown / Me, Myself and I / Running (Naughty Boy collaboration) / All Night / Let It Be / Ring the Alarm / Naughty Girl / Independent Woman / Diva / Flawless (remix) / Feeling Myself / Yonce / 7/11 / Drunk in Love / Rocket / Daddy Lessons / Single Ladies / Purple Rain (Prince) / Crazy in Love / Bootylicious / Party / Blow / Nasty Girl / Sweet Dreams (Eurhythmics cover) / Freedom / Survivor / End of Time / Grown Woman / Halo

    A very comprehensive set list - although it's worth noting that not all of these songs were performed in full, some were grouped together in medleys.

    Beyonce on stage

    The Formation tour will be in the UK this summer.

  3. Danger Mouse shares rejected remix of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy

    Mark Savage

    Music reporter

    Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley

    Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, the first song ever to reach number one in the UK on the basis of downloads, recently turned 10 years old.

    To mark the occasion, producer and co-writer Danger Mouse has shared an unheard version of the track, which his record label turned down at the time.

    It's a darker, more gothic take, which draws on the song's Spaghetti Western inspirations (the original sampled Last Man Standing from 1968's Django, Prepare A Coffin). The sparse arrangement and off-kilter rhythm completely re-frame singer Cee-Lo Green's vocals, putting a new spin on the song's classic melody.

    Danger Mouse posted the track on SoundCloud, explaining: "Just got this remix of Crazy I did rejected. Label didn’t think it would get any new fans I guess. 4/09/2006."

    View more on Soundcloud
  4. Hi-de-Hi! actor Barry Howard dies at 78

    Dianne Holland and Barry Howard

    Barry Howard, who was best known for playing Barry Stuart-Hargreaves in BBC holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi!, has died aged 78.

    His agent told the BBC he had been suffering from cancer.

    Howard appeared in the first seven series of Hi-de-Hi!, playing one half of dance instructing couple Barry and Yvonne (pictured).

    Agent Sharry Clark praised him as "very talented" and said she would "miss him more than I can say".

  5. Charlie Sheen to appear in one-off London show with Piers Morgan

    Charlie Sheen

    Charlie Sheen says he wants to clear up the "truth" about his life - with an appearance in London in June.

    The actor has told the Evening Standard that many of the stories circulating about him are not "rooted in any kind of reality". Sheen said he is frustrated by the attention his private life receives and would prefer the focus to be on his work. 

    He spoke out as he announced that he will appear in an “audience with” evening at the Drury Lane Theatre, hosted by Piers Morgan. 

    Quote Message: Basically it’s a casual conversation. It talks about things I’ve been through recently and storytellings of the past. Also just about my career and trying to focus more on the body of work, future work, current work and not delve into the things that everybody seems to have so much curiosity about. from Charlie Sheen
    Charlie Sheen
  6. Tributes to Prince continue a week after his death

    Prince is still very much in the thoughts of musicians, fans and the music press a week after his sudden death at the age of 57. 

    Both US music magazine Billboard and the UK's Q Magazine have dedicated their most recent issues to the star.

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter

    And last night Radio 1 DJ Benji B played two and a half hours of his "favourite purple music" in Prince's memory. You can listen back to the show on the iPlayer.

    View more on twitter
  7. Star line-up announced for Watership Down adaptation

    John Boyega and Ben Kingsley

    You might remember us telling you last year about the new adaptation of Watership Down.

    It's now been announced that John Boyega, James McAvoy and Sir Ben Kingsley are among an all-star cast set to provide voices for the animation.

    The four-part CGI mini-series will bring an original interpretation to Richard Adams' classic 1972 novel.

    It tells the story of a band of rabbits in search of a new home after the destruction of their warren.

    Commissioned by the BBC, it is the first blockbuster drama made as a co-production between the BBC and Netflix - who will broadcast it outside the UK.

    Read more.

  8. Whitney Houston doc to be directed by Kevin Macdonald

    The Hollywood Reporter

    Whitney Houston

    Oscar-winning Scottish director Kevin Macdonald will direct an "unvarnished and authentic" documentary about late singer Whitney Houston, according to The Hollywood Reporter

    The untitled project is the first film to be officially authorised by the singer's estate since her death in 2012, and will "examine both the highs and lows of her dramatic career".

    Houston sold an estimated 200 million records worldwide before her death at just 48.  

    Macdonald's films include One Day in September, The Last King of Scotland and the critically acclaimed Bob Marley documentary Marley.

    He said he wouldn't "shy away from the darker parts of Whitney's life," including her descent into addiction. 

    Quote Message: The story that is never told about Whitney is just how brilliant she was as an artist. By many measures she had the greatest voice of the last 50 years. She changed the way pop music was sung - bringing it back full circle to its blues and gospel roots. She was also completely unique in being a black pop star who sold in countries where black artists don’t traditionally sell.
    Quote Message: I want audiences to walk out of the cinema and feel positive about Whitney and her music. I want to reveal a woman that even her most die-hard fans never knew; and a woman those new to her life and music will never forget. from Kevin Macdonald
    Kevin Macdonald
  9. Lego admits 'mistake' in Ai Weiwei row

    Lego

    Lego's decision to reject Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's request for a bulk order of its bricks last year was a "mistake", the toy firm has admitted.

    Vice-Chairman Kirk Kristiansen told The Wall Street Journal that an employee had misinterpreted the company's policy on political neutrality.

    In October, Ai said his request was declined because Lego considered his planned exhibition to be too political.

    The artist is known for his criticism of the Chinese government.

    Read more.

  10. YouTube hits back over claims of mistreating musicians

    The Guardian

    Nikki Sixx

    In a week where musicians including Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue (pictured above) and Debbie Harry have called on YouTube to fairly compensate musicians, the service has hit back claiming "no other platform gives as much money back to creators".

    Christophe Muller,YouTube's head of international music partnerships has written a blog for the Guardian, challenging criticism of its system of royalty payments.

    He said:

    Quote Message: The truth is that YouTube takes copyright management extremely seriously and we work to ensure rightsholders make money no matter who uploads their music. No other platform gives as much money back to creators – big and small – across all kinds of content.
  11. Adam French's BBC Introducing story

    You may not have heard of Adam French - but you could well be hearing his name a lot more often from now on.

    The singer, who is from Stoke, was discovered through the BBC's Introducing scheme.

    He has since signed a major record deal with Virgin EMI and was recently booked to play gigs in LA and New York - the first time he's been back to America since he was a toddler. 

    BBC Introducing presenter Rob Adcock went to meet him:

    Video content

    Video caption: Adam French’s BBC Introducing story.
  12. Drake reveals Views tracklisting ahead of streaming debut

    Drake

    Excitement is growing about Drake's fourth studio album - now called Views instead of Views from the 6 - with the rapper revealing an official tracklist on Twitter. 

    View more on twitter

    The 20 tracks include Pop Style (featuring Jay-Z and Kanye West) and One Dance (with WizKid and Kyla) - with Hotline Bling as a bonus track. 

    It's getting an exclusive global streaming on Apple's Beats 1 radio station with Zane Lowe tonight. It's a late night if you're in the UK though - that's 03:00 BST on Friday morning.

  13. Sam Mendes to head Venice film festival jury

    Sam Mendes

    British film director Sam Mendes will head the jury at this year's Venice International Film Festival.

    Mendes, director of the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre, will chair a panel of nine who will award the Golden Lion for best film and other key prizes.

    The 73rd film festival will run from 31 August to 10 September.

    Mendes said he was "very honoured" to have been asked to lead the Venice jury.

    Quote Message: I've always had a strong personal connection with Venice; as a student I worked for three months at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, way back in 1984, and my happiest film festival memory is launching Road to Perdition in Venice in 2002. I am thoroughly delighted to be coming back to the Lido this year, and welcoming a wealth of international filmmaking talent.
  14. Black Chronicles: new photography exhibition in May

    Black Lives Matter - promotional images

    We haven't had much in the way of arts news yet in today's live page. But fear not, those of you who are more interested in Botticelli than Beyonce, that is about to change.

    A display of photographs, which will reveal some of the stories of Black and Asian lives in Britain from the 1860s through to the 1940s, is to open next month at the National Portrait Gallery.

    Black Chronicles: Photographic Portraits 1862-1948 will bring together some of the earliest photographs of Black and Asian sitters in the Gallery’s Collection.

    The display of over 40 photographs will highlight black communities in Britain before 1948, when the Empire Windrush brought the first group of Caribbean migrants to Great Britain.

  15. Shirley Bassey and Gary Barlow join Queen's birthday line-up

    Dame Shirley Bassey

    Dame Shirley Bassey will join the line-up of stars performing at the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations, it has been announced

    The event, which is part of a four-night celebration, will be hosted by Ant and Dec on 15 May in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.

    "Yes, yes that's all very well and good but are any former members of Take That going to be performing?" we hear you ask.

    Well, as it happens, yes - Gary Barlow has also been added to the bill.

    Previously announced performers include Kylie Minogue, Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins and Jess Glynne.

    Ant and Dec said they were "honoured to be hosting the special celebration".

    "This spectacular evening will bring together some of the best known names in the entertainment world who will perform with 900 horses and 1,500 participants to mark this very special birthday", they said.

    Read more.

  16. Fuller: Victoria Beckham felt uncomfortable in Spice Girls

    Simon Fuller

    She was one fifth of the most successful British girl group of all time but Victoria Beckham "always felt uncomfortable" in the Spice Girls, according to their former manager Simon Fuller. 

    Fuller says Beckham could sing and dance "pretty well" when she found fame as Posh Spice but only discovered her "true vocation" when she quit music and began working in the fashion industry. 

    Fuller, who continues to manage Beckham and her husband David, was speaking on stage after he was named entrepreneur of the year at the Business Innovation Awards in Los Angeles. 

    Quote Message: She could sing pretty well, she could dance pretty well, but she always felt uncomfortable. Even in the Spice Girls - it was great fun, she was in the world's biggest group for two or three years - but she didn't feel comfortable.
    Quote Message: When the Spice Girls broke up, she had a few songs as a solo artist but she wasn't happy and she said to me 'Simon, I just don't want to do music anymore. What do you think I should do?' I've known Victoria since she was 18 and her passion in life was always clothes. "I said 'You should be in fashion. You should be a designer'."
    Victoria Beckham
    Quote Message: She's now a legitimate fashion designer... there's no stopping her. She will be - without any doubt - one of the world's greatest designers in the next few years.
  17. Calvin Harris and Rihanna re-team for new single

    Calvin Harris

    Calvin Harris has announced he and Rihanna will be following up their mega 2011 collaboration, We Found Love, imminently. 

    In a tweet he revealed their new track will be called This is What You Came For, and fans don't have long to wait till they hear it... just one day to be precise.

    If We Found Love is anything to go by (six weeks as UK number one), we expect we'll be hearing it A LOT after that too. 

    View more on twitter
  18. Callard's Coronation Street character to flee to Spain

    Beverley Callard

    Coronation Street favourite Liz McDonald is set to flee Weatherfield for Spain, after actress Beverley Callard took a break from filming the ITV soap earlier this year to focus on her health. 

    Because the show is filmed weeks in advance, audiences will only see her character Liz McDonald leave Weatherfield this week.

    The exit plot for Liz follows the on-screen death of the character's former lover Tony Stewart, who was played by Terrence Maynard. 

    Earlier this year, Callard tweeted that the medication she was taking for depression had stopped being manufactured.

    A show source subsequently confirmed that she would be "taking time off" from her role as Liz McDonald in the long-running ITV drama.

    An ITV spokesperson said Callard was set to return to work in May - which means we'll likely see Liz back on screen in the summer.

  19. Ian Rankin to become visiting professor at UEA

    Ian Rankin

    Ian Rankin, the author of the best-selling Rebus novels, is to join one of the leading creative writing courses in the UK.

    The Scottish writer will become the Unesco City of Literature visiting professor at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in September this year, the Herald reports.

    Rankin will be on the university campus during the autumn term, and contribute to seminars, lectures, and tutorials.

    The MA in Creative Writing was founded in 1970, the first in the country, and among its many successful graduates are the Booker Prize-winning authors Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro and Anne Enright.

    Quote Message: "I was still a full-time student when I wrote Inspector Rebus's first adventure. That was in 1984/5 and Edinburgh University didn't have a Creative Writing course. Almost no university did - and I remember being jealous of Ian McEwan and others who had learned from their experiences at the University of East Anglia. That's why it is such a privilege and honour to accept UEA's offer of a Visiting Professorship. from Ian Rankin
    Ian Rankin
  20. Beyonce dedicates track to Jay-Z as she kicks off world tour

    Beyonce on stage

    Following hot on the heels of Lemonade - the album and short film she released on Saturday - Beyonce kicked off her Formation World Tour in Miami on Wednesday night night - paying tribute to Prince and dedicating a track to her husband Jay-Z. 

    After Lemonade's lyrics sparked intense speculation over the state of her marriage, Beyonce introduced her epic ballad Halo with these words:

    Quote Message: I want to dedicate this song to my family. Thank you for supporting me. I want to dedicate this song to my beautiful husband. I love you so much.

    The singer had teased fans with a backstage video before she took the stage, featuring a glimpse of her and Jay-Z in a golf buggy.  

    View more on instagram

    Beyonce performed several tracks off the new album, telling fans in Marlins Park that All Night was her favourite.

    Instead of performing a Prince hit herself, she turned the giant white cube on stage violet and let Purple Rain play as she exited the stage. 

    "Prince, thank you for your beautiful music," she told the crowd, "He's an artist that inspired all of us." 

    Reviews are still coming in but The Guardian has already given the show five stars, calling it "defiant, victorious and glorious" - and the Miami New Times reckons the singer is now "one step closer to world domination".   

    We'll bring you a little more on this story later on.