How Gogglebox families were discovered from bridge club to Pete and Sophie’s advert

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief A TIFFCOM seminar on Thursday demonstrated both a sense of incredulity that Japanese animation “Suzume” could have enjoyed such wide international success and conveyed the depth of passionate behind-the-scenes strategizing that made it happen. Since its release in Japan at the end of 2022 and international expansion in spring of 2023, following a Berlin festival competition slot, “Suzume,” a fantasy drama about a girl who helps avert natural disasters, sold more than 47 million tickets worldwide. “And most of those people don’t even speak Japanese,” said the session’s moderator Sudo Tadashi, journalist and professor at the Japan University of Economics. Sunami Kazuki, MD of producer CoMix Wave Films and the Takeda Akihiro, an executive attached to the president’s office at the film’s worldwide distributor Toho, said that “Suzumi’s” success was not a foregone conclusion. Its success was years in the making and based on the growing performance of director Makoto Shinkai’s previous movies as well as growing international understanding of the Japanese anime genre. At the beginning of their collaboration, Shinkai and CoMix had little expectation that Shinkai’s works could appeal to non-Japanese distributors and audiences. But, within Asia at least, fans are tuned in to certain kinds of content from other countries. “We also owe this success to the cumulative impact of Studio Ghibli and ‘Demon Slayer 2’,” said Sunami. Shinkai’s 2013 film “The Garden of Words” was initially a Japan-only theatrical release, but it registered in China after Japanese box office success.

Dorit Kemsley and husband Paul “PK” Kemsley are addressing the recent reports about their marriage.

Kim Kardashian is honorary member of the Spice Girls!

Tara Reid is aware of rumors that she’s suffering from an eating disorder, and she does not appreciate them.

Kendall Jenner is always ready to hit the runway!

Grace Jabbari, who accused Jonathan Majors of assault in March, has also been arrested following rumors that she would be prosecuted.

Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice was reportedly taken by surprise when Amanda Abbington decided to leave the show. Rumours of a disagreement between the two have been swirling, but neither has directly addressed these claims. On Monday, it was announced Amanda had chosen to step down from the competition due to personal reasons following a 'medical issue'.The Mr Selfridge actress also missed the live Saturday show due to ill health but was expected to return.

Sam Esmail, the director of the Netflix post-apocalyptic film Leave the World Behind, spoke to Deadline Wednesday night on the red carpet at the film’s AFI premiere.

discussing the “challenges” of being a single parent on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast. “I think I’m still learning how to be a single parent,” Kardashian, 43, who co-parents her kids North, 10, Saint, 7, Chicago, 5, and Psalm, 4, with her ex-husband Kanye West, 46, said in the episode. “And I just did the Jay Shetty podcast where I spoke about parenting, and I mean, I should be used to it now, but everyone had a lot to say.”Back in May, Kardashian told Shetty that parenting is “really f—king hard” and that there are nights where she cries herself to sleep.

Michaela Zee Cable news went into marathon-coverage mode Wednesday night as the nation was shocked by reports of mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. The shootings occurred at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, the Lewiston Police Department shared on Facebook.

Jaden Thompson Slamdance has announced the winners of its annual screenplay competition, with Mike Ackerman’s feature-length script “This End Up” winning the grand prize. Slamdance announced the awards — recognizing writers across the categories of feature film, horror/thriller, TV pilot, short film and a special mentorship award — during a ceremony held at Los Angeles’s Westwood Landmark Theater on Wednesday night.

sixth and final season of “The Crown” will include a portrayal of Princess Diana’s historic landmine walk in Africa.Netflix released images Wednesday of actress Elizabeth Debicki as the Princess of Wales, embarking on the famous moment when Diana walked across a minefield in Huambo, central Angola.Diana made the trip — just months before her death — to meet with landmine survivors to raise awareness of the work being done to clear landmines worldwide.It was one of her last and most notable acts of service in her lifetime. The Princess died tragically on August 31, 1997.In the new photos, Debicki wears a nearly-exact replica of Diana’s gold earrings, swept blonde hair, protective face mask, and a white collared shirt.

Manchester United are ready to compete with Premier League rivals Tottenham for Uruguay defender Sebastian Caceres next summer - according to reports.

Christian LeBlanc of The Young and the Restless opened up about a real-life cancer diagnosis.

Kyle Richards is addressing all of the headlines.

John Stamos is looking back at reuniting with his Full House cast members at Bob Saget‘s funeral.

Gerard Pique took a tumble while attending an event for his soccer organization.

Jacob Elordi brings Elvis Presley to life in Sofia Coppola‘s new movie Priscilla, but it turns out that he didn’t know much about the King of Rock before he was offered the role.

John Stamos opened up about being arrested for a DUI in 2015 and what he had to do the very next day.

Britney Spears opened up about several troubling paparazzi photos of her with her first son Sean Preston in her memoir The Woman in Me.

Marvel is currently smack dab in the middle of it’s “The Multiverse Saga”!

UPDATE – Lewiston police told NBC news that at least 22 people were dead.  

There’s been much celebratory talk here at the Tokyo Film Festival about a new dawn of internationally-minded Japanese artists led by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Makoto Shinkai, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi. 

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran TV lit agent Barry Kotler is leaving CAA after almost 14 years. According to sources, Kotler plans to launch his own company, which will be focused on media finance.

CAA reminded its staff about its common sense social media policy.

Henry Winkler, now 77, has recounted his struggles with reading his lines on his hit 1970s sitcom Happy Days because of his dyslexia.

SPOILER ALERT! Do not read this if you don’t want to know the identity of The Hawk, the latest contestant to be sent home from The Masked Singer on Fox.

Remember how some folks wouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton because they thought a woman would be too emotionally fragile for the presidency? That woman sat through DAYS of grilling.

What’s your biggest dating horror story? Kristin Cavallari might have you beat!

“I wanted to get over certain issues that I have deep inside and I thought if I could do this, try this [go on Special Forces], maybe I can get over some of the things that I have, like the dark side inside of me. And a lot of it’s about bullying. And I thought, okay, if I could do this show, and they do bully you completely. And, and if I can do this and get over that, maybe I won’t be so hurt, when things happen. Like it will make me stronger. And that’s the reason why I did this show. And in real life. I’m so glad I did it because it really, it didn’t really help me. It made me learn my strength, my mental strength, my inner strength, not necessarily my physical strength. But I learned a lot about myself and and I came back feeling like a better person. I think we all have like a bit darkness inside. Our feelings have been hurt. Family has passed away, you know, just just a lot of things that you hold inside your body.” – Tara Reid via Los Angeles Inquisitor, on why she accepted the offer of going on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test 

Hunter Ingram SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Dressed to Kill,” the Season 3 midseason finale for Syfy/USA Network’s “Chucky.” For the first time in his 35-year history, Chucky is learning that even dolls have a shelf life. In the Season 3, Part 1 finale of Syfy/USA Network’s “Chucky,” the legendary killer doll managed to evade capture yet again –– this time behind the guarded walls of the White House, and under the unwitting protection of the youngest son of the President of the United States (Devon Sawa). But Chucky’s biggest threat isn’t the trio of vengeful teens hot on his tiny heels, nor is it the sinister conspiracy already brewing in the First Residence.

Kyle Richards is seemingly not happy about her estranged husband Mauricio Umansky’s rumored romance with his “Dancing With The Stars” partner Emma Slater. The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star has allegedly reacted to Umansky and Slater’s steamy relationship after feeling disrespected.According to TMZ, Kyle Richards feels disrespected by the photos of her longtime husband, Mauricio Umansky, holding hands with his “Dancing With The Stars” partner Emma Slater. The photos were leaked this week as the “DWTS” duo prepped for a dance that honored Umansky and Richards’ early relationship. However, the sweet dance didn’t seem to be enough for Kyle to forgive and forget.The outlet reports that Umansky told Richards that he and Slater were holding hands because of all of the emotion that he was feeling about opening up to his dancing partner about their routine.

Jennifer Lopez is doing her best Kardashian impersonation with a group of Kylie Jenner’s friends. The Hollywood star has been out and about the last few days, celebrating her recent fashion collaboration with Intimissimi, and having the time of her life in Las Vegas.

Lucero won the public’s hearts with her voice and charisma, quickly becoming one of the television favorites and eventually earning the title “The Bride of America.” She continues to have a successful career. However, none of this would have been possible without the unconditional support and care of her mother, Lucero León, who was always by her side, protecting her in the complex world of show business and paying attention to every detail in her role as a manager.“From day one when I told her, ‘Mom, I want to go into television, I want to be an artist,’ she looked at me with a bewildered expression.

During its iconic 10 years on our screens, Channel 4 telly watching series Gogglebox has delighted fans week after week when its cheeky band of armchair critics have weighed in on the best and worst of British telly. From witty one liners to over the top anecdotes, there’s been no shortage of memorable moments on the show, with several of the families and stars taking part even being propelled into the spotlight to launch careers far beyond their humble beginnings at home in their livings rooms.

Gogglebox fans praised Ellie Warner for “normalising” breastfeeding her baby while featuring in the hit Channel 4 show. Ellie and her sister Izzi, who have starred on the show since 2015, kicked back on their sofa on Friday evening (September29) to catch up on the latest TV when Ellie was seen breastfeeding her baby.The sisters were engaging in a chat about a recent family meal out while the adorable little one was laid across Ellie’s lap. Ellie’s adorable baby Ezra has featured on the show many times since he was born in June.