Dick Van Dyke

It’s only taken 53 years, but veteran Mary Poppins star Dick Van Dyke has at last offered an apology for what he called “the most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema”.

There were a great deal of fantastical elements in the classic 1964 film, including the titular character’s ability to fly using an umbrella and having a bag that seemingly fit everything in the world into it, but nothing was quite as spectacularly implausible as Van Dyke’s ludicrous cockney accent as he portrayed the loveable chimney-sweep Bert.

The actor and entertainer, now aged 91, was acknowledging the BAFTA Britannia Award For Excellence In Television, which he will be given at a ceremony later this year, and made reference to his iconic role in the Disney favourite in his speech.

Continue reading: Dick Van Dyke Apologises For "Atrocious" Cockney Accent In 'Mary Poppins'

Disney are planning to make a new Mary Poppins film. The upcoming film will not be a remake of the much beloved original but will take place 20 years later when the magical nanny has a new set of children to take care of. Like the original, the film will be set in London.

Julie Andrews starred in the original Mary Poppins. Photographed here at the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival in L.A. in March 2015.

Read More: Disney Announces Mulan Live Action Remake.

Continue reading: Disney Are Making A New ‘Mary Poppins’ Film, Set 20 Years After The Original

It's taken quite a while for a film adaptation of the beloved children's book to appear, perhaps because its title is rather cumbersome: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. But there the full title is on posters (with commas) and across the screen (without them), although it could be argued that the story hasn't been adapted with quite as much reverence.

‘Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’ is based on the book from 1972

Originally published in 1972, the award-winning book by Judith Viorst won a shelf-load of awards. The film adaptation, by first-time screenwriter Ron Lieber, flips the story around: now it's not Alexander who's having such an awful day: he has wished his bad luck on everyone around him instead.

Continue reading: Steve Carell's 'Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' Aims For Family Audiences

Dick Van Dyke was involved in a potentially serious car accident on Sunday (28th August) when his car caught fire. Van Dyke was driving down the 101 freeway in Los Angeles when he was forced to pull over. He remained in the vehicle, with witnesses telling the emergency services that the 87-year-old remained oblivious to his smoking car.

Dick Van Dyke the screening of The Wonder Kid at the 2008 New York Independent Film and Video Festival. 

A number of people placed 911 calls regarding Van Dyke's car, the recordings have been obtained by TMZ, and one caller said "I don't think he's aware it's on fire." Others described the car's condition: "it's smoking but I've just spotted a load of flames underneath it." 

Continue reading: Dick Van Dyke And Wife Joke About Burnt Out Car Following Freeway Fire

Dick Van Dyke has narrowly escaped a serious and, in all probabilities, fatal accident owing to the kindness of a passing stranger. Van Dyke was driving along the 101 freeway in Los Angeles when his Jaguar burst into flame. Admirably, a passer-by named Jason Pennington (according to TMZ) was driving along the same freeway when he saw a car full of smoke on the side of the road, with an elderly man - it later transpired was musical legend Dick Van Dyke- attempting to free himself from the driver's seat.

Dick Van Dyke at the SAG Awards in L.A.

Dramatically, Pennington pulled the 87-year-old actor from the driver's seat just as flames began to enter the car. Thankfully, although Van Dyke was obviously shaken, no damage was done and he did not need to be taken to hospital. As suggested by the L.A. Times it seems Pennington and another passer-by were off-duty nurses who rushed to Van Dyke's aid.

Continue reading: Dick Van Dyke Rescued By Passer-By When Car "Melted"

Dick Van Dyke has a medical problem and needs you to help diagnose it. The legendary actor, 87, was expected to turn up to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Bettering Humanity Through Comedy At New York's 92Y this week, but a representative for the organization confirmed to E! News he would be unable to make it. "Due to a medical condition, Mr. Van Dyke is unable to travel to New York for the program," said the spokeswoman."

The details remained sketchy, until the Diagnosis Murder star took to Twitter to let his fans know the problem. "My head bangs every time I lay down. I've had every test come back that I'm perfectly healthy. Anybody got any ideas?" he tweeted on Wednesday. Van Dyke immediately received a slew of responses from his followers, some of whom worked in the medical industry. The actor elaborated shortly afterwards, saying it's been going on for seven years and that he's had "every test you can think of (CAT Scan, MRI, Spinal tap etc)."

The actor then re-tweeted a question from another followers asking if it feels "like you heartbeat/pulse throbbing in your head," to which he answered, "YES!"

Continue reading: Can Anyone Out There Help Diagnose Dick Van Dyke?

The veteran actor Dick Van Dyke reportedly cancelled a forthcoming appearance in New York, due to fatigue and lack of sleep, apparently stemming from a suspected neurological disorder, New York Post has reported.

Van Dyke appealed to his fans on Twitter to ask for advice. He tweeted “My head bangs every time I lay down. I've had every test come back that I'm perfectly healthy. Anybody got any ideas?" and followed the message up with “It has been going on for 7 years. I've had every test you can think of (CAT Scan, Mri, Spinal tap etc)." One of his Twitter followers suggested that he tried a specialist chiropractor but he simply replied “I don’t believe in them.”

He was supposed to appear at an event at the 92nd Street Y on April 26, in order to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award for Bettering Humanity Through Comedy. A representative for the actor told ET Online “[Dick is being treated from] fatigue and lack of sleep resulting from symptoms of a yet-to-be diagnosed neurological disorder.” The 87 year-old will reportedly be staying close to his home in Malibu, California, for now. Earlier this year, Van Dyke married Arlene Silver, his makeup artist, who is 40 years his younger. 

Continue reading: Dick Van Dyke Appeals To Fans For Advice Over Suspected Neurological Disorder

We've all had that moment; looking at photos of our favourite celebs and then jumping out of our seats screaming, 'He's HOW old?!' Well, we've been doing a lot of that here at ContactMusic. Some stars seem to have crept up the age ladder pretty sneakily, the odd wrinkle and grey hair barely registering on our radar, while others don't seem to have aged at all! English football player David Beckham was in his twenties when he rose to global popularity and, looking at his recent H&M underwear advert, it seems that his iconic hairstyles and tattoos are our only way of working out the old from the newer pictures of him. However, he is only 37 and has plenty of time to catch up yet. It's the over-50s that have really had our mouths agape in recent times as we've been scouring the net for the most youthful looking middle to old aged stars. 

(Anthony Kiedis, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey)

Continue reading: Good Genes Or Good Ops: Which Male Celebrities Don't Show Their Age?