Steve Coogan Page 5

Tributes have poured in for Caroline Aherne, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 52, after a long battle with cancer. A TV fixture throughout the nineties, Aherne will be best remembered for her Mrs Merton character and sitcom ‘The Royle Family’, which she starred in and co-wrote with Craig Cash.

Caroline Aherne with Craig Cash, Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnson and Ralf Little in ‘The Royle Family’.

Speaking to The Mirror, Ricky Tomlinson who played her father Jim on ‘The Royle Family’ said: “She was absolutely wonderful and amazing to work for. Kind, funny, witty. A true professional and one of the most generous people I ever worked with.”

Continue reading: Friends And Co-Stars Pay Tribute To Caroline Aherne

British actor and comedian Steve Coogan has been banned from driving for a month after he was caught speeding in Brighton in October last year.

The 50 year old actor, behind comic creations such as Alan Partridge, pleaded guilty to driving at nearly twice the speed limit in the Sussex city on October 14th 2015. He was snapped in his £25,000 Mazda MX-5 SE sports car travelling at 54 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone, according to Sussex Police.

Coogan, thought to be worth approximately £7 million, was not present at the hearing at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (February 24th), but he was represented via his solicitor.

Continue reading: Steve Coogan Hit With Driving Ban After Speeding

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon will be taking to the road again for a third series of ‘The Trip’. This time the pair will sample the cuisine of Spain, taking in Cantabria, the Basque region, Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, and Andalusia. The third series will be shown on Sky Atlantic, with the first two having aired on BBC Two.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are returning for a third series of 'The Trip'.

Brydon confirmed the news on twitter with the comedian announcing, “The Trip is returning, this time to Spain via Sky Atlantic. Shooting in the Autumn. Hurrah!” He later responded to a fan who asked if the new series would follow the same format, by joking, ‘Same format? Same jokes!’

Continue reading: Steven Coogan And Rob Brydon Set For Third Series Of 'The Trip'

British actor Steve Coogan has been cast alongside John C. Reilly in a new biopic about legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Coogan will play Stan Laurel, with Reilly taking the role of his partner Oliver Hardy. The film’s script has been penned by Jeff Pope, who worked with Coogan on Philomena and it will be directed by Filth's Jon S. Baird.

Steve Coogan has been cast as Stan Laurel in a new biopic.

Titled Stan & Ollie, the film will focus on the duo’s 1953 tour of UK variety halls and is described as an "emotional tribute to two of the funniest men in movie history,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. It is being developed by BBC Films and produced by Fable Pictures and Sonesta Films.

Continue reading: Steve Coogan And John C. Reilly To Star In Laurel And Hardy Biopic

The devastating fallout in northern Britain from Storm Desmond over the weekend has even affected the celebrity world, as comedian Steve Coogan mentioned that he had been caught in a landslide while travelling and forced to spend the night in his car.

The 49 year old actor and writer, speaking to ‘BBC Breakfast’ on Tuesday morning (December 8th) about his new autobiography ‘Easily Distracted’, said that he was visiting his hometown of Coniston in Cumbria over the weekend when his car became trapped by a landslide while driving near Thirlmere reservoir, and was stuck there until a friend dug him out the following morning.

Steve Coogan was trapped in his car by a landslide during Storm Desmond

Continue reading: Steve Coogan Forced To Spend Night In Car Having Become Trapped By Landslide During Storm Desmond

Alan Partridge is set to bring his unique presenting style to a special Christmas edition of revived Channel 4 show ‘TFI Friday’. Steve Coogan's comedy creation will join host Chris Evans on December 18th, for what promises to be an unmissable episode of the Friday night chat-show.

Alan Partridge will join Chris Evans for 'TFI Friday’s' Christmas special.

Guests on the night include comedians James Corden, Jack Whitehall and Lee Mack as well as singer Tom Jones. There will also be music from Bryan Adams, Lianne La Havas and Elle King.

Continue reading: A-Ha! Alan Partridge To Co-Host 'TFI Friday' Christmas Special With Chris Evans

British actor and comedian Steve Coogan has replaced the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in the upcoming dramedy pilot Happyish. The untimely death of Hoffman earlier this year left a gaping hole in the movie industry, though - and I think enough time has passed to say this - it also left several high quality parts up for grabs, given the 46-year-old was the greatest of his generation.

Steven Coogan will play Thom Payne in Showtime's 'Happyish'

Hoffman didn't do dud roles and Thom Payne in Happyish was another nugget. It is now down to Coogan to play the 44-year-old guy who begins to feel his age when a 25-year-old kid waltzes in and becomes his new boss. The young, trendy executive knows the industry spiel and Thom is left trying to discover a path to happiness. Nick Venable of Cinema Blend has tipped up Modern Family's Adam DeVine to play the smart-ass boss - and that could be right on the money.

Continue reading: Steve Coogan Can Shine As Philip Seymour Hoffman's Replacement In 'Happyish'

There might still be life in Alan Partridge's media career yet, after creator Steve Coogan told journalists at the BAFTA's that he plans to "do something else" with his most famous character.

Jeff Pope [L] and Steve Coogan [R] With the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay

Coogan, 48, won the BAFTA for best adapted screenplay for Philomena, though insisted he would not be forgetting about North Norfolk's favourite local radio DJ just yet.

Continue reading: After BAFTA Win, Steve Coogan Teases New Alan Partridge Projects

Awards season finally hit London on Sunday night as Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave collected three top awards at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards: Film of the Year, best actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and supporting actress for Lupita Nyong'o. Winners in attendance included McQueen, supporting actor Barkad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Excellence in Film honouree Gary Oldman, and cast and crew of the double winner The Selfish Giant. In addition, Steve Coogan collected Judi Dench's British actress award, while Andy Serkis read out a hilarious message from Cate Blanchett, who won best actress. Have a look over our photos from the event, we have The London Critics' Circle Film Awards Arrivals photos as well as photos of the guest leaving and signing for fans at the end of the night. We also have a full list of London Critics' Circle Film Awards winners, lead by 12 Years a Slave.

The awards ceremony started just a few minutes after it was confirmed that Philip Seymour Hoffman died in New York, and when the announcement was made the audience rose in a spontaneous standing ovation. Over the last few days, the film and theatre communities have been speaking out over Hoffman's untimely death. We have video footage shot as Philip Seymour Hoffman's body is retrieved from his apartment. We also recap his glorious career - Philip Seymour Hoffman's movies list features classic after classic.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: 12 Years Rules London, Stars Mourn Hoffman, New Films From Russia, Macfarlane And Gyllenhaal

BFI figures have shown the UK film industry is celebrating a record breaking year for investment with imput reaching over £1 billion. The investment in British film production from overseas sources has risen by 14% since last year to £1.075bn for 2013, according to The Guardian.

George Clooney filming The Monuments Men in Rye, Sussex

The UK film industry was helped this year by 37 major international productions basing themselves in the UK. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy began its filming in the UK, taking over Millennium Bridge in London last August. Another film which saw some filming take place in Britain was The Monuments Men, a comedy/drama starring George Clooney. This trend of filming in the UK is set to continue with the next Star Wars movie and Avengers: Age of Ultron also choosing to film in Britain.

Continue reading: BFI Investment In British Film Reaches The Billions

Plenty of shows try to push the envelope with their second season; developing new and crazy ideas in a bid to keep the fans hooked to the fresh new take. Not Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s The Trip though, no: that’s the same as before, just in Italy.

The Trip to Italy sees Brydon and Coogan traverse warmer climes than the Lakes

"It's sort of the same as the first one, really,” Coogan explained at the premiere of the show at the Sundance Film Festival (they’ve shoved all six episodes together to make a film, too).

Continue reading: What Every Fan Of 'The Trip' Wanted To Hear: "It's Sort Of The Same As The First"

Rob Brydon has taken to Twitter to give fans of The Trip a welcome announcement; a film version of the second series – which sees the pair travel to Italy instead of England’s lush North – is to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2014, with an episodic TV version to follow.

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan on their Trip to Italy

The Trip to Italy follows the same format as The Trip, with Steve Coogan and Brydon playing themselves, and travelling to various restaurants, doing ridiculous impressions in a constant game of sometimes-light-hearted one-upmanship.

Continue reading: Rob Brydon Announces 'The Trip To Italy' Will Premiere At Sundance 2014

Thanksgiving weekend represents a real mix of genres should you venture out to the pictures. From animated Disney musical action in Frozen, to hyper-violent revenge seeking in Oldboy, there’s truly something for everyone. But what are you going to pick? Well we can start by ruling something out: Oldboy.

Josh Brolin and Samuel L. Jackson in Oldboy

Spike Lee seems to have missed a trick with this remake of the South Korean cult classic, which sees a man trapped for several years without explanation, only for his revenge trip to be colored by further torment. Josh Brolin stars, alongside Samuel L. Jackson, but despite an admittedly impressive cast, the film falls short on many levels.

Continue reading: Tonight In Cinemas: Oldboy, Philomena, Frozen, Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Pick A Winner?

Philomena enjoyed a brilliant critical response in the UK, with special mentions for actors Steve Coogan and Judi Dench for the way they handled the emotive subject matter with grace, dignity and a level of humility, injecting a sensitive level of lightheartedness. But, with the film’s U.S release two days ago, how will it translate to an American audience?

Philomena is out for the Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S

The story, based on real life events, surrounds a journalist’s quest to unite a mother with her lost son. Dench plays Philomena, who fell pregnant at a young age, out of wedlock. The nuns in her Irish-catholic looked upon her situation with disdain, putting her son up for adoption in America.

Continue reading: Will 'Philomena' Translate To U.S Market With Its Thanksgiving Release?

Go big or go home seems to be the motto for Norwich’s lights switch-on. Also Alan Partridge. Really, who wouldn’t want to look at the fictional funnyman’s face in lights every time they go out? Norwich residents certainly don’t seem to mind.

Congratulations to Steve Coogan for receiving what must be the biggest honor given to anyone in showbiz ever.

The massive display was stitched on in front of a crowd of hundreds, by BT Sport frontman Jake Humphrey last night (November 21). It was announced as “the biggest lights switch-on since the 3-day break” by Alan’s friend, Michael, aka Simon Greenhail.

Continue reading: And A Partridge In A....Lights Display? Merry Christmas From Norwich Residents And Their Giant Alan Partridge Christmas Lights!

Don't laugh. We're serious. Stephen Frears' new movie Philomena, based on the investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, could well figure in the behemoth that is the American movie awards season following stunning reviews in its homeland this week.

Watch the Philomena trailer:

It stars Oscar-winner Judi Dench as the title character, a mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock, something her Irish-Catholiccommunity didn't take kindly to. The child was given away for adoption to the United States and Philomena was forced to sign a doctrine promising she would not look for him. Years later, she meets Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a BBC reporter with whom she decides to set off on a journey to find her long-lost son.

Continue reading: BAFTA Bound, But Could 'Philomena' Feature At The Oscars?

Philomena stars Judi Dench as Philomena Lee in the movie adaptation of Martin Sixsmith's 2009 novel The Lost Children of Philomena Lee. Co-starring Steve Coogan as Sixsmith, the film is an emotionally moving and shocking true story that follows Sixsmith's journey to help find Philomena's lost children. Handled masterfully by The Queen director Stephen Frears, the film has been universally praised for its sensitive tone and lighthearted comic relief, with the performances from the two stars also being singled out for wide praise.

Dench and Coogan give an acting masterclass in Philomena

Having just been sacked from his job as a government spin doctor, Sixsmith is sent by his editor to do a "human interest story," an idea he at first resents, until he comes across the elderly Philomena Lee. We and Sixsmith soon discover that Lee was sent to a Catholic home for unmarried mothers in the 1950's, where she gave birth to her son, who she was forced to give up for adoption by the zealous nuns running the home.

Continue reading: Critics Agree, 'Philomena' Is A "Serious" Comedy That Needs To Be Seen

The stars continue to be out in London in the second week of the 57th London Film Festival. Judi Dench and Steve Coogan were on-hand with their new film Philomena, Joseph Gordon-Levitt got the crowd screaming outside the cinema before the screening of his writing-directing debut Don John, and. Click here for Philomena trailer and pics, or here for pics and the trailer for Don Jon and you can browse through our photo gallery of this week's Labor Day premiere in London.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was also at the festival with filmmaker Nicole Holofcener for the UK premiere of their intelligent, offbeat romantic-comedy Enough Said, which features one of the final performances from the late James Gandolfini. It opens in British cinemas this weekend. You can read our Enough Said review here.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Stars Come Out In London, We Get A Glimpse Of The New Jack Ryan, And Keanu Brings Us A Japanese Fantasy

Perhaps it’s testament to the timeless power of Steve Coogan’s character, Alan Partridge, that people can’t stop quoting his most famous catchphrase, but last night, when the actor was on the red carpet for his latest movie Philomena, the ‘Ahas!’ just kept coming.

Watch Dench and Coogan in the trailer for Philomena

Continue reading: Steve Coogan Gets Plenty Of 'Ahas!' At Philomena's BFI Screening

From the 9th October, London will play host to its annual film festival; an event increasingly becoming recognised alongside the likes of Venice, Cannes and Toronto for launching an impressive array of films as the best in world cinema head to Leicester Square to showcase the best filmmaking on the planet.

Tom Hanks Plays Captain Phillips Whose Ship Is Hijacked By Pirates.

Actor Tom Hanks will certainly hold a strong presence at the event, which will run from 9-20th October, with his two films providing the opening and closing movie of the whole festival. Captain Phillips will be the film to kick off the fortnight's celebration of cinema, having also opened the New York Film Festival.

Continue reading: London Film Festival Line-Up Revealed: Are There Any Movies Without Tom Hanks In?

Steve Coogan is known for his seminal character: Alan Partridge. He even mocked the disparity of popularity between his work with a live show entitled ‘Steve Coogan Live - As Alan Partridge And Other Less Successful Characters.'

Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Dame Judy Dench and Stephen Frears at the Venice Film Festival

With such a well-known character, indeed, Partridge is one of the U.K’s most popular comedy creations; it’s difficult to break free of the comedy mould. Especially when you’ve just been all over the big screen in a comedy feature. But Coogan was striving for something more than making people laugh.

Continue reading: The Dramatic Side Of Steve Coogan In 'Philomena'

Ricky Gervais is taking a leaf out of Steve Coogan's book by resurrecting his most famous comic creation for a big screen outing. Following the universal praise and significant success of Alan Partridge's first big screen outing in Alpha Papa, Gervais is planning a big screen trip for his The Office creation David Brent, with movie being just one of many future outings that Gervais has lined up for the cringe-inducing Brent.

Gervais will bring back his David Brent character for a string of new projects

Following the success of his YouTube series 'Learn To Play Guitar With David Brent,' which he launched in May this year, Gervais soon began discussing plans to take Brent on tour following numerous 'six figure' discussions with various record companies to make a Brent album. After initially claiming that the album offers were too little, too late, it now looks as though Gervais will be bringing back Brent for a string of new projects, with the album, tour and movie all expected to arrive in the next few years. Details about what we can expect and when we can expect it have yet to be announced officially, although we can hopefully expect to hear something from Gervais or one of his representative in the near-future.

Continue reading: Ricky Gervais Planning 'David Brent' Film Based On YouTube Series

We're the Millers had a huge premiere in London this week, and stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis and Will Poulter were all over town promoting the film before walking the blue carpet in Leicester Square. It opened in the US last week, and hits Britain next week. Here's a video of Jennifer Aniston leaving Los Angeles for the London premiere. Here we have pictures of Jennifer Aniston braving rainy London for 'We're The Millers' Premiere.

Also in London, Rachel McAdams attended the world premiere of her new movie About Time, about a guy who travels back in time to find himself a girlfriend. She was accompanied by costars Bill Nighy and Domhnall Gleeson, plus filmmaker Richard Curtis, at Somerset House, where the premiere screening was held outdoors. The film opens next month. Click here for pictures from the premiere and the trailer for Richard Curtis' rom-com 'About Time'.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Jennifer Promotes The Millers, Angelina Goes Evil, Coogan Moves Beyond Alan Partridge

Before he went off to the Cinema, paid £9 for a large popcorn, handed over his Odeon card and sat down in his premiere seats, The Inbetweener’s James Buckley admitted to his Twitter followers that he read for a part in Alpha Papa, the film he was off to see that evening.

The Alpha Papa poster

Of course, he didn’t get the part, but he still felt the need to tell us that, which can probably give us some sort of indication as to why they didn’t give him the job.

Continue reading: James Buckley Read For Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa: "I Wasn’t Cast"

The trailer has been released for Philomena, a heart-warming drama with a moving story. Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge) and Dame Judi Dench (Skyfall) will star as the main characters who become unlikely friends in their quest for the truth.

Judi Dench & Steve Coogan In Philomena.

The narrative follows journalist Martin Sixsmith (Coogan); a once political journalist who begins to follow a new line of 'human-interest' enquiry when a stranger who knew he was a reporter approached him and mentioned that she had a friend with a secret family mystery that needed solving. He was led to Philomena Lee (Dench) who had a secret she'd kept tightly locked away for 50 years: she had a son who she'd never told anyone about.

Continue reading: 'Philomena': Steve Coogan & Judi Dench Star In Heart-Warming Drama [Trailer]

This week's big global release is the DreamWorks animated prehistoric comedy-adventure The Croods, led by an all-star vocal cast including Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds. Look for a huge push for must-have spin-off merchandise for this one, as it's packed with cuddly creatures. And hope it does well at the box office, because it would make a great franchise too.

Doing the publicity rounds this week, Gerard Butler has been out promoting his new White House thriller Olympus Has Fallen. Flitting between New York and Los Angeles to appear on every chat show possible, it's no wonder that he was somewhat fed-up by the time he reached David Letterman's Manhattan studio. Of course, the paparazzi caught it on camera as he lost his patience with a fan trying to get multiple autographs. But he manages to recovers his usual charm.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Cage, Stone And Cuddly Creatures In The Croods, Jim Carrey Features In Kick Ass 2 Trailer While New Star Trek Into Darkness Trailer Hits The Web

Gru And The Girls

The Despicable Me 2 trailer is finally here seeing the return of your favourite Despicable Me characters including former supervillain Gru, his beloved foster children and his faithful Minions, as well as some entertaining new additions to the Despicable Me cast.

We got the slightly bizarre teaser over a year ago showing nothing more than the funny yellow aliens that serve Gru (Steve Carell) performing an adorable rendition of The Beach Boys' hit song 'Barbara Ann'; it certainly managed to keep the plot under wraps though it was far from a disappointing introduction into the much anticipated sequel to this Golden Globe nominated flick. Following Gru's evil plot to steal a shrink ray and hijack the moon in the first film, he adopted three young girls named Agnes (Elsie Fisher), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) after taking pity on their misfortune. This time round, it looks like Gru has taken fatherhood in his stride and devious deeds seem to be the last thing he's thinking about, particularly as the eldest girl is getting, well, a little too old for his liking. Just as the prospect of a quiet life looms, however, he is abducted by a feisty agent (Kristen Wiig) from the Anti-Villain League, headed by the pompous Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan) who wish to use him to help save the world from a new evil - and Gru is well up for the challenge!

Continue reading: The Minions Are Back! 'Despicable Me 2' Full Trailer Finally Arrives (Trailer And Pictures)

It's the moment Alan Partridge fans have all been waiting for; the North Norfolks Nights radio presenter is finally hitting the big screen and its producers Canal+ and BBC Films have revealed the first stills and trailer for the new film!

Patridge comes to the big screen this summer!

Continue reading: Alan Partridge Alpha Papa! New Trailer For Coogan Film (Trailer)

The Alan Partridge movie may still be four months away, but here's something to whet your appetite - the first ever teaser trailer, featuring Tim Key and of course, Steve Coogan as Partridge himself. It's been a hard slog for Coogan and writer Armando Iannucci to get Norfolk's favourite radio host to the big screen, and rumours about a potential feature film began in August 2004. At the time, the actor said, "It's always been my plan to make Alan go global. It's what he lives for really, not just doing the show on Radio Norwich." Things got serious one year later, when Coogan's production firm Baby Cow officially announced that the movie was in the pipeline, though a planned plot involving an al-Qaeda siege was scrapped after the London bombings.

Continue reading: Colossal Velocity? Teaser Trailer Arrives For Alan Partridge: The Movie

'The Look of Love' trailer appears to suggest Steve Coogan turns in one of his very best performances, as Paul Raymond, the porn mogul and once the UK's wealthiest man. Michael Winterbottom's new movie, which won acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in January, follows Raymond's rise from mind-reader on Clacton Pier to the 'King of Soho.' Whilst his empire grew, his family life began to suffer, and the trailer for 'The Look of Love' hints at turmoil, scandal and lies.

Winterbottom's movie follows Raymond as he opens new clubs across the entertainment district of London and publishes men's magazines 'Razzle' 'Mayfair' and 'Men's Only,' though things begin to unravel when he embarks on a whirlwind affair with a young star despite being married to Jean, one of his strippers. 

Continue reading: Steve Coogan Stuns As Porn Mogul Paul Raymond In 'The Look Of Love' (Trailer)

The Alan Partridge Movie seems to be taking shape. Footage from an eye witness in Norwich shows the filming taking place, in which a ridiculously slow car chase, involving the big yellow Radio Norwich van driving at about 0.3mph, followed by a legion of police cars. Presumably Lexi.

Reports suggest that the movie will see Alan's radio station, North Norfolk Digital taken over by a giant media conglomerate and renamed Shape. And Partridge fans can sit back and relax in the sweet knowledge that some of the sitcom’s favourite characters, including his PA Lynn, Geordie friend/BP garage worker Michael and rival DJ Dave Clifton, will all return for the feature length version of AP.

Continue reading: Alan Partridge Movie – Slowest Ever Police Chase Filmed In Norwich

Good reviews have been pouring in for Steve Coogan’s turn as the King of Soho Paul Raymond in his new film The Look Of Love followings its airing at the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend. The film is another team-up between Coogan and director Michael Winterbottom, the pair most famously getting together for 2002’s 24 Hour Party People, and alongside a glut of positive acclaim, it’s been picked up by IFC Films for development.

With the success of Coogan’s The Look Of Love, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Don Jon’s Addiction, at the Sundance Film Festival, it really does seem to be the year of porn. We don’t mean that the porn industry is set to release some of the biggest grossing films this year; but with The Look Of Love focusing on the real life smut baron Paul Raymond, founder of adult UK magazines like Esquire and Mayfair, and Don Jon’s Addiction’s main character being addicted to pornography, it’s a subject that’s clearly become fashionable to take on. If those two weren’t enough, then James Franco’s Interior. Leather Bar also screened over the weekend, a movie inspired by rumors that hardcore porn footage had to be cut out of 1980 Al Pacino movie Cruising.

We could look beyond even the Sundance event too, with Paul Schrader’s Lindsay Lohan-starring The Canyons also featuring real life porn star James Deen in its own tale of sexual depravity. Though that film is without a buyer, what is clear is that Coogan’s turn as Raymond is just the tip of the iceberg: 2013 appears to be the year where film makers decide to discuss the fascination with porn.

Continue reading: 2013: The Year Of Porn? Steve Coogan's The Look Of Love Sundance Success Is The Tip Of The Iceberg