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Rhea Ripley is thrilled that WWE is heading back to Australia
On May 2, WWE revealed that the Crown Jewel PLE will be held in Perth, Australia, on October 11 with Frdiat Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw on either side. This is the second PLE to take place down under after Elimination Chamber in 2024
and the first time Crown Jewel has taken place outside Saudi Arabia
Crown Jewel has exclusively been hosted in Saudi Arabia
making the announcement a significant milestone for Australia
To promote the show, Ripley and Grayson Waller flew back to their home country and appeared on The Today Show. During the appearance
Ripley stated that the company’s return to Australia was “extremely special”
especially with something as prestigious as WWE
it was the first time that I got to wrestle on Australian soil in seven years
So I’m glad that we can now not only bring another PLE with Crown Jewel Perth
and all the other superstars can experience Australia
and it gets more eyes on Australia and WWE in general
So it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
h/t Fightful
With Crown Jewel heading to Australia, WWE announced that Night of Champions will take place in Saudi Arabia
Rhea Ripley is one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, but her journey to the top hasn’t been without adversity. In a recent interview, the former Women’s Champion opened up about the early struggles in her career, including a point where she nearly walked away from wrestling altogether.
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Of course the AEW wrestler knows he’d be crazy not to jump at a chance to do something with one of the biggest stars in the business today
but has a couple reasons being apart professionally works better for their relationship
so they’ve never worked together as a couple
An answer from Matthews recent interview with Chris Van Vliet may shed some light on why he re-signed with AEW rather than explore a return to WWE
Buddy admitted to Van Vliet that working a different schedule than his wife can be “a bit of a pain in the ass”
“But the good thing about her in WWE and me and AEW and us both being in the business is that I would never want
and if I’m lowered — let’s just say I’m doing enhancement matches or whatever — I don’t want to be like
and I get this and then kind of resent her for the position
but I wouldn’t even want that to be an option
I want her to be able to vent to me without me going
but this is how you play that game.’ I can kind of be that in the back seat
“That was definitely something I thought about at the start
I don’t think there would be anyone from any wrestling company or any part of the world that wouldn’t want to be doing something with Rhea Ripley
Some might say Matthews should just be happy for Ripley’s success regardless of where he works
but I’d say it’s actually very emotionally mature to acknowledge how their being in different positions on the card could impact the relationship
When CVV asked if they make the challenge of being on conflicting schedules work
But she’s also — I get kind of emotional talking about it — I’ve married my best friend
There isn’t anyone that I’d want to spend any more time with
As long as I have her I could be the clown too
Rhea Ripley has been over in her native country of Australia over the past few days following the announcement that Crown Jewel would be heading Down Under on October 11
She was accompanied by fellow Aussie star Grayson Waller
WWE Crown Jewel has traditionally been an event held in the Middle East
but the decision has been made for it to take place in Perth this year instead since Saudi Arabia will host a historic Royal Rumble next year
Following the announcement, Rhea Ripley has been forced to once again bid farewell to her native country as she makes her way back across the pond for WWE RAW tomorrow night
The former Women's World Champion looks to be pushing for a shot at IYO SKY in the coming weeks
but is embroiled in a feud with Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia on RAW at present
which could lead to a tag team match at Backlash this weekend
and it seems that WWE is already prepared for their trip to St
There are several events piling up for WWE ahead of SummerSlam
and potentially Night of Champions in June
SummerSlam has been announced to take place on August 2 and 3
as the show makes history as the first two-night event of its kind
There will then only be a few weeks between premium live events as WWE kicks off another European Tour
leading to Clash in Paris at the end of the month
This means that there will be a lot of traveling for Ripley before she lands in Australia in October and is once again able to have her family around her as one of the featured stars on the card
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Rhea Ripley can’t wait for WWE Crown Jewel
On May 2, it was announced that WWE will return to Australia for shows on October 10
and Crown Jewel: Perth all take place at the RAC Arena
and then Raw on October 13 before the company heads back to the United States
This will mark the first time Crown Jewel has ever been held outside of Saudi Arabia since it was created in 2018
WWE was last in Australia in February 2024 when the company packed more than 50,000 fans into Optus Stadium for Elimination Chamber
During an appearance on Australia’s Today show
Rhea Ripley and Grayson Waller discussed WWE’s upcoming return to the land down under
Ripley said that while Elimination Chamber was an incredible experience
adding Raw and SmackDown to the tour makes things that bit more special
Rhea Ripley was most recently in action on the April 28 edition of Raw
The Aussie star is looking to get back into the World Title picture after tasting defeat at WrestleMania 41 in a Triple Threat Match featuring champion Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair
H/t to Fightful
The legendary Terry Funk once no-showed a major WWE show and gave a famously strange excuse
Dakota Kai has broken her silence after being released by WWE on 2nd May
A WWE Raw regular missed a recent taping after undergoing surgery
A new report has given an insight into the latest round of WWE releases
Becky Lynch wasn't who one WWE Champion was expecting
The Vince McMahon sexual abuse scandal has taken another twist
"Timeless" Toni Storm delivered a rousing speech on AEW Collision celebrating her adoring public
Rhea Ripley reflects on this title bout as one of her favorite matches
A few weeks ago at WrestleMania 41, Rhea Ripley faced off against Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky for the women’s championship
Iyo Sky came out victorious in the triple threat bout as all three women showcased one of the best WrestleMania matches of all time
During an interview with The Amin Show promoting WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel PLE in Australia later this year
Rhea Ripley opened up on her WrestleMania 41 title bout and named it as one of her favorite matches
she claimed that her history with her Sky and Belair helped them put forward such a stellar match
it’s wild to hear that come from CM Punk
I knew that us three would go out there and absolutely kill it
it’s a nice feeling that they think the same
and we’re three of the best in the women’s division
we’re gonna go absolutely balls to the wall
“It’s been put over as a five-star match for a reason
and it’s probably one of my favorite matches now as well
so you couldn’t really expect anything else.”
H/t Fightful
The match was highly praised and even received a five-star rating from wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer
Recently, during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin named his favorite matches from WrestleMania 41
Austin also included two other high-profile matches from the PLE in his list
“That was one of my favorite matches of the entire two days
About 30 minutes before (seeing IYO backstage)
I saw Bianca Belair and I told her the same
Those three women are badasses to begin with
In other news: Grayson Waller has opened up on his problem with Austin Theory.
Fifteen-year Ripley baseball coach Joel Gafford has died, the school announced on the X platform on May 5
Gafford died a day prior to the school's announcement
"In our grief over losing coach Joel Gafford
our community has shown up with love and strength," the Ripley High School social media post said
youth director and friend who stood beside us this morning – thank you
began his tenure at Ripley after being hired in 2010 when he was 25 years old
He had a 254-139 overall record with the program and appeared in three North State title games
He led Ripley to the MHSAA Class 4A state final in 2024, where the Tigers lost to Sumrall in a three-game series
The trip to Trustmark Park was Ripley's first baseball championship game appearance in 32 years
Ripley ended the 2025 season 11-12 and fell to Newton County in the first round of the MHSAA 4A playoffs
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez
Kostas Lianos
Digital Sports ReporterPublished: Invalid Date
WWE superstar Rhea Ripley has taken social media by storm with a glam snap in just her underwear
Ripley, 28, is gearing up for WrestleMania 41 this coming weekend at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
The Aussie bruiser will challenge for the Women's World Championship against Bianca Belair and titleholder IYO SKY in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania
And Mami treated her thousands of followers with a pre-Mania snap as she posed in a tiny ensemble
Ripley posted: "One week [until] WrestleMania."
The outfits left very little to the imagination as it showed off her athletic physique
The three-time women's champion's followers were left in awe as they stormed the comments' section
One WWE fan tweeted: "I would give her my soul if she asked me to."
Another commented: "Well dayum."
This fan said: "IN MAMI WE TRUST."
And that one gushed: "Lord have mercy."
Ripley lost the Women's World Championship to SKY heading to WrestleMania
The Eradicator's rematch came to a controversial ending and she was thus added to the bout at the Show of Shows that also includes Belair
who won the Women's Elimination Chamber Match
Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/
Anyone who closely follows the WWE knows that Rhea Ripley can look menacing and beautiful at the same time
There's something special when "Mami" makes her entrance on WWE shows
slamming her left foot down as an exclamation point
She headed over to her Instagram account on Monday
The WWE Australia account on Instagram also shared her photos
She and fellow WWE wrestler Grayson Waller have been doing media promotion for an upcoming WWE PLE (Premier Live Event) titled Crown Jewel: Perth
Both Ripley and Waller are native Australians
so sending them back home to perk up their fans' interest down under makes a lot of sense
Crown Jewel: Perth is set to take place on October 11 at RAC Arena
WWE also will take advantage of the arena for episodes of Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw
Fans will expect to see Ripley and Waller make appearances while these events take place
Look for Ripley to get plenty of applause and screams of support from them
Joe is a freelance writer with The Sporting News
He has four decades of experience in the communications industry as a writer and editor
His work has appeared on major digital platforms like The Good Men Project
He has written extensively in the sports and entertainment worlds
Pictured are firefighters from Versailles working at the scene of an accident that occurred just off US 50 on Thursday
Versailles Fire Department responded to vehicle accident that had caught on fire on US 50 east of the Versailles State Park
The vehicle was heading westbound on US 50 and struck a guard rail
Traffic was stopped both ways for clean-up of the accident
The VFD was on the scene with Ripley County EMS
Working the scene was Master Trooper Kyle Stovall
who witnessed the accident driving eastbound on US 50
Stovall told the Osgood Journal that Childers had an outstanding warrant out of Dearborn County
Childers was arrested at the scene and transported to Dearborn County jail
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Joel Gafford was head baseball coach at Ripley for 15 seasons
who was Ripley High School’s head baseball coach the past 15 years
You don’t want to believe it,” said Curt Fowler
who coached Gafford at New Albany High School
I saw them last night over at Joel’s mom and daddy’s house
it’s such a loss for the community up here in Ripley.”
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Reading"Pavel Ripley’s creative..."
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Pavel Ripley is one of those creatives who has a bit of a hand in everything
designer and art director is currently based in Portugal and works across a variety of visual endeavours in art and design
Day-to-day he is one half of the multidisciplinary design studio Odd Works
There’s an intuitiveness to his daily collages of colour but also a resourcefulness too. One of Pavel’s main sources of pattern and texture come from recycled materials, which come together to create what he calls ‘garbage art’
A recurring focus of his compositions is “microscopic imagery
This image making process takes tips from Chris Ashworth’s raw print aesthetics and Han Gao’s conceptual experiments at Workbyworks studio
his work relies on “controlled randomness” and an embracing of “unpredictability and analogue imperfection”
Pavel Ripley: Grids and Guides sketchbook spread (Copyright © Pavel Ripley
Pavel Ripley: Moleskine sketchbook (Copyright © Pavel Ripley
Further Infoinstagram.com/pavelripley
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Ellis Tree (she/her) joined It’s Nice That as a junior writer in April 2024 after graduating from Kingston School of Art with a degree in Graphic Design
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physicality-led practice reminds its audience of the person behind the piece
Graphic designer and illustrator Chantal Jahchan took the New York Nicer Tuesdays audience behind the scenes of her intricate and imaginative editorial illustration work
Walking us through the creation of her cover for The New York Times Book Review
the designer revealed the research-led approach that creates her signature photo collages
The result of a bizarre obsession with this red member of the chicory family
the publication is a photographic and material study of the striking plant
candles and cups all fall into place in Anjali Kamat’s playful analogue scenes
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Next month’s Nicer Tuesdays is sure to give you creative bunch a spring in your step with awe inspiring talks from: a design agency that’s building evolving brands
a sculptor reclaiming colonial design trends from the 18th century
a 3D design studio whose animation style capitalises on all things camp
and a photographer exploring their Peruvian roots through the lens
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the artist’s project is a testament to what happens when we treat creativity as something as intrinsic as eating breakfast or brushing our teeth
the artist’s soft and slow animations hit just the right note of nostalgia
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The Japanese graphic artist uses space and shape to conduct scenes that feel spiky
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Creative director of the international branding agency and self-professed motion addict Liza Enebeis took to the London Nicer Tuesdays stage to talk us through the process of curating DEMO; what feeds the festival year on year; and how motion design can truly transform public space
instagram.com/pavelripley
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There’s an intuitiveness to his daily collages of colour but also a resourcefulness too. One of Pavel’s main sources of pattern and texture come from recycled materials, which come together to create what he calls ‘garbage art’
The designer’s daily sketchbook pages inform a resourceful and abstract approach to making art on and off screen
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on the market for the first time in 700 years Spanning more than 400 acres
numerous sporting areas and picturesque ornamental gardens
The Ripley Castle Estate is available through Christie’s International Real Estate
Left: The Castle Hall; Right: A formal living room
Left: One of the United Kingdom’s best armorial stained-glass windows can be seen from the grand staircase; Right: The Tower Room features an oak floor which was originally part of the deck of the HMS Rose
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the Ingilby family announced that the Ripley Castle Estate would be sold after more than 700 years
said they had the "full support" of their family
The full estate is currently on the market
And the starting price has been revealed as £21m
This has been split into lots by property experts Rightmove:
The building is listed online as a 14th Century Grade l listed building
depicting three different styles of architecture in which the castle was constructed over a period of almost 500 years
Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby announced that have already moved to a 5-bedroom Georgian home
A previous statement on behalf of the owners read:
"The family will continue to live nearby and focus on other interests
"Most of the Estates enterprises will continue to trade as normal and our valued clients employees and tenants will be advised at the earliest opportunity of any changes to this plan."
The Ripley Castle Estate has been home to many community events over the years including lakeside concerts
classic car rallies and the Ripley Agricultural Show
The estate is being listed with Carter Jones
To find out more, you can visit the Carter Jones website here
Etienne Fermie
Sports reporter in LondonPublished: Invalid Date
RHEA RIPLEY agreed to ADOPT a grown man during an unusual signing session
The Aussie, 28, has been in high demand this week ahead of WrestleMania 41
In the lead-up to the weekend's action in Las Vegas
Ripley took part in an autograph session with fans
one fan presented the Eradicator with an adoption certificate
They said: "I’ve been waiting for this since last WrestleMania
"It took me months to get this — can you sign this to be my new Mami?"
She replied: "It’s a first - really? Okay!"
The overwhelmed fan then exclaimed: "Can I get a hug? Thank you, Mami!"
Finding the whole episode amusing, Ripley whipped her phone out to take a picture of the certificate.
Ripley is married to AEW star Buddy Matthews
Seeing his wife's "strange" interaction
Matthews posted: "He’s old enough that if he breaks the law it falls on him and not us
– now we have a son to look after us when we are old."
The affable Aussie will take part in a Triple Threat match for the Women's World Championship
The contest will see Ripley do battle with Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair
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Manderley Press has appointed Ed Ripley as sales and marketing director, working alongside founder Rebeka Russell
working across both adult and children’s sales
Ripley was also UK sales director for Murdoch Books
Ripley will develop and enhance the sales and marketing strategy at Manderley Press
His focus will be on "cementing strong relationships with indie and chain bookshops across the UK and Ireland
and implementing innovative marketing strategies to drive sales across the entire list"
and the publisher finds forgotten books that were inspired by a building
and "brings those lost titles back to life for a contemporary audience"
He said: "I am very happy to be working with Rebeka at Manderley Press on a list of beautiful books which have a clear and proven commercial appeal."
Russell said: “Ed’s appointment as sales and marketing director marks a significant milestone in the evolution of our company
He brings with him a wealth of skills and experience from some of the leading independent publishers in the UK and is the perfect match for our list."
‘The Queen’ sat down with Standard Sport as she prepares for her eighth WrestleMania appearance
Sport
WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair has quite the resume at WrestleMania
Since 2016, Flair has only missed WWE’s annual flagship event twice - one because of COVID and the other due to a serious knee injury - but there's no questioning the quality and importance of her matches
From breaking Asuka's undefeated streak at WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas to making history at WrestleMania 35 with Becky Lynch and 'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey
Standard Sport sat down with Flair during WWE's recent European tour on the road to the big event in Las Vegas and she reflected on her WrestleMania legacy
"I genuinely think every opponent that I've ever had brings out a different side to me," Flair said when asked what her favourite WrestleMania match is
"You could say WrestleMania 32 because I became the inaugural RAW Women's Champion
"You could say WrestleMania 34 because iron sharpens iron against Asuka
To know what Asuka has done and what she means to the industry and that match
and being the first singles match since Mickie [James] and Trish [Stratus] (at WrestleMania 22)
I think that was a pivotal moment for my character
first ever Women's main event (vs Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey)
Read more: Charlotte Flair exclusive on overcoming career-threatening injury
"Then you have when I won the nxt Women's Championship, made history becoming a two-time NXT Women's Champion, that was also a turning point for how big NXT had become and to be apart of that moment.
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"And then stealing the show with Rhea Ripley at [WrestleMania] 39."
"Ronda Rousey at 38. She is someone who I very much respect for what she's done and what she means to women in sports," Flair added. “So to beat her and be across from her, that was also a moment.
"Every match means something to me in my career."
Flair made her comeback from injury at Royal Rumble 2025, outlasting 29 other women to guarantee herself a WWE Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 41 where she will challenge rising star Tiffany Stratton on Saturday.
For the first time ever, WrestleMania 41 will air live on Netflix. Viewers in the UK can tune in on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20.
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Today's episode of WWE Monday Night Raw (April 28, 2025) emanates out of the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri and will air starting at 8 p.m. EST on Netflix.
This post will be updated frequently throughout the program (for however long the show goes on). As Raw goes on, keep refreshing this post to get the most up-to-date information on all the match winners, breakdowns of the promo segments, and anything else noteworthy or interesting that takes place.
On tap for tonight's episode, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce won't be there to hold down the fort. Instead, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis will be stepping in. However, Pearce announced on social media some of the lineup, mostly revolving around promos. This is to be expected, as WWE is starting a new season of storylines following WrestleMania 41.
Logan Paul is set to make an appearance. His feud with AJ Styles will either continue, or he'll just be there to move on to someone else while Styles has his issues with Karrion Kross.
Pat McAfee is going to talk about how Gunther went after himself and Michael Cole last week, leading to The Ring General's suspension.
Becky Lynch will cut a promo about her heel turn and explain why she attacked Lyra Valkyria after they lost the Women's Tag Team Championship last week.
Lastly on the promo side of the announcements, we'll hear from Paul Heyman's faction of Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker. Hopefully, we'll get a team name, and there's always a chance someone new is recruited to this new Dangerous Alliance or whatever they call themselves.
The one and only match announced in advance is Rhea Ripley against Roxanne Perez. This came about as a result of Perez and Giulia attacking Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer until Ripley made the save. Expect to see all of those parties involved, or at least Giulia, though even if Vaquer isn't in the house, Sky should at least be. This could very well turn into a tag team match with Ripley and Sky against Perez and Giulia either tonight or for it to be set up for next week.
What do you think of this episode of WWE Raw? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Will Sky overcome the odds to retain her title
Will "The EST" Belair reclaim her spot as the top women's singles wrestler
Or will Ripley prove it is her time with another impactful victory
All these questions will be answered at WrestleMania 41. Until then, DAZN News analyzes who has the edge heading into their Triple Threat match
One would be hard-pressed to find weak spots in the wrestling styles of Iyo Sky
Each Superstar has carved out a distinct style whether it is aerial exploits of Sky
the packaged power and athleticism of Belair
All three have been Women’s World Champion before as well
with each showing the willingness to take risks when deemed necessary
If there is the slightest push in anyone’s favor
Remember that a ringside commotion between Belair and Ripley
empowered Sky to shock Ripley to become the new Women’s World Champion in early March
Belair as a special guest referee ruled it a double disqualification after being unintentionally wiped out by both Ripley and Sky
Perhaps it is Belair with the thin edge here simply because she is the freshest Superstar out of the three and the one who has given up the least of her strategy heading into this Triple Threat
She is not called “The Genius of the Sky” for nothing
Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky takes to the sky arguably as great as some of the best aerial artists in WWE history
can go sky high for some aerial exploits of her own
breathtaking spots from the champ under the brightest lights of WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas
The checklist of qualities that makes Belair “The EST” include her being the strongest in addition to the fastest
Whether it is hoisting a 330-pound Otis onto her shoulders
Belair has shown the WWE Universe her feats of strength many times over
Just like we should expect a memorable aerial display from Sky
we have come to expect an awe-inspiring power surge from Belair
The ruthless aggression of “The Eradicator” does not have any limits
especially when she rightfully feels like she has been burned twice
After rebounding from injury to defeat Liv Morgan and regain the Women’s World Championship
Ripley’s words with Belair ringside gave Sky the opportune moment to seize the title
she was once again screwed out of the title when a double DQ call from special guest ref Belair squandered her chances to regain the Championship
If there is anyone whose mental anguish can power her to victory
it is Belair with the slight edge over Sky and Ripley
After spending a considerable amount of time tag-teaming with Jade Cargill
“The EST” could take back her place as the Women’s World Champion with another memorable WrestleMania moment on “The Grandest Stage of Them All.”
And who deserves to be lightning-bolted for bad behaviour
Here are Guardian readers’ best shows of the year
This truly felt like a labour of love and for me surpasses both the source material and the previous film adaptation
It also helps that for the first two episodes I didn’t realise I had subtitles turned off
so thought it was an intentional decision to avoid translating the Italian
It’s a testament to the quality of the show that I didn’t question that
View image in fullscreenSo refreshing … Kristen Bell and Adam Brody in Nobody Wants This
Photograph: Stefania Rosini/AP(Netflix) Every character is perfect
the script is delicious and the story so compelling and watchable that I didn’t want it to end
The chemistry between Bell and Brody is magical; I believe I watched them fall in love
It was refreshing to watch what felt like a real
with relatable issues and important conversations
It was particularly refreshing to watch a man step up when a woman needs him to
I hope there’s a second series because these characters and relationships deserve more exploration and development
View image in fullscreenSmart and suspenseful … Eddie Redmayne in The Day of the Jackal. Photograph: Marcell Piti/AP(Peacock) The Day of the Jackal with Eddie Redmayne is smart and suspenseful
My wife and I couldn’t help rooting for him in spite of the collateral damage of innocents
We loved that his antagonist was a woman and she certainly held her own on screen
Trying to balance her home life and work life as the tracker of a highly specialised international assassin could have fallen into other stereotypes in films
I hope there’s a lightning bolt headed the way of the people who decided to axe it after just one season
(Prime Video) I love this show and anyone paying attention knows that it’s a masterpiece
I actually started my Tolkien journey with season one in 2022
The original trilogy never appealed to me as they felt like action movies
The amount of art they produce in this show is overwhelming
you’ll know that the show is truly a love letter to Tolkien
I can’t wait to see more of what McKay and Payne have cooked up for us
View image in fullscreenInspiring and beautiful … Living Every Second: The Kris Hallenga Story
Photograph: Neil Bonner/BBC/October Films(BBC Two/iPlayer) After a terminal diagnosis
what a life Kris Hallenga had; a living “fun-eral”; a death of her choosing; a joyous memorial
Both Kris and her twin sister Maren are still saving lives
(BBC Two) This series is so good it might actually be a second series that’s better than the first
with a huge slap of biting social commentary
Amazing performances all round (including a cameo from Bolton Museum)
Lin reading her prize-winning poem Never Give a Hamster Matches
View image in fullscreenAdded so much … Ella Purnell in Fallout
Photograph: AP(Prime Video) I initially ignored it when it first debuted
thinking it would be a disappointing adaptation of the video game franchise
Then I got a text out of the blue from my ex-girlfriend
who always enjoyed watching me play the games on Xbox so many years ago
because it wasn’t only faithful to the original games
(BBC Two) It has to be Solar System with Brian Cox for his wonderfully clear explanations of mindblowingly complex science
It reawakened in me the fascination with space from my childhood
And in a time of democratic backsliding and huge spanners in the works against fighting climate breakdown
it was almost reassuring to put into perspective how tiny we are in the universe
but also to remember that we need to care for our planet
View image in fullscreenDark undercurrent … Ludwig
Photograph: Colin Hutton/BBC/Big Talk(BBC One/iPlayer) I loved Ludwig
It’s funny and entertaining on the surface
with a dark undercurrent running through the series
I’m so pleased it’s been commissioned for a second series
While it may not be serious and thought-provoking
Each episode brought new surprises and it didn’t fall into a lull
A real cut above the average Netflix series
(Apple TV+) Slow Horses, by a country mile. Mick Herron’s brilliant spy books have been given the adaptation they deserve with a never-better Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas leading the top class cast
Imagine John le Carré with a sense of humour
The 14-century country house is currently on the market for £21million - the first time it has been listed in 700 years
Current owners Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby have already downsized to a five-bedroom house in the village
And among the celebrities rumoured to be interested are US President Donald Trump
“Donald Trump has been rumoured but I thought he was quite busy - but now that he’s actually in office
“There’s a helipad… Come and have a look!”
“My granddaughter’s favourite [rumour] is Taylor Swift
I love Taylor Swift so I’d be very happy with that.”
“She’d make an excellent neighbour!”
To find out more, visit the Carter Jones website here.
Australian superstar Rhea Ripley speaks to Wide World of Sports after her incredible match at WrestleMania 41.
This month's market is packed full of local and speciality producers
Positioned at the heart of the estate in Ripley Castle Courtyard
the market also offers visitors free access to the grounds and gardens
Over 40 talented traders will be filling the Castle Courtyard offering Yorkshire produce and local talent
and goodies for the home and garden.
Each market supports a local community initiative or charity – and March’s charity guests are Harrogate Cat Rescue
There is also musical entertainment from highly talented foot-tapping Yorkshire-based duo The Folkstrings
“These markets really bring Ripley to life and it’s wonderful to see the historic courtyard full of artisans and talented producers.
on these market days the Castle’s Gardens and Grounds will be free to enter
and don’t forget that dogs are welcome too.”
“We’re looking forward to offering a wonderful family day out this Sunday.
“What better way to treat your mum like royalty than a visit to Ripley Castle.”
The team at Real Markets run monthly and special event markets in various locations in Yorkshire including Ilkley
As well as supporting local and speciality producers
they also give regularly to support community initiatives in market areas (most recently Ripley Endowed CofE Primary School
Packed full of local and speciality producers
the free-to-attend market is back on Sunday (23rd February).
Positioned in the stunning Ripley Castle Courtyard
it offers visitors free access to the grounds and gardens on market day too
The grounds of Ripley Castle will play host to over 40 talented traders showcasing Yorkshire talent and produce.
Visitors can expect stalls ranging from artists and jewellers to cheesemongers
plus each market supports a local community initiative or charity
February’s charity guests are Harrogate Cat Rescue
Despite Ripley Castle Estate being for sale
are continuing to welcome and support the monthly market
“We are so pleased to be able to welcome Real Markets back to Ripley Castle - not just because we love having all the delicious produce (and treats!) on our doorstep
but these markets really bring Ripley to life and it’s wonderful to see the historic courtyard full of artisans and talented producers.
“We feel so lucky that we get to host a monthly market at such a magnificent venue.
“Our traders have been keen to return this year as the market has built up an incredibly loyal following.
“This event not only benefits the local community but helps independent producers and makers continue to thrive.
“We can’t wait to be back at Ripley Castle!”
CGI of an example of the homes in the Allium Park development
The Allium Park housing development of more than 500 homes in Ripley is now well under way
with the builders declaring that the first homes for sale will be released on to the market early this year
Detailed plans for the first phase of 220 homes were approved by Guildford Borough Council in June 2022
Outline planning permission is in place for a further 300 properties
say the development “will make an important contribution to the supply of new housing in the Guildford borough.”
As part of the planning agreement for Allium Park
Vistry will be providing around £11 million in funding for local infrastructure and services
The company says: “This will include contributions towards public transport
as well as the provision of natural green space
the redevelopment of Ripley Village Hall and a new sports pavilion at Send Recreation Ground.”
Phase one is taking shape on the southern part of the wider site
There will be six travelling show people plots and an 81 square metre community facility
Among the critics of the Allium Park development is Guildford borough councillor Patrick Oven
He said: “The planned development was on the basis that it was an ‘extended neighbourhood’ – that is
is that it is a mile and a half from Ripley and a little less from Send
“It is in fact part of the ‘extended neighbourhood’ of Burnt Common – which merely has a petrol station with a mini-mart attached
The reality is that residents will need to use their cars to travel to either of the villages or further afield
The only infrastructure being provided on site is a small 81 square metre ‘community facility’ – which was not initially included in the plans but added later.”
He continued: “The inclusion of travelling show people’s plots in the development has mystified local people as to why this location is considered appropriate for them
They are proposed to be sited on the extreme edge of the development
The proposed site floods regularly and indeed has been under water twice in recent weeks
which is a single track lane for most of its length and incapable of being widened
That too floods whenever the field next to it does
At present the lane merely provides access to a few homes.”
Cllr Oven added: “It is of course welcome that substantial provision by way of section 106 payments are proposed to be made towards local infrastructure that will be needed for these new homes and their residents.”
the company said: “The 220 homes (in phase one) will comprise 37 properties for private sale under the Countryside Homes brand
featuring a mix of two to five-bedroom houses
There will also be 172 homes for affordable rent
shared ownership and private rent available through other housing providers
there will be 197 hedgehog highways and 111 electric vehicle charging points
A car club will be introduced for residents
with Vistry paying for each household to have free membership of the scheme for three years.”
regional sales director at Countryside Homes
said the majority of homes in the first phase would be available through a variety of rental and shared ownership schemes
providing opportunities for local people who are unable to purchase on the open market
The company says the development has been designed to support sustainable ways of living
with the homes featuring solar panels and charging points for electric vehicles
A statement said: “The company’s financial contribution towards green open space and measures such as the inclusion of hedgehog highways to allow the animals to roam freely between gardens will also bring ecological benefits.”
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"
A group of people walking in a park Description automatically generated A group of people sitting on grass in front of a castle Description automatically generated
Real Markets’ monthly markets return to Ripley Castle from Sunday 23 February 2025
beautifully positioned in the stunning Ripley Castle Courtyard
it offers visitors free access to visit the grounds and gardens on market day too
the Ingilby family who own the Estate are continuing to welcome and support the monthly market
which has become an incredibly popular monthly attraction
We are so pleased to be able to welcome Real Markets back to Ripley Castle – not just because we love having all the delicious produce (and treats!) on our doorstep
but these markets really bring Ripley to life and it’s wonderful to see the historic courtyard full of artisans and talented producers
on these market days the Castle’s Gardens and Grounds will be free to enter
and don’t forget that dogs are welcome too
We feel so lucky that we get to host a monthly market at such a magnificent venue
Our traders have been keen to return this year as the market has built up an incredibly loyal following
This event not only benefits the local community but helps independent producers and makers continue to thrive
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
© Harrogate Informer 2025 - All rights reserved
adding a distinctly Apple-flavoured camera module and camera button to the mix
making it look more like an iPhone than any other handset I’ve tested to date
I’m not a big fan of brands copying Apple instead of developing their own identity
especially when the phone behind the costume is this good
Strip away the Apple aesthetic from this particular handset
and you’re still left with a powerful
long-lasting phone that has a sharp main camera and the best software support in its price range.
The Honor 400 Lite is a force to be reckoned with in the budget space
so why is it trying so hard to be something it’s not
some things have remained the same but Honor has also made a handful of small
The display is once again a 6.7in AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,412
although the refresh rate has been bumped up from 90Hz to 120Hz
The Mediatek Dimensity 7025 Ultra processor is marginally more powerful than the 200 Lite’s Dimensity 6080 chipset (clocked at up to 2.5GHz
as opposed to 2.4GHz) and this is once again paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space
but charging remains at the same 35W as last year and there’s no charger included in the box
the 200 Lite’s 108-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel ultrawide camera return but the 2-megapixel macro camera has been dropped and the selfie camera has been downgraded from a 50-megapixel sensor to 16-megapixels
Plus there’s that new camera control button low on the right-hand edge
the Honor 400 Lite is £30 cheaper than the Honor 200 Lite – a price reduction
down from its original price of £339
The Nothing Phone (3a) is a little more, starting at £329
I’d strongly recommend choosing that over any of the former options
faster charging and longer software support
The slim and lightweight build was something that I really appreciated in the Honor 200 Lite
so it’s great to see the same design ethos employed here
The 400 Lite is a little thicker (7.3mm up from 6.8mm) and heavier (171g vs 166g) but is otherwise a dead ringer for its predecessor
It still measures 75 x 161mm (W x H) and is again primarily composed of plastic
One important change this year is that the 400 Lite now has an official IP65 rating
certifying it as dustproof and able to withstand low-pressure water jets from any direction
The 200 Lite had no official IP rating at all
there are only a couple design differences of note: there are two new colours
with a light grey and aqua green joining the standard black that I was sent for review
and the camera module has been completely overhauled
Gone is the 200 Lite’s bland rectangle unit, replaced here with a rounded square topped by a rounded triangle. It’s undeniably iPhone-coded in its aesthetic, and even somewhat deviously attempts to convey the impression that it has three rear cameras, like the iPhone 16 Pro
the third housing contains the LED flash.
The other big step in the iPhoneification of this phone is the camera button
which is in the exact same place as the iPhone’s and performs largely the same functions
Considering the iPhone’s positioning doesn’t feel optimal to begin with
it would have been great if Honor applied some critical thinking to the execution instead of blindly copying Apple’s homework.
the Honor 400 Lite launches with Android 15 on board and is promised a fantastic six years of both OS updates and security patches
There are still some issues with the MagicOS launcher that I don’t like – such as the lack of an app drawer as standard – but that extensive support goes a long way to taking the sting out of such issues
and it helps to make everything feel silky smooth when scrolling through menus
reaching a strong 768cd/m2 on manual brightness and topping out at 1,148cd/m2 in adaptive mode with a torch shining on the light sensor
let alone one costing under £300.
As far as the colour presentation of this screen goes
there are two profiles to choose from: Vivid dials up the saturation to make your games and movies pop
while Natural aims for authentic reproduction of the sRGB space
I recorded a gamut coverage of 96.5% with a volume of 97.7%
The average Delta E colour error score came back at 1.42
which is a little off the target value of 1 or under but is still a massive improvement over the Honor 200 Lite’s 2.02
The Honor 400 Lite’s octa-core 2.5GHz Mediatek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset may only be marginally faster than the Honor 200 Lite’s chipset on paper
but it showed a decent uptick in performance in testing
the 400 Lite scored 25% better than its predecessor in the single-core part of the test
and was 20% better in the multi-core element
We don’t see the same kind of leaps on the gaming front
with the 400 Lite joining its older sibling firmly at the rear of the pack
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is only a little bit better but you need only look at the Nothing Phone (3a) to see what kind of gaming performance you can get for a bit more money
And despite having a significantly larger battery than last year
the Honor 400 Lite only lasted around an hour longer than the 200 Lite in our looping video test
That’s still an excellent result for such a cheap phone
and only the Herculean efforts of the Nothing Phone (3a) beat it here.
Once depleted, the 35W charging brought the battery back to 50% in 32 minutes, with a full charge taking around 1hr 15mins. That’s a fair way off the fastest charging phones but for a handset this cheap
the new camera button is a decent enough addition
but I still found myself using the on-screen controls more often than not during testing
Tapping once opens the camera app and tapping again takes a photo
You can also apply slight pressure to the button to lock the focus before capturing your shot
tap and hold to start recording video or slide your finger along it to zoom in and out
I found the latter function a little hit and miss in practice
as it didn’t always register when I was sliding my finger along it
my finger caught the sensor by accident and made the camera erroneously zoom
The good news is that Honor has at least included settings to disable the camera button functions you don’t want.
When I was done playing around with the camera button
the 108-megapixel (f/1.8) main camera proved as adept as it was last year
capturing bright and detailed images in good lighting
There’s no stabilisation but you do at least have PDAF (phase detect autofocus) to help you quickly lock onto your focal subject
You feel the lack of stabilisation a little with night shots
The night mode takes quite a while to capture the image – roughly four seconds – and the resultant hand shaking can leave images a little blurred
it captures pretty decent low-light shots with reasonable brightness and vibrant colours.
In my Honor 200 Lite review
I argued for the removal of the 2-megapixel macro camera
but combining the addition of a dedicated camera button with the stripping back of available cameras feels a little odd.
It’s not that I miss that macro camera
it’s just that the button feels largely unnecessary when your camera experience is so streamlined
With just the main camera (that doesn’t zoom past 10x anyway) and the ultrawide to utilise
was a dedicated camera button really necessary
The 5-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide shoulders the burden of being the only additional camera well enough
with a colour tone that’s roughly in line with the main camera
but the images produced are quite washed out
though: it’s still stuck at the bare minimum 1080p/30fps
with (again) no stabilisation of which to speak
The selfie camera has been downgraded from last year
dropping from a 50-megapixel unit to a 16-megapixel (f/2.2) one
Focus is still reasonably sharp and skin tones look natural but you can see the lower pixel count in the smoothing out of facial details.
Performance and battery life are better than last year, the main camera is still a decent shooter, its IP65 rating means it’s more robust and that new 120Hz display makes everything feel lovely and smooth in use. Plus, of course, the software support is fantastic.
I could have done without the superfluous camera button and the backup cameras aren’t up to the same standard as the main one, but otherwise, it’s extremely well-rounded. For £250, it’s a good amount of phone, and delivers the kind of value for money Apple fans can only dream of. It would, however, be nice to see Honor move away from imitation and commit to establishing its own identity with the next generation.
Reviews writer Ben has been with Expert Reviews since 2021, and in that time he’s established himself as an authority on all things mobile tech and audio. On top of testing and reviewing myriad smartphones, tablets, headphones, earbuds and speakers, Ben has turned his hand to the odd laptop hands-on preview and several gaming peripherals. He also regularly attends global industry events, including the Snapdragon Summit and the MWC trade show.
Registered Office: 1st & 2nd Floors
It happened on Ripley Road on Saturday (29th March) at 12:01pm and involved a Black Audi Q5 and BMW S100R motorcycle
the rider of the motorcycle sustained significant injuries and was taken to hospital where they remain in a serious condition.
The driver of the Audi Q5 is assisting police with their enquiries
The road remained closed for several hours to allow for investigation work to take place at the scene
“We’re now appealing for any witnesses to the collision
anyone who may have seen the vehicles prior to the collision
or anyone with relevant dash-cam footage that has not spoken with officers to contact us.
“Please email shane.burgess@northyorkshire.police.uk if you can help
you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Shane Burgess.”
Please quote reference 12250055419 when passing on information
Ahead of her starring role in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Black Bag
and as her London stage run in The Seagull continues
we look at the screen queen’s most commanding roles
Pushing Tin (1999)Cate Blanchett played a pretty generic “wife” role in this interesting
somewhat forgotten US comedy about air traffic controllers from director Mike Newell
whose title is their slang for guiding planes
It was saddled with a terrible ending by its screenwriters
Glen and Les Charles (creators of TV’s Cheers)
and blitzed at the box office by The Matrix
Its genesis is amusingly described by its producer
Blanchett plays the wife of hotshot young air traffic controller John Cusack
who has an affair with Angelina Jolie – who is married to Cusack’s workplace rival
View image in fullscreenRobin Hood
Photograph: Universal/Everett/ShutterstockBlanchett brings out a sturdy
unshowy north country accent as Marian (nothing so quaint or sexually naive as “Maid” Marian) – a plausibly tough and capable love interest for Russell Crowe as Robin
whose own accent in this film notoriously ranged across the British Isles
glistening locks and a martial attitude – but
her character is not allowed to upstage Russell’s Robin in any way
There’s not much for Blanchett to get her teeth into in Ridley Scott’s film
and it’s an example of how her distinctive
severely patrician beauty sometimes got her typecast in mannish or off-kilter roles
Blanchett played a terribly grand British magazine writer – mischievously named Jane Winslett-Richardson – whose commission is to write an in-depth piece about star oceanographer Steve Zissou (played by Bill Murray) and his latest maritime adventure
Zissou of course develops a tendresse for her
she plays the droll and exquisite unworldly thoroughbred role that Anderson was later to give to Tilda Swinton; perhaps Blanchett did not find the idea of being an Anderson repertory player congenial enough to continue – but she carries it off well here
Notes on a Scandal (2006)Blanchett is rarely upstaged in any movie
though she had to resign herself to being outshone by Judi Dench on her best-ever big-screen form in this delicious psychological thriller
Blanchett handles the subordinate role with typical style
a new art teacher at a state school with liberal-patrician attitudes
who wafts entrancingly about the place and doesn’t need a teacher’s salary
whose reaction is more parasitically envious fascination that evolves into a delusion of friendship
Blanchett’s Sheba must submit to sexual blackmail and finally disgrace
but rises above her ordeal in a way that the more culpable Barbara cannot
in all three movies of Peter Jackson’s mighty Lord of the Rings trilogy
and it is her voiceover at the beginning that tells us about the mythology of the ring
with pointy ears – an interesting caricature of the exotically blue-blooded and at times almost extraterrestrial classiness that Blanchett brings to the movies
She also has a very intense emotional relationship with Ian McKellen’s grey-bearded icon Gandalf
View image in fullscreenThe New Boy
The New Boy (2023)It was always on the cards that Blanchett would have to play a cantankerous and scary nun at least once in her career
in Warwick Thornton’s weirdly mystical drama set in an orphanage in the 1940s Australian outback
She gives it the full wimple as a fiercely authoritarian nun
who runs her remote institution with a rod of iron and has covered up the death of a senior male cleric
faking his signature so she has full control – and then has a crisis with the arrival of an Indigenous youth she calls “New Boy”
This Marvel movie from Taika Waititi is a winning comedy in which Blanchett shows she gets the joke as well as anyone else
she might have guested on The Morecambe & Wise show
tricked out with evil antlers and black garb
like a mirror-image version of Tolkien’s Galadriel
Hela is the sister of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and she is absolutely hilarious
playing it straight but with a twinkle in the eye: it makes you long for Blanchett to appear in panto
complex and difficult film in the Blanchett canon
She plays against type as a loser in the game of life: Tracy Heart
a former heroin addict living in a blue-collar Sydney suburb
always teetering on the brink of using again
Heart is desperately trying for a respectable life but keeps getting dragged down by her stepfather (Hugo Weaving)
perhaps unconsciously elevating her character
One of Blanchett’s most alluring early roles: the super-rich
taking a trip from the US to Europe on a first-class liner and bumping into the plausible low-born conman Ripley (Matt Damon)
who road-tests his impersonation of the wealthy Dickie on her before he has to do it for real
Meredith breezily waves away the absurd trappings of inherited wealth – claiming to be “only comfortable around people who have money and despise it”
An unusually absurd figure for Blanchett to play
the epitome of the vain and insecure rich whose delusions make Ripley’s crimes possible
Another rich and tasty early role for Blanchett
who showed movie audiences what an extraordinarily seductive and expressive face she had in closeup
Always pushing at the boundaries of theatricality and self-parody
a Russian dancer in interwar Paris; she befriends the young immigrant Suzie (Christina Ricci) while pursuing a Sally Bowles lifestyle
It’s a role she puts over with terrific brio and wit
Playing Queen Elizabeth I in her early years
this was the film that made Blanchett an above-the-title star and set the blue-chip
blue-blood style of her screen career ever since: the queen of the screen but with the heart and stomach of a king
cerebrally complex account of court intrigue (and the film is far superior to the 2007 follow-up
which tracks Elizabeth’s ascent from vulnerable princess and insecure young monarch to iconic Virgin Queen
View image in fullscreenManifesto
Manifesto (2015)One of Blanchett’s most audacious and radical screen adventures – and something to show that Tilda Swinton isn’t Hollywood’s only experimentalist and patron muse
Working with artist and film-maker Julian Rosefeldt
Blanchett creates a movie-installation crossover piece – and another of her portmanteau films
She appears as a number of different personae
all mesmerically and slightly scarily addressing the camera
declaiming philosophical manifestos by the likes of Karl Marx
and haranguing the audience to wake up to the possibilities of art
An Oscar for best supporting actress was Blanchett’s reward for one of her funniest and most attractive performances – as Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator
with whom the gauche multimillionare Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) falls in love
in the process absorbing some of her prestige: delivering the drawling Bryn Mawr vowels
the Yankee boho patrician elegance and the frank sexuality
View image in fullscreenI’m Not There
Photograph: Jonathan Wenk/Weinstein Company/AllstarTodd Haynes’s multiple-personality gallery of Bob Dylans was an intriguing buffet of interpretations by actors like Richard Gere
But everyone was blown out of the water by the extraordinarily funny and convincing impersonation by Blanchett: a stylised
theatrical but still beautifully observed rendition with frizzy hair and dark glasses – Blanchett is playing the Dylan that did the “Judas” tour of England
It was a reimagining of the musician that Blanchett conceived with sympathy and wit
a turn with the vigour of pure comedy but the force of high drama
This freaky noir melodrama from Guillermo del Toro gave us Blanchett in full Veronica Lake mode: she is wonderful as the shady lady with secrets
a fashionable psychoanalyst in 1930s America
a palatial art deco consulting room and a super-rich client list
Ritter is intrigued to come into contact with Bradley Cooper’s cheesy nightclub mind-reader Stan
sensing perhaps that he is in the same business as she is
It’s another classically theatrical bravura performance
View image in fullscreenCarol
Carol (2015)This was the movie that showed us Blanchett’s ability to inhabit a character who is grand
but aware of her own vulnerability – a weakness for beauty – and also self-dramatisingly aware that this is a flaw with something tragically magnificent in it
In this adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel
who is struck by a coup de foudre on meeting Therese (Rooney Mara)
a gamine and beautiful young store assistant
they will have an exploratory lunch in which every moment is erotically charged with promise and in which Blanchett’s Carol is thrillingly dominant
Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine is a tragicomedy of a woman’s social descent
whose resemblance to Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire the director always denied
a former Manhattan socialite and Park Avenue princess who
has come to stay with her resentful sister in her modest apartment
She dreams of finding a way back into the broad sunlit uplands of wealth and social standing
from which she feels she has been unfairly exiled
believing herself capable of charming her way back in
building magic bridges to prosperity in the air – but she is actually gabbling
Here is the most extravagantly haughty and magnificently mad of all Blanchett’s creations on screen: the orchestra conductor Lydia Tár at a Berlin orchestra
Her rock-star prestige and queenly conceit mean that she cannot acknowledge the midlife crisis or crackup that is heading her way
preferring to see it as an imminent epiphany or breakthrough
She is using the mentorship programme for young musicians as a way of pursuing affairs: she is arrogant and cruel – humiliating a bumptious student for presuming to criticise Bach on political grounds
and then terrorising a tiny child outside her daughter’s primary school
The role of Tár brings out the strangely mannish side to Blanchett’s sensuality
There could be something Wagnerian in Tár’s lordly deployment of power
although it is Elgar’s Cello Concerto that unlocks her derangement
finally culminating in an unthinkable scene on the conductor’s podium
she is crucified by her own passion and dedication
Black Bag is released on 14 March. The Seagull is at the Barbican, London