RICHARD MADDEN AND PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS TRAVEL TO MUMBAI AHEAD OF CITADEL RELEASE

SCOTS actor Richard Madden travelled to Mumbai with Priyanka Chopra Jonas for the Asia Pacific premiere of Prime Video’s upcoming global spy series, Citadel.

The  ground-breaking spy franchise created by Amazon Studios and Russo Brothers’ AGBO, will premiere exclusively on Prime Video, with two episodes dropping on April 28, and one episode rolling out weekly through May 26 and theshowbizlion.com can’t wait to watch it. 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas who plays Nadia Sinh said, “When Jennifer Salke, who is the head of Amazon Studios, presented Citadel to me, she wanted to create an international, global franchise - an original IP that truly connects the world. Amazon strongly believes in diversity; and true diversity is represented internationally, not just by having different skin tones, but also by hearing the way people speak, actually delving into the culture. And this show has incredible ability to span across every country and continent. So, I didn’t even know the story and I said yep, doing it.” 

Bodyguard star Richard Madden who plays Mason Kane shared:  “Citadel has been incredibly physically demanding. But I think that's what really is dreamy. It's not simply a gun show or a fight sequence. This is how these two characters interact physically, and how they dance together. We learn in each action sequence a little more about the two of them. Just like in the drama scenes, the stakes are so high because of the adrenaline of what's going on. The show just works both in the drama and action sequences.”

Citadel is executive produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO and showrunner David Weil. Alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, the 6-episode series features Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville in pivotal roles.

 The global series will stream across 240 countries and territories in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and other international languages.

GERARD BUTLER HAS NUTS ENCOUNTER WITH SQUIRREL

GERARD Butler grinned away and called himself ‘the animal whisperer’  as a curious squirrel went looking for nuts on his body as he lay in bed. 

The Scottish born 300 hunk, who is newly single, showed off his petite lady friend in a bizarre video on Instagram as he lay in bed wearing a blue tshirt and shorts. 

In the video, Gerard smiles as the squirrel climbs down from his hair to nibble his neck then beard before crawling over his mouth. 

It then disappears out of shot for a moment then returns to his head while Gerard says: “Oh, Oh, oh, yeah. Nibbling everything. It nibbles your face, your fingers, your toes, your heels, and then all your clothes. There she is she’s going to nibble my ear, thank god they are more like nibbles, chewing on my hair. Oh, oh, oh, oh“

The grey squirrel then moves from his beard again to go down to his lower body. 

As she remains out of camera shot, With just her tail on show Gerard tells fans: “Oh tasty, eh? That’s a tasty tshirt. No it’s the string of my shorts. She loves string.”

A male voice in the background says: “The plastic tabs. Yesterday she was going after my shoes.”

The squirrel then decides to go further down Gerards shorts at which point he says: “Don’t go too much lower. Oh you did.”

Fans were thrilled at his nature loving side with one saying: “Who is cuter? Gerry or the baby squirrel?”

Another added: “In my next life I want ot be the squirrel.”

Another warned: “Watch your kibbles and bits.”

While another joked: “Trying to find where you stash your nuts. Very cute lol.”

HARRY POTTER AND CRACKER STAR ROBBIE COLTRANE HAS NEW ROLE

At seventy years old Harry Potter and Cracker star Robbie Coltrane is in a happier place than he has been for years - emerging out of the shadows to hit the screen and play one of his lifelong heroes. 
And the new role sees Robbie who has now had long awaited surgery to remedy his painful knee, taking on the guise of Orson Welles, the man voted the greatest film director of all time in Urban Myths: Orson  Welles in Norwich for Sky Arts. 
It’s Robbie’s first on screen appearance in four years since Channel 4 drama National Treasure - unless you count his brief appearance on Universal’s 2019 theme park Hagrid’s Motorbike Ride voicing an animated figure. 
The Rutherglen born actor who came into the world as Anthony Robert McMillan has had a preoccupation with Citizen Kane director, star of The Third Man and creator of War of The Worlds Welles since he was a young boy and has frequently talked about his admiration for the American talent who he first witnessed on screen when he was eleven years old. 
His mother Jean Ross, a teacher and pianist, was a film fan and they would sit together and watch old movies on TV.
He saw The Third Man when he was 11 featuring the famous scene where Orson Welles as Harry Lime steps out of the shadows and the light from a window falls on his upturned face.
Robbie, whose father, Ian Baxter McMillan was a general surgeon who also worked for police pathology also gave young Robbie books to read on medicine and crime. 
Robbies first foray onto the stage at the age of twelve was to deliver rants from Henry V - a favourite of Welles in Chimes At Midnight - at Glenalmond College, but he claims it was 1969 when he first realised the strength of Welles on screen persona. 
He said in a recent interview with Radio Times: “They showed Citizen Kane at the film club and I just thought, Who is that guy? It’s been a lifelong thing since then.”
Indeed later on Robbie agreed to appear in the 2008 movie The Brothers Bloom because he’d been told the writer Rian Johnson was the new Orson Welles. 
He revealed at the time: “Rian Johnson's a big hero of mine because of Brick. Although I hadn't seen it, everyone told me Brick was the best film made for about 10 years and he was the new Orson Welles, and if he sent me a script I'd have to do it for nothing if necessary. I got the script, and I just thought yes, I would do it for nothing."
Robbie also admitted he was  flattered when one reviewer described him as a ‘low rent Orson Welles’ so it was a natural choice for him to be picked as leading man For the Sky Arts drama based on the incident called F For Fakenham. The story goes Orson was abducted by an armed gang in Norfolk after travelling there to make a series of mystery dramas with Anglia Television.
Robbie said:  “Nobody knows if it‘s actually true.”
Robbie believes Welles greatest gift was storytelling and continued: “Listening to him was just like sitting with a pal and a whisky in front of a roaring fire and saying, ‘Let me tell you a story’ and you don’t care if it’s true. You just want to hear what happens next.’
Physically the two bear a portly resemblance and Robbie admitted: “I had no problem with his voice because we were the same kitchen. A Scotsman doing American is no stretch because a lot of the American accent did come from the Scots.”

LIZ HURLEY: SCOTS STAR SAM HEUGHAN IS MY CRUSH

OUTLANDER actor Sam Heughan has a new admirer in the form of Austin Powers actress and Estée Lauder model Liz Hurley.
The Royals star Liz admitted she was a huge fan of Scottish born Sam who is thirty seven years old but was worried he might be too young for her.
Liz, 52, who use to date Love Actually star Hugh Grant said: "I’ve currently got a crush on Sam Heughan, who stars in my favourite TV series, Outlander. He’s a big, sexy Scot but, sadly, much too young for me."
Sam has a 28 year old girlfriend Mackenzie Mauzy who he has been dating for several months.
It looks like the couple are still going strong after they were pictured together last week at Silverstone race track wishing the F1 team Sahara Force India the best of luck in Hungary.
Liz is currently single and certainly hasn't ruled out going with someone younger. She previously said in an interview: "Most of the people I meet also have ex-girlfriends or ex-wives and children. You have to accept that, or start dating men in their 20s, which is absurd. Though, I tell you, Joan Collins is married to a fabulous man 32 years younger than her. In which case, I can date an 18-year-old...anything goes

JASON DONOVAN GETS HIS PERTHS MIXED UP ON SCOTTISH REWIND VISIT

JASON Donovan claimed he thought he was playing Perth Australia when he was originally asked to attend Rewind Festival in Perth Scotland.


The singer who performed at Rewind Festival on Sunday night laughed: "When they said I was coming to Perth I thought I was going to catch a plane ticket Western Australia but I landed here in Sunny Scotland."
The former Neighbours star asked his crowd to tag him on Twitter joking: "Just hashtag Jason Donovan Rewind Legend."
Jason had flown in especially for the bash from Spain.


Just before he changed his outfit from his shorts and tshirt to white trousers and blazer to go on stage he explained: "I've just come over from Spain especially for you. The people here are amazing and I'm excited about the show tonight. I can't remember the first time I was in Scotland. It was in the eighites and I've come back a lot."
He added: "Today I'd like to catch up with New Order's Peter Hook - my hero."
From Scotland with Love - Theshowbizlion.com

BOYZLIFE AND NICHOLAS MCDONALD COLLABORATE AT GLASGOW CHARITY BASH

BOYZLIFE singers Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy surprised partygoers by inviting Scots singer Nicholas McDonald on stage to perform at a Scots fundraising ball.


The Irish heartthrobs from Westlife and Boyzone were secret guests at the Donna Mortimer Ballantyner Trust ball and had already told punters and sporting celebs including Jamie Walker, Walter Smith and Scott Allan: "This isn't a job. This is f***ing great" as they performed hits including Picture of You, Mandy and Uptown Girl."

Nicholas who was in the audience with fellow X factor talent Caitlyn Van Beck who had earlier performed in memory of Donna who passed away from cancer couldn't wait to get up on stage.
He jumped up for a rendition of Westlife cover Swear It Again.

Keith said:"He was gagging to get up there. I couldn't turn him down."
The Boyzlife stars commented on the hundreds of mobile phones that were recording them, quipping: "We used to write some nice handwritten notes to one another."

Following the event which raised over a hundred thousand pounds for the charity at Glasgow's Doubletree Hilton, Keith sat in the bar downing tequila shots.
 Brian stayed up in his room after bringing his PE teacher girlfriend Danielle with him to Glasgow.

Posted with love from Scotland - theshowbizlion.com

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Glasgow Evening Times

MARVEL INFINITY WAR DIRECTORS VISIT SCOTTISH CITY CHAMBERS

ROBERT Downey Junior, Benedict Cumberbatch and the cast of new Marvel film Avengers: Infinity War could be heading to Edinburgh's City Chambers.
The actors along with Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson, Chris Hemsworth, Karen Gillan, and a host of other A Lister's are prepping to film the massive movie in Scotland and London in March and May.
Although a veil of secrecy is currently surrounding the exact locations that will be used, Captain America Directors The Russo Brothers who are working on the new film had posted up a picture of themselves 'scouting' for locations on a grand stairway on social media - and fans had been left wondering where it was located.


Now an eagle eyed Reddit user Brian Grodzki has put two and two together and revealed it as the City Chambers in Scotlands capital.
Although it's currently unknown what the building may be used for it is thought it may have something to do with Doctor Strange's lair Sanctum Sanctorum.
It is thought the circular window is similar to the actual marvel illustration of the building where Doctor Strange burns incense.



- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

IS JAMES COSMO THE 'BIGGEST' STAR IN CBB

JAMES Cosmo was almost named the most well endowed star in the Celebrity Big Brother house after the girls started debating who had the biggest willy.
After Chloe asked which guy in the house might be carrying the biggest weapon, as the girls gossiped in the bedroom, Stacy said: "You know who I think might be stacking and he might be a little on the downlow about it? He might be married but for some reason I think James has got a little something going on."
As the camera focused on James Cosmo who was oblivious to the chat and doing the washing up, a surprised Chloe replied: "A big one? James who looks like Santa?"
Stacy replied in hysterics: "No, not that James, the other James."
The girls breathed a collective sigh of relief as they giggled away.
The talented Scotsman who was Lord Commander Mormont in Game Of Thrones was in a playful mood as he clambered over Coleen Nolan in the bed and jokingly suggested the first Big Brother threesome with James Jordan who also lay there.
As James Jordan was later evicted Cosmo also joked: "I can swerve better than Ronaldo."

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

DOCTOR WHO STAR KAREN GILLAN GETS DRUNK IN MARYHILL

GUARDIANS Of The Galaxy and Doctor Who star Karen Gillan was drunk and disorderly as she stumbled out of a Scots nightclub.


Luckily the Inverness born star who has just finished on her movie Jumanji was putting on an act for her own new film Tupperware Party which also sees her step behind the camera for her big directorial debut.


Karen, who played Amy Pond in Doctor Who, and a posse of young actors spent all day filming inside Framptons nightclub in the heart of Glasgow's Maryhill district.
The clubbing scenes culminated in the star drunkenly kissing a bouncer of the club on the cheek before being carried out the nightspot by friends as she stumbled over them, arms and legs flailing.


As cars passed the scene on the side street, it could have seemed like any other big night out in the area.
In between shots, effervescent red head Karen looked every bit the director as she carried around a clipboard with her and instructed her cast and crew on what was happening next.
The mood on set seemed jovial although Karen was deep in concentration as she set up her next shots.


She even changed jackets in between directing and acting, as if to change her persona.
Karen said: "It's lovely to be back in Scotland and it's all going well so far. I'm having a great time."
An insider said: "Karen is brilliant to work with and really understands the actors needs. She has been nervous about going behind the camera for this film and there is a lot of pressure on her but she is just getting with things and the film is shaping up nicely."

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

GAME OF THRONES JAMES COSMO HAS ANOTHER TRUSTY STEED ON BIG BROTHER

HERE'S James Cosmo taking the mickey out of his Game of Thrones character by leading a pink pony through the Celebrity Big Brother house.
Referencing his character Jeor Mormont, the Scots actor said: "I am the Lord commander and this is my steed" as he walked shetlander Tony Pony through the house without Bianca Gascoigne noticing him in a challenge.
While Jasmin Waltz teaches Bianca meditation techniques a thrilled James takes a leisurely stroll with Tony through the house and into the gardens.
We can't wait to see more action from the sweetie that is James C over coming weeks.

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

DOCTOR WHO STAR KAREN GILLAN HITS GLASGOW AND INVERNESS FOR DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

GUARDIANS of The Galaxy star Karen Gillan has arrived in Glasgow to begin filming her directorial debut movie Tupperware Party.
The Inverness born Doctor Who actress who played Amy Pond in the sci fi series has written the script of the feature film for Mt Hollywood films.
Karen, who is keeping the storyline a tightly guarded secret, spent Christmas and New Year up with family and friends up north before arriving in Glasgow this week.

E
In demand Karen admitted she'd been tweaking the film's script right up until the eleventh hour, telling fans online: "Racing to finish a rewrite before the new year! I got thiiiiiissssss."
The star who is understandably nervous about her first big directorial offering told her Instagram followers: "Sad to be leaving Inverness and my fellow fingers. But we have a film to make. Here we go 2017!"


She was spotted today in Glasgow's Buchanan Street by some fans as she prepped for her filming schedule.
Budding actor Christopher Potter who was amongst those who saw her posted up a selfie of them both and said: "That brilliant moment when you bump into @karengillan, tell her you're a big fan and get a picture with her! Such a nice person!"
Karen has a penchant for darker movies so it's expected Tupperware Party will gave more of a twist to it than the average plastic storage lid.


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

BLACKADDER STAR TONY ROBINSON HAS HIS PIE AND EATS IT IN SCOTLAND

BLACKADDER and Time Team star Sir Tony Robinson couldn't believe it when fans showered him with macaroni cheese on his trip to Scotland.
The actor and presenter who is best known as Baldrick and his famous phrases like 'I have a cunning plan' was appearing in Glasgow and Edinburgh for his No Cunning Plan book signing.
He told his online followers he was
'Looking forward to lashings of Macaroni cheese pie' but never expected them to take him up on his suggestion.



Tony who was in Scotland with his wife said: "I said I fancied macaroni cheese. The next thing I knew they were suggesting all sorts of macaroni cheese to me including deep fried pies. Someone even brought one to the book signing."
Phil from Falkirk was amongst those who made the extra effort,
He said: "I took diplomatic responsibility to welcome Tony Robinson to Glasgow with a formal presentation."


Tony was also collecting donations for Movember as he sports a moustache for the first time in ages but he admitted he couldn't wait to get rid of it.


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

WIN LUNCH WITH LEO DICAPRIO IN EDINBURGH

LEO DiCaprio has agreed to have a lunch date with one very special person in Scotland - and it could be you!
For a £5 donation that will go to feed the homeless at Edinburgh’s Home, a new restaurant from the teams behind Social Bite and Maison Bleue – , you will have a chance to attend a VIP lunch with Sir Tom Hunter, Chairman of the Scottish Business Awards, and this year’s keynote speaker Leonardo DiCaprio.
Last year, one very lucky gal got the chance to cosy up to George Clooney over grub in Edinburgh after over £400,000 was donated through website Itison to Social Bite, allowing them to feed the homeless for an entire year throughout Scotland.
This year all you need to do to enter is head to Itison.com, donate a fiver and you could be in for a chance of lunch with Leo.
The cause makes a big difference in the lives of so many people, and will allow homeless people to dine with dignity in the amazing new restaurant - Home. So dig deep and donate multiple times.
Your donation will buy a meal for a homeless person at Home in Edinburgh, a brand new restaurant pairing incredible cuisine with a charitable heart.
Home is a partnership with Social Bite and Edinburgh Restaurant group Maison Bleue, with renowned chef Martin Wishart dreaming up monthly specials, and even donning the Home apron and cooking several times each year.
As well as serving great food to the public, the restaurant provides those in need with free meals, as well as giving homeless people jobs and the training they need to get back on their feet and really break the cycle.
For more info on Home visit: www.home-restaurant.co.uk or phone 0131 220 0773 to book.
The winner will be selected and informed on Friday 11 November and will also receive:
An overnight stay for two with dinner at The George Hotel (only you will attend the lunch)
1st class travel within Scotland to Edinburgh with ScotRail (where available)
A £1,000 Champagne and shopping experience at ROX, George Street



- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

EDINBURGH TV FEST IS OPEN TO YOU

THE Edinburgh International TV festival rolls into town this week and you're invited.
The fest, brought by YouTube and BT, is normally only open to Telly Big Wigs and a beautiful media crowd, but this year they are throwing open the doors of exclusive showings to punters.
The Filmhouse Cinema has a number of events happening on Wednesday and Thursday from a Sci fi masterclass with Ronald D Moore of Star Trek and Outlander fame to screenings and Q & As with writers like Doug Naylor from Red Dwarf and writer and actor Shane Allen and Kevin Bishop from Porridge. There are also screenings of People Just Do Nothing, Fortitude, The Fall and Poldark and for the first time in TV Festival history, access to see CEO of VICE Shane Smith speak at the MacTaggart, and Sharon Horgan be interviewed by Frankie Boyle in the Alternative MacTaggart.
The TV festival is one of the highlights of theshowbizlion.com Edinburgh festival diary and we love bumping into the colourful characters who attend.
This year stars appearing at the main event include Lee Mack, Russell T Davies, Mel B and Professor Green.

Fancy going? Here's the link for you to get tickets:
http://www.filmhousecinema.com/seasons/edinburgh-international-television-festival-2016/


To book tickets to see CEO VICE Media Shane Smith deliver this year’s James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture, visit the Playhouse Theatre website: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-james-mactaggart-memorial-lecture/edinburgh-playhouse/

To see Sharon Horgan in conversation with Frankie Boyle in this year’s Alternative MacTaggart Lecture, visit the EventBrite website to book your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/frankie-boyle-in-conversation-with-sharon-horgan-tickets-26409302936

From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com