Get ready for a week of exciting premieres and returns! Beloved singleton Bridget Jones is back on our screens, but that’s not all – the Beast Games finale is this Thursday, and Rizzle Kicks are making a comeback with their new album.
Bring on the granny pants and awkward moments, because beloved singleton Bridget Jones is back on our screens on Thursday. But that’s not all the week has in store.
Bridget Jones is a fictional character created by Helen Fielding.
She first appeared in Fielding's novel 'Bridget Jones's Diary' in 1996.
The character is a single woman living in London, struggling with her love life and weight issues.
Bridget's diary entries provide a humorous and relatable insight into her inner thoughts and feelings.
The character has been portrayed by actress Renée Zellweger in the film adaptations of Fielding's novels.
The Beast Games Finale
When Beast Games launched, the Amazon series promised to be the biggest live game show in the world. The reality competition show sees 1,000 people compete in a series of elimination challenges for a $5m (£4.02m) cash prize. The man behind it is, of course, MrBeast himself – the most popular YouTuber in the world, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson.
The finale is this Thursday. But the series has not been without controversy. It’s drawn comparisons with ‘Squid Game,’ for the elaborate tasks that contestants are set. In September, Amazon and MrBeast were named in a US lawsuit which made a number of claims about how participants were treated on set. Amazon and MrBeast did not respond to a request for comment on this.
MrBeast previously claimed that the allegations were ‘blown out of proportion.’
Bridget Jones Returns
After almost a decade away, hapless heroine Bridget Jones is back. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy hits cinemas this Thursday, right in time for Valentine’s Day (I have booked tickets… tragically). Following the death of Mr Darcy, Bridget (played by Renée Zellweger) is now a widow, trying to bring up two kids. She is also re-entering the world of dating, by having a fling with a much younger man – played by Leo Woodall, of One Day fame.
My colleague Colin Paterson asked Renée how she began preparing to play Bridget again. ‘I start trying to speak like [Bridget] before I start rehearsing,’ the American actress said. ‘So I sound a bit like I have pretences, putting on airs for a while. It’s abysmal for a while,’ she laughed.
Renée Zellweger is a renowned American actress, born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas.
She rose to fame with her breakout role in the film 'Jerry Maguire' (1996) and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Judy Garland in 'Judy' (2019).
Zellweger has appeared in various notable films, including 'Chicago,', 'Cold Mountain,', and 'Bridget Jones's Diary.' She is known for her versatility as a performer and has been recognized with numerous award nominations throughout her career.
‘I find that hard to believe,’ Leo jumped in. But Renée insisted, ‘it’s true.’ Tune in to BBC Breakfast on Monday for Colin’s full interview, ahead of the film’s release.
Rizzle Kicks’ Comeback
If seeing Bridget Jones isn’t your ideal way of celebrating Valentine’s Day, then why not spend it listening to Rizzle Kicks‘ new album, Competition Is For Losers. It’s out on Friday, and is set to see the pop/hip-hop duo – made up of Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sulé – sharing life lessons on love, sobriety and masculinity.
It’s being seen as a comeback, after the pair decided to bow out of the music scene for almost a decade for mental health reasons. And Jordan and Harley told me it’s their ‘best album yet.’ ‘It’s definitely harder to promote than it used to be but we’re confident of its energy if you do listen,’ they said.
‘Everyone probably says that. Joy feels rebellious these days. So we stepped back into our own lane.’
The album features collaborations with artists including Maverick Sabre, DJ Premier, Mick Jenkins and newcomer Lex Amor.
Clueless the Musical
Cher Horowitz was the lovably spoilt, fashion-obsessed Beverly Hills high school girl we took to our hearts in the 1995 teen film Clueless. The film, based on Jane Austen’s Emma, was a box office hit and spawned a TV spin-off.
Now, Clueless is coming back – as a new West End musical. It stars Emma Flynn as Cher and Keelan McAuley as Josh, and features songs by Suddenly I See singer KT Tunstall. I’m here for the fashion, but there’s so much more to Clueless. Cher’s wisdom includes self-acceptance, and recognising the importance of female friends.
And let’s not forget her iconic put-down to unwanted male attention that I’ll admit to rolling out endlessly in my teens: ‘Ugh, as if!’ The show opens at London’s Trafalgar Theatre on Friday.
Clueless is a 1995 American comedy film written, produced, and directed by Amy Heckerling.
The movie is loosely based on Jane Austen's novel Emma and takes place in Beverly Hills, California.
The story follows Cher Horowitz, a wealthy and popular high school student who tries to play matchmaker for her friends while navigating her own relationships.
Cluless was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $183 million worldwide and becoming a cultural phenomenon of the 1990s.
Civilization VII
It’s been a long time since Civilization VI hit the shelves in 2016. Now, the latest in the cult strategy series – which first appeared in 1991 – is finally being released. Civilization VII brings with it all sorts of new features to keep gamers happy.
I was lucky enough to be one of the people to get my hands on it ahead of time, and I can say with confidence it’s a game-changer. As I wrote in my preview in August last year, a bundle of brand new features are embedded in the game, centred around a new hook – you now play through three eras, changing world nations as you go, and building on top of what came before.
The hotly-anticipated new game comes out Tuesday on PC.
Other highlights this week include Richard II starring Jonathan Bailey opening at Bridge Theatre on Monday, Armie Hammer will be on Louis Theroux’s podcast on Tuesday, Marvel‘s Captain America: Brave New World is released in cinemas on Friday, and When Maggie Met Larry will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Saturday.
