CANDICE Carty-Williams has revealed that playwright Ryan Calais Cameron worked on two episodes of her TV adaptation, Queenie. Carty-Williams, pictured, who wrote and adapted Queenie (her following book, People Person, is also out in paperback), spoke from the set of the upcoming Channel 4 show, which started filming this week. “Ryan is a fantastic writer. And he just so deeply understands human nature,” she said.
The playwright’s productions Retrograde and For Black Boys... are currently showing in the West End — Carty-Williams has seen the former multiple times. Calais Cameron was also the only man in the writer’s room. “He has sisters. And he’s super-considerate... he was really incredible. Asking, and never telling us things and listening to us. And that was really, really important, because obviously the subject matter is so sensitive.”
Departing ENO boss makes final dig at Arts Council
Stuart Murphy, outgoing chief executive of the English National Opera, sent an ominous message to the Arts Council last night. Standing on the Coliseum stage before a performance of Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, he said: “History is watching you, Nick Serota and Darren Henley.” The pair are the chairman and chief executive of the council, which oversaw cuts to the ENO’s funding. Also in the firing line were the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport — Murphy said history was “watching you too”, and concluded that the ENO “should be given the resources to adapt and change.” Fighting talk.
Dame Arlene Phillips remembers Len Goodman
Dame Arlene Phillips, shared memories of her friend and former Strictly Come Dancing co-judge Len Goodman, who died last week. Phillips said when she and Goodman were asked to film the pilot, he nearly declined. “We had this whole thing about whether we’re gonna do it... we made a pact,” Phillips told us at Ed Watson’s book launch last night. “I’ll miss the times we spent together.”
Newsnight producer meets Prince Andrew again… played by Rufus Sewell
Prince Andrew’s famous Newsnight interview is being made into a Netflix film based on ex-BBC producer Sam McAlister’s book. Tackling the lead role of Andrew is actor Rufus Sewell, whom McAlister confessed she’s only ever seen in costume. “I don’t know what Rufus actually looks like... word on the street is he’s actually quite good-looking,” she told Netflix’s See What’s Next event.
Literature lovers unite
Chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver and ballet dancer Ed Watson were both out celebrating their book launches last night. Sculptor Beth Cullen-Kerridge and chef Tom Kerridge turned out for Oliver’s new recipe book The Pepperpot Diaries at Southbank Centre. Singer Neneh Cherry and presenter Miquita Oliver, daughter of Andi, came to support. Meanwhile, director Sir Nicholas Hytner and designer Nicole Farhi joined Watson at the Hotel AMANO to toast his new title, A Different Dance.
