Pandemic planning delays exposed by public spending watchdog

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWhen it comes to Zoom backgrounds, Grammy Awards executive producer Ben Winston has one that’s tough to beat.

the coronavirus pandemic changed everything. "My plan was to do Dolemite, Saturday Night Live, Coming 2 America, and then do stand up. And then the pandemic hit," Eddie said. Before COVID, the plan was working, too.

direct to your inboxPlans to turn Stretford Public Hall into an events space have sparked controversy.A group of residents has written to Trafford council to object after the hall’s owners, Friends of Stretford Public Hall (FOSPH), submitted proposals to the town hall’s planning committee.The FOSPH group took over the space in 2015, saving the building from private sale.Members said they planned to turn the building into an arts and events space, with more than 800 residents and organisations

Eddie Murphy’s return to stand-up comedy was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

North Ayrshire from April for the year ahead according to budget proposals.Councillors will vote on the £365 million budget on Thursday, which recommends £490,000 proposed new cuts to balance the books.A £500,000 new pot of money has been proposed to make the school day cheaper for families struggling financially.

direct to your inbox The future of the West Indian Community Centre in Longsight has been put in doubt after members received a letter informing them that a planning proposal had been submitted for the land.

fresh constitutional clash around next week’s Westminster budget.The original £4 billion fund announced by Rishi Sunak last year was for England only but it has now been announced that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will benefit from a share of the total pot, which has increased to £4.8 billion.Jack said: “This is actually true devolution in practice.

direct to your inboxCampaigners have won a High Court battle against Manchester council’s plans to build a 440-space temporary car park near a primary school.Trees Not Cars sought a judicial review of the decision taken in October 2019 by the planning committee to keep parking facilities at the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats for two years - months after the council declared a climate emergency.Town hall leaders hoped the car park would generate short-term income while plans to redevelop

Gwen Stefani is taking it one day at a time.

coronavirus lockdown roadmap plans ahead of Monday's announcement on the route to ease the nation out of restrictions.

Prince Philip is still in the hospital.

Fans of Ex On The Beach may have to wait a little longer for the new series as it has reportedly been pushed back by four months.The MTV show, which is being filmed in Colombia, was supposed to be beginning production at the end of February but as a result of the new Covid-19 travel restrictions, the show has been rescheduled for June.

Larry King‘s wife Shawn, with whom he was in the process of getting a divorce before his death, is planning to contest his will.

Larry King's wife Shawn plans to contest his will. A source tells ET that the late TV personality amended his will in 2019 leaving his $2 million estate to his five children, two of whom are now deceased.

Gina Carano was fired from Disney+‘s The Mandalorian this week after a social media post compared being a conservative in modern America to being Jewish in Nazi Germany.

R Kelly's New York trial has been delayed again due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Chicago Tribune, US District Judge Ann Donnelly said during a status hearing on Tuesday that the planned April 2021 date was "not realistic at all".

A group of budding young writers is about to publish a book with some help from Maine’s most famous writer.