Renowned actress Brenda Blethyn returns as the unorthodox but brilliant DCI Vera Stanhope in four compelling new feature-length episodes of this hit crime drama. The indomitable Vera and her trusted team unravel more complex cases, exploring stories of corporate corruption, organised crime and deeply buried personal guilt. An entrepreneur’s murder delivers no shortage of suspects, and the discovery of a teenager’s body floating near a salmon farm reveals a tangled web of deceit between two families. The murder of a cleaner whose death occurred several hours after the killer blow landed sends Vera on an intriguing trail, and it soon becomes clear that not all is as it seems when a wealthy betting shop tycoon is killed during a home invasion. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Northumberland, this top-rating drama is inspired by the bestselling novels and characters created by acclaimed author Ann Cleeves.
Synopsis Series 1-10
BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning actress Brenda Blethyn stars as the unorthodox but brilliant DCI Vera Stanhope in this hit crime drama. Vera may be unconventional and unglamorous, but she faces the world with her caustic wit, guile and courage, and what she lacks in charm she more than makes up for in wisdom and insight. Follow all ten gripping seasons as the indomitable Vera and her trusted team investigate tragic and intriguing cases, chasing ruthless killers, unravelling complex mysteries and uncovering secrets that sometimes stray a little too close to home. Set against the atmospheric landscapes of the breathtaking Northumberland countryside, this top-rating drama is inspired by the bestselling novels and characters created by acclaimed author Ann Cleeves.
As A Grammy Nominated Award Winning Internationally Acclaimed Songwriter & Record Producer, He Has Sold in Excess of 33 Million Records Worldwide & Worked with Countless Legendary Names…
David Courtney
Isolation Symphony
From the forthcoming album to be released this autumn
‘ISOLATION SYMPHONY’ an original work created by international renowned composer & producer David Courtney comprising of three original, unique contemporary pieces of music each of which reflect the experience from ‘Lockdown’ to eventual Liberty’, stitched together to create something quite unusual but highly commercial.
Like many of us, music legend David Courtney has been self-isolating during lockdown, but rather than worry and fret he has used the situation as the inspiration for one of his most brilliant and adventurous compositions to date. ISOLATION SYMPHONY comprises three original, unique contemporary pieces of music, stitched together to create something quite unusual but highly commercial.
The symphony was specifically created as a fund raising project for the NHS frontline staff, volunteers and patients and all proceeds will go to the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.
David Courtney is one of rock music’s unsung heroes. He has worked alongside some of the biggest stars in the business including Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Paul McCartney and many, many more.
“The ‘Daltrey’ album co-written and produced by David Courtney is one of my favourites and one of the great, probably unappreciated albums ever.”
– SIR ALAN PARKER CBE
“Everybody thinks that Adam Faith discovered me, but it was David Courtney” – LEO SAYER
Harry Nilsson once described David Courtney as the English Phil Spector.
During his career David has acquired numerous entrees in various ‘Rock Music Encyclopaedias.’ Platinum, Gold and Silver Disc Awards representing the millions of records sold worldwide, ASCAP awards and a Grammy nomination. In 2017 he was the first and only British composer to receive the prestigious Tsarskoselskaya Art Award in St Petersburg, Russia.
Ellie Orton, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “This is a really fantastic project and we would encourage everyone to listen and download Isolation Symphony. The proceeds will make a huge difference to NHS staff, volunteers and patients.”
More recently David has founded the Walk of Fame cultural attractions in the UK which follow in the tradition of its famous Hollywood predecessor. The first UK Walk of Fame was established and launched in Brighton with 100 names in 2002 followed in 2010 with the Bristol Walk of Fame. 2016 witnessed the first Football Walk of Fame, a joint venture with The National Football Museum and legendary sports artist Paul Trevillion. In 2010, The Music Walk of Fame in Camden, London was launched under license as a living, breathing cultural movement to recognise the contribution of global music icons and next year will see the introduction of the world’s first Bollywood Walk of Fame.
David is currently putting the finishing touches to his autobiography which will be published later this year.
“I am dedicating this music to the memory of my long-time friend Adam Faith who would have turned 80 years old this June. Adam was eternally grateful to the NHS for saving his life following an horrific car crash in 1974.” – David Courtney
The popular Ramsgate International Film Festival switches to online live-streaming amid global Corona crisis – June 11-14, 2020
Organisers to bring the best in independent cinema to audiences’ homes as movie theatres remain closed or struggle to draw crowds in most parts of the world
The tragedies of the Coronavirus pandemic have led to public events being cancelled or postponed worldwide. But the 4th edition of one innovative film festival from the UK, the Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival will still be taking place by moving to its own online virtual platform, Ramsgate Digital Cinema.
Festival director Sylvie Bolioli said:
“Our thoughts are with people still in intensive care or slowly recovering and all victims of this terrible disease, as well as their families. Our thoughts are also with all the workers who helped to keep their countries going, in the UK and elsewhere, and particularly those on the frontline who risked their lives to save others.”
“But we also wanted to support the independent film industry and give exposure to a plethora of excellent work from the four corners of the planet and keep cinema alive.”
The line-up and schedule of shortlisted films, documentaries, music videos and web pilots is available on the website www.ramsgatedigitalcinema.co.uk.
Fourteenth Day
The competition will kick in with the World Premiere of a remarkable documentary featuring Sam Waterston, ‘Gatsby in Connecticut: the Untold Story’, directed by Robert Steven Williams. Nick Broomfield fronts the Jury in the Feature Documentaries section. The festival’s BAFTA-winning Patron, Brenda Blethyn (currently starring in Kate & Koji, Wednesdays at 8pm on ITV, UK) chooses the appropriately named Brenda Blethyn Special Prize for the Best Film by a First Time Director. Other Jury members comprise Dee Anderson, Jimmy Akingbola, Kenny Doughty, Jerome Blake, Luba Balagova, Lisa Scott Gordon, John Warburton, Mark Valley, Peter Ferris, Bruno Tilley, Julie Forsyth and Tim Clark.
Planted
As usual, screenings at the festival will compete for the coveted Anchor awards – Ramsgate being a town with a strong maritime association – and online viewers will be able to have their say on the films they watch, with eight audience awards being up for grabs.
“The festival has received many hundreds of submissions from all around the world; and although the present circumstances are particular, we are pleased to be able to bring those that are shortlisted to audiences in a slightly different way.”
Using the latest technology, films will be live streaming and will only be accessible once in order to protect the works. So registration at www.ramsgatedigitalcinema.co.uk is essential.
The entire event is free in order to support people financially affected by the corona crisis and give them the opportunity to access quality entertainment. Optional donations will help the Festival carry out its work and ensure its survival.
Webinars by high end industry players will complete the programme. Andy Mayson (Altitude Entertainment) will look at the future of distribution of independent films post-COVID-19. Rebekah Louise Smith will advise filmmakers on the impact of the coronavirus on festival strategy and how to fix it.
This year, we are also launching a new satellite event, the ‘Fight Back International Awards’, in partnership with the organisation ‘Ring of Peace’ with a special competition for ex-servicemen suffering with PTSD and using filmmaking as a way to ‘fight back’ and re-integrate into society. We will have a digital introduction during the festival, with a special screening of a film written and performed by ex-servicemen with PTSD and a webinar hosted by Peter Ferris, who runs ‘Ring of Peace’ and teaches acting/filmmaking to this less-looked out for category of people suffering from mental illness. The purpose of the ‘Fight Back’ Awards, distributed from next year, will be to raise awareness of PTSD and encourage sufferers to find an outlet through cinema.
Donations for this section will go to the Charity ‘Combat Stress’.
For all of the latest news, and to find out more about how to view the live-streamings, keep checking the festival’s website, www.ramsgateiftvfest.org, or on Facebook: RamsgateIFTVFest.
July 13, 2026 1811 Sir George Gilbert Scott 1933 Patsy Byrne 1942 Jim McGuinn 1859 Sidney Webb 1940 Patrick Stewart 1944 Erno Rubik 1903 Eric Portman 1942 Harrison Ford 1960 Ian Hislop
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