Hollywood superstar Chad Boseman, was best known for playing ‘Black Panther’ in the hit Marvel superhero franchise after coming to prominence playing real-life figures - baseball great Jackie Robinson in the film ‘42’, and soul singer James Brown in ‘Get on Up’. It will, though, be as the titular ‘Black Panther’ in the blockbuster 2018 film he will be best remembered.

He starred as the ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology on earth.

As well as winning critical praise and taking more than $1.3 billion (£973m) at cinemas worldwide, the film was widely seen as a cultural milestone for having a largely Black cast and a Black director, Ryan Coogler.

South Carolina-born Boseman said last year that the film changed what it means to be "Young, Gifted and Black".

Black Panther was the first superhero film to get a nomination for best picture at the Oscars.
The news has left fans and the film world stunned. Get Out director Jordan Peele, said it was "a crushing blow".

"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much," his family said in the statement.

"From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more - all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honour of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

Tributes pouring in for the star, including from actor and fellow Marvel star Mark Ruffalo. Actor Dwayne Johnson tweeted: ‘Thank you for shining your light and sharing your talent with the world.

‘My love and strength to your family’.

Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris also posted her tribute to the star.

The hashtag #WakandaForever has been trending since.

Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago but had not made the information public.

He was 43.

Bruno Tonioli will not be behind the Strictly Come Dancing judges' desk for some of this year's series, while he takes part in the US version.

The impassioned Italian usually appears on both Dancing With The Stars and the BBC show, flying back and forth. But that's not possible this year. He won't be replaced on the UK panel.

The BBC said Tonioli would still "be involved remotely" in the Sunday results shows and then return full time "towards the end of the series".

This year's series will be will be "slightly" shorter than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic, the broadcaster has said. It normally begins in September and ends in mid-December. Its run largely overlaps with Dancing With The Stars, which normally ends in late November.

The BBC hasn't said how long this series will be, or how long Tonioli will be away. The timing of his return is likely to depend on the transmission dates of Dancing With The Stars and any quarantine requirements.

Previously, Tonioli has commuted between the shows every week. However, the current rules say anyone flying from the US to the UK and vice versa must self-isolate for two weeks. The BBC also didn't give any details of how he would take part in the results shows remotely.

In a statement, Tonioli said: "I absolutely adore being part of Strictly and can't wait to see what incredible dancing this year has in store.

"Lockdown has resulted in me being in LA for the foreseeable, but I'm excited to be involved as much as I possibly can."

Executive producer Sarah James said: "I'm overjoyed that we've found a way for Bruno to be part of this year's Strictly.

"His passion and enthusiasm are such a big part of the show, I'm thrilled we can continue to deliver that to audiences this year."

In the past, the choreographer has usually missed one week of Strictly every series, to give him a mid-season break from travelling. In recent years, he has been replaced on the judging panel during his week off by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro.

Tonioli's fellow UK judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood will all return.

The multi-award winning Colourful Radio launches on DAB across London from Monday 31 August 2020.

The pioneering online radio station will now broadcast across greater London, as far North as Luton to Guildford in the South, Slough in the West and Maidstone in the East on Global’s capacity on the London 3 DAB Multiplex.

Founder Kofi Kusitor believes that this is a significant time in the African/Caribbean community to build wholly black-owned, operated and targeted public debate.

Kusitor said: "For over 18 years, Colourful has taken a unique approach to celebrating the culture, music and entrepreneurialism of the African diaspora and the need has never been greater. We are delighted that our friends at Global are facilitating this chapter in Colourful's journey."

"Launching on DAB for Carnival Monday is no accident,” Kusitor adds. “Culturally diverse London benefits significantly from the Notting Hill Carnival. Colourful has always been ‘For the Culture’ and we’re dedicating the day to non-stop Carnival Vibes."
To listen to Colourful, tune your DAB set on Monday 31 August, visit colourfulradio.com or your favourite streaming apps.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) have announced they are embarking on a creative partnership to work on new shows together, starting with a ballet inspired by social distancing.

The two companies have joined forces to work together and develop dance productions for Birmingham audiences and help revive the city’s cultural life following lockdown.

It is the creation of the companies’ new artistic leaders, Sean Foley at Birmingham Rep, and Carlos Acosta at BRB, both of whom joined their respective organisations within the past year.

Acosta said: “I hoped the cross-sector collaboration would maximise our different creative networks and represented a shared vision to making Birmingham the greatest city in the arts".

The partnership will begin with four shows staged for live audiences at the Birmingham Rep in October. These will include the premiere of a new ballet by Will Tuckett, Lazuli Sky, which is inspired by and uses social distancing.

Of the plans Foley said: "This is the beginning of an exciting partnership that will encompass full-scale productions, and new ways to create audiences together. Combining the Rep’s own history with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s reputation for world-class ballet gives us both hope that we can help establish Birmingham as the very best city for theatre, for dance and the creative arts.

"The arts must find new and inventive ways to collaborate and create new works. The new collaboration will deliver excitement and artistic excellence for the people of Birmingham and wider afield - both nationally, and internationally".

Lazuli Sky will be part of a triple bill of ballet, with music by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, running from October 22 to 24 which will also include the neo-classical Our Waltzes by Vicente Nebrada and solo piece Liebestod, by Valery Panov.

Birmingham Rep and BRB are also developing a new work for 2021 entitled City of a Thousand Trades, which will be part of a season celebrating 30 years since BRB moved from London to Birmingham.

The one-act ballet, inspired by the stories of Birmingham and is residents, is due to premiere next May.

Radio presenters DJ Ace and Remel London are to host the digital event for this year's Notting Hill Carnival.

For the first time in its 54-year history, the celebrations are set to be held online after the usual live event in west London was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Four channels will stream performances and entertainment over the bank holiday weekend from 29 August. It will start with a live countdown on the large screen at Piccadilly Circus.

The event is traditionally held in Notting Hill, Westbourne Park and parts of Kensington and has taken place annually since since 1966. But in May the carnival joined a list of summer calendar events to have been postponed, including the Glastonbury Festival and the Tokyo Olympics. because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Spotify will dedicate a microsite highlighting the importance of carnival culture in the UK later in August, organisers previously said.

BBC Radio 1xtra's DJ Ace and Capital Xtra's Remel London will be presenting on the main stage channel.

Shayna Marie and Yinka, also of Capital Xtra, will present on the sound system channel alongside musician Ras Kwame.

Other presenters include BBC Radio London's Aurie Styla and Claire Clottey, as well as DJ Martin Jay.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) have announced they are embarking on a creative partnership to work on new shows together, starting with a ballet inspired by social distancing.

The two companies have joined forces to work together and develop dance productions for Birmingham audiences and help revive the city’s cultural life following lockdown.

It is the creation of the companies’ new artistic leaders, Sean Foley at Birmingham Rep, and Carlos Acosta at BRB, both of whom joined their respective organisations within the past year.

Acosta said: “I hoped the cross-sector collaboration would maximise our different creative networks and represented a shared vision to making Birmingham the greatest city in the arts".

The partnership will begin with four shows staged for live audiences at the Birmingham Rep in October. These will include the premiere of a new ballet by Will Tuckett, Lazuli Sky, which is inspired by and uses social distancing.

Of the plans Foley said: "This is the beginning of an exciting partnership that will encompass full-scale productions, and new ways to create audiences together. Combining the Rep’s own history with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s reputation for world-class ballet gives us both hope that we can help establish Birmingham as the very best city for theatre, for dance and the creative arts.

"The arts must find new and inventive ways to collaborate and create new works. The new collaboration will deliver excitement and artistic excellence for the people of Birmingham and wider afield - both nationally, and internationally".

Lazuli Sky will be part of a triple bill of ballet, with music by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, running from October 22 to 24 which will also include the neo-classical Our Waltzes by Vicente Nebrada and solo piece Liebestod, by Valery Panov.

Birmingham Rep and BRB are also developing a new work for 2021 entitled City of a Thousand Trades, which will be part of a season celebrating 30 years since BRB moved from London to Birmingham.

The one-act ballet, inspired by the stories of Birmingham and is residents, is due to premiere next May.