Failing Threequel’s: Will Paddington in Peru suffer the ‘third movie fate’?

Hannah Crouch on 27 October 2024

On the 8th of November, our well-known friend in his big blue coat and red hat will return to our screens. Paddington in Peru will be the third instalment of the Paddington universe and will follow the Brown family navigating their way through Peru to find Aunt Lucy. I can only imagine how ridiculous this adventure will be, and I can’t wait.

However, this new adventure brings a plethora of high expectations. Paddington currently has a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Paddington 2 reaches even further to 99%, so fans are hoping that this threequel does not disappoint. 

Despite this, one thing that is almost always guaranteed from a Paddington film is that the overall casting will be incredible. I’ve had full faith in the casting directors ever since hearing Ben Whishaw as the voice of our favourite bear; the awkward bumbling British accent could not be produced by anyone better. Look at the actors in the previous casts: Peter Capaldi, Hugh Bonneville, Hugh Grant, and Jim Broadbent – accompanied by actresses like Nicole Kidman and Julie Walters. The casting of Paddington has delivered every time. Paddington in Peru has been no exception to this rule. Introducing Olivia Colman to the Paddington universe as The Reverend Mother is something I never knew I needed.

There has been some question as to why Sally Hawkins will not be returning to the franchise. She told Variety that “It has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another” and called the new Mrs Brown, Emily Mortimer, “extraordinarily special” – but to this we will just have to wait and see. Still, it has made some fans feel a little uneasy since Sally Hawkins embodied the role so well. It reminds me of the outrageous casting change of Rodrick in the Diary of a Wimpy kid series (but I don’t think any casting change can ever be as disappointing as that one).

Another interesting detail of the third film is the change of directors, with Dougal Wilson taking over from Paul King. King has been responsible for bringing Paddington to life for the first two films, yet it is Wilson who will take the reins on the third – something I’m weary of. King understood the character of Paddington so well that it’s disappointing he won’t have the opportunity to showcase this once more. Although, ever since I discovered that Dougal Wilson is the man responsible for directing those John Lewis Christmas Adverts, the only thing I’m worried about is how many tissues I’ll need to bring to the cinema.

With Paddington’s clumsy, kind-hearted persona and an already devoted fan base, it would be hard to create a film that disappoints. It would be more of a challenge to create a bad film instead of a good one. Perhaps all these cast and production changes is the refreshment Paddington needs to keep him relevant – bearing in mind, he is 62 years old. 

This adventure seems to be in safe hands, but can anything ever really exceed Hugh Grant singing Rain on the Roof wearing a pink prison uniform with full choreography? No, it can’t. But I’ll let them try.Paddington’s new adventure arrives in cinemas on the 8th of November, so just under a month to wait for our favourite bear. In the meantime you can watch the full trailer here and see what you think for yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKgitu25ZAg

Words by Hannah Crouch

Are tuition fees set to rise?

Anna Whyte on 25 October 2024

University fees in England could reach as high as £10,500 a year as the government considers plans to raise them by 13.5%, in line with inflation

This comes as a group of 141 UK universities say higher tuition fees and government funding are both needed to prevent the sector from sliding into decline. The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, has claimed that the current value of fees has been “eroded” after being frozen at £9,250 since 2017.

Sir Keir Starmer had previously pledged to scrap university fees, but announced in his May plans earlier this year that he would have to abandon this pledge, in favour of tackling issues within the NHS.

Calls for changes to the higher education system comes as a record number of home students started university last month. Yet the number of international students, from which universities receive a large part of their income, is down. 

Newcastle University vice chancellor Professor Christopher Day, who also chairs the Russell Group, has stated that \”the harsh reality is that unless the student and/or the taxpayer pay some more, the sector will shrink, or the quality will go down.”

There is of course, a worry about the effect that this rise will have on students in England, who, in the wake of Covid-19 and significant strike action, are becoming more disillusioned with the prospect of higher education. Teaching being moved online or cancelled in recent years has pushed students at University College London, who feel they have not received the education they paid for, to bring claims against the school, and students from other universities may soon also seek compensation.

In a report by the BBC, Manchester University student Libby Callaghan said a rise in tuition fees “would definitely put [her] off”, mentioning how living costs such as commuting, and accommodation is already a struggle for most students.

Labour ministers will, however, reportedly introduce maintenance grants of £3,500, which were previously abolished under the conservative government, to help those who can least afford it.

Former First Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson, has said that a rise to only £9,480 a year would provide financial stability before the government embarks on reforms to the higher education system. He claims, however, that universities will need to make tough choices, pointing out that Italian state universities have one teaching staff for every 21 students, whilst UK universities have one for every 13.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education has said “We believe that every young person, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to attend university… The government is committed to reviewing the higher education funding system to deliver for our economy, for universities, and for students and we will be announcing further details in due course.”

Words by Anna Whyte

Early breast screening could save 350 more women each month NHS report reveals

Lana Conway on 25 October 2024

Expert radiographers say 350 more women each month could benefit from lifesaving early breast screening.

They are calling for all those invited to attend a breast screening appointment to get checked this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Leeds and Wakefield Breast Screening service screens around 60,000 women each year, but plans to expand its reach, offering early detection and potentially lifesaving scans to hundreds more.

Breast cancer affects 1 in 7 women in their lifetime, and the NHS urges all those with breasts to regularly check for signs such as: lumps or swelling in the breast, chest, or armpit; changes in breast skin, like dimpling or redness; changes in the size or shape of one or both breasts; nipple discharge; alterations in the shape or appearance of the nipple; or sores and ulcers on the chest. For more information on how to check your breasts, visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/how-to-check-your-breasts-or-chest

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we asked students at the University of Leeds how often they check their breasts for abnormalities. 

Out of the 11 people asked, only 3 of these students are regularly checking, raising concerns about awareness and early detection among young adults. Head over to our Instagram account @thegryphon to see these student responses!

Dr Nisha Sharma, Director of Breast Screening at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says; “This October and beyond, we’re asking the women of Leeds and surroundings to prioritise their screening appointment as it could make all the difference for them. Breast screening does save lives, and we would encourage you all to attend.”

Words By: Lana Conway