Capital of Culture ‘cannot be in UK’
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A company working with King’s College London researchers is preparing for trials of the treatment that could lead to a revolution. POPULAR Albert Square resident Tiffany Butcher is to return to EastEnders in the new year.
Maisie Smith is set to reprise her role as the daughter of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen).
The 16-year-old first joined the BBC One serial drama in 2008 at the age of six, and was a fans’ favourite.
Tiffany left the show in 2014 with her family when her mother chose to start a new life in Milton Keynes, although she staged a surprise return for the wedding of Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and Lee Carter (Danny-Boy Hatchard) in 2016. But when she makes her permanent comeback early next year, fans will see how much the cute and cheeky youngster has grown up to become just like her mother, causing trouble wherever she goes.
Smith has already started shooting scenes as Tiffany, who will instantly cause chaos when she turns up on Whitney’s doorstep out of the blue.
Smith said: “It’s great to be back on the set of EastEnders. It’s been lovely to see some old faces and meet new ones, too.
“I can’t wait to show everyone how much Tiffany has changed.” UK POLITICIANS have reacted with fury after Brussels ruled that a UK city will not be eligible to become the European Capital of Culture after Brexit.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “absolutely dismayed” by the decision, while the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was “deeply disappointed”.
The European Commission said the decision was “one of the many concrete consequences” of Brexit.
Five different UK bids were competing to host the 2023 European Capital of Culture and officials said urgent discussions were being held with Brussels about the apparent Brexit ban. Nottingham, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Dundee and a joint Belfast-Londonderry-Strabane bid were all in the running for the accolade.
At First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m absolutely dismayed by the news that I’ve heard this morning from the European Commission that Dundee’s European Capital of Culture bid looks as if it is going to be the latest victim of the Tories’ obsession with taking this country out of the European Union against our will, and they should hang their heads in shame.”
She added: “It is now deeply concerning that the amount of time, effort and expense that Dundee have put into scoping out their bid could be wasted thanks to the Brexit policy of this Tory Government.”
Iain Stewart, Tory MP for Milton Keynes South, said it “seems a very bitter decision” by the European Commission as “we are not turning our backs on Europe yet this looks like they are turning their backs on us”.
DUP MEP for Northern Ireland Diane Dodds said: “This is needless and spiteful posturing by the commission. In spite of the assurances that they will not act in malice or attempt to punish the UK, here we have an example of the schoolboy pettiness we have come to expect from Brussels.”
Shadow culture secretary Tom Watson described the commission’s decision as a “great shame” and said some cities have already spent up to £500,000 on their bids.
He said: “The Government must now explain how they intend to ensure that Brexit does not leave us culturally isolated from Europe and how the economic and cultural benefits that accompany the European Capital of Culture will be maintained.”
A European Commission spokesman said: “The decision to nominate Hungary and the UK as hosts of the European Capitals of Culture for 2023 was taken by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers in 2014, two years before the UK decided to leave the EU.
“As one of the many concrete consequences of that UK decision, UK participation is no longer possible.”
The commission said the only countries eligible to host the culture capital were EU member states, candidates to join the EU or countries in EFTA/EEA that participate in the Creative Europe programme.