Movies

Meghan’s Brand Launch Hits a Bizarre Snag: What You Need to Know!

BBG News

It’s an exciting approach to debut a brand! I’m happy to share that the homeware items from Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle collection won’t be included in her Netflix series focusing on cooking and entertainment.

People who have seen previews of the series – With Love, Meghan – report that it contains no references or promotions for merchandise.

Absolutely, you’ll find Meghan arranging and illuminating candles with edible flowers, utilizing tablecloths, wine, jams, and honey. These are the products she is expected to offer for sale.

But at no point does she mention, on camera, that you can snap them up from her homeware range.

The streaming of the show will begin on March 4, simultaneously marking the brand’s live debut. However, the current circumstances suggest that there may have been some oversight in strategic planning.

Is it possible that the show went into production quickly during the spring without giving Meghan enough time to create merchandise or partner with Netflix for her brand? As filming began in a mansion near her home in Montecito, California with Prince Harry, there was no evidence of any merchandise from Meghan at that time.

For Meghan, the potential advantage lies in the fact that when the brand was established, it was known as ‘American Riviera Orchard’. However, according to Meghan’s recent video update, the name has since been altered to ‘As Ever’.

Previously, she remarked, “I found ‘American Riviera’ to be an appealing title.” As it turns out, that’s her locality; it’s a colloquial term for Santa Barbara. However, the label restricted her thoughts only to items produced and cultivated within that region.

As a devoted adherent, I’ve come to understand that my recent trademark application for a location-based name has been provisionally rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It appears that it’s against their policy to grant trademarks for geographical places.

The self-designed logo, believed to be Meghan’s work, faced criticism due to its perceived inaccuracy, as the ‘O’ for Orchard wasn’t readily apparent.

However, her fresh logo encountered issues when internet detectives pointed out that its design (two hummingbirds surrounding a palm tree) strikingly resembled the coat of arms of Porreres, a town in Majorca. The proprietor of the clothing company As Ever NYC is also seeking legal advice.

This week, the Duchess explained about her new venture: ‘Essentially, “As Ever” implies it’s just as it has been. If you’ve followed me since 2014 with The Tig, you would know that I have always had a passion for cooking, crafting, and gardening – this is what I continue to do.’

 

Everything in the garden is… rusty  

36 years after selling it, Monty Don found out that the house he used to call home in London was being marketed by realtors, claiming the garden was ‘designed by Monty Don.’

In the 1980s, Monty resided in a humble Victorian row house, nestled between Islington and Hackney, alongside his future spouse, Sarah Erskine. At that time, they both pursued careers as jewelry designers.

At his solo performance in Somerset, he shared with the audience, “The home we purchased back in 1981 for £30,000 was recently sold for an astounding £1.7 million. Notably, it was marketed as featuring a garden designed by Monty Don, which likely boosted its value by a mere three pence or so.

After the third break-in, he chose to leave, expressing that he found joy and contentment gardening in that 100ft by 30ft London garden equal to any other time spent gardening.

He added: ‘Gardening is nothing to do with size, or money; it’s what you get out of it.’

One advantage he gained from it was an abundance of discarded metal, since the former owner often purchased vehicles solely for their parts and discarded any remaining pieces in the yard.

‘I was turning the soil and I would suddenly hit a bonnet,’ he recalled.

 

Celebs beware! Bear’s coming back for more 

It appears that the Bear Hunt series is set to make a comeback, as the production company has begun seeking crew members who are ready to dedicate a month of their time to work on a project taking place in Central America, with filming scheduled to start next month.

In its initial streaming week in the UK, the show featuring survival expert Bear Grylls competing against celebrities ranked as Netflix’s top pick. Currently, it stands at No. 2.

The show, hosted by Holly Willoughby, includes participants such as Mel B from the Spice Girls, interior designer Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, and ex-rugby player Danny Cipriani as part of the contestants.

Two weeks ago, Bear expressed confidence that the process would carry on, stating: ‘We’re really just warming up.’

 

Erin becomes a princess among thieves

Erin Doherty has come a long way from Princess Anne’s sensible tweeds and headscarves. 

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about the captivating portrayal by The Crown actress in the role of Mary Carr, the fearless leader of the all-female criminal gang known as The Forty Elephants. This electrifying series, titled A Thousand Blows, is now streaming on Disney+, and starting today, I’ll be glued to my screen!

The series, penned by Stephen Knight, who’s also behind Peaky Blinders, derives inspiration from actual historical characters and delves into the world of East End Victorian London, centering around bare-knuckle fighting and criminal gangs.

Skilled in handling both pistols and knives, Mary Doherty (on the left) is an intimidating figure. However, during a movie shoot last year, she and her gang found themselves overshadowed by a popular music group, as they attempted to film a scene depicting a robbery at Harrods department store.

She mentioned that it happened to be the day when the Jonas Brothers were visiting a place not far from where we are, which resulted in large gatherings. For much of the day, we found ourselves questioning the reason for these crowds: “Could it be they’re here to witness us raiding Harrods?

‘But no. They were just there to see the Jonas Brothers.’

 

Tom turns on the charm with his wingman Glen 

On Saturday, Tom Cruise was full of energy and enthusiasm at the renowned Charles Finch x Chanel event before the BAFTAs.

Tom, the radiant star, lacks no one who emanates quite the same infectious enthusiasm. His brilliant charisma has consistently been directed towards numerous companions within the British film industry (I’ve tallied up that he’s worked on 11 films, primarily or entirely in the UK throughout his career).

On that particular evening, there was an abundance of friendly pats on the back, warm embraces, and a plentiful supply of cocktails. However, Ana de Armas, the supposed date, was noticeably absent from the gathering at 5 Hertford Street.

Reportedly, they’re considering collaborating on a movie project, yet it’s important to note that there won’t be any romantic elements involved.

Nevertheless, there was an undeniable hint of a deep camaraderie – between Tom Cruise, the producer of Top Gun: Maverick Jerry Bruckheimer, and Glen Powell, who played the dashing pilot Hangman in the movie alongside him. They seemed to develop a genuine appreciation for each other.

Powell is producing “The Running Man” in London, while Cruise is working on an unnamed thriller with Alexander Iñárritu at Pinewood Studios and also editing the upcoming Mission: Impossible movie here.

Powell gushed of their bond: ‘It’s the best! He’s such a great friend and such a great mentor.’

Prior to the production of Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise organized for Edward Z. Powell to view a comprehensive six-hour ‘film school’ video that he had compiled himself.

On one occasion, he arranged for Powell to be flown back to London from Pinewood Studios in a helicopter himself. To add to his fright, he convincingly simulated that the helicopter was malfunctioning.

The 36-year-old Texan reminisced: ‘Tom exclaimed “Oh no, oh no!” and began lowering the helicopter towards London. At that moment, I thought to myself: “Could it be that I will be the unknown individual who perishes alongside Tom in a smoky crater in the heart of London?”‘

Cruise was a surprise guest at the London premiere of Powell’s Twisters last summer.

It’s been officially confirmed that the two gentlemen are set to collaborate once more, this time on a follow-up to Top Gun: Maverick, where they’ll team up again shortly.

 

And the winner is… the BAFTA cocktail 

As a die-hard fan, I must say that the star of the BAFTAs might just be the enchanting ‘La Musa Dorada’ Don Julio tequila cocktail, served in dainty brown bottles. This magical elixir left quite an impression, and it seems hundreds of us woke up with a not-so-subtle reminder of its power the next morning!

In collaboration with The Savoy, they crafted a mix which included aged tequila, a dash of amontillado sherry, a couple drops of rose water, and a light mist of bergamot and mandarin fragrance.

At the event, Don Julio served as the ‘Official Spirits Sponsor’ and additionally funded the Champions’ Tavern, a special spot where some fortunate winners had their prize masks personalized.

 

Speedy retreat from Blighty for Cynthia Erivo and Demi Moore

Rapid exits from the UK for Best Actress hopefuls Cynthia Erivo and Demi Moore.

On Sunday evening, Cynthia, who was nominated for a Bafta for her performance in Wicked, hurriedly traveled back to the U.S. In contrast, on Monday, Demi, who had been nominated for The Substance but unexpectedly lost to Mikey Madison, returned from wherever she was.

On Tuesday marked the end of Oscar voting, while the SAG Awards take place this coming Monday, the 24th. This event serves as the last significant milestone before the Oscars on March 2nd.

Following a surprising wide-open competition for Best Picture, there seems to be a clear surge of support now favoring Anora, while Demi Moore, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, and Zoe Saldana appear increasingly dominant in the acting categories, making it difficult for others to challenge them.

 

Jack Dee reveals the clients of his legendary Soho tailor 

Jack Dee is well-known for his stage appearances while wearing custom-made suits, which he has tailored at a renowned bespoke tailor located in Soho, previously known as Mr. Eddie but now named Chris Kerr.

Dee said: ‘It’s not called Eddie’s any more. It’s been taken over by his nephew.

Once upon a time, I stepped inside and saw a massive suit on display, ready to be picked up, along with a minuscule one. I wondered aloud, “For whom do these suits belong?

He stated, “One is meant for Robbie Coltrane, and the other is intended for the chimpanzee in the PG Tips advertisements.

‘I said: ‘Based on that, I’ll probably have a medium.”’

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2025-02-21 01:37

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