Jill Scott won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2022 on Sunday night and the scenes back in her hometown of Sunderland were absolutely brilliant.
The former Lioness was crowned Queen of the Jungle in the first series since the ITV hit returned to Australia and while the celebrations from her castmates and in the studio were joyous, they were nothing compared to the ones back home.
Making it to the final two alongside Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner, the recently retired footballer charmed the nation by being nothing other than funny and wholesome self and, as you can see, it meant a lot to those watching on Wearside
Genuinely could have mistaken these scenes for the Euro 2020 final.
The 35-year-old became the eighth woman to win the beloved British reality show in 22 series, the first airing all the way back in 2022 and the previous two moved to a castle in Wales due to Covid.
With that in mind, the homecoming series was always going to be a blockbuster but nothing could have prepared the millions of viewers for the arrival of former health secretary and still-serving MP (for now), Matt Hancock.
Making it to the final three, it’s fair to say there were genuine nerves across large parts of the UK as people nervously watched on in fear as the man long-considered public enemy number one crept closer towards the crown. Fortunately, that nightmare was avoided. Here’s how she reacted to the win:
Speaking to Good Morning Britain just hours after her coronation, the England international – who was tipped to win this season before it even started – Scott insisted everyone was just “equal” in camp and recognised that Hancock still played his part by winning stars for camp.
Discussing what might come in the near future, she went on to say: “I don’t know what I’m going to do next but if you give everything every single day, keep trying to be a good person then we’ll see what happens”. What a legend.
Nestled in Armley, Assembly House is an independent creative hub bringing artists together.
Assembly House, based on Canal Road in Armley inside a historic Victorian mill, has become a home for creatives across Leeds since launching in 2013.
The artist-led organisation combines working studios with an independent gallery and project space, hosting everything from exhibitions and workshops to community events and live music.
The space is currently home to 80 creatives who make up their community, comprising of professional practitioners including educators, performers, painters, sculptors, illustrators, video artists and designers.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their aim is simple - to offer affordable studios to emerging artists alongside technical support, producing support along with access to workshops, internal film screenings and events.
Assembly House offer a yearly program of exhibitions designed to showcase the studio holders and get their work out there. It's all aimed at helping the artists, whether it's their first show or tenth.
It has also helped bring art into the wider neighbourhood through community murals, public sculptures and activities for local people.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
They believe art has the power to bring people together and to evoke emotion and thought, and we've got to say that we absolutely agree.
The space can also be hired by students and independent creatives looking to put on their own exhibitions or bring a project to life.
The fabulous venue is generally open to visitors during exhibitions, workshops and events, with visits by appointment at other times, so it's worth checking its website before heading over.
To have a look at their current programme and to find out more about what Assembly House are doing for Leeds and the community, you can take a look at their website here.
Leeds Palestinian Film Festival announces dates for 12th annual edition
Clementine Hall
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Danny Jones -
28th November 2022 
