News Archive
Older news and updates for the Zoe Wanamaker Official Fansite.  For the most up-to-date information, see the News section.

28.12.07  Much Ado About Nothing: interview and further reviews
In a brief interview recorded to publicise the production, Zoë and her co-star Simon Russell Beale discuss their roles in Much Ado About Nothing.  The reviews in Bloomberg News, the Observer - which asserts that the pair 'completely re-imagine' the play - and The Stage demonstrate that the National Theatre's staging of the comedy continues to impress the critics, while Variety examines its tone.

19.12.07  Much Ado About Nothing opens
The National's production of Much Ado About Nothing has received excellent reviews, with The Times praising the 'terrific performances' of Zoë and her co-star Simon Russell Beale.  Similarly enthusiastic accounts of the play have appeared in the British Theatre Guide, the Evening Standard, the Guardian, the Independent, the Official London Theatre Guide, the Telegraph, and What's On Stage.  A number of production photos can be viewed on the National's website, while the rehearsal diary by Annette Vieusseux offers a fascinating glimpse of the cast and crew at work.

19.12.07  More Christmas television
In addition to her performance as Mrs Jarley in the ITV adaptation of Dickens's The Old Curiosity Shop, UKTV Drama viewers will be able to see Zoe as another of the novelist's creations, Miss Murdstone, when the channel broadcasts David Copperfield (first shown in 1999) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at 2pm.

14.12 07  Much Ado About Nothing interviews
In the week that the National Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing begins previews, Zoë and her co-star Simon Russell Beale discuss the play in the Telegraph.  Shortly before rehearsals for Shakespeare's comedy got underway, director Nicholas Hytner outlined his vision for the performances in an audio interview conducted for TheatreVoice.

14.12.07  Christmas television
The hour-long festive edition of My Family, 'Ho Ho No', will be broadcast on Boxing Day at 7pm on BBC 1.  To discover what Christmas capers the Harpers can look forward to this year, see the detailed discussion of the plot (contains spoilers) released by the BBC's Press Office.  The Old Curiosity Shop will also be shown on Boxing Day, at 9pm on ITV 1: Zoë plays Mrs Jarley in this new adaptation of Dickens's novel.

14.12.07  Most influential Americans
According to a Telegraph article published to coincide with Thanksgiving celebrations, Zoë is one of the fifty most influential Americans working in the UK.  Putting her influence to good use, Zoë recently attended the launch of the National Theatre's new energy-efficient lighting scheme; and last week she was among a number of celebrities to support a fundraising drive for Wilton's Music Hall in East London.

12.11.07  The Queen visits My Family set
The Queen recently visited Pinewood Studios, where she met Zoe and her co-star Robert Lindsay during a tour of the My Family set.  A short report about the event can be viewed on the BBC News website.

12.11.07  Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2007
The judges of the Evening Standard Theatre Awards have taken the unusual step of releasing the longlist of this year's nominees in what promises to be a highly competitive year.  Following her acclaimed performance in The Rose Tattoo, Zoe has received a Best Actress Nomination.

15.10.07  My Family nominated for a National Television Award
Following the sitcom's success at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards, My Family has received a National Television Award nomination for Best Comedy Programme.  A full list of nominees is available at DigitalSpy, and you can vote for your favourites at the NTA's website.  The ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV1 on 31st October.

15.10.07  Much Ado About Nothing
The London Theatre Guide has further cast details for the National Theatre's forthcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing.  Dame Diana Rigg refers to the play's newly released poster as part of a Telegraph article arguing for actors' names to feature more prominently on theatre publicity material.

16.09.07  TV Quick and TV Choice Awards
My Family was named Best Comedy Series at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards, held in London on 3rd September (see the British Sitcom Guide's article and the My Family Yahoo Group for more details).  Zoë joined her co-star Robert Lindsay to collect the award; photos of the pair attending the event can be found at MSN and Pixsy.  The seventh series of the BBC sitcom is scheduled to be released on Region 2 DVD on 24th September, while a DVD boxset (again, Region 2) containing series one to seven will follow on 22nd October.  The eighth series of My Family is currently in production.

16.09.07  Prime Suspect I
The first episode of Prime Suspect, in which Zoe plays hard-bitten Moyra Henson, is now available to watch online as part of the Best of ITV programme collection.  Given the rather grisly content of the episode, it is best reserved for older fans.

01.09.07  Much Ado About Nothing
Previews of the National Theatre's Much Ado About Nothing, in which Zoë will star as Beatrice opposite Simon Russell Beale's Benedick, are scheduled to begin on 10th December.  Susannah Fielding, who played Serafina's daughter Rosa in The Rose Tattoo, has also been cast in this eagerly anticipated production of Shakespeare's comedy.  Tickets for performances in December and January are currently available.

01.09.07  Film and television news round-up
Fans in the US may be pleased to hear both that A Dance to the Music of Time has recently been released on Region 1 DVD and that BBC America has bought the seventh series of sitcom My Family; for more details, see World Screen's article about the sale.  Zoe discusses her favourite comic film in an article for the Observer published in June.

13.06.07  Celebrating British theatre
Zoë has been named one of the veterans of the British stage, alongside other esteemed performers including Sir Ian McKellen and Harriet Walter, as part of the Observer's celebration of the UK theatre industry.  The feature included a short interview with Zoe about her career (scroll down page).

22.05. 07  The National Theatre
Further performance dates have been announced for The Rose Tattoo; the play will now run until 8th AugustTickets are also available for the National Theatre's 'In Conversation' event on 29th June, at which Zoe will be interviewed about her career.

20.05.07  Madeleine McCann appeal
As part of the ongoing international efforts to find missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann, Zoë has provided the voiceover for the English version of a new video appeal for information about the child's abduction.  You can watch the short film online at Sky News; and to discover ways in which you can help in the search for Madeleine, see the official website FindMadeleine.com.

18.05.07  New TV project; interview
The Stage reports today that Zoe will star in a new television adaptation of Dickens's novel The Old Curiosity Shop.  Also of note, the supermarket chain Waitrose recently interviewed Zoe about her favourite foods.  You can read the article, 'A Question of Taste', on the supermarket's website.

13th May 2007  Zoë's birthday
Many Happy Returns to Zoë, who celebrates her birthday today!

11th May 2007  Magazine collections
The BBC's adaptation of David Copperfield in which Zoë played Miss Murdstone is the subject of the most recent edition of Classic Drama - The DVD Collection.  As the partwork's title suggests, a copy of the series on DVD (Region 0) is included alongside a magazine about the making of the programme.  Meanwhile, younger fans may be pleased to hear that the current edition of Doctor Who: Battles in Time magazine (part seventeen) features Lady Cassandra, Zoe's character in 'The End of the World' and 'New Earth'.

25th April 2007  Television interview
Tomorrow Zoë will appear alongside comedian Alan Carr as a guest on Thursday's edition of The New Paul O'Grady Show, to be broadcast on Channel 4 at 5 pm.  With thanks to Stuart for this information.

11th April 2007  Pictures and reviews of The Rose Tattoo
The National Theatre's official webpage for The Rose Tattoo now includes a number of production photos.  As the play continues to impress the critics, I have updated the list of reviews of the production: the British Theatre Guide reports favourably on the work, Time Out praises Zoe's performance in the central role, and a shorter version of the Guardian's review is also available.

3rd April 2007  My Family: series seven
A preview clip from the first episode in the new series of My Family is available to view alongside a summary of the plot on the BBC's official website for the programme.  As reported on 30th March, the comedy's seventh series begins on 6th April at 8.30 pm on BBC 1.

2nd April 2007  Reviews of The Rose Tattoo
Contributors to BBC Radio 3's 'Night Waves' programme recently discussed The Rose Tattoo, focusing on the more uplifting aspects of the play.  The entire show is available to listen to online for a few more days, with the review of Williams's play, in which Zoe stars as Serafina, beginning around thirteen minutes in.  Further reviews of the National Theatre's production have also appeared in the press and online: I have added a number of links to relevant articles, some of which include photos of Zoë and other cast members.  Also noteworthy is Kristin Scott Thomas's interview for the Telegraph, published in January, in which the actress remarks how impressed she was by Zoe's peformance as Electra (see the second page of the article for the relevant comment).

2nd April 2007  DVD releases
'Cards on the Table', in which Zoe played Ariadne Oliver, is now available as part of the Poirot Collection Six Region 2 DVD set.  The adaptation of Macbeth for which Zoë provided the voice of Lady Macbeth is included in Shakespeare: The Animated Tales Collection: Act 1, also a Region 2 DVD release.  Following its release on Region 1 DVD, film The Raggedy Rawney, in which Zoe stars alongside Bob Hoskins, is now available on Region 2 DVD.  In addition, the cover art for the forthcoming My Family: Series Six Region 2 DVD can be viewed on Amazon.co.uk.

30th March 2007  The Rose Tattoo opens; new series of My Family begins soon
The Rose Tattoo opened last night and has received some excellent reviews, with the Guardian praising Zoë's performance as the best in her career.  WhatsOnStage.com is similarly enthusiastic about the production, which runs until 23rd June.  Meanwhile, My Family returns for its seventh series next week; the first episode (of nine) is scheduled to be broadcast on 6th April at 8.30 pm on BBC 1.

20th March 2007  Zoë interviewed for The Times
Yesterday The Rose Tattoo began previewing at the National Theatre.  To coincide with the first performance of this production, The Times published an interview with Zoe in which she discusses her approach to Tennessee Williams's play.

9th March 2007  National Theatre
As reported by the Camden New Journal, Zoe joined a number of other celebrities, including Dame Helen Mirren, at a fundraising event for the National Theatre held at the beginning of March.  The National has recently launched an online brochure for its forthcoming season of plays; information about The Rose Tattoo can be found on the third page of the mini-site.  Zoe explains why she chose to work on the play in an article about Tennessee Williams's work from WhatsOnStage.com.

4th March 2007  Charity auction
A Calvin Klein suit worn by Zoe for her role as Tessa Piggott in the popular television series Love Hurts is currently being auctioned for charity.  All proceeds from the sale, which is being held on eBay, will be donated to Action for M.E.  The auction ends on 7th March.  (With thanks to Anne, Helen, and Liz for bringing this sale to my attention.)

4th March 2007  The Rose Tattoo in rehearsal
In a recent article for the Coventry Telegraph, Larissa Tasker, who has been cast as one of a group of children in The Rose Tattoo, describes rehearsing the play alongside Zoë.  For performance details, including booking information, see the official website for the production.

2nd March 2007  Charity auction
There are several days left to bid on a My Family script signed by Zoë.  All proceeds from the sale, which is being held on eBay, will benefit the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.  The auction ends on 7th March.

2nd March 2007  Awake and Sing!
During the production's run last year, Zoe and her Awake and Sing! co-star Mark Ruffalo were interviewed as part of the Leonard Lopate Show.  The discussion is available to listen to online or download from WNYC: New York Public Radio's website.  A commentary on the play by its director Bartlett Sher accompanies a slideshow of production photos for the New York Times's review (see the article's 'Multimedia' section).

25 FEB 07  Poirot DVDs
'Cards on the Table', the episode of Poirot in which Zoe starred as Ariadne Oliver, has now been released on Region 2 DVD.  The episode is included alongside 'The Mystery of the Blue Train', 'After the Funeral', and 'Taken at the Flood' as part of the Poirot Collection 6 set.

25 FEB 07  More additions to theatre work
The guide to Awake and Sing! has been extensively revised, and with thanks once again to Geoff there is new information available about The Provoked Wife.

23 FEB 07  Zoë interviewed on Radio 4
As part of today's edition of Front Row on BBC Radio 4, Zoe spoke about whether or not it is preferable for female performers to be known as 'actors' rather than 'actresses'.  The programme is available to listen to online for a limited period.

23 FEB 07  Theatre work
The Stage section has been updated; there is new information about The Beggar's Opera, Jug, A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd.  Most of the details have been kindly supplied by Geoff Cooke, who is selling original theatre programmes for these plays: inquiries about purchasing them should be directed to him.  I have also added production information for The Rose Tattoo.

20 FEB 07  The Rose Tattoo; Much Ado About Nothing
As reported by Playbill.com, Steven Pimlott, the director of The Rose Tattoo, sadly died last week.  The play is now being directed by Nicholas Hytner.  Later this year, Hytner will also direct Zoe as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, again at the National Theatre.  The Stage has further details about this production, while BBC News and Variety report on this and other works to be staged by the National in the coming months.

25 JAN 07  More success for Awake and Sing!, plus details about The Rose Tattoo
Zoë's most recent Broadway hit, Awake and Sing!, has been named one of the best stage shows of 2006 by the TheaterMania editors.  It has also been announced that The Rose Tattoo, in which Zoe will star as the widowed Serafina, will open at the National Theatre on 29 March 2007 (previews to begin on 19 March).  The production's official website includes cast and plot information, as well as booking details.  A number of theatre websites have published articles about the show, including Broadway.com, BroadwayWorld, Playbill, and The Stage.

25 JAN 07  My Family DVD
Australian fans of My Family can now buy the show's first series on region 4 DVD; see, for example, EzyDVD.

17 DEC 06  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
To thank you, the Fansite's visitors, for your continued support, I have uploaded a selection of avatars featuring Zoë, and would like to wish all of her fans the best for 2007.

17 DEC 06  Zoë returns to UK stage
Zoe is set to star in Tennessee Williams's The Rose Tattoo at the National Theatre, London in early 2007.  It is thought that the production, which will be directed by Steven Pimlott and designed by Mark Thompson, will run from late March until the end of August.

17 DEC 06  My Family at Christmas
The feature-length Christmas episode of My Family has a revised broadcast date, and will now be shown on 25th December at 5.20pm on BBC 1.  For a summary of the plot, see the Manchester Evening News.  If you can't wait until Christmas Day, BBC Comedy has released a clip of last year's festive episode (click on 'Christmas Clips').  An alteration has also been made to the scheduled release date of My Family: Series Six on R2 DVD, with several online retailers, including Play.com, reporting that the series will not be commericially available until June 2007.

10 DEC 06  'Bids on Lids' charity auction
There is one day left to bid on a lovely hat and handwritten note, which have been donated by Zoe as part of the celebrity hat charity auction 'Bids on Lids'.  Proceeds from the sale, taking place on eBay, will benefit WellBeing of Women's 'WoW Baby' campaign, funding research into unexplained miscarriages and the treatments available.  With thanks to Ali at WellBeing of Women.

02 DEC 06  Zoë honoured at Dyslexia Action awards
Recently confirmed as dyslexic, Zoë was presented with an award to celebrate her professional achievements at the Dyslexia Action gala (non-IE users may need to scroll down to read about the event) on 7th November.  More information about the evening, alongside pictures of Zoe receiving her award, has been added to Interviews and Articles.

02 DEC 06  Campaign to save London's Theatre Museum
With the news that the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden is facing closure, as reported by The Stage, Zoë is among a number of notable figures to back a campaign to save it.  The Guardians of the Theatre Museum have launched a petition, which can be signed online at the organisation's website, to protest against the decision to close the attraction.

02 DEC 06  My Family Christmas special
The Sun has given its readers a taste of what to expect in this year's My Family Christmas special.  The seasonal episode of the sitcom is currently scheduled for broadcast on 27th December.

17 NOV 06  Bid for a signed copy of Zoë's favourite children's book!
As part of the National Library for the Blind's celebrity book auction, Zoe has donated and signed a copy of T.H. White's The Once and Future King, including a handwritten note describing why she enjoyed the work's five volumes as a child.  The auction is currently taking place on eBay, and all proceeds will go to the charity, which works to improve access to reading material for the dyslexic and visually impaired.  But hurry - bidding ends on 19th November!  With thanks to Emma at the NLB.

17 NOV 06  My Family: The Christmas Specials
Fans of the BBC's sitcom will be pleased to hear that the festive episodes of My Family are due to receive a region 2 DVD release on 20th November.

09 OCT 06  DVD boxsets
Following the release of each series individually, the Love Hurts: Series 1-3 R2 DVD boxset, which includes every episode of the programme, should be available to purchase from 23rd October.  As reported on 21st September, episodes of My Family will also be sold together as a R2 DVD boxset; and it now appears that this set, expected later this year or in early 2007, will also include the sitcom's forthcoming seventh series.  My Family: Series 6 is due for R2 DVD release on 26th December.

24 SEP 06  New media
The first meeting between Rose and Cassandra (played by Zoe) in 'New Earth' has been selected as one of the top ten moments of the second Doctor Who series.  For more details, and to view a clip of the encounter, see the official Doctor Who website.  To celebrate, a guide to Zoe's episode of the popular sci-fi series has been added to the Television section.  Screen captures have also been uploaded both for 'New Earth' and an earlier project, Inspector Morse - 'Fat Chance'.

21 SEP 06  My Family DVDs - with good news for fans in the region 1 area!
After its release date was postponed several times, My Family: Series 5 (region 2 DVD) is now commercially available, having hit the shelves on 18th September.  The sixth series is scheduled for region 2 DVD release later this year, but information about the specific date of release differs between retailers.  A region 2 DVD box set, My Family: Series 1-6, is due for release this winter/next spring.   The news that the first and second series of Zoe's popular comedy will be released on region 1 DVD on 10th October is certain to please My Family's legions of fans in the US and Canada.  The DVDs' cover art is different to that of the region 2 releases, and can be viewed on Amazon (series one and two).  The region 1 releases are also being sold together; this set, too, is scheduled for release on the 10th.  It is not yet clear whether further series will be made available as region 1 DVDs.  Meanwhile, filming for the show's seventh series is now underway!

21 SEP 06  Doctor Who and Small Worlds
Nicole has kindly drawn my attention to Adventures in Time & Space's enormous gallery of Doctor Who screencaps, including many from the series two episode 'New Earth', in which Zoe reprises her role as Lady Cassandra from the first series.  A link to the collection, along with other links to a number of recent candid photos of Zoe at theatrical events, has been added to the Fansite's Gallery.  Less well known than Doctor Who, but just as interesting for Zoe's fans, is the series of short films entitled Small Worlds.  Zoe appears in the second part of this (as yet, unfinished) trilogy of works focusing on responses to modern life.  The film, directed by Pinny Grylls and produced in 2004, can be viewed in its entirety at Invisible Films.

28 AUG 06  Charity auction
A My Family script, signed by Zoë, will be among the lots auctioned for charity at the Champagne and Celebrities Ball in October.  For more information about the event, see IC Wales.

28 AUG 06  DVD release dates
Popular children's series Johnny and the Bomb is scheduled to be released on region 2 DVD on 4th September.  DVD Times has information about the extra feature to be included with the programme.  Meanwhile, fans of My Family must now wait until 11th September to purchase the comedy's fifth series on DVD, after its release was again postponed.  There is good news, though, for those who had noted the absence of the festive episodes in previously-released titles: My Family: The Christmas Specials should be available to buy on region 2 DVD from 13th November.  

24 AUG 06  Affiliates
The Fansite is now affiliated with Official Gabriel Thomson and Keith Warwick Online, the authorised websites for two excellent actors.  If you run a website dedicated to a particular performer - whether or not it is an official site - and would like to become affiliated (i.e. exchange links) with this website, please email me.

24 AUG 06  Pictures added
The Gallery has been updated with the inclusion of several photos of Zoë taken early in her career and a more recent magazine cover (picture one, two, three, four, and five); rehearsal and production photos of Once in a Lifetime have also been added to the site.

17 AUG 06  My Family: it's official
C21 Media has published an article confirming the production of a seventh series of My Family, after the sitcom's sixth series received impressive viewing figures.

17 AUG 06  Charity auctions
There are still a couple of days left to bid on an original My Family script being auctioned for charity on eBay.  The auction has been organised by a member of the My Family Fan Group and the proceeds of the sale will go to a special needs school in Sussex.  Also to be auctioned on eBay is an envelope decorated by Zoe to raise funds for the National Literacy Trust.  For more details about this charity auction, which will take place in October, and to see a picture of Zoe's design, see the official press release for the event (thanks, Clare).

17 AUG 06  New Fan Art
Anne, a German fan, has produced a lovely pencil sketch of Zoe as Letitia Blacklock in Marple - 'A Murder is Announced'.  With thanks to Anne and her mother Petra for allowing me to display the work on the Fansite.

17 AUG 06  DVD news and radio work
A preview of the (very green) cover art for the Region 2 DVD release of My Family's fifth series can be viewed on Amazon.  According to several online retailers, the DVD's release date has been revised: it looks as if series five will now be available to purchase from 28th August, a week later than originally scheduled.  Also worth noting is that the Fansite now includes a selective list of radio productions in which Zoe has participated.

17 AUG 06  Awake and Sing! in the press
A recent article in the New Yorker suggests that the Belasco Theatre in New York is haunted by a pair of ghosts.  According to the report, superstition surrounding the paranormal activity in the theatre dictated the colour of Zoë's costume during performances of Awake and Sing!  Meanwhile, a short review of the production first published in June calls Zoe's 'performance as solid as a Rodin sculpture with warm blood running in its veins'.

09 AUG 06  My Family update; interview
After some months of speculation, it is now clear that a seventh series of My Family will go ahead.  Filming is scheduled to begin in September.  Also, an interview with Zoe from 1980, 'Seeing the Funny Side', has been added to the site.

11 JUN 06  My Family and Zoe's Look-a-Likes
The BBC have commissioned a seventh series of My Family, but further details have yet to be announced.  Thanks Laura.  The fifth and sixth series of the comedy are scheduled for release on Region 2 DVD on 21st August 2006 and 18th September 2006, respectively. The Zoe Wanamaker Look-a-Like gallery is now open.  If you think you look like Zoe or know someone who does, I would be pleased to hear from you.

10 JUN 06  Interviews
Several early interviews with Zoe are now available to read in the Interviews section.  In 'No, You're Not Ugly, Zoe' and 'Dolly Night Out at the Village Hall', she discusses her views about acting at the beginning of her professional career in the mid-seventies; while 'Zoe Wanamaker - New Funny Girl in Town' charts Zoe's rise to fame.  More recently, in April and May respectively, Zoe took part in a discussion about working on the stage and gave an interview about her career, both for the American Theatre Wing.  Broadway.com also conducted a question-and-answer session with Zoe about her role in Awake and Sing!  Fans in the UK can also read about Zoë's experiences when reprising her role as Lady Cassandra in the new series of Doctor Who in the May issue (#369) of Doctor Who Magazine.

10 JUN 06  Adam Faith website
Geoff and Ruud have launched a carefully researched tribute to Zoe's late friend and Love Hurts co-star, Adam Faith.  The website, http://www.adamfaith.org.uk, contains information about all aspects of Faith's career and is highly recommended.

10 JUN 06  Tony Awards
Zoë has been nominated in the category of Best Featured Actress in a Play at this year's Tony Awards; winners will be announced on 11th June.  For viewers in the US, NY 1 News will film the guests' arrivals and CBS will then broadcast the ceremony itself.  Visit the official Tony Awards website for more information about the event.

10 JUN 06  Drama League Awards
The Broadway production of Awake and Sing!, in which Zoë stars, recently won the Drama League Award for Best Play Revival.  For more information about the awards and other winners, see the LA Times article about the event.

21 MAR 06  Interviews
There are a couple of new interviews with Zoe available to read online: 'Zoe's an actress with drive' from Manchester Online and 'Zoe puts cards on the table' from Scotsman.com.  In both she discusses her role in Poirot.

16 MAR 06  Poirot in the press
Ahead of ITV's broadcast of 'Cards on the Table' (see 'Television work' below), most of the major UK television listings guides for the 18th-24th March - available to buy now - contain articles about the production and/or (rare) interviews with Zoë.  Of particular interest for Zoë's fans are the features in the Total TV Guide, TV Quick, and TV Times.  She discusses, among other things, her preparation for the role of crime writer Ariadne Oliver, working with David Suchet (who plays Hercule Poirot), and other current projects.

12 MAR 06  Awake and Sing!
Previews begin on 24th March at the Belasco Theatre for the Broadway revival of Awake and Sing!  I would be grateful to hear from any of Zoe's fans able to attend a performance of this eagerly anticipated production about what you thought of the show.

12 MAR 06  Television work
The sixth series of My Family began in the UK last week; episodes are being broadcast on Fridays at 8.30 pm on BBC 1.  The BBC Comedy team have redesigned the official website for the sitcom, which includes desktop wallpapers, episode clips, and more!  And as reported on the fan group, 'Cards on the Table', Zoe's long-awaited episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot, will be broadcast on 19th March at 9.00pm on ITV 1.

03 FEB 06  Forthcoming DVDs
Following the release of the first series in December, Love Hurts - Series 2 will be available to buy on Region 2 DVD from 6th February 2006.  There's also good news for fans of My Family: as reported on the My Family Yahoo! Group and Robert and Daniel's My Family Message Board, the fourth series of the sitcom is scheduled to be released on Region 2 DVD on 20th March 2006.

03 FEB 06  Shakespeare's Globe events
The Globe Theatre in London will soon be holding the 2006 Sam Wanamaker Festival, which includes performances of scenes by Shakespeare and other writers of his day.  While at the 2006 Sam Wanamaker Event, writers will discuss Shakespeare's works.  See the Shakespeare's Globe website for further details.

03 FEB 06  Charity work
Zoë has become a patron of Dignity in Dying, formerly known as the Voluntary Euthanasia Society.  For more information about the organisation, visit the Dignity in Dying website.  Thanks Mark.

22.12.05  Zoë to return to stage in 2006
Zoë is to appear in an American production of Clifford Odets's Awake and Sing!  The play, set during the Depression, will be staged in the spring.  See Playbill.com for more details.

15.12.05  Do YOU look like Zoë?
Do you, or does someone you know, look like Zoe Wanamaker?  I am putting together a look-a-like section for the Fansite, and would love to hear from anyone who thinks they share, or knows someone who shares, Zoe's distinctive looks.

15.12.05  Competition winner
Congratulations to the Zoë Wanamaker Official Fansite competition winner, Stephanie Meyer.  Stephanie will receive a My Family - Series 3 DVD and a special mystery prize!

15.12.05  My Family Christmas Special
The Harpers return to our screens on Christmas Day with a 50-minute festive special entitled '...and I'll Cry If I Want to'.  The programme will be shown on BBC 1 at 6 pm.  Expect plenty of seasonal mirth and madness as Susan's mother arrives for a family Christmas - with toy-boy in tow...  See Robert and Daniel's My Family message board for more details.  A sixth series of My Family begins next year.

13.12.05  Television work
I've added a page about the adaptation of Agatha Christie's Poirot in which Zoe stars as crime writer Ariadne Oliver.  The programme will be broadcast in the UK in the New Year.  Another project to be broadcast soon is Johnny and the Bomb, which begins in the UK on 15th January.  There's information about the children's series on its official website.  Zoe plays mysterious bag lady Mrs. Tachyon.

01.12.05  New My Family fansite
My Family fans Robert and Daniel have launched a fansite for the sitcom.  Find information about the show's main characters, DVD releases, episode guides and transmission dates, plus receive the monthly My Family Gazette, written by the site's owners.  The site also boasts its own discussion forum, where you can talk about every episode of every series, the main cast members, and more!

01.12.05  Fansite competition
The competition to win a My Family - Series 3 DVD and a special mystery prize has now closed.  Many thanks to all who entered.  The winner will be selected at random and contacted via email within the next few weeks.

10.11.05  Charity auctions: LEPRA; Phoenix House; SANDS fundraising
As part of their 'Race Against Time' appeal, LEPRA has asked a number of celebrities, including Zoe, to donate watches.  The items, to be sold in aid of the charity, will be auctioned on eBay from 18th November.  For further details, see the press release.  Zoe recently lent her support to Phoenix House by designing a unique Christmas decoration to raise funds.  The piece will be auctioned alongside a number of others from 5th to 12th December.  For more information about the auction, see the News section of the charity's website and its press release.  Zoe has also signed a Christmas card, which is currently being auctioned on eBay, in aid of the charity SANDS. Good luck if you decide to bid!

10.11.05  Love Hurts DVD
According to several online retailers, including SendIt.com, Love Hurts - Series 1 is now scheduled for release on 5th December 2005.

05.11.05  Vintage Mayfair fundraising event
Zoë is among the celebrities to have donated clothing and accessories to be sold in aid of the RSPCA in central London.  The items will be available at fashion sale Vintage Mayfair, which will be held on 13th November in London.  Visit Fashion UK for further details about the event.  

18.10.05  Charity auction
Zoe's drawing of a dragonfly, among the lots in the Celebrity Art Auction organised by Devon Wildlife Trust (see news for 7th September), will be listed on eBay on 24th October.  The signed picture can be viewed on the Trust's website; its sale will raise funds for important conservation work.  Thanks Cathy.

18.10.05  Love Hurts DVD; Poirot
Delta Music, the company producing the Love Hurts DVDs, has confirmed that all three series of the comedy-drama are to be released, which is excellent news.  According to Play.com, Series 1 will now be available from 6th February 2006, slightly later than initially thought.  Also, following her recent appearance in Agatha Christie's Marple, see Zoe's current projects for information about her involvement in new adaptations of Poirot.

24.09.05  Love Hurts DVD
ChoicesDirect.com have a small picture of the cover art for the forthcoming Love Hurts Region 2 DVD release.  The set consists of all ten episodes from series one, spread across three discs.  Unlike the original 1993 video releases, which had a 15 certificate, the DVD has been rated PG.

23.09.05  Zoe returns to Doctor Who
Zoe will again provide the voice for Lady Cassandra in a new episode of Doctor Who entitled 'New Earth'.  The series is set to be broadcast in the UK in 2006.  See the IMDB for more details. 

12.09.05  Welcome to the new home for the Zoë Wanamaker Official Fansite!
To celebrate three years online, the Zoe Wanamaker Official Fansite has been completely redesigned, and now has its own domain, http://www.zoewanamaker.com/.  The website includes more interviews and articles, more information and more pictures than ever before.  Find production details, photos, reviews, related links and more for a wide range of Zoë's projects on film, stage and television.  Some recent additions include screen captures for mini-series David Copperfield, Zoë's appearance in Agatha Christie's Marple - 'A Murder is Announced' and the film Wilde.  There's also pictures and a transcript for Zoe's recent interview on The Kumars at No. 42, and new information about plays The Comedy of Errors and Dead Funny, to name but a few.  As always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to email the site owner.  Suggestions for what you would like to find on the Fansite are also very welcome.  While to mark the Fansite's relaunch, you could be in with the chance of winning a great prize by entering the competition

08.09.05  Zoë to star in new children's drama
Zoe will star in an adaptation of Terry Pratchett's novel Johnny and the Bomb.  The series, commissioned by CBBC, follows the adventures of young Johnny after he meets a mysterious old lady.   

07.09.05  Charity auctions
Zoe is one of a number of celebrities, also including Dame Judi Dench and Richard Briers, to have autographed pottery for an online charity auction.  The auction, which runs on eBay from 12th to 22nd September 2005, will raise funds for international sight-saving charity CBM.  Zoe has also contributed a drawing for the Celebrity Art Auction in aid of Devon Wildlife Trust, raising funds for the conservation of the river Dart.  Celebrities were asked to doodle a dragonfly for the online auction, which will take place this autumn.  A selection of the pictures will be on display at the Dart Water Festival and then at Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, from 17th September to 10th December 2005.

07.09.05  False Teeth and a Smoking Mermaid book
Over 80 celebrities, including Zoe, have contributed anecdotes and memories about their grandparents for a book called False Teeth and a Smoking Mermaid, published by Age Concern Books.  Zoe has also endorsed That Attitude Book by Graham Pepper, which gives advice about staying positive, whatever life throws at you.

06.09.05  Love Hurts DVD
As recently reported at the Fan Group, Love Hurts - Series One will be released on Region 2 DVD this autumn.  The set apparently contains all ten episodes from the first series, and is scheduled for release on 17th October 2005.  Fantastic news for fans of the programme (and I know there are a lot of us!). 

23.07.05  Behind the scenes at Doctor Who
If you're curious to learn how Zoe became Lady Cassandra in the new series of Doctor Who, discover how the special-effects team worked their magic on the series' official website.  Scroll down the page to 'Video Editing: Cassandra' to watch a short film.

19.07.05  DVD releases
Further to previous messages, the release dates for several R2 DVDs featuring Zoe have now changed.  The Paradise Postponed box-set will be released on 8th August 2005.  The series will also be available to buy in three separate instalments, for which the release dates are staggered from August to October.  As pointed out on the fan group, My Family - Series 3 will now be available from 12th September 2005.

12.06.05  Take the quiz!
Test your knowledge of Zoë's career with UKTV's themed quiz.  Some questions are trickier than you might expect! 

08.05.05  Rose d'Or Awards
Congratulations to Zoe.  She won the Best Female Performance in a Sitcom award, for her work on My Family, at the Rose d'Or ceremony.  For more details about the event, held in Switzerland, see the Rose d'Or website.  There's also a nice picture of Zoe with her award here.

09.04.05
  Doctor Who on DVD
Following its broadcast last week, 'The End of the World' will be released on DVD, as part of a three-episode set, on 16th May 2005.


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