Jurors in William Roache’s ongoing trial have been instructed to put emotions aside as they reach their verdict.
Mr. Justice Timothy Holroyde, who is presiding over the trial at Preston Crown Court, has begun his summary of the court case, in which the ‘Coronation Street’ star stands accused of two rapes and four sexual assaults against girls under the age of 16 between 1965 and 1971.
Speaking in court today (03.02.14), the judge called for a "cool-headed appraisal" of the evidence given in the trial, which includes the testimonies of five women who have accused the 81-year-old actor.
Judge Holroyde said: "Emotions must play no part in your decisions. It would only distract from your solemn duty in accordance with the oath or affirmation you made at the start of the trial to return true verdicts according to the evidence.
"What is needed is a cool-headed appraisal of the evidence you have heard. So concentrate on those aspects of the evidence which you think are important to your verdict."
William was accused of assaulting the women in the dressing rooms and toilets of Granada Studios in Manchester, where ‘Coronation Street’ was once filmed, and in his car. One alleged victim claimed she was raped twice at his homes in Lancashire.
The actor – who has played ‘Corrie’s’ Ken Barlow since 1960 – strenuously denies all charges against him.
William Roache jurors told to put emotions aside
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Royal
Britain's Countess of Wessex visited a children's hospice to mark its fifteenth birthday.
The 51-year-old royal attended a celebration at Christopher's Hospice, run by Shooting Star Chase, in Guildford, Surrey yesterday (09.02.16).
A tweet off the monarchy's official Twitter account reads: "Happy 15th Birthday Christopher's Hospice, and thank you for the wonderful reception for The Countess of Wessex! (sic)"
Whilst the hospice added on their account: "The Countess of Wessex displayed her artistic skills designing her own member of The Friendlies @SSChospices today. (sic)"
Countess Sophie - who is a patron of the charity - spent the day chatting to patients and helping them decorate biscuits and cakes. She also helped blow out the birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Meanwhile, the Countess previously revealed she is inspired by the Queen and praised her for being a "great listener".
She shared: "Watching the Queen in certain situations - she's a great listener. And you see her considering what people are saying and you can see the information going in, and she clearly has a great desire to learn all the time. I think that's amazing at 89, with all she's seen and done in her life."
Britain’s Countess of Wessex visited children’s hospice
Britain's Countess of Wessex visited a children's hospice to mark its fifteenth birthday.
The 51-year-old royal attended a celebration at Christopher's Hospice, run by Shooting Star Chase, in Guildford, Surrey yesterday (09.02.16).
A tweet off the monarchy's official Twitter account reads: "Happy 15th Birthday Christopher's Hospice, and thank you for the wonderful reception for The Countess of Wessex! (sic)"
Whilst the hospice added on their account: "The Countess of Wessex displayed her artistic skills designing her own member of The Friendlies @SSChospices today. (sic)"
Countess Sophie - who is a patron of the charity - spent the day chatting to patients and helping them decorate biscuits and cakes. She also helped blow out the birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Meanwhile, the Countess previously revealed she is inspired by the Queen and praised her for being a "great listener".
She shared: "Watching the Queen in certain situations - she's a great listener. And you see her considering what people are saying and you can see the information going in, and she clearly has a great desire to learn all the time. I think that's amazing at 89, with all she's seen and done in her life."
Movies
Bruce Willis will have a big part to play in the plot for the 'Die Hard' "prequel/sequel".
The 60-year-old actor starred as troubled detective John McClane in all five 'Die Hard' films and will feature heavily in the new movie titled 'Die Hard: Year One' - which is described as the origin story - and director Len Wiseman revealed the story will move between the past and the present.
The filmmaker - whose other work includes 'Total Recall' and 'Underworld' - teased: "The reason I say prequel/sequel is because I wasn't going to do it without Bruce. I'm also not going to do it with Bruce being a cameo bookend gimmick. It's really working into the plot, with the 70s having ramifications on present-day Bruce. It inter-cuts in a very fun, imaginative way with present-day John McClane."
The sixth film will be set in New York City in 1979 Wiseman, 42, says the film will ask the question "what created" McClane.
He admits he has discussed the topic with Bruce many times since the fourth film in the franchise the 2007 film 'Live Free or Die Hard'.
He told website Collider: "After doing the fourth one, there were so many conversations that Bruce [Willis] and I were having about what he put into the character for 'Die Hard 1'. That character comes in with so much baggage, emotionally, and experience. He's already divorced, he's bitter, his Captain hates him and doesn't want him back. So, what created that guy?"
'Die Hard: Year One' will be released in 2017.
Bruce Willis will have big part in Die hard: Year One
Bruce Willis will have a big part to play in the plot for the 'Die Hard' "prequel/sequel".
The 60-year-old actor starred as troubled detective John McClane in all five 'Die Hard' films and will feature heavily in the new movie titled 'Die Hard: Year One' - which is described as the origin story - and director Len Wiseman revealed the story will move between the past and the present.
The filmmaker - whose other work includes 'Total Recall' and 'Underworld' - teased: "The reason I say prequel/sequel is because I wasn't going to do it without Bruce. I'm also not going to do it with Bruce being a cameo bookend gimmick. It's really working into the plot, with the 70s having ramifications on present-day Bruce. It inter-cuts in a very fun, imaginative way with present-day John McClane."
The sixth film will be set in New York City in 1979 Wiseman, 42, says the film will ask the question "what created" McClane.
He admits he has discussed the topic with Bruce many times since the fourth film in the franchise the 2007 film 'Live Free or Die Hard'.
He told website Collider: "After doing the fourth one, there were so many conversations that Bruce [Willis] and I were having about what he put into the character for 'Die Hard 1'. That character comes in with so much baggage, emotionally, and experience. He's already divorced, he's bitter, his Captain hates him and doesn't want him back. So, what created that guy?"
'Die Hard: Year One' will be released in 2017.
Movies
Judd Apatow thinks 'Girls' would make a great movie.
The TV show - created by and starring Lena Dunham, with Judd as Executive Producer - will end after its upcoming sixth season and while the focus is on the finale right now, Judd, 48, admitted he would be open to making a big screen version of 'Girls' in the future.
He told Variety: "I think the show would work well as a movie. I don't think that's something [Dunham] wants to do immediately, but it would be a great movie. It feels like they've all been movies."
Lena, 29, previously insisted she would love to make a 'Girls' movie, explaining: "I have fantasies of us all coming back and making a movie when we're 40. I think we'd want to wait long enough for something to have really gone down."
While Judd would not give any hints on the season finale of the show, he admitted that Lena has something special in mind.
He recently said: "We just started kicking it around. There are ideas, but they could go out the window once we start typing. But there is an idea [Lena Dunham] has wanted to do for a few years."
Judd Apatow backs Girls movie
Judd Apatow thinks 'Girls' would make a great movie.
The TV show - created by and starring Lena Dunham, with Judd as Executive Producer - will end after its upcoming sixth season and while the focus is on the finale right now, Judd, 48, admitted he would be open to making a big screen version of 'Girls' in the future.
He told Variety: "I think the show would work well as a movie. I don't think that's something [Dunham] wants to do immediately, but it would be a great movie. It feels like they've all been movies."
Lena, 29, previously insisted she would love to make a 'Girls' movie, explaining: "I have fantasies of us all coming back and making a movie when we're 40. I think we'd want to wait long enough for something to have really gone down."
While Judd would not give any hints on the season finale of the show, he admitted that Lena has something special in mind.
He recently said: "We just started kicking it around. There are ideas, but they could go out the window once we start typing. But there is an idea [Lena Dunham] has wanted to do for a few years."
Showbiz
Hayden Panettiere was "really surprised" by the support she received when she sought treatment for postpartum depression.
The 26-year-old actress checked into a facility in October - 10 months after the birth of her and fiancé Wladamir Klitschko's daughter Kaya - and she is "proud" to now be seen as a spokesperson and a role model for other mothers gripped by the condition.
She said: "I've gotten an incredible amount of support and I was actually really surprised cause I feel like I grew up in this industry that, in my mind, was very judgmental.
"I didn't even look at social media.
"Then, when I looked, people were like, 'Oh my gosh, good for you,' and I am so proud to be a spokesperson and a woman that people can look to and to know that they're not alone and they're not weak if they go and they seek help."
Hayden returned to work on 'Nashville' - on which she plays country singer Juliette Barnes - earlier this month and admits she initially found it tough going back on set.
Speaking to 'Entertainment Tonight' on the red carpet at last night's (17.01.16) Critics' Choice Awards - at which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - she said: "To be honest it was kind of a rocky start for me and especially emotionally.
"The first scene that I did the other day when I saw certain people that I haven't seen in a while and I felt really comfortable -- I just lost it and I couldn't keep it together. So, it held us up for a second but we got it at the end."
Hayden Panettiere surprised by support
Hayden Panettiere was "really surprised" by the support she received when she sought treatment for postpartum depression.
The 26-year-old actress checked into a facility in October - 10 months after the birth of her and fiancé Wladamir Klitschko's daughter Kaya - and she is "proud" to now be seen as a spokesperson and a role model for other mothers gripped by the condition.
She said: "I've gotten an incredible amount of support and I was actually really surprised cause I feel like I grew up in this industry that, in my mind, was very judgmental.
"I didn't even look at social media.
"Then, when I looked, people were like, 'Oh my gosh, good for you,' and I am so proud to be a spokesperson and a woman that people can look to and to know that they're not alone and they're not weak if they go and they seek help."
Hayden returned to work on 'Nashville' - on which she plays country singer Juliette Barnes - earlier this month and admits she initially found it tough going back on set.
Speaking to 'Entertainment Tonight' on the red carpet at last night's (17.01.16) Critics' Choice Awards - at which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - she said: "To be honest it was kind of a rocky start for me and especially emotionally.
"The first scene that I did the other day when I saw certain people that I haven't seen in a while and I felt really comfortable -- I just lost it and I couldn't keep it together. So, it held us up for a second but we got it at the end."