Placeholder Content Image

Game of Thrones actor passes away at just 39

<p>In a heartbreaking turn of events, Darren Kent, the actor known for his role in Game of Thrones, has passed away following a valiant struggle against osteoporosis, arthritis and an exceptionally rare skin disorder.</p> <p>News of his departure was confirmed by his talent agency, Carey Dodd Associates, through a statement shared on Facebook page this Tuesday.</p> <p>"It is with deep sadness we have to tell you that our dear friend and client Darren Kent passed away peacefully on Friday, his parents and best friend by his side. Our thoughts and love are with his family in this difficult time."</p> <p>They continued: "Darren was not only a talented actor, director and writer, he was truly one of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.</p> <p>"It has been a privilege and pleasure to have been a part of his journey. RIP my friend."</p> <p>Darren Kent's on-screen legacy is highlighted by his memorable portrayal as a goatherder in a pivotal 2014 episode of <em>Game of Thrones</em>. His artistic journey began a decade earlier with his first screen credit in the original series <em>Shameless</em>, setting the stage for his ventures into film.</p> <p>Notable among his filmography are roles in the 2008 horror film <em>Mirrors</em>, starring Kiefer Sutherland, as well as 2012's <em>Snow White and the Huntsman</em>. Television audiences were also treated to his talent, as he graced the screens of shows like <em>Community</em> and the BBC's <em>EastEnders</em>.</p> <p>He stole the show with his recent portrayal as the 'Yes' Corpse <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">in 2023's</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Dungeons &amp; Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, </em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">one of his final performances. A glance at his IMDb page hints at a future that he won't be able to witness, listing six upcoming titles, comprising short films and the feature titled </span><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">What I Know</em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / Instagram</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Savage Garden refuses to sell out their famous song

<p>Hayes said he’s been approached recently by an advertising company wanting to use the band’s 1997 major hit – <em>Truly Madly Deeply</em> – which Hayes wrote.</p> <p>The singer made his fans laugh on Twitter by sharing the lyrics the advertising company wanted to use and Hayes posted: “If you knew how much money I turn down and how hard I fight to protect your high school memories.”</p> <p>The lyrics the company had pitched to him were:</p> <p><strong>VERSE 1</strong></p> <p><em>I’ll bring you Greek, I’ll bring you French, I’ll bring you Japanese. </em></p> <p><em>I’ll bring you Thai, Steak from the Pub, bring all the food that you need. </em></p> <p><em>Close to your door with every step, I’m outside holding your food. </em></p> <p><em>It will be warm, It will be tasty ‘cause I’m counting on a real good rating.</em></p> <p><em>That’s the reason I’m bringing, you Deep Fried Chicken </em></p> <p><strong>CHORUS 1</strong></p> <p><em>I want to stand with you on food mountain </em></p> <p><em>I want to float with you in some cheese. </em></p> <p><em>[insert brand name] Like this forever </em></p> <p><em>Until more fries rain down on me. </em></p> <p>Twitter users thanked the singer for not selling out and they described the advertising company’s lyrics as “truly madly cringy”, “awful” and “a travesty.”</p> <p>“These lyrics make me want to throw myself off food mountain,” tweeted <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/savage-garden-star-darren-hayes-rejects-companys-awful-pitch/news-story/@daggerandpe" target="_blank">@daggerandpen</a>.</p> <p>“‘I want to float with you in some cheese’ is my new pick-up line,” wrote <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/clairenelson/status/1422342652658425858?s=20" target="_blank">@clairenelson</a>.</p> <p>And <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/timbyrneses/status/1422343095534854154?s=20" target="_blank">@timbyrneses</a> tweeted: “Could you still record it? The people need to hear this cringe.”</p> <p><em>Truly Madly Deeply</em> was a huge hit for Hayes and his Savage Garden bandmate, Daniel Jones, when it was released in 1997.</p> <p>The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US and it became the first song in the chart’s history to spend a full 52 weeks inside the top 30.</p> <p>In Australia it won the ARIA award for Single of the Year and was nominated for Song of the Year but lost out to another Savage Garden song, <em>To the Moon and Back</em>.</p> <p>Savage Garden won 10 ARIAs that year from 13 nominations.</p> <p><em>Image: Wikimedia Commons</em></p>

Music

Placeholder Content Image

The best cheese to make the perfect cheese toastie

<p>Is there anything better than a good old-fashioned cheese toastie? Or a deliciously cheesy pizza? If anyone knows the secret to the perfect melted cheese, it’s chef and author of <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fchefs-eat-toasties-too-darren-purchese%2Fprod9781743793053.html" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chefs Eat Toasties Too</span></strong></em></a>, Darren Purchese. In the book, he reveals which cheeses are the best for melting – depending on what you’re making, of course! Here are his favourites.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Montgomery cheddar</strong> – Hailing from Somerset, England, this rich, beefy-flavoured cheese has “the perfect melting texture”, according to Purchese.</li> <li><strong>Bay of Fires cloth-bound cheddar</strong> – This traditionally-made cheddar is created by 13th-century cheesemaker, Ian Fowlers. The cheese is made and matured in repurposed shipping containers in St Helens, on Tasmania’s east coast.</li> <li><strong>Asiago </strong>– There are two types of this Italian cheese, depending on the flavour and texture you want. Young pressato is slightly sweeter and great for melting, as it becomes very stringy. Matured asiago, on the other hand, is deeper, denser and aged like parmesan.</li> <li><strong>Gouda </strong>– This classic aged Dutch cheese is rich, slightly caramelly and a little crunchy. Be careful, though – gouda separates during melting, leaving a clear liquid behind.</li> <li><strong>Emmental </strong>– As one of the main ingredients in fondue, this is one of the best melting cheeses; it becomes gooey and stringy but still manages to hold its shape.</li> <li><strong>Bulgarian feta</strong> – Unlike its crumbly Greek counterpart, Bulgarian feta is softer, creamier and sweeter, with a hint of citrus.</li> <li><strong>Gorgonzola piccante</strong> – Made in Lombardy, Italy, this aged blue cheese is slightly crumbly with a very unique taste. Make sure you don’t overcook it, though – it has a very low melting point.</li> <li><strong>Parmigiano Reggiano</strong> – Purchese suggests Reggiano aged for no more than 18 months to get the perfect sweet, rich flavour. It melts in a similar way to gouda, separating slightly with the fats becoming liquid.</li> <li><strong>Gruyere </strong>– A Swiss favourite, this is a perfect melting cheese, giving that amazing stringiness when pulled. It’s rich, nutty and ideal for toasties.</li> <li><strong>Raclette </strong>– The Swiss love this cheese so much, it’s a dish in and of itself. Smelly and savoury, make sure you use the delicious rind of this hard cheese. Scrape it over potatoes or onto a toastie for a taste explosion.</li> <li><strong>Fontina Val d’Aosta</strong> – Think of this as an Italian take on raclette. Cooked the same way, it’s ultra-savoury, slightly sharp and has a great melting texture.</li> <li><strong>Comte </strong>– Comte is the most popular cheese in France, thanks to its gorgeous, floral aroma and sweet, nutty flavour. Part of the gruyere family, it’s the ultimate melting cheese.</li> <li><strong>Taleggio </strong>– An Italian cheese with a sweet, milky, slightly yeasty flavour. Unlike raclette, you should avoid the rind of taleggio as it can leave an unpleasant bitterness when melted.</li> <li><strong>Fresh mozzarella</strong> – Silky and sweet, it’s no surprise that this cheese is a favourite around the world. Stringy and viscous, it’s great on toasties, in salads and on pizzas.</li> <li><strong>Burrata </strong>– Purchese describes burrata as “a pimped-out mozzarella”. It’s a stretched-curd cheese, richer and creamier than mozzarella. It melts quickly, so it’s best used in sandwiches that require light toasting.</li> </ol>

Food & Wine