Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Judgement:

Verdict: Somewhat lukewarm

Almost 40 years have passed since the original Ghostbusters arrived in Britain, which is somewhat disturbing for those of us who vividly remember seeing the film in December 1984.

To make matters worse, I recently rewatched it and it may just have aged better than we have.

It was also a very influential film. It got Hollywood excited about the comedic potential of special effects, while society as a whole, albeit especially in America, began adding the suffix “busters” to everything.

‘Price breakers’ and ‘budget breakers’ became everyday expressions. And of course, Ivan Reitman’s film went gangbusters at the box office.

Reitman died two years ago, but had a producer credit on the 2021 revival, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was directed by his son Jason and was a ton of fun.

Now Gil Kenan, who co-wrote Afterlife, is directing a sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

It’s less engaging than the 2021 film, with a meandering plot that only really comes together in the last half hour. Like many of the best minds, it is somewhat formless.

But the lovable principals are the same as last time, led by the beautiful young Mckenna Grace, whose feisty character, 15-year-old Phoebe Spengler, looks and acts as if she’s been advised to envision a female Harry Potter.

Phoebe now lives in the Manhattan firehouse made famous by the original film, with her older brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), mother Callie (Carrie Coon) and her mother’s partner, formerly her own science teacher, Mr Grooberson (Paul Rudd ).

They spend their days patrolling the streets in a venerable Mercedes Sprinter, equipped to help them zap the city’s more dangerous ghosts.

But of course they are not alone in this noble mission. Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson reprise their characters from the 1984 film, while British stand-up comedian James Acaster joins the cast as a paranormal investigator.

He works out of a laboratory in an old aquarium, where technicians extract ghosts from everyday objects, but don’t quite manage to coax much discernible acting talent out of Acaster.

He is what you might call endearingly wooden, although I expect American audiences will be more than satisfied with his vague resemblance to the young Michael Caine.

Meanwhile, Phoebe is randomly playing solo chess in Washington Square Park one night and encounters a ghost about her age, Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), who died “in a terrifying tenement fire.”

The pair bond over obvious hints, as in the last film, that Phoebe may be homosexual. We can definitely expect an LGBTQ Ghostbusters next time. But in the meantime, is Melody the supportive spirit she seems to be?

Let’s just say she has conflicting motivations, ending in what you might call a wraith aligned with the real villain of the piece, an evil 4,000-year-old warrior who, of course, wants to destroy humanity.

He wants to do this with his all-too-literally chilling ability to freeze everything he touches.

And as all this silliness unfolds, there are some fun set pieces and crackerjack one-liners, especially when Murray enters the fray, but at no point was I as enchanted as when I watched the last film, or even to the first.

The Persian version

Judgement:

Verdict: Worth immersion

The Persian version is also about conflict, but only within a family.

In Maryam Keshavarz’s partly autobiographical film, Leila (Layla Mohammadi) is a bisexual screenwriter who grew up in New Jersey after her parents and eight brothers left post-revolutionary Iran.

Leila spent her school years feeling that she was too Iranian to assimilate into America, and too American to go on visits to Iran.

But as an adult, her identity crisis has more to do with her sexuality, and the confrontations it brings with her strict mother, Shireen (Niousha Noor).

If that makes it sound a bit too solemn and intense, I can reassure you.

Overall, The Persian Version is a comedy, and especially a lively one, full of self-aware quirks in which Leila breaks the so-called “fourth wall” and speaks directly into the camera, or in which characters become immobile as the action unfolds around the film. them.

Keshavarz also ambitiously tries to tell Shireen’s story and takes us back to her traumatic life as a very young mother during the time of the Shah.

This requires a change in tone that feels more like a stab; the director doesn’t quite execute it. But throughout, there’s enough that’s both funny and thought-provoking to make the film worthwhile.

A NEW species of chimera has been discovered off the coast of Thailand.

The creature, called Chimaera supapae, has a huge head, gigantic eyes and feather-like fins.

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Chimeras, also called “ghost sharks,” are a type of cartilaginous fish related to sharks and rays.

Cartilaginous fish are among the oldest fish alive today. Living Science noted.

The newly described species is a type of short-nosed chimera, researchers explained.

Scientists documented this discovery in an article published March 6 in the journal Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.

The paper notes that ghost sharks live in the dark waters of the deep sea, where sunlight does not reach.

Specifically, they are found at depths below 1,640 feet around the continental slopes and ocean ridges.

The fish species tend to feed on bottom-dwelling animals such as crustaceans and molluscs, according to LiveScience.

Chimaera supapae can grow up to 50 centimeters in length, with long, broad pectoral fins.

Scientists believe the fins help the creature move across the seabed.

Perhaps most interesting is where the species was discovered: off the Andaman coast of Thailand.

It is important to note that the fish was found dead as part of a deep-sea research project conducted in 2018.

“Chimeras are rare in this region of the world,” David Ebertlead author of the study and program director of the Pacific Shark Research Center at San Jose State University in California, told LiveScience in an email.

“There were only 53 known species of chimeras in the world; these are 54,” Ebert said.

The discovery of Chimaera supapae is exciting for scientists because it helps us learn more about the diversity of life in the deep sea.

“Evolutionarily, these chimeras are among some of the oldest lineages of fish, with the lineage dating back 300 to 400 million years,” Ebert said.

“The discovery of new species like this chimera tells us how little we know about the marine environment and how much remains to be explored.”

A HIGH street fashion chain has closed another branch, after already closing more than 200 branches.

Peacocks, which once had more than 400 stores in the UK, closed another of its stores on March 16.

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Peacocks fell into administration in 2020 and was forced to close just over 200 of its 400 stores.

The chain was rescued in April 2021 and was able to keep its remaining stores open, saving 2,000 jobs.

But now the retailer has had to close more doors in a desperate bid to stay afloat.

The latest to bite the bullet is the Peacocks branch at Clarendon Square Mall in Hyde, which will close for good on Saturday, March 16.

According to Tameside Correspondent, the nearest branch is now Ashton-under-Lyne.

The Peacocks branch in Hyde even had a closing sale in 2020, although it reopened after Covid restrictions were lifted.

Now it appears the closure is permanent.

It is not the only Peacocks store that will disappear from the high street in the coming weeks.

The retailer has announced it will close its store on Wales’ high street Merthyr Tydfil on March 23.

However, the cheap fashion chain will close with a bang and keep a mega discount of 30 percent on all sales.

Meanwhile, the store at Ashford’s County Square Shopping Center in Kent will also close on March 23.

The unit has just reopened after ‘essential electrical work’ kept it closed for more than a week.

Elsewhere, Peacocks in Camborne, Cornwall, will close on April 3.

In addition, it is also closing its branch in Boscombe, Bournemouth on April 6, which is a blow to locals.

The retailer announced news of the closure on its Facebook page, where a closure notice was also displayed in the branch window.

Peacocks fell into administration in November 2020 and closed half of the 420 stores they had at the time, dealing a major blow to the high street.

The fashion retailer went bankrupt after struggling to do business during the coronavirus pandemic and multiple lockdowns.

However, it has slowly returned to the high street and has built its portfolio back up to around 350 stores.

And in October last year, the chain announced plans to open seven new stores in Wales, England and Scotland.

It has not confirmed the exact opening dates for the new stores.

It comes as several other major chains have taken serious hits on the high street.

Last year, popular retailers such as Wilko fell under administration and disappeared from the shopping streets for good.

Body Shop also recently went into administration and announced it would close almost half of its 198 stores.

Seven branches have already closed with immediate effect, but administrators of the major retailer said they wanted to “safeguard the future of the brand” with the restructuring.

Struggling fashion brand Superdry is also exploring various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring.

A Sports Direct branch in Stroud, Gloucestershire, will pull down the shutters for good at the end of March – after closing its branch in Central Six Retail Park, Coventry, at the end of January.

Supermarket chains such as Lidl, Tesco and Iceland have been closing their stores since the beginning of 2023.

And budget retailers such as Poundstretcher and Argos are also struggling to keep some of their own stores afloat.

Shoppers are upset after a budget fashion chain announced it was closing one of its branches for good.

Select has more than 100 stores in the UK, including branches in Manchester, Bolton and Sunderland.

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The brand was founded in 1980 and has become a permanent fixture on the shopping street.

But now the chain has announced plans to down the shutters of its branch in London’s Erith Riverside Shopping Center.

A statement on the store’s official Facebook page read: “Unfortunately, it is with great regret that we have to announce that we will be closing our doors next month!

“Select Erith would like to thank all our lovely customers who have shopped with us over the past few years.

“Erith Select has been providing services to our customers for 10 years and will be missed by many.

“We hope that our customers will continue to shop with us, long after we have left our website or other branches.

“Come select yours and get a bargain while you can!!!”

Shoppers rushed to the comments section to share their sadness over the decision.

One said: “It will soon be a ghost town.”

Another wrote: “That’s sad, another nice store is leaving.”

The Sun has contacted Select and the Riverside Shopping Center for comment.

The brand has launched a closing sale, with a sign in the store advertising ‘crazy offers’.

It reads: “Crazy deals. This store is closing.”

It comes after Select announced it would close its store in Ashford’s County Square shopping center in Kent.

The branch closed for the last time at the end of February.

What other changes are taking place on the high street?

The main street is almost unrecognizable compared to what it once was, with some locals describing their town as more of a ‘ghost town’.

Shops, pubs and restaurants are all falling victim to the rising cost of living, with high rents and bills making it impossible to survive.

Shoppers no longer have the cash to splash like they used to, with many just managing to get by after paying for essentials.

Last year, popular retailers such as Wilko fell under administration and disappeared from the shopping streets for good.

Fans were devastated by the discounter’s demise, but it appears the retailer is making a comeback.

The Range took over the website and brand name last year and has since started opening a number of new concept stores, much to the delight of fans.

Wilko stores have already opened in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton and the opening dates of a further two locations have recently been announced.

The stores in St. Albans and Rotherham will open at 9am on Good Friday, March 29.

Meanwhile, it’s not such good news for Body Shop fans as the iconic beauty retailer recently went into administration and revealed it would be closing almost half of its 198 stores.

Seven branches have already closed with immediate effect, but administrators of the major retailer said they wanted to “safeguard the future of the brand” with the restructuring.

Struggling fashion brand Superdry is also exploring various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring.

However, some retailers are bucking the trend and opening in new locations.

Primark said it will open five new stores, with one coming within weeks.

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Ghost towns conjure up images of completely abandoned buildings, dilapidated streets and total isolation. But that’s not always the case: some ghost towns still hold on or try to return to the days of old. Here are a few “abandoned” towns in America that some people still call home.

Related: Top 10 residents of cities that have been abandoned for no reason

10 Goodsprings, Nev

Nevada and California are lousy with ghost towns. Former mining towns often fell into rapid decline during the Gold Rush of the mid-19th century and well into the early 20th century. Most of these are historically protected parks or state parks and therefore uninhabited.

However, Goodsprings’ proximity to Las Vegas and Hollywood has contributed to its continued existence into modern times. It is home to the Pioneer Saloon, believed to be the oldest and most authentic saloon in the southern half of the state.

The village is best known for being the place where actress Carole Lombard died in a plane crash. Her husband, the soon-to-be Clark Gable, spent hours in grief at the aforementioned Pioneer Saloon.

Today, Goodsprings is home to just under 200 people and hosts food and adventure tours.^[1]

9 Thurmond, West Virginia

Like most ghost towns, Thurmond had one thing that kept its residents afloat for years. Thurmond’s train station led to a boom in travel and trade in the previously isolated area.

To accommodate them, the Dunglen Hotel (which banned alcohol for about 200 residents) was built across the Thurmond River. The hotel quickly gained fame as a haven for gambling and partying, with weekly balls and shows in the grand lobby and recreation rooms. According to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, this was the site’s longest poker game ever (14 years!).

As Thurmond’s popularity waned due to its inaccessibility (except by rail), the final nail in the coffin was the destruction of the Dunglen Hotel in 1930 by arsonists. The government is now based in the New River Gorge National Park and owns most of the land not inhabited by its five residents (as of the 2010 census).^[2]

8 Bannack, Montana

Before Montana was a U.S. state, it was an area inhabited by the Native American Bannack tribe (hence the name). In 1892, gold was discovered nearby, and of course Bannack became the place to be. So much so that it was the capital of the Montana Territory for two years.

Harsh winters, crime and remoteness doomed Bannack in the 20th century. Twelve people still live there now. But don’t worry, they’re having fun. Once a year, the city hosts ‘Bannack Days’, where visitors can experience Bannack as it looked in its heyday. Historical reenactments, mock mining and authentic Western food draw hundreds of visitors to Bannack every summer.^[3]

7 Rodney, Mississippi

At one point, this sleepy little hamlet was just three votes away from becoming the state capital. Even before that, the geography of the area made it ideal for crossing the raging Mississippi River, which drew Native Americans and eventually commercial boats through the location.

In the 1830s, Rodney had the state’s first opera house, as well as numerous shops and restaurants. Unfortunately, the population declined in 1843 due to a violent outbreak of yellow fever. But Rodney was able to recover and reached his peak in the 1860s.

Ultimately, it was the Civil War that destroyed this steamboat town. Although the city itself did not see any massacre, the war devastated the surrounding land and with it the livestock and economy. Like most of the South, Reconstruction only furthered these trends, and today the exact population is unknown.^[4]

6 Shaniko, Oregon

This former “Wool Capital of the World” was first called a ghost town at the 1959 Oregon Centennial Exposition, despite the fact that as of 2020 it has a population of 30 people. The area lost business when Oregon’s railroads were updated in the 1960s with more direct routes to major cities, leaving Shaniko isolated.

Home to a well-maintained historic district, Shaniko becomes a respectable tourist attraction in the summer for those who want to explore an (almost) real ghost town. During this time the small museum of the municipality is open, along with the shop and other historical remains.^[5]

5 Jeroen, Arizona

It can be sad to read about all these little places that have simply been forgotten or abandoned over the years. Here’s one that almost met that fate, but has been on the rise ever since.

Jerome, Arizona, was home to copper mines and more than 10,000 people in the late 1800s. As in many ghost towns, once the ore resources became scarce, so did the population. The Great Depression exacerbated these problems and the city nearly disappeared from existence.

But the residents of Jerome didn’t let that happen: rather, they turned to tourism. Jerome is now a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist destination with a population of nearly 500 (up from less than 100 in the 1950s).^[6]

4 Cairo, Illinois

Located right at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Cairo, Illinois has a rich history that you might not expect from the Midwest. Ulysses S. Grant established a Civil War base in Cairo in 1862, and from then until 1920 the population continued to rise rapidly.

For many years, the two rivers made this city an extremely successful port for steamboat trade and commerce. At its peak, Cairo had more than 15,000 inhabitants.

Unfortunately, tensions between black and white citizens in the area came to a head during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Violent protests, gun battles and even firebombings ravaged the area, making Cairo extremely unsafe for families of all races. Cairo’s reputation declined, and although its rivers made it popular in the early 20th century, the city suffered a major flood in 2011 that destroyed most of the dikes surrounding the area.

Today, Cairo has a population of just under 1,500. Despite this significant population, it is often referred to as a ghost town due to its almost completely abandoned downtown and historic district.^[7]

3 Monowi, Nebraska

Unlike most other towns on this list, Monowi has always been small. The peak population was 150 in 1930, and now it is down to just one. That’s right, only one person lives there. Rudy and Elsie Eiler lived in Monowi in 2000, but when Rudy died in 2004, Elsie decided to stay. Since she is the only resident, she is the mayor, librarian, secretary and whatever else the village needs.

There are other hamlets in America with one population. However, Monowi is the only one still officially established, thanks to Eiler’s dedication. Every year she collects taxes from herself to keep the town’s three lampposts lit and the water on. She even runs a tavern with ‘the coldest beer in town’.^[8]

2 Centralia, PA

The least populated community in Centralia has a good reason for this: staying too long can be dangerous to your health.

In 1961, a fire was started in a nearby landfill, which eventually spread to the underground coal mines. The 1,500 residents had no idea anything was wrong until it was discovered in 1979 that the temperature of underground gas containers was much higher than it should be. Then a sinkhole opened, almost killing a little boy.

Understandably, many fled as the fire continued to burn. The fire released toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, threatening everyone in the area. Just eleven years after the discovery of the underground fire, the population dropped to 63. In 2002, Centralia’s zip code was abolished and in 2013 it was agreed with the seven remaining citizens that they could remain in Centralia until their death. As of the 2020 census, only five remain.^[9]

1 Gary, Indiana

Like Cairo, Gary isn’t technically a ghost town, but it’s in the process of becoming one. It is actually the ninth largest city in Indiana, with almost 70,000 residents. This seems like a lot, but compare it to the city’s peak population of 176,000 in 1960. What caused the population to drop by 60%?

Well, a lot of things. Gary was “The Magic City” during the early 20th century, just across the border from Chicago. Located right on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan and only 30 miles from Chicago, the steel mills provided ample employment for immigrants and natives alike. Gary was known as a cute and vibrant town, the epitome of Midwestern culture. This is so true that in his 1957 musical The Music ManMeredith Wilson had the con artist protagonist pretend to be Gary’s to reinforce his trustworthiness.

Sadly, Gary would begin his descent just three years later. In 1960, competitive prices from other countries’ steel mills led to a huge loss of jobs and trade for Gary. As in Cairo, Gary also experienced civil unrest in the 1960s due to racial tensions. Three thousand National Guardsmen were needed to restore order, and citizens were subjected to strict curfews and a ban on gasoline and liquor.

All these factors led to a rapid rush to leave Gary, especially by residents who could afford to move. Those who couldn’t were left behind as the city fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, Gary was known as ‘the city of the century’. In 1994 it was named the murder capital of the US

Despite these setbacks, Gary’s government and people are resilient. The area has seen many new developments to entice tourists and potential citizens, including art centers and casinos. Many dilapidated buildings are being demolished or restored rather than just left to rot in the hope that this once prosperous area can recover.^[10]

Located on a remote island in Alaska sits a McDonald’s seemingly frozen in time, with its original drive-thru menu still on display and its interior untouched from the day it closed in 1993.

Canadian videographer and photographer Chris Luchardt recently visited the abandoned fast food restaurant on Adak and documented what he found.

His YouTube video shows the windows and doors closed, but outside is a sign showing some of the items that were offered decades ago – as well as the incredibly low prices they were all offered for.

Back then, a BigMac cost $2.45 (the equivalent of $5.10 today) and a hamburger cost 99 cents (the equivalent of $2.08 today). Today, those same items cost about $7.19 and $3.39 respectively, depending on your location.

In a sign of the times, when Jurassic Park was a huge success at the cinemas, a sign at the drive-thru stand advertises a ‘Dino-Size’ meal. The blurb explains: “Get Dino-Size fries and a large soda in a free Jurassic Park collectible cup.”

One photo uploaded to Flickr by user Travis S. also reveals the eatery’s interior, with a terracotta tiled floor and retro-style plastic chairs.

Filmmaker Luckhardt notes in his video how the McDonald’s is located in the ghost town of Adak, which once served as a bustling naval base with more than 6,000 residents.

The grassy rock served as an important strategic base to protect against Japanese invasion during World War II and beyond.

However, once tensions had subsided, the base was closed in 1997 and many people living in the community had already moved out by that time.

Luckhardt told DailyMail.com that the Adak McDonald’s opened in July 1986 and that the Navy “helped the franchisee ship everything.”

The prices at the restaurant were higher than those in mainland America because everything had to be flown in or shipped.

One veteran told Luckhardt that he paid more than $6.00 for a 20-piece McNugget meal when the restaurant opened.

Despite the relatively high prices, another veteran said people were not deterred and it was “packed every day.”

And compared to the modern McDonald’s menu, those prices seem much more reasonable — with a Filet-O-Fish costing just $1.95 in 1993, while today the same sandwich would cost you about $5.99.

For years the restaurant remained a popular spot, but when the military efforts began to wane, the owner decided to close shop.

Luckhardt explains, “The franchisees left Adak when the Navy base was decommissioned and subsequently opened two McDonald’s in Oregon.

“They later moved to Texas and opened two other McDonald’s.

“When they closed their business in Adak, the McDonald’s corporate team deployed a crew to collect the arches along the main road in late 1994.”

After lying vacant for many years, the McDonald’s restaurant was repurposed as an employee dining facility by a local seafood processing company from 2011 to 2013.

“Icicle Seafoods gutted the kitchen, but the pastel-colored chairs remained intact, based on an interior photo from 2018,” says Luckhardt.

The restaurant was then boarded up after “an unfortunate act of vandalism shortly before the pandemic,” which resulted in “at least one of the restaurant’s windows being smashed.”

Like McDonald’s, most other buildings in Adak are abandoned.

Luckhardt’s drone footage reveals a patchwork of vacant buildings left to the elements, while parked vehicles are also rusting.

One building with antennas was used for ‘radio navigation and intelligence gathering’, while the base also housed a hospital, pub and town hall.

According to Luckhardt, 33 permanent residents still live in Adak today.

Some are employed by the small local government, some work at the airport where there are two flights a week from Anchorage, while a group also manages accommodation for tourists, including hunting, fishing and bird watching.

Several homes in Adak are listed on Airbnb, with rates starting around $200 per night.

A map of the small community on the local government website shows that some of the facilities still operating include a bar and grill, liquor store, gas station, school and post office.

A furious debate erupted on Monday’s Good Morning Britain when former Apprentice star Ryan-Mark Parsons argued that it is “empowering” to “ghost” an interview offer.

The idea of ​​”ghosting” is a term coined in relation to dating apps, for when someone loses interest and rejects someone they’ve been seeing or chatting with, without offering an explanation.

But a new study from recruitment platform Indeed shows that it has also become commonplace during the job search.

The study found that eight in ten (79 percent) of Generation Z and Millennial job seekers – defined for the study as ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 39, respectively – have engaged in ghosting in the past year.

Meanwhile, 93 percent of Gen Z applicants said they simply didn’t show up for a job interview.

Ryan-Mark, who became the youngest ever candidate for The Apprentice in 2019, appeared on GMB with Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley and argued that ignoring an interview request can feel ’empowering’.

Susanna asked, “How on earth is it empowering to ghost the employer?” You just don’t get the job you wanted.’

But Ryan-Mark, now 23, replied: ‘It’s about being selective. You have decided not to opt for that position. Why do you need to inform the employer of this? They treat you with no respect. 75 percent of employers don’t even contact candidates after they apply.

“All you’re doing is returning the same kind of respect. There’s a reason why you’re not showing up for the interview.’

CEO of Gen Z company Saffron Gilbert-Kaluba, founder of The Law Chronicle, was quick to disagree, arguing that the practice of ghosting interviews is rude and disrespectful.

She said, “The person you’re trying to pin it on has contacted you. I feel like it’s narcissistic. There is no point in breaking potential relationships with companies and people who can help you in the future.

‘You have to see it as life. Do you expect a reaction to everything in your life? Sometimes you have to make peace without conclusion.”

She added, “You feel empowered by ghosting someone who gives you a chance.

“I just think it’s a really bad thing for Gen Z culture to say, you know what, I could just stick with the guy and not put enough effort into it. Actually it paints a very bad picture.’

Susanna added: ‘You may be without job offers six months later,’ but Ryan-Mark said this was a ‘minimal risk’.

He continues: ‘It takes an average of three to six months to find a new job. It is a difficult process. The majority don’t even send an automatically generated email.

‘Don’t be so whiny, so petulant and so thin. Get over it! Go to another candidate.’

Ryan-Mark added that he also wouldn’t contact a restaurant to cancel a dinner reservation if he changed his mind.

A GMB poll found that 12 percent thought it was acceptable not to show up for a job interview.

Indeed’s survey asked 1,500 companies and 1,500 adults about ghosting in the workplace.

Nearly one in five of the Generation Z cohort said ghosting potential employers was empowering and allowed them to take charge of their careers.

Nearly nine in 10 said they didn’t show up on their first day of work, and almost a quarter said they quit their job without notice.

Viewers were left divided after the segment, as one said: ‘How to reduce your job prospects in one simple lesson…’

Another commented: ‘It’s called bad manners! Simple.’

But another agreed with Ryan-Mark: ‘Totally agree with the young man. Even if it is an automatic response, it is common to notify an applicant if they have not passed.

“Would you please say thank you for your morning coffee?” Manners cost nothing and go a long way in life.’

A final viewer concluded: ‘People of any age don’t show up for interviews. Many companies don’t bother to acknowledge applications. Both are wrong.’

Businesses have said that attitudes towards ‘ghosting’ are making the process of hiring new staff more difficult, which has been noted by Apprentice winner Ricky Martin.

Several times a year, his company organizes assessment days for graduates who want to join his company, he says, but “an increasing percentage of those who have accepted an invitation simply don’t show up.”

He added: “It’s a huge shift from the world I grew up in,” adding: “I got my first job at 13, delivering papers, and at 16 I was earning £ 2.97 an hour at my local Budgens.

‘Some of the work was boring, but I never doubted its necessity: the effort was part of the road to success. Twenty years later, I struggle to see the same attitude in this new crop.

“While many of the young people I recruit are committed and enthusiastic, their focus has changed.

‘No matter how enthusiastic they are, they come to an interview – when they come – asking what my company can do for them, instead of what they have to offer. Young people undoubtedly see social media influencers working from a beach and believe they should be able to do the same.”

Dominic West has revealed he didn't get out of bed for two days after reading negative reviews about The Crown.

The sixth and final series, released last year, was branded 'very tasteless' and 'absolutely deplorable' by critics and royal experts after the ghost of Princess Diana appeared in scenes.

The actor, 54, who played the King – and then Prince Charles – in the Netflix series, said he is relieved the drama is over and he no longer has to be immersed in the world of the royal family.

Dominic was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today program on Monday whether he was concerned about how the royals would react to the series.

He said: 'All the responses concern me. I read all the reviews and spent two days in bed.

“So yeah, I'm a sensitive soul, I worry about what people think.

“I don't want to make their lives any more difficult than they already are, so I guess it's your concern.”

Speaking about his experience on the show, Dominic said: “I loved being on it. I loved wearing the clothes. I loved driving cars and I loved it when people bowed to me. It's an absolutely amazing feeling.

'I miss it.'

The actor, who is promoting his new British theater production of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge, laughed: “It's such a relief to get back to the theater and not have to talk about the monarchy anymore.”

For the London run of his new show, 100 tickets per performance will cost £20 and be available to those under 25.

Dominic recently criticized the 'crazy' ticket prices and audiences for the West End, saying the costs 'mean only a certain small group of people go to the theater and probably won't enjoy it much'.

Netflix's decision to have Princess Diana's ghost appear before her ex-husband Prince Charles and the late Queen in The Crown has been slammed by royal experts.

Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, had an emotional reconciliation with a grieving Charles, played by Dominic, in the show's sixth and final series.

She then reappeared in phantom form before Queen Elizabeth II, played by Imelda Staunton, as they discussed funeral arrangements with Charles.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline at the time of the launch that 'the idea that they have even considered Diana as a ghost seems absolutely strange', especially given the controversial elements already swirling around the show.

He also said Charles would remain silent about the portrayal, but Princes William and Harry could speak out.

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede added that the brothers could be “shocked” by the portrayal of their late mother, and that it would be “quite triggering.”

Katie Rosseinsky of The Independent gave the show only two stars and was among those who saw the ending as far removed from its successful beginning.

She wrote, “When it comes to The Crown and What If?, the biggest question is this: What if this juggernaut of a show hadn't wasted its once-golden potential?

“As the final six episodes arrive on Netflix, bringing a half-century saga to a close, Morgan's drama is haunted by the ghost of faded glory.”

The largely scathing review added that some of William and Harry's lines appear to have been written by an 'AI bot', and while praising The Queen's (Imelda Staunton) final scenes, she added that they were 'not enough and arrived too late.

Anita Singh of The Telegraph agreed, arguing that a “once-beautiful drama relinquishes itself to a miserable whimper”.

Singh said: “Farewell then to The Crown (Netflix), a show that started as a sublime period drama – interesting history, fantastic dresses, a luminous Claire Foy – and ends as a Hallmark Channel movie in which the Queen has a nightmare. Tony and Cherie Blair are crowned at Westminster Abbey with the new anthem Things Can Only Get Better, and William and Kate's dreamy first kiss is interrupted by a royal protection officer announcing the Queen Mother's death.'

The Times seemed more positive, offering three stars and calling it a “mediocre ending to a royal epic,” adding that it was “pretty dull” and felt like it “ran out of power like a Duracell advertisement'.

The mansion that Paul Burrell claims is haunted by the ghost of Princess Diana was previously owned by a close friend of the Queen, MailOnline has learned.

The former royal butler sparked surprise this week with claims that his Cheshire home is apparently haunted by the former Princess of Wales – even though she never visited the property and he himself only moved in 20 years after her death.

The mock Tudor mansion is actually owned by Burrell's partner, retired litigator Graham Cooper, 64, who appears with the butler in an upcoming episode of the show Celebrity Help! My House is Haunted on Discovery Plus.

Mr Burrell, 65, and his husband called in paranormal 'experts' after allegedly claiming they were kept awake at night by shadowy figures, whiffs of cigarette smoke and unexplained bumps.

Now MailOnline can reveal that the mansion itself, like Mr Burrell, has links to the royal family.

The previous owner, from whom Mr Cooper bought the house, was Timothy John Edward Tollemache, the 5th Baron Tollemache, a close friend of the Queen.

The stately home near Chester sits on land that was once part of an estate surrounding Peckforton Castle.

Land registry documents show the aristocrat struck a deal with Mr Cooper and another man in November 1998, with Mr Cooper subsequently becoming the sole owner of the property in 2008.

Eton-educated Baron Tollemache, who lives in Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, was Lord Lieutenant of that county for 11 years until 2014.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were both close friends of Baron Tollemache for decades, making 27 consecutive annual visits to stay with his family in Helmingham.

After the queen's death, Baron Tollemache said: 'It was there where they could take off their shoes and relax in front of the fire, especially in bad times like those she described… such as her 'annus horribilis', including after the death of the queen. things, the Windsor Castle fire earlier that same week.”

Historically, the Tollemache family were the largest landowners in Cheshire in the 19th century – and the family built Peckforton Castle as a Victorian country house in the style of a medieval castle.

The faux-Tudor house is believed to date from the 19th century, when wealthy landowner Tollemache built about 50 houses on the 35,000-acre estate.

Many of the properties, built in the 1860s and '70s, included up to 3 acres of land to encourage workers to take out the leases to farm their own plots to supplement their income.

The castle was sold to a hotel group in 1998, while the house now occupied by Mr Burrell and Mr Burrell – also believed to be the ghost of the Princess of Wales – stood on a separate plot which was also sold on the same plot. time.

It is not clear how much Mr Cooper and his associate paid for it. But in the current market the house is believed to be worth around £2 million.

The property also previously featured in an episode of the property show Through the Keyhole, in which Mr Burrell discussed it.

Mr Burrell previously lived with his wife Maria Cosgrove in a more modest home in the province before they separated.

In the program, the ghost hunting team deploys a device that they claim can “listen beyond the human ear to any contact with nearby spirits.”

The machine reported back with the words 'sorry' and 'France' and Mr Burrell believes the latter could be a reference to the Princess's death in a car crash while passing through the Pont de L'Alma tunnel Paris was driven.

The Mirror reports that the former royal butler said: 'I don't understand why it would say 'France' other than the fact that the princess died in France and the fact that I went to France to bring her home.

'I had been introduced to this world before by the princess, she was deeply involved in spirituality.'

Diana's ex-butler has previously described herself as the late princess's 'best friend', claiming she called him 'the only man she ever trusted'.

And Mr Burrell is convinced Diana is still contacting him more than 26 years after her death.

“If you have loved someone in your life – and I have loved her – and that person passes away very quickly, a little piece of them remains and you carry them with you for the rest of your days,” said he.

Mr Burrell added that he dreams about Diana regularly, usually around 3am, but is not obsessed with her as he only has one photo of the two together, although he has hundreds of photos of the princess.

The former royal servant also said that Queen Elizabeth II believed in ghosts and would only stay at Allt-na-giubhsaich, the cottage in Balmoral, when her corgis were with her because they would sense a supernatural presence before she could.

This comes after Mr Burrell applauded King Charles for being so open about his prostate condition on Monday.

Mr Burrell was given the 'all clear' by doctors last year after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, he said: 'His problems and condition are very different to mine, but similar in other ways. It will be uncomfortable for him, but his message is clear, he wants people to know about it and he wants people to come. forward.

“This is also what I say, but he has a bigger platform than I do, people follow him and go to the doctor, people go en masse.”