Tag Archives: Channel 4

Christmas TV on Channel 4…and some Christmas facts.

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Photo: King of Christmas Lights

Some Christmas facts for you:

The idea that Father Christmas is red-and-white because of Coca Cola branding is an urban myth.

In Britain, the traditional Christmas meal used to be a pig’s head and mustard.

Kissing under the mistletoe is thought to spring from Frigga, the Norse goddess of love, who was associated with the plant.

Frigga is an excellent name for a goddess of love.

In Greece, Italy, Spain and Germany, workers get a Christmas bonus of one month’s salary by law. However, in the first three, there probably won’t be such a thing as money by Christmas.

In Holland, Father Christmas (Sinterklaas) is accompanied by Black Pete (Zwarte Piet) who, legend has it, takes bad children away in a sack. To Spain. Seriously.

Here are the delicious Christmas offerings on Channel 4 this Yuletide. Jesus, did I just write Yuletide?

Week 51

Saturday 17/12/2011
10pm
Catherine Tate: Laughing at the Noughties
Catherine Tate leads a two-hour romp through the very best comedy of the ‘Noughties’. Catherine meets Alan Carr, David Walliams, Noel Fielding, Rob Brydon and her Doctor Who co-star, David Tennant, all of whom reflect on the greatest comedy moments in recent history.

Sunday, 18/12/2011
8pm
Home for the Holidays 1/7
A soon-to-be-married couple bring their extended families together for the first time in Channel 4’s brand new, live entertainment event. Can they survive their own family, 24 hours a day for a week, to win up to half a million pounds? The family have to live together, put up with each other and bond under one raucous roof in an enchanting Christmas country manor house that is not quite what it seems. With tantalising twists and unexpected turns, festive surprises, treats and celebrity guests, can the young couple keep everyone together as they face a festive family experience like nothing ever seen on television before?

Sunday, 18/12/2011
10pm
Brüno
(2009) Sacha Baron Cohen follows up his outrageous PC-busting mockumentary Borat… with this outrageous PC-busting mockumentary about a disgraced gay Austrian fashion journalist seeking fame and fortune in the US of A. Network premiere.

Monday, 19/12/2011
7:30am
Perfect Couples
The US comedy series about three couples trying different ways to keep the spark in their relationships alive comes to Channel 4. In the first episode, Dave is disappointed that Julia doesn’t make an effort with him anymore so they decide to put on their best clothes and hit the town. Amy and Vance have a misunderstanding about some bed bugs and Rex and Leigh plan an Italian holiday.

Monday, 19/12/2011
4pm
Deal or No Deal: Deal Panto
The world of pantomime and fairytales descends on the Dream Factory this December, as Noel the Genie oversees proceedings in the hope of granting some Christmas wishes on Deal or No Deal: Deal Panto. In these special editions, contestants in live play at five box will have the opportunity to rub the Genie’s lamp and make a wish, which could allow them to continue one box at a time, or even walk away with a holiday. But, the wrong choice could let The Banker look inside their box or they could end up leaving with a pair of his underpants!

Monday, 19/12/2011
8pm
The Year the Earth Went Wild
A look back at a year where almost every month was affected by a natural disaster. With a record-breaking cold winter, the tsunami in Japan, the extraordinary killer American tornado season, the floods in Australia and a hurricane in New York, 2011 has seen an onslaught of epic-scale climate and geological events across the world, all caught on camera in the most spectacular fashion.

Monday, 19/12/2011
9pm
King of Christmas Lights
Cutting Edge explores the world of extreme Christmas decorating, meeting people who live for adorning their houses in festive regalia every year. Throwing a spotlight on what Christmas means in contemporary Britain, the film follows these people as they plan for months, buying the latest equipment and music-sequencing software and spending much of their disposable incomes on nothing but lights. The programme provides an insight into their true motives, relationships under strain from overindulgent merriment, households pitted against their neighbours in a bid to make their decorations outshine all others, and communities united in their desire to light up the night sky.

Monday, 19/12/2011
11:10pm
Syria’s Torture Machine
An investigation into the detention and torture of Syrian civilians featuring shocking video evidence of men, women and children being subjected to beatings, whippings and more elaborate torture. Victims, refugees and activists who have experienced or witnessed such brutality at the hands of Syrian President al-Assad’s forces speak out. Their stories, combined with the torture footage, refute President Assad’s claims that his forces are simply quelling an armed insurgency.

Tuesday 20/12/2011
9pm
Jamie’s Christmas with Bells On 2/2
In the second of two festive specials, Jamie Oliver shows how to create an original Christmas Day menu featuring festive fiesta tacos, brussels with hustle, and bloody mary seafood platter.

Wednesday 21/12/2011
8pm
Kirstie’s Home for Christmas
Having mastered the 12 crafts of Christmas, for the second of her two festive specials Kirstie shows off her skills as once again she gets into the competitive spirit at a magnificent, and very merry, annual Christmas fair.

Wednesday 21/12/2011
9pm
Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder
In a pretty village in the Surrey stockbroker belt lives the infamous Mr Wallace, whose hoarding habits have spread across a million pounds-worth of property that used to belong to his parents. His detached bungalow, four-bedroom semi-detached house and separate double garage are all stuffed from floor to ceiling with newspapers and other household items. Cutting Edge is given unique access into his intriguing home, where no one else has ever ventured.

Thursday, 22/12/2011
9pm
London’s Burning
Set in Clapham Junction, London, London’s Burning is a dramatic interpretation of a single night of rioting and looting that took place in August 2011. Starring David Morrissey and Samantha Bond as senior police officers, London’s Burning tells how residents, shopkeepers and businesses dealt with the violence.

Friday, 23/12/2011
8pm
Come Dine with Me: Comedians Christmas Special
Four comedians do culinary battle in a bid to win £1000 for charity. Going head-to-head in this festive special are Sean Hughes, Gina Yashere, Paul Tonkinson and Duncan Norvelle.

Week 52

Saturday 24/12/2011
7:10pm
Hairspray
Adam Shankman’s adaptation of the 2005 musical stars John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron and Elijah Kelley. Network Premiere.

Saturday 24/12/2011
10:50pm
Bill Bailey: Dandelion Mind
Captured in performance live, and featuring his trademark musical interludes, observations and stories of the road, Bill Bailey takes centre stage in Dandelion Mind, which is based loosely on the theme of doubt (or is it?) and features reflections on celebrity, TV, creationism, Michael Winner, and a brand-new French Disco re-working of Gary Numan’s hit, Cars.

Sunday, 25/12/2011
10am
Gordon’s Christmas Cookalong Live
This Christmas there’s no need to panic if you’ve left your festive food shop to the last minute, or the idea of cooking for the whole family fills you with dread. Help is at hand as Gordon Ramsay serves up an action-packed and irresistibly entertaining guide to cooking a fool-proof Christmas dinner – live on Christmas Day.

Sunday, 25/12/2011
2pm
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas
Special TV spin-off from the makers of the Ice Age film series. When Sid accidentally ruins one of Manny’s Christmas traditions, he’s told that he will now be on Santa’s naughty list. Sid heads to the North Pole with Crash, Eddie and Peaches in tow to plead his case directly to Santa Claus. Manny is worried when he hears that Peaches has gone with Sid and along with Ellie and Diego, treks to the North Pole to find her. Meanwhile, the gang accidentally destroy Santa’s workshop and have to pull off a miracle to save Christmas. Prod.Co: Fox Animation Studios

Sunday, 25/12/2011

4:15pm
Alternative Christmas Message
Channel 4’s traditional alternative to the Queen’s Christmas Day broadcast. First airing in 1993, the Alternative Christmas Message has previously featured an illustrious and varied selection of presenters, including the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an injured veteran from the war in Afghanistan; Quentin Crisp; the Reverend Jesse Jackson; Doreen and Neville Lawrence; a 9/11 survivor; and The Simpsons.

Sunday, 25/12/2011
9pm
Alan Carr: Chatty Man Christmas Special
Settle in for a treat of festive frolics plus the odd song or two as Alan is joined on the sofa by Ruth Jones who talks about her new drama, Stella. David Walliams drops in to talk all things Christmas. Plus infamous twosome Jedward are on hand to cause mayhem in the studio. Music comes from the newly reformed Steps, who perform a medley of their greatest hits.

Sunday, 25/12/2011
11:05pm
So This Is Christmas
So This Is Christmas is a festive comedy offering brimming with the UK’s freshest comedians as they examine the good, bad and downright ugly aspects of our favourite national holiday. Based in a domestic winter wonderland, the comedians all re-live their best and worst Christmas moments.

Monday, 26/12/2011
6:35pm
Come Dine with Me: Celebrity Christmas Special
It’s high camp at Christmas as five plucky celebrities take to the stage for a festive pantomime special for five nights across the week. Taking part are singer Linda Nolan, Bianca Gascoigne, former Doctor Who actor Colin Baker, Dancing on Ice and Coronation Street star Danny Young and pantomime villain ‘Nasty Nick’ Bateman.

Monday, 26/12/2011
9pm
Bear’s Wild Weekend with Miranda
Bear Grylls takes Miranda Hart on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the spectacular Swiss Alps for an exhilarating new programme. Adventurer, Chief Scout and best-selling author Bear challenges novice Miranda to go far beyond her comfort zone with a series of exhilarating adventures during an intense two-day expedition. Miranda traverses a glacier, crosses crevasses roped to Bear, tackles deep snow in snow shoes, completes a huge boulder scramble and abseils down a waterfall.

Monday, 26/12/2011
10pm
Chris Moyles’ Christmas Quiz Night
Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night loves Christmas like no other quiz show and tonight’s instalment is a very special seasonal edition. Chris will be competing against mighty comedy actor James Corden, X Factor singing sensation Olly Murs and Pineapple Studio’s irrepressible Louie Spence as each endeavours to win their supporters in the audience a share of a festive thousand pounds.

Wednesday 28/12/2011
8pm
Jon Snow’s 2011
Jon Snow reflects on an extraordinary 12 months of news. It’s a personal recollection of the news stories that mattered to him. Some he witnessed first-hand, like the fall of Mubarak or the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami; others he covered from the studios of Channel 4 News; all left their mark on him and millions of others. The Arab Spring, the English riots and the Eurozone economic and financial crisis have all helped define 2011 but for Jon these stories were also linked by the phenomenon of social networks and instant global communication. This was also the year of Hackgate, when his own profession came under intense public scrutiny. And it’s the year he got an honorary degree from Liverpool University, 45 years after the same university chucked him out for student activism.

Wednesday 28/12/2011
9pm
The Untold Tommy Cooper
This one-off special looks at the untold life of British national treasure, comedian and magician Tommy Cooper. Fans as diverse as Johnny Vegas, Damien Hirst, Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Roger Moore, Alfred Molina and Reece Shearsmith talk about their love of Cooper.

Wednesday 28/12/2011
11:35pm
Ben Elton: Laughing at the 80s
Ben Elton presents this two-hour romp through the very best comedy of the 1980s. Featuring .Rik Mayall, Lenny Henry, Harry Enfield, Victoria Wood, Jimmy Tarbuck, Stephen Fry, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ade Edmondson, Jo Brand and Nigel Planer.

Thursday, 29/12/2011
9pm
Dorian Gray
(2009) Ben Barnes, Colin Firth and Ben Chaplin star in this gothic horror adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s cautionary fable. Network Premiere.

Friday, 30/12/2011
9pm
Comedy Showcase: The Angelos Neil Epithemiou Show
The Angelos Neil Epithemiou Show is a studio-based comedy entertainment show written by and starring Dan Skinner as his comic character Angelos Epithemiou.

Friday, 30/12/2011
9:30pm
Lee Evans: Access All Arenas
Lee Evans hosts a very special night showcasing his incredible stand up shows and TV series.

Phew, a good amount of stuff to watch! Merry Christmas from Frost.

The British Comedy Awards: Who Will Be The King – Or Queen- of Comedy.

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The British Comedy Awards sponsored by Foster’s return to Channel 4 live from 9pm on December 16 with Jonathan Ross back at the helm and ready for mischief.

Nominations will be revealed in full during a one hour Channel 4 nominations show on December 11 at 10pm, a few days before the main event is broadcast live on Channel 4 from Fountain Studios in Wembley.

Today however, we can exclusively reveal the six nominees for the prestigious People’s Choice Award for the King or Queen of Comedy – the only category where the viewers choose the winner.

Reigning Queen of Comedy Miranda Hart will be defending her crown against star of Peep Show and 10 O’clock Live presenter David Mitchell, chat show supremo and guru of all things Eurovision, Graham Norton, Fresh Meat star, Jack Whitehall, BAFTA-winning comedian, actress and author Jo Brand and stand-up sensation and panel show favourite Sarah Millican.

People can vote for their favourite by calling 0901 616 4444 and selecting the following numbers to cast their vote.*

For DAVID MITCHELL press 1

For GRAHAM NORTON press 2

For JACK WHITEHALL press 3

For JO BRAND press 4

For MIRANDA HART press 5

For SARAH MILLICAN press 6

Lines open Monday 28 November and voting closes during the awards ceremony, shortly before the winner is revealed and we find out who is officially the funniest person in Britain.

Host Jonathan Ross said: “I’ve tried, but I can’t think of a more entertaining way to spend a winters evening then watching a room full of our best and brightest comedians get slowly drunk while they wait to see which of their rivals picks up an award. Surely that’s what Christmas is all about?

“To be hosting it again, for what feels like the 87th time, is also an honour and privilege and I will do my best, like the Batman facing a room full of Jokers, to keep things running smoothly”.

There are 17 categories in this year’s British Comedy Awards, including Best New British TV Comedy, Best Sitcom, Best Comedy Actor and Actress, Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy.

Previous winners include Russell Brand, Ricky Gervais, Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas David Walliams. Sascha Baron Cohen and Peter Kay.

The event also attracts a star studded audience with recent guests including Goldie Hawn, Alec Baldwin, Madonna, Samuel L Jackson, Eva Mendes, Jack Black, Juliette Lewis, Matt Groening and JK Rowling.

For the latest news on this year’s event, go to www.channel4.com/britishcomedyawards.

Twitter: #ComedyAwards

TX Details

British Comedy Awards Nominations Show – Sunday 11 December at 10pm on Channel 4

British Comedy Awards – Friday 16 December live from 9pm on Channel 4

British Comedy Awards: Live Lock-In – Friday 16 December from 11pm on E4

Voting

*Calls cost 36p from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may be higher and from mobiles will cost considerably more. Touchtone phones only. Maximum 6 votes per caller. Details and Terms at channel4.com/comedyawards. Voting closes during the Comedy Awards on 16th December 2011

This Is England '88

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Here’s a picture of festive fun to get the nation in the mood for Christmas. But if the protagonists themselves don’t look too happy (despite those supercool outfits – looking good, Milky!) the picture should give viewers cause to rejoice. The brilliant This Is England is back for its third incarnation, This Is England ’88.

As ever, the team delivers a heady mix of uproarious comedy and desolate, gritty drama.

At the beginning of last week’s BAFTA screening, Channel 4’s Head of Drama, Camilla Campbell said that Shane Meadows pitched This Is England ’88 as: “A truly British Christmas; an anti-climax. A bit nice, with some horrible shit mixed in.” Meadows himself described the three-part series as “kind of like a very brutal Nativity play, in a way.” He continued: “I just remember Christmas being shit…. I wanted to make a sort of broken nativity play, but there’s a real positive outcome, I hope.”

Certainly, the outcome will be positive for fans of quality, grown-up drama, who will be thrilled to see the return of most of the principal cast members from This Is England ’86, among them Bafta-winner Vicky McClure.

This is Christmas, This Is England style.

Third Season of Made In Chelsea Confirmed.

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C4 Entertainment Commissioning Editor David Williams has green-lit a ten-part, third series of hit reality drama Made In Chelsea from Monkey.

The announcement follows the news that E4 will also be screening a feature length 90 minute, Made in Chelsea Christmas Special, in December.

The show follows the lives of a glamorous group of globe-trotting young socialites and first aired on E4 in May, becoming the channel’s highest rated non-scripted debut.

Series 2 finishes Monday 21 November and is averaging 701k viewers to date, with the total average audience rising to over 1 million, when consolidated and VoD viewing is included. More than half of the audience is aged 16 to 34.

Made In Chelsea also remains one of Channel 4’s most talked about programmes, trending worldwide on Twitter and generating a total of 475k tweets to date.

Series 2 introduced a new online element with three 30 minute live video webchats in the form of ‘Live in Chelsea’. A first for E4.com, this online spin off consolidated 90K users who had the opportunity to watch cast members take questions from Twitter and Facebook and enjoy exclusive preview clips.

To further harness the show’s strong presence across social media, E4 is the only UK television network working with GetGlue; A new social network for entertainment that allows fans of the show to ‘check-in,’ earn virtual and physical stickers and share their activity with their friends on Facebook and Twitter.

To date, Made In Chelsea has recorded 45k ‘check-ins’ for series 2, generating a total online reach of more than 8m.

Commissioning Editor David Williams said: “With such a loyal audience tweeting, checking-in and following the lives of our new TV stars, it’s fantastic to be once again returning to the hallowed streets of the Royal Borough of Chelsea.”

Exec Producer, Sarah Dillistone from Monkey said: “We’re delighted by the connection so many people have made with the show, its cast and the incredible world they live in. We look forward to bringing new bed hopping, name dropping, champagne popping characters to series 3.”

Monkey is a division of NBCUniversal International Television Production.

Ron Burgundy launches attack on the UK

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Will Ferrell’s alter ego Ron Burgundy launched an attack on the UK on Chris Moyles Quiz Night, it’s funny so check the video out below.

The first episode of the new series features a star-studded US v UK line-up as Hollywood comic legend Will Ferrell goes head-to-head with David Walliams and Louis Walsh; with appearances from Robbie Williams, Britney Spears and Paul O’Grady. Plus One Direction deliver the popular maths song and there are new rounds and challenges.

Chris Moyles Quiz Night returns to Channel 4 this Sunday at 10pm






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Ms Dynamite, Charlie Simpson joined young unemployed from across the UK in a ‘Walk for Work’

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Ms Dynamite and Charlie Simpson joined young unemployed from across the UK in a ‘Walk for Work’ to Westminster to raise awareness about the million UK young people out of work

Musicians Ms Dynamite and Charlie Simpson joined a congregation of young unemployed people from across the UK outside a Job Centre in central London, to take part in the ‘Walk for Work’ – a walk to Westminster to raise awareness about the million young people out of work in the UK, the highest number since records began.

At their head was Joseph Hayat, 18, from Lincoln and Hafsah Ali, 17, from Leicester who have been running a campaign as part of T4’s flagship youth campaigns show, Battlefront.

Joseph said: “The ‘Walk for Work’ is all about making a big noise and making sure the government continues to focus on youth unemployment and it’s another way to get employers to notice young people and all our amazing talents. We’re so thankful that Ms Dynamite came to join us today to help raise awareness!”

Dressed ‘ready for work’ in identical outfits of a bowler hat, smart suit and briefcase, the young unemployed, Ms Dynamite and Charlie Simpson walked side-by-side as a rigid cohort, starting from the Job Centre in Denmark Street to Parliament.

The walk culminated at Old Palace Yard, a historic site of protest opposite the Houses of Parliament, where the young people got into formation and held up huge numbers to reveal: 973,000 young people unemployed. The youngsters then took off their top halves of their outfits to reveal a ‘uniform of the unemployed’ – a ‘Ready for Work’ T-shirt that Joseph and Hafsah designed to help show young people are eager for employment.

The campaign message was simple: Young people are ready for work. They are not Neets (Not in Employment, Education or Training,) but Beets, (Brilliant, Enthusiastic, and Eager To Start!)

Joseph and Hafsah’s Ready for Work campaign for Battlefront will be broadcast on Channel 4 on 27th November 2011. For more information, please visit: http://www.battlefront.co.uk/

BECOME A CHANNEL 4 BATTLEFRONT PRESENTER!

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Channel 4’s Battlefront is on the hunt for a new presenter for it’s webshow on Battlefront.co.uk. As one of Battlefront’s two hosts, alongside last year’s winner, Mawaan, the winner will broadcast the latest news about Battlefront campaigns and events to thousands of online viewers, as well as interviewing celebs about world-changing issues and encouraging viewers to get involved.

So far this year, Battlefront web-vids have featured the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Jason Derulo and Gok Wan, alongside campaign highlights and behind-the-scenes events action. It’s a fantastic opportunity for aspiring presenters who want to make a difference.

To enter, prospective presenters need to make a video of themselves talking about one of this year’s Battlefront campaigns. The winner will be able to sum up the campaign clearly and explain about why they decided to talk about it.

Once the video has been uploaded it will be in the hands of the public who will vote for their favourite. The 10 videos with the most votes will then be presented to our panel of expert judges (from Channel 4, Raw TV and a special guest!) who will decide on a final shortlist of five entries. Entries will be judged on passion, delivery, talent, charisma and how inspirational you are likely to be to young people. The five contestants which best fulfil this criteria will make it to the final stage.

The finalists will be invited to attend a presenter workshop in London on WEDNESDAY 26TH OCTOBER where they will be put through their paces in a number of on-camera tests and challenges designed to show your skills as a potential face of Battlefront.

The competition is open until 12pm on MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2011. BUT the sooner contestants enter, the more time their entry will have to notch-up votes! Voting closes at 12pm on THURSDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2011. Visit www.battlefont.co.uk for more details on how to enter and upload your video.

Stylists Talk Bags As Converse Launch New Range

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With Converse launching their first bag collection just in time for the new school year, a handful of the UK’s finest experts on style and self-expression representing fashion, music and culture reminisced about what defined their own unique style, getting nostalgic about what it means to be an individual once the new term begins. Provided simply with a canvas duffle bag from the Converse Bags & Accessories launch collection, a pencil case and notebook, they got creative to express their personal style in their very own special way…

Sam Voulters
About: Fashion Editor at Vice, Sam Voulters is 22, stylist, brand consultant and writer.
What was your favourite school bag? “I had a CAT backpack with tippex all over it.”

‘Synamatix’ – The Daily Street
About: ‘Synamatix’ is Editor in Chief & Mixtapes Director of the UK’s finest streetwear blog The Daily Street and specialises in sneakers and menswear as well as covering the UK underground dance music scene.
What was your favourite school bag or accessory? “I had a wicked rucksack in olive green, covered in band logos, skate logos etc. That was my greatest bag by a mile.”

Chantelle Fiddy
About: Chantelle Fiddy is a journalist and renowned commentator on London’s grime scene, whose music credentials include penning for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, RWD Magazine, Mixmag, Sunday Times Style and Dazed & Confused as well as presenting on Channel 4’s ‘Generation Next’ and making multiple appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Review Show. You’ll mostly find her online.
Describe your school style. “My school style flitted between record bags and (hideous) rave jackets (I hereby admit to rocking a Technics number) to holding my (entire mop of unbrushed) hair up with felt tip pens and wearing leg warmers alongside my yellow shirt and green blazer.”

Larry B – WORK IT
About: Ripe for reminiscing are some of the team behind London’s coolest 90s night, Work It. Work It have a reputation for drawing the biggest crowds with a cult following craving their unique blend of music, hosting nights and events for Selfridges, Lovebox 2010, Warner Music, London Fashion Week and Vogue Fashion Night Out.
Describe your style at school. “My style at school was your general London rudeboy schoolboy.”

About Converse Bags:
For AW ’11 Converse took the illustrious heritage and iconic style, that has seen their classic sneakers and Chuck Taylor All Star logo omnipresent since the 1900s, to create their first ever dedicated Bags & Accessories Collection. The debut collection reflects the simple and versatile styling synonymous with Converse complete with the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star logo, steel eyelet details and the ever versatile canvas.

The new line of Converse Bags & Accessories is available now at stockists including Schuh, JD Sports and www.blackleaf.com. Prices range from £19 – £54.95