SHOW BIZ

As a guitarist, Brian Baker has punk rock and hardcore credentials that are unparalleled. From effectively launching “hardcore” as a genre with Minor Threat when he was a teenager to bringing in the more melodic side of the scene with Dag Nasty and then joining Bad Religion in the mid ’90s, it’s hard to argue that any guitarist has been more influential to their scene than Baker.

“I think I just have a knack for being at the right place at the right time,” Baker says when asked about his contributions to the aforementioned legendary bands. “The key is to respect that legacy and not f— it up. I understand it’s a big deal to a lot of people — much more than it is to me. I’m just the guy who’s playing guitar, but I’ve been fortunate enough to be in bands that have been foundational for a lot of people. I think about that when I get on stage every day. I want to do a great job every time. As long as I’m able to still deliver a performance that I have respect for, hopefully other people will too.”

Standing at a high-top table under a white awning backstage at Riot Fest (Chicago’s massive punk rock festival where most of the acts are either friends of Baker or inspired by one or more of his bands) after nearly a half-century of allegedly just happening upon one iconic band after another, Baker recently released a new project — one that he’s worked on for almost 20 years during his ongoing run with Bad Religion.

A shot of Baker’s guitars on a wood pallet.

(Brian Baker)

Every time the legendary Los Angeles punk band goes on the road, Baker (like most touring musicians) finds himself with entirely too much time to kill before and after their nightly performances. To fill those long hours in strange cities, the 60-year-old D.C. native often turns to the piece of technology that so many use to occupy their free time, his smartphone. But rather than mindlessly scrolling social media or watching YouTube videos, Baker discovered a new passion for photography, constantly using each and every camera lens on the iPhones that have been in his pocket since the original released in the late 2000s.

Until recently, the fruits of Baker’s photography hobby had effectively only existed on his personal Instagram. That was until things started falling into place (“Like many things in my career,” Baker says, consistent in his refusal to take credit for the majority of his successes) for him to release some of his favorite photos as a book, appropriately titled “The Road” (released Nov. 4 via Akashic Books).

A mug shot of Baker’s first band, D.C. hardcore pioneers Minor Threat.

(Brian Baker)

“My wife suggested for a long time that people might want to look at my photographs, and I was like ‘OK, that’s great,’ but never really thought about it,” Baker says, his bandmates and other longtime friends circulating through Chicago’s Douglass Park. “Eventually, a good friend of ours named Jennifer Sakai — who’s a great photographer and has made books in the past — made a mock-up from my Instagram of what a book could look like. I wasn’t looking to make a book, but she basically presented a finished product to me, so I contacted a guy I went to elementary school with, Johnny Temple — who plays [bass] in Girls Against Boys and Soulside and has a publishing company. Much like my more successful rock bands, I walked in after everyone did all the work, and now I’m just going to coattail it.”

With or without the new book, Baker says his time-killing love of photography was born out of the veteran guitarist feeling as though he was forgetting too much and missing some of his key memories from his time on tour. Once he gave up drinking, Baker realized that he needed a way to embrace the 20+ hours each day he wasn’t spending on the stage or getting ready. He started filling his days with long walks and visits to his favorite locales — old churches, interesting buildings, graveyards (“That’s not the goth in me saying this,” Baker jokes) and anywhere else where he entertain himself away from people. And rather than trying to tell the story of the last 18 years through his iPhone camera, he’s happy just documenting those certain moments and “a lot of different ways to spend your time” in “The Road.”

“I used to take a film camera on tour, and I’d shoot a couple rolls and then forget about the camera and leave it at the hotel or something,” Baker says. “I didn’t really do a good job of being a photographer, because I’m not a photographer. I’m just a guy with a cellphone, but having the phone always on me, I just kept taking pictures of stuff for no real reason. It was like ‘Hey, look at this weird thing’ or “Look what we ate tonight” or “That church is f— up” with no intention of it being a collection or anyone really seeing it beyond my friends and family. Eventually, I got an Instagram account and some of the stuff would go there, but I’m not really a social media maven either.”

Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley playing a bass.

(Brian Baker)

Aside from his photography skills, the release of “The Road” has also allowed Baker to flex his storytelling muscles at the various bookstores, record shops and more that he’s hitting this fall (including early October dates at West Hollywood’s Book Soup and Fullerton’s Programme Skate & Sound). Although it’s a more intimate setting than he’s used to and he’s lacking his signature guitar, Baker jokes that it’s not so different from performing music, because he’s still “on a stage with a microphone and wearing black pants.”

The book tour has also been an opportunity for Baker to connect with fans and reflect on Bad Religion and his prior bands (along with various side projects like supergroup Fake Names and Beach Rats). While he maintains that his involvement in punk history mostly comes down to happenstance, he believes that Bad Religion’s multi-generational staying power stems from always being “uniquely unfashionable” and having intelligent lyrics about topics that are still relevant. Add in the fact that they’re always improving as musicians and just enjoy getting together without looking at the bigger picture, and “not having a plan has proven to be effective” for the stalwarts.

Photo of Baker’s first amp and guitar

(Brian Baker)

But more than anything, Baker’s lack of planning or direction around his photography brings him back to the DIY nature of his early days creating albums that are now viewed as the very foundation of a four-decade-old global hardcore movement.

“Anybody can do this, so it does remind me of making records when I was very young,” Baker says. “We were just making our own records ourselves and selling them in high school, and that was Minor Threat. You think about how significant that is now, 45 years later, it’s the same thing with taking pictures. I just took a bunch of pictures, and now someone’s made a book out of them. It’s something you can do yourself, and I love that about it.”

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left confused after Vicky Pattison failed to appear on It Takes Two on Monday without any real explanation following her elimination from the show

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left confused after Vicky Pattison failed to appear on It Takes Two on Monday. The Geordie Shore star was eliminated from the dancing competition over the weekend and it’s tradition for the axed contestant to have their first interview on the show’s spin-off at the beginning of the following week.

Host Fleur East confirmed to viewers that Vicky and Kai would appear later in the week, but gave no explanation. But the Mirror can now reveal why Vicky was absent.

A source close to Vicky told us: “Vicky had it pre-agreed that she was going to celebrate her birthday with some friends and family. She has hardly seen them the last few months cos of training so it was a wonderful celebration but nothing too crazy.

“The BBC gave her permission to have the time around her birthday off and so she will be appearing on It Takes Two on Wednesday, it was all pre-agreed.”

READ MORE: Strictly’s Balvinder admits ‘struggle’ in face of ongoing dance off hellREAD MORE: Vicky Pattison breaks silence after Strictly exit branded ‘worst result ever’

The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.

Vicky had faced Balvinder Sopal in the dance off, and the EastEnders actress appeared in her place, where she explained how ‘horrible’ it had been to compete against her friend for a place in next week’s Blackpool heat. She said: “I knew we were gonna be in the dance off, and when I saw who was lined up, I was like ‘This is awful.’

“And then they announced Vicky, and I was like ‘I just can’t…’ We became quite close, and our journey together has been really solid. I thought ‘I don’t wanna be the one…’ It was horrible, it’s horrible with anybody, but someone you’ve got close to, it’s not the way you want it to play out.”

Over the weekend, the former Loose Women star shared a video clip from her birthday party – which she hosted just as her sad scenes went to air. The post includes a message from a friend that reads ‘You are so special, never change. Love you.”

An emotional Vicky could be seen blowing out her birthday candles in front of a room her pals. The reality star, who has told how she has a constant battle with anxiety, said: “I know I let my nerves get in the way – and I will proper beat myself up over that. But I’ve never danced before sober and here I am, sober as a judge.”

Vicky, who was visited by her husband Ercan and their dogs during training this week, looked gutted to be sent home, but told presenter Tess Daly: “It was so lovely while it lasted, and I’ve had the nicest time. I knew this week was a difficult one for me, and I tried my hardest, as I have every week.”

She said that getting as far as week eight had far surpassed her own expectations. “Listen, I didn’t think I’d get past week one,” she insisted. “And I’m really honoured to have shared this experience with so many amazing people. Mostly with this fella right here.”

She told Kai: “You’ve been the best partner a girl can ask for. I’m so sorry I didn’t get you to Blackpool but I feel like I’ve won just by having you as my partner and I’m so grateful.”

Kai said she’d been a joy to teach, telling her: “You are everything that this series is about. Strong, confident, independent – and all that I can say is, I have loved every single second. I’m going to be gutted not coming to Blackpool with you on Monday. But I just want you to know that I feel like I have also won getting you as my partner.”

Fans previously said it was an especially brutal departure for Vicky because of Blackpool, her tango triumph last week, and also because Sunday was her 38th birthday.

One fan said: “Pretty shocking result, had Vicky down as a nailed on finalist and 50:50 winner along with Lewis (Cope).”

Another agreed: “Slightly distraught with the result because you were a definite potential winner and a firm favourite of mine, but I hope you’re extremely proud of yourself.VickyPattison, because you’ve done so amazing!!! We’re all proud of you lass!!”

But others felt Vicky had been let down on the night, claiming: “I did think the song didn’t go with the dance, the outfit didn’t go with the staging and the graffitied stairwell is almost designed to turn off the average Strictly viewer.”

One viewer added: “The dress was giving more Charleston vibes and the set was giving just ugly vibes.”

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JACKASS star Johnny Knoxville has married his fiancée Emily Ting – 15 months after divorcing ex-wife Naomi Nelson.

The MTV stuntman, 54, and his bride were the picture of happiness as the posed on their big day beside their famous pal John Waters Jr, 79, with the actor landing a starring role as officiant.

Johnny shared two pictures on Instagram and wrote, “It seems I have had a lot of news lately but there is no news bigger than this…..Today Emily and I got married and I’m the luckiest and happiest fella in the universe.

“Bucket is pretty happy too as you can see from the pictures. It was a small ceremony with family, friends, and THE best minister ever.

“Thank you John Waters we love you so. Ok I’m getting off Instagram now because it’s our wedding night, but I wanted everyone to know. Love to everybody, wahoooo!!!”

Friends and fans were delighted for the couple.

Former Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese wrote, “Congrats! You guys look great! AND John Waters??”

Walking Dead star Norman Reedus said, “congrats u guys.”

Josh Brolin commented, “Yes!!!! [love heart emojis‘”

Ex Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg said, “Congratulations!!”

Johnny looked smart in velvet navy suit and held his beloved dog Bucket on a pink lead.

Standing underneath a floral arch, Emily wore a pretty mini dress with a gold bow at the midriff.

While Pink Flamingos star Waters rocked a loud pair of monochrome patterned trousers and a suave black jacket.

Johnny split from second wife Naomi on their 11th wedding anniversary in 2021.

He cited irreconcilable differences in divorce papers submitted the following year and applied for joint custody of the couple’s two children: Rocko, 15, and Arlo, 14.

His first marriage to Melanie Cates lasted from 1995 until 2009, and they have a daughter called Madison, 29.

The TV star is best known for his body-breaking stunts on Jackass, which has produced four big screen spin-offs since it launched in 2000.

The daring stunts came at a price, with one particularly risky skit leaving him with brain damage.

He suffered a nasty concussion from a bull when it tossed him up into the air and he landed on his head in the dirt.

Speaking to Howard Stern in 2022, he said, “I had to go under all these type of treatments, this transcranial magnetic stimulation, which they buzz your head with these magnets for about 30 minutes at a time for like, oh God, I would say 10 to 12 treatments over a series of two months and it’s supposed to help with depression and help with my cognitive skills.

“It was a tough one to come back from.

“I was trying to edit the movie at the time but I couldn’t sit still.”

While dad-of-three Johnny is now entering a new period of domestic bliss, after two previous marriages, he also has legal issues to contend with.

Daniel Curry, 49, alleges Johnny tasered him on the set of The Prank Panel in September 2022 – an incident caught on video that left him with a broken fibula and torn ankle ligament, according to court records.

Curry, a veteran writer and producer, was serving as a consulting producer on the short-lived ABC series when the tasering happened, he claims.

The writer launched a negligence and battery lawsuit in 2024 against Knoxville, ABC Signature Studios, Kimmel’s Kimmelot banner, ITV America and others connected to the series.

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Now, Curry’s lawsuit is heading to arbitration, a private process where a neutral third party decides the dispute outside of court, he said.

He claimed the incident permanently damaged his leg and is seeking $3 million in damages.

If you agree with filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu that Tom Cruise “doesn’t just make movies — he is movies,” then the Oscar that Cruise received at the motion picture academy’s annual Governors Awards wasn’t just long overdue. It was a restoration of balance, a necessary correction, not to mention a nod to the sheer weight of Cruise’s body of work in the collective imagination.

When multi-hyphenate Debbie Allen, herself an honoree, worked in a reference to the “tighty-whities” Cruise wore sliding across the floor in “Risky Business” into her own acceptance speech, you could understand why he received the night’s longest ovation. He really is movies. In one way or another, he completes us.

Cruise, 63, was still shaking hands and posing for pictures long after the ceremony ended Sunday night. He may in fact still be in the Ray Dolby Ballroom, listening to people tell him giddy and sometimes teary stories of when they first saw him in a movie. After Iñárritu introduced him, Cruise delivered a gracious, cinema-booster speech, at one point asking everyone in the room who had worked with him to stand.

“I carry you with me, each of you, and you are part of every frame of every film I have ever made or ever will make,” Cruise said. And yes, he was in alignment with Iñárritu. “Making films is not what I do. It’s who I am.”

Trailblazer Wynn Thomas, widely recognized as the first Black production designer in film, and Dolly Parton also received Oscars at the Governors Awards ceremony. These honorary Oscars, once part of the televised Academy Awards, were spun off into their own event in 2009.

Parton, 79, was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Health issues, which led to a postponement of her December Las Vegas residency, prevented Parton from attending in person. But she thanked the academy by video, saying, “We didn’t have too much to share, but my mama and daddy showed me that the more you give, the more blessings come your way. And I have been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible, like with this award tonight.”

Lily Tomlin, Parton’s “9 to 5” co-star, gave a delightful, digressive introduction. Capping the presentation, Andra Day sang a spine-tingling cover of Parton’s classic “Jolene.”

The Governors Awards are not televised and, as Will Arnett, introducing the evening, noted, “There are no commercial breaks. The orchestra is not waiting to play anybody off. There is nothing stopping us from doing this until the sun comes up.” The relaxed nature of the show gives honorees room to roam with their speeches and also offers current Oscar contenders a chance to schmooze with voters.

In one corner of the ballroom, you might find filmmakers Richard Linklater, Noah Baumbach and Joachim Trier engaged in a debate over who is better, Jean-Luc Godard or Francois Truffaut, a French New Wave throwdown inspired by Linklater’s sly homage “Nouvelle Vague.” Across the room, Sydney Sweeney, meeting Cruise for the first time, compared notes on broken bones. Outside, Iñárritu told director Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”) about his upcoming movie, starring Cruise. (“It sounds crazy,” Coogler said.)

Cruise was on everyone’s mind, except perhaps Spanish filmmaker Oliver Laxe, director of the superb thriller “Sirāt,” who did not know the actor was receiving an honorary Oscar. People offered me their favorite Cruise movies. Director Eva Victor (“Sorry, Baby”) went with “Edge of Tomorrow.” Shih-Ching Tsou (“Left-Handed Girl”) chose “Top Gun.” (“I fell in love,” she says.) And Coogler went with a wild card, picking the compulsively rewatchable 1988 comedy “Cocktail.”

“It was my parents’ favorite movie, so I saw it all the time,” Coogler says. “I know it’s nonsensical.”

Ethan Hawke, who made “The Last Movie Stars,” a six-part documentary on Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, recalled how Newman didn’t want his honorary Oscar in 1986. He hoped to win one outright. A year later, he took the lead actor trophy for “The Color of Money,” which, yes, co-starred Cruise.

“Cruise should have won for ‘Magnolia,’ one of the best performances of my lifetime,” Hawke told me. “My suspicion is that this will be the first of many Oscars for Tom Cruise. He’ll get this honorary one and then four more in the next 20 years.”

Thomas, it could be argued, should have won a competitive Oscar years ago for any number of movies, including his striking work creating the single block setting in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood for Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing.” Relating his journey to becoming a visual storyteller, Thomas recalled growing up in “one of the worst slums of Philadelphia,” sitting on his front stoop reading Shakespeare, James Baldwin and Tennessee Williams, immersed and transported.

“The local gangs looked down on me and called me sissy,” Thomas said. “But that sissy grew up to work with some great filmmakers.”

Presenting Allen with her Oscar, “Wicked’s” Cynthia Erivo said “to know Miss Debbie is to know that she refuses to let dreams fade and has a determination to make them happen.”

“I myself am fortunate enough to consider her my auntie,” Erivo added.

Allen’s five-decade career includes choreographing the Oscars seven times, as well as films including “Forget Paris” and “A Jazzman’s Blues.” Her producing credits include Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama “Amistad.” She’s probably best known as an actor on the ’80s television series “Fame,” for which she also served as a choreographer. Her nonprofit dance academy is a Los Angeles institution.

Allen namechecked the Dodgers, her husband (the Los Angeles Lakers legend Norm Nixon) and, of course, Oscar.

“It’s like I got married … sorry, Norm,” she said, cradling the statue. “I’m definitely taking him to work with me and keeping him close to remind me, not of what I’ve done, but what I get, need and have to do.”

Kelly Brook’s Heart colleague and friend Toby Anstis backs his ‘bonkers’ friend to make the final three – as he also discloses her unusual jungle prep

I’m a Celeb star Kelly Brook’s worst jungle nightmare has been revealed. Kelly’s close pal and Heart colleague Toby Anstis has backed his “bonkers” friend to make the final three – and revealed her pre-jungle prep involved scoffing sausage rolls.

Toby said the public would fall in love with her “funny, quirky and eccentric” side – which included a unique take on getting ready for life in camp.

He admits: “The last thing I saw her taking a bite of was a sausage roll, and she said: ‘Toby, I’m getting ready for starving in camp.’ I said you don’t really want to be doing that, you want to be slowing down your eating before you go in….you’ve got to train your tummy not to want food, but there you go. She eats well but she likes a bit of junk food, like we all do.”

Before going into the Jungle, Kelly previously said she had every intention to go to the gym, and even go on hikes to prepare her body. But she later admitted she had taken a different approach instead, saying: “I haven’t done any of that…I have also been fattening myself up in the run-up.”

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Despite this, Toby – who took part on the show in 2006 – backed his friend to get to the final of the ITV show. But he said he feared for her doing the eating trials – calling them her “worst nightmare”.

He admits: “I did the show a few years ago, and she was asking me all about it. The main concern for her was having to eat those horrible things, and she was hoping not to do that…that’s her worst nightmare. But I think she’ll be really popular on it, and be in the last three. I think it will be her, Martin Kemp and Angry Ginge.”

Toby says the public will quickly learn to love her. He says: “I don’t think she’ll mind me saying that. She is eccentric…she has these English Rose quirks about her. Things that she says. She’s sort of an old soul on young shoulders. She is quite wise, that kind of eccentricity. She’s brilliant and slightly bonkers at the same time.”

But Toby admitted there could still endure some tough times. “When you are thrown in there and you get cabin fever and it’s hot and the days are long and there’s nothing to do, it depends on the mix of people and the personalities and if you don’t click it can be quite hard,” he says.

Kelly vowed at the weekend that she was set to strip off for the famous Jungle shower. She begged I’m a Celebrity viewers to accept her curves in the wake of getting trolled over her figure.

She said: “Obviously, I am not a 20-year-old bikini model anymore. You know, life changes and your body changes. And I just hope people are accepting of me and how I look now, and not comparing me to how I used to look. You know, I am a very different person. I am older, but I am still strong and I am still fit, and that is the most important thing.” Instead, she said she had “embraced” her curves.

“I feel really confident. I feel like my body is in good shape. I just feel great,” she says. “I am 46, I embrace my curves. I embrace my body. I ran a marathon this year….so I am proud of that.”

NOEL Edmonds left fans stunned when he reunited with Cliff Richard – and revealed their combined age. 

The TV presenter was over-the-moon to see singer Cliff in Wellington, New Zealand and the pals couldn’t resist a few jokes. 

Ageless Noel, 76, took to Instagram to share a clip of them together and told him: “At last, I get to see you again after all these years.”

Cliff, 85, joked: “I know… it’s been too long. I mean, there’s a hundred years separating us.”

Laughing, former Deal or No Deal host Noel replied: “It was 25 years ago that you were on my Christmas Day show and you’ve done wonderful, kind things for me ever since, over the years. 

“So I wanted to come and say thank you. But I then started to do some mathematics – and we have a combined age of 161.”

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And Cliff quipped: “Oh my goodness me, I didn’t know that you were older than me!”

The two stars then broke out into song, treating Noel’s followers to a rendition of Cliff’s hit The Young Ones. 

Rushing to comment, one fan wrote: “Lovely to see you both having fun.” 

Someone else said: “Love this! Two legends.”

Another fan wrote: “Awwww, that was sweet. Yet another reminder to us all that the years fly by in the blink of an eye.”

And a fourth added: “Noel never seems to age.” 

Earlier this year Noel revealed plans to split his time between New Zealand and the UK after buying a home on the Isle of Man.

Noel dubbed the island “the Smile of Man” because “everyone seems so happy” and people “look out for each other”.

It comes after ITV axed his Kiwi Adventure series, which aired in June and followed his life in New Zealand with his fifth wife, Liz.

Noel, who moved there in 2018, had reportedly hoped the three-parter would become a fixture on the channel, but it failed to be a ratings hit.

How do you find inspiration? Say you’re doing your holiday shopping and you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for that difficult person on your list — parent, partner, paramour. How do you let your mind drift to a place where the clouds part and you achieve a sort of awakening?

To be honest, I don’t always get there. But caffeine is usually a good place to start.

I’m Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope newsletter, back in your inbox for the next few months as we sail through the atmospheric river of awards season. Climb aboard.

Cover story: The best six minutes in movies this year

(Bexx Francois / For The Times)

You might remember how much I love “Sinners,” Ryan Coogler’s audacious, genre-defying blockbuster that explores the intrinsic power of American blues music and Black life in the Jim Crow South within the context of a vampire horror movie.

So I was thrilled to talk with Coogler and his longtime department heads — a movie family that includes Oscar winners who have been with him since his 2013 debut, “Fruitvale Station” — for The Envelope’s first cover story of the season. There were a dozen different ways I could have gone with the piece, but our conversations kept coming back to the scene in the juke joint when young Sammie (Miles Caton) conjures spirits from the past and future onto the dance floor.

How did Coogler summon this scene? It goes back to that question I asked at the outset: How do you find inspiration?

For Coogler, “Sinners” began on Nov. 17, 2021, a date fixed in his mind because it was the day one of his favorite rappers, Young Dolph, was murdered. Coogler was devastated. And his mind drifted back to Nipsey Hussle, the L.A. rapper gunned down outside his South L.A. clothing store in 2019. Coogler was living in Los Angeles at the time, trying to get a “Space Jam” sequel off the ground.

“I felt like I had my heart ripped out, bro,” Coogler told me. “I have two younger brothers I’m really close with, and I remember reading an article in the L.A. Times about his older brother recounting what happened. It just broke me. And then I get the news that Dolph’s been killed in his hometown, and I just remember feeling, ‘I’m done with rap, man.’”

Later, Coogler spoke with his friend, “Black Panther” producer Nate Moore, lamenting that rappers who talk about their lives, beating the odds and escaping hardship, sometimes end up succumbing to the thing they thought they left behind. Moore isn’t a rap guy, but told Coogler that his favorite music, grunge, was just like that — in this case, artists addressing their struggles with depression and addiction and then, on occasion, overdosing or taking their own lives.

Toward the end of that day, Coogler was driving back from the set of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Passing through Byron, Ga., the Oakland native looked out his window and saw, for the first time in his life, a cotton field. During our interview, Coogler pulls out his phone and finds a video his sister-in-law shot of him taking it all in and picking a sprig of cotton. Coogler kept it, eventually putting it on his work desk at home.

“That was a part of finding ‘Sinners,’” Coogler says. “The other thing that happened was I started listening to grunge music, taking a break from rap. And as soon as I put the music on, I was like, ‘Yo, this feels like my uncle’s. It led me right back to his record collection.”

That uncle, James Edmonson, loved the blues. Coogler’s cousin, Edmonson’s youngest daughter, told the filmmaker about a Bill Withers’ song, “I Can’t Write Left-Handed,” written from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran. Coogler listened to it, and it reminded him of “Rooster,” the Alice in Chains song written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell for his father, who served in Vietnam.

“So I’m playing these two songs one after another, and I’m like, ‘These genres that you wouldn’t find next to each other at a Tower Records back in the day, they’re so close,’” Coogler says. “And studying the history of it, it’s people playing it different, but it’s the same idea.”

“And that’s when I realized I had to make ‘Sinners.’”

Coogler scrolls through his phone and shows a picture of the cotton sprig on his desk. He dedicated “Sinners” to his uncle, who died about a decade before it arrived in theaters.

“So many cosmic moments came together for this movie,” Coogler says. “I was always like, ‘All right. I just gotta make sure I don’t f— it up.’”

Balvinder is a lifelong fan of Strictly who has wanted to take part for 20 years – let’s help her to enjoy Blackpool this weekend

Spare a thought for Balvinder Sopal. When she said last night that she just didn’t want to do the Strictly dance off, you’d have to have a heart of stone not to feel sorry for her, after she failed to get enough votes for the FOURTH time.

She’s now equalled 2015 contestant Jamelia for the all-time record she never wanted to hold – of having to fight for survival more than anyone else in the show’s history. One more, and she will take the title.

But surely, in Blackpool, the voting public needs to give the EastEnders star the support she deserves and let her just sail through to the following week without needing to perform twice? After all, in the jungle Ant and Dec have brought in new rules to stop the same people doing the Bushtucker Trials over and over again, so it seems only fair that Bal is also given a break.

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The first time she was in the dance-off, against Ross King in week two, you could see it had massively knocked her confidence the following week. Since then she has also competed, and won, against rugby player Chris Robshaw, model Ellie Goldstein and now reality star Vicky Pattison.

The poor woman must be wondering how on earth she is still in the competition and also why it keeps on happening. But one thing is sure. Even though the situation is inevitably making her feel a bit unloved, it’s also making her fight. And boy, is she proving good at that.

Balvinder should also take heart over how judges have picked her to stay time and time again, showing that when she’s on the ropes, she can find something a little bit extra to impress them all. Craig said on Sunday that he’d noticed a “massive improvement” after her second go at the American Smooth – and so did the audience.

Of course today there are lots of people moaning that Vicky Pattison should have stayed in the competition – but the simple truth is that she and Kai were out of synch at times and it was all a bit messy while Balvinder and Julian went up a notch. They absolutely deserved to stay.

One fan lamenting Vicky’s demise moaned: “It’s crazy Balvinder got through – four times in the dance off, what does that tell you?” Well, what it tells me is that she’s got some resilience to come back each time and see off her opponents. Both women had the same score on Saturday, with 27 points apiece, but Bal did far better in the dance off. In the end, the decision was simple.

Balvinder is the perfect Strictly contestant – she’s not a trained dancer but she’s giving it her all and showing real signs of improvement each week. So let’s give her the treat she deserves for Blackpool – as a huge fan of the show for many years she’s bound to be hugely excited to make it to the iconic Tower Ballroom.

The Walford veteran many get to dance the Argentine tango that she’s long been dreaming to do this week – here’s hoping – but whatever she does, if it goes well, let’s stick some votes on her.

I’m backing an idea I saw being suggested by a fan who sensed she was “absolutely crushed” at the weekend. They said that if a few George Clarke fans threw Bal a side vote, she could have a week away from the dreaded red zone. “George would still avoid the dance off due to the apparent huge size of his fanbase and Bal could get a much needed break,” they said. Sounds like a plan to me.

So come on all you EastEnders fans. Suki needs you!

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A HUGE Brit comedian has been forced to cancel a gig hours before he was due onstage after a bereavement in the ‘early hours of morning’.

Rhod Gilbert shared the news with fans on social media.

The post read: “We are sorry to announce that due to a bereavement in the early hours of this morning tonight’s Rhod Gilbert performance in Salisbury is unable to go ahead.

“The show will be rescheduled and all tickets will remain valid for the new date. Ticket holders will be contacted.

“Please bear with us whilst we arrange the rescheduled date.

“We are very sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.”

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The Palestinian experience has been a mainstay of global cinema for decades. Despite countless obstacles, the Palestinian Ministry of Culture has submitted 18 titles for the international feature Oscar since 2003, earning nominations in 2006 and 2014. But this year, at a pivotal moment in its history, three films from acclaimed female filmmakers, each set in war-torn Gaza, are up for Oscar consideration: Annemarie Jacir’s Palestinian entry, “Palestine 36,” Cherien Dabis’ “All That’s Left of You,” representing Jordan, and Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” selected by Tunisia. It’s a remarkable field, one that Jacir believes is more a coincidence than a reflection of the political climate.

“I think that there’s so many Palestinian filmmakers and people have been doing a lot of work for a long time,” Jacir says. “I remember when I made my last film, there were three films shooting at the same time.”

From the outbreak of the Arab revolt in 1936 to the generational trauma of the capture of Jaffa during the Arab-Israeli 1948 war to the current Israel-Hamas war, each film has a distinct and important story to tell. Notably, both “Palestine 36” and “All That’s Left of You” were scheduled to begin production in Palestine just days after Israel began an aerial assault in October 2023 in response to the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7.

After struggling just to get the movie off the ground, Jacir says the real-time events made it difficult to “keep going emotionally, mentally, financially.”

“Nothing was clear,” she says. “We just didn’t know if we would really be able to shoot, if we would be able to start something, if we would be able to finish … We were just making it up as we went along and hoping for the best. It’s sort of a mix of, I would say, stubbornness and perhaps stupidity.”

Saleh Bakri and Cherien Dabis in “All That’s Left of You.”

(Watermelon Pictures)

Concurrently, Dabis had been prepping with a Palestinian crew for five months with the intention of shooting the entire project there, only to be forced to make the “devastating” decision to shift production to Jordan, Greece and Cyprus. (Hopes of eventually returning were dashed.)

“In a way, the movie lived what most Palestinians live: war, exile, fleeing,” she says. “All of the uncertainty, the financial and logistical crisis of it all. I think that what really grounded me during that time was just knowing that the movie was more relevant than ever, and that it had to get done.”

The stark reality of the civilians under constant fire, and in a much worse position than Jacir, motivated her team to continue with “Palestine 36.” She bluntly observes, “We had no right not to, you know what I mean? It’s like we are the privileged ones, actually. We’re not in Gaza. It didn’t feel like it was an option for any of us to stop because they weren’t stopping and it was like, ‘Well, we do it for them too.’”

Depicting the humanity of the Palestinian people, who have suffered mightily under the current occupation, is one reason why Ben Hania felt such urgency in bringing the harrowing final hours of 6-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab to the screen less than a year and a half after her death under Israeli fire.

Dhafer L’Abidine and Yasmine Al Massri in “Palestine 36.”

(Watermelon Pictures)

“There was something about silencing their voices [that] was completely abhorrent for me, and I know that cinema is the place for empathy and the place where you can put face and raise the voice,” Ben Hania says. “So, for me it was part of saying, ‘Stop this dehumanization of Palestinian victims.’ You see the pain in this movie, you can feel the sense of what is happening.”

Despite critical accolades and, in the case of “Voice,” a record standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, none of these submissions were able to secure major distributors in the U.S. “Voice of Hind Rajab” is being released by relatively new player Willa, while both “Palestine 36” and “All That’s Left of You” are set for release by Watermelon Pictures, traditionally a production entity. (Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” was self-released in cinemas and, last month, on streaming platforms.) Ben Hania says that is nothing new: Films about Palestine simply don’t reach U.S. audiences.

“I’m frustrated because as a filmmaker, when you do a movie, you want everybody to see it, especially this one,” Ben Hania says. “So, I mean, yeah, it’s a huge frustration, but I can’t put a gun [to a] distributor and tell them, ‘Distribute my movie.’ When you do movies, you have several obstacles, and this is one of them.”

Despite the hurdles, Jacir says she has never had so many people want to know the historical background behind one of her movies.

“People are curious,” Jacir says. “Before people used to say, ‘Oh, it’s very complicated and let’s leave it. I don’t want to know because it’s too complicated.’ I don’t think people are like that anymore. I don’t think the new generation is like that anymore. I think people really want to know, and they want to see these stories and they’ll make their own judgments and thoughts, and they’ll have their own feelings about it.”

The internet personality and comedian has landed his TV debut in Robin Hood.

Henry Rowley of TikTok fame has landed his first major TV role in MGM+’s Robin Hood, which also stars Sean Bean.

He plays the character Will Gamewell, and took to Instagram to say he was “so excited” for the “amazing project”.

Originally from Leicester but now living in London, the star is the youngest of three brothers, who studied English literature at the University of Bristol.

He uploaded his first TikTok video in October 2021 and some of his sketches have received millions of views.

One of his most famous videos includes an uncanny impersonation of Keira Knightley. The star is seen re-enacting some of the Hollywood actress’s scenes from the film Love Actually. On Instagram, the video has more than 180,000 likes.

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Speaking to Square Mile, he admitting there was nothing showbiz about his childhood.

“Mum’s a counsellor, dad’s a doctor,” he shared, and as for his brothers: “Nick works in PR and Alex is an accountant.”

Never did he dream he would appear in an epic adventure drama with A-list stars like Sean Bean.

On landing his Robin Hood role, he said: ” It was the best experience of my life, far and away.

“For me that’s been a lifelong dream, to get a professional acting role and to be on a proper set with the cast and full crew and everything.

“Being there was better than the expectation. On my first day on set, I was giddy. I couldn’t stop smiling and saying to everyone, this is the most fun I’ve ever had.

“It’s just play with more stakes.” After sending over an audition tape, he landed the role and was told he would fly out to Serbia for filming three days later.

“Cancelled my trip to Mexico, went to Serbia, and had the best time ever,” he said.

He quit his job in marketing to pursue comedy and acting full-time and has since performed at a number of Edinburgh Fringe shows.

Henry admitted he did not know what TikTok was when he first started using it, thinking it was just “kids dancing”.

It was his friends who encouraged him to post his impressions on the platform and they “lost their minds” when the videos started garnering 30,000 views a day, in particular Minty, the posh girl at the afters.

Robin Hood airs weekly on MGM+

JENNIFER Lopez and Sydney Sweeney lead the star-studded glamour at last night’s Governors Awards in Los Angeles.

The Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence also turned heads at the 16th annual bash, held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom.

It honours achievements recognised by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Jenny from the Block hitmaker JLo, 56, stunned in a grey and black ball gown ensemble with a plunging neckline, elevated with black velvet opera gloves.

Euphoria’s Sweeney, 28, kept the glam going in a glittering sleeveless gown, leaving little to the imagination with her gorgeous getup.

Also, American Hustle star Lawrence, 35, showed off her legs wearing an off-the-shoulder cream number, with a thigh-high slit, by Dior.

Ariana Grande, 32, was also in attendance, taking a pastel route in a pale pink vintage Dior one-shoulder gown by John Galliano.

The Wicked star styled her hair in a clean, elegant updo.

She was joined on the red carpet by her co-star Cynthia Erivo, 38, after being grabbed at their premiere event in Singapore.

Erivo went more avant-garde in a Givenchy coat dress that swung with movement.

Also in attendance was Elle Fanning, 27, wearing a soft pink sleeveless gown, while Anya Taylor-Joy, 29, sported a white Maison Margiela look.

Zoey Deutch, 31, chose a crisp white buttoned dress finished with a sweeping black train, while Natalie Portman, 44, opted for a pale blue mini dress.

Dakota Johnson, 36, also chose blue, wearing a simple fitted gown in an icy shade.

Mia Goth, 32, joined them in the colour theme with a pale blue dress of her own as Emma Stone, 37, stayed understated in an off-the-shoulder black Louis Vuitton dress with subtle sparkle.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, and Kristen Stewart, 35, both appeared in unconventional black outfits as Kate Winslet, 50, kept things sleek in a tailored black suit.

Regina Hall, 54, flashed her toned pins in a daring black gown, and Rita Wilson, 69, shone in metallic green.

Octavia Spencer, 55, went feminine with a floral dress as Kate Hudson, 46, brought a pop of colour in a slinky green silk number with cutouts, arriving with Hugh Jackman.

As for the men, The Bear favorite Jeremy Allen White, 34, wore one of the more unusual menswear looks: an unbuttoned white shirt tucked into high-waisted black trousers.

Leonardo DiCaprio, 51, and Brendan Fraser, 56, arrived in classic black suits, as did Austin Butler, 34, Joe Alwyn, 34, Benicio del Toro, 58, Colin Farrell, 49, and Jason Bateman, 56.

Rami Malek, 44, mixed things up with a red velvet blazer, while Jacob Elordi, 28, leaned into a retro vibe with a vintage-inspired suit.

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Adam Sandler, 59, made a rare appearance in a proper suit alongside wife Jackie, and Jeremy Strong, 46, paired a brown suit with trainers and a bowtie.

Blake Slatkin and Ed Sheeran posed together on arrival.

An accessible set for all requires intention. There are practical needs, of course — ramps for restrooms and extra-bright neon tape on the ground to better light up and mark cues and equipment for low-vision performers and crew members. But there’s also a need to weave accessibility into the production so seamlessly that it doesn’t feel tacked on or burdensome.

On a sweltering day in June at the Van Nuys Elks Lodge, the cast and crew of “The Hog Queen,” a short film starring “Wicked: For Good’s” Marissa Bode, were doing just that: re-creating a drag show at a small-town Texas gay bar, yes, but also modeling what a set that puts accessibility and inclusion at its center can look like.

“I have been lucky in the way that ‘Wicked’ was an incredibly accessible set,” Bode tells me later over Zoom, looking back on her experience making writer-director Katherine Craft’s short horror film. “I didn’t really have to think at all about my own accessibility. However, I know that’s not the same for all my disabled peers.”

Nor is it common practice on any given set.

“Honestly, even prior to ‘Wicked,’ the No. 1 question I’m always asking when I’m collaborating with somebody is, ‘Have you worked with disabled people before? If not, how are you accommodating for that?’” Bode says. “Even when I signed on to my agency — or even my PR team, or even my manager — that was one of the first questions I asked. That’s always at the top of my mind.”

That’s what made “The Hog Queen” so rewarding. This was a production that made accessibility a priority. “I just felt taken care of in a way with this process that I have not in others,” Craft says.

Craft’s short film is part of Inevitable Foundation’s Visionary Fellowship. The yearlong program, supported by Netflix, was designed as an incubator for disabled filmmakers. Since its founding in 2021, Inevitable Foundation has supported disabled writers at various stages of their careers. But with this latest and most ambitious fellowship, founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska wanted to put the emphasis on directors with feature-length projects ready for production.

Director Katherine Craft, left, producer Shelby Hadden and assistant director CJ Palmisano go over logistics for a scene on the set “The Hog Queen.”

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Each of the projects selected has been carefully scaled down to a short length to guarantee they could be produced within the yearlong fellowship; all five are set to be unveiled at a showcase in November.

Craft and the other members of the fellow inaugural Visionary cohort — Zayre Ferrer, Monica Lucas, Filipe Coutinho and Alys Murray — each received $55,000 in funding for their respective short films, including a production grant, health insurance, access to an experienced crew as well as marketing support and financial aid for access and travel.

Rather than merely focusing on mentorship, networking or community-building, the Visionary Fellowship was designed to give these filmmakers the production experience they’ll need to thrive in the industry. More than just a pipeline, the 12-month program is an explicit investment in disabled filmmakers and the stories they’re eager to tell. And to arm them, in turn, with an encouraging environment that aims to reframe the way accessibility is often understood.

“I think there’s this misconception that making a set accessible is going to be a huge pain in the ass, that it’s going to cost a ton of money, and it’s going to slow you down,” Craft, who has low vision, explains. “I don’t think any of that has to be true. The other thing is people think of it as something that is going to benefit someone else. But when you start looking at it through a lens of accessibility and inclusivity, you’re benefiting everyone.”

1

2

3

1. Bode makes her way onto the set. 2. Christian Zamudio performs during a drag show scene. 3. The slate lights up with a digital time code. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Siegel and Torelli-Pedevska knew they needed to bake that philosophy into their process. That meant setting money aside for any accommodations early and having a line item for accessibility in the budget templates they were creating to make sure it was something they could anticipate, measure and track.

“A lot of it goes to starting early,” Siegel says. “But more importantly, it’s about rejecting the belief that [accessibility] comes at the expense of the creativity in the final product. Saying the opposite, in fact, which is: if everyone feels like this is a safe set and they can do their best work, the work will just be better.”

Bode agrees — and sees Inevitable Foundation’s approach as one that can be replicated across the industry.

Before shooting, the entire cast and crew of “The Hog Queen” received a form that sought to garner information about their needs. “It asked about everything under the sun in terms of disability,” Bode explains. “‘Do you get overstimulated? Would you need a room to go to if you do get overstimulated? What are your physical access needs? Do you need a ramp? Do you need this? Do you need that?’

“I really think that should just be standard on sets. I don’t think disability accommodations are a luxury. I think everybody should be taken care of.”

Comedian Ruby Wax and social media star Morgan Burtwistle, known as Angryginge, will be the first celebrities to face an eating challenge on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

I’m A Celebrity fans have been left furious after they encountered issues with voting on the app during last night’s show.

The ITV1 show, filmed in Australia, began with five of the celebrities flying over a beach in a helicopter, which they were told they would be jumping out of. Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, model Kelly Brook, rapper Aitch, comedian Eddie Kadi and former EastEnders star Shona McGarty were all seen skydiving in the programme.

The five celebrities were then made to enter a wooden structure and wade through offal and slime to find a key fob that would gain them access to a getaway car taking them to camp. Aitch, real name Harrison Armstrong, and Kadi won the challenge and got in the car where they were met with cocktails.

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The three other celebrities entered the Cockie van which had a giant beetle structure on top of it.

The five other campmates – Wax, Burtwistle, soap star Lisa Riley, TV presenter Jack Osbourne and sports broadcaster Alex Scott – missed out on skydiving and arrived at a luxury villa before battling it out for a seat in the getaway car.

The celebrities had their heads placed inside boxes filled with snakes and were asked to put their hand in a box of green ants to unscrew bolts and release the fob for the car. Osbourne and Burtwistle won the challenge, while Brook, Kemp, McGarty, Riley, Wax and Scott were left riding in the Cockie van, alongside Kiosk Kev.

After arriving at camp, Jack cooked a steak dinner with mushrooms and avocado for Eddie, Aitch and Angryginge while the others were given emu neck to eat.

Fans were then able to vote for the first Bushtucker trial of the series but some viewers have branded the show a fix and claimed the app wasn’t working.

Taking to X one person moaned: “ I’m a celebrity is a fix. Can’t vote cos the app doesn’t work.” A second said: “Would be nice if they sorted this app out, it didn’t work for a lot of people and we weren’t able to vote.” While a third asked: “Is anyone having issues with the voting app? Why isn’t it letting me vote??”

Comedian Ruby Wax and social media star Morgan Burtwistle, known as Angryginge, will be the first celebrities to face an eating challenge on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly told campmates the bushtucker trial will take place at “revolting restaurant” The Divey, during Sunday’s debut episode.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! airs daily at 9pm on ITV1.

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KIM Kardashian broke down in tears and sobbed in the days leading up to her law exam.

The reality TV star, 45, finally took the California bar after seven years of studying but she was ultimately unsuccessful.

It was revealed earlier this month that she hadn’t passed but Kim has remained determined to try again in the hopes of qualifying as a practising lawyer.

Now, the All’s Fair actress has shared an intimate look at her two weeks leading up to the exam in which she shunned all other work commitments to focus on her studies.

The nine-minute social media vlog features an emotional scene in which a bare-faced Kim can be seen sobbing in bed after a long day of studying for her exam.

Heavily emotional, Kim spoke to the camera as she opened up about her law journey difficulties.

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Kim said: “F***, I’m gonna film this because oh my god I am just so tired.

“It is like every time I feel like I am a step ahead, something happens to try and stop me from doing this.

“A part of me just wants to stop.

“I feel like my brain is going to explode and i still have so much more to go.”

Whilst Kim didn’t expand on what was stopping her from studying, she was clearly suffering with problems relating to her back during the two-week period the video was filmed.

She confirmed her back had “given out” and was causing her pain.

Kim wore a large back brace throughout most of the clips in the video in order to help with the pain.

She also revealed she had undergone an MRI scan which confirmed she was dealing with some issues relating to the discs in her back.

Despite her initial worries, she admitted she was feeling confident the day before the exam and was looking forward to taking on the challenge.

The news that Kim hadn’t passed the bar exam came at the same time as her hotly-anticipated legal drama, in which she plays a lawyer, Allura Grant, premiered across the world.

Kim leads the show alongside a cast of stars including Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Nicey Nash.

The 45-year-old started her journey in 2018 and has frequently spoken about wanting to work in the legal profession like her father Robert Sr. 

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Confirming the news earlier this month, the billionaire said: “Well… I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV.

“Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar. No shortcuts, no giving up – just more studying and even more determination.”

Inside an office in Hollywood, not far from the Walk of Fame and the Sunset Bronson Studios, Netflix executive Alain Tascan revealed new content coming soon to the platform — but it’s not a TV show or a movie. It’s a new game where U.S. viewers compete to win thousands of dollars.

The game show, called “Best Guess Live,” will run on weekdays at 5 p.m. PT, where hosts Howie Mandel and Hunter March will unveil a set of five clues. Mobile game players tune in to make their best guesses. The earlier they can guess correctly with fewer clues, the higher the chances they can win more of the prize money. The show, filmed in Van Nuys, is Netflix’s attempt at appointment gaming for its audience of more than 700 million viewers.

“Can you imagine where you not only can go and play a game, but you could win a life-changing amount of money each and every day, and it takes no time, it’s easy, and you just have your phone?” said Mandel, widely known for his hosting turns on NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” and “America’s Got Talent.”

The goal is to make playing games on Netflix “as simple as streaming a movie on a Friday, using the same innovative mindset that led Netflix to transform itself from a company shipping DVDs to streaming movies, shows and now games,” Tascan said.

Netflix has been investing in its games vertical for the last four years, with mixed results. Last month, the streamer’s co-CEO Greg Peters gave the company’s gaming efforts a B- grade. Under Tascan’s leadership, the division has focused on some key areas, including narratives based on Netflix programs, games for children, social party games and mainstream titles like “Grand Theft Auto.”

The changes appear to be working. The number of downloads for Netflix games has increased 17% to 74.8 million from January to October of this year compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from app analytics firm Appfigures. The company is also releasing fewer games, adding 16 titles this year compared to 35 last year, Appfigures said.

Netflix declined to comment on the Appfigures data.

The company has also removed games in part due to low customer engagement. Netflix has released 142 games, with 78 of them still active as of October, according to Appfigures.

Its two most popular mobile games were released on Netflix in the last two years, including “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” which came on the platform in December 2023 and achieved 44 million downloads. The streamer released an original, the multiplayer party royale title “Squid Game: Unleashed,” last year with 21 million downloads. The game had tie-ins to the popular series’ second season where players could earn cash or wild tokens in the game if they watched a certain number of episodes.

Some analysts say there is still room for improvement.

Journalists participate in a games demo at a Netflix office on Wednesday.

(Netflix)

“It still seems pretty experimental,” said Ross Benes, senior analyst at research firm Emarketer. “I don’t get the impression that they are on gamers’ list of their go-to sources of entertainment.”

On Thursday, Netflix said its first slate of five games for the TV, including Tetris Time Warp, Boggle Party, Pictionary: Game Night and LEGO Party! are now available. Prior to the new slate, subscribers could only play Netflix games on their mobile devices.

When consumers load up the TV games, they will see a QR code they can scan on their devices and use them as controllers in the game. For example in Netflix’s version of Pictionary, users draw on their phones.

“A big switch in the strategy is really to make sure that we are eliminating any friction that somebody can encounter when they want to play,” Tascan said in an interview. “We believe that on TV, in particular, where people enjoy their different shows, is the best place to offer something very easily approachable.”

The TV games are the latest iteration in Netflix’s effort that began four years ago. The company had beefed up its staff after acquiring four gaming businesses — Glendale-based Night School, Boss Fight Entertainment out of Allen, Texas, Finland-based Next Games and Spry Fox based in Seattle.

Netflix shut down Boss Fight Entertainment last month.

The gaming division efforts were first led by Mike Verdu, a former Facebook and Electronic Arts executive. He later transitioned to a role focusing on transforming game development and player experiences with generative AI in November 2024 and left Netflix earlier this year. Tascan, a former executive at Epic Games, was named Netflix’s president of games in July 2024.

Games has been an attractive area of investment for some companies, as younger audiences spend a lot of time playing titles like Roblox, Fortnite and Call of Duty. Tascan estimates there are 3 billion gamers in the world and with Netflix having an audience of more than 700 million people, “the Venn diagram is pretty large.”

The streamer on Thursday also announced new mobile games for kids, including digital coloring book “Barbie Color Creations” and a hairstyling game, “Toca Boca Hair Salon 4.”

It can be challenging for companies to get into the space. For example, in 2023, Google shut down its gaming service Stadia after it failed to gain traction with users.

Tascan said Netflix is not competing against traditional gaming consoles but is looking to innovate and find new ways to reach its customers.

Tascan said he is encouraged by the reactions he has seen.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “But at the end, how many people are going to have the same reaction? We are a company driven by data, and our main data is, how many people are going to engage?”

Tascan said he thinks it will be a few short years before Netflix becomes the Netflix of games. He hopes the division can improve from Peters’ grade of a B- to a higher level.

“What I hope is, by the end of the year, we’ll upgrade to an A, hopefully A+,” Tascan said.

Times editorial library director Cary Schneider contributed to this report.

Anya Garnis, who shares two young children with her husband Sunna Van Kampen, recently tried to rent a property in Devon, but she was rejected from doing so because of a Home Office blunder

Former Strictly star Anya Garnis fears she may be left homeless after a Home Office blunder rejected her right to live in Britain.

The Russian-born Latin dancer started dancing at the age of 10 and began competing professionally with her dance partner, Strictly’s Pasha Kovalev, in 1998. The pair moved to the US in 2001 to start her professional dancing career.

They reached the final of the US Open Ballroom Championship on a number of occasions and have also appeared in US series So You Think You Can Dance. Anya, who is a US citizen, has performed at the Emmys and the Oscars and even headlined the Broadway show Burn The Floor.

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The 43-year-old, who shares two young children with her husband Sunna Van Kampen, recently tried to rent a property in Totnes, Devon, but she was rejected from doing so because of a Home Office blunder.

Baffled by the situation Anya investigated and discovered the Home Office’s landlord checking system suggested she did not have permission to live in the country, despite being here since 2013.

The Home Office said her application for leave to remain may have been lost – rendering her ‘illegal’. Speaking to the MailOnline she said: “I was absolutely shocked and devastated. We have to leave the place we’re living now in a couple of weeks, but have been told we can’t rent or buy anywhere else.

“In effect, this will leave us homeless in Britain. If we leave the country, my visa application will be dismissed entirely, but we may have no choice.”

Anya came to the UK on a temporary UK visa in 2013 to work for Strictly. She married Mr Van Kampen in 2017 and they later had two children, now aged three and one.

Since 2013 Anya has lived in the UK on rolling temporary visas without any major issues until she applied to renew her permission last September.

After applying she heard nothing for months so chased her application up on the Home Office website which suggested her application was being processed. When she tried to call, they told her they couldn’t discuss individual cases on the phone.

Home Office guidelines state that applicants have automatic leave to remain while their applications are being processed, so she thought nothing of it. After applying again she was shocked to still be turned down by the LCS.

She said: “I can’t buy or rent a property, but I also can’t leave the country while I’m waiting for a decision. I know highly skilled Americans who have been forced to give up on a life in Britain and move back home because of this catch.”

The Home Office said it would not comment on an individual case.

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MUSIC legend Gary Numan has sparked concern after breaking down in tears on stage.

The 67-year-old is reported to have started weeping while performing  Please Push No More at the O2 Academy Birmingham on Saturday evening.

According to The Mirror, his wife Gemma O’Neil rushed onto the stage to comfort him. 

He is reported to have told the crowd he’d received the “worst news ever” that morning and would share it with fans once he had time to process it.

Gary is expected to appear on stage in Bristol tonight, but did cancel his meet and greet beforehand.

His fans rushed to comment on his wellbeing, with one person writing: Rough to see him so upset during PPNM – not looking forward to hearing the reason in the coming days. Can’t be good. Absolute pro to battle on.”

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Someone else remarked: “He broke down – he had some bad news yesterday. Gemma came onstage and hugged him. Crowd were amazing, so supportive.  Hope he’s ok.”

After it was revealed he would be playing again this evening, another person speculated: “I just hope he’s not overstretching by carrying on with the concert.”

Gary started his tour earlier this week, which celebrates the 45th anniversary of his seminal album Telekon. He is still due to play in Bournemouth, Brighton, London and various other venues.

The Cars singer and his wife, 55, married in 1997 and re-located to LA with their three children in 2012.

The move was the backdrop to documentary Android In La La Land, where cameras followed them and saw him open up about his Asperger’s and depression.

Gemma was originally a member of Gary’s fan club before they found love.

Gary previously said of their relationship: “This is going to sound corny, given that it’s 30 years and four days since our first date, but I miss her even when she’s in a different part of the house.

“She’s everything I am not – which is most things, really.”

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Jack Osbourne has admitted he feels ‘very nervous’ as he joined other famous faces on I’m A Celebrity, but said his late father Ozzy would have encouraged him to do his best

Fans of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! have all been saying the same thing about Jack Osbourne, who has joined the show in Australia. Ozzy Osbourne’s son has joined the likes of comedian Ruby Wax, Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, model Kelly Brook and Emmerdale star Lisa Riley on the show, presented by Ant and Dec.

Completing the line-up are rapper Aitch, comedian Eddie Kadi, EastEnders actress Shona McGarty, sports broadcaster Alex Scott and social media star Morgan Burtwistle, who is known as Angry Ginge.

As viewers enjoyed the first episode this evening, many complemented Jack on his looks, with a person writing on X: “Is Jack Osbourne a bit handsome??” Another wrote: “I fancy jack osbourne so much.”

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“Jack Osbourne looks really good,” a third posted. “Ok… why is Jack Osbourne kinda hot?” another viewer tweeted, while another said: “Jack osbourne looks so gorg in im a celeb”.

A viewer was more hesitant, posting: “Hear me out but… jack osbourne is hot?” Another said: “God i love jack osbourne.” Other proclaimed the TV star their winner from the very first episode.

Jack shared he was joining the show with “very mixed emotions” but added that he thought his dad would tell him to “just f***ing do it.” The TV personality has been very open about his grief following his father’s death, talking about it on his podcast with his mother, Sharon, and sister Kelly.

Announcing he would be joining I’m A Celeb, Jack posted on social media on Tuesday: “Hey folks! Well I was told to keep this a secret but the cats out of the bag now. I’m headed into the jungle for a few weeks. Why you might ask?

“I guess I’m just a sucker for punishment hahaha. My team will be managing my social media while I’m away, so don’t worry, they will be keeping you all updated. Wish me luck cause I’m gonna need it. Before I go, does anyone have a good recipe for how to cook a crocodile?”

Earlier this week, Jack told us he only learnt he was heading Down Under a couple of weeks ago, which he described as a “last-ditch effort” after someone else seemingly dropped out of the show. “I only knew I was coming out here like 10 days ago. So it was literally 10 days,” he said.

Before heading to the jungle, he spent a few days loading up on comfort food. He said: “I stocked up on some chocolate digestives and some Pot Noodles… I’m going to live the high life.” The TV star, 39, admitted he expects some personal topics to come up as the cast bond, but said there are limits on what he is prepared to share on national television when it comes to family matters, including his late dad Ozzy, who passed away aged 76 in July.

Asked whether he will open up during the late-night chats the show is known for, Jack said: “I mean, it’s hard not to. I mean, I’ve done my fair share of projects with people in situations like this, like Adrenaline Junkie or things like that. I think it’s just a natural part of bonding with people.

“And I think this show would fall under the trauma bonding kind of category. I think things will naturally come up and I’m not necessarily going to stray away from too many things. But obviously there are certain things that I probably won’t discuss on a nationally televised TV show that’s filmed 24/7.”

Jack, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, said he is “not a big bug person” and feels “very nervous” for the show. The TV presenter said his mother Sharon and sister Kelly have given him their full support. He added: “Mum and Kelly, yeah they are absolutely going to be watching. They are supportive.”

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