SHOW BIZ

MICHELLE Keegan gushed over Hollywood superstar, Reese Witherspoon, at a glitzy event in London.

The Brassic actress posed with the Academy Award winning star and they were seen getting on very well as they chatted excitedly.

She met Reese at an event for her new book, Gone Before Goodbye, which she co-authored with best selling crime author, Harlen Coben.

Michelle recently starred in Fool Me Once, one of Harlen’s many adapted series on Netflix.

She shared a series of photos of her posing closely with Reese and another video of her chatting with Reese as Harlen watched on happily.

“When two genuises collide.. ‘Gone Before Goodbye’ is made! 📖 (I can confirm Reese Witherspoon is everything you’d imagined her to be, what a woman),” Michelle captioned the post on Instagram.

SCRATCH FURY

Michelle Keegan left furious after vandals target her £100k Range Rover

proud mum

Michelle Keegan shares very rare pic of daughter Palma – after TV show cancelled

Reese later responded to her post writing, “So wonderful to meet you .. finally!”

Gone Before Goodbye is Reese’s debut novel and tells the story of surgeon Maggie who after a series of personal tragedies is offered an intriguing opportunity by a former colleague.

Michelle also shared a series of her posing at the Southbank Centre in London where the event was held.

Her brush with Hollywood royalty comes after The Sun was first to reveal how Michelle’s BBC series Ten Pound Poms had been scrapped after two series.

The show’s axe comes as the ex-Coronation Street star waves goodbye to hit comedy Brassic on Sky, just as she’s returning to work after becoming a first time mum, to daughter Palma Elizabeth.

Period drama Ten Pound Poms followed a group of British citizens who emigrated from post-war Britain to Australia in the 1950s, with Michelle playing nurse Kate Thorne.

A BBC spokesperson said: “It’s been a joy to bring the story of the Ten Pound Poms to life for BBC viewers and we are really grateful to Danny Brocklehurst, Eleven and all the cast and crew who have worked on the series.”

The gentle drama made a splash when it first aired in May 2023, with 6.37million viewers but that had halved to 3.15million by the end of series two in April this year.

She is busy on a new thriller called The Blame for ITV, though, after time off to have baby Palma with husband Mark Wright.

“They’re coming to get you, Barbara” is the most famous line from 1968’s revolutionary “Night of the Living Dead.” It’s a mean taunt that comes from a sibling, unaware that civilization is crumpling around him. In a few moments, his sister will be fleeing across a field barefoot from an undead zombie (terms that are never used in the movie because it’s so ahead of its time) and any Boris Karloff impressions will quickly be forgotten.

The line also sounds remarkably comfortable coming out of the mouth of a drag queen — one of the many sides of shade served in the generously funny and sharp “Queens of the Dead.” Directing and co-writing the film is 42-year-old Tina Romero, daughter of George Romero, “Night’s” original progenitor, whose death in 2017 was met with the kind of belated cultural praise usually reserved for Oscar winners.

Tina Romero understands the legacy of her father better than most. It’s not just a matter of gathering a bunch of bickering survivors inside a besieged location — here it’s a converted Bushwick warehouse — while the outside world goes to hell. (Adding to the film’s bona fides, legendary makeup artist Tom Savini makes a cameo as the city’s mayor on TV: “This is not a George Romero movie,” he warns.) Shrewdly, “Queens of the Dead” also foregrounds the deeper meanings that gore-obsessed knockoffs sometimes miss: the idea that working together across differences is harder than it seems and maybe the monster is already calling from inside the house.

Pink-hued and queered so aggressively that only a prig won’t be able to find some RuPaul-adjacent enjoyment in it, “Queens” stars Katy O’Brian, last seen as Kristen Stewart’s sculpted lust object in “Love Lies Bleeding.” Here O’Brian has much more to do emotionally as Dre, a wanna-be impresario with big dreams for her drag event, Yum, even if her attractions keep bailing and her target audience of influencers is in the process of turning into lumbering flesh-eaters. (They still clutch onto their cellphones, a nice touch.)

Within the makeshift club — a dressing room, a bar, some dance cages that will figure later — tensions flare and Dre has her hands full. Ginsey (Nina West), a hardworking diva, holds down the fort while unreliable protégé Sam (Jaquel Spivey) chooses this moment to show up and ruffle feathers. Unhappy with second billing, a younger queen (Tomás Matos) insists on being called Scrumptious while a gruffly accommodating handyman named Barry (Quincy Dunn-Baker, a smart inclusion of George Romero’s blue-collar streak) tries to keep all the pronouns straight.

Confidently, Tina Romero makes room for a wonderfully dumb makeover montage and a daring escape via Pride Parade float. If the comedy overcompensates at the expense of landing every gag, then good on her. It’s long overdue and there’s something touching to the idea that the end of the world might unleash leadership qualities in those who’ve had a rough time existing in the old one.

But a film this well-made and cut (the pacy editing by Aden Hakimi calls back to the elder Romero’s own cutting of his major titles) shouldn’t be relegated to just one kind of audience. Anyone who appreciates horror should find something to smile at here. Maybe it’s the side plot — as satisfying as a worn-in pair of shoes — of Dre’s wife, Lizzie (Riki Lindhome), a hospital nurse, racing across town in an old Impala.

Or, true to zombie movie form, there’s the mid-film arrival of a game-changing character, the synthesizer music pumping. Here it’s Margaret Cho on a motor scooter, cruising through a cloud of exhaust. “You all look healthy enough,” she tosses off, an action hero in the making. And yes, that’s as thrilling as it sounds.

Sport and reality show fans have different reasons to take not of the rumoured line up for I’m A Celebrity…. Get Me Out Of Here! 2025 as a major sporting event may be affected by plans

Boxing star Conor Benn is reportedly being lined up to star in the upcoming season of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! despite having fights planned incredibly close to the expected air date.

Long-time fans of I’m A Celeb will be used to watching stars parachute into the Australian jungle every November. This year will see the 25th season of the long-running show air on ITV – and an early November start date is anticipated.

One of the names linked to the upcoming series is 29-year-old boxer Conor, who is the son of former two-division world champion boxer Nigel Benn. Fans might be surprised to see his name tied to the series, as he is due to fight Chris Eubank Jr on November 15 for a hotly anticipated rematch.

READ MORE: I’m A Celeb signs up comedy legend and hope she’ll reveal huge showbiz storiesREAD MORE: Legendary Coronation Street stars’ soap future revealed after exit fears

A source told The Sun: “The logistics are a challenge given how close the match is to the start of the jungle, but ITV and Conor are keen to make this happen if they can.” The Mirror has approached representatives of Conor and I’m A Celebrity for comment.

A string of other stars have been tipped to appear in the new season of the show, with EastEnders star Shona McGarty, Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, and comedian Ruby Wax among those thought to have signed up for gruelling tasks and infamous trials.

I’m A Celeb fans should have even more jungle action to watch in the coming months as a second season of the All Stars version has reportedly wrapped. Filmed in South Africa, the spin-off show sees past contestants return to take part in more tasks.

Gemma Collins, Harry Redknapp, Scarlett Moffatt, and Sir Mo Farah are among the names attached to the upcoming second season. The format of the show has disappointed fans, however, as it airs as a pre-recorded show.

This deprives viewers of the ability to vote for those they want to see take part in trials – and also to vote for a winner. The first All Stars season aired in April 2023 – six months after the filming process ended.

Former Hear’Say singer & presenter Myleene Klass was crowned the winner of the show, triumphing over second-place star Jordan Banjo and third-place star Fatima Whitbread.

ITV confirmed the show would return last month, with host Ant McPartlin saying in a statement: “The campmates really brought their A-game to the first series, so we can’t wait to be back for more trials, challenges and surprises amongst the beautiful South African landscape.”

Co-host Declan Donnelly added: “Having a live final is an exciting addition to the new series with the viewers choosing their IAC Legend and we’ve heard some of the new trials are truly epic, even by I’m A Celeb… standards!”

Meanwhile, Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime Commissioning at ITV, said: “We were blown away by the love for the first series of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa. It was a true celebration of the show’s history, and viewers loved seeing their favourite campmates return to their screens. We can’t wait to do it all again next year with a whole new cohort, and have the audience crown the winner during a live final for the first time.”

And Tom Gould, Director of Entertainment & Formats, Lifted Entertainment, added: “We’re very excited to have some more of the most memorable campmates from previous series returning to take on terrifying trials and face challenging twists and difficult decisions, in the tougher setting of South Africa.

“It will test them to their limits, and with a live final, this time viewers will get to decide who truly deserves the title of I’m A Celebrity Legend”.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

BELOVED Brit soap actor Tony Adams who starred in Crossroads has died aged 84 with tributes pouring in.

The legend died at Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Saturday, with his wife Christine by his side.

Anthony Sawley Adams was born in Anglesey, Wales, in 1940 and later trained as an actor at the Italia Conti theatre school.

Following performances on the stage, he made his name as Dr Neville Bywaters in the 1970s soap General Hospital and appeared in the Dr Who series The Green Death.

In 1978, he took on the role of accountant Adam Chance in soap Crossroads – the role for which he became best known.

The series ended in 1988 after more than 4,500 episodes, with Adams staying until the end.

DARK HORSE

Katy Perry & Justin Trudeau hold hands at strip bar during 1st public appearance

HAND IN HAND

Romeo Beckham officially back with Kim Turnbull as they hold hands in Paris

He was one of the original cast members, including Jane Rossington and Kathy Staff, who returned when the soap was revived in 2001.

Adams then appeared in the stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium Theatre, where he played Grandpa Potts, in 2004.

In 2023, he had a cameo role in Nolly – a three-part drama created by Russell T Davies which tells the story of Crossroads actress Noele Gordon.

Actor Augustus Prew, who played Adams in the drama, described him as a “magical man” during interviews at the time.

Michael Rose, of The Michael Rose Organisation Ltd, paid tribute to Adams as an “absolute joy” and a talented actor, dancer and singer.

“He was one of the warmest gentlemen you could wish to work with,” Mr Rose said.

“He was an absolute joy. He was a dancer originally but there was nothing Tony couldn’t do.

“He was a very accomplished actor, he was a really good dancer and singer.

“He played Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was a joy to have in the company, as he was in every company.

“We shall miss him.”

CONAKRY, Guinea — It was the middle of the day when Omar Diaw, known by his artist name “Chimere” — French for chimera — approached a blank wall off the main thoroughfare in Guinea’s capital and started spray-painting.

“They know who I am,” he said confidently. Though it wasn’t clear who ”they” were, civilians and police didn’t bat an eye as Diaw’s fellow artists unloaded dozens of paint cans onto the roadside in Conakry.

Graffiti has thrived for years in Diaw’s native Senegal, where the modern urban street art first took off in West Africa. But when he moved to Guinea in 2018 to explore a new place, he said such art was nearly nonexistent.

“It was thought that graffiti was vandalism,” he said.

To win over the public, Diaw took a gentle approach, using graffiti for public awareness campaigns. One of his first was to raise awareness about COVID-19 preventive measures.

“We had to seduce the population,” he said.

The port city of Conakry faces rapid urbanization. Diaw’s graffiti has become an undeniable part of its crowded, concrete-heavy landscape.

His larger-than-life images of famous Guinean musicians and African independence leaders now dwarf the overloaded trucks that drive by. Drying laundry hung over the portrait of the West African resistance fighter Samory Toure.

The tag of Diaw’s graffiti collective, Guinea Ghetto Graff, is on murals all over the city.

Graffiti as it’s known today began in the 1960s and ’70s in the United States. It arrived in West Africa via Dakar, Senegal, in 1988, when the region’s first graffiti artist, Amadou Lamine Ngom, started painting on the city’s walls.

Known by his artist name, “Docta,” Ngom and a group of fellow artists were commissioned the following year to paint murals for an awareness campaign aimed at cleaning up Dakar’s streets.

Ngom, 51, said that at the beginning, aside from such campaigns, he did graffiti mostly at night. He later changed his approach.

“I decided to do it in broad daylight,” he said. “So as not to copy what’s happening in the United States, Europe or elsewhere. To create graffiti that resembles the African reality, taking into account our reality, our values.”

Ngom, who later mentored the teenage Diaw, said communities grew to respect the public artwork since it reflected their lives and experiences.

With the public’s backing, “the authorities didn’t have a choice,” Ngom said.

These days, graffiti has grown more assertive in Senegal, becoming part of the political messaging around antigovernment protests. In Guinea, Diaw’s graffiti has addressed issues such as migration.

Diaw said Conakry’s governor supports much of his work and has given him carte blanche to do it wherever he wants.

As his latest work beside the thoroughfare took shape, passersby began to stop and admire the portrait of Guinea’s military leader, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, who took power in a 2021 coup.

A 22-year-old driver, Ousmane Sylla, said he was familiar with Diaw’s gigantic paintings near Conakry’s airport.

“It reminds us of old Guinean musicians. It reminds us of history,” he said. “Graffiti is good for Africa, it’s good for this country, it’s good for everyone. I like it, and it changed the face of our city.”

The next step might be bringing in a wider range of artists.

“I would really like to see more women become a part of this, because they say that [graffiti] is for men,” said Mama Aissata Camara, a rare female artist on Guinea’s graffiti scene.

Risemberg writes for the Associated Press.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will be leaving Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the current series, with new hosts set to take over next year

Strictly Come Dancing fans have been begging La Voix to be the next new host after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they were leaving. The iconic duo announced last week that they wouldn’t be presenting the next series.

Since then, several names have been suggested who may replace the current hosts. Fans of the show have said they would love current contestant La Voix to take on the job.

La Voix made her own plea during Saturday’s show where she threw her own hat in the ring as a potential candidate. The Drag Race UK star took the chance to ask Claudia live on air for her job.

READ MORE: Shirley Ballas already knows who should host Strictly Come DancingREAD MORE: Vicky Pattison won’t host Strictly Come Dancing – unless one change is made

La Voix was waiting in the Clauditorium ahead of her performance as she asked the host: “Claudia, while I’ve got you, do you know the address when you send your CV to the BBC? Just in case any new jobs are coming up. I’m just asking for a friend.”

Claudia laughed as she grabbed La Voix’s hand and led her over to the camera to take a turn, saying: “Give it a go, babe, let’s do it now.”

La Voix then had a go at reading the autocue, simply saying: “Tess.” She then handed over to the main studio as the entire room burst into laughter.

Fans took to social media to say that they think the star would be a great candidate to present Strictly. One said: “La Voix is pure entertainment. Everything she does/says is gold.”

While a second added: “La Voix has the personality & humour to be one of the new Strictly presenters!” As a third wrote: “She has the sarcastic wit of Bruce Forsyth, love it, make a great replacement for Claudia.”

“La Voix is one of the all-time greatest contestants this show has seen in terms of pure entertainment value. She never wastes a single second of screen time; she’s always ready with a joke to be cracked,” another said.

Tess and Claudia opened the show on Saturday night, where they spoke about their recent announcement. Tess began: “Just before we get started tonight, Claud and I announced this week that this will be our last series of Strictly Come Dancing.”

As the audience clapped, Claudia continued: “We want to thank you for your beautiful messages. We’ve got another eight weeks on this incredible show and a Strictly champion to crown.”

Tess concluded: “And we cannot wait to spend the rest of the series with you, with our amazing couples and these four [the judges].”

The pair announced that they were leaving in a video posted to their Instagram page last Thursday. It’s been previously reported that the duo had made a pact that they would always leave together.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

IRIS Law had her assistants running across New York to find her favourite treats ahead of the Victoria’s Secret show, it’s been reported.

The 25-year-old daughter of actor Jude Law and film producer Sadie Frost, made her debut as an Angel during the return of the world famous runway show in October.

This year’s Victoria’s Secret show was full of famous faces including fellow nepo babies, Bella and Gigi Hadid, and Lila Moss.

But it was reported that Iris had plenty of demands as she prepared to walk the runway.

Iris is said to have sent her team of assistants looking for cookies from a particular bakery and then smoothies from another place in New York, according to Daily Mail.

The Victoria’s Secret catwalk show made a stunning return earlier this month and was full of A-list models including, Alessandra Ambrosio, Jasmine Tookes, Angel Reese,  Barbie Ferreira,  Ashley Graham, Irina Shayk and Emily Ratajkowski.

NEW MATCH

Iris Law spotted out for summer stroll with Trent Alexander-Arnold lookalike

THE EX-FACTOR

Inside the life of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ex-girlfriend Iris Law

Born Iris Tallulah Elizabeth Law on October 25, 2000, the rising star is a British fashion model and actress.

She burst onto the modelling scene when she was in her teens and has been booked by some of the biggest fashion houses in the world.

Iris has previously posed for Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, and Versace.

She has also started to forge a career in the movies and follow in her famous parents’ footsteps.

Iris previous dated England footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The whirlwind romance between Trent and Iris hit the rocks last year.

Before then pictures of Trent and Iris in the Caribbean in July showed them looking like a perfect couple after meeting on a photoshoot with Guess Jeans only five months prior.

Her dad, Jude has seven different children with four different women.

His other kids are named Raff, 27, Rudy, 21, Sophia, 14 and Ada, eight.

Jude and his current wife Phillipa Coan, whom he married in 2019, have reportedly had two children, one in 2020 and one in 2023.

PARIS — At least two suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of crown jewels from Paris’ Louvre Museum, the Paris prosecutor said Sunday, a week after the heist that stunned the world.

The prosecutor said that investigators made the arrests Saturday evening, adding that one of the men taken into custody was preparing to leave the country from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

France’s BFM TV and Le Parisien newspaper earlier reported that two suspects had been arrested and taken into custody. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests and did not say whether any jewels had been recovered.

Thieves took less than eight minutes Oct. 19 to steal jewels valued at more than $100 million from the world’s most-visited museum. French officials described how the intruders used a basket lift to scale the Louvre’s facade, forced open a window, smashed display cases and fled. The museum’s director called the incident a “terrible failure.”

Beccuau said investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts made the arrests. In her statement, she rued the leak of information, saying it could hinder the work of more than 100 investigators “mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all of the perpetrators.” Beccuau said further details will be unveiled after the suspects’ custody period ends.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised “the investigators who have worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence.”

The Louvre reopened last week after one of the highest-profile museum thefts of the century stunned the world with its audacity and scale.

The thieves slipped in and out while museum patrons were inside, making off with some of France’s crown jewels — a cultural wound that some compared with the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019.

The thieves escaped with eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

They also took an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, as well as a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

One piece — Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown with more than 1,300 diamonds — was later found outside the museum, damaged but repairable.

News of the arrests was met with relief by Louvre visitors and passersby on Sunday.

“It’s important for our heritage. A week later, it does feel a bit late; we wonder how this could even happen — but it was important that the guys were caught,” said Freddy Jacquemet.

“I think the main thing now is whether they can recover the jewels,” added Diana Ramirez. “That’s what really matters.”

Petrequin and Garriga write for the Associated Press and reported from London and Paris, respectively.

Vicky Pattison has ‘confirmed’ the first star of next year’s Strictly Come Dancing as she revealed she will be in the front row every week to watch close pal Dani Dyer ‘smash it’

Strictly‘s Vicky Pattison appears to have confirmed the first contestant of next year’s series as she stated her friend Dani Dyer will return to the dance floor, after she had to pull out of the competition last minute due to an injury.

Dani, 29, and Vicky struck a close friendship during their training for the BBC dance show and have publicly supported each other online. Dani, who was initially paired with show pro Nikita Kuzmin, 27, was left gutted after she had to suddenly leave the show and her friends, just days before her first dance.

While she is unable to dance, she showed up on Saturday evening to support her fellow stars and praised Vicky on her routine to Fight for This Love by Cheryl for Icons Week.

READ MORE: Tess Daly’s very demanding job away from Strictly as sudden exit leaves fans baffledREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing fans praise judge for ‘subtle’ Ellie Goldstein move

Dani shared a series of images on her Instagram, including a sweet snap cuddling an emotional Vicky. She wrote in the caption: “So happy I got to watch @bbcstrictly last night.. missed you all and so proud. And my beautiful @vickypattison just love you so much and watching you live was just PERFECT!! love you all loads.”

Vicky was quick to comment back and appeared to confirm that Dani will be on next year’s series. She wrote: “I love you so much mate, my girl!!! I will be front row every week next year watching you SMASH IT”. Vicky also reposted the image to her stories, where she repeated that she ‘can’t wait’ to watch Dani next year.

It came after Vicky’s emotions poured out before her latest performance, as she reflected on the person she used to be and who she is now, before transforming into Cheryl Tweedy for an impressive routine.

As the pre-dance video rolled, Vicky said: “I first started out in this industry at about 21 and I made some bad decisions. I just don’t think at that age I had the tools to navigate that space I was in. Now I do my best to be a better version of myself – someone I can look in the mirror and feel alright about.” She went on: “What I’ve learnt about myself is that with determination and a little bit of self-belief, you can achieve stuff.”

As she opened up on her song choice for the week, Fight for this Love by the Girls Aloud star, Vicky added: “Apart from being a banger is a very important song to me. The whole idea that the comeback is greater than the setback.

“You can have the life you want. You can change the narrative. You can be who you want to be, not letting the past define you. I think that’s really powerful. I worked on myself and now I’m here in a place that makes us really happy and I’m finally becoming a woman I’m proud of.”

Following the performance, which racked up a score of 33 from the judges, Cheryl congratulated her fellow Geordie before saying she was “honoured and humbled” to be her choice of icon.

Cheryl sweetly said: “I know you’ve got it in you because you’re a Geordie. So go on, get out there. Fight for your place, and I’m sending you loads of love. I’ll be rooting for you from home.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

ROMEO Beckham has confirmed that he is back with his ex Kim Turnbull after rekindling their romance.

The pair were seen in Paris this weekend, holding hands and looking loved up, just six months after the strain of the Beckham family feud led to them splitting up.

The pair’s romance was previously said to have “fizzled out” shortly after Romeo’s dad David’s star-studded 50th birthday party.

The split also came amid the subsequent feud between Romeo’s brother Brooklyn Beckham and the rest of the Beckham clan.

Last week, Romeo, 23, soft-launched that he and Kim, 24, were back on, and now things are official since they were spotted in public holding hands.

On a date night in Paris with Kim, Romeo could be seen wearing black cargo trousers with a black top and a leather jacket.

SOFT LAUNCH

Why Romeo’s reunion with girlfriend shows there’s ‘no going back’ for Beckhams

BECKS APPEAL

Romeo Beckham is back with ex Kim – six months after split

He completed the look with some beige boots and a couple of chains around his neck.

Meanwhile, Kim twinned with her boyfriend and also opted for an all-black look.

Kim could be seen donning black pinstripe trousers with a waistcoat worn alone and buttoned down the front.

She held onto a black jacket and carried a bag on her shoulder.

Kim wore her hair up in a sleek ponytail, and finished off her look with a pair of white shoes.

In other pics from their outing, Romeo donned the same outfit while Kim rocked a different look.

For their daytime outing, Kim wore some baggy blue ripped jeans and a button-down black leather jacket.

Last week, Romeo hinted that he and Kim were back together when he shared a very telling image on social media.

It came when he posted a snap with Kim on his Instagram Stories.

The picture saw Kim dressed in an oversized jacket with the hood up, and Romeo in a beanie hat as he stood behind her.

The pair were facing the camera as he took the selfie.

It was revealed back in June that the pair had decided to call time on their romance.

The announced of their split came around the same time that the Beckham family feud kicked off.

A source told The Mail at the time: “Romeo and Kim are both young and they had a lovely time together but at that age things don’t always last forever and they decided to split up.

“They have been friendly since and have even been at the same venues.

“It’s a huge shame, particularly as David and Victoria really adored her and thought she made Romeo happy but it wasn’t to be.

FREEBIE FINDER

Last minute October half-term ideas – everything you can do for FREE

SPICING UP

How ‘diva’ Geri’s ‘embarrassing’ saga with Christian reignited Spice Girls rift

“It happened a couple of weeks ago and relations have remained friendly between them.”

Kim and Romeo first went public with their romance after his split from Mia Reagan, his ex of five years.

David Ball of Soft Cell, whose delectably sleazy synth-pop arrangement drove that English duo’s 1981 hit “Tainted Love” to the top of the U.K. singles chart, died Wednesday. He was 66.

The producer’s death was announced in a post on Soft Cell’s website, which didn’t state a cause but said that Ball died at his home in London. On Facebook, the duo’s singer, Marc Almond, wrote that Ball’s health “had been in slow decline over recent years” due to an unspecified illness.

“It is hard to write this, let alone process it, as Dave was in such a great place emotionally,” Almond said on Soft Cell’s site. “He was focused and so happy with the new album that we literally completed only a few days ago. It’s so sad as 2026 was all set to be such an uplifting year for him, and I take some solace from the fact that he heard the finished record and felt that it was a great piece of work.”

Ball and Almond performed as Soft Cell at last month’s Rewind Festival in England; the LP they’d just wrapped is set to be titled “Danceteria” after the New York City nightclub that became an incubator of new wave and synth-pop in the early ’80s.

Soft Cell was an “experimental electro band [writing] weird little pop tunes about consumerism,” as Almond told the Guardian in 2017, when the duo decided to record a cover of “Tainted Love,” which the soul singer Gloria Jones had introduced to little success in 1964.

Ball devised his take on the song using his “dodgy old Korg synths” as well as a state-of-the-art Synclavier that cost more than £100,000, according to the Guardian. Soft Cell’s cover felt “twisted and strange,” Ball said, which suited the “weird couple: Marc, this gay bloke in makeup, and me, a big guy who looked like a minder.”

With Almond’s panting vocal over Ball’s sexy yet sinister production, “Tainted Love” hit No. 1 in the U.K. the same year as the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and “Prince Charming” by Adam & the Ants. In the U.S., “Tainted Love” peaked at No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1982.

Today the song has been streamed more than 1 billion times on Spotify, kept alive in part by Rihanna’s prominent sample of “Tainted Love” in her 2006 hit “SOS.”

Ball was born May 3, 1959, in Chester, England, and grew up in an adoptive family in Blackpool. He and Almond formed Soft Cell in 1979 after meeting as students at Leeds Polytechnic, where Almond was known for a performance art piece in which “he’d be naked in front of a full-length mirror, smearing himself with cat food and shagging himself,” Ball told the Guardian.

The duo released its debut album, “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret,” in 1981, then followed it with two more LPs before splitting in 1984. “Few groups took as much pleasure in perversity,” said Rolling Stone, which called “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret” a “conceptual salute to the sex industry.” In 2022, Pitchfork said the duo’s debut offered “a snapshot of pre-AIDS queer life at its heady peak.”

After Soft Cell’s breakup, Ball collaborated with Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle and formed a dance group called the Grid with the producer Richard Norris; he also worked in the studio with the likes of Kylie Minogue, the Pet Shop Boys and David Bowie.

Soft Cell reunited in 2001 and again in 2018; the statement on the band’s website said “Danceteria” would come out in early 2026. According to the statement, Ball’s survivors include four children.

Halloween is nearly upon us which means most of us are enjoying a season of spooky horror films. And when we’re listing the classics, of course Hocus Pocus is one of them

The spookiest time of the year is nearly upon us, AKA Halloween, and it’s the season for pumpkin spiced lattes, dressing up and of course, scary horror movies. But luckily for those scaredy cats among us, there are some Halloween films which aren’t so terrifying.

If you know your stuff, then Hocus Pocus has definitely been on your watchlist in the past, but have you ever noticed this teeny-tiny detail in the movie? The 1993 film is a fantasy comedy film, released by Walt Disney, which follows the Sanderson sisters who are resurrected from the dead after Max Dennison lights the black-flame candle three centuries later.

These three witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, are on mission to suck the souls of children in order to keep themselves young.

Just three years ago, the film released a sequel which then follows on from the iconic 90s movie. Now the TV detective, known as Ivan Mars, couldn’t help but notice one detail about the two storylines.

Posting with his 961,000 Instagram followers, he said: “It took me 30 years to realise this in Hocus Pocus…

“So we know back in 1693 the Sanderson sisters brew their potion to steal a child’s life… And after adding everything, the spell calls for a piece of each witch’s tongue, that’s why all three become younger.

“Now check this out… centuries later in 1993 the witches reunited to do the same with Dani but something’s off… this time only Winnie adds her piece of tongue to the potion and she doesn’t tell her sisters to add theirs…

“So according to the book the potion would have worked for her alone. Does it mean it was Winnie’s plan all along as she never meant to share eternity with anyone else?

“That’s why the second movie focuses on the importance of a Coven as she finally realises she’s nothing without her sisters!”

The post racked up 24,500 likes and hundreds of comments from people who were equally amazed. One said: “Does make sense a lot.”

Another added: “Yeah this makes sense. Winnie was never really about her family, but in the second one she does have a moment of growth.” While a third chimed in: “Good observation.”

And a fourth chimed in: “And they could have waited and released the second one in 2023 to mark 30 years later.”

FOR years, Victoria Beckham’s been branded the biggest spoilsport when it comes to a potential Spice Girls reunion – thanks to her refusal to ever sing on stage again.

But – following reports that it’s Geri Horner, not Victoria, who’s “dragging her heels” on plans to mark the girls’ 30th anniversary next year – a different picture is emerging. One which reveals a bigger “diva” hiding in plain sight.

Yes, all evidence suggests that Geri’s doing what she’s always done behind the scenes – vying to be top dog. And if she doesn’t get her way, she’ll simply do what she did before: quit. 

Speaking exclusively to the Sun, an insider tells us that whispers of Geri’s obstinance behind closed doors are nothing new. 

We’re told: “Although it’s always Victoria who gets the reputation for being a diva, it’s actually Geri.

“There’s always been that slight distance between her and the rest of them as she did leave them high and dry at the biggest point of their career during that world tour in 1998 [when she shocked the world and left the band at the height of their fame and fortune]. 

NET GAINS

Surprising twist for football’s most toxic couple – as star reveals huge plans

TOXIC FALLOUT

Inside Britney’s war with ex Kevin as pals claim ‘low-life’ abandoned her

“Obviously that was years and years ago and they’ve all moved on but the four others do have a slightly different bond. But Geri is quite selfish and will always put herself first to get what she wants and she likes to be the one in control making all the decisions.”

Earlier this week, The Sun revealed that Geri, Victoria and their fellow bandmates Emma Bunton, Mel B and Mel C have been involved in discussions ahead of the 30th anniversary of the release of their debut single Wannage next year.

According to sources: “A variety of projects are being talked about to mark the occasion, including a documentary and a possible tour or performance by the group.”

There’s also apparently hope of a biopic being made for Netflix by Orchid Pictures, which is headed by The Crown producer Suzanne Mackie.

But time is closing in on making a final decision – and Geri’s reportedly gone quiet, with insiders reporting she’s been “dragging her heels” for almost a year now. 

Our source says Geri’s reluctance stems from a number of factors: one, she’s always been in the driving seat when it comes to the Spice Girls – ever since they first got put together in 1994.

Long-time fans might remember that Geri often positioned herself as the creative force behind the band, and was known to butt heads with their management. 

She even infamously led the band’s coup against their then-manager Simon Fuller in 1997, firing him because he was too controlling.

They initially managed themselves in the aftermath – with Geri largely taking the reins – before subsequently taking on a different team to steer them forwards. 

As a result, Geri has long been considered to be the de facto leader – a crown she’s worn proudly. The fact that she’s not the instigator of these latest plans is therefore apparently causing discomfort for Ginger Spice.

Husband’s scandal

The other factor that seems to be waylaying her decision-making right now is the ongoing controversies surrounding her husband, Christian Horner. 

Racing legend Christian served as head of Red Bull for 20 years, but was let go as team principal in July following a slump in the team’s performance and amid reports of internal power struggles.

But the elephant in the room at his leaving-do was the fact that – just 12 months earlier – he’d been embroiled in a text scandal.

A female employee accused him of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour”, before an independent investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

In the aftermath, Christian denied all allegations – and Geri loyally stood by him. But the controversy inevitably played a part in Christian’s Red Bull exit, and – according to sources – it did a number on Geri, who felt understandably humiliated.

Granted, Christian’s rumoured £80million payout will have softened the blow, but being married to Christian has always carried a certain sense of pride and prestige for Geri.

Geri’s still embarrassed by all the Christian allegations, and feels she’s lost some of the power she had

Insider

So, seeing his name dragged through the mud will have undoubtedly done a number on her.

Our insider reveals: “Geri’s still embarrassed by all the Christian allegations, and feels she’s lost some of the power she had. 

“She now wants to be the one who plans all the 30th anniversary celebrations.” 

Cheeky spice

On the face of it, Geri’s undoubtedly transformed before our eyes over the past 30 years.

Back in 1994, she assumed the highest rank among her new bandmates thanks to her ballsy attitude and outspoken antics – and that was something she dialled up when they hit it big. 

Taking the title Ginger Spice with pride thanks to her box-dyed, flaming red hair, Geri earned a name for herself for being cheeky, headstrong, and loudly screaming “girl power!” to anyone who would listen.

The origins of that famous Spice Girls pop feminist slogan are debatable, but Geri’s certainly repeated it enough over the past three decades to claim a majority share in its inception. 

Back then, part of her calling card was being messy, cheeky and pushing boundaries, like the time she kissed Prince Charles on the cheek – and, rumour has it, pinched his bum at the premiere of The Spice Girls’ movie Spiceworld in 1997.

She later clarified: “I didn’t pinch Prince Charles’ bum, as reported. I patted it.” 

Meanwhile, her legendary Union Jack dress – which she boasted she’d made herself using a tea towel – became a lasting emblem of the band as a whole. As a result, Geri promulgated herself as the group’s mascot. 

When she left the Spice Girls in May 1998 – saying at the time it was due to “differences between us” – she inevitably sirened the beginning of the end for the band.

The girls continued as a foursome for another album, but while Geri’s solo career soared, they couldn’t quite match their previous success – which, one can only assume, will have fed her feelings of importance all the more. 

Over the years, feelings of bad blood softened – even as we learnt more and more about the in-fighting that had plagued the band, as it emerged that Geri and Mel B had often come to blows. 

In 2007, they reformed as a fivesome for the first time for their Return of the Spice Girls world tour, and Geri proudly flew the flag again – literally – in a Union Jack inspired outfit. 

She may have mellowed slightly, but she still upheld that cheeky Ginger Spice persona that had initially made her famous.

A triumphant performance at the Olympics Closing Ceremony in 2012 reunited them again – followed by a photocall at the London premiere for the Spice Girls’ inspired West End musical, Viva Forever! 

At the latter, Geri stood between her bandmates in a massive blue ballgown, again reminding us who was queen bee. 

Who’s Posh?

But – over time – as Victoria’s fashion career skyrocketed, it became more and more difficult to maintain the Spice Girls as a five-piece. 

Crucially, Victoria’s ambivalence to the band wasn’t sparked by any need for control; it was simply her coming to the inevitable conclusion that her talents lay elsewhere, and she gave them her blessing to continue regardless.

In the meantime, Geri’s metamorphosis continued. Over time – and especially after meeting Christian in 2013 – she dropped the cheeky, outspoken, ballsy act, and started becoming….well, just a little Posh. 

After she and Christian married in 2015, they settled in a country mansion in Oxfordshire, welcomed their son Monty, now eight (Geri’s also mum to Bluebell, 19, from a previous relationship), and duly became lord and lady of the manor.

In the process, Geri’s taken to wearing an all-white wardrobe, speaking in clipped vowels, and blushing at the memory of some of her more brassy stunts of the past.

When she and Mel B, Mel C and Emma reunited as a foursome for the Spice Girls’ second reunion tour in 2019, she directly addressed her twentysomething behaviour, saying she’d been a “brat” for leaving the band in 1998.

But – according to our source – while Geri may have softened on the outside, and now prefers cooking with her Aga and tending to her farm animals than causing a scene at showbiz events, she’s still just as headstrong as ever. 

She may not be about to pinch a monarch’s bum anytime soon, but she refuses to be sidelined. 

The others feel if Victoria is onboard, then they need to get it all sorted, and fear that Geri dragging her heels could cause Victoria to change her mind

Insider

So, now that she’s feeling on shaky ground as the group’s 30th anniversary approaches, we’re told she’s keeping her distance until they reassure her, in no uncertain terms, that she’s still de facto leader.

To that end, our insider says Geri kept a wide berth from the others when all five girls attended the premiere for Victoria’s new Netflix docuseries Victoria Beckham earlier this month.

Our source tells us: “Even at Victoria’s premiere, she kind of stayed away with Christian and his daughter, while Emma and Mel C mingled with everyone. Geri didn’t pose on the carpet with them. 

“When The Spice Girls first got together, it was Geri and Mel B making most of the decisions because they were the loudest, but they’ve all found their voices and the others feel if Victoria is onboard, then they need to get it all sorted, and fear that Geri dragging her heels could cause Victoria to change her mind. 

“But Geri likes to feel needed so will want them to be flattering her and giving her more control so that she agrees.” 

As rumours of in-fighting spread earlier this week, Geri took to Instagram, upholding her reinvention as the true Posh Spice by announcing she’d be appearing at The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Christmas Concert in December. 

She told fans she was “looking forward” to it – while making no mention of the big music milestone anniversary on the horizon. 

It seems the issue comes down to power: who wants it absolutely, and who’s willing to share.

Geri may have long trailblazed the world’s need for girl power, but she might just have been talking about one specific girl only: herself. 

FREEBIE FINDER

Last minute October half-term ideas – everything you can do for FREE

SPICING UP

How ‘diva’ Geri’s ‘embarrassing’ saga with Christian reignited Spice Girls rift

And if she doesn’t get that absolute power, she’s fully prepared to Stop right there, thank you very much.

Representatives for Geri Horner were approached for comment.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — A young woman is desperate to raise $50,000 for her mom’s life-saving medical treatment. She will get the money, but only if she agrees to her stepsister’s unusual proposal: to marry her wayward fiance, who comes from a wealthy family but also has a rap sheet.

That’s the plot line for an episode of “The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband.”

That may sound like a telenovela. In fact, it’s a popular series that appears on ReelShort, an app where audiences can view on their smartphones over-the-top, dramatic tales reminiscent of soap operas called micro dramas.

Unlike a regular TV show, this drama unfolds over 60 episodes, each lasting one to three minutes. After six episodes, viewers hit the paywall, where they could continue watching ad-free with a $20 weekly subscription, watch ads or pay as they go.

Already, the series has garnered more than 494 million views since it launched in 2022 and ReelShort says it has made more than $4 million from the show.

With titles like “The Billionaire Sex Addict and His Therapist,” “How to Tame a Silver Fox” and “Pregnant by My Ex’s Dad,” micro dramas lean heavily into sensationalism and light on budgets, which are typically less than $300,000 per series. And many of them are filmed in Los Angeles.

Director and co-writer Cate Fogarty watches actor Diego Escobar on dual vertical monitors. The film, by platform DramaShorts, is shot vertically to be adapted for viewing on a phone screen.

(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)

Short serialized dramas first took off in China, where they are hugely popular and generated revenues of $6.9 billion last year, even surpassing domestic box office sales, according to DataEye, a Shenzhen-based digital research firm.

Now, Hollywood is starting to take note of the bite-sized format.

In August, the venture arm for Lloyd Braun — the former ABC executive and chairman of talent agency WME — and L.A.-based entertainment studio Cineverse formed a joint venture called MicroCo to build a platform for micro dramas.

“Traditional Hollywood moved away from a whole genre and storytelling that fans love, and I think micro dramas really took advantage of that and really leaned into that fandom,” said Susan Rovner, chief content officer of MicroCo.

Studio interest

Major studios are investing in micro dramas in an attempt to replicate China’s success and find new ways to appeal to younger audiences that are accustomed to watching short-form videos on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and other platforms while on the go.

Fox Entertainment recently announced an equity stake in Ukraine-based Holywater, a producer of micro dramas. Under the deal, Fox Entertainment Studios (a division of Fox Entertainment) will produce more than 200 vertical video titles over the next two years for Holywater.

And Walt Disney Co.’s accelerator program, which invests in startups, recently named micro drama business DramaBox, whose parent company is based in Singapore, as part of its 2025 class.

David Min, Walt Disney Co.’s vice president of innovation, said he believes micro dramas will continue to do well, especially with younger audiences accustomed to watching entertainment on their phones.

“We have to be where everyone is consuming their content, so that’s an opportunity for us,” Min said in an interview. “…This is just another new platform to experiment with and explore and see if it’s right for the company.”

First assistant director Chakameh Marandi, left, and actress Leah Eckardt wait during filming at Heritage Props last month in Burbank.

(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)

This year, ReelShort, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., says it will produce more than 400 shows, up from 150 last year.

All of the productions are filmed in the U.S. and mostly in Los Angeles, said ReelShort CEO Joey Jia in an interview. The company plans to build a studio in Culver City that will adapt its most popular micro dramas into films.

“We offer a lot of opportunity,” Jia said.

Warsaw-based DramaShorts said in 2026 it aims to shoot 120 micro drama projects in the U.S., up from 45 to 50 this year. About 25% of those will be in the L.A. area.

DramaShorts co-founder Leo Ovdiienko says, “People are so used to consume content through social media, through TikTok, through Instagram, through Facebook and to share information.” .

(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)

“People are so used to consume content through social media, through TikTok, through Instagram, through Facebook and to share information,” said DramaShorts co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Leo Ovdiienko, 29, in an interview. “I believe it’s only a matter of time before the big players will also come to this stage.”

The company works with production partners in L.A. who employ actors, writers and crew members who work on the quick-turn projects, a bright spot in a struggling job market.

“The plus side of filming in L.A. is it is the epicenter of Hollywood,” said executive producer, writer and director Chrissie De Guzman, who has worked on DramaShorts projects. “We know how the state of our industry is doing right now, so a lot of talent have moved into the vertical space.”

Though vertical dramas are the length of a movie, they are spliced up into small chapters and produced quickly. A 100-page script might be shot in just one week as opposed to a month for a feature film.

Each chapter usually features a cliffhanger or dramatic moment — whether that’s a slap or a character in danger.

“It just hits every little emotional point,” said Caroline Ingeborn, chief operating officer at Palo Alto-based Luma AI, which provides micro drama companies with AI tools. “It hooks you in like this and because it’s so easy to press [Play]. You just need to see the next episode.”

The crew of vertical film “Sleeping Princess” break between scenes.

(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)

Labor tensions

With ultra-low budgets, many of the productions are non-union, prompting some writers and actors to work under pseudonyms to avoid facing sanctions from their unions, said several people who work on the shows.

In an effort to address the issue, performers union SAG-AFTRA recently announced it has created agreements that cover low-budget vertical dramas.

Writers Guild of America West President Michele Mulroney said in an interview the union is aware that “there are companies that are trying to do this work non-union, so the guild wants to help our members … in ways that they can work on verticals and make sure they get that work covered.”

Micro drama producers said they welcome talking with the unions, but questioned whether their business models could support union contracts.

“We’re not anti-union at all,” said Erik Heintz, executive producer at Snow Story Productions, which makes vertical dramas for platforms including DramaShorts.

Despite labor tensions, these short-form dramas have provided a key source of employment for Hollywood workers who’ve struggled to find jobs as production has moved out of California.

Corey Gibbons, 44, a director of photography, said vertical dramas kept him in the business when other work dried up.

“I have a feeling that we’re on the brink of something that’s really going to change,” Gibbons said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

So was 27-year-old actor Sam Nejad, a former contestant on “The Bachelorette” who started acting in vertical dramas in January. He said he’s landed one or two lead roles a month since then and can earn $10,000 a week.

“It’s a new art,” Nejad said. “The new Tarantinos, the new Scorseses are all coming through this.”

ReelShort’s office in Sunnyvale looks more like a typical Silicon Valley startup than a Hollywood studio.

Jia, the chief executive, sits at a desk in an open floor seating area with his staff. Along the office walls are framed posters with titles like “Prince With Benefits,” “Never Divorce a Secret Billionaire Heiress” and “All the Wrong Reasons.” Jia proudly points out why each program was notable on a recent tour of the space.

“I don’t have money to hire celebrities,” Jia said. “I have 100% rely on story.”

The 46-year-old entrepreneur, who has an electrical engineering background, launched his business in 2022. At the time, there wasn’t much interest from Hollywood studios.

The skepticism followed the high-profile collapse of Quibi, the startup led by studio mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg and tech executive Meg Whitman, that worked with A-list movie stars on series that would appear on an app in short chapters. Quibi raised $1.75 billion, only to shut down roughly six months after launching.

Jia took a different approach. Rather than signing expensive deals with celebrities, he hired students or recent graduates from colleges like USC to work at his company.

Jia approves all of the micro drama stories at ReelShort, which he says is expected to generate $1 billion in revenue this year.

A ReelShort representative declined to disclose the company’s earnings but said the business is profitable.

Jia said ReelShort has 70 million monthly active users, with 10% of them paid users.

The churn — the rate at which customers drop weekly subscriptions — can be more than 50% at ReelShort, Jia said. That makes it paramount for the company to have a steady stream of content that entices customers to keep paying. Currently it has more than 400 in-house titles and roughly 1,000 licensed titles.

Like others in the genre, ReelShort and DramaShorts rely heavily on data metrics like customer retention and paid subscribers to make their content decisions.

“A lot of directors are thinking, when I shoot the film, ‘I don’t care how people think, this is my creation, it’s my story,’” Jia said. “No, it’s not your story. Your success… should be determined by the people.”

Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks fans are convinced they know who shot Tony Hutchinson after he was left fighting for his life on his wedding day

In a shocking turn of events on Hollyoaks, Tony Hutchinson was shot on Wednesday (October 22) episode, leaving viewers in suspense about his fate.

The drama unfolded during a crossover episode with Brookside on Channel 4, where a plane piloted by serial killer Jez (Jeremy Sheffield) crashed into the village, causing a massive explosion.

However, the chaos didn’t stop there. On what was supposed to be his wedding day to Diane (Alex Fletcher), Tony (Nick Pickard) found himself confronted by Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) for having an affair with his wife Nancy (Jessica Fox).

Darren was livid upon discovering that Tony is the biological father of his daughter, Morgan, following a past fling with Nancy. Their heated argument was briefly interrupted by the plane disaster, but quickly resumed, much to the dismay of Tony’s son, Ant Hutchinson (Brook Debio).

Adding to the confusion, Tony believed he had got Marie Fielding (Rita Simons) pregnant, only to find out she was wearing a fake baby bump. Meanwhile, Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) was also expecting his child, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Tragedy struck when Mercedes lost her baby in the aftermath of the plane crash. Tony had left her trapped under debris as he rushed to save Marie, a decision that will haunt him.

Diane (Alexandra Fletcher) stepped up to rescue Mercedes, mirroring how Mercedes had previously saved her. Now, both Mercedes and Diane are furious with Tony – Mercedes for her heartbreaking loss, and Diane for her groom’s reckless behaviour.

In a later scene, Darren was seen in tears as he pointed a gun at Tony, who pleaded for his life. Suddenly, a gunshot echoed from behind Tony, and he collapsed to the ground after being shot.

Now, Tony’s fate hangs in the balance.

Hollyoaks viewers are now speculating about who could have shot Tony, with some suggesting that his own son Ant might be the culprit following their earlier disagreement.

One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to ask: “So…Who shot Tony? My guess is Ant! #Hollyoaks.”

Another declared: “I’m calling it ant was the one who shot Tony! He was pretty mad at his dad #hollyoaks.”

A third joined in, saying: “My early theory for who shot Tony in #Hollyoaks: It was Ant!”.

“I feel like Ant was probably the 1 that shot Tony #hollyoaks”, another viewer added.

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am

POP fans have only just realised that Sombr is secretly a nepo baby, following controversy over his performances.

Horrified fans worked out who his dad is and accused the pop star – real name Shane Michael Boose – of using his father’s connections to launch his music career.

Social media users looking into Sombr, who will be playing three nights at London’s Brixton Academy next March, have clocked that the singer is actually a nepo baby, whose dad counts some of the world’s biggest celeb names, including Elton John and Leonardo DiCaprio, as his clients.

The Back to Friends singer is the son of Andy Boose, 54, who founded luxury events company AAB Productions.

His company produces galas, concerts, fashion shows and charity events including fundraisers internationally.

Andy, who operates his company in cities including Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and Venice, counts huge names among his client books.

SOMBER MOMENT

Watch Sombr’s awkward reaction to VMAs win as singer asks ‘is this a prank?’

These include UNICEF, Elton John AIDS Foundation, amfAR, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and other high-profile organisations.

Social media users were shocked to learn of Sombr’s nepo baby status, and quickly spread the news on X.

One wrote: “I found out today that sombr is a nepo baby, I feel like I just got shot in the chest”.

Another blasted: “well the reason sombr has no stage presence is because he was never meant to be a performer.

“his father is a CEO of some sort of major music company & he’s a mega nepo baby”.

While one posted: “Sombr is a f***ing nepo baby i knew something was fishy about him”.

It’s the latest saga surrounding his music career after a concert goer called out inappropriate jokes and bizarre segments at his concerts.

Sombr played a show in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, which 25-year-old TikTok user Megan Tomasic attended.

She posted a video on Wednesday recapping the whole experience, calling it “genuinely the worst concert” she’d ever seen.

She quickly realised she wasn’t the target audience – describing “thousands of tweens running around like they were at a middle-school dance” at the concert.

She claimed the singer made “a bunch of niche meme references for like the 12-to-16-year-old age range” through large parts of the show.

“It was like brain rot on stage,” she added.

The video, which went viral on the platform, prompted Sombr himself to respond.

“Anyone who knows me knows I’ve never uttered a serious word in my life,” he said.

“And also, I make jokes for five minutes of the concert and the rest is music. Like, live a little, enjoy life.”

COOL OFF

I’ve been to over 50 countries – here are my cheap winter sun hols with £11 hotels

UNMASKED

Chilling unheard tapes reveal how cops tore apart smirking serial killer Ted Bundy

“Every age, sex, sexuality, gender, race, everyone is welcome at my concert, and I mean everyone,” he said. “You guys need to find problematic people to hate on because I am just existing.” 

He ended his video with a “quick tutorial” where he touched grass, a Gen Z reference which essentially means ‘get a life’.

It’s dead certain that if you’ve been a television critic for, ahem, a number of years, you’re going to have reviewed a passel of shows based on the writing of Stephen King, America’s most adapted, if not necessarily most adaptable author. (It’s been a mere three months since the last, “The Institute,” on MGM+.) The latest float in this long parade premieres Sunday on HBO — it’s “It: Welcome to Derry,” a prequel to the 2017 film, “It” (and its 2019 follow-up, “It: Chapter Two”) based on King’s 1986 creepy clown novel, each of which made a packet. (There was a 1990 TV miniseries version as well.)

Developed by Andy Muschietti (director of the films), Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, “Derry” is an extension of the brand rather than an adaptation, which features a white-faced circus-style clown called Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård, back from the movies) who lives in the sewer and comes around every 27 years to feed on children’s fear — fear being the preferred dish of many famous monsters of filmland, and white-faced circus clowns having lost all goodwill in the culture. (No thanks to King. Or Krusty.) And while I assume some of the series’ points may be found within King’s original 1,138-page novel, life is short and that is going to have to remain an assumption. In any case, it’s very much a work of television — not what I’d call prestige television, despite a modicum of well-done fright effects — just ordinary, workman-like TV, with monsters. (Or one monster in many forms.)

It’s 1962 in Derry, Maine, and everywhere else. (Subsequent seasons — prequel prequels — will reportedly be set in 1935 and 1908.) The Cold War is heating up. Schoolchildren, forced to watch animated films about the effects of a nuclear blast, are ducking and covering beneath their desks (a psychological rather than a practical exercise). But the threat of annihilation has done nothing to slow them in their teenage rituals. Bullies chase a target down the street. A group of snobby girls is called the Pattycakes, because they play patty cake, and their leader is named Patty. On the other hand are the kids we care about, the outsiders, banded together in unpopularity. It’s a paradoxical quality of horror films that to be an outsider either qualifies you as a hero or the monster — the insiders are usually just food. Not that the monsters are particular about whom they eat.

We open in a movie theater. Robert Preston is on the screen in “The Music Man,” performing “Ya Got Trouble.” (Chronologically accurate foreshadowing!) In the audience is Matty (Miles Ekhardt), a boy way too old to be sucking on a pacifier. Chased from the theater — he’s been sneaking in — it’s a snowy night, and he accepts a ride from a seemingly normal family, who quickly turn abnormal. Suddenly it’s four months later and Matty is an officially missing child.

Taylour Paige, Blake Cameron James and Jovan Adepo play the Hanlon family, who have just moved to Derry, Maine.

(Brooke Palmer / HBO)

The series begins promisingly, setting up (as in “It,” or, hmmm, “Stranger Things”) a company of junior investigators. Phil (Jack Molloy Legault) has a lot of thoughts about aliens and sex; Teddy (Mikkal Karim Fidler) is studious and serious and has thoughts about Matty. Lilly (Clara Stack) is called “loony” because she spent time in a sanitarium — the King-canonical Juniper Hill Asylum — after her father died in a pickle factory accident. (Not played for laughs, although the pickle is perhaps the funniest of all foods.) Lilly thinks she heard Matty singing “Trouble” through the drain in her bathtub; Ronnie (Amanda Christine), the daughter of the cinema’s projectionist Hank (Stephen Rider), has heard voices in the theater’s pipes. The kids run the film, and supernatural mayhem ensues. It’s pretty crazy! Gross hallucinations — or are they? — will afflict them through the series.

Meanwhile, Air Force Maj. Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) has been transferred to the local base, where secret doings are afoot, involving (classic plot line) the military’s desire to claim and weaponize whatever barely understood dangerous thing that’s out there in the woods. (His value to this operation is that he cannot feel fear, the result of a brain injury.) The Hanlons — including wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige), a civil rights activist in a Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat, and son Will (Blake Cameron James) — are Black (as are Ronnie and her father, seemingly accounting for 100% of Derry’s in-town African American population). “Don’t be looking for trouble,” Leroy tells Charlotte, who responds, “There’s going to be trouble anywhere we go. That’s the country you swore your life to defend.” Will, who is scientific, will become friends with Rich (Arian S. Cartaya), an appealingly goofy kid in a band uniform; they’ll both wind up on the Pennywise case.

Typically, the kids — also including Marge (Matilda Lawler, the secret weapon of “Station Eleven” and “The Santa Clauses”), Lilly’s socially desperate friend — are the strongest element in the story and the show; their energy overwhelms the obviousness of the narrative, and whatever takes us away from them, into pace-slowing side plots, is time less well spent.

What else? There’s a Native American element — including the old Indian burial ground story — represented by Rose (Kimberly Guerrero), who runs a thrift store (called Second Hand Rose, in a nice nod to Fanny Brice) and whose indomitable air makes her a kind of counterpart and potential ally to Charlotte. Manifest destiny gets a mention, and the plot will conventionally pose Native humbleness against white hubris. Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) is a Black serviceman with a tragic mental gift, used cruelly by his superiors — a familiar King type. Racism is a recurring theme without becoming a consistent plot point, with messages for 2025. (Rich: “This is America. You can’t just throw people in jail for nothing.” Will: “Are we talking about the same country?”)

Also: A statue of Paul Bunyan is going up in town — and in fact a 31-foot-tall Bunyan statue was unveiled in Bangor, Maine, in 1959. This is pointed to a couple of times, so I would imagine some kind of Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man scenario coming in the series’ unseen back half. Or something.

Horror, especially body-horror — there are two monstrous birth sequences in the five episodes, out of nine, available to review — has, you may have noticed, moved from the fringes to the center of popular (even high) culture, with A-list stars signing on and Oscar and Emmy nominations not unlikely. Indeed, the good, cheap, unrespectable, unambitious variety of scare flick has mostly disappeared from the big screen. That “Welcome to Derry” is more of a cheesy B-picture than its makers might like to imagine, assembled from worked-over tropes — somewhat excusable for King having originated many of them — is more in its favor than not. TV remains a haven for cheesiness. Long may it remain so.

The BBC TV licence is an annual fee – but not everyone needs to pay for it

Brits who only use their TV to watch four types of entertainment could be eligible for a refund worth £174.50. If you no longer require a TV Licence from the BBC, you can ask your money back – providing there is at least one full month left on it.

The TV Licence fee has been a standard expense for many people in the UK since its inception in 1946. Back then, the BBC was the sole broadcaster in the country, and the licence cost £2 – equivalent to approximately £105 today.

Despite significant changes in how we consume television, including the advent of numerous channels, streaming and on-demand platforms, this annual bill remains. Following a price increase last year, it now costs £174.50.

Even if you don’t tune into any BBC channels, many households still require a licence. For example, it’s necessary to:

• Watch or record programmes as they’re being broadcast live on any TV channel
• Watch live programmes on any online TV service – such as Channel 4, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video

It’s also required to download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. However, there are four lesser-known circumstances where you can use your TV without needing to pay for a licence.

According to the Government website, you do not need a TV Licence if you only watch:

• Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus
• On-demand TV via services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video
• Videos on websites like YouTube
• Videos or DVDs

If these are the only things you use your television for, you do not need to pay for a licence. However, if this applies to you and you’ve already paid you could be able to get some money back.

The TV licensing website explains: “You can apply for a refund if you won’t need your licence again before it expires, and you have at least one complete month left on it.” You can apply for a TV Licence refund up to 14 days before the date you no longer need it.

Certain people are also exempt from paying for a TV licence or qualify for a discounted rate and can therefore apply for a refund.

“If you’re eligible for an over 75 or blind concession, you can apply for a refund at any time and for any length of time left on your licence,” the TV licensing website adds.

If you’re aged 75 or over

The Government website states that you can obtain a free TV Licence if you’re 75 or older and you either:

• Receive Pension Credit
• Live with a partner who receives Pension Credit

If you’re currently receiving Pension Credit, you can apply for a free TV licence when you reach the age of 74. However, you’ll need to continue paying for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

From then on, your free licence will cover you. You can submit an application for a free licence online here.

Residential care or sheltered accommodation

If you live in residential care or sheltered accommodation t his entitles you to apply for a discount. If you live in a qualifying residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, you can obtain a TV Licence for £7.50.

To be eligible, you must also be either:

• Retired and over 60
• Or disabled

Your housing manager can verify your eligibility and apply on your behalf.

Registered as blind

If you’re registered as blind, or severely sight impaired, or live with someone who is, you can receive a 50 percent discount. The licence must be registered in the name of the blind person – if it’s not, a new application can be made to transfer it into their name.

When applying, you’ll need to provide your existing TV Licence number. You can apply online here

U2 legend Bono looked unrecognisable as he flew in luxury on a private jet with his actress daughter, Eve Hewson.

The famous rocker donned his trademark coloured glasses as his thespian daughter copied his style by wearing her own blue-tinted shades.

Eve, 34, is the second of four children born to Ali Hewson and U2‘s lead singer, Bono, 65.

The Bad Sisters star posted the photo with her famous dad to her Instagram stories.

Bono was sat in one of the private jet’s seats as Eve cuddled up close to him.

“Gene vs environment,” Eve captioned the post, perhaps referring to scientific research into how genetics and a person’s environment can shape them.

NICE TO SEE U2

Bono’s daughter Eve Hewson looks stunning as she models new shapewear range

PARTY’S OVER

Home Alone star in unlikely feud with Bono over wild late-night mansion party

Eve has been acting since she was a teenager and spoke to The Irish Sun about developing a “heart of stone” to help her get over rejection at auditions.

“I have a heart of stone at this point. I can’t feel anything anymore,” she said last year.

“When I was younger I used to cry my eyes out but now I’m just dead.”

Eve added: “One good piece of advice that I got which went on for years and years – when you get really, really close to a job and then you get heartbroken.

“And someone said to me, ‘If you’re getting close, it’s a matter of time’.”

Eve has also opened up about how being the daughter of a famous rock star has helped her career, but also how being labelled a “nepo baby” has affected her.

Speaking further on her very famous dad, Eve said: “The only thing you can do is crack a joke and move on.”

And back in 2023, the TV star poked fun at the situation on Twitter saying: “2023 goals: be successful enough to get recognized as a nepo baby.”

Eve previously said her famous father both helped and hindered her career.

She told the Radio Times: “In the beginning, I think it was easier for me to get in the door.

“Some of the friends I went to Tisch with are the most talented actors but have found it difficult to get an agent or an audition.

“That’s never been a problem for me, and I think that’s because of my family.

“That’s not the way the system should work, of course, but if the door is open, walk through the door.”

Lío Mehiel has been working for a moment like “After the Hunt” for a long time.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, this thorny morality play of a film set at Yale University pits well-liked professor Alma (played by Julia Roberts) against both her protegé, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), as well as her longtime friend and colleague Hank (Andrew Garfield) during a scandal that risks her entire academic career.

Amid that starry A-list cast, the actor plays Maggie’s partner, Alex. The film, which had its world premiere in August at the Venice Film Festival, is Mehiel’s most high-profile project yet.

“There is so much time as an artist where you are doing the work and nobody cares and you have to find within yourself the motivation and the commitment and the drive to keep going,” Mehiel tells The Times. “Because you know that when you are going to be able to reach people, it will be worth it.”

Such a step has been years in the making. Mehiel, who lived in Puerto Rico until they were 5 years old, began their creative endeavors almost as soon as they arrived in New York City, first as a salsa dancer and later as an actor. By the time they were in fifth grade they were attending Broadway auditions, eventually booking a role in the 2003 revival of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” starring Ashley Judd and Jason Patric.

(L to R) Lio Mehiel as Alex and Ayo Edebiri as Maggie in AFTER THE HUNT, from Amazon MGM Studios.

(Yannis Drakoulidis / Yannis Drakoulidis © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved)

But as they began finding their own sense of self and body, they also found the kind of opportunities that led them to “After the Hunt.” That began in earnest back in 2023, when they starred in Vuk Lungulov-Klotz’s film “Mutt” as Feña, a role they booked after cold-emailing the director and telling them they’d do anything to win that part. The film chronicled a particularly hectic day in the life of a young trans man in New York City, as he struggles to rekindle old relationships he’d severed since he’d transitioned. Mehiel’s soulful performance won them a Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, putting them on the map as a trans Latine performer to watch.

“Moving forward from ‘Mutt,’ I was really interested in building on that momentum to what’s next,” they say. Not just in terms of their career but in the broader cultural conversation around contemporary queer and trans representation. The following year, they returned to Sundance with Alessandra Lacorazza’s “In the Summers,” which walked away from the festival with the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury prize — the first for a film directed by a Latina director. Like “Mutt,” that sun-dappled film found Mehiel breathing life into a trans character navigating a thorny relationship with their father (played by renowned Puerto Rican rapper Residente).

Mehiel has long been building a body of work that centers on the very work of having a body. Just this past summer, they visited the Salton Sea for a performance installation titled “angels of a drowning myth.” In photos from that day, Mehiel is seen naked and half-submerged into that so-called sea, posing alongside a bust of their own chest made six months after they’d received top surgery. A portrait of a body twice represented, Mehiel’s piece stressed the solidity and malleability of their own body, and the beauty they find within and around it. Their work moves past familiar ideas of the body in transition, gleefully embracing the messiness of the queer experience and refusing the easy siren call of visibility.

“‘After the Hunt,’ is such a beautiful example of that because Alex is a queer and trans character, but we just see them getting home from a run, taking their shirt off, being with their partner, dealing with stuff that has nothing to do with their queerness,” Mehiel says.

That moment Alex first appears on screen is quintessential Mehiel. Not just because of the honeyed intimacy their sweaty, bare chest exudes. But because their appearance immediately reframes everything audiences have heard about this seemingly militant, radical social justice warrior. Alex at first appears as a figure of “woke” culture there to defy the older generation Roberts’ Alma comes to stand for. But there’s more to them than that.

“Alex doesn’t represent all queer people who have a political orientation in the world, all queer people who might attend a protest,” they explain. “I think what Luca did and what Nora did in the script was to give us all an opportunity to move away from identity politics. Instead, they gave each of the characters enough meat on their bones that they get to be complex, messy characters.”

“After the Hunt” may focus on complicated ethical questions surrounding sexual assault allegations at a university, but within that plot, Mehiel sees also a chance for viewers to catch a glimpse of characters like Maggie and Alex who may not otherwise be centered in such stories.

“I’m just excited that there is more exposure that people are having to queer and trans people and to queer relationships, and how that can fit in the context of a ‘normative’ world,” they add. “This is a movie with Julia Roberts, one of our biggest stars and crown jewels of Hollywood and of American cinema. There’s going to be a lot of folks that are going to see it because Julia is in it. And then they’re also going to get to experience a queer and trans person on screen who is likable in some moments and unlikable in others, just as much as every other character.”

That’s been Mehiel’s purpose for years now: to expand what queer and trans characters can look like on stage, on screen and, in turn, in real life. At a time when these communities are vilified by those who wish to harm them, Mehiel insists on the importance of such normalized visibility.

Lio Mehiel seen at the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “After The Hunt” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

(Photo by Stewart Cook / Amazon MGM Studios via Getty Images)

“Honestly, exposure to these experiences creates connection more than anything and allows people to feel comfortable,” they add. “Because the political climate right now — for the Latine community and for the trans community — is really hard and heartbreaking and challenging. And I think so much of it has to do with people feeling like they don’t know who these people are.”

A central kernel of the premise of “After the Hunt” is that you never know what someone is going through. And, more to the point, that making assumptions about other people’s experience can be extremely dangerous.

“This movie really serves as a mirror to the people that are watching it,” Mehiel insists. The film confronts audiences with their own biases and refuses any tidy conclusions.

But for Mehiel, the film will forever be remembered as a highlight of a career that is only bound to get bigger and more exciting. Just this year, they spent the summer at the Williamstown Theatre Festival starring in Jeremy O. Harris’ new play as well as serving as head of production for “Mother, Daughter, Holy Spirit,” a grassroots fundraiser for the Trans Justice Funding Project, all while continuing to pursue their various interests as artist, writer, and filmmaker. In that context, “After the Hunt” stands now less as a calling card than as a reminder of how far they’ve come and yet how much further they want to go. That film, now playing in theaters and coming soon to Prime Video, will widen the scope and reach of their artistry.

“Watching it, I was like, ‘I fit right into the fabric of the movie,’” they say. “On a personal journey level, I feel confident that I have the skill, the talent and the experience at this point to work with the masters that I dream of working with (if the sexy French filmmaker, Julia Ducournau, ever reads this interview, she should know that I want to work with her).”

Or, in much simpler terms that echo an ethos they’ve brought to bear on and off screen: “I just feel ready and able to actualize the things that I have been dreaming about for a long time.”