axed

CALL The Midwife has been axed by the BBC.

The show is set to end after series 15 in 2026, with the cast already filming their final scenes.

1

The Daily Star reports that bosses want the show to “go out on a high”.

A source told the publication: “After years of drama and countless births, Call The Midwife is coming to an end. The team have decided it’s time to draw the show to a close and bow out.

“This is the last we’ll see of these much-loved characters. Storylines will tie up a lot of loose ends.”

The show will return to screens in January 2026 for the final run of episodes.

The Loose Women panellists are said to be worried that, as part of the upcoming shake-up at ITV, they are going to be axed from their jobs to make way for younger stars

Loose Women’s panellists are said to be worrying about their future as younger stars “take over.” It’s no secret that there has been panic backstage behind ITV’s midday show, with several of its leading ladies being vocal about the major changes which will come into play next year.

Last month, ITV announced a major overhaul of their daytime schedules, which affects both Loose and Lorraine Kelly’s self-titled morning programme. However, despite being hit with a mass loss of viewers, the magazine show This Morning remains unaffected. While both Lorraine and Loose air throughout the year, they will be axed to just 30 weeks of airtime.

Now, sources have said that older members of the panel, including Coleen Nolan, Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha, Denise Welch, Ruth Langsford and Linda Robson, no longer feel safe in their jobs. Kaye and Nadia are two of the original serving panellists from the show’s launch in 1999.

Reports claim that some of the older panellists fear they’ll be axed in favour of younger members of the panel, including GK Barry, Olivia Attwood, former singer Frankie Bridge and Stacey Solomon, who hasn’t been on the show since 2023. The younger panellists have millions of online followers and use social media platforms such as TikTok to their advantage.

Former singer Stacey has a staggering six million followers on her Instagram page alone. “The other girls feel like they can’t compete with Stacey’s stats,” a source told Closer magazine. The outlet goes on to claim that other members of the panel are being encouraged to build their online following on platforms such as TikTok, but this has been branded a “full-time job in itself.”

Bosses on the programme are reportedly telling panellists that any change is not a personal move, but that hasn’t gone down too well. “Nadia has been warning her co-stars it’s not about who you are anymore, but how many followers you have,” the insider added.

While final decisions are yet to be made, the source went on to comment: “In the long term, it could mean a farewell to the golden oldies. Coleen has been on the show, on and off, since 2000, a quarter of a century. Viewing numbers are down, and financial cuts have been made to save the ship and there’s a few that are expected to walk the plank.”

Nadia, however, has spoken publicly about the cuts. Speaking on her YouTube page, the actress and broadcaster said: “Do you know what, at the moment, all of us on screen are in work and are proud of what we do. But behind the scenes there are people that are really suffering, and what you don’t realise is when you attack the show you attack them, because you never see all the army of people behind the scenes and how hard they work.

“So to all my friends and colleagues behind the scenes who have just got a huge shock out of the blue, I’m so sorry. Mark knows how upset I’ve been at home about it. I just can’t bear it. So just be f*****g kind to people.”

She then added: “What people don’t realise at Loose Women is that we’re self-employed, I am self-employed. Every contract is a new contract. I could be let go tomorrow, in five years, you don’t know because we’re not employees.

“So I can’t tell you anything except I am on for my next contract. What has been brutal over the past week, and I am getting tearful about it, is that hundreds of people are going to be made redundant out of the blue. A lot of my friends and colleagues have been there for decades and I cannot tell you how upsetting it was to see people walking around numb with shock and fear about what they are going to do. That has been so awful. It has been worse than whatever trolls have been saying about our show that we feel really protective of.”

Speaking previously of the fears the panellists are having, a Loose source told the Mirror: “We are not planning any radical changes to the panel. All of our Loose Women are hugely valued and we celebrate each and every one and the experience and opinions they bring to the show every day.

“Many of our long standing panellists have appeared on the show for the majority of its 25 year run on screens and those stalwart, Loose legends are at the core of the show’s success and hugely popular with the audience. The show remains a big priority within our daytime slate, having secured a BAFTA nomination, launched a podcast and celebrated a milestone anniversary in the last year alone.”

The Mirror has approached Loose Women, Nadia and Stacey’s spokespeople for comment.

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

EXCLUSIVE: Love Island’s Malin Andersson, who starred in the second season of the ITV2 dating show in 2016, has slammed the series as ‘toxic’ and said it should be taken off air

Former Love Island star Malin Andersson, who shot to fame on series two, has radically changed her opinion of the hit dating show, branding it “full of toxicity” and insisting it should be axed.

While other participants, including Amy Hart and Amber Davies, have praised the show for its support and aftercare – with Olivia Attwood saying “ Love Island saved me”– Malin, who took part in the show in 2016, has a very different view.

Here, the 32-year-old, who memorably confronted ex Terry Walsh in the villa, tells new why she feels so strongly about her time on Love Island and why she would be dead against her daughter Xaya, three, going on the show when she’s older.

Hi, Malin! Love Island’s back but you’re not watching. Why?

I haven’t watched any of them. It should be axed. When I was on it, we were naive, it felt more organic – still scripted but more authentic. Even then, it wasn’t pure, it was full of toxicity. Now millions watch it, especially young people, and their idea of love gets completely skewed.

Some contestants spiral completely. Did you ever feel like that on the show? Oh, 100%. I felt disposable, like a piece of rubbish tossed aside. In there, you’re fighting to be seen, to be a main character, seeking validation. It’s not healthy – it creates unrealistic drama and messes up how viewers see love. The whole thing is toxic and should go in the bin. Let’s talk about the time when you came back in to confront Terry. How did that happen? I was already partying in Spain when Emma [Jane Woodhams] went in with the TOWIE lot. They realised I was nearby and asked me to come in too. So I did the next day. Were you watching the show then?

No. I was just partying and Tweeting stuff to provoke producers to get me back in – and it worked.

How did you feel after confronting Terry? Did it bring clarity? No, it just showed me that I had been attracting terrible men my whole life until I figured out why.

How did you heal? It’s been a powerful journey but not easy. I had to look at parts of myself I didn’t want to see – why I wanted to be seen, why I accepted bad love. It starts with what we’re shown as kids. TV shows like Love Island feed the same toxic ideas. They don’t care about feelings – just money and drama. I wish there were shows about real healing. Why do you think people love watching the show? People are living through other people’s lives because they want escapism. We’re all scrolling, looking at everyone else’s stories, wanting to be part of it. The format is easy: pretty girls, good-looking guys who can’t even talk properly. It’s a quick dopamine hit. This year they say they will show sex on screen if it happens, to show “real relationships”. What are your thoughts? They’re struggling for viewers, that’s all. It’s not real – living in a house with people with no phone or sanity, isn’t real. When you were there, did producers suggest you talk to certain people or stir things? All the time. If people were gossiping about me, they’d tell me to go over. They’d nudge conversations or set up who should talk to whom. It’s all manipulated for reactions. So why did you decide to go on the show in the first place? I’d been on Take Me Out at 18. The same producer called me a year later, asked if I was single. I said yes, and they fast-tracked me in, I didn’t even audition. I was just a young girl wanting fun – clueless, really. This year on Love Island there are older contestants – 30 and 29. The youngest is 22. How does that dynamic work? The older ones get seen as Mummy and Daddy, that’s how society is. I’m 32 and people act like that’s ancient. The show pushes a narrow look – perfect bodies, the “ideal” appearance. Anything outside that is labelled abnormal. It tells kids they have to fit that mould.

How about diversity? There are more people from different backgrounds on the show… It’s sad we even have to call it “diverse”. We should just be one mix of people – different races, professions, appearances. We’re all the same inside. Are you looking for love now? I feel he’s around the corner! I want someone with a pure soul and real masculine energy – not ego-driven but someone who makes me feel safe. I’m not really dating right now. Will you tell your daughter about your time on the show? She’ll find out eventually. She sees how I live and grow, and that’s why I feel so strongly about all this – to protect her too. If she ever wanted to go on Love Island, what would you say? Nah, babes. I’d tell her no way – with no reason given.

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

LOVE Island fans were left furious tonight as Harry made a series of derogatory comments about Helena.

In shock scenes, the boys were taken out of the villa for a boys’ night where they were met by three bombshells.

2

2

But before the new girls arrived, the lads decided to discuss their partners and Harry was quick to discuss if Helena was suitable for a relationship.

Earlier in the episode, Helena admitted she had a threesome with two men and Harry decided to tell the rest of the group.

Those watching at home were not impressed, and felt his remarks were unfair, with one person saying: “The misogyny is oozing out of harry ew.”

A second demanded he was booted out, writing: “Get harry out of here what the f**K.”

And a third raged:  “Harry, with his terrible attitude and haircut, must go home.” 

June 13 (UPI) — The State Department was pressing ahead Friday with a reorganization that will see more than 3,400 layoffs of U.S.-based staff in bureaus that cover Asia and the Middle East and across seven divisions, including the office of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which will be letting go 51 employees.

The planned cuts, which were communicated to lawmakers and staff Thursday, provide the first detailed breakdown of the scope of the administration’s bid to tackle “bureaucratic overgrowth,” merge desks to eliminate redundancy and re-think the briefs of bureaus, Government Executive said.

With a 69% cut, Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs will see the largest workforce reduction with 386 staff laid off and 145 leaving by mutual agreement. Economic Growth Energy and Environment will shed 297 employees, 198 of them layoffs.

Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Arms Control and International Security will each lose around 22% of their teams, equivalent to 168 and 245 employees, respectively, while Political Affairs will lose 274 staff, 112 of them via layoffs.

The largest cuts are reserved for the department’s Management division, where 897 staff will be laid off, with unit manpower being reduced by a further 796 via resignations on a deferred basis.

Rubio’s so-called “S Family” office will see its staff complement slashed by 240, or 12%, but all but 51 have opted to resign voluntarily, officials said.

The department, which said it planned to complete the changes by July 1, stressed that some staff members will be reassigned, and that the disappearance of any individual’s office from the organizational chart did not mean they were being let go.

It also vowed the human resources team would assist foreign service officers whose next assignment had been axed to find a new position.

In a document prepared for Congress, the State Department said reduction in force, or layoffs, had been carefully designed in line with all applicable laws in a way that would not affect the department’s functions.

“Reductions will principally affect non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices, and offices where considerable efficiencies may be found from centralization or consolidation of functions and responsibilities,” the department said.

However, a number of offices that had become “prone to ideological capture and radicalism will cease to exist, including the Civilian Security, Human Rights and Democracy division, while the Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and Population, Refugees and Migration offices will be brought into the undersecretary Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs’ jurisdiction.

A foreign service officer told Government Executive that the changes would leave the division with overall responsibility for humanitarian and foreign assistance totally hollowed out.

Labor strongly opposed the plans, with the American Foreign Service Association — the union that represents staff members — saying it rejected the workforce changes “firmly and unequivocally,” coming at a time when the effectiveness of American diplomacy was already at risk from “an already stretched thin and under-resourced” State Department.

Geoffrey Pyatt, a former assistant secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to Greece and Ukraine, added his voice to the dissenters.

“Inevitably, a lot of the people who will be laid off will be experienced diplomats with hard-earned skills in language and area knowledge,” he told the Financial Times.

Rubio announced his sweeping reorganization of the service, including returements, in April, saying the department had become too big, expensive and bureaucratic in recent decades and needed to drastically slimmed down in line with President Donald Trump‘s priorities.

LOVE Island star Kyle Ashman was sensationally axed from the show last night over a machete attack.

ITV chiefs scrapped the 23-year-old from the line up, plunging the show into chaos ahead of Monday’s launch.

3

3

Eyebrows were raised after the cast member was removed from the show at the final hour.

Unlike most of Love Island’s line-ups, Kyle wasn’t going into the villa with a social media packed with model shots. 

He has just one snap online, showing off his rippling six-pack as he poses on a rooftop.

The mysterious 23-year-old water operative, from Stafford, previously described his flirting style as traditional and laid-back.

He said: “I just go with it, find something to compliment a girl on and go from there.”

The chopped contestant said he was looking for “someone that’s fun, confident and just themselves”.

Not much else is known about Kyle’s private life.

His flight back home from Majorca came after masked thugs stormed a wake in Stafford and hacked at a dad with a blade in February.

Ashman, 23, was one of two quizzed but released with no further action.

Sources said the channel was unaware of the incident and he was not flagged as part of contestant checks.

The victim, 38, nearly lost his arm. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and kept in for around two weeks.

Another mourner was glassed, one struck with a metal pole, and two people run over by a car during 15 minutes of terror at a social club in Stafford.

Ashman, who lives in the town, was one of two men to be nicked on suspicion of affray and bailed.

Police confirmed yesterday that after the matter had been investigated the pair were released with no further action only last month.

A source said: “This was a horrific attack which could have been even worse.

“Ashman may have signed up to one of the biggest shows on TV with this hanging over his head.”

It is not suggested that Ashman, whose job involves laying and repairing water pipes, was involved in the attack.

Last night he insisted he was not a violent person.

Confirming his show exit, an ITV spokesman said: “For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned.”

The mass brawl broke out at The White Eagle Club on February 28.

Sources said three balaclava-clad thugs armed with machetes and metal poles stormed the venue and attacked the dad over an alleged £3,000 debt.

They attacked him with a blade and left him with a deep gash on his arm — with witnesses wrapping towels over it to stem the bleed.

Pals say he has suffered tendon damage and is unable to drive due to his injuries.

Witnesses said the mob made off in a white Vauxhall Astra waiting outside.

Around 70 mourners, some elderly and some children, had gathered to pay their respects to local Stanley Reid.

Our source continued: “This seemed to be a targeted attack — they knew who they were looking for and where he was.

“People wrapped a towel around the man’s injury while waiting for emergency services.

“Children were taken into a room and locked in there to keep them away from the violence.

“People were screaming and crying in fear. They had gathered to pay final farewells to a man who was really well-respected within the local community.

“They could have killed someone that night. They are nothing but scumbags. They ruined what was a lovely send-off for a good person.”

Staffordshire Police said yesterday: “We were called to a social club on Riverway, Stafford, at 7.40pm on Friday, February 28 following reports that someone had been glassed outside and a fight was taking place. Some of the men involved were wearing masks and were carrying weapons.

“Two men went to hospital after suffering injuries at the scene. Both have since been discharged.

“A man and a woman suffered minor injuries at the scene but did not want any medical treatment.

“Officers have reviewed CCTV footage and have been actively carrying out enquiries to find out more about what happened.

“A 22-year-old man, from Stafford, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and affray.

“Another man, also 22 and from Stafford, was arrested on suspicion of affray.

“Both were questioned in custody and bailed with conditions while our enquiries continue.”

A force spokeswoman later confirmed that both suspects had been released with no further action last month.

Ashman said last night: “I fully co-operated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident.

“I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.”

A show source said: “ITV were entirely unaware of Kyle’s past and, as he was not charged, it was not flagged as part of Love Island’s stringent DBS checks.

“It’s only right he can now return home to the UK to share his side of the story and therefore bosses took the decision that it was best for him not to enter the villa.”

Love Island host Maya Jama will kick off the brand new series on Monday, June 9.

3

AXED Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has revealed a huge new job after his BBC show exit.

We previously revealed that the former Sex Education star was given the boot by bosses after just two series.

5

5

5

Ncuti, 32, has left the long-running drama after ‘woke’ storylines have seen ratings plummet in recent years.

The actor is off after just two series with no replacement likely for the Time Lord’s regeneration on May 31.

Now, the actor is quickly moving on as he has just announced his next project on social media.

He will stay in the upcoming satirical black comedy film called The Roses.

The star took to his Instagram stories as he displayed the poster of the Hollywood movie, alongside a simple rose and red heart emoji.

It features a completely star-studded cast of Hollywood A-listers and Oscar winners.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, and I, Tonya star Allison Janney all have leading roles in the new flick.

While former Saturday Night Live favourites Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon will also have feature roles.

The news comes after Ncuti backed out of announcing the UK’s jury scores in last weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest.

He pulled out of his commitments just 48 hours before he was due to appear in front of 160million people.

At the time, the corporation confirmed he would no longer be involved, citing “unforeseen circumstances” and he was replaced by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

This was amid controversy among some at Israel’s inclusion in the global singing competition and Ncuti stepped aside moments after Israel qualified for the grand final.

A TV insider said: “If the final nail wasn’t already in the coffin, it was well and truly hammered in after that.

“Bosses were incredibly disappointed. Ncuti, as the Doctor, is one of the corporation’s most high-profile faces.

Who has starred in Doctor Who?

Which actors have portrayed the famous Time Lord over the years?

• First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963 – 1966)
• Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966 – 1969)
• Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970 – 1974)
• Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974 – 1981)
• Fifth Doctor: Peter Davidson (1982 – 1984)
• Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984 – 1986)
• Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987 – 1989)
• Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996)
• Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005)
• Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005 – 2010)
• 11th Doctor: Matt Smith (2010 – 2013)
• 12th Doctor: Peter Capaldi (2014 – 2017)
• 13th Doctor: Jodie Whittaker (2018 – 2022)
• 14th Doctor: David Tennant (2023)
• 15th Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa (2023 – present)

“His withdrawal was incredibly embarrassing. It caps what has been a largely depressing tenure in the Tardis for Ncuti.“

Execs are likely to rest the 62-year-old show to consider who might revive its fortunes.

5

5

Holidaymakers have been left bitterly disappointed after P&O Cruises pulled the plug on a 35-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Ventura – just weeks after another cruise was scrapped.

The long-haul voyage, which was due to set sail on January 4, 2027, has been cancelled due to what the cruise line is calling “operational reasons.”

It follows the recent axing of a 14-night trip on sister ship Iona, which had been scheduled to depart on August 30, 2026.

In an earlier cancellation, the BBC reported on how cruise passengers hit out at P&O Cruises after two voyages scheduled for October 2025 aboard the Iona were scrapped to make way for a refit.

The cruises, both due to depart from Southampton, were pulled from the calendar, with the company citing the need for maintenance work.

Guests were offered full refunds along with on-board spending credit as an incentive to re-book another trip.

READ MORE: Cruise guests make ‘key etiquette mistake’ and it annoys other passengersREAD MORE: Luxury Brit cruise liner sent to brutal war – with astonishing comparison to Titanic

But many said the gesture didn’t go far enough – especially when they discovered that like-for-like holidays on different dates came with a hefty price hike.

In an email sent to passengers affect by the recent Ventura cancellation, P&O said:

“Due to operational reasons, we’re sorry to inform you that your cruise, departing 4 January 2027, is no longer going ahead.

“We understand this news is disappointing and would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

“To avoid you missing out on your holiday, however, we’ve automatically transferred you to an alternative cruise, G701, on board Iona.”

Frustrated passengers have since taken to Facebook to vent their anger and sadness over the abrupt change, with many saying they were looking forward to the now-cancelled voyage.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises told the Echo:

“On occasion, it is necessary to change an itinerary from the one previously published and we are very sorry that Ventura’s 35-night Caribbean itinerary departing January 04 2027, has been cancelled.

“Where possible, we are pleased to offer affected guests to transfer to Iona’s similar Caribbean sailing across the same dates.

“Ventura will now offer three new itineraries, which go on sale on June 04, 2025.”

AN ICONIC F1 grand prix track is at risk of being axed from the race calendar.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola could be set to host its last F1 race.

4

4

4

The famous circuit is the host for this weekend’s race in the 2025 season.

But F1 president Stefano Domenicali has admitted that it could be cut from the calendar.

There are currently two races in Italy, the one in Imola as well as the Italian GP at Monza.

Domenicali has suggested that with the increased interest in the motorsport, it could prove “difficult” for both to be kept.

He told RAI radio: “Italy has always been and will be an important part of Formula 1.

“It will be increasingly difficult to have two races in the same country because interest in F1 is growing and it’s a situation we will have to deal with in the coming months.

“It’s hard for this situation with Imola and Monza to continue together on the calendar for long.”

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari debuted back in 1981.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS

However, it has previously been cut as it was left off the calendar from 2006 until it was reintroduced in 2020.

This was when the race was rebranded as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

4

No other country in Europe has more than one race but Spain will have next year.

This is down to the overlap between the new Madrid track and last year of the Barcelona circuit.

The USA has three races with tracks in Miami, Las Vegas and Austin.

Speaking in 2024, Domenicali admitted that some tracks in Europe could become rotational in the calendar.

He said: “We have some news to share very, very soon with regard to the possibility in the mid-term to have some rotational European Grand Prix and some other new options coming later.

“This is something that, of course, we will clarify in the due course.

“It is true that we have a large demand for new possible venues that want to come in.

“Our choice will always be balanced between the right economic benefits that we can have as a system and also to leverage in the growth of the market.

“That we can see potential that will be beneficial for us to grow our business even further.”

Meanwhile, ahead of this weekend’s race Ferrari star Charles Leclerc has missed media duties due to illness.