Skyscanner recently shared insights into the best and worst times to buy flight tickets
Securing affordable flight deals can often seem impossible, but assistance might just be at hand. Skyscanner recently unveiled insights on the best and worst times to purchase international tickets, spotlighting both seasonal patterns and particular weekdays.
The travel search engine analysed historical data to reveal these trends and also addressed an ongoing debate in holiday planning: is it better to book early or to hold out for last-minute bargains?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer to this, as Skyscanner stressed that it largely depends on the route. Whilst quieter journeys or off-peak days may see price reductions as the departure date approaches, popular routes are likely to witness prices soar dramatically.
Irrespective of the season, Fridays and Sundays consistently emerge as the worst days to book flights due to high demand. However, statistics showed that cheaper fares are usually discovered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when bookings drop off.
“Based on past pricing trends, fares have dropped on Tuesday mornings after Monday deal releases,” Skyscanner wrote earlier this year, according to the Daily Record. When asked if prices decrease nearer a departure date, it added: “Sometimes, especially if seats are still available.
“But prices also tend to rise as departure nears. Last-minute deals exist, but they’re never guaranteed. You can also use the Skyscanner Savings Generator to find the best time to book flights based on your route.”
Skyscanner recommended that travellers book short-haul flights at least one to three months in advance to avoid disappointment. For long-haul journeys, it’s best to secure tickets two to six months before the trip.
Those wishing to monitor fluctuating flight prices can utilise Skyscanner’s alert system. To activate it, simply select a preferred route and click the ‘Get Price Alerts’ button located at the top left corner of the website.
To use this feature, you’ll need a Skyscanner account as alerts will be sent to the email linked with your account. Google also offers a similar alert system within its flight price tracking tool.
Google’s current advice states: “You can track flight prices for specific dates or, if your plans are flexible, any dates. To get flight alerts for a specific round trip, choose your dates and flights and select Search. Then, you can turn on price tracking.”
For more information on Skyscanner’s price-tracking tool, click the link here.
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Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea was making festive posts on social media hours before he died ‘peacefully in hospital’ at the age of 74 following a short illness
15:46, 22 Dec 2025Updated 15:46, 22 Dec 2025
Chris Rea has died at the age of 74(Image: Future via Getty Images)
Chris Rea made reference to his famous Christmas song in his final social media post which he shared just hours before his sudden death. A spokesperson for the music legend announced on Monday that he had died following a short illness, at the age of 74.
The musician, who was from Middlesbrough, is arguably best known for his 1988 song, Driving Home For Christmas. And amid the 2025 festive season, he had been sharing social media posts about the countdown to Christmas.
On Sunday, the star uploaded a photo of a car driving through snow along a busy motorway. A Variable Message Sign was also in shot which had the message: “Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories. Adding a caption of his own, Chris wrote: “Top to toe in tailbacks … If it’s a white Christmas, let’s hope the journey’s a smooth one.”
The singer added the hashtages #DrivingHomeForChristmas, #ChristmasSongs, #ChristmasMusic and #ChrisRea to the post – as well as a snowflake and a car emoji. Just hours later, family members of the singer were around the star as he died.
A spokesperson confirmed on Monday: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Chris had suffered from a number of health conditions in recent years, including peritonitis, pancreatic cancer and diabetes – while it has been reported that he would inject insulin up to seven times per day as he battled his conditions. Following the news of his death, fans have flooded social media with tributes and memories of the star.
One wrote on X: “Genuinely gutted to hear this. A proper Teesside legend. Safe drive home Chris… Damn… he lived for his cars, wonderful guitarist, and made so many great albums. RIP Chris Rea… Aah no! Bad news…”
Another typed: “Chris Rea has died. Shocked. Talented, he was also a really nice guy. I’m freaked because I mentioned him in a pre-Yule newsletter from my website. Chris had loads of friends in Ireland. He’ll be missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam…”
Chris had previously discussed his health issues – revealing: “I’ve had nine major operations in ten years. A lot of it is to do with something called retroperitoneal fibrosis, where the internal tissues attack each other. No one knew it existed 20 years ago, and it’s completely unpredictable.. It’s affected the colon, the pancreas, the gall bladder, the liver – and then I get a stroke.”
The singer went on to explain that his health was something that could not be taken for granted, despite the chart and commercial success he enjoyed over the years. He said: “I made a lot of money, but you can dangerously let it lead you on…
“It depends what company you keep. I once said to Michael Winner, ‘I’m the poorest man on this Barbados beach.’ On days like today, the richest man in the world is the one who hasn’t got a bad shoulder.”
Chris is survived by his wife Joan Lesley, who he was together with since they were teenagers, and their two daughters; Josephine, born 16 September 1983, and Julia Christina, born 18 March 1989. As well as Driving Home For Christmas, he penned tracks including On the Beach, Let’s Dance, and The Road To Hell.
Let’s jump into her list and maybe you’ll find your own shop that offers the best of both worlds.
(Lisa Boone/Los Angeles Times )
Flowerboy Project (Venice)
With Flowerboy Project, equal parts coffeehouse, florist and gift shop, partners Sean Knibb and Stella Shirinda have created an intriguing space that offers a feel-good mix for all the senses.
On Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, the concept cafe and flower shop offers apparel, jewelry, Venice Organics chocolate, home decor and apothecary items alongside fresh-cut and dried floral arrangements.
The cafe serves hot and cold coffee drinks, plus a few specialty drinks such as the Dirty Rose Girl (rose latte) and Lavender Boy (lavender latte), served with flowers on top. Custom flower arrangements are offered at prices ranging from $90 to $175.
(Lisa Boone/Los Angeles Times )
Javista at the Atrium (West Hollywood)
Billed as “The Botanist’s Bodega,” the bustling two-story Atrium in West Hollywood is a unique blend of coffee and plants. With Javista Coffee on the ground floor and a delightful array of plants, gifts and additional seating upstairs, the Atrium is a haven for plant enthusiasts and coffee lovers alike.
In addition to coffee staples such as macchiato and espresso, the bodega offers some exotic beverages like the CBTea Latte.
But that’s not all. The Atrium also hosts plant-related workshops, such as a recent one on how to mount a staghorn fern and create a terrarium. Plant lovers will appreciate a variety of plant accessories, including ceramic pots, misters, river stones and LED grow lights.
To support other small businesses, owner Andrew Ruiz stocks a wide selection of books and clothing along with candles from Flamingo Estate, Lavune and Marak, adding a local touch to the Atrium’s offerings.
(Lisa Boone/Los Angeles Times)
Little Nelly (Burbank)
Conveniently located in a Burbank neighborhood with plenty of parking, this takeout spot is a great place to shop for gifts while you wait for your espresso or hot combo sandwich (shaved turkey, hot coppa, Gioia burrata, giardiniera, wild arugula and pesto).
The market and sandwich shop, which also offers catering, is filled with cookbooks, handmade ceramics, wood carving boards perfect for charcuterie displays, candles and greeting cards. And for the foodies in your life, the market stocks unique pantry items such as spices, olive oils, vinegar and hot sauce that are perfect for stocking stuffers.
Made by DWC Cafe and Gift Boutique (Downtown L.A.)
Made by DWC, the Skid Row gift shop launched by the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles in 2011, offers handmade gifts — soaps, bath salts, soy candles and greeting cards — crafted by women on L.A.’s Skid Row area as part of a vocational training program.
All profits from the Made store and cafe, which sells organic coffee, smoothies, salads and pastries from Homeboy Industries, help fund the center’s career training and mentorship programs. Note: The gift shop is not open on weekends.
(Lisa Boone/Los Angeles Times)
Sachi.LA (Del Rey)
Influenced by their Japanese heritage, sisters Sachi and Chiyo Hartley opened their Del Rey coffeehouse in 2018 to share “Sachi” — the Japanese kanji character meaning happiness, fortune or good luck — with their community. The coffeehouse, which serves a wide variety of coffee drinks including matcha and the Sachi Special, a signature cold brew with oat milk and vanilla syrup, is just the beginning.
Adjacent to the coffeehouse, which also serves pastries, the sisters have opened a retail space that is a treasure-trove filled with houseplants, gifts, vintage clothes and plant accessories such as bud vases and planters. They also host occasional pop-ups, so keep an eye on their Instagram for updates.
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I visited Disneyland last weekend expecting huge crowds, busy restaurants and monster ride wait times. But the day was quite enjoyable thanks in part to Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Pass.
I commented to some employees throughout the day, “I thought this would be worse.”
Almost unanimously, each had the same answer: The real rush was yet to come.
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That’s when the cost of a single-day adult park-hopper pass, which allows a patron to visit Disneyland and adjacent California Adventure Park, soars to $314 (buy a week later, prices will drop by $50.)
Many Disney experts and influencers advise you to avoid the resort during this time.
But what if you’ve already bought tickets? What if out-of-town family is desperate to visit? What if this is the only free time to take the kids?
Traver explained to me that preparing for the holiday rush is not all too dissimilar from spring break.
One essential tip is to arrive at Disneyland before the park’s opening at 8 a.m.
Security checks begin as early as 7 a.m. and the gate, which opens around 7:20 to 7:30, allowing patrons to line up for the rope drop.
“For people interested in getting on the most popular rides, this is how you cut down on wait times,” Traver said.
He noted rope drop, the insider term for the moment a literal rope around attractions, restaurants and shops drops when the park opens at 8 a.m. is the best time to head to the “Star Wars”-themed “Rise of the Resistance,” which can easily draw two-hour lines later in the day.
Traver added this tidbit: Disney hotel guests receive early entry on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so the other days are best for early arrivers.
Consider eating at the bigger restaurants
He said patrons looking to maximize time and find a seat should search for larger capacity places.
Those include Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland, the Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland, the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree in Bayou Country, Galactic Grill and Alien Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland.
“The larger the crowd, the bigger the fight for seats,” Traver said. “Go to places with more seats.”
Next week, there might be one more consideration: Forecasters predict rain on Tuesday and Thursday.
Traver said restaurants like Alien Pizza Planet, which is 90% covered, or the Golden Horseshoe Restaurant in Frontierland, which is completely indoors, will be in high demand.
Take advantage of single rider
Both Disneyland and California Adventure offer a handful of single-rider lines.
If family members don’t mind riding alone, they can cut long waits at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Disneyland, the lone single-rider attractions at the park.
Traver’s favorite single rider attraction is California Adventure’s Radiator Springs Racer, where wait times are notorious.
“It will cut the wait time by a third,” Traver said.
Be realistic, but bring a good attitude
Maybe the biggest secret: Set proper expectations, Traver said.
“If you expect things to go smoothly and they don’t, now you’re disappointed,” he said. “But, if you arrive with lower expectations and an understanding that lines are going to be long and you’re just going to have to wait, you may be pleasantly surprised.”
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Friday’s settlement in the wrongful death case brings an end to several days of juror deliberations and a four year legal battle.
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The Strictly Come Dancing cast have rallied around judge Shirley Ballas after she shared some heartbreaking news online
Joe Crutchley Screen Time Reporter
07:02, 18 Dec 2025
Shirley Ballas’ heartbreak days before Strictly final as she confirms tragic death(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has been flooded with support after she shared a family death.
The dancer will be back on screens on Saturday (December 20) for the show’s epic final. Remaining stars like Amber Davies, George Clarke and Karen Carney will be battling it out to take home the iconic Glitterball trophy.
However, just days before the final, Shirley has been dealt some major heartbreak. Taking to her Instagram on Wednesday evening (December 17) Shirley confirmed her beloved aunt – who was like a “second mum” to Shirley – had passed away.
The TV star shared several photos of her and her aunt and paid a heartbreaking tribute to her in the caption. She wrote: “My dearest Auntie Mavis … where do I begin.
“How I’ll miss you so very much. I’ll miss all your sayings of ‘you’re right love’, ‘do you know what I mean like love’, ‘yeah I know’ and l’d say ‘no you don’t know Mavis’. That one was my favourite.”
Shirley continued: “Mavis was always there for me and my family, she had been like a second mum to me. Mum and I are sad you’re not here with us any more, Mavis. We will treasure the memories. Mum has many that’s for sure. Her best friend of over 65 years.
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“The bond between Mavis and my mother was absolutely unbreakable. We will miss every minute of every second not chatting with you, talking with you and you making us laugh with all your antics. May you rest in peace now with your beautiful daughter Helen and your wonderful husband.
“We will celebrate you often, talk about you often, laugh often with all the things that you and my mum got up to. I truly thought that you would live forever, Mavis.”
Shirley finished off the emotional post and said: “Thank you for always being there for me through the ups, through the downs and through all the parts of my life. Thank you for tuning into @bbcstrictly and then switching off after you’d seen my dress. That always made me smile.
“I’ll treasure every single memory I ever had with you. Rest in peace beautiful Mavis. Hugs and love, Shirley and Audrey. X.”
Shirley’s fellow showbiz pals and fans quickly rushed to the comments section to send their support. Claudia Winkleman penned: “Sending all my love,” while Neil Jones commented an orange heart emoji.
One fan said: “So sorry for your loss. Your mum has lost her beautiful friend.” Another follower chimed in: “Aw bless you all, so sorry for your loss….. Sending so much love to you all and may Mavis rest in peace.” A third penned: “Sorry for your loss, sending love to you both rest in peace Mavis.”
Strictly Come Dancing airs this weekend on BBC One.
Physicians are seeking a return of salaries to their 2008-2009 levels before they were eroded by inflation.
Published On 15 Dec 202515 Dec 2025
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Resident doctors in England will go ahead with a five-day strike this week after rejecting the government’s latest offer aimed at ending a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.
Formerly known as junior doctors, the physicians, who make up nearly half of England’s medical workforce, will walk out from 07:00 GMT on Wednesday until 07:00 GMT next Monday.
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The action follows an online survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) in which members voted to reject the proposal.
“Tens of thousands of frontline doctors have come together to say ‘no’ to what is clearly too little, too late,” BMA resident doctors committee chairman Jack Fletcher said in a statement, adding that members had rejected the government’s latest offer on working conditions.
Fletcher said the union remained willing to work towards a resolution.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting appealed to doctors to call off the strike.
“There is no need for these strikes to go ahead this week, and it reveals the BMA’s shocking disregard for patient safety,” he said, describing the action as “self-indulgent, irresponsible and dangerous”.
Speaking to Sky News, Streeting said the government was open to the BMA rescheduling the strike to reduce risks to patients during a surge in flu cases.
Flu-related hospitalisations in England rose by more than 50 percent in early December, reaching an average of 2,660 patients a day, the highest level for this time of year. Health leaders have warned there is still no clear peak in sight.
Across Europe, health authorities are grappling with an unusually early and severe flu season, warning of rising cases across the continent.
The BMA said 83 percent of resident doctors voted to reject the government’s offer with a turnout of 65 percent among its more than 50,000 members.
The offer, made on Wednesday, did not include new pay terms. The BMA has been campaigning for improved pay even before the Labour Party won last year’s general election.
Shortly after taking office, Streeting agreed a deal offering doctors a 22 percent pay rise, short of the 29 percent sought by the union.
The BMA has also called for improvements beyond the 5.4 percent pay increase announced earlier this year, arguing resident doctors continue to suffer from years of pay erosion.
Doctors are seeking “full pay restoration”, meaning a return of salaries to their 2008-2009 levels in real terms before they were eroded by inflation.
Former Grimsby Town and Barrow boss Michael Jolley has stepped down as manager of non-league side Bury after just two days following a backlash against his appointment.
It relates to an incident in 2009, when Jolley pleaded guilty to having sex with a 15-year-old girl.
He was sentenced to a year’s probation and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 12 months.
Jolley has always maintained the girl did not disclose her true age to him, telling him she was 19. In a statement on X on Sunday, he said subsequent investigations established he was “deceived, and at no time did I act maliciously”.
He has not been prevented from continuing his career in football and has worked at seven clubs since the incident, including two in the Football League.
Bury, who play in the eighth-tier Northern Premier League Division One West, announced the 48-year-old’s appointment on Friday.
It drew criticism on social media and Bury fans chanted for his removal as he watched Saturday’s 2-1 win against Mossley in the stands at Gigg Lane. The away team’s supporters also sang derogatory songs about him.
In a statement on Sunday, Bury said the club recognised “the strength of feeling expressed in recent days by supporters, staff, partners and players, and the very real impact the board’s decision to appoint Michael has had on individuals connected to the club”.
They included a statement from Jolley, which said: “I do not wish my presence to deter the board from its mission of returning the club to its rightful place in the EFL.”
In his statement on X, Jolley said his appointment had become a “distraction” for the club and he would “relinquish the opportunity to become first-team manager”.
Bury said he had been “relieved of his duties by mutual consent”.
In response, some fans called on board members to resign.
Bury said assistant manager Tim Lees would take charge of the side on an interim basis while the board undertakes “a wider review of club operations”.
“We will also be engaging directly with players, staff and stakeholders to listen, learn and ensure that appropriate support is available,” the club added.
“Our immediate priority is the welfare of our people and the stability of the club and our community.
“We believe this step is necessary to help restore confidence, create space for reflection and allow Bury FC to move forward in a way that reflects our values and responsibilities.”
The club said it remained committed to “acting with integrity, transparency and respect”.
Samantha Harman – a Her Game Too ambassador for the club’s supporters’ group – said there had been no advance notice of Jolley’s appointment.
“At the time the news was released, I was away with work and flew back immediately,” Harman posted on X. “I went straight to the game and made my feelings very clear to members of the board at the earliest possible opportunity.
“Since the announcement, I have had to manage the very real impact this decision has had on our volunteer base, including volunteers stepping down. This has been an extremely difficult situation to navigate.
“As volunteers, we are required to adhere to a social media policy, which limits our ability to publicly express personal feelings or opinions online.
“However, I want to be absolutely clear – the Her Game Too team at Bury FC was fully aligned with the concerns raised by supporters and did not stand by the decision made in this appointment.”
Jolley was put in charge after Dave McNabb stepped down as manager earlier this month to become head of football operations.
Announcing his appointment on Friday, a Bury statement said: “Michael’s blend of strategic expertise, coaching pedigree and global management experience makes him the right leader to inspire our squad and unite our supporters.”
In his statement on X, Jolley said: “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work at seven fantastic professional clubs since 2009. On joining each of those clubs, I have always proactively raised this incident after being offered employment. All those clubs considered the evidence and reached their own judgement based on the facts.
“Now in 2025, 16 and a half years later, my CRB [Criminal Records Bureau] check has long since shown as clear but in the interests of transparency and openness, I still ensure that any prospective employers have visibility of the issue if I do receive any offer of employment, and I did so once again in my discussions with Bury FC.
“If prospective employers wish to view the evidence or character references that were heard in court in 2009, I also ensure these documents are made available to them.
“Football being what it is, I have become accustomed to being abused in stadia and online by people unwilling or unable to accept the facts. Since I have a clear conscience regarding the incident, I have always believed that it is right that I stand my ground in the face of the abuse I have received during my football career.
“However, now with a young family of my own who wish to attend matches and support the club, I naturally place their wellbeing above my own and take a different perspective on this issue.”
Love Island star Hayley Hughes has announced her engagement to a mystery partner, sharing photos of her huge ring as well as her adorable son Cody
Dan Laurie Deputy Editor of Screen Time
14:49, 14 Dec 2025Updated 14:51, 14 Dec 2025
A former Love Island star has shared some exciting news with fans(Image: ITV)
A former Love Island star has announced her engagement.
Hayley Hughes has shared a collection of glamorous proposal photographs from Dubai on Instagram, showcasing her stunning engagement ring.
The blonde bombshell appeared on the fourth series of the ITV2 reality programme in 2018, which saw Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham crowned winners.
She captioned the post: “12/12 – my forever love. I love you so much.”
Hayley has chosen to maintain her partner’s privacy by cleverly cropping his face from photographs and avoiding any social media tags, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Her son Cody, born in 2023, features in the images, with one touching moment showing Hayley’s fiancé cradling the youngster.
Unsurprisingly, Hayley’s announcement has sparked an avalanche of congratulatory messages from her supporters.
Rosie Williams, who starred alongside Hayley in the same Love Island series, commented: “Congratulations my girl! So happy for you.”
Fellow Islander Liberty Poole, from series seven, simply added: “Congratulations”.
One fan gushed: “Omg huge congratulationsssss. The ringgg. The flowerssssss.”
Another enthused: “Ahhh best news ever! ! So happy for you, wifey era pending.”
Hayley entered Love Island as an original islander in 2018, but following unsuccessful romantic pursuits with Eyal Brooker – who memorably declared “I’m not your hun, hun” – and Charlie Brake, she departed the villa.
Following her Love Island exit, she embarked on a relationship with DJ Tom Zanetti, even appearing in one of his music videos, though their romance concluded after seven months. As 2023 kicked off, Hayley penned a post about spending “another year” with her enigmatic beau.
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In a chat with RadioTimes.com following her villa exit, Hayley reflected: “I did really think that Eyal was a bit full on with Megan [Barton Hanson] so soon and he wouldn’t really let Alex [George] have a chance to get to know and speak to her.”
She added: “Obviously I feel like I genuinely am Team Alex in every way because I genuinely want him to meet someone that he has a connection with, because he does have low confidence and things.”
There were only four days left of shooting on “Hamnet” when Chloé Zhao realized she didn’t have an ending. The filmmaker had led the cast through a week filming the pivotal climactic sequence inside the Globe Theatre, where William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) is staging his opus “Hamlet,” but something was missing. The script had Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes (Jessie Buckley), and her brother Bartholomew (Joe Alwyn) witnessing the demise of Hamlet (Noah Jupe), a denouement that should have evoked a sense of release. But even though the moment was meant to tie Shakespeare’s masterpiece to the still-fresh death of Will and Agnes’ 11-year-old son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), neither Zhao nor Buckley could feel the necessary catharsis.
“Jessie and I avoided each other for the rest of the day because we both knew we had no film,” Zhao says. “We both went home feeling completely lost.”
“We were searching for this ending,” Buckley adds. “It was a daunting idea to try and pull together all the threads of the story we’d woven prior to this moment. I felt incredibly lost and a bit untethered.”
Zhao admits that she rarely preplans the endings of her films because she doesn’t tell stories linearly. She imagines the journey of her characters unfurling in a spiral, with the story extending downward into the darkness before rising back up.
“I’ve had to wait on every single film,” she says. “But this time I was going through the ending of a relationship, so I was terrified of losing love. I was holding on to it with dear life.”
Actors Jessie Buckley and Joe Alwyn with director Chloé Zhao on the set of “Hamnet.”
(Agata Grzybowska)
The morning after they filmed the scripted ending, Buckley sent Zhao Max Richter’s “This Bitter Earth,” a reimagining of his song “On the Nature of Daylight” with lyrics. The filmmaker played it in the car on her way to the set.
“I could feel the tears and the heart opening, and then I started reaching my hand out towards the window,” Zhao remembers. “I was trying to touch the rain outside of the car. I looked at my hand and I realized that I needed to become one with something bigger than me so I would no longer be afraid of losing my love. Because love doesn’t die, it transforms. When we’re one with everything around us, it’s the illusion of separation that makes us so afraid of impermanence.”
The true culmination of “Hamnet” occurred to Zhao as she reached for the rain. If Agnes reached her hand toward the dying Hamlet, he could then rest and she could let go of her grief over losing Hamnet. And if the audience joined her, the sensation of release would be even greater.
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“The thing I didn’t expect, the surprise of it, was the absolute communal surrender,” Buckley says. “The way the fourth wall was broken between the play and the audience, the need to reach out and touch the core of the play. Agnes’ compass has always been touch.”
Although the specifics didn’t come to life until those final days, Zhao always planned the production so the Globe scenes would be done last. Production designer Fiona Crombie re-created the historic open-air theater on the backlot at England’s Elstree Studios using real timber brought in from France. The set version, which took 14 weeks to build, is smaller than the original Globe to create a sense of intimacy.
Plans for the building of the Globe Theatre set in “Hamnet.”
(Agata Grzybowska)
“This is my version,” Crombie says. “Our footprint is a bit smaller overall, but the essential architecture of the tiers and the roofline and the shape and everything is accurate. By virtue of having real beams that are scarred and aged, it feels more realistic. We wanted the whole thing to feel completely authentic. You want to smell these sets and feel these textures off the screen.”
“I told Fiona I wanted it to feel like the inside of a tree,” Zhao says. “So, spiritually, it’s correct for this story. And the play is accurate. We didn’t change any lines.”
Historically, there would not have been a backdrop onstage. But for the thematic purposes of “Hamnet,” a backdrop was essential. “There was a whole conversation about not just the aesthetic but the importance of that motif,” Crombie says. “It’s also a wall that separates Will from Agnes.”
“Hamnet’s” Globe was constructed to have a working backstage so Mescal, Jupe and the players could move in and out of the wings. There were real prop tables and makeup stations, as well as a nod to other Shakespeare plays. “We had a horse from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ that was loaned from the real Globe,” Crombie says. “There were loads of details everywhere that honored theater.”
The actors learned significant portions of “Hamlet.” Mescal led the cast of players in rehearsals before filming. “We would rehearse later in the evenings as an ongoing part of the process,” Mescal says. “Once the camera came in, it was Chloé’s baby, but we rehearsed consistently throughout the production. It was so cool. I have a lot of sympathy for directors. What I loved about it wasn’t necessarily the act of directing. It was more so the part of the process in helping me to act. It felt weird to direct them as Paul, but I could direct them as Will.”
Paul Mescal backstage at the Globe in “Hamnet.”
(Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features)
Mescal and the players acted out 30 to 40 minutes of “Hamlet” while filming. The actor describes the feeling of being on the Globe stage as “sacred,” both because of the physical space and because of the emotional quality of the scenes.
“It felt very charged,” he says. “Up until that point we knew we had made something very special, but we were also acutely aware that this is where you had to land the plane. And that came with its own pressure. There’s something very special about playing Shakespeare and hearing Shakespeare’s words spoken in that place. The film is talking about the collision of art and humanity, and there are no greater words to communicate that feeling than the words in ‘Hamlet.’”
Zhao enlisted 300 extras to be the theater’s crowd. Each day, Zhao and Kim Gillingham, a dream coach who worked on the film, led the cast and extras in a daily meditation or dream exercise. It was unlike anything many of the actors had previously experienced.
“Everyone dropped into this very deep place of connection to themselves and to what was happening in front of them on the stage,” Alwyn says. “It was this amazing collective feeling of catharsis and connection to something bigger than ourselves.”
(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)
“The performances from some of the supporting artists are extraordinary,” Mescal adds. “And that was intentional in terms of how Chloé constructed that feeling and by having Kim there.”
After Will notices Agnes in the audience, he goes backstage and finally breaks down, experiencing a long-awaited release of grief. Mescal prepared for the scene by listening to Bon Iver’s “Speyside.” Fittingly, it was the last thing he filmed.
“The play becomes something different because it’s being witnessed by Agnes,” Mescal says. “It comes alive for the audience because of this weird alchemy. Something feels different in the air. That moment felt like such relief, like he could just let go.”
“Hamnet” ends with Agnes reaching for Hamlet. In doing so, she gives herself permission to let her son go. It was a moment that had to be discovered rather than constructed.
“The scene became a holding of collective grief in a communal space where we were allowed to let it out,” Buckley says. “It was like a tsunami. I’ll never forget it.”
In Mescal’s mind, the film’s ending is really its beginning. He imagines the relationship between Will and Agnes will go on, continuing the spiral.
“I have no idea how a relationship survives the death of a child, but I do think there is a miraculous hope and they can see each other again in that moment,” Mescal says. “They’ve abandoned each other in certain moments, but now she understands where he went. And I think they will return to each other.”
Davina reshared a speech dedicated to her husband, Michael Douglas, from the NTAs in 2024Credit: GettyThe couple have known each other for decades but became an item in 2018Credit: Getty
Just days later, Davina took to Instagram to reshare an on-stage tribute she made to Michael back at the 2024 NTAs – declaring her love for the celebrity hairdresser.
At the time, Davina, who picked up the Special Recognition Award that evening, joked that when she meant Michael Douglas she meant “the younger one, not the older one” in a jab to his shared name with the Hollywood actor married to Catherine Zeta-Jones.
“I love being on this journey with you, you make me a better person and you make me so happy, thank you!,” she sweetly said.
Michael was seen watching on from the audience with tears in his eyes as she spoke about him.
Sources have shared how the couple had opted to keep their wedding on Friday “very low key” before attending a friend’s wedding the following day.
A friend added: “Their wedding was perfect, exactly what they wanted. They chose a small venue close to their home, and just invited about ten of their friends and relatives to be there with them.
“It was very intimate and everyone who attended is very special in their lives.”
They went on: “They’ve been through a huge amount in recent months, with Davina’s health, and it just felt right to formalise their marriage. They didn’t see the point in waiting.
“The next day they just carried on with life as normal, and as coincidence would have it they were guests at another friend’s wedding day.
“So they went as a married couple for the first time and happily showed off her wedding ring. It was the perfect weekend.”
Davina shared the news and revealed she had been reminded to check her breasts by a campaign on ITV’s Lorraine Kelly show, and had caught it early.
“It was very, very small, so I got it very, very early which is incredibly lucky,” she told fans.
“But I am so relieved to have had it removed and to know that it has not spread.
“I’m talking about this because I think it might help someone. And this is what I always do.”
She added she was due to have five days of radiation to ensure the cancer was gone. The diagnosis comes just a year after she had a six-hour brain op after a benign but very rare tumour was discovered by chance when she was offered a scan.
Davina heaped praise on Michael, saying he “made her a better person”Credit: GettyCelebrity hairstylist Michael confirmed their marriage on InstagramCredit: InstagramThe couple were motivated to get married after Davina’s latest health diagnosisCredit: GettyTV legend Davina has assured fans she’s fine after having her cancer removedCredit: Getty
