Explainers

U2 have announced their The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour for 2027 – including the band’s first UK stadium gigs in a decade.

The tour is named after the third advance single on U2’s much anticipated 16th studio album Carnaval De Luz, scheduled to drop on November 13.

So far 12 dates have been announced as part of the European leg of the global tour including a 2 night run of UK stadium gigs in June 2027.

The Irish rockers will be supported on The Greatest Show On Earth tour by 2018 Mercury Prize winners Wolf Alice.

U2 have promised a historic setlist for their 2027 UK gigs, with celebrated career-spanning anthems so fans won’t be disappointed.

The band hasn’t played a UK stadium since their 30th anniversary Joshua Tree tour in 2017. So expect competition for UK tickets to be fierce.

CRUNCH TIME

‘Clear favourite’ in race for James Bond as actor ‘pulls into lead’

BRAND LOYALTY

Who is Russell Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher?

Here’s everything to know about the UK dates and how you can get tickets.

When are U2’s 2027 UK concerts?

So far the group has announced two UK stadium gigs:

18 June – London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

19 June – London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

U2’s full European dates

April 26      STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
April 28      STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
May 05       PARIS, France – Stade de France
May 08       PARIS, France – Stade de France
May 27        LISBON, Portugal – Estadio da Luz
June 05      AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
June 06      AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
June 18       LONDON, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 19       LONDON, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium                   
June 30      BERLIN, Germany – Olympiastadion         
July 05       MILAN, Italy – Stadio San Siro
July 06       MILAN, Italy – Stadio San Siro

How to get tickets for the U2’s UK dates?

The Ticketmaster presale is taking place on Thursday, November 5 from 10am till 10pm. During the presale, you’ll be able to purchase up to 4 tickets per show.

In order to be part of the presale you must sign up via the Ticketmaster U2 presale page before 22.59 on Sunday, November 1.

A STATE of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Rhodes after flash floods swept cars into the sea and claimed the life of a hotel worker.

A Mediterranean autumn storm system has moved across the region, bringing torrential downpours and high winds.

Greek authorities have ordered British holidaymakers to restrict all but essential travel – here’s everything you need to know.

Where is the flooding in Rhodes?

Rhodes’ eastern coastline bore the brunt of the weather, with the area around Stegna beach near Archangelos suffering flash flooding.

A 62-year-old hotel worker was caught in a torrent of water while retrieving his car near the beach.

Coastguard officers later recovered his body after four vehicles were swept into the sea.

DIVE IN

All-in half term holidays from £51 a night with free childcare & rooftop pools

FLOOD HELL

Three dead after flash floods batter Brit tourist hotspot as flights diverted

Dozens of cars were submerged or abandoned across the island’s road network as drainage systems struggled to contain the rainwater.

Data from the National Observatory of Athens confirmed that Rhodes recorded 264mm of rain, 202mm of which fell in just six-and-a-half hours.

That’s a month’s worth of typical rainfall in a single morning.

What is the current Rhodes weather forecast?

Conditions across Rhodes have begun to calm as the worst of the storm front moves east.

The UK Met Office and the Hellenic National Meteorological Service both forecast drier conditions for the region on Thursday October 15, with sunny spells for the remainder of the day.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 23C, with moderate northwesterly winds between 12 and 16mph.

Though the forecast points toward calmer conditions, forecasters and officials stress that the danger has not fully cleared.

Because the island’s terrain is saturated, more rain could present a risk of further localised flooding and mudslides.

Tomorrow (October 16) is expected to stay largely dry and sunny, but an unsettled Atlantic front is forecast to push across the Aegean Sea over the weekend.

This is expected to bring a renewed chance of showers by Saturday.

Elsewhere in Greece, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service has issued yellow “Be Aware” alerts for Crete and the South Aegean.

What is the advice for holidaymakers?

Thousands of UK tourists visit the region every year for late-season sunshine.

With 112 emergency alerts remaining active, tourists are advised to limit their movements to absolutely necessary journeys.

Several key bridges and roads across Ialysos, Faliraki, Afandou, and Rhodes Town are submerged or damaged by mud.

Authorities have suspended multiple transport routes, including the key Rhodes–Faliraki tourist corridor and services to and from Akandia port.

Greek emergency services recommend that all travellers monitor local weather warnings through the Hellenic National Meteorological Service and follow instructions via the official @112Greece Twitter/X channel.

Never attempt to drive or walk through standing or flowing water, as road surfaces may have collapsed underneath.

Keep an eye on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice pages for Greece regarding sudden disruptions.

QUENTIN Tarantino is swapping the big screen for the stage with his first West End play.

The Popinjay Cavalier is written and directed by the Pulp Fiction filmmaker, with Sacha Baron Cohen taking on the leading role.

And theatre fans don’t have long to wait to get their hands on tickets. Here’s everything you need to know.

What time do The Popinjay Cavalier tickets go on sale?

Tickets for The Popinjay Cavalier go on general sale at 12pm on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Fans who previously signed up for priority access can buy tickets earlier, with that sale opening at 9am.

Tickets can be bought through the production’s official website at popinjayplay.com.

‘IT’S AN ILLUSION’

Inside Ferne McCann’s controversial new venture as star comes under fire

LAST CURTAIN

Iconic 60-year-old UK cinema praised by Tarantino threatened with closure

Prices start at £25, while more than 16,000 tickets across the run will cost less than £50.

The show is booking until June 13, 2027.

Demand is likely to be high given Quentin Tarantino’s huge film following and Sacha Baron Cohen’s first major leading role on a West End stage.

Anyone hoping to go should have the official ticket page ready before the sale opens.

When is The Popinjay Cavalier on in London?

The Popinjay Cavalier begins previews at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on February 23, 2027, while its official opening night is on March 18.

At the time of writing, the limited run is booking until June 13, 2027.

Situated on Charing Cross Road, The Phoenix Theatre is currently home to Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Further casting for Tarantino’s production is still to be announced.

What is The Popinjay Cavalier about?

The play is set in Europe during the 1830s and has been billed as a swashbuckling comedy about deception and disguise.

It follows actor Rupert Sebastian Thomas Jr as he travels to Paris to perform at the Comedie-Francaise.

But after making some badly chosen comments about the French, his journey across the Channel takes a much more dangerous turn.

The production promises sword fights, acrobatics and adventure, drawing inspiration from classic Hollywood swashbucklers.

Tarantino said he was “keen with anticipation to give the West End a great night out.”

Who is starring in The Popinjay Cavalier?

Sacha Baron Cohen is set to play the title role, Rupert Sebastian Thomas Jr.

He is best known for creating characters including Ali G, Borat and Bruno, as well as appearing in films including The Dictator and Les Miserables.

The British comedian and actor said: “Quentin called, I said yes before he even got to say his first ‘motherf***er’.

“When the best director in the world calls, you don’t ask questions.

“I am beyond delighted that we will be losing our West End virginity together. I have made him promise not to be gentle.”

The pair have almost worked together before.

Tarantino cast Sacha Baron Cohen in his 2012 Western Django Unchained, but the actor ultimately pulled out to appear in Les Miserables.

The Popinjay Cavalier is being produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions.

Tarantino first revealed in 2025 that he had completed a play and intended to make theatre his next major project.

Now audiences will finally get to see what his unmistakable style looks like live on a West End stage.

ROB Beckett regularly turns family life into comedy, but his wife Louise Watts has been sharing her side of the story too.

She has swapped the classroom for the bookshelves, becoming a bestselling author with her frank take on parenthood.

Rob Beckett is currently on our screens as the new host of Channel 4 reality show Tempting Fortune, taking over from Paddy McGuinness for its third series.

The show returned on September 22, 2026, with 12 strangers trekking for 13 days through the Malaysian jungle, hoping to protect a £300,000 prize pot from costly temptations.

He is about to swap the jungle for a Scottish castle as one of 21 famous faces taking part in the second series of The Celebrity Traitors.

Claudia Winkleman’s BBC hit returns on October 1, 2026, with Rob joined by stars including Michael Sheen, Maya Jama, Miranda Hart and James Blunt.

TO THE RESCUE

Inside mystery of missing Sir Ranulph Fiennes as celebs unite to find truth

MAYA’S MESSAGE

Celeb Traitors’ Maya Jama says she’s been ‘blindsided’ by liars in the past

Who is Rob Beckett’s wife Louise Watts?

Louise Beckett (nee Watts), who also goes by Lou, previously worked as a secondary school history teacher.

The pair have been married for more than a decade, which Rob revealed on a 2015 episode of Mock the Week.

Lou has spoken openly about leaving a job she loved to be a stay-at-home mum while Rob’s comedy career was taking off.

In March 2026, she told Fabulous’ No Parental Guidance podcast: “He’s been able to leave the house four days on the trot and go to work.

“You get to leave the house and go and talk to grownups. And have a shower.

“You get to be the person that you’ve always been, whereas I feel like the kind of pigeon lady from Home Alone, who’s not left the house for four weeks. 

“And I haven’t had a shower and my clothes don’t fit me.”

In her blog, Louise explained that she had stopped teaching full-time because her ulcerative colitis was particularly severe around the time they became parents.

She wrote: “I didn’t realise how much being a teacher was part of who I was until I wasn’t one anymore.

“Until the only things I really had to speak about were what Rob was doing or how the baby was.

“If I’m totally and embarrassingly honest, teaching made me feel important and suddenly that wasn’t there anymore and I felt like I didn’t have anything to bring to the table.”

But Louise also said she was grateful that Rob’s success allowed her to concentrate on getting better and caring for their baby.

What is Louise Watts’ book about?

Louise released her debut book, Lessons from a Default Parent, in February 2026, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.

It grew out of her blog post A Very Long Whinge, which she posted on March 8, 2024.

The book tackles the often overlooked work of raising children, from organising school activities to tracking everyone’s needs.

It also explores how parents can share those responsibilities more fairly.

Louise told the Daily Mail’s Life of Bryony podcast that writing it helped her explain her feelings to Rob.

She said: “I found I was able to communicate much better with Rob after writing the book.”

Do Rob Beckett and Louise Watts have children?

Yes, Rob and Louise have two daughters, but they prefer to keep their names and dates of birth private.

However, in a December 2025 episode of the podcast Parenting Hell, Rob confirmed that his kids were 10 and eight at the time.

The comedian regularly shares stories about fatherhood on the podcast he presents with fellow comic Josh Widdicombe.

Louise occasionally appears for “right to reply” episodes, giving her own take on the stories listeners have heard from her husband.

Rob recently said he wants to spend more time at home as their children grow up.

In July, he told The Sun: “I’m trying to be at home more, more relaxed.

“I’ve done quite a lot, I think I need to chill out a bit – it’s getting a bit needy isn’t it?

“I’ve got a bit of time off in autumn and I’m looking forward to being at home more and being more present. 

“Because I’m getting older and the kids are too, so I’m trying to work a little bit less and be there for them.”