The ITV show was back with another jam-packed show on Friday (July 10), as presenters Dermot O’Leary and Angela Scanlon took the reins in the studio. Meanwhile, Alison was in Birmingham for the countdown to the Invictus Games.
Founded by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is a global sporting competition that began in 2014 for military personnel and veterans who have been wounded, injured, or become ill during their service. The name Invictus, which means “unconquered” in Latin, reflects the resilience, determination, and strength of participants.
Trying her best to interview the founder, presenter Alison was thrown into a race. But she did manage to steal a hug from him wheh he spotted her and she referred to him as “babes” leaving viewers very unimpressed with one labelling it “a car crash”.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, in their droves, fans of the ITV show shared their thoughts. One viewer said: “I’m just waiting for her to call him ‘Babes’. She didn’t disappoint.”
Another fumed: “Alison, what on God’s Earth are you doing? Absolutely embarrassing behaviour! Are you 6 years old?!” A third viewer chimed in and wrote: “What a car crash and a bloody noise.”
A fourth added: “Hammond….just an embarrassment.” While another agreed, saying: “This is embarrassing.”
However, some viewers loved Alison’s approach, with one writing: “Howling at Alison. You go girl.” Another added: “Harry always has some spare time for Alison.”
Prince Harry’s appearance on This Morning came as rival daytime show Morning Live announced on Friday that it is now taking a break for the summer.
At the beginning of the live BBC broadcast, host Gethin Jones revealed that Morning Live would be taking a break and wouldn’t return for some time throughout the summer months.
It’s not yet known when Morning Live will be back on air, but from next week, the slot will be filled by fresh episodes of Animal Park, which will air straight after BBC Breakfast from 9.30am until 10.15am.
The documentary programme is also scheduled to air from the following Monday (July 20) as well.
Kate Humble and Ben Fogle will mark 25 years of Animal Park next week, looking back at unforgettable animal tales and their lasting bond.
There has been unrest on the streets of London where Morocco fans were confronted by police following their team’s 2-0 loss to France and exit from the World Cup. Several arrests were reportedly made late on Thursday night around London’s Edgware road.
Chunky platform sandals, fitted baby tees, butterfly clips on perfectly crimped hair, brightly patterned skirts and tons of sparkles. Pure Y2K-fueled nostalgia filled the Kia Forum on Wednesday night in celebration of all things Hilary Duff.
Share via
Duff graced the stage at the Inglewood venue as part of her Lucky Me tour, her first global headlining tour in nearly two decades. And her fans couldn’t have been more thrilled. The pop singer and actor, who released her sixth studio album “Luck… or Something” in February, performed two back-to-back sold-out shows.
Before the final L.A. show, we caught up with fans to talk about their outfits (many of which were inspired by Duff’s most famous roles such as Sam in “A Cinderella Story” and the title role in “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”), the memories her music brings up for them and why her work still resonates with them. Here’s what they had to say.
(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)
Tristan Hallam, 36, of Chicago
Tell us about your outfit.
This is my wedding dress that I had stuffed in a suitcase. She’s been in a suitcase for 10 years, and I still fit into her, which is nice. People ask me why I keep stuff and this is exactly why: You might get divorced and use it as a costume. My outfit is inspired by “A Cinderella Story.” It’s my favorite Hilary Duff movie. She plays diner girl Cinderella. She disguises herself with a mask and a L.A. Dodgers cap. I did have a tiara, but I didn’t bring it because I didn’t want to be too much. So I figured, you know what, why not buy an apron and a little black crop top, and rep L.A.
I have a tattoo of her signature. It’s a little faded because it’s like 10 years old, maybe older than that now. It was at a book signing at Barnes and Noble at like the Grove or something. I asked her if she would initial my wrist, and I got it tattooed the same night. I literally drove to the tattoo shop on Hollywood Boulevard with my arm out the window because I’m so clumsy and I didn’t want to smudge it. Then the next time I saw her, she asked me, what did your parents say? I said, “My mom asked me how long I kept the Sharpie on so long.”
How long have you been a fan?
I think I was like 8 or 9 years old when I saw “Casper Meets Wendy” for the first time. My grandma took me to like a K-Mart or something, and told me that I could get any movie that I wanted. Then I was into “Lizzie McGuire,” but as soon as Hilary started doing all her like movies and independent work, obviously the music is great. I used to live in L.A., so I went to a bunch of her book signings. I’ve done a lot of meet and greets for her concerts, and right now I’m traveling around. I’m going to 18, technically 19 shows now, and I’m gonna see her in New Zealand, Australia and some other places. I’m actually really excited because one of my friends, I met her in a Hilary Duff fan club chat room in 2005 on MSN Messenger, and we are still friends, so we are going to a ton of shows together.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
The fact that we’re around the same age, there’s been a lot of relationship similarities. I don’t have any kids, but the struggles with family, with your dad, with your siblings. She’s got some songs that are more mature and relatable for people our age. People who have gone through ups and downs in relationships, struggles with family and figuring out who your real family is, not just by blood but who your chosen family is. I think that’s really important.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Leilanie Martinez, 30, of South Gate
Tell us about your outfit and the inspiration behind it?
It’s my quinceañera dress. It’s supposedly very traditional to wear a white dress, like young women coming of age. For mine, I wanted to wear something that I didn’t see a lot of people wearing and I was very firm that if I didn’t find the love of my life, I was going to wear a white dress and this was my moment. My quinceañera was such a precious time. It really was a labor of love, and I think it’s one those memories I hold very near and dear. I think it’s an ode to her history, her legacy.
How long have you been a fan?
I remember I was 5 and I was running around in my neighborhood, playing with Barbies and watching “Lizzie McGuire.” I’m here today with my neighborhood and childhood friends. We used to watch it together and now we’re reliving our nostalgia and childhood.
Thinking back on when you first fell in love with her work, why does it still resonate with you today?
There’s a lot of power in her being a woman and she’s going through so many milestones that a lot of people my age are going through like having children and growing her career. Sometimes I think people “wash out” and I think it’s wonderful how she’s combating that narrative in so many ways, and that people are out here supporting her. I think there’s a lot of beauty in being able to be together as young women and relive some of these memories, but also cheer her on as she continues developing further.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Crystal Chesher, 33, of Mar Vista and Isabella Sanchez, 33, of Culver City
Tell us about your outfit.
Sanchez: We’re channeling “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” My actual name is Isabella. She gives more Lizzie vibes and I give more Isabella vibes. It’s funny because I’ve literally saved [looks] of Isabella and Lizzie on my Pinterest board and I’ve always wanted to dress up like this. It’s not 100% of what I wanted, but it’s giving what it’s supposed to.
How long have you been a fan?
Chesher: Since I was little. I remember watching “Lizzie McGuire” since the age of 10 at the very least so I’ve been growing up with her movies and shows. She’s definitely my idol.
Sanchez: Same. Growing up, I was bullied so she was a very big part of me being more positive about myself. I can relate to her and she really helped me. It just feels full circle to be able to see her at 33 when I wanted to see her when I was like 10.
Thinking back on when you first fell in love with her work, why does it still resonate with you today?
Chesher: She has a heavy influence in the LGBT community as well especially with the [anti-gay speech campaign]. I loved that. With her movies and her music, it’s all relatable and it resonates with you, the lyrics, the storyline and even her new album that just came out.
Sanchez: She’s just that girl. I’ve never even met her, but I feel like she’s so genuine and real and she’s always stayed consistent with who she is. She’s not like your typical celebrity. She’s just awesome. I’m literally probably going to tear up seeing her on stage.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Lucca Petrucci, 33, of Santa Monica
Tell us about your outfit.
This is a last-minute choice. It’s very like ’70s or retro. I feel like I’ve seen her wear something like this. I’m wearing wide-legged pants, Doc Martens, platform, new haircut, facial. The inspiration for this fit was elegant pop star like confidence, grounded, a baddie. I’m a baddie who knows my worth and that’s what I wanted to embrace. I feel like she’s like doing that. She has a lyric that’s like ‘I look in the mirror, like I’m a bad b—.”
How long have you been a fan?
Since third grade. I thought she was my crush, but I think I just wanted to be her. So many of my core childhood memories are with her.
Why was tonight a non-negotiable for you?
I wanted to experience with my bestie and her sister. I feel like as a kid I didn’t allow myself to fully embrace it because it would be too girly, too much, too gay. So I feel like as a 33-year-old, I’m reclaiming that experience. I’m so excited just to hear everybody in the Forum sing “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean.” She has always been my number one pop star, to this day, and I’ve never seen her perform.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
I feel like, especially when she was on “Lizzie McGuire,” she was figuring out who she was, but was open to being her authentic self. So I think that just like hit me when I was like in third and fourth grade, like figuring out myself. I felt so seen by her, and her music just brings back like such good feelings. Younger version of me, life wasn’t always great, but, I don’t know, she made things better.
(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)
Liv Guardado, 8, Priscilla Cruz, 38, Ava Guardado, 10 and Jezelle Velasco of Costa Mesa
Tell us about your outfit.
Cruz: We went thrifting for the first time for this. I’m plus-size, so thrifting is not easy in my size, so we did what we could. We got some overalls from Goodwill. And then we got some cowboy boots because we just wanted to be comfy.
Velasco: I probably stressed the most. I ordered so many pieces and it just kind of came together. I think the nails took the longest. One of my friends did my nails. It took some time but we got it done.
How long have you been a fan?
Velasco: Probably since I was their age. I never got to go to a concert, so this is my first time seeing her live.
Cruz: I definitely got inspired around middle school. I had a friend who was like Lizzie, and I was the best friend, Miranda. People would always say I was Miranda. I was a little older than [my girls], but I definitely have kept tabs on her life, and we love her.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
Cruz: It definitely feels like memories and home when you think of her music from back then. And now she’s obviously stepped into a different phase of her life, and it matches where we’re at in our phase too so it’s nice.
Velasco: It just brings back the nostalgia from back when we were younger and now being parents, and being able to relate to her and her new music.
(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)
Paige Beard, 34, and Tayler Nelson, 27, of Bakersfield
Tell us about your outfits.
Beard: I was supposed to be wearing purple and she was going to wear green, and we were going to do the Isabella and Lizzie look at the end of “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” It turned out more pink, but we ran with it.
Nelson: I was all about that performance, so I was like green. Gotta go green. We’ve been planning for a while, like two months.
How long have you been a fan?
Beard: I’ve been a fan for a long, long time, probably since “Casper Meets Wendy.” I was also a really big “Lizzie McGuire” fan, so I got into her acting as well as her music.
Nelson: Same. I was all about the Cinderella movie though, so it’s probably been 10 years for me.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
Beard: I was telling my sister that I really liked “Lizzie McGuire” because it was one of the first times I saw somebody’s inner dialogue acted out in cartoon form. It showed me that I’m not too much. She’s a little bit older than me and I see her crying on stage and I’m like “OK, it’s OK.”
Nelson: “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” was a big turning point for me. I just loved how she expressed herself with what she wore and how she acted. I feel like I understood her in different ways. I enjoyed the dancing and the singing for sure. She felt free and I’m like, “Dang, I want that.”
(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)
Freddy Lopez, 38, and Raymond Lockwood, 36, of San Bernardino
Tell us about your outfits.
Lopez: Just a ’90s vibe. I guess a little old-school.
Lockwood: The outfits are a little last-minute because we were like we should’ve done diner girl [from “A Cinderella Story”] or one of her other movies, but we chose the little cartoon character from the show.
How long have you been a fan?
Lopez: I’ve been a fan since “Lizzie McGuire” and her movies.
Lockwood: For the past 20 something years. We grew up watching “Lizzie McGuire” and got introduced to Hilary Duff when she started singing.
Why was tonight a non-negotiable for you?
Lopez: We don’t know if she’s going to come back after this, so you’ve gotta take every opportunity. There’s other artists who cannot come back to perform right now. So when she said I’m coming back, we had to.
Lockwood: We’re healing our inner child. As a kid, we didn’t know she was having tours or we couldn’t afford to come out. Now, we’re like we don’t have to ask our mom and dad for anything.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
Lockwood: For me, it’s being a teenager, watching the “Lizzie McGuire” show and watching the movie and then learning her songs. My favorite song is from the movie, “What Dreams Are Made Of.” It’s just us getting to live back in the past and kind of understanding it a little bit more. As a kid, our dreams are not what they realistically are today. I ended up becoming a nurse. As a kid, I didn’t sit on the couch like “Oh, I’m going to be a nurse,” but that’s what my dream ended up being.
(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)
Stephanie Rodriguez, 32, High Desert
Tell us about your outfit.
If you ask my fiancé, I was hunting for outfits and last-minute I was like, “I’m just gonna order something on Amazon.” When I saw this, I was like, “That’s it.” Total nostalgia with “13 Going on 30.” We went shoe shopping at the South Coast Plaza over the weekend. The metallic is pulling it all together and the butterfly clips.
How long have you been a fan?
Probably since I was like 8 or younger, pretty much very much obsessed. All of my holiday gifts were Hilary Duff. I had her K-Mart home products. Any magazines she was in, I got. Any outfits that I could try and replicate, I would. My first Hilary show was either Wango Tango or a Jingle Ball with KIIS-FM, so it was just a festival with a bunch of different artists but I went specifically for her.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
I think a lot of us feel like we grew up with Hilary, so all of her music resonated with us then, and now, now that we’re older, through relationships or divorces or motherhood. It’s pretty cool to see just how we’re all kind of growing up together. The first time I think I found out about her was at the Glendale Galleria. I was recently telling my fiancé that my dad had me on his shoulders because she did a meet and greet and the entire mall was packed.
(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)
Kelsie Wagner, 35, of Temecula and Tyler Walsh, 35, of Long Beach
Tell us about your outfit.
Wagner: I’m channeling Lizzie McGuire. My favorite part is the butterfly clips.
Walsh: This is from Company D, which is a discount store for Disneyland. I was like let me get the biggest shirt and make it into a dress, but I’m wearing shorts — it’s still appropriate. I have like six authentic Disney pins here. This is about $200 on my hat. I was like I have to do something that represents. It’s a big hobby, pin trading, that I picked up in 2023. Then I wore my Lisa Franks. I figured I would channel everything from the ’90s and 2000s.
How long have you been a fan?
Wagner: Whenever the “Lizzie McGuire” show came out.
Walsh: I remember going to sleepovers with all of my friends and we would do Lizzie nights. I was on a soccer team and on Saturday nights, we’d go watch the newest episode. It was just so fun because I feel like I had a little clan that loved Lizzie. We went to her concert at the Grove together and it was back when you paid $50 to get in. We were front row and we like smelled her. It was wonderful.
Why does her work still resonate with you today?
Wagner: For me, especially her new album, she talks about marriage, relationships, motherhood, so it’s still relatable in that sense of that stage of life that we’re in.
Walsh: For me, it’s just nostalgia, because I’m not married, I have no kids, like I’m that fun aunt. And I will say, like, because she goes to Disneyland a lot, so I luckily got to meet her too. I asked her for a picture, and she’s like “Yeah, of course, honey.” It’s the most embarrassing photo of me ever though.
Wagner: I told her she should get it printed and wear it to the concert.
“President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to The Times.
“Back” to the White House.
How embarrassing.
The 2017 NBA champion Golden State Warriors wouldn’t go. The 2018 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles wouldn’t go. The 2025 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder wouldn’t go.
And now this group of Dodgers is going twice?
Their first visit last spring was bad enough, with Trump noting, “That is a very good-looking group of people,” while the Dodgers stood around him in slack-faced awe.
Dodgers owner Mark Walter smiles while listing to President Trump speak during the Dodgers’ championship visit to the White House in April 2025.
(Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Some, including Dodgers officials, argued this was a visit about tradition, not politics. Teams have been visiting the White House since President Andrew Johnson hosted two amateur baseball clubs in 1865. The Dodgers said they were just abiding by this once-revered sports custom. They said they were showing respect for this country’s highest office, not necessarily the man inhabiting it.
Understood. But what happened two months after that first visit altered even that flimsy bit of logic, as the man inhabiting the office rained terror on Los Angeles with the midsummer ICE raids that changed the lives of thousands.
Many impacted were the Dodgers fans who filled the stadium every night for the team with arguably the largest immigrant fan base in sports. Some even were wearing Dodgers caps and jerseys when they were swept up and hauled away.
While other pro sports teams in town immediately condemned the raids, the Dodgers said nothing until finally announcing and fulfilling a $1.1-million donation to community organizations to support families impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
At the time, only one Dodger spoke out publicly, with Kiké Hernández writing on Instagram, “Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love. This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.”
A year later, Hernández is still on the Dodgers, he has much clubhouse credibility, and yet they’re still going back? Were they not listening?
The roster is filled with other levelheaded veterans who surely realize that by serving as a cheap Trump photo-op, they are honoring a man whose policies have ravaged their fans more than any other group in America, and yet they’re still going back?
An organization cannot boast of sharing a uniform with Jackie Robinson while sharing a very public afternoon with President Trump. That doesn’t work.
Kiké Hernández was the only Dodger who spoke out publicly last year.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
An organization that admirably fought back against the wishes of a conservative clubhouse to pioneer Pride Night cannot be the same organization that publicly normalizes the morality of President Trump. That doesn’t compute.
Can’t anyone on Vin Scully Avenue see the big picture here?
Maybe Jose Madera, director of the Pasadena Community Job Center, can show them.
Madera, a die-hard Dodgers fan, hasn’t attended a game since last summer’s ICE raids because he’s lost faith in the Dodgers’ connection with the Los Angeles community.
He says this latest news of a second White House visit only frays that connection further.
“It’s very disappointing to hear that our team is going to shake the hand of a person who has sent so much hate and terror into our community,” he said. “Thousands of families in our city live in fear … we can’t stand for what’s going on.”
Madera said the Dodgers need to remember who they are.
“The Dodgers bring so much joy to our community, but a large part of their fan base is the immigrant community, and they need to stand with us,” he said. “It’s very disappointing that they’re not, and we need to hold them accountable.”
It’s not too late. The Dodgers still have time to change their minds and do the right thing. They still have time to acknowledge that this is not about eschewing tradition or succumbing to politics or anything but common human decency.
The president has treated the Dodgers fans with a careless disregard for their basic humanity, and the Dodgers need to let him know this is not OK.
“They still have a chance to decline,” Madera said. “We’re all hoping they do.”
Yeah, sure, in two weeks they could strut into the most celebrated residence in America as two-time defending champions.
After Strictly Come Dancing announced Love Island winner and dancer Cach Mercer as the fifth contestant for 2026’s line-up, several fans of the BBC show were angered to discover he already has dance experience
Cach, who won Love Island last year, was the fifth contestant announced for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. But, according to charity Young Minds, of which Cach is an ambassador, the star is a “professional dancer from East London”.
The Love Island star appears to have training in Hip Hop and Afrobeats and regularly posts videos of himself dancing online. In many of these videos, he has choreographed his own dance moves. He has also taught a dance classes for places such as dance event Move It and Platinum Performing Arts.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
After discovering that the latest Strictly celeb had dance experience several fans were upset. One wrote on Instagram: “Had to google who he was, and the first thing that came up was ‘professional dancer’!!!”
Another added: “A professional dancer? How is he getting on as a celeb then?” A third said it gave “such an advantage when they’re already dancers” and that it was “extremely unfair to the other contestants”.
A fourth hilariously thought Strictly’s post about Cach joining the show was intended to announce a new pro dancer. “Oooh he’s a professional dancer!” they wrote. “So we are get getting some new pros this year!” The fan quickly added: “Oh wait no, this says celebrity reveal. He’s a Love Islander and professional dancer. I might just delete all this.”
But, other fans defended Cach, pointing out that many celebs who have competed on the show had dance experience and that Cach’s training was not in ballroom or latin.
“He’s trained in hip-hop and afrobeats. He’s never done ballroom or latin, never been to a stage school and never danced with a partner,” one said. “So he’s well within the rules of the show.”
Another continued: “When so many contestants have been to stage school and done musical theatre etc, it is well past time that we stopped calling people out for having previous dance experience.”
Every year there seems to be at least one celeb contestant who fans say should not be on the show due to their prior dance experience and/or training. Last year, both Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and Love Island winner Amber Davies came under fire for doing the show whilst having dance training.
Amber, who dances in musical theatre shows, responded to the backlash with: “We see the same thing over and over again and I feel like it doesn’t matter what I say or how I feel, if I’m struggling, people will of course have things to say because I do musical theatre.
“I have worked my a**e off to be taken seriously in the musical theatre world, and I feel like I have been working so hard. The musical theatre world is actually quite small so once you work hard, you are committed, consistent in your job and are a good company member, you can build your reputation quite quickly within the industry.”
Meanwhile, Lewis, who danced as a child and got to three dance world championships, said to Metro: “I don’t really know where all that came from, to be honest. I trained as an actor, I danced a bit when I was a teen, but haven’t since. It’s only ever really been acting for me for a long, long time – so I don’t really know where that came from. I don’t really take notice of it, though – everyone’s so strong, and anyone can pull out a brilliant performance at any point.
“To call me professionally trained or a professional dancer seems a bit bizarre, especially now that I’m working with these pros on the show. It’s kind of an insult to them, really, to suggest I’m on their level when they’ve dedicated their lives to becoming as brilliant as they are.”
EastEnders legend Letitia Dean was once married to a television star before their “upsetting” divorce.
Fans of the BBC soap will be delighted as Letitia has reprised her role as Sharon Watts and returned to Walford on Thursday (July 9). She is one of the show’s long-running characters, having appeared in the first episode, which aired in February 1985, as the adoptive daughter of Angie (Anita Dobson) and Den Watts (Leslie Grantham).
From that scandalous affair with the Mitchell brothers during the 90s, to plotting Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) murder, suffering the loss of her son Denny, and covering up Keanu Taylor’s death, there is nothing Sharon hasn’t been involved in.
Away from the drama of Albert Square, we take a peek at Letitia’s real life, including her marriage to a Holby City star.
Letitia’s rise to fame
Born in Hertfordshire, Letitia and her brother Stephen joined The Sylvia Mitchell School of Dance as children before joining the esteemed Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts at 10 years old. In her early teens, she became a professional performer and landed roles on hit shows including Brookside and Grange Hill.
The 58-year-old soap star, from Potters Bar, orginally played Sharon from 1985 until 1995, and reprised the role from 2001 to 2006. She then made an epic comeback to Walford in 2012.
Appearing alongside co-star Adam Woodyatt on the EastEnders spin-off show Secrets from the Square in 2020, Letitia revealed she lied to producers to get her role as Sharon Watts.
Letitia admitted: “I don’t really remember the audition that much. I know there were quite a few recalls. They were looking far and wide”, but there was one major problem.
The biggest requirement to land a role in the show was that the producers were looking for real Cockneys – people from East London who have a Cockney accent, so Letitia lied and said she was from the area.
Letitia continued: “We had to be born ‘within the sound of Bow bells'”, before adding: “I told a porky!”.
She added: “I said my parents had to go and work away, and I was staying with somebody in ‘the sound of Bow bells’. I do remember getting the job and getting the call. I remember that quite clearly. It was just so exciting.”
Is Letitia Dean married?
Letitia tends not to talk much about her relationships and generally keeps her private life out of the public eye.
However, in 2001, she hit the headlines when it was revealed she was engaged to actor and businessman Jason Pethers, who is perhaps best known for portraying Rob Greening in Holby City.
The couple got engaged after a few months of knowing each other and tied the knot at All Saints’ Church in Marylebone in 2002.
While there were many of her EastEnders castmates at the wedding, Susan Tully, who played Michelle Fowler, acted as her bridesmaid.
But it wasn’t meant to be for the TV stars as they split in 2007. The marriage reportedly ended due to a difference in their plans for starting a family.
Talking about their tough separation during another chat with the Mirror at the time, Letitia admitted that she and Jason are ‘in a good place’, despite having parted ways.
She revealed: “I do not regret one minute of my time with Jay. I was in love – desperately in love – and I can’t reiterate enough how thankful I am that I did get married to that man.”
Letitia added: “As a couple you can, hopefully, go down the same path together as long as you share the same desires and dreams. Unfortunately, many of us fork off in different directions.
“This is the first time I’ve ever talked about what happened, but I’m quite practical about this now. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Jason. But sometimes you just grow out of each other, maybe.
“I did think that by waiting until a bit later in life for marriage, I would know more, and it would last. But none of us can predict. Of course, I didn’t want this to happen, and neither did he, but it did and though it’s upsetting, you just have to get on with it. You have to be strong.”
At the time, Jason’s mum, Joan, said the couple decided to split because Letitia wanted children, while her husband preferred to wait before having them, the Daily Mirror reported.
She said, “They both wanted children, but Jason wanted to wait until he could afford it. She had a lot more money than him. I think, like any man, he wanted to look after his wife.
“They were happy. It was no dramatic thing – they haven’t found someone else. I guess they just fell out of love for the time being.”
Since their separation, Letitia has yet to go public with another romance.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
StubHub is getting a red card from some World Cup fans
Two World Cup customers are suing the New York-based ticket-selling company, alleging “false and misleading” advertising that left them without tickets or a refund for the World Cup games they paid to attend.
In federal court in New York last week, two Californians — Julia Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria — sued StubHub seeking monetary damages and a ban on the company selling World Cup tickets. The lawsuit aims to become a class action and comes after weeks of fierce criticism and complaints from customers regarding the company’s practices.
Throughout the World Cup, videos have emerged on Instagram and TikTok of StubHub customers describing their nightmare experiences with the ticket-selling platform.
Some said they had purchased tickets to World Cup games as early as November of last year, booked flights and hotels and arranged travel plans, then StubHub notified them days to weeks before the match of a refund for their tickets, which they never requested.
There were similar complaints about last-minute cancellations from people who bought Coachella tickets on StubHub.
In the lawsuit, Moghal said she had purchased three tickets for nearly $2,000 for the June 18 match between Switzerland and Bosnia-Herzegovina at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which were then canceled by StubHub. Moghal said she was contacted by StubHub and told her tickets would remain canceled, then was later told the tickets would be available one hour before the game.
When the match began, Moghal said she was at SoFi Stadium, but the tickets never came.
Renteria said he paid around $2,300 for the June 18 Mexico versus South Korea match in Guadalajara, Mexico, but they were canceled
“Devoted soccer fans have traveled from around the world to attend World Cup matches — and they reasonably relied on StubHub to provide the tickets they paid for as well as on StubHub’s warranty,” Blake Hunter Yagman, the attorney representing the two, said in a statement. “Instead of rewarding their business, StubHub sold them World Cup tickets that they either could not provide or on speculation, only to be stranded, in many cases, at the stadium gates without any recourse.”
According to StubHub’s website, its Fan Protect Guarantee states the platform will deliver valid tickets or refund in the event of a ticket issue, and that it will “go out of our way to find replacement tickets” of a comparable value. The lawsuit alleges the replacement tickets many fans were given by StubHub were worse than their original tickets.
FIFA, the World Cup organizer, states in its terms and conditions that the FIFA Marketplace, its own ticket-selling platform, is the only authorized platform for World Cup tickets, and that only tickets purchased through it are guaranteed by FIFA to be valid.
Despite the risk of purchasing through a third-party platform such as StubHub, many fans opted to do so to avoid the 30% FIFA resale tax, believing that the Fan Protect Guarantee would safeguard their order.
Since World Cup tickets began selling on FIFA Marketplace last September, fans have expressed disappointment in the expensive price tag. FIFA utilized a dynamic pricing system for the sale, and as sales phases progressed leading up to the games, the cost of tickets increased tremendously. In March, the extreme cost of tickets prompted 69 members of Congress to write a letter to FIFA urging them to lower their prices.
Tickets for the upcoming Friday match between Spain and Belgium in Los Angeles are selling on StubHub for over $1,300.
StubHub said in various statements to the news and in legal proceedings that ticket cancellations were a result of transfer problems and issues with FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure.
StubHub did not respond to requests for comment.
A FIFA spokesperson responded to this accusation in a statement, saying, “FIFA has no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on third-party platforms. The transactions facilitated on these platforms occur entirely independently of FIFA’s official ticketing platform. With reference to the reliability of the services available to fans on FIFA’s official ticket platform, FIFA rejects any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms with respect to FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are the result of FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure.”
England players celebrate in front of fans as they sing Wonderwall after the epic victory against MexicoCredit: AlamyThe Oasis classic was streamed 2.8 million times on Monday, following The Sun’s campaign to make it the England World Cup anthemCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It’s currently No2 on UK Spotify and No15 on Global Spotify—a leap of 27 places.
The track was streamed 2.8 million times on Monday following The Sun’s campaign to make it the England World Cup anthem.
It is due to enter the official Top 20 this Friday and is expected to finally reach No1 next week if England beat Norway on Saturday.
Despite being Oasis’ most iconic track, the song originally peaked at No2, famously kept off the top spot by Robson & Jerome’s I Believe / Up On The Roof.
The footy-mad Manchester City fan, 59, said: “Wonderwall belongs to the people, and it was a magical moment between the people and the players.
“Best of luck to everyone who’s made the trip out there.”
The movement was initially started by England fans who belted out the track alongside Jude Bellingham after their 4-2 triumph over Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Harry Kane and Declan Rice, along with the England heroes, sing along with fans at the AztecaCredit: PAHarry Kane lost his voice singing along with fans following the gameCredit: BBC
Ahead of the World Cup starting, every nation was asked to submit a playlist of songs to be played before and after games.
England submitted three songs, with one of them being Oasis‘ Wonderwall.
The Three Lions are currently bidding to end 60 years of heartbreak and win a second World Cup title – and they are that one step closer after booking their spot in the quarter-finals.
Death in Paradise fans were left doing a double take as they instantly recognised the show’s guest star
Death in Paradise fans were left doing a double take as they instantly recognised the show’s guest star (Image: BBC)
A Widow’s Bay icon once played a huge role in Death in Paradise.
Currently, the BBC is airing repeat episodes of Death in Paradise and Wednesday night saw series 11, episode five play. In the 2022 season, Ralf Little was playing the main character of DI Neville Parker before his exit in 2024.
The repeat episode saw a young popstar found dead at a rehab clinic, where it initially looked like a tragic accident. However, Neville was convinced that there was more to her death than meets the eye…
In the episode, it saw the arrival of Neville’s sister, Izzy. However, Neville wasn’t best pleased to see his sister especially as she had kept her arrival a surprise and she soon interfered in his life.
The character of Izzy is played by actress Kate O’Flynn, who appeared as the character for three episodes. Of course, viewers will instantly recognise Kate, 40, for her iconic role of Patricia Moyer in the recent hit series Widow’s Bay.
Other roles include Fiona Lewis in Everyone Else Burns, Princess Mary in My Lady Jane and Alice in Bridget Jones’s Baby – to name just a few.
At the time of the episode airing, viewers were quick to instantly recognise Kate playing Izzy. One person said: “I recognise Izzy from somewhere!”
While another person wrote: “Where have I seen Izzy before!? @deathinparadise she looks very familiar #DeathInParadise!”
However, it looks like there will be no return of Izzy on Death in Paradise in the future due to her on-screen brother Neville’s exit. Back in 2024, Neville decided to leave Saint Marie for good after four years and explore the world.
Since then, Don Gilet has taken over the lead role as DI Mervin Wilson. Talking about joining the show in 2024, Don said: “Being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and incredibly precious jewel has been placed in my hands.
“This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight of that and to remain grateful, humbled and dedicated.
“Even during those testing times when every sinew is screaming at me to run off the set and dive into the sea, swimming pool or an ice-cold beer – whichever happens to be closer at the time!”
Death in Paradise is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
LEIGH-Anne Pinnock has confirmed she and husband Andre Gray are expecting their third child – and the signs were all there.
The former Little Mix singer, 34, has been busy promoting her debut solo album My Ego Told Me To, but it’s not just the new music that’s acted as a distraction for fans when it comes to her pregnancy.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Singer Leigh-Anne opted for a very oversized look during a recent trip to Los AngelesCredit: InstagramLeigh appeared to hide behind her daughters in a snap from their recent family holidayCredit: Instagram
Leigh-Anne took to Instagram last week to share snaps from a trip to Los Angeles, including one of her covering up in an oversized denim shirt and matching jeans.
She and Andre, 35, recently took their four-year-old daughters to Thailand and some of the holiday snaps suggest Leigh was hiding a bump.
In one photo she can be seen posing behind her girls in an olive green minidress.
Another stunning shot saw the proud mum and her daughters in the sea – with Leigh-Anne posing with her back to the camera.
Another photo from their trip to Thailand saw Leigh and her girls in the sea – with her back to the cameraCredit: InstagramTonight Leigh confirmed she and Andre are expecting their third childCredit: Instagram
The Don’t Say Love hitmaker and footballer Andre are fiercely protective of their children and have never shown their faces or revealed their names.
Earlier this year Leigh-Anne opened up on her decision to keep her daughters out of the public eye.
She told People: “I remember when they were born, I was going through this online hate thing and really seeing the toxicity of social media.
“I mean, I probably would’ve still decided to not show their faces anyway, but that just kind of confirmed it for me. I want them to be able to make that decision.
“I want them to be able to [choose] if they want to be famous or not, because once they’re out there, they’re out there.
Leigh-Anne and Andre tied the knot in 2023 in a beachfront ceremony in Jamaica.
Fans refused to believe Tamera is celebrating her 48th birthdayCredit: TikTokThe star insisted she is embracing her age as ‘every year is a gift not everyone gets to unwrap’Credit: TikTok
Today Tamera shared a clip on TikTok revealing the women are celebrating their 48th birthday, and fans refused to believe it.
The clip showed her being presented with a cake decorated with ‘3’ and ‘8’ candles, before someone off camera switched the first for a ‘4’.
After jokingly running away from the cake, Tamera stopped and pulled the candles from the cake before holding them up and smiling at the camera.
She wrote: “We spend so much time running from our age. Well, this year, I’m dancing with it. 48 and grateful, because every year is a gift not everyone gets to unwrap.”
Twins Tia and Tamera starred in Sister, Sister from 1994 until 1999Credit: Alamy Stock PhotoTia recently confirmed there is ‘distance’ between them following long-running rumours of a feudCredit: Variety via Getty Images
Rushing to comment, one fan wrote: “Why did I think she’s actually 38? She looks amazing.”
Another said: “There is no way they’re 48!!!”
Someone else wrote: “Oh baby you look 28.”
And a fourth added: “Excuse me, 48? You don’t look a day over 20.”
Al Jazeera spoke with Egypt fans at the Obour City Youth Center, where an estimated 15,000 members gathered to watch the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Argentina. Supporters shared their heartbreak after the emotional exit while praising the team’s unforgettable tournament run.
BBC viewers have called the cosy detective series the ‘best TV show of all time’
Death in Paradise fans looking for their next fix need look no further(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Philippe Virapin)
Death in Paradise fans looking for their next fix need look no further.
BBC viewers have gone wild for ‘one of the best’ detective series, calling it a ‘real gem hidden in the daytime schedules’.
Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators first aired in 2018 and is now in its sixth series. It stars EastEnders legend Jo Joyner as Luella Shakespeare and Waterloo Road star Mark Benton as Frank Hathaway.
A synopsis for the show reads: “After the death of her fiance, Luella Shakespeare joins Frank Hathaway, a private detective, to help him solve some bizarre cases in Stratford-upon-Avon.”
The series has been a huge hit amongst fans who have likened it to Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise and Midsomer Murders.
One person said: “I don’t know what this show is doing in the day time section, I would have missed it, had it not for the fact that I logged into iPlayer. It reminded me of ‘Death in Paradise’ but set in Warwickshire. They have filmed in really scenic locations, and I love the cast.
“The two leads have very good on screen chemistry and their side kick, the “RADA Grad” is pretty funny. I have watched six episodes so far and I can’t wait to finish it.
“I hope BBC renews it because it is pretty cheerful and feel good show. I am a little tired of gritty and dark dramas so this is pretty much right up my stream!”
Another show watcher put: “Just binge watched the first and second series of this show on demand! I can’t believe I’d never heard of it or even seen it advertised.. I absolutely loved it! Light hearted, clever writing, witty loveable characters, I could go on and on…”
A different viewer said: “I have watched both seasons of this sweet, light hearted and funny show. I think it should be on in the evenings, it’s very much like Death in Paradise except set in Stratford Upon Avon.
“Hope it’s renewed for season! It’s a witty sweet show and some of us like light-hearted programmes!”
Another fan commented: “This show is much better than I hoped. I was looking for something on Britbox once I had watched the last episode of Death in Paradise and decided to give this a try. What a complete gem.”
While a different viewer added: “If you are a fan of exquisite British murder mysteries in the vein of Midsommer Murders you will be hooked! Fun characters, engaging comedic elements and very interesting plot twists make this a winner!! LOVE IT!!!”
FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-match ban on United States striker Folarin Balogun, allowing the team’s leading goal scorer to play in their crucial last-16 World Cup match against Belgium, has stirred a controversy hours ahead of the USA vs Belgium last-16 match.
The row and ensuing uproar deepend on Monday when US President Donald Trump confirmed asking FIFA to review its decision against Balogun, with FIFA utlimately making a U-turn on the player’s suspension from the crucial fixture.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
Was FIFA’s decision the result of an unfair power move from President Trump, or was it a warranted correction to a red card that should not have been issued in the first place?
It depends on who you ask.
Football fans of the cohost nation appear to be divided on the controversy.
While there is near consensus that the red card Balogun received against Bosnia and Herzegovina was harsh, not everyone agrees with Trump’s intervention.
“I think it’s bull****,” Cesar Espino, who was watching the Spain vs Portugal round-of-16 match at a pub near downtown Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera hours ahead of kickoff in the USA-Belgium game.
“I feel like if you win it’s a stain because Balogun is one of our top players.”
He added that the decision will make the USA “more unlikeable”, adding to the list of controversies for the host nation, including travel bans and the restrictions against the Iranian team during the group stage.
But 23-year-old Oscar Ramirez argued that the issue is more nuanced than the USA gaining an unfair advantage “because of the nature of the red card”.
“I think most people, including myself, believe the red card was unfair; it was unjust,” Ramirez said.
“I think you’ll have some people who will be like, we should keep the rules no matter what. And you’ll have some people who will be like, that card shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
The USA fan admitted jokingly that he is biased, so he supports the decision.
“I’m American, and I want our best chances. And without him, we don’t have a good chance,” Ramirez said.
FIFA responds
Balogun, the USA’s top scorer in the tournament with three goals, received the red card for a studs-up contact near the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic.
The USA striker was looking at the ball, so the incident appeared unintentional. Nonetheless, Balogun was sent off after an onfield VAR review, triggering an at least one-match suspension.
A FIFA board subsequently suspended the penalty without providing an explanation.
Trump, who enjoys close relations with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, confirmed on Monday that he requested a review of the suspension.
“All I did – I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said.
He also suggested that the US conducted research on the referee who issued the card, calling the official “very suspect”.
“If you like I can provide you with the past,” he told reporters.
FIFA has insisted that the decision was taken by a judicial panel that operates independently with Infantino denying that his conversation with Trump may have influenced the process.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies,” the FIFA president said in a statement.
“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
Despite that assertion, US Senator Ted Cruz thanked Trump earlier for “getting rid of that ridiculous red card”.
The controversy has infuriated Belgian football officials. But in the US, some politicians and commentators lauded Trump for his intervention.
“I admit that I’m not the biggest soccer fan, but I’m glad President Trump urged FIFA to do the right thing. Good for President Trump, good for Folarin Balogun, good for the USA,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton wrote on X.
For his part, Fox Sport analyst Alexi Lalas said lifting Balogun’s suspension was surprising but welcome news.
“What happened here is America stood up for itself,” Lalas, a former USA player, told Fox News.
“The powers that be when it comes to the United States Soccer Federation did what they needed to do within the rules and regulations that exist in order to give ourselves the best possible chance of being successful.”
Mamdani invokes Mourinho
But CBS Sports commentator Nico Cantor said the episode set a “dangerous precedent” that undermines the authority of the referees making decisions based on their interpretations of the rules.
“For as much as I believe Balogun didn’t deserve the red, it’s an interpretable decision,” he wrote on X.
“Anything can now be questioned after the fact. And it’s up to FIFA’s ‘judicial body’ – whoever that is, wherever they are – to call make critical decisions as they see fit.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had also called the red card “cruel”, but he refused to comment on FIFA’s decision to suspend the suspension.
Instead, he posted a GIF of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho saying, “I prefer not to speak. If I speak – big trouble.”
Back in Washington, DC, US fan Lucas Faria said it was “crazy” that the suspension was overturned, but he added that the decision is unlikely to derail trust in the World Cup because it is already loaded with controversy.
Faria told Al Jazeera that the tournament has been a Trump-Infantino show.
“The tickets have been outrageous. It’s been an outrageous tournament so far. This is just an obvious thing,” he said.
Faria added, however, that the US team should not be judged for FIFA’s decisions.
Would the Dodgers improve their minor league system? Yes. Would the Dodgers improve their major league roster? Also yes. Would spending in one area preclude spending in another? Absolutely not.
“These fans expect and deserve a team that can win,” Kasten said then.
So do Angels fans. For the first time this decade, with the arrival of John Mozeliak as interim general manager, they have legitimate hope.
Mozeliak, whose St. Louis Cardinals teams reached the playoffs more often than not in his 18 years running baseball operations there, is here to end baseball’s longest postseason drought, or at least steer the Angels in that direction.
At first, I was shocked to hear him say he does not believe the Angels need to rebuild. Under owner Arte Moreno, the Angels have resisted rebuilding, preferring to add lower-tier free agents and rush college players to the major leagues in an effort to field a competitive roster. That has failed: For the first time in franchise history, the Angels could finish in last place for a third consecutive season.
But, when Mozeliak and I sat down in the Angels’ dugout the other day, he explained that the path forward in Anaheim should not be tanking. It should be acting like the major-market team the Angels are — and were, during Moreno’s first decade of ownership.
“The one thing you have to realize about the Los Angeles Angels is: they do have resources,” Mozeliak said. “From Mr. Moreno to the market size, this is a place that could be a very, very special place.”
In Moreno’s first decade, under Bill Stoneman and Mike Scioscia, the Angels were a player development machine. In 2003, in his first winter as owner, Moreno signed the best position player on the free-agent market in Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and the best pitcher on the market in four-time All-Star Bartolo Colon.
The questions Mozeliak asks and answers now are the same ones Kasten did with the Dodgers. Can the team deploy resources to upgrade scouting and player development? Yes. Can the team do the same with the major league roster? Also yes.
“There are many franchises in the game of baseball that cannot do that,” Mozeliak said. “They have trade-offs. They have to make a decision: If I’m going to give you $20 million for your infrastructure, that’s $20 million less for your payroll.
“This place is different.”
The Dodgers parallel only goes so far. Walter and Kasten inherited a core of Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Mozeliak will work with Mike Trout and a long-touted “young core” that has shown by now it is not the foundation of a championship-caliber team.
No one expects Moreno to spend like the Dodgers do (and even Walter’s fellow owners want a salary cap in an attempt to stop the Dodgers). Yet, in St. Louis, Mozeliak built winners without the Cardinals owners ever paying a luxury tax.
The first step in revitalizing the Angels comes Saturday, in the draft.
“We’re going to take the best available player,” Mozeliak said.
Mozeliak said he is not interested in two recent Angels trends: paying less to a first-round pick in order to spread the savings around longer shots in the lower rounds, or targeting a polished college player in part because he could get to Anaheim in a hurry.
“I’m not wedded to a high school player or a college player,” Mozeliak said. “I want the best player.”
The second item on the agenda: the Aug. 3 trade deadline, which would afford Mozeliak the opportunity to collect prospects for such players as pitcher Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano and outfielder Jo Adell.
In 2020, Moreno nixed a trade that would have brought Andy Pages – then a Dodgers prospect, now an All-Star – to the Angels.
In 2023 and 2024, Moreno rebuffed trade offers for Shohei Ohtani that could have returned the likes of Junior Caminero or Jackson Merrill. No player of that caliber would be coming in return for what the Angels have to offer now.
Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
“If we understand what we’re doing today can help make us stronger tomorrow, and then look at potentially what we could do on the free-agent market,” he said, “that should be something we are doing in parallel thinking.”
Mozeliak said he does not believe any player should be untouchable. As if on cue, Trout walked by.
Trade Trout? That’s not happening, right?
“That’s not happening,” Mozeliak said.
In his hours of conversations with Moreno, Mozeliak said, the topic of whether the owner might sell the team “never came up.”
Does Moreno appear interested in staying for the long haul?
“Absolutely,” Mozeliak said.
Mozeliak said he had presented Angels President Molly Jolly with a 100-day plan for what the team calls a consulting role: run baseball operations on an interim basis; do a deep dive into how the Angels do things now and how they can do them better; recommend a new general manager. Maybe he stays in that role, or in a supporting role, or he simply leaves when his contract expires in December.
“I’m certainly confident in what we need to do, and I’m certainly confident this is a market that could be amazing,” he said. “It’s exciting times for me. I’m energized.
“I’m smart enough to know that one person cannot change everything. But one person can begin change, and that’s what I’m going to start to do.”
Distinguished executives, including the likes of Dave Dombrowski and Andrew Friedman, have wanted no part of the Angels. Then again, Mozeliak is only committed for six months. If Moreno does not do what Mozeliak believes should be done, and if Mozeliak is not allowed to begin that change, he can just walk away.
“I think I have that authority,” Mozeliak said, “and I think he understands that he can embrace change, because that is what is going to be required.”
Based on Moreno telling you that?
“Yes,” Mozeliak said.
The last time the Angels hired an experienced general manager from outside the organization: 35 years ago, when they also looked to St. Louis for Whitey Herzog. That didn’t work. Herzog won a power struggle in the front office, then quit anyway, amid disputes with ownership.
This might work, or might not. But think back to 2020, when then-Angels president John Carpino said this: “Obviously, we’re not doing it the right way. We’re not winning games. So something is not right in our organization.”
Carpino retired in April, without ever explaining what was not right in the organization or, based on the standings, repairing it.
Jolly replaced him and, within two months, secured Moreno’s approval to hire the architect of a World Series championship team to figure out what was not right in the organization, and to fix it.
In one bold step, the Angels admitted they had a problem and set out a path to remedy it. With three months to go in this wretched season, the MVP of the 2026 Angels is abundantly clear: Molly Jolly.
Mexico’s World Cup dream ended with a thrilling 3-2 loss to England in the Round of 16, but many of the host nation’s fans celebrated their team despite the loss.
Tour de France fans have been urged not to attend the end of the third stage because of wildfires in the south of France.
Monday’s mountain stage will begin in Granollers, Spain, and conclude within 60 kilometres (37.3 miles) of some of the worst of the fires across the border in Les Angles.
While the 195.9km route is not expected to change, Tour organisers have asked fans and unessential personnel to stay away from the final 40km.
“An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour,” said race director Christian Prudhomme.
“We invite the public not to come to the edge of the race or to the finish site.”
The fire that has affected the Tour is currently being contained within the Pyrenees-Orientales region, where aircraft have been deployed to battle the blaze.
A key stretch of the mountain pass providing access to the race will be closed.
Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated after a wildfire ignited near Perpignan on Thursday.
“We obviously think first of all of the populations who are affected by the fire, of all those who have to move, and then we also think about the people who would be here to host the Tour,” added Prudhomme.
Jonas Vingegaard holds a narrow lead over reigning champion Tadej Pogacar in the general classification standings after Isaac del Toro won stage two on Sunday.
An ‘exquisite’ period romance adaptation is available for free on BBC iPlayer and fans say it’s the best version of this classic tale
‘Mesmerising’ period drama on BBC iPlayer fans say is ‘exquisite’
The iconic tome has been adapted many times over the years – could this be the best?
BBC iPlayer is currently hosting a “masterpiece” adaptation of a much-loved classic novel, available for just one more month. Having aired on Sunday 5th July on BBC Two, the 1943 adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre can be streamed on the platform for the next 29 days.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever penned, this enduring story follows a young woman who, after losing her parents at an early age, is dispatched to a harsh boarding school. A decade on, she takes up a position as a governess to a young girl, the ward of the mysterious and imposing master of Thornfield Hall.
Little by little, she finds herself falling for her unpredictable employer, all while beginning to unravel his deeply buried secrets.
Helmed by Robert Stevenson, best known for directing Disney’s much-cherished Mary Poppins, this underappreciated Gothic romance from Hollywood’s golden age features Joan Fontaine as Jane and Orson Welles as Mr Rochester.
Film enthusiasts have long maintained that it stands amongst the finest screen adaptations of Brontë’s novel ever committed to film. It’s an absolute must for viewers who have lapped up recent period romances such as Wuthering Heights and The Other Bennet Sister, or are eagerly anticipating the forthcoming versions of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, reports the Express.
One glowing 10/10 review from an IMDb user declared that, while other renditions of Jane Eyre are equally stunning, fans should “see this to be fully satisfied”.
“This is simply an exquisite film,” they continued. “Film-making at its best in every respect; and while not as letter-perfectly definitive as the 1983 miniseries, I feel it is overall the best, truest version of JANE EYRE.”
Another film enthusiast commented: “While not staying completely true to the book, this is still the best version of Jane Eyre ever made.
“Joan Fontaine is plain but still beautiful and Orson Welles is absolutely powerful and alluring. The chemistry these two share is on screen phenomenal.”
As if that weren’t sufficient, they added: “The scene where they kiss is the most powerful and most beautiful kiss I have ever seen.”
Someone else declared it “A masterpiece!” and wrote: “Magnificent is the only word that can be applied to this remarkable film. It represents Hollywood’s ability to make the occasional brilliant movie when all aspects of the film-making craft come together in such talented union.
“I first saw this film as a very young child, and it gripped and enthralled me then as it still does all these years later. Romantic, gothic and mesmerising, it is as near faultless as it is possible for any movie to be.”
And one final admirer went even further, gushing: “In my opinion, this is the best movie ever made. It’s sweet and romantic, and true to the book. Joan Fontaine is great as the title role, and I think this is Orson Welles in his finest performance.”
Period drama enthusiasts should make certain this gem is at the top of their watchlist before it ceases to be available free of charge at the month’s end.
The Love Island villa welcomed Movie Night as secrets were exposed, but viewers ‘spotted’ a problem
Mica on Love Island(Image: ITV)
It didn’t take long for fans to flock to social media with their complaints.
Fresh drama erupted in the Love Island villa on Sunday evening (July 5) as the notorious Movie Night descended upon the ITV2 reality programme.
The twist enables the Islanders to assemble in the garden and view a giant screen displaying video footage from across the series. It’s during this event that private discussions are laid bare and startling romantic encounters are completely unmasked.
It provides the contestants with an opportunity to uncover whether their partners and romantic interests have been wholly honest, and discover what fellow Islanders have been remarking about them while they were away.
This year’s Love Island Movie Night sparked especially heated rows, particularly for the boys who stayed faithful following Casa Amor yet still snogged and chatted up the bombshells.
The selection for the Movie Night footage featured scandalous headings such as ‘The Affair’, ‘Mamma Mica’, ‘The Princess Jasmine Diaries’ and ‘Samraj Like It Hot’, reports OK!.
It was ‘The Affair’ that thrust Jasmine and Lorenzo’s developing bond into the limelight, leading Kavan to announce, “It’s all there, the affair is clear”. Yasmin also wasted no time in telling Lorenzo, “You don’t have a leg to stand on”.
Mica was next to appear on the big screen, and she promptly faced criticism as the islanders witnessed her burgeoning romance with Samraj unfold. The jaw-dropping scenes left Priya doubting everything as she confessed to other islanders, “I look like a mug all the time.”
‘Samraj Like It Hot’ once more placed Mica and Samraj at the centre of attention, courtesy of their developing romance. As Mica tried to justify herself, Priya remained unconvinced and said, “That’s so dishonest of you.”
Yet Mica and Samraj weren’t the sole islanders to come under fire as Kavan drew parallels between his and Jasmine’s situations following their choices during Casa Amor.
Immediately standing her ground, Jasmine told Kavan, “I did not do the same thing”, which didn’t land well, and the friction escalated.
Despite all the expected fireworks, some Love Island fans grumbled as the ITV programme broke for adverts just minutes into Movie Night.
Heading to X, one Love Island fan exclaimed: “Hydration break and ad break at the exact same time, alright man #loveisland.”
A second stated: “A break!? Seriously!? #loveisland #loveislanduk”, while a third chimed in: “BREAK ALREADY?? #loveisland.”
“Break after break after break, this is why there’s so much unused footage, mate #LoveIsland #LoveIslandUK,” commented one viewer.
“AFTER A 10MIN AD BREAK?! ANOTHER ADVERT?!!! ITV R U TAKING THE P*** ?? @ITV #LoveIsland #LoveIslandUK,” asked another, while another echoed the sentiment: “Did we not just come back from a break?! #loveisland #loveislanduk.”
Mexico supporters attempted to wake up England players with music and fireworks close to their hotel the night before the sides’ last-16 World Cup tie, but were moved back by police.
Footage published on social media appears to show a group of fans chanting, playing music and letting off fireworks on a street nearby England’s hotel in Mexico City.
Early indications from the England camp are it had minimal impact on the players.
Police in riot gear have been lining the streets immediately surrounding the hotel, with anyone attempting to get close being moved away.
The increased security presence comes because Ecuador – beaten 2-0 by Mexico in the World Cup last 32 – lodged a noise complaint with world governing body Fifa after fans with loudspeakers, motorbikes and horns disrupted their sleep last week.
The World Cup co-hosts play England at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on Sunday evening local time (01:00 BST, Monday).
On Saturday, the team were met with a mixture of cheers and jeers from fans as they left their hotel for training under enhanced security measures.
Viewers need to be quick if they want to catch the harrowing tale exploring the “twisted depth of maternal love”
The film tells the story of two young girls found abandoned(Image: Universal Pictures)
There are now just days left to stream a film viewers believe “everyone should watch” once in their lifetime.
Currently available on Netflix, the story centres around two children, Victoria and Lily, who are found abandoned in a dilapidated house in the woods years after the death of their parents. Experts are left completely baffled as to how they have survived with seemingly no food or resources around them.
The sisters are brought in to a safe facility where they are monitored by childhood behaviourists who believe they have likely been alone for five years.
In order to reintroduce them into society, the girls are taken in by their uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his partner Annabel (Jessica Chastain) who intend to provide them a safe and loving environment at home. However, they soon learn there is more to the case than first meets the eye.
The film in question is 2013 horror, Mama, which will be leaving Netflix at the end of the month. Viewers have until July 25 to stream it before it’s gone for good.
As per the official synopsis: “Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for five years…. but how alone were they?”
Alongside Oscar-winner Chastain and Game of Thrones alum Coster-Waldau, the cast also includes revered horror actor Javier Botet. Mama was directed by Andy Muschietti, famed for his work on the IT horror franchise, with Guillermo Del Toro also on board as an executive producer.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
At time of writing the film has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 63 per cent from critics and 55 per cent from audiences.
“Mama expands a chilling short film into a full-length feature exploring the dark, twisted depth of maternal love,” penned one viewer, as a second declared: “Everyone should watch this movie at least once.”
“This is actually a pretty good movie,” said another. “I don’t understand the hate from some critics. I haven’t seen this movie in many years, but it has aged very well. It also has a lot of great scenes and creepy moments.”
Meanwhile a fourth watcher added: “I don’t know what it is about it, but this film somehow stuck with me. In my opinion, it does not get the credit it is due. Very atmospheric movie.”
Mama is now streaming on Netflix. It will leave the platform on July 25.
