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One standard-setting British period drama can’t be beat — depending on who you ask

It’s never been a better time to be a period drama fan. Between a whole spate of Jane Austen adaptations (a new Sense and Sensibility film and Netflix’s upcoming Pride and Prejudice show), The Other Bennet Sister delighting audiences with its fresh take, to the upcoming second series of the Outlander prequel, it’s an embarrassment of riches.

But for some period drama fans, it’s worth looking back at the masterpiece dramas that led the way. For many, Upstairs, Downstairs is the one to beat. This generational saga about an upper class family and their servants will ring a bell, but it predates Downton Abbey by half a century.

The shows share a similar premise — an upper class family, their domestic staff, and storylines featuring both — and even same overarching time period, so if you haven’t heard of Upstairs, Downstairs, you can know what to reasonably expect.

Viewers are passionate about the one they prefer. Ever since Julian Fellowes’ crown jewel debuted in 2010 and concluded 15 years later, discussions and debates abound over the years.

Some have gone so far as to brand Downton a “rip off”. As one viewer proclaimed on Reddit: “I like Downton Abbey better, but Upstairs, Downstairs is the better show. Julian Fellowes blatantly copied a few things from UD [Upstairs/Downstairs].”

To which another responded: “I’m watching upstairs downstairs right now and I’ve already been like ‘wait that was in DA’. What stood out immediately is the daughter being politically active but then the gay footman who has a relationship with the baron. Alfred and Thomas have very similar timelines right now. Only on episode 6 but seeing SO many similarities”

A third said: “Julian Fellowes ripped off 65% of the UD characters’ names and plots for Downton.”

Yet another period drama enthusiast defended both: “They are very different shows from very different eras (70s vs 2010s). I loved Upstairs/Downstairs when it aired. I love DA. I don’t think a show from 40 years ago should be compared to a modern one.”

Interestingly, BBC rebooted Upstairs, Downstairs in 2010, the same year as Downton Abbey. It received mixed reviews and only lasted two series.

The Guardian was equivocal in its review: “Downton Abbey v Upstairs Downstairs – who won? Downton Abbey, of course.

“Here’s the problem. Downton Abbey completely changed the way we watch period drama. Fellowes brought all the tight, witty scripting of a Hollywood adaptation to an original story, topped off with a gigantic, knowingly camp wink that delighted jaded viewers.”

The reviewer, however, didn’t mention where Downton Abbey stood against the original 1970s masterpiece.

Upstairs, Downstairs (1970-1975) is available to watch on ITVX. The 2010 reboot is playing on U, a free streaming platform.

Susanna Reid issued an update to her followers and shared a tribute to one of her Good Morning Britain colleagues.

Susanna Reid has confirmed she will be off-air for several weeks.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, who hosts the ITV daytime show alongside the likes of Richard Madeley and Ed Balls, fronts the programme from Monday to Wednesday.

However, she’s now revealed she won’t be back on screens for a while, with replacements stepping in.

Susanna confirmed that she’d be taking her annual summer break in a message on social media.

Alongside a snap of her in the Good Morning Britain studio wearing comfy slippers, she wrote: “SHOES OFF, OUT OF OFFICE ON! Time for my summer break – but also time to say goodbye to our wonderful Director @stuearl who has been the champion of this programme for a decade. Thank you for everything Stuart.”

Susanna went on: “@edballs and I will be back September 1st after our travels. THANK YOU to our amazing viewers for watching and for contacting us and sharing your views – never a “waste of time” being on this brilliant programme and thanks to everyone on Team.”

Susanna’s ‘waste of time’ comment appeared to reference a moment from the programme on Wednesday, July 22, after an interview with Robert Jenrick.

In an awkward aside, the Reform MP could be heard saying, “Well that was a waste of time” after his interview with Susanna and Ed.

After making light of the moment with her message on social media, Susanna was showered with support, while her co-stars also paid tribute to their colleague.

Kate Garraway wrote: “We’ll miss you both @susannareid100 @edballs and @stuearl – we’ll miss you so much – good luck with your next adventure!!!”

Strictly’s La Voix said: “Pyjamas for me and slippers for you! It’s contagious causal glamour!”

One follower meanwhile commented: “We will miss you. Enjoy your holiday,” as another added: “Love the slippers! Have a fab break, see you in September.”

Another echoed: “Aww going to miss you,, but have a lovely break with your family and friends.”

Susanna’s announcement comes after she took a break from the show earlier this year, teasing a “special project”.

After an extended programme that ran into Lorraine Kelly’s usual ITV slot to provide commentary after Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation speech, Susanna confirmed after the show ended that she was taking a break.

She teased on social media: “BREAKING! At 9.30 this morning the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer RESIGNED as Prime Minister live @gmb. ANOTHER resignation at Number 10 in the last DECADE after Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak.

“I’m on a special project and will be back @gmb on Monday 6th July, the week that nominations for a new leader open. See you then @itv.”

One person replied: “You will be missed Susanna.” Another said: “Oh it’s never the same when you’re not there!”

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.

Ryker Wixom is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior tight end for Saugus High. It was his idea to organize a food drive on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon in the school parking lot, encouraging anyone and everyone to bring canned goods to help out his community. He’s pretty strong, so he’s capable of lifting lots of canned goods, but he’ll have the whole football team on hand for support.

The Santa Clarita Food Pantry is scheduled to send out a truck to load the donated goods.

“I feel we need to make our mark in the community and help out,” Wixom said of his project. “Food drives have been going on for a long time. I feel it’s a great way to help out our community.”

With the support of coach Jason Bornn, the team will set up tables in the parking lot for people to donate and drop off items. Rather than playing in a passing tournament on the eve of official practice beginning on Monday, Wixom and his teammates are choosing to do something that will help others.

Isn’t that what playing high school sports is supposed to be about — learning lessons as a team that will prepare you for adulthood.

Paul Lambert believes former club Celtic are “nowhere near good enough” without further recruitment – but has guarded against “panic”.

Striker Camilo Duran is the sole summer arrival so far for the Scottish champions, while midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a new contract after a short-term deal last term.

But forward Kelechi Iheanacho and former left-back loanee Marcelo Saracchi, who had been linked with returns, will not be back in Glasgow this season.

Iheanacho has joined Bursaspor as a free agent, while Saracchi bade farewell to Celtic fans on social media and said he and his agent “did absolutely everything within our power to make a return to Glasgow happen”.

Furthermore, German centre-half Maik Nawrocki has been sold to Lens.

“The squad’s not strong enough,” Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.

“I’ve seen Celtic, they’re nowhere near good enough at this moment in time, nowhere near it. Everybody recognises it.

“They’ll compete, but I don’t think they’re strong enough to go and win it [the league] again at this moment in time. The problems were there last season, so they’re not going to change again this season.

“The squad was very, very limited on what it was last season. They won’t get away with that again – the manager knows it.”

IF YOU are looking for your next European city break, then look no further as the best spots on the continent have been announced.

From popular Spanish spots to Italian hidden gems, the best 15 cities in Europe have been named – though it is bad news for the UK that didn’t feature on the list at all.

Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards are decided by readers’ votes and this year over 661,000 people took part.

Coming out on top is Florence in Italy, scoring 89.48 out of 100.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who has previously visited the city, said: “There is no better place to go for art lovers, with Florence being home to famous works from Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci.

“You can also dine like a king, with slices of pizza for €1.50 (£1.29) and pasta dishes from €5 (£4.29).

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“All of the major attractions are a short walk from each other although if you really need a break, you can book an electric golf-buggy eco-tour that traverses the narrow roads.

“Something unusual to keep an eye out for is Florence’s wine windows – ordering a glass of vino through a tiny hole in the wall was created as a way to socially distance during the plague in the 17th century.”

Then in second place is Prague, in the Czech Republic – nicknamed ‘jewel in the crown of Europe’ – scoring 88.89 out of 100.

One Sun reporter who previously visited the city said: “Prague may be best known for its beer, but hillside winery Vini ní Altan is a great option.

“There are great views from inside the intricately carved wooden gazebo, and children can burn off some energy in the vine-strewn park below.

“Prague boasts the largest castle in the world — effectively a small town on top of a hill.

Rounding out the top three is Salzburg in Austria, scoring 88.31 out of 100.

The Sun’s Laura Purkess said: “Salzburg, the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music, sits in Austria’s beautiful Eastern Alps.

“While most of us associate the Alps with snow- caps and skiing, this city makes an ideal summer holiday destination — and it’s affordable.

“If you’re a keen hiker, it’s relatively easy to get from the city centre into the mountains which are filled with stunning, tree-lined trails that take anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours to complete.

“Hardcore fans of The Sound of Music should swap the free walking tour for a proper guided one of the film sets that takes you to locations beyond the city centre, including Church Mondsee, where Maria wed the Baron.”

Porto, Portugal and Ljubljana, Slovenia – nicknamed the ‘green jewel of Europe’ – then followed to round out the top five.

Two spots in Spain featured on the list with Seville in 10th and Madrid in 13th.

Seville is the capital of Spain’s Andalusia region and is known for its Moorish architecture as well as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

As for the Spanish capital, Madrid, you can head to a number of museums and Royal Palaces.

Two spots in Italy also featured on this list with Rome in seventh, and for a lesser-known Italian spot, head to Siena which featured in 14th.

The medieval city found in Tuscany, boasts a UNESCO-listed historic centre, where you can head to Piazza del Campo – the main square – and Duomo di Siena – a cathedral with black-and-white marble.

And places like Funchal – nicknamed the Hawaii of Europe – snuck into the top 20.

LOU Teasdale has split with footballer Andy Carroll for a third time – and for her sake, I hope this time it’s for good.

To me Andy is a classic Peter Pan, a man seemingly devoid of the ability to grow up and stop partying like he’s a single twenty-something.

We saw it in the run up to his marriage to the lovely Billi Mucklow back in 2022, when he made a buffoon of himself by passing out topless in bed with two women in Dubai, and now it seems history is repeating itself.

I watched him sidling up to two rather attractive women at Glastonbury last year and although it might have just been a flirt – who doesn’t get turned on by The Prodigy? – it was enough to get the red flags waving in my mind.

If you feel like this is the nineteenth time Andy and Lou have split over the past year, you’re a little way off but not totally incorrect.

They’ve been more on and off than my laptop over the past 12 months so I am hoping, if only for Lou’s sake, that this is the final time.

If she was one of my mates, I’d be staging an intervention because enough is enough.

This time around, insiders have said it’s Lou who has kicked Andy to the kerb, after he flew off on a boozy holiday to Ibiza, despite supposedly promising her he wouldn’t touch drink to save their relationship.

Lou, a respected make-up artist, has now wiped Andy from her social media.

But why she stood by him time and time again is what I cannot understand. They first started dating back in the autumn 2024 and on social media, naturally, it all seemed rather rosy.

Andy had only been single for a short time, following the end of his ill-fated marriage to Billi, the mother of his three youngest children.

But from the outside, all appeared to be well. And, long had been forgotten the scandal that had engulfed the lead up to their wedding back in 2022.

To recap, and if you don’t remember, Andy ended up landing himself in hot water after getting so drunk at his stag do in Dubai that he ended up topless and in bed with two women – who took photographs of him and shared them with pals.

I reported on the story at the time as I knew people close to Billi.

The former reality star was so humiliated by the footballer she almost called off the wedding.

Nothing happened between Andy and the women who partied with him in Dubai, but her friends confessed to me at the time that they were begging her not to marry him.

But their pleas fell on deaf ears and the pair looked genuinely happy in their wedding pictures in the summer of that year.

But fast-forward two years and they announced they were divorcing.

I rang one of her pals after hearing of his latest split with Lou and they made a pertinent point.

“Marrying Andy was something Billi did for love but it was never going to work out,” a friend admits.

“We told her not to go through with it but everything was in place for the wedding, calling it off would have been a nightmare.

“She did love him deep down and wanted to move past it though.

“Andy might not have cheated in Dubai but he was as drunk as a skunk and topless in bed with two women.

“What does it say about your future husband that he’s going to put himself in this position?”

Well, quite.

Not long after his split from Billi was revealed by The Sun, it emerged Andy had started dating Lou.

There was no crossover between the relationship and on the outside, things between Andy – who has two older children from a previous relationship – and Lou seemed happy.

Their Instagram accounts were full of snaps of them together in France, where Andy had been playing for fourth tier club Bordeaux.

But less than a year into their relationship, it all started to get a bit messy.

Lou, who is sober and has been for over a decade, appeared to have no issue with the fact Andy drank alcohol and the pair made it work.

But last summer, things came to a head in Mykonos – with Andy being quizzed by the police twice after two very public rows last June.

The first incident, at the Nikolus Tavern, was so shocking, a restaurant worker went on the record and told us Andy was “very drunk and furious” with Lou.

He added: “He was using very bad words. It was improper behaviour. The woman looked very upset.”

After speaking to police, Andy was allowed to return to Lou but just hours later alarmed staff called cops again after reports of damage to their £500-a-room at a posh hotel.

Andy was taken to a station for questioning but was released without being arrested. Despite the two incidents, Lou stuck by Andy and their relationship continued.

For eight more weeks, the pair went back to posting loved-up selfies online, until out of the blue – Andy’s pals confessed he had dumped Lou last August.

And thus the madness started.

A friend close to Andy was less than charming about their relationship when they told us about the break-up and said: “Andy got sick of Lou’s demands and her influencer lifestyle.

“She’s always posting on social media and he hates that. He told her it was over this week. He’s single now.”

Days later, Andy then confessed he’d “made a mistake” and they got together again.

But fast forward a few weeks and they split up once more.

This time was after a “make or break” holiday, with a friend saying: “They’ve tried to make it work, but they’re just too different.”

Bizarrely, even after all of this – they ended up patching things up – but unsurprisingly it’s now over again.

That relationship, which has become a very tedious version of Groundhog Day, should, in my opinion, end for good now.

And Lou, I implore you not to take Andy back.

There are only so many times someone can drag you down before something has got to give.

I had the misfortune of standing next to the Dagenham and Redbridge player at Glasto last summer as I watched The Prodigy and he got very friendly with two women during the set.

Lou had been on-site with Andy that weekend but by this point had retreated to the Babington House for a well-earned rest from the stench of the long-drops at Worthy Farm.

Being honest, I can’t work out what annoyed me more – having a colleague poke me repeatedly because Andy was all over these women while my favourite song Smack My B**** Up was playing or the fact he had the gall to act like a single man when he was in what appeared to be a loving relationship.

I’m not saying anything happened with those women, or that his actions went beyond a flirt and someone to lean on late at night.

But when a man truly loves a woman, he doesn’t give another one a second look, let alone put his arms around them when his missus’ back is turned.

We’ve all been the woman, or man, that forgives stupidity because we love. But as the old saying goes, once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern.

Don’t let him make a mug of you, Lou.

The drama series has been labelled the “greatest TV show of all time” and viewers simply can’t get enough as they binge all the episodes, only to start from the beginning again

Tracking down a new TV series to watch isn’t always straightforward. It largely comes down to your preferred genre, but thanks to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, there tends to be a fresh release practically every week.

Now viewers are claiming this drama series is so brilliant they’re watching it from beginning to end, then starting it all over again. Someone took to Reddit pleading for a TV show that is ’10/10 from start to finish’. They said: “Like a show where every single season is perfect and there are literally zero skippable episodes. For me it’s honestly Stranger Things, the vibe and the soundtrack just never get old. I’m actually rewatching it right now these days to be honest. What show is an absolute masterpiece in your opinion? Looking for something new to binge watch.”

While plenty of suggestions were put forward, scores of people couldn’t help but rave about Chernobyl.

When somebody brought up the drama series, one viewer chimed in: “Couldn’t agree more. It’s in my top 10 and possibly the greatest ever.” Another added: “Literally came here to say exactly this.”

A third person posted: “Watched it a few days ago – I binged the entire mini-series in one go and the only thing I could think when it finished was ‘Freaking AWESOME series… I want to watch it again’.”

Where to Stream Chernobyl 2019 and Inside the Meltdown Documentary Series

Chernobyl is a historical drama TV mini-series which revolves around the disaster of 1986. First launched in 2019, this version, which has been labelled the “greatest TV shows of all time” on numerous occasions, boasts a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 9.3 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

Upon its release, it garnered widespread critical praise for its performances, historical accuracy, atmosphere, tone, screenplay, cinematography, and musical score.

This year meanwhile, Chernobyl: Inside the Meltdown arrived as a TV mini-series featuring survivors speaking publicly for the very first time.

It chronicles the nuclear power plant catastrophe, the Soviet cover-up and present-day consequences as it interweaves with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The 2019 series, starring Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, and Emily Watson, is available to stream on NOW TV. In April, the multi-BAFTA winning production was made free-to-air on Sky Mix and Sky Atlantic to commemorate 40 years since the disaster.

Chernobyl: Inside the Meltdown, released in 2026, can be streamed on Disney Plus. Further series exploring the disaster are also available, including the documentary What Happened on Chernobyl, which can be found on BBC iPlayer.

Advertised as “from the world of ‘Legally Blonde,’” the new Prime Video series “Elle” revisits that film’s heroine, Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree), as a 16-year-old high school student, suddenly transported from Beverly Hills to Seattle after her plastic surgeon father (Tom Everett Scott) botches a nose job and has to lie low.

Set in 1995, six years before the events of the first “Legally Blonde” film, with Seattle still living through the long tail of first-wave grunge — Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell are mentioned almost in a single breath — it shares with the big-screen mothership only its indomitable protagonist, who loves pink and her Chihuahua, Bruiser. (The dog gets its own origin story: It was “rescued” from the Spellings, as in Aaron, who found that its “earth tones” didn’t match “their new color palette.”)

There’s a passing reference to the lawyer Elle might (and does) become, and surely some things I missed, but if you’ve never seen “Legally Blonde,” you will not be at any particular disadvantage. (Possibly you will be at a disadvantage if you have seen it.) Bruiser aside, nothing that happens here affects what happens there. Don’t think twice, or even once, about canon. This is something else entirely.

What that is is a high school comedy, which is to say it’s full of familiar characters swept up in teenage drama. And because this is an eight-episode series and not a two-hour movie, relationships will shift more than once. Indeed, they will not be done shifting by the season’s end; a second is clearly in the producers’ sights.

The series is a fish out of water story as Elle moves from Beverly Hills to Seattle. From left, Kimberly (Chandler Kinney), Liz (Gabrielle Policano), Elle (Lexi Minetree), Miles (Jacob Moskovitz) and Dustin (Zac Looker).

(Kimberley French / Prime Video)

Floating into her new school on a bubble of positivity that will stubbornly refuse to burst, Elle is a spot of color in a sea of black and plaid. (There’s a joke that all the cliques — “jocks, D&D nerds, stoners, kids with parents with Microsoft money, kids with parents with Boeing money” — dress exactly alike.) Her surface mistaken for her substance, she’s mocked by Kimberley (Chandler Kinney), the Mean Queen Bee in a reversal of the usual dynamic; it’s the supposedly deep, authentic characters looking down on the privileged, seemingly shallow one. (Not understanding that Bikini Kill is a band, Elle will offer, “Bikini Kill? I know bikinis … that kill.”) Introducing herself to the skeptical Liz (Gabrielle Policano), who makes music and works in a record store, she says, “I like iced coffee, the month of July and when people dress kind of tennis-y, even when they don’t play tennis.”

At the same time, Elle will quickly bond with Shannon (Danielle Chand), the school’s self-appointed one-woman welcoming committee, and Miles (Jacob Moskovitz), a central-casting nice guy who literally collides with her, as is traditional. (His jacket is blue denim to set him apart.) Socially aware quasi-outsider Dustin (Zac Looker) will take a second longer to sway. Inevitably, all will fall before her goodness, her school spirit and her No Doubt karaoke, though her good intentions will have unintended consequences as well, and she’ll have things to learn — it’s a fish out of water story in which the water will change the fish, and the fish the water. In a late-season plotline, in order to give them something to think about than one another, they’ll become a Scooby Gang (with explicit references to “The Breakfast Club”), investigating adult shenanigans. Well, we love a Scooby Gang.

Chief among the grown-ups is Elle’s equally blond mother, Eva (June Diane Raphael), who will become involved in the mayoral campaign of (the late) James Van Der Beek’s Dean Wilson. At school, there are prickly Principal Anderson (Matt Oberg) and Donna (Amy Pietz, nice to see her), his good-hearted secretary, a champion of needy teens and, it will be revealed, Liz’s mother. It feels wrong to saddle the lovable Scott, as Elle’s father, Wyatt, with a fugitive-from-malpractice plot, such as it is — they had to get the family out of Beverly Hills somehow — and just as his character is lying low, so does he disappear, sadly, a little into the scenery. He does get a nice line about meeting someone named Mike McCready, the Pearl Jam guitarist, in a coffee shop and maybe getting together to play, and a chance to lead partygoers in Oasis’ “Wonderwall.”

Minetree is an apt choice to play a younger Reese Witherspoon (an executive producer), with a dash of “Clueless” Alicia Silverstone stirred in, and the younger cast is likable across the board. Written by Laura Kittrell, “Elle” is lightweight, often obvious and oddly, refreshingly innocent — Elle is waiting for “a perfect first kiss from a perfect guy” — both for the genre and the setting. (As Robyn Hitchcock sang of Seattle in “Viva! Sea-Tac,” “They’ve got the best computers and coffee and smack.”) In a way, it feels like a show made for those who already want what it’s selling, but that’s not me, and I had a perfectly fine time.

Reuben Owen will be going head-to-head against Jess’ dad in tonight’s Season 3 finale.

Reuben Owen Life in the Dales is almost over once again – but there’s a silver lining.

Spreading his wings away from his family’s original Channel 5 show Our Yorkshire Farm, eldest son Reuben Owen takes centre stage in his own series Life in the Dales.

The ambitious 22-year-old entrepreneur has been continuing to tackle building up their plant machinery and groundwork business with help from his friends and girlfriend Jess.

Season 3’s ninth episode and grand finale airs tonight, Tuesday, June 30, spelling the end of the popular docu-series with no confirmation of a fourth outing just yet. However, fans of the young Yorkshire farmer will be thrilled by its Channel 5 replacement on TV schedules next week.

Series 3 might be ending but next Tuesday, July 7, fans are going to be treated to a repeat episode from Reuben Owen Life in the Dales Season 2.

The instalment that’s taking up the primetime slot at 8pm will be episode seven where Reuben celebrates his 21st birthday with a vintage tractor journey. His girlfriend Jess also organises a cute surprise of balloons and a cake which is secretly transported under his best friend Tommy McWhirter’s tractor engine.

As of yet though, it isn’t clear if this is just a one-off repeat of Life in the Dales or if Channel 5 is going to continue airing episodes every Tuesday.

But before fans step back in time, there is the Season 3 finale to get excited about. The official synopsis for tonight’s episode reads: “With lambing season well underway, Reuben and Jess race to stock-proof the fences at Brough Castle Farm before more than 300 newborn lambs arrive in the fields.

“However, when Reuben challenges Jess’s dad Dave to a battle of man versus machine, Jess is left caught in the middle.

“Capper and Sonny attempt to breathe life back into a vintage tractor, but getting it to run proves tricky.”

Reuben Owen Life in the Dales is available to watch on Channel 5.

The ITV star has been hosting another well-known programme this week away from her role on Good Morning Britain.

A Good Morning Britain star has shared a career update with her followers online.

Popular ITV presenter Charlotte Hawkins has moved channels as she’s been fronting Jeremy Vine’s show on Channel 5 – and fans have been rushing to comment following her debut.

Charlotte, who has been a regular face on Good Morning Britain since it launched in 2014, confirmed she’d be filling in for Jeremy on her social media last Friday (June 26) after she’d guest-hosted Matt Allwright’s show on the channel.

Now, the 51-year-old has been showered with support after fronting Jeremy’s show for the first time on Monday (June 29) as she shared a snap of herself in the studio alongside Joanna Jarjue and Mike Parry.

One person commented: “You looked amazing. Good job done.” Someone else added: “It went very well, very natural.”

Another fan wrote: “This works for you, good job.” While on X, one viewer shared: ” #Jeremyvine Oh Charlotte’s swapped the sofa on ITV’s Good Morning Britain to the Channel 5 desk and chair #ThisMorning #Gmb “

While someone else commented: “Great seeing @CharlotteHawkns on @JeremyVineOn5 this morning #Jeremyvine .”

Opening the show on Monday, Charlotte commented: “I’m Charlotte Hawkins, sitting in for Jeremy while he enjoys a holiday!”

Charlotte confirmed that she’d be back on the programme on Tuesday (June 30). During Monday’s episode she welcomed back Mike Parry to the panel after his recent treatment for skin cancer.

When asked how he’s doing, he replied: “I feel very well, thank you. I can’t thank The Royal Marsden Hospital enough for what they did for me last week.

“It was five consecutive days, a blast of radiation, once a day, a serious blast and then other procedures.

“But, I feel good at the end of it, I feel mentally very well. I know I was in the hands of some of the best people in the world.”

He also shared a warning to viewers as he highlighted the importance of keeping out of the sun following his diagnosis.

Mike added: “can I say to everybody, please, please, take the greatest precaution against that big yellow ball in the sky, the sun. It will get you; you have a chance to stop it.”

The Jeremy Vine show airs every weekday on Channel 5 from 9:15am.

BBC viewers paid tribute to Dame Penelope Keith, following her death aged 86, as the broadcaster aired a special episode of The Good Life.

BBC viewers have been left “heartbroken” as they paid tribute to an iconic actress.

In a change to scheduled programming, the broadcaster made the decision to honour Dame Penelope Keith with a classic episode of The Good Life on Monday, June 29.

Dame Penelope, star of the 1970s British sitcom, died aged 86, with her family releasing a statement.

They said she “died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey”.

As fans mourned the To the Manor Born actress and friends paid tribute, the BBC confirmed the Margo Leadbetter actress would be remembered with the episode airing on BBC Two.

From the third series of The Good Life, it followed war breaking out between the Goods and the Leadbetters, “proving there is nothing like a good fight over the fence to cement relationships”.

Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy said: “All of us at BBC Comedy are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith. She was one of the defining figures of British television comedy.

“Her iconic performance as Margo in The Good Life remains one of the nation’s most beloved sitcom roles and continues to delight audiences today.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and all of those who had the privilege of working with her.”

Watching the repeat episode, one person wrote on X: “Just watched #TheGoodLife on bbc as a tribute to Penelope Keith. Still very good!”

Another said: “Lovely to watch #thegoodlife. it brings back memories of when I was a kid. RIP Penelope Keith.”

A third wrote: “Genuinely had something in my eye as soon as the theme tune came on #TheGoodLife #DamePenelopeKeith Thank you BBC2.”

Someone else said: “I’m indulging in some pre-dinner #TheGoodLife on #BBCTwo in honour of #PenelopeKeith RIP.”

Paying their respects, one person said: “I am shocked and now, heartbroken. … Absolutely love this lady. I’ve watched #TheGoodLife so many times, over the years and it just becomes even more funny each time I watch it – seeing/hearing something that I’ve missed previously… I think another “binge-watch” of “The Good Life” is now due. In honour of the beloved #DamePenelopeKeith.”

Someone else wrote: “Pleasing to see BBC 2 scheduling an episode of The Good Life at 7 this evening, by way of tribute to the wonderfully talented Penelope Keith. Hopefully there will be more in the coming weeks. A Penelope Keith night on BBC 4?”

The statement from Dame Penelope’s family read: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.

“The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

The Good Life is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

THIS summer’s celebrity trend isn’t a snatched waistline or even a peachy backside.

It’s the ‘11-line abs’ – a pair of razor sharp lines running down the stomach.

A host of stars, including Jodie Comer, Zendaya and Maura Higgins, have been proudly proving the magic number is 11 by flaunting their honed stomachs.

It’s an enviable look that screams gruelling hours at the gym and super-low body fat.

Until now, the number 11 was something women dreaded as it referred to the pair of lines that form between the eyebrows through frowning.

Now, however, 11 has become the ultimate badge of fitness — 11-line abs are created by the natural gap between the six-pack muscles (rectus abdominis) and the abdomen’s side muscles (obliques).

While it may have once been tacky to show off your naked waist, this year people are exhibiting their defined midriffs everywhere — not just at the beach or the gym but on the red carpet, too.

Earlier this month, actress Jodie Comer looked sensational at a star-studded bash as she flashed her sculpted midriff in a black dress.

But if you think achieving this physique is as simple as jumping on fat jabs, you need to think again — it’s down to exercise and good nutrition, according to women’s fitness expert Shakira Akabusi.

“There isn’t a single magic exercise to achieve visible abs,” says mum-of-four Shakira.

“But a great set of core exercises are planks, dead bugs, hanging knee raises and bicycles. Compound exercises like squats and deadlifts are also great.”

Although Shakira recommends a well-rounded diet, she says “a modest calorie deficit” is necessary to reduce body fat.

She adds: “Your abdominal muscles sit beneath a fat layer, so visible definition relies on overall body composition as well as building muscle.”

The expert emphasised that aesthetics and health shouldn’t be confused.

“Visible ab definition is not a marker of health, and is down to many factors including genetics, hormones, body fat distribution, nutrition and even lighting.

“So, don’t be fooled by social media posts.”

Fans are hailing the film as a ‘masterpiece’ and calling it their favourite movie of the year

A gripping thriller based on a popular novel has finally landed on streaming and viewers are calling it a ‘masterpiece’.

The action-packed movie, adapted from a novel by Stephen King, hit cinemas last year and is tailor-made for fans of nail-biting franchises such as Mission: Impossible or Fast and Furious.

Its IMDb synopsis reads: “A man joins a game show in which contestants, allowed to flee anywhere in the world, are pursued by ‘hunters’ hired to kill them.”

The film was helmed by legendary director Edgar Wright, celebrated for cult favourites such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver.

The Running Man is the most recent 2025 adaptation of King’s iconic novel, with Glen Powell taking on the lead role of Ben Richards – a part previously made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 original.

The supporting cast boasts an impressive line-up including Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones and Martin Herlihy, reports the Express.

The film currently holds a 61% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a 6.4 rating on IMDb, with legions of fans applauding this fresh take on the dystopian tale.

Now available on Paramount Plus, the streaming platform has teased: “The Running Man is a fun, unhinged deadly game show where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward.”

Over on IMDb, one enthusiast awarded the film a perfect 10/10, declaring: “Let me put it this way. I saw it at a matinee this afternoon and now I’m going back with my husband. I’m not a Glen Powell fan but I do live Edgar Wright movies and this one delivers. Don’t go see it if you want to relax!

“I read the Stephen King novel years and years ago and saw the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie years ago as well, so i can’t tell you how it compares, but this one stands on its own as the best action movie of the year… and maybe the decade…so far.”

A second viewer hailed the film as a ‘masterpiece of literary adaptation’, remarking: “Hands down the best adaptation of King’s work. You can literally watch the movie and turn pages. Powell’s Richards jumps out of the book.

“The ending got the Hollywood treatment, but still accomplished the same goal. I waited 34 years for a faithful version of this, and now we have it. The casting feels like they all read the novel.”

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Another cinema-goer commented: “One of the best movies of the year. After being trailer after trailer at the cinema for what seems the whole year, I was fearing this would be a total flop.

“I need not have worried because this is an action packed, well scripted remake of the original. Everyone is cast perfectly and all performances are great. It keeps you guessing throughout the movie and the twists and turns keep it going. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth a visit.”

One further viewer chipped in: “It was perfect. Edgar Wright nailed I.T. on this expensive movie. The action, everything. A lot better than the 1987. It follows the book. Glen Powell did a great Job on playing the character Ben Richards.”

They even drew comparisons to other beloved action franchises, adding: “This film feels like a big mix of Fast and Furious and Mission: Impossible. I love the chase scenes.”

Over on Rotten Tomatoes, one enthusiastic viewer gushed: “Excellent film! Glen Powell did great with his character, Ben Richards.”

“Fresh! Intensely gripping all the way through. Great acting on all parts,” another remarked, while a further viewer noted: “Loved this. Im 100% certain that Stephen King will be so happy with this version of his brilliant book. Great all round really enjoyable watch.”

Not everybody was won over, however, with one person writing: “A real disappointment, falling flat both as social commentary and as an action movie.”

Another disgruntled viewer complained: “The first one was way better. Loved the satire and Richard Dawson, who was a game show host in real life, as the host in the original. Tired of remakes with all the social commentary without improving the whole movie.”

The Running Man is available to stream on Paramount Plus now.

Head coach Brendon McCullum said he remains “good friends” with England captain Ben Stokes and the pair have “no idea” why rumours of a rift have emerged.

The pair reunited on Tuesday for England’s crucial deciding Test against New Zealand after Stokes missed the second following an incident in a London nightclub.

Both McCullum and Stokes had previously denied their relationship was strained during the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, and McCullum has faced questions about their partnership during Stokes’ absence.

At Trent Bridge, two days before the third Test against New Zealand, McCullum revealed the pair spoke face-to-face on Tuesday morning.

“I said: ‘Do you know where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship over the last six months?'” explained McCullum.

“He said: ‘No, I have no idea.’ I said to him: ‘As far I’m concerned, I consider you a good friend.'”

Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for England’s heavy defeat in the second Test during an investigation into a breach of the team’s midnight curfew following victory in the first Test at Lord’s.

They were present when a member of England security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

Both have been cleared to rejoin the England team for the third Test, with Stokes returning as captain.

After England made five changes to their team for the second Test, Stokes and Atkinson are two of four changes for the third, as the home side move back towards the XI that won the first Test.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who has been on paternity leave, also come back in. Ollie Robinson was man of the match at Lord’s but missed The Oval encounter with a knee problem. Robinson is fit, yet misses out as Jofra Archer keeps his place.

James Rew, Jordan Cox, Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker are the four players omitted.

Two days before the second Test at The Oval, McCullum gave a sombre media conference, when he repeatedly spoke of his “worry” and “concern” for Stokes.

However, Durham’s county head coach Ryan Campbell later said Stokes was in “good spirits” and the county’s chief executive Tim Bostock said he was “bemused” by McCullum’s comments.

England XI for third Test v New Zealand: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

Here’s a bit of Dodgers trivia for the bandwagon fans in our midst: Who was the manager before Dave Roberts?

That was 11 years ago. He is Don Mattingly, who returns to Dodger Stadium on Friday as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies were 9-19 when they fired Rob Thomson and replaced him with Mattingly. They are 20-8 since then, a better record than the Dodgers have posted over the same span.

In Philadelphia, Mattingly got his chance because the Phillies were losing. In Los Angeles, Mattingly departed amid a run of winning.

For Mark Walter and what was then a new Dodgers ownership group, that was not enough. As Walter enters his first offseason as the Lakers’ controlling owner, it’s worth keeping that in mind.

“They have a hunger for victory that is the greatest I’ve ever seen, without exaggeration,” former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told me.

In two seasons with Rob Pelinka as president of basketball operations and JJ Redick as coach, the Lakers won division titles both times, failing to get out of the first round of the playoffs one year and failing to get out of the second round of the playoffs the next.

In 2013 and 2014, with Colletti as GM and Mattingly as manager in the first full seasons of Walter’s ownership, the Dodgers won division titles both times, failing to get out of the first round one year and failing to get out of the second round the other.

The Dodgers replaced Colletti with Andrew Friedman.

In 2015, the Dodgers won the division but failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs. Friedman offered Mattingly a short-term extension, and Mattingly opted for a long-term deal to manage the Miami Marlins.

After Walter and Co. took over the Dodgers, Mattingly told me Wednesday, there was one year he thought he might be fired: 2013, when the Dodgers started 30-42 and fell 9 1/2 games out of first place in mid-June. The Dodgers then reeled off 42 wins in 50 games and won the division by 11 games.

He appreciated that Walter, team president Stan Kasten and eventually Friedman did not simply bring in a new manager at their first chance.

“You get to evaluate and see,” Mattingly said, “and you have your vision for where you want it to go, and sustain it. That’s the thing they’ve been great at: sustaining it. It’s been year after year. You can’t really doubt what they’re doing.”

Kasten’s first move was not to fire Colletti, but to ask what ownership could provide for him so that he could do a better job. The owners quickly responded by funding the addition of impact players (Adrián González and Hanley Ramirez), extending the contract of a popular home-grown player (Andre Ethier), revitalizing the Dodgers’ Latin American talent pipeline (Yasiel Puig and Julio Urías), renovating the clubhouse and, at Mattingly’s suggestion, refreshing the family room.

“We started to be able to compete with a different mindset, which was invaluable,” Colletti said.

Similarly, with Friedman and former Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi as consultants, the Lakers have added two positions for assistant general managers, overhauled the scouting staff, created more room at team headquarters by relocating their G League affiliate to the Coachella Valley, and borrowed from the Dodgers’ playbook in modernizing medical and biomechanical facilities.

This summer could be critical in determining the future of the Lakers, including who runs them. Walter can spend all he wants, as he does with the Dodgers, but the luxury-tax penalties in the NBA are more severe than in baseball and could restrict the roster flexibility so coveted by the likes of Friedman and Zaidi. A star-studded roster beyond Luka Doncic — say, a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? — could require the Lakers to sacrifice the draft picks that also would limit roster flexibility.

The Lakers will have the resources. Walter will want to see the creativity and the championships — or, at least, the path to them. Ultimately, he will decide what he did with the Dodgers: Does he have the best people he can get running the team?

“You see many organizations that win, and then they take a step back,” Colletti said. “They feel like they have some goodwill in the bank, they don’t have to chase the biggest free agents, and they don’t need to re-invest in the team or the stadium.

“From my vantage point, all the way up and down that organization and especially at the ownership level, it’s almost like they’ve never won, and they’re hungry to get there. To be there and be unsatisfied — that quest to be as great as you can be — is one of the great indicators of the excellent ownership it is.”

In the meantime, any advice for Pelinka and Redick? Colletti let out a hearty laugh.

“Do your best,” he said, “and turn it up a notch.”

There’s something delightful about plays about grand divas in crisis.

The prima donna in extremis in Pearl Cleage’s “Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous,” which is having its Los Angeles premiere at the Geffen Playhouse, has an air of Bette Davis extravagance to her. When Anna Campbell (Charlayne Woodard) struts around her elegant hotel suite in Atlanta, she can’t resist delivering one of Davis’ signature lines: “What a dump!”

She’s not at all dissatisfied with the accommodations. She’s just frustrated that the weather isn’t cooperating with her upcoming outdoor performance and agitated that this might be a bad omen for her big American comeback.

More than 30 years ago, Anna and her manager and trusted companion, Betsy Samson (a formidable Denise Burse), fled to Europe on the heels of a highbrow scandal. Anna made waves when she performed “Naked Wilson,” a protest piece that had her delivering male monologues from August Wilson’s plays while standing stark naked before a divided audience.

The idea was to call attention to the way women have been de-centered in the male canon, but some felt it was sacrilege to subject Wilson’s work to a feminist stunt. Acting opportunities dried up, and Anna high-tailed it to Amsterdam, where her histrionic grandeur was put to good use in European classics.

Charlayne Woodard in “Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous” at Geffen Playhouse.

(Jeff Lorch)

Woodard brings Anna to life with a smokey voice, a statuesque presence and an arch demeanor. When her arms are in flamboyant motion, she leaves the impression of a seductive windmill that might slice you to bits if you come too close.

The sumptuous production, directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson with solidarity for Cleage’s characters, provides a marvelous showcase for Woodward to slink around on Beowulf Boritt’s glamorous five-star set in costume designer Emilio Sosa’s inspired Pucci-esque outfits. Her Anna doesn’t do much but give attitude. Ah, but what delicious attitude she gives!

Cleage’s play, it must be said, is hamstrung with exposition. More time is devoted to setting up the dramatic situation than to activating it. Author of “Blues for an Alabama Sky,” a 1995 abortion drama still ahead of its time, Cleage is telling a backstage story that’s clearly close to home. She’s also spinning an intergenerational tale of Black women groping past their initial distrust to a deeper understanding of what they have in common.

The intentions are noble and the themes are handled with admirable complexity, but the writing is sluggish. The plot is like an old car whose engine just refuses to start on a cold winter morning.

Anna has returned to Atlanta to headline a festival that is rebooting her “Naked Wilson” piece. She’s worried about disrobing at her age, but it turns out that she’s only being honored for her work. A much younger and far less experienced performer has been cast in the part that made her a cause célèbre.

Denise Burse, from left, Deborah Joy Winans, Charlayne Woodard and Olivia Washington in “Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous” at Geffen Playhouse.

(Jeff Lorch)

Precious Watson (Olivia Washington), who goes by Pete, has not only never performed in a Wilson play but she’s never even seen one on stage. She’s a stripper whose only real dramatic experience has come from the adult entertainment industry. (Don’t call her a porn star, not because she’s ashamed of the films she made but because she’s too modest about her screen credits.)

Anna, her hauteur hardening like a protective shell, is aghast. She’s also fearful about her future. She’s run out of money, and this festival was to have launched her return to the U.S.

Betty, whose fate is tied to Anna’s, has been dangling the prospect of a national tour. But when Kate Hughes (an appealingly grounded Deborah Joy Winans), the producer of the festival, hears of this idea, she thinks it’s completely unrealistic.

“I love Anna,” she tells Betty. “ I’m honoring Anna, but there just isn’t an audience for the kind of presentation you’re talking about.”

Time marches on, and one era’s sensational renegade becomes a footnote in the next. But Anna can’t believe that all she holds sacred — study, discipline, seriousness, commitment — is of little value in the social media world.

Deborah Joy Winans, left, and Denise Burse in “Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous” at Geffen Playhouse.

(Jeff Lorch)

Pete (whom Washington plays with impressive self-possession) doesn’t seem at all bothered about what she doesn’t know. Anna keeps prefacing her remarks with the words “no offense,” but Pete can’t help being offended by her pointed disdain. Their standoff energizes the play, but this jolt of momentum comes a little too late.

“Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous” is not just the title. It’s also a plot summary. The gorgeous part is the richness of Cleage’s characters, radiantly realized by all four actors under Jackson’s warm direction.

Cleage gives the women plenty of substance, though her novelistic mode — more telling than showing — deprives her drama of style. The elegant staging tries to compensate, but the performers have to rely a little too heavily on their own charms to make up the difference in a play that swerves unexpectedly at the end into a cutesy fairy tale.

The ITV daytime programme has been hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints from fuming viewers.

Good Morning Britain has been hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints after comments made by Susanna Reid were slammed by viewers.

The programme has received 508 complaints about the show that aired on June 9, the watchdog reported.

In a statement sent to The Daily Mirror, Ofcom confirmed the “complaints related to comments made during a discussion about the Scottish World Cup Bank Holiday”.

Good Morning Britain that day had seen Ed Balls and co-host Susanna discuss the news that Scotland would receive a Bank Holiday for qualifying for the World Cup.

Ed had said on the ITV daytime show: “This morning, in our five o’clock meeting, Susanna said, ‘I can’t believe this, the game’s on the Sunday morning, and they get bank holiday [more than] 24 hours later.’

“I said, ‘What?’ I couldn’t believe it. It never occurred to me that that was going on.”

Responding to viewers’ reactions, Susanna said, “It’s really outrageous. I mean, how long does it take Scots to get over the fact that they’ve played their first match?”

Viewers had been left fuming after hearing, with Susanna later issuing an apology.

One had seethed: “So many anti-Scottish comments from your presenters and guests this morning. Do you realise your show is shown on Scottish television? Unfortunately.”

Another blasted: “Extremely anti-Scottish. Not everyone is getting it, and not everyone wants it. I don’t even like football, but thought your comments were uncalled for!!!”

Yet another seething viewer said, “Not everyone is getting it. Jumping on the anti-Scotland bandwagon, I see.”

ITV also released a statement following the backlash, which read, as per The National Scot: “The editorial team feel discussion of the fact that some football fans would be drinking alcohol while watching the match is something that would be referenced in the discussion of any home nation’s participation in an international tournament.

“No sleight was intended toward Scottish fans in particular – it was more a reflection of football watching culture in the UK.”

It went on: “We’re aware this coverage has been distorted on social media by brief edited clips that do not represent the full four-minute discussion. Having reviewed the full segments, our feeling is that the issue of drinking and football would have been raised in a discussion of any home nation having an extra day off work following a game. We do note, however, that such discussions can play into national stereotypes. This was not the intention, and in no way was the focus of the discussion.”

The publication noted that ITV also said that the Good Morning Britain editorial team had taken on board “concerns about Ofcom’s rules relating to generally accepted standards, due accuracy and due impartiality, but taking into account the light-hearted nature of the news review discussion and the discussion that followed later in the programme, consider that the programme was in line with Ofcom’s standards”.

Susanna later issued an apology, admitting she had left fans “irate” and being accused of “jealousy”.

After welcoming two Scottish broadcasters on the programme earlier this week, who questioned Susanna on her comments, the former BBC Breakfast star said: “My Scottish ancestors would be turning in their graves, I can only apologise.

“Let me say, it’s outrageous that not everyone in Scotland has got today off as a bank holiday.”

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee has approved $875 million to fund public transportation for the 2028 Olympic Games, a positive sign for LA28 after the exclusion of Olympics transit funding from President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request this spring.

The funding must be passed by Congress in a future spending bill — part of a lengthy 2027 budgeting process that is underway now — but its approval in committee last week is a crucial signal of investment from Washington after weeks of uncertainty.

“We are encouraged by the House Appropriations Committee’s action,” spokesperson Maya Pogoda of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority said in a statement, “and we look forward to continuing to work with the Senate and the White House to make America’s Games the best ever in history.”

LA Metro has sought $2 billion in federal funding for the planned transit service for the Games, which includes leasing buses, hiring drivers and building temporary depots. With the clock ticking to start projects that require significant lead time to be completed before the Games, the absence of any funding in Trump’s budget request in April had raised concerns among lawmakers and other stakeholders.

In recent weeks, the transit authority, the city and LA28 had publicly pressed for federal funding; LA28 Chief Executive Casey Wasserman reportedly met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in April.

“The House Appropriations Committee’s most recent transportation bill is another positive signal of the continued bipartisan support in Congress to provide federal transit money for the Games,” LA28 spokesperson Jacie Prieto Lopez told The Times.

The inclusion of the funding in the bill conveyed bipartisan support for the Games, an event that Trump — who places an outsize importance on displays of patriotism — is likely to want to see go well during his tenure.

“This is on the American stage,” said former Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who was on the City Council during the 1984 Olympic Games. “The success of the Games are the success of the country.”

The Olympics item was included in the fiscal year 2027 transportation funding bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee last week. In its report, the committee noted that the funding is intended for all host cities, including those outside California.

“The 2028 games will put our nation on center stage, and this investment will help ensure that we are prepared to meet the moment and showcase why the United States is the best country in the world,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who chairs the subcommittee that put forth the bill, said in a statement.

The Games in Los Angeles are expected to draw massive crowds and will be the first Summer Olympics held in the United States since Atlanta hosted in 1996. More than 4 million tickets were sold during LA28’s first ticket release; a second ticket drop is coming in August.

The massive event requires federal involvement not just on funding but also on issues including athlete visas and the import of Olympic horses.

LA Metro has planned to lease 1,700 buses from transit agencies across the country, build three temporary transit depots and create dedicated traffic lanes for athletes, officials and others as required by the International Olympic Committee. Metro estimates that 1 million additional trips per day will be taken during the 16-day Games.

It’s crucial for federal funding to come through in a timely manner, Yaroslavsky said, particularly given the scope of the security and transportation considerations for the sprawling Games.

“The city and the LA28 committee need to know that this money is going to be made available,” Yaroslavsky said. “This has to be in place long before the Games start.”

THE Isle of Wight is known for its Mediterranean-looking beaches, ‘back in time’ towns and being one of the sunniest spots in Britain.

If you fancy a visit – and we suggest you do – here’s everything you need to know, from the best hotels to the quieter beaches, as well as how to get discounts on the ferry and where to find the island-made sparkling blue wine.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and TikTok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

To find out all the best bits about the British island, Sun Travel sought out the help of an insider who has been there almost 100 times.

Darragh Gray, who hails from Northern Ireland, has been holidaying on the Isle of Wight since he was just three years old.

When family school holidays came to an end, Darragh was so taken with the place that he continued to visit and has already planned four trips this year.

Talking to Sun Travel, Darragh describes the isle as “magical” and, at the right time of year, even comparable to the Mediterranean.

Best beaches

As the Isle of Wight is only 22.5 miles long, you’re never too far from a beach. For some bucket and spade fun, Darragh knows exactly where you should visit.

He says: “If you’re looking for a beach with all the fun of the traditional seaside, you can’t beat Sandown. It has miles of sand that run from a pier at one end to the cliffs at the other.

“Another great spot is a beach resort called Ventnor, which has striking red and gold sand and shingle; that’s a lovely one to visit.”

For more of a rural coastline escape, Darragh suggests heading to West Wight, which has dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.

He says: “Compton Bay is a lovely spot that feels remote, and you can go fossil hunting on the beach.

“Freshwater Bay is interesting because on a stormy day it looks wild with huge waves on the edge of the Atlantic.

“But on a calm summer’s day, you can feel like you’re on a Greek island.”

Other secluded spots include Bembridge on the East Coast and the quiet beach found on Totland Bay.

Local gems

The town of Cowes in the west is famous for yachting and well known, but what tourists don’t know about is the secret spot around the corner.

Darragh says: “About 30-minutes walk around the coast, there’s a little village called Gurnard.

“It has a lovely little beach and beautiful sunsets.”

It’s bordered by green beach huts, and there’s a traditional pub called The Woodvale found beyond the green where you can watch boats bob along the water.

Another secret spot is Seaview – the small Edwardian resort is just beyond Ryde.

Darragh says visitors will love it for its “lovely coastline”, which is much quieter as it’s away from the main resorts.

He also named Steephill Cove near Ventnor as a “lovely hidden place” that can only be reached on foot.

The fishing cove is known for its safe sandy beach, perfect for swimming, with plenty of rock pools for exploring.

Pubs

Who can stay away from a pub on holiday, whether it’s a refreshing pint you’re after or a glass of wine in a sunny garden?

Well, there are lots of lovely ones on the Isle of Wight, with sea views or overlooking the countryside.

When it comes to his favourites, Darragh told us about one in Shanklin.

He says: “Tucked under the cliffs is the Fisherman’s Cottage; it’s a lovely pub away from the main beach – sitting on the patio is one of my favourite places to be.

“Or the south side of the island, in Ventnor, is The Buddle Inn, which dates back to the 16th century and used to be a spot for smugglers back in its day.

“It’s lovely to sit by the fire in the winter, or in the garden in the summer.”

Another favourite is The Culver Haven Inn, thanks to its outdoor terrace that has sea views in “three different directions”.

It’s isolated up on the cliffs, but there are plenty of walking routes around it.

When it comes to country pubs, Darragh says: “The Blacksmiths is a country inn near Halsbrook, which I think is one of the most tranquil locations on the island.

“You can eat, drink and take in the views all the way down to the Solent.”

Another is The Crown Inn in Shorwell, which Darragh describes as quiet and historic with a “great gastropub menu”. On Sundays, they serve up pub lunches, as well as dishes like steak and chips, and of course, plenty of fish dishes.

Number 3, that’s tucked away at the top of the high street in Cowes, is a restaurant that Darragh says offers good value.

He also recommends the Basque Kitchen, which has “outstanding tapas”.

A higher-end restaurant is the RT Cafe Grill in Ryde, which is right by the sea, and has an à la carte menu, grill specials and Sunday roasts too.

The True Food Kitchen in Ventnor cooks up Asian-inspired food made from local ingredients.

Darragh says: “They’ve just opened up a second restaurant in Castlehaven where you can sit outside and look over the cliffs – it’s very magical.”

Seaside favourites

No trip to the seaside is complete without going to the chippy.

Darragh has two that are his standouts.

He tells us: “The first is the Happy Haddock in Shanklin, and Stotesburys in Newport, which is the oldest fish and chip shop on the island, and both are great value for money.”

When it comes to soft serve treats and gelato, head to Ventnor.

“There’s a fantastic Victorian ice cream parlour in Ventnor called Crave, which makes a whole range of ice cream on site every day.”

It has rotating flavours from Dubai chocolate pistachio to Cabana (coconut, caramel, cherries and chocolate) and salted butter and ginger cake.

If you happen to be in Newport, pop into Minghella.

It’s called an ‘institution’ serving ice cream for over 75 years, and a must-try, according to Darragh, is their unique ginger ice cream.

Local food and blue wine

When it comes to food, the Isle of Wight harvests a lot of its own produce, from tasty tomatoes to fresh seafood, and in one case, blue wine.

“There’s one commercial vineyard on the island called Adgestone, and what you can buy from there is sparkling wine: white, red, and blue. I once took the wine to a barbecue, and everyone was fascinated by it.

“The colour blue comes from the skin of the grapes, and I don’t know how they do it, but it’s an incredible turquoise-blue colour, and very tasty.”

Mermaid Gin, which is sold around the country, is also made on the island, and you can even visit the distillery. At the Mermaid Bar, you can sample cocktails made with their distilled gins and rum made from island botanicals. Think a ‘Ginacolada’ and Mermaid Margarita.

Free activities

For animal lovers, the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, which has 109 donkeys, is a great spot – it’s open seven days a week, and is completely free.

Another free activity is at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Bembridge, which opens a few days a week to the public.

There are some quirky museums too, like the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum in Ryde, which is full of historic vehicles and completely free.

On display are around 20 vehicles, transport artefacts and photographs as well as a cafe and shop.

Festivals

During the spring and summer seasons, the Isle of Wight comes alive with festivals across the island.

Darragh has some suggestions, one of which is slightly unconventional.

He says: “The garlic festival is one of my favourites, I went for the first time last summer and can’t wait to go back this year.

“It’s a mix between a food festival and a country fair with lots of food stalls and dog shows.”

This year, the Garlic Festival is taking place between August 15-16, with tickets still on sale.

For keen hikers, the Isle of Wight is full of trails, and there are even organised Walking Festivals – some are free of charge. You can ride the Isle of Wight Steam Railway throughout the year, but they also hold festivals.

One is the Real Ale Festival, where local brewers offer a selection of beers and ciders – it was last held in May so anyone wanting to attend will have to keep an eye out for next year’s event.

Of course, one of the most famous events on the island is the Isle of Wight Music Festival. This year it’s between June 18 and June 21 with Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, and The Cure all headlining.

Hotels

There are plenty of places to stay scattered across the island, from large hotels to tiny guesthouses.

Darragh says: “I’m a big fan of supporting independent businesses – there’s a big choice of private hotels and B&Bs.

“In terms of where you might want to base yourself, Shanklin is great, especially for first-time visitors because it has a village and a beach.”

“Places I’ve stayed in there and I’d be happy to recommend are the Havelock Hotel, and then there’s a slightly larger Channel View Hotel, which has an indoor pool.”

If you fancy a hotel stay in Shanklin, then Darragh suggests The Curraghmore, which is a family-run B&B with rooms from £90per night.

It’s a great spot for anyone wanting to enjoy spring sunshine as it has beachfront access, a sun terrace and a pretty garden.

The Chestnuts first became a B&B in the 1940s, and is still operating as one today – guests can relax in its suntrap patio and get breakfast included.

Rooms here start from £45 per night and range from singles to family suites.

Number 29 is a small adults-only B&B with rates from £42.50 based on two adults sharing a double room.

All three rooms are en-suite with tea and coffee facilities as well as free Wi-Fi, and include a full English breakfast cooked to order in the mornings.

Darragh adds: “Cowes is a great place to stay, it’s got a lovely High Street, lots of good restaurants and independent shops. There are a couple of places I’ve stayed there.

“One boutique hotel is called Onefifty, which I was really impressed with, or if you fancy staying in a pub, then check into The Anchor Inn, which has good value rooms.”

He adds: “If you’re looking for a self-catering stay, my top tip would be to look at Sun Holidays because there are two big holiday park companies on the island, Parkdean and Away Resorts.

“I’ve stayed more times than I can count in one of those resorts – I’m going over next week, later in May, and they really are great value.

“I’m consistently able to find off-peak week-long stays on the island from £41; you can have up to six people stay in some of the modern caravans.”

Ferries

To get to the Isle of Wight, visitors will have to book a ferry across the Solent.

Darragh suggests hopping on board a Wightlink service where fares start from £21.90 if taking the foot passenger ferry.

Prices can increase during peak travel, but Darragh says there are ways to keep the cost down that not everyone knows about.

He tells us: “If you’re travelling on foot, or by car with Wightlink, children under five are always free, and during the school holidays, you can take school-aged children on the ferry for free.

“If you’re travelling by train, you can buy a return train ticket to the Isle of Wight that includes the ferry and often works out cheaper.

“It’s especially handy if you have a railcard as that discount is applied to the whole journey and it saves faffing about with multiple tickets.”

Before booking, also check discounts through membership schemes like Blue Light cards, English Heritage, and if you’re a supermarket shopper, you can even use Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Darragh adds: “Lots of accommodation on the island offer discounts on ferries as well, so have a look at that before you book.

“For example, I know that with Parkdean, you can get a significant discount on the ferry when you book a holiday.”

It’s not often that I remark on a casting announcement, much less one about “Scooby-Doo,” but the second I opened an email from Netflix, my jaw dropped.

A chocolate brown Great Dane puppy with blue eyes and a teal collar sitting on a tile floor gazed at me from my computer screen — I squealed. I mean, look at him. His floppy ears, grumpy little face and paws you just want to shake hands with. He’s perfect.

“Scooby-Doo: Origins” is the streamer’s upcoming live-action series, slated for release in 2027, featuring this mystery-solving pup. It marks the first time a real dog has played Scooby-Doo. For many viewers, their first exposure to Scooby and his gang was via the ‘70s Hanna-Barbera animated version, which aired on Cartoon Network in reruns in the ‘90s and early aughts, or the reboots on ABC and the WB, now the CW, more recently. Several live-action theatrical and TV films have been made over the years, but they’ve always featured a computer-generated dog. Yes, that means it took nearly six decades to have a real-life Scooby.

The previously announced cast includes key players in the Scooby gang: Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones. Paul Walter Hauser is also slated to appear as a series regular in an unnamed role. Showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg helm the series.

According to the show’s logline, it’s a “modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog” that takes place at summer camp. Said dog may have been witness to a supernatural murder, leading the group of teens to set out to solve the case. It’s an origin story for Scooby and his gang.

While I wouldn’t consider myself a “Scooby-Doo” superfan, I am a fan of very cute dogs. I’ll have my Scooby snacks ready in case we ever cross paths.

A UK airport will fully close for good this week – after 90 years in operation.

Coventry Airport originally opened in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome.

During World War Two it operated as RAF Baginton before going on to start passenger flights as well as air ambulance services.

Commercial flights started in the 1950s when it took passengers from the Midlands to the Channel Islands.

Then Hards Travel began operating package holiday flights to Spain, France, and Italy in the 1980s with Thomsonfly operating jet passenger flights in 2004.

In the same year, Wizz Air flew passengers to Poland.

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However, passengers flights ceased in 2008 which led to the decision to close the site.

The site will officially shut its doors on June 11 to be redeveloped into a multi-billion-pound energy plant.

Most recently, the airport had been used for training and charter flights – passengers on the very final private flight into the airport were Take That.

The British pop band flew into the airport yesterday evening, having been in the city performing their Circus Live tour.

The Facebook page belonging to Coventry Airport wrote: “Those nice gentlemen from ‘Take That’ flew into Coventry Airport this evening and when they found out that they were our last ever passengers on our last booked commercial flight prior to closing.”

On the post were many comments expressing disappointment about the airport’s closure.

One read: “Sad to see the airport closing down; the airshows there weres great andI had some happy times at the airport.”

Now, plans are for the site to be turned into Greenpower Park, a £2.5billion battery factory designed for electric vehicle production.

Former regeneration councillor at Coventry City Council Jim O’Boyle previously said: “What we want to see are thousands of jobs created here, giving the area an economic lift.”

What was the moment from the season finale of “The Pitt” that finally broke you?

Was it the shot of the day-shift staff watching the Fourth of July fireworks from the hospital roof, the sound of “America the Beautiful” playing in the distance? Maybe it was Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) crying in her car, realizing she can’t work around the seizure disorder that makes her a liability in the ER. Or perhaps it came when Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robinavitch (a.k.a. Dr. Robby) swaddled Baby Jane Doe, telling her that “everything’s gonna be just fine,” because she has “so many wonderful things to see and so many people to love.”

But what opened the floodgates for me, after the last half-hour of the episode left me completely dazed and dumbfounded, was Drs. Santos (Isa Briones) and King (Taylor Dearden) exorcising the day’s demons by belting out Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” at a karaoke bar and demonstrating that primal scream therapy is alive and well three decades into the 21st century.

Which is all to say: “The Pitt” is the only television show I’ve watched that gives me the same feeling I have when I read a great, immersive novel. When the end is near, I’m bereft. I’m Al-Hashimi in her car, wanting to pound the dashboard. I do not want to let these characters go. They’ve given me 15 hours and I still crave more. I would devour a series of short films about odd couple Santos and Whitaker (Gerran Howell) sharing an apartment or a summer spinoff showing Dr. Abbot (Shawn Hatosy) working off-hours as a SWAT medic. Anything to fill the long, “Pitt”-less weeks between seasons.

Instead, I’ll just have to content myself with scrolling through social media, watching fan-made videos of Dr. King self-soothing her way through the day, (this one, set to Vince Guaraldi’s score from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” is the absolute best) and taking in the compilation of the show’s cast asking, “What’s the status on Baby Jane Doe?” in their best Katherine LaNasa Pittsburgh accent.

“The Pitt” won five Emmys from 13 nominations, including best drama series, for its celebrated first season, a 15-episode run that began with Dr. Robby up on the hospital roof talking down Dr. Abbot after an intense shift. The season ended with Dr. Abbot returning the favor after Robby and his staff ground their way through a day that included a mass shooting, a child drowning and a patient assaulting LaNasa’s no-nonsense charge nurse.

How do you follow that?

For a few episodes this new season, it looked like “The Pitt” wasn’t up to the task. We watched the ER staff dealing with a series of bloody, messy (the disimpaction!) medical maladies, an avert-your-eyes spectacle that felt like the writers were trying to one-up themselves and find the worst possible affliction to make viewers double over. Worse, the thrill of discovery that kept us invested throughout the first season, the slow drip of information about the characters, wasn’t quite there. Something was missing, and it wasn’t just Dr. Robby’s motorcycle helmet.

But the luxury of having 15 episodes is that the writers can take their time laying the groundwork for the story they want to tell.

And what a story it was.

Over the course of the season, we watched Dr. Robby disintegrate, his mental health more precarious than ever because he has done nothing to address his apparent PTSD. “You need help,” Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) tells Robby, confronting him in the finale. “Be honest with yourself.”

Robby isn’t the only one struggling, as Dr. Abbot puts it, to “dance through the darkness.” Langdon is back, managing his sobriety. Dr. Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) is having panic attacks. Santos is still dealing with self-harm. Dana remains haunted by that Season 1 patient assault and now carries a syringe containing a heavy sedative just in case somebody emerging from that overcrowded waiting room crosses the line again.

“I’ve seen so many people die that I feel like it’s leaching something from my soul,” Robby says. “I’m tired of feeling like I’m drowning every day.”

And there you have it, the subject of Season 2 of “The Pitt.” Medical professionals are gasping for air, and the American healthcare system, with its focus on profit above all else, is failing them and the patients they treat.

Remember Orlando, the patient with severe diabetic ketoacidosis who arrives at the ER after fainting? Orlando had to ration his insulin because he lacked insurance and felt he had to cut corners. He ends up leaving the hospital early, fearing the cost of treatment. Later he returns, having fallen (jumped) from a catwalk at his construction job, fracturing his skull. But good news: He now qualifies for Medicare and Medicaid due to long-term disability.

It’s a tragedy, one of many reasons the season finale shot of the ER staff holding back tears as they watched the Fourth of July fireworks felt like a body blow. “America the Beautiful”? How can that be true when the current administration is seeking $1.5 trillion for defense spending — nearly 50% more than this year — while cutting healthcare and social safety nets? How can that be true when an act known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill” removed funding from an already frayed healthcare system and exacerbated the shortage of care in rural areas of the country?

That one scene, the culmination of hours of careful, patient storytelling, said more about the disconnect between American ideals and America’s reality than anything else I’ve read or watched this year.

Give “The Pitt” all the Emmys. It has more than earned them.