Even for a high-profile international footballer, sometimes mum knows best.
In September 2023, when, by his own admission, Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was at his lowest ebb, as he was abused and mocked during an England appearance against Scotland (“I came on, played really well, then scored an own goal”), his mum Zoe took to social media.
She called the treatment of her son “disgraceful and unacceptable”.
“I didn’t want her to, but she just said, ‘I’m doing it! I’m not listening to you!'” Maguire said, smiling, as he spoke at length about his career so far and hopes for the future to journalists at the club’s training camp in Maynooth, 20 miles outside Dublin.
“I think it probably does affect your family a little bit more in those moments. They’ve seen what we’re going through and how tough it is.
“That was probably the lowest point, but it’s part of the journey.
“I wouldn’t change where I’ve been and what I’ve been through. It’s definitely made me stronger and got me to where I am today.”
It seems unfair to focus on negatives.
Maguire, 33, feels he has “performed really well” in six out of his seven seasons at Old Trafford.
“I still believe, even at my age, I’m arguably one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes,” he said. “I don’t think that’s in question really; that I can be really effective later on in games, whether you’re holding on to a lead or trying to chase a game.”
Yet the openness and the honesty with which he assessed his more difficult moments made it an obvious area to probe, 24 hours after it had been confirmed Maguire had signed a new deal that will give him an eighth campaign at the club, and potentially a ninth.
After all, this is someone who had the captaincy taken off him by then-manager Erik ten Hag and the club were prepared to sell to West Ham a couple of months before that Scotland game.
“Obviously your first emotion is anger and disappointment, that’s natural,” he said of the captaincy call.
“But I always thought unless you are one of the superstars and a world, world class player, you have ups and downs and things that you have to deal with. That’s why you see so many players have two or three years at the top, drop off, go to a different country and you don’t hear too much about them again.
“Wayne Rooney was here, one of the best players to ever play for this club, and he got so much pelters at times when he wasn’t doing too well. I always looked to the experience with players like Wayne and David Beckham and how they overcame it.
“I just kept my head down. I have great self-belief, more importantly, that I’m a top player. That’s what helps me when things are tough.”
Clearly, strength of mind is a positive character trait.
Maguire accepts it has been bumpy at times.
He did not go as far as to say he benefited from having the captaincy taken away but did admit “the form came back” after it happened. “I believe the form would have come back whether I was captain or not,” he added.
However, he concedes not everyone would have the mental strength to navigate their way through his pathway.
“Yes probably,” he said, when asked if it would have broken most players.
“I think there’ll be a lot who want to just close the book, go elsewhere and restart their career. I think it’s probably broken them a little bit earlier. It got to a point with the mocking and the abuse – if you want to call it abuse – there was only one way it could go.”
England head coach Thomas Tuchel made the journey to Madrid on his latest World Cup reconnaissance mission and was richly rewarded by a thrilling Champions League tie between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Tuchel’s eyes were trained on Real Madrid pair Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham, as well as captain Harry Kane in his role as Bayern’s prime goalscorer.
He will have left with suspicions confirmed about Alexander-Arnold, as well as concrete evidence from Bellingham and Kane that they are surely indispensable when England’s World Cup campaign kicks off against Croatia in Arlington on 17 June.
Champions League nights at the Bernabeu are always special occasions, with supporters swarming around the magnificent arena hours before kick-off and thousands of fans clad in white gathering on Plaze de los Sagrados Corazones to welcome Real Madrid’s team bus.
To add to the drama, a warm Madrid afternoon suddenly turned to blackened skies and a deluge to set a spectacular stage for this meeting of European heavyweights.
As a classic unfolded, the game held contrasting fortunes for those Tuchel had under his microscope.
Alexander-Arnold is perhaps the most intriguing case study of the trio Tuchel was scrutinising, lavishly gifted and playing at the club most regard as the world’s biggest, and yet seemingly with no part to play in England’s summer strategy.
The 27-year-old, who moved from Liverpool last summer, has had a rocky introduction to life at Real and also suffered the ignominy of being left out of Tuchel’s 35-man England squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
And then, if that was not painful enough, when Tuchel called on replacements, he ignored Alexander-Arnold in favour of Ben White, not a regular at Arsenal this season and someone who had gone into self-imposed exile after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
For Alexander-Arnold to change Tuchel’s mind at this late stage will not be easy, and his mixed display here may have confirmed misgivings about him rather than enhanced his prospects.
In a poor first half display, Alexander-Arnold not only wasted possession far too often, but also almost gifted Bayern a goal with pass straight to Michael Olise. He was then caught napping by former Liverpool team-mate Luis Diaz as the forward put Bayern in front.
Tuchel has voiced his concerns about Alexander-Arnold’s defending and this was it in full view. And yet he then showed why he has admirers who find his exclusion from Tuchel’s plans puzzling.
As Real finally woke up with Bayern leading 2-0, it was Alexander-Arnold who delivered a series of dangerous set-pieces before firing in an inviting low cross for Kylian Mbappe to pull a goal back.
This was Alexander-Arnold in microcosm, and was not the sort of performance to have Tuchel shuffling the names already formed in his mind for World Cup selection.
The inconsistent nature of his performance is confirmed by his pass completion rate of 69.2%, the lowest of anyone in the match.
Bayern Munich are waiting on the fitness of “very special” Harry Kane to see if he can lead their challenge to overcome Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.
The 32-year-old England captain took part in training in Munich on Monday morning, before travelling to Madrid with the rest of Bayern’s squad after the “minor issue” – believed to be an ankle knock – that kept him out of England’s friendly defeat against Japan at Wembley.
Kane was also missing for Bayern’s 3-2 victory against Freiburg, and coach Vincent Kompany was playing his cards close to his chest about his involvement at The Bernabeu.
Kompany said a final decision on whether Kane starts will be made on Tuesday, but speaking on Monday evening, he said: “Harry’s part of the team so that’s positive for us. We have to wait until tomorrow (Tuesday) to get the final information, then we will make our decision.
“It was important that he did a lot of training today (Monday). I don’t think he’s lost his rhythm.”
Kane is a key part of Bayern’s plans for the quarter-final first leg, having scored 10 goals in the Champions League this season. He is also the Bundesliga’s leading scorer with 31 this season.
Bayern team-mate Joshua Kimmich underlined Kane’s importance, as he said: “How many goals has he scored? How many assists does he have? Forty or 50 this season?
“This shows how important he is – apart from all the goals – extremely vital for our game.
“We are glad he is here with us. He is not only a poacher or a selfish goalscorer just trying to score as many goals as he can for us.
“He is an absolute leader who is always trying to have the maximum success for the team. This is a very special mindset for an attacking player. He’s a role model.”
Kimmich added: “It is important to have Harry on the pitch with us with all his qualities of leadership.”
Kompany fielded several questions on Kane’s fitness, saying: “Harry Kane knows how important this game is, but it is important to take a decision with each player.
“You keep asking about Harry Kane and to be honest I like it. I don’t mind but I don’t give you an answer.”
Brook was fined and given a final warning over his conduct following the incident. But that only came to light more than two months later, after the final Test against Australia in Sydney.
In January, 27-year-old Brook said supporters have “every right to be annoyed” with his behaviour as he issued a public apology.
But he also stated he was on his own when the bouncer “clocked ” him and only later admitted other players had been present. He explained he had lied about that because he had been trying to protect his team-mates from further scrutiny.
It also emerged the Cricket Regulator was looking into the matter.
England’s players were widely criticised for their off-field behaviour during the Ashes, including claims of excessive drinking during a mid-series break in the coastal resort of Noosa.
Tongue, 28, told BBC Sport earlier this week he had learned from what had happened in the New Zealand capital and is “just trying to focus on the cricket now”.
During a meeting at Lord’s to discuss the findings of a review of the tour last week, England’s managing director Rob Key said there is not an “easy fix” to cricket’s relationship with alcohol.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, at Wembley for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “This is the exact situation no England fan wants. We’ve talked about it for over a season with this World Cup coming up. What do England do without Harry Kane?
“This is what England and Thomas Tuchel do not want. He doesn’t have an answer to this question. Hence why we’re seeing this new formation again, with the interchange and false nine.
“We’ve spoken about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins. Nobody stuck their arm up and said, ‘I’ll be his replacement’. that’s why we’re seeing this.”
Robinson added: “It was a very disappointing evening for Thomas Tuchel. The experiment that he tried in the first half with the front four clearly didn’t work.
“It didn’t take him long in the second half to change it. You do give England credit because when those changes were made there was a lot more cohesion.
“The one area that Thomas Tuchel has got a problem is if there is a problem with Harry Kane. If that happens, then England have a real problem after watching that.”
Tuchel answered the question about an over-reliance on Kane, saying: “Well, why would Argentina not rely on Lionel Messi, or Portugal not rely on Cristiano Ronaldo? This is totally normal. Key figures left camp for us and we saw that a bit.
“We lacked a punch in the last 20 metres in both matches. We encouraged the players. It was difficult for us.”
Kane’s potential absence is an immediate concern, leaving Tuchel short of viable alternatives when he needs them most, especially given these two toothless performances without him.
English strikers are suddenly a malaise.
Only 10 English strikers have appeared in the Premier League in the current campaign, with Chelsea’s 22-year-old Liam Delap the only one aged under 26.
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck, who turns 35 at the end of the month, might just have had a good international break by not being involved.
Welbeck and Calvert-Lewin are the only English strikers to have scored 10 or more Premier League goals this season – with 43 scored by English strikers.
It’s a far cry from the first season of the Premier League era in 1992-93, when 20 English strikers passed the 10-goal mark.
In recent years, however, what was already a steep decline has fallen off a cliff. Last season, only 67 goals were scored by English strikers, less than half the number in 2020-21.
Kane’s departure from Tottenham for Germany has played a part, of course, but he left for Bayern in 2023 and English strikers still scored 96 goals in 2023-24.
The cupboard is bare, underscoring just how indispensable Kane is.
This was a sobering night for England and Tuchel. This performance demonstrated that they simple cannot live without Harry Kane.
The “Harry Potter” team did not need a divination expert to know its cast would encounter some “unpleasant and aggressive behavior.”
HBO boss Casey Bloys told multiple outlets this week that the network had taken precautions anticipating the vitriol the “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” actors would face. Ghanian-English actor Paapa Essiedu recently spoke out about the racist abuse and death threats he has received since the announcement that he had been cast as potions professor Severus Snape.
“With all actors on any kind of big IP shows — and this is obviously one of those where you’ve got, you know, passionate fans, people with a lot of opinions — it can get scary in places,” Bloys told Variety in an interview published Tuesday. “So for any show like that, we anticipated it and tried to have training, you know, best practices in terms of social media and how to handle it. And obviously we’ve got a serious security team.”
Essiedu, who is portraying the enigmatic but ultimately heroic Hogwarts professor first brought to life by Alan Rickman in the original “Harry Potter” films, has opened up about the racist abuse he has received from those who believe a Black man should not be playing the fictional wizard.
“I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you,’” he said in an interview with the Times of London. “The reality is that if I look at Instagram, I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.’”
“[N]obody should have to encounter this for doing their job … And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally,” Essiedu added.
This is not the first time that fans of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World novels expressed outrage over the casting of a Black actor in an adaptation. There was a similar outcry in 2016 when Noma Dumezweni was cast to play Hermione Granger in the original London production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
Bloys also told Deadline in an interview published Wednesday that they had “anticipated there would be a lot of interest in all of [the actors], and interest can tip over into more unpleasant and aggressive behavior.”
“We talked to them about what to expect, what to expect on social media and how we handle it, but any kind of security that’s needed is an unfortunate aspect of doing IP shows,” he said. “We just try to be mindful and monitor it.”
Essiedu also told the Times of London that “the [racist] abuse fuels” him.
“[It] makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid,” he said. “I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of.”
The new Harry Potter series is winging its way to HBO, but the show, based on the smash-hit books by author, JK Rowling, has divided die-hard fans of the boy wizard
09:10, 27 Mar 2026Updated 09:11, 27 Mar 2026
First look at HBO Harry Potter cast including Snape and Dumbledore
JK Rowling has given her take on the new Harry Potter trailer – which has seriously divided fans. The new series on HBO, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is set to debut on Christmas Day this this year.
Featuring a new cast, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, each series will adapt each of Rowling’s seven books across seven seasons over the course of a decade. The teaser opens exactly where fans would expect—at the Dursleys’ house. We see Harry hidden in the now-iconic cupboard, with Petunia Dursley dismissing him as “nothing special”. But almost immediately, the tone shifts. A letter arrives. A door opens. And just like that, the magic starts to happen.
Responding to the trailer, many fans were excited, as one took to X, exclaiming: “The trailer for the new Harry Potter looks b****y marvellous. I cannot wait, and as it seems to me, neither can the rest of the world.” However, others were not convinced, with one claiming the new offering was little more than “millennial slop”.
On Thursday, Rowling threw her support behind the project, insisting she’s “so happy” with the teaser trailer for the series adaptation of her novels, sharing her reaction to the first look with fans on social media. “It’s going to be incredible,” she exclaimed on X, adding: “I’m so happy with it.”
However, at least some of the book’s fans would disagree, with several slamming the new series in comparison to the Harry Potter films, which were released from 2001 to 2011.
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Several have also complained about the race-swapping of Severus Snape with actor Paapa Essiedu, who recently revealed he’s received racially-motivated death threats over his casting.
Giving their take on the trailer, one fan quipped: “The new Harry Potter show is truly amazing to me. Leftists won’t like because of JKR, right wingers won’t like it because JKR retconned a bunch of characters to try and be woke, and the kids of today won’t like it because it’s literally f******g millennial slop.”
Meanwhile, Rowling’s controversial views on the trans community have also called the series into question, with one fan tweeting: “You cannot ‘separate the art from the artist’ with Harry Potter.”
Scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day, Harry Potter began filming in the UK last summer.
Its cast includes McLaughlin as the titular boy wizard, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
The new Harry Potter series is being filmed in locations across the UK, including at a pretty market town that has been named ‘one of the happiest places to live’
This charming town has been used as a filming location for the new Harry Potter series(Image: Getty Images)
The trailer for the new Harry Potter TV series has been released, prompting excitement among wizards and muggles. The HBO series is being filmed in locations across the UK, including in a picturesque market town that has been ranked as ‘one of the happiest places to live’ in Great Britain.
The highly anticipated Harry Potter series, based on the beloved books by J.K Rowling, will launch onto our screens in Christmas 2026, with the first trailer released this week. Ahead of its arrival, film crews have been spotted in various locations around the UK, as we get ready to welcome a new cast in the hugely popular Harry Potter franchise and watch the magic unfold all over again.
Among the UK destinations set to be featured in the HBO series are London, Hertfordshire, Devon, and Cornwall. However, it came as a surprise to the residents of Skipton, in North Yorkshire, when Harry Potter film crews were spotted in the charming market town.
Skipton has often been dubbed the ‘Gateway to the Dales’, thanks to its position as the southern entrance to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with its lush valleys and heather moorlands that stretch across more than 2,100 square kilometres. The market town is steeped in rich heritage, with a preserved 900-year-old medieval castle, so it’s no wonder it’s been used as a filming location for Harry Potter.
At the end of last year, Harry Potter film crews were spotted in Skipton, as an actor performed a spell with his wand on top of a rooftop along a terraced street. While various areas in Yorkshire have previously been used as filming locations, residents were thrilled that the Harry Potter production had arrived in the small town of Skipton.
One resident told the BBC: “We’ve had bits of filming before, but I was surprised that they’ve picked it for something as colossal as this, so I’ll be very excited to see the end result.”
The filming reportedly took place on Westmoreland Street in Skipton, but it’s unclear if any further filming was done in the area. Another local told the publication: “It’s always exciting to have film crews hanging around and maybe put Skipton a little bit more on the map than what it already is.”
While we’ll have to wait a little longer to see just how much of Skipton is featured in the series, with producers remaining tight-lipped about locations, the town is certainly worth a visit in its own right. The high street is packed with independent retailers and delightful cafés, while the town’s location along the Leeds and Liverpool canal provides picturesque walks for an idyllic day out.
The cobbled high street leads up to the historic Skipton Castle, and there are numerous eateries in the town, including Phoebe’s restaurant, The Cock & Bottle pub, and The Clubhouse café. But one of the town’s highlights is the award-winning Skipton Market, which is believed to be one of the oldest in the country.
The outdoor market has been running since medieval times and has earned considerable recognition as the ‘best small outdoor market’ in the national Great British Market Awards. Found on the High Street, Skipton Market takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm, selling everything from food and produce to fashion and arts and crafts from local traders.
Yet it’s the residents who truly benefit from the charming town, as Skipton was named the ‘happiest place to live in Great Britain’ by Rightmove in their annual Happy at Home Index at the end of last year. Its convenient access to nature and green spaces was ranked as the top factor by Skipton residents, and there’s no shortage of landscapes to explore.
Beyond the nearby Yorkshire Dales National Park, there’s Aireville Park, a nature reserve, Castle Woods, and breathtaking Skipton Moor. With its undeniable charm and status as a film set, Skipton is well worth a visit, whether that’s for a weekend break or a day out, and is conveniently located just an hour’s drive from Leeds.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Fans now know when they can look forward to the new adaptation
20:06, 25 Mar 2026Updated 20:10, 25 Mar 2026
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Fans of Harry Potter admit that they are ‘dancing in their room’ after the first ‘incredible’ trailer finally landed for the upcoming HBO series.
We have known for some time now that a new adaptation based on the series of books written by J.K. Rowling has been on the way. Most have welcomed the news with cautious optimism. Some have said to be unsure we need another version after the much admired film series.
This new iteration is set to be a faithful adaptation of the iconic novels, with the author credited as an executive producer. Each season of Harry Potter will be introduced to both new and existing fans, exclusively streaming on HBO Max which finally launches in the UK this month.
The original classic films will continue to be accessible for viewing globally. While fans should be able to stream the new series on HBO’s dedicated platform, Sky and NOW users should also have access providing they have the correct subscription.
It’s been previously suggested that the studio is optimistic about the series being as successful and well-received as the films, with hopes of it running for a minimum of 10 years. The series is penned and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on Killing Eve and His Dark Materials. Multiple episodes will be directed by Mark Mylod, renowned for directing several episodes of the HBO hit series Succession.
Last year it was confirmed that emerging talents, Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout, will take on the legendary roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively. We now have a first glimpse of their much anticipated performances.
That also includes the new portrayals of other beloved characters. This includes Hagrid played by Nick Frost and Professor Dumbledore, with Hollywood star John Lithgow taking on the responsibilities of the role.
Fans now also know when they can expect to start watching the series and it is sooner than many think. The caption for the video as shared on YouTube states: “A new era of Hogwarts begins. The HBO Original series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres this Christmas.”
As expected, fans were quick to share their thoughts and opinions on the first footage shared from the series. Many were actually surprised at how much they enjoyed it.
One person replied: “This actually looks incredible! I love that they’re going to show more of Harry’s life with the Dursleys!” Another added in a similar vein: “THIS LOOKS INCREDIBLE!!! God Bless HBO!! THIS CHRISTMAS.”
Someone else confessed: “I’m dancing in my room right now.” While one person noted: “I actually love the take on Harry trying to be a muggle student at a school.”
Surprised by how the first episode seems to be approaching faster than first anticipated, one said: “Also, Christmas??? YESSS!!! I thought we’d have another year!!”
Plenty of others recognised that the series will allow them to explore more events of the book and reflect on characters more deeply. Some fans even admitted that they were left emotional and even in tears at the thought that the series could allow them to relive their childhoods. One person commented: “I shed a tear…my childhood is coming back to me again.”
One person posted: “I’m sobbing this is incredible” and another “I’m literally crying.”
Harry Potter is streaming on HBO Max this Christmas.
NEVER mind the spotlight – it seems Harry Styles prefers a different type of glow when he is not on stage.
I have been told that the fitness-obsessed pop star has splashed out £20,000 on an infrared sauna for his North London home.
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Fitness-obsessed Harry Styles is following in the footsteps of Ronaldo with his latest purchaseCredit: ErotemeThe former One Direction star has splashed out £20,000 on an infrared sauna for his North London homeCredit: Getty
The Watermelon Sugar singer is following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ellie Goulding and Lady Gaga in snapping up the very latest wellness status symbol.
A source said: “Harry is incredibly health-conscious these days.
“He loves running and needs to be on top of his health during his upcoming tour. He’ll be able to use the sauna in between shows to help repair his muscles.
“He loves running now and it’s the perfect antidote to training.”
The high-tech light therapy helps reduce pain, blood pressure and inflammation, as well as burning calories.
Harry will grace the May cover of fitness mag Runner’s World and completed the Berlin Marathon in under three hours last September.
He told the mag: “During my early days in One Direction, we spent so much time inside hotels and venues that there are countries I’ve been to that I didn’t really experience.
“So when I travel now, it’s about committing to going outdoors to see some stuff, whether that’s running or walking. You experience places in a whole different way.”
A source said: “Madonna prefers to work in the evening, so the crew filmed late into the night to make the shoot happen.”
Our sister column Biz revealed how Madonna, right, spent four days and nights holed up at Black Island Studios in West London to film the X-rated music video.
It will accompany the first single from the new album, which will be a sequel to her 2005 record Confessions On A Dancefloor.
And I have heard whispers that Madonna has also recorded a track for The Devil Wears Prada 2 film.
A source said: “Madonna’s hit song Vogue was used in the trailer and the film is set to be a massive hit.”
The comedy – which stars Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep – is out on May 1.
Judge Amanda Holden pressed her golden buzzer last night for the group, who were founded by Jezza.
Simon said: “He has a responsibility to be there. Mind you, can he even sing?”
Robbie comes undone
ROBBIE WILLIAMS is in the best shape of his life after losing weight.
Even so, the Come Undone hitmaker, who is 52, has revealed he has been struck by a host of physical issues.
He told radio station Gold: “There’s always something going on for the middle-aged man. We used to be elasticated silly putty, and now we are frozen silly putty that just snaps.
“I did my groin in by sitting down. I did that for the first time this year – sat on a testicle.
“I put my back out by turning around – turning around! You know, what you are supposed to do as a human.”
The star added: “I’ve got arthritis in my facet joints in the base of my spine and I’ve got two discs that are popping out – one in the neck, one in the lumbar.”
Robbie is heading to Dusseldorf in June for the next leg of his Britpop world tour.
I hope there’s a good physio on the bus.
Aitch Surrey not sorry
I’m A Celeb star Aitch has splashed out on a six-bedroom mansion in SurreyCredit: Splash
I can reveal that the I’m A Celeb star has splashed out on a plush six-bedroom mansion in Camberley, Surrey, for £1.6million.
A source said: “This house is a dream come true for Aitch and shows how hard he works.”
Aitch recently shared a glimpse of his new garden to his 2.9million Instagram fans, captioned: “Go step closer to that goal cos why not.”
The move comes after proud Northerner Aitch revealed that his second album 4 was inspired by his Manchester postcode M40.
Speaking last year, he said: “Since we were kids, when we used to take pictures, we always used to throw fours up.”
Lily furs night show in West End
Lily Allen was spotted in specs and a fur-trimmed coat as she left the London PalladiumCredit: Splash
LILY ALLEN looks like she’s raided the costume department in specs and a fur-trimmed coat as she leaves the London Palladium in London’s West End following the Friday night performance of her latest album.
An onlooker revealed she headed into a cab with her fella, writer and artist Jonah Freud.
The singer has won rave reviews for the tour, where she performs her fifth album West End Girl in its entirety each night.
A source said: “Fans have been blown away by her career-defining work.
“She’s on the best form and is loving being back on stage.”
Caught Live: Don’t myth out on hit
Former X Factor star Rachel Adedeji stars as Persephone in Hadestown at the Lyric TheatreCredit: Getty
THIS odyssey through the underworld, led by former X Factor contestant Rachel Adedeji, offers a spellbinding love story.
Rachel shines as Persephone, delivering a vocally rich performance, while leads Bethany Antonia and Marley Fenton stand out.
After a storming run on Broadway, this tragedy remains compelling and haunting as ever.
The musical blends two ancient Greek mythic love stories – Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and his wife Persephone.
Eurydice travels to Hadestown after being convinced by Hades that she will have a better life.
Desperate to keep her safe, her lover Orpheus follows her to bring her back to the living world.
Dancing On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer, actress Mia McKenna-Bruce, Vanessa Feltz and actor Mark Bonnar attended the gala night.
Dancing On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer was among the celebs who attended the show’s gala nightCredit: Getty
Harry Styles is no stranger to “Saturday Night Live,” having performed multiple times with his former boy band One Direction and more recently as a solo artist. But this isn’t his first time as host either.
Styles has a knack for radiating charm, honed after years in the spotlight as a musician, and now with some notable acting roles under his belt, he’s more than primed for the stage. And the timing is perfect, considering many actors are in Hollywood this weekend for the Oscars.
He also excelled in parts where he could show off his vocals and dancing, like in “Sparkle of the Sea,” an infomercial about a German cruise line, and another pretaped sketch, “She’s an Irish Dancer,” where guys find out just how Irish their dates are in a nod to St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday. Flatter, though, were sketches about a pair of Best Buy workers, and one where Styles played a drive-thru worker at a White Castle, but that’s because Jane Wickline and Veronika Slowikowska stole the skit as a pair of nerdy girls trying to ask him out to the school dance.
Styles performed his new single, “Dance No More,” after last week’s host Ryan Gosling introduced him, a fitting appearance since Styles crashed his monologue. And Paul Simon also stopped by to introduce Styles before his second song, “Coming Up Roses.”
This week’s cold open touched on the ongoing war in Iran. The patriarch (Mikey Day) of a family at a gas station says he needs to fill up their car. As a piano begins to play, his wife (Ashley Padilla) says, “Fill up? Not all the way, right?” “We have to,” Day replies emphatically. “But it’s $5 dollars,” she says before turning to her two children (Marcello Hernández and Sarah Sherman) to say they have to leave one of them behind because gas is too expensive. Why? “The Epstein files,” exclaims President Trump (James Austin Johnson), who jumps into the scene. “It’s called butterfly effect. Epstein was the first domino,” he says, miming dominoes falling. Trump goes on to introduce himself by saying we might remember him from campaign promises such as “lower gas prices” and “no more wars” (“Psych!”). “We love to make promises because a promise is a lie that just hasn’t happened yet.” As for the stock market, he puts it in a way that Harry Styles fans might understand — it’s going in one direction, garnering loud cheers and applause. He jokes about Iran’s age, saying it is old and nobody likes them, “Iran is like ballet and opera and weird Timothée Chalamet,” referring to the actor’s comments that have caused an uproar.
But Trump says he has everything under control, meeting with top minds including influencer and boxer Jake Paul, who he says was booed “very badly” at his fight against Mike Tyson. “Did someone say booze?” Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) says as he emerges from the family’s car and dozens of cans fall to the ground. (“It was just a couple of road sodas, chill.”) He then thanks Trump for the “beautiful, size 16 Florsheim shoes,” a reference to the Wall Street Journal report that they are the president’s gift of choice to close friends and advisors. Hegseth goes on to say that they are “hashtag winning” the war with Iran, and as for the Strait of Hormuz, he advises that the tankers moving oil should just do what he does at a DUI checkpoint: “Close your eyes and gun it.”
In his monologue, Styles, dressed in a grey pinstripe suit and bright blue tie, said he couldn’t resist hosting when he heard they booked his favorite-ever musical guest. After his tour ended in 2023, he took a lot of time off, realizing he’d spent much of his life on the road and “making songs about fruit that people think were about sex.” He just really likes fruit — and sex. He also said a lot of people pay attention to the clothes he wears (true, see above), with some people accusing him of “queerbaiting,” to which he responded, “Maybe you don’t know everything about me, dad.” But as far as what he did in his time off, he took up boring things, like jogging (his sub-three hour marathon in Berlin was the buzz of the running world). It’s better than the alternative, he says, as the screen flashed to an image of the former Prince Andrew. But now he’s promoting his new album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.”, because what’s better than kissing? He actually doesn’t want to kiss all the time, leading to a brief appearance and disappearance of cast members Chloe Fineman and Sherman, unless its Ben Marshall. He complimented Marshall’s backside, and gave him a smooch on the lips: “Now that’s queerbaiting.”
Best sketch of the night: I don’t know if your dad did this, but my dad used to pop it twice
The first sketch of the night took us into a courtroom, where a New Jersey prosecutor (Styles) rose to present his case against the defendant, Mr. Donovan (Tommy Brennan), who didn’t have an attorney. So the judge (Kenan Thompson) appointed one: comedian Sebastian Maniscalco (Hernández). It’s the second time Hernández has played the comedian, whose caricature of Maniscalco in a red blazer and black turtleneck is at turns spot on, exaggerated and completely hilarious. He chimed with retorts as the prosecutor explained the charges of stealing $5,000 in merchandise, including a belt. “Let me tell you something about a belt. When I was a kid, the belt wasn’t to keep the pants up, it was to keep the volume down,” Maniscalco says, motioning to his waist and explaining how his dad would use it. Maniscalco’s manic energy was too much for the courtroom sketch artist, though, who complains to the judge about having to draw him, showing a sketch of a blurred, multi-limbed man. Kudos to Styles who managed to mostly keep his composure as Hernández glided around him. But Styles had the last laugh with his own impression of Maniscalco, before a final sketch of him was revealed. Put it in the Lourve!
Also good: Why get real healthcare when you’ve got ‘Mahaspital’
“The Pitt,” one of the buzziest TV shows in America, has been lauded for its realistic portrayal of emergency rooms and the stresses that medical workers endure on a regular basis. So when the opening scenes of this pretape began playing, the crowd went wild. But this isn’t “The Pitt,” it’s “Mahaspital,” brought to you by producer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the team behind Make America Healthy Again. Styles channels Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robby, marching toward an incoming patient on a gurney as she’s pushed through the ER hallway. “What she needs is a steak,” he says. “Give me beef tallow and six raw eggs, too.” The sketch touches on many of the hallmarks of the MAHA movement: healing crystals, vaccine skepticism, raw milk and lots and lots of protein. And we can’t forget that Central Park bear.
‘Weekend Update’ winner: Battle of the heart (emojis)
“Update” anchors Michael Che and Jost focused most of their attention on the Iran war this week, but they also touched on another event happening this weekend: the Oscars. They brought in Tucker Carlson (Jeremy Culhane) to talk about the best picture nominees. Culhane’s impression of the conservative pundit was pretty impressive, capturing his cadence and habit of using rhetorical questions — I hope we see it again.
But it was Day and Hernández who stole the segment as emojis aerial tramway and heart, respectively, who joined to comment on Apple’s addition of eight new emojis. Heart emoji on the new additions: “All I know is they’re all going to be more popular than this loser,” pointing to Day. “I’m No. 1 because I’m useful. People use me for everything.” But you can’t put an aerial tramway down, who tried to explain other ways to use the emoji somewhat unsuccessfully. At least he has a solid crew of bangers: orange square, division sign, snorkel and “my boy, the goat” building with a horn on it. Day was dedicated to the bit, making Hernandez crack with muffled laughter. Don’t be surprised if you see a lot more of aerial tramway (and his girlfriend, on with two arrows) in your texts.
From “sticking a pen in a couple” while having a youthful flutter to owning a King George VI Chase winner and potential Cheltenham Gold Cup victor, Harry Redknapp has come a long way in horse racing.
The FA Cup-winning football manager’s love of the sport can be traced back to his grandmother Maggie Brown, who was a bookmaker’s runner in London’s East End, at a time when betting shops and off-course betting were illegal.
On Friday, his horse Jukebox Man will attempt to add the Cheltenham showpiece to his King George win in December.
The King George VI Chase is considered the biggest jumps race of the season before the Cheltenham Festival, while the Gold Cup is described by the Jockey Club as the most prestigious steeplechase in the world.
After claiming a photo-finish victory at Kempton Park on Boxing Day to topple 2024 King George winner Banbridge and 9-4 joint-favourite Gaelic Warrior, Redknapp said: “We’ve come into the Champions League today.”
But can he win jump racing’s equivalent of the Champions League?
“We have a chance, but it is a tough race,” Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live:
Among those standing in his way are Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie, Haiti Couleur and last year’s winner Inothewayurthinkin.
Redknapp said: “Just to have a runner in the Gold Cup is a dream come true.
“We have had so much fun with Jukebox Man, which won the King George on Boxing Day, which is one of the most iconic races in the racing calendar.
“To go to the Gold Cup and to have a runner with a bit of a chance is great.”
Victory would be the crowning moment of a 70-year love affair with the sport that began during childhood.
“My nan would take the bets,” he said. “I’d come out for my school dinner when I’m eight or nine and she was getting put in the back of a police van and taken to Poplar police station.”
Redknapp’s nan would tell him to “stick a pen in a couple“ that would be her bets for the day.
Despite his love of the sport, he has never been tempted to ride – “not for all the money in the world”.
”They get injured, these jump jockeys, and then they come back about three weeks later, he said.
“They’re not like footballers, are they?”
Redknapp owns shares in 26 horses.
“You’re not always successful,” he said.
“For every Shakem Up’arry and Jukebox Man and Taurus Bay, there’s lots of others that never really did anything.”
SINGER Harry Styles takes a stroll with girlfriend Zoe Kravitz — who shows her dedication to him by wearing his merchandise.
The couple were seen in New York with actress Zoe, 37, wearing a £35 baseball cap with the word “Kiss” on it — a reference to Harry’s new album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
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Singer Harry Styles takes a stroll with girlfriend Zoe KravitzCredit: GettyCouple Harry and Zoe were seen out walking in New YorkCredit: GettyHarry Styles recently released his new album Kiss All The Time. Disco, OccasionallyCredit: Getty
Now eagle-eyed viewers have spotted Harry in the crowd of US TV show Saturday Night Live donning a surprise new inking on his right arm.
He had swirling writing etched in black on his upper arm that spelled out the word Slinky.
One fan took to TikTok to muse: “Harry Styles’ slinky tattoo that people suspect harry got in honour of Liam Payne’s love for Toy Story”.
Slinky is a much-loved spring dog that features in the Disney Pixar movies, and is a loyal pal to protagonist Woody.
Another user then commented: “He loved him so much”.
One mused: “And that’s the arm that he said was going to be only for his family…. (he said that years ago it may not even be true anymore but it’s cute)”.
