Heart

Diane Ladd, the Oscar-nominated actor who received acclaim for her work in films including “Rambling Rose,” “Wild at Heart” and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” has died. She was 89.

Oscar winner Laura Dern, Ladd’s daughter with Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Dern, announced her mother’s death in a statement shared Monday. “My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai,” Dern wrote. A cause of death was not revealed.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” “Marriage Story” star Dern said in her statement. “We were blessed to have her.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The beautiful seaside town is perfect for a winter getaway. The town has a pier, sandy beaches, a number of attractions and is famous for its crabs.

The summer season has come to an end, and many Brits are now setting their sights on a winter escape. While seaside towns are a hit for holidays during the balmy months, they also offer fantastic getaways during the colder, darker days.

Winter visits provide a unique ambiance, ideal for tranquil seaside strolls, snug pubs, and fewer crowds. The town of Cromer, situated 23 miles north of Norwich, has been hailed as the perfect alternative to more frequented spots like Brighton or Bournemouth.

For those seeking a quieter coastal retreat during the off-peak months, this Norfolk town could be just the ticket. This vibrant seaside resort boasts sandy beaches, a pier, and a plethora of attractions. The high street is brimming with art galleries, independent shops, and pastel-coloured buildings.

The Norfolk Coast Path, which offers sweeping views of the rugged Norfolk coastline, is easily accessible from Cromer and is an ideal route for families to explore. The historic Grade II listed Victorian Pier, home to the world’s last end-of-pier theatre, hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, including a Christmas Show that always draws both locals and visitors alike, reports the Express.

Cromer is also renowned for its Cromer crab, celebrated for their sweet and flavourful meat, caught in the chalky waters off the North Norfolk coast. The town honours its unique seafood heritage with the annual Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival.

Within the town centre, visitors will discover numerous shops, restaurants and pubs. The 14th century St Peter and Paul church dominates the skyline, boasting Norfolk’s tallest church tower at 160 feet.

History enthusiasts frequently visit Cromer Museum, which offers captivating exhibits about the area’s past, including the Cromer Shoal Chalk Bed, known as “Britain’s Great Barrier Reef”, and the wartime story of how the Government planned to destroy the pier to prevent it being used as a landing strip by Britain’s enemies.

The town also houses a Banksy artwork that materialised on a sea wall in 2021, forming part of the elusive artist’s Great British Spraycation tour of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Referencing Cromer’s crab fishing heritage, the piece depicts hermit crabs, with one occupying a shell whilst displaying a placard reading “luxury rentals online” – believed to comment on local housing concerns. The council has protected it with resin coating against weather damage.

TripAdvisor reviews from tourists are overwhelmingly favourable, with many highlighting the town’s charm and available amenities.

GrahamN66 said: “First visit to Cromer, summer 2025. It is a gem, as it says itself! Excellent, long sandy beaches with shingle at the top. Just great, even if loads of people are using it, there is always space and it is just lovely. Amazing sunsets, facilities, all within easy walking distance – would totally recommend.”

Anglian Wanderer shared: “Cromer is one of those places I return to time and again, and it never loses its charm. The beach is as beautiful as ever, with wide stretches of sand, fascinating rock pools at low tide, and postcard-worthy sunsets.

“What I love most about Cromer is an unspoiled seaside town full of character, charm, and community. If you want fresh sea air, real coastal beauty, and a town that feels like a well-kept secret, Cromer will win your heart.”

Cutiepie19 said in: “Stayed at Hotel facing pier in Cromer. The place is beautiful. Visited its museums and church. Coffee shops are delightful. Lots of places to stop off and enjoy. Quaint little streets full of delightful independent and main street shops.

“Lots of cute food places and pubs. Very, very clean too. Gorgeous pier which is very well maintained. Beautiful prom to walk along and admire the view out to sea. Spotless beaches. Highly recommended.”

BRILLIANT sunlight flickered against a blue, cloudless sky. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for my 10km hike around Derwentwater, the third largest lake in the Lake District.

Trundling along the grassy trail with a flask of coffee in hand, every direction I turned in offered impressive sights of sweeping mountaintops and the motionless body of water below.

The views are simply spectacular and should have been reward enough for my valiant hiking efforts.

But I was already thinking about the pint waiting for me back at the newly refurbished Royal Oak.

Slap bang in the middle of Keswick, this pub with rooms re-opened only a few months ago following a £1million facelift by its owner, Thwaites. And what a good job they’ve done.

Downstairs, the bar area is full of cosy nooks with huge armchairs to relax in, while the dining area is awash with indoor plants and countryside- inspired touches that make it feel more like a home than a pub.

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Add a roaring fireplace and dog-friendly bedrooms to the mix and you’ve got a proper ramblers’ paradise.

I was staying in one of the upper-floor bedrooms, where the piping-hot showers are a soothing antidote to aching muscles after tackling the surrounding hilly landscape.

Each of the 18 rooms reflects a similar ambience to the main pub, with rustic wooden headboards backing plump beds and autumnal coloured curtains that give the space a woodland feel.

Modern bathrooms feature fancy toiletries from Lake District company Bath House, while flat-screen smart TVs make it all too easy to enjoy a lazy lie-in.

Make sure you don’t sleep too late, though, as you wouldn’t want to miss out on breakfast.

The kitchen dishes up cracking homemade grub, most of which is sourced locally. Think loaded fry-ups with fat, juicy sausages and pub classics like fish and chips with mushy peas.

I kept things simple at dinner with a 10oz rib-eye steak which came with a roasted vine tomato, mushroom, rocket and chunky chips that were very moreish – all washed down with a bottle of red.

If the food and decor aren’t enough of a selling point, then the location of the Royal Oak sure will be.

At the centre of a charming high street, the pub is within walking distance of quaint wine shops, boutique clothing stores and excellent bakeries, including the newly opened Snack Shack.

I’ve never seen more sausage rolls stacked in a window before! That was all the persuading I needed to buy one. A great idea – the pastry was buttery and flakey and the caramelised onion filling was a delicious touch.

If you’re visiting on a Saturday, take a wander to Keswick market, where you’ll find stalls selling all sorts of local food, products – and more flat caps than you’d see in an old folks’ home.

If you prefer to carry on rambling, I’d recommend making the journey to Cat Bells fell.

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But only if you’re up for a challenge, as the summit is equivalent in height to ten Big Bens stacked on top of one another. I reckon I was about seven high when I decided to give up.

People in the Lakes are made of sturdier stuff than I – it’s probably those sausage rolls.

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
First Round

DIVISION 1
Sierra Canyon, bye
Temecula Valley d. Oaks Christian, 22-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-23
Mira Costa d. Newport Harbor, 25-15, 25-23, 25-22
Marymount, bye
Mater Dei, bye
Harvard-Westlake d. Crean Lutheran, 25-16, 25-20, 25-14
San Juan Hills d. Los Alamitos, 25-20. 25-27, 25-11, 30-28
Redondo Union, bye

DIVISION 3
Lakewood St. Joseph d. South Torrance, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23
Crescenta Valley d. Glendora, 3-2
North Torrance d. Agoura, 25-15, 24-26, 25-16, 25-18
Flintridge Prep d. Newbury Park, 3-0
Burbank Burroughs d. Claremont, 3-0
South Pasadena d. Campbell Hall, 25-22, 19-25, 26-24, 15-25, 17-15
Foothill d. Aliso Niguel, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20
Saugus d. Santa Monica Pacifica Christian, 26-24, 28-26, 25-13
Pasadena Poly d. Santa Monica, 23-25, 27-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-5
St. Margaret’s d. Hesperia, 3-0
El Dorado d, La Salle, 3-1
Long Beach Wilson d. Trabuco Hills, 25-17, 25-20, 25-15
Cypress d. Riverside Poly, 3-0
Village Christian d. Hemet, 3-1
Millikan d. Summit, 25-18, 25-22, 25-13

DIVISION 5
Downey d. Granite Hills, 3-2
Ontario Christian d. Warren, 25-18, 25-15, 26-24
Culver City d. Villa Park, 3-0
San Marino d. Camarillo, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 23-25, 15-8
Gahr d. Canyon Country Canyon, 27-25, 27-25, 25-16
Pacifica Christian d. Highland, 25-15, 25-20, 25-18
Santa Barbara d. Paraclete, 23-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 15-12
Sacred Heart LA d. Grand Terrace, 25-13, 24-26, 25-13, 26-24
Alta Loma d. Lancaster Desert Christian, 3-0
Placentia Valencia d. Jurupa Valley, 3-0
Valencia d. St. Bonaventure, 25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23
Royal d. Irvine University, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17
San Gabriel d. Whitney, 3-2
El Toro d. Palm Springs, 3-1
Chadwick d. La Palma Kennedy, 3-0
Corona d. Buckley, 3-1

DIVISION 7
Ontario d. Pomona Catholic, 3-1
Elsinore d. Santa Clarita Christian, 3-1
San Jacinto Leadership d. Beverly Hills, 25-14, 25-15, 21-25, 25-16
Esperanza d. Century, 3-0
Faith Baptist d. San Jacinto Valley, 27-29, 25-20, 25-18, 25-14
West Valley d. Calvary Baptist, 3-2
Eisenhower d. Rowland, 3-2
Cate d. Laguna Blanca, 3-0
Castaic d. San Gabriel Academy, 3-0
Santa Fe d. Samueli Academy, 3-1
Tustin d. Temecula Prep, 19-25, 17-25, 25-17, 25-13, 15-11
Coastal Christian d. Chino, 3-0
Pasadena d. San Gorgonio, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17, 25-10
Geffen Academy d. Lancaster, 3-0
CAMS d. Azusa, 3-0

DIVISION 9
Beacon Hill d. Cathedral City, 3-0
Westminster La Quinta d. Redlands Adventist, 3-2
Tarbut V’ Torah d. Crossroads Christian, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23
Avalon d. Los Amigos, 3-0
Santa Ana Valley d. Anza Hamilton, 26-24, 25-23, 17-25, 20-25, 15-12
United Christian Academy d. Ganesha, 3-1
Lawndale d. California School for the Deaf Riverside, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20
Nogales d. Acaciawood Academy, 25-18, 25-23, 25-16
Nordhoff d. Cobalt, 25-15, 21-25, 25-12, 25-15
Estancia d. Santa Paula, 25-16, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19
Fairmont Prep d. Legacy Prep, 3-0
Buena Park d. Montclair, 3-0
Riverside North d. Cal Lutheran, 3-0
South El Monte d. Sierra Vista, 25-20, 25-18, 28-26
Loara d. Ambassador Christian, 3-0

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)
Second Round

DIVISION 2
Rancho Christian at San Marcos
Long Beach Poly at Corona Centennial
San Clemente at Redlands
Santa Margarita at Chaminade, 5:30 p.m.
JSerra at Thousand Oaks
Murrieta Mesa at Bishop Montgomery
Eastvale Roosevelt at West Ranch
Orange Lutheran at Marina

DIVISION 4
Diamond Bar at Marlborough
Portola at La Canada
Quartz Hill at Dana Hills
Corona Santiago at Crossroads
San Jacinto at Linfield Christian
Ridgecrest Burroughs at Oak Park, 5 p.m.
Ventura at Yucaipa
Paloma Valley at Cerritos

DIVISION 6
Oakwood at Garden Grove Pacifica
Pasadena Marshall at Norwalk
Arrowhead Christian at South Hills
St. Paul at Cantwell-Sacred Heart
Wiseburn Da Vinci at Bishop Diego
Burbank Providence at Lakewood
Norte Vista at Capistrano Valley Christian
Valley View at Barstow

DIVISION 7
Bell Gardens at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 8
Foothill Tech at Rancho Alamitos
Wildwood at Malibu
Victor Valley at Arroyo Valley
Schurr at Whittier
Paramount at Canoga Park AGBU
Loma Linda Academy at Katella
Vistamar at Lighthouse Christian
de Toledo at Artesia

DIVISION 9
Miller at Victor Valley Christian

DIVISION 10
Colton at River Springs Magnolia
Thacher at Edgewood
Anaheim at Hueneme
Indian Springs at Rosemead
Desert Hot Springs at San Luis Obispo Classical
Mesa Grande at Lakeside
Bassett at Moreno Valley
Pacific Lutheran at Glendale Adventist

Note: Divisions 3, 5, 7, 9 second round Oct. 25; Division 1 quarterfinals Oct. 28; Divisions 2-10 quarterfinals Oct. 29; semifinals Nov. 1; finals Nov. 8.

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

First Round

DIVISION 2
Rancho Christian d. Rosary, 3-2
San Marcos d. Murrieta Valley, 3-0
Long Beach Poly d. Yorba Linda, 18-25, 25-23, 25-14, 26-24
Corona Centennial d. Beaumont, 3-0
San Clemente d. Louisville, 25-16, 25-13, 25-17
Redlands d. Etiwanda, 25-21, 25-16, 25-7
Chaminade d. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 25-14, 25-14, 25-23
Santa Margarita d. Los Osos, 3-0
Thousand Oaks d. She Hill, 3-0
JSerra d. Windward, 3-0
Murrieta Mesa d. El Segundo, 25-12, 25-23, 25-13
Bishop Montgomery d. Xavier Prep, 25-8, 25-10, 25-12
West Ranch d. Tesoro, 3-0
Eastvale Roosevelt d. Bishop Amat, 3-0
Orange Lutheran d. Sunny Hills, 3-0
Marina d. Cerritos Valley Christian, 3-1

DIVISION 3
Corona del Mar d. Mayfield, 25-20, 25-14, 20-25 20-25, 15-12

DIVISION 4
Marlborough, bye
Diamond Bar d. Heritage Christian, 19-25, 25-17, 19-25, 26-24, 15-8
Portola d. Western Christian, 3-0
La Canada d. San Dimas, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18
Dana Hills d. Arcadia, 25-10, 25-17, 25-17
Quartz Hill d.Fullerton, 3-0
Crossroads d. Southlands Christian, 3-0
Corona Santiago d. Peninsula, 3-1
San Jacinto d. Palm Desert, 3-0
Linfield Christian d. Hesperia Christian, 25-11, 25-22. 25-8
Oak Park d. Sultana, 19-25, 25-16, 25-25-21, 25-23
Ridgecrest Burroughs d. Northview, 25-21, 25-14, 25-18
Ventura d. Rancho Cucamonga, 25-16, 25-18, 25-18
Yucaipa d. Santa Rosa Academy, 3-2
Cerritos d. West Torrance, 3-2
Paloma Valley d. La Serna, 3-1

DIVISION 6
Oakwood d. Desert Christian Academy, 3-0
Garden Grove Pacifica d. Western, 3-0
Norwalk d. Trinity Classical Academy, 3-1
Pasadena Marshall d. Charter Oak, 3-2
Arrowhead Christian d. Gabrielino, 3-1
South Hills d. Coachella Valley, 3-1
St. Paul d. Rialto, 3-1
Cantwell-Sacred Heart d. Academy of Academic Excellence, 25-23, 25-20, 25-15
Wiseburn Da Vinci d. Oxnard, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21
Bishop Diego d. Indio, 19-25, 25-22, 25-11, 25-10
Lakewood d. Woodcrest Christian, 3-2
Burbank Providence d. Rim of the World, 25-8, 25-14, 17-25, 25-20
Norte Vista d. Ocean View, 3-1
Capistrano Valley Christian d. Webb, 25-8, 25-16, 25-11
Valley View d. Segerstrom, 3-2
Barstow d. Oxford Academy, 3-2

DIVISION 8
Foothill Tech d. University Prep, 25-18, 25-11, 22-25, 25-14
Rancho Alamitos d. Holy Martyrs, 3-2
Wildwood d. Santa Maria Valley Christian, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17
Malibu d. Firebaugh, 3-1
Arroyo Valley d. St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy, 3-0
Victor Valley d. Big Bear, 3-0
Whittier d. Rancho Verde, 3-0
Schurr d. Eastside, 3-0
Paramount d. Pilibos, 3-0
Canoga Park AGBU d. Downey Calvary Chapel, 3-2
Loma Linda Academy d. Garden Grove, 3-1
Katella d. St. Monica Academy, 3-1
Lighthouse Christian d. St. Mary’s Academy, 3-2
Vistamar d. Patriot, 3-1
de Toledo d. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 3-2
Artesia d. Ramona Convent, 3-0

DIVISION 10
River Springs Magnolia d. Noli Indian, 3-0
Colton d. Packinghouse Christian, 25-21, 27-25, 27-25
Edgewood d. Newbury Park Academy, 3-1
Thacher d. Lucerne Valley, 3-0
Anaheim d. Joshua Springs, 3-0
Hueneme d. New Covenant, 3-0
Rosemead d. Compton Early College, 3-0
Indian Springs d. Santa Barbara Providence, 25-23, 25-21, 13-25, 25-7
San Luis Obispo Classical d. Desert Chapel, 25-15, 25-15, 25-18
Desert Hot Springs d. Gorman, 3-0
Lakeside d. Waverly, 3-0
Mesa Grande d. San Bernardino, 3-0
Bassett d. Animo Leadership, 3-1
Moreno Valley d. Mesrobian, 3-0
Pacific Lutheran d. Highland Hall, 25-16, 25-16, 25-14
Glendale Adventist d. Oak Grove, 3-0

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

First Round

DIVISION 1
Sierra Canyon, bye
Oaks Christian at Temecula Valley
Newport Harbor at Mira Costa
Marymount, bye
Mater Dei, bye
Crean Lutheran at Harvard- Westlake
Los Alamitos at San Juan Hills
Redondo Union, bye

DIVISION 3
Lakewood St. Joseph at South Torrance
Crescenta Valley at Glendora
Agoura at North Torrance
Newbury Park at Flintridge Prep
Claremont at Burbank Burroughs
Campbell Hall at South Pasadena
Aliso Niguel at Foothill
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Saugus
Santa Monica at Pasadena Poly
Hesperia at St. Margaret’s
La Salle at El Dorado
Trabuco Hills at Long Beach Wilson
Riverside Poly at Cypress
Village Christian at Hemet
Summit at Millikan

DIVISION 5
Granite Hills at Downey
Warren at Ontario Christian
Villa Park at Culver City
San Marino at Camarillo
Canyon Country Canyon at Gahr
Highland at Orange County Pacifica Christian
Paraclete at Santa Barbara
Grand Terrace at Sacred Heart LA
Lancaster Desert Christian at Alta Loma
Jurupa Valley at Placentia Valencia
St. Bonaventure at Valencia
Irvine University at Royal
Whitney at San Gabriel
Palm Springs at El Toro
Chadwick at La Palma Kennedy
Buckley at Corona

DIVISION 7
Pomona Catholic at Ontario
Santa Clarita Christian at Elsinore
Beverly Hills at San Jacinto Leadership Academy
Century at Esperanza
San Jacinto Valley at Faith Baptist
Calvary Baptist at West Valley
Rowland at Eisenhower
Bell Gardens at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian
Laguna Blanca at Cate
San Gabriel Academy at Santa Fe
Tustin at Temecula Prep
Chino at Coastal Christian
San Gorgonio at Pasadena
Geffen Academy at Lancaster
Azusa at CAMS

DIVISION 9
Cathedral City at Beacon Hill
Redlands Adventist at Westminster La Quinta
Tarbut V’ Torah at Crossroads Christian
Avalon at Los Amigos
Santa Ana Valley at Anza Hamilton
Ganesha at United Christian Academy
California School for the Deaf Riverside at Lawndale
Acaciawood Academy at Nogales
Cobalt at Nordhoff
Santa Paula at Estancia
Legacy Prep at Fairmont Prep
Montclair at Buena Park
Cal Lutheran at Riverside North
Miller at Victor Valley Christian
Sierra Vista at South El Monte
Ambassador Christian at Loara

Note: Divisions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 second round Oct. 23; Divisions 3, 5, 7, 9 second round Oct. 25; Division 1 quarterfinals Oct. 28; Divisions 2-10 quarterfinals Oct. 29; semifinals Nov. 1; finals Nov. 8.

Balvinder Sopal has opened up about ending up in the bottom two on Strictly Come Dancing two weeks in a row

EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal has spoken candidly about landing in the dance off on Strictly Come Dancing for two consecutive weeks, confessing she felt “crushed” following the most recent results programme.

The soap star joined her dancing partner Julian Callion on Tuesday’s (21 October) edition of It Takes Two, where they discussed the tense dance off with presenter Fleur East.

“My heart just sank. I felt quite disappointed. I thought we’d done enough to come back after the week previous, where we were were again, bottom two,” Balvinder admitted. “Yeah, I was crushed.”

Fleur, a former Strictly contestant from 2022, expressed empathy with Balvinder’s situation, remarking: “Yeah, it is such a crushing feeling.”

Julian, making his debut as a professional on the programme, explained how he comforted Balvinder when the results were announced, reports Wales Online.

“To be honest, I didn’t really say much because we’d actually just been in there seven days ago. I think in those situations where it’s high pressure, it’s high stress, sometimes the more you say and the more you try to think, the worse it is,” Julian said.

He added: “I definitely don’t think we were there based on dance ability or anything.”

The pair went head to head with rugby star Chris Robshaw and his partner Nadiya Bychkova in the elimination showdown, with both couples having garnered the fewest public votes.

The judges voted to save Balvinder, with Craig Revel Horwood having the deciding vote on the night, following a new rule which stops head judge Shirley Ballas having the deciding vote every single week.

“The new rules meant that Craig saved you. How did that feel?” Fleur asked Balvinder, who plays Suki Panesar in BBC One’s EastEnders.

The actress issued a heartfelt message to Craig, who is known for his harsh criticism and low scores on the BBC show, after he saved her due to her “quality” and “technical ability”.

“Oh, I mean, I am so grateful to Craig, actually,” Balvinder said. “And, he’s one of the scariest judges, I think. But, Sunday night, he saved us and I can’t thank him enough.”

It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two at 6.30pm. Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

(All matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

First Round

DIVISION 2

Rosary Academy at Rancho Christian

Murrieta Valley at San Marcos

Yorba Linda at Long Beach Poly

Beaumont at Corona Centennial

Louisville at San Clemente

Etiwanda at Redlands

Chaminade at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

Los Osos at Santa Margarita

Sage Hill at Thousand Oaks

Windward at JSerra

El Segundo at Murrieta Mesa

Xavier Prep at Bishop Montgomery

Tesoro at West Ranch

Bishop Amat at Eastvale Roosevelt

Sunny Hills at Orange Lutheran

Marina at Cerritos Valley Christian

DIVISION 4

Marlborough, bye

Heritage Christian at Diamond Bar

Western Christian at Portola

La Canada at San Dimas

Arcadia at Dana Hills

Fullerton at Quartz Hill

Crossroads at Southlands Christian

Peninsula at Corona Santiago

Palm Desert at San Jacinto

Hesperia Christian at Linfield Christian

Sultana at Oak Park

Northview at Ridgecrest Burroughs

Rancho Cucamonga at Ventura

Yucaipa at Santa Rosa Academy

Cerritos at West Torrance

La Serna at Paloma Valley

DIVISION 6

Desert Christian Academy at Oakwood

Western at Garden Grove Pacifica

Norwalk at Trinity Classical Academy

Pasadena Marshall at Charter Oak

Gabrielino at Arrowhead Christian

South Hills at Coachella Valley

Rialto at St. Paul

Cantwell-Sacred Heart at Academy of Academic Excellence

Oxnard at Wiseburn Da Vinci

Indio at Bishop Diego

Lakewood at Woodcrest Christian

Rim of the World at Burbank Providence

Norte Vista at Ocean View

Capistrano Valley Christian at Webb

Segerstrom at Valley View

Oxford Academy at Barstow

DIVISION 8

University Prep at Foothill Tech

Holy Martyrs at Rancho Alamitos

Santa Maria Valley Christian at Wildwood

Malibu at Firebaugh

St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy at Arroyo Valley

Big Bear at Victor Valley

Rancho Verde at Whittier

Eastside at Schurr

Pilibos at Paramount

Canoga Park AGBU at Downey Calvary Chapel

Garden Grove at Loma Linda Academy

St. Monica Academy at Katella

Lighthouse Christian at St. Mary’s Academy

Patriot at Vistamar

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Artesia

DIVISION 10

Noli Indian at River Springs Magnolia

Packinghouse Christian at Colton

Edgewood at Newbury Park Academy

Lucerne Valley at Thacher

Joshua Springs at Anaheim

New Covenant at Hueneme

Compton Early College at Rosemead

Santa Barbara Providence at Indian Springs

Desert Chapel at San Luis Obispo Classical

Gorman at Desert Hot Springs

Waverly at Lakeside

San Bernardino at Mesa Grande

Animo Leadership at Bassett

Mesrobian at Moreno Valley

Highland Hall at Pacific Lutheran

Oak Grove at Glendale Adventist

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

First Round

DIVISION 1

Sierra Canyon, bye

Oaks Christian at Temecula Valley

Newport Harbor at Mira Costa

Marymount, bye

Mater Dei, bye

Crean Lutheran at Harvard- Westlake

Los Alamitos at San Juan Hills

Redondo Union, bye

DIVISION 3

Lakewood St. Joseph at South Torrance

Crescenta Valley at Glendora

Agoura at North Torrance

Newbury Park at Flintridge Prep

Mayfield at Corona del Mar

Claremont at Burbank Burroughs

Campbell Hall at South Pasadena

Aliso Niguel at Foothill

Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Saugus

Santa Monica at Pasadena Poly

Hesperia at St. Margaret’s

La Salle at El Dorado

Trabuco Hills at Long Beach Wilson

Riverside Poly at Cypress

Village Christian at Hemet

Summit at Millikan

DIVISION 5

Granite Hills at Downey

Warren at Ontario Christian

Villa Park at Culver City

San Marino at Camarillo

Canyon Country Canyon at Gahr

Highland at Orange County Pacifica Christian

Paraclete at Santa Barbara

Grand Terrace at Sacred Heart LA

Lancaster Desert Christian at Alta Loma

Jurupa Valley at Placentia Valencia

St. Bonaventure at Valencia

Irvine University at Royal

Whitney at San Gabriel

Palm Springs at El Toro

Chadwick at La Palma Kennedy

Buckley at Corona

DIVISION 7

Pomona Catholic at Ontario

Santa Clarita Christian at Elsinore

Beverly Hills at San Jacinto Leadership Academy

Century at Esperanza

San Jacinto Valley at Faith Baptist

Calvary Baptist at West Valley

Rowland at Eisenhower

Bell Gardens at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian

Laguna Blanca at Cate

San Gabriel Academy at Santa Fe

Tustin at Temecula Prep

Chino at Coastal Christian

San Gorgonio at Pasadena

Geffen Academy at Lancaster

Azusa at CAMS

DIVISION 9

Cathedral City at Beacon Hill

Redlands Adventist at Westminster La Quinta

Tarbut V’ Torah at Crossroads Christian

Avalon at Los Amigos

Santa Ana Valley at Anza Hamilton

Ganesha at United Christian Academy

California School for the Deaf Riverside at Lawndale

Acaciawood Academy at Nogales

Cobalt at Nordhoff

Santa Paula at Estancia

Legacy Prep at Fairmont Prep

Montclair at Buena Park

Cal Lutheran at Riverside North

Miller at Victor Valley Christian

Sierra Vista at South El Monte

Ambassador Christian at Loara

Note: Divisions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 second round Oct. 23; Divisions 3, 5, 7, 9 second round Oct. 25; Division 1 quarterfinals Oct. 28; Divisions 2-10 quarterfinals Oct. 29; semifinals Nov. 1; finals Nov. 8.

It’s easy to miss the confidence of Billy Wilder or Frank Capra whenever some brave soul tries to make a comedy that takes America’s temperature by straddling cynicism and optimism. Those Hollywood masters could handily juggle the sweet, sour and satirical and, in Wilder’s case, even leave you believing in a happy ending.

With his writing-directing feature debut, “Good Fortune,” however, Aziz Ansari, who stars alongside Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves (as an angel named Gabriel), swings big, hoping to capture that jokey truth-telling vibe about the State of Things. His subject is a fertile one too: the gig economy fostering our crushing inequity, but also the desperation of the have-nots and how oblivious the wealthy are about those who made them rich. So let’s stick it to the billionaires! Let Keanu help the downtrodden!

Ansari’s high-low morality tale, set in our fair (and unfair) Los Angeles, is a friendly melding of celestially tinged stories (“Heaven Can Wait,” “Wings of Desire”) and body-swap comedies (“Trading Places”). But as agreeable as it is, it can’t square its jabs with its sentimentality. It’s got heart, kind eyes, a wry smile and some funny lines, but no teeth when you really need things bitten into, chewed up and spit out.

Ansari plays Arj, living a serious disconnection between his professional identity — wannabe Hollywood film editor — and how he actually exists: task-gigging for scraps and living in his car. When a garage-reorganizing job for Jeff (Rogen), a Bel-Air venture capitalist, turns into an assistant position, Arj feels secure enough to use the company card for a fancy dinner with occasional colleague and romantic interest Elena (an underused Keke Palmer). Jeff clocks the charge the next day, though (a realistic detail about the rich watching every penny), and immediately fires Arj.

All along, Arj’s sad situation has touched Reeves’ long-haired, khaki-suited angel, whose life-saving purview (he specializes in jostling distracted drivers) is low in the hierarchy overseen by boss guardian Martha (Sandra Oh). Gabriel wants a big healing job to show Arj, with a little role-reversal magic, that being Jeff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Except, of course, it is. (David Mamet’s line “Everybody needs money — that’s why they call it money” comes to mind.) The newly luxe-and-loving-it Arj shows no signs of wanting to switch back (which is apparently his call to make in the rules of this scenario), leaving out-of-his-depth Gabriel in the position of convincing a sudden billionaire why he should go back to being poor.

Which is where “Good Fortune,” for all its grasp of how Depression-era screwball comedies made the filthy rich mockable, struggles to match its issue-driven humor with its fix-it heart. While it’s funny to watch Rogen’s freshly desperate character suffer food-delivery humiliation, buying the script’s changes of heart — and the film’s naïve idea of where everyone should be at the end — is another matter. That’s why screwball comedies didn’t try to upend capitalism, just have some clever fun with it and let a simple love story stick the landing. Ansari’s ambition is admirable but he’s better at diagnoses than solutions.

His gold-touch move is giving the hilariously deadpan Reeves one of his best roles in years: a goofy meme brought to disarming life and the movie’s beating heart. Doing good can be hard work; understanding humans is harder. Plus, Reeves makes eating a burger for the first time a sublimely funny reaffirmation that sometimes, indeed, it is a wonderful life.

Wales’ players were crestfallen at the final whistle, glazed looks in their eyes as it dawned on them that a huge opportunity had slipped through their grasp.

Belgium’s goalless draw with North Macedonia on Friday had opened the door for Wales, who needed to win their remaining three games to finish top of Group J and qualify automatically for the World Cup.

But they fell at the first hurdle, outgunned by Belgium in another chaotic shootout after losing 4-3 in Brussels in June.

Again, Wales’ bold approach – to press and to pour forward at every opportunity – left them exposed defensively, and once again they were ruthlessly punished by Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and the rest.

On reflection, did Bellamy feel his side were just a little too open?

“We felt the best way of being able to combat this team was to have the ball,” he answered. “And we created a lot of chances, but we felt that was the way of being able to beat this team because we needed to win.

“It was as simple as that, and you could see even towards the end, we opened up more. We lost a bit of control in the game. But I always believe the way you can stop the opposition from scoring is by having the ball.

“But that transition moment, with Jeremy, it’s so fearful every time you have the ball that if it turns over, this kid, he’s just that.

“I’ve experienced it. I had him on my team [at Anderlecht], and I knew how dangerous he was, but going against him… We knew there were going to be difficult moments in that game.”

This has been a bruising window for Bellamy, whose decision to take on England in a friendly at Wembley last Thursday was met with a mixture of scepticism, bemusement and outright criticism.

The outcome, a chastening 3-0 defeat, intensified the fans’ discontent, though they were willing to keep an open mind if it helped Wales beat Belgium.

Supporters will be less forgiving now Wales have lost – making it 12 goals conceded in five games – and seen their hopes of qualifying automatically go up in smoke.

But nothing will deter Bellamy, unshakeable in his beliefs.

“I’ve seen a lot today that makes me feel we can get close to these. We can get close. We need to keep improving,” he said.

“But I told you at the start when I was going to do this. I’m going to press, and I won’t sit back. I know that goes against some people, but this is who I am.

“And today, I’ve seen a team with flaws because I have them. A team that wants to do something, because I want to. I’m grateful for that.”

A Grammy Award for best new artist. Four top 10 hits since September 2024. Sold-out gigs packed with admirers in pink cowgirl hats wherever she goes.

At 27, Chappell Roan has unquestionably become one of pop’s new queens. But let it never be said that this powerhouse singer and songwriter rules without mercy.

As her band vamped on the intro to her song “Hot to Go!” on Friday night, Roan surveyed the tens of thousands spread across the leafy grounds surrounding the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

“We’re gonna teach you a dance,” she said, though few in the audience probably needed the lesson at this point in Roan’s ascent. For more than a year, social media has been awash in video clips of Roan’s fans doing a “Y.M.C.A.”-like routine in time to the frenzied chorus of “Hot to Go!”

But wait a minute: “There’s a dad in the crowd that’s not doing it,” Roan reported with practiced disbelief. The band stopped playing. “There’s a dad that’s not doing it,” she repeated — less incredulous than reproving now.

“But he looks really, really nice, so I’m not gonna do anything about it.”

Roan’s show Friday was the first of two in Pasadena to wrap a brief U.S. tour.

(Brian Feinzimer/For The Times)

Friday’s show, which Roan said was the biggest headlining date she’d ever played, was the first of two at Brookside at the Rose Bowl to conclude a brief run of U.S. concerts she’s calling Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things. The performances in New York, Kansas City and Pasadena can be seen as something of a victory lap after the slow-building success of her 2023 debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” which beyond “Hot to Go!” has spun off numerous other hits including “My Kink Is Karma” and the inescapable “Pink Pony Club.”

That last song, which has more than a billion streams on Spotify and YouTube, documents a young queer woman’s sexual awakening at a West Hollywood gay club; Roan’s music sets thoughts of pleasure, heartache and self-discovery against a gloriously theatrical blend of synth-pop, disco, glam rock and old-fashioned torch balladry.

Having spent this past summer on the European festival circuit, she’s said that Visions of Damsels represents “the chance to do something special before going away to write the next album”; the mini-tour also keeps her in the conversation as nominations are being decided for next year’s Grammys, where she’s likely to vie for record and song of the year with “The Subway,” one of a handful of singles she’s released since “Midwest Princess.”

Yet as clearly as it showcased her natural star quality — the stage was designed like a gothic castle with various staircases for Roan to descend dramatically — this was really a demonstration of the intimate bond she’s forged with her fans, many of whom came to the show dressed in one of the singer’s signature looks: harlequin, majorette, prom queen, construction worker.

An hour or so into her 90-minute set, Roan sat in a giant throne with a toy creature she called her tour pet and recalled her move to Los Angeles nearly a decade ago from small-town Missouri.

“I had a really, really tough time the first five years,” she said, adding that she’d lived in Altadena when she first arrived. (In a bit of now-infamous Chappell Roan lore, she was dropped by Atlantic Records in 2020 after the label decided “Pink Pony Club” was not a hit.) She talked about how much she loves this city — “F— ICE forever,” she said at one point to huge applause — but bemoaned the “weird professionalism” she can feel when she’s onstage in L.A.

“I know there’s a lot of people in the music and film industry here, and I don’t want you to think about that,” she said. “Don’t f—ing talk about it. Don’t talk about work here. I just want you to feel like you did when you were a kid — when you were 13 and free.” She laughed.

“I’m just gonna shut up — I’m so dumb,” she said. Then she sang the lovelorn “Coffee” like someone confessing her greatest fear.

Roan said Friday’s show was the biggest headlining date she’d ever played.

(Brian Feinzimer/For The Times)

Though the castle set was impressively detailed, Roan’s production was relatively low-key by modern pop standards; she had no dancers and no special guests and wore just one costume that she kept removing pieces from to end up in a kind of two-piece dragon-skin bikini.

But that’s because at a Chappell Roan show, Chappell Roan is the show: a fearsomely talented purveyor of feeling and attitude whose campy sense of humor only heightens the exquisite melancholy of her music.

Her singing was immaculate yet hot-blooded, bolstered by a killer band that remade songs like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Red Wine Supernova” as slashing ’80s-style rock; Roan covered Heart’s “Barracuda” with enough strutting imperiousness to compete with Nancy Wilson’s iconic guitar riff.

“The Giver” was a stomping glitter-country hoedown, “Naked in Manhattan” a naughty electro-pop romp. For “Picture You,” which is about longing to know a lover’s secrets, Roan serenaded a blond wig plopped atop a mic stand — a bit of absurdist theater she played completely straight.

The heart of the concert was the stunning one-two punch of “Casual” into “The Subway,” Roan’s most grandly emotional ballads, in which her voice soared with what seemed like total effortlessness.

After that is when the singer noticed that kindly dad shirking his duties in “Hot to Go!” Maybe the poor guy was just too dazzled to take part.

Nobody knows why cramps really happen, but Friday night’s Gardena Serra-Sierra Canyon high school football game took the issue to an unprecedented level.

Serra players kept cramping on defense, repeatedly slowing down Sierra Canyon’s up-tempo offense. By the end of the third quarter, Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse had seen enough. His 11 offensive players, at his direction, simultaneously went to the ground and engaged in fake cramping.

That caused an enraged Serra coach Scott Altenberg to go on the field and be held back by others. Officials halted the game briefly and called 15-yard penalties on Sierra Canyon and Serra.

Ellinghouse said after his team’s 30-0 victory that he was frustrated with the repeated game stoppages and in hindsight, regrets having his players engage in the fake cramps.

Altenberg said he was never angrier in 27 years of coaching. He denied his team was faking cramps to influence the game. “I’m not that kind of coach,” he said.

It wasn’t the only controversy on Friday night. Salesian scored 91 points to beat Cantwell-Sacred Heart 91-13. It was 84-7 at halftime.

Salesian coach Anthony Atkins said he started substituting in the first quarter. There was no running clock until the third quarter. Cantwell-Sacred Heart apparently didn’t ask for a running clock in the first half.

In a text message, Atkins said, “I went back and watched the film just to make sure there wasn’t any malice or that it didn’t look like we were trying to run up the score. Honestly, there was nothing more we could have done short of sitting our guys for the entire game.”

The Mira Costa-Lawndale game was halted with Mira Costa ahead 14-0 in the first quarter because of a security threat at Mira Costa after a bullet was discovered on campus. Also canceled was a girls’ volleyball tournament.

In a developing story, standout quarterback Brady Smigiel of Newbury Park was injured in a game against Santa Barbara and left in the second half. Smigiel, who has committed to Michigan, was expected to get an MRI exam on a knee on Saturday.

Woltemade had scored what proved to be decisive goal in the 1-0 win against Wolves at the weekend before coming off with cramp on his debut.

So, with striker Yoane Wissa sidelined with a knee injury, Gordon got the nod to lead the line.

And Howe refused to dwell on his decision not to start the towering Woltemade on Thursday night.

“I can’t live in that world,” he said. “I have to make decisions for the benefit of the players sometimes.

“It was a really difficult one for Nick. Any player would want to start the game, but I have got to try and manage him into the team and try and make sure he stays fit. That was always at the heart of this decision.”

Howe, as a result, recalled Gordon, who is currently serving a three-match domestic ban.

The rapid Anthony Elanga also came into the side in place of Jacob Murphy, who is nursing an Achilles issue, in a bid to try and exploit the space behind Barcelona’s high line.

Elanga and Gordon very nearly linked up in the opening stages.

However, Gordon could not connect with Elanga’s pullback before Harvey Barnes saw a curling effort comfortably saved by goalkeeper Joan Garcia just a few minutes later.

Barnes then had a huge opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half after the lively Elanga slid the ball across to the back post but the forward could only fire straight at Garcia.

It brought back memories of the opening weeks of the season, when Newcastle fired blanks against Aston Villa and Leeds United.

No wonder Howe had his hands on his head on the touchline at one point.

In a game like this, Newcastle had to be ruthless in front of goal – just as they were in a 4-1 win against PSG a couple of a years ago.

To prosper in this competition, they are going to have to be clinical.

Starting with the trip to Brussels to face Union Saint-Gilloise next month.

“There was no lacking in terms of heart and courage,” Howe said. “We can be critical of a couple of things we could have done better but, ultimately, we will analyse it, try and improve and try and grow from this experience.”

A former television presenter opened up about the ups and downs of her showbiz career during an interview on ITV’s This Morning

During Tuesday’s (16 September) episode of This Morning, presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard welcomed former telly star Sarah Cawood onto the sofa.

Sarah, 53, is most famous for presenting the BBC children’s programme Live and Kicking during the 90s. Viewers will also remember her from hosting Top of the Pops and MTV’s Singled Out. She additionally appeared on Loose Women and Richard and Judy.

She stepped away from television work after becoming a mother, welcoming a son in 2012 and a daughter with her husband in 2013.

Sarah joined This Morning following a social media post where she confessed to feeling “lost” and had been battling emotions of “jealousy” upon witnessing others in the entertainment world thriving, reports Wales Online.

Ben questioned Sarah regarding the worry and “self-doubt” she faced whilst working as a television presenter, leading her to make a heartbreaking confession.

Sarah confessed, “I had the worst imposter syndrome, but I don’t think that’s unusual. Most people that I’ve spoken to, in fact, I bet you two felt the same, ‘Should I really be here? Am I good enough to be?’

“But, I think that was amplified when all the jobs sort of fell away in the mid-noughties. I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I was just rubbish all along. ‘ It was really hard to deal with.”

She continued by disclosing that her television career “fading away” left her devastated, though she has discovered reasons to feel thankful for its conclusion.

“I always say that the fading away of my TV career was worse than any heartbreak I ever had from any boy. Telly broke my heart worse,” Sarah added.

“But, I have had time with my children, and I am super grateful for that. And, you find other stuff to do! You just find a way through. I can’t lie, though, it is nice to be here.”

Sarah revealed how she’d been overwhelmed with messages of support following her candid Instagram post, where she’d confessed to feeling “left out” whilst watching her colleagues reach fresh career heights.

She shared with Ben and Cat how countless people had reached out to say they felt exactly the same, and she’d been kept busy chatting with social media followers going through identical emotions.

This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV1

RICKY HATTON’s next opponent has broken his silence following the tragic death of the British boxer.

The former world champion was found dead aged 46 in his Manchester home on Sunday.

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Eisa Al Dah, 46, was due to be the next person to face the Hitman in the ring in Dubai on December 2.

He has now broken his silence following the news of Hatton’s death.

He told The National: “In just a couple of hours, I was [going to see] him here in Dubai.

“We booked the hotel. We booked the [plane] ticket. Everything had been arranged.

“From my side, I was checking everything, and I was so excited to see him over here and visit us here in Dubai.

“And he was also excited. But suddenly, I get this news from his managers. My heart is broken.

“Since knowing I will fight him, I became very close to him, seeing his news, following him on Instagram.

“I follow his life, how he trained, everything. I cannot believe it. I wish somebody told me this is wrong.

“I’ve been through many things in my life in the boxing or business.

“But this is something that I cannot believe.”

More to follow…

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

DeShaun Foster is a beloved Bruin, so the doubts of his being in over his head as the UCLA football coach are merely whispered. Attending a recent panel discussion, I heard Times columnist Bill Plaschke refer to Coach Foster as “a placeholder.” Saturday’s game against Utah only solidified both perceptions. In today’s college football landscape there are plenty of teams who use the transfer portal to be competitive while building toward something better. One game in, UCLA appears to be failing miserably to do so. As a 42-year season-ticket holder and alumnus, the football program, its fans, and the university deserve so much more.

Eric Forseth
Murrieta

All we heard from UCLA preseason was Nico, Nico, Nico [Iamaleava]. After watching his performance against unranked Utah, he has to be the most overrated transfer in the country. Add in the fact that the defense was absolutely pathetic, it’s another losing season. Rose Bowl you better order more tarps.

Joe Novak
La Crescenta

As I walked out of the UCLA-Utah football game in disgust in the fourth quarter after watching an uninspired and incompetent defense and a team that looked, frankly, soft, I had to smile as the PA system in the Rose Bowl appropriately blasted the song “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Uninspired and untalented. Basically, buttercups.

Alan Abajian
Alta Loma

Will somebody please explain to the Bruin defense that it is called TACKLE football??

Steve Cizmar
Huntington Beach

After UCLA’s humiliating, devastating and humbling 43-10 loss to Utah in the season opener, coach DeShaun Foster said, “We were close.”

Close to what, Division II?

Jack Wolf
Westwood

Millom, nestled among Cumbrian mountains, might not be one of the country’s best-known towns, but it certainly left a lasting impression and very much shaped me as a person

Walking around the UK coastal town on the edge of the Lake District where he spent his childhood, a wave of nostalgia and sadness washed over Andrew Papworth.

The assistant editor of The Express was revisiting Millom, a small town nestled among Cumbrian mountains. It may not be well-known across the country, but it certainly left an indelible mark on Andrew.

He said: “As I retraced my steps from our family home in Seathwaite Close to the bottom of Lowther Road, I came across the infant school that gave me the very best start in life.

“Turning down St George’s Road, I passed Millom Park and the children’s play area, where I spent many hours as a boy. In the thriving town centre, I remembered my mum dragging me round the shops. Further along the road, close to the railway station, was The Bridge Cafe, where I used to pop in for sweets on my walk home from Black Combe Junior School.

“Millom was – and is – only a small town, but as a child it felt like my entire universe. In many ways it was, because like any quintessentially English town, it had everything you needed on your doorstep.”

Established around its ironworks in the 1800s before their closure in the 1960s, Millom boasted a strong sense of pride and community. Everyone seemed to know everyone, and there was a palpable sense of camaraderie, reports the Express.

Andrew said: “It looked exactly the same as when I left in 1995, aged nine, and when I last visited in 2005. And while that brought back many nostalgic memories, it also broke my heart.

“It appears that little investment has been made in Millom since then, whether in new homes, shops or community facilities.

“All I noticed was that the old Safeway is now a Tesco, and many of the shops that had such a strong presence seem to have long gone.”

Chatting to locals, one of their first comments is often about the lack of financial input into their area.

Andrew said: “It’s a great sadness. By contrast, Canary Wharf in east London, where I now work, didn’t even exist when I was born but has been steadily transformed from barren wasteland into the bustling heart of London’s financial district.

“Of course it’s not really an even comparison, but it feels desperately unfair that some areas of the country have had millions and billions of pounds of investment while a town with such a rich and vibrant history has barely been given a thought.”

There are other potential factors at play. The historic shipyard in nearby Barrow-in-Furness was a significant employer for Millom workers.

The loss of 10,000 jobs in the 1990s must have had a profound effect.

Cumbria didn’t have a university until 2007 and for years, many saw the shipyard and Sellafield nuclear power station, now being decommissioned, as the only major career paths. Many dreaming of different lives must have surely packed up and left.

Millom’s location on the north-west coast also makes the town more challenging to access.

But if we can channel investment into even the most disadvantaged corners of this nation, surely we can achieve it in a town blessed with such incredible natural beauty.

Where Millom has undeniably thrived is in its community spirit, which burns as brightly as ever.

During Andrew’s visit on a glorious Monday afternoon, he chatted to Nicola Armstrong, proprietor of The Bloom Room on St George’s Terrace since 2012. Hers is an extraordinary story of triumph – a completely self-taught florist who’s scooped national accolades and showcased at London exhibitions.

“From a tiny little town, I’ve gone to a lot of places,” she says – but she never overlooks one of the major factors behind her achievements.

“I wouldn’t have got where I am without this community,” she reveals. “They’re my biggest cheerleaders.”

Throughout his stay, Andrew also encountered Coordination Group Publishing (CGP), whose vibrant and amusing study guides he relied upon during his GCSEs and A levels. It remains one of Britain’s premier educational publishers.

Whilst shops have shuttered, one that has persevered is Ferguson’s, which has been a reliable fixture in Millom for 70 years. Proprietor Arthur Ferguson celebrated his 100th birthday this year and is thought to be Britain’s eldest shopkeeper.

Andrew said: “While I was in Cumbria, I also visited Barrow to see its dramatic transformation as it builds the next generation of nuclear submarines and becomes the beating heart of Britain’s defence.

“I only hope some of the £220million of government funding going into that regeneration for the national endeavour will benefit Millom, even if only indirectly, because this small town and its people deserve only the best.

“Whatever happens in the future, I know that if I come back in another 30 years, Millom’s soul will remain as strong as ever.”

TELLURIDE, Colo. — It’s customary at Telluride for a director premiering a movie to step onstage, say a few words and slip away before the lights go down. On Friday night, before unveiling her new film “Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao admitted she couldn’t find the right words. For a film centered on William Shakespeare, the most famous wordsmith in history, that felt oddly fitting.

Instead, the 43-year-old Zhao led the packed Palm Theater in a meditative “ritual” she and her cast had practiced throughout the shoot, from before the script was even written until the final day on set. She asked the audience to close their eyes, place a hand over their hearts and feel the weight of their bodies in the seats and the surrounding Rocky Mountains holding them safe. Together, the crowd exhaled three long, loud sighs, then tapped their chests in unison, repeating softly: “This is my heart. This is my heart. This is my heart.”

By the time the film ended, those same hearts were left aching. Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel, “Hamnet” tells the story of Shakespeare’s marriage to Agnes (played by Jessie Buckley) and the devastating death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet. Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare — not the untouchable bard of legend but a husband and father reckoning with grief. At once grounded and dreamlike, the film drew perhaps the most rapturous and unanimous response of any debut in this year’s lineup.

Eight years ago, Zhao came to Telluride with “The Rider,” fresh from Cannes and still largely unknown. In 2020 she returned with “Nomadland,” which received a Telluride-sponsored drive-in screening at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl due to the pandemic and went on to win best picture and make Oscar history, with Zhao becoming only the second woman — and the first and only woman of color — to win the directing prize. Then came Marvel’s “Eternals,” a massive undertaking that thrust Zhao into the franchise machine and brought with it a bruising critical reception. With “Hamnet,” she’s back to a smaller canvas, trading cosmic spectacle for intimate human drama.

On Sunday morning in Telluride, still processing the reaction to her latest film, Zhao sat down to talk — speaking so softly that even in a hushed room her words can be hard to catch — about why she took on O’Farrell’s story, how she approached Shakespeare’s world and the delicate task of turning heartbreak into art.

Jessie Buckley, center, in the movie “Hamnet.”

(Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features)

When I interviewed you for “The Rider” in 2018 you said you’re a very pessimistic person and when you get a good review, you’re just waiting for the bad one to drop. What are you feeling right now? Did you expect anything like the reaction “Hamnet” has received?
I was nervous. I’ve walked through fires. I’ve been through the fire — a very painful fire — and I think there is probably a bit of fear around that.

What was the fire? You mean the reaction to “Eternals”?
I’m not going to say out it loud, because when I do, things always get … [trails off]. Let’s just say we were very scared.

I think the fear mainly came from the fact that we felt so sure of what we experienced. It changed all of our lives and mine so profoundly that it’s still reverberating. You think: Were we crazy? And no one else will get it but us?

You go through this long, treacherous journey to deliver these things to safety and now it’s very tender because you look back at all the loss and the sacrifices along the way and you haven’t really had time to process it.

I’m curious what your history was with Shakespeare growing up in China and then moving to England and later Los Angeles as a teenager. What kind of early impression did he make on you?
Shakespeare is very revered in China. In Chinese theater, they do Chinese versions of his plays. When I studied in the U.K., I didn’t speak English at the time and I did have to learn Shakespeare, which was very difficult. I don’t think I’m anywhere near where Paul and Jesse are with their understanding of Shakespeare. The language was always a barrier but the archetypal element of his stories was big for me — particularly “Macbeth.” In high school in Los Angeles, I performed Lady Macbeth’s speech on the stage because everybody had to do some kind of monologue for a project. And I barely spoke English.

You’ve said you initially weren’t sure that you were the right person to direct this movie. What was your hesitation?
There were three elements to that. One is that I’m not a mother. I never felt particularly maternal. People in my life say, “That’s not true, Chloé,” but I don’t see myself stepping into that archetype at all. The second was the idea of a period film — how can I be authentic and fluid in a period film, where you can’t just make things up in the moment, you can’t be spontaneous? The third was Shakespeare. I wondered if I needed to be scholarly.

So how did you come around?
I was driving near Four Corners, New Mexico, when Amblin called. I said, “No, thank you.” Steven [Spielberg] really wanted me to consider it. Then my agent said Paul Mescal wanted to meet me. I didn’t know his work. “Aftersun” was the secret screening here [in Telluride 2022], and we went for a walk by the creek. I watched him talking and thought, “Could he play young Shakespeare?” He already read the book. Then I read it and thought, if Maggie [O’Farrell] can write this with me, she can show me that world. As soon as I read the book, I said, “Can you set a meeting with Jessie Buckley?” I couldn’t see anyone else but her as Agnes.

Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare in the movie “Hamnet.”

(Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features)

You’d just come off “Eternals” after making small films like “Songs My Brothers Taught Me” and “Nomadland.” Now you’re back with something more intimate again. Did it feel like a reset?
Every child has its own beauty and troubles. This budget was maybe six or seven times “Nomadland,” but much less than “Eternals.” But it’s also a period film, which has its own challenges. I come from a tradition of: Tell me how much money you have and I’ll make something with it.

But I changed a lot after “Nomadland” and “Eternals.” In my 30s, I wanted to chase the horizon. I didn’t want it to ever end. I’d just keep running. Then, at the end of “Eternals,” I felt I couldn’t film another sunset that would satisfy me the way in the way it had with “The Rider” and “Nomadland.” I went through a lot of difficult personal times and pushing midlife, I realized I’d been running like a cowboy, like a nomad.

When you stop running and stop chasing horizons and you stay still, the only place you can go is above or below. I descended pretty heavily these last four years. By the time I got to “Hamnet,” I was ready. The difference now is a different kind of humanity: older, more vertical.

We know so little about Shakespeare or his son. Some parts of your film are grounded, others dreamlike. How did you balance that?
First of all, what’s real? Ancient mystics tried to understand what is being. “To be or not to be” goes beyond suicidal thought — it’s about existence itself. Every film has its own truth. For me, the truest thing is what’s present in the moment. I hired department heads and actors with knowledge of the history, but also the capacity to stay present and shift as we go. If someone came in too factual and literal, I said no. I wanted people who could do the research but also stay alive to the present.

Shakespeare’s name isn’t even spoken until late in the movie. This isn’t the icon — he’s a husband and father. Was it appealing to free him from the iconography?
Maggie’s book laid the foundation, really focusing on Agnes. For the film, I wanted it to be about two people who see and are seen by each other. They’re archetypal characters. I’ve studied Jungian psychology and Hindu Tantra — the energies of masculine and feminine, being and doing, birth and death. If we don’t have a healthy connection to our roots, those forces battle within us. By creating two characters who embody that, the story can work at a collective level and an internal one. The alchemy of creativity lets those forces coexist. Hopefully it becomes something more than a story about marriage or the death of a child.

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in the movie “Hamnet.”

(Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features )

The loss of a child is hard to film and for audiences to watch. We’ve seen it tackled in different ways on screen, from “Ordinary People” to “Manchester by the Sea.” How did you approach portraying that kind of grief honestly without it being too much for the audience to bear?
It might be for some people, which is understandable. I love both those films you mentioned very much and watched them multiple times. I’ve been making films about grief for a while. I don’t think about what’s too much or too little. Agnes’ wailing — I could do that right now in front of you. We should be allowed to. The silence for thousands of years has done great damage.

How do you mean?
Think about ancient warriors coming back from battle — they danced, screamed, healed together. In Tantra, sexuality was part of healing. Now it’s: Talk to a therapist, take medication, go back to your family. The body is restricted. Telling a woman to be quiet when she gave birth and pinning her down. We know why this control happens. But I think people are responding to films where actors are embodied, because we miss that.

How do you see grief as a through-line in all your films?
All my films start with characters who’ve lost what defined them: dreams, home, purpose, faith. They grieve who they thought they were in order to become who they truly are. That’s grief on an individual and collective level. I wasn’t raised to understand grief. So I made films to give characters catharsis and through that, myself.

My friend [“Sinners” director] Ryan Coogler, who knows me so well, sat me down after seeing “Hamnet” and he said, “The other films were beautiful but you hid behind things. This is the first time I saw you in there. You’re finally being seen.” It took four films, working with that kind of grief and fear to get to that point.

The Oscar chatter has already started. You’ve obviously been through this before. How do you tune that out and just focus on what’s in front of you?
The same way that me, Paul and Jessie were doing on set. We made the film by being present. It’s difficult, so I’m trying to take that practice daily — just saying, “OK, today is all we have.” It’s flattering and nice but after what I’ve experienced in my career, you cannot possibly predict how things are going to go. I never expected “Nomadland” to go on that journey. So I surrender to the river.

Do you know what you’re doing next?
I just wrapped the pilot on the new “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” series, which is set 25 years later. My company is part of developing it. The fandom is so special to me and I’m excited about how that’s going to go into the world. Then I think I want to do a play. I was working on “Our Town” and I had to let that go in order to do “Hamnet.” But I figured maybe I’ll learn something from this film and come back to the stage.

The industry feels pretty shaky right now: fewer jobs, studio consolidation, anxiety around AI. As a filmmaker, how do you see the state of the business and the art form?
I sense we’re at a threshold — not just the film business, everything. It’s uncomfortable. We’re like Will standing at the edge of the river when, at least in our film, the “to be or not to be” monologue was born. We can’t go back and we don’t know how to go forward. In physics, when two opposing forces pull so strongly, a new equilibrium bursts out. That’s how the universe expands. I think we’re there. We can kick and scream or we can surrender, hug our loved ones and focus on what we can do today.

Hopefully I’m not so pessimistic now. Or at least a little bit less.

The week started full of optimism and zeal.

Celtic were facing a decidedly inferior team and overwhelming favourites to progress, Rangers were down but determined not to be out, Aberdeen had fought back at Pittodrie to have even footing in their tie, and Hibs were ready to make some history.

Best-laid plans and all that…

Celtic huffed and puffed against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, but they were unable to even come close to finding the back of the net in a blunt display.

Regulation time was stuffy, extra-time was turgid, and the penalties were remarkably unremarkable.

Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda all missed from the spot as they suffered one of the most ignominious defeats in their history.

Next up, Russell Martin’s Rangers.

Trailing 3-1 to Club Brugge after an almighty shambles from the first leg at Ibrox, they were outsiders but retained a fighter’s chance if they could find their footing.

Brugge, instead, found the back of the net six times without reply as many of the travelling punters decided it was time for the head coach to vacate his position.

It was 9-1 of an aggregate scoreline for the tie as fans branded Martin a “coward” with some hastily fashioned banners.

A humbling and a hammering so far.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday he is recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery, the first time he has publicly addressed the health issues that have sidelined him since late June.

He made the announcement while visiting the Angels for the first time since the operation eight weeks ago in California. He is not returning to manage this season but hopes to have that opportunity next year.

Washington, at 73 the oldest manager in the majors, was last in the dugout for a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on June 19. The following day, the team said Washington was out indefinitely because of health issues after experiencing shortness of breath and appearing fatigued toward the end of that four-game series in New York.

“This happened fast,” Washington said. “I wasn’t feeling very good on our last trip to New York … and I finally decided to go to the trainer and let him see what was going on. My ankles were swollen. And he called the doctors in from New York and they knew right away what was going on, why my fluid was going into my ankles.”

He was cleared by Yankees doctors to fly home with the team and underwent tests after getting back to Southern California. The Angels announced on June 27 that he was going on medical leave for the rest of the season. Washington had surgery three days later.

Washington said the Angels were on a road trip when he was released from the hospital on July 7, so he got clearance to fly home to Texas where his wife could assist him with his recovery.

The well-liked Washington revealed the details of his medical issues before the Angels opened a three-game series in Texas. He plans to continue on to Houston before skipping the final stop on the road trip in Kansas City. Washington hopes to be with the team the rest of the season after the Angels return home.

Washington is the Rangers’ winningest manager with a 664-611 record from 2007 to 2014. He led them to their first two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.

After initially returning to Oakland’s organization for two seasons, Washington then was on the Atlanta Braves’ staff from 2017 to 2023 and part of their 2021 World Series championship.

With a young roster after Shohei Ohtani’s departure in free agency and with three-time AL MVP Mike Trout limited to 29 games because of injuries, the Angels went 63-99 last year in Washington’s first season as manager, a franchise record for losses. They were 36-38 before Washington left the dugout this year, and entered Monday night’s game 25-31 with Ray Montgomery filling in for him.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who led them to their first World Series title two seasons ago, is the second-oldest manager in the majors. The four-time World Series champion turned 70 in April.

Hawkins writes for the Associated Press.

GOALKEEPER Samuel Fossey has gone from shot-saver to lifesaver… by rescuing a player who had a heart attack on the pitch.

The Frenchman was playing for lower-league side US Oisseau on Saturday when an opponent collapsed after half-time.

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The unnamed AS Requeil player had gone into cardiac arrest.

However, Fossey used his training as a firefighter to keep the 40-year-old alive.

A plumber by trade, he used heart massage and a defibrillator on the opposing player until an ambulance arrived.

Fossey insisted: “I don’t think of myself as a hero. I just acted like a good citizen, and did my duty.

“We were playing a friendly match. I was keeping my eye on the ball when I heard my coach telling the ref a player was on the ground.

“I soon realised the player was ill, as he had not been in any collision.

“I joined the fire brigade in 2013, spent a few years with them and later rejoined them as a volunteer fireman.

“They provide training courses, and I do refreshers every year at their rescue centre.”

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A witness added: “Everyone saw straight away it was a serious situation. 

“An Oisseau player quickly offered first aid, together with three people from the medical world who were in the stadium.

“They carried out heart massage and used a defibrillator for 20 minutes. 

“Their quick reactions and involvement saved the player’s life – there’s no doubt about it.”

The stricken player’s condition has since stabilised in a Le Mans hospital.

Oisseau president Quentin Cesse said: “Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.

“Football is a big family, and the amateur game has once again shown its solidarity.”