The contemplative cinema of Béla Tarr was as excruciatingly beautiful as it was brazenly original, often conjuring comparison to the work of a master painter.
His stark black-and-white imagery in assiduously long takes with creeping camera movements — hallmarks of his filmmaking — demanded that the viewer pause to look, to see, as one might in regarding a Picasso or a Bruegel.
Tarr’s revolution in form, however, cannot be separated from the radical humanity of his filmmaking. In a concentrated collection of 10 features over less than four decades, his gaze was fixed on the resolute dignity of his marginalized and downtrodden characters, which elevated his work beyond the realm of cinephile contemplation.
With the death of the Hungarian master on Tuesday at age 70, that enduring humanity makes his work as essential as ever.
“I despise stories,” Tarr once explained to an interviewer, “as they mislead people into believing that something has happened. In fact, nothing really happens as we flee from one condition to another. … There are only states of being — all stories have become obsolete and cliched, and have resolved themselves. All that remains is time.”
His films typically did not concern themselves with the plot of individual lives, which in reality are revealed in retrospect, if at all. They focused instead on human experience as it unfolds, moment by uncertain moment, capturing everyday foibles, errors and foolishness in the face of quotidian ruthlessness. As in Samuel Beckett’s tragicomic theater and novels, Tarr’s movies, by turns funny and heartbreaking, dignify human struggle with an uncommon tenacity of vision and empathy.
Some of Tarr’s most memorable scenes feature landscapes, often bleak and despairing settings of decaying Hungarian towns, punctuated with close-ups of characters’ faces. Asked by film historian David Bordwell about this juxtaposition, Tarr replied: “But the face is the landscape.”
Tarr arrived in the late 1970s declaring his intention to “kick in the door” of contemporary cinema. He did so, more than once.
He announced himself with a trilogy of domestic dramas. “Family Nest,” “The Outsider” and “The Prefab People” focused on couples and individuals trapped by commonplace struggles and social constraints, a thematic affront to late-communist Hungary. Featuring handheld camerawork and frequent close-ups, these early works evoke the quasi-improvisational style of John Cassavetes smothered in claustrophobia.
Tarr followed with a TV adaptation of “Macbeth” (1982), filmed in two shots, the second lasting more than an hour. After a brief experimentation two years later with a wild palette of color in “Almanac of Fall,” he returned to his discoveries in “Macbeth,” a stylistic transformation that would define the rest of his career.
“Damnation” (1988) opens with an extended shot of a system of towers and cables transporting vast buckets of mining materials across a desolate plain. A harsh grinding of the elevated cable system is the only sound. (In Tarr films, sound features as evocatively as image.) Slowly the camera pulls back to reveal an interior window, and then the back of a man’s head in silhouette, as our protagonist watches the monotonous procession.
The audience experiences the scene of agonizing beauty as the man does. We remain with him throughout the movie, as we follow his futile pursuit of a married cabaret singer with whom he is irrevocably in love. The story does not unfold as a typical narrative, but in a series of scenes that feel distinct yet unified, like a collection of short stories.
Tarr worked with a common team of filmmakers in nearly all his films, including his longtime partner and editor, Ágnes Hranitzky, cinematographer Fred Kelemen, composer Mihály Víg and a core group of actors.
“Damnation” marked Tarr’s first collaboration with his friend László Krasznahorkai, the Hungarian novelist and 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature winner. The pairing of literary and filmmaking masters, which spanned five features over a quarter of a century, recalled that of Graham Greene and Carol Reed, but nothing in movie history quite compares.
Tarr’s two greatest works, “Sátántangó” (1994) and “Werckmeister Harmonies” (2000), were based on Krasznahorkai‘s novels (the latter derived from his “The Melancholy of Resistance”). The books are cornerstones of Krasznahorkai’s Nobel-winning oeuvre, and the films are two of the defining movies of their era and established Tarr as a giant of cinema.
“Sátántangó” is an epic equivalent in running time to some four feature films, which Susan Sontag called “devastating, enthralling for every minute of its [more than] seven hours.” It often appears on critics’ lists among the greatest films ever made.
The movie follows a group of petty cheats, liars and drunks who are duped by nefarious opportunists who visit their crumbling town. Tarr employs the extended take to even greater lengths, creating an exquisite manipulation of our sense of time, and some of the most memorable scenes in modern filmmaking.
In “Werckmeister Harmonies,” another opportunist visits another desperate town, this time accompanying a traveling exhibit of a preserved whale. The depictions of mob violence are chilling evocations of the darkest moments of the 20th century. The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the club-wielding assailants approach. His appearance, stopping them in their tracks, is one of the most heartrending moments of any movie.
Tarr followed with “The Man From London,” which he and Krasznahorkai adapted from a novel by Georges Simenon, about a seaside railway signalman who confronts a moral quandary involving a murder mystery.
In 2012 came “The Turin Horse,” in which director and novelist reimagined the story of the whipping of a horse in the Italian city that was said to have triggered philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s mental breakdown. The movie follows the unfortunate horse as it is led away by its owner to his rural home he shares with his daughter. Their repetitive routines and the young woman’s daily burdens are reminiscent of Chantal Akerman’s classic “Jeanne Dielman.”
After the release of the film, among his most acclaimed, Tarr stunned the film world by announcing it would be his last feature. He was just 56 at the time.
He went on to open an international film school in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, known as film.factory, which continued until 2017, and he produced a number of movies.
Tarr was long outspoken in denouncing authoritarian governments, whether Hungary’s old communist model or the current populist nationalism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, France’s Marine Le Pen and President Trump. He supported students at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest — his former school — who had occupied their campus in 2020 in protest of Orbán’s policies.
In 2019, Tarr embarked on one more film-related project, “Missing People,” an exhibition at the annual Vienna Festival. The film portion of the program, according to reports about the event, featured the faces of some 270 homeless people living in the Austrian capital.
The project appeared a few months after Orbán’s adoption of a Hungarian law that essentially criminalized homelessness. A final act in the radical humanity that was the art of Béla Tarr.
Emmerdale star Amy Walsh shared sad news with her Instagram followers on Wednesday
Emmerdale star Amy Walsh has suffered a heartbreaking loss as fans rushed to support her. The 38-year-old actress, who plays Tracy Robinson on the ITV soap, took to Instagram to share sad news on Wednesday (January 7).
Amy shared a post on her Story which announced the death of actor Frazer Hammill. “Rest in peace you wonderful man,” she wrote alongside his picture.
Frazer was known for his appearances in Justice League, Last Laugh, Happy Valley and Abraham’s Point, as well as playing a prison guard in Emmerdale back in 2021.
The John Godber Theatre Company shared the devastating news on their official Instagram page, writing: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Frazer Hammill. It is impossible to put into words how much he will be missed by all of us who had the absolute joy of working with him.”
The Yorkshire-based company added, “Frazer had a huge, loving heart and enormous talent. We are all heartbroken.”
A devastated Amy wrote in the comments: “There are no words,” alongside three broken heart emojis. Lots of other people shared their sadness, alongside memories they had of the former youth theatre member.
“Shocked and saddened to see this, sending my thoughts to his family and loved ones,” one person wrote, with another adding: “A gentle spirit and a huge heart. Love to all.”
A third said, “What a brilliant person and performer he was! We’re all deeply saddened to hear this,” with another sharing similarly, “Truly heartbroken.”
A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Such sad news, I’ll always remember his lessons and his kind words. Thinking of his family and friends at this hard time,” with someone else writing: “What an absolute gem of a man. A true loss to the world. RIP Frazman.”
Amy joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2014. The star has been part of several memorable storylines during her time in the Dales. Tracy notably endured the death of her father, Frank Clayton (Michael Praed), embarked on an affair with Caleb Miligan (William Ash), and was caught up in last year’s horrific limo crash.
The shop worker also lost her husband, Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter), after he was murdered by killer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) in September 2024.
In a flashback clip, John, who was killed by his sister Victoria (Isabel Hodgins) in the Corriedale crossover this week, injected Nate with an unknown substance with the intention of “saving” him. However, Nate had an adverse reaction to the medication and tragically died.
John then drove Nate’s body to the bridge and pushed the concealed corpse into the lake, where the limo crash had notably taken place.
Since joining the ITV soap, Amy has been nominated for several awards for her portrayal of Tracy. She was nominated for Serial Drama Performance at the 25th National Television Awards, as well as Best Actress at the 2021 Inside Soap Awards and Best Soap Performance at the I Talk Telly Awards the same year.
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and STV, and Coronation Street airs weekday nights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and STV as part of ITV’s new soap power hour scheduling pattern for Coronation Street and Emmerdale
Jesy Nelson has opened up about her twin daughters’ devastating genetic condition and how they may never walk in an emotional interview on ITV’s This Morning
12:28, 07 Jan 2026Updated 12:38, 07 Jan 2026
Jesy Nelson has revealed the extreme lengths she takes to make sure her twins can breathe at night following their devastating muscular atrophy diagnosis. The Little Mix star announced on Sunday that her twins had been diagnosed with the rare genetic condition spinal muscular atrophy and may never walk.
The 34-year-old welcomed daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster prematurely back in May with her musician fiancé Zion Foster, 27. Speaking in a video on Instagram at the weekend, Jesy told her fans that Ocean and Story have the most severe form of the disease, which sees muscles deteriorate over time, and that she’s now a nurse to the twins.
She added that she took them to the GP when her mum noticed they weren’t moving as much as they should. “The girls have been diagnosed with a severe disease called SMA type one. It stands for spinal muscular atrophy which affects every muscle in the body from legs, arms to swallowing,” she said.
Speaking on This Morning today, Jesy revealed that her twins exhibited early symptoms of SMA – but she didn’t know what they meant. Fighting tears, she told Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: “That is the part that frustrates me the most. I knew and saw all of the signs before I knew what SMA was.
“It was weird because from when I was in NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit], the way they used to lay on my chest, they would have frog leg position. I did say to my mum, ‘Isn’t their belly an unusual shape? They breathe from their belly.’
“That’s what frustrating – for me, if these were the cards I was always going to be dealt and there was nothing I could do about it, it would be easier for me to accept. But when you know there is something that can be done about it and it is lifechanging to your child, that’s the bit that I cannot accept.”
She added that it makes her “so sad” to watch videos which show the twins gradually losing use of their legs over the course of weeks. “That’s how quick it is and that is why it’s so important to get treatment from birth,” she said.
Jesy went on to reveal that her house was “looks like a hospital” with all of the medical equipment needed to keep the twins alive.
“Story has to be on a breathing machine at night because she isn’t strong enough to breathe by herself at night,” she said. “They have to have Cough Assist machines to help them cough, I have to put feeding tubes down their nose to get secretions off their chest.
“I’ve had to learn this within the space of a few days of getting their diagnosis. It’s so much to deal with while you’re also trying to deal with this horrendous thing that’s just happened.”
Sharing an update on the twins, she said that doctors have told her that they won’t be able to walk, regain neck strength and will be in wheelchairs. However, Jesy isn’t giving up hope.
“There have been so many stories where parents have been told this and then their children have gone on to do incredible things,” she said.
“So I believe you have to manifest this into existence. They’re still smiling, they’re still happy and they have each other.”
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at SMA UK. You can get in touch by phoning 01789 267520 or by emailing office@smauk.org.uk.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
BBC Breakfast presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay spoke to a mum whose daughter was killed in a car crash in 2017
Jon Kay and Sally Nugent hosted BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent announced some heartbreaking news on Wednesday’s show after a guest’s daughter tragically died.
Sharon Huddleston, whose 18-year-old daughter Caitlin died in a car accident in 2017, appeared on the BBC programme on Wednesday morning (January 7), reports the Express. She shared that the coroner had attributed Caitlin’s death to driver inexperience, prompting her to campaign for graduated driving licences.
Presenter Sally outlined: “Learner drivers in England and Wales could face a mandatory wait of up to six months between sitting their theory and practical tests as part of a new road safety strategy being launched by the government today.”
Her co-presenter Jon Kay chimed in: “While some campaign groups have welcomed these proposals, others have criticised the government for stopping short of introducing what are called graduated driving licences, which is where newly qualified drivers face restrictions until they’ve got a bit more experience.”
Sharon responded: “Well, it’s great that we’ve got a road safety strategy because it’s been 14 years since we’ve had one, so that’s good news. And it’s also good news that young drivers are being addressed in the strategy, but I don’t think it goes far enough. I understand that the limited period for learner drivers is a good thing because we’re seeing like 17-year-olds pass the test within a few weeks, and then they’re on the roads.
“But the element I am passionate about because of the reason why my daughter was killed is that she was a passenger in a newly qualified driver’s car, and the coroner put the crash down to the inexperience of the newly qualified driver.
“And so the element that I am passionate about, the graduated driving licence, is the passenger safety precaution, and that’s the element that I would have liked to have seen addressed in the strategy as well.”
Jon chimed in: “There’s lots in this strategy, isn’t there, for all drivers potentially of all ages, but as far as young drivers are concerned, what it’s saying then is that you would have to, if you pass your theory test, you’re going to have to wait six months to get more practice before you take the practical test. But what you would like to see is a delay in what you can do after the test, after the practical test as well.”
Sharon continued, acknowledging it as “a very positive thing” that the issue was being addressed, but emphasised that “we need more”.
“It doesn’t go far enough for us,” she expressed. “And as I say, if this element of the safety precaution of passengers was in place in 2017, my daughter would be alive.
“You know, and this law has been campaigned for for decades now. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about it until after Caitlin was killed. It was too late.”
Sally said: “And it’s really important to make the point that, as you’ve mentioned already, the coroner said it was inexperience. That’s really key, isn’t it? It was simple inexperience that contributed to this terrible tragedy.”
Kelsey has revealed plans to try for another baby in 2026Credit: InstagramShe and Will were heartbroken by the death of their son Phoenix last yearCredit: InstagramKelsey is also mum to Bhodi and AureliaCredit: Unknown
Despite being put through every parent’s worst nightmare, Kelsey, who also shares Aurelia, five, and Bodhi, four, with late husband Tom Parker, has insisted she plans to add to her family this year.
Speaking on her Mum’s The Word podcast, which she co-hosts with Georgia Jones, she said: “I just want a better year, it was really really tough, it was s***.
“I think to continue the path of, ‘is there a baby this year for me’, I could have one this year, which is exciting.
“Also [continuing to] raise awareness and keep doing my charity work.”
The Wanted singer Tom passed away aged 33 in 2022 from a rare, aggressive brain tumour.
Heartbroken Kelsey told her followers in June how Phoenix had been “born sleeping”.
She added: “Before I receive an influx of lovely messages and heartfelt well wishes, I want to just say that I truly appreciate everything you are all going to say and share.
“But with the news being so raw, I would really like to ensure that we as a family are given space and time to process this devastating and earth-shattering news.
“I love you all and thank you for your understanding and space.”
Following her husband’s tragic death, the family have remained dedicated toraising funds for brain tumour research inTom‘s honour with an annual charity football match in his memory.
Kelsey said Tom is “looking after the child she lost in heaven” as she added a plaque to his park bench.
The plaque read: “Phoenix Parker-Lindsay..I walk towards my destiny with ease.”
Kelsey’s husband Tom tragically passed away in 2022Credit: InstagramShe added a touching tribute to Phoenix to Tom’s bench just before ChristmasCredit: Instagram
Jesy has shared her twins have been diagnosed with a rare diseaseCredit: Instagram/JesynelsonThe star posted a heartbreaking video on Instagram to raise awareness to other mothersCredit: InstagramThe adorable seven-month-old babies are being looked after by Great Ormond StreetCredit: Instagram
Speaking from her home, Jesy said the pair have been diagnosed with SMA Type 1, or Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, the most severe form ofSpinal Muscular Atrophy.
The tearful star told the camera: “If it’s not treated in time, your baby’s life expectancy will not make it past the age of two.”
Her stunningly honest discussion prompted a wave of support from celebrity pals, with Chris – who dated Jesy from 2018 to 2020 – one of the first to back her up and send her love.
“A warrior Jess. Be easy on yourself,” he told her. “Sending prayers to you all, everyone behind you guys 🤍”
Amy Childs added: “I’m so sorry jesy what your going through ❤️xx sending love and strength to you and your beautiful girls xxx”
Megan McKenna wrote: “My heart is breaking for the pain you are in right now. Sending so many prayers and love to your beautiful girls ♥️♥️”
Jess Wright also commented, telling Jesy: “Sending you so much love Jesy. Love & strength ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”
Ashley James also noted: “Jesy I’m so sorry. I’m thinking of you and your girls and sending love ❤️❤️’
“Jes, There are no words big enough for how unfair and heartbreaking this is. I am so deeply sorry,” wrote I’m A Celeb star Shona McGarty. “My heart aches for you and for your beautiful little girls.
“Please know that their lives, no matter what, are already filled with love because of you. That love matters. It always will.
“You don’t have to be strong, and you don’t have to find the right words. However you feel, whatever you need, it’s okay.
“You are not alone in this, Jes. You are so loved, and your girls are so loved. I’m holding you all in my heart. 💔🤍”
While Shaughna Phillips also added: “Sending you and your girls so much love and positive prayers, you are a superwoman and they are lucky to have you ❤️❤️❤️”
Jesy’s Journey
Jesy has shared that her babies had to endure “months and months” of doctors appointments before finally getting diagnosed with SMA Type-1.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Signs and symptoms
Spinal muscular atrophy is a disease which takes away a persons strength and it causes problems by disrupting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord.
This causes an individual to lose the ability to walk, eat and breathe.
There are four types of SMA – which are based on age.
Type 1 is diagnosed within the first six months of life and is usually fatal.
Type 2 is diagnosed after six months of age.
Type 3 is diagnosed after 18 months of age and may require the individual to use a wheelchair.
Type 4 is the rarest form of SMA and usually only surfaces in adulthood.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of SMA will depend on which type of condition you have.
But the following are the most common symptoms:
• Floppy or weak arms and legs
• Movement problems – such as difficulty sitting up, crawling or walking
• Twitching or shaking muscles
• Bone and joint problems – such as an unusually curved spine
• Swallowing problems
• Breathing difficulties
However, SMA does not affect a person’s intelligence and it does not cause learning disabilities.
How common is it?
The majority of the time a child can only be born with the condition if both of their parents have a fault gene which causes SMA.
Usually, the parent would not have the condition themselves – they would only act as a carrier.
Statistics show around 1 in every 40 to 60 people is a carrier of the gene which can cause SMA.
If two parents carry the faulty gene there is a 1 in 4 (25 per cent) chance their child will get Spinal muscular atrophy.
In her newest video, Jesy revealed that her mother, Janice, raised concerns after the twins didn’t show much movement in their legs.
While their initial concerns were chalked up to the twins being premature and therefore unlikely to hit milestones at the same pace as other children, Jesy and Zion pushed for more tests after they had trouble feeding.
Jesy and Chris dated from 2018 to 2020Credit: GettyChris Hughes led the messages of support in her commentsCredit: Refer to sourceJesy looked heartbroken as she opened up about what her girls had gone throughCredit: Instagram
According to Jesy, it took three to four months of appointments before they finally got a diagnosis, with the pair then being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“I feel like I’ve almost had to become a nurse in the space of two weeks,” Jesy added, explaining how she has had to put her daughters on breathing machines.
“The reason I wanted to make this video was because, the last few months has honestly been the most heartbreaking time of my life. I feel like my whole life has done a 360.
“I’m grieving a life I thought I was going to have with my children,” she emotionally said, before acknowledging that she is grateful to have them.
“I truly believe that my girls will defy all odds. And with the right help, they will fight this, and go on to do things that have never been done.”
“They probably will never regain their neck strength, so they will be disabled,” she revealed, adding it’s also unlikely they’ll ever be able to walk.
“So the best thing we can do right now is get them treatment and just hope for the best.”
Jesy then said that she wanted to make the video because if the disease is detected early enough in the first few months of a baby’s life “a lot of this stuff could be prevented”.
Taking to his Instagram page, Zion shared a photo of his daughters in what looked a stroller.
With tubes attached to their noses, the two tots could still be smiling widely.
Alongside the photo, Zion wrote: “Still smiling through all the challenges. Daddy loves you so much.”
Jesy and Zion welcomes their twins in May 2025Credit: jesynelson/InstagramThe star hoped that her experience would help others see the warning signs in their babiesCredit: Instagram
Waiting for the Out follows a man who teaches philosophy to prison inmates
BBC slapped with complaints as viewers fume over new prison drama(Image: BBC)
The BBC has been slapped with complaints as viewers fumed over a new prison drama on Saturday (January 3).
New six-part drama Waiting for the Out has been penned by award-winning screenwriter Dennis Kelly from Andy West’s memoir, The Life Inside.
It follows Dan Stewer (played by Josh Finan), who decides to teach a group of male inmates about dominance, freedom, luck and other topics that have troubled philosophers for thousands of years. These topics also gain a new meaning when seen through the prisoners’ eyes, both igniting passions and creating tension.
The official synopsis continues: “Through his work, Dan begins to dig deeper into his own past – growing up with a father (Gerard Kearns) who ended up in prison, as did his brother Lee (Stephen Wight) and uncle Frank (Phil Daniels). Dan took a different path, but this time working in a prison begins to make him worry, obsessively, that he belongs behind bars just like his father.
“As Dan’s personal crisis deepens, his actions begin to threaten both his own future, and his family’s.”
The show’s cast also includes Samantha Spiro, Phil Daniels, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Neal Barry, Alex Ferns, Francis Lovehall, Steven Meo, Ric Renton, Tom Moutchi, Nima Taleghani, Sule Rimi, Charlie Rix and Jude Mack.
The first episode saw Dan begin his first day teaching philosophy in a men’s prison. The lesson soon unravelled as he realised he’d underestimated his audience – and the weight of his own past.
Fixating on small details, Dan lost control of the class, risked his chance to become a father and broke an important promise to his new girlfriend. But when a familiar face resurfaced, Dan was soon forced to confront someone he thought he’d left behind.
BBC viewers were quick to share their complaints after watching the episode, with many sharing their frustration on X (formerly Twitter). “Well this is 45 mins of my life I won’t get back,” one person wrote.
Another added: “This is so weird,” while a third said: “God this is awful. Fella has no survival instinct. I’d be out of there. Don’t think they’d lock him in there alone with no way out.”
Meanwhile, other viewers were impressed with the contents of the episode, with one person writing: “Wow very interesting style! Quite different from anything else I’ve seen,” while another shared: “Just watched #WaitingForTheOut and I think it’s going to be brilliant.”
Andy West, executive producer and author of The Life Inside, previously said in a statement: “I’m so thankful to the writers, directors, producers and everyone involved in adapting The Life Inside. They have brought extraordinary creative and moral imagination to the stories in the book. We all hope to make a series that goes beyond the clichés about prisons and the families inside them and that touches people either side of the wall.”
Writer and executive producer Dennis Kelly added: “It’s not at all unusual for the men in Andy West’s family to end up in prison – but Andy is the only one that chose to be there. His book is funny, insightful, beautiful, genuinely heartbreaking and nothing like what you’d expect it to be – we’ve tried to take that into the series. God alone knows if we’ve succeeded, but we’ve tried…”
Waiting for the Out is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website
The Night Manager has returned to BBC One, with a tense clip from episode two showing villain Teddy Dos Santos complaining about someone making his life difficult
The Night Manager could be in for a shocking twist, with a teaser clip showing baddie Teddy Dos Santos hinting that he wants someone killed.
The BBC drama, which stars Tom Hiddleston as MI6 agent Jonathan Pine, has returned for its second series, a decade after the first series captivated audiences. The initial series followed Pine, a night manager at a Cairo hotel, who was enlisted by Angela Burr from the Foreign Office (Olivia Colman) to infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).
The second series, which premiered on New Year’s Day, picks up several years later, and a gripping snippet from the second episode shows Pine coming face-to-face with his new adversary.
Pine is now a low-ranking MI6 officer overseeing a discreet surveillance unit in London. However, things take a turn when he identifies one of Roper’s former mercenaries, with a synopsis stating it “prompts a call to action and leads Pine to a violent encounter with a new player: Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos.”
An exclusive preview of the second episode reveals him covertly listening in as Teddy (Diego Calva) engages in a sinister conversation with a General, reports the Express.
Teddy informs the General that a man named Alejandro Gualteros is “making my life difficult”, claiming that he has frozen his bank accounts and is attempting to inspect one of his shipments.
“That cannot happen,” he cautions.
The General reassures Teddy that he’ll handle it, to which the arms dealer responds: “Make it quick. No money. No operation.”
In a conversation between Teddy and Pine, Pine masquerades as a businessman who has spent his career in a Hong Kong bank, aiming to gain the villain’s trust.
“You’re English?” Teddy asks during their encounter at a tennis club. “I’m from Hong Kong,” Pine responds. “Swiss Bank. I’ve been there for 10 years.”
When questioned about his presence in Colombia, he coolly answers: “Let’s just say it’s getting more complex to work with our Chinese friends. So I’m seeking new opportunities.”
“You are a risk taker,” Teddy observes. “In life as in on the court,” Pine retorts with a smile.
The latest series of the drama also stars actress and model Camila Morrone as Roxana Bolaños. She portrays a businesswoman who is close to Teddy and reluctantly assists Pine in penetrating his arms operation.
The plot summary concludes: “As allegiances splinter, Pine races to expose a conspiracy designed to destabilise a nation. And with betrayal lurking around every corner, he must decide whose trust he needs to earn and how far he’s willing to go before it’s too late.”
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website.
Joker Ozzy Osbourne pretending to throttle Santa at home in December 2019Credit: Refer to CaptionKelly at home with son Sydney, mum Sharon and Father Christmas earlier this monthCredit: ErotemeI’m A Celeb’s Jack with his dad, elder sister Aimee, right, and now-wife Aree on Christmas Eve six years agoCredit: Refer to Caption
But that hasn’t stopped Kelly ploughing ahead with plans to try and boost the grieving clan — as 14 of them gather at Sharon and Ozzy’s Buckinghamshire pad for the big day.
And it sounds like Sharon especially will be showered with love.
Kelly said: “I got my mom so many gifts. It’s crazy.
“I did everything bespoke this year.
“I got her all the things that I know that she really needs but with her name on.
“We have a problem with moths in our house so I had these special moth bags made that say, ‘F**k off moths’.
“I got her some new gardening equipment with her name on because she’s been doing a lot of gardening, and a stocking with her name on it.
“She loves chocolate so I bought her a huge new chocolate jar that says ‘Sharon’s Chocolate’.
“I’m also getting her a new puppy because this year we lost Elvis (Sharon’s beloved Siberian Husky, who died in October age 14), which is really hard.
“It’s a Pomapoo (a cross between a Pomeranian and a miniature poodle).
‘I’ll be sous chef – I just point with wooden spoon’
“I don’t even want to go into it all because I keep accidentally telling her what I got her — I get too excited so I tell everyone everything.
“But she knows she’s getting the dog so it’s not going to ruin the surprise.”
But Kelly is still doing all she can to bring the festive spirit for her mum, as well as her DJ partner Sid Wilson and their three-year-old son Sidney at the mansion where Ozzy is buried underneath an apple tree.
Kelly revealed: “We are going to have a proper English Christmas.
“I always love that.
“They don’t even have crackers in LA.
“You’ve got to go to the (specialty shop) World Market to get them, and they’re not even the best ones.
“So we will have crackers and all watch the King’s speech.
“On the day, there’s going to be 14 of us and I ordered everyone that’s with us a pair of matching pyjamas to wear.
“We are going to be sitting in front of the telly.
We are going to have a proper English Christmas. I always love that
Kelly Osbourne
“My brother Louis (Ozzy’s eldest son who he had with ex-wife Thelma Riley) will cook dinner.
“I’m going to be the sous chef, which means I just point with a wooden spoon. And we’re going to eat tons of chocolates.”
“Then Mom is leaving two days after Christmas to be with him.
“My son is so excited for Christmas.
“Space NK brought Santa Claus to visit us and he couldn’t believe it.
“He kept sneaking into Santa’s sack.
“It was so cute and such a magical moment.
“Me and Mom were sat there going ‘aww’.”
Speaking at Juliet Sear’s Silverwood baking range launch at Fortnum & Mason, Kelly joked that she might even attempt to make her This Morning pal’s gingerbread cookies, saying: “She does make it look easy.
Kelly with dad Ozzy at a LA benefit concert in 2014Credit: Reuters
“I’ve been doing a lot of charity work before Christmas to keep me busy because I find it really fulfilling.
“I’m working with Centrepoint as well the King’s Trust, and all the charities from Birmingham that we work with, like the Children’s Hospital, Acorn, and the Parkinson’s charity.”
In a low moment, though, Kelly is ready to admit all her efforts to stay busy don’t mask her grief at losing her dad.
She said: “I just want to get through Christmas without crying.”
Kelly has lost a lot of weight since he died — which cruel trolls have pointed out online.
She previously said in a video on social media: “To the people who keep thinking they’re being funny and mean by writing comments like ‘are you ill?’ or ‘get off Ozempic, you don’t look right’.
“My dad just died, and I’m doing the best that I can, and the only thing I have to live for right now is my family.
“And I choose to share my content with you and share the happy side of my life not the miserable side of my life.
“So to all those people, f**k off.”
‘Being an aunt is the best job in the world’
Now she has hit out at the criticism of how she and Jack, who both shot to fame on MTV’s The Osbournes, have been handling Ozzy’s death.
Kelly said: “I think that people forget that he and I are not the teenagers from that reality show.
“You know what people do now is they’re like, ‘Oh my God, she’s had so much plastic surgery’.
“But you’re looking at a picture of me from when I was 16 years old.
I’m 41 years old now. It’s insane.”
It’s the family that keeps Kelly and the rest of the Osbournes going — and they are all thrilled that Jack is now expecting his fifth child.
Jack has three children from his previous marriage, and little daughter Maple with interior designer wife Aree Gearhart.
Kelly added: “Jack and I have this weird dynamic.
“Even though I am the older sister, he’s the older brother.
We will have crackers and watch the King’s speech. On the day, there’s going to be 14 of us and I’ve ordered everyone a pair of matching pyjamas to wear. We’ll be sitting in front of the telly
Kelly Osbourne
“I go to him more than he comes to me.
“Unless I have to be protective of him, then I’m the older sister.
“I speak to him every day.
“I’ve already rang him twice this morning.
“Doing the jungle, the hardest thing for me was not being able to speak to him.
“And he is having another baby.
“I try not to make it about me, but I get so excited that I get to be an aunt again because being an aunt is the best job in the world.
“I’ve now got five nieces and nephews now and it’s so good.
“And now that some of Jack’s daughters are getting older, we have a different relationship, where they come to me for things that they don’t go to their dad for.
“It’s really special.”
And with 2026 around the corner, Kelly is not planning to make any resolutions this year.
She said: “No. I’m working on having a farm here.
“I’m setting up barns as we speak, then we’ll get animals.
“The plan is to stay in England now. I wouldn’t leave my dad.
“It’s just one day at a time.
“Grief is a hard thing. It really is.
“You never know when it’s going to take you out.
“It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever go through in your life.
CRUZ Beckham has claimed estranged brother Brooklyn blocked all of his family on social media – including his parents David and Victoria and his sister Harper.
It comes amid reports the former England footballer, 50, and fashion designer Victoria , 51, unfollowed their eldest son and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, on Instagram.
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Brooklyn Beckham blocked all of his family on social media – including his sister Harper and parents David and VictoriaCredit: Getty Images for Supergoop!Nicola has also unfollowed the Beckham clanCredit: GettyThe Beckham family before the family fall outCredit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Cruz, 20, today addressed the unfollowing drama and hit back in a post on his Instagram Story.
He revealed that Brooklyn, 26, removed the entire family – including 14-year-old Harper – from his social media.
The musician confirmed his parents woke up to being banned from seeing Brooklyn’s profile, and said: “My mum and dad would never unfollow their son.
Brooklyn’s wife Nicola is also not following any of the Beckham family on Instagram – weeks after the couple were absent from David’s long-awaited knighthood celebrations.
Meanwhile David and Victoria were not present for Brooklyn and Nicola’s New York wedding vow renewal in August.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2022, were last pictured with David and Victoria last Christmas.
Victoria shared a snap on Instagram on Boxing Day alongside David with her three sons, daughter Harper and Nicola.
She wrote: “Being together for the holidays makes me so happy. I love you all so much.”
The Sun told this week how Victoria is determined not to let the fallout with Brooklyn and Nicola ruin their Christmas.
Referring to how close Brooklyn was to his grandparents, a source told The Sun: “Brooklyn spent so much time with her parents Jackie and Tony for the first few years of his life.
“They had such a special bond, while Sandra (David’s mum) looked after him so much growing up.
“Harper really misses her big brother and Nicola.
“Victoria is hoping that Brooklyn at least calls his grandparents over Christmas.
Taking to his Instagram Stories, David, 50 shared a photo of himself, wife Victoria, 51, and children Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20 and Harper, 14, celebrating his MLS title in Miami.
However, what was poignant in the post was that he also shared a throwback snap of himself with Brooklyn, 25, and his brothers after winning the same cup as a player with LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.
He captioned the snaps with: “License to cry.”
The sweet post could be seen as David’s olive branch to his son, as we approach Christmas.
TELLING SWIPE
It comes as Victoria recently revealed it takes a lot for her not to get on with another woman.
She said in an interview on Andy Cohen‘s Sirius XM’s radio show: “I’m a girl’s girl. I mean you’ve got to be a real ae for me to not get on with you if you’re a woman.”
The fashion mogul continued: “Because I love, I love women, you know, and that’s part of the reason why I do what I do with fashion and beauty.
“I want to empower women. Yes. And I want to share my tips and tricks with women.”
Things took a turn in the family feud earlier this year when Brooklyn and Nicola organised a wedding vow renewal in the summer but none of the Beckhams were invited to the lavish ceremony.
Good Morning Britain host Adil Ray discussed a “serious situation” on Friday
A Good Morning Britain star warned “they could die” in a heartbreaking news update on Friday (December 19).
During the latest episode of the popular ITV breakfast show, presenters Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins brought viewers up to speed with breaking news from Britain and beyond.
They were accompanied in the studio by Sean Fletcher, who covered additional news items, whilst Laura Tobin delivered regular weather forecasts live from Nottingham.
Later in the programme, Adil and Charlotte examined the day’s pressing issues alongside regular panellists Salma Shah and Caroline Flint.
The discussion soon turned to the continuing Middle East conflict, with Adil identifying the eight Palestine Action campaigners who have been engaged in an indefinite hunger strike at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, reports Wales Online.
The protest action commenced on November 2 and has been characterised as “the biggest coordinated prison hunger strike” in nearly four decades in Britain, according to campaign organisation Prisoners for Palestine, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday (December 18).
Over 800 medical professionals, legal specialists, and relatives have written to Justice Secretary David Lammy, calling on him to meet with their legal representatives to address the continuing demonstration.
“They have been arrested and charged because they were part of the Palestinian protests. Some of them have been on hunger strike for 47 days, it’s 48 now actually,” Adil stated.
“I’m too young to remember, but in 1981, IRA prisoners went on hunger strike. Some of them died within 46 days. It’s a serious situation.
“Should we be doing more in this case, Salma? Should the government be intervening? They’re saying the prisons have a system to deal with this. These could die. These prisoners are on remand, but they could die in prison.”
Salma responded: “It’s a difficult situation because nobody wants them to die, and they have decided to take a very drastic measure by going on a hunger strike.
“As I understand it, of the eight, there were six that were in critical condition; two of them have now stopped their hunger strike because they were in such a bad way.
“What we need to do is ensure that the medical support team that is in prison is allowed to try and convince them that this is not the right action going forward, because losing lives is not going to fundamentally change what they want to change.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice previously stated: “The Deputy Prime Minister has responded to and will continue to respond to correspondence on this issue, and is being kept informed of the situation. We continually assess prisoners’ wellbeing and will always take the appropriate action, including taking prisoners to hospital if they are assessed as needing treatment by a medical professional.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am
Peter Andre has shared a sad update on his mum’s health, admitting this Christmas could be her lastCredit: InstagramPeter’s mum, Thea, and his dad, Savvas, live in Australia and have suffered declining health over the last few yearsCredit: InstagramPeter, his wife Emily and their children are spending Christmas home in the UKCredit: Instagram/peterandre
And in a new interview with OK! Magazine, he admitted: “Of course I worry this could be Mum’s last Christmas.
“She’s very delicate. Her Parkinson’s has progressed quite a bit. Her speech is almost gone. She’ll say a word or two. It’s heartbreaking, because she’s our world, our pillar of strength.”
His older sister, Debbie, also resides back home and helps to look after their parents.
Admitting that it’s tough to also see his dad’s health decline with age, the dad-of-five said: “Then I see Dad and he’s 92 and with her every single day. But he’s getting delicate now, too.
“His memory’s going, but I am so grateful that they made that milestone I prayed for – 70 years of marriage in September.”
“It’s a raw pain. I’m a grown man, but I still can’t accept in my heart that these things happen to the people I love the most,” he added.
The couple also share kids Theo and Amelia, while Peter shares his eldest children with ex-Katie Price.
At the time, the singer shared how proud he was of Princess and Junior for taking the time to visit Emily in hospital after labour before then flying to Austrlia.
He said on Instagram: “Junior and princess. The fact that you drove to Somerset to be with us hours before and the days that followed to see the arrival of your baby sister,”
“AND THEN to get on a plane and travel 12,000 miles to be with your grandmother in a very difficult time for her shows me what beautiful children you are.”
Peter admitted it’s tough to see his mum, who is a “pillar of strength” struggling so muchCredit: InstagramThe singer often visits his family Down UnderCredit: instagram
