Visit this beautiful seaside which is a wonderful place to spend time by the coast, with the countryside nearby. There are beaches, forests and so many cultural activities to do
Christine Younan Deputy Editor Social Newsdesk
04:10, 04 Apr 2026
If you’re coming from London, it’s less than an hour by train(Image: Getty Images)
Fancy a little adventure where you can enjoy the sights and smell of the coast? Whether you’re up for a walk in the forest or to visit the village named the “prettiest in England”, it’s nice to venture outside of the borough at times.
Now with spring in full swing, there’s no better way to spend your long bank holiday weekend than by heading to the seaside. This location has been named the “most beautiful in the UK” with beaches, forests and so much more to enjoy. Not only can you spend time by the coast, it’s also close to the countryside. And the place people are raving on about is Folkestone, Kent.
This is a wonderful place to spend time by the beach where you can visit gorgeous little cafes along the cobbled streets, tuck into some fish and chips by the sea, and take in the views.
Folkestone is a coastal town on the English Channel, it lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs.
A travel account on TikTok recently named the location as the “most beautiful seaside in the UK”.
In the caption, the user added: “Is this the cutest seaside town in the UK?” Meanwhile a lot of people in the comments section claimed to “love Folkestone”, while another added: “How beautiful.”
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How to get to Folkestone:
If you’re travelling by car from London, it’s around 75 miles (about a 1 hour and 40 minute drive). It’s along the M20 which includes tolls.
Meanwhile, the fastest journey would be a train from London St Pancras to Folkestone Central, which takes about 56 minutes. A return ticket could cost around £30-£40 depending on times.
London Charing Cross is also another option to take the train from, although this adds nearly an hour onto the travel time.
What to do in Folkestone:
The seaside town offers a mix of sandy beaches, creative art and pure coastal charm.
There are many attractions for all members of the family, from the bustling Harbour Arm for food and drinks to the scenic Lower Leas Coastal Park.
Also the Creative Quarter’s has the Old Street for cafes, independent boutiques and coffee stops.
And don’t forget the Zig Zag Path where you can walk the restored Victorian path which offers dramatic views through the shady, landscaped greenery.
You can also check out the Folkestone Artworks where there’s over 70 contemporary artworks dispersed across towns, beaches and cliffs.
After seven weeks on strike, members of the Writers Guild Staff Union are losing their healthcare.
The staff typically has access to the same plan offered to the Writers Guild members through the Producer-Writers Guild of America Health Plan. Employees represented by the staff union earn coverage on a month-to-month basis if they worked 31 hours per week the previous month. But since the group — which includes over 100 workers across legal, communications and residuals departments — has been on strike, they are no longer eligible.
The staff union wrote on social media that it learned about the coverage loss through an online portal “just hours before this goes into effect.”
“This puts children, spouses and their own employees into a further state of crisis. We are in week seven of our strike. This is just the latest attempt by WGAW to bust our union and break our strike,” the union wrote in the Instagram post.
WGA West confirmed employees who receive health coverage on a month-to-month basis are no longer eligible for it as of April 1. The guild said in a statement that striking employees can elect COBRA continuation coverage if they want to be covered in April and that they “cannot make contributions on behalf of staff employees who did not work in March and have no earnings.”
The work stoppage was first called on Feb. 17, after the staff union alleged that management had no intention to reach an agreement on the pending contract. Negotiations between the WGA and its staff union started last September.
Last week, the staffers sent a complete collective bargaining agreement to the union’s management, which they said was “designed to bring this strike to a resolution.” Key sticking points in the negotiations include seniority-based layoffs and promotions, as well as the right to strike mid-term in the contract.
WGA wrote in a statement that it has “negotiated a contract with the staff union that offers generous economic improvements and workplace protections that are among the best for any union staff in Los Angeles.”
A UK seaside town is brimming with charm, with vibrant beach huts lining the golden beach and a high street packed with independent businesses that serves up its famed oysters
This picturesque seaside town is just a short train journey from London (Image: Getty Images)
A charming coastal town, just a short train ride from London, offers an idyllic day out, adorned with colourful beach huts and an independent high street.
The seaside town of Whitstable in Kent is perhaps one of the best ways to make the most of the warmer weather, with its sprawling beach, thriving harbour and high street brimming with independent businesses. Nestled between Herne Bay and Seasalter, the Kentish town is just over an hour’s train journey from London, making it a favourite among those who want to escape the smoke for a break by the picturesque coast.
The shingle beach is at the heart of this town, with its picturesque pastel-hued beach huts lining the promenade for a quintessential British seaside. While it may lack the pier or rides you might find at other seaside towns, its stretches of golden beach have previously earned it the recognition of the ‘best of the traditional British seaside’ by Beach Guide, thanks to its ‘quirkiness and charm’.
It’s a place where families can spend hours playing along the shore, taking a refreshing dip in the seawaters, or simply walking along its stretching promenade, admiring the colourful beach huts. If you fancy a pint in the sun, there’s the famed Old Neptune pub, with outdoor seating offering views across the coast, and where fishermen take in their daily catch.
Whitstable also has a bustling harbour and is renowned for its oysters. Its heritage of seafood dates back to around 80AD, when the Romans reportedly sent oysters back to Rome because they loved them so much, and the town built a thriving industry based on mollusc business that remains in place today.
A trip to Whitstable wouldn’t be complete without sampling its famed oysters with the acclaimed Whitstable Oyster Company and Wheelers Oyster Bar, providing the perfect spot. But with an array of restaurants nestled around the town, you’ll never be far from fresh seafood, and the town even holds its very own Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival to celebrate its historic connection.
Away from oysters, the town, which has been dubbed the ‘jewel of the Kent coast’, is also known for its thriving high street. Whitstable has hundreds of independent businesses, from vintage shops and art galleries to cafés, bakeries, hardware stores, and family-run eateries, with just a few chain stores surviving.
A stroll along Harbour Street and the High Street will reveal shopfronts bursting with character, including George’s Whitstable, an authentic Aladdin’s cave that has been a fixture for around 50 years. Some of its other notable highlights include the elegant jewellery shop Pearl Shop, the independent toy shop Buttercup, and Harbour Books.
Whether you’re looking to spend time on the beach, browse around the extensive selection of independent shops or simply stroll around the charming town, a day trip to this ‘oyster paradise’ is well worth it. And with a direct train from London Victoria to Whitstable taking just over an hour, it couldn’t be easier to experience the seaside charm along the Kent coast.
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It’s an hour before Monroe High’s baseball team takes infield practice. In the dugout dressed in his uniform, Miguel Gonzalez has his scissors out giving a free haircut to a teammate.
“Ten out of 10,” infielder Alexander Hernandez said when describing Gonzalez’s barber skills.
His pitching skills aren’t bad either. He struck out 12 in six innings in his season debut. He’s 5-0 with a 0.69 ERA. He’s a four-year varsity player for the surprising Vikings, who are 13-1 to start this season under second-year coach Eddie Alcantar.
The fact that Gonzalez is still playing might come as the biggest surprise if you knew all the responsibilities he faces as an 18-year-old.
Alcantar was getting worried last January when Gonzalez didn’t show up for winter workouts.
“I have a rule if you don’t show up for practice, you don’t play,” Alcantar said.
They finally met and Gonzalez revealed he’s been too busy working as a barber. And then came the big news: He’s going to become a father in July.
The Monroe High baseball team is off to an 13-1 start.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
It’s a delicate balancing act between work, school, baseball and the seriousness of being a parent as a teenager.
“I’ve been able to figure scheduling little by little,” Gonzalez said. “I do sleep. Maybe five hours.”
Gonzalez said he worked seven days a week as a barber during the summer. He’s been saving for his future while also making sure he did not have to ask his parents for money. He works weekends and sometimes has to leave practice after an hour for work.
As far as baseball, he added a slider this season, picked up some velocity and tries to throw three pitches for strikes.
Against Eagle Rock, he struck out 10 and gave up two hits in a 3-1 win. Against Arleta, he struck out 10 in six innings during a 6-1 victory with one walk. Against Westchester, he got two outs — both strikeouts — in a 3-1 win. Against Vaughn, he gave up two hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory..
Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez has helped Monroe to an 13-1 start with a 5-0 record and 0.69 ERA.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
He said his parents have been supportive: “They have told me it’s a really big responsibility.”
After high school, he plans to go to an occupational school to learn more about being a barber. He’d love to continue playing baseball, but that will depend on his development and his priorities. So far, his balancing act is keeping him levelheaded and determined.
He’s been working since he was 5 when he helped his father in landscaping. He switched to cutting hair and loves it. His clients swear by him.
I stayed in a chocolate themed hotel suite that was full of delicious treats – but what surprised me the most wasn’t the edible chocolate in the bathroom.
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I stayed in a chocolate hotel room
Hidden away, just an hour from the UK, is a hotel suite completely draped in chocolate. This is accommodation that money simply cannot buy, but no, you don’t need a golden ticket – you merely have to be the world’s kindest person.
Tony’s Chocolonely has teamed up with the Social Hub in Amsterdam to offer a select few people an overnight stay in this extraordinary, chocolate-themed room. And I was fortunate enough to become the first guest to experience it.
From the cupboards and shelves brimming with chocolate, the overwhelming chocolate aroma, and the inspirational messages scattered throughout, this suite was a remarkable space I won’t forget in a hurry.
However, it wasn’t just the edible chocolate in the bathroom that surprised me the most: it was the deeper meaning behind the competition.
What to expect
I stepped into the room through enormous red curtains to find a personal bartender, who prepared a beverage of my choosing. I opted for the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, which was incredibly tasty and decadent. The bartender was welcoming, considerate and engaging.
I was then given free rein to discover the suite’s three spaces: the principal red one, a concealed blue room, and an upstairs monochrome room.
Each space conveyed its own theme and function: the red for community and connection, the blue for self-reflection, and the black and white for gratitude and recognition.
In the red room, I discovered a self-contained kitchen featuring a functioning hob, coffee maker, sink, microwave, a create-your-own ice-cream sundae station, a well-stocked fridge containing various beverages, and (crucially) cabinets brimming with chocolate.
Every visitor receives a shelf packed with chocolate which they can take away, to share with the loveliest people in their lives (or someone less lovely, should they wish). Messages about kindness and connection were dotted throughout. There was even a chocolate Jenga available with questions printed on the wrappers.
The blue room features a fortune slot machine, which requires finding tokens scattered around the suite to operate. Within it, you can collect chocolates and discover self-reflective questions. I invited my brother along, who was posed the question: “What’s one belief you have changed your mind about?”
He answered: “That I’m not good enough.” This wasn’t something I anticipated him revealing or knew he’d struggled with, because to me, my older brother is nothing short of perfect.
Finally, we entered the black-and-white room, where visitors can leave a message of kindness for the team or the following guest. Charlie Ayres, head of brand at The Social Hub, commented: “We wanted every part of the room to spark togetherness and encourage kindness, using chocolate to create opportunities to share, interact and above all, be sweet to one another.
“This is a one-off, limited experience designed to celebrate some of the world’s sweetest people, while also telling a more important story. Through our partnership with Tony’s Chocolonely, we hope to spark conversation around exploitation in the chocolate industry, showing how experiences can be both joyful and meaningful.”
My night in the chocolate ‘red room’
The red room, along with the black and white room, was our accommodation for the evening, and the space is, quite frankly, enchanting.
Upon entering, I was met with a delightful chocolate aroma that wasn’t overly sweet but rather nutty and creamy. Everything appears extraordinary, and just when you think you’ve discovered all the chocolate, you open a new cupboard or area, and there’s even more.
The bed felt like sinking into a cloud, complete with a soft mattress and a thick duvet. Personally, I would have preferred the room to be a tad warmer, as it was a large area with only air conditioning and no heating.
However, there were ample blankets available, which kept me snug and warm. One minor issue was the television, which we couldn’t seem to get working, but this encouraged my brother and me to continue conversing.
I awoke feeling incredibly refreshed. We indulged ourselves with a scrumptious sundae before receiving a heartwarming and delightful wake-up call that encouraged us to share the kindness we’d experienced with the wider world.
Reflecting on his time there following the visit, my brother remarked: “Sweetness and warmth even down to the scent wafting throughout the rooms. It had a spacious bathroom, a comfortable bed and an abundance of chocolate as a treat at hand, anywhere you looked. Thought and caring touches sprinkled throughout promoting mindfulness and a reminder that peace doesn’t happen in a vacuum.”
The chocolate-themed room will remain available for the next three days. Enthusiasts in Amsterdam can also visit the space on March 29 from 1 pm.
The message
When the world requires a touch of kindness, this partnership seeks to inspire people to engage with family, friends, and even complete strangers, and to appreciate the significance of making decisions that benefit those in their community.
Trix van der Vleuten, chief marketing officer at The Social Hub, explained: “The world feels increasingly divided. We’re more digitally connected than ever, yet loneliness is rising. We wanted to come together with Tony’s to showcase that sweetness, simple, human kindness, matters more than ever, and that people can enjoy our products while positively impacting society.”
Through this launch, Tony’s Chocolonely aims to spotlight its commitment to aiding approximately 40,000 cocoa farmers in achieving a sustainable income. The firm’s head of global brand and communications, Sadira E. Furlow, stated that the brand’s goal is to eradicate exploitation within the cocoa industry by demonstrating that chocolate can be produced more ethically.
THE UK is heating up today, with highs of 20C making it hotter than places in Athens and Ibiza.
So if you fancy a last minute trip to the beach, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best which you can get to by train from a UK city in less than 60 minutes.
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From Weston-super-Mare to Brighton – these are the best beaches an hour by train from a cityCredit: AlamyGreat Yarmouth is less than half an hour from NorwichCredit: Alamy
Weston-super-Mare – 19 minutes from Bristol
One of the closest beaches to Bristol, Weston-super-Mare can often get a bad rap as a seaside town.
But the huge new £20million Weston Placemaking Strategy will regenerate the town as part of a 10-year plan, which includes a new waterpark and reopened pier.
The Kent town of Folkestone is getting a lot of hype at the moment – from the new ‘UK’s biggest beach sauna’ to the reopening on the seaside funicular this summer after years of closure.
It’s other claim to fame is being home to an Antony Gormley “Another Place” art installation, of which there are 100 cast-iron figures across the coastline.
HOLLYWOOD actor Timothée Chalamet missed out on Oscars glory — and had to endure a string of jibes during the ceremony.
The Marty Supreme star was the butt of jokes having angered the arts world by stating nobody cared about ballet and opera.
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Timothée Chalamet missed out on Oscars glory — and had to endure a string of jibes during the ceremonyCredit: GettyAcademy Awards host Conan O’Brien said: ‘Security is very tight tonight. There’s concerns about attacks from the ballet and opera communities’Credit: GettyOnlookers told The Sun Timothée and girlfriend Kylie Jenner walked out of the ceremony for an hour amid the drubbingCredit: Getty
And his comments came back to haunt him as Academy Awards host Conan O’Brien said: “Security is very tight tonight. There’s concerns about attacks from the ballet and opera communities.”
He waded in again later, saying to Timothée: “We’re vibing, right?”
He then told viewers: “He doesn’t think so.”
Alexandre Singh, who won Best Live Action Short Film for Two People Exchanging Saliva, also took a pop during his speech and said: “We believe art can change people’s souls.
“Maybe it takes ten years, but we can change society through art, through creativity, through theatre and ballet — and cinema.”
Timothée, 30, also had to sit through a musical number from movie Sinners, with ballerina Misty Copeland — who had also criticised the star for his cultural views — dancing during the song.
The backlash was sparked by his comment: “I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this any more.”
He quickly added, “All respect to the ballet and opera people out there”, but the damage was done.
His remarks were widely rebuked, with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli mocking the star by publicly inviting him to one of his opera performances.
What did Timothee Chalamet say about ballet and opera? Oscars controversy explained
Timothée Chalamet has sparked a heated cultural debate following comments made at a CNN and Variety Town Hall on February 21, 2026.
Speaking alongside Matthew McConaughey about needing “draws” to pull in an audience to his movies, Chalamet made harsh comments about industries he claimed feel forced to stay afloat.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera… where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,’” he said.
The remarks mirror sentiments Chalamet expressed as early as 2019 during a promotional event for The King, where he labeled the disciplines “dying art forms.”
The Royal Ballet and Opera issued a formal rebuttal, emphasizing that these art forms do not exist in isolation but rather “inform, inspire, and elevate” the broader cultural landscape, including the film industry itself.
They said: “Timothee and Kylie were replaced by seat fillers for an hour.
“It seems like he had enough of being the butt of the jokes.
“They only came back just before the Best Actress and Best Actor categories were announced.”
Timothée was seen leaving the Vanity Fair after-party in the early hours of yesterday morning with Kylie, who is part of the Kardashian reality TV family.
Kylie’s ex-partner, rapper Travis Scott, the father of her two children Stormi, eight, and Aire, four, also later appeared to mock Timothee’s defeat by sharing a photograph of Michael wiping away tears as he accepted his award.
Timothee was the butt of jokes having angered the arts world by stating nobody cared about ballet and operaCredit: GettyWhile accepting their award for Best Short Film, Two People Exchanging Saliva creators took aim at Timothee’s anti-ballet comments in their acceptance speechCredit: GettyBallerina Misty Copeland — who had also criticised the star for his cultural views — took part in a musical number with the cast and crew from SinnersCredit: GettyOnlookers told The Sun: ‘Timothee and Kylie were replaced by seat fillers for an hour. It seems like he had enough of being the butt of the jokes’Credit: Reuters
Timothée attempted to shrug off the loss at the Vanity Fair do, where he was also joined by Kylie’s sister, Kendall, and half-sister, Kim Kardashian.
An onlooker at the party said: “Timothée was swarmed by well-wishers as he arrived.
“He kept his sunglasses on for most of the night and tried to be low-key, but he stood out like a sore thumb in his white suit.
“Kylie and him stayed for a while but then left together without being seen.
“It was the Irish exit he wanted — and needed.”
Timothee came under fire in February for claiming ‘no one cares’ about opera or balletCredit: ReutersAlexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, who won the second Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film for Two People Exchanging Saliva, also shaded the actorCredit: ReutersTimothee was nominated for Best Actor and Best Picture for Marty Supreme but lost bothCredit: AFP via Getty Images
Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?
One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, left state service with two things: a federal corruption investigation and more than $50,000 in pay for vacation time she accrued but never took.
State payroll records reviewed by The Times show Williamson used approximately $30,000 in unused vacation time to remain on California’s payroll through Jan. 31 — seven weeks after Newsom’s office indicated she had departed — before collecting an additional $22,000 lump-sum payout for the hours she had left.
Large cash-outs for departing state workers with hundreds of hours of time off on the books have been a recurring issue in California. The state’s unfunded liability for vacation and other leave owed to employees has ballooned in recent years to $5.6 billion, fueled by generous time-off provisions and a long-standing failure to enforce policies that cap most employees’ vacation balances at 640 hours.
Many state workers accumulate large balances of unused vacation after decades of being on the government payroll. The typical public employee retires with more than two decades in public service, according the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. Their unused time off is paid when they leave state employment at their final rate of pay.
Williamson, however, amassed 462 hours of unused leave in less than two years on the job. She earned $19,612 a month as the governor’s chief of staff.
John Moorlach, director at the conservative think tank the Center for Public Accountability at the California Policy Center, said that a job like Williamson had probably involved incredibly long workdays but that the pace in which employees accumulate days off is a major financial burden.
“A normal blue-collar worker would say, ‘Really? Really?“” said Moorlach, a former Republican state senator from Orange County. “You don’t find this perk in the private sector.”
Williamson notified Newsom in November 2024 that she was under federal investigation and was put on paid administrative leave through Dec. 16, the governor’s office said.
Federal charges against Williamson, which were filed in November 2025, allege she siphoned $225,000 out of a dormant state campaign account belonging to gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra and illegally claimed $1 million in luxury handbags and travel as business expenses on her tax returns. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A status conference in Williamson’s case was moved to April 16 after she recently underwent a successful liver transplant and due to the large volume of discovery — more than 280,000 pages so far — according to court records filed last month.
Williamson’s attorney, McGregor Scott, did not respond to a request for comment.
State payroll records show Williamson earned $40,000 in regular pay in 2025, which the state controller’s office said included her December 2024 and January 2025 paychecks. The governor’s office said Williamson’s December 2024 paycheck included 11 days of paid administrative leave, and the remainder of both paychecks was covered by her unused leave.
With her final cash-out of $22,000 in remaining time off, she made a total of $62,000 last year — all tied to administrative leave and unused vacation time rather than time worked.
“That’s shocking, honestly,” said Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), adding that stockpiled vacation time overall is something the state Legislature should look into.
The state paid $453 million in unused leave benefits to state workers in 2025. That was an average of more than $20,000 to the 21,000 employees who received a lump-sum check. The amount paid to departing or retiring state workers has steadily increased each year. In 2024, the state paid $413 million for unused time off.
“Obviously, employees are an important part of our state and they accrue vacation time,” Hoover said. “But, if this is something being used to pad people’s salaries … we need to look into that and possibly reform that.”
Last year, 80 state employees took home at least $250,000 in unused time off, and 1,081 employees were paid more than $100,000. Those numbers have been increasing each year. For example, the state paid 16 state workers more than $250,000 for unused time off in 2010, and 309 employees were paid more than $100,000.
In 2024, the state paid out a record $1.2 million to a prison supervising dentist for unused time off. Last year, the top amount paid for unused leave was about $650,000 to an assistant fire chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The state owed nearly $5.6 billion to state workers for unused vacation and other leave benefits in 2024, according to the most recent financial accounting report issued by the state controller’s office. Although that unfunded liability held steady when compared with 2023, it has risen sharply from pre-pandemic amounts.
In 2019, the state owed $3.9 billion for employees’ unused time off before COVID-19 curtailed travel and work-from-home policies resulted in fewer workers taking time off. State employees have argued that under-staffing at state agencies can make it difficult to take vacations.
Nick Schroeder, a policy analyst at the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst’s Office, said the state has plans to reduce unfunded liabilities for pensions and retiree healthcare, but that isn’t the case with unused time off.
“There isn’t a plan to address it,” Schroeder said.
When an employee retires with a large leave balance, the department where that person worked last is on the hook for the amount.
“It can be a big effect on that individual department’s budget,” Schroeder said.
During budget deficits — including in the current fiscal year — the state has cut employee pay or deferred annual raises in exchange for additional days off, a strategy that helps balance budgets but also adds to workers’ growing vacation balances.
In Newsom’s January budget proposal, which estimated a $3-billion deficit, the governor recommended providing $91 million in ongoing funding to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to help the prison system pay departing employees for their unused time off. The department said that from 2020 to 2025, it paid about $130 million annually on average to employees leaving state service, according to a Legislative Analyst’s Office report.
When employees cash out banked leave, the state pays them not only for the hours they have accumulated, but also for the additional vacation and holidays they would have earned had they taken that time off.
That means a person with 640 hours of vacation would also be paid for all of the vacation and holidays they would have earned had they taken those 80 days off. Each hour of leave is paid based on an employee’s final salary — not what they were earning when the time was accrued.
Most private-sector employers cap vacation accrual between 40 and 400 hours and stop employees from earning additional time once they reach those limits. Some companies have moved in the opposite direction, adopting “unlimited paid time off” policies. Under those systems, employees do not accumulate vacation days that can be banked or cashed out, but critics say the policies can lead to workers taking less time off because there is no guaranteed number of days and employees may feel pressure not to appear absent.
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., said there appears to be little appetite in the state Capitol to address California’s burgeoning vacation liability.
“This problem is systemic within California government and no one seems willing to take it on,” Coupal said. “At the same time, they are clamoring that there is a budget crisis. I suspect they will continue to kick the can down the road.”
NBCUniversal is cutting “Access Hollywood” and several other of its daytime talk shows, effectively ending its first-run syndication business as daytime television atrophies.
The company confirmed that “Access Hollywood,” and its counterpart “Access Live,” will be coming to an end in September. The shows, produced in Los Angeles, are currently hosted by Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Scott Evans and Zuri Hall.
Talk shows “Karamo” and “The Steve Wilkos Show,” produced out of NBC’s facility in Stamford, Conn., are also shutting down. The programs have already completed their production for the season and will run through the summer.
NBC previously announced that “The Kelly Clarkson Show” is also ending later this year after seven seasons.
“The Steve Wilkos Show” ran for 19 seasons. The host is a former bouncer for “The Jerry Springer Show.”
Francis Berwick, chairman of Bravo and Peacock unscripted, said in a statement that the company will continue to distribute library episodes of its talk programs and network shows such as “Law & Order.” But NBCU’s days of launching series for daytime and the hour before prime time are over.
“NBCUniversal is making changes to our first-run syndication division to better align with the programming preferences of local stations,” Berwick said. “The company will remain active in the distribution of our existing program library and other off-network titles, while winding down production of our first-run shows.”
“Access Hollywood” was first launched by NBC in 1996 as a competitor to CBS Media Ventures’ “Entertainment Tonight.”
First-run syndication allows producers to sell TV shows to stations on a market-by-market basis, instead of distributing them through a single network. This model was a major success for talk show staples such as Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.
But streaming has pulled viewers away from traditional television, as viewers can watch their favorite shows and movies anytime on demand. The audience levels needed to generate enough ad revenue to support first-run programming in daytime no longer exists.
Many TV stations are filling their hours with more local news as daytime talk goes away.
