live

Veteran MS NOW anchor Alex Witt is leaving the news network, which is moving away from live programming on the weekends.

The new weekend programming strategy announced Friday is a cost-saving measure that will give parent company Versant more resources for a new direct-to-consumer streaming offering that makes MS NOW available to consumers without a pay-TV subscription. The company is also looking to expand its live event business.

According to a memo from MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler, “The Weekend: Primetime,” a live discussion program launched last year, will have its final airing Saturday.

One of the program’s co-hosts, Antonia Hylton, will take over Witt’s midday shifts later this year. Hylton’s co-hosts Ayman Mohyeldin, Catherine Rampell, and Elise Jordan, will remain with MS NOW and continue to appear on other programs.

Kutler said job losses from the moves are minimal and encouraged staffers who lose their current roles to apply for 40 current job openings at the company with more on the way. MS NOW has been staffing up its news operation since separating from NBC News last year.

MS NOW changed its name from MSNBC in November. The network, along with other Comcast-owned cable channels, were spun off into Versant in January.

Weekends have long been a ratings weak spot for MS NOW, which while a distant second to Fox News, has seen audience growth in 2026 and remains ahead of CNN. The network has started to rely on podcasts such as “Pod Save America, from Crooked Media to fill some hours. The episodes have performed strongly enough for MS NOW to try similar deals with outside podcast producers.

“Throughout the summer, we will expand our taped strategy and announce new content partnerships,” Kutler said in her memo.

With the changes, MS NOW will still have 20 hours of live programming each weekend and will be staffed to handle breaking news.

Witt joined the network formerly known as MSNBC in 1999, long before it began its strong tilt toward progressive political commentary. Over the years, Witt’s weekend newscast became one of the few programs on the network that delivered straight news without opinion.

Kutler called Witt “a beloved longtime member of our MS NOW family” and “a continued, trusted, and steady presence for our audiences.”

While Witt works through the summer, Hylton will anchor the 11 a.m. weekday time period, which will eventually be handled by former NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander.

The One Show presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp addressed an expletive on the programme.

The One Show presenter Roman Kemp issued an apology after a guest swore live on air.

The programme returned on Thursday, June 25, with Roman joining Alex Jones on the sofa.

They welcomed guests Kate Humble, Ben Fogle and Martin Clunes to the show, before it was thrown into chaos.

The Doc Martin star had been talking about the US version of the beloved programme emerging, starring Josh Charles in the leading role.

As a preview clip of it aired, Martin was asked about Josh’s spin on playing the grumpy doctor.

He replied: “He’s completely done his own thing, much nicer than me, less awkward and abrasive… he’s warm and better-looking.”

Martin then responded to a moment he just saw from the preview, adding: “I was just looking at that bit… they wouldn’t let me call the dog the son of a b***h, which I thought was funny.”

As the studio erupted into laughter, Roman rushed to apologise, saying: “I have to apologise quickly.”

Alex jokingly chastised Martin, adding: “You’ve been on a hundred times!”

Martin then turned to Ben, arguing: “He’s a vet… it’s a female dog!”

Continuing about the programme, Martin went on to address the future of the show, saying: “They’re going again, they’re doing another series.”

The Good Wife actor Josh will be starring in Best Medicine, with Sky previously teasing: “A US remake of UK television favourite Doc Martin, Best Medicine is a heartwarming new comedy-drama about a physician who moves to a small coastal town in the hopes of a quiet life.

“Dr Martin Best packs up his surgical career in Boston, Massachusetts and heads to start a new life as a physician in the coastal fishing town of Port Wenn in Maine. His aunt, a local lobster merchant, is nearby, and his new private practice is perfect for a simple life. Or so he thinks.

“Soon he’s introduced to Port Wenn’s community, filled with quirky but loving characters with no end of ailments for him to figure out and diagnose. However, as someone who is quite introverted and likes to keep himself to himself, he struggles with the adjustment.

“He’s also got a huge blood phobia – which doesn’t help his abilities as a doctor who may need to tend to wounds from time to time.

“But behind his brusque attitude and no-nonsense approach to a bedside manner, Dr Martin hides his own personal pain that he is hiding from the world which explains why he is the way he is. Will this little town bring him out of his shell?”

The One Show airs weeknights from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Venezuela near the city of Moron, followed by a stronger magnitude 7.5 quake in the same area.

WITH the warm weather staying, you don’t need to fly away to experience a destination that feels like abroad.

El Murrino Beachside Kitchen sits on East Cliff Beach, between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers in Dorset.

One recent visitor claimed the bar has “Mediterranean beach vibes”.

Another added: “The food was tasty and the atmosphere was like being abroad in Spain.”

A third agreed: “The sun was shining and the music made it feel like we were in Ibiza for the afternoon.”

Others even compared it to Miami, saying it feels like being on holiday abroad.

Read more on travel inspo

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

It doesn’t matter what time of day you visit as the kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast options include American pancakes for £8 and then when it comes to lunch or dinner you can grab a burger, salad, fish and chips or pizza for £14.

Even your four-legged friend won’t be left out with doggy ice cream available for £3.50 a tub.

And of course there are plenty of tipples on offer including cocktails for £9 or a pint for £6.50.

If you want to elevate your experience, there is the option to book a VIP Cabana for £75.

The cabana can be used by up to 10 people and includes two pizzas and four drinks or a bottle of wine or prosecco with your booking.

Each booking lasts two and a half hours.

If you don’t fancy booking a cabana there are plenty of picnic-style tables as well, surrounded by sand.

And during the summer months, you can also catch a live DJ session at the beach bar.

The beach bar is open each day until 11pm and makes for the perfect pitstop when exploring Bournemouth’s beaches.

Several key issues remain as sticking points in US-Iran talks, including maritime security and nuclear oversight.

Julie Hayden and Gail Gregory, the self-proclaimed ‘dementia rebels’, appeared on This Morning to share their experiences of living with dementia and challenge misconceptions about the condition

Two women determined to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia have shared their personal journeys living with the condition.

Julie Hayden and Gail Gregory, the self-proclaimed ‘dementia rebels,’ featured on Tuesday’s This Morning to mark Alzheimer’s Society’s Forget Me Not month.

Chatting to hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Gail, from Lancashire, disclosed she had received her diagnosis in 2019 aged 54, and was informed at the time she only had six to seven years to live.

“I was running my own business, and we’d noticed changes with my personality,” she explained. “I had an embroidery business like teddy bears and clothing, and we put personalised messages on, and I was taking a lot of information in which I wasn’t retaining. So when people were placing orders, I was having trouble retaining information, so I was making mistakes, which we put down to stress at the beginning because we had just moved.

“As you do, you put things off, and you think it’s going to get better, but it doesn’t get better, it goes worse, and so other things start to creep in,” reports Lancs Live.

Eventually, Gail chose to consult a medical professional and described the assessments she underwent at the doctor’s that proved challenging, such as drawing a clock face, “getting the numbers muddled up,” and attempting to recall an address.

Reflecting on that moment, she said: “You realise there’s something wrong. It’s then that it’s reality, that there’s something wrong. But what, you don’t know.

“Nobody tells you it’s going to be dementia, and you don’t imagine it’s going to be dementia, especially not at the age of 54.

“This is where the perception is wrong. Everybody expects it to be an older person in their later years, what they don’t expect is that people younger than me have been diagnosed, there are even children diagnosed.

“It’s that perception we need to change, because it’s not the end of life, it’s the beginning of a new one.”

Julie also revealed how she had been suffering from “life-changing” symptoms for more than five years when she was diagnosed, but was dismissed by the doctors.

She was told she was depressed and going through menopause, and it took Julie more than five years for a diagnosis.

Julie and Gail are now both supporting other people with dementia, particularly younger people, and fighting back against the stigma of people living with the condition.

As she urged for more training and information to support doctors, Julie said, “I can’t tell you what it’s like to live with cancer and go through the treatments because I’ve never been there. Nobody can tell you what it’s like to live with dementia unless they’ve actually lived with it.”

She added, “I had huge surprises as to what it was like, compared to how I thought it was going to be like when I got my own.”

Sharing her gratitude for the support they’ve both received from friends, family and those spreading awareness, Gail read: “A diagnosis of dementia, it can change many things but it should never, ever change our worth.

“We don’t need pity, and we don’t need to be pushed aside, because we need understanding and support and the opportunity to continue to live our lives with purpose, dignity, and connection.”

She added, “When I got my diagnosis, they said to me I would have six to seven years to live. I’m in those years now, and I’m still going, and what people should be saying to us is, go outside and live your life. Do the things that you want to do because that’s what life’s about at the end of the day, it’s about living.”

She continued: “I’m very grateful for dementia, because dementia has made me calm down. It’s made me appreciate the things that we have, like nature and things like that; it’s been wonderful. We get so many opportunities that we wouldn’t even dream of having, like coming here today, it’s wonderful.”

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.

For more information, visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Earlier on Monday evening, he Met Office announced a thunderstorm warning for several regions across the UK on Monday night, spanning from 5pm to 9pm.

While the weather alert has since expired, communities across south West England are still reeling in the wake of wild storms and flash flooding.

Who did the warning cover? The weather alert applied to parts of East of England, London and South East England, South West England.

What was the full alert? A Yellow weather warning is in effect, continuing until Monday 9pm. The forecast indicates frequent lightning strikes and heavy rain in the impacted regions.

A Met Office forecaster said, in a statement issued alongside the urgent weather alert earlier this evening (June 22): “An area of thunderstorms moving east across the area will bring a spell of frequent lightning, gusty winds, torrential rain, and a few places, hail.

The storms will be moving quickly reducing the potential for widespread large amounts of rain, but there is a few places could see 20-25 mm of rainfall in a short period in the most active storms, which could bring some brief flooding.

“The majority of impacts are likely to come from other hazards however, such as lightning striking buildings and causing power cuts, difficult driving conditions in heavy rain, and some localised damage to vulnerable structures by strong wind gusts or hail.”

US says the decisions follow Iran’s commitment to allow international nuclear inspections.

Iranian deputy foreign minister says Iran ‘ready to move forward’ on diplomacy with US, but war must end on all fronts.

I already want to return to this historic town that has quietly built a reputation as one of the most desirable places to live in Britain.

Friends spoke highly of it, travel writers regularly rank it among the UK’s best places to live, and it has built a reputation as one of the country’s most creative and independent towns.

Even so, I wasn’t quite prepared for how much I would enjoy spending a day there. Located in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, Hebden Bridge has a fascinating history. Once a small settlement where packhorse routes crossed the River Hebden, it grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution thanks to textile manufacturing and its position on the Rochdale Canal.

The arrival of the railway in the 19th century further transformed the town, connecting it to nearby cities and helping it prosper. Today, many of the old mill buildings remain, giving Hebden Bridge much of its distinctive character. But rather than being dominated by its industrial past, the town has reinvented itself as a thriving hub for independent businesses, artists and outdoor enthusiasts.

I arrived by train on a bright morning and was immediately struck by the setting. Hebden Bridge is in a narrow valley surrounded by steep hillsides, with rows of traditional stone buildings packed between the river and the slopes above. It’s a dramatic setting but the town itself feels welcoming and surprisingly compact.

My first stop was a walk along the Rochdale Canal, one of Hebden Bridge’s defining features. The towpath was busy with walkers, cyclists and dog owners, while narrowboats drifted slowly through the water. It felt like the perfect introduction to the town, offering a chance to take in both the scenery and the relaxed pace of life.

Full of independent shops

From there, I headed into the centre, wandering along Market Street and the surrounding roads. One of the things that stood out most was the number of independent shops.

Unlike many town centres, there was little sign of the major chains that have become so common elsewhere. Instead, I found bookshops, bakeries, record stores, galleries and cafés occupying handsome stone-fronted buildings. I stopped for coffee and later picked up lunch from a local bakery before spending time browsing some of the shops.

The town was busy without feeling overcrowded, and there seemed to be a strong sense that people were there because they wanted to be, rather than simply passing through.

In the afternoon, I made the walk up to Heptonstall, the historic hilltop village overlooking Hebden Bridge. The climb is steep in places, but the views across the valley more than justify the effort.

Heptonstall itself is well worth exploring, with its cobbled streets, historic church and connections to the poet Sylvia Plath, who is buried in the churchyard.

Back in Hebden Bridge, I spent some time by the river before heading to the station. As I sat watching people come and go, it became clear why the town has attracted so much attention over the years: the combination of history, landscape, community and independence. It manages to feel both lively and relaxed at the same time, while offering easy access to some of the most beautiful countryside in northern England.

I’ve visited plenty of attractive towns across the UK, but few have left me thinking about what it might be like to live there. Hebden Bridge was one of them, and by the time I boarded the train home, I was already planning a return visit.

AS the biggest heart-throb on the planet, Harry Styles is the last person you’d expect to be ringing in New Year alone.

But the pop superstar has revealed how he “shut out” the world after struggling to live up to the “perfect” image his fans projected on to him.

In a candid new interview, the 32-year-old, who kicked off a record-breaking 12-night run at Wembley Stadium on Friday, said: “I was supposed to spend New Year’s with friends and I landed in Italy and felt really unwell, so I just went home.

“And I woke up and I had this kind of beautiful New Year’s by myself. I was feeling the most alone I’d felt in a really long time, but in the most beautiful way. I didn’t feel lonely at all.”

Harry added that he became a “hermit” after his last tour ended in 2023.

Flying into Italy for a “quiet time”, he rejected all invites as he ­recuperated from the gruelling Love On Tour series of live shows.

READ MORE ON HARRY STYLES

SING IT…?

Watch moment Harry Styles apologises to fans as he forgets lyrics on-stage

SPEAKING OUT

Moment Harry Styles speaks out over tour backlash after fans vent over stage

In an interview on the Q With Tom Power podcast, Harry said: “I was just feeling myself kind of shut out from a lot of the world.

“I think I got used to saying no to invites from friends and maybe a weekend trip or a birthday party or something.

“I just got used to, you know, if I have a week at home, I don’t want to go somewhere else for three days. I just want to stay home.

“And when I got to Italy and was in this quiet place, I felt like, ‘OK, if I’m going to spend all this time out here and I’m going to keep ­saying no to everything, I’m just going to shut myself off from the world’.”

Harry released his latest album — Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally — in March and it immediately shot to No1 in the charts.

And his Together, Together tour is currently making history at London’s Wembley.

But the As It Was singer admits that he struggled to live up to his fans’ adoring perception of him, saying: “I had this relationship with my own image where people had this projected version of me that was perfect.

“And when the standard you hold yourself to is this perfect person, it’s impossible not to feel like you’re falling short.”

He confessed that any criticism could take a devastating toll, saying: “If you don’t feel great about yourself and someone says you’re terrible, it’s like the claw is in and it’s ripping you.

“But if you have a more solid sense of yourself, you can hear those things and it doesn’t destroy you in the same way.”

It is a frank admission from a man who has conquered the world of pop, and America, after spending half his life in the glare of the global spotlight.

Harry was 16 when he stepped on to The X Factor stage in 2010, where music mastermind Simon Cowell grouped him with four other hopefuls to form One Direction.

What followed was global ­hysteria. And as the breakout star of the record-breaking boy band, Harry was propelled from a quiet Cheshire upbringing into a whirlwind of stadium tours and platinum records.

He then defied the odds to build a critically acclaimed solo career, with hits such as Watermelon Sugar, and a £235million fortune, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

But during his period of isolation in Italy, Harry realised that avoiding the downsides of global fame also meant missing the best parts of life.

He added: “You can sit at home and think it’s hard for me to do these things — people are looking at me, taking pictures. But when you shut out those things that might be negative, you also shut out a ton of ­positive things.

“If you think it’s hard to go to a bar and hang out with friends because people might act a certain way, there are also incredible people you could meet in that bar that you’re shutting out.”

Taking his own advice and stepping back into the world clearly paid off.

It was during this period that Harry met his fiancée, US actress Zoe Kravitz.

The couple, who began dating in late 2025, are reportedly planning a small wedding in London this winter.

Harry also said that he has spent the past two years learning to love himself and accept that ­he can make mistakes.

He said: “I’m still figuring a bunch of stuff out and it’s OK to have a little self-compassion around making mistakes. For a long time, I struggled to admit when I’d made a mistake because the reward when you meet people’s expectations is so loud and shiny.”

Ultimately, Harry believes that taking a step back from the spotlight saved him.

He reflected: “Having time to sit at home and be bored and really look at the emotions I was feeling allowed me to lean into them instead of being afraid of them.

“And it means I’m now in a much healthier place than I was last time I was putting music out.”

Now back on the road, he wants his latest dance-pop record to be less about his personal life and more about his fans’ experiences.

He said: “With this record, I want the listener in the front seat and I’m in the seat behind you.

“It’s not really about me or what clubs I’m going to or who I’m hanging out with — it’s about you having your own experience.”

Ariana risk for musical

RUMOURS are sweeping theatreland that Ariana Grande is set to drop out of musical Sunday In The Park With George.

The singer was due to appear opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey at London’s Barbican Centre next summer, but ticket sales have been delayed until autumn.

I’m told that bosses have also met with actresses who could step in to replace Ariana, who last week kicked off her energetic Eternal Sunshine Tour.

A source said: “Ariana has a lot on her plate and there are concerns she is over-subscribed.

“It’s too risky to start flogging tickets until it’s all locked down. It will be a demanding production with eight shows a week.”

In the last few years, Ariana has transformed herself into a fully-fledged actress as Glinda in the Wicked films.

She will appear in the 13th series of American Horror Story and will voice a character in the 2028 animation Oh, The Places You’ll Go!.

Ariana, whose tour includes a ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena in August, said: “I’m very excited to do this small tour. But I think it might not happen again for a long, long time.”

I hope we do get to see her treading the boards . . . 

Wa-Haye David

DAVID HAYE is on dating site Raya “looking for a third” for a throuple with him and girlfriend Sian Osborne.

The ex-boxer posts with a tux snap: “I’m a selfish p***k, nothing is ever good enough. I always want more, rarely satisfied. But I’m working on it.”

THE Isle of Wight Festival kicks off on Thursday with some surprises in store.

As well as headliners Calvin Harris, The Cure and Lewis Capaldi, chief John Giddings says: “We’ve introduced new areas, the Last Chance Saloon, our country music destination, and new onsite pub Wild Horses.”

John also revealed that Sir Paul McCartney had the craziest rider.

He said: “We had to track down a nail technician to apply acrylic nails to strengthen his fingernails for playing acoustic guitar.

“And Jay Z wanted somewhere private to have dinner with Beyonce, so we ended up hosting them in the Boat Museum and our caterers took care of it.”

This week who would I…

Snog

Marry

Avoid

Robert decided to leave the UK after spending over £3,000 a month just to get by – and he loves his new life

A Brit has ditched life in the UK to live well for just £800 a month – and he’s loving it. Now he drinks £2 pints on the beach and saves thousands on bills.

Robert Hoadley decided to up sticks after realising he was stuck in a cycle of working long hours just to cover rising costs. The 45-year-old had barely travelled and spent years grafting in construction before deciding enough was enough.

Now he’s living more than 6,000 miles away in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to work as a content creator, and says life couldn’t be more different. “I felt like I was just working to cover bills with no real freedom,” Robert, from Portsmouth, said.

“The cost of living in the UK kept going up, and I wanted a different lifestyle – less stress and more control of my time. I got to a point where I didn’t want to wait until retirement to actually start living life, so I decided to take the leap, sell everything I owned, and move out here.

“It’s definitely been a big change, but the lifestyle and day-to-day life here feels a lot better.” Since relocating in 2025, Robert has been working online, creating content about the cost of living and relocating abroad.

He’s currently building various online income streams so he can work remotely. His social media platform, Sea Turkey Adventures, already boasts over 6,000 followers with some of his clips racking up over 200,000 views.

Robert says he’s happier, more active and finally enjoying a proper work-life balance. And despite pints costing just £2, he insists he’s actually drinking less – although the one thing he misses most about UK is the sarcastic sense of humour.

Robert said: “I enjoyed going out in the UK, but these days it’s more balanced. I drink socially now rather than out of habit. There are more lifestyle options here like gyms, cafés, pools and being outdoors. I’m much more focused on health and routine now. I wake up earlier, train regularly, spend more time outdoors, and I’m more conscious of how I spend my time and money.

“In the evenings I’m nearly always out doing something social, even if it’s just meeting people for food or coffee rather than drinking.” The UK’s cost-of-living crunch was a major factor behind his move. Robert says he was spending more than £3,000 a month back home but now lives comfortably on just £800.

‘Money goes so far abroad’

He said: “That’s the biggest difference – you’re not constantly under financial pressure. A lot of people don’t realise how far your money can go abroad, and how different life can feel when you’re not constantly stressed about bills. I did look at other countries, but Thailand just made sense – good food, friendly people, strong expat community, and you can live well here for a fraction of UK costs.”

He also says the slower pace of life has made a huge difference. He said: “In the UK, people can seem stressed, the weather can be grey for long periods, and it often feels like everyone is rushing through life. Here, the climate is better, the people are generally more relaxed, and there’s a friendlier vibe overall. A lot of people are either on holiday or choosing to be here, so the energy feels more positive.

“It just suits me more at this stage of life.” But it’s not all perfect – and Robert admits he still misses some things from home. He added: “I miss friends and family, obviously. Also the humour – that UK sarcasm and banter is hard to replace. I miss certain foods and the traditional pub atmosphere. Every country has things you appreciate once you leave.”

Tehran remains defiant amid US attacks, orders complete closure of Strait of Hormuz to all vessels.

Escalation comes after Israel attacked Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, killing at least two people and wounding 20.