LOVE Island fans have been left terrified by “lying” Samraj’s behaviour as he continued to string along Priya.
The 25-year-old has been juggling both Mica and Priya over the last week but fans have noticed the Islander isn’t being honest about his feelings.
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Samraj was seen comforting Priya in the kitchen as he insisted his chat with Mica didn’t mean they were ‘getting back together’Samraj told Mica that she was his number one and his feeling for her ‘haven’t gone away’
He told Mica, 21, a few episodes ago that business development manager Priya was “giving him the ick,” and she was his first choice.
But, he hasn’t let Priya privy to that information as he continued to act as if they’re relationship is flourishing.
During last night’s instalment of the famous ITV2 dating show, Samraj left fans taken aback by his “unfair” treatment of Priya, 25.
After returning from a chat on the terrace with Mica, Priya asked him if they were getting back together – which he denied.
Samraj told viewers he doesn’t want ‘to spend lots of time’ with PriyaCredit: ITVSamraj has been slammed by fans for stringing Priya alongCredit: ITV
Priya hugged him saying: “I actually quite missed you, I wanted to speak to you…
“I feel like you hate me today.”
Samraj replied: “No, I don’t hate you. My mind is just in a really weird place, I swear.”
“You’re head,” Priya questioned.
He continued: “Not about us it’s just about like I think Sam going was just like the icing on the thing but I really do appreciate you being so concerned about me.”
Priya then tried to get Samraj to open up on his cheeky terrace rendezvous.
However he quickly shut it down, saying: “No we were just speaking because we were downstairs we got, not by you, but interrupted twice before and I was upstairs and Mica was like ‘Oh lets finish our conversation.’”
Poor Priya explained she was asking because things change so quickly in the villa and it was clear she didn’t want to waste her time if the feelings weren’t reciprocated.
Love Island fans were left fuming as Samraj lied to face her face repeatedly and strung her along.
One fan wrote: “Samraj is the reason why I don’t trust men #LoveIsland”
“Samraj, tell Priya you don’t like her This is not fair at all,” added a second fan.
Another viewer penned: “Samraj, why you lying?”
Meanwhile, a fourth fan said: “Why is Samraj lying like this HAAAAAA men can lie I’m so scared????”
Later on Samraj carried on his ruse, telling Priya he fancies her more and “wouldn’t be sharing a bed with her otherwise.”
But, during the previous episode fans watched on as Samraj told Mica he hasn’t said anything because Priya “will be mad.”
Speaking to the camera in the beach hut, Samraj confessed: “I can’t knock Priya because she’s given me everything I wanted and asked for. I feel like if I sit here and say ‘Everything is going swimmingly, it’s amazing… I’d be lying.’
“I don’t want to spend loads of time with her.”
Love Island continues tonight at 9:00pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Voicemails for Isabelle’s Zoey Deutch is dating a fellow comedy star – here’s what we know about their secretive relationship
Everything we know about Zoey Deutch’s dating history
Zoey Deutch is captivating audiences once more, this time starring opposite Nick Robinson in Netflix’s unmissable romantic comedy Voicemails for Isabelle.
The heartfelt rom-com follows Deutch’s driven young baker Jill, who relocates to San Francisco for an opportunity to work under renowned but tyrannical Chef Bastien (portrayed by Nick Offerman), who transforms her professional life into a waking nightmare.
Meanwhile, her sister Isabelle (Ciara Bravo) has battled cancer throughout most of her existence. Following her sudden death, Jill processes the devastating bereavement by continuously calling her phone number and recording voicemails.
Yet these recordings are actually reaching real estate agent Wes (Robinson) after he acquires a new mobile, and he starts developing feelings for the enigmatic woman on the other end.
With Voicemails for Isabelle poised to become another enormous Netflix success this weekend, here’s what we’ve discovered about Deutch’s romantic life beyond the camera, reports Wales Online.
Who is Zoey Deutch dating?
The 31 year old Deutch is well-versed in romantic comedies, having secured her breakthrough performance alongside Glen Powell in 2018’s Set It Up.
She’s also Hollywood royalty as the daughter of Pretty in Pink director Howard Deutch and Back to the Future actress Lea Thompson.
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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Beef.
Deutch has been romantically involved with actor and comedian Jimmy Tatro, 34, since 2021.
Following his breakthrough performance in Netflix’s mockumentary series American Vandal, viewers may spot him from recent productions Theater Camp, You’re Cordially Invited and Scream 7.
In September 2025, the couple revealed they had been secretly engaged for three months through a joint Instagram post.
Posting a charming photograph from the proposal, which took place during a sunny beach getaway, they captioned it: “three months engaged to the love of my life”.
Their engagement appears to remain intact, as Deutch featured images of them together in a carousel posted to her account in April this year, with the caption “one less lonely girl”.
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Prior to her romance with Tatro, Deutch was in a five-year relationship with actor Avan Jogia, whom she met at the 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards.
Although they parted ways in 2017, the former couple went on to appear alongside each other in The Year of Spectacular Men and Zombieland: Double Tap, indicating they maintained an amicable split.
Following her separation from Jogia, Deutch had a brief romance with Dylan Hayes, also an actor.
Details about their relationship remain scarce, although they were photographed attending several public events as a couple.
Voicemails for Isabelle is available to stream on Netflix.
The Icelandic Nordic noir thriller follows police officer Aníta as she investigates dark secrets
19:00, 20 Jun 2026Updated 19:02, 20 Jun 2026
The chilling programme received good reviews from critics(Image: U)
Black Sands is returning for a second series on U.
The Icelandic crime thriller, which devotees of ITV’s Broadchurch ought to appreciate, resumes 14 months following the startling events of the opening season, with the small coastal town of Glerársandar still grappling with the revelation that a serial killer had been concealed in plain sight amongst its inhabitants.
Central to the new series is police officer Aníta, who is adapting to life as a new mother while wrestling with a powerful urge to return to work.
Her world is thrown into turmoil when a woman perishes in what seems to be a suspicious car crash. Driven to unearth the truth, Aníta becomes embroiled in the investigation alongside her friend and colleague Fríða, who is heading up the official police inquiry.
As the case progresses, sinister secrets from the town’s past start to surface. The investigation traces back to a former foster home with connections to Aníta’s own family, revealing decades of concealed trauma and lingering questions, reports Wales Online.
What at first appears to be a tragic accident quickly evolves into a considerably more intricate mystery, with startling revelations and devastating ramifications for those caught up in it.
Throughout the eight-part series, viewers can anticipate twists as long-buried truths emerge, relationships are put to the test, and suspicion descends upon numerous residents. As the pressure intensifies, Aníta grapples with both the investigation and her own personal demons, paving the way for a dramatic finale.
Season two of Black Sands arrives on U on 20 June, with all episodes available to stream from launch day.
Fans who have already delved into the crime thriller have offered mixed verdicts on the programme, though it has garnered acclaim from critics.
Reviewer Kelly Luchtman commented: Black Sands is a very satisfying series with fantastic acting, especially by Steinunn Ólína Thorsteinsdóttir, who has mastered the dangerous charm of Elín’s character.
“We can feel the oppressive sadness of the town, and empathize with Aníta, even if it’s her own bad decisions that are the impetus for her return. People have criticised the running time of the series and the agonising slowness of solving the crime. I agree it could have been 6 episodes instead of 8, but I still binged it.”
Black Sands series two is available to watch on U.
Daiki Kaneko had only 24 hours before his World Cup journey took him to Dallas, where his home country’s squad will take on Sweden.
The Japanese soccer fan was making the most of it on Tuesday in Inglewood, snapping pictures of SoFi Stadium before taking in a different kind of monument: a space-age, two-story branch of the chicken chain Raising Cane’s, complete with a 308-square-foot screen, a mirrored dog sculpture and a massive halo hovering around the exterior.
For Kaneko, 25, who lives in the Tokyo suburbs, it was the perfect encapsulation of American grandeur.
“All this for chicken,” he said. “I love America.”
Inglewood is already diverse — most residents are Latino or Black, and nearly a third are immigrants. But during the World Cup, it’s looking more like the United Nations. English, Japanese, Swiss, Iranians, Paraguayans, Bosnians, Belgians and others are flocking to the city of about 102,000, where eight matches are being played at SoFi Stadium.
Though visitors from abroad may not have heard of Inglewood until now, they’re soaking up the vibes of a city that has long been a major sports and entertainment hub, home to venues such as the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, and a crucible of Black culture, immortalized in hip-hop songs by artists such as Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre.
“We’re an international city now,” Mayor James Butts said.
Butts said locals were already proud of what the city has become, but the World Cup has put the celebratory feelings over the top.
“We have people from so many different countries migrating to Inglewood, and there’s an explosive sense of community pride,” he said.
Bartender Elijah Gonzalez, left, mixes a drink at the Nile Bar in Inglewood while customers watch a World Cup soccer preview.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
City officials are doing everything they can to embrace the spirit of the tournament, including speeding up permits so small businesses and neighborhoods can hold World Cup gatherings and watch parties, Butts said. During the U.S.’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12, the city hosted the Wood Cup, a block party on Market Street that brought in more than 5,000 people.
Businesses across the city are embracing the tournament as well, vying for a piece of the roughly $17 million the city expects to haul in. For a few weeks, concerns about skyrocketing housing costs and gentrification, brought on by the city’s increasing popularity as a place to settle down, are taking a back seat to the sheer fun of international soccer.
The supersized Raising Cane’s had its grand opening on June 11, the first day of the tournament. During the USMNT’s opening match, Cinepolis, a luxury movie theater down the road from SoFi Stadium, turned into a global sports hub, according to CEO Luis Olloqui.
Maddy Daversa, a bartender at the Meeting Spot, a restaurant near the stadium, said 2,000 people poured in when the Americans played Paraguay.
“I was selling beers for five hours straight,” she said. “It was crazy.”
Daversa said the restaurant is usually closed on Mondays but opened in hopes of getting some spillover fans from the Iran-New Zealand game at SoFi.
“Every table was full,” she said. “We’re taking advantage.”
Tuesday was an off day for Inglewood, with no games at SoFi. But the energy was still palpable, with locals sporting soccer jerseys and tourists popping up across the city.
“I just want to be where the fans are,” said David Meier, a Swiss fan in town for his home country’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday.
Meier, 45, plans to explore L.A. via bars, restaurants and watch parties, taking in every game that his schedule will allow before heading north of the border to Vancouver, where Switzerland will face Canada on June 24.
“Everyone has been so kind,” he said. “Soccer and beer turns strangers into friends.”
Flags from countries competing in the World Cup are on display at Manchester Boulevard and South Market Street in Inglewood.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The energy carried over to Market Street, a historic shopping district about a mile from SoFi Stadium. Businesses set up signs, posters and international flags to lure locals and tourists alike, while the Miracle Theater hosted a watch party for the match between France and Senegal.
Owen Smith, who co-owns the theater with his wife, Mariana, said a Senegalese friend who grew up in France asked if he would be willing to show the game on the big screen. A day later, fans of both teams assembled inside, snapping photos in front of a giant inflatable World Cup trophy in the lobby.
“The Miracle is a cultural event theater. It’s about accommodating the community,” Smith said.
Benyam Woldegiorgis, who co-owns the Nile Bar on Market Street, is showing every single World Cup match — all 104 of them.
“It brings in business,” he said. “Usually it’s just football, basketball and baseball, but now we’re adding soccer to the mix.”
Dionte Johnson, owner of the streetwear store Kingsrowe, partnered with Adidas to hold a watch party for the U.S. team’s opener and said the turnout was massive, bringing in loads of Mexico fans who are local residents, even though their team had already won their opener the day before.
“The downside of the World Cup is that tickets are so expensive, so a lot of locals can’t go check out the games themselves. That’s why we’re hosting events,” Johnson said. “The games are in our backyard, so this is something people have had on their calendar for a long time.”
Homeowners are cashing in as well, with some renting out their places on Airbnb for a small fortune, figuring that crashing on a friend’s couch or booking a hotel room elsewhere is well worth the lofty payouts brought by World Cup demand.
Across L.A., hotel demand lagged compared with initial expectations, but short-term rental prices still jumped 56% compared with typical rates, and more than 70% of rentals were booked by December 2025.
In Inglewood — especially for rentals walkable to SoFi Stadium — prices became dizzying.
David Orenstein and his wife, Peggy, run an Airbnb across the street from SoFi Stadium. It usually rents for $400 per night, but for the U.S. team’s opening game, it went for $3,000.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Peggy Orenstein and her husband, David, own a home steps from the stadium that typically rents for $400 a night on Airbnb. For the U.S. team’s opener, the nightly rate shot up to $3,000.
For other matches, the four-bedroom house is going for $1,200 to $1,500 a night. Orenstein said the high demand and international crowds are a teaser for what’s to come.
“Next up is the Olympics,” she said. “This is a great learning lesson for what we can expect.”
Welsh TV presenter Gethin Jones has opened up about his love life over the years
Gethin Jones is a beloved TV presenter(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Gethin Jones is a much-loved Welsh TV presenter.
The 48-year-old played rugby union while studying at Manchester Metropolitan University and, upon graduating, kicked off his television career on Welsh language channel S4C, where he hosted children’s shows including Popty, Mas Draw and Uned 5.
In 2005, Gethin became the 31st presenter of the BBC’s beloved children’s programme Blue Peter. Then in 2020, he took on the role of host on the BBC’s weekday magazine show Morning Live, which is broadcast from studios in Salford.
He regularly appears on the programme alongside Helen Skelton, Michelle Ackerley, Gaby Roslin, and Janette Manrara.
That’s not all, as Gethin has also featured on Celebrity MasterChef, comedy drama Stella, and even took to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor during season 5. What may come as a surprise to some fans is that Gethin once had a very well-known ex-fiancée, so here’s everything you need to know about the star’s romantic history, reports Wales Online.
Who is Gethin Jones’ famous ex-fiancée?
Gethin had a serious romance with Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins after the pair first crossed paths in 2007, while he was competing on Strictly.
The couple announced their engagement in February 2011. However, by December of that same year, both confirmed they had decided to part ways.
Reflecting on the break-up, Gethin previously opened up on Tom Bryant’s Outdoors in Mind podcast, saying: “I was engaged and then breaking up, afterwards, or even during that period, it was just awful… I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time.” He continued: “It was horrible… a lot of what I read about myself wasn’t right.”
Gethin notably sought counselling in a bid to work through his emotions, explaining: “I saw someone, I had therapy for a couple of years and I still do my homework on that.”
Katherine has since moved on with American painter Andrew Levitas, with the pair tying the knot in 2014 and going on to have two children together.
Past romances and rumours
Three years after his separation from Katherine, Gethin enjoyed a brief romance with former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh. The pair reportedly began dating in August 2014 after crossing paths at a Give Me Sport event.
Lucy later confirmed the relationship was short-lived, saying: “We went out a few times a while ago but it was bad timing for both of us.”
Gethin also dated model Katja Zwara in 2017, and was rumoured to have been linked to First Dates waitress Cici Coleman – though neither have confirmed a relationship.
There has also been considerable speculation in recent years surrounding a potential romance between Gethin and his Morning Live co-star Helen Skelton, though both have firmly denied they are dating.
When addressing the speculation in December 2025, Helen moved to quash the rumours, saying: “We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends. They printed pictures of us at work and that we’re together because we are at work together.”
Speaking candidly about his friendship with Helen last year, Gethin revealed to The Sun: “We are very supportive of each other, we like to look out for each other. I think that’s fair to say on and off camera. You sometimes could get… you might need a little pep talk every now and then. Because she’s very passionate.”
But the love affair here has gone way beyond baseball, this has been a glorious embracing of two cultures. A point underlined by the news Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a sister city application with Glasgow.
Fittingly, she did so in a Scottish pub wearing a Scotland football jersey.
Tens of thousands of football fans swarming to a city for a major tournament is nothing new, but it is the manner of the revelry here that has set it apart.
At the time of writing, there has not been one arrest of a Scotland fan either in Boston or Providence, another nearby stronghold of the Tartan Army.
The ground work for this Boston bash was laid two years ago in Bavaria. At the last European Championships, Marienplatz felt like it held more Scots within it than Motherwell.
Again, Scotland fans were lauded for their behaviour, generosity and patter.
Alas, the football did its best to ruin the party.
That is perhaps one key difference to this shindig, apart from the obvious step up in excitement from a Euros to their first World Cup in 28 years.
What mood the Tartan Army would have been in if the opener against Haiti had turned into a disaster we will never know. Although, I would say it would not have made a dent.
The team on the pitch have done their bit to keep the party in full swing and a point against Morocco on Friday could trigger a tidal wave of celebration flooding back into Boston that night the likes they have never seen.
The best way to describe it is this has been the trip of a lifetime for people who are still in their 20s. There is a genuine appreciation from Scotland fans that they have waited this long to see their team at a World Cup, that it may be another three decades before it happens again.
And, even if it did, nothing could rival the week in Boston they’ve just had, regardless of what Miami holds.
For near enough a week, Scotland had the city to itself. Now it has become a tapestry of nations settling into one of the warmest, most welcoming place on the Charles River they could have hoped to visit.
Who knows, they may be back here if they are one of the best third-placed teams.
What will be the Tartan Army’s Boston legacy as the sporrans are soon to get packed away and the online check-ins start for flights to Miami?
Their generosity? Their good spirit? Their ability to alert some locals to the fact the World Cup is even happening?
Perhaps all of the above. Just not a haggis supper.
LOVE Island Australia’s Gabby McCarthy, the reality star with the show’s biggest ever boobs, has almost fallen out of her skin-tight dress.
The buxom lass, 22, took to Instagram to share a series of pictures from her night out as her grey and white dress struggled to contain her 34G chest.
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Love Island Australia star Gabby McCarthy has almost spilled out of her dressCredit: InstagramShe struggled to fit her 34G boobs into her dressCredit: Instagram
She took pictures of herself sitting on a hotel bed as well as standing in front of a luggage trolley.
Gabby posed up a storm as her boobs glistened, thanks to the oil she put on them.
The zip on her dress went up as far as it could go as she nearly had a nip-slip.
In one snap, Gabby got on her knees on the bed as she stared seductively into the camera.
Fans of the programme spotted old photos of her modelling trainers and lingerie and began doubting her chest was as natural as she claimed.
One person wrote on Reddit: “I thought they were natural until I saw pictures of her a few years ago being a b-c cup at best.
“Unpopular opinion, but I believe she has teardrop implants. Natural boobs jiggle and move a lot when you’re walking and running but hers are way more ‘stiff’. Her surgeon did an amazing job making them look natural though.”
Another wrote: “I admit I was searching for the truth on her boobs, only cuz she claimed they were natural. Sparked a bit of debate amongst friends.
“Hard one to call. They look fake to me and don’t believe weight gain caused them to grow.”
During her introduction video, she said: “My name is Gabby, I’m 21 years old and I’m from the Gold Coast.
“I get this question every single day of my life, my boobs are natural guys!
“If I want a guy, then I always get him. I’ve got the teeth, I’ve got the face, I’ve got the body, and I’ve got the boobs.”
In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, Rachel Sennott discusses finding the voice of “I Love L.A.” — and finding her footing as series creator — during a tumultuous time in her life.
Kelvin Washington: Welcome to The Envelope, Kelvin Washington alongside you know who, Yvonne Villarreal, Mark Olsen. Always great to have you two here and spend some time with you. We talked about it earlier, we had Emmy season — a few weeks ago we discussed it. But now Emmy nominations are on the way. Yvonne, I’ll start with you, just maybe someone, a show, a couple of things you’re looking at saying, “Hey, I would love to see this or that person nominated.”
Yvonne Villarreal: I wanna give some shout-outs to the women right now. I was really frustrated when Rhea Seehorn didn’t get love until the final season of “Better Call Saul,” and I’m hoping — and I do have a lot of hope — that she will be recognized for “Pluribus.” [I] was a really big fan of “The Comeback” this season. I would like to [see] Lisa Kudrow get in there. Show-wise, I would like to see “The Testaments” in there. I don’t know how much of a dark horse that one is, but that’s my pick for show.
Washington: You’ve been riding “The Testaments.” What about you, Mark?
Olsen: I’m sort of leapfrogging over nominations, and I’m just thinking about what would be exciting on the show. And last year, I remember Stephen Colbert won for talk show kind of right after his show had been canceled, and that seemed like a very exciting moment. And so this year, with Jimmy Kimmel, where this is the first Emmy cycle since he had his suspension last year, and really has been in the news, I just think if he were to be nominated and then to win, that just would be such an exciting moment at the show. What’s he gonna say? I just would really love to see that.
Washington: Yeah, he seems like he would have some things to say, right? Because just kind of the nature of who he is. We’ll have to wait and see. And just for me, a couple of people. Just a fan of this particular person, Janelle James is hilarious to me. She plays in “Abbott Elementary.” She plays that role great. And then this one is no real surprise, probably 50-plus-year career, but Martin Short. Every time I see him, he’s amazing, steals the scene. So those are folks that just jump off on the radar for me.
All right, I’ll get to you, Mark. You had a chance to sit down with Rachel Sennott of “I Love L.A.,” creator and star of it. Tell me a little bit more about that.
Olsen: She’s been kind of a real, like, bright light on the comedy scene for the last few years in films like “Shiva Baby,” “Bodies Bodies Bodies” and “Bottoms,” and, you know, she also was like a writer as well as a performer. And so with “I Love L.A.,” which is a look at sort of like the young creative class in Los Angeles, she is the star of the show, she created the show, she writes on the show, she’s executive producer, she actually made her directing debut with one of the episodes. And so it’s just exciting to see her sort of really like come into her voice and come into her own with this new show.
Washington: Kind of reminds me a little bit of, you know, now maybe a decade ago Issa Rae’s surge in L.A. and comedy creating, and then Riz Ahmed, who you spoke with last week — same thing creating and starring and stuff. Seems like that’s the energy [we’re] getting from a lot of the young talent. Well, here is Mark and Rachel now.
Rachel Sennott, creator and star of HBO’s “I Love L.A.”
(Evan Mulling / For The Times)
Mark Olsen: We’re here with Rachel Sennott, creator, executive producer, writer, star, and for the first time, director on the show “I Love L.A.,” as well as co-creator and writer on “Big Mistakes.” That’s a lot.
Rachel Sennott: When you say it like that, I’m like, “Oh, my God.” And I’m also a friend, daughter, let’s not forget girlfriend. Yeah, those are all things that I am doing. And I am so grateful and having so much fun doing that.
Olsen: Hopefully this isn’t something that just I get a kick out of, but we’re here at the L.A. Times offices in El Segundo, and the Randy Newman song “I Love L.A.,” one of the first lines in the song is “Rolling down the Imperial Highway.” And we are in fact on Imperial Highway.
Sennott: We’re here right now. We’re living it.
Olsen: Tell me about the title of the show, its relationship to the song and what was it that you liked about having the show called “I Love L.A.”
Sennott: We were between two titles for a while, “I Love L.A.” and “Climbers,” and the reason we went with “I Love L.A.” is because in the process of making the show, I moved here from New York and I had a hard time when I was first here. And in the process of filming the pilot, I really fell in love with L.A., and I think getting to make something here, I all of a sudden saw L.A. through this lens where everything was like a movie. I would go on my walks that I usually go on. I would walk through my neighborhood, I would go to my spots, and I just saw it through this different lens, and I was really falling in love with it in the process of making the show. And I think with “Climbers,” that title fell a little bit — it was a double meaning of like social climbers and then also, being the age that I am, where I feel like ever since I got to college, ever since I became an adult, there’s been this chaotic energy in the world and uncertain ground where things never felt expected. It was always unexpected events. Graduating into COVID and then there was a strike and everything. So I feel like Sisyphus, where you’re always pushing the rock up the hill and it’s never enough. But we were worried that “Climbers” would seem too negative … We didn’t want to set people up already judging the characters.
Olsen: And then what has it been like for you learning to be a showrunner in making “I Love L.A.”? It’s funny, your co-showrunner Emma Barrie, she mentioned how you were very organized, but she was struck that you had everything in a pink binder with horses on it. So it was you trying to learn this new thing while also holding on to your essence.
Sennott: I feel so grateful for everyone who works on the show with me. I learned a lot from Emma. I learned from Lorene [Scafaria], who inspired me so much as a director. Aida [Rodgers], our producer, Amy [Gravitt] and Allie [Wasserman] at HBO; Max [Silvestri], who’s one of our EPs and writers. Showrunning is a million different jobs, and some of the jobs I’d done before, some of them I hadn’t, and I felt like I got to see different people shine in certain things, people who are more talented or more skilled at structure than me, people who have directed before, people who understand shots and basically learn from everyone and see that everyone wants the show to be the best it can be. They’re bringing stuff to the table. And so I benefited from everyone else’s skills and talents and just being like, “If you know how to do this better than me, I’m gonna learn from you and watch you and hopefully take from that so I can do my job better.”
Olsen: In a lot of the press as you’ve been talking about the show, you’ve been talking a lot about the concept of the Saturn return and this sort of chaotic period people have in their late 20s. You yourself now are 30 —
Sennott: Yes, I made it. I literally just finished. I was relieved, but my Saturn return was the process, getting the show picked up and the first season of the show. That was my Saturn return.
Olsen: Can you already feel that something has settled or things are different somehow?
Sennott: Yes, a thousand percent. My Saturn return, the dates that it was the strongest were the month around when the show got picked up. Making the pilot was so amazing and I learned so much. And then I was in this moment where I had to pick — basically, I couldn’t take on acting jobs because I was gonna hopefully do the show, but I didn’t know if the show was picked up yet or not. And so I had to say no to certain things and kind of take this leap. At the same time I went through a breakup, and then I got arrested for having CBD in the Cayman Islands. And it was just a very chaotic month of my life where I was like in jail for six hours on a break with my boyfriend, so he, like, had no idea where I was, and I was like, I don’t even know if I have a show, I just said no to this other thing. I just felt like I didn’t know what was happening. I’m someone who it’s hard for me to take risks sometimes, and that was a big risk and leap into what I thought I should be doing. And then the rest of it was learning for the first season how to do a job I’d never done before. Obviously, I still have more to learn, but I think that was a big Saturn return for me, the roller coaster of it.
Olsen: It’s so interesting to hear you say that you think of yourself as a person who’s afraid of risk, because that’s not my impression of you.
Sennott: You’re like, “Stop taking risks. Chill on the risks, every second.” No, I think it’s more [that] I didn’t necessarily believe in myself as a creator on my own, and that was really scary for me. That was the risk, I think.
Olsen: Because especially in building up to making “I Love L.A.,” in your career, I feel like you’ve created this comedic persona for yourself. What is the biggest distinction between the Rachel I think I know and like the actual you?
Sennott: You mean the characters that I play? Or like the persona?
Olsen: These sort of hard-charging, very ambitious, but maybe not always understanding of themselves characters, and you. I’m just interested in how you see the distinction between that persona and the actual you.
Sennott: Well, I hope that the characters that I’ve played have been somewhat different from each other. I think “Shiva Baby,” that character, was a little bit more anxiety-inward. Alice in “Bodies” was way more outward and kind of no filter, said every inside thought. Maia on “I Love L.A.,” I think, is kind of bitter in the beginning of the first season and is pinning her failures, blaming them, on her friend. All of those characters, I always draw on some element of myself. I think all actors, you have to find some connection to the character. But I think I’m hopefully more grounded and balanced and mature than the character. I hope.
Olsen: You’ve talked about how “I Love L.A.” really explores the foibles and challenges that people have leading these very, like, online lives and the way that people nowadays are really sort of tethered to their phones all the time. Is that something that you feel like you grapple with yourself? Is it something you yourself have had to kind of get over?
Sennott: I would say I started my career on the internet, and I grew up on the internet, and basically, I created a different sort of persona on the internet that was based in truth of a time when I was in my early 20s in New York, and it was a lot more messy and a little chaotic, and I was just going through things in my life at that time [that inspired] — I say “writing,” but like the tweets, the jokes, the videos, whatever, that were coming out of me. And then I felt I changed, but I still wanted to kind of project that character. And so I actually ended up putting that character into Tallulah [played by Odessa A’zion]. And I think Maia was a little bit more the version of myself when I first moved to L.A. and I felt isolated and it was during COVID, and I felt I was kind of gripping onto my friends in a codependent way. And so I think the show is sort of dealing with, whether or not you’re an influencer or person online, anyone who’s grown up on the internet is projecting some sort of version of themselves. So I think it was that I was trying to explore.
Olsen: You mentioned that the character of Tallulah is this version of you that you used to be. So what was it like for you creating this character that was almost like your id unleashed?
Sennott: It felt like I was separating myself from her. At first, [it] maybe could have felt like a caricature. And then when we cast Odessa, who is so talented and just, as an actor, she has such depth and range, and I think she asked questions and brought so much to it. Then it actually made me sever myself from the character, and the character became its own thing that she brought to life.
Olsen: Your character, Maia, in some ways is the audience surrogate, she’s kind of the most “normal” character on the show. And considering that in “Bottoms” or “Bodies Bodies Bodies” you often were the outrageous character, what has it been like for you to play this character that’s a little more self-contained?
Sennott: It’s been fun. I think we sort of found her during the first season. I feel that Episodes 6 through 8 are really where the show finds its footing and where we find what’s the comedy of Maia. It takes a little for her to kind of crack open, what’s funny about her as a character, but also I think Tallulah is almost like an agent of change for her — Maia was set in her ways and sort of struggling and depressed, and I think Tallulah puts her on track, and she’s going through her Saturn return and all that stuff. And so I think we get to see at the end of the season and just having been writing Season 2, I think that we get see her do a lot more fun stuff.
Olsen: It’s funny, as viewers, a lot of times people say, “Oh, you know, there’s this show you should watch, it really gets going on like Episode 3” or whatever. And I don’t think I’ve ever heard a creator say before, like, “Oh, 6, 7, and 8, we figured it out.” Do you feel you knew that in the moment, or has that only come to you as you’ve been working on Season 2?
Sennott: I think as we were editing the first season. Tone is something that you can say, like, “We want it to be like, this needs this, and it’s that and that and the tone of that.” But tone is what you find in the edit. I think you shoot different versions of a line, of a scene, and then you piece it together. And I think for me, that’s when I felt like, “This is the tone of the show. This is the world of the show.” And in writing Season 2 as well, just living more in that world.
Olsen: You kind of touched on this, but the characters on the show, they kind of skirt this line between being endearing and annoying. What is it that you like about that?
Sennott: Because I think that’s how people are. I am not interested in seeing perfect people or people who are flawed in a way that’s not actually real. So I love all the characters. I think Alani [played by True Whitaker], for example, is someone where you could really easily be like, “Oh, a nepo baby, she’s so privileged, whatever.” I think she’s the character with the biggest heart. She’s the best friend out of the whole group. She cares for everyone. She’s so deeply sensitive. And she’s actually been through a lot of s— and she drops these little things, these clues where you’re like, “Gee, she went through something crazy but is choosing to look at life half-full,” and I think that’s fun. I like the characters who make you feel or expect something of them and then show you another side. Charlie [played by Jordan Firstman] I think does that as well, where you meet him and you think he’s a little acerbic, he’s a little judgmental, and then he goes through loss and grief when Lukas, spoilers, Lukas Landry dies, RIP Lukas. That’s really hard for him. I’ve been friends with Jordan for so long, and I love him so much. I think he’s so talented. But I think he showed a totally new side of himself with the character.
Olsen: I agree. I found those scenes very touching. There’s an emotion there that’s kind of unexpected. Another moment that I really like in the show is Odessa’s character, she wants to change a dinner reservation to five people at 8 o’clock. And then you have to spend hours trying to make that happen. And I really appreciated how it’s something that sounds like it should be simple, and for some people it’s no big deal. But then for other people, it’s the biggest hurdle imaginable. Did you like that the show explores this sort of proximity to ease? Sometimes you end up at this party in a big, big house, but it’s not your house. Was that something you wanted to explore about life in L.A.?
Sennott: Totally. There’s also something specific to L.A. and specific to the industry we’re exploring — which is the internet as opposed to Hollywood — that I would say is relatable to me, to anyone in their late 20s, early 30s. When you’re in your early 20s, everyone’s sort of grouped together or feels like they’re in the same bucket. It’s like, “Oh we’re all doing this same thing, we’re all roommates, we’re all in school together, we’re all whatever.” But people make decisions that you don’t even see. I feel like the first time I found out that one of my friends had a SEP IRA, I was like, “When did we all decide that we’re getting SEP IRAs?” And it was a friend who loves to party, and I was thrown. Now I’m panicking I didn’t do that. Or who’s getting in a serious relationship, whatever. People start making decisions in their late 20s, all of a sudden everyone’s off on different paths. It’s like, “Wait, you’re getting married, but you’re still partying the way that we did when we were in college.” This person is moving, this person is changing their career path. And so you all of a sudden feel a little bit betrayed or on your own, and it’s isolating, and that is something that, yes, we’re doing it through a specific lens of L.A. and this world and these characters, but I think it’s really relatable to people at that age.
Olsen: I’ve heard you describe yourself as a zillennial cusp.
Sennott: Yeah, I’m cusp, and I feel like I relate to a little bit of both.
Olsen: But do you feel a pressure for the show to feel like some sort of a generational statement, to capture these kind of big-picture things?
Sennott: No. Ayo [Edebiri] and I were texting each other because there’s always an article that’s like, “Turns out these b— are 30. Yeah. They’ve been lying the whole time. They said they’re Gen Z.” I’m like, “I didn’t say anything. I was born in ’95. I’m 30.” Call me what you want, but I was just writing to what I feel at the time. I think people who grew up on the internet in the way that I did will relate to it, but I think you can relate too if you’re older or you’re younger.
Olsen: As people are writing about the show, they very frequently are referencing “Girls,” “Insecure,” “Sex and the City.” But I’ve heard you reference “Entourage” quite a bit. Could you explain that?
Sennott: “Girls” and “Sex and the City” and “Insecure,” all of those shows, all HBO shows, are formative to me as an artist. I remember watching “Girls,” I was in high school and looking at colleges with my dad and we went and toured [New York University], and in the hotel room that night, he was like, “I heard so much about this new show, ‘Girls,’ we should watch it. And it was the episode with Patrick Wilson where they f— in his nice apartment the whole time, and we turned it on and my dad was like, “OK, you can watch this later on your own, this is for you.” And I remember going to bed being like, “I’ve gotta go to New York, like whoa, this is crazy.” I think naturally those were already gonna inspire me. “Entourage” and “Atlanta,” those were two references that I mentioned a lot when we were making the show. “Entourage” because I feel I got to come up in this industry with my friends, and when I’m with my friends I feel completely invincible, and so there was that aspect. It was like, “I wanna see ‘Entourage’ but from a different point of view and perspective and a slightly different industry.” And then “Atlanta,” there is already having a family relationship and friendship on top of managing. Like how [Earn] manages Paperboi. And then I think “Atlanta” did such a great job of capturing a city that has almost magical realism elements to it. And L.A., a lot of the time, there’s things that happen here that are crazy, that feel almost unreal, but they are real. So that was a big inspiration for the show as well. Like the opening of the show, sex during an earthquake. That’s happened to me, but it also feels a little ridiculous, but it happens in L.A.
Olsen: You mentioned earlier that in waiting for the show to come around, you felt you were having to turn things down or you were really having to sort of change your mindset in a way. Can you talk a little more about that? With the show “Big Mistakes” that you created with Dan Levy, is that one of the things that you had to step away from or readjust how you were gonna be involved because of the fact that you were going to have “I Love L.A.”?
Sennott: I was more talking about acting roles. When you step into a creator role, it’s a different mindset than acting jobs and you have to commit to a longer time period. When you’re just acting in things, you can pop in, pop out and you leave set and you’re like, “I love you guys so much. I’ll see you in a year at the premiere,” which is fabulous too — love doing that. But when you are creating something, you’re in it from beginning to end, and you really wanna give your all to it. So I think I was more talking about just, like, betting on myself as a creator, as opposed to just acting.
Olsen: And how has that felt now that you’re on the other side of it, with one season of “I Love L.A.” made? How do you feel about having made that decision, having bet on yourself like that?
Sennott: I think it’s changed me, in a way where I’m so happy I did it. And it’s sometimes harder and there’s more parts to it, but I feel more in myself creatively than I ever have before, I think.
Olsen: It changed you how?
Sennott: Just because you all of a sudden see all the different parts of the process of making something and all these different jobs that maybe I wasn’t as aware of before. And I think there’s also something beautiful about popping into something and acting and just being like, “I am present as my character. This is what I am thinking about. I’m thinking about what does the character want.” And that’s amazing too. But I feel so lucky to have been able to experience other parts of making something.
Olsen: What was it like learning how to switch hats, especially during production? I would imagine you have a producer brain, you have an actor brain, then for one episode you have a director brain.
Sennott: I had to like sort of take it day by day. There are days where it’s a lighter scene for me and I can be on the side approving locations, taking meetings during lunch. There was a day where I had two sex scenes, for Episodes 6 and 7. So we shot the end of 7, the fight scene with me and Josh [Hutcherson], and the sex scene where it’s Maia and Dylan but she’s fantasizing about Ben. It was a lot. And so I was like, to Emma and Max and Aida, “Let’s not do any other meetings today in the middle of the day,” and they were like, “Totally got you.” That day I was more focused. I really needed to be present in the scene and have this be my main focus. And then on a day where I’m shooting like, “you’re texting on your phone” and “you’re walking on your walking treadmill,” I can do other stuff. So I think it was just taking each day as it comes and having so much support from the rest of the team.
Olsen: It’s wild to think of just one day providing all this material for the show. Just a single day could be so pivotal.
Sennott: Yeah, totally. A lot can happen in a day and then other days you’re like, “I’m just opening doors.” You never know.
Olsen: How did you come to conceive of how you kind of wanted to depict the online world, how people text, whether they’re FaceTiming and things like that? The show obviously exists with that world, as part of it, but you didn’t spend a whole lot of time animating texts. How did you come to conceive of how to depict people’s online life?
Sennott: I wanted it to feel how it does in the real world, which is the internet is just a big part of everyone’s life, but people aren’t explaining it to each other all the time. So we wanted to have the internet feel like the real internet, but our own internet. We didn’t want to ever reference anything that would date us because the internet moves so fast. So, like, Coke Larry, for example, when Dylan gets made into a meme, whatever, that’s our own thing, but it moves the same way as the internet does. And we tried not to have too much phone screens, texting, whatever. Like for example you [just] see snippets of Tallulah making videos or posting or whatever. In “Entourage,” you don’t really see that much of Vince acting. You see all the stuff around it. So that was sort of our model for the show.
Olsen: You directed the final episode of the season. Do you expect to be directing more in Season 2?
Sennott: Yeah.
Olsen: And how did you find the experience? What did you like about it?
Sennott: I loved it. You’re just in every aspect of the process. You are thinking about everything, and it was so engaging and exciting, and afterwards I felt fried, and I like crawled onto the edit couch and I was like limp and it took a lot out of me. People describe it like giving birth. And then you’re like, “I gotta do it again.” So that’s kind of how I felt on the other end.
Olsen: Can you talk a little about that final episode? The show is called “I Love L.A.” You send the main characters to New York for the final episode, which has turned into kind of a controversial decision. A lot of people have talked about that. Can you talk just a little about deciding to end the season in New York?
Sennott: I think it was because it was sort of addressing the fact that these girls went to school in New York together. They lived in New York and they chose to move to L.A., and I think when you do that there’s always going to be the push and pull of the two cities, and going back to New York, it was almost like getting a chance to get back together with your ex and being like, “You know what, there’s a reason it didn’t work out.” And they end the episode with, “I miss L.A.” So I think that’s kind of what we were aiming to do.
Olsen: And then before we wrap up, I should be sure to ask, is there anything that you could tell us about Season 2? What can people look forward to?
Sennott: It’s sort of what we were talking about earlier, Episodes 6 through 8, I think, I just feel we’ve locked in to our tone, we get to see other sides of characters we haven’t before, we go deeper on certain characters. And I think there’s some fun stuff that we set up in the finale that we get to explore.
Actor and racing driver Michael Fassbender is returning this month as CIA Agent Martian in season two of The Agency. He talks sociopaths and obsessive preparation on set.
Michael Fassbender, who is returning as CIA agent Martian in season two of spy thriller The Agency(Image: Nadav Kander/Paramount+)
Leading a double life is nothing new for Michael Fassbender, who is returning as CIA agent Martian in season two of spy thriller The Agency. An actor and a professional racing driver, Michael, 49, has reached an optimum level in both careers. Yet, despite this enviable skill set, achieving success and fitting in perfectly in two very different worlds, it would not mean he would make a perfect spy.
For that, according to a real life agent, who he spoke to while researching his role, Michael would need to be a sociopath. He says of this revelation: “That was a real gateway into the character for me.”
The Agency, starring Michael as Brandon Colby, codenamed Martian; Jodie Turner-Smith as his lover Dr Samia Fatima and Richard Gere as CIA chief James Bradley, launches season 2 on Saturday June 21 on streaming service Paramount+. A dramatic trailer for the series hears Martian saying: “I betrayed my country, did I cause harm? Yes. I lied to my friends, my colleagues. I sacrificed people. I deserve my fate. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t hesitate.”
Season one saw CIA covert operative Martian being suddenly ordered to abandon his long-term undercover assignment in Ethiopia – where he fell in love with Samia – and return to London. In Africa he was working under the false identity – known in the world of espionage as a ‘legend’ – of Paul Lewis.
Michael picks up the story in season two, saying: “Then she [Samia] arrives in London. Then he meets up with her, which he shouldn’t do and then he compromises her. She gets captured and his new objective is to basically get her to safety. But by doing that, he becomes a double agent and betrays his country, becomes a traitor and the walls are closing in on him.”
Born in Heidelberg, Germany, Michael’s mum, Adele, hailed from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, while his dad, Josef, was a chef, who had worked at The Savoy in London. Together with his older sister, Catherine, now a neuropsychologist, the family moved to Kilarney in County Kerry when he was two, where his parents ran a local restaurant, West End House.
A Catholic altar boy when he was young, Michael says this trained him to perform to an audience. And, after initially harbouring ambitions to be a heavy metal guitarist – growing his hair and listening to thrash metal – aged 17, he appeared in a local play and changed direction.
Relocating to London, aged 19, he enrolled at the Drama Centre, but dropped out before completing his third year to start his professional career in a touring production of Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. Launching his film career in 2001 in Steven Spielberg’s Band of Brothers, his credits since include Hunger (2008) Shame (2011) 12 Years a Slave (2013) – for which he was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar – and X-Men (2011).
He was also nominated for a best actor Oscar for playing the Apple co-founder in the 2015 movie Steve Jobs. Married to Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, 37, the couple and their two young sons live in Lisbon, Portugal, but retain strong ties with London, where they spent many years.
Known to completely immerse himself in a role – for example, losing 40 lb to play an IRA hunger striker in Hunger – when preparing for the role of Martian, he also met up with two genuine spies. Speaking on The Arts Hour, he says: “The first guy I talked to, I felt like I wasn’t going to need dirt or negative aspects, let’s say. Then I spoke to another guy. We were going through the character and I was like ‘is this guy a sociopath?’ And he was like ‘well let’s go through the characteristics of a sociopath.’”
Clinically diagnosed as antisocial personality disorder, sociopaths have a persistent disregard for the rights, feelings and safety of others – feeling neither empathy, nor remorse. Returning to his conversation with the spy, Michael continues: “We went through the list [of characteristics] and he was like ‘we’re ticking a lot of boxes here.’ I was like ‘yes, ok, so he is.’ And he was like ‘well, it’s a good thing to be in that job.’”
In the new season of The Agency, Martian will be seen desperately trying to claw back some semblance of humanity after being out on his own, as a covert operative, for 7 years. Michael explains: “A lot of spies work in the embassy, so if the heat comes on them, they have a passport and they can get out. But a non-official covert doesn’t have that.”
Describing Martian’s relationship with Samia and with his daughter in London, who he hasn’t seen for many years, he continues: “It’s sort of his fight for humanity. He’s been in the business for about 20 years, so he’s quite jaded. He’s crossed a lot of moral lines he didn’t think he’d do at the beginning of his career.”
As for his own career, for 10 years, Michael has pursued parallel interests in racing driving and acting. Between 2019 and 2023, he stepped away from Hollywood, pursuing a serious career as a professional sports car racer. Joining a development programme with Porsche back in 2018, his greatest racing achievement has been completing the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance classic in 2022.
The 2023 documentary Road to Le Mans follows his journey. Michael has said of racing: “My first dream has always been to go racing. Even before acting.” Someone who doesn’t do anything by halves, it is unsurprising that Michael would never have been content to keep racing as a hobby. His desire to give everything his personal best applies both to racing and acting.
Reputed to have read the script for Shame around 350 times, so he could get inside the head of a sex addict, he claims to have reined in his obsessive preparation for The Agency. He laughs, saying he read the script “150 times.” He says: “I try and do it 10 times a day.”
Explaining the need for this degree of intensity, he shrugs: “I’m a slow learner! It’s just something I’ve always done. If I keep reading it, I feel like the dialogue is seeping into the bones and I’m thinking about the character as I’m reading.”
Hugely professional, Michael adds: “I just don’t want to turn up on set unprepared. A lot of things can fall through the cracks that are out of my control, but the worst thing is if I leave set and I’m ‘oh I messed up because I didn’t do my homework.’“ An anathema to the average sociopath, this sense of duty and consideration for others would probably make Michael a lousy spy.
*This interview has been adapted from The Arts Hour on the BBC World Service, available on BBC Sounds.
The “Love Island USA” production team is mourning the loss of executive producer James Barker, who died last week while on set in Fiji.
“Love Island USA” producers ITV America and Peacock confirmed Barker’s death in a media release shared with The Times on Monday. The announcement said that Barker died after “an unexpected medical emergency” but did not provide additional details, including the day of his death and a cause of death. Barker was 40.
“James’ unimaginable loss has been deeply felt across not just the entire Love Island USA production, but throughout all of ITV and Peacock,” the television companies said in a joint statement. “He was a beloved and greatly valued member of our collective family whose kindness, talent and dedication left an indelible mark on all of us and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to James’ family, friends and colleagues.”
Barker began his tenure on “Love Island USA” in 2020, first working as a story producer. He has worked as an executive producer on the series for the last three seasons and was also a member of the producing team on “Love Island” companion series “Love Island Games” and “Love Island: Beyond the Villa.”
Barker, according to Monday’s statement, also oversaw the hit series’ pop soundtrack. For an interview with Rolling Stone in 2025, Barker recalled watching the original British “Love Island” series and how pop music supplemented the on-screen romances and heartbreak: “I think that is where my brain immediately said, ‘One, this is amazing, and more shows should be like this.’ And two, ‘How do I work on “Love Island”?’”
Barker also noted in the interview that he drew inspiration for the “Love Island USA” villa sound from his pre-TV career as a nightlife DJ and spoke about the process of hand-selecting music from established pop acts and up-and-coming artists.
“In the past, there was such a stigma about reality shows that a lot of artists didn’t want their music associated with reality shows. And that’s starting to turn around now,” Barker told the outlet. “[Artists are] more and more seeing, well, one, the financial aspect of having your music synced in these kind of shows, and also just the wide reach of viewers.”
Before “Love Island USA,” Barker was a producer on reality series “Pawn Stars,” “Counting Cars” and “Forged in Fire.” He later served as a story producer on “Queer Eye,” “Cosmic Love” and “Are You My First?” Outside of his TV work, Barker often performed as DJ Chaotic at gay bar C’mon Everybody in Brooklyn.
“Love Island USA,” which began its eighth season earlier this month, will pay tribute to Barker in Tuesday’s episode.
Olivia Rodrigo has officially begun her new era, and this time she invited her fans to experience it alongside her.
To celebrate the release of her latest album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” Rodrigo collaborated with American Express to re-create the set of her music video for “The Cure.” The pop-up event, which opened last Thursday and ran until Sunday at Mica Studios, featured props from the video, storyboards, exclusive merchandise and several photo ops for fans.
With a beating felt heart and lab beakers to pose with, the pop-up transformed an industrial studio space in the Arts District into a pastel-painted cardboard hospital. Ahead of the public opening, Rodrigo surprised a small group of AMEX cardholders and select fans.
“I have an album that’s coming out today in about one hour, which is crazy,” Rodrigo said, wearing a blue “Nurses Do It Better” baby tee. “I figured since we’re all here, maybe we should just listen to a few of them together? Would that be cool?”
A little over an hour before the album’s release, Rodrigo played four songs from the album as the room brewed with excitement. She began with “Maggots for Brains,” a song about being so infatuated you can’t focus when your partner is away. Although it was their first listen, the song’s catchy chorus already had fans dancing along.
Banner for Rodridgo’s pop-up event hands above Mica Studios
(American Express)
Rodrigo explained that her next song, “Purple,” paid homage to the aesthetics of her previous albums, “Guts” and “Sour.”
“Obviously, this is my first non-purple album, but I just had to shout out purple somehow,” Rodrigo joked. “This song started out as a love song and sort of devolved from there, so I’ll let you guys be the judge.”
Playing off the somber vibes of “Purple,” Rodrigo played “Less” next. The piano ballad follows the dissolution of a relationship as the couple grows apart.
“I’ve been going back and forth on what the saddest song on the record is, but I think this one might be it,” Rodrigo said.
In a room full of fans, the song struck an emotional chord with many of the listeners. To bring the mood back up, Rodrigo finished the night by playing her new single, “Stupid Song.”
“This next one is a happy one, and it actually has a music video that comes out tonight,” Rodrigo said. “I love this song so much. It’s basically about having such an intense crush on someone that it drives you totally f— insane. I feel like we’ve all been there at some point in our lives.”
Rodrigo was all smiles at her event celebrating her latest album steeped in heartbreak and romance.
(American Express)
After Rodrigo previewed her music, “The Cure” music video exhibition was opened up to the fans. The showcase ranged from interactive photo ops to gallery walls featuring behind-the-scenes photos from the video shoot and Rodrigo’s nurse costume on display. The video’s props, which were primarily designed using cardboard and felt, were displayed in glass cases for visitors to admire.
Dressed in fun fashion including light pink and polka-dot outfits, fans posed throughout the set, re-creating scenes from the music video as “The Cure” played overhead. Many had thrown on a piece of the Los Angeles-exclusive merchandise on sale at the pop-up, with shirts and hats reading “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl in Los Angeles.”
So while some fans teared up at her lyrics and others beamed with excitement, everyone was hyped to experience Rodrigo’s new album.
“I really hope you enjoy this little exhibition. It is so gorgeous, and I am so proud of it,” Rodrigo said. “Thank you guys for being here, and I really hope you love ‘You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love’ as much as I do.”
Love Is Blind UK Season 2 star Sarover Aujla faces off against former partner Kal in Netflix’s upcoming After the Altar special
Love Is Blind UK’s Sarover was seen in tears as her co-stars flooded her with support(Image: Netflix)
A Netflix star has received an outpouring of support following a scathing outburst aimed at her reality television ex-partner.
A fresh season of Love Is Blind UK is approaching as new singletons prepare for a third series, hoping to discover their perfect match without any face-to-face contact. Only upon getting engaged will they actually meet before cohabiting and arranging their nuptials.
After the Altar was filmed weeks following the dramatic reunion, where audiences learned what truly transpired between the couples – and who, if anybody, remained devoted to each other.
All episodes will drop on Sunday, July 12 on Netflix as an explosive preview has also been unveiled. On social media, Season 2 participant Sarover Aujla posted the exclusive teaser footage, writing: “I don’t think you know the weight of what marriage is’ – Love Is Blind UK: After the alter out 12th July on @netflixuk.”
In the footage, Sarover can be heard discussing her on-screen former husband Kal as she stated: “He’s gone public with his new girlfriend.”
The scene then switches to Kal, conversing with co-star Billy, who says: “I’ve fully moved on now. I’m dating someone else.”
Sarover questions: “Who are you morally as a person?” Speaking to others, Kal acknowledges: “It sounds like she wants to come in guns ablaze.”
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However, in a tense and brutal face-off, Sarover tells Kal: “I don’t think you know the weight of what marriage is.”
He fires back: “Of course I do, I’m not an idiot”, before the camera cuts to Sarover who is seen in tears, surrounded by her co-stars.
Support flooded in online too, as co-star Ashleigh Berry wrote: “Proud of you always”, while Season One’s Jasmine added: “My pregnant a** was gaggedddd! Can’t wait to watch!”.
A further fan gushed: “My heart, my heartttt… The best thing to come from all of this is seeing how much you’re glowing in life right nw. Some things were only meant to be lessons to make you stronger. And I’m all for this new you-stronger, wiser, and shining brighter than ever.”
Netflix released a lengthier trailer packed with the promise of high drama and explosive showdowns, as one star declared they were “done” before storming off camera, while another was spotted wiping away tears, reports OK!.
Javen confessed: “I’m here to cause some chaos”, with later scenes showing him locking horns with ex Katisha and Demola.
Anticipation continues to mount, with one viewer commenting on YouTube: “They really know how to pull us right back in every single time lol.”
Another enthused: “I’m going to go watch season 2 just so I can watch this.”
Love Is Blind After the Altar premiers on Netflix on July 12
Julia Donaldson and the BBC have a long festive association with hits including The Gruffalo, Zog and last year’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding
The Baddies is picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler(Image: Axel Scheffler)
Children’s Author Julia Donaldson and the BBC have announced which of her stories they will be turning into an animation for Christmas 2026.
A half hour special of The Baddies is being made by production company Magic Light Pictures. It will feature all-star voice cast, with returning favourite Rob Brydon voicing Ghost, Alison Steadman as Witch, Hammed Animashaun as Troll, Robyn Cara as Girl, Francesca Mills as Mouse alongside Sheridan Smith as the Narrator.
Author Dame Julia Donaldson said: “The Baddies was enormous fun to write because I loved inventing these gloriously wicked characters and then thinking about what might happen when they finally meet someone brave enough to outwit them. Magic Light has done a brilliant job bringing the story to life and the cast have captured all the humour, silliness and spookiness perfectly.”
The Baddies is about the worst Baddies in the world – a troll and a ghost and a witch, who love nothing more than being bad and boasting about it. When a girl with a blue spotty hanky moves into a cottage nearby, the Baddies quarrel about all the nasty tricks they want to play on her.
Then a mouse sets a challenge for the Baddies to see who can steal the hanky. Soon they learn that they may have met their match in the little girl. The story is described as being “packed with mischief, humour and heart”, and is a celebration of courage, kindness and the power of standing up to bullies.
Narrator Sheridan Smith said: “I’ve always loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s stories, so it was such a joy to be part of bringing The Baddies to life. The film is funny, spooky and full of heart, and the animation is absolutely beautiful. I think families are going to have enormous fun watching these wonderful characters causing chaos this Christmas.”
The Baddies is adapted from the hugely successful picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Previous adaptations include The Gruffalo, Zog and last year’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding which pulled in 8.7 million viewers across the festive period
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “It’s with a mix of excitement and trepidation that we welcome The Baddies to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas. I’d like to assure everyone at home that we’ll be working very closely with Julia, Axel and the team at Magic Light to keep viewers safe from Ghost, Witch and Troll’s dastardly deeds.”
The aniamation will go out and Christmas Day on BBC1. Previous adaptions of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s works are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
And it’s a good job, too, as unlike any other gift experience you’ve ever been to, you will be pushed to your absolute limit.
I’m greeted by a hearty full English, before a safety briefing, and then it’s helmets on and straight to my first track session.
Everyone is placed in small teams, and all the sessions are professionally timed so you have a crack at a fastest-lap trophy.
The cars are staggering.
My favourites were the McLaren Artura GT4 and Ginetta G56 GTA – both full-blown race cars with slicks and roll cage.
But I never felt too intimidated once on track, thanks to the brilliant instructors.
They gave me immediate feedback over the helmet intercom, and there’s dual controls to help get you out of trouble.
You build up steadily and your last lap should always be your fastest, plus the 596bhp McLaren boasts in-car video and telemetry so I could analyse my quickest time.
We were hitting 135mph on the short back straight, with the instructor telling me precisely when to stamp on the brakes before slicing towards the apex.
The Ginetta felt like a touring car race, raucously good fun and forgiving.
But the real “heart in your mouth” stuff comes on the West Circuit.
The Palmer JP-LM is a sports prototype inspired by the 200mph racers at Le Mans.
It will pull 2.5g in the corners and sap tears from your eyes under braking.
Listen to your instructor carefully, though – as next time you’re out, it’s solo.
It’s truly mind-blowing to think that, in a land of health-and-safety trigger warnings these days, they will squeeze you into a Formula 3000 single-seater.
There’s no instructor, just pure driving in your own mini-Ayrton Senna nirvana.
You also get taster laps in a new 650bhp Hyundai IONIQ 5 N – that alone would be a £250 experience day.
And I still haven’t finished yet.
There’s a full off-road course, where I get to pilot a Defender 90 over obstacles I couldn’t walk up in crampons.
The all-inclusive day means breakfast, refreshments, lunch and afternoon tea – plus the driving experiences – are all part of the package.
I also get a photo taken alongside the McLaren, and in-car video of my fastest laps in the GT4 and F3000.
While it might not exactly be cheap, if you tried to replicate it independently it would cost you twice as much – and the driver coaching alone is priceless.
The award-winning journalist takes centre stage one last time in an extraordinary new film made for Channel 4
In the new film Jon uncovers one of the worst mining and ecological disasters of modern times.(Image: Channel 4)
Former newsreader Jon Snow Is now “living a quieter life” months on from filming a documentary with Channel 4 about having Alzheimer’s disease.
The 78-year-old cancelled a planned appearance on a panel at the Sheffield Documentary festival on Friday which coincided with a screening of Jon Snow : A Last Big Story which shows him navigating life with Alzheimer’s.
The film, which shows the beginnings of his memory fading, actually finished filming last year. Asked how he was now, the Executive Producer Ben de Pear who also worked with Jon for many years on Channel 4 News said: “He has been in Zimbabwe(on holiday) and I spoke to him recently. He was his usual self, he was feisty, funny and really excited about the film coming out. Jon is living a quieter life but I think he is still interested and engaged in the world and still fascinated by people. When he goes to the supermarket he still ends up speaking to people for 20 minutes each.”
On the original plan of him being at the event in person, Ben added: “To be honest some days it is good and he could have been on stage, we could have had a discussion and some days it’s worse. That is the nature of the disease.” He told the audience that Jon “sent his love” before the screening began.
Ben and director, Laura Warner also spoke about the unusual circumstances around making the emotional film and then showing it to Jon and his wife, Dr Precious Lunga.
Laura said she would start each day explaining who she was and what film she was making to make sure Jon was still happy. She added: “Every day we would have to re-consent Jon and he would ask why there were cameras and we would explain.
“He was extremely engaged and leading the story. But there would come a time every day, around about sort of sunset, I think it is called sundowning where Jon would really start to struggle. The cameras went down at that point every day and we would look after him.”
On the final edit, Laura recalled: “Jon and Precious watched it several times in terms of giving it send off. It was really important to Precious that he viewed it by himself the first time, so he wasn’t influenced by her reaction too it or anyone else’s.
“He had a really emotional reaction to it because I think it was the first time he had seen himself with the condition.”
Ben added: “Precious loves the film, she thinks it is really important.”
The film also sees Jon discover a news story whilst on holiday in 2025, which leads an investigation into a Zambian community whose land and water were impacted by a mining disaster.
As the Mirror previously reported, he speaks in the film about his own mortality, and seems happy with the life he has.
Jon says: “A strange old business life. I had a good innings of it. It’s understandable, you can be worried about death, but to be worried about growing older is irrelevant. It’s absurd. How old is older? You’re going to die tomorrow or the next day. Stop worrying and get on with it.”
His wife Precious says of the film: “I want it to be a story of love, laughter, acknowledging that times are hard. I don’t shy away from the fact that it’s hard caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. But we can also be on the lookout for opportunities that would lessen that burden. And yeah we do that by having our little adventures.”
* Jon Snow: A Last Big story will be available to watch and stream on Channel 4 on Sat June 20 at 8pm.
Elizabeth Olsen has been a regular on our screens for the past 15 years with plenty more to come.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
22:20, 12 Jun 2026Updated 22:20, 12 Jun 2026
Actress Elizabeth Olsen appears is some of the biggest shows and movies(Image: GETTY)
Elizabeth Olsen fans may be surprised to see an unexpected hit ranked as number one.
Actress Elizabeth is no stranger to some of the biggest shows and films around, including none other than the iconic Avengers franchise.
She initially found fame as the older sister of twin actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, known for appearing in Two of a Kind, before creating her own path in the entertainment industry.
As it’s now been revealed that Olsen is pregnant with her first child with husband and musician Robbie Arnett, here’s a breakdown of how Elizabeth Olsen’s work is ranked.
Elizabeth Olsen shows and films ranked
10. In Secret
Coming in last place for Elizabeth Olsen’s work is 2013 film In Secret, also referred to as Therese with just 41% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Also starring Oscar Isaac, Jessica Lange and Tom Felton, the official synopsis reads: “Therese is stuck in a loveless marriage to her sickly cousin, Camille.
“Her life changes when she meets Camille’s childhood friend, Laurent.
“They have an affair, but things end rather tragically.”
9. Love & Death
Scoring a more respectable 63%, Love & Death is a 2023 biographical crime drama that aired on HBO Max in the US and ITV in the UK.
The description reads: “Two couples lead peaceful and happy lives in a small Texas Town.
“However, an extramarital affair tragically alters the course of their lives.”
Olsen stars alongside Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, Tom Pelphrey and Krysten Ritter.
8. Eternity
Supernatural romantic-comedy Eternity came out last year and earned an impressive 76%.
Starring opposite Olsen in the Apple TV film is Whiplash actor Miles Teller and Masters of the Air actor Callum Turner.
The synopsis reads: “In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with and her first love, who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.”
7. Doctor Strange
One of the numerous films in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) to score big for Olsen is Doctor Strange with 73%.
The description reads: “In an accident, Stephen Strange, a famous neurosurgeon, loses the ability to use his hands.
“He goes to visit the mysterious Ancient One to heal himself and becomes a great sorcerer under her tutelage.”
Olsen is joined by the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
6. Kill Your Darlings
Released 12 years ago, the 37-year-old stars in thriller romance Kill Your Darlings with Harry Potter icon Daniel Radcliffe and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 star Dane DeHaan.
The synopsis for Kill Your Darlings, which earned 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, reads: “A literary revolution ensues when Ginsberg meets Carr at college.
“However, an unresolved murder invites trouble for Carr and sets Ginsberg on a path to reveal the truth through controversial poetry.”
5. Avengers: Infinity War
2018’s Avengers: Infinity War is the third Avengers film and the 19th film overall in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).
Starring as Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, Olsen features in all of the Avengers movies with this one ranking 85%.
In this chapter of the Avengers story, the team joins forces with their allies to stop Thanos from finding the infinity stones.
4. WandaVision
Olsen has her own time centre stage in the MCU sitcom WandaVision where “Vision and Wanda live a normal life in Westview and conceal their superpowers. “However, as decades pass by, they start doubting that everything is not what it seems.”
Joining her in the hit series are recognisable stars like Kat Jennings, Kathryn Hahn and Paul Bettany.
WandaVision scores a near-perfect 92% with fans on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. Avengers: Endgame
Of course, it’s no surprise that Avengers: Endgame is among Elizabeth’s most popular films with a whopping 94%.
Once again joined by the MCU’s usual suspects including Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr and Chris Hemsworth, Endgame became the highest-grossing film of all time, making more than $2.79 billion.
The synopsis reads: “After Thanos, an intergalactic warlord, disintegrates half of the universe, the Avengers must reunite and assemble again to reinvigorate their trounced allies and restore balance.”
However, Avengers: End Game not only isn’t Olsen fans’ favourite but also comes in second place with two other projects scoring higher.
1. Sorry For Your Loss
One of those taking the top spot with a staggering 97% is the two-seasoned drama Sorry For Your Loss.
Originally debuting in 2018, the description for the drama states: “The sudden death of her husband upends and transforms every relationship in Leigh Shaw’s life, also forcing her to realize there was a lot about her husband that she didn’t know.”
Archive 81 and Uncorked actor Mamoudou Athie, Star Wars ’ Kelly Marie Tran and Ozark’s Janet McTeer join Olsen in this Prime Video series.
1. His Three Daughters
Also declared as Elizabeth Olsen’s top project is the 2023 comedy-drama film His Three Daughters with 97% from Rotten Tomatoes.
The description reads: “Three distant sisters reunite in NYC to care for their sick father.
“Tensions rise as they confront past issues, aiming to heal family bonds amid laughter and tears.”
Gilded Age star Carrie Coon and Poker Face’s Natasha Lyonne Rachel both lead the cast with Olsen.
THE birthplace of the British seaside resort is celebrating 400 years this summer – and it’s not where you might expect.
Scarborough is England‘s oldest coastal resort and it’s starting a summer of celebrations marking four centuries since its spa waters were found – so it was only right that I took a trip up to the North Yorkshire Coast.
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I visited the seaside town of Scarborough which celebrates a big anniversary this yearCredit: Catherine LofthouseScarborough or ‘Scarbados’ is the oldest seaside resort in the UKCredit: Alamy
It’s easy to see why tourists have been flocking to Scarborough for centuries and why it’s been nicknamed Scarbados, in a nod to the Caribbean island known for its lovely beaches and chilled-out vibe.
While the weather might not be quite as tropical as Barbados, there are two beaches to choose from, a historic castle on the headland between, popular parks offering lots of attractions and even one Britain’s best waterparks, all within walking distance.
There’s something for everyone here, no matter what you enjoy about a day at the seaside, and it feels like you can have about five different days out rolled into one.
I took on a spa-to-spa walk of about an hour, setting off near the site of the original spring and spa in South Bay.
This is where it all started for the town as a coastal resort, when Thomasin Farrer spotted a natural spring in 1626 and discovered the waters were packed with minerals.
Soon, people were travelling from across the country to take the waters and enjoy the sea air.
The spa building is now an entertainment venue where you can enjoy comedy, music and kids’ shows throughout the year.
It’s here that you’ll find the historic cliff lift, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.
And there’s also a striking glazed veranda with a black and white floor overlooking the North Sea.
Walking along the front, South Bay is home to many of the chippies that won Scarborough the title of the fish and chip capital last year, with almost 100 takeaways to choose from.
It has two beaches and a historic cliff lift and great chippiesCredit: Alamy
With wide golden sands, a big wheel, arcades aplenty and rides at Luna Park, you’ll want to head here if you love a bit of seaside hustle and bustle.
My favourite find was heading up to Scarborough Castle, which is looked after by English Heritage and offers lovely views out over both beaches and beyond.
It’s got a very special vibe, somehow managing to be at the heart of the town and feeling like a secluded secret spot at the same time.
Walking down to North Bay, which has a quieter vibe than its sister sands to the south, and then around to Peasholm Park, this part of Scarborough feels more like the beaches of my childhood.
If you love an aquarium, Scarborough North Bay Railway runs up to the pyramids that house the town’s Sea Life centre.
Check out the Scarborough North Railway and its Sea Life CentreCredit: Alamy
There’s lots to do in this green space, with the wooden pagodas at its entrance mirroring the oriental-inspired grounds within.
During the summer months, you can catch model boats recreating a naval battle on the lake at 3pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Or take a ride on the park’s historic water chute that’s coming up to its centenary and catch a show at the open air theatre, with the likes of Alanis Morissette and Michael Buble performing this year.
I finished my scuttle around Scarbados with a trip to the spa at Alpamare, the town’s waterpark that opened a decade ago and has recently gone up for sale after being run by Yorkshire theme park Flamingo Land for a couple of years.
I loved the sea view from the upstairs sauna and the warm outdoor pool was a treat in the sunshine.
But a firm favourite was definitely chilling out in the hay bath, a unique stable-inspired sensory room lined with troughs of freshly cut hay and swinging beds hanging from the ceiling.
I loved the sauna and outdoor pool at Scarborough AlpamareCredit: Catherine Lofthouse
It’s the perfect place to while away a few hours – kids can take on the flumes, wave pool and splash pad downstairs, while adults can head up to the spa to enjoy steam rooms, relaxation spaces and a terrace with open air showers and sunbeds.
This year is a great time to visit Scarborough as there’s free festivals, a trail of 10 huge deckchairs at tourist spots across the town and even some fabulous illuminations when the nights draw in to mark the end of the year of celebrations.
So scoot over to Scarborough if you’re after a seaside treat of a town that started the traditional trip to the coast beloved of Brits all those years ago.
What to do after writing some of this century’s most devastating songs about the torment of breaking up? Write some of this century’s most devastating songs about the ecstasy of getting together.
With her first two albums — 2021’s Grammy-winning “Sour” and 2023’s triple-platinum “Guts” — Olivia Rodrigo proved herself to be perhaps the most gifted of the many chroniclers of Gen Z romance to emerge in Taylor Swift’s wake. She could convey the hot sting of betrayal, as in her smash debut single, “Drivers License”; she could channel the injustice of watching an ex somehow carry on, as in “Good 4 U”; she could deliver a sick burn like somebody handing out Halloween candy, as in “Get Him Back!” (Because it deserves remembering: “He had an ego and a temper and a wandering eye / He said he’s six-foot-two, and I’m like, ‘Dude, nice try.’”)
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Yet on her thrilling third LP, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” Rodrigo, 23, turns to the pleasure that comes before the pain — and, in a feat very few in pop music are ever able to pull off, ends up with a number of first-flush-of-love songs as potent as any breakup tune.
She opens the album with “Drop Dead,” in which she compares a guy in line for the bathroom at a bar to an “angel on the walls of Versailles” — an early sign of how high the emotional ceiling is here. In “Stupid Song” she cycles through a series of metaphors to describe her lovesickness — she’s a car without a brake, she’s a heart made of melting wax — before finding a simpler but infinitely more vivid way of getting her point across: “You should feel how I feel when somebody says your name.” (Chills.)
“Maggots for Brains” is a song about how useless she becomes “when my baby goes away,” and let’s just take a second to savor the fact that Rodrigo is putting that title into the world less than four years after she was still a working Disney kid. The album’s next tune, “U + Me = <3,” is its high point: a euphoric promise of devotion that sounds like Sixpence None the Richer reborn as a Midwestern emo band. It’s got two young lovers carving their names into car seat leather, and it’s got a girl trying to impress her boyfriend’s older sister with her cynical humor and her taste in yacht rock.
More important, it’s got these lines of pure poetry: “They say modern love’s a cruel endeavor / And to that I say, F— it, whatever.” Kurt Cobain would be proud.
Working with her longtime producer, Dan Nigro, Rodrigo has expanded her stylistic palette to accommodate these new emotions; “You Seem Pretty Sad” pulls in chiming folk-rock and synthed-up new wave and even has a gorgeous wine-bar piano ballad, “Less,” that might put the scare in Rodrigo’s pal Laufey.
The cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s new album.
(Geffen Records)
The album is structured to trace the arc of a relationship, which means that the second half dips into the heartbreak we’re used to getting from Rodrigo. But she’s writing about familiar scenarios with new wisdom, drawing sophisticated conclusions about why people in love do the things they do (and don’t do the things they don’t).
In “The Cure,” which rides a strummed acoustic-guitar pattern that strongly recalls Smashing Pumpkins’ “Disarm,” she realizes a boyfriend can’t fix what’s broken inside her; “Begged” examines the limits of one partner’s willingness to look past the failings of the other. After hearing these songs, the happier ones at the beginning of the album reveal bits of shadow that Rodrigo has built into them to presage what’s to come — to presage what always comes.
It’s fitting, then, that Robert Smith of the Cure — perhaps pop’s most jubilant gloommeister — hovers over this LP like a patron saint: nodded to in “The Cure,” of course, but also “Drop Dead,” where Rodrigo name-checks the Cure’s classic “Just Like Heaven.” Smith himself turns up in “What’s Wrong With Me” for a duet with Rodrigo in which the two learn to accept that love, in the end, might be what kills them.
“My head is spinning and my stomach is sick,” they sing, and neither sounds like they’d have it any other way.
Love Island viewers were gripped as tension spread throughout the villa as the bombshells made moves and a fiery challenge divided the group
Angelista and Ope had an intense conversation(Image: ITV)
Love Island viewers were left fuming after an islander branded another a “liar”. Ope suggested his former villa partner, Angelista, was a “liar” as the pair argued over her terrace antics.
Despite moving slowly with Ope, she wasted no time in kissing bombshell Simba. But while Ope was less than impressed, viewers at home were quick to call him out.
One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: “So Ope’s calling Angelista a liar and saying she didn’t care about his feelings when HE was the one who lied to her about being ok with the slow place and HE was the one who was rude about her on the dates. She had every right to get with Simba.”
Another added: “Ope said Angelista is a liar, does he not know what he has been doing in the villa?” And a third said: “Ope talks fast and breathes heavily, like a liar.”
Despite online users calling him out, Shakira came to his defence in Love Island: The Debrief. She said the moment was “humiliating” for Ope.
After Ope and Simba came to blows over Angelista, Priya received a text that sent shockwaves through the group. They were told that a challenge was ready to “test the waters” in a game of It’s Not That Deep.
The challenge saw the Islanders take on a slippery mini-slide, and after landing in a pool, they must grab a drink and uncover a juicy secret about one of their fellow Islanders of the opposite sex.
When they made their pick, they must swill the islander they believed the comment was about. With revelations like This boy has slept with 11 girls but can only recall 3 of their names, and ‘This boy’s friends would describe him as having a wandering eye, tension is quick to enter the villa.
And the spicy comments also come back as the boys learn more about the girls in the villa. Some of the boys become frustrated by some of the girls’ commentary around their guesses, with some calling out the “hypocrisy” on show.
Aidan was quick to pick up on the tension and told the group the atmosphere was frosty. And his thoughts were correct as the rift between the boys and the girls became increasingly apparent.
“The girls have no idea,” Sam said before Aidan said they were simply trying to “brush it off”. The group tried to put a block on the issue, but when Ope referred to some of the girls’ comments during the challenge, he said: “I feel like there’s some things that people said that don’t align with what we thought you aligned with.”
Aidan agreed, calling out the wandering eye comment. With tension rising, Yasmin and Jasmine decide to walk away from the conversation.
Love Island continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
Viewers of Love Island were left stunned by the latest recoupling news after Sam made his moves with the latest two bombshells to enter the villa
Love Island had a surprise recoupling(Image: ITV/Love Island)
Love Island fans were quick to have their say about the latest recoupling drama. A surprising text sent shockwaves through the villa, with Yasmin telling them all they must gather around the fire pit immediately.
Bombshells Namibia and Victoria were given the option to pick first, with both new arrivals having been flirting with Sam. And Namibia immediately chose Sam, leaving Victoria frowning. And she threw a spanner into the works as she chose Ope, despite him making it known he was all eyes on Angelista.
Ope hugged the bombshell before sulking back into the chair. Angelista looked fuming before the episode ended. But despite Ope’s reaction, fans claimed he would have been ecstatic on the inside.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, one user wrote: “Ope acting like he’s going to the electric chair being picked by Victoria when I know he’s gassed on the inside.”
Another added: “Ope wanted this so why is he huffing and puffing??? fool.” And a third said: “Ope with this bad acting.” Earlier in the episode fans watched at Sam wasted no time exploring his options and try to move on from his friendship couple with Robyn. And it all appeared to be going well.
As he pulled Namibia for a chat, he asked her: “Would you say I’m your favourite in here?” And he was met with a positive response as she teased: “Yeah, you’re up there.”
He picked up on the flirty vibes and admitted he fancied her. He went on to reveal if it was up to him, he would recouple with her.
When Victoria later asked of any bold moves he was planning, he decided to take her on a private tour of their living space. The duo ended up on the famous terrace and locked eyes on each other.
As they reflect on their time in the Villa, Sam confessed that the arrival of the two Bombshells was a welcome surprise.Victoria later asked him which of the bombshell has made him happier.
“When you like something you’ve got to go for it… and I like you,” Sam said. And the pair locked lips, much to Namibia’s dismay. He admitted to the boys that he “kind of f***ed up” with his actions, looking concerned.
But the triangle continued the following afternoon after Sam invited Namibia to the Hideaway away from prying eyes.
While tucked away, he told her: “I still fancy you the most in here, I think you’re beautiful.” But the moment was quickly clocked by Victoria. Away from the group, Sam made his move after telling Victoria he won’t be kissing Namibia again.
LOVE ISLAND CONTINUES TOMORROW AT 9PM ON ITV2 AND ITVX
LOVE Island viewers have been left baffled after spotting Ellie Chadwick is rarely seen without her iconic £2,000 Prada bag.
Despite engaging in some tense chats in the villa, fans of the hit ITV show have been left distracted by her trusty wicker basket bag never being far from sight.
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Love Island’s Ellie has left fans in hysterics after spotting she is rarely without her iconic Prada bagCredit: EBayITV2 viewers have been confused by Ellie’s constant need to carry her designer bag in the villaCredit: EBay
And it turns out there is a key reason why real estate videographer Ellie, 24, is always carrying her beloved accessory around the villa.
Amy Bannerman, eBay‘s Pre-Loved Style Director, told The Sun that bags were added into the Love Island pad for the first season of Love Island All Stars in January 2025.
She explained: “I wanted a way to add more eBay to the Islanders’ non-swimwear looks and give us an opportunity to talk about eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee (AG) offering.
“The Love Island All Stars cast all really veer towards premium brands too, so it felt like the perfect place to introduce it.
Some viewers said it reminded them of Teletubby character Tinky WinkyCredit: BBCOne fan shared a picture of Mr Tumble and his yellow spotted bagCredit: BBC
“There isn’t more of a focus on bags this season, but they have got more airtime from Ellie’s iconic Prada moment, which is great.”
Viewers have been left in fits of giggles after spotting Ellie’s bag habit and have taken to social media to discuss it further.
One wrote: “Ellie is the first girl I’ve seen carry a bag around the villa, she’s so real go find those designer bags girly show us the villa collection.”
This person replied: “And the only thing in there is probably her phone and some lip gloss.”
This person asked: “Can tell you right now that there’s nothing in Ellie’s bag,” while someone else echoed: “Why is Ellie the only person in love island to ever carry a handbag?”
Someone shared a picture of Teletubbies character Tinky Winky and their famous red handbag, while another posted a picture of Mr Tumble and his yellow spotted bag.
This viewer shared: “Ellie walking around the villa with a handbag, quite possibly is the first time I’ve seen that happen on that show, since I began watching it, all those years ago. Definitely not on my bingo card.”
Another added: “It’s really making me laugh that Ellie carries a handbag, like girl why do you need a handbag in the villa?”
And some fans have even suggested: “If she stays long enough, she’s going to have some bag deals.”
Amy clarified that there is no quota for how many eBay items Islanders have to use, but they have the option to choose from their “incredible choice of brands and styles.”
Amy explained: “They pick pieces from a shared wardrobe that includes everything from Versace and Gucci to vintage Topshop and Marks & Spencer.
“Last season, unbranded vintage was the most-worn category, which was very exciting for us!”
The eBay staff member said they also added men’s bags as the “boys all seemed keen to join the girls in carrying AG bags.”
She added: “We have also added luxury AG men’s sliders too, so they’re wearing more eBay around the pool during daytime moments.”
Since Kavan entered the villa as a surprise bombshell he caught Ellie’s eye, despite her previously being coupled up with his brother.
The blonde beauty continued to express interest in both of the lads for a while until Sunday when everything came crashing down.
Ellie and Aidan were sitting on a sofa together talking about how Aidan kissed someone else when she was briefly booted from the villa.
Ellie left for around 12 hours alongside Samraj after bombshells Yasmin and George were tasked by host Maya Jama to axe a lad and a lady from the show.
Love Island’s George Knight has spoken about his exit from the show after the bombshell’s sudden departure just days into filming was finally aired on the ITV2 show
21:46, 08 Jun 2026Updated 21:47, 08 Jun 2026
George is no longer on Love Island(Image: ITV)
Love Island star George Knight has spoken about his sudden exit from the ITV2 show for the first time since his departure was aired. The bombshell decided to quit the villa just days after entering.
He said in an Instagram video: “Hello, everyone. Just wanted to take a moment and come on and say a massive, massive thank you to every single person who has reached out over the past two days, wishing me their love, their support, and all their well wishes.
“It has been completely overwhelming, and I am trying to get back to every message, which is pretty, pretty much impossible. But thank you so much.”
He continued: “And I think moments like this give you a massive kind of perspective on the bigger picture, and as fun and as great my six days in the villa were, it’s obviously important for me to be here with my family, so thank you so much.
“It’s, it’s been, as I said, completely overwhelming, and a massive thank you to all of ITV’s welfare team and the execs who have been amazing. Hopefully it’s not the last you see of me, and looking forward to the year ahead, and yeah, thanks again, guys.”
George was a day one bombshell, entering the villa alongside Yasmin Hadlow. But before the week was over, he had chosen to walk away from the show.
His exit was not shown on Love Island. Instead, the show decided to just portray its aftermath. OG Islander Lorenzo Alessi told his fellow contestants that George had decided to leave for “private reasons”. He said: “George has left the Villa for private reasons and won’t be coming back.”
The Islanders seemed shocked, particularly Robyn Langton, who had been getting to know George. The 21-year-old nsaid: “Aww, George, we love you!” The other Islanders clapped and in a VT, Robyn added: “I can’t believe it, I actually can’t believe it. He was the only person I was actually kind of interested in.”
After leaving the villa, George said on social media: “Family comes first, always. Leaving the @loveisland Villa was a decision made in order to be with my family. Out of respect for them, I’d prefer not to go into any further detail. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with kind messages and support! It genuinely means a lot.”
As well as his official Love Island headshot, he shared a picture of himself and his sister in his post. In the pic, he sat on a garden bench with Emma and their dog. In the comments, Emma wrote: “Love you George.”
Despite only being on the show for a small amount of time, George really shook things up in the villa. The 28-year-old footballer was tasked with choosing a boy to send home and opted for Samraj Toor, coupling up with Mica Harris as a result. However, Samraj and Ellie Chadwick, who was chosen to be dumped by Yasmin, were not sent home and instead re-emerged as bombshells, with the chance to confront George and Yasmin.
Despite being coupled with Mica, George and Robyn kissed. The day before he walked away from the villa, George and Robyn fought, as she felt he was mischaracterising the situation to the rest of the villa. Mica was also hurt and told George she was stepping back from getting to know him because she thought he was better suited to Robyn.
