Many in Hollywood fear Warner Bros. Discovery’s sale will trigger steep job losses — at a time when the industry already has been ravaged by dramatic downsizing and the flight of productions from Los Angeles.
David Ellison‘s Paramount Skydance is seeking to allay some of those concerns by detailing its plans to save $6 billion, including job cuts, should Paramount succeed in its bid to buy the larger Warner Bros. Discovery.
Leaders of the combined company would search for savings by focusing on “duplicative operations across all aspects of the business — specifically back office, finance, corporate, legal, technology, infrastructure and real estate,” Paramount said in documents filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Paramount is locked in an uphill battle to buy the storied studio behind Batman, Harry Potter, Scooby-Doo and “The Big Bang Theory.” The firm’s proposed $108.4-billion deal would include swallowing HBO, HBO Max, CNN, TBS, Food Network and other Warner cable channels.
Warner’s board prefers Netflix’s proposed $82.7-billion deal, and has repeatedly rebuffed the Ellison family’s proposals. That prompted Paramount to turn hostile last month and make its case directly to Warner investors on its website and in regulatory filings.
Shareholders may ultimately decide the winner.
Paramount previously disclosed that it would target $6 billion in synergies. And it has stressed the proposed merger would make Hollywood stronger — not weaker. The firm, however, recently acknowledged that it would shave about 10% from program spending should it succeed in combining Paramount and Warner Bros.
Paramount said the cuts would come from areas other than film and television studio operations.
A film enthusiast and longtime producer, David Ellison has long expressed a desire to grow the combined Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. slate to more than 30 movies a year. His goal is to keep Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. stand-alone studios.
This year, Warner Bros. plans to release 17 films. Paramount has said it wants to nearly double its output to 15 movies, which would bring the two-studio total to 32.
“We are very focused on maintaining the creative engines of the combined company,” Paramount said in its marketing materials for investors, which were submitted to the SEC on Monday.
“Our priority is to build a vibrant, healthy business and industry — one that supports Hollywood and creative, benefits consumers, encourages competition, and strengthens the overall job market,” Paramount said.
If the deal goes through, Paramount said that it would become Hollywood’s biggest spender — shelling out about $30 billion a year on programming.
In comparison, Walt Disney Co. has said it plans to spend $24 billion in the current fiscal year.
Paramount also added a dig at Warner management, saying: “We expect to make smarter decisions about licensing across linear networks and streaming.”
Some analysts have wondered whether Paramount would sell one of its most valuable assets — the historic Melrose Avenue movie lot — to raise money to pay down debt that a Warner acquisition would bring.
Paramount is the only major studio to be physically located in Hollywood and its studio lot is one of the company’s crown jewels. That’s where “Sunset Boulevard,” several “Star Trek” movies and parts of “Chinatown” were filmed.
A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment.
Sources close to the company said Paramount would scrutinize the numerous real estate leases in an effort to bring together far-flung teams into a more centralized space.
For example, CBS has much of its administrative offices on Gower in Hollywood, blocks away from the Paramount lot. And HBO maintains its operations in Culver City — miles from Warner’s Burbank lot.
The tender offer was set to expire last week, but Paramount extended the window after failing to solicit sufficient interest among Warner shareholders.
Some analysts believe Paramount may have to raise its bid to closer to $34 a share to turn heads. Paramount last raised its bid Dec. 4 — hours before the auction closed and Netflix was declared the winner.
Paramount also has filed proxy materials to ask Warner shareholders to reject the Netflix deal at an upcoming stockholder meeting.
Should Paramount win Warner Bros., it would need to line up $94.65 billion in debt and equity.
Billionaire Larry Ellison has pledged to backstop $40.4 billion for the equity required. Paramount’s proposed financing relies on $24 billion from royal families in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The deal would saddle Paramount with more than $60 billion of debt — which Warner board members have argued may be untenable.
“The extraordinary amount of debt financing as well as other terms of the PSKY offer heighten the risk of failure to close,” Warner board members said in a filing earlier this month.
Paramount would also have to absorb Warner’s debt load, which currently tops $30 billion.
Netflix is seeking to buy the Warner Bros. television and movie studios, HBO and HBO Max. It is not interested in Warner’s cable channels, including CNN. Warner wants to spin off its basic cable channels to facilitate the Netflix deal.
Analysts say both deals could face regulatory hurdles.
An underrated horror film from 2013 starring Jessica Chastain is now available to stream on Netflix
They soon discover their guardian isn’t finished with them(Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
Andy Muschietti, the director of It, has a lesser-known horror gem that’s just landed on Netflix.
First hitting screens in 2013, it boasts a standout performance from Jessica Chastain, who later took on the role of Beverly Marsh in the popular Stephen King adaptation.
The film, titled Mama, also stars Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Yellowjackets’ Isabelle Nélisse. It tells the chilling tale of two young girls who lose their parents in a tragic incident and are subsequently raised by a malevolent entity in a dark forest.
After being rescued by their father’s twin brother, they attempt to adjust to normal life, only to find that the ominous ‘Mama’ isn’t quite finished with them yet.
Despite being Muschietti’s directorial debut, Mama didn’t exactly wow critics, earning a modest 63 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has cultivated a dedicated fanbase who believe it deserves another look, reports the Express.
One glowing Letterboxd review proclaimed: “I could happily sit through twenty turkeys to find one diamond like this. A masterclass in modern horror.”
Another viewer enthused: “I have seen many, many horror films in my lifetime. But I have rarely (if ever) seen one that has touched me so deeply, rewarded me so profoundly, and at the same time managed to scare the everliving s*** out of me so many times in one night.
“Mama has left me shaken to my very core, in so many good ways.”
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**
They added: “Mama is possibly the scariest film I have ever seen, but also one of the most touching, well filmed and memorable stories in a very long time.
“More ghost story than fairytale, it’s one that is sure to haunt me for all time, and I will think twice before I turn out the lights tonight..”
The accolades kept coming on IMDb, where one fan confessed “I wish there were more movies like Mama.
“This has become one of my favorite horror movies over the years, one I keep turning to as a prime example of what the horror genre should be,” they said.
Get Netflix free with Sky for Bridgerton Season 4
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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.
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 Bridgerton.
Meanwhile, another bewildered enthusiast questioned: “Why is this movie so underrated??
“Mama wasn’t terrible like everyone says. It was so good! The ending was super emotional and wtf-ish.”
If you’re already hooked on the recent It films, be sure to discover where it all started for horror genius Muschietti now that Mama is ready to stream.
TWO years ago, Take That’s Howard Donald delivered 52 tapes to Netflix in an enormous Ikea bag.
He had spent the past 35 years quietly filming the band as they transformed from working-class lads into bona fide global stars.
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In one emotionally-charged interview, Gary Barlow talks about his struggle with bulimia, which started following Take That’s split in 1996 and his rivalry with RobbieCredit: NetflixGary says he spent 13 months rarely leaving the house as he struggled with his mental health and weight gainCredit: NetflixThe band had transformed from working-class lads into bona fide global starsCredit: Netflix
“Are you sure it wasn’t a Prada bag?” Howard teases as I interview the group to celebrate the release of a three-part Netflix docuseries based on that footage.
It was a bold move given the much-publicised trials and tribulations of one of Britain’s biggest bands, who have landed 12 No1 singles in their 35-year career.
The series features candid new interviews with current members Gary, 55, Howard, 57, and Mark, 54, alongside never-before-seen footage and photographs.
Robbie, 51, and Jason, 55, allowed archive chats with them to be used to narrate their part in the story.
In one emotionally-charged interview, Gary talks about his struggle with bulimia, which started following Take That’s split in 1996 and his rivalry with Robbie.
Taunts from Robbie are replayed during the documentary, with footage showing him saying: “My problem always was with Gary, I wanted to crush him. “I wanted to crush the memory of the band and I didn’t let go. Even when he was down I didn’t let go.”
Speaking at the premiere of the documentary at Battersea Power Station in South London on Monday night, Gary admits it was tough to watch.
‘Butt of the joke’’
He said: “It’s a narrative that I haven’t thought about for years and years. When we had our reunion we spent a lot of time talking about it and I remember leaving on one particular day and we’d discussed everything. And I remember leaving and my shoulders were light.
“And I’d not thought about it since because I’d not needed to. And it brought it all back. Tricky times they were.”
In the documentary, Gary shares previously unseen photographs of him as he struggled to find his purpose and says: “You’re the butt of the joke. It was so excruciating you just want to crawl into a hole.
“There was a period of 13 months where I didn’t leave the house once. I’d also started to put weight on.
“The more weight I put on the less people would recognise me and I thought, ‘This is good. This is what I have been waiting for. This is a normal life’.
“So I went on this mission then, if the food passed me I would just eat it. And I’d killed the pop star.
“I would have these nights and I would eat and eat and eat but however I felt about myself, I felt ten times worse the day after.”
At his heaviest, Gary, who has three children with his wife Dawn, weighed just over 17 stone.
He explained: “One day I thought, I have been out, it’s 10 o’clock, I have eaten too much, I need to get rid of this food.
It only took a few years to get that low, but it took me years to get back to who I wanted to be. Ten years probably.
Gary Barlow
“You just go off to a dark corner of the house and you make yourself sick. You think it’s only once and all of a sudden you’re walking down that corridor again and again.
“Is this it? Is this what I am going to be doing forever?”
By 2003, Gary turned his life around, and he said: “I just went, ‘No, I’m not having this any more, I’m going to change. I want to change and I’m determined that this is not who I’ve become’.
“It only took a few years to get that low, but it took me years to get back to who I wanted to be. Ten years probably.”
Discussing his recovery with The Sun in 2021, he explained: “I’ve been very strong-minded about how I live and what I eat.
“In general, I work on a 90/10 — 90 per cent sensible-choice food and ten per cent fun choices.
“Buy a nice little writing book, one you’ll feel good about holding and keeping on you at all times. Do a food diary every day, and look down and you’ll see what you’re doing wrong.
“A food diary will also show you what you’re missing in your diet. If you want to get serious and go to a dietician or to a friend and seek help, you can show them the diary.”
Howard is also painfully honest about how hard life was following the end of Take That.
In the documentary, Howard recalls returning home and says: “I felt like I was the only one who didn’t grow up, even though I was the eldest.
“I was a nobody in school, I didn’t go to university, I didn’t think I’d do anything but I felt like a superhero up on that stage.
“It was going towards a depressive state. I decided to go to the Thames.
“I was seriously thinking I was going to kill myself but I was too much of a s**tbag to do it.”
Speaking backstage at the premiere, Howard explains that the band did not want to hide the painful parts of their journey.
He said: “I think it is such a true documentary. You can easily do a documentary and take out all the bits that you feel uncomfortable with — and there are quite a lot of uncomfortable bits in there.
“But it’s true of the last 35 years of Take That. There is a lot of footage people have never seen. It’s good for people to see.”
Gary admits weight gain made him less recognisable – and briefly feel like he had found a ‘normal life’Credit: NetflixNetflix’s Take That is available to stream nowCredit: PA
Mark is also seen struggling to cope with life after the band, who landed their first Top Ten hit with a cover of Tavares’ It Only Takes A Minute in 1992.
He said backstage: “We were working hard, playing all these gigs and things got very hard — but then we got back together. Maybe miss out on the middle bit.”
‘I got a lot of stick’
Like Robbie and Gary, Mark attempted to launch a solo career, but was dropped by his label in 1997, a year after Take That split.
He added: “You start to feel very negative about yourself.”
Robbie and Jason’s clashes with the band’s former manager, Nigel Martin-Smith, are also discussed in the doc.
Robbie says: “Nigel as a manager, he never managed me, he managed Gary Barlow. I wanted him to love me but he never did.”
Jason adds: “When I was in Take That the first time around I was the dancer and I accepted that at the time.
“I don’t know if this is the time or place to say, I was told not to bother singing, ever.”
After the group came back as a four-piece without Robbie in 2005, they ceased working with Nigel and found new representation.
Of the change, Jason says: “Robbie and I got a lot of stick from Nigel. He made us all feel insecure.
“I could feel worthless in the band and I didn’t deserve to feel that. I didn’t want to feel that any more.
“We had chosen our own management, we had chosen our own people, we were in control.”
Director David admits there was some trepidation when it came to showing the three episodes for the first time.
In about 25 minutes we’d put things to bed that had haunted us for years.
Gary on Robbie feud
Speaking backstage alongside producer Gabe Turner, David said: “We talked long and hard about how to do it.
“There is some really hard stuff in there for them, it was a tricky thing for them to watch and it was nervy for us to watch it with them.
“They allowed us to push them to that place. We asked them to lay down their story and they allowed us to take them to that place.”
Gabe added: “Episode two is punchy. With a lot of documentaries you are building that relationship for the first time, you’re working on the fly, but these guys know us and know what we want to do.
“I felt really positive about how little they wanted to see it. They handed us the keys and said, ‘Do you thing’.”
As well as the tough times, Take That fans get a front seat to the inner workings of the group’s comeback with Robbie in 2011.
‘Haunted us for years’
Opening up about healing their old wounds, Robbie says: “I needed Gary to listen to my truth.”
Gary continues: “There were things around people not being supportive of his songwriting and his weight. I’d called him Blobby rather than Robbie one day, which I shouldn’t have done.
“Then I hit him with things he had done to me that I didn’t like
“In about 25 minutes we’d put things to bed that had haunted us for years.”
As well as hearing original demos on the series, fans also get treated to a new single, You’re A Superstar, at the end of the third episode.
The track, taken from their tenth album, is expected to be released later this year.
We’ve got the first steps, we’ve got the Netflix documentary, then we’ve got the Circus tour, then there will be new music.
Gary
Backstage at the screening in London, Howard said the trio have spent months working on the material, adding: “It’s going really well.
“We’ve all been writing separately, writing together and I think we’ve got a really good choice of really good songs.
“We are really proud of them and we just can’t wait for people to hear them.
“We’ve got the first steps, we’ve got the Netflix documentary, then we’ve got the Circus tour, then there will be new music.”
Mark continued: “The tenth album feels quite special. I am really excited about what I am hearing.
“It’s given us a boost, the songs that are coming through and the fact it’s our tenth record, it’s like ‘Go on guys!’.”
Ahead of their 17-date Circus Tour, which kicks off at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on May 29, fans will be wondering now if history will repeat itself — and Robbie will rejoin again.
And Gary for one is hopeful, saying yesterday: “At some point it’s going to happen.
“And that’s one of the wonderful things about our band — you never know what’s around the corner.”
Netflix’s Take That is available to stream now.
Gary shows off his buff physique while on holidayCredit: BackGridGary and Take That in 1992Credit: Getty
BRAVE BOYS GO WARTS AND ALL
THESE days, most big stars who promise a warts-and-all documentary about their lives end up pulling a Kim Kardashian and overseeing every last scene.
But not Take That, who were brave enough to hand over hundreds of hours of footage to Netflix to tell their story.
For the most part, the three-parter is the most mesmerising trip down memory lane – with Gary, Howard, Jason, Robbie and Mark starting their career in the band by performing in gay clubs and then school halls in a desperate bid to make it.
But with all the hilariously fun Nineties fashion and moments of shared joy, there is a heavier undertone that echoes around episode one before loudly arriving in the second.
The realities of being shoved into the emotional mincing machine, which was sadly part and parcel of being a pop star in the Nineties, are hard to watch.
My heart hurt as Mark, who penned my favourite Take That song Shine, begged people to ask about his solo music when the band split in 1996 – and when Jason admitted he was told that he was only good enough to dance and “shouldn’t bother singing”.
And I was close to tears as Howard recounted reaching such a desperate point after they split that he considered taking his own life.
I’m lucky enough to work with big musicians regularly and, each time, I am reminded that no matter how famous they are, they are all human.
I’ve watched artists break down backstage under the strain of big tours and have been privy to quiet moments of anxiety and fear over their chart performances.
For Take That to pull back the showbiz curtain to allow the public and fans to see the realities of the highs and lows of fame was a brave move – but, boy, it paid off.
The young cast member steals the show according to fans
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One of the cast members of a new hit Netflix series is a former social media star making her professional screen debut on the show.
Six-part comedy series Free Bert is one of the most watched shows on the platform since it released. According to the synopsis provided by the streamer, Bert Kreischer, shirtless comedian, party legend, perpetual wildcard, finds himself in uncharted territory when his daughters are accepted to an elite Beverly Hills private school. When his unbridled antics turn his family into outcasts, he decides to “put on a shirt” and stifle his true nature to better fit in.
While it doesn’t have enough critic reviews to warrant a Rotten Tomatoes score, fans have sung its praises online. Many sharing their thoughts have singled out the performances from the younger members of the cast.
One person posted: “It’s very funny, very watchable and very good. The cast is outstanding, especially the girls playing his daughters.”
But who is Ava Ryan who plays the eldest daughter? And how old is she? Here’s everything you need to know.
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.
How old is Free Bert star Ava Ryan?
Ava Ryan is one of the breakout stars of Free Bert. She plays one of the on-screen daughters of Bert Kreischer.
The character is very much based on the comedian’s real life eldest child Georgia. Ava makes her professional screen debut with the role.
While Bert’s real children are now aged 19 and 21 respectfully, the series portrays them as High School age. According to the website Famous Birthdays, Ava Ryan was born February 21, 2010 and is 15 years old.
She is a social media star who has appeared in posts and videos alongside her mother since she was a baby. Her mum shared clips of Ava on Instagram, Vine, Facebook and YouTube. One of their most popular posts was a video of Ava saying “I smell like beef” which gained millions of views.
Now a teenager with her own account, Ava boasts more than 1 million followers on her own Instagram account. Her on-screen mother played by comedian Arden Myrin recently shared a tribute to Ava on social media.
She said: “Have you watched Free Bert yet on Netflix? I love these girls so much. Lilou Lang and Ava Ryan both had their first professional acting jobs on this show and they hit it out of the park. And more importantly, they are as funny and kind and warm as they are talented. It was a joy getting to work with them. Ava and Lilou feel like my family even though they are just my TV family.”
PARK CITY, Utah — Welcome to a special Sundance Daily edition of the Wide Shot, a newsletter about the business of entertainment. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Good evening — it’s Monday, Jan. 26, and you’re reading the last of our Sundance dispatches. Today we’ve seen a high of 36 degrees on a notably sunny day. We waited and waited for deal news, but it hasn’t quite arrived yet.
We’re hearing about distributors circling both Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite” and the provocative “Josephine,” the latter of which is coalescing into a critical favorite at the fest.
We’ve been speaking the last few days with a parade of fascinating stars and directors: Ethan Hawke, Salman Rushdie, the legendary Billie Jean King, Brittney Griner, many more. Check out our videos right here as we make them live.
Mark Olsen spoke with director NB Mager about her debut feature “Run Amok,” which premiered at the festival today. Here are some recommendations for you.
What we’re watching today
“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass”
Miles Gutierrez-Riley, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Zoey Deutch and Ben Wang in the movie “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.”
(Sundance Institute)
Twenty-five years ago, the Sundance premiere of David Wain’s “Wet Hot American Summer” reignited the ’80s-style sex romp. Now he’s returned to Park City to see if he can rescue the comedy again.
“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” stars Zoey Deutch as a Kansas hairdresser whose fiancé cheats on her with his “hall pass”: a get-out-of-the-doghouse-free exemption for canoodling with his movie-star crush. (I’ll let you discover that cameo yourself.)
To even the score, Gail travels to Los Angeles to sleep with her own idol, Jon Hamm, and is soon skipping down Hollywood Boulevard with a ragtag group of new friends, including “Mad Men’s” John Slattery as himself. There’s a sensitive indie way to tell this story — and then there’s Wain’s giddy lampoon of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Too many modern comedies are jokeless anxiety attacks. I just wanna laugh. I need to laugh. If you need to laugh, this is your hall pass to get slap-happy. — Amy Nicholson
“Chasing Summer”
Iliza Shlesinger stars in the movie “Chasing Summer.”
Comedian Iliza Shlesinger writes and stars in “Chasing Summer,” directed by Josephine Decker. Having recently lost her job and her boyfriend at the same time, Jamie (Shlesinger) returns to her parents’ house in the small Texas town where she grew up.
As she falls back into some of the same social dynamics from when she was a teenager, possibly rekindling an old flame (Tom Welling), Jamie also enjoys an affair with a much-younger man (Garrett Wareing).
Though Schlesinger’s bawdy humor and Decker’s explorations of female interiority in films such as “Shirley” and “Madeline’s Madeline” (both played at Sundance) might make for an unexpected collaboration, it’s a surprisingly good match. Funny and insightful, the movie shows that sometimes you can in fact go home again. — Mark Olsen
The sexy ‘Sundance tribute’ in ‘Gail Daughtry’
Having the world premiere of “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” at Sundance was a full-circle moment of sorts for director and co-writer David Wain. His first introduction to the festival was Steven Soderbergh’s hall of famer “sex, lies and videotape,” and Wain noted after the well-received premiere of his new film that he “overtly stole” two sex scenes from that indie classic as “a tribute to Sundance.”
Of course, “Gail Daughtry” is about as opposite as you can get from Soderbergh. It’s an absurdist, cameo-filled comedy proudly shot on location in L.A. that co-writer Ken Marino described before the screening as a “silly, fun romp.”
Even before its theatrical release, it already has the hallmarks of a cult classic à la another Wain and Co. film, “Wet Hot American Summer,” and features many faces from that movie as well as the State, the comedy troupe that cast member Kerri Kenney-Silver explained started in a supply closet at New York University because they couldn’t get any other rehearsal space.
“Making movies with your friends is a privilege,” cast member Joe Lo Truglio said. And with their ever-expanding circle of friends, we’re the ones who benefit. — Vanessa Franko
Some deal news
Neon has acquired the worldwide rights to horror film “4 X 4: The Event” from filmmaker Alex Ullom, the indie studio said Sunday afternoon.
The deal is the first to be made in Park City so far, though the film was not shown at Sundance and will begin production later this year. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
The film follows eight contestants who join an illegal “sensory assault” livestream in which they can only harm each other with items they can buy online, Neon said in a statement.
The studio previously bought global rights to Ullom’s first horror film, “It Ends,” after it premiered at SXSW last year. — Samantha Masunaga
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Samantha Masunaga delivers the latest news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
TAKE That get taken back to some of their best days at the premiere of a three-part series on them, starting on Netflix today.
Gary Barlow, 55, Mark Owen, 53, and Howard Donald, 57, admitted some of the footage was “moving” at Battersea Power Station cinema in London last night.
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Take That at the premiere of a three-part series on themCredit: GettyThe series tells of their rise, split and comeback, pictured members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark OwenCredit: Getty
It tells of their rise, split and comeback. Gary said: “It’s very emotional.”
The trio also performed Back For Good and Shine.
It comes after Gary Barlow welcomes the Brit Awards moving to Manchester claiming the music industry is ‘not just about London’.
The annual British music awards ceremony will be hosted in the North West for the first time after being held in the capital for its near 50-year history.
Barlow said: “Manchester’s now such a place for media, we’ve got Media City there.
“People who were trained in like camera work were never trained in areas like that. So it’s such a massive thing for the country.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all the Brits are there, in fact it should have been there five years ago just because it’s not just about London, the music industry.
“In fact, London’s probably down the list you know, it’s so much regional talent.
“Look back in history and see where bands and artists have come from all over the country, not just in London.
On how to further spotlight regional talent, Barlow added: “I think we are.
“I think that’s one of the benefits of having an internet-based industry now, is that you can be anywhere. Doesn’t matter where you are.
“Even as artists working we can be anywhere. We can be songwriters and live anywhere now because the world’s a smaller place.”
Formed in 1989 in Manchester, Take That were originally made up of Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.
The band broke up in 1996 after Williams’ departure with the four remaining band members reuniting in 2005 until Orange left in 2014.
Take That were originally made up of Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams, pictured in 1992Credit: Getty
Take That reveal a new song hidden in their Netflix documentary which is launched on the streaming site today
Take That have shocked fans by unveiling a secret new song hidden in their Netflix documentary. The song called ‘You’re A Superstar’ appears in the closing credits of the third and final episode and sources close to the band confirmed it is the first track from a new Take That album coming out later in the year.
The source said: “The band thought it would be a great surprise and a treat for fans at the end of the Netflix series. It’s a great way to tease their new material and the full single will be coming soon.”
The band were originally made up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams, but these days are a trio with Jason and Robbie not in the band. In May last year, songwriter and band member Gary, 55, had revealed that a tenth Take That album was on the cards. At the time he said: “We all came off tour at the end of [2024] and said, ‘Right, let’s get to work’. It’s been slated for next year. We just don’t want to stop, really.”
The new track an upbeat pop track and appears to be about being in love. It contains the lyrics: ‘My heart comes alive, all the stars turn bright, a million times in your arms, tonight. And I want to let you know, you’re a superstar, and I’m yours.” Whilst the end song is very upbeat, the Netflix documentary charts the highs of the band but also lots of lows, with each member of the band enjoying some surprising struggles which in some cases have not been fully expressed before.
The three part series features 35 years of rare archive material, never-before-seen footage, and personal material. There are also new interviews with Gary, Howard and Mark and archive interviews with Jason and Robbie to tell the story.
Gary admitted: “Some of it was hard to watch – especially that middle hour, which covers the period after the band broke up. It was just a hard, hard time. I am quite good at leaving things in the past. I’m not a regretful person, and I was happy to leave it behind. So, seeing those memories brought to life on screen again was strange.”
Take That have enjoyed staggering success since forming in 1990 with 12 Number 1 singles and nine Number 1 albums so far in the UK alone. They will begin The Circus tour in May based on their previous hit tour from 2009, but the trio of Gary, Mark and Howard have to look after their bodies these days.
In an interview at the weekend, Howard said: “We have to look after our bodies. We watch what food we eat, do Pilates, which I need for my core, so my back doesn’t go. I’ve got sorer knees than in the Nineties, but we try to do as much dancing on stage as possible. It’s the satisfaction of sweating your ass off. If we’re all sat on stools, it wouldn’t be Take That.”
Of the TT fans that keep coming back, Gary said: “These days, that gorgeous audience, I want to go around and kiss one by one, because they’ve loved us and they’ve made us part of their lives for years and years, and they still keep coming.”
* Three part series Take That is out now on Netflix. The Circus tour begins in Southampton on May 29 then touring until July 4. Tickets can be purchased from takethat.com
Netflix has announced a new drama series that’s shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies
Netflix’s ‘sexy’ psychological thriller could be the next Big Little Lies(Image: )
Netflix has unveiled a gripping new drama series that promises to captivate fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies.
Focusing on two former best friends, the eight-episode drama from creator Lauren Iungerich (On My Block, Awkward) delves into toxic female friendships in unprecedented depth.
Billed as a “sexy, emotional thriller”, Poser will feature Geek Girl’s Daisy Jelley and Schitt’s Creek star Annie Murphy.
They’ll be joined by Sadie Stanley, recognised from Karate Kids: Legends, who was confirmed as part of the cast last week.
The storyline reveals that one friend will finally experience the life she’s always yearned for, before becoming embroiled in a psychological game beyond her wildest nightmares, reports the Express.
A synopsis for the series states: “Poser centres around two estranged former best friends.
“When one of them is given a chance to live the life she’s long coveted, and maybe get answers as to why they fell out years ago, she finds herself in a psychological game of revenge, betrayal, and heartbreak- ultimately altering their lives, and those around them, forever.”
The series comes after creator Iungerich secured a multi-year agreement with Netflix back in 2020.
She will take on roles as showrunner, writer, and executive producer, with Jamie Dooner also signed on as executive producer for Crazy Cat Lady Entertainment.
Get Netflix free with Sky for Bridgerton Season 4
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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.
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 Bridgerton.
Details about Poser remain scarce beyond the initial premise at this stage, including its anticipated Netflix release date. However, it’s been confirmed that the series will comprise eight hour-long episodes, perfect for a weekend binge-watch.
Taking a closer look at the cast, newcomer Stanley is an actress and singer who first graced our screens in the title role of Disney Channel’s Kim Possible film in 2019.
She has also featured in the popular sitcom The Goldbergs, as well as films such as The Sleepover and Let Us In.
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Meanwhile, her co-star Jelley is recognised for her main cast role as Poppy Hepple-Cartwright in Geek Girl and also shared the screen with Netflix’s Seven Dials star Mia McKenna-Bruce in the independent coming-of-age film How to Have Sex.
Lastly, Murphy is globally known for her starring role as Alexis Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
She has also garnered praise for her performances in Black Mirror, Russian Doll and Kevin Can F*** Himself.
Fans of supernatural mysteries should add it to their watchlist immediately
Fans of K-dramas and supernatural mysteries have a new show to look forward to(Image: Netflix)
An ‘unnerving’ historical drama is coming soon to Netflix and fans of K-dramas, supernatural mysteries and historical period shows are sure to want to add this upcoming title to their watchlist immediately.
Netflix’s Tudum website has confirmed that The East Palace will be released on the streamer some time this year. While there is no confirmed release date just yet, filming finished last summer and it is expected later in 2026.
There’s no official word on how many episodes it will consist of either but its expected to consist of eight parts. However, we do know that The East Palace follows Gu-cheon, who moves between the realms of the living and the dead, and Saeng-gang, a lady of the court guarding a secret of her own.
When the king calls on them to unravel the mysteries of the palace, they’re drawn into a world where power, hidden histories, and restless spirits are bound together by a dangerous curse.
Fans are also awaiting the first official trailer to be released by Netflix. It is set to be just part of an impressive K-dramas making their debut this year.
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Gu-cheon investigates unnerving incidents at the palace with a blade that can cut down ghosts. While Saeng-gang holds the ability to hear the voices of the dead aids Gu-cheon as they navigate the palace’s long-buried secrets.
Quietly watching their every move from the throne is the king, played, whose motives are complex and hard to ascertain. The show comes from writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jea-won, who have previous experience of examining Korean occultism in their previous work which includes Bulgasal: Immortal Souls and The Guest.
They are joined on the creative team by director Choi Jung-kyu (The Devil Judge, Children of Nobody) to bring the supernatural drama to life. While Netflix has so far confirmed the stars taking on the three main roles in the cast.
Nam Joo Hyuk plays Gu Cheon. The actor has previously starred in three Netflix K-dramas, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Start-Up, and The School Nurse Files. In 2023, he also starred in the Disney+ K-drama Vigilante.
Roh Yoon Seo plays Saeng Gang. The actress was recently featured in a guest role on Netflix’s The Frog and Love Next Door. She also starred in supporting roles in Black Knight and a Crash Course in Romance. Her role as Saeng Gang is her second lead role in a K-drama, following her starring role in 2022’s Our Blues.
Cho Seung Woo plays the King. The actor has starred in several Netflix projects such as Divorce Attorney Shin, Sisyphus: The Myth, Stranger, and Life.
The East Palace is streaming on Netflix some time in 2026.
HAMNET, the new Shakespearean film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal is thrusting this lesser-known UK county into the spotlight.
Herefordshire stood in for Stratford-upon-Avon in the new film and it’s predicted that people will soon be visiting its pretty villages over that of its popular neighbour.
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Hamnet is set to put Herefordshire on the map after using it for filmingCredit: AlamyThe half-timbered houses make the perfect period backdropsCredit: Alamy
The Independent called Herefordshire the ‘quiet corner of England’ and explained that the county hoping for more tourists with what they’re calling the ‘Hamnet effect’.
In 2024, cast and crew descended on a small Herefordshire village to transform it into looking like Shakespeare’s Stratford.
The hope is that the county will become popular like its neighbour – the Cotswolds which is just 25 miles down the road.
As we all know the Cotswolds is known for its charming villages with cottages built from limestone brick that sit along cobbled streets around winding rivers.
Well, you can still get such charm in Herefordshire, and it sees much fewer visitors – around six million each year compared to the Cotswolds’ 25million.
One of Herefordshire’s villages that appeared heavily in Hamnet was Weobley, which is nicknamed a ‘black and white’ village thanks to its many half-timbered houses.
The Hollywood production transformed the village into one from the 1500s, which was done fairly easily thanks to its old buildings.
While you won’t find many shops in Weobley, there are a few places to have a bite to eat like The Green Beach Cafe, or the local Indian restaurant, Lal Bagh which has a TripadvisorTravellers‘ Choice Award and 375 five-star reviews.
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Weobley also has two pubs, Ye Old Salutation Inn and The New Unicorn Inn.
But fans of Hamnet should head into The Wobbly Badger cafe which took centre stage for the exterior of Shakespeare’s family home in the film.
There are lots of other villages that are part of Herefordshire’s ‘black and white villages’ – and there’s even a dedicated tour route to see them.
One of the other villages in the trail is Pembridge, or Eardisland, which sits on the banks of the River Arrow – and looks similar to Bourton-on-the-Water.
Even smaller villages include Eardisley, Dilswyn, Leominster and Kingsland.
It’s not just Hamnet that was filmed in Herefordshire, as one very famous Netflix series also made its home there.
The recognisable red and white chalet where Otis and Jean live sits high above the River Wye.
Eardisland in Herefordshire sits on the banks of the River ArrowCredit: AlamyIt’s riverside location makes it similar to Bourton-on-the-water in the CotswoldsCredit: Alamy
It’s the UK’s fifth longest river and has an incredible backdrop of rolling green hills – and getting onto the water is one of the best ways to see it.
There are plenty of companies offering kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddleboard sessions for around £60 per person along the river.
Herefordshire is also well regarded for its cider production thanks to its acres of orchards that cover the countryside – it’s been made there since the 17th century.
Scattered around the county are orchards and breweries that you’re welcome to pop into.
VisitHerefordshire even has ‘Cider Circuits’ with dedicated cycling loops to see as many as possible.
If you head to Westons Cider Mill in Ledbury, you can sample the latest flavours – tours of the cider mill cost just £15 for adults.
If you go there with the family, there’s an outdoor play park with slides and tyre trails to entertain the kids.
If you need a place to stay, Gwatkin even has its own campsite with pitches from £9pppn.
Just outside Lyonshall village is the White Heron Estate where they make their own signature blackberry liqueur – British Cassis and British Framboise.
Taking a walking tour and tasting is £25pp (for groups of 10+).
