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Bowen Yang, a fan-favorite cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” is leaving the series after this week’s episode.

Representatives for Yang and “Saturday Night Live” did not comment on the move Friday. However, on Saturday, he confirmed his upcoming departure via a post on his Instagram account. “i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. i was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwile,” he wrote. “i’m grateful for every minute of my time there.”

Yang also thanked Ariana Grande, this week’s host and his “Wicked” co-star,” for “sending me off in the dreamiest way I could imagine.” The pair, alongside musical guest Cher, were seen in promos for Saturday’s episode.

There has been recent speculation about whether Yang would finish the current season of the show. He has appeared on “SNL” since Season 45 after a year of working on the writing staff.

Yang took on a variety of roles in the NBC sketch comedy series, including impersonating Vice President J.D. Vance, Fran Lebowitz and pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng. Yang received his fifth Emmy nomination for his work on “SNL’s” historic 50th season.

Outside of “SNL,” Yang has appeared in several other projects recently. He co-hosts the popular podcast “Las Culturistas,” with fellow comedian Matt Rogers, and their seminal Las Culturistas Culture Awards was televised for the first time this year, airing on Bravo and streaming on Peacock. Yang also appeared in the “Wicked” film and its recent sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” and has starred in several other feature films, including “The Wedding Banquet,” “Fire Island” and “Dicks the Musical.”

In early December, Yang confirmed he and Rogers would be co-writing and starring in an untitled comedy for Searchlight Pictures. The movie will reportedly follow two Americans who fly across the world to try to get into the exclusive Berghain nightclub in Berlin.

Yang is not the first “Saturday Night Live” cast member to leave midseason — he joins the company of past “SNL” greats like Cecily Strong, Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler and a handful of others who exited the show outside of the traditional period for departures while the show is on summer hiatus.

Prior to the start of Season 51, NBC and executive producer Lorne Michaels made some major cast changes, adding five featured players after a series of departures. Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim exited the series before the season premiere in October.

Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska joined the cast for the current season. Marshall was previously on the “SNL” writing staff and is known for his on-camera appearances as a part of the Please Don’t Destroy comedy trio.

The 51st season of “Saturday Night Live” will continue in early 2026 and run through the end of the television season in May.

Therapy often gets mined for comedy but we don’t often see comedy treated as sincere therapy. “Is This Thing On?” from director and co-writer Bradley Cooper, makes the case that glum dad Alex (Will Arnett), new to Splitsville after he and his wife of 20 years, Tess (Laura Dern), mutually agree to separate, may have figured out an ideal coping mechanism by signing up for open mic night.

Not that we see this by-day finance guy reject professional help in favor of some untapped passion. (Vamping for five minutes in front of strangers negates the cover charge.) But in bringing his marital woes to the stage and getting some chuckles, Alex believes he’s hit upon something: a talking cure that comes with a fresh identity, new friends, an acceptable level of risk and a way out of unhappiness.

It’s such a frisky, alluring idea for a character study — meeting failure with the potential for more failure (and night after night to boot) — that when the movie proves to actually be about whether the marriage can be saved, instead of the granular, temperamental world of stand-up newbies, it almost feels like a bait and switch. Fortunately, the divorce saga is interesting too, featuring Dern at her best, and is plenty intelligent about the nuances of couples who have built something solid (stable lives, nice 10-year-old twin boys, etc.) at the same time they’ve grown apart. “Is This Thing On?” is that rarity: a perfectly worthy dramedy that sometimes feels off because it’s trying to cram two good movies into one.

The confidence comes from Cooper, who, after only two films in the director’s chair (“A Star Is Born,” “Maestro”), has shown himself to be not only a powerful chronicler of artistic lives but especially couples in the showbiz sphere. This time, he tantalizes us with the milieu of nightclub self-expression and a group of regular amateurs Alex gets comfortable hanging with. But over two hours Cooper makes it clear he’s simply followed his protagonist into a safe space of encouragement (featuring Amy Sedaris as a helpful veteran comic), not necessarily a complex world of personality types to be navigated. It’s codified by Cooper’s visual approach, a handheld intimacy reminiscent of European movies, in which Matthew Libatique’s camera rarely strays from tight shots of Arnett’s face, looking for change — circling it, centering it, trailing it when Alex is on the move.

Though Alex is earnest if a tad hacky with his relationship jokes, Arnett (credited as a co-screenwriter with Mark Chappell, from a story they created with John Bishop) captures a fizzy, awkward energy of midlife discovery. Invariably, the movie is unconcerned with whether Alex might be any good as a stand-up because soon it’s about how this new pep in his step registers with Tess, who’s struggling with her own sense of personal fulfillment as a former volleyball legend turned mom and how it affects their on-the-brink married friends, Christine (Andra Day) and Balls (Cooper, hilarious as a spacy actor). Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds, as Alex’s parents, humorously weigh in too on what long-term togetherness entails.

After a narrative coincidence that’s entertainingly handled, “Is This Thing On?” aims to be a more serious-minded, less rom-com-ish “It’s Complicated,” with Tess and Alex seeing if there’s a new way for them to acknowledge where they went astray. The actors sell it, especially when Dern is unafraid to mix revitalized pleasure with pushing for answers. But the stand-up storyline, so promising, is dropped and it feels like a missed opportunity. Still, the highs and lows of marriage aren’t merely a punch line in “Is This Thing On?” — and that’s good.

BROOKS Nader has left very little to the imagination in a sexy ensemble while on a night out with pals.

The reality star and model bared all in a totally see-through black dress on a wild night in Hollywood, while looking sensational in the process.

The former Dancing with the Stars starlet, 28, donned a tiny minidress made of an incredibly flimsy fabric.

The black minidress was made of an extremely sheer chiffon.

Brooks risked it all by going completely braless for the occasion, which meant her breasts and nipples were on full display.

She wore her blonde locks down and in a sleek style, with her makeup glamorous yet natural.

Brooks completed the look with a red clutch bag and some gold earrings.

On the night out, Brooks was seen beaming beside Jeff Bezos’ wife Lauren Sanchez.

Lauren was seen rocking all navy in the form of a lace top and oversized long-line double-breasted coat.

This isn’t the first time Brooks has bared all.

Back in October, Brooks showcased her bare breasts once again in an entirely see-through top while leaving a talk show appearance in New York City.

Photos obtained by The U.S. Sun captured the reality star donning the sexy ensemble.

Brooks paused to acknowledge the cameras, showing off her sheer black top, exposing her boobs, and a short black skirt.

She completed the look with a black blazer, pointed-toe black high heels, and her blonde hair flowing straight down.

Brooks became a household name after winning the Sports Illustrated Swim Search competition in 2019, which skyrocketed her modeling career.

Dancing With The Stars fans would also remember her from last season, when she competed with her pro partner, Gleb Savchenko – who she struck up a romance with on the show.

The pair were eliminated after reaching ninth place, but their names continued to circulate in the media due to their romance.

However, their relationship ended not long after when Brooks accused Gleb of cheating on her, which he vehemently denied.

Brooks is now romantically linked to Spanish professional tennis player Carlos Alcaraz.

In addition to her modeling career and stint on DWTS, Brooks stars on the new reality TV series, Love Thy Nader, which premiered on Hulu earlier this year.

The show follows Brooks and her sisters —Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane —as they navigate building careers in the Big Apple.

A different type of British invasion had EDM fans in a trance at the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

Armed with turntables, social media-star-turned-professional-party-starter Fish56Octagon made his U.S. festival debut Nov. 21 and 22 at Insomniac’s Dreamstate SoCal, where he performed alongside some of the world’s most preeminent electronic artists, including Tiësto, Paul Oakenfold, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten and Chicane.

Fish, as he’s called, is a 46-year-old from the London suburbs who joined TikTok on a drunken whim after being introduced to the app by friends in 2021. Now boasting over a million followers across platforms, he’s seen his life flip because of that choice — quitting a full-time marketing career to become a DJ, produce music and play sets at some of the world’s biggest music festivals in the four years since he uploaded his first video.

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Though his initial post was about his watch collection, the self-described “petrol head” quickly went deep into creating content about cars and made a successful side hustle within a couple years. Crossover between auto enthusiasts and the music lovers in his audience meant the dance songs he used to soundtrack his car videos and sporadic vinyl-haul unboxings spawned passionate discussion in the comments about the classic rave songs Fish was sharing with the world.

He also benefited from an accidental, scroll-stopping visual hook repeated across videos born from his employer asking him to ensure it didn’t look like he was posting during business hours: middle-aged, thin and bald, dropping dad moves in front of his sprawling Technics decks and pumping his fists to the beat between bites of Weetabix biscuits, all while wearing a red and black dressing gown (what Americans would call a robe), gifted to Fish’s wife by his mother.

Screen shot of Fish DJing on TikTok in his bathrobe

(TikTok)

“That gown is elegant,” wrote a fan in the comments.

“It was legit my mum’s but she found it too hot,” Fish responded.

“You the same build as your mum” another person wrote back, punctuating the comment with a sweating smiley face emoji.

Fish also began to livestream on TikTok late into the night, playing his own mixes for the first time in 20 years.

“I remember seeing people commenting on the Live going, ‘Mate, we were watching you before we went out. We’ve just gone on a whole night out in our city, come back and you’re still here playing,’” Fish said. “I just love it. Sharing and being able to get out those obscure records. Sometimes it’s the big anthems everyone knows and sometimes it’s a tune that was an anthem to me.”

He’s had a decades-long education in electronic music. Fish was introduced to the genre on the cusp of his teen years through an episode of the British detective show “Inspector Morse.” One episode took place in the illegal rave scene and he thought it looked like fun to party in an old warehouse.

Fish’s taste quickly developed by listening to pirate radio and vinyl. He pieced together his first setup with two hi-fi record players his dad had in the attic. Only one had pitch control. He learned to beatmatch by plugging a player into each side of his amplifier and using the balance knob to fade between them. He was given Soundlab DLP-1 belt-driven turntables for his birthday and his obsession accelerated over the next several years.

Fish56Octagon performing at the Dreamstate music festival in Long Beach.

(Niyaz Pirani)

“By then I was just spending every penny that I had on vinyl building my record collection up. It was all rave music, early old school, hardcore jungle, and then happy hardcore, drum and bass around that sort of time, early to mid-’90s,” he said. “I played quite a few house parties.”

He became a de-facto resident DJ in college, spinning vinyl in the student union, and dabbled in music production at the same time. He eventually sold his analog kit and synthesizers when he switched to Ableton. He downsized his record collection as he converted them to MP3s.

The demands of his post-college marketing career meant the DJ dream disappeared for many years. That was until his TikTok Live sets gave him a second chance as club promoters reached out in the hope of booking him. Fish admits a lack of confidence caused him to stay on the sidelines. It was an offer in February 2024 to play a solo show at Hidden in Manchester — about the same time he switched his channel over entirely to music — that got him out of his house and onto a stage.

“Even if I wasn’t sure that people would come, I knew that anyone that did come would be coming to see me,” he said. “ … I ended up putting a night on where I played for five hours straight, just me from the start to the end. When the tickets went on sale, it sold out a good couple of months before the event.”

Fish wondered if it was a one-off event or the beginning of a life-changing run. Then the offers came in from other big U.K. cities — FishTales in Newcastle; acid techno at Beaverworks in Leeds; raves in Liverpool and Birmingham. He hired an agent. Dropped some merch.

“Not sure how this happened! But I’m here for it and hope you are too,” he wrote online.

A 20-date summer tour featured three different sets at the famed Glastonbury Festival, and appearances at Reading and Creamfields. He also traveled to Ireland, Scotland and Malta, marking his first time playing professionally outside of England.

He quit his day job in August 2024 to DJ and focus on music production full time with the support of his wife, children and parents.

“They support me even though it comes at a cost that I can’t always spend as much time with them, but they understand that I’m following my dream, following my passion, and doing something positive,” he said.

He’s gained an appreciation as a historian of the genre. Fish’s followers have grown to include Skrillex, David Guetta, Disclosure, Bicep and more of the artists he has admired and now counts among his peers.

“For about the first year, I often would wake up in the morning — I’m gonna get a little bit emotional just talking about this — but I’d wake up in the morning and just think, ‘Wow, that was all a dream, wasn’t it?” he said. “Then I look at my phone. I can see that actually it was real.”

Fish attributes his success to social media, though he said it’s a mistake to think just having social media followers guarantees bookings and the upward trajectory of one’s career.

“They’re actually a function of each other. It’s because I was making content that proved to be popular about music that I managed to build up a following and have those opportunities come my way,” he said. “I’ve now played, getting on for, 200 professional gigs at various clubs, festivals, events, raves, all around the world.”

Fish waited until November 2025 to make his first trek to North America with an 11-date run featuring his first U.S. festival booking. He chose Dreamstate because he’s always had a special place in his heart for trance and the emotional connection people have with the music.

“I love all dance music, but trance is the one that can kind of tug at your heartstrings a bit with those melodies, and the chord progression, and the way that the beats can be so crisp when they come in, and the way the bass hits,” he said.

Fish performed Friday night on “The Vision.” It’s the same stage played by legends Chicane and Paul Oakenfold this year and Darude last. He also co-headlined an hour-long B2B with Night 1 Dreamstate headliner Gareth Emery early Sunday morning, as the top-billed act for the festival’s afterparty in the Grand Salon of the iconic Queen Mary.

He made his way to LAX after stepping off stage at 3 a.m. to fly to New York and play the last three hours of a 24-hour rave.

Chicane and Fish56Octagon run into each other in the lobby of the Long Beach Hilton after playing the same stage Night 1 of Dreamstate.

(Niyaz Pirani)

Fish has tour dates in New Zealand and Australia toward the end of the year, plus the largest show of his career March 28 at London’s O2 Academy Brixton. He’s also releasing music for himself and others under his record label Octagon Discs.

As his audience multiplies, Fish’s earliest followers remain enthralled by his seemingly infinite rise.

“How did the dude who recommends second-hand cars get to this. So happy for you dude,” one fan wrote in the comments of his Dreamstate recap video post.

“Music was my number 1 passion but i thought I was too old. Thanks for the support bro,” Fish replied.

“Amazing,” another chimed in. “But I would not recognize u in the wild without the bathrobe.”

A remarkable, chaotic, mesmerising Premier League thriller at Old Trafford captured the imagination even of the clinical operators in the dugout.

“Really difficult to explain,” said Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. “But I prefer 4-4 to 0-0.”

“Fun,” was Manchester United counterpart Ruben Amorim’s initial observation.

Analysing for Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher went further.

“The best game of the Premier League season so far,” said the former England and Liverpool defender. “It was almost a throwback to Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United with attacking football.

“It is the best I have seen Man Utd. For the majority of the game, they were absolutely fantastic.

“For the first time under Amorim – and first time in a long time – I felt like I was watching what Man Utd are supposed to be. Wave after wave attack, but the inability to defend has hurt them.”

For the record, Ferguson took charge of two games when United scored four and didn’t win.

The first was a significant factor in his side’s failure to win the 2012 title as United threw away a 4-2 lead and drew 4-4 with Everton at Old Trafford.

The other was Ferguson’s very last match, an extraordinary 5-5 draw at West Brom in 2013.

Amorim has a very long road ahead before he can be compared to Ferguson.

But at least, on a night when his side led twice in the first half, then fought back to get their noses in front again after conceding two in a matter of minutes at the start of the second, and finally had to settle for a point as Bournemouth finished the stronger, he understood what everyone had witnessed.

In a vibrant first half, the hosts’ had the highest non-penalty xG value (2.49), most shots (17) and joint-most touches in the opposition’s box (30) of any side in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match this season.

“If you understand a little bit,” Amorim said. “If you follow the club like I follow the Premier League for so long, you [know you] have not just the duty to try to win the games. The way you try to win the games is so important for the fans.

“Of course they are desperate to win, but also, I feel that they are desperate to be inspired when they come to Old Trafford.

“Today was inspiring, I think, also because of Bournemouth. But in the end that’s the feeling of frustration of not winning the game.”

THE unspoilt coastlines of Cornwall are speckled with charming hotels whose exteriors have been weathered from the salty seas.

Few of these hotels have as fascinating a story to tell as The Wellington, though. Here’s everything you need to know.

Where is The Wellington?

The Wellington – named after Britain’s grand Duke of Wellington – is buried in the rugged valley of Cornwall’s Boscastle, overlooking a quaint harbour.

As with many Cornish hot spots, it’s not the easiest of places to reach by public transport, but that only adds to its charm.

Parking on site is limited but there’s a paid car park five minutes walk away which costs £7 for 24 hours, or you can just park for free on the street behind the property.

There is a bus stop a five-minute walk away.

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What is the hotel like?

This castle-like property, known as The Welly among locals, is one of the oldest coaching inns in Cornwall, although that may not be so obvious due to its recent facelift. 

Rooms still carry all the charm of 16th-century property but with modern amenities.

Expect grand chandeliers and pastel, striped wallpaper in communal dining areas, while downstairs you’ll find traditional bar stools under rustic wooden beams.

Rumour has it that the hotel is haunted. The property even appeared on tv show, Most Haunted, in 2004.

There have been murmurs of unusual sightings in room nine.

What are the rooms like at?

The 14 rooms, all on the upper floor, come with buckets of character, as you’d expect from any old and quintessentially British property.

Think tartan headboards, padded arm chairs and snuggly throws placed atop plump bedding.

It’s a listed building, so no two rooms are the same and each has an exceptionally cosy feel to it with local tea and biccies that make you feel as if you’re visiting a distant aunt (one who happens to have very chic taste).

Rooms cost from £145 per night on a B&B basis.

What is there to eat and drink there?

Elevated pub grub is what you’ll find here – fish and chips, a West Country beef burger and juicy steaks feature on the menu, as well as some veggie dishes like smoked tofu laksa (a popular item) and the simplicity burger, made with a mushroom, onion and beetroot patty.

The modern kitchen also whips up a cracking Sunday roast with all the trimmings and a very moreish gravy.

If it’s sunny, bag yourself one of the outdoor tables, with a view of the river, and sink some local ales.

Brekkie is as cosy as the rooms with help-yourself cold options and table service hot food.

Is The Wellington family friendly?

Very much so. Kids will love being so close to the river and snooping around the nearby Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

The apartments sleep two adults and at least two children, otherwise you can add an extra bed to the room for an additional charge.

Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.

MOLLY-MAE Hague enjoyed a rare night out without her partner Tommy Fury this weekend in Manchester.

The Maebe owner, 26, looked stunning in a black two-piece suit, which was layered over a bra-flashing black lace bodysuit.

Heading out in Manchester, glamorous Molly-Mae joined a group of pals to celebrate the 30th birthday of Erin Jones, her close friend and assistant.

The celebrations took place at upmarket restaurant Sexy Fish, where the group had booked out a private dining area.

Molly-Mae shared a series of snaps from the night out, including one of Erin’s giant birthday cake, which read “not me turning 30”.

The evening is a rare sight for Molly-Mae, who has previously detailed how she doesn’t enjoy going out and very rarely goes near alcohol.

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Meanwhile, her partner Tommy was on duty as he enjoyed a “daddy and daughter date night” with their daughter Bambi.

The pair headed to Bambi’s “favourite” restaurant, Pizza Express, before enjoying dessert at a nearby ice cream shop.

Sharing a picture of the toddler to his Instagram Stories, the boxer admitted that Bambi has him “completely wrapped around her little finger”.

Molly-Mae and Tommy rekindled their relationship at the beginning of the year after splitting in 2024 due to Tommy’s relationship with alcohol.

They have since gotten back on track and are in the process of renovating their new family home and preparing to have their first Christmas together since reuniting.

However, things haven’t been smooth sailing when it comes to parenting Bambi, as the couple admit she’s a handful.

The first-time mum, who previously confessed parenting so far has been an “emotional rollercoaster”, said last week that Bambi is like having a “teenager”.

Taking to social media, Molly-Mae asked fans if there was anything they wanted to know, when one asked how life had been with Bambi.

She replied: “She definitely keeps me on my toes,”

“The way Bambi acts it’s like she’s a teenager in a two year old’s body. She knows exactly how to work both me and Tommy.”

The blonde beauty explained how some days are so “amazing” that she “could have 14 more” kids, but that’s not always the case.

“Other days consist of me going to the toilet and pretending I’m going for a really long number two just so I can hide.”

NEWARK, N.J. — Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter and Cody Glass each scored to help the New Jersey Devils beat the Ducks 4-1 on Saturday and snap a five-game home losing streak.

New Jersey started the season 9-0-1 on its home ice before losing five straight at the Prudential Center. The Devils’ third line of Cotter, Juho Lammikko and Noesen combined for five points (two goals, three assists).

Troy Terry scored his 10th goal for the Ducks and third in as many games on a breakaway in the first period on an assist from Leo Carlsson for a 1-0 lead. Noesen tied it later in the period with his first goal in 22 games.

Cotter scored in his third straight game, giving New Jersey a 2-1 lead at the 5:52 mark of the second period, assisted by Lammikko and Noesen.
Glass increased the lead to 3-1 late in the period with assists from from Ondrej Palat and Colton White. Connor Brown scored on an empty net late in the game for his seventh goal.

Jake Allen stopped 30 shots for New Jersey for his first win since Nov. 28. Allen had lost three straight.

Lukas Dostal had 18 saves for the Ducks, who failed to convert on four power-play opportunities.

The Devils were without Timo Meier, their top goal-scorer who missed his second straight game because of a family health matter. “We will give him all the time he needs,” coach Sheldon Keefe said.

The Ducks were playing their third game in five nights as part of a five-game road trip.

Up next

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ACTRESS Camila Morrone looks up for a golden globe or two at the premiere of series two of The Night Manager.

The 28-year-old, who plays Roxana Bolaños, wore a sheer maxi dress with a low-cut golden top.

Actor Tom Hiddleston, who returns for the second series, was also at the premiere in London’s Southbank with actress fiancée Zawe Ashton.

Standing next to her suited-and-booted partner, the 41-year-old British actress stunned in a full length bright red dress.

The first run of the award-winning spy thriller, based on a John le Carré novel, was shown on BBC One in 2016.

It quickly became one of BBC iPlayer’s most watched shows that year, with nearly 10million views.

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Series two will begin on New Year’s Day.

Camila first rose to fame after starring in James Franco’s film Bukowski.

Since then, Camila has starred in Never Goin’ Back, Death Wish, Mickey and the Bear, and Valley Girl.

She also stars as Camila Dunne in the 2022 Amazon Prime mini-series, Daisy Jones & The Six.

Camila also has a successful modelling career, appearing on the cover of the Turkish edition of Vogue in 2016.

AT the age of 66 – with 200million record sales behind him and millions in the bank – Simon Cowell could be forgiven for taking his foot off the pedal.

But six years after collecting his bus pass – and he loves buses – the music mogul is back, and on a mission.

His new Netflix show, aptly titled The Next Act, will see him scouring the country in the hope of discovering the planet’s biggest boyband.

Over the years, Simon has sat through hundreds of interviews, painstakingly answering the same, insipid questions.

But having been pals with him for 20 years, I wanted to do something a little bit different.

So we celebrated my 35th (plus a few years) birthday together at a McDonald’s after Si discovered I’d never visited a drive-thru before. His driver, Tony, took us in Simon’s decked-out Lexus, which comes complete with mini-bar and plasma-screen TV.

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While there, I grilled Simon – who has son Eric, 11, with partner Lauren Silverman – in a hilarious game of “Ask Me Anything”.

In a chat that won’t be winning me a Pulitzer any time soon, Simon cheerily answered a raft of, erm, probing questions.

From bathing FOUR times a day and having all his filler dissolved, to how he has lost three stone thanks to a 600-calorie-a-day regime, no question was off limits.

Here, in his own words, is Simon as you’ve never seen him before.

SIMON’S DIET & LIFESTYLE

FIVE years ago, Mr Cowell cut a very different figure.

By his own admission, he was “puffy” and unhappy with his appearance.

To overcome it, he dramatically upped his workout regime — he trains or cycles daily now — and slashed his calories to less than 1,000 a day (bar today’s “cheat day”).

CM: Do you have a gastric band?

SC: No! I did have a LINX band put in though which stops the acid going up into my chest.

And I cut out sugar, dairy, red meat, gluten . . . I had the diet of a school boy, and was told by a dietician it was the worst diet he’d ever seen.

I have four 90-calorie beers a day, but pour half the beer out and make it a shandy.

I basically eat the same things every day. Breakfast is a green, protein smoothie with fruits, a lot of blackcurrants, porridge and tea, and lunch is half a hot cross bun.

I eat dinner at about 4.30pm and because I wake up at 9.30, 10am, I can go 17 hours without eating: Intermittent fasting.

CM: Have you ever tried the fat jab?

SC: No, I’ve never been tempted, sorry.

CM: How many push-ups can you do?

SC: About 40 in one go. I have these two little bar things and every day I do somewhere between 300 and 600. If I’m really going for it, a thousand.

CM: Will you show us?

SC: No, Clemmie, I am not doing press-ups in McDonalds’.

CM: How much sleep do you get a night?

SC: Ten hours. I have these amazing blue light glasses for it and they’re incredible.

CM: Do you wear pyjamas?

SC: Yes.

CM: How many units of Botox have you had?

SM: Oh God, thousands.

CM: Have you had a facelift?

SC: No! Everyone always thinks I have but I haven’t. I used to have filler but then one day I saw a picture of myself and thought, “Oh God, I look like a real weirdo”.

So I had everything dissolved.

CM: How old would you like to be when you finally, you know, cark it?

SC: I said earlier this year that I age backwards. So instead of being 66, I consider myself to be 64. Next year I will be 62.

I think I can live to 100. If I can remove all my stress, carry on with the diet and, you know, we’re discovering new stuff all the time.

CM: Do you biohack?

SC: Well I’ve started on peptides now — I’m on NAD+ [an amino acid said to promote cell turnover and longevity] and am feeling really good for it. I also take Boots Dual Defence [nasal spray] daily and can’t remember the last time I had a cold.”

SIMON’S BITS & BOBS

CM: Have you had your dogs cloned?

SC: I love dogs, sometimes more so than humans. If you love them, they are so loyal and love you unconditionally back.

I have four now: Pebbles the Alsatian, Squiddly, Diddly and Daisy, who is a rescue from Barbados, so she really hates the winter months. They’re like my babies.

So, cloning isn’t as easy as I thought. They don’t just turn up as sweet little puppies in a box. There are ethical concerns so you have to get a donor dog and it’s essential you keep and look after that donor dog, which I absolutely would do.

Otherwise, it’s not right and people who are cruel to animals are the most disgusting people in the world. They are sickos. They deserve custodial sentences — it just upsets me so much.

CM: What’s the funniest thing you have ever read about yourself?

SC: Probably something you wrote about me.

CM: Do you read below-the-line comments?

SC: Absolutely not. I’ve a theory that the really bad comments, whoever posts them, if they’re guys, they have blue duvets with a lot of stains on them. Always dark blue. Living with their mum and dad with filthy duvets. So I refuse to read them.

CM: Ever been to Primark?

SC: Yes, yes. Eric got some PJs, which I promise you are the softest pyjamas I’ve ever touched in my life. And they’re really cute. They’re from Primark!

CM: Have you shopped at TX Maxx?

SC: What’s TK Maxx?

CM: Ever flown Wizz Air?

SC: No, but I flew easyJet to Spain once.

CM: Do you fly cattle?

SC: Um, well, I fly commercial. But in a flat-down bed. I don’t fly private jet.

CM: Do you pray?

SC: I pray every night, yeah. I believe that we have a guardian angel. I believe in God and in the powers of the universe. It’s all combined. And I’m definitely going to heaven. I hope so.

There’ll be my old dogs, all my old friends, my mum and dad.

CM: How many mirrors do you have in your house?

SC: Lots. But actually, I don’t really think I’m that vain.

CM: What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done?

SC: Like what?

CM: I don’t know, have you ever wet yourself?

SC: No Clemmie, I haven’t wet myself.

CM: What’s your biggest bugbear?

SC: People with bad breath.

CM: Have you found the new One Direction in your Netflix show?

SC: Well, I don’t know. All I know is that if people like them as much as I like them — and I really, really do have a bond with these boys — then I will be so happy.

They’re real, they’re not privileged, they have no leg-up, apart from this.

One of them is still working in a fast-food restaurant. They’re just lovely, funny boys.

SIMON’S QUIRKS

CM: Do you wear fresh pants every day?

SM: Yeah, of course. I’ve got them all lined up in a drawer, in their little white boxes. I think I have OCD.

CM: Do you wear lifts in your shoes?

SC: No! But yes, I do wear a Cuban heel which gives me an extra inch.

CM: Do you Google “Simon Cowell”?

SC: No because I read things like I wear boosters in my shoes. I probably last Googled myself seven or eight years ago.

CM: When did you last get the Underground?

SM: “Erm, probably not this century. But I do love a double-decker bus, the top deck.

CM: What jeans do you wear?

SM: I wear Giorgio Armani ones, and I’ve only got one pair. People don’t really think I have legs because they always see me sitting down.

CM: How many T-shirts do you own? And do you get a discount code on them?

SC: I have 200 identical charcoal grey Derek Rose T-shirts. I do get a pretty good deal on them actually, yes. I don’t have to think about anything then.

CM: What’s your most annoying habit?

SC: Apparently I snore. But actually, I chew gum really loudly and it drives everyone mad. It’s a chewing gum called CB12. It really irritates everyone.

CM: What irritates you the most?

SC: I have a thing about smells, and hygiene. You smell good by the way. So do you two in the front [points to Sophie, The Sun’s producer, and Tony, his long-term driver].

I want to make a new show actually called The Most Disgusting Show In The World to show people what we actually eat and breathe, and how disgusting we really are. Like, all the bed bugs in our beds, that freaks me out. Everything does.

I’m allergic to them so I have to get my mattress and carpets steamed all the time to get rid of the dust mites or whatever.

SIMON’S CHEAT McDONALD’S ORDER

A DOUBLE Filet-O-Fish and small fries – eaten only after sanitising his hands (and mine).

He says: “Excitingly, we’re going into unknown territories now with the double fish burger. This is quite new, so I am very eager to try it.”

He then proceeds to remove the bun, and cheese, and pick at two slivers of lightly-battered fish patties. And has three fries.

•  Simon Cowell: The Next Act is available to stream now on Netflix.

The key now is for Liverpool to push on. After a disastrous run of nine defeats in 12, they are unbeaten in their last four and seemingly out of the toughest phase.

Inevitably, Slot was asked about Salah afterwards, with former Dutch international midfielder Clarence Seedorf suggesting to him players can “make mistakes”.

“Everyone makes mistakes in life but does the player know he’s made a mistake? Should the initiative come from him or me? That’s another question,” said Slot.

Van Dijk, meanwhile, would not be drawn on whether his team-mate had let the side down.

“There is no point me saying if someone has let someone down,” he said. “He didn’t travel based the consequences of what he said. That’s it.

“He trained yesterday perfectly normal. Let’s see when we come back on Friday and see what the situation will be like. My focus is on the team and at this point Mo is still part of the team. We will see what happens.”

But this was a night to praise those who played, particularly Szoboszlai, who has been directly involved in more goals than any other Liverpool player this season (10 – five goals, five assists).

“I have asked a lot of him,” Slot added. “I think what is also special is how much he runs – he is one of the few that played all four games in 10 days.

“It’s special what he is doing physically and also football wise, he stood up in a difficult moment.

“That was his first penalty for Liverpool during a game but he has a great shot and he delivered.”

Winning in Milan is no easy feat, considering Inter had been unbeaten in their last 18 Champions League ties at home

“It should be about what we’ve done over here,” added Slot. “I fully understand that on Friday, in the press conference, all the questions will be about Mo.

“Tonight it should be all about a team, against a team like this who are winning at a stadium like this. The focus should be on that.

“Tonight it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had, they have had many of these evenings.”

Proof, if it was ever needed, that with or without Salah, Liverpool will move on.

MICHELLE Keegan enjoyed a visit to a £1,260 a night swanky hotel with Mark Wright and their daughter amid the couple’s ‘most lavish Christmas yet’.

The Brassic actress shared a series of snaps from their stay at London‘s Corinthia Hotel in London on her Instagram on Monday.

She captioned the pictures: “A little bit of Christmas magic this weekend” and the first saw her enjoying a glass of wine in the hotel’s bar.

Michelle, 38, wore a beige sleeveless, roll neck jumper and retro style glasses as she posed for the snap, while in others, she had switched into a pair of black satin trousers and a matching top.

The garment had a lace panel down the side, revealing a hint of her bra and trim waist.

The couple also posed for a lift selfie, with Mark, 38, holding their daughter Palma, who looked adorable in a red knitted cardigan – which read Palma Believes – and white tights.

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Michelle also shared snaps of the hotel’s impressive Christmas trees and of their Italian meal.

Their festive trip to the capital is another part of the new parents’ plans to pull out all the stops for their first Christmas with their baby girl.

The couple are well known for their over-the-top Christmases, but this year is extra special because of their daughter.

Sources say the Wrights plan on making this festive season “one to remember”, with “no expense spared” as they go all out, and have already shown off the incredible decorations both inside and outside their Essex mansion.

An insider close to the couple told OK!: “Mark loves Christmas and he’s wanted a family for a long time, so for him it couldn’t get any better.

“He’s like an excited puppy dog and cherishing every minute of it. It means the world to him.

“When it comes to presents, he’ll be spoiling them both – Mark doesn’t know how to reign it in!”

The source added that Michelle – who gave birth in March – can’t wait to spend some quality time with her little family this Christmas.

They said: “She’s been really busy but family is her priority. It’s lovely to have some special time together, especially because at one point she and Mark were practically living separate lives because of work.

“Her family are coming down from Manchester but it’s very much a Wright Christmas – family comes first and it’s very important for them to be all together. It’ll be lovely seeing all the kids together.”

I want to plan a weekend “staycation” with two of my girlfriends. They have kids, I don’t. This weekend would be adults-only. We are longtime friends who thought about getting out of town, but now feel that option is too expensive. We’re not heavy drinkers, but do like cocktails and good food. One of us doesn’t eat meat. We all love the outside, but would prefer to sit in the shade (to protect our skin and to be outside longer). We love dancing and live music. One of us is an avid walker.

Looking for things to do in L.A.? Ask us your questions and our expert guides will share highly specific recommendations.

Can you suggest some things to do to have a restful, relaxing and energizing weekend that is affordable and can help make unique memories? — Stephanie Perea

Here’s what we suggest:

I love your idea of doing a staycation as opposed to going out of town. It’s definitely cheaper and easier to plan (especially for moms). Plus, it’s fun to play tourist in your own city. I’ve put together three mini itineraries in different areas to give you some options. All of the hotels mentioned have rooms with double beds at rates under $250 a night (before taxes and fees).

The first place I usually recommend to visitors is the Line in Koreatown because it’s centrally located and there are loads of things to do nearby. The aesthetically pleasing hotel has a rooftop pool, a highly Instagrammed greenhouse restaurant and the ’80s-themed speakeasy with karaoke suites. Within walking distance — because you’d easily waste an hour trying to find parking — there are also several yummy restaurants. In this guide to Koreatown, Jeong Park recommends Sun Nong Dan for a delicious Korean breakfast (“get there before 10:30 a.m.,” he notes) and Guelaguetza for Oaxacan staples. If you’re a fan of Sundubu-jjigae (spicy tofu stew), my personal favorite is BCD Tofu House, which is a short walk from the hotel and stays open until 3 a.m. on most nights. It’d be criminal to not visit a Korean spa while you’re there, so check out Olympic Spa. I recently got a massage there after a stressful week and it brought me back to life — no exaggeration. For fun activities, you can take your pick from the many karaoke bars in the area, go dancing at Apt 503, take a virtual swing at W Screen Golf or bowl a strike at Shatto 39 Lanes.

For a Westside option, my colleague Christopher Reynolds suggests the lively Hotel Erwin in Venice, which “has a rooftop bar, hip vibe and a location close to the boardwalk,” he says. Some standout restaurants in the area, according to senior food writer Danielle Dorsey, are Si! Mon, Dudley Market and Wallflower (which is vegan, vegetarian and gluten free-friendly). She also suggests taking “a stroll through the Venice Canals, which is decorated during the holidays.” Take a short drive to Santa Monica for a pastry and coffee at Bread and Butter, which you can enjoy as you walk along the beach. My colleague Hanna Sender, who lives in the area, says, “I also love taking visitors to Bergamot Station for comedy at the Crow and food at Le Great Outdoor.” To achieve the ultimate relaxation, visit Tikkun Holistic Spa, featured in our Times guide to under-the-radar spas. Writers Elisa Parhad and Danielle Roderick noted that it garnered notoriety when Goop reported on its ancient vaginal steam therapy, but that its services are beloved for having “a more holistic bent than straightforward body scrubs.”

Another neighborhood that would be fun to explore during a staycation is Culver City. The Hilton has affordable rooms, but if you don’t mind splurging a bit, the charming Culver City Hotel is a great option. It’s located downtown, which is also home to an array of restaurants and shops including the infamous Erewhon. Start your day with a short hike at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, which offers a breathtaking view of the city. (If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even challenge yourself to the 282-step staircase.) Dorsey also recommends Destroyer for brunch and Merka Saltao for an affordable lunch. I recently tried the Japan-born ramen shop Mensho Tokyo and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. For a relaxing activity, get a facial at Formula Fig, but when you’re ready to dance, head over to Blind Barber, a speakeasy that has live DJs throughout the week.

I hope these suggestions help you plan your relaxing staycation. If you’re anything like me, simply being with your girlfriends — no matter where you end up — is always a good time and a necessary recharge. *Cues the “Girlfriends” theme song by Angie Stone.*

Jazzy Davidson glanced up at the basket, with less than two minutes remaining in USC’s Big Ten opener against Washington, and considered her options. Nothing had fallen all night from three-point range for the Trojans. It took 25 minutes Saturday just to see one three-pointer drop, and only two had dropped the entire night.

But the mere threat of the freshman pulling up from range, even on a night defined by defensive struggle, was enough to give Davidson the space she needed. She raced past her defender and toward the basket, lifting up for a finger roll lay-in that would propel USC past Washington for good in a 59-50 victory.

It was coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s 100th win with the Trojans.

All game long, No. 16 USC (7-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) and No. 21 Washington (8-1, 0-1) had battled, neither team ever managing to mount a double-digit lead. The Trojans seized the lead in the third quarter, but every effort to pull away was squashed by the Huskies.

A late flurry from a familiar face in former Trojan guard Avery Howell, who scored 11 points after the half, would keep Washington within striking distance until the final minutes.

But USC refused to back down. With under five minutes, Londynn Jones forced a turnover, dove for a loose ball and started a breakaway that was finished by Kara Dunn. Kennedy Smith hit a turnaround jumper in the paint on the next trip down. And then with less than two minutes, Davidson took off through the lane, extending the lead to five.

It was a furious end to what had otherwise been an ugly night offensively. USC finished 23 of 60 from the field after starting two of 17. It never quite found its stride from deep, either, hitting just two of 17 also.

Davidson would lead the way with 22 points, while Smith was the only other Trojan in double figures with 13.

Nothing fell for USC early on, setting the tone for a tough defensive battle. For the first 8:31, the Trojans were held scoreless. They missed their first 11 shots. Davidson missed her first five attempts.

But as its offense struggled early, USC’s stifling defense did its part to muddy up the game. After one quarter, neither team was shooting better than 16%. They combined to score just 12 points in the first 10 minutes.

USC would finally shake off the slow start in the second, as Davidson and Smith found their stride, shooting five of six in the quarter. The Trojans climbed back accordingly and tied the score just before the half.

They’d fly out into the lead a few minutes after that, never quite letting Washington catch up.