Ben Stiller has made a lovely, dreamlike film about his parents, the comedian-actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, which is also a film about himself, his sister, Amy Stiller, and his own fatherhood as reflected back by his children and his wife, the actor Christine Taylor. Premiering Friday on Apple TV, “Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost” is a show business story, in large part, but will be emotionally familiar to anyone who has had the occasion to wonder about their parents’ lives, in their parents’ absence.
Though both had set out to be actors — “I carried Eleanora Duse’s life under one arm,” says Anne, “and ‘An Actor Prepares,’ Stanislavski, under the other” — Jerry had been thinking of getting into comedy when he met Anne. They married in 1954, but it wasn’t until 1963 that the conjoined career of Stiller and Maera took off, with an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” They might play the last two people on Earth meeting for the first time, or an Irish girl and a Jewish boy matched by computer dating. He was a fretful perfectionist who would endlessly rehearse; Anne was naturally funny; she flowed.
As documentary subjects go, the Stillers were not remarkably dysfunctional — no violence, no skeletons — past the not uncommon situation of parents whose work, or fixation on work, often took them away from their kids, physically or mentally, with the added fillip of that work having made them famous. (There are references to Anne’s drinking, which bothered Jerry, but this is not a hole the film runs down, and there’s nothing here to suggest it diminished her life or work.) As different people with different goals — “My mom wanted to be happy independent of performing,” says Ben, “and I think for my dad performing was so important to him it was part of his happiness” — there was tension, but they loved each other, and they loved their kids, and stayed married for 62 years, until Anne’s death in 2015.
Stiller frames the film with his and Amy’s return to the Upper West Side apartment where they were raised in order to clear it out to be sold, providing the opportunity to see what their parents had left behind. (Jerry died in 2020.) And it was a lot — nothing is lost if nothing is thrown away. There are love letters, diaries, scripts, manuscripts. (Anne: “I think Jerry has a need to keep his name going and for some reason he thinks that when we check out and pass over that the Smithsonian institute is going to want his memorabilia.”) Jerry had a habit, amounting to a compulsion, of documenting their life on film and tape; some of their conversations, and arguments, would turn into routines. (“Where does the act end and the marriage begin?” Anne wonders.) Raised voices in another room might be rehearsing or fighting. One routine consisted of escalating declarations of hate: “I hated you before I met you.” “I hated you before you were born.”
They quit playing nightclubs in 1970 (they drove her “meshuggah”), but remained in public view — in guest appearances, game shows and talk shows, where, unlike the highly managed appearances of today, they seemed ready to dish the dirt on themselves, providing Ben Stiller with material for this film. And they went to work as actors, each amassing a long list of screen and stage appearances. Jerry, of course, is now best known from “Seinfeld,” where he played George’s father, Frank Costanza, and “The King of Queens,” acting in nearly 200 episodes.
Much of it has to do with Ben and Amy as children of famous people, of family vacations that became working vacations, and growing up on display. In one clip from “The Mike Douglas Show,” the siblings perform “Chopsticks” as a screechy violin duet. Young Ben, already interested in film and asked by an interviewer if his parents will feature in his movies, says that they won’t: “I’ll be making adventure or a murder or something like that, but never a comedy. I don’t like comedy.”
We get glimpses of Stiller’s own prolific career — in comedy, mostly, as it turned out — as well as confessions of his own failings as a family man. (His children, Quin and Ella, get to have their good-humored but penetrating say, as does Taylor, from whom he separated in 2017, and with whom he reunited during the pandemic.) But there’s no evident resentment on the part of Ben and Amy, just curiosity and self-examination as adults whose own lives have taught them something about being adults, amid the knowledge that their parents had parents, too, and some of their imperfections became imperfections of their own.
Both Anne and Jerry had come from dark places. “Their lives were always reaching for the light,” says the playwright John Guare, whose black comedy “The House of Blue Leaves” Anne performed in off-Broadway. “Why don’t you become a stagehand?” Jerry’s father told him when Jerry first told him of his ambition. “Where do you get off trying to be Eddie Cantor?” Anne’s mother died by suicide. “Your father was kind of a saint, you know,” Christopher Walken tells Ben.
Stiller’s approach is musical; his assembly of clips and photos is musical — poetic, not prosaic. He ends his film with a conversation between Jerry and his aged father, Willie, cut to a montage of the family through time.
“Isn’t this better than anything, just being alive?” says Jerry. “When we go, we’ll go together, you and me”
Willie: “Yeah, OK, hold hands and everything else.”
“You’ll take me to shows again when we get up there?”
“Yeah, when I go I’ll take you any place. … What is this?”
“It’s a tape recorder. … Whatever you say is on that tape. They’ll hear you forever. You’ll never be lost.”
And we see young Ben, filming a camera that’s filming him, as his father steps in behind him.
THE NOTORIOUS “Tinder Swindler” has claimed from his jail cell that he doesn’t remember “conning women out of hundreds of thousands.”
Simon Leviev, 35, has spoken out for the first time since his arrest in Georgia for alleged fraud.
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The infamous scammer lured women in by posing as an heir to a diamond fortuneCredit: kate_konlin/Instgram
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He later became the subject of a 2022 Netflix documentaryCredit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
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He served a 15 month sentence in Israel for fraud, forgery and theft in 2019
Talking from his prison cell, the Israeli scammer admitted to a local celebrity lawyer Mariam Kublashvili that he is no angel but has no recollections of the alleged crimes he has been accused of, reports MailOnline.
The infamous scammer has appointed Ms Kublashivili as his new lawyer, who has since likened him to The Wolf of Wall Street.
Like the disgraced stockbroker played by Leonardo di Caprio, she believes Leviev has turned over a new leaf.
His latest claim follows an arrest made last month under mysterious circumstances following an Interpol Red Notice for alleged fraud in Germany.
Mr Leviev was cuffed at Batumi International Airport, Georgia, on September 14th.
He is currently being held in Kutaisi Penitentiary Establishment No 2 and awaiting extradition proceedings.
If convicted, he could face up to ten years behind bars.
Yesterday, Mr Leviev spoke out via Ms Kublashivili for the first time since the dramatic arrest, where he has claimed to have no recollection of this.
He said: “Under the circumstances, I believe I’m either being set up or there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.”
Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut, became the subject of a 2022 Netflix documentary after he spent years luring women on dating app Tinder, while posing as an heir to the Leviev diamond fortune.
Tinder swindler Simon Leviev insists he was stitched up in first public appearance with model girlfriend
He told his victims he was the son of Israeli diamond tycoon Lev Leviev – but he has no relation to the family whatsoever.
He was arrested in 2019 in Greece then extradited to Israel where he served a 15-month sentence for fraud, forgery and theft.
His legal team are now questioning why an Interpol notice was triggered when he entered Georgia without the Germans first going to authorities in his homeland.
Mr Leviev’s Israeli lawyer Sharon Nahari said: “To arrest him in a third country, rather than addressing the matter openly through Israel, is unfair and unacceptable.”
Mr Nahari also characterised the case as “disproportionate” and “based on weak evidence.”
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Two of Mr Leviev’s victims, Pernilla Sjoholm and Cecilie Fjellhoy have since spoken out about their traumatic experiencesCredit: Pernilla Sjoholm Instagram
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Pernilla, 38, contemplated suicide after discovering the truth about LevievCredit: Pernilla Sjoholm Instagram
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Cecilie, 36, has confessed that she is still traumatised by the whole ordealCredit: Facebook
The newly appointed Ms Kublashvili added that she fears he will not receive a fair trail due to a pre-existing biased narrative.
Referencing The Wolf of Wall Street, she claimed that Mr Leviev is now a very different person.
She highlighted that since 2022 he has embarked on a new and completely legal career and published his own memoir.
In addition to fighting his extradition, Ms Kublashvili also hopes to move Leviev from his current prison to one in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
She claims that the current conditions he is being held in fail to meet basic hygiene standards.
While the NetflixdocumentaryThe Tinder Swindler brought their story to the world, the women he affected say the aftermath and the long road to recovery were far more difficult than anyone could have imagined.
“I’m still traumatised,” Cecilie, 36, told The Times.
Cecilie was conned into taking out nine loans totaling $250,000 (£190,000), and was hounded by creditors to the point where she contemplated suicide.
She eventually sought help at a psychiatric unit and has spent the last seven years in therapy.
She “never wanted to be on” antidepressants but explains that she “needed them.”
Pernilla, 38, also contemplated suicide after learning the truth about the man she once considered a friend.
She lost the $45,000 (£33,840) she had saved for a home deposit and then doubled that amount in legal fees when she tried to take her bank to court.
The pair have since released a book, Swindled Never After: How We Survived (and You Can Spot) a Relationship Scammer, deep dives into their traumatic journey in a bid to prevent others from falling for the same cruel tricks.
How to protect yourself from fraud
USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters.
Keep your social media accounts private – Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters.
Deactivate and delete old social media profiles – Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you’re are not aware of or you have forgotten about.
Password protect your devices– Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals.
Install anti-virus software on your laptop and personal devices and keep it up to date – This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place.
Take care on public Wi-Fi– Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you’re using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking.
Think about your offline information too – Always redirect your post when you move home and make sure your letter or mailbox is secure.
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Cecilie and Pernilla both featured in the Netflix documentary, alongside fellow victim Ayleen CharlotteCredit: Splash
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He would often boast of his lavish lifestyle on social mediaCredit: Instagram
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He is currently being held in a Georgian prison while awaiting extradition proceedingsCredit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
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His lawyers fear the case will be unfairly biasedCredit: Instagram
‘Thank you for dedicating your life to tell us the truth.’ Al Jazeera correspondents in Gaza, Hani Mahmoud, Hind Khoudary, Tareq Abu-Azoum, and Moath al-Kahlout, recorded these messages for their colleagues murdered by Israel.
The FCDO wants Brits heading on holiday to ‘be aware’
Millions of Brits are expected to head abroad over the coming months(Image: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to any Brits who may be counting down to a “big holiday”. The government body, which protects UK citizens while abroad among many other tasks, regularly issues updates online.
And in a new post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, the FCDO issued a warning to anyone planning to consume alcohol while abroad. The full post reads: “Heading for a big holiday abroad soon? Before you hit the bar: Remember not to leave your drinks unattended [and that] drinks abroad can have different alcohol measures.”
Text over an accompanying graphic adds: “Stick with your mates. Keep an eye on your drinks.” Travellers are also pointed towards the FCDO’s Travel Aware campaign, which is aimed at making sure holidaymakers “have the best possible travel abroad, help you stay safe and understand risks in different countries”.
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Further advice found here adds: “Drinking abroad can be different to back in the UK. The quality of alcohol can vary, measures can be more generous, and tempting deals may lead to quicker intoxication than anticipated. Be aware that drink spiking can occur while on holiday.
“Spiking is adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink without them knowing. Spiking is commonly used to distract you from theft or impair you before an assault. Do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept drinks from strangers. This is the best strategy to prevent the possibility of your drink being spiked.
“Consume water in-between alcoholic drinks. This will help pace you throughout the night and help keep you hydrated. Drink at your own pace. Everyone’s tolerance to alcohol is different. Consider avoiding rounds or having a break from drinking alcohol if you are feeling uneasy.”
Martin Lewis has shared his top tip for those who are planning on travelling this summer and says that you should remember the ‘ASAB’ rule to get the most out of your insurance
Martin Lewis says you should book your travel insurance ASAB (file)(Image: Getty)
Martin Lewis has shared his top advice for holidaymakers, insisting on the importance of snapping up travel insurance ‘ASAB.’ The cash-savvy expert stressed that securing your travel insurance early on guarantees you’re covered for delays or cancellations, and stressed that getting onto it quickly can be really beneficial.
Appearing on This Morning, he made it clear: “My travel insurance rule is get it ASAB (as soon as you book). People do get a little confused about this, so let’s break it down.” He further explained: “If you’re getting a single trip policy, so that is a policy to cover just one holiday, then what you do is as soon as you book, you go on one of the travel insurer’s website, you tell it your holiday dates and you buy the policy then.”
According to Lewis, if your holiday is in August and you’ve booked in January, you should sort your insurance in January, too.
He added: “That means you have the travel insurance in place to covers that holiday,” clarifying: “You don’t need to [cover yourself] for extra dates [in case there’s a delay at the airport] because you have your return date.
“If something delays you, so you weren’t back, that would still be covered because that delay is all part of the travel insurance.”
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Lewis did make a distinction for annual policies, which should start from January if you’re eyeing up an August getaway.
The advice was shared to TikTok, where one person commented: “I always get gold with insure and go. It cost me £70 and covers me for two weeks. Guys insurance is cheap; just go get it! It covers luggage, hotels, medical, repatriation, a bunch of other things that could cost thousands if I didn’t have it.”
Another agreed: “Makes no sense to book an annual insurance in January when your going away in say August and Dec as you’ll only be cover until Dec where as if you book it from Aug your covered until Aug the following year.”
A third user stated: “Most banks give you the travel insurance covered with your account. Are you saying now we need to still book a separate travel insurance?”
Meanwhile someone else said: “I became seriously ill whilst in Turkey through no fault of my own and no warning which required emergency surgery, had I not had insurance it would of cost £16,000 and that was in 2008.”
And finally, another user contributed: “We usually buy annual insurance to cover a few trips. We’re looking at 2026 and 2027 holidays. When would we book insurance for those? Or would we just have to do single trip?”
Granada, Spain – Sometimes there have been as few as two or three people, sometimes as many as 15.
But no matter the number, every morning for the past few weeks at the Jose Hurtado primary school in the Spanish city of Granada, a group of parents have dropped off their kids, then silently gathered nearby behind two simple but powerful pro-Gaza banners: “No more dead children” and “Against Genocide.”
“It started when a fictional video, set in 2040, came through one of our parents’ WhatsApp groups, about how Gaza was destroyed. And in it children ask their mums and dads – what did you do during the genocide?” Mar Domech, who helped the protest get started, told Al Jazeera.
“I began saying – instead of re-sending the video, let’s actually do something, a bit like during the pandemic when people used to applaud hospital staff at eight every night. And the 15 minutes before the kids went into class and the 15 minutes just after suited the majority of us parents the best.”
The protest format is simple. A single line of demonstrators hold up two long banners next to a tall school wall and make sure they keep out of the way of passers-by.
There is no shouting or chanting. But that these are clearly school parents caring about children dying – many of them of the ages of their own children – gives their show of support extra resonance. The school’s location on a busy arterial street near central Granada means their message reaches a wide audience.
“We don’t want to upset anybody, but we just can’t look away when so many children are dying and the laws need to be upheld,” said Domech. “What’s happening there is genocide and we have to oppose this, whoever the victims are.”
After almost two years of Israeli attacks, Gaza is home to the highest number of child amputees per capita. More than 17,000 children have been killed. And according to Save the Children, more than 930,000 children in Gaza – nearly every single child – are now at risk of famine.
The failure of more parents to join their show of solidarity is treated with a mixture of disappointment, resilience and not a little wry humour by the dozen or so “regulars”, like when they recall when two plainclothes police officers arrived to check their IDs.
It just so happened that day only two pro-Palestine parents were present, but, as Domech recalled with a laugh, thanks to the police turning up, it seemed like the number of protesters had abruptly doubled.
In any case, the limited response has done nothing to stop their determination to continue.
One woman passes by most days and stops to take a photo to send to a friend in Palestine. Some of the cars or tourists on buses going up to the nearby medieval Alhambra monument honk and wave in support.
The morale boosts are important, as well as the parents’ conviction that even this relatively tiny but tenacious protest matters.
“I couldn’t stand the idea of simply being an onlooker any more, what’s going on is so atrocious,” said Alberto, another parent. “I’m just pleased that we’ve kept going, too. I’m studying for civil service exams so time-wise I can be flexible, but it’s not straightforward to do this every day when you’re working or have other commitments. However, I think it’s fundamental we do it.”
Spain is among a small group of European nations that has consistently shown support for Palestine and criticised Israeli actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Together with Ireland and Norway, in May 2024, Spain recognised the Palestinian state and last year it expressed support for the genocide case against Israel submitted by South Africa in the International Court of Justice.
After the European Union’s latest report on Gaza was published this week, Spain was the one country that called directly for suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, while its foreign minister demanded an arms embargo.
As for the Granada school gates protest, “We’ll go on with it once term restarts in September”, said Domech, “although hopefully that wouldn’t be necessary”.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds of people, some clutching candles or carrying flowers to lay in front of a memorial, gathered outside Minnesota’s Capitol on Wednesday evening for a vigil to remember a prominent state lawmaker and her husband who were gunned down at their home.
As a brass quintet from the Minnesota Orchestra played, Gov. Tim Walz wiped away tears and comforted attendees at the gathering for former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.
Colin Hortman, the Hortmans’ son, embraced Walz and lay a photo of his parents on the memorial.
The memorial, which sprang up outside the Capitol after the killings, features flowers, American flags, photos and sticky notes with such messages as, “Thank you for always believing in me and in Minnesota” and “We got this from here. Thank you for everything.”
Wednesday’s vigil also included a Native American drum circle, a string quartet and the crowd singing “Amazing Grace.”
Around the gathering, there was a heavy police presence, with law enforcement blocking off streets leading up to the Capitol and state troopers standing guard.
The event didn’t include a speaking program and attendees were instructed not to bring signs of any kind.
The man charged in federal and state court with killing the Hortmans, Vance Boelter, is also accused of shooting another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their home a few miles away in Champlin. They survived and are recovering. Federal prosecutors have declined to speculate about a motive.
Boelter’s attorneys have declined to comment on the charges.
Hortman had served as the top House Democratic leader since 2017, and six years as speaker, starting in 2019. Under a power-sharing deal after the 2024 election left the House tied, her title became speaker emerita and Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth became speaker.
Walz has described Hortman as his closest political ally and “the most consequential Speaker in state history.”
The Hortmans were alumni of the University of Minnesota, which held a midday memorial gathering on the Minneapolis campus.
Rebecca Cunningham, the university’s president, spoke during the event about the grief and outrage people are grappling with along with questions about how things got to this point.
“I don’t have the answers to these questions but I know that finding answers starts with the coming together in community as we are today,” she said.
Funeral information for the Hortmans has not been announced.
Vancleave and Golden write for the Associated Press. Golden reported from Seattle. AP writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
MICHAEL Schumacher’s former boss has given rare insight into the F1 legend’s condition – 12 years after the skiing accident that changed his life.
While the German seven-time world champion, now 56, hasn’t been seen in public since 2013, his Benetton manager says he speaks often with Schumacher’s family.
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Flavio Briatore (right) has revealed insight into the health of F1 icon Michael Schumacher (left)Credit: Press Association
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Schumacher pictured on the shoulders of Briatore and race director Tom Walkinshaw after his 1994 World Championship victory has not been seen since 2013Credit: Alamy
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His wife Corinna gave an update on his health in a rare 2021 documentaryCredit: Alamy
Flavio Briatore, 75, led the Benetton F1 team during Schumacher’s breakthrough years, playing a key role in his first two world championships.
Briatore appeared to confirm to an Italian newspaper that Schumacher is bed-bound, amid scarce details of his condition due to the family’s commitment to privacy.
“If I close my eyes,” he told Corriere della Sera, “I see him smiling after a victory.
“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.”
“Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.”
Claims that Schumacher can no longer speak were echoed by his son Mick in a 2021 Netflixdocumentary about his father’s life.
The 26-year-old driver said: “I think dad and me, we would understand each other now in a different way now.”
In the 2021 documentary, Corinna gave a rare update, revealing Schumacher is still undergoing rehabilitation and is “different, but here” following his life-changing injuries.
What do we know about Schumacher since his accident?
MICHAEL Schumacher’s life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury.
Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend.
December 29, 2013 – The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain.
January 2014 – Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as “critical but stable”. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world’s F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital.
June 2014 – Schumacher brought out of his coma: After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
September 2014 – Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team.
2015–2018 – Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together.
May 2017– German magazine sued by Schumacher’s family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher’s right to privacy.
September 2019 – Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed.
December 2019 – Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health.
September 2021 – Netflix documentary “Schumacher” released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength.”
December 2023 – 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as “full of affection”.
September 2024 – Daughter Gina’s wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it “A1 fake news”. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks.
December 2024 – Schumacher to become a grandfather: Gina announces she is pregnant, three months after her wedding. She shares the news on Instagram, writing: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.”
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Schumacher’s initials ‘M.S’ can be seen signed on the bottom part of the helmet belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie StewartCredit: Matt Wardle and Bell Racing
Emotional moment Michael Schumacher’s son and Sebastian Vettel pay tribute to stricken F1 legend
Johnny Herbert, Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton between 1994 to 1995, described the signature as an “emotional” moment.
He told FastSlots: “It’s wonderful news that Michael Schumacher signed Jackie Stewart‘s helmet. It was a wonderful moment.
“We haven’t seen something emotional like this in years, and hopefully, it’s a sign.
“Hopefully, Michael is on the mend. It’s been a long, horrible journey for the family, and maybe we’ll hopefully see him in the F1 paddock soon.”
Schumacher is one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, winning world titles in 1994, 1995 and five consecutive years from 2000 to 2004.
He also racked up 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums during his racing career.
When asked who the greatest driver of all time is, Briatore told Corriere de Sera: “I don’t know who the greatest is, because we’ve had Schumacher, Senna, Alonso.
“Now, the number one is definitely (Max) Verstappen. I have two cars at Alpine, so I would like to have two Verstappens.”
CORONATION Street and Emmerdale are set to join forces for the very first time next year in an epic crossover episode.
The unmissable stunt will see both soaps side-by-side for the first time, with consequences for the residents of both the Dales and Weatherfield.
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Emmerdale and Coronation Street are set to join forces next year
But it’s not the first time stars of the shows have appeared in both soaps – many have crossed over several times.
Here’s a list of soap stars that have made their presence known in both Corrie and Emmerdale:
Claire King
Claire King played the role of Kim Tate in Emmerdale from 1989 until 1999. She then took on the role of Erica Holroyd in Corrie from 2014 until 2017.
In September 2018, Claire reprised her role as Kim Tate in Emmerdale after nearly 20 years away, for a special week of episodes in October 2018. She then returned permanently in 2019.
She is known as one of the show’s most iconic characters.
Daniel Brocklebank
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Daniel playing the role of Billy Mayhew in CorrieCredit: ITV
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Daniel played the role of Ivan Jones in Emmerdale from 2005 to 2006Credit: Rex
Daniel played the role of Ivan Jones in Emmerdale from 2005 to 2006, appearing in 107 episodes in total.
Ivan was originally introduced as a minor role in a storyline about the character of Jarvis Skelton and was only meant to appear in three episodes.
But he was kept on and was seen embarking on a relationship with Paul Lambert, the brother of Nicola King.
More recently, Daniel took on the role of Billy Mayhew in Corrie in 2014 and has remained a regular on the soap ever since.
He takes on the role as vicar at Emily Bishop’s parish and dates barman Sean Tully on the soap.
Chris Bisson
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Chris Bisson played Vikram Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2002Credit: Rex
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Chris Bisson as Jai Sharma in EmmerdaleCredit: ITV
Chis is most known for his roles as Vikram Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2002 and Jai Sharma in Emmerdale, which he joined in 2009.
In Corrie, he portrayed Vikram, the cousin of Dev Alahan, but after a four-year stint, he decided to leave the show to relocate to Mumbai.
In Emmerdale, Chris plays businessman Jai, who has taken on various storylines, including a bitter split from his wife Laurel.
Rebecca Sarker
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Rebecca playing Manpreet Sharma in EmmerdaleCredit: ITV
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Rebecca played the role of Nita Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2000Credit: Rex
Rebecca played the role of Nita Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2000. As her first acting role, she starred alongside now co-star Chris Bisson, who played her on-screen brother Vikram Desai.
In her role, she was seen managing the Corner Shop and having a fling with Steve.
She has since played Manpreet Sharma in Emmerdale from July 2018.
Taking on the role as the village doctor, she has been at the centre of many major storylines, including being the sister of serial killer Meena Jutla.
Zoe Henry
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Zoe is most known for playing the role of Rhona Goskirk in EmmerdaleCredit: ITV
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Zoe first showed up on the cobbles in 1998 as Log ThwaiteCredit: Rex
Zoe is most known for playing the role of Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale but many forget that she also appeared on Corrie as Casey Carswell between March and September 2007.
Zoe first showed up on the cobbles in 1998 as Log Thwaite, Spider Nugent’s vegan girlfriend.
Despite just appearing in six episodes, Zoe’s character made quite the impression, especially when Toyah Battersby tricked her into eating a bacon sandwich.
This ultimately led to Spider breaking up with her.
In 2007 she returned as Casey Carswell, who became friends with Claire Peacock before having an affair with Claire’s husband, Ashley.
Meanwhile on Emmerdale, Zoe’s character is currently involved in a dramatic storyline.
Rhona’s stepdaughter April Windsor suddenly went missing on Christmas Day.
It is still unclear what happened to the girl, and viewers are worried her mysterious disappearance may be the result of a kidnapping.
Sally Ann Matthews
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Sally Ann Matthews as Sandra Briggs in EmmerdaleCredit: Rex
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Sally Ann Matthews as Jenny Bradley in CorrieCredit: ITV
Sally Ann is known for playing Jenny Bradley, daughter of the villainous Alan Bradley, in Corrie, from 1986 to 1991.
She then joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2005 as farmers wife Sandra Briggs, but left less than a year later.
In 2015, she returned to Corrie as Jenny.
Ryan Prescott
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Ryan is known for playing Ryan Connor in CorrieCredit: ITV
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Ryan playing Flynn Buchanan in EmmerdaleCredit: Rex Features
Ryan is known for playing Ryan Connor in Corrie and Flynn Buchanan in Emmerdale.
Ryan joined Corrie in 2018 and is part of a major storyline amid the acid attack on the soap and is stuck in a love triangle alongside Daisy Midgeley.
Before this he had his first big soap role in Emmerdale in 2011, Ryan played Flynn Buchanan, a love interest for Aaron Dingle.
The soap first, which will be broadcast in January 2026, teases that characters from both shows will depart and exciting new faces will join as the cast from each of the long-running ITV programmes come face-to-face for the first time.
The hour-long episode is to mark the start of the new ‘soap power hour’ – a schedule change taking hold from early next year.
Emmerdale and Corrie will each broadcast a 30-minute episode every-day back-to-back as part of the new programming changes with the huge stunt set to kickstart it all.
ITV tease that the one-off mash-up will have “everlasting consequences for everyone involved” and will rock Weatherfield and the Dales forever.
Both shows producers, scriptwriters and production teams have worked together to create the record-breaking episode with the impact then being felt as both programmes return to their own hubs for months to come.
Bosses from both shows also say that whilst the soaps will only be seen on-screen together for the one episode, the communities will be forever linked as a result of the as-yet undisclosed stunt.
There will also be an interactive twist for fans to determine one part of the episode.
A vote will be opened allowing soap fans to choose which Emmerdale and Coronation Street character will share a carefully-written scene together as part of the episode.
The schedule change sees both soaps lose one episode a week amid dwindling ratings.
Both programmes currently enjoy six outings a week but this will be down to just five following the epic stunt episode.
Emmerdale will air at 8pm followed by new episodes of Corrie at 8:30pm.
The programmes will continue to upload their episodes to ITVX at 7am each morning.
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The epic crossover episodes will be shown in January 2026Credit: Rex
Representing the UK this year was pop group Remember Monday, who performed their song, What The Hell Just Happened?, on Swiss soil. The trio, consisting of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, captivated the audience with their tune inspired by their friendship and upbringing in Hampshire.
They were the eighth act to take the stage during Saturday’s grand event. The group amassed a total of 88 points, securing them the 19th spot.
However, they faced disappointment as they received zero points in the public vote for the second consecutive year. The UK is part of the Big 5, which also includes France, Germany, Italy and Spain, reports the Liverpool Echo.
This year’s song contest saw 37 countries participate, with 26 making it to the grand final. Alongside the Big 5, this included last year’s victor, Switzerland, and the 20 qualifying semi-finalists.
Austria won Eurovision on Saturday evening(Image: AP)
The UK has graced every Eurovision Grand Final since 1959 and has been crowned champion five times. The winner is decided by a mix of points from national juries and viewer votes in the participating 26 countries, supplemented by a separate rest of the world poll.
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is poised to deliver the UK’s national jury votes for Eurovision as Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa withdraws from his role as British spokesperson due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
BBC One slated Graham Norton once more to provide TV coverage for the final at 8pm on Saturday, while Rylan Clark and Scott Mills hosted the affair over on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
Remember Monday took to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland to represent the UK
The UK has historically struggled in the points department during the public vote, often being left with nul points from country juries. A comprehensive dissection of Remember Monday’s Eurovision figures was part of The ECHO’s coverage, highlighting which nations handed the UK those dreaded nul points.
Take a look at the tally detailing exactly how Remember Monday fared:.
Remember Monday received zero love from Sweden, Azerbaijan, Malta, Netherlands, Slovenia, Armenia, France, Croatia, Latvia, Montenegro, Greece, Serbia, Germany, Belgium, Israel, Albania, Lithuania, and Georgia — all awarding nul points to the UK entry.
A smidgeon of recognition came through with Luxembourg giving six points, San Marino attributing two points, Ukraine offering 10 generous points, and Norway along with Austria each dishing out seven points.
Italy proved to be a fond ally scoring douze points to Remember Monday, while Portugal and Ireland allocated two points each, Denmark opted for four, Poland chipped in with one point, Czechia matched Ukraine with 10 points, Spain tossed in six, Finland threw five points into the mix, and Iceland matched that with another five.
Crystal Palace will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
How much of this season’s competition do you remember?
See how you get on with our FA Cup quiz. Have fun!
You can follow the FA Cup final live across the BBC on Saturday. Watch from 15:25 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online, listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and follow live text commentary.
Eurovision country trio Remember Monday’s are not new to the stage, as they actually competed in The Voice back in 2019
20:18, 15 May 2025Updated 20:18, 15 May 2025
All three members of Remember Monday have a background in musical theatre(Image: Zuma Press/PA Images)
As the UK’s Eurovision 2025 hopefuls gear up for their big moment on the Grand Final stage, fans are learning more about Remember Monday and their surprising showbiz roots. The country trio is comprised of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele.
The three women have known each other since their teenage years, when they became friends while studying at The Sixth Form College Farnborough in Hampshire. The trio originally performed under the name Houston, but rebranded as Remember Monday in 2018 as a tribute to the day they all had free periods at college and would spend time singing together.
All three members of Remember Monday have a background in musical theatre(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Long before preparing to take to the stage for Eurovision, all three members had already become acquainted with the world of entertainment. Charlotte was just a child when she played Jane Bank in Mary Poppins on the West End stage.
Meanwhile, Lauren took on the role of Miss Honey in Matilda, and Holly performed in both Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera.
Their big break came in 2019 when the trio auditioned for The Voice UK, stunning judges with their powerful harmonies on Seal’s Kiss from a Rose.
All four coaches turned their chairs, but the band ultimately chose to join Team Jennifer Hudson after being swayed by the chance to be mentored by the only female judge on the panel.
The trio went on to win their Battle Round but were knocked out during the Knockout stage after performing their original track Jailbreaker. Despite the early exit from the competition, the group went on to build a loyal fanbase in the UK.
The trio previously appeared on The Voice UK(Image: Rachel Joseph/ITV/Shutterstock)
In September 2023 they took a leap of faith and quit their day jobs to pursue music full time. In early 2024 they were reunited with Hudson on her US talk show, where they gave a soulful performance of Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette.
That same year, Remember Monday was announced as the UK’s Eurovision act for 2025, becoming the first girl band to represent the nation in 26 years.
Their entry What The Hell Just Happened? is a track with bold 80s influences inspired by the chaos of a wild night out. BBC Radio commentators admitted to being “nervous” before they heard the band perform, but were quickly “blown away” after watching Remember Monday’s rehearsals.
Richie Anderson shared: “I was a little bit nervous. It’s like when a family member is about to do a school assembly performance – you’re excited, but also so protective. But as soon as they started singing, their vocals were just incredible.”
He went on to say that the girls’ background in musical theatre prepared them well for putting on a show of this magnitude. He added: “They hit every camera, so it feels like they’re performing just for you – it’s very intimate.”
The Eurovision Song Contest continues with the second semi-final on Thursday, May 15 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 17 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
I created my first Instagram account in March 2015 when I was 13 years old. Back then, social media was just a space for me to share photos of my cats and keep an eye on whatever One Direction was up to. Fast forward 10 years, and social media is now a tool I use to keep in touch with family and follow along with politics – while still, of course, sharing photos of my cat.
I’ve always had quite a toxic relationship with social media. I’ve gone back and forth on the idea of deleting all of my accounts and never touching an app again, but I could never bring myself to do it. As someone who has moved cross country multiple times, I don’t want to lose contact with almost everyone I grew up with, and social media is an amazing tool to discover and connect with LGBTQIA+ communities that I wouldn’t have otherwise found. The truth is, I’d feel extremely lonely if it wasn’t for social media.
Though it’s important to me to keep up with current events, the whiplash of scrolling from a cute guinea pig video to a violent debate over basic human rights was starting to have a serious effect on my mental health. I was doom scrolling more than ever, to the point where I needed to put a one hour screen time limit on certain apps for my own sanity.
So, I decided to create myself a digital safe space, a place where I could access the positive, uplifting side of social media, while avoiding the content that was impacting my mental health.
I recently created a brand new account to share my artwork, but I made an effort to only follow other artists and regularly search for arty advice, tips and tricks. The algorithm must have caught on pretty quickly, because suddenly my explore page was entirely made up of artists and small business owners who were sharing their incredible artwork and uplifting each other. All of a sudden I was in a space that was wholeheartedly positive, creative and inspiring.
This wasn’t at all what I was used to on my personal account, which was rampant with politics and people arguing with each other. Of course, the concept of having a second Instagram account wasn’t something that was new to me – I’ve had an account specifically for sharing sunset photography, one for special effects makeup and various “aesthetic accounts” – but this was the first time I intentionally curated an algorithm. It just so happened to be an overwhelmingly positive community I chose to seek out.
