TOP Gun: Maverick actor James Handy has been stabbed to death with his girlfriend’s son telling cops in a 911 call: “I just killed the man”.
The 81-year-old, who also starred in Logan and Jumanji, was found unconscious with multiple stab wounds to his chest on his front yard.
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James Handy, pictured in TV series NYPD Blue, has been stabbed to deathCredit: GettySurveillance footage from outside the home caught an unknown man walking past around the time of the stabbingCredit: FOX 11
Authorities rushed to the scene in Tarzana, Los Angeles on Wednesday morning at around 9.30am after receiving a chilling 911 call.
Police revealed a voice at the end of the line said: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Officials rushed to James’ home on Erwin Street and raced him to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Some time later, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill – the son of James’ partner – waved down officers as they searched near the home.
James, pictured in TV show X files, was found with multiple stab wounds outside his homeCredit: Channel 4Police swarmed round James’ home early on Wednesday morning after receiving a chilling 911 callCredit: ABC7Police are continuing to investigate the deathCredit: ABC 7The actor (far left) also starred in Arachnophobia in 1990Credit: Alamy
Gledhill confessed to carrying out the fatal attack and said he was the one who phoned the police, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Gledhill was arrested for murder and taken to Van Nuys Jail with his bail set at $2,000,000.
The LAPD statement said: “Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and there appears to be no danger to the public at this time.”
A motive for the attack remains unclear.
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James (far right) in NYPD BlueCredit: GettyJames (center) had a major role in 1986’s Popeye DoyleCredit: Alamy
Neighbors have claimed Gledhill and James were overheard arguing overnight.
The star’s talent agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, paid tribute saying: “With great sadness I can confirm that the gentleman who was attacked and killed on Wednesday in Tarzana was the actor James Handy.”
James’ career spanned almost five decades with his most recent major role being in Tom Cruise’s Hollywood sequel Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
He played the role of bartender Jimmy.
Another memorable role for James came in 2017 superhero flick Logan as he played the doctor who treated lead man Hugh Jackman.
James also starred in 1995 cult classic Jumanji alongside Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt and Kirsten Dunst.
His career featured several TV credits such as the role of Arthur Devlin in eight episodes of Alias and recurring stints on Melrose Place and NYPD Blue.
EastEnders spoilers for next week have teased the fallout to the big episodes airing this week, hinting at Jordan’s fate as well as Denise getting a sad update on the BBC soap
There’s some huge moments ahead on EastEnders(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
There’s some huge moments ahead on EastEnders, with spoilers for next week confirming bombshells and worrying scenes.
It’s the fallout to the show’s big week that “changes everything”, with new details confirmed about what happens. Not only that, but we see characters struggling in the fallout, and reacting to some big discoveries.
George clashes with Nicola about her deal with Eddie, leading to him heading to the boxing gym. A friendly session with Mark takes a turn though, when Mark punches George and he falls unconscious.
Phil reveals to a stunned Mark that George should never have been boxing due to his brain injury. A groggy and confused George refuses hospital treatment, so Phil takes him home and informs Nicola about George’s CTE.
Harry worries that George might tell Gina about Nicola’s deal with Eddie, fearing it will end their relationship. He does encourage Nicola to tell Gina before someone else does, while Nicola tries to get through to George.
Denise is shocked when doctors insist she be admitted immediately for treatment. Despite Jack’s pleas, Denise is determined to be there for Chelsea after Jordan’s accident involving Ian.
When Denise’s condition worsens, Jack shares the doctor’s warning with Yolande in a bid to encourage Denise to start her treatment. Denise refuses still, while later in the week Chelsea learns that Jordan’s rehabilitation may not work.
Kat plans a birthday dinner for Jasmine, while Oscar secretly juggles time seeing the twins separately. When Oscar finds out the circumstances around the death of the twins’ foster dad, and Jasmine’s departure from the family, he asks Jasmine about it, causing her to lash out.
Josh and Oscar give into temptation, but Kat spots them kissing. Kat confronts Oscar and tells him to stay away from Josh and Jasmine, before she tells Alfie what she saw.
Unaware of the situation, Zoe invites Oscar to the meal for Jasmine and Josh. It looks set to be another drama-filled week in Walford next week then!
Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan have revealed the name of their newborn son and the sentimental meaning behind itCredit: InstagramThe couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy, back in AprilCredit: Instagram
At the time, they revealed the news with a monochrome snap and simply dubbed him their ‘little man’.
But now, Hollyoaks actress Nikki and fellow soap star Anthony have revealed their baby boy is named Anthony James Quinlan.
Anthony Jr not only shares the same name as his dad, but Nikki told OK! Magazine that his middle name, James, is an ode to her brother.
They announced the pregnancy news back in December with a festive Instagram postCredit: Instagram/niknaksandersonThe couple, who got together in 2022, are yet to share pictures of their son onlineCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
With two Anthonys at home, things are bound to get confusing, as new dad Anthony says the family are already working ways around it.
He told the publication: “Different members of our family and friends have all started calling him different things.
“A couple of people call him AJ, some Tony. I used to get called Toe, so he’s little Toe as well. I love the fact that he’s got my name.”
Sharing a video on Instagram, the caption read: “Merry Christmas from the 3 of us. Baby Quinlan due Spring 2026.”
In the clip, the couple were seen decorating their Christmas tree together, adding baubles, before opening a box and unveiling the most important decoration of all.
The tree ornament included a photo of the baby scan and read: “Baby Quinlan: Arriving 2026.”
KATIE Price says police have asked her to launch a missing person’s TV appeal in Dubai as the search for her vanished husband Lee Andrews continues.
The former glamour model, 48, claims cops told her they want her to front an international hunt for the conman.
Katie Price says she has been asked to front an international TV appeal in Dubai as the search for missing husband Lee Andrew continuesCredit: GettyLee has not been seen in public for 12 daysCredit: mistraesthetics/Instagram
“It all feels very surreal and like the thing you’d see on an ITV primetime drama. Of course, she doesn’t want to go on telly pleading for new intel if he really is on the run — and ghosting her.
“But she will do all she can to help, even if that means launching an international manhunt.
“She wants him found safe and sound.” Katie is convinced that Lee is not in prison, and believes that someone may have kidnapped him after he claimed to be tied up in the back of a van.
Pals say Katie has been in daily contact with cops in Dubai as he search for her husband deepensCredit: Katie Price – YouTube/BackgridLee’s main phone has recently been switched on, with his WhatsApps now delivering messagesCredit: Instagram/wesleeeandrews
A friend added: “Even for Kate, this has been the weirdest two weeks of her life.
“She simply cannot get her head around what is going on.”
While Katie wants to fly to Dubai as the hunt for the dodgy businessman continues, it is understood she fears being detained if she does so.
Two of his ex-girlfriends have also gone on the record to say he is a conman who ripped them off.
His CV has been dismantled bit by bit, with photos of him with US reality star Kim Kardashian and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk proved to have been faked by AI.
Kim’s US team even took the unprecedented step of formally denying the star had ever met Lee.
Katie and Lee met online, meeting and marrying within days at the start of this yearCredit: Backgrid/InstagramIn an interview with The Sun, Katie denied he was a conman and said the artificial intelligence-loving businessman was the ‘love of her life’Credit: wesleeeandrews/instagram
The negative publicity — something UAE officials do not take kindly to — means he will likely be “red-flagged” on their system.
His wife, Katie, would also likely be regarded as a person of interest.
A source added: “Katie is desperate to get back out to Dubai but with everything going on, it is just too much of a risk right now.
“She also has work and family commitments back in the UK, and is trying to trust the police to get on with their job and locate her husband.”
Mum-of-five Katie and Lee met online at the start of this year and married within days.
AS the travel team at the Sun, it’s fair to say we’ve stayed in our share of hotels around the world.
Racking up thousands of hotel stays between us all, it also means we’re pros when it comes to what works – and what definitely doesn’t.
The Sun’s Head Of Travel (digital), Deputy Travel Editor and Assistant Travel Editor (right to left) have joined the rest of the team in sharing their biggest hotel bugbears
So we’ve rounded up 20 of the things we despise in hotels… and you’ve most likely experienced most of them too.
Personally, when I can’t sleep after a long flight, I want something like a chamomile or a mint tea.
Yet hotels seem to forget this and simply give a few – cheap – bags of your classic brew, forgetting about us herbal lovers.
I’ve had to become that person who takes my own teabags on holiday – and I’m not the only one, apparently. – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
No plugs near the bed
In 2026, it astounds me that you can still get a hotel room without plug sockets next to the bed.
Okay, if you are a tiny guesthouse then I appreciate you don’t necessarily have the cash to be rewiring all your rooms.
But I’ve been to a number of 3-star and upwards properties that have clearly renovated their rooms in the last 10 years and STILL didn’t decide to put a phone charger-friendly socket next to the bedside table.
I really don’t want to be wandering through a pitch black room in the middle of the night to turn off my alarm or check texts. Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Complicated air conditioning
We all love a sunny, hot holiday, but sometimes it gets too much and you are desperate for a bit of air-con to cool you down as you unpack.
Only to be faced with a room that’s hotter than hell and an air-conditioning display that would challenge even a Mensa champ.
No matter how many times you press the inexplicably-labelled buttons the room temperature remains stubbornly hot. There’s never any instructions and all the displays seem completly counter-intuitive.
While I’ve done battle with air-con systems to cool me down regularly, in some rare cases it works so efficiently you are walking into a fridge every time you return to your room, forcing you to go to sleep in a jumper just to keep warm. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Glass walled showers
A glass shower may look nice, but is hardly practicalCredit: Getty
There’s nothing more embarrassing than booking a girls trip away and discovering that a room shared between three friends has a see-through shower.
This happened to me on a recent trip, when my friends and I could see straight from the bedroom into the shower.
I understand the design choice, generally it makes the room look bigger.
But in practice, who really wants to be on full display while having a holiday wash whether or not you’re with your partner? Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
Early swimming pool closing times
One of the best ways to stave off that all-inclusive bloating is a beautiful morning swim. So why do hotels have such strict opening and closing times for their pools?
I’ve been told off on multiple occasions for trying to have a few quick pre-breakfast laps at 7am, despite it only opening at 9am.
And don’t get me started on those 6pm pool closures too… Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Confusing lighting
It’s been a long, hard day of travelling and you are finally ready to settle down for the night and enjoy that lovely big bed.
Exhausted, you begin the lighting lottery, randomly turning unlabelled switches off and on again in an attempt to lose the light.
In most cases, the ones you have by the bed bear no relation to the lights in the room and you’re forced to rise from your comfy bed in the semi-darkness in an attempt to unplug random lamps or work out how the one pesky light in the doorway can be turned off.
Of course, the minute you finally have the room in total darkness you realise you’re no where near the bed – forcing a comic caper of feeling your way back without bumping into unfamiliar furniture. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Overeager luggage handlers
Luggage handlers that are too eager, are another pet peeveCredit: pixel8000
I’ve dragged my luggage from taxi to train, up a steep set of stairs, through the airport and out the other side again without a single helping hand.
So what makes you think that I’m incapable of carrying it several yards from the hotel reception to the lift?
Despite my polite pleas that I’d rather take it myself and that I really can manage, so many are way too insistent.
The simple truth of it is, I don’t want to have to wait for my case to be delivered to my room – I want to be able to freshen up and shower or get changed straight into my bikini to catch the last of the sun without unnecessarily wasting time waiting around in my room.
Plus, I find the whole thing rather awkward from he hovering in the door – does this mean I need to tip – to the unnecessary explaining how the safe works. It’s a hard no from me. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Lack of clothes hangers
I’m both an unpacker and an overpacker – even if I am only staying in a hotel room for a couple of nights, I like to get all my clothes hung up and put away, just like they would be at home.
Suitcase open, you swing open the wardrobe doors to be confronted by one of my least favourite things – those fiendish attached hangers you have to thread back onto a built-in contraption.
Cue frustrating minutes that should be spent enjoying the view or testing the comfiness of the bed instead doing battle as you try – and fail – to attach them in a move similar to threading a needle.
Not only that but what also drives me nuts are miserly hotels that provide you with just four or five hangers for a week-long stay – forcing me to work out a complicated phone system to call housekeeping to ask for enough hangers to put all my clothes away! – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Breakfast toast conveyor belts
We’re ditching the annoying toaster machine that is either too cold or burns it instantlyCredit: Getty
There’s no doubt about it, hotel breakfasts are one of the best parts of being on holiday – but can we acknowledge the toaster of doom?
Every hotel seems to have adopted the same conveyor belt toaster, which barely warms your bread on its first cycle, and burns it to a crisp on the second.
I don’t understand why hotels insist on this method of making toast. Why do I have to commit five minutes of my life to watching a piece of bread spin around, only for it to get spat out and land in a pile of everyone else’s crumbs?
I have a question for hoteliers: what’s the average clothing size of guests at your hotel? Because when it comes to dressing gowns, it seems you only provide sizes that could fit a small child – and I can’t see the point in offering an amenity that is simply unusable.
For every hotel with complimentary dressing gowns that I’ve visited in my time on the travel desk at The Sun, I’d estimate that four out of five of them come up short when it comes to gowns – literally.
Rarely is there enough material to wrap around my entire body in the cosy fashion that any proper dressing gown should.
And it’s simply not sexy looking like a sausage sandwiched into too tight a casing. Sort it out, please. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Loads of bed cushions
They may look nice, but too many cushions that don’t get washed is a no-noCredit: Getty
I have no issue with cushions on a sofa, or even on a bed at home. But on a hotel bed? Gross. You have no idea what people have done with them.
At best, the crime would be multiple guests using it as a pillow and it never getting washed. At worst? Well… what human beings get up to behind closed hotel room doors will never cease to stun me.
There is no need for a cushion on a bed. Four freshly-laundered, white pillows are the perfect amount for both propping yourself up to watch TV and also getting a good night’s sleep.
Any decent receptionist should be happy to send up a couple more if needed. Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Filtered water taps in hallways
In a bid to be more eco-friendly, there is a new hotel design being rolled out that I despise – filtered water taps in hallways.
They cite the change as being one to reduce water bottles, often providing free glass bottles in rooms to fill up instead.
But I hate waking up in the night and having to throw a dressing gown on to leave me room, wander down the hallway and find the damn tap because I ran out of water.
It was certainly no help during an unlucky bout of stomach flu when I was dehydrated but unable to even leave the room – and with tiny bathroom sinks, barely able to fill a water bottle. Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
No bathroom doors
At home, you wouldn’t put your toilet behind a sliding, often frosted glass door.
So I don’t understand why this would be any different on holiday.
In fact, with people having various reactions to travelling when it comes to toilet habits, I’d argue that doors are more needed than ever in a hotel.
Just like with glass showers, it comes down to a matter of privacy. I’d definitely settle for less space in a hotel room if it came with a solid bathroom door so I’m able to use the facilities in peace. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
Family lounger hoggers
Sunlounger hogging is a pet peeve even if it isn’t always the hotel’s faultCredit: Getty
This is not a hotel fault – it’s all about the guests. It’s the families who reserve four-plus sun loungers by the pool each day, for both the parents and the kids – but the kids never actually use them.
Last summer, I looked around the hotel pool and there were scores of sunbeds reserved with kids’ towels and inflatables.
Mum and dad would spend both morning and afternoon making good use of their beds, while the kids went off for hours at a time.
Come on guys, surely Flipper the inflatable dolphin doesn’t need its own lounger… Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Receptionless hotels
Commonly seen in city aparthotels, it seems receptionists are a thing of the past.
I’ve stayed at a number recently which brag about having a contactless check in, meaning everything is done via the app.
This might be a joy for some people, but I cannot explain how helpful it is to have a person to ask, often known the best places for dinner, nearby bars or even helpful transport tips.
Google only goes so far, and I miss the personal experience that is sadly being lost. Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Confusing spa locations
If I’m booking a spa break and it’s advertised as such, I don’t really want to be walking through the reception and restaurant in my bikini and barely-there dressing gown – especially while other guests are fully clothed.
It feels a little like that common nightmare where you’re in a crowd and suddenly realise you’re the only one that’s naked.
Ideally the spa should be positioned within easy access of most bedrooms and not in an area where guests have to shuffle uncomfortably through public areas.
It’s even better if the onsite lunch spot is for spa guests only. Dining in your dressing gown doesn’t feel so odd when everyone’s doing it – and it’s a proper luxury. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Telephones with bright lights
You’ve managed to do it all – suss out the six light-switches on the wall, turn the air-conditioning down, and lay down ready for a good night’s sleep, turn the final light off, and all of a sudden – your room is aglow.
Why oh why do hotels choose to put a telephone on the desk opposite your bed with a bright light on it? They’re always coloured red or green and are ridiculously bright. It seems completely necessary to light them up like that.
If the hotel is that concerned you need to use the phone during the night, put it by the bedside table within arms reach.
I always end up having to put a towel over it to dull the glow, or use an eyemask to block out the obnoxious light. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
Noisy adjoining rooms
Ditch the adjoining rooms unless you are a big group – or you might risk a very bad nights sleepCredit: Getty
For an often-solo traveller, they are my worst nightmare.
I’ve had to ask to move rooms on multiple occasions when I’ve been put in one, due to the lack of noise-insulation they have when next to very loud strangers.
I’ll never forget my 3am pyjama walk to a new room after my neighbours VERY interesting yet noisy argument on the phone. Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
TVs that barely work
I get it. Updating TVs can be pricey, but at least give me basic channels that actually work.
I like having some background noise when I’m getting ready in the mornings and the TV helps me unwind after a day of exploration.
In an ideal world, every hotel TV would be fitted with chrome cast so that guests can stream their favourite shows straight from their phone. And perhaps I sound a little spoiled when I say that a lack of smart tvs is my biggest bug bear.
But if you can’t afford to buy more modern TVs then give us the Freeview channels as a basic, otherwise your telly is just a very ugly accessory Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Gyms with barely any equipment
When you book your hotel stay and see that it has a gym, it feels like an absolute win, and for those who work out every day – it’s a must.
But there’s nothing worse than turning up with your gym gear on, only to see one exercise bike and some sad dumbbells in the corner of a windowless, carpeted room.
Then it’s time to come up with some sort of makeshift spin class that completely throws you off your schedule, or walk away with the guilt of missing your workout for the day.
I’d almost prefer if there were no gym at all – but I wish hotels were at least honest about their ‘fitness centres’ so it would save me packing my gymwear. – Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
Noel Gallagher is seen out on a date with his new girlfriend who is 30 years his juniorCredit: Click News and MediaThe smitten Oasis star, 58, and events boss Nina Johnson, 28, left a West London gastropub togetherCredit: Click News and Media
A source said: “There was no mistaking the spark between them.”
Noel and Nina — who works for an events company — were seen smiling before getting into a car on Thursday night after a date at The Hart gastropub in Marylebone, West London.
An onlooker said: “They were laughing and joking, but keeping a slight distance so they did not look like a couple. However, there was no mistaking the spark between them and they were clearly together. They had been engrossed in each other’s company inside and spent hours together, just the two of them.
“Noel looked particularly happy when he came out — and who can blame him? As they got to the waiting car, Noel opened the door for Nina and they got in the back seat together.”
Originally from the South West, Nina is a marketing manager at London firm Rhubarb Hospitality, which organises corporate events, weddings and posh private functions.
She is said to have met dad-of-three Noel through mutual friends, and has spent a lot of time with him over the past few weeks.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “She is a lot younger than him but that doesn’t bother either of them.
Stand by me Noel and new girlfriend Nina, above seen leaving the London pub, are said to have met through mutual friendsCredit: Click News and MediaNina has spent a lot of time with the rocker over the past few weeksCredit: Click News and Media
“They have been seeing a lot of each other in the past few weeks.
“Her career is going great guns. She is really bright and taking her career seriously.
“She’s her own woman and Noel really respects that.
“They really enjoy each other’s company and both love the finer things in life and go to a lot of the same places. It is fair to say Noel is smitten and he is telling people he couldn’t be happier.”
We revealed in March the Half The World Away star had split from girlfriend Sally MashCredit: GoffCareer-focused Nina Johnson’s social media profile shows she is an events manager based in London
We revealed in March that Noel and private members’ club boss Sally had split after two years with “no bad blood”.
In 2024, Noel said of his attractive partners: “I’ve punched above my weight several times in my life, and I think if you can make a girl laugh the battle is more than won.”
He married Meg Mathews in Las Vegas in 1997 and they had daughter Anais in 2000.
After they split, Noel started dating Scots publicist Sara MacDonald, who he wed in 2011 after almost a decade together.
They had sons Donovan, now 18, and Sonny, 15, before divorcing in 2023.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘She is a lot younger than him but that doesn’t bother either of them’Credit: FacebookNoel will join thousands of fellow Manchester City fans at a huge farewell bash tomorrow for departing manager Pep GuardiolaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_ahQWotxpH/
NOEL Gallagher will join thousands of fellow Manchester City fans at a huge farewell bash tomorrow for departing manager Pep Guardiola.
A team bus parade in Manchester will celebrate them winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup — before an after-party at the city’s Co-op Arena to say goodbye to Pep.
Around 100,000 fans are due to gather in the city and Noel is expected to play a big part in heaping praise on Pep, 55, who delivered 20 trophies over a decade in the job.
During Pep’s reign, he developed a close friendship with Noel after they first met in 2016.
And in his farewell video released last week, he mentioned the Oasis star in his opening words.
He said: “When I arrive my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walk out thinking, ‘OK Noel is here this will be fun.’ And what a time we have had together.”
And Pep signed off by saying: “Noel, I was right, it has been so f***ing fun.”
Noel last month praised Pep in an interview, saying he was grateful for their relationship.
He added: “He’s a fan and a romantic, and he’s hardcore, a winner, and a bad loser, all the things you would want your football manager to be.”
Brother Liam Gallagher, also a City fan and Pep pal, will not be able to attend the celebrations, it is understood.
An open-top bus parade will kick off the festivities at 5pm.
It will be followed by a special ticket-only celebration event at Co-op Live, where the sell-out crowd of 17,000 will be treated to live music, entertainment, player interviews and special guests.
It will also be a farewell for long-serving players Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
Two Weeks in August made its debut tonight with a star-studded cast
The Two Weeks in August cast have shared the significance over a hidden detail in the show’s opening scenes(Image: Various Artists Ltd/BBC/Robert Viglasky)
The Two Weeks in August cast have shared the significance over a hidden detail in the show’s opening scenes.
Written and created by Sally4Ever’s Catherine Shepherd, the new ‘witty and painfully relatable’ series follows a group of friends reuniting for a summer holiday. However, the idyllic getaway is soon thrown into chaos thanks to an illicit kiss.
In episode one, viewers are introduced to each of the friends with married couple Zoe and Dan, played by Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, clearly struggling as they attempt to put past events behind them.
The family of four, who have brought their children on the trip, are also struggling with money as is highlighted when Jess, played by Antonia Thomas, suggests they all put €200 each in the kitty.
Things go from bad to worse when Zoe and Dan are tasked with preparing food that evening with their lavish friends wanting seafood, which provides another tense expense for the struggling couple as they opt for store bought fish as opposed to fresh market produce.
Talking about the scenes with the Mirror, Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, who play Zoe and Dan, pointed out a significant hidden detail in the opening moments of the show.
Damien, 42, said: “We had a great opportunity to rehearse before we went out with Tom George, our director. We talked a lot about their past and about their relationship and the fact that, you know, they probably hadn’t had sex in about a year.
“That was a really kind of good starting point to go: ‘Oh, something’s really not right here.’ We would do some improvisations about the journey to the airport in England and what that must have been like.
“Jess had this incredible line in the improv about having to pack pasta in our luggage because we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford food on the island. So much so that they actually put it in the scene.
“So when Jessica opens her suitcase in that first scene on packing, there is pasta in the bag” to which Jessica, 44, added: “Three bags!”
Damien continued: “It was kind of those little details that started to kind of… because in TV, you don’t get that opportunity to rehearse or to really explore the world around the scenes.
“So that was really, really thrilling, and it really informed the rest of the kind of scenes that we shared together because this couple goes on a huge journey.”
Meanwhile, Jess said: “The journey of the fish is really good and I think that’s also a really good point to make about our show is the financial differences in the couples. I don’t think we see that very much.
“We often see a lot of very rich people going on holiday, but I love the reality. I mean, a lot of people are in that position where you’re like, I can’t afford €200 for the kitty and the look that we give each other, we’re just like: ‘Holy moly, this is, we’re way out of our depth’ and they don’t feel able to say.”
The drama is only going to get more intense for the couple and their friends as a synopsis teases: “Set in Greece, Two Weeks in August tells the story of a woman who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. But, here in paradise, what starts with an illicit kiss quickly turns the dream vacation into a nightmare.
“Zoe begins to act on her deepest desires and the holiday she hoped for becomes a reckoning for a group of adults who refuse to grow up. When they discover they are trapped on the island, and become faced with real life-or-death situations, the group soon turn on each other to find out who is to blame.
“Is Zoe responsible for the drama and destruction around her or, as heaven turns to hell, are bigger forces at play? We are in Greece after all, the land of the ancient Gods…”
Two Weeks In August airs Saturday nights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
“It’s just like it used to be – me saying too much and them two looking at me like, ‘Oh, here she goes!’”
The band’s reunion is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Lickin’ On Both Sides.
The record, which came out in October 2001, peaked at No3 in the Official Album Charts and bagged them five Top Ten singles including All I Want, One Night Stand and B With Me.
The Sun revealed in January that the band would be getting back together.
A source said at the time: “Alesha has been excitedly talking about this for a while and would love a Mis-Teeq reunion with Sabrina and Su-Elise to happen.
“Fans shouldn’t expect a Girls Aloud-style comeback tour, though.
“At the minute, lots of things are being discussed and one thing that has come up is the idea of a one-off show. It could be an intimate gig for their die-hard fans or a performance on a big TV programme such as Britain’s Got Talent — which Alesha is a judge on.
“Nothing has formally been offered but nothing is off the table.
“Lickin’ On Both Sides launched Alesha, Sabrina and Su-Elise’s music careers and that record holds a really special place in their hearts.
“They want to celebrate that album with their fans.”
TESS Daly and Vernon Kay tonight announced they had split up “amicably” after 23 years of marriage.
A statement from the showbiz couple, with two daughters, said no one else was involved.
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Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, pictured together on The One Show in February, have announced their shock splitCredit: XTess and Vernon on their wedding day in 2003Credit: Rex
The ex Strictly Come Dancing host, 57, and her BBC Radio 2 DJ husband, 52, had grown apart and become more like “roommates” than a married couple.
A source close to the couple told The Sun: “They are both sad that it has come to a natural end but happy for both of their futures.”
Tess and Vernon — who have daughters Phoebe, 21, and 16-year-old Amber — announced their “amicable” marital split in a joint statement last night.
They posted online: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.
“This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us.
“We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.
“There are no other parties involved in this decision.”
They are understood to have decided to go public after returning from a Caribbean holiday last month.
Vernon and Tess announced they had split up ‘amicably’ after 23 years of marriageCredit: GettyTess and Vernon’s statement in fullCredit: Instagram
Both shared photographs from their sunshine getaway but failed to post snaps of each other.
A friend insisted the pair, who married in 2003 after two years of dating, had simply grown apart.
They said: “They have had many conversations about this and tears were shed.
“It wasn’t a sudden decision but it’s something they have been quietly navigating together for some time. It was very natural in a way, it’s just one of those things.
“Vernon is a real social butterfly, he loves going to parties with Phoebe and hanging out with her doing things, while Tess is a bit more of a homebody.
“They are still such great friends, which is why they went on that family holiday together.
“Amber and Phoebe are Tess and Vernon’s world and their focus is solely on them.
“They’ll continue to co-parent together and keep making happy memories with their girls.”
Tess and Vernon have asked for privacy and say no one else was involvedCredit: GettyTess cradles newborn daughter Phoebe as Vernon beams up at the camera in 2004Credit: Liam Dunn
It was understood they will keep their six-bedroom family home in Buckinghamshire while they work out their future plans.
A pal added: “Tess and Vernon are both being very grown up about this. They became more like roommates in the end.
“Working out how to move forward is what they’re doing now.
“Vernon works in London five days a week so it’s likely he’ll get a place in the city for now until they decide what to do with the house.”
On Thursday the pair reunited in London with Phoebe, who attends university in New York.
Vernon was in a typically upbeat mood on air yesterday hosting his Radio 2 mid-morning show.
The couple both started off as models before breaking into Channel 4 – Vernon with T4 and Tess hosting the Find Me a Model segment on The Big Breakfast.
They started dating after meeting in 2001. Vernon recalled of their initial encounter: “She didn’t know anyone except me because we’d worked together that day – she spotted me in a crowd and we had a laugh.
ASK anyone in the industry, Tess and Vernon were the loveliest showbiz couple you could ever wish to meet.
Whether together or alone, they’d greet you like family.
I’ll never forget Tess taking time out of her schedule in the middle of a Strictly final to chat with my mum or earlier this year, when I was knocking back booze at a Brits after-party with Vernon where he mocked my table at the ceremony as the “s***test in the house,” as he roared with laughter and gave me a hug.
Both of them are northern, working-class kids who have done bloody good.
And despite the fame and the riches, they’ve never forgotten where they came from.
When Vernon took on his epic ultra-marathon back in 2023, running over 116 miles in four days and raising over £6.1 million for Children In Need in the process, he rang me every single day from the road to update Sun readers on his journey and to urge them to donate.
He was in agony but he never let it show because he knew his struggle was nothing in comparison to those he was helping.
After being sent their joint statement online I immediately felt sad for them both because I know this won’t have been an easy decision.
Ending a marriage of over two decades is never easy.
But when you’re one of the most recognisable British telly couples, having to announce that decision to the nation, knowing the scrutiny they’ll face from online stirrers, would be even more difficult.
But knowing Tess and Vernon, they’ll be facing this together as a family and will shut out the noise and focus solely on their girls.
Tess recently stepped down as Strictly co-host with pal Claudia WinklemanCredit: BBC
“I was instantly attracted by how independent Tess was, and that’s not changed at all.”
In 2003, they married at a church in Vernon’s hometown of Horwich, Greater Manchester.
Phoebe was born in 2004 — the year Tess started co-hosting BBC ballroom dance show Strictly, first with Bruce Forsyth.
In 2007, Tess and Vernon worked together for the first time, co-hosting BBC celebrity singing show, Just The Two of Us.
Two years later, Amber was born.
When they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in 2023, Tess spoke of how proud she was of hitting the milestone.
She said: “Twenty years is a long time. We still have lots to talk about, the conversation hasn’t dried up.
“That’s a good thing.
“We’ve got lots in common and shared values.
“We just enjoy each other’s company and that’s what it boils down to, really. I’m proud of us.”
Vernon said their marriage got stronger thanks to the Covid lockdowns, saying: “You really get under the skin of your relationship with your kids and your missus.”
Tess and Vernon hosted BBC’s The One Show together in a special episode in February, but those close to them said the cracks in their marriage started to form last year.
A source said: “Vernon is more outgoing than Tess is and he loves nothing more than heading out with his mates.
Last summer he was at loads of Oasis gigs. He loves going to the Brit Awards. He’s so outgoing and he loves that lifestyle.
“After quitting Strictly, Tess has been more keen to enjoy life at a slower pace.
“She’s been working really hard on her swimwear line and has loved not having to jump back on to that Strictly treadmill.
“It became clear after a while that they were becoming more like ships in the night.
“It’s not been easy but, ultimately, if the love they had for each other had gone, what is the point in staying together?”
The new ITV quiz show is fronted by Danny Dyer and Emily Atack
The new ITV quiz show is ‘full of drama and deception’(Image: ITV)
ITV has unveiled the first look at its new reality quiz show with a surprising twist.
Fronted by Danny Dyer and Emily Atack, Nobody’s Fool has been billed as a “unique reality event packed full of drama and deception.”
In this ruthless contest, participants’ survival depends not on their actual intelligence, but on how clever their rivals perceive them to be.
Throughout the series, ten competitors from across the UK will share a purpose-built “Smart House,” taking part in a game where perception, tactics and trickery matter just as much as brainpower.
With challenges completed behind closed doors, assumptions, biases and initial impressions will prove crucial, as hasty conclusions and deliberate misdirection keep both contestants and audiences second-guessing.
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The show will feature daily individual quizzes testing various forms of intelligence, with correct answers contributing to a collective prize fund.
However, in a clever twist, only the participants themselves will know their actual performance – leaving them free to share as much or as little truth as they wish with their housemates.
As the series progresses, players must identify the weakest link among them and vote them out.
Discussing the programme, Danny Dyer enthused: “this is a blinder of a game show and unlike anything I’ve seen before. Emily and I had a brilliant time making it and much like the audience at home will be, we kept guessing right until the very end.”
Emily Atack added: “It’s so exciting to be part of something this new and fresh. The chance to work with Danny again was a no brainer for me. We had such a laugh. Can’t wait for everyone to watch, it’s an absolute must see.”
Sue Murphy, Director of Factual Entertainment at ITV, and Kate Teckman, Head of Development and Commissioning Editor at ITV, said: “Nobody’s Fool is an innovative reality/quiz crossover show that puts preconceptions, stereotypes and judgements to the test.”
They continued: “Danny and Emily are the perfect pairing to host this game of surprise and prejudice, that will no doubt have audiences on the edge of their seats.”
Meanwhile, Richard Cowles, MD, and Tom Gould, Director of Entertainment and Formats at Lifted Entertainment, added: “Nobody’s Fool takes a simple premise – How do you really determine how smart someone is?
He added: “Trust your preconceptions and judgement or what they tell you? – and turns that into a high stakes reality game show with up to £100k up for grabs.
“There is drama at every turn but with Danny and Emily on hosting duties, the fun and laughter is also never far away.”
Love Island presenter and Entrepreneur Maya Jama is heading in to the Traitors castle for the new series for Celebrity Traitors but she is pleading with fans to do this one thing…
Maya is begging fans to do one thing as she heads into the Traitors castle(Image: Getty Images for Netflix)
Maya, who is currently on a break from filming Love Island, took to Instagram to react to the news of her being a part of the iconic TV game show, which will air later this year.
Posting the announcement on her Instagram Story, she said: “Secret’s out,” before pleading with fans with a hand over the eye emoji and said: “wish me luck”.
This message suggests that the star might not be the most confident, with the presenter herself unaware just yet whether she will be a goodie or a baddie in this game.
From then on, their objective will be to identify which participants are making nocturnal trips to the turret dressed in those distinctive hooded cloaks – selecting which remaining contestants will be murdered.
Also taking part is BBC presenter Amol Rajan, The Last of Us actress Bella Ramsey and comedian James Acaster – not to be mixed up with You’re Beautiful singer James Blunt, who has also signed up.
This comes after Maya recently admitted she “is ready to move on” from presenting, as she eyes up a new career in acting. Drama was actually the TV star’s first love, with Maya, 31, auditioning for Channel 4‘s hit teen series Skins when she was just 15.
Despite getting to the final stages, she didn’t make it into the cast, which launched the careers of the likes of Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel and Daniel Kaluuya. And now the Bristol-born star, who is in a relationship with Man City footballer Ruben Dias, is ready to leave presenting to go back into acting.
Speaking to the BBC, Maya revealed she got “disheartened” after having to many unsuccessful auditions as a teen, leading her to give up on her dream. But now, after filming has wrapped for the upcoming release of the second season of Netflixcrime thriller The Gentlemen, Maya’s love for the art has been reignited.
She told the broadcaster that her “dream role” would be to play a villain, but she “naturally fell into presenting roles” after starting out on YouTube. After a few years on social media, she made the move to TV to co-host ITVgame show Cannonball, as well as MOBO Awards in 2017.
The year after she booked to host reality show The Circle and then ITV2 panel show Don’t Hate the Playaz. Of course, Jama’s big break came in 2022 when she replaced Laura Whitmoreas the host for hit ITV reality dating show, Love Island.
Maya added: “I always remember when I started being like ‘how on Earth am I going to get on primetime TV as a girl from Bristol doing YouTube videos’ – it seemed like a massive reach.”
She added: “I naturally fell into presenting when I was young because I got to be myself on camera and I’m interested in humans”, adding: “Now it just feels like the doors opened up again [to get into acting]”. Maya said she is “ready to do something else after presenting for so long.”
Maya reportedly plays the glam wife of a friend of lead character Eddie Horniman, alongside the likes of Vinnie Jones and Ray Winstone. She spent time in 2025 filming at Gloucestershire’s Grade II listed building Badminton House, which is Eddie’s home.
The TV personality soft-launched her new gig with the streamer on social media at the start of last year. She teased her followers on Instagram when she posted a snap of a cast list with the Netflix logo on it.
She also shared a peek of a Netflix script, and posted a photo of her and Skins star Kaya, who plays mob boss Susie Glass in the show. Further adding to the speculation around what is next for Maya, she posted a photo of a Netflix mug, with fans then certain she was working on something big.
WHEN pop superstar Justin Timberlake started dating actress Jessica Biel, they quickly became Hollywood’s hottest couple.
But now, after 14 years of marriage, their relationship is going through a positively chilly phase. For long-suffering Jessica, 44, has drawn a line in the sand following a relentless string of public embarrassments, serving her husband with a brutal ultimatum to clean up his act, or she is out.
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake have been married for 14 years after tying the knot in Italy in 2012Credit: GettyJustin’s mugshot following his 2024 drink-driving arrestCredit: Rex
From the humiliating release of bodycam footage showing Justin’s June 2024 drink-driving arrest to fresh whispers of intoxicated antics at a Las Vegas golf tournament just weeks ago, the Cry Me A River singer’s fall from grace has pushed his wife to the edge, according to reports.
But the drama doesn’t stop there. Insiders tell The Sun that Justin pulled the plug on a $100 million NSYNC reunion, in a last stand bid to save his marriage.
Behind closed doors, those who work closely with the couple say Jessica has been the “glue” holding the family together.
A well-placed Los Angeles producer, who has worked closely with Jessica, tells The Sun that the actress’s marriage can sometimes be a far cry from the fairytale Justin sold the world in the 2010s.
Justin was pictured in 2019 getting close with co-star Alisha Wainwright, later apologising publiclyCredit: BD1Jessica continued to work on her drama The Better Sister despite Justin Timberlake’s arrestCredit: Splash
The insider says: “Jessica is a superwoman. For the last decade, she has run the home, carried and raised two boys, continued acting and enjoyed success with a production company in Hollywood. Where she has found the time and energy to balance is staggering. She has been the glue.”
The couple’s permanent relocation to the luxury Yellowstone Club in Montana was Jessica’s way to shield their sons, Silas, 11, and Phineas, 5, from the downsides of fame.
“She took huge pride in being a hands-on mother, ensuring that her kids would be raised in the most normal way and not be impacted by LA life or Hollywood temptations and dramas,” the insider explains.
“Her boys are the most important thing in her life, and she will do her utmost to protect them. That would have absolutely been made clear to Justin.”
The couple share two sons, Silas, 11, and Phineas, 5Credit: GettyIndustry figures were shocked when Justin didn’t walk the red carpet to support Jessica during the awards seasonCredit: Instagram/ Jessica Biel
But while Jessica thrives in the tranquillity of the mountains, Justin remains obsessed with the spotlight.
His gruelling Forget Tomorrow world tour, which finally wrapped last summer after more than 100 gigs, kept him away from home for massive chunks of time and put a strain on their marriage.
Our source adds: “When the lights go out, Jessica is still a devoted, hard-working mum wanting to do the best for her kids.
“Justin is committed, but is also balancing this battle to remain a pop star and entertainer. In today’s world, if you disappear for too long, you become forgotten or irrelevant. That is something Justin would never let happen.”
This desperate need for validation, however, has come at a steep personal cost.
Jessica’s own career has been flying high. She poured her heart into her production company, Iron Ocean Productions, and her acclaimed 2025 series The Better Sister earned her a prestigious 2026 Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Actress.
Yet, when her big moment arrived in January, her husband was absent from the red carpet.
“Many industry figures were shocked that Justin didn’t walk the carpet to support her,” the producer notes.
“She had been there for him over the previous seven months. Regardless of his recent scandals, it would have been a great public display of unity.”
Justin’s erratic decision making hasn’t just alienated his wife; he has also managed to infuriate his oldest friends.
The Sun can reveal that the singer recently blew a chance to catapult himself back centre stage by walking away from an epic NSYNC 30th anniversary reunion.
The highly lucrative comeback – which included proposals for a live comeback show, a lucrative Las Vegas residency, and a documentary – could have netted the five bandmates a staggering $100 million.
A top music executive, who was intimately involved in the proposals, claimed Justin’s refusal to commit has caused bitter “disdain and disappointment” among his former bandmates.
They said: “Justin let the boys down, and really killed the chance for a special 30th anniversary adventure. The other boys were the driving forces with everyone on board initially… well, that is what they believed.”
“Pinning down Justin just could not be done. It wasn’t so much that he was saying outright no, but more just not committing. There was a real hope for something momentous and exciting to play out, which could have really put them back to the top of the music world again.”
The insider notes that the bond between the five men, who were once like brothers, has been severely damaged.
“Those five men have been friends through many highs and lows. But this took something away from that bond. Publicly, of course, they will always support Justin, but this was really seen as a wasted chance to make magic happen.”
But those close to Justin say that walking away from the NSYNC reunion was an attempt to rebalance his work with his family life and repair his relationship with his wife.
Justin’s reluctance to embark on a massive boyband tour was also undoubtedly influenced by his latest health battle.
Last summer, the singer revealed he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, a debilitating bacterial infection that wreaked havoc on him both mentally and physically.
Jessica, ever the dutiful wife, stepped up to the plate.
Our source says: “Last summer Jessica really urged her husband to slow down, recover fully and seek the best medical advice. There was a huge sense that Justin really had a tough time on the road doing the dance moves and powering through so many shows with his medical issues.”
“Jessica was really kind, caring, and sympathetic. Justin’s mood and outlook was hit quite hard at the diagnosis. The reality is that his entire future as a performer is potentially on the line given how debilitating Lyme disease can be.”
Even the music executive admitted that the health crisis “must have played a key factor in him stepping back” from the NSYNC tour, though they noted that “there were projects like a doc film which would not have needed him to dance or perform”.
Despite her immense sympathy for his health struggles, Jessica’s patience with Justin’s headline-grabbing antics is running dry.
It’s not the first time he has embarrassed his wife. In 2019, The Sun revealed pictures of him drinking and holding hands with his Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright.
Justin was forced to admit he had been drinking alcohol during the encounter, describing it as a “strong lapse of judgement” but insisted “nothing happened”.
He also added a grovelling apology to his family, writing: “I drank way too much that night and regret my behaviour. I should have known better. This is not the example I want to set for my son.”
“I apologise to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation, and I am focused on being the best husband and father I can be.”
Then in 2024, Justin was arrested for drink-driving. The police bodycam footage was released earlier this year, and shows the slurring singer complaining to cops that they were ruining his “world tour”.
Jessica distracted from the embarrassing footage and posted a loved-up snap with her husband on February 1st, captioning it: “Happy 45th to a true original. I love you baby.”
But then last week on April 18 eyewitness reports say that Justin once-again appeared intoxicated at a golf tournament in Las Vegas.
Since then, Page Six reported Jessica was ready to “pull the trigger” on the marriages, with an insider adding: “There’s not much more she can take.”
Now with an ultimatum on the table it appears Jessica is officially done playing the doting wife.
Our source said: “Knowing what a straight shooter she is, there is no way she would hold back on telling her husband exactly how she feels.”
If Justin doesn’t clean up his act, it could be Jessica saying “Bye Bye Bye” to their marriage once and for all.
Jessica and Justin’s representatives were contacted for comment.
The trial’s outcome could sway the balance of power in AI, and jury selection starts on Monday.
Published On 27 Apr 202627 Apr 2026
Technology tycoons Elon Musk and Sam Altman are poised to face off in a high-stakes trial revolving around the alleged betrayal, deceit and unbridled ambition that blurred the bickering billionaires’ once-shared vision for the development of artificial intelligence.
The trial, which is scheduled to begin on Monday with jury selection, centres on the 2015 birth of ChatGPT maker OpenAI as a nonprofit start-up primarily funded by Musk before evolving into a capitalistic venture now valued at $852bn.
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The trial’s outcome could sway the balance of power in AI, breakthrough technology that is increasingly being feared as a potential job killer and an existential threat to humanity’s survival.
Those perceived risks are among the reasons that Musk, the world’s richest person, has cited for filing a lawsuit in August 2024 that will now be decided by a jury and US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California.
The civil lawsuit accuses Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, and his top lieutenant and a cofounder, Greg Brockman, of double-crossing Musk by straying from the San Francisco company’s founding mission to be an altruistic steward of a revolutionary technology. The lawsuit alleges they shifted OpenAI into moneymaking mode behind his back.
The bitter legal fight may come down to a few pages in one executive’s personal diary.
“This is the only chance we have to get out from Elon,” wrote Brockman in the autumn of 2017. “Is he the ‘glorious leader’ that I would pick?”
Brockman’s diary entry is part of the thousands of pages of internal documents revealed in court.
Musk said the defendants kept him in the dark about their plans, exploited his name and financial support to create a “wealth machine” for themselves, and owe damages for having conned him and the public.
He also wants OpenAI to revert to a nonprofit, for Altman and Brockman to be removed as officers and for Altman to be removed from its board.
OpenAI has brushed off Musk’s allegations as an unfounded case of sour grapes that’s aimed at undercutting its rapid growth and bolstering Musk’s own xAI, which he launched in 2023 as a competitor.
The trial also carries risks for Musk, who last month was held liable by another jury for defrauding investors during his $44bn takeover of Twitter in 2022. Any damaging details about Musk and his business tactics could be particularly hurtful now because his rocket ship maker, SpaceX, plans to go public this summer in an initial public offering that could make him the world’s first trillionaire.
FOR many of us, the idea of being a pilot is about as glamorous as it gets – but what is it actually like? Is all that globe-hopping as magical as it seems?
We spoke to two of BA’s most experienced pilots, to find out what really goes on behind the closed cockpit door when the planes are in the sky.
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British Airways pilots reveal what the job is really likeCredit: British AirwaysBritish Airways’ Training Standard Captain Andy Godwin has shared fascinating behind the scenes secretsCredit: British AirwaysSenior Flight Training Manager Mark Dorman recalled one of his most memorable flights, in an empty BA plane over the Northern LightsCredit: British Airways
It is no easy feat becoming a pilot but for British Airways‘ Training Standard Captain Andy Godwin and Senior Flight Training Manager Mark Dorman, flying feels like second nature.
The duo – who are training up wannabe pilots in the British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy (applications currently open) – have answered some of the most common questions people have about flying a British Airways plane…
What’s something people always get wrong about BA planes?
“Everyone things you’d start a plane just like you would a car,” Mark told us. “But in reality, it doesn’t even have a set of keys – either to start it or even get inside.”
“We walk down the jetty, there’s a procedure to open the door, and you just knock – there’s no ignition either.”
What do the pilots eat during a flight?
Mark told us: “We eat very similar food as passengers but we have our own crew meals loaded.
“They’re cooked in the same way, they’ll quite often look quite similar but because of what we’ve potentially done before or what we’re potentially doing after [the flight] – the amount and the timings of food can vary.”
How do you stay alert with such antisocial schedules?
Andy said: “It’s all about planning ahead. You might have a run of early trips, where you don’t even necessarily have a risk of jet lag, but you’re always thinking about your nextsleep to keep your energy up.
“Because short haul can be tough on the body too – you’re working really hard with short sectors, bouncing around doing lots of briefings and lots of talking to the crew as well as passengers, so it’s important to care of little things like staying hydrated.”
“Because there were no passengers on board we were able to switch all of the lights off.
“It meant for the flight crew and the cabin crew, the aircraft was only lit by the Northern Lights for about 20 minutes – there was a really cool, weird green glow in the plane. It was a quite surreal experience.”
And of course, as BA pilots they get discounts on flightsCredit: Getty
He added: “One of my other favourite moments is when I realised I was flying an aeroplane – I was still a co-pilot at the time – and my friend was the captain.”
“We sort of looked at each other like we couldn’t quite believe that we’d been allowed to go flying an aeroplane together, with 140 passengers behind us.
“You’re coming home, you get incredible views, there’s a familiarity to it, it’s busy, it’s quite challenging at times but it’s nice.”
But for overseas, both pilots agreed on one particularly special destination – if a little scary at times – is Innsbruck in Austria.
Innsbruck Airport is in a valley, with such steep mountains either side that it’s a ‘Category C’ airport, which means it requires special training.
Both pilots commented on how special but tricky Innsbruck Airport is to fly intoCredit: Getty
Despite it perhaps being a more technical airport to land at, the mountains either side lend themselves to a spectacular landing and taking off experience with amazing views.
Mark said: “I feel very lucky to have been able to go and fly there.
“I guess the other places that I like, again it sounds a bit silly but places with nice views, I really like flying into Nice because it’s a really interesting approach and you get the most amazing view of the Cap d’Antibes coast around to Cannes.
“Again it’s one of those moments where you’re like, we’re actually doing this.”
What is one of the biggest misconceptions about being a BA pilot?
Andy said: “A question that we’ll quite often get is about what aeroplane we fly and why don’t we just switch to another, almost as if you’re switching between car manufacturers.
“Pilots are only licensed to fly one aircraft at a time so we couldn’t just go and fly another aircraft even though it’s broadly similar.”
“Most pilots are proud of the plane they fly and love being asked about it, the routes it does or anything that allows them to show off their knowledge.”
With 160 places available, the scheme is in its fourth year and covers the entire £100,000 cost of pilot training, over two years.
Trainees start on the ground for six months before taking the controls of a tiny four-seater plane and eventually moving up to a two-engine aircraft.
Andy said: “In a matter of months, you’re flying something lighter than a family car.
“Within a year, you’re in something 100 times heavier…”
One of the final hurdles after training on a simulator and in smaller planes, is taking off and landing a plane with zero passengers on board.
“It’s a once-in-a-career moment,” Andy said. “You do about six take-offs and landings to get your eye in before we let you fly the real thing with passengers.
“[This is] a very significant milestone in a pilot’s career.”
All trainees who complete the scheme are guaranteed a flying role with BA upon completion.
To apply to the Speedbird Academy you need to be 18-years-old or over at the start of training, have six GCSEs grade A-C or 4-9, including Maths, English Language and a Science, be fluent in English, have a valid passport and be between 1.52metres and 1.9metres tall.
THERE’S no need to give up on booking a summer getaway just yet.
If you’ve noticed holiday prices getting steeper, we’ve got some good news, as it turns out there are plenty of affordable holiday deals you can book for this summer.
Agadir in Morocco is the cheapest place to book a summer holiday this year with LoveholidaysCredit: Getty
Top UK travel companies have crunched the numbers to find the short-haul holiday spots ranking the cheapest for this summer.
From Travel Supermarket to TUI and Loveholidays, insiders have shared their tips on where to look for cheap breaks.
From white sand beaches that rival the Caribbean, to volcanic black sand islands that offer a natural spa setup – here’s the cheapest places to holiday abroad this summer.
Agadir, Morocco
Agadir has been named the most affordable destination for a seven-night summer holiday in 2026, according to research byLoveholidays.
The travel company analysed data for package holidays departing between 1st June and 31st August 2026, with Agadir coming out on top.
Summer holidays in Agadir averaged at just £230pp for a week away – but we found deals even cheaper.
Sun-drenched Agadir offers a six-mile-long sweep of golden sand, attracting everyone from surfers to sun-worshippers.
Choose to spend your days soaking up the 30°C heat on a lounger, strolling along the palm-lined promenade, or sipping a chilled mint tea at the glitzy marina.
For those who want a break from the beach, the Souk El Had market offers a maze of stalls selling everything from vibrant spices to handmade jewellery.
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Loveholidays offer a seven-night room-only stay at the Anezi Apartments from just £189pp.
Agadir Beach in Morocco boasts a six-mile stretch of golden sandsCredit: Getty
Neapolitan Riviera, Italy
If you’ve had an escape to the scenic coast of Italy on your bucket list, there’s never been a better time to book.
According to Travel Supermarket, holidays in the Neapolitan Riviera have seen the biggest price drop since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.
Holidays in this region have seen an average price drop of a whopping £231.53, when compared to what travellers were paying for the same trips last summer.
The Neapolitan Riviera stretches along the sun-drenched coast of Campania in Italy, from foodie-heaven Naples to sunny Sorrento.
This shimmering stretch of coastline also includes some of the country’s trendiest resorts, such as the dramatic Amalfi Coast and the pretty town of Positano.
For an underrated coastal city break, take a trip to Naples, where you can sample world-class handmade pizza in the colourful Spanish Quarter.
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Travel Supermarket offers a seven-night room-only stay at the four-star Hotel Casablanca in Naples from £289pp.
Italy’s Neopolitan Riviera has seen the biggest price drop, according to Travel SupermarketCredit: Alamy
Gran Canaria
Holidays to the Canary Islands are one of the most affordable options for a summer holiday abroad this year.
Holiday company TUI have revealed to The Sun that “Gran Canaria comes up trumps for families due to plenty of free kids’ places still available at family resorts” this year.
Gran Canaria is a total sun-soaked paradise, famous for its endless golden sands and sparkling Atlantic waters.
The star of the show is Maspalomas, where dramatic rolling dunes meet the sea, offering beach days with spectacular surroundings.
Along the coast in Meloneras, it’s all about shopping, dining and trendy beach clubs. As the sun sets, the beachfront boardwalks come alive with the buzz of outdoor bars.
The TUI BLUE Tres Vidas lines up family-sized apartments in a prime position for beach days on the sandy shores of Bahia Feliz.
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TUI offer a seven-night stay at the4T TUI BLUE Tres Vidas on a self-catering basisfrom £393pp.
Gran Canaria tops the list for cheap family holidays in the Canary IslandsCredit: Getty
Bodrum, Turkey
If you want to book a trip to the hotspot dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey, now’s the time.
According to Travel Supermarket, holidays to the stylish resort of Bodrum in Turkey are also much cheaper than usual, with average prices for a summer holiday dropping by £118.30 compared to the same period last year.
This upscale seaside spot balances ancient historical sites with plenty of glam beach clubs, fancy restaurants and rooftop cocktail bars.
Explore the glittering marina by strolling its palm-lined waterfront, dipping into a seafood restaurant for lunch or jetting out on a boat trip to a nearby bay.
Plus, history buffs will love a trip to the 15th-century Bodrum Castle perched upon a rocky peninsula, or the preserved Bodrum Amphitheatre that is free to explore.
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Travel Supermarket offer a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the Kriss Hotel from £465pp.
Bodrum has seen an average price drop of £118.30 since the start of the conflictCredit: Getty
Tenerife
Tenerife is a classic summer holiday favourite, but did you know that the island offers some of the cheapest trips for adults this summer?
Holiday company TUI told us that while “Great deals can be found across all of the islands…Tenerife comes out top for adults-only trips”.
When it comes to a classic fly and flop beach holiday, Tenerife is a top contender. The crescent of Playa de las Teresitas is straight out of a holiday magazine, with golden sands dotted with palm trees and calm, shallow waters.
Playa de la Arena, on the other hand, has a natural spa-like feel with mineral-rich, volcanic black sand.
And with the temperature hovering at 28°C in the summer months, this reliable and affordable hotspot continues to shine.
The adults-only TUI BLUE Los Gigantes sits at the ocean edge, so visitors get sea views from almost every vantage point. Glass-wrapped terraces give it a contemporary look, and with wine-tasting sessions, cocktail masterclasses and cooking courses all on offer.
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TUI offer a seven-night stay at the4T+ TUI BLUE Los Giganteson a half-board basisfrom £550pp.
Playa de las Teresitas in Tenerife is an idyllic golden sand beach, perfect for a fly and flop breakCredit: Getty
Cape Verde
For those craving a white-sand beach and turquoise waters without the long-haul flight or the Caribbean price tag, Cape Verde is your answer.
Holidays to this stunning archipelago have seen a significant price drop in price, with average costs falling by £98.82 compared to the same period last year, according to Travel Supermarket.
The country’s ten islands offer miles upon miles of pristine beaches and unspoilt volcanic landscapes.
On the popular island of Sal, you can laze on the golden sands of Santa Maria Beach, or explore the colourful town behind it, packed with lively surf bars and restaurants.
And with temperatures reaching 30°C in the summer months, it’s the perfect place to escape the unpredictable British weather and soak up some sun.
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Travel Supermarket offers a seven-night stay with breakfast at the four-star Dunas de Sal from £701pp.
Tarrafal Beach is just one of many to visit across Cape Verde’s ten islandsCredit: Getty
Costa Dorada, Spain
Spain‘s Costa Dorada ranks as the second cheapest place to book a summer holiday this year with Loveholidays.
The travel company’s research found that a seven-night summer break this year averaged just £381pp.
This Spanish resort is ideal for anyone who wants to mix lazy beach days with action-packed family adventure.
You can spend your morning conquering the world-class rollercoasters and waterslides at PortAventura World, before retreating to the palm-lined promenade of Salou for a chilled drink.
For a dose of history, the ancient city of Tarragona is right on your doorstep. Here you can wander through a Roman amphitheatre that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.
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Loveholidays offer a seven-night room-only stay at the Vistamar hotel from £259pp.
Visit PortAventura World on a trip to Salou in Spain’s Costa DoradaCredit: PortAventura World
Antalya, Turkey
Antalya remains an affordable spot on the Turkish Riviera, offering a high-end feel for a fraction of the usual cost this year.
Summer holidays in the region arenow costing £90.29 less than they did before the Iran conflict, according to Travel Supermarket.
To the east, the soft sands of Lara Beach are lined with luxury resorts, while the pebbled shores of Konyaalti on the west have clear waters backed by the impressive Bey Mountains.
With summer temperatures regularly hitting 34C, it is a paradise for those who want to tan with a view and warm waters to dive into.
Make sure to tick off Kaleiçi, where you can wander past Ottoman-era architecture and narrow cobblestone streets that lead down to the Roman harbour.
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Travel Supermarket offer seven-night stay with breakfast at the Atalia hotel from £289pp.
Holidays to Antalya are now costing £90.29 less on average, according to Travel SupermarketCredit: Alamy
Majorca, Spain
Majorca is a firm British holiday favourite, and this year the Balearic gem is more affordable than usual.
According to Travel Supermarket, average holiday prices for the island have taken a dip of £86.28 compared to the same period last year.
This sunny Spanish island is full of variety. Lose yourself in the winding, cobblestone streets of Palma’s Old Town, overlooked by its massive Gothic cathedral, or head north to Puerto Pollensa for a more relaxed pace along its pine-lined promenade.
For nature lovers, the Drach Caves offer an otherworldly underground experience, with one of the largest subterranean lakes in the world.
Of course, the real draw is the sun-soaked coastline. With summer temperatures averaging a perfect 30C, the island’s Blue Flag beaches are calling this summer.
Es Trenc is a particularly beautiful beach, with shallow waters that are almost a luminous blue.
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Travel Supermarket offers a five-night room-only stay at the Alcina hotel from £199pp.
Visit the Old Town of Palma de Mallorca for amazing architecture, like the Gothic CathedralCredit: Getty
Rhodes, Greece
Rhodes continues to reign as one of TUI’s most affordable Greek destinations, and the holiday company have told us that there’s “an abundance of brilliant deals still to be found” there this summer.
The UNESO-listed medieval Old Town is home to historic sites and Gothic palaces, whilst the seaside tavernas that line the coast offer a scenic spot to enjoy a cold beer or a fresh Greek salad.
When it comes to beaches, Faliraki Beach boasts three miles of soft sands and shallow, bath-warm water that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon.
The resort of Ixia offers a cooling breeze that makes the 30C summer heat all the more comfortable.
In Ixia, the Lito Hotel has outdoor pools facing scenic coastal views, all just a 5-minute drive from the main town centre.
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TUI offer a seven-night stay with breakfast at the3T Lito Hotel from £417pp.
Rhodes in Greece is one of the cheapest summer holiday destinations to book with TUICredit: Getty
Professional pickpocket Lee Thompson left Amanda Holden open-mouthed when he admitted his real age on stage
Samantha King Content Editor
22:15, 18 Apr 2026
The judging panel couldn’t believe how old he actually was(Image: ITV)
A skilled pickpocket who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent tonight (April 18) left the judging panel gobsmacked within moments of stepping onto the stage.
Lee Thompson, from Birmingham, delivered a slick routine in which he repeatedly lifted Ant and Dec’s phones, glasses and room keys without them having the faintest idea.
He was also shown secretly planting wristwatches in the bags and pockets of audience members after posing as a security guard in a pre-recorded segment — and even managed to pull one over on the judging panel backstage, Simon Cowell included.
Yet it wasn’t his nimble fingers that first left the panel speechless — it was his age. Within moments of stepping out on stage, he had Amanda Holden in particular utterly open-mouthed.
“You look very dapper,” Amanda began as the performer first walked out. He swiftly fired back: “Oh! Do I look my age?”, reports Wales Online.
“I don’t know, how old are you babes?” the judge quipped, prompting Lee to reveal: “I’m touching 60.”
The admission left Amanda visibly stunned as she shot back with a “You’re not! Are you?” in sheer disbelief. Simon, clearly equally impressed, then weighed in with: “You look good.”
Following that exchange, he went on to wow the entire panel with his act, earning himself the title of the “modern-day Artful Dodger” from Amanda.
Remarkably, Lee was actually employed as a Pickpocket Consultant on Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series on Prime Video, which follows a young Sherlock Holmes as he finds himself trying his hand at pickpocketing after being inspired by the story of Oliver Twist.
Viewers at home were equally taken with the performer, with one writing: “This is genuinely amazing. Even if he might be incriminating himself.” A second enthused: “That was clever, funny and amazing….good job.”
While Lee breezed through to the next round with four yes votes from the judging panel, some viewers questioned why he wasn’t awarded the prized Golden Buzzer, which grants an act a direct pass through to the live final.
Fans were outraged this evening after KSI awarded his Golden Buzzer to a contentious act. Comedy performer Mr Cherry, 44, kicked off his routine by opening a jar of pickles before subsequently uncorking wine bottles with his buttocks.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t know about you but that was the greatest thing I have ever seen,” KSI declared, as disgruntled viewers swiftly branded his choice the “worst Golden Buzzer” act ever put through on the programme.
Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday nights from 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX. All episodes can be streamed on ITVX after broadcast.