It has been reported that a popular pair of presenters have signed up to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing after impressing bosses
22:10, 10 May 2026Updated 22:29, 10 May 2026
Emma Willis is said to have been offered the Strictly Come Dancing
Emma Willis is said to have been offered the Strictly Come Dancing hosting role alongside another famous face.
There has been much speculation about who might replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the BBC Latin and ballroom show after they chose to step down from the show last year.
It is believed the BBC held auditions for a number of stars, and it has now been reportedly revealed that the BBC are set to offer the role to Emma Willis, with Zoe Ball also expected to take on the second role.
A source said: “Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her. Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know she will do the job justice.
“She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee. She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job. Strictly is one of the biggest shows on television and to be trusted with the new era is something Emma feels incredibly proud and humbled by.”
It is believed Zoe Ball will also be asked to star alongside Emma, taking over from Tess and Claudia. The pair reportedly did a chemistry test together, as well as other pairings including Alex Jones and Rylan Clark and Bradley Walsh and Rob Rinder.
“Emma is seen as the Tess of the duo. Her background in live – and occasionally tense – broadcasting situations means she can handle anything that is thrown at her,” a source told The Sun.
“Zoe and her really clicked and it’s looking likely that Zoe will take on the role Claudia held in the auditorium with the celebs and the pro’s. The BBC are excited about how their new look Strictly is coming together and think the public will agree.”
A spokesperson for the BBC told The Mirror: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”
Emma and Zoe are both big names within the BBC, with them both having radio shows with the broadcaster. Emma hosts her own Saturday afternoon show on BBC Radio 2.
She had previously shared how much she loves the BBC dancing show. Speaking in 2021, when asked about taking part on the show, she explained: “If I had time, I would do it in a heartbeat. Like I absolutely love it.”
Tess and Claudia announced back in September that they were quitting the show after the end of that series.
“We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show,” they said.
“They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last “keep dancing” but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
The Sparks signed guard Kate Martin to a developmental player contract Sunday just hours before their first game of the season. About 45 minutes before tipoff, Martin arrived in Los Angeles.
“It’s been chaotic, but honestly, found a lot of clarity, a lot of confidence, and where I’m at and where the future of my career is heading,” she said. “So honestly, kind of all over the place, but feeling really good and having a lot of clarity right now.”
Martin was a surprising end-of-training camp cut for the Golden State Valkyries after she averaged 6.2 points per game in 42 contests last season. But Golden State was deep at the wing position, making Martin expendable with its other positional needs.
Speaking publicly for the first time since being cut, she was emotional, but excited for the opportunity with the Sparks.
“I chose L.A. because of the way they approached me,” she said. “I just feel honored for the opportunity. And opportunities don’t always come around in this league. And so for the year that I got cut to be the year where there are development spots, I feel very grateful for that.”
The Sparks had one developmental spot left after signing Louisville graduate Laura Ziegler during training camp.
Martin will be available to be on the active roster for 12 games, while receiving a weekly stipend of $750 in addition to a pro-rated minimum salary of $6,000. She has the most experience of any player signed to a developmental contract across the league with two full seasons under her belt.
“(Martin is) great in the locker room, great teammate, super hard worker,” said Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, who coached Martin in her rookie season. “She’s somebody who came in with pro habits and a lot of times from college, that’s hard to do, but she came in and was a nice piece for us.”
The 25-year-old was a fan favorite with the Valkyries and had the third highest-selling jersey in the WNBA last season despite coming off the bench for Golden State.
Martin first went viral during the 2024 draft when she was selected 18th overall by Las Vegas and was in the room to support her Iowa teammate, Caitlin Clark. She averaged 2.6 points per game in 34 games as a rookie with the Aces before being selected by the Valkyries in the expansion draft in December 2025.
“Now my expectations for myself are to buy into being an L.A. Spark,” Martin said. “I know that roles are ever changing throughout the season, but right now, I’m gonna be where my feet are, and I’m going to buy into this role as a development player. I’m going to learn, I’m going to grow, and I’m just going to make the most of this opportunity.”
It’s unclear how much Martin will play with the Sparks, but she might have a path because they lack wing depth. The Sparks are backcourt heavy, then have three bigs in Nneka Ogwumike, Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby. Rae Burrell and Sania Feagin fill that role, but Martin could bring a three-point shot and energy off the bench.
“It’s a great fit for us,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “Thrilled how that worked out. It’s no secret, I love shooters. I think it’s a great add. And I think this gives her a chance in the developmental spot to just kind of settle and really pour into the player development. Her work ethic is unbelievable.”
Paris seeks to repair economic and security ties while countering rising anti-French sentiment across Africa.
French President Emmanuel Macron has started a tour of East Africa as Paris seeks to rebuild its influence on the continent after a series of setbacks, especially in its former West African colonies.
Macron began the three-country tour in Egypt on Saturday, which will also take him to Kenya and Ethiopia.
He will cohost a summit in English-speaking Kenya on Monday and Tuesday as France seeks to redefine its role in Africa, moving away from its postcolonial role towards closer cooperation.
The summit will bring together African leaders and business executives, with several agreements between French and Kenyan companies set to be signed during the visit to boost economic and commercial cooperation.
The “Africa Forward” summit will be the first in an Anglophone country attended by Macron since he took office in 2017.
The French president will wrap up his tour in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, where he will hold meetings with Ethiopian officials and take part in talks at the African Union headquarters on peace and security in Africa.
The tour is widely seen as a bid by Paris to repair economic and security ties and counter rising anti-French sentiment across parts of Africa.
Africa’s changing balance
France colonised large parts of West and Central Africa, and maintained excessive political and economic influence long after independence.
France, once widely accused of supporting unpopular leaders for strategic gain, is no longer the dominant foreign power it once was in Francophone Africa.
Across the continent, there is a growing push for more equal, win-win partnerships, tighter control over natural resources and broader alliances beyond traditional Western partners.
Sahel turning point
Anti-French sentiment has generally grown alongside political instability, military coups and rising competition from other international powers.
The sharpest rupture has come in the Sahel region, where Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have seen coups followed by rapidly deteriorating relations with France.
French forces were subsequently expelled after years of military operations against armed groups that many local governments and segments of the public viewed as ineffective.
In June 2017, with President Trump newly installed in office for the first time, one of the biggest battles with the administration was about oil. He’d just named the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, Rex Tillerson, as his secretary of State, even though great reporting — in this newspaper among others — had recently shown that the company knew all about, and lied all about, climate change as far back as the 1980s.
Back east, the attorneys general of New York and Massachusetts were trying to take the oil giant on, initiating investigations of the company to try to hold it accountable. Environmental advocates and consumer groups were pressing hard for California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris to join in, and she seemed to be considering it. Then she left the office to assume her new U.S. Senate seat, and the decision fell to her replacement, Xavier Becerra — now a leading candidate for California governor.
As I wrote in these pages at the time, it was a great test for him, and a great curiosity that he was staying silent, “since the rest of Sacramento is hard at work dealing with climate change.” I was not the only one who noticed. Seventy thousand Californians signed petitions demanding action. Eight California representatives in Congress — including Jared Huffman and Ted Lieu — sent him a letter demanding a “vigorous” inquiry and pointing out that it was particularly important because the newly elected Trump administration was clearly favoring the oil industry. “California has led the world in responding to the dangers of climate change, and we know that it will continue to do so,” they wrote. “You now have a leading role in that effort.” But ultimately Becerra did not have a leading role, or indeed any role at all: He punted, as this editorial page pointed out. What Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is now trying to do by statute — immunize the big oil companies from prosecution for climate liability — Becerra accomplished by sheer silence.
In the years since, of course, California has paid a huge price for our inaction on climate. Just looking at wildfire, there were of course the great blazes that Los Angeles County will never forget in 2025, but also the 2020 August Complex fire in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, the 2021 Dixie fire up north, the 2017 conflagration across Napa and Sonoma counties, the 2017 Thomas fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, the 2018 Camp fire that devastated Paradise — the list goes sadly on and on and on.
Meanwhile, Big Oil and its friends at Big Utility have racked up huge profits, and Californians have faced ever higher bills. An unhobbled oil industry played a huge role in reelecting Trump in 2024 and in taking us to war with Iran.
And through it all, during his years as attorney general, Becerra did little or nothing to help. As I said all those years ago, it’s a mystery why, though I fear the mystery gets clearer with each campaign funding filing over his long career. As California’s top prosecutor, he took big donations from oil industry giants such as Chevron, and also from energy companies Sempra and Southern California Edison. As a member of Congress, he took larger checks from Pacific Gas and Electric and Edison International.
This time around, as he seeks the governor’s office, Chevron has maxed out its contributions to his campaign, the first time they’ve found a gubernatorial candidate to back in a decade. Meanwhile, across the country, leading progressives have signed a pledge refusing fossil fuel donations. Another gubernatorial contender, Katie Porter, is among them. Needless to say, Becerra is not.
The California chapters of Third Act — a group of Americans over 60 that I helped found — canvassed their members last month and issued an endorsement of Tom Steyer, on the grounds that he had worked hard over the years to address energy and climate issues. Instead of taking money from Big Oil, he’s given money, time and counsel to those of us volunteering in the fight against the industry. In fact, I think that whether one is most concerned about lowering utility bills with clean energy or protecting California’s forests, beaches and insurance rates from the global warming threat, he’d be the most climate-conscious elected official in America.
But Third Act was also founded to help protect our democracy. And that means disconnecting public policy from campaign donations. We need leaders who will do the right thing for us, not for their donors. Steyer has called on Becerra to return his donations from Big Oil. That would be a start, but it doesn’t really make up for the wasted decade we’ll never get back.
Bill McKibben is the founder of Third Act and the author, most recently, of “Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate, a Fresh Chance for Our Civilization.”
Contenders are almost lined up for the 79th Tony Awards.
Tony nominee Uzo Aduba and Tony winner Darren Criss on Tuesday morning will announce the nominees live on CBS and YouTube. Nominated productions included “The Lost Boys” and “The Balusters,” with Rose Byrne (“Fallen Angels”) and John Lithgow (“Giant”) earning acting nods.
Other headline nominees included John Lithgow (“Giant”), Lesley Manville (“Oedipus”), Nathan Lane (“Death of a Salesman”), Daniel Radcliffe (“Every Brilliant Thing”) and Stephanie Hsu (“The Rocky Horror Show”).
The 79th Tony Awards will return to New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on June 7. The ceremony, hosted by Pink, will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Here is the complete list of nominees. (This story is being updated.)
Performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical
Sara Chase, “Schmigadoon!” Stephanie Hsu, “The Rocky Horror Show” Caissie Levy, “Ragtime” Marla Mindelle, “Titaníque” Christiani Pitts, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”
Performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical
Nicholas Christopher, “Chess” Luke Evans, “The Rocky Horror Show” Joshua Henry, “Ragtime” Sam Tutty, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” Brandon Uranowitz, “Ragtime”
Performance by an actress in a leading role in a play
YEREVAN, Armenia — European leaders on Monday said President Trump’s surprise decision to pull thousands of U.S. troops out of Germany is just the latest signal that Europe must take more responsibility for its security.
The Pentagon announced last week it would pull some 5,000 troops out of Germany, but Trump told reporters on Saturday the U.S. plans on “cutting a lot further.”
Trump offered no reason for the move, which blindsided NATO. But his decision came amid an escalating dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said the U.S. has been humiliated by Iran in talks to end the war it launched with Israel on Feb. 28. Trump has also expressed anger over European allies’ reluctance to get involved in the conflict.
European leaders meeting at a summit in Yerevan, Armenia, sought to both downplay the impact of 5,000 fewer troops in Germany while acknowledging that it provides a useful nudge for the continent to step up its role within NATO.
“I do not see those figures as dramatic, but I think they should be handled in a harmonious way inside the framework of NATO,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “there needs to be a stronger European element in NATO, I have no doubt about that.”
Tensions within NATO have mounted since the second Trump administration came into office last year warning that European allies would have to defend themselves and Ukraine in the future. Talks on ending the war there, now in its fourth year, have bogged down as the U.S. focuses on Iran.
Taken by surprise
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the timing of Trump’s announcement came as a surprise, even though there has been “talk about withdrawal of U.S. troops for a long time from Europe.”
Asked whether she believes Trump is trying to punish Merz, Kallas said: “I don’t see into the head of President Trump, so he has to explain it himself.”
Merz did not attend the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, which included about 30 European leaders, plus Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
At a military exercise in northern Germany, the country’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said Berlin has not yet received “official confirmation of when and how this is supposed to happen, on what scale.” The reduction of U.S. troops “would not put into question NATO’s deterrence capability,” he added.
European countries and Canada have increased defense spending and military recruitment efforts over the last year in response to Trump’s threats.
NATO seeks clarity
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also played down the significance of fewer U.S. troops in Germany, while acknowledging U.S. “disappointment” about the level of European support for the Iran war.
France and the U.K. have given U.S. forces limited use of bases on their territories to attack Iran. Spain has outright denied U.S. forces the use of its airspace and bases.
Rutte, who has championed Trump’s leadership at NATO despite the U.S. president’s criticism of a majority of the allies, said: “I would say the Europeans have heard a message.”
European allies and Canada have known since early last year that Trump would pull some troops out of Europe — and some were pulled out of Romania in October — but U.S. officials had pledged to coordinate any moves with NATO allies to avoid creating a security vacuum.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said over the weekend that officials at the 32-nation military alliance “are working with the U.S. to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany.”
Iran and trade trouble
With the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran looking shakier, Rutte said European nations “have decided to pre-position assets, key assets, close to the theater for the next phase.” He provided no further details.
European leaders have insisted their countries would not help police the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy trade route, until the war is over.
“If the United States is ready to reopen Hormuz, that’s great. That’s what we’ve been asking for since the beginning,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. But he underlined that Europeans are not ready to get involved in any operation “that does not seem clear.”
Carlson and Cook write for the Associated Press. Cook reported from Brussels. AP writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
He’s been in work since leaving drama school a decade ago but Callum Woodhouse has had enough of ‘posh’ – and is ready to play a villain
There are no smiles from Callum in his new role a bad guy, in 5’s The Fortune(Image: Lonesome Pine Productions
Channel 5)
He’s known for his roles as witty and warm-hearted Leslie Durrell in The Durrells and happy-go-lucky Tristan Farnham in All Creatures Great and Small.
But actor Callum Woodhouse is now delighted to have landed a “wildly different” role in new psychological drama The Fortune, in which he can “show a bit of versatility” as a baddie for the first time.
Callum, 32, told the Mirror: “The Durrells and All Creatures are two shows I am incredibly proud of and two characters I am incredibly proud of – but there is not much villainy, and in both I am playing posh characters.”
Having grown-up in Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, he relished the chance to use his own voice to play dark and brooding Anthony Worrall. “In The Fortune, I’m speaking in my own northern accent for the first time, and I am essentially playing a villain,” he explained, adding that playing Tristan had become “a little routine” after doing it for so long.
“I’ve done seven years as Tristan and you find the character again immediately. Whereas coming up with Anthony, a nasty character from the north, I almost had to re-learn how to act in my own accent. Getting to flex those nasty muscles for acting, which I haven’t really done since drama school – it was a lot of fun playing someone so wildly different.”
Callum, whose dad was boss of an oil firm and mother a nurse, went to Stockton Sixth Form before completing a three-year drama course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He landed the role in ITV’s The Durrells, in which Keeley Hawes played his mother, before he graduated in 2015. “It was a lovely feeling to be leaving knowing this amazing job was there,” he said afterwards. Believing acting to be a hard world to break into, his parents had encouraged him to keep his options open. “It was a bit of a losing battle, though,” he once admitted. “I’ve really honestly never had a Plan B. They have always wanted me to have as many ‘strings to my bow’ just in case it didn’t work out – but it was all or nothing, so thank God it’s worked out so far.”
The Fortune, expected to start on 5 next month, boasts a wealth of top talent including Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson and Harry Potter’s Matthew Lewis – who has also appeared in All Creatures Great and Small. They play a couple, Amanda and Jimmy, whose world is blown apart when she inherits a fortune from a man she’s neither met nor heard of before. The gripping series, due to air this summer, explores the notion of a person’s past not being what they think it is.
New Tricks favourite Denis Lawson plays Martin Worrall, the head of a family which is bound in past secrets – and Callum is his son, Anthony, often to be seen clutching a rifle (not unlike Leslie Durrell). Amanda’s life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of the Worrall Family.
Other cast include The Thick of It’s Rebecca Front as Martin’s wife Fiona, Wild at Heart’s Stephen Hopkinson as farm worker Boots Maddison and Upstart Crow’s Paula Wilcox as Amanda’s mother Linda.
After playing Leslie Durrell for four series, it ended up being a role Callum found “quite upsetting” because, in real life, Lesie never achieved the success of his siblings. “It’s quite upsetting, because I grew really attached to Leslie, and I wanted him to succeed, and I wanted him to have good things happen to him.”
But he didn’t have the same problem as cheerful vet Tristan. “He always ended up managing to turn a negative into a positive – he was just so perpetually upbeat and happy. It was a very uplifting experience to play Tristan.”
Maura Higgins says her soaring career has come at a cost, with high-profile exes struggling to cope with her successCredit: GettyMaura, pictured with ex Curtis Pritchard, says that her friends tell her she needs to find a partner who is quieter than herCredit: Rex
But Maura, 35, reveals that some high-profile stars actually struggle to cope with her popularity and success.
She said: “My friends tell me that I need someone quieter than me.
“Some of my ex-partners didn’t like me overshadowing them — it was probably an ego thing.
“My friends keep saying that my next partner needs to let me shine and be who I am.”
The former hairdresser and grid girl showed she was not afraid to speak her mind on Love Island seven years ago.
Fans loved her and TV companies could not wait to snap her up.
She was soon signed for Dancing On Ice, and by 2024 she was starring on I’m A Celebrity.
Now she has cracked America, too.
Maura dated Strictly dancer Giovani Pernice – before a sudden splitCredit: ErotemeShe also had a relationship with TOWIE lothario Pete Wicks – who is now dating Olivia AttwoodCredit: BackGrid
She has just been announced as a competitor on Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly, which follows on from her presenting Love Island USA and finishing runner-up on the American version of The Traitors in February.
It has led to her walking some of the biggest red carpets Stateside, including at the Oscars.
And her work there has seen her gain American friends, including fellow Traitors star and Melrose Place actress Lisa Rinna.
Maura recently went to Lisa’s home for an event and was blown over by the relationship she has with husband of 29 years, Clash Of The Titans and L.A. Law star Harry Hamlin.
Maura told Cosmopolitan: “Harry gave a speech, and I sat there thinking, ‘That’s exactly what I want’. He spoke about her with so much respect, and he adores her.
“I genuinely thought, ‘That’s the type of relationship I want. I want a man to let me be me and not try to dim my light’.”
It was during her stint on the fifth series of ITV2 reality series Love Island that she began her first high-profile romance, with Curtis Pritchard.
After leaving the villa, they dated for eight months but Maura says: “I feel like starting on Love Island is why everyone is so invested in my love life and wants to know whether I’m single or dating.”
The former hairdresser and grid girl showed she was not afraid to speak her mind on Love Island seven years agoCredit: Rex FeaturesShe has become a regular on our screens since – including a stint on I’m A CelebrityCredit: Rex
It is probably also because there have been so many relationships with fellow celebrities.
Next came another ex-Love Islander, Chris Taylor, in 2020, followed by Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice in 2021.
At the time, friends said he had “never felt like this about anyone before”. But four months later it ended, leaving Maura reportedly “blindsided”.
Next came Towie lothario Pete Wicks. The pair split in February last year after a series of rows.
And on Valentine’s Day she was overheard telling a friend who asked where he was: “I don’t know, probably cheating”.
But the following month, she was caught in a cheating drama of her own — kissing married I’m A Celeb campmate Danny Jones, the McFly guitarist, at a Brit Awards after-party. He later apologised to his wife.
Maura is now becoming a star in the US – where she is cementing her place as America’s Irish sweetheartCredit: Rex FeaturesMaura is appearing on Dancing With The Stars in the US and says she cannot believe itCredit: Getty
Maura then started to spend more time in America.
Now, the announcement that she will star in the new series of the US dance show cements her place as America’s Irish sweetheart.
But many people are now commenting on her accent, with American fans on social media joking about her saying, “tink”, instead of “think”.
Maura told Cosmo mag: “Everyone’s spelling it T-I-N-K! Even I’m doing it now.
“My Irish fans — they’re all DM-ing and making videos. I’ve seen a few Irish people get defensive and say, ‘You shouldn’t be doing this’.
“But look, if I’m OK with people making fun, then I tink it’s fine.”
After she landed the job on Dancing With The Stars she told fans: “I tink I’m very excited.” And she told American TV show ABC News how she “manifested” her appearance on the dance show.
She said: “I was asked to do Dancing With The Stars Ireland when I first came off Love Island. But around that time there was a lot going on.
Maura says she was previously tempted to do Strictly – but wanted to save herself for the US versionCredit: Rex FeaturesMaura says when she is feeling at her best she is ready to take on the worldCredit: Rex
“And then when Strictly came about I was very tempted because I always wanted to do a dance show.
“I dunno, like my sights were always set on Dancing With The Stars America and I didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardise that position.
“It’s something I’ve been manifesting. I’ve had it on my vision board for the past couple of years.
“And now it’s actually happening. I cannot believe it.”
Maura revealed that although she rarely cries, she was overcome with emotion when she landed the gig.
She said: “I don’t get like that about anything. I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment like that, but because I really wanted it . . .
“If I could get to the finale I’d be over the moon. Obviously I’d love to win. I’ve never won a show in my life.”
It does mean, though, that she will be spending more time in America — and less in the £1.25million home she bought last year in a gated community in Essex.
Maura was so excited when she got the keys that she set up her own Casa A’Maura Instagram — a nod to the Casa Amor villa on Love Island.
But since then she has barely been at the house and only posted twice — one picture of her bean bags in an empty lounge and a second of her cooking pasta, with Sex And The City playing on a TV in the background.
She previously revealed she has not had time to furnish it as she has not been home due to her hectic schedule.
As well as her TV career, Maura has also landed lucrative tie-ins with brands including Primark, L’Oreal Paris, Mac, Ann Summers, Victoria’s Secret and Uber.
Her face may be everywhere, but it has also come under scrutiny on social media, with some asking if she has had tweakments.
Others have commented about her weight loss since her days on Love Island.
Maura told Allure mag: “I have never in my life had cheek filler. If they’re talking about Botox, however, yes, I do get Botox.
“But the only filler I’ve ever had was lip filler, and I’ve not had it in years.
“I’ve had my teeth done. I had Invisalign when I came out of Love Island, and then I had bonding over my teeth, which obviously is going to change my face a lot.”
But one thing she is never without is a spray tan — something that will hold her in good stead as she competes for the glitterball as Ireland’s current hottest export.
She said: “When I’m tanned I feel good, and I’m ready to take on the world”.
WASHINGTON — President Trump says he’s nominating Fox News Channel contributor Nicole Saphier for surgeon general after Casey Means’ path forward stalled in the Senate over questions about her experience and her stance on vaccines.
In a social media post Thursday, the Republican president said Saphier is “a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment.”
Senators of both major political parties grilled Means on her vaccine stance and other health topics during a tense confirmation hearing, deepening doubts about her ability to secure the votes she needs for the role.
Earlier Thursday, Trump on social media commended Means as “a strong MAHA Warrior,” also criticizing the “intransigence and political games” from GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who interrogated Means about vaccines during the hearing.
The withdrawal of Means’ nomination to be the next U.S. surgeon general is a blow to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his movement, which championed Means for the role as the country’s top doctor despite her nontraditional path in medicine and some controversial past remarks on vaccines and other health topics.
The withdrawal comes after tense exchanges between Means and lawmakers of both parties threw into question whether she could secure enough votes to advance out of the Senate health committee. Her nomination had languished since her confirmation hearing in late February, even as activists from Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again movement orchestrated a push to support her bid by surging phone calls to Republican senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who had both indicated reservations with the pick.
In nominating Means last May, Trump sought to hire a close ally of Kennedy as the nation’s doctor. Means, a Stanford-education physician whose disillusionment with the healthcare system led to her career as an author and entrepreneur, promotes ideas popular with the MAHA movement, including that Americans are overmedicalized and that diet and lifestyle changes should be at the center of efforts to end widespread chronic disease.
More than 20 years after Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot to death in a New York recording studio, a man admitted to his role in the killing.
Jay Bryant, 52, pleaded guilty to a federal murder charge, telling U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg that he helped others gain access to the building where the hip-hop icon, born Jason Mizell, was shot in 2002.
“I knew a gun was going to be used to shoot Jason Mizell,” Bryant told the judge, per the Associated Press. “I knew that what I was doing was wrong and a crime.”
Bryant didn’t name the people he helped, but in 2024, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were convicted of Mizell’s murder in a case that prosecutors had been working for decades.
“Y’all just killed two innocent people,” Washington yelled at the jury at the time of the verdict.
Jordan Jr., Mizell’s godson, won an appeal last year to overturn his conviction, with a judge finding that the prosecutors’ case against him didn’t add up. The judge said the evidence didn’t support the contention that he was motivated by anger after he was cut out of a $200,000 drug deal. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy approved Jordan Jr.’s $1-million bond package.
Washington has challenged his conviction as well.
According to Courthouse News, prosecutors claimed that Washington and Jordan both confessed to the murder, based on witness testimony that both men discussed being involved in Mizell’s shooting while they were in prison.
As for Bryant’s role in the murder, his uncle Raymond Bryant testified in 2024 that his nephew confessed to killing Mizell, saying he “did it.”
Additionally, a hat with Bryant’s DNA that law enforcement officers found in the recording studio placed Bryant at the scene of the crime.
Bryant told the court Monday that he was in cahoots with people who were wrapped up in a drug deal with the DJ and that he played a part in the killing by helping them gain entry to the recording studio. According to the Associated Press, Bryant flashed a thumbs up to a person in the courtroom before leaving.
Bryant faces 15 to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder, as well as separate narcotics trafficking and firearms charges to which he already pleaded guilty.
“More than two decades after the cold-blooded, execution-style killing of Mr. Mizell, an exhaustive investigation revealed Bryant’s role and today he finally admitted his guilt,” stated U.S. Atty. Joseph Nocella in a news release.
“Justice in the murder of Jam Master Jay has been pursued with determination and resolve for more than two decades. The defendant’s role in facilitating access for the killers was integral to this crime,” added Bryan DiGirolamo, special agent in charge for ATF New York field division.
Although Mizell’s public persona as the “master of the disco scratch” promoted the wholesome side of hip-hop and encouraged a drug-free lifestyle, officials said he turned to dealing after the group’s heyday had come and gone. According to prosecutors, Mizell became involved in arranging the sale of kilogram-size quantities of cocaine.
In August 2002, Mizell was fronted 10 kilos of cocaine from a supplier. Prosecutors alleged that Jordan Jr. and Washington planned to deal the drugs in Maryland, but a dispute led to the men being cut out of the $200,000 deal.
On Oct. 30, 2002, Mizell was playing video games with a friend inside his Queens, N.Y., recording studio, 24/7. According to prosecutors, around 7:30 p.m., Bryant entered the building containing the recording studio and opened a locked fire escape exit door to allow others to slip in without being seen by Mizell.
Two shots were fired and Mizell was hit once in the head, killing him. The second shot struck another individual in the leg.
HOUSTON — While leading the Lakers to a commanding 3-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, LeBron James has stepped out of his airtight postseason mindset for only a few fleeting moments.
He has a good reason.
“All those moments has been with Bronny,” James said Friday after leading the Lakers to a 112-108 win over Houston. “It keeps getting better and better. It’s like, wow.”
Steadily growing under the postseason spotlight, Bronny James scored his first playoff points Friday in a five-point, 26-second flurry in which he drained a three behind a screen from his dad and then hit a reverse layup to complete the NBA’s first father-son postseason alley-oop. The Lakers can clinch the first-round, best-of-seven series Sunday at Toyota Center.
Without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) to run the Lakers’ halfcourt sets, the team has placed an emphasis on running in transition. When Deandre Ayton blocked a shot at the rim with 7:18 remaining in the second quarter, LeBron corralled the rebound and pushed the ball up the court. Bronny, the youngest player on the Lakers’ roster, knows he can beat anyone up the court. He locked eyes with his dad as they sprinted toward the basket.
It’s been a while since Bronny caught a lob from his 41-year-old dad. Maybe not since last year’s training camp, he estimated. Getting to connect again while contributing to the Lakers’ thrilling overtime win is “what I always wanted,” Bronny said.
“Especially a playoff game, the first playoff bucket is great for me, great for my confidence and how I approach the rest of the playoffs,” he added.
The 21-year-old got his first postseason rotation minutes in Game 1, starting the second quarter. The Crypto.com Arena crowd cheered when he got his first touch of the ball.
He had one turnover and two fouls in his nearly four-minute shift. Several of his passes were slightly off the mark, forcing teammates to reach for the ball. Assistant coach Greg St. Jean pulled him aside for words of encouragement before the second-year pro returned to the bench. He didn’t reenter the game.
LeBron remembered the nerves he had during his first postseason game in 2006 against Washington, he said after Game 1, and there was little advice he could give his son that would make the experience easier until he actually did it.
“I was nervous for my first playoff game too,” Bronny said. “I definitely think I’ve gained a little more confidence and relaxed myself over these three games.”
The Lakers are going to need his minutes. Still waiting for Doncic and Reaves to return, the Lakers can’t turn down any advantageous shots, coach JJ Redick said.
Seeing him confidently step into a three-pointer Friday was even more important than the fact that Bronny made the shot for his first playoff points.
Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) chase after a loose ball during Game 3 on Friday night in Houston.
(Michael Wyke / Associated Press)
“The amount of confidence that a young kid in our league can get from a postseason game is like — a regular-season game would never,” LeBron said. “You will never get nervous from a regular-season moment ever again when you play meaningful postseason games and postseason minutes. And he’s done that, and I think that’s pretty cool for his career, for his confidence.”
Not only has Bronny gained confidence in his shot, but also Redick praised his improvement on defense throughout the season. Against the famously physical Rockets, the 6-foot-2 guard doesn’t look out of place on defense. In the moments LeBron zooms out to realize his son is playing, he marvels at his oldest child’s attention to detail, improvements on the ball and defensive mindset.
Bronny is appreciative of the coaches’ trust in him. The former five-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High still is growing into his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience at USC. That he didn’t get to play a March Madness game will irk him for the rest of his life, Bronny said. But the Lakers’ postseason run isn’t a bad consolation prize.
“Got to do it in the playoffs,” Bronny said, “and that’s just the best feeling.”
Injury updates
Austin Reaves remains questionable for Game 4 in Houston on Sunday . Reaves participated in an individual shooting workout Saturday.
Reaves and Doncic are less than four weeks removed from their Grade 2 injuries suffered April 2. Doncic remains out for Game 4, but with the Lakers close to extending their season into the second round, Doncic’s potential postseason return becomes more realistic.
Needing a win Sunday to extend his season, the Rockets’ Kevin Durant is questionable because of a left ankle sprain. The superstar forward missed Game 1 because of a bruised right knee and injured his ankle late in Game 2. He has been receiving treatment “around the clock,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka told reporters Saturday. Durant was running on an underwater treadmill during Friday’s game and will test the ankle again beforeGame 4.
“Every day that goes by, the likelihood goes up,” Udoka said of Durant playing. “But I thought he might be OK [Friday] based on shootaround and that’s different going half speed and then ramping it up right before a game. And so you really can’t tell, but he’s doing everything he can to get back.”
SHE became the youngest ever Bond girl at 21 – and Gemma Arterton thinks one reason she landed the role as MI6 agent Strawberry Fields is because she teased 5ft 10in Daniel Craig about his height at the audition.
Now 40, the actress recalls how she had been relaxed about applying for the part in Quantum Of Solace because she did not realise quite how huge the 007 films were — and just tried out for “fun”.
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Gemma Arterton says her instant chemistry with Daniel Craig helped her land the role in James Bond movie Quantum of SolaceCredit: Camera PressGemma admits she knew little about the James Bond legacy when she turned up to auditionCredit: She is now set to star in ITV crime drama Secret Service, where she plays a senior MI6 operativeCredit: ITV
Talking about Daniel, 58, who played Bond for 15 years, she says: “He’s got his sense of humour, so that was good.
“I used to poke him a bit, like, I think that’s why I got the job.
“I did a screen test with him and I came on set and said, ‘Hi’, and he said, ‘Hi’. I said, ‘You’re not as tall as I thought you would be in real life’.
“He said, ‘That’s really nice of you to say so’. I was joking with him. I didn’t think I’d get it.”
After she landed the part, Gemma — who is 5ft 7in — says Daniel had to use height-boosting shoes for a few scenes when she was wearing stilettos.
Gemma, whose parents split when she was young, grew up on a Kent council estate with her mum Sally-Anne, a cleaner, and younger sister Hannah.
She said at the 2024 Marrakech International Film Festival: “I knew nothing about the Bond legacy because I grew up in an all-female household where we didn’t really watch movies.
“I literally didn’t know how big James Bond was, which sounds ridiculous because everyone else does. The surprise of how big it was — I couldn’t believe it.
“I auditioned for it because my agent told me to, not expecting to get it, and got it and just did it because it was fun.
“But I had an amazing time making it and it was huge. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for.
“We went on all these amazing locations. I had just left drama school, it was one of my first jobs, and it was the first time I was on a big film set.”
Now, Gemma is about to appear in another spy thriller — but this time she will take on the lead role in new ITVcrime drama Secret Service, which starts tomorrow night.
She plays Kate Henderson, who balances being a suburban married mother of two teenagers with secretly being a senior MI6 operative and heading the Russian desk at the intelligence service.
It is based on the book of the same name by ITV newsreader Tom Bradby.
Gemma says: “She trains spies and finds out some very important information, which is that there is a Russian spy within the British government.
“Her mission is to find out, by hook or by crook, who that is. It’s really gripping. It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff.”
For this role, Gemma did plenty of research and, with writer Tom’s help, she even met a real-life spy to perfect the part.
She told ITV’s This Morning: “I was lucky enough to meet someone who could advise me on how they negotiate their lives and live day to day — you know, their family and their kids.
“There’s a scene where I tell my kids what I do and they don’t believe me, they laugh it off. And that came from this previous spy and what happened when he told his daughter and she thought, ‘You’re joking’.
“But it was invaluable to me because it’s not just the high-stakes lives they live, it’s about the attributes they have to be a spy, which are very specific — very risk averse, good at problem solving.”
Gemma has made more than 30 films, but turned her back on Hollywood in favour of independent moviesCredit: Getty
Gemma has been acting since she was a teenager and was 16 when she first considered it as a career.
She says: “I come from a humble family. My father was a metal worker, my mother is a cleaner, and not involved in the arts in any way.
“I always liked performing and showing off. I didn’t know that acting was a profession really until I was about 16 and I was doing a lot of amateur dramatics as a hobby.
“There was a lady there who said, ‘You should go to college to study acting’.
“I thought, ‘OK let’s see what happens’. Then I saw Breaking Away and Dancing In The Dark and I was inspired.
“That’s when I realised I would like to give it a go.”
She first broke through with comedy film St Trinian’s in 2007, followed by Quantum Of Solace a year later.
Since then, she has made more than 30 films, including 2018’s Vita & Virginia, in which she played author Vita Sackville-West, who had a romantic relationship with fellow writer Virginia Woolf.
Talking about why she left Hollywood films behind to make more independent movies, Gemma says: “I think at the time it was very different in the industry to how it is now for women.
“In those films — not the Bond film. I had a really good time making that film, but the other ones — I didn’t feel very empowered.
“I didn’t feel like I had a voice and I didn’t feel comfortable. I always felt good doing independent films.
“My taste is that as well. I like independent film, it’s my passion. Usually, the stories are better and the characters are stronger and I felt like I had a voice on set.”
Films such as Byzantium, The Voices, Their Finest and The Disappearance Of Alice Creed followed, alongside performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and starring in stage productions such as Nell Gwynn, which won her an Olivier Award in 2016.
On the Dish podcast, Gemma told how, when she starred in The Little Dog Laughed at London’s Garrick Theatre in 2010 with Tamsin Greig, Rupert Friend and Harry Lloyd, they had a novel way to try to dispel their nerves. Laughing, she said: “We used to play this game called bum slap.
“We’d be on stage before the audience came in, obviously, and you have to run around and smack each other’s bum.
“Basically, you have to smack as many bums as you can. And it was the best warm-up ever because you were all loosey goosey.
“I think I’d rather do bum slap than any of the old acting rituals.”
Gemma loves working in Britain because she gets to perform different accents.
She said: “I do enjoy a Liverpool, that melting pot of accents that is Lancashire, Manchester and Blackburn, it’s insane.”
Gemma says she only decided she wanted a career in acting when she was 16Credit: GettyGemma is married to Peaky Blinders actor Rory Keenan, and they prefer to keep a low profileCredit: Getty
Gemma herself had a Cockney accent before gaining her scholarship to the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art, where it “softened up a bit”. London is now her home, but her mum still lives in Gravesend — and now does watch films, thanks to her famous daughter.
Gemma says: “She’s grand, she’s living the life. She’s down in Kent where I grew up, the same home — I paid off the mortgage.
“I think she does eventually watch my shows. She takes her time and needs to watch them with the subtitles on, maybe to absorb them.
“She’s very honest. She’ll say, ‘Why did you do that? You sold out there’.”
Gemma has her own family now, too — son Theo, three, and a baby boy whose name she has not revealed — with her husband, Peaky Blinders actor Rory Keenan, who she married in 2019.
They do not live a showbiz life, but he is supportive of her work.
Gemma says: “My family life is my world now, whereas before it was work.
“It’s made me hyper-focused on what I do want to do.
“Before, it was like, ‘I will do that with that director or that actor I like’, even though it wasn’t the best thing for me.
“But now it’s made me really specific about what I want to do, because if I’m going to be away from them, which I inevitably will, it’s hard.
“But if I’m in it and enjoy the work, then it’s OK.”
Timeline of James Bond actors
Over the years there have been seven actors who have played 007.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Air Force has shared new details about how it will modify a subset of HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopters to perform the so-called Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) mission set. AFDW HH-60Ws will be tasked with ferrying VIPs around the nation’s capital, as well as supporting continuity of government plans. In the latter role, the Jolly Green IIs will be poised to spirit senior U.S. officials and lawmakers to safety at a moment’s notice to ensure the federal government can continue to function even in the event of an attack or a similarly serious contingency. HH-60Ws were just in the news recently in relation to their primary CSAR mission, having taken part in efforts to rescue the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down in Iran.
The Air Force currently uses a fleet of aging UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters based at Andrews Air Force Base (technically now part of Joint Base Andrews) to perform AFDW missions. The service had initially planned to replace them with new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, but revealed last year it was considering using HH-60Ws for this role instead. The Air Force’s proposed budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year, which was rolled out earlier this week, confirms that it is officially moving ahead with plans to supplant the UH-1Ns at Andrews with Jolly Green IIs. The service is still procuring and fielding MH-139s, primarily to help provide security around Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos.
A stock picture of UH-1N Twin Hueys assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base. USAFOne of the US Air Force’s new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters. One of the service’s UH-1Ns in a configuration used to provide security around ICBM silos is seen in the background. USAF The first AFGSC MH-139A at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, with a UH-1N seen flying in the background. USAF
“26 HH-60Ws will replace the UH-1Ns at Air Force District Washington (AFDW) to execute continuity of operations / continuity of government missions in the National Capital Region,” according to the Air Force budget documents. The term National Capital Region (NCR) refers to a larger area that surrounds Washington, D.C., proper.
The baseline HH-60W is a member of the extended H-60/S-70 Black Hawk family produced by Sikorsky, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The Jolly Green II has a number of distinct features in line with its primary CSAR mission, including a nose-mounted radar, an in-flight refueling probe, and a main cabin with a configuration optimized for the recovery of personnel, including individuals who may be injured. It also has provisions for mounted machine guns for self-defense, as well as launchers for decoy flares and chaff. The first HH-60Ws began entering Air Force service in 2022.
Up close with the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter at Nellis AFB for The War Zone.
The AFDW “modifications include possible removal of components including, but not limited to, the following: Rescue Team Seat, Isolated Personnel Litter, Gun System, Chaff/Flare Buckets, and Doors/Floor Armor,” per the Air Force’s latest budget request. “In addition, this effort may include, but not limited to, the following modifications to the baseline HH-60W: ARC 210 Gen 6 radios, Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) system, and alternate seating arrangement.”
Mention here of an IRCM system is worth highlighting. The integration of a built-in infrared countermeasure system onto the HH-60W, in general, has been a particular point of interest for the Air Force for years now. Various IRCM system designs are available on the open market today, all of which are intended to provide added protection against heat-seeking anti-air missiles. For helicopters, these systems provide a particularly valuable extra layer of defense against threats posed by shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, also known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
As TWZ has pointed out in the past, it has also been curious that HH-60Ws did not come with an IRCM capability from the start, given the explicit dangers the helicopters have been expected to face when performing CSAR missions. The AN/AAQ-45 system was even previously integrated into the Air Force’s older HH-60G Pave Hawks, which the Jolly Green IIs are replacing.
Wild footage from a USAF C-130 fueling two helicopters over Iran shared by telegram channels. The cars & the dialect are Iranian and from southwest. pic.twitter.com/K9cufOOY26
A separate Air Force contracting notice put out earlier this month also provides additional details about the planned AFDW cabin configuration for the HH-60W.
“The AF [Air Force] will remove several components from the baseline 60W to allow for the installation of passenger seats for AFDW. Seating is required for 11 passengers,” that notice explains. “Seating must meet applicable crash and safety requirements including emergency egress.”
The “reconfiguration of [the] interior layout to accommodate [the] seating” will also be done in a way that allows for “preserving critical CSAR equipment (rescue hoist, defensive weapons, medical stations)” that the helicopters will still need for their new role.
Graphics depicting how the HH-60W’s cabin can be configured now for CSAR missions. Lockheed Martin
Just in terms of general speed, range, and payload capacity, the HH-60W will offer a major boost in capability over the UH-1Ns that perform AFDW missions today. The Jolly Green IIs also offer advantages in this regard over the smaller and lighter MH-139s.
In addition, the Air Force has not indicated any plans to eliminate the HH-60W’s aerial refueling capability as part of the AFDW modifications. Neither the UH-1N nor the MH-139 is capable of being refueled in flight.
Combat Rescue Helicopter Successfully Executes Major Test Milestone: Aerial Refueling
All of this could be particularly valuable during continuity of government taskings in the very busy and otherwise complex skies over the NCR. The airspace around Washington, D.C., is also the most densely defended and heavily monitored anywhere in the United States. This was all highlighted in the fatal mid-air collision involving an Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet in January 2025. The Black Hawk, assigned to a unit at Davison Army Airfield in Virginia, had been conducting a continuity of government training flight.
The flights could come at any time, including in the dead of night, and, depending on the circumstances, might face a host of other complex environmental factors and other challenging conditions. Power outages could put additional emphasis on the need to use night vision goggles, which impose limits on situational awareness. Attacks involving nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons would prompt the need to wear other bulky protective gear. In the outright rush to evacuate key personnel, the airspace would be filled with large numbers of aircraft, as highlighted by large COG exercises the 12th Aviation Battalion regularly conducts involving dozens of its helicopters.
As is made clear here, Air Force HH-60Ws would not be the only helicopters zooming around the NCR during a continuity of government scenario, either. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), best known for operating helicopters in the Marine One role, would also be involved. Helicopters belonging to the U.S. Park Police, as well as various other law enforcement and civilian agencies, would also have a role to play. You can read more about this here.
Military and police helicopters land at the US Capitol this evening.
As mentioned earlier, the AFDW mission set also includes performing more routine VIP airlift sorties on a daily basis.
There is a question of what modifying 26 HH-60Ws for the AFDW role might mean for the operational capacity of the rest of the CSAR-focused fleet. The Air Force’s 2027 Fiscal Year budget request does not show any plans to procure additional Jolly Green IIs to meet this new need in the nation’s capital. Years ago, the service already made the decision to scale back purchases of HH-60Ws, down from an original program of record for 113 of the helicopters. The total planned fleet size now looks to be 91, per the recently released budget documents. Without the acquisition of more Jolly Green IIs, this would mean that roughly 30 percent of the entire fleet is set to be re-roled away from the dedicated CSAR mission.
“It is more cost effective to modify previously procured HH-60Ws contained in back up inventory than to procure additional MH-139A aircraft,” an Air Force spokesperson had told Air & Space Forces Magazine last year when asked about the Air Force’s evolving plans for the AFDW mission set.
As it stands now, per the service’s latest budget request, the Air Force is looking to kick off formal development of the AFDW configuration for the HH-60W in Fiscal Year 2027, which begins on October 1 of this year. The goal is then to start refitting Jolly Green IIs for this role in the 2028 Fiscal Year.
Once modified, the specifically configured HH-60Ws will then begin taking over critical AFDW missions from the aging UH-1Ns at Andrews.
Patrick Muldoon, known for his roles on “Days of Our Lives,” “Melrose Place” and “Starship Troopers,” has died. He was 57.
The actor and producer reportedly died Sunday, his manager confirmed to Variety. According to Deadline, Muldoon died suddenly after a heart attack. The Times has reached out to Muldoon’s reps for comment.
Muldoon originated the role of Austin Reed on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” He first portrayed the aspiring boxer and brother of Lisa Rinna‘s Billie Reed from 1992 to 1995, and returned to reprise the role from 2011 to 2012 (the character had since become a forensic accountant).
“Austin is a wonderful role,” Muldoon told The Times in 1995. The actor explained he took his “sweet time” mulling over whether to leave the show because “it was one hell of a decision to make.”
“I’m leaving for no other reason than why other people leave soaps,” Muldoon said at the time. “To take a shot at doing other things like nighttime, movies and other things. … I feel confident right now so I figured I better take the shot sooner than later. If I don’t, I’ll always wonder ‘what if.’ ”
He played the recurring villain Richard Hart on the primetime soap “Melrose Place” for three seasons beginning in 1995. Muldoon’s big-screen roles include Zander Barcalow, a pilot and rival of Casper Van Dien’s Johnny Rico, in Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 movie “Starship Troopers.”
Born September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, Muldoon’s early passions included football. He started playing at the age of 6 and would go on to play at Loyola High School and then at USC.
“I did fairly well for being a smaller tight end,” Muldoon told The Times in 2012, adding that getting run over during practice by USC teammateJunior Seau — the late linebacker who had a 20-year NFL career — was among the factors that led him to pursue acting instead. Muldoon began his acting career during the sport’s offseason, and his earliest roles were on shows such as “Who’s the Boss?” and “Saved by the Bell.”
In addition to acting, Muldoon was a producer with credits on films such as “Riff Raff” (2024), “Marlowe” (2022), “The Card Counter” (2021) and “The Comeback Trail” (2020). Most recently, he shared on Instagram his excitement of being among the executive producers for the upcoming film “Kockroach.”
Jeremy Clarkson’s choir has reportedly landed a starring role on his new series after wowing with their Britain’s Got Talent audition that sent them straight to the semi-finals
Jeremy Clarkson’s choir have landed role in ‘uplifting’ new series after wowing on BGT(Image: ITV)
Jeremy Clarkson’s choir has landed a starring role on his new series after wowing with their Britain’s Got Talent audition. The former Top Gear presenter, 66, has documented the ups and downs of Diddly Squat in the Cotswolds on his Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm since 2021, with a fifth batch of episodes expected to be released later this year.
Just weeks ago, Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir auditioned for the ITV reality competition and managed to win Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer, sending them straight through to the semi-finals after wowing with a rendition of Elbow classic One Day Like This. Just prior to belting out the famous track, member Katrina explained to the judges that Jeremy himself had set the choir up, having been sponsored by the Hawkstone Brewery that the TV star co-owns in the Cotswolds.
With the live semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent just weeks away, insiders have revealed that the group of more than 30 farmers, will also enjoy another television stint with a role on the next series of Clarkson’s Farm.
A source said: “Filming for series five is well and truly under way and the finished show is likely to air next year. Fans will, however, be able to see series four in a matter of weeks, though according to Jeremy it’s a rather darker season than we’ve been used to.”
Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “Hawkstone Farmers’ ChoirBut the appearance of the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir in the following outing is going to make it more uplifting. They’re going to have to get used to being even more famous though.”
Just after their success on BGT was aired in March, Jeremy took to social media to congratulate them. He said: “I watched Britain’s Got Talent tonight for the first time because the Hawkstone Choir were on and they were just fantastic.
“These guys are all farmers and they work incredibly hard for really incredibly small rewards, and to see them all on that stage with all that love in the room made my heart sing – I actually welled up.”
While visibly holding back tears he went on to thank Amanda Holden for pressing the Golden Buzzer. He added: “It shows that people quite like farmers. They were very very good, well done all of you. I’m a very happy man tonight.”
The short video attracted comments from fellow BGT viewers, one wrote: “I was crying like a baby, the sentiment, the emotion, they’re sensational. They Will Win.” Another wrote: “Truly awesome really heartfelt.”
Speaking about getting the Golden Buzzer, Katryna Shell from Northumberland said: “The choir has turned into something so much more than singing…
“We have come together as a community, something I didn’t even anticipate. The choir is filled with all sorts of people with varying ages, singing experience, parts of the country, but we all have farming linking us together – it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”
Hugh Thomas, from Pembrokeshire said: “I had to pinch myself – this was really happening to an old boy from Pembrokeshire! Performing on National TV wasn’t something I ever envisaged… More importantly it will shine a light on agriculture, farming and the rural economy.”
The California Supreme Court ordered attorney and former law school dean John Eastman disbarred on Wednesday for his role aiding the Trump administration’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Eastman’s attorney, Randall A. Miller, told the Associated Press that the court’s decision “departs from long-standing United States Supreme Court precedent protecting First Amendment rights, especially in the attorney discipline context.” Miller did not immediately return an after-hours phone call seeking comment from The Times.
State Bar Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said in a statement that the ruling “underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney.”
“Today’s California Supreme Court order disbarring John Charles Eastman from the practice of law in California affirms the fundamental principle that attorneys must act with honesty and uphold the rule of law, regardless of the client they represent or the context in which that representation occurs,” said Cardona said.
The Supreme Court’s decision affirms a 2024 ruling from State Bar Judge Yvette Roland that Eastman be prohibited from practicing law.
In a marathon trial that lasted off and on from June to November 2024, the State Bar, which regulates lawyers in California, argued that Eastman was unfit to practice law for peddling bogus claims that fraud cost Trump the election and for promoting a fake-elector scheme to block the electoral count.
“It is true that an attorney has a duty to engage in zealous advocacy on behalf of a client,” Roland wrote in 2024 in a 128-page ruling. “However, Eastman’s inaccurate assertions were lies that cannot be justified as zealous advocacy.”
Roland found Eastman culpable of 10 of 11 counts of misconduct.
Eastman fomented “predictable and destructive chaos” when he stood beside fellow Trump adviser Rudolph W. Giuliani on Jan. 6, 2021, and told an enormous crowd at the Ellipse that the election had been fraudulent, the bar argued.
Eastman claimed he was acting in good faith, and as a vigorous champion of his client. But State Bar attorneys argued that “the evidence, including his often not-credible trial testimony, shows that he held — and still holds — truth and democracy in contempt.”
Despite Eastman’s repeated assertions that Joe Biden’s victory was illegal, Roland ruled, Eastman’s own words showed he knew that proof was lacking.
The judge cited an email that Eastman sent to a friend, Cleta Mitchell, on Nov. 29, 2020, acknowledging that fraud serious enough to sway the results could not be proved.
“It would be nice to have actually hard documented evidence of the fraud in the areas to which the analyses pointed,” Eastman wrote.
After the 2024 ruling Eastman responded on his Substack writing that he hoped the California Supreme Court or U.S. Supreme Court would “step in to put a stop to this lawfare that has become a serious threat to the First Amendment, the right of controversial clients and causes to legal representation, and more broadly to our adversarial system of justice.”
Eastman has a long history in California’s conservative legal circles. He was hired by Chapman’s law school in 1999 and was dean from June 2007 to January 2010, then continued to teach courses in constitutional law, property law, legal history and the 1st Amendment.
He retired in early 2021 after more than 100 Chapman faculty and others affiliated with the university signed a letter calling on the school to take action against him for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Wednesday’s decision is a bookend in a lengthy investigation into Eastman’s actions that began in 2021. In October of that year, the nonpartisan legal group States United Democracy Center filed an ethics complaint calling on the State Bar to investigate Eastman’s Jan. 6 actions.
Christine P. Sun, senior vice president of legal at the States United Democracy Center, said on Wednesday that the court’s decision is “part of a broader reckoning for those who seek to undermine the rule of law.”
“Eastman played a central role in the plot to overturn the 2020 election—pressuring state officials, advancing baseless claims in court, and promoting a fringe theory that the vice president could reject certified electoral votes,” Sun said in a statement. “His unethical actions have had real, lasting consequences for our democracy, and we applaud the California Supreme Court’s decision to disbar him.”
Staff writer Christopher Goffard contributed to this report
Niall Currie has left his role as Portadown boss with immediate effect with two games of the Irish Premiership season remaining.
Currie took over as Ports boss for a second spell in October 2022 after previously managing the club between 2016 and 2018.
His last game in charge was Saturday’s heavy 4-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Crusaders in which Currie criticised his side’s “abysmal” performance.
Currie could not prevent the club from being relegated in the 2022-23 season, but he led the Ports back to the top flight at the first time of asking as they won the Championship title the following campaign.
They also reached the BetMcLean Cup final in 2024, but were beaten in the final by Linfield.
He then guided Portadown to an eighth place finish in their first campaign back in the Irish Premiership last season, two points off seventh and a spot in the European play-offs.
The club currently sit 10th with two games left to play, away to Ballymena United on Saturday and away to Bangor on Saturday, 25 April.
The 53-year-old has also managed Dundela, Carrick Rangers, Ards, Loughgall and Annagh United.
The Walt Disney Co. has begun a broad round of layoffs, which will result in 1,000 jobs being cut across multiple divisions within the Burbank entertainment giant.
The layoffs, which began Tuesday, will ripple across Disney’s television and movie studios, sports giant ESPN, its product and technology unit, corporate functions and marketing, according to a person familiar with the retrenchment but not authorized to comment.
Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro notified Disney staff members about the looming cuts on Tuesday morning. In the message, viewed by The Times, D’Amaro acknowledged the elimination of roles would be difficult.
The move follows Disney’s announcement in January that it would consolidate Disney’s sprawling marketing division.
“Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney,” D’Amaro said in the note.
“Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs,” D’Amaro wrote. “As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.”
After officially taking the reins, D’Amaro told employees he wants the company — which includes film and TV studios, a tourism division, streaming services and live sports programming — to operate as “one Disney,” saying the global businesses all play a role in deepening consumers’ relationship with the brand and its characters.
Traditional entertainment companies have been reeling from the steady erosion of what was once an economic pillar — programming fees from ESPN, Disney Channel and other popular outlets.
Disney erased at least 8,000 jobs after D’Amaro’s predecessor, Bob Iger, returned for his second stint as CEO in November 2022. Iger determined that Disney was cranking out too many TV shows and made-for-streaming movies, many of which didn’t live up to the company’s high standards of quality and diluted its blockbuster franchises.
This year, the company has been centralizing its operations, including folding its marketing for entertainment, sports and experiences into a single division that reports to Asad Ayaz, its chief marketing officer.
The streamlining is a way to reduce expenses and better organize a sometimes confusing reporting structure.
“Despite these difficult decisions, I remain optimistic about where we’re headed as a company,” D’Amaro said in Tuesday’s note.
“Compassion and respect remain at the heart of our company,” D’Amaro wrote. “As we move forward through this transition, our priority is to support those impacted and help each person navigate what comes next with resources, guidance, and direct support.”
“I’m deeply grateful for all of your contributions and for the dedication, professionalism, and care you bring to your work each day,” D’Amaro said. “Even in challenging moments, you continue to demonstrate what makes Disney so special.”
Reacher star Alan Ritchson will be headlining a new reality series for Netflix from the producer of Survivor and The Apprentice
Reacher star Alan Ritchson to host intense Netflix show from Survivor producer(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
Alan Ritchson, the star of Reacher, is set to host a new, intense reality survival series for Netflix.
The acclaimed actor, known for playing the iconic action hero on Prime Video and for the Netflix film War Machine, will challenge a group of high-profile contestants — from influencers to “headline-makers” — in a series of outdoor challenges designed to test their “resilience and grit.”
The currently untitled series will strip away modern luxuries, forcing players to rely on their instincts and determination. “Do they have what it truly takes to endure? Will they risk losing their carefully curated personas in the process? And who will break first under the pressure?” a synopsis from Netflix Tudum teases.
Ritchson, an experienced outdoorsman himself, will guide the contestants, “pushing them beyond their limits and into the unknown.”
The show is executive produced by Jay Bienstock, known for launching major reality hits like Survivor and The Apprentice, guaranteeing addictive viewing.
He is also executive producing, along with Julie Pizzi, Rupert Dobson, Gayani Wanigaratne, and co-executive producer John Faratzis.
The upcoming series will be joining Netflix’s already huge catalogue of popular reality shows, which is only set to grow over the coming years.
Fans have devoured the likes of Squid Game: The Challenge, Million Dollar Secret, and Is It Cake? so far.
Netflix is also in production on The Golden Ticket, inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Win the Mall, a thrilling retail rivalry competition hosted by Haley Baylee, both set to be released this year.
A synopsis for the former reads: “To achieve sweet success in this high-stakes social experiment, players will have to adapt and strategize, as a golden ticket only gets you so far. Wonka’s guests must withstand games, tests, and temptations designed to prove their instincts, resilience, and ability to thrive in the chaos of a retro-futuristic dreamscape.”
Get Netflix free with Sky for Bridgerton Season 4
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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.
And Win the Mall will follow “10 teams of expert shoppers competing to gain control of storefronts, increase their spending power, and outmanoeuvre rivals in the ultimate retail experience.”
Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on Netflix’s must-watch TV tournaments.
The ball is back in LeBron James’ hands, and he is thriving in his “new” role as the Lakers’ primary caretaker.
James is in this position in the wake of injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He had been the third option behind Doncic and Reaves, and he shifted back to a role he has been very accustomed to playing over his 23-year career.
James has been a force over the last three games, with his latest standout performance coming Friday night in the Lakers’ 101-73 win over the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena.
James finished with 28 points, 12 assists and six rebounds helped the Lakers secured at least the No. 4 seed in the uber-tough Western Conference.
The Lakers still have a shot at the third seed if they beat the Utah Jazz at home on Sunday and if the third-place Denver Nuggets lose at San Antonio on Sunday, the final day of the regular season. Because the Lakers won the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, they would get the higher seed over Denver if the two teams finish with identical records.
Whomever the Lakers wind up facing in the playoffs, coach JJ Redick believes teams want to face his group because of their injuries. Doncic and Reaves are not expected back for the first-round of the postseason.
The Lakers, however, do still have James — and he has been masterful.
James was 10 for 16 from the field against the Suns and two for two from three-point range.
Over his last three games in this new role, James has averaged 24.6 points, 12.6 assists and 7.6 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field and 46% from three-point range.
Lakers guard Luke Kennard, center, controls the ball in front of Phoenix guards Amir Coffey, left, and Jamaree Bouyea during the first half Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
He was on point from the very beginning against the Suns.
James quickly went by a defender on a back-door cut, took a pass from Luke Kennard and threw down a two-handed, rim-rattling dunk. James stood and flexed in front of his teammates on the bench, who stood to give their approval. The Suns called time out with four minutes and 53 seconds left in the first quarter, giving the fans more time to appreciate what James was still able to do at 41 years old.
The Lakers are 52-29 and are confident they’ll be ready to face any opponent in the playoffs.
“I’m sure everybody wants to play us. Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us,” Redick said before the game. “Probably teams that are in a position where they can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups as well. … Again, I’ll say what I told the team yesterday, what I told you guys after the game, we have to figure out the formula and the belief for this group to be successful. And so that’s our focus for tonight and that’s going to be our focus on Sunday.”
Notes: Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes missed his third straight game with left foot soreness, but he has been making progress. “Hope to have him back Sunday,” Redick said. “But yeah, he’s still day to day.” … The Lakers waived guard Kobe Bufkin. It means the Lakers have a roster spot available to sign another player for the playoffs. “We’re evaluating all the options we have,” Redick said. … Marcus Smart, who had missed nine straight games with a right ankle contusion, had six points in 18 minutes.
Death in Paradise star Ralf Little discusses his new stage role in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold UK tour on BBC Breakfast
Shivon Watson Screen Time Reporter
18:02, 10 Apr 2026
BBC Breakfast: Ralf Little jokes about his new theatre role
Death In Paradise star Ralf Little has opened up about his “disappointing new role”.
The 46-year-old, who shot to fame on BBC sitcom, The Royle Family, appeared on Thursday’s edition of BBC Breakfast to discuss his new stage production, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.
The theatrical adaptation of the John le Carré novel has embarked on a major UK tour following a sold-out, critically acclaimed West End run. It plunges audiences into the murky world of Cold War espionage, where betrayal is rife and ethical boundaries are perpetually blurred.
Playing lead character Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer, Ralf spoke to BBC Breakfast hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt about how this part contrasts with other spy-themed dramas. Drawing comparisons between The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Ian Fleming’sJames Bond, he said: “It’s not like that at all,” reports the Express.
“I don’t get any gadgets, I don’t get to drive an Aston Martin and I was very disappointed because that was really the only reason I wanted to do it,” he joked.
Picking up on his disappointment, Naga questioned why he chose to take on the role. Ralf added: “I know! There’s no glamour at all!”
Despite his misgivings, Ralf added: “I don’t want to have to be given refunds, but I think people will really enjoy it.”
Regarded as a global bestseller for over six decades and featured amongst TIME Magazine’s 100 greatest novels of all time, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold showcases le Carré at his most razor-sharp – delving into betrayal not merely between nations, but within the human soul.
In March 2024, TV fans were left heartbroken following Ralf’s exit from the much-loved detective drama Death in Paradise.
Having portrayed Detective Inspector Neville Parker since 2020, Ralf brought a unique blend of endearing awkwardness and emotional complexity to the part, swiftly establishing himself as a firm favourite amongst viewers.
His departure allowed the character’s journey to reach a natural and fulfilling conclusion, while simultaneously paving the way for new faces and fresh dynamics on the island of Saint Marie.
Although audiences were saddened to see him leave, his contribution made an enduring mark on the programme’s legacy.
Opening up about his exit, Ralf revealed his role felt “completed” and had a “beautiful and poignant” ending.
BBC Breakfast airs Monday-Sunday from 6am on BBC One
