Japanese horse racing has been on the precipice of breaking through on the U.S. scene. It seemed like it was almost there in 2021 when it won three Breeders’ Cup races. But after that it leveled off.
Through 10 races at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, horses from Japan underperformed. But in the 11th, the most important race in the two-day event, the breakthrough became official when Forever Young held off Sierra Leone, last year’s winner, to win the $7-million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a half-length.
The last time we saw Forever Young in this country was a year ago when the 4-year-old colt finished third in the Classic. Before that, he was third in the Kentucky Derby by a whisker while being on the receiving end of some bumping down the stretch by Sierra Leone. Without that he might have been victorious in a race that was won by Mystik Dan.
The commonality between the 2021 and 2025 Breeders’ Cup days was that both were run at Del Mar.
Forever Young was almost the victim of some legal chicanery on Saturday as trainer Chad Brown entered a horse — called a rabbit — with little chance to win so that he could set a fast pace. Sierra Leone, also trained by Brown, needs a fast pace to weaken the other horses, which would benefit Sierra Leone’s late running style.
But this time, Forever Young overcame all the obstacles thrown at him. He ran a very tactical race being placed close to the lead and never farther back than third.
Forever Young paid $9.00 to win. He was followed in order by Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Journalism, Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking, who was the rabbit in the 1 1/4- mile race.
It was the third Breeders’ Cup win for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. When asked if this was his most satisfying win, Yahagi said, through a translator: “I will never, ever get satisfied until I get retired as a trainer.”
Forever Young was the third foreign horse to win the Classic, joining Argentine-bred Invasor in 2006 and Irish-bred Black Tie Affair in 1991.
“So last time here, the horse was 75% conditioned,” Yahagi said. “And this time we create 100% condition. Forever Young is an amazing horse.”
The winning jockey was Ryusei Sakai.
“We got the No. 1 in America,” Yahagi said to NBC.
The Classic lost a lot of luster when the favorite, Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, was scratched earlier in the week when he spiked a fever. Sovereignty was the top-rated horse in the country and a possible horse-of-the-year winner. Many were hoping for a rematch with Journalism, who finished second in both those races and won the Preakness, which Sovereignty did not run in.
Trainer Bill Mott only brought two horses to the Breeders’ Cup, Sovereignty and Scylla. While Sovereignty didn’t make the starting gate on Saturday, Scylla ($17.20 to win) sure did, winning the biggest race of the year for female horses, the $2-million Distaff.
“It’s certainly difficult to see what happened to Sovereignty,” Mott said. “I think everybody that’s connected [with this sport] has been through it and we knew when it happened, he wouldn’t be able to compete and not at the level that he would need to. And it seems as though he’s recovering well but he’s really not the story here.
“I mean this one is about Scylla and about Junior [Alvarado, his jockey] and the Juddmonte connections.”
Alvarado took her to the front and never looked back, winning the 1 1/8-mile race by 5 1/2 lengths. Nitrogen was second and Regaled finished third. Favorite Seismic Beauty contended early but then faded to 12th in the 13-horse field.
The second richest race on the card, the $5-million Turf, was supposed be a matchup of two-time winner Rebel’s Romance and Minnie Hauk, who had five wins and two seconds in seven starts. They ran together for most of the 1 1/2-mile race but long shot Ethical Diamond started rolling in the top of the stretch and cruised to a 1 1/4-length win. Rebel’s Romance was second.
The Irish-bred Ethical Diamond, trained by William Mullins and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, paid $57.40 to win.
The first Breeders’ Cup race of the day, the $1-million Filly & Mare Sprint, became less interesting when two of the favorites, Sweet Azteca (2-1 morning line) and Tamara (7-2), were scratched by the veterinarian. There was a third scratch that took the field down to seven.
Bob Baffert had three of the horses in the race, including Splendora, who won in dominating fashion by 4 3/4 lengths and paid $7.80. He was midpack until the far turn of the seven-furlong race before jockey Flavien Prat let him loose in the stretch.
It was Baffert’s 20th Breeders’ Cup win, tying him for second with the late Wayne Lukas. Aidan O’Brien won his 21st Breeders’ Cup race on Friday.
“[Lukas] changed every industry for the better,” Baffert said. “He brought elegance to the game. … To be part of it and then to tie him, it’s an honor for me. … I still miss him. I loved having conversations with him. It’s an honor to tie him.”
Shisospicy ($12.60) broke on top and held the lead to the finish to win the $1-million Turf Sprint, which was ran at five furlongs. The 3-year-old filly is trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo and was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., who picked up his 22nd Cup victory.
She’s Quality was eased shortly out of the gate in the Turf Sprint by jockey Colin Keane and walked onto the equine ambulance. She was transported to an equine hospital and is back in her barn being monitored.
Ortiz picked up his 23rd win in the next race when he won the $2-million Sprint aboard Bentornato. It was also the second straight victory for D’Angelo. Bentornato broke on top and was never headed in the six-furlong race. It was only his second race of the year for the 4-year-old ridgling. Bentornato finished second in last year’s Sprint, losing to Straight No Chaser, who finished seventh on Saturday.
There were three additional Breeders’ Cup races after the Classic, the turf Mile, Dirt Mile and Filly & Mare Turf.
KATY Perry’s new love Justin Trudeau was seen making a “subtle nod” to their new romance with his Halloween costume.
Katy, 41, and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin, 53, were first linked together in July, shortly after her split from Orlando Bloom, 48.
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Katy Perry is enjoying a romance with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin TrudeauCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskJustin wore this shark Halloween costume which was a ‘subtle nod’ to KatyCredit: Instagram/ @justinpjtrudeauKaty famously had sharks as backing dancers for her 2015 super bowl performanceCredit: Getty
Since then things have been heating up between the new couple, which included them being spotted kissing on her yacht earlier this month..
Now, in sweet nod to his new girlfriend, Justin paid homage to her with his Halloween costume.
Sharing an Instagram post of his spooky outfit, he was dressed as a shark while his son Hadrien, 11, as a wounded surfer.
He wrote: “Ready for Halloween with Hadrien!”
Justin added: “We built the costume together – a little father-son Halloween teamwork.”
What was great about the costume is that it is a sweet nod to Katy’s Super Bowl halftime performance in 2015, when the backup dancers became a meme in their shark outfits.
GOING PUBLIC
Justin’s Halloween costume comes just days after he seen out in public with Katy for the first time – as they left a strip club.
The pair stepped out together in Paris last weekend for the singer’s birthday
On Saturday, they looked smitten with each other and in struggled to keep their eyes off each other.
The birthday girl was seen adoringly glancing over at Justin while the exited the venue, while carrying red roses in her hands.
In a video from the moment the pair were snapped, paparazzi serenaded Katy as they crooned “Happy Birthday” to celebrate her 41st birthday.
Earlier this month, Katy, who has been on her Lifetimes world tour, took to the stage in London when she broke her silence on the romance rumours with Justin.
Addressing the crowd, the pop star said: “London, England, you’re like this on a Monday night after a whole day at work and a whole day at school?
“No wonder I fall for Englishmen all the time… but not anymore.”
The quip came days after photos emerged of Katy and Justin kissing aboard her 78ft yacht, the Caravelle, off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
In the snaps, a shirtless Trudeau could be seen with his hand on the star’s bottom as the two shared a private moment.
Sources told The Sun the pair have been secretly dating since the start of the summer.
“They haven’t been able to spend a lot of time together as she’s on tour, but they’re constantly in contact — always FaceTiming and messaging each other,” an insider said.
Justin revealed he made the costume with his sonCredit: Instagram/ @justinpjtrudeau
BUDDING ROMANCE
The Sun revealed earlier this month that the pair are “constantly in contact” after they went public with their romance.
Relationship rumours began to swirl in July after singer Katy and Justin were seen dining together at the swanky Le Violon restaurant in Montreal, Canada.
It came a month after Katy announced she had split from Brit actor Orlando.
At the time, neither Katy nor Justin commented on the romance claims.
Our source said: “He’s a bit of a geek and can’t believe someone as famous and glamorous as Katy is interested in him, whereas she’s flattered such a respected politician wants to date her.”
Katy and Trudeau were pictured on her yacht, the 78ft Caravelle, off Santa Barbara in California, last month.
Eamonn Holmes and new partner Katie Alexander, 43, are said to be ‘under strain’Credit: Simon JonesThe couple went public with their romance last yearCredit: instagram/@katster32
And it appears things are still rocky, with a source telling the Mail that they’re spending an increasing amount of time apart.
The insider said: “He’s grumpier than ever and his health problems really aren’t helping, but instead of moving closer to Katie and settling, he’s spending more time with his family in Belfast, often without her.”
The couple, who first began speaking as friends on social media platform X in 2015, became romantic last year – just months after Eamonn’s split from wife Ruth Langsford was made public.
To make matters worse, Eamonn is no longer represented by InterTalent Rights Group and his manager Jonathan Shalit, who has overseen his career since 2022.
Prior to that, Eamonn had enjoyed a fruitful relationship with YMU, who continue to represent his ex-wife Ruth Langsford.
Relations between Eamonn and YMU soured in 2021 when the GBNews star allegedly felt his telly rival Phillip Schofield was receiving preferential treatment.
This was prior to Schofield being axed from ITV for lying about a relationship with a younger male member of staff.
At the time, Eamonn was livid that he and Ruth had been let go from their Friday slot on the show after 14 years of service. They were replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.
Now, Eamonn has lost another longstanding gig.
Virgin radio host Ryan Tubridy has replaced him as host of The Irish Post Awards in London – a role Eamonn has held since 2013.
A difficult performance last year, in which Eamonn struggled with mobility issues amid chronic health problems, reportedly prompted bosses to look for an alternative.
A source said: “The truth is that Eamonn is an Irish legend but things didn’t really go well last time – and it’s felt that it’s time he moved over for the more appropriate talent waiting in the wings.
“This time around, it just felt foolhardy to stick with him even though he’s been such a big part of things for so long.”
The Sun has contacted an InterTalent representative for comment.
Despite the reports of low mood, Eamonn isn’t resting on his laurels.
An underrated period drama based on one of the most influential books of all time is available to watch for free
‘Must-watch’ period drama based on classic book is free to watch(Image: ITV/PBS)
Viewers shouldn’t miss out on this incredible four-part drama based on a classic novel, as it’s available to watch without spending a penny.
This breathtaking adaptation was originally aired in 2023 on ITV and PBS Masterpiece in the US and has developed a passionate cult following despite not receiving critical fanfare at the time.
Based on the novel by Henry Fielding, Tom Jones brings the seminal 1749 novel to life like never before with an ensemble cast of British legends.
William Tell’s Solly McLeod portrays the titular downtrodden hero, a young man with mysterious parentage who falls in love with his spirited neighbour Sophia Western (played by Sophie Wilde).
Sophie decides to flee her arranged marriage to be with Tom, but the pair are kept apart by a series of increasingly fraught misadventures.
They’re accompanied by some of the most recognisable names from the British screen, including Coronation Street’s Lucy Fallon, Harry Potter’s Shirley Henderson, New Tricks’ Alun Armstrong and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.
Many viewers consider the drama an essential watch and it’s still currently available to stream for free on ITVX.
One 10/10 review from an IMDb user declared it “Gorgeous viewing with a top notch cast”.
They continued: “The cast list is like a who’s who of the cream of British talent, topped by two lovely and good looking leads.
“The episodes fair gallops on its way, cutting through the boring exposition and getting quickly to the important stuff, the love story between Tom and Sophia.”
The review continued to particularly praise Waddingham’s performance as Lady Bellaston, declaring “Seriously, put this woman in EVERYTHING”.
“If you get a chance, watch it in one go, it’s perfect lazy weekend viewing,” the reviewer concluded.
Another warned that fans of the book should expect some changes to the narrative, but admitted: “Even though the story is not like really really the one from the book is one pretty entertaining and very fun to watch. The choice of actors was really good and they did a great job.
“I really recommend for you to watch it if you want some light series combined with romance, a bit of jealousy and of course some British scenery.”
And a 9/10 review said: “This is what you want from English costume drama – and more. I really liked it.
“Fans of historical dramas and literary adaptations will find Tom Jones a must-watch, as it stays true to the spirit of the novel while making it accessible and enjoyable for modern audiences.”
In the mood for a cosy period romance with plenty of laughs and scenery-chewing performances from British greats? Look no further.
“Little Mermaid” star Halle Bailey and her rapper ex-boyfriend DDG decided this week to temporarily put their differences aside in their months-long custody battle over their 1-year-old son, Halo.
The pair of musicians, who dated from 2022 to 2024, agreed to drop their mutual domestic violence restraining order requests and settled on temporary custody terms to co-parent their child, according to a stipulation filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The stipulation, signed by both parties, is a significant development in the exes’ dispute, which came to a head in the summer.
When Bailey (of the “Do It” sister-singer duo Chloë x Halle) and DDG (born Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) announced their split in October 2024, the latter said “we are still best friends and adore each other” and would work to co-parent their son. But tension between the exes surfaced in May after Bailey secured a temporary restraining order alleging the father of her child was abusive throughout their two-year relationship and had continued to behave badly since their breakup. “Darryl has been and continues to be physically, verbally, emotionally, and financially abusive towards me,” she said at the time, according to court documents. Bailey, 25, requested that DDG, 28, be ordered to stay away from her and their son.
Influencer DDG, known for the 2016 single “Balenciaga,” fired back with allegations against Bailey and a request for his own domestic violence restraining order. He accused his ex-girlfriend of “emotional instability and coercive control,” raised concern about her “repeated threats of suicide and self-harm” and alleged instances where she “endangered the child’s safety while in emotional distress.”
Though the stipulation states both Bailey and DDG must “immediately dismiss” their restraining order requests, they can each file new requests in case of future abuse.
Court documents say that Bailey will have physical custody over Halo except on Wednesdays and certain weekends. The stipulation also outlines a custody agreement for birthdays and the upcoming holidays.
The latest court documents also address each parent’s social media use, which proved to be a point of contention after the breakup. Notably, DDG brought baby Halo with him for Twitch star Kai Cenat’s livestream in November 2024.
“Neither party shall post, upload or disseminate on the internet or any social media platforms, photographs, images, and or/information regarding the Minor Child,” court documents say. Friends and family of the two musicians are also barred from posting about Halo. Additionally, neither Bailey nor DDG can “disparage the party publicly” or in the presence of their child, who turns 2 in December.
Bailey was a fan of DDG years before they became an item. After sparking up a romance via social media DMs, the former pair made their red carpet debut at the 2022 BET Awards. The singer was vocal about how she was smitten with DDG, telling Essence the romance was her “first deep, deep, real love.”
Through their time together, the former couple faced their share of ups and downs — including DDG’s diss track about his ex’s starring role in “The Little Mermaid” and some criticism from Bailey’s older sister Ski Bailey.
Halle Bailey currently has more than just family matters on her plate.
She released her debut solo album, “Love?…or Something Like It,” on Friday. Upon announcing the release earlier this month, she said on Instagram that the project is a “story of first love, heartbreak, and everything that comes after.”
Times assistant editor Christie D’Zurilla andeditorial library director Cary Schneider contributed to this report.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — A young woman is desperate to raise $50,000 for her mom’s life-saving medical treatment. She will get the money, but only if she agrees to her stepsister’s unusual proposal: to marry her wayward fiance, who comes from a wealthy family but also has a rap sheet.
That’s the plot line for an episode of “The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband.”
That may sound like a telenovela. In fact, it’s a popular series that appears on ReelShort, an app where audiences can view on their smartphones over-the-top, dramatic tales reminiscent of soap operas called micro dramas.
Unlike a regular TV show, this drama unfolds over 60 episodes, each lasting one to three minutes. After six episodes, viewers hit the paywall, where they could continue watching ad-free with a $20 weekly subscription, watch ads or pay as they go.
Already, the series has garnered more than 494 million views since it launched in 2022 and ReelShort says it has made more than $4 million from the show.
With titles like “The Billionaire Sex Addict and His Therapist,” “How to Tame a Silver Fox” and “Pregnant by My Ex’s Dad,” micro dramas lean heavily into sensationalism and light on budgets, which are typically less than $300,000 per series. And many of them are filmed in Los Angeles.
Director and co-writer Cate Fogarty watches actor Diego Escobar on dual vertical monitors. The film, by platform DramaShorts, is shot vertically to be adapted for viewing on a phone screen.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
Short serialized dramas first took off in China, where they are hugely popular and generated revenues of $6.9 billion last year, even surpassing domestic box office sales, according to DataEye, a Shenzhen-based digital research firm.
Now, Hollywood is starting to take note of the bite-sized format.
In August, the venture arm for Lloyd Braun — the former ABC executive and chairman of talent agency WME — and L.A.-based entertainment studio Cineverse formed a joint venture called MicroCo to build a platform for micro dramas.
“Traditional Hollywood moved away from a whole genre and storytelling that fans love, and I think micro dramas really took advantage of that and really leaned into that fandom,” said Susan Rovner, chief content officer of MicroCo.
Studio interest
Major studios are investing in micro dramas in an attempt to replicate China’s success and find new ways to appeal to younger audiences that are accustomed to watching short-form videos on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and other platforms while on the go.
Fox Entertainment recently announced an equity stake in Ukraine-based Holywater, a producer of micro dramas. Under the deal, Fox Entertainment Studios (a division of Fox Entertainment) will produce more than 200 vertical video titles over the next two years for Holywater.
And Walt Disney Co.’s accelerator program, which invests in startups, recently named micro drama business DramaBox, whose parent company is based in Singapore, as part of its 2025 class.
David Min, Walt Disney Co.’s vice president of innovation, said he believes micro dramas will continue to do well, especially with younger audiences accustomed to watching entertainment on their phones.
“We have to be where everyone is consuming their content, so that’s an opportunity for us,” Min said in an interview. “…This is just another new platform to experiment with and explore and see if it’s right for the company.”
First assistant director Chakameh Marandi, left, and actress Leah Eckardt wait during filming at Heritage Props last month in Burbank.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
This year, ReelShort, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., says it will produce more than 400 shows, up from 150 last year.
All of the productions are filmed in the U.S. and mostly in Los Angeles, said ReelShort CEO Joey Jia in an interview. The company plans to build a studio in Culver City that will adapt its most popular micro dramas into films.
“We offer a lot of opportunity,” Jia said.
Warsaw-based DramaShorts said in 2026 it aims to shoot 120 micro drama projects in the U.S., up from 45 to 50 this year. About 25% of those will be in the L.A. area.
DramaShorts co-founder Leo Ovdiienko says, “People are so used to consume content through social media, through TikTok, through Instagram, through Facebook and to share information.” .
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
“People are so used to consume content through social media, through TikTok, through Instagram, through Facebook and to share information,” said DramaShorts co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Leo Ovdiienko, 29, in an interview. “I believe it’s only a matter of time before the big players will also come to this stage.”
The company works with production partners in L.A. who employ actors, writers and crew members who work on the quick-turn projects, a bright spot in a struggling job market.
“The plus side of filming in L.A. is it is the epicenter of Hollywood,” said executive producer, writer and director Chrissie De Guzman, who has worked on DramaShorts projects. “We know how the state of our industry is doing right now, so a lot of talent have moved into the vertical space.”
Though vertical dramas are the length of a movie, they are spliced up into small chapters and produced quickly. A 100-page script might be shot in just one week as opposed to a month for a feature film.
Each chapter usually features a cliffhanger or dramatic moment — whether that’s a slap or a character in danger.
“It just hits every little emotional point,” said Caroline Ingeborn, chief operating officer at Palo Alto-based Luma AI, which provides micro drama companies with AI tools. “It hooks you in like this and because it’s so easy to press [Play]. You just need to see the next episode.”
The crew of vertical film “Sleeping Princess” break between scenes.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
Labor tensions
With ultra-low budgets, many of the productions are non-union, prompting some writers and actors to work under pseudonyms to avoid facing sanctions from their unions, said several people who work on the shows.
In an effort to address the issue, performers union SAG-AFTRA recently announced it has created agreements that cover low-budget vertical dramas.
Writers Guild of America West President Michele Mulroney said in an interview the union is aware that “there are companies that are trying to do this work non-union, so the guild wants to help our members … in ways that they can work on verticals and make sure they get that work covered.”
Micro drama producers said they welcome talking with the unions, but questioned whether their business models could support union contracts.
“We’re not anti-union at all,” said Erik Heintz, executive producer at Snow Story Productions, which makes vertical dramas for platforms including DramaShorts.
Despite labor tensions, these short-form dramas have provided a key source of employment for Hollywood workers who’ve struggled to find jobs as production has moved out of California.
Corey Gibbons, 44, a director of photography, said vertical dramas kept him in the business when other work dried up.
“I have a feeling that we’re on the brink of something that’s really going to change,” Gibbons said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
So was 27-year-old actor Sam Nejad, a former contestant on “The Bachelorette” who started acting in vertical dramas in January. He said he’s landed one or two lead roles a month since then and can earn $10,000 a week.
“It’s a new art,” Nejad said. “The new Tarantinos, the new Scorseses are all coming through this.”
ReelShort’s office in Sunnyvale looks more like a typical Silicon Valley startup than a Hollywood studio.
Jia, the chief executive, sits at a desk in an open floor seating area with his staff. Along the office walls are framed posters with titles like “Prince With Benefits,” “Never Divorce a Secret Billionaire Heiress” and “All the Wrong Reasons.” Jia proudly points out why each program was notable on a recent tour of the space.
“I don’t have money to hire celebrities,” Jia said. “I have 100% rely on story.”
The 46-year-old entrepreneur, who has an electrical engineering background, launched his business in 2022. At the time, there wasn’t much interest from Hollywood studios.
The skepticism followed the high-profile collapse of Quibi, the startup led by studio mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg and tech executive Meg Whitman, that worked with A-list movie stars on series that would appear on an app in short chapters. Quibi raised $1.75 billion, only to shut down roughly six months after launching.
Jia took a different approach. Rather than signing expensive deals with celebrities, he hired students or recent graduates from colleges like USC to work at his company.
Jia approves all of the micro drama stories at ReelShort, which he says is expected to generate $1 billion in revenue this year.
A ReelShort representative declined to disclose the company’s earnings but said the business is profitable.
Jia said ReelShort has 70 million monthly active users, with 10% of them paid users.
The churn — the rate at which customers drop weekly subscriptions — can be more than 50% at ReelShort, Jia said. That makes it paramount for the company to have a steady stream of content that entices customers to keep paying. Currently it has more than 400 in-house titles and roughly 1,000 licensed titles.
Like others in the genre, ReelShort and DramaShorts rely heavily on data metrics like customer retention and paid subscribers to make their content decisions.
“A lot of directors are thinking, when I shoot the film, ‘I don’t care how people think, this is my creation, it’s my story,’” Jia said. “No, it’s not your story. Your success… should be determined by the people.”
The Married at First Sight UK star has been spotted partying with a famous face – and it’s not Grace
Samantha King Content Editor
15:00, 23 Oct 2025Updated 15:01, 23 Oct 2025
Ashley Dommett is partnered with midwife Grace Law on the programme(Image: Channel 4)
Married at First Sight UK groom Ashley Dommett has ignited speculation about a potential new romance after being caught on camera partying with two brides from last year’s series.
The 35-year-old Welshman is currently matched with midwife Grace Law, 31, on the programme’s tenth series presently broadcasting on E4. However, their conflicting values and differing humour has created tension within their partnership.
Whilst the pair remain coupled up on the programme, they have stopped following one another on Instagram in recent weeks, fuelling speculation that they separated once cameras stopped rolling.
An insider close to the production told The Sun: “Grace has gone rogue recently and been slamming the show and the edit on socials, and now her and Ashley aren’t following each other, it’s pretty clear they aren’t together any more.”
On Wednesday evening (October 22) former MAFS UK participant Hannah Norburn shared footage showing herself enjoying beverages with her Season 9 colleague Sionainn Carmichael, alongside Ashley, reports OK!
In the footage, the threesome each grin at the camera whilst dancing with drinks as Justin Bieber’s track Baby plays in the background. She captioned the post: “Mini MAFS reunion with a new recruit and the worlds most unlikely trio.”
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MAFS UK viewers were swift to swamp the comments section, questioning the stars about whether romance was developing.
However, Ashley maintained the group were “just friends,” disclosing: “It was actually Leisha Lightbody that organised the night but then had to work late and bail last minute.”
Both Hannah and Sionainn endured turbulent experiences during their series. Hannah was matched with a groom she repeatedly clashed with until he stopped communicating with her entirely, whilst also facing severe backlash from fellow brides who branded her a flirt with their partners.
She discovered comfort with co-star Orson, who similarly battled his own relationship troubles.
Meanwhile Sionainn departed the programme following an explosive row with her groom Ryan. She revealed to two fellow contestants that he admitted to “faking it all” throughout filming and viewed the experiment as merely a “holiday romance.”
Given their challenging ordeals, several comments beneath the footage targeted Hannah specifically, prompting Ashley to defend her.
“She’s actually a really nice person mate, had a class and needed fun night with them both last night,” he wrote.
Married at First Sight UK continues on Sunday night at 9pm on E4
JESSICA Alba shared some cheeky snaps from her latest holiday after debuting her new beau.
The actress, 44, is currently soaking up the sun in Australia, enjoying an envy-worthy vacay including trips to the beach.
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Jessica is in Australia on holidayCredit: Instagram/JessicaalbaShe flaunted her figure on the beach in a tiny thong bikiniCredit: Instagram/JessicaalbaShe also showed off her flat stomachCredit: Instagram/Jessicaalba
Jessica shared some photos to her Instagram from the trip, looking as gorgeous as ever.
In the first pic the beauty is smiling laying on her front on a beach towel.
The ocean laps in the background, as others share the sand with the star and enjoy some time in the water.
Her skimpy leopard print and red floral bikini hugs her body, as sand clings to her thighs and booty.
She finished off the look with a simple black sun cap and shades.
Jessica also posted a photo of her legs and bikini bottoms while laying down.
It perfectly shows off her flat stomach and sun-kissed skin.
Dispersed between her beach pics, Jessica posted a series of quotes expressing gratitude for every moment in life – including those that seem more mundane to experience.
“One day I will be near the end,” read a poignant text post.
“And realize that all of it was the point.
“The ordinary and the exxtraordinary.
“Trips across the world.
“And trips to the grocery store.
“Sitting on boats applying sunscreen.
“And laying in bed putting lotion on my legs.
“Before I go to sleep.
“Dancing in the rain and singing in the shower.
“Staying out late to waste the next day hungover.
“And staying in and feeling rested.
“Sunday morning at the farmer’s market.
“Long road trips with people you love.
“And crying at a red light in your car alone.
“All of it is the point.”
Fans of the star flocked to the post’s comment’s sections to praise her outlook on life, as well as let her know she looks amazing.
“Talented and beautiful, inside and out,” said one user.
“She’s been working on her [peach emoji],” and “you are the creator of your reality, and life can show up no other way for you than that way in which you think it will,” replied others.
Alba’s positive attitude comes just after her and her new beau Danny Ramirez made their relationship official to the public.
The pair were first spotted sharing a kiss back in May of this year in London’s Regent Park.
The Indian city’s Maratha Mandir has been holding daily screenings of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge since it released in 1995.
Published On 19 Oct 202519 Oct 2025
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A theatre in Mumbai is celebrating 30 years of screening a much-loved Bollywood romance that has become India’s longest-running film.
On Monday, Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai, the financial capital of India, will mark three decades of daily screenings of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Bravehearted Will Take the Bride), which shot actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to superstardom.
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The film, widely known to fans as DDLJ, redefined modern Hindi romance and continues to draw hundreds of cinemagoers to its morning screenings with its tale of young lovers bucking tradition since its release on October 20, 1995.
“I have seen it about 30 times … and I will continue watching it,” Mohammad Shakir, 60, told the AFP news agency as he bought a ticket for 40 rupees ($0.45).
A moviegoer checks his phone while standing beside a poster of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre [Indranil Mukherjee/AFP]
Manoj Desai, the head of the cinema located near Bombay Central Station, told AFP that weekday crowds tend to be made up of university students and young couples.
“On Sundays, you will find around 500 people, even after 30 years,” said Desai.
Clash of values
The film, which far outstrips the five-year run of the 1975 action-thriller Sholay (Embers) at another Mumbai theatre, revolves around the contrast between the more liberal values of second-generation Indians overseas and the conservative values of their parents.
Desai said it was common for audiences to break into cheers and applause during the film’s climax, when the heroine runs alongside a moving train into her lover’s arms.
“This is the goosebump moment,” Desai said. “The father letting his daughter go, saying she won’t find a better partner to spend her life with.”
It is a message that continues to resonate with younger viewers, even those who were not born when it was released.
“In our generation today, we often see transactional relationships,” Omkar Saraf, 23, told AFP. “But in this film, the hero crosses all boundaries to win his love with no expectations.
“We have watched it on television, on our mobiles, but the big screen gives us goosebumps.”
A scene from the film [Indranil Mukherjee/AFP]
‘Cultural monument’
Desai said one die-hard fan of the movie had been coming to screenings for 20 years, while for others, the film had played a part in their own love stories.
One couple watched it while dating, before inviting Desai to their wedding. “They went abroad for their honeymoon – and came back to watch the movie,” Desai said.
The film’s daily screenings were almost discontinued in 2015, but backlash from fans meant the decision was reversed, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported.
Film critic Baradwaj Rangan said the film had enduring appeal in a country still navigating the tensions between traditional and modern values.
“It represents a certain point in Indian culture, and that is why it is still loved,” Rangan said, adding that it “perfectly captured” the friction between two generations.
“The film has become a kind of cultural monument,” he said. “I think it is going to be playing forever.”
Keri Russell has been a recognisable face on TV screens since the 90s – and she has a famous partner
Netflix’s The Diplomat is back with a third season, featuring Kate Wyler (portrayed by Keri Russell) in an unexpected new role.
Keri Russell, a 49 year old American actress, has been celebrated for her television roles since the 90s.
Born and raised in California, she has an older brother and a younger sister, and due to her father’s job as a Nissan Motors executive, the family moved around frequently.
In 1999, she bagged a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the drama Felicity, and has received four additional nominations for her roles in The Americans and The Diplomat.
In recognition of her contributions to television, she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.
One of her earliest roles was at the tender age of 15, when she featured in the Disney Channel’s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club.
Her dancing skills, honed during her middle school and high school years, helped her secure a spot on the show.
She was a regular cast member from 1991 to 1994, and during this period, she made her film debut in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.
From 2013 to 2018, she starred opposite Matthew Rhys in the series The Americans, where he played her character’s husband.
The on-screen couple became real-life partners during this period.
Who is Keri Russell’s famous partner?
The Diplomat star was previously married to Shane Deary, a Brooklyn-based contractor whom she met through mutual friends.
They tied the knot in 2007 and have two children – a son and a daughter.
The pair parted ways in 2014 and since then, she’s been romantically linked with Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, famed for his roles in Brothers and Sisters and Perry Mason.
They share a son and despite affectionately referring to each other as husband and wife, they haven’t tied the knot.
The duo have voiced their eagerness to collaborate professionally once more, with Russell suggesting to People that her partner could “totally” join the cast of The Diplomat.
“I think that would probably be more in his court,” she added, indicating their mutual desire to work together again.
“But he’s pretty busy doing a million other things. He’s got, like, five other jobs or something,” she quipped.
Dearest gentle reader, Lady Whistledown — voiced by Julie Andrews — is back.
Netflix released a trailer for the fourth season of “Bridgerton” on Monday, and the Ton’s resident gossip columnist promised to have all the delightful details. The teaser also revealed that the next chapter of the Regency-era romance will be released in two parts on Jan. 29 and Feb. 26.
The eight-episode season will follow Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) fairy tale-inspired romance. The beloved second-eldest sibling of the Bridgerton brood is is known for being commitment averse and uninterested in marriage, but, if the trailer is to be trusted, it seems a masked mystery woman he brushes past on a staircase might change that.
“With each passing season, one is known to experience plenty of ups and downs,” Whistledown says in the teaser footage. “So then we must ask ourselves, do we rise to the occasion? As always, time — and this author — will tell.”
Unbeknownst to Benedict, the mystery woman, also known as the Lady in Silver, is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). According to Netflix’s in-house blog Tudum, the staircase encounter featured in the trailer is the first time the pair cross paths during Lady Bridgerton’s masquerade ball.
Benedict and Sophie’s romance is based on the events in “An Offer From a Gentleman,” the third book in Julia Quinn’s “Bridgerton” book series. Much like the wicked matriarch in “Cinderella,” Sophie’s stepmother (Katie Leung) is more concerned about her two daughters’ (Michelle Mao, Isabella Wei) societal debut and marriage prospects than whatever her stepdaughter is getting up to.
“Bridgerton” showrunner Jess Brownell previously told The Times that Benedict’s character arc “has a lot to do with being someone who is learning how to exist between society and and being unconventional.”
“Benedict [is] trying to figure out what his place is in the world and how to circumvent certain rules, which is something Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) [taught] him [in Season 3],” she said last year. “I think we will continue telling the story of his [sexual] fluidity going forward.”
The brief “Bridgerton” Season 4 teaser focuses solely on Benedict and Sophie. Those interested in updates about the state of Penelope’s writing career or what Francesca, John and Michaela Stirling have been up to since the end of the third season will have to keep waiting.
Molly Mae Hague has confirmed she is back with Tommy Fury in a new trailer for her upcoming series Molly Mae: Behind It All series 2, but issued a cryptic statement
“We’re back. Feels good,” the trailer starts with. “The balance at the minute of work and bambi is just a lot,” before Molly goes on to talk about her exhaustion.
The Maebe founder and Tommy shocked the worldwhen they announced their unexpected split last August. However, the pair found their way back together and have since enjoyed several family holidays with Bambi in destinations including Dubai, Budapest, and Turkey. They now appear to be happier than ever after working through their struggles, including Tommy’s alcohol troubles.
Later on in the extended trailer on YouTube, Molly and Tommy are seeing smiling coyly before Molly says “Tommy and I are back together, yes. But I never know what tomorrow is going to bring,” referring to Tommy’s past woes.
This comes after it was revealed that Molly reportedly bans ‘any mention’ of her fiancé Tommy Furyat her events. Staff working at her events and others are understood to be warned not to asked the Love Islandstar, who recently reunited with boxer Tommy after a brief split last year, about him.
Molly is now opening up in the next instalment of her fly on the wall series. Similar to the first instalment, which premiered back in January, viewers can expect to follow Molly-Mae as she tackles everything from her public relationship with Tommy to mothering their daughter Bambi.
The official synopsis teases: “With exclusive access, Molly embarks on an exciting new chapter as she takes her business empire to the next level while navigating the challenges of motherhood under the scrutiny of millions.” It continues: “Raw, relatable, and inspiring, this series reveals the insecurities and hopes of a young mum balancing fame and family.”
Series one focused a lot on their split after he admitted to issues with drinking, but the series ended with them having enjoyed a holiday together and trying to make the best of a fresh start.
Speaking at the end of series one, Molly said: “Things are looking so much better for us. I’m gonna start spending more time at Tommy’s house, keeping things slow and not rushing anything. But as always, I always say I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t think it’s gonna be a plain sailing future. I don’t. That’s just me being honest. I think we’re still gonna have bumps.
“The dream is still the same that, you know, we’ll get to a place one day when we will all be happy in that house together and have more children, hopefully, and just have a really nice, happy life together. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for us. I don’t want to get too excited, but I’m getting glimmers of what I always wanted, which is my family. I know we have got something completely worth saving.” As the credits rolled she added: “But you never know what’s around the corner!”
The first three episodes of the six-episode series will drop on October 18th, with the rest of the season set to release in early 2026. This won’t come as a surprise to fans who tuned into the first instalment, which was also released in two parts in January and May.
Behind It All season one was huge success and became the most-watched series on Prime Video by young women in the UK, aged between 18 and 34. It went on to win the National Television Award for Authored Documentary in September.
Molly-Mae reigned victorious over the likes of Flintoff, which tells the story of sporting legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff; and Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which dives into pro dancer Amy Dowden’s health battle.
*Molly-Mae: Behind It AllSeries 2 (Episodes 1–3) launches exclusively on Prime Video on 18th October. Episodes 4-6 episodes will follow in early 2026.
After a week of partying pictures emerged of radio co-hosts Olivia and Pete looking cosy onboard a yacht in Ibiza.
Olivia’s husband Bradley was said to be “livid” after seeing his wife sitting in between best pal Pete’s legs on a yacht off the coast of the party island.
The Sun later revealed how Bradley’s Gillingham FC’s teammates then shared the pics of Pete and Olivia on the team’s WhatsApp group.
Appearing on Loose Women last week, Pete insisted that he no longer lives with regrets.
He said: “I think years ago, I mean I have a lot of regrets and things I’m not proud of but I think a couple of years ago it kind of changed for me when I realised life is too short for regrets.
“You only get as far as we know only one chance at this and you may as well live your life for yourself rather than other people.”
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Pete and his pal Olivia Attwood raised eyebrows during their recent trip to IbizaCredit: Instagram/Olivia_attwood
Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder got emotional as they discussed having kids on the new series of their BBC show Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India, where they travel across the unique country
07:00, 14 Sep 2025Updated 07:06, 14 Sep 2025
Rob and Rylan both made emotional admissions about having kids(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Rex TV, Zinc Media/Jakob Borges)
Rylan Clark has revealed more about his desire to have children amid his new romance with a fairground worker. It was recently revealed that Rylan is dating a new man, four years on from his split from his husband Dan.
Teasing the new romance, Rylan revealed: “At this time I’m very happy. Recently I have gotten into a relationship and it’s great. And it feels very different to anything I’ve had before, which is a good sign to me.”
He didn’t reveal who it was but the man is believed to be called Kennedy and the pair are said to have become “inseparable” this summer and have already met each others families.
Rylan Clark and his new funfair worker boyfriend have already had deep conversations (Image: Instagram/naderdt)
Rylan and Rob discussed kids in their new show(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
Speaking in an emotional chat on their show Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India, the former X Factor star explained: “What this trip has done is invigorate in my head how important family is. I want one day, fingers crossed, to have kids. What about you?”
“Don’t forget, I’m older than you. It’s quite a lot [older]. So when I was coming out, it wasn’t a possibility and I’ve got to a stage now where I’m so set in my ways…,” Rob then replied as Rylan quizzed what would happen if he met the right man tomorrow.
Rob then admitted: “I just think I’d be too afraid – I don’t think I’m good enough,” before Rylan added: “Let me tell you one thing, you are good enough. But it’s alright not to want kids. It’s just always been my plan. Get the husband, get the Range Rover, get the kids.
The Good Morning Britain star admitted he feared he was too “selfish” to raise kids. Rylan replied: “But I think the second, you had kids you’d change … You know what Rob, you’d never feel love like it.”
“As long as they were kind and had nice manners,” Rob added, with Rylan then quipping: “They would be because they’d be raised by you – and me probably,” as he joked about being uncle Rylan.
Meanwhile, Rylan has been forced to deny he and Rob are dating. He said: “Like, so many people keep asking, everyone keeps asking me – because there’s all these fake news stories about me and Rob Rinder – we’ve gotten married and all of this. Rob’s my friend. I adore him, and Rob and Rylan’s just about to come out again, and I just thought, ‘Let’s just put the record straight.'”
Hollyoaks viewers are convinced that Mercedes McQueen will have a new romance with one of the show’s most beloved characters in the wake of her son Bobby’s death
Hollyoaks fans think a new romance is on the cards for Mercedes (Image: C4)
In recent episodes of the Channel 4 drama, Tony Hutchinson (Nick Packard) was wrongfully arrested and jailed for Bobby’s murder. Bobby, an escaped prisoner, had crossed paths with Jez after discovering that the serial killer had taken the life of his social worker Ian.
Jez Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) went to extreme lengths to hide his crimes, leading to the brutal murder of Bobby in shocking scenes. His body was subsequently run over by Tony.
Mercedes McQueen’s son Bobby was killed by Jez in Hollyoaks (Image: LIME PICTURES)
Mercedes is determined to prove that Chester legend Tony is responsible for her son’s death. However, upcoming scenes reveal that Diane Hutchinson (Alex Fletcher) is organising a fundraiser at The Dog to assist Tony with his legal costs, something Mercedes won’t take lightly.
But bringing Tony to justice might not be the only thing occupying Mercedes’ thoughts. Observant viewers are predicting she will start a new romance with Darren Osborne (Ashley Dawson), reports the Manchester Evening News.
Mercedes McQueen is hellbent on getting justice for her murdered son in Hollyoaks (Image: Lime Pictures)
However, more heartbreak is looming as it’s confirmed Darren is not Morgan’s biological father, revealing his wife’s infidelity.
Hollyoaks fans are convinced that the grieving Mercedes and troubled Darren will find solace in each other and begin an affair.
One fan speculated on X: “Gonna make some theories for what I think will happen in #hollyoaks within the next year: Darren will end up in a relationship with Mercedes.”
Another chimed in: “Bet with the Tony and Nancy stuff, Mercedes and Darren are gonna be a item next #hollyoaks.”
Hollyoaks stalwart Darren is set for heartache following Morgan’s disappearance
A third responded: “Oh dear god don’t even come up with that.”
“I definitely think Mercedes and Darren are gonna end up having an affair or something #hollyoaks,” another added.
While another declared: “Loving the Mercedes and Darren interaction #Hollyoaks.”
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am
In “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” premiering Thursday on Paramount+, two popular characters from the CBS military procedural “NCIS,” have been brought back after several years and given a series of their own. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, as special agents Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo and Ziva David, so occupied the romantic fantasies of viewers that their names were portmanteaued into “Tiva.” (You can find thousands of instances of Tiva-themed fan fiction online.) As to the will-they, won’t-they of the relationship, they finally did, before they didn’t, and now they have a 12-year-old daughter, Tali (Isla Gie), whom they’re amicably co-parenting.
I have looked in on the franchise now and again, professionally, as new iterations have extended the length and breadth of the brand, which technically reaches back into “JAG,” from which it was spun off. But I’m not even going to attempt to pretend to have any real expertise in the adventures of a large rotating cast over 22 seasons. (It’s been renewed for a 23rd.) But I respect the institution — the original of which has been and may be now America’s most watched series — and its longevity, as I will salute your long marriage.
At the same time, once you know the basic premise of the show — it’s an elite military police procedural — it’s not hard to figure out where you are, wherever you drop in. The characters may be heroic or eccentric, but they’re heroic or eccentric within a recognized mold, with enough individual personality to make them lovable over a long run, and you can pick up on the interpersonal vibes pretty quickly.
Unlike earlier “NCIS” series, all based on broadcast television, “Tony & Ziva” is platformed on Paramount+, which means that characters utter a bad word now and again — it doesn’t get much edgier than that, and despite the sexual heat it’s hardly racy — and that there’s a budget which allows for foreign locations and big action scenes. And where the earlier shows, notwithstanding soap operatic long arcs, are fundamentally episodic, “Tony & Ziva” is a serial story, stretched over 10 episodes. Whether it’s stretched to breaking, we’ll have to wait and see; only four episodes out of 10 were offered for review.
The crime-fighting combo of a roguish guy and a no-nonsense gal is familiar from “Moonlighting” and “Castle.” Even the fact that the title joins Tony and Ziva with an ampersand and not an “and” indicates a certain lightness of tone, and when Tony, speaking of his company, says, “We try to walk that fine line between techno thriller and workplace comedy,” he is, of course, describing the very series he’s in. A strain of comedy is common to team-based procedurals, and it’s certainly part of what’s kept “NCIS” going strong all these years.
Given that the American brand hasn’t been as toxic, internationally and domestically, since the Vietnam era, possibly, and that “NCIS” series show around the world, it’s just as well that the presumed villains are (apparently) not the anti-American, freedom-hating terrorists one often finds in these things, but Bond-type stateless actors merely seeking power and money.
Additionally, the series — whose earlier iterations have been based in Washington, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Hawaii, Sydney and, in last year’s prequel, “NCIS: Origins,” exotic Oceanside, Calif. — is set in Paris, where, having gone civilian, Ziva has opened a fancy language school and Tony runs a high-end security service. (Among his clients: Interpol. You can’t get more European than that.) Along with easy access to croissants and café au lait, our heroes have the benefit of not having to wax patriotic about a country in which they no longer live. It feels very 2025.
The series’ MacGuffin is a magical thumb drive that, when plugged into a computer system, can seemingly do anything at all; possessing it, therefore, is an issue for both the good guys and the bad, into whose respective hands it goes in and out. When villains use it to frame Tony for extorting money from a hospital and threaten Tali’s life, Tony and Ziva are dragged back into a life of running, shooting, reckless driving and fisticuffs. “Two words,” says Tony, observing Ziva take apart a thug endangering her daughter. “Jewish mother.”
Most important, it puts the pair on the run together — the opening episodes find them (ostensibly and/or actually) in France, Italy, Switzerland and Hungary — and into constant close quarters, where old tender feelings simmer and the question of sharing a bed arises, as in “The 39 Steps,” the greatest of all innocent-and-on-the-run romances.
Ziva, whose pre-NCIS employment was as an assassin for the Israeli secret service — perhaps not the best job for a TV heroine to have on her resume nowadays, but it’s not an issue here — has hung on to an arsenal and plural safe houses. (“Have I ever told you how deeply I appreciate your paranoia?” Tony tells her.) And they’ve both kept their old NCIS badges, which they will flash to dazzle security guards and the like.
Along the way they pick up Boris (Maximilian Osinski), a non-aligned Russian hacker who made the MacGuffin in the first place, and his chirpy fiancee Fruzsi (Anne-Marie Waldeck), who provide both comedy and the image of a healthy, all-in romantic relationship to contrast with that of our hesitating heroes. Filling out the ranks are Tali’s capable nanny, Sophie (Lara Rossi), and Tony’s resident tech whiz, Claudette (Amita Suman), because you apparently can’t plot a thriller anymore without computers at the center of things. By virtue of being Tony’s friend and Tali’s godfather, Interpol exec Henry (James D’Arcy) is the sort of character you expect to turn out to be bad, though it’s up in the air. I’ll say no more about Martine (Nassima Benchicou), other than that Benchicou is very good at being very bad.
Created by John McNamara (“The Magicians”), not previously part of the “NCIS” world, “Tony & Ziva” can be quite absurd, depending heavily on suspensions of disbelief, or a viewer just not thinking too hard. This does not set it apart from a great many such screenplays, and the series does not shy away from genre tropes — the car chase through a marketplace, a fight with a seemingly unbeatable big bald bruiser. Indeed, it embraces them.
But what makes the show worth watching are Weatherly and De Pablo, two extremely attractive middle-aged people with genuine chemistry; he’s superheroically unflappable without ever seeming anything but a regular Joe. She’s sad and serious and not to be messed with. They’ve been around; they have worn edges, and when they intersect, it generates something authentically sweet, as real as the rest of the series is improbable. There’s a reason for all that fan fiction.
Ted Lasso fans are going wild as one of the show’s biggest stars is taking on a brand new role that’s worlds away from the plucky football comedy
Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein is nothing like his iconic grumpy footballer Roy Kent in a heartwrenching trailer for an upcoming sci-fi drama film.
Helmed by one of the directors of Black Mirror, William Bridges, who co-wrote the film with Goldstein, All Of You is led by the star opposite Imogen Poots in a decades-spanning romance for the ages.
Set in the not-so-distant future, the AppleTV+ film follows two best friends from college who drift apart when one of them takes a test that promises to find your soulmate.
Their lives still cross over the years and they’re forced to confront their unspoken feelings.
An official synopsis for the film reads: “Best friends since college, Simon (Goldstein) and Laura (Poots) drift apart when she takes a test that finds her soulmate despite years of unspoken feelings between them.
Brett Goldstein is nothing like his iconic footballer Roy Kent in his new film(Image: APPLE TV+)
“Over the years, as their paths cross and diverge, neither can deny the feeling that they’ve missed out on a life together.
“Faced with the uncertainty of changing the course of their lives, are Simon and Laura willing to risk everything to experience the love that had been between them all along, or should they accept their fate?”
The trailer, released this week, has already received a rave response from fans who are eager to see the Ted Lasso favourite taking on a new role.
One fan predicted a stellar performance from the leading man: “Brett Goldstein’s ‘face acting’ is next level.
“He can perform an entire, silent dialogue with just one look. It’s so good to see him in a role like this.”
While another quipped: “It’s so weird to see Roy Kent be friendly and not growl every 5 seconds.”
For those still not quite convinced by the tear-jerking trailer, the film has already received critical acclaim after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.
Get tissues prepared for this soft sci-fi romance coming very soon(Image: APPLE TV+)
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It currently stands at an impressive 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics warning fans to have tissues at the ready.
Entertainment Weekly called it a “weepie of the highest order”, adding: “It’s familiar fodder for romantic drama, but it’s of the highest caliber thanks to its sharp script and devastating central performances.
“Watching All of You is like pressing on a bruise, and ooh, baby, it hurts so good.”
Awards Buzz declared: “Goldstein and Poots are both terrific and would certainly be deserving of Golden Globe nominations.”
While Matt Neglia raved: “ALL OF YOU just emotionally soothed and wrecked my heart.
“An aching adult drama about the choices we make, the regrets we feel, and whether or not we actually have soulmates out there for us in the world.
“I adore adult romantic dramas where the conflict doesn’t feel manufactured & the characters behave like adults. I got plenty of that here with two heartfelt & endearing performances from Brett Goldstein & Imogen Poots.”
Are you ready to get your heart broken by All Of You? There’s just a few more weeks to wait before this devastating drama hits screens.
All Of You premieres Friday, 26th September on Apple TV+.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are taking their love story to the next chapter.
The Grammy-winning “Love Story” pop icon and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end are engaged, the couple announced Tuesday in a joint Instagram post.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift captioned photos from the garden engagement.
Weeks before getting engaged, the pair hit another personal milestone: They finally finally appeared together on Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce. The podcast was also where Travis Kelce took his shot at a romance with the singer-songwriter back in 2023.
During the “New Heights” episode, which marked Swift’s podcasting debut, she said her relationship with Kelce “is sort of what I’ve been writing songs about wanting to happen to me since I was a teenager.”
With marriage on the horizon, it seems Swift and Kelce have come a long way since officially becoming an item in fall 2023. Their romance can be traced back to July 2023, when Kelce attended an Eras tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ house. The NFL star managed to get a friendship bracelet with his phone number to Swift’s camp and the two eventually got in touch.
Their rumored romance quickly became commentary fodder for NFL broadcasts (sometimes to sports fans’ chagrin). Then things took a turn when Swift seemingly accepted Kelce’s personal invitation to a home game in September 2023 and was seen cheering for him in a private box alongside his mother, Donna Kelce. Soon enough, Swift became a staple in the Chiefs audience.
Swift and Kelce’s relationship dominated the news cycle and most coverage of the NFL season. Feeding into the obsession, both Swifties and sports fans on social media created memes, TikTok videos and other social media content dissecting nearly every detail of the couple’s interactions and public appearances.
From late 2023 to early 2024, their blooming relationship also proved to be a boon as Swift carried on with her blockbuster, career-spanning Eras tour and Kelce prepared for Super Bowl LVIII, where the Chiefs faced the San Fransisco 49ers. When the Chiefs won, Swift joined Kelce on the field, kissing and hugging her athlete boyfriend.
Swift and Kelce’s love didn’t just play out on the field. During a November 2023 show, Swift changed lyrics to her hit “Karma” to mention “the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” sending fans and Kelce into a frenzy. Then in June 2024, as Swift‘s tour continued, Kelce joined his superstar girlfriend on stage in London.
When the 2024-25 NFL season began in September, Swift returned regularly to Arrowhead Stadium for Chiefs home games.
Swift brought her Eras tour to an end in December 2024 and hosted a private wrap party to celebrate her musical marathon. As photos from the party went public, eagle-eyed fans noticed more than Swift, Kelce and their VIP attendees. Social media sleuths claimed photos of Swift’s hands had been Photoshopped to conceal the presence of an engagement ring, Page Six reported at the time.
Via dell’Amore, also known as the “Path of Love”, is a UNESCO-listed coastal walk in Italy that is considered the most romantic in the world and is said to be one of the best walks in Europe
The path offers stunning views of the sea and majestic cliffs(Image: Getty)
Celebrated as amongst Europe’s finest coastal walks, this picturesque route guides you through stunning villages and spectacular vistas.
Via dell’Amore isn’t dubbed the “Path of Love” without good reason – and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re after a scenic spot. According to AllTrails, this UNESCO-listed trail is regarded as the globe’s most romantic walk, thanks to its dramatic clifftops, delightful villages and panoramic views of the sparkling waters beneath.
Situated in Cinque Terre, along Italy’s northwestern coastline, this famous pathway links the region’s two most southern settlements – Riomaggiore and Manarola – and has earned recognition as one of Europe’s premier three walks by travel blog, The World is Waiting.
The path reopened last year after being closed for 12 years(Image: Getty)
Initially carved out during the 1920s whilst building the coastal railway, legend tells that the route swiftly became a romantic rendezvous spot for sweethearts from the adjacent villages, reports the Express.
Nowadays, the tunnel linking both communities throughout the journey brims with love proclamations and padlocks deposited by couples from across the world who come to visit the iconic spot.
Among the most striking features stands a sculpture depicting a pair locked in an embrace against the ocean backdrop, which becomes particularly enchanting as twilight falls and the sun’s rays dance across the water.
Roughly midway along the trail, there is a delightful café which provides a peaceful spot to savour the scenery whilst enjoying a cooling beverage. Riomaggiore, the trail’s starting point, is a 13th-century village ingeniously built into the steep, rocky terrain. The tall houses have two entrances – one at street level and another higher up to accommodate the hillside.
The town is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, stone staircases, and vibrant buildings that seem to defy gravity as they ascend from the cliffs. Riomaggiore also boasts a breathtaking beach just a stone’s throw away from the harbour, with turquoise waters framed by the dramatic cliffs of the Liguria coastline.
Manarola, similarly, is dramatically situated on a high rock about 70 metres above sea level. This village features a tiny harbour and a quaint square surrounded by multicoloured houses all overlooking the sea.
After being shut for 12 years due to a landslide, the Via dell’Amore officially reopened in 2024. Access is restricted to certain times of the year, and visitors are advised to book a time slot in advance via the official Cinque Terre website. From June 1st to October 25th, the path stays open from 9am to 9.30pm, with the last admissions at 9pm.
