romance

Coronation Street star Jodie Prenger has addressed that her character Glenda Shuttleworth is in for romance on the cobbles next year but that a huge twist is in store

Coronation Street star Jodie Prenger has revealed that her character Glenda Shuttleworth is in for romance on the cobbles – but there’s a twist.

The actress, 49, has played the Rovers barmaid on the long-running ITV soap since 2022 and on Monday night, a special episode involving Debbie Webster and her girlfriends ended with Glenda on the phone to a mystery man after talking about how she had been so unlucky in love.

The episode was full of tension as Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins) came to terms with the fact her daughter Rachel, whom she gave up for adoption more than 30 years ago, had been murdered.

Since then, Christina’s long-lost granddaughter Lucy has been placed in the care of Sally and Tim Metcalfe and Sally has forbidden Christina to see her. In the episode, Glenda made it quite clear that she was siding with Sally, and Christina argued with her that she would never understand because she doesn’t have any children.

Jodie, whose character was introduced as the sister of George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), has teased that whilst there will be love on the cards for her alter-ego, a lot of it will fill in her backstory and it will explain a lot.

Speaking about the new storyline Jodie told The Mirror: “It’s good. Do you know, it’s funny, it’s one of the things, if you’re out, a lot of people do say, and it really warms your heart, going, “When are you going to get a fella?” And I go, “I don’t know!” But yeah, this—it is on the horizon, so looking forward to that.

“I think a lot of it explains why Glenda is how she is. I think that’s great. I think it’s—you come and you bed a character in, and then you really get to find out the nitty-gritty of why they are how they are, because we’re not just all put here, are we?

“We’re made here, and we’re made by the situations in life. And I think it’s going to be really cool telling Glenda’s backstory.”

Viewers won’t get to see exactly what happens until early next year, but in terms of the festive period, Jodie, who has also had a huge career in musical theatre, said that ex-cruise ship singer Glenda will be keeping the Weatherfield residents entertained with her singing and that there is more coming up on-screen for her local drama group.

She added: “I think it’ll all kick off after [Christmas]. But there is a bit—there is a bit of singing! There is a bit of singing around the festive period, let’s put it that way.

“There’s some stuff with Little Big Shots as well. I forget! I forget when I film so much, but there’s quite a lot coming up for Glenda.”

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

*Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads

SAFFRON Barker has a new ‘bad boy’ on her radar after sparking romance rumours with US reality star Kyle Cooke.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 25, has been spotted looking cosy and all smiles with the Summer House star, 43, in a picture taken just weeks after the pair were introduced through mutual friends.

And while things are still in the very early stages, insiders tell us the pair hit it off immediately and have been keeping in touch ever since.

A source said: “Saffron and Kyle were introduced through mutual friends at an industry event a few weeks ago and hit it off pretty much straight away. They move in similar circles, so they had heard of each other before they met, and there was an instant connection when they were introduced.

“Kyle is incredibly charming and outgoing. He’s got that confident, cheeky personality that Saffron has been naturally drawn to in the past.

“They’ve been in touch since meeting, even though they’re not in the same city right now.

“Saffron has always had a bit of a soft spot for a bad boy, and Kyle certainly has that reputation.”

The potential new pairing comes just three months after the influencer confirmed her split from model Josh Miln, following a romance that ended in July.

And while Kyle is almost two decades older than Saffron, his confident, larger-than-life persona appears to have caught her attention.

It would also be quite a departure from the heartbreak she has been dealing with in recent months, after she was left emotional when opening up about the end of her relationship with Josh.

But Saffron has never been one to shy away from a man with a bit of an edge.

Her love life has previously included YouTuber Jake Mitchell, whose relationship with Saffron ended amid reports of infidelity involving another influencer, Claudia Naya.

She was also briefly linked to rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit in 2024, with their four-month romance coming to an end shortly after he relocated to America to pursue his NFL career – amid speculation about cheating.

Even Josh had something of that brooding bad-boy look, having worked as a model before the pair called time on their relationship.

Now, it seems the latest man to catch her eye could be one of the most colourful characters yet.

The American is one of the biggest personalities on Bravo’s hit reality show Summer House, which follows a group of New York friends as they escape the city for weekends in a shared Hamptons beach house.

The show has become famous for its explosive fallouts, complicated romances and friendships that unravel spectacularly once the cameras start rolling.

Kyle, who is also the founder of drinks brand Loverboy, has long been one of its central characters and has earned himself a reputation as one of Bravo’s biggest bad boys.

In January 2026, he and his wife Amanda Batula announced their separation after four years of marriage.

But the fallout took an even more dramatic turn just two months later, when Kyle’s former friend and Summer House co-star West Wilson revealed he was casually dating Amanda.

The news caused a huge stir because West had previously dated Amanda’s close friend and fellow cast member Ciara Miller in 2023.

In a joint statement announcing their relationship in March, Amanda and West said: “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.

“As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling. We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless.”

It was a bombshell that left Kyle facing a very public fallout with someone he had once considered a friend.

The drama continued into the summer, when it was confirmed that both West and Amanda would not be returning for the show’s 11th series.

Speaking about West’s departure, Kyle said: “It’s unfortunate. It was [only] months ago that I considered him a friend.”

And the pair’s feud showed no signs of cooling down in October, when Kyle appeared to take another swipe at his former pal on social media.

After West shared an Instagram post, Kyle commented: “More like you a coke head that blew my ex’s life and career up.” He later deleted the remark.

It is certainly a lot of baggage for Saffron to take.

Saffron has, however, spent much of the summer getting to know New York after heading across the pond to pursue her acting ambitions.

The social media star has been taking acting classes in the city and is said to be serious about making it in America.

A source previously told us: “She’s actually in New York doing acting classes. She’s genuinely hoping she can make it in the US.

“She’s really good mates with Chris Appleton and wants him to help her make it over there.”

And with Kyle based in New York, the pair have at least one thing in common when it comes to their transatlantic lifestyles.

The potential romance also comes after a difficult year for Saffron, who confirmed her split from Josh in July.

The pair had appeared to be going strong, but she later became emotional when discussing the end of their relationship.

Now, with her acting ambitions taking her to America and a new reality TV bad boy potentially in the picture, she certainly has got people talking.

Saffron and Kyle were approached for comment.

Bronx-born musician and producer Judy Torres remembers the first time she heard Nayobe’s 1985 song “Please Don’t Go”: the upbeat dance track with an infectious bass line and love-struck lyrics that pleaded with a lover to stay close.

“ I was floored at how beautiful of a vocalist she was,” said Torres of the Afro-Cuban artist, who hailed from Brooklyn but found a musical home in the genre known as freestyle. Though sometimes dubbed as “Latin freestyle” or “Latin hip-hop,” thanks to the many Latino vocalists who came to shape its sound, some fanatics trace the origins of the electro-funk genre to “Let the Music Play,” the 1983 smash hit by D.C. singer Shannon.

As Torres puts it, this distinctly 1980s sound — crafted with synthetic instrumentation and syncopated percussions sourced from Roland TR-808 drum machines, as popularized by Afrika Bambaataa’s 1982 single “Planet Rock” — didn’t have a label then. “It was just music,” she says.

But by 1993, as prominent radio stations transitioned from dance-pop to hip-hop and R&B, the freestyle movement fizzled out.

“Like a record scratch, there were no shows,” added Torres.

The genre’s vibrant, knotty history of set the scene for the musical-dance production of “Freestyle: A Love Story,” of which Torres is a co-producer. Created and directed by George Valencia — alongside his wife, “Scrubs” actor Judy Reyes as executive producer, plus “Ugly Betty” actor Ana Ortiz as co-producer — “Freestyle: A Love Story” will make its Los Angeles debut on Nov. 6 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

The musical tells the fictional story of two middle-aged Caribbean Latinos, who reunite during a nostalgic night at a Freestyle Extravaganza at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. As 808 kicks echo through the atmosphere, the pair is transported back to 1987: the night they fell in love at a bass-thumping freestyle show.

Proceeds from the night will benefit the Sound of GOL Foundation, an organization founded by George Valencia and Judy Reyes that supports Latina soccer players.

(From George Valencia)

“The idea of telling a love story and having that love story run parallel with the actual musical movement of freestyle, which lasted nine years, is basically the whole framework of the play,” said Valencia to De Los.

Proceeds from the night will benefit the Sound of GOL Foundation: an organization founded by Valencia and Reyes, which supports Latina soccer players.

“Right now, in a time that is looking very dark for Latinos in the United States, I want people to take away that our history has proven time and time again that no matter what they do to us, they can’t take away our revolutionary joy,” added Valencia, making mention of the Trump administration’s mass immigration sweeps.

The production will star “One Day at a Time” actors Justina Machado and James Martinez as the former lovers — as well as Torres and K7, a.k.a. Louis Sharpe, frontman of the Latin freestyle group TKA, who will further bring the artists’ perspectives into the narrative.

“It’s the music that was a part of our everyday life,” Machado told De Los. “Wherever there was a huge Latino population, I think it was kind of a rite of passage.”

Machado was particularly obsessed with Lisa Velez, the lead vocalist of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, who took freestyle to new heights. The group’s breakout 1985 single “I Wonder if I Take You Home” echoed in the dance clubs before crossing over into mainstream radio and landing the No. 34 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their flamboyant track “Head to Toe,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987, making it the first time a Latina vocalist (as part of a group) topped the chart.

“When I was on ‘One Day at a Time,’ they knew I loved Lisa Lisa so much they hired her to perform at the wrap party for Season 1,” recalled Machado. “I have a video from 10 years ago, where I am just freaking out — ‘Is that Lisa Lisa?’ I swear I saw nobody else. It was just me and Lisa Lisa … She was my hero.”

Torres said she lost her mind when someone told her Lisa Lisa was Puerto Rican, just like herself. She recalled thinking: “If she can do it, maybe I can do it,”

By 1996, Torres would release her first single, “No Reason to Cry,” a punchy, melodramatic dance track ghostly vocals that reassure someone of her love.

That song reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Dance chart the following year. The track was the lead single from her 1989 debut album, “Love Story,” an electrifying project that sonically transports listeners into dramatic telenovela scenarios.

“Freestyle was the original Latin explosion, because it was created in New York, by the people of New York,” said Torres. “It was street kids, Hispanic kids. All of a sudden, the fans were realizing, ‘Wait a minute — this music represents us, the artists look like us.’ It took off so quickly that many of us were signed by major record labels. We were performing all over the country. We had several shows a weekend.”

Still, prominent Latino artists with Spanish surnames, including Torres, were often told they had to change their last name in order to appeal to pop radio stations. She included these experiences into monologues during “Freestyle: A Love Story.”

“Freestyle music was never given flowers,” said Judy Torres.

(From George Valencia)

The artist known as Soavé, who sang the hypnotic 1989 hit “Crying Over You,” revealed to music magazine Wax Poetics in 2010 that his birth name, which is Jeffrey Martinez, “wouldn’t have sold a record.”

Meanwhile, Puerto Rican singer George Lamond, whose 1990 single “Bad of the Heart” peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, professed that he dropped his surname, Garcia, at the behest of his label, Colombia Records. In an interview with Youtuber Honey German, the artist said the label argued that he needed to be more marketable to audiences — but in reality, they didn’t know how to market an artist who was neither Black nor white.

“Now, did I get airplay on the pop stations? No. Is it because I decided to keep [the name] Torres? I’ll never know that,” said Torres. “In a way, we opened the doors [for future Latin stars], because now it’s common for us to hear the last names. Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera.”

Torres acknowledged that “freestyle music was never given [its] flowers.” But with “Freestyle: A Love Story,” fans and artists alike can take “a  trip back into time” and revel in its glory for an evening.

“I can’t change it,” said Torres of freestyle’s eventual sunset. “So I have to choose how I’m gonna move forward.”

Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig are starting their forever, tying the knot a month after respective ex-spouses Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes did the same.

“Melrose Place” actor Shue and immigration attorney Fiebig married Sunday, People confirmed. The coupleentered the new chapter of their relationship in an intimate ceremony at their New Jersey estate, according to photos published Sunday by the Daily Mail. Fiebig wore an off-the-shoulder lace gown, and Shue wore a black suit without a tie, the photos showed. The attorney’s teen daughter with ex-husband Holmes was also present for the ceremony.

News of Fiebig and Shue’s marriage comes just weeks after the latter announced he and Fiebig were engaged.

“You don’t know how you meet the person who’s right for you,” Shue told People at the time. “It just happened.”

Nearly four years ago, the newlyweds and their journalist exes — also recent newlyweds — were embroiled in scandal. Multiple outlets uncovered the alleged months-long relationship between former “GMA3: What You Need to Know” co-anchors Holmes and Robach in December 2022. The journalists said in 2023 they were in the process of divorcing their exes when the Daily Mail and Page Six reported on their romance. Amid the public scrutiny, Holmes and Robach were fired from their ABC News positions in January 2023.

As the journalists finalized their divorces with their ex-spouses in 2023, reports of a budding romance came to the forefront. Page Six reported that Fiebig and Shue struck up a bond over their experience with the scandal. Shue told People in October it felt like “freak luck” how the controversy led him to Fiebig.

Halloween in Los Angeles is not just Gay Christmas — it’s become a pretty exceptional weekend for music, with top touring acts planning blowout stands around the occasion. While the weekend might be a little soggy weather-wise, here are a few of the better shows and club nights to plan your costumes around.

Phoebe Bridgers
You don’t wear a custom Thom Browne crystal skeleton suit to the Grammys unless you have a deep bench of spooky gear. Bridgers’ three shows at the Intuit Dome this weekend, supporting her expansive LP “Lost Weekend,” secure her status as a stadium-caliber star with a subculture all her own. Intuit Dome, Friday through Sunday.

My Chemical Romance
It’s never not Halloween for My Chem lifers, but there’s no band better equipped for the occasion fresh off a full revisit of their 2006 LP “The Black Parade.” They also have a new short film with Bridgers and Billie Eilish and reportedly a comeback album in the works. Hollywood Bowl, Friday and Saturday.

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic
Pop’s finest satirist had his Hollywood star turn with 1989’s “UHF,” where he played an amateur TV station manager going off the rails. Yankovic revisits the cult classic with a screening set to a live-soundtrack performance. Greek Theatre, Saturday.

Origin
The new Arts District electronic music venue, an ambitious bet on DTLA’s eventual revival, formally debuts to the city with this block party featuring French duo the Blaze, Dirtybird don Claude VonStroke and a tribute to the late “Nightcall” producer Kavinsky. (There’s also an Arcade Fire DJ set, pending your interest in their comeback.) Origin, Saturday.

Freakquencies
A chain-smoking electroclash-y DJ in a slim-cut suit playing the Roosevelt Hotel? Close enough — welcome back Teddy’s circa 2006. The Dare’s Freakquencies party has a pretty savvy lineup, with freshly-minted pop star Tinashe, buzzy duo Frost Children, Dorian Electra and Kenny Beats on decks. Roosevelt Hotel, Saturday.

Rave to the Grave
Lights Down Low wrangles a bill right at home on a Berlin bender — Avalon Emerson (who has a great pop project too), Sextile, Ellen Allien, Effy and Johnny from the industrial-noise combo Health. TBA, Saturday.

Escape
The Great Pumpkin of SoCal mega EDM events this season, this Insomniac institution has all the usual heavy hitters (Zedd, Nina Kraviz, Disco Lines, Cloonee). NOS Events Center, Saturday.

Expression
Yamashiro is an old Hollywood dame that should be more of a nightlife destination. Scene vets Dave Aju, Heidi Lawden and Masha Mar are the ones to do it. Yamashiro, Saturday.

Mayan Warrior
One of Burning Man’s A-list art cars and roving dance music institutions rolls it up to Grand Park, with dancing room for the whole postapocalyptic polycule. Grand Park, Saturday.

It’s official: Former entertainment power couple Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff are ending their marriage.

“The Substance” star Qualley and Bleachers rocker Antonoff filed papers for an “uncontested joint divorce” on Friday in Kings County Supreme Court in New York. Representatives for Qualley, 32, and Antonoff, 42, did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

The Emmy-nominated actor and the Grammy-winning musician, also known for collaborations with pop stars Taylor Swift and Lorde, separated in the summer. A source close to the couple confirmed to People at the time that the estranged partners were going through a “rocky” period.

“They share a deep affinity and love for one another, and though their romantic partnership is ending, they will absolutely be lifelong friends,” the source told the outlet.

Speculation about the pair’s split began in July, with internet fans noticing that Qualley — daughter of actor Andie MacDowell and Paul J. Qualley — appeared to delete photos featuring Antonoff (formerly of rock bands fun. and Steel Train) from her Instagram page. Among the scrubbed photos were reportedly wedding pictures she shared in March to promote the musician’s song “dirty wedding dress.”

Qualley and Antonoff married in August 2023, a little over a year after they got engaged and two years after first sparking up a romance in August 2021. Lana Del Rey, then-item Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum, and Swift were among the attendees at their nuptials at Parker’s Garage on Long Beach Island.

News of the Qualley-Antonoff split arose days after the latter was spotted attending Swift and Travis Kelce’s lavish wedding bash at New York City’s Madison Square Garden without his wife. Antonoff’s ex-girlfriend, “Girls” creator and “Famesick” author Lena Dunham, was also in attendance.

Antonoff has been on the road for the Bleachers Forever tour since June and recently performed at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. He kicks off the European leg of the tour next week in Italy. He spoke to the Guardian in an interview published this week about still performing music inspired by his romance with Qualley. “It’s beautiful,” he said.

“I don’t rewrite the past, I have no shame about the things I’ve said. My life has been dedicated to making it impossible for me to rewrite the past, because I’m standing there, singing about how I felt during the good times,” he said, “so when the bad times hit I can’t look myself in the mirror and pretend that those times didn’t exist. I would rather live through something publicly than even escape it privately.”

The tune of “Famous Last Words” reverberates throughout the Immanuel Presbyterian Church, a high-ceiling Gothic structure in Koreatown, on a rainy October morning.

The anthemic, life-affirming final track from My Chemical Romance’s 2006 album “The Black Parade” has taken on a new sound here. It’s being played on the church’s organ. Mallory Haney, the musician at the keys, also plays “Disenchanted “ and “Mama,” other songs from the same album celebrating its 20th anniversary, throughout the morning.

What connects this place of worship to a band known for its macabre aesthetic, however, is its music video for the song “Helena” from the album “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.”

Filmed here in 2005, the video sees frontman Gerard Way belt the sorrowful lyrics at the front of church with his bandmates and a group of dancers around him. Behind them is a black casket with the body of the eponymous Helena.

My Chemical Romance fans including Charlotte Calvert of Pensacola, Fla., top, attend Ghouls’ Day Out.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

She eventually rises from the dead and dances her way through the congregation.

Now in 2026, several men wearing all black with red ties, like Way does in the music video directed by Marc Webb, trickle in as soon as the doors open. Later, a young woman in a black dress, mimicking what Helena wears on screen, makes an entrance and heads straight to the front to take photos with the casket and flower arrangements that re-create the scene.

“Helena: An Immersive Tribute,” as this experience is dubbed, also features multiple photo ops around the church’s premises that reference the band’s emblematic art (including a statue of Pepe, the marching skeleton on the cover of “The Black Parade” album).

Behind this fan-focused event are Sam Gomez and Kimmy Perez, a Mexican American married couple who make a living putting on pop culture-inspired events, and, in the case of Perez, selling her art under the brand SpooksieBoo at conventions around the country.

My Chemical Romance fans including Benji Godinez, left, and Jennifer Campos, both of Los Angeles, attend Ghouls’ Day Out at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The festivities at the church will conclude Saturday with a larger event called Ghouls’ Day Out, featuring the same displays inside the space, plus food vendors, an artist market and a My Chemical Romance cover band, Sweet Revenge, out back for attendees to enjoy.

“We’re doing everything we can to give fans the best My Chem experience short of seeing the actual band,” Gomez says during a recent video call.

“I’ve heard some call it MCR Con, which that’s literally what it is!” Perez adds laughing:

Gomez and Perez held the first Ghouls’ Day Out in May 2021, making it an annual staple for My Chemical Romance fans. On top of the May event, this year they decided to bring it back in October to coincide with the band’s series of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.

Their relationship with Immanuel Presbyterian Church started when its operations manager, Niambi Rendon, attended one of the pop-up events they organize throughout Southern California.

My Chemical Romance fan Cecilia Calvert of Alamogordo, N.M., is overcome with emotion while attending Ghouls’ Day Out.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Struggling financially, the church sought new partnerships to raise funds. In fact, part of the proceeds from the “Helena” tribute and Ghouls’ Day Out goes to help the church’s food pantry.

But though it wants to take advantage of the My Chemical Romance connection, the church has one key rule: Nothing on display can cross the threshold from “spooky” to “satanic.”

A little blood is fine, Gomez says, but nothing too gruesome. “The most important thing is nothing that’s going to either make fun of or cast a shadow on the clergy. We’ve had many cosplayers that want to come as an evil priest or evil nun. We can’t have that,” Gomez says.

Now in its seventh edition (since 2026 had twice the festivities), the event’s popularity has grown, bringing fans from across the country and even international visitors.

MCR fans including Jenelle Smith, left, and Joanna Glezakos, both of Toronto, attend Ghouls’ Day Out.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Megan Rose, 33, traveled from rural Virginia to Los Angeles with her partner to attend one of the shows. Looking for other My Chemical Romance-related activities to do while in the city, she learned about the “Helena” tribute on social media.

“The architecture is beautiful and I’ve been having as much fun looking at the church as I have the fandom set up and I think they’ve done a very good job with all the props,” she says.

Mayela González, 41, came all the way from Monterrey, Mexico. A fan of the band since her teenage years, she was in disbelief stepping into a location she’d seen countless times on screen. “I hope the band keeps going, and they don’t stop after this tour,” says González. “I hope they release a new album and keep on performing live.”

“The event has just grown over the years as we allow fans to tell us what they want it to be,” Gomez says. “And over the years, the feedback has been, ‘More MCR theming.’” Gomez and Perez take that commitment to fan satisfaction seriously.

Tracy Phillips who portrays the titular “Helena” poses with a young MCR fan at Ghouls’ Day Out.

(Jonathan Garcia)

“We found the company, which is still in L.A., that made the ‘Helena’ casket that’s in a music video and they said, ‘We can make you an exact replica,’” adds Gomez.

More importan, they also have the real Helena on site. Tracy Phillips, the actor and dancer who played the title role in the music video, takes photos with fans. She made her first Ghouls’ Day appearance in 2025.

“Outside of the church I’m no one, and then I walk into the church in this makeup and dress and people are crying,” says Phillips with a smile. “It’s kind of a bizarre juxtaposition of people knowing me and people not knowing me at all.”

The church is the site where My Chemical Romance filmed its music video for its 2005 hit song, “Helena.”

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Post-Helena, Phillips worked with the band once more as an assistant choreographer on the “Teenagers” music video. That was nearly 20 years ago. Earlier this month it hired her again after all this time so she could choreograph 20 dancers in three numbers for the Long Live the Black Parade shows at the Hollywood Bowl.

“I was fortunate to get to work with them again,” Phillips says. “They’re all such kind people. Gerard is so kind and brilliant and it was really fun to get to circle back around. It felt like this full-circle moment in a different capacity.”

In the past, the band had posted about Ghouls’ Day Out on its official Instagram account, which led Gomez and Perez to believe at least someone in its team was aware of their event.

My Chemical Romance fans including Savannah Monrreal of Inglewood attend Ghouls Day Out.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

This time around, the band sent them an official “The Black Parade” flag, following its first night at the Bowl, that they now have on display at the church as one of the photo-ops.

Ghouls’ Day Out has generated new opportunities for the church, which hopefully means Gomez and Perez will be welcomed back for years to come.

“Now that the church is known in the My Chemical Romance community, they’ve had people go to them saying, ‘I want to have my wedding there,’” adds Gomez with a joyful grin.

The parent company of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders has filed a petition aimed at preventing emo-rock band My Chemical Romance from continuing to use dancers wearing outfits nearly identical to those worn by the iconic cheering squad since the 1970s.

Pro Silver Star filed a document Monday in the District Court of Collin County, Texas, asking for a temporary restraining order and injunction against the band and event promoter Live Nation “to stop them from infringing DCC’s signature cheerleading uniform in a manner that causes confusion, trades off of Silver Star’s decades of goodwill, and degrades the DCC brand.”

A temporary restraining order hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

On Wednesday, My Chemical Romance played the first of five Hollywood Bowl shows scheduled through the end of the month. During the song “Teenagers,” background dancers performed in costumes that the filing states “copied the DCC Uniform’s signature elements: white boots, white shorts, a blue blouse tied above the midriff, and a white vest adorned with blue stars.”

“Defendants left no doubt about who the performers were meant to be,” the filing states. “As the costumed performers cheered across the stage, MCR frontman Gerard Way told the crowd, ‘Thank you, Dallas.’

“Then Defendants handed the performers rifles. The costumed performers armed themselves with semi-automatic rifles and joined a staged firefight, and were then depicted being shot and crawling off the stage.”

Attorneys for Pro Silver Star sent the band a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday, the filing states, and a copy of the petition for the restraining order and injunction on Friday. The causes of action listed in the petition include false designation, false association, false endorsement, trade dress infringement and federal trademark dilution by tarnishment.

“MCR’s performers nevertheless again wore the DCC Uniform” on Friday night during the band’s second Hollywood Bowl performance, the filing states. “Audience members at both shows and online commentators understandably believed that the performers were the real Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and said so in social media posts that continue to circulate.”

Online photos appear to show that the costumes were used again during Saturday night’s show. A representative for My Chemical Romance, which finishes it run at Hollywood Bowl this Friday and Saturday, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Silver Star is not litigious, and it takes no issue with MCR’s music, its artistic ambitions, or any message Defendants seek to convey,” the filing states. “Silver Star does not ask Defendants to change their setlist, narrative, politics, choreography, or even their decision to put gun-toting performers on stage. Silver Star asks only that those performers not wear the DCC Uniform while doing it. The universe of alternative costume designs is effectively unlimited.”

One of the most recognizable cheer squads in sports, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have appeared on countless calendars and posters and starred in their own movies and TV series, including Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” which is currently in its third season.

Last week, after years of fighting for pay increases, the cheerleaders announced that they have unionized, with the Cowboys recognizing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Assn. as the collective bargaining representative for the cheer squad.

LOVE Island fans have spotted ANOTHER clue Lorenzo Alessi and Yasmin Hadlow’s romance is back on.

The pair have kept fans of the ITV2 show guessing on if they are an item after returning to the UK after the villa.

Lorenzo, 28, and Yasmin, 23, enjoyed a brief romance during their Love Island stint earlier this year, but ended up coupling up Julia Majchrzak, 26, and Tommy Stagg, 23, after Casa Amor.

But in recent weeks the pair have set tongues wagging with a number of hints that they are back together.

And now they’ve spotted another clue after Lorenzo shared a recent video on TikTok.

In the clip, the hunk is holding a phone in his hand, which has a pink cover on it.

rough ride

Love Island host ‘victim of robbery as home is broken into and jewellery stolen’

WHAT A MESS

Love Island legend in shock split from girlfriend after two years of dating

“Only ChatGPT and my bank account know what’s really going on,” he captioned the post.

The caption could hint at the fact fans are really not sure what is going on between him and his former flame.

And some rushed to the comments section to point out that the mobile looked like Yasmin’s.

One said: “All I know is that that phone case is sum1s phone case and hes showing it purposely to make the owner special.”

Not only that, he played Not Over Yet by Grace and Paul Oakenfold over the post – hinting that his romance with Yasmin is also not over.

One wrote in the comments section: “the song choice. one thing about Lorenzo the music is intentional.”

Another chimed in: “Song choice. Oh Lorenzo.”

Just last week Lorenzo was spotted in the background of Yasmin’s video after the hunk fuelled romance rumours with Yasmin, as fans spotted them exchanging flirty messages online.

Days before he continues to fuel romance rumours as he dropped a major hint the exes were back on.

In a recent TikTok video, Lorenzo shared a video of him posing next to a Bentley car.

He captioned the post: “I want a Bentley. She wants a Chanely. Life nowadays. Getting kinda spenny.”

And fans are convinced that he’s made reference to Yasmin – who was recently gifted a £7k Chanel bag from Central Cee.

Lorenzo won this year’s Love Island alongside his ex Julia – but the pair went their separate ways in September.

Yasmin and ex Tommy, who missed out on a place in the final, also split the same month.

It’s the third afternoon in another string of sweltering days in Los Angeles. A recent Friday offers no salvation for the weekend ahead besides sitting in front of a fan or turning up the air conditioning.

Thankfully, standing inside the climate-controlled walls of the Line hotel’s lobby and behind a cup of joe from its Alfred Coffee, there’s a smidgen of comfort.

The bell to the ground floor elevator rings and out steps a tall figure, wearing an all-black ensemble. His shorts hang just below his knees, his hair is a bit messy and his boots climb up his calf.

Grian Chatten looks remarkably cool for someone who’s just rolled out of bed, even more so for someone who has a performance at Hollywood Forever Cemetery later that night. He’s the leading man behind Fontaines D.C., a Dublin-born rock quintet that’s become one of the most exciting acts to grace a stage today.

And how couldn’t they be?

Their 2019 debut, “Dogrel,” was met with critical acclaim, a masterful album with references to James Joyce and a teeming garage-style production. Fast-forward five years later and their fourth effort, “Romance,” became their first to chart in the United States, reaching No. 97 on the Billboard 200.

Nowadays, they’re kicking up dust again with the release of “Dopamine Chamber,” which came out last Friday via XL Recordings. Its a continuation of the precedent they’ve set in terms of lyrical and sonic quality, but simultaneously is far more melancholic and synthesized than their previous work.

“Dopamine Chamber” is the band’s fifth release, following the success of “Romance” back in 2024.

(Ewen Spencer)

However, its rollout was rocky as the debut music video “Marianne” was criticized for its use of artificial intelligence. When the psychedelic, entrancing recording first hit YouTube, it listed a credit for AI “artists” in its description, sounding alarms among the band’s loyal fan base.

After all, it was widely viewed as contradictory of the group, which has been vehemently outspoken on various contemporary issues, including what the U.N. Human Rights Council has officially concluded to be genocide in Gaza.

We sat down with Chatten to discuss the new album, as well as some of the backlash the band has recently faced.

Tell me about this album title. Is it a literal happiness chamber?

It was me [who came up with it] because it originated as a line in a song, and the song never made it onto the album. We kept the pairing of words “dopamine chamber.”

I wanted to make it a bit more literary. Turns out that the dopamine chamber … it’s where they put rats to test different chemicals or in order to check their dopamine levels. We found that out after.

So it’s fake happiness.

It’s almost like nonconsensual happiness. I mean, if that exists.

Do you ever feel like that in life? Like you’re like forced to be happy with everything bleak that’s going on?

I think we force ourselves to feel a certain happiness every now and then, just so we can compartmentalize things and go about our day. I think that’s a survival mechanism, anyway. But to lose that is dangerous.

This album is a lot more synthesized than your previous work. “Six Short Morning” and “Mimesis” definitely stand out there.

It made sense, thematically. I felt that those textures signaled … I hate using the word “dystopian,” but the dystopian future. I wanted the album to feel more like an advanced version of “Romance,” where the body of the record had become more bionic. There’s a reason that there are so many strings and cinematic stuff, that’s the organic world that I wanted to draw on — people like Mina, the ‘60s singer from Italy.

The acoustic sounds are, of course, still present.

They’re supposed to be kind of like fighting for space, a little bit.

One track that stuck out to me was “Happy for You,” because of it’s insincere flattery. Who or what do you have in mind when you write songs like that?

It’s a bit like [R.E.M.’s] “Shiny Happy People,” it’s a similar function. That song is a jealousy of other people’s happiness or well-adjustedness.

I noticed those internal struggles show up a lot on this album. On “One Man,” are you singing about feeling the weight of many?

I think that’s more about the general existential feeling of helplessness in the face of things that are happening in the world. I’ve got a really good friend called Nikolaj Schultz, do you know him?

No idea.

He’s a sociologist and philosopher, and he writes mostly about the environment, the Anthropocene, and he’s written a couple of books with the French philosopher Bruno Latour, who passed away [in 2022]. He’s someone who’s strapped to their bed and feels away the world from morning to night.

That was a profound influence on “Romance” and on this album. So I think “One Man” pertains to that, maybe even to him.

It seems like you are heavily inspired by literature, more so than other artists would be by just general music and listening.

I think in literature, I can understand sometimes what the point is in what they’re writing. For example, this Schultz book “Land Sickness,” the style of it is to render the audience sensitive to this issue just by the osmosis of showing how much it affects you. Like, my mom got me into music by showing me how much it affected her.

How did the feature with Rosalía come about for “Where Is Gone?”

Well, this is our first feature. Carlos [O’Connell], our guitarist, grew up in Spain and had been listening to her first couple of records. Then we got into “Motomami” together and it became a fixture to listen to it backstage before our shows. When “Lux” came out, we were all quite obsessed with it.

We were four days out from mixing or from mastering the album, and Carlos rang me. He was like, “I think we’d be mistaken to not just send Rosalía something and see if she’d be interested.”

We sent her four tracks. We sent her “Where Is Gone?,” “One Man,” “Tongue,” and I can’t remember what the other one was. She got back within 48 hours with a full vocal of “Where Is Gone?”

You weren’t in the studio together?

She was on tour. She was in Miami at the time.

What happened with “Marianne?” There was a moment where it was credited to AI “artists.” Then it was corrected to be effects artists.

I woke up at like 5:30 a.m. the day after the video came out, and I saw an article that said there was AI used in the video, and I called our management, and I was like, “What the f—, is this true?” and it turned out that there was some AI used in like the workflow or the postproduction.

So all those main scenes and main effects and stuff were VFX and prosthetics, like the cheeks and everything. Over 110 people worked on the thing. It was a real huge human effort. But then somewhere in the process, someone from the VFX team I guess used some kind of AI in the workflow. And none of us were told about it. Apparently, not even our label or our management were told about it and it was a real shock.

Yeah, it seemed like you guys didn’t know.

Of course. I mean, we’re gonna have it written into our contracts going forward that like it can’t be in our music videos. You know what I mean? I don’t condone it.

I think a lot of people were shocked just because you guys are so active in contemporary issues, which AI certainly is.

It’s so f— ironic. No, very contradictory. The themes of the f— album as well. I was hoping to talk about how I felt about AI in interviews at some point anyway, and then this kind of pulled the rug from under that conversation a little bit.

It just f— sucked.

Well, how do you feel about AI?

I think it’s f— terrifying. I was watching a Robin Williams scene from “Dead Poets Society” when he talks about poetry, literature. These are the things that we stay alive for, and well, that’s exactly what AI threatens to rob from the human race.

I’ve seen those articles about those guys who are leaving AI companies because they said that the human race is going to be dead within 10 years. AI is literally rendering our souls obsolete and I think that is true death.

A lot of people say, “It’s here, we have to deal with it.”

We should just shut it off.

It always ends here. Every conversation [about AI] just ends grim. This is like every conversation with my dad over the last three years about it. It makes it tough to be alive, doesn’t it?

THERE were plenty of skeptics when former Love Islander Zara McDermott struck up an unlikely romance with One Direction heartthrob Louis Tomlinson early last year.

But as Zara gives The Sun a rare insight into life with superstar Louis, it appears the couple have proved the naysayers wrong.

Zara and Louis were first spotted together in early March 2025, just two months after she split from partner of five years Sam Thompson.

At the time, the reality star and documentary-maker was subject to cruel trolling over the romance from Louis’ hardcore fanbase.

But sticking it out, not only is Zara seemingly stronger than ever with the musician, she’s ultra close to his famous sisters.

Walking the red carpet at last night’s Pride Of Britain Awards, Zara was arm in arm with Louis’ influencer younger sister Daisy.

“We’re going to have a big family Christmas this year, it’s rare that you get everyone in the same room, so it’ll be nice,” the duo tell me.

After confirming she’s looking forward to spending it with her other half and his clan, Zara admits: “I’ve had to try to figure out how to split my time between my family and Louis’ this year, it’s so difficult!”

As the pair discuss shopping for Louis – which Daisy assures is an easy task – Zara says in a rare gush: “He’s just a very happy person, he’s always happy. And he’s just always grateful.”

Despite being often seen at Louis’ California home, Zara – who noted how Louis’ siblings are her ‘sisters’ now – says the pair’s main residence is his North London home.

“It’s mostly London! I travel all over, but mostly London because that’s where all of my family and friends are.”

Zara and Louis keep their union famously private, with the pair only ever sharing a few snaps together online and rarely discussing one another.

However, she has dubbed the singer her “prince charming” – recently admitting: “I genuinely can’t even say one [irritating habit]. He’s like my Prince Charming. He’s like my fairytale.

“He is genuinely the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life, he’s an inspiration to me in so many ways.

“He is the most empathetic, considerate, kind person. He will always think about every single other person before himself, and I think that is such a rare quality to find in someone.”

There are even rumours that the loved-up pair could soon announce they are engaged, but the presenter remains stubbornly tight-lipped about wedding bells.

That doesn’t mean the relationship has been without its challenges, with Zara widely trolled by Louis’ fans who, at the beginning of their relationship, accused her of “following” the popstar around.

When Zara posted snaps of herself in Italy, where Louis was performing at a sold-out concert in Milan, earlier this year – she was subjected to vile backlash.

At the time, a source told The Sun: “Zara can’t win with the trolls.

“She’s either accused of ‘following’ Louis around the world or is slated for not being a supportive enough girlfriend.

“It’s like she’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

But keeping a dignified silence appears to have done the trick for Zara, who is proving to his fans that she certainly doesn’t seem to be going anywhere – and the whole Tomlinson clan are behind her.

KENDALL Jenner has denied ever dating fellow model Cara ­Delevingne — but says being a lesbian would be “amazing”.

The US beauty, 30, sees the Brit, who she has been pals with for around 12 years, as a “sister”.

She said: “There’s definitely a rumour that she and I dated or something in the past, which is not true.

“I love Cara.

“She’s my sister, and that never happened.”

Kendall, who is seeing Aussie actor Jacob Elordi, 29, spoke out in the latest episode of US reality show The Kardashians.

Read more on Kendall Jenner

MODEL BEHAVIOR

Kendall Jenner rips off top as she shows off hourglass curves and toned abs

SYD VICIOUS

Sydney Sweeney doubles down in feud with critics as she poses in new naked ad

She said: “She kind of like brought me under her wing in a way and made me feel really safe and welcome in the modelling world.”

She said that “people think I’m a lesbian to this day.

“I’m not”, but she has not ruled out the idea of same-sex love.

She went on: “For the record, I think being a lesbian would be fun and amazing and easier.

“I just have never had a desire to have sex with women.

“Never say never, right?”

GRANTCHESTER hunk Tom Brittney has split from his fiancée and moved on with tattooed model Clo Gascoigne.

It comes two years after Tom’s engagement to his long-term girlfriend, whose name he never revealed.

The new couple have now gone Instagram-official as Clo shared a loved-up snap of them on the red carpet at Prime Video’s Carrie launch last week.

Tom, who recently starred in thriller movie Fall 2: Deadpoint, featured in Clo’s TikTok (which she has now deleted) where she filmed him watching himself on telly with the caption: “POV your boyfriend is an actor.”
Congrats.

HOLLY AND FELTZ CLICK

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY has been exchanging tips with Vanessa Feltz on kickstarting their YouTube careers.

The presenters, who worked together regularly on This Morning, shared a snap on Instagram on Friday after watching a performance at the English National Opera in central London.

COMEDIAN MUGGED

Paul Whitehouse mugged at cashpoint while out buying his wife’s medicine

HEL’ OF A LOOK

Helen Flanagan wows in sexy leather hotpants & celebrates ‘witchy’ season

Speaking earlier in the week at Best magazine’s Heroes Awards, Vanessa said: “I’ve had a really great voicenote from Holly.

“She is incredibly encouraging and she says she’s thoroughly enjoying it and she can see that I am.

“We’re having dinner this week. We really like each other and support each other and I think she’s doing an absolute bang-up job. I think that women supporting women is always attractive and great.”

The former chat show host started her own YouTube series, At Home With Vanessa, earlier this year.

She added: “It’s quite a big deal to do it. Terrestrial TV seems to feel narrower, smaller, and fewer and fewer opportunities.

“On terrestrial TV, they all seem to be reining themselves in, there seem to be lots of cuts being made, and closures, things are shorter and smaller and less often and all this kind of thing.

“So I think the idea of just waiting for an opportunity there might be a very long wait.

“It’s a question of feeling like you want to try to see if you can make an opportunity for yourself.”

MARK HAMILL is reprising his role as Luke Skywalker . . . in an Old Spice ad.

The actor filmed a top-secret campaign for the vintage aftershave favoured by dads, in which he appeared as his legendary Star Wars character.

The shoot took place in the UK last week.

A mole tells me: “Mark was paid big bucks for the ad – after all, he’s a huge Hollywood star.

“Bosses think he’ll appeal to the Old Spice market as Star Wars is so popular with dads.”

Mark also has a cameo in Amazon Prime’s new series Carrie, where he plays a fraudulent fortune teller.

NICOLE SPOTTED IN CATSUIT

NICOLE SCHERZINGER had a wild night stepping out in a skintight leopard-print catsuit.

The singer was joined by her Pussycat Dolls bandmates Ashley Roberts and Kimberley Wyatt at Nammos Greek restaurant in London’s Mayfair on Friday night, to celebrate their successful reunion tour.

The trio dined on signature dishes and enjoyed cocktails.

An onlooker said: “They were in high spirits. They had an amazing tour and got rave reviews, they deserve to let their hair down.”

TYLA’S HOT FLUFF

TYLA showed her softer side as she donned a fluffy lingerie set for a show on Friday night.

Excited to be performing in the capital, the South African singer painted “London” across her thigh for the O2 Brixton Academy leg of her A*Pop World Tour.

The Water hitmaker, full name Tyla Laura Seethal, revealed that she loves the UK but still sees Johannesburg as her home.

The Grammy Award-winning singer said: “We don’t have paparazzi and you see our superstars at the mall, like every weekend. It’s kind of chill.

“It feels like a movie [in the UK] – the fact that people care about every little thing I do and say.”

Tyla continues her tour tonight in Glasgow then Manchester tomorrow.

ZARA’S GOT SOMETHING ‘SPECIAL’

ZARA LARSSON has confirmed a new album is coming next year and has already recorded the first track.

The star said the “special” song came by accident while she was working on this year’s remix album Girls Trips and she knows it’s going to be a hit.

She explained on Popcast: “I think it’s going to be a really fun journey to write the next album.

“I already have new lyrics, actually I have one song we did just because we couldn’t help ourselves when we weremaking Girls Trips and it sort of gave me the same feeling to when I did (previous album) Midnight Sun.

“When I left that session you just know when something is special and that’s one, and also what it was; for the four of us being fully present.”

EMMERDALE OLIVIA IS NED OVER HEELS

THEY had a sizzling love affair on Emmerdale – but I can reveal that Olivia Bromley and Ned Porteous are a couple off-screen as well.

The ITV soap pair have been secretly dating for months.

Gorgeous Olivia and hunky Ned grew close after their characters, Dawn Taylor and Joe Tate, were involved in one of the show’s biggest-ever love triangles.

But the couple initially kept their romance quiet.

An Emmerdale source said: “Olivia and Ned were a couple off-screen while acting out those sex scenes.

“It was easy for them to get away with it because they were working so closely together.

“A few people clocked what was going on and they both admitted that they were seeing where things go. But it’s been a good few months now and they couldn’t be happier.”

Olivia left the soap over the summer, but now she has a great excuse to keep visiting the set.