Elle Simone Scott, a chef and cookbook author best known for her work on “America’s Test Kitchen,” has died. She was 49.
Describing her as “one of [the organization’s] brightest stars,” “America’s Test Kitchen” Chief Content Officer Dan Souza confirmed in a statement Thursday that Scott died Monday after a long battle with ovarian cancer. The news was first announced Wednesday on “ATK’s” Instagram.
“Scott brought warmth and a vibrant spirit to everything she did,” Souza said. “Friends and colleagues will remember [her] for her ability to create community and provide opportunities for others, both inside and outside of work … Her legacy will live on at America’s Test Kitchen and in the homes and hearts of the millions of home cooks whose lives she touched.”
A Detroit native, Scott joined “America’s Test Kitchen” in 2016 and became the first Black woman cast member on the popular PBS cooking show. In addition to authoring cookbooks “Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings” and “Food Gifts: 150+ Irresistible Recipes for Crafting Personalized Presents,” she hosted “The Walk-In” podcast and worked as a food stylist.
In a tribute on Instagram, friend and fellow TV chef Carla Hall praised Scott for being “a force” and “a trailblazer.”
“At America’s Test Kitchen, Elle helped open doors that had long been closed — becoming one of the first Black women audiences saw in the test kitchen, and doing so with grace, authority, and joy,” wrote Hall. “Her voice mattered. Her work mattered. She mattered.”
According to WBUR, Scott, who lived in Boston, pivoted to a career in food in 2008 after she lost her home, car and job as a social worker during the recession.
“The thought occurred to me, ‘if I have to do something for the next 25 years of my life, it better be something I love,’ ” Scott said during a 2019 radio segment. “The only thing I could think of was cooking. It was the one thing that brought me peace and joy.”
She became an advocate for representation in food media and the culinary world, co-founding SheChef Inc., an organization for women chefs of color that provides mentorship to young women pursuing a career in the field, in 2013.
“I thought it would be a great way to create a network to bring those underrepresented people together to see how we could support each other, create a network where we can help each other grow professionally — also to just deal with the angst of being women in kitchens where we are the only women in the kitchen,” Scott told WTOP News in 2019.
Scott was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016, according to the Detroit News, but told the outlet she was cancer-free in 2020.
“Elle faced ovarian cancer with courage and honesty, using her platform to educate, advocate, and uplift even while fighting for her life,” Hall said in her tribute. “We honor you, Elle. Your legacy lives on in every kitchen you inspired and every cook who finally saw themselves reflected back.”
What a Monday night to remember for the Scott brothers, Nolan and Maxwell. In a basketball game matching perhaps the top two public school teams in Orange County, Corona del Mar and Los Alamitos went back and forth, with neither wanting to budge.
Corona del Mar (17-1) got the ball under Los Alamitos’ basket with 11.2 seconds left and down by one point. Coach Jason Simco, who had never beaten Los Alamitos in five seasons, set up a final play that was designed to get the ball to the least likely person, Nolan Scott, a sophomore linebacker for the football team. Brother Maxwell set a screen for him, Luke Mirhashemi found Nolan wide open under the basket and passed him the ball for an easy layup with 4.3 seconds left, delivering a 78-77 victory in a Sunset League game at Los Alamitos’ newly opened gym.
Maxwell Scott finished with 35 points. The brothers have been playing together since flag football days as second-graders. Maxwell played football as a freshman and then focused on basketball, but he is set to return to football as a senior.
“It’s fun to play with him,” Maxwell said.
What a game it was.
“Everyone was making shots,” Maxwell said.
Corona del Mar’s successful final shot took away a magnificent performance from Los Alamitos sophomore Isaiah Williamson, who finished with 26 points.
“I think he was amazing,” Simco said of Williamson. “He’s going to be something else.”
Those who snub Father Time like to say that 50 is the new 30. A different Father — Benedictine priest Maximilian Maxwell— sprinkled holy water in the end zone before his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday with the AFC North title on the line.
Fifty is the new 30 also applies to field goals. More than 70% of kicks over 50 yards are successful these days, a dramatic increase in accuracy from only five years ago. Excuse Maxwell for thinking divine intervention might be necessary should a last-second missed kick determine the outcome.
A 44-yarder is a chip shot for most NFL kickers, including Ravens rookie Tyler Loop, who had made 90% of his attempts — including eight of eight from 40-49 yards — when the ball was snapped with three seconds to play and Baltimore trailing 26-24.
Two words coined when Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard attempt that cost the Buffalo Bills Super Bowl XXV in 1991 once again were screamed on a television broadcast: “Wide right!”
Another memorable miss came from a kicker regarded as the best in the NFL 20-some years ago. Brash, outspoken Mike Vanderjagt of the Indianapolis Colts led the league in scoring in 1999 and four years later became the first kicker in history to make every kick in a full season: 83 of 83 on field goals and extra points.
Yet he botched a boot with 21 seconds to play during a playoff game in 2006, enabling the Steelers to upset the Colts. Pittsburgh went on to win the Super Bowl and Vanderjagt was replaced by Adam Vinatieri. He never regained his form.
Here’s hoping Loop rebounds better than Vanderjagt or Norwood, who was released a year after the historic miss and never played again. Loop was All Pac-12 in 2023 at Arizona, where he holds records for longest field goal (62 yards) and success rate (83.75%). He was the Wildcats’ G.O.A.T. before becoming the Ravens’ goat.
Loop, 24, didn’t duck the media, leaving the impression that he won’t let this failure define him.
“Just want to say I’m super grateful to Baltimore, the organization and the city, just how they embraced me this year has been incredible,” he said. “Just for it to end like that, sucks, and I want to do better.
“Unfortunately, the nature of the job is you have makes, and those are awesome, and unfortunately, you have misses, and for that to happen tonight sucks.”
The specialized nature of kickers can place them on the periphery of team bonding, but Loop’s teammates and coaches were supportive in the aftermath of the season-ending loss.
Coach John Harbaugh walked alongside Loop from the field to the locker room, with his arm around his back comforting him. Quarterback Lamar Jackson downplayed the impact, telling reporters, “He’s a rookie, you know. It’s all good. Just leave it in the past.”
Only time will tell whether Loop can do just that.
Burnley managed just three efforts on target at the Amex Stadium and their lack of threat in attack was compounded by errors at the back.
The absence of captain Josh Cullen, who is out for the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 0-0 draw against Everton on 27 December, was also sharply felt in a listless midfield display on a day when a despondent Parker could take few positives.
“What we need is what we had previous to today,” Parker added.
“While the results have not gone our way, we have been building on certain things and there has been a real commitment. We are going to lose matches but the way we lost today is not one which was nice and is not acceptable really. We need a reaction for sure.
“The saving grace is there is only x amount of points [six to safety] but that is irrelevant because if we perform like we did at times today, whatever the points are, we are not going to get enough [to stay up].”
Sweden international Hjalmar Ekdal echoed Parker’s sentiments when speaking to Sky Sports, adding: “I think today is worse than previous games.
“This game is not what we stand for or what we want to be defined by. As a team we were weak, not there, we have a lack of belief.
“I think we are all a bit embarrassed of ourselves. It is difficult to put it on one thing really, but just the mindset and the character of us all on the pitch. The duels and everything, how we fight and go through the game, we can all see that we are not really there and we are not really in the game.”
HELEN Flanagan looked sensational as she stripped to Santa-themed lingerie for a sexy social media post.
The actress’ sizzling snaps, which saw her posing in a plunging lace bodysuit with white fur trim as well as a red camisole with matching thong, came as she teased “Meet the new Santa Clause”.
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Helen Flanagan looked sensational as she posed in Christmas Ann Summers lingerieCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganThe actress, 35, teasingly pulled at a red ribbon on her sparkly camisoleCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganThe soap star made sure to pen her Christmas listCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganShe flashed her black suspender stockings as she put a present under her treeCredit: Instagram/hjgflanagan
She then hopped over to wrap some presents under her tree in a fir-trim one piece.
The screen star, best-known for playing Corrie’s Rosie Webster, then held two jugs of milk while donning her Christmassy bodysuit before pouring one into a mug emblazoned with the words “Santa’s little helper”.
She finished off the clip by teasingly untying her one-piece and flashing a cheeky smile to the camera.
In her caption, Helen wrote: “Meet the new Santa Clause.”
A fan wrote: “You look stunning.”
Another put: “Well hello gorgeous.”
A third put: “Wow Helen your so beautiful merry Christmas.”
HUGE CLASH
Helen split from her ex-fiancé in 2022 after 13 years together and they share three children Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.
Soap operas are staple viewing for many people, but even some of the most famous characters have been played by different actors. Here are some examples from over the years.
Tracy Barlow: Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy – most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999.
Nick Tilsley: Ben Price has been playing Gail’s oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers’ Wives star is the third actor to take on the part.
Sarah Platt: Although Tina O’Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt.
David Platt: Completing the line-up of Gail’s children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over.
Daniel Osbourne: For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow’s son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel.
Bethany Platt: Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character’s shoes.
Kirk Sutherland: Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance.
Todd Grimshaw: Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part.
Summer Spellman: Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020.
Ryan Connor: Ryan Prescott currently plays the long-running character, but Ben Thompson and Sol Heras had earlier portrayed the role.
Martin Fowler: Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn’t always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character.
Peter Beale: Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale’s elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character.
Ben Mitchell: Ben has been played by a total of six actors – with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024.
Bobby Beale: Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian’s younger son had been played by four other actors.
Freddie Slater: Bobby’s best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022.
Chelsea Fox: Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010.
Lauren Branning: Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who’d played her from 2006 to 2010.
Johnny Carter: Johnny has been played by three actors since debuting in 2013 – most recently, Charlie Suff has taken on the role.
Meanwhile Helen posted a snap of her cuddling their son, writing: “Loved Charlie’s nativity. My star, my heartbeat.”
She recently hinted at trouble “co-parenting” with Scott, telling The Sun: “He lives like Somerset and I live in Lancashire. So we live so far away from each other, which is really difficult when you’ve got three young children.
“I hate calling it co-parenting because I don’t really feel like a co-parent to be honest with you anyway.”
She posed in a one piece with a fur trimCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganHelen then switched to a lace bodysuit as she held up jugs of milkCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganIt comes as she is locked in a feud with her ex Scott SinclairCredit: Instagram
Helen Flanagan has taken another swipe at ex Scott SinclairCredit: Instagram Helen Flanagan Instagram_hjgflanagan_135517.jpgThe former Corrie star has slammed Scott’s co-parenting styleCredit: makeupbyashleyuk/InstagramHelen heaped praise on her mum for helping her with kids while she workedCredit: InstagramThe actress said she was reliant on her mum to help with her three childrenCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun
Helen split from her ex-fiancé in 2022 after 13 years together and they share three children Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.
“The BEST grandma ever, so lucky to have you mum.”
Helen added: “All the school runs, all the activities, all the school work, all the washing. Love you.”
The star previously opened up to The Sun about the struggles of co-parenting with Scott and relying on her mum for help.
She said: “He lives like Somerset and I live in Lancashire. So we live so far away from each other, which is really difficult when you’ve got three young children.
“I hate calling it co-parenting because I don’t really feel like a co-parent to be honest with you anyway.”
The star is reliant on her mum and dad, who live 15 minutes away, to help with childcare duties, admitting she would “really struggle” without their help.
“I have my children for the rest of the time,” she said. “Which I would never want any other way. I work most days.
“Always back and forth, you know, from London, like a yo-yo as well. My mum’s incredible. She really helps me bring up my children really. I’m very lucky to have that support.”
Helen has been lashing out at Scott after he went to party in Abu DhabiCredit: instagram/@scotty__sinclairShe claims he skipped their son’s nativity playCredit: Instagram
It is difficult to gauge how good Morocco are from a meeting with a side from the smallest country of 24 competing at Afcon 2025 – and in front of their own vociferous fans.
Comoros were unbeaten as they topped their qualifying group ahead of Tunisia and shocked Ghana at the last Afcon two years ago.
However, Morocco beat Comoros 3-1 to top their group at the recent Arab Cup in Qatar before edging Jordan 3-2 after extra-time in Thursday’s final.
That was with a completely different squad than the one that is at their home tournament.
Comoros too only had one player from the Arab Cup starting at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium against the hosts.
Even so, it is another indication that Morocco have strength in depth.
This was three points gained without having to call on influential captain Achraf Hakimi, who was only fit for the bench after suffering an ankle injury playing for Paris St-Germain in a Champions League game in early November.
El Kaabi was himself a substitute before the 32-year-old Olympiacos striker made a sensational goalscoring entrance with 25 minutes remaining.
OK, he did not quite rise as high off the ground as McTominay, but it was greeted with similar gasps inside his home stadium.
Morocco’s depth will be tested more in tougher challenges ahead, starting with Mali on Boxing Day and then Zambia on 29 December.
They will, though, be favourites to qualify from Group A as the look to win Afcon for the first time since 1976 or at least reach the final for the first time in 21 years.
Plenty more time for Clarke to judge the strengths and weaknesses of the side Scotland will face at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, USA on 19 June.
