secret

GILLIAN Anderson has opened up about a ‘secret’ early relationship with ‘an older girl in high school.’

The Sex Education and X-Files actress, 58, has been open in the past about her relationships with women.

In a new interview, Gillian discussed her youthful romance and the sensitivity around it.

She told The Sunday Times: “One of my first relationships was with an older girl in high school.

“It felt secretive and illicit and wrong and we had to hide.

“Later on I had a boyfriend who found out and broke up with me.”

Read more on Gillian Anderson

OTHERWORLDLY BEAUTY

X Files’ Gillian Anderson wows in tiny nude dress at Paris Fashion Week

EAR THEM OUT

C4 viewers switch OFF Gillian Anderson’s new show and SLAM ‘mumbling’ cast

Continuing, Gillian said she’d had “a couple of boyfriends”, so didn’t think of herself as gay.

She added: “But I definitely felt I didn’t have the language for it.

“Even later on when I had other relationships with women I’m not sure I ever thought of them as being potentially for ever.”

She concluded: “The person I consider my life partner happens to be male.”

Gillian has reportedly been in a relationship with screenwriter Peter Morgan, 63, on and off since 2016.

Peter is perhaps best known as the creator and showrunner of Netflix smash-hit The Crown.

Aug. 12 (UPI) — President Donald Trump confirmed he was smuggled off Air Force One and secretly boarded onto a different aircraft before departing the NATO Summit in Turkey for a flight to a British air base in July, amid a possible threat on his life.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday night, Trump said the decision to make the switch in Ankara was made by the “Secret Service and the military.”

“I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go in a different flight, different plane. I just have to do what they say,” he said.

NBC News said it had confirmation of reports that after apparently boarding Air Force One as normal, Trump was moved, secreted in a catering truck, to an unmarked VIP transport aircraft for the first leg of the July 8 flight back to the United States, via RAF Mildenhall.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained on board and the press corps accompanying Trump and most White House staffers flew the leg on Air Force One unaware that Trump was not present, but Trump dismissed questions over whether leaving them aboard the decoy aircraft may have placed them in harm’s way.

“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk. I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for,” said Trump, without saying why that might be the case.

Trump said he didn’t delve too much into the threat but he said he was “not surprised” he had been targeted, saying it was an occupational hazard for any president who was getting results.

“Any consequential president has a lot of threats,” he said.

NBC said it had been told by a U.S. official the switch was due to credible intelligence of an Iranian threat to kill Trump, possibly using a shoulder-fired missile launcher to attack Air Force One as it departed Ankara.

Other reports said U.S. intelligence had information of a person with a shoulder-fired missile launcher seen near where the summit was being held.

“As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” the White House said in a statement to ABC News.

Trump said at the time he would take the original Air Force One and not the new one provided by Qatar because he was sending it to Mildenhall for U.S. service members to tour.

However, the sequence of events was that Trump boarded Air Force One in view of the cameras in Ankara, clandestinely switched to the C-32 carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the flight to Britain. Once on the ground at Mildenhall, the maneuver was reversed and Trump emerged from Air Force One as if he’d been aboard the whole time.

Administration officials, even Hegseth, reportedly were unaware of the ruse until afterward.

Trump subsequently switched onto the new Qatari-gifted “Air Force One” for the rest of the flight back to Washington.

We all know the classic Seven Wonders of the World, but Lonely Planet has now revealed its most ‘Secret Wonders of the World’.

From bright thermal spas to haunting bell towers and oddly-named villages, these are nine of the most incredible spots either natural and manmade.

Pamukkale-Hierapolis, Turkey

When it comes to natural wonders, one of those highlighted by Lonely Planet is Pamukkale-Hierapolis in southwestern Turkey.

The striking thermal springs have white rocks with bright turquoise water and waterfalls.

Visitors can actually swim in part of Pamukkale in the man-made Cleopatra Pool.

In some parts you can walk through or even wade through the water.

SUNNY STEALS

Sun-drenched European holidays with £1.50 pints and stays from under £9pp

HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, China

Another colourful spot is Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in Gansu, China.

The mountainous site is full of bright colours from green to pink and orange that has formed over millions of years.

Around the geopark are dedicated paths and platforms so you can see the mountains in all their glory.

One of the best times to visit is during the wet season between May and September – the combination of rain and the sunrise or sunset make the colours more vivid.

Beehive Huts, Ireland

One secret wonder is much closer to the UK as it’s found on the south-west coast of Ireland.

Beehive Huts, or clochán, date back to the 8th century, thought to once be used to store grain or shelter against storms.

Lots are easy to visit with many on the Dingle Peninsula with views across the coastline.

Some of the most easily accessible are the Fahan Beehive Huts which cost around €3 (£2.56) to enter.

Campanile de Curon, Italy

Another is Campanile de Curon, a bell tower in the middle of a lake in Italy.

It’s actually on the site of a sunken village which was flooded when three lakes merged into one.

It submerged the village of Curon Venosta leaving only the bell tower to be seen.

In the winter when the lake freezes over, it’s possible to walk over to it.

Chiricahua National Monument, USA

The Chiricahua National Monument is an enormous site made up of towers of balanced rocks.

Across 12,000 acres, the protected area in Arizona is known as a ‘wonderland of rocks’.

The area is open to visitors who want to explore its creeks, volcanic formations, and grottoes.

Most head to see Big Balanced Rock which, as the name suggest, s is a large rock that is perched on a narrow pedestal in a way that doesn’t look possible.

Chicken, Alaska

Found deep in Alaska is a former gold rush village called Chicken – and it even has a huge chicken Mr. Eggee as the mascot.

The village got its name back in the 1900s when workers could not agree on the spelling of ptarmigan, a bird found in the local area.

Instead, they settled on chicken, and now the village even holds a Chickenstock music festival with live folk music and plenty do the chicken dance.

The village is accessible between April and September as in winter its connecting highway closes due to extreme weather like heavy snow.

Völklinger Hütte, Germany

Some of the man-made secret wonders include the Völklinger Ironworks, in Germany, which looks more like something from a steampunk film.

Found in the south-west of the country, these are the world’s only fully preserved ironworks from what was considered the “Golden Age” of the iron and steel industry.

It’s no longer in use and is actually a museum and gallery space with entry from €17 (£14.52).

There are regular exhibitions and tours of the ironworks too.

Quinta da Regaleira Wells, Portugal

Just a few hours away from the UK in Sintra, Portugal is Quinta da Regaleira Wells.

The well is made up of two staircases across nine levels, they are found beneath the UNESCO-protected Quinta da Regaleira.

Unlike traditional wells, these don’t hold any water but were rather used for secret Masonic ceremonies.

For anyone heading to Lisbon, it’s a 35-minute drive away – you need to buy a ticket and can either do a guided or self-guided tour of the site.

Moray, Peru

Another man-made secret wonder is Moray in Peru which are deep carved circles with steps – essentially like an amphitheatre.

It’s in the Sacred Valley region around 11,500 feet above sea level.

It was built by the Inca Empire between the 15th and early 16th centuries believed to be used to experiment with agriculture at the time.

For those who want to visit, you have to buy a tourist ticket which covers 16 historical sites across Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

For the full 385 Secret Wonders of the World check out the book at shop.lonelyplanet.com.

Bob Mortimer has spoken about the appeal of his BBC show as Paul Whitehouse opened up about his late mother during an episode of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

Bob Mortimer has previously opened up about the unlikely appeal of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

The comedian, who stars alongside Paul Whitehouse in the much-loved programme, said he hopes the show encourages people to spend more time with their friends, whatever their age.

Speaking during an appearance on Saturday Kitchen, Mortimer explained that much of what viewers see comes from the pair simply talking while spending long hours together by the water.

“We’re on the riverbank for eight hours, Matt. So, you know, we just talk most of the time when we’re not fishing,” he said. According to Mortimer, the production team then searches through those lengthy conversations for moments that work on screen.

“They try and find 30 seconds here or a minute there that’s worth putting on the telly,” he explained, adding that he could not imagine the programme working in quite the same way if it were scripted.

Mortimer also suggested that part of the show’s success comes from its relatability, with viewers perhaps recognising their own friendships in the relationship between the two presenters.

“I think a lot of people watch it. Certainly a lot of fellas watch it and think, ‘Oh, that’s me and my mate. That’s what we’re like,'” he said.

The relaxed conversations between Mortimer and Whitehouse have become one of the defining features of Gone Fishing, with the pair regularly discussing subjects far beyond fishing. Over the years, they have spoken openly about their health, personal experiences and events that have had a lasting impact on their lives.

One particularly emotional conversation saw Whitehouse discuss the devastating effect Alzheimer’s had on his mother, Anita May Whitehouse.

In a repeat episode of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing airing tonight (Monday, August 10), Whitehouse, 68, reflected on his mother’s illness while speaking candidly with his friend and co-host.

Whitehouse’s mother died in January 2022, and he later described the heartbreaking reality of seeing her suffer with the condition. Introducing the subject, Mortimer asked: “Alzheimer’s is the big for you though, isn’t it?”

Whitehouse replied: “Well, it is, you know. My poor mum, there was no existence. It’s become one of the biggest killers now.”

The pair have never shied away from difficult conversations on Gone Fishing, with their friendship providing a backdrop for discussions about everything from serious health problems to major moments in their personal and professional lives.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing airs tonight at 10pm on BBC Two

The 90-minute train journey south-west from Budapest to the spa town of Balatonfüred unveils a landscape that segues from gritty industrial compounds to long sweeps of golden sunflowers and fields of pale grain. The carriage is pleasingly retro, with thick velour upholstery; windows that open, awkwardly, with a stiff metal lever; and a bushy eyebrowed conductor replete with ticket machine slung over his shoulder.

But the real retromania is yet to come. Arriving at Balatonfüred station, I board a 1984 DAF bus, painted an almost audacious shade of green. From the open-air rear, I take in the view over Lake Balaton, central Europe’s largest freshwater lake, often referred to as the “Hungarian Sea”.

A spa resort town since the late 18th century, Balatonfüred is a popular place for sailing and swimming, while the hilly countryside to the north is great for mountain bikers and hikers. It’s also home to hundreds of wineries, many of which have traditionally been difficult to access – especially without a car. The bus I’m on – the hop-on, hop-off 46° Balaton Borbusz that launched this summer – has changed all this, by taking visitors on day trips to local vineyards.

It’s the brainchild of Virág Szabó, who has spent summers in the region since childhood. “The idea first came to me when I was travelling in South Africa, on the vintage wine tram that runs between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek,” she says. “I couldn’t believe that nobody had thought to do something similar here.” The 46° moniker is a reference to the fact that this area occupies the same latitude as Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône.

She found the bus in the Netherlands and, by May this year, had signed up 22 wineries along two distinct routes – one focused on better-known growers and the other on more remote ones. Since then, seven more have joined and many more are eager to get involved. “I have three criteria. Is the wine good? Are there nice views? And is the winery able to offer some form of hospitality?” she says. Many of the wineries are family-owned and run, with no previous thought of opening up to visitors. Very little of Hungary’s wine is marketed, and only around one-third is exported. Less still has it ever been the stuff of tourism.

The bus departs Balatonfüred about every two hours from 11am, with the final drop-off at 9pm and the option to visit four wineries. Guests can either choose these in advance or pick en route – and, if the bus returns for you and two hours have flashed by before you’re ready, you can simply ask to be collected two hours later. While tourism in Hungary is booming, with Budapest the country’s primary draw, the Borbusz hopes to lure visitors further afield, offering an alternative insight into the country – and the chance to meet local people. Originally, it was planned to run only until September – but will now operate until mid-October, thanks to its early popularity.

Our first stop is Mórocz Pince (“pince” is the Hungarian for “cellar”), reached via a moderately steep, rocky path from the main road. Founded by former musician Tamás Mórocz, it produces between 4,000 and 5,000 bottles each year, with traminer and merlot rosé among its specialities. “During Soviet times, the emphasis was on quantity, for exporting to eastern bloc countries, rather than quality,” he says. “Fortunately, that’s no longer the case.”

Although just 38, Mórocz has been making wine for 15 years. “I wanted to approach it differently,” he says. “In a way that was lighthearted, irreverent and down to earth.” One way he’s achieved this is through his labels, with each vintage given a different theme. The 2025 bottles show photos, taken from family albums, of his grandfather, who introduced him to wine. “He died in 2012, so he doesn’t know he’s famous,” says Mórocz, with a smile. Over charcuterie platters on the terrace, with rows of vines and the expanse of the lake as a backdrop, it feels less like a tasting, and more like we’re drinking and chatting with friends – and the wine is delicious.

We continue on, and some of the group jump off at another winery, Balogh, just down the hill from Mórocz. But Szabó has told me about the charismatic owner of Gazdag Pince, and I’m keen to meet him, so I remain on the bus for another 15 minutes as we pass neatly combed vineyards and pretty villages. “We only make wines that we want to drink,” says Gábor Gazdag, welcoming us to his winery. “I used to play badminton, but then I got too fat, and I started worrying about being bored in retirement. I wasn’t interested in hunting, fishing or collecting stamps – but I like wine, so I bought this land. It’s a hobby for me.”

For Gazdag, this may be a way to stave off lethargy in older age; for János Fogl, at next door’s Madaras Pince, “it’s my life”. Szabó tells me that Fogl – who has been making wine since 1994 – is a genius, cross-breeding grapes to create unique varieties that shouldn’t work in this region. Shaded under a vine-tangled trellis, we start with a cherry liqueur before moving on to a dizzying selection of wines. Each time I think we’re finished, Fogl shuffles off to his cellar and produces another bottle.

Music spills from the Borbusz speakers as we travel back, picking up passengers – couples and groups of friends – from other wineries along the way. Everyone is in an unmistakably ebullient mood; this will almost certainly turn to somnolence later.

It has been revealed that Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb attended a dance school for years as he signs up for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, returning in the autumn

The yearly debate on whether those with dance training should be allowed on Strictly Come Dancing is sure to be reignited now that it has been revealed that Lawrence Robb attended a dance school for two years.

Lawrence, who was the 12th celebrity announced for Strictly Come Dancing, is best known for playing McKenzie Boyd on Emmerdale, but from 2007-2009, he was a student at The Dance School of Scotland. Glasgow City Council shared a video message from the actor, 34, where he shared his dance experience.

In the message, he said: “I studied at Knightswood incorporating the Dance School of Scotland along with the musical theatre course back in 2007 and left in 2009.”

After adding that he then went to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he praised his dance teachers for the “care” they had for their students. “If it had not been for the nourishment and the care and the love that the teachers put into teaching us,” he said.

“I’ve made friends for life at that place, it is up there with the two best years of my life. It gave me a wonderful springboard into the world of musical theatre and it’s just a magical place to be. My experience there is what shaped me into the performer that I am today.”

As a musical theatre performer, Lawrence is thought to have had more professional dance experience than the average Strictly celebrity contestant. West End stars have often come under fire for taking part in the show – just last year, musical theatre star Amber Davies‘ involvement in the show was heavily criticised when she proved to be a strong contender for the glitterball.

Likewise, Layton Williams was criticised for taking part given his experience performing in the West End. Actors who did dance training whilst at drama school have also faced backlash, such as Danny Mac and Nigel Harman, as have those who have competed in dance competitions or worked as dancers in non-ballroom or latin styles, such as Lewis Cope and Tasha Ghouri.

Year after year, fans are split between those who feel that such celebrities are afforded an unfair advantage and those who say that Strictly would be boring without these dancers providing high-scoring performances.

Strictly stars have often hit back at backlash, stating that the celebrities with dance experience have no advantages as ballroom is a different style. Speaking about it to The Sun, professional dancer Lauren Oakley said: “It’s a completely different experience, my friend is ballet trained but she’s had to unlearn a lot of things in order to do Latin. It’s a completely different discipline and you have to almost it’s not a blank page, you have to unlearn it before you.”

Despite Lauren’s words, celebrities who have dance experience consistently score highly and make the final. For instance, just last year, the winner Karen Carney danced as a child, Amber Davies made the final and Lewis Cope was often topping the leaderboard.

This year, Lawrence is not he only Strictly celeb to take part with prior dance experience. Cach Mercer, who won Love Island last year, is trained in hip-hop and often teaches dance classes. Bethany Antonia is also a West End star who played Eurydice in Hadestown on stage.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had a second lucrative undisclosed sponsorship agreement with a company doing business with the team, Pablo Torre reported Thursday night on his podcast.

Scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, which built the $100 million video board at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome, hired Leonard to a multi-million dollar endorsement deal, according to Torre. The podcast host found no evidence that the All-NBA forward did any work for the company.

The details are similar to the $28 million endorsement deal Leonard had with Aspiration, a now-defunct environmental banking company that had a 23-year, $300 million sponsorship deal with Clippers. Steve Ballmer, the team’s owner, invested $60 million into Aspiration, triggering allegations that the payment to Leonard circumvented the NBA salary cap.

That deal is at the center off an ongoing, almost year-long NBA investigation. Requests on Friday for comment from Leonard’s agent and the Clippers were not immediately answered.

The salary cap limits what teams can spend on player payroll to ensure parity and prevent the wealthiest teams from outspending smaller-market teams to acquire the best players. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has called attempts to circumvent it a “cardinal sin.”

The topic was raised on Torre’s podcast by a person identified as an “anonymous high-level source under contract for Intuit Dome.” The person alleged in an interview that the sponsorship deal was “1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap. It was funneling money from the Clippers through Daktronics back to Kawhi.”

The investigation into the Aspiration allegations has grown in scope, the Athletic reported three weeks ago. In addition to attempting to determine whether Aspiration’s payment to Leonard violated NBA salary-cap rules, the probe conducted by high-powered New York law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is examining Leonard’s deal with Daktronics.

If the NBA determines that a salary-cap violation occurred, the Clippers could be fined and stripped of first-round picks. Ballmer also could be penalized and Leonard’s contract could be voided. He has one year and $50.3 million left on a three-year, $149.5 million deal he signed before the 2024-25 season.

The endorsement deal with Daktronics raised suspicion because the company doesn’t do business with the general public and doesn’t need prominent athletes or celebrities to pitch its products.

“Daktronics was conservative to a fault for the 20+ years I was there,” a former employee told Torre. “I remember asking early on why we didn’t do more traditional advertising and promotion to increase brand recognition. I was told that since it’s B2B and not a consumer product, it didn’t make sense to advertise that way.”

Asked whether Leonard had an endorsement deal, Daktronics pointed Torre to a crisis management firm whose spokesman said, “My understanding is Daktronics doesn’t have a deal with Kawhi right now.” Asked for clarification, the spokesman said, “I don’t know what the company wants to say, or can say, given the Wachtell investigation and all that.”

Daktronics is a leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing digital LED display technology and audio systems. Nearly 600 clients are listed on the company website, including numerous NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL teams. Other clients include several airports, and Daktronics built the LAX Time Tower, a 72-foot, four-sided interactive digital media structure located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

The Clippers traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a slew of draft picks, but the teams put deal was put on hold pending the outcome of the investigation.

Leonard would not talk about the allegations during the 2025-26 NBA season because the investigation was ongoing. He brushed it off during media day in September.

“None of us did … wrongdoing and, yeah, that’s it,” he said. “We invite the investigation.”

Almost a year later, the investigation continues. Silver has expressed a desire for a resolution, saying in June that it “needs to be wrapped up before next season.” The NBA regular season will begin in October.

Salary-cap circumvention first surfaced with Leonard during his free agency in 2019 after he led the Raptors to the NBA championship. Negotiations with the Lakers ceased when Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, requested a house, the use of private aircraft, guaranteed off-court earnings and an ownership stake in the team, according to Dan Woike of the Athletic. The Lakers informed Leonard’s representatives that those requests violated the NBA collective bargaining agreement and Leonard eventually signed with the Clippers, where he played the last seven seasons.

WHEN it comes to planning your next holiday, why not look for somewhere different to everywhere else?

Europe is full of breathtaking islands, you just have to discover them…

And fortunately for you, we have done just that.

Here are some of the best ‘secret’ islands across Europe, including several with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters:

Bornholm, Denmark

Known as ‘Sunshine Island’ and the ‘Pearl of the Baltic’, Bornholm sits in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark.

The island has dramatic cliffs as well as vibrant green forests and white sand beaches.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

For things to do on the island, you can head to Opalsoen, where there is a zipline over a lake.

And if you want to see more of the island’s dramatic landscape, try Pissebaekken which is one of Denmark‘s highest natural waterfalls.

One beach spot to visit is Balka Strand, which boasts fine white sand and if you happen to be there during the summer months there is even yoga on the beach each day at 8:30am.

It is about three hours by bus and boat from Copenhagen, which you can fly to from as little as £15 one-way.

Gotland, Sweden

Sweden‘s largest island, Gotland, boasts a UNESCO World Heritage town called Visby with cobblestone streets and pastel coloured buildings.

Venture across the island and you’ll also find the largest sand dunes in Sweden at Tofta Strand.

If you happen to be on the island during August, make sure to visit Medieval Week, which is Sweden’s largest historical festival with jousting and markets.

The island even has its very own Blue Lagoon you can go swimming in.

It takes about four hours to get to the island via the ferry from one of two mainland ports – Nynashamn which is south of Stockholm or Oskarshamn in Småland.

Nynashamn is around a 50minute drive from Stockholm, which costs from £16 to fly to, per way.

Eilean Shona, Scotland

This small tidal island in the Inner Hebrides in Scotland is completely car-free and only has around nine permanent residents.

While there isn’t much in the way of attractions on the island, you can immerse yourself in the nature as well as the calm and clear waters surrounding the island, all of which inspired J.M.Barrie’s Neverland in Peter Pan.

Travel reporter Cyann Fielding who recently visited said: “One of the activities to do on the island that is well worth experiencing, though, is taking a cold water plunge or swim – the scenery is stunning and the water is serenely calm.“

You can hop on the Caledonian Sleeper from London costing around £60 per way for a seat to Fort William, and then drive for an hour to the island.

To get to Eilean Shona itself, you’ll need to hop on a small boat operated by the island.

It is worth noting though, that you can only visit the island if you are staying in one of the shepherds huts or houses there.

Heligoland, Germany

Often considered the most fought over island in Germany, Heliogland has changed hands many times throughout its history including belonging to the Danes, the Brits and then the Germans.

In fact, the Brits tried to blow up the island during World War II resulting in loads of huge craters across the island that you can visit on scenic walks.

The island boasts huge sandstone cliffs and as a result, is brimming with wildlife including gannets.

To get to the island, you’ll need to hop on a four-hour ferry from Hamburg – which you can fly to from £16 per way.

From the Heligoland, you can also get on a ferry for five minutes to another German island called Dune, where you will find loads of seals.

You can even camp on this island, in case you want to extend your time exploring the two islands before returning to Hamburg.

Ile de Sein, France

Surrounded by azure blue waters, Ile de Sein in France sits off the tip of Brittany.

In the sea around the island, you’ll also often spot dolphins and seals.

The island has no trees, just wild moorland and white-washed houses and make sure to visit the Grand Phare, which is up 250 steps and is a 52-metre tower with views of the coastline.

Down by the port, venture around the village too, where you will find an intricate network of winding alleys, with some measuring just 85cm wide.

To get to the island, hop on a Brittany Ferry between Plymouth and Roscoff, with prices ranging depending on your vehicle.

Once in Roscoff take the two-hour drive to Audierne, where you can catch an hour-long ferry to the island, costing between €33 and €40 (£28.29 and £34.29) for a round trip.

Île d’Yeu, France

Dubbed the ‘Atlantic Pearl’, Ile d’Yeu off the coast of France is a small island where you’ll find sprawling golden sand beaches and clear waters.

The most popular way to get around the island is by hiring a bike and make sure to visit the 14th century Vieux-Chateau which sit on the edge of a cliff above the sea.

There’s also Saint Sauveur, which is a village on the island with traditional architecture including a Romanesque church surrounded by white houses.

The best way to get to the island is by flying to Nantes costing from £13 per way and taking an hour drive to Fromentine on the Vendée coast, where you can catch a 45-minute ferry across to the island.

Elba, Italy

Elba Island in Tuscany, Italy is known for boasting stunning beaches including the popular spot of Pomonte Beach, where you can swim out to a shipwreck and snorkel around it, discovering lots of brightly coloured fish.

Visit Portoferraio – the island’s main town – where you will find pastel houses as well as Villa dei Mulini, which is where Napoleon lived during his exile.

For keen hikers, take the 40minute hike to the fortress of Volterraio to capture the breathtaking sunset.

The best way to get to the island is by flying to Pisa, which costs from £17 per way and then driving for an hour to the port of Piombino in Tuscany, where you can then catch an hour-long ferry to the island.

Tabarca, Spain

Tabarca sits off the coast of Alicante in Spain and is home to around 50 people.

On the island, there are a number of cobbled streets to stroll down as well as pretty beaches, including Playa de Levante – known for being the main beach, with shallow waters ideal for families.

There are no cars on the island and it can easily be explored within a day, but don’t leave without trying some of the local restaurants where you can pick up traditional seafood such as lobster stew.

The easiest way to get to the island is by flying to Alicante from £13 per way, before hopping on a ferry from Alicante to the island, taking around an hour and costing €24 (£20.58) for a return trip.

Ilha da Armona, Portugal

Ofted nicknamed the ‘Portuguese Maldives’, Ilha da Armona sits on the Algarve.

Ilha da Armona forms part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park where you’ll find no cars, white sand beaches and calm, shallow waters.

Praia de Armona is the main Blue Flag beach on the island and is known for being a family-friendly spot.

After exploring the beach, make sure to head to one of the waterfront tavernas to try some of the local cuisine.

In the village itself, you can expect to see colorful houses and flower-filled courtyards too.

To get to the island, fly to Faro from £15 per way, before hopping on a 10-minute train to Olhao, where you can catch a ferry to the island for as little as €4.20 (£3.60) for a return trip.

Paxos, Greece

The Greek island of Paxos is often dubbed one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Head to Gaios village where you can explore a Venetian-style waterfront was quaint shops and tavernas looking out across the water.

For a beach spot, visit Kanoni Beach which is a pebble beach but sheltered by the bay of Lakka and surrounded by fragrant olive groves,

You can get to the island by flying to Corfu from £15 per way, before hopping on a ferry from Corfu to the island, which takes between an hour and an hour and a half.

Susanna Hoffs calls it “the list”: a faded piece of paper ripped from a Filofax day planner on which are scrawled the names of every guy she’s ever gone out with — some famous, some not, some “kind of douchey,” as she puts it with a what-can-you-do shrug.

“It was like a dating profile but pre-internet,” Hoffs says of the tally, which she composed sometime in the late 1980s as she was racking up hits — among them the chart-topping “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Eternal Flame” — as the frontwoman of the Bangles. “I’m a nice Jewish girl,” she adds. “I was just keeping track, doing my homework.”

Today at the bottom of the list in all caps sits the name of Jay Roach, the movie director whom Hoffs met on a blind date in 1991. He’s the subject of a new song called “None of Them Were You,” in which the singer runs down some of Roach’s predecessors — “a very dapper Brit,” “a suave and handsome actor” — before musing on her deep connection with the man to whom she’s now been married for 33 years.

“I ended up with such a good guy,” she says. “It almost brings a tear to the eye.”

“None of Them Were You” isn’t the only tune with that potential on an album Hoffs is preparing to release next month. Due Sept. 18 from her Baroque Folk label, “The List” — Hoffs’ first set of original material in more than a decade — collects a dozen touching and witty songs based on tales from her life as an artist, wife, businessperson and mother. At 67, her winsome singing voice is remarkably unchanged from the era of big hair and dangly earrings. Yet the music reflects an emotional wisdom that had to be earned through experience, as in the folky “Time,” which ponders her and Roach’s relationships with their two adult sons.

“I see you dancing in the kitchen / I feel your tiny hand in mine,” she sings, “What if you fly back home this summer? / We could spend a little while.” (Beware, parents — this one will wreck you.)

A voluble presence with an easy laugh, Hoffs points out that she’s hardly been “hiding in a cave” since 2012’s “Someday.” In 2024, she put out a long-shelved solo record of songs she’d cut back in 1999; before that, she made a series of expertly curated covers albums, including three she recorded with the power-pop maestro Matthew Sweet. But publishing her first novel in 2023 — “This Bird Has Flown,” a charming bestseller about a one-hit wonder looking for a comeback — rejuvenated Hoffs’ devotion to songwriting.

“I never thought the book would sell, and I never thought it would get great reviews,” she says on a recent afternoon at her home in Brentwood. “That was a big turn career-wise.”

For “The List,” Hoffs teamed with CJ Camerieri, a musician and producer known for his work with Paul Simon and Bon Iver, among others; Camerieri in turn recruited an array of songwriters to collaborate with the two of them, including a couple of Grammy winners in Dan Wilson and Jesse Harris.

“Sue has built up decades and decades of goodwill in this town,” Camerieri says, seated next to Hoffs on a sofa, “so you call up somebody like Dan and you say, ‘Hey, you want to write a song with Susanna Hoffs?’ and he goes, ‘Great, yeah, I’m in.’”

The process was simple, the producer explains: “We’d start in Sue’s kitchen with coffee at 10 in the morning —”

“I’m really good at coffee,” Hoffs interjects. “I mean, I use Nespresso. But I’m good at being a hostess to all the lads.”

“So I’d give everybody a yellow legal pad and Sue would start telling stories,” Camerieri continues. “We’re all scribbling notes, and after about an hour, we’d go, ‘I think we got enough here,’ and we’d go write songs about what she’d told us.”

They recorded at Hoffs’ place — “We’d move this couch and the drums would go right here,” she says — beneath a vaulted ceiling that provided just the right ambience. First-call players like Greg Leisz and Wendy Melvoin stopped by to take part in the sessions; for harmony vocals in a country-ish ditty called “Bad Case of Loneliness,” they got Rufus Wainwright, with whom Hoffs had done a version of the Turtles’ “Happy Together” for Roach’s 2025 comedy “The Roses.”

The dreamy-rootsy arrangements are never less than handsome — and never prettier than in “Fool,” which Hoffs says was inspired by her love of the records Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach made together. Yet “The List” was built to showcase Hoffs’ rich storytelling.

The LP opens with “Casablanca,” in which she recounts a run-in with the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir in New Orleans in the late ’80s. The Bangles were on tour opening for George Michael; the Dead had a gig at the University of New Orleans’ Lakefront Arena. After Hoffs and Weir ended up at a crawfish boil put on by the Neville Brothers, the two took a walk along Lake Pontchartrain — “He was very cute,” Hoffs says — then later strolled again through the French Quarter.

“At one point, I looked back and there was a sea of Deadheads who realized it was Bob Weir,” she says. “But I was with him. I got to be his pal, which I just couldn’t believe was happening. It was delicious.” (Between the two walks, the Bangles famously jumped onstage with the Dead to perform “Iko Iko.”)

As we’re talking, Camerieri tells Hoffs that he recently met Weir’s former tour manager — Weir died in January at age 78 — and that he’d relayed Hoffs’ memory of the encounter. “He was like, ‘I know this story,’” Camerieri says the manager replied. “‘Bob used to talk about the time he got to walk around New Orleans with Susanna Hoffs.’”

“Oh my God!” Hoffs says, eyes starting to glisten. “So it meant something to him too.”

Bookending “The List” is “What Are Wings For,” a stately ballad about sticking to one’s guns that Hoffs and Camerieri wrote with Edie Brickell, who’s married to Simon, on a trip they took to the couple’s ranch in Texas.

“We were there during the World Series [in 2024],” Camerieri recalls, “and we watched the Yankees game with Paul every night after working on songs.”

Adds Hoffs with a laugh: “He also told me that he thinks the Bangles’ version of ‘Hazy Shade of Winter’ is better than his. I was like, ‘Please don’t — yours is the iconic version.’”

By the time the Bangles covered that Simon & Garfunkel tune for the soundtrack to 1987’s “Less Than Zero,” the band was already a fixture on the radio and MTV. Hoffs formed the group in 1981 with sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, who learned to play together in the garage of Hoffs’ parents’ house, just a few blocks from where the singer lives today.

The Bangles came up through L.A.’s ’60s-steeped Paisley Underground scene and found stardom after the addition of Michael Steele with “Manic Monday,” a sparkling pop-rock gem gifted to the band by Prince. (Beyond her list of boyfriends, one of Hoffs’ prized possessions from back in the day is Prince’s original cassette demo of “Manic Monday.”)

“He was brilliant but mischievous,” Hoffs says of the late trailblazer, on whom she modeled the character of Jonesy from her novel. “I remember one time he invited us to Sunset Sound in the middle of the night. We get there and we’re jamming, then suddenly we look around and he’s disappeared. ‘OK, I guess we’re done.’”

The Bangles with an assortment of music execs in Los Angeles in 1987.

(Lester Cohen / Getty Images)

After eight Top 40 singles and a triple-platinum LP, the Bangles split in 1989 amid differing ideas about the band’s creative direction and ambitions. The members pursued solo and other projects but reunited to record a song for 1999’s “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” which Roach directed; two more Bangles albums followed in 2003 and 2011, the second minus Steele, whom Hoffs says she’s not in touch with at the moment.

Compared to the Go-Go’s, whose parallel career was detailed in a 2020 documentary and who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a year later, the Bangles haven’t quite cemented their legacy, though an authorized biography came out last year and a doc is currently in development.

Yet Hoffs doesn’t seem especially troubled by the possibility that the Bangles might be underappreciated, perhaps because she’s got plenty of her own stuff going on. Before “The List” comes out, she’ll play her old hits in a Sept. 5 gig at Largo at the Coronet and in a handful of dates opening for Billy Idol; after the new album drops, she’ll head east for a residency at New York’s Café Carlyle.

She and Camerieri are also at work on a musical adaptation of “This Bird Has Flown” for the stage or the screen. And just the other day she found a folder on her computer full of songs she wrote years ago with her friend Marvin Etzioni of Lone Justice.

“I don’t like using the word ‘bucket list,’ but all these things are labors of love,” Hoffs says.

What’s the trouble with “bucket list”?

“Oh, I don’t know,” she says, smiling. “It just seems, like, death-y.”

HUGE headliners. Gorgeous Suffolk countryside. Woodland spas. Entire fairgrounds, theatre and comedy tents. Oh, and fluffy pink sheep.

If you’re looking for the UK’s best family festival, you’ve found it at Latitude.

I visited the festival this year to celebrate its 20th birthday, and as a first-timer, it truly surprised me.

This year I sang my heart out to sets from Tom Odell and Lewis Capaldi, but over the years, the festival has hosted artists like The 1975, Liam Gallagher and Florence + The Machine.

Pair those headline sets with DJ sets from Dermot O’Leary and Gok Wan, and you’ve got yourself a pretty interesting line-up across the festival’s six music stages.

The thing that struck me the most about this festival was just how family-friendly it is.

Read more on UK festivals

WILD ONE

I went to Britain’s summer camp for ADULTS – like Glastonbury meets Famous Five

PIK ‘N’ CHUSE

I took my son to Lego festival with Pokemon ‘battles’ and F1 brick car racing

At the very front of the main stage, you’ve got dedicated superfans stood against the barrier.

Zoom to the outer edges of the crowd, and you’ve got multi-generational families sat on camping chairs and picnic blankets, with pully trolleys packed with snacks, toys and games.

And when I say this is an all ages festival, I mean ALL ages.

I saw pairs of grandparents slow-dancing together as well as tiny toddlers grooving on the grass.

Those who wanted to stay out late or head to over 18’s zones could do just that, whilst those who want to peel off early to put the kids to bed can easily do so, too.

It was refreshing to find a festival where you can enjoy huge headline acts such as Lewis Capaldi and David Byrne, and not get caught up in the pushing, shoving and moshing that comes with other UK festivals.

Although – if you are wanting that vibe – head to the Trailer Park late at night, where alternative and up-and-coming acts like Grooveline put on incredible, high-energy sets.

This is also the area of the woods that’s best for exploring, where you’ll find everything from a redneck oracle offering life advice, to a rat-themed caravan hosting a rat-themed rave.

I won’t lie, this exploration was done during the early hours of the morning and I was starting to question my own eyes. But I can assure you that the Trailer Park, in all of its randomness, is real.

There’s even a secret, apres-ski themed stage that plays dance music and blasts fake snow over the crowd – accessible only by crawling through an unsuspecting ski shed.

Forgetting the chaos of the nighttime escapades, this festival experience can also be as relaxed as you want it to be.

Maybe it’s the chilled Suffolk countryside that puts everyone at ease, but this festival has an incredibly relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

There’s even free punting trips along the river, where you’ll cruise by a floating stage that puts on experimental art performances and classical music from a live orchestra.

And if you really want to unwind, there’s an entire wellness area dedicated to just that.

Slip through sparkling streamers into the zen zone and find food trucks serving nourishing smoothies, massage tents, saunas and daytime yoga sessions.

My favourite part of this zone was the “peace tree”, draped in flowers and colourful hangings, with soft cushions scattered across the grass beneath it.

It’s the ideal spot for a quick moment of meditation (or, let’s be honest, to retreat to when you’ve had one too many drinks).

Here, you can simply lie back on the earth, rest your head on a cushion, and breathe – and don’t worry, no one will judge if your quick lie-down turns into a full afternoon snooze.

To the left of the zen zone you’ll find the comedy tent, where you can catch a stand-up show from both budding talent and big names.

I managed to catch a set from the hilarious Sue Perkins, which started with all things Bake Off and ended on embarrassing, behind-the-scenes moments from her Netflix travel show.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the comedy tent will take you to the massive dedicated kids area, which is packed with free workshops, theatre shows and more from 10am – 6pm daily.

The baby and toddler tent offers a sheltered soft play plus areas to feed, change and even bathe the little ones.

For older kids, there’s a fairground with a giant helter skelter, plus a kids theatre tent with song and dance workshops, arts and crafts activities and pop-up Punch and Judy shows.

Over in the forest, you’ll find bushcraft skills, pop-up museums and interactive space and science stations. All in all, it’s pretty impossible for kids to get bored here.

When it comes to camping, there’s plenty of options.

There’s general weekend camping, plus dedicated family camping zones, ideal if you have children aged 16 and under in your group.

The family camping zone has its own ‘Enchanted Garden’ area with extra activities, plus it’s only a short walk from here into the main arena, which is ideal for those with little legs.

I stayed in the Pink Moon glamping area, which is well worth it if you’re looking to treat yourself.

Here there’s plenty of sparklingly-clean loos and showers, plus lounge zones with sofas and a dedicated pamper tent, complete with mirrors, hairdryers and straighteners that are yours to use.

As for food and drink, you’re pretty spoilt for choice here.

Stonebaked pizzas, macaroni cheese bowls, loaded jacket potatoes, coconut curries, duck wraps, fluffy Biscoff pancakes…my mouth is watering just thinking back to the meals I had.

Expect food festival prices, but my top recommendations would be to grab a salted maple iced latte from Pantha Coffee (£5), and indulge in home comforts with a full-on roast dinner from Roasthost (£18).

You can even just grab a side of roasties with gravy and cauli-cheese for a cheeky snack (£10).

Or head to The Local Larder by the kids zone to pack your own picnic, where you can put together a lunch of scotch eggs, sausage rolls, cheese twists, salads, pastries and more.

Ultimately, Latitude Festival can be whatever you make it.

Want a wholesome family camping weekend where the kids have a fairground and woodland workshops on their doorstep? Sorted.

Or days of drinking at waterfront wine bars, going punting, catching a few DJ and comedy sets thne ending the night by dancing to drum and bass? That’s easily done, too.

All of this in a fantastical woodland setting dotted with pink sheep, hidden forest raves and floating river stages – I’d say that’s a recipe for a pretty magical weekend.

Latitude 2027 Early Bird tickets go on sale on August 13 at 10am.

Day tickets start from £110 for adults and £18 for children.

General weekend camping tickets start at £308 for adults and £28 for kids, which covers four nights of camping plus entry to all free performances, workshops and activities.

Pink Moon camping starts from £285 per adult for the weekend, excluding a festival entry ticket.

See latitudefestival.com.

Booking Latitude? Try Klarna

Klarna lets you split up the payments for your festival tickets, plus their debit card is packed with travel benefits.

Spread out your festival ticket payments by using Klarna, which offers flexible payment options such as splitting the cost of your ticket into three payments.

You can purchase Latitude tickets directly through the Klarna app, or choose Pay with Klarna at checkout.

For even more travel benefits, check out the Klarna Card.

The Klarna Card charges no foreign exchange fees, so you can tap abroad without worrying about any extra charges.

The card is accepted in over 200 countries, wherever Visa payments are accepted.

Pair it with a Klarna membership and you’ll also get travel insurance, cancel for any reason cover plus airport lounge access.

See klarna.com/uk/.

ROCK veteran Phil Collins has admitted he was days from death after secretly relapsing into alcoholism.

The 75-year-old Genesis legend was placed on a life support machine as vital organs, including his kidneys, started to shut down.

Collins said his five children — including Emily In Paris actress Lily, 37 — were even summoned to a hospital in Switzerland to say goodbye during the drama two years ago.

Now sober again, the eight-time Grammy award winner said: “There were some decisions to be made about, ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’

“My kidneys were packing up, my organs were seizing up. People were coming to say goodbye.

“They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again.”

Collins — whose 13 solo hits include You Can’t Hurry Love, Easy Lover and Groovy Kind Of Love — first opened up about his struggle with alcohol in his 2016 book Not Dead Yet.

He said he started drinking while having too much time on his hands and stopped only after being hospitalised with acute pancreatitis in 2012.

Now he has told how he went on the drug Antabuse, which triggers severe sickness if used while drinking alcohol.

Yet, despite this, in November 2023 he was back in hospital because he had hit the bottle again.

He was discharged almost a month later, then readmitted in early 2024, spending seven months in hospital. In January he blamed the stay on contracting Covid.

But, speaking to The Sunday Times’ Decca Aitkenhead, he admitted that it was down to years of alcohol abuse.

He explained: “Something happened and I stopped taking the Antabuse. I resented the fact that I couldn’t drink.

“I’d have wine when I woke up. That was what I’d want for breakfast — a glass of wine. But I didn’t drink into the night.

“I wasn’t really aware of having a problem, to be honest.”

Then an 18-hour bender saw him admitted to intensive care in Switzerland, where he lives. A doctor asked his loved ones: “Is Monsieur Collins’ will in order?”

Looking back, Collins continued: “There were times I would just collapse. One time, I remember getting up to give the kids a cuddle and I lost my balance.

“I left two teeth marks in the tiles in the living room.

“Another time, I was walking upstairs too quickly and I fell down. There was a pool of blood around my head.

“There were various low moments that I’m not proud of.”

He said he had not touched a drop since leaving hospital, but confessed that the effects of boozing have permanently damaged his body.

Over the past decade he has had multiple operations on his knees and his spine, and he has Type 2 diabetes.

Single Collins now needs a 24-hour nurse who ensures he takes the medication he needs and helps him walk six laps daily around his home.

A physiotherapist visits three times a week.

He passes the time watching TV, including Sky News and re-runs of comedy panel show Shooting Stars. He also watches documentaries about serial killers on YouTube, along with Piers Morgan’s show.

In the wide-ranging interview, which he carried out with nothing to promote, he said: “I’ve had my run-ins with Piers, but I watch his show every Saturday morning. I really look forward to it, because I find I agree with him.”

Recalling the past year, which saw him reuniting with his children at Christmas to celebrate his ­recovery, Collins said: “I was very lucky.”

He said his illness had brought him closer to Lily, saying she “was sitting beside me in tears telling me, ‘I never thought I’d get these moments’.

“We had an incredible time. I can’t overemphasise how fantastic it was.” Collins also used his Sunday Times Magazine interview to address the end of his marriage to his third wife, Orianne Cevey.

He was previously married to Andrea Bertorelli and Jill Tavelman and met Orianne in 1994 when she was working as a translator.

They wed five years later.

Orianne, 52 — mum of two of Collins’ three sons, Nicholas and pro footballer Mathew — divorced him in 2008 and Collins had to pay a £25million settlement, the largest in celebrity history at the time.

The pair reunited in 2016 but in the autumn of 2020 it was revealed she had secretly married 36-year-old jobbing guitarist Thomas Bates in Las Vegas.

She moved him into Collins’ £30million mansion in Miami, and he even flew to the UK to work with Genesis.

Collins later took Orianne to court to evict her from the house, a move that saw Bates branding him “petty and vindictive” in an interview with The Sun.

Speaking publicly about the marriage bust-up for the first time, Collins said he found out about the couple’s wedding only when Orianne introduced Bates to him.

The singer and drummer said: “She’s not in my best books.

“I’d love to go into detail, but I can just see this coming back to bite me.

“And she’s admitted that she f***ed up big time. She’s aware of what she did wrong, and how wrong it was, and how it must have affected me. But I can’t quite forgive yet.”

Collins said he was still in touch with Orianne but admitted he tried to limit contact, explaining: “I don’t think it’s a good idea right now.

“Just because I know what I’m like. I would probably fall again, maybe. I mean, we were very much in love.”

Collins will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a second time this November.

In 2010 he was recognised for his work with Genesis and this time will be honoured for his solo work.

The Sun understands he will try to attend the ceremony if his health permits it.

He is also working with Lily’s mother Jill, 70, on a Los Angeles charity auction due the same month. It will feature items from his archive between 1980 and 1995.

All proceeds from the sale will go directly to The King’s Trust, with whom Collins has worked for 44 years after becoming its first celebrity ambassador

Opening up about why he had decided to speak up now, Collins said he wanted to set the record straight on his life and career. And he said he was keen to find someone to settle down with again.

He added: “I’d love to be in love again. I would love a relationship. I think it’s probably too late for that. I’m not a very social person. I don’t go out.”

• Interview by Decca Aitkenhead for The Sunday Times

DAUGHTER RIFT IS NOW HEALED

By Ellie Henman

PHIL Collins has addressed falling out with his actress daughter Lily.

The Emily in Paris star, 37, wrote an open letter to him in 2017, where she credited previous eating disorders to the pair’s troubled relationship.

She wrote at the time, in her autobiography Unfiltered: “I forgive you for not always being there when I needed, and for not being the dad I expected.

“I forgive the mistakes you made. And although it may seem like it’s too late, it’s not. There’s still so much time to move forward.”

She continued: “I’m learning how to accept your actions and vocalise how they made me feel. I accept and honour the sadness and anger I felt toward the things you did or didn’t do, did or didn’t give me.”

Addressing the words in his Sunday Times Magazine interview, Phil said: “I was quite shocked and a little bit sad.

“But she’s told me why now, and she takes it all back.

“She wished she’d never done it. I have a wonderful relationship with Lily now. So everything has a happy ending, most of the time.”

The Genesis rocker also said he has a close relationship with adopted daughter Joely, 53, and his 49-year-old son Simon from his marriage to first wife Andrea.

His youngest children, footballer Mathew, 21, and drummer Nicholas, 25, are also in close contact with him.

Phil added: “There’s been a lot thrown at them over the years, and I dread to think what that’s been like.

“But all of us are good now and have been for a while.”

Javier Ramirez was handcuffed in the back of an unmarked car, bruised and confused, when immigration agents used a word he had never heard before.

It was June 2025, and they were bragging about the raids in the Los Angeles area that swept up hundreds of immigrants — and a few U.S. citizens, like Ramirez. The unfamiliar word caught Ramirez’s ear.

Tonk.

“I wondered what that meant — I thought it was some code,” the 33-year-old tow truck driver told me over a Zoom call this week. “But I didn’t make a big fuss about it then.”

Masked men had thrown him to the ground outside a tow yard in Montebello, for reasons they wouldn’t divulge. He ended up in the car with a man detained in another roundup, headed for the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles.

The color disappeared from Ramirez’s face when I explained what “tonk” means.

For at least half a century, Border Patrol workers have used the onomatopoeic word, referring to the sound of someone getting hit, as slang for undocumented immigrants. Body camera footage and text chains from last summer’s immigration raids, released this week in a court filing, captures agents throwing around anti-immigrant insults like “wet” and “tonk” with the same ease that the rest of us say “and” or “the.”

The most egregious example, I told Ramirez, was directed at him and his friend, fellow U.S. citizen Brian Gavidia.

A video shows an agent shouting, “One tonk f— got away, dude!” as colleagues manhandle the pair. The same agent, who spoke with a Chicano accent, later sped off in a vehicle while asking in Spanglish, “¿Alguien arresto un tonk, güey?” — Did someone arrest a tonk, man?

“Oh, wow, OK, that’s really bad,” Ramirez finally said, laughing bitterly while gathering his thoughts. “It’s kind of hurtful. They’re just assuming who I am.”

Ramirez asked his attorney, Luis Castillo, if the agents who accosted him “had violence on their mind when they used that word.”

“You’re getting a double whammy,” the longtime civil rights lawyer replied. “They’re hitting you twice, physically and psychologically.”

No, Luis: they’re hitting us all.

Brian Gavidia stands in a parking lot next to East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park in 2025 a day after he and his friend were roughed up by immigration agents outside a tow yard in Montebello. The two are suing the federal government for violating their civil rights.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

If you’re still doubting that racist violence fuels President Trump’s deportation deluge, just consider what Gavidia and Ramirez have been through.

La migra roughed them up even as they screamed that they had documents to prove their U.S. citizenship. They took Gavidia’s Real ID and never returned it. Ramirez was detained for five days and charged with trying to assault a federal officer and interfere with their work — a case that went nowhere because he did no such things.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Public Counsel, along with other groups and private attorneys, included the body cam footage in a court filing asking a federal judge to bar immigration agents from making stops based on racial profiling.

Gavidia is part of that lawsuit, while Ramirez has sued separately. Now, the two men are more certain than ever that the Trump administration’s deportation strategy isn’t about getting the worst of the worst.

To la migra, all Latinos are tonks.

“I never even heard the word, but once [lawyers] told me the explanation of what it meant, I was disgusted instantly,” said Gavidia, 30, who fixes up and sells cars. “They already knew what they were coming to do. We told them we were Americans. It didn’t matter. We were brown, and that was enough.”

“I saw [the tonk video] 300 times,” Gavidia added, “and it’s giving me more trauma.”

“Tonk” has been a dirty little secret of the Border Patrol for decades — workplace lingo showing that the banality of evil that’s la migra on its best days has transformed into something far uglier under Trump.

The slur is so vile — predicated on violence by law enforcement, unlike ethnic jabs that insult food or culture — that it has never crossed over into mainstream English. “Tonk” in its anti-immigrant meaning doesn’t appear in the Merriam-Webster dictionary or even the Dictionary of American Regional English, the premier academic collection of American slang.

And that’s exactly how the Border Patrol likes it.

The earliest use of “tonk” to demean immigrants that I’ve been able to find is in a 1976 book by Paul Schuster Taylor, an early pioneer of Mexican American studies best known for documenting the plight of Dust Bowl refugees along with his wife, photographer Dorothea Lange.

Taylor quoted a Border Patrol inspector referring to Mexicans as “tonks” but offered no definition. In a 1978 hearing, Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Leonel Castillo said the slur was “sort of like the new term” for “wets.”

Castillo — no relation to Luis — nevertheless defended his agents’ use of anti-immigrant words.

“I think it’s the way — the tone in which you use it, and then how you treat people,” he said, maintaining that the verbiage was ingrained in the “very fine gentlemen” who worked under him.

“It’s very hard to change them,” he said. “But they’re not necessarily bad people.”

A year later, an anonymous Border Patrol agent writing for the white supremacist publication Instauration debunked Castillo’s apologia. He claimed that “tonk” derived from the thudding noise when agents smashed a flashlight on an immigrant’s head.

“The Anglos of the Border Patrol are not as intimidated by federal guidelines as people might think,” the agent wrote. “We have our own methods of interrogation in the desert.”

San Diego State English professor William Nericcio has spent his career studying anti-Mexican hate. He grew up around Laredo, Texas, in the 1970s and 1980s with “guys and their dads who worked in Border Patrol because it was a good job.”

Yet he hadn’t heard of “tonk,” either.

Immigration agents detain two men at a car wash in Montebello, Calif., in 2025.

(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

“A drum roll of anti-Mexican violence turns into a soundtrack — wetback, beaner, spic and now, tonk,” Nericcio responded when I asked why the slur has stuck for so long among immigration agents. “Of all these anti-Mexican terms, this is the only one that directly connects to an act of violence. It’s a thing of pride when you say it — ‘Hey boss, I got a tonk today! Where’s my bonus?’ It’s glory days for them.”

The casual use of “tonk” by la migra eventually became a PR embarrassment even for the Trump administration. In 2019, during Trump’s first term, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told an Arizona public radio station that the slur “is now considered a derogatory term and CBP does not condone its use.”

This time around, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told my Times colleagues that “agents are focused on protecting the American people — not entertaining performative outrage.”

CBP didn’t respond to my multiple requests for comment about whether its internal guidelines continue to discourage “tonk” and whether agents face any discipline for using it.

If you’re not disgusted by this devolution in protocol, I’m not sure what can possibly disgust you.

ACLU lawyer Mayra Joachin said the body cam footage is “clear evidence that these stops were always about individuals’ appearance of being Latino working class” and is proof of the “culture of racism underlying” the Trump administration’s deportation strategy.

How are Gavidia and Ramirez feeling now, after being called a racist slur they hadn’t even known existed and that doesn’t even technically apply to them?

“If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can’t be free in the U.S.,” Ramirez said. What happened to him “can happen to anyone, it can happen to their kids and family, and when it happens to their family, that’s when they’re going to see the truth of what’s happening.”

Gavidia, who voted for Trump in 2024, said that immigration agents think they “are above the Constitution and law.”

“That’s sad and disgusting,” he said. “If we don’t stop this and fight this now, it’s going to get worse and worse.”

This story includes spoilers for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

It’s been nearly five years since Spider-Man’s last big-screen adventure, but your friendly neighborhood webslinger is finally back.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” in theaters now, follows a Peter Parker (Tom Holland) who no longer has much of a life outside of his vigilante crime-fighting and keeping tabs on his loved ones (Zendaya, Jacob Batalon) from afar.

The movie’s biggest reveal involves the identity of the villain played by Sadie Sink — and plenty of questions remain about her future and what her appearance means for a certain fan-favorite mutant superhero team.

But although much has changed for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the years since the 2021 release of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” one tradition remains: unpacking the meaning of an installment’s post-credits scene.

“Brand New Day” features just one brief end-credits sequence to tease what’s next for Spidey. Here’s how it connects to upcoming MCU installments “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Secret Wars.”

Ned (Jacob Batalon) created the Spidey Tracker app shown in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

(Jay Maidment / Sony Pictures)

What happens in the ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ post-credits scene?

The bonus footage shown after the full credits of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” roll is more of a tease than a proper scene. The brief stinger involves the Spider-Man tracking app created by Ned, which allows users to log any sightings of the webslinger. The Spidey Tracker map screen shown in the post-credits tag at first shows the friendly neighborhood hero’s location as being “unknown” at that moment. The map then zooms out of New York and away from Earth before the Spider-Man icon indicates he has been spotted somewhere in outer space.

Does that mean Spider-Man is returning for ‘Doomsday’?

Maybe! The expansive cast list for “Avengers: Doomsday” includes members of the Avengers past and present, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and many others, but one glaring omission has been Tom Holland as Spider-Man. It’s possible that the secretive Marvel has stayed mum just to keep his appearance a surprise and Spidey will not only appear but also join some of the other heroes — like the Fantastic Four, who have a spaceship — as they venture out to somewhere in space.

It seems unlikely that Marvel would keep Spider-Man’s involvement in “Doomsday” a secret for so long only to spill the beans without fanfare in a brief post-credits stinger, though.

Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

(Sony Pictures)

Will Spider-Man be in ‘Secret Wars’?

Probably? Not much is known about “Doomsday’s” follow-up, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which is reportedly scheduled to start filming “soon.” Throughout the “Brand New Day” press tour, Holland has maintained that he knows absolutely nothing about the upcoming movie.

But “Secret Wars” gets its name from a couple of Marvel comic book storylines that involve various heroes being pitted against each other. Although MCU works are usually not direct adaptations, Spider-Man was involved in both comic crossovers.

The 2015 “Secret Wars” story featured some plotting by Doctor Doom and saw multiverses collide, be destroyed and merge. During the crossover, the main continuity’s Spider-Man teamed up with another dimension’s Spidey — Miles Morales — who then ended up moving to the main Marvel universe in the event’s aftermath.

Spider-Man also played a part in the very first “Secret Wars” crossover in the 1980s. In this story, various heroes were plucked away from their usual haunts by a mysterious powerful being and pitted against similarly assembled villains (including Doctor Doom). It was during this crossover that Spider-Man first donned the sentient black suit that would become known as Venom.

Both “Secret Wars” series saw characters displaced onto a patchwork planet called Battleworld. The Spidey Tracker info from the “Brand New Day” post-credits scene could be teasing that’s where Spider-Man will eventually land.

What do we know for sure?

“Brand New Day” concludes with the message “Spider-Man will return.” Fans will just have to wait to see when, where and which Spider-Man will be involved.

“Avengers: Doomsday” is slated to hit theaters Dec. 18, while “Secret Wars” is scheduled for a Dec. 17, 2027, release.

Killing Eve’s Harriet Walter was left ‘astounded’ after discovering her mother’s incredible secret job on Who Do You Think You Are

Dame Harriet Walter was left speechless after discovering an ‘astounding’ secret about her mother.

The legendary actress, 75, has graced our screens for years in incredible films and television shows, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rocketman, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Succession, Killing Eve, Ted Lasso and Call The Midwife.

However, Harriet put her family in the spotlight for the latest episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on Thursday night, where she discovered an incredible secret about her mother, Xandra Lee – the elder sister of renowned actor Sir Christopher Lee.

Showing old pictures of her lookalike mother, Harriet said: “This is my mother, Xandra. She was a very sweet woman, had the most amazing sense of humour, but she was sort of slightly belittled by the men in my family.”

Harriet continued: “This picture is my parents, and they were married in December 1946. I knew a bit about what she did in the war. She worked in naval intelligence in the Admiralty, but she said, you would never in a million years tell your best friend, your husband, anybody what you were doing. You just would not do it.

“She said she was one of thousands of cogs in the machine and I just want to know much more about exactly what that machine was doing and what her part in it was. So I’m going to see what I can find.”

However, Harriet got more than she bargained for upon discovering her mother played an important role in the success of the 1944 D-Day landings, which she learnt thanks to ground-breaking research on women in wartime intelligence conducted by Dr Helen Fry.

During the meeting at the Old Admiralty Building in London, Dr Fry revealed after sharing archive details and facts: “To get this into perspective, your mother was in charge of the whole intelligence picture for naval intelligence for the D-Day landings.”

Harriet was left speechless as she put her head in her hands, before adding: “Wow, wow. It’s just astounding. It’s astounding. I had this rather frivolous idea of her sort of just having a great time in the canteen and flirting with the boys and I had no idea she had this sort of responsibility.”

Dr Fry then pointed out: “The oath of secrecy, they knew when they took it, it was for life and she kept it”, adding that her mother’s work was “detailed analytical work” and “highly responsible”.

Harriet added: “That is extraordinary. I’m sorry to say this, but when I think how she was sort of put down by my dad and my stepfather and, you know, ‘your mother’s not very logical’, you know, had they only known what she’d done, they might have treated her with more respect.

“Blimey. It’s so extraordinary. I’m rethinking my mother entirely. You know, it’s extraordinary how that changes your image of somebody, to think of her in that position of responsibility. I have such a mixture of feelings.

“I mean, mainly I’m astounded that my mother had any kind of significance in the war effort, because she never exposed anything of that sort. She was the epitome of, I would say, modesty in some kind. Not coy, but just sort of, ‘Oh, I don’t matter, darling.’ You know.

“I feel certainly silly that I’ve got some kind of fame for having done absolutely nothing except, you know, pretend to be other people for a living.

“And she, who had a quite a strong role in the D-Day landings, which opened up the whole path to peace. Good for her. Good for Xandra Carandini Lee.”

Who Do You Think You Are? airs at 9pm on Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

WHEN it comes to coastal destinations, you might not have heard of Cooden Beach.

But with interest rising, it might be a spot that could soon take your fancy – not to mention it has a beachside terrace, hotel and nearby adventure play park.

Google search data shows searches for Cooden Beach have jumped by 120 per cent in the past month.

Not to mention that other searches like “Cooden Beach hotel menu” and “Cooden Beach hotel restaurant” have risen by more than 5,000 per cent.

Cooden Beach in East Sussex is a simple spot in that it has no loud amusement parks to speak of, or arcades.

It’s ideal for anyone looking for a simple beach break rather than a resort.

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

The pebble beach is half-an-hour drive away from Eastbourne – but is much quieter, especially in the summer months.

One gem of the seaside town is the boutique coastal hotel that opened almost 100 years ago.

Saying that, it’s very modern with one of the most popular spots being its Seaview Terrace which on the beach with views across the shingle shore.

One visitor said “on a sunny day it looks and feels like the Med!”

Another called it “East Sussex’s best kept secret”.

Along with its beachfront terrace, it has bedrooms with sea views and a modern wellbeing thermal spa with heated loungers, rooms for treatments and a gym.

There’s even a hot tub that looks out over the sea and beach-facing sauna.

Cosy Double rooms start from £110 per night and Family Rooms start from £190 per night.

The beach is on the outskirts of Bexhill-on-Sea which is known as the birthplace of British motor racing as it hosted the first automobile races in the country.

It also has a long seafront promenade and a huge De La Warr Pavilion where there are often art exhibitions and events.

For anyone heading to the seaside for a summer break, there’s also a nearby adventure park – and you get 10 per cent off if you stay with the hotel.

Called Knockhatch Adventure Park – it’s a play paradise for kids with jumping pillows, a pirate ship ride, huge water slides, a splash park and boating lake.

There are animal encounters in the owl sanctuary and a huge Dragon Castle playground to explore.

Inside there’s the Froggies soft play centre which is a multi-level play area with slides, ball-pools, a spider tower and tunnels.

The play park has lots of top reviews – one visitor wrote on Google: “Fantastic day out. So much to do we couldn’t fit it all in.”

Another said: “One of the best parks I have visited in a long while.”

Day tickets to Knockhatch Adventure Park start from £20.46.

You don’t have to book in advance but it’s advised to get a ticket before arrival to guarantee entry.

THERE are plenty of campsites around the UK, but some of them are so beautiful, it feels like they could be hundreds of miles away.

Sun Travel has teamed up with camping experts at Pitchup.com to find ones in the UK that look like they could be abroad from coastal escapes to secluded lakes.

Ardlui Holiday Home Park

The first from Pitchup.com is Ardlui Holiday Home which looks over the marina on Loch Lomond in Scotland.

With its position on the lake and mountain backdrop it doesn’t look like it belongs in the UK.

The campsite welcomes families and dogs too – the nearby Ardlui Hotel serves up homemade food and Scottish whiskies.

The site offers camping, touring pitches, lodges and its waterfront glamping pods – tent pitches start from £18 per night for two adults.

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

Portmeirion Motorhome Park

Portmeirion in Wales is known for looking like an Italian village with bright coloured buildings and pretty gardens.

Staying at Portmeirion Motorhome Park, the pitch price includes entry into the village itself.

You also get complimentary use of the heated outdoor swimming pool – so on a hot day you’ll feel like you’re paddling in Italy.

The campsite has pitches for motorhomes and campervans from £65 per night for two adults.

Pencarnan Farm Caravan and Camping Site

On a bright summer‘s day, a stay at Pencarnan Farm Caravan and Camping Site on the most western tip of Pembrokeshire could look like it could be abroad.

The campsite has direct access to Porthsele Beach and has incredible views of St Georges Channel.

The sea and bay are safe for swimming, kayaking and there are plenty of rockpools to explore at low tide.

There are pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes starting from £34.80 per night for two adults.

Seaview Gorran Haven Holiday Park

Set on the Roseland Peninsula this campsite is surrounded by green fields and the Cornish blue sea.

It has a heated outdoor pool with a large patio and sunloungers that’s open to guests in the summer months.

Nearby attractions include the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project.

It has grass and hardstanding pitches which start from £50 per night for two adults.

Atlantic Beach Resort

Thanks to its enormous swimming pool and proximity to some of Cornwall’s top beaches this campsite has the potential to feel like it’s in Europe.

Found on Cornwall’s north coast, it’s within minutes of some incredible beaches from Watergate Bay to Fistral Beach and Lusty Glaze Beach.

The campsite also has plenty of facilities like a playground for kids, segway adventures, laser tag and 80 classes per week at the gym.

It has grass and hardstanding pitches as well as bell tents – rates start from £36 for two adults for two nights or £9pppn.

Portavadie Loch Fyne

Portavadie Loch Fyne sits on the shores of a loch known as the ‘Secret Coast’ on the Scottish islands

It’s less of a standard campsite and more of a spa and leisure resort and it even has a heated infinity pool that looks out over the water.

There are indoor pools too, a gym as well as cycling trails through the forest.

Electric and grass motorhome pitches start from £28 per night for two adults.

Cornish Tipi Holidays

This peaceful campsite is found in a woodland valley and sits by an on-site lake which guests can swim in or take a small boat out.

The wild camping site is remote and suitable for anyone wanting a quiet break in nature.

It’s not far from the coast either – it’s a five-minute drive away from the nearest beach.

There are a variety of pitches as well as Tipi tents which can be booked out from £192 for two adults for two nights.

POP superstar George Michael’s estate is suing his former best pal over footage from the recording of a lost album.

Andros Georgiou, 63, faces court for charging fans to watch scenes which he recorded of the ex-Wham! star.

George’s former best friend said he would be “turning in his grave” after the pop singer’s estate sued him over video footage of a secret unreleased album.

The Wham! star’s lawyers are taking Andros to court after he released almost 90 minutes of unseen footage shot in 1992 and 1993.

Andros launched a website last month charging fans to watch the film Trojan Souls — The Greatest Album That Was Never Made.

The record was to feature Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bryan Ferry, Seal and Sade.

NAGA QUITS

Bullying row & crude jokes – Naga’s Munchetty’s downfall as she quits BBC

wild ROMANCE

Princess Andre can’t keep up with ‘extreme’ mum Katie Price’s marriage to Lee

But the legal team from George’s estate has now lodged a case against him at London’s Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court, claiming its rights have been breached.

Furious Andros, 63, said the legal claim was “a case of sheer greed”.

On George, he said: “Yes, we fell out, but we loved and cared for each other deeply, and I find the baseless claims and the constant attempts to erase me from history both disrespectful and, frankly, a bit desperate.

“The film belongs to me.

“Trojan Souls belongs to me.

“They’ve opened Pandora’s Box.

“They won’t want me on the stand.

“I know way too much.

“Bring it on.”

Andros’s film shows the making of tracks for Trojan Souls: The Voice of Reason, a collaboration album with global superstars.

Pop fans are being asked to pay £4.99 for 48 hours of access to the 90-minute video online.

Tribe Media is also selling £19.99 VIP tiers, promising access to never-before-heard recordings of George’s unreleased songs from the record.

Andros shot the video using a camcorder given to him by Sony while they were in Japan on George’s Faith tour.

Andros said: “First and foremost — my brother in arms, my best friend, George Michael to you, Yog to me — would turn in his grave knowing what Russells (the estate’s lawyers) are attempting — and spending his money to do it.”

He went on: “It is well known Yog and I were working on Trojan Souls through my record label, Hardback Records.

“The film I have released was shot by me, with Yog’s full approval.

“This was a home video leaked over 30 years ago.

“It kept resurfacing on YouTube.

“So I decided, if you can’t beat them, put the film out myself, since others were already profiting from my home video.”

The legal case lists Andros and Tribe Media, the production house distributing the film.

The claimants are Robobuild Limited and Big Geoff Overseas Limited, the holding companies George used to manage royalties and world tours.

Andros and George were estranged before the star’s death on Christmas Day, 2016, but had been planning to reconcile.

They fell out after George’s arrest in an LA public toilet in 1998.

But Andros had spoken to his pal on the phone in the final weeks of his life.

The pair had a close friendship for decades after their fathers moved to the UK from Cyprus together in 1953.

Most of the one-hour 24-minute film shows George playing the piano, performing vocals with backing singers, grabbing a bass and talking to producers about his track list in an LA studio.

George lost interest in the album when his then-partner Anselmo Feleppa’s health declined.

Anselmo, who suffered from Aids, died in March 1993.

George never completed the album.

It can take up to two years for a case at the court to reach trial.

Lawyers for George Michael’s estate were asked to comment.

Spoiler alert: This post contains details from the new film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

Apparently Tom Holland isn’t the only “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” creative with a bad habit of accidentally spoiling movies.

Grammy winner Steve Lacy joined the festivities during the film’s Hollywood premiere on Monday, detailing more than just his original song for the latest “Spider-Man” flick. The “Oh Yeah” and “Bad Habit” singer also allegedly spilled the beans on “Stranger Things” alumna Sadie Sink‘s “Spider-Man” character, which Marvel has kept tightly under wraps. Lacy delivered the accidental reveal while speaking with Twitch star Valkyrae, who hosted the film’s official red carpet stream. During Monday’s carpet, Valkyrae asked Lacy to name his favorite character from the movie “without spoiling anything,” according to video shared on social media.

“Jean. I like Jean,” he responds, “she’s the villain but, like, there’s a reason to her madness.” After Valkyrae asks whether his answer was a spoiler, Lacy seemingly tones down his enthusiasm for the character. “I like her character. I don’t know why.”

Lacy didn’t quite link Sink with this mystery Jean. Still, it’s worth noting that Sink’s role has been the subject of much speculation, with fans suspecting she would play Marvel-verse X-Men telekinetic and telepath Jean Grey. Sink would be the third actress to play the role, after Famke Janssen and “Game of Thrones” alumna Sophie Turner. (Another Marvel universe Jean is Jean De Wolff, a Spider-Man ally who was a police detective and captain.)

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will also see Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon reprise their roles and also features Mark Ruffalo and Jon Bernthal among others. Holland recently starred alongside Zendaya and Bernthal in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”

The trailer, released in March, shows Peter/Spider-Man (Holland) reeling as he struggles to reconnect with his friends. To his dismay, MJ (Zendaya) has a new man in her life. As in the previous films, Peter attempts to balance his personal woes with superhero struggles — but he’ll have another Avenger in his corner. The clip shows Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner (a.k.a. the Hulk) guiding Peter through an “enormously dangerous” physical evolution and teases several baddies, including Bernthal’s antihero Punisher.

Sink has been all-in on the “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” press tour, managing to keep tight-lipped about her role. Earlier this month, Marvel shared playful videos of Sink somewhat discussing her role to help stave off eager fans’ curiosity. In one clip, she provides “Spider-Man” fans with three incredibly helpful clues: She does not play Spider-Man, she does not play Aunt May (who perished in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”) and she is definitely in the latest movie.

When it comes to spoiling “Spider-Man” and other Marvel films, it often seems like the call is coming from inside. Over the years, Holland has gained a reputation for his loose lips, spoiling plot details from “Spider-Man” and “Avengers” films.

Maybe accidental spoilers are just par for the course?

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” hits theaters, with showings on Thursday leading into Friday’s release.

As performers protest and studios sue in their war on artificial intelligence, the entertainment industry is deepening its dependence on it.

Although few places are better than Hollywood at crafting a narrative and concealing what happens off-frame, a Los Angeles Times survey of job postings sheds light on what is happening offstage.

Among hundreds of job postings in late June, more than one in 10 was likely connected to AI. The top studios’ public postings suggest they have been recruiting people to build AI tools. They are also recruiting teams to defend their intellectual property against unauthorized AI use.

“There are plenty of studios that are hiring [for AI] but never talk about it in public,” said Yoland Yan, a co-founder of ComfyUI, a company that helps studios juggle different AI tools.

Companies have been hesitant to detail how they use generative AI in film production — partly because they are concerned about consumer and union backlash.

The Walt Disney Studios complex on May 3 in Burbank.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Some in Hollywood described AI use as the new cosmetic surgery, where everyone knows it is happening, but few will admit to it.

Recent want ads show Amazon MGM Studios trying to find a principal AI executive and Walt Disney Studios advertising for a production innovation technologist job.

“What you’re seeing in those job postings is that adoption is already happening,” said Bryn Mooser, chief executive of Asteria, an AI film studio.

Netflix recently posted a job that didn’t exist a year ago.

The streamer was hiring for the role of “Manager, Generative Workflows,” a job to help integrate more AI into Netflix films. It promised hands-on experience with the cutting-edge technology.

“The industry is flooded with speculative GenAI roadmaps, but few are battle-tested in production,” the post said, referring to generative AI. The post said the role will work on introducing AI into Netflix’s slate of films being released in the U.S. and Canada.

Although some companies may be shy about sharing their AI plans, big stars who don’t have to answer to others have been more open about their embrace of the new technology for storytelling.

An exterior view of the Netflix sign at Netflix on Vine in Hollywood in 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Rejecting AI is like picking a horse and buggy over a car, said “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.

“Artificial intelligence means it’s much easier for us to make movies,” he told a trade magazine earlier this year. “There’s nothing you can do about it. That’s progress. It’s the future.”

Some in Hollywood have a softer stance on artificial intelligence, with studios cutting deals with AI companies, and filmmakers like Martin Scorsese backing AI companies.

Ben Affleck launched an AI film tech company then sold it to Netflix for half a billion dollars.

When launching InterPositive, Affleck said he wanted to keep “storytelling human” by building AI tools that could fix lighting, generate missing shots and other things while “keeping creative decisions in the hands of artists.”

The Times’ survey turned up two senior InterPositive roles to update the programming to apply AI to visual effects .

The Culver Studios on Feb. 12 in Culver City.

(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)

To gauge what is happening behind the scenes, The Times used Claude Code to build a scraper to identify job postings at Disney, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Sony, Netflix and Amazon MGM. It found around 250 film studio job postings that were still public as of late June. Around 30 of those seemed to be connected to AI.

Disney, Netflix and Amazon had job postings that were about using AI on the creative side of the business. Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros. and Sony had job ads suggesting they were also using AI but for marketing, distribution and audience analytics.

The postings suggest the Disney, Netflix and Amazon studios are building repeatable AI workflows for visual effects, animation, sound and dubbing. The companies also seem to be building in-house teams to develop custom generative-AI models, while also using third-party software.

None of the jobs advertised were to create AI that wrote scripts or created AI actors.

Disney’s ten or so AI jobs showed the century-old studio building out its AI research and production muscle, while protecting its vault of beloved characters.

Mouse House is hiring PhD-level talent to study “computer graphics and AI” for Pixar and Disney films, people to “bridge the gap between research and practical studio application.”

Industrial Light & Magic, the Disney-owned visual effects shop, was searching for supervisors to “explore emerging technologies (including AI/Machine Learning)” to develop new production workflows.

The company’s audio post-production unit, Skywalker Sound, seemed to be recruiting to build proprietary AI models for soundtracks, voice separation, and voice transfer, the process of taking a speaker’s tone and pitch, and applying it to new content.

Disney was also hiring to defend itself. Three of its jobs were for “content security” to assess AI tools and guard against piracy, watermarking and rights-protection work.

The company’s public posture has so far been pursuing lawsuits against AI companies for inappropriate use of copyrighted material, and it pulled out of its plans to invest $1 billion in an equity investment deal with OpenAI.

Netflix’s posts suggested it is bringing more AI to the creative side of its business.

Netflix’s senior director of creative innovation, Girish Balakrishnan, outlined at the Runway AI film festival how AI was used to create soccer fans in “Brazil ’70” and establish shots for fight scenes in “Glory.”

Amazon, an early adopter, was hiring a principal AI executive to drive AI-tool adoption across production, plus roles in operations automation and LLM content classification, the listings revealed.

The Seattle-based streamer has been the most aggressive AI adopter in studios, and commissioned three AI animation series through its GenAI creator fund in May. Amazon has also bankrolled a Manhattan Beach production services company, Innovative Dream.

Even as studios build bigger AI teams, many in the industry are resisting, and some film fans are concerned.

The actors’ guild SAG-AFTRA in June ratified a new four-year contract with special protections against synthetic performers, and the union has backed a national bill designed to protect individuals from unauthorized, AI-generated digital replicas.

Studios have met with the union twice a year since 2023 to provide a confidential report on their AI-related activities. The studios tell the union they aren’t yet using AI that would entirely replace humans, said a person familiar with the discussions.

The union says it has no evidence that generative AI is being used to create performances, and the studios are supposed to notify the union if that happens.

Actors, writers, production staff and movie fans are still resistant to the overuse of AI and defining when and where it is acceptable, so studios are treading lightly, said AI film studio CEO Mooser.

“It’s been really a challenging thing to adopt both socially, ethically and legally, but we are seeing more adoption of it than we’ve ever seen before,” he said.

As a special tribute celebrates the extraordinary 50-year career of Bonnie Tyler, the Mirror takes a look at the Total Eclipse of the Heart icon’s wild life behind the scenes, including the accident that changed everything

With her unmistakable husky voice and theatrical music videos, there was nobody quite like Bonnie Tyler.

Her unexpected death earlier this month at the age of 75 came as a great sadness to those who’ve followed her distinctive work over the decades.

A legend of ’80s power ballads, many a fan has attempted a karaoke version of Holding Out for a Hero or Total Eclipse of the Heart. But few could hope to hold a candle to Bonnie’s signature rasp and melodramatic stage presence.

The Welsh singer’s extraordinary 50-year career will be celebrated this weekend in a special tribute compilation aired on BBC Two. And it will perhaps surprise no one that magnetic Bonnie’s personal life was every bit as explosive as her musical output.

Little-known real name

While the name Bonnie Tyler may adorn her Platinum-status records, it wasn’t actually the singer’s real name, and it took some time for her to find one that fit.

Britain’s First Lady of Rock was originally christened Gaynor Hopkins, a name she never much cared for as a budding star growing up in the sleepy village of Skewen, near Swansea.

In the early days of her career, young Bonnie began trying out the name Sherene Davies as a stage name, hoping to distinguish herself from the celebrated Welsh folk singer-songwriter, Mary Hopkin, who was just one year her senior.

Speaking with the Leicestershire Press in 2023, Bonnie revealed: “I never really liked my name, so it was a lovely opportunity to change it. My sister had a little girl called Sherene, and I loved that name – it was my name for seven years.”

It wasn’t to stick, however, and after being signed by RCA Records – Elvis Presley’s old label – Bonnie was told that Sherene just wouldn’t do, as it sounded, to their ears, “like a belly dancer”. A search began for a third moniker, with Bonnie taking a creative approach.

She remembered: “I bought two broadsheet newspapers, and I made a list of all the Christian names in one list and all the surnames in another list, and I matched them up until I came up with Bonnie Tyler. It’s been a great name for me, I reckon Steven Tyler must’ve been in the paper that day.”

Scream injury

She is often referred to as ‘the female Rod Stewart’, but the vocal similarities only became apparent after a grim post-surgery accident.

Speaking with the Mirror in 2023, the It’s a Heartache songstress shared how, as her star began to rise in the glitzy ’70s era, belting out ballads began to take a strain. And in 1977, she had to undergo surgery.

Bonnie said: “I started to get a sore throat because all the singing was taking its toll. A doctor discovered that I had nodules on my vocal cords. The only option was for them to be surgically removed. After the procedure, I was told by my surgeons not to talk, let alone sing, for six weeks.”

Unfortunately, after realising she’d forgotten to take strawberries to her brother, Lynn, who was hospitalised with a leg injury, Bonnie momentarily forgot about the doctor’s warning and let out a scream of frustration.

Detailing the incident in her 2023 memoir Straight from the Heart, Bonnie recalled: “I was so frustrated that I’d have to drive all the way back home, I let out an ‘Oh no!’ scream. When I went for a check-up with the specialist, he looked at me and said, ‘You could have done permanent damage’.”

While medics weren’t best pleased, Bonnie’s producer, David Mackay, was impressed by the gravelly sound her vocals produced, once healed. Bonnie said: “I’d always had quite a husky tone to my voice anyway, but as David joked, I now sounded like a female Rod Stewart!”

Marriage to Olympic athlete

Bonnie may have sung about doomed love affairs, but her marriage to a former Olympic judo athlete Robert Sullivan was a long and happy one. The couple first locked eyes back when Bonnie was still singing in Swansea nightclubs, and Robert was a nightclub manager. They tied the knot on July 4, 1973, with Bonnie officially becoming Mrs Gaynor Sullivan – her fourth name.

In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, Bonnie spoke fondly of those early days together, and it appeared the pair were just as smitten as they were as twentysomething newlyweds just starting out. She shared: “I married Robert, my first serious boyfriend, in 1973, when I was 22. I am still very much in love with him and he with me. We never fall out. He is very easy on the eye, which helps.”

And speaking to the Times about Robert, who went into property development after hanging up his judo belt, she said, “I think the secret to our success is that we met before I was famous.

“We don’t have children because we left it too late to stop taking precautions, and then I had a miscarriage when I was 40. I was unlucky, but I love all my nieces and nephews. Our house in Mumbles is like Paddington Station because everyone wants to come and visit Auntie Gaynor.”

Bonnie and Robert owned at least 25 properties together, including 22 homes across Berkshire and London, plus a sizeable farm in New Zealand. However, their seaside home in Mumbles and their villa in Albufeira proved to be their favourites, and it was between these two much-loved residences that they split their time.

Bonnie Tyler at the BBC airs July 25 at 8:30 pm on BBC Two.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com.

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , X , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage .