series

Jaaleen Best had little knowledge about who Muhammad Ali was as he was growing up in Alexandria, Va. But he recalls how others compared him to the legendary boxer.

“There were cousins, people like that who said, ‘Hey, you look like the young Muhammad Ali,’ ” Best said. “Then there were people when I would be playing a pick-up basketball game who would say, ‘Man, you remind us of a young Ali.’ ”

The 28-year-old actor is now a walking encyclopedia of the athlete who is arguably one of the most famous and beloved figures in America. More significantly, he has become Ali.

Best stars as Ali in Prime Video’s “The Greatest” which premiered Nov. 4. The eight-episode season differs from most projects centered on Ali, tracing his coming-of-age, when he was known as Cassius Clay before taking on the name which would define his conversion to Muslim.

The series dramatizes Ali’s journey from his gold medal victory at the 1960 Rome Olympics to his first world championship battle with Sonny Liston in 1964 when he renounced the name of Clay as a “slave name.” Along the way he would experience triumphs but also formidable odds such as racism in his community and conflicts in his family, including hints of domestic violence.

Jaalen Best in a scene from “The Greatest,” which depicts Muhammad Ali’s journey from Olympian in 1960 to his match with Sonny Liston in 1964.

(Brooke Palmer / Prime)

Executive producers of the series include Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”) and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation production company. The cast includes Omari Hardwick (“Power”) as Ali’s father Cassius “Cash” Sr., Michael Ealy (“Think Like a Man”) as Malcolm X and Giovanni Ribisi (“American Hostage”) as trainer Angelo Dundee.

Best was all smiles during a video call from his home in Hawaii as he sat in front of a wall with a Christmas wreath. (“One of my favorite times of the year is the holiday season. I start celebrating early here.”)

“I look at this as a tremendous opportunity,” said Best, who had only a few professional acting credits before “The Greatest.” “I just felt so ready for this through the entire process.

“Because I didn’t really have a perspective on Ali growing up, I felt that made me more perfect, in addition to my athletic background,” he added. “Plus we’re telling a story that hasn’t really been told before.”

Ali‘s widow, Lonnie, who is an executive producer of the project, said of Best in a statement: “With Jaalen Best, we have uncovered a soulful gem. He is such a talented young man who not only embodies Muhammad, but exudes his resilience, courage, charisma and confidence.”

“The Greatest” is the latest in a voluminous array of books, documentaries and films created over the years about the larger-than-life figure whose fame intersected sports, entertainment and political and religious lines. The most prominent entries include 1996’s Oscar-winning documentary “When We Were Kings,” about the infamous “Rumble in the Jungle” with George Foreman, and Michael Mann’s 2001 film “Ali,” which featured Will Smith’s Oscar-nominated performance as the boxer.

The new drama also shares the title with a biopic, “The Greatest,” in which the heavyweight champion played himself. The 1977 feature, which covers the same era as the series, co-starred Robert Duvall and Ernest Borgnine.

But creator and executive producer Ben Watkins (Prime Video’s “Cross”) said he was not daunted in the least revisiting well-tilled territory.

“From my perspective, there can never be enough about Ali,” he said in a video interview. “I would say there needs to be something every other month. The challenge of people working in TV is knowing what has been done and what can we do differently.

“Yes, he’s been well covered, but we haven’t seen behind the curtain. We haven’t seen what happens when the cameras are not rolling or when the lights are off, so I decided to lean into that. My hero, who I had put on a pedestal, was just a kid, just a human. That was very refreshing and enlightening for me and made me admire him even more.”

Ali’s family in the series, from left: mother Odessa “Bird” Clay (Dana Gourrier), Cassius Clay (Best), brother Rudy Clay (Kai Parham) and father Cassius Clay Sr. (Omari Hardwick).

(Ian Watson / Prime)

Lonnie Ali proved to be a valuable resource, Watkins said, since she she had known Ali as a young man and could put producers in touch with others who had known him.

He added, “We’ve been through the documentaries, the movies, the books. The key thing was to go back and instead of blowing through those little moments, make those the moments you focus on. Then I can use that as a launch pad to deal with the more well-known events.”

The more daunting challenge was finding the right actor to play the legendary Ali. Casting director Kim Coleman, who was a casting consultant on “Ali,” searched community theaters and boxing gyms while also looking at more veteran actors.

“It was a really grueling process,” Watkins said. “We looked at thousands of candidates. Once I found that person, then I would need them to train and sculpt and transform.”

Watkins said Best was an early standout: “I wanted someone who could deliver the essence of Ali, the charisma and confidence accompanied by an incredible work ethic and ambition.”

Showrunner Ben Watkins said Best was a standout among the actors who tried out for the role: “I wanted someone who could deliver the essence of Ali, the charisma and confidence accompanied by an incredible work ethic and ambition.”

(Juan Veloz)

Although he had a background in competitive basketball, soccer and football, Best had never boxed before. But he was given six months to train before shooting began. “At first boxing was a real challenge, but I came in with a readiness to learn,” he said. “My trainer would challenge me to think like an athlete as opposed to thinking like an actor.”

Still, the continual focus on authenticity during training sessions could be harrowing, “There would be 12 hour days of just boxing,” Best said. “I had to memorize every punch and every move of Ali’s real fights. Those were real long days. There was a physical therapist on the set.”

The real priority was perfecting the Ali shuffle in the ring.

“It would always bother me when I’d see actors playing Ali that they could never get the shuffle right,” Best said. “So early in the process, I really worked on that.”

The work outside of the ring was also intense. “I really studied his voice. He had a spoken-word an album in 1963 called ‘I Am the Greatest.’ I would study and listen to that album five hours a day. I would play it real loud, and it did get to the point where I could recite it without listening to it.”

Best was also determined to differentiate between the public and the private Ali. “There was this bravado in his voice when he was out, and another voice when he was with his mom and dad. He was very different in private, very quiet. He cried a lot and had a very sensitive side. So it was like playing two different people.”

He also did not shy away from studying other actors’ performances of Ali, particularly Smith’s: “I would break down every portrayal I could, whether it was a film or TV show. At the same time, I’m developing my own perspective in doing my own research and reading books. So once I had a grasp of Ali from Jaalen’s perspective, I discovered the nuances which allowed me to bring a more human approach and make Ali more grounded.”

If the series is renewed, Watkins has two more eras he would like to explore: the “dark years,” when the boxer spoke out against the Vietnam War and was banned from boxing, and the period leading to “the Rumble in the Jungle.”

Best, in the meantime, is grateful for the experience of playing an icon: “It’s something I feel I can carry with me forever.”

The new series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! is just days away, with rumours already starting to swirl about a ‘secret alliance’ between two of the campmates

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! fans can’t wait for the new series to start and there’s already some major gossip! Rumoured campmates Wayne Rooney and Chloe Burrows have already formed an alliance.

Speaking about the pair’s friendship ahead of the show, a source said to be close to Chloe told the Mail: “Chloe and Wayne bonded over their I’m A Celebrity booking back in May when they played in Soccer Aid together.

“Talks were well underway for the show at that time, so they both knew they were heading into the jungle. They were on the same team and got along really well.”

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Former footballer, Wayne, 41 – who was papped at the airport today en route to Australia – will be without wife, Coleen, 40, and their four sons while in the jungle. However, he’s said to have formed a secret alliance with fellow campmate and Love Island pal, Chloe Burrows, 30, who he met when they played in the charity football match, Soccer Aid.

Revealing Wayne and Chloe had chatted about how they were feeling about going on the iconic ITV show, they added: “It’s nice that they already have that connection going in. They had a catch-up about how they were both feeling about the show, and it will be great to watch their friendship grow even more once they’re in camp.”

Chloe shot to fame on Love Island in 2021 and proved a huge hit with viewers, eventually finishing runner-up alongside her then-boyfriend Toby Aromolaran. I’m A Celeb producers have been reportedly been keen to sign her up for the iconic show, with the Chloe Vs The World presenter said to be enthusiastic about swapping her home comforts for life in camp.

Influencer, Chloe, posed for a selfie with Wayne at the charity football match in Stratford, which she captioned: “What an amazing experience.”

She is said to have held a number of meetings with bosses behind the ITV jungle show ahead of its return to Australia this month.

Wayne, meanwhile, is following in his wife’s Coleen’s footsteps after the WAG appeared on I’m A Celeb two years ago and is said to be eager to get stuck into the BushTucker Trials to impress his sons.

He is set to be joined Down Under by stars including, Chloe, Joanna Page, Ade Adepitan, Claire Sweeney, Ricky Wilson, AJ Odudu, Sharky, Leigh Francis, Mariella Frostrup, Leomie Anderson, and Jack Skipper. The show is expected to run for approximately three weeks, ending with a live final in early December.

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While real-world tech mogul Elon Musk suffered a major setback this week after pouring more than $200 million into Texas Republican campaigns that lost to protect his business empire, over on HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” robber baron George Russell is fighting tooth and nail against looming federal regulations to save his.

The period drama returned Sunday with its fourth season. After leaving George (Morgan Spector) at a major turning point in Season 3 — seemingly done with his marriage following Bertha‘s (Carrie Coon) forced engineering of their daughter‘s marriage, as well as his own survival of a near-fatal shooting — the couple is still at odds. As the new season picks up, George unravels under the looming threat of anti-monopoly laws targeting his industrial empire. And that’s just part of all the drama and fun that made the episode the show’s most-watched premiere yet, averaging nearly 4 million viewers across platforms, according to the cabler/streamer. Season 4 promises more tension as the Russells try to maintain their wealth and status while Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) tries to regain her position, all while the show’s various relationships face challenges, ultimatums or bittersweet developments. Ahead of this week’s second episode, I spoke with Sonja Warfield, who is co-showrunner of the series alongside creator Julian Fellowes, about how Season 4 kicks off — including that unexpected cameo from David Letterman and Matt Damon.

Also in this week’s Screen Gab, our writers recommend a new stand-up special from everyone’s favorite sitcom principal and a sports drama chronicling the life of Muhammad Ali. — Yvonne Villarreal

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Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times

Janelle James at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, where her Netflix comedy special was filmed.

(Elizabeth Sisson / Netflix )

“Janelle James: How Romantic” (Netflix)

Among the many gifts “Abbott Elementary” showered upon the culture was bringing Janelle James to national prominence. As work-averse principal Ava Coleman — a selfish, insulting character one is always delighted to see — she is as attractive as she is difficult. And as the show has gone on, the actor has found layers to play, including hints of a kind of existential melancholy. James began in stand-up — her biggest brush with fame was touring with Chris Rock in 2017 — and now she’s headlining her own, first hourlong special, which debuts Tuesday on the streamer and was filmed at Chicago’s Vic Theatre. Hang on through an opening salvo of political jokes that elapsed time and Tuesday’s election results have rendered stale (Rudy Giuliani, anybody? Joe Biden?) as James, laughing and dancing, unwinds into her real material — spending 24 hours in labor, the problems and perks of being suddenly famous, men and how they are, having money with a poor person’s mind. Of the power of comedy (and being on a hit sitcom) to unite a diverse audience, she says, “There’s one of everything in here. … We can all be in here and share a laugh, then everyone goes back to their respective neighborhoods, never to speak again. But for a small moment in time we were all friends. Because of me. So that’s nice.” — Robert Lloyd

Jaalen Best as Muhammad Ali in Prime Video’s “The Greatest.”

(Brooke Palmer / Prime)

“The Greatest” (Prime Video)

The multitude of projects about Muhammad Ali just received a new entry with Prime Video’s limited series “The Greatest,” starring newcomer Jaalen Best as the legendary boxer. The project traces Ali’s breakthrough as a gold medal boxer through his brutal battle with Sonny Liston. Viewers looking for a companion piece to the drama can check out Ken Burns’ 2021 epic documentary “Muhammad Ali.” Burns called the four-part miniseries an extensive look at a “man who may be the most iconic figure of the 20th century.” The filmmaker added that Ali was also a “very complex, dynamic man” who had an immeasurable impact stretched into politics, culture and religion.” — Greg Braxton

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A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they’re working on — and what they’re watching

Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon in Season 4 of “The Gilded Age.”

(Karolina Wojtasik / HBO)

Clocks have rolled back and “The Gilded Age” Sundays have returned — the perfect couch rotting combo for fall. Lingering crises and fresh new scandals collide in Season 4 as our favorite New York elite navigate a fracturing power marriage, perilous childbirth, a horse-carriage breakdown that ignites a night of forbidden passion, and a titan‘s struggle to maintain his empire. Even Jack’s new invention, the electric mixer, couldn’t whip up a more delicious start. Episode 2 airs Sunday on HBO and will stream on HBO Max. I spoke with Sonja Warfield, the co-showrunner of the drama, about the premiere, that David Letterman and Matt Damon cameo and what’s ahead this season. — Y.V.

You said you were looking at social media a bit after the premiere. What stood out to you about what fans were responding to?

Marian. Someone had a lot of thoughts about some of Marian’s costumes. But then I read something about Marian and Larry having sex, and they don’t want to hear about her complaining about him this season — something like, “She just needs to go over there to his house and get her ring back.”

It’s been interesting to see the conversation around Marian’s freak-out the morning after she had sex with Larry — and the ramifications of premarital sex at that time.

Louisa [Jacobson, who plays Marian] did an amazing job conveying the gravity of the transgression; it just was all over her face. And Harry’s reaction, because he’s kind of surprised. They just had this roll in the hay, but it transmits to him as well. So really, kudos to Louisa for selling that. Wonderful actors like Louisa Jacobson help the viewer along in their understanding that this is about the worst thing that you can do, and then we have the scene afterwards. That walk of shame back and the aunts even say, “Oh, it was better that you took a cab because the impropriety of that.”

We also see Gladys survive this traumatic, life-threatening breach birth, ultimately welcoming a baby boy. Some of us have PTSD from Lady Sybil’s death in “Downton Abbey” and were very nervous about where it was going.

One of the first things I said to Julian when we first started working together was, “I might never forgive you for what you did to Lady Sybil.” I remember every frame of what Lady Sybil went through. … We wanted to make sure that [“The Gilded Age”] was different, so we worked closely with a doctor who specializes in Victorian medicine to figure out how we can make it traumatic, her life is salvaged, but she’s forever changed. It’s women’s health. There’s still more questions than answers, and especially back then when they had not even surfaced. Maternal mortality rate has been lowered in recent years in America. It’s real jeopardy, and it happens all the time and every day.

Women’s health and decisions surrounding it are not the only timely modern parallel. Something that looms large is wealthy business titans trying to exert profound, direct influence over American politics and policies. How was it to dig into that history this season, given the current real-world backdrop?

As we got the research in, and we started having conversations with Dr. Dunbar [Erica Armstong Dunbar is a co-executive producer and lead historical consultant on the series], it became abundantly clear that the reason why there have been so many regulations in business is because of the Gilded Age. We’re just right back where we started. I love this argument that is being used today that was being used back then, which is “let us regulate our ourselves.” That’s ridiculous. They changed America, and brought in wealth and industry and the railroad and all of that; at the same time, it has to be regulated. They cannot regulate themselves. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins.

Audra McDonald, left, and Denée Benton in “The Gilded Age.”

(Karolina Wojtasik / HBO)

Were you nervous about having this plot about anti-monopoly legislation or how it would be received by studio brass, given the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger?

It was not in my mind because it is the real history. We are being historically accurate.

There is a moment eight minutes into the premiere episode that, if you blinked, you missed it: David Letterman and Matt Damon made cameos as background actors. Apparently, David has long wanted to be a background actor, and this stunt was filmed as a field segment for the new season of his Netflix interview show; Damon got his start as a background actor. Were you in disbelief when you heard about this request?

I am a huge David Letterman fan. When I heard that there was a possibility that I could meet David Letterman, I was ecstatic and really kind of selfish. We shoot tandem sets, so there are two sets going at a time. My mandate was, “I’m on the David Letterman set that day. Take me there.” All the way in Long Island. I had an event that night. I didn’t care. I waited for David.

Forget Matt Damon.

What was so funny was that my dad is a huge Matt Damon fan, and whilst I was awaiting David Letterman, I had an audience with Matt Damon, who is the most lovely, kind person ever. So empathetic and gracious and wonderful, and game whatever they had cooking on Letterman’s show. Then I met David Letterman. It was an absolute blast. I was like, “This is a the best day at work in a long time.” It all started because someone on our staff was friends with someone on David Letterman’s show.

We see them casually crossing the street. Was it hard to decide what scene to plop them into?

It was really about scheduling. And what would be the least conspicuous because David Letterman does have that long beard. We held on to it for so long. We shot that back in May.

I want all good things for Peggy, in life, love and career. Her wedding to William is on the horizon. What did you want out of that moment for her?

Well, once I knew we had a bigger budget, I wanted all of it too. I really do think we deliver. I want to be mindful here. The location of where she gets married is exquisitely beautiful. We enter the wedding and the marriage with trepidation because there is real conflict, inherent conflict with this family in the form of Elizabeth Kirkland, played by the incredible Felicia Rashad. I think all weddings are fraught because you’re bringing together these different factions, and people want different things and have ideas and dreams. I think Peggy’s wedding delivers on all fronts. I think it delivers in terms of dramatic tension. I think it delivers in terms of set decoration. It delivers in terms of costume and, of course, performances and direction. I can’t wait for the audience to watch it and then watch it again. Accompanying the wedding will be some beautiful photography done by the Tyler Twins. Their work is really just exquisite, and I’m excited for the world to see all this. We’ve been holding all of this in.

Peggy and William are at the dawn of their relationship, just as Bertha and George are navigating a major stress point in their union.

Marriage is a journey. I’ve been married and divorced, and I just remember my dad’s advice early on was that there are always going to be these trials, and if you can make your way through them and end up together, you will be stronger for it. For Bertha and George, who’ve been married for many years now — he didn’t make a lot of money when they were first together, and now they they’re in this place of extreme wealth, and their lives have changed. And now he is going through something that couldn’t have been predicted. And Bertha rides for her husband. There are times when couples can go their separate ways, and, like my dad said, if you can find your way back together through the storm, and you’ve weathered it together, you’re stronger. I want that for Peggy and William. They want a Bertha-George marriage — if Bertha and George make it through.

I really worry about Agnes’ stress levels this season. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that. Later in the season, she delivers one line — “That article was poppycock!” — in a way that will live in my head as a GIF forever.

I even said something to Christine during the season — “We’re really putting you through it this season.” I love it, and she loved it too. She had a ball, and especially in Episode 3, which I got to write with Julian. I loved writing some of that dialogue because she just has so many highs and lows throughout the season, and it was like a masterclass for me to watch Christine go from the highest high to the lowest low. She wants revenge; she is out for blood because someone is attempting to take away her opportunities. It was delicious, and I’m glad that you liked it, and I hope the greater audience enjoyed it.

Is there a moment coming up from Episode 2 that you’re excited for people to see?

I’m excited for people to see more of the Black elite in Newport.

What’s the film or TV show that you’re recommending to everyone right now?

Well, I’m behind, but I love “Nobody Wants This” [Netflix]. I have not been able to watch all of it; we had a premiere for “The Gilded Age” and lots of things going on. But I love that show. I got to meet the whole cast at the Emmys. I’m a free advertisement for that show.

ICYMI

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MARRIED At First Sight groom Adrian Sanderson has slammed the show experts after the show was permanently axed.

Channel 4 confirmed yesterday that the dating show had officially been axed, six months after The Sun first revealed the series would be canned over rape allegations.

The broadcaster shared findings of a bombshell external review and confirmed MAFS UK, including a series filmed earlier this year and a planned all-stars spin-off were all axed.

Adrian, who starred on season seven in 2022 and was paired with Thomas Hartley, hit out at MAFS UK experts Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas for staying silent after news of the axing broke.

Mel Schilling had been the third expert since 2021, but sadly passed away in March following a battle with colon cancer.

Adrian wrote: “Isn’t it interesting that Channel 4 chose to release its MAFS review findings, well a summary of, on the very day Russell Brand’s courts case is dominating the headlines?

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“Coincidence? Perhaps. But the timing is certainly interesting.”

Adrian added: “Thoughts on the fact the ‘experts’ from MAFS haven’t spoken on this?

“Funny I bumped into one last night at a restaurant.”

Findings of the MAFS UK review were published on Thursday morning, hours before the court in the Russell Brand trial reconvened and came to a verdict.

Execs fervently denied The Sun’s story from May that MAFS’ ‘lost’ series six, which was shot in March, would be canned and even slammed it in Westminster, when chief executive Priya Dogra was grilled by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

As recently as last week, cast of that season have told The Sun that producers were reassuring them all would be well.

It meant they were blindsided to learn yesterday that their footage would be scrapped – devastating those who had engaged media agents ready to build a profile.

One told how they received an email four minutes before the news broke, so most learnt through media reports.

Another, who asked not to be named, told The Sun: “We were being told that the investigation was nearly over, things were looking positive and the programme would still air.

“I feel like we were repeatedly given false hope and reassurances that everything was going ahead, only to discover through the media that two months of our lives were wasted.

“Ever since the scandal broke, production has been in regular contact, repeatedly reassuring us everything would be fine.

“Some of us genuinely hoped to find love but others saw the programme as an opportunity to build a career and potentially change their lives and that’s now over.”

Separately, a cast member lined up for Second Marriage At First Sight – the planned spin-off – has told how a call with execs last month had left them under the impression filming would commence soon.

Two women who appeared on past runs of the show claimed to have been raped by their on-screen husbands, and another – Shona Manderson, who waived her anonymity – accused her TV partner of sexual misconduct.

All three men deny the claims.

The Met police confirmed one groom who was arrested on suspicion of rape on June 18 remains on bail.

The latest Big Brother series is airing its final episode on ITV

Fans of Big Brother were quick to point out a ‘missing’ housemate.

Following eight weeks of drama, unexpected clashes and changing themes to challenge more than a dozen housemates, the latest series is coming to an end. Will Best and AJ Odudu host the live final yet again as they finally reveal what the fans’ decision.

Viewers couldn’t wait to find out who would take home the huge £100,000 prize on Thursday night (November 5). Those entering the final day following a shock double eviction included Twinks, Rochelle, Yasmin, Samuel, Lynx and Catrin

However during the extended episode, fans were left distracted as they could not help but notice one former housemate was nowhere to be seen.

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Early in the show, Will and AJ reminded fans that a special reunion episode will be aired by ITV on Friday. In it, the housemates will be gathered together in the house once again as they dissect the entire series and all its drama.

As they mentioned this the camera cut to a group shot of all the evicted housemates. Fans could immediately spot the likes of Harry, Chelsey, Millie and even Charlotte who quit after just two weeks in the house.

Even those who recently left including Frankie and Omar were spotted. However, viewers immediately called out one person who was notably absent from the line-up – Philip.

The 53-year-old Scouse influencer otherwise known as the Queen of Scottie Road seemingly skipped the final. As a result. he will not feature in the reunion.

It didn’t take long for fans watching along at home to make their exact feelings known. One took to social media and shared: “Philip skipping the reunion he’s FUMING.”

Another posted: “How did I know Philip wouldn’t be there. Sat in a corner sulking somewhere.” Someone else added: “Notice how Philip is missing.” One person replied: “In my opinion it’s a pity Philip seems to have been pushed out of the limelight, he was very entertaining first half of the show and provided the laughs. He is appearing in panto and I wish him all the best.”

While one viewer commented: “I didn’t see Philip there? I did not enjoy him in the house but I hope he is okay and taken care of.” A viewer even joked: “No Philip at the Big Brother final. Times must be hard and his friends few.”

Big Brother is streaming on ITVX.

Big Brother fans have finally chosen their winner after eight weeks

Fans have finally crowned the latest Big Brother winner.

The latest series has been jam-packed with drama, from the rise and fall of a house hierarchy to controversial comments and clashes. There was even a procession of celebrity houseguests including Gemma Collins, Jedward and Tiffany Pollard to mix things up.

One contestant decided to leave the house after just two weeks while the series began with YouTuber Tays recruited as Big Brother’s mole. Before the final result was unveiled, viewers got a glimpse of how the contestants spent their last night following a shock double eviction.

This included one last meal together as the remaining reflect on their experience in the Diary Room. Lynx said: “This experience will live on with me forever. Genuinely will live on with me forever.” Samuel shared: “Thank you so much, Big Brother. For choosing this random old nerd from Slough to go on and live his dream.”

While Catrin admitted: “This has been the highlight of my life. OK, being born was the first highlight. But the second highlight is being on Big Brother.”

Twinks told Big Brother: “I came, I saw, I got nominated… This has been magical. And you’re speaking to a witch. Remember that, Big Brother.”

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Rochelle opened up: “I really hope that people out there, if you’re my age, that you do try something different. Because I’m so f*****g proud of myself.”

And Yasmin added: “I don’t want to leave. It’s been such a crazy experience, and I can’t believe it’s like, come to an end. I’ve met like the most amazing people. I wouldn’t change any of them.”

Presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best were on hand for the live show. During the course of an extended episode, they disclosed the public vote results for each remaining contestant.

The final rankings were: Catrin in 6th, Lynx in 5th, Samuel in 4th and Yasmin in third. In a nail-biting climax, it came down to a showdown between Twinks and Rochelle, with the latter clinching victory.

Upon hearing the result they were visibly shocked and screamed. As Twinks got ready to leave Rochelle stated: “What?! What?! Oh my God. Oh my God.”

As Twinks was greeted by cheers, the crowd and even former housemates could be seen and heard chanting “Recount.” During her interview there were more chants of: “You should have won.”

Rochelle was then greeted with a mixed response as she walked out with some of her fellow contestants unable to hide how they felt. Will had to try and ask the crowd to calm down as they struggled to be heard by Rochelle.

When asked by Will and AJ how she felt about winning the series and scooping the £100,000 prize, she responded: “All the suffering was worth it.”

Fans were quick to voice their opinions on the results with many left unimpressed. One fan took to social media and posted: “And that just ruined such a good series.”

Another chimed in: “Well that was disappointing. I really thought twinks had it in the bag.” Someone else replied: “I have never been soooo disappointed in a result in all of my life. But the ‘public’’ have spoken I guess..” A third fan remarked: “Even the way AJ said Rochelle… NO ONE WANTED THIS.”

However, one fan offered: “Look Rochelle isn’t liked BUT she has carried this show. The arguments, the fall outs – there is a difference between winning and being liked!”

Someone else agreed: “YEEEEES. I am over the moon that Rochelle has won Big Brother. I don’t agree with what she says a lot of the time but that doesn’t matter. She was so entertainment.”

Big Brother is streaming on ITVX.

Walter Koenig’s official cause of death has been revealed.

The actor, who portrayed Pavel Chekov in the original “Star Trek” series, died at age 90 on Oct. 25. His immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, according to the death certificate obtained by TMZ and People. Chronic diastolic congestive heart failure was an underlying cause, and acute renal failure was also listed as a significant contributing condition.

Koenig was cremated on Oct. 30, per the outlets.

Cardiopulmonary arrest, also called cardiac arrest, is when a person’s heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is different from a heart attack.

Koenig’s representative previously told The Times that he died of natural causes and that his daughter Danielle and niece were with him when he died.

“Walter helped inspire audiences with his optimism, humor, and adventurous spirit,” the representative said in the statement. “Beyond ‘Star Trek,’ his long and distinguished career showcased his versatility as an actor and his genuine love for his craft. … Through countless convention appearances and interactions with fans, he shared his kindness, wit and appreciation with everyone fortunate enough to meet him. He understood what Star Trek meant to people and embraced the community that grew around it.”

Koenig made his debut on “Star Trek” during the second season of the original series when Chekov was introduced as the navigator of the starship. He also portrayed the character in seven subsequent “Star Trek” films. Koenig is also known for portraying the notorious Psi Cop officer Alfred Bester in the TV series “Babylon 5.”

Angel City and “Ted Lasso” both came to life in the summer of 2020 when the rest of the world was preoccupied with something far more serious, the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In those dark times, the series about kindness, grace, optimism — and soccer — became the show we didn’t know we needed, but suddenly couldn’t do without.

Angel City, meanwhile, would play its first NWSL game two years later, by which time “Lasso” and Jason Sudeikis, the title character of the Apple TV series about a fictional Premier League team and its manager, had already won multiple Emmys.

Hollywood is a small town, so it wasn’t long before Sudeikis reached out to Kara Nortman, a venture capitalist who co-founded Angel City in 2020, and asked to talk about women’s soccer.

Angel City co-founders Natalie Portman, left, Kara Nortman and Julie Uhrman speak during the team’s equity summit in Australia during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

(Hanna Lassen / Getty Images)

“And I was like, ‘You had me at hello,’” Nortman said.

What was supposed to be an hour-long phone call turned into four-hour meeting in person, Nortman said.

“The most fun conversation I’ve had in a long time,” she remembered last month. “It really started as a shared passion and interest in women’s sports and building communities and new leadership models and all the things that ‘Ted Lasso’ is about that are far beyond football.”

What the conversation led to was the foundation for the just-completed fourth season of “Ted Lasso,” which focused on the unique challenges faced by women’s soccer teams and players — challenges Nortman knows only too well as the co-owner of a team. That’s why she was credited as a consultant on the series.

And the collaboration comes at a time when the soccer team and the soccer TV series are both at the top of their game, with “Lasso” drawing record audience numbers this summer and Angel City advancing to this weekend’s NWSL playoff quarterfinals after the most successful season in its history.

“They could have continued writing about the men’s team,” Nortman said. “They chose to write about women’s football.

“I’m super proud that we were part of what helped them really understand how to write a beautiful script that was really representative of a lot of challenges we went through.”

The challenges go beyond just salaries, media attention and funding to things as serious as child care and the rash of ACL injuries in the women’s game and as frustrating as hand-me-down uniforms and locker rooms. In “Ted Lasso,” the women’s team Sudeikis coaches — a man coaching women? That topic is addressed, too — uses a dressing room abandoned by a men’s team, one with urinals but without enough working showers.

Angel City captain Sarah Gorden dribbles the ball in front of Boston Legacy’s Sarah Schupansky at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

(Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)

One player nearly misses a game because she can’t find a babysitter, something that really happened to Angel City captain Sarah Gorden. Another player is recognized by a fan while working for a food-delivery company to supplement her tiny soccer salary, something that really happened to English star Lucy Bronze in her early playing days.

For many viewers, the “Ted Lasso” plot lines were their introduction to those real-life issues.

“The vibe of authenticity,” Nortman calls it.

“They got right the ACLs, they got right the locker-room dynamic, they got right the training facility,” she said. “I think they got all those things right.”

Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, the creative geniuses behind “Ted Lasso,” declined to be interviewed for this story, as did everyone involved with the series. But Sudeikis has long denied the show is about soccer.

“This show is as much about soccer as ‘Rocky’ is about boxing,” said Sudeikis, who described the eponymous title character as a cross between John Wooden and Mister Rogers.

Actors Jason Sudeikis, center, and Tanya Reynolds, right, lead a professional women’s soccer team through authentic challenges during the fourth season of “Ted Lasso.”

(Colin Hutton / Apple TV)

But the series has always had soccer in it. So it was natural that Sudeikis and Hunt, who both have long supported women’s sports, would turn their massive spotlight on women’s soccer and bring attention to the glaring inequalities that had slowed the development of the game.

And Nortman wasn’t the only one from NWSL to join that cause. The “Lasso” season opener, shot largely in Kansas City, Mo., was a paean to that city’s women’s soccer team, the Current, and its stadium, where the team has sold out every game over the last three seasons and is unbeaten in its last 32 matches there. (Angel City opens the playoffs in Kansas City on Saturday.)

The synergy helped both sides, with “Lasso” shattering viewership records, trailing only Amazon Prime Video’s “Reacher” as the most-streamed series overall in September, while NWSL’s viewership numbers through the first half of the season jumped 61% on ABC and ESPN. The average season attendance of 11,032 was the second-highest in history.

“Once we knew that Jason and the cast were going to feature a season about women’s soccer and start that season at one of our stadiums with one of our teams, the authenticity with that just lent itself to doing an integration,” said Jennifer Levine, the league’s vice president for public relations and communications.

Kansas City Current fans cheer during the team’s first match at CPKC Stadium in 2024. It is the first stadium built solely for a pro women’s soccer team and was featured in the latest season of “Ted Lasso.”

(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

“There was a lot of crossover between what they were doing and what we’re doing. So it kind of created a perfect storm for us. Being a part of the cultural conversation as part of ‘Ted Lasso’ will only add to the excitement around the NWSL.”

But will it solve the problems and level the inequities that continue to plague women’s soccer?

“I like to hope it helps,” Levine said. “They have been honest. … I think the writing team and the cast did an incredible job portraying what it’s like to be a women’s footballer.

“Everything that we’re doing at the league with investing in infrastructure and building more purpose-built stadiums and building training facilities, it’s all to improve the experience that viewers are seeing in ‘Ted Lasso.’”

Or as Sudeikis’ character once put it, “doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.”

⚽ You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.

This City is Ours fans are urged to watch a crime drama that has been praised by viewers as potentially “the greatest UK crime drama series of all time”.

A “gripping” crime drama with “sublime acting” could be the next stop for This City Is Ours fans.

Netflix’s London-set thriller has been hailed a must-watch for This City is Ours fans. The five-season series shares much of the twisty Liverpool drama’s appeal, from fraught loyalties and friendships to struggles for power in the criminal underworld. Praising Top Boy, the series in question, one fan wrote on IMDb: “S3 is hands down the best series of them all without a shadow of a doubt. If not, the greatest UK crime drama series of all time.”

The comparison has also struck a chord with viewers of This City Is Ours. One IMDb reviewer praised James Nelson-Joyce’s performance in the BBC drama before writing: “The series feels quite similar to Top Boy in some ways, but with a Liverpool setting.”

With BBC viewers gripped by This City Is Ours’ second run, those who have already watched it on iPlayer may be looking for another crime drama to get stuck into. Here are three shows exploring the tensions and power struggles that make gangland stories so compelling, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Top Boy

Top Boy originally aired on Channel 4 before Netflix revived it. Across five seasons, the British crime thriller follows drug dealers Dushane, played by Ashley Walters, and Sully, played by Kane Robinson, as they navigate drug dealing and gang violence in London.

The series earned critical acclaim for its writing, performances and authenticity, picking up numerous BAFTA awards and nominations. Like This City Is Ours, it examines loyalty, friendship and hierarchy, and the fallout when those bonds are tested.

The IMDb reviewer who praised its third season also wrote: “This show is literally breathtaking. Gripping throughout. Brutal. It catches you from the get-go and really makes you FEEL. You relate and feel what every character is feeling. The plot is thrilling. The acting is sublime.”

Gangs of London

Sky series Gangs of London, also available on Netflix, is an action crime drama based on the video game of the same name. It follows bitter power struggles between rival gangs and criminal organisations across the capital.

Much like the Phelans in This City Is Ours, the Wallaces are a powerful crime family. When their patriarch is killed, London’s criminal underworld is plunged into chaos.

One IMDb reviewer wrote: “Best gang-related TV series I’ve seen in years, the fight and gun scenes have been directed and filmed superbly, and it’s also extremely well written. My advice is, if you like this kinda thing, you’ll end up binge-watching Gangs of London.”

Kin

Available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, Kin is an Irish crime drama about a Dublin family embroiled in a brutal gangland war. Production on a third season began in July 2026. Aidan Gillen and Ciarán Hinds play rival gang leaders Frank Kinsella and Eamon Cunningham respectively.

Like This City Is Ours, the show explores the battle for power and the extreme measures people will take to stay at the top. It quickly became one of Ireland’s most-watched series after its release.

One IMDb reviewer wrote: “Kin has to go down as one of the best series I’ve seen in this genre and sits alongside Top Boy for me. Character’s brilliant portrayed and expertly drags you into the murky world of the extended Kinsella family and Dublin’s underworld with a storyline that twists and turns.

“The actors combine in a fluent way which has you hating someone one moment and then thinking ‘maybe I was wrong about you’. Thankfully most of us will never experience a family life like it but you’ll love watching theirs.”

This City is Ours is streaming on BBC iPlayer, with episodes also airing weekly on BBC One on Sundays and Mondays

Since Joe Root returned as Test skipper, England have not picked a frontline spinner and have instead favoured a four-man pace attack of Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.

South Africa’s victory in the third Test suggests they will need an alternative before long.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer, who once considered playing for England before opting for the country of his birth, took 10-120 to bowl the Proteas to victory in Cape Town – the venue of the third Test against England.

Newlands is not typically a spinner’s surface but it turned big from the third day. The overall average amount of turn throughout the Test (4.35 degrees) was the fourth-highest in Cape Town on record. The Test a place ahead on the list was last year, against Pakistan.

Harmer was helped by having left-arm pace bowlers Starc and Marco Jansen creating footholes outside the right-handers’ off stump throughout. Starc will not be a factor against England but Jansen will.

England’s spin issues are longstanding, meaning there is no easy answer.

And whether they pick Shoaib Bashir, return to Jack Leach or Mason Crane or hand a debut to Nottinghamshire’s Liam Patterson-White – the recent recipient of an England development contract – they will have stiff competition.

Since Harmer returned to Test cricket in 2022, no spinner has a better average anywhere in the world.

It’s Halloween weekend and that means it’s time to curl up on the couch to watch a blood-curdling scream erupt — from your television.

In the L.A. area, the forecast is looking pretty grim with showers expected this weekend (I am going to remain cautiously optimistic, however, because I do not want these bags of candy to remain in my house). If it does end up being a rainout, at least there are several very good new series and films to watch. Here are a few suggestions:

• One is Peacock’s “Crystal Lake,” the new “Friday the 13th” prequel series starring Linda Cardellini, who spoke to senior writer Greg Braxton earlier this month about taking on the role of Pamela Voorhees (you’ll see Voorhees in a new light). On the occasion of the show’s release, Greg also wrote this handy guide to all the “Friday the 13th” movies, grading each one on a hockey-mask scale to help you choose which to watch.
• If you prefer your horror to involve teen angst, I highly recommend Prime Video’s “Carrie,” a new adaption of Stephen King’s iconic novel by Mike Flanagan. We spoke to the horror auteur and stars of the series, Samantha Sloyan and Summer H. Howell, about how it modernizes the story’s terror.
• As far as films go, you can’t go wrong with this year’s top two horror hits: Kane Parsons’ ultra-creepy, internet inspired “Backrooms,” which is streaming on HBO Max, and “Obsession,” streaming on Peacock. Fittingly, Inde Navarrette, the star of “Obsession,” will host “Saturday Night Live” on Halloween. And if you want to keep the theme going, Curry Barker, the film’s director, made a surprise release on Thursday of a short called “Mama Bear” on YouTube (be advised, it’s NSFW; watch it in a dark room at night like I did).

Also in this week’s Screen Gab, Susan House, the showrunner of Hulu’s new reality competition series “The Mob,” stopped by Guest Spot to discuss the show, and our writers recommend a documentary about one of the finest comedy sketch series to emerge from Canada and a workplace comedy series that graduated from the web to streaming.

Before I go, I want to take a moment to remember the legendary actor Patrick Stewart, who died on Wednesday. From his stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company to his iconic roles as Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” and Charles Xavier in “X-Men,” few actors had Stewart’s range and depth, as television critic Robert Lloyd so adeptly writes in his appreciation of him. To use the words of another “Trek” great, may he live long and prosper in the afterlife. — Maira Garcia

Turn on

Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times

“SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of” takes a closer look at the Canadian sketch series. Andrea Martin, left, Catherine O’Hara, Joe Flaherty, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy and Harold Ramis.

(Netflix)

“SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Hard Of” (Netflix)

Speak for yourself, title. Some of us were there from the beginning. But the show is definitely having a moment, with Netflix streaming the entire series, and the documentary “You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (In a Canadian Kind of Way),” currently in select theaters, featuring future “SCTV” cast members Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas and Martin Short (along with Gilda Radner). Jason Hehir’s “Greatest Show” film does a fine job of outlining the birth and death of what many consider the hipper cousin to “Saturday Night Live,” with lots of great photos and films of sketch comedians in their long-haired youth. The good times, the less than good times, the confusing times are all here, burnished with a warm glow of friendship. Gathered to reminisce are all surviving cast members (including the now-late Catherine O’Hara). Even the rarely seen Rick Moranis participates. (RIP John Candy and Joe Flaherty.) Creating comedy under less than glamorous circumstances, with no live audience or sense of whether anyone in the world was watching, they made the show for themselves and one another. Their instincts proved correct. — Robert Lloyd

Ryan Micho, left, Tommy Armstrong, Grace Reiter, Hyde Healy and Julia Dicesare play co-workers in “Minimum Wage.”

(Netflix)

“Minimum Wage” (Netflix)

The slip-slide from web series to streaming continues with American High’s workplace comedy that began on YouTube and is now appearing, in a slightly longer and moderately gussied-up adaptation, on Netflix. Shot in the now-standard mockumentary style, “Minimum Wage” chronicles life in a dumpy pizza place known as “The Slice Club,” where Grace (Grace Reiter, who recently joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live”) serves as the nominal manager of a wacky team of teenagers who occasionally make and serve pizza. More often, however, they engage in low-stakes antics: dealing with the local high school drama club, planning an ill-conceived birthday party, taking bets on a restaurant breakup or finding themselves stuck on the roof. Most of the cast, including Reiter, appeared in the original web series; this version adds Randall Park as CEO of the “The Slice Club” franchise, who is in mid-divorce and forced to sleep in the restaurant’s basement, and there is a more obvious attempt to underline various “chosen family” themes. They are an engaging, and occasionally hilarious group, and with episodes ranging from 15 to 22 minutes, “Minimum Wage” is an easy binge, or the perfect show to watch while waiting for that friend who’s always late, even when he’s the one who promised to bring the pizza. — Mary McNamara

Guest spot

A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they’re working on — and what they’re watching

The cast of “The Mob” in Episode 2, from left: Harry Jowsey, Aida Turturro, Shane Parton, Bruno Tonioli, Romeo Miller, Debi Mazar, Demi Engemann, Maria Georgas, Willam Belli and Chelsea Lazkani.

(Andrea Miconi / Disney)

Being in the mob is serious business, and for us normies, the idea of racketeering and plotting whackings is a no-go. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining to watch it unfold onscreen in iconic films like “The Godfather” or shows like “The Sopranos.” It’s that fandom that led to “The Mob,” the latest reality competition series from Hulu, co-produced by Primal Media and Studio Lambert, the production company behind “The Traitors.” It premiered earlier this week and drops new episodes on Mondays.

The series features 12 players who come from the reality TV world, including Demi Engemann from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” Joe Gorga from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Bruno Tonioli from “Dancing With the Stars;” and the acting world like Debi Mazar (“Younger,” “Goodfellas”) and Aida Turturro (“The Sopranos”). Each week, they have to compete in games inspired by mob movies and avoid getting “whacked” or eliminated from the competition by the don, the head of the family who doles out cash in exchange for allegiance. It’s hosted by Parker Posey, who is living a very comfortable life in an Italian villa.

Showrunner Susan House, who has led reailty shows like Netflix’s “The Circle,” says “The Mob” is special because it isn’t just about money — though the participants are competing for thousands in cash. “It’s about the power, it’s about family, and it’s about all these human relationships and human dynamics,” she says over video call this week. “Plus, you’re in this beautiful Italian backdrop. You’ve got Parker Posey, there’s some comedy and there’s fun. This sounds cliche, but I do feel like there’s something for everyone.”

She shares what it was like to work with Posey and the rest of the cast and the drama she’s been watching lately. — M.G.

Tell me how the concept for this series came about, and why the mob theme.

The concept was developed by a U.K. company called Primal, and they developed [it] along with Hulu. And I think the mob theme came about because it’s such a lush kind of environment to do a show from, like it’s so cinematic. It has such an amazing place in pop culture. Everyone knows it. It’s about power. It’s about family. It’s about dynamics. All the fun subject matter that makes for a great TV show.

How was it working with Parker Posey as host of the show?

I grew up in the Midwest in Kansas City, and I was a huge fan of independent film. My best friend and I would go to the one art house [theater] that we had growing up, and we loved Parker Posey. I’ve been a huge fan of her since “Dazed and Confused.” And so when she signed on for the show, I called my best friend when I was allowed to talk, and I said to her, “Oh, my God, you’re not going to believe who is hosting the show,” and we both did a little scream. It was just an … incredible moment in my career that I’m doing a show where Parker Posey, she’s iconic to me, was the host. I think that she’s perfect choice, right? She’s unique. She’s artsy. She’s comedy. She’s done drama. She can embrace a character, a setting. It was for me … just like a dream come true.

I’m so excited you said “Dazed and Confused,” because that’s what I associate her with.

When she signed on, I went back and rewatched that movie. I hadn’t seen it in a while. I was just like, oh, my God, she is so good in that.

And “The Mob” is so different. But it seems like she’s trying so many different things in this later stage of her career.

I know, it’s so cool. “The White Lotus,” she was amazing in, and I feel like people sort of rediscovered her in some ways. Maybe younger generations did, and it’s great, it’s amazing. She’s trying all these new things. I just watched “Wild Horse Nine.” She was incredible in that.

The cast of “The Mob” features a mix of actors and reality TV personalities, which I thought was really interesting. How did you land on that combination?

I think the subject matter of the mob is universal, right? It’s about loyalty. It’s about power, it’s about respect, it’s about family, and I think combining all of these personalities, … from acting and reality, is a unique opportunity to get [them] … on one TV show and see how they react. It’s a super-fun dynamic, and it just adds another layer to the show that’s I think unexpected and really fun.

Debi Mazar, who was in “Goodfellas,” and Aida Turturro, who was in “The Sopranos,” add some authenticity to the mob theme. I imagine their casting was purposeful — how did they incorporate that into the show?

I love Debi Mazar so much. I’m also a huge fan of her, not just from “Goodfellas,” but I love the show “Younger.” She’s also just iconic … We joke it’s the summer of Debi Mazar, with all the Madonna and Coachella things [the pair made an appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s set]. I agree, she does bring some authenticity to the show, and she’s definitely of that world. I can’t speak to whether she was playing a character or not. You’re supposed to be yourself. So she wasn’t necessarily [anything] other than Debi, unless she was doing something that I don’t know about. I think Aida is also incredible. She says in the show, I think … in one of the first episodes, “I’m not in the mob.” It’s kind of fun to see her play against type. Like, she is Janice Soprano. But then now we’re seeing the real Aida Turturro and how she plays the game as herself.

Joe Gorga is the family’s first don on “The Mob.”

(Andrea Miconi / Disney)

And you have Joe Gorga, who was picked as the first don of the house, and it felt really perfect because he is from Jersey and he has that voice that you associate with those characters.

That did work out perfectly. It was good because he has a lot of these kind of qualities and stereotypes, but he also is fun and funny. And the show is a comedy in some ways … it’s an homage to the genre. Having Joe as that first don and playing that up a little bit is was fun. We were we were thrilled.

Something people will identify are the allusions to mobster TV shows and movies, like the horse head from “The Godfather.” They’re also incorporated when someone gets whacked.

We’re all huge fans of of that genre, and so many people just wanted to drop these little breadcrumbs for the audience who also love it. Our set decorator, John Sparano, is a huge movie buff. He did things that were like, I don’t think anyone would ever understand this. There was a picture of some pool table balls that were about “The Godfather.” I have to ask him, or it’s like, “No one is going to know these three numbers, John. But OK, I’m glad you’re doing it.” In terms of the whackings, we just thought … this genre gave us the opportunity to have fun with those, make those cinematic and honor those films and and how they did things.

Is there anything you are watching lately that you are recommending to other people right now?

I like the show “War” on HBO Max, and I guess that’s apropos for being a reality TV producer. There’s so much drama, and it’s about a relationship. I’m really enjoying watching that, and I feel very nervous sometimes before the end of the show. I’m like, “Oh, my God, what’s going to happen?”

ICYMI

Must-read stories you might have missed

Big Brother 2024 winner returned to our screens and admitted some of the current series was ‘uncomfortable’

One of Big Brother’s former winners has shared they hope one housemate is ‘OK’ after some ‘difficult to watch’ scenes this series. It comes as the latest edition of the ITV reality series approaches its final week.

The most recent episode set to air on Friday (October 30) will see a double eviction to mark the Halloween special. Ahead of that, companion show Big Brother The Group Chat welcomed ex-housemate and previous winner Ali Bromley to talk about the current series.

Ali was victorious during the 2024 series even though she later admitted she nearly quit the show part way through. She was joined by hosts GK Barry and Kate Lawler as the forensic psychologist was asked about her opinions on the current crop of housemates.

The conversation progressed through most of the contestants as Ali predicted Philip and Rhianna the next to go.

She also called the self professed Queen of Scottie Road from Liverpool as ‘the most relatable’ after he was spotted eating snacks in bed.

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Ali commented: “We’ve all been there with our chocolate bars, hoping for better days.” Later though, GK Barry turned their attention to Frankie.

She said: “Frankie has been coming out (as bisexual) slowly but surely. He told Catrin tonight. Which I think Catrin already knew.” Kate asked Ali what she thought of the matter, after recent scenes showed Frankie reveal he had hatred towards himself and felt ashamed regarding his sexuality.

Ali replied: “I think you can see it in the way he talks about bisexuality. I think, as a viewer, that’s been difficult to watch at times. Because if you are gay and you’ve been through the process of coming out and you have those feelings yourself and you’ve worked through those feelings yourself and you’ve worked through them, seeing somebody else still holding some of that hostility can feel a bit uncomfortable.”

She continued: “So I feel like that’s been a bit tricky to watch sometimes, and these moments where he’s been coming out have felt a bit raw and probably bring something up for people that are watching as well.

“I hope he’s OK. I’m not sure what he hopes to achieve by coming out in these dribs and drabs throughout the series.”

GK suggested he could be ‘getting used to’ coming out. Ali responded: “A real baptism of fire. If feel like if you’re not fully there in your self acceptance like wow, that’s like a hard, hard journey.”

Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

The small-market World Series in Major League Baseball wrapped up this week, with the Milwaukee Brewers winning their first title in franchise history.

The title triumph came 44 years after Milwaukee’s only other trip to the Fall Classic, when they lost to the St Louis Cardinals in seven games in 1982.

But beyond the memorable victory, the series’ television ratings made for underwhelming reading, raising questions about baseball’s reach and relevance in a United States sports market dominated by American football and basketball.

Al Jazeera breaks down the numbers and more:

Who played in the 2026 MLB World Series?

The World Series, the championship series of the 2026 MLB season, saw the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays and the National League champion Milwaukee Brewers compete in a best-of-seven playoff series.

At the end of the October 23-28 playoff series, Milwaukee were crowned winners, as they clinched their first World Series title.

Milwaukee’s 57-year wait for a championship ended on Wednesday after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 to wrap up the Fall Classic in five games.

Why didn’t the 2026 World Series capture TV audiences?

While the final Nielsen ratings report is still pending, estimates show an average of 11.82 million viewers tuned in for the 2026 World Series across the Fox network.

Milwaukee’s 10-1 win at Tampa in Game 3 attracted the lowest audience, 8.33 million, while Game 5, in which Milwaukee sealed the championship, drew the highest with 14.22 million viewers.

The overall average is much lower than the 2025 and 2024 World Series, which drew 15.49 million and 15.1 million viewers, respectively, as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the title both times.

This year’s World Series’ underwhelming viewership could be linked to the two teams’ relatively low payrolls and markets – the Brewers’ payroll ranks 19th in MLB ($146m), and the Rays are 28th ($95m).

The Brewers also rank as the smallest market team in MLB, generating the lowest local commercial and TV revenue, while the Rays rank squarely in the league’s middle.

Hence, when the Brewers and Rays met this year on MLB’s biggest stage, it marked the first World Series clash between two of baseball’s smallest spenders in 35 ⁠years.

On the other hand, nine-time World Series winners Dodgers, who competed in the last two World Series, boast a star-studded lineup on a hefty payroll, featuring marquee star Shohei Ohtani, former MVP Mookie Betts, 10-time All-Star Freddie Freeman and others.

Those factors keep them in the tier 1 market size category – one that represents the biggest media and population footprints in the sport.

How does the World Series compare with other US sports?

The 2026 World Series’ viewership figures also pale in comparison to those of other major US sports leagues.

Basketball’s 2026 NBA Finals, in which the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 to end a 53-year drought, attracted a series average of 20.58 million viewers. Game 5 was the most-watched NBA Finals game 5 since 1998, averaging 24.54 million viewers and peaking at 33 million.

Elsewhere in international football, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in North America, also produced record numbers. Spain’s 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina delivered a combined average audience of 62.8 million across Fox and Telemundo, making it the most-watched football match ever in the United States.

American football, by far, is the most-watched sport in the US.

A Nielsen report found that an estimated 125.6 million viewers watched the National Football League’s Super Bowl LX, as the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13.

NBC’s presentation of Super Bowl LX ranked as the second most-watched Super Bowl in history, behind the 127.7 million viewers who watched Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

The only major American sports league that performs weakly against MLB is the National Hockey League (NHL), a professional ice hockey league in North America.

An average of 5.2 million viewers tuned in for the 2026 Stanley Cup, won by the Carolina Hurricanes, who defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2.

Why was the 2026 MLB London series cancelled?

MLB initially scheduled to host two games in London in mid-2026, with the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays pencilled in to play on June 13 and 14 at London Stadium, the home ground of English football team West Ham United.

But the plan was cancelled due to scheduling issues with the venue and baseball’s television partner.

West Ham played their 2025-26 Premier League season’s final match against Leeds United at the ground on May 24, leaving very little time to convert the field to baseball, which can take up to three weeks.

Furthermore, MLB was unable to schedule games at the same venue later in June because Fox lacked available broadcast slots as that period clashed with the FIFA World Cup.

MLB games have been played abroad on several occasions, from Japan to Australia, since it was first played in Mexico in 2000.

MLB is also working on grassroots initiatives in India, known for its affinity for cricket, and last week hosted MLBx, a fast-paced 3-on-3 baseball competition that brought together baseball and softball stars.

Are other US sports leagues also held abroad?

Yes, major US sports leagues have made strides in expanding their international footprints, regularly hosting regular-season games, exhibition matches and special events abroad.

The NFL hosts regular-season games abroad in locations including London, Munich, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Mexico City.

Last month, the league expanded its presence with games in Melbourne, and the NFL’s first game Down Under drew 100,021 fans, making it the seventh most-attended regular-season game in NFL history.

With a large portion of the league’s player base and revenue coming from outside the US, the NBA also plays regular-season and preseason games in international cities like Paris, Abu Dhabi and Mexico City.

A seven-part mini-series starring Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet is the ‘most addictive’ show you will watch this year, a TV critic claims. So here’s where to stream it

A TV critic has lauded a programme as the “world’s best mini-series” owing to its 95 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes – urging others to binge-watch the entire production in just seven hours.

Luke Eccleston spotlighted the HBO Max series in a video, branding it the “most addictive” thing you’ll ever sit down to see. The show, which first aired in 2021, is an HBO original, featuring a stellar cast including Kate Winslet, Evan Peters and Julianne Nicholson.

“If you only watch one limited series this year, it has to be this one,” Luke declared on TikTok. “It isn’t just one of the most gripping and addictive dramas that I have seen, but it genuinely might be the best as well.

“Mare of Easttown is a seven-part limited series on HBO Max and honestly, when me and my girlfriend watched this show, we struggled to pause it.”

The drama centres on a young girl who is discovered dead in a river, setting off a murder investigation by local police.

Luke added: “This show is full of dark secrets, twists and turns. Every single episode you think you might know who did it – but genuinely, you will be guessing until the very end.”

The critic rounded off by noting that every single person he knows who has watched Mare of Easttown told him they “absolutely loved” it, adding: “It’s one of the highest-rated shows out there, so get it on your watch-list.”

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A synopsis for the mini-series reads: “A small-town police detective tries to keep her professional and personal lives separate while investigating the death of a teenage mother.

“A young woman is murdered in a small Pennsylvania town. On the case is Detective Sergeant Mare Sheehan, a highly skilled crime investigator. She has spent all of her life in Easttown and knows everybody in it. However, her life is dark and troubled, due largely to the recent death of her son.”

Kate, who is no stranger to stripping off on-screen, was adamant that her ‘normal’ body should not be edited or cut in any way as she wanted her character to look like a real middle-aged woman of today.

“Listen, I hope that in playing Mare as a middle-aged woman – I guess that’s why people have connected with this character in the way that they have done because there are clearly no filters,” the actress told the New York Times at the time of Mare of Easttown’s release.

“She’s a fully functioning, flawed woman with a body and a face that moves in a way that is synonymous with her age and her life and where she comes from. I think we’re starved of that a bit.”

Mare of Easttown also boasts an excellent rating on IMDb. There, it has achieved an impressive 8.4 out of 10 based on 230,000 reviews since its 2021 release.

One recent viewer commented: “I literally watched all 7 episodes in 1 day. Then, after it had all ended, I didn’t know what to do with my life. This series is a masterpiece! The writing is brilliant, the story is so good and the acting is second to none. This is a slow burner that will keep you captivated till the very end. Absolutely amazing.”

A second person enthused: “They never missed anything. Every single possible detail. Nothing happens without a reason. Not even a single word was wasted. Everything had a reason. In today’s world of TV (streaming) and cinema clichés, here is a story so very well told. The writing I think is pitch perfect. All the leads as well as the not-so-leads gave more than one hundred per cent.”

And a third IMDb user added: “Best series I have seen in a while! Quality quality quality from top to bottom. Kate Winslet and the rest of the cast were perfect. Directing was exceptional. The stories and all the themes presented was executed masterfully. The score was probably the weakest aspect of the whole show but still solid.

“The pilot was gripping and sucked me in with its realism. Character development and how they were being fleshed out kept me invested. Can’t believe how much was packed into just 7 episodes.”

Devin Elle Kurtz makes her opinion on generative AI known. For the last few years, the 29-year-old Pasadena artist says she’s been frustrated when strangers tell her that her art style looks AI-generated.

They have it backward, she insists. Kurtz, who has been sharing her art on the internet since she was a teenager, suspects that her viral art may have been used to train AI models. Her Instagram bio reads, “NO AI,” alongside a circle-backslash emoji.

Her feelings on the subject made what she discovered Thursday morning all the more painful, the artist said. Kurtz woke up to multiple emails from fans telling her that the Trump administration’s Department of Education had posted a meme on X that looked eerily similar to one of her works — fan art inspired by one of her favorite scenes from the animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” In the work, Aang and Zuko are shown practicing fire-bending moves as two dragons move around them.

The Department of Education’s post includes an image of the two characters in seemingly identical stances, outfits and color scheme. “There’s magic in learning,” reads text added over the image. “Make education great again.”

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Thursday.

Kurtz soon took to social media to condemn the Trump administration. She wrote on the platform: “I did not and would never consent to this administration running my fanart through AI and posting it. Can’t even believe I’m saying these words.” Her response had 150,000 likes as of late Thursday night.

“It definitely made me angry,” Kurtz told The Times on Thursday. “Seeing something that I made appropriated with a Make America Great Again-adjacent slogan on it made me quite upset. I knew I wanted to make it really clear that this was not something that I co-signed.”

Kurtz said she made the artwork in 2023 to share her love of the series with its creators and with other fans.

“Fandom at its core is supposed to be humans loving something together,” Kurtz said. “I want to live in a world where the things that I see around me are made by people. That is what being a human being is all about. Not just output for the sake of output.”

Kurtz said several tells led her to conclude that AI was likely used to alter her work. In the version shared by the Trump administration, the dragons have been removed, and the platform the duo is standing on has oddly sized bricks.

Since her fan art is based on existing intellectual property, she doesn’t intend to pursue legal action.

“It would be fantastic if the government didn’t take artists’ work and run it through AI and post it,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz joins a laundry list of artists who have accused the Trump administration of using their work without their knowledge, including singer Olivia Rodrigo and Japanese artist Hiroshi Nagai.

In December, singer Sabrina Carpenter was angered when her song “Juno” was used in the soundtrack for a Department of Homeland Security promotional video featuring clips of officers tackling and handcuffing people.

“[T]his video is evil and disgusting,” Carpenter replied. “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” The Department of Homeland Security has since deleted that video.

Japan: Imakugi; Tsunokawa, Langford, Kataoka, Havili Kagawa; Harada, Tsukui; Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano, Kawamura, Sato, Asari, Jennifer, Bodman,

Replacements: Kuge, Mine, Fuji, M Nishimura, Korai, Seo, Ito, S Nishimura

Wales: Neumann; N Metcalfe, Cox, Keight, A Williams; George, Lockwood, Pyrs, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Crabb, K Williams (co-capt), Lewis, Callender (co-capt).

Replacements: Reardon, Davies, E Jones, Aiono, Evans, King, Bevan, De Vera.

Referee: Julianne Zussman (RC)

Assistants: Sunny Lee (HKCR), Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU)

TMO: Matt Rodden (HKCR)

FPRO: Koki Yamauchi (JRFU)

Liev Schreiber owned up to his intense behavior at the “Nocturne” premiere last week, apologizing for scolding a red carpet reporter.

“I didn’t do well,” the Emmy-winning “Ray Donovan” and “Spotlight” star said while recalling his side of the viral red carpet exchange for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Monday.

“She hit my Achilles’ heel,” Schreiber explained later in his late-night segment.

His exchange with an Apple TV reporter sparked headlines last week, with the actor berating the reporter on video for her question during his series’ Hollywood premiere. The 59-year-old star appeared to take issue with the reporter asking him to describe “Nocturne” in three words. He could be seen apparently telling the reporter to “talk to people like they value what they do.”

“Three words isn’t gonna do anything for anybody and the monkey who f— thought of that is shooting themselves in the foot,” he says in the video. “It’s not a f— sound bite, especially when we’re doing it in-house for our own people.”

He further suggested that the reporter “engage” with the individuals involved in the project, which is an Apple TV production.

During his late-night appearance, Schreiber made it quite clear he has a bone to pick with increasingly reductive language, lamenting the use of emojis to communicate thoughts. The Tony winner, directing William Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” for the USC School of Dramatic Arts, spoke on Monday about “what a responsibility it is to articulate” and joked, “I might not be the best person on the press line that ever was on the press line.”

Schreiber said he’s now “at that age where I don’t do things terribly quickly” and fessed up to his “terrible tirade about monkeys and profanity.”

“I apologize,”he said, adding he and the reporter smoothed things over and ultimately engaged in a “great” conversation about the series.

“Nocturne” stars Schreiber, “Atlanta” alumna Zazie Beetz and Emmy winner Stephen Graham and begins streaming Friday. Adapted from Lars Kepler’s bestselling novel, the series centers on Schreiber’s ex-cop whose move to a small western Pennsylvania town spurs a string of disappearances possibly tied to a serial killer.

The latest series of Celebrity Traitors has been nothing short of chaos with fiery roundtables and a traitor who simply couldn’t resist revealing his fate in the opening episode

Celebrity Traitors is back on tonight as BBC viewers learn who is set to be banished, will it be Joanne McNally or Sharon Rooney? But with both faithfuls in the firing line, we can only imagine it’ll be sheer disappoint in Thursday’s show.

Of course the three Traitors also appear to be stronger than ever – with Maya Jama, King Kenny and James Acaster all voted the most trustworthy in their latest mission. As a result, Celebrity Traitors host Claudia Winkleman handed Kenny the all-important double vote to use at the roundtable. But while the faithfuls are yet to suspect either of them as a traitor, some fans believe a decision Claudia made at the beginning instantly killed off the game.

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In a post on Reddit, one person labelled this season as “great TV” while someone else claimed choosing Maya as a traitor wasn’t a good choice.

They added: “This series was doomed when they cast Maya Jama as a traitor.” Claiming to be a “huge Traitors fan”, they also said they’re not fussed about this year’s winner.

Someone else claimed the presenter has made “terrible traitor choices”, with the exception of Kenny. They continued: “I get that she’s a traitor and thus obviously wants to sabotage and weaken the faithfuls, and she should!

“But at the same time, from a viewership perspective, if there’s not a single competent faithful and it seems too easy for the traitors, it’s not an interesting watch.

“She couldn’t have predicted just how bad this series’ faithfuls are, but still, I mourn for the alternate season we could’ve had if potentially competent faithfuls like Hannah and James A weren’t recruited.”

But in the main post, the viewer wondered why this season is “getting so much stick”. They added: “It’s great TV. People getting upset because it’s not turning out the way they wanted it… it’s reality TV. It could have 100s of different outcomes. That’s life.”

Another agreed: “Yeah I’ve loved it so far, it’s been really fun.” A third commented: “The show is fine. The viewers are the problem,” while a fourth chimed in: “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s not as funny as last year’s but I’m into it and I care about the result. I really want a 3-traitor win!”

Later tonight we’ll see who will be banished from the castle – will it be Joanne or Sharon?

Celebrity Traitors will be back on at 8pm tonight on BBC One and again tomorrow at the same time.

PRINCESS Andre has been given another major career boost after landing a FOURTH series of her hit show in less than two years.

The TV star is quickly becoming an ITV fan-favourite thanks to her reality TV show, The Princess Diaries.

Now, The Sun can exclusively reveal that the programme is coming back for a fourth series.

Our insiders revealed that filming for the next edition is already underway with Princess and everyone around her delighted that the show will be coming back again.

A source told us: “Everyone’s thrilled Princess is doing another series, it’s been so successful for ITV.”

With filming already underway, it is expected that new episodes could land early next year.

DAUGHTER BANTS

Princess Andre left laughing as she pulls hilarious prank on mum Katie Price

AMERICAN BEAUTY

Inside Princess Andre’s plan to be ‘British Kylie Jenner’ and conquer US

So far, three series of The Princess Diaries have aired since the programme launched in summer 2025.

It originally followed Princess as she turned 18 and entered into adulthood and stepped outside of the shadows of her parents, Peter Andre and Katie Price.

Mum Katie was originally banned from appearing in the show in series one but dad Peter made several appearances.

Both her parents were then absent for the second series before Katie’s ban was overturned for the third series where she began filming for the first time.

Peter also made a return to the series around this time as well.

Her own show isn’t the only TV appearance the young influencer has going on with the star currently appearing in Celebrity Race Across The World with her brother Junior.

Previous episodes have been branded as some of the most “harrowing” on TV

Another chilling episode drops tonight as the ‘best’ series returns to TV.

A “relentless pursuit of justice” and a world of “secrecy, control and fear” is at the heart of a harrowing investigation tonight as one of Channel 5’s “best” documentaries returns.

The perfect watch for fans of 24 Hours in Police Custody, the third instalment of Murder Scene: The Incident Room returned to Channel 5 last month, giving viewers unprecedented access into criminal investigations across the UK.

Dubbed by viewers as one of the “best”, previous episodes have left fans “angered” as they are plunged into real-world crimes that have shocked a community and beyond. One person branded an episode as “one of the most harrowing pieces of television i’ve ever watched”.

Another brutal episode is set to air tonight (Wednesday, October 28) at its usual 8pm slot on Channel 5, marking the fifth episode of the season. But it will be a chilling watch as one young woman has been reported missing.

However, it is not an ordinary missing persons case as detectives soon discover that the 20-year-old had already warned police that her life was in danger.

An official synopsis reads: “When 20-year-old Banaz Mahmood disappears from South London, detectives launch an urgent search. But this is no ordinary ‘missing persons’ case.

“Banaz had already gone to police, warning that her life was in danger. She claimed members of her own family were threatening to kill her.

“Newly-promoted Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode leads a high-stakes investigation that quickly uncovers a world of secrecy, control, and fear.

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“Banaz had fled an abusive marriage and begun a new relationship – a move that, within her tightly-bound community, risked devastating consequences.”

As officers retraces her final weeks, they soon uncover “escalating tensions, violent threats and evidence that suggests this disappearance may have been planned”.

The synopsis adds: “With suspects denying involvement and crucial questions unanswered, the investigation gathers pace. But without clear proof, the case risks slipping away.

“What follows is a relentless pursuit of justice that spans years, continents, and complex political barriers. At its heart lies a young woman who repeatedly tried to make her voice heard – and a team of detectives determined not to let her be forgotten. This is a story of honour, betrayal and an investigation that refused to give up.”

Murder Scene: The Incident Room returns tonight at 8pm on Channel 5. Episodes can also be streamed online.

Mike Flanagan’s supernatural horror series Midnight Mass on Netflix is perfect for fans of The Haunting of Hill House, with its dark, disturbing atmosphere, powerful performances and expertly crafted horror

A new Netflix series that’s keeping audiences glued to their screens into the early hours is ideal viewing for fans of Haunting of Hill House. Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House captivated television audiences worldwide as a grounded supernatural horror exploring the devastating, deeply relatable burden of family trauma and grief.

According to Netflix, the series ranked as the seventh most binge-watched global release during its premiere window and secured a 93% critic score alongside a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, plus impressive rankings on IMDb. Those who loved the show are now being urged to watch a new Netflix series that will unsettle them just as profoundly as The Haunting of Hill House.

Craig, a TikTok creator from Surrey who discusses television and film across his social media platforms, said the show, Midnight Mass, would have TV enthusiasts watching for hours on end.

Craig said: “If you’re looking for your next series to binge-watch this Halloween, this series on Netflix is a must-watch. It comes from Mike Flanagan, who you may know from The Haunting of Hill House, and if you want a horror that’s going to really get under your skin, you need to check this one out.

“The must-watch series I’m talking about is called Midnight Mass. And if you loved The Haunting of Hill House, you’re going to absolutely love this one. And it follows a man called Riley Flynn, who returns to his isolated hometown after spending time in prison.

“But things start to change when a mysterious new priest, Father Paul, arrives in the community. And suddenly, people start experiencing what they believe to be miracles. The town’s faith has been reignited, and there’s a growing sense that something extraordinary is happening.

“But as these events become increasingly more disturbing, the town residents start to believe: are these miracles, or is there something much more sinister under the surface? What makes Midnight Mass so great to watch is it doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares to frighten you.

“Instead, it builds this incredibly unsettling atmosphere, slowly revealing its secrets until you’re so invested into what’s happening on that island. And like most Mike Flanagan projects, the performances in this are incredible, especially Hamish Linklater as Father Paul – he is brilliant

.

“And the expert writing explores some genuinely fascinating themes like faith, guilt, addiction, and redemption. And when the horror kicks in, it gets absolutely terrifying. It’s dark, disturbing, emotional, and there are some things in this that will stay with you for a very long time.

“And the best part is, it’s a self-contained story of seven episodes, so it’s the perfect series to binge-watch this Halloween. So, if you loved The Haunting of Hill House and you haven’t seen Midnight Mass, get yourself on this series because it is a must-watch.”

What do critics and viewers think about Midnight Mass?

Having first landed on screens back in 2021, Midnight Mass boasts an impressive 87% critic rating and a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Further viewers flocked to Craig’s video to share their opinions on the show and urge others to give it a go.

One person said: “Really good show. Very unusual.”

A second added: “Really good series with a superb ending.”

A third said: “Best series ever.”