show biz

A soccer star has accused a pop star of making the daughter of a movie star cry.

Chappell Roan — who, in recent years, called out fans’ “creepy behavior” and said she “pumped the brakes” on fame to protect her own privacy — was accused over the weekend by soccer star Jorginho of rough treatment of his family.

Roan (letting up on the brakes?) headlined Lollapalooza Brazil over the weekend, and Jorginho was in attendance along with his wife and child. While there, as outlined by People, the footballer said the 11-year-old was thrilled to see the singer while they were dining at their São Paulo hotel. The girl walked by the 28-year-old “Pink Pony Club” singer’s table “to confirm it was her, smiled, and went back to sit with her mum. She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything,” he wrote.

Although he didn’t name the girl, his wife, Catherine Harding, shares an 11-year-old with Jude Law. Harding, aka Cat Cavelli, is a singer-songwriter and native of Ireland.

Jorginho of Brazil’s Flamengo celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal, from the penalty spot, during the Recopa Sudamericana second leg final soccer match against Argentina’s Lanus in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

(Bruna Prado/AP)

Jorginho alleged that, after the girl sat down, a “large security guard” came over and interrupted their breakfast to generally make their lives miserable. The guard allegedly told the girl’s mother “she shouldn’t allow [her] daughter to ‘disrespect’ or ‘harass’ other people.”

The girl was “extremely shaken and cried a lot,” said Jorginho, a player for the Brazilian club Flamengo whose legal name is Jorge Luiz Frello Filho.

Jorginho knows what it’s like to be famous and have fans. (Jude Law also has a little experience in that department.)

Jorginho told his nearly 5 million Instagram followers that he knew what it was like when fans didn’t respect boundaries, and “[w]hat happened there was not that.”

On Sunday, Roan responded on Instagram. She said the guard was not her personal security and that no one — including a starry-eyed 11-year-old girl — had bothered her.

“I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child. … They did not come up to me. They weren’t doing anything.”

“I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children.”

She expressed her regrets to the girl and her mom. A representative for the artist did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for further comment.

Roan has shown that she’s not afraid to speak out when she does feel a fan has overstepped. This incident comes after an episode this month in Paris when the singer filmed herself in selfie mode as a swarm of people shouted behind her.

“I’m just trying to go to dinner,” she tells the camera in a video captured by an onlooker, “and I’ve asked these people several times to get away from me.”

Even as she calmly reprimands them, one man continues to ask for her autograph.

Helen Flanagan says ‘there are three exes I would be dreading to see’ as she is set to return to television screens soon as part of the Celebrity Ex On The Beach lineup

Helen Flanagan has opened up about her fears after joining Celebrity Ex On The Beach, revealing she would love to avoid seeing ‘three’ of her exes as she prepares to star on a reality series.

Celebrity Ex On The Beach is set to return to television screens soon, with the full line-up now revealed, featuring the former Coronation Street favourite. Helen, 35, who is renowned for her portrayal of Rosie Webster on the ITV soap opera, has joined the cast of the Paramount+ reality series, alongside TOWIE’s Dani Imbert, one-half of pop duo Jedward, and Love Island’s Toby Aromolaran.

In a new sneak peek ahead of the show, Helen reveals why she signed up and what she is looking for in a man. She said: “My perfect partner would be fit, kind and funny.” She continued: “I think I’m single because I feel like I’m on my own kind of journey, I’m pretty free spirited [and] I’ve got quite a strong character.”

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READ MORE: Coronation Street’s Webster sister stars Helen Flanagan and Brooke Vincent reunitedREAD MORE: Kate Middleton marks International Women’s Day with powerful social media post

Helen said she was “hoping to find a connection on the beach”, before discussing her past relationships. She said: “I was in a 13-year relationship with the father of my children. And then I recently split up with a boyfriend that I was with for a year,” she said.

Helen then revealed: “There are… three exes I would be dreading to see”. Helen and Scott first began dating in 2009, getting engaged in 2018 when the footballer proposed during a trip to Disneyland Paris. They had a lengthy engagement, with Helen confirming in 2022 that they had set a date for their wedding, but split shortly afterwards.

Speaking about the difficult time she faced after the end of her relationship, Helen previously told The Mirror that she suffered a breakdown.

The I’m A Celebrity star was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

On the explosive dating show, filmed in Tenerife, Helen will come face-to-face with her former flames, including her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair and boxer David Haye. The forthcoming series will also feature Married At First Sight UK’s Amy Kenyon, 28, and Love Is Blind participant Freddie Powell, 32.

Rounding out the line-up are Too Hot To Handle’s Izzy Fairthorne, 26, who is seeking her first-ever boyfriend, and fellow contestant Chase DeMoor, 29, who’s back for a second shot at finding love.

Meanwhile, former X Factor star John Grimes, who previously appeared on the ITV talent show alongside his twin brother, has described himself as a ‘total catch’ and says he’s looking for a ‘curvy, self-assured woman’ who can match his energy.

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Ben Keaton, who is best known for playing Father Austin Purcell in the iconic Channel 4 sitcom, has died at the age of 70 – tributes have poured in for the ‘wonderful actor’

Father Ted actor Ben Keaton has passed away aged 70. Keaton, who portrayed Father Austin Purcell in the beloved comedy series, alongside appearances in Casualty and Doctors, died at Lincoln County Hospital on Friday, it has been announced.

His death notice reads: “Ben will be forever greatly missed, loved and fondly remembered by his ex-wife Polly, son Waldo and daughter Daisy, brothers Des and Thom, sister Jeanette.”

In tribute, the Nottingham Playhouse said: “We are so sorry to hear of the death of Ben Keaton, a wonderful actor who is fondly remembered in our 2008 production of Vertigo. Sending our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

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Meanwhile, a Father Ted fan X account shared: “Saddened to hear of the passing of actor Ben Keaton. We knew him as Father Austin Purcell (one of my favourite one-off characters). He was a regular at ComicCon events, so I imagine many got to meet him over the years. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and many fans.”, reports the Daily Star.

Outside his television work, the Irishman was a distinguished stage performer. He dedicated much of his professional life to The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, appearing in an eclectic array of productions from American Buffalo to Hay Fever.

A versatile artist, he co-established the improv group South Of The River and served in a senior position at the Creative Academy. His awards collection showcased his range, including the 1986 Perrier Comedy Award and two Best Actor accolades from the Manchester Evening News, culminating in a nomination for the esteemed Laurence Olivier Awards.

Honouring him in a message on X (formerly Twitter), one admirer wrote: “RIP Ben Keaton. A great actor and comedian – there can be little praise higher (if at all) in that he stole the scene every time he appeared in Father Ted. Off to the great parochial house in the sky.”

In 2022, Keaton witnessed an unexpected surge in digital popularity after being surrounded by fans seeking autographs at the CovCon event in Coventry. The frenzy intensified when he joined forces with fellow Father Ted cast members Joe Rooney (Father Damo), Michael Redmond (Father Stone), and Patrick McDonnell (Eoin McLove) to film an impromptu TikTok video.

Looking back on the viral sensation, Keaton told The Irish Sun: “The video went from 500 views to 50,000 and up and up. Joe now says we are up at half a million views on TikTok. It’s incredible.” He confessed he was frequently astonished by the lasting impact of his fleeting, scene-stealing turn as the world’s most tedious priest.

Drawing comparisons to his other roles, Keaton remarked: “I appeared in Casualty for three years, nobody cares. I did three minutes on Father Ted and it’s all people want to talk about and something which just sails through time.”

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THE secret son of late Bee Gees star Maurice Gibb has refuted singer Lulu’s claims that he was conceived during the time she was married to him.

Sixties icon Lulu told Louis Theroux on his latest podcast that she only recently learned Maurice had another son and that he might have been the product of a one-night stand during their marriage.

But Nick Endacott-Gibb, 57, insists he was conceived around two years before Lulu and Maurice’s romance began.

He told the Mirror: “I was born in April 1968, conceived in August 1967. Lulu and Maurice weren’t married until 1969, after what has been described for decades as a ‘whirlwind’ romance.

“Were you together with him, Lulu? Two years does not a whirlwind make. I’m as curious as she is about whether Maurice was with her at the time I was conceived. It was the summer of love, after all!”

Hove-based Nick was adopted from a children’s home at 18 months old by secretary Peggy and her chartered quantity surveyor husband David.

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Nick’s biological mum is former music studio manager Patti Nolder, who he met for the first time in 2003 after uploading his details onto the Missing You database — a long-running message board style online community that helps reunite families.

Initially, she told him his dad was Chris Andrews, guitarist and vocalist of 60s psych-pop band The Fleur de Lys, but a DNA test confirmed this was not the case.

It was Patti’s sister who threw Maurice’s name into the mix and, after uploading his DNA to an ancestry website, he matched 100 per cent with Maurice’s other son Adam, who had uploaded his own DNA.

Further matches with cousins of the Gibb brothers followed and Nick struck up a close relationship with their older sister Lesley and her daughter Debbie, who live in New South Wales, Australia.

Nick never got the chance to meet Maurice before his death from a heart attack in 2003, but he said: “I’m sad he died before I got the chance to meet him, but his memory lives on in the songs.”

Lulu was married to Maurice for six years, with their relationship officially ending in 1975. They never had children together.

She admitted the news of Nick’s existence came as a complete surprise decades after their relationship ended.

Louis said: “You know, we’re not always our best selves and that Maurice, I think it’s openly acknowledged now, had a fling with Barbara Windsor while he was with you.”

Lulu admitted: “I think he’s got a son. It might have happened when we were married.”

She continued: “I just found out someone showed me something with a guy, and I can’t remember the year he impregnated this girl after a one-night stand, and she has a son who has had his genes taken.

“It’s proven he’s 100 per cent Maurice.”

A shocked Louis asked: “While he was with you?”

Lulu answered: “I didn’t do the math because it wasn’t that important.”

Louis replied: “Why isn’t it important?”

Lulu responded: “Today, c’est la vie.”

The Bee Gees are one of the most successful bands of all time, dominating the charts with a string of global hits.

From disco anthems like Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever to timeless ballads, the group sold over 200 million records worldwide and helped define an entire era of music.

He had two children — daughter Samantha and son Adam — with his second wife, Yvonne Spenceley.

Following her divorce, Lulu went on to date celebrity stylist John Frieda but the romance was rocked by a short-lived affair with David Bowie.

She continues to perform live, with shows lined up in the UK, including a major concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2026.

As well as music, she’s been opening up about her life in recent years, releasing her memoir, If Only You Knew, and speaking candidly about her past struggles, including her battle with alcoholism and journey to sobriety.

The Ryan Gosling-led “Project Hail Mary” rocketed to the top of the box office this weekend, marking a big win for Amazon MGM Studios.

The film — which stars Gosling as a science teacher who embarks on a space mission to save humanity — hauled in $80.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, making it the biggest domestic debut of the year so far. Globally, “Project Hail Mary” brought in $140.9 million.

The movie is an adaptation of a novel by Andy Weir, author of “The Martian” — another successful book-to-screen adventure. The big opening weekend for “Project Hail Mary” is a boost for Amazon MGM Studios, which had heavily promoted the film as an example of the big blockbusters it could produce.

“We believe deeply in the Hail Mary, and it’s clear audiences do as well,” Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution for Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement. “What we’re seeing in theaters —the energy, the exit scores, the word of mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.”

Walt Disney Co. and Pixar’s “Hoppers” came in second at the box office this weekend with a domestic total of $18 million. The original animated film has now garnered $120.4 million in the U.S. and Canada since it debuted in theaters earlier this month.

Indian action film “Dhurandhar The Revenge” came in third with $10 million, followed by Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures’ horror film “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” and Universal Pictures’ romance “Reminders of Him” rounding out the top five.

Rather than chasing sequels and reboots, Netflix is betting its 2026 film strategy on a massive investment in original storytelling and a renewed focus on the theatrical comedy.

The streaming giant’s need for original content is one of the main reasons Netflix fought fiercely to acquire Warner Bros. But even after losing the bid to Paramount earlier this month, the priority remains.

“We’re zigging where legacy studios are zagging,” Dan Lin, Netflix’s film chairman, said Wednesday at Netflix’s slate event in Hollywood.

Last year, 18 of the top 20 theatrical films were based on already established intellectual property, like with sequels and remakes. The only two original ideas to break through were Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Zach Cregger’s “Weapons.” Both of these films were received well by audiences and earned golden statues at this year’s Oscars.

Lin said that at Netflix, 2025’s slate was the “exact opposite,” where half of the films it released last year were based on original storytelling.

“We have a very healthy content budget. So if there’s a great movie out there, we’ll go out and either build it or acquire it,” Lin said.

Bela Bajaria, the company’s chief content officer, said the company isn’t too concerned with the theatrical element that other studios can offer when hunting for these original stories, as Netflix is a streaming-first company.

“We’ve always had competition. This isn’t really any different,” said Bajaria. “It’s to understand what the competition is, not head in the sand at all. [We have] to understand what the market is and continue to look ahead.”

It’s not just original ideas that Netflix is scouting; the streamer’s also looking to fill gaps in genres. In recent years, comedies have fallen out of favor with major studios — leaving room for streamers like Netflix to expand. This year, Netflix is looking to break through with upcoming comedy productions like Kevin Hart’s bachelor party-driven “72 Hours,” John Cena and Eric André’s buddy comedy “Little Brother” and Eva Longoria’s “Fifth Wheel,” which Lin describes as “our version of ‘Bridesmaids.’”

“We’re taking the chance, and we’re making the movies,” Lin said. “It’s what we’re delivering, I hope, [it’s] what audiences want and what they’re craving. There are a lot of genres that you just can’t find in theaters anymore. So, we’re making those kinds of movies.”

In addition to emphasizing comedies, there’s a lot of opportunity to develop young adult films, Lin said. Netflix has upcoming titles such as “Voicemails for Isabelle,” starring Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson, and “Roommates,” with Sadie Sandler, to draw in younger movie watchers.

One genre in which Netflix doesn’t see much success is live musical adaptations, so it’s “not an area that I’m leaning into,” Lin said. He first joined the company in 2024 and has since green-lighted 88 films.

Netflix subscribers watch about seven movies a month, according to the streamer’s data. So, with the push for original stories, the streamer is hoping to meet its consumers’ demands.

The current strategy is to release up to four “event films” a year. For 2026, Netflix is looking at Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia” adaptation and David Fincher’s follow-up to “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” as its big hitters.

“It’s all very under wraps right now, but it’s something that I’m just so thrilled about because it was the book of my childhood. It was the book series that I loved, and I lived through, and I spent so much time imagining myself inside of Narnia,” Gerwig said in a video message during the Netflix event. “It’s been a joy and an honor to be the person who gets to imagine this universe.”

Gerwig’s “Narnia” is set to hit Imax this Thanksgiving and start streaming on Netflix come Christmas.

TUCSON — Savannah Guthrie is renewing pleas to neighbors, friends and residents of Tucson to jog their memories in hopes of sparking new leads in the disappearance of her mother, Nancy.

The “Today” show co-host posted a new family statement on her personal Instagram account Sunday morning, hours after the show’s Instagram account shared it.

After expressing gratitude to the community, the family said in its statement that it believes someone in Tucson or in southern Arizona may “hold the key to finding the resolution in this case.”

“Someone knows something. It’s possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant.”

The family urged people to go over their memories of Jan. 31 — when Nancy Guthrie was last seen — and Feb. 1 as well as the evening of Jan. 11.

“Please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance,” the statement said. “No detail is too small.”

They also acknowledged in the statement that their family’s matriarch may no longer be alive.

“We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder.”

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing Feb. 1. Authorities believe the 84-year-old was abducted or otherwise taken against her will. The FBI released surveillance videos of a masked man who was outside Guthrie’s front door on the night she vanished.

The Guthrie family has offered a $1-million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother.

On March 5, Savannah Guthrie visited the NBC “Today” show studio in New York City for the first time since her mother’s disappearance. The show said she plans to return to the air at some point but “remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home.”

Tucson is a little more than 100 miles south of Phoenix and 70 miles north of the Mexico border. The Catalina Foothills, the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives, is known as an affluent area with popular hiking trails.

Savannah Guthrie has been a co-anchor of the longtime NBC morning show since 2012. One of her former colleagues, Hoda Kotb, has returned to “Today” to fill in during Guthrie’s absence.

A loving husband and wife desperately want to start a family but struggle with infertility. A mother bears the weight of twin sons who are destined to be at severe odds with one another. Two sisters fall in love with the same man.

These stories may sound like soapy twists in a Taylor Sheridan drama or cable TV movie, but they actually come straight from one of the bestselling books of all time — the Bible.

The sacred text is jam-packed with compelling and highly relatable stories, but Fox’s “The Faithful: Women of the Bible,” a three-part event series, aims the spotlight on the primary matriarchs of the Book of Genesis — Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. The first installment consists of two episodes airing Sunday, with subsequent double episodes airing over the next two weeks, and begins with the story of Sarah (Minnie Driver), who is regarded as the first matriarch for building the nation of Israel with her husband, Abraham (Jeffrey Donovan), the first patriarch.

“These are three generations of women who passed the baton of what was set in motion by Sarah and Abraham and the episodes are all in a way portraits of different types of marriages,” says René Echevarria, who wrote the first installment and is the series’ showrunner.

However, like the Bible’s many miracles, “The Faithful” coming together in the first place is divine considering executive producing partners Carol Mendelsohn and Julie Weitz were actually not planning to pitch it when they were in a meeting with Fox TV executives on one fateful day.

“The Faithful” begins with the story of Sarah (Minnie Driver) and Abraham.

(Moris Puccio / Fox)

“Julie gave me one instruction, ‘We can talk about all of our projects but do not talk about the Bible,’” recalls Mendelsohn. But then Fox President Michael Thorn asked Mendelsohn what her passion project was and “It was like I was hit by the burning bush!”

So “The Faithful” was pitched and a green light was given for the show. “I guess it was divinely ordered,” Mendelsohn says, laughing.

Crafting a Bible-based event series may initially seem like a stretch for Mendelsohn, known for producing the massively popular “CSI” crime drama franchise and, since partnering with Weitz over a decade ago, contemporary dramas where God wasn’t a part of the story. However, with “The Faithful,” the common thread with their previous projects was very clear. “Everything that we do together comes from characters that we fall deeply in love with and we love to do stories about women,” says Weitz. “We were thinking of doing something in this world when “The Chosen” [the Prime Video series about Jesus Christ] came out and became a huge hit.”

Mendelsohn and Weitz brought Echevarria on board and once they dug into the respective stories of these influential women, “it became clear that we should give two hours to each of these matriarchs and tell that story, which is the genesis of not just Judaism, but Islam and Christianity, the three largest, most prominent religions of mankind,” says Weitz, who is also grateful for Fox’s programming strategy for the episodes. “It worked nicely because they are giving us Sunday Nights leading right through Passover and into Easter so it just made sense to [Fox] too.”

For varying perspectives, the show utilized both Christian and Jewish scholars, which backed up their storytelling objectives, given that these age-old stories traditionally didn’t always flesh out women as much as men, so leaning into an interpretation of text was not taboo. “Our Jewish scholar mentioned, ‘what you’re doing is called midrash, an ancient tradition in Judaism to look at these stories and read between the lines,’” says Echevarria.

That interpretive freedom can be seen in the show’s first installment, which explores Genesis 16 where Sarah, barren for years despite God having told Abraham that she would bear a child in her older age, enlists former Egyptian slave Hagar (Natacha Karam) to sleep with her husband in the hopes she’ll give them a child. Driver says Sarah’s story is one that many women can connect with, but as far as who the real woman was, there’s a lack of true definition. “Who knows what Sarah was like? We don’t know. She doubted and, to some people, she thwarted God, but actually to me, she was just a woman who wanted to have a baby, loved her husband very much and was very strong,” she says.

Natacha Karam plays Egyptian slave Hagar, who bears Abraham’s child.

(Stefano Cristiano Montesi / Fox)

Donovan notes that Sarah suggesting Abraham lie with Hagar in Genesis 16 initially comes across as a straightforward and simple sentence. “But there’s so much to unpack in that one line from the Bible,” he says. “The complex struggles that these three people must have had that people today are still having 4,000 years later? We’re still going, ‘I can’t have a baby. Let’s have her have our baby. But do you like her? Is she better than me?’”

But as much as Sarah’s plight with infertility is relatable, other moments in the story took more work to get there, like the moment where Abraham talks with God. “I can only imagine what it would feel like to speak to God,” Donovan says.

To grapple with that notion before shooting this particular scene, the actor, dressed in his character’s tunic and waiting on the crew to set up, found a spot to sit on under a tree and thought about Abraham’s daily life and how impactful a message from God would be. “He’s a shepherd that got up with the sun and watched his flock and tried to survive,” Donovan says. “‘How do I not die today? How do I feed my family?’ For me to give the respect to the character, that deserves a couple of hours of solace and solitude.” He calls it the most difficult scene in the series for him.

And while the show explores Sarah and Abraham’s marriage, it also dives into the relationship between Sarah and Hagar, which begins when a captive Sarah is freed and she takes slave Hagar with her to give her a better life.

“Hagar finds herself pulled into this story that’s far larger than anything that she could ever have imagined for herself,” says Karam, adding that the two women grow close but conflicts also arise. “Originally, the relationship is defined by hierarchy and necessity and then there’s this complicated dependence that bounds them together for life.”

The actor expressed her satisfaction that the story of Sarah and Hagar is given a positive portrayal since that’s not always been the case. “There are versions of that story that are read through a lens of reprimanding both of these women, which I want to say is shocking but it was actually quite predictable to spin it so that it ends up being, ‘Oh, look what these two women did when they tried to take control,’” she says.

“Hagar finds herself pulled into this story that’s far larger than anything that she could ever have imagined for herself,” says Natacha Karam, left, with Minnie Driver and Jeffrey Donovan.

(Moris Puccio / Fox)

The spin from the cast and crew on the production itself was that with all “The Faithful” episodes filming in the ancient city of Rome, the series benefited from what the city had to offer in terms of scenic authenticity. Also, the unforgiving heat while shooting outdoor scenes wasn’t fun but also wasn’t a total negative, says Driver. “I’ve never been outside in 100-plus degree heat for 10 or 11 hours a day. It was brutal, but it definitely lent to the veracity of the story like where you were so beyond hot and exhausted,” she says. “There’s a generosity of its history that you’re invited in. It was this fever dream, the whole experience of being there.”

And while the Sarah-Abraham-Hagar story fills out the first episode, the March 29 installment continues the drama with the introduction of Rebekah (Alexa Davalos), who marries Sarah and Abraham’s son, Isaac (Tom Mison). Also barren for many years, she eventually receives a message directly from God that she will have twin sons and that her youngest son will one day rule. With the arrival of Esau (Ben Robson), who is born first, and Jacob (Tom Payne), she’s faced with a burden to ensure God’s message stays on course at any cost. “The story becomes about how she almost destroys her family because she’s been told that this is the way, this is the destiny,” says Weitz.

The April 5 finale, airing on Easter Sunday, moves forward as a now-exiled Jacob returns to his hometown and meets two sisters, Leah (Millie Brady) and Rachel (Blu Hunt), and sparks fly. Teases Echevarria, “tonally the episode is a little bit different and it’s a little more scandalous but certainly contemporary.” Adds Weitz, “Jacob falls in love with both of the sisters for different reasons and at different times so it becomes a story about sister rivalry for the love of the same man.”

Love is something audiences have been feeling in recent years for faith-inspired programs, which keeps this three-week event from feeling like a television anomaly. For example, Prime Video’s “The Chosen” has been exploring the life of Jesus Christ (Jonathan Roumie) for five seasons with a sixth season centered on Jesus’ crucifixion coming later this year. Also, on March 27, Prime Video launches the second season of “House of David,” which follows the journey of young shepherd David (Michael Iskander) from slaying a certain giant named Goliath to becoming the king of Israel. And earlier this month, faith-centric streamer the Wonder Project wrapped the first season of its contemporary drama series, “It’s Not Like That,” starring Scott Foley as a widowed minister raising his kids and finding love again. Plus, no Easter holiday would feel right without ABC’s annual broadcast of the 1956 classic film “The Ten Commandments,” airing April 4.

Why is faith TV having a moment now? The appetite for this kind of programming by audiences could reflect the often-bleak world of the 21st century we live in, offers Karam. “These are stories about people who are in the middle of impossible circumstances, who can’t see what the lesson is yet, or whether there’s light on the other side,” she says. “But historically, there always was and there always is [light on the other side] so I think that’s what people are hungry for right now is a framework to make sense of things.”

As long as this hunger continues and audiences show up for “The Faithful,” the producers have a wealth of stories to tell beyond the great matriarchs.

“The difference from a regular TV show is that we do have this extraordinary IP and this different perspective,” says Echevarria. “Our hope is that ours will always be a little different and we’d come at it from a different angle.” Sounds like the faith is definitely being kept.

Afroman has emerged victorious from an invasion of privacy and defamation case filed against him by seven members of Ohio’s Adams County Sheriff’s Office over mocking videos and social media posts the rapper put out after a failed 2022 raid on his home.

“We did it, America! Yeah, we did it! Freedom of speech! Right on! Right on! Yeah! God bless America!” the 51-year-old rapper, born Joseph Foreman, shouted outside the courthouse after the Wednesday evening verdict as supporters rallied behind him. In the clip, under a white fur coat, he was rocking the same American flag shades and red, white and blue suit and tie he had worn on the stand Tuesday.

Four deputies, two sergeants and a detective with the Adams County sheriff filed the lawsuit in March 2023, seeking to reclaim any money the rapper made from what they said was unauthorized use of their likenesses. The group wanted nearly $4 million in damages. Foreman used footage from the raid in videos for songs including “Lemon Pound Cake” to make money to pay for the damage done to his home during the raid, when his front gate was broken down and his front door smashed in.

The plaintiffs said in their lawsuit that the posts and videos caused them “humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation” and made it difficult to do their law enforcement work.

At trial, all seven plaintiffs testified about the harassment they had suffered because of the rapper’s music and videos. One, Deputy Lisa Phillips, had her gender identity called into question in Foreman’s videos and social media posts. She cried on the stand as a video suggesting she enjoyed sex with other women was played for the court.

The jury apparently agreed with the argument that the sheriff’s officers were acting in a public capacity during the raid and therefore were not shielded from criticism of their behavior.

“No reasonable person would expect a police officer not to be criticized. They’ve been called names before,” defense lawyer David Osborne said in closing arguments for the rapper and comedian, known for his breakout 2000 hit, “Because I Got High.”

In 2022, the sheriff’s team was acting on a warrant showing probable cause that drugs and drug paraphernalia would be found on the property and alleging that trafficking and kidnapping had happened there. No evidence of a crime was found, and no charges were filed.

Foreman wasn’t home during the raid but was able to see at least part of it via a video recorded by his ex-wife and footage captured on his home security system before law enforcement turned off those cameras. He said on the stand that the raid traumatized his children, who were 10 and 12 at the time.

“The whole raid was a mistake. All of this is their fault,” Foreman testified Tuesday. “If they hadn’t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit, I would not know their names, they wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs, nothing.”

Foreman also defended his right to use the raid footage as fodder for his work.

“After they left, I had the right to kick the can and to do what I had to do to repair the damage they brought to my house. Yes, I did,” he testified. “I have freedom of speech. I’m a rapper. I entertain.”

Foreman discussed his reaction to the lawsuit with local station WCPO Channel 9 in 2023. “From the first 10 seconds, I was offended. I was appalled. I was like ‘What?’ Then I started laughing,” he said. “These guys with their rifles are crying about my comedy songs.”

Meanwhile, as the jury deliberated Wednesday, an entirely different Adams County Sheriff’s Office was feeling online heat linked to the trial: the office in Colorado’s Adams County.

“The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has received a flood of social media comments, DMs, and phone calls about the #Afroman defamation trial,” the Colorado department said on X. “It’s clear this is important to a lot of people. There’s just one small issue: that’s the ACSO in Ohio. We are the ACSO in #Colorado. Different states, same name.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

PREGNANT Sophie Kasaei revealed every day feels like a living nightmare as boyfriend Jordan Brook battles viral meningitis.

The Towie star, 31, has been in hospital for two weeks and has swelling on the brain after falling ill with the serious condition.

Worried Sophie, 36, was only able to see Jordan for the first time two days ago following his admission and admits she’s never felt so much fear as he goes through treatment.

Alongside loved-up photos of them together, she wrote on Instagram: “Life can come at you really fast. Literally in the blink of an eye.

“One minute you’re dreaming about your future together… and the next, you’re sitting in a hospital room, holding onto hope with everything you have.

“Watching the person I love in pain and fear, something I can’t fight for them is the hardest thing I’ve ever known. And through all this I’m carrying the tiniest piece of us, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, life is still growing, still holding on.”

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Sophie continued: “I never imagined I’d feel this much fear and this much love all at once. Life really can change in the blink of an eye. Please don’t take a single moment, a single person, for granted.

“Everyday I fall in love with you more and more @jordanbrook11 this whole thing feels like I’m living in a nightmare waiting to be woke up by you next to me in bed but I’m just grateful your here and fighting for your family.

“Our little baby boy is what is keeping this family going. I love you @jordanbrook11.”

Jordan replied in the comments and vowed he would give everything to recover.

“My darling girl,” he wrote. “I can’t thank you enough for the strength to help me battle this. I will not give up on us.

“I love you more and more every single day.

“‘This too Shal pass’ – we will smile again with our special boy and family.”

The devastating diagnosis came months after the couple revealed they were expecting their first baby after two years of IVF treatment.

They were supported by friends and fans in the comments, who were moved by their situation.

Love Island‘s Shaughna Phillips said: “So beautifully written Soph, thinking of you both and wishing Jordan a super speedy recovery xxxx.”

Geordie Shore‘s Chloe Ferry left loveheart emojis, while Scarlett Moffatt said: “Sending love and strength.”

Jordan was rushed to hospital earlier this month after falling seriously ill with a mystery illness now known to be viral meningitis and encephalitis.

The conditions are potentially life threatening, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining.

In a video posted from his hospital bed, Jordan said: “This is the first time I’ve really been able to speak strong enough about what’s going on.

“I’ve been diagnosed with not one but two joining viruses that are attacking a similar part of my body. I have got viral meningitis and encephalitis together.

“That’s the inflammation of the brain and the lining around it. So this isn’t something small or minor.”

He has had CT scans, MRI lumbar scans, and lumbar punctures — the extraction of cerebrospinal fluid from the lower vertebrae — to find out what is wrong.

Jordan continued: “I’m on IV drips, everything antiviral, pain management, physio, seizure monitoring, to minimise seizure risk at the minute.”

The star added: “But unfortunately the swelling on my brain is getting worse. Really, really tough, even with the simple day-to-day activities and normal things that aren’t easy right now. 

“So this is what I’m dealing with day-today.”

Scream queen Samara Weaving has an extraordinary yell: shrill, feral and ferocious, like a mongoose before it goes on the attack. Its vibrato fury bursts out only when she’s fighting for her life. Otherwise, her newly wed (and newly widowed) Grace MacCaullay stays quiet when being hunted, hence surviving a killer game of hide-and-go-seek in Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s 2019 hit “Ready or Not,” only to be forced to play again in their echoey sequel “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.”

In the tradition of “Halloween II,” this one picks up the very second the last one ended. Grace, her white lace dress blackened with blood, is smoking a cigarette outside of an incinerated mansion that belongs to her in-laws, the Le Domas, who are all dead. On this bride’s wedding night, her groom permitted his relatives to sacrifice her to a demon, believing the lore that a wicked spirit named Le Bail gave the family its staggering fortune. They failed; she triumphed.

The first film teased the idea that the family might be superstitious crackpots only to merrily reveal at the climax that the devil is actually real — and that, when disappointed, he makes his minions explode like a shaken bottle of Dom Pérignon. That gag no longer comes as a total shock, but returning screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy find that the suspense of who is going to pop, and when and why, works just as well. “It’s always surprising,” Grace says with grim humor. (Between this and “Sirāt,” human combustion is the morbid punchline of the year.)

This very silly slasher doesn’t take much seriously, although I appreciated that once Grace exhales her tobacco, passes out and comes to in a hospital bed, she’s been handcuffed to the railing by a detective (Grant Nickalls) who wants to arrest her on suspicion of arson and murder. One real-world rule holds true: Someone’s gotta take the fall when this many rich people die, even if it’s their victim.

Now, four more posh families want to get in good with Le Bail by competing to see who can kill Grace first. Did the screenwriters toss around a dozen other playground games — killer dodgeball, killer cornhole, killer freeze tag — before sticking with the same hide-and-seek set-up? The only change is that there’s more of everything, including more prey as Grace’s estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) gets yoked into the action, grousing that her sibling’s “negative” energy has once again upended her life.

The host of the massacre is the powerful tycoon Chester Danforth (filmmaker David Cronenberg), a hotel and casino impresario, who entrusts the actual event planning to his adult children, twins Ursula and Titus (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy). The director of “The Fly” and “Videodrome” isn’t in the film long, but he bequeaths prestige upon these splat-hijinks that they don’t quite deserve. The paterfamilias of gut-wrenchingly emotional body horror would never make a movie like this himself, although I do think he’d be impressed when the visual-effects team makes a human face dissolve like a bath bomb.

The rest of the ensemble represents titans of some vague industry or another from around the globe: the Rajans of London, the El Caídos of Madrid and the Wans of Shanghai, each arriving with multiple family members as backup. A mobbed-up type, Wilkinson (Kevin Durand) of Atlantic City, also pursues Grace as a solo renegade. There’s not much comic zing in the idea that a handful of selfish families rule the world. Still, it’s amusing to watch these soulless ghouls refer to Grace and Faith as “things” and shrug off each other’s deaths, too. Generation by generation, this greedy lot appears to be getting lazier, intoning “Hail Satan” as offhandedly as ordering their butler to fetch them a martini.

Individual characters don’t pop (except, of course, when they quite literally do). The movie would be a bit more interesting if we knew something about each family’s backstory. The one teasing bit of historical intrigue comes when Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood) insists that the rules state each clan must attack Grace and Faith using weapons from the era in which their ancestors made their satanic pact. It never gets mentioned again, but I spun restless fictions seeing the Danforths stab the girls with railroad spikes while Olivia Cheng’s more modern Chinese heiress chased them with a drone.

There’s still an awful lot of random gunfire and not much enticement to hang onto, nor any sort of a story in this dashed-off, deadly spin on “Succession.” I’ll note that the demon is a more honest and fair negotiator than his vassals, who occasionally cheat and are punished in exactly the way you’re hoping to see.

Hatosy’s Titus is the Danforths’ disappointing fail son and the actor keeps his face in a delightfully foolish little pout. But Titus’ fever to prove that he’s his own man makes him unpredictable and dangerous — and makes him the only villain with more layers than one. Still, my favorite of the ensemble is Maia Jae’s Francesca El Caído, the jilted former lover of Grace’s late husband, who struts into the film like a hellcat, fighting for her own ego as much as Le Bail’s tempting offer of world domination. Her sloppy showdown with Grace is the action highlight.

None of this is scary. The directors, who have also dabbled in the “Scream” franchise, would rather get a laugh than a gasp. Their favorite move is a gasp-laugh, as when they flash a gruesome image on screen that’s so disgusting you can’t help but giggle.

Yet, the prankish tone keeps Grace from having much of a personality, other than a rebellious screw this. Whenever a scene gives her a chance to catch her breath, it squanders it on a go-nowhere running joke about her desperate search for a cigarette.

At least Weaving has her scream and Newton, her impressive ability to take punishment. While new to this particular series, Newton is a skilled cartographer of comedy-horror terrain as the star of “Freaky,” “Lisa Frankenstein,” and the directors’ previous film, “Abigail.” Her kooky chipmunk moxie lets her get through any script relatively unscathed, including this one. And she has one of the best laugh lines in the movie when she bats her eyes at the baddies and tries to placate them with, “You guys seem like good people.”

The sisters’ mutual antagonism has a few clever beats, like when they bicker over who had the superior working-class restaurant job, Grace waiting tables or Faith as a hostess. But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.

Nevertheless, kudos to the costume team for a different outfit that Grace wears in the second half of the film that’s an absolute jaw-dropper of goth couture with black netting and a tiara. It pairs majestically with Weaving’s defiant chin and gleaming eyes. Despite this sequel’s thin and rote stretches, it once again closes strong with a few images that will stick in your head for at least a week or two. No spoilers, but it’s no coincidence that “Here I Come” finally gets more interesting once it tires of hide and seek. Finding a fresh plot twist is the only way it ekes out a draw.

JESSIE J has been rushed to hospital following a car injury which left her with fears she’d ‘broken her neck’.

The singer, 37, has undergone an MRI scan following the incident as she updated fans on her health scare.

Jessie is currently in China for her No Secrets Tour and suffered an unlikely injury after hitting her head on the roof of a car. 

Taking to Instagram, the Price Tag hitmaker shared a clip of her climbing into a black vehicle at her latest concert, whilst admitting she “didn’t mind squashing in the back”.

The video then cuts to Jessie in hospital undergoing an MRI scan after suffering the neck injury.

In an additional update, whilst backstage at one of her shows, Jessie goes on to relay the severity of her condition. 

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She said: “Yeah, I just can’t move my head. I’m alright. I’ll just have to take some painkillers and march right through it.”

“I thought I’d broken my neck, but I haven’t. But I have really hurt my neck and my back.”

Later, shots show the star trying on a stunning gold jumpsuit and embracing her young son Sky. 

Jessie didn’t let the injury stop her putting on a stellar performance as she’s filmed singing her iconic tracks on stage.

Fans flocked to the comments with messages of love and well wishes for the singer.

One user penned: “Take care of yourself (heart emoji)”

“And yet nobody noticed until you told us you hurt yourself!! POPSTARRRR mode was activated,” added another.

A third chimed: “Feel better soon girl you are such a vibe even if you are in pain such an awesome human being.”

“Sending you lots of love and light (heart emoji)” wrote a fourth.

The music star was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and shared news of her early-stage diagnosis publicly via social media in June 2025.

Jessie underwent two surgeries during her health battle, which included a mastectomy that same year.

In August, she was taken to hospital with an infection and fluid on her lungs six weeks post-surgery.

But the star now seems to be doing well and is back performing shows just under a year since her diagnosis.

It’s not the first time the comedian has spoken out about his friendship with Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, after fans raised the same question

Amanda Holden‘s co-star and friend Alan Carr has set the record straight about their on-screen chemistry. The duo front a BBC travel series, in which they help renovate properties across Greece, Italy, and Spain. Along with their hard work, viewers have warmed to the pair’s humorous ways and heartfelt conversations – including a recent sad discussion about Amanda’s stillborn son Theo.

Joining Alan on the latest edition of his podcast, Life Is A Beach, Bob Mortimer discussed what it was like working with his co-star Paul Whitehouse on their series Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

After admitting that they couldn’t present in a traditional way, he said the duo decided to take a more natural approach – one that has worked well over the years. “They just like it when we’re chatting,” he told Alan, to which he agreed.

“Yes, that’s true – it’s the chemistry people want, and you can’t fake that,” he went on to say.

Alan added that he’s often asked whether he genuinely likes Amanda, despite their obvious camaraderie on TV. “I mean, people go, ‘Do you really like Amanda?’ I couldn’t be in 40-degree heat in Greece knocking down a partition wall with someone I hate.

“Why would I sign up for that? You have to actually like the person, more than like, you have to really go, ‘Oh hello Amanda, right let’s have a laugh, what have you been up to?’ And I think you can’t actually fake that,” he clarified.

This isn’t the first time Alan has addressed questions about their friendship. On a previous episode of the show, Amanda was surprised that fans had doubted their chemistry.

Alan joked that viewers often comment on her distinctive laugh and ask how he “puts up” with it, to which she quipped: “This is an outrage!”.

Clarifying any lingering doubts, Alan added: “No, no, no. We couldn’t do this job if we didn’t like each other – it would be hell.” Amanda added: “There’s not a single other person I could do it with,” to which he replied: “No, it would have to be you.”

While the pair have enjoyed a successful run on the BBC show, they recently snubbed the idea of presenting Strictly Come Dancing together.

Amid speculation that they might replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Amanda confirmed on her Heart Radio Breakfast Show with Jamie Theakston: “I want to say now that me and Alan are 100 per cent not doing Strictly. We’re so flattered to be in that mix, but we both are not doing it.”

Speaking to The Daily Mail, the Britain’s Got Talent judge insisted she also wouldn’t be able to fit the role into her already busy schedule juggling family life and her career.

“You see, I am already part of a big show, and I’ll happily carry on watching Strictly from the comfort of my lounge, but it takes up too many weekends, I’ve got to remember that I have children and a husband,” she revealed.

“But I just hope that they still have two females doing it, that’s my big thing. They need somebody super funny, and somebody that you wouldn’t expect.”

Putting forward who she believes could be good for the positions, she suggested The One Show’s Alex Jones, BBC Radio star Zoe Ball and comedians Katherine Ryan and Daisy May Cooper.

Neil Sedaka, the singer and songwriter whose signature hits include “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The condition is caused by the buildup of plaque — meaning fats, cholesterol and other substances — in and on the artery walls, which can lead to events such as heart attacks, strokes and aneurysms. According to the American Heart Assn., atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.

The musician’s death certificate, published Wednesday by the New York Post, also listed kidney failure as a contributing factor.

Sedaka died Feb. 27 in Los Angeles at age 86. The songwriter’s family previously told The Times that his death was sudden.

“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” their statement read. “A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”

Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sedaka was a Juilliard-trained classical pianist who translated his skill to pop stardom in the 1960s. His popularity as a performer waxed and waned over the years, but he maintained a steady career writing hits for other artists for decades, collaborating with lyricists such as Howard Greenfield.

“Songwriting is a difficult undertaking that gets harder and harder because you have to top your past work,” Sedaka told The Times in 1996. “You have to keep proving yourself. … It’s wonderful to sing ‘Calendar Girl’ and ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,’ but you need more than that. You have to break new ground. As an artist, I have to choose what I feel is good and hope that the public will go along with it.”

Sedaka is survived by his wife Leba; children Dara and Marc; and three grandchildren.

Like the mythical city of Brigadoon, Lisa Kudrow’s “The Comeback” has returned to television after many years away, with the difference that time has not stood still for its inhabitants, older in a changing world that values them less and which they navigate with less assurance.

Kudrow, who created and writes the series with Michael Patrick King, was in her youth a player in the twilight of network-dominated television, cast in a smart, influential show with wide, multigenerational appeal; in a quantitative sense, at least, everything would be downhill from there, as the medium transformed and transformed again. “The Comeback” premiered in 2005, just a year after the end of “Friends”; the first season addressed the rise of reality TV, and the next season, in 2014, riffed on dark, streaming “prestige” television.

The new (and final) season, which is both timely and speculative, addresses the impact of artificial intelligence on the medium and the industry, hinting at a dystopian future; this gives it a moral, even political component, not to say a sense of urgency. Not surprisingly, “The Comeback,” as a thing made by humans, comes down firmly on their side — it’s a manifesto at times — even as it acknowledges, uncomfortably, that computer-produced content might be “good enough.”

Once again, Kudrow plays Valerie Cherish, who, at 60 — the phrase “of a certain age” repeats throughout the series — still qualifies as a working actor. But she’s been pushed into the further reaches of the profession: Her two-season cozy mystery series, “Mrs. Hatt” (“part-time gardener, solves crime, husband is an ex-police chief”), is on no one’s radar but her own, having shown on Epix. A day’s work on a “no-budget” film is even less rewarding than she had imagined; she lasted all of two episodes on “The Traitors.” Paddling hard to stay current, to improve her brand, she bumbles through a podcast, “Cherish the Time,” without any idea what to do with that time; employs a social media person, Patience (Ella Stiller), with no discernible impact; and posts pictures of herself holding products in hopes of “future collabs.”

Still, she is not poor. Valerie and husband Mark (Damian Young), have moved from Brentwood to a condominium with a view in the (real life) Sierra Towers, overlooking the Sunset Strip, opening the latest “new chapter” in their lives, though just what that chapter for them is hard to say. Mark has lost his job in finance — “You told a joke at work at a time when jokes were illegal,” Valerie says, trying to cheer him, “no one cares now” — but left on a golden parachute; now he builds his day around pickleball. A potential role in a reality show, “Finance Dudes,” isn’t working out to anyone’s satisfaction. He’s on the verge of a three-quarter-life crisis.

When her self-promoting manager/publicist Billy (Dan Bucatinsky) comes to her waving an offer for a new series, for a new network, in which she’ll star, Valerie is more than intrigued, if taken aback when he tells her that it’s being written by AI. (He isn’t supposed to know.) Network head Brandon (Andrew Scott, as blandly discomfiting as his Moriarty on “Sherlock”) assures her that it is “within the Writers Guild agreement,” but that it is also a secret — which will account for a lot of comedy going forward, secrets and lies being the very stuff of the form. “AI is really extraordinary,” he tells Valerie. “After all, it picked you.”

It’s also created a wholly generic multicamera sitcom, “How’s That?,” in which Valerie’s character, Beth, as she describes it, “runs a cute, charming old New England B&B with the help of her hunk nephew, Bo — so Beth and Bo, B&B.” (“Viewers want a break from the complicated confusing storylines of all these dark streaming shows,” says a network exec.) Her eager supporting cast has no idea that the series is being written by anything other than its human faces, unhappily married couple Josh (John Early) and Mary (Abbi Jacobson). Josh, who thinks of himself as “the voice of women of a certain age,” is precious about the jokes he manages to get into the script; Mary couldn’t care less. Untalented writing assistant Marco (Tony Macht) only wants “to get, like, a really nice house.” The AI, meanwhile, is personified to the cast and crew, who know nothing about it, as someone named “Al,” who “works remotely.”

One by one, the old company is introduced into the new season, Valerie finds Jane (Laura Silverman), her former documentarian, working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s, having tired of scuffling as a filmmaker, “begging people to care about the things that I cared about.” When Valerie lets it slip that her new series is AI-generated — “but don’t tell anyone ‘cause that’s a secret” — Jane is inspired to pick up her camera again. Lance Barber will eventually rejoin as screenwriter Paulie G., Valerie’s old nemesis. Robert Michael Morris, who played Mickey, Valerie’s hairdresser and best friend, in earlier seasons, passed away in 2017; Jack O’Brien, as Tommy, occupies a version of that space here.

Valerie may be only moderately successful, but she isn’t a hack. She has an Emmy for “Seeing Red,” the drama at the center of Season 2. She pushes back against the costumer (Benito Skinner) who wants to put her in a caftan. She knows her craft and is nominally proud of belonging to a union. She’s not a diva, but she has her pride. And that she is loyal, even when it does her no good, makes her easy to like. Thrust half-wittingly onto this cutting edge — being the first in an AI comedy, Mark tells her, “is like saying, ‘I was the first one to eat an arm in the Donner Party’” — she is wholly sympathetic, and, eventually, as things bend toward horror in a last-act revelation, a hero.

Though the subject is serious, the approach this time is light and farcical. Partially abandoning the documentary aesthetic of its predecessors — the first season had the look of amateur video, and the second of guerrilla filmmaking — much of this season is shot as a conventional, non-meta television show, allowing us access to private conversations and meetings without having to account for Jane and her crew, or requiring the players to act as if they’re being watched. Paradoxically, without pretending to reality, it makes some things more real.

Playing himself, director James Burrows, whom Valerie convinces to helm her pilot, notes that the jokes AI writes might come fast but are never better than obvious. “Surprising only comes from a group of writers huddled in a corner beating themselves up to beat out a better show,” he says. And just as Valerie is not a character an algorithm could produce, Kudrow is not an actor a machine could ever imagine. She’s no Tilly Norwood, or Tilly Norwood at 60, or Tilly Norwood with quirks applied. There’s no one like her— other than her — for the learning machines to scrape.

You should never settle for “good enough” when better, or best, is available. But that choice is on you.

AS NEWS of Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks’ romance has been confirmed, there was actually numerous signs of a relationship brewing over recent months.

The Sun revealed on Saturday night how the pair’s friendship has turned to romance, with the KISS Radio co-hosts sharing a kiss in front of pals during a night out this week.

It comes after Olivia’s split from her footballer husband Bradley Dack earlier this year, following a “breach of trust” from his side.

Friends have now assured there was “no crossover” between the relationships.

While things may have been strictly friendship until recently, there were several nods that Pete and Olivia’s romance was on the cards; from the cosy Ibiza boat snaps which caused a stir last summer to their late-night pizza date earlier this month.

Here, we take a look at all of the signs the duo were a secret couple.

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BRIT’s Pizza Date

Enjoying a night out at the BRIT Awards earlier this month, Olivia and Pete spent the majority of the evening together.

Despite sitting at different tables inside the ceremony, a source told at the time how they had managed to remain together at several points in the night.

At 3AM, Pete was then snapped carrying two pizzas up to his hotel room following the boozy night.

The next morning, they were seen exiting the same hotel together and sharing a car back home.

3AM night out

The month after her split from Bradley was revealed, Olivia let her hair down on a night out which ended with Pete in the early hours.

Celebrating her Garnier brand deal at The Newman Hotel in Central London, she partied with colleagues and friends before heading out to Soho with Pete and some other pals.

Olivia and Pete were then pictured at 3AM as they left in a taxi together.

THOSE Ibiza boat snaps

It was long before Olivia’s split from Bradley that her relationship with Pete raised eyebrows.

Last summer, during a trip to Ibiza, Olivia was snapped in a cosy embrace with Pete as she laid back into his arms on a yacht.

Wrapping his arms around Olivia, Pete had his legs open as she lay in between them and they both laughed with friends.

Other pictures from the day showed the pals walking together with Pete’s arm around Olivia.

At the time, Pete and Olivia were solely friends, but it was reported that her husband Bradley was left “furious” over the “reckless” party-hard behaviour.

Following the snaps, Olivia admitted that the pair had a rocky summer and reminded fans she “isn’t perfect.”

“It’s no secret. We had a really bad summer. I know this is not how people do things in my world. They do not talk and marriage in this way,” said Olivia on her podcast, Olivia’s House.

 “I think that there was stuff going on on both sides…. At the end of day marriage is really f***ing hard.”

Olivia said that Bradley hadn’t been perfect, but she wanted to give him the chance to share that side of the story when he eventually joins her on the podcast.

She accepted that she could be “self-destructive”, and when the going gets tough she tends to push him away rather than lean into the issues together.

But following the incident, the pair got back on track and appeared to move on with their marriage.

Pete admits to ‘missing’ Olivia

In a passing comment months after their trip to the White Isle, Pete admitted he missed his holiday “partner in crime” after taking a trip to Vegas without her.

Pete, who was still just friends with Olivia at the time, said of his holiday: “It did make me think of you. Because you were there before and we have said before we like a holiday. 

“I just wish you’d been in Vegas with me. Because I feel like it’s very me and you Vegas. I needed another Vegas partner in crime.”

Bradley blocks Pete

While Olivia’s estranged husband Bradley continues to follow the TV star on social media, one person he doesn’t follow is Pete.

In fact, he has even blocked the former TOWIE star.

Hours after Olivia and Pete were seen leaving their Manchester hotel together following the BRITs, Bradley made his opinions on the relationship clear.

He blocked Pete the day following the BRITs, with neither stars now following one another.

If you’re looking for something to watch that not only will make you laugh, but will also leave you on the edge of your seat with plot twists, TV fans recommend one particular four-series show

Television viewers have been busy debating which programme has the “biggest plot twist” and it appears there’s one show that stands out from the rest. The question was posed in Reddit’s ‘Watchever’ community after a user looked for inspiration as to what shows they should check out next.

“What TV show had the biggest plot twist you never saw coming?” they asked. “What’s a TV show that completely shocked you with a plot twist you didn’t expect at all?” The Reddit user elaborated: “The kind that makes you pause and think, ‘Wait… what just happened?’ For many people, shows like Mr. Robot or Westworld had moments like that. Which one got you the most?”

It prompted several people to point out a four-series sitcom that first aired in 2016 and is currently available to stream on Netflix.

“This is as good of a place as any for my regular reminder for people who haven’t seen The Good Place to give it a try,” one person declared.

“The concept seems a little cheesy at first, until you realise that it’s actually about way more than what it seems like in the first season. And aside from the deeper philosophical stuff, it’s really f***ing funny.”

A second agreed, joking: “The Good Place… then The Good Place… then The Good Place again.”

A third fan suggested: “You need to go on the journey the characters go on. That’s the great thing about The Good Place; the show doesn’t give the characters the answers, they figure them out.

“And as a result it isn’t preachy about the philosophical stuff, even though the show definitely has a point that they wanted to get across about mortality.”

Whilst a fourth Reddit user praised: “It’s a sitcom structured like a mystery box drama, ending each episode with a cliffhanger. It’s easy to binge because of this. And unlike dramatic mystery box shows, the ending is amazing.”

However, a fifth who was sceptical at first confessed: “I didn’t watch The Good Place until it was on Netflix and from the first episode I thought something was off and kept looking for little hints here and there but never really anything that really stuck out on the first watch.

“Now on the second watching… I have noticed a lot more.”

The comedy stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, Ted Danson as Michael and William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye.

Netflix’s synopsis states: “Due to an error, self-absorbed Eleanor Shellstrop arrives at the Good Place after her death. Determined to stay, she tries to become a better person.”

On IMDb, meanwhile, the show boasts a very impressive score of 8.2 out of 10 following 219,000 reviews.

JEFF Brazier looks every inch the doting grandad as he shared a gushing tribute to his first grandchild Isla Jade Brazier online.

Son Freddy, 21, and ex-girlfriend Holly Swinburn, 22, announced on Friday that they’d welcomed their first child together, a baby daughter whose middle name is a sweet nod to the star’s late mum Jade Goody.

In a new Instagram post, Jeff showed off baby Isla in a number of new photos, including snaps of fellow son and EastEnders star Bobby Brazier meeting the tot.

His photo montage begins with one of Jeff smiling and looking down at his granddaughter, while she’s cradled in his arms.

While a second snap shows new dad Freddy holding Isla, while Uncle Bobby affectionately gazes down at her behind his brother’s back.

“Dear Isla Jade,” Jeff’s caption begins. “You have no idea how deeply loved you are.

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“There are so many good people standing behind you, and a very special angel watching over you.

“Mummy and Daddy gave you her name, and were going to tell you all about her,” Jeff added, confirming the child’s middle name is a sweet tribute to his late ex-wife Jade Goody.

“You already feel like the greatest gift. I will be forever grateful to Mummy and Daddy for filling my heart and bringing such joy into our lives.

“Thank you, Holly and Freddy, with all my heart. Holding you is pure peace.

He signed off: “All my love, Grandad (Though you’re welcome to call me something a bit cooler when you’re older!).”

In one funny photo, new Grandad Jeff was seen dozing off while sat in a chair holding Isla.

In a final whole picture, he poses next to new parents Freddy and Holly with Isla and eldest son Bobby.

The comments section was flooded with messages of support for the TV presenter and his family following the happy new addition.

“Congratulations to you all she will be so so loved,” wrote Strictly star Dianne Buswell, who has just welcomed her first child with partner Joe Sugg this week.

Big Brother winner Kate Lawler penned: “Ah Jeff beautiful news congratulations to you all.”

Meanwhile, Jeff’s This Morning co-star Josie Gibson commented with lots of love heart emojis.

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and model Kelly Brook also sent their congratulations in the comments section.

Freddy and Holly announced Isla’s arrival late on Friday in a photo shared to Holly’s Instagram Stories.

The former couple are seen in a black and white snap in a hospital bed with their new daughter following the birth.

New dad Freddie has a huge smile on his face, as Holly cradles the tot.

“Isla Jade Brazier,” simply reads the caption, revealing the child’s name.

Freddie’s late mum was TV star Jade Goody, who shot to fame when she appeared on the third series of Big Brother, then aired on Channel 4.

In August 2008, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which was later deemed terminal as it spread to her liver, bowel and groin.

She died aged 27 in March 2009, leaving behind her two sons with ex-husband Jeff Brazier.

At the time, Freddy was four and his brother Bobby was five.

In an exclusive chat with The Sun prior to his daughter’s birth, Freddy revealed his plans to pay tribute to his mum with her name.

“We are calling her Isla Jade,” he told us.

“I think it’s lovely to incorporate the name Jade into her name as a middle name as I am sure there will be part of my mother in Isla.

“I was so pleased when I found out we were having a little girl. I want to be protective of her and take care of her.

“Calling the baby Jade as the first name felt like too much expectation on the baby . . .  I don’t want to put any pressure on her.”

ANASTACIA Kingsnorth has been a queen of social media since starting her YouTube Channel aged 11 – but now a fierce backlash is threatening her empire.

The Brit content creator, 25, has ventured into podcast hosting, has written her own book and been the face of many ad campaigns.

Yet this year, the TikTok star – who has a rumoured net worth of over £1million – faced a sticky spot after her boyfriend appeared to cause “jealous” tension with her pal, Love Island alum Saffron Barker.

And now fans have reacted in fury after her latest paid partnership with Air Up featured a clip created by AI.

Earlier this week, Oh Anna podcast host Anastacia took to her socials to upload a clip promoting the German based brand’s latest flavoured water.

Scenes showed a giant version of the star wearing a lemon polka dot co-ord as she strolled through the London streets.

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Her height meant she could scoop up a pink water bottle branded with the Air Up logo before she took a sip.

The slurp appeared to transport her into both a new location – the roof of Buckingham Palace – and a new denim pinstripe outfit.

She wrapped the clip by visiting locations including St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben.

Yet on TikTok, her followers have alleged she has used AI to create the scenes – and claimed the technology goes against Air Up’s environmentally friendly credentials.

Criticisms came from two angles – the nature of content creation as a creative process, and also for AI using huge volumes of water, seemingly going against green principles.

The Sun has gone to Anastacia’s rep for comment.

Fans have claimed Anastacia, whose content focusses on lifestyle, leisure and beauty, has abandoned the “creative process” with her latest venture.

One TikTok user, who works in marketing, ranted: “Honestly, I am not happy about it.

“And I don’t think a lot of people are, judging by the comments on the video”.

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She added: “It really cuts down on what content creation really is.

“If you work in marketing like myself you will know that this is totally wrong.

“The whole point of content creation is creative process”.

Fans of Anastacia, who has previously collaborated with ITV bosses for a Love Island promotion, continued to take to the comments in fury.

One simply posted: “Who’s idea was this?? Omg”.

A second mused: “I do like some of their content, but Ana and her family don’t seem hugely aware or maybe even that bothered by environmental issues unfortunately. (a LOT of consumption etc!)”.

A third added: “The funny part about it is , the ad is for a refillable water bottle (to try and tackle plastic waste etc) but then it the ad is literally AI!! you couldn’t write it honestly”.

A fourth mused: “The hypocrisy of these ‘influencers’ is gross tbh”.

“I’m surprised the brand approved it to be honest…says a lot about them too! I think being aware of the environmental impact AI has is important too”.

And another user surmised: “For me its the context of the ad being for a refillable water bottle while using AI which uses tons of water. It is a little ironic”.

Campaigners have previously flagged the significant carbon, energy and water use that AI requires.

Previously, Sasha Luccioni, climate lead at AI company Hugging Face told The Guardian: “What I’m worried about is that we’re deploying AI in such a way that we don’t have a good idea of the energy use.

“We’re essentially operating on the hypothesis that it’s not a problem – or that if it is a problem it will somehow be solved – instead of getting ahead of it.”

While Anastacia has posted the video to her Instagram grid, the brand is yet to feature it on their page.

The documentary series has been branded a must watch for fans of true crime

A harrowing BBC Two documentary will return to screens with another chilling episode that true crime fans are being urged not to miss.

Forensics: The Real CSI has returned for a brand new series plunging viewers into real life drama as it follows West Midlands Police Force, investigating serious crimes in real time.

In a race against the clock, viewers witness plenty of chaos as officers uncover horrific truths and a sense of urgency in their search for justice. The series also gives a deeper insight into the forensics work that puts together vital evidence during an investigation, with specialised officers often working with little to no evidence.

Branded the perfect watch for fans of 24 Hours in Police Custody, the BBC documentary series returned with a harrowing episode earlier this month, which viewers said left them “shocked”.

Another brutal episode is set to air tonight (March 22) at 9pm on BBC Two. A BBC synopsis reads: “In Cumbria, a 999 call comes in at 1.00: a supermarket cash machine is being broken into by a gang of thieves. They’re working at speed, using high-powered cutting equipment.

“They make their getaway before the police arrive, taking thousands of pounds. It’s the second cash machine in the county targeted in 24 hours.”

It continues: “Seventy miles away, reports of the Cumbrian raids are shared with a specialist West Midlands Police task force who have been chasing a prolific gang of organised criminals suspected of attacking cash machines around the country.

“Their method of breaking into the machines using specialist machinery known as the ‘jaws of life’ has led to them being named the JOL Gang.

“While the task force gathers intelligence in the West Midlands, Cumbria Police takes the lead on forensics. The investigation becomes more urgent when there’s a third attack in Cumbria.”

Taking to social media, one viewer described it as a “brilliant series”. Commenting on last week’s instalment, one viewer said: “Have you watched the latest The Real CSI episode 2 it’s brutal.”

A third added: “Forensics is absolutely fascinating.” One person said the new instalments had their “blood boiling”.

Previously, West Midlands Police promoted the harrowing series as one viewer commented: “I watched it last night. It was very eye opening. The forensics and camera and phone tracking and hacking were brilliant.”

Another said: “Just watched, truly disturbing.” A third added: “Best programme on the t.v, it’s scary the number of teenagers carry knives need to get them off the streets”

A fourth penned: “Easily the best programme on the tv at the moment. The work that the forensic experts do to bring a criminal to justice is unreal.”

Forensics: The Real CSI returns tonight at 9pm on BBC Two.

Emma Chawner, a legendary contestant on The X Factor, shared her impressive 16 stone weight loss journey amid the tragic loss of both her mum and dad as well as her dog

One of The X Factor’s most unforgettable contestants left fans stunned after revealing an astonishing 16-stone weight loss. Emma Chawner first captured public attention aged just 17 when she and her family had a memorable encounter with judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh after being turned away from the competition in 2007.

Now in her late 30s, Emma has achieved a stunning transformation, emphasising that her dramatic weight loss was accomplished entirely without surgery, as she revealed during a 2019 appearance on ITV’s Lorraine. Taking to Instagram at the time, Emma also shared striking before-and-after photographs, captioning one: “5years down and 16st 4 lost im still losing it but very slow now.”

Admirers were swift to praise her achievement, with messages including: “Fantastic, you look amazing,” and “You look so beautiful and pretty! Please remember weight can not be defined by age, weight, or gender. Your beauty has always shined through! I’m glad to see you! Bless you love!”

Speaking candidly to Lorraine, who had previously extended support to help her family tackle their weight struggles, Emma revealed that her motivation stemmed from the heartbreaking loss of her beloved pet dog and the emotional turmoil surrounding her parents’ separation. Tragically, Emma’s mother died aged 73 in January 2024, with her father passing away in December that same year.

Sadly, Emma was forced to start a GoFundMe in an attempt to raise £2,200 for her dad’s funeral, but only appeared to raise £820 through the website. At the time, she posted her appeal, saying: “I would appreciate any help towards he funeral because at time it’s really hard for me and to pay for it and I really want my dad to have a good send off any amount of money would be greatly appreciated.” Heartbreakingly, she continued: “I don’t have any family left people that know me I hate asking for help put this time i have no choice.”

In a candid conversation with Lorraine, Emma emphasised her weight loss resolve, stating: “No one’s pushed me to do it, I’ve done it all myself. I was always out of breath and diabetic.”

She refuted suggestions from doubters that she had undergone weight loss surgery and voiced her intention to shed a few more pounds, affirming: “I’m happy with how I am and it’s not far to go.”

Emma initially took a shot at fame on The X Factor in 2007 but was met with a firm rejection. Undeterred, she returned to the stage in 2009 alongside her sister Samantha, who married in XXX.

However, Emma faced another setback as she was handed four no’s from the judges, with Cheryl observing, “Emma, I have to say, you’re definitely more confident when you’ve got your sister with you. But nothing else has really improved unfortunately.”

With her singing aspirations momentarily put on hold, Emma participated in Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge, a weight loss initiative. She continued her slimming journey after the show, attributing her success to a 30-day detox and healthy habits such as eliminating snacks and staying hydrated.

Prior to joining Lorraine’s programme and seeking advice from diet experts, Emma believed her size was due to genetics, asserting, “It’s not because of what I’ve eaten. It’s because of the genes in my family. Mum’s big, dad’s big, my sister’s big. No-one’s thin in our house.” She had previously been forced to live in a car after her family was reportedly booted out of their home.