show biz

EastEnders spoilers: A killer returns, Bea’s vile revenge on Elaine and Linda romance

EastEnders spoilers confirm big moments next week on the BBC soap including the return of a vile villain, Bea Pollard’s sinister next plan and target and some emotional scenes

It’s another drama-filled week on EastEnders next week, as new spoilers tease twists, discoveries and revenge.

Nicola and George return home from hospital to a surprise welcome home party for the baby. Overwhelmed Nicola orders everyone to leave but she and Gina later share a heart-to-heart.

Soon the peace is shattered when George’s estranged father Eddie reveals he’s dying. Only Nicola knows this and she keeps it from George, but when he figures it all out he sees his dad, and is shocked by his fragility.

Soon, George faces questions from his family and heads to see Eddie one final time, while Nicola has a warning for Eddie. Phil attempts to adjust to life after Nigel’s death, but is rejected by Grant who is sad about his fractured relationship with Mark.

READ MORE: Coronation Street fans ‘rumble’ who dies and who kills them after exit clueREAD MORE: Coronation Street star ‘confirms’ exit for villain Theo – but he ‘might not’ die

Julie prepares to head to Nigel’s care home to collect his belongings, where she is soon joined by Sam and Phil for support. Julie finds a letter from Nigel, but she can’t bring herself to read it.

Ian is consumed by his councillor campaign but is upset to discover that the majority of supporters are voting for Elaine. Ian turns to bribery, but Bea has other ideas when she starts a smear campaign against Elaine.

Ian and Elaine anxiously prepare for the Walford debate, but things go awry when Oscar swaps Ian’s speech, but Elaine steps in to sway his nerves. But a moment leaves Ian fuming, and he agrees to let Bea post the video about Elaine.

He regrets this but the damage is done. Also next week, a discovery saddens Kat and Alfie, Sam supports Denise, and Harry agrees to lend Gina some money landing them in trouble with Nicola.

Finally, Grant offers support to Linda amid her drama with Johnny, who is having money problems, while Linda is jealous of Max and Cindy. It’s soon clear Max is thinking about Linda, and he’s not happy to find out she’s slept with someone.

EastEnders isn’t the only soap with drama next week, as Hollyoaks spoilers tease there’s plenty in the village too. Vicky wakes up from her coma, and Charlie and Frankie plead with her to echo their lies about the crash.

Later, Vicky lets slip to Misbah that it was Gemma who has been prescribing her the skinny jabs. Knowing time isn’t on her side, Diane tells Tony they need to tell Eva, Sinead and Finn the truth.

Ro is worried it’s too much for his mum, while he’s also left torn when he finds out Ste cheated on Rex with James. Cleo is determined to get proof that Sienna has been swapping her psychosis medicine for multi-vitamins.

After a confrontation, Cleo wakes to find Sienna watching her, wanting to know if she still loves her. Cleo claims there’s a way back for them as long as she does what’s right. Soon, Mercedes and Warren make a shocking discovery.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .



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Coronation Street spoilers: Victim ‘revealed’ and missed evidence ‘outs killer’

It’s a massive week on Coronation Street next week according to spoilers, as the fallout to murder week could give away the killer with missed evidence, with the victim teased too

While Coronation Street fans will have to wait for the end of this week to find out who dies, new spoilers drop major hints.

Not only do they possibly give away which of the potential victims live or die, but it’s confirmed some huge evidence possibly exposes the killer. We see Betsy Swain in turmoil after finding the body, as detectives begin their investigation.

As soon as it’s revealed it is murder, suspects are lined up and evidence is gathered. But as some characters cover their tracks and get rid of some possible evidence, others could be about to slip up.

Spoilers confirm that next week, Kit begins to investigate the body found on the street, sparking interrogations with a number of residents. As characters struggle to process what happened, it’s soon confirmed to be murder.

READ MORE: Coronation Street fans ‘rumble’ who dies and who kills them after exit clueREAD MORE: Coronation Street star ‘confirms’ exit for villain Theo – but he ‘might not’ die

Todd is struggling to move past Theo’s abuse, while Debbie is waiting for news on Carl, and there’s some shocking truths revealed to the Driscolls about Megan and Maggie. Shona wants answers as the Platts’ home remains a scene of trauma and the search for answers begins.

When forensic results come back, Kit gives an update that the blood at the scene belongs to more than one person. Shona is left haunted, while David confesses how Jodie tricked him into bed.

Later, David hands some evidence into the station but Kit’s questioning leaves him worried that they think he had something to do with what happened to Jodie – while soon there’s some news. Elsewhere, Carla and Lisa do their best to comfort a traumatised Betsy, postponing their honeymoon.

Lisa begins a formal round of questioning. Inconsistencies in someone’s story start to emerge, leading to a public arrest. When some new evidence leaves Lisa and Kit convinced they are one step away from a breakthrough, we learn more than one resident has a dark secret to hide as some incriminating footage is revealed.

Back to the investigation and as the week draws to a close, a couple are struggling, while a suspicious partner demands the truth behind a sudden change in behaviour. Kit and Lisa continue their interrogations, and some deleted evidence threatens to expose the truth.

Soon, a seemingly innocent photograph reveals a hidden presence at the scene of the crime that could change everything. Away from the murder drama, Hope taunts Daniel over Megan, leading to Hope accusing her teacher Daniel of assault.

It’s clear Daniel is struggling as he hits the bottle. Melanie wants son Will to live with her, but tensions lead to Will storming out. Meanwhile, someone attempts to steal something from the pub safe, only to be caught by Susie.

Danielle approaches and asks to talk to Todd about Theo, where she finally shares her own suffering. It’s another big week on the cobbles!

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .



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Olly Murs reveals he’s taking on BRUTAL charity challenge after ‘terrifying’ life-changing Romania trip

OLLY MURS is taking a leap into the unknown on a brutal 250-mile challenge for Unicef’s Soccer Aid.

In an exclusive chat with Bizarre, the singer revealed he will run, row and cycle from Manchester United’s Old Trafford to West Ham’s London Stadium across five punishing days for Olly Murs: Into The Unknown.

Olly Murs is taking on a brutal 250-mile challenge for Unicef’s Soccer Aid Credit: Tom Dymond for UNICEF

He admitted that a life-changing trip to Romania had given the challenge a whole new meaning.

The Troublemaker star travelled to Eastern Europe to see the charity’s work first-hand, and was moved after meeting mum-of-one Oksana, who escaped Ukraine after Russia invaded and is now living in a Unicef facility in Romania.

“Her baby was only seven months old,” Olly said. “Coming here in the middle of a war on her own, no family, no friends.

“The story was tough to listen to.

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“The fact that eight weeks later, her house (in Ukraine) got bombed, it’s terrifying, isn’t it?

“It kind of puts things into perspective.”

The trip clearly hit home for Olly, who has a daughter, Madison, and baby son, Albert, with wife Amelia.

He explained: “All I want to do is keep my baby safe and keep the (children) healthy and happy, and that’s the same for every parent around the world.”

Olly and wife Amelia Tank Credit: Getty

While the cause is inspiring, the 250 miles sounds absolutely brutal.

In a harsh twist, Olly won’t know exactly what he’ll be facing each day.

He revealed: “It does scare me because it’s really hard when you’re preparing for something when you don’t know the distances.”

Even his birthday is being sacrificed to the cause.

Olly laughed: “The 11th of May is when I start it — my birthday week.

“I’ll be celebrating my birthday whilst running or cycling or rowing somewhere.”

Olly, who has undergone four knee operations, is worried about what impact the arduous challenge will have on his joints.

He added: “I don’t know how my knee’s going to cope. It’s definitely going to have an effect on my body, and my knees.

“But I’m confident that I’m fit enough to do it.”

Olly on his ‘life-changing’ trip to Romania Credit: Supplied

Away from the graft of preparing for his charity challenge, Olly says his home life has become his priority, with music temporarily on the back burner.

“I’ve really enjoyed just being at home and not singing any more,” he explained.

“I’m just singing and entertaining my kids.

“I posted a video the other day of me singing to my kids some of my songs and Maddie kept saying ‘No.’

“It’s a tough crowd at home.”

Olly is now hoping he’ll have an easier time on the pitch at Soccer Aid on May 31, when he will line up as part of the England squad alongside
Wayne Rooney, Tom Hiddleston, Gk Barry, Jill Scott, Angry Ginge and with SoccerAid founder Robbie Williams as coach.

The Soccer Aid World XI features ex-players Jordi Alba of Spain and Italy’s
Leonardo Bonucci, with the team being coached by Olympian Usain Bolt.

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I’m A Celebrity South Africa future ‘revealed’ after dramatic live ITV final

The future of I’m A Celebrity All Stars has been revealed by a TV insider, following the chaotic live final that delighted viewers last week.

I’m A Celeb All Stars will reportedly not return to our screens until 2029, despite the final being a huge success with massive viewing figures.

The South Africa-based show was pre-filmed in 2025, with the explosive final taking place live in London last Friday night. The final episode saw Adam Thomas win the show while arguing with Jimmy Bullard and David Haye.

The mayhem initially broke out when David interrupted Adam’s interview before the winner was announced. It rumbled on further when Jimmy Bullard interrupted to have his say over what he called “intimidating” actions by Adam in camp.

The row was so severe between the campmates that Sinitta and Gemma Collins stormed off, and Ant clashed with David and Jimmy.

It has been reported that around 2.8million people tuned in for the explosive finale, but despite the huge interest, show makers won’t be bringing back the all-stars version for a few years.

“The aim was never for it to be made or be on air in 2027, even though there may be an appetite for that right now. The aim was to deliver something as a special show that was on from time to time, not an annual revisit like the main I’m A Celebrity show,” an insider told The Sun.

This was the second all-stars version of the series, with the first season airing in May 2023 after being recorded in the autumn of 2022.

The series 6 runner-up, Myleene Klass, was crowned winner of the series after beating series 16 campmate Jordan Banjo in the final survival trial. It was three years between the first and second seasons of the show, so fans might be waiting a little while for the next season if ITV continues to follow suit.

Voting figures for the show were revealed earlier today, showing that Adam won by a landslide. The Emmerdale actor came first in the vote for the final four, with 51 per cent. He was followed by Sir Mo Farah, who won 32 per cent, while Harry Redknapp and Craig Charles each got 9 per cent.

I’m A Celebrity is expected to return later this year with the usual format. Adam’s win came off the back of a series of dramatic moments for the actor on the show. Things first took a dramatic turn when David Haye was accused of bullying Adam after he ruled himself out of a trial. He called the actor weak and later doubled down, claiming that the Waterloo Road star was using his arthritis to get out of doing Bushtucker Trials and challenges.

Adam was also at the centre of a row with Jimmy Bullard. He was left angry when Jimmy quit the show mid-trial, which could have tanked Adam’s time on I’m A Celeb, as they were doing the trial in pairs.

Adam swore at Jimmy. Though he later apologised, Jimmy was insistent that Adam was “aggressive” and “intimidating”, and blasted ITV for not showing the full clip. ITV have said what they showed was a “fair and accurate” representation of what happened.

The Mirror has approached ITV for comment.

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



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Gogglebox Andrew’s life from husband 30 years younger to friendship with Hollywood star

Gogglebox’s Andrew joined the show last year with husband Alfie and the beloved couple quickly became a hit with fans

Gogglebox star Andrew has become a firm favourite since joining in 2025 – but what do we know about his life?

Andrew made his debut on the show in its 26th series along with husband Alfie. The married couple – who live in the Cotswolds – quickly charmed viewers thanks to their witty remarks and playful jibes at one another.

Away from the programme, Andrew and Alfie keep their loyal legion of combined 50k Instagram fans updated on their everyday lives.

But who is the Hollywood star that Andrew is friends with after meeting on a beach in Mexico? And what were their loved ones’ reaction to their romance? Here’s everything you need to know about Gogglebox’s Andrew.

Andrew and Alfie on family’s reaction to age-gap romance

Andrew and Alfie, who share a 30-year age difference, got married in May 2024. Their wedding was a picturesque affair in Italy, attended by close friends and family.

In a recent Instagram video, the pair took part in a Q&A. When asked what were the reactions to their age gap when we get together, Alfie said: “Well it was slightly different for me and you because you were already openly gay. I was coming out as gay and telling people.”

Andrew then said: “But my mother did turn around to me didn’t she and said that if I went out with somebody or marry someone under 30 she would,” before the video bleeped out what Andrew said next.

Alfie quipped: “Lucikly I just hit that threshold. My mum was very supportive. My father was very shocked and upset and he didn’t speak to me for an entire yeah.” Referring to Andrew, Alfie added: “You were the same age as him.” He then said: “Luckily we moved past that one.”

Andrew’s famous friend ‘he met on the beach’

It turns out Andrew is rather pally with a Major Hollywood star. On Instagram in March, Andrew uploaded a photo of him and Alfie posing alongside actress Rose McGowan.

Rose has appeared in several Hollywood flicks and TV shows including Jawbreaker and horror movie Scream. She also played Paige Matthews in the supernatural drama series Charmed from 2001 to 2006.

In the comments section, both Alfie and Rose explained their friendship. Rose wrote: “Andrew and I met on a beach. Been through joy, tragedy, joy again. Love him and delighted to get to meet Alfie. When I saw him on Gogglebox I was floored. Had to find him again. So happy we’ve reconnected.”

Meanwhile Alfie explained: “They both lived in Mexico for 3/4 years…honestly there is rarely a day I’m surprised by something @andrewdnicolls says.”

Andrew and Alfie’s ‘child’

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Fans of Andrew and Alfie will also know that the couple are proud dog parents to a beloved pup called Perkins. The dog has made several appearances on the Channel 4 show too.

What’s more, the pair have also set up their dog’s own Instagram, in which they share updates from the four-legged-friend’s life. In September, they shared a photo of Perkins looking adorable on their “daddies’” sofa.

The post was captioned: “Always loved being on the sofa. Now bringing cuteness to your TV screens every Friday at 9pm on @c4gogglebox with my daddies @andrewdnicolls & @sam.alfie.mulhall.”

Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4

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Fresh blow for Lily Allen in divorce from husband as New York home goes back on the market for £5.3m

LILY Allen has suffered a fresh woe after the sale of her former New York marital home fell through.

It went on the market just days after the Lily’s latest album, which details the alleged infidelity in her marriage, was released last year.

Lily Allen has suffered a fresh woe after the sale of her New York marital home fell through Credit: Getty
The singer split from her Stranger Things husband David Harbour in February 2025 Credit: Getty

The lavish pad was on sale for £6m ($8m), and it was reported in January that a price of £5m ($7m) had been agreed.

However, the home in Brooklyn is back on the books of estate agents Gambino for £5.3m ($7.3m).

The 19th-century brownstone was reimagined by designer Billy Cotton and architect Ben Bischoff specifically for Lily and her former husband, the Stranger Things actor David Harbour.

The pair, who split in 2024 and are now divorced, recently made headlines following the release of Lily’s album, West End Girl, which alleges that David was unfaithful during their marriage and in one of their homes, possibly 381, Union Street.

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The couple purchased the house in 2021 and gave Architectural Digest a tour of the premises two years later.

The video, which went viral and now has 8.2 million views on YouTube, features some of the couple’s more curious design ideas.

These include a pink fridge in their carpeted bathroom, their windowless pink bedroom and a pair of back-to-back green sofas that, according to the couple, were perfect for arguments.

The couple paid £2.4m ($3.3 million) for the five-bedroom, four-bathroom property in 2020 and its new owners will inherit their busy botanical wallpaper , a kitsch tiger-print television room, and other flamboyant features — which Gambino describes as ‘whimsical’.

Outside, in the garden, there is a cold plunge pool and a sauna.

Gambino tells would-be buyers: “Nestled on one of the most sought-after blocks in Carroll Gardens, 381 Union Street is an enchanting, 22-foot-wide brownstone reimagined by AD100 designer Billy Cotton and architect Ben Bischoff of MADE.

“This late-19th-century townhouse unfolds across four levels. From its stately facade to its refined interior palette, the home is a layered narrative of traditional English charm, modern Brooklyn sensibilities, and rich Italian influence.”

Earlier this year, Lily opened up about her state of mind and the “huge change” in her family life situation following her split.

The popstar candidly told how she had now come out from the other side of a “nervous breakdown” which saw her hospitalised.

Lily, 40, who shares two daughters with first husband Sam Cooper, and endured a bitter split with Stranger Things actor David, 50, last year.

The former couple purchased the house in 2021 Credit: Getty

Cheating allegations and a marriage lacking intimacy were allegations levelled at the Netflix actor by Lily.

The marriage breakdown sparked Smile songstress Lily’s first album in seven years.

At the heart of the record is a character called Madeline, who Lily confirmed to the Times is a construct of other people, and the secret relationship she has with a man many are interpreting to be Harbour.

Lily previously told how she was suicidal after her marriage split and voluntarily opted to go to rehab.

She has previously been open about her recreational use of drugs and alcohol but she opted to quit the substances six years ago.

It led the star to find her marriage split even more challenging as she wasn’t able to use the substances as a way out.

Lily said: “The feelings of despair that I was experiencing were so strong.

“The last time that I felt anything like that, drugs and alcohol were my way out, so it was excruciating to sit with those [feelings] and not to use them.”

Lily said: “I’ve been into those places before against my will and I feel like that’s progress in itself.

“That’s strength. I knew that the things I was feeling were too extreme to be able to manage, and I was like, ‘I need some time away’.”

The marriage breakdown sparked Smile songstress Lily’s first album in seven years Credit: Getty

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X Factor winner secretly lined up for surprise live performance on BGT in huge ‘full circle moment’ for star

FORMER X Factor winner Matt Cardle is set to come face to face with Simon Cowell on live TV again – 16 years after winning the ITV talent show.

I can reveal that Matt is being lined up to perform at one of the Britain’s Got Talent live finals in the coming weeks.

Former X Factor winner Matt Cardle is set for a live TV reunion with Simon Cowell as he lines up for a performance on Britain’s Got Talent 16 years after his The X Factor win Credit: ITV
Matt will take to the stage as part of a special performance of West End hit Kinky Boots, with Simon being a huge fan of musicals Credit: Getty

Rather than performing new solo music, Matt will take to the stage as part of a special performance of West End hit Kinky Boots.

He is starring in the musical at the London Coliseum alongside Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe.

A source said: “Simon is a huge fan of musicals and the bosses at Britain’s Got Talent are keen to push the arts as much as possible.

“With that in mind, a number of the live acts booked for the finals this year come from West End shows.

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“Matt and the Kinky Boots cast are set to perform in a few weeks’ time – it really will be a full circle moment for him.”

This weekend, former BGT winner Sydnie Christmas will perform her new single – Run.

Bizarre’s Jack hung out on the set of her music video earlier this year, so we can’t wait to see that one live.

Zara‘s feeling f-Lush

Zara Larsson soaks up some rays ahead of headlining Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland next month Credit: Main Rose/Charlotte Rutherford
This Friday she will release the deluxe version of her fifth album, Midnight Sun: Girls Trip, packed with collaborations, including Tyla and Shakira Credit: Main Rose/Charlotte Rutherford

Zara Larsson has me counting down the days to my summer holiday after hopping on this float to promote her Main Rose swimwear brand.

She was living her own Lush Life as she soaked up some rays ahead of headlining Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland next month.

This Friday she will release the deluxe version of her fifth album, Midnight Sun: Girls Trip, packed with collaborations, including Tyla and Shakira.

And it’s testament to Zara trusting herself.

On writing and recording the track, which came out last year, she said: “I stopped focusing so much on what I thought other people would want from me or what I thought radio would want, and just started focusing on what I wanted to do.

“Ironically that’s when people start caring.”

Liam family praise for Louis’s heartfelt concert

Some of Liam’s relatives, including his sister Nicola, were in a VIP box to see Louis perform at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena last weekend Credit: Getty

Liam Payne’s loved ones made a lowkey trip to his One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson’s tour.

Some of Liam’s relatives including sister Nicola were in a VIP box to see Louis perform at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena last weekend.

During the show, Louis was visibly emotional when singing Dark To Light – a track he wrote about Liam’s death.

Taking to Instagram, Nicola said: “Thank you Louis Tomlinson for last night.

“It was extremely emotional, but really beautiful, and it meant a lot to be there.

“Your staging and your songs are beautiful. A truly special night.”

Louis has previously spoken warmly about Liam.

He said: “I could talk all day about how amazing he was.

“We all looked up to him, he was vastly experienced before any of us had done anything.

“If he could just for five minutes live in my head or your head and see how we perceive him, he would be so shocked.

“He was pure.”


Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella collab Bring Your Love drops this Friday as the superstars release the official audio Credit: Instagram

The wait for Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s collaboration is almost over, as it’s being released this Friday.

The superstars recently performed Bring Your Love at Coachella and now they are putting out the official audio.

The pair made the announcement yesterday when they shared a new photo of themselves with the caption: “We’ve got something to say about it,” which is a reference to Madonna’s 1989 song Express Yourself.

It will be the first official single from the Queen of Pop’s forthcoming album Confessions On A Dancefloor: Part II, after she released a teaser track, I Feel So Free, earlier this month.

Humanize 102 words


Pink girl’s a leg-end

Pink with daughter Willow Credit: Getty

Pink has sold out stadiums and had No1s across the globe, but as far as daughter Willow is concerned she’s top of the charts as an embarrassing mum.

At the opening night of The Lost Boys musical in New York they posed for photots on the red carpet.

But while standing in front of the snappers, Pink gestured at the slit in Willow’s skirt and said, “Show off your legs,” to which the youngster snapped: “No!”

Alan’s tequila stunrise

Alan Carr has been revealing secrets on his Life’s A Beach podcast Credit: Getty

Alan Carr once fell in the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park after drinking “hallucinogenic tequila” on his Chatty Man TV show.

The comedian said he was still feeling the effects the next day as he walked his dogs and suffered a mishap.

He explained he’d had a tequila the night before but was given a hallucinogenic one by mistake.

He added: “I couldn’t sober up and I fell in the Serpentine, p***ed.

“My old dog Bev, bless her, she dropped the ball in the Serpentine and I went forward to pick it up. And I think all the tequila rushed to the front of my head and I just fell in.”

Speaking on his Life’s A Beach podcast, he added: “In films, the dogs are meant to jump in and save you, but they were just wagging their tails, like, ‘What’s this p***head done again?’

“So I was just soaking wet and I had to walk . . . You know, when people are pulling their kids away, ‘Come away from the strange man,’ and all that.”


Capital’s Summertime Ball is returning to London, taking over Wembley Stadium to entertain 80,000 fans on June 6.

The line-up will be revealed by Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby on Capital Breakfast this morning and tomorrow, before tickets go on sale through the Global Player app at 9am on Thursday.


Gracie has secret follow-up

Gracie Abrams’ new record is rumoured to be all about falling for Normal People actor Paul Mescal Credit: Getty

Gracie Abrams is back, two years after her album The Secret Of Us topped the charts.

The American singer released a teaser on Instagram yesterday, and it appears to be a snippet from the lead single for her upcoming third album.

The record is rumoured to be all about falling for Normal People actor Paul Mescal, although it doesn’t sound like it’s been smooth sailing.

They were reported to have briefly split in early 2025, and the song will do little to shut down that speculation.

Gracie sings: “I used to see clearly but it’s bloodshot. And I want you so badly but I closed off.

“I used to think we’d get married. But I guess not.”

Last summer we revealed Paul was at Gracie’s Glastonbury set, singing along to every word.

In February, they made their red-carpet debut at the Baftas in London.

And last month I told how Gracie had moved from LA into Paul’s London home, while he films the upcoming Beatles biopics.

Her last album was all about heartbreak, but I’m expecting some sunnier moments this time around.

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A League of Their Own to make huge comeback – one year after TV show axed

The sports-themed panel show, A League of Their Own, is set to make a new comeback just one year after it was axed from TV after 20 seasons on Sky.

A year after the show was axed, A League of Their Own has announced that it will return in the form of a live arena tour, set to take place later in 2026 in the autumn.

It was announced that many of the famous faces from the show will be making an appearance again, with Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott returning to the show. Jill will be the team captain for the blue team, while Tony will lead the red team.

Tom Davis, Patrice Evra, and Maisie Adam will also make guest appearances, with more A-listers set to be announced. The tour is set to hit major cities including Liverpool, Manchester, London, Newcastle, Birmingham and Glasgow, giving fans the chance to experience the action up close like never before.

As in the TV show, the live tour will include challenges in the studio, but this time performed live on stage in front of audiences.

Speaking about the tour announcement, Jamie Redknapp said: ‘‘I can’t wait to take A League Of Their Own on tour to some of the biggest and best venues in the UK. We’ve put together a top team of League legends, some very special guests, and every night promises to be different.

“It’s gonna be loud it’s gonna be chaotic and it’s probably gonna be full of Leatherman jokes at my expense. Hosting A League Of Their Own Live is a dream job, so come and join in the fun. See you there!”

The announcement that the series was coming to an end came in April 2025, with Sky revealing the series would be ending after the 20th season.

Phil Edgar-Jones, Executive Director of Original Unscripted at Sky, said: “Series 20 is the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything A League of Their Own has achieved and to give it the send-off it truly deserves.

“We’re incredibly proud of the show — it’s been a cornerstone of Sky’s entertainment line-up for fifteen years and has delivered endless laughter, heart, and unforgettable moments. Huge thanks to the brilliant team at CPL Productions and to our fantastic on-screen line-up — Romesh, Jamie, Jill and Micah — who continue to bring such energy and chemistry to the show.”

Tickets for A League of Their Own go on sale on Friday, May 1 on Ticketmaster.

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WATCH video Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews uses to convince women he’s worth millions… & the clues that expose truth

AN eye-watering amount of cash is stuffed into suitcases, with Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews’ name printed onto a label stuck on top of the thousands upon thousands of $100 bank notes.

But rather than a show of his apparent wealth, today The Sun can reveal Lee’s boastful videos share the hallmarks of high-level scams – with his ex-fiancee Alana Percival warning that his time evading the heavy hand of the law may be running out.

Katie Price and Lee Andrews said I do in a surprise wedding just days after the former glamour model announced her ninth engagement. Credit: BackGrid
Lee’s ex-fiance Alana Percival has warned that that his time evading the law is running out Credit: Click News and Media

Former glamour model Katie, 48, flew back to Dubai over the weekend to join Andrews, 41, in the country at a £36million mansion which he claims he bought in cash.

It will be the first time she has seen the businessman since he boasted he was buying a majority stake in Chelsea Football Club for £2billion.

The shameless brag, like most that come from his lips, is not true and the London football club have had no dealings with Andrews.

No doubt, like many women, Katie may have seen the suitcases stuffed to the brim with what appears to be millions of pounds in cash.

His alleged vast fortune is, he claims, from complex deals with foreign embassies and treasuries that he’s spent the past nine years developing.

Sharing the two videos with The Sun to prove his “wealth”, Lee alleges he ships the cash to Africa for institutional investment.

However, our analysis found that the clips are almost identical to the dubious proof-of-funds videos often used by fraudsters to convince people they have large sums of money.

In one video, Lee’s name is written on a sheet of A4 paper along with the date, while the man filming references a fictitious code that The Sun has discovered does not exist in the real world banking system.

The wads of $100 notes are bound by plain bands labelled “BEP” (Bureau of Engraving and Printing).

To the untrained eye, it would seem Lee is sitting on a fortune.

But those BEP labelled bands are most commonly found on film sets, binding together fake wads of cash seen in blockbuster movies.

Authentic BEP bands include the institution’s name, a routing number, and a branch ID.

Andrews’s bands include none of those.

The videos are known as “Black Money Scams” – and are often seen in fraud cases.

Metal briefcases, locked with padlocks, labelled “FRAGILE – HANDLE WITH CARE” — are designed to look like a secure, official shipment of cash.

Stacks of $100 bills are then laid out in an open case with a note to make it look personalised and real.

In fact, where these scams exist it’s all faked – the money is not real.

Andrews’ former fiancee Alana has warned the net may be closing in on him and claimed last week that a warrant was out for his arrest in Dubai.

And now those close to Katie tell The Sun they hope she can finally start to see what is happening.

“Alana is saying a warrant is out for Lee’s arrest in Dubai, he still appears to be taking money off women, but Katie still can’t see what he’s doing,” a friend tells The Sun.

“It’s exasperating. Those around her think Lee is bad news.

“The brags about his wealth, the videos of the fake cash, the claims he’s bought a £36million mansion in cash – it’s all laughable.

“Kate is usually shrewd but when it comes to matters of love, she thinks with her heart and not with her brain.

The video shows wads of cash in a suitcase and is designed to flaunt wealth Credit: The Sun
Katie reunited with Andrews in Dubai at the weekend Credit: wesleeandrews/Instagram

“It is painful for her friends and family watching her consort with this man.”

Alongside the videos supposedly proving his income stream, Andrews also provided three documents.

One of these is a payment guarantee letter for a $100m transaction, the first payment of a proposed $5bn.

It is signed by Mr Sikakaew, allegedly from the Thai bank Kasikorn, who holds a “Supreme SSID License”—a term not recognised in banking, as SSID is actually a name for a Wi-Fi network.

In the document, a scanned image of Lee’s passport appears to have been digitally manipulated and features glaring mistakes such as an upside-down photo and backward font.

A second document is a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a non-legally binding statement of intent to work with another party.

It mentions a “UN license for a mixed currencies redemption program”, something that also does not exist.

The letter, which outlines the transfer of $5bn to the Royal Thai Embassy in Kenya, is signed by American Joseph John Garrity, with no record of such a person being involved in high-level international finance.

The third document is a Capital Readiness Program prepared for Lee by Hachi Capital LLC — a business with no legitimate record.

A similarly named UK company called Hachi Capital Ltd was dissolved in 2013 and coincidentally featured Craig Boddington as director, the same name managing Lee’s account.

The program promises financial returns well beyond any realistic measure, claiming a 500 per cent return on investment per monthly cycle and as much as 100 per cent per 10-day cycle on “bullet trades”.

Further red flags include the business not being licensed or regulated by any major financial authority and has hallmarks of investment scams with six-figure set up fees designed to get clients to part with cash before realising any profits.

A number of women have spoken to The Sun after falling for such Andrews’ investment promises.

Crystal Janke claimed she lost £123k in investments Credit: Instagram
Andrews claims he ships vast amounts of money to Africa Credit: The Sun

One woman, Crystal Janke, invested £123,000 in his Aura Worldwide Holdings Ltd, after being promised a return of up to £1m.

The money has since disappeared, with Crystal filing a police complaint in the US.

Andrews denies the claims but Crystal to date is still insistent she’s not had a penny, after sharing with The Sun her bank statements which prove the transactions into Andrews’ account.

Earlier this year The Sun revealed that his company, Aura Worldwide Holdings Ltd, was actually dissolved in 2024.

But Andrews is still claiming it is open, despite paperwork proving otherwise, and is pushing his schemes upon women he meets on social media and women he knows through business.

Last month, another woman came forward to tell The Sun she had invested $1,000 but still had no return.

When she confronted Andrews, she claims he fobbed her off and made excuses about the whereabouts of her funds.

A friend of Katie’s told The Sun: “Why Katie cannot see what is going on under her nose is scary.

“None of this is legitimate and everyone is just praying for the moment the penny finally drops and she gets the hell out of this marriage.”

Andrews previously denied all the allegations brought against him by The Sun.

He later claimed his inflated LinkedIn CV was the result of errors by his former assistant and swiftly removed some of his false work history.

Among them was that he was a Member of the Board of Advisors for the Labour Party and Director of Philanthropy at The King’s Trust.

He said: “I think that’s been hyped up and made to look better than what it is and it needs to come down.

“I can’t take the showmanship of it, but I’ll take the accountability.

“The PA no longer works for me now anyway, for other reasons — probably because of that.”

More recently he claimed to have made secret “back and forth” visits to the UK where he met wife Katie’s eldest children Harvey, Junior and Princess.

He told us: “People don’t know I’ve met Harvey and two of the kids, I haven’t seen the young ones.

“I’ve been back and forth, I just don’t f***ing tell anyone. I lead a very private life. I tell people what they want to hear, the rest they can make up, you know.”

A representative for Katie later told The Sun this claim was a lie and that Andrews had never met her children.

Katie was warned over new husband by two of his exes who claim he is lying swindler who preys on women Credit: Instagram
Lee’s ex Crystal Janke invested into his company Aura Worldwide Holdings Ltd
Alana Percival was previously engaged to Lee Andrews

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Unforgotten star Nicola Walker’s next big hit gets release date

Actress Nicola Walker, famous for her roles in The Split and Unforgotten, will soon be back on screen starring in a brand new comedy drama

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The release date for Nicola Walker’s brand new series has been revealed.

The actress, widely recognised for portraying DCI Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Stuart across seasons 1-4 of ITV’s detective drama Unforgotten, will appear alongside a star-studded ensemble in Disney+’s Alice and Steve.

The cast and creative team behind the new six-part comedy-drama launched their press tour yesterday (April 26) with a world premiere in competition at CANNESERIES 2026.

The story, which will be available to stream on Disney+ in June, follows Alice, played by Nicola, whose world is turned upside down when her best friend Steve (Jemaine Clement) begins a relationship with her 26-year-old daughter, Izzy (Topol Margalith). Faced with the possibility of losing both her closest friend and her daughter at once, Alice goes to extreme lengths to break them up.

But Steve is ready to fight back, and what starts as a close friendship quickly spirals into a bitter and chaotic feud.

Blending humour with emotional complexity, Alice and Steve explores the tangled dynamics of friendship, family, and love.

This anti-romantic comedy raises big questions such as how far would you go for love or revenge? And can Steve and Izzy’s relationship survive the fallout? One thing that will be certain is the fact that the characters’ lives will change dramatically.

The synopsis for Alice and Steve reads: “Alice tries everything she can to end the relationship. Unfortunately for her, Steve’s more than ready for the attack, and what begins as a perfect friendship devolves into an all-out feud.”

When the new programme was first announced, Nicola said in a statement: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into the fabulous world of friendship, motherhood, marriage, frantic revenge and fierce love that Sophie Goodhart has created, and to be doing it with Jemaine Clement is completely joyful!”

Meanwhile, actor Jemaine also sung Nicola’s praises and said: “I really relate to Steve – he’s classy, stylish and an all-round good guy – except for when he isn’t. I’m excited to be working with the wonderful Nicola Walker and seeing how Steve and Alice’s relationship descends into absolute chaos.”

Nicola was a fan favourite in the detective series, Unforgotten. However, her character was killed off in 2021, leaving viewers devastated.

As well as Nicola taking the leading role, the show includes an incredible ensemble working behind the scenes such as writer-creator Sophie Goodhart (Sex Education), director Tom Kingsley (Stath Lets Flats), Clerkenwell Films executive producer Andy Baker (Baby Reindeer) and series producer Frances du Pille.

All six episodes of Alice and Steve will be available to stream from Monday, June 8 exclusively on Disney+

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‘White Lotus’ Season 4: Bonham Carter exit, Cannes backdrop, more news

Nearly five years on from its premiere, every morsel of information about Mike White’s addictive HBO series is still met with feverish excitement. And its upcoming fourth season is no exception: After previous visits to Hawaii, Italy and Thailand, the Emmy-winning series is checking into digs on the French Riviera, with its backdrop none other than the Cannes Film Festival.

Just as closely watched has been the string of starry casting announcements — and one very high-profile departure, Helena Bonham Carter, who departed the show shortly after production began. According to an HBO spokesperson, “With filming just underway on Season 4 of ‘The White Lotus,’ it had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set. The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks. HBO, the producers and Mike White are saddened that they won’t get to work with her, but remain ardent fans and very much hope to work with the legendary actress on another project soon.”

The road to a new “White Lotus” season is always a twisty one, as executive producer David Bernad recently told The Envelope. He also shared details on the season’s themes, other key cast members and how the production plans to maneuver around tourists. Here‘s what we gleaned from our chat.

A bad French hotel restaurant experience changed everything: Bernad and White spent a week scouting in France but weren’t sold until one fateful night. “Mike and I went to meet a friend for dinner at a hotel in the South, which will remain nameless. The maître d’ was so rude and they called security on us,” says Bernad. However, once inside, the staffer continued to be dismissive of them and the show. “The whole season crystallized in that moment, and as we were leaving, Mike’s like, ‘I know exactly what we’re going to do and we’re doing it in the South of France.’ It was the most productive dinner I’ve had,” he says.

Helena Bonham Carter attends the UK Premiere of "Agatha Christie's Seven Dials" on January 13, 2026 in London, England.

Helena Bonham Carter, the first actor cast in Season 4, became the first to exit, HBO confirmed Friday. Her character will be reimagined and recast.

(Dave Benett / WireImage)

Other countries were in contention: Choosing each season’s swanky location is always a “conundrum,” says Bernad, who shared that he and White initially planned a multicountry European tour. “We were starting in France, then we were going to Spain, then Ireland. But once we had that moment in the South of France at that restaurant, Mike said, ‘I don’t want to see anymore.’ So the rest of the trip was canceled,” says Bernad.

Cannes and its history form the season’s backdrop: One of the show’s familiar sights during the first three seasons has been swelling waves dramatically crashing against rocks, but you’ll see something different in Season 4. “A lot of those shots will be replaced by Cannes, the city itself and the glamour of the festival,” says Bernad. Also, the focus won’t be confined to the present but also pay tribute to the past. “It’s also the storied history and glamour of the festival, and we’re going to be tipping our hat to French cinema throughout,” he adds.

Vincent Cassel 2024 in Cannes, France.

Cast member Vincent Cassel at Cannes with “The Shrouds” in 2024.

(JB Lacroix / FilmMagic)

The season’s theme is “really intentional”: Bernad says he’s known the Season 4 theme since they realized the hit show would be ongoing. “We’ve always had an idea that this season would explore the arts and fame, celebrity and the spiritual journey of being an artist, so we focused on countries that had a long relationship with the arts,” he says. Fashion’s influence is also key as “Dior permeates through the entire season,” he says, adding that French designers and artists are doing pieces for the show that lean into “the painful, existential journey of what it means to be an artist.”

No Hollywood star cameos: With Cannes as the backdrop, you might think A-listers like George Clooney or Anne Hathaway will be wandering through a “White Lotus” scene. Nope. “The show lives in the universe of ‘White Lotus’ so we’re not doing cameos, we’re not doing celebrity,” says Bernad. “In that universe, there are references to real people, but everything is its own world.”

Kumail Nanjiani

Kumail Nanjiani is among the Americans in the international cast.

(Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images)

The Season 4 cast is eclectic… and still evolving: Ironically, the exiting Bonham Carter was the first person cast for Year 4. “Mike always had her in mind as we started this process, and we built the cast around her,” says Bernad. While we wait for her revised character to be recast, an array of international artists are set to appear, including Brits (Steve Coogan and Dylan Ennis), Americans (Sandra Bernhard, Chris Messina, Kumail Nanjiani, Chloe Bennet, Ari Graynor, Heather Graham and Rosie Perez), French (Vincent Cassel, Corentin Fila, Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Laura Smet), Canadians (Alexander Ludwig), Norwegians (Tobias Santelmann), Swedes (Frida Gustavsson) and Australians (Caleb Jonte Edwards). It’s no surprise that multiple language interpreters will be on set, says Bernad.

One White Lotus hotel isn’t enough: “What’s cool and unique this season is there’s going to be two hotels so not everyone is staying at the same hotel,” says Bernad. In fact, while the White Lotus Cannes is a beautiful property — the Hotel Martinez in Cannes will be used for filming — the more coveted place to stay is the White Lotus du Cap, filmed at the Airelles Chateau de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez. “That starts to play into the theme and story about ego and narcissism and how we view ourselves as it relates to how the world views us,” explains Bernad, adding filming at Paris’ Mandarin Oriental Lutetia will also double for some of the Cannes action.

The Airelles Chateau de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez will stand in for the "White Lotus du Cap."

The Airelles Chateau de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez will stand in for the “White Lotus du Cap.”

(Jarry/Tripelon / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Filming in a high tourist area is a “Jenga tower”: Previous seasons were shot in more remote, secluded locations, but that’s not the case for the fourth season. “We’re shooting in the South of France during a very peak tourist time, and it has been the most challenging season so far,” says Bernad. “It’s like making a Jenga tower work with all the crazy dates in the South of France and things that are booked out.”

Production is the longest ever: Shooting at multiple hotels isn’t new for the show, but in previous seasons, “we would stay in a hotel and we would shoot it out and then we’d move on to the next hotel,” explains Bernad. This time, it’s more of a puzzle that will make Season 4 the longest production schedule ever for the show. “We’re going to be shooting, leaving and then returning [to properties]. We’ll shoot in the spring, and then we’re going to come back in the fall when high season’s over,” he says.

Besides a great hotel, another major factor exists in securing a location: Besides finding the perfect property that will look great on camera and lining up a variety of schedules, a “White Lotus” location “has to be a place we want to live for a year,” says Bernad. “Because it is a year and it is relentless work … I think Tanya [Jennifer Coolidge] says at one point, ‘At this age, you just want to feel comfortable,’ and that’s us.”

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Sheridan Smith reveals she was kicked off a plane for being ‘too drunk’ saying cabin crew ‘left her behind’ in Florida

SHERIDAN Smith has today revealed how she was once kicked off a plane for being “too drunk”.

The I Fought The Law actress, 43, also revealed how she annoyed the cabin crew so much, they “left her behind” in Florida.

Sheridan Smith has revealed she was once kicked off a flight for ‘being too drunk’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Sheridan revealed all to Alan Carr on his podcast Credit: Life’s a beach podcast
The star said cabin crew ‘left her in Florida’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Talking on Alan Carr‘s Life’s a Beach podcast, the host asked the much-loved star: “Have you missed flights before and all that?”

Replying, Sheridan, who is currently starring in BBC One’s The Cage, said: “Yeah. I went to Florida to watch my mate boxing.

“And they wouldn’t let me on the flight Alan.”

The Chatty Man star then asked her: “Why? Too drunk. Oh, God.”

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A mortified Sheridan then admitted: “I was too drunk. But I don’t drink now, so I can say this now.

“I can say it now and I can look back and laugh.

“But at the time, it was a nightmare because everyone else got on the flight.

“Oh, my God. I was left there!”

Meanwhile, in the same chat with Alan, Sheridan also made a saucy confession.

The star revealed she had a fling with a hunky stuntman when she filmed the drama The Castaways.

In the same chat with Alan, Sheridian admitted to having a fling with stuntsman Alex Anlos Credit: Instagram

The actress played Erin, a woman who goes to Fiji to investigate the disappearance of her sister Lori, in the 2023 drama that aired on Paramount+ and was filmed in Greece.

Now she has confessed that she had a romance with Alex Anlos while filming, and it came after she split with the father of her child, Jamie Horn.

Spilling the tea, she told host Alan: “I did have a holiday romance actually. I was filming in Greece and the stuntman – I’m giving so much away – he taught me to swim, so he was holding me.

“And the next thing we did have a bit of a romance – it’s an exclusive!

“It’s so romantic and it’s the heat and the bodies are all out!”

At the time of filming, Sheridan posted a picture with Alex, which she shared on her Instagram stories.

In the cosy snap, the pair were all smiles as they posed for the behind the scenes picture.

She had penned over it: “Hanging out after stunt rehearsals with @that_stunt_dude Greece. This guy has made me look bad ass.”

Sheridan also shared another photo of them both on her feed as she captioned it: “Love filming here in Greece. With my set bff @that_stunt_dude. I was a non-swimmer till we met!”

The Gavin and Stacey star split from fiancé Jamie in 2021 after three years together.

The pair had welcomed their son Billy in May 2020 and had got engaged back in 2018, shortly after meeting on dating app Tinder.

Sheridan is currently starring in the BBC’s the Cage Credit: PA

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Vernon Kay explains family shift ‘we don’t want’ as dynamic ‘changes’

Vernon, who has two daughters with former Strictly host Tess Daly, explained that “your babies will always be your babies” and highlighted a horrifying scenario for parents

Vernon Kay has opened up about a family change he and his wife “don’t want” as he confessed that their dynamic is changing. Vernon, who is married to former Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, shared his thoughts while reflecting on his evolving relationship with their two daughters, Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16.

The couple exchanged vows at St Mary’s Church in Horwich back in 2003 and now reside in Buckinghamshire with Amber, while Phoebe has headed to New York to pursue her studies. Vernon and Tess, like many parents, have spoken about their daughters spreading their wings and becoming “independent”, yet it appears that, deep down, neither parent is truly ready to let go.

Vernon revealed he has had to figure out how to “enter their world” — a world with certain “pitfalls” that he and Tess never encountered — including one particularly alarming modern-day concern. In a recent interview, he noted that “your babies will always be your babies”, while acknowledging that today’s world brings with it an issue of which they are “acutely aware”.

Vernon told The Times: “Now that Phoebe is 21 and Amber is nearly 17, our relationship with them is changing. We talk about encouraging them to leave the nest and be independent, but we don’t really want them to. You have to learn to enter their world and that world has pitfalls that just didn’t exist for us.

“When Phoebe started going out, we became acutely aware of drink spiking. I think that just didn’t happen in the Nineties.” Last month, Phoebe shared her relocation to the Big Apple via TikTok, posting a clip of herself dancing against the New York skyline, including views of the Empire State Building.

She wrote: “NYC has my hearttt! Lucky to call it home for a while.” Her parents travelled to the US earlier this year to visit her, with Tess documenting the trip on Instagram, featuring snaps of a pancake breakfast and visits to art galleries. Tess, who lived in New York during the 1990s, said: “I love NYC. Maximised every minute on a whirlwind half-term trip and fell in love with this magical city all over again.”

Meanwhile, Vernon’s BBC Radio 2 co-star recently issued an apology to Tess on air. Vernon has been suffering from a bad back and has been struggling to keep on top of household jobs. In the segment, he informed colleague Gary Davies about his intentions to visit a chiropractor and how he’d been “getting the garden ready”.

Vernon explained: “Chiropractor this afternoon… I think I’ll be a little bit better, but the thing is we’re pre-summer, aren’t we? So, at the moment, I’m getting the garden ready. Done a bit of lawn mowing and I’ve got a list as long as my arm of jobs to do, but I can’t do them with a bad back! I don’t want to get anyone in either.”

Gary joked that this was a convenient excuse, prompting Vernon to quip: “To keep my feet up… and do absolutely nothing!” Gary said: “Sorry, Tess, sorry!” Offering a further glimpse into his relationship with Tess, Vernon revealed: “She sent me a message this morning on the train, ‘Why is half the lawn done?’.”

When questioned whether he’d taught Tess how to tackle the mowing herself, Vernon stated: “That’s my job – no, that’s my job. That’s my job, I love it. Put my headphones in and away we go!”

Meanwhile, Vernon has shed light on a “horrendous” hidden struggle while presenting The One Show alongside regular host Alex Jones.

Speaking with Ellie Brennan on Radio 2 , Vernon disclosed how his stomach had begun rumbling, explaining: “Did you watch The One Show last night? Did you notice that Alex and I had the giggles? Just out after filming Watchdog. They take it very seriously at The One Show. It’s a consumer rights programme, so it’s very serious, and my tummy, because I hadn’t eaten lunch, decided to pop up and say hello.”

He continued: “I literally – and it’s the first time in, I’d say 25 years, since I was working with June Sarpong – that I’ve done a live television link biting my lip to try to stop myself laughing as I’m introducing something really, really serious. It was horrendous.”

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NFL goes Hollywood: Inside its plan to conquer streaming, movies

For years, the NFL has playfully scoffed at conspiracy theories its drama is scripted.

Now, the league has hired some of the best writers in the entertainment industry to do just that.

The NFL is going Hollywood, looking to expand its audience with theatrical motion pictures and its first scripted streaming series. This isn’t just about using the names and logos of real NFL teams, but diving headlong into storytelling about the league in the form of upcoming movies — one about John Madden, another a Christmas Day release about an unlikely hero for the New York Giants — and “The Land,” a dramatic Hulu series centered on fictional characters and the Cleveland Browns starring Christopher Meloni, Mandy Moore and William H. Macy.

It’s the next step in the partnership between the NFL and Skydance Sports, the forming of a premier content studio aimed at creating must-watch storytelling and attracting everyone from hardcore football fans to people who otherwise have no real interest in the game.

The NFL has long contended it’s the world’s greatest reality show and the numbers support that. According to Sportico, NFL games were 84 of the top 100 most-watched television shows last year. And the year before, it was 93 of 100.

“When you have an audience as big as the NFL’s, there are a lot of different demographics to service and engage even more deeply,” said Jason Reed, who heads Skydance Sports. “Those movies work as a fan service. They service towns, fans of those franchises, and they really connect. What they also do is pick up this other group of people who maybe wouldn’t watch a football game.”

Pulling back the curtain on the league is a challenge. The NFL isn’t likely to sanction unflattering content, at least not much of it, yet the goal is to make the stories as realistic as possible. How will the writers handle issues such as concussions, drug use or domestic violence? That was addressed in a presentation at last month’s owners meetings by JW Johnson of the Haslam Sports Group, who oversees the business strategy of the Browns.

“We don’t want this to be — no offense to our friends at ESPN — a ‘Playmakers’ situation,” said Johnson, referring to the popular but short-lived series on the Cougars, a fictional football team, that explored mature themes and was canceled after one season after pressure from the NFL. “We want this to be a really fan-friendly show that also has the authenticity of what happens in a locker room and on the field. We’re very comfortable with it.”

David Corenswet as "John Tuggle" and Isabel May as as "Katie" in Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story.

David Corenswet as “John Tuggle” and Isabel May as as “Katie” in Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story,” from Paramount Pictures.

(Sarah Enticknap / Paramount Pictures)

Dan Fogelman, creator of “This is Us,” and a lifelong football fan, had long envisioned writing a dramatic series based on his favorite sport. That led to “The Land,” which began production last fall and does not have an official premiere date.

“We’re not making this stuff up out of thin air,” said Fogelman, who also created the Hulu series “Paradise,” a post-apocalyptic political thriller. “The characters are flawed and they do bad things, but the NFL has been great about that. I was worried up top, and it just hasn’t been an issue because we’re not out there looking to be salacious. We’re not trying to do ripped-from-the-headlines, crazy, exaggerated versions of reality. We want things that really happen, done accurately and in a cinematic way.”

To that end, he brought in actual NFL players as consultants to help with the storylines and make sure the details make sense.

“We had a bunch of NFL players come and visit us in our little office, and we’re on the second floor,” he said. “Some of my heroes were in that room. I was genuinely concerned the floor was going to fall through.”

Enter NFL Films, which for more than six decades has turned a violent sport into an art form, filling the frame with meticulous focus on a Matthew Stafford spiral — and without the benefit of a second take. Those camera operators are heavily involved in the production of both the upcoming movies and the streaming series.

“That’s our whole thing,” Reed said. “How do we support great filmmakers and make sure they know how to access the resources and expertise that NFL Films has developed over 60 years, and combine those two together? That, to me, is the secret sauce of the venture.”

What’s more, what the father-and-son combination of Ed and Steve Sabol created in NFL Films provides an incredible library for future projects.

“The well is infinite,” said Jessica Boddy, vice president of commercial operations and business affairs for NFL Films. “We’ve only scratched the surface.”

For Fogelman, “The Land” is scratching a creative itch he’s felt since childhood.

“I’ve wanted to do this show for 20 years,” he said. “I’m a failed athlete myself. My connection with my father growing up — he worked a lot — was I grew up in Pittsburgh as a Steelers fan and also migrated to New Jersey, where we became Giants fans. My dad would let me watch games with him if I was quiet and didn’t act goofy. We would also throw the football back and forth.

“Now, many decades later, my father is 83, and our connection is that we talk every Monday after Giants games. He now talks with my son and me. For me, football has been very much in the fabric of my life and my relationship with my friends. This has been something I’ve been chasing for a very long time.”

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Fresh blow for Scott Mills after BBC sacking as M3 bridge tribute to star is permanently removed

SCOTT Mills has been dealt with a fresh blow after his sacking from the BBC as his M3 bridge tribute has been permanently removed.

It was officially unveiled as The Scott Mills Bridge back in 2016 and a plaque was installed at Fleet Services on the M3.

Scott Mills has been dealt with a fresh blow after his sacking from the BBC Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
A tribute plaque was installed in 2016 after a bridge was named after him Credit: News Group Newspapers ltd
The plaque has now been taken down Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk

His then BBC Radio 1 co-host Chris Stark and Welcome Break staff led a campaign to rename it after him.

However, after his dismissal from the BBC, the plaque has now been removed.

In official pictures obtained by The Sun, the plaque which was previously on a wall next to a set of stairs, has been taken down.

The black and silver frame previously said “The Scott Mills Bridge” alongside the Welcome Break logo and his signature.

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The Sun previously revealed that the bridge would be renamed as Welcome Break, who own the service station, want to disassociate themselves from Scott, 53, following the scandal.

A source explained last month: “It’s highly likely Welcome Break will rename the bridge in light of Scott being fired, especially given the nature of the allegations.

“It’s not a great look for them to be associated with any scandals.”

Scott was suddenly axed by the BBC with news of his sacking being made public last month.

He was last on-air as host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Tuesday, March 24, before a complaint arose.

BBC chiefs are understood to have taken swift action in sacking him thereafter.

The complaint is believed to relate to “serious sexual offences” against a teenage boy.

He was questioned by police under caution in 2018 – when he was in his 40s, the Mirror reports.

The interview was related to alleged offences which took place between 1997 and 2000.

The case was dropped in full due to a lack of evidence.

Scott was sacked last month due to his “personal conduct” Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

A source close to Mills — the BBC’s 11th highest-paid star — told The Sun: “Scott was told about the allegation in a meeting with senior staff present. He was tense.

“He has completely shut down now and no one can get hold of him. No calls, no messages — nothing.

“The people who know him are blindsided by all of this and they can’t get hold of him.”

An internal message was sent around Radio 2 after Mills’ exit was made public.

It was revealed last week that Sara Cox will take over as host of BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show.

She expressed: “There are not enough adjectives to really sum up how I’m feeling about being trusted with such an iconic show but let’s start with ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed.

“It’s been a dream to host the Breakfast Show since I joined Radio 2 and it feels like a bit of a full circle for me.

“I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on Teatime so thank you to my brilliant Teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests.

“I honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever.”

Sara Cox has replaced Scott as host of BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show Credit: Getty

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