show biz

Strictly Come Dancing is set to go through another huge shake up before it even begins, as 15 new celebs head to the dancefloor to compete for the Glitterball trophy

Strictly Come Dancing is about to undergo a huge shake-up as it returns to previously ditched format. The show, which has already faced several changes this year, is set to scrap the introductory video tapes it that it had been using to reveal the whom had been coupled with whom.

In recent years, the launch show had seen the Strictly celebs head to locations across the country to meet the pro dancer they would be partnered with for the rest of the competition. But the show has now decided to return to its pre-Covid format in which the partnerships would be announced live in the studio, with the dancers and celebs finding out at the same time as the audience.

The news was revealed on Radio Northampton when Graeme Hall, one of this year’s contestants, said: “This year, they’re doing it slightly differently. We don’t find out until the launch show. You have no say in it, the pros have no say in it.”

The launch show is set to air on 19 September. It is pre-recorded, so those watching at home will be finding out slightly later than the contestants, and it will air the week before the live shows begin.

This year’s contestants were announced over several weeks, starting in June. Over the summer, the names were slowly released to the public. The crop of celebs taking part this year are: Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Jaime Winstone, Will Best, Sean Wright-Phillips, Bethany Antonia, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, John Nellis, Tabby Stoecker, Dame Sarah Storey and Melanie Walters.

Fans have previously expressed disappointment in the line-up, with some saying they were unimpressed with the calibre of celebrity taking part. Most critics took complaint with Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser Chris Appleton taking part, and dog trainer Graeme Hall, as they felt they were not famous enough.

Following Graeme’s announcement on 5 August, many asked who he was and one said the BBC were “scraping the bottom of the barrel”.

Another slammed the line-up as “boring”, saying: “Genuinely who even are half the people doing strictly this year, apart from like three people this is the most boring lineup ever”

A third said: “This has got to be one of weakest line ups”. Similar was said at the time of Chris Appleton’s announcement a fan joked: “Looking forward to Katie Price ’s cleaner joining the line up”.

Many pros from previous years are returning, but the show has also welcomed several new pro dancers, as Strictly said goodbye to Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Nadiya Bychkova earlier this year. Former pro Johannes Radebe also won’t compete this year, as he is one of the new hosts.

In the middle of last year’s season, long time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they were quitting the show. As such, new hosts had to be found for this year, and the BBC decided to appoint three people to the role – Johannes, comedian Josh Widdicombe and presenter Emma Willis.

The change didn’t stop there, as former pro dancer turned It Takes Two host Janette Manrara and her co-presenter Fleur East have left the spin off show. They were replaced by Ellie Taylor, who has taken part in Strictly as a contestant.

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A lawsuit filed in federal court on Friday accuses writer and director Taylor Sheridan of stealing the idea for his powerhouse success “Yellowstone” from Lauren J. Salkin, a Virginia-based journalist and screenwriter.

Requests for comment from representatives for Sheridan, Paramount and NBCUniversal, all among those named as defendants in the lawsuit, were not immediately returned on Saturday.

The lawsuit says that Salkin spent more than 10 years developing a series to be called “Sovereign Nation,” which is described as “a dramatic television series centered on tribal governance, casino-driven economic power, and a modern war over land and development” with the overall project copyrighted beginning in 2010 and a specific pilot script copyrighted in 2016.

Having submitted the project to Sheridan’s management company, Elevate Entertainment, in February 2017, according to the filing, Salkin later received an email message that included the statement, “Taylor thanks you very much for your interest. Unfortunately, he’s unavailable for TV projects.”

Soon after, Paramount greenlit Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” project, with the first episode airing on June 20, 2018.

The lawsuit goes on to catalog a list of similarities between “Sovereign Nation” and “Yellowstone,” stating, “What then appeared in ‘Yellowstone’ was not merely another Western about land or family. It included specific expressive choices already embodied in Salkin’s materials.”

Kevin Costner in “Yellowstone.”

(Paramount)

Actors Gil Birmingham and Danny Huston were mentioned in Salkin’s original pitch deck as potential casting ideas for her show. Both would later appear on “Yellowstone.” The lawsuit goes on to say that the subsequent “Yellowstone” spinoffs “1883,” “1923,” “Marshalls” and “Dutton Ranch” are therefore also based on Salkin’s work.

The lawsuit states, “Copyright law does not protect the abstract idea of a Western, a land dispute, an Indian casino, or a powerful family — and that is not Plaintiff’s claim. The infringement alleged here lies in the copying of Salkin’s particular expressive choices and their coordinated selection and arrangement.”

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial, an injunction against ongoing and future copyright infringement and unspecified damages.

“Yellowstone” ran for five seasons from 2018-2024. Sheridan, who is also behind shows such as “Tulsa King,” “Landman” and “Mayor of Kingston,” is set to move his production company from Paramount to NBCUniversal in 2029. Sheridan was also nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 for best original screenplay for the neo-western “Hell or High Water.”

Reading and Leeds PRIZE DRAW PROMOTION RULES:

1. By entering this promotion (the Promotion), you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (the Terms and Conditions).  Completion and submission of an entry form or e-mail will also be deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.  Promotional materials relating to the Promotion, including all information on how to enter the Promotion published in publications of the Promoter (including social media if applicable) or on the Promoter’s websites, also form part of these Terms and Conditions. In the event of any conflict between any terms referred to in such promotional materials and these Terms and Conditions, these Terms and Conditions take precedence.
2. The promoter of this Promotion is News Group Newspapers Ltd (publishers of The Sun and The Sun on Sunday) of 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF (the Promoter).

Eligibility

3. The Promotion is only open to residents of the United Kingdom.
4. You must be aged 18 years or older to enter the Promotion. 
5. The following individuals are not eligible to enter the Promotion:
   1. employees and agents of the Promoter, News Corp UK & Ireland Limited (or any group companies of the Promoter or News Corp UK & Ireland Limited);

2. employees and agents of (i) any organisation directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion (including third party promotional partners); and (ii) any associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies of such organisations or partners; and

3. the immediate families and household members of all such employees and agents referred to in (a) and (b).

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6. By entering the Promotion, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and are eligible to claim the Prize you may win. The Promoter may require you to provide proof of your age, residency, and eligibility to enter the Promotion. If a Winner is found to be ineligible, the Promoter reserves the right to award the Prize to another participant and to require the return of the Prize (or any portion of the Prize) if already awarded. The Promoter’s decision as to whether an entrant is eligible for this promotion is final and the Promoter is not obliged to provide any reasons for disqualification.
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Timing

8. The Promotion starts at 01.00am (UK time) on Sunday 23rd August 2026 and closes at 11.59pm (UK time) on Monday 24 August 2026 (the Promotion Period). Any entries received outside the Promotion Period are automatically disqualified. 

How to Enter

9. How to enter:

10. Participants may make a maximum of one entry per person during the Promotion Period. Bulk, automatically generated or third party entries are void.

11. The Promoter reserves the right to remove or temporarily suspend any entries submitted from the Promotion if it reasonably suspects any breach of these Terms and Conditions or if it receives any complaint from any third party relating to such entry.

12. Any entries received other than via the official entry methods will not be accepted. Use of script, macro or any automated system to enter the Promotion is prohibited. Entries made (or which appear to have been made) using any such system may be treated as void.  Any illegible, incomplete or fraudulent entries will be rejected. No purchase of any product or service is required to enter into this Promotion. 

13. Incomplete or illegible entries will be void.  

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14. There will be 2 (two) winners of the Promotion (the Winners), who will receive a Prize (as defined below). One Winner will be selected at random from all valid entries for “Reading”, and one Winner will be selected at random from all valid entries for “Leeds”, received during the Promotion Period by a computer process that produces verifiably random results. There will be no prizes for any other participants.

15. The Prizes are:
16. One pair of general admission tickets to Reading Festival (awarded to the Reading draw Winner). Tickets are valid for 5 days between 26 August 2026 and 30 August 2026 only. Winner must be 18 or over (valid photo ID may be required). If the Winner’s guest is a minor, the minor must be accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian (at their own expense). Venue reserves the right to refuse entry. Winner and guest are responsible for travel to and from the show, at their own expense. Winner and guest must use tickets on the same date[s].

2. One pair of general admission tickets to Leeds Festival (awarded to the Leeds draw Winner). Tickets are valid for 5 days between 26 August 2026 and 30 August 2026 only. Winner must be 18 or over (valid photo ID may be required). If the Winner’s guest is a minor, the minor must be accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian (at their own expense). Venue reserves the right to refuse entry. Winner and guest are responsible for travel to and from the show, at their own expense. Winner and guest must use tickets on the same date[s].

16. The Prize is non-exchangeable and non-transferable.  The Winners have no right to request or receive an alternative to the Prize, and the Prize cannot be redeemed for cash or its monetary value, in whole or in part. 

17. Notwithstanding paragraph 16 above, in the event that, for any reason beyond the Promoter’s reasonable control, the Promoter is unable to award the Prize as described in these Terms and Conditions, the Promoter reserves the right to award a prize of a similar nature and an equivalent value, or at its sole discretion, the cash value of the Prize.  The Promoter also reserves the right to award a prize of a similar nature and an equivalent value, or at its sole discretion, the cash value of the Prize if in its reasonable discretion it is appropriate to do so.

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19. By participating in the Promotion, participants agree that the Prize is awarded on an “as is” basis and that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Promoter nor any of its subsidiary or affiliated companies, make any guarantees, representations or warranties of any nature with respect to the Prize. 

20. The Promoter may amend or withdraw any element of a competition, prize draw, vote or poll for reasons beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to the unavailability of the vote, poll, competition or prize draw entry platform before the closing date, or for strike, lock-out, labour dispute, illness, act of God, natural disaster, adverse weather conditions, war, riot, civil commotion, accident, public health concern in relation to potential infection, epidemic or pandemic, malicious damage, fire, flood and/or storm, compliance with law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, breakdown of plant, machinery or transportation.  The Promoter is not responsible for any loss or damage caused to you as a result of any of these occurrences.  

Winners Notification and Claiming Prize 

21. The Promoter will use its reasonable endeavours to notify the Winners by phone or using the other contact details provided to the Promoter on Tuesday 25 August.  The Winners need to confirm acceptance of the Prize within 24 hours of being notified they have won. Winners may be required to submit valid identification before receiving their prize.   

22. If a Winner cannot be contacted within this 24 hour window or (ii) refuses or is unable to confirm acceptance of the Prize, the Promoter reserves the right to re-draw a new Winner at random, using a computer process that produces verifiably random results), from the remaining valid entries that were received during the Promotion Period.   
23. The Prize will be delivered, or details with instructions on how to book or obtain the Prize will be communicated, to the Winner within 12 HOURS after the Prize has been accepted.  

Publicity and Data Protection 

24. The Promoter will collect and process participants’ personal information in accordance with the privacy policy at http://www.newsprivacy.co.uk/. 
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26. The Winners of this Promotion may be asked to participate in publicity.

27. If Winners objects to their information being published and/or made available, or participating in publicity as described above, they should inform the Promoter at the earliest opportunity by emailing help@thesun.co.uk.  The Winners acknowledge that the Promoter may still be required to share their details with the Advertising Standards Authority or other regulators.

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28. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall in any way limit or exclude the Promoter’s liability for fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by its negligence or for any other matter where liability may not be limited as a matter of law. 

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30. The Promoter will not be responsible for any lost, damaged, defaced, incomplete, illegible or otherwise unreadable entries. Proof of sending an entry (whether by post, email, SMS or other method) is not proof of receipt by the Promoter of any entries.

31. Without prejudice to a participant’s statutory rights and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Promoter, its agents or distributors will not be responsible or liable to compensate the Winners or accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by or any personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up a Prize.

32. The title in the Prize and any risk of loss or damage to the Prize will pass to the Winners upon delivery of the Prize to such Winner. The Promoter is not liable for or obliged to replace any defective, lost, damaged or stolen Prize where such defect, loss or damage is not due to the fault and/or negligence of the Promoter.

General 

33. The Promoter’s decision as to the Winners of the Prize is final and binding on the participants. The Promoter will not enter into correspondence with participants in relation to this decision.

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In-paper T&Cs 

Your terms and conditions to be included in the paper are set out below.  If space is particularly limited, please discuss with legal to ascertain if it is possible to shorten these further.  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Promotion closes at 23.59pm on Monday 24 August. Open to residents of the United Kingdom who are aged 18 years or older, excluding employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries and notified by phone/email on Tuesday 25 August 2026. Winners must claim their prize by 23.59 on Tuesday 25 August 2026. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at newsprivacy.co.uk Promoter is News Group Newspapers Limited. Full T&Cs apply – see [insert hyperlink].

Social Media T&Cs

Your terms and conditions to be included in the social media post are set out below.  If space is particularly limited, please discuss with legal to ascertain if it is possible to shorten these further.  

How to participate: Enter via Sun Club hub or email sundayfeatures@the-sun.co.uk with name, address and contact number.   UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 24/08/2026.  Promoter: News Group Newspapers Ltd

ACTRESS Rebecca Ferguson shimmers in silver — before smooching her co-star during filming for her upcoming movie.

Rebecca, 42, and Greta Lee, 43, were seen locking lips for the untitled flick in London.

Greta revealed earlier this month she is starring in a romance featuring two women.

She said: “I haven’t done that before.

“Full on, baby.

“I’m doing my stretches.”

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It comes after Rebecca dazzled in a silver dress at the Birmingham premiere of the Peaky Blinders film.

We revealed last year how Peaky Blinders fans were treated to a first look teaser of the upcoming The Immortal Man film which sees Cillian Murphy return as Tommy Shelby.

Rebecca joined the cast of hit series The Peaky Blinders for its return in movie format.

The actress played a a magical, palm-reading gypsy who visits reclusive Tommy Shelby at his home.

The film was met with mixed reviews, and featured Barry Keoghan taking over the reins from Cillian Murphy’s Shelby.

Rebecca is set to feature in the third instalment of the Dune trilogy.

Choose your own adventure: would you rather travel vicariously with Sean Duffy or Conan O’Brien as your guide?

“Great American Road Trip,” the reality series from the Department of Transportation starring Secretary Duffy and his family, finally launched this week on YouTube after months of delays. Originally set to premiere in June, ahead of the nation’s 250th celebration, it follows Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” and their nine children as they travel through seven states. While the couple has roots on MTV’s “The Real World,” their new TV venture doesn’t seem destined to have the same cultural impact. The six episodes of the series — as of publication time — have just over 14,000 views combined.

Meanwhile, over on HBO Max, O’Brien is back for more unpredictable cross-cultural exchanges with the return of his travel series. Now in its third season, “Conan O’Brien Must Go” follows the comedian and podcast host around the world as he interacts with fans and provides glimpses of everyday life abroad with his blend of improvisational comedy and an affinity for situations that embrace the absurd. The season kicks off with a trip to India, a major feat considering the show has faced years of permit delays related to a remote segment for “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” that aired in 2004. I spoke with executive producer and director Mike Sweeney about the latest stops in the show’s world tour.

Plus, our writers recommend two TV dramas that feature formidable women — one is a former city slicker solving mysteries in the Montana wilderness, the other is a detective trying to untangle a missing woman’s case while her personal life is falling apart.

But before I set you on your streaming way, I want to also share our guide to some of Hayden Panettiere’s most notable work. When news broke this week about her sudden death at age 36, it came as an extraordinary shock. Panettiere had been working in front of the camera since she was in diapers, appearing in commercials and, by age 4, making the rounds in the soap opera circuit. Like many millennials, my first exposure to her talent was in Disney’s 2000 sports drama “Remember the Titans,” where she (at age 10) played the spunky, football-loving daughter of a high school assistant coach — and delivered the line that helped signal the prep sport was bigger than Christmas in Virginia. Though her career was cut far too short, she was part of some memorable projects, including “Heroes” and “Nashville,” that are worth revisiting.

Her influence, though, extends beyond her screen work. In her appreciation of Panettiere, culture critic Mary McNamara wrote of the Panettiere’s candidness about her mental health struggles, which included bringing awareness to the realities of postpartum depression: “Panettiere spoke up when she could have remained silent. She called out a truth that has been too long ignored and gave millions of women a chance to ask for help. She might not have saved the world, but she threw a big part of it a lifeline.” — Yvonne Villarreal

Turn on

Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times

Tracy Spiridakos as Anna Pigeon and Paulina Alexis as Zoey Bear Child in “Anna Pigeon.”

(Michelle Faye / USA Network)

“Anna Pigeon” (USA Network)

This highly watchable, lightly addictive, woodsy episodic procedural dishes up meat and potatoes entertainment, or perhaps one should say “poutine,” given that almost all the talent involved is Canadian, as is the impressive scenery. Tracy Spiridakos (“Chicago P.D.”), just the right number of hairs out of place, plays Anna, a New York City stage manager turned federal park ranger after a personal tragedy. In Nevada Barr’s series of novels, the heroine works at a new park from book to book; here, we’re in Montana’s Glacier Park (it does run right up to Canada), the setting of the 2001 “Blood Lure,” with Anna apparently ready to stay put as long as the TV series lasts. (The first Pigeon novel, “Track of the Cat,” from 1993, informs the pilot, directed by Leah Thompson, not Canadian.) Missing persons, bank robbers, litterbug campers and an aggressive grouse bring the trouble. And murderers, of course. Community is a theme; there’s a handsome bartender for romance, a rich villain to hiss. There’s a talent show. The cherry on this sundae is Paulina Alexis, Willie Jack from “Reservation Dogs,” as Anna’s sidekick, enlivening the ensemble with her centered, serious, quietly humorous energy. — Robert Lloyd

Eve Myles as Annie Cassidy and David Morrissey as Michael Polly in “Gone.”

(James Pardon / Britbox)

“Gone” (Britbox)

Like many British murder mysteries, “Gone” opens in a picturesque portion of that green and pleasant land, in this case the rugby pitch of a stately boys school outside Bristol. Overseeing the home team is headmaster/rugby coach Michael Polly (David Morrissey) who has the mien and manner of a perpetually disappointed tyrant. When Polly’s wife, Sarah, cannot be found at the home they share with their adult daughter, Alana (Emma Appleton), it’s difficult to tell how he’s feeling, if anything. He certainly will not allow a missing wife to interfere with his task of molding boys into men, not with exams and a Very Important rugby final coming up. When he finally reports her absence to the police, it is pretty clear to everyone, especially Det. Sgt. Annie Cassidy (Eve Myles), that he knows more than he’s telling. But is it British reticence, or something more sinister?

Those accustomed to the speedy lab results and instant deductions of a standard police procedural may find themselves, at least initially, shouting out instructions and demands — how can the forensics report be so scanty? why is [fill in the blank] not brought in for questioning? But the show is, essentially, a psychological drama wrapped in a murder mystery. Anchored by splendidly counterintuitive performances by Morrissey and Myles, “Gone” will wrap up its case over six tense and twisty episodes. But the questions it raises — about the insidious power of abusive relationships, the complexity of human emotions and the peril of considering secrecy as protection — linger long after immediate justice is served. — Mary McNamara

Guest spot

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

Conan O’Brien in a segment filmed in Morocco for Season 3 of “Conan O’Brien Must Go.”

(Team Coco / HBO)

As a member of the growing subgenre of celebrity travelogue, Conan O’Brien has cuddled with Javier Bardem in Spain, dressed up as Sigmund Freud in Vienna and faced off against a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand. The new season of “Conan O’Brien Must Go” has the frequent flier funnyman visiting India, the Netherlands, Morocco and the Philippines — meeting his international fans and testing how well his improvisational humor translates. I spoke with his longtime collaborator Mike Sweeney, co-writer and director on every episode, about this season’s locations and O’Brien’s SPF needs. — Y.V.

The series is a chance for Conan to interact with international fans, particularly those that have been on the podcast. Why do you think Conan’s style of humor travels so well?

He’s fearless. I think that helps. He genuinely loves people, and he has to make people laugh. He has to make people laugh all the time in the United States. And then if you put him in another country, he’s going to figure out how to get his laughs over there, even if no one speaks English. It’s literally like being thrown in a room where he’s got to find his oxygen, and he’s gonna find it by getting laughs everywhere he goes. I’m sure the fact we have a camera with us, people are curious. They tend to attract people who want to open up and play around. People can spot him from a mile away. That also helps. That’s another key to a good travel show — have a really tall orange-haired host.

The first episode is set in India. Things start with him trying to get on a crowded commuter train. What were some moments from that episode that stand out to you?

Yes, we wanted to go in the famous Mumbai commuter trains. Boy, the amount of red tape to get permission to even go down on the platform was crazy. We had to do it several months out. But we loved that [segment]. We loved playing street cricket. He had a young man teaching him, named Veer [Pandey], who was very funny and kind of dismissive of Conan, and that’s kind of Conan’s sweet spot.

Some countries have incredible restrictions — you might need permits to talk to people in the street, you’re dealing with curveballs. And a lot of what Conan does is improvised and you don’t want rules to get in the way. How how do you deal with that?

It varies from country to country. You get a feel for it early on and go, “Oh, we need figure things out far in advance here. You’re getting to a very important point, which is: How much red tape is there in each country? India — a ton. We knew that because we almost shot there in 2018 [for “Conan Without Borders”] and it fell through ultimately because of all this red tape. We knew we really had to have a running start with India. But the Philippines, they were pretty cool. Same with the Netherlands. You know what the big issue is nowadays? Drones, where they let you shoot with drones.

Conan O’Brien during a Bollywood segment in his travel series.

(Team Coco / HBO)

What’s it like doing a travel show as the current administration puts stress on international relations? Did you notice any shifts this season on how you were either received or what’s possible to get cleared because you’re an American show?

Not overtly. Nothing was represented as like, “Oh, you want to come shoot here? Well, we’ll teach you a lesson.” I’d say really surprisingly, it was business as usual in terms of getting permissions to shoot. What’s going on in the crazy United States really wouldn’t come up that much because the things we’re doing are apolitical, which is usually how we like to do it. It’s Conan connecting with people and, in a way, be a political statement because it comes down to respecting other cultures and wanting to learn about other cultures and bridging gaps that way.

There was that moment on the commuter train where a passenger rebuffs Conan by saying, “Fake a— liberal media.” And Conan just rolls with it.

Yes, it’s just like, “Oh, they they even have people calling stuff out like that over here.” It was almost like, “OK, I feel at home. Thank you.”

We all saw that Conan, famous for his red pompadour hairstyle, recently made headlines for a slick, oily hairdo, which was the result of a severe scalp sunburn. In the Morocco episode, there’s a sun-heavy segment. Were you worried about his scalp then? How much budget goes to Conan’s SPF needs?

He’s self-regulating because he has to be that way in California. He has to be that way on a cloudy day in Cape Cod. It’s just ingrained in him, his sun protection. I don’t even think about it. It was business as usual for him in Morocco.

What’s a show you’re currently obsessed with or recommending to people?

We loved “Widow’s Bay” [Apple TV], of course. I sound like everyone else, but also Katie Dippold is great. She was an intern at “Conan,” and I’ve seen her a few times over because we kind of lived near each other in Los Feliz. But she’s just delightful. We’re so happy for her, and plus that show was just amazing. And my wife and I dipped back into “Slow Horses.”

ICYMI

Must-read stories you might have missed

Pity the period. And the comma and the semicolon too. Punctuation is the sturdy armature of written language, yet it does its job quietly, in the background. We tend to spend far more time analyzing the written words than we do the dots, dashes and ellipses that give those words meaning, nuance and tone.

In her new book “On the Mark: From Periods to Interrobangs, How Punctuation Remade the World,” author Florence Hazrat argues for punctuation as no less than the bricks and mortar of civilization, the deceptively simple and endlessly pliable tools that made humankind. I recently chatted with Hazrat, a Berlin resident, about scare quotes, emojis and the magic of parentheses.

✍️ Author Chat

Florence Hazrat, author of the new book “On The Mark,” writes about the history of punctuation.

(Masoud Ali Shaiwani)

What sparked your interest in punctuation?

It was a long time back, when I was studying for my master’s degree. I was working with Renaissance romances, which have a lot of parentheses. I just asked myself, where does this come from? And why don’t we use parentheses like this anymore? And then I did my post doc on this very topic. So it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Going back to the earliest cuneiform texts, we see that they consist of words bunched together like commuters on a rush-hour subway. There is no space between words and no punctuation.

Writing was just a manifestation of speech. Text was meant to be read aloud. It would have been shocking 2,700 years ago to see someone reading silently. There is an anecdote that when Alexander the Great was spotted reading to himself, people were stunned.

It took hundreds of years for punctuation to really bloom. The Renaissance, with its increased literacy rates, elevated punctuation into an art.

During the Renaissance, text needed to do more. Writing moved out of the monastery, into trade and diplomacy, science, education and so on. The humanists of the Renaissance who loved language wanted text to be able to do more than it historically had been doing. They wanted to bring more nuance and tone into writing.

And silent reading became the normal practice.

Silent reading is so interesting because it’s a kind of subversive act. It’s a private act, so you can be reading anything. There was a lot of consternation at the time that women would spend all their time reading romance stories.

You also write about punctuation as a political tool, especially the power of quotation marks to ironize or diminish the meaning of the words in between the quotes.

Quotes in and of themselves are empty signs. Which means they can be used for all kinds of political purposes. We can delegitimize an entire race of people using scare quotes or belittle something like COVID-19 simply by putting it in between quotes. We’re wresting a word used by another group and changing its meaning with quotes.

You discuss the advent of digital communication, and the ways we use and abuse punctuation now. Yet, we are very sensitive to punctuation in the public sphere. I’m thinking of the use of capital letters in words that connote race, for example.

Absolutely. There are two sides of the culture that contradict each other. Texting seems to be such an informal medium and something we dash off very quickly. Nobody really expects proper grammar in a text. Yet a misplaced period or comma in certain texts, like the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution, for example, can set people off into endless arguments.

What is your feeling about emojis? I find them to be a very rich communication tool. They can have literal or figurative meaning, depending on context. And the meaning can shift over time.

I love emojis. I think they’re still quite misunderstood. They are covering so many functions, because we put them after clauses, for example. We just don’t put them anywhere. But they aren’t punctuation, because we can’t actually make them when we write manually.

Are you pessimistic about the future of punctuation with kids on ChatGPT and texting in elementary school?

Not really. Children who are texting at 9, 10 years old are still learning the rules of grammar and punctuation offline at school ideally. They still have to read books. They have to write essays by hand. So I think the human brain knows how to process different inputs and switch accordingly.

This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.

📰 The Week(s) in Books

Paris Hilton performs at the Pussycat Doll Lounge located inside Pure Nightclub in Las Vegas on Feb. 16, 2008.

(Chris Weeks / Associated Press)

“Up All Night,” Imogen Willetts’ new history of urban nightlife, devotes a chapter to the L.A. club scene of the early aughts, when Paris Hilton was a ubiquitous scenester and Perez Hilton was writing about her. “I’m born and raised in London and lived here my whole life and when I was a teenager, it was like the early 2000s era,” Willetts told Lina Lecaro. “I was like, I have to write about L.A. in the 2000s because that was what we were absolutely aspiring to at all times.”

Shortly after the trailer for the movie adaptation of her novel “Children of Blood and Bone” dropped, author Tomi Adeyemi hinted at an on-set ordeal that traumatized her, Emily St. Martin reports. “It’s a reality that I’ve had to live with for about a year and a half, and everyone involved, at least at the highest level, has been made aware of this reality, and they haven’t done anything to make it better,” Adeyemi said in a video posted to social media.

Stand-up comedian Anthony Jeselnik, an avid reader, has started an online book club that is gaining traction. “My goal was to curate and give people their best shot at enjoying reading,” he told Maddie Connors.

Ryan Murphy’s TV adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel “The Shards” is a visually vivid throwback to 1981 Los Angeles. Eloise Rollins-Fife gets the lowdown from the show’s production designer, Cat Smith, an L.A. native. “This is like time travel, but you’re traveling back to your childhood,” said Smith. “I’ve done period before, and you always feel like you’re time traveling to a certain extent, but it’s visceral when it’s yours.”

📖 Bookstore Faves

Hollywood Books is an indie bookshop started by a freelance film researcher.

(Roxanne David)

Hollywood Books is the most indie of indie bookshops. Housed in a nondescript storefront on Melrose Avenue, its only signage is a craft paper sign with bubbly pink letters. Hollywood Books was started by Rebecca Ressler, a freelance film researcher. Blond wood shelves surround the store; a round gingham couch beckons page-grazers to bide their time finding that perfect new or secondhand book before taking a short walk to Ressler’s husband’s restaurant Stir Crazy for a bite and a glass of Malbec.

I chatted with Ressler over email about her store.

What made you want to open a bookstore and how did you land upon your location?

The location, in many ways, inspired me to open the shop! I lived down the street and loved the space when it was Nonaka-Hill’s second gallery. After I had my son, I found it really hard to return to my work as a freelance researcher for filmmakers. I was originally set on figuring out a way to make the space a shared office with my husband and some friends. At some point, I had the idea of making it a bookstore and became determined!

What kind of books do you sell?

We sell both used and new books. We have small curated sections in photography, art, design, fashion, film, literature (novels, poetry, plays), nonfiction, children’s books, and cookbooks! I hope our customers find things at our shop they’ve never read or seen or a great copy of a classic they’re excited to cherish. Our books also make great gifts!

Who is shopping there? Who are your clients?

We are really lucky to be surrounded by great art and furniture galleries that people travel from all over to visit. Those customers are happily surprised when they wander into our store. We also have tons of neighbors and friends who keep coming back and help me determine what I can add to our inventory!

What genres tend to sell?

A little bit of everything! Children’s books are very consistent — even if people don’t read themselves they still want their kids to!

Why a bookstore in 2026 when The Atlantic, among other places, is decrying the end of reading?

Because I love books and think enough other people do too to keep my little store afloat!

Hollywood Books is at 6917 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA.

DAN Edgar and Chloe Lewis have been packing on the PDA during a romantic getaway to Marbella.

The Towie star couple, who only went Instagram official yesterday, aren’t afraid to let the world know they’re utterly loved-up and took to their socials to prove it.

In some new snaps posted to Chloe‘s Instagram story, Dan kisses her on the cheek while she beams a smile in a figure-hugging white dress.

They’re standing together outside under dimly lit lighting, embracing the romantic energy.

Other snaps show Dan and Chloe posing with their heads touching and some stunning photos of palm trees in Marbella.

Dan and Chloe pulled a similar move yesterday when hard launching their romance, posting a snap to their social media story.

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The sweet snap showed the couple wearing the same outfits as the PDA pics, except they’re instead standing together in an elevator.

Dan wrapped his arm around Chloe and placed a hand on her hip while she clicked a mirror selfie.

The pair have been dating for a year now after having a brief fling over a decade ago.

While Chloe and Dan were on Towie together, they never officially dated. Chloe admitted on the show that they had shared a kiss around 2015 before she joined the cast and rumours of romance between them were rife.

Dan went on to date a number of other women on the show, including Amber Turner, and most recently Ella Rae Wise, who he split from just three months before getting with Chloe. 

Chloe and Dan’s surprise reunion was ignited last year as the pair both attended the wedding of their close friends and Towie co-stars Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallet in Majorca.

Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs, who helped pen hits including “Money (That’s What I Want)” and “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” has died following an extended illness at a Los Angeles hospital, her family said Saturday. She was 87.

Bradford Hobbs was born in Charleston, Mo., and later moved to Detroit.

She was introduced in the late 1950s to Motown founder Berry Gordy by neighbor and singer Jackie Wilson. She joined Motown as a receptionist in 1958 and like many of the company’s employees took part in the creative process that helped make Motown a music industry powerhouse.

She and Gordy co-wrote “Money (That’s What I Want).” The song was recorded in 1959 by Barrett Strong and became an early hit. It was covered by the Beatles, which also become a hit.

“Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” first was recorded by The Temptations and later became a hit for Marvin Gaye. Bradford Hobbs also wrote songs for Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas and others.

“Janie was there with me from the very beginning, before there was even a Motown, and she will always hold a very special place in my heart and in the Motown family,” Gordy said in a statement.

“Janie was one of a special group I have always thought of as the original Motown family — the unsung heroes who believed in the dream before anyone knew what Motown would become,” Gordy continued. “She was one of the people who helped make Motown what it became.”

Bradford Hobbs later became head of writer relations for Jobete, Motown’s publishing company. After leaving Motown, she founded the annual Heroes and Legends Awards. The event spanned about 30 years, honoring music stars and awarding scholarships, according to her family.

She is survived by her husband, Wardean Hobbs; daughter, Nicole Hobbs; son, Lance Finney; and two grandsons.

Williams writes for the Associated Press.

Emma Willis, host of The Voice UK, underwent keyhole heart surgery last year after discovering she had unknowingly lived with a congenital hole in her heart

The Voice UK presenter Emma Willis previously opened up about a health condition she had no idea about for over four decades.

The 50-year-old will be back on screens tonight (Saturday, August 22) to present the latest series of the ITV singing competition, with Destiny’s Child superstar Kelly Rowland joining as a coach alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am and duo Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher.

Emma revealed she underwent successful keyhole heart surgery in early 2025 after discovering she had unknowingly lived with a congenital hole in her heart and an enlarged side for 48 years.

She has since recovered well with the support of her husband, Matt Willis. Routine health checks and an MRI revealed an enlarged heart, which led to further investigation by a cardiologist who found the congenital heart defect.

The mother-of-three underwent a successful keyhole procedure at the Royal Brompton Hospital. and while the physical healing was smooth, she noted that the psychological adjustment of recovering from internal heart changes took time.

Taking to Instagram to share snaps from hospital after she had keyhole heart surgery, Emma penned: :A big humungous THANK YOU to the team at the Royal Brompton Hospital for their care and support. A few weeks ago, I had keyhole heart surgery, which feels very strange to write, and even stranger when I say it out loud.

“From investigations last year, to diagnosis and then surgery, they were absolutely incredible. As was @mattjwillis who never left my side. Turns out, I’ve been pottering around for 48 years blissfully unaware I had a hole in my heart isn’t it bonkers what’s happening in our bodies that we have no idea about.

“What blows my mind even more is the wonders of modern medicine, and the spectacular people that save, fix and help us every single day. Can you imagine what it must feel like to have a pair of hands that can do that job?! They are the real superstar”

She continued:”A few of those people are Dr Alexander Lyon who investigated like a true super sleuth. Professor Wei Li, echocardiogram extraordinaire. Catrina, Carl and Tim who kept me at ease and humoured me when they were putting me to sleep.

“Marcus, Janet, Jayne, Hannah and Reem who monitored me at various points. Paulette, who was always up for a chat, gave great hugs, and loves a cinnamon slice as much as I do!

“There was a lovely woman with me in recovery but I was so out of it I can’t remember her name (so so sorry ) and my surgeon, Dr Ee Ling Heng… She was recommended as ‘a spectacular pair of hands’, but my god, she’s that and so much more.

“She has an ease and warmth that made me feel instantly comfortable all whilst being incredible professional and informative. I ask a million questions, and she answered them with the patience of a saint I knew as soon as we met that she was the woman I wanted poking around in my heart. Thank you Ee Ling, you’re one in a trillion.”

Emma, who will host Strictly Come Dancing when it returns to BBC One next month, has since partnered with the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness for cardiovascular conditions.

The Voice UK returns on Saturday, August 22 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX while Strictly Come Dancing kicks off next month on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Viewers couldn’t look away from their screens

A chilling documentary about one of the world’s most infamous serial killers is streaming now.

Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer was originally released in 2003 and it is still captivating viewers over 20 years on. The film dives into American murderer Aileen Wuornos’ crimes and trial, which ended in her execution in 2002.

A synopsis teases: “British documentarian Nick Broomfield creates a follow-up piece to his 1992 documentary of the serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a highway prostitute who was convicted of killing six men in Florida between 1989 and 1990.

“Interviewing an increasingly mentally unstable Wuornos, Broomfield captures the distorted mind of a murderer whom the state of Florida deems of sound mind — and therefore fit to execute. Throughout the film, Broomfield includes footage of his testimony at Wuornos’ trial.”

The documentary is now available to watch on Channel 4, along with the director’s original 1992 film, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer. Those without access to Channel 4 can alternatively stream the movie on STV Player.

Both critics and casual viewers have shared glowing reviews of the film, with Rotten Tomatoes pundits giving it an impressive 85% score.

But fans have confessed they were deeply disturbed by Wuornos’ dark story and execution. One person posted: “Very bizarre and quite chilling documentary. It affected me and disturbed me in equal measure.”

Someone else agreed: “Ultimately this is a sad documentation of one woman’s mental demise on death row and one can’t help but feel empathetic towards Aileen and what her life amounted to.”

A third viewer added: “A deeply disturbing documentary of the iconic serial killer Aileen Wuornos from the most acclaimed documentary film maker in the U.K, Nic Broomfield. The documentary goes much deeper, much further than anybody could have anticipated.”

Yet another fan chimed in: “Chilling really sad story. This is one of those films that make you question your own humanity.”

Others were completely captivated by the film, with one sharing: “Really fantastic I did not regret watching it,” and another adding: “I was completely glued to the screen watching this documentary.”

Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer is available to stream on Channel 4 and STV Player.

The B&B owners faced a fiery clash as tensions mounted on payment day and one guest commented on another’s appearance.

Guests on Four in a Bed faced a fiery clash after comments were made about one contestant’s appearance.

The Channel 4 programme returned with a series of repeat episodes on Saturday, August 22, which saw tensions rise between Lancashire couple, Stu and Ali, and their competitors.

On payment day, The Dog Inn owners discovered they’d been underpaid by a total of £27.90, after hearing feedback about dirty dishcloths and a lack of a hairdryer.

“It didn’t surprise us, but still, it is upsetting when you get underpaid,” Stu admitted at one point, while their competitors maintained that the standards of cleanliness they discovered were “unacceptable”.

Things took a turn for the worse however when Stu and Ali faced their turn to deliver feedback, reports Lancs Live. Earlier in the week of filming, they’d stayed at Julie and Sarah’s property in the Lake District, Ullswater View.

And while other guests were impressed, Stu and Ali weren’t too happy. In the property, they discovered a bath robe didn’t fit Stu, as he quipped at the time: “One size does not fit all.”

And they had another complaint over the bedding, claiming the single beds put together to form a double were “useless”. “It’s just wrong, isn’t it?” Stu said, as Ali claimed “it took away the romance and intimacy”.

Reading their complaints, Julie and Sarah had fumed: “Stu and Ali’s comments were really stupid, and a bit of an insult.”

They then clashed with the Lancashire couple over the dressing gown situation, as Stu explained: “It’s super nice that you provide that for people, but it is just large, XL, so if you do get fat people like me coming in, you don’t provide for them. So I had to put both of them on to cover myself. So if your guests are of a larger size, maybe you say, would you like me to replace the dressing gown?”

Julie at first replied: “To be fair, we don’t get a lot of big people because it is very outdoorsy,” before Stu said: “Big people can walk outdoors.”

“Well they don’t tend to walk up fells,” Julie hit back, leaving Ali and Stu speechless. She went on: “I think you’re then pointing it out, and if somebody is sensitive to the fact that they’re big, I think they might be offended.”

Ali said: “You just said fat people can’t go up hills.” As Julie claimed the dressing gowns are one size, Stu said: “But everybody isn’t are they? Enough said.”

“It could have got quite heated,” Julie later admitted, while Ali told cameras: “To say that normally people of a larger size don’t come here because there’s walking…” Stu added: “Bit rude, wasn’t it?”

Four in a Bed is available to watch on Channel 4.

There’s no shortage of twisty, intriguing Netflix miniseries to tune into for your next binge session but one show – and its “bonkers” ending – will stay with fans long after they’ve finished watching

A “mind-bending”, “unpredictable” and “memorable” television miniseries has been lauded by fans – and it’s perfect for those who loved the psychological tension of Netflix’s hit show The Beast In Me, which was fronted by Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys.

Those craving intriguing television shows for their next binge-watching session have no shortage of options on Netflix, with The Stranger, His & Hers, Bodies and more all resonating with audiences and keeping people guessing until the final episode – but it’s a 2021 miniseries that still has telly fans talking. Many people turn to social media on the quest for recommendations, with some content creators amassing devoted followings thanks to their passion and insight into a vast array of shows.

This is the case with Luke Ecclestone, who posts content online as Eccy Reviews. He’s become a go-to source for many people looking for their next binge-watch.

The TV and film lover has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on social media where he shares his opinions and insights on a range of films and television programmes.

In a recent video posted to TikTok, he discussed three miniseries with a supernatural element and plenty of mystery – as the main discussion was all about Behind Her Eyes.

He began: “Here are three Netflix series that will leave you completely hooked and questioning everything.

“All of these shows are unsettling, unpredictable, and full of moments you will never see coming – and the last one on this list is on a whole another level.”

The first show he recommended was the 2022 supernatural thriller The 7 Lives Of Lea and the second was the 2021 gothic, supernatural horror miniseries Midnight Mass.

But it was the third entry on his list that Luke branded one of “the most memorable” shows of all time.

So, what’s the show in question? Luke said: “The last one on this list is absolutely mind bending – everyone I know who’s seen it absolutely loves it – and the show I’m talking about is called Behind Her Eyes.”

What is Netflix’s ’mind-bending’ 2021 miniseries about?

Behind Her Eyes first premiered on Netflix in early 2021. Based on Sarah Pinborough’s 2017 novel of the same name, it follows single mother Louise as she begins an affair with her new boss, David.

When she strikes up an unlikely friendship with David’s wife Adele, things become more and more bizarre, leaving Louise entirely unsure of who she can trust.

David and Adele’s marriage is complicated, yet Louise finds herself drawn to both of them. When Adele starts helping Louise control her night terrors, a supernatural element is involved that leads to devastating consequences for all.

Luke said: “Where this show went I never predicted in a million years.

“And it is one of the most memorable shows I have ever watched and if you haven’t seen it, you are massively missing out.”

How did viewers and critics respond to Behind Her Eyes?

In the comments section, fellow TikTok users were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “Looking for something you watch tonight… Behind Her Eyes it is!”

Another said: “Behind Her Eyes was absolutely amazing, did not expect the ending. Amazing – [you] defo need to watch. 10/10.”

A third agreed: “Behind Her Eyes is fantastic it blew my head off.”

While someone else was intrigued by all three shows and added: “Mate these sound well good.”

On popular review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, critics had strong reactions to the show – though its “bonkers” twist ending didn’t land with some.

Reviewer Silvina Lamazares said: “A well-structured, complex, attractive story.”

Anne Brodie commented: “Whiplash twists and turns make this a worthy watch as this uncomfortable trio enters new territory.”

But Gayle Sequeira added: “The show’s insistence on progressing towards that bonkers twist, however, results in it sacrificing storytelling in favour of shock.”

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival announced Friday that it will take a “much-needed year off in 2027” to recuperate from back-to-back years of storms.

“This wasn’t an easy decision, and not one we take lightly, but in our hearts, we know this break will only make Bonnaroo better,” organizers of the Manchester, Tenn., festival wrote on Instagram. “We hope you’ll continue radiating positivity in your community throughout the year, and thank you for loving this festival as much as we do.”

Bonnaroo did not announce a return date.

Typically, after a four-day festival ends, dates of the next year’s festival are announced immediately. But when organizers went quiet after the 2026 installment came to a close in June, fans sensed something was amiss.

Previous years have also seen cancellations. The 2020 festival was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, the fest was moved to September, but Hurricane Ida forced promoters to cancel after heavy rain turned the Farm — the festival’s venue — into a muddy mess.

In 2025, the music and arts festival started on time, but heavy rains forced promoters to scrap it before the end of the weekend.

As a result, Bonnaroo invested in improving the Farm to prepare for the 2026 festival by fixing its drainage, adding 4.5 miles of new roadways and planting 135 acres of new grass, according to the Instagram post.

Festivals around the country have had to deal with unpredictable and dangerous weather throughout the years. Earlier this year, Stagecoach in Indio, Calif., was forced to temporarily pause the festival and evacuate fans due to strong winds. Thousands of people were stranded at the Burning Man festival in 2023 in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada after heavy rain made it hard to leave the grounds due to the ankle-deep mud sticking to the tires of vehicles.

THE 15-year-old son of former Real Housewives star Kim Zolciak and NFL player Kroy Biermann has been arrested for alleged sex crimes against a girl in a gym.

Kroy Biermann Jr. was taken into custody on August 17 in Alpharetta, Georgia, and was hit with felony charges of aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery.

The teen is accused of leading a 15-year-old female acquaintance into a family changing room at a Life Time Fitness location before physically restraining her and forcing her to engage in sexual acts on April 23.

After the alleged attack, the girl went to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where she was examined by a nurse and a sexual assault kit was taken.

The Alpharetta Police Department confirmed he has been charged as an adult.

His father Kroy Biermann played for the Atlanta Falcons while his mom Kim starred in the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

On Friday his mom, who starred in the show between 2008 and 2012 issued a statement to US Weekly regarding the accusations.

“The allegations being made against my son are nothing short of reckless and deeply troubling,” she said.

“He categorically denies ever being involved with this woman or engaging in the conduct she has alleged.”

“My son voluntarily took a polygraph examination regarding these allegations and passed.”

She claimed that no DNA belonging to her son was found on the alleged victim and highlighted that “false accusations can have devastating consequences” for both the accused and survivors of such crimes.

The teenager is next due to appear at Fulton County Superior Court on September 8 and remains in custody at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center with no bond set.

Biermann Jr. is the eldest of four children Zolciak shares with former Atlanta Falcon Biermann.

The pair filed for divorce in August 2023 after 12 years of marriage.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

The McFly star returns to the spinning red chair tonight for The Voice UK, but what about his life away from the cameras?

The Voice UK judge Tom Fletcher has opened up about his heartbreaking condition.

The 41-year-old McFly singer-songwriter and author will be back in the hot seat as a coach on ITV’s The Voice UK this evening (Saturday, August 22). However, what fans might not know is that the musician suffers from a mental health condition.

He previously told Fearne Cotton how the condition had affected him since childhood. Tom explained: “Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been highly emotional. I’d feel excited one moment, then the polar opposite the next. But I think everyone just thought that’s who I was.”

It was only later that Tom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. According to the NHS : “Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where you have extreme mood changes. Medicines and talking therapy can help manage it.”

Some of the main symptoms include high moods and low moods, which last a few days or weeks at a time. However, the NHS goes on to state that there are times when a person’s mood is stable, and they don’t have any symptoms for weeks, months or even years.

However, it wasn’t just mood swings that affected him, and he stopped eating, choosing to “just” drink coffee, saying it was “so unhealthy”. Tom also kept much of his mental health struggles from his wife, actress and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher.

The musician reflected that he was sure he was “a nightmare to be with” during his down periods. “Like many men, quite often I would hide it from the people I was closest to,” Tom said.

He has also explained to Mother and Baby in 2025 how he also suffered from depression as part of their Where’s Your Head At? campaign. Tom admitted he only realised he had depression after watching a Stephen Fry documentary back in 2011 and it moved him to tears.

Tom said: “I was at a particularly low point when I saw it, and it was that that made me reach out and go and speak to someone. It was a really defining moment of my life.” He went on to say he was now in a “really good place” and said the programme was “so important” for him and added: “That really changed my life.”

Since then, Tom has been going from success to success after he recently won a highly coveted Olivier Award in April in the Best New Musical category for Paddington: The Musical. He wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, which will make its Broadway debut in spring 2027.

Before then, Tom will be trying to find the next big pop star on The Voice UK. Alongside Tom, Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Danny Jones will be returning to the show.

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However, there will be a new face joining them this time, with Destiny’s Child legend Kelly Rowland also becoming a coach. This year, there will also be a big change with the Rewind button, which will allow the coaches to bring someone back after regretting letting them go the first time.

The Voice UK starts on ITV tonight at 7pm

If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk . For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677

Matt Tebbutt returned Saturday Kitchen on August 22 and he welcomed special guest Dermot O’Leary as well as chefs Ellott Grover, Jack Stein, Roberta d’Elia and wine expert Helen McGinn

The latest line-up of Saturday Kitchen guests has got fans talking.

Chef Matt Tebbutt has been hosting the BBC cookery show for over nine years, having initially joined as a stand-in presenter in April 2016 before officially taking over as the permanent host in March 2017.

The presenter welcomed This Morning’s Demot O’Leary into the kitchen on Saturday (August 22) to discuss his latest work project as well as chefs Ellott Grover, Jack Stein, Roberta d’Elia and wine expert Helen McGinn was in charge of the drinks.

Before Matt got the chance to speak to his guests, viewers rushed to their keyboards to share their thoughts on the star-studded line-up.

One fan penned on social media: “Great line up.” Another added: “Incredible line-up.” A third person said: “Great. Looking forward to seeing @chef_roberta & @knackeredmother back.” A fourth wrote: “What a great line up.” Someone else agreed: “Great chefs and an amazing guest.”

Dermot appeared on the programme to promote his children’s book series Toto the Ninja Cat, which has a stage adaption touring across the UK through late 2026.

The former X Factor host also said that he’s “excited” following the news that the novel is being turned into a 52-episode action-comedy show by Emmy-winning head writers Nick Ostler and Mark Huckerby (Danger Mouse).

It comes after Laura Whitmore revealed her controversial favourite snack on the show. The former Love Island’s host dream snack proved to be controversial as host Matt said: “So Laura, a little birdy tells me you love eating raw mushrooms with mayonnaise?”

Laughing, Laura replied: “I love raw mushrooms.” The star then picked up a raw mushroom and proceeded to eat it as those watching turned in horror.

Presented with her own plate or raw mushrooms and two bottles of her personalised mayonnaise “Whit-Mayo”, Laura admitted the dish is called canapes, with which she sprinkles some cheese on top, adding: “That’s what I used to do when I was younger.”

The episode was first aired in 2022 and fans at the time were unimpressed. One person penned on X: “Watching in horror as Laura Whitmore eats raw mushrooms with mayonnaise on TV.”

After being served her favourite food of seafood linguine, paired with a glass of rose wine, Laura was seen enjoying her dish, seemingly speechless.

Saturday Kitchen airs weekly on BBC One at 10am

“God of War” has a new Kratos.

Dave Bautista will take over as the lead in the Amazon Prime live-action TV series based on the widely revered video game franchise of the same name.

“Sons of Anarchy” alum Ryan Hurst had initially landed the role of one of the most famous dads in video game history, but in June he suffered an injury on-set while performing a stunt.

Hurst was announced as Kratos in January, and in a social media post he said that he used to play as Kratos. “Now I get to be him,” he wrote. “Grateful to pick up the axe, and honored by the fans who made this story legendary.”

Hurst needed surgery after severely tearing his bicep, and the recovery time would push production into 2027, which reportedly conflicted with filming schedules. Earlier this year, Hurst completed filming on four episodes of the first season of the highly anticipated show, but those will be scrapped and reshot with Bautista stepping in, and production resuming in the fall.

“God of War,” based on PlayStation’s ancient-mythology themed video game, follows Kratos — a Spartan by birth who later becomes the Greek god of war — and his son, Atreus, as they set off on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Along the way, Kratos tries to help mold his son into a better god, and Atreus teaches his dad how to be a better man.

Bautista, a WWE wrestling champ turned movie star of Greek and Filipino descent, will join a cast that includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, Danny Woodburn as Brok, Sonya Walger as Freya, Island Austin as Thrud, Ben Chapple as Magni, Louis Cunningham as Modi, and Evelyn Miller as Gna.

Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye, known for “Shōgun,” “The Boys” and “Fallout,” is helming the first two episodes of the forthcoming series.

A NINETIES rocker with curly pink hair and specs looks almost unrecognisable, 29 years after her iconic smash hit song.

The performer, 68, appears world’s away from her previous on-stage persona, rocking a very different look these days.

Meredith Brooks was all the rage back in the late nineties following the release of her debut album in 1997.

In recent pictures posted on her Instagram, Meredith today sports big curly red locks, which is a far cry from her trademark jet black hair and rock chic ware from her stage heyday.

In one snap, she shows off her rouge hair in it’s natural curly state as she poses for the picture.

She captioned it: “I don’t think many of you have ever seen what my hair looks like before styling…

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“I’ve always been a curly girl. What do you think?”

One fan commented: “Raw, authentic, true nature, beauty.”

Another follower gushed: “Wow!!!! I wish I had known this in 1997, when I was a young 20-something musician obsessing over your straight hair on the cover of Blurring the Edges. You’re as gorgeous as ever!!”

While a third added: “Your hair looks terrific. You are gorgeous Meredith!!!”

In another picture uploaded to her feed, she’s seen smiling while wearing a pair of specs and a black baseball cap.

Meredith landed a record deal with Capitol Records back in 1995 and went on to release her album ‘Blurring the Edges’ two years later.

It went to number 22 in the US charts and became a top 10 album in various territories including the UK, Switzerland, Austria and New Zealand.

Her first song from the album, ‘B****’ landed in the number 2 spot and became a huge hit.

Meredith bagged two Grammy award nominations in 1998 for Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

She went on to release five more albums as well as many other singles but they failed to create the same impact as her first album and first track.

These days Meredith is managing and operating her production company, Kissing Booth Music.

She’s also producing, writing and coaching emerging artists and musicians.

BBC Breakfast presenter Charlie Stayt likes to keep his private life away from spotlight but is he married and does he have any children?

Charlie Stayt has woke up the nation on BBC Breakfast for 20 years.

The 64-year-old broadcaster has been a presenter on the morning show since 2006 and his co-host Naga Munchetty became a permanent member of the team in 2014.

He notoriously likes to keep his private life out of the spotlight and is rarely pictured with his wife, Anne Breckell, who is said to be a manager at a global corporation, according to The Sun.

However, The Mail report Annie works as a radio personality and an actress. The couple tied the knot back in 1995 before going on to welcome two children together two years later.

They first welcomed Phoebe Senara, who was born in 1997, and then Jake Hamilton, who arrived in 2000. According to reports, the family reside in west London.

Charlie is incredibly private about his family life and does not have a social media presence. Before becoming a journalist, Charlie reportedly had stints as a roofer, a barman, and a roadie.

He says these years were not entirely wasted and refers to himself as a “late starter as a journalist.” Charlie first began his career on a commercial radio station in his hometown of Gloucester, before landing a lucrative gig as a news presenter in London.

In 1995, he began his television career working for ITN, then joined Five News as a reporter. Shortly after this, he began presenting the network’s prime-time bulletins as well as the live debate programmes.

While working at Five News, he anchored the network’s 9/11 coverage and spent a total of ten years at ITN. In 2006, Charlie initially joined BBC Breakfast as a relief presenter but in December 2007, he was confirmed as the programme’s main host.

He also dabbled in the world of reality TV, hosting shows Jailbreak and Are You Telepathic and even appeared as a contestant on The Weakest Link in 2022.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com in 2023, Charlie offered a glimpse into his morning routine, sharing: “I refuse to snooze. As soon as the alarm goes off, I am up.

“The other thing is, I embrace the siesta. It’s become a big thing for me. I sort of sit down in the afternoon and consciously do nothing. No snooze and have a siesta, that’s the formula.”

Charlie, who co-hosts BBC Breakfast Thursday to Saturday, earns between £190,000 and £194,999 per year for his work on the show. This figure was confirmed in the BBC Annual Report covering top on-air salaries. His pay has remained unchanged from previous years.

It was announced last month that Charlie’s co-host Naga will be leaving Breakfast later this year as begins her new role on Radio 5 Live in January. It is yet to be revealed who will join Charlie on the sofa.

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am

Bruce Forsyth’s former Wentworth mansion, once shared with widow Lady Wilnelia, has reportedly been left empty and deteriorating years after she sold it for £5.7million

Bruce Forsyth‘s widow Lady Wilnelia has moved on from the lavish Surrey mansion she shared with the TV legend, but the once-glamorous property has reportedly been left abandoned.

The sprawling home, known as Straidarran, sits on the exclusive Wentworth Estate, where huge mansions owned by celebrities, sports stars and wealthy international buyers line the private roads.

Bruce lived at the property for decades before his death in 2017, aged 89, following a battle with bronchial pneumonia. Three years later, in April 2020, Wilnelia, 68, sold the mansion to a Bermuda-based businesswoman for a reported £5.7million.

But despite the hefty price tag, there appears to have been little visible activity at the property since the sale.

Locals say the home has been left largely untouched, with no obvious signs of residents or major refurbishment work.

Once the setting for Bruce and Wilnelia’s glamorous life, the mansion came packed with luxury features including a ten-seat cinema, swimming pool, tennis court, gym, library and wine cellar.

The gates still bear an “F” crest associated with Forsyth’s surname, while warning signs have been erected around the property.

One local said the situation was particularly unusual because overseas buyers on the estate often demolish older properties and replace them with new-build mansions.

“Normally overseas owners on the estate knock these old homes down and build a new one. So it is a very strange situation with Bruce’s old home, where seemingly nothing has happened since Wilnelia sold it six years ago,” they told The Sun.

The source claimed the only noticeable change had been the arrival of security following break-ins. They added: “The only thing I have noticed is that security is present there, the owners certainly aren’t, but that only followed break-ins.”

Security was reportedly stepped up after urban explorers targeted the property, with police confirming reports of break-ins to the publication.

Wentworth Estate manager James Perotin previously said the mansion was now being monitored around the clock. He said: “Security has been increased at Bruce Forsyth’s old house, there is now a van permanently on site, and it is monitored 24 hours a day.”

Perotin also suggested that some wealthy homeowners on the estate spend much of their time abroad, partly because of tax reasons, leaving some properties unoccupied for years.

Wilnelia, meanwhile, downsized after selling the family mansion and bought another home on the same estate for around £3million. The former beauty queen and Bruce were married in 1983 and remained together until his death.

Bruce, who entertained generations of viewers, became a household name through shows including The Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right, before becoming the face of Strictly Come Dancing. He presented the BBC dance show for a decade before stepping down in 2014.

Wilnelia, originally from Puerto Rico, was crowned Miss World in 1975. The couple shared a son, Jonathan Joseph, now 40, with Bruce’s entire estimated £15million fortune being left to his third wife rather than his six children.

In 2018, Wilnelia spoke about the final days she spent with Bruce before his death. She said she felt “lucky” that all the close family members managed to say goodbye.

In December, Tess Daly held back tears as Wilnelia sent her and Claudia Winkleman a sweet message before their Strictly Come Dancing exit. It was shown during the spin off show It Takes Two.

Tess had presented Strictly alongside Bruce from the show’s launch in 2004, with Claudia taking over in 2013. “Hello Tess and Claudia,” Wilnelia told the hosts.

“Sending you both my warmest wishes as you step into this exciting new chapter. Tess, you shared so many wonderful years on Strictly with Bruce and I know he would be so proud of you.”

She continued: “And Claudia, your sparkle and wit have brought so much joy to everyone. Thank you both for the laughter, the elegance and the heart you have given to the show.

“All my love and the very best for the future ahead.” Signing off on her husband’s famous catchphrase, she said: “Don’t forget, life is too short, so… keep dancing!” Tess replied: “What a woman! She’s just a goddess.”

As online speculation swirls around Brian Hickerson — an on-again, off-again boyfriend of Hayden Panettiere who was present when she was found in cardiac arrest — his brother is speaking out to tell their side of the story.

Zach Hickerson spoke with TMZ on Friday, almost a week after Panettiere died of an apparent overdose, and following days of increasing scrutiny over Brian’s involvement in her life.

“The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation,” Zach Hickerson said in a statement to the outlet. “And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth.”

Internet would-be sleuths have popped up in Zach’s comments on social media this week, probing Brian’s behavior and previous conduct.

On Wednesday, Panettiere’s former West Hollywood neighbor Mia Terrazas told “Inside Edition” that she was “terrified” of Brian, and that the apartment complex at one point had signs posted warning passersby to call the police if anyone spotted him. On Thursday, Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, pointed blame for the actor’s death toward Brian.

But on Friday, Zach said that it was Brian who gave Panettiere a dose of Narcan — a medication that can quickly reverse or reduce the effects of an opioid overdose — after the brothers discovered she was unconscious at the Greenville, S.C., Airbnb where they were staying.

“I want to clarify my involvement in an effort to keep the focus on the fact that we lost one of the most precious individuals on this earth and to allow those that cared about her to mourn without additional noise, chaos, and misinformation being created and propagated by the media as well as the public,” he told TMZ.

Zach told the outlet that he made plans to get lunch and play indoor golf with his brother and the actor after church on Sunday morning. When he attempted unsuccessfully to reach them, he drove to the rental home and “knocked loudly, which apparently woke Brian up from a nap they were both taking on the pull-out couch bed in the living room.”

When they realized Panettiere was unconscious, “I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan. We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life.”

According to a report from Greenville, S.C., police, Zach was “very emotional” as paramedics attempted to revive Panettiere, and Brian “did not become emotional” until paramedics declared that she was dead.

Over the course of Brian’s volatile relationship with the actor, he was arrested multiple times on suspicion of domestic violence against Panettiere. Those include in May 2019 in Los Angeles (charges were later dismissed when prosecutors couldn’t secure a material witness) and again on Valentine’s Day 2020 in Wyoming (misdemeanor battery charges were eventually dropped). Following an eight-count criminal indictment in July 2020 that covered multiple violent incidents between May 2019 and January 2020, Brian pleaded no contest in April 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.

He was sentenced to 45 days in jail (but served 13 days due to credit for time served) along with four years of formal probation, mandatory domestic violence classes, and a five-year protective order.

Three days before Panettiere’s death, Brian attempted to expunge and reduce his past felony charges but was denied by a Los Angeles judge. He made the same request in July 2025, which was also denied.

“Hayden was one of my dearest and closest friends that I loved and cared about for the last 8 years,” Zach said in his statement to TMZ. “Out of respect for her loved ones, the speculation and sensationalism of her death needs to end until the facts can be released from the investigation.”

AMY Childs has revealed her daughter Polly is launching her own fashion brand – but fans are concerned over the money-spinning venture.

The TOWIE icon, 36, has announced that her nine-year-old is launching her first kids range of active wear.

Sharing the news on the brand’s new Instagram page, an excited Polly was seen walking down the stairs in a bright pink tracksuit.

She gushed: “I’ve got my own clothing brand and it’s named My Polly. I’m so excited about my brand. My own clothing brand, woo!”

Showing off her outfit, Polly continued: “This is my favourite outfit from my My Polly range. The pink set is so cute.

“This is so comfortable and I can wear it everyday.”

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It was captioned: “@mypollyuk kidswear coming soon, first launching with kids active wear from ages 4-14.”

Polly is working on the collection with her mum as well as her uncle Harry Derbidge.

The caption continued: “We are so excited to be launching a kids clothing company with Polly as the brand.

“For a long time now we have wanted to create a fashion company that was affordable and stylish for kids as there is nothing out there stylish for kids who want to feel grown up.

“Fashion changes so quick and we know how to keep on top of it and keep the trends available online. Kids want to feel more grown up and dress grown up and not childlike clothing.

“My Polly kids wear will bring fashion to life for kids with stylist outfits. Amy is the vision, the mother and knows exactly what is on trend, Amy has a huge experience in clothing from years of having her own clothing lines online and in major retailers

“Harry is the eye and focus of the business and has years of knowledge in fashion buying and running online sales and business… and Polly is the heart of My Polly,” they concluded.

Sophie Kasaei commented: “This is so exciting!”

Dani Imbert said: “Stop it I’m obsessed,” and Helen Flanagan wrote: “Omg what a cute little girl.”

However, fans weren’t completely sold on the idea and took to the comments section to share their thoughts.

One person penned: “God let her be a child a little longer.”

Another social media user expressed: “She’s a child. Let her enjoy being a child.”

Somebody else said: “It’s all about the money, money, money as the song goes.”

While a fourth added: “Something feels off about this. Sorry but it’s a money making thing and doesn’t seem right.

“She isn’t old enough to do this sort of thing and have the maturity to understand.”

Not all of Amy’s fans felt the same way as one gushed: “We can’t wait to try it, we love the flares!”

Another follower added: “Omg, she’s brilliant. She’s gonna go far, bless her.”