Nancy Guthrie appeared to have been abducted just minutes after a security camera at her home was disabled, according to a new timeline officials shared in the case Thursday.
The new facts — including that blood found at her home belonged to the 84-year-old — were shared the day after her children made a desperate plea to a possible abductor or abductors to communicate with them.
Officials also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie or to an arrest and conviction in the case.
“Right now we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a Thursday news conference. He said a massive team of local and federal partners are still “working round the clock.”
In a tearful video posted to Instagram Wednesday night, Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings begged for the return their mother and seemed open to communicating with her captors about a possible ransom.
“We live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her,” Savannah Guthrie said. “We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
The heartbreaking video was the latest twist in a case that has captured the nation’s attention — with alleged ransom notes sent to media outlets and the president offering to deploy resources to help — as true crime crime fanatics and pundits speculate about the whodunit in real time.
Nancy Guthrie was first reported missing Sunday morning from her Tucson-area home after she didn’t show up for church. Almost immediately, family and officials noted suspicious circumstances, with the 84-year-old nowhere to be found, but her essentials — her cellphone, wallet, car and medications — still at home. Her family had last seen her around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, officials have said.
Although she is of sound mind, Guthrie has physical ailments that keep her from walking very far and needs to take a daily medication that she appears to be without.
There was also evidence that someone had forced their way inside her home, according to law enforcement sources not authorized to discuss the case publicly. Images reviewed by The Times showed a trail of blood droplets near the front door of the home.
Several news outlets have also reported receiving possible ransom notes requesting money in exchange for Nancy Guthrie’s release. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it was aware of those notes but did not verify their authenticity.
As Guthrie described her mom in the video plea, she appealed to the humanity of her mother’s captors.
“She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her, and you’ll see,” Guthrie said through tears.
She also reiterated that her mom is without her medication that she needs “to survive and and she needs it not to suffer.”
Experts have called this case increasingly extraordinary, due to its circumstances but also because of decisions made by investigators.
Retired LAPD Lt. Adam Bercovici, who supervised the agency’s Special Investigation Section of Robbery Homicide Division which included kidnappings, said the usual playbook for handling such a case is already out the window because law enforcement typically tries to not share its involvement or pursuit of any suspects.
Bercovici said he was surprised that local officials initially called Guthrie “missing,” despite several pieces of early evidence pointed to an abduction. He was also surprised to see detectives returning to the crime scene after they initially cleared the home, appearing to do additional evidence gathering after family might have returned and reporters were all over the property.
“This is like something from 1940s with a very public kidnapping playing out in the media,” Bercovici said. It was also surprising, he said, that alleged kidnappers have sent ransom notes to the media and not directly to the family or someone who could pay.
While unusual, Horace Frank, the former assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department who oversaw kidnapping investigations, said he was glad the entire note wasn’t disclosed publicly.
Given the circumstances, he understands why the family came out with the video plea.
“They are appealing to the humane side of whoever the abductors [is] or someone who has some kind knowledge,” Frank said. “You are trying to make it difficult for the those behind this.”
The Guthrie siblings, in the video, also appealed directly to their mom.
“Mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home,” Annie Guthrie said. “We miss you.”
“We will not rest, your children will not rest, until we are together again,” Savannah Guthrie said.
Before hitting the stage, the comedians of the TV series “Jokes with JoySauce” have an on-camera ritual of exchanging immigrant stories about growing up with their families. There is no audience during these moments, just comics being vulnerable with one another.
The tales give insight into the lives they live offstage and their perspectives as Asian Americans that inspire so much of their material. It lets the audience know more about these up-and-coming comedians without the generic stage introductions.
The series is part of the original program curated for JoySauce, available on Amazon Prime. It premiered in early January as part of the first free, ad-supported streaming channel dedicated to highlighting Asian American voices across comedy, film, reality TV and sitcoms.
Season 1 of “Jokes with JoySauce” is currently airing as part of the launching programming for the channel. Director and creator of the series Ana Tuazon Parsons is excited to watch it grow.
Narumi Inatsugu, from left, Cat Ce, Ana Tuazon Parsons and Jonathan Sposato at The Times’ office in El Segundo.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“I’m still definitely going for that underground punk rock, like, let’s-find-some-cool-people kind of thing for Season 2,” Parsons said. “Bigger and better venue, and more budget, more budget, please.”
While Parsons focuses on cultivating new comedic voices, JoySauce wants to create its own opportunities for people in the community by broadening its mission of ownership and representation.
“We won’t really get the full spectrum of the representation that I believe that we deserve unless we own the pipeline and the platforms and the carriers and really the gateways,” Jonathan Sposato, creator of Joysauce, said.
He decided to bring the platform to the masses in 2022 after growing sick and tired of how much hate his community was going through and wanting to fill in a gap in the media. Media representation was also low for Asian American actors, with only 6% of all Asian characters in 100 titles on streaming platforms in 2022 in leading roles, according to a study by USC Annenberg Gold House.
“I do think positivity wins,” Sposato said. “Comedy is a very necessary tool, a necessary ingredient in the overall mix of what we’re trying to offer.”
His goal is to broaden the concept of Asian American culture through storytelling that would display what the U.S. has to offer while staying rooted in Asia.
“A win for JoySauce is a win for anybody who feels underrepresented, who doesn’t feel like they’re considered the normative mainstream,” he said.
At a time when attention is a currency, creating a space that’s focused on elevating AAPI voices will help diversify the media landscape.
“A win for JoySauce is a win for anybody who feels underrepresented, who doesn’t feel like they’re considered the normative mainstream,” JoySauce creator Jonathan Sposato, left, said.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“As a comedian, you cannot complain,” Cat Ce, a comedian whose special “Perfect Chinglish” was licensed by JoySauce, said. “Nowadays, you want it on so many different platforms, you never know which kind of audience you may reach.”
Her work reflects the kind of storytelling JoySauce hopes to amplify. The comedy hour by Ce deals with the cultural differences when dealing with family, friends and romantic relationships as a Chinese American. For Narumi Inatsugu, that universality is the point.
As the chief creative officer of JoySauce, Inatsugu wants to create a space where Asian Americans do not feel outnumbered.
“For so long I thought nobody cared about Asian American stories,” he said.
As a curator of the channel, and host of the upcoming “Chopsticks and Chill,” an interview show where he shares a meal with influential members of the AAPI community, Inatsugu wants to create a platform where the younger generation can see the many opportunities life can offer, regardless of your cultural background.
“It’s community building, it’s letting people know they can be whatever they want, do whatever they want,” he said.
Season 1 of “Jokes with JoySauce” is currently airing and is part of the first free, ad-supported streaming channel dedicated to highlighting Asian American voices across comedy, film, reality TV and sitcoms.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Throughout his years in the entertainment industry and in production meetings, Inatsugu felt like he couldn’t pitch certain stories because they were aimed at his Asian community. He hopes an outlet like JoySauce can create a safe space for creative minds to feel like they can be themselves and not feel outnumbered, the way he once did.
Everything in the details of a show will make people feel welcomed, from the people making it to the food that’s made available for the cast and crew.
During production of the first season of “Jokes with JoySauce,” Parsons made sure every aspect of the production was AAPI, including the food. Her production team made sure to fill the craft table with food that can be found at any Asian market. The sense of belonging is exactly the reason she built “Jokes with JoySauce” and why JoySauce exists.
“When I’d see the comics come up into the greenroom and their faces, it was like ‘Oh, I feel so like they were just reverted to their childhoods,’” she said. “It was just like they felt like they were at home with their families, and it was so important for me, it made me cry a little bit.”
EastEnders sees Jake Moon back in Walford next week in scenes with his stunned cousin Alfie Moon, which our soap expert says is ‘crucial’ for both the characters and fans
EastEnders sees Jake Moon back in Walford next week(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
A familiar face returns home on EastEnders next week, as Jake Moon is reunited with his cousin Alfie Moon.
Fans will remember the character was killed off, or so it seemed, back in 2006. In a case of mistaken identity, or at least a misunderstanding, he was tracked down and seemingly killed.
So imagine the shock on fans’ faces in 2024 when he suddenly returned to Walford, very briefly, with his former flame, and current flame, Chrissie Watts. Jake never died, and despite his family being left to think he was dead he was very much alive.
Spoilers for next week have now confirmed he’s back in Walford, and he finally reunites with Alfie who is under the impression his cousin died 20 years ago. Our soap expert revealed fans can expect “emotional” scenes, and a “crucial” moment that has been a long time coming.
They shared: “It’s a huge moment for fans, but also for Jake and Alfie. It’s a crucial moment that has been a long time coming, and is something both the characters and viewers deserve.
“The mystery about Jake’s fate and for him to then return two years ago with no scenes with Alfie, no closure, was a slight injustice that will finally be corrected. They haven’t seen each other in so long, and Alfie thought his cousin was dead.
“To learn he’s alive and doing well is a great relief to Alfie, and it paves the way for some emotional scenes for them.” His return comes about after he visits Zoe Slater in prison, desperate for answers about what happened with her and Chrissie at Christmas.
He’s not sure he can stay with Chrissie having found out what she’s done, calling time on their romance. Our insider teased Zoe’s words to Jake could shock him.
They said: “The last person Zoe’s expecting to see is Jake Moon. She’s been stopping Kat from tracking down Chrissie out of fear that it could land Jasmine in trouble.
“So when Jake shows up and demands answers about Christmas, Zoe’s forced to decide whether to give him the true events or send him packing. What she has to say leaves Jake reeling, and with a decision to make.”
Jake’s soon catching up with Phil Mitchell too. Fans may recall that Jake accidentally killed his brother Danny Moon who was about to murder Grant and Phil on the orders of Johnny Allen, just like he killed Dennis Rickman.
As he tries to lay the ghosts of his past to rest, Jake comes face-to-face with Phil who offers him guidance about Chrissie. Our expert said of the moment: “Phil has guidance for Jake, and soon he comes to a huge decision that could change everything.
“Whether Chrissie will return to Walford again given what’s happened there, especially at Christmas, remains to be seen. Jake and Kat unite, hoping she will show her face and that it could help Zoe.”
Their opulent retreat rapidly spirals into mayhem as hidden truths emerge and schemes unravel. Upon its debut, The Decameron garnered glowing critiques from audiences.
Writing on IMDb (the International Movie Database), one enthusiast gushed: “This series is very refreshing, goofy, fun and hilarious but also well scripted, performed and beautiful cinematography as well. I am trying not to binge this one out too quickly, yet I can’t wait for more!”
A second devotee penned: “I’m so happy I saw the positive reviews and gave this a go. It’s actually brilliant, well-played and so funny, I found myself laughing out loud several times.
“I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at the beginning of the first episode, but found myself quickly drawn into the story.”
They continued: “It’s crazy, clever and highly entertaining, with many surprise twists and turns which keeps you completely invested in the story and characters.
“The actors are playing their roles almost to perfection, capturing the stupidity of their character with what feels like such a natural ease. I cannot understand the negative reviews at all! I loved this.”
A third viewer remarked: “I am glad to see that the ratings have gone up since I started watching because I honestly did not understand the hate.
“I agree with other reviewers who refer to this as Shakespearean fun. It’s like a satirical version of Midsummer Night’s Dream. I’ve watched this attentively, then I’ve put it on in the background. It’s so hilarious!”
They continued: “If you are a literature, theatre, or history enthusiast, I think you will thoroughly enjoy this. I imagine the actors were having the best time while filming this.
“I hope there is a second season and that Netflix will continue to create content for the aforementioned literature, theatre, and history enthusiasts!”
However, not everyone was impressed with the TV mini-series. One disappointed viewer wrote: “This show is a puzzlement. It’s not funny. It’s not dramatic. There are some moments of uncomfortable ‘humour’ that fall flat. The whole thing falls flat.”
Another critic observed: “A 14th-century period piece brought to Netflix full of present day tropes… the comedy is not what you expect, there is none in this series.”
The eight-part Netflix series – available for viewing now – boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring Sex Education’s Tanya Reynolds, Derry Girls’ Saoirse-Monica Jackson, and Veep’s Tony Hale.
Former Manchester United and England footballer Gary Neville has returned to BBC One’s Dragons’ Den as a guest investor, judging entrepeneurs to see if he wants to back their business
Gary Neville’s co-star has revealed what he is like on Dragons’ Den(Image: BBC)
While Gary is best known for his talent as a Manchester United and England defender, he built up an extensive property portfolio during his career. The BBC says he spearheads the £450m St. Michael’s development in Manchester after securing over £200m of overseas investment.
He said: “This gentleman here is the biggest softie when it comes to investment. Thank god he has only been a guest, if he was there full time he’d need a printing machine, he’d invest in everything.”
Touker went on to joke that Gary likes to share a bit of “Mancunian help” with the guests as they make their pitches. Gary replied: “Honestly, people come in and if I like them, I think, ‘Oh they deserve a little bit of Mancunion love’ and just give them a little bit of investment.
“I have to say, when they walk through the door, how nervous they must be, but when I’m looking at them I’m thinking, ‘I’m glad I’m not stood where you are’.”
Gary went on to explain that Touker “drills” the contestants over their finances almost straight away before fellow dragons Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones join in. He added: “You have to be quite resilient when you come through the doors.”
The Manchester-born footballer explained he has “sympathy” for the contestants after they exit the famous Dragons’ Den lift. He admits he even gets “a little bit nervous” when he is confronted by the dragons.
He added: “Them coming through facing you, Deborah, Peter, Steven [Bartlett], they must be terrified.”
Touker however explained he likes to be cautious when investing on the show. He said: “If you’re investing your hard-earned cash, you can’t just give it away, and some people like to pull the wool over your eyes.”
He went on to explain that the “most important thing” he looks for when investing on the show is a business that he can help improve. Gary will be returning to Dragons’ Den from 8pm tonight on BBC One.
This week’s pitches will include a business offering skincare made from rescued food, a device that keeps your golf balls spotless, an app that can help with your mortgage and spicy seasoning balls.
This series will see a host of guest dragons joining the panel of investors. As well as Gary, rapper Tinie Tempah, serial entrepreneur and REFY CEO Jenna Meek, and Tropic Skincare powerhouse Susie Ma will be judging investments.
Tinie said: “I have a keen interest in supporting emerging entrepreneurs as well as investing in a wide-ranging portfolio of businesses, so Dragons’ Den was an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down.
“I am ecstatic to become a guest dragon and look forward to seeing where I can help, bring value and of course invest in some of these brilliant businesses and people that step into the Den.”
Samantha Davies, Executive Producer, BBC Studios Entertainment said of the guest dragons: “Audiences love the powerful combination of our much-loved regular dragons and the fresh energy guest dragons bring to the Den – and this series, we’re going bigger than ever.
“We’re thrilled to welcome back Gary, alongside three formidable new business titans, all ready to uncover the next generation of bold, brilliant and disruptive entrepreneurs. There’s no better place to ignite that ambition than right here in the Den!”
Gordon Ramsay has denied slamming Adam Peaty’s family in his speech at daughter Holly’s weddingCredit: GettyAdam has been estranged from his mum Caroline since NovemberCredit: ShutterstockGordon and Tana have given their first interview about the scandalCredit: Instagram
Gordon reportedly took aim at Adam’s mum Caroline in his speech, making an unfavourable comparison to his wife Tana.
He is said to have quipped to Adam: “Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.”
“I was told we were accused of saying inappropriate things,” Gordon said. “Nothing at all was said that was inappropriate, I promise you.
“I was very warm, very witty. I talked about when they first met. I was nervous, hearing the words no father would ever want to hear, ‘Your daughter’s gone on a date with the world’s best breast- stroker.’ We knew something big was going on when she came home and all we could smell was chlorine.’”
Gordon went on to share a cheeky dad joke he penned himself.
“They were the bits I really worked on, ” he recalled. “I paid tribute to Holly, then welcomed Adam into the family: ‘I know you’ll give Holly all the love she deserves, but be aware that her twin, Jack, is a Royal Marine. I know you can swim fast, but he has a boat with a big f****** gun on it!’ Light-hearted stuff like that.”
He insisted he and his wife had “done nothing wrong”.
We sent a chauffer-driven car for them to tome to the engagement party and treated them like royalty.”
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon said: “It’s just upsetting. It’s all self-inflicted from their side, because we’ve done nothing – none of what you’ve read: no rudeness, no ignorance – we welcomed them.
“We sent a chauffeur-driven car for them to come to the engagement party and treated them like royalty.
“So to get that barrage of press was very hurtful. Tana took it very seriously.”
ENDING THE FEUD?
Talking of a potential reconciliation, he added: “I would like to go up to Nottingham with Tana and see them and draw a line in the sand.”
Gordon and Tana would like to travel to Nottingham to meet with CarolineCredit: ANLGordon said it was Adam and Holly’s decision for his parents not to attend the nuptialsCredit: instagram
“It was Adam and Holly’s wishes for them not to attend and so we had to respect that. There’s stuff they need to sort out as parents.
“That’s nothing to do with Tana and me.
“But we are very mindful we want to move on and allow Holly and Adam to continue starting their lives together.”
The Chase fans took to social media this week to air their complaints about one particular issue.
12:30, 05 Feb 2026Updated 12:34, 05 Feb 2026
The Chase: Mark Labbett tells contestant ‘it’s rubbish’
Viewers of The Chase reckon the questions become tougher when contestants go for the high offer, taking to X to air their suspicions during Wednesday’s episode (February 4) of the ITV quiz show. This comes after the popular show announced a spin-off is in the works.
A player named Harri had been urging fellow contestants to be bold with their choices – something which caught the attention of chaser Mark “The Beast” Labbett.
Despite banking just £3,000 in his cash builder, Harri was presented with a low offer of minus £1,000 and a high offer of £68,000, with Mark telling him: “You’ve no excuse not to take this.”
Though he could have stuck with his £3,000, Harri went big – and viewers immediately flocked to X as they noticed the questions appeared significantly harder than if he’d played it safe.
“What a pathetic question, the questions get harder when you go high I don’t care what anyone says,” one viewer claimed.
“Big difference in questions when you go high,” another concurred. A third shared a meme from The Office, writing: “Go and get the difficult set of questions!”
Despite his bravado, Harri couldn’t outsmart The Beast and was forced to make the dreaded walk of shame off set, departing empty-handed, reports the Express.
That left just two players, Andy and Caren, to tackle the final chase with £7,000 in the prize pot after both had chosen the cautious route in their cash builders.
Whilst they fell short of defeating The Beast, it was a nail-biting finish: Mark was forced to leap in with his answers before presenter Bradley Walsh could complete the questions, having squandered precious time through incorrect responses.
After securing his triumph, he felt driven to address viewers directly. “Can I address something? There’s a thing on social media, people claim that it’s unfair. The Chasers can jump in and interrupt you [Bradley], and the contestants can’t. That is absolutely not true,” he declared.
“The contestants can jump in whenever they like, if they’re brave enough or confident enough. In other words, we jumped in early because I had to be there.
“Thank goodness it was right. Otherwise, I’d have lost. Very well played, guys,” he praised the remaining duo.
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website‘.
The Chase broadcasts on weeknight evenings at 5pm on ITV.
The X Factor star has embraced a new “mindful” lifestyle, as she prioritises her “healing”.
Honey G rose to fame on The X Factor in 2016 (Image: ITV)
X Factor legend Honey G is unrecognisable after embracing a new “mindful” lifestyle, ten years after she first found fame.
The former contestant, whose real name is Anna Gilford, appeared on the 13th series of the singing competition, which was won by Matt Terry.
She’s since credited Simon Cowell’s show for changing her life after admitting she was in a dark place before The X Factor.
She previously said: “I’m very grateful for what X Factor did for me, it changed me. It’s boosted my confidence. Before X Factor, I was in a dark place, and it put me in a happier place.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
She’s now revealed that her life is completely different these days, worlds away from the look she had when she first auditioned for Missy Elliott’s Work It rap.
In a post yesterday, the TV star shared an unrecognisable picture on Instagram as she spoke about mindfulness.
Honey G wrote: “A lot of people think stress and burnout mean they’re doing something wrong — not managing their time well enough, not being disciplined enough, not trying hard enough.
“But often it’s not about effort at all. It’s about capacity.
“When your nervous system has been under pressure for a long time, even things that help — rest, journaling, movement, mindfulness — can feel hard to access. Not because you don’t care, but because your system is tired.
“Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is stop pushing for change and start creating small pockets of safety and space, exactly where we are.
“Gentleness isn’t giving up. It’s often where healing actually begins.”
Alongside the caption, she posted an image of herself in a red headscarf and sunglasses, a far cry from the trademark cap and bomber jacket with which she rose to fame.
Her post was showered in support, with one fan writing: “So true! Sometimes we need to just relax and stop trying to do everything. It’s ok to take a break.”
Another said, “I love u, Honey G,” as a third wrote, “Thank you, Honey G, this was beautifully written. Very inspiring.”
The star has previously spoken about how she looks “completely different” after shedding two stone from gym workouts, which she often shares online.
She previously told The Daily Star in 2023: “I’ve had a personal trainer for the past two years and he’s helped me change my whole body shape. I’ve been doing triathlons as well. My body is quite robust because when I was younger, I used to be a county tennis player. But I’m combining it all with diet as well.
“It’s still ongoing, it is a work in progress, but I’m working really hard and just trying to be the best version of myself.”
She added, “The fitness transformation has given me the confidence to dress in more adventurous clothing and clothing that is more feminine. If I want to wear my tracksuits, I will rock them. If I want to put a dress on, then I can.
“I’m a strong independent woman and can rock whatever look I want and I just hope nobody criticizes me for it.”
KANYE West accused Kim Kardashian of ‘flirting’ with Lewis Hamilton years before she entered into a relationship with the F1 driver, The Sun can reveal.
Kanye West ‘accused’ Kim Kardashian of flirting with Lewis Hamilton during their marriage, years before the pair became an itemCredit: AFPWe revealed just days ago that Kim and Lewis are dating after turning friendship to romance in recent monthsCredit: ShutterstockKim was married to Kanye from 2014 until 2021Credit: Getty
The reality star and entrepreneur has known Ferrari driver Lewis for over a decade, but things only recently turned romantic.
However, her ex-husband Kanye, 48, had previously accused her of flirting with Lewis when they were together.
They continued: “She wasn’t – of course – but Kanye was always so erratic that if Kim was even friendly with someone he’d accuse her of something.”
Kim and Kanye share children; and cited “irreconcilable differences” as a reason for their divorce five years ago.
Lewis was a friend of both Kim and Kanye, with them bonding over a shared love for fashion. The sportsman even spent Easter at the house they shared as a married couple back in 2016.
The Sun understands Kim and Lewis have been growing close for a number of months, with the pair attending actressKate Hudson’s New Year’s Eve partytogether.
Earlier this week, a source told The Sun: “Kim and Lewis have such intense working schedules so they’re keen to spend as much time together as possible.
“Right now, they’re inseparable and are fitting their dates around Kim’s work commitments.”
Kim had to be in Paris to attend a NikeSkims event – her brand’s collaboration with Nike.
Taking Lewis along with her, the pair stayed at luxurious hotel Le Bristol, and ate in private during their stay.
A source revealed: “Kim absolutely loves spending time in Paris and wanted Lewis to go with her. Her work is so important to her but it’s all things she can slot around spending time with Lewis.
“They’re both used to travelling all over the world while working so doing it together means they can spend proper time with each other.”
Lewis (pictured with ex Nicole Scherzinger) was a close friend of Kim and Kanye’s and has known them both for over a decadeCredit: GettyOur source says that while Kim never did flirt, Kanye’s jealous streak got the better of himCredit: GettyBut in recent months, things have turned romantic between the friendsCredit: Alamy
Following Bad Bunny’s landmark album of the year win at the 68th Grammy Awards for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Ricky Martin penned a letter of appreciation to commemorate the moment.
In an opinion piece for the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día published Tuesday, the Boricua hitmaker said Bad Bunny’s accomplishment stirred deep feelings within him.
“Benito, brother, seeing you win three Grammy Awards, one of them for album of the year, with a production entirely in Spanish, touched me deeply,” Martin wrote. “Not only as an artist, but as a Puerto Rican who has walked stages around the world carrying his language, his accent and his history.”
In addition to becoming the first all-Spanish album of the year winner, the “Nuevayol” artist took home the Grammy Awards for música urbana album and global music performance for the track “EoO” on Sunday.
Martin further called Bad Bunny’s achievement a “human” and “cultural” win, lauding him for not bending to the will of anyone who tried to change his sound in any way.
“You won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico,” Martin wrote. “You stayed true to your language, your rhythms and your authentic narrative.”
Martin, who first broke out as a solo musical act in the mid-’90s, became an international superstar off the back of his Spanish-language hits including 1995’s “María,” 1998’s “Vuelve” and “Perdido Sin Ti.”
He reached a new strata of stardom after his track “La Copa de Vida” was used as the official anthem for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. That song charted in over 60 countries and was translated into English. He landed his biggest hit with “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” which was the lead single from his 1999 self-titled English album.
When accepting his album of the year award Sunday night, Bad Bunny addressed the crowd predominantly in Spanish and spoke of the strugglesof the immigrant experience.
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” he said in English.
“Puerto Rico, believe me when I say that we are so much bigger than 100 by 35 and there is nothing that exists that we can’t accomplish,” the “Dakiti” artist said in Spanish. “Thank God, thank you to the academy, thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my whole career. To all the people who worked on this album. Thank you, Mami, for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico. I love you.”
The 54-year-old singer also showed love to Bad Bunny for using his platform to show solidarity for vulnerable communities.
“What touched me most about seeing you on the Grammys stage was the audience’s silence when you spoke,” Martin wrote. “When you defended the immigrant community, when you called out a system that persecutes and separates, you spoke from a place I know very well where fear and hope coexist, where millions live between languages, borders and deferred dreams.”
Martin concluded his letter by thanking Bad Bunny for reminding him and showing other Puerto Ricans that there is power in being true and authentic to yourself.
“This achievement is for a generation to whom you taught that their identity is non-negotiable and that success is not at odds with authenticity,” Martin wrote.
“This was for Puerto Ricans, for all our Latino brothers and sisters who dream in Spanish, for those crossing seas and borders wearing their cultures like a flag. From the heart, from one Boricua to another, with respect and love, I thank you for reminding us that when one of ours succeeds, we all succeed.”
In a statement posted on the social media site X Monday, the country singer-songwriter said he wanted to “acknowledge the conversation” spurred by his heartfelt speech after his historic Grammy win for country duo/group performance.
After sharing that his mother, who he said worked “three to four jobs just to provide for [him] and [his] four siblings as an immigrant in this country,” had just retired from a 30-year career as a registered nurse, Shaboozey dedicated his awards to all immigrants Sunday.
While many praised his remarks for uplifting of immigrant communities at a time when they are increasingly being targeted by the federal government, others felt the musician had overlooked the history and experiences of Native Americans and Black Americans by not mentioning them. Native Americans were forcibly removed from their lands in the development of this nation and enslaved people were brought to America involuntarily.
“To be clear, I know and believe that we — Black people, have also built this country,” Shaboozey wrote in his statement. “My words were never intended to dismiss that truth. I am both a Black man and the son of Nigerian immigrants and in the overwhelming moment of winning my first Grammy my focus was on honoring the sacrifices my parents made by coming to this country to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had.”
The “Amen” singer also acknowledged that winning his Grammy on “the first day of Black History Month and becoming the first Black man to win Best Country Duo is Black history.”
“It stands on the foundation laid by generations of Black people who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded long before me,” Shaboozey’s statement continued. “This moment belongs to all of us.”
On the Grammys stage Sunday, Shaboozey had concluded his speech by expressing his appreciation of and support to all immigrant communities.
“Immigrants built this country, literally,” he said. “So this is for them. For all children of immigrants. This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity, to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all, and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You give America color, I love y’all so much.”
He was just one of many Grammy-winning artists who directly or indirectly addressed the current political climate regarding federal immigration raids in Minnesota, where two protesters have been killed by federal officers, and in other states including California. Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Kehlani were among the others who spoke out.
Kristen Stewart fears the death of classic Hollywood cinema.
As the actor-turned-director drove through the streets of Los Angeles and saw beloved local theaters replaced by major retail chains, she decided to help save theatergoing in the city that started it all.
So she bought a historic movie theater in L.A.
Stewart purchased and is restoring the Highland Theatre, a cultural landmark that once hosted vaudeville acts.
“When people are desperate, they start doing desperate things,” Stewart said in an interview with Architectural Digest. “I think buying this theater feels a little desperate in like the most beautiful way.”
The theater shut its doors nearly two years ago — less than a week short of its 100th anniversary. The owner, Dan Akarakian, told The Times in 2024 that the theater was unable to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everything that’s already living here is so beautiful. It just needs to be like taken care of,” Stewart said. “I mean, the place is falling down. We definitely need like a lot of help, but it’s worth it.”
The local film and TV industries in L.A. were struggling long before wildfires that ravaged the city early last year dealt another blow, halting production and threatening the homes of stars and crews alike.
Stewart, who first achieved international success with her role as Bella Swan in the “Twilight” saga, said movie theatergoing is becoming a lost art, as “people are watching movies on their tablets and their TVs and likely watching a couple of things at once.” She and her peers struggled to get movies off the ground.
Stewart hopes the theater can become “a space that families can go and that also filmmakers can go and so we can kind of be in service of each other,” she said. “We can be in actual communication with people and not cut off from each other.”
The three-story building has theater rooms and venue space, ideal to host screenings and public community events, she said.
The theater was designed by architect Lewis Arthur Smith, known for other local theaters like the Vista in Los Feliz and El Portal in North Hollywood.
“It’s an opportunity to make a space to gather and scheme and dream together,” Stewart told AD. “This project is about creating a new school and restructuring our processes, finding a better way forward.”
Stewart’s effort to save local cinema comes on the heels of a coalition of filmmakers, led by “Juno” director Jason Reitman, purchasing the 93-year-old Village Theater in Westwood in 2024.
Oscar-winning writer-director Quentin Tarantino bought the Vista, also designed by Smith, in 2021. The theater reopened its doors over two years later.
Stewart, who was raised in the San Fernando Valley, has been a longstanding advocate of the L.A. community. She works closely with the Downtown Women’s Center, which provides housing to homeless women.
The actor decried the lack of stories by and for women in Hollywood during her keynote speech at the annual Academy Women’s Luncheon in November.
“I absolutely f— love this city,” she said. “I like the spaciousness. You can decide how you want to fill it.”
Murder in the Family is a brutal true crime documentary series spanning across three episodes, each delving into its own shocking murder investigation.
Using police evidence and harrowing real life footage, the series shows the police investigation from start to finish in heart-breaking investigations that rocked a community.
Despite being first released back in 2023, true crime fanatics are tuning in to the “shocking” series that can be streamed on ITVX in full.
Telling the story of seemingly ordinary relationships that result in tragic consequences, the documentary explores the most burning questions of “how and why”.
ITV teases: “Explore three shocking British murders in this haunting crime doc. Told by those closest to the tragic events, discover the killers’ motives behind their fatal acts.”
The first episode plunges viewers into the shocking case of Cheryl Hooper as ITV penned: “Cheryl Hooper is shot dead by her husband – using shocking police evidence and intimate family footage, this documentary explores how and why.”
Many viewers have dubbed the series as a must watch. Previously taking to TikTok, one true crime fan said: “Guys, if you’re looking for something good to watch then watch Murder in the Family, it’s on ITVX, there’s three episodes and it’s absolutely brilliant. Very sad, but brilliant.”
In a separate video, another said recently they have discovered a whole host of true crime content available to stream on ITVX. They added: “I don’t know why I’ve never really looked through it properly before, but there’s actually loads and loads of true crime documentaries and I watched one of them this weekend.
“It was genuinely one of the most heartbreaking but I felt like I was watching it through the eyes of the victims. And I would highly recommend giving it a go.
“It’s called Murder in the Family, I think it was maybe released in 2022 so you might have seen it but I don’t remember watching it.”
They later continued: “I would check trigger warnings on this because it’s really, really sad and quite detailed and in some parts graphic I suppose you could say, but it’s such a focus on the victims, the victims families…”
In another video, one person commented: “The third one is shocking, really bad”, as another wrote: “This was wild.”
One IMDB reviewer echoed: “This is the human side of the effects of horrific crimes, and it’s extremely well presented. Of course, that makes it gut wrenching to watch.”
Murder in the Family is available to stream on ITVX.
The TV Licence fee rose to £174.50 in April 2025, but some people may need to pay twice
A standard TV Licence costs £174.50 per year (Image: Creative Images Lab via Getty Images)
Many households faced a rise in the TV Licence fee last year, with the Government pushing the price up to £174.50 in April 2025. This yearly payment is generally required for homes and businesses watching live television, including broadcasts on services such as Netflix and YouTube, as well as BBCiPlayer content.
Whilst just one licence covers each household, the situation is different for people with a second home or a caravan. Sometimes, you might need to get another TV Licence for that property, which could see the total bill jump to £349.
Additional TV Licences are particularly necessary if you intend to view TV channels on any service, live broadcasts on streaming services, and BBC iPlayer from a second property. According to official TV Licensing online guidance, this covers any device in a house, flat, bungalow, or cottage.
The only exception is if you exclusively use devices running on their own batteries, so they’re not linked to an aerial or connected to the mains electricity. In those circumstances, your main residence’s TV Licence will suffice.
Yet completely separate rules apply to those living in a touring caravan, static caravan, boat, mobile home, or moveable chalet. Official guidance confirms that your main home’s TV Licence should cover you, provided nobody is watching live programmes or accessing BBC iPlayer at the same time at your main licensed address.
In this case, you’ll be required to complete a declaration form, which ought to take just a few minutes. The forms can be accessed in both English and Welsh.
Official TV licensing guidance adds: “You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay.
“A standard TV Licence costs £174.50 and a black and white licence costs £58.50.” For more information, click here.
Why has the licence fee gone up?
The Secretary of State approved a 2.9% hike in the licence fee for 2024, coming into force from April 1, 2025, aligned with annual CPI inflation. This represents a daily increase of just over 1p and is only the second fee rise since April 1, 2021.
The adjustment has raised the annual colour licence fee to £174.50, while the black-and-white licence now costs £58.50 annually. Moving forward, licence fee rises will track CPI inflation for the following four years, ending in 2027.
What does a TV Licence include?
Your payment encompasses four main elements. According to the Express, these include:
All TV channels – like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels
Pay TV services – like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of history’s most successful professional boxers, is suing Showtime and a former executive at the company for $340 million, accusing them of depriving him of a “significant portion of his career earnings.”
The 48-year-old retired athlete alleges in the complaint that Showtime “through a complex web of hidden accounts, unauthorized transactions, and deliberate concealment of financial records,” wrongly paid some of his earnings to his former manager, Al Haymon.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is aimed at the Paramount-owned network and its former president of Showtime Sports, Stephen Espinoza. The complaint alleges that Mayweather’s inquiries about his pay were met with conflicting responses from Showtime, including that “critical financial records for Mayweather’s biggest fights were ‘lost’ or inaccessible.”
Haymon is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for Paramount wrote in a statement to The Times that “these baseless claims lack legal or factual merit. We strongly reject them and will respond accordingly through the court process.”
A spokesperson for Haymon Boxing declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Over Mayweather’s 21-year career, the boxer has reportedly earned $1.2 billion. He first met his former manager, Haymon, in 2004. The boxer soon entered a verbal agreement with Haymon, allowing him to be Mayweather’s manager for a 10% fee. According to the suit, Mayweather considered Haymon to be a “father figure and relied on him to manage virtually all aspects of his finances and contracts.” Haymon worked in this role for about 20 years, and over time, the suit alleges, he became the “mastermind of the financial scheme,” engaging in “financial manipulation and self-dealing behind Mayweather’s back.”
In 2013, Mayweather exited a long-term contract with HBO to ink a new exclusive multi-fight deal with Showtime. The complaint states that Haymon’s “scheme” consisted of “diverting portions” of Mayweather’s earnings “under false pretenses that Haymon then kept or controlled,” putting fight revenues into “secret accounts that Mayweather did not know about or have access to,” paying himself large sums of money without Mayweather‘s knowledge and allegedly altering documents to cover up these actions.
Mayweather’s new team reached out to Showtime in 2024 for documentation of fight revenues and expenses. According to the lawsuit, his team was told the documents were “‘lost in a flood’ or stored off-site and not readily accessible.”
Mayweather also alleges Showtime still owes him $20 million from his 2015 fight against Andre Berto. The payout was originally meant to come from the proceeds of the Manny Pacquiao fight that year.
The lawsuit contends that by wiring Mayweather’s earnings to accounts inaccessible tothe boxer and saying that key documents are missing, both “Showtime and Espinoza enabled Haymon’s scheme and stymied Mayweather’s efforts to uncover the truth.”
Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny star in the biographical drama which fans have a limited time to watch for free
Samantha King Content Editor
01:00, 05 Feb 2026
The film is based on an autobiography penned by Priscilla Presley(Image: A24/BBC)
A period drama viewers have called “absorbing” and “intoxicating” is currently available for free streaming – but fans keen to watch it only have a limited time to do so.
Director Sofia Coppola’s biopic Priscilla was made available on BBC iPlayer nearly a year ago, and there is now just one month left to watch it before it exits the platform.
The film is based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir, Elvis and Me, and charts her life with legendary rock star Elvis Presley behind closed doors, from their initial meeting to their turbulent marriage. Their relationship has long been a hotly-debated topic given Priscilla was just 14 when she met a then-24-year-old Elvis.
It stars Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla, who earned a Best Actress nod at the Golden Globes for the role, while Jacob Elordi portrays Elvis. BBC iPlayer’s synopsis reads: “Fourteen-year-old schoolgirl Priscilla Beaulieu is accustomed to the unsettled life of an army family.
“Invited to a party at Elvis Presley’s house as he carries out his military service in Germany, the shy teenager catches his eye and is gradually drawn into a strange and unhealthy co-dependent life.”
At time of writing, the film – released back in 2023 – enjoys an impressive 84 per cent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile audiences awarded it a lower 64 per cent score on average.
One reviewer gushed: “A tender, poignant drama and an excellent continuation of her muted but no less intoxicating style. It shows [Sofia] Coppola at her most understanding as she presents a complex, multi-faceted love story where two lovers drift apart.”
Another viewer said: “This was probably the most visually stunning movie I’ve seen,” as a third shared: “Great movie! Very engrossing – felt like I was right there with her every step of the way. The chemistry between the lead actors was mesmerizing.”
A fourth added: “A really we done biopic about Priscilla. Truly shows how even in a house full of people she was still lonely. Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi work really we as Elvis and Priscilla, especially with the height difference.”
However one more critical viewer said: “Truth be told, this film is little more than the story of a relationship between child and the childish. A rather tedious, and in parts, even a queasy watch, even for the Elvis fan.”
Priscilla is now streaming for free on BBC iPlayer.For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.
OLIVIA ATTWOOD has shared a cryptic post about the ‘price of staying where you are’ after her shock split from her husband Bradley Dack.
It was revealed two weeks ago that the husband and wife had split following a “breach of trust” on his part.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Olivia Attwood has shared a cryptic quote as she navigates her split from husband Bradley DackCredit: GettyThe couple split up last month following a “breach of trust” on his endCredit: Olivia Attwood / Instagram
She’s since moved out of their marital home and moved into her own apartment.
The Loose Women star took to her Instagram stories this evening to repost a cryptic message from a quotes account.
It read: “If you’re worried about the cost of going for it you should see the price of staying exactly where you are.”
She’s been sharing a lot of quotes recently as she deals with the breakdown of her marriage to the footballer.
She’d been on a high after a “blissful” trip to the City of Love in the first week of January and felt surer than ever the marriage was back on track.
A source close to Olivia said: “Olivia’s been so open about their marriage struggles and everything she said on This Morning this month, and on her podcast, is true.
“She thought things were genuinely back on track and that Paris was a perfect break, it was blissful.
“She and Brad had proper, quality time together and they laughed and enjoyed each other like before.
“So to get back and discover he had breached her trust was a bolt from the blue.”
Olivia posted about moving house in December, and fans have speculated the couple actually secretly split months ago.
They had in fact sold their home in Cheshire to relocate closer to footballer Bradley’s club Gillingham FC and Oliva’s work in London.
But now they’ll look to sell up again as Olivia prepares to tackle life alone.
The source added: “Olivia, as always, has an incredibly busy time ahead with work, with Getting Filthy Rich series four on air and the launch of her new ITV2 show The Heat coming soon.”
Olivia has unfollowed her husband on social media after news of their split was revealed by The Sun.
Olivia and Bradley weathered a rocky 2025 during which they faced constant divorce rumours.
“There are ups and downs, there are things on his side which haven’t been great, there’s a mix of things,” she said in an interview last year.
“I have f***ed up and done stuff, Brad has f***ed up.”
Olivia also recalled the past year on her podcast Olivia’s House.
She said: “At the end of the day marriage is really f***ing hard. The rumour mill was in full swing. We really weren’t getting on very well.”
The pair first met and dated prior to her Love Island stint and ended up reconnecting after her split with Chris Hughes.
They got engaged in 2019 and after having to cancel their wedding plans due to coronavirus, they finally tied the knot in a ceremony at the Bulgari Hotel in June 2023.
She’s moved out of the marital home and into her own apartmentCredit: InstagramThe pair got married in June 2023Credit: Instagram
The 1938 Gothic masterpiece remains a timeless favourite due to its compelling themes and jaw-dropping plot twists, proving the tale continues to mesmerise audiences nearly a century on.
This bestselling novel has seen numerous adaptations throughout the decades, with Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca claiming the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1940.
The latest interpretation comes from director Ben Wheatley’s Netflix production, showcasing performances from Call me by Your Name’s Armie Hammer, Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas.
James gained recognition portraying Rose in Downton Abbey, Young Donna in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Pamela Anderson in Pam and Tommy.
Meanwhile, British theatrical icon Kristin Scott Thomas is renowned for her roles as Diana Taverner in Slow Horses, Fiona in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sylvia McCordle in Gosford Park.
The IMDb synopsis for Rebecca states: “A young newlywed arrives at her husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.”
Rebecca holds a disappointing 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though based on viewer feedback, many believe the film deserves far greater recognition, reports the Express.
Enthusiasts flocked to the comments section to voice their opinions, with one declaring: “This movie gripped me from beginning to end. I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t see anything coming. You think you know what the movie is about, then there is a twist, and the whole thing takes a left turn you didn’t see coming.”
Get Netflix free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
Another viewer exclaimed: “ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! ! !” before adding: “Nothing can touch the original masterpiece however this film, in many ways, is faithful Du Mauriers cunning flip of stereotypes.”
A third fan wrote: “Loved the thrill, love story, period views, so well made I would watch it again,” whilst another concurred: “Loved the book and this version of it in film. Have watched I many times. Great cast and acting.”
Additional supporters praised how the timeless novel had been transformed for Netflix, with one suggesting: “If you’ve read Rebecca and it’s a beloved novel to you, this movie is amazing. A great rendition.”
Another viewer expressed bafflement at the film’s critical mauling, writing: “I don’t understand all the bad reviews for Rebecca. I loved the new adaptation. I especially loved the costumes and filming locations. Lily James does a wonderful job.”
One supporter declared: “Excellent twist on a classic thriller! I am not sure why this doesn’t have better reviews but it is well worth your time,” whilst another concurred: “This movie is a stunningly faithful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel.”
A further enthusiast gushed: “What a ride! ! ! This genre bending thriller will take you on the wildest roller coaster of your life. The next time someone asks me what my favorite movie is, I’m saying Rebecca.”
They added: “This movie surpassed my every expectation. Here I was, sitting on the couch expecting some lame romance but nope! ! I am going to pass this movie down through generations of my family.”
Yet not everyone shared the enthusiasm, with one viewer noting: “Bland to the point of boring.”
Another complained: “What was an interesting, suspenseful book with hints of psychological thriller in it became a vapid, rushed, and bland movie that sapped two hours of my life. If you like your movies to stick to the plot of your books, avoid this.”
A third grumbled: “As much as I love the actors and actresses in this movie, nothing about it really had me enjoying the film. The clichés were handed out like appetizers and the plot of the film was all over the place. Wasn’t a fan.”
Nevertheless, considering all the glowing feedback from fans despite the film’s disappointing Rotten Tomatoes rating, Rebecca might well be regarded as an undervalued gem.
Rebecca is available to stream now on Netflix.
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**
If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.
Two figures will always haunt the human imagination: the woman in ecstasy, and the woman in madness. This enduring fascination may stem as much from the paper-thin line that separates the two states as it does from our deep-seated fear of both. If the devoted nun resembles the raving patient, does that not justify locking them away, protecting ourselves from their unsettling power?
Two recent novels go behind the walls of anchorite and lunatic cells in different centuries and for different purposes, yet wind up demonstrating how women forced by circumstance behind walls influence the lives of others into the future. In “Canticle,” a debut from Janet Rich Edwards, a young woman named Aleys enters religious life in 13th-century Bruges, Belgium, after a Franciscan, Brother Lukas, witnesses her fervor. A series of unfortunate events ultimately lead to her permanent cloister, a tiny cell built into the wall of a cathedral. Paula McLain’s new book, “Skylark,” spans several centuries in Paris, beginning in the 17th when Alouette Voland is sentenced to the Salpetrière asylum after protesting the arrest of her father, an expert fabric dyer, from prison, for the brilliant blue hue he has concocted — actually his daughter’s recipe, which contains dangerous arsenic. Alouette’s attempts to reclaim her work as her own instead of her father’s result in her consignment to Salpêtrière.
While both novels feature terrific and authentic detail about the rough confines Aleys and Alouette endure, the message beneath the descriptions is far more terrifying and authentic: for centuries, the fear of female agency and non-male approaches to power has led to deep trauma, not just for individual women, but for Western civilization itself. For instance, Aleys’s late mother cherished books, even though common people rarely knew how to read and write, let alone owned books. Aleys cherishes the tiny, exquisite psalter her mother inherited from an abbess aunt. Although Aleys’s mother cannot read, she knows the stories of the saints and relishes embroidering them with “goriest” details to keep her children interested. Yet, even as Aleys’s world begins to change with the rise of lay literacy, those lay people are almost entirely men. Women, whether secular or religious, remain forbidden to read, write or tell stories.
“Canticle” author Janet Rich Edwards.
(Laura Rich)
Aleys, at first, seems to be on a path toward personal enlightenment. Brother Lukas declares her a Franciscan, convincing his superior, Bishop of Tournai Jaan Metz, that the young woman possesses special spiritual gifts. The Bishop agrees, but insists that since no other Franciscans are female, Aleys must be sent to the nearby Beguines—laywomen who take no vows, live in community, and work to support the church. While Aleys initially finds the Beguines “wanton” due to their “strange rites,” including casual dress and meetings, their charismatic leader, Grand Mistress Sophia Vermeulen, convinces Aleys of the group’s higher purpose.
Aleys later discovers that a beguine named Katrijn Janssens has been secretly translating Latin scripture into Dutch. In the evenings, the women often perform ecstatic dances while someone reads from the “Canticle of Canticles” (also known as the “Song of Songs”). Aleys already has a strong mystical bent, and after some time in the Begijnhof, she supposedly cures a young boy’s illness. Unfortunately, she’s unable to do the same when Sophia becomes sick. Her subsequent eviction from the Beguines leads to her accepting the Bishop’s offer of sanctuary—as an anchorite, destined to live out her days in a tiny stone outcropping. Her only contact with other humans is a slit through which she can hear daily mass, save for Marte, the low-ranking Beguine assigned to deliver her meals and empty her slop bucket.
Meanwhile, Alouette has become an adept of dye recipes. Even though she and other women are able to read, write, and keep ledgerbooks by this date, the complicated and often secret tinctures concocted for fabrics remain the province of men.
Like Aleys, Alouette forms alliances with other women, Sylvine and Marguerite, the latter of whom carefully documents the guards’ abuses in a ledger. These abuses include the murder of inmates’ infants, a fact that galvanizes the pregnant Alouette (the father of her child, Étienne, is a quarryman) into joining a plan for escape through the Paris sewers. The women find refuge in a convent and, ultimately, in a seaside town where some measure of peace awaits them.
It’s a far happier ending than Aleys’s, who is met with a darker fate. That is partly because McLain’s novel doesn’t end with Alouette’s relatively soft landing; “Skylark” continues in 1939 through the perspective of Kristof Larsen, a Dutch psychiatrist in Paris. His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France. Despite his ties to the resistance, Kristof cannot save the entire family during the 1942 Vélodrome d’Hiver roundup, but he takes responsibility for their 15-year-old daughter Sasha. Along with his compatriot Ursula, they are guided to safety through the same Paris tunnels that sheltered Alouette centuries earlier.
“Skylark” author Paula McLain.
(Simon & Schuster)
The fragile tie between Alouette and Sasha rests in a tiny piece of glass found during the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris after the 2019 fire. A conservator uncovers the shard, which bears an intense blue figure of a skylark — evidence, at least to the reader, that Alouette’s recipe endured, and a symbol of how both she and Sasha escaped. Female creation and resistance, the novel suggests, endure, too.
At first, that seems at odds with Aleys’s tragic fate. “As the crowd parts before her, Aleys sees the path of gray cobblestones receding to the stake. Parchment is piled high at its base. Smaller fires have already been lit, dotting the plaza. They’re burning her words, too. . . ” Yet, it’s no spoiler to reveal that during her long weeks and months as an anchorite, Aleys found the means to slowly and secretly teach Marte, lowliest of the Beguines, how to read and write. “They write words on the sill between them and wipe them off, their palms and feet dark with dust.” Just as Aleys’s mother passed on her passion for books and Alouette pursued her passion for beauty, Marte will carry on a passion for stories.
More important, however, and something that ties “Skylark” to “Canticle,” is that Aleys and Alouette, Marte and Sasha, live on through work done by and with women. Whether it’s a recipe for dye, a hunger for divine knowledge, or the means to freedom, the main characters in both novels believe deeply in women’s full humanity. Aleys acknowledges the contentment of the Beguines, understanding that their communal labors knit their “hopes, their labor, even their disagreements” as “strands in a single weave. Kristof says of Ursula that she “charts her course in full light with eyes wide open, and still she chooses danger. Chooses–over and over–not to surrender.”
It’s true that the authors of these novels live in 21st-century North America, where many people believe in equality even if the full humanity of others is under attack, but neither Edwards nor McLain indulges in anachronisms. Aleys yearns for divine ecstasy but does not come across as a would-be influencer, let alone as a Mother Ann Lee fomenting spiritual revolution; she believes in the church, even if not fully in its leadership, until her end. Alouette and her comrades pursue a different life but do not seek it for everyone, which feels right not just for their era but for their experience of trauma. Even Ursula and Sasha rely on men for their escape, accepting that whoever has the correct experience and expertise should lead the way.
What “Canticle” and “Skylark” get right about their very different heroines and time periods is that change doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it benefit everyone. Aleys teaches Marte to read, but Aleys will suffer for her ideas. Sasha will escape Vichy France, but her family will still die in the concentration camps. Switch the clauses in those sentences around, however, and you’ll be reminded that change can and does happen, one determined woman at a time.
Patrick is a freelance critic and author of the memoir “Life B.”
Kate Ferdinand has emotionally admitted that she has been struggling since moving to DubaiCredit: YouTube/BlendedKate and her husband Rio moved last summer with their three youngest childrenCredit: InstagramWhile Rio is ‘loving’ their new life, Kate says it’s taking her more time to settle inCredit: Instagram
And while former footballer Rio “loves” their new life, Kate got teary during a new episode of her podcast Blended as she admitted it’s tough for her.
Beginning positive, she said: “I think it’s an amazing place to live, I think it’s amazing for the children. The children are thriving and happy and living a life of just outside freedom.
“Rio loves it so much. I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot. I can’t talk about it because I get upset,” said Kate as she grappled with tears.
The family of seven have a very close-knit bond, but eldest sons Lorenz and Tate have remained in the UK amid the UAE move to focus on their budding football careers.
Admitting being apart from her stepsons is making things harder, Kate continued: “I miss the big boys a lot and I’m just struggling with that.
“I know this decision is right for my younger children and as a family we are settled there, but the boys are following their football careers.
“So they’re doing what they want to do otherwise they’d be with us.
“But it’s very hard because we’ve been through so much as a family and we’ve always been together and that’s a huge adjustment.”
Kate also said that while she feels happy in their new home, a part of her is “missing”.
Last summer, Kate revealed they were making the move as she said: “
A new chapter, a fresh start — because if we don’t try, we’ll never know.
“Ahhh! We’ve talked about this for so long, and now it’s finally real… we’re here, we are making a new home in the place we met!”
They have since shared a myriad of snaps from their stunning mansion over there.
Kate said that a part of her felt ‘missing’Credit: YouTube/BlendedKate said that while the move has been ‘amazing’ for her kids, she is missing her two stepsonsCredit: Instagram
Countryfile shared a clip of presenter, Adam Henson, suffering a painful sheep accident as he attempted to check on his Romney Rams
Countryfile shared a clip of presenter, Adam Henson, suffering a painful sheep accident as he attempted to check on his Romney Rams(Image: Instagram )
Countryfile fans were all quick to say the same thing after presenter Adam Henson suffered a painful sheep accident.
In a clip uploaded to the hit BBC One show’s Instagram account, it showed Adam, 60, attempting to check on his Romney Rams before letting them out into the field with the ewes.
In the caption, Countryfile explained: “Respect for this sheep’s attitude. Checking his Romney Rams over before letting them out into the field with the ewes is an essential part of their care and involves catching them!
“But that can be a little tricker than expected as @Adamhenson_ found out! Both the rams and Adam were absolutely unharmed and the rams were pleased to eventually get out into the field after their check up…”
In the clip, it sees Adam explain: “I’ve got to check the boys over first and the Romney, oh my word, as you can see are powerful sheep!” to which one of the sheep charges at the presenter.
Adam continues: “Let me just bring them back out here… now listen, steady, steady, steady, steady…” to which the sheep powerfully charge into Adam, knocking him into the silver fence as he swears in pain.
He exclaims: “Oh! The Romney are powerful sheep… the way to control a sheep is to hold them under the chin, but he got the better of me!”
Taking to the comments section, fans were quick to all say the same thing as they pointed out it was rare to hear Adam swear.
One person said: “The fact that @adamhenson_ swore has made my day” to which another follower replied: “was literally thinking the same thing” with laughing emojis.
Elsewhere, a different account put: “I don’t think we’ve heard Adam swear before!!”
His television credits extend beyond Countryfile to include Countryfile Summer Diaries and Inside Out. Thanks to his wealth of agricultural expertise, Adam has also contributed to BBC Radio 4’s On Your Farm and Farming Today, whilst co-presenting Lambing Live alongside Kate Humble.
The popular presenter turned to Instagram on Sunday (February 1) to reveal some thrilling news after 14 piglets were born at his farm with his followers quick to share their support over the announcement.
Countryfile is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website
The beloved snooker icon and BBC commentator has died at the age of 79, reports Wales Online.
Sharing the sad news at the close of Wednesday’s edition of the BBC programme (February 4), TV star JB announced: “Before we go we just wanted to take a moment to mention today’s news about the death of former UK snooker champion John Virgo at the age of 79.”
“Many of us also fondly remember him from his commentating work and his TV programmes like Big Break so of course our thoughts are with his family and his friends,” continued the star.
“Of course,” his co-host Alex Jones acknowledged as she sat beside him on the sofa.
Whilst the presenters paid tribute, a photograph of the late snooker legend appeared on screen.
It was revealed earlier in the day that Virgo had died, prompting a wave of sorrow from his fans and the snooker community.
A statement on the World Snooker Instagram account read: “Everyone at World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo, aged 79.
“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, JV.”
It was shared on the platform alongside a black and white photograph of Virgo with the dates 1946 to 2026.
Fans have been offering tributes on social media following the announcement.
“Aww he was great RIP,” one person wrote on X, which was formerly Twitter.
“To me John Virgo was like Eddie Butler was to rugby commentary, he was the voice of snooker,” remarked another person. Others hailed him as a “legend”.
One fan of the late snooker ace wrote on the platform: “I grew up watching the snooker decades ago and watching John Virgo was always brilliant. His skill as a player was immense but what a great character RIP.”
“Mr Virgo you were very much loved,” they added in the moving post.
