show biz

HARPER Beckham shows she has her mother’s expensive taste in fashion.

Her outfit while watching brother Cruz perform at Reading Festival at the weekend was worth about £2,750.

The youngest of the Beckham children, 15, wore a £2,500 Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace underneath her £130 jacket from mum Victoria’s collaboration with Gap.

She finished her look with a pair of £120 Hunter wellies.

Harper is also following in her mother’s footsteps with her own beauty business.

In July, The Sun revealed the teen’s skincare brand, Harlo By Harper, is due to launch next year.

READ MORE ON HARPER BECKHAM

MINI ME

Harper Beckham pays tribute to her ‘whole world’ mum Victoria as she rocks bikini

TUNING IN

Cruz Beckham dedicates song to little sister Harper at Reading and Leeds Festival

A trademark application included facial scrubs and body washes, as well as acne treatments, including medicated facial cleansers.

Harper changed her Instagram bio from “Your fav blonde,” to “entrepreneur” last week as she gears up to launch her products.

Victoria said of her daughter: “She came to me with two PowerPoint presentations.

“One about this brand that she wanted to create because she was struggling with her skin.

“She loves products, she loves formulas.

“You know, she’s, she’s even helped me select colours sometimes and I’ve been working on colour palettes.

“I mean, she’s been sitting on my lap taking part in beauty development meetings ever since she was little.

The beloved comedy was created by The Office star Mindy Kaling

Friends fans might have just found their next TV obsession.

Not Suitable For Work (NSFW) landed on Hulu and Disney Plus in June, and its already drawing comparisons to iconic sitcoms. Created by Mindy Kaling, the series centres on five twenty-somethings as they navigate the transition from university life into the professional world.

Viewers follow the tight-knit group as they attempt to scale the corporate ladder in New York City. English actress Ella Hunt leads the cast as main character AJ, an introverted financial analyst who moves to Manhattan for the role.

She shacks up with her former university flatmate Abby (played by Avantika Vandanapu), who is pursuing a career in celebrity styling. The rest of the ensemble is made up of rising stars Will Angus, Jack Martin and Nicholas Duvernay.

Despite its first season spanning just nine episodes, NSFW has garnered overwhelming praise from viewers. It achieved an impressive 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, where one enthusiastic fan declared: “This series is everything and deserves the f***** best.”

The review continued: “Modern day ‘Friends’, and I say that as the most outstanding compliment. Mindy Kaling, wow! It felt fresh, new and necessary for the time,” reports OK!

Another fan compared it to the nineties classics, commenting: “The cast is brilliant. It clearly feels like an homage to 90’s sitcoms like Friends.” While a third person raved: “10/10 series, a breath of fresh air for comedy in 2026.”

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Yet another viewer shared their glowing verdict: “Such a good show! only complaint is that there are never enough episodes….give us 20 episode seasons.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like NSFW will be releasing new episodes anytime soon. Hulu has decided to cancel the show after one season, although producers are said to be looking for a new streaming home.

Creator Kaling took to Instagram to express her love for the project following its cancellation. Sharing several snaps of the cast, she wrote: “I love this show, I loved making this show, I love these people, and I love all of you for all your sweet comments, messages, edits and for watching.”

All nine episodes of Not Suitable For Work are available to stream now on Disney Plus.

Universal Studios Hollywood is almost ready to properly open its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster. The high-speed thrill ride, which has been operating in technical rehearsals since late July, has an opening date: Sept. 16.

The coaster has essentially been in an extended testing phase. By giving the ride an official opening date, the theme park is announcing that the attraction is ready for daily operations.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which seats riders in expertly designed mini-vehicles designed to reference real automobiles, has long been circled as the most important theme park attraction of 2026, a feat of engineering nestled on a steep hill between the park’s upper and lower lots that was 10 years in the making.

The ride — designed by Universal, manufactured by Intamin — has already changed the look and feel of Universal Studios, giving the park its first major outdoor thrill ride. Once known primarily as a studio tour park, Universal has been undergoing a large-scale overhaul throughout the last decade-plus, adding immersive lands such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.

Now it has a coaster that feels akin to taking a joyride, complete with authentic engine and brake sounds. So if you’re thinking of taking Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift for a spin, here’s what you need to know.

The view of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Is the ride included with Universal Studios admission?

Yes. A daily ticket starts at $109.95, although prices vary by day and expect to pay in the $150 range for a weekend date. Unlike Disneyland, Universal does not require reservations, but it is recommended to buy in advance.

Are express passes available?

Universal Studios will sell front-of-the-line access as an add-on to a daily ticket — but not yet. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will not be included in express pass offerings at launch, according to a Universal spokesperson. That means all guests will have to wait in the same line. Express access is expected to be offered at a later date.

So, how long should I expect to wait in line?

A while. During technical rehearsals, afternoon waits routinely topped two hours, with some waiting longer than three and closer to four, although the last was rare. Expect operations to run a little smoother thanks to the soft open phase, but come prepared to be patient.

Is the ride included with Halloween Horror Nights?

The short answer is no. The longer answer: Those who spring for what Universal calls the R.I.P. Tour, however, will be able to ride. A guided experience, that ticket is $479 per person. (The fine print: Earlier this summer Universal did promise Hollywood Drift access with some tickets, but has since removed that option. The park has stated it will honor the terms of those who purchased the tickets before access was removed, and those buyers should have received instructions from Universal.)

The Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster features multiple inversions.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Tell me about the ride. How intense is it?

The ride reaches speeds of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, while traversing 4,100 feet of track, two towering inverted loops and a pretzel loop. There are four individual launch points, and the coaster cars have the ability to rotate 360 degrees. It’s intense, but it’s also incredibly smooth, which helps it feel more approachable.

Wait, 360 degrees? Will I get motion sick?

Individual results will vary, of course, but for reference I am someone who can’t do extreme coasters — Magic Mountain’s Wonder Woman Flight of Courage is too much for me — and struggle on attractions that spin, such as Walt Disney World’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Yet I’ve been completely fine on multiple rides of Hollywood Drift. The spinning isn’t gratuitous, as the cars turn and drift with the flow of the track, so the movement feels aligned with direction.

Can I request a specific car?

You can! But be kind and patient with Universal staffers, who may not always be able to grant such requests due to crowding. If you have a specific concern, however, raise it with the coaster staff, and they will likely accommodate.

One of the ride vehicles of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

What’s the ‘easiest’ car for those who are nervous?

The middle cars, although not by much. All rotate, all experience the same speed and inversions. There are four vehicles, and the first provides the most striking views, including of the track’s drops, so the squeamish are advised to aim for the middle two cars, as it will provide a better sense of where the coaster train is heading. I’ve been told by some at Universal that the last row of the last car — each car seats four — can feel a little more riveting as it will heighten some of the speed and lift sensations. But I’ve sat in the front and the last car, and still don’t know if any differences were in my head or not.

Is there a height requirement/maximum?

Yes, you must be at least 51 inches tall to experience the coaster. There is no listed height or weight maximum, but guests are encouraged to sit in a test vehicle outside the attraction before getting in line. Riders must be seated completely inside the vehicle, which uses a pull-down lap bar, and be fitted against the headrest.

How accessible is it?

Modern roller coasters are not known for their accessibility, but Hollywood Drift is surprisingly accommodating for how intense it is. I am not small. I am 6-foot-2 and more than 210 pounds, and found Hollywood Drift to be one of the more comfortable coasters I have been on. There’s also plenty of leg room. I know a number of people significantly larger than me who have been able to ride successfully.

Where is the ride located in the park?

Across from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But you can’t miss it, as you need to pass it to get to the park’s lower lot, and it’s viewable from pretty much anywhere.

Well, is it worth riding? What’s your verdict?

I think it’s a blast. I rode the coaster on its first day of technical rehearsals, and as I wrote in my review, it’s full of surprises, of wondering where and when a coaster vehicle will be spin, careen or accelerate. Every turn, twist, flip leaves you guessing. Some of the park’s Toluca Lake neighbors, however, may be less enamored with it.

Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride comes out every Tuesday, but we occasionally publish special editions (like this one!) when we have breaking theme park news. Make sure you’ve signed up to be the first to know.

Phil Tippett, the visual effects artist who crafted aliens in “Star Wars” and dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park,” is shutting down his Berkeley-based studios after more than 40 years of business.

The closing was marked by a weekend liquidation sale, where fans purchased memorabilia from movies like “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” “RoboCop” and “Starship Troopers.” The sale included models of Imperial Walkers from “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Starship Troopers” miniatures, signed posters and equipment like computers and 3D printers.

“We have recently decided to evolve our physical footprint and production approach, and to exit our longtime Berkeley facility,” said the company in a statement on social media. “As we make this transition, Tippett Studio continues its visual effects and animation work across film, television and entertainment.”

The closure follows Tippett‘s sale of a majority stake in the company to PhantomFX, an India-based VFX studio, in 2024 and the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing that followed. PhantomFX has completed the acquisition of Tippett Studio and will operate the studios under the same name.

Tippett and his wife, Jules Roman, founded the studio in 1984, by which point he’d already made his name in the world of visual effects through his work on the original “Star Wars” trilogy. He was instrumental in doing the stop-motion miniature chess scene in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” bringing the Imperial Walkers to life and creating aliens like Jabba the Hutt and tauntauns.

Under his own studio, he became best known for the dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” using computer generation to animate the prehistoric creatures. He also worked on effects for “The Matrix” films, “Hellboy” and the “Twilight” franchise.

Tippett had occupied the 6,200-square-foot Berkeley facility for 35 years, but as technology evolves, the studio no longer needs the large space.

“Stop-motion remains an important part of our creative capabilities, but maintaining a large permanent physical footprint is no longer necessary for our current requirements,” wrote Tippett Studios. “When projects require dedicated stages, fabrication, motion-control photography or other specialised physical infrastructure, we will work with appropriate external facilities to meet the needs of each production.”

The company‘s Toronto studio will keep running and is “currently in active production on a large feature film,” per the same statement.

The downsizing comes amid a particularly challenging stretch for film and TV productions in California. Following Covid-19, labor strikes and the flight of major Hollywood productions to other states and countries, many specialty businesses such as prop houses and VFX studios are struggling to stay afloat.

Despite the sale, Tippett told CBS News he isn’t giving up or planning to retire. He does not have plans to retire. “I will die with my sword in my hand,” he said. “We had almost a 40-year run. It was a good run.”

KIMBERLEY Walsh gave a fans a look at her sunny family holiday – where she rocked several designer swimsuits.

The former Girls Aloud star soaked up the sun at a lush resort in Cadiz, Spain with her three sons and hubby Justin Scott.

They looked tanned and relaxed on their holiday where the lads tried their hand at golf, they ate lots of yummy food and Kimberley looked sensational.

One of her eye-catching bikinis included an electric blue triangle set which showed off her incredible figure.

Kimberley sipped on a frozen margarita while wearing the suit and relaxing on a sunlounger.

The singer shared a photo dump from her holiday which showed the happy family having a great time.

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OOH LA LA!

Liz Hurley and Kimberley Walsh lead the glam on the Attitude Awards red carpet

‘TIMES HAVE CHANGED’

Kimberley Walsh opens up about relationship with Girls Aloud pals

“Sotogrande [resort] you were the perfect way to round off the summer! The resort is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and we had the most gorgeous few days!” she captioned the post.

Last year, Kimberley had a mini-reunion with some of her Girls Aloud bandmates and paid a touching tribute to Sarah Harding who died from cancer in 2021.

She caught with Nicola Roberts and Cheryl to celebrate the opening night of musical Hadestown UK in London’s Lyric Theatre – where Nicola was one of the stars.

The evening also marked Cheryl’s return to the spotlight and it was more recently announced that she would become a judge on The Voice UK.

The former X Factor judge has not been on prime-time TV for six years, with filming for the new series of the ITV show beginning on September 11 in Manchester.

It would be her first prime-time TV role since she was a dance captain on BBC1 show The Greatest Dancer in 2020.

It would also be the first time Cheryl has been in the limelight since her ex, One Direction singer Liam Payne, died in October 2024 aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

The pair shared nine-year-old son, Bear.

After oohing and aahing over “The Odyssey,” it’s time for the hot summer splash to make way for an intriguing fall lineup.

At the movies, Alexander Skarsgård plays a sexy wicker husband. Tom Cruise, a bizarro oil man. Jenna Ortega, a robot friend, and Kendall Roy, ahem, Jeremy Strong, is Mark Zuckerberg. Then we revisit classics of various stripes on the small screen, from a further-future “Blade Runner” to “A Different World” relaunch to “East of Eden” to “Pride and Prejudice.”

For new books, it’s an Emily fest. Emily St. John Mandel’s “Exit Party,” based in Los Angeles, is being called her best work since “Station Eleven.” And Emily Wilson, “The Odyssey” translator who launched 1,000 hot takes, lets us inside her process. As for arts, directors steal the spotlight: the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens with 20 inaugural exhibitions and a collection of David Lynch’s L.A. photography fills a local gallery.

Bookmark this page and come back daily this week as we share even more of the best of fall. — Brittany Levine Beckman

The series is based on a best-selling book

A book adaptation hailed a “masterpiece” by viewers is coming to ITV’s streaming service for the first time.

Nine Perfect Strangers, which debuted on Hulu in 2021, will arrive on ITVX in September. It’s not the only new launch landing next month, with all five seasons of Poldark also making its way to the streaming service.

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, the mystery drama has a star-studded cast list with big Hollywood names such as Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarth.

Luke Evans, Christine Baranski, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Shannon, Annie Murphy and Mark Strong also star.

A synopsis reads: “Nine Perfect Strangers is set at a boutique resort which promises healing and transformation to nine stressed city dwellers.

“Watching over them during the ten-day retreat is resort director Masha (Nicole Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine perfect strangers have no idea what is about to hit them.”

Nine Perfect Strangers was directed by David E. Kelley, known for Big Little Lies, and has been described as a “suspense-filled drama” with lighter comedic moments. The series explores how far people will go to face their personal demons and get well, shining a light on the world of health and wellness and our constant quest for self-improvement.

And while the drama is new to ITV, those who watched it on Hulu back in 2021 have a lot to say about it.

One viewer wrote on IMDb: “This show is amazing I honestly could NOT stop watching, Great casting very thrilling and suspenseful it definitely had me hooked. Going into this show I honestly did not expect much but boy was I wrong, I’m not gonna spoil anything but trust me you should definitely give this show a watch it will not let you down. 100000 out of 10 perfection, thanks Hulu.”

While another added: “Modern masterpiece.Perfectly relevant. Wonderfully acted across the board. This is top tier production of story.

“Filled with character and drama and poignant climax each episode. There is direction and building and thorough relation with everything. No disappointment episode to episode and an overall positive outcome that closes with satisfaction and optimism. Fiction steeped with reality.The music, cinematography, acting, animation, and overall direction really sends this into the upper echelon. Brilliant.”

Overall, Nine Perfect Strangers has mixed reviews, with some calling the plot “confusing”. Reflecting on this, one fan of the book wrote: “The TV adaptation follows the novel very closely. If you read the book you’ll enjoy it on the screen. If you haven’t read the book, sit back, shut up, and get ready for a bumpy ride. THEN leave your review.”

Nine Perfect Strangers will land on ITVX on September 27.

Long gone are the days of Mexican Americans’ alienation from Mexico — at least, if the Mexican government can help it.

On Sunday, hundreds of spectators gathered inside the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to watch the United States semifinals for “México Canta,” a binational music competition for rising artists from the U.S. and Mexico, organized by the latter’s Ministry of Culture.

Seven participants of Mexican descent from across the U.S. braved the stage with original songs, in what can only be described as a heartfelt singing contest, without the scorn of nitpicky judges or behind-the-scenes melodrama, but rather a zealous crowd made up of all age groups.

Voting was handed over to the public, as the segment broadcast live on public television across the United States and Mexico. Over 300,000 individuals tuned in to cast a vote to advance the top three contestants: Tiffany Galaviz, Joshua Soto and Rosalba Valdez. They will go on to compete in the grand finale of México Canta on Sept. 13 at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City for a chance at a record deal.

“There’s always that saying that if you’re Mexican American, you’re not Mexican enough, but I think that’s wrong,” said 18-year-old Soto, a Bronx native whose musical theater background and deep R&B groove gave depth to the bilingual country-corrido “Terco Callejero.”

“Ever since I was little, my parents always showed me my culture, my roots. It’s in my blood. It’s in the traditions that I follow and the music that I listen to every day,” added Soto, who is enrolled in New York University’s vocal performance program in music theater.

For 27-year-old semifinalist Valdez — a Chicagoan whose signature red hair and bedazzled fringe fit distinguished her onstage, as she sang her merengue-infused tune “Por Bonita” — being Mexican American is both a huge privilege and responsibility.

“When I was younger, I used to think the opposite, because of what our community went through,” said Valdez. “Now I see it as a superpower. [Being Mexican American is] something that I want more people to understand has power. We can create a lot of change when we realize the power that we have.”

Over 300,000 individuals tuned in live to cast a vote for the top three contestants: Joshua Soto, Tiffany Galaviz and Rosalba Valdez

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

Speaking to The Times, Mexico Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza, stressed the importance of binational programming — adding that she believed that the singing contest can unite young people across the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We cannot think that we are merely divided by territory. Culture transcends borders, music transcends borders,” she said. “We are separated, but ultimately there is an extremely intimate and rich cultural development because culture has been the space of resistance, of resilience.”

As host and singer, Majo Aguilar — granddaughter of Mexican film and music legends Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre — ushered vocalists on and off the stage. Large screens lit up with educational stories of the legacy of Mexican nationals, such as Pedro J. González, one of the first Spanish radio broadcasters in the U.S.

The show also paid homage to American-born individuals who have elevated Mexican music: including Texas-born Gloria Ríos, who helped pioneer rock ’n’ roll in Mexico in 1956 and Arizona-born Linda Ronstadt, whose 1987 album “Canciones de Mi Padre” became the bestselling non-English language record in U.S. history.

This year, the contest placed an emphasis on música mexicana. According to Spotify, global streams of the genre have grown by 295% since 2021; in the U.S. alone, its popularity has grown by 162% since 2021.

In large part, its popularity has been driven by corrido tumbados, or songs which blend traditional Mexican folk with trap, often underscoring street life, “the hustle” and the riches that can follow.

Its most prominent acts include Junior H, Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma. These were the biggest streaming Latin musicians in the U.S. in 2024, just below reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny — yet none of these popular música mexicana artists were recognized during the competition.

“Mexican music is among the most consumed worldwide and it’s a matter of choosing a genre where young people feel identified and music that transcends borders,” said Curiel de Icaza. “And no, we are not censoring it.”

México Canta began in 2025 as state-sponsored programming to promote musical narratives beyond themes of violence and drug-trafficking.

Besides banning the use of artificial intelligence and other audio alterations, the contest did not permit “songs that glorify violence or drug use.” Failure to comply with the rules would result in disqualification for contestants.

“More than banning, it’s about educating, guiding, and getting young people to stop listening to that music,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a news conference last year when the program was first introduced.

President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during the daily morning briefing at Palacio Nacional on Aug. 6, 2025, in Mexico City.

(Manuel Velasquez / Getty Images)

The singing competition comes at a time when 10 out of 32 Mexican states have implemented bans or limitations on corridos in public spaces; namely narcocorridos, or ballads that recount or glamorize elements of drug culture or organized crime.

Some lawmakers assert that the lyrics in these songs promote violence, including Mexico City lawmakers who, in May, passed a law barring the songs from being played at public events.

“The bans, which come amid President Trump’s hyper-focus on drug trafficking in Mexico, have sparked debates here about freedom of expression and state censorship and have raised provocative questions: Do narcocorridos merely reflect reality in a nation gripped by powerful drug gangs? Or do they somehow shape it?” wrote Times correspondent Kate Linthicum in a May 2025 article.

In May, the second edition of México Canta was announced during Sheinbaum’s daily news conference, generating online buzz when famed corrido tumbado singer Junior H vocalized support for the contest — while also lamenting his past musical choices.

“In my initial [career], some of the stories that I shared in my music didn’t add to the positive message that reflect my current compositions,” said Junior H, whose real name is Antonio Herrera Pérez, in the news conference. “I kept growing and I learned that music, besides being a form of expression, also implies a responsibility when millions of people hear you worldwide.”

The 25-year-old rose to fame through popular narcocorridos such as 2023’s “El Azul,” which is believed to be about Sinaloan drug lord Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno; as well as his 2022 banda-fused track, “El Hijo Mayor,” which some speculate to be about the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

“When you grow up, you have a career path and you see that you have an impact on young people, you start to mature and evolve your career,” Curiel de Icaza said of Junior H. “And you realize you want to go in a different direction, that’s when he understood and decided that it was better to focus on something else.”

During the news conference, Sheinbaum denounced the idea that the music contest was a form of censorship. Curiel de Icaza also refuted those claims: “We’re not prohibiting anything. Music will continue to exist, different voices exist and we’re not prohibiting or censoring songs.”

To help amplify the values of México Canta, organizers enlisted the help of Los Tigres del Norte, one of the most successful regional Mexican acts in the U.S. The night before the semifinals in L.A., Los Tigres performed with Gustavo Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl.

The band closed Sunday’s competition with a performance of “México Sigue De Pie,” a new song that underscores the grit of the Mexican community. “They’re legendary,” Curiel de Icaza said of the band.

Coincidentally, the esteemed guests were early pioneers of narcocorridos: including their 1974 song “Contrabando y Traición,” which details a fictional drug trade tale of Emilio Varela and Camelia la Texana, as well as their 1978 track “La Banda del Carro Rojo,” which describes cocaine trafficking across the state lines.

But over the last decade, the band, too, has been advised by concert organizers in Mexico to avoid playing these types of songs when performing in certain venues, leading them to voice concern over the criticism of corridos — which they argue provide listeners with details over real-life truths, in the same way journalists engage in storytelling.

“We’re narrators of people’s lives,” bandleader Jorge Hernández told El País last year.

Chris Hansen has not seen “Primetime,” the A24 film in which Robert Pattinson plays him, and he probably won’t anytime soon. He walked out of an Aug. 20 screening arranged for him at the studio’s Manhattan offices after refusing to sign a nondisclosure agreement, which he believed would prevent him from raising any legal objection to the way he is portrayed.

But Hansen’s company has purchased preshow advertising in theaters showing “Primetime,” which opens Sept. 25. The spots promote TruBlu, the subscription streaming platform where the former “Dateline NBC” correspondent presents his current sting operations under the title “Takedown.”

“It’s a movie that uses my name, image and likeness,” Hansen told The Times in a recent interview. “Why not direct people to what the real Chris Hansen is doing? Here’s where you can see it.”

Moviegoers, in other words, will be asked to have a seat twice.

The film revisits one of the most provocative and scrutinized franchises in the history of TV news. “To Catch a Predator,” which ran as a periodic “Dateline” investigation from 2004 to 2007, exposed men who used online chat rooms to solicit sex with minors. It accelerated the popularity of the true crime genre while raising lasting questions over journalistic ethics.

Directed by Lance Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut, “Primetime” is based on Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline, This Man Will Die,” about the suicide of a Texas prosecutor targeted by one of the stings. It premieres Sept. 5 at the Venice Film Festival.

Hansen, 66, is ready to ride the wave of notoriety the film is bound to generate. He is still pursuing online predators and a new generation of fans have found him on TruBlu, his YouTube page and on social media. “I’ve got to be the only 66-year-old man in America with 1.1 million TikTok followers,” he said.

Hansen first heard from A24 regarding “Primetime” when an executive reached out to him in late May to ask whether he would participate in promoting the film, according to emails obtained by The Times. Over the two months that followed, the journalist and his business partners repeatedly asked to see the film or a script before making any commitment. They also raised the possibility of compensation or a production credit, although Hansen said no formal request was made.

Hansen and his partners repeatedly raised concerns that he had never been contacted about the use of his name and likeness, even as a courtesy, before production was completed. The studio said it wasn’t necessary.

“Chris’s work was an important inspiration for ‘Primetime,’ which is a dramatized film inspired by true events,” according to an Aug. 8 email from A24. “While the film didn’t require individual consultation or permission during production, we’d love to have Chris’s support of the film to the extent he feels comfortable. If not, we certainly understand.”

An A24 representative declined to comment for this story. A person involved with the film who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly said the nondisclosure agreement Hansen was asked to sign is standard for a movie screened ahead of release, so that viewers do not reveal plotlines or spoilers.

The trailer, released earlier in August, has generated buzz in media business circles for the appearance of Jeff Zucker, former NBCUniversal chief executive, who appears as himself in a small role as a ratings-hungry network executive. Pattinson’s Hansen is later seen in the trailer screaming, “I’ll be bigger than ‘Lost’!” in reference to the ABC hit.

Robert Pattinson in a scene from A24’s “Primetime.”

(Sinna Nasseri / A24)

Hansen said he is not looking for a payout from the filmmakers. But he would like a clearer statement that the film is fiction rather than “inspired by true events,” as it says in the trailer, and perhaps a financial contribution to organizations for victims of child predators.

“I want some recognition that they used my name, image, and likeness in a largely fictional story,” he said. “They used my name, my colleagues’ names and some family members. Based upon what I know about this, it’s an insult to the thousands of people who work diligently, often at great risk, every day to protect children from predators.”

The conflict is hardly the first involving a living celebrity objecting to a fictional depiction. But legal challenges are often futile.

“You don’t own your life story,” said Domenic Romano, managing partner at Romano Law. “If you’re a celebrity, the filmmaker doesn’t need your permission to dramatize it. Even if you’re alive and you don’t like how you’re being portrayed, the 1st Amendment gives broad protection.”

Actor Olivia de Havilland went to court in 2017 over the FX series “Feud: Bette & Joan,” claiming the portrayal of her as a vicious gossip damaged her reputation. The court ultimately ruled in FX’s favor.

Actor Daryl Hannah took a different route, publishing an opinion piece in the New York Times in March objecting to her depiction in FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.” Hannah, who dated Kennedy before he married Bessette, wrote: “In the weeks since the series aired, I have received many hostile and even threatening messages from viewers who seem to believe the portrayal is factual.”

“When entertainment borrows a real person’s name, it can permanently impact her reputation,” Hannah wrote.

The rise and fall of “To Catch a Predator” provides enough drama for a big-screen treatment.

During his run at NBC News, Hansen was an Emmy Award-winning correspondent delivering hidden-camera investigative stories on such topics as identity theft and sex trafficking. But his “Predator” franchise, which used online decoys in chat rooms to draw men seeking sex with minors into police stings turned him into a global sensation, albeit a polarizing one.

NBC News conducted the investigations with the help of a civilian watchdog group called Perverted-Justice and local police in the towns and cities where the stings were set up. The suspects arrested and convicted included a rabbi, a teacher and a doctor.

Decoys posing as young teens lured the men to sting locations, mostly set up at private homes in quiet communities. Hansen would then enter and confront the men with his signature line: “Have a seat.” After a chat with the correspondent (“You see how this looks, right?”), the men were arrested by local police, while a camera crew captured it all.

The tableau of Hansen going face-to-face with suspects seated in suburban kitchens became so familiar it was spoofed in a comedy sketch that opened the 2006 Emmy Awards.

“Predator” remained a giant hit until a November 2006 sting in Murphy, Texas, went awry. Bill Conradt, a Rockwell County assistant district attorney, had been exchanging online messages and photos with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old boy. Unlike other targets, he never came to the sting house. Police obtained warrants and a SWAT team came to his home with a “Dateline” crew in tow. He shot himself to death after law enforcement entered.

Conradt’s family sued NBC, which settled out of court. The incident sharpened the debate over Hansen’s tactics, and as the “Predator” franchise became more popular, he was criticized in journalism circles for collaborating with police and an outside group of private citizens in his investigative work.

There have been many accolades as well. Law enforcement organizations credited the program for shedding light on a new form of criminal activity in the then-emerging internet age. Over the years, Hansen has helped promote advocacy groups and legislation protecting the rights of sexual abuse victims.

“Dateline” continued producing “Predator” investigations for another year after Conradt‘s death, airing its final installment in December 2007 before NBC retired the franchise in early 2008. Hansen has long maintained that the show simply ran its course. The library of his episodes continued to air on cable news channel MSNBC, now called MS NOW.

Hansen left NBC News in 2013 after the network declined to renew his contract. He continued to orchestrate the sting operations on a short-lived syndicated series, “Crime Watch Daily.” He also became one of the first well-known TV journalists to use a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to produce his own work to present on web platforms, which eventually led to the TruBlu site he has now. He also has a podcast series distributed by Red Seat Ventures called “Have a Seat,” a true crime podcast where he interviews figures in law enforcement.

A much-loved BBC favourite is making a surprise return to screens after spending a lengthy break away

A much-loved face is returning to the BBC.

Master woodworker Norman Wilkinson is set to make a surprise return to television today after a lengthy break from the programme.

Sarah Moore revealed that her former co-star Norman will be back on screen when the new series returns on Monday (August 31) afternoon.

Speaking alongside fellow co-star Jacqui Joseph, Sarah was asked about her standout moments from the upcoming series, during which she revealed that Norman’s comeback was one of the things she was most excited about.

She explained that he had been away from the programme for “like eight, nine series”, despite being a firm favourite with viewers.

She said: “I think the standout item was Norman, who was off our screens for like eight, nine series. And he was absolutely the favourite of so many people who watched the series, and we couldn’t really comment on why he wasn’t on it anymore or anything like that.”

Now, however, Norman has returned to the show for a very different kind of project. According to Sarah, he was brought back to carry out an impressive transformation involving an old organ.

“But he came back to do an amazing transformation of an organ, a sort of small church organ,” she explained. Sarah admitted she was delighted to see him back and praised the work he had done on the unusual piece.

“I think it’s just so lovely that he’s back on, he made a great job of it. So I think people would be really pleased to see him.” She went on to describe the finished creation as one of the standout pieces from the new series. Sarah said: “The standout moment was Norman; he did such a solid job.”

The restoration involved transforming a smashed-up 1920s organ into a bespoke writing desk, with Sarah particularly impressed by how timeless the finished item looked.

“It just looks like the kind of furniture that you know in 200 years’ time people will be using it,” she said. “And it was a beautiful desk made out of an organ, and people won’t even know that it was ever anything else. It’s just such a great makeover.”

Norman’s return is set to be one of the talking points of the new series, particularly after such a long absence from the programme. He will appear in the first episode of the 19th series.

Money for Nothing broadcasts Monday – Thursday at 2pm on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

KYLIE Jenner revealed who her favourite sister is in a brand new Q&A video – before seemingly taking a swipe at Kim Kardashian.

The Kylie Cosmetics entrepreneur recently returned to YouTube and posted a video with her kids, answering questions asked by her daughter, Stormi.

At one point in the video Stormi boldly asked Kylie to declare who her favourite sister is out of Kourtney Kardashian, Kim, Khloe Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner.

Answering the question while keeping things light, Kylie began by saying that she “doesn’t like to pick favourites.”

The star then said if she had to choose she’d say her “favourite of the day” would be Kendall.

Later on in the video, Kylie appeared to roast Kim, deeming her as the member of the Kardashian-Jenner family with the “worst dance moves”.

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She shared: “Probably your auntie Kiki [Kim’s nickname]. I think she’d be okay with me saying that.”

The Q&A video comes as Kylie announced that she’s getting even bigger breast implants.

“I do want them bigger,” she confessed on her best pal Stassie’s Better Half podcast.

She went on to add: “I say it every day. I’m like, ‘They need to be bigger and more out there. I want my tits to walk in before I do’.”

Kylie previously opened up about getting a breast augmentation at age 19 and expressed deep regret.

Speaking on Hulu’s The Kardashians in 2023, Kylie said: “You know I got my breasts done before Stormi, within six months of having Stormi, not thinking I would have a child when I was 20.

“They were still healing,” she explained, adding: “I had beautiful breasts. Just gorgeous, perfect size.

“I just wish I never got them done, to begin with.”

VICKY Pattison looked incredible in a tiny yellow bikini as she enjoyed a sunny trip to Montenegro with husband Ercan Ramadan.

Reality TV legend Vicky, 38, took to Instagram to share stunning photos from the couple’s holiday.

She captioned her post: “Chasing the summer…

“Montenegro has absolutely blown us away so far… the most beautiful country and people!!!!

“Also I will be coming back the size of a small semi detached as the food is INSANE!!!!”

Among the snaps were a smiling Vicky in a tiny yellow bikini, while another saw her posed while sitting on rocks.

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One person commented: “The most gorgeous ever!!!!!!!”

Another added: “Wow so gorgeous hope your having the best time girlie.”

A third wrote: “Wowzaaaaa!! So beautiful!! Love these pictures.”

While a fourth penned: “Amazing photos! So many beautiful memories.”

Vicky and Ercan began dating in 2019, with the couple becoming engaged in 2022.

They went on to tie the knot in 2024, in front of 150 guests including Vicky’s close pal Pete Wicks.

MAYA Jama cheekily vowed to ‘shake her money maker’ as she stunned in a racy red dress at Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday.

The Love Island presenter, 32, shared what she got up to at the world-famous street party on her social media.

Maya headed out to the streets of Notting Hill in west London in a taxi with her pals before busting some moves on an elevated platform.

She was captured holding a sign that said ‘shake my money maker’ by a fan and she reposted the picture to her Instagram story.

The star was in high spirits showing off her moves in a red and black striped dress and sunglasses.

In another repost, Maya was all smiles as she waved to a fan on the ground and made a love heart sign with her fingers.

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Before the party, Maya told her 3.3 million followers: “Merry carnival to those who celebrate.”

Notting Hill Carnival takes place every year from the 29th to 31st of August after it first took place in 1966.

It is one of the largest festival celebrations of its kind in Europe, celebrating Caribbean culture.

It comes after Maya stripped down to a bikini and let off steam on a wild holiday with pals.

She took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to share a series of pictures from her fun holiday.

In one snap, the ITV favourite showed off her sexy body in a blue two piece.

Naya Rivera and Ryan Dorsey’s son is making his film acting debut.

The “Glee” star’s 10-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, booked an on-screen role in “The Burning Valley” alongside his dad, Ryan. The two will play the role of father and son in the debut feature film from writer-director Evan Coury that started shooting this month northeast of Pittsburgh.

In an interview with the Tribune-Review, the filmmaker said the movie is about a steelworker who loses his job when the mill announces a shutdown. “It sets him on a journey as he wanders through his Rust Belt town,” Coury said. “My hope is to encapsulate the history of our region through one guy’s personal experience.”

The news of Josey’s big-screen debut comes six years after the tragic death of Rivera in 2020, when she accidentally drowned after renting a boat to take Josey, then 4 years old, fishing in Ventura County’s Lake Piru.

Josey’s foray into acting seems only natural considering his pro parents. Rivera is best known for her portrayal of the Afro-Latino queer cheerleader Santana Lopez in “Glee,” and Dorsey has acted in TV shows including “Justified” and “Palm Royale.” In a 2021 interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Rivera’s mother, Yolanda Previtire, and sister, Nickayla Rivera, described Josey as the spitting image of his mother. “His tenacity, his drive, his zeal, his adventure for life. He’s just Naya in boy form,” Previtire said.

“He loves entertaining,” Nickayla added. “He loves singing at the top of his lungs.”

And last year, Dorsey told People that Josey, or “Jojo,” had already acted in a couple of plays. “He hasn’t had the the lead part or anything, but he’s so good,” he said, adding that Josey wasn’t “begging” to be an actor just yet.

“I’m just trying to expose him to all the things,” he continued. “He’s playing violin, he’s playing piano, he’s in the chess club, he’s pretty good at baseball. He’s not very good at basketball. He’s played soccer, but I want to continue to expose him to things. I think it could be an outlet for him as he gets older; he can have a good life being creative. It’s definitely in his blood.”

Dolly Parton has been laid to rest in a private ceremony.

The immediate family of the country western star who died last week gathered at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday morning.

Parton was buried alongside her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. The bronze crypt plate mounted at the mausoleum had the star’s name engraved on it before she died, alongside her husband’s name and a depiction of her Tennessee home.

In a social media post, Amelia Young from Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 shared photos of Parton’s burial site and said that the cemetery had set out velvet ropes and guest books so fans could visit Parton and pay their respects.

“Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media tagging @dollyparton,” according to the cemetery’s obituary. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum is Nashville’s largest cemetery, where many other country western stars have been interred including George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins and Porter Wagoner — Parton’s former mentor, for whom she wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a professional farewell when she went solo in 1973.

Parton’s great-niece Lainey Parton shared a tribute following the funeral, writing on Instagram, “This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.

“From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough. She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.

“Most people can think of at least one bad memory with everyone in their family. I honestly can’t think of one with her.

“Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.

“One memory I’ll always hold onto is when she asked me to sing with her on her @smokymountaindna album. I was a freshman in high school and SO nervous. But she had a way of making me feel like nothing bad could happen. She made me feel safe, confident, and like I belonged right there beside her. …

“She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there.”

Parton died peacefully last week, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced in a news release shared with The Times. Seaver also announced her death in a video shared to the singer’s Instagram page. Parton was 80.

In a statement, a representative for the country music icon said: “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”

The type of cancer was not specified.

CHRISTINE McGuinness has shown off her incredible abs and tan in a tiny bikini – before declaring she refuses to let summer be over yet. 

The 38-year-old model and TV personality shared a new video lounging on a sun bed in the garden, soaking up the last of the UK’s heatwave before this weekend’s rain. 

Donning sunglasses and a deep bronze tan, Christine posed to show off her chiselled muscles in a sparkly lime green string bikini as she faced the sun to get most of its rays. 

Across the clip, she wrote: “Summer doesn’t officially end until 23rd September! Respectfully, keep your Pumpkin Spice lattes and Santa hats away from me!” 

She then added: “😎 This summer has been one big holiday for Mummy and her mini Mc’s 🥰 … Respectfully, we’re not ready for the school run!☀️😂🥹” 

The mum-of-three has always been a proud lover of the sun, enjoying holiday getaways as often as possible. 

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But there’s set to be some big changes in her household after her ex-husband, Paddy McGuinness, went public with a new romance. 

The former couple split four years ago, but have continued to live together in their £2million family home in “separate wings” of their Cheshire mansion. 

This was done for the sake of their three kids – twins Leo and Penelope, 13, as well as nine-year-old daughter Felicity – who are all on the autism spectrum. 

However, now he’s dating BBC publicist Emma Carey, Christine has acknowledged that she will learn how to live without him. 

Asked by Virgin Media Television host Lucy Kennedy, 50, about her and her ex-husband’s “current living arrangements”, she said: “He’s been a huge part of my life. I met him at 19. Which was 19 years ago, which is crazy… yeah, half of my life.”

Christine then added: “I suppose it will be strange living without him one day.

“But right now, the last three years we’ve been separated and it just works.

“We’ve got our own space. We do our own thing. We get on really well and we love our children.”

KYLIE Minogue shares some unseen throwback snaps to celebrate Can’t Get You Out Of My Head becoming her first billion-streaming hit.

The pop icon, 58, also told of her pride as the hit surpassed the Spotify milestone 25 years after its release on September 8, 2001.

The video, showing her in outfits including a deeply-plunging white number slashed to both thighs, was a fan favourite.

She wrote: “Thank you to everyone all around the world who has streamed and sang and danced and loved!

“Way before streaming, here I am doing wardrobe and glam tests in preparation for the video.

“Someone tell her she’s hit a billion.”

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The song is currently streamed around 850,000 times per day.

It was the lead single from her acclaimed album, Fever.

The single topped the charts in more than 40 countries with over five million sales globally.

The Aussie may be popping champagne corks but, in an interview with Vogue Australia this week, she said she had reigned in her drinking since her wildest days.

She joins the billion stream club alongside stars including The Weeknd, who tops the chart with 5.5billion streams for hit Blinding Lights.

Ed Sheeran comes a close second with Shape Of You, with 5.1billion.

Earlier this month she said: “I do believe that it has its place in that realm..

“Sonically and visually and at that point in my life, I think, what was I? What, 32? I was settling into myself.”’

It was part of her 21st century comeback after establishing herself with early hits from Stock, Aitken and Waterman and then dance label Deconstruction.

But Can’t Get You . . . was, says Kylie: “Like riding a spaceship.”

MOLLY MAE Hague has shared an incident where she was scared she was being judged for her parenting when her toddler, Bambi, had a melt down at the hairdressers. 

The TV star and entrepreneur has never been shy about sharing the ins and outs of her life as a mum-of-two via her vlogs, sharing earlier this month that three-year-old Bambi has entered “her aggressive era” that saw her putting people in headlocks. 

Now, in her newest video, she shared an incident where three-year-old Bambi caused a commotion while getting her haircut. 

“Today’s vlogging has not really gone to plan,” she told viewers. “I was going to vlog Bambi’s haircut, but honestly, that was a really traumatic experience. 

“I don’t know why. I mean, to be fair, she’s been saying for a few weeks ‘I don’t want to get my hair cut’, but like you know, just being sort of like a toddler, and just sort of the way a toddler would be, just trying to be difficult, you know how it is.” 

However, it seems Bambi was more sure of her stance than her mum anticipated – and wasn’t afraid to make it known to everyone when they got to the salon. 

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“Got to the hairdressers, full blown, didn’t want to get her haircut, full blown tantrum,” Molly shared. “I did say at one point like, okay, like we’ll just leave it then because it’s really not meant to be a traumatic thing, like this is meant to be a special treat, getting your hair done is meant to be.” 

“But I also know for children it can be a really overwhelming, strange experience because you’ve got people around you that you don’t know,” she said.

“Bambi’s not great with strangers anyway, she really isn’t. It really takes her a while to warm up to people, and I think she went into the hairdresser, and it was just very overwhelming.

“There was like a cape being put on her, a lot of people around her that she didn’t know, a new place that she’d never been to before…” 

Molly admits she’d “do things a bit different next time” by introducing her to the idea more slowly so the toddler understood, and perhaps going to a child-friendly salon rather than a normal adult one which she “thought would be fine”. 

“In the end, her little friend actually came and got her hair cut at the same time, which was really nice,” she explained. 

“When she turned up, things did calm down a lot, and we managed to get her hair cut.” 

However, she noted that she was left uncomfortable with the amount of attention the situation drew. 

“Everyone that was getting their hair done was looking at us like ‘oh’, and I didn’t know if I was handling her tantrum very well,” she admitted. “You know when you’re trying to handle a tantrum and people are watching over you, watching you handle it, there’s no pressure like it. Like, am I doing parenting right, right now?

“It’s hard enough to do it with no eyes on you, let alone when people are watching you with bleach on their hair.” 

Emmerdale star Olivia Bromley shed real tears when she filmed the tragic death of her character, Dawn Fletcher, tonight. Due to marry bad boy Joe Tate, their plans were scuppered when Jimmy King crashed into the wedding marquee, causing a big explosion, and pregnant Dawn was rushed to hospital.

Sent into premature labour, while Dawn gave birth safely to a baby boy with Joe at her side, she had a serious internal bleed. Suddenly, without warning, she crashed and, despite medics’ best efforts to resuscitate her, she died.

In her first interview since the explosive scenes, Olivia, 30, who was originally signed by Emmerdale for just 12 episodes in 2018, tells The Mirror: “It was the toughest storyline I’ve done during my time in the soap.

“I was surprised by how emotional I found it and it was way more emotional than I was expecting. I did cry. It is very strange to kill off your character as an actor and in front of your colleagues. But that said, what a gift to be given. Often people leave and just slip off.”

The actress was told earlier this year her character would be at the heart of a huge exit storyline during the soap’s biggest week of the year. Having reached a crossroads playing Dawn, she says it was almost a relief to have the decision over what to do with the role made for her.

She says: “This is a good time for me to go on a personal level. I had felt ready for the character to go. This character felt like she had done so much and I didn’t know what direction she could go in next. I had played her for a long time, and it felt like I needed to do other things. I am proud this was such a big finale to my time in the soap.”

But news that Dawn was being killed off came as a bolt from the blue and she confesses she would have liked to have left the door open to one day return.

Despite the initial shock, she says: “Psychologically, now I have had time to reflect, I know it’s good for me, because I can say bye to my Emmerdale chapter. It’s been brilliant. I was originally only signed up for 12 episodes and I’ve stayed eight years!”

And if viewers found her final scenes surprisingly realistic, she can now share the secret – that real life paramedics, rather than actors, were used to make the medical scenes convincing. She says: “They had real life paramedics and intensive care workers who came in to play those parts. Emmerdale is a fast-paced soap and we often don’t have time to train actors up, so they bring supporting people in with a lot of experience.”

Likening it to an “out of body” experience, she adds of her character’s death scenes: “They had rehearsed the crash response with Ned [who plays Joe Tate] and the supporting artists first and, right at the last minute, they put me in the scene. I had no idea what was going on.

“They went into the crash response, and it felt like an out of body experience lying there. They were all so professional and brilliant at what they did.”

But Olivia is sad that Dawn’s life ended so tragically. She says: “Even though she was able to cradle the baby with her children and Joe by her side, nobody had picked up on her bleeding internally. Finally, she had got what she wanted and so it was a sad end for her.”

Dawn originally arrived in the village as a drug addicted sex worker. Her big storylines included finding her long lost son and her on-off romance with her big love, ex-husband Billy. But she fell for Joe Tate in January 2025, after embarking on an affair behind Billy’s back.

They got engaged in December 2025 and by February 2026 discovered they were expecting a baby. But in recent months, Dawn, who had two other children and an adopted daughter, had been troubled by her lingering feelings for Billy.

And when he was attacked last month, she believed Joe was responsible and had planned to escape with Billy, rather than marrying the bad boy. However, in a massive plot twist, it became apparent Billy had actually been attacked by Kev – making Dawn want to marry Joe after all.

Olivia says: “Only a few weeks ago, she was talking about escaping with Billy, but in the end chose Joe. If Dawn hadn’t returned to Joe at the end, she would still be alive now. Billy is her true love but ultimately, she is an addict and she was drawn to Joe.”

She continues: “I’ve loved playing Dawn and I’ve enjoyed watching her develop and change. I’ve made many friends too and I am going to miss them a lot – especially everyone at Home Farm and Jay, who plays Billy. We are like brother and sister; we get on so well.”

Away from Emmerdale, Olivia lives happily in Leeds with her partner, who she keeps out of the public eye. She says: “My life has changed since joining the show. It has given me stability and, alongside the character, I’ve grown and changed. It’s made me ambitious in different ways and taken my life in a different way.”

After graduating from Oxford School of Drama, Olivia moved to London to work in theatre, before the call from Emmerdale came. She says: “This did change things for me and to be a working actor for eight years has been very special.”

And she would love to continue working in TV drama. She says: “I want to try some new things. It’s an exciting time and I would love to do a period drama or a gritty 9pm drama like Line of Duty.”

Now awaiting auditions, she has her leaving party to look forward to next weekend. She says: “It’s themed and I think we all deserve a drink after such a chaotic, complex end for Dawn. I’m also looking forward to just being me and not Dawn!”

As for Emmerdale without her? Olivia says: “The audience will go on a rollercoaster I am sure! I will always be so grateful to Emmerdale for giving me this role and to have been able to play Dawn fully until the end has been so much fun.”

*Emmerdale airs every weekday on ITV1 and STV1 at 8pm. Episodes can also be downloaded on ITVX.

Daisy Chain Fields arrived on a sweltering summer Saturday, plopped in the middle of Irvine’s suede hills, inside Orange County lines. The festival, hosted by Olivia Rodrigo at the Great Park, was a spiritual successor to Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair of the late ‘90s, born out of frustration with promoters and radio stations that refused to play two female artists in a row.

Like McLachlan’s event, Daisy Chain Fields boasted an all-female lineup, featuring some of the most coveted names in the contemporary music scene. The festival also gave a nod to some of the industry’s women pioneers, such as Bikini Kill and Garbage.

Anticipation for the festival was high after Rodrigo unveiled it in late June, with tickets selling out just 30 minutes after release. This translated directly onto the grounds, which were swarmed by 45,000 attendees, comprising teenage girls, moms, dads and everyone in between.

The event raised $10 million to benefit 10 girl- and women-focused nonprofit organizations, all of which made an appearance on stage before each artist’s set. Each musician on the lineup performed for free.

Festivalgoers walk past the Great Park Balloon.

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1. Festival goers pose for pictures in front of a daisy backdrop. 2. Nara Brown from Costa Mesa ties together a flower headpiece.

As the sun went down and Rodrigo took the stage, she announced that proceeds had been 100% matched by billionaire and philanthropist Melinda French Gates, bringing total donations to $20 million.

The Times was on site to witness the festival in all its glory, amid astounding 94 degree heat and an unwavering, tangible electricity among fans. Here is our recap of the best moments from the festival. —Julius Miller

Livies get loud on the Metrolink
The 2 p.m. Metrolink train from Union Station in L.A. to Orange County was absolutely mobbed with Livies (a.k.a. Olivia Rodrigo fans) on Saturday. For such a car-brained region, it was sweet to see public transit packed with young fans in festival regalia, making the grind to Irvine more sane and green. Let’s have this vibe for every major SoCal festival (including the car-free Ocean Way next month). Yet, for new train fans, a gentle reminder: one spirited round of singing “Get Him Back!” as you’re climbing onboard? Endearing, a delight for all. Keeping it up for an hour, next to civilian commuters who looked ready to climb onto the tracks themselves by Buena Park? Maybe save that for the pit. —August Brown

Festivalgoers sing as Olivia Rodrigo performs during Daisy Chain Fields.

Devon Again performs during Daisy Chain Fields.

Devon Again felt so lucky that she gets to know you

25-year-old alt-pop princess Devon Again was a last-minute addition to the Daisy Chain Fields bill, replacing global girl group Katseye, who pulled out of the festival on Thursday due to a member’s ankle injury. Luckily, Devon Again, a personal friend of Rodrigo who will open for her tour starting in November, was there to answer Rodrigo’s call with a resounding “Duh, b—! Obviously I want to do it!” as she relayed to the Saturday afternoon crowd. Though Katseye’s presence was felt — members Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeong took the stage to introduce nonprofit partner Baby2Baby before the set, and Devon Again’s drummer wore a Katseye shirt in tribute — Devon Again’s self-confessed impostor syndrome was misplaced. With a rollicking mix of high-energy country twang, twisty ballads and production-heavy pop hits bolstered by her crisp belt, she made the stage her own. —Eloise Rollins-Fife

Die Spitz dives into a great early set

The set began with a five-minute delay due to technical issues, during which bassist Kate Halter — impressively — performed several handstands to pass the time. By 1:45 p.m., the band was ready to go, with frontwoman Ellie Livingston kicking off the performance. Draped in a torn white skirt and black fishnet gloves to complement, she wailed “I hate when girls die.”

Die Spitz’s set felt like the epitome of what Daisy Chain was all about. The band members took turns strutting around stage and acknowledging, “I know it’s f— hot!” But that didn’t stop the crowd from forming mosh pits on the left and right side of the yellow Marigold stage. At one point, Livingston even jumped in herself, to the despair of security and the delight of fans. —JM

Eleanor “Ellie” Livingston of Die Spitz performs during Daisy Chain Fields.

Santigold’s set was worth fighting for

Santigold’s eclectic, genre-defying sound may be a hallmark of the “indie sleaze” era, but her standout midday Daisy Chain set proved she has plenty of staying power in 2026. Dressed in all white and flanked by a pair of straight-faced dancers in futuristic sunglasses, the 49-year-old artist performed back-to-back hits like “Run the Road” and “L.E.S. Artistes” to a crowd ready to dance the pain away. She even brought a handful of fans onstage — mostly, adorably, children — for a follow-along dance contest during “Unstoppable,” with a winner determined by cheers. Wrapping up the set with “Disparate Youth,” Santigold reminded the audience to keep believing in “a life worth fighting for.” –ERF

Santigold transports the crowd to the early aughts era of indie sleaze during Daisy Chain Fields.

Bikini Kill double dares Daisy Chain crowd to keep fighting the power

“This government hates us and wants us dead,” proclaimed punk icon and Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna: a critical guiding light for Olivia Rodrigo’s feminist consciousness, as well as that of thousands of Daisy Chain attendees on Saturday. Since the band’s inception in 1990, the OG riot grrrls of Bikini Kill made social justice the centripetal force of their furor — long before Daisy Chain Fields, and even its late ‘90s predecessor Lilith Fair. Powered by Tobi Vail on drums (and occasional vocals), Kathy Wilcox on bass and Sara Landeau on guitar, the electric Hanna buffered classic songs like “Double Dare Ya” and “Feels Blind” with parables from her own revolutionary life — much of which she spent fighting back against objectification from men. Dudes in Saturday’s crowd got a special directive: “You guys gotta talk to your friends [about misogyny],” said Hanna. “[Women] are not gonna stop this on our own!” Sealed with a kiss and delivered with a snarl, the band closed its rip-roaring set with the anthemic battle cry of “Rebel Girl,” and were flanked onstage by a few lucky young fans. —Suzy Exposito

Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna preaches a message of anti-misogyny to the crowd during Daisy Chain Fields.

Mitski brought melodrama and musical magic

Whether you’ve been rocking with Mitski since the “Lush” days or discovered her music via pandemic-era Tik Tok, when industrial ballads like “Washing Machine Heart” unexpectedly popped off, there’s no denying her captivating stage presence — not to mention her stunning vocals. Longtime fans may have wished for a few more of the hits (no “Your Best American Girl” after the recent “Puberty 2” 10th anniversary re-release was a surprise), but indie music’s favorite sad-woman still brought her A-game to the Dandelion Stage, incorporating her signature “Butoh” performance style — a form of avant-garde Japanese dance-theatre — underscored by a backdrop of 1940s melodramas. During her set she implored Rodrigo to make the festival an annual tradition. “When do you get to be the first anything anymore?” she said. “For the rest of our lives, we could be like, ‘I’m OG DCF.” – ERF

Mitski performs during Daisy Chain Fields.

The Breeders deliver ‘Last Splash’ classics

Hand it to Kim Deal: As one of the OGs on the bill at Daisy Chain Fields, the Breeders frontwoman used her band’s performance to shout out an even earlier pathbreaker by wearing an old Shirley Chisholm campaign T-shirt featuring the first Black congresswoman’s slogan of “Unbought and unbossed.” Deal and her bandmates (including her twin sister Kelley) drew deeply from their classic 1993 “Last Splash” LP, loping through the country-ish “Drivin’ on 9,” chugging on a fuzzed-out “Saints” and pricking up Gen Z ears with the perennially TikTok’d “Cannonball.” — Mikael Wood

The Breeders play songs from their 1993 classic album “Last Splash” during Daisy Chain Fields.

Doechii does it for the girls

Under the hot afternoon sun, Grammy award-winning rapper Doechii celebrated all things girls in her typical over-the-top fashion. She and her dancers arrived onstage painted in hot pink, the swamp princess’ hair fashioned into high pigtails. A dance breakdown to a hardcore take on Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” introduced the set, and though she fed fans by performing some of her most popular singles — a version of “Anxiety” that morphed into a cover of the original sample “Somebody I Used to Know” by Goyte, “Alter Ego” and tracks like “Nissan Altima” and “Boiled Peanuts” from her 2024 album “Alligator Bites Never Heal” — she also reminded festivalgoers of the influential Black women artists who came before her — Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Beyoncé — by mixing their iconic songs into hers. Glowing magenta, she twirled above what looked to be a rising river, a physical representation of the swirling, engulfing thoughts that anxiety can provoke as she performed the song by the same name. And just to ensure there was zero confusion, the Florida rapper ended her set by simply stating: “We do this for the girls, we do this for the gays and we do this for trans women.” —Danielle Dorsey

Doechii performs during Daisy Chain Fields.

Doechii

Garbage gives grunge power to Gen Z

With its blend of serrated alt-rock guitars and sleek machine rhythms, Garbage always sounded a little ahead of its time when the band broke out in the post-grunge mid-’90s. But as frontwoman Shirley Manson evoked an age of digital surveillance and pharmacological dependence in “I Think I’m Paranoid” — one of the era’s great snarling pop singles — what you realized is that history had finally caught up with the band. — MW

Shirley Manson, lead singer of Garbage, performs during Daisy Chain Fields.

Chappell Roan reigns with a hit-heavy set

It’s funny to think that Chappell Roan has only really been in the American music scene for the past six years, with just one studio album to her name.

Roan appeared from the back of stage, revealing her leather, periwinkle stewardess outfit and red mod bob — an apparent nod to Luc Besson’s 1997 film “The Fifth Element.” Naturally, the crowd roared as she dove bob-first into “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.” She’d occasionally crouch down to take a sip from her water bottle, which matched her ensemble.

Roan looked especially happy to be there, happily performing for free and her set did not disappoint.

“Only the hits today,” she said, smiling. “Only the hits.” —JM

Festivalgoers dance in the “MicroRave.”

Not for Radio crank up the volume

Just after sundown, the Marías’ enigmatic leading lady, María Zardoya, emerged to perform songs from her nocturne solo project, Not for Radio. Circled by a verdant reproduction of an enchanted forest, and dressed in a black swan-like two-piece by Ann Demeulemeester, Zardoya held the audience captive with her purring soprano and vampy stare. But make no mistake: by dialing up their otherwise elegant chamber pop with a little extra crunch and distortion, the players of Not for Radio came ready to rock out with the Daisy Chain crowd. It was during a performance of the new track “Comet,” which has only been recorded live thus far, that Zardoya bewitched fans into head-banging along with her. —SE

Olivia Rodrigo does duets with her idols

Sarah McLachlan, left, and Olivia Rodrigo perform during Daisy Chain Fields.

Rodrigo’s enduring virtue as a pop star is being a great fan first. The job requires commanding attention and devotion for yourself, but she’s never been shy about situating herself in the long arc of women who came before (and after) her, or just being moon-eyed to live inside her favorite songs with her heroes onstage. For her Daisy Chain Fields closing set, she dueted with generations of women that shaped her sense of what’s possible in music — Stevie Nicks for a gorgeous “Landslide,” and a surprise Alanis Morissette cameo for “Ironic” that felt like girl-gang karaoke night at its finest. She joined Lilith Fair founder Sarah McLachlan — a specific inspiration for this festival — for “Building a Mystery” and a deeply tender “Angel.” Even Rodrigo’s backing band, full of absolutely shredding women instrumentalists, played beside her on equal footing for exquisitely tasteful, post-punky revisions of songs across her three albums. The boys in the crowd got a brief chance to growl in the lead on “Expectations,” but here they were just allies — the headline act was Rodrigo’s talent framed as a gift received from other women, and given again to the young fans on the field. —AB

The X Factor is reportedly set for a comeback and bosses are said to be looking to trademark some of the show’s biggest catchphrases

A number of The X Factor’s most famous phrases have reportedly been trademarked as the show reportedly gets ready for a comeback.

The singing contest is set for a shock return and several sayings from the top man Simon Cowell are said to have been put forward for trademarking, including the music guru’s one liner – “I didn’t like it, I loved it”.

The reboot of the show is claimed to have been secretly bubbling away in the background for almost a year, with those on board sworn to secrecy. And it’s said the show will be returning int a “whole new arena”.

Due to the intensity of social media and viral clips, a source has claimed bosses are acting to try to secure their most popular phrases. “Trademarking key phrases is part of that — and Simon’s known for his critiques,” a source said about the new business mode.

The source continued to tell The Sun: “Bosses lodged, ‘It’s a yes from me’, ‘It’s a no from me’ and ‘I didn’t like it, I loved it’ in December.”

It remains to be seen which judges will be called upon for the reboot. Previous have included Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh, with hosts including as Dermot O’Leary. Simon is thought to be making a comeback in some capacity too.

A source told the publication: “They can explore a younger, fresher panel, with new faces and have Cowell behind the scenes. The plan is for the show’s return to take on a new life and be updated to envelop social media generation.”

The long-running singing competition originally aired from 2004 until 2019. It thrust a number of unknown acts into the international spotlight while also helping to boost the profiles of the roster of judges. At it’s peak, The X Factor pulled in huge audiences just shy of 20 million viewers.

By 2019, interest in the series had waned. Eventually, the show was axed following a celebrity version of the series that struggled to attract more than three million viewers.

Speaking about the potential return of the show previously, Simon told the Tales from the Celebrity Trenches podcast: “Yeah, we talk about it a lot. Do you bring it back as X Factor or do you bring it back as the Z Factor?

“There’s still no question, the power of TV in terms of getting people to know an artist. It’s so important if you’re not writing your own material. The truth is there’s something about being on a big screen. You hear about these artists who break online, but so rarely.

“Truth is, I guess, thank God, people like being on TV.”

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