show biz

Rob and Michele Reiner’s son Jake Reiner has reportedly tied the knot with fiancée Maria Gilfillan.

The couple got married in a small ceremony in early August, TMZ reported Monday.

The duo has kept the relationship largely out of the spotlight. Jake shared images on Oct. 7, 2025, on Instagram of him and Gilfillan attending a wedding in Las Vegas. They went to the L.A. premiere of Rob’s film “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” with his entire family in September.

In an interview with ABC7’s Marc Cota-Robles, released Aug. 27, Jake appeared to be wearing a wedding band.

Jake’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jake’s sit-down interview with ABC7 marked the first time the former reporter spoke to the press after his parents were fatally stabbed in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025. His 27-year-old sister, Romy Reiner, discovered the bodies and his younger brother, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, was arrested in connection to the crime.

“Every moment that I wake up, I’m reminded of my reality, and you’re living through that every single day,” Jake, 35, told ABC7.

In July, a grand jury indicted Nick on murder charges with special allegations of committing multiple murders and lying in wait, making him eligible for life without parole or the death penalty if convicted. Nick has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial hearing is slated for Sept. 15.

“I don’t care how it’s explained to me. I don’t care what facts come out. I will never understand why this happened,” Jake shared with ABC7, adding that he has not spoken to his brother since his parents’ deaths.

In an essay written by Jake on his Substack in April, he expressed being robbed of many milestone moments following his parents’ deaths. “My parents won’t be at my wedding, they won’t get to hold their future grandchild, and they won’t get to see me have the successful career I’m still seeking,” Jake wrote. “It simultaneously breaks my heart and enrages me.”

Jake wrote that his dad helped him overcome personal obstacles: “No subject was ever off-limits.”

“Whenever I was in a difficult relationship, he would challenge me and say, ‘You need to really think about what draws you to a person like this, and once you figure that out and break that pattern, you’ll find the person who is truly right for you,’” Jake wrote in the April essay. “I’m proud to say I have found that person in Maria, and I couldn’t be more grateful she had the chance to know and love my parents.”

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

DJ Spoony was sent in some joke names on BBC Radio 2 but read them out loud without realising.

The Radio 1 and 2 legend was sitting in for his mate, Trevor Nelson, when he ran a competition asking people to guess a song after playing only one second of it.

After reading out some of the guesses from listeners, he followed up with their names and where they’re from, as per radio tradition.

The next guess was Joe Dolce’s hit Shaddap You Face, with Spoony saying, “Someone always guesses Joe Dolce.”

He then added that the guess was from, “Ben Down and Phil McAvity.”

Thankfully, Spoony mispronounced the two surnames and saved himself the embarrassment of having read two very rude prank names.

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The Radio 2 star has been filling in for Trevor Nelson over the past two months after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour,

Trevor suddenly stepped away from his weekday radio show in June and returned to social media to update fans on why he was absent.

The dad-of-two said he felt he wanted to share more details due to the outpouring of love he had received.

He said: “I was minding my own business and then it was discovered I had a brain tumour.

“As you can imagine, I was shocked. In fact, my world was turned upside down.

“Quite literally, my head was all over the place. I knew I had to stop work because I couldn’t be that guy on the radio knowing I had that going on.”

After confirming his surgery was a success, Trevor said he’d been at home “recuperating and resting” and having post-op treatment.

He went on: “I can only tell you the truth, and the truth is I feel great right now.”

Trevor added he was back playing golf and in the gym and living his old life, except for the radio and gigs.

The veteran DJ hosts the afternoon show on Radio 2 between 2 and 4pm.

The Jury viewers were left baffled as tensions erupted among the jurors just minutes into the first episode of the new Channel 4 series.

The Jury took a turn minutes into the new series.

Viewers were left baffled just moments into the return of the Channel 4 series after tensions began to rise among the 12 jurors. The BAFTA-winning programme returned for a new series on Tuesday (September 1) night, once again putting a group of ordinary people in a specially constructed jury room in a recreated murder trial.

This time, the jury is considering the case of two brothers, one just 14 years old, who are accused of killing their stepfather. The brothers admit stabbing the man more than 69 times while he was asleep, with the jury having to decide whether the killing was an act of desperation or a calculated murder.

However, viewers were quick to comment on the reaction inside the jury room after the first trial and initial evidence had been presented. As the 12 contestants began discussing what they had heard, it quickly became clear that they were far from united in their views.

One juror, Jamie, admitted he was struggling to remain objective because of the age of one of the defendants. “This is mental,” he said. “My main aim is to be completely objective and then there’s a 14 year old put in front of me and it’s thrown it out of the window. I’ve got a boy that’s nearly f****** 14. As a dad, two young boys. I feel like it’s made it so much more challenging to be objective.”

He later described the evidence they had heard as a “massive bombshell”. Another juror questioned whether the group could fairly assess the case given that Daniel was only 14. “Do we feel that we can make a fair decision, because he’s so young?” they asked.

But not everyone believed Daniel’s age should influence their thinking. Kim insisted: “Age doesn’t come into it for me. Maybe it should but as it stands, I’m not looking at it as an age thing.”

Christopher, 20, disagreed and argued that Daniel’s age could be important when considering his responsibility for what happened. “I think it ought to a bit. I’m gonna be a really annoying sociology student right now,” he said. “But I think we do need to consider his age because I think that’s going to impact whether he’s in full control of his faculties.”

Jamie agreed with Christopher’s argument, pointing out that a teenager’s brain is still developing. “Their brain is still forming. So how can you say someone’s completely responsible as an adult when they’re not an adult?” he asked.

Kim, however, pushed back strongly. “So it justifies him killing him? No,” she replied. Jamie insisted the situation was more complicated than that. “But it’s not as simple as that. It’s not a simple thing,” he said.

Kim responded: “For you, maybe not, but for me, it is that simple. I am very black and white.” She went on to focus on the circumstances of the killing, arguing that the number of stab wounds made it difficult for her to separate Daniel’s age from the crime itself.

“The killing was nasty. The amount of times Daniel stabbed him. There was no justifying that,” she said. “Looking at him as a 14 year old, rather than the crime that he’s committed, I think it kind of clouds the judgement.”

Chloe, 23, also took a firm position on the issue. “Yeah. That’s overkill. You know what you’re doing after you’ve done it over 69 times,” she said. “If you’ve already done one big gash on the neck, you can’t do that to someone and expect them to be walking around perfectly the next day.”

She added that she believed the brothers intended to kill their stepfather and did not think Daniel’s age could be used as an excuse. “If they were adult enough to commit an adult crime, then surely they can take the punishment,” Chloe said.

The heated discussion came relatively early in the programme, with viewers watching the jurors begin to form opinions as the case started to unfold. Some viewers were surprised to see such strong opinions emerging while the group had only been presented with an early portion of the evidence.

One viewer wrote on X: “Not seen any evidence yet and they already arguing #TheJuryC4.” Another said: “Making up your mind before you’ve heard even a lick of evidence is insane but go off I guess.” A third questioned the make-up of the jury, asking: “Do they actually have level headed people on the series this time? #TheJury.”

However, not everyone watching was critical of the programme. One viewer praised the return, writing: “I’m watching, it’s one of the best programmes on TV and with all the debate over jury trials, a fitting watch. #TheJury.”

As the first episode continued, the jurors were presented with further information about the case, giving them more evidence to consider as they attempted to establish exactly what had happened.

You can stream the new season of The Jury on Channel 4

Emmerdale’s Claire King revealed her heartache over co-star Olivia Bromley’s exit from the ITV soap, following Dawn Fletcher’s death

Emmerdale actress Claire King has shared her heartache over co-star Olivia Bromley’s exit from the soap, following an explosive episode.

The 30-year-old has played Dawn Fletcher in the long-running ITV programme for eight years, sharing the screen with Claire’s Kim Tate, her stepmother.

Fans were left shocked when her character was killed off in devastating scenes on her tragic wedding day, after prematurely giving birth to a baby boy with partner Joe Tate. In the emotional footage, she suffered internal bleeding and sadly died after giving birth.

Touching on the episode in a press roundtable, Claire described their final few moments together on set as “heartbreaking”.

“But we did have a good laugh that week because we were all outside this massive marquee where we were doing all the wedding stuff and car crash, and it’s all supposed to be tragic but we were all actually having a good life.

“We had some really nice people on set that day. Great crew, and it was just a bit of camaraderie.

“But I could see as the days went on to the final day she was getting more and more sort of angst and things.”

Dawn made a big impact when she arrived in the Dales almost a decade ago, and has been at the centre of huge storylines since then – including the moment she found her long lost son, and her on-off romance with ex-husband Billy.

Olivia was told of her character’s fate earlier this year, with bosses teasing the huge exit plot. However, despite the advanced warning, she admitted that she found it tough to bid farewell.

“It was the toughest storyline I’ve done during my time in the soap,” she told the Mirror.

“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.”

She added: “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!”

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Jared Freid remembers the moment he found his true calling in comedy.

Oddly it came after he’d already found success with his debut Netflix special “37 & Single” in 2023, which allowed him to live the stand-up dream of making it to a big streamer. But then that moment passed and the Boston-bred comic was once again starting from square one scrounging for joke ideas. That’s when he decided to dig up an old story he’d told on stage about his dad body-shaming him during a family outing in Delrey Beach, Fla.

“We’re sitting at the beach, and my dad asked me how much I weighed, and I was so mad about it,” Freid remembers. Seething at his dad for poking at his body insecurities, the comedian dealt with his emotions like any good millennial — by podcasting about it. Venting the story that took only about a minute to tell on a microphone led to more fights with his aging boomer parents soon after when they heard the episode.

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Jared Freid sits down with LA Times Entertainment Editor Nate Jackson to discuss his new Netflix hour, “The Family Plan,” which turns a beach blowup with his dad into a sharply observed, big-hearted look at boomer-millennial family warfare and reconciliation.

Scrolling back through that memory, Freid said something clicked when he thought about the alarmingly close relationship millennials still have with their parents in adulthood including still being on the family cellphone plan. “I can pay my own cellphone bill, but I’m still on their family plan,” he said. “That says something about the millennial/boomer relationship, in my opinion. We’re weirdly attached to our parents, and in a way that no other generations were tied like that, like not mushed together.”

Extending his one-minute bit into a full hour in his new Netflix special “The Family Plan” (out on Tuesday) took two and a half years of dedication polishing the story and seeing it start to resonate on tour at shows around the world. It also required him understanding that what underlies the struggles between millennials and their parents is how shockingly alike they are despite being constantly annoyed by each other. Freid now says his goal is to be a family-friendly comedian for families that usually aren’t friendly with each other but can easily agree on that fact while they laugh at jokes about themselves.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

Your new one-hour special was inspired by a one-minute story you’ve told about a fight with your dad at the beach. You tapped into something really universal with the strife between boomer parents and their millennial children — a real tug of war for power that’s happening in a lot of people’s lives right now.

Totally, I and I feel it, especially because we can talk back to [our boomer parents] in a respectful way. We can have debates. You’re finding out your parents are just people too. I started telling people on my podcast, “Bring your parents.” This special is to be enjoyed with your family. You’d see a guy with his dad [at one of my shows], point at him and go “[Jared’s] talking about you!” That made me feel so good. I did it in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, I did it everywhere, and it was always just unbelievable how much people related to it and now it’s how I want to do comedy. This is who I am. This special means so much to me. It’s been a fight to get it out. I wanted it on a platform like Netflix because I want parents to watch it with their kids. It’s hard enough to get your parents on your Netflix account. Imagine getting them to watch a special on YouTube? They’re not going to do it. So I need this to be in a place where boomers and millennials can share it with each other and enjoy it together.

As an adult, what’s been the most interesting thing about seeing what things you picked up from your parents despite constantly arguing with them?

We’re exactly the same. We’re so alike that that’s probably why my dad’s asking me how much I weigh at the beach because I also look like him. It’s almost like an argument with yourself. I’m a version of him, and he’s a version of me. I have a lot of empathy for my parents. I’m 41, no kids, never married. They had to grow up while having a kid. I can’t understand that.

Right now there’s a lot of talk about divorcing your parents going around. I also can’t understand that for a second, because it’s not in my nature. For so many of the things that I go through in my life and feel frustrated by, [my parents] are, they’re my conscience a lot of times. Like when I wonder whether I should go right or left, I hear my mom in my head like, “You’re gonna go right? Why would you go right? You always go right. You’re lazy.” I hear them. I feel like I understand them more now, being older.

From selling life insurance in New York to headlining global tours and hit podcasts, Freid has built a devoted, largely female fan base that treats his stand-up like family therapy.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Every generation has their obstacles, and we’re constantly looking at each saying “Oh, you have it easy, no you have it easy!” But in your special, it kind of comes out that there’s obstacles for every group.

Totally. I don’t do comedy to make anyone feel bad. I do it to make people laugh and enjoy. And like it was cool to see a family would come to me to take a picture afterwards, and then the parents would be like, “We’re the boomers you’re making fun of.” I’m making fun of them, but I’m also making fun of ourselves [as millennials]. And I think it strikes a balance between the two because it does show that I love my family. I love how I grew up. I love that you know the people in my life. That doesn’t mean you can’t be totally angered by them.

Where did you cut your teeth in comedy?

I started in New York. I was selling life insurance and annuities in New York, and I was writing funny emails to friends. Any time we were on the same group email, Gmail, or G Chat it was always “what did we do last weekend, and what are we going to do this weekend?” And then you just make fun of each other. Anytime someone would write back “Oh my God, I’m dying at my desk. That made me laugh so hard,” I was like, “That that feels like drugs. How do I get that?” I started doing open mics, and I kind of treated it like grad school. I did improv, sketch, and storytelling. I took all these classes, and just to see what I liked, because I just wanted to be funny for my friends. Plus I could go to open mics at night, so you could add that in and feel forward momentum.

Being a millennial comedian right now seems very much like being stuck between two worlds of having the old model of success in comedy you learned from your idols and then you have people who are younger than you who are blowing up just by like posting a random video.

What you’re saying is completely right. Like we’d look up to these guys like Colin Quinn on his show “Tough Crowd,” that’s the table I wanted to sit at, and I wanted to hang out with those guys and bust each other’s chops, that’s what comedy is. I always could see myself at that table, but I also understood that table is kind of earned. You don’t just get to it because you’re funny. When I started, you could count the comedians on one hand that could do theaters, without being on a TV show. You know, there was like Brian Regan, Kathleen Madigan, Jim Gaffigan. These people weren’t on TV, but they had their audience, so it was very different to be a stand-up. Earthquake is in that group. Then you look at the sitcom people who get to do stand-up because they were on a sitcom, like you know Seinfeld and you know Ray Romano, and these are great stand-ups.

A millennial comic wedged between club legends and viral upstarts, Freid uses candid stories and crowd work to bridge generational divides — including in L.A.’s intimate, under-the-radar comedy rooms.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

How did podcasting allow you to grow your career in a different way?

I thought “well, I’m listening to these podcasts. I should start a podcast.” And I was downloading podcasts in 15-minute increments to my iPod Nano. I love talk radio. I grew up on WEI in Boston. I love sports, I like sports talk, I like high energy shows. At that time, I thought everyone had one, but now I look like I started early. I can do a podcast where I can speak directly to people who might want to come to my shows. I didn’t even think of ads. I wasn’t thinking of that stuff. I was just [thinking] I can talk right to someone who likes what I do, and I would team up with these websites… I was trying to do this internet stuff, understanding there was power there. I was caught between two worlds, working on my stand-up as kind of my nighttime job, and then doing these podcasts and contributing wherever I could as a daytime job.

When you started working with Betches Media through podcasting on shows like “U Up?” [with platform co-founder Jordana Abraham] it opened up a lane for you to suddenly grow a female audience in a way that seemed natural despite being out of the ordinary for most straight male comedians. What’s that been like to grow that type of audience?

It’s weirdly gratifying. It’s not what I was like angling towards. I think if I was angling towards a female audience as a stand-up, it wouldn’t work. I think that it would be a lie. I’m so happy with it. I feel really thankful because you know the [founders of] Betches [Abraham, Aleen Dreksler and Samantha Fishbein] they’re my sisters. The audience is family like when they come to shows I know them, you know, that’s like a beautiful thing and I think especially in the world of stand-up where all you hear about is like the Manosphere and the Rogan types, and a lot of stand-up comedy is men dragging a girlfriend to someone they think is funny because they get an ego puff out of showing a woman who they know is to be funny. And my shows are very different. It’s women bringing their boyfriends, women who now bring their husbands, couples coming together, and I love it.

Lastly, what cellphone family plan are you and your parents currently on?

Oh, we’re on T-Mobile. I’m getting kicked off by my dad currently.

Because you’re too famous?

Yeah, he’s like it’s getting embarrassing for him. I could pay for it myself. I just like, now I got to go to the store, I gotta go do it. It’s annoying.

EastEnders fans believe that Nicola Mitchell’s storyline involving her estranged family, with some claiming that her son Harry may not actually be Teddy’s son

EastEnders fans have predicted a “horrible” twist for Nicola Mitchell. In recent days, we have seen Nicola reunite with her estranged family, sisters Gemma and Jodie, as well as her mum, Rose.

While this is the first time we’ve seen Nicola’s family all together, viewers have previously been informed that she has a strained relationship with them and has distanced herself from them after growing up.

And they are also aware that Nicola was no fan of her dad and instantly shudders whenever he is mentioned. Only recently, she opened up about the abuse she endured at the hands of her dad, who died after drink driving following an argument, when she told him to leave the house during an abusive moment.

But this week, Nicola’s sister, Gemma Hawkins, stated that Harry Mitchell was the double of his grandad, Nicola’s father, leaving her enraged. “No, he’s not, he’s nothing like him,” she fumed before storming out. Harry is the son of Nicola and Teddy Mitchell, who is currently behind bars for the murder of Okie, which he lied about to protect Harry, who was suffering from addiction issues.

And in tonight’s episode, viewers saw Nicola locked in the back of a van with her mum, and it’s fair to say that this didn’t go down too well. Well, Rose asked Nicola if it had been worth “severing ties,” she replied: “I didn’t have a choice, did I? Actually, yeah, I think so, I’ve built myself a life, and I’m doing just fine without you in it.”

An enraged Rose commented: “Sounds like it, Teddy in prison for killing a drug dealer, Barney the product of a roll around with your personal trainer, oh yeah, Gemma told me all about it, what’s next? Living with a man fast approaching as many wives as Henry the 8th. And poor Harry, an addict.”

Nicola, clearly angered by her mother, hit back, explaining that the last time they spent “extended time” together was Christmas in 2009, when she was subjected to “sly digs, constantly needling,” and Rose “trying to get a reaction.”

But fans now believe that Nicola’s relationship with her mum could be down to a horrible twist. Despite viewers being told that Teddy is Harry’s dad, they now believe Nicola’s own father could be the dad of her eldest son.

Nicola has spoken openly about her dad being abusive after consuming alcohol, often leaving her fearing for the worst when he would return home.

One fan said: “I actually think it’s the start of something really dark. I instantly noticed just how much Harry looked like Nicola, and then I thought… Is it going to be some really horrible story that ends up revealing she was abused by her dad?”

They continued: “And that her mother couldn’t deal with that, and that’s why there’s been this great big falling out? Wouldn’t put it past them to do something like that. Kind of a new spin on the Kat/Zoe/Uncle Harry thing, I guess.”

Another said: “Harry is defo Nicola’s Son/ brother. He’s a product of her Dad.” While a third went on to write: “It was explained why Nicola hates her dad because she caught him beating her mum, and wishing him dead, her mum has held his death against her all these years.”

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Olivia Attwood The Price of Perfection has returned for a brand new season

Former Love Island star Olivia Attwood has been left horrified after a worrying health discovery when travelling the world.

Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection is a documentary series following the reality TV star who explores the UK’s obsession with cosmetic treatments, beauty standards and body modifications.

It has since returned to ITV2 for its third series, with brand new episodes being released every Tuesday at 9pm. Episodes are also available to stream on ITVX, with a new instalment dropping today (September 1).

Tonight’s episode marks the fifth in the series and follows Olivia as she travels to Seoul, South Korea as she joins those who are drawn to the K-beauty standards. K (Korean) beauty is a term for skincare, cosmetics, and beauty practices that originate from South Korea, which includes treatments that Olivia dubs “out of this world“.

The former Love Island star is also seen getting treatment herself, but it wasn’t long before she was horrified by what she saw. Just minutes in tonight’s episode, Olivia is seen getting a scalp analysis, showing what her scalp looks like up close. However, she was unimpressed by what she saw.

After seeing her hair follicles on screen, the star squealed in disgust as she said: “Ew. That is minging.” Covering her face with her hands, Olivia then heard a breakdown of what was seen on screen.

Describing her “thin hair”, Olivia was told she has “hair loss” issues meaning if left, things could become worse. She asked: “So my hair is going to fall out?” before looking at the camera in shock.

Seung Pyo, global manager, told the star she needed more nutrients for her hair to grow thicker and healthier. Olivia replied: “Yeah, I need help. Clearly. I am so ready, I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”

Getting her treatment, Olivia is then seen chatting to Brits who have lived in South Korea for five years as they opened up on the beauty treatments available.

Later in the episode, the star was seen “recovering from another surprise” after she was informed of excess body fat and other treatments on offer.

Season 3 of The Price of Perfection is now streaming on ITVX, and the just-aired fifth episode explores the cosmetic treatments that even celebrities have received. A synopsis for the instalment teases: “Olivia travels to Seoul, South Korea – the home of K-Beauty. She joins Brits who are drawn to their beauty standards, and gets treatments herself.”

However, ITVX issued strong guidance alongside the episode which reads: “With strong language from the start and graphic scenes of surgery.”

Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection is available to stream on ITVX

Celebrity MasterChef star Sue Cleaver has previously opened up about a terrifying health battle that left her ‘seriously ill’

Sue Cleaver previously suffered a “scary” health scare

The actress, best known for playing Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street, opened up about a terrifying health battle which left her seriously ill and needing treatment in intensive care. The star is currently appearing on Celebrity MasterChef as she takes on a new challenge away from the cobbles.

But while viewers watch Sue battle it out in the kitchen, the star has previously spoken candidly about a difficult period in her life after undergoing surgery and later becoming seriously unwell. In 2023, Sue revealed she had endured a particularly difficult year after undergoing a hysterectomy before later being rushed to A&E.

Speaking about her health at the time, Sue explained that she had been seriously ill and had required intensive care treatment. “I had a really bad year. I had a hysterectomy in March then a few weeks ago, I ended up in A&E,” Sue said during an appearance on ITV hit chat show Loose Women.

Sue chose not to go into detail about exactly what had happened but admitted it had been an extremely frightening experience.

She explained: “I don’t need to go into details, but I have not been on a diet this year. I have been seriously ill. It was a scary, scary time. I had surgery and ended up in intensive care.”

The star had been subjected to speculation about her changing appearance, with images of her being used in adverts promoting weight-loss products. But Sue made clear that her weight loss had not been the result of following a particular diet. Instead, she had been dealing with serious health problems behind the scenes.

Despite the difficult experience, Sue was able to joke about the attention she had received over her appearance. “I’ve been seriously, seriously ill, but I look amazing!” she quipped.

The health scare came several years after Sue experienced another frightening medical emergency. In 2019, the actress developed sepsis after suffering from a kidney infection.

Sue later recalled becoming extremely unwell while she was working, initially believing that her symptoms could have been caused by flu or another illness.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was eventually taken to hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with sepsis. The actress has since spoken about how serious the situation became and how important it was that she received medical treatment.

Sue has continued working throughout her health battles and has remained a familiar face on British television.

Now, the actress is taking on another challenge as she joins the line-up for Celebrity MasterChef. The cooking competition sees famous faces put their culinary skills to the test as they compete to impress the judges.

For Sue, it marks another chapter in her television career and gives viewers the chance to see a different side of the much-loved soap star.

Celebrity MasterChef is available to stream on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

A new three-part documentary series on Netflix will explore the life and struggles of Matthew Perry and feature an interview with his sister Mia Perry Bowick, along with unreleased photos and videos from the private archive of the Perry family.

“The One About Matthew Perry” will premiere on the streaming platform Oct. 27, according to an announcement by Netflix on Tuesday. The docuseries, directed and executive produced by award-winning director Mary Robertson (“Quiet on Set”), will tell the story of Perry and his journey from rising comedic star to the man behind the Emmy-nominated role of Chandler Bing on “Friends.”

“Through his many films, TV and stage performances, and his unforgettable portrayal of Chandler Bing, he made millions of us laugh, connect, and feel a little less alone,” Robertson said in a statement. “He also gave us so much more by bravely speaking about addiction. Yet the public only knew part of his story. That’s why we set out to make this series: to let the people who knew and loved Matthew reveal the person behind the public figure.”

The documentary will explore new details about Perry’s private struggles with prescription painkillers and alcohol through firsthand memories from his family and collaborators. The actor died in 2023 from acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. Five people were sentenced to prison for supplying Perry with the drug, including his assistant, two doctors, a former drug counselor and a drug dealer known as the “Ketamine queen.”

Perry Bowick hopes the series gives everyone who loved him an appreciation of who he truly was and the legacy he leaves behind.

“It’s taken time for me to feel ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life — to see him as a whole person, not just as Chandler, and not just as someone who struggled with addiction,” she said in a statement.

“The One About Matthew Perry” is the latest documentary about the late actor; “Matthew Perry: An American Tragedy” was released on Peacock last year. The Netflix docuseries is produced by Maxine Productions, a part of Sony Pictures Television. Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman are executive producers along with Robertson, Lora Moftah is co-executive producer and Jessica Call is producer.

CAROLINE Quentin has revealed she may never buy another home after selling her sprawling six-bedroom farmhouse, art collection and jewellery.

The Men Behaving Badly actress, 66, has deliberately stripped back her lifestyle after admitting her huge Devon property and its grounds had become “a bit too much”.

She and husband Sam Farmer now rent a smaller home in Somerset, with Caroline saying they are perfectly happy to remain tenants.

Speaking to Saga, she said: “We’ve been in Somerset for just over a year, with a more manageable garden. We’re really happy. I don’t think we’ll buy again.”

Opening up about her former property, she added: “It had a two-acre vegetable garden, a two-acre orchard and a pool. The veg alone was exhausting.”

Caroline also revealed she auctioned off her art collection and jewellery after deciding possessions were no longer important to her.

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She said: “Possessions aren’t important to me any more. I got rid of a lot of things two years ago. I took them to auction and sold them.

“I had quite a big art collection and a lot of jewellery, and I sold it all.

“Now we live in a rented house and I don’t have much stuff. That was very deliberate.”

It marks a change of heart for the actress, who previously said she and Sam hoped to buy a smaller cottage and create a new garden.

Speaking to Gardens Illustrated in February 2024, she said: “My big beautiful garden in Devon came with a big house and it was all getting a bit too much for me.

“My husband Sam and I are renting a lovely cottage in Somerset and are looking for a cottage nearby where I can start a new garden and a new gardening adventure.”

Caroline is best known for playing Dorothy in Nineties sitcom Men Behaving Badly, as well as starring in Jonathan Creek and Blue Murder.

She married Sam in 2006 and the couple share two grown-up children, Emily Rose and William.

State lawmakers have approved a series of modest changes intended to bolster California’s film and TV tax credit program.

Among the key revisions, independent filmmakers would be exempted from the $5 million state corporate tax credit cap that was approved earlier this year as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state budget.

Film industry advocates lobbied hard for a carve-out, saying the cap would undercut gains made under the current film and TV tax credit program at a time when Hollywood has been reeling from job losses.

The exemption is a compromise. Film industry advocates were hoping all types of producers would be exempt from the corporate tax cap.

The bill includes other changes intended to help Hollywood, such as allowing companies to carry forward older tax credits for up to 15 years (the old limit was nine) and reducing the discount they are charged when they opt to seek a cash refund on unused credits.

Producers will also be able to collect their refund money more quickly — within two years instead of five.

California offers tax credits of up to 35% on qualified expenses, which can be applied to any tax liabilities the production companies have in the state. The program allocates $750 million annually in film and TV tax breaks.

The budget trailer bill was introduced to the Senate on Friday by Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica).

The new cap, issued by Gov. Newsom, would have undermined the “competitiveness” of the current California Film and Television Jobs Program, said the Entertainment Union Coalition, an advocacy group that supports the bill. But with these new modifications, the group — which represents the Directors Guild, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and more — said the program will be able to continue to “support the fragile recovery of our industry here in California.”

“Most importantly, we want to recognize the major role our members played in today’s success as advocates for their industry in California,” Rebecca Rhine, the coalition’s president, said in a statement. “They sent an unprecedented 450,000 letters to the California legislature, making clear the negative impact that SB 122 [the new cap] would have on their livelihoods, their families, and their communities.”

Over the program’s first full year in its expanded $750-million form, the California Film Commission says it delivered $6.6 billion in direct production spending and $4.3 billion in qualified expenditures, supporting nearly 35,000 cast and crew jobs across 6,630 filming days statewide.

The bill cleared the Assembly floor by a vote of 68-2, with the Senate approving its companion measure by a vote of 32 in favor, 8 against the same day. It now awaits Gov. Newsom’s signature.

“It’s a good day that we took steps to strengthen the program and while we have to do more next year, this was a crucial first step,” Zbur said in an interview.

Zbur said he believes everyone in the state’s film and TV tax credit program should have been exempted from the corporate tax credit cap and he plans to look at that within the context of next year’s budget.

“There were budget implications to doing that, so we really did all the things that are viable to do in this legislative session,” Zbur said.

DOLLY Parton has been laid to rest in a private funeral attended by her family.

The country music great was buried next to husband Carl Dean on Friday at the Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee.

Their shared memorial bears both names, an image of two interlocking wedding rings, and the inscription “Married May 30, 1966”.

The send-off was “very simple” and what “Dolly would have wanted”, sources said.

The Sun last week revealed that the country music star wanted to have her dad’s favourite song If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven) played at the service.

Dolly’s great-niece, Lainey Mae Parton, gave an emotional tribute confirming the burial had taken place.

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The superstar’s family have not yet released an official statement.

Lainey, 20, wrote on Saturday: “I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.”

She said she knew the star as “Aunt Granny”, a name that captured the central role Dolly played within her enormous family.

Lainey explained that although Dolly and Carl never had children, she made the younger members of the family feel like they belonged to her.

She added: “She loved us that way and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

Lainey also said Dolly — who died last Tuesday aged 80 after a brief battle with cancer — helped pay for her beauty school education and encouraged her musical ambitions.

Full funeral details have not been publicly released.

Dolly’s husband of nearly 59 years, Carl, 82, died last year.

An obituary posted by Woodlawn Memorial Park remembered “her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family”.

Loose Women star Grace Keeling says she no longer wants to suffer in silence over what happened to her a decade ago – and hopes it helps others to know they are ‘not alone’

GK Barry says her decision to speak out on the sexual assaults she experienced as a teen was partly motivated by anger.

When the TV and social media star, real name Grace Keeling, was raped as a 17-year-old during her college work experience placement, she vowed to never tell a soul.

But a decade on, she has written a book about her many and varied life experiences in which she lays out what happened in the hope it will help other young women. And she told the Mirror that it “took a lot” for her to revisit the devastating ordeal.

“He was so confident about what he did, I’m sure I wasn’t the first and won’t have been the last, and maybe I could have stopped him from doing this to another girl,” she explains in the book. “But although I wish now I’d reported it at the time, I also feel really strongly that it’s not women’s f***ing responsibility to stop men raping us.”

Her attacker was her line manager for the week, who was 10 years her senior and had offered to give her a lift to work on her second day. But instead of taking her to the office, he drove her to a deserted park and demanded a sex act. “I didn’t know what else I could do except go along with what he was telling me – resisting or fighting back felt like it might make things worse,” she said. Horribly aware that she needed to finish the work experience in order to pass her college course and get to university, she felt she had to comply. “There was never a moment in my mind where I thought I could say no to what was happening,” she says. “When you’re 17 and scared as f***, thinking logically isn’t an option.”

There was worse to come. On her last day with the company, he took her into a side room with no cameras and asked her to remove her white jeans. “And then he rapes me,” she writes, admitting it took her a many years to accept that’s what it was. Agonisingly, she confesses that one of the reasons she vowed to never speak about what happened was “in case someone confirms my biggest fear that I was to blame”.

But a year on from the assaults, Grace found the courage to tell a teacher after learning that another girl from college was about to do work experience at the same company.

When she finally spoke to the police, she was told by a female officer that, because there was no evidence, it would be her word against his and she was highly unlikely to get a conviction. “At no point did the police officer say to me that what he’d done was wrong,” she reports, saying she was offered no support or counselling at any point.

With statistics showing that 1 in 4 women over 16 experience some form of sexual assault, and six out of seven rapes against women are carried out by someone they know, Grace wishes she’d known then about support group Rape Crisis. “I think people would be more confident coming forward and reporting assaults if we knew that people were on our side and willing to believe us.”

As she lays out what happened in her new book, the podcaster and Loose Women regular, 27, told the Mirror that the secrecy around these sorts of issues needs to stop. “I think it’s something that people don’t speak about. It’s something always kept very hidden. And I don’t think we should be ashamed about it.

“I haven’t put it in just for the sake of it, it took a lot for me to even speak about it,” she says quietly. “I wish I knew that you can say no, that rape can happen whether it’s someone you’re friends with, or close to, or a boss, that it comes in many forms.” And for anyone who has suffered anything similar, she says: “I would like them to know that it wasn’t their fault, because I spent a lot of years thinking it was.”

Grace, who grew up in Newmarket, Suffolk, and is a judge this year on The Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards, is hoping her guide to surviving and thriving will also provide plenty of laughs. “The majority of it is just hilarious stuff that has happened to me,” she says. “I think people reading it can maybe learn from everything that I’ve done wrong.”

The book shows her devotion to footballer girlfriend of two years Ella Rutherford, an attacking midfielder for Millwall. Ella, 26, was her first relationship with a woman and it’s clear she thinks they will be together forever. Calling her the “undisputed love of my life”, Grace says she plans to eventually settle with Ella and their dogs on a farm.

Grace’s mother Loretta, and step-dad Andrew, have yet to learn about the many scrapes the TikTok star has had over the years. “My mum’s read the first couple of pages, but she has no idea what’s coming, God bless her,” she says. “I think maybe I won’t be able to look my mum and dad in the eye for a couple of months.”

– GK Barry, It’s Giving Life, EBURY SPOTLIGHT | 3RD SEPTEMBER 2026 | £22.00

Emmerdale star Nicola Wheeler has warned there’s more trouble ahead for Nicola King following Jimmy King’s heartbreaking death, as the fallout from the crash continues

Emmerdale star Nicola Wheeler has warned there’s more trouble ahead for her character following Jimmy King’s death.

Nick Miles departed the ITV soap last week in sad scenes when Jimmy got caught up in the marquee incident. Devastatingly, Jimmy died with Nicola by his side in heartbreaking scenes, but the fallout from the death continues.

Next week, Nicola is anxious about affording to give Jimmy the funeral he deserves. She decides to turn to Jimmy’s haulage shares for Elliot and his future, before later discovering that Jimmy has sold them.

As Nicola realises the money from the sale of the shares is missing, she discovers that they are in more financial worries than she knew. The family home has been remortgaged and in arrears and Nicola is continuing to struggle.

Speaking about her own future, she said: “She can’t believe that life is going to exist without him (Jimmy), especially as the day was supposed to start with something very romantic, and it ended in tragedy.

“Why can’t Nicola have lots of different relationships? I’ve tried to pit she should start going on dating apps and just get horrendous dates and really bad experiences. It would bring quite a bit of fun back into it.”

Warning there was quite the surprise ahead, she added: ” think the audience are gonna be mighty surprised at the life Jimmy was leading that nobody knew about. It’s unsettling because it’s totally against his personality. You would never imagine that Jimmy in this world would behave like this.”

Filming Nick’s final scenes was “surreal” for Nicola, who has worked with the actor for years.

She said: “It was really surreal. It sort of ends, and you go, ‘Oh gosh, that’s it’. We’ll never be Nick and Jimmy again together. I was gutted because I think it’s the institution that Jimmy and Nicola were, where I was sort of like, ‘oh God, that’s over’.

“Even whilst we were filming it all, it never felt real because we film out of sync. When it came to doing all the scenes where he dies, it was odd. It’s almost like you didn’t want to do it. They were beautifully written scenes, so you want to do them justice but at the same time, you don’t want them to end because then it means this is final.”

As for what’s next, Nicola has hinted there could be a new romance on the cards – from an unlikely source.

“I can’t imagine the character would ever fully move on. I think there’s always going to be part of her that loves him. Her heart will grow to fit another love in, but she will never let Jimmy go,” she explained.

“Something happens in which I can only say Nicola behaves appallingly, and Kev is a gentleman, and I think from that moment she starts to see him in a different light.”

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Channel 4 will air part two of ‘The Ambush’ in a matter of days

24 Hours in Police Custody fans are being forced to wait days for a new episode.

The Channel 4 hit show kicked off its new two-part special, The Ambush, last night (August 30) and fans were instantly hooked. The harrowing episode centres on the case of a teenage boy who was found by the road with serious head injuries.

Viewers follow as the police try to uncover if the young man was the victim of a random incident or something more sinister. An official synopsis reveals: “A 17-year-old boy is found by the roadside with catastrophic head injuries. His twin says the boy had gone to meet a girl. But was it a trap?”

Those who tuned into part one were eager to discover how the case ended tonight (August 31), but they couldn’t find a new episode on the broadcaster’s schedule.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan questioned: “When’s the next episode? I can’t find it anywhere on the planner and Sky doesn’t have the next episode planned despite there apparently being one #24hoursinpolicecustody.”

Someone else shared their excitement to tune in, posting: “Tonight’s episode should provide us with more information.” But their hopes were quickly squashed as they learned that Channel 4 doesn’t have an episode scheduled until Sunday.

The furious fan shared: “What it’s not on tonight!!! You are joking me[…].” So exactly how long do viewers have to wait for the next instalment?

When does Part 2 of the 24 Hours in Police Custody special come out?

Channel 4 will air part two of 24 Hours in Police Custody ‘The Ambush’ next Sunday (September 6) at 9pm, meaning there is a week between part one and part two.

Part one is currently available to stream on the broadcaster’s on-demand service. Some viewers were already aware of the wait between the two episodes, but that hasn’t stopped them from issuing complaints.

Also writing on X, one viewer fumed: “Why are they making us wait a week for the conclusion? That’s really not on #24hoursinpolicecustody.”

Someone else added: “Are you serious @Channel4? We wait over 6 months for a new #24hoursinpolicecustody and now we’ve to wait a week for part 2?!.”

The two-part special comes after a long spell of the channel airing re-runs.

24 Hours in Police Custody’s The Ambush returns for part two next Sunday (September 6).

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.

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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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“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.