Scream queen Samara Weaving has an extraordinary yell: shrill, feral and ferocious, like a mongoose before it goes on the attack. Its vibrato fury bursts out only when she’s fighting for her life. Otherwise, her newly wed (and newly widowed) Grace MacCaullay stays quiet when being hunted, hence surviving a killer game of hide-and-go-seek in Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s 2019 hit “Ready or Not,” only to be forced to play again in their echoey sequel “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.”
In the tradition of “Halloween II,” this one picks up the very second the last one ended. Grace, her white lace dress blackened with blood, is smoking a cigarette outside of an incinerated mansion that belongs to her in-laws, the Le Domas, who are all dead. On this bride’s wedding night, her groom permitted his relatives to sacrifice her to a demon, believing the lore that a wicked spirit named Le Bail gave the family its staggering fortune. They failed; she triumphed.
The first film teased the idea that the family might be superstitious crackpots only to merrily reveal at the climax that the devil is actually real — and that, when disappointed, he makes his minions explode like a shaken bottle of Dom Pérignon. That gag no longer comes as a total shock, but returning screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy find that the suspense of who is going to pop, and when and why, works just as well. “It’s always surprising,” Grace says with grim humor. (Between this and “Sirāt,” human combustion is the morbid punchline of the year.)
This very silly slasher doesn’t take much seriously, although I appreciated that once Grace exhales her tobacco, passes out and comes to in a hospital bed, she’s been handcuffed to the railing by a detective (Grant Nickalls) who wants to arrest her on suspicion of arson and murder. One real-world rule holds true: Someone’s gotta take the fall when this many rich people die, even if it’s their victim.
Now, four more posh families want to get in good with Le Bail by competing to see who can kill Grace first. Did the screenwriters toss around a dozen other playground games — killer dodgeball, killer cornhole, killer freeze tag — before sticking with the same hide-and-seek set-up? The only change is that there’s more of everything, including more prey as Grace’s estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) gets yoked into the action, grousing that her sibling’s “negative” energy has once again upended her life.
The host of the massacre is the powerful tycoon Chester Danforth (filmmaker David Cronenberg), a hotel and casino impresario, who entrusts the actual event planning to his adult children, twins Ursula and Titus (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy). The director of “The Fly” and “Videodrome” isn’t in the film long, but he bequeaths prestige upon these splat-hijinks that they don’t quite deserve. The paterfamilias of gut-wrenchingly emotional body horror would never make a movie like this himself, although I do think he’d be impressed when the visual-effects team makes a human face dissolve like a bath bomb.
The rest of the ensemble represents titans of some vague industry or another from around the globe: the Rajans of London, the El Caídos of Madrid and the Wans of Shanghai, each arriving with multiple family members as backup. A mobbed-up type, Wilkinson (Kevin Durand) of Atlantic City, also pursues Grace as a solo renegade. There’s not much comic zing in the idea that a handful of selfish families rule the world. Still, it’s amusing to watch these soulless ghouls refer to Grace and Faith as “things” and shrug off each other’s deaths, too. Generation by generation, this greedy lot appears to be getting lazier, intoning “Hail Satan” as offhandedly as ordering their butler to fetch them a martini.
Individual characters don’t pop (except, of course, when they quite literally do). The movie would be a bit more interesting if we knew something about each family’s backstory. The one teasing bit of historical intrigue comes when Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood) insists that the rules state each clan must attack Grace and Faith using weapons from the era in which their ancestors made their satanic pact. It never gets mentioned again, but I spun restless fictions seeing the Danforths stab the girls with railroad spikes while Olivia Cheng’s more modern Chinese heiress chased them with a drone.
There’s still an awful lot of random gunfire and not much enticement to hang onto, nor any sort of a story in this dashed-off, deadly spin on “Succession.” I’ll note that the demon is a more honest and fair negotiator than his vassals, who occasionally cheat and are punished in exactly the way you’re hoping to see.
Hatosy’s Titus is the Danforths’ disappointing fail son and the actor keeps his face in a delightfully foolish little pout. But Titus’ fever to prove that he’s his own man makes him unpredictable and dangerous — and makes him the only villain with more layers than one. Still, my favorite of the ensemble is Maia Jae’s Francesca El Caído, the jilted former lover of Grace’s late husband, who struts into the film like a hellcat, fighting for her own ego as much as Le Bail’s tempting offer of world domination. Her sloppy showdown with Grace is the action highlight.
None of this is scary. The directors, who have also dabbled in the “Scream” franchise, would rather get a laugh than a gasp. Their favorite move is a gasp-laugh, as when they flash a gruesome image on screen that’s so disgusting you can’t help but giggle.
Yet, the prankish tone keeps Grace from having much of a personality, other than a rebellious screwthis. Whenever a scene gives her a chance to catch her breath, it squanders it on a go-nowhere running joke about her desperate search for a cigarette.
At least Weaving has her scream and Newton, her impressive ability to take punishment. While new to this particular series, Newton is a skilled cartographer of comedy-horror terrain as the star of “Freaky,” “Lisa Frankenstein,” and the directors’ previous film, “Abigail.” Her kooky chipmunk moxie lets her get through any script relatively unscathed, including this one. And she has one of the best laugh lines in the movie when she bats her eyes at the baddies and tries to placate them with, “You guys seem like good people.”
The sisters’ mutual antagonism has a few clever beats, like when they bicker over who had the superior working-class restaurant job, Grace waiting tables or Faith as a hostess. But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.
Nevertheless, kudos to the costume team for a different outfit that Grace wears in the second half of the film that’s an absolute jaw-dropper of goth couture with black netting and a tiara. It pairs majestically with Weaving’s defiant chin and gleaming eyes. Despite this sequel’s thin and rote stretches, it once again closes strong with a few images that will stick in your head for at least a week or two. No spoilers, but it’s no coincidence that “Here I Come” finally gets more interesting once it tires of hide and seek. Finding a fresh plot twist is the only way it ekes out a draw.
‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’
Rated: R, for strong bloody violence, gore, pervasive language and brief drug use
JESSIE J has been rushed to hospital following a car injury which left her with fears she’d ‘broken her neck’.
The singer, 37, has undergone an MRI scan following the incident as she updated fans on her health scare.
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Jessie J was rushed to hospital for an MRI Scan following a shock car injuryCredit: instagram/@jessiejThe incident left her with fears she’d ‘broken her neck’Credit: instagram/@jessiejJessie has updated fans on her recovery as she continues to performCredit: instagram/@jessiej
Jessie is currently in China for her No Secrets Tour and suffered an unlikely injury after hitting her head on the roof of a car.
Taking to Instagram, the Price Tag hitmaker shared a clip of her climbing into a black vehicle at her latest concert, whilst admitting she “didn’t mind squashing in the back”.
The video then cuts to Jessie in hospital undergoing an MRI scan after suffering the neck injury.
In an additional update, whilst backstage at one of her shows, Jessie goes on to relay the severity of her condition.
But the star now seems to be doing well and is back performing shows just under a year since her diagnosis.
Jessie J diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025Credit: PAJessie underwent two surgeries during her health battle which included a mastectomyCredit: Getty
It’s not the first time the comedian has spoken out about his friendship with Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, after fans raised the same question
13:26, 22 Mar 2026Updated 15:45, 22 Mar 2026
Amanda Holden was surprised that fans had doubted their chemistry
Amanda Holden‘s co-star and friend Alan Carr has set the record straight about their on-screen chemistry. The duo front a BBC travel series, in which they help renovate properties across Greece, Italy, and Spain. Along with their hard work, viewers have warmed to the pair’s humorous ways and heartfelt conversations – including a recent sad discussion about Amanda’s stillborn son Theo.
Joining Alan on the latest edition of his podcast, Life Is A Beach, Bob Mortimer discussed what it was like working with his co-star Paul Whitehouse on their series Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
After admitting that they couldn’t present in a traditional way, he said the duo decided to take a more natural approach – one that has worked well over the years. “They just like it when we’re chatting,” he told Alan, to which he agreed.
“Yes, that’s true – it’s the chemistry people want, and you can’t fake that,” he went on to say.
Alan added that he’s often asked whether he genuinely likes Amanda, despite their obvious camaraderie on TV. “I mean, people go, ‘Do you really like Amanda?’ I couldn’t be in 40-degree heat in Greece knocking down a partition wall with someone I hate.
“Why would I sign up for that? You have to actually like the person, more than like, you have to really go, ‘Oh hello Amanda, right let’s have a laugh, what have you been up to?’ And I think you can’t actually fake that,” he clarified.
This isn’t the first time Alan has addressed questions about their friendship. On a previous episode of the show, Amanda was surprised that fans had doubted their chemistry.
Alan joked that viewers often comment on her distinctive laugh and ask how he “puts up” with it, to which she quipped: “This is an outrage!”.
Clarifying any lingering doubts, Alan added: “No, no, no. We couldn’t do this job if we didn’t like each other – it would be hell.” Amanda added: “There’s not a single other person I could do it with,” to which he replied: “No, it would have to be you.”
While the pair have enjoyed a successful run on the BBC show, they recently snubbed the idea of presenting Strictly Come Dancing together.
Amid speculation that they might replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Amanda confirmed on her Heart Radio Breakfast Show with Jamie Theakston: “I want to say now that me and Alan are 100 per cent not doing Strictly. We’re so flattered to be in that mix, but we both are not doing it.”
Speaking to The Daily Mail, the Britain’s Got Talent judge insisted she also wouldn’t be able to fit the role into her already busy schedule juggling family life and her career.
“You see, I am already part of a big show, and I’ll happily carry on watching Strictly from the comfort of my lounge, but it takes up too many weekends, I’ve got to remember that I have children and a husband,” she revealed.
“But I just hope that they still have two females doing it, that’s my big thing. They need somebody super funny, and somebody that you wouldn’t expect.”
Putting forward who she believes could be good for the positions, she suggested The One Show’s Alex Jones, BBC Radio star Zoe Ball and comedians Katherine Ryan and Daisy May Cooper.
Neil Sedaka, the singer and songwriter whose signature hits include “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The condition is caused by the buildup of plaque — meaning fats, cholesterol and other substances — in and on the artery walls, which can lead to events such as heart attacks, strokes and aneurysms. According to the American Heart Assn., atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.
The musician’s death certificate, published Wednesday by the New York Post, also listed kidney failure as a contributing factor.
Sedaka died Feb. 27 in Los Angeles at age 86. The songwriter’s family previously told The Times that his death was sudden.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” their statement read. “A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”
Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sedaka was a Juilliard-trained classical pianist who translated his skill to pop stardom in the 1960s. His popularity as a performer waxed and waned over the years, but he maintained a steady career writing hits for other artists for decades, collaborating with lyricists such as Howard Greenfield.
“Songwriting is a difficult undertaking that gets harder and harder because you have to top your past work,” Sedaka told The Times in 1996. “You have to keep proving yourself. … It’s wonderful to sing ‘Calendar Girl’ and ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,’ but you need more than that. You have to break new ground. As an artist, I have to choose what I feel is good and hope that the public will go along with it.”
Sedaka is survived by his wife Leba; children Dara and Marc; and three grandchildren.
Like the mythical city of Brigadoon, Lisa Kudrow’s “The Comeback” has returned to television after many years away, with the difference that time has not stood still for its inhabitants, older in a changing world that values them less and which they navigate with less assurance.
Kudrow, who created and writes the series with Michael Patrick King, was in her youth a player in the twilight of network-dominated television, cast in a smart, influential show with wide, multigenerational appeal; in a quantitative sense, at least, everything would be downhill from there, as the medium transformed and transformed again. “The Comeback” premiered in 2005, just a year after the end of “Friends”; the first season addressed the rise of reality TV, and the next season, in 2014, riffed on dark, streaming “prestige” television.
The new (and final) season, which is both timely and speculative, addresses the impact of artificial intelligence on the medium and the industry, hinting at a dystopian future; this gives it a moral, even political component, not to say a sense of urgency. Not surprisingly, “The Comeback,” as a thing made by humans, comes down firmly on their side — it’s a manifesto at times — even as it acknowledges, uncomfortably, that computer-produced content might be “good enough.”
Once again, Kudrow plays Valerie Cherish, who, at 60 — the phrase “of a certain age” repeats throughout the series — still qualifies as a working actor. But she’s been pushed into the further reaches of the profession: Her two-season cozy mystery series, “Mrs. Hatt” (“part-time gardener, solves crime, husband is an ex-police chief”), is on no one’s radar but her own, having shown on Epix. A day’s work on a “no-budget” film is even less rewarding than she had imagined; she lasted all of two episodes on “The Traitors.” Paddling hard to stay current, to improve her brand, she bumbles through a podcast, “Cherish the Time,” without any idea what to do with that time; employs a social media person, Patience (Ella Stiller), with no discernible impact; and posts pictures of herself holding products in hopes of “future collabs.”
Still, she is not poor. Valerie and husband Mark (Damian Young), have moved from Brentwood to a condominium with a view in the (real life) Sierra Towers, overlooking the Sunset Strip, opening the latest “new chapter” in their lives, though just what that chapter for them is hard to say. Mark has lost his job in finance — “You told a joke at work at a time when jokes were illegal,” Valerie says, trying to cheer him, “no one cares now” — but left on a golden parachute; now he builds his day around pickleball. A potential role in a reality show, “Finance Dudes,” isn’t working out to anyone’s satisfaction. He’s on the verge of a three-quarter-life crisis.
When her self-promoting manager/publicist Billy (Dan Bucatinsky) comes to her waving an offer for a new series, for a new network, in which she’ll star, Valerie is more than intrigued, if taken aback when he tells her that it’s being written by AI. (He isn’t supposed to know.) Network head Brandon (Andrew Scott, as blandly discomfiting as his Moriarty on “Sherlock”) assures her that it is “within the Writers Guild agreement,” but that it is also a secret — which will account for a lot of comedy going forward, secrets and lies being the very stuff of the form. “AI is really extraordinary,” he tells Valerie. “After all, it picked you.”
It’s also created a wholly generic multicamera sitcom, “How’s That?,” in which Valerie’s character, Beth, as she describes it, “runs a cute, charming old New England B&B with the help of her hunk nephew, Bo — so Beth and Bo, B&B.” (“Viewers want a break from the complicated confusing storylines of all these dark streaming shows,” says a network exec.) Her eager supporting cast has no idea that the series is being written by anything other than its human faces, unhappily married couple Josh (John Early) and Mary (Abbi Jacobson). Josh, who thinks of himself as “the voice of women of a certain age,” is precious about the jokes he manages to get into the script; Mary couldn’t care less. Untalented writing assistant Marco (Tony Macht) only wants “to get, like, a really nice house.” The AI, meanwhile, is personified to the cast and crew, who know nothing about it, as someone named “Al,” who “works remotely.”
One by one, the old company is introduced into the new season, Valerie finds Jane (Laura Silverman), her former documentarian, working as a cashier at Trader Joe’s, having tired of scuffling as a filmmaker, “begging people to care about the things that I cared about.” When Valerie lets it slip that her new series is AI-generated — “but don’t tell anyone ‘cause that’s a secret” — Jane is inspired to pick up her camera again. Lance Barber will eventually rejoin as screenwriter Paulie G., Valerie’s old nemesis. Robert Michael Morris, who played Mickey, Valerie’s hairdresser and best friend, in earlier seasons, passed away in 2017; Jack O’Brien, as Tommy, occupies a version of that space here.
Valerie may be only moderately successful, but she isn’t a hack. She has an Emmy for “Seeing Red,” the drama at the center of Season 2. She pushes back against the costumer (Benito Skinner) who wants to put her in a caftan. She knows her craft and is nominally proud of belonging to a union. She’s not a diva, but she has her pride. And that she is loyal, even when it does her no good, makes her easy to like. Thrust half-wittingly onto this cutting edge — being the first in an AI comedy, Mark tells her, “is like saying, ‘I was the first one to eat an arm in the Donner Party’” — she is wholly sympathetic, and, eventually, as things bend toward horror in a last-act revelation, a hero.
Though the subject is serious, the approach this time is light and farcical. Partially abandoning the documentary aesthetic of its predecessors — the first season had the look of amateur video, and the second of guerrilla filmmaking — much of this season is shot as a conventional, non-meta television show, allowing us access to private conversations and meetings without having to account for Jane and her crew, or requiring the players to act as if they’re being watched. Paradoxically, without pretending to reality, it makes some things more real.
Playing himself, director James Burrows, whom Valerie convinces to helm her pilot, notes that the jokes AI writes might come fast but are never better than obvious. “Surprising only comes from a group of writers huddled in a corner beating themselves up to beat out a better show,” he says. And just as Valerie is not a character an algorithm could produce, Kudrow is not an actor a machine could ever imagine. She’s no Tilly Norwood, or Tilly Norwood at 60, or Tilly Norwood with quirks applied. There’s no one like her— other than her — for the learning machines to scrape.
You should never settle for “good enough” when better, or best, is available. But that choice is on you.
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring from neighbors, friends, and the people of Tucson. We are all family now.
We continue to believe it is Tucsonans, and the greater Southern Arizona community, that hold the key to finding resolution in this case.
Someone knows something. It’s possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant.
We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, as well as the late evening of January 11.
We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our mom’s case— please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance.
No detail is too small. It may be the key.
We miss our mom with every breath, and we cannot be in peace until she is home.
We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home.
We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life, but we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest.
Thank you for continuing to pray without ceasing.
The Guthrie Family: Camron and Kristine, Annie and Tommaso, Savannah and Michael”
As news of Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks’ romance has been confirmed, we take a look at all of the signs the duo were in a secret romanceCredit: GettyOlivia split from her husband Bradley Dack at the beginning of the year, and has since seen friendship turn to romance with PeteCredit: ShutterstockWe revealed today how the pair are now a couple as they shared a kiss during a night out on Friday nightCredit: The Sun
Friends have now assured there was “no crossover” between the relationships.
While things may have been strictly friendship until recently, there were several nods that Pete and Olivia’s romance was on the cards; from the cosy Ibiza boat snaps which caused a stir last summer to their late-night pizza date earlier this month.
Here, we take a look at all of the signs the duo were a secret couple.
Enjoying a night out at the BRIT Awards earlier this month, Olivia and Pete spent the majority of the evening together.
Despite sitting at different tables inside the ceremony, a source told at the time how they had managed to remain together at several points in the night.
The next morning, they were seen exiting the same hotel together and sharing a car back home.
Attending this year’s BRIT Awards in Manchester, Olivia spent much of the night alongside Pete as they partied together inside the ceremony and afterpartiesCredit: AlamyPete was spotted carrying two pizzas up to his hotel room after the awards bashCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
3AM night out
The month after her split from Bradley was revealed, Olivia let her hair down on a night out which ended with Pete in the early hours.
Celebrating her Garnier brand deal at The Newman Hotel in Central London, she partied with colleagues and friends before heading out to Soho with Pete and some other pals.
Wrapping his arms around Olivia, Pete had his legs open as she lay in between them and they both laughed with friends.
Other pictures from the day showed the pals walking together with Pete’s arm around Olivia.
At the time, Pete and Olivia were solely friends, but it was reported that her husband Bradley was left “furious” over the “reckless” party-hard behaviour.
“It’s no secret. We had a really bad summer. I know this is not how people do things in my world. They do not talk and marriage in this way,” said Olivia on her podcast, Olivia’s House.
“I think that there was stuff going on on both sides…. At the end of day marriage is really f***ing hard.”
She accepted that she could be “self-destructive”, and when the going gets tough she tends to push him away rather than lean into the issues together.
But following the incident, the pair got back on track and appeared to move on with their marriage.
Pete and Olivia came under fire for their cuddles on a yacht in Ibiza last summerCredit: BackGridThe pair were just friends at the time but hit headlines for their close relationshipCredit: BackGrid
Pete admits to ‘missing’ Olivia
In a passing comment months after their trip to the White Isle, Pete admitted he missed his holiday “partner in crime” after taking a trip to Vegas without her.
Pete, who was still just friends with Olivia at the time, said of his holiday: “It did make me think of you. Because you were there before and we have said before we like a holiday.
“I just wish you’d been in Vegas with me. Because I feel like it’s very me and you Vegas. I needed another Vegas partner in crime.”
Pete admitted on his radio show with Olivia that he ‘missed her’ during a recent holiday to VegasCredit: Kiss
Bradley blocks Pete
While Olivia’s estranged husband Bradley continues to follow the TV star on social media, one person he doesn’t follow is Pete.
In fact, he has even blocked the former TOWIE star.
Hours after Olivia and Pete were seen leaving their Manchester hotel together following the BRITs, Bradley made his opinions on the relationship clear.
He blocked Pete the day following the BRITs, with neither stars now following one another.
Bradley made his feelings clear when he blocked Pete on Instagram earlier this monthCredit: Olivia Attwood / Instagram
If you’re looking for something to watch that not only will make you laugh, but will also leave you on the edge of your seat with plot twists, TV fans recommend one particular four-series show
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
10:33, 22 Mar 2026
TV fans recommend watching a four-series comedy that’s full of plot twists (stock)(Image: Getty)
Television viewers have been busy debating which programme has the “biggest plot twist” and it appears there’s one show that stands out from the rest. The question was posed in Reddit’s ‘Watchever’ community after a user looked for inspiration as to what shows they should check out next.
“What TV show had the biggest plot twist you never saw coming?” they asked. “What’s a TV show that completely shocked you with a plot twist you didn’t expect at all?” The Reddit user elaborated: “The kind that makes you pause and think, ‘Wait… what just happened?’ For many people, shows like Mr. Robot or Westworld had moments like that. Which one got you the most?”
It prompted several people to point out a four-series sitcom that first aired in 2016 and is currently available to stream on Netflix.
“This is as good of a place as any for my regular reminder for people who haven’t seen The Good Place to give it a try,” one person declared.
“The concept seems a little cheesy at first, until you realise that it’s actually about way more than what it seems like in the first season. And aside from the deeper philosophical stuff, it’s really f***ing funny.”
A second agreed, joking:“The Good Place… then The Good Place… then The Good Place again.”
A third fan suggested: “You need to go on the journey the characters go on. That’s the great thing about The Good Place; the show doesn’t give the characters the answers, they figure them out.
“And as a result it isn’t preachy about the philosophical stuff, even though the show definitely has a point that they wanted to get across about mortality.”
Whilst a fourth Reddit user praised: “It’s a sitcom structured like a mystery box drama, ending each episode with a cliffhanger. It’s easy to binge because of this. And unlike dramatic mystery box shows, the ending is amazing.”
However, a fifth who was sceptical at first confessed: “I didn’t watch The Good Place until it was on Netflix and from the first episode I thought something was off and kept looking for little hints here and there but never really anything that really stuck out on the first watch.
“Now on the second watching… I have noticed a lot more.”
The comedy stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, Ted Danson as Michael and William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye.
Netflix’s synopsis states: “Due to an error, self-absorbed Eleanor Shellstrop arrives at the Good Place after her death. Determined to stay, she tries to become a better person.”
On IMDb, meanwhile, the show boasts a very impressive score of 8.2 out of 10 following 219,000 reviews.
JEFF Brazier looks every inch the doting grandad as he shared a gushing tribute to his first grandchild Isla Jade Brazier online.
Son Freddy, 21, and ex-girlfriend Holly Swinburn, 22, announced on Friday that they’d welcomed their first child together, a baby daughter whose middle name is a sweet nod to the star’s late mum Jade Goody.
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Jeff Brazier has shared sweet images of him with his new granddaughter Isla JadeCredit: InstagramJeff’s son Freddy and his ex-girlfriend Holly Swinburn welcomed the baby girl this weekCredit: Instagram
In a new Instagram post, Jeff showed off baby Isla in a number of new photos, including snaps of fellow son and EastEnders star Bobby Brazier meeting the tot.
His photo montage begins with one of Jeff smiling and looking down at his granddaughter, while she’s cradled in his arms.
While a second snap shows new dad Freddy holding Isla, while Uncle Bobby affectionately gazes down at her behind his brother’s back.
“Dear Isla Jade,” Jeff’s caption begins. “You have no idea how deeply loved you are.
“There are so many good people standing behind you, and a very special angel watching over you.
“Mummy and Daddy gave you her name, and were going to tell you all about her,” Jeff added, confirming the child’s middle name is a sweet tribute to his late ex-wife Jade Goody.
“You already feel like the greatest gift. I will be forever grateful to Mummy and Daddy for filling my heart and bringing such joy into our lives.
“Thank you, Holly and Freddy, with all my heart. Holding you is pure peace.
He signed off: “All my love, Grandad (Though you’re welcome to call me something a bit cooler when you’re older!).”
In one funny photo, new Grandad Jeff was seen dozing off while sat in a chair holding Isla.
Freddy’s brother, EastEnders star Bobby was seen meeting his niece in the new photosCredit: InstagramGranded Jeff was seen dozing off with Isla in his arms in one funny photoCredit: InstagramUncle Bobby looked smitten with new family arrival IslaCredit: Instagram
In a final whole picture, he poses next to new parents Freddy and Holly with Isla and eldest son Bobby.
The comments section was flooded with messages of support for the TV presenter and his family following the happy new addition.
“Congratulations to you all she will be so so loved,” wrote Strictly star Dianne Buswell, who has just welcomed her first child with partner Joe Sugg this week.
Big Brother winner Kate Lawler penned: “Ah Jeff beautiful news congratulations to you all.”
Meanwhile, Jeff’s This Morning co-star Josie Gibson commented with lots of love heart emojis.
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and model Kelly Brook also sent their congratulations in the comments section.
Freddy and Holly announced Isla’s arrival late on Friday in a photo shared to Holly’s Instagram Stories.
The former couple are seen in a black and white snap in a hospital bed with their new daughter following the birth.
Freddie and Holly announced Isla’s arrival on Holly Instagram Stories this weekCredit: Instagram/hollyswinburnxHolly discovered she was pregnant in August 2025, but the pair broke up at the end of NovemberCredit: PA
New dad Freddie has a huge smile on his face, as Holly cradles the tot.
“Isla Jade Brazier,” simply reads the caption, revealing the child’s name.
In August 2008, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which was later deemed terminal as it spread to her liver, bowel and groin.
She died aged 27 in March 2009, leaving behind her two sons with ex-husband Jeff Brazier.
At the time, Freddy was four and his brother Bobby was five.
In an exclusive chat with The Sun prior to his daughter’s birth, Freddy revealed his plans to pay tribute to his mum with her name.
“We are calling her Isla Jade,” he told us.
“I think it’s lovely to incorporate the name Jade into her name as a middle name as I am sure there will be part of my mother in Isla.
“I was so pleased when I found out we were having a little girl. I want to be protective of her and take care of her.
“Calling the baby Jade as the first name felt like too much expectation on the baby . . . I don’t want to put any pressure on her.”
Isla’s middle name is a touching tribute to Freddy’s late mum Jade Goody, who died of cancer in 2009Credit: Getty – ContributorTV presenter Jeff Brazier with his sons Bobby and FreddyCredit: Instagram/katebrazierpr
ANASTACIA Kingsnorth has been a queen of social media since starting her YouTube Channel aged 11 – but now a fierce backlash is threatening her empire.
The Brit content creator, 25, has ventured into podcast hosting, has written her own book and been the face of many ad campaigns.
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Anastacia Kingsnorth has faced huge backlash following her latest ad collaborationCredit: tiktok/@anastasiakingsnorthShe used AI to create a short clip promoting German brand Air UpCredit: tiktok/@anastasiakingsnorthFans have called out the fact she seemingly used AI – which is not environmentally friendlyCredit: tiktok/@anastasiakingsnorthThe 25-year-old rocketed to fame on YouTube aged 11Credit: Getty
Her height meant she could scoop up a pink water bottle branded with the Air Up logo before she took a sip.
The slurp appeared to transport her into both a new location – the roof of Buckingham Palace – and a new denim pinstripe outfit.
She wrapped the clip by visiting locations including St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben.
Yet on TikTok, her followers have alleged she has used AI to create the scenes – and claimed the technology goes against Air Up’s environmentally friendly credentials.
Criticisms came from two angles – the nature of content creation as a creative process, and also for AI using huge volumes of water, seemingly going against green principles.
The Sun has gone to Anastacia’s rep for comment.
Fans have claimed Anastacia, whose content focusses on lifestyle, leisure and beauty, has abandoned the “creative process” with her latest venture.
One TikTok user, who works in marketing, ranted: “Honestly, I am not happy about it.
“And I don’t think a lot of people are, judging by the comments on the video”.
The Influencer Insider – Get all the gossip on all your favourite online stars
Want to know more about the influencer who faked cancer? Read all about Brittany Miller and her sham career here.
We have all the inside gossip about Ladbaby mum’s incredible weight loss here.
And talking of weight loss, we know all about what is going on with B&M queen Becki Jones, which you can read up on here.
If health influencers are your thing, then read this on the man behind Tonic Health and his dubious claims here.
She added: “It really cuts down on what content creation really is.
“If you work in marketing like myself you will know that this is totally wrong.
“The whole point of content creation is creative process”.
Fans of Anastacia, who has previously collaborated with ITV bosses for a Love Island promotion, continued to take to the comments in fury.
One simply posted: “Who’s idea was this?? Omg”.
A second mused: “I do like some of their content, but Ana and her family don’t seem hugely aware or maybe even that bothered by environmental issues unfortunately. (a LOT of consumption etc!)”.
A third added: “The funny part about it is , the ad is for a refillable water bottle (to try and tackle plastic waste etc) but then it the ad is literally AI!! you couldn’t write it honestly”.
A fourth mused: “The hypocrisy of these ‘influencers’ is gross tbh”.
“I’m surprised the brand approved it to be honest…says a lot about them too! I think being aware of the environmental impact AI has is important too”.
And another user surmised: “For me its the context of the ad being for a refillable water bottle while using AI which uses tons of water. It is a little ironic”.
Campaigners have previously flagged the significant carbon, energy and water use that AI requires.
Previously, Sasha Luccioni, climate lead at AI company Hugging Face told The Guardian: “What I’m worried about is that we’re deploying AI in such a way that we don’t have a good idea of the energy use.
“We’re essentially operating on the hypothesis that it’s not a problem – or that if it is a problem it will somehow be solved – instead of getting ahead of it.”
While Anastacia has posted the video to her Instagram grid, the brand is yet to feature it on their page.
Others have called out the fact AI could take away from her ‘creative’ process as a content creatorCredit: tiktok/@anastasiakingsnorthShe is rumoured to have a net worth of more than £1millionCredit: Getty
The documentary series has been branded a must watch for fans of true crime
Forensics: The Real CSI gives viewers unprecedented access into a local police force(Image: BBC/Blast Films)
A harrowing BBC Two documentary will return to screens with another chilling episode that true crime fans are being urged not to miss.
Forensics: The Real CSI has returned for a brand new series plunging viewers into real life drama as it follows West Midlands Police Force, investigating serious crimes in real time.
In a race against the clock, viewers witness plenty of chaos as officers uncover horrific truths and a sense of urgency in their search for justice. The series also gives a deeper insight into the forensics work that puts together vital evidence during an investigation, with specialised officers often working with little to no evidence.
Branded the perfect watch for fans of 24 Hours in Police Custody, the BBC documentary series returned with a harrowing episode earlier this month, which viewers said left them “shocked”.
Another brutal episode is set to air tonight (March 22) at 9pm on BBC Two. A BBC synopsis reads: “In Cumbria, a 999 call comes in at 1.00: a supermarket cash machine is being broken into by a gang of thieves. They’re working at speed, using high-powered cutting equipment.
“They make their getaway before the police arrive, taking thousands of pounds. It’s the second cash machine in the county targeted in 24 hours.”
It continues: “Seventy miles away, reports of the Cumbrian raids are shared with a specialist West Midlands Police task force who have been chasing a prolific gang of organised criminals suspected of attacking cash machines around the country.
“Their method of breaking into the machines using specialist machinery known as the ‘jaws of life’ has led to them being named the JOL Gang.
“While the task force gathers intelligence in the West Midlands, Cumbria Police takes the lead on forensics. The investigation becomes more urgent when there’s a third attack in Cumbria.”
Taking to social media, one viewer described it as a “brilliant series”. Commenting on last week’s instalment, one viewer said: “Have you watched the latest The Real CSI episode 2 it’s brutal.”
A third added: “Forensics is absolutely fascinating.” One person said the new instalments had their “blood boiling”.
Previously, West Midlands Police promoted the harrowing series as one viewer commented: “I watched it last night. It was very eye opening. The forensics and camera and phone tracking and hacking were brilliant.”
Another said: “Just watched, truly disturbing.” A third added: “Best programme on the t.v, it’s scary the number of teenagers carry knives need to get them off the streets”
A fourth penned: “Easily the best programme on the tv at the moment. The work that the forensic experts do to bring a criminal to justice is unreal.”
Forensics: The Real CSI returns tonight at 9pm on BBC Two.
Emma Chawner, a legendary contestant on The X Factor, shared her impressive 16 stone weight loss journey amid the tragic loss of both her mum and dad as well as her dog
Emma Chawner first captured public attention aged just 17(Image: Manchester Evening News Syndication)
One of The X Factor’s most unforgettable contestants left fans stunned after revealing an astonishing 16-stone weight loss. Emma Chawner first captured public attention aged just 17 when she and her family had a memorable encounter with judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh after being turned away from the competition in 2007.
Now in her late 30s, Emma has achieved a stunning transformation, emphasising that her dramatic weight loss was accomplished entirely without surgery, as she revealed during a 2019 appearance on ITV’s Lorraine. Taking to Instagram at the time, Emma also shared striking before-and-after photographs, captioning one: “5years down and 16st 4 lost im still losing it but very slow now.”
Admirers were swift to praise her achievement, with messages including: “Fantastic, you look amazing,” and “You look so beautiful and pretty! Please remember weight can not be defined by age, weight, or gender. Your beauty has always shined through! I’m glad to see you! Bless you love!”
Speaking candidly to Lorraine, who had previously extended support to help her family tackle their weight struggles, Emma revealed that her motivation stemmed from the heartbreaking loss of her beloved pet dog and the emotional turmoil surrounding her parents’ separation. Tragically, Emma’s mother died aged 73 in January 2024, with her father passing away in December that same year.
Sadly, Emma was forced to start a GoFundMe in an attempt to raise £2,200 for her dad’s funeral, but only appeared to raise £820 through the website. At the time, she posted her appeal, saying: “I would appreciate any help towards he funeral because at time it’s really hard for me and to pay for it and I really want my dad to have a good send off any amount of money would be greatly appreciated.” Heartbreakingly, she continued: “I don’t have any family left people that know me I hate asking for help put this time i have no choice.”
In a candid conversation with Lorraine, Emma emphasised her weight loss resolve, stating: “No one’s pushed me to do it, I’ve done it all myself. I was always out of breath and diabetic.”
She refuted suggestions from doubters that she had undergone weight loss surgery and voiced her intention to shed a few more pounds, affirming: “I’m happy with how I am and it’s not far to go.”
Emma initially took a shot at fame on The X Factor in 2007 but was met with a firm rejection. Undeterred, she returned to the stage in 2009 alongside her sister Samantha, who married in XXX.
However, Emma faced another setback as she was handed four no’s from the judges, with Cheryl observing, “Emma, I have to say, you’re definitely more confident when you’ve got your sister with you. But nothing else has really improved unfortunately.”
With her singing aspirations momentarily put on hold, Emma participated in Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge, a weight loss initiative. She continued her slimming journey after the show, attributing her success to a 30-day detox and healthy habits such as eliminating snacks and staying hydrated.
Prior to joining Lorraine’s programme and seeking advice from diet experts, Emma believed her size was due to genetics, asserting, “It’s not because of what I’ve eaten. It’s because of the genes in my family. Mum’s big, dad’s big, my sister’s big. No-one’s thin in our house.” She had previously been forced to live in a car after her family was reportedly booted out of their home.
TikTok star Becki Jones stood up for herself on the platformCredit: TikTok/@beckijonesxxBecki spoke about how trolling about her weight affected herCredit: You Tube/@ Not Always A PrincessAnd said she shouldn’t have to explain her weight loss to anyoneCredit: TikTok/@beckijonesxx
Becki told her 1.3 million followers during a TikTok Live last year that she “wasn’t ready” to share how she’d transformed her image but in her latest video, said she’d been through some of the hardest times in her life while losing weight.
In the video she posted a montage of moments from recent months that showed her swimming in a pool, going to concerts, showing off cute outfits and working out in her room.
In a voiceover she started by saying that she doesn’t understand why she has to explain every detail of her life to strangers.
“Yes, I do put myself on a public platform. Yes, I post my life. But why should I have to defend myself against people’s thoughts on my weight loss?” she began.
“I’ve said I have not had surgery in any form or any medication to help aid weight loss.
“In 2023, I even considered gastric sleeve surgery myself but I changed my mind.”
Becki continued: “As you can imagine it is exhaust trying to prove something to people who don’t want to change their mind about you.
“I feel like I am an easy target for people to bully because that’s what broke me last year.”
The influencer said that while she did understand that some of her followers wanted to learn about her weight loss, others thought she owed them an explanation.
“I simply and politely don’t want to talk about it.
Becki said she would one day talk about her weight loss experienceCredit: Instagram/@beckijonesxxBecki took a six month break from TikTok last yearCredit: TikTok/@beckijonesxx
“I’ve been through some of the worst times of my life whilst losing weight and still some days are hard now and now I’m being a little closed off and only letting a few things out, but can we just stop and think about how things affect me?” Becki asked.
“Yes, I feel good in myself most days, but I have hard days just like every human does.
“I have my own fears and problems that I’m trying to overcome each day, which makes talking about weight loss Extremely difficult.”
She explained how a lot of her followers “speculated on things” happening in her life, “and one day I may talk more deeply about it all but it’s hard as a content creator to tell your story without being judged.”
Becki went on to thank her “loyal supporters” for their support and who “compliment my weight without wanting an explanation”.
She became famed on TikTok for her ‘what I eat in a day’ videos, which showed her enjoying foods such asMcDonalds for breakfast, takeaways and treats.
Last year, a source told The Sun why Becki really left social media, and why she returned.
They explained: “Everyone knows Becki took six months offline because she felt the trolling had become too much.
“It was a real chance to reflect on her life and the main cause of issues – her weight. She’s also a secret smoker, so really did start to feel like her lifestyle wasn’t doing her any favours.
“Once she started losing some weight, she felt a new wave of confidence and when she returned online and saw the reaction to the way she looked, it really spurred her on.”
They added: “It’s the same when she was larger and the more she ate, the more people watched her videos. At the end of the day, it’s all about engagement and making money. It’s addictive.”
She promised she had not used fat jabs or surgery to lose weightCredit: TikTok/@beckijonesxx
ITV viewers were left saying the same thing as a new reality show debuted on Saturday night.
21:21, 21 Mar 2026Updated 21:22, 21 Mar 2026
ITV viewers issue same complaint minutes into new reality show Celebrity Sabotage (Image: ITV)
ITV viewers were not impressed as new reality show, Celebrity Sabotage, premiered.
The new series sees Joel Dommett, Judi Love, Sam Thompson and GK Barry sabotage ordinary people who think they are taking part in various reality shows, with the aim of winning them money.
In each episode, a fresh set of unsuspecting contestants will arrive, believing they’re participating in a brand-new ITV show. But what they don’t know is that hidden away in their very own high-tech Mission HQ are celebrity saboteurs, who are secretly watching the contestants’ every move and are being set their own sabotage missions.
Hosting the fake shows are a string of stars, including Emma and Matt Willis, Sara Davies and Clare Balding, while celebrities will also join Joel, Judi, Sam and GK to help with the sabotaging.
The first episode aired on Saturday (March 21), with a group of business enthusiasts embarking on a set of challenges under the watchful eye of entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies.
The celebrity saboteurs were joined by comedian Jo Brand as they set about disrupting wedding video filming, deleting the contestant’s filmed footage, and sabotaging a wellness away-day face mask activity by using lashings of green food colouring.
After watching the first episode, several ITV viewers shared their complaints about the show’s premise.
“#CelebritySabotage This is as much fun as having a toothache, @ITV churns out some rubbish & this one is right up there. It’s a waste of our time, it makes you look forward to seeing the adverts! I’m going to sit outside & watch the car electric battery top up, a lot more fun!” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another added: “How do programmes like these ever get commissioned. Utter rubbish,” while a third said: “What a s*** show.”
A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “This is a kids TV show that got mixed up in the schedule surely. Utterly dreadful hate watch,” with another similarly sharing: “This is appallingly bad even for ITV. How long before it’s shunted to 4.30 Sunday afternoon?”
Meanwhile, other viewers enjoyed the silliness of the show, with one person writing: “Honestly I knew I was going to like #CelebritySabotage, it’s a great show with a great cast and I really like how the fake shows are rip offs of others. Definitely will be watching next week.”
Another added: “I know it’s all very childish but I absolutely love it. This is what Saturday night telly should be,” while a third said: “This is incredible. I could listen to @1Judilove laugh all day long, absolutely howling.”
Someone else commented: “Cackled with laughter for this whole show. What a vibe.”
After two days of sabotaging, the contestants eventually found out about the celebrities’ antics, before learning that they’d won a shared prize of £29,000.
Saturday Night Live has launched in the UK tonight after plenty of buzz.
21:05, 21 Mar 2026Updated 23:06, 21 Mar 2026
Saturday Night Live has launched in the UK(Image: Courtesy of Sky)
Saturday Night Live has arrived in the UK after months of anticipation, with Tina Fey stepping in to host.
As SNL UK launched on Sky, viewers were all saying the same thing as they tuned in to watch the very first sketch, which poked fun at Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The 75-minute episode features Wet Leg as the first musical guest, with Wolf Alice and Kasabian to follow in future episodes.
“I am so excited for you to meet your cast, they are wonderful,” Tina told the audience, before promising to “stay out of their way tonight as much as possible”.
Viewers were divided as opening skit played out, with many complaining about the amount of laughter coming from the crowd. Some even wondered if it was canned, but this is not the case, as the show is filmed in front of a live studio audience.
“Are they seriously doing canned laughter on SNLUK?” one person asked on X (Twitter), as another quizzed: “Surely that laughter isn’t real on Saturday Night Love UK?”
A third asked: “Hang on? Is this laughter canned? It surely can’t be. But the audience is being weirdly compliant.”
“The audience need to calm down a bit,” another person advised, while one more suggested it was a technical issue, adding: “The laugh track is leveled/mixed wrong and it’s annoying me… “
However, other fans shared their appreciation for the show, with one writing: “Was so critical about the idea of SNLUK. 2 minutes in and I’m cryin.”
“Unpopular opinion: Saturday Night Live UK will be considered a great success this time next year,” a second penned.
“Got to admit, I did get a bit giddy at ‘Live from London, it’s Saturday Night Live!'” another commented, as one more person enthused: “I’m loving the opening sequence.”
Saturday Night Live UK debuted tonight on Sky and streaming service Now at 10pm. It was originally scheduled for just six episodes but received an extension before launch, meaning it will now run every Saturday for the next eight weeks.
The entertainment show includes a blend of sketch comedy, stand-up and live music, much like its US counterpart.
The show also mirrors its American predecessor with an opening monologue and signature segments like the Weekend Update, presented by Colin Jost and Michael Che in the US.
Saturday Night Live, created by Lorne Michaels, is a TV institution in the United States and first started in 1975.
Tina Fey appeared on the sketch programme from 1997 to 2006, and based her hit comedy series 30 Rock on her experiences working on the show.
The UK line-up of comedians features several major names from the comedy circuit as well as some up-and-coming talent.
The ensemble cast includes Hammed Animashaun, Ania Magliano, Emma Sidi, Celeste Dring, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, George Fouracres, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, and Paddy Young.
Writers for the show include 8 Out of 10 Cats writer Charlie Skelton, Stath Lets Flats actor and comedian Al Roberts and Have I Got News For You’s Bella Hull.
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This delivers live and on-demand TV without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Last of Us and Squid Game.
Lead producer James Longman said of the launch: “The UK is absolutely packed with incredible comedy talent right now and this cast represents the freshest voices we have, they’re bold, exciting and of course, incredibly funny.
“The chemistry between them is something special and we can’t wait to share this funny group of people with the world.”
Phil Edgar Jones, executive director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, said: “We all need a laugh like never before, so we’re beyond excited to bring Saturday Night Live to the UK, only 50 short years after it first launched in the US.
“The show’s long-standing legacy of discovering and nurturing outstanding comedy talent speaks for itself, and this UK version will build on that legacy with the support of Lorne Michaels, a brilliant local production team, and an exciting new generation of voices. Saturday nights are looking bright!”
Saturday Night Live UK is available to watch on Sky and Now TV on Saturdays at 10pm.
DUA Lipa looked stunning as she showcased her toned abs in a sun-soaked new snap this weekend.
The chart-topping singer took to her Instagram page with a new update as she posed in a sequin-covered bikini.
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Dua Lipa has showed off her toned physique in a new sun-kissed bikini snapCredit: InstagramThe star shared a series of selfies and snaps from the last few weeks in CaliforniaCredit: Instagram / dualipa
Lounging in the sun, Dua showed off her tanned and toned physique in the turquoise number.
She has been enjoying the warmer temperatures across the pond in California over recent weeks.
“A few weeks on the west coast,” captioned Dua as she teamed the bikini pic with numerous other snaps for her 88.6million followers.
Dua and Mark won a Grammy for their 2017 hit Electricity and worked together again on Dance The Night from the 2023 film Barbie.
They joined the likes of Olivia Dean, Harry Styles and Robbie Williams; who all performed throughout the evening.
Singer Dua, who originally hails from London, is known for sharing glamorous pictures to her social media as she travels the world with other half Callum.
Alongside her music career, she also maintains lucrative multi-million dollar deals as a global ambassador for YSL Beauty, along with partnerships with Porsche, Versace, and Puma.
Dua shared a picture with close pal Elton John from his Oscars Viewing bash last weekShe has been enjoying some downtime after a busy few weeks, which saw her return to the UK to perform at the BRIT awards before jetting over to the US west coast
Public murals are among the best ways to honor our heroes, which is why dozens of murals of civil rights icon Cesar Chavez dot California’s landscape. Those images are now deeply upsetting after shocking revelations published in a recent New York Times investigation that allege Chavez sexually abused girls as young as 12 and raped his fellow labor organizer Dolores Huerta.
According to the nonprofit Travel Santa Ana, the Chavez mural, created in 2008 to commemorate the launch day of the city’s KaBoom playground and Jerome Community Learning Garden, is “one of 30 murals around California that was commissioned by a project commemorating Cesar Chavez, initiated by Maria Shriver and former LA Mayor [Antonio] Villaraigosa.”
That’s 30 from a single project — the total number would be impossible to count. It’s hard to overstate the prominence of Chavez’s legacy in California, where his name and likeness are ubiquitous on the sides of bodegas, in parks, on street signs, on schools and memorialized in statues. He was considered a man of the people, which is why murals, created in unassuming local spaces, seemed especially fitting.
It’s now up to the public that revered him and is now grappling with the pain of his misdeeds to decide what should become of his painted image. California lawmakers announced their intention to rename the upcoming Cesar Chavez holiday “Farmworkers Day,” and that idea could be extended to murals of Chavez. These artworks could be remade to instead celebrate the achievements of the many people — especially the women and girls — who marched and fought for the labor movement.
I expect changes to these murals will come swiftly. A statue of Chavez at Fresno State has already been covered and will soon be removed. Maybe it can be melted down to create something new and uplifting. We can paint over the past, but we should never forget.
I’m Arts editor Jessica Gelt, looking forward to gazing at a mural of Huerta in the very near future.
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The week ahead: A curated calendar
FRIDAY Brokentalkers Through music and dance, the Dublin-based theater company presents “Bellow,” the story of Irish accordionist Danny O’Mahony as he revisits key moments when mentorship, mastery of the craft and preservation of the art form influenced his path. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. UCLA Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd. cap.ucla.edu
Piano recital with Gilles Vonsattel, solo Camerata Pacifica presents the third program of “Beethoven 32,” a three-year Beethoven cycle in which principal pianist Vonsattel performs all 32 of the composer’s piano sonatas. 7 p.m. Friday. Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Rd., Santa Barbara. 8 p.m. Sunday. The Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. cameratapacifica.org
Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter Two of the playwright’s darkly comic one-acts, “Party Time” and “The Lover,” are paired. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays, through April 26. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. odysseytheatre.com
SATURDAY And the Beat Goes On The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles performs American classics from R&B, Motown, gospel and musical theater with Emmy Award-winning host and GMCLA alum Melvin Robert and soprano Nicole Heaston. 8 p.m. Saturday; 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills. GMCLA.org
Cirque Kalabanté’s Afrique en Cirque A celebration of African culture featuring acrobatics accompanied live Afro Jazz, percussion and kora. 8 p.m. Saturday. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, CSULB, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. carpenterarts.org; 3 p.m. Sunday. The Soraya, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge. thesoraya.org
Artist Todd Gray has a show at Perrotin.
(Kyungmi Shin)
Todd Gray A solo exhibition of the artist’s photosculptures, “Portals,” continues his interest in the effects of colonization, the built environment and the natural world. Gray will be in conversation with LACMA chief executive Michael Govan on Tuesday. Opening reception, 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday; conversation, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; exhibition continues through May 30. Perrotin Los Angeles, 5036 W Pico Blvd. perrotin.com
Convergence: Contemporary Artists of Armenian Descent More than 20 artists, in work ranging from abstraction to conceptual installations, interrogate the complexities of their cultural identities. Through Aug. 9. Forest Lawn Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. museum.forestlawn.com
Esther Chung and Ins Choi in “Kim’s Convenience” at the Ahmanson.
(Dahlia Katz)
Kim’s Convenience Playwright Ins Choi stars in this production of his award-winning comedy drama, about a Korean family-run corner store in Toronto, that inspired the TV series. Directed by Weyni Mengesha. Through April 19. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Avenue, downtown L.A. centertheatregroup.org
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ singalong Bop to the beat of this year’s two-time Oscar-winner — animated feature and original song — at this special Academy screening. 11 a.m. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. academymuseum.org
Miss Velma in the City of Angels In the “Religion and Ritual” section of the ongoing Art of the West exhibition, this new installation features a custom-made dress worn by the charismatic co-founder of the Universal World Church in Los Angeles. Opens Friday. The Autry, 4700 Western Heritage Way. Griffith Park. theautry.org
Ok, Olympia, Let’s Go! Apollo Dukakis wrote and performs the one-act play “You and Me” alongside Kandis Chappell in a multimedia celebration of his sister, the late Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis. Playwright and filmmaker Graham Barnard hosts with special invited guests. 8 p.m. Saturday. 3 p.m. Sunday. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. odysseytheatre.com
Song Of The North Hamid Rahmanian created this multimedia production using shadow puppetry and projected animation to reimagine the Persian epic “Shahnameh” about a fierce heroine and her quest to save her beloved. 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and March 28 to 29; 7 p.m. Saturday and March 29. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave. pasadenaplayhouse.org
The exhibition “Turner & Constable” at the Tate in London is featured in a new documentary on the two British painters.
Turner & Constable Laemmle’s “Culture Vulture” series presents this documentary on two of Britain’s finest artists — J.M.W. Turner and John Constable — their rivalry as very different landscape painters and the current exhibition at the Tate in London. Directed by David Bickerstaff. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; 7 p.m. Monday. Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave.; Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino; Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St. laemmle.com
Vertigo in Concert Sarah Hicks conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing the Bernard Herrmann score for Alfred Hitchcock’s classical psychological thriller live to screen. 8 p.m. Saturday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
SUNDAY Network The American Cinematheque presents screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky’s prescient 1976 media satire for its 50th anniversary and in tribute to actor Robert Duvall. 7 p.m. Sunday. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. americancinematheque.com
Yefim Bronfman The pianist performs selections from Schumann, Brahms, Debussy and Beethoven. Rescheduled from Feb. 11. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
Geoff Elliott in “Death of a Salesman” at A Noise Within.
(Daniel Reichert)
Death of a Salesman A Noise Within co-artistic director Geoff Elliott steps into the shoes of Arthur Miller’s beleaguered working man. Through April 19. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. anoisewithin.org
Ebell + LA Festival: Powered by Women A free celebration of art, activism and community spirit featuring performances, classes and crafts. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Ebell of Los Angeles, 741 S. Lucerne Blvd. ebellofla.org
Akinsanya Kambon: The Hero Avenges A conversation between the sculptor known for his work inspired by the Black diaspora, African histories and mythologies, and Hammer curator Pablo José Ramírez, plus the premiere of a new eponymous documentary directed by Gabriel Noguez and Sean Rowry and a book signing of the monograph “Akinsanya Kambon: The Hero Avenges.” 2 p.m. Sunday. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. hammer.ucla.edu
MONDAY Lang Lang Plays Beethoven The piano virtuoso joins the Pacific Symphony for performances of Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 3” and Egmont Overture, plus Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony, “From the New World.” 8 p.m. Monday. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. pacificsymphony.org
TUESDAY Gerald Barry’s ‘Salome’ Thomas Adès conducts the L.A. Phil in the U.S. premiere of Barry’s new opera, based on the Oscar Wilde play. 8 p.m. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.laphil.com
WEDNESDAY Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater The illustrious troupe performs two alternating programs as part of its exclusive multiyear Southern California residency under the leadership of new Artist Director Alicia Graf Mack. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to March 28; 2 p.m. March 28 to 29. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. musiccenter.org
THURSDAY Level Up! A trans tween feels like she can only be herself in her virtual world in the Latino Theater Company’s world premiere of a resonant, family-friendly play by Gabriel Rivas Gómez. Directed by Fidel Gómez. Previews through April 3. Opens April 4 and runs through May 3. Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown L.A. latinotheaterco.org
Arts Anywhere
BroadwayHD Don’t get out to the theater as much as you’d like? This decade-old streaming service could be a viable supplement to your live theater habit. It offers a nice variety of shows from Broadway and the West End, off-Broadway, plays, musicals and virtually anything in between. BroadwayHD: $20 per month or $200 per year.
“Future Relic: Failures, Disasters, Detours, and How I Made a Career as an Artist” by Daniel Arsham.
(Simon & Schuster)
Future Relic: Failures, Disasters, Detours, and How I Made a Career as an Artist Part memoir, part how-to, contemporary artist Daniel Arsham’s new book shares pragmatic advice on things like how to get a gallery, why you need a great lawyer, how to run a creative business and the importance of building a network of successful people. Bursting onto the scene more than 20 years ago with a bold vision across multiple mediums and accruing an eclectic list of big-name collaborators, including Merce Cunningham, Pharrell Williams, Pokémon, Tiffany & Co. and Cleveland Cavaliers, he quickly found both critical and commercial success. In a 2014 review of the artist’s work, Times contributor Sharon Mizota wrote, “Daniel Arsham’s casts of everyday or recently obsolete objects in sand, volcanic ash or various kinds of rock are like premature fossils, or perhaps eerie premonitions of ruin to come.” At a time when everything in the world is starting to feel obsolete, including us, “Future Relic” could find a place on the bookshelves of many would-be creatives. (Think of it as a companion to Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act: A Way of Being.”). Authors Equity: 320 pp. $30.
Out of Vienna The acclaimed Berlin-based chamber ensemble Leonkoro Quartet, formed in 2019, has released its stellar debut recording after winning a string of prestigious awards across Europe. An exploration of early 20th-century modernism in the Austrian capital, the album features compositions by Alban Berg, Anton Webern and Erwin Schulhoff. Alpha Classics: Available on CD ($19) or download ($9.25).
— Kevin Crust
Culture news and the SoCal scene
Spring is here, and with it many arts and culture entertainment choices.
McNulty has been extra busy lately and has delivered a series of reviews. Harry Potter fans will enjoy his take on Daniel Radcliffe in Broadway’s “Every Brilliant Thing,” which McNulty calls “an ingenious and touching solo performance piece written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe on the subject of suicide — or more precisely, on the ordinary joys that militate against such a drastic step.”
McNulty also dropped in on the Geffen Playhouse to catch “Dragon Mama,” the second installment in a trilogy written and performed by Sara Porkalob about her Filipina American family. “To be frank, I wasn’t sure I was up for a trilogy on Porkalob’s family history. But after ‘Dragon Mama,’ I can hardly wait for ‘Dragon Baby,’ the third and final segment,” McNulty writes.
Pierre Adeli and Adam J. Jefferis in “The Adding Machine.”
(Bob Turton Photography)
Finally, McNulty checks in with the Actors’ Gang, which is running a production of Elmer Rice’s 1923 expressionist satire, “The Adding Machine.” The story, about “an accountant drone aptly named Mr. Zero who, after losing his job to an adding machine, kills his boss and is sentenced to death,” shares uncomfortable modern-day parallels with the threat to workers currently posed by AI, McNulty writes.
Classical music critic Mark Swed got the scoop on the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new season — its first without revered music director Gustavo Dudamel. “For the first time in 64 years, the L.A. Phil will be without a music director, and with no one in waiting in the wings. But you may barely notice. In little more than three months, Dudamel, although newly installed as music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic, will be saying hello once again to his old band at Walt Disney Concert Hall for two weeks of Beethoven,” Swed writes.
Workers install the Francis Bacon 1969 “Three Studies of Lucian Freud” oil painting in the David Geffen Galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
I got to watch workers hang a $142.5-million Francis Bacon triptych on the walls of LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries. The paintings were gifted to the museum by its late trustee, Elaine Wynn. LACMA’s director, Michael Govan, said that part of her interest in supporting the new building was because she wanted the paintings to eventually belong to the public.
Dance writer Steven Vargas penned an interesting profile of choreographer Jacob Jonas and how his battle with Stage 4 lymphoma deepened his connection to his craft.
The news from the Kennedy Center does not stop coming. Late last week, we learned that President Trump had replaced Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who presided over the unfolding chaos at the center for a little over a year, with Matt Floca, the vice president of facilities operations at the center. This week, the Trump-appointed board voted to officially close the venue for two years. Trump had already announced his intentions, so the vote amounted to little more than a rubber stamp.
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Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts — better known as the Soraya — on the campus of Cal State Northridge.
(The Soraya)
The Soraya announced its 2026-27 season, which includes six major debuts: singer and actress Audra McDonald, the Grammy Award-winning Snarky Puppy ensemble, Emmet Cohen’s jazz trio, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the National Symphony Orchestra (which will be roving in the wake of the Kennedy Center closure) and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Also arriving at the Soraya, according to a note from its publicist, “Domingo Hindoyan leads the LA Phil and soprano Sonya Yoncheva in the world premiere of a new, LA Phil-commissioned song cycle from Miguel Farias. Farias’ incandescent new work is paired with Barber’s ‘Medea’s Dance of Vengeance’ and Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony.”
The first-ever museum survey of the legendary Chicana artist Ofelia Esparza (“Ofelia Esparza: A Retropective “) at Vincent Price Art Museum has been extended through May — now you have no excuse to not get yourself out to see it.
Gladiators host Bradley Walsh left his son in hysterics when he was ambushed by a Gladiator live on air, who proved the presenter most definitely doesn’t have ‘nerves of steel’
BBC Gladiators grinds to a halt as Bradley Walsh screams when he’s ambushed live on air(Image: BBC)
Bradley Walsh screamed live on air during BBC’s Gladiators, forcing the game show to abruptly halt as he lost his cool thanks to an ambush. The Chase host was presenting the second semi-final of the endurance show with his son Barney when he was taken by complete surprise by Gladiator Fury.
Host Bradley had just been telling the audience how he has “nerves of steel”, when he was blindsided by the competitor. Bradley said: “This next event, our contenders need nerves of steel. Like me.”
Playing along in the scripted exchange, Barney exclaimed: “You, nerves of steel?” Bradley doubled down, saying: “I don’t get rattled by anything. Nothing phases me Barnes.”
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But immediately proving Bradley wrong, Gladiator Fury could be seen creeping up behind him, before bursting a balloon right next to him. Bradley screamed out in fear, before saying: “Next…” in a bid to compose himself while looking visibly shaken.
Barney and Fury both belly-laughed as they watched the usually calm TV star get himself together. “You didn’t tell me about that did you,” he laughed as he turned to the Gladiator – clearly still shaken but being a good sport about the prank.
Barney found the whole thing hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing as he attempted to bring the programme back to order. He continued: “Time for the next event,” before high-fiving the athlete.
Moving on from Bradley’s scare, the show cut to The Wall, which saw female semi-finalist and firefighter Millie take on the Gladiator Sabre. But unfortunately for Millie, she was unsuccessful, failing in just 20 seconds.
Emily was up next, as she went head-to-head with Comet, coming out on top as she won in 33 seconds. The same event saw the men both losing to the Gladiators – Shaun took on Hammer, and Josh was up against Nitro. Shaun lasted for 28 seconds, with Josh doing marginally better, coming in at 32 seconds.
Emily eventually emerged victorious overall, meaning she bagged a place in the final, which will air on Saturday, March 28. She will be joined by the first semi-finalist Naomi, with both women hoping to win the competition.
It comes after last week, Bradley was shocked again and the audience booed when he was sternly ordered to “be quiet” by the referee. The presenter was questioning the rules of one of the challenges on the BBC show, when ref Mark Clattenburg snapped: “Be quiet!” Unimpressed, the fans started booing as Mark wagged his finger at the TV star.
The clash took place during last Saturday’s semi-final (March 14), as contenders Mo and Finn went up against the Gladiators in a bid to secure a spot in the final of the current series. Mo was marked down for dropping a ball during the Collision game, telling Bradley afterwards that he thought he should have got the point anyway. “I think I got disqualified with one point. I should have been allowed that,” he said.
Turning to Mark, Bradley asked if he could clarify the situation, saying: “Please explain what’s going on there, please?” The ref replied: “You’ve dropped the ball on the bridge. That’s against the rules.”
Looking puzzled, Bradley wondered if there could be a loophole, asking: “There’s a case to be said that if you drop the ball and then you regain it and catch it? I mean, seriously.”
However, pointing his finger at him, the ref snapped: “Bradley, be quiet! The rules are the rules,” he went on as the crowd erupted into a chorus of loud boos. Smirking at the audience, Bradley muttered about Mark: “He’s got out of the wrong side of the bed today.”
NEVER mind the spotlight – it seems Harry Styles prefers a different type of glow when he is not on stage.
I have been told that the fitness-obsessed pop star has splashed out £20,000 on an infrared sauna for his North London home.
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Fitness-obsessed Harry Styles is following in the footsteps of Ronaldo with his latest purchaseCredit: ErotemeThe former One Direction star has splashed out £20,000 on an infrared sauna for his North London homeCredit: Getty
The Watermelon Sugar singer is following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ellie Goulding and Lady Gaga in snapping up the very latest wellness status symbol.
A source said: “Harry is incredibly health-conscious these days.
“He loves running and needs to be on top of his health during his upcoming tour. He’ll be able to use the sauna in between shows to help repair his muscles.
“He loves running now and it’s the perfect antidote to training.”
The high-tech light therapy helps reduce pain, blood pressure and inflammation, as well as burning calories.
Harry will grace the May cover of fitness mag Runner’s World and completed the Berlin Marathon in under three hours last September.
He told the mag: “During my early days in One Direction, we spent so much time inside hotels and venues that there are countries I’ve been to that I didn’t really experience.
“So when I travel now, it’s about committing to going outdoors to see some stuff, whether that’s running or walking. You experience places in a whole different way.”
A source said: “Madonna prefers to work in the evening, so the crew filmed late into the night to make the shoot happen.”
Our sister column Biz revealed how Madonna, right, spent four days and nights holed up at Black Island Studios in West London to film the X-rated music video.
It will accompany the first single from the new album, which will be a sequel to her 2005 record Confessions On A Dancefloor.
And I have heard whispers that Madonna has also recorded a track for The Devil Wears Prada 2 film.
A source said: “Madonna’s hit song Vogue was used in the trailer and the film is set to be a massive hit.”
The comedy – which stars Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep – is out on May 1.
Judge Amanda Holden pressed her golden buzzer last night for the group, who were founded by Jezza.
Simon said: “He has a responsibility to be there. Mind you, can he even sing?”
Robbie comes undone
ROBBIE WILLIAMS is in the best shape of his life after losing weight.
Even so, the Come Undone hitmaker, who is 52, has revealed he has been struck by a host of physical issues.
He told radio station Gold: “There’s always something going on for the middle-aged man. We used to be elasticated silly putty, and now we are frozen silly putty that just snaps.
“I did my groin in by sitting down. I did that for the first time this year – sat on a testicle.
“I put my back out by turning around – turning around! You know, what you are supposed to do as a human.”
The star added: “I’ve got arthritis in my facet joints in the base of my spine and I’ve got two discs that are popping out – one in the neck, one in the lumbar.”
Robbie is heading to Dusseldorf in June for the next leg of his Britpop world tour.
I hope there’s a good physio on the bus.
Aitch Surrey not sorry
I’m A Celeb star Aitch has splashed out on a six-bedroom mansion in SurreyCredit: Splash
I can reveal that the I’m A Celeb star has splashed out on a plush six-bedroom mansion in Camberley, Surrey, for £1.6million.
A source said: “This house is a dream come true for Aitch and shows how hard he works.”
Aitch recently shared a glimpse of his new garden to his 2.9million Instagram fans, captioned: “Go step closer to that goal cos why not.”
The move comes after proud Northerner Aitch revealed that his second album 4 was inspired by his Manchester postcode M40.
Speaking last year, he said: “Since we were kids, when we used to take pictures, we always used to throw fours up.”
Lily furs night show in West End
Lily Allen was spotted in specs and a fur-trimmed coat as she left the London PalladiumCredit: Splash
LILY ALLEN looks like she’s raided the costume department in specs and a fur-trimmed coat as she leaves the London Palladium in London’s West End following the Friday night performance of her latest album.
An onlooker revealed she headed into a cab with her fella, writer and artist Jonah Freud.
The singer has won rave reviews for the tour, where she performs her fifth album West End Girl in its entirety each night.
A source said: “Fans have been blown away by her career-defining work.
“She’s on the best form and is loving being back on stage.”
Caught Live: Don’t myth out on hit
Former X Factor star Rachel Adedeji stars as Persephone in Hadestown at the Lyric TheatreCredit: Getty
THIS odyssey through the underworld, led by former X Factor contestant Rachel Adedeji, offers a spellbinding love story.
Rachel shines as Persephone, delivering a vocally rich performance, while leads Bethany Antonia and Marley Fenton stand out.
After a storming run on Broadway, this tragedy remains compelling and haunting as ever.
The musical blends two ancient Greek mythic love stories – Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and his wife Persephone.
Eurydice travels to Hadestown after being convinced by Hades that she will have a better life.
Desperate to keep her safe, her lover Orpheus follows her to bring her back to the living world.
Dancing On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer, actress Mia McKenna-Bruce, Vanessa Feltz and actor Mark Bonnar attended the gala night.
Dancing On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer was among the celebs who attended the show’s gala nightCredit: Getty
DESPITE winning dream roles, Anya Taylor-Joy admits her real wish is to retreat from Hollywood and live on a farm.
The 29-year-old is one of the world’s best-known actresses but has spent years feeling nervous on the red carpet, struggled to watch her award-winning performances and now wants calm.
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Anya Taylor-Joy in jewels at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party earlier this monthCredit: SplashAnya and her musician husband Malcolm McRaeCredit: Getty
She voices love interest Princess Peach in the new Super Mario Galaxy movie, which is released on April 1.
Princess Peach is the main female character and head of state of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Anya said: “I was so touched by how strong she is and how cool. The fact that’s going to be a role model kids can have nowadays is unbelievable. I left feeling very inspired by her.”
Anya knows all too well that life can be difficult as a child.
She was born in Florida, then lived in Argentina for five years where she rode horses in the idyllic countryside.
Her African-Spanish mum, a psychologist, and Scottish-Argentine dad, who raced powerboats, then moved the family to London when she was six — and things became dramatically different.
Anya was bullied, “locked in lockers, barred from classrooms, not invited to things” and did not speak English.
Watching films helped her navigate through the traumas.
She told the Happy Sad Confused podcast: “I’ve never been good at being cool, this is why I didn’t get along well with people in school.
“If I like something, I love it and it just pours out of me.
“But if I was sad, like if my hamster died, my parents could put me in front of a movie and I would feel better at the end of it.
“I could get lost in something like that.”
It was her love of movies that eventually helped her learn English.
Anya voices Mario’s love interest Princess Peach in the Super Mario GalaxyCredit: AP
She says: “I learned English when I was eight. I stuck it out for two years in London, refusing to speak English because I wanted to go home. Then eventually I was like, ‘I have no friends, this is going to be a needed skill’.”
Anya told her parents she was going to be an actress.
But first, after being “picked up” outside Harrods, she became a model at 16.
She was recruited by Sarah Doukas, boss of Storm model agency, who had discovered Kate Moss.
But at first Anya thought she was a stalker.
She said: “It was absurd. A black car comes up, starts chasing me. I pick up my dog, start running and a head comes out of the window and they say, ‘If you stop, you won’t regret it,’ and I stop.
“It was the head of a modelling agency. I don’t encourage other people to do this.
“I had no idea what I was doing, but luckily it worked out and my parents came with me the next day to the modelling agency.”
Her parents always supported her. Anya said: “They’d had six kids, so were like, ‘Oh, just do whatever you’re going to do’.
“I’m so grateful for the approach my parents have had because I did some pretty ballsy things in my teenage years and luckily they paid off, but they were always supportive.”
She did many auditions before getting her breakthrough role at 19 in film The Witch.
Anya said: “I thought that audition went so badly. I truly thought I had messed that up massively because I had a huge panic attack before I went into it, and luckily that really worked for the scene.”
It was then that Anya found where she truly belonged.
She said: “Going into work every single day felt like such a joy.
“I could breathe because I’d found a place where I was doing something I loved, with people who didn’t think I was a psychopath. And I could have fun with it. I loved every second of making that movie.”
She found it “mind blowing” that The Witch was a hit and forced herself to watch the performance.
Anya said: “It’s like getting hit by a bus. I personally don’t agree with not watching your films, it’s not all about you. It’s a whole bunch of other people who have done a lot of work and different departments that you have to go and support, because they deserve it and you love them. So I have to watch it.
“But the first time, I always feel I’ve let people down and I’m always like, ‘Oh, I messed it up’.
“Then I process it and the second time I watch it, it’s slightly more palatable and I’m able to lose myself a bit more.
“By the third time I’m just like, ‘OK, whatever’. You just have to get over yourself and applaud the people you care about that worked with you.”
She went on to roles in horror film Last Night In Soho, black comedy The Menu and the apocalyptic film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Anya said she works “very hard, very gratefully hard” because she feels lucky to do a job she feels passionate about.
But it is not always easy. Despite her modelling background, Anya struggles with the limelight.
She said: “When I first started doing red carpets, I couldn’t handle the notion of being pretty.
Anya as chess champ Beth Harmon in The Queen’s GambitCredit: AlamyAnya loved films from a young ageCredit: Instagram/@anyataylorjoy
“I was like, ‘I don’t do that’. I am a scummy, mud-caked ferret and striving for anything different felt disingenuous and scary.”
She has even been known to dress up “like an East Berlin spy” at times so nobody recognises her.
Now she is trying to make time for some balance in her life.
She said: “I’ve been living on film sets for five years and, occasionally, I think it would be nice to find out what Anya would do with three months if she wasn’t playing another person.
“So I’m trying to be more careful with my time there.
“You spend 18 hours a day thinking, behaving and breathing as another human being. That doesn’t leave a lot of time to figure out what it is that you like.”
And the person she wants to spend it with is her husband, US musician Malcolm McRae, who she married in 2021.
The couple split their time between homes in the Hollywood Hills and London.
She said: “I’ve finally found someone who will happily sit in silence with me, reading. We’re basically 80 years old and seven at the same time, and it works really well.
“When you are together, you are really valuing the time you have. Everyday, mundane activities are so full of joy.
“I love going to the petrol station with him and filling up the car and going to get breakfast.”
But right now, her focus is all on Princess Peach.
Anya told US Today: “She wants to find out where she comes from and is on a quest for adventure and prioritising herself a little bit more.”
Princess Peach sounds very much like the actress playing her.
LOVED-UP Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood kiss in a packed hotel bar — just weeks after she split from her footballer husband.
The couple, snapped in London’s Soho on Friday, are said to have begun their fling earlier this month.
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Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks were seen kissing in a packed London barCredit: The SunPete and Olivia chatting over drinks at Flute bar in SohoLong-time pals Pete and Olivia arrive at the 2025 BritsCredit: Ian West/PA Wire
ITV star Olivia, 34, separated from Bradley Dack in January.
Olivia and Pete have seen their friendship “blossom into an unexpected romance”, pals said last night.
The pair had insisted they were just friends but their public kiss in front of cheering pals proved they are a couple.
Loose Women favourite Olivia, 34, screamed, punched the air and beamed in delight afterwards.
An onlooker snapped their snog at rooftop bar Flute in London’s Soho, where they partied for 3½ hours on Friday night.
The venue is where Towie star Pete, 37, was spotted kissing Love Island’s Maura Higgins in 2024.
Last night a pal of Pete and Olivia confirmed: “They have been spending a lot of time together and an unexpected romance has blossomed from friendship.”
“They have got closer and Pete has held a torch for Olivia for a really long time.
“She is hurting and vulnerable, and he was in the right place at the right time.”
Olivia recently split from footballer husband Bradley DackCredit: GettyThe Flute bar, in London’s Soho, where Pete and Olivia partied for 3½ hours on Friday nightCredit: TripadvisorOlivia and Pete at a yacht party off Ibiza last AugustCredit: BackGrid
The friend added: “They get on really well and are taking it slow, there is no label at the moment.”
Since her marriage separation, speculation has mounted that Olivia has moved on with lothario Pete.
The pair have known each other for around nine years and both starred in Towie in 2019.
Last August they partied with friends on a yacht off Ibiza.
“She was beaming in delight and couldn’t have looked happier.
“And at one point she rose in front of her friends, took Pete by the hand, and they kissed passionately as a group of ten to twelve people cheered them on.
“Olivia and Pete didn’t seem to mind who saw them.
“The noise and spectacle they were making caused everyone in the room to stop what they were doing and look.”
Olivia looked stunning in a black top and skinny jeans, with Pete in a smart jacket.
She stopped and chatted to other revellers in the dimly-lit, discreet venue, even asking other drinkers if they felt she looked OK.
A source said: “She was very sweet and so obviously madly in love with Pete.
“She was anxious that she looked good for her man. They had a blissful night.
Olivia only announced her marriage split in JanuaryCredit: SplashPete has bedded a host of TV personalitiesCredit: Splash
“Friends came and went from their table and when they were alone they were very intense, whispering and pausing conversation to kiss.
“And they were just as tactile when in a bigger group.
“Whatever hardships she has been through, it was very clear that Olivia was ecstatically happy with him next to her at their table.”
Our snaps of the loved-up pair are a hammer blow to her estranged hubby Bradley, who plays for League Two Gillingham.
We told how he blocked Pete on Instagram weeks after the marriage split was revealed.
She was on the ITV table while he was with Kiss FM.
That night Olivia told The Sun on Sunday: “If you are going to be single anywhere this’d be the place. Is Harry Styles single?”
She and Pete later left an after-party together and took a taxi to the Edwardian Manchester hotel.
At 3am Pete was seen carrying two pizza boxes through the lobby before getting into a lift.
Hours later the couple emerged together, with both wearing baseball caps, and were driven off at around 12.30pm.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony Pete told their podcast: “What always happens at these events is Liv and I gravitate towards each other and basically just stick together, don’t we?”
Pete and Maura Higgins share a kiss in Soho in 2024Credit: The SunMaura Higgins and Pete pictured together in 2024Credit: Splash
Olivia replied: “Because I feel like we both have the same objective. And talk to as few people . . .” Pete then added: “As possible.”
Pete then said: “Although we are not going big this year, are we?”, to which Olivia countered: “What do you mean?” Pete continued: “You have a flight the next day.”
Olivia replied: “I know, you need to keep me lucid enough that I don’t get stopped at immigration.”
Pete said: “The danger being that I jump on the flight with you in what I am wearing from the Brits.”
The Sun on Sunday revealed in January that Olivia had split from Dack – following what sources said was a “breach of trust” on his part.
In 2017, she went on Love Island, later saying it was revenge on Dack for cheating on her at the time.
They reunited, and she joined Towie in 2019, on which Pete was already a regular. He went on to dance on Strictly in 2024.
“In that darkness, I found myself,” says Mexican pop star Kenia Os, who collaborated with indie icon Carla Morrison and transmuted online hate into her fiercest album yet
Mexico’s reigning pop princess is entering her femme fatale era.
Kenia Os played up her cute and cuddly side in her previous album, 2024’s “Pink Aura” — but with her upcoming album “K de Karma,” out Friday, Os is putting that era to bed.
Os, born Kenia Guadalupe Flores Osuna in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, has made an incredible leap from social media influencer to Latin Grammy-nominated pop star in under a decade. Yet at 26, she has weathered countless storms — whether facing incessant body-shaming online, or defending her pop music pivot from cynics in the comments.
In an interview with the L.A. Times, the Mexican superstar explains how she transmuted that energy into her most fierce and sexy musical offering yet.
“In that darkness, I found myself,” the 26-year-old says over Zoom from her hotel room in Los Angeles — where she’s traded her signature blood red dress for a black tank top and jeans as she prepares for her upcoming tour.
“This album is totally about empowerment. There’s an energy behind it of divine justice… What’s for you belongs to you.”
Os had plenty of examples of powerful pop divas to draw inspiration from. Though she fondly recalls her mother playing the music of the late Selena Quintanilla and Jenni Rivera, Os was tapped into American talents like Miley Cyrus — namely her “Hannah Montana” alter ego — as well as Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez.
“I’ve always been inspired by a lot of female artists,” she recalls. “The power that women wield has always been at the core of who I am an artist.”
As Os looks back on being a teen girl who shared her life gratuitously on YouTube, and later social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, she still feels the sting of body-shaming comments. Os reveals during that time, her weight would fluctuate from dealing with hormonal issues such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and endometriosis.
“It’s very difficult how people judge you for your body, if you gain weight, have a tummy, or whatever,” she says. “It was very complicated to grow from a young girl into a woman [in a world] where you are how you look. Currently, I feel at ease because thanks to the universe, I’ve had the opportunity to take care of my body, understand it, and heal from within. It’s made me a stronger woman.”
Another hurdle that Os had to overcome in her career is an ongoing stigma placed on influencers-turned-pop stars. Although artists like Addison Rae, Tate McRae, and Charli D’Amelio successfully forged their careers as performers on social media before taking center stage, Os sees Mexico as being less receptive to that kind of career transition as the U.S. or Canada.
“In Mexico, it hasn’t been that easy for people to understand that I am a singer,” she says. “I’m not the best, but I’m here, I have my fandom that I love and we’re doing incredible things together.” (Os is referring to her massive following online, which includes 26.3 million fans on TikTok and 18.2 million fans on Instagram.)
When Os first launched as a singer in 2018, some immediately took aim at her dance moves and the digitally augmented sound of her voice. Os admits that she’s come a long way since that first iteration with rigorous singing and choreography lessons; three years later, she signed a record deal with her current label Sony Music Mexico, and released her glossy debut album, “Cambios De Luna,” in 2022.
Since then, Os has come to rule the Latin pop scene in Mexico, boasting multiple sold-out tours of the country.
“It’s been difficult for people to understand that I started out making content — which I still love to do — and suddenly, I’m [also] a singer,” she says. “They try to devalue my work and what I do as an artist. At the end of the day, I’m still as hard-working as I [was] on day one. I’m on the charts with a lot of artists. I’ve put myself in a position where I can say that I’m fully dedicated to music. For me, it’s been a beautiful journey where I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve grown so much.”
Os achieved an international breakthrough with her visual album, 2022’s “K23.” The following year she scored a viral hit on TikTok with the flirty “Malas Decisiones,” which has over 340 million streams on Spotify. Os would soon tour the U.S. for the first time, and at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, “K23” was nominated in the category of long form music video.
“I loved that experience, and I believe it would be beautiful to win a Grammy, but now I’m more dedicated to my fans, my music and what I like without expecting an award,” she says.
Last year, Os also pulled a page from Taylor Swift’s playbook by releasing the concert film “Kenia Os: La OG” in theaters in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Now with “K De Karma” out, Os is finding strength in further harnessing a sexier and more defiant alter ego — which she introduced in her cinematic music video for “Belladona.” Directed by Daniel Eguren, the visuals emphasize the fatality of her femininity with a car explosion and suited-up businessmen bending to her will.
“It doesn’t feel like that I have to act or pretend to be sexy or sensual,” Os admits. “Now, this feels very natural. It feels very me. This is who I am at this moment as a woman.”
She adds that her album was also inspired by a marginalized group that stuck by her side through her ups and downs: the LGBTQ+ community. As a show of gratitude to the girls and the gays, Os transforms from “Belladona” to Primadonna in vogue-ready house bangers like “Slay,” “Problemática,” and “Boom In Your Face.”
“I wanted to do something fun and different for the LGBTQ+ community,” she says. “I’m very happy and grateful for the love they’ve given me. I believe they’re my most passionate fans — they’re the kind of fans that are there for you the most. To put on concerts where you know most of the crowd belongs to that community, it’s an incredible experience.”
A surprising collaborator on “K De Karma” is Mexican singer-songwriterCarla Morrison. She co-wrote the tender love song “Tú y Yo X Siempre” with Os; the two also collaborated on “Días Tristes,” which is reminiscent of the moody ‘80s pop anthem by Jeanette, “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes.”
Os reveals that she and Morrison worked on a third song that they’re still putting the finishing touches on. “It was very magical to work with her,” she adds. “She’s an exceptional and incredible human being with a big heart. She told me very beautiful words that motivated me all of last year. Those were words that I needed to hear.”
On the personal side, Os is also relishing her relationship withPeso Pluma. After collaborating on the reggaeton track “Tommy & Pamela” in 2024, the two Mexican artists went public as an item last year. Os has even accompanied Pluma on a few stops of his recent Dinastía Tour.
“It’s very beautiful to know that you have a partner that knows what you go through and that can give you advice from his experiences as well,” Os says. “I love that I can count on someone that understands me completely and supports me.”
As for now, she is raring for the Mexican leg of her “K de Karma Tour” that kicks off on April 25 in her hometown. She is hoping to eventually add some dates in the States.
“I want to grow more internationally with this album,” says Os. “As long as my fans love and enjoy this album, that’s all that matters to me.”
