Despite her last Instagram post being in 2023, Demi still boasts a whopping 17m followers.
After ditching Insta, the stunning star has since switched her attention to OnlyFans.
Demi hasn’t posted on Instagram since 2023 – but has proved she’s still got itCredit: BackGridDemi used to thrill fans with her sexy Instagram postsCredit: Instagram
The director’s first two docuseries — “Tiger King” and “Chimp Crazy” — were smash hits about larger-than-life characters engaging in questionable and illegal activity surrounding the care and ownership of animals. Both had an underlying conservation message but drew viewers in with the colorful and chaotic worlds they depicted.
Goode’s third, “Monsters of God,” premiering Thursday on HBO, is both a direct descendant and forges a new path. While it also features a hugely entertaining menagerie of criminals, who speak frankly about many of their illegal acts and how much they dislike each other, “Monsters” is largely a historical look at reptile smuggling going back more than half a century — unlike the contemporaneous stories in “Tiger King” and “Chimp Crazy.”
Goode had opportunities to bring in current events — one dealer was rearrested shortly after being filmed and there were major smuggling arrests in California in recent years — but realized he couldn’t keep piling on more stories. “We’re just setting the tone of this multibillion-dollar reptile-smuggling industry that you’ve probably never heard of,” says Goode’s producing partner Jeremy McBride.
But the other difference is that Goode has spent his entire life immersed in the world of reptiles, starting long before he even contemplated making a documentary. Goode had a pet tortoise when he was 6 and slept with a tegu lizard in his bed as a teen. He also saw the industry underbelly up close and personal. “In the ’70s and ’80s, I even bought reptiles from some of the very people that I chronicle in ’Monsters of God,’” he says.
“I had personal connections in these worlds, which helped us go much deeper than in my other stories,” he says. “I don’t know if it’ll be anywhere near as successful, but in terms of investigative journalism, we went much further.”
An archival photo of director Eric Goode with a southwestern pond turtle. In addition to filmmaking, he created the Turtle Conservancy in Ojai.
(A24 / Goode Films / HBO)
(He also acknowledges that his earlier series could tilt toward sensationalism and be exploitative. “I was naive when I started all this and learned a lot from ‘Tiger King,’” he says, adding that there was internal friction about what direction to go with the material. “Now we’ve refined the like-mindedness of what we were trying to do.”)
He credits his mother with opening his eyes to the larger issues when he was younger. “She struggled with me keeping things in captivity and would say, ‘You can’t play God, these animals belong in the wild.’”
That said, while he is proud the Big Cat Public Safety Act passed in the aftermath of “Tiger King” and believes people should be banned from raising chimps at home, he views reptiles differently. “Kids should be able to have a bearded dragon or a leopard gecko or ball python. It nurtures a love for nature and for reptiles,” he says, adding that he’s focused more on the harm caused by smuggling.
Despite his love of animals and a high school obsession with making Super 8 film, Goode was not, for much of his life, a likely candidate to be directing these documentaries. “My whole trajectory doesn’t make a lot of sense on paper,” he acknowledges.
After attending the School of Arts and Sciences, which his father founded in Marin County, Goode moved to New York. He worked as a production assistant on big films. “I hated it,” he recalls. “I hated being a cog in a wheel, just moving things around.” (Today, even as his productions have grown more elaborate, he still goes into the field with a small team. “I like that intimacy.”) He also went to art school but was largely bored there.
“I saw the creative energy in New York in the nightlife there,” he says. So while Goode was working as an artist, he also created Area, one of the city’s biggest nightclubs of the 1980s, where he brought in collaborators like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, David Hockney and Kenny Scharf, with rotating themes like a carnival or natural history (which featured snakes and lizards). “Everyone came from somewhere else or were misfits and I was bringing in these interesting characters, which is very similar to what I’m doing in these films,” he says. “I like lifting up the rocks and finding the eccentrics out there.”
Area’s success led to a big career in nightclubs, restaurants and hotels. Then 20 years ago, he took his profits, along with his passion for reptiles, and created the Turtle Conservancy in Ojai. “I realized that the two most endangered groups of vertebrates in the world were primates and turtles,” he says, adding that nearly half of the smuggled animals seized at LAX in the last three years were turtles. When officials recently confiscated 350 turtles there, they brought them to the conservancy to care for them. “I’m going to go feed them after this interview,” Goode says.
The conservancy now has a worldwide reach in protecting turtles and their habitats and has become a leader in trying to stave off extinction for the ploughshare tortoise, whose fate is a major storyline in “Monsters of God.”
Tom Crutchfield, one of the reptile smugglers featured in the docuseries, with a monitor lizard in a photo taken circa 1970s.
(Photograph by Bill Love. Courtesy of Goode Films / HBO)
As filming was finishing, the conservancy became home to the first ploughshare births in captivity. “It was such a coincidence but really meaningful,” McBride says. “It anchors the film’s purpose and gives a little bit of hope in what otherwise feels bleak.”
This docuseries has been in the works for nearly 20 years, since Goode read Brian Christy’s “The Lizard King” in 2008 and tried to option it. “I even filmed him badly back then — the sound was terrible and the camera fell off the tripod during the interview,” he recalls. (Christy appears in the docuseries.)
In 2014, he finally got started but it was always on and off again as other projects got in the way. In “Tiger King,” Goode shows he’s first drawn to that story when he sees a guy with a snow leopard in his van, which happens while he’s filming Tom Crutchfield, one of America’s most notorious reptile smugglers. “But while I was making these other stories, I was always opportunistically filming reptile people,” he says, adding that they interviewed not only the criminals but federal law enforcement and others, seeking a broader scope than his previous films. “It was critical for us to get all sides of the story. Part of the reason it took so long was it sometimes took years to get someone to agree to talk.”
McBride says they finished with 1,500 hours of footage and interviews with a hundred different people, including the most notorious smugglers (some of whom were also murderers and drug dealers) and the law enforcement officials who dedicated years of their life undercover to catch them.
It’s a true crime story on some level but Goode says the series is more layered and complex than his previous projects.
“I don’t want people to think we’re the animal police,” Goode says. “Law enforcement has good intentions but they sometimes backfire with unintended consequences. Often, the more laws you create to prevent people from having a reptile, the more they want them. But sometimes prohibition does work.” (In Asia’s wet markets, the most endangered animals sell for more money with their protected status used as a marketing tool.)
“Hopefully, people come away recognizing that we have to think about doing things differently than maintaining the status quo, because a lot of what we’re doing is not working,” Goode says. “It’s a messy story without easy answers.”
Melanie Sykes looked stunning in her first modelling campaign since shaving her headCredit: Niall HodsonThe star embraced her new look for a sunglasses campaign for CubittsCredit: Niall Hodson
Melanie, who shot to fame in the 90s in the Boddington’s beer ads, looked radiant as she went back to her modelling roots for the first time since losing her hair.
The much-loved TV presenter showed off her beautiful new look for sunglasses brand Cubitts.
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In the photoshoot, Melanie looked glowing while posing in a stylish white suit.
The stunning star also used the opportunity to embrace her new shaven head.
She previously explained how her autoimmune condition had progressed over time and had left her with noticeable bald patches across her head.
Mel looked radiant as she went back to her modelling rootsCredit: Niall HodsonMel showed off her bald patches and hair loss earlier this yearCredit: instagram/msmelaniesykes
The star said at the time: “I’ve got an autoimmune condition, I am losing my hair, I keep having crazy inflammation all over and I am working on healing.
“In the last three months, I’ve done a meditation teacher training course.
“I was too ill to finish it like. The last two days of it I couldn’t do.
The star is seen here before her alopecia battleCredit: GettyThe star shot to fame in the Boddington’s beer ads in the 90sCredit: YouTube/@Advert Commercial
“It’s meditation teacher training, I don’t necessarily want to teach, but I can do…
“Mostly I’ve been living a very, very very spiritual existence.
“I’m two-thirds bald, really. Every time I say I’m bald I laugh, I don’t know why… Thank god I can laugh.”
She explained to fans how she has been trying on wigs, with her now ditching head scarves because she is keen to “get some hair”.
What is alopecia and what causes it?
About two per cent of the population will experience alopecia at some point in their lifetime, with around one in every 4,000 developing the condition each year.
It can start at any age but is most common in early adulthood and can lead to a lack of all hair including eyelashes and eyebrows, nasal hair and public hair.
Alopecia areata causes patches of baldness about the size of a large coin.
“Alopecia” is the medical term for hair loss and “areata” means that it occurs in small, random areas. There are various classifications, including:
Alopecia areata totalis: Total hair loss on the scalp
Alopecia areata universalis: Total hair loss on your scalp and all body hair
The causes of alopecia areata are not fully understood but the loss of hair is because of inflammation around the hair follicles.
The cause of the inflammation is unknown but it is believed that the immune system, which normally protects the body from infections and other diseases, misfires and attacks the hair follicles.
Therefore, it is understood to be an autoimmune condition, says Alopecia UK.
Genetics may be behind the condition, but there are other things thought to trigger it, including a virus, iron deficiency or stress. Studies are not conclusive.
For women, sometimes birth can trigger postpartum alopecia.
In most cases of alopecia areata, hair will grow back in a few months to a year. At first, hair may grow back fine and white, but over time it should thicken and regain its normal colour.
There is no cure for the condition, only treatments that are not guaranteed to work.
People with alopecia may need to take extra precautions, including protecting their skin and eyes when outside and preventing stress.
INBETWEENERS star James Buckley’s wife Clair was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after “not being able to stand up”.
The couple shared on their podcast that Clair, 38, had been unwell and needed to seek urgent medical attention.
The Inbetweeners star James Buckley has revealed his wife was rushed to hospitalCredit: Instagram/thebuckleyspodClair was taken to hospital in an ambulanceCredit: Instagram/thebuckleyspod
In a snippet from the latest episode of The Buckleys, Clair revealed: “I’ve not been very well.”
James, 38, then replied: “No, you ended up in the old hospital there, didn’t you?
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“Didn’t an ambulance come and take you away?”
Explaining what happened, the mum-of-two said: “So basically it was some sort of virus that I had had, but it was slowly sort of chipping away at me and I was getting more and more dehydrated and I didn’t even really know.”
The Inbetweeners star then said: “I feel a little bit bad. Because I went away, I was working.
“And you were calling me up, sort of. I’d get to my hotel and I’d check, see how you’re getting on. You’d be going, ‘I’m really ill, I’m really sick.’
The couple have been married for 14 yearsCredit: Shutterstock EditorialJames shot to fame in The Inbetweeners in 2008Credit: Handout
“And I was going, ‘Alright, see how you feel in the morning.’
“I came home and the only way I can describe you, you look like when little weak Lord Voldemort was being carried and he’s got his little thin little legs like hanging out and he’s got like a little shawl over him!”
James and Clair first found love when they met on Twitter.
Clair, then an actress and model living in Glasgow, previously revealed how she had never watched The Inbetweeners before meeting the actor – who was currently starring in season three of the hit show at the time.
“I knew of the show and what it was but I didn’t tune in. I didn’t watch it, which might have been a good thing,” the Scottish podcaster told The Sun in 2023.
“I did watch a couple of episodes after we met but to this day I don’t think I’ve seen every single episode. James and Jay are nothing alike thank God.”
The couple bonded on Twitter over their love of The Beatles before meeting in person .
After a whirlwind romance, they welcomed their first child Harrison, now 14, in 2011.
They then wed the following year, before Jude, 12, was born in 2013.
Perez Hilton is ‘able to communicate’ after he appeared to self-harm on a TikTok live streamCredit: GettyPolice vehicles and sheriff’s deputies seen outside the Miami neighborhood where Perez Hilton liveCredit: BackGrid
Police received multiple 911 calls from concerned fans who reported that the TV star was naked, covered in blood, with several marks on his body.
Hilton’s family have now provided an update on the blogger’s condition, while thanking well-wishers for their “compassionate humanity during this heartbreaking time”.
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Their statement continued: “This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family.
“While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.
Emergency dispatch audio revealed the tense hours leading up to his rescue as police tried to negotiate with him.
Most read in Entertainment
Hilton shot to fame as a celebrity blogger in the 2000sCredit: GettyHe has shared various updates with fans about his recent physical and mental health battlesCredit: X/PerezHilton
In one dispatch recording, two men are heard discussing a “man down call” involving a “live streamer” who was broadcasting himself while in severe distress, which left viewers “upset.”
A second dispatch recording, obtained by The U.S. Sun and timestamped at around 10.41 pm, shows operators later classifying the incident as a reported “suicide attempt” as they requested additional assistance.
The audio captures the urgency of the response, with dispatchers sending multiple police units to the property and warning responding officers that it was an “active police scene.”
Other units were placed on standby as officers worked to safely resolve the crisis before Hilton was ultimately transported to hospital.
At around 11 pm, officers revealed they were entering the home and minutes later Hilton was transported to hospital.
A source close told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Hilton was injured and was placed under a psychiatric hold under the Baker Act.
Officially known as the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971, it allows a person to be taken to a receiving facility for an evaluation of up to 72 hours.
Hilton entering the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015Credit: Getty Images – GettyHilton at a party with Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian in 2013Credit: Getty
It does not mean the person has been arrested or charged with a crime.
Earlier this year, Hilton spent three weeks in hospitalas he battledsepsis, one of a series of health problems – including an ulcer and blood clot – apparently triggered by taking flu medication on an empty stomach.
Following his medical drama in March he said: “My stupidity landed me in hospital for 21 days.
“It was the worst and best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
But the star found religion while he was recovering, and even claimed God told him to sell his $4 million mansion in Las Vegas and move to Miami.
He started urging his army of social media followers to pray for him.
In one bizarre post he wrote: “I feel like I should be scared right now, but I’m not. I definitely am worried though. God, show me the way!
“Perez Hilton is GOING THROUGH IT right now. He asks for prayers and for Christ to intervene – sooner rather than later. Working on patience!”
He was known for his big, often controversial, opinions on the stars of the era.
This led to him rubbing shoulders with some of Hollywood’s top names such as the Kardashians as well as starring in several TV shows.
In 2007, he featured in several episodes of The View and created his own TV show over in the UK called Perez Hilton Superfan in 2012.
His success with the show in Britain also saw him land a spot as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.
Despite being the seventh celebrity evicted from the reality TV show, Hilton had several major moments throughout the season and is known as one of the show’s most memorable cast members.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Mental health helplines
MENTAL health issues don’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Over in the UK, the following organisations provide support:
During the episode, Katarina, 33, who grew up with her mum in Liverpool, visits the Bahamas to learn about her dad’s family, after his death in 2017.
He died aged 59, having lived in the Bahamas and apart from Katarina since she was just a year old.
However, she recalled her memories of him in an emotional moment with her mum.
In a clip shared ahead of the episode airing, Katarina’s mum Tracey spoke about the moment she met her dad Ricardo.
Former dancer Tracey explained: “I went to dance in a show at the Crystal Palace Casino and I used to get this little bus, which was a free bus for all the workers. Your dad used to get the bus as well, so that’s how we originally met.”
She went on: “At first we were really good friends, he came across as a kind, generous person. It was around Christmas time, we were on the bus, I happened to mention that I was quite homesick for Christmas.
“The next day, there was a knock on my door, and as I opened my apartment door, all you could see was this great big tree.
“And then this face came around, that’s when he won my heart and before long, everything happened very, very quickly.”
“We’re both so happy there,” she added, looking back on a picture of their wedding day.
Katarina added: “The smile is definitely how I remember him, this full beam.”
The athlete has previously spoken about the relationship she had with her dad, and the “difficult” time she faced after his death.
“What happened with my dad is why I have been so switched on in competitions,” she told The Daily Mail. “He didn’t see me win and that has actually made me want to win in front of my mum even more, if that makes sense.
“She comes to see me in every single competition and I always feel for her when I don’t do well, or I let myself down, or I don’t reach my potential.”
She later told the Guardian: “I am proud of myself because there have been some hard and difficult times. But dad definitely spurred me on this year. I wanted to start winning things. I wanted my family to see me doing well. And I think I have done that for sure.”
Who Do You Think You Are? airs at 9pm on Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Comedian and podcaster Christina Pazsitzky just dropped the “divorce episode” of “Your Mom’s House” and addressed her split from Tom Segura after 20 years as a couple: “Mom’s drinkin’ and smokin’ on this episode.”
Pazsitzky told guest host Duncan Trussell that she wanted to formally address the news after word got out that the comedy power couple had separated this year. “Yes, Tom and I are divorcing, and it is extremely sad,” she said, beginning to cry.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to cry this soon. It is very sad. That being said, we have tried to work it out for several years for the sake of our children and our family, and we gave it all we could, but we just couldn’t work things out. We are no longer a couple.”
Pazsitzky said the former couple were trying to make their two children a priority as they navigated the split.
“Look, we had 20 amazing years together, and that’s a really good run, I think, in a marriage,” she said, noting that the two had built their comedy careers, podcasting empire and a family over the course of their relationship.
“I wanted to address the audience specifically because we’ve been through a lot together — for those of you that have listened to us since the very beginning — we’ve been through Tom and I getting married and living in Silver Lake and being two broke comics. We’ve been through births and deaths, tragic accidents, cancer, COVID, all the things, and I want you to know that I’m still your mom, and I’m still here, and we will survive.”
The comedian reassured listeners that she and Segura were amicable and that there was no need to take sides. “This is not an ugly divorce,” she continued. “Like, we’re cool, dude.”
The two became a couple in their 20s while working as stand-ups on the Los Angeles comedy scene. Pazsitzky said the two were “kids” and that people change over the course of multiple decades. She looked back on the “wild ride” of being poor together, living in Silver Lake and getting married with $200 between the two of them.
“Cancer couldn’t kill me, you think a dude’s gonna f— take me out?”
ALEX Jones, 49, has revealed that she hurled four pints of milk across her kitchen in a perimenopause rage as she deals with ‘perimenopause “delayed symptoms.”
Speaking on the Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball podcast Alex explained that she was slighly in denial about being in that stage of her life.
Alex Jones, 49, has revealed that she hurled four pints of milk across her kitchen in a perimenopause rage as she deals with ‘perimenopause “delayed symptoms”Credit: Dig It PodcastAlex shares children Teddy, nine, Kit, seven and Annie, four, with her husband Charlie ThomsonCredit: Refer to Source
When Zoe asked her if she was perimenopausal yet, she replied: “I don’t know, I mean am I? I don’t know.
“I’m slightly in denial, I suppose I had my youngest child at 44 and so I don’t know whether my body is confused because have I tricked it into thinking it’s younger than it is?
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“Because I kind of think I really haven’t had that many symptoms.
“But then when I threw a four pint of milk accross the kitchen the other day, I thought oh my God here we are. The rage has started.”
Zoe asked Alex if she was perimenopausal yetCredit: Dig It PodcastCharlie is an insurance broker, originally from New Zealand and the pair first met at a party back in 2011Credit: AlamyThe happy couple tied the knot in 2015 and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in Auckland last yearCredit: InstagramAlex is probably best known as one of the presenters of The One ShowCredit: BBC
Alex continued: “So you know what I don’t know. Some days I think and it’s like that isn’t it?
“It’s so vague and thankfully and I think this is brilliant, we are talking about it more and more now.”
Perimenopause refers to the period leading up to menopause, during which the ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen.
It typically begins in a woman’s early to mid-40s but can start earlier or later, and may last from a few months to 10 years
Alex also revealed that she’s normally a calm person and wants to be the best mother, wife, friend and colleague that she can be.
She said: “Maybe I do need to embrace and go and see about it. It’s just time though, like when do you fit that in?”
In 2016, Esme replaced May Martin as a judge on the hit BBC competition. She has since delighted BBC viewers alongside Patrick Grant and a number of hosts, including Joe Lycett, Sara Pascoe and Sophie Willan.
Over the years, Esme has established herself as an esteemed British fashion designer. In 1972, she founded a shop in Camden Town called Swanky Modes, alongside fellow designers Judy Dewsbury, Melanie Herberfield and Willie Walters.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Swanky Mode’s clothing appeared in Vogue, Honey and The Face, and was photographed by David Bailey, Nick Knight, and John Swannell.
Since then, Esme has made costumes for many films, including The Beach, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Romeo and Juliet, and Trainspotting. She notably designed the bunny costume worn by Renée Zellweger in the first Bridget Jones movie.
That’s not all, as one of Esme’s most famous designs was the Amorphous Dress worn by Linda Kozlowski in the 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee – a dress that is now in the V&A Collection.
But away from her successful career, Esme has also been through a number of challenges.
Personal struggles
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Esme grew up in Bedford with her stay-at-home mum and her dad, who was an RAF pilot. He was a fighter pilot in World War Two.
Speaking with The Telegraph in 2022, Esme opened up about her life in north London, after moving into a one-bedroom flat in 1983.
“I’ve never been able to afford my own home. I’ve lived in social housing since 1983 – in a one-bedroom flat in Islington, north London, rented from the charitable housing trust Peabody,” she explained.
Reflecting on her previous money struggles, Esme told This is Money: “I could not afford to pay rent so I lived in a squat with my brother and friends… We had to pay for our electricity via a meter but otherwise we lived rent-free.”
The designer has previously shared her support for the Macmillan cancer charity, after her mum died of cancer.
“Even though I do not have much money, I give as much as I can to Macmillan Cancer Support. My mother died of cancer and it gave her and all the family lots of support,” she shared.
Hidden condition
In an interview with SheerLuxe, Esme revealed that she was “partially deaf” and therefore only learned to read when she was seven years old.
“My teachers thought I was thick and my father used to describe me as ‘dreamy’ – but, really, I was in my own little world because I couldn’t hear anyone,” she explained.
“I also didn’t learn to read until I was seven because I didn’t know how to make the right sounds. It’s still a bit of a problem today because I have to look at everything visually.”
The Great British Sewing Bee is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
Coronation Street fans are convinced an affair and a baby twist is on the way for Kit Green and Bethany Platt after Kit was dumped by his partner Sarah Platt on the ITV soap
20:53, 05 Aug 2026Updated 20:54, 05 Aug 2026
Coronation Street spoilers reveal ANOTHER murder as Tim and Sally left reeling
Fans of Coronation Street think the signs are all there that Bethany Platt and Kit Green will have an affair.
Not only that but a baby twist could also be on the way. After Lucy Fallon, who plays Bethany, told the Mirror earlier this year about a plot on the way that fans would hate, viewers now think they’ve worked it out.
Recent scenes saw Bethany’s mother Sarah Platt dump her partner Kit, after her arrest. She’s currently in prison over Theo Silverton’s murder, and Kit wants to help get her out.
His hatred of Gary Windass, who helped Sarah initially cover up the crime, has led to him looking for evidence to implicate him. On Wednesday we saw Bethany roped in to Kit’s plans, with her also wanting to get her mum out of prison.
With Kit and Bethany teaming up and actress Lucy’s hints about what’s ahead, some fans can’t shake the feeling that an affair is on the way. They have wondered if Kit and Bethany will grow closer and end up sleeping together.
Some fans even wondered if it will lead to a baby twist for Bethany. Taking to social media one fan guessed: “Seeing as Bethany has a big storyline coming up, will it be having an affair with Kit after they bond taking care of Harry?”
Another fan posted: “If Sarah gets out, perhaps both Sarah and Bethany pregnant by Kit.” A third fan added: “Is the Bethany/Kit affair a FOR SURE thing or just a rumour?”
A fourth theory commented: “I also think maybe Kit and Bethany will work to get Sarah out of prison and maybe end up sleeping together.” A further post read: “Oh the tension between Kit & Bethany?! I am SORRY it is happening!”
One fan said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if something happens between Bethany and Kit.” As a fan then questioned if “another affair” was being planned, a viewer replied: “I thought to myself exactly this yesterday.”
It comes after what Lucy told the Mirror about the future for Bethany, in April. She said: “She does [have a big storyline coming up]. I can’t tell you what it is, but it’s not going to be great. I don’t think people are going to be happy about it.
“This one is low-key her fault. Everyone is going to be like, ‘She is a d**k.’ Which is fine.” But Lucy isn’t bothered about taking on controversial storylines on one condition. Lucy says as long as the plot “is good” she’s happy to get her teeth stuck into it.
Murder 24/7 has returned this week with a harrowing two-part special titled Natural Born Killer. Returning for its third series earlier this month, the true crime documentary takes viewers right into the heart of murder investigations across the UK.
Following West Mercia Police, the show, which sees detectives racing against the clock to ensure justice is done, has been dubbed better than Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody.
Last night (August 4), viewers were horrified after a harrowing episode delved into the murder of 54-year-old Jamie Gawler who was brutally killed and found by officers dead in an armchair with a towel thrown over his head.
Tonight (August 5), the second episode will air at 9pm on BBC One, as detectives continue their investigation into suspect Matthew Jonathan. A synopsis reads: “In Hereford, detectives continue to build their case against Matthew Jonathan for the murder of 54-year-old Jamie Gawler.
“The suspect maintains a ‘no comment’ stance in interviews, so the team is relying on digital and physical forensics to piece together the final days of Jamie’s life.”
It adds: “A critical forensic breakthrough comes when analysts match an incomplete, bloody footprint from the scene to Jonathan’s rare boots via a national database. Soon after, investigators recover a series of phone videos that reveal the true extent of the assault.”
In the episode, officers can be seen analysing a mobile phone recovered, believed to be Matthew’s, before discovering harrowing video footage on it which appears to show him assaulting Jamie.
The clips were played out as detectives watched on in horror. In the video footage, Matthew can be heard laughing and saying: “Don’t give me that broken face b******.”
He later instructs his victim: “Lift your head up,” before levelling abuse at him. He then adds: “I’ll do 30 years for this, I don’t care.”
The episode then sees officers showing Matthew the footage as one detective can be heard saying: “This is now two days into what I would describe as torture.”
Matthew Jonathan was eventually charged with murder as the episode explains three months later, he pleaded guilty to the charge. At sentencing, Matthew received a life sentence with a minimum of 32 years.
With all episodes available to stream on BBC iPlayer, viewers were horrified after watching the latest instalments this week. Taking to TikTok, one true crime fan admitted their “jaw was on the floor watching this show.”
In the video, they added: “Wow. Absolutely brutal…. I couldn’t believe them episodes, they were brutal.” Another replied: “I love watching this programme but those two were brutal.”
Fans are already “obsessed” with Prime Video’s recent release Sterling Point
Sully (Nikko Angelo Hinayo) and Ellis (Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie) in Sterling Point(Image: Sabrina Lantos/Prime Video)
A brand new coming-of-age drama has been released on Prime Video, and fans are obsessed.
Created by Megan Park, Sterling Point follows a 17-year-old girl named Annie Jacobson who finds herself inheriting an entire island in Canada which was was once owned by her grandad. Her life takes a turn and she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets along the way.
Prime Video’s official synopsis reveals: “Sterling Point is a heartfelt, coming-of-age drama led by 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin). Raised in New York City with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father (Jay Duplass), Annie’s life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather’s island in Canada.
“There, she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets. The cast also includes Amélie Hoeferle, Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Bo Bragason, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Nikko Angelo Hinayo, Mabel Strachan, Elle-Maija Talifeathers, and Missi Pyle.”
Fans are already obsessed, calling for another season, as one person wrote on X: “Need a #SterlingPoint season 2.” Another echoed: “GUYS THIS SHOW IS AMAZING I NEED SEASON 2.”
A third added: “The first needle drop from this show being maggots for brains had me IMMEDIATELY locked in.” On Instagram, one person stated: “THE show of the summer”, as another admitted: “I’m already obsessed.”
But some may be wondering who star Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie is and how old he may be – here’s everything we know about the Canadian actor.
Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie’s age and background
Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie is a Canadian actor from Quebec who rose to fame following his performance in A Colony in 2018 – a performance which earned him a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor. According to website Fandom, he is around 33 years old, having been born in 1993.
Fans may also recognise Jacob from his appearance in Billie Blue in 2023 and Bootlegger in 2021. He has also appeared in Troubled Waters where he plays character Billie. In 2023 he also appeared in Premier Trio as Xavier Laveau-Roy.
Now, in Sterling Point, Jacob has taken on the role of Ellis, who meets Annie after touching down in Toronto and immediately forms a connection with her. Previously speaking to Toronto Life, Jacob admitted that he had started acting from the age of 14, but up until 2021 had only acted in French.
Speaking about when he heard about his role, he said: “I was really emotional—this is the biggest project I’ve ever been a part of. I called my dad immediately. I was stunned.”
During the 2021 season, NFL players who had not received a COVID-19 vaccination were subject to daily tests for the virus and restrictions, such as wearing masks inside team facilities and practicing social distancing.
Rodgers did not get vaccinated — he has said he’s allergic to an ingredient in the vaccines — and instead opted for an alternative treatment to help prevent him from getting the virus. Still, he told reporters he was “immunized” and did not follow all of the league’s protocols for unvaccinated players.
In early November 2021, Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 and admitted he had “misled people about my status.” He was fined $14,650 for the protocol violation and missed a game because unvaccinated players had to isolate for 10 days after testing positive.
Rodgers clearly still had a lot to get off his chest during Tuesday’s show.
“A lot of people had probably fake vac cards back in the day, too,” Rodgers said. “They didn’t have a problem with that. I mean, I remember seeing some of the vax cards. It was, like, written in crayon. I’m like, all right, so we’re gonna pass that on, but we’re gonna be second-rate citizens over here — I gotta wear a yellow armband, train in the back, can’t be around more than three people.
“Oh, you know, you got to wear a mask when you do your your interview, and all of us are going to be masked up the entire time back here, 20 feet away from you, because that’s safety first. What crock of s— we had to go through! Crazy times.”
Although McAfee tried changing the subject multiple times during the first several minutes of the interview, the host eventually embraced the topic and applauded Rodgers for standing “on your side of the truth throughout the entirety of that thing.”
“Your name was slandered,” McAfee told Rodgers. “You were called a murderer. You were called a lot of things.”
The first contestant walked away with just £1,000, after getting a question about actress Emma Stone wrong. Hopes were therefore dwindling as retired IT analyst Roman Dubowski stepped up to take on the game.
“Right, you know the rules, don’t you? We ask questions, one of them’s about Emma Stone and some silly Gucci film, you get it wrong and then we move on to the next contestant. That seems to be the form today,” Jeremy began by saying.
However, it soon became clear that Roman was bucking the trend, as he continued to answer the questions correctly, with the help of the audience and his sister, Danuta.
“It looks like we’ve got a proper encyclopaedia in a shirt here!” Jeremy said after Roman won £250,000.
Roman later reached the million-pound question with two lifelines remaining. “Strangely, I’ve become less nervous as it’s gone on,” he said, moments before Jeremy read out the final question.
The 15th question was: “Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso?”
The options were Bass Ale, The Famous Grouse, Coca-Cola, and Stella Artois.
Roman quickly said: “I’ve got something in my head, but I’m not sure it’s right,” before Jeremy shared: “I’ve got something in my head and it’s called hope!”
After using his 50/50 lifeline, the contestant explained that he had previously seen a Manet painting with the Bass Ale trademark on it, leading him to declare it as his “final answer”.
A nervous wait began, shortly before Jeremy confirmed: “You’ve won a million pounds!” and the audience erupted into cheers. Jeremy added: “It’s an extraordinary thing! That’s fantastic! Only the second man [to do it].”
He went on to say: “It happens so infrequently, I don’t even know what to say. And you did it without my help! Well, that’s just extraordinary.”
Roman revealed that his win hadn’t sunk in just yet, adding: “It’s one of those slow-motion things that’ll probably sink in a bit later today, but at the moment, I just take things one at a time.”
The contestant took a moment to thank his sister, who helped him correctly answer an earlier question, with Jeremy then admitting: “That was at a time when, I’m sure, the whole audience and me, and everybody watching at home, was thinking, ‘Oh, here’s another one. He’ll be gone at 32.’ Not a bit of it. Million pounds. Unbelievable.
“I mean, I don’t even know what to say, other than enjoy it! Because all of your life, assimilating that knowledge, has paid off. So well done you.”
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is available to stream on ITVX
Rio and Kate Ferdinand have reportedly signed up for an I’m A Celebrity: Wild Frontier, a new spin-off of Ant and Dec’s classic reality show which will be filmed in Canada
22:39, 05 Aug 2026Updated 22:39, 05 Aug 2026
Rio and Kate Ferdinand have reportedly signed up for an I’m A Celebrity: Wild Frontier(Image: WireImage)
Rio and Kate Ferdinand have reportedly signed up for an I’m A Celebrity: Wild Frontier. The football star, 47, who tied the knot with Kate in 2019, is said to be in the final stages of signing up with bosses of the ITV reality show.
A source said: “Bosses are overjoyed to have landed the Ferdinands. It’s a real coup for the show. They have brilliant chemistry and are great fun. It will be the first time viewers have really seen Rio away from football chat, too.
Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “ITV are still in talks with some other brilliant names and this show promises to be absolutely spectacular — and a real social media talker.”
Just weeks ago, it was claimed that Westlife star Brian McFadden and Boyzone singer Keith Duffy, who have joined forces in recent years to tour as Boyzlife, had also agreed to appear on the show.
Unlike the Australian series, the spin-off will see celebrities competing in pairs, with friends, relatives and couples taking on Bushtucker-style trials together before facing elimination as a duo.
The show is reportedly due to air in 2027, as part of celebrations marking 25 years of I’m A Celebrity – which first hit screens in August 2002 and saw DJ Tony Blackburn crowned as the first King of the Jungle.
It was thought that the long-time friends had signed lucrative deals to appear in the series, with a source claiming: “Bosses are delighted that Keith and Brian will be taking part, they’ll each bring a lot of fun and mischief to the camp.”
The insider added that producers are excited by the new format, claiming it is expected to get viewers talking as famous duos battle it out together.
Rather than competing individually, contestants will reportedly tackle challenges as pairs, working together to win food and survive eliminations before one winning duo is crowned.
Filming is expected to take place in Canada’s Callaghan Valley, near Whistler Olympic Park, replacing the Australian jungle for the special spin-off series.
The area is known for its rugged wilderness and is home to wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions, providing a dramatically different backdrop for the celebrity survival show.
Brian already has a link to the I’m A Celebrity franchise through his former wife Kerry Katona, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2004. Meanwhile, the main I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! series will continue to be filmed in Australia as normal later this year.
The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday it has sold out the commercial time for ESPN’s telecast of the 2027 Super Bowl, which airs on ABC Feb. 14.
Hugh Johnston, chief financial officer for Disney, announced the sellout on the company’s earnings call. In addition to ABC, the game from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will air on ESPN, and have an alternative ESPN feed hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning. The game will be streamed on the ESPN app and the NFL+ app.
ESPN, which has carried NFL games since 1987, has never produced a Super Bowl. ABC last aired the game in 2006, when the network had its own sports division.
The Super Bowl is perennially the most watched TV event of the year, bringing in a huge pot of revenue for the media company holding the rights. Fox said it took in more than $800 million across its platforms for the 2025 game that saw the Philadelphia Eagles win 40-22 over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Disney did not divulge a price for the commercial time, although reports said the company was seeking $10 million for a 30-second spot. NBC sold several commercials at that rate last year.
Johnston said Disney sold Super Bowl spots to 58 brands across 34 product categories, including financial services, candy, personal care and software. Nine of the brands are in the game for the first time.
As the rest of traditional TV has seen ratings diminish, the Super Bowl has remained resilient, setting a viewership record in 2025, with 127.7 million viewers watching on Fox and its streaming platform Tubi, according to Nielsen. Last season’s contest drew 125 million viewers on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock.
When ABC had Super Bowl XL in 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks scored 90.7 million viewers. Nielsen did not include out-of-home viewing in its data at the time.
Live sports has become attractive to advertisers as it is one of the few ways to reach a massive audience in real time.
George R.R. Martin says he fears “the worst may be yet to come” as he opened up about the personal challenges that ran parallel to a year of professional highs.
The fantasy author, who created the world of HBO series “Game of Thrones,” said in a post published to his website on Monday that he has “battled sadness and depression” amid a “stressful” and “overwhelming” year of some exciting endeavors, “dreams coming true” and “nightmares.” In his blog post, his first since February, Martin wrote that he has lost friends — he did not provide names — and briefly mused on aging: “I turned seventy-seven last September, and I tell you, getting old is no fun.”
“But there have been amazing times as well,” he continued, “I suppose that’s just life. Of course, I knew that.”
Martin, who is writing his long-awaited book “The Winds of Winter,” said he has fallen behind on blog entries and intends to get readers up to speed, “but my posts are likely to [be] short and rushed.” The author also highlighted the recent critical success of HBO’s “Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” also adapted from his work. While he acknowledged the drama’s nine Emmy nominations, “including the big one, Best Drama,” Martin also noted that his attendance at the upcoming Emmy Awards in September “depends…on, well a lot of things.”
His latest post rings similar to another entry he shared in March 2018, when he reveled in “lots of exciting things going on” but also shared with followers that he is “buried in work, so much that it is starting to overwhelm me.” He announced at the time he would be taking a break from writing his posts.
“I’ll return eventually,” he said in 2018, “Just don’t know when.”
Martin has faced seemingly endless questions about the status of “The Winds of Winter” and his ability to complete the planned sixth novel in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series that inspired the hit HBO drama “Game of Thrones,” for more than a decade. He tried to shut down those concerns in 2014.
“I find that question pretty offensive, frankly, when people start speculating about my death and my health,” he told a Swiss newspaper at the time.
Since then he has assured fans that progress is ongoing, previously voicing hopes for completion dates that have since passed. What we do know is “it’s going to be a huge book,” Martin teased in 2020.
If we are lucky enough to survive into our 20s, and have attained some degree of adult consciousness, we all will have lived a coming-of-age story. It’s a powerful, relatable basis for fiction or memoir or some combination of the two. Poignant. Piquant. It might be hilarious or depressing or, probably, both at once. Stories of first times, of big feelings imperfectly grasped, of life coming into focus for better or worse. Engaging with them as a reader or viewer, we look back on who we were, who we wanted to be, who we wish we hadn’t been. I get a little misty remembering my own clumsy progress through that flower-filled minefield. Remind me never to tell you about it sometime.
Television likes a coming-of-age story, and has logged some great ones — “My So-Called Life,”“Never Have I Ever,” “Freaks and Geeks,”“Everybody Hates Chris” — along with … some other ones. Premiering Wednesday are two series focusing on characters in their late teens; while stylistically, and one would say morally, miles apart, they nevertheless cover some of the same ground. There are things you can’t avoid growing up, wherever your life is set.
A rich-kids drama with a side of serial murder set in 1981 Los Angeles, FX‘s “The Shards” plants itself at the intersection of Bret Easton Ellis, whose 2023 “autofictional” novel it’s based on, and co-creator Ryan Murphy, in one of his bloodier moods, amplifying each other’s taste for the sensational and surfaces. Set on a lake in Canada, Prime Video’s “Sterling Point,” from Megan Park (“My Old Ass”), unrolls like a leisurely indie film; there will not be blood.
Kaia Gerber, from left, Igby Rigney, Hayes Warner, Homer Gere and Graham Campbell in FX’s “The Shards.”
(FX)
Igby Rigney plays Ellis in “The Shards,” narrating from the future. Bret shares with his authorial namesake an avocation and a love for Joan Didion (“Like all aspiring writers of my generation, I wanted to write like Didion. With restraint, economy and total control. If i could write like that, I could be like that. Or so I thought.”), as well as a manuscript titled “Less Than Zero,” though here it’s a screen treatment rather than the 1985 novel that made the author famous at 21. (One character will call it “brilliant.”)
As did Real Bret, TV Bret attends the private Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, where he is one in a small clique of rich, beautiful cool kids: Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber, daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber) and Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) in contrasting shades of Veronica and Betty; and Susan’s jock boyfriend, Thom (Graham Campbell). Debbie is Bret’s girlfriend, though he is also actively, if secretly gay, and has a kind of thing for Susan. They are shallow, if sad, nostalgic for their own untrammeled youth; they still have a little innocence left to lose. Because Bret is kind to marginal characters, beneath the notice of his friends, from whom he mentally distances himself by virtue of observing them (he’s Nick Carraway in Wayfarers), he reads as slightly more sympathetic, if no less tedious, and possibly more problematic. “I told myself I was only going to chronicle the decadence,” says narrator Bret, “an excuse I’d return to many times in my career.”
Into this shakily ordered universe comes handsome, charismatic, mysterious new kid Robert Mallory (Homer Gere, son of Richard, with Carey Lowell), whom Bret remembers seeing at a screening of “The Shining” a year before, though Robert denies having been there. Soon he has cast a spell over Bret’s friends, stirring in Bret twin feelings of obsession and competition: “I smelled him before I saw him — it was cedar and sandalwood as if he had just walked through a forest of citrus,” but also, “He was up to something and it was up to me to find out exactly what that was.”
Around the same time that Robert arrives, a serial killer, eventually dubbed the Trawler, comes to town. (Happily, we see only the elaborately staged, possibly satanic results of their work, not the process.) Who this person is, and what less than random reasons might explain the murders, remains a mystery at least through the nine out of 10 episodes available to review. But Bret points a finger so often at Robert that, by the mathematics of television drama, one can only believe him innocent. Still, no idea.
It’s a world from which adults are almost entirely missing, and when they are not, they are disappointing, or trouble. Significantly, there are Wes Bentley as Debbie’s skeezy movie producer father and Evan Rachel Wood as Debbie’s mother, a narcotized failed actor straight out of “Valley of the Dolls.” Jordan Roth plays Bentley’s somewhat sinister, sometimes helpful right hand kitted out post-glam Bowie style.
To be perfectly honest, if one set out to create a show I would be constitutionally disposed not to care for, this is it, though I allow that this is also exactly a show some people would be born to love. It’s often absurd and always melodramatic — not in itself a criticism — but if you’re in the market for a slick miniseries about cocaine-sniffing kids (and adults), murder, animal mutilation, sex and sports cars in New Wave L.A., with cameos from Hamburger Hamlet and Orange Julius and an excellent selection of period songs on the soundtrack, you can’t do better than this.
Ella Rubin, left, and Bo Bragason in Prime Video’s “Sterling Point.”
(Sabrina Lantos / Prime Video)
“Sterling Point,” on the other hand, is just my cup of Canadian Maple Syrup Soda. (It’s a thing.)
Ella Rubin plays Annie Jacobson, and like the kids in “The Shards,” we meet her suspended between her junior and senior years of high school, facing a summer she had planned to fill with more school. “You’re 17,” says her knuckleheaded, yet strangely perceptive twin brother Connor (Keen Ruffalo, son of Mark), “you act like you’re 30,” suggesting instead a period of “just going bug wild.”
Then a letter from a lawyer arrives, and it transpires that their maternal grandfather, whom they never knew, has left them, among other things, an island in Ontario’s Muskoka Lakes district. (Their mother died when the twins were 2.) Annie leaves their father (Jay Duplass) a misdirecting Post-It note — she knows he’s been lying to her about her grandfather — and scurries off to pierce the heart of this mystery, which comes from an incomplete instruction to “find her.” (She’s a rich girl. Scurrying from New York to rural Canada doesn’t require a second thought.)
Arriving by seaplane, Annie meets Ellis (Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie), a townie working for Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s marina owner, Joe, who carries himself like a man with a secret. Ellis, a sweet guy not averse to skimming a little off the top when dealing with moneyed customers — it’s a summer getaway for the rich — takes an immediate shine to Annie. This will be complicated by the coincidental appearance of Rory (Daniel Quinn-Toye), a former piano prodigy Annie knows from New York, who’s in residence with his mother (Missi Pyle, ever a treat to see), who always seems just a little bit drunk and thinks nothing of pouring one out for the kids. (Adult presence is minimal.) There are posh parties, through which some of the young characters pass, though no one is doing cocaine or getting murdered. (There is pot and underage drinking.)
The crew is filled out by Oona (Bo Bragason), a sort of seafaring vagabond who lives on a boat with her 12-year-old sister Maple (Mabel Strachan), and Ramona (Amélie Hoeferle, terrific) an angry local returning after some time away, and possibly presenting the answer to a riddle.
What makes “Sterling Point” work so beautifully is its rare, real, unhurried sense of of time; it stretches out the way days do when you’re young, a sense heightened by the fact that Annie speaks twice as fast and as much as anyone else in the series. (It’s that New York energy.) Though there are some low-key melodramatic plot points, the show feels diaristic. It isn’t that the stakes are low, or that conflict is nonexistent, but that the drama is driven by issues of connection, identity, love and longing. (As in “The Shards,” there’s a scene in which someone who likes someone discovers them liking someone else — but who hasn’t been there.)
The series emanates a sense of urgency without cooking up abnormally dramatic situations. There is a lot of conversation, which, indeed, is what takes up a large portion of teenage life. One couldn’t exactly call “Sterling Point” unglamorous, since this is an attractive green and blue world — all that water makes the show refreshing to watch in a heat wave — and the cast is good-looking, in interesting ways, chosen, I would guess, not for perfection but for soulfulness. Who wouldn’t want to live here?
Murder 24/7 has returned to screens for its third run, once again plunging viewers into real-life murder investigations in the UK. Following West Mercia Police, viewers have so far witnessed chilling murders as detectives work against the clock in their pursuit of justice.
Last night (August 4), the first of a two-part special aired on BBC One at 9pm delving into the murder investigation of Jamie Gawler. Jamie was found dead by police in an armchair in a flat, with a towel draped over his face.
Officers were stunned to hear the horrific post-mortem results as their investigation led them miles away in South Wales and a potential suspect.
The second episode will air tonight (August 5) on BBC One at 9pm, with episodes also available to stream on BBC iPlayer. However, viewers have been left sickened by the latest instalments.
Taking to TikTok, one true crime fan admitted their “jaw was on the floor watching this show”. In the video, they added: “Wow. Absolutely brutal…. I couldn’t believe them episodes, they were brutal.”
One person commented: “Omg I’m addicted to this one bet my leccy bill sky high.” Another replied: “It was horrific”, as a third said: “It was a hard watch.”
A fourth wrote: “Just watched them both this afternoon absolutely shocking.” A fifth added: “I love watching this programme but those two were brutal.”
Another branded the latest instalment as “sickening” as one person said: “It was absolutely horrendous.” One viewer echoed: “It was about the worst of that series.”
The second part of the two-parter, titled Natural Born Killer, will return tonight at 9pm as detectives continue to build their case against suspect Matthew Jonathan.
A BBC synopsis reads: “A critical forensic breakthrough comes when analysts match an incomplete, bloody footprint from the scene to Jonathan’s rare boots via a national database. Soon after, investigators recover a series of phone videos that reveal the true extent of the assault.”
A separate case featured also sees a woman fighting for her life after a brutal assault with a meat cleaver as her partner is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
EMMERDALE star Jack Downham has quietly quit the show after 17 years.
The actor, who plays Noah Dingle on the ITV soap, is set to exit the soap tonight, but not before their family dog Monty passes away.
Emmerdale’s Jack Downham leaves the soap tonight after 17 yearsCredit: AlamyNoah Dingle bids farewell as he heads to Germany to start a new lifeCredit: ITV
Noah has recently shared his desire to apply for a job in Germany but Charity was reluctant for him to leave.
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On Wednesday’s show, the Woolpack landlady had a change of heart and encouraged her son to purse his dreams.
As Noah prepared to depart, the Dingle family suffered another major blow when their beloved dog Monty was rushed to the vets.
And sadly Monty couldn’t be saved, leaving the Dingle clan heartbroken.
Noah’s exit is overshadowed by the emotional death of the family dog MontyCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskThe Sun revealed that the actor had filmed his exit scenes last monthCredit: Not known clear with picture desk
In Monty’s final scenes, Cain praised the pooch for being a good boy all these years and asked dad Zak Dingle to take care of him in heaven.
In emotional scenes, Cain told a dying Monty: “You are a good boy, I know my dad was always grateful for having you.
“When you get up there, tell him how much you love him and that we miss him loads and that he takes you for plenty of walks, just like old times.
“We love you, scruffy old thing,” with tears running down his face, he turned to vet Rhona and added: “I think he’s gone.”
Noah then visited Cain to bid farewell as he headed off on his new adventure.
Last month, we revealed that character was set to depart and had already filmed his exit scenes.
A telly source said: “Jack is such a lovely lad, and everyone adores him.
“He’s been on the show since he was a young child so it’s all he’s ever known.
“He was told of the news last month and his axing has once again sent shockwaves through the cast and crew.
“Everyone is wondering who will be next.”
But one of his pals added: “Jack is looking at the positives though and is hopeful about future opportunities.”
The bloodbath in the Dales has already hit another popular Dingle recently — plus other cast members.
And rumours are rife that bosses are planning a big stunt that could kill off even more of the long-running soap’s cast later this year.
Last month Emmerdale took home two gongs at the Television and Radio Industries Club awards — for Soap of the Year and for Best Soap Actor, which went to Jeff Hordley who has played Cain Dingle for more than 20 years.
And this evening, Wednesday, August 5, at 9pm, will be no different as he returns in a repeat episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ITV where he plays quizmaster.
As always, the 66-year-old will be faced with a new line-up of contestants tasked with answering a series of questions that could ultimately change their lives.
However, this will be the last episode of the quiz show reboot to air for a while with ITV confirming what will take its place next week.
Jeremy Clarkson’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire’s time slot will be taken over by ITV’s live coverage of pre-season football.
Kicking off at 7pm and airing for almost three hours, the special is set to air the match between Manchester United and Leeds United, with the friendly taking place at Croke Park, Dublin.
The official synopsis notes: “Normally used for Gaelic sports, this is the first time this 80,000 capacity venue has hosted a club association football match, and while a friendly in name, it is likely to be a highly competitive contest given the historic rivalry between the teams.”
As presenter Hugh Woozencroft leads the coverage, there will also be analysis from John O’Shea and Michael Brown with commentary by Sam Matterface and Lucy Ward.
Clarkson has been in the news for months thanks to the return of Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video with season five revealing that he had prostate cancer. Thankfully, it has since been confirmed that he is now officially in remission.
But today, Wednesday, August 5, Clarkson is back in the news as it’s been announced he and his former Grand Tour hosts James May and Richard Hammond, would be reuniting.
The Grand Tour came to an end two years ago but the stars will be making cameo appearances in the reboot to help “pass the baton on”.
Hosting duties are being taken over by YouTubers Thomas Holland and James Engelsma with The Grand Tour season seven airing on Friday, September 4.
Live Pre-season Football airs on Wednesday, August 12, from 7pm, on ITV.
Diversity’s Ashley Banjo expresses concern for future dance stars amid rising costs and program cuts
Next generation of dance stars are being priced out the industry, study reveals.
Ashley has expressed concern for dance stars of the future after rising costs and program cutsCredit: James Linsell-Clark/PinPep/ SWNSThe Diversity star said: ‘Dance opened so many doors for me growing up’Credit: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Industry data from ONS revealed the number of people working as dancers and choreographers has fallen by 32 per cent since 2019.
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While a separate poll of 2,000 adults found 68 per cent of Brits said dance is an important part of British culture, yet six in 10 believe the next generation of dance talent is being priced out of the industry.
And 55 per cent think only those from wealthier backgrounds can realistically pursue a career in dance.
The research was commissioned by The Sky Foundation to mark the launch of the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries, a new programme providing funding, mentoring and industry support to 20 dance-makers across the UK.
The broadcaster also teamed up with Ashley Banjo MBE, the frontman of the group Diversity, to support the campaign.
Commenting on the poll, the choreographer said: “Dance opened so many doors for me growing up.
“I was lucky my Mum ran a dance school, so I was surrounded by dance from an early age and had access to opportunities that helped shape my future.
“But opportunities are becoming harder to access today, particularly for people who don’t come from an affluent background.
“Creative potential should never be determined by a family’s finances, yet these findings suggest cost is becoming an increasingly significant barrier to pursuing a career in dance.
“That’s a real concern, because talent exists everywhere – and we can’t afford to lose the next generation of dance artists and what they’ll contribute to our culture.”
The study also found 45 per cent feel the UK is missing out on dance talent which could contribute to culture, creative industries and the arts sector.
Participants believe this is due to families not being able to afford the costs of travel, equipment and competitions (63 per cent) and some young people not being able to afford creative careers (57 per cent).
Meanwhile, 67 per cent believe talent is being overlooked because they live in parts of the country with fewer creative pathways.
In total, 80 per cent believe those from less affluent backgrounds face more barriers to pursuing careers in dance.
Just six per cent believe they are on a truly even keel when it comes to making it in the industry according to the OnePoll.com data.
And only 29 per cent believe there are enough opportunities for young people to dance in their area.
This rises to 39 per cent for Londoners yet falls as low as 19 per cent for people of Yorkshire and the Humber – the lowest of any region.
Choreographers, dance-makers and artists have been encouraged to sign up to the bursary on the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries website.
Phil Edgar-Jones, trustee of the foundation and executive director of unscripted content at Sky, said: “Dance is one of Britain’s great creative strengths. It’s an artform that brings people together, tells powerful stories and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK.
“With public funding under pressure, many dance artists increasingly rely on the support of dance organisations, charities and funders to develop their careers.
“That’s why initiatives like this are so important.”
Ashley Banjo added: “No young person should feel that a career in dance is out of reach because they can’t afford lessons, travel or competitions, or because there aren’t enough opportunities close to home.
“Talent can come from anywhere, and your background shouldn’t determine your future.”
