show biz

Hollywood’s biggest deal in decades is on hold.

On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Paramount Skydance’s efforts to complete its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, ruling that the proposed $111-billion merger “raises serious questions” about whether the combination violates U.S. antitrust law.

District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, based in Oakland, granted a request for a temporary restraining order from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, led by California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, to freeze the deal while the court delves more closely into its impact on markets.

The order pauses the deal for 14 days. Martínez-Olguín’s ruling sets up a showdown for Aug. 3, when she considers a motion for a preliminary injunction — which, if granted, could tie up the deal for months in advance of a trial.

“This is a critical first win in our case to ensure this megamerger never sees the light of day,” Bonta said in a statement. “History tells the tale of what happens when a few people have great power over markets that are central to Americans’ lives: fewer opportunities for more people, worse products and services for all people.”

Two century-old film studios — with rights to Harry Potter, Batman, Scooby-Doo, “Top Gun,” “Ted Lasso” and “Game of Thrones” — would be combined, and HBO, CNN and HGTV would come under new ownership.

“The judge basically said, ‘Look, let’s not race to the finish line here,’” Eric Talley, a Columbia Law School professor, said in an interview. “At the end of the day, maybe this thing gets signed off on, but I think the AGs are going to be given a fair chance to bring their claims forward.”

The ruling dealt a blow to tech scion David Ellison’s efforts to quickly finalize his massive merger, which has the support of President Trump. Ellison wants to complete the deal by September to avoid a higher payout to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders.

Paramount, in a statement, said the restraining order simply preserves the status quo, which Paramount had already pledged to do in court papers last week that offered to hold off on finalizing the transaction.

“We are confident the evidence will demonstrate that the State AGs’ antitrust arguments are without merit as their alleged markets and claims of anticompetitive effects are without any basis in modern market realities,” Paramount said in the statement.

Larry Ellison, co-founder of software giant Oracle, is bankrolling his son’s ambitions to acquire a second major entertainment company in less than a year. The Ellison family acquired the smaller Paramount in August.

The Democratic state attorneys general, including from New York, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, filed their lawsuit a week ago.

The 37-page lawsuit alleges that Paramount’s proposed takeover — the largest Hollywood deal in decades — would violate the U.S. Clayton Antitrust Act, a century-old law to prevent mergers that weaken competition and raise costs for consumers.

The lawsuit represents the stiffest challenge to a deal that had been swiftly clearing its various regulatory hurdles. Nearly two dozen regulators from around the globe, including Australia, Austria and Saudi Arabia, have already signed off.

The U.S. Justice Department last month approved the merger, saying the combination would probably bolster competition — not harm it. That decision wasn’t a surprise because Trump has been rooting for a CNN shakeup. The president told the network’s Jake Tapper earlier this month: “We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path.”

“This merger is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry,” Paramount said. “We will continue to vigorously defend the transaction and will look forward to the hearings on the substance of the State AGs’ action.”

Paramount shares slid 2% to $8.57 on Monday. Warner shares tumbled nearly 4% to $25.86 — the stock’s lowest mark this year.

Martínez-Olguín’s order came after a hearing in Oakland on Friday that represented an opening salvo between the two sides in the fight over a merger that would dramatically reshape the entertainment industry.

“In many ways this case is a poster child for a much larger set of questions — some of which are specific to the entertainment industry but many are more specific to our regulatory state in general,” Talley said.

Because of the case’s expedited status, the judge said she looked closely at only one of the three markets where the plaintiff states allege the merger could bring anticompetitive harms — wide-release Hollywood films.

“Plaintiffs present compelling evidence that the combined firm resulting from the transaction will possess substantial market share in the wide-release theatrical distribution market,” Martínez-Olguín wrote in her 10-page order.

If allowed to merge, Paramount-Warner Bros. would control about 27% of the market of films that are initially released into more than 3,000 theaters.

“On this combined firm market share alone, the Court is persuaded that it can presume the proposed merger is likely to violate antitrust laws,” the judge wrote.

The ruling doesn’t signal that the states will win but, Talley said: “This is an important mark in the road that suggests that, in the eyes of the judge, at least one of their allegations has the seeds of a valid case.”

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are “temporarily enjoined and restrained from closing or consummating the transaction or taking any steps, directly or indirectly, to integrate or consolidate their operations pursuant to the transaction,” the judge wrote.

The order extends to all officers, attorneys, and “other persons who are in active concert or participation with Defendants,” Martínez-Olguín wrote.

The merger is far from dead, Emarketer senior analyst Ross Benes said in a statement after the ruling.

“The order is likely to be a speed bump,” Benes wrote. “Thanks to the company’s symbiotic relationship with Trump, most challenges ahead that could stop the deal will be steamrolled.”

“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Angie Katsanevas and her husband, Shawn Trujillo, are calling it quits.

According to Page Six, the reality television personalities have separated after 27 years of marriage. The news comes after years of rumors, starting during Season 4 of “RHOSLC,” that Trujillo was involved in affairs with numerous men. The drama played out onscreen and bled into Season 5 of the reality series.

The former couple denied the rumors repeatedly.

During a 2023 appearance on the “Behind the Velvet Rope Podcast,” Trujillo called the rumors “pretty ridiculous.” The same year, he and Katsanevas spoke with Andy Cohen on “Watch What Happens Live,” and Trujillo said it wasn’t the rumor that he was gay that offended him, but the rumor that he’d been unfaithful.

“It’s not a gay/straight thing,” Trujillo said. “It’s an infidelity thing. We love our gay community. We’ve been embedded in it for 30 years now, just based on what we do for our business.”

“I’m here to support Angie, and I’ll take the hits,” he added.

Katsanevas noted that Salt Lake City had “come a long way,” and that stereotyping a man for being a hairdresser might have been commonplace 15 years ago but that there had never been infidelity rumors around her marriage “in Salt Lake City or anywhere.”

The former couple tied the knot the same year they launched their business, Lunatic Fringe Salon, in 1999. The husband-and-wife team ultimately expanded the luxury beauty business into a successful franchise that operates across Utah, Idaho and Ohio, with the flagship store located in Salt Lake.

As recently as January, Katsanevas was gushing about Trujillo on “The Viall Files” podcast. The businesswoman and housewife told hosts Nick Viall (of “The Bachelor” fame) and his wife, Natalie Joy Viall, that she and Trujillo met in a hair salon when she stopped by for a haircut more than three decades ago.

“He was working there with his big muscles and his long hair and his hoop earrings and he was so good looking and he was a bodybuilder and a hairdresser,” she said. “You didn’t see straight men doing hair at that time, which I know sounds crazy. Obviously things have changed since then; there are a lot of straight men that are hairdressers, but he was so kind and so sweet, and not really a macho guy. He was soft-spoken, quiet, very focused on his career and shy. And I just love that about him.”

The two became an item when Katsanevas started working at the salon when she was 21 and Trujillo was 24. “He would flirt with me in the back room and hold my hand under the table, and then he asked me to dinner one Valentine’s night,” she said.

According to the salon owner, when she was invited to join the cast of “RHOSLC” in 2021, she wasn’t prepared for the jabs that would be aimed at Trujillo or the toll it would take. “I had no idea what I was signing up for. I had no idea people would say or question my marriage after 30 years,” she said.

Bravo has not yet announced a release date for Season 7 of “RHOSLC,” but the forthcoming season wrapped filming in May and is expected to air this fall. Whether the former couple’s split will play out in the new season remains uncertain.

Katsanevas and Trujillo did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

KATIE Price has today threatened her “truce” with her first husband, Peter Andre.

It came after four-times wed Katie, 48, reposted a series of social media swipes at the “controlling” star, 53, as fans continue to react to her explosive Sky documentary.

Today, the former pin-up shared two TikTok videos that were sympathetic to what she had been through with men.

One of the clips showed a snippet from her documentary where Katie was alleging that she “wasn’t allowed to go out” during her relationship with Peter, implying that he “controlled” what she did.

Over the short video was written: “Nothing could ever make me hate Katie Price after watching her new documentary.”

The second TikTok clip that Katie re-posted was a fan’s statement which read: “The Katie Price documentary is just a prime example of how a man can manipulate you, make you thinkyou’rer weak and basically knock any confidence that you had outoff.

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“That poor girl has been ruined by men over and over; we let them get in our heads and believe every bad word they say about us.”

What made it even more clear that the TV star was taking a swipe at her ex, was they were the only two videos that she has shared that aren’t plugging her CBD brand.

The fresh swipe threatens to derail their famous “truce”, which was called earlier this year.

Katie and Peter’s love story started in the I’m A Celebrity jungle in 2004.

After a whirlwind romance, they had an extravagant wedding the following year.

However after numerous reality shows following their lives, the relationship ended in acrimonious divorce in 2009.

Relations between the pair were fraught until they released a shock joint statement in February this year, agreeing to a truce.

Katie and Peter posted on social media: “We are both focused on creating a calm and supportive environment for our children. W

“e are hoping this is the start of a positive relationship.”

Speaking to The Sun earlier this month about the truce, Katie said: ““Do you know what, I’m at peace with myself.

“It doesn’t mean to say I’ll ever forget anything. But I’ve just got better things in my life. What’s the point in reminiscing about the past like that? I’ve got no energy for it.

“I want to put all my energy into me and the future. I’ve seen all the TikToks of us [fans often share clips of Pete berating Katie on their reality shows], so I don’t have to say anything.”

The hidden-gem comedy is returning with a one-off special later this year, it’s been announced.

A “perfect British comedy” is set to make its return with a one-off Christmas special.

Greg Davies’ sitcom The Cleaner is returning to screens, the BBC has confirmed.

The Taskmaster star will return as crime scene cleaner Paul ‘Wicky’ Wickstead in the special, The Cleaner in Italy.

The BBC teased: “The hit comedy once again follows Wicky’s misadventures as a state-certified cleaning technician whose unusual day job involves scrubbing away the grisliest remnants of crime scenes.”

Alongside Greg, the cast will include Robert Webb, Peter Serafinowicz, Kevin Eldon, Tori Allen-Martin, Veronica Ferres, Zita Sattar, Milanka Brooks and Dylan Blore.

Filming has already begun, with Greg revealing: “I think Wicky has got to the stage in life where he only likes three things: his job, going to the pub and beer.

“To get the opportunity to force him to go to Italy on a hiking holiday is the perfect opportunity to test his breaking point. I can’t wait to show everyone how horribly wrong a holiday can go…”

Vivien Muller-Rommel, executive producer, also said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be back with Greg, our brilliant guest cast and our fantastic crew for this very special episode of The Cleaner.

“There’s a real excitement about this one, and everyone involved is determined to make it our funniest adventure yet. We can’t wait for audiences to see it.”

Ben Caudell, commissioning editor for the BBC, added: “As filming begins on this new The Cleaner special, it’s a pleasure to see Greg Davies return to one of his most memorable creations.

“Wicky has become a standout character in British comedy, and Greg’s ability to place him in extraordinary situations is always a delight.

“This one-off episode brings together a terrific cast and an inventive new setting, and we’re very much looking forward to sharing it with viewers over the festive period.”

The special episode follows Wicky reluctantly joining his girlfriend Ruth on a hiking holiday in the Italian dolomites with her friends.

However, after an accident, he faces the rest of the trip alone in a remote mountain hotel, and his boredom quickly turns to paranoia when he’s surrounded by an eccentric hotel manager, an array of peculiar guests and suspicious staff.

Fans previously hailed The Cleaner the “perfefct British comedy”, with one person writing: “Haven’t laughed so much in a long time. Just happened upon this little gem. Was in stitches within minutes….brilliant!”

One fan said they were “hooked” as another added: “The Cleaner is unexpectedly quirky and original. I have never seen anything like it. I laughed so hard that I had to pause the show to collect myself as I was losing the dialogue. Greg Davies is a comic genius.”

“Easily bingeable,” someone else wrote, as one person said: “Every episode a gem. Just one of the best TV series this year.”

The Cleaner is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

A SLEW of Howard Stern Show stars have confirmed they’re still employed just days after a dozen staffers were sacked in a series of layoffs last week.

In a video posted before the World Cup final on Sunday, several employees are seen inside the Stern wing of SiriusXM studios playing a very uncoordinated soccer game.

The Instagram post tagged several staffers, many of whom have played an on-air role on the show.

JD Harmeyer, Jon Hein, Steve Nowicki, Jason Kaplan, Will Murray, Sal Governale, Richard Christy and Mike Pearlman were tagged in the video.

On July 13, at least a dozen Stern Show staffers, including on-air personalities, were shown the door, after it was announced in a Zoom call that Stern would only be doing just one live show a week after his long summer break.

The layoffs included several on-air fan favorites such as Benjy Bronk, Jon Blitt, Memet Walker and Mike Trainor.

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Insiders are calling the severance packages handed to these longtime staffers downright insulting, especially since some had been with Stern for his entire two-decade run at SiriusXM.

One source revealed that workers received barely more than a single week of pay for each year they put in.

“You would think Stern would have taken care of these guys after decades of loyalty,” the source said.

Every ten years on the job only earned them two months of pay, plus a strict NDA threatening to strip away even that tiny payout.

In the media world, standard severance usually runs closer to two weeks of pay per year worked.

The shocker comes right after the radio host locked in his latest SiriusXM extension in late 2025, after even admitting on air that he was not entirely sure he would sign on again.

During the announcement, he assured listeners the new agreement would give him more free time while keeping him on the airwaves.

Under the 2026 schedule, he was supposed to broadcast live Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Eastern.

Back in August 2025, sources indicated that Stern and Sirius management were unlikely to come to terms on his massive $100 million yearly deal, leaving many to believe the legendary show was finally coming to a close.

Although he did end up renewing with the network, this severely reduced broadcast schedule signals that Sirius is no longer throwing around that kind of massive payday.

HOLLY Willoughby has admitted she knows “what real fear is” after a terrifying kidnap plot as she opens up on experiencing a “really difficult time”.

The presenter, 45, is gearing up to relaunch her career with her brand new show on YouTube.

But the last few years of her life haven’t exactly been plain sailing after she was the victim of a horrific kidnap, rape and murder plot back in 2023.

Security guard Gavin Plumb was charged in October of that year for soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years.

Speaking about the difficult time of her life, she told Grazia in a new interview: “Everybody knows what happened and it was difficult. It was a really difficult time.

“It did set me back and made me realise, ‘Right, well of course you haven’t got everything figured out. Of course life is going to keep throwing challenges at you.”’

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“When something like that happens, suddenly everything else gets put into perspective and you know what?

“I don’t fear what people think because I know what real fear feels like.”

Last month, The Sun on Sunday reported that Gavin was caught with a sinister stash of pictures of her in his prison cell.

The disturbing haul was found by prison officers hidden under a mattress.

A source said: “Plumb is still obsessed with Holly. The pictures were taken from magazines.

“He should not have been allowed access to images of her.”

Despite everything she’s been through, Holly is focusing on the next chapter of her life as she moves on with her career relaunch.

Her new YouTube show ‘Holly Willoughby Together’ is set to launch on July 28.

Speaking at her launch event earlier today, she said: “The YouTube idea obviously I’ve been away for a little while and my kids, watching my kids how they use stuff now, you know they watch stuff on YouTube they watch stuff on Netflix that’s how they do things.

“I was like right how am I watching stuff now and I was walking the dog and I’d be listening to Spotify or a podcast and I’d come in and I’d start cooking lunch and then I’d be like oh watch that now.”

“You suddenly realise that the way you see and view things and watch things is very very different.

“I don’t feel like it’s just me, I feel like everybody’s doing the same sort of thing,” added Holly.

The mum-of-three explained she feels as though mainstream TV isn’t the only place that can breed success.

She said: “You see what Gary Lineker has just done with the World Cup, you know collaborating with Netflix and with music, people will go on Radio 2 but then they’ll also go on a podcast.”

Holly added: “I think being a little bit braver and not just going for the obvious options, is the thing that really got me and then I thought ‘yes.’

“I thought ‘that’s it, that’s what I want to do.’”

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October 2023 and despite appearing briefly on Dancing On Ice the following year, she has largely taken a break from the spotlight.

Her glitzy lifestyle YouTube series, which starts on July 28, has a similar format to ITV‘s This Morning.

She will drop two episodes every week, and they will include sections on cookery, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and real life stories, as well as celebrity guests.

The telly legend has already confirmed appearances from actor Stanley Tucci, Spice Girl star Emma Bunton, All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, and comedians Joanne McNally and Katherine Ryan.

A CONTROVERSIAL US rock star has cancelled his European tour after revealing he’s “wildly sick”.

Singer Ryan Adams, 51, also shared that he is selling all of his prized possessions after falling on hard times

Announcing the news that the star had pulled out of his tour dates, his promoter posted: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, the upcoming Ryan Adams European Tour has been cancelled.

“We apologize to all those who bought tickets and were excited for these shows.

“Refunds will be processed automatically and if you have any questions please contact your point of purchase.

“Ryan is doing ok and working hard to finish the new album trilogy. New music on the way.”

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Ryan re-posted the statement and wrote: “Tough times. Been sick. Fall tour cancelled.”

Shortly before he revealed that his tour was cancelled, Ryan also shared a post on Instagram where he revealed he was selling his belongings, as he was “broke”.

The singer announced he was putting guitars, studio equipment, and a Cadillac up for sale, among other things,

The emotional statement read: “I’m broke and sick and tired and defeated but my heart is blasting with hope and love and riff optimism and I appreciate anybody who can give these treasured things a new life.

“I’m proud that I did this. That I remain transparent. This business is vile and full of snakes.

“But I’m proud to call it and man up to this. I’ll keep making records as long as I can afford to.

“Now I’m going to go sit in the sunlight with my cats and cry because I need to and I’m not sure how many more times I can hit this wall. When is it enough?”

Ryan has released 30 albums and sold millions of records worldwide.

But despite his fame, he has often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

In 2019, seven women came forward, including his ex wife, actress Mandy Moore, with accusations of inappropriate behaviour from him.

At first he denied the allegations, however, the following year he issued a statement where he apologised.

TikTok star Trewley-Precious has opened up about her private life in her new Channel 4 show Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives

Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives star Trewley-Precious Temple couldn’t contain her emotions.

The social media sensation made an appearance on our TV screens tonight (Monday, July 20) as she let cameras into her family life in the brand new Channel 4 series.

The reality show follows the 26-year-old influncer as she pursues her ambition of becoming a social media sensation while juggling the demands of her traditional traveller family.

Not long into the show, things took an emotional turn as Trewley opened up about her devastating loss. Trewley’s late father, Sidney “Siddy Boy” Temple passed away in November 2022.

He was a traditional, prideful Romany Traveller and Trewley credits him with giving her a proud and rich cultural heritage.

While setting up for her mum Tina’s birthday celebration, Trewley was visibly moved as she revealed: “I like to get her stuff from my dad. My dad passed away three years ago in November.

“Ever since then I always get mum a present from him, whether that is mothers day or valentines day – I’ll get her something from him.”

She added: “He was ill so he couldn’t move so he was like ‘go out and get your mum something from dad will yeah.”

Speaking to the camera, Trewley broke down in tears as she said: “My dad died three years ago of cancer and it was the worst thing. I can’t even talk, I feel like I’m in a different world.”

Wiping away her tears, she continued: “It was absolutely horrible and I was really young, I was only 22 when it happened.”

Tina was emotional as she explained: “That’s been the hard thing, I’ve not even had time to grieve because there has been so many people who are more important than me that I had to keep together because they were absolutely devastated.”

She continued: “I feel like everyone had turned into balloons and they’re all trying to float away and I’m trying to grab the strings and hold onto them and pull them back so I pulled them in and put my arms around them so they wouldn’t go anywhere.”

Speaking to one of her sisters, Trewley said: “Dad was the biggest loss that the whole family has had”. As everyone gathered to celebrate Tina’s birthday, Trewey gave her the gift she bought from her dad. Before Trewley’s mum could even open the present, she broke down in tears.

The family was overcome with emotion as Trewley’s brother Jamie John read the sweet message written on the ribbon, it read: “To my Tinny happy birthday me old girl. Thank you for looking after our babies. I love you in this life and the next.” Attempting to lift the mood, Trewley’s brother joked: “You’ve ruined the whole day, Trewley.”

You can catch up on The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives on Channel 4

The first proper “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer is finally here — though it remains a bit light on the movie’s plot.

After releasing multiple short teasers to promote its upcoming superhero crossover, Marvel Studios on Monday unveiled its official trailer for “Doomsday.” The new clip shows Thor (Chris Hemsworth) taking on the mysterious Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), reuniting with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and trying to persuade various superhero teams — including the Avengers, the New Avengers (a.k.a. the Thunderbolts) and the Fantastic Four — to join forces.

“Something’s coming,” says a mysterious voiceover. “Something we may not be able to deter. Before this day is done, we shall be faced with an unthinkable decision.”

The speaker is presumably Doom, who makes an appearance as the voiceover ends. In the comics, Victor von Doom hails from the fictional southeastern European country of Latveria. The name of the country was briefly shown in last year’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which featured the character’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in its post-credits scene.

The trailer then shifts its focus to Thor, who speaks of an unnamed powerful foe as he asks the members of various teams to “put aside [their] petty squabbles” in order to try to thwart this frightening threat together. The new clip concludes by showing Thor’s reunion with Rogers.

“We’re going to need a miracle,” the Asgardian says before he is shown coming face to face with his old friend. Thor then makes the former Captain America take hold of his hammer, Mjölnir, to prove his identity. The hammer can only be lifted by someone it deems worthy, which Rogers did during the events of “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).

The trailer also includes glimpses of Gambit (Channing Tatum) battling Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) facing off against Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), Loki (Tom Hiddleston) handling his Time Variance Authority ID card, M’Baku (Winston Duke) and Shuri (Letitia Wright) greeting Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) sharing a moment with Magneto (Ian McKellan) and Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) embracing Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton).

“With much love … here is the trailer you’ve been waiting for,” directors Anthony and Joe Russo wrote Monday in an Instagram post sharing the new footage.

According to Marvel’s logline, “Doomsday” will involve “beloved heroes from three distinct universes … set on a deadly collision course and fac[ing] an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.”

The cast also includes Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Wyatt Russell (John Walker), James Marsden (Scott Summers), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), Lewis Pullman (Bob Reynolds), Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy/Beast), Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres), Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler), Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr), Mabel Cadena (Namora) and Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor).

The “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer arrives in advance of this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con. After sitting out last year’s event, Marvel Studios will return to Hall H on Saturday to showcase its upcoming slate. (It was during its Hall H presentation in 2024 that Marvel revealed its next big villain will be Doctor Doom, played by Downey).

“Avengers: Doomsday” will hit theaters Dec. 18.

MELANIE C has shared a first look at her wedding after tying the knot with her boyfriend of three years, Chris Dingwall.

The couple got married in a stunning ceremony in the grounds of The Country House Cumbria on Saturday and were joined by their loved ones, including her Spice Girls bandmates.

In new pictures, the pair are seen walking down the steps after getting married as they look like the epitome of happiness.

In one snap, Melanie beams from ear to ear as she and Chris hold hands.

Another photo shows the two looking into one another’s eyes as they pose in the grounds of their wedding venue.

Mel B, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton were all in attendance as Victoria Beckham was noticeably absent from the big day.

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She was unable to attend as she was in the US with husband David for yesterday’s World Cup final.

Despite not being able to be there, she designed her pal’s beautiful backless, white wedding gown.

The chic gown, which oozed elegance and featured a swooping backline, was plucked straight from Posh’s collection of her own Victoria Beckham gowns in her wardrobe.

Melanie C wore a custom Adidas robe to get ready for the ceremony, made from ivory silk with white silk stripes.

The look was completed with custom white and gold sliders featuring the wedding date in gold on the side.

After the meal, Melanie C changed into another custom Adidas look — an elevated interpretation of a tracksuit, with high-waisted, wide-legged trousers and a cropped jacket featuring a peaked lapel and deep ribbed waistband.

This look was again made from ivory silk with white silk stripes, worn with custom Superstar trainers.

Insiders said Mel B and Geri, who have not seen eye to eye since Scary accused Baby of lying about her age in 2022, put on a cordial display.

A source told The Sun on Saturday: “Mel and Chris’ wedding was perfect, they couldn’t be happier.

“They chose a classy, laid-back ceremony before a reception with their closest friends and family.

“Mel B gave a speech which got a lot of laughs, as well as some tears — it was really beautiful.

“Geri was there but there was no awkwardness between her and Mel B.

“It was a day for celebrating Mel and Chris’s love for each other and that was all anyone wanted to do.”

Insiders said the reception at the venue, in Castle Carrock on the edge of the Pennines, went on until the early hours of yesterday.

Melanie C, 52, told British Vogue the wedding was “low-key, relaxed, romantic and chic”.

She added: “I’m so excited for the world to know he’s my husband.”

Melanie said of her wedding dress: “Victoria’s dress was my something borrowed. It was very special, having her there.

“Victoria wanted to make it much more personal to me.

“She found some ­gorgeous vintage lace, and everything was really delicately dyed to the perfect shade. It’s very flattering, open at the back.”

Melanie’s daughter Scarlett, 17, from her relationship with Thomas Starr, was bridesmaid at her special day.

Melanie is the last of the girls from the pop group to tie the knot, having met Australian model Chris back in 2023 on celeb dating app Raya. 

Melanie and Chris have kept a lot of their romance under wraps with fans desperate to know about her relationship with the Aussie star.

She told The Times back in January: “It’s something I didn’t think would be part of my story [marriage], but I’m so happy with Chris”.

LEE Andrews has been FREED from jail for a second time – but his dad remains behind bars in Dubai.

Conman Lee’s father Pete joined him in the notorious Al Awir prison last week after being reported to officials by a third party.

But according to our sources, Katie Price‘s husband has now been let out.

An insider told The Sun: “Lee Andrews has today been released from Al Awir prison.

“He was set free this afternoon following a short-stint behind bars.

“His dad Pete, who has been caught up in Lee’s misdemeanours, remains behind bars.”

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ELLIE HENMAN

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During their stint in jail, together, father and son were understood to have seen one another inside the jail, with both believed to be facing allegations of fraud.

Sources said that Lee had to raise funds to pay off his debts, before he could be released, from where he faces extradition.

He now hopes to return to the UK, to be with his wife.

Last week The Sun revealed how sources said patient Katie has finally snapped – and is now “at the end of her tether”.

A pal said: “It is quite astonishing – you really couldn’t make this up.

“Whether poor Katie will be there to greet him on the other side remains to be seen.

“Right now she is furious with it all, and fed up with all the drama and white noise her husband is bringing.”

Lee has had a raft of damning allegations levelled against him, including ex-girlfriends who have gone on the record to share their horror stories at his hands.

He has also been accused of conning people out of thousands of pounds – claims he denies.

Lee and Katie married in January, just 10 days after meeting.

In May, he was taken by cops and, he claims, taken to a black site for questioning.

It was later discovered he was in Al-Awir prison, where he remained for one month before being released and having an emotional reunion with wife Katie.

Former champion of the World’s Strongest Man competition, Tom Stoltman, has announced he will be joining the fourth series of hit BBC show Gladiators, with filming due to begin next month.

The former World’s Strongest Man champion Tom Stoltman is becoming a Gladiator after it was announced he has joined the car of the hit BBC show.

While Stoltman’s Gladiator name is yet to be announced, the fourth series of the primetime show will begin filming in Sheffield next month before airing on BBC One in 2027. Speaking on joining the show, the 32-year-old said: “This is a dream opportunity and I’m incredibly proud to become a Gladiator.

“I’ve spent my life pushing myself to see what I can achieve and joining this incredible show is the next challenge.

“I’m excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena but, most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges.”

Standing at 6ft 8in, Stoltman from Ivergordon in the Highlands was the first Scot to win the title when he was first crowned champion back in 2021.

He retained his World’s Strongest Man title through 2022 before winning the competition for a third time in 2024.

Officially, he is still Britain’s Strongest Man after winning the title for a fourth time in February this year, beating Adam Bishop and Paddy Haynes.

However, a hand injury stood in the way of his chances of being named strongest man in the world in 2026 before he was knocked out in the qualifying rounds.

In addition to returning in the classic format next year, there will also be an all-new Gladiators Celebrity Special with hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh at the helm.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “With a brand-new series confirmed and another Celebrity Special on the way, audiences can look forward to even more colossal clashes, even more edge-of-your-seat excitement and plenty of opportunities to raise those foam fingers high one again.”

Stoltman’s addition to the show comes after controversy surrounding the departure of Gladiator Jamie ‘Giant’ Biggs. The TV personality took to Instagram to share a message telling fans he wouldn’t be back for series four, citing “this wasn’t a decision I made to step away” and that he “was faced with a choice that didn’t align with my values”.

He since told The Sun that the issue was his girlfriend Taylor Ryan’s OnlyFans career, claiming he was given an ultimatum to either end his relationship with Taylor or forfeit his role on Gladiators.

“I had to choose between dating Taylor and keeping my job,” he said. “I was shocked and very saddened about their choice to sack me.”

A Gladiators spokesperson said at the time of Jamie’s departure: “After three formidable series, Giant is leaving Gladiators. We’d like to thank him for everything he has contributed to the show and wish him well for the future.”

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MOLLY-MAE Hague showcased her flat stomach while she sported a bikini — just six weeks after giving birth.

The reality TV stunner and her boyfriend Tommy Fury welcomed son Midas, their second child, last month.

Taking to Instagram, the Love Island alum, 27, posed for mirror selfies wearing a green bikini top alongside an open white shirt and trousers.

Above one of the snaps, Molly-Mae additionally added the caption: “Mommy.”

It comes as fans branded the reality star “irresponsible” as she headed on a holiday to Greece.

She revealed her family — including Midas — were travelling to their trip away via a private plane.

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One wrote: “Babies so young are vulnerable when taken on planes due to their tiny ears and the change in climate can be too much also.

“At least wait until he’s 6 months. Sorry Molly this is irresponsible.”

Another said: “Love you Molly but please stop using private jets. They’re so incredibly polluting, the next generations are inheriting this burning planet.”

A third added: “Why does it have to be in a private jet!!!!

“This is directly affecting the planet your baby will grow up to live in!”

Other comments were more positive, as one said: “Ahhh!!! So unbelievably beautiful, have the best time making special memories.”

If Oxnard to you is just a freeway sign on the way to Santa Barbara or Ojai, you’re missing out on a few things. Like an extensive harbor with none of the traffic or showy affluence of its southern cousins. Miles and miles of white sand where you won’t find another family right next to you as soon as you lay down a towel. A diverse, chilled city with an energetic subculture (Nardcore, anyone?) and some pretty decent tacos.

There are a bunch of ways to spend your time here. Take an architecture tour around Heritage Square, perhaps, or taste your way around September’s Chowderfest at the Maritime Museum. On the water, you can paddleboard ‘til you drop, commune with whales on a boat excursion or skip off to the Channel Islands on a whim.

It’s the only California Cultural District in Ventura County, an honor bestowed by the California Arts Council, which says that “from Guelaguetza and Fiestas Patrias to Juneteenth celebrations, Nardcore punk shows, lowrider cruises, fandangos, and Ballet Folklorico, the district’s cultural life is exuberant and deeply rooted in community.” Rapper/producer and Oxnard native Anderson .Paak named his third album after the city and has hosted the .Paak House music festival in the region.

And Oxnard is a summer home to Netflix darlings the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. For two decades, the Cowboys have held their training camp in the city, and this time around, the cheerleaders will join the scene for Oxnard Fan Night on July 31, the opening ceremony Aug. 1 and toa dance clinic Aug. 2.

Oxnard may not be overly polished, which of course adds to its charm. To get to know the community, you’ll have to veer a few miles off the 101 — but the detour makes for a vibrant SoCal weekend.

Waving a Mexican flag with a vaquero sombrero on, El Malilla made history at Coachella last year as the first reggaeton Mexa act on the lineup.

To keep the momentum going, the rising Mexican star had planned for his first U.S. tour to take place last summer. After the Trump administration ramped up the ongoing ICE raids around the same time, El Malilla decided to put the safety of his fans first and postpone the tour.

“With what was happening with Mexicans and immigrants — the big problem being ICE — I decided to pause the tour, because I didn’t feel comfortable exposing my fans to that kind of situation,” El Malilla says over Zoom from his home in Valle de Chalco. “For me, it was important to bring this tour to the U.S., but in a safe way without putting anyone in harm’s way.”

After wrapping up the Mexican leg of his “Tu Maliante Bebé” Tour, El Malilla, who was born Fernando Hernández Flores, is now preparing to bring his show to the states. The 19-show trek will kick off July 24 in Palm Springs, followed by a concert at The Novo in Los Angeles the next day.

Mexican artist El Malilla.

(Joss Andreu)

“The Novo is very important for me because it’s going to be my biggest venue for this U.S. tour,” he admits. “To see how Los Angeles has adopted me, embraced me, and shown me love, I’m going to feel like I’m home.”

Following his Coachella debut, El Malilla has pushed reggaeton from Mexico into the mainstream. He imbues the genre with Mexican swagger, slang and sex appeal in his explosive hits such as “B de Bellako,” “Mami Tú” and “Balenciaga” featuring corrido singer Luis R. Conriquez.

Since then, El Malilla has expanded the scope of reggaeton Mexa following collaborations with Puerto Rican pioneers such as Jowell y Randy and Colombian superstar J Balvin. The perreo heartthrob is also tapping into new genres for his upcoming sophomore album. In an interview with The Times, El Malilla opened up about leading the reggaeton Mexa movement and what to expect from his tour.

How do you feel about representing Mexican culture and reggaeton Mexa with this tour in the U.S.?
I feel very happy to bring a bit of our culture, our slang, our sound and our essence to the U.S. for my fans that haven’t had a chance to see a show of mine. Something that’s very crazy for me is when I performed in Chicago last year, there were people with signs that said they were from different places in Mexico like the State of Mexico. It made me very nostalgic to know that I’m also from the State of Mexico and we’re here. It’s important for me to represent our roots. Get ready, because I’m coming with perreo sucio. [Laughs.]

What do you think when you fans always ask for you to take off your shirt at your concerts?
It makes me laugh because when I sing “Rodillas,” people start screaming for me to take off my shirt. My show lasts like two hours and that’s barely the first song. I enjoy it, because I consider El Malilla to be a showman. I love to be onstage and have fun with my fans. Though some people might see me as a sex symbol, I don’t see myself that way, but to each their own.

What does it mean for you to be breaking down barriers for reggaeton Mexa?
It makes me very happy. I’ve been thinking about that recently. When would you think that an iconic pop star like Danna would collaborate with an iconic chacalón [Mexican slang for “bad boy”] like myself? That never crossed my mind before, but now in 2026, our reggaeton, our essence and our sound has become important in Mexico and even more so on a Latino level. Now everything is possible. There [are] no longer barriers for reggaeton Mexa, or for Mexican singers. Today, your biggest dream is possible.

Who else would you love to collaborate with in the future?
Lately, I’ve spent more time in the U.S. and I’ve been soaking up more English music. I discovered that I really like The Weeknd. A collaboration with him would be crazy! I returned to Coachella this year to sing with Cachirula & Loojan … and to be able to see Justin Bieber live was incredible. I would love to collaborate with him. On the Latin side, I would love to collaborate with Nsqk, De La Ghetto, Ñengo Flow or a reggaeton pioneer like DJ Blass.

What’s the process been like working on your next album?
I spent a year and a half working on this album. I enjoyed that process so much. Music has given me so much that this album is my way of repaying music for all the blessings it’s given me. You’ll be surprised at what I’m capable of. This is a Malilla that’s now 26 and a little more mature. It’s a more experimental and professional Malilla. I had never made a bolero song and I dared to do that this time. I did my research by listening to Luis Miguel, José José and singers and genres that I wasn’t used to listening to. I found love for those genres and singers. It was a very fun and cool way for me to explore different genres.

PETE Wicks has opened up on his “magical” holiday with Olivia Attwood after they were pictured in a passionate snog on the beach.

Pete, 37, spoke candidly about his romance as he chatted to his pal Sam Thompson, 33, on their Staying Relevant podcast.

During a podcast clip shared to TikTok, Sam said to Pete: “You were on your holidays?”

“Yes, I hadn’t seen Liv for two and a half weeks, so I went to see Liv,” replied Pete.

“Don’t make this a thing,” said Pete as Sam jokingly feigned shock.

Pete continued: “So I went to see Liv, it was wonderful to see her, been two and a half weeks.”

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A smitten Pete added: “We had a fabulous time. I have really hurt my back because I was backflipping off boats.

“We went for lovely dinners, we went to clubs, we drank a lot, it was magical is probably the best way to describe it.”

Sam was delighted and explained that it was a lovely moment to hear about him and Liv.

He added: “I’m a huge fan of Liv’s”

Pete joked: “Not as big a fan as I am,” as Sam cheered his reponse.

Pete and Olivia were recently spotted all loved-up on a date night as they shared a steamy snog.

This came days after Olivia and Pete made things Instagram official after jetting off to Ibiza together.

The pair – who host a KISS FM radio show together – began dating back in February, following Olivia’s split from husband Bradley Dack.

JESSIE J has announced she’s parted ways from her baby daddy Chanan Colman three years after the birth of their son.

The singer took to Instagram to share the news with fans and revealed they broke up “some time ago.”

BLUSHING bride Mel C has broken her silence on her beautiful countryside wedding – and how bandmate Victoria Beckham played a key part despite missing her big day.

The singer, 52, said I Do to Australian model Chris Dingwall in front of a celeb-packed congregation – including her Spice Girls sisters – in a Georgian country house in Cumbria.

The lavish venue is owned by West End performer Ben Forster, who has been close friends with Mel since they co-starred in the 2013 production of Jesus Christ Superstar. 

Though one face that was noticeably absent from the rural 19th-century estate this weekend was that of Posh Spice, who was at the World Cup Final with husband David in New York.

Though the Wannabe singer turned fashion designer still played a key part in Mel’s wedding traditions – providing her wedding dress as Mel’s “something borrowed”.

The chic gown, which oozed elegance and featured a swooping backline, was plucked straight from Victoria’s collection of her own Victoria Beckham gowns in her wardrobe.

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Mel told Vogue: “Victoria’s dress was my something borrowed.

“It was very special, having her there”.

She added: “I’m not really a girly girl.

“Victoria’s clothes are really feminine in a way that feels comfortable and very me”.

Victoria then told the publication of the chain of events and added: “When I asked what she was wearing, she mentioned she had actually ordered one of my dresses but that it didn’t quite fit, and she didn’t have time to get it altered before leaving”.

She found the same dress in her wardrobe and lent it to Mel.

A source also told the Mail of the frock: “It was a gift from Victoria, they are really close. Victoria would have loved to have been there if she could.”

Meanwhile, Victoria was in New York for the World Cup final clash between Spain and Argentina, in which Spain triumphed 1-0 after extra time.

Mel’s daughter Scarlett, 17, from her relationship with Thomas Starr, was bridesmaid at her special day.

Mel is the last of the girls from the pop group to tie the knot, having met Chris back in 2023 on celeb dating app Raya. 

Mel and Chris have kept a lot of their romance under wraps with fans desperate to know about her relationship with the Aussie star.

She told The Times back in January: “It’s something I didn’t think would be part of my story [marriage], but I’m so happy with Chris”.

BROOKS Nader stole the spotlight at a World Cup final party in New York sporting a thigh-skimming mini skirt and matching crop top.

The American model, 29, chose the striking white co-ord, which showed her toned abs and tanned thighs, for her night out at Zero Bond bar in Lower Manhattan ahead of the clash between Spain and Argentina.

Brooks, who recently showcased her figure in a trendy bikini, oozed glam in her two-piece and ramped up her look with thigh high-heeled boots.

The Baywatch actress styled her blonde hair into loose waves flowing over her shoulders and kept her make-up fresh.

She flashed a smile as she entered the party, hosted by Todd Graves, for the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers event.

She was joined by actress Jessica Alba, who donned a black bandeau dress, and Jake Paul in all-white attire.

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Earlier in the night, Brooks took to Instagram to share behind the scenes glimpses of her getting ready for the night.

She stripped topless for a snap to praise her “dream team” as she posed in front of a cabinet filled with cosmetics.

The IMG Model then covered her modesty with her hands for another sizzling selfie.

Brooks then pulled on her co-ord and captured herself in the midst of a blow dry.

After her lively night, Brooks revealed she was working the following day on the Baywatch set.

Brooks was announced as one of the Baywatch reboot castmembers back in March.

She will be playing Selene, a captain of the Zuma beach lifeguards, according to Fox.

In her latest caption she wrote: “And we’re back, time to save some lives”.

LONDON — Ewan Mitchell shares few similarities with Aemond Targaryen, his unhinged character on HBO’s “House of the Dragon.” The British actor, 29, is soft-spoken, thoughtful and quick with a “thank you.” His hair is currently brown rather than Targaryen blond, although he says the color is actually left over from filming Justine Triet’s upcoming psychological thriller “Fonda.” Although he is very different from the power-hungry second son he plays on TV, Mitchell understands him.

“I always empathize with that little kid in Season 1,” he says, speaking from London’s 180 House on a sunny day in July. “He was this neglected, bullied boy. He was never given a dragon egg. So from the beginning he recognized that he was on the back foot, and he was bullied for being different. What’s nice about Season 3 is it’s showing Aemond’s true colors.”

Early in Season 3, Aemond asserted his dominance over his mother Alicent (Olivia Cooke) with a gasp-inducing kiss on the mouth, a moment Mitchell compares to Michael Corleone’s iconic kiss on Fredo in “The Godfather Part II.” The disgraced prince regent left King’s Landing for Harrenhal in search of Daemon (Matt Smith), only to murder Ser Simon Strong and his sons instead. His fray with the Strong family was triumphant, but left Aemond with a wound in his side. He begged the castle’s mysterious inhabitant Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) to help him before vanishing for the next two episodes.

In Episode 5, Aemond is back. At first, he appears wounded and broken. But he ably defends Alys from a group of invaders, relying on muscle memory and — perhaps — a sense of honor to pay her back for saving his life.

“I liken Harrenhal to the White Lotus of Westeros,” Mitchell says. “It’s a place you go for a retreat. You have all of your toxins drawn out of you. You have to confront them head on. You discover like the darkest, deepest places of yourself. And the general manager of that place is Alys Rivers.”

In Episode 5, Aemond (Mitchell) fights off invaders, saving Alys’ life.

(Theo Whiteman / HBO)

The upcoming episodes will keep Aemond at Harrenhal with Alys and expand on the events of George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book “Fire & Blood,” on which the series is based. Showrunner Ryan Condal wanted to explore what wasn’t in Martin’s fictional history of Westeros.

“We knew from the book that he goes to Harrenhal and effectively disappears, at least from the interactive narrative,” Condal says, speaking later over video call. “It’s thought that he establishes some relationship with Alys Rivers. We had that as a baseline, but the idea was: ‘Where can we take Aemond from here?’”

He adds that there was “a danger of the character becoming an anime villain,” which the writers wanted to undercut. “He looks a certain way,” Condal says. “He has this eye patch. He rides this Godzilla-sized dragon. And he’s done some pretty reprehensible things.”

But the writers wanted to go beyond Aemond’s surface, to “a different place and excavate that trauma and vulnerability.”

Mitchell says Alys is the key to Aemond finding himself. “We know his dragon Vhagar is missing,” he says. “And if Aemond is nothing without his dragon, then does he really deserve her? We’ve got to challenge what we know of the character already … Vhagar was the wind in his sails.”

He compares Aemond with Spider-Man, an oddly aligned character. “With great power comes great responsibility to wield that power,” Mitchell says. “He’s got to be able to show he can control it effectively. That’s what he wanted to prove throughout Season 1 and 2.”

He laughs: “It’s just like ‘Spider-Man 2.’ I find it really interesting building up this character over two seasons to bring him back down.”

“I find it really interesting building up this character over two seasons to bring him back down,” Mitchell says of Aemond, who is facing turbulent times in Season 3.

(Jennifer McCord / For The Times)

Condal adds, “He’s feeling isolated and alone and he possibly has made an enemy of his family. And then this woman saves him. He feels this sudden magnetic draw to her. In the episodes that follow, we will further excavate that relationship. It’s one of the most surprising and engaging and emotional stories we have this season.”

Mitchell first appeared as Aemond, the son of Viserys and Alicent and the brother of Aegon II, in the eighth episode of Season 1. He was originally played by Leo Ashton, who Mitchell says “really set up the character for me.” Production had already begun when Mitchell auditioned, first with a self-tape and then for the producers. Initially, he didn’t know which character he was up for.

“I knew this character was the younger brother and that was like a theme of the first season and going through further seasons,” Mitchell recalls. “The second son out to prove his worth.”

Mitchell’s audition was memorable. “He came into the room in character and he scared all of us,” Condal says. “I remember the first question that I asked [our casting director] after he left was, ‘Is he always like that?’ Because it felt like he had gone to such a dark place just to do the audition. When I spoke to him later, I loved how different the person was on the phone versus the person I met in the room.”

To play Aemond, Mitchell looked at MMA and cage fighters to hone in on the character’s agile, brutal fighting style. He trained physically to make Aemond lean but also strong and imposing. He took inspiration from paintings, including Alexandre Cabanel’s 1847 work “The Fallen Angel,” which depicts the devil after his fall from heaven.

“There’s this tear in his eye and you don’t know if he’s feeling sorry for himself or he’s looking at things to come,” Mitchell says. “Is he thinking about the harm he’s going to inflict in retaliation? That was something I wanted to do in Season 2. It contrasts his muscular physique. It’s a mixture between vulnerability and sheer muscle.”

Season 2 saw Aemond purposefully incinerating his brother, leaving him badly burned, and decimating the Riverlands while on Vhagar. The character was grappling for power, even if it meant brutalizing his own family. Condal hints that a reckoning with Aegon will come.

“In the great tradition of ‘Game of Thrones,’ I feel like that is a fairly safe bet,” he says. “Characters are scattered all over the map and then slowly find themselves being brought back together, but in different forms. That was always something we were talking about doing with Aemond and Aegon.”

To play Aemond, Mitchell looked at MMA and cage fighters to hone in on the character’s agile, brutal fighting style. He also took inspiration from paintings, including Alexandre Cabanel’s 1847 work “The Fallen Angel.” (Jennifer McCord/For The Times)

Mitchell sees Aemond as a product of his circumstances, rather than just a murdering psychopath. He was bullied as a child and coddled by his mother, but never received the unconditional love he craved. He was taken to brothels from an early age. He lost an eye. And he grew up in the midst of a brutal war between the Greens and the Blacks. Now he has to reckon with what he’s done.

“You might not understand all of the things he does,” Mitchell says. “And you might not feel like you’re supposed to understand all the things he does. But you do feel something for him. In the moment he saves Alys, maybe there is a redeemable Aemond in there somewhere.”

Cooke says she loves working opposite Mitchell thanks to his complex approach to the character.

“He has such intensity and helps me as an actor in playing Alicent to feel like I’m completely on the back foot,” she says in a voice memo. “It’s filled with tension trying to guess what he’s going to do. Yet in reality, he is the most gentle, lovely, quiet, beautiful person. He’s a joy to work with and I think he makes such interesting choices outside of ‘House of the Dragon.’”

Between Seasons 2 and 3, Mitchell filmed Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights.” He had previously worked with the filmmaker on 2023’s “Saltburn,” for which he auditioned using a Harold Pinter monologue. For “Wuthering Heights,” Fennell simply texted Mitchell asking him to play Joseph, a servant in the Earnshaw house, whose sexual depravity electrifies Cathy.

Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Alys (Gayle Rankin) share a tender moment in Episode 5.

(Theo Whiteman / HBO)

“I was like, ‘If you asked me to shine your shoes, Emerald, I would do that,’” Mitchell says. “All of her characters are so vibrant and so nuanced, and there is such a vision you see in her films. She’s a one-of-a-kind, singular visionary. I’ve learned so much working with Emerald that I’ve taken forward in my career.”

One of those things was a more playful, loose approach to acting. During his first two seasons of “House of the Dragon,” Mitchell felt locked into a particular performance. “I learned the scripts verbatim,” he says. “Aemond is such a calculating character and everything he does is premeditated. He’s so in control of himself. I found myself offering up the same take every single take.”

After working with Fennell on “Saltburn” and “Wuthering Heights,” Mitchell felt more freedom. She encouraged him to give a range of performances on set, allowing her to find the character during the editing process. He brought that with him to the third season of “House of the Dragon.”

“With Aemond being so unsure of himself, it happened more naturally,” he says. “He’s learning new things about himself. I was really open to finding the scene organically on the day and not coming in with any preconceived choices. And I found so much more enjoyment in it.”

Condal observed Mitchell’s looser approach. “I don’t think Ewan was ever rigid,” Condal says. “But what I saw happen over the seasons was someone learning from their professional experience. As a massive fan of Emerald Fennell’s work, I can see how being in that very different crucible could help him become his best version. We probably demanded the most out of Ewan in Season 3 than any of the other actors.”

Mitchell says working with Emerald Fennell helped him take a looser approach to acting.

(Jennifer McCord / For The Times)

Since wrapping Season 3 last fall, Mitchell has stayed busy. He filmed “The Way of the Runner” in China with first-time filmmaker Yutong Bai, Gareth Evans’ remake of the 1960s Japanese crime film “A Colt Is My Passport” in Wales, Luna Carmoon’s sophomore feature “To Make Ends Meat” in London and Can Aydin’s directorial debut “The Healer” in Budapest. He then flew to France to work with Triet, an experience he loved because she shot on film. “Knowing you’ve only got a limited amount of time, there’s something beautiful about the imperfections of performances,” he says. “There was such a great energy with everyone in the room.”

Mitchell has been attracted to performing for as long as he can remember. Growing up in Derby, England, he admired films like “Citizen Kane” and “Taxi Driver” because they centered on “characters you don’t completely understand.” He appreciates the scope of projects he’s done so far, from the massive scale of production on “House of the Dragon” to smaller art house films.

“I love working as much as I can and learning,” he says. “I’d love to keep working with debut directors. After the recent films I’ve done and seeing ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms,’ it’s really motivating seeing what they can do.”

Although Mitchell looks nothing like Aemond, he is frequently recognized. Someone stopped him on his way here today to ask for a photo. “I think it’s the chin,” he grins. He knows he’s inextricably linked to the character, for better or worse. He can’t give much away about what’s to come in Season 3, but Aemond is certainly not down for the count.

“What makes him so dangerous is that just when you think he has nothing left in the tank, it’s like, ‘Guess again,’” Mitchell says. “It’s not a question of whether he’s going to do evil. It’s inevitable that he will do it. And it will be brutal and it will be fast.”

He pauses, unsure of what he can reveal. “I don’t want to spoil anything,” he says carefully, “but I can’t wait for people to see what Harrenhal has in store for him.”

JENNIFER Lopez sizzled for a naked bathtub snap and suspenders as she celebrated her 56th birthday.

The On The Floor hitmaker was joined by her rarely-seen journalist and TV personality Lynda, who turned 55 last month.

The pop superstar shared a series of snaps on Instagram as she marked her sister’s birthday, while also celebrating her own, as she turns 56 on July 24.

The siblings enjoyed a meal out with friends and a birthday dessert each with a sparkler in it.

Another showed the sisters blowing out multiple candles on a meringue and raspberry pie.

The star then stripped naked as she enjoyed a soak in a bathtub while her sister ate food with her.

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Showing that she’s still got it, Jennifer dazzled in a Dolce and Gabbana black sheer lace bodysuit, fishnet tights and suspenders.

The musician wore a black and gold veil over her head with a huge crown and a gold statement necklace.

She captioned the post: “A double birthday sister trip is always a good idea!! I love you Lynnie!! Happy birthday!!”

Just last week, Jennifer called was called “the most beautiful woman in the world” by fans as she posed braless in a minidress with Erling Haaland.

The singer looked amazing as she posed up a storm while on her travels in Sicily, Italy.

J-Lo showed off her amazing figure and wowed in the plunging number, which she accessorised with a matching bandana and cat eye sunglasses.

She completed the look with a pair of white and black polka dot court show heels.

It comes after the actress attended the Wimbledon Men’s Final in London in a stunning outfit.

She showed off her amazing figure in a cream bodycon maxi dress, oversized Fedora hat and a pair of heels.

And days before J-Lo ditched the bra again in a plunging corset dress at Paris Fashion Week.

The stunning singer was seen strutting her stuff as she headed to dinner with pals.

Jennifer was glowing as she showed off her figure in the plunging halter neck gown, which has a corset-style belt that accentuated her waist.

SOAP actor Jack P Shepherd and his wife Hanni Treweek have given fans a glimpse of their new baby girl.

The Coronation Street star appears in family snaps alongside his press office partner and three-week old daughter.

Alongside the pictures, Jack’s spouse wrote: “The best three weeks of my entire life with my baby girl.”

Looking glowing, the new mum can be seen in various pictures cradling the little one and pushing her pram.

Another photo showed the loved-up new parents sharing a kiss.

While they have kept the baby’s face out of shots, you can see her delicate hands and body in a range of tiny floral dresses.

SOAP BABY

Corrie’s Jack P Shepherd welcomes 1st child with wife Hanni & reveals sweet name

DAD REST

Jack P Shepherd ‘taking break’ from Corrie as he counts down to birth of child

Followers commented: “So gorgeous!!!”

A second added: “Awww, your lives will never be the same again… enjoy every moment of her.”

A third gushed: “Look at those little toes! Precious!”

The David Platt actor and his wife have named their daughter Constance Ita Shepherd.

In February, Celebrity Big Brother winner Jack and Hanni revealed they were expecting their first child together.

Hanni shared the happy news on Instagram with a photo of the newborn and wrote: “Our beautiful baby girl has arrived, born peacefully at home, surrounded by love.”

Jack, who plays David Platt in the ITV soap, met Hanni when she worked behind the scenes on the show.

They tied the knot July 2025 in a stunning wedding ceremony up in Manchester after popping the question in 2024 on safari in Africa.

After years of rejecting the idea of reality TV, Jack finally decided to take the plunge after being offered an impressive pay cheque on Celeb BB.

It’s thought he agreed to take part in Celebrity Big Brother to help pay for his wedding.

Jack entered the house alongside Mickey Rourke, Ella Rae Wise and JoJo Siwa.

The star – who is thought to make £250k a year playing David Platt – previously explained how they fell for each other at a mutual friend’s wedding.

The Coronation Street alumni will make his pantomime debut playing the lead role of the Prince in Sleeping Beauty in North Wales later this year.

The dad-of-three will star as the fairy tale prince starting from December 12 through to January 2.

The reality TV winner has played David Platt on Corrie for 26 years but it will be his first time ever starring in a Christmas panto.

Jack already has three children, two with his ex-fiancee and performing arts teacher Lauren Shippey.

The childhood sweethearts called it quits after 15 years and two children together.

Jack was just 14 years old when he began seeing Lauren.

In February 2009, the couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter called Nyla.

The couple then went on to have another baby, a son called Reuben, in December 2013.