show biz

You know him by his imitators, the ones he hand-picked for the show he made. Arguably the greatest comedy impresario of the modern age, Lorne Michaels, the lip-pursing, imperiously droll Canadian who created “Saturday Night Live,” has curiously enough never seemed like documentary material — there’s always been a strange satisfaction in him remaining an aloof, besuited guru, getting older but seeming beyond mystery. A well-timed impression always felt like enough. We’re laughing about someone we don’t know and there’s an odd purity in that.

Oscar-winner Morgan Neville’s “Lorne” — made with the begrudging OK of its subject as part of the 50th season hoopla — is, therefore, a curious instance of not being all that successful at unraveling the man, yet remaining perfectly enjoyable as a conduit for bite-size chunks of insight from not-so-famous associates and ultra-famous friends. It’s a well-meaning impression of a soul-searching documentary (and only an impression), but impressions can still be plenty entertaining.

Neville hedges his bet by filling us in on Michaels’ spotlight apprehension, making his reticence a through line. Interviewees joke about how inscrutable he is, guess at aspects of his biography, and early on we hear Michaels’ belief that explaining humor is pointless.

But would we have wanted a Jedi of few words to suddenly dissect his many brilliant casting choices or rehash the impetus to conceive the show, when it’s been written about repeatedly and even turned into a feature? Thankfully “Lorne” grasps this and instead decides the best narrative is one of Michaels as a force of stability amid constant change: shielding “SNL” from irrelevance and invasive network overlords, turning his unknowability into a kind of totem-like, hard-earned confidence, taking mentorship of talent seriously and accepting his mockability as the release valve that reinforces his wise stewardship.

Better to have dozens of funny, perceptive interviewees (Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, John Mulaney, Adam Sandler, Lily Tomlin) piece it together, than to expect much from the guy who doesn’t care to self-analyze anyway. Likewise, don’t expect anything noteworthy from a pal like Paul Simon, who would rather be facile about his friendship with Michaels than informative.

Being there for his weekly routine captures something of Michaels’ entrenched schedule, as well as the scary-fast prep swirling around him. Seeing everyone crammed into his office for a howdy-host confab looks like the coolest family get-together. Same with the table read for dozens of mostly-to-be-axed sketches — like a dinner at which everyone’s trying to get Grandpa to laugh. The night-of-broadcast scenes draw you into the tension of finalizing and problem-solving and Michaels’ engagement with all manner of details is captivating.

Neville is smart enough as a documentarian to leave out platitudes, but also to let access to Michaels’ Maine retreat be a vibe rather than some knockout reveal. The result is an ode of sorts to elusive bossdom, where the cryptic may remain cryptic, decoded just enough to let us appreciate the achievement.

You’ll probably go straight from “Lorne” to rewatching notorious moments like the controversial Season 3 “stunt baby” sketch — and this is no doubt Michaels’ preferred outcome. Because, all those impersonations of chilly indifference aside, he will be known by what he got on the air: a legacy of generation-defining comedy that’s more impressive than any dutiful biodoc could ever be.

ZACH Noble’s fans have been left horrified after they spotted a concerning detail in his sweet post with pregnant girlfriend Ava Hirons.

The Love Island star, 28, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a series of pictures of the pair on holiday.

The couple are seen posing up a storm on a boat as they went scuba diving in the blue water and kicked back in the sea for the loved-up snaps.

However, in two pictures, Zach was spotted puffing on a cigarette, which left his fans concerned, especially since Ava, 24, is pregnant with their first child.

One person commented: “Smoking around her is crazy.”

Another Instagram user expressed: “Ok Zacahriah. How are you so into fitness and smoking. Noo not when your about to go into fatherhood. Just NO.”

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Somebody else warned: “Second hand smoke is a thing, be careful.”

Yet another said: “I can’t believe people smoke in this day and age! It’s not like the old days when people didn’t know how harmful it is. You’re going to be a dad c’mon set a good example.”’

While a fifth concerned fan added: “Please don’t smoke around your pregnant girlfriend and especially the newborn.

“Second hand smoke can increase the risk of SIDS massively. Perfect time to try quitting.”

The pair announced they’re expecting their first child together in February as he shared a scan picture on Instagram and penned: “Incoming summer ‘26.”

The two had previously dropped many telltale hints that suggested they had a baby on the way.

On December 18, Zach took to his Instagram stories revealing to fans that he had just received the “greatest news.”

He wrote: “Just found out the greatest news I think I’ve ever received. God must be real. Time to grind like never before.”

That same day Ava, who is daughter of This Morning star Caroline Hirons, took to her own page to repost an Instagram reel about pregnancy fitness training.

She then went on to upload one of her staple TikTok videos of her dancing where a baby bump could be seen peeking out underneath her hoodie.

In the following days, the pair also both followed a host of parenting accounts.

Earlier this week, Zach and Ava announced their baby’s gender with a carousel of recent pictures to tell fans the happy news.

The first photo saw a stripey baby grow, hat, tiny shoes and 3D ultrasound pictures laid out on a bed.

In another snap, the couple cuddled up and beamed in delight.

They were both wearing black but Ava had her hair tied back in a blue scarf…

And, you might have guessed it, Ava and Zach captioned the post: “It’s a boy.”

Elsewhere, the former basketball player was spotted kissing Ava’s growing bump.

Their relationship was confirmed in October after the pair were caught by a TikTok influencer while having a stroll in London.

They solidified their relationship further by moving in with each other last month, in anticipation for the birth of their child.

KATIE Price is in the process of trying to purchase an e-bike after being banned from driving for the seventh time.

The reality star, 47, took to her Instagram story to ask her followers for help finding one but with a specific request in mind – it has to be pink.

Talking to her camera in a black zip up jumper and large sunglasses, Katie shared a video of herself with just one word written over the top: “Help,” in pink text, followed by a red love heart emoji.

She said: “I wonder if anyone out there could help or you know anywhere I can go.

“So I want to get an e-bike but one that I can ride anywhere.

“And I want one in pink where you don’t have to have a road license or anything.

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Katie Price calls fo comic to be cancelled as mocks her disabled son Harvey

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Katie Price’s son Harvey calls her new husband Lee Andrews ‘daddy’

“So if anyone knows anywhere or if you are a company that do e-bikes that I don’t need a license for to ride it on the road or anywhere, and in pink, please DM me.

“‘Cause I really really want one. Just so I can go like to the farm shop, go to the shop, just ride around and take the dog with me.

“And it’s summer coming up and it’s sunny so it would be nice to get myself out and do my cardio. Thank you.”

The plea comes just days after Katie broke her silence on being banned from driving again, saying she’s “livid” and vows to appeal the ban.

Katie was caught speeding at 80mph on the A64 near Strutton in North Yorkshire.

CCTV released by the police showed Katie behind the wheel during the incident on October 15, 2025, the same day she appeared on stage with celeb pal Kerry Katona for An Evening with Katie Price & Kerry Katona at Scarborough Spa.

As a result of the offence, Katie was subsequently prosecuted and convicted of failing to respond to police, landing her with a six-month driving ban and a legal bill topping £1,000.

Speaking on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, Katie shared she was furious and didn’t receive any contact from the police about her speeding.

She said: “I found out I was banned [from driving again] by the papers.

“I am actually livid about that because if I’d got the letters I would have replied to it.”

Katie added that she’s going to “go back and see if [she] can appeal it,” but in the meantime she’s trying to remain positive.

She then added: ”Yeah, or I just think it’s only six months where I live now, I can walk to the shop, the kids schools are ten minutes up the road.

“I get shopping delivered here anyway, because I’m always at home when I work at home.

“So it’s not like in the past where I’ve been stuck right in the middle of nowhere.”

“I’m positive about it and I’ll get my license back and it’ll be completely clear.

“But it’s [a question of] who will insure me after being banned seven times.”

ITV’s The 1% Club host Lee Mack was left mortified after his joke confused a contestant during a Coronation Street question

ITV’s The 1% Club host Lee Mack kicked off the programme with a string of gags, but it soon caused confusion.

While the comedian is no stranger to cracking jokes, one quip proved poorly timed and left a player utterly baffled. The show’s format presents questions to contestants beginning with simpler ones, gradually ramping up in difficulty with each round.

Within the opening minutes, one of the more straightforward questions displayed on screen was a “spot the difference” featuring the Coronation Street set.

Two images were placed side by side, with one reading Rovers Return Pub while the other read Ravers Return Pub. As the 30-second countdown began, he reminded contestants they needed to identify the difference between the two pictures, before quipping: “One’s on the left and one’s on the right.”

Regrettably, one contestant took the remark at face value, convinced he might be dropping a hint and that it was a “trick question”, so she wrote that down.

Lee was utterly gobsmacked when he called out to her in the audience to find out what had gone wrong, only to discover his throwaway joke was the culprit.

The host confessed to feeling rather guilty as he noted: “In the history of the show, no one has taken the joke as the actual clue.” The contestant laughed it off good-naturedly, before Lee asked her, as he does with every player, what she would have spent her winnings on, to which she revealed it would be her house plants.

An embarrassed Lee then told her: “I’m glad you haven’t won. What a waste of money!” before laughing it off and pressing on with the remainder of the programme.

At the close of the show, contestants are given the choice to either pocket £10,000 or take a gamble on the 1% question, which would award them the full prize fund, standing at £94,000, reports the Express.

The 10% question eliminated eight of the nine contestants, leaving just one participant, Tessa, aged only 19, to be offered the opportunity to tackle her 1% question. In a surprising turn of events, she revealed to Lee that she was a hobby opera singer and even treated her fellow contestants to a brief glimpse of her vocal talents.

She ultimately opted to take the safe route and pocket £10,000 rather than risk it all for the £94,000. Had she chosen to proceed, her question would have been: “Using only two letters to fill in the blanks, what is the world below?” With P—E–I-N spelled out. Fortunately for her, she didn’t know the answer and walked away with the £10,000.

The KISS Breakfast radio hosts appeared on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch this weekend

Tyler West and Chloe Burrows made an unexpected admission on Sunday Brunch.

Lorraine presenter Tyler, 30, and Love Island legend Chloe, 30, landed radio host roles on Kiss FM earlier this year, with the pair taking over the Breakfast show from Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely.

Tyler and Chloe made an appearance on the latest episode of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch (April 19), where they spoke to hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer about their radio show.

The pair excitedly spoke about meeting a variety of A-list stars through their new show, including Halle Berry, Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth. Chloe said: “They were so lovely. Everyone’s been really nice.”

Tim then asked: “Who are the rotten ones?” with Tyler issuing a very candid reply.

“Do you know what I’m going to say, I’m not going to say rotten ones. We had a really awkward one, I’m just going to say it, with Ryan Gosling,” he shared.

Chloe added: “Oh god, it was awful! I think he was really jet lagged and we were his first interview of the day, and we are kind of like a massive ball of energy. We’re like punchline, punchline, punchline, and he looked slightly bewildered.”

Tyler said: “He looked so confused. It literally got to the point where we had three minutes left of the interview and [we were] like, ‘Anything you want to chat about?'”

Chloe continued: “He looked for help,” before adding: “He asked us at one point if we’d actually seen the film, so that was good. And we had.”

Tim then noted: “I reckon if you interviewed him tomorrow, he’d be a lovely bloke, do you know what I mean? That’s how it is.”

Following the announcement of his role at KISS, Tyler previously said in a statement: “KISS FAM! The mornings are gonna be unreal! Taking over from my boys Jordan and Perri is huge… but trust me, I’m ready to bring it! It’s time for big laughs and bigger tunes. KISS is where home is – this is your new breakfast show where the door is always open. It’s gonna be carnage!”

Chloe added: “I can’t believe I’m saying this – I’m joining KISS! While I know I’ve got big shoes to fill, stepping into the station that I’ve been a HUGE fan of growing up will feel like being launched into my dream job at 100 miles an hour.

“Being the newbie, I know that working alongside Tyler and a world-class team of producers will give me the perfect introduction. I’m more than ready to bring the laughs and every ounce of energy I’ve got for the KISS Breakfast listeners. I’m buzzing!”

As well as hosting the morning show on KISS, Chloe also recently attended Coachella in California, with the star posting smiling snaps with her best friend Millie Court on social media. They were also joined by Love Island: All Stars winner Samie Elishi, and Sophie Piper.

Sunday Brunch is available to stream on Channel 4, while KISS Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am

Los Angeles — Lisa Rinna said she would return to the “Real Housewives” franchise, but to get her husband Harry Hamlin on board, it would have to involve some big numbers.

“You guys are gonna laugh and think I’m ridiculous, but I was like, ‘I might do it for $5 million,’” Rinna explained. “He’s like, ‘No, 10. $10 million, you can go back.’”

The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum wasn’t afraid to throw shade on a sunny Saturday morning during her panel at The Times’ Festival of Books.

The “You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It” author sat down with Times senior television writer Yvonne Villarreal to talk about Rinna’s journey from soap star to her rise on the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and her recent “The Traitors” fame.

As a “Real Housewife,” Rinna was known for her snappy comebacks and for sharing her candid emotions. Her memoir explores Rinna’s experience during Season 12, which was filmed shortly after the death of her mother, Lois Rinna. Rinna explained that her grief manifested into feelings of “rage.”

“Rage was the first emotion that came. I didn’t expect that. You know, you think you’re going to be in shock, and then you think you’re going to be really sad? Well, I went immediately into rage, and that’s not really very cute,” Rinna said. “But I think my being in grief triggered the housewives, and it triggered the audience.”

After Rinna’s time on “RHOBH,” she joined the cast of Season 4 of “The Traitors.” The show — loosely based on the game Mafia — selects celebrities to be faithfuls and traitors, and the faithful must attempt to discover the traitors. Wearing outfits like her viral cheetah-print ensemble, Rinna skyrocketed to fan-favorite status during her tenure as a traitor.

“So when I decided to do ‘Traitors,’ I was like, ‘Self, listen. You’re gonna go in there and just be you. No Housewives s—, no, none of that reactionary stuff, no, you’re gonna just be you,’” Rinna said.

She also joked that being a traitor was the “highlight” of her year: “I could kill people, I could lie, I could deceive, I could backstab. Heaven.”

Rinna compared the objectives of “RHOBH” to “The Traitors” and the different strategies she had to employ on the franchises.

“‘Housewives’ is not a game. ‘Traitors’ is a game,” Rinna explained. “‘Housewives,’ you just tried to literally protect yourself from the drama and the toxicity. And it’s even though it’s a television show, it’s real. I mean, no one is writing a script for you. You’re dealing with interpersonal relationships and conflict.”

On the first Sunday night of Coachella, headliner Karol G told her American fans, and her global audience, to keep fighting.

“This is for my Latinos that have been struggling in this country lately,” the Colombian superstar told the tens of thousands watching her in person, and many more on the fest’s livestream. She’d recently criticized ICE in a Playboy interview, but this set was about her fans’ resolve. “We want everyone to feel welcome to our culture, so I want everyone to feel proud of where you come from. Don’t feel fear — feel pride!” she said.

Any artist would be proud to play that caliber of headline slot. But right now, many foreign acts also feel fear — or at least wariness — about booking substantial tours in the United States. A year of brutal ICE raids, tensions at border crossings and policed political speech, coupled with sky-high prices for expedited visas, fuel and other touring logistics, could push international acts away from the U.S.

“The fears that ICE would raid shows didn’t really materialize, but there is a chilling effect,” said Andy Gensler, editor of the touring-biz trade bible Pollstar. “Trump’s only been back in office a year, so we haven’t fully seen the effects, but it does send a message that if you’re a political artist you won’t get a visa. With the economic shock of gas prices and tourism way down, the signifiers are out there.”

The music economy is still thriving in SoCal. Coachella sold out with record spending from fans, and fears that ICE might show up for a prominent Latin headliner proved unfounded. (The agency did not respond to a request for comment on Coachella, and Lt. Deirdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff’s office said that their office “does not participate in immigration enforcement operations.”)

But in smaller venues featuring emerging and mid-tier global acts, some see trouble ahead.

Pollstar’s Gensler estimates that the total number of concerts in the U.S. they tracked for the first quarter of 2026 was down about 17% from last year. That could be due to many economic factors — but slower international touring could be contributing.

“The U.S. is still incredibly lucrative market, the arena and stadium level buildings are vast and you can make more money here than any market in the world,” Gensler said. “But I’ve heard anecdotally that fewer people are going to South by Southwest, and tourism from Canada is way down, and that includes music tourism to California. As barriers go up, and the economic shock of gas prices impacts touring, it’s hard to know how that will all shake out.”

Talent firms who specialize in bringing young acts to the U.S. began noticing pullback before this year’s festival season. Adam Lewis is the head of Planetary Group, a marketing agency that produces and promoting musician showcases in the U.S., with a significant roster of artists from abroad. He said that performers who ordinarily would leap at the chance to play U.S. festivals are taking hard looks at the payoffs and risks.

“Artists are thinking twice, based on what the government is doing right now,” Lewis said. “You can look at the economics — the fees are cost prohibitive to get a visa. People are scared, at the bottom line. Artists and industry people are afraid to come to the U.S. for any music event. The money is going elsewhere.”

South by Southwest, the March Texas confab for music, film and tech, was among the first festivals to feel a pinch this year. Several sources said they saw fewer foreign showcases and acts amid a broader culling of music. In 2025, Canada canceled its popular annual showcase, after deciding that hostile policies made the risks not worth the rewards. Many still pulled off successful events, but acknowledged the mood has shifted.

“The perception of how hard it’s gotten has taken root, and that has meant that not as many acts will take the chance on the threat of being turned away or risking future entry,” said Angela Dorgan, the director of Music From Ireland, the Irish Music Export office (which is funded by Culture Ireland). That organization has helped break acts like CMAT (a hit at Coachella this year) and Fontaines DC in the U.S.

“Artists want to continue to come here in spite of the trouble and not stay away because of it. There’s a unique pull to America for all Irish people, so we don’t want to see you hurting,” Dorgan said. ”Irish artists feel that their U.S. fans need music more than ever now and want to continue to connect with and support their fans.”

Takafumi Sugahara, the organizer of “Tokyo Calling X Inspired By Tokyo,” a Japanese showcase at South by Southwest, agreed: “Bringing artists to the United States has always been challenging when it comes to obtaining visas, but it feels like the process has become even more difficult than before — perhaps due to the current political climate under the current administration.”

Fans watch Karol G perform at the Coachella stage last weekend. “We want everyone to feel welcome to our culture, so I want everyone to feel proud of where you come from. Don’t feel fear — feel pride!” the Colombian superstar said.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

After high-profile incidents of tourist detainments and fear of reprisals for political speech, those worries and long-dreaded expenses may shift their priorities. “From my point of view, the impact of global conflicts or wars does not seem to be affecting artists’ decisions very strongly for now,” they said. “However, if the current situation were to worsen, it’s possible that we could begin to see that change.”

Coachella usually hits a few visa snafus every year (this year, the English electronic artist Tourist had to cancel. Last year, it was FKA Twigs). Yet the Grammy-winning Malian Algerian group Tinariwen had to cancel a major tour this year, after the Trump administration placed severe new travel restrictions on 19 countries, including Mali. Folk legend Cat Stevens scotched a book tour after visa problems. Outspoken acts like the U.K.’s Bob Vylan have been denied U.S. visas for criticizing Israel, and the Irish rap group Kneecap faced hurdles after their visa sponsor, Independent Artist Group, dropped them for similar reasons last year.

The Times spoke to one European band (who asked not to be named, for fear of reprisals from the U.S. government) who had a substantial tour of U.S. theaters booked last year, before their visas were denied just days before the tour was due to begin. They were forced to cancel those dates and reschedule for spring 2026, losing tens of thousands of dollars in up-front costs and non-refundable fees. (A performance visa routinely costs $6,000 with now-necessary expedited processing.)

“Our manager said, ‘This has never happened before, but even though you paid lot of money and the check cleared, you won’t have visas,’” the band said. They wondered if their pro-Palestinian advocacy might have played a role, but now believe it was due to changes in their application forms.

That small discrepancy “meant we lost tens of thousands of [dollars], which for a mid-tier band with a loyal cult following, was quite ruinous,” they said. “We had to put on fundraising shows to get to zero, then re-apply for visas, and paid four grand extra to expedite them. We took out a loan to pay it. We felt relentlessly fleeced,” they said. “We love the U.S., but now there is a reality in which we have to cut our losses and stop coming. A lot of bands are giving up on the U.S., for sure.”

“It’s a different feeling now where the U.S. government can do anything to us, and we just have to take it,” they added. “They’re moving the goalposts the whole time. It’s scary.”

That fate can befall even major acts, particularly those from Latin America.

Last year, superstar Mexican singer Julión Álvarez canceled his concert for a planned 50,000 fans in Arlington, Texas, when his touring visa was revoked. Grupo Firme faced a similar fate at the La Onda festival in Napa Valley. Los Alegres del Barranco saw their visas canceled after they projected an image of drug kingpin “El Mencho” during a concert.

“That was a moment where people realize how serious or scary it can get for promoters with this administration when comes to the visa situation, how quickly things can change and you can lose millions,” said Oscar Aréliz, a Latin music expert at Pollstar.

An act the caliber of Karol G might not face quite the same risks, though she told Playboy that “If you say the thing, maybe the next day you’ll get a call: ‘Hey, we are taking your visa away.’ You become bait, because some people want to show their power.”

If it can happen to a stadium-filler like Álvarez, it can happen to anyone. That might make some Latin acts prioritize other regions.

Bad Bunny demurred on touring the continental U.S. for fear of ICE raids at his shows, opting for a lengthy residence in his home territory of Puerto Rico instead.

Local Latin music hubs like Santa Fe Springs and Pico Rivera have suffered greatly under recent ICE raids and have seen fans retreat in fear. Las Vegas is a major touring destination for acts during Mexican independence celebrations in September, but now “it feels different,” Aréliz said. He expects the city — typically boisterous with Latin acts then — to lose a big chunk of music tourism from the north and south.

“Vegas’ top tourist countries are Canada and Mexico, so we’re going to see other countries benefit from this. If acts struggle to tour here because of the visa situation, they’re going to tour Mexico and Latin America instead,” he added.

Tours typically book a year in advance, so the full effects of the visa issues and ICE fears may not be felt until later in 2026 or 2027. The results of the midterm elections may change global perception of America’s safety. The country is still an incredibly valuable touring market for acts that can make it work.

But the world’s music community now looks at the U.S. like an old friend going through a rough patch: They’ll be happy to see us once we pull it together.

“Certainly over the last number of years in the U.S., we have been thinking of where we could find these new audiences for Irish music,” Dorgan said. “The unofficial theme of our at home showcase Ireland Music Week was, ‘America. We are not breaking up with you, but we are seeing other people.’”

JUSTIN Bieber superfan Billie Eilish dramatically dropped to the floor on at Coachella when he brought her out on stage.

At weekend 2 of the desert festival, Billie could be seen crawling up the stage before sitting on a chair in front of her idol, Justin, who she has long been a fan of.

Justin then sang the song One Less Lonely Girl to her midway through his Coachella set.

Billie, who has long been a fan of the Baby singer, looked so emotional as she was serenaded by the star.

On X, fans have reacted to the moment.

One person penned: “THE FACT that it wasn’t planned, literally it was Hailey Bieber herself who pushed Billie Eilish to get on stage and be the OLLG.”

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A second wrote: “No way that Billie Eilish became one less lonely girl in 2026.”

“This is so cute I love how Billie still stays in her fangirl zone around Justin,” said a third.

“Will go down as one of the most iconic Coachella performances ever,” added a fourth.

“She’s such a fan lmao,” penned a fifth.

While a sixth said: “Justin pulling Billie on stage for ‘One Less Lonely Girl’ and holding her like that?? Coachella 2026 just healed my 2015 heart. This is the collab we NEVER knew we needed.”

Billie has long credited Justin as an inspiration, and even grew up as a Belieber.

“He’s amazing. He’s so sweet and, like, I feel – just, honestly, I feel for him, man. He’s been through a lot, dude,” Billie told Ellen DeGeneres previously.

The pair met at Coachella in 2019 and went on to collaborate on the remix to her song Bad Guy.

When the remix came out, Billie shared a photo of her as a teen in her bedroom which had posters of Justin plastered all of the walls.

Alongside the snap, she penned: “BAD GUY FEAT. JUSTIN BIEBER OUT NOWWW OMGFFFFGGG ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE MAN.”

This weekend’s set from Justin marked his second weekend headlining at Coachella this year.

Following his headline set last weekend, the star hosted a blowout bash with wife Hailey and A-list friends.

A source told The U.S. Sun that the party was ultra-exclusive and hosted by Justin’s new fashion brand, Skylrk, which also had a pop-up at the festival.

“Many people were turned down who had previously been invited,” they claimed.

“Promoters also had a lot of girls on their guest lists and I heard Hailey was turning them away.”

Influencer Zach Clayton echoed this by sharing a video on his TikTok showing a guy complaining, “They cut all my guest list off.”

He explained he invited 20 girls and they were all denied, joking that Hailey is a “boss,” and she was likely the reason they were not given access to the private event.

The former England footballer is said to be in talks to appear on Celebrity Traitors following the success of series one which saw Alan Carr crowned winner

Peter Crouch successfully pivoted from being a legendary footballer to a broadcaster, showing off his wit and likability. And over the years he has extended his fanbase.

So it comes as no surprise that he has now caught the attention of BBC bosses who have earmarked him to appear in the next series of Celebrity Traitors.

According to reports, the ex England footballer, 45, is one of the major names that had been thrown into the mix as bosses want the same level of success that was generated off the back of series one.

On the first celebrity spin show which aired last year, Alan Carr fought off all his contenders to be crowned winner back in November.

A source told The Sun: “Producers think Peter would be brilliant. He’s sporty, competitive and really funny.”

They added: “They know landing him would be a big coup and bring a new type of viewer to the series.” If it is confirmed that Peter is part of this year’s line-up, he is set to make history as the first ex professional footballer to be signed to the show.

Peter has previously shown interest in the show. He once said: “I love Celebrity Traitors but I don’t know if I could go on it. I’d be a traitor. Being a traitor is the one.”

This comes after the show’s host Claudia Winkleman confirmed that a number of high profile names had been presented to her ahead of filming series two.

While on The One Show to promote her new BBC chat show, she was asked if there were a number of big names set to appear on the upcoming game show.

She replied saying: “There certainly are. The people who make it are extraordinary and they had to repeat the people twice to me because I was like, ‘Huh, are you joking? Come again.’ So, we’re incredibly lucky.”

She added: “Yeah, I hope so. We’re so grateful that people want to come and play the game. And the people who said yes for series one, I still can’t believe it.”

Claudia continued: “I was shaking when you see Stephen Fry walking around the castle and Alan Carr, Ruth Codd, all of these people I was obsessed by. I’m very excited. But I can’t say anything else, don’t make eye contact with me.”

Ahead of the official confirmation a number of names have reportedly been shortlisted in the hope of joining the show. The first being iconic actor Stephen Graham, famed for the success of A Thousand Blows and Adolescence.

A TV insider reportedly told the Daily Mail: “They are absolutely desperate to nail down Stephen for the show. He would be their star signing. He is one of the most formidable actors of our generation, and the nation adores him, but no one really knows what he’s like as a person, so there is a definite hunger among viewers to see what he is like in a more reality-based setting.”

Earlier this year, it was speculated that Danny Dyer, best known for his role as Mick Carter in EastEnders, was also being lined up. Previously, the actor had shown no interest in the game show until he saw the first series with Alan Carr as champion.

Another source told the publication: “Danny was always top of The Celebrity Traitors wish list but had zero interest until seeing the fun and games last autumn. As soon as his tune changed, it was all systems go.”

They added: “Danny is a reality TV booker’s dream signing and will be incredible value, as he’s naturally funny but in a totally different way to Alan Carr.”

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For the first time, BBC will air the first ever full-length series of the show – six episodes filmed across six weeks – as the celebrities will face a range of weekly business challenges set by the business mogul

The Celebrity Apprentice line-up has been confirmed, with TV presenter Gethin Jones, singer Alexandra Burke and Love Island star Toni Laites all set to face Lord Sugar.

For the first time ever, BBC will air the first ever full-length series of the show – six episodes filmed across six weeks – as the celebrities face a range of weekly business challenges set by the business mogul.

Competing for the chance to win a £100,000 donation to a charity of their choice, they will each be hoping to prove their business acumen and ultimately be crowned The Celebrity Apprentice winner.

There will be another change to this star-studded series – the boardroom will relocate to a London City skyscraper, providing a distinctive new setting for Lord Sugar’s final deliberations.

The full line up includes Alexandra Burke, actor Danny Miller, presenter Gethin Jones, dancer and presenter Jordan Banjo, journalist Kay Burley, actress and online personality Maddie Grace Jepson, presenter, podcaster and content creator Max Balegde, Gladiator Sheli McCoy, UK garage legend DJ Spoony, TV and BBC Radio 2 presenter Richie Anderson, comedian and writer Laura Smyth and television personality Toni Laites.

Lord Sugar said: “We’ve not done anything like this before, and it’ll be entertaining to see these 12 celebrities being put through six weeks of some brilliant business challenges. But just because they’re celebrities, it doesn’t mean they’re going to get an easy ride, especially when there’s £100,000 at stake for their chosen charity.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC says: “This brand-new full-length series of The Celebrity Apprentice takes everything audiences love about the format and turns the pressure right up. This year’s celebrities arrive with strong reputations – but in the boardroom, status counts for nothing.

“They’ll be tested on leadership, teamwork and commercial instinct, and only those who can truly deliver will make it through. It’s bold, unpredictable and hugely entertaining – and viewers are in for a brilliant ride.”

Broadcast details for The Celebrity Apprentice will be confirmed in due course. The announcement comes after Karishma Vijay was crowned the winner of the BBC business show last week after an all-female final, which saw her battle it out for Lord Sugar’s coveted investment against Pascha Myhill.

Karishma, from Surrey, recounted the moment Lord Sugar told her she had won and would be receiving his £250,000 investment, and said: “I was so blown away, so shocked – but I kept it very cool. Then, I got in my car and I was screaming. It was just insane – I can’t believe I’ve gone and done it after not having watched the show, I feel like that’s so cheeky.”

Explaining his decision on the hit BBC show, Lord Sugar said: “As always, it was close competition in the final after two outstanding pitches by two brilliant young businesswomen. But Karishma really impressed me throughout the process and has proven why she deserves my investment. She’s a proper grafter and she’s got that entrepreneurial spirit that I always look for. The cosmetics industry is one I know a lot about, and I know our partnership will pave the way for a bright future.”

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JESY Nelson’s £100k car packed with her sick twins’ life-saving hospital equipment has been stolen from outside her home.

The former Little Mix star begged fans for help in trying to locate the missing vehicle.

She wrote on social media: “My car got stolen off of my drive way in the early hours of this morning.

“If anyone sees a black defender Reg plate JJ73SSY please if any of you have seen or know of any information can you dm me or contact the police .

The 34-year-old gave birth to her daughters Story and Ocean in May last year following a high-risk pregnancy.

The girls were later diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 — the most severe form of a rare disease (SMA) affecting muscle strength and movement.

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This causes an individual to lose the ability to walk, eat and breathe.

Jesy added in her post: “I have so much of my girls hospital equipment in that car that’s really needed.”

SUPERSTAR Cher was left “speechless” when she found out she had a secret granddaughter aged 15.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, the girl’s mum Kayti Edwards says she told the chart legend the bombshell news in an emotional phone call last year.

Ex-model Kayti had a brief romance with 79-year-old Cher’s second son Elijah Allman in 2010 which led to the birth of their daughter, Ever.

Kayti, who lives on a ranch in Joshua Tree, California, explained: “Cher got in touch with me last June and asked if it was true, so I had to confess.

“She said she had heard something about it from Elijah back in 2021, but didn’t know if it was just crazy talk.

“When she heard the news, she was speechless.

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“Cher told her family, ‘Oh my God, I’m finally a grandma’.”

Kayti, 49, said she had been friends with Elijah, also 49, for years but they briefly became romantically involved.

The mum-of-four explained: “Elijah and I spent the night together and I fell pregnant.

“He always knew from day one, but he never wanted to be a parent.

“He would pop in every couple of years but would just say hello.

“It wasn’t until 2021, when he overdosed on drugs, that he blurted out to his then-wife that he had a child.

“This is what started the rumours in the family.

“He then sent me a text message to say he wanted to make amends.”

But Kayti says her husband has been Ever’s “true father” throughout her life.

She said: “She has a father who has raised her from day one and that is her dad. I couldn’t ask for a better father for my kids.”

Guitarist Elijah’s history of drug addiction was made public after Cher filed for an emergency conservatorship in 2023.

She claimed he was “substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health issues”.

The pair later resolved the matter privately.

But in June last year, Elijah — who is Cher’s son from her second marriage to the late musician Gregg Allman — was hospitalised for several days after a second overdose.

Kayti explained: “He came back into my life just recently.

“I didn’t know anything about his state.

“But he asked me if he could come to Joshua Tree as he needed to get out of Hollywood.

“As soon as he stepped out of the car, I knew he wasn’t well.

“A few weeks later, he overdosed and was hospitalised, and this was when Cher got in touch.

“She wanted to know what had happened and then she asked me if it was true regarding Ever.

“That’s when I had to tell her the situation.”

Kayti, who owns a horse rescue centre, told how Cher invited her and Ever to her Malibu home last September.

“We went to the house and stayed the night,” she said.

“She was lovely and kind and we had dinner.

“Cher asked Ever if she wanted to see her closet and showed her a pair of jeans she had worn in concert.

“It was a cool experience for her.

“Cher was very childlike.

“They played in the pool and she spoke to Ever about school and asked her about boys.

“She was like a kid herself.”

The Believe hitmaker, who played a glamorous gran in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, has previously told how she longed to be a grandma.

On the 2018 press tour for Mamma Mia!, the singer said: “I don’t have any grandchildren.

“I wish I did, I really do.”

Kayti said Cher is still “processing the news” after the shock reveal, but she and Ever — who is a straight-A student — are building a relationship.

She went on: “Cher sent her a Christmas card and present.

“It was a Chrome Hearts hoodie.

“And then for her birthday, she sent her some money and Chrome Hearts sweats.

“She called her and they spoke on the phone.

“Cher is really trying.

“It’s an adjustment and I’m not pushing any relationship.

“It has to come naturally.

“Elijah and his wife always said Cher didn’t want to be a grandma and to keep Ever away, so I was nervous to introduce her, but it’s been nothing but a good experience.”

Kayti said Elijah wanted to be a part of Ever’s life, which is why he went to Joshua Tree.

She said: “He wanted to see her and have a relationship with her, but he wasn’t in any fit state.

“She thought he was just a family friend at that point.

“I had to shelter her from him and, when he gets better, he will appreciate that.

“Cher is also very protective of Ever and the family dynamic and she knows Elijah’s state and wants to protect that from her, too.

“He needs to get back to being the guy I once knew, and Cher agrees.

“We need to get him better.”

Kayti told Ever that Elijah was her father last month when rumours started to swirl after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting someone at an elite school.

Elijah reportedly told cops he was a “prospective father”, which caused mass speculation online.

Days later, he was arrested again for allegedly breaking into a house.

He is currently in jail awaiting trial in New Hampshire.

With her voice cracking, Kayti said: “Elijah did this.

“I’m only speaking about this now because I want this to be my story.

“I would have kept it under wraps.

“I have to say, Cher loves her son.

“He needs help and, regardless of what anyone says, she goes to any lengths to help him.”

Kayti, who is the step-granddaughter of Mary Poppins star Julie Andrews, said: “I know what it’s like to have a famous grandma and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

“I craved the ideal of grandma baking cookies in the kitchen with me, but it wasn’t like that.

“We had cooks and were raised by nannies.

“To talk to my grandma, I had to call her assistant.

“They are busy women in Hollywood.

“It’s not a normal life and I never wanted that for Ever.

“But I think she thinks Cher is pretty cool — I mean, she’s a pretty cool grandma.”

Cher is reportedly in talks with Netflix over a TV documentary deal worth £12.6million.

The singer, who turns 80 in May, found fame in 1965 as part of the folk-rock duo Sonny & Cher, with her first husband Sonny Bono.

She went on to become one of the best-selling music artists in history.

Kayti added: “We are dealing with Elijah and once he gets settled and in a place that is more stable, we can sit down and talk about this situation.

“I don’t want this to change Ever’s life.

“We all need to heal.”

ROBBIE WILLIAMS could be getting back in the studio — this time with boyband Blue.

It comes after Rob wrote the lads’ new single Flowers, which is on the setlist for the UK leg of their 25th Anniversary world tour.

Biz on Sunday’s Emily caught up with Blue members
Antony Costa, Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, and Duncan James at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, West London, this week.

The band are on their milestone tour following the release of seventh studio album Reflections.

Antony said: “We would love to work with Robbie’s people and that is the conversation that is happening.

“Karl Brazil (Robbie’s music director) is very much on our side.

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“He is championing Blue and us and the lads have spoken to Karl separately and together.

“You never know, watch this space.”

Antony revealed that Robbie reached out to the band after watching their story on the BBC documentary Boybands Forever.

He said: “It resonated with him because we were all young and he was a young lad in Take That.

“Take That went on a different journey than us, but we still wanted that same goal.

“Robbie has always been there and he’s been a big supporter of me and the boys.”

Duncan said: “We’re so lucky that after 25 years we’re still getting to sell out gigs, still touring around the world and we’ve got the adoration from the fans.

“We’ve had the nod from Robbie to write that song for us, so it’s almost like the industry is opening the door again and we’re feeling the love.”

Of their new hit Flowers, Duncan added: “A lot of people have said it sounds like a Robbie song as well.”

Blue are one of the few bands still touring with an original line-up.

Simon said: “One of the reasons we have stood the test of time is all four of us wanted to be in a boyband.

“Most are full of members who want to be solo artists but weren’t good enough.

“So all of a sudden you’ve got egos.

“We don’t understand why bands argue or why they don’t get on because when you’re a team, you’re a team player.”

The boys are playing at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea on June 11.

I will get my prosecco and picnic blanket ready.

Tickets are on sale at myticket.co.uk.

Meanwhile, the band revealed Ellie Goulding got them to perform at her 70s-themed baby shower in January, ahead of the birth of her daughter Iris.

The boys sang their 2002 track One Love with Ellie.

Duncan added: “We didn’t realise she was a big fan of our music.”

SAM THOMPSON is stepping down from his role on Love Island: Aftersun.

The 2023 I’m A Celeb winner has been a panel regular on the spin-off since his stint in the jungle.

But an insider revealed: “Sam’s schedule is jam-packed and producers are going in a different direction so there’ll be a bit of a shake-up on Aftersun.

“ITV is really keen on harnessing new talent, especially plucking from its pool of influencers and TikTokkers to boost ratings.

“Sam may well return as a guest, but he won’t be a regular.”

A spokeswoman for Sam said: “He absolutely loved his time as part of the Love Island team and the show will always have a special place in his heart.”

NOEL SHOWS HIS SCENTS OF STYLE

NOEL GALLAGHER might have a thing for cigarettes and alcohol – but he also likes more refined smells, too.

The Oasis great shares the same taste in scent as suave Thirties and Forties playwright and composer Noel Coward.

He visited bespoke perfumer Azzi Glasser at her London studio.

Azzi, who has created scents for Kylie Minogue, Tom Hardy And Jude Law, charges £1,500 for a “fragrance workshop” to create a one-off scent to match your personality.

Noel spent £400 on candles and chose Vetiver scent by Floris London – favoured by Noel Coward.

Azzi revealed that Noel is also a fan of her £259 Mystere Vetivert.

She said: “It smells like you’re wearing a million dollars.”

IS THAT MADGE? CORSET IS

MADONNA returned to Coachella in the same jacket and corset she performed in 20 years ago as she joined Sabrina Carpenter for her headline set on Friday.

The sparkling duo performed the Queen of Pop’s hits Vogue and Like A Prayer before launching into a new song, I Feel So Free, from Madonna’s long-rumoured new album, Confessions II, set for release on July 3.

Madonna was delighted to stand four inches taller than Sabrina, who is just under 5ft.

She told the crowd: “The other thrilling thing I need to point out to everybody right now is this is probably the first time I’ve ever performed with someone who’s shorter than me.

“So, thank you for giving me that experience.”

In response, Sabrina shouted, “Amen!”.

Cute as a button.

’ROACHES ROLLING OUT AGAIN?

ROLLING STONES fans reckon there could be live dates on the horizon under their alias, The Cockroaches.

Rumours started after the rockers updated their website to include a poster of a 1977 surprise gig at El Mocambo Club in Toronto, attended by Princess Margaret , which was billed as a gig by The Cockroaches.

Keith Richards also posted a cryptic comment saying: “Great fun though huh?

A good rhythm section, a couple of mates, where else can you go.”

A source said: “There is a lot of buzz about this as next year it will be 50 years since the Stones last played live as The Cockroaches.”

TALIA MAR is hoping to work with DJ Sigala again.

The pair collaborated on 2022 dance track Stay The Night.

Asked if she would like to work with him this year, Talia told me: “Oh my God, yes. I was talking to him the other day. He is summer. I was like, ‘Can we get some new music please, because it is summer?’.”

Talia who has released new track Lady, will play at London’s Courtyard Theatre on May 16.

She said: “I want it to be really casual, I don’t want it to be glitz and glamour.

“Stripping it down is a really lovely moment.”

TIM’S CHILL TIME DOWN TO A TEE

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET has been enjoying some chill-out time on the beach.

After watching Justin Bieber at Coachella with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner last weekend, he headed for Miami to relax.

The Marty Supreme actor paid homage to his movie with a “Supreme” Wu-Tang Clan tee.

Tim was later seen catching some rays shirtless and sipping on a Coke.
Lovely.

Professional pickpocket Lee Thompson left Amanda Holden open-mouthed when he admitted his real age on stage

A skilled pickpocket who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent tonight (April 18) left the judging panel gobsmacked within moments of stepping onto the stage.

Lee Thompson, from Birmingham, delivered a slick routine in which he repeatedly lifted Ant and Dec’s phones, glasses and room keys without them having the faintest idea.

He was also shown secretly planting wristwatches in the bags and pockets of audience members after posing as a security guard in a pre-recorded segment — and even managed to pull one over on the judging panel backstage, Simon Cowell included.

Yet it wasn’t his nimble fingers that first left the panel speechless — it was his age. Within moments of stepping out on stage, he had Amanda Holden in particular utterly open-mouthed.

“You look very dapper,” Amanda began as the performer first walked out. He swiftly fired back: “Oh! Do I look my age?”, reports Wales Online.

“I don’t know, how old are you babes?” the judge quipped, prompting Lee to reveal: “I’m touching 60.”

The admission left Amanda visibly stunned as she shot back with a “You’re not! Are you?” in sheer disbelief. Simon, clearly equally impressed, then weighed in with: “You look good.”

Following that exchange, he went on to wow the entire panel with his act, earning himself the title of the “modern-day Artful Dodger” from Amanda.

Remarkably, Lee was actually employed as a Pickpocket Consultant on Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series on Prime Video, which follows a young Sherlock Holmes as he finds himself trying his hand at pickpocketing after being inspired by the story of Oliver Twist.

Viewers at home were equally taken with the performer, with one writing: “This is genuinely amazing. Even if he might be incriminating himself.” A second enthused: “That was clever, funny and amazing….good job.”

While Lee breezed through to the next round with four yes votes from the judging panel, some viewers questioned why he wasn’t awarded the prized Golden Buzzer, which grants an act a direct pass through to the live final.

Fans were outraged this evening after KSI awarded his Golden Buzzer to a contentious act. Comedy performer Mr Cherry, 44, kicked off his routine by opening a jar of pickles before subsequently uncorking wine bottles with his buttocks.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t know about you but that was the greatest thing I have ever seen,” KSI declared, as disgruntled viewers swiftly branded his choice the “worst Golden Buzzer” act ever put through on the programme.

Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday nights from 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX. All episodes can be streamed on ITVX after broadcast.

As BBC marks what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, Peter Phillips says that his grandmother stunned them all in 2012

As the nation remembers Queen Elizabeth II on what would have been her 100th birthday next week, one grandson has given fresh insight into the subterfuge that went into her astonishing James Bond moment from the 2012 Olympics.

Peter Phillips was gripped by the scenes, along with the rest of the nation, in which the monarch comes face to face with Daniel Craig’s 007, before they seemingly parachute into the stadium from a helicopter.

But speaking in a new BBC documentary, Peter says even the family were kept totally in the dark about the extraordinary stunt. “When the clip first started we were like, ‘I wonder who they’ve got playing the Queen?’ And then she turned around. And we were like ‘wow’. It was sheer amazement. That was one of the best-kept secrets, because literally nobody knew.”

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The tribute film, which airs tomorrow, takes viewers through all the key moments of her reign, with insights provided by leaders, celebrities, experts and loved ones.

Queen Camilla speaks of her deep admiration for her late mother-in-law. Looking back at how she came the first female member of the royal family to join the army full time, when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the war, Camilla says: “I think duty has over-ridden everything. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody have a sense of duty like she had.”

Ex-US president Barack Obama agreed, commending the late Queen’s “combination of a sense of duty, with a very human quality of kindness and consideration and a sense of humour”. He adds: “I think that’s what made her so beloved, not just in Great Britain but around the world.”

Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair also had deep respect for Elizabeth II. “She was not a queen, but the queen,” he says. “I don’t think we’ll see her like again.”

Camilla recalls that celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee in February 2022, just as the Covid pandemic finally came to a close, was particularly joyous coming, as it would turn out, just a few months before the Queen’s death.

“I remember there were thousands and thousands of people lining the streets and lining The Mall – we were all looking for something to cheer us all up,” she says. “People hadn’t been out, they’d been stuck in their houses so it was an incredible jubilee. She was very much centre stage, I’ve never seen anything like it. Everybody was in a good mood.”

Helen Mirren, who put in as Oscar-winning performance as Elizabeth II in The Queen, agrees that the monarch’s profound sense of duty came naturally to her and says her death in 2022 left many feeling bereft. “She’d become such an intrinsic part of the tapestry of our life, it was as if you were going to pull a thread and the whole thing was going to fall apart.”

To research the role for the 2006 movie, Helen studied hours of footage, including plenty of when the monarch was a child. She laughs when shown an archive reel of a three-year-old Elizabeth. “I’ve never seen this before, so young! And her hair is almost the same as when she died. That’s incredible.”

Another clip shows Elizabeth aged around 10. “When I played the Queen I watched a particular piece of film over and over again of her getting out of a big black car,” the actress explains. “You see how she steps forwards and does what she knows she’s supposed to do, which is shake hands. She naturally had a sense of self control and duty.”

That innate sense of how to behave was again in evidence when Elizabeth’s father, George VI, died suddenly while she and her new husband Prince Philip were just six days in to a tour of the Commonwealth in 1951. Returning swiftly to Britain, she was filmed smiling and shaking hands with the many top-hatted, male politicians who were on the tarmac to greet her.

“She’s only just been told that her beloved, beloved father has died without her being there,” Helen 80, says. “I think that would have been so devastating to her, that she never had the chance to say goodbye.What you see happening is the duty stepping in, she does exactly what she’s supposed to do.”

Camilla is also astonished to see how calm and composed the young queen looks in this challenging moment, when she is dealing with her own grief. “It must have been so difficult being surrounded by much older men. There weren’t women prime ministers or women presidents, she was the only one. So I think she carved her own role.”

Over the course of her life Elizabeth faced plenty of difficult times, including the marriages of three of her children ending in the same year and the loss of many loved ones.

When her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh, died during the pandemic, the Queen refused to break the rules governing the nation and instead broke hearts as she sat at his funeral all alone. Watching the sad clip of his isolated grandmother, Peter Phillips says all he wanted to do at the time was “give her a hug”.

But there were also times when the Queen came in for criticism rather than sympathy, never moreso than after the death of Princess Diana in 1997, when she opted to remain at Balmoral for more than a week rather than return to London.

BBC royal presenter Kirsty Young remembers: “There was tangible anger. Whether it was the flag being brought down to half mast or the Queen making a statement, these things were not happening. There was radio silence. There was a sense in which people might almost storm the gates of the palace.”

But the Queen then turned public opinion around with her heartfelt TV broadcast to the nation. Describing the former monarch as “quietly radical”, Kirsty adds: “I think the address by the Queen after the death of Diana illustrated beautifully that she had an ear to the public and that she was willing to do things that had never been done before.”

Blair agrees it was one of the Queen’s most challenging moments. “We had a series of really intense conversations where the Queen was having to balance the impact on her family, on her grandchildren, with the need to respond to what was a national mood at the time. Her genius was, in a way, to steer the monarchy through all of that whilst not really changing much herself.”

For her part, actress Helen believes the Queen was absolutely right to stay with her grandsons after the devastating loss of their mother. “I think she was right to stay in Balmoral with the children and then when she came out and did the very difficult walk with the flowers and everything, that was the right thing to do.”

Born just a couple of weeks after the Queen, Sir David Attenborough was running the BBC at one point in the late 1960s when it was decided the royals needed to become more relatable. This led to the BBC documentary Royal Family, an early example of reality TV, where they let the cameras in. “There was a feeling that the royal family was getting a bit remote and I remember the discussions we had in the BBC, that the image of the family should be softened in some way,” Sir David explains. It was huge hit with more than 30million UK viewers tuning in – but afterwards the Queen regretted her decision to display their private lives. The series has not been shown since the 1970s, with Elizabeth ordering it was locked away in the royal archives.

But tonight viewers can see rare clips from the series, showing a relaxed Philip cooking sausages and the queen laughing and joking with her children.

– Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century, BBC1, 9pm, Sunday

MODEL Lottie Moss has revealed she went back on fat jabs despite ending up in hospital and having a seizure the last time she tried them.

The 28-year-old admitted to injecting Mounjaro, but gave it up for being “too expensive”.

Lottie, the younger half-sister of supermodel Kate Moss, said: “I went on Ozempic for a bit and Mounjaro for a bit and then I came off it and I just gained all the weight back because it got really expensive.

“I’m not wasting £300 a month on that s***.”

She weighed only nine stone when she took Ozempic in 2024 and ended up in A&E.

At the time she said: “I felt like I was dying – I’ve never had a seizure before.

“It wasn’t worth it.”

Speaking on her vlog, the former OnlyFans star added: “Weight is something I’ve always struggled with. I wake up in the morning and it’s the first thing I think about.

“I look in the mirror and I’m like, ‘How do I look?’

“Weight’s always been a really big thing for me, especially with modelling, so feeling good in my weight and myself – I know I’m not an unhealthy size – it’s just something I personally want to improve on.”

The “Coachella of books” has arrived. The biggest literary event in the country, the L.A. Times Festival of Books, kicked off at USC this weekend. The 31st annual event features more than 500 authors, including Lionel Richie, Tina Knowles, Larry David, Pat Benatar, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott and more. Several of these talented individuals stopped by the L.A. Times photo studio to have their portraits taken between spirited panel discussions and book signings.

Here are some portrait highlights from the 2026 Festival of Books:

Lisa Rinna author of “You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It.”

Morgan Hutchinson and Brett Hutchinson.

Daniel Humme and Roda Ahmed.

Rachel Renee Russell, Presli Noelle James, Kim James, Nikki Russell and Cori James.

Chet’la Sebree 2026 finalist for the LA Times Book Prize in Poetry for her collection “Blue Opening.”

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein.

Tens of thousands of readers of all ages, from toddlers clutching picture books to longtime fans carrying armfuls of paperbacks, fanned out across the USC campus Saturday for the opening day of the 31st Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, packing panels and lining up to see favorite authors and celebrity guests.

It was too early to know how many people attended the first day of the event, billed as the country’s largest literary festival, though organizers said they expect between 150,000 and 155,000 attendees over the weekend. By late morning, the campus was already bustling, with strong turnout expected for appearances by author T.C. Boyle and actors Sarah Jessica Parker and David Duchovny, among others.

Founded in 1996 and spread across eight outdoor stages and 12 indoor venues, the festival has become a fixture on Los Angeles’ cultural calendar, bringing together more than 550 storytellers for panels, author interviews, book signings, performances and screenings spanning a wide range of genres, from children’s story times to cooking demonstrations.

This year’s lineup features a broad mix of writers, performers and public figures, including comedian Larry David, musician Lionel Richie, multihyphenate businesswoman (and Beyoncé’s mother) Tina Knowles, author and social critic Roxane Gay and scholar Reza Aslan.

Under sunny skies, actor and reality TV personality Lisa Rinna brought humor and a bit of bite to a 10:30 a.m. conversation on the festival’s main stage. The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum released her second memoir, “You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It,” in February, chronicling her time on the show and her recent turn on Season 4 of Peacock’s reality competition series “The Traitors.”

Reflecting on her approach to “Traitors,” Rinna said she wanted to strip away the conflict-driven persona she had cultivated on “Real Housewives” and present a more unfiltered version of herself. “I was like, ‘Self, listen. You’re gonna go in there and just be you. No housewife s—, none of that reactionary stuff.’ ”

In conversation with Times senior television writer Yvonne Villarreal, Rinna also spoke candidly about the loss of her mother, Lois Rinna, in 2021 and how her grief manifested in a feeling of rage while she was filming Season 12 of “Real Housewives.”

“It really took me by surprise,” she said. “And you have to give space for it because you can’t make it go away. … They always say time heals, but time makes everything just a little less intense.”

At a noon panel titled “Fire Escape: Wildfires and the Changing Geography of Southern California,” moderated by Times climate and energy reporter Blanca Begert, author and former wildland firefighter Jordan Thomas said the scale and frequency of California wildfires have shifted dramatically in recent decades.

“The vast majority of the largest wildfires in California’s recorded history have happened just in the past 20 years,” said Thomas, author of last year’s National Book Award finalist “When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World.” “While I was a hotshot, there were three of those fires burning simultaneously, including a million-acre fire — more than used to burn across the entire American West over the course of a decade.”

In the early afternoon, former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams spoke with moderator Leigh Haber about artificial intelligence and voter suppression in front of an enthusiastic, packed crowd at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.

Abrams’ latest Avery Keene novel, “Coded Justice,” came out last year and explores the role of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry. AI has already become enmeshed in everyday life, she said, asking audience members to raise their hands if they had used TSA PreCheck or a streaming service.

“AI is a tool … but it is created by someone, it is programmed by someone, it is controlled by someone,” she said. “Regulation is not about slowing down progress. It is about asking questions and saying that in the absence of answers, we’re going to put on reasonable restraints that we can revisit.”

Abrams also revealed that her next book, the fourth in her Avery Keene thriller series, will focus on prediction markets.

“I write Avery Keene novels to tell stories about social justice, but I put it in a form that’s accessible to people who don’t think that they are social justice people,” Abrams said. “I want to meet people where they are, not where I want them to be.”

She also encouraged audience members to push back against voter suppression and defend democracy by volunteering at polling places — even in reliably blue districts — warning that she believes masked paramilitary groups will be allowed to patrol voting locations and target people of color in the upcoming midterm elections.

The festival kicked off Friday evening with the 46th Los Angeles Times Book Prizes ceremony at Bovard Auditorium, emceed by Times columnist LZ Granderson, recognizing both emerging voices and established writers.

Winners were announced in 13 categories for works published last year. Find a full list of winners here.

Oakland-born novelist Amy Tan, whose work often explores identity and the Chinese American immigrant experience, received the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement, and the literary nonprofit We Need Diverse Books received the Innovator’s Award for its work promoting diversity in publishing.

Accepting her award, Tan, author of the 1989 bestseller “The Joy Luck Club,” said that as a birthright citizen, she had never questioned her place in the country until recent debates over citizenship and belonging led her to reconsider whether she is, in fact, a “political writer.”

“My birthright and that of millions of others is now being argued before the Supreme Court, and no matter what the outcome is, it’s been a kick in the gut to know that those in the highest echelons of government and those who support them believe that we don’t belong.”

Tan said that as an author, “I imagine the lives of the people I write about,” and that act of compassion “reflects our politics and our beliefs. And so yes, I am a political writer.”

Addressing the attendees, Times Executive Editor Terry Tang pointed to the breadth of the weekend’s programming as an opportunity for connection and discovery. “If you take in just a fraction of these events, it will expand your mind,” she said. “This weekend gives all of us a chance to celebrate a sense of unity, purpose and support.”

The festival runs through Sunday. More information, including a schedule of events, can be found on the festival’s website.

The movie is beloved by viewers and critics with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes

A historical post-war film has been hailed as “one of the most beautiful movies ever made.” This film follows a young Irish woman who is torn between two worlds in the 1950s. Critics and audiences alike have praised its emotional precision and timeless appeal.

Boasting an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Brooklyn (2015) is the perfect weekend watch. It is now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. However, viewers only have 19 days left to catch the film.

In the 1950s, young Irishwoman Eilis Lace (played by Saoirse Ronan) leaves her small hometown for a new life in Brooklyn, drawn by the promise of opportunity in America.

Though she initially struggles with homesickness, she gradually adapts. Eilis eventually falls in love in Brooklyn, and embraces her independence.

However, a sudden family emergency calls her back to Ireland, where she becomes entangled once again in the life she left behind.

Caught between her past and her future, Eilis must choose between two countries and the very different lives each offers.

Reviews

“In short, Brooklyn is one of the very best films of the past decade and worth looking back on,” wrote Dave Giannini for InSession Film.

Giving the film a five out of five, Don Shanahan from Film Obsessive shared: “Brooklyn is a forthright, approachable, and esteemed historical drama where the dignity and honesty soar to heavenly heights to shine on the plights of love and independence.”

Audience members also raved about this film. One said: “Beautiful story. One of the best movies. Moving.” Another added: “Beautiful classic in every sense of the word. Outstanding performances. Atmospheric joy. Don’t miss it.”

A third wrote: “It’s a masterpiece, and profoundly moving, especially if you’re an immigrant yourself. The closing is one of the most beautiful romantic scenes ever. In my opinion.”

Lastly, someone said: ” One of the most beautiful movies ever made. Colours, music, and reticence punctuate throughout. I have watched the scene in the dining room of the church 7,351,212 times.

“The man sings, the actress recognises brilliance amidst shuffles and anonymity, and then the director cuts to her chaperone listening to a radio. So god**** brilliant.”

You can now watch Brooklyn on BBC iPlayer by clicking here.

CRUZ Beckham has put on a loved-up display with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel in Florida after his cryptic post amid the family feud with his brother Brooklyn.

The singer, 21, put his recent family dramas to the back of his mind to enjoy some quality time with Jackie, 29.

She took to Instagram to share a sneak peek into their holiday with two sweet snaps.

In the first photo, she stood in front of a stunning backdrop of palm trees, blue skies and the stunning sea.

Jackie wore a backless black dress as she looked towards the camera for the sexy picture.

In the second photo, Cruz wrapped his arm around his other half as he planted a kiss on her cheek while closing his eyes.

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The musician opted to wear a yellow polo shirt tucked into some smart black trousers.

His mum Victoria commented: “So pretty,” with four red heart emojis.

The holiday snaps come after Cruz shared a post about his phone calls being ignored, just hours after Victoria broke her silence on the family feud with Brooklyn.

Posting to his Instagram stories, Cruz shared a screenshot from his phone of himself attempting to FaceTime someone, cropping out the contact name.

He cryptically said in the caption of the post: “I never get an answer…”

Cruz then added: “Anyway, new tour vlog is out @itsthebreakers check it, link in story’s“.

The aspiring musician didn’t divulge who never answers his calls, but it could have been a nod to his older brother Brooklyn, who has blocked him on social media.

Cruz is amongst the several family members who have been cut off by Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz.

Until now, the Beckham arm of the family have remained fairly silent on the row, choosing not to respond to Brooklyn’s lengthy statement.

But speaking for the first time on the row, Victoria was asked directly about her eldest son during a new interview with the Wall Street Journal.

The Spice Girls star said: “I think that we’ve always—we love our children so much.

“We’ve always tried to be the best parents that we can be. And you know, we’ve been in the public eye for more than 30 years right now, and all we’ve ever tried to do is protect our children and love our children.

“And you know, that’s all I really want to say about it.”

Victoria did not refer to Brooklyn by name when asked about the rift but discussed how she had only ever tried to “protect and love our children”.

Brooklyn had previously suggested public image and Brand Beckham was the biggest priority to his mum and dad.

Victoria and David are understood to have been left devastated over the fall out and have even recently offered to meet with Brooklyn and his wife Nicola in the presence of lawyers and therapists in an attempt to rebuild the rift.

But with Brooklyn seemingly standing strong on his statement, the family are still yet to make any movements towards a reconciliation.

COMIC Jack Whitehall kicked off his £250,000 wedding to model Roxy Horner yesterday by rowing a boat across a lake to her.

The 37-year-old’s romantic gesture moved some guests to tears — but his pals soon lightened the mood as they jokingly called out to him: “Shagger!”

The comment was believed to be a reference to his appearance on BBC ancestry programme Who Do You Think You Are? in 2019.

It saw Jack discover that his great-great-grandfather Richard, a travelling salesman, was a bed-hopping womaniser killed by syphilis.

The funnyman smiled on the show as he called him “a bit of a shagger”.

His wedding took place in the grounds of £12million stately home Euridge Manor, near Chippenham, Wilts.

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The Georgian-style property is owned by Kate Middleton’s former boss, Jigsaw tycoon John Robinson.

Jack and Roxy invited more than 100 guests, including the comedian’s fellow TV star father Michael and mother Hilary.

Jack and 34-year-old Roxy’s two-year-old daughter Elsie acted as a flower girl.

The comedian’s sister Molly appeared to be a bridesmaid while his brother Barnaby was his best man.

Speaking to The Sun earlier this year, Jack said of Barnaby: “I gave quite a savage speech at his wedding.

“There were a few low blows he wasn’t too appreciative of.

“He’s going to have his opportunity to get his revenge on the big day.

“I’m bracing myself for that.”

Celebrity guests were said to include TV pals James Corden and Jamie Redknapp, who Jack worked with on Sky’s A League of Their Own.

Guests were asked to turn off their phones during the ceremony and were put on a social media blackout.

Cars driving in and out of the venue had blacked-out windows and there were security guards at the gates and by the entrance to the stately home.

Brit Awards host Jack and Roxy started dating in 2020 after meeting on a trip to Australia.

They got engaged in 2024.

Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left fuming after KSI used his golden buzzer on a strange act

Britain’s Got Talent viewers were left disappointed as they threatened to ‘turn off’.

During Saturday’s (April 18) episode of the ITV talent programme, YouTuber KSI used his golden buzzer to send one act through to the live shows, but his choice has sparked criticism from viewers, who described it as the “worst golden buzzer”.

Audiences tuned in for the final auditions in the 19th series of the popular talent competition as hopefuls from across the nation demonstrated their abilities in an attempt to wow judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI.

It’s hardly surprising that they pulled out all the stops in their efforts to impress the panel and secure the £250,000 cash prize along with a coveted slot at the Royal Variety Performance. And as expected, they’re all hoping to earn the golden buzzer – which propels them directly through to the live shows.

However, one performer sparked considerable controversy. Mr Cherry – a Guinness World Record holder and former contestant on America’s Got Talent in 2021 – appeared on stage and left everyone stunned with his peculiar performance, reports Wales Online.

The comedian ‘strongman’, 44, began his bizarre routine by opening a stubborn jar of pickles, which neither judge KSI nor Simon Cowell managed to accomplish.

He proceeded to crush cans by sitting on them. But matters then escalated, leaving everyone astounded after he stripped down and opened wine bottles with his buttocks.

Despite squirming throughout the entire performance, audiences were stunned when KSI opted to slam his golden buzzer. KSI dashed onto the stage, only to slip and slide across the floor on the falling confetti, taking Mr Cherry down with him.

Making his way back to his seat, KSI declared: “Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t know about you but that was the greatest thing I have ever seen.”

However, viewers at home appeared far from convinced, branding his choice the ‘worst’ golden buzzer in the show’s history.

Taking to social media, one furious fan wrote: “I’m sorry this show is finished #bgt.” Another commented: “A Golden Buzzer? How bloody ridiculous #KSI #BGT #BritainsGotTalent.”

A third posted: “WTF?! Why the hell did KSI give that act the golden buzzer, when he spent the entirety of it squirming uncomfortably? It’s beyond a joke.”

Yet another chimed in with: “Worst Golden Buzzer #BGT.” While one more questioned: “KSI HOW IS THAT GOLDEN BUZZER WORTHY???”

Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday nights from 7pm on ITV and ITVX.