Lewis Capaldi had to halt one of his shows in the US due to a technical difficultyCredit: InstagramHe kept the crowd entertained during the error, then decided to sing the song without any backing music insteadCredit: Instagram
But during his gig at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre he encountered a major technical issue, leaving him unable to sing.
Lewis giggled next to the mic, sharing with the crowd: “Something has happened. Usually I’d be singing by now.
“Something technological has gone wrong. I’m not sure what the f***s happened.”
He then joked: “This feels like… erectile dysfunction in a way,” before checking in with his team to see if the error had been fixed.
Fans adored the acoustic performance, saying they were glad to be part of the “technical difficulties”Credit: GettyLewis is currently on his Survive tour after taking a hiatus from musicCredit: Getty
After learning it hadn’t, Lewis continued to entertain the crowd, saying: “Right, we’re not back. Hi.”
Fans of the musician found the moment hilarious and loved the way he chose to handle it – both with humour and then by deciding to go ahead with an acoustic performance while the tech issue was fixed.
One user on Instagram said: “Who needs all the technology with a voice like that?!?”
A second shared: “It was a once in a lifetime experience and we were very excited to be part of the “technical issue”.
A third added: “Well no one can claim he can’t sing live.”
Lewis’ tour shares the same name as his latest EP release which came out last year.
The new music followed him taking a two-year hiatus from the industry, after his anxiety and Tourette’s syndrome symptoms increased.
After Lewis finishes up his shows in America, he’s due to perform in Vancouver before heading over to the UK.
His first UK tour date is on June 19, taking place at the Isle Of Wight Festival.
SHE’S been branded arrogant, entitled and irritating by people who’ve watched her growing up on The Kardashians.
And as I braced myself to listen to North West’s debut EP N0rth4evr, I was expecting to absolutely hate it. But in all honesty, I love it.
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North West has released her debut EP N0rth4evr – and it is surprisingly goodCredit: SplashThe 12-year-old daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian does actually have talentCredit: Getty
The six-track record proves that the 12-year-old daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian does actually have talent.
She mixes heavy-metal guitar riffs with rage-rap and a flavour of the Japanese culture she loves so much.
Critics will argue that having two of the most famous people on the planet as parents would mean she couldn’t produce something that’s utterly rubbish.
But I’d argue North has a flair of originality and authenticity on all the tracks.
Kanye West’s daughter North has a flair of originality and authenticity on all the tracksCredit: PAShe samples Mumford & Sons’ 2009 track Little Lion Man on punchy and pacy Th!s t!meCredit: Getty Images – Getty
She samples Mumford & Sons’ 2009 track Little Lion Man on punchy and pacy Th!s t!me, and the final 28 seconds of W0ah crunching has an electric guitar solo.
For a child who has grown up knowing only fame and privilege, North carries the expectations on her shoulders in her lyrics.
No doubt she’s had a big helping hand, working with American rock siblings Meg and Dia Frampton, but it opens your eyes to what life might really be like as a kid everyone thinks they know.
On How I Feel, North sings: “In the back of the Lamb’, it get lonely, they be all up in my comments like they know me.
“If they approach me no phones please, lot of eyes on me that I don’t need.”
While on Th!s t!me, she raps: “They hear the name, they don’t hear what I’m sayin’.
“They want the fame, but you know I ain’t playin’.”
North4evr links to Kanye’s 2018 track Violent Crimes, where he rapped about protecting daughter North from danger.
On it, she sings: “So much people ’round me, but I know they all fake, so much goin’ in my head that I can’t say.
“Know my minds in a place that is not safe.”
She balances the pitfalls with plenty of not-so- humble brags though, and on D!e boasts about her influence on fashion and culture.
The track, which contains some influences of Post Malone, has her rapping: “How am I younger than you, but I’m who you look up to?
“Once they on trend, I’m already off it.
“I’m a rock star, you could tell by my closet. Once they on trend, I’m already off it.”
The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree, clearly.
Beyonce has dropped yet another hint that her new rock-inspired album is comingCredit: She posted a video of Destiny’s Child hanging out with Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks in 2001Credit: X
BEYONCE’s next era is just around the corner – and she’s dropped yet another hint that her new rock-inspired album is waiting.
The singer removed all the country- inspired Cowboy Carter merchandise from her website last night as she prepares to start promoting the record.
Bey also dropped another big clue about the direction she is heading by posting a video on her website of Destiny‘s Child hanging out with Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks on the set of their Bootylicious video from 2001.
As I told you last week, Beyonce is planning to reveal all about her new record around the Met Gala in New York on Monday.
The album, believed to be called Betty Black, is the third in a trilogy of records following on from 2022’s Renaissance and Cowboy Carter in 2024.
We first revealed in July that Beyonce was working on a rock-themed album.
She hinted the record could be called Betty Black in a reclaiming of the African-American work song Black Betty which was remade in 1977 by rock group Ram Jam.
He has also rescheduled the Manchester AO Arena gig to May 24.
His concert at London’s O2 Arena is still planned to take place on May 23.
Zayn said he was recovering and wanted to come back “stronger”.
Roses taxman tussle
The Stone Roses have been stuck in a secret battle with HMRC over their former touring firmCredit: Getty
THE STONE ROSES have been locked in a secret 13-year battle with the taxman involving their failed touring company.
HMRC has been fighting the indie rockers – who made £26million from two huge reunion tours – over an unpaid £127,000 corporation tax bill from BMSW Ltd.
Over the years, the figure has risen to £158,000. The touring firm collapsed and went into liquidation.
Documents filed at Companies House reveal the Roses tried to close down BMSW Ltd in July 2013 after the end of the first tour, with £10million being distributed to the band after paying a £3.1million tax bill.
But there was a change in HMRC policy, which meant liquidators asked the group – late bassist Gary Mounfield, singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire and drummer Alan Wren – for £32,000 each.
That was received badly by the lads, below, who felt “extremely aggrieved” after signing an indemnity protecting them from such a liability.
It meant the firm moved from a member’s voluntary liquidation into a creditor’s voluntary liquidation in 2022 . . . and the battle is still going on.
Graham: Traitors turn-off
Graham Norton says he is not interested in taking part in Celebrity Traitors for one clear reasonCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
A League of Their Own is going on tour – we take a look at three iconic moments from the beloved show including Jamie Redknapp, Jill Scott and Tony Bellew
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(Image: Sky UK)
A League of Their Own fans have had reason to celebrate this week with the hilarious TV show now doing a live tour across the country. The show, which has been enjoyed by millions since it started in March 2010 concluded at the end of last year after 20 series but now fans can enjoy a little bit more with the show now on the road.
The Jamie Redknapp-fronted show is returning as a live production for the first time this September, with a UK arena tour planned. The run includes seven dates in major cities such as London, Newcastle and Manchester, as well as a headline night at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Redknapp will be joined on stage by team captains Jill Scott and Tony Bellew, alongside familiar faces Tom Davis, Patrice Evra and Maisie Adam. More guests are expected to be confirmed in the coming months, and audiences can expect the same loud, chaotic challenges that made the show a hit on TV.
Over the 26 years, there have been many hilarious moments and gags on the show, whether that is from the studio or on the road, that many enjoy looking back on. Here are three iconic moments from the series.
Buy A League Of Their Own tickets from Live Nation
A League Of Their Own tickets are out now from major ticketing retailer Live Nation.
1. ‘You text Gary Neville haven’t ya?’
On a road trip with Freddie Flintoff, Romesh Ranganathan and Alan Carr, Jamie Redknapp was always going to be in trouble with a cricketer famous for his quips on the cricket pitch and two comedians.
Somehow, Romesh managed to get Jamie’s phone and text one of his fellow broadcasters Gary Neville in a tongue-in-cheek message that clearly got to Redknapp. Playing dumb Romesh pretended nothing happened and he had nothing to do with it.
Even when the former Liverpool midfielder reminds him they work together, highlighting the awkwardness, Flintoff did not hesitate to say “I’ve never seen him [Neville] at Fulham!”
The text sent read: “I know you were only here five minutes but what’s the best restaurant in Valencia?”
The hilarious moment would have put Redknapp in a sticky situation with Neville who had a torrid time in his one and only managerial job which included a match where he was thrashed and humiliated by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.
Still, the Man United legend sent his recommendations over to his Sky Sports colleague.
2. ‘It’s typical Kopites once again, glory hunting’
It is a sensitive topic in the world of football caused by a very simple question: who do you support and why? For many, it is a simple question, for others it might fairly layered but then there are some that ignite the glory-hunting debate when someone supports a club miles away with zero affiliation other than they win.
But it always comes with a good laugh in these sorts of things as passionate Evertonian Tony Bellew laid into Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp on who they support – with neither supporting their local team. Well kind of, which makes this moment even funnier when it started with Redknapp saying he’s a Red.
Tony Bellew said: “No you’re not, you’re not from Liverpool.” When Jamie jokingly hit back that Tony couldn’t tell him “who I support and who I don’t”, Tony upped the ante. He added: “It’s typical Kopites once again, glory hunting b*******. They’re not from the city. He’s just come in on a f******…if you shut the airports and shut everywhere else on matchday, f****** Anfield will be empty.”
He added: “He’s not a scouser – big Liverpool fan.”
3. ‘He’s one of them two-team w******’
Bellew did not just settle with Redknapp’s choice of who he supports and pressed Micah Richards, the opposition captain on the show. The Birmingham-born defender revealed he was a Man City supporter in front of the cameras but an Arsenal fan behind-the-scenes – which makes sense giving his long-time admiration of Thierry Henry!
And just when the heat was going off Jamie, Bellew threw in a grenade that would cause many football fans to cringe with the added notion that he supports more than one club. This just egged Bellew further and kept that hilarious rant going.
TB: “Jesus Christ! What’s up with you people!? You’re not from there! Support where you are from. Support your own.”
JR: “I support Bournemouth as well.”
TB: “That’s even worse. Because he’s one of them two team w******. That’s the worst person in the world.”
It did not just stop there as the 43-year-old former world champion was asked why he chose Everton. When Big Meeks pressed Bellew on why he supports his beloved Everton and why his family do, he responded in the only way a proper football fan who supports his local team does.
Bellew responded: “I was chosen. I didn’t choose, I was chosen. Special kind to support my club mate. All my children are Evertonians as well. I’ve f****** told them it’s character building.”
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A League Of Their Own tickets are on sale right now and can be purchased through Live Nation.
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The 61st Venice Biennale — the world’s most celebrated international exhibition of contemporary art — made headlines Thursday when its awards jury resigned amid a growing controversy over its April 23 decision to exclude countries charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
In the current moment, this specifically meant Israel and Russia, and an uproar ensued — particularly with regard to Israel. The Israel Foreign Ministry blasted the decision on social media, writing in an April 26 post that the boycott “is a contamination of the art world. The political jury has transformed the Biennale from an open artistic space of free, boundless ideas into a spectacle of false, anti-Israeli political indoctrination.”
The jury posted its brief statement of resignation online four days later “in acknowledgment” of its original decree, in which it wrote, “At this edition of the Biennale, we wish to set out our intention — to express our commitment to the defense of human rights,” before explaining it would not consider certain countries for awards.
The Biennale moved swiftly to reverse course after the jury’s resignation, issuing a news release that noted, “All National Participations included in the 61st Exhibition … are eligible … following the principle of inclusion and equal treatment among all participants. This is consistent with the founding spirit of La Biennale, based on openness, dialogue, and the rejection of any form of closure or censorship. La Biennale seeks to be — and must remain — a place of truce in the name of art, culture, and artistic freedom.”
To that end, the awards ceremony originally scheduled to take place on May 9 has been pushed to November 22 — the last day the exhibition is open to the public. There is precedent for “exceptional circumstances” delays, and the last one took place in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Without precedent, however, are the newly established awards, created to replace the coveted Golden Lion awards that the jury traditionally hands out to two winners each year. This year, instead of the Golden Lion for best national participation at the Biennale; and the Golden Lion for best participant in the Biennale’s central exhibition, the Biennale has established two Visitors’ Lions to be awarded in the same categories.
Instead of a jury deciding the winners this year, the honor will be left — as the new award name specifies — to the exhibition visitors.
“Visitors eligible to vote for the Visitors’ Lions are ticket holders who have visited both Exhibition venues,” the release reads.
“Visits to both venues will be verified through the ticketing system’s tracking. Each ticket holder may cast one vote for each of the two awards, in one single session.”
Whether Visitors’ Lions will become a Biennale mainstay remains to be seen — but I can imagine the democratic idea might keep its place when the Golden Lions make their return next year.
I’m Arts editor Jessica Gelt doing my best to tread water in difficult times. This is your arts and culture news for the week.
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The week ahead: A curated calendar
FRIDAY
Quentin Lee and Justin Lin on the set of their debut feature, “Shopping for Fangs.”
(Margin Films)
Celebrating 30 Years of Margin Films Award-winning filmmaker Quentin Lee and his production company mark three decades in the business with a weeklong screening series. Lee’s breakout 1997 debut “Shopping for Fangs,” co-directed by Justin Lin, is the opening film. Also screening: “Ethan Mao,” Saturday; “The People I’ve Slept With,” Sunday; “The Unbidden,” Monday; “Rez Comedy,” Tuesday; “Last Summer of Nathan Lee,” Wednesday; and a sneak peak of three episodes of the Canadian TV series “Comedy InvAsian III,” Thursday. Selected screening includes a Q&A. Lee is also releasing a book, “Cinemasianamerica,” commemorating the occasion. Each film screens one day, 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., through Thursday. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. laemmle.com
Dvořák and Korngold Conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Los Angeles Philharmonic pay tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas, who died April 22, with his composition “Agnegram,” and perform Korngold’s “Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra” with violinist María Dueñas. The evening concludes with “Symphony No. 7 in D minor” by Dvořák. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
Anna Van Valin, from left, Elias Scoufaras and Bruce Nozick in “Warsaw” at International City Theatre.
(Jordan Gohara)
Warsaw The world premiere of British playwright and “Selma” screenwriter Paul Webb’s drama about the fate of a woman whose life links two monumental historic moments, World War II and Sept. 11. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 17. International City Theatre, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach. ictlongbeach.org
SATURDAY
The Kronos Quartet, from left: Gabriela Díaz, David Harrington, Ayane Kozasa and Paul Wiancko.
(Danica Taylor)
Kronos Quartet The West Coast premiere of the group’s latest large-scale multimedia project, “Three Bones,” which combines live performance, video, visual art, recordings and environmental sound to explore the histories of Indigenous, Gullah Geechee and Chinese American communities in the United States. 6 p.m. UC Santa Barbara campus, Campbell Hall. artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
Michael Caine, from left, Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman in the “The Prestige,” screening Saturday at the Aero.
(Francois Duhamel / Touchstone & Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Prestige Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale square off as rival magicians in a 20th anniversary 35mm screening of Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller. 7:30 p.m. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. americancinematheque.com
The cast of “Carlota: Alhajero de Secretos,” opening Saturday at LATC.
(Teatro Alebrijes)
Carlota: Alhajero de Secretos Writer-directors Rodrigo García and Ugho Badú reimagine Federico García Lorca’s tragedy “The House of Bernarda Alba.” The co-production between San José-based LGBTQ+ ensemble Teatro Alebrijes and L.A.’s Latino Theater Company is in Spanish with English supertitles. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 24. Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, downtown L.A. latinotheaterco.org
SUNDAY
Henri Lubatti in “Exit the King” at A Noise Within.
(Daniel Reichert)
Exit the King Eugène Ionesco’s classic absurdist comedy about a desperate monarch who refuses to admit his time has come, translated by Donald Watson and directed by Michael Michetti. Previews, 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and May 8; opening night, 7:30 p.m. May 9; runs through May 31. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. anoisewithin.org
Organist Anna Lapwood performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday.
(Gerald Matzka / Getty Images)
Anna Lapwood The popular organist performs work from “The Da Vinci Code,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” “Flight” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” as well as Olivia Belli’s organ solo “Limina Luminis,” in this recital. 7:30 p.m. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
TUESDAY
Willie Birch, “Uptown Memories (A Day in the Life of the Magnolia Project),” 1995. Painted papier-mâché and mixed media, 82 × 62 × 60 in. New Orleans Museum of Art.
(Roman Alokhin)
Willie Birch: Stories to Tell This career retrospective details Birch’s exploration of the Black American experience since the 1960s, posing difficult questions along the way in his work as an artist, community organizer and “cultural provocateur.” 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 21. California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park. caamuseum.org
Lucía performs Tuesday at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach.
(Shervin Lainez)
Jazz in Long Beach Two jazz-influenced acts come to the Carpenter Center next week. Lucía brings her signature mix of traditional American jazz and Latin folk in a Spotlight Sessions concert on the Cabaret Stage. She’ll also be performing songs from her forthcoming album. “The Magic of Manhattan Starring Benny Benack III” is a tribute to the Big Apple and the songs and singers most associated with it, including Blossom Dearie, Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel. Lucía, 8 p.m. Tuesday; Benny Benack III, 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Carpenter Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. carpenterarts.org
Smith, Cabezas & Childs Molly Turner conducts the LA Phil New Music Group, with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Gabriella Smith, cellist Gabriel Cabezas and jazz pianist Billy Childs in a program of eco-friendly music curated by Smith, including compositions by Smith, Childs, Michael Gordon, John Cage and Esa-Pekka Salonen. 8 p.m. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
WEDNESDAY Andrés Jaramillo: A Journey of Immigrants, Part II The Colombian American pianist follows up on his January 2025 program with a celebration of the global cultural exchange created by immigrants, placing Latin American composers within the Romantic tradition. Featuring works by Chopin, Calvo, Mejía, Barber, Lecuona, Friedhoff-Calvo and Pinzón-Arroyo. Presented by Piano Spheres. 8 p.m. Wednesday. Thayer Hall at Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. pianospheres.org
Morgan Freeman, left, and Brad Pitt star in David Fincher’s 1995 film “Seven.”
(Robert Isenberg / New Line Cinema)
Seven A 4k screening of David Fincher’s 1995 thriller about two cops on the trail of a serial killer. Appearances by production designer Arthur Max and set decorator Clay Griffith. 7:30 p.m. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. academymuseum.org
THURSDAY
“Dancing with Bob: Rauschenberg, Brown & Cunningham Onstage” at the Wallis, May 7 to 9.
(The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts)
Dancing With Bob: Rauschenberg, Brown & Cunningham Onstage This kinetic retrospective captures the cross-disciplinary collaborations between vanguard artist Robert Rauschenberg and choreographers Trisha Brown (“Set and Reset,” with an electronic score by Laurie Anderson) and Merce Cunningham (“Travelogue,” created with John Cage). 7:30 p.m. Thursday and May 8; 2 p.m. May 9. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. thewallis.org
The Physicists Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton are residents of an insane asylum beset by murder, mayhem, espionage and questions about the morality and ethics of science in this 1962 German satire by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Directed by Brent Hinkley. 8 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 20. The Actors’ Gang Theater, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. theactorsgang.com
Arts anywhere
New and recent releases of arts-related media.
The Adding Machine Currently running at the Theater at St. Clement’s in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, through May 17, this New Group production with a revised script by Thomas Bradshaw receives a one-time livestream next week. “[Elmer] Rice’s expressionist drama is known for being a tale of man vs. machine in an age of merciless efficiency, but inhumanity in a broader sense is its true core subject,” wrote Laura Collins-Hughes in a recent New York Times review. “The happy news about Scott Elliott’s handsome yet under-realized revival … is what a delight Daphne Rubin-Vega is to watch as Mr. Zero.” The cast also features Sarita Choudhury, Michael Cyril Creighton and Jennifer Tilly. The League of Live Stream Theater: 4 p.m. Tuesday. $40, includes 24-hour replay.
Art Work Photographer and writer Sally Mann weighs in on the creative process with stories, advice and life lessons, all illustrated with photos, journal entries and letters, making for a compelling, often surprising journey. Abrams Books: 272 pages, $35
“Insomnia & Seven Steps to Grace” by Joy Harjo.
(Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace The new album by Joy Harjo, the first Native American to be named United States Poet Laureate, serving from 2019 to 2022, combines jazz, funk, rock and Native music sounds with her signature “vibration of love” as she boldly confronts injustice and draws inspiration from ancestral memory and the political turmoil of the moment. The double LP’s packaging features original art by Harjo and the poet’s extensive liner notes. Five-time Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding produced as well as contributed vocals and played bass on the project. Smithsonian Folkways: Double vinyl LP ($33), CD ($17), hi-res digital download ($13), digital download ($10).
— Kevin Crust
Culture news and the SoCal scene
Michael Tilson Thomas in 2018.
(Paul Marotta/Getty Images)
Times classical music critic Mark Swed wrote a lovely appreciation of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, who died last week at the age of 81. Tilson Thomas, Swed wrote, “made music matter by making hope matter. He was, moreover, one of us. He achieved greatness though an epic amplification of a uniquely L.A. positivity in which grumpy became wistful.”
LA Opera music director James Conlon is preparing to step down after a record 20 seasons with the company, and in a recent story, Swed cataloged his impressive numbers: “More than 500 performances of 70 different operas at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and occasional neighboring venues, such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.” Swed attended a recent farewell gala and noted some highlights, including excerpts from “The Marriage of Figaro.”
Times theater critic Charles McNulty spent a recent trip to New York almost entirely in various Broadway theaters, catching up on what he says is a “strange season by all accounts.” McNulty notes that Broadway is still the place acting powerhouses like Adrien Brody, John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf go in search of the kind of depthy material increasingly unavailable onscreen. He looks at four such shows — and their epic leading actors — including “Death of a Salesman,” “Giant,” “The Fear of 13” and “Dog Day Afternoon.”
David Henry Hwang (book adapter, “Flower Drum Song”) and Alexandra Silber (book adapter, “Brigadoon”) at the James Irvine Japanese Garden in Little Tokyo.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Malia Mendez wrote a great piece about a trio of classic musicals running concurrently in L.A. She takes a closer look at “Flower Drum Song,” adapted for East West Players by David Henry Hwang; “Brigadoon,” adapted for Pasadena Playhouse by Alexandra Silber; and “The Sound of Music” at the Hollywood Pantages. All three were originally written by two of the 20th century’s most dynamic and celebrated writing duos: Rodgers and Hammerstein (“Flower Drum Song” and “The Sound of Music”) and Lerner and Loewe (“Brigadoon”). And all still resonate in modern times.
Mendez also wrote about a special event taking place this weekend called Night at the Library — held as part of the downtown Central Library’s centennial celebration. “The four-hour extravaganza Saturday will feature more than 200 artists and 25 to 30 activations peppered throughout the library campus, plus DJ sets and local food truck fare. Highlighted performers include Bob Baker Marionette Theater and Los Angeles Master Chorale,” Mendez writes.
Doug Chiang, Podrace Crash, production art for “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” 1995-99.
(Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art unveiled its inaugural exhibitions this week — noting that all 20 were curated by George Lucas himself. The $1-billion museum will open to the public on the first day of fall and the exhibits will be shown in more than 30 galleries spread over 100,000 square feet of exhibition space. And, yes, “Star Wars” memorabilia will be part of the “cinema” exhibit with large-scale vehicle installations, production designs, props and costumes.
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Lincoln Clauss, center, as the Emcee in Asolo Repertory Theatre’s “Cabaret,” at the Old Globe.
(Courtesy of Cliff Roles)
The board of directors of San Diego’s Old Globe named Trish Santini as the theater’s new managing director. Santini joins Artistic Director Barry Edelstein as a co-chief executive, and enters her new role on July 1. Among other arts leadership posts, Santini was the inaugural executive director of Little Island in New York City, and led the launch of the $250-million public park and performance venue.
LEONARDO DiCaprio is facing business woes as the trendy vegan shoe brand he backed continues to haemorrhage millions.
The star’s favoured label has been left relying on cash injections from wealthy investors to keep it afloat.
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Leo invested his own cash in the trendy trainer companyCredit: Shutterstock EditorialMany of the vegan trainers have been slashed to half priceCredit: Loci
British shoemaker LØCI, in which Leo is a key investor, makes 100% cruelty-free trainers using recycled bamboo, foam and rubber.
Each £160 pair reuses up to 20 plastic bottles recovered from the Mediterranean and the east coast of Africa.
Leo said he was proud to be associated with the eco friendly trainer companyCredit: AFPThe shoe company has accumulated huge lossesCredit: Loci
Newly released accounts for Wild Loci Ltd also show accumulated losses of £2,904,888, while the company owes £931,130 to creditors.
The figures, filed this week, reveal the business is being propped up by investment totalling £5,170,947.
That leaves it with equity of £2,280,760 despite the significant losses.
The company also risks being struck off by Companies House after filing its accounts late for two consecutive years.
Many of the trainers are now available at slashed prices.Credit: LociLeonardo Di Caprio was a huge win for fledgling shoe brand
It has also been late submitting its annual “confirmation statement”, a legal requirement.
The government website warns: “Not filing your confirmation statements, annual returns or accounts is a criminal offence – and directors or LLP designated members could be personally fined in the criminal courts.”
Currently, the brand is offering dozens of shoes at half price, including the “Origins” trainer, which features a “natural cork and recycled foam insole”.
All of Nicki Minaj’s range is also heavily discounted, including the “Barbie Dangerous” and “Itty Bitty Piggy” sneakers.
At the time of Leonardo DiCaprio’s investment, founder Emmanuel Eribo said: “He’s an absolute star and sees the world the same way we see it. It’s been an absolute blessing having him on the team. You can’t ignore it’s a British brand and he’s betting on it.
“He didn’t need to do this, there’s definitely something in there that is tugging on him.
“If I could say things about Leo, I’d probably use two words: genuine and kind. You can care about the world and still want good things.”
At the time, Leo said he was “proud” to be an investor, adding: “I am proud to be an investor in LØCI, a brand dedicated to minimising its environmental impact, and centred around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear.”
RIHANNA looked sensational as she stripped to a racy cherry bra for a sizzling new shoot.
The pop superstar, 38, was the perfect model for the newest release from her Savage X Fenty lingerie brand, the Cherry Nouveau collection.
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Rihanna looked sensational as she stripped to a racy cherry bra for a new shootCredit: InstagramThe singer posed up a storm to promote the latest collection from her Savage X Fenty lineCredit: Instagram
Umbrella hitmaker Rihanna, who shares three children with her rapper partner A$AP Rocky, expertly worked the camera while posing for the sexy snaps.
One showed her gazing off camera while seductively poking her tongue out, teaming the bra with a pink gingham shirt worn off the shoulders and some chunky gold necklaces.
Rihanna proved that sometimes less is definitely more in the sizzling new photosCredit: InstagramShe recently welcomed her third child – but Rihanna is already thinking about baby number fourCredit: Instagram
In another image, Rihanna turned things up a notch by perching on the edge of a cabinet with her legs parted.
She finished the sizzling look with a pair of strappy red heels, proving that sometimes less is definitely more.
She chatted to British Love Island star Montana Brown, 30, who shot to fame in 2017 on the UK version of the show, underneath an Instagram video she posted.
Montana, who shares two children with her fiancé, said in the clip, “Deciding to get hot and sexy or get pregnant in 2026.
Rihanna took to the comment section and added: ‘Wait! So I’m not crazy then? Bet!”
Fans of Rihanna’s quickly responded to her comment.
Loyal supporters are desperate for Rihanna to finally release the follow-up to her 2016 album Anti rather than welcome a fourth baby.
One person replied: “Girl the only thing you need to be popping out is that album PLZZZZZZ.”
SHE went from a little known model to posing for Fendi almost overnight when she started dating Brooklyn Beckham.
Stunning Hana Cross, now 28, dated the nepo baby for just eight months but almost seven years on the Beckham family name still haunts her – and as insiders tell us she’s gained a reputation for being difficult to work with, the famous connection is doing more and more of the heavy lifting.
Hana Cross is trying to rid herself of brand Beckham after dating BrooklynCredit: InstagramHana and Brooklyn – pictured here in 2019 – had a very difficult relationshipCredit: BackGrid
An industry source explained: “Hana can be hard work behind the scenes, especially when things don’t go her way, and that’s started to follow her.
“Brands are becoming more hesitant, not because of one specific issue, but because of a general unpredictability around how things might be received with her.
“Brands have mentioned how difficult she is to work with. She’s a stunning girl with so much potential but there’s a sense some partnerships have cooled as companies weigh up whether the attention she brings is the right kind.
“There’s a growing feeling in the industry that a lot of the attention around her still ties back to her past with Brooklyn, whether she likes it or not.”
We’re told she recently hired a new press team to help restore her reputation and shed the family name once and for all.
It became apparent just how far off that dream was earlier this year as she found herself dragged into the Beckham family drama surrounding Brooklyn falling out with his parents.
Our source continued: “The recent Beckham drama has definitely rattled her more than she’s letting on, she’s trying to stay composed but it’s clearly unsettled things behind the scenes
“She’s more cautious than ever now, particularly when it comes to anything linked to that circle
“She’s brought in a new PR team in an attempt to reset the narrative and give herself a fresh angle. There’s a sense that without her Brooklyn ties, there’s not much cutting through in terms of her own identity.”
The Leeds-born model started dating the eldest of the Beckham brood, 27, back in 2018, but it was a tumultuous time, overshadowed by a series of very public rows.
Hana was thrown into the spotlight – compared to Brooklyn she’s had a very modest upbringing, living in Huddersfield and then Chipping Campden, where she attended the local state school.
From Leeds to LA
Born Hana Mahmood, her mum Sarah was working in a shop when she married Khalid Mahmood in November 1994.
When she was 18 she was scouted while out shopping with her mum in Cotswolds. She had been planning to go to university to study business with equine studies, but her career took off pretty quickly.
Hana has worked for everyone from high street brands Topshop and New Look to designers Valentino and Missoni.
She was 21 when she first met Brooklyn, who was 19 at the time. It’s thought that Brooklyn’s cousin Libby Adams introduced them and they soon became inseparable.
Brooklyn and Hana dated for eight months but she’s still associated with himCredit: Getty Images – GettyBrooklyn is now married to Nicola Peltz but is no longer speaking to his familyCredit: Getty
And not long after, another confrontation at the Agent Provocateur party, at Annabel’s members club in London in September 2019, left Hanna running to the bathroom in tears.
A fellow partygoer at the time told The Sun Online: “They were chatting together and it was very tense. By the end of it I could hear Brooklyn say, ‘it is what it is.’
“He walked off and she went back to her friends looking dejected, but she held it together while her pals comforted her”.
Brooklyn’s parents Victoria and David were said to be “seriously frustrated” by the negative attention the rows were creating and warned him to spend more time with the family.
Looking back at that time in a rare interview Hana admitted that dating the budding chef and being part of the famous family sparked her “anxiety” .
Hana has gained a reputation for being a bit difficult according to sourcesCredit: Instagram / hancrossHana was close to the Beckham family while she was with BrooklynCredit: Getty
She told Hello! Magazine: “My time with the family caused me a lot of anxiety, in all honesty.
“There were a lot of warning signs and things that happened during the relationship that, in hindsight, should have made me think and maybe end the relationship or walk away a lot sooner than it did”.
In recent months Brooklyn’s current relationship – his marriage to Nicola Peltz – has come under scrutiny due to his very public family feud.
Hana admitted: “It’s hard not to be mentally drawn back into that part of my life, especially with all this feud stuff coming out.
“It’s hard because I don’t look back on that as a fond time, on reflection.”
The couple finally called it quits in the summer of 2019, which was said to be a huge relief to Brooklyn’s parents. Little did they know Nicola Peltz was just around the corner.
Hana had a brief foray into music and released a track that seemed to hint at Brooklyn.
She sang: “I wish that someone told me you had a habit for dishonesty – though you break my heart, I want to stay.”
She went on to date Jude Law‘s son Rafferty, Jack Whitehall and Scott Disick. She’s now living in LA and was last linked to aristocrat Peregrine Pearson, following his split from Sophie Turner.
Our insider added: “It’s a bit of a catch 22 situation because she knows that without Brooklyn she wouldn’t be where she is now and it’s still the thing people are most interested about with her.
“But she’s determined to push forward and prove she can stand on her own.”
Each of us has a shortlist of movies we find ourselves rewatching, movies we will finish even if they’re half-over when we tune in. Even if it’s being streamed with commercials. Even if it’s playing on a 19-inch black-and-white television with no sound in a crowded dive bar.
For the past 20 years, “The Devil Wears Prada” has been one of those films for me and other Americans who entered the workforce just in time to say goodbye to pensions and hello to increases in student loan debt. Generation X had the highest homeownership rate relative to their age, so when the housing bubble popped in 2008, it hit Gen X the hardest. And yet this same group of workers is also shouldering the care of aging parents and adult children. According to Pew Research, more than half of 40-year-olds (“elder millennials”) and more than a third of 50-year-olds fall into this category, doing so with shrinking financial margins because wages have lagged behind the cost of living our entire adult lives.
While the current No. 1 movie at the box office — the biopic chronicling Michael Jackson’s rise from Gary, Ind., in 1966 to headlining stadiums in 1988 — may evoke a sense of nostalgia for Gen X, the sequel to “Devil” (which opens in theaters Friday) feels more like a peer review.
Twenty years ago, when we last saw our protagonist, Andrea Sachs, she had decided to leave her big corporate job because success in that environment required her to be someone she didn’t like or respect. As young professionals, seeing a fictional character like Sachs leave a toxic work environment felt like a satisfying conclusion in 2006. However, over the decades, you learn work/life balance is an oxymoron and characteristics such as integrity and loyalty are often valued but rarely useful on a spreadsheet.
Don’t get me wrong — I love the campy humor, the fashion and soundtrack of the first “Devil.” However, the thing that elevated the Oscar-nominated film to its cultlike status is the same thing that lifted similarly edgy coming-of-age stories such as “The Graduate” in 1967, “American Graffiti” in 1973 and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” in 1982: truth. Despite the fantasy elements of beautiful and talented people dressed in clothing designed by the upper echelon of the fashion industry, “Devil” has a sequel because what Sachs was experiencing felt real. Many of us have been there — behind on rent, desperately trying to build a career, navigating friends and romance.
The line the character Nigel told an overwhelmed Sachs in the original — “let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke … means it’s time for a promotion” — was more than a humorous quip. It was also foreshadowing for the young professionals in the audience who had not yet learned that being good at your job, or even great, wasn’t enough to keep it.
We know that all too well now. Just this week, the Wall Street Journal reported corporate layoffs in the first quarter of 2026 surpassed 200,000. Of course, it wasn’t always like this.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, in the immediate three decades after World War II, workers saw their hourly compensation in line with the country’s productivity growth. That’s because during the height of the Cold War — when employers offered employees pensions and union participation was at its peak — corporate America was incentivized to offer labor a larger share of the profits as a way to counteract communism. However, when the Soviet Union fell in the early 1990s, so did the motivation from domestic CEOs to share profits with workers. The split between capital and labor began measurably in 1970, and the gap has only increased since.
Twenty years ago — before the 2008 recession, the pandemic and the nearly $1-trillion price tag stemming from the Afghanistan war — it was believable a young professional like Sachs would walk away from a good corporate job for the sake of her integrity. However, given how fraught the current work environment feels, with the shadow of artificial intelligence looming over entry-level positions across multiple disciplines, would we find Sachs’ actions believable today? Or laudable? Or would we demand that she compromise her principles because it’s pragmatic to let go of the idealism of youth? Time has forced many of us to begrudgingly accept that possibility. Our younger selves might not approve, but our older selves know that’s how most people survive long enough in their careers to have a sequel.
Crime thriller fans are heaping praise on a gripping new BBC series starring Sheridan Smith, as people say it’s the ‘show of the year’ and has some ‘unexpectedly’ funny moments
Sheridan Smith stars in the new BBC series(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / Element Pictures)
A new BBC crime thriller series could be your next obsession. If you’re looking for a new series to sink your teeth into, then forget about Netflix and Amazon Prime Video – as a new series now available to watch on BBC One and BBCiPlayer has already been touted as one of the best shows of 2026.
The five-part series stars Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, and according to people on social media, it is both gripping and “unexpectedly funny”. With only five episodes, it’s the perfect thing to binge this weekend – especially if you’re looking for a “high-stakes” show with tension and laughter.
TV and film reviewer Emily posted a video on TikTok in which she heaped praise on the new series, called The Cage, stating that fans of crime dramas should “get this one on your watch list” immediately.
She said: “We have a brand-new high-stakes crime thriller that the BBC have just dropped, starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha. So if you love a good crime thriller, then definitely get this one on your watch list.”
The Cage is set in a casino in Liverpool, where two casino workers named Leanne (Smith) and Matty (Socha) realise they have both plotted to steal from the same safe.
Emily explained: “It’s all about two employees who are both secretly stealing from the same safe without knowing that the other exists. What starts off as a quick way to make extra money turns into something far more dangerous when their lives collide, pulling them into a situation involving crime, pressure, and people that they really do not want to be involved with. From then on, everything just keeps spiralling.”
The TV reviewer said she hasn’t yet finished the series herself, but she’s already “hooked” after just two episodes.
She continued: “I have watched the first two episodes so far, and I am hooked. It’s really tense, gritty, unpredictable, and you have this constant sense that something could go wrong at any moment, which really raises the stakes. It also really leans into desperation and bad decisions, and how quickly things can spiral, even if you think you have a plan.”
The Cage was created by Tony Schumacher, who also created the BBC police drama The Responder, which starred Martin Freeman as a police officer who has been demoted from his position as an inspector and takes on a series of night shifts in Liverpool city centre.
Alongside Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, The Cage also stars Barry Sloane, Geraldine James, and Sue Jenkins. The show was directed by Al Mackay and was filmed in Liverpool and Merseyside in early 2025.
Commenters on Emily’s video were split over the series. Some said they had already seen it and found it to be “slow”, while others said it was “unexpectedly” good.
One person said: “Watched it all over the past two nights, really, really good. Would recommend it.”
Someone else posted: “This is really good. Unexpectedly, it was quite funny in parts.”
But another wasn’t convinced, writing: “I’ve watched the first episode, [and] it needs to get better. I will try one more, but if it hasn’t grabbed me, that will be me done.”
A fourth shared: “Watching it now. [It’s] a bit slow.”
PRINCESS Andre looked just like model mum Katie Price as she glammed up for an event with brother Junior.
The 18-year-old proved she was a chip off the old block while posing up a storm at a Superdrug bash in London on Thursday evening.
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Princess stunned as she posed up a storm at a Superdrug event on Thursday eveningCredit: Amelia May Photos / BACKGRIDThe rising star could have been mistaken for model mum Katie in her heydayCredit: Andy Butterton
The rising star cut a stylish figure in a sand-coloured sleeveless top and matching skirt and wore her blonde hair down in loose curls.
She was joined at the event by brother Junior and his girlfriend Jasmine OrrCredit: Amelia May Photos / BACKGRIDThis week Princess and Junior enjoyed a day at the seaside with brother HarveyCredit: Instagram
Meanwhile Junior, 20, was joined by girlfriend Jasmine Orr at the event.
He dressed down in a white sweater and black jeans while Jasmine, 25, opted for a lace-trimmed camisole and figure-hugging black trousers.
In a hearing about competing protective order filings from reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, a Utah judge granted Thursday that both orders go into effect, though he delayed making a decision on a custody arrangement.
The orders, which were issued by third district court commissioner Russell Minas, are in place for three years and require Paul and Mortensen to stay at least 100 feet away from each other. He also warned that they both could be subjected to criminal charges if there’s a violation of the orders.
“I do think it’s important that there be mutual orders,” Minas said. “I am just concerned that if I don’t order both of them to stay away from each other, there’s going to be some additional problems.”
Addressing Paul and Mortensen, Minas said: “I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict … I do want to work with both of you to try to restore some sense of normalcy. I just think right now, you two need to stay away from each other and there needs to be orders that will result in consequences if you attempt to try to engage each other because I still think you have this attraction to each other, physical or otherwise.”
“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star, 31, and Mortensen, 33, both appeared in Utah court for the hearing, which was livestreamed, the first time they’ve been seen in the same room together since news broke last month that they were involved in domestic violence investigations involving multiple allegations.
In the weeks leading up to the ruling, the judge had granted Mortensen custody of their son, with up to eight hours per week of supervised visitation for Paul, known as one of the stars of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” That arrangement will stay in place until the judge offers his recommendation on parent time on or before May 11.
Dakota Mortensen in the courtroom on Thursday.
(Bethany Baker / Associated Press)
A review hearing is set for June, once mental health and domestic violence assessments of Paul and Mortensen ordered as part of the safety plan by child protective services have been completed and processed.
Paul’s attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, described the hearing as a “significant step forward.”
“Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court that she is not perfect and owned her faults,” read part of his statement. “She looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the Court to make progress in the custody case.”
The Times also reached out to Mortensen for comment.
Paul and Mortensen had been under investigation by both the Draper City Police Department and West Jordan Police Department regarding a series of allegations each made that the other had acted violently during altercations in February, as well as an incident that took place in 2024. After the February allegations made headlines, a video of Paul in 2023 that led to her arrest was leaked; it showed the reality star throwing bar stools at Mortensen while her daughter was present. (Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault following that incident and her probation in that case will be up in August.) Amid the investigation, Mortensen and Paul filed competing protective orders against each other.
The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The situation between the embattled exes also resulted in the pausing of filming of “Mormon Wives” Season 5. The show has documented the pair’s tumultuous relationship since it’s launch in 2024. It also led to the shelving of Season 22 of ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” which featured Paul as its heroine.
But Thursday’s ruling on the orders comes a week after reports surfaced that “Mormon Wives” has resumed production on its fifth season, without Paul and Mortensen’s involvement — though, Paul reportedly has the option to return. The fate of the unaired season of “The Bachelorette” remains unclear.
A new hit Netflix series is returning for its second season just over a year after its stunning debut last year
‘Epic’ Netflix drama hailed ‘better than Virgin River’ gets thrilling update
The hit show has been called “cowboy Virgin River” by fans.
Netflix’s Ransom Canyon has officially announced a release date for its eagerly awaited second season, and fans won’t have to wait much longer.
The popular Western drama launched last April and brought viewers an epic family saga unfolding on a Texas ranch, with the powerful romance between Staten Kirkland (portrayed by Josh Duhamel) and Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly) taking centre stage.
The first season exposed the shocking truth surrounding the death of Staten’s son while the stoic rancher slowly grows closer to Quinn, his long-time family friend and proprietor of the local dancehall.
At the same time, charming and mysterious drifter Yancy (Jack Schumacher) arrives in town to reconnect with his long-lost grandfather and embarks on a romance of his own, only to unveil a startling secret in the jaw-dropping finale.
The programme has drawn favourable comparisons to Netflix’s other hit small-town romance, Virgin River, with some Redditors even declaring the new series is “so much better”, reports the Express.
Netflix Tudum has this week announced that the gripping drama will return on Thursday, 23rd July, with all eight episodes dropping.
Creator April Blair has disclosed that the much-anticipated follow-up will resume six months after Quinn’s decision to leave home to chase a dream job in New York.
“In that time, she didn’t speak to Staten at all,” actress Kelly disclosed. And Duhamel confirms: “He missed her. Staten has been masking that with his behaviour.
“So when he finds out Quinn is back, Staten realises that he’s made some mistakes, and he wants to make it right.”
Season two will also follow the blossoming teenage romance between high schoolers Lauren (Lizzy Greene) and Lucas (Garrett Wareing), while Yancy is likely in hot water with bartender Ellie (Marianly Tejada) following the arrival of a woman claiming to be his wife in the season finale.
“We’ve also built out the world even more this season,” showrunner Blair reveals. “Quinn’s mother, Claire – played by Patricia Clarkson, who’s an icon – comes to town, and she’s a little Postcards from the Edge meets The Notebook.
“What did she do to mess up? We find out there’s some secrets from the past.”
Alongside Clarkson, several fresh faces join the cast, including High Potential’s Steve Howey as Staten’s half-brother Levi, a rugged outdoorsman who lives off the land.
Watch Unchosen on Sky for free
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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows.
This includes the brand new UK drama Unchosen, starring Asa Butterfield and Christopher Eccleston.
Ben Robson (Vikings) and Heidi Engerman (Chicago Fire) have also signed on, with familiar faces returning including Casey W. Johnson, Tatanka Means, Justin Johnson Cortez, Kenny Miller, Philip Winchester, Jennifer Ens, Brett Cullen, Lauren Glazier, and Niko Guardado.
Netflix’s synopsis for season two states: “Season two begins six months after the events of the first season, with rancher Staten fighting to reclaim his legacy after being unseated as trustee of his family’s Double K Ranch.
“Meanwhile, musician Quinn must decide if her heart truly belongs in the small town she once tried to outrun or in the fast-paced world of New York City. Are the pair star-crossed lovers, or fated to be together? In Ransom Canyon, true love stories are messy, complicated, and always worth the wait.”
Ransom Canyon season 2 premieres Thursday, 23rd July on Netflix.
TV star Simon Cowell’s fiancée Lauren strongly believes social media MUST be made safe for our children.
The US socialite, 48, is a determined campaigner for tougher curbs.
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Simon and Lauren have agreed not to let son Eric access social mediaCredit: GettyTragic Jools Sweeney, with mum Ellen RoomeCredit: PA
Her passion for change is driven by her sons – Adam, 20, from a previous relationship and 12-year-old Eric with music mogul Simon – plus the anguish of parents who blame online content for their child’s death.
This week, the Government finally agreed to bring in stronger, age-based restrictions for under-16s following pressure from grieving mums and dads.
Here, Lauren – who does not allow Eric to use social media – explains why more needs to be done . . .
WHEN I heard what had happened to 14-year-old Jools Sweeney, it broke my heart.
Lauren and Simon have given him a basic ‘brick phone’ so he can text and use WhatsApp while staying off smartphonesCredit: GettySimon and Lauren won’t allow Eric to access social mediaCredit: Getty
Jools was one of several British children who died in 2022 having seemingly copied a deadly challenge shown on TikTok.
I thought, “God forbid, this could have been my child”.
My youngest son Eric, 12, isn’t much younger than Jools was, and my eldest Adam, 20, is close to the age Jools would be now.
Jools Sweeney’s mum Ellen is one of the parents behind a campaign called Raise The Age, which wants the restriction on access to social media to be raised from 13 to 16Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has been forced to commit to implementing social media restrictions for under-16sCredit: AP
Since then, myself and Simon have met Ellen, who is a remarkable woman taking on the big tech giants.
Ellen is one of the parents behind a campaign called Raise The Age, which wants the restriction on access to social media to be raised from 13 to 16.
There is no issue more important to parents right now. It’s what everyone cares about.
Making social media safe is the topic that dominates all my parent group chats.
In our family we have already made up our minds.
Me and Simon won’t allow our son Eric to access social media.
We recently gave him a brick phone so he can communicate with his friends by text and WhatsApp.
A lot of his friends use Snapchat, but I said no to that platform because I believe it is one of the least safe products.
Eric is fine with that decision because we have had so many discussions about the dangers.
But a lot of parents are not aware of the risks, particularly on seemingly innocuous sites such as Discord, Pinterest and CapCut.
It is unreasonable to expect parents to monitor everything their children do online.
Instead, it should be the government which keeps them safe.
The evidence we hear is sick.
The tech companies knew their platforms were addictive and yet they kept going, inventing new ways to keep our children hooked.
Some told our politicians that their products were safe, even though their own internal research showed they did not believe it.
In my opinion, these firms put profits ahead of children’s safety, and that is absolutely unacceptable.
We have seen groundbreaking court cases in the US which ruled that these platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive and were endangering children.
Our children could not wait any longer because they were dying as a result of what they saw and experienced online.
This movement isn’t about a total ban on the internet.
It is about a restriction on unsafe and harmful social media.
We want an end to infinite scrolling where children are sent material they did not ask for, and an end to strangers being able to message them.
Those firms that make their products safe will be available — those that don’t must restrict access by law or face massive fines.
I met with Lord Nash, who has been calling in the House of Lords for tougher controls on social media.
It was his pressure which forced the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to commit to implementing social media restrictions for under-16s. I hear people saying that restrictions won’t work because children will find workarounds.
However, we haven’t given up on age restrictions for alcohol just because some children still get their hands on booze.
When seatbelt laws were first passed, many people ignored them.
But eventually, the message got through that they save lives.
Now, it is natural to strap in safely.
The Government U-turn doesn’t mean the fight is over.
Far from it.
We need to keep the pressure on them to act quickly.
Our children cannot wait years, because they are dying every month as a result of what they see online.
I made a vow to Ellen, who I consider to be a close friend, to not give up until social media is safe for our children.
I have huge respect for the families that are campaigning for this change.
They know it won’t bring their children back.
But they want to do everything in their power to stop anyone else experiencing these horrors.
Kylie Jenner is being sued by a second housekeeper who alleges she suffered cruel and unusual treatment while working for the beauty mogul.
Just a week after one woman on Jenner’s cleaning staff sued her, claiming her co-workers harassed and discriminated against her, another housekeeper has come out with allegations. The woman says the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star didn’t intervene while she suffered abuse from fellow staff, despite the housekeeper slipping the reality star a letter pleading for help.
Juana Delgado Soto filed a lawsuit against Kylie Jenner, Kylie Jenner Inc., staff supervisor Itzel Sibrian, Tri Star Services and La Maison Family Services on Wednesday alleging racial discrimination, harassment, failure to pay wages, failure to prevent or remedy harassment and discrimination, and more.
A representative for Jenner declined to comment Thursday, noting that the reality star had not yet seen the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by The Times, Soto began working for Jenner in May 2019. She alleges that meal and rest breaks were withheld from her for the first few years of her employment, but that the severity of the abuse and harassment ramped up in late 2023, when Sibrian became her direct supervisor. Soto says that, in 2024, she filed a complaint with Human Resources after Sibrian allegedly mocked and humiliated her for her accent, immigration status and race and called her stupid. Sibrian was temporarily removed because of the complaint and then reinstated, and according to the suit, she set out to retaliate against Soto for filing a complaint by reducing her hourly wage, assigning unreasonable workloads and changing her schedule.
In her lawsuit, Soto says that, as she prepared to leave work on her birthday, Sibrian threatened that she would be fired if she didn’t stay late and told her “no one cares about your birthday, Kylie is having a dinner.” Soto says she missed her own surprise party.
In late 2024, housekeeping supervisors Patsy and Elsy, who are referred to in the first lawsuit against Jenner as well, by their first names only, stepped into their leadership roles. Soto alleges that under Patsy and Elsy, she was denied adequate time off to grieve after the sudden death of her brother, and was told to “report to work immediately.” While she was working, she alleges, staff members “whispered that [Soto] was lying about her brother’s death and kept forcing her to pick up trash they purposely threw on the ground.” She further claims she was harassed when she requested time off to attend her brother’s funeral Mass.
In April 2025, the suit alleges that, after repeated failures by management to address Soto’s concerns, she wrote a long letter to Jenner detailing the harassment, discrimination and retaliation and placed it on Jenner’s massage bed immediately before her massage.
According to the suit, Soto wrote, “I need to express just how terribly I am mentally abused” and “I really apologize for letting you know about all these situations, I know you wouldn’t allow this to happen, if you were aware of it.”
Soto alleges that the following day she was threatened with termination and instructed never to contact Jenner again. “Defendants told her she was no longer allowed to look at Kylie, smile at Kylie and if she saw Kylie she would have to ‘disappear.’”
Soto further alleges that, after she left the letter for Jenner, her supervisors required her to leave the premises when Jenner was present, restricted her restroom access, forced her to clean the doghouse and prohibited her from drinking water at the residence, calling it “Kylie’s water.”
In August 2025, Soto sent a text message to her supervisors, writing, “I am sorry, I cannot do this anymore, every day you guys mistreat me, and I have bitten all my nails off, I cannot sleep at nights, and I always have anxiety because of the way you guys treat me. No matter what I did no one helped me.”
Soto is seeking an unspecified amount of punitive and compensatory damages.
“My client alleges multiple employment & labor law violations by Kylie Jenner and her affiliated companies, and I commend her for the courage to come forward and seek accountability, recognizing that taking the first step is often the most difficult,” Soto’s attorney Della Shaker told The Times. Shaker also represents Angelica Hernandez Vasquez, who filed a suit against Jenner on April 17.
Vasquez’s lawsuit says she was subjected to “severe and pervasive harassment” while employed by the makeup magnate from September 2024 to August 2025.
Vasquez, who states that she is a Salvadoran woman and practicing Catholic, alleges she was humiliated by fellow staff members and belittled because of her race, country of origin, religion and immigration status. Jenner was not personally accused of bullying behavior in the filing brought by Vasquez.
IN The Devil Wears Prada, ambitions and egos are trampled over by stiletto-heeled rivals desperate to claw their way to the top of the fashion world.
But behind the scenes of the original 2006 film, British star Emily Blunt was playing matchmaker to the cast.
British star Emily Blunt reveals she has been playing matchmaker to the Devil Wears Prada castCredit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesThe actress reveals she was partly responsible for connecting co-star Anne Hathaway with her now-husband Adam ShulmanCredit: Getty
The actress reveals she was partly responsible for connecting co-star Anne Hathaway with her now- husband Adam Shulman.
Speaking ahead of the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is in cinemas today, she also talks about her close ties with cast member Stanley Tucci, who went on to marry Emily’s sister Felicity.
Emily, who has two children with her actor husband John Krasinski, says: “Stanley is my brother-in- law now. I have a little nephew and niece from it.
“And Annie met her husband Adam through me and John. There are so many tendrils that run out from this experience 20 years ago. It’s amazing.”
She also opens up on her close ties with Stanley Tucci, who married her sister Felicity, above the cast at the New York Premiere of the sequelCredit: SplashEmily says that working with her brother-in-law on the sequel was great funCredit: APAnne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily in the original filmCredit: AlamyBlunt got her big break when she got cast as Emily Charlton, the put-upon senior assistant to Miranda PriestlyCredit: Alamy
It certainly is remarkable how much has changed for the cast since the first film.
Before the hit movie was released, Londoner Emily was a relative unknown.
Being cast as Emily Charlton, the put-upon senior assistant to Meryl Streep’s nightmarish fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, was her big break.
‘So kind to me’
Emily recalls: “It really was my first big role. I mean, I had done some stuff in England that no one knew about. I felt very green but thrilled to be there.
“The first film — I have these lasting, very prominent memories of it. Such an informative time in my life. I really didn’t know anything.”
The actress hit it off straight away with Anne, who she affectionately refers to as Annie.
She continues: “Annie and Meryl and Stan. They were all so kind to me.”
The Devil Wears Prada was a worldwide success, making more than £250million at the box office — ten times its modest budget.
Anne, 43, who played naive aspiring journalist Andy Sachs, and Emily found their lives intertwined again two years later.
Emily met A Quiet Place actor John, 46, in a Los Angeles restaurant in 2008 and, later that year, he helped introduce Anne to his actor and jewellery designer friend Adam, 45.
This was a fortuitous event for Anne because that year her relationship with businessman Raffaello Follieri had ended after he was charged with fraud.
The Devil Wears Prada played an even bigger part in bringing Stanley and wife Felicity together.
We do love talking some s*** about family. It’s great. Bit of goss
Emily Blunt, on working with her brother-in-law Stanley Tucci
Oscar-nominated star Stanley, 65, first met Emily’s sister at the movie’s premiere. At that time, though, he was happily married to Kathryn Spath with whom he has three children.
Tragically, social worker Kathryn died from breast cancer in 2009, aged 47, leaving Stanley heartbroken.
A year later, he reconnected with literary agent Felicity at Emily and John’s star-studded wedding in Lake Como, Italy.
And the love links do not stop there.
In a strange twist, Anne and Adam held their California wedding on the same weekend in September 2012 as Stanley and Felicity celebrated their nuptials in London.
Meryl, 76, who had also remained good pals with Tucci, was one of his guests.
Working with her brother-in-law on the Devil Wears Prada sequel was fun for Emily.
She says: “We do love talking some s*** about family. It’s great. Bit of goss.”
Stanley, who plays Miranda’s right- hand man Nigel Kipling in the movies, has become a well-known foodie thanks to his BBC travel show Searching For Italy.
Emily has two children with her actor husband John KrasinskiCredit: AFPThe Devil Wears Prada also played a part in bringing Stanley and wife Felicity together, with the pair initially meeting at the movie’s premiereCredit: Getty
On their eating habits, Emily adds: “Stanley and I have never had a no-carbs rule. All we eat is beige. We eat only beige food. And John loves to eat.”
Emily’s daughters Hazel, 12, and Violet, nine, enjoyed playing with Stanley and Felicity’s children Matteo, 11, and eight-year-old Emilia when they stayed together in Italy to film scenes for The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Anne and Emily have also remained good friends since making the original, which meant the cast of the sequel were unusually close.
She says: “I do get nostalgic. I was very moved when we got back together and we did the table read 20 years later. Going into the second film, 20 years felt like a blink and also a lifetime. It’s a really wild thing.”
Going into the second film, 20 years felt like a blink and also a lifetime. It’s a really wild thing
Emily Blunt
Emily continues: “When we got back together, I loved working with Annie because she’s a great dance partner in scenes. You know, she’s very spontaneous. She’ll sort of go with whatever you want to do.”
Emily also lapped up the attention of three-time Oscar winner Meryl.
The actress wore a glamorous tulle and feathered Schiaparelli gown at the New York premiere, which Streep clearly appreciated.
Emily laughs: “Meryl said she almost grabbed my boob on the red carpet just to feel it . . . the furry feathers. I would have loved it — it’s Meryl Streep.”
While her Devil Wears Prada character is famously particular about what she wears, that isn’t the case for Emily in real life.
The actress is far more casual when she is at home in London and New York.
She comments: “I feel like I still dress like a teenage boy. I think most of my life is dressed for comfort, you know, with the kids and everything, and going to set.
“But what I love about a press tour or a red carpet is that it can be a spectacle.”
The cast’s cosy love-in couldn’t be more different to the plot of The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Catty in catwalk
In the sequel, Miranda is still the ruthless editor of Runway, but the magazine is in financial trouble.
Andy, who made it as a writer, suddenly loses her job and finds herself back at Runway.
Meanwhile, Emily’s namesake character — Miranda’s former mistreated assistant, whose witty quotes include “I’m just one stomach flu away from my goal weight” — is now in charge of global brand Dior, which gives her all the power she needs for revenge.
Emily has more money and power now, and access to the archives. So that was thrilling
Emily Blunt, on her character
Emily says: “It’s quite a switch-up in dynamics. She’s a major executive at Dior. And Miranda is ultimately rather beholden to her for the advertising space.
“Emily has more money and power now, and access to the archives. So that was thrilling.”
While Miranda has to tone down her harsh comments due to our woke work culture, Emily can still deliver a biting one-liner.
By keeping the catty in catwalk, it is Emily’s performance that has once again caught the eye of critics.
The Sun’s movie reviewer Dulcie Pearce commented yesterday that “it’s Blunt who steals every scene.”
That will come as no surprise to fans, who have followed the star’s glittering movie career over the past two decades. She has received Bafta nominations for The Devil Wears Prada, psychological thriller The Girl On The Train and biopic drama Oppenheimer in 2024.
The actress also enjoyed box office hits with Mary Poppins Returns in 2018 and, in the same year, post-apocalyptic horror film A Quiet Place, which was directed by her husband John.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is expected to earn even more than the first film, with fans desperate to see the gang back together.
That is something Emily fully appreciates.
She concludes: “It feels like people really want to unite for something joyful. I love it.”
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (12A) is in cinemas tomorrow.
Carol Kirkwood’s career away from the cameras took her BBC co-star by surprise, following her recent exit from the corporation after 28 years
Carol Kirkwood has expanded her talents into writing in recent years(Image: BBC)
Carol Kirkwood has left her BBC co-star stunned by her career away from television. The former BBC Breakfast weather presenter bid farewell to the programme in April after 28 years at the corporation.
In a lengthy on-air statement at the time, the 63-year-old said: “Thank you for trusting me, be it telling you about heatwaves or snow, to the everyday question of, ‘Do I need to take a brolly?’. To my colleagues past and present, both in front and behind the camera, I owe you all so much. You’ve been my team, my safety net, and, very often, my family.
“We’ve shared breaking news, long shifts, plenty of laughter, bad hair days, and the occasional moment of pure chaos. And do you know what? I wouldn’t change a second of it.”
While she is best known for presenting the weather, Carol has also turned her hand to writing in recent years – much to the surprise of Carol Klein.
The Gardeners’ World host appeared taken aback when learning about Carol’s other career during an appearance on the Pottering with Tom Allen podcast.
After discussing the changing weather during the recording, she said: “That Carol Kirkwood, she’s lovely isn’t she, she’s a keen gardener.”
“She’s a great writer as well,” Tom chimed in, to which she appeared stun and questioned: “Is she?”. Tom went on to say: “She’s got a lot of novels out.”
“I haven’t read anything, I’ll have to,” the BBC star replied. Praising the books, Tom insisted they are a good read and “always set in lovely places”.
Recently speaking about her future after leaving the show, the weather presenter said she is looking forward to more freedom with her husband Steve Randall, who she married in 2023.
“The freedom of being able to get in the car, drive and go anywhere we want for as long as we want is really appealing,” she told the BBC.
She also revealed there was a more personal reason behind her decision. “I’m not getting any younger, I’m newly married and we’ve had some losses in our lives recently,” Carol added.
She went on to say those experiences had helped her realise that she needed to “get on with my retirement and that’s what I’m going to do”.
However, retirement doesn’t mean she’s stopped working altogether. Her sixth romance novel is set to be published in October, and she has reportedly already committed to writing at least two more books afterwards.
The television star has also said she would love to learn the guitar and adopt a couple of cats.
BBC Breakfast airs daily from around 6am on BBC One and the BBC News channel.
“I WAS a bit of a Duracell bunny,” confesses Iron Maiden’s irrepressible Bruce Dickinson.
“To some extent, I still am — much to the dismay of people around me! They’re like, ‘Don’t you EVER stop?’”
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Bruce on the No Prayer On The Road tour in 1990Credit: Ross HalfinWith mascot Eddie in JapanCredit: Ross Halfin
Dickinson is reflecting on the manic energy he brought to the heavy metal titans after replacing original singer Paul Di’Anno.
In 1981, he was a 22-year-old member of hard-rocking fellow travellers Samson when Maiden’s manager Rod Smallwood came calling.
Unlike many of his peers, including his predecessor, Dickinson didn’t have to rely on drugs and booze to fuel his high-octane performances.
He continues: “I discovered that having these amazing, ecstatic, endorphin-filled moments — being in front of people and singing with a group in total sync — was way more uplifting than any drugs on offer.”
Iron Maiden on tour in 1990Credit: Ross HalfinSteve Harris on stage during the World Piece Tour in 1983Credit: ROSS HALFIN
One of the great spectacles in rock is a sweat-soaked Dickinson running and jumping around on stage with audiences in the palms of his outstretched hands.
Match his physical presence to a rich operatic tenor and an iconic catchphrase, “Scream for me!”, and you have a powerful combination.
The songs that stretch his vocal cords aren’t too shabby either — many filled with intriguing historical references.
Run To The Hills deals with European colonisation of Native American territory, The Trooper visits the Crimean War’s Charge Of The Light Brigade and Aces High is a pilot’s eye-view of the Battle Of Britain — not your average metalhead subject matter.
Bruce and Steve backstage on their Fear Of The Dark tour in 1992Credit: ROSS HALFINBruce pictured in 2022Credit: John McMurtrie
What about the 14-minute Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem and written by Maiden founder and leader Steve Harris?
“It’s just epic,” says Dickinson of the closing track on the band’s fifth album Powerslave, released in 1984.
“It’s one of my favourites to perform.
“I love the storytelling aspect and we’ve got huge screens now to tell the whole story.”
Let’s also not forget the enduring core band which today comprises bassist and chief lyricist Harris, three virtuoso guitarists in Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Jannick Gers, mighty drummer Nicko McBrain (now retired from touring after a stroke in 2023) — and, of course, Dickinson.
The singer remembers Maiden’s gruelling, breathless climb to metal’s summit in the Eighties, when he was “run ragged but young enough to handle it”.
Now 67, he accepts that his unfettered antics have taken their toll on his body, but insists: “Damaging it and knackering it by doing things on stage is a relatively easy fix — drugs take away your soul.”
I’m speaking to Dickinson to mark the arrival in cinemas next Thursday of Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition, a riveting film documenting their 50-year rollercoaster ride with insightful interviews, live footage and unguarded offstage moments.
Through the prism of band members past and present, and superfans including Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Public Enemy rapper Chuck D and actor Javier Bardem, it is 106 minutes of pedal to the metal.
The movie is the first milestone in a momentous year for the band formed in Leyton, East London, by Harris in 1975.
In late May, Maiden continue the Run For Your Lives world tour, including a monster outdoor event, Eddfest (named after their shape-shifting undead mascot Eddie), at Knebworth on July 10 and 11.
Then, in November, they join Oasis, Phil Collins and Billy Idol, among others, in being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in the US.
Dickinson says: “We’re about to do the biggest tour of our lives, playing to 2.5million people in six months.
“People might say, ‘How the hell did that happen?’ to which I answer, ‘Have a look at the film — that is how’.
“We’ve had lots of tidal waves and earthquakes in our career.”
Crucial to the upward trajectory has been the sense of community around Maiden and their fans, which Dickinson believes is only rivalled by “a very different kind of band, the Grateful Dead and their Deadheads”.
He says: “We’ve never compromised and have grown on our own terms, creating our own universe.
ON CANCER: ‘A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ME’
IN 2014, Bruce Dickinson faced one of the biggest challenges – and it had a profound effect.
“I discovered I had a three-and-a-half centimetre tumour at the base of my tongue,” he says. “And another one in my lymph node.”
He recalls how he felt at the time of his devastating throat cancer diagnosis: “You’ve had scans, you’ve had biopsies and you’re sitting there at home, going, ‘I’m not dreaming, this is real’.
“You start wondering what it feels like to die and you have to own up to these thoughts.”
Dickinson adopted a positive approach. “I decided to take proactive measures and to make the assumption I could beat this.
“I fattened myself up, eating like a pig over Christmas. By the time I went into treatment, I was 75 kilos and just under 67 when I came out. Some people lose a lot more, so I got off lightly.
“I had 33 radiation sessions over five weeks and nine weeks of chemo, which knocks the hell out of you. But in May 2015, I got the all clear. All gone. No surgery. Nothing.”
Dickinson reserves huge praise for the medical professionals. “I had a great oncologist and a great team – and I wish that everybody was able to have that.”
And how does he look back on that time? “When I was asked afterwards what effect cancer had on me, I tried to make light of it.
“But recently I realised that it affected me quite profoundly. I’ve always been one to grab life by both hands – now, doing that is more important to me than ever.”
“You reach those millions one person at a time,” he adds. “Look them in the eyes — although that is a lot easier in a pub than in a 50,000-seat arena!”
Though the upcoming tour will send Maiden through Europe, then on to North, Central and South America, Australia and Japan, Dickinson spares a thought for the places they can’t visit “because of the chaos in the world”.
“There are huge pockets of fans in Iran,” he affirms.
“And in Israel, Ukraine and Russia — all these wonderful people who just want to love everybody else who loves Iron Maiden. It’s tragic.”
This is cue for him to trawl through the mists of time to the early days again and it’s clear that, above all, it is Steve Harris’s band.
Referred to as “the boss”, he formed Maiden just before punk upended the music scene.
Dickinson says: “Steve felt very strongly about punk because many in the media decided it was the ‘acceptable face of heavy metal’ — and that enraged him.
“Frankly, the first LP wasn’t that well produced so it actually sounded like a crap punk album.
“Steve has always said, ‘My God, I wish I could have remade it with Martin Birch [who produced their next eight records].”
In the Burning Ambition film, we see the struggles of original singer, the late Paul Di’Anno, who embraced rock and roll excesses to the full, prompting Harris and Smallwood to search for a replacement.
“Paul was very charismatic with a characterful voice,” says his successor. “He was a bit of a pirate . . . like Adam Ant or a member of band I loved, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.
“His look was different to the rest of the metal world — and that was cool.”
With a rueful expression, Dickinson remembers being described as a “human air-raid siren” after his first gig with Maiden.
He says: “They were obviously big fans of Paul who came to see me at the [now defunct] Rainbow and one of them sent a letter to a music magazine, Melody Maker maybe.
“It said what a terrible disaster the show was, like ‘hearing my favourite songs being sung from inside a cement mixer by an air-raid siren’.
“Even though someone was trying to be insulting, Rod Smallwood took the attitude, ‘When life throws lemons, make lemonade’.
“He nicked the idea and turned the whole thing on its head, which actually made me laugh.”
ON EDDIE: ‘EASTWOOD OF ZOMBIES’
MENACING mascot Eddie is an Iron Maiden icon.
Illustrated in numerous guises by Derek Riggs, the shape-shifting creature has appeared on every album cover and in every outlandish stage set.
He inspired the name of the band’s outdoor shindig Eddfest at Knebworth in July and features in new animated sequences for the Burning Ambition movie.
Bruce Dickinson calls Eddie the “Clint Eastwood of zombies” and says: “He has a Dirty Harry type of morality about him.
“You think he’s evil but he’s ambivalent, so you don’t know exactly where you stand with him,” he explains.
“If you’re basically a good person, you’re probably going to be OK – but he’ll blow you away if you’re not!”
Dickinson believes Eddie has a future beyond Maiden. “One day, inevitably, we’ll stop playing live.
“The great thing about Eddie is that he’s eternal. He can have a whole career on his own. We could even write albums for him.
“In fact, there’s so much you could do with him, whether it’s movies, animation, or an Eddie avatar show. All these things are up for grabs.”
To Dickinson, sharing the stage with Eddie is a rite of passage.
“He’s an extension of our world but you just can’t pin him down.”
A fascinating aspect of Maiden has been Dickinson’s relationship with Harris, not always plain sailing but one that created undeniable chemistry.
And surely Harris accepts that the flamboyant singer helped propel his band to stadium-slaying proportions.
“When I was in Samson, people were calling Steve ‘the Ayatollah’,” says Dickinson. “He had a reputation for being uncompromising and rigid.
“But, as we’ve got older, he’s been much more amenable to ideas that might broaden the vision.”
However, Dickinson had to set one thing straight from the start.
“When I first did shows with Maiden, I was thinking, ‘Why am I standing on one side of the stage? I’m the singer’.
“The answer was because Steve would go running down front and centre playing the bass. Suddenly I would have this big old lump of wood thrust in my ear. I nearly lost a couple of teeth because of it!”
Dickinson insisted that, as lead singer, he was going to “stand at the front, in the middle — and I wasn’t going to back down”.
Iron Maiden’s third album, The Number Of The Beast (1982), was Dickinson’s first and its songs including the title track, Run To The Hills and Hallowed Be Thy Name took the band to the next level.
For the new recruit, making the album was the calm before the storm.
He says: “It was like 1939 when Britain was at war but everybody was still out sunbathing and reading the papers because nothing bad had happened.
“Then we hit the road and, wow, we had a No1 album, the single was going crazy and we were doing seven, eight, nine shows in a row. Even our day off was travelling.”
Despite the overwhelming demands, Maiden enjoyed a rocket-fuelled rise to the crest of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), a movement that included Def Leppard, Saxon and Motörhead.
Dickinson says: “The albums we were producing in the Eighties were phenomenal. We created a style with The Number Of The Beast and it continued with Piece Of Mind and Powerslave. The trajectory was fantastic.”
As the Burning Ambition movie attests, the band began building a devoted following in all corners of the globe.
In August 1984, Iron Maiden ventured behind the Iron Curtain to play five shows in Poland, much to delight of fans starved of music from the West.
In January the following year, the band went nuclear in South America by playing Rock In Rio to a 300,000-plus crowd.
ON FLYING: ‘I HAD ROAD TO DAMASCUS MOMENT’
ANYONE who follows the life less ordinary of Bruce Dickinson will know there’s a lot more to him than just being the singer in Iron Maiden.
At school, he took up boxing but he “wasn’t very big” and people “would beat the crap out of me”.
So he took up fencing instead, inspired by a metalwork teacher who brought in a “full-on, two-handed sword like Excalibur”.
Not one to do things by halves, he became a champion – so good that he reached the UK top ten, trained with the Olympic squad and is still a member of fencing clubs in London, Paris and LA.
Dickinson harboured other dreams, too. “I was really into aviation and wanted to be an astronaut or a pilot,” he says.
This helps explain how he qualified as an airline pilot and ended up flying Iron Maiden on three world tours, firstly in a Boeing 757 dubbed Ed Force One and then, in 2016 for the Book Of Souls tour, a jumbo jet.
He says: “My love of flying came from my great uncle who was in No. 200 Squadron RAF in the Second World War. When I was five, he’d tell me all these stories.
“But I was rubbish at maths in school and you need to be a rocket scientist to be a pilot so I became a rock star instead.
“Then, in the Nineties, I took a trial flying lesson in Florida for 30 bucks, just to see. It was a road to Damascus moment.”
The next step for Dickinson was training with British Airways, flying a 757. Picking up the story, he says: “From 2000 to 2011, I was a pilot for UK company Astraeus, flying people around the world on holiday. I had to take unpaid leave to go on tour with Iron Maiden.
“You would probably have had no idea I was your captain because no one listens to captain’s announcements!”
During this time, Dickinson hatched the idea to extend his flying exploits to his other job as a member of Iron Maiden.
“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we put all the equipment, the band and the crew on one airplane?’ To my surprise, our manager Rod thought it was a great idea. Normally, I get told to p*** off!
“So we did three world tours. It was brilliant calling it Ed Force One – I think that was an invention by the fans.”
Dickinson remembers his initial horror when American secret servicemen boarded the plane in Chicago. “I went, ‘Oh s**t! What have we done wrong?’ Turned out Obama was coming in the next day on Air Force One and the men just wanted to have a look at Ed Force One.
“I’ve still got Air Force One-branded M&Ms, matches and a bottle opener somewhere.
“So, I’m thinking, ‘What’s going on in the President’s plane?’ They’re cracking open beer bottles, smoking themselves to death and taking all the red Smarties.”
As the Eighties progressed and the Nineties dawned, the pace rarely slackened and, as we witness in unvarnished detail in Burning Ambition, “the wheels eventually fell off”.
Guitarist Smith quit in 1990 over “creative differences” and an exhausted Dickinson dropped a second bombshell by leaving in 1993 to pursue his solo career, much to the consternation of his bandmates, notably McBrain.
“It was a sudden burst of artistic integrity of my own invention,” confesses Dickinson.
“I knew Maiden were great, but they didn’t allow me to do anything a bit out there.
“I was still in my thirties and the thought of leaving momentarily terrified me. But then I read Henry Miller’s quote, ‘All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without the benefit of experience’.
“It hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought to myself, ‘If you don’t jump, you’ll never find out’.”
As for the reaction to his departure in the Maiden camp, Dickinson says: “The only person I told was the manager, Rod. I don’t know what got said between him and the guys but Nicko got upset about it. And fair enough.”
He sees what became a five-year absence as part of “a real story of real people”.
He adds: “We’re a bunch of bizarre brothers who got stuck together. In the end, we had to make it work.”
So it was in 1999, after Wolfsbane singer Blaze Bayley had gamely attempted to hold the fort, that guitarist Smith and singer Dickinson returned to the fold — for good.
“To use a football analogy, Blaze had been passed a ball which was a ticking timebomb,” says Dickinson, before recalling his bizarre meeting with Harris and Smallwood to discuss his return.
They convened in secret at a yacht club in Brighton, entered by a special code — an occasion Dickinson likens to a scene from a John Le Carré novel.
“Part of me was thinking, ‘This is ridiculous’. It felt like going through Checkpoint Charlie in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,” he says.
“But I looked at Steve and realised he’d been through the ringer with all kinds of things. I decided that if he’s up for it, then we should get on with it.
“I told him, ‘I am the one guy on the planet you can trust. When I say we’ll make a great new album together, we will’. And we did [Brave New World].
“Steve and I are very different individuals — but that’s our strength.
“I’ve certainly grown to respect him. Has he grown to respect me? I don’t want to put words into his mouth.”
Dickinson signs off with a heartfelt statement: “The music is the thread that holds us in Maiden together. Whatever we started, we started well — and when eventually we finish, we will finish well.”
Burning Ambition is in cinemas from May 7. Iron Maiden’s Eddfest takes place at Knebworth on July 10 & 11
The 19-year-old contestant and his best friend Jo, 19, from Liverpool are the youngest competitors taking on the challenge of racing against one another across more than 12,000km from Sicily to Mongolia.
In pursuit of the £20,000 prize, the pair embarked on another leg of their journey during tonight’s (April 30) episode, which marks the halfway point of the race.
Together with their fellow competitors, they tackled the longest leg of the race, travelling through the world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan, and onwards into Uzbekistan.
Midway through their journey, they seized the opportunity to visit a local gym and try their hand at judo, as Kush is a keen Muay Thai practitioner back home, reports the Liverpool Echo.
However, the experience stirred up memories of his late father, who tragically took his own life during lockdown.
Speaking directly to camera, he began: “Coming to this gym, it means a lot to me. It’s more than just throwing and hitting fighting. There’s a lot of meaning behind it.”
In a deeply personal moment, he revealed: “I think back to memories with my dad. I found it sick to do what your dad does. Being in the gym, I wonder what he’s thinking. He would be standing on the side with a particular sort of smirk on his face, watching me do judo throws.”
Clearly emotional, Kush recalled: “I remember the day he passed. It was locked down and it was a real big shock. He had really poor mental health and he took his own life. You never forget that shock factor.
“I still think about him all the time. Being on this journey has brought back little moments and I wish I could sort of show who I am now because when you’re 14, I didn’t know who I was and I was still a child.
“I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger and I feel like, if I could sort of show him what I’ve learn’t…” The 19 year old was unable to finish his sentence as he dissolved into tears.
Viewers watching from home were left deeply moved by the heartbreaking moment, taking to social media to share their reactions. One fan wrote: “Poor Kush. He’s a lovely lad, they both are. #RaceAcrossTheWorld.”
Another said: “Kush opening up on the loss of his father at just 1 year old-oh man #RaceAcrossTheWorld.” A third wrote: “kush is breaking my heart omg #raceacrosstheworld.”
Yet another commented: “Damn! Kush lost 2 dads at such a young age. I’m sure they’re proud of him #RaceAcrossTheWorld.” While another added: “Such a heartbreaking leg for Kush and Joe – what humble lads they are #RaceAcrossTheWorld.”
Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
A CLEANER accused of supplying Liam Payne with drugs before his death could be let off with community service and a rehab course after reportedly striking a plea deal.
Ezequiel David Pereyra, who worked at the Argentina hotel where the ex-One Direction star died, might not face trial and his sentence could be cut from a possible 15 years to a suspended term.
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The man suspected of supplying Liam Payne drugs before his death could be let off with just community service – Liam pictured here with girlfriend Kate CassidyCredit: GettyEzequiel David Pereyra, who worked at the Argentina hotel where the ex-One Direction star died, might not face trialCredit: Jeff RaynerColeman-Rayner
Last night sources said Pereyra was “over the moon”.
The sources also claimed waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, who is also accused of supplying cocaine to the star, has been offered the same deal. However it is understood that Paiz, 25, will not be accepting the deal.
It came as Liam’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, posted a heartbreaking video of her last day with the singer, showing them riding horses together.
A source said: “This will be terribly upsetting for Liam’s loved ones to hear — as there is now the possibility that there will never be a trial and they will never get answers as to what happened that night.
It came as Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy posted a heartbreaking video of her last day with the singer, showing the couple riding horses togetherCredit: InastgaramLiam fell to his death from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October 2024Credit: Getty
“No one will be held accountable for his death.”
Pereyra, 22, was awaiting trial for allegedly selling cocaine to Liam, 31, before he fell to his death from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October 2024.
He was facing a hefty jail sentence if found guilty.
But his new lawyer, Augusto Maria Cassiau, is said to have struck a deal with prosecutors to lessen his charge if he admitted his role in the incident.
His new charge will be “facilitation for personal consumption, non-profit” — admitting he gave the drugs to Liam when he died but he was not a dealer.
Pereyra has been offered a two-year suspended sentence, with time already served in custody awaiting trial being taken into consideration.
He will have to perform community service and complete a drug awareness course.
Pereyra was released from jail and put under house arrest in December after an appeal court agreed he had family support, a fixed address and no criminal record.
Last month Paiz, who was also released from prison in December, had his house arrest conditions scrapped.
No new evidence has appeared in the case file and prosecutors have been unable to secure a trial date.
In October, on the first anniversary of Liam’s death, Pereyra exclusively spoke to The Sun, offering his condolences to Liam’s family.
He also claimed bosses at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel ignored Liam’s drug use.
In a TikTok video posted on Wednesday, the same day prosecutors offered a plea deal, Kate, 27, can be seen riding horses with Liam.
She wrote: “Enjoy each moment life brings you.
“Because I didn’t know this would be the last time I’d ever see my boyfriend again in this lifetime.”
Liam had flown to Argentina with Kate to see his former 1D bandmate Niall Horan in concert.
Liam extended the trip but Kate returned to the US.
An autopsy confirmed he died from multiple trauma and internal and external bleeding.
Tragic Liam with his former One Direction bandmates in 2011Credit: Getty
BRIAN May has been banned from planting daffodils on his village green after the local council said they could pose a safety risk.
The former Queen rocker planned to donate bulbs for his village green in Elstead, Surrey, but the local council have blocked him.
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Brian May frustrated as councillors block his plan to plant thousands of daffodilsCredit: Jam Press/Brian MayBrian May previously planted 3,000 bulbs at the church greenCredit: Jam Press/Brian May
Elstead parish council said the yellow flowers would obstruct the line of sight of nearby traffic.
The authority added that the daffodils would prevent locals crossing the green and disrupt accessibility.
The 78-year-old’s request was therefore rejected as the council said it had “a responsibility to balance community initiatives with safety”.
Speaking to the Farnham Herald, Sir Brian said: “We’re struggling to imagine how 18-inch stalks could [obstruct] anyone’s view, especially when the green is normally surrounded by parked vehicles including a 7ft-high ice cream van.”
The guitarist hoped the village green would be another success after he previously planted 3,000 bulbs on the green outside St James’s Church.
Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative MP for Godalming and Ash praised “Elstead’s most famous resident Sir Brian May and his brilliant team of planters for supplying and planting the stunning daffodils for Elstead green”.
The council countered that the village green and the church green were “two very different areas”.
It added that the church green was “more amenable to daffodil planting”.
Jenny Littledale, a local resident, said: “How sad that something so lovely has been turned down for such a ridiculous reason.”
Jenny Else, another Elstead resident and former Waverley borough councillor, said the locals wishes hadn’t been considered.
She continued: “Perhaps a vote should have been taken. There has been so much interest in the proposal.”
Ms Else said that when she had seen a sketch of the proposed area for the flowers, she didn’t think sight lines were under threat.
“There is a large area for any community gatherings during the daffodil season and good pedestrian access,” she added.
Sir Brian shared the news on a blog post, he wrote: “I’ve been quite thrilled to get so many happy comments from the village about this year’s display.
“Probably the best part of it all has been the friends I’ve made here in Elstead.
“And of course thanks to our parish council for giving me the permission to donate spring beauty to our community!
“We were all hoping to adorn the main village green for next spring… But sadly the parish council last night rejected my plan.”
A council spokesperson said: “Elstead parish council welcomes and proactively supports community planting and is extremely grateful to the volunteers who put time and care into projects like this.
“The parish council has a duty to balance the practical usage of our green along with the views of our residents.
“The main village green is used in several ways throughout the year. It hosts key community events, is crossed regularly on foot and is valued by some as an open space.
“As a council, we have said that we very much welcome further discussion about these options and thank everyone involved for their enthusiasm and ideas.”
The spokesman told The Telegraph that the issue had been “portrayed in one way when it’s not actually that at all”. The negative response to the ruling got “out of hand” they added.
TAYLOR SWIFT is proving she doesn’t just top the charts – but is also helping pay the bills of thousands of artists in the industry.
Insiders said the pop powerhouse could be behind a payday worth up to $800million for fellow musicians, thanks to a savvy little move she tucked into her record deal years ago.
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Pop powerhouse Taylor Swift could be behind a huge payday for musiciansCredit: AP
When Taylor signed with Universal Music Group in 2018, she had assurances that if the label ever cashed in its Spotify shares, the artists had to get a slice of the pie.
Now UMG is preparing to flog part of its multi-billion-pound stake in the streaming giant, and a chunky wedge of that cash could be heading straight to the people making hits.
It is thought between $500million and $800million could be shared out, meaning a serious payday for everyone from global superstars to artists still making their way up.
Taylor won’t be out of pocket either, as this will only add another layer to her $1.8billion empire.
From reclaiming her masters to reshaping how streaming pays out, she’s made a habit of shaking up the system.
And this might just be her most generous plot twist yet.
LEO IS LORD OF THE GRINS
Bridget Jones actor Leo Woodall with girlfriend Meghann FahyCredit: Splash
ONE Day and Bridget Jones actor Leo Woodall is on to a grinner as he spends an evening with girlfriend Meghann Fahy.
The smiling couple put on a united front at The King’s Trust annual gala in New York on Wednesday, proving they’re still very much an item.
Brit Leo and the US actress fell for each other after meeting on the set of The White Lotus in 2022, and now live together in the Big Apple.
We’ll soon be able to see plenty more of him on screen, as he has landed a major role in The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum, which hits cinemas next year.
BREAK-UP AND BABY BATTLE IN NEW JESY DOCUMENTARY
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson is making a documentary on baby screening lawsCredit: Instagram/Jesynelson
JESY NELSON is making a documentary about her battle to overhaul baby screening laws.
The former Little Mix singer will launch an hour-long film at Sheffield Docfest on June 11, in which she is shown coming to terms with her twin girls’ diagnosis with SMA type 1.
It will also show her dealing with the breakdown of her relationship with rapper Zion Foster.
Jesy revealed in January that daughters Ocean and Story had the genetic disorder, which results in muscle degeneration.
She said the impact could have been prevented if it had been detected earlier, leading to her fight to get heel prick tests for all newborns.
The film is said to be “raw and powerful”.
Its rundown adds: “The documentary follows Jesy as she comes to terms with what the diagnosis means for her girls, adapts to the everyday challenges of their conditions, and finds her footing as a single mother after the break-up of her relationship.
“It’s a portrait of motherhood, resilience and the fierce determination that comes from knowing that a simple change in the system can save lives.”
The documentary follows on from Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, which aired on Prime Video earlier this year, although no date has been set for its release.
OLIVIA IN A BUNNY MOOD
Olivia Rodrigo poses in a flowing dress and bunny shoesCredit: Morgan Maher for CosmopolitanSinger Olivia on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazineCredit: Unknown
OLIVIA RODRIGO is ready to get back in the swing of things by announcing a massive tour, less than a year after headlining Glastonbury.
The singer, who posed in a flowing dress and bunny shoes for Cosmopolitan magazine, will hit the road for her third run of headline shows, called The Unraveled Tour, in September.
UK fans might face a scrap for tickets when they go on pre-sale next Tuesday ahead of a general sale on Thursday.
Her only dates in Blighty so far are four shows at London’s O2 Arena, in April next year.
It comes ahead of the release of her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love, on June 12.
She told Cosmo of the record: “I was really excited to write about joy, love, and passion in a way that I had never really done.
“Most of my big songs are about being sad, angry, heartbroken.
“Sometimes I listen back to it and I cringe.
“It’s cringier to be happy.
“I cringe, but I’m free.”
JACKO FILM SEQUEL AFTER ‘GAMBLE’ HIT
LIONSGATE studio boss Adam Fogelson has revealed Michael Jackson’s story isn’t stopping at just one film.
He’s confirmed a sequel, and reckons rival companies will be kicking themselves for not moonwalking into the deal sooner.
Michael, starring the singer’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, has become a box office hit, with the biggest global opening weekend for any biopic.
Adam said of a follow-up: “It’s going to happen whether it’s this year or next year.”
He said Lionsgate took a huge gamble backing the project in 2021, due to controversies surrounding the late King of Pop, but insists they knew audiences would turn up.
Adam added: “You know that if this comes together, there is an audience.
“It was one of those rare times where there was nothing but joy.
“There is a massive amount of music and life experience that would fill more than a second movie on its own.”
With Jacko fans already clamouring for more, it looks like this thriller is only just getting started.
MADONNA and Sabrina Carpenter have dropped the biggest release of the week with their collaboration Bring Your Love.
The pair finally put the song out this morning, a fortnight after performing it at Coachella festival in the US.
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter have dropped the biggest release of the weekCredit: instagram/sabrinacarpenter
Also back today is Becky Hill with Hands On Me, while Bleachers have released I’m Not Joking from their fifth album Everyone For Ten Minutes, which will be out on May 22.
I also recommend Sunderland artist Tom A. Smith’s six-track EP Put On A Record Tommy, featuring Happy Mondays collaborator Rowetta on the title track.
KRIS JENNER is so paranoid, she can’t go for a walk without security by her side.
On her daughter Khloe Kardashian‘s podcast, Khloe In Wonderland, Kris said she lives “crime stories” in her head every day.
Kris Jenner says she can’t go for a walk without security by her sideCredit: Getty
Kris said: “I was on vacation and I felt like taking the bicycle out in front of the villa and riding down to the restaurant.
“I thought, no, because what if I’m riding the bike and somebody jumps out of the bushes, grabs the bike, throws me in the back of a van and takes off?”
Khloe added: “My mom won’t go on a walk in the neighbourhood without security following her in a vehicle.”
