ZOOTROPOLIS 2 star Ginnifer Goodwin says her kids would mock her for saying she voiced the main character, rabbit Judy Hopps, and refused to believe it was really her.
The actress, who attended the London premiere of the Disney animated adventure yesterday, previously spoke to Bizarre’s Jack at Walt Disney World in Florida, while she was at the launch of the park’s new Zootopia attraction – the film’s name in the US.
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Zootropolis 2 star Ginnifer Goodwin says her kids would mock her for saying she voiced the main characterCredit: Getty
Ginnifer, who is married to Josh Dallas, her co- star in TV fantasy series Once Upon A Time, said: “My kids still don’t feel comfortable with watching me on screen.
“Even though they are obsessed with Disney, they have never seen more than the pilot of Once Upon A Time, which they did love but they said it was weird for them – even though Mummy and Daddy are together in the show.
“A few years after, I showed them Zootropolis.
“Someone said to them, ‘That’s your mum’, and they were like, ‘That is a rabbit and it’s not our mum’.
“My eldest replied, ‘I know Mum thinks she sounds like that rabbit but she doesn’t’.”
And Ginnifer said of the sequel to the 2016 original, which opens in cinemas on Friday: “I was ecstatic to grow with the character and it may be a bit weird to say about your own product, but I do think it’s outrage-ously good.”
Michael B. Jordan, 38, has given awards-worthy performances since he was a teenager. He now appears poised for his first Oscar nomination for playing twin bootleggers in frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.”
15
Age when Jordan delivered an indelible performance as the softhearted, conflicted teen drug dealer Wallace on HBO’s “The Wire.”
2
Despite being considered one of the finest television shows of all time, “The Wire” received only two Emmy nominations — both for writing — and won neither.
20+
“Breakthrough” awards and other mentions poured in for Jordan’s nuanced portrayal of Oscar Grant, a real-life Bay Area man killed by transit police, in Coogler’s 2013 debut feature “Fruitvale Station.”
1
Although none of the top awards bodies recognized his “Fruitvale Station” performance, Jordan received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for best male lead.
2016
The prestigious National Society of Film Critics named Jordan best actor for his portrayal of boxer Adonis Creed in “Creed,” Coogler’s expansion of the “Rocky” franchise.
0
Despite the NSFC signaling his arrival as a bona fide movie star, Jordan was left off the Oscar, Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA nominations lists.
2018
Jordan’s performance as complex antagonist Erik Killmonger in Coogler’s “Black Panther” drew widespread awards attention from critics groups, and the film’s cast won the SAG ensemble prize — Jordan’s highest acting honor to date.
4 (ish)
Although the data is shaky, it appears Jordan would be the fourth lead actor nominated for playing multiple characters in a movie if he gets the nod for “Sinners,” after Peter Sellers (“Dr. Strangelove”), Lee Marvin (“Cat Ballou”) and Nicolas Cage (“Adaptation”).
1
Only Marvin won, in 1966, for playing two gunmen — one far more broadly than the other.
Last year, ITV viewers were on the edge of their seats as they watched Richard Armitage take on the role of Dr Matthew Nolan, who was being escorted back to Beijing by DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi) for a crime he didn’t commit.
However, their journey wasn’t smooth sailing as Hana found herself embroiled in an escalating conspiracy, along with a growing number of murders.
As the show came to a dramatic end, fans were eager to see the series return, which ITV announced back in May this year.
Although Richard Armitage won’t be back in action, Red Eye is welcoming another well-known face to the explosive thriller, Line of Duty star Martin Compston.
Martin said of joining the show: “I had a blast making it! I had big shoes to fill, literally with the size of Richard! He did such a wonderful job, leading with Jing in the first series.
“It’s great to come onto a job when you know there’s nice pressure on it because the first season was such a success, so well done, so well received.
“Your job is to help take it to the next level. It was a lovely pressure to have and a lovely returning team; the crew were all brilliant. It was great, we had a lot of fun.
Speaking about the series, Martin teased that it gets ‘more outlandish’ and ‘more wild’ as the episodes progress, although he was tight-lipped on what people can expect to see.
Praising his co-stars, the actor added: “People want to be entertained, it was great fun and getting to work with Jing, she’s so proud of the show and so committed to it.
“She’s really protective of it and she’s surrounded by a wonderful cast, Jem (Jemma Moore) and all these actors.
“She won’t thank me for saying it but Lesley (Sharp) is British acting royalty. So getting to share some screen time with her was really appealing.”
Also joining Martin on the second series of Red Eye will be Isaura Barbe-Brown, Nicholas Rowe, Danusia Samal, Trevor White and Guy Williams.
Speaking about the show’s return, Jing commented: “I’m incredibly excited to return to the world of Red Eye, and thrilled to be sharing this rollercoaster with the brilliant Martin Compston.”
It’s not yet known when the second series will air on ITV.
AN AUSSIE superfan who lunged at Ariana Grande on the red carpet has been kicked out of Singapore and banned from returning to the country for life.
Johnson Wen, 26, was jailed for nine days for being a public nuisance and has now been officially “barred from re-entering Singapore”, the country’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority confirmed.
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Johnson Wen accosted the star at the premiere of Wicked: For GoodCredit: Reuters
Her co-star Cynthia Erivo immediately rushed in and physically wrestled him away.
The prankster has a history of disrupting concerts and celebrity appearances, including jumping on stage at Katy Perry’sSydney concert in June.
Fans online accused Wen of re-traumatising Grande, who has spoken about suffering PTSD after the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, which killed 22 concertgoers and injured hundreds more.
The court heard Wen had tried twice to force his way into the premiere.
After being removed the first time, he made a second attempt to jump the barricades before security pinned him to the ground.
He later posted bizarre videos thanking Grande “for letting him on the carpet” and declaring he was “free”, only to be arrested the next day.
Wen pleaded guilty to the public-nuisance charge.
Judge Christopher Goh said Wen was “attention seeking” and foolish to believe he wouldn’t face consequences.
Grande has not commented, but Erivo later told NBC she stepped in instinctively: “I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe … You never know with those things.”
Ariana Grande appeared shaken by the incidentCredit: GettyWen was locked up for nine days and has been described a ‘serial intruder’Credit: Instagram / @pyjamamann
“Can you just give me one of your leftover sharks?”
It was early in Jay Stein’s tenacious pursuit to turn a throwaway business into a sweet spot for Universal Studios, then owned by Lew Wasserman’s powerhouse entertainment firm MCA.
In 1975, Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” was a cultural sensation and Stein wanted to capitalize on the movie’s success. He asked his colleagues in film production for props so his crews could re-create the fictional Amity Island coastline in the studio’s hilly back lot miles from downtown L.A.
“He convinced them: ‘Can you just give me one of the leftover sharks and I’ll put it on the studio tour, and we’ll get some promotion out of that,’ ” author Sam Gennawey told The Times, recalling Stein’s brilliance and his pioneering use of intellectual property.
Jay Stein with his wife, Connie, in Oregon.
(Connie Stein)
Stein died Nov. 5 at his home in Bend, Ore., according to his wife, Connie Stein. He was 88 and had been suffering from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer.
“He left a big hole — but he also left a wonderful legacy,” she said in an interview Sunday. “Not a lot of people have the opportunity to leave a legacy that touches generations. But he’s still making people smile every day.”
The tram tour’s shark attack, which terrified tourists when it debuted in 1976, has long been a staple. It was among Stein’s many theme park enhancements during his more than 30 years as a top MCA executive, which included Universal’s push into Florida to compete with Walt Disney Co.
The “Jaws” attraction helped cement Universal’s decades-long relationship with Spielberg, a span that would include such films as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park,” “Schindler’s List” and “The Fabelmans.” It also spawned other movie-themed attractions that included a “Waterworld” live show and a “King Kong” ride.
Stein insisted that the ape would spew “banana breath,” his wife said.
Within Universal, such jolts and flourishes became known as “JayBangs,” which Gennawey used as the title for his 2016 book about Stein’s contributions to the industry, “JayBangs: How Jay Stein, MCA, & Universal Invented the Modern Theme Park and Beat Disney at Its Own Game.”
“Jay wanted to put you in the movie,” Gennawey said. “He wanted to grab you by the collar and shake you a bit.”
The “Runaway Train” attraction on the Universal Studios backlot tour, one of its many exhilarating “JayBangs.”
(NBCUniversal Archives & Collections)
Stein was born in New York City on June 17, 1937, to Samuel and Sylvia “Sunny” (Goldstein) Stein.
His father was a watch salesman who moved the family to Los Angeles when Stein was young. As a teenager, he occasionally skipped school to go to Hollywood Park Racetrack to bet on horses. He had finagled some blank report cards and used them to bring home self-inserted high marks.
But the scam was revealed when the family briefly moved back to New York and Stein was nearing the end of high school. His parents were summoned for a conference, where they learned Stein lacked the credits to graduate. Summer school remedied that.
The family returned to L.A. Stein attended UC Berkeley, majoring in political science, but he left about a semester shy of graduating.
He served in the Army National Guard and, near the end of his service, in 1959, began working in MCA’s mailroom. Initially he wanted to get into film production, but by the mid-1960s, he was steered into the fledgling tour unit.
The company had launched the tram tour in 1964 to make a little money from its ample real estate. But some executives viewed the endeavor as tacky. Its prospects looked dim.
“It started out as two trams and a Quonset hut on Lankershim Boulevard,” Stein told The Times in a 2023 interview. “Quite frankly, the tram was considered something that interfered with television production.”
“I worked for the production office and was given the task of trying to coordinate how close we could come on the backlot without interfering. Everyone I worked for said it was an annoyance and disruptive and will not ever be welcomed.”
Stein was able “to convince others of the benefits of having the studio tour,” Gennawey said. “That’s what saved it.”
Early signage advertising Universal Studios as a tourist attraction.
(NBCUniversal Archives & Collections)
Gennawey considers Stein a key pioneer of U.S. theme parks.
“He was remarkably competitive. He recognized that Disney had its thing — but Universal could create something different and complimentary, particularly in the early days,” Gennawey said.
Disneyland was, of course, a top draw.
“But if you are a Los Angeles resident and had relatives coming in town, you knew they [also] wanted to see Hollywood,” Gennawey said. “But Hollywood was kind of scary, so you took them to Universal Studios.”
Stein’s contributions have only recently been appreciated, according to Gennawey. That’s largely because Stein subscribed to Wasserman’s edict that the “stars were the stars,” and executives should blend into the background. Stein also retired early, leaving Universal by the mid-1990s, after Japanese electronics giant Matsushita bought MCA.
Visitors line up for the studio tour of Universal Studios.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Stein worried that Universal’s new owner (and a string of subsequent buyers) would fail to recognize the value of the theme parks, Gennawey said, an observation that proved correct.
The theme park unit — which includes destinations in Los Angeles, Florida, Japan and China — has become one of the most reliable profit engines for NBCUniversal. Last year, Universal theme parks produced $8.6 billion in revenue.
“Jay was the visionary behind Universal’s expansion from the Studio Tour in Hollywood to the creation of our world-class theme park destination at Universal Orlando and beyond,” Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said in a statement.
“He had tremendous creative instincts and defined our style of immersive storytelling, making us the brand that brings great movies to life for generations to come,” Woodbury said.
Stein is survived by his wife, son Gary Stein, daughter Darolyn Bellemeur, and their spouses, children and grandchildren, his brother Ira Stein, a nephew, cousins as well as Connie Stein’s children and grandchildren.
Viewers have been waiting patiently to catch a glimpse of the flame-haired villain
Samantha King Content Editor
00:02, 24 Nov 2025
The sewer-dwelling clown’s history is explored in the new series(Image: SKY/HBO)
*Warning: Contains minor spoilers for Episode 5 of IT: Welcome to Derry*
The suspense is building in the Stephen King-inspired series IT: Welcome to Derry, as fans eagerly anticipate the grand reveal of the infamous horror villain, Pennywise.
The terrifying child-snatching clown, first introduced in King’s acclaimed 1986 novel, It, has been lurking in the shadows throughout the initial four episodes.
So far, viewers have witnessed unsettling events unfold across Derry, with local children tormented by horrifying visions and the military planning to excavate an ancient burial site in a bid to capture the creature, aided by the unique abilities of Dick Hallorann.
With the fifth episode dropping today (November 24) for UK viewers, fans are left wondering when they will finally see Pennywise on-screen. Fortunately, the wait won’t be much longer, reports the Daily Record.
The dramatic unveiling of the clown takes place in Episode 5, as Derry’s children and its secretive military venture into the town’s sewers. This will mark the first time audiences get a close-up view of the villain, apart from fleeting glimpses of it’s glowing eyes.
Bill Skarsgard returns to his role as the shapeshifting entity that assumes the form of an individual’s deepest fear. However, it seems to predominantly take on the guise of the frilly-collared clown, the reasons for which remain a mystery.
The series takes place 27 years before the events depicted in the original IT film, drawing inspiration from five interlude tales within King’s IT novel told through the eyes of character Mike Hanlon.
The adaptation has been brought to the small screen by sibling pair Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who previously delivered the tale to cinemas with 2017’s IT Chapter One and 2019’s IT Chapter Two.
“One of the great things about the book is no one ever gets to know the truth about It-and that’s where our curiosity goes,” Andy Muschietti revealed during a conversation with Esquire regarding the series.
“The purpose [of the show] is shedding some light onto those mysteries.”
New episodes of Welcome to Derry are released every Monday on Sky an NOW TV
FREDDY Brazier has bravely opened up about his mental health struggles in a new TikTok video.
The 21-year-old model and TV star, who is currently getting ready to welcome his first child, took to the social media platform today with a video sharing moments of his life over the past three years.
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Freddy shared photos from years ago claiming at 18 he was ‘starving himself’ and ‘replacing food with green’Credit: Tiktok/Fredbrazier04Freddy said that he was now focused on sobriety after sharing worrying picsCredit: Tiktok/Fredbrazier04The star shared videos of him blowing smoke towards the cameraCredit: Tiktok/Fredbrazier04One photo of grandmother Jackiey saw Freddy accuse her of ‘lying’ to him – though it’s unclear what aboutCredit: Tiktok/Fredbrazier04
Using an AI voiceover, Freddy made a number of startling claims, including alleging that he spent his 18th birthday “in a psychiatric ward” after “wanting to end it all”
Videos connected to the clip include showing Freddy blowing smoke at the camera, walking the streets in a dressing gown, and mirror selfies of him looking thin.
Text across the photo says he was “starving himself and replaced food with green” – a slang term used marijuana – and had deliberately crashed his car.
Another photo shows his grandmother, Jackiey Budden, poking her tongue out at a store iselling wheels of “weed cheese”.
He wrote on the picture: “Prioritised my relationship with my mum’s mum not knowing she has been lying to me for years!” – though didn’t clarify what he meant by the allegation.
However, the video then takes a positive turn, with photographs sharing he had started focusing on bettering himself once he realised “something needed to change”.
As the video continues, new pics show him sharing pictures of salad, videos of boxing at the gym, surfing and attending events with his loved ones.
“Something clicked in my head,” the text on the images read. “I needed to change.”
Among the list of things he credits is a small circle of friends, getting out of London more, training at the gym, skincare and self-love.
In the caption, Freddy wrote: “It’s been a bumpy journey and it’s still ongoing! HEALING IS THE NEW HIGH.”
He added hashtags for “sobriety”, “addiction recovery” and “healing journey”.
Freddy is the second son of Jade Goody, who died from cancer when he was just four years old, and Jeff Brazier.
His older brother, Bobby, is now best known for his role on EastEnders.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
Freddy is now determined to go on a ‘healing journey’ and has started looking after himself moreCredit: GettyThe soon-to-be dad indicated he was now sober and working on looking after himselfCredit: GettyThe video comes after he’s mended his relationship with dad JeffCredit: InstagramFreddy is the younger brother to Bobby (left)Credit: Instagram/katebrazierpr
The Huntington has acquired a rare Civil War-era painting by American master Winslow Homer. “The Sutler’s Tent” was made in 1863 when Homer was traveling with the Union Army as an illustrator for Harper’s Weekly. The title refers to a type of transitory store that sold goods to soldiers when they were out in the field, and the canvas shows a soldier eating bread and cheese while another soldier rests beside him.
The acquisition is the Huntington’s first oil painting by Homer. The museum’s other holdings include his watercolor, “Indians Making Canoes (Montagnais Indians)” (1895), and several prints, including “The Life Line” (1887). The pieces show the artist’s journey from commercial illustrator to celebrated painter.
“The Sutler’s Tent” will be unveiled to the public on Dec. 7 in the Huntington’s Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art. It was acquired through a partnership with the Ahmanson Foundation — which seeks to help boost the notable holdings of the museum — and marks the fifth major acquisition made through the program.
The gift is intended to honor the country’s upcoming semiquincentennial, and will anchor an ongoing reinstallation of the galleries as the Huntington seeks to expand the multicultural narrative of American art. It will also be integral to the Huntington’s “This Land Is …” initiative, which works to examine the country’s history through its metaphorical and literal landscapes as it approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding.
“The Sutler’s Tent” will be placed in conversation with works about the Civil War and Reconstruction, including Eastman Johnson’s “Sugaring Off” (1865), Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux’s “Why Born Enslaved? “(1868, cast 1872), and a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
“The Ahmanson Foundation’s partnership with The Huntington has allowed us to bring works of profound artistic and historical resonance into our collections and into public view,” said Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence, in a statement. “Winslow Homer’s ‘The Sutler’s Tent’ — a meditation on the experience of war — embodies our mission to connect art, history, and literature in ways that deepen understanding of the American story.”
The Huntington Library is known for its vast scholarly trove of Civil War ephemera. Its United States Military Telegraph archive includes ciphered communications between Abraham Lincoln and the Army command, and soldiers’ letters and diaries. It also holds the James E. Taylor Collection of scrapbooks documenting the war through photographs and newspaper clippings, and two of the most significant known Lincoln archives.
The art museum’s director, Christina Nielsen, said in a statement that the acquisition of “The Sutler’s Tent,” “deepens our representation of the Civil War era and expands the dialogue between our art and library collections. As we look toward the 250th anniversary of the United States, the painting invites reflection on a pivotal chapter in our nation’s history — one that continues to shape the American experience.”
I’m arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, looking forward to taking a deep dive into all that can be learned about our present from our past. Here’s your arts and culture news for the week.
Dispatch: Pulitzer Prize-winning Times art critic Christopher Knight to retire
Times art critic Christopher Knight.
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
After 45 years, 36 of them at The Times, art critic Christopher Knight is retiring from daily journalism. His final day at The Times is Nov. 28. In 2020, Knight won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, and was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Art Journalism from the Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation.
It’s impossible to overstate the loss Knight’s departure represents for the paper and Los Angeles, or what a tireless, generous, inspiring colleague he is. He possesses a quiet, encyclopedic knowledge of art, and in column after column he connected the dots of culture, history, folklore, civics and psychology in razor-sharp assessments of what a piece of art really means, or how a particular exhibition is poised to change the narrative around a longstanding or misguided idea. In short, he is everything a truly excellent critic should be.
He is also endlessly supportive of arts writers like me who look up to him — will always look up to him.
Thank you, Christopher, for all your words.
On our radar
Janai Brugger as Mimi and Oreste Cosimo as Rodolfo in L.A. Opera’s 2025 production of “La Bohème.”
(Cory Weaver)
La Bohème Giacomo Puccini’s 1896 opera remains one of the most popular works in the Italian canon. Its doomed romanticism among struggling artists in 1830s Paris has a particular appeal to young people and became the inspiration for Jonathan Larson’s musical “Rent.” Lina González-Granados conducts the L.A. Opera orchestra. Brenna Corner directs this revival of the late Herbert Ross’ enduring production. Saturday through Dec. 14. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laopera.org
Roberto González-Monjas conducts the L.A. Phil this weekend at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
(L.A. Phil)
Elgar’s Enigma Roberto González-Monjas conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a program featuring Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s “Themes and Variations, Op. 42,” Edwin Elgar’s “Enigma Variations, Op. 36,” and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s performance of the world premiere of an Edmund Finnis concerto. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com
Robert Therrien, “No title (plaster snowman),” 1982-98, plaster
(Douglas M. Parker Studio)
Robert Therrien: This Is a Story A quintessential artist’s artist, internationally admired Los Angeles sculptor Robert Therrien (1947-2019) made eccentric objects in two and three dimensions that seem strangely familiar when they are wholly abstract, and strangely abstract when they are instantly recognizable as representations of known things — a tall pillar of giant dinner plates, for example, or a simple little snowman. Often the materials are unusual, like zinc over bronze, buffed plaster or tempera on silver, adding to the sense of mysterious specificity. With more than 120 works spanning five decades, this should be the most compelling museum solo show of the season. — Christopher Knight Saturday through April 5, 2026. The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. thebroad.org
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The week ahead: A curated calendar
FRIDAY Fall of Freedom In a unified act of creative resistance, hundreds of galleries, museums, libraries, comedy clubs, theaters, concert halls and individuals across the nation will host exhibitions, performances and public events, asserting the power of free expression to mount a response to escalating authoritarian threats and censorship in the U.S. Friday and Saturday. There are dozens of local events in Southern California, please check the website for details. falloffreedom.com
¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad! The Old Globe Theatre will present two performances of the world premiere of a new version of the Dr. Seuss classic with your favorite songs in Spanish. And for the 28th year, the Old Globe will also be doing its traditional holiday musical of “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Nov. 21-28. 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. theoldglobe.org
From “The Dying World” by Lauren Tsai.
(Josh White)
The Dying World Lauren Tsai’s solo exhibition, an installation utilizing drawing, painting, sculpture, puppets and projected stop motion imagery, explores the liminal space between worlds: subject and object, fiction and maker. Final two nights. 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hollywood Forever, the Cathedral Mausoleum Courtyard, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. hollywoodforever.com
Amy Engelhardt in “Impact,” a solo one-act at the Fountain.
(Peter Serocki/peterserockivisuals.com)
Impact Composer/lyricist/performer Amy Engelhardt’s one-act solo show (with musical accompaniment) probes the 1988 terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles. fountaintheatre.com
SATURDAY Animal Instinct Chinese American artist Kristen Liu-Wong’s solo exhibition of vibrant paintings with slightly macabre narratives highlights her varied influences from American folk art, the cartoons she watched as a kid, Japanese erotic art and an appreciation for architecture. Opening reception, 7-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Jan. 3, 2026. Corey Helford Gallery, 571 S. Anderson St., Los Angeles. coreyhelfordgallery.com
A Brahmsian Affair The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents a program featuring two sextets by Brahms, plus the world premiere of Julia Moss’ “(Please Don’t) Look Away.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.; 4 p.m. Sunday. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. laco.org
Corita Day Corita Art Center celebrates L.A.’s favorite artist/nun with an afternoon of art activities for all ages, live screen printing by Self Help Graphics, holiday shopping, food, music by KCRW, and a performance by Bob Baker Marionette Theater at 2 p.m. Visitors can also reserve spots from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. to see the exhibitions “Corita Kent: The Sorcery of Images” and “Irregularity: Corita and Immaculate Heart College’s Rule Breaking Designs.” 1-4 p.m. Marciano Art Foundation, 4357 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. marcianoartfoundation.org
Grief Bacon and Other Holiday Treats Melanie Mayron and Sandra Tsing Loh deliver “old and new humor for trying times.” Part of the Odyssey’s “Thresholds of Invention” series. 8 p.m. Saturday. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. odysseytheatre.com
Tom Wesselman, “Bedroom Face,” 1977, color aquatint
(Palm Springs Art Museum)
Mapping the Female Body: Tom Wesselmann and Mickalene Thomas An unexpected juxtaposition of two very different painters from the end of one century and the beginning of the next is set to consider dissimilar representations of the contemporary female nude. In the 1960s, the famous “Great American Nude” series by Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004) applied commercial advertising techniques to painterly traditions in Western art familiar since the Renaissance. Fifty years later, Mickalene Thomas applies commercial craft techniques to vibrant paintings of queer Black women — a subject previously absent from Western art history. Questions of gender, sexuality and their depictions are the exhibition’s focus. — Christopher Knight Through April 6, 2026. Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive. psmuseum.org
Venice Winter Fest Chill out SoCal-style with artisan markets, hot cocoa, live music, festive bites and interactive winter-themed activities for all ages. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 12257 Venice Blvd. thevenicefest.com
SUNDAY Habsburg Harmonies: Haydn, Ligeti, and Brahms Violinist Martin Beaver, flutist Demarre McGill, cellist Clive Greensmith and pianist Fabio Bidini team up for an evening rooted in Austro-Hungarian musical tradition. 4 p.m. Thayer Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. colburnschool.edu
TUESDAY Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern Three adventurers need your help on an epic quest to save the world in this interactive fantasy inspired by the immensely popular role-playing game. Through Jan. 4, 2026. The Montálban, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood. broadwayinhollywood.com
Culture news and the SoCal scene
The Palm Springs Art Museum, founded in 1938, has a small board of 22 trustees.
(Lance Gerber / Palm Springs Art Museum)
Speaking of Christopher Knight’s tremendous skills as a critic, did I mention he’s also a phenomenal reporter? In one of his final columns, Knight chronicles the many financial travails of the Palm Springs Art Museum based on internal documents obtained by The Times. “Recent developments have opened a Pandora’s box,” Knight writes of an accounting firm’s annual audit of the museum’s 2024 books. The audit revealed that there is a “reasonable possibility that [the museum’s] internal financial statements are significantly out of whack,” Knight wrote before detailing the fallout leading to a trustees revolt.
Knight also delighted us with a list of “22 essential works of art at the Huntington and the surprising stories behind them.” No one can highlight what should be considered essential viewing at a museum quite like Knight, who takes readers on a virtual tour of the storied San Marino museum and its exquisite holdings, including Sir Joshua Reynolds’ “Portrait of Samuel Johnson (‘Blinking Sam’),” which Knight writes was not favored by its famous subject.
Cher Alvarez, who reprises her role at the Ahmanson, in “Paranormal Activity” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
(Kyle Flubacker)
Closer to home, McNulty reserved high praise for the spooky “Paranormal Activity,” now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre. “I caught myself wondering during the first act, ‘Is this the best staged production of the year?’,” McNulty writes of the show, which is based on the horror film franchise of the same name and just completed a run at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Director Felix Barrett, playwright Levi Holloway and Tony Award-winning illusion designer Chris Fisher are “masters of misdirection,” McNulty concludes.
I had a great Zoom call with Shaina Taub about the inspiration behind her musical, “Suffs.” Taub is only the second woman, after Micki Grant, to star in a Broadway musical for which she also wrote the book, music and lyrics. The show is about the women’s suffrage movement leading up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It opened earlier this week at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre as part of the show’s inaugural national tour.
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(Daniel Tyree Gaitor-Lomack / Night Gallery, Los Angeles. Photo by Tomasa Calvo.)
Interdisciplinary Los Angeles–based artist Daniel T. Gaitor-Lomack is staging a solo exhibition, “You Can Hate Me Now,” at Night Gallery. This marks the artist’s second solo show at the space. Much of the new work was informed by Gaitor-Lomack’s life in his MacArthur Park neighborhood. A rep for the gallery wrote in an email that Gaitor-Lomack describes the exhibition “as a kind of ceremony, a gathering of ideas and emotions that have been unfolding across his work over the past three years. Guided by intuition and lived experience, he continues to use found and everyday materials to reflect on the innumerable systems of the world around. The exhibition’s title, long held in his mind, frames the presentation as a meditation on anticipation, transformation, and resilience.” The show will be at Night Gallery through Feb. 14.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has made what it is calling the first-ever restitution of artwork to the descendants of an enslaved artist. The artist, David Drake, was born around 1800 in Edgefield, S.C. He is known for signing his vessels and inscribing them with poetic verses, including one that read, “I wonder where is all my relations.” Fifteen of Drake’s descendants recently traveled to Boston from various states for a ceremony during which MFA returned one of Drake’s stoneware jars to them, and purchased a second back. An L.A.-based attorney named George Fatheree represents Drake’s family and help shepherd the transaction. “This is a day we hoped and prayed for,” said Pauline Baker, the third great-granddaughter of Drake, in a news release. “To see it realized is almost overwhelming. On behalf of our family, we express our deepest gratitude to the Museum of Fine Arts for its courage and integrity. Most importantly, this ceremony restores not just his work, but his humanity.”
A Gustav Klimt painting, “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer,” recently sold for $236.4 million, including fees, making it the most expensive modern work to be sold at auction. The 71-by-51-inch painting, created between 1914 and 1916, portrays the 20-year-old daughter of the Viennese art collectors who commissioned the work. The portrait was sold during a Sotheby’s auction in New York and was part of the private collection of cosmetics heir Leonard Lauder, who died in June. According to the Washington Post, a 19-minute bidding battle catapulted the painting “far beyond its $150 million estimate, with two bidders competing over the phone via their auction representatives.”
Kelly Brook celebrated her 46th birthday on Sunday – but had seemingly forgotten about it until Jack Osbourne reminded her during a conversation on I’m A Celebrity
21:10, 23 Nov 2025Updated 21:10, 23 Nov 2025
Kelly Brook had forgotten it was her birthday(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
I’m A Celebrity star Kelly Brook was surprised to find out it was her birthday today after a date mix-up while in the Australian jungle.
The model turned 46 on Sunday but had seemingly forgotten about her special day. As celebrities gathered around the campfire for their morning meeting, Jack Osbourne was emotional as he said he had “a good cry” with Eddie Kadi when he realised Saturday marked four months since his legendary father, Ozzy Osbourne, passed away.
“Yesterday was a bit of a delicate day for me…I was doing okay, and then I realised it was the four months since my dad died,” Jack said. “Had a good cry with Eddie…but ultimately I’m happy, I’m really happy I’m here.” Campmates showed their support for Jack, as Angry Ginge told him: “Men cry too.”
The conversation then moved to a lighter topic – birthdays – as Kelly exclaimed: “Oh my god! It’s my birthday tomorrow.” However, after she revealed her birthday was on November 23, Jack was quick to point out: “It’s the 23rd today.”
The pair then went through the days together, which is when Kelly realised: “It’s my birthday.” Fellow celebrities then cheered and celebrated with her as Kelly joked: “I honestly thought it was tomorrow!
“Jack even had to figure out when my birthday was, is there nothing this guy can’t do?! How am I gonna navigate life without him!” It comes after Jack’s sister, Kelly Osbourne, accused his campmate, Kelly, of being a “bully” after she said he had pushed his way into taking over preparing the campmate’s dinner of eel.
On the ITV show earlier this week, Jack offered to help Kelly after seeing she was gagging and retching over the smell while preparing the meal.
But despite accepting, Kelly later told the camera she felt Jack had “elbowed” his way into taking over the cooking for camp. Jack’s elder sister then took to her Instagram Stories to say: “Kelly Brook… I don’t think I like you. Elbowing out of the way to get to the fish… you’re so performative, with all the gagging and the over‑dramatics. You bring out my big‑sister vibes where I want to attack you because I feel like you’re a bit of a bully.”
After Kelly’s stepdad described the accusations as “a load of rubbish”, her former housekeeper Gemma Daniels also spoke out in defence of the former model. Gemma, who worked at the star’s £1million Kent farmhouse – which she sold in 2023 – for nearly a decade, said I’m A Celeb is painting the star in a wrong way.
Speaking out on TikTok, Gemma, who described herself as “just a girl from a council estate”, said: “In the nine years that I’ve known Kelly Brook, I’ve never felt the need to stick up for her more than I do now.” She described Kelly as “a really lovely down-to-earth woman” who always treated her well.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! airs nightly at 9pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX & STV Player.
TO the deafening screams of 60,000 fans in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Noel and Liam Gallagher took their final bow on the last night of their epic, 41-date Oasis reunion tour last night.
And now all us fans are talking about is what will come next for the brothers — with rumblings about possible shows at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester and Knebworth, Herts, along with whispers about a new greatest hits album.
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The Gallagher brothers pictured on stage after reuniting after years of estrangementCredit: Getty
Noel had previously put a record together featuring Oasis classics and B-sides from the band’s four albums released between 2000 and 2009.
But Liam put paid to his plans for the release, with Noel later admitting in 2023: “He wouldn’t have it in the end — I don’t know why.
“I gave up f***ing arguing.”
Insiders said reprising this project is among plans being floated behind the scenes.
“This tour has gone better than anyone could have imagined,” my source tells me.
“Noel and Liam will both be taking a long break to compute the magnitude of this tour.
“Being back together on stage has been incredible for both of them, and to have guitarist Bonehead back with them for the last shows has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“They’re aware of what their fans want and know the demand would be there if they did decide to put out a new greatest hits album — or to play more shows.”
So far, five separate music insiders have told me about the proposed Etihad residency next summer, along with a slew of shows at Knebworth.
Offers have also been made to Oasis to play Coachella in the US and Benicassim in Spain.
My insider added: “Steven Knight’s film from behind the scenes of the tour will give fans something to look forward to while they wait for Noel and Liam to decide what is coming up next.
“The offers are theirs for the taking.”
Those close to the pair insist there are no plans on the table right now.
But given how quickly the initial reunion came to pass, I’d put nothing past Noel and Liam.
The latter is definitely keen to keep the momentum, posting on X last week: “We need to sit down and discuss these things.
“If it was all up to me then you know we’d be touring till the day we die as it’s the best thing in the world but unfortunately it’s not.”
Noel, you know what you have to do.
Noel and Liam Gallagher took their final bow on the last night of their epic, 41-date Oasis reunion tour last night
SZA AND SHABS’ SWEET MUSIC
HER two studio albums have been packed with songs about love, loss and everything in between, so I’m sure SZA will have plenty to write about on her next record, as she is dating again.
The Kill Bill singer, who headlined Glastonbury last year, is believed to be secretly seeing Shaboozey, who is best known for his No3 hit A Bar Song (Tipsy) which soared up the charts last summer.
SZA is believed to be secretly seeing ShaboozeyCredit: GettyShaboozey was linked to model Emily Ratajkowski last yearCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
While she previously dated rapper Drake, Shaboozey was linked to model Emily Ratajkowski last year.
And now they have grown close and are constantly liking each other’s posts on social media.
They attended a GQ Men of the Year party together in Los Angeles earlier this month, but made sure to maintain their distance, in a bid to keep their romance quiet.
However, they’ve both got eager fanbases who are over the moon about the prospect of these two becoming an item.
One thing’s for sure: if they make a song together, it will be fantastic.
THE WEEK IN BIZNESS
WEDNESDAY: The newly restored Beatles Anthology series will finally be available to stream on Disney+, with the first three episodes added.
Three more will follow on Thursday and the final three – including a brand new ninth episode – will be out on Friday.
THURSDAY: You can head back to the Eighties as the first volume of the fifth and final series of Stranger Things hits Netflix.
Four episodes will be available to binge this week, before more on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
FRIDAY: JESSIE J will make a triumphant return to the charts with her first album in eight years, Don’t Tease Me With A Good Time.
It is expected to become her fourth record to reach the top five.
KATY’S LIMB AND A STAIR
KATY PERRY prompted a few stairs from people as she fooled about on an escalator.
The singer did practically everything but stand politely to one side as she performed the splits both the right way up and upside down.
Katy Perry fooled about on an escalator on InstagramCredit: Instagram/Cynthia ParkhurstKaty wrote on Instagram: ‘Doing all the things your mom said not to do on the escalator’Credit: Instagram/Cynthia ParkhurstThe pics were taken on the set of the video to her latest single BandaidsCredit: Instagram/Cynthia Parkhurst
She then appeared to take a snooze on the handrail in snaps taken on the set of the video to her latest single Bandaids.
Katy, whose shoelace is seen getting stuck in the moving staircase in the promo, wrote on Instagram: “Doing all the things your mom said not to do on the escalator but also: myth-busting a childhood fear. You’re welcome.”
Myths busted or not, I think I’ll stick to using them as intended.
Bizbit
THE festive season is already in full swing judging by the charts, with Wham!’s Last Christmas set to hit the Top Ten this Friday.
I’ve not even thought about putting up my tree yet but with a month to go, eight more seasonal favourites are expected to enter the charts – including Kylie Minogue track Xmas, which is at No33.
Meanwhile, Raye’s Where Is My Husband! is battling Taylor Swift’s tune The Fate Of Ophelia for No1.
DENISE: I’LL SLAYYY TOP TEN
DESPITE five No1 albums, THE 1975 have never topped the singles chart.
Now frontman Matty Healy’s mum, actress Denise Welch, is aiming to rub their noses in it by trying for the Christmas No1.
Denise Welch has recorded a Christmas songCredit: Michael Leckie/PinPep
Yes, you did read that right. Today she has surprised the nation with an unexpected festive hyperpop single titled Slayyy Bells.
Described as “part carol, part club classic”, the song is being released in collaboration with choccy brand Celebrations.
Loose Women star Denise, above, said: “I love Christmas, but sometimes I want to shake things up a bit.
“We don’t always have to have turkey, or do charades.
“We can celebrate this special holiday our way. This remix, apart from being cool, catchy and a sure-fire hit, is all about having fun.
Elphaba and Glinda have changed the box office, at least for this weekend.
“Wicked: For Good” — the conclusion to Universal Pictures’ two-part film franchise — hauled in an estimated $150 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend, marking the second-highest domestic opening this year, trailing only blockbuster hit “A Minecraft Movie.” Globally, the film grossed about $226 million.
The opening weekend audience for “Wicked: For Good” skewed even more female (69%) than the first film, which counted 61% of its viewers as women, according to data from EntTelligence.
Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” came in a distant second at the domestic box office with $9.1 million. The third installment of the illusionist franchise has now brought in a cumulative $36.8 million in the U.S. and Canada and a total of $109.4 million globally across its two weekends.
Disney’s 20th Century Studios’ “Predator: Badlands,” Paramount Pictures’ “The Running Man” and “Rental Family” from Searchlight Pictures rounded out this weekend’s top five.
The Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-led film was bolstered by a massive marketing push that began early last year before the first “Wicked” movie debuted. Though the films are based on the hit Broadway play, Universal wanted to expand awareness of the story to markets that had been less exposed to the theatrical show.
As a result, the franchise has partnered with more than 100 brands, including toy companies like Lego and Mattel as well as more unexpected firms such as household goods giant P&G and online Asian supermarket Weee!, where director Jon M. Chu serves as chief creative officer.
The film’s opening weekend success also points to a demand for female-focused franchises.
After 2023’s “Barbie” grossed $1.4 billion at the global box office, there were countless calls for more films geared toward women. But this year, many of the big-budget movies were male-leaning, and the narrower returns at the box office have prompted questions about whether films were reaching all possible demographics.
“Women continue to be a really underserved audience,” said Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of the website Box Office Theory. “In terms of large blockbusters, it’s been a minute since there’s been a female-skewing movie on the scale of ‘Wicked’ or ‘Lilo & Stitch.’”
Viewers of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! have been quick to issue the same complaint, but now presenters Ant and Dec have had their say on the divisive matter
Ant and Dec have addressed one of the major complaints from viewers over this year’s I’m A Celebrity
Ant and Dec have addressed one of the major complaints from viewers of this year’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! The Geordie duo, both 49, have returned to screens once again, this time to put stars like Emmerdale legend Lisa Riley, rapper Aitch and actress Ruby Wax through their paces in jungle life.
Sometimes, the celebrities have to live on rice and beans, especially when contestants struggle so much in the trials that they return to camp with little to no stars. In the past, contestants like former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan, model Katie Price, and presenter Gillian McKeith were regularly voted to participate in the trials and often returned to the camp empty-handed.
But so far this year, the celebrities have been scoring consistently high in the trials, and a group of them were recently rewarded with a luxury breakfast less than a week into the show’s run.
This has prompted fans to complain on social media and, during an appearance on Saturday night’s Unpacked, former Byker Grove stars Ant and Dec hit back as they wondered what the problem was.
Dec explained: “I saw a couple of people online during the show go urgh they’re had marshmallows, they’ve had hot chocolate, they’ve had breakfast and it’s only been a week. What are they moaning for?
“But when you think of that expansive time over a week, and most of it has been rice and beans, to go out for that breakfast must have been a taste sensation.”
Insisting that the stars are still surviving on less food than usual, Ant added: “Yeah, because most people eat what they’ve eaten in a week in a day. So they are hungry.
“This year, what they’ve been given [to cook] hasn’t been awful. Even octopus, if you cook it right, is nice. They just cooked it badly!” It all comes after fans took to social media in their droves to moan about the situation.
One wrote on X: “S*** trials, too much food,” whilst another said: “Drinking tea, which used to be a treat. Access to treats daily, pretty much, easy tasks to get 12 stars.”
A third added: “They won 10 stars and that’s the food they get?” But a fourth weighed in with: “The state of the food. i’d find a corner and cry!”
Earlier this week, the news was delivered that those who had received a badge from the then-camp leaders – Vogue and Tom Read Wilson – would be enjoying a cooked breakfast away from the camp, but EastEnders star Shona McGarty and Lioness Alex Scott were left out.
“We promised you would be rewarded for your badges – you will be heading out of camp for a delicious, slap-up breakfast,” the duo revealed, to cheers from the campmates. However, Alex and Shona were the only two not to receive a badge, which meant that they had to take part in the next Bushtucker trial with Vogue and Tom.
“However, Alex and Shona, unfortunately for you, you weren’t awarded with a badge, which means there’s no breakfast for you, and you have to take on today’s trial,” they added. Shona and Alex looked disheartened upon hearing the news, with Alex saying: “No way.”
RAPPER Donald Glover has revealed he cancelled his tour because he suffered a stroke on stage.
The actor, 42, previously told how he needed to focus on his “physical health” when he scrapped the North American gigs in September 2024.
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Childish Gambino revealed on stage that he cancelled his tour last year due to having a strokeDonald Glover performs under the stage name Childish GambinoCredit: RedfernsLast year, he cancelled both his North American and UK gig dates during his The New World TourCredit: Getty – Contributor
Glover, who performs under the stage nameChildish Gambino, initially shared the unfortunate news he was cancelling to his 2.5 million followers on X.
After he then called off the UK tour leg for The New World Tour, he told fans he needed surgery – but did not reveal why.
Now he has told how he suffered a stroke – and how medics also found a hole in his heart.
He spoke out at the Camp Flog Gnaw Festival at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last night, after performing a set.
He told the crowds: “I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana, and I did the show anyway.
“I couldn’t really see well, so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital, and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.
“And the first thing I thought was like, ‘Oh, here I am still copying Jamie Foxx’ [the actor who suffered a stroke in 2023].
“That’s really like the second thing. The first thing was like, ‘I’m letting everybody down.’”
He then added how more medical woe was to come and said: “I broke my foot, they found a hole in my heart.
“So I had this surgery, and then I had to have another surgery.
“They say everybody has two lives, and the second life starts when you realise you have one.
“You should be living your life how you want. If we have to do this again, it can only get better.”
HEALTH BATTLES
After canceling his UK tour in 2024, the star released a brief statement.
He said “After my show in New Orleans, I went to the hospital in Houston to make sure of an ailment that had become apparent.
“After being assessed, it became clear I would not perform that night, and after more tests, I could not perform the rest of the US tour in the time asked.
“As of now I have surgery scheduled and need time out to heal.”
He continued: “My path to recovery is something that I need to confront seriously.
“With that said, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the North American tour and the UK and European dates.
“Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.
“I want nothing more than to bring this show to the fans and perform.
“Until then, thanks for love, privacy and support.”
The New World Tour started on August 11 2024 in Oklahoma and wrapped up in New Orleans on September 7th.
Childish Gambino was due to perform in Lyon, France, on October 31st.
Followed by a number of other shows in Italy, Germany, Norway, Denmark and Belgium.
RETIREMENT
The New World Tour was the sixth and final scheduled tour by Childish Gambino.
Earlier this year the singer revealed his plans to retire.
“It really was just like, ‘Oh, it’s done,’” he told The New York Times in July 2024.
“It’s not fulfilling. And I just felt like I didn’t need to build in this way anymore.”
“I’m not 25 anymore, standing in front of a boulder like, ‘This has to move,’” Donald said.
“You give what you can, but there’s beauty everywhere in every moment. You don’t have to build it. You don’t have to search for it.”
The 42-year-old told how he had suffered a stroke on stage while doctors had also detected a hole in his heartCredit: GettyHe previously told how The New World Tour was his sixth and final tourCredit: Redferns
“It’s a rare glimpse into their vulnerability,” says cinematographer Ben Fordesman of a scene in Ronan Day-Lewis’ “Anemone,” where estranged brothers Ray (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Jem (Sean Bean) drunkenly dance moments after Ray reveals the scars of his childhood. Here, the film’s unflinching energy — influenced by Ingmar Bergman’s “Autumn Sonata” — shifts; the camera shakes free from restraint before pulling back to reveal them small against the empty wilderness. “Ronan was keen on exploring the psychological landscape of Ray, in particular, in a metaphysical way. This was our way to recontextualize the characters and place them against the vast indifference of nature. To suggest a kind of detachment from reality,” Fordesman says of “Anemone,” which examines trauma and its generational ripple effects. The scene’s dramatic payoff wasn’t originally scripted and almost didn’t happen, as the cabin set had to be redesigned so one side could be removed. Creative engineering from production designer Chris Oddy and seamless visual effects helped bring it to life. “It was genuinely one of the most fun things to shoot when you’ve got the motivation to move freely. Everything in the rest of the film is considered and composed,” says the cinematographer. “This maybe leans into the way that trauma can be often experienced as a memory and the dancing is a way of shaking that off.”
The star had signed up to play alongside professional athletes Gareth Ellis, Mark Flanagan and Danny McGuire in aid of the David Lewis Centre, a charity supporting individuals with complex needs.
The soap star had initially been benched, but was later shown in the game being tackled. He admitted at the time: “I’m hoping, fingers crossed, I’ve not, but it feels like I’ve torn my bicep.”
In the latest update given to viewers, he revealed a scan had now confirmed that he was indeed suffering from a torn bicep, rendering him unable to see through his commitments on the farm.
“I need to find a potential understudy,” he remarked on the programme as he weighed up whether he could still show his Lincoln Red cows at the Royal Cheshire Show.
Turning to wife Liz, he said: “My arm is killing me still. My arm’s really sore and I’m just thinking whether it’s best you taking them. You’ll be fine.” He added: “Let’s just see, but just on standby. How do you feel about that?”
Liz, clearly unimpressed replied: “Well not great, obviously,” as Kelvin reassured her that “despite the adversity, despite the hiccups we’re still going to go.”
Later in the episode, Liz revealed her anxiety about showing the cows, telling the cameras: “Where I thought I was just going to be having a lovely day at the Cheshire show with the kids, no pressure, no worries, I’m now told I’m going to have to step it up and potentially be the one that’s in the ring with the cow because of Kelvin’s injury.”
She continued: “I feel underprepared, more than last year. Even though he is a beautiful and calm temperament, it’s how does he respond to those other bulls. But we’re in it now, what can we do? We’re going.”
Not content with just a torn muscle, Kelvin was also seen suffering a paper cut as wife Liz joked he was a “delicate flower” before embracing him tightly.
Fletchers’ Family Farm airs on ITV1 every Sunday, with episodes available to stream via ITVX
Holly Hagan has revealed she is pregnant with her second babyHolly’s sister Darci tragically died last monthCredit: Instagram
Holly said Darci Rose passed away peacefully holding her hand surrounded by family.
She also revealed Darci was a beloved aunt to her young son Alpha-Jax, writing as she announced the news at the time: “She was the best aunty, Alpha-Jax adored her.
“She spent his whole birthday on the bouncy castle with AJ and Alba, and that’s a memory I’ll cherish forever.”
Holly, 33, has now told fans she will welcome another baby into the world next year.
The star also revealed in an emotional post on Instagram that she got to share her news with Darci before the 19-year-old’s sudden death.
Holly posted a video that included screenshots of a conversation they had over WhatsApp.
They were the siblings “last messages to each other” and Holly said: “I will cherish these forever.”
After learning she was to become an aunt again, Darci wrote to Holly: “I’m so happy for you, that made me want to cry.
“I did not expect that at all … you’re the best mummy to (AJ) already.
“They are both going to be so lucky. Love you.”
Holly also captured on camera the moment she saw her ‘positive’ pregnancy test for the first time.
And the prescious moments she told her husband, professional footballer Jacob Blyth, and her parents that she was expecting.
Holly wrote alongside the sweet video: “Our little rainbow amongst the storm. Baby Blyth no2 coming May 2026.”
Her Geordie Shore co-stars rushed to congratulate her as Sophie Kasaei said: “My darling girl ….
“Amongst the heartbreak you’ve been through this is your angel and the best gift you could have ever been given. Adore you and your family so much forever.”
And Nathan Henry penned: “This is just the most precious news.
“I’m so happy for both. And I’m so happy for you that Darci got to be apart of your new journey. Love you and congratulations.”
The Geordie Shore star, 33, took to Instagram to share a video of the moment she told her family she was expecting againHolly shared precious moments like her baby scan in an emotional videoShe announced her sister Darci had died in a heartbreaking post last monthCredit: Instagram
Back in 2024, Universal conjured a pink and green tornado that swept pop culture.
From themed drinks at Starbucks and dolls of Elphaba and Glinda, to joint appearances by stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the Olympics and throughout a heavily-publicized press tour, “Wicked” was everywhere.
As the conclusion of the two-part film franchise heads to theaters at the end of the week, the marketing for “Wicked: For Good” has accelerated.
There are still themed Legos, but now also Gain laundry scent boosters, Swiffers and Pottery Barn bedding. There was a “Wicked” night on rival network ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” and a “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” musical event broadcast on NBC.
Beyond the immediate revenue, “Wicked” also gives Universal a rare, female-focused franchise, an underserved audience, particularly as so many recent films have been geared toward men.
The success of the Broadway play, which has run for more than two decades, gave Universal the confidence in its potential for the big screen, said David O’Connor, president of franchise management and brand strategy at Universal Pictures. He’s also been a fan of the stage production almost from the beginning — he watched a table reading on the Universal lot, saw the musical additions to the script and finally, its run in San Francisco.
“For us, you had this potential to really take the fanship and really make ‘Wicked’ into a cultural imperative,” he said in a call from New York ahead of the film’s premiere. “When you think about the characters, the two leads, the themes of friendship, identity and empowerment, and how that resonates universally, and then, of course, the fantastical worlds of Oz and Shiz and Munchkinland, it just seemed like such a great opportunity for us.”
“Wicked” has proved to be a key boost to Universal’s lineup of blockbuster franchises.
Though the studio boasts series like “Jurassic Park,” “Despicable Me” and “Fast & Furious,” it has lacked the deep roster of intellectual property that rivals like Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. have, said Brandon Katz, director of insights and content strategy at data firm Greenlight Analytics.
The series “has really emerged as a much-needed, fresh tentpole for Universal,” he said. “There’s such a waterfall of value that this two-part franchise creates that Universal will be banking out on this for years to come.”
The two films were shot back-to-back, with a combined production budget of $300 million, reportedly split evenly between the two.
So far, interest for the second film is high — as of Thursday, “Wicked: For Good” was the highest ticket pre-seller of the year, according to Fandango. It is also the highest PG-rated ticket pre-seller ever on the Fandango platform, passing 2017’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” 2019’s animated hit “Frozen 2” and the first “Wicked.”
The film is tracking to haul in $150 million to $160 million in its opening weekend, according to estimates from industry analysts.
And the film’s appeal to women is crucial, particularly in a year when there were few films geared toward female viewers. Despite the persistent debates about the dearth of female-focused films, there have been few big, recent hits, other than 2023’s “Barbie” and last year’s “Wicked.”
“Every three or four years, female audiences are rediscovered with some hit,” said Alisa Perren, professor in the department of radio-television-film at the University of Texas at Austin’s college of communication. “It’s kind of striking how little mainstream female [films] have been released.”
To court all audiences, including those who were familiar with the play as well as those new to the story, Universal leaned into its so-called Symphony program to leverage all arms of the company to promote a film.
The program has been used previously for films like “Despicable Me” and has become a critical part of the marketing campaign, O’Connor said.
One new strategy the company used for supporting this franchise was building a “Wicked” fair, which was held on set in 2023 in London and allowed more than 200 partners to get a feel for the story, see the filmmakers and actors and meet heads of departments, like costumes and props. The studio has done set visits in the past, but nothing like this.
That open house was pivotal in driving partnership agreements and started to fuel the franchise’s success, O’Connor said. One of those was Lego, which signed on with “Wicked” after the fair and has been a partner on both films with product lines and an episode of “Lego Masters.”
Because not all geographic markets had the same built-in awareness of the Broadway play, getting corporate brands on-board was key to increasing knowledge of “Wicked” around the globe, he said.
Though “Wicked: For Good” marks the conclusion to the two-film series, O’Connor was coy about what’s next for the franchise.
“Our focus remains on building experiences that will deepen that connection to ‘Wicked,’” he said. “And all I can say is, we are very committed to ‘Wicked,’ but it’s probably too early to share much more than that.”
Legendary actress Nina Wadia, who is best known as Zainab Masood in hit soap EastEnders, could be going up north for a new role
11:21, 23 Nov 2025Updated 11:21, 23 Nov 2025
An EastEnders star could be moving soaps(Image: PA)
Albert Square legend Nina Wadia is setting her sights on bagging herself a new job on Coronation Street having played Zainab Masood on EastEnders for six years before leaving the soap in 2013.
Nina told The Daily Star: “I’d love to tread the cobbles. That would be a lot of fun. When you’re on a soap, you get the chance to develop your character during a workshop at the start. Then because you’re living the character, you find out more about them.
“I haven’t been offered any soap roles lately, but who knows what will happen? I know a couple of the Corrie cast but I wouldn’t put them under pressure to help me get a role!”
Nina joined EastEnders in 2007 and her acting credits include Goodness Gracious Me, The Vicar of Dibley and Holby City. She has secured even more impressive acting roles in recent years on shows including The Sandman, The Outlaws and Midsomer Murders and there are more are set to be released.
Her most recent acting credit came in 2023, when she starred as Binta Prabhu in former BBC screen staple Doctors before it was eventually cancelled.
Outside of her TV work, she has also turned to radio and theatre work, making her first panto appearance in 2023 playing Fairy Sugarsnap in Jack and the Beanstalk in York.
During her stint in panto, she shocked audiences as she was able to help her niece get engaged during the course of one of her shows. Reflecting on the experience, she told the BBC: “I felt so privileged to be a part of my niece’s love story.”
Nina added she is used to working long hours as an actress and thanks to her six years playing feisty Zainab Masood on EastEnders.
But despite not actively looking to join a different soap, she has said she is prepared to push herself if they right role comes up for her.
Speaking about how passionate she feels about her work, Nina admitted that working on a soap is “very busy” but she “loves” hard work and that is what she thrives on.
Away from acting, Nina has tried her hand at reality TV too, she entered the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom in 2021 but was unfortunately the first to be voted out.
LOUISE Thompson has revealed she will never be able to carry another child due to severe health issues following the birth of her son Leo.
The Made In Chelsea star, 35, came close to dying after going into labour with her son four years ago.
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Leo is Louise’s only childCredit: InstagramLouise gave birth via an emergency cesarean and lost over three litres of blood – before expieriencing a second devastating haemorrhage at homeCredit: Louise Thompson instagram
The harrowing ordeal led to a myriad of health issues, the most recent of which saw Louise bravely reveal she had a stoma.
Following Leo’s birth she suffered multiple injuries including a post-natal haemorrhage, developing Asherman’s Syndrome, in which scar tissue in the uterus becomes ‘glued’ together, worsening bowel problems and emergency surgery.
Her injuries mean that she cannot carry another child.
Louise also has post-traumatic stress as a result of the horrific complications she endured and now relies on a stoma bag.
She believes women are being deterred having children due to a growing number of horror stories.
She told Daily Mail: “It’s something that a lot of people within my circle are talking about fairly regularly – the population problems we have.
“Thousands of women are crying out to me about this topic.
“Speaking on my own personal experience, I won’t be able to carry another child.
“So immediately that puts us in a position where we are part of that problem now.”
She is now an advocate for women’s health and maternity rights, and has spoken about her ordeal to the Birth Trauma All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
Louise teamed up with former Conservative MP Theo Clarke to set up the APPG and is now launching a petition urging the Government to appoint a commissioner dedicated to overseeing maternity care.
Their goal is to reach the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a Parliamentary debate.
Louise has spoken about her distressing birth experience in the past.
The former reality star lost three-and-a-half litres of blood following the arrival of her son Leo by emergency C-section.
Things got even worse when Louise eventually returned home and suffered another haemorrhage, during which she lost five litres of blood and woke up in intensive care.
She previously spoke about the “uncertainty” around having another child.
She said last year on Lorraine: “It’s still fairly inconclusive. I will never mentally be strong enough to carry a child and, physically, I have something called asherman syndrome where my uterus is glued together with scar tissue.
“I suppose in one sense, it’s a bit of a miracle that I didn’t have to have a hysterectomy, so I do still have a womb.
“I had a year with no periods, then I had a surgery to try and fix that and then that ended up in another haemorrhage so where I am left currently is that the hospital have sort of said ‘It would be too threatening.
“We wouldn’t want to do another surgery in that area. Let’s let you live’. Equally I am so grateful to have one beautiful, healthy child who has lots of friends and cousins. I do have ovaries and embryos so there is a chance I could freeze some eggs… when I am ready…”
Louise Thompson with her fiance Ryan as they announced they were expectingCredit: Instagram / Louise ThompsonThe former reality star admitted she initially struggled to connect with her son after he was bornCredit: instagram
Self-centered news anchor Tulio Triviño and his reporter best friend Juan Carlos Bodoque, who has a gambling problem, have amused audiences for 22 years. Neither has aged a day. That’s because they are hand puppets — a monkey in a suit and a red rabbit in a striped shirt, respectively — at the forefront of the beloved Chilean TV show “31 Minutos.”
First conceived as a children’s program for Chile’s public television, “31 Minutos” debuted in March 2003, and now spans four seasons. A parody of a traditional newscast, the irreverent concept features dozens of peculiar puppets who populate the fictional town of Titirilquén. Their sharply absurdist misadventures and reportages are accompanied by pun-heavy, humorous original songs.
“The Muppets and ‘Sesame Street’ have been great inspirations for us,” says co-creator Pedro Peirano speaking in Spanish from Santiago, Chile, during a recent Zoom interview. “But we mixed that with a more Latin American idiosyncrasy, so it’s familiar but very different.”
Peirano voices and puppeteers Tulio, while Álvaro Díaz, the show’s other co-creator, gives life to Bodoque (who started out as a green toad before taking on his rabbit form). Among their fabric-made pals are Patana, Tulio’s niece who is a duck, field reporter Mario Hugo, a Chihuahua in a suit, and Juanín, a fuzzy white creature with no visible eyes, the newscast’s producer.
“What we set out to do, I don’t know if consciously, was to create characters who are not role models of anything,” says Peirano. “They have their flaws and their virtues; in fact, they have more flaws, especially Tulio, who is a villain, but he’s also the face of the show.”
Over the years, as the show’s popularity grew across Latin America, “31 Minutos” has transcended the small screen and spilled into other formats. Through Aplaplac, their production company, Díaz and Peirano have created “31 Minutos” live shows that tour the region, a theatrically released feature film, and even an ambitious museum exhibit.
This fall, “31 Minutos” sets its sights on the global market with the release of “Calurosa Navidad” (One Hot Christmas), their first special for Prime Video, streaming on Friday. The Spanish-language film comes on the heels of another big moment for the puppet troupe, when they performed some of their hits on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” last month.
Co-creators Álvaro Díaz, left, and Pedro Peirano on the set of “31 Minutos: Calurosa Navidad.”(Sebastian Utreras)
Although “31 Minutos” emerged as kids’ programming, Díaz and Peirano sidestepped expectations for message-driven storylines.
“In Latin America we tend to confuse children’s television with educational television, as if everything has to be an extension of school,” says Díaz. “We wanted to quickly transform it from that into more of a family show.”
The duo met while studying journalism at the Universidad de Chile in the late 1980s, as the country transitioned from a dictatorship to a democracy. It was their compatible humor, a shared interest in film, and a desire to explore a variety of mediums that brought them together.
“We had a lot of free time to develop our interests,” says Díaz. “And you connect through those interests, even more so that’s based on your personality or your origins.”
Before “31 Minutos,” Díaz and Peirano already had experience working in written media and television, so their impulse was to parody the news world they were familiar with.
When first developing the show, which they produced after winning public funding, the puppets appeared somewhat organically, Díaz says, because neither he nor Peirano wanted to be on camera. And since the project was originally geared toward children, it seemed appropriate.
A scene from Prime Video’s “31 Minutos: Calurosa Navidad.” “We believed that by putting puppets in front of the camera — initially very simple puppets — children would immediately identify with them,” says co-creator Álvaro Díaz.
(Amazon MGM Studios)
“We believed that by putting puppets in front of the camera — initially very simple puppets — children would immediately identify with them, and we wouldn’t be forced to emphasize the children’s tone so much,” recalls Díaz. “On the contrary, the puppets were a vehicle that allowed us to tell stories that interested us.”
And while it was Díaz who first suggested puppets, Peirano, who is also a comic book author, was a lifelong fan of Jim Henson and the worlds he created, including more adult fare like “The Dark Crystal.” The first puppets they used were those that Peirano had made as a child. As self-taught puppeteers, Díaz and Peirano honed their craft along the way.
“It’s much cheaper and faster to make puppets and create this fantastical world than to produce animation,” says Peirano. “Puppets have an immediacy that also makes them fun to perform with and to improvise with.”
As is often the case with children’s shows, they needed to incorporate music. Peirano brought along his friend Pablo Ilabaca, the guitarist and composer of Chilean rock band Chancho en Piedra, who tangentially had created tracks that could work for the show.
“He showed us that music, and we immediately felt that the sound of the ’31 Minutos’ was there,” says Díaz. “There was a lo-fi quality about it. It had something candid that didn’t necessarily have an infantile tone but had a lightness. And we could add lyrics to that music.”
The editorial line for the songs was to validate childhood experiences without trying to impart any life lessons, acknowledging those feelings through comedy.
“There is a song called ‘Diente Blanco’ [White Tooth], for example, which is not about the importance of brushing or taking care of your teeth but, rather, about a child saying goodbye to a tooth he was very fond of,” explains Díaz.
As a father of three (who he hopes will eventually take on the show’s mantle), Díaz operates from a conviction that young audiences deserve quality content that’s not patronizing nor simplistic.
“The entertainment options for children in Latin America, and generally everywhere, are very poor,” says Díaz. “It’s mostly about extracting money from parents with disappointing offerings. As kind of a governing principle for ’31 Minutos,’ we want these options to improve.”
“31 Minutos” rapidly became entrenched in Chilean popular culture. Peirano remembers the exact moment when he realized its cross-generational influence.
“I heard someone whistling the show’s theme song, and it wasn’t a child — it was an adult sweeping the street,” he says. “That was the first time I said, ‘How strange, someone is actually watching it!’ ”
Pedro Peirano remembers the moment he realized “31 Minutos” was becoming entrenched in Chilean pop culture. “I heard someone whistling the show’s theme song, and it wasn’t a child — it was an adult sweeping the street,” he says.
(Sebastian Utreras)
For Díaz, it was when he heard the album with the first batch of songs, released about four months after the show’s debut, playing in multiple record stores around Santiago. Not long after that, they saw the first bootleg merchandise: a toy version of Mico, el Micófono, a character that is just a microphone with googly eyes that street vendors could easily replicate.
Internationally, Mexico became a key market for “31 Minutos.” The creators first realized that country’s adoration for the show when an email address where viewers could write to Tulio was flooded with more messages from Mexico than Chile.
A tribute album, “Yo Nunca Vi Television” (I Never Watched Television), where Mexican and Chilean bands reinterpreted songs from “31 Minutos,” was released in 2009. The show’s museum exhibit, “Museo 31,” visited two Mexican cities (Mexico City and Monterrey) between 2024 and 2025 after its time in Santiago at Centro Cultural La Moneda.
Díaz believes that “31 Minutos” benefited from evolving in front of a young audience who accepted the show’s peculiarities at face value. The industry these days, he thinks, demands every narrative choice be justified with substantial meaning.
“You now have to write with an explicit intention and give everything coherence, as if life is a series of very coherent interconnections,” Díaz says. “It’s impossible to make something like ‘31 Minutos’ today.”
That’s especially true, in their eyes, of the U.S. entertainment industry where one must “understand fun down to its smallest detail” even before anything has been produced.
“Much of the fun of making ’31 Minutos’ has to do with spontaneity,” says Díaz.
Nevertheless, their “Tiny Desk” concert and the Christmas special have brought them to their closest proximity yet to American audiences.
To prepare for their “Tiny Desk” performance, which features some of the show’s most emblematic puppets, the “31 Minutos” team re-created the set in Santiago — a famously tight space where bands are sandwiched between a desk and overflowing bookshelves. “We had to reduce the idea of ‘31 minutes’ to 20 minutes in a small space, without lighting, without special effects,” explains Díaz.
Tapping into current events, the running joke of their “Tiny Desk” appearance is that their work visas will expire immediately after performing.
“We didn’t intend to make a political statement, but since we were in the United States, what’s the joke in the air? That they are going to kick us — as Latin Americans, the joke is always that the U.S. wants us out,” says Peirano. “In the end, it still ends up being a commentary, and we included this crocodile puppet [as an immigration agent] because that’s the satirical nature of ‘31 Minutos.’ ”
Meanwhile, making “Calurosa Navidad” for Prime Video fulfilled their goal of entering the streaming realm. Amazon was interested in genre films, and they opted for a Christmas one.
Fans of “31 Minutos” will recognize that the story, in which Bodoque has to search for Santa and bring him to heat-stricken Titirilquén; it’s the expansion of a story from an earlier special Christmas episode that later evolved into a Christmas live show. The cheeky charm remains intact, but now it’s going to be accessible to a global audience.
Currently, Peirano splits his time between Santiago and Los Angeles. In the U.S., away from the media empire that “31 Minutos” has built in Latin America, he works as a screenwriter. His credits include the HBO series “Perry Mason.” He’s working on a project for horror outfit Blumhouse with collaborator Mauricio Katz. The two recently signed an exclusive overall deal with Sony Pictures Television.
But don’t expect Tulio or Bodoque to speak English anytime soon or for their adventures to be crafted outside of their South American homeland. Díaz has no desire to leave Chile.
“I live five kilometers from the hospital where I was born. And that’s the farthest I can be,” he says. “Chile is the reality that I understand, and, above all, that nourishes us. I like to travel and go on tour, but I hope things always happen here, with the people we know here.”
Díaz cites director Peter Jackson’s ethos to establishing WETA FX, a world-renowned digital effects company, in his home country of New Zealand instead of moving abroad, as a mindset that resembles their own — in admittedly a smaller scale.
“What we advocate for in ‘31 Minutos’ is artistic excellence from Chile,” Díaz adds. “From Chile to Latin America first, and hopefully from Chile to the world.”
