show biz

KATIE Price’s fantasist husband Lee Andrews has dropped another wild claim after describing himself as a ‘billionaire’. 

Former glamour model Katie, 47, tied the knot with “real gentleman” Lee – who claims to be a Dubai-based businessman – on Sunday. 

Since then The Sun has unmasked him as a fantasist who faked celebrity links using AI-generated photos and recently talked about marrying two other women.

Now a YouTube video has resurfaced showing Lee starring in a US short film titled Altum Ratio, in which he plays a man grieving the loss of his wife. 

During the clip Lee is heard using an unconvincing American accent while giving his best performance.

Failed actor is just another title to add to Lee’s questionable CV, after he claimed to have once worked as the Director of Philanthropy at The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust).

‘IT’S NOT ME!’

Katie Price’s hubby appears on escort site for £900 – but blames ‘angry ex’

BACKTRACKING

Katie Price’s husband DELETES fake pic with Kim Kardashian

Lee also shared images – since proven to be AI – of him working with Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian.

It’s been revealed shameless Lee told former girlfriends that he had studied at Cambridge University, and has a PhD in biotechnology science.

But The Sun has seen a response from the university explaining it could not find a record of Lee being registered as a student with a date of birth they had provided.

His LinkedIn profile says Lee has been a Member of the Board of Advisors to the Labour Party since 2015.

But a Labour source said: “We don’t have a board of advisors and he doesn’t work with us.”

The King’s Trust also confirmed Lee does not hold the role of Director of Philanthropy, and it has no record of him as a volunteer, or under the moniker Weslee Andrews, which he uses online.

Today Lee deleted an AI image of US reality star Kim, 45, from his Instagram profile.

The image appeared to show her at at event for Lee’s Aura Group business – but it’s disappeared from his grid.

A source close to Kim told The Sun: “Kim doesn’t know him, the photo is faked.

“This happens to her all the time – she’s never met or worked with this man.”

Yesterday, Lee was mocked for repeating the exact same proposal on Katie – that he did for another woman just four months ago.

He popped the question to fitness fan Alana Percival in September after they met in May on a Dubai beach.

Just a few months on, Lee picked the same private tub at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hotel to propose to Katie.

Some have also accused Lee of giving Katie the same engagement ring that he gave to his ex-wife Dina Sari Taji.

Katie Price’s relationship history

We take a look back at the highs and lows of Katie Price’s relationship history.

1996-1998: Katie got engaged to Gladiators star Warren Furman – aka Ace – with a £3,000 ring. But their relationship didn’t make it as far as ‘I do’.

1998-2000: Katie described Dane Bowers as ‘the love of her life’ but she broke up with the singer after he allegedly cheated on her.

2001: Footballer Dwight Yorke is the father of Katie’s eldest child Harvey. He has had very little to do with his son throughout his life.

2002: Rebounding from Dwight, Katie famously had one night of passion with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, allegedly taking his virginity.

2002-2004: Katie was dating Scott Sullivan when she entered the jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He threatened to “punch Peter’s lights out” when chemistry blossomed between her and Peter Andre.

2004-2009: The jungle romance resulted in Katie marrying Aussie pop star Peter. They had two kids, Junior and Princess, before their bitter split in 2009.

2010-2011: Fresh from her break-up with Peter, Katie enjoyed a whirlwind relationship and marriage with cage fighter Alex Reid. They split 20 months after their Las Vegas wedding.

2011: Katie briefly dated model Danny Cipriani… but it ended as quickly as it begun.

2011-2012: They didn’t speak the same language, but Katie got engaged to Argentinian model Leandro Penna in 2011. He later fled home to South America.

2012-2018: Wedding bells rang once more after Katie met Kieran Hayler in 2013. They eventually called it quits after a rocky marriage.

2018-2019: Katie moved on quickly with Kris Boyson. They had an on-off romance for one year and even got engaged. They split for good in 2019.

2019: Katie was linked to Charles Drury during her on-off relationship with Kris. Charles, who also dated Lauren Goodger, has always denied being in “official relationship” with her.

2020-2023: Car salesman Carl Woods took a shine to Katie in 2020. Their relationship was up and down for three years. They broke up for a final time last year.

2024-2026: After weeks of rumours, Katie confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater in February 2024. The pair split in January 2026 after two years together.

2026: Katie shocked fans when she revealed she had married Dubai-based businessman Lee Andrews after a 48-hour engagement and only knowing him a week.

The star told what lay behind her dropping one and a half dress sizes reaching a svelt size eight

Carol Kirkwood is well known in front of the camera. As a BBC weather anchor and best selling author she was known for her curvy figure and had even spoken of plans to lose weight.

However, it took something out of her control for the pounds to suddenly drop off. It was at the start of 2025 that she suddenly found herself struck down by a “terrible” illness which led her to drop around one and half dress sizes.

The now 63-year-old developed a tough bout of food poisoning which saw her losing weight and led to a complete switch in her lifestyle. This not only changed her eating habits but transformed her complete outlook on life and what she ate.

The presenter announced on Tuesday she is quitting the broadcaster after more than 25 years to spend more time with her husband, Steve Randall, who she married in 2023. She said the two have been “like ships that pass in the night” thanks to her early starts.

But she previously told how her life changed after suffering food poisoning. She told OK magazine: “Afterwards, I just ate two slices of toast for two days and I wasn’t hungry.

“I’m a snacker. I love chocolate, a glass of wine, crisps, and I thought, ‘Right, you don’t need all this food’. Now I eat when I’m hungry rather than just eating because I can.”

The star did not say how much weight she’s lost saying at the time “my weight is a state secret” but admitted that she was “probably a dress size-and-a-half” smaller. She said she now fitted comfortably into a size 10, and sometimes even an eight.

She said: “I’ve got lots of clothes from years of doing telly. When I couldn’t get into them, I put them away. Now I can. It feels like I’ve got a whole new wardrobe, but I don’t. It’s old clothes that I’m wearing again.”

Carol said she had now discovered how to balance what she ate. She said: “I’ve done every single diet going but now I’m not depriving myself of anything. If I want a piece of chocolate, I’ll have it, but then I actually don’t. It’s like somebody’s flipped a switch in my head.

She told how her day starts at 2.45am. She added: “By 9.30am, if I’m a bit peckish, I’ll have an apple or a banana, then, after my shift, I get home and eat whatever the dickens I want, perhaps a toasted pitta with rocket, tomatoes, sweetcorn, peppers and chicken. In the evening, I might have another pitta with hummus, or some peppers with hummus and, because I’m eating this way, I’m not hungry between meals any more.”

She also was quick to quash any rumours that she had used weight-loss injections. She said: “I have had a couple of emails saying, ‘It’s obvious you’re doing this.’ Each to their own. If somebody wants to do that, I’m not going to judge them — it’s their bodies, their life — but I’m glad I’m doing it this way,” she insists.

The star will leave the BBC in April and today explained her reason behind the decision. She told presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay: “I love my job, I’ve loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job. More than everyone, I should say.

“We only got married a couple of years ago and we’re ships that pass in the night so I’m so looking forward to [spending more time together]. The future is rosy and the time is right, absolutely right for me to go.”

After starting her BBC presenting career on the News channel, Kirkwood went on to appear regularly on BBC One. She has been the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast since 2010.

As well as fronting the daily bulletins, Kirkwood often presented the weather on location, including from Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show and royal events. She has also reported for The One Show and competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, reaching week eight with her partner Pasha Kovalev.

The young cast member steals the show according to fans

One of the cast members of a new hit Netflix series is a former social media star making her professional screen debut on the show.

Six-part comedy series Free Bert is one of the most watched shows on the platform since it released. According to the synopsis provided by the streamer, Bert Kreischer, shirtless comedian, party legend, perpetual wildcard, finds himself in uncharted territory when his daughters are accepted to an elite Beverly Hills private school. When his unbridled antics turn his family into outcasts, he decides to “put on a shirt” and stifle his true nature to better fit in.

While it doesn’t have enough critic reviews to warrant a Rotten Tomatoes score, fans have sung its praises online. Many sharing their thoughts have singled out the performances from the younger members of the cast.

One person posted: “It’s very funny, very watchable and very good. The cast is outstanding, especially the girls playing his daughters.”

But who is Ava Ryan who plays the eldest daughter? And how old is she? Here’s everything you need to know.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.

How old is Free Bert star Ava Ryan?

Ava Ryan is one of the breakout stars of Free Bert. She plays one of the on-screen daughters of Bert Kreischer.

The character is very much based on the comedian’s real life eldest child Georgia. Ava makes her professional screen debut with the role.

While Bert’s real children are now aged 19 and 21 respectfully, the series portrays them as High School age. According to the website Famous Birthdays, Ava Ryan was born February 21, 2010 and is 15 years old.

She is a social media star who has appeared in posts and videos alongside her mother since she was a baby. Her mum shared clips of Ava on Instagram, Vine, Facebook and YouTube. One of their most popular posts was a video of Ava saying “I smell like beef” which gained millions of views.

Now a teenager with her own account, Ava boasts more than 1 million followers on her own Instagram account. Her on-screen mother played by comedian Arden Myrin recently shared a tribute to Ava on social media.

She said: “Have you watched Free Bert yet on Netflix? I love these girls so much. Lilou Lang and Ava Ryan both had their first professional acting jobs on this show and they hit it out of the park. And more importantly, they are as funny and kind and warm as they are talented. It was a joy getting to work with them. Ava and Lilou feel like my family even though they are just my TV family.”

Free Bert is streaming on Netflix.

CHILD star Amanda Bynes looks slimmer than ever in a new video after revealing she has been using weight loss jabs.

At the end of last year, Amanda, 39, revealed that she had been using a GLP-1 to shed weight – and now she is flaunting the results.

She posted a paparazzi photo on her Instagram stories and revealed she had lost 28lbs since starting Ozempic.

“I usually don’t like paparazzi pictures bc I was 180lbs but now I’ve lost 28lbs on ozempic!

“I’m down to 152lbs.

“I know I still look big but this photo is really inspiring to me!”

‘THIS IS SO SAD’

Amanda Bynes sparks concern with swollen lips and chopped bangs in video

But now Amanda looks far slimmer after proudly showing off her weight loss in a new video shared on her Instagram page.

In the video, Amanda looked slender as she flaunted her flat stomach in a tiny pair of shorts, a pattern-adorned cropped top and some knee-high boots.

She wore a face mask, a hood and a blue sparkly sheer jacket to complete the look.

Amanda also held onto a black Dior handbag.

Showing off her outfit, Amanda posed up a storm as fans were left gobsmacked by her new look.

One fan commented, “YOU LOOK AMAZING LOVE! The fit is perfect.”

“GIRLLLL U GETTING SKINNNYYYYY,” said another.

A third added, “OMG YOU LOOK SO GOOD!!!!!!”

“I see side abs!! Keep up the good work,” penned a fourth.

“Looking fantastic girl,” wrote a fifth.

“Your eyebrows look good and what you’re wearing is cute,” added a sixth.

While a seventh penned, “We are so proud of you Amanda. We love you.”

And an eighth said, “You’re actually looking gorgeous, I hope you can see that too.”

Amanda, who shot to fame in The Amanda Show, She’s The Man and Hairspray, had a troubled life after shooting to stardom.

She was arrested for a DUI in 2012; she has alleged that she was abused by her father; she was put under a conservatorship from 2014 to 2022; and she checked into a mental health facility in 2020.

Despite her struggles, Amanda has recently been determined to get her life back on track.

In 2018, the former movie star attended and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising but decided not to go down that road.

In 2022, she announced that she was headed to cosmetology school.

Unfortunately, Amanda revealed that she did not pass her manicurist license exam.

But her weight loss seems to be a success, which could lead to improvements in other areas of Amanda’s life.

Ye, the provocative rapper formerly known as Kanye West, explains himself once again — this time in a full-page ad in Monday’s issue of the Wall Street Journal.

The Grammy-winning musician penned a lengthy apology in the advertisement, voicing regrets for his social media attacks on Jewish people and his public embracing of Nazism in recent years. He began his letter detailing injuries from a 2002 car accident, including a frontal-lobe injury he says led to his bipolar type-1 diagnosis. Ye wrote that, in the throes of the disorder, “I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika.”

He said: “I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret.”

The “Power” and “I Love Kanye” musician, 48, has long had a history of stirring controversy, but notably began facing waves of scrutiny for embracing white supremacy, fawning over Adolf Hitler and threatening violence to Jewish people on social media in late 2022. Though his professional life seemed to take blows, West continued embracing Nazi symbolism in the following years, in 2025 selling a swastika-bearing T-shirt and releasing a single titled “Heil Hitler.” West had also allegedly told a former employee, who is Jewish, that he was a “Nazi” and compared himself to their leaderAdolf Hitler, according to a lawsuit filed last year.

“Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst,” he continued. “You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to love someone who was at times, unrecognizable. Looking back, I became detached from my true self.”

The musician said his disorder led him to moments of “poor judgment and reckless behavior,” some he said he can’t recall. The rapper said he is “committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change” and denied that he is “a Nazi or an antisemite.”

West also extended his apologies to the Black community, which he wrote is the “foundation of who I am.”

West (he legally changed his name to Ye in 2021) wrote that early last year he experienced a “four-month manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.” He said there were moments during this episode when “I didn’t want to be here anymore.” West said after “hitting rock bottom” he began seeking help, with the encouragement of wife Bianca Censori. He said he also has since found solace in Reddit, where he said users shared their experiences with manic and depressive episodes.

West said he is moving forward with “much-needed clarity” reached by a routine of medication, therapy, exercise and “clean living.” He added that he is also focused on “positive, meaningful art” including music, clothing and other ventures “to help the world.” He said he is not seeking “sympathy, or a free pass,” but rather forgiveness and patience “as I find my way home.”

West previously opened up about his mental state last year, telling “The Download” podcast that he learned “it’s really a case of autism that I have.” At the time, he also told podcast host Justin Laboy that he had stopped taking his bipolar medication since learning it wasn’t the “right diagnosis.”

Days after his podcast interview, West fired off several antisemitic tweets that have since been deleted. In other posts, he also called for the release of Sean “Diddy” Combs amid the mogul’s sex trafficking case and declared his “dominion” over Censori. Following those posts, Ye returned to X (formerly Twitter) and thanked the app’s owner Elon Musk for giving him a platform.

“It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board,” the rapper said at the time.

A TOP DJ has scrapped his upcoming tour after doctors warned him he’d need emergency surgery.

The Algerian-French music star, 39, told fans a health issue he’d been battling “finally caught up with me” and that he can’t “push or delay” further treatment.

DJ Snake, whose real name is William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, then revealed he’d “need a month to fully rest and recover”.

While the In The Dark hitmaker did not reveal the exact nature of his illness, it has prompted him to postpone tour dates in Canada and India.

The record producer, who produced Lady Gaga‘s hit Applause alongside the tracks of many other well-known stars, posted a statement on social media to reveal the worrying news.

He wrote in a post with black text on a white background: “Hey guys.

SHOW CANNED

Filming for Claudia Winkleman’s show CANCELLED after train terror

FAN FAVE

Huge music star to play FREE gig for fans – and here’s how you can get tickets

“I’ve been battling a health issue for a while and it’s finally caught up with me.

“After talking with my doctors I need to have surgery in early February.

“It’s something I can’t push or delay anymore, and I’ll need a month to fully rest and recover after that.

“This means cancelling all my shows, including the India tour and that decision has been incredibly hard.

“But I need to get back to 100 per cent and this is the only way.”

DJ Snake, whose debut track Turn Down For What with Lil Jon was released to huge acclaim in 2013, added: “Thank you for your love and understanding.

“I will be back soon, stronger than before. William.”

He finished his upload with a white love heart Emoji icon.

Fans on X were quick to react and one wrote: “Wish you all the best. Get well soon”.

A second posted: “Hope it goes smoothly,” as a third uploaded: “Get well soon’.

One then added: “Get well soon DJ. Waiting for your great comeback”.

This isn’t the first time DJ Snake has cancelled a show.

In 2015, he was sadly injured in a car crash alongside electronic producer Tchami, and the pair were forced to miss Toronto’s Monster Mash Festival.

SNAKE SUCCESS

Previously, DJ Snake told how his stage name came about following a nickname in his youth.

It was sparked after he was known for graffiti and avoiding the police in his youth.

He said of his moniker: “When I started DJing, everyone called me Snake in my city first, I was like DJ Snake, OK let’s go for it.

“The name sucks, but it’s too late now.”

He also revealed to Rolling Stone Magazine the real reason for his sunglasses-clad look.

He told the publication: “In the clubs, people were dancing, but now they were just looking at me, like I was gonna do some magic tricks or some s**t, so I was panicking for real.

“I was petrified of making a mistake, and one of my friends told me to wear some sunglasses so that I couldn’t see the whole crowd.

“Now it helps me stay in the zone, stay focussed.”

He is a Grammy Award nominee, having scooped the nod in 2012 for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way album.

In 2016, he was also named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.

Five years later, he slammed French side PSG for using one of his tracks as a walk-out song.

He was unimpressed after the Ligue 1 heavyweights dropped their traditional Phil Collins entrance track – even though they replaced it with one of the DJ’s own hits.

PSG have taken the field to the sound of Collins’ 1985 hit ‘Who Said I Would’ for almost 30 years.

But in 2021, the Paris club dropped the song in favour of DJ Snake’s ‘Intro Mixed’.

The DJ then claimed the bespoke track was initially only intended for the one-off video to announce the arrival of superstar Lionel Messi that year.

KATIE Price’s new husband sent X-rated messages to an influencer just weeks before their wedding.

Businessman Lee Andrews called ex-bodybuilding champ Tina Prodromou, 48, a “sexy little beast” last month – and also joked about marrying her months earlier.

Single mum-of-two Tina began chatting to Lee, thought to be 41, online in December 2024.

The pair shared flirty messages but have never met in person.
Lee then wed glamour model and mum-of-five Katie, 47, in a shock whirlwind romance on Sunday.

Tina, who last spoke to Lee on December 31, told The Sun: “He would be very sexual at times, sometimes saying what he’d like to do – he’s flirty.

“I would go along with it, but my boundary was always the same – I’d shut it down with, ‘If we ever get married, then you can’.

CHANGE OF HEART?

Mystery as Katie Price DELETES online tribute to new husband after wedding

LOVE SEARCH

Katie Price had talks for Celebs Go Dating BEFORE split from ex JJ Slater

“The sudden marriage announcement doesn’t sit right with me.
“I think it could be a massive publicity stunt. I’m calling b******t on it.”

Lee sent Tina racy messages – too graphic to be repeated in a family newspaper – on December 30, and they last spoke the following day.

Katie claims she met Lee through social media after her split from JJ Slater earlier this month.

The separation was confirmed on January 9, but JJ had already moved out of Katie’s home by this point, just days after they spent Christmas together.

Katie’s new relationship timeline is muddied by the fact she appeared to have Lee’s name tattooed on her hand on January 12.

She told The Sun the tattoo and the purchase of their wedding rings came days after they first hit it off.

In other Katie Price news…

“How I met Lee was esoteric; we connected [by] both checking each others’ socials and quickly realised, ‘wow, this is for me’,” she said.

“In the old-fashioned way, first by words which captured us both.

“That evolved deeper as we connected further within days [getting] matching tattoos, and then both deciding to buy rings for the other.

“All this without even meeting, we let fate, but you could say destiny, decide.”

Lee then wed Katie in a quiet Dubai ceremony on Sunday – with none of their loved ones present – after they connected online.

It came just two days after Katie stunned friends and fans by revealing on Instagram that she had got engaged for a ninth time.

Tina, from Enfield, North London, said: “We had good banter and he always came across warm and respectful with me – that’s why the timeline has shocked me.

“To be speaking to me like that at the end of December – he was affectionate, explicit – then a month later he’s married… it just doesn’t make sense to me.

“I’m not trying to paint him as a bad person, because I was genuinely drawn to him as a person.

“I just know it didn’t align with the person he presented himself as to me.
“I was genuinely shocked and, if I’m honest, a bit disappointed – because I’m someone who values integrity. It simply didn’t sit well with me.”

Tina, who ended a previous relationship last May, added: “After my break-up, I did play along more than before – but I still kept it to that same boundary, so there were no blurred lines.

“I told him that if we don’t find someone in the future, we will just marry each other.

“It was just flirty banter.”

British-Greek Tina has 19,000 Instagram followers on her account, @greeksuperwoman_official – where she frequently posts pictures flaunting her chiselled body.

In one exchange, on September 12, Lee responded to a picture Tina posted on her Instagram Story showing her toned abs, saying: “Gorgeous one!

“Absolutely looking amazing!!!!!!

“The things I’d do to you!!!

“When we are married.”

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Yesterday, we told how Lee had proposed to Katie in exactly the same way he did to his ex-girlfriend, Alana Percival, four months ago.

He gave her a chunky diamond ring and popped the question at Dubai’s swanky Burj Al Arab hotel by using rose petals to spell out the words: “Will you marry me?”

Brit real estate worker Alana, who is understood to have invested in one of Lee’s companies, got into a relationship with him after they met on a beach in the United Arab Emirates city last May.

But she called off their romance after becoming suspicious of his intentions.

Twice-married Lee was also today accused of proposing to Katie with the same ring he had given to his ex-wife, Dina Sari Taji, whom he reportedly was with from 2020 to 2024.

Lee is Katie’s fourth husband – following singer Peter Andre, ex-cage fighter Alex Reid, and personal trainer Kieran Hayler.

She only split from her Married At First Sight star ex JJ Slater, 32, earlier this month after nearly two years together.

The Sun revealed how Katie had married Lee on Sunday, two days after he proposed.

Our exclusive photographs showed former glamour model Katie, who has been married three times before, saying her vows with Lee in a top-secret location in Dubai.

Insiders said none of Katie’s family or friends knew she was getting married and found out on The Sun’s website.

A source added: “Everyone was gobsmacked.

“No one knew about the engagement, nor the wedding.

“The first time those close to her found out was on social media or in the news.

“Everyone is still in shock.”

Katie is set to speak about the whirlwind romance in full for the first time on her podcast with her sister, Sophie, later this week.

Katie, who has got matching tattoos with her new fella, told The Sun: “How I met Lee was esoteric.

“We connected by checking each other’s socials and quickly realised, ‘Wow this is for me’.”

Lee and Katie were approached for comment yesterday.

PARK CITY, Utah — Welcome to a special Sundance Daily edition of the Wide Shot, a newsletter about the business of entertainment. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

Good evening — it’s Monday, Jan. 26, and you’re reading the last of our Sundance dispatches. Today we’ve seen a high of 36 degrees on a notably sunny day. We waited and waited for deal news, but it hasn’t quite arrived yet.

We’re hearing about distributors circling both Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite” and the provocative “Josephine,” the latter of which is coalescing into a critical favorite at the fest.

We’ve been speaking the last few days with a parade of fascinating stars and directors: Ethan Hawke, Salman Rushdie, the legendary Billie Jean King, Brittney Griner, many more. Check out our videos right here as we make them live.

Mark Olsen spoke with director NB Mager about her debut feature “Run Amok,” which premiered at the festival today. Here are some recommendations for you.

What we’re watching today

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass”

Miles Gutierrez-Riley, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Zoey Deutch and Ben Wang in the movie “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.”

(Sundance Institute)

Twenty-five years ago, the Sundance premiere of David Wain’s “Wet Hot American Summer” reignited the ’80s-style sex romp. Now he’s returned to Park City to see if he can rescue the comedy again.

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” stars Zoey Deutch as a Kansas hairdresser whose fiancé cheats on her with his “hall pass”: a get-out-of-the-doghouse-free exemption for canoodling with his movie-star crush. (I’ll let you discover that cameo yourself.)

To even the score, Gail travels to Los Angeles to sleep with her own idol, Jon Hamm, and is soon skipping down Hollywood Boulevard with a ragtag group of new friends, including “Mad Men’s” John Slattery as himself. There’s a sensitive indie way to tell this story — and then there’s Wain’s giddy lampoon of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Too many modern comedies are jokeless anxiety attacks. I just wanna laugh. I need to laugh. If you need to laugh, this is your hall pass to get slap-happy. — Amy Nicholson

“Chasing Summer”

Iliza Shlesinger stars in the movie “Chasing Summer.”

(Eric Branco / Summer 2001 LLC / Sundance Institute)

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger writes and stars in “Chasing Summer,” directed by Josephine Decker. Having recently lost her job and her boyfriend at the same time, Jamie (Shlesinger) returns to her parents’ house in the small Texas town where she grew up.

As she falls back into some of the same social dynamics from when she was a teenager, possibly rekindling an old flame (Tom Welling), Jamie also enjoys an affair with a much-younger man (Garrett Wareing).

Though Schlesinger’s bawdy humor and Decker’s explorations of female interiority in films such as “Shirley” and “Madeline’s Madeline” (both played at Sundance) might make for an unexpected collaboration, it’s a surprisingly good match. Funny and insightful, the movie shows that sometimes you can in fact go home again. — Mark Olsen

The sexy ‘Sundance tribute’ in ‘Gail Daughtry’

Having the world premiere of “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” at Sundance was a full-circle moment of sorts for director and co-writer David Wain. His first introduction to the festival was Steven Soderbergh’s hall of famer “sex, lies and videotape,” and Wain noted after the well-received premiere of his new film that he “overtly stole” two sex scenes from that indie classic as “a tribute to Sundance.”

Of course, “Gail Daughtry” is about as opposite as you can get from Soderbergh. It’s an absurdist, cameo-filled comedy proudly shot on location in L.A. that co-writer Ken Marino described before the screening as a “silly, fun romp.”

Even before its theatrical release, it already has the hallmarks of a cult classic à la another Wain and Co. film, “Wet Hot American Summer,” and features many faces from that movie as well as the State, the comedy troupe that cast member Kerri Kenney-Silver explained started in a supply closet at New York University because they couldn’t get any other rehearsal space.

“Making movies with your friends is a privilege,” cast member Joe Lo Truglio said. And with their ever-expanding circle of friends, we’re the ones who benefit. — Vanessa Franko

Some deal news

Neon has acquired the worldwide rights to horror film “4 X 4: The Event” from filmmaker Alex Ullom, the indie studio said Sunday afternoon.

The deal is the first to be made in Park City so far, though the film was not shown at Sundance and will begin production later this year. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

The film follows eight contestants who join an illegal “sensory assault” livestream in which they can only harm each other with items they can buy online, Neon said in a statement.

The studio previously bought global rights to Ullom’s first horror film, “It Ends,” after it premiered at SXSW last year. — Samantha Masunaga

TAKE That get taken back to some of their best days at the premiere of a three-part series on them, starting on Netflix today.

Gary Barlow, 55, Mark Owen, 53, and Howard Donald, 57, admitted some of the footage was “moving” at ­Battersea Power Station cinema in London last night.

It tells of their rise, split and comeback. Gary said: “It’s very emotional.”

The trio also performed Back For Good and Shine.

It comes after Gary Barlow welcomes the Brit Awards moving to Manchester claiming the music industry is ‘not just about London’.

The annual British music awards ceremony will be hosted in the North West for the first time after being held in the capital for its near 50-year history.

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Barlow said: “Manchester’s now such a place for media, we’ve got Media City there.

“People who were trained in like camera work were never trained in areas like that. So it’s such a massive thing for the country.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all the Brits are there, in fact it should have been there five years ago just because it’s not just about London, the music industry.

“In fact, London’s probably down the list you know, it’s so much regional talent.

“Look back in history and see where bands and artists have come from all over the country, not just in London.

On how to further spotlight regional talent, Barlow added: “I think we are.

“I think that’s one of the benefits of having an internet-based industry now, is that you can be anywhere. Doesn’t matter where you are.

“Even as artists working we can be anywhere. We can be songwriters and live anywhere now because the world’s a smaller place.”

Formed in 1989 in Manchester, Take That were originally made up of Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.

The band broke up in 1996 after Williams’ departure with the four remaining band members reuniting in 2005 until Orange left in 2014.

A film buff has shared 10 lesser-known psychological thrillers including Fresh, No Exit and Strange Darling that are described as masterpieces that will mess with your mind for days

We all adore films that have us gripping the sofa, pulse pounding, eyes glued to the screen. That’s why psychological thrillers are so popular!

The films excel at delivering these spine-tingling sensations – and there’s a wealth of brilliant examples you might have missed. TikTok user horror_hideout91 has compiled a selection of underrated thrillers perfect for your viewing queue.

Some are hailed as masterpieces that’ll haunt your thoughts for days afterwards – so why not give them a whirl:

First up is ‘No Exit’. The plot follows a university student who discovers a kidnapped girl at a remote motorway services during a snowstorm, with the abductor lurking close by.

Following that, there’s ‘Fresh’. This chilling tale revolves around a woman fed up with dating apps, who hands her digits to an apparently delightful bloke she meets whilst shopping. Yet appearances can be deceiving.

The third recommendation is ‘Deep Water’. A husband who permits his spouse to conduct extramarital relationships to prevent divorce becomes the main suspect when one of her loversvanishes.

Alternatively, consider ‘The Lie’. This centres on a dad and daughter who encounter the girl’s closest mate beside the motorway. When they pull over to offer transport, they discover their kind gesture has triggered dreadful repercussions.

Alternatively, there’s ‘The Woman in the Window’, which follows an agoraphobic woman who observes her neighbours for entertainment – only to discover she’s witnessed a horrific crime.

The cinema enthusiast also suggested ‘Exam’, featuring eight job candidates competing for a corporate position. They’re placed in a room and must answer one straightforward question. The catch? Working out what the question actually is.

Next up is ‘Burn’, centring on a lonely and unstable petrol station worker constantly living in the shadow of her more charismatic colleague. When they’re robbed one evening, she seizes it as the ideal chance to forge a bond with the robber.

Alternatively, give ‘Take Shelter’ a go. It tracks a man tormented by apocalyptic visions who must determine whether to protect his family from an impending catastrophe – or shield them from himself.

The penultimate recommendation is ‘Strange Darling’, depicting a one-night stand that descends into darkness, spiralling into a serial killer’s brutal killing spree.

Finally, the list concludes with ‘Milk & Serial’, where a surprise prank sees a well-known social media pair forced to confront the ramifications of their behaviour.

So there you have it – 10 chilling recommendations guaranteed to keep you gripped throughout!

Well, they do say any attention is good attention.

Actor Sydney Sweeney was in the spotlight Monday after being captured on video recently scaling the H of the Hollywood sign under the cloak of darkness — to hang up some bras.

TMZ reported on the footage, which was part of a promotion for Sweeney’s upcoming lingerie line. But according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the alleged publicity stunt was not authorized.

The chamber owns the intellectual property rights to the sign, which is managed by the nonprofit Hollywood Sign Trust. Neither the chamber nor the trust knew about the apparent Sweeney stunt until they saw the video, officials told The Times.

“Anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so,” the chamber’s chief, Steve Nissen, said in a statement. “The production involving Sydney Sweeney and the Hollywood Sign, as reported by TMZ, was not authorized by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce nor did we have prior knowledge of it.”

Nissen also said that the organization “did not grant a license or permission of any kind to the production … nor did anyone seek a license or permission from the Chamber for that production.”

Footage obtained by TMZ shows Sweeney climbing up the Hollywood sign to help string up a clothesline of assorted bras across the familiar landmark. The “Christy” star is accompanied by a small crew that is filming her handiwork.

The team did obtain a general permit to film in the area from FilmLA.

But as is explained both on the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood sign websites, filming the sign itself requires additional clearance and payment of a licensing fee. The chamber says a portion of the proceeds goes to a trust that assists in maintaining the Hollywood sign. Access to the Hollywood sign is generally restricted.

So far, a police report that could trigger a trespass investigation and review by prosecutors has not been filed, according to L.A. Police Officer Tony Im, a department spokesperson.

Built in 1923, the Hollywood sign was donated to the city 21 years later. Climbing or altering the sign are not permitted — and have happened over the decades. Famously, the letters were changed to “Hollyweed” by a local college student on New Year’s Day 1976 when California downgraded the possession of a small amount of pot from a possible felony to a misdemeanor. That stunt was repeated in 2017. In that case, the suspect was arrested on suspicion of trespass. In 1987, Caltech students changed the sign overnight to read “Caltech.”

Last February, a man was arrested after he climbed onto the letter D as part of a social media promotion and was taken into custody.

As for Sweeney, this is not the first time the actor has been scrutinized for promotional activity involving clothing. The “Euphoria” star previously faced backlash for the slogan of an ad campaign involving jeans. (Sweeney later addressed the controversy, telling the Hollywood Reporter that she was “surprised by the reaction” and that she “[doesn’t] support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”)

Representatives for Sweeney did not respond to The Times’ request for comment.

REGGAE legend Sly Dunbar, who performed with the likes of Bob Marley, Madonna and the Rolling Stones, has died aged 73.

The iconic Jamaican drummer, who also co-founded production duo Sly and Robbie, was found dead on Monday according to his wife.

The star played on tracks such as Bob Marley’s Punky Reggae Party and Dave and Ansell Collins’ classic hit Double Barrel.

But he was better known for his work as one half of iconic production team Sly & Robbie.

The duo produced popular tracks for industry giants including Bob Dylan, Grace Jones and Ian Dury, and reggae stars like Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru.

His wife Thelma told local media she found him unresponsive on Monday, before his death was also confirmed by his team.

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Sly, whose real name was Lowell Fillmore Dunbar, was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

He started out playing on tin cans – getting inspiration from Lloyd Knibbs and the Skatalites on television.

The star previously said in a 1997 interview: “I saw [Knibbs] playing and I thought, ‘I want to be a drummer’ because he’s the hardest worker in the band.

“He’s my idol! In some ways, I’m self-taught but I got a lot of help from other drummers by watching them play.”

When he was a teenager, he founded the rhythm section of the band the Revolutionaries alongside bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who died in 2021.

They became one of the most renowned backing bands in Jamaican reggae in the 1970s.

Sly became known for his shuffling “rockers” drum pattern, which put more emphasis on syncopation and energy.

Throughout the decade they also worked with major reggae acts like Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy.

The rhythm section also toured in the US with Peter Tosh.

In the hopes of saving enough cash to found their own production team, the pair lived on bread and water during this period, according to legend.

They founded Taxi Records in 1980, before helping a whole new generation of Jamaican artists such as Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Skip Marley, Beenie Man and Red Dragon refine their art.

The pair also provided beats on Grace Jones’s hit 1981 album Nightclubbing.

This paved the way for them to work with some of rock and pop’s biggest stars – from Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker, to singers like Marianne Faithfull, Madonna and Sinead O’Connor.

Sly’s heartbroken wife told local media: “I went to wake him up and he wasn’t responding, I called the doctor and that was the news.

His exact cause of death is unknown, but he is understood to have been ill for an extended period of time.

“Yesterday was such a good day for him,” Thelma told Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper.

“He had friends come over to visit him and we all had such a good time. He ate well yesterday… sometimes he’s not into food.”

She added: “I knew he was sick… but I didn’t know that he was this sick.”

Tributes poured in for the late musician, with British DJ David Rodigan, calling him a “true icon” and “one of the greatest drummers of all time”.

There is a child abduction about to happen in Poplar and a new detective is tasked to solve the crime

Call the Midwife is set to welcome a new character to the BBC drama, and he is a familiar face.

The new season of the BBC drama returned on Sunday, 11 January, as the plot continued into 1971. The midwives of Nonnatus House have so far embraced the Women’s Liberation Movement while facing worrying changes as the National Health Service expands.

Nurse Rosalind Clifford (played by Natalie Quarry) has assisted a Romanian national escape a harrowing slavery ordeal, while Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) saved a mother’s life thanks to her quick thinking around a blood transfusion.

Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) struggles with her dedication to her religion as her longing for a baby surfaces, and she grows attached to baby Christopher, who is being cared for by Shelagh Turner (Laura Main).

In a sneak peek into Sunday’s forthcoming episode of Call the Midwife (February 1), Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) enjoys a date with Nurse Clifford as the romance blossoms, but the midwife looks worried. The couple can be seen sitting on a bench in a woodland area by a lake, taking a break from their demanding jobs.

Meanwhile, Sister Catherine (Molly Vevers) is distraught when a newborn baby is snatched from the maternity home. But who has taken the baby and why? It appears police detectives, led by DI Holbrook (Martin Delaney), are on the hunt to track down the baby and the person responsible.

Who plays DI Holbrook in Call the Midwife?

Actor and producer Martin Delaney is taking the police detective role on the BBC period drama, and is no stranger to television shows, having launched an acting career as a child.

Now 43, Delaney played the role of Benjamin Oates in the popular show, Pie in the Sky, for one episode in 1997, before making appearances in Wycliffe (1998) and London’s Burning (2000).

However, fans of the popular Nickelodeon show Redford Rejects will know the star as Jason Summerbee. The teen sitcom followed a group of schoolboys who formed their own football team and aired from 1998 to 2001.

Martin then landed the part of Paul Webb in Family Affairs between 2001 and 2002, and has also starred in a long list of other television shows, including Outlander, Casualty, Doctors, Rock & Chips, and The Bill.

Most recently, the star played Rob Ryan in The Man Who Saved the Internet with a Sunflower, Bonded by Blood 2, and Barry in A Christmas Carol.

Call the Midwife airs Sunday at 8pm on ITV and ITVX

Take That reveal a new song hidden in their Netflix documentary which is launched on the streaming site today

Take That have shocked fans by unveiling a secret new song hidden in their Netflix documentary. The song called ‘You’re A Superstar’ appears in the closing credits of the third and final episode and sources close to the band confirmed it is the first track from a new Take That album coming out later in the year.

The source said: “The band thought it would be a great surprise and a treat for fans at the end of the Netflix series. It’s a great way to tease their new material and the full single will be coming soon.”

The band were originally made up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams, but these days are a trio with Jason and Robbie not in the band. In May last year, songwriter and band member Gary, 55, had revealed that a tenth Take That album was on the cards. At the time he said: “We all came off tour at the end of [2024] and said, ‘Right, let’s get to work’. It’s been slated for next year. We just don’t want to stop, really.”

The new track an upbeat pop track and appears to be about being in love. It contains the lyrics: ‘My heart comes alive, all the stars turn bright, a million times in your arms, tonight. And I want to let you know, you’re a superstar, and I’m yours.” Whilst the end song is very upbeat, the Netflix documentary charts the highs of the band but also lots of lows, with each member of the band enjoying some surprising struggles which in some cases have not been fully expressed before.

The three part series features 35 years of rare archive material, never-before-seen footage, and personal material. There are also new interviews with Gary, Howard and Mark and archive interviews with Jason and Robbie to tell the story.

Gary admitted: “Some of it was hard to watch – especially that middle hour, which covers the period after the band broke up. It was just a hard, hard time. I am quite good at leaving things in the past. I’m not a regretful person, and I was happy to leave it behind. So, seeing those memories brought to life on screen again was strange.”

Take That have enjoyed staggering success since forming in 1990 with 12 Number 1 singles and nine Number 1 albums so far in the UK alone. They will begin The Circus tour in May based on their previous hit tour from 2009, but the trio of Gary, Mark and Howard have to look after their bodies these days.

In an interview at the weekend, Howard said: “We have to look after our bodies. We watch what food we eat, do Pilates, which I need for my core, so my back doesn’t go. I’ve got sorer knees than in the Nineties, but we try to do as much dancing on stage as possible. It’s the satisfaction of sweating your ass off. If we’re all sat on stools, it wouldn’t be Take That.”

Of the TT fans that keep coming back, Gary said: “These days, that gorgeous audience, I want to go around and kiss one by one, because they’ve loved us and they’ve made us part of their lives for years and years, and they still keep coming.”

* Three part series Take That is out now on Netflix. The Circus tour begins in Southampton on May 29 then touring until July 4. Tickets can be purchased from takethat.com

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Dani Dyer, Gabby Allen and Emily Seebohm all passed the gruelling course in North Africa

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins ended with a bang, as it celebrated an all-female line up of winners for the second time in the show’s history. Dani Dyer, Gabby Allen and Emily Seebohm all passed the “horrendous” course, while finalists Ben Cohen and Mack Horton stood down.

Airing on 26 January, the final of eight episodes of Celebrity SAS saw the five finalists face one last test. Over the previous episodes, Chief Instructor Billy Billingham and his Directing Staff, Jason Fox, Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver, put fourteen recruits from the UK and Australia through a condensed selection course designed that stripped them of sleep and tested their strength.

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Some chose to withdraw and others were culled from the process, but Dani, Gabby, Emily, Ben and Mack all made it to the final test – interrogation. During the test, both Ben and Mack chose to quit, making the women the winners.

Chief Instructor Billy delivered the final verdict: “Eight days ago you came from both sides of the world. Fourteen arrived. Three stand before us. Just because you stand on the finish line doesn’t mean you’ve passed this course.” Not leaving the three in suspense, he then added: “It’s a rare moment to say — congratulations to all three of you. You’ve passed this course.”

Looking back on the achievement, Dani said it was “horrendous”. She said: “Every single moment was horrendous. But to hear that I’d passed — it’s the best feeling in the world. If I can do this, I can do anything.”

She added: “I definitely am a lot stronger than what I think I am…I can’t believe I’ve actually been able to do it. I’m really proud of myself.” When she realised all the winning recruits were women Dani continued: “I love it because we are strong women. We go through so much as women, mentally and physically.

“That final day with the interrogations and the noises, the animals in our ears, the pig noises, the scratching, it was awful. I thought I’d messed up. I thought I grassed everyone up. That was in my head. But we are strong women. We really are.”

Olympic swimmer Emily said she wasn’t surprised that three women won. ““I wasn’t surprised it was the three women, but I was surprised the two guys (Ben and Mack) didn’t make it because they were so strong. I was always trying to keep up with them during tasks, so to not see them at the end was shocking.”

Gabby said she thought they three of them were “boss b***hes” for getting through the ordeal. ““I can’t believe that out of fourteen people, it’s us. Well, I can — because we’re boss b***hes. Standing there with two women at the end meant everything to me. My whole brand is about empowering women from every walk of life. Men are strong, but women show time and time again that we can do just as much. We were lifting the same weights, trying just as hard. I wouldn’t have wanted to be there at the end with anyone else. We built a bond you could never replicate.”

Gabby and Dani both rose to fame on dating show Love Island, with Dani winning series four, and Gabby taking the crown in All Stars two. “The whole cast surprised me in different ways but Dani surprised me,” Gabby said.

“I felt protective of her, but she held her own and never gave up. Standing next to her at the end was incredible. Two girls from Love Island showing everyone what we can do.”

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to stream on Channel 4.

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The Testaments is a new TV series and a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, and it will be released in the UK soon

The Testaments stands as one of 2026’s most anticipated new series, serving as a follow-up to the award-winning dystopian thriller The Handmaid’s Tale featuring Elisabeth Moss.

Drawing from Margaret Atwood’s literary works, this long-awaited continuation takes inspiration from the 2019 novel bearing the same title, which emerged 34 years following the original masterpiece.

With Ann Dowd returning as Aunt Lydia, the programme boasts a fresh all-star ensemble including Chase Infiniti, the breakout talent from One Battle After Another, portraying Agnes Mackenzie, June Osborne’s (played by Moss) missing daughter.

Taking place five years beyond The Handmaid’s Tale’s concluding episode in a grim portrayal of America’s future, this coming-of-age narrative chronicles young women as they traverse their harsh new existence.

However, when might British audiences get to view the series? Here’s what we’ve gathered so far.

When will The Testaments

Disney+ revealed this week that the series will debut in the UK on Wednesday, 8th April exclusively via the streaming service.

Initially, three episodes will drop, with subsequent instalments arriving weekly.

The opening season comprises 10 episodes, positioning the concluding episode to broadcast on Wednesday, 27th May. Alongside lead performers Dowd and Infiniti, the cast will feature Lucy Halliday, Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya and Kira Guloien.

Showrunner and executive producer Bruce Miller is making his comeback, alongside The Handmaid’s Tale actress Moss, though her reprisal of June remains unconfirmed.

The official synopsis states: “The series follows young teens Agnes, dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders.

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“As they navigate the gilded halls of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, a place where obedience is instilled brutally and always with divine justification, their bond becomes the catalyst that will upend their past, their present, and their future.”

Whether The Testaments will secure a second series remains unclear.

The Testaments launches Wednesday, 8th April on Disney+.

Don’t stop me if you’ve heard this one before, since I’m admittedly something of a broken record on the subject, but I very much prefer Marvel’s television series, which tend to be fleet, original and unpredictable, to its movies, which tend not to be. “Loki,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Moon Knight,” “Echo,” “WandaVision” and its spinoff “Agatha All Along” — all (among others) are worth watching, even the ones that are dumped after a season.

Developing longer stories with less money, the TV shows makers need to be inventive, creative with their resources, so they invest in characters and ideas rather than special effects and action. They focus on secondary or ensemble figures who would never be given a theatrical feature of their own to carry, are particular about culture and family and place, and are often less contingent on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with its phases and stages, its crossovers and cross-promotions and long-range marketing plans. At once higher concept and more grounded than the movies, they’re interesting on their own, to the point where, when they finally hitch on to the Marvel multi-mega-serial train, I find them disappointing.

“Wonder Man,” whose eight episodes premiere all at once Tuesday on Disney+, is perhaps the most grounded of these series. Created by Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) and Andrew Guest (who has written for “Community” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), the series is a (generally) sweet, disarming tale of actors in Hollywood, tricked up with picture-business details that you don’t need to be au fait with the MCU to appreciate. There are things it might be helpful to know, but you can work out everything that matters through context. (Locals will enjoy playing Spot the Locations.)

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Simon Williams, who as a child became a fan of a B-movie superhero called Wonder Man — not a “real” superhero, in this reality, merely a fiction. Now in his 30s, he’s a struggling actor in Hollywood, good enough to land a small part in an “American Horror Story” episode, but not clever enough to keep from slowing down the production with questions and suggestions when all he needs to do is deliver a couple of lines before a monster bites his head off. He loses the part and a girlfriend directly afterward.

Taking in a revival house matinee of “Midnight Cowboy,” he meets Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who is back from having played the Mandarin — that is, he acted the part of a terrorist called the Mandarin, believing it was just a job — in “Iron Man 3” and providing appealing comedy relief in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” The character here is more fleshed out, something of a mess (but 13 years sober, he likes to point out), serious but not a joke. Before it all went wrong, Trevor played King Lear (in Croydon), appeared in “Coronation Street” and in a movie with Glenda Jackson, was off-off-off Broadway in “The Skin Our Teeth” and briefly had the lead in a hospital show with Joe Pantoliano, who’s very funny playing himself.

Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), left, and Simon Williams (Yahya Adbul-Mateen II) team up in “Wonder Man.”

(Suzanne Tenner / Marvel Television)

Slattery tells Simon that European art director Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić) is rebooting Wonder Man, a role Simon feels born to play. He makes an end run around his unconvinced agent, Janelle (X Mayo), and wheedles an audition — where he again meets Trevor, auditioning for Barnaby, Wonder Man’s pal, or sidekick or something. There are wheels behind wheels in this setup, some of which could use a little grease, but for most of the series they do their squeaking off to the side. It’s a love story, above all — “Midnight Cowboy,” not an accidental choice, is more of a touchstone than any Marvel movie.

Simon does have powers — things shake, break or explode around him when he’s upset, and his strength can become super in a tight spot — which puts him in the sights of the Department of Damage Control, embodied by Arian Moayed as P. Cleary, who would like to contain him. But he struggles to keep them secret, especially in light of something called the Doorman Clause — its history established in a sidebar episode, a cautionary Hollywood fable with Josh Gad as himself — which prohibits anyone with super powers from working in film or television, all Simon lives for.

There is little in the way of action, and you won’t miss it. The fate of the world is never in question, but a callback for a second audition means everything. The only costumed characters are actors playing costumed characters; the only villains, apart from the bureaucracy that seeks to bring him in, are Simon’s own self-doubt and temper. As things progress, Trevor will become a mentor to Simon. As is common in stories of love and friendship, a betrayal will be revealed, but if you have seen even a few such stories, you know how that’s going to go, and will be glad it does.

Whether discussing acting techniques or the traffic they’re stuck in on Hollywood Boulevard (Trevor: “Probably the Hollywood Bowl.” Simon: “It’s too late for the Bowl.” Trevor: “It’s usually the Bowl. I remember seeing Cher there once — breathtaking. Chaka Khan, now there’s a woman”), Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley work well together; their energies are complementary, laid back and loose versus worked up and tight and, of course, each will have something to teach one another about who they are and who they could be. I was genuinely anxious for them, as friends, more so than just wondering how such and such a superhero (or team) might defeat such and such a supervillain (or team).

“Our ideas about heroes and gods, they only get in the way,” says Von Kovak, putting a room of hopeful actors through their paces, and essentially speaking for the series he’s in. “Too difficult to comprehend them. Let’s find the human underneath.”

Netflix has announced a new drama series that’s shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies

Netflix has unveiled a gripping new drama series that promises to captivate fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies.

Focusing on two former best friends, the eight-episode drama from creator Lauren Iungerich (On My Block, Awkward) delves into toxic female friendships in unprecedented depth.

Billed as a “sexy, emotional thriller”, Poser will feature Geek Girl’s Daisy Jelley and Schitt’s Creek star Annie Murphy.

They’ll be joined by Sadie Stanley, recognised from Karate Kids: Legends, who was confirmed as part of the cast last week.

The storyline reveals that one friend will finally experience the life she’s always yearned for, before becoming embroiled in a psychological game beyond her wildest nightmares, reports the Express.

A synopsis for the series states: “Poser centres around two estranged former best friends.

“When one of them is given a chance to live the life she’s long coveted, and maybe get answers as to why they fell out years ago, she finds herself in a psychological game of revenge, betrayal, and heartbreak- ultimately altering their lives, and those around them, forever.”

The series comes after creator Iungerich secured a multi-year agreement with Netflix back in 2020.

She will take on roles as showrunner, writer, and executive producer, with Jamie Dooner also signed on as executive producer for Crazy Cat Lady Entertainment.

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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 customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.

Details about Poser remain scarce beyond the initial premise at this stage, including its anticipated Netflix release date. However, it’s been confirmed that the series will comprise eight hour-long episodes, perfect for a weekend binge-watch.

Taking a closer look at the cast, newcomer Stanley is an actress and singer who first graced our screens in the title role of Disney Channel’s Kim Possible film in 2019.

She has also featured in the popular sitcom The Goldbergs, as well as films such as The Sleepover and Let Us In.

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Meanwhile, her co-star Jelley is recognised for her main cast role as Poppy Hepple-Cartwright in Geek Girl and also shared the screen with Netflix’s Seven Dials star Mia McKenna-Bruce in the independent coming-of-age film How to Have Sex.

Lastly, Murphy is globally known for her starring role as Alexis Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek.

She has also garnered praise for her performances in Black Mirror, Russian Doll and Kevin Can F*** Himself.

Poser does not yet have a release date.

When “The Great British Baking Show” returns for another season later this year, the tent will welcome a new judge alongside the freshest batch of competitors.

British cookbook author and TV personality Nigella Lawson will join the beloved baking competition as a judge, succeeding Prue Leith, who announced her departure from the series last week. “The Great British Baking Show” (alternatively titled “The Great British Bake-Off” in the United Kingdom) unveiled Lawson’s appointment Monday on Instagram. She will co-judge alongside longtime “Bake Show” fixture and bread expert Paul Hollywood.

“I’m uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now!” Lawson said in a joint Instagram post. “Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I’m also bubbling with excitement.”

“The Great British Baking Show” first aired on the BBC in 2010, with Hollywood judging competitors’ bakes alongside Mary Berry. Berry departed the series when it moved from the BBC to commercial broadcaster Channel 4 and Leith began her tenure in 2017.

During her “Baking Show” days, Leith became known among fans and competitors for her affinity for boozy bakes and colorful fashion and accessories. Notably, she and Hollywood co-judged the series in its 11th season, which was filmed and aired amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leith, announcing her exit, said “Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years” and looked forward to a new chapter in her life.

“But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden,” she wrote, adding later in her caption that she believes her successor will “love [the show] as much as I have.”

Lawson, a former journalist and Margaret Thatcher cabinet member Nigel Lawson’s daughter, comes to “Baking Show” with some history with Channel 4. The broadcast aired her series “Nigella Bites” in the late 1990s and early aughts in tandem with the release of her book of the same name.

Her television credits also include hosting her series “Nigella Feasts,” “Nigella Express,” “Nigella Kitchen” and “Nigellissima” and judging on shows “Iron Chef America,” “The Taste” alongside Anthony Bourdain and “MasterChef Australia,” among others.

She has penned more than a dozen books, most recently 2020’s “Cook, Eat, Repeat.”

“The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it,” she said on Monday. “I’m just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come. I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!”

KATIE Price has mysteriously deleted an online tribute to her new husband Lee Andrews – just two days after their surprise nuptials.

The former glamour model shocked fans after tying the knot with her businessman beau in a romantic Dubai ceremony over the weekend.

Following the nuptials, the loved-up newlywed took to her social media to update her new relationship status, proudly writing in her Instagram bio: “married @wesleeeandrews”.

However, 48 hours on, Katie has now ditched the tribute to her new hubby, reverting back to her former bio and deleting any mention of Lee.

While Lee no longer features in her bio, Katie has continued to repost photos of her with her new groom online.

Katie reposted a selfie on her Instagram stories of her and Lee posing in front of a mirror during their stay at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai – the same place they married.

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“The happiest Mr and Mrs” read the caption, while a follow-up photo showed the pair cuddled up together in white dressing gowns.

It is the fourth time Katie, 47, has been a bride after her marriages to Peter Andre, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler.

The Sun understands Katie’s family, including her children, Princess and Junior Andre, had no idea she was getting married for a fourth time.

A source said: “Kate married Lee without telling anyone – the whole family are completely horrified.

“It is moving very fast and they are concerned about Kate’s frame of mind.

“No one knows who Lee really is and whether he is any good for her.

“It’s all total chaos at the moment and no one has a clue what is happening.”

Line of Duty stars recently reunited for a winter drink, sparking speculation that the show’s seventh series is already in production

Fans of Line of Duty were delighted after the show’s main stars got together recently for an informal pint.

The hit BBC police drama wrapped up in May 2021, though reports emerged last year suggesting a seventh series was being developed.

Whilst production is due to kick off this spring in Belfast, the recent get-together of actors Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar has fuelled rumours that the programme could be back sooner than anticipated.

The trio, portraying central figures in the fictional AC-12 anti-corruption squad, enjoyed a cheerful winter beverage together. They captured a snap holding their drinks, with Martin writing: “AC12 in the house (pub).”

This led to fans swamping the comments with optimism that filming for Line of Duty series 7 might be underway. One enthusiastic viewer asked: “Does this mean there will be more seasons of line of duty?”, reports the Express.

Someone else responded: “This is absolutely excellent news!” whilst a third commented: “Can’t wait for you all to come back in line of duty please get started so we can have something to look forward to.”

The forthcoming series, written by Jed Mercurio, opens with Central Police’s anti-corruption division being dissolved and reformed as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.

A fresh villain, sexual predator DI Dominic Gough, is expected to appear, though the performer taking on this role remains unannounced.

Dunbar, 67, who plays Supt Ted Hastings, warmly received the announcement, stating: “As we count down the AC12 days of Christmas, what a joy it is to know that the Three Amigos will be back on set together next year. Delighted with the news and looking forward to those mercurial twists and turns.”

Compston, 41, who plays DS Steven Arnott, said: “Line of Duty has been a job of a lifetime. Not only in terms of the show’s success but the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with I now call some of my closest friends. I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.”

McClure, 42, famous for playing DC Kate Fleming, added: “It goes without saying I’m so excited Line of Duty is back! Can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!”

Series six broadcast in 2021, with its concluding episode becoming the most-watched drama finale, excluding soaps, since contemporary records commenced in 2002. Including catch-up figures, it attracted more than 17 million viewers within 28 days, and the BBC is undoubtedly anticipating comparable viewing figures upon the show’s return.

Line of Duty is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Ralph Fiennes may have revealed his successor for the iconic role of Voldemort on the Harry Potter TV series as he named a huge name as being a ‘very good choice’

An accidental leak appears to have named a legendary actor as Voldemort in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. The HBO production is set to showcase JK Rowling’s book on the small screen after it had huge success in cinemas.

It will depict a new iteration of Harry’s story at Hogwarts and beyond, with fans of the franchise eager to find out more. And now, it appears as though one star from the movies has revealed who will be taking on his character’s role even though confirmation has largely been kept under wraps.

Ralph Fiennes‘ iconic performances as Voldemort are written in the history books and he opened up on a potential successor for the TV adaptation while on the red carpet for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

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The Sun reports that the Hollywood star was asked: “Who do you think should fill your shoes for Voldemort in the upcoming HBO show?” Responding, he said: “I’m told they are already filled, aren’t they? I think Cillian Murphy is very good. A very good choice.”

In a video that was shared on TikTok, Ralph appeared slightly panicked. He added: “I’ve already said, I think Cillian Murphy is very good. I think they’ve cast it, haven’t they? You don’t know?”

Fans were buzzing with the apparent reveal. One user said on social media: “This is amazing news.” And another said: “Oh man this is a good casting actually.”

It’s unclear whether Ralph had just been commenting on speculation. It had previously been reported that the Tommy Shelby star was in line for the role, but the actor himself seemed to distance himself from the role.

He previously told Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast. “I don’t know anything about that,” he said when questioned about his apparent links.

“Also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does,” he added. “The man is an absolute acting legend, so good luck to whoever’s gonna fill those shoes.”

The series is set to feature Dominic McLaughlin as Harry. Arabella Stanton has been cast for the part of Hermoine Grainger, while Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley.

Elsewhere, Paul Whitehouse has been revealed for a role in the reboot too, alongside the likes of Bertie Carvel, Johnny Flynn, Bel Powley, Daniel Rigby and Katherine Parkinson.

Only one star will return from the film franchise. Warwick Davis is set to reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick.

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