There are plenty of affordable flights from UK airports and the average temperature in October is 20C
11:08, 14 Oct 2025Updated 16:03, 06 Nov 2025
Simon Calder recommends walkable and ‘absolutely magical’ town (Image: Getty)
Travel guru Simon Calder has revealed his top pick for an autumn getaway – the delightful seaside town of Cassis in southern France. He highlighted that there are plenty of budget-friendly flights from UK airports and the average October temperature is a pleasant 20C.
Cassis is also ideal for those who enjoy exploring on foot, making it a perfect choice for pensioners seeking an affordable and accessible holiday destination. The travel expert enthused: “I just came back from Côte d’Azur on Friday, and it was absolutely magical, particularly the lovely town of Cassis. Beautiful port, very close to St Tropez. It’s just a gorgeous place, the food is great!”.
“You can even take a bus from Marseille that costs £3 and takes you around one of the greatest drives in the world,” reports the Express.
Travel blogger Sam shared on her blog theblondescout that Cassis was “one of the nicest surprises” during her time living in France.
“This small fishing town is colourful, quaint and next to one of the most extraordinary landscapes I have ever witnessed: the dramatic limestone inlets that make up the Calanques between Cassis and Marseille.”
She further noted that Cassis is a small town, so it is “very walkable and easy to get around”.
“All of the streets are picture-perfect and have that colourful French Riviera vibe! Our favourite little square was at the bougainvillaea-filled Place Baragnon.”, she said.
Travel expert Simon Calder also recommends the Algarve, in southern Portugal, as a stunning and “very affordable” seaside destination that’s not too busy at this time of year.
Simon Cowell is set to join forces with Spice Girl icon Mel B and Jonas Brother singer Joe Jonas for a brand new show called Who’s In The Band, and a pilot will be recorded next week
04:48, 24 Oct 2025Updated 04:50, 24 Oct 2025
Simon Cowell is pictured at Britain’s Got Talent auditions this month in Blackpool, Lancashire(Image: Getty Images)
One of Simon Cowell’s new projects has been described as “a big two fingers up to ITV“.
Spice Girl icon Mel B and Jonas Brother singer Joe Jonas will work alongside Simon for the latter, which ex-TV presenter turned producer Richard Bacon says will be popular with teenagers and young adults.
But the Netflix series, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, has particularly excited the TV industry. It is believed Netflix executives “felt bringing a name like Simon in for a factual entertainment show was a power move for the network”. Another source said the programme will be “a big two fingers up to ITV” after the cancellation of The X Factor in 2021.
But a source close to Simon, who created the global X Factor franchise, has denied there is “a rivalry”. They added: “There’s no rivalry nor residual issue – Simon’s focus is entirely on new formats and discovering talent.”
The X Factor, though, was scrapped after nearly 20 years on British TV screens and, at its peak, attracted 10 million viewers on a Saturday evening. It was the launching pad for a number of top-selling British music acts in the last two decades, from One Direction to Little Mix and Leona Lewis.
But Simon, who is thought to be worth £475million, continues to work with ITV on Britain’s Got Talent, which is still a staple after more than 18 years. His latest ventures, though, on other networks have television circles excited, it is understood.
The source told the Daily Mail: “Success on Netflix would be priceless retribution against ITV for the way The X Factor came to a close.” This theory is rejected by Simon, born in Lambeth, south London, whose new show Who’s In The Band will be presented by K-Pop Demon Hunters star Rei Ami, 30.
Simon’s latest search for talent comes after the Britain’s Got Talent auditions was sent into chaos when he fell down another set of steps, making it the latest in a series of mishaps for the long-time judge.
He missed the first two days of filming in Birmingham after the incident, leaving producers to call in Stacey Solomon to temporarily fill his place on the panel. The star then later reappeared on the third day of auditions with a visible graze on his forehead, explaining only that he’d had “an accident.”
His absence was finally addressed during the show’s Blackpool auditions, when a choir made up of ambulance staff took to the stage. Amanda Holden joked: “I thought they might be here in case anything went wrong with you again because you were poorly last week.”
Music mogul Simon Cowell has finally explained his recent Britain’s Got Talent absence, revealing he suffered a fall that left him with a head injury
Simon Cowell ‘bashes head’ after fainting and falling down steps in latest accident(Image: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images)
Simon Cowell has revealed that his recent no-show at Britain’s Got Talent auditions came after he fell down another set of steps – the latest in a series of mishaps for the long-time judge.
The 66-year-old music mogul missed the first two days of filming in Birmingham after the incident, leaving producers to call in Stacey Solomon to temporarily fill his place on the panel.
Cowell then later reappeared on the third day of auditions with a visible graze on his forehead, explaining only that he’d had “an accident.”
His absence was finally addressed during the show’s Blackpool auditions, when a choir made up of ambulance staff took to the stage. Amanda Holden joked: “I thought they might be here in case anything went wrong with you again because you were poorly last week.”
Laughing off the comment, Cowell clarified what actually had happened as he finally shared the truth.
Speaking to the audience at the Winter Gardens, he said: “I fell down some steps, that wasn’t poorly, and I bumped my head, but I’m fine now.
“I wish you had been around a couple of weeks ago when I actually bashed my head. Seriously, no one sang for me then,” he added.
A show insider said the fall was a minor accident. They told The Sun: “Simon bumped his head when he stumbled on some steps. It’s the sort of thing that can happen to anyone. And, thankfully, he’s absolutely fine now.”
The timing of the incident, which occurred on October 1 and just a day before Birmingham auditions were due to begin, forced the show to cancel the opening session.
Rather than pause production entirely, Stacey Solomon was drafted in to maintain the four-judge panel, with Amanda Holden briefly stepping up as head judge.
Cowell later reassured fans via a short video, showing off the mark on his forehead and saying: “It’s Simon, I’m alive and I’m in Birmingham, I just want to say thank you for all your get well messages.”
It’s not the first time Cowell has been injured in a fall. In 2017, he was taken from his London home on a stretcher wearing a neck brace after tumbling down stairs just before The X Factor live shows.
Three years later, he broke his back testing an electric bike in Los Angeles, requiring major surgery and months of recovery.
Despite his latest setback, Cowell appeared in good spirits this week as he joined judges Amanda Holden, KSI, and Alesha Dixon on the red carpet for the Blackpool auditions.
BRITAIN’S Got Talent star, Dave Betton, who was praised by Simon Cowell after performing with his son has died, aged 82.
Betton had appeared on the show alongside his son Dean in 2020, reaching its latter stages after impressing the judges.
2
Britain’s Got Talent star, Dave Betton, has died aged 82Credit: ITV
2
He performed alongside his son Dean in 2020Credit: ITV
The father-son duo had left them stunned throughout and at one point received a standing ovation for rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life”.
Simon Cowell said at the time: “There are certain days I think what I need is a mug of hot chocolate – and you were a mug of hot chocolate!
“You made me feel good, I needed that.”
Betton, from Chesterfield, worked as a club singer after moving to Blackpool in 1981 with his wife after she bought the Dorchester Hotel.
Throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s he performed at clubs up and down the coast on the local circuit.
He went on to perform on tour in Australia and South Africa and even had a stint in Las Vegas, achieving a personal ambition of his.
Following the death of his wife, he had retired 15 years ago.
His son, Dean, had also carved out a career as a Robbie Williams tribute act and it was his idea that they should go on Britain’s Got Talent where they were billed as Dave and Dean.
“I always looked up to my Dad and he inspired me to take up singing, quite late in the game,” Dean said.
“He was definitely a local legend in his time – he would pack out clubs.”
Dave sadly passed away last month from sepsis after a short illness and was surrounded by his family.
His funeral will take place on Monday, October 27 at Carleton Crematorium.
He leaves two sons, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and a step great granddaughter.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
THE NOTORIOUS “Tinder Swindler” has claimed from his jail cell that he doesn’t remember “conning women out of hundreds of thousands.”
Simon Leviev, 35, has spoken out for the first time since his arrest in Georgia for alleged fraud.
10
The infamous scammer lured women in by posing as an heir to a diamond fortuneCredit: kate_konlin/Instgram
10
He later became the subject of a 2022 Netflix documentaryCredit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
10
He served a 15 month sentence in Israel for fraud, forgery and theft in 2019
Talking from his prison cell, the Israeli scammer admitted to a local celebrity lawyer Mariam Kublashvili that he is no angel but has no recollections of the alleged crimes he has been accused of, reports MailOnline.
The infamous scammer has appointed Ms Kublashivili as his new lawyer, who has since likened him to The Wolf of Wall Street.
Like the disgraced stockbroker played by Leonardo di Caprio, she believes Leviev has turned over a new leaf.
His latest claim follows an arrest made last month under mysterious circumstances following an Interpol Red Notice for alleged fraud in Germany.
Mr Leviev was cuffed at Batumi International Airport, Georgia, on September 14th.
He is currently being held in Kutaisi Penitentiary Establishment No 2 and awaiting extradition proceedings.
If convicted, he could face up to ten years behind bars.
Yesterday, Mr Leviev spoke out via Ms Kublashivili for the first time since the dramatic arrest, where he has claimed to have no recollection of this.
He said: “Under the circumstances, I believe I’m either being set up or there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.”
Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut, became the subject of a 2022 Netflix documentary after he spent years luring women on dating app Tinder, while posing as an heir to the Leviev diamond fortune.
Tinder swindler Simon Leviev insists he was stitched up in first public appearance with model girlfriend
He told his victims he was the son of Israeli diamond tycoon Lev Leviev – but he has no relation to the family whatsoever.
He was arrested in 2019 in Greece then extradited to Israel where he served a 15-month sentence for fraud, forgery and theft.
His legal team are now questioning why an Interpol notice was triggered when he entered Georgia without the Germans first going to authorities in his homeland.
Mr Leviev’s Israeli lawyer Sharon Nahari said: “To arrest him in a third country, rather than addressing the matter openly through Israel, is unfair and unacceptable.”
Mr Nahari also characterised the case as “disproportionate” and “based on weak evidence.”
10
Two of Mr Leviev’s victims, Pernilla Sjoholm and Cecilie Fjellhoy have since spoken out about their traumatic experiencesCredit: Pernilla Sjoholm Instagram
10
Pernilla, 38, contemplated suicide after discovering the truth about LevievCredit: Pernilla Sjoholm Instagram
10
Cecilie, 36, has confessed that she is still traumatised by the whole ordealCredit: Facebook
The newly appointed Ms Kublashvili added that she fears he will not receive a fair trail due to a pre-existing biased narrative.
Referencing The Wolf of Wall Street, she claimed that Mr Leviev is now a very different person.
She highlighted that since 2022 he has embarked on a new and completely legal career and published his own memoir.
In addition to fighting his extradition, Ms Kublashvili also hopes to move Leviev from his current prison to one in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
She claims that the current conditions he is being held in fail to meet basic hygiene standards.
While the NetflixdocumentaryThe Tinder Swindler brought their story to the world, the women he affected say the aftermath and the long road to recovery were far more difficult than anyone could have imagined.
“I’m still traumatised,” Cecilie, 36, told The Times.
Cecilie was conned into taking out nine loans totaling $250,000 (£190,000), and was hounded by creditors to the point where she contemplated suicide.
She eventually sought help at a psychiatric unit and has spent the last seven years in therapy.
She “never wanted to be on” antidepressants but explains that she “needed them.”
Pernilla, 38, also contemplated suicide after learning the truth about the man she once considered a friend.
She lost the $45,000 (£33,840) she had saved for a home deposit and then doubled that amount in legal fees when she tried to take her bank to court.
The pair have since released a book, Swindled Never After: How We Survived (and You Can Spot) a Relationship Scammer, deep dives into their traumatic journey in a bid to prevent others from falling for the same cruel tricks.
How to protect yourself from fraud
USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters.
Keep your social media accounts private – Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters.
Deactivate and delete old social media profiles – Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you’re are not aware of or you have forgotten about.
Password protect your devices– Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals.
Install anti-virus software on your laptop and personal devices and keep it up to date – This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place.
Take care on public Wi-Fi– Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you’re using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking.
Think about your offline information too – Always redirect your post when you move home and make sure your letter or mailbox is secure.
10
Cecilie and Pernilla both featured in the Netflix documentary, alongside fellow victim Ayleen CharlotteCredit: Splash
10
He would often boast of his lavish lifestyle on social mediaCredit: Instagram
10
He is currently being held in a Georgian prison while awaiting extradition proceedingsCredit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
10
His lawyers fear the case will be unfairly biasedCredit: Instagram
Contestants that missed out on the chance to audition for Britain’s Got Talent over the past week may soon have their moment on the stage as bosses are planning to film the lost episode
Plans are in motion to film missing Britain’s Got Talent scenes after Simon Cowell was forced to drop out(Image: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images)
Britain’s Got Talent has been thrown into chaos after show boss Simon Cowell suffered an injury – with a scramble now on to make up for lost time. The long-running ITV reality show is currently filming the 19th season – having launched all the way back in 2007.
But the latest season got off to a bad start over the past week – as auditions planned for Thursday had to be abandoned after Simon, 65, suffered a bash to the head. Hopefuls that were expecting to be judged in Birmingham were left disappointed when an entire day of filming was scrapped.
And now show bosses are scrambling to recover the episode so that the auditionees can have their moment on the stage. The process is said to be a strain due to the last minute nature of organising filming that would normally take weeks of planning.
A source told The Sun: “It looks like they will hold the supplementary session on Friday, then continue with the scheduled days of auditions continuing for a further week. They feel so bad for all the people left disappointed by what happened last week and want to do what they can to make things right – even though it’s going to take a lot of last-minute organising.”
The Mirror has contacted representatives of Britain’s Got Talent for comment. The update comes days after Simon was spotted with a graze on his forehead, and it was revealed he had injured himself. A source previously told The Sun: “Simon had a terrible headache and migraine – caused by an accidental bump on the head.
“He’s fighting fit now, though – and was revelling in being in Birmingham and back in his judge seat.” The Mirror has contacted Simon’s spokesperson for comment.
The man himself has addressed the drama, sharing a video of himself on social media which made light of his injury. He declared in a video shared via Instagram: “It’s Simon, I’m alive and I’m in Birmingham, I just want to say thank you for all your get well messages.”
He then focused the camera on his grazed forehead, but then produced a happy smile. As he was forced to drop out of filming at the end of last week, former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon was parachuted in to fill the vacant judges’ seat during auditions on Friday.
The mum-of-five, 35, took to her Instagram stories to post a picture of the iconic BGT stage with her name in lights on the iconic stage. Alongside the picture, Stacey wrote: “What in the alternative universe is going on. A dream.”
Simon has previously opened up about the debilitating migraines he occasionally suffers, which interfere with his work.
He previously explained that he often wears red-tinted glasses to help counter the effects of studio and stage lighting.
The star, who turns 66 on Tuesday, has suffered a string of injuries in recent years. In 2020, he broke his back after falling off an electric bike at his Los Angeles home – an accident that required surgery and months of recovery.
Cowell, who is engaged to Lauren Silverman and father to 11-year-old Eric, described the injury as a harsh reminder of his vulnerability at the time.
In 2017, he also suffered a serious head injury after falling down the stairs at his London residence. At the time, he said: “Sometimes we get a reminder that we’re not invincible, and this was certainly mine. It was a huge shock.
“They think I fainted because I had low blood pressure and so I have got to really take good care of myself to sort that out. After all I am a dad and have more responsibility than ever,” he told his fans at the time.
Amanda Holden has stepped up on Britain’s Got Talent after Simon Cowell’s illness forced him to miss the Birmingham auditions, with Stacey Solomon drafted in as a temporary replacement on the panel
Amanda Holden’s major role shake-up on BGT amid Simon Cowell’s health woes
Producers turned to Holden, 53, as the natural choice to lead the panel, given that she is the only judge who has remained on the show since its launch in 2007. Although Stacey Solomon was drafted in at short notice to replace Cowell during this week’s auditions at the Hippodrome, insiders stressed that Holden had earned the senior role.
A source revealed: “The producers were hugely grateful to Stacey for stepping in, particularly as it was at such short notice. What she did helped ensure the hundreds of audience members were not disappointed.
“But they also thought she shouldn’t just go straight into Simon’s seat as head judge and that Amanda had very much earned that right. And she seamlessly filled the role during the first batch of auditions on Friday, with Stacey slotting right in with fellow judges KSI and Alesha Dixon,” they told The Sun.
It is not the first time Cowell’s sudden departure has led to a reshuffle. When the music mogul left the panel last year after learning of the tragic death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, the then-newcomer Bruno Tonioli stepped in as head judge.
Tonioli has since departed from the programme altogether, replaced this year by KSI, after filming clashes with his role on Dancing with the Stars. Cowell’s absence was first confirmed on Thursday when production cancelled the initial day of auditions.
There were hopes he might recover quickly enough to return on Friday, but he remained unwell. Instead, Solomon took his seat on the panel – a full-circle moment given that Cowell himself auditioned her on The X Factor back in 2009. She finished third in that series but has since become a well-known TV presenter.
And Stacey has shared her excitement after her dream of becoming a judge on Britain’s Got Talent has come true. The Sort Your Life Out star took to Instagram on Friday to share a glimpse of the iconic set of the long-running ITV show after she was asked to step in as a guest judge last minute.
The mum-of-five, 35, took to her Instagram stories to post a picture of the iconic BGT stage with her name in lights. Instead of Simon Cowell’s name, Stacey’s name could be seen on the iconic stage. Alongside the picture, Stacey wrote: “What in the alternative universe is going on. A dream.”
Cowell’s condition has not been disclosed publicly, and it remains uncertain whether he will be fit enough to appear on the third and final day of Birmingham auditions.
Filming is scheduled to resume next week in Blackpool, with producers optimistic that Cowell will be well enough to reclaim his place at the judging desk.
Until then, Holden is firmly established as the figure leading the panel in his absence.
Simon Calder took to This Morning to reveal an often overlooked destination in Europe that he dubbed ‘absolutely gorgeous’ and a ‘bargain’
Albania has beautiful beaches and warm autumnal weather(Image: Nikola Dubivska via Getty Images)
Travel expert Simon Calder has been smitten with one particular destination since the 1980s. Now, this hidden gem is finally gaining recognition – yet Simon claims “prices are really back to kinda 1990s levels.”
Albania is emerging as a must-visit tourism hotspot, but as Simon revealed on ITV’s This Morning in a segment last year, he’s been championing it long before it became trendy. It comes as Wizz Air launches budget £20 flights to the country.
Speaking to presenters Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley from his accommodation in Durres, Albania, Simon explained he had arrived the previous evening.
He said: “The sun has come out, it’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s one of the most historic and beautiful cities in Albania.”
Simon Calder is a familiar face on ITV thanks to his travel advice(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Beyond its stunning scenery, Simon highlighted Albania’s “incredible bargains”, reports the Express.
A pizza and pint will set you back roughly £6, whilst his coach journey from the airport to his accommodation – spanning 30 miles – would have cost merely a couple of quid; had he not missed the final departure.
The country currently has sunny weather forecast for the next couple of weeks, with highs between 26-28C daily, allowing you to enjoy the summer for longer.
Simon also claimed Albania’s residents are amongst the most hospitable and warm-hearted you’ll encounter anywhere.
He revealed that once locals realised he’d missed his transport, they immediately rallied around to assist him in securing a taxi – even advising him on fair pricing to prevent any potential overcharging.
Durres is full of beautiful places to explore such as the historic town square(Image: Andrea Pistolesi via Getty Images)
He noted that Albania currently sits outside the mainstream package holiday market, though he anticipates tour operators will catch on within the coming years.
Direct flights to Albania depart daily from key UK airports – and with this slice of paradise merely three hours away, it deserves a spot on your travel wishlist. If, like Simon, you fancy staying in Durres, then there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Durres boasts a colossal Roman amphitheatre featuring preserved mosaics that visitors can explore and marvel at.
TripAdvisor gives this attraction top marks, with one reviewer calling it essential viewing.
One holidaymaker shared: “This place is absolutely wonderful. I noticed that a lot of people take pictures from the outside and do not wish to spend 200 lek which is little less then £2 to go and see it inside. I think it’s their loss and they choose not to support further recovery of this beautiful place.”
The amphitheatre of Duress(Image: Getty)
But if lounging on the beach is more your cup of tea, then Durres delivers on that front too – it’s packed with stretches of pristine white sand and sparkling turquoise waters.
Following a busy day of sightseeing, you’ll have built up quite an appetite, so why not sample some of Durres’s freshly caught seafood?
KSI became a huge hit as a stand-in on the most recent seriesCredit: ITV
5
Simon Cowell with his son Eric who helped him choose the new BGT judgeCredit: simoncowell/Instagram
5
Bruno Tonioli quit over his commitments on Dancing With The StarsCredit: ITV
Music mogul Simon was then convinced to give guest judge KSI, 32, a permanent spot on the panel by his little boy who’s a huge fan of the influencer.
A TV insider told The Sun: “Simon’s been friends with Bruno for over 35 years and loved working with him on BGT.
“It was really tough knowing he had to let Bruno go because they couldn’t get the filming dates to work out with his commitments on Dancing with the Stars.
“Simon is always looking for new ways to keep the show evolving and loves to get the opinion of his young son.
“Eric was a big influence for Simon in choosing Bruno’s replacement. He’s obsessed with him and adores him, KSI is Eric’s favourite influencer.
“Plus, he’s been such a hit as a guest judge and Simon recognises they need to keep the show different by moving forward to keep attracting the younger audience.
“Bruno was popular with the grannies, but KSI is for the youngsters.
“KSI has a huge social media presence and Simon knows how important it is to keep the show more modern.”
After being confirmed as the new full-time judge, music artist and boxer KSI said: “I’m so grateful and happy to be a part of the Britain’s Got Talent team for another season.
Watch the shock moment KSI is grabbed by his CROTCH by Britain’s Got Talent act as YouTube star is left speechless
“I had such a good time last year and I can’t wait to see some more top talent.
“I’m full of energy, ready to go, and can’t wait to make this the most entertaining BGT season ever. Let’s do this.”
5
Bruno is leaving the BGT panelCredit: ITV
5
New judge KSI has already shown that he has a real gift for spotting talentCredit: ITV
SIMON Cowell makes a surprise cameo in tonight’s penultimate episode of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The brutal Channel 4 series welcomed another 14 famous faces to tackle intense Special Forces training.
4
Simon Cowell makes a surprise cameo on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares wins to support Lucy SpragganCredit: Rex
4
Lucy has made it to the final five recruitsCredit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4
4
Simon chats to Lucy on a video call as the recruits have their mental resilience tested
Along the way, celebrities have quit, been axed and – last week in the case of boxer Conor Benn – medically withdrawn.
Tonight, the remaining five recruits tackled one of their toughest challenges yet, before having their mental strength tested by having the option to receive calls from loved ones.
While Adam Collard receives his from fiancee Laura Woods, singer Lucy Spraggan is seen taking two calls.
And the first is from her X Factor boss, Simon.
Read More on Celebrity SAS
The 65-year-old appears on a video call to Lucy, who had appeared on The Factor in 2012, sitting outside in a sprawling garden.
“How’s my little trooper?” he asks, causing Lucy to chuckle.
She tells him: “It’s been a lot rougher than I anticipated. Simon, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Never one to mince his words, he replies: “You do look tired, I’m not going to lie.”
Lucy then quickly fills him on some of the challenges she’s faced, adding: “It’s not a joke Simon. It’s so, so real.
“Like, you know when you said you might think about doing it if I didn’t find it hard? You would not be doing it.”
Celebrity SAS star cries over her sexual assault
As she laughs, she adds: “Although I would pay such money to see you do it!”
Simon replies with a chuckle: “Just imagine it was me, and how long I would last.”
The pair have remained close in the years that followed Lucy being on The X Factor, and he even walked her down the aisle at her wedding to wife Emilia Smith earlier this year.
Lucy previously told The Sun: “He read a poem at our ceremony, which was cute, and he said to me, ‘I love seeing you this happy’.”
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2025
S Club singer Hannah Spearitt
Dancer and TV star Louie Spence
Love Island star and podcaster Chloe Burrows
Love Island and Strictly star Tasha Ghouri
Former footballer Troy Deeney
Peru Two drug mule turned author and influencer Michealla McCollum
Rapper and ex-Loose Women star Lady Leshurr
Love Island lothario Adam Collard
TV & media personality Rebecca Loos
Ex Footballer Adebayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa
Drag Race UK winner Bimini Bon Boulash
Pro boxer Conor Benn
The X Factor star Lucy Spraggan
The Traitors winner Harry Clark
The newlyweds regularly stay with Simon and his partner Lauren Silverman at their homes in LA and the Cotswolds.
But Lucy admitted: “I speak to Lauren all the time, butSimonhasn’t got a phone so I speak to him when she’s on the phone!”
4
Lucy fills Simon in on the tough challenges she’s faced
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4, with all episodes available to plus members on Channel4.com.
While “60 Minutes” will soon have a new owner, the CBS newsmagazine’s next executive producer is coming from inside the family.
Tanya Simon, a 25-year veteran of the program, will take on the role vacated by Bill Owens in April. She has served as interim executive producer since his departure.
She is the daughter of the late Bob Simon, one of the best known correspondents during the program’s 57 year history.
Changes at the top of “60 Minutes” have been rare. Simon will be only the fourth executive producer in the program’s history and the first woman.
Simon’s appointment will be a relief to the program’s staff, where morale has been rocked by parent company Paramount Global’s battle with President Trump. The correspondents of the program signed a letter to company co-chairman George Cheeks urging him to give Simon the job.
Simon will have the backing of her colleagues who are thankful they won’t be dealing with an outsider who might not value the program’s editorial rigor and independence. But she will be faced with the challenge of navigating the operation after one of the most difficult periods in its history.
Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit against “60 Minutes” over the editing of an interview with his 2024 opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump claimed the interviews was deceptively edited to aid Harris in the election.
The case was labeled as frivolous by 1st Amendment experts and the settlement widely seen as a capitulation to Trump in order to clear a path for Paramount’s $8-billion merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media.
While “60 Minutes” did not issue an apology or acknowledge any wrongdoing, the program is likely to face intense scrutiny going forward. Critics will be looking for signs of the program pulling its punches in reporting on Trump. In order to clear the Paramount Global deal with the FCC, Skydance has agreed to name a news division ombudsman that will report to the company’s president for at least the next two years.
“Tanya Simon understands what makes ’60 Minutes’ tick,” CBS News President Tom Cibrowski said in. a statement “She is an innovative leader, an exceptional producer, and someone who knows how to inspire people,” “
Simon got her start at CBS News in 1996 as a researcher for its other newsmagazine “48 Hours.” She joined “60 Minutes” in 2000, working with correspondent Ed Bradley on a variety of reports including the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. She went on to produce for nearly all of the program’s correspondents including her father.
Her work has earned virtually every major broadcast honor, including multiple Emmy Awards, the Peabody and the DuPont-Columbia Award.
Simon Cowell is searching for ‘the next global boy band sensation’ in a new Netflix show set to air later this year – and it’s thought a girl band follow up won’t be too far behind
22:56, 18 Jul 2025Updated 23:03, 18 Jul 2025
Simon Cowell is on another mission to find the next big band(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Simon Cowell is reportedly set to front new TV talent shows to find the next big girl and boy bands.
The music mogul is already thought to have wrapped filming on a new Netflix show called Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which will follow the 65-year-old record producer as he tries to find “the next global boy band sensation”.
In the past he has helped launch the careers of huge boy bands like One Direction and Westlife and is hoping to replicate this success again in 2025. The six episode series will air on the streaming giant in December, though it doesn’t have a confirmed date yet.
And it’s reported Simon will follow this up with another brand new talent show – this time to find the next big girl band. While on The X Factor, he catapulted Little Mix to fame and is said to be hoping to find the next budding female pop stars to turn into a global success.
Simon has already helped launch the careers of huge bands like Little Mix (Image: PA)
A source told The Sun: “There’s a huge amount of excitement around the boyband search show dropping on Netflix, which is expected to drop later this year. So it makes sense to consider a sequel with a similar concept but looking for the female equivalent.
“And if anyone can do it, it’s Simon. After all, through One Direction and Little Mix, he helped deliver two of the biggest pop acts of the last two decades.”
The follow up is not thought to have been commissioned just yet, as Netflix is said to be unlikely to seal the deal on a second series before the first has aired later this year. But it is thought that Simon has it in the bag. The Mirror has approached Simon’s reps for comment.
It comes after Simon recently revealed why he wears rose-tinted glasses on set – and it isn’t a fashion statement. The Britain’s Got Talent judge shared: “I just found out according to the internet, I have a ‘mystery illness.”
He told fans on Instagram: “For anyone concerned, I missed two auditions at the end of one day, two weeks ago, because I do get migraines after long days in the filming lights. PS. This is why I wear these glasses!” So let’s hope Simon didn’t have to endure too many bright lights filming his latest TV show.
Headaches and migraines are frequently mixed up, but migraines specifically describe intense, pulsating pain often concentrated on one side. Typically, this pain can persist anywhere from two hours up to three days.
Some people endure migraines multiple times a week, whereas others encounter them less often. Further symptoms may include fatigue, food cravings, mood swings, and increased urination, although these tend to decrease in severity with age. The exact cause of migraines remains uncertain, but known triggers include anxiety, menstruation, unhealthy eating habits, and excessive caffeine intake.
TV Doctor Dawn Harper explained: “Migraines classically are one-sided headaches often associated with nausea, quite often actually make you sick. Usually, people feel they have to just lie down in a darkened room.
“They don’t like the lights and they feel, they really are severe headaches, which last for several hours. And then some poor folk will last for two or three days. A migraine can be very frightening.”
In 2018, Paul Simon walked onto the Hollywood Bowl stage for what most in the crowd believed to be his last tour stop in Los Angeles, ever. Simon expected that too — he’d billed the event as his “Homeward Bound — Farewell Tour.” After 50 years of performing, a then-record three Grammy wins for album, a catalog of some of the most sophisticated and inquisitive American songwriting ever put to paper — he’d go out in full garlands.
So what a shock and delight when Simon, now 83, announced a few years later that he was not quite done yet. In 2023, he released a new album, “Seven Psalms,” an elliptical, gracious invocation for the arc of his life, drawing on biblical imagery and intertwined guitar fugues.
But even better, Simon would also return to the stage for a new tour, including a five-night run at Disney Concert Hall. For L.A. fans, these shows were one last chance to reconnect with Simon, who now had a profound late-career album to bookend his catalog. Those songs spanned from his years in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s to a Sabrina Carpenter duet on “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary special.
Wednesday’s show — the last of the Disney hall stand — got to all of it, with Simon still in exquisite form in the last light of his performing career.
If Simon, seven years ago, had any doubts about his interest or ability to perform live at this exacting level, they must have disappeared the second he got a guitar in his hand at Disney Hall. The set opened with a full run of “Seven Psalms,” a short yet profound song cycle in which a dense, ornamental acoustic guitar figure recurs over several songs in an intimate valediction.
“Seven Pslams” belongs alongside David Bowie’s “Blackstar” or Johnny Cash’s “American Recordings” albums in the canon of wide-lens looks at the mystery of late life. Simon’s music was wise before its time even when he was a young man. But the perspective he has at this vantage, on the backside of 80 with a rejuvenated muse, was especially moving.
“I lived a life of pleasant sorrows, until the real deal came,” he sang on “Love Is Like a Braid.” “And in that time of prayer and waiting, where doubt and reason dwell / A jury sat, deliberating. All is lost or all is well.“
Simon’s band members for this stint — a dozen or so strong, spanning percussion, woodwinds and guitars — were mostly impressionists during this portion, adding distant bells and chamber flourishes to the patina of these songs.
While he kicked up his heels a bit on the bluesy “My Professional Opinion,” there was a trembling power in “Trail of Volcanoes” and, especially, “Your Forgiveness,” in which Simon took stock of his time on Earth and whatever lies next. “Two billion heart beats and out / Waving the flag in the last parade / I have my reasons to doubt,” he sang, followed by a gracious incantation: “Dip your hand in heaven’s waters, god’s imagination … All of life’s abundance in a drop of condensation.”
Paul Simon plays and sings Wednesday at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The hit-heavy back half of the show was a little rowdier. One fan even made a bit of history when he tossed a $20 bill onstage, which was enough for Simon to gamely oblige his request to play a verse of “Kodachrome.”
Simon and his band had looser reins here. “Graceland” and “Under African Skies” still radiated curiosity for the world’s musical bounty, with the fraught complexity of that album nonetheless paving a stone on the road for African music’s current global ascent. (He introduced his bassist, Bakithi Kumalo, as the last surviving member of the original “Graceland” band.)
An elegant “Slip Slidin’ Away” led up to a poignant “The Late Great Johnny Ace,” which took a tale of rock ‘n’ roll self-destruction and pinned it to a generational sense of cultural collapse. Simon didn’t reference any current events beyond the John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and John Lennon assassinations, but you could feel a contemporary gravity in the song.
Veteran drummer Steve Gadd reprised his jazzy breaks for “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and the fatherhood ballad “St. Judy’s Comet” was a sweet, deep-cut flourish. (That mood continued when Edie Brickell, Simon’s wife and vocalist, slipped in from the side stage to whistle the hook on “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.) But the band hit full velocity on a pair of songs from “The Rhythm of the Saints.” “Spirit Voices” conjured an ayahuasca reverie with its thicket of guitars and hand percussion, while the sprawling and time-signature-bending “The Cool, Cool River” showed Simon the musician — not just the poet — still in absolute command.
Simon’s set never got to “Bridge Over Troubled Water” or “You Can Call Me Al,” but the final encore wrapped with just him and a guitar and the eternal hymn of “The Sound of Silence.” His guitar work retained all its original power in the opening instrumental runs, and Simon looked genuinely grateful that, perhaps even to his own surprise, the stage hadn’t lost its promise or potency for him just yet.
Who knows whether Wednesday was the last time Angelenos will get to see Simon perform live (this tour wraps next month in Seattle). If it was, then it was a beautiful benediction for one of America’s defining songwriters. But if it wasn’t, take any chance you get to see him again.
NEW YORK — Martin Cruz Smith, the best-selling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with “Gorky Park” and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82.
Smith died Friday at a senior living community in San Rafael, “surrounded by those he loved,” according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Smith revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson’s disease, and he gave the same condition to his protagonist. His 11th Renko book, “Hotel Ukraine,” was published July 8 and billed as his last.
“My longevity is linked to Arkady’s,” he told Strand Magazine in 2023. “As long as he remains intelligent, humorous, and romantic, so shall I.”
Smith was often praised for his storytelling and for his insights into modern Russia; he would speak of being interrogated at length by customs officials during his many trips there. The Associated Press called “Hotel Ukraine” a “gem” that “upholds Smith’s reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn, complex characters and a compelling plot.”
Smith’s honors included being named a “grand master” by the Mystery Writers of America, winning the Hammett Prize for “Havana Bay” and a Gold Dagger award for “Gorky Park.”
Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pa. , he studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and started out as a journalist, including a brief stint at the AP and at the Philadelphia Daily News. Success as an author arrived slowly. He had been a published novelist for more than a decade before he broke through in the early 1980s with “Gorky Park.” His novel came out when the Soviet Union and the Cold War were still very much alive and centered on Renko’s investigation into the murders of three people whose bodies were found in the Moscow park that Smith used for the book’s title.
“Gorky Park,” cited by the New York Times as a reminder of “just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be,” topped the Times’ fiction bestseller list and was later made into a movie starring William Hurt.
“Russia is a character in my Renko stories, always,” Smith told Publishers Weekly in 2013. “‘Gorky Park’ may have been one of the first books to take a backdrop and make it into a character. It took me forever to write because of my need to get things right. You’ve got to knock down the issue of ‘Does this guy know what he’s talking about or not?’”
Smith’s other books include science fiction (“The Indians Won”), the Westerns “North to Dakota” and “Ride for Revenge,” and the “Roman Grey” mystery series. Besides “Martin Cruz Smith” — Cruz was his maternal grandmother’s name — he also wrote under the pen names “Nick Carter” and “Simon Quinn.”
Smith’s Renko books were inspired in part by his own travels and he would trace the region’s history over the past 40 years, whether it be the Soviet Union’s collapse (“Red Square”), the rise of Russian oligarchs (“The Siberian Dilemma”) or, in the novel “Wolves Eats Dogs,” the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
By the time he began working on his last novel, Russia had invaded Ukraine. The AP noted in its review of “Hotel Ukraine” that Smith had devised a backstory “pulled straight from recent headlines,” referencing such world leaders as Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia and former President Joe Biden of the U.S.
Smith is survived by his brother, Jack Smith; his wife, Emily Smith; three children and five grandchildren.
Visma-Lease a Bike rider Yates was visibly frustrated after finishing 24 seconds behind Del Toro in seventh.
“The plan was completely different from what we did today, so I will talk about that with the team,” he told Eurosport.
“I will not say anything more about that.”
However, team director Marc Reef said the day went “exactly as we agreed”, and added Carapaz and Del Toro were “just a bit stronger”.
Although Yates, 32, could still overhaul Carapaz and Del Toro, it looks most likely this year will again add to the heartbreak he has experienced in bids to win the Giro.
He led for 13 days in 2018 but cracked in the final week when Chris Froome launched an astonishing comeback to win the race.
After an underwhelming eighth-placed finish in 2019, Yates had to withdraw from the 2020 edition with Covid-19 and then had to recover from a difficult first two weeks to claim third in 2021.
Yates’ twin brother Adam sat up and dropped out of the top 10 overall in order to save himself to help team-mate Del Toro on Saturday.
Ecuador’s Carapaz, the 2019 Giro champion, tried to drop Del Toro on the final climb, but could not shake the 21-year-old, who is bidding to become the youngest winner of the Giro since 1940.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Del Toro, who won stage 17, showed impressive nous to grab the six bonus seconds for second place, with EF Education-EasyPost’s Carapaz, 32, having to settle for four bonus seconds in third.
AN X Factor legend has passed away aged 64 after working closely with Simon Cowell on the show for eight years.
Bodyguard Tony Adkins – known as Big Tony – died on Easter Sunday while on a rugby tour, a family member confirmed on social media.
2
Simon Cowell’s former bodyguard Big Tony has passed awayCredit: X
2
Tony – pictured with George Sampson – worked on The X Factor for eight yearsCredit: WireImage
Sharing a photo of Tony, his cousin wrote: “It is with great sadness my family would like to announce that my Cousin Big Tony, Simon Cowell‘s ex bodyguard, passed away on Easter Sunday while on a Rugby Tour.
“He was a loveable Rogue and will be missed very much, RIP Big T.”
It read: “It is with immense sadness that the club pays tribute to a true gent and great Hammer, Tony Adkins, who passed away whilst on tour with the Club in Poland on Easter Sunday.”
Viewers will remember dealing with upset contestants on The X Factor, often being forced to remove them from the audition room when things didn’t go their way.
After his time working for Simon and the show came to an end, he revealed what his former famous boss is really like.
He told the Mirror: “Simon was so laid-back and a very nice guy.
“He was generous, too. Whenever the show finished – and at Christmas – you’d get an envelope as a thank you. The last one I got had £700 stuffed in it.”
Tony continued: “He’s a very private person. He doesn’t give much away. You never see him drunk or out of control.
“Simon is vain – he does his hair all the time.
Multi-millionaire Simon Cowell brands rich people ‘obnoxious, snobby and unhappy’ and insists he’s NOT worth £500m
“If there are five breaks in filming then Simon will do his hair five times.”
He added: “And I think he has about 20 identical T-shirts. I remember once he had a hole in one, so he just reached into a bag and pulled out another from a big pile.”
