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Judy Reyes is making every moment count.

Earlier this year, the Bronx-born Dominican actor reprised her breakthrough TV role as Carla Espinosa on the reboot of the beloved ABC medical sitcom, “Scrubs.” For just four episodes, she returned to Sacred Heart Hospital as head nurse and an exhausted mother of four daughters, whom she parents alongside her onscreen hubby, chief of surgery Dr. Christopher Turk (played by Donald Faison).

While fans only caught a quick glimpse of Carla — who is said to be picking up extra shifts elsewhere — her name lingers in the script.

“I’m like the Lord,” said Reyes on a recent video call with The Times. “Just when you think you’re getting away with something, there’s Carla!”

In reality, Reyes has been splitting her time on set with another ABC workplace drama. Now in its second season, “High Potential” sees Reyes leading a top-notch team of crime solvers as Lieutenant Selena Soto, opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata. “I don’t know any other way to be!” she said of the role. “Latinos are lieutenants and nurses and doctors, et cetera!”

When The Times connected with Reyes, she was crouched down backstage at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College in the Bronx. We spoke merely hours before the debut of “Freestyle: A Love Story,” a stage production that follows two lovers who meet at a freestyle show — then reconnect at a concert 20 years later.

Created and directed by George Valencia, with Reyes as one of the executive producers, the story interlaces the history of freestyle music: a Latin hip-hop and pop hybrid genre popularized in the 1980s by acts like Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, George Lamond and Judy Torres.

“Our very existence is political no matter what. Our joy is a problem for a lot of people,” said Reyes. “It’s really important for us to tell our stories.”

Between the passion project and two highly-rated Hulu shows, which continue to stream on the platform despite eventual plans to merge into the Disney+ app, Reyes is not taking her spotlight for granted — especially amid a sinking Hollywood industry model that’s made it difficult for some to find work — “I’m milking it for all it’s about,” she said.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

How were you able to film both the “Scrubs” reboot and Season 2 of “High Potential”?
ABC was willing to make it work. “Scrubs” had been in the works for a long time. From Zach Braff and Donald Faison doing their podcast [during the pandemic], to the T-Mobile commercials … A whole new generation became interested in and got hitched to “Scrubs.”] It just so happened at the same time that “High Potential” was happening. My manager was wonderful about making sure [filming] was accommodating.

“I’m so honored and so thrilled to be part of what I consider a television history,” said Judy Reyes of her role as Carla Espinosa on the ABC medical sitcom “Scrubs.”

(Jeff Weddell / Disney)

 Did it feel natural to return as your character Carla on “Scrubs”?
 It did. They did right by making all these characters older. We were all older with each other. We’re all friends that don’t necessarily talk to each other every day [except] Zach and Donald — they’re pretty much married — but it was like we never left.

 What has changed in Carla — and what hasn’t changed?
What’s changed in Carla is that she’s got four kids and she’s tired and she’s older. The consuming passion of her work is not what it used to be because it’s physical. Life is catching up. Her kids are older, so everything changes and she’s not able to work her ass off the way she used to and she has to confront that.

In season 2 of “High Potential,” your character Lieutenant Soto faces a moment of defeat when she’s not chosen to be captain. What thoughts popped into your head as you rehearsed the scene?
It’s extremely well-written. Defeat is very relatable as a woman — [and] as a woman of color, as a woman of a certain age and as a woman of a certain position. I think we can all, as actors, relate to not getting something you are sure you deserved. But there’s also the surrendering. It’s opening up to all the [possibilities] because if you don’t do that, then you get paralyzed. It stops you in your tracks. “Well, what if I feel this defeat again?” You might, you know, but what’s your alternative?  You gotta eat s— to move ahead.

Judy Reyes portrays Lieutenant Selena Soto in “High Potential,” leading a top-notch team of crime solvers opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata.

(Jessica Perez / Disney)

There are some moments in “High Potential” when your character is holding up a mug with the Dominican Republic flag. How do you find other ways to incorporate your Latinidad in the story?
When we did the “High Potential” pilot, the props department said I got a mug in the scene and if I wanted anything on it. I was like, “Hmm, no one ever asked me before. Can you do a Dominican flag?” That was in Vancouver and I’ve had it since. The Dominicans lose their f— minds on social media and I love it. It fills my heart.

The other stuff is just being me, which is the purpose of being an artist. I don’t know how much sense it makes to throw in the Spanish word, unless you have other Latino people with you.

Latinos haven’t historically been represented as leaders in Hollywood. Has it evolved?
Things progressed before DEI collapsed. There was an active attempt and pursuit of putting people of color in leadership roles. I’m grateful it’s happened. I’m sad it’s retreated a little bit, but I think it has to start behind the camera. We need to champion writers, directors, producers and the stories or get risky and daring with casting.

 What has changed in Hollywood and what has not changed in your perspective?
Many things have changed from the way we view television. Everything is streamed. Now everything is a limited series. There’s such a political impact in what gets seen and what doesn’t. It’s very hard for people right now and I feel challenged to say how it is better, because I’m working. I see how hard it is. The best thing I can do is seize the platform and connect with other creatives who want to go ahead and take a chance and make investments in stories.

Now with the growing monopolies in the entertainment industry, I’m sure that’ll likely change Hollywood too.
It continues to affect the workforce. The workforce is gonna be severely impacted. The more you merge, the more people you fire and the more machines you put in their place. It’s a frightening moment.

I’m grateful I saw Noah Wyle represent against the [Paramount-Warner Bros.] merger. I’m motivated, because I think we ultimately have to protect each other and protect the art for as long as we can.

What grounds you and your art in an era that is often trying to strip you away from your creative liberties?
My company GoodTalk Films, myself and my partner and husband George Valencia are working with the Watford F.C. Women’s League to launch a Latina Women’s Football Club here in L.A.. We [want to] train Latinas to be coaches. That’s another way to reach out to the community and help people see themselves. That keeps you grounded in the creative process.

I see a lot of theater. I make a lot of trips to New York. I just saw [the Broadway adaptation of] “Dog Day Afternoon,” produced by Stephen Adly Guirgis. My kid is in the arts and I hang out a lot with him and help him sing and perform.  The process is what brings joy in working with other people interested in the same thing.

The former Made in Chelsea star will present the Channel 4 show alongside Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan

Jamie Laing has bagged an exciting new gig ahead of his reality series Raising Chelsea premiering on Disney+.

The ex-Made in Chelsea star is set to join Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan to host The CHANEL J12 Boat Race this Saturday (April 4).

Broadcasting live from the banks of the River Thames, they’ll be stationed in a fresh studio at the starting line in Putney.

Oxford University Boat Club and Cambridge University Boat Club will battle it out oar-to-oar in one of the globe’s oldest and most prestigious amateur sporting events.

Alex Jacques will helm lead commentary, with Olympic gold-medal winning rower Martin Cross and Olympic silver-medal winning rower Jess Eddie as co-commentators, while three-time Olympic gold medallist Pete Reed OBE will serve as pundit, reports OK!.

Broadcaster and mathematician Hannah Fry will also be present to delve into the science of rowing, as well as championing Cambridge Men and Women in her capacity as Professor of Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

Coverage of The Boat Race will air from 13:30 to 16:30 on Channel 4 and Channel 4 Streaming, where Oxford and Cambridge Men and Women will tackle the iconic Championship Course, a 4.25-mile stretch of tidal Thames from Putney to Mortlake.

In addition to broadcasting the historic races between the two universities, Channel 4 will also spotlight the Youth Boat Race for the first time on British TV.

The Youth Boat Race, backed by the Oxford and Cambridge Rowing Foundation, is scheduled for Friday 3 April, with coverage included in Saturday’s broadcast.

Discussing his new role, Jamie confessed he “can’t wait”, stating: “The Boat Race is always such a brilliant day, it’s London’s party by the river. Joining Clare, Ade and the team to present coverage of such an iconic occasion is a pure thrill.”

The presenter and podcaster further added: “I can’t wait to meet the incredible athletes taking part and get in amongst the action with the fans on the banks of the Thames and at the finish line to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the crews.”

This news comes as Jamie and his wife Sophie Habboo prepare to offer their fans a sneak peek into their private life in a new reality show.

The couple, who got hitched in April 2023, are set to feature in a brand new series on Disney+, which is slated to premiere on Thursday (April 2).

The programme will track the reality star couple during Sophie’s pregnancy and the birth of their son Ziggy. Ahead of the three-part series’ release, fans have been given a preview of what they can anticipate from the show.

In a teaser clip, the pair are seen having a heated argument, with Sophie labelling her husband’s behaviour as “unacceptable”. Jaime is shown standing in the doorway as Sophie becomes tearful during the dispute.

He stated: “I’m stressed, I am tired.” Sophie could be heard retorting: “But you just go behind my back, that’s so unacceptable.”

Elsewhere the couple were dealt a “bad news” blow during a hospital visit. Jamie revealed: “Bad news is that the baby, his arm is through the cervix. She (Sophie) needs to have an emergency c-section.”

The smitten duo are seen tearfully supporting each other during the birth of their first child. Jamie tenderly kisses Sophie’s forehead, reassuring her with the words, “It’s alright you got this. You got this”

The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 will air on Channel 4 on Saturday, April 4 from 1.30pm and Raising Chelsea is available to watch on Disney+ from Thursday, April 4

Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield spent years playing older brother Reese in the beloved American sitcom and he has now given his first interview in almost 20 years ahead of its reboot

The actor who famously played Reese in Malcolm in the Middle has broken his silence after 20 years — and revealed the real reason he quit Hollywood.

Justin Berfield is back on our screens next month with the four-episode revival of the popular show that ended two decades ago. And he has now revealed why he has remained so quiet since then.

Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Justin, now aged 40, was asked whether he had done any other podcast or interview since the sitcom ended.

He replied: “No, like podcasts weren’t a thing and I’ve always just said no because like I wasn’t working on anything. I’m just like a stay-at-home dad! So, why am I going to do a podcast?

“Because I’m just chilling at home with my kid. So unless I had something to talk about, I’m like, I don’t want to go on a podcast.”

He then explained that he has remained in the industry by working behind the camera as an onset producer and writer on various projects.

And he added: “I was just like, I don’t care (about going on podcasts). I’m enjoying my life. Unless I have something to talk about current. I don’t want to go back in time and talk Malcolm.”

However, he is now more than happy to talk about the beloved sitcom, given Hulu’s Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is set to land on Disney+ in April.

The final episode of Malcolm aired in May 2006 and Justin revealed in the rare interview why he quit Hollywood soon after.

He said he moved to Colorado with his wife, Liza, after filming because he just wanted a change of scenery.

Giving an insight, he said: “Lots of fly fishing. I still miss it. I love it because I just loved being somewhere so secluded. I was still living in Denver so I was like in the city because I still like access to sports teams and good restaurants and things like that. So I wasn’t living in the mountains or anything like that, even though I went to visit them quite often.

“But I kind of separated from Hollywood and I just got to live somewhere else for once because I grew up here and I just wanted to live somewhere else.

“At that time I had no kids, so I was like, this is the perfect time to do this. So we lived there for three years and then we moved back to LA.”

He also revealed that he quit acting and was never “in demand” after the show.

However, he said he never had the intention of becoming the next Leonardo DiCaprio and that he has loved being a stay-at-home dad to his two children in recent years.

The new series of Malcolm in the Middle will see Justin return as the older brother of Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz.

Malcolm’s other brother, Francis, played by Christopher Masterson, is also set to return, as are Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek who play parents Hal and Lois.

And asked what it was like being back on set with his old colleagues, Justin said it felt like no time had passed at all.

He added: “It felt like a really, just a really long hiatus. When we were filming the show, you’d film for like eight months and then you’d take like two, three months off, and then kind of go back and do some things again and start seeing everyone, and that was like your year for seven years straight.

“And then we did this, it was obviously like 20 years since we’d seen each other for most of us. And you just kind of, it felt like time stopped, like we just got right back into it.”

The synopsis to the upcoming revival reads: “After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party.”

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Not Fair arrives on Disney+ on April 10

Joey Browner, a star defensive back at USC and a six-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, has died. He was 65.

“The Vikings are mourning the loss of Ring of Honor member Joey Browner,” the team said Sunday in a statement. “Browner will be deeply missed by former coaches and teammates, as well as many others he impacted throughout his life.”

The Vikings added in a separate post: “He helped define what it is to be an NFL safety.”

No cause of death was given. In August, former Minnesota quarterback Tommy Kramer organized a fundraiser for Browner, who Kramer said was “battling through some serious health issues.”

On Sunday, Kramer wrote about Browning on Facebook: “Not only a great player, a great person. Rest in peace my friend.”

Browner was one of six brothers, all of whom played college football and four of whom went on to play in the NFL. Younger brother Keith Browner, who also played at USC and spent five seasons in the NFL, died in November at age 63 after a sudden illness.

Oldest brother Ross Browner, who played 10 NFL seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, died in 2022. Another older brother, Jim Browner, who played two seasons for the Bengals, died in 2024.

A high school standout in football, basketball and track and field, Browner played at USC from 1979-1982. He was named team MVP his senior year and finished his college career with nine interceptions and 40 pass deflections, as well as one punt return for a touchdown.

In the 1983 draft, Browner became the first defensive back to be selected by the Vikings in the first round (19th overall). He went on to play nine seasons in Minnesota, making the Pro Bowl six times (1985-1990), and spent his final NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Browner finished his career with 37 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries. He was named to the NFL 1980s all-decade team, as selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and inducted into the Vikings’ Ring of Honor in 2013.

Sean Salisbury, a former quarterback whose career intersected with Browner’s in college and the NFL, was one of many in the football community paying their respects to the four-time All-Pro player.

“This is a major gut punch,” Salisbury wrote on X. “I was blessed to be his teammate at USC and with the Vikings! Phenomenal player and loved by so many. One of the best players I’ve ever played with in both college and the NFL. Very grateful to have called him a good friend. God Bless him and his family.”

Former tight end Steve Jordan, who played nine seasons with Browner in Minnesota, recently visited his former teammate in the Twin Cities, according to a Vikings news release.

“We’ve lost a great friend and one of the best Vikings teammates,” Jordan said in a statement released by the team. “God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”

Former quarterback Rich Gannon, who played five seasons with Browner in Minnesota, wrote on X: “Sad to hear about the passing of my former teammate Joey Browner. On the football field he was one bad dude, off he was a kind soul!”

Retired punter Greg Coleman wrote on X that “one of the happiest moments of my time with the Vikings” was learning that Browner was going to be added to the punt team.

“One of the best teammates you could have and a man I called Friend!” Coleman wrote. “Prayers up for his family. RIP JB!”

Current Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern wrote on X: “Dang, I had a chance to meet him my rookie year & I was wearing #47 at the time during camp & hearing about his accomplishments, I’m grateful to [have] had the chance to meet him & [represent] the # he wore with the Vikings !! Everytime I walk in the DB room I always see greatness on the wall !!”

AT 36, Millie Mackintosh is navigating divorce for the second time in her life, after her seemingly fairytale marriage to Hugo Taylor collapsed earlier this year.

It’s the latest hurdle after a difficult few years, which has seen the star quit drinking and come to terms with an ADHD and anxiety diagnosis, which she had previously numbed with booze and prescription drugs. As she faces the pitfalls of divorce, insiders tell us why she has been left worrying about money and the lengths she’s gone to, to protect herself.

After seven years of marriage, Millie and Hugo, who are parents to Sienna, five, and Aurelia, four, filed for divorce earlier this month. The pair are yet to comment on the break-up but insiders suggested that Millie’s massive lifestyle overhaul played a part in the decision.

Suddenly, Millie, who is worth roughly £6million from her various business ventures over the years, went from a shared income with Hugo, who runs a luxury eyewear company, to fending for herself once again.

Hugo is thought to be worth around £4million – he launched luxury eyewear brand Taylor Morris off the back of his MIC fame, and it’s been a huge hit with the likes of everyone from David Gandy to the Beckhams.

An insider explained: “Millie has always made her own money; she didn’t rely on Hugo, but it is, of course, very different when there are two people instead of just one.

“Almost overnight, friends noticed a huge difference in her spending habits. Suddenly, she started to cut back and seemed to be really thinking about what she was buying.

“She’s worked so hard for what she’s created, and it’s terrifying not knowing what will happen. It’s causing her crippling anxiety.

“It’s very surprising to see someone like Millie fretting about money, but like any couple who has separated, it’s a shock to the system, and it will take time and effort working out how she will maintain her current lifestyle.”

Most people know Millie as one of the original cast members of Made In Chelsea – the reality show about some of London’s wealthiest 20-somethings.

She was billed as a chocolate heiress when she first burst onto the scene in 2011, but was determined to be known as more than that. 

Her great-great-grandfather, John, was a Victorian entrepreneur, known as the Toffee King, who created Mackintosh’s sweet company.

A generation later, her great-grandfather and his brother invented Quality Street, which Brits know and love today, but they sold it in 1988.

Millie insisted: “People severely overestimate how wealthy I am.

“I’m routinely referred to as the heir to the Quality Street fortune, as though I hit 21 and inherited millions. If only.

“It’s not as if I get a cut every time someone eats a toffee. My family sold the business years ago. I’m comfortable, but I don’t live a flash life.”

Millie, real name Camilla, definitely has a comfortable life – her parents, Nigel and Georgina, brought her up in a  £1.4million townhouse in Bath.

And as soon as she was old enough, Millie started working. She was a waitress at first and was working in Space NK when she was approached about her place on MIC when she was just 21. 

She famously dated Hugo on the show, but then met and fell in love with rapper Professor Green. They married in  2013 and split in 2016.

It was a rocky relationship, with Pro Green — real name Stephen Manderson — recently admitting that he had nearly “called off” their nuptials, but they had both felt “pressured” to go through with it.

A decade on from the split, Millie and Pro have reconnected and have bonded over both being diagnosed with ADHD in recent years.

Speaking on Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast last October, Pro branded her “beautiful”, but added that the pair were toxic for one another at the time of their marriage, describing it as a “trauma bond”.

In another interview, he admitted their quickie divorce had been costly for him.

He told John Bishop: “You know what they say about divorce, it’s expensive, you know why? Because it’s worth it.

“I can’t stop working right now, my mortgage isn’t paid, I am not a house owner. The bank own my house, I own a percentage of it depending on where it sits in the market.”

The summer after their split, she rekindled things with Hugo, and it looked like they would last forever.

Second marriage split

News of their split came as a surprise, but insiders have suggested the writing had been on the wall for some time.

Millie had changed a lot in recent years – she has been open about her massive lifestyle overhaul after quitting drinking in 2022, then dealing with the ADHD and anxiety she had previously numbed with booze and prescription drugs.

What’s more, she revealed last year that, having grappled with her sexuality, she had finally admitted to herself and Hugo that she was also attracted to women.

The pair have now both appointed legal teams and have quietly started divorce proceedings.

A pal said: “Fans will be sad to hear that their relationship is really over, but the pair just want a clean break.

“Millie and Hugo are committed to co-parenting their two young children and keeping everything stable. They are still very amicable with each other and have a lot of respect for one another.

“They want the divorce to go through as painlessly as possible and are focusing on work in the meantime.”

They want the divorce to go through as painlessly as possible

Pal

Millie has always been a grafter – she swiftly turned her reality TV fame into an online following as an influencer, which paved the way for many after her.

She launched her own fashion brand in 2014, proudly saying at the time: “I invested my own money into setting it up.

“I own it, I model it, and they’re my designs. So I would say, yeah, I’ve kind of created my dream.”

But by 2018, the dream was over, and she lost £178,000 of her own money when the company became unsustainable.

It didn’t stop her, though, and she transformed into a lifestyle influencer, with brand deals popping up left, right and centre.

Our insider says: “Don’t be surprised if you see more and more collaborations on Millie’s social media. Her arms are very open to any opportunities that come her way.”

She even wrote a book – Bad Drunk – about her boozing issues.

She has been sober now for over three years and admitted that one of the ways she realised it was such a problem was the fact that it was “stealing her money”.

It hasn’t been an easy road to being financially secure, and the work/life juggle has proved tricky at times since she became a mum.

As a self-employed woman, Millie went back to work just three months after Sienna’s birth and, while it was difficult, she believes it was the best thing for her.

She says she gets up at the crack of dawn to get a head start on emails and tasks.

She explained: “Since becoming a mother, I really want to get the most out of work.

“Your time is your most valuable thing.

“I get up at 5am so I feel I can start my day early enough to get everything I need to do, done.”

She admits she got the “balance wrong” at first when it came to juggling work with kids.

“It weighed on me quite a lot,” she says.

“So I was actually doing some work around this in therapy, and I figured out that my weeks weren’t structured in a way that was beneficial for me and my mental health.

“I had to change the balance.

“And I now have blocked out time in my diary every week, and the kids know that I won’t be working in that time.”

The juggle has no doubt been even harder since her split from Hugo, and just a few days ago, she candidly spoke about her fears, saying: “I think recently I have found it really hard to know how to show up online because of things I’ve got going on in my personal life that I am not going to share online.

“But because I do usually share so much of my life, I felt like this gap, this resistance to posting and like letting you guys in.”

Millie certainly seems to be well aware that sharing her life with fans is helping to pay her bills at the moment, but just how much she will share is yet to be seen.

One thing is for certain, though, with her divorce looming, there is likely to be another very big bill on its way. 

POLICE have shelved an investigation into a terrifying raid at the home of model and TV star Danielle Lloyd after failing to find a single suspect.

Detectives have no leads into the burglary — despite telling the star they thought it was carried out by the same gang that broke into the home of England footballer Jack Grealish two months later.

We told how Danielle, 42, was at a Halloween party with husband Michael O’Neill and her five children when she watched the raid in real time on a security app on her phone.

Danielle told us at the time: “It was terrifying. We were all in shock.

“It was definitely a targeted raid — they knew what they were looking for.”

Last night a source said: “Danielle and her family are still upset by the raid and it had a big impact on them.

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“They will be aghast to discover police have dropped the probe, as convictions would have brought peace of mind.

“But they have moved home now — and security at their new place is tougher than ever.”

The professional gang took just 90 seconds to smash through the back door of Danielle’s home in October 2023.

They were then in the house for one minute and 26 seconds as they dashed straight to a bedroom and stole a jewellery box and designer handbags worth £100,000.

West Midlands Police said: “We carried out a number of enquiries but weren’t able to identify a suspect.”

It is feared the burglary gang are from South America and have fled the country.

On the latest episode of The Chequered Flag Podcast, 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill thinks that if Max Verstappen is not enjoying the sport any more following regulation changes then perhaps he needs to take a break.

READ MORE: Antonelli wins Chinese GP as McLarens fail to start

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The former EastEnders star has been cast in the reboot of The X Files, which has been greenlit by American streaming powerhouse Hulu

Former EastEnders star Himesh Patel has landed a significant role in the highly anticipated reboot of The X Files.

The 35-year-old, who first captured the nation’s hearts as a youngster on the popular BBC soap portraying Tamwar Masood in Albert Square, is now setting off on a completely different adventure.

He has been cast in Ryan Coogler’s reboot pilot of The X Files, which American streaming giant Hulu gave the go-ahead to last month. Himesh will appear alongside BAFTA-nominated actress Danielle Deadwyler, playing two ‘vastly different’ FBI agents.

Danielle, 43, boasts an impressive array of accolades, particularly for her compelling portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley in Till. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2023 BAFTA Film and TV awards, reports OK!.

According to a logline by Variety, the reboot focuses on: “Two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents (Deadwyler, Patel) form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.”

The publication also confirms that both stars will portray entirely new characters, rather than reimagined versions of Fox Mulder and Dr. Dana Scully, according to the Daily Mail. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson brought those iconic roles to life across 11 series.

Original creator Chris Carter is returning as executive producer, while Jennifer Yale (The Copenhagen Test) has been appointed as showrunner. Meanwhile, Coogler is scheduled to write, direct and produce, drawing inspiration from his mother’s fondness for the original series.

This marks another collaboration between Himesh and Danielle, having previously worked together on the 2021 miniseries Station Eleven.

Himesh left EastEnders in 2016 after his character ran away with then-girlfriend Nancy Carter. Two years later, he shot to international fame by securing the lead role in Yesterday, which became his breakthrough film.

In 2024, Himesh disclosed that struggling with acne while working on EastEnders as a teenager ‘felt like the worst thing in the world‘.

Speaking openly to British GQ Hype, the actor looked back on his remarkable career journey, including his early years on the legendary soap.

He told the publication: “I’ve been doing this since I was 16, When you’re a teenager and you have acne, it’s the worst thing in the world.

“But then when you’ve got acne in front of millions of people every week in EastEnders, it’s a whole other thing. ‘It was rough. You just kind of feel defective because you’re surrounded by actors. Everyone gets spots, but I just felt the pressure.”

The X-Files is available to stream on Disney+.

Strictly Come Dancing favourite Vito Coppola divided Saturday Kitchen viewers as he made an appearance on the BBC show

Strictly Come Dancing’s Vito Coppola sparked a mixed reaction from viewers following his stint on Saturday Kitchen.

The popular BBC programme returned to our screens on Saturday morning (March 28), with Matt Tebbutt once again taking the reins.

Joining Matt on the show were culinary experts Theo Randall, Samin Nosrat and drinks connoisseur Helen McGinn. Strictly star Vito also popped in to whip up a dish, while singer Self Esteem, also known as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, made an appearance – with viewers voting on whether she would experience her version of food heaven or food hell.

However, it’s safe to say that Vito was the one who got tongues wagging, as some viewers seemed divided over the dancer’s presence on the show, with a few taking issue with his loud speaking.

On X, one viewer remarked: “Can’t stand the screeching at this time of the morning.” Another jested: “Can you speak a bit louder please – they can’t quite hear you in Naples…”, reports the Express.

A third wrote: “Vito should stick to dancing and you just know the miserable blonde guest is getting hell.”

Nevertheless, not all feedback was negative as other viewers rallied behind Vito, with one person commenting: “Such happy, bubbly chefs on today. Especially the lovely @Vito__Coppola Food looks delicious too.”

Another fan wrote: “Love Vito.” A third enthused: “Vito seems like such a lovely, upbeat fella.”

This follows Matt Tebbutt’s return to Saturday Kitchen this month after spending some time in Australia. Earlier in March, audiences saw The One Show’s Alex Jones take the presenter’s chair as she was accompanied by Mike Reid, Adejoké Bakare, Bryn Williams and special guest Phil Wang.

While Matt appeared on the programme the previous week, the BBC star confirmed it was a pre-recorded episode as he posted updates from Australia with his Instagram followers.

Nevertheless, the 52 year old presenter was back in charge once more in March as he paused to commend Alex for stepping in.

He remarked: “Before we go on with our usual nonsense, we should say how well Alex did last week. Well done, Alex Jones.”

Saturday Kitchen airs every Saturday at 10am on BBC One.

Lauren Betts arrived at UCLA unsure she could continue playing college basketball.

After a turbulent freshman season at Stanford almost took her out of the game entirely, she joined rising stars Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice in Westwood.

Betts blossomed in three seasons as a Bruin, but none of her games were as special as the final one she played at Pauley Pavilion. During a second-round NCAA tournament win over Oklahoma State on Monday that at times was closer than many expected, Betts dropped a career-high 35 points and nine rebounds to lead UCLA to the Sweet 16.

“This community, the minute that I transferred over here, has just welcomed me with open arms,” Betts said. “The fans have just been so supportive of me through my entire journey, through my mental challenges, through just basketball, everything. I feel like I’ve grown so much, and they have really taken care of me here.

“It’s not even about basketball to me at this point. Like the people, like Coach Cori [Close] said, that we’ve been able to affect and just the difference that we’ve made, I think has been huge. And so for me, like, just to see all the people waving at us at the end of the game was really special.”

Betts wrote about her journey to joy on March 9 in The Players Tribune, the second time she has spoken or written in detail about her battle with depression and thoughts of taking her own life. She has become well known for not being afraid to be honest about her mental health challenges and being an advocate for those in need of support. It has endeared her to the UCLA community that’s embraced her, along with her teammates.

She wrote that her transparency about suicidal thoughts and an ensuing hospital stay midway through her sophomore season, first with her UCLA teammates, felt like a release from all the anxiety and self doubt that hounded her as she tried to live up to expectations at Stanford and UCLA.

“I want people to know that I’m doing better,” Betts wrote. “But I also want to be very realistic. My mental health isn’t perfect. It’s an ongoing project.”

UCLA center Lauren Betts, left, and teammate Charlisse Leger-Walker laugh together on the bench during Monday’s NCAA tournament game against Oklahoma State.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

Her teammates are in awe of her efforts to be the best person she can on and off the floor.

“She makes everyone better not just because of the basketball player she is, but the leader she is,” said Gianna Kneepkens, a graduate student who transferred from Utah to UCLA. “She challenges us, she pushes us, she just wants what’s best for the team. When people are getting tripled, she’s not worried about, ‘Oh, like, can I get the points?’ She’s seeing who is open so that we can score. So I just have had such a great time playing with Lauren and she’s one of the biggest reasons I came here.”

During the Oklahoma State win, UCLA led from wire to wire. But the Cowgirls outscored the Bruins in the second half and the Bruins’ shooting fizzled out during a tense third quarter. Betts, however, didn’t falter.

Her 35 points came in just 34 minutes. She was 15 of 19 from the field and nearly reached a double-double with nine rebounds.

Betts had long established herself as one of the best players in the country, but she doesn’t lead the nation in scoring, in part, because UCLA is a balanced team with many scoring options. Her performance against Oklahoma State was a reminder that she is still the Bruins’ most formidable player and remains the heart of the program’s push to win a national championship.

“That [scoring is] always in her bag,” Jaquez said. “Maybe some nights she passes more, but that’s just what makes her so special. She’s going to win 99% of her matchups.”

UCLA’s offense runs through its star center even with some of the best shooters in the country. Their starting lineup spaces the floor, with former Washington State leading scorer Charlisse Leger-Walker as a fifth option.

“She puts a lot of pressure on herself a lot of the time and always blames herself when she shouldn’t be and no one else is thinking that way,” Leger-Walker said of Betts. “And I think over this past year, she’s really been working on trying to not do that so she can be the best she can for this team. We obviously need her to be confident, just being able to trust herself, because that is what is going to make our team so much better.”

UCLA center Lauren Betts shoots the ball during the Bruins’ NCAA tournament win over Oklahoma State at Pauley Pavilion on Monday.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

There are games that often belong to someone else. Jaquez has turned in big games this season and Rice was the Big Ten tournament most outstanding player. The Bruins have featured six different leading scorers across all games this season.

But it still always comes back to Betts, who has been UCLA’s top scorer a team high 14 times.

“Lauren is one of those players that is always so dominant,” Leger-Walker said after the win over Oklahoma State. “I didn’t even know until she came out that she had 30-something [points.] I was like, ‘Yeah, what the heck?’ That’s just her, you know, she’s a bucket. And she’s gonna always be dominant in that fashion and she is just such an impact player for this team.”

Betts’ 27 minutes, 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game are slightly down from last season. Her 3.2 assists per game are slightly up. Her role, like many other UCLA players, has evolved to fit the star-studded lineup.

In the same way Leger-Walker went from a three-point sniper to a point guard or Rice went from a distributor to a shooter and Jaquez from a hoop driver to a three-level scorer, Betts transformed from a post-up only scorer to the conductor of the Bruins’ office in the middle of the floor.

“She anchors us on both ends, down in the paint, especially defensively,” Rice said. “Her ability to switch out on guards and play on the perimeter and help us out is really, really big. And obviously offensively, she’s such a big offensive player.”

If the Bruins do win a national title, it’ll be on the back of their star. Sure, UCLA is a team full of them, but Betts is still, as Jaquez describes her, “that girl.”

For one last run, Betts can be that for a community and team where she’s found not just acceptance, but true celebration.

“I think she’s found a really deep purpose,” Close said. “And when you can use your pain for great purpose and other centeredness to have an incredible legacy in the lives of others, that’s an incredible gift. But it’s a gift that she’s worked really, really hard for.”

Jeremy Spake became a firm favourite on the BBC series Airport, which first aired in 1996, and has since gone on to enjoy a successful media and aviation career before alleging workplace issues

Jeremy Spake, who was first catapulted into the limelight an astonishing 30 years ago on the BBC series Airport, is now almost unrecognisable. The programme, similar to ITV’s own successful Airline, gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the daily workings of Heathrow Airport and the aircraft departing from there. Now 56, Jeremy was featured on the show in 1996 during his stint as a ground services manager for Russian airline Aeroflot.

He swiftly became a viewer favourite during his time on the show, which subsequently paved the way for additional television opportunities. He went on to host Toughest Jobs in Britain, a documentary series that followed workers in some of the UK’s most challenging and physically demanding roles, as well as the medical programme City Hospital.

He also authored two books, titled Jeremy’s Airport and The Toughest Job in Britain. Jeremy’s Airport drew from his experiences working at Heathrow, guiding readers through a typical week on the job, while The Toughest Job in Britain saw him reflect on some of the incredibly tough jobs he tackled while presenting the show.

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While pursuing his media career, Jeremy was also steadily ascending the corporate ranks in his day job. Proficient in Russian, Jeremy eventually climbed to the position of services manager for Aeroflot before being promoted to Deputy Director of Isle of Man Airport.

Nevertheless, Jeremy chose to resign from his position at the Isle of Man airport, describing ‘bullying, harassment and mobbing on an almost industrial scale’ via his LinkedIn profile. Reports emerged in 2023 that he was pursuing legal action against the Isle of Man government for personal injuries, alleging damage to his mental wellbeing.

He subsequently fronted a six-episode documentary series aired on the BBC, The Airport: Back In The Skies. The fresh series witnessed Jeremy returning to his roots, reuniting with former colleagues, and examining closely how the sector was recovering following the coronavirus crisis.

Production for The Airport: Back In The Skies kicked off in October 2021, after approximately eighteen months of lockdown measures, travel restrictions, and vaccine passport requirements, while the airport was working to rebuild operations and restore full capacity.

Thankfully, Jeremy has never been one to stand on the sidelines and pitched in by helping to prepare a Boeing 737 for departure and lending a hand to holidaymakers stranded during the turmoil.

The television personality has also released his own audio book, Jeremy’s Airport Audio Book, which recounts the Airport narrative with extra commentary and fresh anecdotes that didn’t feature in the original BBC television programme. Adding another dimension to Jeremy’s repertoire, he now presents daily aviation updates on Instagram, for Air News Daily.

However, Jeremy now has a dramatically different look. His brown hair has disappeared as the star is now completely bald and he has swapped his smart goatee for a clean-shaven look. The website for the channel says: “Jeremy is a seasoned broadcaster and aviation professional with 40 years experience of working with some of the largest airlines and airports around the world and brings his unique insight to every show.”

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DRAGONS Den star Steven Bartlett has banked a massive £10million from the sale of Huel.

Steven, 33, was one of the first investors in the meal replacement brand and first took a stake in 2017.

Now food giant Danone – which owns Activia and Actimel – has agreed to purchase Huel for £860m.

As a result, Steven – who hosts UK’s No1 podcast Diary Of A CEO, is laughing all the way to the bank.

A source said: “Steven really does have the Midas touch when it comes to investments.

“He was an early investor – and the biggest, earliest non-corporate investor in Huel.

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“It’s safe to say he has made more than £10 million with Huel over the years – which is a, frankly, enormous sum.

“But it just goes to show what a canny investor he is.

“Of course, not all investments on new companies work out – but Steven’s track record is fantastic.

“He believes in new businesses and entrepreneurs and, on this occasion, his acumen has delivered big.”

Steven isn’t the only celebrity that’s seen more than just gym gains from the brand.

In 2022, Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina backed the brand with a £20m fundraiser.

Broadcaster Jonathan Ross and TALA’s Grace Beverley also hopped on the trend and invested.

Since then, Huel expanded its range to nutrition bars, health drinks and ready meals.

Huel is just the latest investment of Steven’s to deliver.

Perfect Ted – the matcha company he invested in – has become the most successful Dragons Den pitch ever; after it was valued at more than £140 million late last year.

Today, matcha has taken over an entire floor of his London office building.

Bartlett is also the host of Diary Of A CEO, one of the biggest Podcasts in the world – and the UK and Europe’s No1.

Earlier this year, Steven announced he was engaged to long-term partner Melanie Lopes, a French-Portuguese wellness influencer.

The new series of Beyond Paradise kicks off this month as Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton reprise their roles

Beyond Paradise is back this week as BBC viewers return to Shipton Abbott.

The countdown is nearly complete as BBC audiences are preparing to witness a brand-new series of the Death in Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise.

This week (Friday 27), devotees will be transported back to Shipton Abbot as DI Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and his team return to crack a collection of peculiar cases.

During the opening episode of the BBC series, Humphrey and his new wife, Martha (Sally Bretton), encounter a challenging predicament when they’re stranded at sea after the Lily Bond is caught adrift.

Nevertheless, this is merely the beginning of their troubles as the newlyweds find themselves residing with Martha’s mum, Anne (Barbara Flynn), as their houseboat is out of commission.

Despite the couple encountering less than perfect conditions, one thing is certain, they’ll be working through their difficulties against the stunning backdrop of Cornwall, reports Plymouth Live.

Throughout this series, Devon locals may spot a recognisable location featured on the programme as the crew has filmed at Mothecombe Beach in Plymouth.

When questioned if there were any locations in this series that stood out to the BBC star, Sally hinted at one racy scene audiences can look forward to.

She revealed: “There’s a rather scandalous scene where Martha and Humphrey go for a swim at Mothecombe Beach. We filmed this at sunrise at the most beautiful beach, but oh my goodness, it was freezing!”

This won’t be the first occasion the stunning private beach has appeared in the cherished programme, as the beach was previously closed during filming of Dawn French’s The Trouble With Maggie Cole.

Sally wasn’t the only star from Beyond Paradise to laud the Devon location, as Kris Marshall highlighted Mothecombe beach as a standout spot for him this series.

He shared: “As always, we got to film in some stunning locations, especially Mothecombe Beach. You can only get down there by foot or in a 4×4, and when the sun is out, it feels like you’re in the Caribbean.

“Sally and I had a brilliant scene there – it was at sunrise, and it was freezing, but so beautiful. I even got to have a dip in the sea!”

A synopsis for this series teases more ‘mind-boggling’ cases for the team to unravel, ranging from the death of a crime novelist to an intruder returning to rectify a crime they instigated.

It states: “Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Devon and Cornwall, fact and folklore blur when a witness claims a mermaid wrecked a local seaweed farm, an off-grid community fight developers with the image of the Green Man, a Morris dancer is targeted in plain sight, and a stolen pirate map reappears under mysterious circumstances.

“Beyond the station, Humphrey and Martha launch into married life as they search for a new place to call home, all whilst Humphrey faces mounting pressure when tasked with an impossible decision that will change his team forever.

“Meanwhile, Anne rises to new heights as a local councillor, Esther is forced to grapple with the consequences of her past choices, and Zoe starts planning her next steps. Elsewhere, Kelby’s dating life takes an unexpected turn when he meets someone online, but Margo spots warning signs that all may not be as it seems.”

The fourth series of Beyond Paradise airs Friday 27 March on BBC One from 8pm

The new series of Beyond Paradise will see ‘unexpected hurdles’ for Humphrey Goodman and Martha Lloyd

Beyond Paradise returns for a new series on Friday night and fans will be delighted.

Series four episode one sees Detective Inspector for Shipton Abbott Police Station, Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, investigate a crime novelist’s death that eerily mirrors the details of his final novel. Humphrey must uncover whether it was a coincidence or murder by design…

Meanwhile, The Lily Bond is caught adrift leaving Humphrey and Martha Lloyd, played by Sally Bretton, back home with Martha’s mother Anne Lloyd, played by Barbara Flynn.

However, things won’t be plain sailing for the couple in series four as Martha star Sally, 45, teased that the duo will face “unexpected hurdles”.

Talking ahead of series four, Sally said: “They have so much fun in this series, but as always, there are unexpected hurdles.

“They’ve taken on a huge house project that is stunning but comes with plenty of problems, and Martha is constantly juggling her business, the builder, the new home, and Humphrey.”

Meanwhile, Humphrey star Kris, 52, teased of his character and series four: “He’s finally a married man!

“They’ve put fostering on the back burner to focus on their new house project, which, as you can imagine with Humphrey’s clumsiness, is a recipe for disaster. He’s not at all gifted in the DIY department, causing more issues than he solves.”

Talking about Humphrey being forced to part ways with his beloved houseboat this series, Kris added: “Ever since we met Humphrey in the Caribbean, he’s been a frustrated sailor.

“He loves the romanticism of being on a boat and is always drawn to the water, so he is sad that this chapter of his life has closed. However, their new house is in the perfect location, and hopefully there will be more boats in his future.”

Elsewhere, a synopsis for series four teases: “DI Humphrey Goodman and the Shipton Abbott team are back, facing a fresh wave of mind-boggling puzzles. From the suspicious death of a crime novelist, whose final plot eerily mirrors their demise, to an intruder who returns to undo the crime scene they created, the team have their work cut out for them.

“Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Devon and Cornwall, fact and folklore blur when a witness claims a mermaid wrecked a local seaweed farm, an off-grid community fight developers with the image of the Green Man, a Morris dancer is targeted in plain sight, and a stolen pirate map reappears under mysterious circumstances.

“Beyond the station, Humphrey and Martha launch into married life as they search for a new place to call home, all whilst Humphrey faces mounting pressure when tasked with an impossible decision that will change his team forever.

“Meanwhile, Anne rises to new heights as a local councillor, Esther is forced to grapple with the consequences of her past choices, and Zoe starts planning her next steps. Elsewhere, Kelby’s dating life takes an unexpected turn when he meets someone online, but Margo spots warning signs that all may not be as it seems…”

Beyond Paradise returns this Friday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Perhaps it was predictable that reality TV would become a pipeline into American politics. After all, political theater was the ultimate unscripted spectacle before reality TV became a genre unto itself.

Consider the raw drama of the first televised presidential debate, where a sweaty Richard Nixon and confident John F. Kennedy traded barbs. Or Anita Hill’s should-have-been-damning testimony against then-Supreme Court justice candidate Clarence Thomas during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings in 1991. Or President George W. Bush’s 2003 “mission accomplished” speech from a carrier off the coast of California, mere weeks into a war in Iraq that lasted years.

Modern programmed reality TV isn’t political theater, but it has become a springboard into modern politics for some stars of the genre. From President Trump to Dr. Oz, Caitlyn Jenner to Sean Duffy, campaigns and political offices are littered with the names of former cast members from reality series. Here’s a list of the most memorable jumps from trash TV to the smoldering dumpster of 21st century politics.

Donald Trump, president of the United States, ’The Apprentice’

Before he was a two-time president of the United States, Trump was one of America’s most recognizable make-believe bosses thanks to his 14-season run on NBC’s reality competition “The Apprentice,” created by reality TV kingmaker Mark Burnett. With his practiced executive scowl and scripted boardroom catchphrase, “You’re fired!,” the show burnished his image as a decisive billionaire dealmaker, even as his real-life business results were far less impressive. Off camera, Trump’s businesses filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times between 1991 and 2014. Never mind. It was his knack for showmanship, and his undying need for attention, that proved the perfect entry into post-decorum politics. How does pretending to be in charge on a middling reality competition qualify anyone to safely and successfully run the most powerful nation on Earth? It doesn’t. Sleep tight.

Sean Duffy, Transportation secretary, ’The Real World’ and ‘Road Rules: All Stars’

Sean Duffy first appeared on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston,” where he was introduced as a flirtatious, conservative lumberjack/student hybrid. In short, he was a casting director’s dream. He later joined “Road Rules: All Stars,” where he met his future wife Rachel Campos-Duffy. Trading hot tub confessionals for courtrooms, Duffy became a Wisconsin district attorney and then a congressman. By 2025, he’d risen to secretary of Transportation under Trump, completing a career arc from staged arguments with pretend roommates to heated exchanges with the press about the effects of a government shutdown on airport safety. Dude.

Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security secretary, MMA fighter

After a fiery confirmation hearing, Mullin is now Trump’s second secretary of Homeland Security in the 2.0 administration, following the disastrous tenure of wannabe reality show star Kristi Noem. Mullin was not a reality star per se, but in his role as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter he performed in cages for live, streaming and pay-per-view cable audiences. As an early 2000s champ in the sport, Mullin boasted an undefeated 5-0 record and the Oklahoma chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted him in 2016. How do these MMA skills, or his former life running the family plumbing business qualify him to protect the national security of this great nation? It’s unclear, but his fighting instincts have already resulted in a viral moment out of a 2023 Senate hearing, when he challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a physical fight, offering to “finish it here.” Now he’ll be running the DHS. What could go wrong?

Omarosa Manigault Newman, former assistant to Trump and director of communications for the office of public liaison, ‘The Apprentice’

Newman became one of reality television’s more memorable villains thanks to her run on “The Apprentice,” where her Machiavellian ways and unapologetic ambition revolted viewers and impressed her fake boss. She would eventually parlay that dubious notoriety into more than one role in the first Trump White House. Her tenure was brief, ending in a high-profile departure and her accusation that Trump is a “racist, a bigot and a misogynist.” She then wrote a book, “Unhinged: An Insider‘s Account of the Trump White House.” Perhaps she’ll adapt her written account into a reality show, only to reignite her fame and win the White House. From there? She’d hire Trump, of course, then swiftly end his run on the show with two simple words: “You’re Fired!”

Spencer Pratt, Los Angeles mayoral candidate, ‘The Hills’

Best known as one-half of reality TV’s most polarizing couple on “The Hills,” Pratt built a reputation as a needling instigator, often leaning into the role of villain with annoying enthusiasm. After stints on other reality shows such as “Big Brother U.K.,” he began speaking out about local California issues, including wildfire recovery and environmental policy. Earlier this year Pratt, a Republican, announced that he would be running for mayor of Los Angeles in the upcoming mayoral election, challenging incumbent Karen Bass. Does he really want to govern the Left Coast, or is his candidacy a ploy for a new reality show? Let’s hope it’s the latter.

Caitlyn Jenner, California gubernatorial candidate, ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’

An Olympic gold medalist long before reality TV fame, Jenner reentered public consciousness through a show about nothing. The hit series relaunched her into the spotlight as a member of one of America’s most visible families. Using that fame, she ran as a Republican in 2021 in California’s gubernatorial recall election, positioning herself as a political outsider. Her campaign leaned heavily on her life story — from her athletic achievement to her personal reinvention — but she failed to keep up with the competition.

Clay Aiken, U.S. congressional candidate, ‘American Idol’

Aiken rose to fame as the earnest, vocally gifted runner-up on “American Idol” circa 2003. His polite demeanor, impressive vocal range and dramatic rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” earned him a devoted fanbase known as the “Claymates.” Aiken went on to have a semi-successful music career before running for Congress in North Carolina as a Democrat in 2014. Aiken made the mistake of leaning into his strengths as a thoughtful, policy-oriented candidate rather than relying on his past achievement as a vapid reality show contestant. He lost, of course.

Jim Bob Duggar, Arkansas state House representative and state Senate candidate, ’19 Kids and Counting’

As the patriarch of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” Jim Bob Duggar became synonymous with a conservative Christian lifestyle when the show aired in 2008; it garnered high ratings and ran for 10 seasons. He espoused many of the same ideals as an elected official in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003, before leaving the political stage for reality TV. But the show was canceled in 2015 when the Duggars’ eldest son, Josh, admitted to molesting several girls, some of whom were his sisters. A conviction on child pornography charges followed. (More recently, his brother Joseph was charged with child sex abuse.) Jim Bob Duggar attempted a political comeback in 2021 when he ran for a vacated seat in the Arkansas state Senate, leaning on what he believed was his reputation as an upstanding family man. Reality bit back, and he lost.

Mehmet Oz, U.S. Senate candidate and administrator of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, ‘The Dr. Oz Show’

Like so many questionable figures Americans came to trust in the 2000s, Dr. Oz got his start as a frequent guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” He went on to launch “The Dr. Oz Show,” where he dispensed health advice to millions of viewers. His blend of seemingly measured medical guidance and on-camera charisma appealed to viewers who were tired of looking at egg-headed doctors, like the kind who practice real medicine off screen. He announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican in 2021, focusing on an anti-establishment platform. He lost the general election to Democrat John Fetterman, but the doctor is still in. Trump appointed him administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee, ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’

File this under “Folks who tried to reinvent themselves on reality TV after tanking in politics.” Sarah Palin served as the ninth governor of Alaska before being selected as Sen. John McCain‘s running mate ahead of the 2008 presidential election. After losing to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, she veered away from politics, a decision that probably had nothing to do with an ethics scandal dubbed Troopergate that involved Palin. Burnett saw an opportunity, producing the 2010 TLC reality series “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” It followed the Palin family engaging in activities such as fishing, prospecting for gold and camping in the region. In short, it looked like a tourism ad for Alaska and was canceled after one season. It also failed to kickstart her political career. She lost her 2022 bid for Alaska’s U.S. House seat, failing in both a special election and her general election comeback attempt. Apparently it isn’t Sarah Palin’s Alaska, after all.

Reality star Loana Petrucciani, who shot to fame after having sex in the pool while appearing on the French edition of Big Brother, has been found dead at her home

A TV star who became known for having sex in the Big Brother pool has been found dead. Loana Petrucciani, who won the first series of Loft Story France 1, was just 48-years-old.

It’s reported that the reality star, simply known as Loana, was found dead at her home in Nice. Prosecutor Damien Martinelli stated that an investigation has since been opened to “find the causes of death”, before stating the TV star had been dead for “several days”.

Loana gained fame in 2001 when she entered the Loft Story house, living with strangers for ten weeks under constant surveillance from cameras, mirroring the Big Brother format. In the wake of her death, TV network M6 said: “An iconic figure of the first season of ‘Loft Story’, she will forever remain a personality who profoundly marked an entire generation of viewers,” before praising her for “her pontaneity, sensitivity and authenticity.”

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Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO of Loft Story’s production company Banijay France, said: “It is with immense emotion that I learned of Loana’s passing. Our paths crossed 25 years ago, and I am honoured to have shared so many memories with her. I witnessed her successes and her struggles.

“My thoughts are, of course, with her mother, Violette, her daughter, her brother, and the other housemates who were part of this adventure. Let us never forget that behind her public image was a sensitive and extremely intelligent woman.” Benjamin Castaldi, presenter of Loft Story said: “There are some faces we never forget. And hers, Loana’s, is part of our collective history.

“Thought we would watch a show. In fact, we were witnessing a revolution. The first one. The truth. The one that changed television forever… and maybe also our view on humans. Loana was not a character. She was a woman. A real one. With its cracks, its sweetness, its fragility in the open sky. And that’s precisely why we loved it.

“But that’s also why we dropped her. We applauded his light… not protecting his shadow. His authenticity has been consumed… without measuring the price she would pay. We’ve watched her live, love, fall… without ever really wondering who would pick her up after. The truth is, we’re all a little responsible. Because we all watched. Cuz we all commented Because we’ve all, at one point, looked away when it got too hard.

“She embodied raw innocence in a world that didn’t forgive anything. And we couldn’t match what she gave us. Today, there’s only a television memory. There’s still an emotion. Embarrassment. A regret. The one of not being human enough to someone who deeply was. So yeah… We lived a revolution together. But maybe we forgot, along the way, the important thing: Behind the phenomenon… There was a woman.”

It was on Lost Story that Loana became known for sleeping with co-star Jean-Edouard Lipa, sparking outrage across the country. Despite the scandal, she walked out of the house as the champion and was welcomed as she paraded down the Champs-Élysées.

With her newfound fame came magazine deals, gracing the cover of Elle, photographed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino and her deeply personal memoir several months later.

In her memoir, the Cannes-born star opened up about the highs and lows of her career in the spotlight, as well as previous suicide attempts. Speaking about entering Loft Story, she said previously: “I went there feeling very insecure. I was worried. The casting director said to me, ‘Aren’t you ashamed to come dressed like that?’ I took it very badly, especially since he was asking everyone that question.”

She added: “He asked me to flirt with the camera: I don’t know how to do that, it’s impossible. I blushed, I stammered. Then they asked me to dance and sing. I left and thought to myself, ‘I didn’t show them anything.'” She said of her fame: “There are two women inside me. The public loved both. Before, we saw a lot of the extroverted Loana who danced on the catwalks, but we didn’t see the other side, because she was too shy to express herself. But, in Loft Story, we saw that there was another side to her.”

In the early 2010s, Loana attempted to take her own life, which left her in a coma. Her family and friends later discovered that she had made several attempts on her life prior to this.

If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

If you have been affected by this story, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free help to make sense of how you are feeling. Click here for their website or call 0808 808 1677.

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Welsh actress Sian Reese-Williams, who played murder victim Gennie Walker on Emmerdale, has transformed her look for a new role in Channel 5’s Huw Edwards drama

Sian Reese-Williams became a household name on Emmerdale through her portrayal of Gennie Walker – but what has the actress been up to since?

The Welsh performer rose to prominence playing Gennie on the ITV soap, first appearing in 2008. Gennie arrived in the Dales as the adoptive daughter of Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop).

She quickly won over audiences and became a beloved character. Gennie featured in numerous major storylines – from multiple romantic disappointments to eventually finding happiness with Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem).

Tragically, in 2013, Gennie met her end when Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) killed her, whilst attempting to conceal the murder of Carl King (Tom Lister).

Following her departure from Emmerdale, Sian has maintained a strong television presence, with roles in productions including Netflix’s Requiem and Holby City. She also portrayed Sgt. Jane Cafferty in the BBC’s Line of Duty, reports the Daily Star.

Most recently this week, Sian featured in Channel 5’s drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards. The hard-hitting one-off programme stars Martin Clunes as disgraced BBC newsreader Huw and documents the circumstances surrounding the presenter’s conviction for making indecent images of children.

Huw pleaded guilty in 2024 to three counts of making indecent images of children and was given six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete a sex offender programme.

The one-off programme centres on Huw’s alleged interaction with a 17 year old who has the fictional name ‘Ryan’. Alongside Martin, Power also features Jason Hughes and Chanel Cresswell in the cast. Sian portrays Carys, the mother of ‘Ryan’ (Osian Morgan).

Beyond her acting career, Sian is also an accomplished potter. She wrote on X in 2024: “Hello. I make pottery now. I’ll be selling these from next Friday so if you fancy a one-off piece of loveliness to brighten your January, head over to my insta.”

Last year, Sian appeared on the Celebrity Side Hustles podcast, hosted by her former Emmerdale cast mates Roxy Shahidi and Matthew Wolfenden.

Discussing her choice to pursue pottery, Sian revealed: “As I was finishing series three of Hidden [a Welsh television drama that aired from 2018 to 2021], I knew it was going to be a real loss in my life.”

She continued: “Because A.) as an actor to have something that is even remotely constant is such a luxury and you just want to hold on to it and B.) I was proud of the show and loved it, and I’d had quite a rough few years, like life, it had been hard.”

Upon discovering a six-week pottery course in Cardiff, Sian attended the classes and became “completely obsessed” with the craft. “I just wanted something to have in the diary, because I hadn’t cracked that downtime thing,” she explained.

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX

This Morning star Sharon Marshall has spoken out for the first time, revealing she was taken to hospital in an ambulance after her severe hay fever saw her almost go into cardiac arrest

This Morning star Sharon Marshall has revealed for the first time her terrifying health ordeal, as she was carted off in an ambulance over fears she was in cardiac arrest – but she was actually suffering from hay fever.

Sharon, 54, spoke candidly about how her complex hay fever – which was misdiagnosed as adult asthma – once saw her collapse in the doctors office, which lead her to being rushed to hospital in an ambulance as paramedics feared she was going into cardiac arrest. The Queen of Soaps sat on the This Morning sofa today to reveal her complex health woes and how the ordeal unfolded.

Speaking to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley on the This Morning sofa, alongside Professor Adam Fox, Sharon revealed she got ill when she was training to run the marathon and initially ruled out symptoms as being unfit. She recalled waking up in the middle of the night not being able to breathe – which Sharon didn’t realise was an asthma attack at the time.

READ MORE: This Morning chaos as ITV show forced to make last minute change live on airREAD MORE: Huw Edwards’ publicist leaves GMB hosts speechless as ‘car crash’ interview sparks backlash

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Sharon explained that the ordeal happened in the middle of the night so she decided to wait until the morning to see the doctor. She recalled: “I remember sort of waiting until nine o’clock, ringing the doctor’s surgery and they were like, ‘oh God, come in immediately,’ going out the flat and luckily a black cab came past, got me in the back, took me in and he helped me to the door. And I don’t really remember much past that because I just collapsed in the doctor’s surgery and I came round in the back of an ambulance.”

She continued: “I said, ‘Oh what’s happening’ and they said, ‘we’re taking you to hospital’ and my first reaction was, ‘will I be going back’ and I they said, ‘No probably not’ and I said, ‘well can I just go by the house and feed my cat’. And this lovely guy who was just saying: ‘You’re going into cardiac arrest, we’re trying to take you into hospital to save your life no you can’t feed your cat’.”

Sharon stayed in hospital for a week but doctors struggled to get to the root cause. Sharon was then diagnosed with adult onset asthma. She explained: “So for years and years, I started taking asthma inhaler and then every year, not realising pollen season would come around and I would start getting asthmatic again. I was on the strongest asthma inhaler every single day. I was going through an asthma inhaler set in a week – horrible steHowever, Sharon revealed that every spring she would continue to get “really breathless and really ill”. Sharon continuned to go to the doctors in search for more answers and even struggled to wak up the stairs in the doctor’s surgery.

At one point, Sharon was even tested for lung cancer. She revealed: “So every year it was just this terrifying thing of, ‘I can’t breathe’ – stronger and stronger steroids and asthma inhalers.” Sharon revealed a visit to the This Morning studios changed her health for good.

Sharon had come into the studio and struggled to breathe while having her makeup done, which saw the crew call a medic as she was going into another asthma attack.

She added: “And, lukcily, in the studio, doing an item about allergies was our lovely professor here, who was able to work out, ‘Oh there’s a time of year that this seems to be happening’.”roids, Mysoline [an anticonvulsant medication] and all these things.”

However, Sharon revealed that every spring she would continue to get “really breathless and really ill”. Sharon continuned to go to the doctors in search for more answers and even struggled to wak up the stairs in the doctor’s surgery.

At one point, Sharon was even tested for lung cancer. She revealed: “So every year it was just this terrifying thing of, ‘I can’t breathe’ – stronger and stronger steroids and asthma inhalers.” Sharon revealed a visit to the This Morning studios changed her health for good.

Sharon had come into the studio and struggled to breathe while having her makeup done, which saw the crew call a medic as she was going into another asthma attack.

She added: “And, luckily, in the studio, doing an item about allergies was our lovely professor here, who was able to work out, ‘Oh there’s a time of year that this seems to be happening’.”

Professor Adam then explained Sharon has seasonal allergic asthma. Professor Adam then explained: “So the problem isn’t chronic all the time asthma, it’s just that when your hay fever is bad enough, if you imagine the lining of your nose is connected to the lining of your lungs. So if your upper airway because of the hayfever is really angry, can send really angry signals down to your lower airway, your lungs, and give you what listens will be an asthma attack. And of course, that can be very, very severe.”

Professor Adam then explained: “So the problem isn’t chronic all the time asthma, it’s just that when your hay fever is bad enough, if you imagine the lining of your nose is connected to the lining of your lungs. So if your upper airway because of the hayfever is really angry, can send really angry signals down to your lower airway, your lungs, and give you what listens will be an asthma attack. And of course, that can be very, very severe.”

Professor Adam then explained Sharon was then treated using ‘desensitisation’, which is a treatment that retrains to immune system to tolerate pollen. Sharon said of the new treatment: “It’s miraculous, it’s completely life changing.”

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NEW Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert has had surgery to remove three tumours in his brain after a tough battle with rare adrenal cancer.

The 45-year-old rocker went to A&E on February 20 after experiencing weakness in his leg that caused him to fall.

It came three days after he struggled to control his left hand during a show in Nashville.

Taking to Instagram, Chad revealed how a CT scan showed three tumours in his brain, leading to emergency surgery to remove them.

The operation was a success and he felt improvements straight away.

He wrote on Instagram: “I regained function of my left hand immediately. My radiation oncologist described it like this: ‘this is not a fatal blow and not the end of your story, just the beginning of a new chapter.’

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“My recovery has been bumpy at times but I’m feeling much better now and getting stronger by the day.”

Chad thanked those who had checked in on his wife Lisa Cimorelli and their daughter, four, over the past month.

He continued: “More stories to come when my brain is working well again. Love you all and am looking forward to sharing more music and fun with you as we come out of this.”

Pictures accompanying the post showed him in a hospital bed at various stages in his recovery and ended with a smiling picture of him doing an activity with shapes to help his cognitive function.

Emo veterans Hawthorne Heights wrote: “We love you Chad! Keep fighting. The world is a brighter place with your riffs and positivity.”

Dashboard Confessional commented: “I love you bud.”

Another post branded Chad the “strongest man on the planet!”

Musician Chad, who was previously had a short marriage to Paramore’s Hayley Williams, was first diagnosed with cancer in December 2021 after wife Lisa found him unconscious in bed.

He was rushed to hospital and doctors found a large adrenal gland tumor that had spread to his liver. The tumour was surgically removed along with half of his liver and gallbladder.

Though he was declared cancer-free the following month, it returned in his spine in August, leading him to have a six-hour surgery to remove the affected vertebrate and replace it with an artificial disc.

There was more disheartening news the following year after nodules were discovered in his lungs.

He went through intense rounds of chemotherapy while continuing to perform and release music with New Found Glory.

The band’s latest album, Listen Up!, was released the same day Chad experienced issues with his hand on stage.

Florida rockers New Found Glory released their debut album in 1999, but it was with their third record, Sticks and Stones, that they achieved stardom.

My Friends Over You became a huge hit and the band’s lyrics inspired the names of more recent groups like All Time Low and The Story So Far.

Their success continued into the early noughties with the album Catalyst, which peaked at number three in the US, and the single All Downhill from Here.

Paapa Essiedu is set to appear in a ‘tender yet urgent love story’ starting on BBC One next week

The Capture favourite Paapa Essiedu is set to star opposite Siobhán Cullen, known for The Dry and Obituary, in a powerful new drama.

Babies, starting on BBC One next week, is the actor’s first role since his unexpected exit from The Capture. It comes after his character, Home Secretary Isaac Turner, was killed off just minutes into season 3, despite being a main figure on the show since 2022.

Written and directed by multi-award-winning Stefan Golaszewski (Mum, Marriage, Him & Her), Babies is a gripping, warm and urgent love story about a couple struggling through the experience of pregnancy loss.

A synopsis for the new series reads: “At the heart of the series are Lisa (Cullen) and Stephen (Essiedu), a couple in their 30s whose dream of becoming parents is tested as they endure multiple miscarriages. While confronting unimaginable grief, their bond shines through with humour, warmth, and unwavering commitment.

“Charlotte Riley (The Peripheral, Press) and Jack Bannon (Pennyworth, Pulse) also star as Amanda and Dave – a new couple navigating their own challenges and testing their compatibility. Their complex relationship, set against Lisa and Stephen’s ongoing pregnancy journey, begins to expose cracks in Stephen and Dave’s long-standing friendship.”

Describing the series, and what drew him to the scripts, Paapa said: “It’s a six-part drama about two couples who are navigating all the complications and nuances of their relationships and the process of trying for children. The characters are all in their mid to late 30s and at this new stage of life. I’ve always been a huge fan of Stefan’s work. I loved Him & Her, as well as Mum and Marriage.

“He writes with such compassion, detail, specificity, humanity and humour. Scripts with that level of complexity, depth and dimension rarely arrive in your inbox. I never thought twice about it.”

Outlining the premise of the show, writer Stefan Golaszewski, said: “It’s a love story about a couple going through the process of trying to have their first baby. Although it is not autobiographical, I have some personal experience of these issues, and I thought it was a good idea to create a show that talks about a subject that feels quite taboo, but that so many people go through in a painful secrecy. “

Describing the characters at the centre of the show, Stefan said: “Stephen is a kind, gentle soul who has some complications with his notions of masculinity. He loves Lisa very much, and has had a well-oiled problem-free life up until this point. This is his first time experiencing tragedy.

“Lisa is a funny, clever, outgoing, confident person, who again, hasn’t really had to deal with much in her life. She’s had smooth sailing throughout her youth and is now experiencing the first emotional hurdle.

“Dave is a complicated soul. He’s gotten by so far in life by not letting anything deeper than banter in but depth is starting to happen around and to him. He’s finding it hard to navigate that with his old tricks.

“Amanda has suffered great loss in her life. Her fiancé died a few years ago, and she’s now with Dave. She’s starting to step out into the world again, and she’s trying to find a new future for herself.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Babies has everything we love about Stefan Golaszewski’s work – a tender, authentic, emotional and human look at couples navigating a time in their lives that is rarely covered on television.

“It’s no surprise that this very special series has attracted such an outstanding cast, and it’s been an honour to see them bring Stefan’s scripts to life.”

All episodes of Babies are on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday, March 30, with the series airing on BBC One from 9pm that night.