One housemate will be crowned Big Brother’s 2026 winner in just a few hours
Big Brother’s 2026 winner will be crowned in just a few hours (Image: ITV)
Big Brother’s favourite to win has been revealed just hours before the live final.
It’s been eight weeks since the ITV2 experiment returned to our screens with a fresh batch of contestants. They have since faced brutal co-star feuds and tricky shopping tasks all in the battle for a huge £100,000 cash prize.
The remaining contestants are Twinks, Rochelle, Yasmin, Samuel, Lynx and Catrin. Fans are now voting for their 2026 champion, with the results set to be announced on Thursday (November 5) at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Although many viewers are convinced Rochelle will take home this year’s crown, recent betting odds suggest she could miss out on the prize. Bookmaker Coral believes tonight’s final could be the closest in history, at least if its odds are accurate.
They have revealed that Twinks is the 4/6 favourite to be crowned the winner, but Rochelle is hot on her heels at 6/5 in the outright betting for this evening’s final.
“This looks set to be one of the closest Big Brother finals in history, as there is very little between Twinks and Rochelle in our outright betting,” said Coral’s John Hill.
Hill added: “Twinks just edges favouritism following what has been a rollercoaster ride in the Big Brother house since her arrival. We expect her to be in the final two with Rochelle, and the majority of our punters are backing the former to be crowned the winner.”
Both contestants have gained considerable support over the last few weeks, although Rochelle has attracted backlash at several points in her ITV journey.
Odds for the other finalists place Yasmin at 10/1, while Samuel sits at 20/1, Lynx is at 50/1 and Catrin sits at 66/1.
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The live final will be hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best and they will return for a special reunion episode on Friday night (November 6). All the housemates will re-enter the house for the reunion, where they will revisit major moments from the series.
Viewers have been told to expect “big revelations, unfinished business and plenty of drama as they look back on the moments that had the nation talking and reveal where they stand now”.
Big Brother’s live final airs tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
Jeff and Matt have opened up about the big problem they faced during the show.
Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of BBC’s Morning Live, Matt said: “I was so misguided, to be honest; it’s so different from just going backpacking where you could take everything at your own pace, and if something went wrong, well, you could just go book into a hostel and go again the next day.
“We didn’t have that luxury at all whilst we were racing, and we’re constantly thinking on the race, ‘where are we going next and how are we going to get there.'”
Jeff added: “When you’re backpacking with someone like me, one big problem is that a lot of hostels will not let you in if you’re over 35. We were turned away from hostels because I was over 35- well, only just.”
LOVE Island star Charleen Murphy has revealed that a man who was jailed for violently attacking her has targeted her again in a terrifying ordeal.
The Irish influencer, 28, told fans she had been forced to return to court last week after the man who assaulted her in 2023 began contacting her again following his release from prison.
LOVE Island star Charleen Murphy has revealed that a man who was jailed for violently attacking her has targeted her again in a terrifying ordealThe Irish influencer, 28, told fans she had been forced to return to court last week after the man who assaulted her in 2023 began contacting her again following his release from prison
Sharing a heartbreaking statement on TikTok, Charleen revealed the man had made violent threats against her, including threats to her life, resulting in an entirely new criminal case.
She explained: “Last week I was back in court dealing with something that has been an incredibly difficult part of my life.”
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Recalling the original attack, Charleen said she had been sitting in a restaurant with a friend when the man, who had previously messaged her online despite never meeting her, tracked her down using a location she had shared on social media.
She revealed: “He punched me in the back of head which forced my head into a glass that was on my table, the glass smashed and then left me with a laceration to my head that required stitches.”
Charleen shot to fame when she entered Love Island as a Casa Amor bombshell, before being dumped from the villa after just nine daysSharing a heartbreaking statement on TikTok, Charleen revealed the man had made violent threats against her, including threats to her life, resulting in an entirely new criminal caseSource: TikTok
The man was subsequently handed a prison sentence, but Charleen said her nightmare began all over again when he was released and started contacting and threatening her.
She explained: “After being released from prison, that same person began contacting and violently threatening me again, including threats to my life. This resulted in the start of an entirely new criminal case and another court process.”
Opening up about the emotional toll, she said: “It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to have something you’ve spent years trying to heal from brought back into your life.”
She added that she was now facing the same person who had attacked her in the first place.
She added: “I’ve spent so much time trying to carry on as normal while dealing with this privately, and I think there’s something quite freeing about no longer keeping such a significant part of my life separate from everything else I share on here.”
The social media star previously opened up about the lasting trauma of the original attack, revealing she struggled to sit with her back to the door in restaurants and had sought therapy.
Speaking on Mark Moriarty’s Roasted podcast last year, she admitted: “I have a certain seat I like to sit in the restaurant. I like to see all corners of the room and the door. I don’t like having my back to anything.”
The actor, who portrayed Pavel Chekov in the original “Star Trek” series, died at age 90 on Oct. 25. His immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, according to the death certificate obtained by TMZ and People. Chronic diastolic congestive heart failure was an underlying cause, and acute renal failure was also listed as a significant contributing condition.
Koenig’s representative previously told The Times that he died of natural causes and that his daughter Danielle and niece were with him when he died.
“Walter helped inspire audiences with his optimism, humor, and adventurous spirit,” the representative said in the statement. “Beyond ‘Star Trek,’ his long and distinguished career showcased his versatility as an actor and his genuine love for his craft. … Through countless convention appearances and interactions with fans, he shared his kindness, wit and appreciation with everyone fortunate enough to meet him. He understood what Star Trek meant to people and embraced the community that grew around it.”
Koenig made his debut on “Star Trek” during the second season of the original series when Chekov was introduced as the navigator of the starship. He also portrayed the character in seven subsequent “Star Trek” films. Koenig is also known for portraying the notorious Psi Cop officer Alfred Bester in the TV series “Babylon 5.”
IT’S just over a month since James Bourne’s brother Chris gave him the gift of life – with his kidney.
And in his only interview, musician Chris has revealed the Busted rockerfelt the positive effects of the surgery immediately after waking up.
James Bourne’s brother Chris gave him his kidney, saving the musician’s lifeSource: Supplied
“We were in adjoining rooms that were identical and we both had a clock on the wall at the end of our beds which was driving us both insane as we waited to go into surgery,” Chris says.
“When James went in, he said he had trouble reading the clock.
“But when he came out of the operation and was taken to his room, he could see the clock.
“The whole process of receiving a new kidney isn’t as instant as that.
“But for some things, it’s pretty instantaneous. It’s incredible.”
Updating Busted fans on James’s condition, Chris — who is in a six-week recovery period — adds: “James is doing really well.
“The surgeon was so happy. He said to me, ‘You’ve given your brother a Bentley/Rolls-Royce kidney’.
“Hopefully I’ve got a Bentley left and not a banger.”
It was just over a year ago that James’s life was turned upside down and he was told by doctors he needed to go into hospital for urgent tests.
Chris (pictured) has revealed the Busted rocker felt the positive effects of the surgery immediately after waking upSource: SuppliedCharlie Simpson, James Bourne and Matt Willis of band BustedSource: Getty
The news landed just as Busted were one day away from starting their tour with McFly, and James asked Chris to step into the fold.
Chris says: “We didn’t know anything was wrong with James.
“He called and said: ‘Hey mate, you’re up.’
“He said he’d been advised not to tour and to have some tests. It was a shock to everyone.
“I drove to Southend, where James was, and he said: ‘Just learn as many Busted songs as you can.
“When I saw him I could tell that he wasn’t OK.
“I obviously knew a lot but it was trying to learn which riffs and which chords he played on what songs.
“They’d been in full production rehearsals for three weeks when this happened.
James in action with BustedSource: SuppliedJames was losing his eyesight prior to major surgery last month, revealed brother ChrisSource: Supplied
“It felt like a Freaky Friday nightmare.”
Chris joined James’ Busted bandmates Matt Willis, Charlie Simpson and tour drummer Eddy Thrower in Leeds the following day, just 24 hours before the first night of the tour in Birmingham.
“Everyone was in disbelief,” Chris says.
The first two shows went without a hitch, with Chris doing James proud.
It was on the third show, at London’s Wembley Arena, that Chris received the devastating news of the extent of James’s ill health.
He says: “Our sister Melissa is a make-up artist and we’d met up at Wembley. She got a phone call and she burst into tears. James was in a really bad way.”
Chris and his siblings, Melissa and Nick, all put themselves forward to be kidney donors — with Chris overhauling his lifestyle on the road to ready himself.
“We all got tested and the results came back and I was the leading contender,” Chris says.
“In the family group chat I put the Lord Of The Rings meme, the one where it’s King Theoden and he says ‘Rohan will answer.’”
During this time, Chris was on tour with Busted and he admits he struggled with taking his brother’s place.
“I was sleeping in suites with his name on, the wardrobes had his clothes in them,” Chris explains.
“There was a part of me that didn’t want to be in the limelight. Like I was basking in my brother’s illness.
“It was a really difficult time.
“I felt so overwhelmed I said I couldn’t sing James’s part. I had to work hard to keep it together.
“During one show, Busted fans had arranged to wear masks of James’s face. It came from a place of love but it overwhelmed me. I had to turn around and try to keep it together.”
The brothers then faced an agonising wait until October 3, when they were cleared for surgery.
“I didn’t sleep the whole night,” Chris recalls.
“In the morning, I didn’t really want to wake my brother up because there’s no point in him being awake while I’m going down.
“As I was leaving, he came out and it was funny.
“We didn’t say anything. We looked at each other and just fist-bumped.”
After Chris’s five-hour surgery, James was taken down to receive his kidney.
Chris adds: “When James came out and I found out that it had all gone well, it was the biggest relief. It was a weight I’d been carrying for a year.”
Chris says the family are now looking forward to spending Christmas together, with the kidney transplant giving them all a sense of hope for the future.
“I’m looking forward to doing normal stuff with James, playing music, hanging out,” Chris explains.
“It’s done.
“It’s gone as well as it could and now we can try and move on.”
Robbie is Oz to the races
Robbie Williams was the headline performer at the Melbourne CupSource: Splash
ROBBIE WILLIAMS had the world at his feet as he performed in the middle of the crowd at the Melbourne Cup.
The Brit was the headline performer at the annual Australian horse race.
And he delighted the audience with a set featuring Feel, Rock DJ, Angels and Let Me Entertain You.
Robbie was dressed in a striking all-red outfit for the performance, which was watched by almost 100,000 fans at Flemington Racecourse.
Robbie is currently on tour Down Under, ahead of a well-earned break for the first half of 2027.
But then he will kick-off a summer of performances, beginning with a headline set at the Isle Of Wight Festival next June.
By the looks of this, the punters there will have a blast.
A perfecth days for Queens
Queens Of The Stone Age’s new record, Perfecth, is on course to become their second No1 tomorrowSource: Supplied
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE are preparing to pop the champagne as their new record, Perfecth, is on course to become their second No1 tomorrow.
And in an exclusive chat, frontman Josh Homme has opened up about the final track on the album, Run Away From The Mob, which features Dave Grohl on drums.
Dave recorded his part way back in 2013, but Josh admitted he didn’t feel ready to finish the song until they started making Perfecth.
“It comes from [sixth album] Like Clockwork,” Josh revealed.
“It didn’t make sense for that record, and I didn’t understand this song. You know, some flowers take a long time to bloom.
“You can’t force open the petals of a flower, and you hope that’s what you have. I also think this is a really good example of everyone in Queens at their best.
“And Dave is so good at doing exactly what needs to be done as a drummer.”
Looking Lively
Blake Lively looks stunning in this navy sequinned dressSource: Getty
HER last high-profile public appearance was at the World Cup final in July after her dispute with Justin Baldoni.
But there was no wiping the smile off Blake Lively’s face as she returned to the party scene in this navy sequinned dress.
The Gossip Girl star was snapped in New York on Tuesday as she arrived for a jewellery brand launch.
She certainly added some sparkle . . .
Jade debut sets record
Jade Thirlwall has made history with her latest trackSource: Getty
JADE THIRLWALL has made history as the first member of a British girl group to have a solo track with no featured artist chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her breakthrough single, Angel Of My Dreams, has become a US hit – two years after its release. But that’s not been a surprise for the former Little Mix star, who said she kept being told it was going to have a resurgence.
Jade, whose track was given a boost when Kylie Jenner walked to it at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show last month, said: “I actually do think that enough people thought that enough to speak it into existence. I’d seen a psychic who said the same thing, and an astrologer.”
Jade was in Little Mix for over a decade until they went on hiatus in 2022, but reckons there’s more love for them now than ever – and she hopes they could one day headline Glastonbury.
She told The Pop Pod: “I could see that happening for sure. When the Little Mix medley comes on, people go crazy for it.
“All these places that we didn’t get to go to properly and they’re craving it. There’s a nostalgia people want.”
Anthony Joshua is taking on Tyson Fury in DecemberSource: PA
ANTHONY JOSHUA has given his fans an insight on Snapchat into the music he uses to inspire him before a fight, as he prepares to take on Tyson Fury at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
And I have to admit, our AJ is a nostalgic man.
From So Solid Crew’s Dilemma 2 to Dizzee Rascal’s Creeper Freestyle, AJ is loving the old-school, with some added R&B classics in there, including Jaheim’s Just In Case.
Looking at the sheer size of Tyson though, I’d be much more inclined to have added Iron Maiden’s Run To The Hills.
NOEL GALLAGHER, Lily Allen and Brian Eno were among the stars in the room as U2 returned to the stage in an exclusive concert for the BBC at London’s Tate Modern on Tuesday.
The gig, which airs on BBC Two later this month, saw them perform several of their hits, plus songs from 16th studio album Carnaval De Luz, out November 13.
JOHN LEGEND has confirmed he is performing on the Sunday night of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard on December 6.
The Barclaycard pre-sale starts today, where card holders can get ten per cent off tickets, with the general sale starting Friday.
See you there.
RAYE vowed she would not release another studio album until she found her true love, after spending her last release singing about wanting to land a partner.
But fans of the star won’t have to wait for her to complete Tinder before they get some new songs.
The Where Is My Husband! singer has joined the voice cast of Benny Safdie’s film Lizard Music – and will write songs for it.
Great Britain sprint star Amy Hunt visited England’s training base on Wednesday, watching a session and chatting with the team over lunch before Sunday’s Nations Championship match against Australia.
The 24-year-old, who won four gold medals at last summer’s European Championships in Birmingham, is the latest in a string of sporting celebrities to give Steve Borthwick’s squad insight into their careers.
“She seemed buzzing to be here and we love spending time with people who have achieved something in another sport,” back row Ben Earl told BBC Sport.
“Fraser Dingwall told me she has a degree from Cambridge and I always think it is amazing that people can study and achieve something in sport at the highest level.”
“We always get great energy when you get in winners and people who are trying to inspire others by what they do, which is what our lads want to do,” said defence coach Richard Wigglesworth.
“She’ll create some good connections.”
Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, visited before the team’s win over New Zealand last autumn, while England football manager Thomas Tuchel and Olympic champion skeleton racer Matt Weston dropped into Pennyhill Park during this year’s Six Nations campaign.
EXCLUSIVE Strictly judge Anton Du Beke says a big name is ready to leave the hit BBC One Dance show saying, ‘It’s getting a bit much.’
The Strictly judges scoring another dance.(Image: PA Wire)
Anton Du Beke has shocked Strictly Come Dancing fans by revealing a big name star is looking to waltz away from the BBC series for good.
The former pro dancer who is now an established judge on the series, revealed that one famous face on the show has already spoken to him about potentially leaving at the end of the 2026 series. His comments, as he promoted his new memoir Steps In Time, are sure to start a guessing game amongst fans.
Speaking on stage in Bath, Anton, 60, said: “I spoke to somebody the other day and they were like ‘It’s getting a bit much’.
“It’s somebody who’s been on it not that long, a little while, and I understood that. I thought about it for a while and I wondered if they will be on it or whether they will decide to step away or carry on.”
The comments could refer to a number of the new pro dancers or the new show hosts, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, who only joined this year.
There have also been reports than judge Shirley Ballas may consider walking away from the UK version of the show if she landed a full time role on US series Dancing With The Stars. She was recently a guest judge on the series but insisted in an interview last month she was “100 percent not leaving Strictly”.
Anton is not seemingly referring fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood, as the pair still love being on the show and are veterans having been on the series since it began in 2004. On his love for Strictly, Anton said: “I was there from Day One. Craig and I, we are the only ones left. I am so proud of that. It is one of my greatest things.
“I am so proud to have been on the show since the beginning and still loving it as well. I love it as much now as I always have. It is the most brilliant show. I love being a judge. I loved being a professional.
Referring to the late great former host Bruce Forsyth, he added: “I loved working with Brucie. He was my hero growing up. Brucie would come out and do his own warm up and I used to stand in the wings and watch him before the show began. I watched him every week for about 15 years. He was a genius.”
Anton was speaking at the Bath Forum to promote his book Steps In Time, his first memoir. The book, which is released tomorrow, is described by publishers as a “coming-of-age story” which reflects on Anton’s youth, and his rise as a pro dancer before then joining Strictly and becoming a TV star.
He left school as a teenager with no qualifications and took on a variety of jobs to pay for dance classes. after competing as a pro he then hit the bigtime when he landed a spot on Strictly. Once there he danced with celebrities including Kate Garraway, Ruth Langsford, Jerry Hall, Judy Murray and the late Ann Widdecombe.
* Steps In Time by Anton Du Beke is out on November 5 from Blink Publishing.
She, along with hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins discussed Aaron Pierre earlier in the episode.
Aaron, 32, plays John Stewart in the DC Comics show LanternsSource: AlamySlow Horses star Jack Lowden is said to be one of the frontrunnersSource: Getty
Sean then wondered out loud whether Aaron Pierre was the unidentified James Bond auditionee.
Joanna revealed she knew the mystery actor’s identity, but couldn’t disclose it while on air.
Sean said: “We also heard some rumours. I don’t believe [Aaron Pierre] is in the mix.”
As the others remarked Aaron should be, Sean continued: “That’s what I’m saying. It’s like, obvious.
“The one thing I would say would be a strike against that is that [Daniel] Craig was also kind of a bruiser Bond.
“I think Pierre because of his physique and strength as a performer, he would also be kind of a bruiser bond.
“The sense I’m getting is that they’re going to go back to kind of a lithe boy.
“That’s the energy they want instead of a “I will choke you out” Bond.”
One of the frontrunners, Jack Lowden, has received backing from one of his Hollywood co-stars.
Jack, who plays River Cartwright in Apple TV’s Slow Horses, stars alongside Kristin Scott Thomas.
The actress confessed he would be “very, very good” if he was to land the role.
Speaking to The Times, the 66-year-old star said: “Oh god, I wish I knew.
“He’s got that twinkle, he’s cheeky and he’s a very, very good actor.”
EMMERDALE star Matthew Wolfenden has marked his third anniversary with rarely-seen girlfriend Heather Scott-Martin as he moves from the collapse of his marriage to former co-star Charley Webb.
The actor confirmed his relationship with Heather after meeting the trained choreographer and dance teacher while starring in a West End production of Elf: The Musical in December 2023.
Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden celebrated his third anniversary with girlfriend Heather Scott-Martin on SundaySource: Instagram/matthewwolfenden55The actor’s five year marriage to former Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb (pictured) came to an end in November 2023Source: Getty
But he appeared to be back on his feet while celebrating his third anniversary with Heather in a new social media post on Sunday.
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Sharing a handful of photos – among them a backstage shot of the pair at London’s Dominion Theatre as they prepared for Elf – he wrote: “Three years of you.”
Speaking exclusively to The Sun shortly after announcing their relationship, Matthew said they bonded over their respective splits.
Matthew met his current girlfriend while sharing the stage togetherSource: Instagram/matthewwolfenden55The former soap star shared a handful of photos with Instagram followers on Sunday as the couple celebrated their third anniversary togetherSource: Instagram/matthewwolfenden55
He said: “I met Heather doing Elf. Me and Charley had been separated for a few months and then Heather was the dance captain on Elf, she’s a choreographer and a dancer.
“She’d also recently separated from her long-term partner roughly the same time me and Charley had separated so we kind of had this common bond.
“All the cast used to go out for drinks and stuff and we’d end up sitting together and chatting about relationships and things that had happened, and that’s how we started chatting.
“We’d be the last ones in the pub still chatting, it was almost like it was meant to be, that we found each other.”
The actor – best known for his former role as David Metcalfe in Emmerdale – shares sons Buster, 14, Bowie, nine and five-year-old Ace, five, with ex-wife Charley.
Addressing their painful split during an appearance on the Lewis Nicholls Podcast in May 2025, Matthew claimed his former wife left him as he prepared for a new role on the West End stage.
He said: “It was Charley’s decision. Charley decided she wanted to separate.
“It was hard, it was a hard time for me. By this point I’d decided to leave Emmerdale. Charley was on tour with a play called Quiz so I was leaving a job I’d been in for 18 years, I’d just been offered a job in the West End, so it was a big change for me.
“I had the kids full time at that time because Charley was out on tour and then out of the blue I got this news that she wanted to separate.
“It was a tough time for me, it was a time of big changes and then this on top of things wasn’t the best news in the world. But things happen for a reason.
“It was the fact that the kids were quite young and it wasn’t only a couple of years ago. That was a concern to me. We had to move onwards.”
He added: “I didn’t expect it at all, it was a big shock. Separation is very difficult when you’ve spent 15 years together, your lives together and everything you own is together – just sorting out.
“Especially when the separation happened when Charley was on tour and I was moving to London after leaving Emmerdale.”
Despite the abrupt split, Matthew claimed the former couple put their differences aside and found a way forward.
He added: “Everything was a bit up in the air for the first few months but we’re very very amicable, we’re still friends and we’ve got kids together so you have to be.
Melissa Rycroft has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, again.
The “Bachelor” and “Dancing With the Stars” reality television star was arrested after Southlake, Texas, police say that she crashed into an ambulance and fled the scene on Halloween.
According to a press release published on the Southlake Police Department’s Facebook page, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader allegedly collided with a Southlake Fire Department ambulance that was sitting at a stop sign just before 6 p.m. A short time later, officers tracked down the “hit-and-run vehicle” and identified the driver as Rycroft.
No injuries were reported, but the mom of three was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense; accident involving damage more than $200; and driving with an invalid license. The TV personality was transported to the Keller Regional Detention Facility for processing, and bond for the combined offenses was set at $9,000.
Rycroft, who appeared on the 13th season of “The Bachelor” and went on to host “Bachelor Pad,” pleaded guilty to a separate DWI charge in August, stemming from a September 2025 incident, and agreed to serve 20 months of probation. Days before her Halloween arrest, she posted photos from a Studio 54‐themed party, where she donned a costume complete with a gold sequined dress and showed off the “Dancing With the Stars” mirror ball trophy she scored when she won Season 15 in 2012 alongside her pro partner Tony Dovolani.
Rycroft’s attorney did not immediately respond on Monday to The Times’ request for comment.
Jesy Nelson’s ex Zion Foster has hard launched his stunning new girlfriendCredit: Instagram/@savsaliceThe rapper shared a video of loved-up clips to his InstagramCredit: Instagram/@zionfoster
The Sun told in September how Zion was loved up again, and he even has matching tattoos with his new girlCredit: Instagram/@savsaliceHe shares twins Ocean Jade and Story Monroe with ex JesyCredit: ShutterstockThe pair ended their relationship at the start of the year and have been co-parenting sinceCredit: InstagramJesy is also in a new relationship with landscape gardener Ben DaviesCredit: jesynelson/Instagram
In an apparent swipe, Zion captioned the post: “it’s crazy how so many people are triggered seeing me happy.”
One Instagram user then commented on the post dubbing Zion a ‘deadbeat dad’, to which he replied: “you’ve seen 15 seconds of my life and decided what kind of father i am. you don’t know my story.”
Sav also hard launched Zion to her page, sharing a carousel of pictures with the rapper as she wrote: “it felt right from the start 💕🤞🏼.”
They have matching tattoos, both having a Chinese symbol inked on their skin which directly translates to mean “love”.
Jesy and Zion have been working on co-parenting their twins since their split.
The rapper previously faced backlash over admitting he was “out of his depth” following the babies’ diagnosis in a Prime Video documentary which showed the heartbreaking moment Jesy and Zion were told heir kids will never be able to walk because of the muscle-wasting condition.
In a statement later shared on Instagram, Zion said: “When I said I was ‘out of my depth’, I wasn’t saying I was walking away from my children or abandoning my responsibilities as a father.
“I was talking about the overwhelming reality of suddenly facing a rare and complex medical diagnosis that I knew nothing about. I was being honest.
“Being out of my depth meant I was learning. It meant I was trying to understand.
“It never meant that I didn’t love my daughters or that I wasn’t going to be there for them.”
Actor Will Mellor broke down in tears as he outlined his battles with alcohol and gamblingCredit: Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place/ YoutubeThe Harvey Gaskell screen star told how he ‘wasn’t a good person’ after his sister’s passingCredit: Not known clear with picture desk
The soap star, who also lost sister Joanne to a heart attack in 2012, aged 44, bravely told the Happy Place podcast how he “slipped into a dark place” and “wasn’t a good person” after her passing.
Will, 50, said he “didn’t want to get out of bed” and he “hated himself” for turning to his demons.
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He apologised to anchor Fearne Cotton as he wiped tears from his eyes and confessed: “I struggle with my emotions, they are on the surface all the time and when I talk about these things its because I care and I can’t help it”.
Will detailed the struggles that led to his harmful life choices and said: “I never thought I would find myself in that cloud and not see colour any more.
Will, 50, said he gambled and boozed to ‘try to find a high’Credit: Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place/ YoutubeWill’s sister Joanne died of a heart attack in 2012, aged 44Credit: willmellor76/ Instagram
“Because I couldn’t protect her [his late sister] any more, I couldn’t change it.
“And that’s what the killer is, because I always thought I could fix things, I will do anything to help people if I can – and I couldn’t help her”.
He added: “I just did the wrong thing drinking, gambling, trying to find a high in life, which sent me further down the hole.
“I hated myself for it.
“But I got through it, my wife got me through it”.
Will is married to dancer and dance school owner Michelle McSween.
Coronation Street Spoilers: News & Cast Updates
The beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
The show follows the lives of the residents as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
He said: “I had to stop feeling guilty about things, that I couldn’t do any more for my sister, you put things onto yourself – it was a vicious cycle and I had to get out of it.
“When my dad passed I saw the signs and didn’t go that deep. Obviously lockdown didn’t help, when you don’t have to be up in the morning there’s no excuse not to have a few drinks.
“You have a word with yourself, I was sick of feeling rubbish and now I feel great.”
The Two Pints star added: “My mindset is better. You can’t change a situation but you can change yourself, the repetition of what you’re doing and keep an eye out for those little triggers”.
BIG Brother star Liam McGough has revealed he’s set to become a dad for the first time just months after tying the knot in New Orleans.
Tree surgeon Liam, 42, shot to fame on the eighth series of the reality show in 2007 and had a seven-month romance with actress Emily Atack in 2022.
Big Brother star Liam McGough and wife Sloane are expecting their first childCredit: InstagramThe proud dad-to-be revealed they are having a baby girlCredit: Instagram
Now he and wife Sloane Coe have shared the exciting news they’re expecting their first child together – telling fans they’re having a baby girl.
Liam took to social media to share a sweet snap of him cradling Sloane’s bump as he embraced her from behind.
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He wrote: “Huge news!! Biggest ever tbh. Me and Sloane are going to have a baby girl.
“It’s been so hard to keep it quiet. Even harder for my dad who hasn’t managed haha. I found out on day 3 of the fringe. Never felt prouder in my life.”
Liam shot to fame on the eighth series of Big Brother in 2007Credit: PAHe dated actress Emily for seven months before they split in December 2022.Credit: GOFF / SplashNews.com
He said: “The wedding was amazing — small and intimate, with only close friends and family. We got married right in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, and it was incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
The celebration was so romantic and personal, and then, for the party afterwards, we were marched around the area by a full brass band in what’s called a Second Line.
“We had a police escort blocking the roads as we danced through the streets, with four huge motorbikes and two massive police trucks accompanying us.
“The contrast between the intimate ceremony and this unique, extravagant spectacle left all of our heads spinning in the most amazing way.”
Liam previously dated Inbetweeners star Emily for seven months, with The Sun revealing their split in October 2022.
A Strictly Come Dancing legend has aired viewers’ complaints about a major shake-up, revealing a jaw-dropping amount of fans said the show’s attempts at comedy did not work for them
12:48, 02 Nov 2026Updated 12:54, 02 Nov 2026
The majority of Strictly fans told Oti and Marius that the show’s skits aren’t working(Image: BBC)
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse, 36, who won the Glitterball trophy twice with Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey before leaving the BBC show in 2022, has pointed out an issue she has with the 2026 series, which many viewers have picked up on too.
Oti, whose older sister is judge Motsi Mabuse, discusses Strictly every weekend on her vodcast, The Fifth Judge, alongside husband Marius Iepure, who is also a professional dancer. The pair regularly invite their viewers to get involved in polls to share their thoughts on the latest episode.
On Saturday’s livestream, Oti and Marius asked their YouTube audience about the introduction of comedic skits between the dances. Oti wondered: “Do all the skits work for you? Do you like the jokes? Do you like when the judges are involved? Do you like when the pros are reading the social stuff, and they’re doing the ‘Emma and Joshy’ thing? Are you laughing?”.
The topic was brought up in response to last weekend’s Halloween Special, during which hosts Josh Widdicombe, 43, Emma Willis, 50, and Johannes Radebe, 39, featured in multiple comedy sketches throughout the programme.
These segments saw Josh and Emma attempting to frighten famously stern judge Craig Revel Horwood, 61, before the comedian let down his co-presenters by declining to wear fancy dress for trick-or-treating, while the contestants mimicked Johannes’ distinctive “Emma and Joshy” handover to his fellow hosts.
Following the chat vote, Oti disclosed that an overwhelming 75 per cent responded “no, they do not work, they do not find them funny”, while just 25 per cent answered “yes, they are hilarious”.
Oti observed in response: “Well, that’s very telling! It says that people, at this point, just want to get on with the dancing.”
The former Strictly champion and her husband echoed the sentiment from their audience, with Oti revealing that Marius believes “it’s a completely different show”.
Expanding on this point, Marius stated that elements of Strictly’s Halloween Special resembled “a comedy show that I didn’t ask for”, acknowledging he “laughed a little bit” at Josh, Emma and Johannes’ trick-or-treating sketch, though he also felt that it “was so long”.
Oti mentioned that one of their viewers, named Kate, had commented: “I don’t tend to laugh, but I think it’s part of the charm.”
The former Strictly pro proceeded to suggest that if BBC bosses have incorporated the sketches to pad out the programme, they could alternatively “cut the show shorter”, or integrate the Results Show into Saturday night’s broadcast, rather than screening it separately on Sundays, with Oti declaring: “That would be a great change.”
Viewers also took to X to have their say on the skits over the weekend, with one typing: “Stop trying to make every link funny! Especially when you involve the judges who fluff their lines. #Strictly.”
“They really, really need to cut these “comedy” sketches from Strictly. They are awful, awkward and really not funny at all,” another viewer complained.
A third fan said the presenters had improved, writing: “I have to be honest Josh, Emma, & Johannes are growing on me! #Strictly.”
A fourth agreed: “@bbc I think Emma, Jojo and Josh are growing into their roles – give them time! We’re loving them #Strictly.”
Strictly 2026 has sparked debate amongst audiences after Emma, Josh and Johannes took over from long-serving presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who confirmed their departure from the BBC programme last year.
Emma, who formerly presented Big Brother, has earned widespread acclaim from Strictly fans for her professionalism and presenting abilities, while Josh and Johannes have attracted more divided opinions. Not everyone shares those reservations, however.
Radio Times TV and podcast editor Caroline Frost believes the presenting trio have grown into their roles, stating: “I think it’s fair to say there were some bumps in the road in the first couple of episodes, but they do appear to be very slowly relaxing into their new roles.”
JOHN Leeson – best known for voicing the beloved robodog K9 in Dr Who – has died aged 83.
The actor, born John Ducker, passed away after a “summer of illness” his family revealed earlier today.
The actor voiced the dog-like robot companion – one of the show’s most beloved charactersCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdJohn Ducker died after a ‘summer of illness’Credit: Alamy
Leeson was the iconic voice behind the metal dog K9 as well as working on TV shows including Dad’s Army, Sorry!, Crown Court and Longitude.
Earlier this year he reunited with Dr Who co-star Tom Baker to starr as Doctor Watson alongside Baker as Sherlock Holmes in the audio drama Sir Sherlock: The Red Letter Day.
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Sharing news of his father’s death to Facebook, Guy Ducker said: “I regret to announce the death of my father, John Ducker, a.k.a. John Leeson, at 3:03pm today after a summer of illness. The end was peaceful.”
Guy added a William Shakespeare quote saying: “Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Tributes for the actor have poured in from co-stars, colleagues and fans.
Dr Who writer Russell T Davies said it was “impossible to imagine anyone else” in the role of K9 and praised John as “a fine, fine actor”.
Reminiscing on his performance as the beloved robodog, he added: “What a character: a posh dog, uppity, haughty, wry, but somehow innocent too, and so funny. ‘Maximum defence mode!’ God he was good.”
He ended his heartwarming tribute writing: “A true gent, and a great loss. Good night, sir. Affirmative!”
Fans have hailed him as a ‘true’ gent’ who embodied the ‘heart and soul of K9’John Leeson started voicing K9 in 1977Credit: Shutterstock
John played the role of K9 for the majority of the show’s run over six decades – starting in the 1977 episode ‘The Invisible Enemy’.
He has been remembered as “the voice, heart and soul of K9” and a “firm favourite of countless fans”.
“John was a stalwart of the Dr Who universe and is going to be much missed, particularly since literally millions of us can’t think of or hear the word ‘Affirmative’ without hearing it in K9’s voice” said one fan under Russell Davies’ post.
“Such an important part of Doctor Who. Such a sad loss”, added another.
“So soon after sir Patrick Stewart. Terrible time for sci-fi fans.”
One wrote: “Such sad news. John was a true icon. invested K9 with so much charm, character and nobility – he was absolutely integral to K9’s appeal.”
Leeson reprised the role in several Dr Who audio dramas and spin-off series, including CBBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures, before returning to the original programme after its revival.
His other credits include The Bill, Vanity Fair, Doctors and Blake’s 7, and he was also regularly heard as a continuity announcer on Channel 4.
He also portrayed the original Bungle the Bear in the children’s TV series Rainbow.
JOANNE McNally has revealed the regimental methods used to remove banished players from The Celebrity Traitors castle.
Asked by Vogue Williams on their podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, Joanne explained precisely what happens once they are asked to leave the round table.
Celebrity Traitors stars are subjected to a ‘military’ procedure when they are banished from the castleCredit: PAJoanne McNally has revealed the regimental methods used to remove banished players from The Celebrity Traitors castleCredit: BBC
“When you leave, what happens? You just left and go home?” asked Vogue.
“So you get off the podium, they rush you out the side door and you’re bundled into a van like Whitney Houston in the Bodyguard,” Joanne explained. “You have a little backpack there, it’s like an emergency backpack in the castle at all times so that if it’s the night that you do go you have your essentials.
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“And then you’re taken to a different hotel.”
Joanne – who was banished on the penultimate episode of the second season of The Celebrity Traitors, after the other players wrongfully accused her of conspiring against the Faithful – explained that she was then sent back to the castle the next day.
Joanne explained that she was then sent back to the castle the next dayCredit: BBCThe Celebrity Traitors came to a dramatic close on Friday nightCredit: BBC
“You actually have a full day’s work to do in the castle because you have to do all your B-shots and there was a video of me in the bath, so it’s all that stuff and your final interviews.
“I always wondered why in the castle if you needed to go to the bathroom or anything it’s this big kind of production.
“It’s because they have to make sure the castle is clear and there’s not people who’ve been banished the night before because they were in the castle doing all their extra last bits of work.
“So they were making sure no one crossed paths. It’s such a huge production and they run it so military!”
Meanwhile, co-star James Acaster has revealed the moment he “should have walked out” of the show before filming was halted.
Welfare staff checked on the comic before the Round Table vote but he crumbled as Faithful Michael Sheen finally rumbled him — forcing producers to step in.
James shared that he was “really scared” during the coffin mission and should have gotten out then.
He told Far Out Magazine: “I was lying there thinking, actually, I think I’m really scared of this. As soon as the soil was heaped on top, Bella did say, ‘Imagine if they can’t get us out.”
“I respect Jerry the most because Jerry just went, ‘I’m not doing this.’ Like, are you kidding me? And the rest of us were just like, ‘We want to win Traitors in our coffins, idiots.’
“We should have just done what – as soon as I heard Jerry got out, I should have said to Bella, ‘I’m getting out, forget it.’ If it’s a free-for-all now, we should all get out. They can’t stop us all. We could all do it.”
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan had greeted fans from a bulletproof enclosure outside his residence in Mumbai during his customary Sunday greeting. The security measure follows a bomb threat and the recent shooting attempt on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff.
Tributes for Patrick Stewart are flooding social media after the news of the British actor’s death at 86.
Stewart, who played “X-Men” mutant headmaster Professor Charles Xavier across nine Marvel films, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles “in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia,” his longtime spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said in a statement.
The acclaimed actor, whose career spanned 60 years in film, television and stage, cemented his place in the hearts of audiences and his peers in the industry.
Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in more than 10 Marvel films, penned a tribute on Instagram.
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today,” Jackman wrote. “And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
“Logan” and “The Wolverine” director James Mangold emailed The Times a statement, writing, “A generous and kind man, Patrick was very dear to me but also a towering, magnificent talent. There is no ‘Logan’ without his brave portrayal of Charles Xavier. He is the beating heart of our film and our collaboration will be a cherished gift in my life.”
Stewart’s co-star in the “Star Trek” universe, Jonathan Frakes, wrote in an emailed statement to The Times, “There’s no one on this planet that I have acted with or directed more often than my late great friend Patrick Stewart. He will be with me forever. May he rest in Peace.” Frakes played Cmdr. William T. Riker opposite Stewart’s Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in the series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Picard” and four “Star Trek” films.
William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk in “Star Trek: The Original Series” and its subsequent films and who lost another former co-star in the “Star Trek” franchise, Walter Koenig, this week, posted a photo of an embrace with Stewart alongside a tribute.
“What a heartbreaking week it has been,” Shatner wrote. “Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work.
“My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.”
Rebecca Romijn, who starred in both “X-Men” and “Star Trek” films alongside Stewart, posted a video on Instagram memorializing the actor. “Heard the very sad news about the passing of my dear friend Patrick Stewart,” she said.
“I feel so grateful to have known him for the last 25 years … both as a fellow mutant and as a fellow member of Starfleet. He was positively delicious, hilarious, naughty, incredible sense of humor, and that booming voice of his that always spoke to the very back of the room, as every classically trained Shakespearean great needs to master. … Rest in peace, Patrick.”
Minnie Driver, who acted alongside Stewart in the 2017 romantic comedy film “The Wilde Wedding,” posted on Instagram, “Is this year some kind of portal to a much, much better place that all the greatest people know about and so have gently made their exits? Dearest Patrick. Who always had the best advice, the funniest story, the patience to listen. I’m just bereft. All love to your family, and you, in my heart forever.”
Stewart also starred in the AIDS-era 1995 romantic comedy film “Jeffrey” alongside actor Bryan Batt.
“Heartbroken at the news of Sir Patrick’s passing,” Batt wrote on Facebook. “He was one of the most talented, kindest, and generous actors I’ve ever had the honor of working with. I was lucky to play his lover in the film of Paul Rudnick’s JEFFREY. Even though I created the role on stage, it was my 1st film and needless to say I [was] a bit anxious. Patrick took me under his wing and guided me along, teaching me so much. A wonderful giving actor and true gentleman of the theatre. Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Rock star and author Patti Smith also commented on the announcement of Stewart’s death on Instagram, writing “Tears of love.”
Marvel’s Kevin Feige told The Times in a statement, “I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first X-Men. After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe — and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas. Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor.
“It was a true privilege to know him and to work with him. His legacy lives on not only in decades of extraordinary work, but in the many, many people he mentored. He will be deeply missed.”
Marvel also posted a tribute to Stewart, who was held dear by audiences who saw themselves in the mutants cared for and protected by Stewart’s Charles Xavier.
“All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart,” Marvel wrote on social media. “Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from X-Men to Logan to Avengers: Doomsday. He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”
TO say this Hollywood star looked unrecognisable would be an understatement after she transformed into a giant severed hand for her annual Halloween bash.
The supermodel, famed for her bizarre costumes, disappeared inside the grotesque creation, with only her eyes and mouth giving the game away.
Heidi Klum looked unrecognisable as she transformed into a giant bloody handCredit: GettyHer eyes and mouth were barely visible inside the gruesome costumeCredit: Getty
As usual, Heidi Klum pulled out all the stops dressing up as an enormous severed hand featuring glossy red nails, rings and an ultra realistic mangled wrist.
The 53-year-old’s face peered through a gruesome opening in the back of the hand, with streams of fake blood running down the prosthetic skin.
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Two of the giant fingers housed her legs, which allowed the Project Runway host to walk in the crazy creation.
The elaborate outfit was a supersized replica of her own left hand, complete with recreations of her engagement and wedding rings.
The enormous hand featured red nails, oversized rings and a mangled wristCredit: SplashThe supermodel, 53, is usually instantly recognisable on the red carpetCredit: AFP or licensors
It even featured her tattoo of husband Tom Kaulitz’s name.
The musician was unable to join the festivities because he was on tour, but was was still represented in her costume.
Heidi spent around five to six hours getting into the creation and admitted carrying the enormous outfit was a challenge.
She said: “Hands down, the hardest thing is carrying it. It’s quite heavy.”
Heidi walked inside the enormous costume with her legs hidden in two of the fingersCredit: GettyThe hand featured a replica of her Tom tattoo in a nod to her husbandCredit: Getty
But while her latest transformation might take some beating, Heidi has plenty of experience making herself impossible to recognise.
She became a terrifying Medusa for last year’s celebrationsCredit: GettyHeidi and husband Tom Kaulitz transformed into E.T. characters in 2024Credit: GettyThe star previously stunned fans by dressing as a giant worm in 2022Credit: GettyHeidi celebrated 25 years of her iconic Halloween parties
Last year, she turned herself into a terrifying Medusa, with snakes crowning her head and green scales covering her body.
Tom joined her as a soldier who had been turned to stone.
In 2024, the couple opted for an extraterrestrial transformation, arriving as elaborate versions of E.T.
Unless you’re writing for a major national magazine or shooting video for Architectural Digest, it’s rare for a reporter to be invited into a celebrity subject’s home. More likely, it’ll be some neutral space like a publicist’s office, or coffee shop, or hotel room; even more likely, over the phone or Zoom. But Patrick Stewart, when I interviewed him in 2023 at the end of “Star Trek: Picard,” the “The Next Generation” sequel series in which he starred, asked to meet at his house.
Stewart, who died Wednesday at 86, was 82 then, friendly and dapper and emanating a youthful sense of wonder and readiness. He spoke of wanting to learn to play the piano and speak French — ironic for an actor perhaps best known as Jean-Luc Picard. He had written a memoir, “Make It So,” titled for a Picard catchphrase. And he was excited about the house, located on a leafy, McMansion-free, comparatively modest street in what real estate agents would call Hancock Park, where he’d been living with his wife, Sunny Ozell, since just before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
“We were safe,” Stewart said of the COVID days. “We felt protected here. It was just a walk that way or a walk that way to some shops. I walk to a little post office and my pharmacy is on 3rd Street, and I always take the backstreets. It’s a fabulous neighborhood, it really is. No two houses are the same. I mean, I never thought I’d live in a house that had just got archways everywhere — no doors! Sitting here, you see one, two, three, four, five, six archways.”
From sheer weight of screen time and franchise muscle, “Star Trek: TNG” — which ran for seven seasons (on first-run syndication, a dynamic format that no longer exists), plus four films — and the “X-Men” movies have dominated coverage of Stewart’s death. (Confession: I have possibly seen one “X-Men” movie, though long before there were “X-Men” movies, I read the comics — so I am familiar with Professor Charles Xavier, a part for which Stewart did not need to shave his head, as well as his nemesis Magneto, played by Stewart’s good pal Ian McKellen.) But there’s more to the story.
Patrick Stewart’s Picard comes face-to-face with Alice Krige’s Borg Queen in the 1996 film “Star Trek: First Contact.”
(Elliott Marks / Paramount Pictures)
Stewart’s 70-year career does neatly divide into BST and AST — before and after “Star Trek,” which arrived in 1987 at its chronological midpoint. The first half is dominated by theater. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1968, after a decade on regional stages, and was a core member until 1982. “So that was my daily experience,” he told me. “Shakespeare and his contemporaries and other great 19th century, 20th century playwrights. It was home to me.” In 1982, he took part alongside fellow RSC members, including David Suchet, Ben Kingsley, Judi Dench and McKellen, in director John Barton’s illuminating series “Playing Shakespeare,” demonstrating the relation of text and performance. You can find it all on YouTube from the Shakespeare Network and really should.
American audiences might have gotten a look at him in David Lynch’s “Dune” or PBS-imported British TV productions like “I, Claudius” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” or as Claudius opposite Derek Jacobi in BBC’s “Hamlet” — but for many Stewart appeared new and fully formed in September 1987 on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. (This paper, reporting on his casting, apparently called him “an unknown British Shakespearean actor,” a fact you will see printed many times over in the wake of his death, and which Stewart liked to repeat.) With a handsome, sculpted head unencumbered by hair and a rich musical baritone, he exuded compassionate authority. You felt you could trust him, not just because it was in the script. With his classical training, he could make the most mundane line sing as if it were written in iambic pentameter, and do it without sounding hammy. He was a fit 47 when the show premiered. And he rocked his body-hugging Starfleet uniform.
After “Star Trek” made him Hollywood-famous, making way for his “X-Men” role — which he reprised for his final film, “Avengers: Doomsday,” coming in December — other projects followed. As an established personality there were opportunities for self-mockery and oddball choices. In Ricky Gervais’ “Extras,” playing himself, he describes a screenplay he’s writing in which his character has the power to make women’s clothes fall off (“and I’ve seen everything”). In Riz Ahmed’s “Bait,” which premiered earlier this year, he was the hallucinated voice of “Pigtrick,” a decapitated pig’s head that is somehow also Patrick Stewart. He donned a bad wig to portray John Oliver on “The Daily Show” and was a regular voice on “American Dad!” More traditionally, he played Captain Ahab, Ebenezer Scrooge and Captain Nemo.
Patrick Stewart as Macbeth and Kate Fleetwood as Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth,” the film version of Rupert Goold’s production.
(Manuel Harlan / Illuminations TV)
Did success on the screen boost his stage career? Or was it just a different route to the same place? With McKellen he starred in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” and Harold Pinter’s “No Man’s Land” in repertory. He adapted Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” into a one-man show and played George in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” But it always came back to Shakespeare. Returning to the RSC, he played the Ghost and Claudius to David Tennant’s “Hamlet” and the lead in “Macbeth” (both were filmed and broadcast) as well as Prospero in “The Tempest.” He stayed busy as he aged, if not always as busy as he would have liked — the actor’s lot — and when the pandemic killed regular work, he went onto social media and spoke directly to the people in the language he loved so well, reading and commenting on all of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets — “A Sonnet a Day” — from March to October 2020 (they’re available on CD).
“We play this game often,” he told me. “I played it when I was a kid: If you could go back in time, where would you go? And I’ve worked on my answer to that question — I want to be in the audience at the very first performance of ‘Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,’ that’s all, because I know Shakespeare would be there.”
ONE of TV’s most glamorous women looks totally unrecognisable after transforming into Sir Mo Farah for Halloween – but can you guess who it is?
The presenter pulled out all the stops to become the sporting legend, donning a bald cap, fake eyebrows and beard, and a Team GB running kit.
A glam TV star has totally transformed into Sir Mo Farah for Halloween – can you guess who?Credit: Refer to sourceThe star wore Mo’s actual outfit and struck his famous poseCredit: Refer to source
She posed for a series of fun snaps including running across the finishing line in front of Buckingham Palace, holding a Union Jack flag and striking Sir Mo’s iconic ‘Mobot’ pose.
And if you haven’t been able to guess by now, it’s Maya Jama!
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The Love Island host and Celebrity Traitors star took to Instagram on Saturday night to show off her incredible transformation.
She captioned the snaps: “This year I wanted to pay homage to @sirmofarah our Olympic champ and all round legend (and I think we look alike lowkey) .
It’s Maya Jama!Credit: GettySir Mo sent Maya his actual medals for the shoot and everythingCredit: Refer to sourceSir Mo was stunned when he saw Maya’s finished lookCredit: PAMaya sported a bald cap and fake facial hairCredit: Refer to source
“HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Can’t wait to skin out tonight & thankyou Mo for sending your actual Olympic outfit and real medals hero!!! Let’s partyyyy.”
Maya also shared a video of the moment she video called Sir Mo, 43, while dressed as him.
Seeing Maya in her full Mo get up, Sir Mo looked shocked and said: “Oh my days!”
An excited Maya said: “I’m transformed! Don’t we look alike!”
Sir Mo replied: “I swear down I thought that was me for a second!”
Maya’s Celebrity Traitors pal Leigh-Anne Pinnock wrote: “SO GOOD.”
I’m a Celeb’s Scarlett Moffatt, who was on All Stars with Sir Mo, added: “This is epic haha!”
Geordie Shore‘s Holly Hagan commented: “Hahaahah you win.”
An expectant home crowd in Lahore was on tenterhooks as the 21-year-old all-rounder began his batting partnership with Hasan Nawaz under the floodlights of the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Minhas, who had gone wicketless in Sri Lanka’s innings, showed few signs of the pressure mounting on the young batting pair and began the repair job.
Within a few overs, the run chase swayed back in Pakistan’s favour but the final remained tense.
With the hosts needing 39 runs from 27 balls, Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka bowled a delivery at length, angling the ball into Minhas.
Unnerved by the occasion and his own lack of experience, the batter swung his bat across the line and sent the ball soaring over midwicket for six to ignite the crowd and rekindle lost hope.
Following this defining moment of his innings, Arafat coolly went on to hit four more sixes, finish with 61 runs off 31 balls, help Pakistan clinch the trophy and bag himself the player of the series award.
He ended the series with nine wickets and 149 runs, including two half-centuries.
Commentators on the host broadcast ran out of superlatives for the promising all-rounder, who admitted that he “enjoyed the pressure” of the final run-chase and tried to remain calm.
“The team needed someone to believe that we could achieve the target.”
‘Complete all-rounder’
Before shining with the bat in the final, Arafat produced one of the finest bowling performances of his fledgling international career against England in Rawalpindi on October 10.
After scoring 59 off 58 balls to help Pakistan recover from 81-4 and post 302-9, Minhas took six wickets for 40 runs as England were bowled out for 215, handing Pakistan an 87-run win.
England were at 91 without losing a wicket before Arafat dismantled their batting order.
Among his victims was swashbuckling batter Harry Brook, who was bowled for five by a delivery that turned past his attempted defensive shot and hit the stumps.
The England captain was left stunned at the crease and in the post-match media talk.
“Is he under 21? I didn’t know,” Brook said after the match.
More plaudits poured in as Minhas showed his all-round skills on the field.
“A half-century, six wickets and a run out. Mike Hesson wants all-round cricketers and he’s found one in Arafat Minhas,” former England captain Nasser Hussain said during the broadcast.
The performance made him the third Pakistani to score a half-century and take at least five wickets in a men’s ODI after Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.
On his ODI debut against Australia in May, Arafat took 5-32, becoming the first Pakistani to claim a five-wicket haul on debut, as well as winning the player of the series award.
“I prefer not to label players as batting or bowling all-rounders,” Minhas later said in an interview with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “I’d rather be seen as a complete all-rounder.”
Arafat Minhas scored 61 runs off 31 balls in Saturday’s final against Sri Lanka [Arif Ali/AFP]
An early foundation
Thirteen years earlier, Minhas dreamed of becoming a fast bowler like every other aspiring Pakistani cricketer.
But the then-eight-year-old was handed a leather cricket ball and instructed to take up left-arm spin by his father, Kashif, who spent years helping Arafat develop the all-round skills that are now helping Pakistan win matches.
Kashif had represented his hometown team, Multan, in under-19 cricket but was forced to give up on his dream – “with a heavy heart” – by his father, who urged him to take over the family’s car showroom business.
Years later, watching his sons play with toy eggs and plastic balls, Kashif saw a spark.
“When I observed them, I saw their playing style wasn’t ordinary; it seemed like a natural gift and a blessing from God,” Kashif told Al Jazeera. “I thought: ‘why not train them for professional cricket’?”
He would go on to buy full kits for his sons, setting them on the path towards professional cricket.
“My father handed me a hard ball when I was about eight or nine and I’ve bowled left-arm spin ever since [but] In tape-ball cricket, I used to bowl fast,” Minhas explained when asked about his control on his bowling variations.
Minhas rapidly progressed through Pakistan’s age-group system, becoming the country’s best under-16 player in his final year before breaking into the under-19 team.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown threatened to interrupt his sons’ development, Kashif built a cricket practice facility on the rooftop of his house in Multan.
A net, a mat pitch and floodlights were installed to ensure that “practice wouldn’t stop”.
In 2024, when Pakistan reached the semifinals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup and lost to Australia by one wicket, Minhas played a key role in the team’s progress in the tournament.
Given his standout performances, the young all-rounder’s elevation to the senior team seemed inevitable.
Arafat Minhas picked up nine wickets in five matches [File: Aamir Qureshi/AFP]
Brothers living a father’s dream
Minhas’s younger brother, Sameer, is a prodigious right-handed opening batter who has also made significant progress.
Last week, he was included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka in November.
Playing his first season of first-class cricket, Sameer scored 405 runs in seven matches, following his own promising spell with Pakistan’s under-19 team. Their youngest brother, Abdullah, is also pursuing cricket as a left-handed batter and leg-spinner.
“To move forward, I’ll improve and put in whatever extra work is required,” Minhas said after the England match. “This isn’t the final goal. The ultimate goal is much further ahead.”
Kashif’s ambition extends beyond one son’s career. He wishes for all three boys to play together for Pakistan and win an international trophy – a dream that would give a new ending to the cricketing journey he had to abandon.
“My ultimate dream is to see all three of my sons play together in the Pakistan playing XI and bring home an ICC trophy for Pakistan. That’s the day my dream will be complete, and that void will truly be filled.”
