A FRENCH actor with a role in Netflix series Emily in Paris has died after a brave battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Pierre Deny, a dearly beloved face on French television for decades, died on Monday at the age of 69 from complications with the disease that causes progressive muscle paralysis.
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Pierre Deny as Louis De Leon in episode 308 of Emily in ParisCredit: MARIE ETCHEGOYEN/NETFLIXDeny in Emily in Paris alongside the rest of the castCredit: MARIE ETCHEGOYEN/NETFLIX
“It is with deep emotion that we announce the passing of Pierre Deny, which occurred this Monday following a sudden and severe case of ALS,” his daughters said in a statement.
Also known as Charcot’s disease, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
It leads to muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis, eventually affecting the ability to speak, eat, and breathe.
Tributes have been paid to the star by other celebrities, hailing him as a “generous actor”.
Sylvie Vartan, Bulgarian-French singer and actress, wrote on Instagram: “It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Pierre Deny.
“I shared many wonderful moments with him on stage in Isabelle Mergault’s play.
“He was a generous actor and a sensitive and funny man. In these painful moments, my thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Raphael Benoliel, someone who said was a friend of Deny’s, described him as a “great artist” and a “magnificent person.”
What is ALS?
AMYOTROPHIC lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
It is a debilitating and painful condition in which the motor neurons – cells that control voluntary muscle movement – are gradually lost, leading to people slowly losing control of their bodies.
The average age of diagnosis is about 60 years old, though it can also affect people who are significantly younger.
In the early stages, the symptoms can be subtle, but as the disease progresses, they become more noticeable.
Here’s a look at what to watch out for:
Weakness in a limb, which develops over a few days or weeks
Slurred speech or difficulty swallowing
As ALS progresses, you may experience more common symptoms such as:
Muscle twitching and cramping, especially in the hands and feet
Loss of control in the hands and arms
Trouble using your arms and legs
Tripping or falling more often
Dropping things
Extreme fatigue that doesn’t go away
Uncontrollable laughing or crying
Slurred or thick speech, and difficulty projecting your voice
In the later stages, ALS can cause:
Difficulty breathing
Trouble swallowing food or liquids
Paralysis
Some of these symptoms may be caused by other health problems.
“I shared with him a passion for soccer that he loved above all else … he was a true enthusiast, and we were still playing together just a year ago like a couple of kids,” the post on X read.
“He had the joy of the game, the joy of being together, the love of effort, of life … That goddamn Charcot’s disease took him away far too soon … it’s so unfair.”
The actor began his career in theatre in the 1980s before moving into film and television.
He was particularly known for his roles in the police series such as“Julie Lescaut”or“Une femme d’honneu”, where he played Captain Philippe Kremen.
He also played the role of Renaud in the soap opera“Demain nous appartien” in which he appeared in 500 episodes.
Most recently, Deny appeared in seasons three and four of Emily in Paris, in which he played Louis de Léon, CEO of fashion giant JVMA.
Following her exit from Poldark, Tomlinson played Louisa Bryne in the period drama The Forsytes and Mary Brighton in The Nevers, a Victorian-set drama. However, the actress will now be appearing in the modern psychological thriller The Fortune, reports Radio Times.
The Fortune will premiere on Channel 5 on Tuesday, 2 June and follows Tomlinson’s character, Amanda, after she suddenly inherits a vast fortune from a man she has never met or heard of.
With his own family incensed to find out his estate is going to a supposed stranger, battle lines are soon drawn, and threats soon start to fly.
Amanda goes from her regular life of working in a café and being a happily married mother to her life being turned upside down.
Ahead of The Fortune landing on screens, Tomlinson has opened up to Radio Times about the direction of her career following her exit from Poldark.
“I’d done it for five years”, she said, “There are elements I miss, but it was time to do something else, spread my wings and push myself in a different direction.”
When asked which acting role she mostly gets recognised for by fans, she explained: “Poldark is the main one and I get a lot of One Day, and The Forsytes. It’s always nice when they get it right and don’t say, ‘Were you in Game of Thrones?’, ‘No, wrong redhead!’.”
As well as Tomlinson leading the cast, The Fortune also boasts the likes of Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, All Creatures Great and Small favourite Callum Woodhouse and former EastEnders star Nina Wadia.
Also starring in the Channel 5 drama are Rebecca Front (The Thick of It), Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks), Paula Wilcox (Trying), Danielle Walters (Chewing Gum) and Denis Lawson (Bleak House).
The synopsis for The Fortune reads: “Amanda Blakefield’s life is a happy one, with her husband Jimmy and their son Luke. But when Amanda is left an enormous inheritance by a man she has neither met nor heard of before, her life starts to fall apart.
“Amanda becomes embroiled in the world of the Worralls, where Martin Worrall is head of a family bound in past secrets. As Amanda is drawn further and further into past events and relationships, all of their lives are turned upside down.”
It’s now been confirmed that The Fortune will premiere on 5 on Tuesday, June 2 at 9pm, followed by the second episode the following Wednesday evening at the same time.
POP star Mollie King has admitted that the birth of her daughter Annabella was a bittersweet moment for her family.
She and cricket star Stuart Broad welcomed Annabella, now three, in November 2022 – at a time Mollie’s father Stephen was dying from a brain tumour.
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Mollie King has admitted that the birth of her daughter Annabella was a bittersweet moment for her family (pictured in 2023)Credit: PAMollie welcomed Annabella, now three, at a time her father Stephen was dying from a brain tumourCredit: Instagram
The Saturdays singer-turned-Radio 1 host has revealed that the sad circumstances gave her the incentive to book a C-section for the birth – to make sure Stephen would be able to meet his granddaughter before he passed.
Stephen died 10 days later, but got to meet Annabella thanks to Mollie’s decision.
Chatting to Giovanna Fletcher on the Happy Mum podcast this week, Mollie, 38, revealed that she learnt of her father’s illness when she was six months pregnant.
“It happened in August. And I had seen my dad that morning. We had gone out for a walk with my dog and with Stuart as well. And everything seemed pretty fine, pretty normal,” she recalled.
Mollie shares two children with cricket star Stuart BroadCredit: InstagramThe Saturdays singer-turned-Radio 1 host has revealed that the sad circumstances gave her the incentive to book a C-section for the birthCredit: GettyMollie and Annabella after the radio star competed in a 500km cycle across England to raise money for Red Nose Day 2024Mollie was one fifth of The Saturdays – they released four studio albums and 18 singles between 2008 and 2014 before going on hiatusCredit: Getty
“And then that evening, I had a call from my sister to say Dad’s not been very well at all – he’s gone into hospital.
“I was like, Oh my gosh. Basically, over the next few days, we got the news that he had a brain tumour, which is obviously shocking because there was nothing – there were no signs.
“And you just don’t know how to process it.”
Mollie went on: “I think that I was trying to really get my head around it and come to terms with it. But also, I’m in this stage of like – I’m pregnant, this is meant to be such a magical happy time.
“I was really worried that he wasn’t going to meet Annabella. I was like, I can’t have him not meet my kids.”
Mollie – who has since welcomed a second daughter – reflected on how her father had been a very “present granddad” for her nephews, and couldn’t picture her own child never knowing him.
“I was like, I just can’t have him not meet my little girl. It can’t be like that,” she continued. “And so… because of that… I’d booked in to have a C-section.
“I was like, I just need to know that she is going to come out at a safe time, but I need her to meet dad.”
Mollie admotted that, after she made the decision, she felt self-conscious telling the hospital staff of her reasons; but that they were happy to accommodate the C-section, booking her in for it right away.
“I remember them saying to me at the hospital, they were like, you know, why are you choosing to do this? And I found it really hard to talk about at the time,” the All Fired Up songstress went on.
“I didn’t want to talk about it. I was like, oh, you know, just, I think it would be nice to know when she’s coming and all of this.
“And then eventually I said, look, my dad is dying and we’ve only got a few weeks. I just need her out now. And they’re like, totally get it. Completely understand – let’s book you in for this date. And it was amazing.”
Mollie admitted that it was “really difficult” to then lose her father 10 days later, and says she has put off getting married to Stuart because she can’t imagine the day without her father there.
“Elements like walking down the aisle without him I still struggle with. There needs to be a gap so I can process it all,” she previously told The Times.
Mollie was one fifth of The Saturdays – they released four studio albums and 18 singles between 2008 and 2014 before going on hiatus. Mollie then turned to radio presenting.
She welcomed her second daughter, Liliana, with Stuart in January 2025.
There is a growing expectation Anderson will leave the City Ground this summer.
United are unwilling to overpay, or get drawn into protracted negotiations.
No deal has been struck between Forest and City and the clubs are far apart on their valuation for the 23-year-old, meaning the situation could still change.
There is a sense at Forest that if there is a big sale this summer it will be Anderson, and a fine World Cup with England would put them in a stronger bargaining position.
Following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, Forest manager Vitor Pereira said Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White deserve “the top of the world”.
He would prefer to keep both players but it is Anderson who is the more likely to leave currently, especially with no European football at the City Ground next season after they finished 16th in the Premier League.
“I believe if we want to compete for different goals, we need to keep the best players,” said Pereira.
“If not, if you change every season, it is difficult to be consistent and difficult to build something stronger.
“We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned; what I think and what the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market.”
Anderson, who won the 2025 European U21 Championship with England last summer, joined Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m and has played 92 times, scoring six goals.
Sunday’s game against Bournemouth was his 50th appearance of the season and he was given a standing ovation when withdrawn in the second half.
Earlier on Monday, thousands of City fans lined the streets of Manchester to bid a final farewell to the departing Guardiola.
This season’s successful men’s, women’s and academy teams were driven on buses to Etihad Stadium, where they were greeted by a waiting crowd, before the entourage made its way to Co-Op Live for the ‘after party’.
All three teams celebrated their trophy victories on stage, with City women’s striker Khadija Shaw making the shock announcement that she has signed a new four-year contract to remain at the club.
Guardiola’s three children, as well as former captain Fernandinho, ex-sporting director Txiki Begiristain and goalkeeper Ederson – who left last summer – helped bring out all 20 trophies won under Guardiola.
Surprise appearances by current Bayern Munich boss Kompany and midfielder Jack Grealish, who spent a season-long loan spell at Everton, were loudly cheered by those in attendance.
Guardiola said goodbye for the final time in an interview with Oasis star Noel Gallagher.
“First of all, thank you so much for coming tonight to say bye,” said Guardiola.
“I feel tonight that really shows the connection this club has. [City chairman] Khaldoon Al Mubarak and all the people and all the City fans that were connected from the first minute.
“Thank you so much, I don’t have enough gratitude. Always, for the rest of my life, I will have you in my heart.”
Tributes were also paid to captain Bernardo Silva and defender John Stones, who will also be leaving the club this summer upon the expiry of their contracts.
Striker Erling Haaland said on stage: “It has been a pleasure to play with Bernardo and John – and of course Pep.
“We won a lot of trophies and I was happy to play with Bernardo and John because they are amazing footballers but even better people deep down.
“It has been an amazing journey, but we need to keep pushing and fighting even without them.”
After a nearly seven-year absence from theaters, Star Wars proved it still has the Force, as the latest installment, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” is on track to earn an estimated $102 million in the U.S. and Canada for the Memorial Day weekend.
Globally, the film was on track to pull in $165 million for the four-day holiday weekend.
Director Jon Favreau’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” now ranks as the year’s third-highest grossing domestic opening, based on its Friday-Sunday ticket sales of $82 million, according to ticket tracker Comscore.
The results are likely a relief to Walt Disney Co.-owned Lucasfilm, which had not released a theatrical Star Wars film since 2019’s “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker.”
Since then, the San Francisco-based studio has largely focused on its Star Wars streaming shows, which have included both live-action and animated series. Some of those shows received mixed reviews, though “The Mandalorian” and “Rogue One” spin-off “Andor” were breakout hits, praised by critics and largely revered by fans.
The movie — starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White — benefited from positive reviews from moviegoers, but it stopped short of shattering expectations. Its initial financial performance was on par with the disappointing 2018 opening weekend for “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” That film notched $103 million in its opening weekend.
Box office revenue for “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which played in 4,300 theaters, will be just one indicator of the movie’s success.
The Burbank entertainment giant is counting on the film to boost other parts of its business, including views of Star Wars shows on the Disney+ streaming service, its gaming collaboration with Fortnite and its all-important theme parks sector. The main characters are present in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge-themed land, and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride has been overlaid with a new “Mandalorian and Grogu” storyline at Disney parks in Anaheim and Orlando.
The weekend ticket sales underscore the enduring appeal of Star Wars, which remains among Disney’s top five franchises, producing more than $1 billion in annual retail sales.
Reception for the film was seen as critical to keeping the franchise fresh in moviegoers’ minds, particularly as Disney prepares for the upcoming 50th anniversary of Star Wars and a new movie starring Ryan Gosling set for next year.
Locally, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is the first Star Wars movie to be made entirely in Los Angeles.
The film received a state tax credit to film in the Golden State, Favreau said at the premiere last week.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” faced little new competition at the box office this Memorial Day weekend. Rival studios largely stayed on the sidelines, with no other potential blockbuster debuting at the same time.
Focus Films’ horror hit “Obsession” came in second at the box office with $22.4 million for its three-day total, according to Comscore.
Lionsgate’s blockbuster Michael Jackson documentary, “Michael,” snared $20 million, bringing its total to $314 million. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” came in fourth with $12.6 million, bringing its purse to $196 million since it opened earlier this month.
Amazon’s MGM studio’s “The Sheep Detectives” rounded out the top five with nearly $9 million.
The deadpan comedian sailed through to the Season 2 finale, outlasting the show’s returning champion, Bob Mortimer. He went toe-to-toe with David Mitchell in the final episode, with neither comedian breaking as they fed each other buffet food.
It resulted in an unprecedented tie-breaker in which the person who made the most people laugh over the course of the series was awarded the crown, meaning David scooped the win while Sam was awarded the runner-up title.
Sam is set to return to TV screens again in just a few days with his brand new comedy series, but what is it about, when is it released, and who is in it? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Make That Movie about?
The six-part Channel 4 comedy series follows a director called Sam (played by Sam Campbell) who attempts to make feature films based on the weird and wonderful ideas of everyday people. He goes on a trip around the country seeking out people to share their ideas with him, before attempting to make their movies in just three days.
While Sam appears to play himself, the series is a scripted comedy show and not real life. Alongside Sam in the cast are Michell and Webb Are Not Helping star Lara Ricote as runner Jess, and Am I Being Unreasonable’s Helen Bauer, who plays sound engineer Pat.
Meanwhile Aaron Chen (Fisk) plays intimacy coordinator Sebastian and This Country’s David Hargreaves takes on the role of cinematographer Winnie.
The series is directed and co-written by Joe Pelling who may already be known to some as the director of nightmarish comedy-horror puppet show, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared.
Make That Movie’s release date and time
The very first 30-minute episode will air on Channel 4 on Thursday, May 28 at 10pm. The second episode will be broadcast immediately after at 10.30pm.
Announcing its release date, Sam posted: “This show is on channel 4. 28th of May ~ so pretty soon in fact. We hope it wets so many people’s whistles. Hopefully not a dry whistle left in the whole world. Hopefully. Please watch.”
A flurry of excited fans were quick to comment, with one penning: “I don’t understand any of this but that’s okay, I trust Sam,” in reference to Sam’s surreal comedy style.
“Nathan Fielder has been real quite since this dropped,” joked another. “Can’t wait for this dynamite series!” a third fan remarked.
Make That Movie begins on Channel 4 on May 28 at 10pm.
If there’s one thing in American sports that’s going to get people to sit up, lean forward and engage, it’s the home run. We all dig the long ball.
If anything can get someone to run home and turn on a softball game, it’s a big-time slugger from a big-time school mashing homers like nobody before.
Heard about Grant? She’s the UCLA softball player who’s hit an NCAA-record 40 home runs (so far) this season.
UCLA senior Megan Grant leans over and holds her helmet between pitches during a super regional game against UCF on Friday at Easton Stadium.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Forty! In 147 at-bats! That’s a home run every 3.68 at-bats!
If you’re wondering, Mark McGwire hit a home run every 7.3 at-bats in 1998, the year he finished with 70. And Barry Bonds went deep every 6.52 at-bats in 2001, when he hit his MLB-record 73 home runs.
Whenever she gets asked about her historic home runs, the red-hot, red-haired hitter is like, shucks: “I mean, it’s incredible,” she said. “I’m just honestly blessed to be able to say the number 40. But, yeah, that’s all I can say.”
She just wants to be thought of as a hard worker and a good teammate. But what Grant is going to be remembered for most is as the founding member of softball’s 40-home run club.
Her 40th home run came in her 58th game this season and on her seventh career grand slam — Grant Slam? — in the Bruins’ NCAA regional final victory over South Carolina last weekend.
Forty, a round number of round-trippers with a ring to it. And a sweet echo coming so soon after the Bruins women’s basketball team won its first NCAA championship, history to which Grant also contributed as a reserve before softball beckoned.
Side quest completed, the left-handed-hitting senior stepped back into the box to help the Bruins chase a 13th championship on the softball field.
Grant is soaking up the experience, and encouraging her younger teammates to, too: “‘Enjoy this, it’s so rare to be here’ … and, ‘Hey, we can do this, we can do it together.’”
A .469 hitter, she leads the nation in slugging percentage (1.333), on-base percentage (.650) and OPS (1.983). She bats second in UCLA’s NCAA record-breaking lineup that shattered Oklahoma’s 25-year-old previous record of 160 home runs. UCLA hit seven home runs during two super regional wins against Central Florida this weekend to push that record to 200.
With a 9-1 win Friday and a 14-4 victory Saturday, the Bruins advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the 34th time and for the third time in Grant’s astounding tenure.
UCLA senior Megan Grant (43) high-fives teammates during a win over UCF Friday at Easton Stadium.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tip your helmet and toss Grant her bouquets — flower power — because there she is popping up on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and on the MLB Network. One of three finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, she’s got guys discussing her exploits on a dad pod otherwise dedicated to NBA takes. Fans dressed up as chefs as a tribute to her nickname, “Chef Megan.”
Star power, power broker. Grant is a lift-all-boats attraction for a sport that’s been steadily carving out space in the public consciousness.
All over the country, college softball teams have been breaking attendance records. And ratings are up, up, up; ESPN said this has been its most-watched college softball regular season since 2009, with games averaging 292,000 viewers. The MLB-backed Athletes Unlimited Softball League is entering Season 2; Grant was drafted No. 4 overall by the Portland Cascade.
“People will pay to see her play,” said Lisa Fernandez, UCLA softball legend and associate head coach.
Fernandez also is the general manager of the AUSL’s Utah Talons, for whom UCLA’s other senior slugger Jordan Woolery will play this summer.
The Bruins imported the latest in a lineage of Bay Area dynamic duos. The Oakland Athletics had the Bash Brothers, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire; the Golden State Warriors gave us the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. And now UCLA has Walnut Creek’s Woolery and Grant, of San Bruno — the Bruin Bombers.
They’re the first teammates in NCAA history to each hit 30-plus homers in the same season, with 74 between them.
And, yes, chefs! Like Curry before her, Grant is cookin’ the competition, breaking the 31-year-old NCAA single-season home run record with No. 38 on May 9 against Nebraska.
Included among the record wreckage she’s leaving in her wake: Stacey Nuveman’s UCLA single-season record of 31 homers. For her career, Grant needs only one more to tie Nuveman’s Bruins record of 90.
But Grant’s got to get a pitch to hit first. After UCF walked her six times in two games, she has 74 walks this season and 69 base hits. She also has 13 hit by pitches.
“It’s very similar to Barry Bonds, right?” Fernandez said. “It’s either a walk or a home run. Like, you pick.”
The tale of the tape measure behind Grant’s greatness is the down-to-the inch precision of her preparation. The Mamba-esque magic is in the embracing behind-the-scenes monotony, powering through it.
“She was the hardest worker, always working. Never enough,” said Ray McDonald, Grant’s coach at the San Mateo-based Warrior Softball Academy since she was that kid with an electric, bat-busting swing. “It was eating and sleeping, hitting, and you know, shower. The essentials.”
“When we recruited her, Ray, he was like, ‘Coach, you better be ready to work,’” said Fernandez. “And I’m like, ‘Oh, I know how to work.’ And [then] I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, now I understand how people must have felt when I played.’
“There is an aspect of this game that people don’t realize unless you are in it. To be great, there’s a — for lack of a better word — monotony to the process. Can you master the same move over and over again? And she’s committed to it. To her drills, to the process, to her routine, all of it. There’s a lot of people who are committed to it when they’re not doing well: ‘Oh, got to get back to my drills.’ She has been committed to that process from the day she stepped on campus.”
The process includes working on her mind. That deep, deep breath before every deep, deep home run is a way to stay centered. To stay in the moment — and it is a moment.
For softball. For UCLA. For Grant, who, with all this power and responsibility, is hitting it out of the park.
Alan Titchmarsh’s comments came to light as he described a typical Saturday, which might include a shopping trip using something a BBC star has reportedly said they don’t like
Alan’s remarks came as he described a typical Saturday with his wife, Alison(Image: Getty)
Alan Titchmarsh has taken a swipe at a BBC Radio 2 star who “lives in London” over alleged comments about a vehicle he owns. Alan’s remarks came as he described a typical Saturday with his wife, Alison, following the couple’s recent move to a new home in Surrey after “living in Hampshire around farmland for 40 years”.
By 7am, the Ground Force legend is brewing up a cuppa for Alison and is “up and at ’em”, tackling a crossword to keep his mind sharp before heading outside to check his beloved garden.
Come 11am, the pair might venture out for a spot of shopping, and for that, it appears they rely on their trusty four-by-fours. However, Alan claims one BBC star is far from impressed by the vehicles.
The radio host in question apparently “slags them off”, yet Alan and Alison need them, particularly when navigating their local potholes — pointing out that the host is based in the capital.
He told The Telegraph: “Ali and I might head out and do a bit of [homeware] shopping. We’ve lived in Hampshire around farmland for 40 years, so both of us have four-by-fours. It’s all right when Jeremy Vine slags them off, but he lives in London.
“Out here, we need them! If you saw our potholes! When the two of us are driving, we’re almost always locked in conversation but I play music when I’m alone – either Classic FM, Radio 3 or Radio 4.
“The car picks up my iPhone music and I often listen to the score for the latest series of All Creatures Great and Small by Alexandra Harwood. It’s lovely.”
Keen cyclist Jeremy previously documented drivers breaking traffic laws and shared these on social media in an effort to spotlight the dangers faced by cyclists.
However, he abandoned this practice after suffering online “trolling”. He revealed on X: “I’m stopping my cycling videos. The trolling just got too bad. They have had well over 100 million views, but in the end the anger they generate has genuinely upset me.”
Indeed, it reportedly got so bad that he received death threats for posting videos of drivers, with some cruelly dubbing him “England’s biggest ***hole”.
He said: “Some of the biggest videos were actually about the smallest incidents, like someone turning left in front of me.
“People are happy to discuss it and I actually think that we’d all be safer if we all understood each other. People are going to drive 4x4s in Kensington and whatnot, but they need to have a bit of care for me on a bicycle.
“You might be in total control when you pass close by, but the person on a bicycle doesn’t know that. I just hope I was part of a dialogue about it.”
Love Your Weekend host Alan Titchmarsh questioned Jeremy Vine after the presenter opened up about an embarrassing celebrity encounter.
Jeremy Vine spoke about his eventful bathroom visit(Image: ITV)
Jeremy Vine has shared a cringe-worthy story about meeting one of pop music’s biggest stars under rather unfortunate circumstances.
Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh returned to ITV this morning, with the much-loved presenter heading to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent for this week’s episode.
The veteran host kicked off the programme by quizzing his celebrity guests about their greatest “pinch me moments”.
Jeremy then launched into a rather risqué anecdote about a particularly memorable bathroom visit during his time at BBC Radio 2, prompting Alan to step in with a cautionary word.
“Behind Radio 2 reception there was a loo…” he began, as Alan interjected: “I think you’re going to take this slightly downmarket…”
“I wont!” Jeremy insisted as Alan questioned: “Is this really necessary?”
Jeremy then explained: “I’ve got to tell this story; I’ve got to unload because I haven’t really told it before.”
Alan then cheekily warned Jeremy that the phrase ‘I’ve really got to unload’ hardly inspired great confidence given the direction the tale was heading, reports the Express.
Undeterred, Jeremy continued: “So behind Radio 2 reception there is a single cubicle toilet and it was always locked because the receptionist said we don’t want anyone going in there for obvious reasons.
“And one day I was bursting and I could see the door unlocked, so I say, ‘Do you mind if I go in?’ and I lock the door and I’m in a seated position…
“You’re on the verge of oversharing!” Alan exclaimed, as Jeremy continued: “I don’t understand what’s going on outside the door because I’ve got no idea.
“But Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees has said to reception, ‘I need to use the loo urgently.’
“And reception looks round and the door is locked because it always is because they lock the door to stop people using it,” he clarified.
“So they gave him the master key and I’m sitting in the loo in a seriously private moment and [the door] suddenly opens and Barry Gibb walks in!
“This is the guy who wrote Islands in the Stream!” Jeremy added, as the studio erupted into laughter.
“He walks in a completely continuous movement and I think he made the noise ‘ha?!'” the presenter said, imitating a similar sound to what the Bee Gees sing in their famous track, Stayin’ Alive.
“I’ve only met him once and that was it,” Jeremy concluded, as Alan swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere.
For her standout moment, Kate recounted the occasion she encountered legendary Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman following a theatrical performance.
She recalled being completely starstruck having previously watched him in classics such as Tootsie and The Graduate, while younger cast members recognised him from the animated blockbuster Kung Fu Panda.
Meanwhile, Michael disclosed he had recently had an audience with Pope Leo XIV, describing it as amongst the greatest days of his life.
Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh airs every Sunday at 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX.
Noel Gallagher is seen out on a date with his new girlfriend who is 30 years his juniorCredit: Click News and MediaThe smitten Oasis star, 58, and events boss Nina Johnson, 28, left a West London gastropub togetherCredit: Click News and Media
A source said: “There was no mistaking the spark between them.”
Noel and Nina — who works for an events company — were seen smiling before getting into a car on Thursday night after a date at The Hart gastropub in Marylebone, West London.
An onlooker said: “They were laughing and joking, but keeping a slight distance so they did not look like a couple. However, there was no mistaking the spark between them and they were clearly together. They had been engrossed in each other’s company inside and spent hours together, just the two of them.
“Noel looked particularly happy when he came out — and who can blame him? As they got to the waiting car, Noel opened the door for Nina and they got in the back seat together.”
Originally from the South West, Nina is a marketing manager at London firm Rhubarb Hospitality, which organises corporate events, weddings and posh private functions.
She is said to have met dad-of-three Noel through mutual friends, and has spent a lot of time with him over the past few weeks.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “She is a lot younger than him but that doesn’t bother either of them.
Stand by me Noel and new girlfriend Nina, above seen leaving the London pub, are said to have met through mutual friendsCredit: Click News and MediaNina has spent a lot of time with the rocker over the past few weeksCredit: Click News and Media
“They have been seeing a lot of each other in the past few weeks.
“Her career is going great guns. She is really bright and taking her career seriously.
“She’s her own woman and Noel really respects that.
“They really enjoy each other’s company and both love the finer things in life and go to a lot of the same places. It is fair to say Noel is smitten and he is telling people he couldn’t be happier.”
We revealed in March the Half The World Away star had split from girlfriend Sally MashCredit: GoffCareer-focused Nina Johnson’s social media profile shows she is an events manager based in London
We revealed in March that Noel and private members’ club boss Sally had split after two years with “no bad blood”.
In 2024, Noel said of his attractive partners: “I’ve punched above my weight several times in my life, and I think if you can make a girl laugh the battle is more than won.”
He married Meg Mathews in Las Vegas in 1997 and they had daughter Anais in 2000.
After they split, Noel started dating Scots publicist Sara MacDonald, who he wed in 2011 after almost a decade together.
They had sons Donovan, now 18, and Sonny, 15, before divorcing in 2023.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘She is a lot younger than him but that doesn’t bother either of them’Credit: FacebookNoel will join thousands of fellow Manchester City fans at a huge farewell bash tomorrow for departing manager Pep GuardiolaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_ahQWotxpH/
NOEL Gallagher will join thousands of fellow Manchester City fans at a huge farewell bash tomorrow for departing manager Pep Guardiola.
A team bus parade in Manchester will celebrate them winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup — before an after-party at the city’s Co-op Arena to say goodbye to Pep.
Around 100,000 fans are due to gather in the city and Noel is expected to play a big part in heaping praise on Pep, 55, who delivered 20 trophies over a decade in the job.
During Pep’s reign, he developed a close friendship with Noel after they first met in 2016.
And in his farewell video released last week, he mentioned the Oasis star in his opening words.
He said: “When I arrive my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walk out thinking, ‘OK Noel is here this will be fun.’ And what a time we have had together.”
And Pep signed off by saying: “Noel, I was right, it has been so f***ing fun.”
Noel last month praised Pep in an interview, saying he was grateful for their relationship.
He added: “He’s a fan and a romantic, and he’s hardcore, a winner, and a bad loser, all the things you would want your football manager to be.”
Brother Liam Gallagher, also a City fan and Pep pal, will not be able to attend the celebrations, it is understood.
An open-top bus parade will kick off the festivities at 5pm.
It will be followed by a special ticket-only celebration event at Co-op Live, where the sell-out crowd of 17,000 will be treated to live music, entertainment, player interviews and special guests.
It will also be a farewell for long-serving players Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
The world’s best football players will travel to North America this summer for the most anticipated sporting event of the year: the FIFA World Cup 2026.
While the 48-team tournament will feature young prodigies and veterans alike, some stars will not be at the tournament, having missed out due to injuries or because their nations failed to qualify.
Al Jazeera takes a look at the top stars who will not be at the World Cup:
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG’s most creative player, will not be at the World Cup [File: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP]
One of the most feared wingers in European football, Kvaratskhelia will not be on the plane to North America as his country, Georgia, failed to qualify for the finals in June and July.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger, the standout player in the Champions League this season, is yet to play at a World Cup. His last major tournament with Georgia ended in a round-of-16 run at Euro 2024.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
The 2026 edition was probably Lewandowski’s last chance of featuring at another World Cup [File: Kacper Pempel/Reuters]
A teary-eyed Lewandowski left the pitch after Poland’s final World Cup qualifier on March 31 as the nation narrowly missed out on the 2026 edition. The 37-year-old Barcelona striker even hinted at international retirement after the failure to qualify but has yet to confirm the decision.
Lewandowski has played a record 165 games for Poland, beginning with a goal on his debut against San Marino in 2008 when he was 20. His 89 goals are nearly twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has played at the World Cup only twice with a last-16 finish in 2022 being the best result.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali (Italy)
Tonali, left, and Donnarumma are important players at their respective clubs, Newcastle United and Manchester City [File: Scott Heppell/Reuters]
Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time means the tournament will be devoid of some of the finest Azzurri talents, including star goalkeeper Donnarumma and midfielder Tonali.
After suffering a shock penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoffs, Italy became the first former champions to miss three World Cup finals in a row. The last time the Italians played at a World Cup was in 2014 when they crashed out in the group stage in Brazil.
“The World Cup curse”, as described by the Italian media, will keep Donnarumma – one of the best goalkeepers in the world – and Tonali away from playing at the world’s biggest football tournament.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Osimhen, left, and Lookman are the two brightest attackers in Nigeria’s squad [AFP]
After Italy, Nigeria are the biggest nation to miss out on a ticket to the World Cup 2026, thanks to an abysmal qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles had dreamed of soaring high in North America, but their wings were clipped after a shock penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African playoffs.
Nigeria’s failure to make it to the World Cup means fans will miss out on watching Lookman, arguably their best player at AFCON 2025, and Osimhen, one of the most feared strikers in Africa.
The dynamic duo of Lookman and Osimhen has often brought joy to Nigerian fans, whose team is missing successive World Cup finals for the first time in 36 years.
Hugo Ekitike (France)
Ekitike had been dreaming of a maiden World Cup appearance [David Klein/Reuters]
France forward Ekitike’s dreams of making his World Cup debut were shattered when he ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Liverpool against PSG in April.
The injury, which could sideline him until January 2027, saw the 23-year-old leave the pitch in tears on a stretcher during the second leg of a Champions League quarterfinal tie at Anfield.
At the start of the 2025-2026 season, Ekitike was far behind in the France pecking order, but an impressive season at Liverpool, which saw him score 17 goals in all competitions until his injury, had put him in the running to be picked by coach Didier Deschamps for the World Cup.
Estevao and Rodrygo (Brazil)
Winger Estevao is one of Brazil’s most promising young talents [File: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP]
One of the brightest talents in global football, winger Estevao was set for his much-awaited World Cup debut until a hamstring injury crushed his dream. The 19-year-old suffered a grade four hamstring injury while playing for his club, Chelsea, in April, which ultimately kept him out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Joining Chelsea from Palmeiras in May 2024, Estevao’s eight goals and four assists in his debut season in England caught everyone’s attention. The teenage sensation had also established himself as a regular member of Brazil’s squad under Carlo Ancelotti.
Alongside Estevao, Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, who made five appearances for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, will not be at this year’s edition after suffering a torn meniscus and ACL in his right knee.
The 25-year-old picked up the injury while playing for Madrid in March and is expected to be out until the end of 2026.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
An injury sustained while playing for Tottenham Hotspur will keep Xavi Simons out of the Dutch World Cup campaign [AFP]
Attacking midfielder Simons will not be with the Netherlands at the World Cup 2026 after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while playing for his club, Tottenham Hotspur, against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League game.
Simons, 23, was expected to be a key figure in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for what would have been his second World Cup after his debut in 2022.
He has earned 34 caps, most recently featuring in friendlies in March.
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the World Cup came as a surprise as the Indomitable Lions hold the African record for the most appearances with eight overall.
After losing to DR Congo in the semifinals of the African playoffs, Cameroon’s World Cup dreams died and, with them, Mbeumo’s chances of playing in North America.
Mbeumo has had a decent season at Manchester United, scoring 10 goals and bagging three assists across all competitions.
Mbeumo is one of several African stars who will not be at the upcoming World Cup [Stu Forster/Getty Images]
Honourable mentions
A few other high-profile players will also miss the tournament.
Spain midfielder Fermin Lopez misses out after requiring surgery on a fracture in his right foot while Germany’s Serge Gnabry has been ruled out with a torn adductor muscle in his right thigh.
England have omittedCole Palmer and Phil Foden from their squad after both had disappointing seasons.
Japan’s Takumi Minamino was left out after suffering an ACL tear while Kaoru Mitoma also misses out after suffering a hamstring injury.
Defender Eder Militao was dropped from Brazil’s squad after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury while Ancelotti also dropped forwards Joao Pedro and Richarlison.
Slovenia goalkeeper and captain Jan Oblak will be absent after they failed to qualify, and central midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai faces a similar fate after Hungary missed out too.
Pop crooner and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Girardi quietly put an end to a long and splashy legal battle over her ex-husband’s now-defunct law firm on Thursday, settling a $25-million bankruptcy lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court.
The suit alleged the singer should have known she was profiting off embezzled funds linked to the sprawling case against her ex-husband, former L.A. legal heavyweight Tom Girardi, and his firm Girardi Keese. The couple was accused of funneling millions from the law firm to prop up Erika’s music career.
Performing as Erika Jayne, she topped the charts in the 2010s with a series of raunchy dance club hits. But court records show she spent millions more than she made as a musician.
Larry W. Gabriel, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, wrote in a pretrial filing Monday that Erika and a company associated with her “received the benefit of [Tom] Girardi’s massive fraudulent scheme.”
Tom Girardi is currently serving a seven-year sentence in federal prison after he was convicted of wire fraud for bilking his personal-injury clients in 2024. The disgraced former attorney was found to have stolen tens of millions from his firm.
His wife’s pop hits mixed boasts about luxury brands and explicit sex acts with pulsing dance beats and a bratty falsetto, a tone actress Lake Bell famously dubbed “sexy baby voice.”
In depositions taken as part of the suit, Erika said she had no knowledge of her husband’s crimes. She claimed to be ignorant about where the millions she spent on recording, merchandise, tours and “fun, playful, and sparkly outfits” were drawn from.
“I did not know how much I spent per month or per year,” she said in one exchange. “Girardi Keese paid my Amex credit card bill every month.”
Monday’s filings show Girardi Keese paid at least $14 million in charges to her American Express account between 2008 and 2020.
The payouts began in the late 2000s when Erika, then a stay-at-home mom, sought to relaunch herself as a performer. In 2016, near the height of her pop fame, her husband began to complain she was charging too much on the credit card account. After repeated entreaties to tamp down her spending, Girardi tried for the first time to look at her balance.
Soon after, Girardi grew suspicious of charges being made to her card by a Hollywood costumer — worries she reported to one of Girardi Keese’s clients, an agent in the Secret Service, records show.
On the advice of the agent’s Secret Service colleagues, she said she disputed the AMEX charges and was ultimately refunded more than half a million dollars to her personal account, despite the original payments having come from the law firm.
Erika Girardi’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
Gogglebox couple Mary and Giles bickered in the latest episode of the Channel 4 show
22:35, 22 May 2026Updated 22:37, 22 May 2026
Giles and Mary are favourites on Channel 4’s Gogglebox(Image: Channel 4 screengrab)
Gogglebox star Giles Wood bickered wife Mary Killen on the show as he insisted he deserved “better” now he’s getting older.
The armchair critic launched into a rant about wanting “new, fresh things” in the latest instalment of the Channel 4 show, as he dug in his heels about wanting a new BBQ.
He and wife, Gogglebox co-star Mary, had been watching celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Ultimate BBQ show, when Giles decided that he wanted to splash out on a new one himself.
“Let’s buy that barbecue, Mary,” he said, however, she replied: “We’ve got one.”
“I know, but it’s c**p,” said Giles, but Mary asked: “Is it? You haven’t even tried it yet.”
“No, I just don’t like old things,” Giles insisted. “The older I get, the more I want new things, Mary. That’s irony. I like to buy new, fresh things.”
“Well, too bad,” his wife retorted.
“I’ve had a lifetime of hand-me-downs, and I’m fed up with it,” Giles explained. “I deserve better.”
Mary replied “No, you don’t deserve…” but Giles interjected: “I deserve better.”
“You certainly do not!” she exclaimed, as Giles restated his desire for Jamie’s BBQ. “I deserve one of these, Mary,” he told her.
Viewers were tickled by the exchange, with one posting on X: “Lol, Gyles just wants a new BBQ.” “Giles go buy yourself a new BBQ,” urged another viewer, as somebody else exclaimed: “Giles deserves better!”
“Giles is great at winding up Mary and she always bites,” one person posted on the platform, which was formerly Twitter. Another quipped: “Giles! He kills me.”
The pair squabbled again later in the episode, which saw the cast watching programmes such as the Eurovision Song Contest, Race Across the World and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly.
They had words when Giles took issue with a pork pie containing pickle.
Giles was sampling the pie as they tuned into the week’s TV offerings but when Mary asked if he was “pleased with it” he confessed: “Um, sadly no.”
“That is not a proper pork pie,” he said. “So what?” Mary asked. “It’s nicer than a pork pie. It’s sophisticated.”
But Giles said the fact it was called a pork and pickle pie “should immediately send red lights buzzing in, in anyone’s head” as he complained about it being “soggy”.
Unimpressed, Mary got up to take it off him. “Oh, you horrible man, stop touching it,” she said. “I’m going to take it away… If you’re ungrateful, there are 100 men who would say, ‘Ooh, that’s a sophisticated take on a pork pie, Mary.’ I’m going to have that. Thank you. You’re not having it again.”
YOUTUBE and Netflix star Danny Go has announced his son Isaac has tragically died aged 14.
Kids’ favourite Danny, whose real name is Daniel Coleman, took to Instagram today to post a heartbreaking tribute to his young son, who lived with Fanconi anemia.
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YouTube Kids star Danny Go has revealed his eldest son has diedCredit: InstagramIsaac Coleman had an aggressive mouth cancerCredit: Instagram
The rare inherited genetic disorder led to the diagnosis of an aggressive mouth cancer.
The incurable condition, which affects the body’s ability to repair DNA, can also cause physical abnormalities.
Daniel shared a series of photographs of Isaac and wrote: “Isaac Daniel Coleman. 10/3/11 – 5/21/26. Oh my sweet boy. There’s so much I want to say, but I don’t know how yet. I already miss you so much…
“The pain in my heart is far more than I can process. But looking through thousands of pictures and videos this past week, I’m also filled with tremendous pride…
“Your 14 years were full of so many challenges, but you met them all with such grit…and you somehow kept your trademark joy in spite of it all…
“You truly had a spark like no other, Isaac! Remembering how loved you were and how full of life your time here was gives me great comfort. Being your dad was the honor of a lifetime. I’m so proud of you and I love you forever. Rest peacefully, son.”
The youngster is survived by his dad, mum Mindy and brother Levi, 10.
Viral sensation Daniel has a huge global following thanks to his colourful animated adventures packed with catchy songs and interactive elements.
Fellow kids superstar and friend of Daniel’s, Ms Rachel, encouraged her following to send love to the family.
She wrote: “Hi wonderful parent and caregiver community – Please send so much love and so many thoughts and prayers to Danny Go and his beautiful family. Danny’s precious son passed away…
“We are so sorry for their loss and are thinking about their son’s amazing joy and their immense pride’. She added a caption reading: ‘Let’s all turn on Danny Go today and send so much love and so many prayers and wrap them up in support.”
Daniel also has a son called Levi, 10Credit: InstagramDanny Go has 4million subscribers on YouTubeCredit: Instagram
In December, Daniel updated his followers on his personal Instagram account, informing them of Isaac’s cancer diagnosis, which he said was almost inevitable given his genetic disorder.
“We found out last week that Isaac has cancer in his mouth,” he wrote. “TBH, we always knew this day was coming, as it’s a near certainty w/ Fanconi anemia…
“But it’s definitely hitting a little earlier than we hoped and is still just such a shocking thing to hear about your child, even if you’ve braced for it for years. Been getting lots of scans and we’re not sure yet how much it’s spread…
“But for now, the plan is to try and remove the cancer surgically asap. We’ve done chemo before with Isaac’s bone marrow transplant, but it’s a much less ideal path due to his genetic disorder and the damage radiation does to the rest of his body….”
Unfortunately, the surgery did not fully remove the cancer, which was found to be on the cusp of stage four at the time, and last month Isaac was transferred into a hospice.
The beloved Disney+ show recently returned to screens with a super-sized season two and a total of 12 episodes for audiences to get their teeth stuck into.
The new series of Rivals picked up straight off the back of the last outing as Tony Baddingham (played by David Tennant) planned to exact revenge on his Venturer TV rivals Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Declan O’ Hara (Aidan Turner).
Season two also brought into the fold some new faces in the form of Maxim Ays from The Larkins and Sanditon as Sebbie Carlisle and Wolfblood actor Bobby Lockwood portraying Dommie Carlisle.
Meanwhile, Marvel’s Agent Carter and Heartstopper star Hayley Atwell took on the part of the MP’s ex-wife and mother to his two children, Helen Gordon.
But what about her husband Malise Gordon, who was also Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor?
Here’s the lowdown on the star playing Malise in Rivals season two.
Who plays Malise in Rivals?
Malise is played by Hollywood star Rupert Everett, who is perhaps best known for 90s romcom My Best Friend’s Wedding alongside Julia Roberts and period drama An Ideal Husband.
With a career dating back to the 80s, Everett has had roles across film and TV and various genres.
Some of his previous projects include BBC ’s The Musketeers in which he starred opposite Rivals star Luke Pasqualino, The Happy Prince, Parade’s End, My Policeman, Everybody Loves Diamond, and The Serpent Queen.
Some of his more recent roles have included appearing in Nicola Coughlan ’s Channel 4 series Big Mood, Netflix ’s Emily in Paris and Madfabulous.
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According to IMDb, Everett will be appeared in The Liar, The Resurrection of the Christ parts 2 and two and Out Late.
Speaking to the Radio Times about the dynamic between Campbell-Black and the Gordons, star Hassell teased that the couple had “really strong, fairly negative feelings” about the amorous politician and former Olympian.
Despite this, the pair were also “protective” towards Campbell-Black even though he had “really really hurt” them endlessly and they were “at the end of their tether”.
A Loose Women panellist spoke about her health problems after rushing for help before the live show.
The Loose Women presenters addressed dentist troubles (Image: ITV)
Loose Women panellist Jane Moore has revealed she rushed to medics for help before a live show.
The panellist joined Christine Lampard, Judi Love and GK Barry on Friday’s programme, where the presenters were discussing dentist appointments.
At one point after a break, Christine teased: “Do you fear losing your teeth as dentists warn they’re overwhelmed?” before jokingly adding: “Jane is here to tell us all about nearly having to rush a dentist onto the studio floor, that was only a couple of weeks ago… it was touch and go, wasn’t it?”
Laughing it off, Jane explained that she had turned up to the studio one morning, and as she was eating, a tooth “fell” into her mouth.
“I thought, ‘What the hell’s that?'” she went on, saying the others had been laughing at her during their morning meeting.
Jane continued: “So I then had to get on a bike and go to the dentist in the middle of the meeting, he was on holiday!
“Anyway, it was a whole thing, so I came back with the tooth, got some gummy stuff and literally put it in.
“People might have noticed – I’m normally quite gobby – [but] I barely said a word. I thought, if I say anything slightly emphatic, my tooth is going to go!”
She added that her loose tooth resulted from receding gums, and she’s now waiting to get it properly fixed after a temporary solution.
This comes after fellow ITV star Kate Garraway made an emergency dash to a dentist after her teeth fell out moments before Good Morning Britain.
She later took to Instagram to explain she’d had an “unfortunate collision” resulting in two front teeth getting cracked.
She said: “Letting you in on the horror behind the scenes on Monday’s show…
“After an unfortunate collision with a taxi window at the weekend I cracked my two front teeth caps.. of course. They then fell out just before going on air.
“All I can say is it’s hard to appear young and cool in front of a whole new team of trendy producers when you are reduced to gluing your teeth on with denture fixative at three in the morning!!!”
Kate continued: “An emergency trip to the dentist means now I have a temporary set of fake teeth … but they are soooo massive.
“Just hoping they hold for @gmb tmrw from 6am with @richardmadeleyofficial – glue at the ready!”
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Laura Bayston has revealed a certain scene felt like a ‘punch in the gut’ as she portrays Kate McCann in a new drama surrounding the case of missing girl, Madeleine McCann
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A brand new drama following the interrogation of Kate McCann over her missing daughter, Madeleine, in 2007 is to air on 5, and actress Laura Bayston has revealed the toughness of a particular scene.
The star portrays Kate in factual drama, Under Suspicion. The story begins three months into the search to find Madeleine. With Portuguese police showing no substantial leads, no real evidence, and having made no arrests in the hunt for the missing tot, Madeleine’s mother, Kate, is summoned for a meeting. And it’s soon apparent that she is now the one being accused.
And Laura admits that a certain scene was tough to digest. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Laura said it left her with a feeling like a “punch in the guts”.
She explained: “It’s the scene when Kate is presented with an offer by the police, which is to confess. As an actor having to respond to the dialog, it was very affecting, you know? In the way that it was a very claustrophobic environment.”
Laura said that while it felt very safe for her as an actor, it was “a very claustrophobic environment in terms of where we were at in the story and what was actually happening”. “And the enormity of it,” she went on.
“It was just a real, absolute, I can’t describe it any other way, it just felt like a massive punch in the guts when that was offered to Kate. It really even today it gets to me It was really shocking.”
While Laura says she was just doing a job and has taken on challenging roles previously, she admits this part will stick with her. “It’s been hard to switch off from this one,” she confessed.
“I will be honest with you, I think it sits just below the surface of my skin, and it always will. And yeah, leaves me with goose bumps thinking about it, you know. I just I think, because I was so invested in the case when it happened, because of my children.”
But she admits her decision to take on the role was not one she took lightly. She says she only did so after knowing the production was being made for the “right reasons”. “I mean it’s a big role…,” she said.
“It was emotionally challenging, but I’ve played emotionally challenging roles before.” She went on: “I think, as an actor, physicality and emotions, it all kind of becomes one thing, but to play a role like this, you have to remember that at the heart of it this is a real life case.
“This is a real woman who is still alive, who’s still with us. It’s still a story, and [you have] to be mindful of that throughout. The entirety was really important to me, and to be as respectful as possible.”
And in an emotional message to viewers, Laura wants those watching to remember “there’s always another side to the story”. She added: “You don’t always react and respond how you think you’re going to react and respond, and it seems to me there’s been a lot of knee-jerk reactions to this from day one, and people will make their opinions public, and whether we want them or not, but no one truly knows, and ultimately, you know, Madeline is still missing, and, and that’s it.
“This happened, and this is based on evidence and it’s based on the transcripts, and it was thoroughly researched, so people can take from it what they like, really, because what we’ve done is present a script as honestly as possible, as truthfully as possible.”
The drama looks at official statements and recorded testimony and depicts Kate’s interrogation, as Portuguese investigators face mounting pressure to deliver answers.
Madeleine vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal in May 2007. Kate and husband Gerry McCann were cleared of any wrongdoing in 2008 after they found themselves wrongly accused of a cover up.
Kate found herself trapped between co-operation and self-preservation as she was confronted by detectives facing hours and hours of questioning.
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann, airs Wednesday 20th May, 9pm on 5
HIS fans have been speculating that something isn’t quite right between Jake Quickenden and his wife Sophie Church over the past couple of days.
And now his pals have confirmed to me that the couple, who married in 2022 and have two children together, have formally separated.
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Jake Quickenden and Sophie Church have split after 4 yearsCredit: RexInsiders have revealed the couple, who married in 2022 and have two children together, have formally separatedCredit: Instagram/@jakequickenden
Former X Factor star Jake, who has also appeared on I’m A Celeb and Dancing On Ice, and Sophie are understood to have told their close friends and family about their decision to split.
“Jake and Sophie have ended their marriage but they remain incredibly amicable,” a pal told me.
“There is still a huge amount of love and respect between them.
“Their main priority has always been, and continues to be, their children, and they are fully committed to being the best parents possible.
“Over time, they started to grow apart and Jake and Sophie have had some long and honest conversations about this.
“While they might not be together any more, they are still on great terms and are looking to the future, co-parenting together. Maintaining a happy and supportive family unit together is their focus now.”
Sophie with one of her and Jake’s childrenCredit: Instagram/@jakequickendenSophie are understood to have told their close friends and family about their decision to splitCredit: Instagram/@jakequickenden
Jake and influencer Sophie got together in 2018.
They dated for three years before he popped the question during a holiday to Rhodes in 2021.
Jake spoke about his love for Sophie in the days following their wedding in Ibiza a year later, saying: “I thought it was an angel walking down the aisle.”
He went on to admit they wrote their own vows, joking: “I was saying, ‘I won’t leave empty wrappers in the cupboard any more’. I said, ‘I’ll still love her when she makes a noise when she eats like a squirrel’.
“I said at the end, ‘I think there’s only one true love and you’re my soulmate’.”
Although it hasn’t worked out, I’m glad to hear they’re still on good terms.
MGK’s swipe after Yung’s ticket rap
Machine Gun Kelly has now declared war on Yungblud, pair pictured in 2019Credit: Getty
The US nonentity took a swipe after Doncaster rocker Yung spoke out about the rising cost of live music tickets.
In a video posted on Instagram, Yungblud – who cancelled several dates of his North American tour last year – said: “Live music has become inaccessible, that’s a fact. Artists are cancelling all the time based on lack of ticket sales, because it is an issue, it’s completely unaffordable for people.”
But MGK lashed out: “You cancelled a tour because you couldn’t sell tickets, blamed it on mental health then got paparazzi’d at Nobu the next day Pinocchio. Your tour tickets are the same price as every other artist. Shut the f* up you silver-spooned preachy w**r.”
Taking the higher ground, a rep for Yungblud – real name Dominic Harrison – replied: “He genuinely hasn’t got time to engage in this.”
Dom should now let his music do the talking. His last three studio albums went straight to No1, and earlier this year he landed a Grammy for his rendition of pal Ozzy Osbourne’s 1972 hit Changes.
MGK, meanwhile, has never hit the top spot here . . .
Kylie strikes chord with pal Chris
Kylie Minogue has revealed Chris Martin helped bring a new song to lifeCredit: GettyColdplay hit-maker Chris sent the singer a voice noteCredit: Getty
I joined a handful of Kylie’s biggest fans at Spotify’s Listening Lounge in London ahead of the launch of her new Netflix docuseries simply titled Kylie, which dropped yesterday.
She explained: “I was coming out from the studio on the phone to Chris while I was working on [album] Tension.
“I told him some of the lines I had, and he asked if he could put some chords to them. Within half an hour, I had a voice note back from him.”
She added: “I can’t imagine Chris is ever very far away from a guitar or drums.”
As well as her new music, fans are finding a new resonance in Kylie’s older tracks following the docuseries – particularly 2023 release Story.
She sings: “I didn’t let the world know, I was fighting a big fight. Fighting a dark light. Raging hard on the inside.”
Kylie is one of life’s fighters.
Madge point
Madonna has taken a swipe at Charli XCXCredit: instagram/madonnaCharli said dance floors are ‘dead’Credit: Getty
MADONNA has taken a swipe at Charli XCX after the Guess singer said she reckons dance floors are “dead.”
On her new song Rock Music, Charli sings: “I think the dance floor is dead, so now we’re making rock music.”
Madge’s dance-heavy new album, Confessions On A Dance Floor: Part II comes out on July 3, and she certainly doesn’t agree.
Her original Confessions On A Dance Floor in 2005 was one of the top albums that year and one of the best-selling records of the 21st Century.
So in response, Madge posted this snap on Instagram last night and wrote: “If your dance floor feels dead, maybe you’re playing the wrong music.” Ouch.
All dolled up
The Pussycat Dolls want us to know it is business as usualCredit: instagram/nicolescehrxinger
Ahead of Euro 2028, Frank has written a new poem to kick-start BT’s partnership with the competition.
“If you properly care, then you’re properly there,” the poem reads.
“Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, West Bromwich, ready to cheer, to revere and pay homage to our teams and our dreams, our fists punching the air or clenched in despair.”
Let’s hope it’s not the latter.
UNA HEALY has quit alcohol because she was sick of having a “rotten hangover”.
The Saturday’s star, who is five months sober, said on Instagram: “I’ve been asked, ‘Is it hard? Is it tough?’ Well, it is hard.
“Sometimes you feel like you’re missing out but you’re not missing out on that rotten hangover.
“If it’s one day without feeling like s**t because of drink, then bring it on.”
The Agency made its debut near the end of 2024 and is finally returning with new episodes. According to its synopsis, the series follows Martian, a covert CIA agent ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station.
When the love he left behind reappears, romance reignites. He soon finds that she is in trouble and he will do anything to try to save her, even past the point of treachery. The only way out is deeper in. A knife-edge Martian must walk if he is to save love, life, and his mission.
Boasting a stellar cast, the line-up includes X-Men actor Michael Fassbender as Martian. He is joined by The Last of Us actor Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, The Crown’s Dominic West, and Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville to name a few.
Billed as a fresh take on the critically acclaimed hit French drama Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau), it was co-created by award winning writer Jez Butterworth who also penned all episodes of crime drama MobLand.
It is now confirmed that Season 2 will arrive on June 21. Its first season is streaming now for viewers to catch up on Paramount+. The service can be accessed either via its own dedicated app, or via an add-on subscription through the Prime Video platform.
An explosive new trailer was also released by the streamer ahead of the second season’s release. It looks to crank up both the tension and action on offer as Fassbender’s character embarks on a dangerous and desperate mission.
The Agency comes approved from notable audiences. In an interview a few months after it was made available, Lauren Cohan who plays Maggie in The Walking Dead and its spin-off, gave it her backing.
Asked for her own streaming recommendations at the time she admitted: “I’m also watching The Agency with Michael Fassbender and it’s on Paramount Plus. It’s great, it’s, it’s a really good show.”
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Telly fans can get seven days of free access to Paramount+ shows like Tulsa King and Dexter: Original Sin by signing up for a free trial via Amazon Prime’s Paramount+ channel.
Plenty of viewers agree with the actor as one fan dubbed The Agency “bold, intense and gripping.” While another went so far as to claim that it is “as good as Homeland”.
Someone else posted online: The Agency is a must watch for anyone a fan of spy thrillers. First of all, the cast is absolutely amazing. It stars Michael Fassbender, Jeffery Wright, Richard Gere and Katherine Waterston. That cast right there is reason enough to give this a try and on top of that it’s a really good show too.”
One advised that it is perhaps not one for a casual viewing and would need some concentration. They said: “This is one of the better new shows so far this year. The Agency is a show where you can’t be playing on your phone, cooking dinner or doing something else, it requires your undivided attention. It’s a show that never gets stale. I can’t remember ever being bored, even for one episode. I loved every second of every episode.”
Another fan agreed by adding: “The writing is spectacular and brought to life by several A-listers. This is not a series you can watch while playing games on your phone. The series develops multiple, complex plots, many of which come together in later episodes and some that are well developed (and brutal at times).”
While some noted there is a slow build-up of tension as it begins, that doesn’t mean people make way through all episodes at record pace. One person said: “This is a great series – amazing performances from all the cast The special effects are great and the dialogue is spot on, hopefully there will be a second season. I binged it in one day.”
“Further tests, specialist reviews and medical processes are still ongoing, and my doctors are continuing to assess my condition.
“On medical advice, I am not currently medically cleared to train or play at the required level, and I will be stepping away from those duties while I focus fully on my health, treatment, and rehabilitation.”
MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which tell your muscles what to do.
This leads them to weaken and stiffen over time and usually affects how you walk, talk, eat and breathe.
Scientists are not sure what causes MND, but it is likely to be a combination of the genes – or biological traits – you get from your parents when you are born, and other lifestyle factors.
Fellow former Queensland player Carl Webb died of MND at 42 in 2023, while former England rugby league half-back Rob Burrow died in 2024, five years after diagnosis.
Former Scotland rugby union international Doddie Weir died in November 2022, and World Cup-winning former England international Lewis Moody was diagnosed in September 2025.
“Thank you for the support I’ve received over what has been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period in my life,” said Arrow.
“Over recent months, my symptoms have affected different parts of my everyday life.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone at the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the personal support they have shown me and my family throughout this process.
“The South Sydney Rabbitohs, my team-mates, staff, and everyone behind the scenes have made an incredibly hard situation much easier to face.
“What I need right now isn’t sympathy or sadness. What I need is support, understanding and privacy while my family and I navigate this difficult time.
“This is only part of my story, and when the time is right, I’ll share more. But for now, I ask everyone to respect my privacy while I continue working with my doctors and my family.”
Arrow made his NRL debut in 2016 for the Broncos, before joining the Titans in 2018. He joined South Sydney in 2021, for whom he made 98 NRL appearances.
“We all know how difficult the past few months have been for Jai, but we also know that he will fight this illness with the same bravery, passion and character that was the hallmark of his playing career,” said Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly.
“Jai and his family will always be Rabbitohs and they will be part of this club for many years to come.”
Tom Kane, a prolific voice actor whose signature roles included Master Yoda in a number of animated “Star Wars” shows as well as Professor Utonium on “The Powerpuff Girls,” has died. He was 64.
Kane died Monday from complications of a stroke he suffered in 2020, his representative Zachery McGinnis confirmed to The Times. The voice actor’s death was announced on social media by his talent agency, Galactic Productions.
“From his unforgettable performances in Star Wars to countless animated series, documentaries, and games, Tom brought wisdom, strength, humor, and heart to every role he touched,” reads a statement posted Monday on Galactic Productions’ Facebook page. “His voice became part of our lives, our memories, and the stories we carry with us. … Though his voice may now be silent, the characters, stories, and love he gave to the world will live on forever.”
Kane first joined the “Star Wars” franchise through video games in the 1990s, voicing droids, Imperial officers and rebel pilots in installments such as “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire” and “Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter.” He would go on to voice other characters, including the iconic protocol droid C-3PO, Jedi Master Yoda and the bounty hunter Boba Fett, in various games over the years.
He continued to voice Yoda in animated “Star Wars” shows, first in “Star Wars: Clone Wars,” Genndy Tartakovsky’s series set after the events of the 2002 film “Episode II — Attack of the Clones,” in which Kane also voiced C-3PO.
But Kane’s most notable “Star Wars” role was as the narrator of the 2008 film “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and the subsequent series of the same name, where he kicked off each adventure as the spoken version of the classic “Star Wars” opening crawl to set the stage for the story that followed.
“Tom loved ‘Star Wars,’” Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s president and chief creative officer, said in the studio’s tribute to Kane. “Fans may best remember him as the voice of the animated Yoda, but truly his voice was the spirit of the Clone Wars. His opening narration introduced an entire generation to the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy getting viewers ready for another adventure far, far, away.”
“When I was first starting out as a director I was fortunate to have someone as legendary as Tom there to help me learn and guide me towards what the actors needed. Very Yoda like indeed,” Filoni added.
Besides his “Star Wars” roles, Kane’s credits also include the devoted valet Woodhouse in “Archer,” the mutant Magneto in Marvel video games, the prim and proper head of house Mr. Herriman in “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” and the flamboyant villain Him in “The Powerpuff Girls.”
Kane said in a 2014 Reddit AMA that “The Powerpuff Girls’” Professor Utonium, who combined sugar, spice and everything nice — along with chemical X — to create the super-powered kindergartners, was the character he most identified with.
“He’s a dorky dad who loves his kids,” Kane wrote in a comment. “That’s pretty much me.”
Tara Strong, who voiced Powerpuff Girl Blossom, described Kane as “Brilliant. Giving. Funny. Supportive. [And] Kind.” in her tribute.
“They say there’s no such thing as a perfect man… those people never met [Tom Kane]. I’ve never in my life met a sweeter soul or a better human being,” Strong wrote in a Monday post on X. “I’m beyond grateful for all the hours we spent together in the booth, and so grateful we got to see him again recently… hug him tight and tell him how much we love and miss him.”
“I love you, Professor. You were the best dad, the best human, and I feel so honored to have known you and called you my friend,” she added.
Born April 15, 1962, in Overland Park, Kan., Kane began his voice acting career at age 15 doing commercials in his hometown of Kansas City, according to IMDb. In addition to his work in games, film and television, Kane has lent his voice to announce awards shows, including the 78th, 80th, 83rd, 84th and 90th Academy Awards broadcasts, as well as on attractions at Disney Theme parks.
“I’m also glad that his characters and voice will live on in many ways,” Filoni said in his tribute. “Wherever you go there’s always a chance that Tom is the voice you hear guiding you through Disneyland or a galaxy far, far away.”
Kane is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their nine children, six of whom joined the family through adoption and fostering.
