For filmmaker Scott Mann, three dozen F-bombs had the makings of a million-dollar headache.
When Mann wrapped “Fall,” a 2022 thriller about two women stranded atop a 2,000-foot radio tower, he figured the hard part was over. Shot in the Mojave Desert on a $3-million budget, the film didn’t have money to burn and seemed on course. But Lionsgate wanted a PG-13 rating and, with 35 expletives, “Fall” was headed for an R. Reshoots would cost more than $1 million — far beyond what the production could afford.
In the past, a director might have taken out a second mortgage or thrown themselves at the mercy of the ratings board. Mann instead turned to AI.
A few years earlier, he had been dismayed by how a German dub of his 2015 thriller “Heist” flattened the performances, including a key scene with Robert De Niro, to match stiff, mistranslated dialogue. That frustration led Mann to co-found Flawless, an AI startup aimed at preserving the integrity of an actor’s performance across languages. As a proof of concept, he used the company’s tech to subtly reshape De Niro’s mouth movements and restore the emotional nuance of the original scene.
On “Fall,” Mann applied that same technology to clean up the profanity without reshoots, digitally modifying the actors’ mouths to match PG-13-friendly lines like “freaking” — at a fraction of the cost.
A series on how the AI revolution is reshaping the creative foundations of Hollywood — from storytelling and performance to production, labor and power.
As AI stirs both hype and anxiety in Hollywood, Mann understands why even such subtle digital tweaks can feel like a violation. That tension came to a head during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, in which AI became the defining flash point in the fight over acting’s future.
“Ours is a rights-based industry,” says Mann, 45, who helped develop a digital rights management platform at Flawless to ensure performers approve any changes to their work. “It’s built on protecting human creativity, the contributions of actors, directors, editors, and if those rights aren’t protected, that value gets lost.”
Mann at his office in Santa Monica.
(Brian Feinzimer / For The Times)
Still, Mann doesn’t see AI as a threat so much as a misunderstood tool — one that, used carefully, can support the artists it’s accused of replacing. Flawless’ DeepEditor, for example, lets directors transfer facial expressions from one take to another, even when the camera angle or lighting changes, helping actors preserve their strongest moments without breaking continuity.
“Plenty of actors I’ve worked with have had that moment where they see what’s possible and realize, ‘Oh my God, this is so much better,’” Mann says. “It frees them up, takes off the pressure and helps them do a better job. Shutting AI out is naive and a way to end up on the wrong side of history. Done right, this will make the industry grow and thrive.”
AI isn’t hovering at the edges of acting anymore — it’s already on soundstages and in editing bays. Studios have used digital tools to de-age Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” resurrect Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin in “Rogue One” and clone Val Kilmer’s voice in “Top Gun: Maverick” after throat cancer left him unable to speak. The technology has reshaped faces, smoothed dialogue and fast-tracked everything from dubbing to reshoots. And its reach is growing: Studios can now revive long-dead stars, conjure stunt doubles who never get hurt and rewrite performances long after wrap.
But should they?
Actors outside Paramount Studios during a SAG-AFTRA solidarity rally in September 2023.
(Al Seib / For The Times)
As the tools grow more sophisticated, the threat to actors goes beyond creative disruption. In an industry where steady work is already elusive and the middle class of working actors is vanishing, AI raises the prospect of fewer jobs, lower pay and, in a dystopian twist, a future in which your disembodied face and voice might get work without you.
Background actors were among the first to sound the alarm during the 2023 strike, protesting studio proposals to scan them once and reuse their likenesses indefinitely. That scenario is already beginning to unfold: In China, a state-backed initiative will use AI to reimagine 100 kung fu classics, including films starring Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, through animation and other digital enhancements. Lee’s estate said it was unaware of the project, raising questions about how these actors’ likenesses might be used, decades after filming.
If the soul of acting is a human presence, what remains when even that can be simulated?
“You want to feel breath — you want to feel life,” said actor and director Ethan Hawke during a panel at 2023’s Telluride Film Festival, where strike-era unease over AI was palpable. “When we see a great painting, we feel a human being’s blood, sweat and tears. That’s what we’re all looking for, that connection with the present moment. And AI can’t do that.”
Who’s in control?
Justine Bateman may seem like an unlikely crusader in Hollywood’s fight against AI. Launched to fame as Mallory Keaton on the 1980s sitcom “Family Ties,” she later became a filmmaker and earned a computer science degree from UCLA. Now, as founder of the advocacy group CREDO23, Bateman has become one of the industry’s fiercest voices urging filmmakers to reject AI-generated content and defend the integrity of human-made work. Loosely modeled on Dogme 95, CREDO23 offers a certification of films made without AI, using minimal VFX and union crews. It’s a pledge backed by a council including “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, “The Handmaid’s Tale” director Reed Morano and actor Juliette Lewis.
The 2023 SAG-AFTRA contract set new guardrails: Studios must get actors’ consent to create or use digital replicas of their likenesses, and those replicas can’t generate new performances without a separate deal. Actors must also be compensated and credited when their digital likeness is used.
But to Bateman, a former SAG-AFTRA board member and negotiating committee rep, those protections are little more than sandbags against an inevitable AI flood: hard-won but already straining to keep the technology at bay.
“The allowances in the contract are pretty astounding,” Bateman says by phone, her voice tight with exasperation. “If you can picture the Teamsters allowing self-driving trucks in their contract — that’s on par with what SAG did. If you’re not making sure human roles are played by human actors, I’m not sure what the union is for.”
Justine Bateman, photographed by The Times in 2022.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
To Bateman, the idea that AI expands access to filmmaking — a central tenet of its utopian sales pitch — is a dangerous myth, one that obscures deeper questions about authorship and the value of creative labor.
“Anyone can make a film — my last two, I shot on an iPhone,” Bateman says. “The idea that AI is ‘democratizing film’ doesn’t even make sense. What it really does is remove the barrier of skill. It lets people pretend they’re filmmakers when they’re not, by prompting software that wouldn’t even function without having stolen a hundred years of film and TV production made by real filmmakers.”
Bateman’s opposition to AI is rooted in a deep distrust of Silicon Valley’s expanding influence over the creative process and a belief that filmmaking should be driven by artists, not algorithms. “The tech bro business completely jumped the shark with generative AI,” she says. “Is it solving plastics in the ocean? Homelessness? L.A. traffic? Not that I’m aware of.”
She scoffs at the supposed efficiencies AI brings to the filmmaking process: “It’s like saying, whatever somebody enjoys — sex or an ice cream sundae — ‘Hey, now you can do it in a quarter of the time.’ OK, but then what do you think life is for?“
To Bateman, an actor’s voice, face, movements or even their choice of costume is not raw material to be reshaped but an expression of authorship. AI, in her view, erases those choices and the intent behind them. “I’m deeply against changing what the actor did,” she says. “It’s not right to have the actor doing things or saying things they didn’t do — or to alter their hair, makeup or clothes in postproduction using AI. The actor knows what they did.”
While Bateman has been public and unwavering in her stance, many actors remain unsure whether to raise their voices. In the wake of the strikes, much of the conversation around AI has moved behind closed doors, leaving those who do speak out feeling at times exposed and alone.
Scarlett Johansson, who lent her smoky, hypnotic voice to the fictional AI in Spike Jonze’s Oscar-winning 2013 film “Her,” now finds herself in a uniquely uncomfortable position: She’s both a symbol of our collective fascination with artificial performance and a real-world example of what’s at stake when that line is crossed. Last year, she accused OpenAI of using a chatbot voice that sounded “eerily similar” to hers, months after she declined to license it. OpenAI denied the claim and pulled the voice, but the incident reignited concern over consent and control.
Johansson has long spoken out against the unauthorized use of her image, including her appearance in deepfake pornography, and has pushed for stronger safeguards against digital impersonation. To date, though, she is one of the few major stars to publicly push back against the creeping mimicry enabled by AI — and she’s frustrated that more haven’t joined her. “There has to be some agreed-upon set of boundaries in order for [AI] to not be detrimental,” she told Vanity Fair in May. “I wish more people in the public eye would support and speak out about that. I don’t know why that’s not the case.”
Lights, camera, replication
Ed Ulbrich, 60, a pioneering visual effects producer and co-founder of Digital Domain, has spent his career helping actors do the impossible, one pixel at a time.
In 2008’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” he led the team of more than 150 artists in building a fully digital version of Brad Pitt’s face so the actor could convincingly age in reverse — a two-year effort that earned Ulbrich and three colleagues an Oscar for visual effects and set a new benchmark for digital performance. (Nearly two decades later, the achievement is still impressive, although some scenes, especially those with Pitt’s aged face composited on a child’s body, now show their digital seams.) For 2010’s “Tron: Legacy,” Ulbrich helped digitally transform Jeff Bridges into his 1982 self using motion capture and CGI.
Working on last year’s “Here” — Robert Zemeckis’ technically daring drama starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright as a couple whose lives play out across decades in a single New Jersey living room — showed Ulbrich just how far things have come. For someone who jokes he has “real estate in the uncanny valley,” it wasn’t just the AI-enabled realism that floored him. It was the immediacy. On set, AI wasn’t enhancing footage after the fact; it was visually reshaping the performance in real time.
Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in the movie “Here.”
(Sony Pictures Ent.)
“You look up and see 67-year-old Tom Hanks. You look down at the monitor — he’s 20, and it looks better than the best CGI,” Ulbrich says. “In my world, the human face is the holy grail. That is the most complicated thing you can do. And now it’s getting done in near real time before your eyes. The actor can come back and look at the monitor and get new ideas, because they’re seeing a different version of themselves: younger, older, as an alien or whatever.”
This kind of seamless AI-driven alteration marks a new frontier in postproduction. Modern AI systems can now “beautify” actors’ faces, like some would with a Instagram or Zoom filter: smooth out wrinkles, alter skin tone, sharpen jawlines, subtly nudge eye position to better match a desired gaze. What once required painstaking VFX can now be handled by fast, flexible AI tools, often with results invisible to audiences.
Once limited to only big-budget sci-fi and fantasy productions, this digital touch-up capability is expanding into rom-coms, prestige dramas, high-end TV and even some indie films. Dialogue can be rewritten and re-lipped in post. Facial expressions can be smoothed or swapped without reshoots. More and more, viewers may have no way of knowing what’s real and what’s been subtly adjusted.
“Here” was largely rejected by both audiences and critics, with some deeming its digitally de-aged performances more unsettling than moving. But Ulbrich says digitally enhanced performance is already well underway.
Talent agency CAA has built a vault of client scans, a kind of biometric asset library for future productions. Some stars now negotiate contracts that reduce their time on set, skipping hours in the makeup chair or performance-capture gear, knowing AI can fill in the gaps.
“Robert Downey, Brad Pitt, Will Smith — they’ve all been scanned many times,” says Ulbrich, who recently joined the AI-driven media company Moonvalley, which pitches itself as a more ethical, artist-centered player in the space. “If you’ve done a studio tentpole, you’ve been scanned.
“There is a lot of fear around AI and it’s founded,” he adds. “Unless you do something about it, you can just get run over. But there are people out there that are harnessing this. At this point, fighting AI is like fighting against electricity.”
While many in Hollywood wrestle with what AI means for the oldest component of moviemaking, others take a more pragmatic view, treating it as a tool to solve problems and keep productions on track. Jerry Bruckheimer, the powerhouse producer behind “Top Gun,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and this summer’s “F1,” is among those embracing its utility.
“AI is not going anywhere and it’s only going to get more useful for people in our business,” he said in a recent interview with The Times.
He recalled one such moment during post-production on his new Brad Pitt–led Formula One drama, a logistical feat filmed during actual Formula One races across Europe and the Middle East, with a budget north of $200 million.
“Brad was in the wilds of New Zealand, and we had test screenings coming up,” Bruckheimer says. “We couldn’t get his voice to do some looping, so we used an app that could mimic Brad Pitt. I’m sure the union will come after me if you write that, but it wasn’t used in the movie because he became available.”
While he’s skeptical of AI’s ability to generate truly original ideas — “We’re always going to need writers,” he says — Bruckheimer, whose films have grossed more than $16 billion worldwide, sees AI as a powerful tool for global reach.
“They can take Brad’s voice from the movie and turn it into other languages so it’s actually his voice, rather than another actor,” he says. “If it’s not available yet, it will be.”
The debate over AI in performance flared earlier this year with “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet’s award-winning drama about a Hungarian architect. After the film’s editor, Dávid Jancsó, revealed that AI voice-cloning software had been used to subtly modify the Hungarian accents of stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, the backlash followed swiftly.
Some critics accused the film of using AI to smooth over performances while presenting itself as handcrafted, a move one viral post derided as trying to “cheap out without soul.” Corbet later clarified that AI was used sparingly, only to adjust vowel sounds, but the decision left some viewers uneasy — even as Brody went on to win the Oscar for lead actor.
If the controversy over “The Brutalist” struck some as a moral crisis, David Cronenberg found the whole thing overblown. Few filmmakers have probed the entanglement of flesh, identity and technology as relentlessly as the director of “Videodrome,” “The Fly” and last year’s “The Shrouds,” so he’s not particularly rattled by the rise of AI-assisted performances.
“All directors have always messed around with actors’ performances — that’s what editing is,” Cronenberg told The Times in April. “Filmmaking isn’t theater. It’s not sacred. We’ve been using versions of this for years. It’s another tool in the toolbox. And it’s not controlling you — you can choose not to use it.”
Long before digital tools, Cronenberg recalls adjusting actor John Lone’s vocal pitch in his 1993 film “M. Butterfly,” in which Lone played a Chinese opera singer and spy who presents as a woman to seduce a French diplomat. The director raised the pitch when the character appeared as a woman and lowered it when he didn’t — a subtle manipulation to reinforce the illusion.
David Cronenberg, photographed at his home in Toronto, Canada, in April.
(Kate Dockeray / For The Times)
Far from alarmed, Cronenberg is intrigued by AI’s creative potential as a way of reshaping authorship itself. With new platforms like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo 3 now capable of generating increasingly photorealistic clips from simple text prompts, an entire performance could conceivably be conjured from a writer’s keyboard.
“Suddenly you can write a scene — a woman is walking down the street, she looks like this, she’s wearing that, it’s raining, whatever — and AI can create a video for you,” Cronenberg says. “To me, this is all exciting. It absolutely can threaten all kinds of jobs and that has to be dealt with, but every technological advance has done that and we just have to adapt and figure it out.”
Ghosts in the frame
In the Hollywood of the late 1970s, there was no AI to tweak an actor’s face. So when “Star Wars” star Mark Hamill fractured his nose and left cheekbone in a serious car crash between shooting the first and second films, the solution was to tweak the story. The 1980 sequel “The Empire Strikes Back” opened with Luke Skywalker being attacked by a nine-foot-tall snow beast called a wampa on the ice planet Hoth, partly to account for the change in his appearance.
Decades later, when Hamill was invited to return as a younger version of himself in the 2020 Season 2 finale of “The Mandalorian,” the chance to show Luke “at the height of his powers was irresistible,” he says.
But the reality left him feeling oddly detached from the character that made him famous. Hamill shared the role with a younger body double, and digital de-aging tools recreated his face from decades earlier. The character’s voice, meanwhile, was synthesized using Respeecher, a neural network trained on old recordings of Hamill to mimic his speech from the original trilogy era.
“I didn’t have that much dialogue: ‘Are you Luke Skywalker?’ ‘I am,’” Hamill recalled in an interview with The Times earlier this year. “I don’t know what they do when they take it away, in terms of tweaking it and making your voice go up in pitch or whatever.”
When fans speculated online that he hadn’t participated at all, Hamill declined to correct the record.
“My agent said, ‘Do you want me to put out a statement or something?’” Hamill recalls. “I said, ‘Eh, people are going to say what they want to say.’ Maybe if you deny it, they say, ‘See? That proves it — he’s denying it.’”
A digitally de-aged Mark Hamill as the young Luke Skywalker in a 2020 episode of “The Mandalorian.”
(Lucasfilm Ltd.)
When Luke returned again in a 2022 episode of “The Book of Boba Fett,” the process was even more synthetic: Hamill was minimally involved on camera and the character was built almost entirely from digital parts: a de-aged face mapped onto a body double with an AI-generated voice delivering his lines. Hamill was credited and compensated, though the exact terms of the arrangement haven’t been made public.
The visual effect was notably improved from earlier efforts, thanks in part to a viral deepfake artist known as Shamook, whose YouTube video improving the VFX in “The Mandalorian” finale had racked up millions of views. He was soon hired by Industrial Light & Magic — a rare case of fan-made tech critique turning into a studio job.
“In essence, yes, I did participate,” Hamill says.
It’s one thing to be digitally altered while you’re still alive. It’s another to keep performing after you’re gone.
Before his death last year, James Earl Jones — whose resonant baritone helped define Darth Vader for generations — gave Lucasfilm permission to recreate his voice using AI. In a recent collaboration with Disney, Epic Games deployed that digital voice in Fortnite, allowing players to team up with Vader and hear new lines delivered in Jones’ unmistakable tones, scripted by Google’s Gemini AI.
In May, SAG-AFTRA later filed a labor charge, saying the use of Jones’ voice hadn’t been cleared with the union.
Last year’s “Alien: Romulus” sparked similar backlash over the digital resurrection of Ian Holm’s android character Ash nearly a decade after Holm’s death. Reconstructed using a blend of AI and archival footage, the scenes were slammed by some fans as a form of “digital necromancy.” For the film’s home video release, director Fede Álvarez quietly issued an alternate cut that relied more heavily on practical effects, including an animatronic head modeled from a preexisting cast of Holm’s face.
For Hollywood, AI allows nostalgia to become a renewable resource, endlessly reprocessed and resold. Familiar faces can be altered, repurposed and inserted into entirely new stories. The audience never has to say goodbye and the industry never has to take the risk of introducing someone new.
Hamill, for his part, seems ready to let go of Luke. After his final arc in 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” he says he feels a sense of closure.
“I don’t know the full impact AI will have but I find it very ominous,“ he says. “I’m fine. I had my time. Now the spotlight should be on the current and future actors and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.”
Actors, not avatars
Actor and AI startup Wonder Dynamics co-founder Tye Sheridan, photographed by The Times in 2021.
(Michael Nagle / For The Times)
Actor Tye Sheridan knows how dark an AI future could get. After all, he starred in Steven Spielberg’s 2018 “Ready Player One,” a sci-fi thriller set inside a corporate-controlled world of digital avatars. But Sheridan isn’t trying to escape into that world — he’s trying to shape the one ahead.
With VFX supervisor Nikola Todorovic, Sheridan co-founded Wonder Dynamics in 2017 to explore how AI can expand what’s possible on screen. Their platform uses AI to insert digital characters into live-action scenes without green screens or motion-capture suits, making high-end VFX more accessible to low-budget filmmakers. Backed by Spielberg and “Avengers” co-director Joe Russo, Wonder Dynamics was acquired last year by Autodesk, the software firm behind many animation and design tools.
“Since the advent of the camera, technology has been pushing this industry forward,” Sheridan, 28, says on a video call. “AI is just another part of that path. It can make filmmaking more accessible, help discover new voices. Maybe the next James Cameron will find their way into the industry through some AI avenue. I think that’s really exciting.”
With production costs spiraling, Todorovic sees AI as a way to lower the barrier to entry and make riskier, more ambitious projects possible. “We really see AI going in that direction, where you can get those A24-grounded stories with Marvel visuals,” he says. “That’s what younger audiences are hungry for.”
The shift, Todorovic argues, could lead to more films overall and more opportunities for actors. “Maybe instead of 10,000 people making five movies, it’ll be 1,000 people making 50,” he says.
Still, Todorovic sees a threshold approaching, one where synthetic actors could, in theory, carry a film. “I do think technically it is going to get solved,” Todorovic says. “But the question remains — is that what we really want? Do we really want the top five movies of the year to star humans who don’t exist? I sure hope not.”
For him, the boundary isn’t just about realism. It’s about human truth.
“You can’t prompt a performance,” he says. “You can’t explain certain movements of the body and it’s very hard to describe emotions. Acting is all about reacting. That’s why when you make a movie, you do five takes — or 40. Because it’s hard to communicate.”
Sheridan, who has appeared in the “X-Men” franchise as well as smaller dramas like “The Card Counter” and “The Tender Bar,” understands that instinctively and personally. “I started acting in films when I was 11 years old,” he says. “I wouldn’t ever want to build something that put me out of a job. That’s the fun part — performing, exploring, discovering the nuances. That’s why we fall in love with certain artists: their unique sensibility, the way they do what no one else can.”
He knows that may sound contradictory coming from the co-founder of an AI company. That’s exactly why he believes it’s critical that artists, not Silicon Valley CEOs, are the ones shaping how the technology is used.
“We should be skeptical of AI and its bad uses,” he says. “It’s a tool that can be used for good or bad. How are we going to apply it to create more access and opportunity in this industry and have more voices heard? We’re focused on keeping the artist as an essential part of the process, not replacing them.”
For now, Sheridan lives inside that paradox, navigating a technology that could both elevate and imperil the stories he cares most about.
His next acting gig? “The Housewife,” a psychological drama co-starring Naomi Watts and Michael Imperioli, in which he plays a 1960s New York Times reporter investigating a suspected Nazi hiding in Queens. No AI. No doubles. Just people pretending to be other people the old way, while it lasts.
Bake Off: The Professionals continues on Channel 4 tonight with chefs putting their careers on the line, while Helen, Jules and JB head to Pembrokeshire in their new Channel 5 show
Bake Off: The Professionals airs its semi-final tonight(Image: Channel 4 / Laura Palmer)
Bake Off: The Professionals continues on our screens tonight – and the chefs are set to take on the most demanding challenge yet. In tonight’s (Tuesday 22 July) episode of the Channel 4 show, the semi-final gets under way as they compete in the Bake Off spin-off.
Not only is the nation watching as their souffles sink, but if Cherish and Benoit belittle their Bakewell tarts they know their bosses will be taking notes at home too…
With their reputations on the line, four teams of pastry pros nervously approach the semi-final. Tonight’s challenges are chocolate-themed, and there will be extra scrutiny from guest judge Gabriella Cugno, who worked as the official chocolatier on the blockbuster film Wonka. Gabriella knows exactly how to make delicious choccies look magical, and that’s what will be required from the teams tonight.
Cherish and Benoit on Bake Off: The Professionals(Image: Channel 4 / Laura Palmer)
First up, they must craft two different types of chocolate bar from scratch, and with no recipe to follow they are free to unleash their imaginations. Fun as it sounds, it’s quite the test for these bakers, who usually deal in cake rather than confectionery. Then it’s onto one of the most demanding showpiece challenges in the show’s history – ‘Floating Cities’.
The judges require the teams to create an edible, ornate, sturdy vessel, that will float on water carrying 24 immaculate petit fours. Of course, the wondrous treats will need to taste spectacular too, and each dessert must be identical to its neighbour. It’s a tantalising prospect, and the results are sure to be stunning – but not everyone will make it through to next week’s final. Imagine spending hours labouring on a sugary boat of dreams, only to be sent home…
Bake Off: The Professionals airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.
Coastal Adventures with Helen, Jules and JB
We’ve heard of whale watching, but tonight Jules Hudson is on the Pembrokeshire coast, trying to photograph porpoises. He’s taking part in a major conservation project run by Sea Trust Wales to protect the creatures, who prove quite difficult to spot.
Jules has definitely got the plum job this week, while poor Helen is thrown into cold waters, going surfing in Tynemouth. It turns out the North East is becoming quite the hotspot for the sport, and the quay is also home to wonderful fishing traditions, which she enjoys before tucking into a stunning seafood lunch – not such a short straw after all.
Later, JB reveals that Norfolk’s finest export, Colman’s mustard, owes its flavour to the sea air (who knew?), before setting sail from Burnham Overy Staithe. He hopes to emulate Nelson, but even with local skipper Ash giving him the best tuition, JB isn’t exactly a natural on the water…
Coastal Adventures with Helen, Jules & JB airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 5.
Mix Tape
Mix Tape has proven to be popular with TV fans(Image: BBC)
It’s finally time for Alison and Daniel to meet up in Sydney, as they bite the bullet and meet for dinner. The electricity is still there between them, but when he broaches the subject of why she did a runner all those years ago, Alison clams up and asks for the bill.
Daniel is left confused and frustrated. At the same time his marriage is dealt another blow as Kat reacts badly to his revelation that he’s in Australia for work. Who does Dan really want to be with – and do either of the loves of his life want to be with him anymore?
As Alison deals with seeing Dan again – and her manager begs her to travel to England for publicity – she considers whether it’s time to tell him what really happened in Sheffield. Meanwhile, flashbacks give us a glimpse of the turmoil Alison was facing at home in 1989.
Mix Tape airs tonight at 9pm on BBC Two.
Emmerdale
Robert and Kim are all set for a secret meeting to hand over Annie’s Field, but Robert senses something isn’t quite right. He backs out of the deal, leaving Kim exasperated. Robert does some digging.
John is frustrated that Cain is still miserable, despite the news about Owen. Struggling with his emotions, Cain grills Liam. Liam insists he can’t break patient confidentiality and the pair come to blows.
Later, John feels guilty after a conversation with Liam, and messages the helpline again.
EastEnders
Julie and Phil can’t seem to agree on what’s best for Nigel. Billy convinces Phil he needs to try harder with her, despite their differences.
Linda talks to Oscar and reveals the truth about Annie’s paternity. She panics when he wants to tell Max. Linda finds Lauren, and insists she needs to change Oscar’s mind.
Avani tries to tell Priya she’s pregnant, but holds back. Later, Suki spots Avani looking at a family planning website.
Skip Brittenham, a prominent Hollywood attorney whose clients included Harrison Ford, Henry Winkler and Eddie Murphy, has died at age 83.
Brittenham died Thursday, said Ziffren Brittenham LLP, the firm he founded in 1978.
“Everyone in our industry knew of Skip’s legal prowess,” the firm said in a statement. “But some may not have known of his quiet generosity, his ability to find humor and opportunity in the darkest moments, and his unwavering belief that media and the entertainment industry must serve people, not the other way around.”
The firm did not disclose the cause of death.
Brittenham was known in the entertainment industry as a powerful dealmaker. Beyond his starry client list, Brittenham helped to forge Pixar’s initial deal with Disney, was behind the splitting of DreamWorks and ushered Disney’s acquisition of Miramax.
“What amuses me most about Skip is he often represents everyone in the deal,” Ford, who was a client before he rose to fame with “Star Wars,” told The Times in 2005. “And, he does a really good job for everybody … I’ve always walked away from every negotiation and thought, ‘Jesus, how did he get that?’”
Ken Ziffren, one of two lawyers with whom Brittenham founded the firm, told The Times in 2005 that early in their partnership, the two discovered they were wooing the same prospective client, comedian Richard Pryor.
“Skip did not back down,” Ziffren said. “He got Pryor.”
Born Harry M. Brittenham, the eldest son of an Air Force fighter pilot, he spent much of his childhood moving from one base to another. Although he attended Air Force Academy, Brittenham got hit in the eye with a squash racket in 1963. His 20-20 vision — a requirement for pilot training — was gone.
He spent four years negotiating contracts for the Air Force before enrolling in law school at UCLA.
Outside of his professional life, Brittenham was a passionate fly-fisher with decades of experience. He competed in and won several worldwide fishing competitions and practiced the sport across six continents.
The love of nature Brittenham tended to as he pursued fly-fishing led him to serve as a longtime board member of Conservation International, a leading environmental organization that honored him with its Heroes of Conservation Award.
Brittenham was also an avid fan of science fiction, and he authored a sci-fi graphic novel titled “Anomaly” in 2012. Speaking with The Times ahead of the book’s release, Brittenham said he wanted to dabble in his creative side and tap into his childhood love for Marvel and DC Comics to show people he was more than just a negotiator.
“I don’t like to just try things out,” he said. “I like to jump all the way in and figure out how to do something unique and different.”
Although Brittenham is remembered as a tenacious lawyer, he also had a reputation as a family man, often leaving the office by 5 p.m. to be with his wife and children.
Brittenham was married to actor and screenwriter Heather Thomas, and he had three daughters: Kristina, Shauna and India. He is also survived by his brother Bud, two devoted sons-in-law Jesse Sisgold and Avi Reiter, and four grandchildren.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! All Stars is making a return and two iconic stars from the programme is said to be close to signing up for the South African series
Harry, 78, took part in the 2018 series filmed in Australia and even beat the likes of Emily Atack and John Barrowman to become King of the Jungle. Meanwhile, Diva Forever star Gemma was part of the 2014 programme but only lasted a couple of days before making a beeline for the exit.
Harry was crowned the winner of his series(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
It has been reported that Harry could earn a huge fee if he were to take part in the South African All Stars series, which is said to start filming this autumn.
It could rival Coleen Rooney and Nigel Farage’s hefty paycheck, which was reportedly around £1.5million. Meanwhile, bosses are said to have offered £150,000 to Gemma for her to take part in the competition.
An insider claimed to The Sun: “It’s going to be a real coup. Harry is TV gold and was first on the list of wannabe celebrity contestants.” The Mirror have reached out to Gemma and Harry’s representatives for comment.
While appearing on GMB, Harry spoke to Kate and Ben to discuss a celebrity football match he was leading, but the presenters couldn’t resist quizzing the football manager on why he was absent from the series.
Kate remarked: “I was quite surprised you didn’t get a phone call for the I’m a Celebrity All-Stars, did you ever fancy going back?”
“No, I didn’t get the phone call, Kate,” Harry replied. “I don’t know, maybe they lost my number. No, it didn’t happen, but I think once is, ‘You’ve done it,’ once was enough,” he added.
“It was a great experience, but I really am not desperate to get back in again.”
Meanwhile, Gemma previously shared the real reason she quit the show after only three days in the jungle. “My time was short in the jungle, and not many people know that I was robbed and physically attacked 24 hours before leaving for Australia,” she said.
The reality TV star continued: “I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I still went in. However, I was in a terrible state and shock, as you can imagine and couldn’t see it through.
“I took lots of stick over it, but if you was robbed and attacked and then sent into the jungle, I’m sure you would have struggled too. I would never let anyone destroy my dreams again.”
Two contestants on Love Island are said to have got together before the series began – but now the Islanders are acting like they haven’t met while in the villa
Love Island shock as two stars ‘acting like strangers despite hooking up before the show’(Image: ITV)
Two Love Island stars have reportedly hooked up with each other before this year’s series even began. The Casa Amor duo is said to have taken part in ITV’s unfilmed rehearsal in May, where they joined a number of fake cast members to test out camera angles and general life in the villa.
It has been reported the two, Ty Isherwood and Lauren Wood, were later invited back onto the show as the Casa Amor cast and have been acting like they don’t know each other despite a brief fling. They said: “Ty and Lauren are acting like they’ve only just met but that’s far from the case.”
Ty and Lauren reportedly hooked up before the show(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
“They hooked up during the dry run, which is where a fake cast moves into the villa to test out everything from camera angles, to kitchen appliances and run-through challenges,” they said to The Sun.
According to the insider, Ty and Lauren also ‘saw each other on the outside’ before they were invited back onto the show by ITV producers.
The Mirror have reached out to ITV for comment. Meanwhile, Lauren and Harrison narrowly avoided being dumped earlier this week after Shakira and Ty chose to dump Tommy and Lucy – saving Harrison and Lauren and Conor and Emma.
Lauren and Harrison narrowly avoided getting dumped(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
The pair seemed to celebrate their survival in the bedroom – with fans left shocked as they saw Harrison ask Harry for a condom. As the Islanders settled down for the night, Harrison was seen reaching over to Helena and Harry’s bed via the night cam, as he asked: “Do you have a condom?”
Harry and Helena could be seen in hysterics as Helena quickly pulled one out the drawer, with Harry passing it over. The couple then got under the covers, as the cameras panned to them kissing.
Fans were shocked by the move and rushed to social media to share their thoughts, with one user writing: “Did Harry just pass a condom to Lauren and Harrison???! I didn’t know I was watching too hot to handle.”
A second shocked fan said: “I have never. In all my years seen someone ask for a condom on #loveisland. Like yayyyyy for sexual safety but that is tooooooooooo raz.”
“Do you have a condom? Is going to haunt me until the day that I die #LoveIsland,” said a third.
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX*
This Morning star Ashley James has recalled a scary incident where she suspects her drink was spiked, which left her blacking out and meant she woke with no memory of her night.
This Morning star Ashley James has recalled a scary incident where she suspects her drink was spiked(Image: Brett Cove)
Ashley James has recalled a scary incident where she suspected her drink was spiked and ended up blacked out. Detailing the experience, the This Morning star told Mirror: “There have been many occasions where I’ve wondered if I’ve been spiked. But we blame ourselves and think, ‘Maybe I was just drunk.’”
“I remember visiting my brother at university for a night out years ago. I had a total blackout, woke up in my brother’s room and I’d been sick – everywhere,” she said. Ashley continued: “That was a disproportionate reaction to what I drank that evening and I have no memory of the evening itself. It was terrifying.”
Ashley says she doesn’t remember anything from the experience, which happened several years ago(Image: WireImage)
The mum-of-two added, “I was really young so I didn’t think about spiking or what I should do in that situation. Like so many others, I blamed myself or simply thought the drinks were stronger than I thought. Luckily, nothing worse has happened.”
“I’m outspoken, but the more you talk about things, the more you can fight for change. There are so many scary things out there, especially as a mother; the thought of my children experiencing things I have – whether it’s trolling or other issues – makes me nervous. The world’s a scary place now.”
On the topic of trolling, something celebrities are all too familiar with, she talks about her experiences on social media and gossip website, Tattle Life, which is now being shut down. The website allows users to post anonymously, but Ashley says the harassment she has encountered on it has made its way into her home life, too.
Ashley shares her two children with partner Tommy Andrews(Image: Instagram/ashleylouisejames/)
“People don’t realise that it’s not just gossiping and chatting, it’s much darker,” she says. “In my case, someone made a false allegation against me to social services, who came to my door. “I told them that, day or night, if they came to my door they’d only see loved children, so I wasn’t worried. But it does endanger people when their family is involved. It’s scary as it’s entering the real world.”
Ashley continues, “Social services are overstretched as it is, so there should be repercussions for wasting their time. Put bluntly, other children could die if social services’ attention is elsewhere because of these allegations. People need to be accountable. If they’re going to say it online, they should say it with their faces and names made public. They should be as accountable online as they are offline.”
Experiences like this have made Ashley ultra-aware when it comes to educating her children about the internet. “My son is amazing; he’s sweet, sensitive and kind and I never want the world to convince him that those aren’t worthy attributes for men. We definitely need more kind and compassionate boys and men in the world, so that’s what I want to teach him,” she says.
Earlier this year, Ashley took to social media after being told that Alfie may need extra help from the Special Educational Needs department when he begins school. Ashley says she’s trusting her gut.
They are parents to Alfie, four, and Ada, two(Image: Instagram/ashleylouisejames/)
“The school did a SEN report which didn’t specifically label him or say why he needs extra help, and to be honest, I don’t really mind. I think any parent would welcome extra support for their child. “My role as his mum is to guide him and to trust my instincts, to ensure that he can thrive in a school setting. So, I feel reassured.”
As we chat about creating a better world for her children, Ashley says she’s working with anti-spiking campaign CounterSpike and charity Spike Aware UK to get rid of drink spiking in the future.
Admitting she wants to get rid of the ‘victim blaming’ mentality, Ashley said: “We ask how much they’ve had to drink. Even as parents, especially with daughters, people find themselves saying, ‘You can’t go out like that.’ But you’re equating their outfit to their morals, or their safety.
“The problem – even if it’s well intended – is that it’s telling her that she’s responsible for bad things happening to her, rather than the person doing them,” says Ashley. That’s why she’s pleased that CounterSpike has developed SpikeStixx, which enables people to test their drinks. “It’s a way to reassure your mates they haven’t just drunk too much – to know for sure.
“More than anything, it will hopefully help stop people from doing it. Because, right now, statistics from CounterSpike show that 90% of spiking goes unreported.”
“One day, my son and daughter will be going out into this world without me. I would really like to think that things will improve, and they can do that without fear.”
Ashley is the official ambassador for the launch of CounterSpike’s campaign and its SpikeStixx, which are available to buy at counterspike.com
Foundation season 3 is currently airing on Apple TV+ and sees the arrival of a new character played by Cherry Jones
Terrence Mann, star of the Apple TV+ series Foundation, has dropped some exciting hints about working with new guest star Cherry Jones, known for her role as Nan Pierce in HBO’s Succession.
Jones joins the cast as Ambassador Quent in the third season of the sci-fi epic, which is based on Isaac Asimov’s legendary novels and set tens of thousands of years into the future under the rule of Emperor Cleon.
The Empire is managed by a trio of clones at different ages: Brother Dawn (played by Cassian Bilton), Brother Day (Lee Pace), and Brother Dusk (Mann), with the upcoming season seeing Day distancing himself from his counterparts, leaving diplomatic responsibilities to Dawn and Dusk.
Their interactions with Quent are crucial, especially as she represents Hari Seldon’s (Jared Harris) Foundation.
Speaking to Express Online, Mann expressed his delight at reuniting with Jones, saying, “I’ve known Cherry for years,” and recalling their excitement upon learning they’d be working together: “When I knew she was coming on board we were just excited, we called one another and went ‘Oh my God, you’re gonna be there!'”, reports the Express.
Succession favourite Cherry Jones has joined the cast of season three(Image: APPLE)
“Every time we’ve talked about her, she’s the most authentic, brilliant actress of our age.
“There’s not a bit of artifice on her as a performer or as a person. She’s the dearest person you’ll ever be with, she gives 100 percent of herself when you’re working with her.
“And what a joy, she gets to be my love interest in this season!”
Season three of Foundation presents a formidable challenge for the three Cleons as nearly the entire supporting cast has been replaced.
Foundation completely overhauls its supporting cast this time around(Image: APPLE)
While Harris is reprising his role as Hari, along with his protégée Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) and the clones’ robot advisor Demerzel (Laura Birn), the third season introduces several new characters, most notably the mysterious warmonger known as the Mule (Pilou Asbæk).
Foundation also welcomes Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern and Brandon P. Bell to its ranks.
Mann’s co-star Bilton chimed in: “To be honest with you, when we saw this new cast list we all turned each other and were like, ‘We’ve got to up our game’.
“Because you’ve got some real heavy-hitters coming in this season. I mean, Cherry Jones, who’s like a Broadway icon and we all know her from Succession.
“I remember she was nominated for an Emmy when we were all on set with her. And Pilou Asbæk, who I adored in Game of Thrones, is now playing the Mule this season.
Game of Thrones star Pilou Asbaek portrays new villain the Mule(Image: APPLE)
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“Cody Fern, who’s been brilliant in the Ryan Murphy universe, Synnøve Karlsen who, to my mind, is one of the great young British actresses. And a tonne of other new talent.
“All of those performances bring an authenticity but also a new edge and a new vitality and urgency to the show. I certainly felt [a tonal shift] because it was something I felt reading the scripts.”
The actor said, “It is work but I’m also a fan and I watched this show and I binged it, it is so addictive, particularly this season because the tone has shifted to be much darker, much more urgent. Ultimately it has a sense of danger to it.”
Regardless of whether you’re a returning viewer or new to the series, Foundation’s third season is a must-watch for fans of science fiction.
Foundation season 3 continues Fridays on Apple TV+.
File this as prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay good news: Larry David is returning to TV with a new six-episode sketch comedy about American history, produced the Obamas’ by Higher Ground.
He will be writing the HBO series alongside Jeff Schaffer, who was a showrunner, executive producer and director on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” David will star in the series, which will feature some actors from “Curb” as well as noteworthy guest stars.
Schaffer and David will both executive produce, with Schaffer taking the lead on directing. Barack and Michelle Obama will be executive producing the limited series for their banner Higher Ground Productions alongside Vinnie Malhotra and Ethan Lewis.
HBO’s official logline reads, “President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion.
…But then Larry David called.”
“Once ‘Curb’ ended, I celebrated with a three-day foam party,” David said in a press release. “After a violent allergic reaction to the suds, I yearned to return to my simple life as a beekeeper, harvesting organic honey from the wildflowers in my meadow. Alas, one day my bees mysteriously vanished. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I return to television, hoping to ease the loss of my beloved hive.”
Obama added, “I’ve sat across the table from some of the world’s most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of our most intractable problems. Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David.”
The beloved and critically acclaimed “Curb Your Enthusiasm” aired for a total of 12 seasons from 2000 to 2024.
“The characters Larry is playing didn’t change history. In fact, they were largely ignored by history. And that’s a good thing,” Schaffer said.
David and Schaffer have also worked together on “Seinfeld” and the TV movie “Clear History,” which starred David. Schaffer is also known for his work as the co-creator of “The League” and “Dave” at FX. And David is no stranger to sketch TV comedy — he was a writer and performer on ABC’s early ‘80s late-night series “Fridays.”
Love Island’s stars reunited in tonight’s episode as Casa Amor came to an end after just two days – but viewers weren’t to happy with where the episode finished
22:52, 09 Jul 2025Updated 22:56, 09 Jul 2025
Love Island’s episode of Casa Amor proved to be explosive tonight
It’s been a dramatic week on Love Island with tears shed and kisses shares during the short two days of Casa Amor. Tonight’s episode saw the boys and girls reunite after getting to know the Casa Amor recruits and while fans were left raging after watching Tommy leave Emily single as he returned to the villa, it’s not for reasons you may expect.
Love Island viewers took to social media to slam the show after it left fans on a huge cliffhanger – and predict who will be the next stars to leave the villa.
Casa Amor has officially come to an end (Image: ITV)
Towards the end of the recoupling, Emily revealed that she had chosen to stick with Tommy during his time at Casa Amor – saying that their connection is “as strong as she thought it was”.
“So all the boys were really really lovely but all in all, the connection wasn’t as strong as it was with Tommy,” she said.
“It’s been hard. Obviously, I’ve missed seeing him around the villa and sharing a bed together. It will be nice to have him back by himself hopefully.”
Unfortunately for Emily, Tommy walks back in with his Casa Amor beau Lucy – leaving all the girls gobsmacked. “F**k off,” Helena said, while Emily added; “Oh Christ.”
Speaking under her breath, Emily said: “Oh, Tommy,” and after Maya welcomed them to the villa, the programme abruptly ended.
Fans weren’t too happy with the cliffhanger, with one writing on X: “ffs love island ending on that cliffhanger so annoying #LoveIslandUK #LoveIslandUK.”
Meanwhile, others weren’t impressed with the show ending on Tommy and Emily.
“Tommy and Emily weren’t deep enough for this cliffhanger to be justified #LoveIsland #LoveIslandUK,” one viewer wrote. Another said: “sorry, leaving tommy and emily as the cliffhanger??? love island has downgraded big time.”
Meanwhile, some fans predicted that it would be single islanders Emily and Giorgio who would be dumped from the villa in tomorrow night’s episode after reports that six islanders were dumped following Casa Amor.
Another said: “6 islanders have been dumped and there’s only 4 single casa islanders… which means gio and emily have also been dumped #loveisland.”
A third said: “Oh my god apparently everyone not picked tonight is getting dumped. Emily and Giorgio will be gone which means the mean girls are gonna erupt on Tommy #loveisland#loveislanduk.”
Sue Jenkins and Richard Fleeshman both appeared on Coronation Street – but many fans had no idea about their real-life connection
Coronation Street has seen more than its fair share of real-life family members treading the cobbles, with cousins Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach among those who’ve found fame on the show.
The late Rick Neelan (played by Greg Wood) was actually the real-life brother of footballer Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn).
However, they’re not the only ones with familial ties both on and off the screen. Fans were recently surprised to discover a mother and son duo who appeared on the soap years ago.
In 1985, Sue Jenkins joined the cast of Coronation Street as Gloria Todd, a regular character who worked as a barmaid at the iconic Rovers Return. She also shared scenes with Julie Goodyear, who famously played landlady Bet Lynch, reports the Daily Star.
Beyond her stint on Corrie, Sue portrayed Jackie Corkhill in Brookside for nine years from 1992 to 2001, and made a brief appearance in Emmerdale in 2008 as Bonnie Drinkwater.
Sue played Gloria on the soap(Image: Granada TV)
Interestingly, Sue’s son is Richard Fleeshman, who also had a role on Coronation Street.
Richard played Craig Harris, joining the cast in 2002 as part of the Harris family, who were hiding under the witness protection programme.
His character, Craig, had some significant storylines, reports Leicestershire Live.
He embraced a goth lifestyle, much to his father’s dismay, and became Rosie Webster’s (Helen Flanagan) first boyfriend.
The plot thickened when Katy Harris, Craig’s sister, killed their father after a heated row about her secret relationship with Martin Platt.
Her real-life son also appeared on the soap(Image: Unknown)
Their mother, Angela Harris, tried to shield Katy, but overwhelmed by guilt, Katy ended her own life.
In the aftermath, Craig planned to escape to Berlin with Rosie, but ultimately left alone, saying goodbye to the cobbles in 2006 for good.
The revelation of Sue and Richard’s time on Corrie left fans gobsmacked. On X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer posted about Sue’s stint on Corrie.
Fans have been left floored(Image: Granada Television)
Another fan replied: “That’s Richard fleeshmans mum!”
Another person remarked: “Wow, all this time watching and I never knew that, I can see her son in that photo now.”
A third chimed in: “Her real life son played Craig Harris, son of Psycho Tommy!”
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Coronation Street has seen a number of real-life family members appear on the cobbles over the years – but fans were left stunned after realising two stars are mother and son
Coronation Street fans gobsmacked as they realise two stars are mother and son(Image: Granada TV)
Two stars of Coronation Street share more than just their ability to captivate audiences. Over the years, the ITV soap has welcomed several real-life family members onto its iconic cobbles. Real-life siblings, cousins, and even parents and their children have all graced the set.
Cousins Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach have made a name for themselves on the soap, while the late Rick Neelan (Greg Wood) was actually the real-life brother of footballer Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn). But they’re not the only ones with familial ties both on and off screen. Fans have recently been taken aback by one mother and son duo that appeared on the soap years ago.
Sue Jenkins (left) has a son who appeared on the show(Image: Granada Television)
Back in 1985, Sue Jenkins joined the ITV soap as Gloria Todd. She became a regular face on the show as a barmaid at the legendary Rovers Return, reports the Daily Star.
Sue also worked alongside Julie Goodyear who famously played landlady Bet Lynch.
In addition to her Corrie role, Sue portrayed Jackie Corkhill in Brookside for nine years between 1992 and 2001. She also had a brief stint in Emmerdale in 2008, appearing in five episodes as Bonnie Drinkwater.
Richard Fleeshman is Sue’s son
However, it turns out she has a very famous son who also made an appearance on Corrie. In reality, Sue’s son is Richard Fleeshman – who played Craig Harris.
Richard joined the cast of Coronation Street back in 2002 with his TV family, the Harrises, who were hiding due to the witness protection programme. His character Craig certainly had some memorable moments.
He adopted a goth persona, much to his father’s dismay, and became Rosie Webster’s (portrayed by Helen Flanagan) first boyfriend. The drama escalated when Katy Harris, Craig’s sister, murdered their father following a heated argument about her clandestine relationship with Martin Platt.
Their mother, Angela Harris, attempted to shield Katy, but overwhelmed by guilt, Katy took her own life. In the aftermath, Craig planned to flee to Berlin with Rosie, but ultimately departed alone, bidding farewell to the cobbles in 2006 for good.
The revelation of Sue and Richard’s Corrie connection left fans online astounded. On X, previously known as Twitter, one viewer posted about Sue’s stint on Corrie.
Another fan responded: “That’s Richard fleeshmans mum!”.
A third person commented: “Wow, all this time watching and I never knew that, I can see her son in that photo now.”
Another added: “Her real life son played Craig Harris, son of Psycho Tommy!”.
BBC show Pebble Mill at One was an iconic magazine programme that ran throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s – and here’s what happened to the original faces of the daytime series
08:20, 05 Jul 2025Updated 08:20, 05 Jul 2025
Pebble Mill at One was the BBC’s much-loved daytime magazine show(Image: BBC)
They were the familiar faces that lit up Britain’s afternoons – the hosts, producers and personalities behind Pebble Mill at One, the BBC’s beloved daytime magazine programme that ran from 1972 to 1986. Whether they were interviewing celebrities, dispensing gardening advice or covering human interest stories from the famous foyer of the Birmingham studio, the Pebble Mill team became a fixture of the nation’s lunchtime telly.
But what happened to the show’s stars when the cameras stopped rolling?
From telly legends who went on to headline primetime shows, to behind-the-scenes figures who subtly influenced British broadcasting, many continued to leave their mark across radio, film and theatre. Others quietly stepped out of the spotlight – while some faced scandals that shook their public persona.
Here, we reminisce about the highs, lows and unexpected twists in the lives of Pebble Mill’s most recognisable faces. From gardening guru Marian Foster and broadcasting legend Alan Titchmarsh to the late Donny MacLeod and troubled DJ Dave Lee Travis, here’s what unfolded for the faces who once dominated daytime TV.
Dave Lee Travis
His career was later overshadowed by legal troubles(Image: Getty)
Dave Lee Travis was best known as the host of The Golden Oldie Picture Show and a DJ on BBC Radio 1. However, his career was later marred by legal issues.
In 2014, he was found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman working on The Mrs Merton Show in 1995 and was handed a three-month suspended sentence.
Though acquitted of several other accusations, the conviction resulted in the presenter’s episodes of Top of the Pops being no longer repeated by the BBC. Travis expressed being “mortified” and “really disappointed” by the verdict.
Despite the scandal, the now 80-year-old made a comeback to broadcasting. Throughout the years, Travis has presented programmes on various UK radio stations, including periods at Classic Gold, BBC Three Counties Radio, and United DJs Radio.
In 2025, he hosts a Sunday morning programme on Heritage Chart Radio.
Currently residing in Buckinghamshire with his Swedish wife Marianne, whom he wed in 1971, Travis enjoys photography and vintage automobiles.
Jock Gallagher
Gallagher joined the BBC in 1966 as a news producer(Image: BBC)
Gallagher began his BBC career in 1966 as a news producer and swiftly climbed the ladder, ultimately leading the Pebble Mill at One.
His influence extended beyond the programme’s triumph to nurturing celebrated BBC radio productions including The Archers, alongside programmes such as From the Grassroots and Offshore Britons.
Following decades of broadcasting service, Gallagher stepped down from the BBC in 2014.
He died in May 2025 aged 87 at Worcester Hospital. Former colleagues and admirers paid tribute, with one remembering: “I remember having a conversation with Jock in the late 1980s when I was trying to become a researcher, and fancied working on Radio 4 series.”
Donny MacLeod
Donny hosting the daytime programme from its very first episode in 1972(Image: BBC)
Donny was a beloved figure on television, known for his warmth, professionalism, and innovative approach, becoming a staple in homes as the leading presenter of his show and shaping daytime TV for countless viewers.
He was one of the original faces of Pebble Mill at One, hosting the show from its beginnings in 1972 until his sudden death in 1984.
His career was studded with standout moments, including major BBC specials like MacLeod’s Soviet Union and MacLeod’s America, and memorable interviews with prominent figures such as Edward Heath, Les Dawson, Terry Wogan, Dame Edna Everage, and Morecambe and Wise.
Touching tributes have continued to honour Donny’s legacy, with one colleague fondly remembering: “He was kind and ever prepared to lend this novice a helping hand… For 11 years Donny was Pebble Mill at One.”
Passing away at the young age of 52 from a heart attack, Donny is still deeply missed as a trailblazer in British daytime broadcasting.
David Attwood
David passed away on 21 March 2024 after a period of illness(Image: The Guardian)
Starting his career as an assistant floor manager, David Attwood climbed the ladder, contributing to series like Out of Town Boys (1978), Keep Smiling (1979), and the BAFTA-winning Boys from the Black Stuff (1982).
After completing the BBC Directors course in 1984, he quickly made a name for himself as a director.
Attwood’s portfolio includes directing All Together Now, Airbase, and the intense thriller Killing Time.
He later pursued a freelance career, directing critically acclaimed projects such as Wild West, Fidel, and Stuart: A Life Backwards, which starred Tom Hardy.
David sadly died on 21 March 2024 after battling illness.
Remembered by peers as a talented and considerate director, David left an indelible mark on British television drama over three decades.
Marian Foster
She made history as one of the first presenters on Top Gear(Image: BBC)
A multifaceted broadcaster, Marian Foster was celebrated for her engaging on-screen personality and a deep-rooted passion for horticulture, which became her signature.
She broke new ground as one of the original presenters on Top Gear and went on to host gardening segments for BBC Look North after her time at Pebble Mill.
Foster boasts an extensive career in radio, having presented shows on BBC Radio 2, Woman’s Hour on Radio 4, and currently hosts Garden Mania every Sunday on BBC Radio Newcastle and Radio Tees.
A familiar face at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, she has imparted her horticultural wisdom to audiences for more than three decades.
Her diverse work includes documenting the impact of Live Aid in Ethiopia and even sharing the stage with The Who for a rendition of Tommy.
In recent times, she has continued her role as a judge for Northumbria in Bloom, been featured by Radio Times, and remains an endearing presence in the North East.
Alan Titchmarsh
He currently hosts a Saturday afternoon show on Classic FM(Image: Getty)
Alan Titchmarsh rose to fame as the beloved presenter of Ground Force and later captivated viewers on ITV’s Love Your Garden, affirming his status as one of the nation’s favourite gardeners.
His natural charm extended beyond the garden, leading him to host various programmes including The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Popstar to Operastar, and Secrets of the National Trust.
In 2024, he made waves when North Korean TV censored his jeans, prompting Titchmarsh to quip that it gave him “a bit of street cred”.
The 76 year old father of two is a prolific author, having penned over 70 books, including best-selling novels, gardening guides, and memoirs.
He currently presents a Saturday afternoon programme on Classic FM and continues to write regularly for the press. Now in his mid-70s, he divides his time between his farmhouse in Hampshire and his residence on the Isle of Wight.
Titchmarsh was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours for his contributions to horticulture and broadcasting, and was later promoted to CBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for his services to horticulture and charity.
Channel 4 hit show Taskmaster has announced the comic line-up for its upcoming 20th series, with stars of Unforgotten, Doctor Who and A League of Their Own set to take part
22:00, 03 Jul 2025Updated 22:22, 03 Jul 2025
Taskmaster has announced the next comedians taking on the Channel 4 show(Image: Rob Parfitt / Channel 4)
Taskmaster has revealed its comedian cast for its 20th series, with ITV and BBC stars joining the upcoming line-up. Tonight’s finale of the Channel 4 show saw hosts Greg Davies and Alex Horne crown their latest winner after a nail-biting semi-final with Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin.
Now, Channel 4 has revealed that Inside No. 9 star Reece Shearsmith and Unforgotten’s Sanjeev Bhaskar are among those taking part in the next series. They will be trying their best to impress Taskmaster Greg and faithful sidekick Alex in a bid to become the next champion.
The two TV stars will be joining stand-up comic Ania Magliano, A League of Their Own’s Maisie Adam and BBC Radio 4 star Phil Ellis in the series 20 line-up.
Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Phil Ellis, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar will be taking part in the next series of Taskmaster
Ania is best known for her appearances on Live at the Apollo, Off Menu, The Stand Up Sketch Show and for writing on Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date. She recently took on a role in the Prime Video comedy Deep Cover alongside Bryce Dallas Howard.
Meanwhile, Maisie has appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, Outsiders, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year and several series of A League of Their Own. Stand-up comic Phil hosted his own BBC Radio 4 show Phil Ellis is Trying and has appeared on The Russell Howard Hour, Drunk History UK and Roast Battle.
Reece is the star of BAFTA-winning dark comedy Inside No. 9 and has taken on roles in Good Omens, Doctor Who, Peter Kay’s Car Share and Saltburn, while Sanjeev rose to fame in sketch show Goodness Gracious Me and his sitcom The Kumars at No. 42.
Last year, Taskmaster star and creator Alex Horne was revealed to be one of Channel 4’s highest earners. According to accounts posted by his company Shakey Productions, Taskmaster earns the comedian £7.5million a year.
Earlier this week, Channel 4 quietly added the gripping crime drama The Shadow to its online catalogue, based on Melanie Raabe’s 2021 novel. In the series, Deleila Piasko stars as journalist Norah, who hopes for a fresh start in Vienna but is haunted by a prophecy that she will murder a man.
Earlier this year, Sanjeev Bhaskar opened up to The Mirror about losing out on a film role after gaining weight for the character. “The main character was a Singapore-based sleuth who was really overweight, so I got fat by eating anything and everything for an appreciable period of time,” he explained.
“But the financing on Inspector Singh Investigates fell apart, it was no longer happening, leaving me to lose a stone and a half.”
Inductees were selected across five categories: motion pictures, television, live theater and live performance, recording and sports entertainment. There were no radio honorees. Others who made the class of 2026 include actors Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Molly Ringwald, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rami Malek and Noah Wyle; former NBA star turned sports analyst Shaquille O’Neal; and “Good Morning America” co-anchors Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, who will have a double ceremony. Italian special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi and director Tony Scott will be posthumously honored.
Cyrus, who released her ninth studio album, “Something Beautiful,” in May, rolled around the Walk of Fame for the music video for her aptly titled single “Walk of Fame,” later revealing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that she developed an infection on her kneecap from the bacteria on the famed Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk. Still, the singer shared some of the footage on Instagram shortly after her star was announced.
“When I first came to LA from Nashville as a little girl, my family would stay at a hotel on Hollywood Blvd, and I would go on late night walks with my dad when no one would recognize him. We’d have the gift shops to ourselves & buy knock off Oscars and Marilyn Monroe merchandise,” she wrote. “To now be cemented on this legendary boulevard, surrounded by the icons who inspired me, feels like a dream.”
Her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, doesn’t yet have a star on the Walk of Fame.
Meanwhile, Chalamet is coming off the success of the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” He earned an Oscar nomination for his role as the legendary singer-songwriter. He’s set to begin filming the third installment of the “Dune” film franchise, titled “Dune: Messiah,” this summer, according to Deadline.
Moore, who rose to prominence with the 1985 film “St. Elmo’s Fire,” earned her first Oscar nomination this year for her role in “The Substance,” in which she starred opposite Margaret Qualley. She and Ringwald will be the latest of the Brat Pack to join the Walk of Fame, following Rob Lowe in 2015. It’s also a family affair for Blunt and brother-in-law Stanley Tucci, who appeared in “The Devil Wears Prada” together and are set to return for the sequel.
Once selected, honorees are expected to cover an $85,000 sponsorship fee to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame. Recipients have up to two years to schedule their ceremonies before the offer expires.
Motion Pictures Demi Moore Emily Blunt Timothée Chalamet Chris Columbus Marion Cotillard Keith David Rami Malek Rachel McAdams Franco Nero Deepika Padukone Molly Ringwald Stanley Tucci Carlo Rambaldi (posthumous) Tony Scott (posthumous)
Television Greg Daniels Sarah Michelle Gellar Lucero Gordon Ramsay Melody Thomas Scott Bradley Whitford Noah Wyle Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos (double ceremony)
Recording Air Supply Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Paulinho da Costa The Clark Sisters Miley Cyrus Josh Groban Intocable Angélique Kidjo Lyle Lovett
It was a huge night in Love Island last night as four Islanders were dumped from the villa in a savage twist – and they’ve now broken their silence with a few scathing words
Poppy was left confused when Remell chose not to recouple with her(Image: ITV/Love Island)
Caprice, Poppy and Will’s time on the ITV2 show was short lived as they failed to make their way back to the main villa after Remell, Dejon and Emily decided to stick with their original partners. Over at the main villa, Shea and the rest of the villa were left gutted when they realised Helena’s decision to recouple and bring Giorgio meant he had been dumped.
The main villa were left in tears at the revelation, and over at The Sleepover, it was clear Poppy and Caprice were left confused with Remell and Dejon’s decisions to stick with Alima and Meg.
Earlier in the show, we saw Remell and Poppy share a kiss outside the challenge. Not only that, he revealed he would couple up with Poppy 12 hours earlier if he had the choice.
Remell and Poppy shared a strong connection – although he chose not to recouple (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Following their dumping, Caprice and Poppy have spoken out, as they accuse the pair of ‘gameplaying’.
During her exit interview, when asked how she felt when Remell chose Alima, she said: “Shocked and surprised. I feel like Remell perhaps didn’t go with his true feelings, he said less than 12 hours before on truth or dare game that he’d recouple with me and he wanted to take things further.”
However, it was fellow Sleepover Villa roommate Dejon who she accused of gameplaying. When asked about how she felt about him going back to Meg, she said: “I think he’s playing a game, I think he’s there until the end and Meg will help.”
Dejon was paired with Caprice in the Sleepover Villa, and the pair seemed to hit it off from the start. The two shared a number of laughs, as Dejon was heard telling Caprice she was going to be trouble.
Dejon and Caprice shared a kiss in a game of Truth or Dare(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
When it came to the recoupling decision, Dejon was adamant he wanted to remain with “my Meg”. At the time, Caprice told Maya Jama she wasn’t surprised, saying she’d been confused the whole time.
Expanding in her exit interview, the former Islander said: “I expected it. From the beginning I felt like he knew what he was going to do. I think he’s playing a bit of a game though, but I expected it from him.”
Elsewhere, dumped Islander Shea who spent weeks in the villa with both couples had his say. While he said he was pleased Remell and Alima stay together, he expressed his uncertainty towards Meg and Dejon.
“It’s a bit different with them, I’m not too sure if it’s going to last. Just from what I was seeing it’s a bit one sided from Meg’s side. Only time will tell,” he said.
Tonight’s episode will see the fallout from the past few days – as a snippet teased a huge argument between Alima and Remell. Have his actions at The Sleepover ruined his relationship for good?
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
High society bible Tatler is among those making the declaration on its new edition, which features the offspring of Nineties music legends Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft.
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Love Island host Maya Jama recreates Liz Hurley’s iconic 1994 dressCredit: Getty
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Liz in the famous Versace safety pin dress that she wore to the Four Weddings And A Funeral premiere in 1994Credit: Getty
Heralding the rebirth of the Britpop-era movement, the magazine pictures Molly Moorish-Gallagher and musician Sonny Ashcroft proudly standing in front of a giant Union Jack.
Anyone over the age of 40 is likely to spot the obvious homage being paid to a similar front cover published by Vanity Fair in 1997.
That iconic picture saw Oasis singer Liam sharing a bed with his then girlfriend, actress Patsy Kensit.
The couple married a few months later when Oasis were arguably the biggest music stars of the decade.
And it is no coincidence the new magazine cover comes just days before the Oasis reunion tour, which will have Richard Ashcroft as the support act.
But Tatler did not go for another “power couple”, like Liam and Patsy were, and instead took the nepo baby route.
But as the new faces of Cool Britannia take centre stage, it’s less champagne supernova, more alcohol-free explosion.
Tatler
However, editors still think the duo are living proof of a second coming.
“They’re the next generation of Britpop: Molly Moorish-Gallagher and Sonny Ashcroft are gracing the cover of Tatler as their fathers, Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft, prepare for an earth-shattering Oasis reunion.
Dua Lipa’s style for her Wembley gig last week seems to have been inspired by model Christy Turlington’s catwalk turn in the NinetiesCredit: Getty
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Christy wearing the original look in the NinetiesCredit: Getty
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Patsy Kensit and then-boyfriend Liam Gallagher on Vanity Fair in 1997Credit: EPA
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Heralding the rebirth of the Britpop-era movement, Tatler pictures Molly Moorish-Gallagher and musician Sonny Ashcroft proudly standing in front of a giant Union JackCredit: Oli Kearon
Noel and Liam Gallagher seen together for first time since announcing Oasis reunion
The piece continues: “She is the daughter of Lisa Moorish and Liam Gallagher; he is the eldest son of Richard Ashcroft and Kate Radley.
“Together, they are the new faces of the (Br)it crowd.
“But what do the pair make of Cool Britannia 2.0?”
It turns out that neither of the nepo babies shares their parents’ hellraising ways, and the revival will not be based around downing pints of lager or being “chained to the mirror and the razor blade”, as Oasis once sang.
Sonny proudly tells the magazine he’s not one for a night out.
He said: “I’m very much a night-in person.
Seeing friends, some good food and drinks and playing games of some kind.
Molly Moorish-Gallagher, Liam’s daugher
“A nice meal with friends and then gathering over some sort of board game or film at home.”
While Molly says her idea of a wild night is: “Seeing friends, some good food and drinks and playing games of some kind.”
But if the Cool Britannia nepo kids aren’t keeping the Nineties hedonistic vibe going, it seems Gen Z-ers are keeping the momentum going through fashion.
Singers Dua Lipa and Lola Young have been inspired by other huge names of the Nineties in their fashion choices.
And Liam’s son Lennon was pretty much an identikit copy of his dad when he attended a Burberry pub takeover last week.
A new study has also revealed that youngsters are now huge fans of some of the decade’s greatest hairstyles, including The Rachel from Friends, the floppy hair of actor Johnny Depp and Victoria Beckham’s Posh bob.
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It’s all about the flag for singer Lola Young – seemingly a nod to Geri Horner’s Ginger SpiceCredit: Instagram/lolayounggg
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Geri rocking the iconic Girl Power outfitCredit: Alamy
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Lennon Gallagher in Burberry jacket last week…Credit: Getty
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… just like dad Liam during Oasis’s 1996 Maine Road gigCredit: PA:Press Association
The study, commissioned by Funkin Cocktails, also found a fondness for Doc Marten boots and baggy jeans, famously sported by the likes of Mark Wahlberg when he was rapper Marky Mark.
Ashley Birch-Ruffell, from Funkin Cocktails, said: “Nineties fashion is very on trend, and it’s fun to see what our official favourite styles are.
“There are clearly many iconic hairstyles and memorable moments from this decade that live on in the public consciousness.
“It seems clear that Nineties trends aren’t going anywhere anytime soon — and why would we want them to?”
“It’s clear that the whole culture of the Nineties is still considered unapologetically iconic.”
Gen Z can’t match our hellraising era
IT was a sensational whirl of bucket hats, Union Jacks, lads’ mags, boozy bands and more than a whiff of the old marching powder, writes Rod McPhee.
The late Nineties were a hellraising golden age not seen since the Swinging Sixties.
But despite being due another period of partying, I’m sorry to say we’ll never quite be able to match the magic of the original Cool Britannia.
Trust me, I was there, I did it. I got the T-shirt – and the dodgy Liam Gallagher shaggy haircut
What’s more, I loved it all. From music to fashion, and movies to models, the run-up to the year 2000 was the perfect blend of sex and, yes, drugs, plus lashings of rock ’n’ roll.
Of course, it’s great to get a taste of the good old days when Oasis stage their comeback tour next week, plus there’s the prospect of the Spice Girls doing a similar celebratory event next year.
But nothing can once again live up to a period in modern pop culture history which I believe was genuinely unique. Maybe I’m looking back at the past through rose-tinted glasses.
But no pop groups, artists, catwalk stars or actors these days come close to the tearaway Primrose Hill crowd that kept us entertained and shocked three decades ago.
That said, no one would love reliving some of the brilliance of the Nineties more than me.
So let’s make the most of summer 2025.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
Coleen Nolan’s daughter Ciara Fensome has announced she’s expecting her first child with her fiancé Maxx Innes in an adorable Instagram post over the weekend
A Channel 4 sitcom, starring a Death in Paradise favourite, is now trending on Prime Video despite having been released over a decade ago
Ardal O’Hanlon in Death in Paradise (Image: BBC)
A sitcom featuring Ardal O’Hanlon that originally aired over a decade ago has found new popularity on Prime Video.
London Irish, which first graced Channel 4 in 2013, boasts a star-studded cast including Death in Paradise’s Ardal O’Hanlon and Derry Girls’ Peter Campion. The show centres around a group of Belfast expats navigating life in London.
The series was the brainchild of Lisa McGee, the creative force behind Derry Girls. Despite only running for six episodes and Channel 4 deciding against a second season, London Irish has found renewed interest.
Now available on Prime Video, the show has been given the ‘trending now’ label, demonstrating its enduring appeal 12 years after its initial release.
The cast also features Sinéad Keenan, known for her role in Unforgotten, Game of Thrones actor Ker Logan, No Offence’s Tracey Lynch, and Kat Reagan, reports Wales Online.
Ardal O’Hanlon in Death in Paradise (Image: BBC)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator and star of BBC’s Fleabag, also makes a guest appearance in London Irish, portraying a character named Steph in one episode.
The synopsis for London Irish reads: “Conor and Bronagh are twenty-something siblings from Northern Ireland who, along with friends Packy and Niamh, are trying to make their way through London life.
“The foursome find navigating the big city challenging, particularly as they’re playing by their own unique set of rules, leading to all sorts of mischief.
“Conor is highly unpredictable and tends to just go with unbelievable things that tend to happen to him while his older sister, Bronagh, is the opposite of him – cynical, dark and fierce. Self-confident Niamh is ambitious and can be ruthless when she doesn’t get what she wants.
“Packy is the closest thing the group has to a parental figure and tries to keep the others in line but often gets dragged into their madness.”
London Irish stars Ardal as Chris ‘Da’ Lynch (Image: Channel 4)
Ardal, who portrays Chris in the sitcom, first gained recognition in Father Ted before joining BBC One’s Death in Paradise as DI Jack Mooney.
He left the popular drama series in 2020, but recently appeared in spin-off series Return to Paradise. His character featured remotely as part of a storyline with DI Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson).
London Irish is available to stream now on Prime Video.
Since the start of 2025, a number of beloved LGBTQIA+ figures have sadly passed away, leaving behind family, friends, fans and their incredible legacies. While they are no longer with us, their impact and work will never be forgotten. See below for a list of all the LGBTQIA+ stars who have crossed over.
BBC
The Vivienne
Date of passing: 5 January 2025
Age: 32
Known for: The Vivienne rose to fame as the winner of the first-ever season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019. Three years later, she made an iconic return for All Stars 7, the franchise’s first winners’ season, making history in the process as the first international contestant to crossover to the U.S. series. Following her victory, The Vivienne quickly became one of the UK’s most recognisable drag entertainers, with appearances on shows such as Celebrity Juice, Emmerdale, Celebrity Mastermind,Celebrity Karaoke Club, and I Like to Watch UK. In 2023, she made history again as the first drag artist to compete on Dancing on Ice, where she placed third.
Cause of Death: On 17 March, The Vivienne’s family and publicist Simon Jones shared that the beloved performer died “from the effects of ketamine use, causing a cardiac arrest.” “James’ family and I feel it is important to say how James tragically died… I hope that by us releasing this information we can raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage and what it can do your body,” Jones said in a statement.
Instagram: @TimKruger_Reloaded
Tim Kruger
Date of passing: 1 March 2025
Age: 44
Known for: Born in Dűsseldorf, Germany, Tim Kruger made his debut in the adult film industry in 2006. Three years later, he co-created the popular TimTales website with his longtime partner Grobes Geraet. In addition to running one of the biggest gay porn platforms of all time, Kruger also appeared in material for other studios and worked as a director and producer.
Cause of Death: In a statement posted on the TimTales website, presumably from Geratet, it was revealed the late adult entertainer’s death was a result of “a tragic, yet simple accident at home.” “There were no drugs involved, nor was there any indication of foul play or suicide,” he wrote. “Though my heart is broken into pieces, I find solace in the countless memories he gifted us. And I know that he died knowing he was loved. Tim’s legacy of compassion, love, and joy will live on in all who knew him.”
Jiggly Caliente
Date of passing: 27 April 2025
Age: 44
Known for: Jiggly Caliente first rose to fame as a breakout star on the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race (2012), winning over fans and judges alike with her lovable, larger-than-life personality. She also delivered one of the franchise’s most unforgettable moments when she lip-synced to Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ in her now-iconic “Baked Potato Couture.” After coming out as a trans woman in 2016, Caliente established herself as an actress, starring in acclaimed shows such as Broad City, Search Party, and Pose. She made her long-awaited Drag Race return for the sixth season of All Stars. Although her stint was short-lived, she later transitioned from contestant to judge on the highly acclaimed Filipino spin-off.
Cause of Death: On 24 April, it was reported that Caliente had experienced “a serious health setback” due to a severe infection, during which she was hospitalised and had to undergo the amputation of most of her right leg. On 27 April, the late drag superstar’s family announced with “profound sorrow” that the drag icon, whose real name was Bianca Castro-Arabejo, had “passed away peacefully” at 4:42 a.m. that same day.
Damien Stone
Date of passing: Was announced on 11 March by his family.
Age: 32
Known for: Originally from Moldova and raised in the United States, Stone was active in the adult industry from 2017 to 2021. Over the course of his career, he featured in approximately 120 scenes for well-known sites including TransAngles, Bromo, NakedSword, MEN, WhyNotBui, TheGuySite, ManUpFilms, and more. Following his retirement from studio-produced adult films, Stone focused on his career as a bodybuilder and launched an OnlyFans account. On his LinkTree profile, which links to his OF and OmegaLabs, Stone was “raising awareness, driving donations and sharing information in support of racial justice and equality”.
Cause of Death: Stone’s cause of death, as confirmed by his family, was complications related to an enlarged heart.
AJ Bediako
Date of passing: 27 May 2025
Age: 32
Known for: AJ Bediako was one of the original ‘Brit Crew’ members on the first-ever season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, appearing in episodes three, five and six. According to his Instagram, he worked as a certified fitness coach, offering lessons online and in person at F45 Training Brixton and PureGym Clapham. In his bio, he proudly displayed that he was “O.G. BritCrew”. As an actor, he appeared alongside Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth in The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016) as a Huntsman, as well as in episodes of Venus vs. Mars (2015) and One Crazy Thing (2016).
Cause of Death: A cause of death has not officially been announced.
Instagram
Roman Mercury
Date of passing: February 2025
Age: 45
Known for: Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, but based in the United States, Mercury first got his start in the adult film industry in 2022. Over the course of his career, which lasted up to his death, the 45-year-old talent starred in 93 scenes for well-known sites including Raging Stallion, Menatplay.com, Hotoldermale.com, Nasty Daddy and more (per Internet Adult Film Database). In addition to his studio work, Mercury also had popular pages on OnlyFans and JustFor.Fans.
Cause of Death: On 11 March, Mercury’s close friend and industry peer, Greg Dixxon revealed to Out that the late star’s death stemmed from a heart attack. “I was informed by the family that his passing was due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, meaning he suffered from a heart attack,” he told the news outlet.
Kolby Falks
Date of passing: May 2025
Age: 39
Known for: The Australian native, known as Anthony Cox to his family and friends, made his debut in the adult film world in 2022. Although his time in the industry was brief, he starred in 76 projects and amassed over 400,000 followers across Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube. He also led a fruitful career as a content creator on the subscription-based websites OnlyFans and JustFor.Fans.
Cause of Death: As of this writing, a cause of death has not been announced.
Jonathan Joss
Date of passing: 1 June 2025
Age: 59
Known for: The beloved voice actor and musician was best known for his roles as John Redcorn in King of the Hill (1997-2009) and as Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation (2011-2015). Other notable credits include Ray Donovan (2016), Tulsa King (2022), Walker, Texas Ranger (2023).
Cause of Death: Joss was shot and killed outside his home by Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, his neighbour. In a statement, the late actor’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, opened up about Joss’ final moments, telling NBC News: “I just kept telling him: ‘It’s OK. You need to cross over. You don’t need to keep struggling. You need to go ahead and cross over easy.’”
Sha’Vi Lewis
Date of passing: 24 February 2025
Age: 39
Known for: Sha’Vi Lewis rose to fame as a competitor on Project Runway’s 18th season. Before showing off his designing skills on the hit fashion series, the late talent served as creative director for the menswear brand Stephen F. He also had his own clothing line.
Cause of Death: As of this writing, a cause of death has not been announced.
