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ITV is set to broadcast a 24-hour live stream from the Big Brother house ahead of the new series

Big Brother fans have been begging ITV to resurrect the show’s beloved round-the-clock live stream.

It appears show bosses have finally listened, but there’s a brutal catch that has left viewers fuming. Rather than giving fans unfiltered access to watch the Housemates in their new home, ITV is handing the keys over to content creator crew The Bov Boys.

The social media influencers will occupy the property for a full 24 hours before this year’s contestants walk through the door. The broadcaster confirmed the twist on Thursday (September 10), revealing that the Manchester lads will move in on Saturday (September 12) as producers apply the finishing touches ahead of Sunday’s official series launch.

The stream will run continuously on Twitch and YouTube, giving viewers a preview of the brand-new house. The official synopsis promises plenty of entertainment, teasing: “Viewers can watch the takeover unfold live for the full 24 hours, with the action streaming continuously across Twitch and YouTube.

“From the moment they arrive until they’re finally sent packing, viewers will have an exclusive, around-the-clock look at all the drama, antics and action inside the House.”

ITV viewers will no doubt recognise The Bov Boys member Angry Ginge, real name Morgan Burtwistle, following his triumphant appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! just last year. The rest of the crew consists of Tays, Jakey Davies, Heinz Baines and Chazza.

However, Heinz Baines will not be taking part in the stream due to a “family commitment,” reports OK! The popular social media group won’t be the only influencers getting a sneak peek at the iconic house, they have also extended invitations to fellow creators Adeola Patronne, Mariam Musa, Shauna Games, Scouse Mali and Pieface.

The announcement has been greeted with some excitement, with one Instagram fan gushing: “This feels like Christmas came early,” and a second agreeing: “THIS IS INCREDIBLE! “Let’s go lads this is huge”

Someone else raved: “OMG my 2 favourites together can’t wait BIG BROTHER BOV HOUSE.” However, other viewers have labelled the twist a “slap in the face”, given that fans have been pleading with producers to bring back the show’s much-loved 24-hour live stream feeds of the actual Housemates.

A furious fan posted: “Load of c**p. You can’t give us live feed for the main series but will stream the dry run,” with a second adding: “Sorry but are you actually trying to annoy your fans @bbuk?! You’ll do a 24/7 live stream for a bunch of randoms testing the house, but won’t do any live stream at all for the actual show?!”

Yet another viewer critiqued: “I find it really wild that the Big Brother producers promote a pre-series live stream with content creators going in, but can’t invest in a consistent series long live stream. It’s really sad. #BBUK.”

Big Brother x Bov Boys 24-Hour Takeover will be a live co-stream on The Bov Boys’ individual Twitch accounts, plus a live stream on BBUK and ITV YouTube accounts from Saturday 12th September at 12pm.

The series launches on Sunday (September 13) at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Kyiv, Ukraine – The 2022 destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, whose construction cost $19bn, epitomised the failure of “change through trade”, Berlin’s policy of softening Moscow’s hardline leadership through mercantile ties, according to some analysts.

Pressurised gas was pumped from Yamal, Russia’s Arctic peninsula of deer herders and treeless tundra, to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany’s Baltic region of chalk cliffs and medieval castles.

But on September 26, 2022, several underwater blasts created a kilometre-wide (0.6-mile) bubbling geyser of natural gas that became history’s worst release of methane and screeched the pipeline flows to a halt.

Dubbed an act of sabotage, the apparent operation has drawn the attention of Hollywood director Doug Liman, known for blockbusters such as The Bourne Identity and Mr & Mrs Smith.

Oscar-winning actors Sean Penn and Adrien Brody star in Liman’s upcoming drama, titled Snake Island, about Ukrainian divers who plunge into the Baltic’s blue waters from a sleek rented yacht to blow up the world’s longest undersea pipelines.

Back in the real world, one of the suspected divers, Volodymyr Zhuravlev, a 46-year-old father of three with more than two decades of free-diving experience, was a consultant on Liman’s film set in Croatia. He was arrested in the Croatian city of Pula on August 19 and is to be extradited to Germany.

Last year, another accused member of the sabotage team, Serhii Kuznetsov, was arrested in Italy and extradited to Germany.

The 49-year-old reportedly worked for Ukrainian intelligence and complained that he had been “abandoned by his country and president”.

Their arrests and upcoming trials have highlighted how the sabotage shocked Germany’s economy, overhauled its energy exports and consumption – and still affects ties between Berlin and Kyiv.

“The Nord Stream sabotage reinforced a key lesson from the 2022 energy crisis – Germany had become far too dependent on Russian fossil gas,” Claudia Kemfert, a professor with the Institute for Economic Research in Berlin, told Al Jazeera.

The pipelines were designed to deliver 110 billion cubic metres (3.9 trillion cubic ft) of natural gas a year and made Germany “captive to Russia”, United States President Donald Trump said in 2022.

Nord Stream 2 never became operational but did contain pressurised gas at the time of the explosions. Nord Stream 1 along with other Russian pipelines provided 55 percent of Germany’s natural gas.

It heated homes, generated energy and fuelled the economic pillars of Europe’s largest, export-oriented economy, the chemical and steelmaking industries.

The alleged sabotage “changed the debate on energy security fundamentally”, Kemfert said. “Today, security means reducing fossil import dependence through diversification, renewables, efficiency, grids and storage.”

The crisis also prompted a major, rapid expansion of infrastructure for liquefied natural gas. The latter proved to be a silver lining.

“The central lesson is clear: The less Germany depends on imported fossil fuels, the more resilient its economy and energy system become,” Kemfert said.

‘Politically sensitive’ questions

Meanwhile, the unresolved questions surrounding Nord Stream “remain politically sensitive” in Berlin-Kyiv ties, she said.

After Trump removed Washington from the political chessboard of the Russia-Ukraine war, Berlin became Kyiv’s largest and staunchest Western backer.

But Germany seems adamant about prosecuting the sabotage team.

“It’s a matter of principle for the German government, but it’s also a matter of the rule of law,” Cristian Vlas, an expert with ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data), an international think tank, told Al Jazeera.

And Ukraine’s most coveted post-war dream – integration into NATO and membership in the European Union – could be thwarted if the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party comes to power.

AfD opposes military and financial aid to Ukraine, wants to block its EU and NATO membership, lift Western sanctions slapped on Moscow for invading Ukraine and resume Russian energy imports.

“We can certainly see the rejection of Ukraine’s application as one of the key points on AfD’s agenda,” Vlas said. “It rejects delivering further military support to Ukraine with the purported pretence that it extends the war.”

EU and NATO integration could be “further in time”, Kyiv-based analyst Aleksey Kushch told Al Jazeera, but the suspected act of sabotage still succeeded in severing the “umbilical cord” of the Berlin-Moscow alliance that hurt Ukraine economically and politically.

In 2008, Berlin and Paris blocked a NATO membership invitation to Ukraine, insisting it would “provoke” Russia.

After Nord Stream 1 was launched in 2011, Kyiv lost half of its annual $3bn in transit fees for Russian gas pumped westwards through Ukrainian pipelines.

Berlin also denied arms deliveries to Kyiv after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, Berlin admitted it was wrong about the “change through trade” approach to Moscow’s belligerence.

“We failed on many points,” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the ZDF broadcaster in 2022. “It’s true that we should’ve taken the warnings of our Eastern European partners more seriously, particularly regarding the time after 2014.”

After the pipeline blasts, no country or group claimed responsibility, and pundits pointed fingers at Washington, which was opposed to the pipeline’s construction, and Moscow, which some believed would benefit from higher natural gas prices and chaos in Europe’s energy markets.

In turn, Moscow accused “Anglo-Saxon powers” of masterminding the explosions.

It took German prosecutors almost two years to zero in on the sabotage team and accuse Kyiv of organising the bombing.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly denied Kyiv’s involvement.

Germany “knows very well that Ukraine wasn’t behind the implementation and the very conception to carry out this particular operation”, he recently said at a news conference.

So far, the upcoming trials of Zhuravlev and Kuznetsov are not affecting aid from Berlin.

“Germany still has a huge credit of trust towards Ukraine, which, however, won’t prevent prosecutors from doing their job and finishing the case and courts from convicting average executioners,” Nikolay Mitrokhin of Germany’s Bremen University told Al Jazeera.

But aside from the pipeline blasts, tensions have been seen before between the German political establishment and Ukrainian politicians.

In 2022, Andrii Melnyk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin at the time, lambasted Germany’s then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz for not providing enough lethal weapons, calling him an “offended liver sausage”.

Also in 2022, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s then-foreign minister, bristled at Berlin’s slow arms deliveries, calling them “disappointing signals”.

“For Ukraine’s future, things are bad because [Ukrainian] elites are confident that that’s the way to get things done and this style, not this individual case [with the sabotage], can cost them membership in the European Union,” Mitrokhin said.

“Germany remembers everything, and after [German Chancellor Friedrich] Merz, who is kind to Ukraine, somebody else who is not that kind could come to power,” he said.

Netflix viewers have been gifted an exclusive first look at Grand Theft Auto VI

Netflix viewers have issued the same complaint just seconds into the new GTA 6 stream.

Gamers have been waiting patiently for the new Grand Theft Auto VI extended teaser, which was shown exclusively on the streaming giant on Thursday evening (August 27).

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Rockstar Games gave Netflix viewers an early glimpse at the gameplay months before its launch this November. The new game will see main characters Jason and Lucia forced to rely on each other “more than ever”.

A synopsis teases: “Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida – forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.”

While fans were counting down the days until the extended look finally dropped, many were left baffled when Netflix crashed just as they were trying to tune in.

Upon clicking on the 26-minute episode, viewers immediately received an error message that read “something went wrong”.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan complained: “NETFLIX WHAT THE F***, ITS NOT EVEN BEEN 1 SECOND.”

Another added: “Why was Netflix not ready for this?? They should’ve known that GTA would crash their app.”

Someone else chimed in with: “What’s up #Netflix? We are up for #gtavi extended look but you’re down!”

But other gamers have been more struck by just how “gorgeous” the gameplay looks. One fan confessed: “Nah I’m blown away. #gta6.”

Someone else shared their excitement, commenting: “There isn’t another game in existence that looks graphically as good as #GTAVI #GTA6. Wow.”

And a final fan raved: “I’m literally smiling ear to ear right now. #GTAVI #ExtendedLook.”

The sixth GTA iteration comes 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V debuted, making it a hugely anticipated launch. Grand Theft Auto VI is set to arrive for PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S on November 19.

Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look is available to stream on Netflix

If you’re looking for a new binge watch this autumn, than ITV have exciting news for you

ITVX is set to welcome a bestselling thriller, and viewers will be able to stream the series for free.

ITV has lined up an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s 2018 bestselling thriller Nine Perfect Strangers that stars a stellar cast.

The chilling psychological series from Hulu and Amazon Prime Video tells the story of nine strangers from different backgrounds who attend a wellness centre named Tranquillum House.

The group of stressed-out city dwellers plan to spend 10 days at the retreat to find a better way of living, and each has a unique, sometimes heartbreaking, background. However, the more time they spend at the remote resort, the more they realise that nothing is as it seems.

As the group begins their healing journey, they are watched over by the mysterious host, Marsha Dmitrichenko, played by Nicole Kidman, who is on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies.

The eight-part drama is full of suspense, punctuated by lighter comedic moments, and explores how far people will go to confront their personal demons on their journey of self-improvement.

Joining Kidman in the series is a star-studded cast, including Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, and Grace Van Patten, who all play the strangers on the retreat.

Nine Perfect Strangers originally aired on HULU and Prime Video in 2021, and will arrive on ITVX on Sunday, September 27.

Since its launch, fans have been taking to Rotten Tomatoes to praise the series, with one person calling it: “Healing, great acting, profound and meaningful.”

A second stated: “One of the best TV shows I have ever watched really moved me”, while a third chimed in: “Recommended, not bad!”

“Well, I didn’t know what to expect when I started the show, but it amazes, and it pushes the envelope! Can’t say enough good things about the acting and the story!!! Keep you guessing every step of the way”, shared one fan.

“The story was brilliant, the cinema beautiful, and I really liked the acting. Highly recommend!”, added another.

One viewer confessed: “I loved every single bit of it. The depth of the characters, the lesson in its story. A completely fresh take on ‘you’re the director of your own life’. A take so new and strong it smashes in and leaves you teary-eyed and inspired.”

Nine Perfect Strangers will stream on ITVX from Sunday, 27 September

Clare Fitzsimons took a trip on the Hurtigruten cruise ship MS Trollfjord, sailing up into the Arctic Circle on a voyage that had her eating seaweed and scaling mountains

As someone with only a passing grasp of balance, tottering across a rocky shoreline doesn’t seem the best idea. Add in pools of water, crashing waves, and very slippery seaweed underfoot, and it’s tantamount to a disaster in the offing. So what could be worth all this peril?

Truffles. Well, sort of. “It tastes like truffle,” says Angelina Eriksen, handing me a sprig of what looks like purply-red moss. Eyeing it dubiously, I nibble a bit. And it does taste like truffle, even though it is in fact… seaweed.

Having grown up near the north-east coastline and spending many a day sliding over seaweed-covered rocks, I’ll admit it had never occurred to me to start eating it. But here in remote Lofoten, one of the most northerly areas of Norway, somehow chomping seaweed straight from the water doesn’t feel so odd.

Of course, most of us have tried seaweed in Asian and Japanese food, but having it directly from the sea is a very different experience, and one that Angelina and her business partner, Tamara Singer, who run Lofoten Seaweed, are celebrating.

OPINION

Seaweed has been eaten for hundreds of years. The Vikings even used it to avoid getting scurvy and it thrives in the light — something it’s definitely not short of during my visit in May as Norway transforms into the famous Land of the Midnight Sun.

Instead of darkness, the sun appears to bounce off the horizon and begin to rise again. All in all, it’s an odd but incredible sight, looking out over the glistening blue water as the next day already begins in daylight.

Then again, a trip along the Norwegian coast aboard the Hurtigruten cruise ship MS Trollfjord feels like a constant stream of once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Spinning 360 degrees just a few feet from towering cliffs of a fjord in the ship’s namesake Trollfjord. Tick. Sailing by a huge mountain, Torghatten, with a hole right through the middle of it. Tick. Crossing into the Arctic Circle. Tick. Visiting the city that has the most rainy days in Norway. Tick.

Ok, the last one might not be top of your list, but Bergen is beautiful even through the showers and was where I began my voyage north.

Known as the city of the seven mountains, Bergen is surrounded by those peaks with a funicular taking visitors, commuters and even a kindergarten, to the top of Mount Fløyen.

Norway’s second largest city feels easy to navigate with its bustling fish market, delightfully wonky houses and array of restaurants. I tried the reindeer on our first night at Bryggeloftet, the oldest restaurant in Bergen, before collapsing into bed at the wonderfully comfy Clarion Admiral hotel ahead of the cruise sailing the next morning.

Many people think of a cruise and immediately envisage thousands of people and 20 decks of entertainment. For some, that’s heaven. But for those looking for a calmer, slower and altogether more intimate sailing experience, Hurtigruten is perfect.

MS Trollfjord first worked as a coastal transport ship, the equivalent of the local bus or train service for the remote coastal communities littering the shores. A four-year-old refurbishment saw it return to the waves as part of the company’s Signature Voyage range.

Unlike colossal cruise ships, it allows access to much smaller ports and fjords. With a maximum capacity of around 500 people, the ship feels cosy.

My Arctic Superior room delivered good night’s sleep — with an excellent blackout blind on the porthole for that midnight sun — before exploring our first port of Åndalsnes.

The quaint town sits under the imposing Romsdal mountain range, 5,510ft up. There is a walking path to the summit, but there’s also a gondola for the less energetic among us. It’s stunning, especially when the clouds parted, revealing the most incredible rainbow between the peaks.

Not all of the ports are big towns either; in fact, Træna is the absolute opposite. Home to around 500 people, its year-round resident population has hardly changed since the Stone Age. Our guide — and local resident — Ramona Remmen took us round their ‘open village’, a real working town sharing the reality of life for normal Norwegians.

While most of the cruise’s stops are only a few hours, it’s enough time to take in the local area and spectacular views. There are plenty of those aboard the ship, too, as it can hug the coastline and capture the incredible scenery along the way, including a special moment as you cross into the Arctic Circle for the first time.

Less time in the deeper ocean is much better for seasickness as well, so that means you can take full advantage of the variety of great food on board from the three restaurants available and their Norway’s Coastal Kitchen concept, celebrating ingredients sourced from the farms, fisheries and fjords along the route.

The main dining area, Flora, is inspired by seasonal produce, while Brasserie Árran (named after the Sámi word for the fire at the heart of their lavvo tent) offers a traditional offering.

Røst is the ship’s fine-dining option, with a focus on fish on a three- to five-course rotating menu. I was lucky enough to have mine paired with a Havets Bobler tasting. Meaning ‘bubbles of the sea’ in Norwegian, it’s quite literally what it says on the tin. Well, the bottle.

The sparkling wine, from the Rathfinny vineyard in Sussex, is stored 34m deep in the 6.5C sea to speed up its maturation time. The bottles come with sand still covering them, and it only adds to the interest of what is a delicious glass of bubbly.

The exact location they’re stored underwater is a closely guarded secret.

It’s far from the only link to the sea on board. The restaurants try to feature seaweed in at least one dish per day. They’ve even got seaweed beer, with a slightly salty tang that just makes it taste even better.

Aurora Spirits, the world’s northernmost distillery, is great for a day trip from our last stop in Tromsø and created a special seaweed gin to be served on board.

You can also smell like seaweed (in a good way) as the soaps and beauty products on the ship are sourced from Lofoten Seaweed which I visited from the picturesque fishing village of Reine before a final leg to the unofficial capital of the Arctic, Tromsø. There, with a heavy heart, I waved farewell to what’s likely the closest I’ll ever get to the North Pole.

It was an unforgettable experience, and maybe next time I’m wandering along the coastline at home, I’ll keep an eye out for some stray truffle seaweed to add to my G&T. Well, if it was good enough for the Vikings.

Book it

Hurtigruten’s Svalbard Line (Northbound) travels from Bergen to Longyearbyen over eight days. There are 14 departures between May 2027 and September 2027, on MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol .

All-inclusive meals and unlimited selected drinks are included, with prices starting from £2,466pp, based on two people sharing a Polar Inside cabin onboard MS Trollfjord, departing on 30 August 2027. Flights and transfer options start from £250pp per route.