sunny

Sunny Hostin of “the View” clones her voice and likeness

Hollywood A-listers are more comfortable than ever with cloning their voice and likeness to create a new stream of income, despite the threat of viewer backlash to artificial intelligence.

Sunny Hostin of the popular daily talk show “The View” has licensed her image and likeness to AI production studio Fountain 0, which will make film adaptations of her novels.

“To be able to bring my novels to life in movie and TV form, and actually have my image inserted in the productions, so that audiences can relate to me through my stories beyond my role as an author, is incredibly exciting to me,” Hostin said in a statement.

“AI can give me a way to both more fully develop, and more fully immerse myself in, IP I have developed,” she said.

The Overton window for acceptable AI use in Hollywood continues to widen as Hollywood actors, television hosts, and influencers embrace cloning with protections and compensation. As high-quality synthetic re-creations become cheap and accessible, cloning has become a more desirable option for studios struggling with runaway production costs.

Audiences will be subject to more AI content on the big screen that’s indistinguishable from real human performances.

Fountain 0 is the producer behind “Dreams of Violets,” a fully AI-generated film inspired by anti-government protests in Tehran. The 75-minute drama was made with a budget of $2,000 without a cast or a crew, and was the first fully AI-generated film accepted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

“We are incredibly gratified that Sunny is willing to be the talent pioneer willing to step out and take advantage of this new form of creative expression,” said Ash Koosha, co-founder and CEO of Fountain 0, in a release.

The production company will be releasing its second fully AI-generated film, “Odysseus: The Fall,” later this year. The film uses the likeness of many people, including the film’s creator Koosha, who stars as Odysseus.

Fountain 0’s executive chariman told CNBC that the film is designed to ride the buzz around Christopher Nolan’s ‘’The Odyssey” and give people the opportunity to compare the height of human filmmaking with AI filmmaking.

Proponents of AI argue that it allows writers and creators to take on blockbuster-scale films without financial constraints. Many creators oppose AI because it could replace humans and was built using the unauthorized scraping of creative works used to train generative AI video and image models.

Online reactions to news of Hostin’s cloning were fierce.

“Basically, no film studio wants to give her the budget to turn her books into a movie with real actors, so she’s resorting to AI studios,” wrote one person on Reddit.

Hollywood has fought hard for protections from AI in the prolonged writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing about 160,000 actors and other performers, has been demanding informed consent, fair compensation, more control and transparency over the use of digital replicas.

The latest agreement, signed in June, introduced limits on studios’ use of digital replicas. The contract requires studios to notify actors before using their voices to create a replica. After a project is complete, actors must sign off and be paid the equivalent of an in-person performance if their replica is used.

Additionally, studios need to pay residuals to digital replicas used in reruns, and replicas cannot be used during a strike.

Hiring fully AI-generated characters such as Tilly Norwood, created without hiring a human performer, is not impossible but comes with a very high threshold for use under the 2026 union contract. Producers must notify the union in advance and prove the AI character brings “significant additional value” to the role.

Still, a fissure remains between those actors who stay morally opposed to cloning, and those who embrace this new reality.

ElevenLabs’ voice marketplace features clones of dozens of personalities — including actress Judy Garland, physicist Richard Feynman and popular characters such as Mr. Potato Head for creators to legally license and get compensated for their use.

This has created a contentious ecosystem in which A-listers are gaining millions from cloning with safeguards and building a new stream of passive income from their intellectual property, while early-career actors complain that their likenesses are being misappropriated and opportunities are being driven away. A massive lobbying effort is underway to institute a uniform standard for protecting an individual’s voice and likeness as property rights.

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Sunny European city breaks that are cheaper than a big night out… with £14 flights, £8.50 dinner & JUGS of wine for £3

YOU don’t need a huge holiday budget to jet off on an amazing European city break.

With flights from £13.99 each way and hotel rooms from under £40 a night, a weekend escape to Spain, Italy, or France can easily cost less than a big night out at home.

Lyon is known as the food capital of France – and there are plenty of inexpensive dining options Credit: Getty
Collage of travel items including a plane, sunscreen, passport, suitcase, and plane tickets, advertising The Sun's travel Instagram account.

Whether you fancy sipping €3 (£2.50) wine by the river in Porto, grabbing fresh beachside tapas in Malaga, or drinking in views from a 360-degree rotating bar in Tirana, you can do it all while on a budget.

Here are the best bargain European city breaks you can book right now for under £18 a flight, with ridiculously cheap hotel stays to match.

Lyon, France

Bag a cheap city break to Lyon where you can sip a drink on a floating bar at the River Banks, wander Renaissance-era cobblestone streets in Old Lyon, and sample some of the best food in France.

Known as the food capital of France, it isn’t hard to find somewhere good to eat here – even on a budget.

Head to Marronniers Street at lunchtime and take your pick of Bouchons, which are traditional, local restaurants serving high-quality authentic meals for as little as €10 (£8.50).

You can fly to Lyon with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way. Sometimes the return flight from Lyon can be as low as £13.99.

The People Lyon offers rooms from £37 a night. The building used to be a secondary school, and has now become a vibrant spot for people to sit and enjoy views of the Fourvière Basilica.

Milan, Italy

Milan makes for an affordable city break with £14.99 flights and plenty of free sights Credit: Getty

While famous for high fashion and luxury, Milan is surprisingly easy to do on a budget if you know where to look.

The city’s aperitivo culture is ideal for inexpensive light snacking and drinking – especially in the vibrant, canal-side district of Navigli.

Soak up world-class architecture for free by wandering through the mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, admiring Sforzesco Castle, and of course taking in the views of the famous Milan Cathedral.

With super cheap flights, an affordable metro system and plenty to do for free once you’re there, you can book a city break to Milan knowing it won’t dent your wallet.

You can fly to Milan with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

The Glam Hotel Milano has rooms from £50 a night, and is a modern hotel directly opposite the train station.

Malaga, Spain

Soak up the views of Malaga from the Gibralfaro viewpoint Credit: Getty

Far more than a typical getaway to the Costa del Sol, Malaga is a vibrant, sun-soaked city full of Andalusian culture.

Dining out is wonderfully cheap, with beachside bars serving fresh sardine skewers for only a few euros, alongside plenty of low-cost tapas spots.

Sightseeing costs next to nothing thanks to free Sunday afternoon entry to art museums and historic sites like the Alcazaba fortress.

Pair that with beach days and scenic hikes to the Gibralfaro viewpoint, and you’ve got yourself a very affordable few days away.

You can fly to Malaga with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way.

Rooms at funky capsule hotel Futurotel Malaga start from £59.

Porto, Portugal

Enjoy jugs of wine in Porto for as little as €3.50 in local neighbourhood tascas Credit: Getty

Cheap wine, unique architecture, amazing city viewpoints – Porto is the ideal pick for a walkable city break packed with affordable things to do.

Spend a day strolling through the Ribeira District where medieval colourful houses and charming cafes line the riverfront.

Another top free sight is to watch the sun set behind the huge steel Dom Luis I Bridge from the Jardmin do Morro, to the sound of local street musicians.

As for cheap wine, pop into neighbourhood tascas for a bite to eat and a drink – here you can enjoy local wine by the jug for €3.50 (£3)!

You can fly to Porto with Ryanair from as little as £13.99 each way.

The ever-reliable ibis budget Porto Gaia has rooms from £55 a night.

Tirana, Albania

Tirana in Albania is fully of cheap and quirky things to do, including a bunker turned underground art museum Credit: Alamy

Tirana is easily one of Europe’s most underrated and budget-friendly capitals, buzzing with pastel-painted buildings and an amazing coffee culture.

You can explore giant, Communist-era nuclear bunkers turned underground art museums at Bunk’Art, or catch a cheap cable car ride up Mount Dajti for sweeping views across the valley.

Nights are best spent in the trendy Blloku district – a neighbourhood once off-limits to locals as it was an restricted zone for communist regime leaders – now it’s open to everyone with lively cocktail lounges and traditional grill houses that serve up dishes and drinks for pocket change.

You can fly to Tirana with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way.

The four-star Sky Hotel Tirana has rooms from £38 per night, and is home to the largest rotating bar in the Balkans.

The revolving rooftop bar completes a 360° turn every hour, giving you sweeping city and mountain views alongside your meal.

Dublin, Ireland

Take a quick weekend break to Dublin with a £14.99 Ryanair flight Credit: Getty

When you can hop over to Dublin on a £14.99 hour-long flight, this might just be the quickest and easiest city break to tick off in a weekend.

While Temple Bar is certainly worth a visit to walk its pretty cobbled streets and grab a pic outside the famous red pub, save your pint of Guinness for elsewhere.

Head to South William Street to find cheaper beer at spots like Pygmalion and Grogan’s, where all the atmosphere comes from taking your pint back out into the street to listen to buskers.

For an affordable yet delicious lunch, head to Pablo Picante. Dublin has a huge burrito culture, and this Mexican chain offers well-stuffed wraps that will keep you full all day from €10.75 (£9.20).

You can fly to Dublin with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

Stay at the Wetherspoons-owned Keaven’s Port Hotel from £82 per night. The hotel sits on Camden Street, which packed with some of the city’s best bars, pubs and clubs.

Alicante, Spain

Alicante in Spain sees 300 days of sunshine per year Credit: Getty

With year-round warmth and 300 days of sunshine per year, Alicante is a solid bet when it comes to booking a sunny Spanish city break.

Spend your days wandering the whitewashed, flower-filled lanes of Barrio Santa Cruz, or taking in sweeping Mediterranean views from the hilltop Santa Barbara Castle for free.

Eating well can be remarkably cheap if you visit Mercado Central for fresh tapas, or tuck into authentic regional paellas at backstreet neighbourhood bars.

You can fly to Alicante with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

You can book a stay at the Travelodge Alicante Puerto from £39 per night, which is conveniently located a short walk from Alicante Harbour and the Explanada de España.



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Who is in the cast of Sunny Nights?

Sunny Nights has arrived in the UK and fans have been on the “edge of their seats”.

Sunny Nights is here and fans are eager to find out who stars in this dark comedy crime drama.

After its initial release in Australia and the US, Sunny Nights has made its way to the UK with the entire eight-episode season released on ITVX today, Sunday, August 16.

Having made a fresh start Down Under in Sydney, Australia, brother and sister Martin and Vicki Marvin open up their tanning shop but unfortunately, they don’t get the happily ever after they were looking for.

Instead, they accidentally get involved in a blackmail that puts them on the radar of Sydney’s criminal underworld.

Sunny Nights cast in full

Martin Marvin – Will Forte

Martin is usually a law-abiding citizen who can’t help but analyse risks but was pushed to make the big move to win back his estranged wife.

Actor Will Forte will be remembered for starring in the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2002 to 2010, as well as for series The Four Seasons on Netflix and The Last Man on Earth.

Vicki Marvin – D’Arcy Carden

Vicki is Martin’s loose cannon sister who has a far more laid back attitude when it comes to risk and danger.

Actress D’Arcy Carden earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in the NBC sitcom The Good Place but she’s also known for starring as Greta Gill in A League of Their Own.

Mony – Rachel House

Ruthless syndicate crime boss Mony is out for revenge after the siblings accidentally ruin her life.

Mony is brought to life by actress Rachel House who has been in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Time Bandits and is the voice of Gramma Tale in the Disney movie Moana.

Susi – Jessica De Gouw

Susi quickly entraps Martin and starts to blackmail him for as much money as she can get out of him.

Arrow fans will best recognise actress Jessica De Gouw as Helena Bertinelli, The Huntress, in the superhero drama.

She has also starred as Mina Murray in the NBC series Dracula and Elizabeth Hawkes in the historical series Underground.

Joyce – Ra Chapman

Joyce moved to Sydney to start over but her past soon catches up with her when her estranged husband Martin also moves to Australia.

Korean-Australian actress Ra Chapman will be remembered for her roles in Knowing, White Fever, Dear Life and Wentworth as Kim Chang.

Terry Torres – Willie Mason

Terry is Mony’s enforcer when she needs a heavy hand to take care of business. He is played by former Australian rugby league player Willie Mason who makes his acting debut in Sunny Nights.

Other cast members include Megan Wilding as Nova, George Mason as Dreadlock Pete and Matuse as Dentist Dave.

Sunny Nights is available to watch on ITVX.

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Where is Sunny Nights on ITV filmed?

Sunny Nights is the dark comedy drama that ITV fans have been impatiently waiting for.

Sunny Nights is ready to binge-watch with viewers keen to get a full breakdown of its filming locations.

Following the chaotic story of brother and sister duo Martin Marvin (played by Will Forte) and Vikki Marvin (D’Arcy Carden), Sunny Nights sees the pair leave their lives in the US behind to start over again in Australia.

As Martin also hopes to win back his estranged wife, they set up their own tanning shop but their lives are upended when they accidentally anger a ruthless syndicate crime boss.

Martin also gets himself caught up in a blackmailing plot so their once peaceful future quickly looks a lot more complicated.

As Sunny Nights dropped on ITVX today, Tuesday, August 18, here’s everything there is to know about where the series was filmed.

Where is Sunny Nights on ITV filmed?

Sunny Nights was filmed in New South Wales, Australia, with the comedy drama set in the iconic city of Sydney.

Coastal walks and the beautiful scenery in Bondi are particularly featured in the beginning, including spots like the Bondi Icebergs and the suburb of Tamarama.

Other Sunny Nights filming spots include the coastal residential suburb of Malabar, Botany Bay featuring heritage sites like Bare Island and Frenchman Bay.

The historic pools of Wylie’s Baths can also be seen along with the stunning views of the Blue Mountains.

Heading up the cast as Martin Marvin is Saturday Night Live icon and Netflix ’s The Four Seasons star Will Forte.

Opening up to Rolling Stone, Forte shared that it was a life-changing prospect working on the show.

“It was really after only two episodes were written that I had to make this decision: Am I bringing my whole family down to Australia on the chance that these other six episodes are going to be as good? With [Australian filmmaker] Trent O’Donnell, you say yes to that.

“Looking back, it is the greatest decision of my life.

“Marrying my wife, deciding to have kids, those are all other ones up there as well, obviously, but everything about this show turned out to be the best version.”

Sunny Nights is available to watch on ITVX.

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‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ review: Sunny Sandler and Melanie Lynskey shine

The importance of parental support goes meta in Julia Hart’s “Don’t Say Good Luck.” The YA musical drama, which premieres Friday, pays homage to musical theater, unconditional maternal love and the family-hour TV, er, Netflix movie. In a landscape littered with teenage dysfunction, “Don’t Say Good Luck” is a moving argument for aspirational television.

And with a star whose famous father serves as producer, it‘s an admonition to the term “nepo baby.”

We meet normal kid Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler) as she anxiously prepares for a day that will include auditioning for her high school’s production of “Waitress.” While her father, Ted (Max Greenfield, marvelously transformed by a beard), wrangles her rambunctious younger twin brothers, her mother, Elizabeth (Melanie Lynskey), assures her that she is talented and beautiful and will do just great. These sentiments are echoed by Sophie’s best friend, Carolyn (Scarlett Estevez), who joins her at the audition where the director is the super-cool Ms. Parker (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s” Stephanie Beatriz) and even theater department queen bee Mallory (Elyse Bell), who everyone knows is going to get the lead, is pretty nice.

It’s a high school experience that’s about as far from “Euphoria” or even “Glee” as one can get while still being situated on Earth. Still, all is not perfect in Sophie’s world. When Elizabeth learns that her cancer has returned, Sophie overhears her parents’ subsequent conversation via a butt-dial from her father’s phone. Her first impulse is to flee the audition; instead her emotional turmoil fuels a powerful performance that (spoiler alert?) lands her the lead role.

Determined to downplay the seriousness of her illness, Elizabeth insists that life continue on as normal — she and Ted own a local deli, which offers some nice bagel versus wrap shade and a Jon Lovitz cameo. Though Sophie is worried, she believes her mother who says she will beat cancer again. So she throws herself into the stomach-churning rigor of being the star of the show, which includes a painful separation from her bestie, a crush on her co-star and a struggle to find the confidence to let her obvious talent shine.

“Don’t Say Good Luck” is, obviously, a showcase for Sandler, whose parents, Adam and Jackie Sandler, serve as producers (which may have had something to do with the extraordinary supporting cast, which also includes Bebe Neuwirth and Steve Buscemi as Elizabeth’s parents). Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison Productions have a long and lucrative partnership with Netflix, which recently debuted “Happy Gilmore 2” and announced “Grown Ups 3” as part of their deal. One could see this as yet another case of nepo-baby triumph — streaming is currently littered with the progeny of famous parents — or simply a living example of the film’s theme. Like the Birenbaum parents, the Sandlers want to help their daughter shine in her chosen career and that she certainly does.

Steve Buscemi sits in the passenger seat as Sunny Sandler drives in "Don't Say Good Luck."

Adam Sandler serves as a producer, which may have had something to do with the extraordinary supporting cast, which also includes Steve Buscemi as Sophie’s grandfather.

(Netflix)

Though Sophie is the only older daughter ever to escape the task of caring for her younger brothers (or doing any chores at all), Sandler makes her completely believable as a nice, self-conscious kid who just needs a push to trust her talent. If the tone of the film is 1970s-family-comedy aspirational (particularly in the mother-daughter scenes), that shouldn’t be construed as a low level of difficulty.

Indeed, it is almost revolutionary to see emotionally resonant teenage characters who aren’t mired in abuse, addiction or some kind of horror; leveraging dysfunction has become shorthand for “drama.” “Don’t Say Good Luck” is based on the real-life experience of co-writer Laura Hankin (collaborating here with Hart and Jordan Horowitz), and though the stakes are emotionally high, portraying a loving family doing their best to get through a devastating situation with minimal meltdowns is its own act of bravery.

It certainly helps that this family is firmly anchored by Lynskey, who proves, yet again, that she can do anything. Her Elizabeth is neither martyr nor saint, just a woman who wants to live as she’s always lived for as long as she can. Lynskey lifts what could have been a sappy (or even worse, guilt-inducing) cancer-mom tale into a quietly transcendent contemplation of motherhood. (A scene in which she flips through the calendar trying to figure out when to let the kids know what’s really going on drove the breath from this mother’s body.)

Does “Don’t Say Good Luck” skirt around the grim realities of cancer as cavalierly as it paints a Pinterest mood-board vision of high school? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean the message and the feelings (yes, you absolutely will cry) are not just as authentic. Love is the root of much pain, but it’s also what conquers it in the end.

Melanie Lynskey, Max Greenfield and Jon Lovitz, all wearing aprons, stand in a deli.

Melanie Lynskey as Elizabeth, Max Greenfield as Ted and Jon Lovitz as Lenny in “Don’t Say Good Luck.”

(Netflix)

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Bikini-clad Amy Schumer displays incredible 50lb weight loss as she enjoys sunny yacht day

AMY Schumer has displayed her incredible 50lb weight loss in a bikini while soaking up the sunshine.

The 45-year-old actress and comedian, who revealed last year that she was taking weight loss jab Mounjaro, has shown off her slender figure on a boat.

Amy Schumer has shown off her 50lb weight loss transformation Credit: amyschumer / instagram
She turned slightly to show off her peachy posterior Credit: amyschumer / instagram

“I never knew there would be days like this. No filter as per ushe,” Amy, who filed for divorce from her husband in January, penned in the caption.

Fans and friends flocked to the comments to swoon over the stunning snaps.

“I’m so happy you’re happy,” said one person.

“So beautiful, Amy. Happy and thriving,” wrote another.

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Amy looked relaxed as she soaked up the sunshine and rocked a gorgeous kimono Credit: amyschumer / instagram
She has been on a weight loss journey in recent years Credit: Getty

“Sensational,” gushed a third, while a fourth said: “Yeah get it girl!”

More than a year ago, the Trainwreck star revealed she was taking Mounjaro in an Instagram video.

In the video she shared last March, Amy noted how the drug is not covered by insurance unless a patient has diabetes or severe obesity.

“Which most of the internet thinks I have,” she joked.

“But I’m having a really good experience with it, and I wanted to keep it real with you about that.”

Amy previously confessed to having taken Ozempic and having a “horrible experience” with it.

Speaking on The Howard Stern show, she said: “I have this gene, GDF15, which makes you extremely prone to nausea, which is why I was so sick during my pregnancy.

“So, I tried Ozempic almost three years ago and I was, like, veteran.

“I was, like, vomiting — and then you have no energy. But other people take it and they’re all good. God bless them.”

She explained how she “lost 30 pounds so quick” but noted how the nausea she experienced was awful.

In 2024, the actress and director revealed she had been diagnosed with Cushing’s Syndrome, which was caused by having steroid injections in high doses.

She then spoke out about how the trolling she received over her “moon face” led to her diagnosis.

Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper last year, she said: “A year ago, the Internet really came for me.”

Amy was referring to how last January she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, when people commented on her “puffy” and “swollen” face.

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Amanda Holden, 55, sizzles in tiny green bikini as she strikes a pose poolside in sunny Corfu snaps

AMANDA Holden sizzled in a tiny green bikini as she posed up a storm on poolside in sunny Corfu.

The Britian’s Got Talent judge, 55, showed off her amazing figure as she wowed in the skimpy swimwear on holiday.

Amanda Holden, 55, sizzled in tiny green bikini as she posed up a storm in sunny Corfu Credit: Instagram/@noholdenback
The star showed off her amazing figure in the pictures Credit: Instagram/@noholdenback

Amanda looked incredible as she was snapped getting out of the pool.

She completed her look with a straw sun hat, oversized sunglasses and gold jewellery.

The telly favourite posted the pictures on her Instagram and tagged fashion designer Melissa Odabash in the caption.

Many rushed to the comments section to share how stunning she looks.

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Amanda accessorised with sunglasses, a sun hat and jewellery Credit: Instagram/@noholdenback
She relaxed by the water in the sunshine Credit: Instagram/@noholdenback
Amanda looked a natural behind the camera Credit: Instagram/@noholdenback

One said: “Perfect.”

Another wrote: “Just beautiful.”

A third chimed in: “Swimwear queen.”

“Sensational,” a fourth chimed in.

A fifth commented: “So gorgeous xx.”

Last month Amanda flashed her toned figure in a bright red bikini as she relaxed on a swing.

The star was all smiles as she swayed in the summer sunshine, accessorising her matching two-piece with a pair of sunglasses.

She kept her blonde hair in loose natural waves and was clearly relishing her tanning time.

Amanda uploaded a series of snaps to Instagram showcasing her Melissa Odabash swim gear as well as a video showing her on the wooden playground equipment.

In her caption, she revealed how she had teamed up with her BGT co-star Alesha Dixon for her sun-soaked day.

She later captured a snap showing fashion brand founder Melissa and Alesha, who had chosen a nude swim top paired with a chunky gold necklace.

Amanda then wrote: “The best day in this beautiful weather! Wearing @melissaodabash of course.

“Swipe to see the bikini queen herself along with my lovely @aleshaofficial – what a fab lunch all together – with our girls too”.

Brand founder Melissa was then quick to reply: “OK officially red is my fav colour on you looking insane and so great catching up with the girls”.

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Jet2 launches holidays to sunny hotspot 3 hours from UK with palm-fringed beaches

The tour operator will offer both standalone flights and package holidays to the sunny destination, which offers both beautiful beaches plus lots of cultural and historic attractions

Jet2 has announced it’s launching flights and holidays to Tunisia for summer 2027, with the airline opening bookings for holidaymakers looking to get away from May 1 to October 31 next year.

The tour operator will offer new flights from Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, and Manchester. Customers who book a package holiday will be able to choose from a range of 3 to 5-star hotels situated in the resorts of Port el Kantaoui, Skanes, Mahdia, Sousse, Yasmine Hammamet, and Hammamet.

All flights will arrive in Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport in the north of the country, close to the capital of Tunis and some of Tunisia’s most popular resorts.

Jet2’s new flight schedule will offer twice-weekly flights on Wednesday and Saturday from Birmingham and London-Stansted, plus two flights a week covering Manchester on Tuesday and Friday. East Midlands and Leeds Bradford airports will get weekly flights.

Once you arrive, there are lots of places to explore, from the vast Medina of Hammamet to the palm-tree lined seaside of Sousse. Take a day trip to the Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem, full of incredible stories about the wild animals caged in its dungeons and its gladiator battles, where 30,000 spectators once cheered on its bloody spectacles.

Further south, you can discover desert landscapes and shimmering salt flats. Explore the filming locations for the original Star Wars trilogy, and visit traditional Berber cave homes carved deep into the mountains.

Visit Tunis for the day and explore the labyrinth of market stalls, mosques, and houses all found in one concentrated, slightly chaotic space. Dating back to 698, this colourful medina is now home to one-tenth of the city’s population. But if you enter, be sure to watch out for landmarks, as it’s easy to get lost within its walls.

You can also visit the Bardo National Museum, home to the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world, and artefacts found in the city of Carthage from the days when Tunisia was a major trading hub for the Ancient Mediterranean.

This announcement brings the total number of Jet2 destinations for summer 2027 to 70, and the tour operator has recently announced new services to Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, as well as Kavala in the north of Greece.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “With year-round sunshine, rich culture and fantastic sunshine, Tunisia has something for everyone and we know how immensely popular it will be.”

Fakhri Khalsi, acting UK Director at the Tunisian National Tourist Office, said: “We are delighted to welcome the launch of Jet2’s holiday and flight programmes to Tunisia starting in summer 2027. This announcement represents a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen Tunisia’s position as a leading Mediterranean destination and reflects the growing confidence of major travel operators in our tourism offering.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

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The UK’s best Wetherspoons pub gardens for the sunny weather

THE sun is officially back out and nothing beats a cold beer on a hot day – especially a cheap one and that’s where Wetherspoons come in.

Dotted around the country are plenty of beautiful pubs with huge gardens, courtyard patios, even rooftop terraces, and these ones are the best with pints from £1.49.

There are Wetherspoons around the country with rooftops and huge gardens Credit: JD Whetherspoon
The Velvet Coaster is opposite Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Wetherspoons have shared exclusively with Sun Travel their ten best pubs in Britain where you can enjoy some glorious rays with your drink.

We’ve got boozers right on the beach, pubs with lawns as big as a field right in the middle of cities and stunning rooftop bars with fantastic views.

All of them are family-friendly too, with kids menus from just £4.99 that include a meal, a drink, a piece of fruit, that are designed to include at least two of their 5-a-day.

So if you’re looking for a place to spend a sunny day without spending too much of your hard-earned cash then read on…

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The Imperial, Exeter

The Imperial in Exeter has a huge orangery and a large beer garden too Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Often dubbed the ‘fanciest’ Wetherspoons in the country, Exeter’s Wetherspoons called The Imperial boasts a vaulted orangery and a huge pub garden.

The grounds on the former hotel turned pub are scattered with picnic tables with a wrap-around patio area shaded by draping wisteria in the springtime.

The Jolie Brise, Teignmouth

The Jolie Brise has a lovely sun trap rooftop garden Credit: J D Wetherspoon

In the Devonshire seaside town, and just two-minutes from the beach is The Jolie Brise.

On the pretty rooftop garden you still get a beachy-feel thanks to its wooden slatted exterior, palm trees and seagulls gliding overhead.

The Dockle Farmhouse, Swindon

The Dockle Farmhouse in Swindon has two outdoor areas Credit: GILL EVANS

This pub in Swindon actually has two outdoor areas, one with a children’s play area and the other, an adult beer garden with picnic tables and parasols.

You can pick up a glass of Cold Creek rosé for as little as £2.10 and pints from £1.49.

The Old Manor, Bracknell

There’s plenty of greenery at The Old Manor in Bracknell Credit: GILL EVANS

Bracknell’s Wetherspoons is inside is one of the oldest-surviving buildings in the town.

It has Tudor-style windows and dark brick which can all be admired from its beer garden and grassy area to the side.

With plenty of greenery, some visitors even say it’s the ‘prettiest’ Wetherspoons gardens they’ve been to.

The Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate

When the sun shines you want to be on the rooftop Wetherspoons in Ramsgate Credit: Alamy

It’s hard to beat the views across Ramsgate Beach from the rooftop of the UK’s largest Wetherspoons .

The outdoor rooftop terrace wraps around the entire building, with enough tables and chairs to fit hundreds.

The best views are found at the very back, with the pub backing onto Ramsgate’s artificial sandy beach.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey said: “It’s definitely huge so you don’t have to worry about being crammed in even on a busy Saturday.

The pub boasts 11,000 square feet of drinking space – including a huge terrace over the beach – and holds 1,500 punters.

“There are more than 400 seats inside, with another 200 out the back too.

“The downstairs has tables, bar seats and Victorian-style wooden booths, as well a very long bar, so getting around is easy.

“But the best spot is the massive terrace, with incredible views over the sandy beach.”

The Mossy Well, Muswell Hill, London

There’s a ‘cow’ in the garden of The Molly Well as it used to be an Original Express Dairy Credit: GILL EVANS

The Mossy Well is one of those Wetherspoons that pays great homage to its roots, especially in its garden.

Formerly an Original Express Diary, visitors will find a wooden cow tucked under one of the tables – and it’s even turned an old milk float into a bar.

The patio area is covered, so you can sit ‘outside’ even in the rain – not that you’ll need to worry about that this weekend.

The Fox on the Hill, Camberwell, London

The Fox on the Hill is inside a huge former hotel Credit: Alamy

Thanks to the pub being inside an old hotel, The Fox on the Hill pub garden has oodles of room to enjoy a pint in the sunshine.

Each table is spread out so you won’t feel too close to other pubgoers either.

This garden is in Zone 2 London, which is incredible because the front lawn is as big as a country field.

The Sun’s Head Of Travel – Digital, Caroline McGuire said: “The Fox On The Hill is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon with friends and family.

“The picture above doesn’t even do this pub garden justice, it is absolutely massive so the kids can run around and play far from any punters enjoying their drinks.

“There’s also a covered garden out back, in case it starts to rain.”

Cooper Rose, Sunderland

200 punters can take a seat at the Cooper Rose in Sunderland

The rooftop beer garden at the Cooper Rose opened four years ago and is a whopping 3,000 square feet fitting around 200 punters.

The pretty patio is filled with greenery, flowers, fairy lights – there is a bar upstairs too so you don’t have to leave the sunshine for another drink.

The Kingfisher, Poynton

The Kingfisher is in Cheshire with pints from £1.99 Credit: Alamy

Tucked away in Cheshire is the Kingfisher Wetherspoons where customers say you’ll find ‘sun trap tables’ and ‘cheap ale’.

You can pick up a Shipyard Pale Ale for £1.99.

Livery Rooms, Keighley

The Livery Rooms has a huge outdoor courtyard split over two levels Credit: David Webb

While it’s not strictly quite the classic beer ‘garden’, the Livery Rooms has a pretty outdoor courtyard split over two levels.

It’s filled with plenty of tables, and when the sun goes down during the evening, it’s just as lovely as the area is lit up with string lights.

Mile Castle, Newcastle

The Mile castle has cheap pints and a pretty beer garden tucked away in the city

Dubbed a ‘super Spoons’, the Mile Castle became home to the first Wetherspoons hotel back in 2024 and had a major facelift.

Outside is a 200-cover beer garden set across two floors – and you can enjoy a pint of Ruddles Best from £1.79.

A small all-day brunch, which includes sausage bacon, fried egg, beans and chips is just £7.49 

The Navigation Inn, Birmingham

The Navigation Wetherspoons near the village green has a huge patio Credit: Martin Humby 0044+07974764420

The Navigation Wetherspoons is found inside a historic inn near the old village green in Kings Norton.

It not only has a conservatory with a peaked roof, but a large patio garden with lines of tables and gazebos offer shade for when it gets a little too hot.

Scarsdale Hundred, Beighton, Sheffield

The Scarsdale Hundred has a huge curved outdoor seating area around the pub Credit: Dean Atkins

The Scarsdale Hundred Wetherspoons is found inside a distinctive round building in Beighton and can seat 600 punters outside.

The garden is curved around the pub and has a central canopy and can be enjoyed well into the summer evenings permission has just been approved to enjoy pints until 1.30am in 2026.

The Velvet Coaster, Blackpool

The Velvet Coaster in Blackpool has incredible views of the beach Credit: Alamy

Consistently called one of the most beautiful Wetherspoons, The Velvet Coaster sits next to Blackpool’s South Pier within walking distance from its Pleasure Beach.

Named after one of the most-loved rollercoasters in the early 1900s, the pub has impressive views across the promenade, especially from its rooftop garden.

It has plenty of seating in comfy bucket chairs and a glass balcony so you won’t miss any action at the beachfront. 

The Wouldhave, South Shields 

You can enjoy the sunshine over the weekend at The Wouldhave

It might not be one of the prettiest Wetherspoons in the country, but The Wouldhave in South Shields has a pub garden to shout about.

Sitting in one of Wetherspoons’ signature orange chairs, you can order a refreshing lager from £1.99.



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