The three part documentary has finally been released in the UK
Don’t Date Brandon has finally been released in the UK (Image: Paramount Plus/Channel 4)
True crime fans cannot stop talking about a brand new documentary that has been dubbed a “disturbing” watch.
Don’t Date Brandon has this week been released on Channel 4, with all three episodes airing last night (July 30) as it explores two chilling relationships.
Amber Rasmussen and Athena Klingerman bravely open up on how they were manipulated by con man Brandon Johnson as the three part series exposes his elaborate web of lies and past abuse.
A Channel 4 synopsis reads: “True crime series. When Amber finds out that her husband’s a liar, she starts a podcast with his ex-wife. But as more women come forward, they discover that Brandon isn’t just a cheat; he’s dangerous.”
First airing on Paramount+ last year, Don’t Date Brandon has just been released on Channel 4, with all three episodes available to stream online for free. Despite its release in 2025, viewers are only just discovering the harrowing watch now as they say it is a must watch for everyone.
Taking to TikTok, one true crime fan said in a video: “I promise you definitely won’t want to miss this one because it is an absolutely wild ride.”
They went on to say: “As you’re watching this documentary it becomes more and more dark and more and more terrifying. What unfolds at the end of it is truly quite chilling and there are actually some very disturbing scenes in this so be aware of that.”
In another video, another viewer said: “It’s quite good.” One person commented: “Just finished Don’t Date Brandon. Started it last night – had horrible nightmares about my ex last night.”
Taking to their own video, one person admitted they were not “prepared for this documentary” as they captioned their post: “Craziest one in a while”.
Another stated they have been “waiting for the longest time” for the UK release, adding: “I cannot wait to watch this, I’ve heard great things from those of you who have already seen it.”
One person replied: “Don’t Date Brandon is amazing I watched it on YouTube crazy.”
When it was released in the USA last year, one viewer said it was one of the “most horrifying” documentaries they had watched, adding on TikTok: “Episode 3 is incredibly hard to watch.”
Don’t Date Brandon can be streamed for free on Channel 4
The ITV documentary series first aired three years ago and follows world-leading forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop delving into complex cases.
The ITV true crime series returns to screens on Tuesday night(Image: ITV)
Forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop is back once again for a fresh crime series on ITV.
The harrowing true crime docu-series will see Dr Gallop and her team revisit complicated cold murder cases using advanced scientific techniques that may not have been available at the time of the crime.
Through the re-examinations, Dr Gallop and her team have helped bring notorious killers to justice in Cold Case Forensics, which is airing a brand new season.
On Tuesday night (July 28), ITV viewers will see the forensic scientist look into the chilling death of Italian banker Roberto Calvi, also widely known as ‘God’s Banker’
A synopsis for the episode reads: “Return of the documentary delving into the casebook of world-leading forensic scientist Angela Gallop and her team.
“When the body of Italian banker Roberto Calvi was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London in 1982, the investigation led to a murky world of financial deals with the Vatican and the Mafia. Nicola Walker narrates.”
Roberto Calvi was the chairman of the largest private bank in Italy and also had connections to the Roman Catholic Church.
However, the 62-year-old went missing in 1982 for nine days before his body was discovered hanging.
At the time, the coroner’s report didn’t find evidence of foul play on his body and ruled his death as a suicide.
Although UK police were puzzled by the strange circumstance, as his pockets were stuffed with bricks, he had a fake passport in a different name and had £10,000 ($14,000) in cash in different currencies.
It wasn’t until 2002 that Roberto Calvi’s case was officially reopened by Italian prosecutors, with the City of London Police opening it as a murder inquiry in September 2003.
As a result, Dr Gallop was hired by Roberto’s family in a bid to prove he had been killed and didn’t die by suicide decades ago.
Other cases explored in this series includes solicitor Cheryl Lewis and ten-year-old Damilola Taylor.
The first series included the cases of Rachel Nickell, Lynette White and Stephen Lawrence.
Cold Case Forensics airs on Tuesdays on ITV from 9pm
The true crime documentary has everyone talking as it is available to stream now
The Cult of NatureBoy has been dubbed a ‘bizarre’ watch(Image: ABC/Hulu)
True crime fans cannot stop talking about a “bizarre” documentary that left their jaws on the floor.
The Cult of NatureBoy is a four part documentary series that plunges viewers into the rise and fall of YouTuber Eligio Bishop, also known as ‘Nature Boy’.
Giving fans an unprecedented insight into the cult, viewers are transported back to 2016 when Eligio used social media to lure unsuspecting followers to a real-life ‘utopia’ he had founded. However, the alternative lifestyle soon turned into a cult plagued by coercion, violence and abuse.
Having first been released earlier this year on Disney Plus, the four part series follows his life and eventual trial as viewers have branded it one of the “most bizarre” documentaries they’ve ever seen.
An official synopsis reads: “The Cult of NatureBoy traces the rise of Eligio Bishop, aka NatureBoy, leader of Carbon Nation. Beginning in 2016, he used social media to attract people to a self-described Black Utopia. What began as an alternative lifestyle in the tropics became a sex cult of violence, manipulation, and coercion, ending with his 2024 trial and life sentence.”
Streaming on Disney Plus now, it comes with a strong viewer warning however, as more fans are only just discovering the relatively new watch.
Taking to TikTok this week, one true crime fan shared a video captioned: “One of the most bizarre documentaries I’ve watched.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
They said: “What on earth have I just watched? If you’ve not seen it yet, Disney Plus have brought out a four part documentary and it’s called The Cult of NatureBoy. I’m telling you now right, this is one of the most bizarre documentaries I’ve watched.”
They later added: “I’m sorry what? It baffles me that people stayed with him, it baffles me even more that people sent him money.”
However, they went on to say: “I need to warn you because some of the things you see on it….It’s one of the maddest things I’ve watched.”
One person commented: “I watched this yesterday it’s so crazy!” Another replied: “I’ve just finished it now and my jaw is still on the b***** floor.”
A third penned: “It was mind blowing how the h**l could people let them treat them like that.” Over on X, viewers previously shared their disbelief as one person said: “#TheCultOfNatureBoy is too damn bizarre.”
Another added: “What’s absolutely terrifying are there are SO many men on this earth with the same mindset as Eligio and the most heartbreaking this is there are people who’s mindsets and upbringing will always make them the perfect victims to these monsters.”
A third commented: “Watch #TheCultOfNatureBoy if u wanna be p***** off from episode one until finale.” A fourth fumed: “This man was a walking red flag and was obviously spewing nonsense.”
The Cult of NatureBoy can be streamed on Disney Plus in the UK
LONDON — Ewan Mitchell shares few similarities with Aemond Targaryen, his unhinged character on HBO’s “House of the Dragon.” The British actor, 29, is soft-spoken, thoughtful and quick with a “thank you.” His hair is currently brown rather than Targaryen blond, although he says the color is actually left over from filming Justine Triet’s upcoming psychological thriller “Fonda.” Although he is very different from the power-hungry second son he plays on TV, Mitchell understands him.
“I always empathize with that little kid in Season 1,” he says, speaking from London’s 180 House on a sunny day in July. “He was this neglected, bullied boy. He was never given a dragon egg. So from the beginning he recognized that he was on the back foot, and he was bullied for being different. What’s nice about Season 3 is it’s showing Aemond’s true colors.”
Early in Season 3, Aemond asserted his dominance over his mother Alicent (Olivia Cooke) with a gasp-inducing kiss on the mouth, a moment Mitchell compares to Michael Corleone’s iconic kiss on Fredo in “The Godfather Part II.” The disgraced prince regent left King’s Landing for Harrenhal in search of Daemon (Matt Smith), only to murder Ser Simon Strong and his sons instead. His fray with the Strong family was triumphant, but left Aemond with a wound in his side. He begged the castle’s mysterious inhabitant Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) to help him before vanishing for the next two episodes.
In Episode 5, Aemond is back. At first, he appears wounded and broken. But he ably defends Alys from a group of invaders, relying on muscle memory and — perhaps — a sense of honor to pay her back for saving his life.
“I liken Harrenhal to the White Lotus of Westeros,” Mitchell says. “It’s a place you go for a retreat. You have all of your toxins drawn out of you. You have to confront them head on. You discover like the darkest, deepest places of yourself. And the general manager of that place is Alys Rivers.”
In Episode 5, Aemond (Mitchell) fights off invaders, saving Alys’ life.
(Theo Whiteman / HBO)
The upcoming episodes will keep Aemond at Harrenhal with Alys and expand on the events of George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book “Fire & Blood,” on which the series is based. Showrunner Ryan Condal wanted to explore what wasn’t in Martin’s fictional history of Westeros.
“We knew from the book that he goes to Harrenhal and effectively disappears, at least from the interactive narrative,” Condal says, speaking later over video call. “It’s thought that he establishes some relationship with Alys Rivers. We had that as a baseline, but the idea was: ‘Where can we take Aemond from here?’”
He adds that there was “a danger of the character becoming an anime villain,” which the writers wanted to undercut. “He looks a certain way,” Condal says. “He has this eye patch. He rides this Godzilla-sized dragon. And he’s done some pretty reprehensible things.”
But the writers wanted to go beyond Aemond’s surface, to “a different place and excavate that trauma and vulnerability.”
Mitchell says Alys is the key to Aemond finding himself. “We know his dragon Vhagar is missing,” he says. “And if Aemond is nothing without his dragon, then does he really deserve her? We’ve got to challenge what we know of the character already … Vhagar was the wind in his sails.”
He compares Aemond with Spider-Man, an oddly aligned character. “With great power comes great responsibility to wield that power,” Mitchell says. “He’s got to be able to show he can control it effectively. That’s what he wanted to prove throughout Season 1 and 2.”
He laughs: “It’s just like ‘Spider-Man 2.’ I find it really interesting building up this character over two seasons to bring him back down.”
“I find it really interesting building up this character over two seasons to bring him back down,” Mitchell says of Aemond, who is facing turbulent times in Season 3.
(Jennifer McCord / For The Times)
Condal adds, “He’s feeling isolated and alone and he possibly has made an enemy of his family. And then this woman saves him. He feels this sudden magnetic draw to her. In the episodes that follow, we will further excavate that relationship. It’s one of the most surprising and engaging and emotional stories we have this season.”
Mitchell first appeared as Aemond, the son of Viserys and Alicent and the brother of Aegon II, in the eighth episode of Season 1. He was originally played by Leo Ashton, who Mitchell says “really set up the character for me.” Production had already begun when Mitchell auditioned, first with a self-tape and then for the producers. Initially, he didn’t know which character he was up for.
“I knew this character was the younger brother and that was like a theme of the first season and going through further seasons,” Mitchell recalls. “The second son out to prove his worth.”
Mitchell’s audition was memorable. “He came into the room in character and he scared all of us,” Condal says. “I remember the first question that I asked [our casting director] after he left was, ‘Is he always like that?’ Because it felt like he had gone to such a dark place just to do the audition. When I spoke to him later, I loved how different the person was on the phone versus the person I met in the room.”
To play Aemond, Mitchell looked at MMA and cage fighters to hone in on the character’s agile, brutal fighting style. He trained physically to make Aemond lean but also strong and imposing. He took inspiration from paintings, including Alexandre Cabanel’s 1847 work “The Fallen Angel,” which depicts the devil after his fall from heaven.
“There’s this tear in his eye and you don’t know if he’s feeling sorry for himself or he’s looking at things to come,” Mitchell says. “Is he thinking about the harm he’s going to inflict in retaliation? That was something I wanted to do in Season 2. It contrasts his muscular physique. It’s a mixture between vulnerability and sheer muscle.”
Season 2 saw Aemond purposefully incinerating his brother, leaving him badly burned, and decimating the Riverlands while on Vhagar. The character was grappling for power, even if it meant brutalizing his own family. Condal hints that a reckoning with Aegon will come.
“In the great tradition of ‘Game of Thrones,’ I feel like that is a fairly safe bet,” he says. “Characters are scattered all over the map and then slowly find themselves being brought back together, but in different forms. That was always something we were talking about doing with Aemond and Aegon.”
To play Aemond, Mitchell looked at MMA and cage fighters to hone in on the character’s agile, brutal fighting style. He also took inspiration from paintings, including Alexandre Cabanel’s 1847 work “The Fallen Angel.”(Jennifer McCord/For The Times)
Mitchell sees Aemond as a product of his circumstances, rather than just a murdering psychopath. He was bullied as a child and coddled by his mother, but never received the unconditional love he craved. He was taken to brothels from an early age. He lost an eye. And he grew up in the midst of a brutal war between the Greens and the Blacks. Now he has to reckon with what he’s done.
“You might not understand all of the things he does,” Mitchell says. “And you might not feel like you’re supposed to understand all the things he does. But you do feel something for him. In the moment he saves Alys, maybe there is a redeemable Aemond in there somewhere.”
Cooke says she loves working opposite Mitchell thanks to his complex approach to the character.
“He has such intensity and helps me as an actor in playing Alicent to feel like I’m completely on the back foot,” she says in a voice memo. “It’s filled with tension trying to guess what he’s going to do. Yet in reality, he is the most gentle, lovely, quiet, beautiful person. He’s a joy to work with and I think he makes such interesting choices outside of ‘House of the Dragon.’”
Between Seasons 2 and 3, Mitchell filmed Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights.” He had previously worked with the filmmaker on 2023’s “Saltburn,” for which he auditioned using a Harold Pinter monologue. For “Wuthering Heights,” Fennell simply texted Mitchell asking him to play Joseph, a servant in the Earnshaw house, whose sexual depravity electrifies Cathy.
Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Alys (Gayle Rankin) share a tender moment in Episode 5.
(Theo Whiteman / HBO)
“I was like, ‘If you asked me to shine your shoes, Emerald, I would do that,’” Mitchell says. “All of her characters are so vibrant and so nuanced, and there is such a vision you see in her films. She’s a one-of-a-kind, singular visionary. I’ve learned so much working with Emerald that I’ve taken forward in my career.”
One of those things was a more playful, loose approach to acting. During his first two seasons of “House of the Dragon,” Mitchell felt locked into a particular performance. “I learned the scripts verbatim,” he says. “Aemond is such a calculating character and everything he does is premeditated. He’s so in control of himself. I found myself offering up the same take every single take.”
After working with Fennell on “Saltburn” and “Wuthering Heights,” Mitchell felt more freedom. She encouraged him to give a range of performances on set, allowing her to find the character during the editing process. He brought that with him to the third season of “House of the Dragon.”
“With Aemond being so unsure of himself, it happened more naturally,” he says. “He’s learning new things about himself. I was really open to finding the scene organically on the day and not coming in with any preconceived choices. And I found so much more enjoyment in it.”
Condal observed Mitchell’s looser approach. “I don’t think Ewan was ever rigid,” Condal says. “But what I saw happen over the seasons was someone learning from their professional experience. As a massive fan of Emerald Fennell’s work, I can see how being in that very different crucible could help him become his best version. We probably demanded the most out of Ewan in Season 3 than any of the other actors.”
Mitchell says working with Emerald Fennell helped him take a looser approach to acting.
(Jennifer McCord / For The Times)
Since wrapping Season 3 last fall, Mitchell has stayed busy. He filmed “The Way of the Runner” in China with first-time filmmaker Yutong Bai, Gareth Evans’ remake of the 1960s Japanese crime film “A Colt Is My Passport” in Wales, Luna Carmoon’s sophomore feature “To Make Ends Meat” in London and Can Aydin’s directorial debut “The Healer” in Budapest. He then flew to France to work with Triet, an experience he loved because she shot on film. “Knowing you’ve only got a limited amount of time, there’s something beautiful about the imperfections of performances,” he says. “There was such a great energy with everyone in the room.”
Mitchell has been attracted to performing for as long as he can remember. Growing up in Derby, England, he admired films like “Citizen Kane” and “Taxi Driver” because they centered on “characters you don’t completely understand.” He appreciates the scope of projects he’s done so far, from the massive scale of production on “House of the Dragon” to smaller art house films.
“I love working as much as I can and learning,” he says. “I’d love to keep working with debut directors. After the recent films I’ve done and seeing ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms,’ it’s really motivating seeing what they can do.”
Although Mitchell looks nothing like Aemond, he is frequently recognized. Someone stopped him on his way here today to ask for a photo. “I think it’s the chin,” he grins. He knows he’s inextricably linked to the character, for better or worse. He can’t give much away about what’s to come in Season 3, but Aemond is certainly not down for the count.
“What makes him so dangerous is that just when you think he has nothing left in the tank, it’s like, ‘Guess again,’” Mitchell says. “It’s not a question of whether he’s going to do evil. It’s inevitable that he will do it. And it will be brutal and it will be fast.”
He pauses, unsure of what he can reveal. “I don’t want to spoil anything,” he says carefully, “but I can’t wait for people to see what Harrenhal has in store for him.”
The documentary will explore the harrowing story of Dr George Kenney, the former principal at a Florida high school.
George Kenney was investigated after the heartbreaking deaths(Image: ABC)
True crime fans can expect to see the documentary series airing very soon.
The limited ITV series, titled Look Into My Eyes, will delve into the chilling case of Dr George Kenney, who was once a beloved principal in a high school.
A synopsis reads: “In 2011, three students died in separate incidents, prompting widespread scrutiny and a national news story.
“The series examines the events surrounding these deaths and the questions that followed, including the extent of Kenney’s influence and the debate over responsibility.
In the documentary, viewers will hear interviews from the victims’ families, along with experts, eyewitnesses and other people connected to the case.
It’ll also look closely into the events leading up to their tragic deaths and the lasting impact it had on the community.
Directed and executive produced by Brent Hodge, the person behind the 2021 documentary Pharma Bro, ITV viewers can expect it to air on August 18.
Look Into My Eyes has been produced by Blumhouse Television and Anchor Entertainment, with Jason Blum being one of the executive producers. He’s best known for being involved in the horror films Insidious, The Conjuring and The Purge.
An investigation into Dr George Kenney was escalated after three of the students he hypnotised had died, two by suicide and one in a car crash.
Although it’s believed that hypnotised between 70 and 75 students since 2006, all of the students that died were 16 years old, with Wesley McKinley killing himself a day after being hypnotised by the former principal.
Meanwhile, Brittany Palumbo sadly took her own life a month before, with Marcus Freeman dying in a car crash a month before Brittany.
After an investigation by the Florida Department of Health, the former principal resigned in June 2012 and pleaded no contest to practising therapeutic hypnosis without a license.
While he served no jail time, Dr. George Kenney was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of six months of probation and was given 50 hours of community service.
The parents of the students who died sued the school board in December 2012 for the wrongful death of each of the teens.
In the end, each family received the maximum sum of $200,000 in October 2015 when both the families and the school board settled.
Look Into My Eyes is available to watch on ITV from August 18
The series comes from Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and examines gruesome killings from the perspectives of those directly impacted. Viewers hear from detectives and prosecutors, as well as the families of the victims.
It offers a complete overview of how law enforcement approached the cases, and how citizens were forced to mourn their loved ones.
Season 3, which is titled Homicide: New York, focuses on a serial offender who targeted victims in Central Park, a suspicious drowning at Soho House, and an unfiltered recounting of 9/11 from the officers who were at Ground Zero.
While many Netflix subscribers may have missed the show, those who caught it upon its release were thoroughly impressed.
An IMDb user raved “we need more,” before writing: “Amazing!! The editing was simply perfect, but the true stories oh my they were so sad but very interesting to hear.
“The people behind all the hard work to find out the results were brilliant and very well spoken about the cases and families involved! Need another 5 episodes!!!”
Get Netflix free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
Someone else agreed with the praise, adding: “In True Crime Drama…This one STANDS ABOVE. There are a lot of documentaries out there regarding true crime. Dick Wolf has done an extraordinary job on bringing this one to the screen. I would say it’s one of the best written, true crime dramas ever made.”
While an X, formerly Twitter, user urged others to tune in. “If anyone’s looking for a good murder mystery, definitely recommend Homicide New York on Netflix,” they said.
Yet another fan agreed, stating: “Homicide: New York is insaneeeeeee. if you’re into true crime, you definitely want to watch it.”
All fifteen episodes of Homicide are available to stream now on Netflix
The BBC has produced a number of critically acclaimed and beloved films and TV shows over the years – but one gritty crime drama may have slipped under the radar for many fans
The crime drama follows a teenager who gives his brother’s friends a lift then finds himself charged as an accessory to murder(Image: Tony Blake/BBC/LA Productions)
A “gritty” BBC crime drama has left viewers “heartbroken” but it may well have gone completely unnoticed by some film fans.
The BBC has built a stellar reputation among TV and film enthusiasts thanks to its numerous top-tier productions which continue to be praised long after they first aired. There’s something to suit all tastes, from entertaining and fun sitcoms, steamy storylines and beloved period dramas, to powerful, unflinching crime thrillers, and much more.
Lots of BBC-backed films remain critically celebrated and adored to this day, from 2019’s musical crime drama hit Blue Story, and the thought-provoking Looted, to the 1989 Gary Oldman-led cult crime classic The Firm, and countless others.
The BBC’s television catalogue is equally respected, with the likes of hugely popular police drama Line of Duty, bleak favourite Happy Valley and the tense anthology drama The Missing frequently listed as among the best the broadcaster has produced.
But a 90-minute crime film may have escaped many viewers’ attention – and if you’re partial to hard-edged legal dramas, it’s worth checking out.
It’s the 2014 made-for-television film, Common. It was written by Jimmy McGovern and directed by David Blair. The film stars Nico Mirallegro, Michelle Fairley and Harry Potter alum Michael Gambon.
The storyline follows 17 year old Johnjo O’Shea, portrayed by Mirallegro, who is asked to give his older brother’s friends a lift in his brother’s car to take them to a pizza takeaway.
Unbeknownst to Johnjo, one of his passengers has an ulterior motive for heading to the takeaway – he intends to confront a rival who’ll be there.
A row erupts between one of Johnjo’s passengers and an onlooker, Tommy Ward. Tommy is eventually stabbed and fatally wounded by the passenger.
Johnjo ends up in court charged as an accessory to murder, under the doctrine of common purpose; a component of the UK’s contentious Joint Enterprise legal doctrine which permits multiple people to be prosecuted and found guilty of the same offence – regardless of the different roles they may have played in a crime.
Writer Jimmy McGovern drew inspiration from the actual case of 16 year old Jordan Cunliffe, who received a sentence under this law for a minimum period of 12 years for the murder of Garry Newlove, who was beaten to death in August 2007 after challenging a group of youths outside his home.
Cunliffe was understood to have played no active role in the assault on Newlove.
The film traces the legal proceedings that follow, alongside the consequences and tensions that arise between the various families affected.
On Rotten Tomatoes, viewers have shared their opinions on the somewhat overlooked drama. One fan said: “Actor and storyline driven, this gritty British drama brings a new area of crime and punishment to light.
“Jodhi May stands out, but with many regular British drama faces, this is a tale that leaves no mother without an emotional pull.”
Another viewer wrote: “I thought this was a simple movie, but powerful all the same.”
A third added: “Very well made and acted, but so heartbreaking I never want to see it again.”
Critics were equally impressed, with The Guardian describing it as “a brutal and devastating drama” that’s “bleak, powerful” and “thick with political intent”, though it noted this “occasionally robs it of its quality”.
Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine got emotional on stage at BST Hyde ParkCredit: The SunThe 47-year-old fought back tearsCredit: The Sun
Adam told the crowd at BST Hyde Park, which is sponsored by Vodafone: “This band playing Hyde Park was one of his dreams for us. And we’re making it true now and it’s un-f***ing-believable.
“It’s bittersweet because he’s not here tonight. So, this of course goes out to Jordan, our friend. My friend since I was born.
“I think that some of these songs mean something different to every single person that appreciates them.
“I know that you’re all thinking of someone and all that energy, it kind of comes together, especially on a beautiful night.
“Take a look around you guys, it’s unbelievable. Look at all this, it’s crazy.”
Jordan guided the band since its launch in 1994 until his sudden death from a pulmonary thromboembolism, a blood clot in the lungs, almost nine years ago.
Memories, which was released in 2019, includes the lyrics, “here’s to the ones that we got, cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not” and “toast to the ones here today, toast to the ones that we lost on the way”.
Speaking previously about his childhood friend and long-time manager, Adam said: “It was a tragedy foisted upon us and far and away one of the saddest moments of our lives, and personally of mine.
“This is a kid I’ve known since we were in diapers. He was one of the most important people in my life from a very early age.”
He closed out the rendition of Memories by pointing to the sky in honour of Jordan.
Adam’s emotional speech on behalf of the six-piece band was met with cheers.
It was a fitting moment during the nostalgic evening, which saw Maroon 5 perform their greatest old-time hits including Sunday Morning and She Will Be Loved.
One Republic,Jess Glynneand Ella Eyre had earlier performed throughout the day.
The lead singer of Maroon 5 made his late manager’s dream come trueCredit: GettyAdam’s the lead singer of the six-piece pop rock bandCredit: Getty
Netflix viewers are binge watching the four part series, which has already found itself in the top 10
Worst Neighbor Ever can be streamed on Netflix(Image: Netflix)
A “disturbing” true crime series that gives viewers nightmares is available to stream in full.
Earlier this week (July 1), streaming giant Netflix released four part series Worst Neighbor Ever, which comes from the same creators of shows Worst Ex Ever and Worst Roommate Ever.
Spanning across four episodes, it plunges viewers into real life neighbour disputes that often escalate to violence, and even murder. Through chilling body cam and CCTV footage as well as heartbreaking interviews with victims, the series also offers a unique approach by using animated re-enactments.
Promising to show cases that are “more shocking than ever”, an official synopsis teased: “You think you know your neighbors? Think again.
“This new series features first-hand accounts of violence, intimidation, and harassment that are more shocking than ever. Through compelling testimonials, startling body cam footage, and animated re-enactments, Worst Neighbor Ever proves the people next door aren’t just a nuisance – they’re lethal.”
The cases included a huge insurance scam explosion that had a catastrophic impact on one community, as well as a suspect’s chilling moves before a brutal shooting that left one dad dead.
Already, Worst Neighbor Ever has found itself in the top 10, surpassing other new releases taking the top spot.
Viewers cannot stop binge watching the four part anthology series, with some having “nightmares” from the harrowing cases shown.
Taking to X, one person wrote: “Episode 3 of #WorstNeighborEver has in my tearssssss. J**** man.” Another said: “#worstneighborever is crazy.”
A third fumed: “this #WorstNeighborEver series is ridiculous. there’s really some evil people out here.”
A fourth added: “These #WorstNeighborEver cases get worse and worse omg.” A fifth commented: “Episode 3 of worst neighbor ever just ruined my mf dayyyyyy!!!!!”
Another stated: “Every single episode of #WorstNeighborEver has made me cry, episode 3 especially.”
Over on TikTok, one true crime fan said the show was “unbelievably shocking” as they said in a video: “It did not disappoint, it was absolutely fantastic and I am shocked beyond belief.” They added it made then “so sad and so angry”.
One person replied: “just watched it the first episode was gut wrenching”, as another echoed: “OMG just finished watching it, I was bawling my eyes out he didn’t deserve that.”
A third added: “Thought it was so good, and so disturbing.” In another video, one reviewer stated the ‘Worst Ever’ collection has them “locked in every time”, as another said they were “not prepared” when watching the heartbreaking episode. A third penned: “It gave me nightmares.”
From the prime minister to sport celebrities and fans on social media, Canadians have revelled in their team’s win.
Canada have enjoyed a historic run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and it will continue thanks to Stephen Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute goal against South Africa, which sent the cohosts into the global tournament’s round of 16 for the first time.
The 29-year-old midfielder’s strike on Sunday rewrote Canadian football history, capping off a narrative that Jesse Marsch has been scripting since taking the reins two years ago.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
“Think about how we talked about sticking to the plan, sticking to who we want to be, playing aggressive, accessing the quality, you guys showing your character,” an impassioned Marsch told his team as they circled around him on the pitch following their victory.
“You guys are Canadian heroes! Canadian heroes for the future children of this country, who play this sport. This sport has a big future because of you guys.
“You should be so proud of who you are. You should be so proud of this game. You went after it, moment after moment.”
The same words were echoed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had barely exited his flight and watched the final minutes of the game on his phone.
“What a game. What a team. What a country,” Carney wrote on social media.
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, where Eustaquio was born and raised before his family moved to Portugal, congratulated the team for advancing to the next round, as did Leader of the Opposition, Pierre Poilievre.
Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, wrote to the team, saying: “You wore your hearts on your sleeves, gave everything on the field, and gave all of us a memory we’ll never forget.”
Social media was flooded with footage of Canada fans turning watch parties and fan festivals into a sea of red. Even Los Angeles Stadium, where Canada came down the West Coast to play South Africa, was thronged with fans supporting the World Cup cohosts.
Football enthusiasts and analysts on social media said the victory felt surreal for Canada, where sport like ice hockey, basketball and baseball enjoy far more popularity than football.
Fellow Canadian athletes joined in the social media celebrations. Multiple Olympic champion swimmer Summer McIntosh, tennis star Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Olympic champion runner Andre de Grasse were some of Canada’s top athletes to back the men’s football team after their win.
Famed Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield also congratulated the team after wishing them well earlier on Sunday.
FC Bayern congratulated Alphonso Davies for returning to international duty after he sustained a hamstring injury with them in May, during the UEFA Champions League semifinal. The game saw a noticeable shift in pace and tactic when Davies was subbed in on the 74th minute.
From the opponent’s side, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Canada for winning “with Bafana Bafana breathing down your necks”.
Former German footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger, however, who was called out by Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae for racist undertones in his remarks on the African team, seemed unfazed by Canada’s historic win.
“Overall, not a convincing performance, but thanks to the clearer chances, progressing is fine. Alphonso Davies brought fresh wind after coming on as a substitute,” he wrote on social media.
“However, against the Netherlands or Morocco, the team will have to improve significantly.”
Spider-Man fans have been waiting years for this moment and now it’s almost here
Spider-Man Brand New Day will be released on July 31 (Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel)
Marvel fans have all said the same thing after an iconic character’s long awaited return in the upcoming Spider-Man film.
Just this week, an exciting trailer was released for Spider-Man Brand New Day, which will premier in cinemas on July 31. It has been teased: “The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.”
The latest instalment takes place shortly after the events of No Way Home – the fourth of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies as it follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in a world that no longer remembers who he is.
In the clip, it appears that trouble is just around the corner though, as Spider-Man can be heard saying: “What is happening to me?
“I’m losing my mind. I am totally out of control. I’ve got to fix whatever this is right now.”
However, there is one iconic character that has stolen the show as fans were delighted to see the return of Mark Ruffalo – but more excitingly in his savage Hulk form.
The exciting trailer shows Peter seeking out DR Bruce Banner as he says: “You found a way of suppressing mutating DNA right?”
Dr Banner then replied: “If you see me with this off, then run”, showing him the device that prevents him from mutating into the Hulk. However, later scenes show his transformation into the green mutation, right in front of Spider-Man who states: “I didn’t know you could get that big.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Seeing savage Hulk return is a delight to Marvel fans who have not seen the character in the MCU for quite some time, somewhat completing Banner’s character arc.
But now, it appears the raging monster has made a return as the trailer teases a tense head to head. Commenting on YouTube, one person wrote: “Seeing Hulk back to his normal self genuinely made me happy.”
Another penned: “no dude literally like hulk back in the original form is like breathing nice fresh air!”
A third added: “I have friends who have had two kids since I’ve been waiting for the real hulk to come back.”
A fourth replied: “Spider-Man is depressed, Hulk is angry and Punisher is itching to tell us something… PEAK.”
A fifth echoed: “Love how Spidey did not know Hulk’s true size. He has only ever encountered Professor Hulk, not OG Savage Hulk. About time we got him back!”
One person said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, It has 8 years 1 month and 22 days since we saw Hulk. Now we’re back Baby!!”
Another commented: “Normal hulk has came .This is what every Marvel fan was wishing for.”
Spider-Man Brand New Day lands in cinemas on July 31
A TV critic has urged everyone to watch a new Netflix true crime documentary he claims is the best of 2026 so far and will leave viewers feeling a wave of emotions
15:50, 15 Jun 2026Updated 15:59, 15 Jun 2026
A new Netflix true crime documentary has been labelled ‘insane’(Image: Djavan Rodriguez via Getty Images)
For those who are passionate about true crime, one television critic has shone a spotlight on a brand new Netflix documentary that he insists is a “must-watch”.
Luke Eccleston went further, describing the programme as the finest of 2026 so far, and predicted it would soon become the “top trending” title on the streaming giant. “The documentary I am talking about is called Maternal Instinct,” he revealed in a TikTok video. Despite running at just 90 minutes long, Luke enthuses that it will have all viewers “hooked” from after just five minutes.
“This tells a story from back in 2020 where a young woman is driving down the highway, she gets pulled over by the police and she has a baby on her lap, which had just been born,” he continued.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Expanding on the plot, Luke explained that once the woman and baby are taken into custody by law enforcement, tests quickly reveal the pair are not related. “What comes next is genuinely insane,” he declared.
Keen not to discourage his followers from watching, Luke pressed on: “The more you learn about the story, this woman and what happened… it is one of the most brutal, heartbreaking, emotional and horrible stories you will ever come across.
“Everyone is going to be talking about this documentary – I guarantee it.”
Netflix’s Maternal Instinct synopsis states: “In a small East Texas town, a young woman from a wealthy family falls for a local hog trapper. Their relationship appears perfect, and within months she’s pregnant and proudly showing off her baby bump all over social media.
“But when a state trooper pulls her over and discovers she has just given birth in her car, her story quickly falls apart, exposing the truth behind a terrifying and unthinkable crime.”
Helmed by Jessica Dimmock, Maternal Instinct chronicles the lives of Jessica Brookes, her boyfriend Wade Griffin, Taylor Parker and Reagan Simmons-Hancock.
On IMDb, the documentary has garnered an impressive rating of 7.4 out of 10 from almost 2,000 reviews.
One viewer confessed in a recent review: “I was not prepared! I went into this documentary completely blind, with no idea where the story was headed. It begins with a mystery. Something seemingly impossible has happened.
“But how? As the pieces slowly fall into place, the story takes an increasingly dark turn, far darker than I ever expected. And I have seen my share… the reveal is a complete and utter gut punch and at one point brought tears to my eyes. And I will have to leave it at that.”
And a second added: “I had never read anything about this case, so I went into this doc knowing nothing of the background or repercussions. I was horrified at how one person could destroy so many lives.
“The documentary pursues the whole journey of the perpetrator extraordinarily well, piecing together her journey for the past 10 or so years of her life where her lies keep getting worse.”
Los Angeles, United States – Draped with a US flag, Alex Saldivar could hardly contain his broad smile as he exited the stadium after the United States beat Paraguay 4-1.
Not only did his team win their World Cup opener, they did so on home soil – and the 23-year-old got to witness it.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“This is a dream come true, a serious dream come true. I don’t know what to say,” Saldivar said, as he swayed from side to side, alternating his standing foot.
His excitement sums up the historic day for US football.
Tens of thousands of fans had descended on SoFi Stadium, putting on an eccentric display of oversized hats and US flag-themed outfits.
White and red striped dungarees, blue and white hair, star-spangled trousers, painted faces and Uncle Sam suits – supporters represented their country’s colours in every possible way.
Ryan Schellhous, who came to Los Angeles from San Jose in northern California, was dressed literally from head to toe in US flag colours, including a mask that only showed his eyes.
He told Al Jazeera it was great to have the World Cup in the US.
“There’s a lot of excitement for soccer in America right now, and this is great,” Schellhous said, adding that he expected Team USA to go deep in the tournament if players perform to the best of their ability.
USA fans ahead of the World Cup game against Paraguay in Los Angeles, on June 12, 2026 [Al Jazeera/Ali Harb]
For many fans, the World Cup is offering a rare opportunity to experience football at its best. And they are cherishing the moment.
Michele Churchill, who travelled from Virginia with her three children to attend the opening match, called it a “bucket list” event.
Churchill also had a bold prediction for the US team’s fortunes at the tournament.
“They’re going to win. They’re going to take the cup,” she told Al Jazeera.
Law enforcement
Fans started streaming into the stadium four hours before the game. One was dressed in a Gulf-style thobe with a US flag as a headscarf. Another was in an outfit resembling George Washington, the first president of the US.
Despite concerns about logistics and organisation, everything went largely smoothly with armies of staff and volunteers ensuring safety and orderliness.
An alphabet soup of law enforcement agencies was present.
The Transportation Security Administration staffed entrances to oversee the airport-style security checkpoints. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Department of Homeland Security were also at the scene.
On the local level, heavily armed agents from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were also deployed around the stadium, as were Inglewood Police officers.
Many agents were accompanied by police dogs. Before crowds started to arrive, some had their canine companions pose for a photo next to the oversized World Cup ball outside the stadium.
Reports that President Donald Trump may attend the first game ultimately did not materialise to the apparent relief of many fans in mostly liberal Los Angeles.
Inside the stadium, it was celebrities – the likes of Tom Cruise and David Beckham – who got the cheers from the crowd.
USA fans are seen outside Los Angeles Stadium ahead of the Paraguay match at the World Cup 2026 [Al Jazeera/Ali Harb]
Stadium atmosphere
It took a while for the stadium to fill out.
About an hour from kickoff, during the first part of the opening ceremony, which featured several rappers, including Future and Rema, the venue was still almost half-empty and the crowd was quiet.
But coinciding with Katy Perry taking the stage before the first whistle, the stadium started to come to life, and chants of “USA, USA” grew louder.
It was really forward Christian Pulisic who electrified the crowd with his first-half display, running straight at his markers and producing dangerous crosses or shots.
The once faint chants turned into deafening roars when the US scored their first, courtesy of a Paraguayan own goal in the seventh minute.
The distinct screams of goal celebrations would ring out three more times for Team USA at the stadium, with Folarin Balogun finding the net twice and Giovanni Reyna scoring a gorgeous curler from the edge of the box to wrap up the game.
A stadium announcer said more than 70,000 people were in attendance.
“We have a full house,” he said to the cheers of the crowd.
But the announcement did not pass the eye test.
Many seats throughout the stadium remained empty, especially in the most expensive sections overlooking the middle of the field.
It is possible that organisers FIFA did sell every seat but resellers struggled to offload some tickets.
The bottom line – ticket prices and Trump’s travel policies may be dampening the buzz around the World Cup, but the tournament is still delivering what football promises: happiness, excitement and a sense of togetherness.
From Maddie Lee: Shohei Ohtani needed just one well-spotted fastball to Corbin Carroll to get out of the only real jam of his start against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Ohtani zipped it in at knee level, and Carroll drilled it into the ground, right to second baseman Alex Freeland. As the Dodgers defense turned a quick double play, Ohtani pumped his fist.
With that, he wrapped up the pitching half of one of his best two-way performances of the season.
With Shohei, every run is a premium,” manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 7-0 win Wednesday. “He’s literally trying to throw a shutout every time out there, where I don’t know that every starter has that mindset.”
Ohtani only allowed three base runners (two hits and a walk), while reaching base himself five times (three hits and two walks). With six scoreless innings pitched, Ohtani improved his ERA to 0.74, the third-lowest ERA any pitcher has recorded in his first 10 starts of the season (excluding openers) since the earned run became an official stat in 1913, according to MLB.com.
He came in behind only Jacob deGrom in 2021 (0.56) and Juan Marichal in 1966 (0.59). Not to mention, at the same time, Ohtani the hitter has a National League-leading .420 on-base percentage. At the time of his third hit Wednesday, he became one of 15 qualified hitters in MLB with a batting average over .300.
Get the latest on L.A.’s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that we and our third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in our Privacy Policy such as personalizing your experience and ads.
Angels rout the Rockies
Wade Meckler and Nick Madrigal each had four of the Angels’ 16 hits, Walbert Ureña pitched six solid innings and the Angels beat the Colorado Rockies 11-4 on Wednesday night.
Meckler is batting .389 (14 for 36) with two homers and 10 RBIs since he was recalled from double-A on May 22.
Vaughn Grissom added a homer and three RBIs, and Oswald Peraza had two hits and two RBIs to help the Angels — who tied their season high with the 16 hits — avoid a three-game sweep.
From Sam Farmer: Reaching the summit is a dream. But staying there? That’s an altogether different challenge.
Maja Stark has a special appreciation for that now, a year after winning the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills and feeling the hefty weight of expectation that came along with it.
For her, the aftermath of that victory brought heightened anxiety, and searing criticism from outsiders when the Swedish pro’s play took a dip.
“You get comments and stuff saying, ‘What happened? You just won a major; why do you suck all of a sudden?‘” Stark said at the Chevron Championship in April. “That does take some energy and just makes you focus on the wrong things. Then I got even more stressed and anxious.”
That career-shaping pressure will be on display again this week when the USGA brings the U.S. Women’s Open to Riviera Country Club for the first time, merging the game’s most prestigious women’s championship with a historic venue celebrating its centennial year. The tournament takes place Thursday through Sunday.
1870 — Ed Brown becomes the first Black jockey to win the Belmont Stakes, with Kingfisher.
1927 — The United States wins the first Ryder Cup golf tournament by beating Britain 9½-2½.
1932 — Faireno, ridden by Tommy Malley, wins the Belmont Stakes by 1½ lengths over Osculator. Burgoo King, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, doesn’t race.
1966 — Ameroid, ridden by Bill Boland, wins the Belmont Stakes by 2½ lengths over Buffle. Kauai King, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, finishes fourth.
1974 — NFL grants franchise to Seattle Seahawks.
1984 — 1960 champion Arnold Palmer fails to qualify for the US Open Golf Championship for the first time in 32 years.
1987 — Danny Harris defeats Edwin Moses in the 400 hurdles at a meet in Madrid, ending the longest winning streak in track and field. Moses, had won 122 consecutive races dating to Aug. 26, 1977.
1988 — West Germany’s Steffi Graf beats 17-year-old Natalia Zvereva of the Soviet Union in 32 minutes with a 6-0, 6-0 victory to win the French Open for the second straight year.
1990 — Penn State is voted into the Big Ten. The school becomes the 11th member of the league and first addition to the Midwest-based conference since Michigan State in 1949.
1994 — Haile Gebrselassie becomes the first Ethiopian to set a world track record with a time of 12:56.96 in the men’s 5,000 meters at Hengelo, Netherlands.
1998 — Harut Karapetyan of the Galaxy scores three goals in five minutes for the fastest hat trick in MLS history in an 8-1 rout of the Dallas Burn. The seven-goal margin sets an MLS record.
2005 — Justine Henin-Hardenne beats a rattled and fumbling Mary Pierce 6-1, 6-1 to win the French Open, capping a comeback from a blood virus with her fourth Grand Slam title and her second at Roland Garros.
2005 — Eddie Castro sets a North American record for most wins by a jockey in one day at one track, winning nine races on the 13-race card at Miami’s Calder Race Course.
2008 — The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 seasons with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 .
2011 — Li Na becomes the first Chinese — man or woman — to win a Grand Slam singles title. She beats Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the French Open final for her fifth career title and first on clay.
2016 — Garbine Muguruza wins her first Grand Slam title by beating defending champion Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4 at the French Open, denying the American her record-equaling 22nd major trophy.
Compiled by the Associated Press
This day in baseball history
1940 — The Pirates beat the Boston Bees 14-2 in the first night game at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.
1940 — The St. Louis Cardinals play their first night game at Sportsman’s Park, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers 10-1.
1951 — Pittsburgh’s Gus Bell hit for the cycle to lead the Pirates to a 12-4 victory over the Phillies at Philadelphia.
1964 — Sandy Koufax pitched his third no-hitter, striking out 12, as the Dodgers beat the Phillies 3-0 in Philadelphia.
1968 — Don Drysdale of the Dodgers blanked the Pirates 5-0 for his sixth straight shutout en route to a record 58 2/3 scoreless innings.
1972 — A major league record eight shutouts were pitched in 16 major league games: five in the American League, three in the National League. The Oakland Athletics swept a pair from the Baltimore Orioles by identical 2-0 scores.
1974 — The game between the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium was forfeited to Texas. Umpire Nestor Chylak had problems with fans all night on 10-cent beer night. The crowd got out of control when Cleveland tied the score 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth.
1989 — Toronto beats Boston 13-11 in 12 innings after trailing 10-0 after six innings. Red Sox starter Mike Smithson threw six scoreless innings before leaving in the seventh because of a foot blister. The Jays then scored two in the seventh, four in the eighth and five in the ninth and two more in the 11th on Junior Felix’s home run. It was the biggest lead the Red Sox have blown and their 12th consecutive loss to the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
1990 — Ramon Martinez struck out 18 and pitched a three-hitter, sending the Dodgers past the Atlanta Braves 6-0.
1996 — Pamela Davis pitched one inning of scoreless relief and got the win in a minor league exhibition game. She is believed to be the first woman to pitch for a major league farm club under the current minor league system. The 21-year-old right-hander pitched for the Jacksonville Suns, a double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, against the Australian Olympic team.
2000 — Esteban Yan of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays becomes the 77th major league player to hit a home run in his first at bat, but just the fourth American League pitcher and the first since the Angels’ Don Rose in 1972, the year before the designated hitter rule took the bat out of AL pitchers’ hands.
2005 — Rafael Palmeiro and Melvin Mora each hit grand slams to help Baltimore rally for a 14-7 win over Detroit.
2007 — Mark Ellis hit for the cycle and Eric Chavez had a two-out homer in the 11th inning to lift Oakland to a 5-4 win over Boston.
2009 — Randy Johnson became the 24th major league pitcher to win 300 games by leading San Francisco to a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader.
2012 — Angels manager Mike Scioscia became the ninth manager in AL history to manage 2,000 games with one club. The Mariners beat the Angels 8-6.
2018 — In a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees OF Aaron Judge sets a record by striking out eight times.
2019 — San Francisco Giant Manager Bruce Bochy wins his 1,000th game as the manager of the Giants with a 9-3 victory over the New York Mets.
2022 — The rule preventing position players from pitching in a close game is invoked for the first time when Crew chief C.B. Bucknor objects to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts calling on utility player Zach McKinstry to pitch the ninth inning gainst the Mets with his team trailing, 9-4. The rule, adopted before the 2020 season but not implemented until this year due to the upheavals caused by the coronavirus pandemic, states that a team cannot use a position player on the mound unless there is a difference of six or more runs between the two teams. Roberts is thus forced to use a real pitcher, Evan Phillips, to pitch the final inning.
Compiled by the Associated Press
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
However, the bizarre case takes an unexpected turn, and the series about his extraordinary life has left viewers stunned.
The synopsis on Netflix reads: “Henry Lee Lucas rose to infamy when he confessed to hundreds of unsolved murders. =
“This documentary series examines the truth – and horrific consequences.”
Titled The Confession Killer, the Netflix series was a hit when it first came out, earning a rare 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Audiences took to the review section to share their thoughts on the mini-series, with many praising its detail and calling it a “must watch”.
“Superb, my mind was blown as the story unfolded,” one person wrote, as another agreed: “This is amazing. One of the best, if not the best, true crime doc series of late.”
“Very well described in terms of details and information. Very little bias,” another praised, as a fourth person said: “Henry Lee Lucas is a tragic story where everyone involved was surprised in the end. It’s heartbreaking. You must watch it.”
Get Netflix free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
Another person reflected: “As someone as complicated as Henry Lee Lucas, this is probably the best and most well put together documentary about him that has ever been made.”
One more viewer observed: “This was fascinating and SO well done. The old footage was terrific as were the interviews with people who are still alive to tell their versions of the story. I was hooked.
“I thought I was just watching a good profile of a serial killer and then everything took a completely different turn. Anyone interested in true crime will find this a compelling documentary. Highly recommended.”
Critics also applauded the documentary, with Mashable noting: For true crime devotees, watching the five-part series will do more than hit the spot.”
The Confession Killer is available to stream now on Netflix.
A British historical fantasy drama series has left viewers on the edge of their seats
A period drama has been hailed the “new Game of Thrones”(Image: Sky UK)
Fans of period dramas have been eagerly binge-watching a beloved series.
Britannia is a British historical fantasy drama created by Jez Butterworth and Tom Butterworth. The series is set in 43 AD, when the Romans invaded Britain – 90 years after Julius Caesar failed to conquer the nation.
General Aulus Plautius and his second-in-command, Lucius, are hell-bent on succeeding where Julius Caesar fell short, by whatever means necessary.
The series chronicles Rome’s conquest of the Celts across the British Isles – “a mysterious land ruled by wild warrior women and powerful druids who can channel the powerful forces of the underworld,” according to the official synopsis.
Celtic rivals Kerra and Antedia eventually join forces to repel the Roman invasion spearheaded by Aulus. But are they successful? You’ll need to tune in to find out, reports Wales Online.
Britannia originally aired on Sky Atlantic in the UK in 2018, with two further series following in 2019 and 2021. For those wishing to immerse themselves in the mystical era of the Roman Empire, all 27 episodes are now available to stream on NOW and Sky Go.
The programme boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring David Morrissey as Aulus Plautius, Hugo Speer as Lucius, and Yellowstone’s Kelly Reilly as Kerra. Further stars include Aaron Pierre, Zoë Wanamaker, Mackenzie Crook, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Barry Ward, Stanley Weber, Joe Armstrong, Eleanor Worthington Cox, and Ian McDiarmid.
The production was largely shot across Wales and the Czech Republic. In Wales, the dramatic coastline and untamed landscapes were captured in rural settings, including the nation’s “most beautiful” beach Rhossili Bay, along with Henrhyd Falls and Nash Point.
Britannia garnered a broadly favourable response following its launch, with numerous critics labelling it “the new Game of Thrones”.
Viewers have similarly praised the series, with one IMDb user commenting: “What an epic series! You’ll definitely not regret watching this show. It’s perfect.”
Another wrote: “Excellent production, breathtaking locations, amazing cast. One of the best series I have watched in a while,” while a third remarked: “A magical retelling of British history. Game of Thrones fans will love this.”
A further viewer posted: “One of the best series ever! Captivating story telling with superb locations. A wild tale brought to life. Couldn’t stop watching. I’m hooked!”
A fifth enthusiast concurred, stating: “The show is brilliant, the actors are phenomenal. Crazy, funny, and steamy. Total masterpiece.”
Yet another viewer noted: “Britannia is a mesmerising historical fantasy series that masterfully blends myth, mysticism, and warfare. The series stands out for its bold storytelling, rich character development and immersive soundtrack. If you’re a fan of historical dramas with a touch of the mystical, Britannia is a must-watch.”
Britannia is available to stream on NOW and Sky Go
Claire, from Canada, was 24 years old when she was killed on 11 February 2024.
She was found with a number of serious injuries in a hot tub at a property in the Sandness area, and though emergency services arrived at the scene, she was pronounced dead a short while later.
A new documentary is now revealing the murder trial that followed, as well as sharing the perspective of her grieving family.
The Channel 5 synopsis teases: “Inside the courtroom as a grieving family and an accused partner collide in a murder trial.”
Sharing a clip on social media, Channel 5 warned viewers: “Warning: Some viewers may find the following video distressing.”
They added: “Claire Leveque’s final months reveal a harrowing story of control and abuse. Now, her family cross continents in search of answers, and justice.”
The trailer heard clippings from the trial, with Claire’s family and friends in tears in court.
It also sees testimonies from experts brought in to prove the case, as a person warns: “This is a horror story from the beginning.”
“This was horrific,” one viewer commented to the clip.
Another said: “Horrendous case – can’t imagine how her family & friends coped with that trial.”
Someone else called it “very chilling”, and said “it wasn’t an easy watch”.
“A hard watch,” another agreed, while someone else said: “#MurderinShetland is remarkable television. Do watch it if you can, although it is quite harrowing.”
Ahead of the documentary airing, Gary Davies, consultant editor for commissioning at 5, said: “This thoughtful series gives a deeply human account of an unimaginable tragedy. It shines a light on the justice process and honours the courage of Claire’s family as they seek truth and remembrance.”
Mark Procter, executive producer for Big Little Fish, echoed the sentiment, saying: “We are profoundly grateful to the Judicial Office for Scotland and to everyone who enabled our access to the trial.
“Above all, we are honoured that the Leveque family have entrusted us to document what happened to Claire. We hope this series serves as a respectful tribute – giving her the voice that was so cruelly taken from her.”
Murder in Shetland: Trial by Jury is available to watch on Channel 5.
