watch

Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards tells the story of the presenter’s fall from grace

Channel 5 viewers have called a new programme about former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards a “hard watch”.

Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards – starring Martin Clunes in the main role – chronicles the events leading to the presenter’s conviction for making indecent images of children. He was found guilty in 2024, and received a six-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years.

The drama aired on Channel 5 on Tuesday (March 24), centring on Edwards’ alleged interaction with a 17-year-old. The teen, given the fictional name ‘Ryan’, is portrayed by Welsh actor Osian Morgan.

Moments after it began, viewers started posting comments on social media stating that it made for “uncomfortable” viewing, reports Wales Online.

“5 minutes in and can already tell this will be a thoroughly uncomfortable watch,” one viewer posted on X. Another individual admitted they were “already creeped out”.

“Not even halfway and I feel nauseous,” another person shared on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.

“Already creeped out when he calls him ‘baby’,” commented another viewer, whilst someone else confessed they were “speechless” watching the story unfold.

“I’m normally quite hardened to these sorts of dramas but honestly this Huw Edwards programme on 5 is a heck of an uncomfortable watch,” another viewer expressed.

“It’s a hard watch,” concurred another, as one viewer admitted they were turning off.

“I tried watching Power but it’s so grim that I’ve switched over to a repeat of Simon Schama’s History of Britain,” they shared.

“That’s it I have had to turn off this Huw Edwards programme,” said someone else.

Another viewer described the programme as feeling “dark and ominous”.

Numerous viewers also commented on Martin’s depiction of the former newsreader, saying he “nailed it”.

“Clunes is playing a blinder as Huw Edwards,” one individual remarked, whilst another added: “Martin Clunes is giving a career-defining performance. A disturbing, but compelling, portrayal of Huw Edwards.”

“Clunes is really pulling this off,” observed another, with someone else stating that the Doc Martin star’s performance was an “absolute tour de force”.

“Martin Clunes is formidable in his portrayal of Huw Edwards,” praised another impressed viewer.

Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards airs on Channel 5.

Some viewers have dubbed the new documentary a ‘wake up call’

A brand new documentary just added to Netflix has been dubbed a “wake up call” by terrified viewers.

The Plastic Detox arrived on the streaming service just this week, exploring the impact of exposure to everyday plastic items such as clothing fibres, cosmetics and kitchen tools on human health and fertility.

The feature-length film centres around six couples who are all trying for a baby. They all have one thing in common: they have been unable to conceive, with some of the pairs having spent years trying unsuccessfully to make it happen.

They are tasked with lowering their exposure to plastics over the course of three months supported by scientists and researchers to see if doing so can turn their fortunes around.

Netflix’s official synopsis reads: “Strange symptoms. Unexplained infertility. Human extinction? Six couples cut back on plastics while trying to conceive in this absorbing documentary.” The film is directed by Louie Psihoyos who was behind 2024 Netflix documentary, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.

Viewers have been quick to flood social media with their first thoughts about the documentary, with one warning fellow viewers: “I was not prepared to be so enraged and also disgusted. So many chemicals. In everything. All the time. Just watch at your own risk.”

A second said: “Everyone needs to watch this. It’s a wake-up call,” as a third remarked: “I just made the grave mistake of watching The Plastic Detox on Netflix and that was a mistake. I mean, it wasn’t, but it was. I would not recommend if you’re a spiraller… because, wow.”

Environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Dr Shanna Swan who appears in the documentary, told Netflix’s Tudum: “I think it empowers people to know that they can do things to protect themselves, at least if not completely, to a large extent.

“And that’s what the film really shows — when these couples took action and reduced their exposure, they saw differences.”

At time of writing, it has been revealed that three of the six couples that took part in the experiment have since gone on to become pregnant. One of the couples, Monique and Bruno, are actually expecting their second baby at the end of this month.

As well as seeing a difference in fertility, the couple shared that they had seen a huge impact in their overall health too. They shared with Tudum: “We sleep better, our skin is less dry, and Bruno’s extreme eczema has decreased considerably.”

The Plastic Detox is now available to stream on Netflix.

Other money-saving tips include leaving jewellery and laptops in the UK

Specialists at travel insurance firm Staysure have revealed the key factors that determine insurance prices and provided guidance on cutting costs when arranging your travel cover this summer. Travel insurance premiums can vary considerably depending on numerous factors, including existing medical conditions, age and your chosen destination.

Luckily, holidaymakers can slash costs by avoiding travelling with expensive valuables. The travel specialists recommended always “leave expensive valuables such as laptops, watches and jewellery at home”.

This is because “adding protection for valuable items, such as cameras or precious watches and jewellery, will push premiums higher”.

“If you need to insure expensive gadgets like cameras or valuables like watches and jewellery, your premium will be higher as there are pricier sums involved.

“Travelling without these items can help to lower the cost of your travel insurance policy and means you are at less risk of losing them,” reports the Express.

Premiums increase with age due to higher illness risk, especially for those aged over 65. Existing medical conditions are equally important as they raise the probability of needing emergency medical care abroad.

The specialists emphasised it is vital to consistently “declare all of your pre-existing medical conditions to ensure your policy is valid, should you need to make a claim”. Trip length and location also affect insurance costs, as extended holidays raise the chances that travellers might need emergency medical care.

Cover works out cheaper for countries deemed low risk, such as Spain, whilst high-risk destinations such as Sri Lanka may attract higher premiums due to repatriation costs.

The experts recommended opting for a lower-risk destination to cut expenses. “A change of country could save you hundreds. For example, a holiday to Paris will usually cost you less in insurance premiums than a trip to New York.

“It’s also important to check the country you are travelling to will be covered by your travel insurer. Some places in the world are considered too high risk.”

SOPHIE Habboo has been left sobbing after her husband Jamie Laing’s Mother’s Day present backfired.

The couple welcomed their baby boy Ziggy in December and this year marks Sophie’s very first Mother’s Day.

However, things didn’t end up going so well when Jamie presented his wife with a photo album of their son.

The former Made in Chelsea took to TikTok to share a video to capture the moment in question.

In the short clip, Sophie, 31, is seen bawling her eyes out as Jamie, 37, asks: “Wait, why are you upset?”

As she holds her head in her hands, she emotionally expresses: “He’s never going to be that small.”

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He captioned the post: “Reminder… Don’t make your wife a photo album of your newborn baby for Mother’s Day.”

Fans flocked to the comments section as one said: “So valid. You blink and they aren’t the little baby you brought home.”

Another person commented: “That’s the baby bond burrowing it’s way through all the tired days, the hard times and the cray cray. It’s painfully beautiful.”

Somebody else penned: “Bless her, we all know this feeling but the best is yet to come as his little personality develops.

“The days are long but the years are short so just treasure every second.”

Yet another follower gushed: “That’s so sweet. Bless your heart Sophie you’re such a lovely mum.”

While a fifth social media user added: “This was me yesterday, sending you a big hug Sophie.”

The pair announced the arrival of their first child back in December as they took to Instagram to share the news.

Alongside a photo of their baby boy, Jamie wrote: “Ziggy, you have our whole hearts.”

They were flooded with messages from fans and famous pals as Rylan Clark said: “Congrats you two xxx.”

“Congratulations guys,” weighed in Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse. “A new journey begins.”

“You did it mama,” wrote Jessie J.

“Oh my goodness so many congratulations. So excited for you and this amazing new chapter for you all! Biggest hugs,” added This Morning regular Alice Liveing.

Sophie recently opened up about her motherhood journey while attending the Brit Awards with Jamie earlier this month.

During an interview with Chloe Burrows for KISS FM, she was asked: “Is there anything you’re not loving about being a new mum?”

The new mother responded: “The constant mum guilt.”

“You just feel guilty for being here, but then feel guilty… yeah, that’s not good.”

While Jamie added: “The hardest thing about having a baby is the burping.”

Rolling her eyes, Sophie chimed in: “The mums do everything.”

But to that, Jamie claimed: “I mean, this is a joke.”

Moments later, Sophie then shared: “I have the better instincts.”

Stunned by his wife’s claims, Jamie clapped back and snapped: “No, I have better instincts.”

Joking around, the Made in Chelsea icon laughed: “I feel him. I can feel him right now.”

COUNTRY music heartthrob Riley Green furiously kicked a “jealous boyfriend” out of his gig after being hit with a phone that left him with a bloody ear.

Riley needed five stitches to piece his ear back together following the Melbourne show on his Cowboy As It Gets tour.

During the gig, he was struck by a phone pelted from the pit which caused him to stop the performance and take off his guitar.

He then pointed out the offender and directed security to haul him out. Smiling with blood running down his neck, Riley then slung his guitar back on before being cheered by the raucous crowd.

The 37-year-old told them: “Damn, am I bleeding? See how tough I am?”

He then said: “You can get your phones out, and you can turn the flashlight on – but don’t throw them at me.”

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The violent incident certainly did no harm to Riley’s aura. His smitten fans sent messages of support on Instagram.

One said: “My babyyyyyy was bleeding.”

Another wrote: “Brother, don’t hurt my wife’s boyfriend!”

A third said: “He was bleeding but he’s a Bama boy…that’s just a little scratch. He can do anything he wants!”

While on one video, a fan wrote: “PSA to the jealous boyfriends., don’t throw your phones at Riley Green xx.”

Riley had a fun time despite the incident and regretted not being able to play for longer.

He wrote on Instagram: “Ole buddy ’bout ran outta anytime minutes last night… but a hell of a time was had.”

Riley’s become a global phenomenon in recent years.

Heartfelt songs like I Wish Grandpas Never Died, There Was This Girl, and Different ‘Round Here (feat. Luke Combs) have resonated thanks to their honest storytelling and southern drawl.

He supported Morgan Wallen at his BST Hyde Park gig in 2024 but put on a headline-worthy show.

Speaking about his summer in the capital, he told Entertainment Focus: “I wasn’t nervous but I certainly didn’t expect what happened! I thought that there would be, maybe, a handful of folks that knew a couple of my songs but they knew every word to every song.

“To see the size of the crowd……. especially when you go to another country and Canada had been the only other time I had played outside the States….. things are usually gradual in building up a fan base, right? It was shocking to see how passionate people were about country music over here.”

And he returned to these shores last year for some sold out gigs of his own.

The 2026 Oscars featured surprise wins, emotional speeches and some comical moments as stars gathered for Hollywood’s biggest night.

The ceremony saw action thriller One Battle After Another win the most Oscars of the night with six wins, including best picture. But there were a number of historic moments – including Jessie Buckley becoming the first Irish star to win best actress.

And in a shock win amid tough competition from Leonardo di Caprio and Timothée Chalamet, Michael B Jordan took home the best actor prize – the sixth black actor to win in the Academy’s nearly 100-year history.

Follow the BBC’s ongoing coverage of the Oscars here.

The 98th Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, will celebrate some of the top films released in 2025 on Sunday.

The ceremony will take place in Los Angeles with actors, directors and filmmakers from around the world competing for Hollywood’s most prestigious prizes.

But this year’s ceremony comes at a time of global tension, with the ongoing war in Iran serving as a sombre backdrop to Hollywood’s annual celebration.

“My job is always to try to walk a very thin line between entertaining people and also acknowledging some of the realities,” host Conan O’Brien said during a Wednesday news conference with the Oscars creative team.

Here is what we know about the upcoming ceremony:

Where will the Oscars be held?

The 98th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles on March 15.

The ceremony will start at 4pm West Coast time in the United States (23:00 GMT), with official red carpet coverage beginning at 3:30pm (22:30 GMT).

Where can I watch the ceremony?

The 2026 Oscars will be broadcast in the US on the TV channel ABC. Viewers with a cable subscription can also watch online by signing in through the ABC app or ABC.com.

The ceremony will also be streamed live on the video platform Hulu.

Those without traditional cable can access the broadcast through live TV streaming services that carry ABC, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.

But the Oscars’ ties with ABC may soon be at an end. Last year, the Academy announced that, beginning in 2029, the Oscars will sever its decades-long relationship with ABC and stream exclusively on YouTube.

The shift to an online-only platform is a big shake-up for the Academy Awards, ending a tradition more than half a century old.

ABC began broadcasting the Oscars in 1976, and before that, it aired on a rival channel, NBC, starting in 1953.

Who is hosting the Academy Awards?

O’Brien is hosting the 98th Academy Awards, marking his second consecutive year emceeing the ceremony.

“This year, I know where the doughnuts are. I know my way around a little bit, and so, I think that’s going to be fun,” Conan said.

In remarks this week, the comedian explained he believes the key to success on the Oscar stage is having a good time and staying in the moment.

He added that he and his writing team are still refining the material ahead of the show, to keep it as current as possible.

“What’s happening in the world will be reflected in the show,” he said.

How can I watch the red carpet?

The Oscars red carpet is broadcast several hours before the ceremony, as filmmakers and other celebrities arrive for the ceremony.

The red carpet has long served as a stage for Hollywood’s best fashions, and actors often pause for interviews with social media and television hosts to discuss the awards and what they’re wearing.

Several shows will broadcast from the red carpet:

• The official Oscars red carpet (“On the Red Carpet at the Oscars”): 20:30 GMT, hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer
  • Streaming services: Viewers without cable can watch through platforms that carry ABC, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV and Sling TV.
• E! Live from the Red Carpet: 21:00 GMT
  • Streaming services: The E! network will carry the live coverage, as will the streaming platform Peacock and live TV service providers like Roku, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and more.

British comedian Amelia Dimoldenberg also returns for the third year as the official Oscars social media correspondent.

Who is presenting?

As is tradition, last year’s acting winners will return to present awards at the ceremony. They include Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Mikey Madison (Anora) and Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez).

They will be joined by a wide range of actors and filmmakers presenting throughout the night, including Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Maya Rudolph, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr, Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose Byrne, Nicole Kidman, Jimmy Kimmel, Delroy Lindo, Ewan McGregor, Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman, Channing Tatum and Sigourney Weaver.

Who is performing at the Oscars?

This year’s show will feature two musical performances tied to the Best Original Song nominees.

Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna are set to perform the hit single Golden from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters, and actor Miles Caton will reprise the song he sang in the movie Sinners, called I Lied to You, alongside songwriter Raphael Saadiq.

Like the film itself, the Sinners musical performance at the Oscars will serve as a tribute to Black artistry across generations and genres.

As such, it will include an array of artists, from ballerina Misty Copeland to rocker Brittany Howard to blues and jazz musicians like Eric Gales, Bobby Rush and Alice Smith, among others.

What movies have the most nominations?

Sinners is the most-nominated film in Academy Award history with 16 nominations.

That tally broke the previous record of 14 nominations, which was held by three films: All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016).

Ryan Coogler’s feature mixes supernatural horror, romance and blues culture. Set in 1932 Clarksdale, Mississippi, the story centres on a community opening a juke joint that soon finds itself under siege by vampires.

“I wrote this script for my uncle who passed away 11 years ago,” Ryan Coogler said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I got to imagine that he’s listening to some blues music right now to celebrate.”

One Battle After Another follows with 13 nods at this year’s Oscars, while Frankenstein, Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value each secured nine nominations.

The Academy also continued its tilt towards international films with this year’s lineup of nominees. Every major acting category, for instance, included at least one international nominee.

Is there any Arab representation at this year’s Oscars?

Arab cinema had a strong presence during the awards season. Several films from the region were shortlisted for Best International Feature Film, including:

• The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
• Palestine 36 (Palestine)
• All That’s Left of You (Jordan)
• The President’s Cake (Iraq)

One of them, The Voice of Hind Rajab, ultimately secured an Oscar nomination, marking a significant moment for Arab cinema.

What is the Voice of Hind Rajab?

The Voice of Hind Rajab is a 2025 docudrama directed by Kaouther Ben Hania.

It dramatises the final hours in the life of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024. But the film weaves in real-life recordings of Rajab’s desperate phone calls to emergency personnel from the Red Crescent group.

“The arrival of Hind Rajab’s voice to these platforms — and its ability to break through the indifference that exists there — is in itself something extremely valuable,” Gaza-based filmmaker Mohammed al-Sawwaf told Al Jazeera’s journalist Maram Humaid.

To al-Sawwaf, the film’s Oscar nomination means that Rajab’s death is no longer a passing news item or a single tally in a growing death toll. It is a cultural event, a memorial that forces viewers to confront the horrors facing Gaza’s young children.

“A story of a human being from Gaza has been presented as the story of a person with a life and meaning, rather than the image of a Palestinian appearing as a number on news screens,” he said.

“Palestinians have tried for many years to tell their stories and to be visible, but they were often met with rejection, doubt, or barriers placed in front of them.”

Al-Sawwaf believes Hind Rajab’s story can help illuminate the humanitarian crisis facing thousands of other Palestinians suffering in Gaza.

“A story like Hind Rajab’s represents a symbol of thousands of other stories,” he said. “There are thousands of women and men who had full lives, details, and dreams that are no less human than hers.”

Why was an Iranian film submitted by France?

It Was Just an Accident, directed by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, is also among the nominees on Sunday night, competing in two categories: Best International Film and Best Original Screenplay.

Though It Was Just an Accident was a co-production from several countries, France ultimately submitted the film as its entry in the Best International Feature competition.

Panahi’s work is often critical of the Iranian government, and in the past, he faced prison time and a ban on his filmmaking as a result. It was not considered as Iran’s entry.

France instead has championed the film as evidence that the country is a safe haven for “singular and courageous cinema”.

But Panahi said his thoughts remain focused on those back home in Iran.

“I am constantly thinking about them,” he told Bloomberg from New York, four days after the US and Israel launched their offensive against Iran.

Panahi shot the film clandestinely in Iran without government approval.

What are the best picture nominees?

Ten films are in competition in the Best Picture category:

• • Bugonia: A science-fiction story about two men who kidnap a powerful executive, believing she is an alien threatening Earth.
  • F1: A sports drama starring Brad Pitt as a veteran Formula One driver who returns to racing to mentor a promising young teammate.
  • Frankenstein: Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel, following scientist Victor Frankenstein and the tragic creature he brings to life.
  • Hamnet: A historical drama focusing on the grief of Agnes and William Shakespeare following the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet.
  • Marty Supreme: A sports drama starring Timothee Chalamet as an ambitious table tennis player determined to prove he is the greatest at his sport.
  • One Battle After Another: A dark action-comedy directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, following a father and daughter on the run from a racist military leader intent on tracking them down.
  • The Secret Agent: A political thriller about a widowed college professor on the run from a vengeful government minister during Brazil’s dictatorship in the 1970s.
  • Sentimental Value: A drama exploring grief, memory and complicated relationships in a family of artists in modern-day Oslo.
  • Sinners: A supernatural thriller about twin brothers who return to their hometown to found a juke joint, only to be confronted by past relationships, racism and a gang of vampires.

Who are the nominees for the Best Director category?

• Chloe Zhao for Hamnet
• Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme
• Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
• Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value
• Ryan Coogler for Sinners

Who are the nominees for best actor?

• Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme
• Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon
• Michael B Jordan for Sinners
• Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent

Who are the nominees for Best Actress?

• Jessie Buckley for Hamnet
• Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
• Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
• Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
• Emma Stone for Bugonia

What are the biggest surprises and snubs?

This year’s nominations included several unexpected picks and notable omissions.

Among the biggest surprises was Delroy Lindo’s first-ever Oscar nomination for his supporting role in Sinners, a recognition many felt was long overdue.

“The best part of this process has been that people are so genuinely happy for me,” Lindo, 73, told The New York Times.

“It’s not an ego thing. It’s nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with affirmation.”

Another unexpected nod came in the Best Picture category for the racing drama F1, an action-packed summer blockbuster.

In an interview with the racing tournament Formula 1, director Joseph Kosinski explained that the team created an entirely new filming system to capture the kind of visuals he had imagined.

“We had to develop a new camera system, taking everything we learned on Top Gun: Maverick and pushing it much further,” Kosinski said.

Actress Kate Hudson was also a surprise in the highly competitive Best Actress category, earning her first Oscar nod in 25 years for the musical drama Song Sung Blue.

She said the film offered a rare opportunity to portray a mature female character with depth and ambition. Her role is based on the real-life story of Claire Sardina, who performed as part of a Neil Diamond cover band.

“I got to play the comedy, some sense of humour. I got to play the love story, the desire. I got to play being a mother, and then I got to go into a place of where my life force is taken out of me,” Hudson said in an interview with NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Among the most notable snubs was the sequel Wicked: For Good, which received no nominations amid mixed reviews. The first Wicked film earned a whopping 10 nominations last year, winning two Oscars, for Best Costumes and Best Production Design.

Actor Paul Mescal also missed out on a nomination for his performance as William Shakespeare in Hamnet, while director Guillermo del Toro was overlooked in the Best Director category for Frankenstein.

Other notable omissions included Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another) and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).

What are the predictions for the winners?

For months, One Battle After Another was considered the clear favourite for Best Picture and Best Director. But in the final stretch of the awards season, the competition has tightened, with Sinners gaining momentum.

Jessie Buckley is widely expected to win Best Actress for Hamnet. Michael B Jordan, meanwhile, is predicted to win Best Actor for Sinners, overtaking stiff competition from Timothee Chalamet, star of the film Marty Supreme.

In the supporting actor categories, Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) is considered a strong contender for Best Supporting Actress, and Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) is favoured for Best Supporting Actor.

EXCLUSIVE: A beloved crime drama is set to return for a third season next week, with a host of “incredible” guest stars

Fans of Death in Paradise are being urged to watch a “cosy” crime drama with a distinctive premise.

Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood’s English-set mystery series, The Marlow Murder Club, follows three amateur detectives as they solve crimes in the tranquil riverside town of Marlow.

Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), a retired archaeologist, establishes a club alongside professional dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan). Their discoveries eventually earn them positions as civilian advisers under Detective Sergeant Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew).

The trio are poised to return for a third series next week (March 18), which will be presented in a three-story structure, featuring an adaptation of Thorogood’s third Marlow novel, The Queen of Poisons.

Now firmly embedded within newly promoted DI Malik’s crime-solving operation, Judith, Suzie and Becks are back, applying their unorthodox techniques to a series of high-profile murders. However, it quickly becomes apparent to the amateur investigators that their enquiries may strike closer to home than ever before, reports the Express.

The synopsis reveals: “From the sudden death of the kindest man in Marlow, the town’s beloved Mayor, to a celebrity chef found dead at the launch of his cookbook with half the town in attendance, the team will be working under the watchful eye of the Marlow community.”

“They’ll also be called to an eerie manor house in the middle of nowhere, where they’ll face a case intrinsically linked to Becks’ past that could threaten the future of their roles as civilian advisors. Judith, Suzie and Becks will have to pull closer together than ever to catch these killers.”

Since launching in 2024, The Marlow Murder Club has established itself as a beloved staple amongst mystery fans. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, leading actress Jo Martin, who portrays Suzie, has shared her thoughts on why the programme connects with audiences so profoundly.

“People love murder, don’t ask me why. And the fact that this isn’t this gruesome, you know, dead women everywhere, mutilated. It’s a cosy crime drama, and it’s beautifully shot as well,” she explained.

“You can sit back and feel like [you’re having] a cup of drinking chocolate, you know? It’s like that. It’s like toasting some marshmallows and watching this. You’re in safe hands. It’s a great formula and it works.

“I think people have bought into the characters as well. And the fact that there aren’t many shows where you’ve got, you know, three, four women leading the show. We’re not the wife of, or the friend of, or the dead body – we are leading the show, and we’re all women of a particular age.”

Jo continued: “It’s intergenerational, which is always very interesting, you know… I think it’s wonderful.”

Alongside the returning main cast, series three will welcome an impressive array of guest stars throughout its six episodes. The stellar line-up includes Nigel Harman, Peter Davison, Jacqueline Boatswain, Sarah Alexander, Tony Gardner, Jason Merrells, Harry Enfield, Cherie Lunghi, Adrian Lukis, and Alastair Mackenzie.

Additionally, Hugh Quarshie reprises his role as Professor Darius Gifford, a prospective romantic interest for Judith.

Discussing the significance of embracing their guest performers, Jo explained: “If you’re coming on as a guest, it’s really hard to enter this family… [We want] to make [them feel] a part of it, so they can do their best work. So, yeah, we love it, welcoming new people.”

The actress also described her excitement upon meeting comedy icon Harry Enfield. She recalled: “We’ve had some great artists this season. It’s been amazing. I’m a huge fan of Harry Enfield… When he was on set, we’re all like, ‘Oh God, when can I ask for a selfie? When’s it going to be cool to get a selfie with Harry Enfield?’ Yeah, it’s incredible.”

With only two episodes remaining in the current series of Death in Paradise, audiences may be seeking a new series to satisfy their appetite. This “intriguing” programme that fans “watch on repeat every day” could prove the ideal escape into the realm of murder mysteries, minus the blood and violence.

The Marlow Murder Club returns to U and U&DRAMA on Wednesday, March 18 at 8pm

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website

AIRLINE crews use secret code words around unsuspecting flyers – including the bizarre-sounding “crotch watch.”

Here’s what it means, and how it helps improve safety on planes.

Flight attendants can be overheard using their own language on the job.

And chances are you’ll be worried they’re insulting you – especially if you also hear them mention “gate lice,” meaning passengers who crowd around the boarding gate before their flight has even been called.

If they mention “crotch watch,” it is simply alluding to the crew checking that passengers have their seatbelts fastened properly before takeoff and landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently warned that impatient flyers who unfasten seatbelts before their plane has come to a complete stop at the gate could get hit with $37,000 fines.

Its rule applies during the taxi, takeoff, and landing stages – until the aircraft has safely reached the gate and the illuminated seatbelt sign has been turned off.

The regulation dates back to the 1970s, and was imposed for safety reasons.

Another odd term you might hear is “blue juice.”

This refers to the cleaning liquid used to flush the contents of the plane’s bathrooms.

Other terms, such as ABP, translate to “able-bodied passengers.”

Feb. 28 (UPI) — Firefighters in East Texas rescued two people after the hot air balloon they were traveling in struck a cell phone tower and left them stranded, local officials said.

In a Facebook post, the Longview Fire Department said the incident happened around 8:15 a.m. in north Gregg County. Neither of the occupants were injured.

After the balloon hit the cell tower, it became stuck about 920 feet in the air.

“Climbing operations began around 8:50 a.m. using multiple rope systems due to the extreme height and complexity of the incident,” the post said.

The rescuers reached the balloon occupants around 10 a.m. and both were brought to the ground.

Longview is about 130 miles east of Dallas and 65 mile west of Shreveport, La.

Final Oscar voting began yesterday. How many of the nominated movies have you seen? Are you doing your due diligence in all the categories before the March 15 ceremony or, given the summer weather outside your window, might the mountains be calling?

I’m Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope newsletter. It’s never too early for flip-flops, is it?

Testing out a new mandate

To vote for the Oscars, you have to watch all the nominated movies.

This may seem obvious. But until this year, the motion picture academy operated entirely on the honor system, strongly encouraging members to see everything before voting.

Now voters have to show their work — up to a point.

This year, academy members are required to certify through the group’s screening room portal that they have viewed all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in that category. Since nominations were announced in January, the academy has been emailing voters with updates on their progress, indicating where they’re cleared to vote and where they still have work to do.

One wrinkle, and it’s not a small one: Members can simply check a box indicating that they’ve watched a movie outside the academy’s platform. Perhaps they saw it at a festival, on a streaming platform other than the portal or the place God intended films to be seen — a movie theater.

Whether they actually did watch the movies is left to the honesty of the voter. It’s still an honor system, and members do not need to show movie stubs, tickets or receipts.

Talking with academy members, there seems to be a little wiggle room when it comes to having a clear conscience.

Take the voter who loved Ethan Hawke‘s lead turn as legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon,” but hated “Marty Supreme,” turning it off 20 minutes after starting it. Since the academy’s screening room counts a movie as watched only if it’s viewed in its entirety, this voter told me they planned on restarting “Marty Supreme” one night and running it on mute so he could vote in the lead actor category.

“I’d seen enough,” he said. “Watching [Timothée] Chalamet play another pingpong tournament wouldn’t make me change my mind.”

Other academy members told me they were OK marking the “watched” box next to a movie they hadn’t seen, provided they had viewed four of the category’s other nominees. By and large though, they were the outliers. Most voters said they were happy to abstain from voting in a category in which they hadn’t watched all the nominated work. (As academy members may not publicly state voting decisions or preferences, voters spoke on the condition of anonymity.)

“I don’t need to see another ‘Avatar’ movie,” a producers branch member said. “So I’m fine not voting for visual effects or costume design this year. Life is short.”

“I like the idea that I can abstain from categories without any guilt,” an Oscar-nominated writer noted, adding that she thought the new system has been “helpful, reminding me to watch things.”

To that effect, academy members have been receiving a flurry of emails and texts that would give off Big Brother vibes if it didn’t simply boil down to an admonition to watch “Frankenstein” so they could vote in the nine categories where Guillermo del Toro’s monster movie is nominated.

It really isn’t that big an ask, as in recent years the Oscars have become increasingly dominated by a smaller number of movies vacuuming up a greater share of the nominations. This year, the five movies earning the most recognition — “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another,” “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein” and “Hamnet” — hauled in 56 nominations.

If an Oscar voter viewed the 10 best picture nominees, they’d be eligible to mark their ballots in best picture and eight other categories — supporting actor, adapted screenplay, casting, cinematography, film editing, production design and original score. Add Hawke’s “Blue Moon” and that opens up lead actor. Make it a double feature with “It Was Just an Accident” and original screenplay becomes available.

“You don’t really need to be much more than a casual moviegoer to knock out most of your ballot,” an actors branch member told me, “except for things like animation and documentaries and the shorts. I don’t know how many people watch all of those.”

Nobody does, save for the PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants counting the ballots. The question vexing both voters and the awards consultants paid to persuade them is how this new, formalized voting will affect the results. As Oscar winners are sometimes the movies that are the most-watched, might requiring voters to see all the nominated work boost less-publicized efforts?

“If ‘Sirât’ wins sound over ‘F1,’ then I think it’s a new ballgame,” one veteran campaigner said. “Right now, though, nobody knows.”

We will soon. In the meantime, with Oscar voting running through Thursday, some academy members tell me their weekend is booked.

“Three nights, three movies,” one voter said. “And then I’m watching ‘Bridgerton.’”

WASHINGTON — President Trump is set to deliver a high-stakes State of the Union address on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Pacific time before a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol.

The president is expected to emphasize economic issues, an immigration crackdown that has been central to his agenda, and tariffs in the wake of a recent legal setback to his trade agenda.

Here is what to know about the event:

How to watch

The remarks will be shown live on major broadcast networks and cable news channels. Another way to watch live is through the public affairs network C-SPAN. The White House will stream the address on its website.

What to expect in the speech

Trump is expected to focus on his immigration crackdown and his promises to go after what he says is government “waste, fraud and abuse,” as previewed in two White House videos on Monday.

One year back in office, Trump has led an aggressive deportation campaign that has involved violent arrests, troops in American cities and an uptick in detentions. The tactics used by federal immigration agents have raised concerns among lawmakers in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Those concerns are central to ongoing standoff over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

It will also be worth watching how Trump talks about future efforts to target waste and abuse in public spending, an effort that has often roped in blue states like California.

Who will deliver responses?

Democrats have picked Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Sen. Alex Padilla of California to deliver the Democratic responses to Trump’s speech.

Spanberger will give her remarks in English, while Padilla will deliver the Spanish-language response.

Padilla’s remarks will be live-streamed here.