years

Huge crowds have greeted Pope Leo in Cameroon, returning to a country he visited 20 years ago as ‘Father Bob’. Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque was there, and explains how the Roman Catholic leader is transforming the church as congregations shrink in Europe but expand in Africa.

Kirsty Soames is one of Coronation Street’s most infamous villains before she was sent to prison for her crimes over a decade ago

Coronation Street’s Kirsty Soames caused plenty of drama during her stint – but what has the actress been up to since her exit?

Back in 2011, Kirsty (Natalie Gumede) made her debut as the love interest of Tyrone (Alan Halsall). The pair soon hit it off – and even went on to welcome a daughter, Ruby, together in 2012.

However, things took a dramatic turn when Kirsty started to abuse Tyrone, often turning against him in violent rages. The nasty police officer ended up lying and accusing Tyrone of abusing her.

However, during his trial in 2013, Kirsty confessed that she was the abuser and Tyrone was cleared of any wrongdoing while she was convicted and sent to prison. She nominated Tyrone to have custody of Ruby, and he told her he never wanted to see her ever again.

A year later though, she was referenced on the long-running ITV soap when she sent Tyrone abusive texts after leaving prison in 2014. Fast forward to 2021 and Tyrone was informed that Kirsty had died. It was claimed that Kirsty died from an aneurysm, and she was discovered in her flat by a neighbour.

And over on the long-running soap this week, Tyrone’s domestic abuse past was mentioned after it came out that Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) has been abused by husband Theo Silverton (James Cartwright).

Talking about her decision to leave the soap, Kirsty actress Natalie previously said: “It was really tough, but I was ready to leave.

“I think it was a healthy time to go after such an intense storyline, but it’s surprising how a place kind of creeps under your skin, and I don’t think I could have wished to work with a better team so it did surprise me how emotional I was at leaving.””

After her cobbles exit, Natalie was in high demand. She appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, and was partnered with Artem Chigvintsev. The pair lost out to Abbey Clancy & Aljaz Skorjanec and came joint second along with Susanna Reid & Kevin Clifton.

Her other TV credits include 2015’s ITV Jekyll & Hyde, Vera in 2019 and Netflix’s Free Rein from 2017 to 20192. Natalie also appeared in the 2022 Netflix smash Your Christmas or Mine? and it’s sequel in 2023, playing Kaye Taylor.

Speaking at the premiere of the movie, Natalie revealed it was refreshing to play the fun Kaye after always playing a “dark” and “sinister” character.

“Aunty Kaye is one of the my most favourite characters I’ve ever played. I’m always sort of the dark, slightly miserable character, a bit cold a bit sinister,” she said. Natalie added: “And so for the first time I could really just get my teeth into something where I could just be silly and have fun and I absolutely loved it.”

Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Anyone who has jumped out of a plane with a parachute deserves respect, but to do it 36 times, that’s worthy of a salute.

Saul Pacheco, who turns 88 in November, is sitting in a lawn chair at the Arcadia Invitational with his friends, the starters dressed in red suits who fire pistols to begin races.

That’s when he mentions how he was in the 82nd Airborne Division and jumping out of planes in the 1960s after graduating from Wilmington Banning High and UCLA.

“I was a jump master who became in charge of the parachute troopers,” he said.

Then he talks about becoming a teacher and wanting to return to his alma mater, Banning, which had no openings, so he ends up at rival Carson and coaching the offensive line for Hall of Fame coach Gene Vollnogle for more than two decades. Vollnogle was football coach from 1963 to 1990, winning eight City titles.

Pacheco also became a track starter in 1977. He was already well trained to fire a pistol. It was learning all the rules required in track and field that needed to be mastered.

He apparently did just that, because he’s been at it for 49 years and plans to retire as a track starter this spring. For 25 years, he was a starter for the Arcadia Invitational. Then he became the meet referee to settle any disputes. The respect he has earned can be seen in the way other starters appreciate him for helping them learn the ropes.

He’ll be inducted into the Carson Hall of Fame this fall for his contributions as a coach and athletic director.

His story is pretty amazing. He was one of 13 children. His parents apparently wanted enough siblings to form a football team. His father was a carpenter helping build minesweepers at Terminal Island for the Navy. His mother stayed home and took care of everyone. The first seven kids born were boys. He was No. 5. Imagine the competition for food at dinner time.

“Everbody came in to eat at different times,” Pacheco said. “My mother did a great job having stuff ready.”

But what about 13 children together for Thanksgiving?

“We had a lot of laughs. We all got along.”

Five of the brothers are still alive, including a 90-year-old. All three sisters are alive. One of his brothers, Henry, was football coach at San Pedro for 12 years. Henry was drafted and ended up in the Vietnam War, where environmental issues might have led to the illness, lymphocytic leukemia, that took his life in 1991.

Two of his brothers worked for the LAPD. Two other brothers became firefighters. He has a grandson who’s a deputy sheriff in Riverside.

Pacheco has worked five state track championships and numerous City Section championships.

Like an umpire in football who calls a holding penalty, the only time anyone notices a starter in track is when there’s a false start.

“If there’s a false start, someone complains,” he said.

So why spend 49 years as a track starter?

“The fun part is watching all the athletes compete and being around all the other officials,” he said. “The officials are tremendous and dedicated trying to do a good job.”

All this came out by just happening to stop by and say hello to the starters who are always pleasant and enjoy talking. Unless you ask a question, you’ll never find out about someone’s background.

So why wasn’t Pacheco wearing a red suit like the rest of his friends at Arcadia?

“I brought it just in case,” he said. “I was an alternate.”

Pacheco is always prepared, whether jumping out of planes or teaching life lessons to football players.

If anyone deserves a salute, it’s Saul Pacheco.

THE wait is finally over for Madonna fans – as she returns with new music on Friday.

And I am told that she will finally unveil details of her upcoming 15th studio album.

A source revealed: “Madonna is ready to enter her new era and, on Friday, fans will finally get a taste of what she has been working on with Stuart Price.

“This album has been such a passion project for Madonna.

“It’s taken her to a different level in her artistry and she is excited for her fans to hear what she has been working on.

“Madonna has been through so much in the past few years. She almost died in 2023 after contracting sepsis and she lost her brother Christopher the following year.

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“The album will be steeped in reflections of what she has endured and how she has overcome everything thrown in her path.

“Working with Stuart has been brilliant for Madonna, too.

“Confessions On A Dance Floor back in 2005 was one of her best records and he has injected some of that magic into their new sessions.”

The Queen of Pop last released an album in 2019, with Madame X.

It has been the longest-ever gap between records since her career started.

I told you last month that Madonna had filmed a huge new video to celebrate her return to music.

Celebs including Kate Moss, Gwendoline Christie and Benedict Cumberbatch filmed top-secret scenes at Black Island Studios in West London, alongside a number of other famous faces I can’t reveal as I have been sworn to secrecy.

The video, I am told, pushed boundaries like never before, with Madonna’s stunt double filming an epic car crash scene then legging it into a rave.

Madonna has remained tight-lipped about her return, but yesterday she deleted all the photographs from her Instagram account and updated her profile shot with a blurry new picture of herself.

Last night, Madge also updated her website with a picture of a woman in fishnets and boots and her legs splayed open with a huge speaker covering her modesty.

We can’t wait to hear what you’ve been working on, Madge.

Selena & Demi share the Lov

SELENA GOMEZ and Demi Lovato can’t hide their delight as they are pictured together for the first time in a decade.

The former child Disney stars posed on the opening night of Demi’s It’s Not That Deep Tour in Florida.

It was a joyous moment for their fans, who had long thought the pair had fallen out.

Selena shared the snap online with the caption: “I am in tears.

“This was hands down one of the best shows. Oh and the vocals?”

Since they met backstage, Selena and Demi have started following each other again on Instagram – which is basically millennial code for “everything is fine”.

Given the smiles, I am actually convinced it is.

KANYE WEST might not be able to play festivals these days, but eldest daughter North is having no problems.

She has been signed to make her festival debut at Chicago’s Summer Smash, despite being only 12.

North, who was in the crowd at Coachella at the weekend, has only released a handful of songs but is already high on the line-up for the event, also featuring rappers Lil Uzi Vert and Sexyy Red.

It comes a week after Ye was refused entry to the UK.

It caused Wireless Festival, which he was due to headline for all three nights in July, to be axed.

Here’s hoping North has more luck for this event in June.

Frilled to see you, Anne

ONE WORD springs to mind when I look at this glam snap of Anne Hathaway. Itchy.

The US actress swapped comfort for couture as she promoted new film Mother Mary, alongside her equally elegant British co-star Michaela Coel, in a custom-made designer gown made from swathes of rough-looking fabric.

The psychological thriller, which is out in cinemas on April 24, is a far cry from Anne’s other new film, The Devil Wears Prada sequel which comes out the following week.

She reprises her role as Andy Sachs, alongside Meryl Streep who plays her formidable magazine editor boss Miranda Priestly.

I’m expecting some incredible fashion choices from Anne and co when they start promoting the film, with the UK premiere in London’s Leicester Square on 22 April.

And hopefully her stylist will choose something a little less scratchy.

WRONG ON ROAN MOANS

FOOTBALLER JORGINHO admitted he got it wrong when he accused Chappel Roan of making his stepdaughter cry by ordering her security guard to tell the girl off.

He made the claim last month when his wife Catherine Harding and her daughter Ada were at a hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Chappell received a massive backlash.

But the singer insisted she wasn’t aware of the incident, and the security guard came out to say he was working for someone else.

Addressing the situation on Instagram, the Brazilian midfielder didn’t apologise but said: “I made my initial statement in the heat of the moment.”

Jorginho, who insisted he did not support “hate speech or online attacks” as a result of the saga, said Chappell “reached out privately to Catherine”.

PADDINGTON is digging out his raincoat as he returns to cinemas in a fourth movie.

Film company Studiocanal has confirmed another instalment is in the works following the 2024 release of Paddington In Peru.

Since the first movie in 2014, the series has made more than $700million at the box office worldwide.

WETS TOUR FOR DEBUT’S 40TH YEAR

WET WET WET will play 40 dates around the UK next year to mark four decades since their debut album, Popped In Souled Out.

The band will kick off their tour at Watford Colosseum on February 7, with more shows through the month.

A second leg of the tour starts at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall on October 4.

The band now includes founding member, bassist Graeme Clark, long-time touring guitarist Graeme Duffin, who has been with the band since 1983, and lead vocalist Kevin Simm, formerly of Liberty X, who has toured with the band since 2018.

Graeme Clark said: “Forty years later, those songs have taken on a life of their own, and this tour is about celebrating where it all began without forgetting what followed.”

OLIVIA’S STRICTLY TOURING

OLIVIA DEAN has won four Brits, three Mobo awards and a Grammy so far this year.

But she’s got her eye on something else for her display cabinet – the Strictly Glitterball trophy.

The singer has been having dance tuition and is seriously tempted by the possibility of appearing on the BBC One show.

She said: “I’ve been doing salsa lessons recently.

“Just learning a new skill that’s completely separate from my music and still in music.”

During an appearance on Hits Radio, Marvin Humes asked Olivia whether she would take part in Strictly and she replied: “I actually would.”

Sadly for us, a stint in the ballroom this year is off the cards as Olivia will be on tour across Australia and New Zealand in October, which will be right in the middle of the series.

There could be more music on the way from Olivia as she teased she has several songs we haven’t heard. She said: “Man I Need wasn’t supposed to be a single.

“But I’m glad I followed through with that one.

“There were loads of songs that didn’t make the album, but I might still do something with them.”

Ladies on the lash

LADIES Of London: The New Reign is on course to get a second series, so it’s little wonder the cast hit the town to celebrate.

The Bravo TV series, which stars Mark-Francis Vandelli, Emma Thynn, Myka Meier, Martha Sitwell, Lottie Kane and Misse Beqiri, started again last month and has proved to be a success.

An onlooker who saw the group celebrating at private members’ club 5 Hertford Street, in London, told me: “The Ladies Of London cast went from drinking tea to doing shots of tequila, they were loving life.

“They’d just done a photoshoot and were in really high spirits, talking about the future and what they had coming up.

“The show is all about bitching and backstabbing, but in reality, now especially, they all seem to get on like a house on fire.

“When they left around 6.30pm on Monday, they were definitely a bit squiffy.”

I’ve no doubt they’ll be cracking open more bottles of champers when they get another series.

Monday, 13 April marked five years since Northern Ireland qualified for the Euro 2022 finals.

It was a historic night at Seaview as Northern Ireland beat both Ukraine and the odds to qualify for a first major tournament, which would take place the following year in England.

Of the 23 players who went to Southampton, only nine are still involved for the current World Cup campaign.

That number will hit double figures when influential captain and key striker Simone Magill returns after expecting her first child later in the spring, but a lot has changed for Northern Ireland.

In terms of average age, the squad has dropped from 26.7 to 25.2, while the average caps has also fallen from 42.3 to 28.4.

Not only has Kenny Shiels’ tenure ended, but so has that of his successor, Tanya Oxtoby, and Tuesday’s game with Malta will mark the first game in charge for Michael McArdle as boss.

Rebecca McKenna has been a constant over the past half decade, and at the age of 25 she is on the verge of winning her 60th cap against Malta in 2027 World Cup qualifying.

The Birmingham City defender has seen it all in that time, and she says while she doesn’t think “there’s any real comparisons” between the generations, she feels the current youthful group are as “special” as the Euro 2022 history-makers.

“Qualifying for the Euros five years ago, I think that’s just made us hungrier,” McKenna, who turned 25 on Monday, told BBC Sport NI.

“That was a special moment and for that group and we deserved to be there.

“I think the group we have now is just as special and I think all the girls who are here, deserve to be here.”

WHO can say they don’t love being embroiled in the world of spies in the world of fiction at least?

Well, soon Brits will get to learn more about the actions of some of the real-life secret agents of World War II at a historic mansion that’s been closed since 2012.

Trent Park House in Enfield has announced it will reopen this year with its new ‘House of Secrets‘ museum.

Inside will be renovated rooms and a dedicated space to its history of espionage.

During World War II, Trent Park House was used by the War Office for the secret British Intelligence unit, MI9.

It was used to hold German generals and staff officers captive between 1939 and 1945 as part of an operation codenamed M-Rooms.

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The soldiers were treated fairly well with rations of whisky and they were allowed regular walks on the grounds

But what they didn’t know was that they were under surveillance from bugs that were planted all over the estate.

Listening devices were everywhere, in the walls, light fittings, plant pots, window ledges – even the garden benches.

In the basement of Trent Park House were the ‘squads’ who worked in three ‘M’ (miked) rooms, who listened to and transcribed the recordings to aid the British during the war.

All of this will be able to be explored when part of the house reopens later this year.

Trent Park House will also transform back to its former glory during the 1920s and 30s when it was owned by Sir Philip Sassoon.

The British politician and aristocrat turned the estate into a grand country home and hosted high profile guests like Winston Churchill, Fred Astaire and Charlie Chaplin.

Some of the furnishings and artworks once belonging to Sassoon will return to the house and be displayed there for the first time since the 1930s.

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When it reopens, the house will have a new visitor café with terrace seating area on the ground floor.

Trent Park House was later used for education with the Middlesex University using the site until 2012.

It was then bought by the Berkley Group who are converting part of the estate, including some of the mansion, into luxury homes.

The house is currently undergoing renovation and will reopen in summer 2026 – although no opening date has been revealed yet.

But visitors are welcome on Trent Country Park estate to explore its 413-acre park.

The grounds are open year-round with woodlands, trails, lakes and meadow with free parking and a café.

In the meantime, when it comes to other attractions in the UK, the Natural History Museum has been recently named the most popular in the country.

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) revealed 7.1million people visited last year.

Over the next couple of years, the Natural History Museum is also working on new openings.

A new Human Nature pop-up display will open in September 2026, inside a gallery that has been closed for 80 years.

There will also be a prototype of one of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, a monk seal called Jenny ‘the talking fish’ and a handaxe that was discovered alongside the remains of a woolly mammoth in 1859.

Later in 2027, there will be a new permanent gallery specifically for young children.

For more on UK attractions, here are 20 of the most-visited in England that are free to enter.

And check out London’s ‘best family attraction’ is about to get even better – with huge new outdoor play area and cafe next month.

In a record turnout at the polls, Hungarians have voted out their long-serving, far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban, handing victory to the Tisza party’s Peter Magyar who ran a pro-EU campaign.

April 12 (UPI) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is projected to lose his re-election effort, with more than half the ballots counted, and has already conceded after 16 years in the position.

Peter Magyar and his Tisza party are projected to win a super-majority in Hungary’s parliament, taking 135 of 199 seats, and ending Orban’s long-time rule of the country, NBC News and The Washington Post reported.

Orban, who is an ally of both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, spent his four terms as prime minister cracking down on courts and the media amid alleged corruption and illiberal rule of the country.

Magyar posted on Facebook that Orban called to congratulate the Tisza party leaders for their victory after what has been reported as a historic election that brought out nearly 80% of registered voters.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

The parliamentary election could end Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 16-year hold on power.

Polls have opened in Hungary’s parliamentary elections with incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orban facing his biggest electoral challenge after 16 years in power.

Voting in the election for the 199-seat parliament started at 6am local time (0400 GMT) and is due to close at 7 pm (0500 GMT).

Opinion polls over the last two weeks have shown Orban’s Fidesz party trailing Peter Magyar’s upstart centre-right opposition Tisza party by 7-9 percentage points, with Tisza at around 38-41 percent.

Orban, a eurosceptic nationalist, has cast the election as a choice between “war and peace”. During campaigning, the government blanketed the country with signs warning that Tisza leader Magyar would drag Hungary into Russia’s war with Ukraine, something he strongly denies.

“I am looking forward to Sunday’s election with the best hope,” Orban told supporters in his birthplace Szekesfehervar.

“If we know ourselves well, if we know our country well and if we know our own people well, then I must say Hungarians will vote for safety on Sunday,” he added.

Many Hungarians have however grown increasingly weary of 62-year old Orban, after three years of economic stagnation and soaring living costs as well as reports of oligarchs close to the government amassing more wealth.

“I am very excited but also very scared,” Kriszta Tokes, a 24-year-old who sells postcards and trinkets in Budapest, told the Reuters news agency.

“I know that my future depends on this,” she said, adding that she plans to leave Hungary if Orban wins.

There could be more problems ahead for George Shuttleworth, whose business is in big trouble after losing his court case with right-hand man Todd Grimshaw set to depart for Belfast

Slippery Coronation Street character Rupert Copley is returning to the Cobbles to create more misery for the residents of Weatherfield.

Two years after his exit, Rupert is sure to have old rival George Shuttleworth in his sights after viewers learned the undertaker is putting his business up for sale – and there could be more problems ahead for George, played by Tony Maudsley. Last week, he headed to court, and it wasn’t a good result.

The judge ruled against him and ordered George to pay the legal costs after a customer launched a smear campaign against him, leaving the funeral director devastated. A glum George opens up to his sister, Glenda (Jodie Prenger), and tells her that he might have to sell the business to rivals RestEasy at a knock-down price.

Rupert, played by Peter Carroll, is set to reprise the role of the trouble-making undertaker after leaving back in 2024. The last time we saw the character, he tried to poach his work partner Todd Grimshaw but was soon sent packing. With Todd heading to Belfast with conniving Theo Silverton, will there be more agony ahead for George?

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His Corrie return was confirmed by agents Thinking Actors with a post on social media. It read: “Thinking Actors’ Peter Carroll is back filming next week for ITV’s Coronation Street.”

Tony joined the ITV soap in 2020, portraying George, the son of the late funeral director Archie (Roy Hudd). Since then, he’s won over viewers and has been involved in numerous major plotlines.

The actor has featured in Queer As Folk, Emmerdale and also starred in the popular ITV sitcom Benidorm, playing hairdresser Kenneth Du Beke from 2011 to 2018. He also made an appearance in the Harry Potter series in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, portraying Hagrid’s half-brother, Gawp.

Todd could be about to find the courage to confront his abuser Theo after months of coercive control, and physical and verbal abuse, sparking a showdown between the pair. Todd reports Theo to the police for assault, and Summer finds out exactly what her father figure Todd has been going through behind closed doors.

As their doomed relationship progressed, Theo began cutting Todd off from his close friends one by one before subjecting him to bizarre forms of abuse, such as pouring milk over his head and forcing him to eat his dinner cold. They became engaged on New Year’s Eve and then then Theo caused the death of Todd’s best friend Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) in the programme’s crossover with Emmerdale.

They called it quits a short time later – only for Theo to worm his way back in. Last week, Theo revealed to Gary Windass (Mikey North) that he hadn’t cancelled the wedding and wanted to surprise Todd, so Gary and his wife Maria (Samia Longchambon) acted as witnesses, and had not picked up on the signs at all that this was not what Todd wanted at all.

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

Mark Jones has been an on-air staple on ESPN since the first Bush administration — as in George H.W. Bush, who served from 1989 to 1992.

So, yeah, it’s been a long time.

And now, Jones says, “it’s time to move on.”

Jones’ final ESPN broadcast will be Sunday, when he will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics game on the final day of the NBA’s regular season. It could very well be the last time the phrase “hotter than fish grease” is uttered on the network.

“It’s been a memorable journey these decades with the ABC/ESPN family, but I have decided that it’s time to move on,” Jones wrote in a statement posted Friday on Instagram. “From the day Dennis Swanson hired me in 1990 and working with the best producer in the business, Kim Belton, until today I will forever be grateful for the many friends and colleagues along the way.”

Jones, 64, started at ESPN in 1990. As a play-by-play announcer, he is best known for calling NBA games but he has also covered college football, men’s and women’s college basketball, the WNBA and UFL. On June 2, 2022, Jones, Mark Jackson and Lisa Salters were the first all-Black crew to call an NBA Finals game on TV.

In addition, Jones has hosted the “NBA Today” studio show and been an anchor and reporter on “SportsCenter.”

“Mark has made an enduring impact at ESPN since 1990, serving as a signature voice primarily within our NBA and college football coverage and across nearly all of our platforms,” ESPN said in a statement. “We’re grateful for Mark’s countless contributions and we wish him continued success.”

Separate from his work at ESPN, Jones has also been the primary TV play-by-play announcer for the Sacramento Kings since 2020.

Jones hasn’t indicated what he’ll be doing next, but he ended his announcement with a big prediction for the future — and threw in his signature phrase for good measure.

“As I move on to my next chapter I believe my best work is yet to come,” he wrote. “I’ll be out there cookin’ hotter than fish grease!”

Hit comedy series The Inbetweeners’ return to screens is reported to be close with Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas all said to be keen for a reunion

Cult comedy The Inbetweeners could be making a huge comeback, with all four original stars all on board for an incredible reunion more than 15 years on.

The iconic Noughties sitcom may have only run for three series, spawning two follow-up films, but it still remains one of the most popular British shows in decades. Now another movie is edging ever closer with a multi-million-pound deal “being finalised” – and it could land on Nexflix next year.

Will McKenzie (Simon Bird), Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Jay Cartwright (James Buckley), and Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison) were at the heart of the Channel 4 hit as the socially awkward friends tried to make the most of their teenage years with often disastrous results.

Emily Atack, who played tortured Charlotte “Big Jugs” Hinchliffe on the show, is also said to be up for reprising her role with other originals reportedly considering offers to return. Many of the lads’ parents, including Belinda Stewart-Wilson – Will’s saucy mum Polly – will be high on fans’ wish lists.

“Inbetweeners fans will be thrilled and relieved because when talk of a reboot emerged last year, there were fears it might not turn out to be a telly project,” A source told The Sun. “But this deal will mean the comedy will be back on our television screens for the first time in 16 years, even though it won’t in its original home on Channel 4.

“Netflix have been keen to make the project happen partly because its enjoyed a bit of a renaissance since old episodes aired on the streaming service and introduced a whole new generation to the show. The deal is on the cusp of being fully rubber stamped, with discussions still happening about production timelines, storylines and cast.”

Actor Joe, who portrayed unlucky in love Simon, spoke out about talk of the show returning, confirming that something is in the works. However, the 42-year-old has remained tight-lipped on what fans can expect.

He shared: “I can’t really say anything more than what’s already been put out there, which is basically that a deal has been struck between [TV production sisters] Fudge Park and Banijay, which means that it’s now possible to do more.

“I haven’t seen anything from them about what that might be, so I’m sort of, to a certain extent, waiting to hear as well.”

Creators Morris and Beesley have already confirmed that the reboot will thankfully not be focussed on a new set of characters. In a statement, they humorously clarified: “Incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends).”

Last summer, fans were left convinced something was brewing when Joe and James, who played Jay, shared a cryptic post on Instagram that got fans tongues wagging about a possible reunion. While the pair did not give anything away James captioned the post: “Working on something…” One fan asked: “Inbetweeners 3?” whilst another listed their wishes should a reunion come about.

One fan said: “We need an Inbetweeners reunion. Set 10/15 years later. Jay gets married and carnage ensues. American Pie reunion showed that it can be done well,” and finished their comment off with a fingers crossed emoji. A third fan simply wrote: “Inbetweeners 3, we waiting,” and another joked: “Where are the other two melons?”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

BRIT glamour model Linsey Dawn McKenzie has announced she’s retiring after 33 years with a heartbreaking family update.

Linsey made her topless modelling debut on her 16th birthday back in 1994.

She has continued to have a career in glamour modelling ever since, and has also branched out as a pornographic performer.

But taking to Instagram on Friday, Linsey revealed the time had come for her to retire.

She wrote: “To my loyal fans who have supported me for 33 incredible years, I want to share an important personal decision.

“I will be retiring to focus all of my attention on my adult son, who is severely autistic, has recently left school, and now needs more care and attention than ever.

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“The page will remain open, so you can enjoy all the content that is already there.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being with me on this journey.”

As well as her modelling pictures, she has appeared on a number of popular TV programmes during her career.

These include They Think It’s All Over, The Weakest Link and Celebrity Four Weddings.

In her personal life, Linsey was engaged to former EastEnders actor Michael Greco in 1998.

After they broke up, she married Terry Canty in 2001 but separated six weeks later and divorced later that year.

Linsey began dating former Wimbledon and Northern Ireland footballer Mark Williams.

In May 2005, she gave birth to the couple’s son and in January 2006 they tied the knot.

FLEETWOOD Mac founder and drummer Mick Fleetwood has married his girlfriend of six years.

The 78-year-old quietly tied the knot with Elizabeth Jordan, 56, in the South Pacific, making it his fifth wedding.

Sharing pictures from their special day and honeymoon, Mick, who lives with Elizabeth in Hawaii, wrote: “The South Pacific does its magic!!! A honeymoon with my love Elizabeth… creating moments to be remembered!! Sun health and happiness!!”

Though he kept his bride’s face hidden in the pics, the Daily Mail reports her identity is mum-of-two Elizabeth, who heads up Mick’s charitable trust helping Hawaiian schools.

News of an impending marriage was made public by Mick’s musician pal Mike Dawson last year when he wrote on Threads: “Mick Fleetwood just texted and said he is marrying his girlfriend of five years, Elizabeth. How cool, finding love and making that commitment is beautiful. Congrats! @mickfleetwoodofficial.”

The towering rock icon, who stands at 6ft 6ins, has had a colourful love life. He married first wife Jenny Boyd — the sister of 60s icon and model Pattie — in 1970 and they had two daughters, Amy and Lucy.

READ MORE ON FLEETWOOD MAC

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LIVING ROUGH

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Infidelity (Jenny had a fling with Mick’s bandmate Bob Weston that led to his explosive firing from the group in 1973) and the Mac’s growing popularity put a strain on the marriage and the couple divorced in 1976.

However, they quickly rekindled, moved to America and gave the relationship another shot, marrying again in 1977.

But it was over for good the following year when Mick confessed to an affair with bandmate Stevie Nicks that lasted nearly 12 months while touring the band’s iconic Rumours album.

Famed for its classic California sound and spiky internal politics, the record includes tracks such as Dreams, The Chain and Go Your Own Way and sold over 40million copies.

It would be another 10 years before Mick would say ‘I do’ again.

He began a relationship with his friend and Stevie’s best pal Sara Recor, the inspiration behind Mac hit Sara, in the late 70s while she was still married to a music producer.

The pair wed in a star-studded ceremony 1988 and remained legally bound until 1995 — the same year Mick married his third wife, Lynn Frankel.

Lynn was credited with helping Mick beat his drink and drug demons and the pair had twin daughters in 2002.

Though he holds his hands up to the long-term use of cocaine, he insisted it never stopped him from making music.

He told Ultimate Classic Rock in 2019: “There’s no doubt we were well equipped with the marching powder. That’s a well-worn fairy tale that gets more like a war story, that gets more and more aggrandised.

“I’m not minimalising the fact that we were definitely partaking in that lifestyle. But these weren’t a bunch of people crawling across the floor with green froth coming out of their mouths. We were working, you know?”

His relationship with Lynn was the longest relationship of his life but it came to an end in 2013 and they divorced two years later.

Following the dissolution of the marriage, Mac were plunged into turmoil again with guitarist Lyndsey Buckingham leaving the fold amid a falling out with Nicks and keyboard player and vocalist Christine McVie dying from a stroke and cancer aged 79.

Mick reflected on the difficult period in an interview with Mojo magazine in 2024, saying: “It’s been a strange time for me. Losing sweet Christine was catastrophic. And then, in my world, sort of losing the band too. 

“And I [split] with my partner as well. I just found myself sort of licking my wounds.”

He looks to have regained a lust for life with Elizabeth ahead of entering his ninth decade.

THE drug dealer known as the Ketamine Queen has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars – the maximum term – for her role in Matthew Perry’s tragic death.

Jasveen Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty to five federal charges in September, including distributing ketamine that resulted in the fatal overdose of the Friends star in 2023.

Sangha, a US-British dual national, appeared at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles and was slammed by the actor’s stepmom, Debbie Perry, as a “heartless woman”.

In a victim impact statement obtained by The U.S. Sun ahead of the sentencing, Debbie urged a judge to impose the maximum sentence on Sangha.

“The pain you’ve caused to hundreds, maybe thousands, is irreversible,” Debbie wrote in court docs submitted late Tuesday.

“There is no joy… to be found. No light in the window. They won’t be back. That thought comes through our day. Everyday. No escape. You caused this.

NEW ADMISSION

‘Ketamine Queen’ pleads guilty to selling fatal drug dose to Matthew Perry

“You who has talent for business. Enough to make money. Chose the one way that hurts people. How sad for you.

“How will you ever find joy. Have you ever found joy? How sad for you. How sad for you. How sad for us all. We miss him.”

She then begged the court, “Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she won’t be able to hurt other families like ours.”

Perry’s mom, Suzanne, and stepdad, Keith Morrison, were seen arriving at court on Wednesday.

During the sentencing hearing, Morrison addressed the court and Sangha.

According to the New York Post, he called Perry a “brilliant and talented man,” and said he should have “had another act.”

“I feel bad for you, Miss Sangha,” he told her. “I don’t hate you. You are a drug dealer.”

Sangha was reportedly dressed in a white jump suit with one ankle shackled.

During an emotional moment, she wiped tears away with tissues from a box placed nearby, according to the outlet.

She also addressed the court, saying she takes full responsibility, adding she had the “rug of life ripped out” from under her.

Sangha had been in custody since August 2024 and was the last of five defendants charged in the investigation to plead guilty.

According to prosecutors, Sangha and a middleman named Erik Fleming sold Perry 25 vials of ketamine, including the fatal dose, for $6,000 in cash just four days before his death.

On the day Perry died, Sangha reportedly messaged Fleming and instructed him to delete their text history, an effort authorities say was meant to cover their tracks.

Prosecutors said in court docs, “She didn’t care and kept selling.

“Defendant’s actions show a cold callousness and disregard for life. She chose profits over people, and her actions have caused immense pain to the victims’ families and loved ones.”

Sangha admitted to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of ketamine distribution resulting in death.

Prosecutors dropped other charges as part of the plea agreement.

Fleming, who obtained the ketamine from Sangha and passed it to Perry’s personal assistant, later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death and faces years in prison.

Sangha operated out of her North Hollywood home, which authorities dubbed the “Sangha Stash House” after federal agents uncovered a large cache of drugs during a raid.

The haul included scores of ketamine vials, crystal meth, cocaine, counterfeit Xanax tablets, and a handgun.

An autopsy confirmed Perry died from acute effects of ketamine and drowning, with toxicology reports indicating multiple doses in the period leading up to his death.

Sangha flaunted her jet-set lifestyle on social media, posting pictures from parties with celebrities, lavish vacations, and designer clothing.

Just days after Perry’s death, she flew to Tokyo, staying at the luxury $1,400-a-night Mandarin Oriental hotel.

Sangha was first arrested in March 2024 on federal drug charges related to her long-running narcotics operation.

Five months later, new federal charges specifically tied to Perry’s overdose were filed; she was taken back into custody and her previous bail was revoked.

Her lawyer, Mark Geragos, announced last year that she would plead guilty, saying she was “taking responsibility for her actions.”

He later told reporters she “feels horrible about all of this” and “has felt horrible since day one.”

In an exclusive jail interview with The Sun before her sentencing, she also said, “I take full responsibility for my actions and the role I played in the events that led to this tragedy. 

“There are no excuses for what I did. I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused, especially to Matthew’s family. 

“Their loss is unimaginable and permanent. 

“I understand that my conduct — operating a drug business and continuing down that path — was reckless, dangerous, and wrong.”

She added, “I can’t undo the past but I can now respect the law. I am determined that my future now reflects accountability and growth.”

Sangha said she is now clean and sober after previous issues with drugs and alcohol and has been undergoing treatment behind bars.

Court documents filed this week show she has also been doing yoga and meditation while locked up at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center.

Sangha is the third of five people sentenced over Perry’s fatal overdose.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the doctors who supplied ketamine to Perry in the months before his death, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in December, followed by supervised release.

He shamefully sobbed in court, telling Perry’s mother, Suzanne, and relatives, “I’m just so sorry.”

Dr. Mark Chavez, the second physician involved, received eight months of home confinement and community service.

Two other defendants are still awaiting trial: Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in personal assistant, who admitted to helping obtain and administer the ketamine and faces up to 15 years in prison, and Fleming, the middleman.

The five responsible for Matthew Perry’s death

Here are the five individuals allegedly behind Perry’s ketamine overdose.

• “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles” Jasveen Sangha – Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to federal charges for supplying the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose. Prosecutors say that after Perry’s death, she reportedly searched online, “can ketamine be listed as a cause of death.” She has now been jailed.
• “Dr. P” Dr. Salvador Plasencia – Plasencia, 42, was one of the physicians who illegally supplied ketamine to Perry before his death. He pleaded guilty in mid‑2025 to several federal counts of ketamine distribution. In December 2025, he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined; he was remanded immediately to begin serving his term.
• Dr. Mark Chavez – Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine in connection with Perry’s death. In December 2025, he was sentenced to eight months of home confinement, ordered to complete community service, and placed on supervised release.
• Kenneth Iwamasa – Iwamasa, 59, Perry’s live‑in assistant, admitted he obtained and administered ketamine to Perry as part of the scheme. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is set to be sentenced in April.
• Eric Fleming – Fleming, 54, an intermediary dealer who helped coordinate the flow of ketamine from suppliers to Perry’s assistant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and distribution charges. He is also set to be sentenced in April.

Court filings show Perry texted Iwamasa, “shoot me up with a big one,” shortly before his death.

Perry, who rose to fame as Chandler Bing on the hit 90s sitcom Friends, was found unconscious in his hot tub in Los Angeles in October 2023 at age 54.

US Attorney Martin Estrada said Perry had relapsed in the fall of 2023, and that “these defendants took advantage to profit for themselves.”

Perry had struggled with decades-long drug and alcohol addiction and became dependent on ketamine during infusion therapy aimed at treating his depression.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

MADONNA has called in the big guns for her new album – reaching out to Britney Spears for a potential collaboration.

I can reveal the Queen of Pop tried to connect with the Circus singer in December and January with hopes of a joint writing or studio session.

Madge has been busy working on the follow-up to 2019 album Madame X, which is expected to be released this year.

However, Britney has so far refused to engage with the Like A Virgin singer, who was one of the few guests at her wedding to model Sam Asghari in 2022.

A collaboration between the two superstars would be huge for the pop universe — 23 years after they scored a No2 hit with Me Against The Music.

That year, 2003, they also made global headlines when they kissed on stage at the MTV VMAs.

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A source close to the younger star said: “Madonna believes Britney is not just a brilliant artist, but a lovely ­person.

“They had a great time in the past working together and had touched on working together again.

“Madonna felt that Britney could bring something to her new album or perhaps join for a writing idea.

“She feels a connection to Britney and has been a vocal supporter of her, despite all the concern about her welfare in the last couple of years.

“Madonna is one of the few people on the planet to understand the stresses and troubles of being one of the most famous people in the world.”

Britney has said she is unsure if she will ever return to music, although she did have a No3 hit in 2022, duetting with Elton John on Hold Me Closer, following the end of her 13-year conservatorship.

Meanwhile, Madonna has also been busy with acting.

Last month she shot a cameo in Venice for the Apple TV series The Studio, in which she will play herself in a storyline inspired by the making of her scrapped biopic.

It will show Julia Garner — who was cast as Madonna in the real film before it was binned — winning a gruelling audition, then heading to the Venice Film Festival for its debut.

It sounds like quite the farce, but I’m glad Madonna can still laugh at herself after all these years.

KAROL COMES OUT TO PLAY

COLOMBIAN beauty Karol G has Playboy covered . . . even if she isn’t.

The singer went topless on the cover of the mag and posed without a bra in a revealing crop top in another shot, as she gears up to headline Coachella festival in California this weekend.

She joins Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter who also top the bill at the three-day desert bash.

And although she is used to massive crowds, she was unsure about stripping off for Playboy, asking her Modern Family actress pal Sofia Vergara for advice.

When Karol told her she wouldn’t do it if Sofia didn’t think it was a good idea, she says the TV star replied: “With that body? When you get to this age, you tell yourself, ‘F***, why didn’t I pose that one time?“

Karol, take it from me – you look amazing.

ARIANA GRANDE has confirmed she is back in the studio – a month after I revealed she was secretly working on new music.

She previously insisted she had no plans to release her eighth album this year, saying she is far too busy with her Eternal Sunshine tour kicking off in June.

However, last night she posted images on Instagram of her clearly making music, tagging her long-time co-writer and co-producer Ilya Salmanzadeh.
She released her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, in 2024.

BLOW FOR CREDIT CARDI

NOTHING could get Cardi B down as she arrived for an after-party in Philadelphia in this revealing dress.

The rapper has had a tough week, as her ex-husband Offset was shot and she became the victim of credit card fraud.

But she still had a smile on her face with this violet outfit and her colourful hair, despite saying on Instagram that she wanted to have the person responsible for nicking her money “beat the f*** up”.

Cardi claimed almost £45k was spent on her AmEx card in an Apple shop and fancy American department store Saks. Whoever did that messed with the wrong woman.

A SUPER SHOT FOR MARISA

BRIT stars Marisa Abela and Ella Purnell are battling against US actress Adria Arjona to land a key role in the Superman sequel Man Of Tomorrow.

US website Deadline reported last night that the actresses have been testing for the role of Maxima – the warrior queen from the planet Almerac.

The character lands on Earth and swiftly sets her sights on Superman, who is once again being played by David Corenswet.

It will be a coveted role and landing it would be a coup for any of the leading ladies.

THE STROKES are celebrating 25 years since their debut by returning with their seventh album, Reality Awaits.

It will be out on June 26 and they have already released the first taste with new track Going Shopping.

Their album was recorded in Costa Rica and is their first music since 2020’s The New Abnormal.

JACKO KO ON ABUSE MENTION

THE upcoming Michael Jackson biopic has been forced to erase scenes featuring allegations of child abuse.

The film will finally hit cinemas a fortnight tomorrow – a full year after its original release date.

And now the cause of the long delay has been revealed.

According to a clause in a settlement with one of his accusers, Jordan Chandler – the boy whose accusations were at the centre of Jackson’s first sex probe in the Nineties – any depiction or mention of him in an official Jackson film is banned, so producers had to go back to the drawing board.

According to Variety mag, the final third of the film needed to be reshot, resulting in 22 days of extra work last June.

This is estimated to have cost the late singer’s estate around $10-15million.

Jackson’s nephew Jaafar will play him on screen, but the Billie Jean star’s sister Janet is not in the film. I’m sure it’ll still be a box office smash.

SABRINA CARPENTER says she can separate her feelings from her songs when she’s performing – handy, given she has so many hits about failed relationships.

She told Perfect mag: “When I’m on stage, there’s a button. I think it’s been this way ever since I was young.

“I started ­touring when I was 16, and I’ve always felt there’s a button that turns on when you’re performing. And when you’re singing these songs, in that moment, it really becomes a show.

“I am a human being. I’m a 26-year- old girl. I’m hormonal. I’m emotional. I’m ­dealing with a lot of stuff.

“For me, it really just has been compartmentalising the moments where I feel like the show must go on and moments where I allow myself to be a little all over the place.”

MORE than a quarter of a century after they burst on to our screens as one of America’s most dysfunctional and chaotic families, the Malcolm In The Middle clan are back.

FRANKIE MUNIZ, who starred as Malcolm, posed alongside his on-screen parents, played by Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, for the premiere of the four-episode sequel Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, which debuts on Disney+ tomorrow.

Also back as Malcolm’s older brothers Francis and Reese are Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield.

But Erik Per Sullivan, who played their younger sibling Dewey, decided not to return as he is busy studying Victorian literature at Harvard University.

One of L.A.’s most unique art galleries is closing up shop.

Gallery 1988, which opened in 2004 and proclaimed itself “the first pop culture-focused art gallery in the world,” will cease operations at the end of April. In a post on Instagram, gallery owner Katie Sutton said that while the gallery had been forced to close its physical space on Melrose a few years back, she had “really tried to keep things going [online], especially for our amazing artists.” Unfortunately, she wrote, “the [art] market is the worst I’ve seen it in over two decades,” and the decision to close became inevitable.

A launching pad for artists whose work paid tribute to television, film, video games and more, Gallery 1988 was renowned for shows like the annual “Crazy 4 Cult,” which showcased pieces celebrating underground classics from across the entertainment space. It also specialized in single-focus shows like “Weird Al,” which celebrated the career of the oddball recording artist “Weird Al” Yankovic, and “You’re the Very Best, Like No One Ever Was,” which paid tribute to the world of Pokémon.

Exhibitions at Gallery 1988, which is closing after 20 years, often featured lines around the block, with fans who camped out for a chance to score a prized piece.

(Courtesy of Gallery 1988)

Perhaps most famously, the gallery collaborated with studios to create art-focused campaigns around properties such as “The Avengers” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” while also launching solo shows from artists like Scott C, Luke Chueh and Tom Whalen.

Gallery 1988 was renowned for selling work that ranged in price from $10 into the thousands, enabling customers from around the world to buy pieces that spoke to them, whether a postcard-sized digital print or a large oil-on-canvas painting.

A number of other galleries have closed in recent months across Los Angeles, including Blum, Nino Mier Gallery, Clearing, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery and L.A. Louver. Sutton says that she’s heard through the gallery grapevine that “even galleries that haven’t closed are struggling,” adding that “it’s a hard time for everybody.”

Though there’s never one reason a business closes, some industry observers and art fans have cited the rise in AI-generated content potentially devaluing original art overall. It’s especially true in the pop culture space, with consumer activity down not just at places like Gallery 1988 but also at events such as WonderCon in Anaheim, where artists could often expect to make a good chunk of change.

Jensen Karp, who co-founded Gallery 1988 with Sutton but stepped back after a health scare nearly two years ago, says that while he certainly sees a “malaise in culture because of AI” that’s indicative of the population “losing the understanding of what true art is,” he wouldn’t attribute the collapse of Gallery 1988 solely to that one thing.

Kristin Tercek “Rejoice” 2015 for the “Force Awakens” show with Disney, LucasFilm and Unicef at Gallery 1988.

(© Kristin Tercek / courtesy of Gallery 1988)

“Our customer base was the people who looked up release dates and who went to the Arclight, and that sense of community is just not there anymore post-pandemic,” Karp says. With the entertainment industry struggling in L.A. as well, that means less disposable income floating around for things like art — especially from the kinds of people who might be inclined to buy a portrait of, say, Steve Martin in the movie “The Jerk.”

Greg Simkins, a California based artist who often sold through Gallery 1988 under the name “CRAOLA,” says he’s felt the impact of the entertainment industry’s contraction firsthand. “People like directors, producers and actors were some of our biggest clients,” Simkins says. “All of the sudden they’re leaving, going to places like Atlanta and Canada. AI is screwing up the movie industry too, and those are the kinds of people who had expendable money to buy original art so it trickles down.”

It doesn’t help that there’s more pop culture-centered art floating around now, and not just on sites like Instagram and Etsy. Though Gallery 1988 was a frontrunner in celebrating popular culture through art when it opened, even hosting a “Rick and Morty”-themed show before the Adult Swim series had a lick of merchandise, it also became a proof of concept for companies including Disney and Netflix, which have started selling their own artist-created material inspired by their properties.

And with Hollywood releasing fewer movies into theaters, the base of what Gallery 1988 artists could pay tribute to also began to contract. Frequent gallery contributor Whalen says that when Gallery 1988 opened, it was filling a niche and “creating fresh content for movies that spoke to” people in their 20s and 30s. Over time, though, art that celebrated properties like “Ghostbusters,” “Back to the Future” and “The Goonies” started to overwhelm the market, causing “a lot of the 1970s and ‘80s movies to become stale,” Whalen says.

Scott C’s “Breaking Bad Upon the Mount,” 2012, for the “Breaking Bad Art Project: With Sony and Vince Gilligan” at Gallery 1988.

(© Scott C. / courtesy of Gallery 1988)

While Sutton and Karp both say they’re beyond grateful that they got to open Gallery 1988 in the first place, let alone keep it open for more than 20 years, they’re worried about what closing the gallery will mean to some of their contributing artists.

“There are so many incredible artists out there and there are so many more places for them to show their work now and that’s amazing,” Sutton says. “But with that bombardment of media from everywhere, it’s hard to really see stuff because it’s coming at you from all directions. So many artists are out there trying to make a living and support their families and that’s just becoming harder and harder.”

“So many of the artists we showed never expected to have an art gallery email them,” Karp says. “I’m so proud of all the artists we worked with and what we were able to do, but I also know that [Gallery 1988 shutting down] closes up an avenue for all of them too and that sucks.”

April 7 (UPI) — Two French people held in Iran for nearly four years have been allowed to leave the country and return home, French authorities announced Tuesday.

“Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are free and on their way to French territory, after three and a half years of detention in Iran. This is a relief for all of us and obviously for their families,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X. “Thank you to the Omani authorities for their mediation efforts, to the State services, and to the citizens who mobilized tirelessly and thus contributed to their return.”

The couple, both teachers, were convicted of espionage after a trial the French government said was “completely unfounded” and “arbitrary.”

Kohler, 41, is a high school literature teacher, and her partner, Paris, is a retired teacher in his 70s. They were arrested during a tourist trip to Iran in 2022. They were imprisoned in the Evin prison, which is where political prisoners and dissidents are kept.

They were allowed four consular visits over the three years after their arrest. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said their conditions were like “torture.”

Kohler and Paris were convicted in 2025 of spying for French intelligence services, conspiring to undermine Iran’s national security and cooperating with Israeli intelligence services. Kohler was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and Paris was sentenced to 17, the French government said.

After intense negotiations, a month later they were released but couldn’t leave Iran. They moved into the French Embassy in Tehran.

Their families and friends have rallied for them over the years and kept their images with the word “freedom” posted on the gates of the French National Assembly and other ministry buildings.

Once the war in Iran began, French authorities intensified negotiations with Iran to get the pair out of the country. They wouldn’t disclose if anything was given to Iran in exchange, The New York Times reported.

Macron announced the release at a health summit in Lyon. He said they were “free and on their way back to France. This is wonderful news,” The Times reported. When the announcement was made in the National Assembly, lawmakers stood and applauded.

Barrot announced on X that Kohler and Paris “have finally left Iran and are now permanently FREE. On the phone just a few moments ago, they expressed to me their emotion and their joy at soon reuniting with their country and their loved ones.”

They were expected to arrive in Paris on Wednesday.

In March 2025, Iran released French tourist Olivier Grondeau, who was held for two years of a five-year sentence for spying. His family had said he was a passionate fan of Persian poetry and was on a tourist visa as part of a world tour.

Sorry, Orlando. Southern California is the theme park capital of the world. Yes, I believe that.

A brief history: Knott’s Berry Farm created a framework that allowed Disneyland to invent the theme park, which Universal Studios tweaked. SoCal innovations, all of them — and the industry remains centered here.

Theme parks are integral to SoCal life. They’re institutions, as familiar as Dodger Stadium, Griffith Park or the Getty. Many of us grew up going to the parks and have archives of fading photos to prove it.

That’s why The Times is launching its first-ever theme park newsletter, a weekly guide to what matters and how to best experience these themed wonderlands. Welcome to Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride, where I’ll take you on my adventures in make-believe, share news and tips, and go deep on the hidden artistry behind SoCal’s most beloved attractions. (Sign up, and we’ll be in your inbox soon.)

Why theme parks are magical

Maybe you haven’t been to a theme park in a while. And maybe that’s intentional. Yes, ticket prices increase every year, crowds frustrate and your ankle will probably be struck by a stroller. But theme parks are art. They’re meticulously designed, as real as our ability to pretend. Few spaces exist in which so many artistic endeavors collide: architecture, costuming, landscaping, animation, engineering, urban design and more. The delight is in the details.

Theme parks are more than an escape — they reflect and respond to culture. Maybe these are simply the ramblings of a Disney adult and fan of all theme parks, but I won’t apologize for seeking joy, wonder and play. It’s what’s needed right now.

I visit theme parks regularly — probably too often by some people’s standards — but I’m excited every time. The key is to stop viewing them as a checklist of activities. So as we enter the busy spring break and summer seasons, here are some ways to develop a deeper appreciation (and simply have more fun) at our most iconic parks.

Embrace the Disneyland classics

I received pushback when I declared It’s a Small World the best attraction at the Anaheim resort, but hear me out. The ride is designed in the look of animator turned theme park artist Mary Blair, reflective of her color clashes and childlike whimsy. It’s akin to a boat trip through an art gallery. No other attraction is so reflective of a singular art style. The facade, designed by renown Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump and inspired by Blair, mixes glistening white metals and fiberglass with gold leaf accents that nod to the Eiffel Tower, Tower of Pisa, a Dutch windmill and more. How many more landmarks can you spot amid the jagged edges and byzantine shapes?

Fun fact: Legend tells that Disneyland used the entire U.S. supply of gold leaf to make the facade. Germany, apparently, came to the rescue.

Don’t skip a ride on the greatest tram tour ever built

Visitors enter the set of Jupiter’s Claim from the movie “Nope” while taking the Universal Studios tram tour in May 2023.

(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Universal Studios’ World-Famous Tram Tour, as it is officially designated, is the most important modern theme park attraction in America. The slow-moving backlot trek existed long before Universal Studios had a theme park, but it changed the industry.

In 1976, one year after Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” opened, the studio put guests face-to-face with a 24-foot shark. Never before had a cultural phenomenon like “Jaws” been so quickly replicated in a theme park. “Ride the movies” is a phrase coined by Spielberg, and it’s an industrywide trend that hasn’t stopped.

Fun fact: Universal consulted submarine builders General Dynamics to construct a shark that could survive long term under water.

Spend an afternoon in America’s first theme park

Knott’s Berry Farm’s entrance as parkgoers ride the Silver Bullet roller coaster behind it in May 2021.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

There are times I go to Knott’s Berry Farm and never leave its Ghost Town area, which predates Disneyland and is filled with oddities. A toy shop, for instance, sells actual puppets, and a train ride still features a staged robbery. The park also just remodeled its 72-year-old Bird Cage Theatre, home to outrageous vaudeville-style shows, where a young Steve Martin once performed. It’s a rarity these days to have live theater at a theme park.

Fun fact: The theater’s facade is a replica of the original Bird Cage in Tombstone, Ariz., which has long had a bawdy reputation.

So I hope you’ll sign up for Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride, where we’ll geek out on the history, the artistry and the future of these spaces. Have a theme park question? Email me, and I hope to answer it in an upcoming edition of the newsletter. Life is tough. We can all use more fun.

Today’s top stories

Billionaire Tom Steyer speaks during Jewish California: Governor 2026 Candidate Forum at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 26.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

Billionaire candidate for California governor faces criticism

• Tom Steyer, a Democratic candidate for California governor, faces mounting criticism over his former hedge fund’s prior investments in private prisons now housing undocumented immigrants.
• Steyer says he deeply regrets the investment and left his hedge fund 14 years ago and has since spent hundreds of millions on Democratic causes, particularly efforts to fight climate change.

Artemis II crew flies past the moon

• NASA’s Artemis II crew flew past the moon Monday, traveling farther from Earth than any humans in history and becoming the first to see some sections of the moon’s far side in the sunlight with the naked eye.
• The four astronauts described the far side in eloquent detail: Geometric patterns of browns, blues and greens amid the moon’s typical shades of gray.

L.A.-based relatives of a deceased Iranian leader were arrested

• The niece and grand-niece of an Iranian general have been arrested by immigration agents after the niece celebrated the Iranian leadership and denigrated the U.S.
• The general’s daughter has disputed the family connection, according to Iranian media, which has quoted a statement attributed to her saying that the two women bear no relation to the general.

What else is going on

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The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne travels over the Coachella 2004 crowd in an inflated plastic bubble.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Today’s great photo is from Times photographer Robert Gauthier during 2004 Coachella. Here’s a look at The Times’ photos from every year of the festival, including its origins in 1999, legendary performances from Daft Punk, Prince and Beyoncé, and the iconic art installations the festival has hosted over the years.

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Angel Reese has a new WNBA home.

After spending her first two seasons with the Chicago Sky, the two-time All Star has been traded to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, the teams announced Monday morning. Atlanta also receives the option to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.

“An Angel’s DREAM,” Reese posted on X. “ATL WHAT UP?!”

Reese was already a star before coming to the WNBA after helping Louisiana State win the national championship over Caitlin Clark and Iowa in 2023 and leading the Tigers back to the Elite Eight the following year.

Selected by Chicago with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft, Reese finished as runner-up to Clark in rookie-of-the-year voting and led the league in rebounds per game in each of her first two seasons. Overall, she has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds a game.

The Sky have gone 23-61 and missed the playoffs both seasons since drafting Reese. On Sept. 3, the Chicago Tribune published quotes from the star player that indicated her frustration with the team’s inability to build a winning roster and an inclination to leave if the organization isn’t able to get it right.

“I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” Reese told the Tribune.

After the Sky’s 88-64 victory over the Connecticut Sun that night, Reese told reporters she had apologized to her teammates about the article.

“I think the language is taken out of context,” she said, “and I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates, because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year. They’ve busted their ass, just how I bust my ass, they showed up for me through thick and thin, and in the locker room when nobody could see anything.”

Reese did not play for Chicago again. She was suspended half a game for her comments, which were deemed “detrimental to the team,” served a separate mandatory one-game suspension by the WNBA for receiving eight technical fouls during the season and missed the final three games of the season with what was listed as a back injury.

The Sky said in a statement Monday that the “trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties.”

“Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky,” the team wrote. “We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond.”

Reese joins an Atlanta team that went 30-14 and finished first in the Eastern Conference before losing to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs. The roster includes Allisha Gray, who finished fourth in the MVP voting last season, as well as sixth player of the year Naz Hillmon and All-Star Brionna Jones.

“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Before the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival became a world-famous event, it started as a much more modest music festival in Southern California’s desert in 1999.

During the festival, the Empire Polo Club in Indio has been the site of some of the biggest music and pop culture moments of the century, from Daft Punk’s iconic pyramid spectacle in the Sahara Tent in 2006 to Beyoncé bringing a legendary “Homecoming” to Coachella’s largest stage in 2018.

As the festival kicks off its 25th year, we combed through The Times’ extensive archives to take a trip down Coachella’s memory lane. Scroll through and you’ll see those epic moments from Daft Punk, Beyoncé, Prince and Madonna, but also the iconic large art installations at the festival and just how much the event has grown and changed over the years.

1999

The inaugural Coachella happened in October 1999 and was a two-day affair headlined by Beck, Rage Against the Machine and Tool, which The Times’ then-pop music critic Robert Hilburn dubbed the “Anti-Woodstock 99.” However, the inaugural event was marred by a triple-digit heat wave and was a financial disaster.

Dennis Carrillo wears a sombrero as a shield against the blistering sun as he and friend Dario Soto, both of Los Angeles, walk toward the stage at the inaugural Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio in October 1999, where the temperature hit triple digits.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Beck was one of the headliners of the original Coachella in October 1999.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of music fans wait at the main stage area at the inaugural Coachella in 1999.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Rage Against the Machine was one of the headliners of the inaugural Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 1999.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

2001

Due to the financial losses, Coachella skipped a year and returned in April 2001 as a one-day event with a headlining set by Jane’s Addiction and a bill featuring artists such as Weezer and Paul Oakenfold. It drew more than 32,000 people to the desert.

When Coachella returned as a one-day event in 2001, Jane’s Addiction headlined the show.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Even in its early years, Coachella made art part of the vibe. In 2001, people on stilts roamed the field in front of the main stage.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of fans hang out on the main field at Coachella in 2001.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Paul Oakenfold’s first time playing Coachella was in 2001.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

2002

Coachella went back to being a two-day event in 2002, headlined by Bjork and Oasis. One of the emerging acts on the bill that year was a rock combo out of New York called The Strokes.

Oasis, with guitarist Noel Gallagher, headlined the second day of Coachella 2002.

(Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)

When The Strokes first played Coachella in 2002, the New York band was just emerging in the rock scene. Singer Julian Casablancas and the group will perform again in 2026.

(Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)

The first time Bjork headlined Coachella was the 2002 edition of the festival.

(Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)

Fans watch arm in arm as Oasis closes out Coachella 2002.

(Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times)

2003

The Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers headlined Coachella 2003, but the lineup also included The White Stripes, Iggy and The Stooges, Underworld and the Blue Man Group.

Coachella attracted about 35,000 fans per day in 2003.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The White Stripes were one of the standout acts at Coachella 2003.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The Sahara Tent has always been the heartbeat of Coachella’s dance scene, but in 2003 it was much smaller than the airplane hangar-sized stage it is today.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The Blue Man Group performed at the 2003 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

2004

In 2004, the Flaming Lips created an iconic Coachella moment when singer Wayne Coyne traveled over the crowd in a giant inflatable ball. Headlined by Radiohead and The Cure, the festival also included a reunion of the Pixies. It also marked Coachella’s first sellout, with 60,000 attendees per day.

The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne travels over the Coachella 2004 crowd in an inflated plastic bubble.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Syd Klinge’s “Cauac” Tesla coil was one of Coachella’s firstart pieces. It made its debut in 2004.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Coachella 2004 featured a highly-regarded reunion of the Pixies.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Fans brave sweltering heat as they wait for the Pixies to perform at Coachella 2004.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

2005

Coldplay and Nine Inch Nails headlined Coachella in 2005. Weezer, The Chemical Brothers and Wilco were some of the other notable acts on the bill. Among the memorable moments was the reunion of Bauhaus and singer Peter Murphy performing “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” while hanging upside down like a bat.

Wilco performs before a crowd of tens of thousands at dusk at the 2005 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails headlined Coachella in 2005. Reznor will return to the festival in 2026 with German music producer Boys Noize to perform as Nine Inch Noize.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Music fans break a sweat dancing in the Sahara Tent during the 2005 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Allen Writhen, of Santa Maria, takes a spin on a bicycle at the Cyclecide arena at Coachella 2005. Cyclecide, a San Francisco–based bicycle rodeo group, brought bike-centric art installations to Coachella for multiple years.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

2006

Technically Depeche Mode and Tool headlined Coachella in 2006, but neither of those is the act everyone remembers from that year. Daft Punk brought out its elaborate pyramid stage and changed the festival and dance music. It was also the year that Madonna surprised Coachella fans by performing in the Sahara Tent. Kanye West was added to the lineup two days before the festival.

One of the most iconic moments in Coachella’s history was the performance by French electronic duo Daft Punk at the 2006 festival.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Madonna surprised Coachella fans by making her festival debut in the Sahara Tent in 2006.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Alisa Davis, of Las Vegas, enjoys the music and the view at Coachella 200 from Michael Christian’s climbable sculpture “Hypha.”

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Dave Gahan and Depeche Mode headlined the opening night of Coachella 2006.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

2007

Coachella expanded to three days in 2007 with headliners Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine. Amy Winehouse performed to an overflowing Gobi Tent. However, it was the reunited Rage that made headlines, particularly when Zack de la Rocha called for the George W. Bush administration to be “hung and tried and shot” for war crimes during “Wake Up.”

Zack de la Rocha called for the Bush administration to be tried for war crimes during Rage Against the Machine’s reunion set at Coachella 2007.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Stefano Corazza’s “A Field of Sunflower Robots” was one of the interactive art installations at Coachella 2007.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times )

Raising the flag, music fans from all over the world set up camp at Coachella 2007.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Abigail Plumhof traveled from New York to Indio for Coachella 2007.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

2008

Prince was added as a headliner two weeks before the festival began and performed a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” that is still talked about. It was also the one year that there was a dedicated Coachella Express Amtrak train from Los Angeles to Indio. Jack Johnson headlined the first night and Roger Waters closed the main stage, performing Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” and letting a giant inflatable pig loose in the sky.

Prince headlined Saturday night of Coachella 2008, performing a memorable cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Kestrin Pantera dances while Marc Goldstein DJs aboard a special Amtrak charter, the Coachella Express, which traveled from Los Angeles to Indio in 2008. The free train service provided transportation to Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival attendees.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Roger Waters performed Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” during the final day of Coachella 2008. His set also included a giant inflatable pig that was let loose into the Indio night.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

A dance circle develops inside the Do Lab at the 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

2009

Coachella 2009 marked the final year the general public could buy single-day tickets to the festival. Paul McCartney headlined opening night and played 50-plus minutes after curfew. When The Cure tried the same thing to close down Sunday, the sound was cut earlier. Sandwiched in between was a headlining set from The Killers. Other notable performers included M.I.A., who stepped in after Amy Winehouse dropped off the lineup, Morrissey, who complained about the smell of burning flesh, and Leonard Cohen.

Paul McCartney headlined the main stage at Coachella 2009 in a career-spanning set that went nearly an hour past the 1 a.m. curfew.

(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Festivalgoers find shade in the Do Lab at Coachella 2009.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

M.I.A. stepped in to perform at Coachella 2009 after Amy Winehouse dropped off the lineup.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“Bamboo Starscraper” was a 90-foot-tall bamboo tower by Gerard Minakawa that was part of the art at the festival in 2009.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

2010

This year was the first time the festival only offered three-day passes and Coachella drew a record 75,000 people per day, up nearly 15,000 from the previous year. It was also the year Coachella had its first rap headliner with Jay-Z, who brought out wife Beyoncé to perform “Young Forever.” The other headliners in 2010 were Muse and Gorillaz. The eruption of an Icelandic volcano kept some artists from getting to the festival, including The Cribs and Frightened Rabbit. Then there was Sly Stone’s oft-delayed set that ended with him ranting about his former manager and led to a slander lawsuit. The full festival was also livestreamed for the first time.

In 2010, Jay-Z became the first rapper to headline Coachella. He brought out wife Beyoncé as a surprise guest.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the Old Crow Medicine Show jam in the VIP area of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio in 2010.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

DJ Lance Rock and the creatures of “Yo Gabba Gabba!” performed at Coachella in 2010.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The crowd reacts during Benny Benassi’s DJ set in the Sahara Tent at Coachella 2010.

(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

2011

Kanye West closed out Coachella 2011, the year before the fest expanded to double weekends, with a theatrical main stage set that featured dozens of dancers. He co-headlined with The Strokes on a lineup that also included Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire, the latter of which dropped giant light-up LED balls on the crowd as part of the performance.

Kanye West had an elaborate headlining set with dancers to close Coachella 2011.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A concertgoer crowd-surfs as Death From Above 1979 performed at Coachella 2011.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Arcade Fire dropped giant balloons that had LED lights in them during its 2011 Coachella headlining set.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Concertgoers cool off at Coachella 2011.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

2012

In 2012, Coachella added a second weekend. It also marked the first time in Coachella history when the famously sunny desert festival received rain. The big moment of the festival was the Tupac Shakur hologram that appeared on stage with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg during their headlining performance. The other artists topping the bill included The Black Keys — who brought out John Fogerty for a Levon Helm tribute Weekend 2 — Radiohead, Pulp and Swedish House Mafia. Attendance was estimated at 85,000 people per weekend.

Snoop Dogg performs with a hologram of Tupac Shakur near the end of the Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s headlining set at Coachella 2012.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Newton, left, Lucy Holme and Louise Watkins from Britain attended their first Coachella in 2012 and protected themselves from the rain that swept in on opening day with garbage bags.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

David Guetta brought lots of lasers to his performance in the Sahara Tent at Coachella 2012.

(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

An aerial view of the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)

2013

Blur and The Stone Roses shared headlining duties on opening night in a celebration of Britpop while Phoenix and the Red Hot Chili Peppers also had headlining turns during the weekends, the latter battling a nasty dust storm Weekend 1. The house-centric (and air-conditioned) nightclub-like Yuma Tent also made its debut in 2013. Art collective Poetic Kinetics brought “Helix Poeticus,” colloquially known as the Coachella Snail, to Indio.

“Helix Poeticus,” created by Poetic Kinetics makes its way, slowly, across the polo field at Coachella 2013.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers headlined Sunday night at the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The Yuma Tent made its debut at Coachella 2013 with air conditioning, a hardwood floor and comfy chairs.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Tesla coils by artist Syd Klinge go off along with the “Coachella Power Station,” left, by artists Vanessa Bonet, Derek Doublin and Chris Waggoner at Coachella 2013.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

2014

A reunited Outkast, Muse and Arcade Fire headlined Coachella 2014, but one of the most memorable performances was Pharrell Williams’ star-studded set on the Outdoor Theatre. We also saw the debut of Poetic Kinetics’ “Escape Velocity,” a.k.a. the Coachella astronaut, and the mirrored “Reflection Fields” by Phillip K. Smith among the festival’s major art installations.

A nearly 40-foot tall astronaut, “Escape Velocity” by L.A. art collective Poetic Kinetics, is reflected in “Reflection Fields” by Phillip K. Smith at the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Andre 3000 of Outkast performs inside a screen box opening day of the 2014 festival. Andre 3000 and Big Boi reunited for the festival.

(Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Fans pack the Sahara Tent for the performance of Showtek at Coachella 2014.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Pharell Williams performs at the second weekend of the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

2015

AC/DC, Jack White and Drake headlined, the latter bringing out Madonna for a smooch, but Florence + The Machine was one of the breakout performances from the year, literally. Florence Welch broke her foot Weeken d 1. This year also featured some of the most memorable art in the festival’s history, with the hippos running “Corporate Headquarters” and the transformation of Poetic Kinetics’ Coachella caterpillar into a butterfly.

Angus Young duck walked in his traditional schoolboy uniform during AC/DC’s Coachella 2015 headlining performance.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Music fans flock to “Desiderium Eruca,” Poetic Kinetics’ large butterfly sculpture that replaced the “Papilio Merraculous” caterpillar sculpture at Coachella 2015.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Florence + The Machine was one of the memorable performances at Coachella 2015. Singer Florence Welch broke her foot when she leaped from the stage during Weekend 1.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Aerial performers spin above the crowd at the Do Lab at Coachella 2015.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

2016

Guns N’ Roses reunited for the festival, where singer Axl Rose performed from a throne after breaking his foot at a warm-up show at the Troubadour a week before. The festival also included performances from Ice Cube (with a reunion of N.W.A) and Mavis Staples as well as headlining sets from the reunited LCD Soundsystem and Calvin Harris, who brought out Rihanna.

After breaking his foot the week before Coachella 2016 during Guns N’ Roses’ Troubadour warm-up show, Axl Rose performed on stage at Coachella atop the motorized throne Dave Grohl previously used on tour after breaking his leg.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Alejandro Murcia and Wanda Quintero take a photo in front of R&R Studios’ “Besame Mucho” installation at Coachella 2016. The typographic sign was covered in silk flowers and is among the more memorable art pieces from the year. Today, the installation lives on at Miami International Airport.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Ice Cube’s performance at Coachella in 2016 led to an on-stage reunion with the surviving members of N.W.A, featuring MC Ren and DJ Yella Weekend 1 with Dr. Dre joining them on Weekend 2.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Brian Sneed and Claudia Jerez jump as a friend takes their photo in front of the “Katrina Chairs” art installation at Coachella 2016.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

2017

Beyoncé was originally supposed to headline Coachella in 2017 but was pregnant, so Lady Gaga stepped in. Kendrick Lamar and Radiohead also headlined, with the former releasing “Damn.” on the first day of the festival. Hans Zimmer brought an orchestra and performed his biggest music from the movies too. The festival grounds expanded 20 acres and Coachella boosted capacity from 99,000 to 125,000 people. This year was also the debut of the Sonora Tent, which offers air-conditioning and rock club vibes.

The first time Lady Gaga headlined Coachella was in 2017 and it was because she stepped in after Beyoncé had to postpone due to her pregnancy.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Crowds of people take photos of Gustavo Prado’s art piece “Lamp Beside the Golden Door”at Coachella 2017. The sculpture featured more than 2,100 mirrors.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Kendrick Lamar released “Damn.” the Friday of Coachella 2017 Weekend 1, two days before his headlining performance that included ninjas.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Olalekan Jeyifous’ 50-foot-tall “Crown Ether” treehouse art installation provided a backdrop for photos at Coachella 2017.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

2018

Coachella was already regarded globally as a music festival. Then Beyoncé turned Coachella into the pop culture moment of the year. Coachella became Beychella and her Homecoming performance was nothing short of epic, even becoming its own Netflix special. Beyond Beyoncé, Eminem and The Weeknd headlined, but one of the other standouts was Cardi B’s TLC-inspired performance on the main stage. On the grounds, 2018 was the year “Spectra,” the cylindrical rainbow tower, became part of the festival’s landscape.

Beyoncé’s stunning headlining performance at Coachella 2018 celebrated America’s historically Black colleges and universities. Her set also featured cameos from husband Jay-Z, sister Solange and a Destiny’s Child reunion.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The rainbow-colored cylindrical tower “Spectra” made its debut at Coachella in 2018.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Cardi B performed a set inspired by TLC at Coachella in 2018.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Festival goers walk in front of Edoardo Tresoldi’s “Etherea” wire mesh cathedral structures and Randy Polumbo’s “Lodestar,” which was made with the fuselage of a military jet, at Coachella 2018.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

2019

Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala headlined Coachella in 2019, but the big memories from that year were the rise of artists like Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish as they were becoming bona fide superstars. Arguably the most memorable performance of the year wasn’t even during normal festival hours — it was when Kanye West held a Sunday Service in the campgrounds on Easter Sunday during Weekend 2. Meanwhile, to mark Coachella’s 20th year, Poetic Kinetics brought back the famous roving Coachella astronaut in a new form as “Overview Effect.”

Bad Bunny’s set at Coachella 2019 included a guest spot from J Balvin.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Kanye West’s Easter Sunday Service happened outside of the main festival grounds during Weekend 2 of the Coachella 2019.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

“Overview Effect,” a roaming astronaut sculpture made by Poetic Kinetics, roams around the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Fans go wild as confetti drops during Tame Impala’s headlining performance at Coachella 2019.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

2022

After the coronavirus pandemic canceled Coachella in 2020 and 2021, fans were excited to be back at the polo grounds in 2022. L.A. native Billie Eilish rose to headliner status, along with Harry Styles. Kanye West was supposed to headline Sunday night but canceled two weeks before the fest and was replaced by The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia.

Billie Eilish’s 2022 Coachella headlining turn included a guest spot from Damon Albarn to join her for “Getting Older” and “Feel Good Inc.”

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Wearing the signature blue wigs of Karol G, music fans cheered the star as she arrived on the main stage at Coachella 2022.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Swedish House Mafia x The Weeknd became a last-minute headliner replacement for Kanye West at Coachella 2022.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

One of the largest art installations at Coachella 2022 was Cristopher Cichocki’s “Circular Dimensions x Microscape,” which was made with more than 25,000 feet of PVC tubes and was five stories tall. At night, images were projected on the piece.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

2023

Bad Bunny and Blackpink headlined both weekends of the 2023 festival. Frank Ocean gave a divisive performance Weekend 1 before dropping off the Weekend 2 lineup. A reunited Blink-182 was initially a surprise addition to the festival’s bill and played in the Sahara Tent Weekend 1 before moving to the main stage to help fill the gap left by Ocean Weekend 2. The festival also added a combo of Skrillex, Fred Again.. and Four Tet to replace the absent headliner.

Bad Bunny performs at Coachella Weekend 1 in 2023.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

People walk by Güvenç Özel’s sculpture “Holoflux” at Coachella 2023.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Doechii performs at Coachella 2023.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

A reunited Blink-182 joined the Coachella 2023 lineup days before the festival. The band played in the Sahara Tent during Weekend 1 before moving to the main stage Weekend 2 to help fill the gap left by headliner Frank Ocean dropping off the bill.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

2024

Lana del Rey, Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat headlined the festival in 2024, but one of the big draws was the reunion of No Doubt, who brought out Olivia Rodrigo. Sabrina Carpenter, who is headlining the 2026 festival, also performed on the main stage during the day. The big changes in 2024 were that the main festival grounds expanded with a larger Sahara Tent on the southern end of the site and the addition of the Quasar Stage.

Tyler, the Creator’s headlining set at Coachella 2024 featured the rapper dressed as a park ranger and an elaborate national park-like stage set.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Gwen Stefani of No Doubt performs at Coachella 2024. The band reunited for the festival and brought out Olivia Rodrigo as a guest.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Doja Cat was the Sunday night headliner at Coachella 2024 and her performance included dancers dressed like yetis.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Chappell Roan was one of the breakout stars at Coachella 2024.

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

2025

Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone headlined the festival, but other memorable moments included Benson Boone and his acrobatics, Gustavo Dudamel conducting the L.A. Phil and a surprise appearance by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs on the main stage at Coachella 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Benson Boone leaps over Queen guitarist Brian May at Coachella 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Emma Liu poses for pictures at sunset at Coachella 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the L.A. Phil at Coachella 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)