Yet another shape-shifting convicted felon is starring in a new documentary, but unlike Elizabeth Holmes in “You Can See Everything,” Russell Brand did not invite director Olivia Isaacs into his home to engage in a cinematic staring contest.

Not that he wouldn’t have done it if given the opportunity (and a very different filmmaker). As Isaacs’ traditional and deeply layered documentary “Russell Brand: Open Secret” makes clear, Brand is, in addition to being a sexual predator, a canny media manipulator who openly reinvented himself to exploit an ever-evolving zeitgeist and provide cover for his crimes. A navel-gazing doc would be right up his alley.

Brand, however, refused to respond to requests to participate in “Open Secret,” and he is, of course, now in prison. The documentary began production after a damning investigation by London Times and Sunday Times reporters Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace in 2023. It premiered Friday on Netflix, a mere eight days after Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and four days after he was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison. (There is an ongoing investigation into additional rape allegations.)

Urwin and Wace (who joined the four-year reporting process about midway through), provide the narrative spine of “Open Secret,” chronicling the decades of rumors (which, as with Bill Cosby, gained attention when stand-ups began directly calling Brand a rapist) and the difficulty of finding women who would speak of their experiences on the record.

Several did and do here. None of them were part of the recent trial, though at least one is part of the new investigation, and all women were, at various times, in a relationship with Brand. Only two do not describe being sexually assaulted, including Amanda Alguero Alejos, who recounts meeting Brand when he was her English teacher in a foreign language school and watching as he changed dramatically when his career took off, abusing drugs and becoming so openly sexual with other women that she left him.

But this is not a story of how success, complete with rock-star-type female adoration, somehow corrupted an ordinary guy who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. Neither, aside from a brief segment scanning his troubled relationship with his father, is it much interested in why Brand did what he did.

Instead, both the reporters and the filmmakers examine how Brand has brazenly leveraged cultural trends, beginning with the sexually free and outrageous mood of the late 1990s and early 2000s (or “noughties”) that celebrated his “bad boy” persona, to provide cover for his predatory habits.

Deftly using clips from Brand’s stage shows and interviews as well as passages from his books, “Open Secret” proves its titular point over and over again. On multiple occasions, Brand admitted to terrible behavior and even called himself a rapist, before brushing it off as a satirical joke aimed at those too prudish to understand unbridled sexuality.

It worked spectacularly well, earning him TV jobs, film roles and A-list status (including a friendship with fellow convicted felon Sean “Diddy” Combs) and the inevitable phalanx of managers, lawyers and powerful allies.

This combination of celebrity and power is one reason many of the women Urwin and Wace interviewed over the course of four years were reluctant to speak publicly; two of those who allege rape in “Open Secret” did so anonymously.

Even so, rumors of Brand’s behavior began early and continued to grow. Particularly after 2011, when he moved to U.S. during the apex of his film career and his brief marriage to Katy Perry. (Perry is mentioned briefly in the film, which highlights a portion of her 2013 interview with Vogue in which she discussed their divorce, saying: “Then I found out the real truth, which I can’t necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day.”)

After Brand returned to the U.K., the film implies, he realized that his grinning-satyr reputation wasn’t playing so well anymore. In 2014, he made a huge career adjustment, leaping from unapologetic sexual player to politically progressive firebrand. Energetic and superficially erudite, his “working-class,” antiestablishment stance was immediately embraced by the progressive left. “Brand was wild,” journalist and political activist George Monbiot says in the film. “Exactly what left-wing politics was lacking at the time.”

That too worked, for a while. But during and after the #MeToo movement, many people were attempting to “out” Brand and his career began to suffer. Soon he reinvented himself again. Modeling himself on Tucker Carlson, he became a right-wing conspiracy theorist, railing against the usual suspects of science, liberals and legacy media.

By 2023, Urwin and Wace had found multiple women willing to speak on the record. When, in the final phase of reporting, they reached out to Brand, his lawyer responded that his client believed the piece to be “a concerted campaign” with “a deeply concerning agenda to all this, namely the fact that he is an alternative media broadcaster competing with mainstream media.” Brand then took to YouTube to denounce the article, claiming that “all of his relationships were consensual” and that the Sunday Times had a political agenda.

That did not work. Additional allegations poured into the journalists and Scotland Yard, and an investigation was opened. Brand once again shape-shifted, publicly embracing Christianity (down to being baptized in the River Thames in 2024 by Bear Grylls) and proselytizing about the powerful love of Christ.

Whether or not his newly found religious beliefs were sincere, they did not prevent him from being arrested, charged and convicted.

The film ends on an earnest rather than victorious note, with various participants voicing their hope that women will be more empowered to speak up about rape and sexual assault, and that the culture will stop celebrating and shielding the men who perpetrate it.

These sentiments have, regrettably, become a bit boilerplate, words many people say even as attempts to shame and silence sexual assault victims continue. The unsettling power of “Russell Brand: Open Secret” has little to do with Brand himself. Instead, this painstaking chronicle of how two dogged reporters and a few very brave women finally helped bring him to justice is an indictment of us. The people who heard the rumors and continued to support him, through ticket sales, clicks, likes and applause. The people who continued to find him audacious, funny and “authentic,” even as he was telling us exactly who he was and what he was doing.

An open secret is not a secret; it is a fact we have chosen not to confront. Brand got away with smirking about his life as a sexual predator under a thin disguise of mischievous comedy because we let him. And that’s what needs to stop.

I’M standing next to a giant cackling Labubu dressed in pirate gear – a clear sign I’m in the year 2026.

But just a few hours earlier, I’d been exploring a 500-year-old Ming Dynasty garden, which looked straight out of yesteryear.

That’s Shanghai in a nutshell — a world of the crazy and modern, blended with an insanely rich history.

And there’s never been a better time to visit China’s biggest city.
Visas to visit the country, which usually involve an arduous and expensive process to obtain, have been scrapped until the end of the year.

And Shanghai has been listed as a trending destination, having been named the world’s second best city for 2026 by Time Out and having seen a boom in searches with booking.com.

It is nicknamed the Magic City, and I was under its spell in a heartbeat.

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Until the mid-1800s, Shanghai was a mere fishing village, far from its megacity status, now with a population of 25million. One of the city’s most beautiful corners is the former French Concession, once a self-governing enclave dating back to 1849.

Today it is made up of narrow roads, where both European and Chinese architecture mingle, and is lined with plane trees offering shade to the many cyclists.

It’s littered with excellent coffee shops and bakeries, too.

My favourite spot was Faust, where I drank my sea salt latte perched on a tiny metal stool next to locals catching up with each other before going to work for the day.

You’ll find selfie-taking tourists at Wukang Mansion, a wedge-like structure reminiscent of New York’s Flatiron Building that was loved by Chinese stars of the 1940s.

Nearby, you can grab some locally made jewellery and clothes at the small boutiques selling wares out of even smaller windows.

The laid-back nature of the streets was nothing like I had expected of Shanghai.

That peace and quiet was also found at Qibao, a 1,000-year-old ancient water town.

After a short metro ride from the city centre, I stepped back in time as I meandered down the narrow paths separating the historic street vendor stores.

Everything from silk fans and traditional dress to fresh food was on offer.

Food sellers casually offer passers-by a taste, but my stomach was more drawn to the city centre.

My mission was to brave the honking mopeds and elbow-jabbing tourists to find some of the world’s best food. And I think I succeeded.

I gorged on soup dumplings from Lai Lai Xiao Long Bao, a Michelin-recommended Bib Gourmand shop, with juicy crab and prawn oozing down my arm as I bit into them.

I spent a mere £1.80 on a Michelin Guide pancake from Dingxing Road, packed with chicken and fried dough.

And the famous £3 sesame paste noodles from Wei Xiang Zhai, also in the Michelin Guide, are definitely worth the queue you will likely find snaking out of the door.

The bright orange oily sauce was decadent and rich and left my stomach full (and my white T-shirt stained).

But as much as there is to do in the day, Shanghai really comes alive when the sun goes down.

Best explored at night is Yu Garden, dating back to the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century.

The bright red traditional pavilions transported me back hundreds of years, and this was only amplified by the many tourists dressed up in authentic hanfu clothing.

Its hourly light shows bring it back into the 21st century, but even that doesn’t detract from the history.

You can enjoy those same neon lights on Nanjing Road, the Oxford Circus of Shanghai, where shops entice you with 10ft clam sculptures and smoke-breathing dragons.

Head to Fuxing Road and you’ll be spoilt for choice for award-winning bars.

Hidden speakeasy Speak Low is credited with putting Shanghai on the map when it comes to its mixology scene, while Bar Leone (sister to the World’s Best Bar 2026 in Hong Kong) is a must.

Just make sure you get there early to grab a seat at the bar. I’d recommend the deliciously fresh Il Cacciatore, expertly made up of gin, cherry tomato and basil.

After the shopping, the eating and the history, my 20,000-step sore feet were ready for rest.

And a stay on The Bund waterfront promenade is a must when in Shanghai.

Nicknamed the Golden Mile, there is no where better for seeing the famous skyline at night, from the pink-lit Oriental Pearl Tower to Shanghai Tower, once the world’s tallest building.

I highly recommend Hotel Indigo, which is not only Westerner-friendly (some resorts don’t accept foreign tourists) but the rooms come with a spectacular view, too.

Along with two restaurants, a rooftop bar and glass-walled indoor swimming pool, it’s right by the cruise port, where you can catch the metropolitan views by boat.

My room was kitted out with everything I needed, from local teas and snacks to comfy beds and fleecy dressing gowns to wrap up in after a very, very long day.

So after a week of towering skylines, decadent food and thousands of years of history in the Magic City? I wasn’t yet ready to disappear.

In late 2022, the Falkland Islands Executive Council established November 14 as a public holiday honoring King Charles III, substituting the previous observance for Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles, who was born at Buckingham Palace in 1948, assumed the throne following the passing of his mother in September 2022. Because of his new status as monarch, he enjoys the tradition of celebrating his birthday twice each year. This custom of a double birthdayoriginated in 1748 with King George II, who wanted to pair celebratory events with the warm-weather Trooping the Colour military parade. Since a November birthday falls during a period that is too chilly for outdoor festivities, tying the official recognition to a summer event ensures better meteorological conditions for the public ceremonies.

Brook Lopez scored 26 points and Darius Garland added 24 as the Clippers finished off a 113-112 victory Friday night in an NBA Cup game, sending the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder to a season-high third straight loss.

Derrick Jones Jr. and rookie Keaton Wagler had 14 points apiece, and Gradey Dick added 13 as the Clippers scored the final seven points to win for the second time in three games after opening the season with a 1-7 record.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 for the Thunder but missed a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer that would have won it.

Jared McCain had 23 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 21 points with 16 rebounds as Oklahoma City fell to 0-3 on a four-game West Coast trip. McCain finished seven of 11 from three-point range.

The Clippers led 57-44 at halftime behind 12 points from Lopez, while the Thunder were just two of 17 on threes over the first two quarters. Oklahoma City recovered to outscore Los Angeles 40-25 in the third by going five of 11 from long distance.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a leaning three-pointer with 3:01 remaining for a 110-106 lead. The Clippers trailed 112-106 with 2:43 remaining before closing the game on a 7-0 run. Lopez scored a pair of baskets down the stretch before Garland put the Clippers ahead for good on a three-point play with 50.4 seconds left.

Without starters Chet Holmgren (knee), Jalen Williams (leg) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) since Oct. 26, the Thunder started a pair of 7-footers in Hartenstein and rookie Aday Mara for the second consecutive game and fourth time this season. Mara finished with 10 points and three blocks.

World number two Sabalenka’s campaign at the WTA Finals came to a disappointing end after she failed to the reach the semifinals of the season-ending championships.

Elina Svitolina overwhelmed Aryna Sabalenka in the deciding set to seal a ⁠6-3, 3-6, 6-1 upset on Friday and reach the semifinals of the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells, where she will face Linda Noskova.

Svitolina absorbed and redirected Sabalenka’s power effectively, breaking the ⁠Belarusian six times before sealing her first victory over her opponent in more than six years with a forehand winner on her fourth match point.

With the win, Svitolina improved to 2-6 against Sabalenka in their career meetings.

“It was a bit of a roller-coaster match,” Svitolina told reporters.

“I played well in ‌the first set but lost a little bit of rhythm. She played well in the second and served much better. I was really happy with the way I could come back in the third after losing the first game.”

No handshake

The Ukrainian again did not shake hands with Sabalenka after the match, maintaining her policy of not doing so with Russian and Belarusian players following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Svitolina, the 2018 WTA Finals champion, will face Noskova on ⁠Saturday for a place in the final.

The defeat ended Sabalenka’s season ⁠on a disappointing note.

The second seed won Brisbane International in January and then Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March to complete the “Sunshine Double” but did not claim another title after that.

Sabalenka also surrendered the world number one ⁠ranking to Elena Rybakina at the US Open.

She had entered the season finale among the favourites after Rybakina withdrew on the eve of ⁠the tournament because of illness.

Sabalenka declined to speak to the ⁠media following Friday’s loss.

Andreeva rolls

Earlier in the day, tournament debutant Andreeva continued her impressive run with a 6-2, 6-1 win over fellow Russian Diana Shnaider, her third straight-sets victory of the week.

Shnaider, Andreeva’s friend and doubles partner, replaced Karolina Muchova, who ‌withdrew before the final day of round-robin matches with a gastrointestinal illness.

Andreeva had already secured her place in the semifinals before facing Shnaider and will meet American Jessica Pegula on Saturday.

The eight-day, $10m ‌tournament was moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells Tennis Garden due to the United States-Israeli war on Iran. The event will be played in Charlotte starting next year.

King Charles and Sir Elton John joked about the problems of ageing as the pair joined for a special radio show to coincide with the monarch’s 78th birthday.

Sir Elton was joined on his regular Rocket Hour radio show for a special episode during which the King shared his musical memories as the pair chose 14 songs together.

The programme also marked the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trust and highlighted how musicians have supported the charity’s efforts.

“We and the Trust are definitely still standing,” the King said, as he highlighted Sir Elton’s track I’m Still Standing as one of his favourites because of the song’s “message of resilience”.

The music legend joked in reply: “I’m still sitting now, though” giving a large laugh, with the King chuckling: “With occasional bits dropping off here and there. I know this is a terrible problem as we get older.”

The special was recorded last month at Apple Music Studios in south London and premiered on Saturday morning.

The King recalled Sir Elton’s 1986 performance at Wembley Arena, which marked the charity’s 10th anniversary.

“I suspect that no-one who was present on that night in 1986 could possibly forget your performance of I’m Still Standing,” King Charles said.

“I know people in all kinds of circumstances find this song inspiring, not only for its marvellous spirit, but also its message of resilience. And certainly, 40 years on from that remarkable concert, we and the Trust are definitely still standing.”

The pair selected a total of 14 tracks. King Charles picked Giant by Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man, telling Sir Elton that the song summed up his charity because of its message of finding strength from others.

Also selected was Bob Dylan’s Gotta Serve Somebody, Muse’s Feeling Good and Nectar Woode’s Wine into Water, which features Sir Elton on piano.

The Rocket Man star asked the King to highlight a song that he found “extremely meaningful”.

Replying that there is “nothing more meaningful than love”, the King described an “unforgettable performance” of The Beatles’ 1967 hit All You Need is Love by Sir Paul McCartney in 2002 at a concert in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.

“I shall never forget the magic of witnessing a simply unforgettable performance of All You Need Is Love for my late mother’s Golden Jubilee at the Party At The Palace concert with Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and Joe Cocker, and I think with Phil Collins on drums, Brian May and Eric Clapton on guitar and an all-star backing choir,” the King said.

“It really is a totally timeless song with a timeless message.”

The show opened with Tina Turner’s hit Proud Mary. The King described the late pop icon as an “electrifying character” and recalled that the guard at Buckingham Palace played her hit Simply the Best following her death in 2023.

“It was, I hope, a small way of thanking her for the times she has performed for my charities and indeed for the joy she brought to millions of people,” the King said.

The pair also chose Sir Rod Stewart’s Handbags And Gladrags, Elvis Presley’s Hound Dog, Pete Townsend’s Let My Love Open The Door and Raye’s Joy.

The programme will be rebroadcast on Apple Music One at 17:00 and 22:00 Saturday and again on Sunday at 02:00 and 06:00. It will also feature on Apple Music Hits on Sunday at 10:00 and 14:00.

Eight songs into U2’s new album, and there it is: the silvery thrum of the Edge’s electric guitar, echoing into infinity as Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. lock into a driving groove and Bono starts crooning about how “love’s the hardest easy thing.”

More than any other passage on “Carnaval de Luz,” which dropped Friday, the beginning of “The Greatest Show on Earth” is instantly identifiable as the work of these four veteran musicians — and clearly an assertion, 50 years after they formed the group, that they’ve still got it.

Except, hold on: What’s that Bono sings when he gets to the song’s sweeping chorus?

If this is love, don’t act surprised when you get hurt

Even if our dreams lay in the dirt

We were once the greatest show on Earth

Stuck in a moment you can get out of — that’s the spirit of U2’s 16th studio LP, a grippingly honest if typically idealistic meditation on the value of a rock ’n’ roll band at the end of history.

The quartet’s first album of new songs in nearly a decade, “Carnaval de Luz” might easily have not happened: After touring the world to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “The Joshua Tree,” Mullen was in such bad shape physically (thanks to a long-standing neck injury) that he sat out U2’s residency at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2023 and 2024. And even if the drummer was able to play — a necessary precondition, his bandmates have said, for the group to make a record — it’s not as though anyone was clamoring for one after the increasingly tedious “Songs of Innocence”/“Songs of Experience”/“Songs of Surrender” project.

But then Mullen met a young neurosurgeon willing to perform a risky surgery; back together as a foursome, U2 found enough inspiration in various global outrages — Gaza, Ukraine, the state-sponsored killing of Renée Good — to bust out a couple of surprise EPs early this year.

Having worked through an animating fury, “Carnaval de Luz” aims for what the Edge has called “defiant joy,” which I’m sorry to say yields some deeply embarrassing lyrics.

“I see a summer down the road of songs and a silver sea,” Bono sings in “Can’t Stop Us Now,” “Where the rainbow refuses the gold, and that’s revolutionary.” In “Superficiality,” he proclaims, “You and me are breaking news because the news can’t break us.” (Bro.)

Yet what comes through is U2’s earnest belief that these songs matter — that the band has something to offer a world in crisis, even if that something is just a righteously crunchy guitar riff, as in “La Reina” and the title track, or a soaring vocal melody like those in “Superficiality” and “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Indeed, Bono sounds better here than he has in years — supple and sensual but with just the right touch of desperation — which bodes well for the band’s 2027 stadium tour.

The achievement of “Carnaval de Luz” is an emotional state somewhere between nostalgic and thirsty; the music seems to know more about life (and death) than it actually says, at least until the album’s closer, “Torn.” Recorded shortly before Dolly Parton’s death in August, it’s a stirring yet unflowery duet between her and Bono about a mother who has no idea how to get her warring sons to reconcile.

The song’s beauty is in its intertwined voices; its wisdom is in its acceptance that no fix is assured.

Former opener Warner was banned for a year for his involvement in the 2018 ‘Sandpapergate’ incident in South Africa.

David Warner blasted Cricket Australia’s handling of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal as “a cover-up” on Saturday, escalating a row that has torn apart the sport.

Former opener Warner, who was banned for a year over his part in the “Sandpapergate” incident in Cape Town, lashed out at what he claimed was “a shoddy investigation”.

“As far as I am aware, CA did not interview Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon in their 2018 investigation,” he said on Instagram.

“If that’s correct, then how can CA push the idea that the bowlers didn’t know?

“It looks like they had decided who they wanted to blame from the very beginning, ran a shoddy investigation to serve the purpose, and now they want to maintain the false narrative that the bowlers had no idea.

“That stinks of a cover-up.”

Festering wounds over what happened in the third Test at Cape Town were reopened this week when Usman Khawaja released his autobiography.

In the book, he alleged that the whole team knew about the plot to rough up the ball with sandpaper to make it swing.

A Cricket Australia probe concluded that only then-skipper Steve Smith, his deputy Warner and Cameron Bancroft were in the know, with all three sent home from South Africa in disgrace.

Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon and Pat Cummins all denied publicly in a 2021 statement that they were aware of the plan.

On Friday, Cummins, now the Test captain, held a lengthy news conference to rubbish Khawaja’s latest claims, calling them “100 percent wrong“.

In response, Warner accused him of throwing close friend Khawaja “under the bus”.

Starc also stated during the week that “we weren’t aware of things being taken on the field”. Hazlewood and Lyon have yet to comment.

Cricket Australia has ruled out reopening their investigation and, in a statement on Saturday, said all players had been given the chance to come forward.

“As we have stated previously, all players were given the opportunity to speak at the time of the initial investigation and have had the ability to come forward with new evidence in the eight years since,” a spokesperson said.

“Subsequently, CA has respected every player and former players’ right to provide their own version of events.”

ONE Greek island is set to close its only airport for up to four months with all flights cancelled from tomorrow until March.

Chios Airport is preparing to suspend operations for extensive works to get it ready for summer 2027.

This work includes extending the runway and upgrading facilities so that the island will be ready for the tourist season, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

Currently, the runway is short at 1,511 metres long which means that wide- bodied aircraft used for long-haul journeys cannot land here.

Instead, the island only takes smaller propeller planes or narrow-body aircraft.

So anybody visiting from the UK would have to fly into Athens or Thessaloniki and take a connecting flight across.

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However, the upgrades include extending the runway to be 1,799m long so it could accommodate larger planes.

There has been pushback however from authorities who have called the closure ‘economic strangulation’ for its residents.

The island is the fifth biggest in Greece and is home to around 50,000 people.

The worry is that the closure will affect the island’s economy and society particularly as it will close throughout Christmas and New Year.

If flights are unavailable it will restrict those with planned trips and travels to and from the mainland or neighbouring islands.

During these four months, ferry will be the only way on and off the island with the fastest sailing to Athens taking seven hours which is much slower than the 50-minute flight.

President of the Chios chamber of commerce Pantelis Legatos added : “Chios, as a border island 5 miles from Turkey, depends on the air connection with the capital for health, entertainment and freedom reasons.”

During the works, emergency flights will still be permitted to land, which includes medical evacuations, search and rescue.

Another alternative has been suggested that if the airport does close, it will reopen during the holiday season pushing the work back to a completion date of Easter.

The original plan was to close the airport on January 15 which is months later than the current schedule, but would avoid seasonal disruption.

EVERY girl dreams of being whisked away to a castle by a handsome prince.

So when an opportunity came for a one-night stay at the boutique Castle Hotel in the centre of Windsor, I jumped at the chance.

But I took my own dashing husband in place of royalty. However, the prospect of a rare evening away from our three kids — along with a peaceful, uninterrupted meal — was a fairytale enough.

The hotel sits in a prime spot on Windsor High Street opposite the historic Guildhall, where King Charles and Queen Camilla tied the knot in 2005, and right across the street from Windsor Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II famously loved escaping her Buckingham Palace “office” for the tranquillity of Windsor in Berkshire every weekend. And I can see why.

Steeped in centuries of royal history and lying on the banks of the River Thames, Windsor is a charming place, with cobbled streets, old pubs and quaint shops.

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The hotel makes a great impression too, with an imposing, creamy white stucco Georgian facade and intricate wrought-iron balcony.

Inside, the 500-year-old historic royal coaching inn has recently had a multi-million-pound refurbishment that has stripped away stuffy decor in favour of a fresh, modern feel.

While here, it would have been a wasted opportunity not to visit our hotel’s namesake, so we strolled across the street to join a free walking tour of Windsor Castle.

Our guide told us how the castle, built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, remains the longest-occupied palace in Europe.

It is the only one of eight castles he built — all a day’s ride out from the Tower of London — that is still standing.

We then used brilliant audio guides to tour the impressive St George’s Chapel, familiar to me as the setting for Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.

We then spent over an hour exploring the castle’s network of exquisite State Apartments which are still used by royals for ceremonies such as investitures.

The castle shuts at 5pm, but Evensong is held daily at 5.15pm inside St George’s Chapel and is open to the public.

We joined for the service and occupied the famous quire seats where the Royal Family and Knights Companions are usually seated.

Or in the case of Meghan and Harry’s wedding, Serena Williams, George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey.

The service, which is entirely sung, was both memorable and haunting thanks to the exquisite voices of the choir — one of Britain’s oldest musical ensembles. The young choristers are all drawn from St George’s College school which lies in the shadow of the castle.

Feeling spiritually uplifted, it was back across the road for some down time before dinner.

The Castle Hotel is luxurious and classy throughout. Our room had a separate sitting room and swish marble bathroom with freestanding bath.

The coffee machine and complimentary mini bar drinks and snacks were nice touches, too.

The smart bar, buzzy on a Friday night, was perfect for a pre-dinner glass of bubbles.

We then moved through to the newly opened Pennington’s brasserie where we were well taken care of by friendly staff. The menu is seasonal and British, the food beautifully cooked and plentiful.

I enjoyed scallops with smoked coral butter to start, followed by pollock on a bed of white beans and rapeseed aioli, both cooked to perfection.

My husband opted for heartier fare with venison tartare and an ox cheek pie.

The meal was rounded off with a wonderful piece of theatre in the form of a carved, wooden sweet trolley that was wheeled tableside, laden with cakes and sweet treats.

Well fed, we slept like kings in a very comfy bed and then it was back down to Pennington’s in the morning to enjoy a late breakfast.

Thanks to the hotel’s fantastic location, we stepped outside the restaurant and found ourselves in the perfect spot for the 11am changing of the guard at Windsor Castle, which happens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

It was a rousing spectacle you could hear coming through Windsor before you spotted the scarlet jackets of the brass marching band.

With the festive season on the way, Windsor Illuminated has now transformed the greater Windsor Great Park into a dazzling after-dark trail of light and colour.

And after our wonderful mini-break, I am sorely tempted to book another to go and see it.

Was the Boston season of “Love Is Blind” one of the worst seasons of the show — or the most entertaining? Why not both.

Like many viewers, I tuned into Sunday’s reunion to hear everyone’s explanations about why their relationships failed and to learn who was still together. At the end of the season, only two couples made it to the altar, but with different results: Aneha Singh and Cam Halloran chose not to get married in the end, while John Shannon and Sarah Williams said “I do.” However, their marriage was short-lived, with the couple filing for divorce in June, a fact uncovered by sleuths on the internet before the reunion was streamed.

A lot of hay was made about the incompatibility among the couples this season, and viewers at home were critical of this season’s cast of men, especially Rob Feeley, who was engaged to Michaella Giorgio (she’d break off the engagement after a particularly awful meeting with his friends at a bar), and Shannon. Can’t say I disagree with the assessment, but I will say I thought some viewers were overly harsh to Singh on social media — I would even go so far as to call it online bullying. Some might argue that comes with the territory of going on a highly publicized reality TV dating show, but at the end of the day, they are real people and they don’t have the luxury of tons of media training. And if they were truly there “for the right reasons,” as everyone likes to say, perhaps some of them (not all!) deserve a little more grace, especially considering this particular season was taped more than a year ago. If you want more context and answers from the people who were on the show, I’d recommend giving this week’s episode of “The Viall Files” a listen, which features an interview with Giorgio and Williams, who were among the cast favorites this season.

This leads me to this week’s Guest Spot interview, which features Janelle James, who has a new stand-up special called “How Romantic.” It covers lots of things, including politics, childbirth, dealing with newfound fame and dating and relationships. The 47-year-old comic actor has plenty of life experience and experience in the limelight, something that perhaps the “Love Is Blind” cast could learn from — it’s just a suggestion! Read more about her special below.

Also in this week’s Screen Gab, our writers recommend a pair of spooky thrillers and improvised comedy shorts about near-death experiences. Fear and death might be easier for some people to take in than, gulp, the prospect of long-term commitment. — Maira Garcia

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Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times

Hudson Williams in “Yaga.”

(Christopher Lawrence / Crave)

“Yaga” (AMC+), “The Body” (Netflix)

Baba Yaga is a figure from Slavic folklore who (allegedly) eats the bones of children and lives in a cabin on chicken legs. Some people might call her a witch. She wouldn’t claim that label. “Yaga” — based on a 2019 play of the same name by creator and writer Kat Sandler — reframes Baba Yaga as a mouthpiece for female rage, punishing the men (“bad dogs”) who overlook, undervalue, harass and assault women. “Television was obsessed with male anti-heroes, like ‘Dexter’ or ‘Hannibal,’ so I liked the idea of creating a female anti-hero who could be just as entertaining,” Sandler told Toronto Life. “A woman who is technically doing evil things but has her own moral code.” If “Yaga” is a thrilling mash of fairy tales, detective procedurals and millennial rom-coms, then “The Body” is an equally feminine, satanic blend of “The Crucible,” the Salem witch trials, “Carrie,” “Jennifer’s Body” and somehow “Mean Girls.” (A delicious Y2K kick.) This Catholic schoolgirl psychological drama, ostensibly about demonic possession, is also — you guessed it — gay. Creator Quinn Shephard started writing the show the year she came out. This is girlhood as a religious experience, and a campy yet candid dissection of identity and beliefs, dressed in Juicy velour sweatpants. — Laura Zornosa

“Near Death” (YouTube)

Matt Walsh, known to many as press secretary Mike McLintock on “Veep” and a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, takes on the job of Death in this excellent improvised (very) short-form comedy. People in the midst of a near-death experience appear in his office to answer questions about their life and last moments, after which Death will direct them back to Earth or to the Great Beyond. To set the bare-bones scene, a nameplate lists his pronouns as It/That; a coffee mug bears the legend, “Life Is Tough but So Are You”; there is an unseen, unheard assistant named Kevin; and cans of Liquid Death-branded water are offered. Clients, I suppose you could call them, include a billionaire who died while intravenously ingesting the drug cocktail he expected to keep him alive until the age of 235 (“What’s your best trait?” “Not compassion.” “What is it?” “Not having compassion.”) and a Mexican soccer fan who perished in a bleacher accident (Death’s grasp of Spanish is limited). But the real attraction is in the snaky “yes and” interplay, and improvisers who know their art. — Robert Lloyd

Guest spot

A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they’re working on — and what they’re watching

Janelle James tackles her newfound fame, motherhood, dating and the state of the world in her special, “How Romantic.”

(Elizabeth Sisson / Netflix)

Janelle James is no stranger to comedy. She’s been a stand-up comic for 15 years and was regularly on stage, even opening for Chris Rock, before landing her role as Principal Ava Coleman in ABC’s hit sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” Since then, she’s received five consecutive Emmy nominations for supporting actress and her character has become a fan favorite on the series, which began its sixth season last month.

“Our 100th episode is coming up on ‘Abbott.’ That’s a big deal,” she tells me in an interview over video call earlier this week. The episode will serve as the midseason finale, airing Dec. 9 and was filmed at Disneyland. “People who are interested in the Janine-Gregory relationship should definitely tune in.”

But “Abbott” isn’t the only reason we’re speaking. Earlier this week, James released her first hour-long stand-up special, “How Romantic,” on Netflix, something she says was more than three years in the making. “I only do stand-up when we’re in hiatus [from ‘Abbott’]. So I was building it during each hiatus,” she recalls. “And last year, I did have an hour, and I was like, ‘OK, I have an hour. Next hiatus, I’m gonna shoot it,’ and then I did 30 shows, which resulted in another hour. I kind of trashed everything I had the year before. Built a whole new hour, and … then shot the special in Chicago.”

The special was shot at the Vic Theatre, and she’s proud of the work she put into it. However, she warns it’s not quite as family-friendly as “Abbott”: “Watch my special with adults.”

In a conversation edited for length and clarity, James talks about not saying a certain person’s name in her special, becoming famous and what might happen on “Abbott” next. — M.G.

It’s the eve of your first hour-long comedy special. How are you feeling about its arrival?

I feel excited. It’s a big deal. It’s on Netflix, who basically has cornered the market on comedy specials at this point. It’s been a long time coming. I feel good about all aspects of it, which isn’t the usual case for other things I put out. Either I’m like, “I could have done this, or I could have looked like this, or … I would have changed this.”

You looked great, by the way. Your outfit was on point [James wears a black floral mesh top, wide-leg leather pants and stilettos in the special]. The hair, I was like, you look like no other stand-up comic.

This is the first time I’ve had the time to even think about all those things. You know, my other [specials], I have a 15 and a half-hour, those I did my own glam. I think my half-hour was in the middle of the pandemic, so we weren’t even allowed to have makeup artists because we couldn’t be close to each other. And so this one was the first time I was able to have glam and have a vision of what I wanted to look like all the way down to set design. I feel like it really represents me in the in the truest way that I’ve had so far.

Something that I thought was notable right at the start, is you just kind of acknowledge the state of the world. You allude to Trump and his administration, but you never say his name. Why is that?

Why would I? Everyone knows what I’m talking about. Don’t have to. … His name is like a flash point. I don’t want then my whole special to become about him. So it’s like, I would love to cover this topic in a way that it doesn’t overshadow everything else that I talk about. That was just a smart way to do it, and just also poignant in that, like I said, you know who I’m talking about. [Laughs.]

Given the blue wave that just happened with the midterms, how are you feeling about the state of the country now?

Great, you know, it feels good. I’m glad that gives us some hope. I think once the stats came out about how people voted, it could still be better. That’s always disappointing. It’s like OK, we quote unquote won, but it’s still too close for my comfort in a lot of demographics, but hope is never bad. I always think about how ignorant people are about the political process and about our government. There’s a lot of people who think, “OK, all these people win, so now things are changing immediately,” and that’s not how it works. So I have hope and cautious optimism.

You also discuss the evolution in your life … the changes. You talk about going from checking your credit card statements to being rich — you don’t have to worry about those things so much anymore, though you’re not wealthy either. And also the trauma of fame, like not being able to go to Target anymore. Was this special a way of processing those big changes in your life?

I was trying to do a lot of things in this special, and I hope I accomplished it. But it’s again such an introduction to a lot of people to me. Basically, I’m a real private person. I’ve seen people online guessing things about me or making things up or whatever, so I’m just trying to give people a little bit so that they get my sensibilities … and also give me a little separation from this character that I play [on “Abbott”]. My character is very money-focused in a way, and I think she would be more receptive to fame. And I think it would be surprising to people how I’ve taken it. Also, I think it’s a unique perspective to have someone that is pursuing … a public profession, and but also being like, “Oh, but, not too famous,” you know what I mean? I just knew I liked what I was doing, but fame wasn’t the goal. And just trying to get all those ideas out in a funny way, in a short way, fit it into an hour, have it flow. That’s what I was trying to accomplish, and that’s also what I enjoy about stand-up: the puzzle pieces, putting it together, and then doing an hour is amazing because then you … have a throughline.

Your special also discusses motherhood and dating. I found your story about the 24-hour labor so relatable because my first child took more than 24 hours and I was just like, “Oh my God, that was the experience I had in the hospital.”

That makes me so happy because a lot of people have seen it and I’ve been getting feedback but nobody has really talked about that section. I knew going into it that I’m not the only person that experienced that, and I don’t know what your birth story is, but I feel like a thing that happens in pop culture in how pregnancy is portrayed, especially nowadays, it’s a cakewalk. Just how people speak about having kids, like just have a kid, and it’s not easy and especially if you’re not wealthy. Even when you have money, it’s hard, and then it gets worse as you go further down the income scales. Again, super briefly wanted to touch on that and figure out how I can tell that story and have it be funny, but also get the point across that like, hey, having a baby is not a cakewalk, and it’s also traumatic. The cliche of like women are warriors — we are! And so can we have some more grace and respect from others … and that somebody like me, who now looks so famous and glamorous, had an awful birth experience. I almost died.

It’s terrifying because you read the statistics, particularly about Black women and the healthcare that they receive, which is, you know, has not been as good as other people would receive.

And you know, I was saying it in a humorous way. I didn’t have a main doctor. So many people were just in and out. But beyond the joke, again, very traumatized, exposed to all these strangers, nobody really cared. They were just like, “Hey, let’s can we get this lady out of here?” But I like to do jokes like that. Yeah, it’s funny, but when you think about it, behind the joke is a very serious topic.

I want to talk a little bit about “Abbott.” This season, Ava’s still dating O’Shon (Matthew Law). And things seem to be going well, and then we see Janine and Gregory. They look like they’re about to get engaged. Where do you see these relationships heading, or what can you tell us about where things are going?

I’m guessing that Janine and Gregory will get married at some point. I don’t know if it’s this season or not, but they seem to be chugging along, and Ava and O’Shon seem to be chilling. Something is always going to come up because it’s a TV show, and Quinta always does the opposite of what you think it’s going to be. But as always, I know nothing. I see maybe two shows ahead of what you’ve seen on television, and so far, all seems to be well for both couples.

The latest episode of “Abbott” centers on the the step team’s competition. The one about tryouts earlier this season had me rolling, especially when Ava’s trying to protect the kids in case they don’t advance. Your delivery of that line was perfect. [Ava: “I know what it’s like to have your dreams crushed. When I was little, I tried out for ‘Annie.’ They told me I was Black. Shoulda waited a couple of years.”]

That joke is based on real life in that Annie is a traditionally white character, and then like I think maybe 10 years later they had a Black Annie. She was like, “Oh, I should have just waited a couple years.” Obviously, she’s been disappointed in her life as a young kid, and she’s trying to now protect these kids … It seems that her experiences have left her cut down and not able to have, or at least as a kid, much aspirations and in her wrong way and hurt way that she does everything, she’s trying to protect the students from the same thing. It was just a really smart way to convey another part of her, another layer of her and her personality. A lot of things in “Abbott” and in comedy is about delivery and timing. I think I’m good at that.

Is there anything you’re watching right now that you’re recommending to everyone, or is there something that you like to watch over and over again?

I have been rewatching “The Americans” [Hulu, Disney+]. I watched it when it first came out, and I love it so much, and I love Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell. I recently was telling my friends, “You haven’t watched ‘The Americans?’” … I’ve restarted watching it, so I can talk to them [about it]. I restarted watching “Downton Abbey” [PBS, Peacock, Prime Video] with my mom. I was in a show called “Strip Law.” It’s an animated show … on Netflix. I totally didn’t have even time to watch my own show … it’s only one season, and I recently watched it, and it’s so funny. So I’m recommending that to people.

ICYMI

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