Iconic panel show Mock the Week is set to return to screens in 2026, four years after it was axed by the BBC, and will be broadcast on a free-to-air rival challenge
13:41, 20 Oct 2025Updated 13:42, 20 Oct 2025
Mock the Week is making a huge comeback(Image: BBC)
Mock the Week was axed from television four years ago, but the BBC panel show is now poised for a spectacular return next year. The satirical news commentary programme, which launched the careers of Hugh Dennis, Frankie Boyle, and Russell Howard, is scheduled to make its comeback on screens in 2026.
Initially debuting back in 2005, Mock the Week offered a comedic take on weekly news stories and quickly established itself as a broadcasting favourite. The half-hour comedy format eventually concluded in 2022 following 17 years on air, but its return has now been officially announced.
This time around, the programme will air on TLC, as the channel transitions to free-to-air broadcasting in the UK come January 2026, delivering additional scripted and unscripted programming, reports the Express.
Warner Bros. Discovery released a statement confirming the show’s revival, produced by Angst Productions, would provide the “much-loved” format with a “new look”.
Cast announcements remain pending, though supporters are eager to witness Hugh, Frankie, Russell, and fellow comedian Andy Parsons grace screens once again.
TLC operates as a television network in America, which Warner Bros. Discovery has recently chosen to introduce on Freeview in Britain, simultaneously discontinuing HGTV.
The UK debut of TLC will additionally showcase scripted programming including The Big Bang Theory and its enduring comedy-drama offshoot, Young Sheldon.
The show, which first aired in 2005, was cancelled back in 2022 with host Dara O’Briain sharing a sad statement at the time. “That’s it folks, the UK has finally run out of news,” he said.
“The storylines were getting crazier and crazier – global pandemics, divorce from Europe, novelty short-term prime ministers. It couldn’t go on.”
Earlier this year, Mock the Week star Milton Jones announced that he was ‘cancer free’ after undergoing surgery. The stand-up comic cancelled a number of dates earlier this year after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
However, he said in August that he is “in a completely different place” now. He said in a statement: “A few months ago, I had to stop my tour Ha! Milton because I needed treatment for prostate cancer. I’m glad to say I’ve had that treatment and am now cancer free!”
Milton continued to the PA News Agency: “So, many thanks to all the doctors and nurses who helped me get better – I couldn’t do their job (I tried, but apparently you have to be qualified).
“A big thank you to my family, friends, all those who helped reschedule things and the many others who have been so nice to me.
More than two decades after their peak, the music of Yellowcard is a pop punk message in a bottle. The note that washed ashore from a simpler time describes the image of a young, sharply-dressed band full of aspirations, thrashing on their instruments — violin included — in the echoey tomb of an underground parking garage in the music video for “Ocean Avenue” as the chorus kicks into overdrive.
“If I could find you now, things would get better, we could leave this town and run forever, let your waves crash down on me and take me away,” frontman Ryan Key sang ecstatically at the top of his lungs.
That hit song, the title track of 2003’s “Ocean Avenue,” created a tidal wave of success that changed the course of their career from struggling artists to a world-touring headliner and darlings of MTV’s Total Request Live.
“The first time it happened, we were really young,” Key said, gingerly grasping a spoon with his heavily tattooed hand while stirring a cup of hot tea. “We were quite literally a garage band one minute, and then we were playing on the MTV Video Music Awards and David Letterman and whatever else the next minute.”
It’s a moment that hasn’t escaped his memory 22 years later. Now, he and his bandmates — violinist Sean Mackin, bassist Josh Portman and guitarist Ryan Mendez — are far from the ocean but not too far from water as they look out at a sparkling pool from the window from a suite at the Yaamava’ Resort and Casino in Highland. A couple hours from now, the band will play a splashy pool party gig for 98.7 ALT FM. The set will include a raft of all the old hits, including “Ocean Avenue” of course, as well as their first new songs in almost a decade.
Before the release of the first singles for the new album, “Better Days,” it might’ve been easy to write off their 11th album as another release destined to be overshadowed by their early catalog. However, with the right amount of internal inspiration and outside help from Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, who produced and played all the drums on the album, the result was a batch of new songs that haven’t simply been washed out to sea. Quite the opposite, actually.
Prior to the album’s release, the title track “Better Days” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. This achievement came after a 22-year wait since their first appearance on the chart with the “Ocean Avenue” single “Way Away.” Key also notes that it’s the first time fans are using the band’s new music for their TikTok videos instead of “Ocean Avenue.”
“That’s crazy,” Key said. “Everyone is using ‘Better Days.’ I don’t think we’re alone in that. I think for bands in our scene, new music is getting a lot of love and a lot of attention again, and it’s amazing to see.”
It’s been about three years since the band reemerged to play a reunion set at RiotFest in Chicago, following their 2017 farewell show at the House of Blues in Anaheim. At the point they were ready to call it quits, the band was struggling to sell enough tickets to their shows to keep the dream alive. For Mackin, fatherhood forced him to also consider his family’s financial stability, prompting him to enter the corporate workforce as a sales rep and eventually becoming a service director for Toyota. At one point, he was responsible for managing 120 employees. “I just thought that was going to be what I was going to do to take care of my family for the next 20 years,” Mackin said.
After Yellowcard’s hiatus, Key continued playing music in several projects that distanced themselves from the pop punk sound — including recording solo work under his full name William Ryan Key, touring with bassist Portman at his side. Key also produced a post-rock electronic-heavy project called Jedha with Mendez, and the pair also does a lot of TV and film scoring work. For a long time, Key and his bandmates mourned the loss of what they had with Yellowcard. It was the most important thing in Key’s life, though he said he didn’t realize how much the band truly shaped him until it was over.
During their hiatus, band members took day jobs. One member managed 120 Toyota employees before the 2022 Riot Fest reunion reignited their passion.
(Joe Brady)
“Ungrateful is not the word to use about how I felt back then. It’s more like I didn’t have the tools to appreciate it, to feel gratitude and really let things happen and and stay in the moment and stay focused. Because I was so young, I was so insecure about my place, my role in all of it,” Key said.
But after some time away, the raucous 2022 Riot Fest reunion show relit the band’s fire in a way they hadn’t expected. They followed up with a 2023 EP “Childhood Eyes” that pushed the band to take things further with a new full album. Along with these plans came the stunning news that Barker would sign on to produce and play drums for them on the project. For a band that grew up idolizing Blink 182 and Barker specifically as the band’s red-hot engine behind the kit who spent the last 20 years evolving into a music mogul, it was a surreal experience.
“We look at him like a general. It was never lost that the best drummer of our generation is playing drums with us,” Mackin said. “We know him as Travis now, but man, this guy is just oozing talent — he’s doing all these amazing things and he doesn’t seem overrun by it, not distracted one bit. While we were recording, he was right there with us.”
Key says he was initially intimidated singing in front of Barker in the studio and had a few moments where negative, self-conscious thoughts were getting the better of him in the vocal booth during recording. Instead of getting annoyed, he says Barker helped ease his anxiety with a few simple words.
“Travis came into the booth, closed the door, put his hand on my shoulder, and he said, ‘You’re gonna do this as many times as you need to do it. I’m gonna be here the whole time.’” Barker was truly speaking from experience. He told Key at the time that he’d just recorded 87 rough takes of his parts on “Lonely Road,” his hit song with Jelly Roll and MGK. “That was a real crossroads for me,” Key said.
The aspect of the album that feels most akin to “Ocean Avenue” was that Barker never really allowed them to overthink anything when it came to songwriting, a skill the band had unwittingly mastered as kids back in the “Ocean Avenue” days by writing songs on the fly in the studio with little time to care about how a song might end up before they recorded it.
“There’s something about the way we did this record with Travis, where we would walk in and did it in a way we haven’t done in 20 plus years with him saying ‘We’re gonna write and record a song today,’” Key said. “ It was a return to that style of songwriting where you have to kind of get out of your comfort zone and just throw and go.”
The final product moves swiftly over 10 songs, the track list starts with a flurry of energy from the bombastic opening drums of “Better Days” that propel a song on inner reflection on the past. It moves on to the high-energy heartbreak of “Love Letters,” featuring Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio. Avril Lavigne lends her soaring vocals to the unrequited love song “You Broke Me Too.” Songs like “City of Angels” and “Bedroom Posters” track episodes in Key’s life where his band’s hiatus took a negative toll on his outlook on life but also about looking for a way back to rediscovering himself. The album wraps with the acoustic lullaby “Big Blue Eyes,” which Keys wrote as a tribute to his son.
Though the songs on “Better Days” frequently wrestle with self-doubt and uncertainty, the response from fans has been surprisingly supportive, Key said.
“I cannot recall seeing this level of overwhelming positive feedback. People are just flipping out over these songs,” the frontman said. “The recording was such a whirlwind. When I listen to it, it’s still kind of like ‘When did I write that song?’ It happened so fast, and we made the record so fast, but I’m glad we just did it.” Despite the success, Key is hesitant to label the band comeback kids, “probably because we are officially passed kids label,” he said.
“Maybe it’s the return of the gentlemen?” Mackin joked.
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker produced the album, helping the band recapture the spontaneous energy that defined their 2003 breakthrough “Ocean Avenue.”
(Joe Brady)
Whatever they call themselves, coming back to the band after so many years of different experiences has made Yellowcard’s second shot at a career feel all the more rewarding.
“Because you feel like you know you’re capable of something other than being in this band, capable of connecting with your family in a way that you couldn’t when you were on the road all the time,” Mackin said. “There’s things that happened in that break that set us up for success as human beings, not just as creative people.”
For Key, it’s about taking all the lessons they’ve learned as a band and applying them to their future, realizing that the album’s title refers not just to the past behind them, but what lies ahead.
“This record needed to be the ultimate revival, the ultimate redemption song for our band,” Key said. “And so far it’s, it’s proven to be that.”
1 of 2 | Andrej Babis (C), leader of the ANO party, celebrates Saturday at an election event in Prague, Czech Republic. He is poised to become prime minister with the party’s first-place finish and a coalition with other parties. Photo by Martin Divisek/EPA
Oct. 4 (UPI) — Billionaire Andrej Babis is poised to return to power as prime minister in the Czech Republic in a four-year comeback that mirrors U.S. President Donald Trump.
Known as “Czech Trump,” Babis earned a decisive victory Saturday in a parliamentary election after being voted out of office. Elections took place on Friday and Saturday.
Babis’ populist ANO party, which means yes in Czech, took 36% of the vote, which is the party’s best-ever result, according to Czech Statistics Office with about 95% of precincts counted.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala conceded defeat as head of the Spolu (Together) Party with 23% followed by the STAN liberal, centrist party. There was a turnout of 68.9% in a nation of 10 million residents.
“I’m surprised they received so many votes,” Babi said in Prague. “I didn’t believe it at first. I hoped we would reach 30%, as our poll suggested 26.”
No major Czech party will outright majority in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament. Only parties that win at least 5% of the votes can enter parliament.
Czech President Petr Pavel, who largely is in a ceremonial role, has said will begin forming a coalition on Sunday. Babis wants support from the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy coalition and the populist Motorists party.
The Freedom and Direct Democracy captured 7.9% and Motorists 6.78%.
There could be a “a nightmare scenario for international, European partners” should Babis invite the right-wing parties to join the government, Daniel Hegedüs, director for Central Europe at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin, told The New York Times.
“There could be a huge reluctance to continue support to Ukraine, and to play the same constructive role in the European Union and NATO” as the Czech Republic has before, he said.
The 71-year-old former premier backs policies similar to Trump to spur economic growth.
He wants to cut taxes, increase pensions, cap energy prices, freeze politicians’ salaries and end funding for public television.
Babis capitalized on voter frustration with the current government’s response to a cost-of-living crisis. He also would promote the country’s place in Europe by focusing on transactional politics over values espoused by the EU.
Last year, he co-founded the Patriots for Europe, a right-wing main opposition party in the EU with Hungary’s Fidesz party, France’s Rassemblement National and Austria’s Freedom Party, both far-right groups.
Babis is riding a wave of populist politicians, including Prime Ministers Viktor Orban of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia.
But unlike Trump and those leaders, Babis has never aligned himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Babiš is not an extremist but a dealmaker and populist who wants to have a catch-all party and he believes that he can offer something to everybody,” Petr Kolar, a former Czech ambassador to Russia, told the Financial Times before the vote.
“I don’t think Babiš will be against [more] sanctions” on Russia, adding “I believe that Babis is inspired by Orban, he admires him, but he doesn’t want to be perceived as a troublemaker in Brussels so much.”
Like those leaders, Babis has vowed to buck the EU on defense spending and immigration.
Babis became wealthy with an agribusiness with the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in late 1989.
Czechoslovakia dissolved on Jan. 1, 1993, into Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Babis wants to resurrect the so-called Visegrad Four — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia — as a regional force uniting 65 million citizens for a better say in the 27-member EU. Czech Republic joined the bloc in 2004.
Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland at one time were communist nations, like the Soviet Union, which included Russia.
“We will never drag the Czech Republic to the east, never leave the EU or NATO,” Babis said in his last televised pre-election appeal to voters.
Pavel, a former NATO general, faced off against Babis in a 2023 presidential election won by Pavel.
Trailing at halftime for the first time all season, Palisades faced its toughest test so far and passed with flying colors to stay unbeaten Friday night in San Pedro.
Seeing his potent passing attack sputtering, coach Dylen Smith switched to the ground game in the second half and the Dolphins overcame a 13-point deficit to pull out a 35-28 intersectional victory over host Mary Star of the Sea.
“My message at halftime was we need to run the ball and we don’t need to win the game on one pass,” said Smith, who piloted Palisades to the City Section Division I final last fall. “We finally had a collective effort in the fourth quarter, Harrison Carter ran hard and the defense made stops when it needed to.”
Carter caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jack Thomas for the first points of the second half and later took a pitch around left end for a 50-yard score that cut the Dolphins’ deficit to 28-21 with 5:47 left in the third quarter.
After drawing double coverage and being held to one catch through three and a half quarters, star receiver Demare Dezeurn caught two touchdown passes with less than six minutes left, the second a juggling 46-yarder for the go-ahead score with 1:21 remaining.
On its ensuing drive Mary Star marched to Palisades’ 20, but Carter broke up a pass in the flat on fourth and 10 with 12 seconds left to seal the win.
Johnny Rivera scores the first of his four touchdowns runs for Mary Star of the Sea against Palisades.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Thomas, who entered the game having thrown for 1,304 yards and 17 touchdowns without an interception, was held to 17 yards passing in the first half but finished nine of 16 for 123 yards and four touchdowns.
Carter rushed for 123 yards and caught three passes for 40 yards for the Dolphins (5-0), who are third in The Times’ City Section rankings behind Birmingham and Carson,
Johnny Rivera rushed 40 times for 217 yards and four touchdowns for the Stars (3-2), who led 20-7 at halftime and 28-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Palisades begins Western League action next Friday at Westchester while the Stars host St. Genevieve in their Camino Real League opener the same night.
This semiconductor giant can sustain its impressive momentum in the long run.
ASML Holding(ASML 0.10%) is one of the most important players in the global semiconductor industry. The Dutch semiconductor equipment giant manufactures machines that play a critical role in helping chipmakers and foundries print advanced chips.
However, ASML stock has been subdued since hitting an all-time high on July 8 last year. It has shed 11% of its value since then, while the broader PHLX Semiconductor Sector index has gained 10% during this period. ASML’s underperformance since July last year can be attributed to the potential effect of tariffs on the company’s equipment sales, along with its poorer-than-expected guidance for 2025.
The good part is that ASML stock has started gaining some momentum lately. The stock has jumped 27% in the past month, thanks to positive Wall Street commentary and the strength of the semiconductor market owing to the robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips. It won’t be surprising to see ASML sustaining this momentum and delivering solid gains to investors over the next three years.
AI is set to drive stronger growth in semiconductor equipment spending
The proliferation of AI has played a central role in driving robust growth in semiconductor demand over the last three years. The picture for the next three years seems favorable as well, with Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su forecasting that sales of AI accelerator chips such as graphics processing units (GPUs) and custom processors are set to increase at an annual pace of 60% through 2028, generating a massive $500 billion in annual revenue.
It won’t be surprising to see that happening, given how fast the demand for AI computing in the cloud is increasing. Cloud infrastructure providers such as Oracle, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon don’t have enough data center capacity at their disposal to meet customer demand for training and deploying AI models, or for running inference applications in the cloud.
This has led to a massive order backlog at the leading cloud computing companies. For instance, the combined backlog of Amazon, Microsoft, and Google stood at a whopping $669 billion at the end of the previous quarter. Oracle recently reported remaining performance obligations (RPO) worth a whopping $455 billion, up by a massive 359% from the year-ago period.
So, these cloud giants are already sitting on more than $1 trillion in revenue backlog that they need to fulfill. That’s the reason why the spending on chipmaking equipment can be expected to accelerate over the next three years, as these companies are likely to keep spending huge amounts of money on setting up data center infrastructure. That’s going to create demand for more chips, which in turn will lead to an increase in demand for the chipmaking equipment that ASML sells.
What’s worth noting is that the chips used for tackling AI workloads — be it in data centers, personal computers (PCs), or smartphones — are manufactured using advanced process nodes. These advanced nodes help make chips with small transistor sizes, usually below 7-nanometer (nm). Not surprisingly, leading chipmakers are looking to make their chips smaller to increase computing performance and reduce energy consumption simultaneously.
ASML is the only company that can help chipmakers print smaller chips with its high NA (numerical aperture) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, which can be used for making chips that are just 2nm in size. This explains why companies such as SK Hynix, Intel, and Samsung have been lining up to purchase ASML’s high NA machines to further shrink the size of their process nodes in a bid to manufacture cutting-edge chips.
ASML’s monopoly-like position in the EUV lithography market explains why the demand for its equipment is expected to take off. S&P Global estimates that ASML’s EUV sales could rise an impressive 49% this year, followed by further growth in unit volumes and the average selling price (ASP) through the end of the decade.
Industry association SEMI is expecting the spending on equipment capable of producing advanced chips to increase to more than $50 billion by 2028, which would be a big jump from last year’s outlay of $26 billion. This could pave the way for substantial upside over the next three years.
ASML could turn out to be a solid investment for the next three years
The points discussed above make it clear that ASML has the potential to deliver solid growth over the next three years. Its earnings growth is expected to accelerate remarkably in 2028 following an expected single-digit increase next year.
What’s worth noting is that ASML’s net income has increased by 67% in the first six months of 2025 from the same period last year. Given that the company is expected to witness a nice jump in the ASP of its EUV machines over the next three years, especially the high-NA machines, there is a solid chance that it could deliver stronger growth than what analysts are forecasting.
Assuming it can clock even $40 per share in earnings in 2028 and trades at 33 times earnings after three years (in line with the tech-laden Nasdaq-100 index), its stock price could hit $1,320. That would be a 38% increase from current levels. But don’t be surprised to see this AI stock delivering much bigger gains. The market could reward it with a premium valuation on account of the potential acceleration in growth.
Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Mark Allen survived a spirited comeback from China’s Zhou Yuelong to win the English Open in a final-frame decider and claim his first ranking title in 19 months.
Northern Ireland’s Allen led Sunday’s final in Brentwood 6-2 and 7-3 before Zhou roared back to win five consecutive frames and lead for the first time.
Former world number one Allen, however, showed his own powers of recovery to win the last two frames and win 9-8 in a final that lasted seven hours over two sessions.
It is Allen’s 12th ranking title and first since the Players Championship in February 2024.
With Sunday’s victory, 39-year-old Allen earned the £100,000 top prize and lifted the Steve Davis Trophy for the first time.
It was a fitting end to the week for the former UK Championship and Masters winner, who also edged out Stuart Bingham, Ding Junhui, Elliot Slessor and Jak Jones in final-frame deciders to reach the final.
“I thought Zhou battled really hard in that second session, he played some good stuff,” said Allen.
“He put me under pressure, I missed a few balls and I was nervous. I missed a few that I shouldn’t have but at 8-7 I suddenly switched on a bit.
“It’s a good trait to have. I don’t want to keep relying on it but I felt as good as any part of the match in those last two frames, but I feel for Zhou, he probably deserved that for the character he showed.”
TV presenter Holly Willoughby is reportedly plotting a bold primetime comeback with husband Dan Baldwin’s backing, aiming to reinvent herself as TV’s next big solo host
22:57, 20 Sep 2025Updated 22:58, 20 Sep 2025
Holly Willoughby plotting to become the next Graham Norton in huge career comeback(Image: 2024 Karwai Tang/Getty)
Holly Willoughby is said to be quietly preparing the next phase of her career, with husband Dan Baldwin stepping in to help steer the plans. After some time away from the spotlight, the couple are said to be putting together a strategy that could mark her biggest return yet.
Sources claim Holly’s aim is nothing less than a primetime slot, with the ambition to rival the likes of Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross. “Anyone who has written Holly off has another thing coming,” an insider revealed.
“She’s never been more determined. The next move is going to be spectacular, and Dan is her secret weapon.”
The former This Morning presenter, 44, who met Baldwin through work back in 2004, has faced a turbulent few years both personally and professionally. Her career slowed after she left daytime TV in 2023, while Baldwin went on to notch up a string of successes, including the reboot of Gladiators.
Holly previously presented This Morning for 11 years alongside Phillip Schofield (Image: ITV)
That difference reportedly caused some tension, but the pair are now firmly aligned, determined to re-establish Holly as one of Britain’s biggest presenters.
“She and Dan both know she has what it takes to go solo in a primetime evening slot, and they plan to make her the biggest female presenter in the UK again. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with,” the source added to The Sun.
Holly has reportedly already been reaching out for advice and is said to have been quietly reconnecting with close friends such as Emma Bunton, Christine Lampard, and former Celebrity Juice co-star Fearne Cotton.
Holly Willoughby previously hosted You Bet! with Stephen(Image: ITV)
She has also recently been pictured alongside a strong circle of showbiz pals including Christine, Myleene Klass, and Spice Girls Nicole and Natalie Appleton.
Her break from television followed a deeply traumatic period. Gavin Plumb, who plotted to abduct and murder her, was later jailed for at least 16 years.
Holly then withdrew from public life to focus on her family – Harry, 16, Belle, 14, and Chester, 10 – and only dipped back into screens with Netflix’s Celebrity Bear Hunt alongside Bear Grylls, which was sadly axed after one season.
Now, with her children older and more independent, she is said to be considering a return on her own terms.
Holly is hoping to rival the likes of Graham Norton in her new career move(Image: BBC/So Television/PA Media/Matt Crossick)
“This isn’t a new thing – Holly has always had ambitions way beyond the This Morning sofa,” the insider explained. “She can see herself being the first big female primetime chat show host – a bit like a female Jonathan Ross. She’s 45 next year and she’s ready to go solo.”
Willoughby has always been most visible as part of a presenting duo, particularly with Phillip Schofield, but her focus now is on standing alone. She wants the top guests, the best slot, and the chance to finally carve out her own space in evening television.
The Mirror has approached Holly’s representatives for comment on this story.
Maybe it was the reset for Slessor, who gets to 19 points in this break without much concern.
Elliot Slessor 4-4 Mark Allen
We’re headed for a decider!
And if you’ve been here for the last couple of hours, that absolutely won’t surprise you.
Slessor pots the pink before the pair have a couple of shots at putting the black safe.
That was, until Slessor leaves Allen the straightest pot he could hope for into the yellow pocket which he smashes away.
Only one winner from here but hopefully, for Slessor’s sake, the fact it’s a one-frame shoot-out will reset him. As the last hour and a bit has been pretty desperate to say the least.
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (46-59)
Oooooh, Allen misses the pink for the frame!
A routine pot too and the pink bounces away to safety and he takes a 13-point lead with 13 on the table!
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (46-0)
It WAS the big opportunity and again it goes begging for Elliot Slessor.
It’s actually getting tough to watch now as we tick into Saturday morning.
Mark Allen returns to the table once more.
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Mark Allen (33-0)
The Slessor break continues as he takes his time over each shot knowing this is his opportunity.
The Cincinnati Bengals have started 0-2 or worse in the past three seasons and Joe Burrow was 1-9 in the first two weeks in his career, so their one-point win against the Cleveland Browns will be a huge relief.
Even more encouraging was the fact the much-maligned defence stepped up to clinch their 17-16 victory.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka became only the second rookie since the 1970 merger to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute as they edged Atlanta thanks to the Falcons missing a last-gasp field goal.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty scored as they beat the Patriots in New England, and Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt had an even better debut with 82 yards and a score as the Washington Commanders dominated the New York Giants.
Matthew Stafford became the 10th player in NFL history to reach 60,000 passing yards as the Los Angeles Rams beat the Houston Texans, while the San Francisco 49ers lost George Kittle to a hamstring injury in victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Headline rookie Travis Hunter made his eagerly anticipated debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars, taking six catches for 33 yards as a receiver and playing six snaps on defence in a comfortable win over Carolina.
Top overall draft pick Cam Ward lost on his debut as the Tennessee Titans were beaten by the Denver Broncos.
Angus Bell scored a dramatic winning try six minutes after the final hooter as Australia overturned a 21-7 half-time deficit to beat Argentina 28-24 in the Rugby Championship.
Juan Cruz Mallia had put Argentina 24-21 up with a penalty in the 79th minute but, after the Wallabies turned down three opportunities to level with their own kick, Bell went over the line.
“Full credit to the team, we could have gone for goal there and taken the draw,” said Australia captain Harry Wilson, whose side recovered from 22-5 down to beat South Africa 38-22 last month.
“Everyone believed that we could finish the job. And if boys want to win a game, we may as well back them.
“[I’m] proud of the boys, we weren’t at our best, but to find a way to get a win against such a high-quality opposition is a real credit to them.”
The Pumas had travelled to Queensland on the back of a first home win against New Zealand in their previous game.
And, despite a Nic White try for Australia, they went 21-7 up with the help of Bautista Delguy and Mateo Carreras tries, along with three penalties from Santi Carreras.
Two tries from Joseph Suaalii hauled Australia level at 21-21 before the late drama earned the hosts victory.
“It was far from a good performance,” said Pumas skipper Julian Montoya.
“Congrats to Australia, they took their opportunities. But in the second half, we gave away a lot of penalties that we can control, like offside, and then we gave them position pretty easy.”
Seattle led 85-80 with 2:47 to play but Hamby scored five points and Jackson four in an 11-0 closing run to pull the Sparks within 1½ games of the Storm and Indiana for the final two playoff spots. Seattle missed its last five shots.
Kelsey Plum added 14 points for the Sparks (19-20) and Rae Burrell had 11. Hamby had 11 rebounds as the Sparks dominated the boards 37-23. The also had a 60-30 advantage on points in the paint.
Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points on five first half three-pointers and two second half three-point plays for the Storm (22-20). Skylar Diggins also had 21 points and Ezi Magbegor added 11.
Gabby Williams had two baskets and an assist to fuel a 10-0 run for the Storm, who led 25-20 after one quarter.
Ogwumike had three three-pointers in less than a minute, making her five for five, for a 36-25 lead 3½ minutes into the second quarter. The Storm had six threes in the quarter, with Erica Wheeler’s in the closing seconds making it 53-39 at the half.
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, left, drives to the basket in front of Seattle guard Erica Wheeler during the first half Monday.
(Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Diggins opened the second half with a three for a 17-point lead, but the Sparks hit their first five shots and were 12 for 17 in the quarter. The final shot was a buzzer-beating one-handed three-pointer by Jackson from beyond the top of the key to cut the Storm’s lead to 73-68 entering the fourth quarter.
The Sparks play at second-place Atlanta on Wednesday and Friday. The Storm are home against New York on Friday.
With Oasis fever sweeping the UK, there are plenty of other musical brands Brits dream of seeing make a comeback
Liam Gallagher of Oasis performs on stage during the opening night (Image: Gareth Cattermole, Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Queen has been voted the top dream musical comeback by Brits, following the storming success of Oasis’ reformation.
As Oasis mania sweeps the nation, a survey asked music fans to name the artists and bands they’d most love to see return to the stage, with Queen securing the top spot with 29% of the vote.
Music legends from various eras including The Beatles (28%), Fleetwood Mac (19%), Spice Girls (13%), Girls Aloud (10%) and Aretha Franklin (9%) also feature on the list of stars we’re itching to see live again.
Elvis (23%), Whitney Houston (20%) and R. E.M (13%) also made the cut, reports the Daily Star.
A whopping 70% of respondents are thrilled about Oasis’ return to the live music scene, with nearly half (47%) confessing they’d go to great lengths to see their favourite bands if they were to make a comeback.
It’s hardly surprising that a massive nine out of ten (90%) agree that experiencing live music is one of life’s greatest joys, with three quarters (73%) loving the atmosphere and two thirds (66%) savouring the experience.
Mercury died in 1991(Image: Getty Images)
Over half (59%) say there’s nothing quite like enjoying live music with their partner, while 53% love letting loose with their mates.
The 90s (45%) was crowned the best decade for music, followed by the 80s (40%), 2000s (30%) and 70s (20%), according to the 2,000 Brits polled by Marella Cruises, TUI’s UK ocean cruise line.
A whopping 92% of Brits use music to get them in the holiday mood, with 90s tunes (49%), classic holiday anthems (36%), 00s hits (23%) and lounge music (21%) all contributing to that holiday feeling.
Yet, despite our love for music, nearly half (48%) of us believe that listening to it on speakers or phones doesn’t compare to experiencing it live, which is why Brits are planning to attend an average of three live gigs and festivals this year.
A significant 64% are keen to attend more gigs this year than last, to make the most of who’s performing live (44%) and who’s making a comeback (43%).
Other factors that make live music unforgettable include creating lasting memories (52%), dancing the night away (40%), spending time with mates (37%), belting out the lyrics (37%) and feeling the rhythm in your bones (37%).
To cater to the nation’s craving for 90s music and their dream gig, Marella Cruises has launched its ‘Electric Sunsets 90s vs 00s’ themed cruise – a three-day adult-only event, which is reviving the 90s and 00s with headline acts like Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls and B*Witched.
Chris Hackney, Managing Director at Marella Cruises, commented: “The latest research highlights a growing trend among Brits embracing musical comebacks-especially from the 90s, which remains the nation’s most beloved music decade. That’s why we’re over the moon to announce the return of our Electric Sunsets themed cruise for its fifth year. This unique voyage offers a chance to sail the Mediterranean while enjoying unforgettable entertainment with a nostalgic twist, featuring acts like Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls, B*Witched, and Booty Luv. Passengers, whether new to cruising or seasoned cruisers, can relive iconic hits while enjoying a one-of-a-kind cruise holiday experience.”
The coastal resort has welcomed back its water park and a new market, visitors say the seafront has ‘improved 100 per cent’ – and that’s just the beginning
David Powell and Emily Heward
12:02, 25 Aug 2025Updated 12:04, 25 Aug 2025
The seaside town of Rhyl is making a comeback(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)
The Welsh seaside resort of Rhyl was once a magnet for generations of holidaymakers. But in recent years, the tourist crowds have ebbed away as cheap foreign holidays have drawn them abroad.
North Wales Live reporter David Powell paid a visit to Rhyl on a sunny afternoon to find out what visitors had to think about the improvements, and the consensus was clear.
The promenade has been raised and widened and sea defence work has also taken place as part of a £69m programme of work.
A number of new and returning amenities are hoping to lure visitors back, including street food hall the Queen’s Market, which opened last month with a host of stalls and bars.
Queen’s Market in Rhyl is now up and running for customers and traders(Image: Denbighshire County Council)
The town’s SC2 waterpark also recently reopened, having shut 18 months ago due to storm damage, while the former Vue cinema complex is being brought back to life by new operators Merlin Cinemas.
The site of the SeaQuarium aquarium, which closed in 2023, has also been cleared, ridding the seafront of a derelict eyesore.
Sitting on a bench on the promenade, Kenneth and Janet Hensall, from Denton, Manchester, spoke positively about the improvements.
Janet and Kenneth Henshall approved of Rhyl’s revamped promenade(Image: David Powell)
Kenneth said: “Whoever’s bright idea it was to do this work deserves a pat on the back. I’ve been coming here for 70 years. The front has improved 100 per cent.”
Janet added: “It’s just a pity about the back.”
Further along, towards the lifeboat station, a family-of-four from Stoke-on-Trent were also enjoying their visit to Rhyl.
Andy Walsh, who was visiting with wife Kathy and their children Charlie, nine, and Hattie, six, said of the prom: “It looks a lot better. It’s just a shame there’s not many people here and there’s so much litter.”
Andy and Kathy Walsh, with their children Hattie, six, and Charlie, nine, were visiting Rhyl from Stoke-on-Trent(Image: David Powell)
Litter was a problem also noticed by 68-year-old Kevin, from Wrexham.
“It’s a shame it’s not as busy as it once was many years ago,” he added.
“The only thing that bothers me is having to pay to park down a side street.”
On the beach, Steve, in his 40s and from Stockport, was enjoying a family break. He said his children were too young to enjoy the new facilities just yet and the beach remained the main attraction for them.
“I have always thought Rhyl was a quite a nice place,” he said. “We come here quite often.
“We’ve only really come for the sand. I like this beach because even at high tide there’s still some sand. It’s not a five-mile walk to have a paddle!”
Denbighshire County Council described the work to Rhyl’s seafront as a “dynamic revival” that will deliver “a major impact for residents, businesses, and visitors”.
Craig Sparrow, Chair of Rhyl Neighbourhood Board, added: “It’s fantastic to see so much positive change happening across the promenade.
“This progress is about more than buildings and infrastructure – it’s about pride, aspiration and unlocking Rhyl’s potential as a great place to live, work and visit. These projects are a direct result of community input and collaborative leadership.”
The transformation isn’t over yet. At the cleared SeaQuarium site, a new public area has been opened up and plans are being developed for future use of the space.
Work is also progressing on a brand-new Drift Park on West Parade, which will replace the former children’s play area with more modern and inclusive facilities.
Sandra Sharp, newly appointed Programme Manager for Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl, added: “This is just the beginning. We’re seeing real energy and momentum building in Rhyl, and we’re working to ensure local people are central to the journey.”
Reigning Spanish League champions recovered from a two-goal, halftime deficit to pull off a stunning comeback against Levante.
Barcelona fought back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 at Levante with a late own-goal by the hosts in La Liga.
Defending champions Barcelona needed Pedri Gonzalez and Ferran Torres to score early in the second half to equalise after the newly promoted Levante had rolled to a surprise two-goal lead at halftime on Saturday.
Lamine Yamal then helped to produce the winning goal when he curled a cross into the 6-yard box, and Levante’s Unai Elgezabal headed into his own net.
Levante striker Ivan Romero earlier struck from a counterattack in the 15th minute that started with a ball lost by Yamal. Jose Luis Morales made it 2-0 in first-half injury time by converting a penalty after a video review called a handball by Alejandro Balde when he blocked Morales’s shot.
But Pedri started the fightback in the 49th when he received Yamal’s pass well outside the area, picked his spot in the corner of the net and blasted in a shot from long range.
Ferran, who had hit the woodwork in the first half, levelled in the 52nd when he fended off his marker and volleyed in Raphinha’s corner kick.
Barcelona then pressed for the decider, which Yamal helped find just after the 90 minutes were up.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Pedri for his goal, saying that “it changed the match”.
“The first goal we scored helped us a lot to get our confidence in the box, but until the end, it was not easy for us to get the three points.”
Barcelona won its opener at nine-man Mallorca 3-0 last weekend.
Barcelona’s Ferran Torres scores his team’s second goal against Levante in the 52nd minute [David Ramirez/Soccrates via Getty Images]
Rashford makes first league start
Newcomer Marcus Rashford made his first league start for Barcelona since his loan move from Manchester United as a left-side forward for Flick.
The English international was replaced by Dani Olmo at halftime, after the biggest threats had come from Pedri’s passes in the middle and Yamal’s incursions down the right.
“I think Marcus [Rashford] had some situations in the first half where he showed how good he is and how he can help us, and that is how we have to continue,” Flick said.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski played his first minutes of the season as a late substitute after recovering from a muscle injury.
Barca will visit Rayo Vallecano next week as it continues its title defence. Levante, which has lost both its opening fixtures, will travel to Elche, hoping for a more positive result.
Marcus Rashford, right, on loan from Premier League club Manchester United, made his debut for Barcelona against Levante on Saturday [Jose Breton/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
DETROIT — Taylor Ward homered and fell a triple short of the cycle, driving in three runs to help the Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Saturday night.
Ward had an RBI double in the first, singled and scored in the fourth and hit a two-run homer in the fifth. He grounded out in the seventh.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (6-7) gave up four runs in five innings. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 21st save and his career-best 20th consecutive outing without conceding an earned run.
Detroit’s Charlie Morton (7-10) matched a season high with 10 strikeouts, but the 41-year-old gave up six runs on seven hits in 4⅓ innings.
The Angels (56-61) took a 1-0 lead in the first on Ward’s RBI double, and the Tigers (67-51) got two in the second on Andy Ibáñez’s RBI single and Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly.
Morton struck out seven straight after Ward’s double, with Mike Trout breaking the streak with a leadoff groundout in the fourth. Ward singled, Morton hit Yoán Moncada, and Jo Adell hit a three-run homer to make it 4-2.
The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the inning on Matt Vierling’s sacrifice fly and Gleyber Torres’s RBI double.
Ward ended Morton’s night with a two-run homer in the fifth. Luis Rengifo made it 7-4 with a homer in the eighth.
Trailing 6-4, the Tigers had runners on first and second with no one out in the sixth, but Kikuchi struck out pinch-hitter Kerry Carpenter and got Torres to ground out.
Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure has reportedly been axed by ITV after just one series, despite the show marking the TV presenter’s big comeback to British televisions
Noel Edmonds’ TV comeback has been cancelled by ITV
ITV has reportedly axed Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure after just one series. The show was the presenter’s first proper return to TV since he took part in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2018.
The three-part series, which aired on ITV1 earlier this year, followed Noel, 76, and his wife Elizabeth Davies as they showed off their new life in New Zealand. Viewers watched the couple as they spoke about their interest in crystal healing and living a sustainable lifestyle.
Noel Edmonds on his ITV show, Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure(Image: ITV)
A spokesperson for ITV confirmed to the Daily Mail on Thursday: “There are no current plans for more new episodes but audiences can enjoy the show on ITVX.” Meanwhile, a TV insider told The Sun that the cancellation is “a blow” to Noel, who thought that he was “on to a winning idea”.
They added: “There was a great buzz around the series and it was well received by both viewers and critics alike.” The Mirror has reached out to ITV for comment.
On the series, Noel opened up about the “dark times” he’s faced in the past, explaining that his home features a sculpture called Guardian which is a permanent reminder of his production company unexpectedly going bankrupt. “There’s a description of my story here, for guests to understand why I had Guardian created. My Unique group of companies was deliberately collapsed by some corrupt bankers,” he said.
“And I’m safe in saying that because my bank manager went to prison, along with four others, for 50. What they were doing was pushing businesses over the edge and then taking assets—that’s basically what it was about. When the companies went into administration in 2006, I thought I was a crap businessman. I thought it was my fault. 70 people lost their jobs.”
Noel then revealed: “And I said to Liz, who was a fantastic support, ‘When,’ not if, When I win my battle to get my losses back, I’m gonna get the great Weta Studios, Lord of the Rings, Avatar, the real creative powerhouses here in New Zealand, I’m gonna ask them to build me a statue.”
The series also saw Noel propose to wife Liz for the fifth time, asking her: “Deal or no deal?” He said: “We’ve been married a lot. We got married in a civil ceremony in the Cotswolds, then we went to our home in France and an Anglican minister who I knew very well came over and he was going to bless us and he did the whole thing again.
“So this became a bit of a joke with our friends. Oh yeah, we were filming on a cruise ship and the captain married us again. We’ve done four. But we want a Kiwi one. And there’s a compelling reason why we should get married again, in New Zealand. We own a chapel. So why wouldn’t we?”
Teenager Victoria Mboko will face Naomi Osaka in the final of the Canadian Open after defying the odds to upset former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
The 18-year-old Canadian, ranked 85th in the world, lost the first set and saved a match point in the second before going on to seal a 1-6 7-5 7-6 (7-4) victory in Montreal.
Mboko, a wildcard entry for the tournament, will face former world number one Osaka on Thursday in her first WTA 1000 final.
“I had everyone supporting me and pushing me through,” said Mboko.
“Without you guys, I don’t think I would’ve been able to pull this through.”
The Canadian, who is set to move into the top 50 in the rankings when they are updated next week, has already beaten Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin on her remarkable run to the final.
She started the year ranked 333rd in the world but opened the season with a stunning 22-match winning streak.
Osaka stands in her way of a famous victory, following the Japanese’s 6-2 7-6 (9-7) win against Danish 16th seed Clara Tauson.
Catherine Tyldesley is set to reprise her role as blonde bombshell Eva Price on Coronation Street, and has gone back to her character’s signature colour in time for filming
15:46, 05 Aug 2025Updated 15:50, 05 Aug 2025
Catherine Tyldesley is said to be making a return to Coronation Street and has gone back to blonde ahead of filming(Image: ITV)
Catherine Tyldesley has dyed her hair in time for her return to Coronation Street. The actress, 41, is set to be make a major comeback onto the ITV soap as she returns to her signature role of Eva Price, seven years on from her initial exit.
During her initial stint on the cobbles, Eva sported platinum blonde locks but after she quit the soap, Catherine quickly went back to her natural brunette colour as she competed on Strictly Come Dancing. She kept the darker look as she took on roles in shows such as Scarborough and Viewpoint but an Instagram post on Tuesday revealed that she is a blonde once again.
The actress shared two snaps of herself posing with friends as she headed out for dinner, in Manchester and The Sun reports that the outing comes just days before she is supposed to making a return to the set at MediaCityUK to begin filming. Catherine, who was a brunette when she took on her first big role in the BBC drama Lilies prior to joining Coronation Street, previously explained that bosses just felt that it was right that barmaid Eva would have blonde hair. It comes after reports of all the celebrities rumoured to be joining BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Catherine showed off her freshly-dyed locks as she went out for dinner with friends close to where the ITV soap is filmed(Image: auntiecath17/instagram)
In 2019, she explained during an interview on Lorraine: “When I first started Corrie I’d done a sketch show and was blonde. They felt Eva was blonde and so did I. I keep walking past windows and mirror and think ‘Oh!’ and forget I’ve done it. A lady came up to me and said I think you should be blonde.”
Reports surrounding the return of Leanne Battersby’s sister emerged earlier this year, but then nothing was announced. Fresh reports just last week claimed the planned plot was now approaching.
A source told The Sun: “Corrie bosses were never going to take EastEnders shrewd decision to reinstate Kat and Alfie at the Vic lying down. So they took their time looking for the perfect actor to play her husband to Eva as she makes her return to Corrie as the new boss of the Rovers.”
Catherine is naturally brunette and went back to her original look shortly after she quit Coronation Street in 2018(Image: PA)
The insider added that Corrie bosses knew they had found the ‘perfect’ actor as soon as the Irish-born star walked into the room. They added of his character: “Aaron’s character is also someone not to be messed with, and the locals are going to be in for a shock if they think they can take advantage of his good nature and that cheeky Irish charm.
“It’s the start of an exciting new chapter in the pub’s history.” Aaron is also known for his role as Jamie Maguire in Shameless, whilst Catherine has starred in The Good Ship Murder and earlier this year appeared opposite Siobhan Finneran in an episode of the ITV drama Protection.
She was also set to star in a cancelled touring production of Bonnie and Clyde: The Musical last year and went viral over a social media scandal known as Cakegate in late 2023. The actress first appeared on Coronation Street in 2011 as the daughter of Stella Price (Michelle Collins), who had arrived to take over the pub herself and also reveal herself as the long-lost mother of Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson).
Over the course of seven years, Catherine saw her alter-ego through numerous relationships with the likes of Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas), Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis) and Nick Tilsey (Ben Price). Her most notable relationship was with Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward), but that started to go awry when he began an affair with Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon).
Instead of confronting Aidan head-on about his infidelity, she took revenge by putting a bright pink Range Rover on his credit card and then decided to fake a pregnancy. Maria discovered Eva’s lies and exposed them all at the wedding but Eva later discovered that she was in fact pregnant with Aidan’s baby.
In order to go through with the birth in secret, she went off to a remote cottage and had planned to give baby Susie away to Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor). However, Aidan later took his own life and Eva began to grow close to her daughter, eventually opting to leave in the back of a taxi with her for good.
If Eva does return and take over the Rovers, she will be following in the footsteps of former characters such as Annie Walker (Doris Speed), Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) and Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard), all of whom have helmed the nation’s most famous pub over the course of the show’s history. One such landlady is Jenny Connor, who is confirmed to be leaving the ITV soap.
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Top seed Coco Gauff progressed to the fourth round of the Canadian Open after a comeback win against Veronika Kudermetova in Montreal.
The world number two recovered from a set and a break down to win 4-6 7-5 6-2 and make it to the final 16 of the tournament for the fifth time running.
The 2025 French Open champion will now face the winner of the clash between 18-year-old wildcard Victoria Mboko of Canada and Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova.
Fourth seed Mirra Andreeva exited the competition after she was beaten 7-6 6-5 by 28th seed McCartney Kessler, who will meet Ukraine’s 27th seed Marta Kostyuk, who posted a 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win against 15th seed Daria Kasatkina.
Unseeded Zhu Lin of China is also through to the fourth round after a 6-2 6-2 victory against Suzan Lamens.
In the men’s draw in Toronto, third seed Lorenzo Musetti crashed out of the tournament after the Italian was beaten 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 by 26th seed Alex Michelsen of the United States in the third round.
Michelsen’s win sets up an all-American clash in the fourth round where he could face either Learner Tien or Reilly Opelka.
Eighth seed Casper Ruud also reached the fourth round with a 7-6 6-4 win against Nuno Borges and will face 11th seed Karen Khachanov, who overcame Emilio Nava 6-7 6-4 6-1.
Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo got the better of compatriot Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets and will face either top seed Alexander Zverev or Matteo Arnaldi in the next stage.
