SUNNYVALE, Calif. — A young woman is desperate to raise $50,000 for her mom’s life-saving medical treatment. She will get the money, but only if she agrees to her stepsister’s unusual proposal: to marry her wayward fiance, who comes from a wealthy family but also has a rap sheet.
That’s the plot line for an episode of “The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband.”
That may sound like a telenovela. In fact, it’s a popular series that appears on ReelShort, an app where audiences can view on their smartphones over-the-top, dramatic tales reminiscent of soap operas called micro dramas.
Unlike a regular TV show, this drama unfolds over 60 episodes, each lasting one to three minutes. After six episodes, viewers hit the paywall, where they could continue watching ad-free with a $20 weekly subscription, watch ads or pay as they go.
Already, the series has garnered more than 494 million views since it launched in 2022 and ReelShort says it has made more than $4 million from the show.
With titles like “The Billionaire Sex Addict and His Therapist,” “How to Tame a Silver Fox” and “Pregnant by My Ex’s Dad,” micro dramas lean heavily into sensationalism and light on budgets, which are typically less than $300,000 per series. And many of them are filmed in Los Angeles.
Director and co-writer Cate Fogarty watches actor Diego Escobar on dual vertical monitors. The film, by platform DramaShorts, is shot vertically to be adapted for viewing on a phone screen.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
Short serialized dramas first took off in China, where they are hugely popular and generated revenues of $6.9 billion last year, even surpassing domestic box office sales, according to DataEye, a Shenzhen-based digital research firm.
Now, Hollywood is starting to take note of the bite-sized format.
In August, the venture arm for Lloyd Braun — the former ABC executive and chairman of talent agency WME — and L.A.-based entertainment studio Cineverse formed a joint venture called MicroCo to build a platform for micro dramas.
“Traditional Hollywood moved away from a whole genre and storytelling that fans love, and I think micro dramas really took advantage of that and really leaned into that fandom,” said Susan Rovner, chief content officer of MicroCo.
Studio interest
Major studios are investing in micro dramas in an attempt to replicate China’s success and find new ways to appeal to younger audiences that are accustomed to watching short-form videos on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and other platforms while on the go.
Fox Entertainment recently announced an equity stake in Ukraine-based Holywater, a producer of micro dramas. Under the deal, Fox Entertainment Studios (a division of Fox Entertainment) will produce more than 200 vertical video titles over the next two years for Holywater.
And Walt Disney Co.’s accelerator program, which invests in startups, recently named micro drama business DramaBox, whose parent company is based in Singapore, as part of its 2025 class.
David Min, Walt Disney Co.’s vice president of innovation, said he believes micro dramas will continue to do well, especially with younger audiences accustomed to watching entertainment on their phones.
“We have to be where everyone is consuming their content, so that’s an opportunity for us,” Min said in an interview. “…This is just another new platform to experiment with and explore and see if it’s right for the company.”
First assistant director Chakameh Marandi, left, and actress Leah Eckardt wait during filming at Heritage Props last month in Burbank.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
This year, ReelShort, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., says it will produce more than 400 shows, up from 150 last year.
All of the productions are filmed in the U.S. and mostly in Los Angeles, said ReelShort CEO Joey Jia in an interview. The company plans to build a studio in Culver City that will adapt its most popular micro dramas into films.
“We offer a lot of opportunity,” Jia said.
Warsaw-based DramaShorts said in 2026 it aims to shoot 120 micro drama projects in the U.S., up from 45 to 50 this year. About 25% of those will be in the L.A. area.
DramaShorts co-founder Leo Ovdiienko says, “People are so used to consume content through social media, through TikTok, through Instagram, through Facebook and to share information.” .
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
“People are so used to consume content through social media, through TikTok, through Instagram, through Facebook and to share information,” said DramaShorts co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Leo Ovdiienko, 29, in an interview. “I believe it’s only a matter of time before the big players will also come to this stage.”
The company works with production partners in L.A. who employ actors, writers and crew members who work on the quick-turn projects, a bright spot in a struggling job market.
“The plus side of filming in L.A. is it is the epicenter of Hollywood,” said executive producer, writer and director Chrissie De Guzman, who has worked on DramaShorts projects. “We know how the state of our industry is doing right now, so a lot of talent have moved into the vertical space.”
Though vertical dramas are the length of a movie, they are spliced up into small chapters and produced quickly. A 100-page script might be shot in just one week as opposed to a month for a feature film.
Each chapter usually features a cliffhanger or dramatic moment — whether that’s a slap or a character in danger.
“It just hits every little emotional point,” said Caroline Ingeborn, chief operating officer at Palo Alto-based Luma AI, which provides micro drama companies with AI tools. “It hooks you in like this and because it’s so easy to press [Play]. You just need to see the next episode.”
The crew of vertical film “Sleeping Princess” break between scenes.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
Labor tensions
With ultra-low budgets, many of the productions are non-union, prompting some writers and actors to work under pseudonyms to avoid facing sanctions from their unions, said several people who work on the shows.
In an effort to address the issue, performers union SAG-AFTRA recently announced it has created agreements that cover low-budget vertical dramas.
Writers Guild of America West President Michele Mulroney said in an interview the union is aware that “there are companies that are trying to do this work non-union, so the guild wants to help our members … in ways that they can work on verticals and make sure they get that work covered.”
Micro drama producers said they welcome talking with the unions, but questioned whether their business models could support union contracts.
“We’re not anti-union at all,” said Erik Heintz, executive producer at Snow Story Productions, which makes vertical dramas for platforms including DramaShorts.
Despite labor tensions, these short-form dramas have provided a key source of employment for Hollywood workers who’ve struggled to find jobs as production has moved out of California.
Corey Gibbons, 44, a director of photography, said vertical dramas kept him in the business when other work dried up.
“I have a feeling that we’re on the brink of something that’s really going to change,” Gibbons said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
So was 27-year-old actor Sam Nejad, a former contestant on “The Bachelorette” who started acting in vertical dramas in January. He said he’s landed one or two lead roles a month since then and can earn $10,000 a week.
“It’s a new art,” Nejad said. “The new Tarantinos, the new Scorseses are all coming through this.”
ReelShort’s office in Sunnyvale looks more like a typical Silicon Valley startup than a Hollywood studio.
Jia, the chief executive, sits at a desk in an open floor seating area with his staff. Along the office walls are framed posters with titles like “Prince With Benefits,” “Never Divorce a Secret Billionaire Heiress” and “All the Wrong Reasons.” Jia proudly points out why each program was notable on a recent tour of the space.
“I don’t have money to hire celebrities,” Jia said. “I have 100% rely on story.”
The 46-year-old entrepreneur, who has an electrical engineering background, launched his business in 2022. At the time, there wasn’t much interest from Hollywood studios.
The skepticism followed the high-profile collapse of Quibi, the startup led by studio mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg and tech executive Meg Whitman, that worked with A-list movie stars on series that would appear on an app in short chapters. Quibi raised $1.75 billion, only to shut down roughly six months after launching.
Jia took a different approach. Rather than signing expensive deals with celebrities, he hired students or recent graduates from colleges like USC to work at his company.
Jia approves all of the micro drama stories at ReelShort, which he says is expected to generate $1 billion in revenue this year.
A ReelShort representative declined to disclose the company’s earnings but said the business is profitable.
Jia said ReelShort has 70 million monthly active users, with 10% of them paid users.
The churn — the rate at which customers drop weekly subscriptions — can be more than 50% at ReelShort, Jia said. That makes it paramount for the company to have a steady stream of content that entices customers to keep paying. Currently it has more than 400 in-house titles and roughly 1,000 licensed titles.
Like others in the genre, ReelShort and DramaShorts rely heavily on data metrics like customer retention and paid subscribers to make their content decisions.
“A lot of directors are thinking, when I shoot the film, ‘I don’t care how people think, this is my creation, it’s my story,’” Jia said. “No, it’s not your story. Your success… should be determined by the people.”
The Married at First Sight UK star has been spotted partying with a famous face – and it’s not Grace
Samantha King Content Editor
15:00, 23 Oct 2025Updated 15:01, 23 Oct 2025
Ashley Dommett is partnered with midwife Grace Law on the programme(Image: Channel 4)
Married at First Sight UK groom Ashley Dommett has ignited speculation about a potential new romance after being caught on camera partying with two brides from last year’s series.
The 35-year-old Welshman is currently matched with midwife Grace Law, 31, on the programme’s tenth series presently broadcasting on E4. However, their conflicting values and differing humour has created tension within their partnership.
Whilst the pair remain coupled up on the programme, they have stopped following one another on Instagram in recent weeks, fuelling speculation that they separated once cameras stopped rolling.
An insider close to the production told The Sun: “Grace has gone rogue recently and been slamming the show and the edit on socials, and now her and Ashley aren’t following each other, it’s pretty clear they aren’t together any more.”
On Wednesday evening (October 22) former MAFS UK participant Hannah Norburn shared footage showing herself enjoying beverages with her Season 9 colleague Sionainn Carmichael, alongside Ashley, reports OK!
In the footage, the threesome each grin at the camera whilst dancing with drinks as Justin Bieber’s track Baby plays in the background. She captioned the post: “Mini MAFS reunion with a new recruit and the worlds most unlikely trio.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
MAFS UK viewers were swift to swamp the comments section, questioning the stars about whether romance was developing.
However, Ashley maintained the group were “just friends,” disclosing: “It was actually Leisha Lightbody that organised the night but then had to work late and bail last minute.”
Both Hannah and Sionainn endured turbulent experiences during their series. Hannah was matched with a groom she repeatedly clashed with until he stopped communicating with her entirely, whilst also facing severe backlash from fellow brides who branded her a flirt with their partners.
She discovered comfort with co-star Orson, who similarly battled his own relationship troubles.
Meanwhile Sionainn departed the programme following an explosive row with her groom Ryan. She revealed to two fellow contestants that he admitted to “faking it all” throughout filming and viewed the experiment as merely a “holiday romance.”
Given their challenging ordeals, several comments beneath the footage targeted Hannah specifically, prompting Ashley to defend her.
“She’s actually a really nice person mate, had a class and needed fun night with them both last night,” he wrote.
Married at First Sight UK continues on Sunday night at 9pm on E4
JESSICA Alba shared some cheeky snaps from her latest holiday after debuting her new beau.
The actress, 44, is currently soaking up the sun in Australia, enjoying an envy-worthy vacay including trips to the beach.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Jessica is in Australia on holidayCredit: Instagram/JessicaalbaShe flaunted her figure on the beach in a tiny thong bikiniCredit: Instagram/JessicaalbaShe also showed off her flat stomachCredit: Instagram/Jessicaalba
Jessica shared some photos to her Instagram from the trip, looking as gorgeous as ever.
In the first pic the beauty is smiling laying on her front on a beach towel.
The ocean laps in the background, as others share the sand with the star and enjoy some time in the water.
Her skimpy leopard print and red floral bikini hugs her body, as sand clings to her thighs and booty.
She finished off the look with a simple black sun cap and shades.
Jessica also posted a photo of her legs and bikini bottoms while laying down.
It perfectly shows off her flat stomach and sun-kissed skin.
Dispersed between her beach pics, Jessica posted a series of quotes expressing gratitude for every moment in life – including those that seem more mundane to experience.
“One day I will be near the end,” read a poignant text post.
“And realize that all of it was the point.
“The ordinary and the exxtraordinary.
“Trips across the world.
“And trips to the grocery store.
“Sitting on boats applying sunscreen.
“And laying in bed putting lotion on my legs.
“Before I go to sleep.
“Dancing in the rain and singing in the shower.
“Staying out late to waste the next day hungover.
“And staying in and feeling rested.
“Sunday morning at the farmer’s market.
“Long road trips with people you love.
“And crying at a red light in your car alone.
“All of it is the point.”
Fans of the star flocked to the post’s comment’s sections to praise her outlook on life, as well as let her know she looks amazing.
“Talented and beautiful, inside and out,” said one user.
“She’s been working on her [peach emoji],” and “you are the creator of your reality, and life can show up no other way for you than that way in which you think it will,” replied others.
Alba’s positive attitude comes just after her and her new beau Danny Ramirez made their relationship official to the public.
The pair were first spotted sharing a kiss back in May of this year in London’s Regent Park.
The Indian city’s Maratha Mandir has been holding daily screenings of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge since it released in 1995.
Published On 19 Oct 202519 Oct 2025
Share
A theatre in Mumbai is celebrating 30 years of screening a much-loved Bollywood romance that has become India’s longest-running film.
On Monday, Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai, the financial capital of India, will mark three decades of daily screenings of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Bravehearted Will Take the Bride), which shot actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to superstardom.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The film, widely known to fans as DDLJ, redefined modern Hindi romance and continues to draw hundreds of cinemagoers to its morning screenings with its tale of young lovers bucking tradition since its release on October 20, 1995.
“I have seen it about 30 times … and I will continue watching it,” Mohammad Shakir, 60, told the AFP news agency as he bought a ticket for 40 rupees ($0.45).
A moviegoer checks his phone while standing beside a poster of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre [Indranil Mukherjee/AFP]
Manoj Desai, the head of the cinema located near Bombay Central Station, told AFP that weekday crowds tend to be made up of university students and young couples.
“On Sundays, you will find around 500 people, even after 30 years,” said Desai.
Clash of values
The film, which far outstrips the five-year run of the 1975 action-thriller Sholay (Embers) at another Mumbai theatre, revolves around the contrast between the more liberal values of second-generation Indians overseas and the conservative values of their parents.
Desai said it was common for audiences to break into cheers and applause during the film’s climax, when the heroine runs alongside a moving train into her lover’s arms.
“This is the goosebump moment,” Desai said. “The father letting his daughter go, saying she won’t find a better partner to spend her life with.”
It is a message that continues to resonate with younger viewers, even those who were not born when it was released.
“In our generation today, we often see transactional relationships,” Omkar Saraf, 23, told AFP. “But in this film, the hero crosses all boundaries to win his love with no expectations.
“We have watched it on television, on our mobiles, but the big screen gives us goosebumps.”
A scene from the film [Indranil Mukherjee/AFP]
‘Cultural monument’
Desai said one die-hard fan of the movie had been coming to screenings for 20 years, while for others, the film had played a part in their own love stories.
One couple watched it while dating, before inviting Desai to their wedding. “They went abroad for their honeymoon – and came back to watch the movie,” Desai said.
The film’s daily screenings were almost discontinued in 2015, but backlash from fans meant the decision was reversed, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported.
Film critic Baradwaj Rangan said the film had enduring appeal in a country still navigating the tensions between traditional and modern values.
“It represents a certain point in Indian culture, and that is why it is still loved,” Rangan said, adding that it “perfectly captured” the friction between two generations.
“The film has become a kind of cultural monument,” he said. “I think it is going to be playing forever.”
Keri Russell has been a recognisable face on TV screens since the 90s – and she has a famous partner
Netflix’s The Diplomat is back with a third season, featuring Kate Wyler (portrayed by Keri Russell) in an unexpected new role.
Keri Russell, a 49 year old American actress, has been celebrated for her television roles since the 90s.
Born and raised in California, she has an older brother and a younger sister, and due to her father’s job as a Nissan Motors executive, the family moved around frequently.
In 1999, she bagged a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the drama Felicity, and has received four additional nominations for her roles in The Americans and The Diplomat.
In recognition of her contributions to television, she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.
One of her earliest roles was at the tender age of 15, when she featured in the Disney Channel’s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club.
Her dancing skills, honed during her middle school and high school years, helped her secure a spot on the show.
She was a regular cast member from 1991 to 1994, and during this period, she made her film debut in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.
From 2013 to 2018, she starred opposite Matthew Rhys in the series The Americans, where he played her character’s husband.
The on-screen couple became real-life partners during this period.
Who is Keri Russell’s famous partner?
The Diplomat star was previously married to Shane Deary, a Brooklyn-based contractor whom she met through mutual friends.
They tied the knot in 2007 and have two children – a son and a daughter.
The pair parted ways in 2014 and since then, she’s been romantically linked with Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, famed for his roles in Brothers and Sisters and Perry Mason.
They share a son and despite affectionately referring to each other as husband and wife, they haven’t tied the knot.
The duo have voiced their eagerness to collaborate professionally once more, with Russell suggesting to People that her partner could “totally” join the cast of The Diplomat.
“I think that would probably be more in his court,” she added, indicating their mutual desire to work together again.
“But he’s pretty busy doing a million other things. He’s got, like, five other jobs or something,” she quipped.
Dearest gentle reader, Lady Whistledown — voiced by Julie Andrews — is back.
Netflix released a trailer for the fourth season of “Bridgerton” on Monday, and the Ton’s resident gossip columnist promised to have all the delightful details. The teaser also revealed that the next chapter of the Regency-era romance will be released in two parts on Jan. 29 and Feb. 26.
The eight-episode season will follow Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) fairy tale-inspired romance. The beloved second-eldest sibling of the Bridgerton brood is is known for being commitment averse and uninterested in marriage, but, if the trailer is to be trusted, it seems a masked mystery woman he brushes past on a staircase might change that.
“With each passing season, one is known to experience plenty of ups and downs,” Whistledown says in the teaser footage. “So then we must ask ourselves, do we rise to the occasion? As always, time — and this author — will tell.”
Unbeknownst to Benedict, the mystery woman, also known as the Lady in Silver, is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). According to Netflix’s in-house blog Tudum, the staircase encounter featured in the trailer is the first time the pair cross paths during Lady Bridgerton’s masquerade ball.
Benedict and Sophie’s romance is based on the events in “An Offer From a Gentleman,” the third book in Julia Quinn’s “Bridgerton” book series. Much like the wicked matriarch in “Cinderella,” Sophie’s stepmother (Katie Leung) is more concerned about her two daughters’ (Michelle Mao, Isabella Wei) societal debut and marriage prospects than whatever her stepdaughter is getting up to.
“Bridgerton” showrunner Jess Brownell previously told The Times that Benedict’s character arc “has a lot to do with being someone who is learning how to exist between society and and being unconventional.”
“Benedict [is] trying to figure out what his place is in the world and how to circumvent certain rules, which is something Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) [taught] him [in Season 3],” she said last year. “I think we will continue telling the story of his [sexual] fluidity going forward.”
The brief “Bridgerton” Season 4 teaser focuses solely on Benedict and Sophie. Those interested in updates about the state of Penelope’s writing career or what Francesca, John and Michaela Stirling have been up to since the end of the third season will have to keep waiting.
Molly Mae Hague has confirmed she is back with Tommy Fury in a new trailer for her upcoming series Molly Mae: Behind It All series 2, but issued a cryptic statement
“We’re back. Feels good,” the trailer starts with. “The balance at the minute of work and bambi is just a lot,” before Molly goes on to talk about her exhaustion.
The Maebe founder and Tommy shocked the worldwhen they announced their unexpected split last August. However, the pair found their way back together and have since enjoyed several family holidays with Bambi in destinations including Dubai, Budapest, and Turkey. They now appear to be happier than ever after working through their struggles, including Tommy’s alcohol troubles.
Later on in the extended trailer on YouTube, Molly and Tommy are seeing smiling coyly before Molly says “Tommy and I are back together, yes. But I never know what tomorrow is going to bring,” referring to Tommy’s past woes.
This comes after it was revealed that Molly reportedly bans ‘any mention’ of her fiancé Tommy Furyat her events. Staff working at her events and others are understood to be warned not to asked the Love Islandstar, who recently reunited with boxer Tommy after a brief split last year, about him.
Molly is now opening up in the next instalment of her fly on the wall series. Similar to the first instalment, which premiered back in January, viewers can expect to follow Molly-Mae as she tackles everything from her public relationship with Tommy to mothering their daughter Bambi.
The official synopsis teases: “With exclusive access, Molly embarks on an exciting new chapter as she takes her business empire to the next level while navigating the challenges of motherhood under the scrutiny of millions.” It continues: “Raw, relatable, and inspiring, this series reveals the insecurities and hopes of a young mum balancing fame and family.”
Series one focused a lot on their split after he admitted to issues with drinking, but the series ended with them having enjoyed a holiday together and trying to make the best of a fresh start.
Speaking at the end of series one, Molly said: “Things are looking so much better for us. I’m gonna start spending more time at Tommy’s house, keeping things slow and not rushing anything. But as always, I always say I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t think it’s gonna be a plain sailing future. I don’t. That’s just me being honest. I think we’re still gonna have bumps.
“The dream is still the same that, you know, we’ll get to a place one day when we will all be happy in that house together and have more children, hopefully, and just have a really nice, happy life together. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for us. I don’t want to get too excited, but I’m getting glimmers of what I always wanted, which is my family. I know we have got something completely worth saving.” As the credits rolled she added: “But you never know what’s around the corner!”
The first three episodes of the six-episode series will drop on October 18th, with the rest of the season set to release in early 2026. This won’t come as a surprise to fans who tuned into the first instalment, which was also released in two parts in January and May.
Behind It All season one was huge success and became the most-watched series on Prime Video by young women in the UK, aged between 18 and 34. It went on to win the National Television Award for Authored Documentary in September.
Molly-Mae reigned victorious over the likes of Flintoff, which tells the story of sporting legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff; and Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which dives into pro dancer Amy Dowden’s health battle.
*Molly-Mae: Behind It AllSeries 2 (Episodes 1–3) launches exclusively on Prime Video on 18th October. Episodes 4-6 episodes will follow in early 2026.
After a week of partying pictures emerged of radio co-hosts Olivia and Pete looking cosy onboard a yacht in Ibiza.
Olivia’s husband Bradley was said to be “livid” after seeing his wife sitting in between best pal Pete’s legs on a yacht off the coast of the party island.
The Sun later revealed how Bradley’s Gillingham FC’s teammates then shared the pics of Pete and Olivia on the team’s WhatsApp group.
Appearing on Loose Women last week, Pete insisted that he no longer lives with regrets.
He said: “I think years ago, I mean I have a lot of regrets and things I’m not proud of but I think a couple of years ago it kind of changed for me when I realised life is too short for regrets.
“You only get as far as we know only one chance at this and you may as well live your life for yourself rather than other people.”
9
Pete and his pal Olivia Attwood raised eyebrows during their recent trip to IbizaCredit: Instagram/Olivia_attwood
Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder got emotional as they discussed having kids on the new series of their BBC show Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India, where they travel across the unique country
07:00, 14 Sep 2025Updated 07:06, 14 Sep 2025
Rob and Rylan both made emotional admissions about having kids(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Rex TV, Zinc Media/Jakob Borges)
Rylan Clark has revealed more about his desire to have children amid his new romance with a fairground worker. It was recently revealed that Rylan is dating a new man, four years on from his split from his husband Dan.
Teasing the new romance, Rylan revealed: “At this time I’m very happy. Recently I have gotten into a relationship and it’s great. And it feels very different to anything I’ve had before, which is a good sign to me.”
He didn’t reveal who it was but the man is believed to be called Kennedy and the pair are said to have become “inseparable” this summer and have already met each others families.
Rylan Clark and his new funfair worker boyfriend have already had deep conversations (Image: Instagram/naderdt)
Rylan and Rob discussed kids in their new show(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
Speaking in an emotional chat on their show Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India, the former X Factor star explained: “What this trip has done is invigorate in my head how important family is. I want one day, fingers crossed, to have kids. What about you?”
“Don’t forget, I’m older than you. It’s quite a lot [older]. So when I was coming out, it wasn’t a possibility and I’ve got to a stage now where I’m so set in my ways…,” Rob then replied as Rylan quizzed what would happen if he met the right man tomorrow.
Rob then admitted: “I just think I’d be too afraid – I don’t think I’m good enough,” before Rylan added: “Let me tell you one thing, you are good enough. But it’s alright not to want kids. It’s just always been my plan. Get the husband, get the Range Rover, get the kids.
The Good Morning Britain star admitted he feared he was too “selfish” to raise kids. Rylan replied: “But I think the second, you had kids you’d change … You know what Rob, you’d never feel love like it.”
“As long as they were kind and had nice manners,” Rob added, with Rylan then quipping: “They would be because they’d be raised by you – and me probably,” as he joked about being uncle Rylan.
Meanwhile, Rylan has been forced to deny he and Rob are dating. He said: “Like, so many people keep asking, everyone keeps asking me – because there’s all these fake news stories about me and Rob Rinder – we’ve gotten married and all of this. Rob’s my friend. I adore him, and Rob and Rylan’s just about to come out again, and I just thought, ‘Let’s just put the record straight.'”
Hollyoaks viewers are convinced that Mercedes McQueen will have a new romance with one of the show’s most beloved characters in the wake of her son Bobby’s death
Hollyoaks fans think a new romance is on the cards for Mercedes (Image: C4)
In recent episodes of the Channel 4 drama, Tony Hutchinson (Nick Packard) was wrongfully arrested and jailed for Bobby’s murder. Bobby, an escaped prisoner, had crossed paths with Jez after discovering that the serial killer had taken the life of his social worker Ian.
Jez Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) went to extreme lengths to hide his crimes, leading to the brutal murder of Bobby in shocking scenes. His body was subsequently run over by Tony.
Mercedes McQueen’s son Bobby was killed by Jez in Hollyoaks (Image: LIME PICTURES)
Mercedes is determined to prove that Chester legend Tony is responsible for her son’s death. However, upcoming scenes reveal that Diane Hutchinson (Alex Fletcher) is organising a fundraiser at The Dog to assist Tony with his legal costs, something Mercedes won’t take lightly.
But bringing Tony to justice might not be the only thing occupying Mercedes’ thoughts. Observant viewers are predicting she will start a new romance with Darren Osborne (Ashley Dawson), reports the Manchester Evening News.
Mercedes McQueen is hellbent on getting justice for her murdered son in Hollyoaks (Image: Lime Pictures)
However, more heartbreak is looming as it’s confirmed Darren is not Morgan’s biological father, revealing his wife’s infidelity.
Hollyoaks fans are convinced that the grieving Mercedes and troubled Darren will find solace in each other and begin an affair.
One fan speculated on X: “Gonna make some theories for what I think will happen in #hollyoaks within the next year: Darren will end up in a relationship with Mercedes.”
Another chimed in: “Bet with the Tony and Nancy stuff, Mercedes and Darren are gonna be a item next #hollyoaks.”
Hollyoaks stalwart Darren is set for heartache following Morgan’s disappearance
A third responded: “Oh dear god don’t even come up with that.”
“I definitely think Mercedes and Darren are gonna end up having an affair or something #hollyoaks,” another added.
While another declared: “Loving the Mercedes and Darren interaction #Hollyoaks.”
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am
In “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” premiering Thursday on Paramount+, two popular characters from the CBS military procedural “NCIS,” have been brought back after several years and given a series of their own. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, as special agents Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo and Ziva David, so occupied the romantic fantasies of viewers that their names were portmanteaued into “Tiva.” (You can find thousands of instances of Tiva-themed fan fiction online.) As to the will-they, won’t-they of the relationship, they finally did, before they didn’t, and now they have a 12-year-old daughter, Tali (Isla Gie), whom they’re amicably co-parenting.
I have looked in on the franchise now and again, professionally, as new iterations have extended the length and breadth of the brand, which technically reaches back into “JAG,” from which it was spun off. But I’m not even going to attempt to pretend to have any real expertise in the adventures of a large rotating cast over 22 seasons. (It’s been renewed for a 23rd.) But I respect the institution — the original of which has been and may be now America’s most watched series — and its longevity, as I will salute your long marriage.
At the same time, once you know the basic premise of the show — it’s an elite military police procedural — it’s not hard to figure out where you are, wherever you drop in. The characters may be heroic or eccentric, but they’re heroic or eccentric within a recognized mold, with enough individual personality to make them lovable over a long run, and you can pick up on the interpersonal vibes pretty quickly.
Unlike earlier “NCIS” series, all based on broadcast television, “Tony & Ziva” is platformed on Paramount+, which means that characters utter a bad word now and again — it doesn’t get much edgier than that, and despite the sexual heat it’s hardly racy — and that there’s a budget which allows for foreign locations and big action scenes. And where the earlier shows, notwithstanding soap operatic long arcs, are fundamentally episodic, “Tony & Ziva” is a serial story, stretched over 10 episodes. Whether it’s stretched to breaking, we’ll have to wait and see; only four episodes out of 10 were offered for review.
The crime-fighting combo of a roguish guy and a no-nonsense gal is familiar from “Moonlighting” and “Castle.” Even the fact that the title joins Tony and Ziva with an ampersand and not an “and” indicates a certain lightness of tone, and when Tony, speaking of his company, says, “We try to walk that fine line between techno thriller and workplace comedy,” he is, of course, describing the very series he’s in. A strain of comedy is common to team-based procedurals, and it’s certainly part of what’s kept “NCIS” going strong all these years.
Given that the American brand hasn’t been as toxic, internationally and domestically, since the Vietnam era, possibly, and that “NCIS” series show around the world, it’s just as well that the presumed villains are (apparently) not the anti-American, freedom-hating terrorists one often finds in these things, but Bond-type stateless actors merely seeking power and money.
Additionally, the series — whose earlier iterations have been based in Washington, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Hawaii, Sydney and, in last year’s prequel, “NCIS: Origins,” exotic Oceanside, Calif. — is set in Paris, where, having gone civilian, Ziva has opened a fancy language school and Tony runs a high-end security service. (Among his clients: Interpol. You can’t get more European than that.) Along with easy access to croissants and café au lait, our heroes have the benefit of not having to wax patriotic about a country in which they no longer live. It feels very 2025.
The series’ MacGuffin is a magical thumb drive that, when plugged into a computer system, can seemingly do anything at all; possessing it, therefore, is an issue for both the good guys and the bad, into whose respective hands it goes in and out. When villains use it to frame Tony for extorting money from a hospital and threaten Tali’s life, Tony and Ziva are dragged back into a life of running, shooting, reckless driving and fisticuffs. “Two words,” says Tony, observing Ziva take apart a thug endangering her daughter. “Jewish mother.”
Most important, it puts the pair on the run together — the opening episodes find them (ostensibly and/or actually) in France, Italy, Switzerland and Hungary — and into constant close quarters, where old tender feelings simmer and the question of sharing a bed arises, as in “The 39 Steps,” the greatest of all innocent-and-on-the-run romances.
Ziva, whose pre-NCIS employment was as an assassin for the Israeli secret service — perhaps not the best job for a TV heroine to have on her resume nowadays, but it’s not an issue here — has hung on to an arsenal and plural safe houses. (“Have I ever told you how deeply I appreciate your paranoia?” Tony tells her.) And they’ve both kept their old NCIS badges, which they will flash to dazzle security guards and the like.
Along the way they pick up Boris (Maximilian Osinski), a non-aligned Russian hacker who made the MacGuffin in the first place, and his chirpy fiancee Fruzsi (Anne-Marie Waldeck), who provide both comedy and the image of a healthy, all-in romantic relationship to contrast with that of our hesitating heroes. Filling out the ranks are Tali’s capable nanny, Sophie (Lara Rossi), and Tony’s resident tech whiz, Claudette (Amita Suman), because you apparently can’t plot a thriller anymore without computers at the center of things. By virtue of being Tony’s friend and Tali’s godfather, Interpol exec Henry (James D’Arcy) is the sort of character you expect to turn out to be bad, though it’s up in the air. I’ll say no more about Martine (Nassima Benchicou), other than that Benchicou is very good at being very bad.
Created by John McNamara (“The Magicians”), not previously part of the “NCIS” world, “Tony & Ziva” can be quite absurd, depending heavily on suspensions of disbelief, or a viewer just not thinking too hard. This does not set it apart from a great many such screenplays, and the series does not shy away from genre tropes — the car chase through a marketplace, a fight with a seemingly unbeatable big bald bruiser. Indeed, it embraces them.
But what makes the show worth watching are Weatherly and De Pablo, two extremely attractive middle-aged people with genuine chemistry; he’s superheroically unflappable without ever seeming anything but a regular Joe. She’s sad and serious and not to be messed with. They’ve been around; they have worn edges, and when they intersect, it generates something authentically sweet, as real as the rest of the series is improbable. There’s a reason for all that fan fiction.
Ted Lasso fans are going wild as one of the show’s biggest stars is taking on a brand new role that’s worlds away from the plucky football comedy
Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein is nothing like his iconic grumpy footballer Roy Kent in a heartwrenching trailer for an upcoming sci-fi drama film.
Helmed by one of the directors of Black Mirror, William Bridges, who co-wrote the film with Goldstein, All Of You is led by the star opposite Imogen Poots in a decades-spanning romance for the ages.
Set in the not-so-distant future, the AppleTV+ film follows two best friends from college who drift apart when one of them takes a test that promises to find your soulmate.
Their lives still cross over the years and they’re forced to confront their unspoken feelings.
An official synopsis for the film reads: “Best friends since college, Simon (Goldstein) and Laura (Poots) drift apart when she takes a test that finds her soulmate despite years of unspoken feelings between them.
Brett Goldstein is nothing like his iconic footballer Roy Kent in his new film(Image: APPLE TV+)
“Over the years, as their paths cross and diverge, neither can deny the feeling that they’ve missed out on a life together.
“Faced with the uncertainty of changing the course of their lives, are Simon and Laura willing to risk everything to experience the love that had been between them all along, or should they accept their fate?”
The trailer, released this week, has already received a rave response from fans who are eager to see the Ted Lasso favourite taking on a new role.
One fan predicted a stellar performance from the leading man: “Brett Goldstein’s ‘face acting’ is next level.
“He can perform an entire, silent dialogue with just one look. It’s so good to see him in a role like this.”
While another quipped: “It’s so weird to see Roy Kent be friendly and not growl every 5 seconds.”
For those still not quite convinced by the tear-jerking trailer, the film has already received critical acclaim after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.
Get tissues prepared for this soft sci-fi romance coming very soon(Image: APPLE TV+)
Apple TV+ free trial
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Get seven days of Apple TV+ for free with this trial, allowing you to stream acclaimed shows like Severance, Ted Lasso and Slow Horses.
Cancel anytime during the free trial and pay nothing
It currently stands at an impressive 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics warning fans to have tissues at the ready.
Entertainment Weekly called it a “weepie of the highest order”, adding: “It’s familiar fodder for romantic drama, but it’s of the highest caliber thanks to its sharp script and devastating central performances.
“Watching All of You is like pressing on a bruise, and ooh, baby, it hurts so good.”
Awards Buzz declared: “Goldstein and Poots are both terrific and would certainly be deserving of Golden Globe nominations.”
While Matt Neglia raved: “ALL OF YOU just emotionally soothed and wrecked my heart.
“An aching adult drama about the choices we make, the regrets we feel, and whether or not we actually have soulmates out there for us in the world.
“I adore adult romantic dramas where the conflict doesn’t feel manufactured & the characters behave like adults. I got plenty of that here with two heartfelt & endearing performances from Brett Goldstein & Imogen Poots.”
Are you ready to get your heart broken by All Of You? There’s just a few more weeks to wait before this devastating drama hits screens.
All Of You premieres Friday, 26th September on Apple TV+.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are taking their love story to the next chapter.
The Grammy-winning “Love Story” pop icon and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end are engaged, the couple announced Tuesday in a joint Instagram post.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift captioned photos from the garden engagement.
Weeks before getting engaged, the pair hit another personal milestone: They finally finally appeared together on Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce. The podcast was also where Travis Kelce took his shot at a romance with the singer-songwriter back in 2023.
During the “New Heights” episode, which marked Swift’s podcasting debut, she said her relationship with Kelce “is sort of what I’ve been writing songs about wanting to happen to me since I was a teenager.”
With marriage on the horizon, it seems Swift and Kelce have come a long way since officially becoming an item in fall 2023. Their romance can be traced back to July 2023, when Kelce attended an Eras tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ house. The NFL star managed to get a friendship bracelet with his phone number to Swift’s camp and the two eventually got in touch.
Their rumored romance quickly became commentary fodder for NFL broadcasts (sometimes to sports fans’ chagrin). Then things took a turn when Swift seemingly accepted Kelce’s personal invitation to a home game in September 2023 and was seen cheering for him in a private box alongside his mother, Donna Kelce. Soon enough, Swift became a staple in the Chiefs audience.
Swift and Kelce’s relationship dominated the news cycle and most coverage of the NFL season. Feeding into the obsession, both Swifties and sports fans on social media created memes, TikTok videos and other social media content dissecting nearly every detail of the couple’s interactions and public appearances.
From late 2023 to early 2024, their blooming relationship also proved to be a boon as Swift carried on with her blockbuster, career-spanning Eras tour and Kelce prepared for Super Bowl LVIII, where the Chiefs faced the San Fransisco 49ers. When the Chiefs won, Swift joined Kelce on the field, kissing and hugging her athlete boyfriend.
Swift and Kelce’s love didn’t just play out on the field. During a November 2023 show, Swift changed lyrics to her hit “Karma” to mention “the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” sending fans and Kelce into a frenzy. Then in June 2024, as Swift‘s tour continued, Kelce joined his superstar girlfriend on stage in London.
When the 2024-25 NFL season began in September, Swift returned regularly to Arrowhead Stadium for Chiefs home games.
Swift brought her Eras tour to an end in December 2024 and hosted a private wrap party to celebrate her musical marathon. As photos from the party went public, eagle-eyed fans noticed more than Swift, Kelce and their VIP attendees. Social media sleuths claimed photos of Swift’s hands had been Photoshopped to conceal the presence of an engagement ring, Page Six reported at the time.
Via dell’Amore, also known as the “Path of Love”, is a UNESCO-listed coastal walk in Italy that is considered the most romantic in the world and is said to be one of the best walks in Europe
The path offers stunning views of the sea and majestic cliffs(Image: Getty)
Celebrated as amongst Europe’s finest coastal walks, this picturesque route guides you through stunning villages and spectacular vistas.
Via dell’Amore isn’t dubbed the “Path of Love” without good reason – and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re after a scenic spot. According to AllTrails, this UNESCO-listed trail is regarded as the globe’s most romantic walk, thanks to its dramatic clifftops, delightful villages and panoramic views of the sparkling waters beneath.
Situated in Cinque Terre, along Italy’s northwestern coastline, this famous pathway links the region’s two most southern settlements – Riomaggiore and Manarola – and has earned recognition as one of Europe’s premier three walks by travel blog, The World is Waiting.
The path reopened last year after being closed for 12 years(Image: Getty)
Initially carved out during the 1920s whilst building the coastal railway, legend tells that the route swiftly became a romantic rendezvous spot for sweethearts from the adjacent villages, reports the Express.
Nowadays, the tunnel linking both communities throughout the journey brims with love proclamations and padlocks deposited by couples from across the world who come to visit the iconic spot.
Among the most striking features stands a sculpture depicting a pair locked in an embrace against the ocean backdrop, which becomes particularly enchanting as twilight falls and the sun’s rays dance across the water.
Roughly midway along the trail, there is a delightful café which provides a peaceful spot to savour the scenery whilst enjoying a cooling beverage. Riomaggiore, the trail’s starting point, is a 13th-century village ingeniously built into the steep, rocky terrain. The tall houses have two entrances – one at street level and another higher up to accommodate the hillside.
The town is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, stone staircases, and vibrant buildings that seem to defy gravity as they ascend from the cliffs. Riomaggiore also boasts a breathtaking beach just a stone’s throw away from the harbour, with turquoise waters framed by the dramatic cliffs of the Liguria coastline.
Manarola, similarly, is dramatically situated on a high rock about 70 metres above sea level. This village features a tiny harbour and a quaint square surrounded by multicoloured houses all overlooking the sea.
After being shut for 12 years due to a landslide, the Via dell’Amore officially reopened in 2024. Access is restricted to certain times of the year, and visitors are advised to book a time slot in advance via the official Cinque Terre website. From June 1st to October 25th, the path stays open from 9am to 9.30pm, with the last admissions at 9pm.
Country steps up crackdown on online scammers, who lure victims using promises of romance to invest in fake cryptocurrency investments.
Nigeria has deported 102 foreign nationals, including 60 Chinese and 39 people from the Philippines, who were convicted of “cyber-terrorism and internet fraud”, according to the country’s anticorruption agency.
The announcement by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday comes as the country steps up a crackdown on online scam operations, which lured victims through online romances to hand over cash for fake cryptocurrency investments.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale later told the AFP news agency that another group of 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese and two people from Kazakhstan had also been deported since August 15.
More deportations were also scheduled in the coming days, he added.
The anticorruption agency released pictures of Asian men wearing surgical face masks, lined up at airport check-in counters.
The deportees were among 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested in a single operation in the affluent Victoria Island area of Lagos in December. At least 192 of those arrested were foreign nationals, of whom 148 were Chinese, the EFCC said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has a reputation for internet fraudsters known in local slang as “Yahoo Boys”, and the EFCC has busted several hideouts where young crime suspects learn online scamming skills.
According to the agency, foreign gangs recruit Nigerian accomplices to find victims online through phishing scams. The attackers typically try to deceive victims into transferring money or revealing sensitive information such as passwords to accounts.
The scams target mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and Europeans, the EFCC said.
Experts say the fraudulent investment schemes used by cyber-scammers have become increasingly sophisticated and dynamic as they leverage the latest technologies and digital tools.
The schemes ultimately leave victims – many of whom invest their savings, business capital, and borrowed money – unable to do anything but watch their hard-earned money disappear.
Experts also warn that foreign “cybercrime syndicates” have set up shop in Nigeria to exploit its weak cybersecurity systems.
Heartbeat was a staple of British television for nearly two decades. So what happened to the likes of Nick Berry, Tricia Penrose, and Mark Jordan after the North Yorkshire-based show ended?
Kelly Smith Screen Time Reporter
10:38, 13 Aug 2025
The beloved ITV series spanned 18 seasons, and despite ending in 2010, the long-standing police period drama Heartbeat is still a cornerstone of British television to this day.
Airing for nearly two decades, the show spawned numerous spin-offs and one-off television specials, which is a true reflection of its popularity with viewers.
Fans followed the lives of those who lived in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield during the 1960s and the well-respected local policemen and villagers as they grappled with crime, community tensions, and personal dramas.
In the very beginning, we were met with the charming PC Nick Rowan, played by Nick Berry, who was attempting to adapt to his new rural lifestyle after moving from London and joining the Yorkshire force.
With the show off air for more than 15 years now, we couldn’t help but wonder what the actors of the much-loved programme are doing today.
PC Nick Rowan
Nick gave up acting to spend time with family(Image: Photo by Colin Davey/Getty Images)
Nick Berry portrayed the renowned London police constable who relocated to the fictional town of Aidensfield, North Yorkshire, to live a more peaceful life after fleeing bustling London.
He moved to the village alongside his wife, Dr. Kate Rowan, and the pair very quickly became vital members of the town, helping to tackle crime and assisting with medical emergencies.
Notably, Nick also performed the show’s iconic theme tune, a cover of the Buddy Holly hit that shared its title with the show also helped to rocket his fame with the track reaching number two in the UK singles charts in 1992.
In 1998, viewers were left gutted when his character was written out of the beloved programme. The policeman decided to flee for Canada to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which formed the basis for the one-off special Heartbeat: Changing Places.
He went on to further his acting career, taking on a vital role in the 1999 drama series Harbour Lights and starring in the 2001 crime drama In Deep.
After In Deep finished in 2003, Nick announced he’d be taking a break from acting to focus on his family and other ventures, including his own production company.
Prior to landing his role as Nick Berry on the popular ITV series, he’d actually played the part of Simon Wicks on BBC One’s hit soap EastEnders.
Despite taking a break from acting, he did go on to make a special appearance as his former character, Simon, in 2012, which was his last and final TV stint since being on screens from 1976.
It is well documented that Nick married Rachel Robertson in 1994. The pair like to keep their private lives out of the spotlight. They share two sons and live in Epping, Essex.
Gina Bellamy
Tricia met her real life love on set(Image: ITV)
The landlady of the Aidensfield Arms, Gina Bellamy, was played by Tricia Penrose from 1993 until the ITV drama came to its end in 2010.
Tricia played a vital role and was the show’s longest-serving female cast member. Not only was Gina a popular fixture on the programme for 60s fashion and her incredible acting skills, but she also gave fans some amazing vocal performances during her long-standing career
In 2002, Tricia followed the path of her co-star Nick Berry and tried her hand in the singing world. She placed second on the show A Song For Europe, the UK’s competition to select their Eurovision entry.
Despite her song DJ Romeo being a huge hit with fans and judges, she was pipped to first place by Jessica Garlick, who represented Great Britain that year in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Her last notable acting role was in the popular legal drama Justice in 2011, but she has also appeared in series 11 of Celebrity Big Brother and ITV’s Who’s Doing the Dishes in 2014.
Tricia also got engaged to her on-screen love interest, PC Phil Bellamy, and the twosome recently announced their engagement on social media.
The actress shared: “My lovely Chris has proposed on our 7 year anniversary! Off to Tenerife now with my lovely fiancé to celebrate Mark Jordon.”
PC Phil Bellamy
Mark is engaged to co-star Tricia in real life
Mark Jordan played the charming, laid-back PC Phil Bellamy, who worked alongside Nick Berry and fell in love with Gina, not only on screen but also in real life.
He joined the show for its first series in 1992 and remained in the cast for fifteen years. A one-off documentary commemorating his departure, Heartbeat – Farewell Phil, was broadcast on Christmas Day in 2007.
After his departure, Mark took up roles in medical drama Casualty in 2009 and joined Hollyoaks in 2012.
He also became a series regular in Emmerdale in 2017, taking the role of Staff Sergeant Daz Spencer.
In his spare time, Mark is devoted to his charity work for Usher syndrome and often uses his social media pages to raise awareness, in the hope of finding a cure
Alf Ventress
William Simons sadly passed away(Image: ITV)
William Simons landed the accolade for the longest-standing member of the Heartbeat tribe, delighting viewers with his portrayal of the retired policeman for a complete 18-season journey.
Before his role on the ITV drama, William appeared in the police drama Cribb in 1979 and the detective series The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries in 1990.
His acting contributions also included various cameo appearances on programmes such as Coronation Street, The Darling Buds of May, Casualty, and Enemy at the Door.
In 2019, it was announced that William had tragically died at the age of 79 of “natural causes” with his management agency paying tribute.
They said: “He was a wonderful, kind, warm, witty, lovely human being and anyone who ever worked with him or knew him will be devastated.”
Every Heartbeat fan had a love-hate relationship with the charming scoundrel Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, played by the talented Bill Maynard.
He joined the programme from its very inception and remained a valued part of the cast until 2000, when his character returned for the Royal spin-off series in 2002.
Before his days on Heartbeat, Bill had already been somewhat of a TV legend as an actor and comedian and having starred in Great Scott – It’s Maynard! the 50s with Terry Scott, and featured in five pictures from the Carry On comedy series.
In 2018, we saw Bill in his last TV appearance, taking part in the Celebrity Pointless, before his tragic death in the same year.
Bill’s last TV appearance was on an episode of Celebrity Pointless in 2018, before he suffered a tragic fall, breaking his hip, and later sadly died that same year in hospital.
Dr. Kate Rowan
Niamh went on to have a flourishing acting career
Niamh Cusack played the lovable Dr. Kate Rowan, the village doctor and first wife of heartthrob Nick Berry. But after three years on the show, she fell pregnant and decided to leave the ITV drama to focus on becoming a new mum.
In real life, Niamh was born into a family with deep roots within the performing arts industry and is affiliated to the Royal Shakespeare Company, she played Desdemona in Othello and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet during the 80s.
She also landed the role of Lady Macbeth in 2018 alongside Christopher Eccleston in Macbeth. She has recently appeared in We Live in Time, last year, 2024, alongside Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, as well as the dark comedy series Big Mood, also in 2024.
Netflix fans have been hooked by the latest season of Virgin River and are already on the search for shows that are similar to the hit romantic drama
Virgin River enthusiasts have been compiling lists of their favourite comparable programmes during the ongoing break, and the number one choice may come as a shock.
Netflix’s popular romantic drama follows nurse practitioner Mel Monroe (portrayed by Alexandra Breckenridge) as she relocates to a quiet Northern California town after experiencing a personal tragedy.
She rapidly develops a connection with local pub proprietor and ex-Marine Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), and together they’ve navigated numerous personal obstacles across six series to date.
Adapted from Robyn Carr’s cherished book collection, the show has established itself as Netflix’s most enduring English-language programme since launching in 2019, with an additional two seasons currently being developed.
With the eagerly awaited seventh instalment expected to arrive either towards the end of this year or in early 2026, supporters have flocked to Reddit to identify the finest programmes offering a comparable small-town atmosphere, reports the Mirror US.
Swoon-worthy small-town drama Hart of Dixie is perfect for Virgin River fans(Image: THE CW)
One member shared a compilation of nine programmes and commented: “Finished Season 6 and damn I’m seriously mourning right now.
“I made a list, so please help me rank the top 3 shows that exactly give Virgin River vibes. Thanks!”
Their selection featured Chesapeake Shores, Sullivan’s Crossing, Ransom Canyon, Sweet Magnolias, Hart of Dixie, Heartland, Gilmore Girls, Cedar Cove and Everwood.
Whilst the majority of programmes mentioned garnered appreciation from at least one supporter in the responses, a somewhat unexpected selection received the greatest backing.
One Reddit user simply declared: “hart of dixie!!!” A second chimed in: “Hart of Dixie!! Best show ever. Dare I say better than VR? (I love vr so this is saying a lot).”
Another fan confessed: “I was absolutely obsessed with this show, I wish I bought the series on dvd back then!”
It even features Doc Mullins star Tim Matheson playing another doctor(Image: THE CW)
Watch Stranger Things on Netflix for free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things.
“Hart of Dixie! It’s a gem,” one enthusiast remarked, adding: “And Doc is still the Doc!”
Echoing the themes of Virgin River, the CW series Hart of Dixie centres around the driven Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson), who relocates to the quaint town of Bluebell, Alabama to work as a general practitioner after her aspirations to be a heart surgeon fall through.
Her arrival and subsequent crush on local lawyer George Tucker (Scott Porter) stirs up trouble, especially with his betrothed, Lemon Breeland (Jaime King), who concocts schemes to oust Zoe from their tight-knit community.
As if the plot wasn’t enticing enough, the show also stars Virgin River’s Tim Matheson, who plays another medic, Brick Breeland, father to Lemon.
For fans across the pond, there’s good news – all four seasons of Hart of Dixie are ready for binge-watching free of charge on ITVX.
Are you set to dive into the ideal Virgin River alternative this week?
Virgin River is available to stream on Netflix. Hart of Dixie is available on ITVX.
In 2019, Oregon bookseller Billie Bloebaum saw an author raise a question on X she had heard many times before: “Why should I support independent bookstores when independent bookstores don’t support romance?”
“For a long time, and still somewhat to this day, independent bookstores have had a reputation as being not as welcoming to romance readers and books as they could be,” Bloebaum told The Times. “There were a lot of booksellers that I knew who read romance, who championed romance, who had it on their shelves in the bookstores where they worked or that they owned.”
Determined to rewrite the narrative, Bloebaum launched Bookstore Romance Day in August — Romance Awareness Month — that same year. The inaugural event had less than 200 participating bookstores across the U.S. Now, in 2025, there are more than 600 registered locations around the world.
“It really was a way to get the word out that independent bookstores are not romance-unfriendly,” Bloebaum said, “to bring those two communities together, the romance community and the independent bookstore community.”
There are now 103 brick-and-mortar, romance-only bookstores in the U.S., according to Romancing the Data, including the Ripped Bodice in Culver City, Heartbound in Anaheim and Mystic Box in Huntington Beach. Over the past three years, Pages: A Bookstore in Manhattan Beach has doubled its space dedicated to romance titles, said general manager Jeff Resnik.
“We take romance seriously,” Resnik said.
Across Los Angeles, independent storefronts are observing Bookstore Romance Day on Saturday, Aug. 9, with author talks, book bedazzling, giveaways and more. For those who can’t attend the festivities in person, Bloebaum also offers free virtual events all weekend.
Love Island star Harry Cooksley is set to reveal a major ‘regret’ he has over his romance with fellow contestant Shakira Khan as the ITV2 competition finally draws to a close.
Love Island’s Harry addresses a major ‘regret’ over his Shakira romance during the Love Island final(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Harry Cooksley is set to reveal a major ‘regret’ he has about his romance with Shakira Khan during the Love Island final. The footballer, 30, has made it to the end of the ITV2 dating programme with Shakira, 22, and is set to have an open and honest chat with her before they could be potentially be crowned winners of the latest series.
Shakira starts things off by saying: “Doing this experience without you and watching things unfold was so hard because I felt so strongly towards you. You’re everything I could possibly want in a partner. It’s been an amazing last week and I’m excited for the future.”
The finalists all dress up in their best outfits for one last dinner together as part of the last episode of the series (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Shakira was initially coupled up with Harry in the early weeks of the competition, but they got together again just days ahead of the final and he told her: “I came in here and thought it would be a lot of fun. Finding you in a Villa in Mallorca was not on my bingo card this summer. I do regret taking too long to tell you how I felt. We both know this is more than surface level – I think it always has been for me.”
During the build-up to the winning reveal, Shakira receives a text that reads: ” Islanders. Tonight you will have a very special finalists’ dinner. #FinalFeels #OneLastEvening,” and she, along with Harry, and the remaining couples Yasmin Pettet and Jamie Rhodes, Ty Isherwood and Angel Swift, as well as Cach Mercer and Toni Laites will all be seen in the garden wearing their finest for their last night in the villa.
Toni says to Cach: “I don’t think I tell you enough but the way you treat me has made this whole wacky-ass experience worth it. I think everyone has seen how happy you make me. I’m really thankful to be here with you. ” In response, Cach says to Toni: I feel like our journey has been a rollercoaster, I’m grateful for every moment. You make me feel very comfortable in here. And I don’t think I could’ve done it with anyone else to be honest with you. ”
Angel then decides to tell Ty that she is ‘everything’ she looks for in a man, and adds: “You’re thoughtful, you make me laugh, and I also fancy the pants off you. I couldn’t be happier.”
In response, Ty tells her: “I want to thank you and the Love Island gods for sending you in. I feel like it was at a time when I didn’t know where I was. You came at the perfect time. You’re everything that I look for in a girl. I feel like I am really falling for you.”
Meanwhile, Yas reflects on her journey with Jamie and declares to him: “You just get me completely. I don’t tell you enough but I’m so genuinely appreciative of you and everything you’ve done for me in here. You’ve made me so happy,” and Jamie responds with: “Obviously when I came into the Villa, I sat down and had a conversation with you – instantly the energy was matched and I knew from that moment you were the girl that I wanted to be spending my time with in here.”
Shakira and Harry are currently the bookies’ favourites to win the whole series and walk away with the cash prize of £50,000, with odds of 10/11 whilst Toni and Cach have odds of 7/4, Yasmin and Jamie’s odds stand at 4/1 and Angel and Ty are at 20/1.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “The odds have spoken and it looks as though Shakira and Harry have peaked at just the right time… punters reckon they’ll finish in first place ahead of Toni and Cach, with Yasmin and Jamie rounding out the podium places tonight.” However, Harry’s time in the villa has not been without its controversy.
The part-time player had caught the eye of both Shakira and Helena among others during his time in the villa. So Harry’s club, who play in the Southern Premier League, asked his pals back in the UK which woman he is better suited to. Even manager Paul Johnson waded in on the TikTok video, musing: “Bin off Shakira, 100 per cent. She’s a drip, nosy b***h.”
And the comments kept coming as a squad member went on: “Get rid of Shakira, she is as annoying as f**k,” as another helpfully mused: “I don’t care, just get him back here and get him running.” When it came time for contestants to meet the families of their co-stars, one fan savagely predicted he would be going ‘straight to hell’ for the way he had behaved.
They wrote on X: “finally caught up to love island UK…Harry, you’re going straight to hell’ as the famous section of the show geared up to return. One viewer felt so passionate about not wanting Harry and Shakira to be together that they admitted they ‘not watch the rest’ of the series if that is the way things go.
Love Island 2025 airs every night at 9PM on ITV2 and ITVX.
