Under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, England have delivered often thrilling cricket and secured landmark series wins away in Pakistan and New Zealand.
However, they failed to regain the Ashes in 2023, having gone 2-0 behind against Australia before surging back to draw the series, while they were also heavily beaten in India and lost in Pakistan last year.
After securing the series win in New Zealand in December, they lost the third and final Test in feeble fashion.
McCullum said he and his side wants England fans to feel an “attachment” to them, liking them both as players and their style of cricket, while also winning series.
“There’s no greater opportunity than playing in big series against the best opposition on the biggest stage under the brightest lights to be able to test that,” he added.
But McCullum said the all-rounder is “the most ruthless” sportsperson he has ever met.
“He is unbelievably driven, to push himself, to push his team-mates, to win at all costs,” he said.
“We’re very lucky to have him in the chair because he’s going to be very strong about trying to push this team to the next level.”
Despite the obvious focus on the five-Test series against India and the Ashes down under, McCullum said England will not underestimate Zimbabwe in the four-day Test at Trent Bridge.
“We want to be where our feet are,” he said.
“This game has an amazing ability to bring you back down to earth if you don’t have the respect for the game or the respect for the opposition.
“We go into it as favourites so we need to make sure we’re rock hard fit and ready to go and make good decisions under pressure.”
CORONATION Street and Emmerdale are set to join forces for the very first time next year in an epic crossover episode.
The unmissable stunt will see both soaps side-by-side for the first time, with consequences for the residents of both the Dales and Weatherfield.
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Emmerdale and Coronation Street are set to join forces next year
But it’s not the first time stars of the shows have appeared in both soaps – many have crossed over several times.
Here’s a list of soap stars that have made their presence known in both Corrie and Emmerdale:
Claire King
Claire King played the role of Kim Tate in Emmerdale from 1989 until 1999. She then took on the role of Erica Holroyd in Corrie from 2014 until 2017.
In September 2018, Claire reprised her role as Kim Tate in Emmerdale after nearly 20 years away, for a special week of episodes in October 2018. She then returned permanently in 2019.
She is known as one of the show’s most iconic characters.
Daniel Brocklebank
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Daniel playing the role of Billy Mayhew in CorrieCredit: ITV
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Daniel played the role of Ivan Jones in Emmerdale from 2005 to 2006Credit: Rex
Daniel played the role of Ivan Jones in Emmerdale from 2005 to 2006, appearing in 107 episodes in total.
Ivan was originally introduced as a minor role in a storyline about the character of Jarvis Skelton and was only meant to appear in three episodes.
But he was kept on and was seen embarking on a relationship with Paul Lambert, the brother of Nicola King.
More recently, Daniel took on the role of Billy Mayhew in Corrie in 2014 and has remained a regular on the soap ever since.
He takes on the role as vicar at Emily Bishop’s parish and dates barman Sean Tully on the soap.
Chris Bisson
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Chris Bisson played Vikram Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2002Credit: Rex
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Chris Bisson as Jai Sharma in EmmerdaleCredit: ITV
Chis is most known for his roles as Vikram Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2002 and Jai Sharma in Emmerdale, which he joined in 2009.
In Corrie, he portrayed Vikram, the cousin of Dev Alahan, but after a four-year stint, he decided to leave the show to relocate to Mumbai.
In Emmerdale, Chris plays businessman Jai, who has taken on various storylines, including a bitter split from his wife Laurel.
Rebecca Sarker
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Rebecca playing Manpreet Sharma in EmmerdaleCredit: ITV
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Rebecca played the role of Nita Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2000Credit: Rex
Rebecca played the role of Nita Desai in Corrie from 1999 to 2000. As her first acting role, she starred alongside now co-star Chris Bisson, who played her on-screen brother Vikram Desai.
In her role, she was seen managing the Corner Shop and having a fling with Steve.
She has since played Manpreet Sharma in Emmerdale from July 2018.
Taking on the role as the village doctor, she has been at the centre of many major storylines, including being the sister of serial killer Meena Jutla.
Zoe Henry
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Zoe is most known for playing the role of Rhona Goskirk in EmmerdaleCredit: ITV
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Zoe first showed up on the cobbles in 1998 as Log ThwaiteCredit: Rex
Zoe is most known for playing the role of Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale but many forget that she also appeared on Corrie as Casey Carswell between March and September 2007.
Zoe first showed up on the cobbles in 1998 as Log Thwaite, Spider Nugent’s vegan girlfriend.
Despite just appearing in six episodes, Zoe’s character made quite the impression, especially when Toyah Battersby tricked her into eating a bacon sandwich.
This ultimately led to Spider breaking up with her.
In 2007 she returned as Casey Carswell, who became friends with Claire Peacock before having an affair with Claire’s husband, Ashley.
Meanwhile on Emmerdale, Zoe’s character is currently involved in a dramatic storyline.
Rhona’s stepdaughter April Windsor suddenly went missing on Christmas Day.
It is still unclear what happened to the girl, and viewers are worried her mysterious disappearance may be the result of a kidnapping.
Sally Ann Matthews
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Sally Ann Matthews as Sandra Briggs in EmmerdaleCredit: Rex
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Sally Ann Matthews as Jenny Bradley in CorrieCredit: ITV
Sally Ann is known for playing Jenny Bradley, daughter of the villainous Alan Bradley, in Corrie, from 1986 to 1991.
She then joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2005 as farmers wife Sandra Briggs, but left less than a year later.
In 2015, she returned to Corrie as Jenny.
Ryan Prescott
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Ryan is known for playing Ryan Connor in CorrieCredit: ITV
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Ryan playing Flynn Buchanan in EmmerdaleCredit: Rex Features
Ryan is known for playing Ryan Connor in Corrie and Flynn Buchanan in Emmerdale.
Ryan joined Corrie in 2018 and is part of a major storyline amid the acid attack on the soap and is stuck in a love triangle alongside Daisy Midgeley.
Before this he had his first big soap role in Emmerdale in 2011, Ryan played Flynn Buchanan, a love interest for Aaron Dingle.
The soap first, which will be broadcast in January 2026, teases that characters from both shows will depart and exciting new faces will join as the cast from each of the long-running ITV programmes come face-to-face for the first time.
The hour-long episode is to mark the start of the new ‘soap power hour’ – a schedule change taking hold from early next year.
Emmerdale and Corrie will each broadcast a 30-minute episode every-day back-to-back as part of the new programming changes with the huge stunt set to kickstart it all.
ITV tease that the one-off mash-up will have “everlasting consequences for everyone involved” and will rock Weatherfield and the Dales forever.
Both shows producers, scriptwriters and production teams have worked together to create the record-breaking episode with the impact then being felt as both programmes return to their own hubs for months to come.
Bosses from both shows also say that whilst the soaps will only be seen on-screen together for the one episode, the communities will be forever linked as a result of the as-yet undisclosed stunt.
There will also be an interactive twist for fans to determine one part of the episode.
A vote will be opened allowing soap fans to choose which Emmerdale and Coronation Street character will share a carefully-written scene together as part of the episode.
The schedule change sees both soaps lose one episode a week amid dwindling ratings.
Both programmes currently enjoy six outings a week but this will be down to just five following the epic stunt episode.
Emmerdale will air at 8pm followed by new episodes of Corrie at 8:30pm.
The programmes will continue to upload their episodes to ITVX at 7am each morning.
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The epic crossover episodes will be shown in January 2026Credit: Rex
The TV industry and buyers of commercial time were able to breathe a little easier going to their annual week of presentations known as the upfronts.
Not long before the curtain went up Monday at Radio City Music Hall for NBCUniversal’s event, President Trump announced he would hold off on tariffs on China, easing some of the economic uncertainty going into the selling season for television networks.
But the messaging from media executives throughout the week acknowledged that advertisers will be under pressure to get more from their marketing dollars. Between performances by Lizzo, Lady Gaga and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, ad buyers heard about the new artificial intelligence-powered tools for targeting specific audiences.
While traditional TV still commands the bulk of U.S. advertising spending, advertisers’ increasing comfort with streaming was apparent.
Seven years ago, YouTube executives had to reassure sponsors that the company would work harder to keep their ads from running in user-created videos that pushed conspiracy theories or hate speech.
But at the Google-owned platform‘s gathering at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, the audience saw a glowing testimonial video from Marc Pritchard, chief branding officer for Procter & Gamble, a company known for being meticulous about its marketing and media decisions.
Netflix and Amazon marched into the week buoyed by the growing number of streaming subscribers who see ads. Netflix said its service carrying commercials now reaches 90 million subscribers worldwide while Amazon’s Prime Video is now at 130 million in the U.S.
The week of parties and parade of celebrities offered a glimpse into the current state of the TV business. Here’s what stood out:
Live sports rule, especially the NFL
Walt Disney Co.’s TV lineup is packed with big-name talent. But the company kicked off its upfront with an opening number by an unlikely singing duo — former NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning.
The audience at North Javits in Manhattan saw two more NFL stars, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, before a single actor appeared on stage. It was a sign of the NFL’s vital importance to the company and the TV business writ large.
Disney — where not too long ago Chief Executive Bob Iger mused about spinning off ESPN — wasn’t alone in touting its commitment to the league.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did a walk-on at the YouTube presentation to announce the platform’s first exclusive livestream of a league game, the Los Angeles Chargers season opener against the Chiefs in Brazil on Sept. 5.
Roger Goodell speaks onstage during Netflix’s Upfront 2025 on Wednesday in New York.
(Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Netflix)
On the Netflix stage, Goodell was joined by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to plug a documentary series on the franchise and announce this year’s two Christmas games that will be carried on the platform.
Jason and Travis Kelce promoted their Wondery podcast at Amazon’s show. Former tight end Rob Gronkowski showed up at two upfront presentations, one for Fox where he is part of the network’s NFL coverage and later at YouTube because, well, why not?
NFL games accounted for 95 out of the top 100 most-watched TV programs last year and is now setting records on streaming. Netflix had its most watched Christmas Day in history when 65 million U.S. viewers streamed some portion of its NFL double header. (Goodell wore a Santa Claus suit for his announcement of this year’s Netflix games).
For TV industry veterans, the emphasis on live sports was surprising. “Traditionally entertainment was the driver of the upfront,” Ben Silverman, co-CEO of production company Propagate, told CNBC.
Or as ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel put it during his annual Disney upfront roast: “This is all sports. What happened? We used to be so gay.”
But as the audience continues to be atomized by the growing number of streaming options, sports are more valuable than ever for advertisers who want to reach a mass audience.
Executives at Netflix, long on the leading edge of providing niche offerings to fit every consumer’s taste, now extol the virtues of the mass audience viewing experience now that it carries NFL games.
Live sports have become a lifeline to traditional TV, as most young viewers have turned to streaming for scripted series and movies. The trend was reflected in NBCUniversal’s presentation, which emphasized the arrival of the NBA on the network that will cost $2.5 billion a year.
“Tonight” host Jimmy Fallon may have summed it up best when he said, “Good morning, I’m glad to be at the NBA upfront — I mean NBC upfront.”
Planning for life after cable
Warner Bros. Discovery stunned the crowd at the Theater at Madison Square Garden with the announcement that its streaming service Max will once again be called HBO Max. The company stripped HBO from the name in 2023, believing the HBO brand name was too exclusive for the service’s ambitions to broaden its audience.
Dropping the prestigious HBO logo from the name of the service was a dubious decision from the start. But restoring it was a recognition of an undeniable fact: the future belongs to streaming, so why relegate a familiar and respected brand name to the waning cable box?
CNN and ESPN announced that their direct-to-consumer streaming services rolling out later this year will use the network names that have been familiar to cable viewers for more than four decades. The monikers will not carry a plus sign or any other designation that suggest the product differs from what’s on TV, and that’s by design.
Younger viewers may be forgoing cable subscriptions, but they know the CNN and ESPN brand names through their digital content. For those viewers, streaming isn’t an add-on, it is the way they watch TV
Movies are open for ad business, too
Not so long ago, seeing a movie star on stage at a network upfront presentation was a big deal.
But streaming has blurred the line by offering both series and original movies, and media companies are using that to their advantage when pitching to advertisers. The trend has given the platforms a bit more sizzle in their pitches.
Charlize Theron speaks onstage during Netflix’s upfront presentation Wednesday in New York.
(Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images for Netflix)
Arnold Schwarzenegger riffed at length about his upcoming Christmas film for Amazon, “The Man With the Bag.” The moment got added mileage when the former California governor’s “True Lies” co-star Jamie Lee Curtis joined him on stage.
Charlize Theron took the stage at the Perelman Performing Arts Center to plug her upcoming Netflix feature “Apex.”
NBCUniversal teased the sequel to “Wicked,” which will eventually run on its Peacock streaming service.
Warner Bros. Discovery touted its sponsor partnerships for the theatrical blockbuster “A Minecraft Movie” and brought out James Gunn and Peter Safran, keepers of DC Studios, to say there will be opportunities for the upcoming Superman movie and other projects.
Eurovision country trio Remember Monday’s are not new to the stage, as they actually competed in The Voice back in 2019
20:18, 15 May 2025Updated 20:18, 15 May 2025
All three members of Remember Monday have a background in musical theatre(Image: Zuma Press/PA Images)
As the UK’s Eurovision 2025 hopefuls gear up for their big moment on the Grand Final stage, fans are learning more about Remember Monday and their surprising showbiz roots. The country trio is comprised of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele.
The three women have known each other since their teenage years, when they became friends while studying at The Sixth Form College Farnborough in Hampshire. The trio originally performed under the name Houston, but rebranded as Remember Monday in 2018 as a tribute to the day they all had free periods at college and would spend time singing together.
All three members of Remember Monday have a background in musical theatre(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Long before preparing to take to the stage for Eurovision, all three members had already become acquainted with the world of entertainment. Charlotte was just a child when she played Jane Bank in Mary Poppins on the West End stage.
Meanwhile, Lauren took on the role of Miss Honey in Matilda, and Holly performed in both Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera.
Their big break came in 2019 when the trio auditioned for The Voice UK, stunning judges with their powerful harmonies on Seal’s Kiss from a Rose.
All four coaches turned their chairs, but the band ultimately chose to join Team Jennifer Hudson after being swayed by the chance to be mentored by the only female judge on the panel.
The trio went on to win their Battle Round but were knocked out during the Knockout stage after performing their original track Jailbreaker. Despite the early exit from the competition, the group went on to build a loyal fanbase in the UK.
The trio previously appeared on The Voice UK(Image: Rachel Joseph/ITV/Shutterstock)
In September 2023 they took a leap of faith and quit their day jobs to pursue music full time. In early 2024 they were reunited with Hudson on her US talk show, where they gave a soulful performance of Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette.
That same year, Remember Monday was announced as the UK’s Eurovision act for 2025, becoming the first girl band to represent the nation in 26 years.
Their entry What The Hell Just Happened? is a track with bold 80s influences inspired by the chaos of a wild night out. BBC Radio commentators admitted to being “nervous” before they heard the band perform, but were quickly “blown away” after watching Remember Monday’s rehearsals.
Richie Anderson shared: “I was a little bit nervous. It’s like when a family member is about to do a school assembly performance – you’re excited, but also so protective. But as soon as they started singing, their vocals were just incredible.”
He went on to say that the girls’ background in musical theatre prepared them well for putting on a show of this magnitude. He added: “They hit every camera, so it feels like they’re performing just for you – it’s very intimate.”
The Eurovision Song Contest continues with the second semi-final on Thursday, May 15 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 17 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
For almost 30 years, the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 has been a forgotten headline. Now, the BBC are shining a light on the tragedy – leaving Connor Swindells lost for words.
The BBC is airing a bombshell drama about the bombing of Pan Am flight 103(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/World Productions)
December 21, 1988. A routine transatlantic flight from Heathrow to JFK ends in catastrophe. Pan Am Flight 103 explodes mid-air over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground.
It was the deadliest terrorist attack on US citizens before 9/11, yet for many – including some of the cast of BBC One’s gripping new series The Bombing Of Pan Am 103 – the tragedy has become a forgotten headline.
“I didn’t know much about it before,” says Sex Education actor Connor Swindells, 28, who plays a Scottish detective. “The filming process was really informative.”
His co-star, Suits’ Patrick J Adams, 43, says, “I was seven years old when it happened and living in the UK at the time. As soon as I heard a series was being made about the events, I thought, ‘How has this never happened before?’”
In the six-part series, also coming to Netflix, Connor and Patrick play opposing forces in the aftermath of the bombing. Connor steps into the role of DS Ed McCusker, the detective leading the case on home soil.
Patrick portrays his American counterpart and rival, FBI special agent Dick Marquise. As Scotland and the US wrangle for control of the investigation in a bid to seek answers, political friction and personal grief collide.
Connor Swindells shot to fame on Netflix’s Sex Education as Adam Groff. He’s now thrown into geopolitical turmoil in the BBC’s The Bombing of Pan Am 103(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/World Productions)
The series doesn’t shy away from the geopolitical tensions that followed the bombing. While the FBI got involved assuming there would be cooperation, they were met with resistance from the Scottish authorities.
“I thought the FBI would be welcomed to any investigation,” says Patrick. “But this happened on Scottish soil – it belonged to them. There was friction despite everyone wanting the same thing.”
That complexity was front and centre for Connor, who found the emotional weight of his role intense. “This is a story that must be handled with care,” he says. “It’s been a real lesson in trying to do justice to the truth every single day, which is how it should be.”
Joining Patrick and Connor are Merritt Wever as FBI victim services director Kathryn Turman and Eddie Marsan as explosives expert Tom Thurman. Like Connor, Merritt knew little about the tragedy before filming.
The tragedy took place in 1988, killing 270 people and becoming the deadliest terror attack in British history(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/World Productions)
“It wasn’t on my radar,” she says. “But once I started speaking to people, so many had connections.” Eddie, however, remembers it vividly. “It was a terrible moment in history,” he says.
Kathryn went on to reshape the FBI from the inside out once the investigation was closed. “She saw that, back in 1988, these big investigative institutions lacked a framework for putting families first in the wake of these disasters.
She helped transform the Department of Justice and FBI, essentially giving them a heart,” says Merritt. Writer Jonathan Lee hopes the series does justice to the enormity of the event – and its continued relevance.
“It was the biggest crime scene the world had ever seen at the time,” he says. “They had to piece together the communication lines across borders, beliefs and individual agendas. It’s a lesson we’re constantly learning and unlearning.”
The BBC’s boss has reminded stars to follow the corporation’s rules and avoid damaging “mistakes”, after Gary Lineker attracted renewed criticism for his use of social media.
On Tuesday, the Match of the Day host deleted an Instagram story post he shared from the group Palestine Lobby, which said: “Zionism explained in two minutes” and featured an illustration of a rat.
A rat has historically been used as an antisemitic insult, referring to language used by Nazi Germany to characterise Jews. His representatives said he was not aware of the connection.
Asked whether the post had broken BBC guidelines, director general Tim Davie said: “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone, and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us.”
He added: “I think we absolutely need people to be exemplars of the BBC values and follow our social media policy. It’s as simple as that.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was submitting a complaint to the BBC, adding that Lineker’s “continued association with the BBC is untenable”.
The charity posted on X: “Nothing to see here. Just Gary Lineker’s Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji.”
A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said “the BBC should ask him to leave now rather than allowing him to dictate his own terms”.
“He has caused great offence with this video – particularly with his egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists.”
Lineker’s agent said: “Whilst viewing and reposting a video, Gary did not notice a rodent emoticon added by the author of the post. Although if he had, he would not have made any connection. The repost has been removed.”
Zionism refers to the movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, roughly corresponding to the historical land of Israel, and thus support for the modern state of Israel.
The BBC, when asked on Tuesday if it had any comment on Lineker’s now-removed post, responded by referring to its guidance on personal use of social media.
The former England striker has attracted criticism before for his posts on social media in the past.
He was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over a post in which he said language used to promote a government asylum policy was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
The BBC’s social media rules were then rewritten to say presenters of flagship programmes outside news and current affairs – including Match of the Day – have “a particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC”.
The Liver King has amassed millions of followers on social media for his extreme lifestyle
The Liver King became famous for living an extreme lifestyle(Image: Netflix)
Brian Johnson, known as the Liver King on TikTok, gained millions of followers by showcasing his extreme lifestyle online, which included eating testicles and adhering to nine strict rules he claimed were essential for a healthy life.
He heavily promoted the ‘ancestral’ way of living, claiming it cured his two sons of respiratory issues and allergies that frequently required hospital treatment.
Johnson insisted that living like our ancestors was the secret to his sculpted physique, denying steroid use in interviews. However, it later came to light that the fitness influencer was splashing out around $11,000 per month on performance-enhancing drugs.
He posted a public apology video admitting to his steroid use, sparking a massive public backlash and leaving fans questioning the authenticity of the star.
His steroid scandal is addressed in the Netflix show(Image: Netflix)
Despite the controversy, he still boasts a massive social media following, with an impressive six million followers on TikTok, nearly three million on Instagram, and over one million YouTube subscribers.
A new Netflix documentary delves into the controversy surrounding the Liver King and directly addresses the steroid scandal head-on. However, it fails to mention a £60,000 cosmetic surgery lie told by the star that had a big impact on fan trust, reports Surrey Live.
The Liver King left his followers baffled after he joked about having ab implants during a chat on the Full Send podcast. He later clarified on his website that the “experimental procedure” he claimed to have undergone was just a gag.
Fans have questioned if he has had ab implants(Image: Netflix)
“Personally, I thought it was funny AF…. they actually believed me, which made it even funnier,” the Liver King shared on his website. “You should’ve seen the subprimal look on their faces thinking ‘AlI have to do is get implants?’ I sure as s*** never thought ‘the joke’ a.k.a the fake news would spread the way that it did. It has officially gotten out of hand… and I f****** love it!”
He continued: “Turns out millions of people believed me too, and started actually believing Liver King has ab implants. To this day, if you Google ‘Ab Implants’ I remain the poster child.”
In a bid to regain his fans’ trust, he visited plastic surgeon Dr Daniel Barrett and shared a video of the doctor examining his abs to confirm whether or not they were natural.
Untold: The Liver King is now streaming on Netflix
BAFTA attendees were left less than impressed at the star-studded ceremony – with celebs caught trying to sneak out to grab nibbles.
The hours-long event kicked off at Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday, with stars donning stunning looks to celebrate the biggest and best of British TV.
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Ekin Su tried to nip out of the ceremony for snacksCredit: Getty
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Gabby Allen was told she wouldn’t be allowed back in if she snuck out for nibblesCredit: Getty
However, upon arrival, some stars were left ravenous as they were plied with drinks but next to no food – leading some to take matters into their own hands.
The Sun can reveal Love Island All Stars Gabby Allen and Ekin-Su were all spotted trying to get out of the illustrious event.
They hoped to run to a nearby shop in order to get some snacks to nibble on while they sat through the ceremony.
However, they were told if they were to leave they wouldn’t be allowed back in, so had to go without.
Love Island has not been nominated for any awards at this year’s event, with the long-running ITV2 series being snubbed in favour of another rival TV dating show, Netflix’s Love Is Blind.
Dragons’ Den, The Traitors and The Jury: Murder Trial completed the list of nominees.
The award was won by The Jury: Murder Trial, which recreated an entire, real murder trial in order to give an insight into the judicial system.
After the event, the group will be treated to a slap-up meals and party in order to celebrate the winners of the annual bash.
The ceremony, which is airing on BBC1, has honoured Mr Bates and The Post Office with a string of awards.
Meanwhile, surprise snubs include The Traitors, who missed out on Reality, P&O Memorable moment, and Entertainment Performance to go home empty-handed.
Baby Reindeer capped off its awards sweep with Jessica Gunning taking home best supporting actress for her role as Martha in the gripping thriller.
Meanwhile Ruth Jones said goodbye to Nessa on Gavin and Stacey, taking home Best Female Comedy Performance.
Bafta TV 2025 Winners List
Here’s everyone who has taken home an award at tonight’s ceremony
Entertainment: Would I Lie To You?
Entertainment Performance: Joe Lycett – Late Night Lycett
A stunned fan posted: “Are you joking??? Omg!!!!! You look so young and beautiful! Happy Birthday beautiful Sally!!”
Another said: “50 looking 30! Have a gorgeous day. Happy Birthday.”
A third wrote: “Wait what!!!!!!!! 50?! You literally look 30. Happiest of Birthdays to you lovely. Enjoy xxx.”
Sally is married to co-star Joe Duttine, who plays taxi boss Tim Metcalfe, and recently revealed working together is a nightmare.
“I’d be very happy never to have a scene with him ever again,” she joked in an interview with Ok!.
“I love Joe to bits, but I don’t like working with him – I’m never going to like working with him.”
Watch heartbreaking moment Coronation Street favourite returns four years after being brutally murdered
Sally added: “Bless him, we’ve got very different work processes – let’s just put it like that. I like to come fully prepared, and he likes to flesh it out on the floor.”
“Also, he’s very funny. I’m such a giggler and once I’ve gone, I’m gone. It’s terrible and even if people get annoyed about it, it doesn’t help.”
She continued: “He absolutely makes me howl with laughter and he does it on purpose. I get cross with him because he knows the situation, but he can’t help himself.”
Her mechanic character can’t resist the new arrival on the cobbles, even though husband Kevin is currently battling cancer.
“It’s complete lust at first sight,” Sally told Ok!.
“There’s that undeniable chemistry – it’s palpable. They just click. It was an instant attraction – they bounced off each other and it reignites something in Abi that’s been dormant for ages.
“She’s an addict and this gives her a thrill. It’s a different kind of thrill, but it’s exhilarating for her.”
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Sally and husband Joe Duttine celebrate New Year at Prestonfield House Hotel in EdinburghCredit: instagram
SNOOKER stars were left baffled as to why Zhao Xintong was allowed to play at the World Championship.
The Chinese star, 28, won the title for the first time at the Crucible this year, but remains banned in China.
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Zhao Xintong won the 2025 World Snooker ChampionshipCredit: Rex
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Shaun Murphy revealed he and a host of other players wanted Zhao bannedCredit: Getty
Zhao previously admitted being party to another player fixing two matches while betting on matches himself.
That saw him handed a 30-month global ban which was later reduced to 20.
However, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) chose to stick with the original 30-month ban, meaning he will not be able to return to playing in his homeland until July.
And 2005 champion Shaun Murphy revealed he asked why Zhao was allowed to compete.
READ MORE ON ZHAO XINTONG
The 42-year-old told OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast: “This point was made to anyone in World Snooker and the WPBSA who would listen at the time.
“Asking the question, how can a player who is still banned by their own governing body be seen and be deemed to be in good standing?
“And therefore be allowed to enter WPBSA events such as Q Tour – that was a question that was asked about ten months ago, before the start of the season that’s just ended.
“It seemed fairly black and white to most of us that he wasn’t in good standing with his national governing body.
“There are lots of other players that this has and does, and will apply to. You can’t just go around joining federations and tournaments as you see fit.
“You have to be in good standing. The question we all asked was, how can a player who is still banned be deemed to be in good standing?
Zhao Xintong’s classy act towards Ronnie O’Sullivan revealed after knocking legend out of World Snooker Championship
“I’m yet to hear a satisfactory answer from anyone at WPBSA Towers or the tour, so I don’t know the answer.”
Zhao’s ban meant that he was forced to qualify for World Snooker via the amateur Q Tour and compete as an amateur at the Crucible.
West Ham players Max Kilman, Danny Ings and Aaron Cresswell were at Parc des Princes, as was back-up keeper Wes FoderinghamCredit: Getty
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Martin Odegaard and Co suffered Champions League agony as Arsenal exitedCredit: AFP
Keen-eyed viewers would have been surprised to see the quartet in the stands as Arsenal took on Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital – a day after Inter Milan completed a 7-6 aggregate triumph over Barcelona.
Managers often blame testing midweek trips to Europe for poor Premier League displays just days later.
But amid a tough domestic season for the Hammers, their players knew the pressure was off them – and all on the Gunners – who trailed 1-0 for Wednesday’s return leg.
Two of the London Stadium stars were former England men in left-back Aaron Cresswell, 35, and 32-year-old striker Danny Ings.
They were joined by ex-Wolves centre-back Max Kilman, 27.
And third-choice stopper Wes Foderingham, 34, who has yet to play a senior game since arrivng at West Ham last June, was there too.
But for most of the season, Europe has been the furthest thing from the Hammers’ minds.
London Stadium chiefs sacked manager Julen Lopetegui in January after half a season in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi then fired home to put PSG 2-0 up on the night, 3-0 on aggregate.
And Bukayo Saka’s bundled reply on 76 minutes proved in vain.
But although it was a contrasting night for the four Hammers and the Arsenal team they were watching, both groups of players will have to get over it in time for massive Prem matches on Sunday.
AN ICONIC pub in Britain’s “poshest town” has finally re-opened after locals slammed its sky high prices.
The historic Windmill Inn of Linton re-opened its doors vowing to offer punters good value drinks with pints costing as little as £4.80.
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‘Britain’s poshest pub’ finally re-opened this week after being shunned by locals put off by sky high bar pricesCredit: SWNS
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Michelle Landers, 49, and Rob Lamb, 55, landlords of Windmill Inn who run its day to day businessCredit: SWNS
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The Windmill Inn of Linton, near Leeds, opened its doors vowing to offer locals good value drinks with pints costing as little as £4.80Credit: SWNS
The watering hole, which dates back to 1564, suddenly closed it doors in late January when the previous landlady left.
Some locals blasted the high prices for snubbing the hostelry which is in an area renowned for having many wealthy residents and with house prices in one street averaging £1.7million.
Now new leaseholders Sharon, 58, and Simon Colgan, 59, have reopened its doors and the residents are “over the moon”.
Sharon said: “Just because you are in a posh area doesn’t mean you should have to pay the expensive marked up prices.
“For those who want to pay extra they can – but it isn’t necessary if they don’t want to.
“We want to return the pub to it’s former days being somewhere the local residents can enjoy and call their own.”
She added that locals had been “so supportive” and that she was “thrilled to be able to give something back to them”.
The shock closure of the beloved pub came on January 24 after it hit financial difficulty.
But three months on, veteran pub landlords Sharon, 58, and Simon Colgan, 59, have signed an agreement to take on the joint.
Locals Heartbroken as Auchenmalg’s Only Pub, The Cock Inn, Closes Down
They were approached by its owners Bars and Stars – who are owned by Heineken – to see if they would like to take on the historic venue.
The duo who run 12 pubs in partnership all across the UK agreed, singing the documents on April 22.
Since then they have pumped £80,000 into refurbishments which include new carpets, a full re-paint, French polished tables and chairs, and updated outdoor benches.
The duo have also invested in new glass washers and a coffee machine.
They have even hired a new head chef and upgraded parts of the kitchen – purchasing new equipment like a cooker, new utensils, and microwaves.
Sharon said the boozer is “worth every penny”.
She said: “The pubs we are used to are what you would call old man pubs with proper ale and proper pub grub to fill customers’ belly.
“This is a new adventure for us – a little above our pay grade – but we are very excited to see where it takes us.”
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The pub is located in the exclusive village of LintonCredit: SWNS
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It has seen a stunning £80,000 refurbishmentCredit: SWNS
The Windmill Inn sits in Linton which is Yorkshire‘s most exclusive village.
One of it Streets – Linton Lane – was found to have an average house price an eye-watering £1,791,000.
Sharon appointed Michelle Landers, 49, and Rob Lamb, 55, as landlords to run its day to day business.
The couple have worked with Sharan and Simon before running one of their earliest projects, The World’s End in Knaresborough, North Yorks, five years ago.
Michelle said: “The community feel of this pub is second to none.”
“Whilst we have been cleaning and preparing for it’s reopening residents have been popping by telling us how thankful they are it is returning.
“We are really pleased with how it has come out so far – we are chuffed about the whole project.”
Sharon and Simon will pay £4,250 a month – £51,000 a year – to keep the doors open.
She said: “It’s not cheap but we know it will be worth it.
“We weren’t planning on taking on another location, but it is such a historic place in such a stunning location, we found it hard to say no.”
The duo are keen on keeping prices low but offering upgrades for those who are willing to pay.
Pints will cost range from £4.80 to £5 with the average meal setting customers back around £18.
The pub also sells sharing platters including steak and shrimp priced at £65.
The most expensive spirit is a single malt whisky which cost £7 for a single.
Sharon says the couple will pump all profits back into the pub to keep it going for a “couple hundred more years”.
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Pints will cost range from £4.80 to £5 with the average meal setting customers back around £18Credit: SWNS
In uncomfortable scenes shown on last night’s episode of Gogglebox, some of the stars were upset to see a vulnerable pensioner who lives in a care home almost have her bank details stolen by unscrupulous criminals
Gogglebox viewers saw some of its stars erupt in rage as they watched a clip of a vulnerable old woman narrowly escape being scammed.
On last night’s show, Channel 4’s current batch of couch critics were shown a segment from Scam Interceptors. Hosted by Rav Wilding, he works alongside “ethical hackers” to break into scammers’ illegal call centres to try and stop their selfish and damaging actions in real time.
The BBC show saw Wilding and his team observe a conman contact a 80-year-old woman who lives in a care home. He pretended to be from Amazon, and tricked her into downloading software which allowed him to view her computer.
To gain her trust, he told her that someone was trying to buy an iPhone through her account. She naively followed instructions to log into her bank account, revealing the details to the crook in the process.
Ronnie and Annie were incensed by the scammer’s tricks(Image: Channel 4)
He also warned her not to tell a nurse – who was cutting up her lunch – what their call was about. Thankfully, Rav and his team leapt into action, remotely crashing the scammer’s computer and then calling the OAP to tell her of her narrow escape.
The Goggleboxxers were gnashing their teeth in rage as the scenes played out. Ronnie, who watches TV with his wife Annie in South-East London, yelled, “You scumbag!”
Sisters Amira and Amani Rota also watched on in horror, with Amira admitting she’d like to switch careers to become a scam-buster, approaching the crooks with the same menacing air as Liam Neeson in Taken.
She said: “I would say to them ‘I know your home address… I will find you,’ I would Liam Neeson that s***.” She added, “You’re going to hell.”
Hull-based Lee Riley, who watches TV from a static holiday home in Hull with his best friend Jenny Newby snarled: “You f*****.”
Rav Wilding and his team managed to step in just in time(Image: Channel 4)
There’s not always such tension on Gogglebox, and in December Jenny, 66, had viewers giggling when she revealed what she’d rather do instead of the gruelling I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! eating challenges.
As Jenny and Lee sat down to watch the much-talked-about ITV series, Jenny confessed: “I don’t know if I’d sooner walk the plank or eat c**k.”
