Giant Leaves BBC Show Gladiators After Three Seasons
Jamie Bigg, the former professional bodybuilder and firefighter who appears on BBC’s Gladiators as “Giant,” announced his departure after three seasons. Bigg revealed on Instagram that the decision was driven by a conflict with his personal values, not a voluntary exit. The 6‑ft‑5‑in star, known for his 52‑cm biceps and a 10,000‑calorie daily diet, has been a prominent figure since the show’s 2024 revival. His exit coincides with a recent name change, divorce, and an ADHD diagnosis, underscoring a period of personal transformation.
Paul Weller on Barbie, Billie Eilish and Being a Granddad
Paul Weller, the 67‑year‑old "Modfather," is releasing "Weller At The BBC Volume 2," a collection of live performances recorded for the BBC between 2008 and 2024. The double‑disc set features his classic hits alongside a cover of Billie Eilish’s Barbie soundtrack song,...
Lost 1968 Morecambe and Wise Episode to Be Broadcast
BBC will air a previously missing episode of the iconic British comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, originally broadcast on 16 September 1968. The episode, one of four thought lost, was recovered from a private collection by the Film is Fabulous! charitable trust...
Sara Cox Replaces Scott Mills on Radio 2 Breakfast Show
BBC Radio 2 announced that Sara Cox will succeed Scott Mills as the flagship breakfast presenter, taking the role in the summer. Cox, who has hosted the station’s teatime slot since 2019, expressed excitement about the move, which makes her the second...
Opera Bosses Credit Pop Star Rosalía for Artform's 'Surge of Support'
Pinterest identified “opera aesthetics” as one of its fastest‑growing trends, noting a 55% rise in searches for opera‑themed dresses over the past year. Meanwhile, the Welsh National Opera (WNO) has been grappling with severe funding cuts that stripped about a...
Sir Anthony Hopkins Turns Town Into 'Hollywood Scene' For New Film
Oscar‑winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins arrived in the north‑Wales town of Dolgellau to shoot his upcoming film A Visit To Grandpa’s, a adaptation of a Dylan Thomas short story. Over three days, roughly 200 residents and tourists gathered to watch the...
Avengers Reassemble and Top Gun Flies Back - Hollywood Studios Preview Their New Movies
Hollywood’s annual CinemaCon in Las Vegas unveiled a blockbuster‑heavy slate, headlined by Disney’s first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, set for Dec 18, and Paramount’s confirmation of a Top Gun sequel after the original’s $1.5 bn global run. Studios also showcased AI‑driven resurrection of...
Five Authors in the Running for Historical Fiction Prize
The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has announced a five‑book shortlist, marking the first time all nominees are British authors. The contenders—Jo Harkin's "The Pretender," Alice Jolly's "The Matchbox Girl," Graeme Macrae Burnet's "Benbecula," Rachel Seiffert's "Once the Deed...
Spice Girls' Outfits Go on Show in '90s Exhibition
The Barbican Music Library is hosting a free “Cool Britannia” exhibition that showcases iconic 1996 pop culture artifacts, including the Spice Girls' leopard‑print catsuit and Union Jack platform boots. Curated by former Sun editor Dominic Mohan, the show also features Oasis...
Kanye West Postpones France Gig Following UK Ban
Kanye West announced the postponement of his Marseille concert "until further notice" after the UK government blocked his entry for the Wireless Festival. The Home Office denied his Electronic Travel Authorisation, citing public‑good concerns, and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez is...
Stormzy's Stab Vest Goes on Display in Landmark Exhibition of Black British Music
The Victoria & Albert Museum’s new V&A East in London has opened "Music Is Black: A British Story," a landmark exhibition tracing 125 years of black British music. Central to the show is Stormzy’s bullet‑proof vest, designed by Banksy, which...
Man Wins €1m Picasso Painting in €100 Charity Raffle
Ari Hodara, a 58‑year‑old engineer, won an original 1941 Pablo Picasso gouache titled *Tête de Femme* valued at over $1.2 million after buying a €100 ($118) raffle ticket. The "1 Picasso for 100 euros" charity raffle sold more than 120,000 tickets,...
Bloodborne Video Game Film Adaptation Announced with YouTuber Jacksepticeye
Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions announced an animated film adaptation of the 2015 action‑RPG Bloodborne, with YouTube star Jacksepticeye co‑producing. The project was unveiled at CinemaCon 2026, though plot details and a release window remain undisclosed. Bloodborne, a critically acclaimed...
Rapper Offset Hits Coachella Stage Days After Being Shot
Rapper Offset took the Coachella stage a week after being shot outside a Florida casino, performing most of his set in a wheelchair before briefly standing unaided. The 34‑year‑old posted Instagram photos captioned “REAL LOVE,” while his mother called his...
Dan Walker to Appear at Tribunal as Ex Co-Host Brings Bullying Claim
Dan Walker, former co‑host of Channel 5 News, will appear at an employment tribunal after colleague Claudia‑Liza Vanderpuije filed a bullying claim alleging sexism and misogyny. ITN and Paramount, owners of Channel 5, are also named as respondents. Walker denies the allegations...