Casey Cooper-Fiske

Comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ellie Taylor will host a refreshed version of Strictly – It Takes Two when it returns to BBC Two and iPlayer in September. She replaces Janette Manrara and Fleur East, while Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe will present the main show in place of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Five new professional dancers and several celebrity contestants have also been announced.

The Lottery Winners singer Thom Rylance said Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s passion for music is genuine, citing his support for the band, previous funding from the Greater Manchester Fund, and policies benefiting pubs, clubs and live music venues. Rylance praised Burnham’s character and expressed hope that he would govern effectively, while joking that Burnham had ignored his congratulatory text since becoming prime minister. The article also notes Burnham’s public interest in indie music and The Lottery Winners’ chart success and collaborations.

Tom Holland says he felt intimidated meeting director Christopher Nolan before joining the cast of The Odyssey, praising Nolan’s personality, ambition and writing. Holland describes excitement about starring in the Imax‑shot epic alongside an ensemble cast and reflects on Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s story. His comments were shared during an interview on the Dish From Waitrose podcast.

Bob Dylan will tour the UK in November and December 2026, performing in Birmingham, Blackpool, Sheffield, Bournemouth and London. The phone-free concerts require attendees to use Yondr pouches. The announcement highlights Dylan’s extensive achievements, including multiple Grammy wins and influential singles, and follows his previous UK appearance in 2024.

Melanie C described the 30th anniversary of the Spice Girls’ debut single Wannabe as deeply emotional while attending the Nordoff and Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards, where she received the global impact award. All former members marked the anniversary with celebratory social media posts reflecting on the group’s success and enduring legacy. The article also noted several other award recipients at the event, including Sam Fender, Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen and Jade.

Greg James described having a private dinner with Graham Norton and their partners before attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden. He recounted interactions with the couple, details from the event including multiple cakes, shared arena facilities, and notable guests, and confirmed Swift’s cats were not present. The wedding featured around 1,000 attendees and was officiated by Adam Sandler.

Zendaya attended the world premiere of The Odyssey in London wearing a shimmering white and silver gown before later changing into a green and grey outfit. The premiere featured major cast members including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, along with director Christopher Nolan. The film adapts Homer’s epic and follows Odysseus’s journey home after the Trojan War, with cast members portraying key mythological roles ahead of the movie’s July 17 release.