Fran Bowden

Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, the married co-creators and stars of Colin From Accounts, discuss the third and final season of their Australian romantic comedy. They say Gordon and Ashley reflect roughly 60% to 70% of their real personalities, with the characters’ anxiety shaped by the pressures of modern life, expensive living in western Sydney and insecure small-business finances. The new season begins three years after Gordon’s proposal was rejected, with the pair separated and involved with new partners, before an unexpected reunion raises the possibility of reconciliation. Dyer and Brammall, who met while working on No Activity and married in 2021, say they plan to work together again despite occasional creative disagreements.

Linda Gray, who played Sue Ellen Ewing on Dallas, has shared behind-the-scenes memories while auctioning costumes, props and scripts from the hit US soap. She recalled that Larry Hagman sometimes put peanut butter or onions in his mouth before filming kisses because he disliked kissing actresses, and emphasized that he was warm and devoted to his wife in real life. Gray also discussed Barbara Bel Geddes, the cast's early camaraderie, and the pressure of keeping the identity of J.R. Ewing's shooter secret during the show's famous 1980 cliffhanger. She remains fond of Dallas and sees the memorabilia sale as a way to share the show's legacy with fans.

Emmerdale actress Casey Al-Shaqsy discusses how she frequently skipped school as a teenager to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, attending mainly music and drama lessons. Despite her truancy, she passed her GCSEs, trained in musical theatre at ArtsEd and built a stage career in productions including Joseph, Hamilton, Six and Wicked before landing her first television role. She now plays the fiercely protective Serena Sugden, whose loyalty is tested in a storyline involving the death of Dr Todd. Al-Shaqsy credits performers such as Jason Donovan and encourages young people from working-class backgrounds to pursue acting through hard work, kindness and self-belief.

Michael Sheen discusses his enduring passion for folk music, explaining that Jethro Tull mattered more to him than Duran Duran during his 1980s adolescence. While preparing to host BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show, he recalls Kate Rusby’s involvement in Heartlands and a memorable Christmas gathering at which Unthanks singers Rachel and Becky Unthank performed in his kitchen for his family.

Anya Taylor-Joy discusses playing Lucky Armstrong, a quick-witted con artist on the run after a multimillion-dollar heist, in Apple TV+'s series Lucky. She explains her fascination with confidence artists and the psychology of people who want to believe them. The role marks her first executive-producer credit, developed with Hello Sunshine from Marissa Stapley's 2021 novel, and allowed her to participate closely in shaping the series. Taylor-Joy also reflects on portraying a vulnerable, non-superhero character, her international upbringing and her rise from modeling to acclaimed acting roles.

Jah Wobble reflects on his upbringing in East London, early indifference toward The Beatles, and later appreciation for their psychedelic work, which inspired a new album of Beatles covers created with his two sons. He recounts his years in the punk scene alongside John Lydon and Sid Vicious, his evolution into a prolific solo artist, and his long-term sobriety. Now focused on family collaborations and world‑influenced music, he continues recording and performing while encouraging his children about the realities of a music career.

A posthumous conditional pardon was granted to Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the UK, acknowledging that modern legal defenses related to abuse could have altered her conviction. Her grandson Stephen Beard describes the decision as the end of a decades-long effort to address the injustice and its multigenerational effects on their family. The announcement by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, approved by King Charles, reframes Ellis as a victim of abuse rather than a cold‑blooded killer, offering closure and relief to her descendants.

The BBC has shut down long wave radio after 92 years, ending a service once central to national broadcasting, wartime communication and routine programmes such as the Shipping Forecast. Experts describe the closure as the loss of a unifying medium that once brought the country together through shared listening. Campaigners and Age UK opposed the move, warning that older listeners would be left behind, but the BBC cited high costs, obsolete equipment and minimal audience levels. The switch‑off marks a shift toward digital and FM services, while preservation efforts are underway to protect the historic Droitwich transmitters.

Mark Foster supports the Mirror’s Save Lives for Sam campaign by sharing his own frightening experiences in open water and highlighting the death of friend Matthew Upham during a rescue attempt. He urges caution when entering the sea and offers basic water safety advice. The campaign calls for the UK government to launch a national water safety awareness effort and to introduce Sam’s Law requiring safety equipment at high‑risk locations after a surge in drowning deaths.

Leigh Francis reflects on meeting artistic hero David Hockney, his long career in comedy, and his evolving priorities as he enters his 50s. He discusses family life, reduced drinking, shifting interests, and his upcoming art exhibition featuring decades of personal work. Despite past fame from shows like Celebrity Juice and Bo’Selecta!, he describes feeling more relaxed, appreciative, and ready for new creative directions.