Jess Phillips

TalkTV commentator Kevin O'Sullivan claimed that Prince Harry wants to return to the UK and rebuild ties with the Royal Family, while Meghan Markle reportedly prefers an all-American future and opposes a half-in, half-out royal arrangement. O'Sullivan said King Charles III might support greater contact because of his grandchildren, but claimed Prince William and other senior royals would reject the idea. He also criticized Harry and Meghan's public standing in the United States and Meghan's As Ever business. The claims are presented as commentary rather than independently verified developments.

Bob Harris has shared an emotional update after stepping down from his BBC Radio 2 presenting role following the spread of his prostate cancer to his spine. He said treatment is going well, although he has less stamina, and described spending more time with family, friends and his cats as a chance to reflect and enjoy life. Harris also revealed that his team is developing a project for later in the year, while supporters including Chris Difford and Ralph McClean sent messages of encouragement.

Veteran American actor and journalist Paul Avery and his wife, Sheila Garry Avery, died after a house fire at their home in Blairstown, New Jersey, on June 16. Avery was known for playing Hughie in All My Children for 12 years and for appearances in Superman, Tales from the Darkside, Soap and Three's Company. Their daughter Kyle confirmed the deaths, thanked the Blairstown Fire Department and said service plans would follow. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, while colleagues and local acquaintances paid tribute to Avery's acting, journalism and aviation career.

Former EastEnders: E20 actress Emaa Hussen has been charged in Australia with allegedly attempting to smuggle 320 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in bags of charcoal from Ghana. Authorities intercepted the shipment at Port Botany and reportedly found additional matching bags at a property in Blacktown. Hussen remains in custody ahead of an August court hearing and could face life imprisonment if convicted. Australian authorities valued the seizure at about $296 million and said it prevented millions of potential drug deals.

BBC Question Time was moved from its usual Thursday slot because UK local-election polling stations remained open until 10pm, preventing broadcasters from airing election-related political coverage. The programme will return live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday, May 8 at 7:30pm, followed by a return to its regular Thursday schedule on May 14 from Brecon. The change comes amid viewer criticism of Reform UK representative Zia Yusuf appearing again despite not holding elected office.

Craig Phillips has described a distressing unaired episode of ITV's 60 Minute Makeover in South Wales, where a recently widowed man returned home to find his late wife's belongings and much of the property dismantled. The man's daughter had arranged the surprise but misjudged his grief and attachment to the furniture. Production was halted when he became angry and demanded to return, and ITV reportedly later arranged for the house to be restored as far as possible. The episode was ultimately shelved, and ITV has been asked for comment.

The BBC disputed Thomas Skinner’s claim that he was paid £2,000 to appear on Question Time, stating that non-politician panellists receive an appearance fee of £150. Skinner appeared as a TV personality despite being a Reform UK member, prompting criticism from viewers. Nigel Farage also questioned why he was absent as Clacton’s MP, while the BBC cited a longstanding policy against inviting MPs to programmes recorded in their own constituencies except for single-issue specials. The policy’s basis was subsequently questioned by viewers.

A two-part episode of Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody follows Bedfordshire Police’s investigation into the disappearance of 74-year-old Annette Smith. Her lodger, Scott Paterson, initially claimed she had gone away, but later confessed to suffocating her, dismembering her body and disposing of the remains in public bins. Investigators also suspected he murdered Smith for financial reasons after stealing and pawning her jewellery. Paterson pleaded guilty in November 2024 and received a minimum 20-year prison sentence.

Call the Midwife will not air on BBC One on February 22, 2026, because the BAFTA Film Awards are occupying its usual 8pm slot. The series will return the following Sunday, and the BBC has reassured viewers that it is not ending, with two Christmas specials, a new series, a film, a prequel and a sixteenth series planned.

BBC viewers criticized the broadcaster after coverage of a 50km Winter Olympics cross-country race moved from iPlayer to BBC Two about 40km into the event, with some viewers saying they received no timely warning and could not follow the finish. Other viewers defended the switch as standard Olympic scheduling. The complaints follow a separate broadcast error during Team GB's mixed-team skeleton relay gold-medal performance, when cameras missed Matt Weston's start and commentator John Hunt apologized live.

The BBC apologised after its Winter Olympics coverage missed Matt Weston's push-off in the decisive mixed team skeleton relay. The broadcast feed instead showed his coach as Weston began chasing a 0.3-second deficit against Germany, prompting viewers to call it a major Olympic blunder. The BBC said the footage came from Olympic Broadcasting Services, while commentators apologised and Team GB ultimately won gold alongside Tabby Stoecker.

James, a gardener from Weymouth and semi-finalist in the 2026 series of The Traitors, previously appeared on BBC Question Time in 2020. During that appearance, he criticized new immigration legislation associated with Boris Johnson, describing it as nationalistic and contrary to the Brexit promise. The programme also featured a debate between Alison McGovern and Michael Portillo about the BBC’s future and its competition with Netflix and Amazon.

Viewers criticised a Celebrity Mastermind episode that featured Susie McCabe answering questions on Margaret Thatcher and JB Gill focusing on the Bad Boys films. Some viewers objected to the Thatcher subject, while others mocked Richie Anderson for answering “Abrupt Spice” instead of “Scary Spice” when asked about Mel B. Several described the programme as painful, cringeworthy or among the worst 30 minutes in television history.

James, a Weymouth gardener and contestant on the 2026 series of The Traitors, previously appeared on BBC Question Time in 2020. During that appearance, he criticized immigration legislation associated with Boris Johnson and warned that it represented a troubling form of nationalism. The programme also featured Michael Portillo, Alison McGovern and George Eustice, with Portillo discussing the BBC's competitive challenges from Netflix and Amazon. The Traitors continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Monty Don and his dog Ned will appear in the final Gardeners' World episode of 2025 before the BBC Two programme returns in January 2026. Fans responded with sadness and affection to the seasonal hiatus, while a new series, Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens, is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2026.

Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Russell Grant has told followers he is preparing for an MRI scan of his lumbar region, describing the procedure as frightening. Supporters responded with messages of encouragement. Grant, 74, previously underwent five-hour surgery in 2022 to remove a pituitary gland tumour and has since faced risks including vision loss and a possible return of Type 2 diabetes linked to steroid treatment.

Andrew Pierce is leaving Good Morning Britain after the programme extends by 30 minutes from January 2026, reducing Lorraine to a half-hour slot. His existing GB News commitments prevent him from accommodating the longer GMB schedule. Pierce says he will continue presenting on GB News from 9:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday, while viewers have expressed mixed reactions to his departure.

Eric Berman, a former Jeopardy! champion and Indiana journalist, died on December 5, 2025, aged 60, after battling cancer for nearly 19 years. He won four consecutive Jeopardy! episodes in 1987, reached the Tournament of Champions, and later won $20,000 on the 2024 edition of Trivial Pursuit, bringing his game-show winnings to more than $57,000. Berman spent nearly three decades reporting on Indiana politics, elections and news for radio stations including WIBC and WOWO. He is survived by his wife, Christine, and their son, Christian, while colleagues and fans have praised his character, journalism and thirst for knowledge.

John Torode and Lisa Faulkner have announced the launch of a YouTube cooking channel filmed in their home kitchen. They plan to publish new recipes weekly, ranging from family favourites and desserts to international dishes, promising that each recipe will be tested and reliable. The announcement comes as Torode hosts his final series of Celebrity MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Sky News presenter Ashna Hurynag has announced her departure from the channel after five years. Colleagues gave her an unexpected on-air farewell featuring a montage of her reporting in difficult weather, while praising her kindness and professionalism. Hurynag thanked the Sky News team and said she would return to broadcasting on another screen, prompting supportive messages from viewers and former ITV News Central followers.

Eamonn Holmes paid tribute to conservationist Jane Goodall after her death from natural causes in California at the age of 91. Holmes described Goodall as an extraordinary person and praised her bond with primates, while the Jane Goodall Institute highlighted her scientific discoveries and environmental advocacy. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also issued a statement remembering Goodall as a visionary humanitarian and a personal friend.

Claudia Winkleman said she was worried about the future of The Traitors UK after BBC executives disregarded her preference to keep the programme small and infrequent. She found hosting the celebrity spin-off more difficult because she wanted to be friendly with the contestants while needing to maintain an aloof, strict persona. The Celebrity Traitors features 19 celebrities competing as Traitors and Faithfuls for a £100,000 charity prize and is scheduled to launch on BBC One and iPlayer on 8 October.

Michael McIntyre is celebrating 25 years in comedy after success with BBC programmes including Michael McIntyre's Big Show and The Wheel, as well as winning an NTA Award. The profile examines his family life with wife Kitty Ward and their sons, Lucas and Oscar, and details Kitty's connections to actors Simon Ward and Sophie Ward. It also reports an estimated net worth of £10 million in 2024 and notes McIntyre's status as one of the world's highest-grossing stand-up comedians.

Fans have threatened to boycott Strictly Come Dancing after an alleged online leak appeared to reveal the 2025 professional pairing for contestant Thomas Skinner. The reaction follows controversy over Skinner taking a journalist’s phone at a press event, which he said contained personal messages that upset him. Supporters fear the backlash could lead to his early elimination and unfairly affect his professional dance partner. The BBC has been asked for comment, while the new series is scheduled to begin on BBC One on 20 September 2025.