When you get invited to the Oscars, it’s sensible to approach it as a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity to be at Hollywood’s biggest annual showbiz event.

But with a show ticket secured and lots of planning to do as a film journalist ahead of time, the other part of my brain was aware of another important question – on the most scrutinised red carpet in the world, what was I going to aware?

Compared to an actress or filmmaker, I live a very different life with far more limited means, no designer endorsement deal and no floor-length gowns in my wardrobe ready to wear at a moment’s notice.

 Slightly overwhelmed at where to even start in finding a dress that was Academy Awards-worthy, I decided to call on the help of a celebrity stylist to get a taste at how the other half lives – and prepares – for a moment like this.

Scott Da Silva-Wells is a freelance stylist, designer and editor who began his career on a summer placement with James Yardley, who currently styles Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie.

He is well established on the UK circuit having served as a fashion assistant and an in-house stylist for some of the biggest women’s titles including OK! and Heat, working with TV stars including Vicky Pattinson and Craig Revel Horwood, before breaking out on his own.

Scott has also created bespoke looks for Love Island star Faye Winter for the National Television Awards and, most recently, Fleur East for this year’s Brit Awards – and now he has me, a pressed-for-time film journalist, more comfortable interviewing on the media line at these sorts of events than walking the red carpet myself.

We begin the process with a phone call, where we discuss my individual style and anything I’d like to avoid (neon colours, anything too thick for the California heat). I’ve also sent him over a couple of pictures of actresses whose style I like and red-carpet looks I’ve admired; Margot Robbie’s custom red Chanel dress from Wuthering Heights’ Paris premiere is one reference.

A day later Scott emails me with a virtual mood board comprised of dresses in the mix for my feedback – I rule out one, highlight my favourites and then he gets busy sourcing gowns for a fitting, which I attend the next week.

Not only is there a rack of dresses to try on (and one arrives while I’m there) but, as Scott is curating a look, he has shoes, bags and – heaps of – accessories laid out, and so we begin the process of trying things on.

As someone who wouldn’t normally take long to pull together an outfit, we discuss society’s judgement of women – and men – who spend hours curating their appearance.

‘Nowadays, you can come across arrogant or egotistical if you seem to be putting in that much time and effort,’ says Scott, but he’s unbothered by it.

‘The world is so dark at the moment, if that adds some light you should absolutely do it. Because, not to sound morbid, but we’re not here for long. You’ve got to live your best life, even if that means strutting down the street in a full sequin outfit! Why not?’

As a stylist, Scott is driven by the importance of collaboration with his clients rather than imposing his own taste.

‘I want you to feel like you and look your best self. And that’s what needs to come across when you’re working with someone; I don’t want to take someone’s style and put them in something that clearly isn’t theirs because confidence is key,’ he tells me.

It’s simple and it’s something I start to understand throughout the session: ‘If you feel confident in a look, everyone will know about it. If you don’t feel confident in a look, everyone will know about it.’

Scott’s mission is to elevate his client’s look in their own style but ‘sprinkle some magic dust’. However, he does allow a little wiggle room by presenting outfits at an ‘easy, medium and hard’ level.

‘Easy is what they’re happy with, we know it’s safe. Medium is pushing it a little bit, and then hard is throwing in a curve ball that they normally wouldn’t wear just to see their reaction.’

By the end of our appointment, we have narrowed it down to two dresses, with shoes, bag and jewellery picked out. They are quite contrasting in looks but both channel the classic Hollywood style I’ve always admired – and seems particularly fitting for the Oscars. After all, when in Rome…

I decide to leave it to fate to decide the dress as I need a different size (one of Scott’s main struggles with sourcing women’s fashion is the sizing inconsistencies). We’ll be meeting again two days later in Dress 2 Party’s London boutique.

As a stylist, Scott works with brands directly, describing the sorts of looks clients are after or even sending them links to dresses he’s found that could be perfect. He then loans them free of charge with the agreement that the outfit will be showcased and tagged by the celebrity, giving the brand exposure publicity.

Celebrity Stylist Q&A: Scott Da Silva-Wells

Favourite brands to work with for red carpet outfits?

Dress 2 Party is a brand I recently came across; their craftsmanship, fabrics and details are beautiful and are always super flattering and tasteful. Another brand for special occasions is Karen Millen, as well as Monsoon, Phase Eight and Asos’s recently launched premium label Arrange. And of course there’s rental services like HURR, My Wardrobe HQ and By Rotation, which provide designer outfits for a fraction of the retail cost.

For shoes, Sole Bliss is a brilliant brand loved by celebrities, including Dame Helen Mirren. Steve Madden is always a go-to for sparkling statement moments or classic styles too.

Dream celebrities to dress?

Rihanna, Cynthia Erivo, Kerry Washington, Teyana Taylor, Margot Robbie, Olivia Dean, Kate Hudson.

Most memorable red carpet fashion moments?

Ariana Grande at the Oscars in 2025, Lupita Nyong’o at the 2014 Oscars, Kate Middleton at the No Time to Die premiere in 2021 and Rihanna’s white outfit at Cannes in 2017 – basically anything of Rihanna’s!

Piece of advice you give to all clients?

Get your clothes tailored.

Favourite trend?

You cannot go wrong with a pinstripe shirt and a good pair of wide leg trousers – it’s just easy. People also refer to me as the Co-Ord King. It sounds so magazine of me, but you get so much cost per wear because they can be worn together or separately and it’s like different outfits!

Trickiest trend?

Underwear as outerwear can be hard as you either have that iconic 90s red carpet look or you literally look like you just stepped out in your lingerie.

Ambition for the future?

To either dress or make something for someone for the Met Gala. One day, I would also love to have my own brand, but I see it sitting in more of a custom space than on the high street so I can stay hands-on.

After the event, the garments are returned to the brand, including other samples he may have sourced for a client to try. The only time anything might need to be bought outright is if it’s something very specific or can’t be loaned. Occasionally a deposit may be required, which will be released after the item is returned.

‘When it comes to pulling looks from brands, it’s mostly done on who you know,’ shares Scott. ‘That means a lot in this industry. There’s definitely still a weird hierarchy, people say like The Devil Wears Prada, and it needs to change.’

With my final fitting done – and a quick trip to the tailor for some temporary alterations – Scott furnishes me with a couple of back-up bracelet and earring options, plus safety pins and tape for any emergencies on the day.

My final hurdle is finding a bag that will fit the dress and serve as my hand luggage after the garment bag measures too large. While I hope there could be leeway on a flight to LAX two days before the Oscars, my airline’s strict rules in this case suggest it’s not worth trying to blag it… especially when flying economy.

Once Sunday dawns, and with my credentials picked up, it’s time to get ready and then take a short Uber ride to the cordoned-off street entrance to the Oscars, which is still about six blocks down on Hollywood Blvd from Ovation Hollywood and the Dolby Theatre.

Following a car search, ID check and digital pass scanning, we’ve been warned it could take around 30 minutes to walk the red carpet, between guests, media and everyone (understandably) wanting to get photos.

Both on the carpet and during the drinks reception, my dress is complimented several times and serves as a starting point to various conversations with a film producer and a soon-to-be Oscar winner.

But perhaps the highest compliment for Scott’s work is the car full of local LA girls who wind down their windows to yell excitedly about the dress to me as I wait to cross the road back to my hotel in the early hours the following morning.

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A new indie puzzle game from the creator of ElecHead is one of the best releases of the year – and also one of the cheapest.

We are glad that Nintendo tries to highlight new indie titles, in their semi-regular Indie World showcases, but their irregular schedule and short running time means they can only cover a tiny fraction of all the games that are released. Add in the strange obsession with shadow drops – which means there’s often no way to review many of the titles until long after they’re out – and we’re not sure how much many of the games really gain from the exposure.

Öoo wasn’t in the most recent Indie World for the UK and we had no idea it even existed until a reader pointed out it has been in the Japanese version of the showcase. Given it has only two reviews on Metacritic, we’re clearly not the only ones. Why it wasn’t featured in the Western version we don’t know, but it’s unclear whether the companies have to pay to be included in the shows.

The game is primarily the work of just a single person, with Japanese indie creator Nama Takahashi having previously made 2021’s ElecHead. That’s also a game that escaped our attention the first time round, but now that we’ve become aware of Öoo we can confidently say it’s one of the best games of 2026.

We’re not sure how you’re meant to pronounce the game’s name, which is actually a pictograph of the caterpillar creature you play as, with the umlaut taking the role of his little antenna. That’s all very clever but as we’ve said many times before, indie games where there’s any confusion over how you say or spell their name are not a good idea and it’s infuriating how many times developers keep doing it.

To add insult to injury there is already a game called oOo: Ascension, which came out in 2018 and is also on the eShop. We’ve no idea what it is, but it doesn’t seem to involve exploding caterpillars.

There is no real story to explain what’s going on but the idea is that each segment of the caterpillar is made out of a bomb, which can ejected and exploded at will – assuming you’re on the ground at the time. If you’re within the blast radius you won’t be killed but will instead be launched forward, essentially allowing you to jump; what direction you move in depends on what side of the bomb you were sitting on when it went off.

At first you can only use one bomb at a time, but when you gain the ability to use two at once the puzzles get exponentially more complicated and interesting. Bombs can, in classic Zelda style, also be used to destroy walls and set off switches, and so you learn to not only launch yourself but also the other bomb, in order to get it where it needs to be.

That makes Öoo sound like a Metroidvania, especially as you’re stuck in a maze-like 2D world where some areas seem completely inaccessible at first. But while there are some small similarities with things like Animal Well the second bomb is the only extra one you get and all the new abilities you learn are really just tricks and exploits of the game’s in-built mechanics, that it’s entirely up to you to work out.

It may look like an old ZX Spectrum game, but Öoo is an incredibly clever sandbox puzzle game. It’s not a direct comparison but it reminded us very much of the superb Baba Is You, in the that the game sets up the rules for you at the start and you have to work out how to interpret and stretch them into solving the puzzles. Nothing is scripted and everything feels organic, as you slowly realise the logical extent of you powers and how they can be used to your advantage.

The game doesn’t just drop you off in the deep end though, as there’s a lot of what is the puzzle game equivalent of signposting, as new techniques are hinted at and then you ended up being teleported back to an earlier location, where you realise you can actually progress through it after all.

Unlike the cold and unforgiving The Witness, Öoo seems to actively want you to succeed and to not get frustrated. There are plenty of checkpoints, no penalties for dying, and while the game’s certainly not linear it won’t have you exploring aimlessly for too long; especially as areas are blocked off by frogs that require you to feed them flies before they’ll let you pass.

As with all good puzzle games, the obstacles seem absolutely impossible right up until the moment you work out what you’ve got to do, and you kick yourself for not realising how easy it was after all. Some obstacles require careful timing, which can be a little frustrating, but it’s a rare problem and for the majority of the time it’s brainpower and not fast reflexes that are most important.

Sandbox gaming might be more commonly associated with giant open world games but the much more modest confines of Öoo are infinitely more engaging and versatile than most titles a thousand times its budget. Your progress is impeded only by your own imagination, and the game is a master at stimulating it and making you feel like a genius for every problem you solve.

Formats: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
Price: £8.50
Publisher: AMATA Games
Developer: Nama Takahashi
Release Date: 3rd March 2026
Age Rating: 7

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Thirty years after it first aired, This Life will return to the BBC for a whole new generation to enjoy this 90s cult classic.

The era-defining British series – created by Amy Jenkins – starred an early-career Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) as well as Daniela Nardini, Jack Davenport, Amita Dhiri and Jason Hughes.

The quintet played a group of twenty-something lawyers sharing a house in south London ‘as they navigated friendship, ambition and the complexities of their twenties.’

Or, as the synopsis dubbing it ‘raw, real and revolutionary’ reads: ‘The 90s’ most famous houseshare. Five aspiring lawyers are aiming for the top – but behind the scenes, they’re a mess of love, drugs and excess.’

Hailed a ‘landmark drama’ with ‘fresh, raw and unfiltered performances’, it became the ‘defining series of the decade’ and a time capsule of London life during this time.

Behind the scenes, the show was also a fertile training ground for Britain’s up-and-coming directors, such as I May Destroy You’s Bafta-winning director Sam Miller and Harry Bradbeer (director behind hits like Fleabag and Enola Holmes).

The 32-episode rerun, offering a trip down memory lane, will be introduced by Daniela.

Fans and critics alike have praised its impact as a cultural touchstone and enduring legacy – despite its short time on screens.

Metro called it ‘the greatest drama of the 90s’, adding ‘no other TV series managed to capture the Cool Britannia zeitgeist as brilliantly as This Life’.

In a 2021 review, The Guardian wrote: ‘It was the sort of television where you wanted to contact all your friends immediately after watching an episode to recap it. It was funny but it also broke your heart.

‘It felt freakishly true to life. It depicted all the messiness and glory of being in your 20s in a way that you never usually see on commercial television.’

And in a review fresh after its release in 1996, The Independent shared: ‘What keeps you watching, in the absence of much discernible forward motion, is a quality of observation – the dialogue, apart from the odd passage here and there, continues to have an eavesdropped quality.’

The show has been praised for its diverse storylines, such as gay character Warren, who is grappling with his identity and discussions around interracial couples.

Over on IMDB, user shootingstar82 wrote: ‘While there are a couple of moments where This Life feels a little dated, overall, it holds up very well and is still immensely watchable.

‘This is one of the truly great British TV shows which I look forward to viewing again at some point in the future.’

‘A near-perfect study of life’s transitional period between careless partying and responsible adulthood,’ ideorio shared.

Discussing its unexpected popularity, and what drew him to the show in 2020, Miles actor Jack shared with The Guardian: ‘The writing was really different from most television. If you took a load of drugs, you didn’t necessarily die immediately.

‘If you had unprotected sex, you didn’t automatically become HIV positive. People liked it because there was no moralising. If you’re 22, you’re going to make some really bad decisions, but that’s OK. Relax.’

This Life returns to BBC Four at 10pm on Wednesday, March 18. Seasons one and two, as well as the 10-year reunion, will be available from iPlayer from 6am.

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The 2026 Oscars marked a huge night for Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley, who triumphed in the most coveted categories, best actor and best actress.

Hosted for the second time by Conan O’Brien, the 98th Academy Awards saw Hollywood’s biggest names descend on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for a celebration of another epic 12 months of cinema.

Ahead of the night, Ryan Coogler’s horror/action blockbuster Sinners led the way with a record-breaking 16 nominations, while acting titans including Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone, Ethan Hawke, and Kate Hudson had hopes of winning big.

Jordan’s portrayal of the dual role of twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Sinners ultimately secured him a leading gong, as did Buckley’s performance as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet.

Meanwhile, it was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another that emerged the most decorated, taking home six of its 13 noms. This included best picture and Anderson’s first-ever Oscar win after 14 nominations.

Taking to the stage for his acceptance speech, Jordan, 39, was visibly stunned, taking to the mic and declaring: ‘God is good.

‘I stand here because of the people that came before me,’ he continued, name-checking Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith.

‘To be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys. Thank you, everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it.

‘I know you guys want me to do well, and I want to do that because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keep betting on me, and I’m gonna keep stepping up, and I’m gonna keep being the best version of myself I could be.’

His gratitude undeniable, he concluded: ‘Thank you for everybody in this room that has something to do with my success.

‘I love you guys and everybody at home who supported Sinners, who went to go see the movie, once, twice, three, four or five times, thank you, because you guys made this movie what it is. I love you. I love you. I love you.’

Jordan faced competition from DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Hawke (Blue Moon), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), but proved the bookies right as he collected the golden statue, having been the favourite with odds of over 50%.

And when it came to best actress, Buckley’s winning moment was equally emotional as she hugged her husband, Freddie Sorensen, and her ecstatic co-star Paul Mescal.

Through tears, the Irish actress, 36, dedicated the award to the ‘beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart’.

‘This is really something,’ she began in disbelief. ‘Thank you to the incredible women that I stand beside. I am inspired by your art and your heart, and I want to work with every single one of you.

‘Mum, Dad, thank you for teaching us to dream and to never be defined by expectation but to carve from your own passion.’

She went on to note that it is Mother’s Day in the UK: ‘We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds.’

‘Thank you for recognising me in this role,’ Buckley finished off. ‘This is the greatest honour. I can’t even believe it.’

Other main categories saw the cast and crew of action-thriller One Battle After Another collect best picture, during which Anderson, who also bagged best director, said proudly: ‘What a night. Let’s have a martini. This is pretty amazing!’

The filmmaker also used the night to honour his friend ‘on the other side of the shadows’, Adam Somner, who was Anderson’s long-time collaborator and died in 2024 before the film was released.

Anderson said: ‘He’s at the bar having a gin and tonic, and he’s so happy for me.’

Looking at the award, he added: ‘There will always be some doubt that you deserve it, but there is no doubt in the pleasure at having it for myself.’

Other notable wins of the night came from the supporting actor and actress categories, which went to Sean Penn and Amy Madigan, respectively.

For Penn, it was his third Oscar thanks to his portrayal of corrupt military officer Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in One Battle After Another, and for Madigan, following a successful awards season run, she added another accolade to her collection for playing the villainous Aunt Gladys in horror flick Weapons.

While Penn, 65, stayed true to tradition by opting not to attend, Field of Dreams star Madigan, 75, told the audience how ‘overwhelmed’ she felt upon winning.

Referring to her husband of more than 40 years, she said: ‘The most important is my beloved Ed, who’s been with me forever, and that’s a long-ass time, and none of this would mean anything if he wasn’t by my side.

‘Thank you, I’m very overwhelmed.’

Further winners included Netflix hit Kpop Demon Hunters, which took two prizes, for best original song for Golden, plus best animated feature film, whole

And, interestingly, in the best live-action short film category, there was a tie for the seventh time in Oscars history, meaning it was won by both Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers.

After the winners left the stage, host O’Brien congratulated them and quipped: ‘You just ruined 22 million Oscar pools.’

The first tie came in 1932, while the last was in 2012, when Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty both took home best sound editing.

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“KPop Demon Hunters” won two awards during Sunday’s 2026 Oscars in Los Angeles, but the winners were abruptly interrupted during both acceptance speeches.

The Netflix original animated musical fantasy film received the Oscar for Best Original Song for the hit track “Golden” — sung by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — as well as best animated feature.

While Ejae was able to give her emotional thank-yous, the cut-off music began playing before the rest of the cast could contribute.

Despite the singer’s pleas to give them more time, the music continued — followed by the lights getting shut off.

A similar situation unfolded earlier in the ceremony when “KPop Demon Hunters” was named Best Animated Feature; directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, alongside producer Michelle L.M. Wong, accepted the prize.

The cut-off music began playing before the trio was done speaking, but it quickly quieted down so they could finish.

“And for those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this. But it is here, and that means that the next generations don’t have to go longing,” Kang, who was born in South Korea, said.

Appelhans also noted that movies have the power to “connect us as humans across cultures and borders.”

He added, “I just want to take a moment to say to all the young filmmakers, artists, musicians in all corners of the globe: Tell your story, sing in your voice. I promise you the world is waiting.”

Though fans were elated over the evening’s victories, many were upset the stars were interrupted.

“it was very disrespectful what they did to the producers of kpop demon hunters at the oscars let them give the speech…. having said that i’m glad they won,” one of many critics posted on X.

“That cutoff music during the kpop demon hunters speech was a lil rude #Oscars,” someone else echoed, with a third observing, “them trying to cut the kpop demon hunter speech short while amy madigan was up there forever #Oscars.”

Another dissenter argued, “Got time to make these horrid jokes but not time for Kpop Demon Hunters to say their speech….#oscars.”

“please let the man finish his speech… this can’t be the way to celebrate such big cultural phenomenon,” yet another X user wrote, with someone else adding, “no im sorry im still raging about how they cut off that guys speech over the golden kpop demon hunters win that was just unkind #oscars.”

One netizen went so far as to claim that the “KPop Demon Hunters” victors were “given less time than every other winner,” calling the move “absolutely disrespectful” while demanding the awards showrunners issue “an apology.”

The Monday letters page is upset that there’s never been a truly great The Lord of the Rings game, as one reader learns about the Max Payne remakes.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Earliest memory
I shed a tear of nostalgia when I heard they were bringing back Defender Of The Crown, then I shed a second tear of despair when I found out it was 40 years old. I thought it was early 90s, but 1986? Man, I’m old for remembering it the first time round – even if I was just a kid at the time.

I never owned it, but I do remember it being demoed in a shop a couple of times, so it’s an early memory of gaming. But that made me think what is the oldest game I’ve ever played? I don’t honestly know but I assume it must’ve been something in the arcades, as I don’t remember anyone having a console or computer back when I was a kid.

I’m pretty sure I played an original Space Invaders coin-op, which the internet informs me was made in 1978, but I doubt that was the first one. I’m not quite that old but I know I played one in the early 80s. I always liked OutRun, which apparently was also 1986, so maybe it was that.

Curious to know what other readers’ earliest memories of games are. And if anyone says something on Xbox 360 I’m going to start crying again.
Grackle

Secret plan
I’m getting really anxious waiting to hear about the next FromSoftware game. We still haven’t heard anything more about The Duskbloods, which is supposed to be out this year, let alone their next multiformat game. I’m sure this must be the longest we’ve ever gone without any news from them. Not even any leaks or rumours, as far as I know.

They must have a plan, because they’ve said no Elden Ring 2 and they keep stopping all these Bloodborne projects, but what are they doing instead?! I realise that none of this will matter the second they do announce something, but not knowing is driving me nuts.

I also realise that, in theory, I should be hoping they announce something new and in a different style but I have to admit I just want Elden Ring Part 2, no matter what they call it or what kind of setting it has.
Olang

Hardware preparations
I have to agree with the reader at the weekend, that it’s not that PCs have become better or more desirable, it’s that people are fed up with consoles and they’re being pushed away. Anyone thinking about buying a new console now, or preparing for the next generation, is much more likely to consider the PC now than they were at the same point last gen.

That’s not just a guess either. I know at least two friends that are in that exact position and if I hadn’t got my PlayStation 5 a couple of years ago, I’m sure I would be as well. I can’t imagine anything that would make me want to buy a PlayStation 6, unless it too played PC games. I don’t think there’s any rumours that say it will but at this point that must surely be a possibility.
Kranker

Remake ≠ remaster
I’ve got a bit of a niche question that hopefully someone out there in the GameCentral universe can answer.

I’m a massive fan of the original Secret Of Mana on the SNES, so much so that it is still the second best game I’ve ever played, in my own opinion, and I even went to the lengths of playing all the way through the sequel with all its Japanese text because I wanted more.

I’ve never played the remastered version on newer consoles, in fear that it might take the shine away for me. However, I would like to buy it.

Have any other gamers on here who played the original back in the day bought the newer version?
How did they find it?

Is it worth buying and jumping back in or should I just fire up the old game?

Many thanks in advance guys.
freeway 7

GC: Do you mean the 2018 remake? We’re afraid to say it wasn’t very good.

Minimum progress
I just read that Remedy are remaking Max Payne 1 and Max Payne 2, in collaboration with Rockstar. From what I can see the project has been in full production for almost 18 months and could be released towards the end of this year. This is amazing news as the first Max Payne in particular was one of my favourite games.

Does GameCentral have any news on this, and have you seen any footage
Subzero Radio

GC: Nothing at all, we’re afraid; other than it is still in development. It was announced ages ago but nothing has ever been shown of it. We can only assume that GTA 6, and Remedy having multiple projects on the go at once, have slowed progress to a crawl.

Mistaken identity
Am I alone in having never heard of The Lord Of The Rings: War In The North at all? What a strange game to want to bring back, especially as it apparently wasn’t even any good. I thought it was what I have now learned is called The Third Age, which was kind of a Japanese role-player that I do remember, but apparently War In The North is something else.

All this does is underline how there’s never really been a great Lord of the Rings game. Those movie tie-in action games were okay, but I wouldn’t buy them again if they were remastered. Shadow Of Mordor was probably the best, overall, of the modern games but I still don’t think it was great.

Maybe Lord of the Rings doesn’t translate well to video games. You can do stuff if you lean into the movie interpretation of things but if you go back to the original text… it is not suitable for a video game tie-in. Not beyond the broad concepts that everything else in fantasy has been ripping off for so long.

Some kind of strategy game with graphic adventure aspects, when you interact with characters, would probably be the only way to even attempt it and somehow I can’t see anyone spending the money to make that.

Game Of Thrones might work better but it’s probably the same deal. Warner Bros. was probably pretty sensible not to try and make a console game of it before. Especially when even that Telltale Games attempt turned out to be a dud.
Focus

Not over yet
After around two years, I have finally gotten through my Switch backlog and with no new major releases for the hybrid, I think it’s safe to say I’m done with the Switch.

Next console please…
LeeDappa

GC: There’s lots of new Switch games still scheduled, including first party titles Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream and Rhythm Paradise Groove.

Different worlds
I’m not sure PlayStation or Nintendo need to be terribly worried by either the Steam Machine or the NeXbox Helix X. Making a more palatable, user-friendly PC for the living room is a solid idea on paper, but Valve’s offering appears to be underpowered (roughly on par with base PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X, with no word as far as I’m aware on whether it will be customised to enable use of FSR 4.0 upscaling).

And both machines will be more expensive than a PS5 Pro (which still exists and is getting a major upgrade soon). There’s also the issue that the PC and console userbase doesn’t overlap as much as some people seem to think, and while these machines are intending to streamline the PC experience that will still be too much for many console gamers.

If Microsoft subsidise the Xbox DNA I’d consider it, as my PC is getting old and some foolish multinationals have made building a PC super expensive. Otherwise, I think that and the Steam Machine will be the preserve of the hardcore few.
Magnumstache

Inbox also-rans
Shame 1348 Ex Voto isn’t any good but if the success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance is gong to lead to a bunch of historical knock-offs I would be absolutely fine with that. Hundred Years’ War next, please!
Pewter Parker

Anyone that says they hate microtransactions and don’t care about piracy are okay with me but when is Slay The Spire 2 coming to consoles? I don’t care if the PC is hot at the moment, I don’t want to use one to play games.
Henk

GC: They haven’t said but based on the last game it could be around two years away.

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Awards season reaches its grand finale tonight as the 2026 Oscars bring Hollywood’s biggest names together at the Dolby Theatre.

Conan O’Brien takes the helm for his second time hosting, with Ryan Coogler’s horror/action blockbuster Sinners leading the way with a record-breaking 16 nominations.

Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more industry titans will also battle it out in the acting categories, while Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, and Hamnet are among the big hitters hoping to reap rewards.

Before the ceremony kicks off, though, the evening’s first competition actually unfolds long before the envelopes are opened.

The red carpet is where stars make their earliest statement, and for many, it’s a chance to claim a victory in style even if the night’s trophies go elsewhere.

Early arrivals this year included a daring display from best actress contender Renate Reinsve, as the Norwegian starlet went bold with a super high leg split. In contrast, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You lead Rose Byrne wore a strapless black number pooling at her feet and adorned with floral embroidery.

Raye, aka the artist everyone is championing to sing the next James Bond soundtrack, also spread some love by flashing a hand heart to complement her red satin gown, while Robert Downey Jr. and his producer wife, Susan, put on a lovey-dovey display.

Soon enough, the main characters of the evening stepped out, with Hamnet lead Jessie Buckley, who plays Agnes, William Shakespeare’s wife, turning heads in a vibrant Chanel look.

The Irish movie star, also known for roles in Wicked Little Letters and I’m Thinking of Ending Things, beamed in her colour-clashing ensemble, a flowing pink skirt on her bottom half and a red top, which she teamed with matching lipstick.

Other dazzling arrivals came from Sinners star and supporting actress nominee Wunmi Mosaku in emerald sequins as she proudly cradled her baby bump. The Deadpool & Wolverine actress is expecting her second child with Tash Moseley.

Demi Moore got the green memo, too, seemingly channelling both reptile and peacock chic in half scales, half feathers with one of the most outlandish outfit choices of the night.

Her shimmering attire was designed by Gucci and had a dramatic train and neckline.

On the more demure side, Elle Fanning served ballerina elegance in a corset scattered with blossom embellishments, while Zoe Saldaña wore a black, lacy, lingerie-inspired dress.

We also had Bugonia’s Stone in sparkling silver, while Weapons villain Amy Madigan defied traditional red carpet glamour with her own quirkiness, her blazer made up of feathers and paired with tinted shades for a super cool edge.

For our leading men, Chalamet was flying solo on the carpet, forgoing the chance to pose alongside girlfriend Kylie Jenner in her risqué red look.

After a week of controversy for dissing opera and ballet, with many working in the arts believing the backlash has scuppered his best actor chances, he pivoted away from the classic black tux, wearing all white.

Also sporting a moustache and an unruly hairstyle, he completed his trendy vibe with boots and a collection of silver rings.

Someone who seldom strays from tradition, however, is DiCaprio, who rocked up in the black suit and bowtie he’s so famous for.

Mirroring his suaveness, Jacob Elordi was worlds away from The Creature, donning a suit with oversized lapels and a matching waistcoat.

And in one of the sweetest moments of tonight’s carpet, Swedish actor and Sentimental Value’s Stellan Skarsgård placed an arm around his wife, Megan Everett, whom he wed in 2009.

Closing out the film A-listers, award presenter Pedro Pascal put a stylish spin on a plain white shirt thanks to a floral accessory, while Ethan Hawke and his wife, Ryan, were the ultimate Hollywood ‘IT’ couple, she in a deep red gown and he in designer shades.

Later arrivals were Michael B. Jordan, hotly tipped to win big for Sinners and expected to be the main man of the night, while Paul Mescal and girlfriend Gracie Abrams continued their red carpet PDA parade in some affectionate posing.

As has become expected at major events in recent years, tonight also saw several attendees grasp the opportunity to make a political statement.

Polish-American costume designer Malgosia Turzanska, nominated for Hamnet, had an ‘ICE OUT’ pin on her dress, as did songstress Sara Bareilles, while Glennon Doyle took a more explicit approach, unashamedly carrying a ‘F**K ICE’ purse.

Their accessories made their red carpet debut amid continued outrage towards the US government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) and its aggressive tactics, including lethal force.

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AJ Lawson couldn’t help himself when he stepped on Raptors 905’s new practice court.

Lawson, who is on a two-way contract that has him playing regularly for the G-League team in Mississauga, Ont., and the Toronto Raptors, its parent club, had to try every move he could think of on the 905’s new practice court at Paramount Fine Foods Centre.

“I tried to do some trick shots to be able to say I’m the first to ever do this on this court,” said Lawson on Friday. “But it never felt as good as when I dunked it, so I think it’s a good gym.”

Lawson and his 905 teammates have had a few practices at the new facility attached to their home arena — allowing him to break in the rims — but the practice court was formally unveiled in a ceremony attended by Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chief operating officer Nick Eaves and Raptors 905 vice-president Courtney Charles.

The brand new 16,000-square foot practice facility was built in a partnership between the City of Mississauga and MLSE, the owners of the Raptors and Raptors 905.

It features a full-sized court, including three baskets, revamped state-of-the-art locker rooms, a large fitness and training space, an extensive medical and rehabilitation area and a dining room and player lounge.

Raptors 905 head coach Drew Jones said that the facility will help with his team’s mission of developing basketball talent for the NBA team.

“It allows us to train with a great purpose and consistency,” said Jones. “In the G League, with the roster turnover and the travel, the level of consistency can vary tremendously.

“I think when you’re trying to grow and develop talent, one of the biggest things that the NBA is able to provide is a level of consistency in terms of the work, the atmosphere, the environment.”

Charles said that the facility’s best feature is that players and coaches can train whenever they want.

“When you have a space that you have access to for 24/7 you’re able to have times where you’re able to have one-on-ones with people while they work on free throws, while they work on dribbling, while they work on their game,” said Charles. “We’ve known that when our culture allows us to become a bit more human with someone, that there are the spaces that are comfortable for people, it’s a development opportunity.”

Raptors 905 are the first-ever G League team to have an exclusive NBA regulation basketball court built.

“That’s honestly amazing,” said Lawson. “It just shows that the 905 cares and they’re really putting the work in to help out whoever they can help, to help their players grow.”

Because of MLSE’s partnership with the City of Mississauga, the facility will be allocated to a number of basketball development camps and community groups both during the G League season and its off-season.

“Mississauga is a place that produces great players and coaches and is home to top-tier sport venues,” said Parrish in a statement. “Our long-standing partnership with Raptors 905 and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment allows us to continue to elevate the calibre of sport in Mississauga.

“This new gym is a big win for us and will benefit both Raptors 905 as their new practice facility while also offering access for residents.”

Lawson, who is from neighbouring Brampton, Ont., but went to high school in Mississauga, loved that local youth will benefit from the new facility.

“As a kid I felt I played more outdoors than indoors, because there wasn’t a lot of facilities I could go train,” he said, sitting at his locker at Scotiabank Arena. “Just the fact that there’s another place you can go train at for kids in Mississauga or the GTA is honestly great.

“They’re going to love it because it just gives them an extra sense of motivation. They can see the next step, like the 905, the NBA, all that’s right there in front of them.”

Saturday’s opening concluded with Raptors 905 players leading a basketball clinic featuring more than 50 children from the Erin Mills Youth Centre, the Mississauga Monarchs and PDM Basketball, who became the first community groups to play on the new practice court.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

Kieran McCartney, who’s competing on the current series of The Apprentice, has opened up about his mental health struggles, revealing that he was spending £500-a-week on cocaine.

The entrepreneur has shared in a new interview that he was ‘in a bad way’ and was ‘suicidal’ after his dad’s death, but that he’s now ‘in a good place’.

The 20th series of The Apprentice, led by business magnate Lord Alan Sugar, began airing in January this year.

McCartney, 26, is one of the final 10 candidates still in the running to secure a business partnership with Lord Sugar.

The estate agent, who runs an estate agency called McCartney & Partners Estate Agents in London and Essex, won the first task as project manager in the first episode.

In a new interview with The Sun, he spoke about his previous drug use, revealing that he began taking drugs after his dad died in 2022, aged 43.

‘When my dad died, I was quite depressed. I was in a bad way. I kind of turned to drink, drugs. I was a bit suicidal,’ he told the publication. ‘I went off the rails for about six months.’

McCartney revealed that he was spending around £500 a week on cocaine, and emphasised that he didn’t take drugs while filming The Apprentice.

He told the newspaper that he would contact cocaine dealers from his company’s work phone before and after he competed on the BBC programme.

‘The Apprentice was an amazing experience — mentally very stressful. But I’m in a good place now. It didn’t even cross my mind once. I would have loved a beer, absolutely. It was summertime. It was hot,’ he shared.

‘But drugs? No. Definitely not. I had about 200 cigarettes on me when I went into the house. That was it.’

Following the publication of the interview, McCartney shared a video on his Instagram Story, saying: ‘I’m glad you all get to see my side of the story, I think that’s the main thing. I’m in a better place now.

‘So, don’t worry, love you all, thank you for all the lovely messages, let’s keep going. The sun’s out, go and have a beer, it’s gorgeous.’

The Apprentice returns on Thursday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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The 2026 awards season is set to come to a spectacular close on Sunday with the Oscars, the glitzy climax of months of campaigning – and the final say on the best movies of the year.

With varied winners across the categories in industry ceremonies over the past few months, it’s an excitingly hard-to-predict culmination at the 98th Academy Awards.

Jessie Buckley’s best actress win for her gut-wrenchingly raw performance in Hamnet is considered the only sure bet, although Sinners goes into the evening as the most nominated film in history with a massive 16.

But there is robust competition from the likes of satirical thriller One Battle After Another, the gorgeously evocative Train Dreams, and the stunning cohort of international features, including Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident and The Secret Agent.

There’s also the high-octane Marty Supreme (if recent bad press for both director Josh Safdie and leading man Timothée Chalamet hasn’t damaged its chances) and the beautiful artistry of Frankenstein.

So as nominees, celebrities, and guests prepare to don their grandest gladrags, here are my predictions for who will walk away with the ultimate prizes.

Best director

A category that’s shown little variation so far, the Oscars have previous winner Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Ryan Coogler for Sinners, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value in play.

They all helmed some of the most popular films of the past year and represent a great variety of genres, from drama to horror to sports biopic to thriller and period drama weepie.

However, it’s been widely predicted – since even before official nominations were announced – that it will finally be Anderson’s year to win. He has amassed a whopping 14 nods in the screenplay, picture, and director fields over the past nearly 30 years without a single win yet.

He’s so far picked up the Bafta, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice Award this year, too.

However, he faces stiff competition from Coogler for the win, another filmmaker who, while earlier in his career, has already had a major impact on cinema with Black Panther and Creed. And then came Sinners’ record-breaking run of nominations…

Prediction: Paul Thomas Anderson

Dark horse: Ryan Coogler

Best actress in a leading role

Let’s not beat about the bush; Jessie Buckley is the overwhelming favourite and has been for months.

Claiming every prize so far on the road to the Oscars, the Irish star is rightfully having her moment to shine after her astonishingly vulnerable turn as William Shakespeare’s grieving wife, Agnes.

She’d already convinced me she was Oscar-worthy when she was first nominated in 2022 for The Lost Daughter in the supporting actress category, more than holding her own opposite Olivia Colman in an intimate generational drama.

Her fellow nominees are Rose Byrne for her deliciously chaotic performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (the only other person I’d be happy to see triumph after the role of a lifetime), as well as Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue (a sentimental but sweet nod, years after she was last nominated for Almost Famous).

Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) and Emma Stone (Bugonia) complete the category with effortlessly good performances too, ones that could easily win in another year – but this one is a comfortable bet.

Prediction: Jessie Buckley

Dark horse: Rose Byrne 

Best actor in a leading role

This is where we reach some of the most unpredictable territory, with a category that’s had fluctuating frontrunners and winners during this awards season.

Timothée Chalamet started the year as a favourite as audiences revelled in the pacing and audacity of Marty Supreme, picking up a Golden Globe for best actor in the comedy or musical category, while The Secret Agent’s Wagner Moura won in the drama category. Some fancied him as the eventual Oscar winner after he scooped the best actor prize at Cannes, too, where the film premiered.

DiCaprio was beaten by Chalamet already at the Globes in January, but for an established acting icon on his eighth Academy Award nomination, it seems foolish to ever truly rule him out.

Ethan Hawke hasn’t had enough fanfare for my liking, though, given his outstanding turn as the witty but petty lyricist Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon, watching the beginning of the end of his successful musical partnership with Richard Rodgers on the opening night of Oklahoma! on Broadway.

It’s a gorgeously theatrical performance in the best way, thanks to Hawke’s live-wire interpretation, and if Academy voters were in a sentimental mood, I could see them making him a surprise winner. It would also mark the 55-year-old’s first Oscar after five nominations (although it’s been lovely to witness his enjoyment over just being along for the ride).

But the odds are currently in Michael B. Jordan’s favour for his technically accomplished (and just genuinely impressive) performance as twins Smoke and Stack in boundary-pushing vampire horror Sinners. A first-time nominee at 39, he’s not too young to fall by the wayside in a category not often dominated by young men – and he also picked up the Actor Award for his performance just a couple of weeks ago.

Prediction: Michael B. Jordan

Dark horse: Ethan Hawke

Best actress in a supporting role

Another pretty open race, Amy Madigan has furthered her successful season after following up her surprise win at the Critics’ Choice Awards for Weapons with the Actor Award as well. There’s also some neat symmetry in a win for her, as 2026 marks 40 years since her first nomination for the very fittingly titled Twice in a Lifetime.

Meanwhile, Wunmi Mosaku was the hometown hero honoured at the Baftas for Sinners, and Teyana Taylor got the Golden Globe for One Battle After Another.

While Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning are both wonderful in the nuanced (and funny) family drama Sentimental Value – which their nominations attest to – they are perhaps the least likely winners of the Oscar in this category.

Taylor’s turn in One Battle is a force to be reckoned with in one of the most instantly iconic and provocative female roles written in a good while – that of fierce revolutionary leader Perfidia Beverly Hills. And Taylor only rose to the occasion of acting opposite Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Prediction: Teyana Taylor

Dark horse: Amy Madigan

Best actor in a supporting role

My gut for this category is telling me Sean Penn; whether he turns up to the Oscars or not is another matter entirely.

He’s been well-recognised by the Academy in the past (he won his last two nominations), and has already scooped the Bafta and Actor Award for playing the repulsive and unhinged villain Colonel Lockjaw in One Battle After Another.

His popularity makes it unlikely co-star Benicio del Toro will break through as the supporting actor winner at this stage, although it’s been satisfying to see two such different performances from the same movie celebrated.

Jacob Elordi did win the Critics’ Choice Award in January after his transformative role in Frankenstein, but it feels more like an outside bet.

Penn’s main competition comes down to the two acting veterans in his category, both first-time Oscar nominees with storied careers – which Academy voters tend to like to recognise.

Sinners’ Delroy Lindo is widely considered to have been snubbed when he didn’t get nominated for Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods in 2021, meaning now could be his moment – especially with the love the Academy has shown for his film.

Meanwhile, Stellan Skarsgård was anointed an Oscar nominee by the public back in May after Sentimental Value’s Cannes premiere and, like Lindo, has really pulled a shift promoting the work. And without getting morbid, after a period of health challenges, this could be now or never for the Swedish thespian.

Prediction: Sean Penn

Dark horse: Stellan Skarsgård

Best picture

Finally, we come to the biggie, crowning the definitive best movie of the year (well, sometimes) from a crowded field of 10.

It’s the first time these specific 10 have gone up against each other, as previous awards do tend to work from shorter nominee lists or split categories.

January’s Critics’ Choice Awards was the last – and previously only – time 10 were in direct competition, from which One Battle After Another emerged victorious; however, Jay Kelly and Wicked: For Good were among those candidates, and we now have The Secret Agent (exceptional) and blockbuster F1 (a crowd-pleaser).

Seeing as One Battle also won the Bafta for best film, it’s in pole position to take the prize at the Oscars, unless Sinners converts some of its groundbreaking nomination recognition. It’s the top dog of the evening, whereas One Battle was at the Baftas.

Frankenstein and Bugonia, while admirable films, never truly hit the zeitgeist in the same way as those; Sentimental Value and Train Dreams are quieter nominees I wish more had made the effort to see.

Hamnet had its expected triumph at the Baftas as a British film, but all awards attention and expectation seems to have naturally gathered around Buckley, while Marty Supreme has drifted since it failed to break through from the pack with quite so many nominations as One Battle and Sinners.

This category will truly be the battle of those titans, and anything else clinching this prize will be a shock victory.

Prediction: Sinners (by a hair)

Dark horse (if you can call it that): One Battle After Another

The 98th Annual Academy Awards airs on Sunday from 10:15pm on ITV and ITVX in the UK.

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