Every year the most glamorous night in Hollywood comes with an unofficial side event: the moment everyone realises the losing nominees are walking away with a consolation prize worth more than most houses.

Welcome to the 2026 ‘Everyone Wins’ nominee gift bag, which includes a wildly extravagant collection of luxury trips, beauty treatments, tech gadgets, and wellness products valued at an eye-watering $350,000.

The bags are produced by Los Angeles marketing company Distinctive Assets and are handed to the top acting and directing nominees attending the Academy Awards.

Importantly, they are not officially connected to the Oscars or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but that hasn’t stopped them becoming one of the most talked-about traditions of awards season.

This year’s lucky recipients include stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson and Jacob Elordi — all of whom will receive the lavish packages whether they take home a golden statue or not.

And while the bags might be technically unofficial, they are anything but modest.

Inside are luxury holidays, high-end skincare, designer luggage, cryptocurrency security devices, cannabis products, cosmetic procedures, and even a fully customised prenuptial agreement from celebrity divorce lawyer Jim Sexton.

According to Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary, the whole operation is about clever branding: ‘Of course none of the celebrities we gift need free stuff,’ he said. ‘It’s simple marketing.

‘Brands give the product away in exchange for the prestige of being associated with the most acclaimed actors in the world at that moment.’

They went on to explain that the gifts were ‘in no way based on need’. ‘We are acknowledging these amazing nominees while elevating and showcasing small businesses, minority-owned brands, female entrepreneurs and companies that give back at a time when everyone can use a little more fun and frivolity.’

One ⁠of those small businesses included in the bags is Rescue Spa, founded by Danuta Mieloch, who has said the marketing opportunities associated with being included outweigh the amount being spent on giving away its products.

Companies pay a fee to include their products, with Rescue Spa ​contributing $450 (£335) worth of treatments and goods this year per bag.

With this year marking the brand’s third inclusion, Mieloch says the exposure was more than worth the investment.

‘I feel like it positions us ‌in ⁠a better place. And it aligns with our philosophy. To be nominated requires diligence, a lot of work and excellence – and I feel like my products are aligned with that,’ she told Reuters.

The 2026 Oscars will take place this weekend, with the 98^th annual ceremony being hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien and held at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre.

The American horror film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, leads the nominations charge – pulling in a record-breaking 16 nods.

The previous record was 14 – achieved by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land.

After Sinners, the next most nominated movie was One Battle After Another with 13 nods, followed by Sentimental Value (9), Frankenstein (9), Marty Supreme (9) and Hamnet (8).

Those films were all nominated in the best picture category, as well as Bugonia, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, The Secret Agent and F1.

Meanwhile in the best actor category, Timothée Chalamet is nominated for Marty Supreme (his third Oscar nomination), Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another (his eighth Oscar nomination), Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.

The best actress nominees are Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value for Emma Stone for Bugonia.

The best director nominees are Chloe Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Joacim Trier (Sentimental Value) and Ryan Coogler for Sinners.

While O’Brien hasn’t been able to reveal much about this year’s show, he said that audiences could expect ‘a lot of magic’.

‘There’ll be some explosions, CGI will be used. I see this second Oscars as an opportunity to take things up a notch,’ he added.

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The hardest-working woman in TV has another credit to add to her IMDb this week.

There are four new Nicole Kidman dramas coming in 2026 and the first arrives on Amazon Prime Video tomorrow.

Based on Patricia Cornwell’s series of novels about a criminal pathologist who brings plenty of baggage to the job, Scarpetta stars Kidman as the woman in question.

Dr Kay Scarpetta has a reputation in the world of forensics, but the grind of performing one autopsy after another is (understandably) getting to her. Just as she’s returned to take on the chief medical examiner spot for Virginia. 

From the writer behind episodes of Lost and Barry, the show weaves back and forth between two timelines, in the present day with Kidman playing newly-returned Dr Scarpetta, and her younger, scrappy self in the 1990s, where the pathologist is played by Rosy McEwen.

Elsewhere on the starry cast, we have fellow screen icon Jamie Lee Curtis as Kay’s sardonic sister Dorothy (JLC doesn’t really look like a Dorothy, but ignore that), The Mentalist lead Simon Baker, Bafta’s rap star extraordinaire Ariana DeBose and owner of a new bearded dragon Bobby Cannavale.

In the present-day timeline for the eight-parter, Dr Scarpetta is investigating a particularly gruesome set of murders, which look like the work of a serial killer and even bear freakish similarities to a case from the start of her career. 

As the thriller’s trailer teases, ‘The case that made her could break her.’

The official Amazon synopsis of the show described the eight-parter as ‘chilling’, writing: ‘With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, this unrelenting medical examiner is determined to serve as the voice of the victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn’t also her undoing.

‘As Scarpetta pursues justice, she must navigate complicated relationships, including the fraught dynamic with her sister, confront long-held professional and personal grudges, and face secrets that threaten to unravel everything she’s built.’

Kidman is never one to do jobs in half measures, so it might come as no surprise that to prepare for the part of Dr Scarpetta, she learned to conduct an actual autopsy.

Speaking to Jimmy Fallon on his talk show, she shared: ‘If I needed to, I could do the autopsy. I can remove all the organs. I can name them all.

‘I can remove the lungs, the liver and the gallbladder and the intestines.’

‘I worked with an incredible medical examiner, and I studied him,’ she revealed.

Scarpetta launches on Amazon Prime from March 11.

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The Tuesday letters page is shocked at how expensive amiibo have got, as one reader laments the recent job losses amongst Battlefield 6 developers.

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

Yearly celebration
So MAR10 Day is here again but this time it feels like Nintendo is building up to something in terms of an annoucement. There was that Mario Kart World rumour but if that happens I don’t see how it’s going to be announced because not even Nintendo shadow drops a Direct. Unless Nintendo is also going to start announcing things through tweets, but let’s hope not.

I have to say, I can’t wait until the Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out because I feel too much attention is being taken up by that and we won’t get any real movement on a new game until that’s over. I couldn’t care less about a Mario film but I’m really impatient to know about the next 3D game. But I think it’s pretty obvious they’re waiting for the movie to come out first.

Even so, I do have some hope we’ll get at least a tease of the next 3D Mario today. They’ve already announced their sale and the new games on Nintendo Switch Online, so it would be disappointing if we didn’t get at least a little bit of news.
Onibee

Premium products
I completely believe that Project Helix is going to be around a grand, but I also believe that Xbox are crazy to dot it. Except, it does seem to be the way things are going. If less people are buying and playing consoles then the obvious way to make up the money, for a publisher, is to make a more expensive item, which will make the same amount of money even if less people overall buy it. It’s why Ferrari don’t bother to make a family hatchback, because it’s chicken feed in comparison.

I don’t think it’s going to work for Xbox, because who’s going to want to buy Xbox after all this, but it definitely seems to be the way that Valve are going with the Steam Machine. Sony are basically there already, given how expensive the PS5 Pro is.

There’s no way I’m paying that much for a console, but it does make me wonder what kind of games are going to playing on it. Are they just going to be the same ones as normal with better performance? Because I can’t imagine anyone making an exclusive game for a format with only a few million customers.
Hammeriron

Worst job in the world
It’s been said before, but I honestly don’t know why anyone would want to be a games developer. I imagine the pay’s okay (except for all the unpaid overtime) but there’s literally no certainty of keeping your job, no matter how well whatever you’ve made does. And even if you do keep your job you’re only months away from being replaced with AI. And then, if by some miracle, you’re still kept around you get to worry about death threats from rabid fans.

I don’t see any positives at all. If you’re intelligent enough to be able to make games there’s a hundred other jobs using similar skills that would be far less hassle. I remember when it used to be seem a dream job to me but now it seems more like a nightmare. Commiserations to everyone working on Battlefield 6 that got laid off by EA.
Royston

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A new problem
I can tell you now, if dynamic pricing becomes a thing with video games I’m out. It’s retro and indie games for me and nothing else. Every day publishers seem to come up with new reason not to buy their stuff and it’s doing my head in.

Make a good game and I’ll pay for it. I’ll probably even pay £60+ if it’s really good and I don’t feel that you’re messing me around. But it’s never that simple. Everything’s got to be more expensive than it pretends or have small print that makes it worse.

I know there’s no going back but I really miss the PlayStation 4 era. All this stuff was starting then but it hadn’t got bad yet, while the games were top notch. This whole generation has been nothing but downhill in every way.
Stoney

No story
Some interesting info on Marathon’s player counts on the Xbox, with is at number 32 over the last week with the server slam at 37th. Also note that Helldivers 2 is still number 16 on this list.

There’s no supporting narrative, but the PlayStation side of things shows Marathon as 38th with the Server Slam at 26th. Helldivers took 18th place over the week.
NatorDom

GC: We’re not sure what to draw from this other than both games are doing quite well on both formats?

Ignorance is bliss
There’s been a lot of talk about what Xbox is doing in terms of hardware but I think a bigger question is what’s going to happen to the games under this new boss. Any decent business person should be able to make fairly sensible decisions about a console but game development is a whole different kettle of fish.

It’s different for every game, it involves lots of factors she won’t have a clue about if you’re not a gamer, and in management terms Microsoft has been terrible at it since forever. On the hand that could actually be good news because maybe someone more objective, that isn’t particularly interested in games, can offer a better perspective on things.

We all know Phil Spencer didn’t work out so he kind of makes a good argument that the people in charge shouldn’t be gamers, because they have a warped perspective.

But how is this new ‘AI guru’ going to make decisions on what to do with the next Halo or if Gears Of War needs a reboot? The problem I see is that Microsoft already tends to overestimate how good, and how popular, its games are and now we’re going to have people whispering into the ear of this acknowledged non-gamer that everything they do is fantastic.

There’s so much that can go wrong, but I guess we’ll just have to see. But if there is a turn around we’ll know from now on that the secret of running a good games business is to know nothing about games (at an exec level at least).
Gorf

Half price
Happy Mario Day to GameCentral, all readers, and Underboxers! I see the Pragmata amiibo is in stock to pre-order on the UK Nintendo Store, it is £24.99 – which is a lot for one small amiibo.

I thought there might be an amiibo of the soldier too but there isn’t.
Andrew J.

GC: That’s madness. The game itself is only £50.

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People change
To Scooter and changing tastes in games, my niece, well great niece, at 11 plays all the usual: Minecraft, Fortnight, Roblox, Rocket League… but I suppose that’s for socialising purposes too, but she’s more than willing to try other games.

Couple of years ago I got an arcade emulator, two hardy joysticks and six buttons a piece, you can jostle each other and slap the sticks around, just like you’re in a real arcade, circa ’94! And she loves that, her and her sister discovered the many joys of all the varying versions of Street Fighter 2 at Christmas. The younger one found Chun-Li instantly, girly and cute, and quickly discovered her button mashing 100 foot kick, which she used constantly to defeat her big sister!

So she’s now Chunners forever more, the older one now methodically tries each character until she comes across Eddy Honda and his own 100 hand slap! That’s the end of Chun-Li and all hell breaks loose. There’s screaming, name calling and a strop or two… ah, memories, of the days controllers used to hit the walls, controllers I hadn’t had to buy!

Also, with Game Share on Xbox, she’s had Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, and WWE 2K24. She was keen on Star Wars Outlaws but don’t think she tried that yet and her mam said she couldn’t play the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes, ‘cos they were too scary. What kids play now is probably 50-50 gaming and socialising, which we/I could only do face to face back in the day.
big boy bent

Inbox also-rans
Interested to see what else Shinji Mikami can come up with at his company, but I’ll be honest, he hasn’t really done anything great since he left Capcom/PlatinumGames. If he’s still got one great game left in though, I’d love to see it.
Fester

I didn’t realise Slay The Spire is nearly 10 years old. Crazy how time flies. But I guess that explains why there’s been so many clones over the years, they’ve had plenty of time.
Lokishat

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The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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Tiffany Darwish is loving her surprise resurgence thanks to Stranger Things using her iconic tune, but things haven’t been easy in the past few years.

The I Think We’re Alone Now singer revealed she ‘had a little bit of a nervous breakdown’ several years ago.

‘I’m open to talk about it,’ she calmly told Metro before explaining how she suffered from long Covid, and then her ‘whole immune system just collapsed from stress’.

Her symptoms included ‘weird things’ like inflammation in her hands, as well as struggling with her mental health.

‘I hadn’t had any health challenges really, before that,’ Tiffany, 54, shared. ‘I think that touring does take it out of you a little bit but I think we all live such a fast pace now, we don’t shut off as easily.’

Lockdown sparked the health crisis, as the super sociable singer’s world crumbled around her while she was facing divorce and a shock loss.

‘My body has never come back to normality,’ she confessed. ‘[The breakdown] just completely reworked everything.

‘I was going through a divorce at the time. So there were all these aspects of “look, I had it planned out and financially planned out”, and everything was okay, and it’s all gone.’

She had been married to businessman Ben George since 2004, but after 14 years together, the couple had decided to separate and eventually divorced.

Around the same time, Bulmaro Garcia, her first husband and father to her son Elijah, died. The pair had been together for over a decade, splitting in 2003.

‘I just went into independent mode,’ Tiffany continued. ‘I started cooking to make myself feel better, doing my grandma’s recipes, just wishing that my dad, my mom, and my grandparents were there.’

She found sanctuary in food, leading her to create cookbook Pop Life, which is filled with nostalgic 80s recipes reimagined with help from chef Alicia Shevetone.

Food has always been a huge part of Tiffany’s life, with the Could’ve Been singer seeking out local restaurants when touring the world.

Her need to explore used to get her in ‘trouble’, as she would be desperate to leave the hotel but at just 15, she needed an adult with her.

‘I would drag the band,’ Tiffany laughed. ‘I would be like, “Let’s go eat some fun foods” and they’d be like “There’s food at the hotel.”

‘I wanted to know where the locals eat, because that’s really me visiting a country and seeing what this culture and the people are all about.’

As she got older, the singer would ask the chefs for their recipes and recreate them when she returned home.

Reflecting on how the lack of social media and even meet and greets made her feel cut off from fans, Tiffany called this her ‘research’ – a wholesome attempt to connect with those around her.

Being a pop icon in the 80s who was also a self-confessed foodie wasn’t always easy, though, with the singer jokingly blaming her Lebanese heritage for her ‘voluptuous curves’.

Having grown up in the spotlight, Tiffany definitely feels ‘pressure’ and is admittedly ‘a little sensitive’ about her looks, especially when they’re a camera on her.

‘I’ve always had a weight battle here and there,’ she acknowledged, later saying she was hoping some of her holistic therapies could help her slim down ahead of her tour.

She’s set to perform across 15 dates later this month in the US, with UK festival gigs lined up for June.

The timing of her book launch and performances alongside her recent chart resurgence was not planned, after all she didn’t even know her song was going to be used in Stranger Things.

I Think We’re Alone Now featured in a pivotal scene for Holly Wheeler in the final season of the show, giving her the strength to escape the Upside Down.

Tiffany was making dinner (‘of course’) when her phone started blowing up with messages asking if she’d seen the latest episodes of Stranger Things.

It was a ‘total shock’, especially when it climbed back into the charts, following the footsteps of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill four years before.

‘I had no clue, but it was a great end to 2025 and into this year, people rediscovering the song, rediscovering me, but also young people rediscovering the 80s,’ she shared.

Tiffany confessed she is ‘such a fan’ and that the show was ‘epic’ as a snapshot of that time period, which means so much to her.

‘Every episode, it was my childhood that comforted me,’ she reflected. ‘At times, because I would just be like, “Oh, I remember back in the day”, I needed that.

‘It made the world feel a little bit lighter. There were times I’d watch the programme and feel kind of sad because I missed my parents. I miss those easier days.’

In a stranger(r) twist of fate, I Think We’re Alone Now almost wasn’t covered by Tiffany, who at the time was much more rock and country focused.

She wasn’t sure the pop track, originally sung by Tommy James & the Shondells, would showcase her vocals.

‘I took it home and played it to my friends because I was learning it – I used to learn songs while I was doing homework – and they were like dancing around,’ she recalled.

‘I learned even then that there was something magical about this song. People feel good when this song is played, so I’m forever grateful to have it.’

I Think We’re Alone Now spent three weeks at number one in the UK, becoming the fifth best-selling song of 1988.

As for her future music, Tiffany isn’t feeling ‘restrained’ as she learned how to play singing bowls, as well as listening to the likes of Iron Maiden.

She smiled and shared: ‘I’m not trying to prove anything. I think I’ve proven myself. I can say I am a pop icon. Nailed it, love it, grateful for it. So now I just can be me.’

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The Monday letters page tries to predict what will be announced on Mario Day, as one reader has some ideas for how Ubisoft could revive Prince Of Persia.

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

Next gen distraction
Interesting to see the new Xbox boss is going all out already with the Project Helix idea. I realise they haven’t shown anything yet but I don’t see how they can get way from the fact that it’s going to be super expensive. That’s the only detail they’ve given so far and it’s kind of one you can’t get way from.

I’m going to say that right now, considering everything that’s going on in the world, and the certainty that things are only going to get more expensive in the short term, nobody is in the mood for spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds on a next gen Xbox.

If I were them I’d just give up all hope of making consoles and concentrate on being a third party publisher. They’ve got plenty of big names, many of which have not been treated well in recent years, and I actually think being distracted by Project Helix could be a big problem for them.

Microsoft want a comeback for Xbox but I just think it’s too late. They’ve messed up too many times and I think the Xbox One was their last real chance, which the failure of the Xbox Series X – which wasn’t a bad console – kind of proves.
Winston

Resident gamer
RE: Resident Evil Requiem attracting older gamers. I think we’ve known for a while now that the audience for single-player games is skewing older but there’s two alternatives here and one of them is not a bad thing at all. Either only old people like ‘proper’ games and when they die off there is no audience left (which is obviously bad) or people just get into traditional games as they get older, which is fine.

You’re not likely to be too interested in fishing or gardening or loads of other things when you’re a teenager but that doesn’t mean you won’t get into them later. Video games have long ago stopped being a thing that only young kids like and there’s now different types for all kinds of different people, at different points in their life.

Your taste in music changes over the years so maybe your taste in games does too. I know mine has, although when I was a teenager you didn’t have nearly the variety in gaming you do today.
Scooter

Lucky number seven
Nintendo has got to be trolling us with the Directs now. Six in 2026 and not one of them is a proper one or has announced anything of any real interest? I checked the list from last year and there’s already nearly more this year than the whole of 2025, and we’ve only just started March!

Please, Nintendo, just put us all out of our miseries and do something. Or at least don’t call a new trailer for a movie, and two minutes of blather from some Hollywood mouthpieces, a Direct. It’s not a Direct, none of the things you’ve had this year so far have been, as far as I’m concerned. It’s put up or shut up at this point.
Korbie

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Yearly schedule
I’m not sure I remember Nintendo announcing or releasing anything in particular on MAR10 Day before. It’s usually just sales and merch and littler things like that. A Mario Kart World update would be interesting, but that only means Nintendo is getting even more unpredictable.

Even with another not-Direct announced I still think there’s a good chance of the big one this month. Unless… the Switch 2 reveal was in April so maybe they’re going to make that an annual thing? That could be their main time for unveiling things now. It’s only a guess but I think we’ve got to realise that as weird as unpredictable as Nintendo seems to us, to them what they’re doing always makes perfect sense.
Zeiss

Prince’s Creed
The thing I don’t understand about the Prince Of Persia reboot and bringing it back, is how is it supposed to be different to Assassin’s Creed? Assassin’s Creed evolved out of an unreleased Prince Of Persia game and I don’t know how different a new game would be, except probably having no stealth.

It could be done though, if you put the emphasis on sword-fighting and platforming. That would make it more like the original games and also different from Assassin’s Creed. I’d also make it more light-hearted and try and make the characters likeable rather than ‘badass’. This is what people liked about Sands Of Time but I don’t think Ubisoft really understands that, especially after that Metroidvania spin-off, where everyone was angry again for no reason.

But I’ve got to be honest, if I was a money guy at Ubisoft, and I knew the company was on the rocks, it’s not something I’d be pushing for in a hurry. Whatever chance Prince Of Persia had for a revival I think it’s gone now.
Stennar

Out of stock
Pokémon Pokopia wasn’t initially a game that was on my radar. However, I’ve got a few games to trade in and have been tempted after the rave reviews, and it seems to be popping up on my social media feeds.

After some back and forth I thought I’d take the plunge. But I simply cannot find it in stock anywhere. Argos, Smyths, and Currys are all sold out. Likewise, ShopTo and Amazon. Even CeX don’t have any copies.

Recently, I tried and failed to get the Resident Evil Generation Pack and resigned to getting Requiem as a standalone. And getting Assassin’s Creed Shadows also provided slightly tricky.

It seemed an odd choice for a Nintendo exclusive to be a Game Card title to begin with and then to produce seemingly limited physical copies feels like a slightly underhanded and sneaky way of pushing consumers towards digital only.

Personally, I’m loathe to buy any digital-only title at full price, especially when I’m somewhat on the fence already.
matc7884

GC: In this case, it just seems to be unexpected demand, as it’s also sold out in the US in a very similar manner. However, as we type this it is in stock at Argos, Amazon, and ShopTo.

Gamer Boi
I recently game across a great song that I am sure everyone here will like and enjoy having a listen to. I came across this song which was posted and linked by Sarah Wingfield, who is also a gamer and disability advocate who does phenomenal work.

Here’s the link to her video which links the song and song title and I recommend everyone show her their love and support.
gaz be rotten (gamertag)

The motherlode
I’m in the process of moving house, big change as I’ve lived in south west London all my life, but we have decided to relocate to Cornwall (I work from home these days, so not tied to an area other than for family reasons). As a result my wife and I have been clearing stuff from the loft for the last few days.

Thought readers might like to see some of what was up there.

PlayStation 1, 2, and 3, GameCube, N64, Xbox (first one), Wii U, Nintendo DSes, PS Vita, Atari Lynx, Switch 1 and 2, Xbox Series X, Sega Dreamcast, Game & Watch. I have a lightgun for the Dreamcast, multiple controllers for each…. oh, and loads of games. Maybe a couple of hundred (e.g. Shenmue, Power Stone, GoldenEye 007, Grand Turismo, Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, Klax, etc.).

It’s put a massive smile on my face while wading through junk we’ve hoarded for no real reason…. Equally sad that I got rid of things like my imported Japanese Super Famicom a fair while ago (although maybe a family member has that, I’ll have to ask them).

I’ll be taking it all with me of course and might try and set up a gaming space in the new house. Wish me luck.
Birdmanrob

Inbox also-rans
It’s a shame there’s never really be a definitive Star Trek game. There are a bunch of good ones but no great ones, I would say. Bridge Commander is probably my favourite but it was only combat based with not much else.
Kaon

Just want to add another recommendation for Minishoot’ Adventures. Zelda in a spaceship does sum it up pretty well and while that’s an odd idea I’m really enjoying it.
Johnson

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The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: Is Pokémon Pokopia really worth getting?

MORE: Games Inbox: Will Resident Evil Requiem get a Mercenaries mode?

MORE: Games Inbox: Is it worth buying a PS5 in 2026?

Cancelled comedian David Walliams has reportedly been dropped from his remaining ambassadorships with various charities after being accused of inappropriate behaviour.

The bestselling children’s author, 54, was dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins, late last year following an investigation into alleged harassment towards junior female staff.

Walliams has ‘strongly denied’ any wrongdoing, with a statement from his former publisher explaining that he was ‘not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions’.

They also said Walliams was ‘taking legal advice’.

After being removed from the Children’s Book Festival 2025 lineup in light of the accusations, a handful of charities have since severed ties with the ex-Britain’s Got Talent judge as well.

As reported by the Daily Mail, it is understood that Walliams ‘no longer represents’ the organisations for which he was a celebrity patron or ambassador.

This included The Candy Foundation, for which he was previously listed as a director and trustee.

Walliams took on the position in 2020, but it’s claimed this was ‘terminated’ by founder and millionaire property developer Nick Candy earlier this month.

Additionally, the Little Britain star was a patron of the theatre charity MGC Futures, which ‘supports the theatre makers of the future through [its] Bursary programme, mentorship, and online resources’.

On its website, Emma Corrin, Dame Judi Dench, Luke Evans, Dawn French, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Daniel Radcliffe, Aidan Turner, Ben Whishaw, and Penelope Wilton are all listed as patrons.

Walliams has since been removed from the page.

This comes after he was removed from his ambassador role at The Children’s Trust. While the news came to light in December, Walliams stopped working with the charity earlier in the year.

In a statement on parting ways, a spokesperson said: ‘After a review of our ambassador programme earlier in the year, David Walliams is no longer an ambassador of The Children’s Trust.’

Walliams became a Children’s Trust ambassador in January 2018 and read to kids on Christmas Day as part of his work.

When the ambassadorship was announced, Walliams was ‘absolutely thrilled,’ adding: ‘It’s a charity I care greatly about, and every time I visit, I am struck by its warm, caring atmosphere and the dedication of its staff.

‘The Children’s Trust is a very special place with incredibly inspiring young people. I feel very proud to be involved.’

A charity sector source has now said: ‘He was once one of the most committed celebrities in terms of supporting a large number of charities.

‘But no charity wants to be associated with David Walliams any longer after all the negative headlines – they’re just slower to act than larger media companies.’

While once a regular on screens, Walliams has been keeping a lower profile in recent months, with the BBC also stating he will ‘not be involved’ in any future projects with the broadcaster.

This was after, during the recording of his episode of Would I Lie To You in June, he did two Nazi salutes, for which the BBC and production company Banijay UK apologised.

At the time, both called his actions ‘completely unacceptable,’ adding: ‘It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances.’

While the controversial episode still aired on Boxing Day, indeed, such footage did not feature.

Walliams began his career in acting, comedy, and presenting, which propelled him to fame in the UK in the early 2000s; his TV credits include Little Britain, Doctor Who, Come Fly With Me, and even EastEnders.

He was a BGT judge from 2012 to 2022 but was sacked and replaced by Bruno Tonioli after disparaging comments he made towards contestants were leaked.

Walliams has also been involved in various high-profile fundraisers, such as Sport Relief, which saw him raise over £1million in 2006 when he swam the English Channel.

As for his writing, Walliams began writing children’s novels in 2008 after securing a contract with HarperCollins.

Since, his work has been translated into 53 languages, and he was described as ‘the fastest-growing children’s author in the UK,’ and even compared to Roald Dahl.

He’s sold over 50 million copies of his books worldwide, generating £100m in revenue by 2019.

But while his books made up 44% of all HarperCollins sales in 2018, in the summer of 2025, sales had fallen by 60%.

Reps for David Walliams, The Candy Foundation, and MGC Futures have been contacted for comment.

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This ‘charming’ period drama is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, having long been praised by viewers for how its story ‘pulls you in.’

Titled The Paradise, the BBC costume drama premiered its first series in 2012, with a second following in 2013.

Still today, fans are gutted that a third instalment was never commissioned, with its arrival on Amazon Prime allowing past audiences to relive the magic, while others can discover it for the first time.

Starring Joanna Vanderham, Emun Elliott, Sonya Cassidy, Stephen Wight, and more, The Paradise begins in 1875.

It follows the lives and relationships of those who shop and trade in and around England’s first-ever department store, The Paradise, which is owned by widower John Moray (Elliott).

Denise Lovett (Vanderham) soon enters the world from her small town of Peebles in Scotland, and she’s swept up in the charm of a modern world.

She quickly catches Moray’s eye, as he believes her to be a promising talent, much to the annoyance of long-standing, older staff members, such as the head of ladies’ fashion.

Meanwhile, Katherine (Elaine Cassidy) is determined to marry Moray, who is already financially dependent on her father, Lord Glendenning (Patrick Malahide) – so, to her, Denise is a threat.

As for the second season, upon its return with new ownership, The Paradise has fallen on troubled times and is at risk of being sold – can its fortunes be revived?

The series, which is an adaptation of Émile Zola’s 1883 novel Au Bonheur des Dames, was filmed at Lambton Castle in County Durham, which offers grand scenery after being converted to resemble a booming Victorian department store.

It was reported that The Paradise had an £8million budget, allowing creators to splurge on style to match the substance.

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Paradise has an 84% score from audiences, with the first series averaging a 4.2-star rating out of 5.

Among the comments, Christiana H writes: ‘I thought it was wonderful, witty, funny, a good period drama and amazing! The colours, the clothing, the storyline and the actors I give 5 stars!! I loved it!’

‘It pulls you in and you can’t wait for the next episode. I love period dramas. I wish there were more than two seasons,’ says Jennifer S.

Robbie K also compares the series to a ‘comforting blanket,’ while others praised the ‘immersive’ performances from characters who will ‘never be forgotten’.

As for critics, Dorothy Rabinowitz of the Wall Street Journal calls it ‘spectacularly entertaining,’ and Scott Elingburg says it has ‘all the right moves.’

‘Its sexuality is subtle and charming. Its characters are magnetic and distinct. Its scenes pop with colour and vibrance,’ he pens.

‘Buyer beware: You’re about to be charmed,’ quips Matt Roush of TV Guide.

The Paradise consists of 16 episodes, with its guest stars also a major selling point.

They include the likes of Mark Bonnar and Adrian Scarborough, as well as award-winning Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire, who appears in several episodes as Madame Aurélie Lhomme.

Furthermore, the plot is accompanied by a stunning soundtrack, composed by Maurizio Malagnini, to transport viewers back in time. The score, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, won a Music + Sound Award in 2013.

Alas, The Paradise ended after two seasons due to low ratings, as the broadcaster confirmed in 2014.

At the time, other relatively new dramas such as Death in Paradise, Sherlock, and Silk were performing better, as was Mr Selfridge.

The rival ITV series starring Jeremy Piven followed a similar story of how the American retail tycoon moved to Britain to open up high-end department store Selfridges

The Paradise is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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With the latest Resident Evil game proving to be a major hit once again, a reader explains why they’ve been a fan of the series for three decades now.

Resident Evil is going to turn 30 this month and that worries me because I remember playing the original as a kid (my parents were very lenient) and, well… time certainly does fly. I’ve played almost every Resident Evil game over the last three decades and I love the series more than any other.

Despite all the brain-eating zombies and disgusting mutations, playing Resident Evil is my comfort food. I’m never happier, when playing a video game, than when I’m being scared and thrilled and grossed out by a new Resi.

As I sit down to write this it’s actually kind of hard to explain the appeal of the games, even to another fan. Since Resident Evil 4 they’ve been great action games, but they didn’t start that way. And while some can be very scary at times, especially Requiem, they’re generally more tense than frightening.

They also have an ongoing story that spans that whole 30 years, but it’s complete nonsense and the scripts are always terrible – which is one of the things I love about it the most.

Resi games can be funny, but not always intentionally and they’re not straight up comedies, like something like Army Of Darkness or Shaun Of The Dead. They’re great third person combat games a lot of the time but that never dominates the games and, strangely for a Japanese franchise, the boss battles are often not that memorable.

Despite how often they’re copied, they’re strangely unique games where even today you don’t know how much of what you enjoy of them is intended, when it comes to the camp and corny dialogue. It has been hit and miss in the more modern games, because it’s hard to be bad on purpose and still be entertaining.

Thanks to Resident Evil 4, Leon S. Kennedy has always been the funniest of the main characters, with his bad jokes and one-liners. He’s also the best looking of the men, with his famous hair and manly stubble. He’s meant to be 50 in Requiem, but he barely looks it and certainly doesn’t move like he’s that old. But I guess the idea is that he’s not just aging with the games, he’s aging with his audience too.

Almost everything that comes out of his mouth in Requiem is hilarious, with dad joke after dad joke, and all delivered with the ultra-confidence that comes from being an invincible video game character.

To my great pleasure, Requiem has been a big hit – the fastest-selling entry for the series – and we’ve still got whatever Capcom might announce for the 30th anniversary itself (on March 22) to look forward to. I’ve seen people saying that it’s proof that big budget single-player games can still be successful and I’m glad of that too. It’s good to see Resi still leading the way after all these years.

For me Resident Evil will always be the perfect video game, in that the gameplay is great, the storytelling is entertaining (bad but in a good way), the graphics are top notch, and the whole thing is weird and fantastical in a way only a video game can be.

The Resident Evil movies are shlock, just like the games, and they do have some of the same DNA in the so good it’s bad sense, but it’s only the dialogue that’s like that in the games. Everything else is the best it can be and that’s certainly not true of the films.

The mix of elements that is Resi only works because it’s a video game, where you’re able to put your own spin on things, and read between the lines, while you’re playing. I love it and with Requiem it feels like the future is looking very bright for my favourite video game series.

By reader Cher

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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The Duchess of Sussex’s partnership with Netflix has come to an end amid reports she feared her jam brand was being ‘held back’.

The streaming firm had initially partnered with Meghan’s business venture As ever when it launched last year with offerings that also included rose wine, flower sprinkles and jam.

Meghan and the streaming giant had also produced two seasons of her associated lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan.

But figures showed earlier this year that the Duchess’s Netflix show – which was branded ‘toe-curlingly unlovable’ by The Guardian – failed to crack the top 1,000 most-watched programmes on the platform.

The second instalment of With Love, Meghan was the 1,124th most-watched show between July and December 2025, with two million views, according to data released by Netflix.

Insiders claimed to The Sun that the duchess, 44, was relieved to be able to ‘go it alone’ now with As ever and launching it as a global brand after fearing it was being ‘held back’ by the ‘cautious’ streamer.

Regarding the ‘mutual’ split, they added to the publication: ‘Meghan is still on good terms with the Netflix team and close personal friends with Ted (Sarandos, Netflix CEO) so hasn’t wanted to upset him, but is very happy to have full control of the company.

‘It’s a good time for Meghan to have complete control, given recent successes.’

A spokesperson for As ever said: ‘As ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first year.

‘We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to share more.’

Netflix’s statement read: ‘Meghan’s passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life.

‘As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world.’

Former Suits actress Meghan and her husband the Duke of Sussex signed a contract thought to be worth more than $100million (£74m) with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020.

They also inked a first-look deal for film and television projects, which is said to remain in place, meaning that Netflix has the first option on Harry and Meghan’s projects with their Archewell production company.

The first series of With Love, Meghan launched on Netflix in March 2025 and coincided with the unveiling of As ever, with her first products, including her raspberry jam, repeatedly promoted throughout the show.

Metro senior TV reporter Asyia Iftikhar was more positive towards the programme, calling it the duo’s ‘strongest offering’ from their Netflix partnership after their 2020 docuseries.

‘The Netflix series is a natural next career move for the star who ran the successful lifestyle blog, The Tig, up until 2017 before she was forced to shut it down (alongside her social media presence) as the royal spotlight heated up.

‘In many ways, watching her effortlessly coast through easy at-home recipes and happy-go-lucky conversations with her guests, it feels like this is what she should have been doing all along,’ she observed in her review.

‘Meghan may not be re-inventing the wheel with her show, but she is re-inventing the image she wants to put out there. Goodbye exiled royal, hello lifestyle guru.’ 

Among the other products on As ever’s website are honey and tea sets, jam sets and a candle for $64 (£48).

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Several “Real Housewives of Miami” stars may not be returning for Season 8 of the Bravo reality show, Page Six has learned.

Multiple sources tell us Guerdy Abraira and Julia Lemigova — who went from friends to foes during Season 7, which concluded with a three-part reunion in October 2025 — are on the chopping block.

We’re also told there may be a third cast cut that will take fans by surprise.

Additionally, our insiders say Stephanie Shojaee is not sold on coming back for a sophomore season.

Some of our informants note that Todd Nepola’s $10 million defamation lawsuit against the network — which he filed as the reunion was airing — has left production stumped on how to proceed with his on-again, off-again ex-wife, Alexia Nepola, who is a fan-favorite.

But as one of our sources points out, not only did Todd file to dismiss the suit (with prejudice) in December, but showrunners have worked around his issues in the past — and would do it again.

According to our insiders, execs are also taking into account how things went for the “RHOM” cast at BravoCon 2025, which took place in November.

Their panel was far from the most entertaining or seamless of the weekend, which we’re told did not inspire producers to rush to pick cameras back up.

According to one informant, there have been conversations about getting the ball rolling next month, but dates have not been locked in, and contracts have not been sent out.

Season 7 starred Alexia, Abraira, Lemigova, Shojaee, Lisa Hochstein and Larsa Pippen alongside “friends” of the cast Marysol Patton, Adriana de Moura and Kiki Barth.

Our sources say the ladies are generally worried about their fates as well as the future of the series; however, we’re told “RHOM” is not “on pause.”

One insider insists Bravo is still very much interested in filming another season but that the network wants to take its time in perfecting the cast.

Earlier this week, Andy Cohen made similar comments on his SiriusXM radio show, telling listeners, “I love ‘Miami.’ I think we’re looking at how to keep it as fresh as possible.”

Though he doesn’t want the show “sitting on this shelf for so long,” he also argued that there’s a “benefit in waiting.”

The “Real Housewives” honcho went on to point out that other cities — like “New York City” and “Atlanta” — have previously experienced longer-than-usual breaks between seasons, explaining, “This happens sometimes in the Bravosphere.”

Reps for the network, Abraira, Lemigova, Shojaee and Alexia did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.