Cillian Murphy reveals why audiences fall in love with villainous Tommy Shelby


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It’s been nearly 13 years since fans first met Tommy Shelby, the Peaky Blinders’ ruthless and violent but menacingly charming gang leader who has been cemented as a fan favourite TV icon thanks to Cillian Murphy’s nuanced performance.

Tommy is back in new Netflix film The Immortal Man to sort out the reckless younger generation of Peaky Blinders, now led by his illegitimate son Duke (Barry Keoghan) during World War Two.

A true anti-hero who audiences have watched maim others with his razor-brimmed flat cap as well as torture and murder victims – and even betray his family – over the course of six seasons, Tommy was last seen on horseback riding off to an ambiguous future as the TV series wrapped in 2022 (1934 on screen).

But despite the acts of brutality and bloodshed that Tommy has continuously been part of – and often instigated – fans still love the supremely complicated character.

Ahead of his much-anticipated return to the role, I ask the man himself, Oppenheimer Oscar-winner Murphy, as I sit down with him and new Peaky co-star Tim Roth, why that might be.

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The 49-year-old star initially suggests he’s unsure what myriad reasons make up ‘the whole’ of Tommy’s attraction to folks before giving most credit to long-form television.

Cillian Murphy reveals why audiences fall in love with villainous Tommy Shelby
Cillian Murphy first portrayed Peaky Blinders’ leader Tommy Shelby in 2013 (Picture: BBC/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky)
epa12790522 Irish actor and cast member Cillian Murphy poses on the red carpet at the global premiere of 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man' at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Britain, 02 March 2026. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
He’s back once more in new Netflix film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (Picture: EPA)

‘It allows you to really explore all the light and shade, all the different complexities that characters can have,’ he says.

‘And despite the fact that this is gangster and stylised and genre and heightened, there’s a great deal of humanity in it. Like, if the character gets injured, he stays injured. There’re consequences from the violence. Steve has woven in politics; characters die and it’s heartbreaking.

‘And I think if you spend that length of time with a character, you will begin to invest in them in an emotional, kind of intimate way, which you don’t always get with films – you get it in a different way. But with long form telly, it’s unusual, and there’s an ownership that the audience has which is kind of interesting.’

This is gangster and stylised but there’s a great deal of humanity in it

Quote Quote

‘You can put a character under a microscope and spend time with their weaknesses,’ adds Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs actor Roth. ‘You can do a whole episode on one aspect of a character and investigate it, whereas you don’t necessarily have the time to do that cinematically.’

Unsurprisingly, Murphy hasn’t credited any of Tommy’s popularity to his own performance, which has helped the show break through to enjoy remarkable success on a global scale  

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PEAKY BLINDERS
Audiences have fallen for anti-hero Tommy’s charms over the years, with Murphy crediting the humanity of the writing and the ability to invest in characters in long-form TV (pictured with Barry Keoghan) (Picture: Netflix/Robert Viglasky)

‘It’s very humbling when it does, but I do think that’s the fans doing,’ is all he’ll modestly say on that point.

How Peaky Blinders and Cillian Murphy made Birmingham cool again

The Cork-born star has also been responsible for performing some major PR on Birmingham’s behalf in recent years, mastering the Brum burr of Shelby – who lives in Small Heath – with quiet flair.

Locals have been ‘very kind’ in their feedback on his efforts over the years, Murphy acknowledges.

‘Originally when we started doing it, I would leave voice messages on [series creator] Steve Knight’s phone because he’s a true-blue Brummie, and he would let me know if I was getting close.’

However, the 28 Days Later actor made the decision from the start ‘to not lean into it’.

‘There’s always been this kind of comedic version of the Brummies,’ Murphy explains, with Roth supplying Auf Wiedersehen, Pet as a prime example.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man NETFLIX
Murphy deliberately wanted to make Birmingham-born Tommy look – and sound – cool (Picture: Netflix)

‘[So I wanted to] avoid all of that and to make him cool and mysterious, just like Birmingham has all of that – it’s totally there – but it took Steve to show the world.’ (Roth rests some responsibility on Solihull-raised comedian Joe Lycett too, whom he ‘loves’.)

Spending so long with Tommy – and returning to him over the years – has also taught Murphy ‘discipline’, he says.

I wanted to avoid the comedic version of the Brummies

Quote Quote

‘We shot the TV show at a very, very fast pace, shooting six hours in the same amount of time you shoot a feature film. And we always had real cinematic ambition for the show, and the production values we always wanted to keep extremely high – and I think we managed to maintain that.’

‘I don’t really go into parts looking to learn stuff – obviously it happens as you play them,’ he continues, ‘but I can just say that I’m immensely grateful for it.’

‘To be given that level of quality of writing for that length of time, and for the story to have gotten richer and deeper, more satisfying for us, and for the fans that have been so loyal and stayed with the show.

‘It’s been a huge part of my life,’ he adds.

(left to right) Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth attending the global premiere for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Picture date: Monday March 2, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Pictured at the premiere with The Immortal Man co-stars Rebecca Ferguson, who plays Kaulo, and Tim Roth, who is Beckett (Picture: Jacob King/PA Wire)

Introducing Tommy Shelby’s new enemy, Tim Roth’s Nazi ally Beckett

Oscar nominee Roth, who starred last year in Sottish samurai Western Tornado and has also appeared in Planet of the Apes and The Incredible Hulk, plays Tommy’s new adversary Beckett, a Nazi-sympathiser who is ready to help win the war for Germany.

Beckett, a chillingly casual yet ruthless antagonist and another fascist for the Peaky Blinders to tackle, is ‘a lovely fellow’, quips Roth.

The Cockney character was initially written ‘very differently’ though, with Roth suggesting an overhaul.

‘He was from a different class and [had a] kind of aristocratic vibe to him, a militaristic vibe, and I just thought it’d be nice to play him like a geography teacher,’ he explains. ‘I think that brought a possible element of the fatherly masquerade to it, which maybe slightly became a reality for the character somehow.’

Beckett ends up working with Duke in the hopes of using the gang’s well-established criminal links to aid in his mission for the Nazis.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Tim Roth as Beckett in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Cr. Robert Viglasky/Netflix ?? 2026.
Roth wanted to play Nazi ally Beckett ‘like a geography teacher’ (Picture: Robert Viglasky/Netflix)

For 64-year-old Roth, the wartime setting resonates due to the experiences of his father, who was 17 around then – and he relished the cinematic ambition and schedule of The Immortal Man.

‘You really felt when you when you were there, it’s almost payback for the loyalty of the fans and the enjoyment that they have. It’s quite an extraordinary place to be,’ he adds.

[Tommy and Beckett] are equals and opposite sides of the coin

Quote Quote

Beckett is perhaps Tommy’s most challenging opponent to date, and the pair share similarities in their measured yet violet approach.

‘They kind of circle around each other, and the two times they encounter each other is very explosive and visceral, but there’s not that much interaction – and yet each has a huge influence on the other,’ shares Murphy.

A still of the new Peaky Blinders movie
Tommy must return from his self-imposed exile in The Immortal Man (Picture: Netflix)

‘I think initially Beckett would have liked to have done business with Tommy. He ends up with Tommy’s son, and he has to kind of recalibrate in terms of how he’s going to get this thing done. But I do think they feel like sort of equals and opposite sides of the coin.’

This allows Tommy the chance to shine more, I suggest, the harder his adversary is to overcome.

‘That’s in the writing too,’ points out Roth. ‘You need to create a big enough mountain for these guys to climb over, to conquer. And I think [Knight] did such a good job in writing that.’

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is in UK and US cinemas from today. It streams exclusively on Netflix from March 20.

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Games Inbox: Is Pokémon Pokopia really worth getting?


Games Inbox: Is Pokémon Pokopia really worth getting?
Pokémon Pokopia – have you played it? (The Pokémon Company)

The Friday letters page is loving Resident Evil Requiem, as one reader is frustrated at how Sony has used Naughty Dog during the current generation.

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

Surprise hit
Just come back from two hours of playing Pokémon Pokopia and… there’s not much I can tell you at this point, really. I do like the size of the world though and if everything is made out of Minecraft style blocks then it should be very customisable, so I like that.

I also see where the Fallout 4 comparisons are coming from, as seeing the ruined Pokémon Center like that is pretty crazy. I’m not clear what happened though. It obviously wasn’t a nuclear war, so was it an asteroid hit? Or maybe it’s actually a virtual world or something? Curious to find out the truth.

So far, I like the game and I specifically like that I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what the game’s limits are or most of what I can actually do as a character. I’m not sure how many different pokémon are in it and I’m not clear whether it’s a game you can win or whether it goes on forever.

As far as I’m concerned, not knowing what’s coming next is the best thing that can happen to you when playing a video game. I admit I didn’t expect a Pokémon spin-off to be the sort of game to offer that level of freedom but then reading all the reviews I get the impression nobody else did either.
Wendel

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Saturated market
As far as I understand it there hasn’t been any real growth in the games industry since around the PlayStation 2 era, so I’m not really sure what anyone is expecting to change. Even when the games are free – and that’s what most people are playing – it still isn’t rising. I think we just have to accept that the amount of people playing video games right now are the same percentage that has always been interested.

I guess you could try and open up new markets, like India and such like, but they’re not going to have any nostalgia for franchises celebrating their 40th anniversary, or whatever, so good luck with that. As I always think, if publishers just knuckled down and put out a regular supply of great games they’d be fine, but they can’t seem to bring themselves to do that. Sony seems to be finally realising that truth, but only after wasting five years and who knows how much money.
Bootles

Gaia takes the reigns
So the hits keep on coming in terms of the games industry being in trouble, eh? It seems to me like nature is taking over and doing what publishers wouldn’t. They needed to cut budgets and lower prices but they didn’t so now they’ve got no choice, because no one can afford new consoles, or even PCs, anymore.

I’m joking of course, but if this forces everyone, especially the companies, to stick with the current gen then I think that’s a good thing. No one wants to fork out for a new console right now, and no one wants to see game prices rise any further. The microtransaction angle is a worry but as long as it’s always something you can do without I’ll leave it to the mugs that care.
Futterman

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Unreality engine
What a weird pandemic of boring video game reveals. Tweets, no-info blogs, and now nine minutes of a racing game in which there’s no racing. Is it the same company doing the marketing for all of this because whatever publishers are paying them it’s too much.

I assume not but this does highlight one of the problems I’ve already had with open world racing games in general, in that they’re always so empty feeling. It’s all very well being realistic but if there’s barely any cars on the road, and little or no pedestrians, it feels like you’re driving around a model village or something.

I thought this in the UK one for Forza Horizon, where everything looked like real places but there was no life to it. It felt very artificial, beyond the fact that obviously it is. GTA might not have very good driving but at least it feels like you’re driving around a real place, where you can hit people and cars get damaged.

The lack of collision damage is the other big flaw with Forza Horizon, as far as I’m concerned, especially as it only adds to the sense of unreality.
Terry Gold

I’ve made a huge mistake
Interesting that publishers are suddenly going after leakers, but I think it’s probably a coincidence given this Epic leaker was a producer there. I expected him to be a temp or IT guy or something, but a producer?! What was he thinking to risk his job just to tell nerds on the internet when there was going to be an Overwatch crossover?

The worst thing is that Fortnite leaks are all from dataminers, I thought. I didn’t even realise there were really leaks from actual insiders. What’s the point and what a way to ruin your career. And that’s on top of getting sued by a multi-billion company. Some really questionable life decisions there.
Colin

Bad Dog
Thinking about Sony’s problems this gen, and the hope that they may have finally seen sense, I think the biggest problem is how they’ve handled Naughty Dog. They’re the biggest weapon in their armoury and yet they haven’t made anything all gen, apart from a completely unnecessary remake of The Last Of Us Part 1, a cancelled online game, and two seasons of TV (or at least their main guy went off to do that, which I’m sure was very distruptive).

Considering the show saw a massive dip in popularity in its second season it all seems particularly pointless, as that’s what was pushing the big focus on The Last Of Us. So all Sony got out of them was one remake and lots of talk about never doing a Part 3. I don’t know how things could’ve gone worse really.

Well, the initial response to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet wasn’t great either. We don’t know much about it yet but everything they’ve said about it makes it sound like a pretty heavy narrative game, just like The Last Of Us, whereas what they showed looked kind of goofy and cheesy.

I don’t much care which it is, but presumably it’s not both. Also, the name is terrible. Especially as I thought it was Interstellar, until I just checked the spelling. So, does that mean we’re getting the Bestie Boys on the soundtrack or not?

We hear a lot about how Microsoft are bad at managing developers, being either too strict or too lax, but seems to me Sony is pretty bad at it too. They’ve let their most important developer waste a whole generation and it’s still very hard to get excited about what they’re cooking at the moment.
Wotan

Medium expectations
So what do we think is going to happen if Marathon is a hit? With a bit of luck that will save Bungie, at least for now, but what will it mean for Sony’s live service plans?

I can’t see it being a mega hit but how medium a hit is enough to keep these things running? It’s a problem we don’t see talked about much, where how big is big enough to keep the lights on? Helldivers 2 isn’t massive but it’s always in the top 30 on Steam, so I would say that was more than just a medium hit.

But if Marathon ends up averaging only top 50 or 100 is that enough? Or it is literally all or nothing for these games?
Lentz

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Mission complete
I beat Resident Evil Requiem today and just wanted to write in and say how much I’ve enjoyed. There’s so many terrible things going on at the moment, in the games industry and beyond, that sitting back and relaxing, by putting a hatchet through a zombie’s brainbox has been so cathartic.

I can see why you were slightly down on the ending, as it did seem to run out of steam a little in the last hour or so, but it’s a minor dip and the rest of it was 10/10 as far as I’m concerned. The Leon bits, and his dumb as rock one-liners, were amazing but I really liked Grace as well. Leon is like an amped up superhero but Grace is more normal and I think cutting between them really worked.

Resident Evil 4 is great but it can be… I wouldn’t say repetitive necessarily but definitely one note. Requiem mixes things up perfectly and no part of it goes on for too long and many times you’re left wanting more, even though you know that would probably not be for the best (even though I do agree Mercenaries is definitely needed).

It may only have been a dozen or so hours but I was completely entertained the whole time and haven’t enjoyed anything – game, movie, or gig – as much as this for ages. So yeah, a bit of positivity and the same old message: at the end of the day it’s only the games that matter.
Taylor Moon

Inbox also-rans
Do you think the first party Nintendo Direct could be on MAR10 Day? Which is next Tuesday? They have got a new Mario game to announce after all, and everyone assumes they were going to do a proper Direct this month.
Gracke

GC: We don’t think they’ve ever done one on Mario Day before but now you mention it, it does seem a possibility.

I’m so happy that Resident Evil Requiem has been a big hit. Fastest selling entry after 30 years is nothing to sniff. Now do the decent thing and announce the Dino Crisis remake!
Austin

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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.




5 biggest questions we need answered in Outlander’s eighth and final season


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Period drama Outlander returns for an eighth season this weekend, and fans of the epic love story between time-travelling World War II nurse Claire and 18th-century highlander Jamie Fraser are hoping the final season will resolve some outstanding questions.

The seventh season ended on a cliffhanger, but there are also other mysteries to be solved, including two that featured in the first ever episode of the series. And of course, everyone is desperate to know whether either Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) will die before the end credits.

Although Outlander is based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels, she hasn’t finished writing the final instalment, so there are no clues to be had on how the series could end. The previous books may offer some hints, but at the US premiere of the new season on Monday, Karen Pirie star Lauren Lyle, who plays Jamie’s stepdaughter Marsali in Outlander, teased: ‘If you’ve read the books, you still don’t know what’s coming.’

Here are just five of the burning questions that need to be answered in Outlander’s final 10 episodes:

Did Jamie and Claire’s daughter Faith live?

One of the most harrowing scenes was in the second season episode ‘Faith’, in which Claire gave birth to a stillborn daughter, whom she named Faith.

5 biggest questions we need answered in Outlander’s eighth and final season
Outlander has returned for its eighth and final season – and we might finally get some answers (Picture: Starz)

Cradling her dead baby, she sang: ‘I do like to be beside the seaside,’ and we heard the song once more in the seventh season finale episode set in 1778, sung by young orphan Fanny.

Claire was shocked that Fanny could know the music hall song, as it was written in 1907, and when Fanny revealed her late mother’s name was Faith, Claire and Jamie wondered whether their daughter could somehow have survived and lived for years without them knowing.

If Faith lived, what happened to her? If she survived and was Fanny’s mother, how did she die? Did the mysterious healer Master Raymond, who tended to the bereft Claire, raise Faith himself?

Fans have speculated that Master Raymond may be an ancient time traveller with a master plan, so his potential involvement raises even more questions.

Where or when will Bree and Roger end up, and what will happen to Buck?

Claire and Jamie’s daughter Brianna, and her husband Roger MacKenzie were caught up in all sorts of time-travelling confusion in season seven.

A still from Outlander
What is on the cards for Bree and Roger (Picture: Starz/ James Minchin)

They returned to the 20th century to get medical help for their daughter Mandy, but Roger had to travel back to 18th-century Scotland when devious Rob Cameron kidnapped their young son Jemmy.

Roger, along with his ancestor Buck MacKenzie, ended up in 1739 (more than 30 years further back in time than where his in-laws were), but was eventually reunited with Brianna and their children there.

They will likely return to Claire and Jamie’s time – even though it means they will have left their 1980s renovation of family pile Lallybroch unfinished – but the future is less clear for poor old Buck.

He accidentally travelled to the 20th century and bonded with the MacKenzies, but his disappearance from his own time meant the date of his death was recorded.

If he left Brianna and Roger and returned safely home, you would expect there to be a record of his reappearance in Roger’s history books. And the recurring pain he mentioned in season seven doesn’t bode well for his long-term survival either.

Who planted the forget-me-nots at Craigh Na Dun?

Cast your mind back to the very first episode, and the reason Claire returned to the standing stones at Craigh Na Dun she had first visited with her husband Frank.

Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe in Outlander
Questions from the very beginning of the show could finally have some closure (Picture: Aimee Spinks/Hbo/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Are you going to watch Outlander’s final season?

She went back alone to investigate the forget-me-not flowers growing there as they were not native to the area, and then heard the buzzing sound that drew her close to the stones and sent her hurtling back in time.

Many fans believe that someone purposely planted the flowers, as if they had not been present, Claire would never have travelled to the past and met Jamie.

Popular theories are that Claire may have planted them herself at some point in time, or it may have been the work of her grandchildren, Jemmy and Mandy, who can also time travel. Or perhaps we should consider Master Raymond once again, and whether it could all be part of a grander scheme.

Will the mystery of Jamie’s ghost be solved?

Before Claire travels back to the 18th century for the first time, there is a scene in the first episode where a man in Highland clothing can be seen watching her in her hotel room from the street below.

Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser in 'Outlander'
Could we find out what is up with Jamie’s ghost? (Picture: Starz!/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

It’s widely believed to be Jamie, but since he can’t time travel, the theory goes that it is, in fact, Jamie’s ghost. This could mean that Jamie and Claire die at different times – many fans believe he will die in the final episode – and his ghost is seeking her out over time, waiting until she dies and joins him to rest in peace.

Jamie has also had some very intense dreams of the future in recent seasons, including one where he described seeing Claire and a telephone, despite not knowing what it was. It could be that in his dreams, he visits Claire’s future and even manages to send a ghostly version of his body to watch over her.

In an interview with TV Insider, showrunner Matthew B Roberts doesn’t promise that the mystery will be solved, saying that fans ‘may have to live with’ not knowing, and adding: ‘I can’t say how they’re going to deal with it.’

Even if the apparition isn’t explained in the final season, author Diana Gabaldon won’t leave fans puzzling forever.

‘The ghost is Jamie – but as for how it fits into the story, All Will Be Explained – in the last book,’ she says.

Does Jamie die?

The final episodes of Outlander are being carefully guarded until they air, and Sam Heughan revealed in a 2024 interview that even he didn’t know exactly how the show will end.

A still from Outlander
And, of course, the question which has haunted the entire show – does Jamie die? (Picture: Starz)

‘We’re going to shoot various endings, but I don’t know which one they will use,’ he said.

It’s possible that Jamie may die, if the final season’s trailer is anything to go by. It reveals that a book written by Claire’s first husband Frank states that Jamie dies in an upcoming battle.

However, our determined Frasers have tried to alter history before (admittedly, not very successfully), and there is another way Jamie’s reported death could be thwarted.

Since the second season, when Parisians dubbed Claire ‘La Dame Blanche,’ she has slowly been growing into her role as an almost mystical healer. It’s possible that Claire becomes the White Lady in the final season and discovers that she has the ability to heal someone on the brink of death, or even someone who has recently died, thus saving her husband if he does fall in battle.

And if Jamie dies, even briefly, that could explain his ghostly presence in the 20th century, too…

Outlander is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video via MGM+. Season eight debuts on March 7.

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MrBeast’s company fired video editor after Kalshi accused employee of insider trading


NEW YORK — Beast Industries fired a MrBeast video editor this week following accusations of insider trading by the prediction market operator Kalshi.

Kalshi announced last month that a user who traded about $4,000 on streaming markets related to MrBeast videos with “near-perfect” success turned out to be an employee of Beast Industries who “likely had access to material non-public information.” Kalshi suspended the editor from its platform for two years, fined him $20,000 and alerted federal regulators.

A spokesperson for Beast Industries, founded by Jimmy Donaldson, said the roughly 500-person company has “no tolerance for this behavior” and has initiated an independent investigation. Jeff Housenbold, the company’s president and CEO, told CNBC that he’d taken action several months ago to bar trading by MrBeast employees and contestants for Beast Games, Donaldson’s popular Amazon Prime reality-competition show.

The incident places YouTube’s biggest channel, which rose to fame with Donaldson’s stunt-based challenges often involving large cash giveaways, in the middle of debates over whether prediction markets are a form of gambling and how they are regulated. Kalshi is one of several popular platforms that allow participants to wager on the probable outcome of events. Bets can be placed on everything from the Super Bowl halftime show to the downfall of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The Beast Industries spokesperson called on Kalshi and other exchanges to communicate their findings more openly. Housenbold, who previously sat on the board of the casino company Caesars Entertainment, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” last week that prediction markets are “ripe for abuse.” The practice certainly looks like gambling, he said, adding that the government must make that determination.

Prediction markets are currently regulated by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission and not state gambling authorities. Critics have said prediction markets and regulators need to do more to prevent instances of insider trading.

“You could be a third-party cameraman on set and know what the first song in the rehearsal is for a singer. You can be the person reviewing a script and knowing what the end result is,” Housenbold said. “There’s so much information out there and it’s asymmetric and people are taking advantage of that.”

___

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Fan-favourite Ted Lasso star could sign real pro contract


Fan-favourite Ted Lasso star could sign real pro contract
The Ted Lasso star played youth football before an injury (Picture: Apple TV/Everett/Shutterstock)

One of the Richmond FC favourites could be on the precipice of turning fiction into reality, as he is reportedly in the running to sign a professional football contract.

Dani Rojas walked into the hearts of Ted Lasso fans with his infectious smile and all-purpose mantra that ‘football is life’.

Now, Mexican actor Cristo Fernández, who plays Dani, might prove the catchphrase in his own life, as he’s said to be in contention for a contract at a football club in El Paso, Texas.

A report has claimed that Fernández played 30 minutes in a pre-season friendly for El Paso Locomotive football club against New Mexico United over the weekend.

The Locomotive side has competed in the USL Championship in the US since 2019, a year after the Texan team was founded. 

The club is reportedly expected to make a decision on Fernández’s future there this week, according to US football news outlet Goal.

ted lasso apple tv Cristo fernandez
Dani Rojas has been in all three seasons of the Apple TV show (Picture: Apple TV/Colin Hutton)
No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Apple TV/Everett/Shutterstock (14219886a) TED LASSO, Cristo Fernandez, 'Two Aces', (Season 1, ep. 106, aired Sept. 4, 2020). photo: ?Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection Everett Collection - 04 Sep 2020
Cristo Fernández is now reportedly in the running to go pro (Picture: Apple TV/Everett/Shutterstock)

Before he appeared in all three seasons of the beloved Apple TV series, the Jalisco native found a love of football from a young age.

The 35-year-old played youth football for Tecos FC academy in Jalisco, but sustained a knee injury aged 15 that brought his nascent career on the pitch to an end. He then pursued acting while at the University of Guadalajara.

Fernandez is not alone on the Ted Lasso cast with his past life in the world of football, as Kola Bokinni – who plays captain of the Richmond team Isaac McAdoo – also went semi-pro as an attacker.

It comes as the show is set to make a highly anticipated return with a fourth season this summer, albeit with a slightly different focus for the dramedy.

Undated handout photo issued by Apple TV of Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis and Tanya Reynolds in the latest series of Ted Lasso. Issue date: Wednesday January 28, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Colin Hutton/Apple TV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
The fourth season of Ted Lasso will focus on the Lady Greyhounds (Picture: Colin Hutton/Apple TV/PA Wire)

Once again starring and executive produced by Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso will nowtell the story of the female Greyhounds when it returns to screens this August, according to Hannah Waddingham.

The actress, who plays girlboss and club owner Rebecca Welton, told Deadline on the Baftas red carpet: ‘It’s a whole different deal with our Lady Greyhounds. I can’t wait for everyone to see what they’ve come up with.’

As for the release window? ‘August, I think,’ she told the publication, then realising she might have let the cat out the bag, added: ‘Am I allowed to say August? What if I’m wrong?’

Metro contacted Locomotive FC and Cristo Fernandez’s representative for comment.

Ted Lasso is available to stream on Apple TV, with season 4 returning later this year.

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Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows’ mum begs show not to air son’s death footage


Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows’ mum begs show not to air son’s death footage
Deadliest Catch ‘newest member’ Todd Meadows has died aged 25 (Picture: GoFundMe)

Todd Meadows mum has begged Deadliest Catch producers not to air her son’s death after he ‘fell overboard’ while filming.

He was only 25 and had been crabbing in Alaska on board the Aleutian Lady when the shocking accident took the newest crew member’s life.

The boat’s captain, Rick Shelford, confirmed the news on Monday, calling it the ‘most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady’.

Cameras were rolling when Meadows fell into the icy cold waters of the Bering Sea, with his body reportedly recovered 10 minutes later and attempts to resuscitate him failed.

His mum, Angela, has now pleaded that the events of February 25, 2026, are not aired for the public to watch in the new season.

She told TMZ: ‘We don’t want to see any footage of the accident and do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son’s death.’

He was crabbing out in Alaskan waters at the time (Picture: Captain Rick Shelford / Facebook)

Instead, they’ve asked that footage of him crabbing and doing what he loved is shown, adding: ‘We hope they only air good things of Todd on that boat.’

The family are still waiting for a definitive answer about the circumstances surrounding Meadows’ death.

They have, however, been assured that he did not suffer in his final moments.

She said: ‘We don’t want to put the blame on anyone, but someone has to take responsibility. We will have justice for Todd.’

Meadows’ death was announced by Captain Rick Shelford on Monday, writing on Facebook the crew had ‘lost our brother’.

He continued: ‘Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away.

‘His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.’

A rookie deckhand on a fishing vessel featured in "Deadliest Catch" is dead ... and it happened at sea. Todd Meadows died Wednesday aboard the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea ... according to a Facebook post from "Deadliest Catch" star Captain Rick Shelford. Sources told TMZ the deckhand died in a fishing-related incident during filming, though it's unclear if the cameras caught the incident on tape. Captain Shelford called the fatal incident the "most tragic day" on his boat ... and he says Todd earned everyone's respect right away with his love for fishing and a strong work ethic. He says Todd's "smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always." Captain Shelford adds ... "Todd?s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him." Todd was only 25.
‘He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him’ (Picture: Captain Rick Shelford / Facebook)

The United States Coast Guard Arctic District has since shared a statement with People, detailing the shock incident while filming what is thought to be the long-running show’s 22nd season.

The statement noted that theCoast Guard received notification from the Aleutian Lady that ‘a crew member by the name of Todd Meadows fell overboard’.

‘He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later. First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor,’ the statement continued.

The Coast Guard also shared that officials are ‘currently investigating this situation’.

Deadliest Catch first aired in 2005 on the Discovery Channel, giving insight into the incredibly harsh conditions that fishermen in the North Atlantic face.

In his tribute, Captain Shelford added: ‘He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.

‘Todd will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood. Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him. Rest easy brother, till we meet again.’

A rookie deckhand on a fishing vessel featured in "Deadliest Catch" is dead ... and it happened at sea. Todd Meadows died Wednesday aboard the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea ... according to a Facebook post from "Deadliest Catch" star Captain Rick Shelford. Sources told TMZ the deckhand died in a fishing-related incident during filming, though it's unclear if the cameras caught the incident on tape. Captain Shelford called the fatal incident the "most tragic day" on his boat ... and he says Todd earned everyone's respect right away with his love for fishing and a strong work ethic. He says Todd's "smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always." Captain Shelford adds ... "Todd?s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him." Todd was only 25.
Meadows leaves behind three young sons (Picture: Captain Rick Shelford / Facebook)
A rookie deckhand on a fishing vessel featured in "Deadliest Catch" is dead ... and it happened at sea. Todd Meadows died Wednesday aboard the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea ... according to a Facebook post from "Deadliest Catch" star Captain Rick Shelford. Sources told TMZ the deckhand died in a fishing-related incident during filming, though it's unclear if the cameras caught the incident on tape. Captain Shelford called the fatal incident the "most tragic day" on his boat ... and he says Todd earned everyone's respect right away with his love for fishing and a strong work ethic. He says Todd's "smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always." Captain Shelford adds ... "Todd?s love for his children, his family, and his life was evident in everything he did. He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him." Todd was only 25.
His family have started a GoFundMe to support funeral costs (Picture: Captain Rick Shelford / Facebook)

A spokesperson for the Discovery Channel also shared a statement, saying they are ‘deeply saddened by the tragic passing’.

‘This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time’.

A GoFundMe has also been launched to support Meadows’ family, which includes his three young sons, with funeral costs and other expenses.

They have been inundated with support, having originally asked for $16,000 (£11.9k) but have now raised over $45,600 (£34k), with the new target at $55,000 (£41k).

Meadows isn’t the only Deadliest Catch loss in recent years as in June 2024, Nick Mavar died suddenly, aged 59.

He had been the longest-running cast member, appearing from 2005 until 2021, when he had to step back due to an appendix-related health scare.

In 2020, deck boss Nick McGlashan died aged 33 and two years before that, Captain Blake Painter was found dead in his home at just 38.

Metro contacted Warner Bros. Discovery for further comment.

A version of this story was first published on March 3, 2026.

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


Games Inbox: Will Resident Evil Requiem get a Mercenaries mode?
Resident Evil Requiem – will Mercenaries be added later? (Capcom)

The Thursday letters page wonders when Pokémon Red and Blue will be remade in 3D, as one reader looks forward to Crimson Desert.

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

Mercenary thoughts
I wonder why Capcom hasn’t said anything about The Mercenaries yet? Maybe they don’t want people to put off buying the game at launch but personally I’d feel a lot more confident about buying it if they did announce it.

I’m glad to see Resident Evil Requiem doing so well though and will definitely get it at some point this year. I’m also on board with a new Resident Evil 1 remake, as it’s always been inevitable. But you’ve got to wonder what Capcom is going to do after that?

Even if they remake Resident Evil 5 and 6, which I would advise against, they’re still on the verge of running out of anything to remake. We can see that they like a new Resident Evil game coming out every year, or at least two years, so what takes the place of the remakes?

I only see two obvious options: remake obscure games like the Game Boy game or Outbreak or create a new sub-series. I would’ve made this Revelations, as I liked the focus on co-op, but I’m assuming they didn’t sell that well or we’d already have more.

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Maybe a series of prequels? If the main cast are getting old then maybe some stories of them as younger people? I don’t really understand what anyone in S.T.A.R.S. did before the zombie outbreak, so maybe they could explore that. Why did an ordinary city police force have such a highly trained team of special forces soldiers? Were they just giving out parking tickets before Resident Evil 1 happened?
Cranston

Simple explanation
I wonder how many cheering the death of Highguard (and all the job losses at the developer) have actually played the game? I played it and I thought it was good. Not mind-blowing or anything but something I enjoyed and which did have some good ideas.

Personally, I don’t think it failed for any reason than it looked and sounded kinda of generic. I really don’t think it was any more complicated than that. People getting upset about it being the mic drop at The Game Awards are the usual loud minority and I don’t think that affected anything.

It just took a bit of time and effort to get to know and appreciate, and I can totally understand that people don’t have much of the first to spare nowadays.
Bernie

Second thoughts
I completely support Sony’s idea not to release single-player games on the PC. Why they ever thought it would be a good idea I don’t know but, as most people have been saying all along, exclusives sell consoles. It’s why Nintendo is still in business, it’s why Xbox barely is, and it’s why everyone loved the PlayStation 4.

I’m genuinely surprised that they did a U-turn but I’m very glad that they’ve admitted the mistake. Assuming the rumours are true, I suppose, but I guess we’ll see.

It makes me wonder what else Sony might be having second thoughts on though. I imagine they took special note of Highguard’s failure but I wonder what the poor response to God Of War: Sons Of Sparta made them think? More first party games and less stuff farmed out to nobody developers?

I’d be feeling quite optimistic now, if it wasn’t for shutting down Bluepoint, which seems even more stupid given what we’re hearing now.
Goldface

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Whatever annoucement
I’ve got to say you are not exaggerating when you say companies are not putting an effort in anymore. Between Sony tweeting out Wolverine’s release date and whatever that Assassin’s Creed blog was supposed to be, things are being announced with all the enthusiasm of a bored office worker at 4.55pm on a Friday.

We’ve been hearing rumours about a Black Flag remake for years and all we get is a single picture that we’re not even sure is supposed to be there? And it’s not even a good picture, is what makes me laugh!

It’s pointless asking for E3 to come back but please, for pity’s sake, could publishers put some effort into pretending they want to be in the games making business? And by that I do not mean a super slick video were developers are reading things they’d never say in real-life off a board.
Scooter

The remake dimension
I have no problem with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen being re-released on Switch, although personally I haven’t bought them. I’m curious, though, as to when the inevitable will happen and Nintendo will remake one of the older games in 3D (no I Choose You, Pikachu! doesn’t count).

I imagine the only reason it hasn’t happened so far is that they’ve been mocked for their bad graphics and bugs. But at some point Red and Blue is going to be remade to look like Winds and Waves, or one of the Legends games. It worked for Resident Evil, after all.
MonsterB

Unsatisfied customer
RE: Gambon and buying a PlayStation 5. I think it depends, as most of the best games on PlayStation 5 were cross-gen. If you have played the likes of God Of War, The Last Of Us, and Spider-Man 2 already on the PlayStation 4, and really don’t want to play them again, then it would seem a little pointless.

Resident Evil Requiem may run fine on Switch 2 but the PlayStation 5 is going to be a superior experience. Price wise, if you look at second-hand, you could probably get a PlayStation 5 and a PlayStation Portal for the same price as the Switch 2.

Then there is the game prices. For a tenner(-ish) a month you’d have a huge library of games on PlayStation whereas Nintendo you’ll be coughing up £60 a time to play something new. I have to admit I’ve been very disappointed with my Switch 2 so far and I couldn’t recommend it at it’s current price with the games that have been released.

Hated Donkey Kong Bananza (sorry) and I’m surprised Nintendo would release a game with such frequent frame rate and camera issues. Zelda was well worth playing again but not for the £500+ I’ve spent on it so far.
P B

Catch up
In response to Gambon asking about buying a Switch 2, I’d say that it’s an easy choice to make if you’ve never owned a Switch.

You’ll have instant access to an incredible library of games like Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom, and a host of amazing indie titles like Into The Breach, Hades etc. that are great for playing handheld.
drlowdon

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Better than fine
Nice pick up on the Switch 2 version of Resident Evil Requiem. I’m sure it’s something that a lot of buyers were looking at. I remember the ‘impossible ports’ of the OG Switch, like The Witcher 3 and Doom (Eternal) and despite them being amazing technical achievements… well, they were pretty dire compared to their PlayStation 4/Xbox One counterparts.

I haven’t seen the latest Resident Evil running on Switch 2, but my young cousin has Cyberpunk 2077 on his and I have compared it to my playthrough on my PlayStation 5. It’s worth remembering that two things can be true with these ports; If you’re not a big gamer they are good enough and remarkable for a handheld, however they are downgrades across the board on the PlayStation 5 versions.

Even to untrained eyes they are noticeable and whether you can put up with that is only something the individual can answer. I’m reminded of PlayStation 2 ports of Xbox or GameCube titles back in the mid-2000s (Max Payne anyone?), they’re fine as long as someone doesn’t show you the other version, after which it’s tough to go back.

I guess the biggest question was always not whether the Switch 2 could run these games… but whether the consoles primary gamers would actually buy enough third party titles to make the efforts worthwhile? The legacy of the OG Switch is that Nintendo taught its users not to expect good third party ports, so those gamers probably picked up other formats in the intervening years leaving just those who played Nintendo exclusively ready to upgrade to the new machine.

Turning that around will be a slow process and news that third party titles are continuing to sell below publisher expectations is a worry.
Marc

GC: Resident Evil Requiem on the Switch 2 seems to have sold well. It’s just difficult to tell, because a lot of people bought the trilogy bundle instead.

Inbox also-rans
Will you be reviewing Crimson Desert?
LoRd SiNn

GC: Yes. We’re also interested in reviewing crimson dessert. Red velvet cake is delish.

It is so weird to me to see people talk about having a pre-order and then worrying whether the game will be good or not. Why are you pre-ordering it then?
Fome

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Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley under fire over ‘crazy’ anecdote about cats


Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley under fire over ‘crazy’ anecdote about cats
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are under fire for their cat opinions (Picture: Josh Horowitz/Youtube)

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal have sparked outrage for their anti-cat declarations in a resurfaced interview.

The pair have come under fire for saying ‘f**k cats’, unprovoked, and no, we don’t mean that infamous 2019 film.

While promoting Hamnet on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in November, the duo slipped in the confession that they are distinctly not cat people.

‘I don’t like cats,’ Jessie, 36, admitted rather sheepishly before Paul, 30, said ‘F**k cats’ with his whole chest.

Host Josh Horowitz warned the stars that such a bold declaration could be career-ruining, but The Bride! actress doubled down.

She laughed and revealed: ‘My husband, when I started dating him, he had two cats. This is bad so I’m going to get cancelled. But one of the cats was like, a pedigree model b***h.

(L-R) Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley
The pair declared they hated cats (Picture: Rich Polk/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards)

‘And she staged like a coup against me. I’d come home and there’d just be like, poo on the pillow. And I was like, “It’s me or the cats.”‘

Jessie apparently ‘won’ that battle, but her and Paul’s feline discrimination has not gone down well.

‘Well, Hamnet’s not winning anything at the Oscars FOR SURE now,’ declared the Reddit poster LawrenceBrolivier, with a hint of sarcasm.

Glimmhilde wrote: ‘Getting rid of your pets for someone is crazy. Asking someone to do that is even crazier.’

‘So vile making someone getting rid of their pets. and her husband is a loser for doing so,’ agreed Kate4everBae.

On X, fans voiced that disliking cats was one thing, but forcing your partner to rehome their pets was a ‘red flag’.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Jessie Buckley attends
Jessie even got her husband to get rid of their cats when she moved in (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal talk HAMNET, singing, James Bond, The Beatles, The Bride, & more!
‘F**k them’ (Picture: Josh Horowitz/Youtube)

‘I like Jessie Buckley a lot as an actress, but her gleefully retelling the story of giving her husband the ultimatum of rehoming his cats when they got together… not to be dramatic, but that genuinely makes me think less of her,’ texasrozanov said.

MissLSW added: ‘Jessie Buckley admitted in an interview that she hates cats so much she made her husband get rid of his when they met. And laughed about it like it’s funny. Knew there was a reason I couldn’t warm to her.’

However, Paul and Jessie aren’t the only ones taking aim at cats recently, with American rapper Doechii clashing with fans over her feline faux pas.

‘People act like it’s a crime to dislike cats when they genuinely aren’t friendly animals,’ she boldly claimed on Threads.

Explaining her position the Alter Ego singer said: ‘They don’t wanna be domestic, just leave em alone! Like it’s not organic, I’m sorrryyy be fr it’s rare that cats are immediately lovey without years of pain and work put in.

Doechii also voiced dislike for cats, then doubled down (Picture: Threads)

‘Y’all be scratched and beat tf up by your own animals, I can’t lmaoooo’.

Fans pointed out that cats not wanting to be around humans is largely a misconception; it’s just that they’re not as human-focused as dogs.

One research paper found that cats are ‘quite concerned about their owners’, monitoring their actions and anticipating our next moves.

Dr Carlo Siracusa told The Guardian: ‘Cats can’t make long-term plans. Some people think that [when] they leave the house, and their cat poops on the couch, it is so that when I return I have a nasty experience.

‘But cats do not have the ability to plan ahead in this way.’

67th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Show
‘People act like it’s a crime to dislike cats’ (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

He insisted that cats do get attached to humans but we’re just not great at understanding their behaviour, as our kisses and cuddles are not their way of interacting.

‘Cats don’t do anything like that. They are much more elegant,’ he explained. ‘They approach us. They bump their heads. Then they have some contact with us and walk away.’

Doechii ended up fighting with cat owners in her comments, telling them they were ‘too worked up’ over her comments.

She teased that the ‘feeling is mutual’ when told maybe cats don’t like her, refusing to back down except to tell one fan their cat has ‘pretty eyes’.

Looks like bizarre celebrity question this month might be their feelings on cats, someone better call Taylor Swift immediately for balance.

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Harry Styles takes the biggest risk with his ‘addictive’ new album


Harry Styles takes the biggest risk with his ‘addictive’ new album
Harry Styles’ new album is exactly what we’ve been waiting for (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

I need to start with a confession: I wasn’t sold on Aperture when it dropped. Instead, it took several listens for the song to grow on me.

This meant I went into Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally, sceptically anticipating disappointment but eager for Harry Styles to win me over with his new sound.

To my surprise, he did. Completely.

From start to finish, Harry delivers on his promise to kiss all the time and disco more than occasionally, and I was totally along for the ride.

Aperture serves as the perfect album opener and an introduction to this dance-infused era, which I suspect will divide fans in a way none of his previous records have.

Harry Styles to release new album KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. - out 6th March 2026
Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally has completely won me over (Picture: Instagram/@harrystyles)

My knee-jerk reaction to the track was common among fans, after huge confusion over it being branded ‘techno’.

Now the dust has settled, it’s been a welcome addition to my playlists, but it’s probably one of my least favourite songs from the album.

If your baseline is Aperture, the rest of the KATTDO matches or excels that dance overtone with an edge that Harry’s never had before.

The former One Direction star isn’t totally alienating his fans; those pop origins are still loud and clear, especially in the second track, American Girls. It feels almost Fine Line-esque with a dance beat.

Echoes of Harry’s House are also dripped throughout the album. This is not a total rebrand; it is simply the next step in his evolution.

Where his third solo album used pop-funk and synths to create a melancholy, moody vibe, KATTDO leans into disco and electronic with the sole purpose of making you move.

Harry Styles
This is his fourth studio album after Harry’s House success (Picture: Harry Styles)

His beloved hit Watermelon Sugar gets a spiritual successor in Pop, its catchy refrain and recognisable ‘high’ gives way to an addictive ‘pop’ for a maturer, sexier, synth-soaked number.

Sexier is the overwhelming mood of this album. Harry’s Grammy wins and the Bowie comparisons (which he’s happily leaning into) have clearly made him more confident and you can hear it in his voice.

Each of the 12 tracks feels intentional in its inclusion, and while some songs are slower or softer against the disco mood, the album is consistent in quality.

The joy he evidently found in his time away from the studio, visiting every European country he could and simply living his life, radiates from the album.

There’s a lightness here, a sense of momentum and uplift that we sorely need as we haul ourselves out of the winter blues amid a charged political climate.

British singer Harry Styles performs on stage during the BRIT Awards 2026 at the Co-op Live arena, in Manchester on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO POSTERS NO MERCHANDISE NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS DEVOTED TO ARTISTS
Pop is the spiritual successor to Watermelon Sugar (Picture: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Styles fans will be able to stream his Manchester concert on Netflix Netflix
The One Night Only Manchester gig will be streamed on Netflix (Picture: Netflix)

In this album, Harry is nurturing that fragile but growing optimism, which we’ve seen rearing its head in the past few years. Brat Summer’s reign is finally over; it’s time for Kissco Spring.

Throughout KATTDO, Harry is effortlessly experimental with his songwriting, flipping between catchy tracks with short hooks and repetitive lyrics to more introspective moments, although these are far fewer than on his older records.

Are You Listening Yet sees him test out a more spoken word intro, with cutting lyrics such as ‘your therapist’s well fed’ combined with confident moments where he just lets the music breathe, no words needed.

This track is one of many to feature House Gospel Choir, whose unique blend of (you guessed it) house music and gospel pushes this album from pop-dance into something far more anthemic.

Another highlight is Taste Back, which is arguably the perfect middle ground between the old Harry and this new, freer version. Here, he adopts a tinge of ego to accompany lyrics that are (ahem) a sign of the times and sure to resonate with the situationship generation.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Harry Styles performs on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by JMEnternational/Getty Images)
We predict Taste Back will be a fan favourite (Picture: JMEnternational/Getty Images)

He returns to this theme of transactional relationships – possibly with fans – in Season 2 Weight Loss, singing ‘holding, hoping you will love me now’ with a stylised autotuned vocal, fading away in a soft outro.

But Harry’s mind isn’t just on post-breakup hookups and flirting with strangers as he subverts expectations with Coming Up Roses, a modern waltz.

‘There’s only me and you,’ Harry croons as the orchestra roars behind him. This song was built to be performed live and will undoubtedly be a sleeper favourite among fans.

Strangely, this more emotive number doesn’t feel at odds with the disco tracks, such as Dance No More where the LCD Soundsystem inspiration is evident, they co-exist seamlessly.

Harry manages to skillfully navigate creating a cohesive sound without becoming repetitive or worse, dull. Finally building to Carla’s Song, a credits roll moment with those now familiar synths and stylised vocals.

Harry Styles instagram Aperture. Out Now. Video. 17:00 UK.
The album even features a modern waltz (Picture: Harry Styles/Instagram)
Harry Styles returns with a 7 city 2026 global residency run - Together, Together | includes 6 nights at Wembley Stadium
KATTDO exceeded our expectations (Picture: Johnny Dufort)

KATTDO is undeniably seductive, pulling you into Harry’s world without alienating fans who might want to tap their toe in the corner rather than make out in the middle of the dance floor.

There’s a narrative here, not in the traditional sense like West End Girl, but pulled together by the obvious theme of love and the pure joy that can come from exploring that feeling.

It’s a reminder that we can still be messy and revel in that blind optimism of where the night might take you, something we’ve all been missing in the face of late-night venue closures and looking for love on apps.

Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally has the makings of an album we’ll look back on in 20 years time as the embodiment of a shift in culture, a promise of hope, and the suggestion that maybe – just maybe – it’s okay to dance like nobody is watching.

Verdict

Harry Styles has taken a big risk with his new sound and it’s absolutely paid off.

If Aperture lets the light in, Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally is a full-blinding beam of sunshine. It’s time for Kissco Spring to bloom.

Harry Styles’ new album Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally is out on March 6.

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


Games Inbox: Is it worth buying a PS5 in 2026?
Still worth getting or should you wait till the next one? (Sony)

The Wednesday letters page defends Nintendo’s first party record on Switch 2, as one reader offers their opinion on the Marathon Sever Slam.

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

Hardware options
I’ve been watching all the news about memory prices rising and the PlayStation 6 being pushed back to who knows when and it’s left me unsure as to what to do, because I currently only have a PlayStation 4. Naturally, I don’t want to buy a PlayStation 5 just as it’s replaced by a new machine. But at the same time I don’t, as you can tell, care about getting the latest hardware just as it comes out.

Curious to know if anyone else is in the same boat, as I’ve kind of got three options: skip the generation entirely, get a Switch 2 instead, or get a PlayStation 5 and just end up late to the PlayStation 6 as well.

I previously didn’t give much thought to the Switch 2 option but given how well things like Resident Evil Requiem have apparently turned out I’m thinking that might be the best bet. I’ve only had a Wii before, so it’d be kind of interesting to take a break from Sony while the bigger picture sorts itself out.
Gambon

Opposites attract
Really looking forward to playing Pokémon Pokopia tomorrow. It wasn’t on my radar at all until I saw all the positive reviews and now I’m really excited to spend the weekend with it, especially as it’s something my wife will almost certainly enjoy as well.

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I got Resident Evil Requiem last week and loved that but at the end of the day it’s only 14 hours or so long and while I do want to replay it, it’s not something I want to do immediately. But a game that is apparently very long and involved, but also laid-back and ‘cosy’, sounds like the perfect follow-up.

Reminds me of the time Doom Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out on the same day. Sometimes it’s nice to have a contrast, where the only similarity is that both games are good.
Carson

Not a sprint
Just passing on my thoughts about Marathon, I hope the full game sells well to keep Bungie alive, but I’m on the fence whether to buy it or not.

I played about six hours of the Marathon Server Slam. The base gameplay and shooting mechanics are great. I for one loved the graphic style too. However, I’m not sure I will bother with the full game due to it being an extraction shooter. For me, I just find it a bit too tedious; the missions are mundane. Each round you play is ~20 minutess and you only meet one or two teams of real players. I find it overly repetitive, similar to how Helldivers 2 was.

Now I don’t know if the full game will have deathmatch mode or something similar added, but if it does I would buy it nearly half to relive the old Halo 3 Slayer days.
Carlos

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Ooo, that’s a good one
I really enjoyed the new Indie World Direct. I’m delighted by Heave Ho getting a sequel, the first is probably one of the funniest games for multiplayer.

Getting a shadow drop for Blue Prince is very welcome too, I did a lot in that game through Game Pass but will double dip on Switch 2.

That wood game looked adorable and I’m keen for anything from the Guacamelee developers.

Unbelievably though, I’m most excited by a game that was only in the Japanese version of the Direct. Öoo got an unexpected release and wasn’t featured in the Western stream. I’ve had my eye out for this since it came out on PC, so an unexpected shadow drop on Switch is brilliant news and may sway me away from Resident Evil Requiem, even though I want to finish that before Pokopia.

I know everyone wants to hear from Nintendo about their first party plans, but it’s nice to have such an overwhelming selection of brilliant third party indie and AAA games to enjoy in the meantime.
Euclidian Boxes

GC: Thanks for mentioning that, we had no idea. It’s on the UK Nintendo eShop right now, so we’ll see if we can get a review done.

Something to look forward to
The behaviour of FromSoftware towards Bloodborne truly is bizarre. They keep saying the game is special to them and everything, but they won’t even release a PlayStation 5 patch?! How does that make any sense whatsoever?

Mind you, I don’t understand why anyone is pushing for a remake either. The game’s a PlayStation 4 title, how much better do you expect it to look? Especially as From won’t do the remake themselves, so it’ll be missing lots of little details and secrets that only they know about.

What we need is a sequel, and soon. For all we know that’s what they’re working on but the way he talks about it I don’t think there’s any chance the director would be anyone other than Hidetaka Miyazaki. But he’s doing The Duskbloods at the moment, which implies no serious work has started on Bloodborne 2 yet.

So… I look forward to playing it in 2031, I guess? Or maybe 2035 for the 20th anniversary? Let’s at least hope they can make it by then.
Gavin

User approval
Congratulations to Capcom for scoring the highest rated user score on Resident Evil Requiem. I’ve only played a bit of it and I’ve so far played through the introduction, dispatched some zombies as Leon, and woke up in a very creepy medical centre.

I have to also commend Capcom for changing up the behaviours of zombies. A zombie that sings creepily, a maid zombie cleaning the floor, and a chef zombie with a chainsaw. Very unique and it’s very well deserved to see Requiem dethrone Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Which is the better game is a topic that will divide fans and gamers, but that’s a topic for another day.

Crimson Desert is set to release in over two weeks, and I honestly can say I have no idea where the reviews will land, especially with the embargo lifting one day before release and by then my pre-order will be all but ready to be dispatched. I truly hope this is the next Elden Ring and Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, rather than the next Forspoken. It looks insane and if the execution is right it could be the perfect title to hold us off until GTA 6 releases.

I’ve also heard some rumblings of Cory Barlog’s next game. Starring Faye as the lead character and utilising a Devil May Cry style of combat gameplay. It’s certainly what I didn’t expect and didn’t ask for. But it’s unconfirmed for now, so I’ll wait until Cory clears the rumours up. But it seems quite a disappointment to me. I would have preferred something fresh instead. Not a live service title per se, but maybe an original story and a new set of characters.

Faye is only in God Of War Ragnarök for 10 minutes and considering I only saw her once in the game, when I came to her section, I don’t see a full title warranted. Freya would have been a better choice. Perhaps a prequel and her journey up to the events of the 2018 game. She’s one of my favourite characters, so I would have loved to see her have her own game. No one asked for Faye. But we’ll see and wait for confirmation.

On a final note, I’m absolutely stoked for the Fatal Frame 2 demo that drops in two days. I really hope this works as well as Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil Requiem has. Then we can get the first and third games remade and on PC. Fingers crossed.
Shahzaib Sadiq

Regular event
The Indie World was fine and all but I can’t believe they couldn’t have found a fair few more games to promote. 15 minutes seems kind of pointless. If you’re going to try and make people sit down and watch a showcase at least make a proper go of it. 15 minutes is okay if it’s just one game but either this needed longer or they should do it on a more regular basis, like once every month.

I would be happy with that. I buy most indie games on Switch because it’s more convenient to play them like that, but while Nintendo does more to promote them than Sony it still doesn’t do much.
Tosh

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What’s the big secret?
Whilst I understand some of the frustration towards Nintendo I do feel it is somewhat overblown. I know people are keen for news on their big franchises such as Zelda and Mario. I’m in the same boat, myself. However, since the Switch 2 launched there’s many Nintendo exclusives that have released or are due soon, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Drag x Drive, Kirby Air Riders, Fast Fusion, two Pokémon games, Metroid Prime 4, Yoshi And The Mysterious Book, and Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment.

Granted, some of these are cross-generation and not all have been a hit. I get that the quality of certain games hasn’t been up the usual standard of what Nintendo usually produce and that gamers want to know what they are planning next. However, Nintendo have always seemed to keep things close to their chest and announce games only a short time from their launch date.

It’s still early days in the Switch 2 lifecycle and I’d argue they have been far more active in releasing new exclusives than Sony or Microsoft have been this generation.
matc7884

GC: You’re right but at the same time Nintendo has never been quite this secretive before, without an obvious reason. It’s not even clear whether they’re consciously doing things differently or if they’re just letting the chips fall where they may.

Inbox also-rans
It’s so weird to me that NieR:Automata is getting an Overwatch crossover and we still haven’t heard a peep about any kind of sequel. That game will be 10 years old next year!
Focus

Would just like to see I got Minishoot’ Adventures a year or so ago and really loved it. Would definitely recommend it to others now it’s on console.
Skimboat

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