Carol Kirkwood has delivered her final BBC Breakfast weather forecasts after three decades on screen with the broadcaster, leaving her fans emotional as she struggled to hold back her tears. 

The TV presenter announced she would be walking away from the series back in January, with a tearful on-screen announcement to viewers. 

Carol, 63, struggled to get her words out as she announced the news alongside co-stars Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, admitting she ‘loves her job’ but was keen to spend more time with her husband, police officer Steve Randall.

But the presenter appeared to hold it together as she delivered her final forecast today (Wednesday, April 1), even as she was met with loving well-wishes in a VT from her fellow BBC co-stars. 

Carol was seen joining Sally, 54, and Jon, 56, in the studio for the last time, smiling for the cameras as she revealed what fans could expect from the weather this week.

She went on to join Sally and Jon on the sofa at the end of her broadcast, who thanked her for providing details for a ‘few days ahead’ so they could continue to have a ‘Carol forecast’ even after her departure. 

Carol Kirkwood has delivered her final BBC Breakfast weather forecasts after three decades on screen with the broadcaster, leaving her fans emotional as she struggled to hold back her tears

Carol was seen joining Sally, 54, and Jon, 56, in the studio for the last time, smiling for the cameras as she revealed what fans could expect from the weather this week

Sally began: ‘I don’t know if you know Carol, but you have changed the way weather is reported on television in lots of ways, whether you’re on the map or out on location, whether you’re meeting our viewers… 

‘You’ve been broadcasting from massive events over the years.’ 

Carol went on to list: ‘The Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon, the poppies at the Tower of London, Royal Ascot, there have been so many.’

The BBC then played an emotional VT from other stars at the BBC sending Carol their well-wishes, including Sue Barker, Vicky McClure, Paul Merton, Zoe Ball, Clare Balding, Chris Evans and Sir Chris Hoy. 

A second tribute VT also saw Charlie Stayt, Louise Minchin, Sian Williams, Susanna Reid and Dan Walker gush over ‘lovely, kind and caring’ Carol as they remembered her time on screen over the year.

The messages included telling Carol she was a ‘ray of sunshine’, ‘great friend’ and told her how she ‘brought smiles to so much of the nation’ as they predicted that audiences would ‘really miss her’. 

Sally and Jon also surprised Carol with a message from Bryan Adams, who thanked her for ‘all the great weather reports over the years’, leaving her in shock. 

‘That was lovely,’ Carol gushed over the series of videos as it came to an end, adding: ‘It’s lovely to have made such brilliant friends, all genuinely lovely people.’

Jon then read out some of the messages sent in by viewers for Carol, who admitted they were emotional to wave goodbye to the weather presenter. 

Carol gave her last weather report on April 1

One had written in: ‘We’re gong to miss Carol so much, she rarely misses Shetland in the forecast and we always appreciate that. We wish her all best wishes.’

A second chimed in: ‘I hope Carol enjoys her last shift at the BBC, she has been a steady presence for us in a chaotic world.’

Another took to X, formerly Twitter: ‘Carol, thanks you for being a bright star on many a dull morning,’ as one said: ‘

Someone else wrote: ‘Your smile has brightened up every forecast no matter what the weather BBC Breakfast won’t be the same without you.

A third added: ‘Good luck Carol Kirkwood… she’s a national treasure and BBC Breakfast won’t be the same without her.’

‘Best wishes Carol in your retirement,’ a fourth concluded. ‘You are an icon and I will miss you very much, sweet lady.’

Carol concluded that it hadn’t quite hit her yet that she was leaving the show, adding: ‘I’m in denial, and I expect I will rock up on Monday…

‘It’s going to be weird,  it’s going to be weird not speaking to all our lovely audience, not seeing the crew both in front and behind the camera not just on BBC Breakfast but at BBC Weather. 

Carol Kirkwood delivered her final BBC Breakfast weather forecasts after three decades on screen with the broadcaster, leaving her fans emotional

Carol was joined by husband Steve on the final broadcast

‘It’s going to be different and I’m going to miss everyone horribly.’ 

The trio also looked back on Carol’s career, from being a production assistant on BBC Breakfast before becoming the resident meteorologist for three decades. 

Just before Carol waved goodbye to the show, she was joined by her husband Steve Randall, who appeared with a cake and a large bunch of flowers. 

She concluded: ‘I’m going to try and get through this. This is a forecast I’ve known for quite a while was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to present. 

‘After 28 years as a BBC weather presenter, tracking storms, chasing sunshine, and occasionally getting it completely wrong, I’m saying goodbye. 

‘When I first walked into this studio, I could never have imagined what was ahead. Back then the graphics were simpler, the maps were a bit clunkier and I had a lot less grey hair than this.

‘But one thing has never changed, and that is the privilege and honour of being welcomed into your homes. Thank you for trusting me, be it telling you about heatwaves or snow, to big national events and the every day question of: “Do I need to take a brolly?”

‘You’ve been the constant in all of this, and I’ve never taken that for granted. I’m really going to miss you… I owe you all so much.

‘This job has given me so much more than a career, it’s given me memories, I’ll carry them forever. Friendships I treasure deeply.

‘It’s time for a new chapter, a bit more time with Steve, and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.’ 

Back in March, Carol explained: ‘My last shift on air will be on April 1, and it’s not an April Fools! I can’t believe it’s coming around so quickly…’ 

Joking about the final eight early starts she will have to go through before exiting the programme, Carol added: ‘First thing I’ll do is throw my alarm in the bin.’

BBC weather legend Carol Kirkwood has confirmed today when her last appearance on BBC Breakfast will be after more than 25 years with the broadcaster

The TV presenter announced she would be walking away from the series back in January, with a tearful on-screen announcement to viewers and co-stars Sally Nugent and Jon Kay

‘Oh it’s going to be sad,’ she continued. ‘It’s a really happy thing as well, but I’m going to miss you guys and everyone, the viewers as well.’ 

Back in January, Carol broke down as she made the announcement that she was due to leave, explaining that she ‘loved her husband more than her job’. 

The Met Office-trained star choked up as she said: ‘So, I’m going to be leaving – and it’s really hard, really hard for me to say this because I love my job.

‘But it’s great – I don’t want to be coming in in my Zimmer frame and saying, “I can’t reach the Northern Isles anymore!”.’

Discussing spending more time with her husband, she added: ‘We only got married a couple of years ago and we’re like ships that pass in the night, so I’m so looking forward to doing that.’

Carol had kept the news of her departure secret from everyone – including her friends and her colleagues at BBC Breakfast.

She added with a smile: ‘I love my job, I’ve loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job.’

Carol Kirkwood was on the verge of tears as she announced she would leave the BBC after more than 25 years (seen announcing the news on BBC Breakfast today)

Turning to Sally and Jon, she added: ‘I didn’t want to get emotional but you two are my friends and I love you dearly.’

As Carol finished delivering the news, Sally held her hand and Jon reached for a box of tissues, before both giving her a tight hug.

Sally joked: ‘There’s one important thing that we haven’t mentioned, which is that you are going to get a lie in.’ 

Carol’s BBC career has regularly seen her go above and beyond the use of a clicker.

She has memorably reported on sunshine and showers at Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot for BBC Breakfast, where she has been the main weather presenter since 2010.

And her sunny disposition has seen her laugh through the perils of live broadcasting, including being dragged to the ground by dogs on more than one occasion and laughing off a gaffe in which she called dog-walkers in Greenwich Park ‘doggers’.

Carol began her BBC career as a production secretary and production assistant on, ironically, BBC Breakfast – and had no plans to become a meteorologist, leaving the corporation for a time to work in consultancy.

She then auditioned for and underwent training at The Weather Channel in the US to become a presenter on its short-lived UK edition, before she trained with the BBC and the Met Office to join the corporation full-time.

She joined the BBC Weather Centre in 1998, and quickly became a familiar face to millions on BBC News and BBC Breakfast.

Carol Kirkwood pictured with her husband, police officer Steve Randall, in January 2023. They wed in December that year

Her sparkling personality and endless on-screen charm has won her fans across the country, a collection of industry awards and wider recognition, including a place on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, where she reached week eight with Pasha Kovalev. 

Born Carol MacKellaig, she wed property developer Jimmy Kirkwood before announcing that they were separating in 2008 after nearly two decades.

The split left her crying between delivering forecasts – but, as she later revealed to the Radio Times, encouraged her to come out of her shell. 

She told the magazine: ‘I found myself when I got divorced. I started to do things and to think, “I’m not going to say no, I’m going to say yes!”

‘I’m braver now. I’ve flown with the Red Arrows, jumped out of planes with the Red Devils. When I was younger I would never have done that because I’d have thought, “Too dangerous!” Now I think, “Oh, you’ve got to live your life!”‘

She wed Steve in December 2023 at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire, and the pair now live together in Windsor. 

She told House Beautiful magazine in July 2024: ‘If he’s at home, I’m happy. I don’t need anything else. He’s tall, handsome, kind, gentle, strong, funny, charming. 

‘He’s a gentleman. He’s good at cooking. I could wax lyrical about Steve forever.’

Carol had dropped hints that she might leave Breakfast last year – and in a written statement, she added that leaving the broadcaster ‘hasn’t been an easy decision to make’, but added it ‘feels like the right moment to step away’. 

Carol Kirkwood with early internet star Grumpy Cat in 2016 – just another day in a career that took her far beyond standing in front of a weather map

She said: ‘It’s been an absolute privilege to bring you the weather every day. My job is something I’ve never taken for granted and I’ve loved every minute!

‘From early starts and all manner of forecasts, I’ve shared it with incredible colleagues at BBC Breakfast, BBC Weather and programmes across the BBC. I’d like to thank them for their support and friendship which has meant the world.

‘And to those watching and listening at home – thank you for all the kindness you have shown me over the years, being part of your mornings has been a joy. 

‘This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, but it feels like the right moment to step away. I’ll carry with me the most wonderful memories.’

Jonathan Munro, interim chief executive at BBC News and Current Affairs, said: ‘Carol’s contribution to BBC News and BBC Weather has been exceptional.

‘From major national moments to the everyday forecasts that are such an important part of our audiences’ lives, she has set the gold standard for our accurate, valued journalism – always delivered with an appropriately sunny outlook.

‘She will be greatly missed by teams across the BBC. We wish her all the best for the future.’

Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer 

*Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen spoilers ahead*

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen might be an unsettling watch, but it’s already a Netflix hit, riding high at the top of the streamer’s ranking of its own content.

With the producing powers of the Duffer brothers and starring Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco, the nuptials horror manages to sustain the ratcheted-up tension of that title through its eight-part run, culminating in one gruesome wedding at a remote country home. 

DiMarco, who plays one half of the engaged couple, told Metro that even he was creeped out while filming the show, particularly when Ted Levine’s character (mild spoiler!) peels back fur from the carcass of a dead dog, for taxidermy purposes.

‘That got me. I was like, this is real, this isn’t a prop,’ said DiMarco. ‘That kind of stuff freaked me out. I’m not great with body horror or gore. I prefer a psychological thriller.’

And yet he signed on to this horror and gore-forward show. Despite what it might look like on the screen, DiMarco assured us they did have fun filming, even with everything that comes with horror: days upon days of night shoots and plentiful fake blood (those who have watched the finale will know), which brings its own lengthy clean-up job. 

‘But the juice is worth the squeeze at the end of the day, especially when it turns out like this,’ said DiMarco.

You likely recognised the 35-year-old Canadian actor from the sumptuous Sicily edition of The White Lotus, where he played hopeless romantic Albie. His character here, Nicky, isn’t quite a replica, but certain aspects in the Venn diagram overlap, as DiMarco acknowledged in our interview.

‘I did want to create a little distinction,’ said DiMarco, speaking to us from New York. ‘I feel like Albie was a lover, and then Nicky’s more of a lover and a fighter.’

DiMarco admitted some of Nicky’s decisions leading up to the wedding are…questionable. But part of his job is to excuse that.

‘You kind of have to be your character’s lawyer,’ he said. ‘You have to be able to defend them in their day in court. So I had to sympathise with his choices, even if on a first read, I was like, man, what are you doing?’

As we delved into the show’s tangle of twists (strong spoiler warning here), DiMarco confessed he fell for a couple of them himself.

The Sorry Man, who haunts the woods around the cabin, and local serial killer Larry Poole, who used his custard empire as a cover for his crimes, are both named-checked in the first episode. 

DiMarco thought either of them would be the show’s Big Bad. That was before the mid-season twist, where we flash back via found footage to Rachel’s (Morrone) traumatic, bloody birth. 

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‘It turns everything on its head,’ said DiMarco. ‘I felt like the pedal was hit to the floor at that moment. I just couldn’t wait to see where it went. It’s two pretty great misdirects by Haley [Z Boston, the show’s creator].

The Sorry Man lore is teed up by Nicky’s unhinged family, with a monologue DiMarco had doubts the show would be able to justify, until the flashback explains how that mythology came to be.

‘It really makes total sense, which was crazy. When I was reading that, I was like, “Oh this is genius”.’ 

What the show is actually about is a hereditary curse, which poses its own quandary to the audience: when you get married, how sure can you be that the other person at the altar is actually ‘the one’?

DiMarco and Morrone did much behind the scenes to obscure the answer in viewers’ minds. They mapped out their characters’ relationship history together and added their own moments of physical intimacy to the performance.

Metro’s thoughts on Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen

Read the full four-star review here.

Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco deliver solid performances, managing plenty of claustrophobic close-ups that would expose lesser actors. They’re wholly believable as a loved-up couple, as well as one questioning whether they’re right for each other.

Unfortunately, that first episode’s tightly-pulled tension isn’t quite maintained through the eight-part run, as Nicky and Rachel’s classic wedding jitters turn into full-blown heebie-jeebies. 

The next best bit comes in the fourth episode, when all your expectations about the Sorry Man are gruesomely upended. The standout of Netflix’s You, Victoria Pedretti, makes a welcome appearance, with as good a face for horror as you’re going to get.

SVBIGTH delivers on that titular promise and ends in a blood-soaked fever, which plays out like a panic attack.

‘I think you can express a lot about a couple and their dynamic non-verbally,’ said DiMarco. ‘Just body language and the energy they have between each other. 

‘I think we got pretty lucky that we just had something pretty natural immediately there.’

Much of the filming is done in tight close-ups on the actors’ faces, in part to exacerbate that claustrophobic, hair-raising feeling the show trades in. Even as the camera created a literal barrier between DiMarco and Morrone, they found a workaround to be together in scenes.

‘Cami and I would try to extend a hand underneath and we would squeeze each other, just to know there’s something physically connecting you to the other,’ recalled DiMarco. ‘Because there’s nothing to react to if there’s a big camera. Acting is reacting. That’s the classic expression.’

DiMarco and Morrone make a convincing case that they are indeed soulmates. But when your death is on the line, how sure can you be?

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is available to stream on Netflix.

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Last One Laughing’s second outing has proven just as big a juggernaut as its first for Amazon Prime Video. 

The current six-parter has challenged a fresh batch of British comedians, as well as returning champ Bob Mortimer, to keep a straight face across six hours, all while trying to get their fellow chuckleheads to crack.

As we wait to find out who exactly will be crowned the victor in the season two finale, following in Mortimer’s prize-winning season one footsteps, we got to thinking about who could take on the challenge for season three.

Amazon has already confirmed a third outing of the locked room comedy is on the way, with a Halloween special to boot. Both will still see host Jimmy Carr return in the surveillance state room, alongside his deputy Roisin Conaty.

In an official announcement, the streamer said fans can expect more muffled laughs in 2027. So who should be the next comedians to enter the giant funhouse?

We asked Metro readers to fancast a season three of Last One Laughing and these are the names they shared…

Karl Pilkington

The 53-year-old presenter is probably best known for his work with comic legends Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. He’s also the face of An Idiot Abroad.

In recent years he’s racked up a number of IMDb credits of comedy-adjacent shows like Rain Dogs and Ludwig. 

We know what you’re thinking, he’s not an out-and-out comedian, but Metro reader Warren White doesn’t think that would be an issue.

They wrote on Facebook: ‘Not strictly a comedian but Karl Pilkington would slay.’ He’s certainly got some comedy chops to his acting career, much like season one’s Daisy May Cooper. 

Alex Horne

This is going to be an obvious choice for any Taskmaster fan. Alex Horne co-hosts the show with Greg Davies, after cutting his comedy teeth at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

The gag-a-minute Channel 4 show has seen virtually every British comedian pass through its competitive doors. Many of the Last One Laughing lot so far have also been on Taskmaster. So why not the host too?

That’s what Simon Woodley thinks, writing that Horne would be guaranteed to do ‘a brilliant joker’ on the show. 

He’s certainly had plenty of practice. Just look at his most recent 24-hour singathon to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer, which descended into carnage when Mr Blobby made a middle-of-the-night appearance.

Ricky Gervais

If we’re really fancasting a season three, why not aim high?

Ricky Gervais is one of the most successful and well-known comedians working today, even though he does come with a dollop of controversy (check out the personal life section on his Wikipedia page).

The 64-year-old can also be something of a contrarian, so it’s doubtful whether he would want to take part in a mainstream comedy show like Last One Laughing. He tends to stick to his Netflix stand-up specials these days.

But none of that stopped Metro reader Dean Pilling from throwing his hat in the ring, writing on Facebook: ‘He’d never do it but Ricky Gervais would be good.’

Bill Bailey 

The comedian turned Strictly Come Dancing victor has done the rounds on the comedy panel show circuit, with Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You and QI among them.

The 61-year-old seems like a prime pick for a future season of the show, given Last One Laughing has that panel show DNA. Metro reader Padraig Stapleton said the comedian would be ‘epic’ if he took part.

With over 30 years of stand-up experience under his belt, he would certainly have a back catalogue to draw on to crack up his competitors.

Sarah Millican

Sarah Millican is another panel show fixture – Mock The Week, Would I Lie To You?, you name it – ever since she won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2008.

The comedian, 50, is married to fellow stand-up comic Gary Delaney, so perhaps we could get our first couple in the Last One Laughing house, were she to take part. 

Metro reader Tony Stratton said Millican would be a ‘great’ choice to add in and we concur, even if she’s definitely a chuckle-y sort, so would probably have a disintegrating poker face. 

Honourable mention: Sean Lock

This was a moving suggestion several Metro readers had.

The legendary 8 Out of 10 Cats team captain died aged 58 in 2021, after receiving a cancer diagnosis. 

Writing on Facebook, Den Kelly wrote: ‘Sean Lock would have been absolute gold. May he rest in peace.’

Mike Pasmore echoed: ‘Would have loved to see Sean Lock on this.’

Last One Laughing is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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Arsenio Hall reveals he lost his cool on the Paramount lot when he was stopped by security over stolen equipment — and suggests it was racially motivated.

In “Arsenio: A Memoir,” out April 7, the former talk-show host, now 70, recalls how someone stole bandleader Michael Wolff’s “keyboard, some other instruments, a couple of amps” off the set of “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 1992.

Hall reported the theft to the studio. But that night, as he was leaving the lot with his assistant, known as J Dub, a security guard stopped him.

“We have to search your car,” the guard told him.

Hall was furious.

“‘Search my car?’” He spat out. “‘Somebody stole equipment from my show. I’m an owner of the show so that means they stole my s–t. You think I stole my own stuff?’”

The “Coming to America” star revealed that he was “so furious” that his eyes “glazed over.”

“I know Johnny [Carson] has never been accused of stealing Doc Severinsen’s equipment and held hostage on the NBC lot … ” he writes.

Hall also asked the guard, “‘Did you search Ted Danson’s car when he left?’ Ted stars in the hit sitcom, Cheers, which shoots on the Paramount lot. I like Ted. We’re friendly. But Ted Danson, unlike me, is white.”

J Dub then got out of the car, walked over to the wooden gate and “bends it back until it snaps off…I’m not proud that we broke the Paramount gate. I’m less proud of the anger I feel constantly, coiled inside me like a live electrical wire. I fight to keep it in check.”

Hall, the first black host of a late-night talk show, writes that he regularly dealt with “outpourings of hate —both blatant and thinly disguised racism,” including daily hate mail.

The show, which ran from 1989 to 1994, was a huge hit for three years before ratings began to falter.

That was when Hall heard from Paramount executives that focus groups found the show too black. He writes that he was told not to call guests “brother” or wear ripped jeans.

Hall felt trapped, with “black people saying I’m too white, white people saying I’m too black… “

He handed in a resignation letter, which Paramount buried. Weeks later, they released a statement announcing the show was ending in May 1994.

The “Live with Kelly and Mark” executive producer is weighing in on Howie Mandel’s apology after he refused to accept a compliment from the TV personality.

During the March 23 episode, Mandel claimed that telling someone they “look great” for their age doesn’t “mean anything.” A few days after the episode aired, Mandel uploaded a video to social media, publicly apologizing to Ripa.

Michael Gelman, the executive producer of “Live with Kelly and Mark,” commented on Mandel’s video, playing on the recent events.

Kelly Ripa’s show producer, Michael Gelman, chimed in on Howie Mandel’s apology video. (Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images/Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“During these divided times, one thing we can all agree upon is that you do look great … for your age,” Gelman commented.

HOWIE MANDEL SAYS SORRY TO KELLY RIPA AFTER AWKWARD ‘LIVE WITH KELLY AND MARK’ MOMENT

“During these divided times, one thing we can all agree upon is that you do look great … for your age.”

— Michael Gelman

Others joined in on Gelman’s trend. Comedian Tom Bergeon wrote, “That was the smoothest pivot to self-love I’ve ever seen…apart from my own morning conversations to my mirror.”

Michael Gelman and Kelly Ripa in 2005. (Gregory Pace/FilmMagic)

Terry Crews commented, “I’m sorry you look so good.” Stephen Baldwin wrote, “everything’s right on schedule Howie you don’t have to apologize for anything ever because you’re so young and beautiful and that’s what matters keep in mind and eternity of vanity is a discovery too late.”

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Kicking off his video, the “America’s Got Talent” judge said that he was “debating for 48 hours whether I should make this post or not” because he doesn’t typically apologize for jokes he makes.

Ripa offended Mandel by telling him his age “doesn’t make sense.” (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images; John Shearer/WireImage)

“But this is for Kelly Ripa, who, in the past, has been incredibly supportive,” he noted. “Not only have I been a guest on her show, but I have co-hosted with her, and I’ve known her for years. … When I go out there, I just try to be entertaining and funny, and sometimes, as a comedian, things don’t land the way you mean them to land.”

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To end his video message, Mandel told viewers that after “a lot of thought and self-reflection, I do look great for my age.”

Howie Mandel uploaded an apology video to Kelly Ripa. (Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images)

“I look fantastic, and I just have to embrace the fact that I look this good,” Mandel said.

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A miniseries dramatising the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein is reportedly in the works and has already prompted dismay from TV fans on social media.

Sony Pictures Television is said to be the studio behind the project, which will reportedly be ‘highly likely’ to make it to air.

Laura Dern is already said to be on board to star as a Miami Herald journalist, Julie K Brown, who doggedly reported on Epstein’s crimes over many years.

The series will reportedly be based on Brown’s book detailing her coverage, titled Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story.

Brown appeared to confirm the news, sharing a news article about the show on X with the caption: ‘Some personal news.’

Variety has reported an official description of the series, which describes it as ‘an explosive account of an investigative reporter exposing the secret plea deal between Epstein and federal prosecutors’.

The synopsis continues: ‘Drawing from Brown’s experience as a groundbreaking reporter for the Miami Herald, the book and the limited series follow her relentless years-long investigation that identified 80 victims, persuaded key survivors to go on the record, and led to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrests.’

This first dramatisation of Epstein and his high-profile sex trafficking ring will be adapted for screen by Sharon Hoffman, a writer on the 2020 limited series Mrs America. Hoffman will serve as co-showrunner with Eileen Myers, who most recently executive produced The Night Agent on Netflix.

The show will reportedly be executive produced by Adam McKay, the writer-director of Don’t Look Up and executive producer on the HBO prestige hit Succession.

Yet in spite of the pedigree involved in this nascent project, the reaction on social media to the project has been one of alarm. 

Reacting to the news on X (formerly Twitter), Tim Morrill said it was ‘too early’ for a dramatisation on the subject, adding: ‘Once a series or movie is made about a subject, the issue is forgotten because the public falsely believes that they are watching the full story.  

‘There’s still so much more that we don’t know yet.’

Another on X described Epstein’s crimes as ‘horrifying’, rather than a source of entertainment, while Kayla simply wrote: ‘Can we not do this pls.’

‘We don’t need to make series of real life crimes and trauma to profit off of those. Not everything has to be made for the sake of entertainment. Leave the victims alone, have they not suffered enough,’ added another person, reacting to the news online.

‘Why do we have to make movies about every real life tragedy possible instead of just writing new movies for once,’ added another X user.

Mono Reichman simply commented ‘Tasteless’ in a post on the social media site.

Metro contacted Sony Pictures Entertainment and Laura Dern’s representatives for comment.

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Amanda Peet is pulling back the threadbare curtain on life underneath the spotlight.

The 54-year-old actress called out Hollywood as nothing but “smoke and mirrors.”

“It’s ridiculous,” Peet told Fox News Digital when asked about the “biggest misconception” of stars having a “perfect life” in Hollywood. “It’s smoke and mirrors. There’s no there there. I mean you name the aphorism, it applies to us. It’s desperation galore. ‘What are they doing over there? Why don’t I have that? Why don’t I look like that?’ That’s the bad part.”

She continued, “In Hollywood, it’s hard to — I’m gonna just sound corny. It’s competitive, and it’s hard to get out of that really sort of competitive mindset where the piece of cheese on the island is too small and there are too many people going after it.”

VINCE VAUGHN EXPOSES HOLLYWOOD’S ELITIST MINDSET: ‘WE’RE SMART…YOU’RE AN IDIOT’ IF YOU DISAGREE

Amanda Peet says Hollywood is “desperation galore.”  ( Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)

The “Something’s Gotta Give” actress added that aging in the youth-obsessed industry isn’t easy either.

“I’m older, so I have much more peace about it, but it’s really, really hard to find that, and it is hard not to want to chase your own buzz if you are lucky enough to have any, and instead, just be like, ‘What do I really want to do when my alarm goes off in the morning? What do I want to be doing? Is this really what I want to be doing? Is this really helpful or useful to anyone?’”

WATCH: Amanda Peet calls Hollywood glamour ‘ridiculous’ and ‘smoke and mirrors’

Peet is starring in the second season of Apple TV’s “Your Friends & Neighbors,” which premieres on Friday, April 3 with one new episode each week through June 5.

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She said that fans can expect a “lot more” from season two.

“Then also there’s the issue of Coop having this secret life,” Peet said of Jon Hamm’s character who plays her ex-husband on the show.

“It’s smoke and mirrors. There’s no there there. I mean you name the aphorism, it applies to us. It’s desperation galore. ‘What are they doing over there? Why don’t I have that? Why don’t I look like that?’ That’s the bad part.”

— Amanda Peet

“And I think this season, one too many people are starting to get an inkling that something’s going on with Coop,” she continued. “And so it gets more and more dangerous for him to keep doing what he’s doing, which is incredibly exciting. And then [her character] Mel and Coop are still in this kind of like, will they, won’t they? They’re so pissed off at each other, but they still seem to wanna f— each other. So yeah, it’s just really a whole big hot mess.”

Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet at a “Your Friends and Neighbors” press event last year. (Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+ via Getty Images)

WATCH: Amanda Peet reveals fans can expect a ‘lot more’ from season 2 of ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’

Peet said she also appreciated a storyline where her character deals with going into menopause, which she said was cathartic for her.

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“It was very cathartic to be able to put my own menopausal frustrations and rage into an appropriate situation, namely be acting out as a character instead of in my own life,” Peet revealed.

The actress has also been open about her breast cancer diagnosis, which she announced earlier this month.

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Amanda Peet with Eunice Bae on “Your Friends & Neighbors.” (Apple TV)

She told Fox News Digital that when she first heard the news, her thoughts were filled with “terror.”

“My children and terror,” she admitted.

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Peet said she made the decision to not tell her dying mother “because she wasn’t well for so long that it was, you know, fairly obvious that I, you know, on the off chance that she would have been able to understand, I wouldn’t have wanted to scare her.”

“So, it wasn’t a hard decision, it was just sort of hard in a more global way because I had been so close to her all my life.”

Peet revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in a New Yorker essay last Saturday, saying that she is stage I and doesn’t need chemotherapy, but will go undergo a lumpectomy and radiation.

Great Britain’s Adam Gemili has announced his retirement from athletics after 14 years at the top of the sport

In the space of a few months, Adam Gemili went from playing for Dagenham and Redbridge academy to becoming World Junior 100m champion and stepping onto the start line at the London 2012 Olympics.

Gemili had left Chelsea’s academy at 15 after training alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and three years later was racing against Jamaican legends Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake at the Olympics.

Now, as the Londoner announces his retirement from athletics, he will be sharing his wisdom with the current Chelsea youngsters as he joins the Premier League club part-time as a speed coach.

Gemili made his Olympic debut at 18 and raced Jamaican Yohan Blake

“I dabbled a little bit in athletics, but I didn’t really try properly, and I remember just suddenly getting into the sport in training, and I just picked it up so quickly,” Gemili said.

“I was winning races and next thing I know, six months later, it’s a home Olympics and I’m lining up for GB thinking ‘what am I doing here?’

“Honestly, it the most imposter syndrome I’ve ever had, I was thinking ‘how does this happen to me?’

“Six months prior, no one had ever asked for my autograph or asked for a picture with me and now all of a sudden I’m at a home Olympics.

“Everyone sort of knew who I was, I was the young sprinter on the block, it was a really crazy time, not just for myself, for my family as well.

“I’d seen Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake on the TV, then suddenly, I’m in the call room, looking across and Usain’s sitting there.

“I remember thinking to myself ‘lock in, come on, focus’ – I was fangirling.

“I was in the Olympic Village in London walking around and Serena Williams walked in front of me and I was like ‘what’s happening? I was playing at Dagenham five, six months ago’. I didn’t really feel like I belonged.”

Gemili’s major breakthrough into the sport came within three years of leaving the Chelsea academy

Now as Gemili retires with a plentiful collection of medals, including a 4x100m gold from the London World Championships in 2017 and four European golds, he returns to where it all started to help the next generation at Chelsea.

“I’m just a normal guy from Dartford, we didn’t grow up with a lot,” Gemili added. “We just worked hard and I committed to my sport.

“I just hope one or two of them [the academy players] take some inspiration from that and say ‘you know what, it doesn’t matter if I can’t do it in this way, I’ll always find a way to be successful’.

“It doesn’t matter what you do. My story is my own and I hope a lot of these guys can create their own stories.

“I really hope they will go on and become super famous, rich, successful footballers that I can ring up and say ‘oh, I need some tickets for this game’, but the reality is it might not happen.

“But they might then be able to go ‘Adam used to do that and then he became a professional athlete in another sport, maybe I can do that’.

“These kids are so talented, they’re going to be talented no matter what they do – these 12, 13, 14-year-olds, they are just a different breed.

“It’s more brutal to be amongst [academy football] now, social media wasn’t a thing when I was growing up and now everything you do is online.

“Everyone can judge everyone, so the pressure, the performance, you’ve got to be on it.”

Gemili placed fourth at the 2016 Olympics and 2019 World Championships over 200m, and in 2023 in the 4x100m

Through his background in football and athletics, Gemili can provide a unique perspective on improving your speed and emphasises that while all sports are different, the key is to learn was ‘fast’ feels like.

He’ll be setting up his own ‘academy’ to help sprinters, footballers, and young athletes from other sports learn how they can optimise their speed.

“Knowledge is power and if I’m able to teach these kids everything that I know, I can die happy,” he added.

“I hope even just one or two of them can feel some sort of inspiration from my story because football is very tough sport – like, I never planned to become an athlete.

“For a lot of these guys they won’t make it to the top level, they won’t make it to the top of the Premier League.

“But if I can teach them the skills that I got, one or two of them might even come into athletics, you never you never really know.”

Home World Championships ‘inspire a nation’

Gemili won gold at the London 2017 World Athletics championships in the 4x100m alongside Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, CJ Ujah and Daniel Talbot

The bidding process for the 2029 World Athletics Championships is ongoing, but British Athletics’ bid has been hit by reports West Ham are yet to agree to the London Stadium’s use.

Gemili said the impact of a home championships cannot be missed, as he reflected back on his experience competing in the stadium in 2012 and at the 2017 World Championships.

“It gives athletes a great opportunity, but also it inspires a city, inspires a nation,” he said.

“Who knows in 10 or 15 years, that moment might make the future because there would definitely have been people in that 2017 stadium that were inspired by performances there that are now on British teams.

“I really hope they can come to an agreement, because sport should be celebrated and – football, athletics – there’s so much joy and brilliance that it brings to people.

“It brings such community in it, and especially London, it brings such a city together when especially over the last couple of years, it’s felt quite divided.”

In the age of binge-watching TV shows in a matter of hours before pressing play on something new to immediately fill the void, I started watching Babies, expecting to be done in one sitting.

But I wasn’t.

Instead, I found myself needing a breather after each 60-minute episode to process the weight behind what I’d seen.

And it was in those moments that I knew this was essential viewing, because it stuck with me long after.

Written by Stefan Golaszewski, the six-part BBC drama follows a married couple in their thirties, desperate to start a family.

But Lisa (Siobhán Cullen) and Stephen (Paapa Essiedu) enter uncharted territory after a string of miscarriages, forced to navigate unforeseen grief and fight to keep their hope burning despite unimaginable losses.

A concurrent storyline involves the honeymoon phase of Amanda’s (Charlotte Riley) and Dave’s (Jack Bannon) relationship. Well, it’s honeymoon bliss for him. For her, he’s a temporary fix for her physical needs and certainly not someone she wants lingering around for deep conversations once the deed is done.

So, when their fling takes an unexpected turn, and real adult responsibilities come into play, both their compatibility and Dave and Stephen’s friendship face the ultimate test.

Pregnancy loss is taboo. No two experiences are the same, so it can feel like crawling through a minefield trying to offer anyone comfort, as you’re afraid of blurting out the wrong thing.

But also, deep down, I think most of us don’t want to accept how grim the reality of it actually is.

When it comes to Babies, however, nothing has been sugarcoated. While it made for uncomfortable viewing at times, Golaszewski’s warts-and-all approach is completely necessary to hammer home the truth of how all-consuming the aftermath of a miscarriage can be.

You will see Lisa lying in bed, almost paralysed with grief. You will see her storm out on her in-laws before sitting down to devour the roast dinner they’ve cooked. You will see a woman transform from fun-loving and high-spirited to someone deeply spiteful and bitter for no reason.

She cries and wails, and none of it looks pretty. She yells at her husband for failing to express his own emotions after having to ‘flush their baby down the toilet’, and, as a viewer, I wanted nothing more than to take her anguish away.

Cullen’s portrayal of the hopeful mum-to-be is gut-wrenching. For many of us, our window to miscarriages is merely statistics and news reports, but with raw finesse, she broadcast that unthinkable trauma right into my living room.

Despite the bleak subject matter, Cullen’s performance shines throughout, having clearly been crafted with respect and an awareness of the responsibility to get it right.

It feels somewhat distasteful to say a drama about baby loss made me smile, not to mention laugh. But what also radiates is its hope and humour, which, after interviewing Golaszewski and the cast, I understand was their intention. Consider that box ticked.

Babies strikes the light and shade balance perfectly. For every tearful showdown or demoralising doctor’s consultation, there’s a sarcastic quip or niche British-flavoured one-liner. While laced with deep sadness and hardship, its warmth and tenderness never falter. Even in its darkest moments, the show somehow manages to resurrect faith, sending a powerful message to anyone with whom the story resonates that, even when your world feels like it’s ending, it will keep turning.

That’s not to say a positive mindset is always shown to be for the better. At times, Stephen’s reluctance to acknowledge his grief infuriated me. His optimism becomes much more of a hindrance than a help as he buries his emotions in favour of his wife sharing hers.

As a viewer, I hoped for him to open up with every scene, and yet time and time again, he dismisses his pain with laddish banter and the toxic ‘keep calm, carry on’ attitude so prevalent in male friendship circles.

But that is exactly why his character is needed.

When Stephen finally lets his guard down, it’s a tsunami moment, and it almost instiled pride in me to see him hold an earnest conversation without turning it into a joke.

Similarly, Dave’s character is one of the best on-screen examples I’ve seen of the concept of masculinity and how it can cause conflict where emotions are concerned.

His naiveties and foolishness make for entertaining viewing, there’s no doubt about it, especially when he’s the cheese to Amanda’s chalk, and she, quite frankly, would rather be anywhere else than listening to his rambles and answering his preposterous existential questions.

But beneath his comical exterior is a man who is drowning, not because he doesn’t want to open up, but because he doesn’t even know how. As his father is introduced, it becomes apparent that impassivity has been passed down through generations, and Dave has never known any different. It suddenly becomes unsurprising that, despite considering Stephen his closest friend, they hardly know anything about one another.

There is, however, a glimmer of opportunity in his own son, Daniel, from a past romance. They can barely hold a conversation, and Dave has no clue how to be a parent beyond sitting his kid in front of a games console, but in keeping with the hope woven into the fabric of Babies, eventually, something slowly begins to shift, culminating in some of the most poignant moments of television I’ve seen this year.

In the era of Adolescence and Inside the Manosphere, the importance of such storylines cannot be underestimated. We’ve seen firsthand how they spark conversations, and I’m glad to see a TV drama taking full advantage of its power there.

All in all, Babies is as heartening as it is heartbreaking. Is it slow at times? Yes. But I came to realise that the stillness can be essential. It’s not always about saying something. On several occasions, what isn’t being said matters even more.

Whether it’s going to rock the British TV drama landscape, I’m not convinced, but somehow, that’s irrelevant. Despite its bravery in tackling such a heavy story, there’s no pompous ambition or self-entitlement here, and there’s nothing preachy about Golaszewski’s writing.

I think what counts most is that, for one person, one couple, watching at home, it is going to validate their suffering in a way most people they know will probably be too nervous to even try to do.

You may argue that’s not enough, but sometimes, the simplest thing about something is also the most beautiful.

I didn’t find Babies easy to watch, but doing so touched me in ways I’ll be thinking about for a while.

All episodes of Babies land on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday, March 30, with the series airing on BBC One from 9pm that night.

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HBO Max has now launched in the UK and has replaced discovery+ as the streaming option for TNT Sports, so here’s everything you need to know about the new service

HBO Max has finally arrived in the UK, bringing significant changes for TNT Sports subscribers. The streaming platform went live on Thursday (March 26), six years after its US debut, with the UK amongst the final European nations to receive it following its 2021 rollout.

This means the way football supporters can access the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and numerous other sports has been transformed. Since replacing BT Sport in 2023, TNT Sports had been accessible to stream on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and other devices through discovery+, but this is no longer available.

Many subscribers will now require access to HBO Max to stream their preferred sporting fixtures, though there are multiple ways to do this through brands including Amazon and Sky. Despite the transition, not everything has altered, as some users will be able to utilise their existing login credentials and will be pleased to learn their subscription will stay at the same cost.

Here’s everything you need to know about HBO Max:

How to get HBO Max in the UK

HBO Max subscriptions are obtainable from several retailers in the UK, with the most straightforward option being HBO Max itself. It can be accessed at hbomax.com and the HBO Max app, or via Prime Video where there are dedicated channels for both HBO Max and TNT Sports.

However, Sky is offering complimentary HBO Max subscriptions with its £22 Ultimate TV package, which also bundles in Netflix, Disney+, Hayu and discovery+ at no additional charge. These five streaming services are valued at approximately £240 annually, with the package also providing access to 135 TV channels including Sky Atlantic and Sky One.

There are some important conditions to note, particularly that Sky will raise the Ultimate TV package price to £24 for those signing up after 31st March, so customers should act before this deadline to lock in the current rate. Additionally, Sky states its prices ‘may change’ throughout its 24-month contracts.

It’s also important to highlight that TNT Sports is not part of the Sky offer and must be purchased separately. New customers can subscribe to the standalone TNT Sports plan at an unchanged rate of £30.99 on a monthly rolling basis.

Sky’s Ultimate TV bundle

Sky is giving away free subscriptions to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hayu and discovery+ to customers on the Ultimate TV bundle.

What if I already subscribe to TNT Sports?

TNT Sports subscribers who held an existing membership before it transferred to HBO Max can utilise their current login credentials on the HBO Max app. Those who already pay for a discovery+ subscription will discover their membership is now active on HBO Max instead.

Likewise, login credentials for those who streamed TNT Sports via its Prime Video channel can also access their existing account.

What content is on HBO Max?

With TNT Sports now integrated into HBO Max, the broadcaster’s coverage of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup has transferred to the new platform and is accessible through various TNT Sports subscriptions. The same goes for TNT’s coverage of rugby, MotoGP, UFC, golf, cricket, snooker, tennis and cycling.

Beyond sport, HBO Max houses major franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, plus cherished series such as Friends, Succession and The Sopranos. It’s also the new primary streamer for DC titles, Emmy-winning drama The Pitt and Oscar-winning films like Sinners and One Battle After Another.

How much does HBO Max cost

The price of HBO Max varies depending on the selected subscription tier, of which there are numerous options. There are also several choices for TNT Sports access, including a standalone package, or a combined TNT Sports and HBO Max bundle.

Subscribers can lower the cost of their subscription by opting for a ‘saver plan’ if they’re willing to commit to a 12-month contract.

HBO Max subscription tiers

• Basic with Ads: £4.99 per month
• Standard with Ads: £5.99 per month
• Standard: £9.99 per month
• Premium: £14.99 per month
• Standard with Ads and TNT Sports: £36.98 per month
• Standard and TNT Sports: £40.98 per month
• Premium and TNT Sports: £45.98 per month

Saver plans (12-month minimum term)

• Standard with Ads and TNT Sports: £27.99 per month
• Standard and TNT Sports: £30.99 per month
• Premium and TNT Sports: £34.99 per month
• TNT Sports: £25.99 per month