“NCIS” dropped a bombshell Tuesday night — and this time, it wasn’t the explosive kind.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

In one of its most brutal twists ever, the long-running CBS hit action drama killed off Rocky Carroll’s Director Leon Vance during its milestone 500th episode, leaving fans absolutely reeling.

“It is never easy to say goodbye to any of our characters,” executive producer Steven D. Binder told TV Insider. “But we wanted to honor Rocky and his legacy on the show as best as we could — in this case, giving his life so his agency could live.”

After 18 seasons, Carroll’s steady, commanding Vance met a shocking end — not in a blaze of glory, but in a cold-blooded betrayal.

The episode opened with NCIS itself in crisis mode, shut down amid a widening scandal. Vance refuses to back down, even with a bomb threatening to destroy key evidence that could save the agency.

But the bomb? A fake-out.

The real danger is standing right next to him.

The Army CID agent working alongside Vance is secretly part of a smuggling ring — the same conspiracy the reunited team has been investigating while trying to clear an innocent woman framed for murder in a case tied back to Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) early days.

Then comes the moment that changes everything.

The agent turns — and shoots Vance.

For a split second, it looks like he might survive. The scene depicts Vance wearing a bulletproof vest and surviving the shooting.

However, it’s revealed when Vance is later speaking with an interrogator — who is later shown to be a younger version of Dr. “Ducky” Donald Mallard standing in for the Angel of Death — that he was fatally shot.

“There have always been real stakes,” Binder said, pointing to the show’s history of shocking losses. “Perhaps as best embodied by what happened to Agent Todd (Sasha Alexander) in the Season 2 finale.”

Carroll admitted he didn’t fight the decision to kill off the character that he had portrayed for nearly two decades. In fact, he embraced it.

“In the process of saving the agency, he loses his life,” he recalled Binder telling him. “It’s a great story.

“It was basically presented to me that the studio and the network wanted to do something really spectacular, really big, and something that would really send shockwaves through the NCIS fan base and the community.”

The emotional punch kept coming in Vance’s final moments, as he was guided toward death by Ducky, who plays Young Ducky on the “NCIS” spinoff “NCIS: Origins.”

“You don’t need a special reason to bring back Adam Campbell. The man is a rock star,” Binder said. “I happened to catch one of the Young Ducky episodes on Paramount+, and the moment I saw Adam’s face, I realized what it needed to be.”

By the end, the conspiracy unravels: the shutdown of NCIS was built on falsified numbers by a corrupt official. The agency is reinstated, the team returns, and Parker (Gary Cole) even comes out of retirement.

But the victory comes at a cost that can’t be undone.

“The team will be grieving, of course,” Binder said. “Vance died to protect them all. And they are going to honor that by putting one foot in front of the other, and just continuing on their mission to protect and safeguard their country.”

The message is clear: NCIS moves forward. Even without Vance.

“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Zac Affleck fired back at viral criticism over his beef with co-star Whitney Leavitt, claiming many of the storylines in Season 4 were created by production.

“The whole narrative of Whitney letting us stay over at her house, it’s just not true,” Zac said in a recent TikTok Live.

“It’s not a big deal though, that wasn’t her fault. That was the storyline.”

“We had our own home the whole time,” he continued, referring to him and wife Jen Affleck moving their family from Utah to Los Angeles so that she could compete on Season 34 of “Dancing With the Stars” alongside Leavitt.

“We showed up, unpacked the U-Haul for the cameras, repacked it and went back to our own house.”

Zac then addressed his and Leavitt’s blowout fight in the Season 4 finale of “SLOMW.” In the scene, he ambushed Leavitt by showing up “in Jen’s place” after the former friends planned to meet up and talk about issues that arose while competing against each other on “DWTS.”

According to Zac, he was “asked to do that the day of by someone other than Jen,” though he admitted he “could have controlled what he said” during the confrontation.

“There was also a lot of that conversation that wasn’t included. But again, could I have been a little more calm, a little more chilled? Probably.”

Zac, notably, called Leavitt a “mean girl” and “fake” during the heated exchange.

He clarified that he is still not “a fan of Whitney” and although he understands why her husband, Connor Leavitt, was mad at him for the way he spoke, he maintained that he “wasn’t screaming or yelling.”

“A lot of emotions at that time, and that happened six months ago. Right now, there’s obviously a lot bigger things going on with our group,” he said, seemingly referring to Taylor Frankie Paul’s ongoing drama and Jessi Draper’s divorce.

“This is just all part of reality TV. And I also think part of having social media is just speak your truth and some people are gonna hate you, some people are gonna like you and I am OK with that.”

Page Six has reached out to reps for “SLOMW” and the Leavitts for comment.

Meanwhile, Whitney — who is currently starring on Broadway as Roxie Hart in “Chicago” — hinted at her exit from the hit Hulu series earlier this month.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without [‘SLOMW’],” Leavitt told the Hollywood Reporter. “But it feels like it’s time to challenge myself in other ways and fulfill these dreams and passions that I’ve been trying to get even before the show.”

She also noted that “it feels like that’s the trajectory of where it’s going.”

Comedy legends Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders will reunite for the first time in 17 years.

The beloved duo have been mainstays in British comedy for more than 40 years, after first rising to prominence in the 1980s.

After launching their comedy sketch show, French and Saunders, in 1978, the pair have gone on to star in a number of hit shows from Absolutely Fabulous to The Vicar of Dibley.

Now, however, the pair have been announced to star in this year’s pantomime at Christmas at the London Palladium as the Ugly Sisters.

Discussing their upcoming performance, they said: ‘We have wished to play the Ugly Sisters for so many years, it feels this is the fulfilment of a dream – a dream our hearts made. Watch out. It won’t be pretty.’

They will be joined by Julian Clary as the Fairy Godmother, as well as the usual favourites Nigel Havers, Paul Zerdin and Rob Madge.

French has previously made two appearances in a pantomime at The London Palladium, as Queen Dragonella in Snow White in 2018 then as Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022.

Saunders, meanwhile, made her Palladium pantomime debut in 2023 as Captain Hook in Peter Pan.

Asked about French and Saunders making an appearance, Harrison said: ‘We always want to raise the bar for our incredible panto audiences each year, so I’m absolutely delighted that Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders will be starring in this year’s Cinderella.

‘Having two of the nation’s most beloved comedy icons together on the Palladium stage is incredibly exciting. Their legendary chemistry and razor-sharp humour will make this a truly special experience for audiences.’

Last year’s 10th anniversary production of Sleeping Beauty broke the Palladium Pantomime’s own record for the biggest ever audience across a 5-week season, with more than 137,000 patrons attending the show.

This broke the previous record of 132,000 for Robin Hood in 2024, in turn making the show the highest grossing pantomime of all time and achieving the highest-grossing week for any show at the box office.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Claudia Winkleman’s chat show debut feels strangely flat but there’s still hope

It’s a disaster of biblical proportions.

Taylor Frankie Paul — who rose to fame amid a soft-swinging scandal on TikTok and a starring role on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” — has become the tok of the town, for all the wrong reasons.

Hulu halted production on Season 5 of “SLOMW” and ABC pulled Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” — which was set to premiere this past Sunday with Paul, 31, as the lead — following new, alarming details of her toxic relationship with her baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen, 33.

In her statement last week addressing the chaos, Paul shared that she’s been “silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse” for years.

Paul’s “SLOMW” co-stars and fans have long encouraged her to seek help for her mental health — she even responded to a TikTok commenter telling her she needs therapy.

Now, those calls have reached a fever pitch. A rep for Paul did not respond to a Post request for comment.

The swift and pointed public reaction to Paul’s fall from grace suggests that we’re at a significant turning point in reality TV. Fans and critics are calling on networks to stop prioritizing dramatic ratings over the welfare of cast members visibly in crisis or volatile situations.

Change won’t come easy. Since the early days of reality TV, producers have intentionally leveraged “train wreck” appeal, exploiting participants with obvious mental health troubles for storylines.

“When producers knowingly cast individuals who may be vulnerable, don’t use independent psychological evaluators, don’t provide sufficient mental health support or manipulate situations to elicit distress, it creates a significant potential for harm,” Christine Chapais, an assistant teaching professor who serves as director of Online MSW Programs at Rutgers School of Social Work, told The Post.

The examples are endless — Ruthie Alcaide struggled with alcoholism on 1999’s “The Real World: Hawaii,” Rob Kardashian dealt with deep depression and low self-confidence on the Kardashian reality shows, Taylor Armstrong of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” suffered verbal and physical abuse that she tried to shield from cameras and “Teen Mom 2” star Jenelle Evans was frequently in tears as she battled her “inner demons.”

More recently, several alumni of “America’s Next Top Model” shared the emotional distress, anxiety and trauma they experienced during the show and long after the smizes faded, on a pair of docuseries that premiered this year.

Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan was filmed having sex with a male model after heavy drinking — producers didn’t intervene and framed her incident as a cheating scandal rather than a safety crisis.

Cycle 8 participant Dionne Walters said she was forced to pose as a gunshot victim, even though she told producers that her mom had been shot and paralyzed, and Cycle 4’s Keenyah Hill lamented that her weight and eating habits were made into a “damaging” storyline.

The social media backlash was extensive, with viewers declaring the modeling competition “toxic,” “hostile,” “negligent” and “wrong AF.”

Since “ANTM” premiered in 2003, the stigma around mental health has eased. People have become more open in discussing it — and more compassionate toward others’ experiences.

And while audiences have long craved “the most dramatic season ever,” there’s growing evidence of fatigue with the sensational exploitation of mental health crises and reality TV’s predictable formula.

Viewers want to be entertained, not unsettled.

Even the most innocuous shows have waded into the fray — on Season 2 of “Top Chef,” cheftestant Marcel Vigneron was physically attacked by his competitors as they tried to shave his head against his will.

“These shows are pressure cookers by design. You’ve got isolation, lack of sleep, alcohol, competition and cameras on you all day,” Dr. D. Ivan Young — behavioral neuroscientist, executive coach and author of “Leading from the Heart,” due out April 28 — told The Post.

“That’s not neutral, that’s engineered stress.”

High-stress, conflict-heavy environments can “easily exceed one’s ability to cope and exacerbate symptoms of a pre-existing mental health issue,” with producers and networks “in some cases” doing harm, said Chapais, who led a study last year on the mental well-being of reality TV participants.

But, as Young pointed out, “drama gets rewarded.”

Paul’s 2023 altercation with Mortensen was a major focus of the 2024 series premiere of “SLOMW.” Despite their continued tumultuous relationship — call it a latter-day love story — Paul was cast as “The Bachelorette” last year.

She handed out all her roses, but the season was shelved after TMZ dropped a video last week that appeared to show, for the first time, Paul throwing metal barstools at Mortensen, with one seemingly hitting her young daughter, in that 2023 incident.

Court records indicate that the mother of three pleaded guilty in abeyance to an aggravated assault charge, with the other charges dropped.

This month, Hulu halted production on Season 5 of “SLOMW” amid a new domestic assault investigation involving Paul and Mortensen.

It took this tipping point for the streamer to take action, though Paul’s obvious and ongoing distress and mood swings on camera have previously been treated as a feature of the show.

“I had a mental breakdown the other day on-camera, and it was just like, ‘Well, we have to be here. We’re contracted’ — no. This is not acting. I’m having a mental breakdown. I’m going home. That’s it, period,” Paul recently told Vulture.

Mental breakdowns are common on reality TV, and sometimes the worst happens. The Post reported in 2016 that 21 reality TV participants had died by suicide within the span of a decade.

The unfortunate trend continued. Caroline Flack, who hosted the British series “Love Island” and “The Xtra Factor,” died by suicide in February 2020 at the age of 40.

Before more harm is done, where does reality TV go from here?

Though contestants often undergo extensive psychological testing — including clinical interviews and personality tests — the results may be used more to identify vulnerabilities than to screen for emotional stability. Chapais said more needs to be done to ensure cast member safety.

“At minimum, participants should be providing informed consent, undergo thorough and objective psychological screenings and have access to safeguards and support before, during and after filming,” she said.

“Informed consent is especially complicated in this context because participants can’t fully anticipate how they’ll be portrayed or how the public will respond to them,” she continued. “Since participants generally have little control over the editing of their portrayal, this increases the risk of exploitation.”

Chapais noted that some production companies have begun implementing safety protocols, but there are no industry-wide standards for the psychological safety of reality participants in the US.

“On the other hand, the UK has taken steps mostly through its regulator, Ofcom, to require stronger protections, like mental health support before, during and after filming, as well as limits against false narratives,” Chapais said.

“However, the US lacks similar enforceable standards, and participants can be heavily edited in ways that misrepresent or even defame them.”

The Post reached out to Hulu and ABC reps for comment on their protocols to keep cast members safe.

As Paul’s drama plays out in the Utah courts and the court of public opinion, her future as a caretaker for her children and reality star is unclear.

While she cleans up yet another scandal, perhaps it’s time for The Book of Exodus from our screens.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

She’ll always find her way back home.

Exactly 20 years ago today, “Hannah Montana” premiered on Disney Channel, introducing viewers to a new starlet in Miley Cyrus, who appeared as the titular pop star.

Today, Cyrus is putting her blonde wig back on to celebrate the teen sitcom’s legacy with a “Hannah Montana” 20th anniversary special streaming exclusively on Disney+.

“Hannah Montana” originally ran for four seasons between 2006 and 2011, with a feature film released in 2009. The series followed Miley Stewart (Cyrus), an “Ordinary Girl” by day and, when donning a blonde wig, a pop sensation known as Hannah Montana by night.

In the new special, Cyrus will step back into her character’s iconic closet and glittery wardrobe, in addition to a new intimate sit-down with Call Her Daddy host and “Hannah Montana” super fan Alex Cooper. Never-before-seen footage and recreations of the TV show’s memorable sets will also take center stage as Cyrus looks back on the moments, music and memories that defined her “Hannah Montana” era.

“‘Hannah Montana’ will always be a part of who I am,” Cyrus said in a release announcing the special. “What started as a TV show became a shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans, and I’ll always be thankful for that connection.”

‘Hannah Montana’ 20th anniversary special release time

The “Hannah Montana” 20th anniversary special will release today, March 24, at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT only on Disney+.

How to watch ‘Hannah Montana’ 20th anniversary special

Disney+ offers a number of subscription options, so you can find the one that works for you. With ads, a subscription costs $10.99/month; without ads, it’s $18.99/month or $189.99/year.

There are also Disney+ bundles with Hulu, Max, and ESPN+, so you can subscribe to up to three services at once and save over 40% every month. If you subscribe before 11:59 a.m. ET today, March 24, you’ll get your first three months of Disney+ and Hulu for just $4.99/month.

Who will be in the Hannah Montana’ 20th anniversary special?

In addition to Miley Cyrus, her mother Tish Cyrus-Purcell and father Billy Ray Cyrus, who starred in “Hannah Montana” as her character’s father, have been confirmed to appear in the special based on the trailer (which you can watch below).

Miley also confirmed to Variety that Selena Gomez, who also got her start on Disney Channel, will also cameo in the “Hannah Montana” special. Gomez played her “Wizards of Waverly Place” character Alex Russo in a 2009 crossover episode, but also appeared in three episodes of “Hannah Montana” as Mikayla, a rival pop star.

Hannah Montana’ 20th anniversary special trailer

Why Trust Page Six Shopping

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for the New York Post, Page Six, and Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with information on how to watch all of your favorite reality TV shows and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, celebrities and pop culture. Prior to joining The Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews

LeBron James playing in an NBA-record 1,612th regular-season game in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-104 comeback win over the Orlando Magic; Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as the Houston Rockets beat the Miami Heat 123-122 on the buzzer

LeBron James played a record 1,612th regular-season game in the NBA against the Orlando Magic on Saturday

LeBron James set a new NBA record by playing his 1,612th regular-season game in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-104 comeback win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Luka Doncic scored 33 points in the Lakers’ ninth-straight win, but was called for his 16th technical foul – an automatic one-game suspension by the league if it’s not rescinded.

LeBron had 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals on his record-breaking night, the 41-year-old passing the mark Robert Parish held for nearly 30 years.

Paolo Banchero, who led seven Magic players in double figures with 16 points, blocked a shot by James out of bounds with 4.7 seconds left. But, after a replay review, it was determined that the ball had not deflected off LeBron’s foot out of bounds – and so Los Angeles maintained possession.

That set up a Marcus Smart pass to Luke Kennard to make the winning three-pointer with 0.6 seconds left to maintain the Lakers’ win streak.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after the game of LeBron’s latest NBA record, into his 23rd season in the league: “He’s had an awesome season. He’s had an awesome career.

“There’s just a deep-seated love for the game of the basketball. And to do it as long as he has, you not only need to have the love, but you need to the love for the commitment to prepare your body and to prepare mind and to get your rest.

“He loves the process, he really does. He loves his process, he loves his routine, he loves the feeling of being diligent.”

Durant passes Jordan on scoring list as Rockets win on the buzzer

Kevin Durant scored 27 points to move past Michael Jordan into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as the Houston Rockets beat the Miami Heat 123-122 on a last-second buzzer beater.

Kevin Durant celebrates after draining a three-pointer in the Houston Rockets’ win over the Miami Heat

Amen Thompson’s tip-in for Houston as time expired clinched victory after Durant’s shot for the win bounced off the rim.

The 37-year-old Durant now has 32,294 points for his career, two more than Jordan.

The Rockets had been up by two when Durant made consecutive three-pointers to make it 117-109, moving past Jordan with the second of them as he briefly lifted his arms in triumph after draining the shot.

Ben Adebayo had 32 points and tied a career high with 21 rebounds for the Heat, who edged into a 122-121 lead with 5.4 seconds to go but would ultimately lose a fourth straight.

Adebayo’s big rebounding night came after he had the second-highest scoring game in NBA history when he scored 83 points in a win over the Washington Wizards on March 10.

The first ever episode of “Saturday Night Live UK” aired across the pond — and it immediately took aim at disgraced Andrew-Mountbatten-Windsor.

During the very first Weekend Update, hosts Ania Magliano and Paddy Young did not hold back as they addressed the former prince, who was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Before that, he had already been stripped of his royal title and asked to leave his Royal Lodge residence in Windsor.

“Coming up on Weekend Update: pedophilia. But first, war!” Magliano said at the start of the segment, drawing a strong reaction from the live audience.

After several jokes referencing the Iran conflict, the focus returned to Andrew, whose permanent residency will be at Marsh Farm on King Charles’ Sandringham Estate.

“Renovations to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s new home, Marsh Farm, have been taking place over the last month, including the installation of Sky TV. So, if you’re watching this Andrew, hello!” Magliano joked. “You’re not gonna like this next bit. Also, I’m older than I look.

“Andrew’s new residence, Marsh Farm, is of course named after the nearby marsh where his body will be found.”

“It was reported this week that the police investigation into Andrew is set to widen,” Young said. “The big question now is, if Andrew is charged, found guilty and put in prison, will he be able to keep his mouth shut? I hope not, said his cellmate’s penis.”

The segment also briefly turned its attention to another high-profile British family: the Beckhams.

“Feuding father and son David and Brooklyn Beckham narrowly missed each other whilst at the same Beverly Hills hotel,” Young began. “The feud began when Victoria was, quote, ‘inappropriately’ close with her son at his wedding, and escalated after Brooklyn accidentally yelled out his wife’s name during sex with his mum.”

The episode marked the UK debut of the long-running American variety show. The British version follows the same structure, with a celebrity host, live sketches, and musical performances.

Ahead of its premiere, the series had already received a vote of confidence from its network, Sky.

Initially planned as a six-episode run, it was expanded to eight 75-minute episodes, with each installment written and rehearsed in the week leading up to its live broadcast.

The first episode was hosted by Tina Fey, who wrote for and starred in the US version between 1997 and 2006. Music for the night came from Wet Leg.

Future episodes are set to feature hosts including Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed, with musical guests Wolf Alice and Kasabian. 

Alongside Weekend Update hosts Magliano and Young, the show’s main cast is made up of Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep and Emma Sidi.

When the show was announced, a press release teased what’s to come from the series, saying, “Together, this first wave of hosts, musical guests and cast members marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the globally acclaimed ‘SNL’ franchise — blending its storied legacy with a fresh generation of British comedy voices.”

Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died aged 54.

His family confirmed that the star passed away in his sleep from ‘natural causes’.

Brendon had previously suffered a heart attack in 2023 and had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.

He also had cauda equina syndrome, which led to several spinal surgeries.

His family paid tribute to him in a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter.

“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,’ it read.

‘Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor, and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years, Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create.

The statement contined by saying those who knew Brendon understood that art was the ‘purest reflection of who he was’ and acknowledging his struggles in the past.

‘Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart,’ it finished. ‘Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Kerry Washington: ‘I want fans to let go of Scandal while watching my new thriller’

MORE: Jury Duty season 2 is outrageous – it might be the best show of the year

MORE: Duggar family of 19 Kids and Counting ‘shocked’ after Joseph charged with molesting 9-year-old girl

Doctor Who fans have been left disappointed after showrunner Russell T Davies shared an artificially generated clip of William Hartnell.

The video was created by an Instagram user who exclusively shares AI-generated clips of themselves supposedly travelling back in time, to such events as Partygate and Princess Diana’s wedding day.

A recent clip saw him claim to be on the 1963 set of the first episode of Doctor Who – although several social media users have pointed out huge anachronisms in the video. 

In it, Hartnell’s artificially reanimated figure can be seen in the background, speaking with a crew member and standing in front of the Tardis. 

In voiceover, the creator claimed the first Tardis was made of cardboard (it was built with wood) and questioned what Hartnell might have discussed with the crew in between takes, when the episode was filmed as if it were live, for minimal editing.

In the comments section of the post, John Barrowman described it as ‘brilliant’ and Davies also wrote ‘amazing!’, which he reiterated when he shared the Instagram reel to his story. 

The decision to promote AI slop has disappointed several fans online, with Matthew Purchase sharing the post on X with the caption: ‘Oh god. RTD likes AI slop.’ The post has been viewed over 200,000 times.

Sammy wrote on X: ‘The Tardis prop didn’t look like that, all the sets are wrong. Literal slop and I don’t know why RTD would post that.’

Meanwhile, Josh Snares similarly commiserates over the lack of accuracy, while Romana said it proved Davies needs to step back from the show.

‘I think above else it just proves he is out of touch and that we need new blood in the writers’ room. The same 3 people can’t write Doctor Who forever if it’s going to continue and continue successfully,’ she wrote. 

Matt simply wrote: ‘Russell T Davies has just lost it hasn’t he really.’

Zee was another disappointed fan online, writing: ‘Why use this slop when the show has successfully recast late actors and had old Doctors reappear without de-ageing effects? This show only exists today because of the love and care humans put into creating it.’

While some Whovians believed the furore was making a mountain out of a molehill, others framed the promotion of AI as a ‘moral issue’ given the threats it poses to the entertainment industry and those working on shows like Who.

Davies subsequently appeared to remove the post from his Story, but he still follows the account posting this AI-generated content and has not deleted his comment.

Other fans dug up a years-old interview of Davies, alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, in which he suggested Who could one day ‘re-create’ the past Doctors with CGI. 

The reception from the actors beside him was noticeably muted as he told Variety: ‘Wouldn’t that be amazing? A CGI William Hartnell as the very first Doctor in 1963.

‘Imagine that. It would be amazing. One day we can do anything.’ 

Metro contacted Bad Wolf for comment on this story.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: BBC suffers huge glitch as private Alex Jones moment accidentally broadcast to stunned viewers

MORE: You could be downloading ‘shadow AI agents’ without knowing – how dangerous are they?

MORE: Doctor Who and Boys from the Blackstuff star Tom Georgeson dies aged 88

Claudia Winkleman was left red-faced during a radio appearance today, after she inadvertently swore in front of a schoolboy.

The host of The Traitors was on Heart Breakfast ahead of her chat show’s return to BBC One this evening for its second ever episode.

Sitting in the studio on Friday with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston, Winkleman was first interviewed by school pupil Finley, who was tuning in remotely.

But, as a clip from the studio showed, Winkleman didn’t quite realise that Finley was still on the call after the interview had ended.

Theakston teased Winkleman would still be on the show after a break, to which the former Strictly Come Dancing host said: ‘Oh no.’

As Britain’s Got Talent judge Holden assured there would be more chat to come, Winkleman replied: ‘F*** sake.’

Almost immediately, her face turned to a picture of shock as she saw that Finley was still listening in. Next to her, Holden started to howl with laughter – if anything, watch the clip for her priceless reaction.

The apologies came thick and fast from Winkleman, as she said: ‘Finley do not be me, ever,’ but he seemed to take it all in his stride, laughing along.

Holden then joked: ‘I bet mummy swears, as Winkleman topped up her apologies to the school pupil.

This evening’s instalment of The Claudia Winkleman Show will see the presenter joined by comedian Joanne McNally, as well as actor Guz Khan, ahead of his new Amazon Prime series Bait, which he stars in alongside Riz Ahmed. 

Also on the star-studded sofa will be former One Direction member Niall Horan, to discuss his new album.

Rounding out the sofa is Olivier Award nominee Rachel Zegler, off the back of her hugely popular run as the lead in Evita on the West End.

The premiere BBC episode was met with a mixed reception, including a three-star review in the pages of the Metro, which said Winkleman needed to do a better job at ‘keeping the show on the rails’.

BBC viewers at home had a similar take, with many agreeing that Tom Allen had acted as more of a host than Winkleman did herself.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: talkSPORT host Danny Kelly reveals cancer diagnosis live on air

MORE: New details of Tess and Claudia’s Strictly replacements revealed – including big twist

MORE: Claudia Winkleman’s chat show audience has to follow a very strict dress code