Veteran breaks silence after being rescued from tiny islet in mayday call

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Robert Downey Jr. and Jimmy Fallon crashed a recent episode of “The Howard Stern Show” and revealed they auditioned together for Nancy Meyers’ 2006 romantic-comedy “The Holiday.” Downey Jr. read for the part later played by Jude Law, while Fallon auditioned for Jack Black’s role. Both actors knew they weren’t Meyers’ frontrunner picks at the time, and Downey Jr. was well aware Jude Law was stiff competition. “We both got called in just as seat fillers…[director Nancy Meyers] needed someone to read with the gals and we’re sitting there going, ‘It’s about to happen for us,’” Downey said, adding that he felt he was a “shoe-in” to steal the part away from Law. “And I was like, ‘I’ve got to have a better English accent than Jude Law at this point.’ And Winslet said, ‘That was the worst British accent I’ve ever heard.’ And I was like, ‘I’ll check out now, but I’m taking the gummy bears from the minibar.'”

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The Who has released boxed sets commemorating many of the albums from the band’s storied discography, but never the coveted one that would celebrate the release that some fans consider the crown jewel of the catalog, “Who’s Next.” That changes Sept. 15 with “Who’s Next/Life House Super Deluxe Edition,” a 10-CD/1-Blu-Ray set that will include 155 tracks, 89 of them previously unreleased, plus spatial audio and surround mixes. The expansive set will hark back to the legendary origins of “Who’s Next,” the band’s follow-up to “Tommy,” as what was originally designed by Pete Townshend as a concept album in its own right, “Life House,” before it shifted gears to become a more traditional, non-narrative rock album.

Ellise Shafer Warner Music Group and TikTok have announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to expand the licensing agreement of Warner Recorded Music and Warner Chappell Music to TikTok, TikTok Music, CapCut and TikTok’s Commercial Music Library. The multi-year, multi-product deal will “expand the level of partnership, collaboration and innovation between the two companies,” according to a press release. “It will create new revenue, marketing and insights opportunities for WMG’s artists and songwriters, while deepening the engagement with TikTok’s huge audience of passionate music fans.” It also includes a licensing deal for TikTok Music — the app’s newly launched streaming service that is now only available in Brazil and Indonesia, but has plans for growth in other markets — and CapCut, TikTok’s video-editing sister app.

Naman Ramachandran After the success of the Indian version of “The Night Manager,” The Ink Factory is planning further Indian adaptations of John le Carré novels. Produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia, the Hindi-language series created and directed by Sandeep Modi and headlined by Anil Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur, emerged as the most watched series ever across all Hotstar specials on Indian streamer Disney+ Hotstar. One of the most renowned writers in the espionage genre, le Carré, who died in 2020, left behind a legacy of 25 novels, managed by The Ink Factory. They have spawned numerous adaptations, including an English-language “The Night Manager” from BBC/AMC in 2016.

Thania Garcia Michele Santucci has joined Verve Label Group (VLG) as the company’s new vice president of streaming to oversee DSP strategies for releases across Verve Records, Decca Records US, Impulse!, and Verve Forecast. Santucci joins with the experience of her previous post at Spotify, where she spent a decade working as a recorded music lead and supervising producer for Spotify Studios. Verve Label Group, a division of Universal Music Group, is home to Grammy award winners Samara Joy, Jon Batiste and Madison Cunningham, among many others. “I am extremely excited to join the team at Verve Label Group. Their history and roster are inspirational and I look forward to working with the label and its streaming partners to help build the careers of these great artists,” said Santucci in a statement shared with Variety.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Placebo singer-guitarist Brian Molko is ruffling political feathers in Italy after lashing out against the country’s right-wing Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni, calling her a “fascist” and a “racist” during a packed concert near Turin. Prosecutors in Turin have now opened an investigation against the U.S.-born frontman of the British alt-rock band following his performance last week in front of 10,000 fans at the Sonic Park festival in Stupinigi outside Turin, according to multiple press reports. Molko’s insults at Italy’s prime minister from the stage also included calling Meloni a “piece of shit.” Meloni leads the Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots and heads Italy’s most right-wing coalition government since World War II. She scored victory last September while running on anti-immigration policies, as well as plans to limit LGBTQ rights. 

Naman Ramachandran German media giant ProSiebenSat.1 Group’s continuing realignment after it acquired streamer Joyn in 2022 will result in the loss of 400 jobs. “A realignment of the organization is now taking place, particularly in the entertainment segment. The aim is to achieve a more efficient structure, a competitive cost base, and processes clearly geared to digital transformation. This is a priority in order to continue investing consistently in the future of the group, especially in content and digital offerings,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday. “Against this background, also a reduction in the number of jobs in the group has become necessary: This will affect around 400 full-time positions. The job cuts will be made in a socially responsible manner through a voluntary redundancy program in order to avoid compulsory redundancies as far as possible. The company had agreed on this in talks with employee representatives,” the statement added.

Thania Garcia Though it started as a video-sharing app, TikTok has become an effective (and totally unpredictable) tool for musicians and record labels looking to shed some light on a new single. Now the app is putting its music industry skills to the test with the launch of “Elevate,” a new rising artist platform that will make the most of the app’s built-in music discovery tools to support fresh talent. The initiative launches today with musicians: Chinchilla, Sam Barber, Omar Courtz, Isabel La Rosa, Kaliii, and Lu Kala. TikTok will provide the selected creators resources including early access to new features, and will additionally receive support from TikTok’s official social handles. “Elevate’s” inaugural program will run through October.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” has already received a handful of strong first reactions, but now comes a huge claim from “Taxi Driver” writer and “The Card Counter” director Paul Schrader. The Oscar nominee attended the New York premiere of Nolan’s atom bomb epic and took to social media afterwards to hail it as “the best, most important film of this century.” “If you see one film in cinemas this year it should be ‘Oppenheimer,'” Schrader added in a Facebook post shared widely across social media. “I’m not a Nolan groupie but this one blows the door off the hinges.” “Oppenheimer,” based on the 2005 book “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, tracks the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II through the eyes of theoretical physicist and Manhattan Project leader J. Robert Oppenheimer. Cillian Murphy stars in the lead role. The film also features Matt Damon as Manhattan Project director Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. and Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Benny Safdie also star.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently shared details of a new ‘private beta trial’ for Attendance Allowance claimants. The service is currently only being offered to 60 people each week who start a new claim for the State Pension age disability benefit through certain channels.

Marks and Spencer shoppers reckon they have found the pair of linen trousers that are perfect for this time of year.

A special event is being held to honour a West Lothian war hero and talented Rangers footballer.

Doctor Michael Mosley has shared a fruit you should eat every day if you suffer from high blood pressure.

Fans might be worried about their favorite TV shows like The Voice, Dancing With the Stars, The Masked Singer and Bachelor Nation shows like The Bachelorette and new offshoot The Golden Bachelor amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Fresh off falling agonisingly short of qualifying for the 2023 ICC World Cup, Livingston cricketer Jack Jarvis has been called into the Scotland squad for their T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, which takes place in Edinburgh.

Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin sent shockwaves through the Bravo universe on Monday when they posted a photo together. The former  stars had a falling out in 2010 and haven’t been friends since, but reunited for an episode of the SkinnyGirl founder’s  podcast — and they left no stone unturned.The women quickly discuss their time on RHONY and how Zarin was a big reason that 52-year-old Frankel got cast for the show. Zarin admitted that she was upset and felt left out after Frankel made over $100 million on her SkinnyGirl cocktail line after appearing on the series. «I wanted to have a real make-up.

Brigitte Nielsen celebrated a milestone birthday over the weekend with her 5-year-old daughter, Frida, by her side. «My B-day… thank you ALL,» Nielsen captioned a series of photos of herself in a blue off-the-shoulder sundress. In one pic, Nielsen and Frida are matching in the cute mother-daughter looks as they head out for some birthday celebrations complete with Disney princess gift bags and some chocolate cake. A post shared by Brigitte Nielsen (@realbrigittenielsen)Nielsen shares Frida with her husband, Mattia Dessì. In addition to little Frida, Nielsen is also mom to four adult children from previous relationships. Nielsen had son Julian Winding with her first husband, Kasper Winding. She shares her second son, Killian Gastineau, with ex Mark Gastineau.

Selena Gomez is lifting the curtain on her creative process. The pop star shared an intimate and emotional new throwback video on TikTok, showing fans how she wrote her 2019 hit single, «Lose You to Love Me.» «Making of… me getting to know myself,» she wrote over the video, in which she can be seen singing at a piano as she works through the lyrics of the song. In her caption, Gomez said that she would be turning off comments for the post. «This isn't the greatest i know so i hope no one minds me turning the comments off for my head but this was the best, most sincere moments with lose you to love me,» she captioned the video. Gomez appears to be emotional as she quietly sings to herself, beginning with the song's first verse. This isnt the greatest i know so i hope no one minds me turning the comments off for my head but this was the best, most sincere moments with lose you to love me «Lose You to Love Me» was co-written between Gomez, Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter, along with the song's producers, Mattman and Robin.

Nicole «Snooki» Polizzi's latest pics. The star shared a new carousel of images featuring longtime BFF Jenni «JWoww» Farley and the pals' lookalike daughters — and the resemblance is striking! «Twinning all day.

Inter Miami now that Lionel Messi has joined the team. Although the team lost on Saturday, July 15, 3-0 to St. Louis, they have a long season ahead of them with thousands of fans in their corner.

The 10 highest paid celebs, entertainers, musicians, and creators of the past year have been revealed….and the top earner is not who we were expecting!

Britney Spears is the undisputed Princess of Pop.

Kody Brown celebrated his daughter Gwendlyn Brown‘s marriage to Beatrice Queiroz alongside ex-wife Christine Brown and her new beau.

Jesse Watters debuted on Monday as the permanent host of Fox News’s 8 p.m. ET time slot, and wrapped up the hour with a conversation with “a very special guest on the line,” as he introduced his mom.

Donald Trump said that he received a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith stating that he is a target of a grand jury’s January 6th investigation, in what the former president said was a prelude to arrest and indictment.

The BBC has drafted in a senior partner from Deloitte to help with its high-profile review into protocols following the Huw Edwards scandal, which Tim Davie revealed should complete in the late Autumn.

Christine McVie had left behind a fortune of £70million at the time of her death.The Fleetwood Mac keyboardist and singer died at the age of 79 last November after suffering an ischemic stroke and battling cancer. McVie was known for being behind some of the band’s biggest songs including ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘Little Lies’ and ‘Songbird’.Probate documents have now revealed the extent of her estate.

Running Wild when the broadcaster paid tribute to his late grandfather.Cumberbatch was one of the latest high profile stars to join the intrepid explorer, this time on an excursion around the Isle of Skye.The actor, whose grandfather Henry Carlton Cumberbatch was a submarine officer during WWI and WWII, became emotional when Grylls surprised him at the end of the episode.Grylls had “called in a favour” so that Cumberbatch could see and climb aboard a vessel similar to the one that his grandfather would have gone on during the wars.“My grandfather’s been playing in my mind quite a bit over the past couple of days and it felt like a very immediate connection to him and to see it was just an, ‘Oh my god shock moment’,” Cumberbatch reflected of the moment on camera.A post shared by Bear Grylls OBE (@beargrylls)He was filmed in tears saying, “I’m so moved by it” as the pair approached the sub from a larger boat.A further surprise was that Cumberbatch was allowed to enter the vessel with Grylls – something that is very rarely permitted for civilians.The 46-year-old actor’s grandfather retired from the Royal Navy in 1945 and died at the age of 65 in January 1966.On Instagram, Grylls wrote: “A powerful moment of raw emotion for Benedict Cumberbatch as we ended our @RunningWildwBG journey… Benedict’s grandfather had commanded a submarine in WW2 and I felt proud to be able to involve the @RoyalNavy & @RoyalMarines to help us end the adventure… thank you so much!….”In other news, earlier this year Cumberbatch was confirmed to be playing folk singer Pete Seeger in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic Complete Unknown. 

Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish have given evidence as defence witnesses at the sexual assault trial of actor Kevin Spacey.The Hollywood actor – famed for his roles in American Beauty, Baby Driver, House Of Cards and more – is on trial accused of 12 sexual offences against four men between 2001 and 2013 including sexual assault and indecent assault. The 63-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all accusations.Now, while on trial following the allegations, music icon Elton John has been called as a defence witness and given evidence to the court.Sir Elton and his partner were called to share their recollections about Spacey’s attendance at a 2001 party hosted by the musician and Furnish at the latter’s home in Windsor.

late last week, actors and anyone covered by its collective bargaining agreement with AMPTP have been prohibited from not just production work, but promotional appearances.Host Sean Hannity cleared the air about Caviezel’s appearance straightaway: “By the way, this is separate and apart from SAG and the strike that’s going on,” he said. “I want to make a point that you’re not in any way going against that, is that correct?”“Yes,” Caviezel responded.

The weather may have cooled down, but fashion fans have been keeping their wardrobes summer ready with a colourful summer dress from Mark and Spencer.

Frisky This Morning OAP Iris Jones has called time on her relationship with her Egyptian toyboy Mohamed Ahmed Ibriham and says she has already replaced him - with a cat.

Tensions are running high on the cobbles next week when Adam Barlow, played by Sam Robertson, is forced into taking decisive action after coming to the heartbreaking realisation his wife Sarah could be lying about the results of the paternity test.

Michael Beale suffered a painful defeat on his last attempt to get Rangers into the Champions League promised land.

The UK Government recently announced that taxpayers now have until April 5, 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record from April 2006 that may increase their State Pension - an extension of nearly two years on the July 31 deadline.

Ronan Keating is believed to be returning to the stage just days after his brother was tragically killed in a car accident, it has been reported.