Angelic painting of Sam Smith unveiled at London’s National Portrait Gallery

Renée Zellweger has been seen shooting new scenes for the forthcoming Bridget Jones film in London - and they are Christmas themed. Who could forget the iconic scene where Bridget chases after Marc Darcy in her knickers, oversized coat and trainers amid a snowy English winter? Their enchanting kiss under falling snowflakes cannot be forgotten as Ain't No Mountain High Enough plays in the background.

One of the most talented children's entertainers of his time has died after a career that saw him appear on a string of BBC hits and work on creating spectacles for The Walt Disney Company. Steve Lee died peacefully aged 73 at Brighton General Hospital earlier this month having fought an acute bout of pneumonia after an extraordinary life that saw him travel the world.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The European Film Academy has revealed the first tranche of film titles that members can consider for nominations for the European Film Awards, which take place on Dec. 7 in Lucerne, Switzerland. The academy’s selection of 29 titles covers films that had their first official screening between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.

American Murder: Laci Peterson is streaming now on Netflix, but where is Scott Lee Peterson now?The three-episode season explores the real-life, high-profile case of the murder of Peterson, who had gone missing from her home in Modesto, California on Christmas Eve in 2002 while eight months pregnant with her first child.Peterson’s remains were later found, alongside those of her unborn son, on the shores of San Francisco Bay. Her husband Scott, who had reported her missing, was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of murder.The case dominated headlines in the media for months at the time, and now, 20 years after Scott’s original prosecution, Netflix’s new series makes use of interviews with the detectives, lawyers and jurors involved in Peterson’s trial.Laci’s mother Sharon Rocha gives her first in-depth interview on the topic in the show too, as does Amber Frey, the woman Laci was living with at the time of her disappearance.All three episodes of American Murder: Laci Peterson are streaming on Netflix now.After the discovery of Laci’s remains, Scott was arrested in April 2003, at a time that he had reportedly been living out of his car, with police believing he was planning on fleeing to Mexico.His trail took place in 2004, and he was convicted of two counts of murder: first-degree murder with special circumstances for killing Laci and second-degree murder for killing the foetus she carried.He was sentenced to death via lethal injection, which he appealed.

The Princess of Wales has access to some of the most famous pieces of jewellery in the world - whether it is historic royal tiaras or her engagement ring that once belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. But, during her most recent appearance in a special video to congratulate Team GB athletes who competed in the 2024 Olympics, eagle-eyed royal fans spotted a more understated gem.

The long-gestating Nautilus live action series has swum to Prime Video in the UK and Ireland.

Boardmasters 2024 last weekend, with the charges relating to drug offences, sexual offences and assault.The five-day festival took place in Newquay, Cornwall between August 7-11, with Sam Fender, Stormzy and Chase & Status topping the bill.On Friday night (August 9) a “massive crowd surge” at the event “left a small number of attendees injured”, according to Devon & Cornwall Police. They described it as an isolated incident, and confirmed that “none of the injuries [were] considered serious”.Several punters subsequently spoke out.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Tencent, China’s leading social media, streaming and games group, enjoyed a rebound in profitability in the second quarter of the year that it says vindicates its position as platform operator and content producer. Revenues in the April to June period increased by 8% to RMB161 billion ($22.5 billion), but net profit surged ahead by 82% to RMB47.6 billion ($6.67 billion). On a six month, or first half year, view, Tencent reported Revenues up 7% to RMB320 billion ($44.8 billion) and net profits up 70% at RMB89.5 billion ($12.5 billion). Tencent Video saw a year-on-year growth in video streaming subscribers of 13% to a (restated) 117 million.

It goes without saying that it's important to keep your kitchen tidy.

Taylor Swift Vienna terror plot has claimed that the accusations against their client have been exaggerated.Last week, all three of the pop star’s ‘Eras Tour’ shows in Vienna were cancelled, after it was revealed that two people had been arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack during the gigs.Swift was set to play at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday (August 8), Friday (9) and Saturday (10), but event organiser Barracuda Music confirmed that it had “no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety”.A 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and a second person in the Austrian capital. It was widely reported that the former had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group and had reportedly wanted to use knives or self-made explosives outside the Ernst Happel Stadium to kill as many people as possible (via Sky News).It was later reported by numerous outlets that a police search of his house reportedly led to chemicals, explosives, knives and machetes being found.Now, the lawyer representing the suspect – who has not been named in line with Austrian privacy rules – has claimed that the accusations raised against him have been exaggerated.“He had neither the means nor the possibility and the explosives to carry this out,” defense lawyer Werner Tomanek said (as per Associated Press).

It's easy to forget some details from our driving theory tests once we've passed.

Ellise Shafer “Harvest,” directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari (“Attenberg,” “Chevalier”) and starring Caleb Landry Jones, has been acquired by Mubi in several key territories ahead of its premiere in competition at Venice Film Festival. Mubi will distribute the film in the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Benelux and Latin America with release plans to be announced in the coming months.

Jammie Dodgers has stirred up a frenzy after unveiling its latest whacky creation.

Sweet Home director Lee Eung-bok has opened up about his hopes to work on a spin-off of the hit Netflix K-drama in order to “explore unresolved stories”.In a recent interview with The Chosun Daily, Lee touched on the criticism Sweet Home received following the release of the third and final season of the K-drama series last month. “Once the work is released to the public, it’s no longer in my hands,” he said.“I believe it’s more meaningful to create something that resonates and is talked about for a long time rather than focusing solely on immediate rankings,” the director added.Lee also said that even though he’s “not disappointed by the mixed reviews”, he does have “some regret” about how the series turned out.

Jamie Lang Spain’s most iconic modern arthouse filmmaker, Pedro Almodovar, will be honored by the country’s most prestigious festival, San Sebastian, with the Donostia Award for career achievement on Sept. 26. Always a bridesmaid and only now a bride, Almodovar has handed out his share of Donostia awards in the past to the likes of Antonio Banderas, Al Pacino and Woody Allen.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Daisy Ridley will receive the Hollywood Rising Star Award at the Deauville Film Festival which will celebrate this year its 50th anniversary. Ridley, who recently revealed in Women’s Health that she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in September of 2023, is expected to attend the ceremony in Deauville.

Oasis have shared a rare alternative version of ‘Sad Song’, sung by Liam Gallagher – listen to it below.The original song features Noel Gallagher on vocals and is a bonus track on the Britpop band’s debut studio album, 1994’s ‘Definitely Maybe’.Today (August 14) they have released ‘Sad Song (Mauldeth Road West Demo, Nov ’92)’ as the latest preview of their 30th anniversary reissue of the record, which is out on August 30 via Big Brother (pre-order here).It follows the previously shared ‘Up In The Sky (Monnow Valley Version)’ and ‘Columbia (Sawmills Outtake)’ from the forthcoming collection.The new demo of ‘Sad Song’ arrives with an official lyric video – tune in here:Available in various formats, the 30th anniversary reissue of ‘Definitely Maybe’ will contain recordings from the abandoned original session at Monnow Valley Studios, and outtakes from the definitive album recording session at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall – newly mixed by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho.A description reads: “The Monnow Valley recordings and Sawmill outtakes, now unearthed for the first time, offer a new and compelling understanding of the process that led to the finished article.“With its raw edges and restless energy, ‘Definitely Maybe’ always sounded like an album that had arrived fully formed – however the newly revealed versions provide fans with a fascinating new insight into the album; demonstrating the self-belief that drove the early years of Oasis and the determination it took to create their debut.”It adds: “Shelved until now, revisiting the archive 30 years on signifies the importance of the recording process in telling the story of the uneasy creation of one of the most vital albums of all time.”Earlier this summer, Liam

Locarno Pro, the festival’s industry arm, hit over 1,743 on-site participants and 141 online accreditations, an all-time historical record of 1,886 delegates, 23% up on last year’s 1,530 total. Business witnessed a mini feeding frenzy from sales agents as 13 of the 28 titles without an announced sales agent at the July 10 Locarno lineup announcement were picked up for international sales by festival start. Variety alone unveiled 16 sales deals, also an all-time high.

Ellise Shafer Aaron Taylor-Johnson shows no mercy in a new trailer for Sony and Marvel‘s “Kraven the Hunter,” which tells the origin story of the “Spider-Man” villain. The first new footage released from the film in over a year sees Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven kicking ass and taking names in various gruesome ways, including stabbing his adversaries in the neck, catching them in bear traps and pushing them through windows. As Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around” plays, Taylor-Johnson transforms from your average hitman into the fur-wearing baddie fans of “Spider-Man” know Kraven to be.

Deadpool & Wolverine, Despicable Me 4, Twisters and Inside Out 2 still packing out the multiplexes, here are some of the biggest options that are now on offer in your living rooms.The biggest new arrival is George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which is available now to rent via Apple TV here or to buy via Apple, Sky, Microsoft or Amazon.The spin-off prequel to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, it saw Anya Taylor-Joy assume the role of the fearless titular role of Furiosa, who is abducted by Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus and has to fight for her independence.In a five-star review, NME described it as “brilliant and unmissable”, adding: “The result is another extraordinary blockbuster juggernaut that in some sequences somehow excels even its predecessor, arresting viewers with its booming, utterly immersive world of grease, dust, motorbikes and carnage.”This week’s other standout addition to streaming platforms is Challengers, the spicy sports drama directed by Luca Guadagnino (Bones And All, Call Me By Your Name).It follows professional tennis champion Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) who is plotting a career comeback with the help of his wife Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis rising star who was forced to retire due to an injury.At a tournament, however, Art is matched against Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), who is his former best friend and his wife’s ex lover.NME awarded the film four stars, writing: “The performances are exceptional, with off-the-scale chemistry between all three leads. Zendaya, in particular, is a force of nature, and you feel her angry frustration at her own career path (which was cut short by injury) in every scene.

Celebrity Race Across the World is back on our screens tonight (Wednesday, August 14), with a fresh line-up of celebrities ready to compete. The popular BBC One show, which debuted its celebrity version last year and saw weatherman Alex Beresford and his father Noel emerge as winners, returns for another series.