‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Lands ‘Prey’ and ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ Director Dan Trachtenberg

The BBC has revealed that the amount paid to its biggest stars has surged to a six-year high, as Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker topped the talent pay table once again.

BBC Director General Tim Davie has admitted that complaints procedures could be improved amid questions over how the UK broadcaster responded to allegations that one of its top presenters paid a young person for sexual images.

BBC Studios has posted another record financial year, the BBC annual report reveals, as the Corporation’s production and sales wing continues its aggressive commercial push.

Naman Ramachandran The BBC has posted a record income of £5.7 billion ($7.2 billion) for the 2022/23 period, up from £5.33 billion last year, but is in deficit by £120 million. In the corporation’s annual report, which was published on Tuesday, it was revealed that the bulk of the income was from the license fee paid for by the public, which accounted for £3.74 billion, £60 million down from last year. The licence fee has been frozen for two years. The BBC had a record commercial performance that contributed to 30% revenue growth, climbing from £1.5 billion to £1.9 billion. The corporation’s commercial arm BBC Studios delivered record-breaking results, achieving over £2 billion in sales for the first time, with profits of £240 million, up 6%.

Naman Ramachandran The BBC has paused its investigation into allegations that a top BBC presenter paid a teenager for explicit photographs after being asked to by the London Metropolitan Police. Speaking at a press briefing held to discuss the corporation’s annual report, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Clearly, any affair of this nature is serious in terms of the BBC and its reputation. Trust is absolutely fundamental to the BBC.” “We constantly need as the BBC, and with myself and our senior team, to be seen to be navigating what are complex, fast moving issues with care and diligence and doing that properly and calmly. And if we do that, then I have faith that people will see that the BBC as an institution is precious, and doing the right thing,” Davie added.

Sitting somewhere between 90s house music, the Pet Shop Boys and The Streets, Pink Eye Club – aka Haydn Davies – is set to release his debut album ‘Disco Reality’ this week.Over its nine tracks, the record features deadpan complaints about the drudgery of life, with track titles like ‘Same Job For Three Years’, ‘You’re Just A Stupid Fucking Man In A Really Shit Band’ and ‘Angry Things On The Internet’.Out now is anthemic new single ‘You Seemed Like A Nice Guy’, which – he says – is “a song about people you meet and initially they seem nice but then you go on their social media and it turns out they have far-right views”.The track comes with a video directed by Lou Smith, who says: “I happened to catch Pink Eye Club at his debut London show at the Five Bells five years ago”.“I have watched his act and following grow along the way.

Madonna has issued her first statement since receiving treatment for a bacterial infection, which resulted in the postponement of her 40th anniversary world tour. She thanked fans for their support and gave an update on plans for rescheduled dates.“Thank you for your positive energy, prayers and words of healing and encouragement”, she wrote.

Last month Fall Out Boy released an updated version of Billy Joel’s song ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, with new lyrics referencing people and events that have been noteworthy since the release of the original in 1989.Everyone had an opinion on it, of course. Everyone except Billy Joel, that is. But now he’s finally passed comment and, well, it seems he hasn’t actually heard it.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, has passed £2 billion ($2.7 billion) in sales and nudged up profits to £240 million, but an advertising downturn is hitting its channels and streaming business. The corporation unveiled its annual report for 2022/2023 on Tuesday amid an ongoing presenter scandal that’s kept the BBC in national headlines since July 6. A planned virtual briefing with top brass was largely taken up by questions about the BBC’s handling of a complaint against one of its presenters, who remains unnamed due to privacy concerns. While BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell was meant to brief select press about the annual report, this was canceled due to the wider scandal, which saw director general Tim Davie take the brunt of questions from journalists.

Courtney Barnett has announced that she is closing her Milk! Records label, through which she has released her own music and that of other artists for more than a decade. The company’s final release will be her new instrumental album, the appropriately titled ‘End Of The Day’.In a statement on social media yesterday, the label confirmed the news, saying: “After eleven magical years, Milk! Records will be closing at the end of 2023.

A court in Michigan heard testimonies from Aretha Franklin’s children yesterday in a dispute over the late musician’s will. Franklin’s sons disagree over whether documents from 2010 or 2014 best represent their mother’s wishes in terms of how her estate should be managed.Following Franklin’s death in 2018 two documents were found at her home, both of which could be considered her last will and testament.The one written in 2014 is obviously the more recent.

RELEASESCorey Taylor has released new solo single ‘Post Traumatic Blues’. The song, he says, is “my attempt to describe for people what it’s like to deal with PTSD. Sometimes it’s so hard for people to understand the ups and downs, the severity of the cold and numbness, that I wanted to try and build a bridge lyrically between the ones living with the disease and the ones who are trying to help them”.

Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.com If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Babies, they’re adorable, sweet and (often) exceedingly expensive. But there are certain things that truly make your life easier as a parent, like the Frida Baby nose snot sucker (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like) the cradle cap brush, sound machines and on-the-go diaper changing mats.

Lady Gaga's father, Joe Germanotta, is speaking out about a recent dangerous trend at concerts where attendees have been throwing objects on-stage, striking the performers. Germanotta was a guest on "America Reports" on Monday when he told host Sandra Smith that it is "a shame" that this type of behavior is becoming the new normal at live music shows. Smith showed Germanotta a video of Harry Styles being hit in the eye during a recent performance.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Taylor Swift’s French fans are disarray as sales for the singer’s Eras Tour in Paris have been abruptly halted on Ticketmaster on Tuesday (July 11). Ticketmaster said on Twitter that “The Taylor Swift sale | The 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eras Tour for Paris La Défense Arena has been put on hold.” The ticketing website added that it will keep people “posted with a new on-sale time as soon as possible.” It also said that “all codes not already used will remain valid.” The issue appears to stem from a technical glitch on Ticketmaster causing people to be unable to log into the website with their passwords. Swift is slated to perform in Paris, at the Défense Arena concert hall, as part of her Eras Tour on May 9, 10, 11 and 12 mai 2024.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Cesar-winning French actor Roschdy Zem (“Days of Glory”) and “Fauda” star Laëtitia Eïdo are co-starring in “Fatum,” a timely action film directed by Florent-Emilio Siri (“Hostage”) and scored by Oscar-winning Alexandre Desplat. “Fatum,” which started filming on July 4 in Morocco, is produced by Mathias Rubin at Récifilms (“November,” “Möbius”). Orange Studio is co-producing and has French distribution rights, as well as handles international sales. The film is also co-produced by France 2 Cinéma which pre-bought it along with Canal+, Disney+ and Palatine Etoile 21. Zem, one of France’s most bankable actors who previously won a Cannes prize with “Days of Glory” and recently won a Cesar Award with “Oh Mercy!” stars in “Fatum” as Elyas, a former Special Forces soldier who has become solitary and paranoid since serving Afghanistan. Elyas is recruited to provide the security for Amina (Eido) and her daughter Nour who fled the Emirates and found refuge in a French castle. When a commando tracks down Amina and Nour, Elyas once again becomes the fearless soldier he was on the frontlines to rescue the pair.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Melbourne International Film Festival has unveiled the full lineup for its 2023 edition, with “Shayda,” by Australian-Iranian director Noora Niasari, set as the opening title. The festival will run as a live event August 3-20, at venues around the city and its suburbs, and online Aug 18 – 27. The hybrid format was developed during the COVID pandemic and MIFF found it useful as a tool to reach further away audiences and wider demographics than a strictly in-theater edition. The ‘Bright Horizons’ competition section open to films by first- or second-time feature directors contains an 11-title mix of new and recently-debuted works.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The Locarno Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Rotterdam”s IFFR and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival have joined forces in a new initiative called Launchpad which aims to nurture budding film professionals. The basic purpose of Launchpad is to facilitate the formative process of selected emerging film professionals working in international sales, marketing, traditional and online distribution, exhibition and programming, and funds and commissions. The idea is to give them facilitated access to a network of European film festivals spread throughout the yearly calendar.

Andrea Evans, an actress on "One Life to Live", "Passions" and "The Bold and The Beautiful," has died, Fox News Digital can confirm. She was 66.  The soap opera star died at her Pasadena, California, home after a battle with breast cancer, said Evans' former manager, Don Carroll.  "Andrea kept a close circle of friends and if you were in her orbit she treated you like family," Carroll said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "People often think she must be very like the characters she played on television.

Police are searching for two boys who violently robbed a 16-year-old for his phone and leaving him with injuries which required hospital treatment. The two boys, aged between 10 and 14, robbed the teenager for his phone using a knife.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he was “shocked and concerned” by recent allegations that a top BBC presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexual images.