The Mancunian Way: Celebs in the dock

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer There’s an old joke used in show business when events and gatherings lack major celebrity attendance: “Somebody punch me in the face so I can see some stars.” But it’s no joke when it comes to the picket lines of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes, according to some of the protesters on the ground and select industry players who spoke to Variety. There’s been a “palpable” lack of headliners, said one prominent SAG-AFTRA member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “If our stars were all out there in force advocating for us, we’d know it,” they added. Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Rami Malek all signed a June letter telling union leadership they were prepared to strike, but none of them have surfaced holding signs or chanting at studio gates. Leonardo DiCaprio posted an Instagram story saying he stood “in solidarity with my guild,” but has yet to stand for any in-person protest. On day one of the actor’s strike in mid-July, one protester straddled a median at the drive-on gate at Netflix headquarters holding a sign that read, “Where the fuck is Ben Affleck?” So far, no one’s seen him on the front lines.

Comic-Con, thousands of fans, packed inside a cavernous ballroom, roared to life as the cast for one of the biggest shows to appear at this year’s annual fan convention stepped onto the stage. It was, in fact, one of the only times a cast of actors appeared at SDCC this year. And it wasn’t for a superhero movie or TV show or any massive franchise backed by a major studio. Instead, it was for “Critical Role,” the popular, long-running webseries that started as a group of voice actors getting together to play Dungeons & Dragons. “A question for the audience: anyone who’s doing cosplay, will you please stand up so we can see it?” asked star Liam O’Brien from the stage. Half the crowd — many of whom were dressed as characters from the show — leapt to their feet.

Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Channel is partnering with Paul Fusco, the creator of the popular ’80s show “ALF” to create new “ALF” content, premiering Saturday, July 29. The show, which aired from 1986 to 1990, starred the titular character ALF, or “Alien Life Form,” as he lives with a human family in suburbia. Maximum Effort and Fusco are also partnering with Shout! Studios to produce the new content. Sponsored content will be interspersed throughout “ALF” episodes for various companies including Mint Mobile, Fubo, Hims, MNTN and Ring; dubbed “Maximum Moments,” this sponsored content will feature the titular ALF.

Dieting guru Dr Michael Mosley has listed three non-meat foods that will help you get more protein in your diet.

Just a few hours ago former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop collapsed on live TV. Happening wayyyyy to often recently don’t you think?

Tori Kelly is being treated for blood clots after passing out Sunday night.According to, Kelly has been hospitalized and is getting treatment for blood clots around her vital organs.A source tells the outlet that the GRAMMY winner was out to dinner in downtown L.A. on Sunday when her heart started beating really fast.

furniture and home decor that not only looks good, but is also built to last. For a summer refresh, Apt2B just kicked off a sitewide sale with steep discounts, making it easy to find stylish and modern furniture that fits any budget.Shop the Apt2B SaleNow through Monday, July 31, you can get up to 35% off at the Apt2B Black Friday in July Sale.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann and her husband, Kroy Biermann, called off their divorce earlier this month, but some in their inner circle believe the reunion won’t last.

he claims. Frank McGinity, an 88-year-old US Navy vet, has been neighbors with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ever since they moved to Montecito in 2020 during their controversial departure from the Royal family (often referred to as “Megxit”). According to McGinity, he tried to bring them a gift in order to welcome them and be “neighborly,” but they were not gracious about it. In his memoir, “Get Off Your Street,” McGinity alleged that he approached the couple’s home to give them some of his homemade films about local history. “I have a big house next to Harry and Meghan’s property and I live in the guest house while renting the main house out on Airbnb,” he said, adding that he lives  “a tiara’s toss or two” away from their 18,000-square-foot home, which they purchased for $14.65 million in 2020. “Harry and Meghan live on old McCormick property and I went up to their gate with the films on a CD, but they weren’t interested,” he claimed. He said the security guard wouldn’t let him past the gate. “The gate guy turned me away and wouldn’t take the film, just saying ‘They’re not interested.’ I was trying to be neighborly.” Harry and Meghan live in the nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion with their 4 -year-old son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, and their 1-year old daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. An insider recently claimed that the couple might leave the neighborhood and move to Malibu.“Harry and Meghan are reviewing their living options with Malibu being a place of interest,” the insider said.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito in June 2020 after spending time living at the home of their close friend - and Princess Lilibet's godfather - Tyler Perry.The couple had previously resided on Vancouver Island in Canada for almost six months after taking an initial six-week family holiday following their return from their first tour to South Africa with Prince Archie in the Autumn of 2019. Despite their idyllic surroundings, one of the couple's neighbours has explained he was snubbed when he came over to introduce himself for the first time.

A royal expert claims that Kate Middleton has been told Prince George “needs to be kept away” from his uncle Prince Harry. Angela Levin told OK that Harry’s “negative influence” could have a detrimental effect on the young prince.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Another week brings with it another twist in the story of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. As reports suggested the couple are “taking time apart” and having “money woes”, royal author Tom Bower gave his opinion of the state of the couple’s relationship, and claimed to OK! that the couple have “hit a brick wall”. “Harry and Meghan are experiencing a crisis of identity, a crisis of purpose and a crisis of finance,” Tom claimed.

It was a culture shock for a 16-year-old Jovan Kirovski when he swapped the sunshine and the beaches of California for a bedroom in Swinton, but as one of America's brightest talents at the time, he knew Manchester was too good to turn down if he was to make it.

Kate Middleton’s brother, James Middleton, 36, made a rare appearance on the UK talk show “Good Morning Britain” to comment on his older sister.“She’s my sister…. and I’m extremely proud and I’m always taken aback by how much she does do, and that continues to stay at the forefront of my mind,” he said, according to The UK Sun.

Rumours have been circulating that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on the brink of splitting ever since Harry released his memoir, Spare.

Ryan Giggs wants to get back into football after domestic abuse charges against him were dropped. Earlier today (Tuesday), the former Manchester United footballer was found not guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Ms Greville and common assault of her sister, Emma Greville.

Meghan Markle apparently differs from her husband Prince Harry in the fact that she makes no attempt to “be anonymous” when she’s out in public. That’s the opinion of body language expert Judi James, who has been talking to The Mirror about Meghan’s latest appearance as she strolled around her Montecito neighbourhood and checked out a farmers’ market.

As the master of the gritty sonnet, the man himself would have appreciated where the idea to honour him was hatched - in a backstreet pub off Chapel Street in Salford.

stepped back as senior members of the royal family in 2020 before moving to California that same year.A speech expert has revealed that Harry’s accent is beginning to sound a little different since living in the States.Specialist Emma Serlin claimed that in a promo video he appeared in last year for his mental health initiative, BetterUp, his voice appears distinctive compared to his other British relatives. Serlin, who is the founder of the London Speech Workshop, explained to the Mirror that the Invictus Games founder’s speech shows that he is more “of the people” than being of royal blood.“Harry’s accent now sounds much more rounded and middle rather than upper class,” she divulged.

landed at the top of Amazon's best-seller list.Divided into seven chapters, the book tells the story of the K-pop supergroup from their very beginnings to their current status as global pop stars, and includes numerous interviews with the group over the years. is the iconic group’s first official book.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry must "dig deep" to "show grit and determination" after it was revealed that their Netflix docuseries did not make the nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards 2023.