Category: 5. Entertainment

Adjusting to life in a Royal Family is not easy, especially for non-royals.

The current Queen consort-Camilla was also subjected to severe media scrutiny, particularly for the role she played in the breakdown of King Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage. 

However, Charles supported her through these difficulties. According to royal author Tina Brown, Prince Harry could have helped Meghan Marklew to adjust  Royal life and adapt to palace culture, but he did not do so because ‘he did want to.’

In her biography Palace Papers, Brown wrote: ‘So why didn’t Harry help navigate Palace culture for his future? He did not want to.’

Brown also claimed that one aid branded their confrontational stance as a mutual ‘addiction to drama.’ 

This comes amid the reports that The Queen and King attempted to stop Thomas Markle’s public rants on the Royal Family by advising Meghan to visit her father in Mexico.

This episode was detailed in Tom Bower’s 2022 book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors.

According the royal author, Meghan refused Her Majesty’s advice, as she had been estranged from her father for many years.

Reports also suggested that even King Charles grew irritated by Thomas’s interview and criticisms of the Royal Family. ‘Can’t she just go and see him and make this stop? Charles reportedly said.

The situation frustrated not only Charles but also the Queen.

‘The monarch did believe that Meghan could not solve her differences with Thomas Markle. She joined Charles in a conference call with Meghan and Harry.’

Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime friend Rob Halford has opened up about his reaction to the music icon’s passing.

The 73-year-old singer and frontman of Judas Priest expressed deep grief over Osbourne’s death.

In an exclusive interview with Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown on Tuesday, August 19, the Electric Eye hitmaker recalled, “I just put the phone down in my hotel room… and I just curled up in a ball and bawled my eyes out for hours. I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it now. I’m still grieving like so many people.”

Moreover, the Painkiller singer paid tribute to the Prince of Darkness during his concert the very next day.

At the show, Halford performed his 2024 track Giants in the Sky, a song dedicated to fallen rock legends.

Later in the conversation, Halford reflected on his tribute performance.

Speaking to the outlet, he added, “I said to everybody, this is so much to try and comprehend and so tough. But Ozzy would say ‘Let’s party. Let’s rock and roll. Let’s live it up, let’s enjoy.’ That was in his heart, his soul and his spirit. Whenever we did shows together he would always say to me, ‘Did you have a good time?’”

For the unversed, the Dreamer hitmaker passed away on Tuesday, July 22. 

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard Hot 100 dated Aug. 30, we look at the still-rising KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack and how many songs it might chart in the top 10 this week. 

HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami, “Golden” & “How It’s Done,” Saja Boys: Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee, “Your Idol” & Soda Pop” (Visva/Republic): Every week, the reach of KPop Demon Hunters expands a little more in the Billboard charts (and just about everywhere else). All but one of its nine Hot 100 entries — four from fictional girl group heroines HUNTR/X, two from their demonic cartoon adversaries the Saja Boys, one from characters Runi and Jinu, one from real-life K-pop stars TWICE and one from that group’s members JEONGYEON, JIYHO and CHAEYOUNG — continue to rise on the chart this week (dated Aug. 23). The lone exception is HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” which reached No. 1 the previous week, and which this week cedes the throne back to Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” the song it initially deposed. (Still, “Golden” gained in all of the chart’s metrics: streams, radio airplay and sales.)  

While that song slips to No. 2, it is joined in the top five for the first time by Saja Boys’ “Your Idol,” which leaps from No. 8 to No. 4. And slightly lower on the chart, KPop Demon Hunters welcomes a third soundtrack hit to the top 10: “Soda Pop,” also from Saja Boys, which jumps 14-10 on this week’s listing. Both songs owe most of their still-rising success to steady streaming growth, but are also now bubbling under on the Pop Airplay listing, with early radio support coming from iHeartMedia stations and SiriusXM’s Hits 1. 

Meanwhile, they may soon have even more company joining them in the chart’s top tier. HUNTR/X’s “How It’s Done” has been lingering around the lower stretches of the top 20 the past couple weeks, and this frame it scales  19-14, while also picking up airplay from the same early supporters as “Pop” and “Idol.” In the next week or two, it could jump into the top 10, giving the soundtrack four such hits in the region — something no soundtrack has achieved since Waiting to Exhale nearly 30 years ago.  

Exhale also stands as the lone soundtrack with five top 10 hits to its credit — but if Demon Hunters continues its forward momentum in coming weeks, it’s not inconceivable it could have that record in its sights, as well. While none of the other songs from the soundtrack have yet reached the top 20, three are still moving up in the top 30: HUNTR/X’s “What It Sounds Like” (25-24) and “Takedown” (29-26), and Rumi (EJAE) & Jinu’s (Andrew Choi) “Free” (27-25). 

And before then, “Golden” could very well take back No. 1 as soon as next week. The song continues to rise across the board — particularly on radio, where the song still has the most ground to gain. It’s starting to do exactly that, up another 27% in airplay audience Aug. 15-18, according to Luminate, and now aiming for a debut on the 50-position Radio Songs chart, while also still climbing the Pop Airplay top 20. Multiple versions of the song are also still sale-priced to 69 cents in the iTunes Store, which should help it continue to sell well, as it moves from No. 3-2 on Digital Song Sales this week.  

Alex Warren, “Ordinary” (Atlantic): While “Ordinary” should remain a strong contender for the Hot 100’s top spot for the foreseeable future, it may take a bit of a hit next week. The bump it received last week from Warren’s live duet version of the song with country superstar Luke Combs — initially performed at July’s Lollapalooza festival in July, then released to DSPs on Aug. 7 — will inevitably recede some before next week, as “Golden” continues to shine brighter and brighter. But “Ordinary” should still hold atop Radio Songs for a 10th week (despite a narrow decrease in airplay through the first four days of this tracking week), and its own continued discounting on iTunes shows Warren and his team aren’t conceding the fight for next week just yet.  

Williamson Learns of Casting Via Live Zoom with Shields (VIDEO)

Six-Episode Murder Mystery Starts Production This September in Nova Scotia, Canada and Will Stream on Acorn TV in 2026

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NEW YORK, NY – August 20, 2025 – Acorn TV, award-winning Nova Scotia based Topsail Entertainment and award-winning Toronto based producer Shaftesbury today announced Amalia Williamson (Sullivan’s Crossing) and Golden Globe-nominated Tom Cavanagh (The Flash, Ed) have joined the cast of You’re Killing Me, led by star and executive producer Brooke Shields. Amalia’s announcement was revealed during a touching video call with Shields. The six-episode series, which starts production in Nova Scotia, Canada this September, is set to debut on Acorn TV in 2026. Acorn TV is the world’s best streaming service for thrilling crime dramas and gripping mysteries.

Set in a quaint New England colonial town, You’re Killing Me (the series’ former working title was Allie & Andi) follows bestselling novelist (Shields) who forms an unlikely alliance with an aspiring writer and podcaster (Williamson) to find the killer of a close friend.

Williamson will play “Andi,” a sassy Girl Wonder who was once an up-and-coming celebrity, until she lost it all. Cavanagh is on board as “Jack,” the new lead detective of the Founders Cove Police Department and former city slicker who is trying to acclimate to the quirks of small-town life.

Amalia Williamson is a Toronto-born actress and filmmaker, best known for her breakout role as “Maddie West” in the award-winning Netflix/CBC Gem series Northern Rescue. She currently stars as “Lola Gunderson” in the hit Bell Media/CW/Netflix drama Sullivan’s Crossing, now entering its fourth season. Her character, once a rival to lead Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan), has evolved into a fan-favorite with a growing romantic arc.

Actor/director Tom Cavanagh recently wrapped a decade in Superhero TV for Warner Bros., directing and acting in the TV series Superman & Lois as well as acting and directing The Flash in which he played the show’s arch-villain, “Reverse Flash.” Cavanagh is eager to join You’re Killing Me and start solving crimes instead of causing them. His recent film credits include indies BitCon and the just wrapped thriller, Don’t Move, based on the New York times bestseller by James Murray. Cavanaugh received an Emmy nomination for Showtime’s critically acclaimed Bang Bang, You’re Dead. He is a two-time People’s Choice award winner; he starred in and directed NBC’s Ed (for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance), Scrubs, Eli Stone, Love Monkey, TNT’s Trust Me, the limited series Darrow & Darrow, as well as his current stints on Blue Bloods and FBI.

Williamson is represented by Ambition and Untitled Entertainment. Cavanagh is represented by IAG and Vaut.

You’re Killing Me is created by Robin Bernheim, known for successes such as Hallmark’s long-running drama When Calls the Heart and Mystery 101 alongside best-selling author Lee Goldberg, and Netflix’s Princess Switch trilogy and Mother of the Bride – on which she and Shields last collaborated.

You’re Killing Me, an Acorn TV Original Series, is a co-production between Topsail Entertainment and Shaftesbury. Bernheim and Shields will executive produce alongside James Genn (The Good Doctor, Ginny and Georgia, Charmed), who will also direct episodes 101/102, Michael Volpe for Topsail and Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury. Scott Smith (The Magicians, Call Me Fitz, Skins) will direct episodes 103/104 and Paul Fox (Schitt’s Creek, The Dark Hours, Anne with an E) will direct episodes 105/106.

AMC Studios holds distribution rights in the US and the series will stream on Acorn TV in the US and Canada. Independent production and distribution company, Dynamic Television, will serve as international distributor in all territories outside of North America.

About Acorn TV:

AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is North America’s largest streaming service specializing in premium British and international television. Acorn TV adds exclusive programming every week to a deep library of quirky mysteries, engaging thrillers, and gripping crime dramas – all commercial-free. Acorn TV’s recent slate is comprised of acclaimed commissioned and original series including popular UK detective drama Harry Wild (Jane Seymour), Signora Volpe (Emilia Fox), The Chelsea Detective (Adrian Scarborough), New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder (Lucy Lawless), acclaimed Irish crime thriller Bloodlands (James Nesbitt, co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio), British crime drama Whitstable Pearl (Kerry Godliman), Kiwi romantic comedy Under the Vines (Rebecca Gibney, Charles Edwards) and British detective drama Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel), to name a few. Current and upcoming Acorn TV Original Series include crime drama Art Detectives (Stephen Moyer), Irish Blood (Alicia Silverstone), Murder Before Evensong (Matthew Lewis), You’re Killing Me (Brooke Shields) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo) and all 24 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders, among others.

“…glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Netflix for the Anglophile” – NPR

Acorn TV is available for $8.99/month or $89.99/year. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV – Twitter: @AcornTV – Instagram: @Acorn_tv

About Topsail Entertainment:

Founded in 1995, Topsail Entertainment is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has co-produced two of Canada’s most acclaimed and long-running comedy series. Topsail’s co-founder and president, Michael Volpe, executive produced and co-created with star Gerry Dee, the hit CBC comedy series Mr. D which ran for eight seasons. For many years, along with Mike Clattenburg and Barrie Dunn, Michael executive produced the landmark television series Trailer Park Boys – and its three spin-off movies.

Topsail also has co-produced dramatic feature films, series and mini-series, including the Robert Eggers’ Oscar-nominated The Lighthouse; Paco Arango’s heartwarming feature The Healer; the award-winning drama series Black Harbour (with Wayne Grigsby and Barbara Samuels); feature films Afghan Luke and Moving Day (with Dunn and Clattenburg); and the CBC mini-series Canada Russia ’72, (with Dunn, Rick Leguerrier and Tim Hogan) based on the 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series.

About Shaftesbury:

Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content established by Christina Jennings, Chairman and President. Shaftesbury’s current slate includes: 19 seasons of Murdoch Mysteries; eight seasons of Hudson & Rex; horror anthology series Slasher with Emmy® Award-winner Eric McCormack; Departure starring Emmy® Award-winner Archie Panjabi, and Irish-Canadian co-production SisterS, starring Sarah Goldberg (Barry) and Susan Stanley. Most recently, production wrapped The Borderline (starring Stephen Amell, Hamza Haq, Tamara Podemski and Emmy® and Academy Award®-nominee Minnie Driver) and Irish Blood, an Irish-Canadian co-production starring Alicia Silverstone.

About Dynamic Television

Dynamic Television is an independent production and distribution company with a global strategy to bring premium television programming to worldwide audiences. Dynamic is now in production on event series THE 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS for Hallmark and just wrapped production on HARRY WILD Season 4 starring Jane Seymour for Acorn and ZDF and season two of critically acclaimed DROPS OF GOD for AppleTV+. Dynamic is also Executive Produces Netflix’s GINNY & GEORGIA, now in Season 4 and the highly rated crime procedural THE SOMMERDAHL MURDERS in Season 7.  Previous series include VAN HELSING and DAY OF THE DEAD for Syfy; the hit Icelandic series TRAPPED.

MTV has officially renewed “RuPaul’s Drag Race” for an 18th season, alongside fresh seasons of its hit spin-offs, “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” and the behind-the-scenes aftershow “Untucked.”

The news follows a strong 17th season, where Onya Nurve was crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar. Meanwhile, “All Stars” is set to return for season 11 on Paramount+, after the first-ever Tournament of All Stars, which saw Ginger Minj inducted into the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

World of Wonder co-founders and executive producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato thanked fans and Paramount for their continued support, noting that the franchise remains committed to “spreading joy and laughter.”

In a video message, host RuPaul Charles added, “We are so grateful to our fans for all the love and support you’ve shown to our show and to our beautiful and talented queens.”

The renewal comes during Emmy Awards voting season. RuPaul made history by receiving his 10th nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program, further solidifying his status as one of television’s most celebrated hosts. The show itself earned 10 Emmy nominations in 2025, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program, Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program, and Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.

With five Emmy wins for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” remains the most-awarded reality competition series in Emmy history.

Fans can expect the new seasons to stream on MTV and Paramount+, with premiere dates to be announced.

For the first time since the series’ 2003 wrap, the full cast of “Dawson’s Creek” will be back together in one room.

On Monday, September 22, the cast will come together at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City for a live reading of the show’s 1998 pilot episode. James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps are set to attend. Philipps, Smith and Monroe, who joined the show after the first season as Audrey, Jack and Andie, will read various roles from the pilot episode.

The event will benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek, who announced in November that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Tickets go on sale at Broadway Direct on Friday, August 22, at 10am PT.

Jason Moore, who directed three episodes of “Dawson’s Creek” will direct the event. The evening is produced by Carl Ogawa, Jason Moore, Michelle Williams, Thomas Kail, Maggie Brohn, series creator Kevin Williamson and Greg Berlanti.

“I am so excited to reunite with James, Michelle, Katie, Joshua, and our ‘Dawson’s Creek’ family for such a special night. ‘Dawson’s Creek’ changed my life,” Williamson said in a statement. “What began as a personal story about a young man and his friends navigating their way through the challenges of life became so much more than I ever dreamed. It created an enduring fandom and legacy all over the world. I am so honored to be a part of it and to support our beautiful friend, James, as we continue to navigate our way through life and its many challenges.”

Williams, who starred as Jen Lindley in the show, added, “We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime. We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been and we always will be. And I know the fans of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ feel the same way.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with the cast of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ to emphasize the importance of routine cancer screenings and being your own biggest health advocate,” said F Cancer CEO Dr. Heather Kun. “Cancer screening is crucial because it can detect certain cancers at an early stage before symptoms appear, significantly improving outcomes and saving lives.”

The teen drama aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003 on The WB and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. Guardant Health and Hard Rock Hotel New York will sponsor the event.

Early this year, Kirsten Dunst experienced “every parent’s nightmare.”

In an interview with Town & Country magazine, Dunst recalled her four-year-old son James, whom she shares with actor Jesse Plemons, experiencing a “serious health scare” while she was in Budapest filming The Entertainment System Is Down. While filming overseas, Plemons and their two sons came to stay, and they enrolled their older son, Ennis, in school, but James endured his health issue.

While they don’t disclose the specifics of his health concern, the Civil War actress recalls the incident being like the movie “Final Destination, where you’re imagining all the things that could go wrong, worst-case scenarios happening to your child,” she said. “I have never seen that movie. But I know the concept. That’s how it feels to be a mother at times.”

Though everyone is “fine now,” Dunst admitted that “it was an extremely frightening time and enough to send the family back to their extended support system in L.A.” However, The Power of the Dog star said that the experience “brought us together as a family in such a deeper way.”

Dunst is set to next star in the upcoming film, The Entertainment System Is Down from Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness, The Square.) The story is a satire that follows a long flight between England and Australia, where passengers are forced to deal with boredom when the entertainment system fails.

The movie’s star-studded cast includes Keanu Reeves, Daniel Brühl, Nicholas Braun, Julie Delpy, Tobias Menzies, Elle Piper, Connor Swindells, Daniel Webber, Lindsay Duncan, Allan Corduner, Wayne Blair, Dan Wyllie, Sofia Tjelta Sydness, Erin Ainsworth, Myles Kamwendo, among others. It’s expected to premiere at Cannes next year.

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A grand spectacle of Pakistan’s biggest music competition, Pakistan Idol, lit up Multan as aspiring singers gathered in large numbers at the Arts Council to participate in the auditions.

Men and women, young students, and passionate music lovers thronged the venue, hoping to turn their melodious voices into a golden opportunity.

Participants not only showcased their singing skills but also enthralled the audience with Punjabi and Seraiki songs, creating an atmosphere filled with rhythm and energy.

Youngsters from various districts of South Punjab also arrived to test their luck and talent in the competition.

Organisers noted that the performances were so captivating that they left everyone swaying to the beats. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan Idol, presented by MHL, is once again being brought to music lovers across the nation by Geo TV with its thrilling new season.

The first pictures from Half Man, the new TV series by Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd, have been released.

Filming for the six-episode BBC drama took place in and around Glasgow this year.

It stars Gadd opposite Jamie Bell, best known for his performance in the 2000 film Billy Elliott and, more recently, for All Of Us Strangers and Rocket Man.

The two play half brothers Ruben and Niall, who reunite after years of estrangement, prompting an exploration of the highs and lows of their relationship from the 1980s to present day.

The BBC said the series will capture the “wild energy of a changing city” and “plumb the depths of what it means to be a man”.

The show, written by Gadd, was first announced in November last year, with further cast members confirmed in February.

It stars Neve McIntosh (Tin Star, Chemistry of Death) as Niall’s mother Lori, and Marianne McIvor (Screw, The Nest) as Ruben’s mother Maura.

It also features Charlie De Melo (Rivals), Bilal Hasna (The Agency), Julie Cullen (Traces), Amy Manson (The Nevers), Philippine Velge (The Serpent Queen), Stuart McQuarrie (The Rig), Piers Ewart (The Primrose Railway Children), Scot Greenan (T2 Trainspotting), and newcomers Charlotte Blackwood and Calum Manchip.

Mitchell Robertson (Curfew, Mayflies) and Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Winter King) play the brothers in their younger years.

It is due to air in 2026 on the BBC and on HBO Max.

Half Man follows both successes and much controversy over Gadd’s first project, Baby Reindeer, which was shown on Netflix.

Adapted from his one-man show, Baby Reindeer is based on the true story of how the comedian, from Wormit in Fife, was stalked by a woman after a brief, innocuous encounter in a London pub.

The drama also depicts how he was groomed and raped by an older man he considered a friend, and the harrowing impact on his life.

It won six Emmys, two Golden Globes and received the most nominations at this year’s Bafta TV awards – though won only one for Jessica Gunning as best supporting actress.

Although steps were taken to prevent identification of some of the characters, viewers speculated about the real identity of stalker, Martha, as well as that of a male TV writer who rapes Gadd’s character, Donny.

It led to real-life figures getting touch with police after being linked with the programme.

Last year Netflix has failed in its attempt to persuade a judge to throw out a defamation lawsuit brought by Fiona Harvey, the woman who inspired the stalker character in Baby Reindeer.

Ms Harvey claims the streaming giant told “brutal lies” about her to more than 50 million viewers around the world.

The show is billed as “a true story”, but a judge concluded certain key events, like a conviction for stalking, did not happen in real life.

Netflix has vowed to “defend this matter vigorously”.