In 1966, the remote Spanish village of Palomares found that the “nuclear age had fallen on them from a clear blue sky”. Two years after the terrifying accident, BBC reporter Chris Brasher went to find what happened when the US lost a hydrogen bomb.
“Be quiet – big boys don’t cry… big boys don’t cry … big boys don’t cry!”
Those whispered words are, of course, an essential part of 10CC’s best-known hit single, 1970s pop masterpiece I’m Not In Love.
Now, 50 years since the record’s release, the woman who delivered those words can still scarcely believe her 15 seconds of fame.
It all began when receptionist and secretary Cathy Redfern answered the phone at Stockport’s Strawberry Studios, which were part-owned by the critically acclaimed Mancunian band.
She was blissfully unaware drummer Kevin Godley felt the “middle eight” section was lacking a certain something in Eric Stewart’s song about his wife not being happy with him for hardly ever saying he loved her.
Five years on from Megxit, as the Duchess of Sussex launches a new lifestyle empire, her viewing figures are high but, in the UK at least, popularity levels are low. So, ahead of the release of her new podcast tomorrow, experts ask whether anything she does can win wider appeal?
“The problem is that people are much more interested in the royal gossip than they are in learning how to make a jam.” The Countess of Sandwich gets to the crux of what she sees as the Duchess of Sussex’s rebrand dilemma.
As an American woman who married into the British aristocracy back in 2004, the countess knows firsthand the challenge of slipping between two cultures.
When I first spoke to her about this – long before “Megxit” – she was positive that Meghan would win over the nation. “Having this American optimism and this go-get attitude, that is what you guys kind of like about us, right?” she told me.
Seven years on, the countess remains optimistic about Meghan’s progress. “As an American, I look at her ..
Lesley Manville, John Lithgow and Imelda Staunton were among the winners at the Olivier Awards 2025.
Here’s five things we learnt at UK theatre’s most prestigious night.
Manville and Lithgow score top Olivier prizesOlivier Awards: The red carpet in pictures
In This City Is Ours, Liverpool actor James Nelson-Joyce plays a leading gang member who is struggling to balance his criminal career and family life, against a backdrop of changing modern masculinity.
So it’s not hard to see why the new BBC drama has been dubbed by reviewers as the “Scouse Sopranos” – with reference to the acclaimed US mafia boss Tony and his equally conflicting set-up.
Nelson-Joyce plays the notorious Michael Kavanagh, who works for drug lord and lifelong friend Ronnie Phelan, played by Sean Bean. And the plot focuses on the power struggle between Michael and Ronnie’s son Jamie – played by Nelson-Joyce’s real life football friend and fellow Scouser Jack McMullen – as to who will take over the business when the top dog retires to Spain, via the Wirral.
Inconveniently though, Michael falls in love with Diana (Hannah Onslow). The couple are trying for a baby but due to his low sperm count need to try IVF to start a family.
It’s not an ideal environment for domestic blis..
Lesley Manville and John Lithgow were among the big winners at the Sunday’s Olivier Awards, the most prestigious event in UK theatre.
Lithgow won best actor for his portrayal of Roald Dahl in Giant, which he described as “one of the best experiences I have ever had on stage”.
Manville was named best actress for her performance in the Greek tragedy Oedipus, dedicating the award to her grandson who was born during the show’s run.
Three shows were tied with the most wins at the ceremony – with Fiddler on the Roof, Giant and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button each winning three prizes.
A Minecraft Movie has proven to be a box office success, bringing in an estimated $300m (£233m) globally during its opening weekend.
The film, based on the wildly popular video game, was heavily delayed but finally hit the big screen on Friday.
It boasts a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge.
The estimates place the film’s earnings well above its reported production budget of $150m.
This week, Gladiators and contenders gear up as the grand final of the competition takes place on BBC One.
But that’s not all the week has in store.
The Banksy Story is here for a second season, Doctor Who is back on our screens, new game South of Midnight is released, and Black Mirror makes a timely return.
Read on for what’s coming up this week…
Stars of the stage are walking the red carpet ahead of the Olivier Awards, the most prestigious event in UK theatre.
Adrien Brody, Lesley Manville, John Lithgow, Imelda Staunton and Meera Syal are among the nominees at the event, which celebrates the best stage productions of the last 12 months.
Follow the Olivier Awards live streamHere are a few of the stars who have been walking the red carpet ahead of the ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall: