TV tonight: who was the real Jayne Mansfield? Her daughter tells all
A touching, beautiful film that takes us back to Hollywood's golden age. TV actor Mariska Hargitay was only three years old when her 34-year-old mother Jayne Mansfield died. Deprived of any memories, she goes in search of the real Jayne – away from the sex symbol – via inherited belongings, home movies and never-before-seen photos, visiting the now demolished 'pink palace' and speaking with her siblings properly for the first time. Hollie Richardson
6pm, BBC Two
The 1985 Live Aid concert was a whopping 16 hours long, but the anniversary package is a mere seven. The early acts underline how many mainstream white artists played, with Status Quo, Led Zeppelin and Phil Collins all turning out. The less often-seen backstage footage should be richer. Jack Seale
9pm, ITV2
There's much buzz around Love Island this summer. Sadly, it's centred entirely on the ratings hit that is the seventh US season, while the 12th series of its UK sibling trundles along with little fanfare, despite being hosted by Maya Jama. Still, there are worse ways to spend a Saturday night, aren't there? Right?! Hannah J Davies
9.40pm, BBC One
Lee Mack's popular sitcom reaches its penultimate chapter, with the final ever episode airing next week. As they continue to muddle through post-kids life, Lee (Mack) and Lucy (Sally Bretton) become extras playing elves in TV series Dragon Castle. Cue the usual high-jinks. HR
10.40pm, ITV1
Differences between the UK and US legal systems are highlighted, as agents Anderson (Noah Emmerich) and Okoye (Angel Coulby) investigate the disappearance of the Oxford-student son of a high profile American (Uma Thurman). Namely, it's a pacing issue: 'I've been here for three days,' says Anderson. 'All I've seen you do is release people.' Ellen E Jones
11.45pm, ITV1
In this inspiring and sweet documentary, the nicest guy in football, Ian Wright, helps to launch the first ever girls' under-14 team at his Lewisham childhood club that he owes his career to. It's not just about finding 'the next big thing,' he says – it's simply to give girls the opportunity to play. HR
Oppenheimer, out now, Netflix
After its extraordinary theatrical run and silverware haul, it's safe to assume that everyone who wants to watch Oppenheimer has already watched it. But even after all the ballyhoo about seeing it on the big screen, Christopher Nolan's film loses very little impact on TV. It's still a total marvel, turning a bog-standard biopic into a puzzlebox of clashing timelines. It's still masterly to look at, transforming the planes of Cillian Murphy's face into grand topography. Best of all, we get to see what Robert Downey Jr looks like when he really puts his all into acting. A must watch. Stuart Heritage
A Man Called Otto, 9pm, Channel 4
His days as the do-no-wrong king of Hollywood behind him, Tom Hanks has long since settled into a much more rewarding second act. He writes books. He's become a Wes Anderson day-player. And, more importantly, he gets to star in films like A Man Called Otto. Hanks plays a bitter old crank who plans to kill himself, only to be shaken out of his stupor when he begins to integrate with his neighbours. It's a hard role to pull off – lean too hard one way and you become repellant, lean too hard the other and you become unpleasantly sentimental – but Hanks gets it exactly right. SH
Cycling:Tour de France, noon, TNT Sport 1 The eighth stage of the men's race. The ninth stage starts on Sunday from noon, with coverage continuing throughout the week.
Tennis: Wimbledon 2025, 11am, BBC Two Penultimate day of this year's tournament, with the women's singles final. The men's singles final is on Sunday from 4pm on BBC One.
Test Cricket: England v India, 2pm, Sky Sports Main Event The third day of the Third Test in the five-match series from Lord's.Tomorrow's play starts at 10.15am.
International Rugby: Argentina v England, 8.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event The second test from estadio San Juan del Bicentenario.
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Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry's Invictus Games CEO addresses whether Royal Family are invited to next event
The Royal Family are 'very much welcome' at the Duke of Sussex 's Invictus Games in 2027, the event's chief executive said. The statement comes after the Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed that Montecito-based Prince Harry, 40, is to extend an olive branch to his family by inviting them to the event, which will take place in Birmingham. When asked whether members of the ruling family are due to attend, Helen Helliwell told People, 'We'd be delighted if members of the royal family were able to attend and would very much welcome their presence in a couple of years.' Should they accept the invitation, it would mark the first time members of the Royal Family have attended the Invictus Games since its inception in 2014. Harry founded Invictus with the support of his father, King Charles and brother Prince William, as well as other senior royals, to support and encourage wounded military personnel. Helliwell added that she would be similarly pleased if Harry and Meghan attend the event in two years. 'We will be delighted if they come over for the year out and for the Games,' Helen said, adding, 'We are so far out it's impossible for one individual to confirm their plans, but we would be delighted if the Duke were able to come.' Reports from The Telegraph claimed that Harry sent an email invitation to Charles and other senior royals last month, which will be followed by a formal invitation at a later date. Sources said the timing of the invitation was designed to give the family the best possible chance of attending, given that Charles is known to draw up his schedule up to three years in advance. But the extraordinary move, which could see Harry pictured with the Royal Family for the first time since the late Queen's funeral, has raised eyebrows among some commentators. Ingrid Seward said: 'The King might attend to show support for the Armed Forces and congratulate Harry on the most significant success in his life. 'The only reason the King is wary of associating with his son is that he no longer trusts him not to repeat their private conversations as he has done in the past. This goes for all the working members of the family.' Fellow royal commentator Katie Nicholl added: 'The King absolutely wants a relationship with his youngest son and with his grandchildren. He has an incredible capacity for forgiveness and he wants to be magnanimous in all of this and therefore there's certainly a possibility that the King might consider attending Invictus.' Despite the Royals' previously strong support for Invictus, the invitation – should anyone choose to accept it – is likely to cause some headaches for Royal aides as it involves a major scheduling conflict. The Games are set to open at Birmingham's NEC on July 12, 2027, and will conclude on July 17 – the day Queen Camilla turns 80 – for which there are likely to already be some celebrations planned. It also remains to be seen whether the Duke would risk bringing Meghan and their children Archie, six, and four-year-old Lilibet, to the UK for the event, having previously insisted he could not do so unless the family were offered 'full police protection'. 'Harry has agreed that Invictus should extend an invitation to his family,' a source told The Mail on Sunday. 'Invictus hopes the Royal Family will come along to support the wounded veterans taking part. Harry is hopeful his father will set aside their differences to attend the Invictus Games and support veterans. 'The Royals have always been hugely supportive of Invictus and proud of what Harry has achieved in that arena. This is one olive branch from him which might be reciprocated.' Harry made it clear in a BBC interview in May that he would welcome a rapprochement with his father and with the wider family, despite acknowledging the hurt caused by his brutally honest memoir, Spare. 'There's no point in continuing to fight any more,' he said. 'Life is precious.' He added: 'Forgiveness is 100 per cent a possibility because I would like to get my father and brother back.' The Invictus invitations are thought to represent the first time Harry has publicly reached out in a bid to gather his family together. The invitees and the wording of the invitations are said to have been approved by Harry, with the emails being sent to private secretaries at the Palace. The Games are expected to bring significant economic and social benefit to Birmingham. A spokesman for Invictus said in June: 'No formal invitations have been issued as preparations are in the early stages.' It comes after insiders claimed that Harry and Meghan's children will not be given official roles when Prince William becomes King. Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, currently live with their parents in Montecito, California. Last month, insiders claimed to The Guardian that Harry wanted Archie and Lilibet to have HRH titles so when they are adults they retain the chance to become working royals, should they wish. However, a report published in The Times suggested that such a plan has sparked 'bemusement in royal circles', while William 'doesn't talk about his brother' at all anymore. Citing insiders, it adds: 'Under the next reign, roles for Archie and Lili as working royals are unlikely.' Archie and Lili have grown up away from the rest of the royal family and glimpses of them shared by Meghan on Instagram have shown they have American accents. Former actress Meghan has started to share more and more frequent glimpses into the lives of her children - for example, filming them making Valentine's Day treats together and sharing photos on their birthdays. On their birth certificates, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children are Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. However, the Guardian report claimed Harry and Meghan feared their children's UK passports were being held up due to the inclusion of their HRH titles - and that they even considered changing their surname to 'Spencer' - a nod to Princess Diana - as a result. At the time, when asked if there was any objection from Charles or aides to the passports being issued with the HRH titles, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'No', but declined to comment further. The Sussexes' use of HRH has proved highly controversial because the couple are said to have reassured the Queen that they would not use the title after they emigrated to the US.
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rita Ora puts on a stylish display in Ralph Lauren white skater skirt in Brooklyn ahead of New York show
She never misses a beat when it comes to her fashion choices. And Rita Ora put on a stylish display as she was seen out and about in Brooklyn on Friday ahead of her headline performance at The Hill in New York. The singer, 34, opted for an all white ensemble as she paired a white Ralph Lauren skater skirt with a white polo top and cropped white jacket. Accessorising the look with a brown leather belt, Rita put on a leggy display before finishing the look with a pair of red and white high top trainers. Adding a pair of black shades the star appeared in great spirits as she headed to the stage ahead of her energetic performance. Earlier in the day Rita showcased her toned midriff in a skimpy white top as she travelled on the subway while exploring the city. The singer, 34, opted an all white ensemble as she paired a white Ralph Lauren skater skirt with a white polo top and cropped white jacket For her outing she stepped out in a white sheer long-sleeved top which she layered over a matching bralette. She paired her top with some casual light blue low cut flared jeans which she paired with black flip flops. Adding a hint of glamour, she toted around her belongings in a large black Hermes bag. To accessorise, the songstress wore a quirky mental ring and a pair of black tinted sunglasses. Alongside her Instagram post, she penned: 'Brooklyn Bridge 9pm.' Rita recently revealed how Beyonce has always been her 'protector' as she discussed being hit by speculation that she was 'Becky with the good hair'. Beyonce's smash hit 2016 album Lemonade featured poignant lyrics about cheating and she sang about the mysterious woman in her track Sorry. Fans widely speculated it referred to alleged infidelity by Beyonce's husband Jay-Z with a woman called 'Becky', and theories began circulating online about her identity. Rita found herself at the centre of the rumours as she was wrongly accused of having an affair with Jay-Z, with the singer forced to hit back and deny the claims. And Rita - who was represented by Jay-Z's Roc Nation label at the time - revealed she was so upset by the claims because Beyonce has always been her 'protector'. Speaking on Davina McCall 's Begin Again podcast, Rita explained: 'Behind closed doors, [Beyonce] is literally my fairy godmother, she was my protector - that's what's insane because there was nothing but love. 'And, you know, again, being signed to Jay-Z, her husband, she being my biggest inspiration, she came to my first show in New York at The Box and I sang Say My Name in front of Beyonce when I was 21.' Rita admitted she was 'genuinely' upset and 'confused' by the storm because Beyonce is a 'big sister' who has always 'looked after' her in the industry. The For You hitmaker revealed she still sees Beyonce often to this day as she doubled down on her denial that she was 'Becky'. 'It wasn't real,' Rita insisted, before jokingly adding: 'I wish I had good hair!' 'None of that was real. That was the first time I experienced what it means to be in a messy situation, I guess,' she added.
The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Superman is super woke? How politics play into the new man of steel
Superman Woke! Variations on that headline splashed across all manner of non-Daily Planet websites this week in advance of a new Superman movie reboot, specifically the comments of writer-director James Gunn, who casually characterized the character as an immigrant and, as such, telling the 'story of America' in an interview. This rankled rightwingers including the former TV Superman Dean Cain, who acknowledged Superman as an immigrant but blanched at the idea of actively associating that as an American value, noting that 'there have to be limits'. Meanwhile, the former Trump lackey Kellyanne Conway, now a Fox News host, characterized the movie she hasn't seen as an ideological lecture, and added her supposed anger that the movie's star, David Corenswet, elided the old 'truth, justice and the American way' Superman slogan in another interview (referring to 'truth, justice, all that good stuff'). For those attempting to keep track: people involved with a Superman movie shouldn't attempt to evoke America, except when they should. Actually, for those keeping even closer track, the 'American way' bit was a phrase added to the radio version of Superman during the second world war, and further popularized by the 1950s TV show. It lived on primarily in reruns of that show, didn't appear in the comics until 1991, and has never been particularly central to the character in his original medium (or any of the movies, even). This is all to say that the reading of Superman as an immigrant is so commonplace, so arguably a part of the plain old surface text of the character, that it's even harder to buy any ginned-up outrage than usual. At best, it's a byproduct of suppressed guilt over the cruel and unusual immigration policies favored by anyone dumb enough to complain that this a 'woke' version of a 90-year-old superhero. In fact, the phoney outrage and predictions of boycott from people who don't go to the movies anyway could be a gag straight from the movie itself. It's one of plenty of real-world parallels in Gunn's movie. Most of them fall into the blockbuster realm of vagueness that makes it hard to tell if it was inspired by real events or just unsuccessfully sidestepping from evoking one international crisis straight into evoking another. (More on that in a moment.) But the most obviously first-hand quasi-political experiences Gunn draws upon all have to do with social media: this is a Superman whose weaknesses include Kryptonite, Lex Luthor-engineered software that anticipates his every punch, and … reading the comments. During one argument, Lois Lane needles her superpowered boyfriend by telling him she's seen him looking through certain hashtags guaranteed to frustrate and enrage even the virtuous child of Kansas farms who still says 'golly!' on the regular. This makes sense: James Gunn does not have experience in geopolitics, but he sure has experience online. The film-maker was semi-canceled over edgelord-y tweets (unearthed, in perfect discourse fashion, by rightwingers infuriated by his left-leaning politics); fired from the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie; and eventually rehired when Disney realized that maybe cast and fan loyalty was worth more than manufactured outrage. But in his between-Guardians downtime, Gunn made a Suicide Squad sequel for the previous DC regime, essentially auditioning for his current job. In some ways, he owes his stewardship of Superman and DC in general to the vexations of life online. So if it's a little cringe-y to hear about Superman glancing through social media, or for Gunn to go out of his way to show Lex Luthor training an army of monkeys to flood the zone with mean tweets, it's also a funny, oddly whimsical way of acknowledging our contemporary world. (Plus, remember that Clark Kent works in media, even if his newspaper still publishes a print edition.) It's certainly more surefooted than the movie's actual politics, which go further than the likes of Captain America: Brave New World but still fall short of anything more complicated than the actual thrust of Gunn's interview. (Which was that kindness is, in fact, good.) The immigrant stuff, first of all, is in the movie but not especially prominent. A plot turn involving Superman's parents could even be read as accidentally xenophobic; after all, if you're trading on the message that it doesn't matter where an immigrant comes from once assimilated into our culture, doesn't that by definition cast aspersions on other countries (or in this case, planets) and elevate whatever 'our' culture is? That's obviously not Gunn's intent in positioning Superman as an immigrant figure; he wants to elicit the empathy for outsiders that we've all felt at one time or another. The logical stumble is more a sign of a metaphor that isn't fit for front-to-back, one-to-one interpretation; that's not a problem on its own. More interesting is the story's offscreen inciting incident, where Superman intervenes in the affairs of two fictional countries. When the movie begins, Superman has recently stopped Boravia, which is led by a blustery despot who comes across like an eastern European Trump, from invading neighboring Jarhanpur. The latter has struck some viewers as coded Middle Eastern, implying parallels between Israel and Palestine, though in the comic books (and based on the leader's accent, here too) the countries are actually somewhere in Europe. That is to say, it looks more akin to Russia invading Ukraine, though Gunn has said he didn't have any specific real-life turmoil in mind when he concocted the scenario. The issue is really more interventionism: should Superman have acted unilaterally in stopping Boravia (and, indeed, threatening its leader with reprisal if he tries it again)? Lois Lane isn't so sure, bringing up the repressive nature of past Jarhanpur governments (and in turn bringing to mind Israel's attacks on Iran, though that particular conflict was in the news well after this movie was written, shot and probably almost or entirely finished). One of the most heartening things about Superman is that Lois's objections inspire a full conversation between her and Superman, in the guise of an 'interview' to make up for the fact that most of Superman's press is self-directed through Clark Kent. For a little while, the movie seems ready to dig into the genuine strife faced by a mega-powerful being who therefore has the ability to shape the world. Stopping people in another country from dying seems ethical. But what about issuing de facto press releases disguised as a real journalism? Of course, all of these questions are in the realm of hypothetical, so the movie mostly just invents hypothetical solutions that turn on the fact that Superman is, in fact, inherently trustworthy and moral. Lucky for everyone, huh? Then again, getting too far into the issue of whether Superman 'should' help people starts to look a bit too much like the Zack Snyder version that audiences and critics had such mixed-at-best feelings toward. Gunn wants Superman to be a bigger-tent affair than that, and it's an understandable impulse. He's not the first superhero character, but he's arguably the first one to achieve something resembling global ubiquity. That's going to lead to some varying interpretations. Limiting him to specific politics makes no more sense than keeping a world-saving god within Metropolis city limits. Yet in a weird way, the buffoonish outrage over Superman's immigration status has only served to highlight a void in the movie's broader emotional resonance. It's a sweet-natured movie that ends on a genuinely emotional note – it might particularly resonate for those with adoptive parents, another Superman mainstay – but misses the opportunity to make a more explicit parallel in the way Superman has emigrated both to the United States in particular, but to Earth in general. His global citizenship is more of a feelgood given than a powerful duality, and a Superman that truly grappled with our ability to see beyond national boundaries might have felt like a true update of the character for a new century, rather than another tacit plea for kindness. We have Paddington for that. Shouldn't Superman be able to lift something a little heavier?
