Latest news with #JessicaBoulton
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
JESSICA BOULTON: Only one BBC icon's been UNFAIRLY 'cancelled' this week - and it's not John Torode
Forget MasterChef's Gregg Wallace and John Torode, Jessica Boulton's ruthless rundown of the showbiz week reveals the EIGHT stories you should be talking about instead..... including the only cancelled BBC star who actually deserves our tears Jessica Boulton works on the Mirror's features desk, specialising in celebrity features and interviews. She also writes a weekly observational comedy column Jess Saying, which runs each Saturday. In addition, she oversees the entertainment pages, helps co-ordinate the Pride of Britain coverage and newsletter and guest edits The Diary. Jessica joined The Mirror's sister paper The People in 2006, and has since worked on the Sunday Mirror and Now magazine. Most likely to be found raving about The Oscars, BAFTAs, Netflix, Friends or Star Wars. Daily Mirror Columnist Jessica Boulton brings you Jess Saying, her wry, witty and slightly whimsical take on the heroes and villains, winners and losers and the outright outrageous showbiz shenanigans keeping us amused this week. better to start than.... JUSTICE FOR BBC ICON MONDAY I've always considered myself to be woke. I'm left-wing, open-minded and look good in red (in the UK, definitely not in the US). I'd fully support trigger warnings on Bambi and The Lion King. And I'd argue there should be one on Titanic (for 'scenes of disturbing door hoggery'). But this week I'm afraid to say, even I think the woke world has gone too far. For a true BBC icon has outrageously and undeservedly been cancelled. It's a sad, sad state of affairs after 30 years of excellence. But it's a sign of the times: one day everyone loves you and the persona non grata, written off as a bad fit for the Gen Zs of today (who don't watch TV anyway, so why are we pandering?). So which iconic BBC veteran has been tragically stripped of work this week? Clue: they first appeared in 1995 – and won millions of fans overnight. Yes, you've guessed it. There's only one BBC star I'm weeping for: Mr Darcy. Well, his Wet White Shirt, to be precise. For three decades, the sterling performance of Colin Firth's infamous Pride and Prejudice shirt has never been equalled. But its outstanding contribution to entertainment has now been called into question – over fears it's been objectifying men. Yup. It's true. Some buttoned-up bores at Netflix are currently debating what'll make the cut and what won't in their upcoming P&P remake. Considering Slow Horses' Jack Lowden is the new Darcy (alongside The Crown's Emma Corrin as Lizzie Bennet), I was FERVENTLY in support of the decision to completely remove the Wet White Shirt, at first. But then I realised I'd got the wrong end of the stick...I'm only teasing of course. But I do have two little points I'd like to flag to people's attention: POINT 1. What else would Netflix need to change to fit a more '2025-friendly' adaptation? Jane's famous first line definitely loses a certain something after my woke rewrite: "It is a truth universally acknowledged – but not necessarily accepted as we each have our 'own truth' – that a single man, sorry, dependent-free gender-neutral individual, in possession of a 'good fortune' (aka, a disproportionate amount of wealth thanks to genetic privilege and the unjust dominance of patriarchy), must be – although is under no obligation to be and will face no judgment if they are not – in want of a wife..... or a loving relationship that equally fulfils the needs of both you and your consenting partner/partners, but does not necessarily adhere to any societal expectations.' NAKED AMBITION TUESDAY The Primetime Emmy nominations are finally in! Adolescence was the UK's biggest contender this year – with nods including Best Actor for Stephen Graham and Best Supporting for 15-year-old Owen Cooper (I'd argue it should be reversed). Meanwhile, leading the way with a mindblowing 27 noms was Apple's truly genius Severance – a drama in which people clock off at 5pm and all memory of work from that day is completely wiped. (You can decide for yourselves if that's a good thing or not.) The most delightful Emmy news of all? Nobody Wants This, with my all-time celeb faves Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, landed nods for best comedy series, actor and actress. It was an achievement Kristen's hubby Dax Shepard immediately celebrated with this pic – of Kristen's naked yoga workout. I'm not married, so maybe I'm wrong... But should Dax really have gone so very public with his congratulations? A great big bear bare hug may have been the better choice. END OF TORODE WEDNESDAY Talking of draaaaaama and cancellations… it was all going off the boil at MasterChef this week. Just days after Gregg Wallace was given the heave-ho after vowing to fight the dozens of allegations against him, his co-star John Torode was ALSO left with egg on his face. Torode was accused of making a racial slur – said to be ' the worst word possible' – in a social setting some years ago. Torode denied it. But it left Auntie with a sour taste, so he was sent packing with a P45 as well. The poor BBC now has an entire as-yet-unreleased pre-recorded series of MasterChef with not one but TWO disgraced hosts. That's got to be tough to swallow. It also explains the reasoning behind one of its latest new hires. For even wholesome Blue Peter has had its share of scandalous stars... So when faced with finding its latest prestigious presenter, the Beeb hired someone who's been nothing but a safe pair of hands their whole career. Some might even go as far to say he's the perfect corporate puppet..... (see below). FISHING FOR INSULTS? THURSDAY Gregg and John might be in for a grilling over their alleged behaviour, but another under-fire celeb, Sacha Baron Cohen, was probably feeling a little, um, roasted this week. Yes, his actress ex-wife Isla Fisher has not had the most amicable of splits with Da Ali G and Borat actor. So some social media users took her quip on Instagram to be a tiny dig at his expense (literally). The Confessions Of A Shopaholic star wrote: 'For all the men who say 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?', here's an update for you. 'Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? 'Because women realise it's not worth buying an entire pig… just to get a little sausage.' No porkies there! I'd rather bring home the bacon alone than be stuck with a man who's the literal wurst. So, bravo, Isla! That took proper chops. FACING FACTS FRIDAY You can't make this one up. And to be fair, whatever you say about Katie Price, at least she can take the mickey out of herself. Which is why she's made a startling admission this week. Apparently Katie was travelling and got pulled over by security at passport control – because she's had so many trips under the knife, the scanners couldn't recognise her passport photo. Yes, Katie might have been accused of being two-faced in the past, but, as she'll admit herself, she's been through at least 10 of them now. On the upside, it's something to add to her CV next time she's bankrupt. After all, everyone wants their staff to multi-faceted nowadays. PICTURE OF THE WEEK She's always been a woman with Klass. So it's good to see Myleene hasn't let her newly-award MBE go to her head. Ahem. Yes, Myleene was presented the honour this week after her tireless charity work, including raising the awareness of the emotional toll of miscarriage. But it looks like the Hear'Say singer might be taking the honour a little too literally. For the morning after receiving the medal - alongside fellow honouree Leona Lewis OBE - Myleene posted this bathtime snap. Umm….It looks like you've got a little something in your hair, Myleene. To be fair, it could have been worse. She could have posted a snap of her in her tiara…. sitting on the throne. JESS A QUICKIE: Myleene's not the only one having some bathroom fun. Charlotte Crosby decided to promote her new fiction tome by sitting in a bath of books. It makes sense: she's always swimming with novel ideas.* * Sorry I couldn't help myself
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
I'm paid to read every new book released: Here's 14 essential 2025 Beach Reads
Forget The Salt Path scandal! Daily Mirror's book expert Jessica Boulton picks the best new Chick Lit, Thrillers, Family Sagas and Murder Mysteries which deserve the space on your Kindle this summer Plane tickets? Check. Swimwear? Check. The patience of a saint to get through airport security? Check. Yes, if you're planning the perfect summer holiday, there's only one other thing you need: A jolly good book. For when you've smugly beaten other hotel guests to a sunbed, there's little more relaxing than a great page turner. So what new tomes deserve the precious space on your Kindle or a spot in your suitcase? Here, columnist Jessica Boulton takes you through the best of this summer's new releases - whether you've a soft spot for romance, a love for crimes of passion, or prefer your beach reads bloodier than a tomato juice and vodka.... ROMANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS The Layover, Beth Reekles, Sphere, Out Now From the author of Netflix 's The Kissing Booth comes an enemies-to-lovers-style romp set in that favourite of romcom scenarios: The destination wedding, Three unhappy singletons are en route to the 'wedding of the year' - and they're all dreading it: One's in love with the groom, one's the overprotective brother of the bride and the other is a maid of honour fed up of playing second fiddle. So when fate convenes to strand all three at an airport bar overnight, they get to talking, drinking Problematic Summer Romance, Ali Hazelwood, Sphere, Out Now. The bestselling chicklit author Ali Hazelwood has become quite the talking point on social media and so-called 'book tok' thanks to her novel spin on romance tropes. Released on late May, her latest book puts Gen Z values under the microscope as Maya, 23, falls for her brother's much older - and much richer - best friend. Everyone, including him, says a romance would be problematic. But when the two are forced to spend a week sharing a remote Italian villa at her brother's wedding, Maya decides it's time to ignore the red flags and follow her heart, not her head. Will she prove the naysayers wrong? Paper Heart, Cecelia Ahern, HarperCollins, Out August 28 One of the biggest names in the genre, Cecelia Ahern was the bestselling author behind the weepy-but-ultimately-uplifting romance PS. I Love You, which later became a 2007 hit film with Anne Hathaway and Gerard Butler. Cecelia's latest paperback release centres on wallflower Pip, who has been hiding from life, living a sheltered existence, until the stars - or rather an attractive local astronomer - opens her eyes to the world... The Man I Loved Before, Georgina Cutler, Black & White Publishing, Out August 7 Get the tissues ready! This romance comes with a side serving of trauma. When Jenny loses the love of her life, Joe, in a freak accident, she thinks she will never recover. That is until.... she begins seeing Joe's ghost. There's only one thing wrong with their renewed relationship: He's a little less solid than before. When Jen meets the infuriating new guy, Luca, who's moved into Joe's old flat, she takes an instant dislike to him. But slowly and surely he reminds her what it means to have fun. However the more Jen sees Luca, the less she sees Joe. So who will she choose? Body Count, Julie Mae Cohen, Zaffre, Out August 14. A chick-lit romance where the heroine is a serial murderer? Talk about a killer concept. Sure to be a hit with fans of Sky's Sweetpea, this twisted tale, from an author whose sold a million books, centres on Saffy Huntley-Oliver, a millennial who's fallen for a brilliant true crime podcaster Jonathan. There's just one complication in their romance. Saffy's got a secret passion project - killing men. Bad men. Like a a certain handsy children's TV will Saffy's hobby be the nail in the coffin for their romance? Or can they love each other til death do they part? It may depend on whose death we mean. MURDER MYSTERY A Novel Murder, E.C. Nevin, Zaffre, out now Where better to set a crime novel than at a crime writers' convention? A Novel Murder's delightfully-playful premise sees aspiring author Jane Hepburn joining big-name name authors at a quaint town's festival, to try to get her big break. But when her literary agent turns up dead, Jane fears the writing's on the wall for her she can help police find the killer - and throw the book at him. A Deadly Night At The Theatre, Katy Watson, Constable, out this week Posy Starling, Caro Hooper and Rosalind King are some of TV and the West End's finest actresses. Yet not only have they all played the same fictional detective - TV's Dahlia Lively - but they've all let the role go a little to their heads.. The fifth standalone story in the Three Dahlias series, this Agatha Christie-style mystery sees the women once more forced to turn Sherlock for real after Caro's hunky west end co-star is found dead in a theatre dressing room - with a blood-drenched Posy[italic] standing over him. Will her fellow Dahlias believe her claims of innocence before the real killer enjoys an encore? Gam e, Set & Murder, Judy Murray, Orion, released July 3 Think Sex And The City meets Desperate Housewives on a day out at Judy Murray is back with her second murder mystery, once again set in the world of tennis. This time, close friends Kristin, Vee, Bibi and Hailey are sipping prosecco at Surrey's posh Royal Oaks Tennis Club, when their charming coach Jeremy keels over - thanks to some poisoned sponge cake. Soon it's clear: one of these glamourous women had the balls to catch out their coach. But who served him his just deserts? And what other backhanded shenanigans are happening at the exclusive club? The Magus of Sicily, Philip Gwynne Jones, Constable, out now A murder mystery in sun-drenched Sicily? Characters who all have something to hide? And a lingering sense of unease? If this book isn't popular with fans of The White Lotus, something is definitely awry. This sumptuously-set mystery begins with trainee journalist Nedda Leonardi desperately trying to find a scoop at a local town festival. But she gets a splash in more ways than one when local dancers dive in the glistening Ionian Sea... and return with a corpse. Nedda's soon out of her depth but finds an unlikely partner-in-solving[ital]-crime - a retired grifter, trying to leave his con man past behind until he becomes a suspect. Together, the oddball pair set out to uncover the real story. ACTION THRILLER The Daughter, T. M. Logan, Zaffre, out this month in paperback A mum's worst nightmare: Lauren goes to pick her daughter up from university, knocks on her door and comes face to a stranger. At first, she presumes she has the wrong room but then she realises the terrible truth. Her daughter Evie is not there. And she hasn't been for a long time. The discovery sparks a heart-in-mouth race to uncover what's happened before it's too late. If, indeed, it's not too late already. Deadline, Steph McGovern, Macmillan, was released July 3 Following her years hosting Steph's Packed Lunch and a stint in the Costa Rican jungle on Bear Grylls' Bear Hunt, the former BBC broadcaster is now onto her third act - as a novelist. Her debut tome is set in a familiar world but the premise is still deliciously tantalising: a TV host is just about to go live, interviewing the most powerful man in the country, when she gets a message through her earpiece. Kidnappers have taken her family. Now she must do exactly what they say, on Live TV, if she ever wants to see them again. Death of An Officer, Mark Ellis, Headline Accent, Out Now Prefer your thrillers with a period era twist? Mark Ellis has released the latest is his Frank Merlin detective series, set in the shadowy world of wartime London 1943. A local murder sparks an investigation into a wide-scoping mystery featuring the disappearance of a US officer in possession of invasion plans, dodgy MPs, even dodgier police and a seedy underworld of Cockney gangsters, brothels and blackmail. DRAMA/PSYCHOLOGICAL Dear Future Me, Deborah O'Connor, Zaffre, out now Talk about an intriguing set-up: this psychological thriller begins in 2005 as a group of students each writes a letter to their future selves, sharing their fears, dreams, mistakes and heartaches. Of course, they should have known better. For unlike the contents of a normal time capsule, these students' secrets don't stay buried for long. Two decades on, their private notes begin dropping through their letterboxes - and the unearthed truths begin to change their lives for ever. These Summer Storms, Sarah Maclean, Ballantine Books, released this week Missing Succession? Loved Amazon's adaptation of We Were Liars? Then this should be the perfect lazy day read. Alice Storm is the surprisingly-grounded daughter of an eccentric billionaire tech genius. But when he dies suddenly, she forced to return to the family's private island off the coast of New England - with some of the oddest, most dysfunctional and competitive people she knows: her siblings. Then there's the biggest surprise: Alice's puppet master father has left his children one last test. To receive their inheritance they must spend a week on the island completing a list of very specific challenges....
