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The makers of the Fast & Furious films have been fined £800,000 after a stuntman fell 25ft (7m) and suffered brain damage on the set of the ninth film in the franchise.

Joe Watts, who also suffered a broken skull, was performing a stunt in July 2019 at Warner Brothers’ studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, when the incident happened.

During a staged fight scene for Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga – also known as F9 – on a balcony, he plunged 25ft headfirst on to the concrete ground after his safety line detached, as he was thrown over the shoulder of another performer.

The company which makes the films, FF9 Pictures, a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, was ordered to pay £800,000 after admitting to health and safety failings at Luton Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told Mr Watts was thrown over the right shoulder of another performer during rehearsals, but during filming it was changed to the left.

His safety line, which operated correctly during the first take, detached from his vest on the next take and he fell to the ground, missing the crash mats.

The wire was not checked between takes.

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Sentencing, district judge Talwinder Buttar criticised the decision to make changes to the stunt “at the last minute”, saying Mr Watts is “fortunate to be alive”.

She added it is “astonishing” that the mats were not adjusted, despite the change in the routine from rehearsals.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution, saying FF9 had “no system for double checking that the link had been properly engaged and tightened”.

Cena (R) was doing promo for the next instalment in the Fast And Furious franchise. Pic: 2021 Universal Studios
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Vin Diesel and John Cena in F9. Pic: Universal Studios

Read more: The ‘remarkable’ rise of Fast & Furious

HSE said the company “did not extend the crash matting needed to mitigate the consequences of an unintended fall following changes to the set and the sequence of the stunt”.

Mr Watts is a prominent stunt actor, having worked on projects such as Game Of Thrones and the Star Wars films.

HSE inspector Roxanne Barker said: “Mr Watts’ injuries were life-changing and he could have easily been killed.

“In stunt work, it is not about preventing a fall but minimising the risk of an injury.”

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Snoop Dogg says he hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park

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Snoop Dogg says he hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park

Snoop Dogg says he hopes to set up a burger van at Celtic’s stadium and wants to serve fans himself.

The US rapper, 53, has described the football club’s supporters as “special” and the best fans in European football.

And Snoop, who played Glasgow‘s OVO Hydro arena in 2023, has also said he strongly identifies with the club’s mascot Hoopy the Hound.

He said a fast-food van at Celtic Park would become a foodie “Paradise” which is a nickname for the ground in the Parkhead area of the city.

Celtic Park. Pic: AP
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Celtic Park. Pic: AP

Snoop told the Sunday Mail: “I would love to bring a pop-up burger [van] to a sports stadium to show fans that food at stadiums can be good.

“It’s got to be Celtic Park, man. The secret to a good burger is the love in the preparation. The ground beef has got to be mixed with some secret spices, then add a good quality cheese and some maple-cured bacon.

“The Celtic fans are gonna love it, and to make sure they are just right, Snoop is going to be serving them himself.”

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But he said he would not be taking his culinary ventures to Rangers – Celtic’s Old Firm rivals at Ibrox.

The Drop It Like It’s Hot star told the paper: “Am I going to bring my burgers to Rangers as well? Nah, I think we will give that a miss.”

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The musician has previously spoken of investing in Celtic, similar to Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds’s involvement with Wrexham FC.

Snoop has already published a cookbook and claims to have spoken to chef Gordon Ramsay about a possible venture in Glasgow together.

The keen sports fan worked as a correspondent for NBC at the Paris Olympics last year, and has launched two youth football leagues, as well as being a vocal advocate for pay equality for female athletes.

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Dawn French apologises for ‘mocking tone’ in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

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Dawn French apologises for 'mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

Dawn French has apologised and taken down a video she posted about the war in Gaza after facing backlash.

The popular actress and comedian said she apologised “unreservedly” after posting a video in a “mocking tone”.

In the original 40-second clip, the Vicar of Dibley star said: “Complicated, no, but nuanced. But bottom line is no.”

Then, using a different tone, she went on: “Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no.

“But we want that land… and we have history… No.

“Those people aren’t really even people, are they really? No.”

On Saturday afternoon, she issued an apology, saying that in an effort to convey “an important message” she had “clumsily used a mocking tone”.

“My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023,” she posted on X and Instagram.

She said her intention was to “point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leader on ALL sides of this atrocious war”.

French faced criticised after her initial post.

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman said she was “saddened” by it.

She said: “This mocking voice ‘bad thing’ of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears ro [sic] be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack.”

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MP Rosie Duffield responded to Oberman’s post, saying: “One can, and should hate what is happening in Gaza and also condemn the hideous events of October 7th.

“It is agonising to see events unfold, and requires extremely careful, measured and well-considered comments and actions. This is not that.”

Some social media users tried to pressure M&S, who French voices adverts for, over the incident.

In October 2023, Hamas led other militant groups in a cross-border attack, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 people hostage.

Since then, Israel has launched a number of large-scale campaigns in the region, including in Gaza where over 54,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave.

Many of these are said to be women and children.

Israel claims to be targeting militants and blames collateral deaths on Hamas fighters positioning themselves in densely populated areas.

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Sir Rod Stewart ‘devastated’ after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu

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Sir Rod Stewart 'devastated' after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu

Sir Rod Stewart says he is devastated to have to cancel a series of US concerts, blaming lingering flu for the decision.

It affects four shows in Nevada, along with a further two in California, which he plans to reschedule.

They were due to take place over the next eight days.

“So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon,” he wrote in a message on Instagram.

Sir Rod, 80, has been struggling to recover from flu and this week had already cancelled two concerts at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, he disclosed that his doctor had “ordered” him to take “a bit more rest”.

The star is in the midst of his epic One Last Time Tour.

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Sir Rod, who was recently put on vocal rest, is due to play the legends slot at Glastonbury later this month.

In May, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards (AMAs).

Rod Stewart performs during the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas
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Sir Rod performing at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. Pic: Reuters

In a sign of how seriously the singer takes his health, last month he was also spotted in Italy attempting to avoid conversations to preserve his voice.

He wore a message attached to a lanyard which read: “Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest.”

In 2024, he promised he would not retire but confirmed his 2025 European and North American shows would bring an end to his “large-scale world tours”.

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The performer, best known for songs including Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Every Beat Of My Heart, and Maggie May, said he plans to focus on more intimate venues instead.

Sir Rod has faced other health challenges in the past.

In May 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery. In 2017, he underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer.

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