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With a reputation as the more irreverent counterpart to the Oscars, the Golden Globes was always the fun ceremony that kicked off awards season with caustic humour, a recognition for comedy and TV, and a lot more booze and bad behaviour.

After several years of controversy over a lack of diversity and allegations of inappropriate “freebies”, the ceremony was held in private and boycotted by celebs in 2022 and didn’t quite fully bounce back in 2023. The hope now is that it can return to its former status as the second most high-profile show of awards season – and, arguably, the funniest.

The Golden Globes has been reinvented all shiny and new, with a fresh organising body and a membership revamp increasing numbers to a more diverse group of more than 300 people from around the world.

Following the actors’ and writers’ strikes, the timing is perfect. Hollywood is ready for some fun again – and thanks to the marketing phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, there are blockbuster films in the mix. Ahead of the ceremony, here are a few potential record-breakers and interesting facts about the nominees.

Come on Barbie, let’s go win all the awards

Film still from Barbie

It topped $1bn in box office sales around the world and, some might say, was largely responsible for a chunk of Oppenheimer’s success too – with nine nominations, it seems inevitable that Barbie will dominate the Golden Globes this year.

It seems a dead cert for best comedy or musical film, as well as the new award for cinematic and box office achievement (you can’t argue with those stats). Stars Margot Robbie and Ryan “Kenergy” Gosling are also up for acting awards, while Greta Gerwig is in the running for best director.

However, three of its nods are in the same category, for best original song – Dance The Night, I’m Just Ken and What Was I Made For? – meaning it can only win a total of seven awards, as could Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon.

Oppenheimer is nominated for eight and could win all of them, which would break La La Land’s record of seven in 2016.

With the new membership this year, voting is harder to predict – but all that said, Barbie is still probably the one to put your money on for the biggest haul.

Bradley Cooper: Best director and best actor?

Bradley Cooper in Maestro. Pic: Netflix
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Pic: Netflix

In Maestro, Bradley Cooper stars as music legend Leonard Bernstein in an intimate portrait chronicling the conductor and composer’s complicated relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, played by Carey Mulligan. Cooper directed, co-wrote and co-produced the film.

Cooper’s nods for best actor (drama) and best director become his fifth and sixth in total, but he is yet to take a Golden Globe home.

Fans of the actor might also remember he was up for the same two gongs for A Star Is Born in 2019, but lost out to Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) in the directing category and Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) in the acting category.

So could the star’s first win also be part of a double?

He’s certainly a favourite in the acting category, despite facing tough competition from nominees including Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers Of The Flower Moon) and Andrew Scott (All Of Us Strangers).

The directing category sees him up against Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer, as well as Scorsese for Killers Of The Flower Moon.

Emma Stone nominated for film and TV

Emma Stone in Poor Things. Pic: Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures
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Pic: Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures

Also up for two gongs is Emma Stone, a now eight-time nominee who won the best actress (musical or comedy) award for her performance in La La Land in 2017.

This year, she’s up for the same prize for her critically acclaimed performance in Poor Things – “utterly filthy and a true original” is Empire’s review, while Stone’s portrayal of Bella Baxter, a young woman having a sexual awakening after being brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist in the film, is described as “entirely astounding” in the Los Angeles Times.

Stone is also nominated for best actress in a TV drama for her role in the black comedy series The Curse.

In the film category, Stone is definitely a best actress favourite for Poor Things – although the sheer power of Robbie’s Barbie may be hard to beat.

The TV category is even tougher, with Bella Ramsey (The Last Of Us) and Sarah Snook (Succession) also among those in the running for best actress.

The double would be a tricky feat to pull off, only previously achieved by Joan Plowright (Stalin and Enchanted April in 1993); Sigourney Weaver (Gorillas In The Mist and Working Girl in 1989); Helen Mirren (Elizabeth I and The Queen in 2007); and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road and The Reader in 2009).

Steve Martin has never won before

Martin Short, Selena Gomez and Steve Martin in Ony Murders In The Building. Pic: Disney +
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Pic: Disney +

Surprisingly for an awards ceremony that celebrates comedy right up there alongside the serious stuff, Steve Martin has never won a Golden Globe. From 1982 to 1996, he had five film nominations – Pennies From Heaven, All Of Me, Roxanne, Parenthood, Father Of The Bride Part II – but no trophy.

Since 2022, his performance as an amateur sleuth in comedy series Only Murders In The Building, in which he stars alongside Martin Short and Selena Gomez, has landed him a nod every single year.

Could 2024 be eighth time lucky? He’s up against co-star Short, a three-time nominee, as well as other stars including Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear).

Meryl Streep for Number 10?

Meryl Streep joined Ony Murders In The Building for season three. Pic: Disney +
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Pic: Disney +

Having joined the cast of Only Murders In The Building in 2023, Meryl Streep earns her 34th Golden Globe nomination for her performance as an actress who never got her big break. It broke her own record for all-time nods and a win in the best supporting performance category could see her gain her 10th overall.

Unsurprisingly for one of the most decorated stars of all time, she’s a favourite to take home the prize, but faces competition from stars including Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) and Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown).

Succession v The Crown

Undated Handout Photo from Succession Season 4 Pictured: (Front) Jeremy Strong as Kendall and Brian Cox as Logan Roy
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Pic: HBO/Sky UK

In Golden Globes history, Mad Men and The X-Files tie for most wins in the best drama series category, with three each – but a win for either Succession or The Crown would equal their record.

The Last Of Us, The Morning Show, The Diplomat and 1923 are also in the running, but this seems like Succession’s year once again.

The series leads the TV field with nine nods, and stars Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong are also in the running to win a second acting gong for their performances in the series – Cox previously won in 2020, while Strong won in 2022.

Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck, J Smith Cameron and Alexander Skarsgard are also up for awards in the acting categories.

Should The Crown’s Imelda Staunton beat Snook in the best actress category, she would become the series’ fourth actress to take home the prize, following in the regal footsteps of Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, who also played the Queen, and Emma Corrin, who played Princess Diana in her younger years.

Winners will be announced at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, hosted by comedian Jo Koy on Sunday – starting at 1am on Monday UK time.

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Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

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Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo will be among the stars headlining Glastonbury Festival this year, it has been announced.

Glastonbury organisers have revealed the line-up for this summer’s event, taking place between 25 June and 29 June, after months of speculation.

The 1975 will take to the iconic Pyramid Stage on the Friday to headline, then Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young will perform on Saturday and Olivia Rodrigo on the Sunday.

Other big names performing include British pop sensation Charli XCX, rapper Loyle Carner electronic group The Prodigy.

The announcement comes after Sir Rod Stewart was booked for the Sunday teatime legend slot and Young was confirmed as a headliner earlier this year.

Young’s announcement in January came amid some confusion, as he had days before told fans he was pulling out of the festival because the BBC’s involvement was a “corporate turn-off”.

The Canadian singer-songwriter later said this decision was down to “an error in the information I received”.

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The 1975 will be headlining for the first time, having made their Glastonbury debut in 2014.

The Cheshire band, known for hits such as Somebody Else and Chocolate, have regularly made headlines due to the antics of frontman Matty Healy.

Glastonbury, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in the summer, has worked closely with the BBC – its exclusive broadcast partner – since 1997.

Neil Young performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last May. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP
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Neil Young performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last May. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Appetite for the esteemed festival saw standard tickets sell out in 35 minutes in November.

They cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, up £18.50 from the price from the 2024 festival, and were sold exclusively through the See Tickets website.

The date for the resale – where tickets not fully paid for are put back up for purchase – is set for some time in spring.

The headliners last summer on the iconic Pyramid Stage were Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, who made history as the first act to headline the festival five times.

2026 is likely to be a year off for Glastonbury, with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Ofcom received 825 complaints over the Brit Awards, with the majority relating to Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy performance and Charli XCX’s outfit, the media watchdog says.

US pop star Carpenter, 25, sported a red sparkly military-style blazer dress for her performance at the awards show on Saturday night, paired with stockings and suspenders for a rendition of Espresso.

The song was mixed with a Rule Britannia mash-up, as dancers in military parade dress followed her.

She then switched to a red sparkly bra and shorts for her next song, Bad Chem, which she performed alongside dancers in bras and shorts while sitting suggestively on a large bed.

Sabrina Carpenter opened proceedings. Pic: Reuters
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Sabrina Carpenter performing her second song. Pic: Reuters

Carpenter later received the global success award at the ceremony, and was also nominated in the international artist and international song of the year categories.

But much of the buzz on social media surrounded her performance, which took place before the 9pm watershed.

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Highlights from the 2025 BRIT Awards

Ofcom said some of the complaints were also aimed at British pop sensation Charli XCX, who dominated the night by winning five awards, including album of the year.

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Some viewers took issue with her outfit – a black see-through dress.

Read more:
Explore other celebrity looks at the BRIT Awards
Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

The singer addressed the concerns during her acceptance speech for artist of the year, saying: “I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of ‘free the nipple’ though, right?”

Carpenter paid tribute to the UK in her acceptance speech, saying: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”

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Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

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Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

Actor Noel Clarke begins his High Court libel case against The Guardian’s publisher today.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles it published about him in April 2021.

They were based on the claims of 20 women Clarke knew “in a professional capacity” who allege his behaviour towards them amounted to sexual misconduct.

Clarke, known for his roles in the Kidulthood trilogy and Dr Who, “vehemently” denies “any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing”.

What will the trial cover?

Clarke is suing GNM for libel, sometimes also referred to as defamation.

It’s a civil tort – not a criminal offence – defined as false written statements that have damaged the person’s reputation. This means Clarke can seek redress or damages but no one will face charges or prison.

Clarke claims the articles The Guardian published in 2021 altered public opinion of him, damaged his reputation, and lost him work.

He said after the allegations emerged: “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me.

“If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”

The Guardian is defending the claim on the basis of truth and public interest.

At a premiere in London in 2013. Pic: PA
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At a premiere in London in 2013. Pic: PA

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It said in its statement: “Our reporting on Noel Clarke in 2021 was based on the accounts of 20 brave women. After we published our first article, more women came forward.

“At trial, 32 witnesses are set to testify against Mr Clarke under oath. We look forward to a judge hearing the evidence.”

The trial will only focus on liability – not the amount of damages to be paid if Clarke is successful.

The actor tried and failed to get the case struck out in January, with his legal team saying it had “overwhelming evidence” of “perversion of the course of justice”.

His lawyers told the High Court three of the journalists involved in the articles had “deliberately and permanently” deleted messages, which meant he could not get a fair trial.

Lawyers for GNM told the court there was “no adequate evidential basis” for Clarke’s application for a strike out and said it sought “to smear Guardian journalists and editors without any proper justification”.

The trial, which will be presided over by judge Mrs Justice Steyn, is expected to last between four and six weeks.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY File photo dated 20/07/15 of actor Noel Clarke. Police have confirmed that no criminal investigation will be launched after sexual offence allegations were made against actor Noel Clarke. Issue date: Sunday March 27, 2022.
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In July 2015. Pic: PA

What has happened since the articles were published?

A month before the articles about him were published in April 2021, Clarke received BAFTA’s outstanding contribution to British cinema award.

However, once the allegations against him emerged, he was suspended by the organisation and the prize rescinded.

His management and production company 42M&P told Sky News they were no longer representing him and Sky cancelled its TV show Bulletproof, starring Clarke and Top Boy actor Ashley Walters as the lead roles.

ITV also decided to pull the finale of another of his dramas, Viewpoint, following the Guardian articles.

The Met Police looked into the allegations against Clarke for any potential criminal wrongdoing, but in March 2022 announced they “did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation”.

Clarke filed the libel claim the following month and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in person.

He says he has faced a “trial by media” – and that the ordeal has left him suicidal and in need of professional help.

At the UK premiere of Kidulthood in London's Leicester Square in 2006. Pic: PA
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At the UK premiere of Kidulthood in London’s Leicester Square in 2006. Pic: PA

‘Rising star’

Clarke made his TV debut in a revived version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 2002.

Soon after he played Mickey Smith in Dr Who and Kwame in the six-part Channel 4 series Metrosexuality.

He wrote and starred in the film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood, and Brotherhood, which were based in west London, where he grew up, and explored the lives of a group of teenagers given time off school after a bullied classmate takes their own life.

It was a box office success and eventually saw Clarke given BAFTA’s rising star prize in 2009.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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