Sam Rubin, a veteran Californian entertainment reporter who also worked for ITV, has died at the age of 64.

Los Angeles TV station KTLA called the reporter “a giant in the local news industry”, as they paid tribute.

“His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him,” the station added.

“Sam was a loving husband and father: the roles he cherished the most.”

The US veteran journalist “regularly broadcast live” into ITV’s This Morning over the years.

This Morning said they would air a tribute for Rubin on Monday.

“He woke up Tinseltown every day for decades with his likeable charm and knowledgeable take on the movie world, he was on first name terms with the stars and became affectionately known as ‘Hollywood Sam’. We will miss him,” This Morning said in a statement on X.

“There will be a tribute to Sam on Monday’s show, but in the meantime, we send our condolences to his wife Leslie, their four children and Sam’s colleagues at KTLA.”

Among some of the famous faces paying tribute was US actor Ben Stiller, who described him as a “consummate pro”.

“So sad and sorry to hear of Sam Rubin’s passing”, he said.

The Zoolander star said: “I did my first interview with him in something like ’93, and countless times over the years. He loved actors and movies.

“He made everyone feel comfortable and it was always fun and easy. He was an institution.”

American actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who starred in Community and The Odd Couple, also said: “Sam was a friend. I enjoyed all the times I got to visit him at KTLA.”

Canadian and American actor Ryan Reynolds added: “Even if I was on my 85th interview that day, I was always happy to see Sam.

“Even if HE was on his 85th interview that day, he always brought genuine kindness, curiosity and an outside the box question.”

Born in San Diego in 1960, Rubin joined KTLA in 1991 and won several awards over his 33-year stint with the broadcaster.

Read more from Sky News:
Cara Delevingne speaks after major mansion fire
Hollywood’s best paid actors revealed
California mocked for ‘billion-dollar’ bridge to nowhere

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

He was a multiple-Emmy winner, received the Golden Mike Award for best entertainment reporter and a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association, and was named best entertainment reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club.

KTLA anchor Lynette Romero wrote in a lengthy tribute that she “didn’t believe it. It had to be a mistake. But it was true”, following his death.

“I’ve known Sam since I moved to LA 25 years ago. And there are so many things I could say about him,” she said.

“Yes, he was incredibly good at his job. He loved being on TV. He adored his family. He cherished his friends. He was kind and thoughtful and had the most beautiful blue eyes.”

Dearest gentle reader, it has been a while since our last visit to the ton and this time around, our wallflower Penelope Fetherington is about to bloom.

Played by Derry Girls’ Nicola Coughlan, the close friend of the Bridgerton family just so happens to be the anonymous writer of high society’s gossip column, Lady Whistledown.

Season three focuses on the love story between her and Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton.

“I really do feel parallels between what our characters go through and how we felt as actors on the show,” says Newton about taking on the leading role with Coughlan by his side.

“Colin comes back and he’s got all this attention and as much as he’s still trying to navigate his way through the storyline with Penn… he doesn’t really understand why he’s getting all this attention and he’s trying to process that. And I guess that’s why it doesn’t really see what’s right in front of him immediately.”

He adds: “There’s definitely parallels that cross over into the real world, and I think as an actor, I find it really difficult not to let things sort of like seep into my own life as well.”

Coughlan agrees.

She says: “You live in these characters for so long that it makes you think and it makes you examine everything. It’s funny because it’s a show that’s light and beautiful and fun and airy, but it was a profound experience. I was shocked by how much I felt going through it. It was amazing.”

Were the TikTok theories correct?

Since the first images of season three were released, fans of the show have been deep-diving into the possible reasons behind the show’s aesthetic decisions on TikTok – namely about Penelope Fetherington’s hair, make-up and choice of wardrobe and what it means for her relationship with Colin Bridgerton.

“I wanted her physicality to feel distinctly different in each season,” says Coughlan.

“I needed her to start feeling comfortable in her skin because she has this aesthetic transformation initially when she changes her hair, changes her wardrobe, but you could see straight away she doesn’t inhabit it.”

She adds: “She’s completely uncomfortable because she’s not done any inner work so she’s still the same insecure young girl.”

The Irish actress says she has always seen her character as a “yo-yo”, someone who tries to break out of her shyness and speak up only to revert back instantly.

“As she grows and accepts her womanhood and her sexuality, she starts to feel different. And I needed her to feel more relaxed and also then the physicality between us [Newton] had to change as well when they become sort of intertwined.”

What is season three of Bridgerton about?

Season three follows on from the aftermath of the Fetherington Ball when Penelope overhears Colin say he would never court her.

She decides to forget about her crush on the Bridgerton bachelor and seek a husband who will allow her the freedom to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown.

Read more:
Eurovision in chaos as entry banned from rehearsal
William gives update on Kate after cancer diagnosis

The cast also includes Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Claudia Jessie, who plays Penelope’s former best friend Eloise Bridgerton, says working on the show has been a pleasure.

“You don’t come away from every single job as an actor being like, I’m 100% confident with everything about that job, that doesn’t always happen, but this one’s a pleasure. Because you do.”

She adds: “I guess if you could have got a child to draw a picture of what their ideal acting job would look like, it would probably look like this so, I feel very lucky.”

Potential future spin-offs

It has been over two years since season two first aired on Netflix, allowing some breathing room for the show’s first spin-off, Queen Charlotte.

The limited series looked at the young life of the ton’s royalty as she met her husband, King George III.

Looking ahead, Madsen, who plays Cressida Cowper, says she would love to see Portia Fetherington in a stand-alone show.

Newcomer Dodd says “Keeping Up With The Cowpers” would be a vibe.

Jessie says any potential spin-off involving her character Eloise would simply be “carnage”.

Part one of Bridgerton season three is available to stream on Netflix from 16 May.

The Netherlands’ Eurovision entry Joost Klein is under investigation by organisers due to an unexplained “incident” – and will not be rehearsing again until “further notice”.

The Dutch singer missed his slot in the show’s penultimate dress rehearsal in Malmo, Sweden, on Friday, where he had been due to perform his track Europapa in fifth place, just before Israel’s Eden Golan, 20, with her song Hurricane.

Protests have dogged the competition over Israel’s inclusion amid the war in Gaza.

A video posted on the X social media platform showed a producer announcing that Klein would not be performing on Friday, prompting a chorus of boos from members of the audience.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises Eurovision, said in a statement: “We are currently investigating an incident that was reported to us involving the Dutch artist. He will not be rehearsing until further notice.

“We have no further comment at this time and will update in due course.”

Klein had been part of the flag parade at the start of the rehearsal, and walked around the stage in full costume, but then failed to arrive on stage for his performance around 30 minutes later.

It was later confirmed that the 26-year-old singer would not be performing in the final rehearsal on Friday evening and that the investigation was “still ongoing”.

The EBU said discussions were also taking place between the EBU and Avrotros, the Dutch participating broadcaster.

It is not yet clear if Klein will be performing in the Eurovision Song Contest’s grand final on Saturday.

A clip of Klein’s offering – happy-hardcore inspired Europapa – was played out in the recap clips of all 26 songs throughout the rehearsal show, but with a clip of a previous Klein rehearsal.

The track, which is one of the most memorable of the show and was described by one critic as “so bad” it will “put you off music forever”, is among the current favourites to win.

‘Access denied’ website error adds to event’s problems

Adding to its woes, the EBU website went down later on Friday evening, and on attempting to log in a message was displayed saying “access denied” and refusing entry permission. It began working again after around an hour offline.

Meanwhile, Spain’s state-owned broadcaster hit out the EBU, calling on it to respect “press and opinion” at this year’s event. RTVE wrote on social media: “The Spanish delegation from @eurovision_tve has conveyed to @EBU_HQ its commitment to freedom of the press and opinion and has asked that @Eurovision let them watch it.”

The post was made shortly after it was announced that Madrid would be hosting the Junior Eurovision Song Contest later this year.

Some 26 countries, including UK entry Olly Alexander, 33, with his track Dizzy, and Ireland’s Bambie Thug, 31, with the song Doomsday Blue, are due to battle it out for the coveted Eurovision glass trophy on Saturday.

Controversy and confusion at media event

Klein had been vocal in a news conference on Thursday night, which brought together the 10 acts from the second semi-final selected for the final, including Israel and the Netherlands.

Towards the end of the conference, Israeli entry Golan was asked by Polish radio outlet Newsletter whether she thought she was causing a security risk for other participants by attending the event.

The moderator of the conference, Swedish presenter Jovan Radomir, told Golan she did not have to answer the question if she did not want to.

Klein shouted out loudly: “Why not?”

Golan responded to the question, saying: “I think we’re all here for one reason, and one reason only. And the EBU is taking all safety precautions to make this a safe and united place for everyone. And so, I think it’s safe for everyone or we wouldn’t be here.”

Her response was met with a round of applause.

Earlier in the media session Klein, who was asked by an audience member, “Do you think that your song can unite us all by music?”

He swiftly replied: “That’s a good question for the EBU.”

At the start of the news conference, Klein had also draped what appeared to be a Dutch flag around his head completely, sitting like that for a short while before the questions began.

Sky News has emailed Klein’s representatives for comment on his absence from the dress rehearsal.

Greece’s entry, Marina Satti, appeared to pretend to fall asleep as Israel’s Golan spoke.

Read more:
Will Abba perform on the night?
Acts to look out for – and why two songs are controversial

Tight security in Malmo amid protests

There are more pro-Palestinian protests planned in Malmo to coincide with the Eurovision grand final, amid the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Police estimated more than 10,000 people took part in a march on Thursday.

Over the last few months, there have been demonstrations and calls for acts to boycott the show, after the EBU refused to remove Israel from the competition, insisting it had broken no broadcasting rules.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Golan’s song Hurricane was reworked from a previous track called October Rain, which was thought to reference the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.

During an earlier rehearsal on Wednesday, Golan was met with some boos and cries of “Free Palestine,” and an audience member appeared to have a Palestinian flag removed from them in the auditorium.

On Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called protests against Israel’s participation in Eurovision “wrong,” adding “scenes we’ve seen here [in Malmo] have been outrageous”.

:: Sky News will be in Malmo with updates, a live blog, and all the biggest news from the final as it happens on Saturday.