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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.

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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.”

Bridgerton series three. Pic: Netflix
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Pic: Netflix

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?

Bridgerton series three. Pic: Netflix
Image:
Pic: Netflix

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.

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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.

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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.

Bridgerton series three. Pic: Netflix
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Pic: Netflix

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.

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Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia talked about modern masculinity before Gen Z was born 

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Pete Townshend's Quadrophenia talked about modern masculinity before Gen Z was born 

Despite The Who’s Quadrophenia being set over 60 years ago, Pete Townshend’s themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.

The album is having a renaissance as Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia A Mod ballet is being brought to life via dance at Sadler’s Wells East, and Sky News has an exclusive first look.

As Townshend puts it, the album he wrote is “perfect” for the stage.

Pete Townshend
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Pete Townshend

“My wife Rachel did the orchestration for me, and as soon as I heard it I said to her it would make a fabulous ballet and we never really let that go,” he tells Sky News.

“Heavy percussion, concussive sequences. They’re explosive moments. They’re also romantic movement moments.”

If you identify with the demographics of Millennial, Gen Y or Gen Z, you might not be familiar with The Who and Mod culture.

But in post-war Britain the Mods were a cultural phenomenon characterised by fashion, music, and of course, scooters. The young rebels were seen as a counter-culture to the establishment and The Who, with Roger Daltry’s lead vocals and Pete Townshend’s writing, were the soundtrack.

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Quadrophenia the album is widely regarded as an essay on the British adolescent experience at the time, focusing on the life of fictional protagonist Jimmy – a young Mod struggling with his sanity, self-doubt, and alienation. 

Townshend sets the rock opera in 1965 but thinks its themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.

He says: “The phobias and the restrictions and the unwritten laws about how young men should behave. The ground that they broke, that we broke because I was a part of it.

“Men were letting go of [the] wartime-related, uniform-related stance that if I wear this kind of outfit it makes me look like a man.”

Paris Fitzpatrick and Pete Townshend. Pic: Johan Persson
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Paris Fitzpatrick and Pete Townshend. Pic: Johan Persson

This struggle of modern masculinity and identity appears to be echoing today as manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate, incel culture, and Netflix’s Adolescence make headlines.

For dancer Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy, the story resonates.

Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy in the ballet
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Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy in the ballet

“I think there’s a connection massively and I think there may even be a little more revival in some way,” he tells Sky News.

“I love that myself. I love non-conforming to gender norms and typical masculinity; I think it’s great to challenge things.”

Despite the album being written before he was born, the dancer says he was familiar with the genre already.

“I actually did an art GCSE project about Mods and rockers and Quadrophenia,” he says.

“I think we’ll be able to bring it to new audiences and hopefully, maybe people will be inspired to to learn more about their music and the whole cultural movement of the early 60s.”

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In 1979, the album was adapted into a film directed by Franc Roddam starring Ray Winstone and Sting but Townshend admits because the film missed key points he is “not a big fan”.

“What it turned out to be in the movie was a story about culture, about social scenario and less about really the specifics of mental illness and how that affects young people,” he adds, also complimenting Roddam’s writing for the film.

Perhaps a testament to Pete Townshend’s creativity, Quadrophenia started as an album, was successfully adapted to film and now it will hit the stage as a contemporary ballet.

It appears that over six decades later Mod culture is still cool and their issues still relatable.

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal from 28 May to 1 June 2025, Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 10 to 14 June 2025 and the Mayflower, Southampton from 18 to 21 June 2025 before having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 24 June running to 13 July 2025 and then visiting The Lowry, Salford from 15 to 19 July 2025.

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Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

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Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand has been charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault between 1999 and 2005.

The Metropolitan Police say the 50-year-old comedian, actor and author has also been charged with one count of oral rape and one count of indecent assault.

The charges relate to four women.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May.

Police have said Brand is accused of raping a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999 and indecently assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2001.

He is also accused of orally raping and sexually assaulting a woman in Westminster in 2004.

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Ashna Hurynag discusses Russell Brand’s charges

The fourth charge alleges that a woman was sexually assaulted in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.

Police began investigating Brand, from Oxfordshire, in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations.

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The comedian has denied the accusations and said he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”.

He added in a video on X: “Of course, I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”

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Tom Cruise leads moment of silence in tribute to ‘dear friend’ Val Kilmer

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Tom Cruise leads moment of silence in tribute to 'dear friend' Val Kilmer

Tom Cruise has paid tribute to Val Kilmer, wishing his Top Gun co-star “well on the next journey”.

Cruise, speaking at the CinemaCon film event in Las Vegas on Thursday, asked for a moment’s silence to reflect on the “wonderful” times shared with the star, whom he called a “dear friend”.

Kilmer, who died of pneumonia on Tuesday aged 65, rocketed to fame starring alongside Cruise in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, playing Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, a rival fighter pilot to Cruise’s character Maverick.

Tom Cruise, star of the upcoming film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," leads a moment of silence for late actor Val Kilmer during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon at Caesars Palace on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Tom Cruise said ‘I wish you well on the next journey’. Pic: AP

Val Kilmer in 2017. Pic: AP
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Val Kilmer in 2017. Pic: AP

His last part was a cameo role in the 2022 blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Cruise, on stage at Caesars Palace on Thursday, said: “I’d like to honour a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honoured I was when he joined Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick.

“I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.

“I wish you well on the next journey.”

The moment of silence followed a string of tributes from Hollywood figures including Cher, Francis Ford Coppola, Antonio Banderas and Michelle Monaghan.

Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes told the New York Times on Wednesday that the actor had died from pneumonia.

Tom Cruise takes part in the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon at Caesars Palace on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Tom Cruise at Caesars Palace on Thursday. Pic: AP

Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, Kilmer discussed his illness and recovery in his 2020 memoir Your Huckleberry and Amazon Prime documentary Val.

He underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments for the disease and also had a tracheostomy which damaged his vocal cords and permanently gave him a raspy speaking voice.

Kilmer played Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever and received critical acclaim for his portrayal of rock singer Jim Morrison in the 1991 movie The Doors.

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He also starred in True Romance and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, as well as playing criminal Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann’s 1995 movie Heat and Doc Holliday in the 1993 film Tombstone.

In 1988 he married British actress Joanne Whalley, whom he met while working on fantasy adventure Willow.

The couple had two children before divorcing in 1996.

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