There seems to be a shift within PlayStation (Sony)
GameCentral recaps the current state of PlayStation, following its last showcase, with every newly announced and rumoured PS5 game in the works.
Sony is in a weird place at the moment. Its big live service game ambitions have clearly fallen apart, with multiple cancelled projects resulting in too few exclusives for the PlayStation 5 over the last six years. And yet the console has been selling very well, thanks in part to Xbox no longer offering any real competition.
We also appear to be witnessing something of a resurgence for the PlayStation brand, since there are two traditional single-player exclusives launching this year and the latest State of Play announced a handful more exclsuvies. One of them even released right after the showcase.
That said, most of the showcase was dominated by third party releases, with even exclusives like Kena: Scars Of Kosmora and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls coming from other studios. A lot of Sony’s own developers, meanwhile, had nothing to show for themselves.
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If you’ve fallen behind on Sony’s future PlayStation 5 plans, we’ve run through all of the internal PlayStation studios to recap what exactly they’re making, what they’re rumoured to be making, and/or if there’s any info about their next games at all.
Bend Studio
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Days Gone developer Bend Studio was previously working on one of Sony’s live service game projects, but it was cancelled before anything was shown. As such, the studio has gone the entire PlayStation 5’s lifecycle so far without releasing anything new (not counting the Days Gone remaster).
The studio was also beset by layoffs last June, with an X post only saying it was moving on to its ‘next project.’ What that project is remains a mystery and is likely very, very early in development.
A now deleted job listing for a new creative director (via MP1st) mentioned that candidates would ideally have ‘experience with multiplayer game development and design,’ so Sony may have moved it onto a different live service project. At the very least, don’t expect a traditional Days Gone sequel.
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Bluepoint Games
Just like Bend, Bluepoint Games was working on a live service game (specifically a God Of War one), but it was canned last year. Unlike Bend, though, it at least got a Demon’s Souls remake out as a PlayStation 5 launch title, but that’s been it so far.
Bluepoint previously said its next game would be entirely original and not another remake or remaster (which is what it’s best known for), but that was in 2021 and those plans may very well have changed.
A job listing from last October did give away that Bluepoint is working on some kind of third person action game and given Sony seems to be walking back its live service ambitions, it’ll hopefully be a traditional single-player experience.
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Bungie
Bungie isn’t officially part of PlayStation Studios, with Sony assuring its staff that it would retain independence following the acquisition, but it may as well be considering all the layoffs and Sony’s tightening grip.
Just last November, Sony admitted it spent far too much on buying Bungie and has yet to reap any real benefits from it. This is one of the big reasons why the studio is hyping up its Marathon live service extraction shooter, which launches as a multiplatform title on March 5. Bungie needs something to justify its continued existence under Sony.
It is rumoured some early work is being done on Destiny 3, but if Marathon underperforms, we fear that could be the final nail in Bungie’s coffin. The game isn’t free-to-play, but Bungie is running a free preview session from February 26 and all through that following weekend, which aims to generate early interest in the game.
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Dark Outlaw Games
Hopefully, this one isn’t shut down before it gets to release anything (Sony)
In 2021, Call Of Duty veterans Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell founded Deviation Games and, though not part of PlayStation Studios, partnered with Sony on a new PlayStation exclusive triple-A game.
The studio shuttered in 2024 without even properly announcing its project, but Blundell has since officially joined Sony to lead the newly formed Dark Outlaw Games.
It too is working on a wholly original triple-A game, but hopefully history doesn’t keep repeating itself and Dark Outlaw actually manages to release a game.
Firesprite
Firesprite was seemingly bought by Sony for its VR experience, but given how rapidly Sony’s interest in VR gaming has dwindled since then, you have to assume the studio doesn’t have a new VR project in the works after Horizon Call Of The Mountain.
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The rumoured Twisted Metal reboot has long been cancelled (even with the TV show proving successful), but it sounds like Firesprite is still working on the new story driven horror game mentioned in job listings from 2022.
You have to assume this is the same project as the ‘dark, story-driven next generation narrative adventure’ mentioned in a now deleted job listing last year (via PlayStation Universe). ‘Next generation,’ though, implies this is aiming for a PlayStation 6 release and that console faces a potential delay to 2029.
Guerrilla Games
Guerrilla Games is one of the few PlayStation studios to have tangible plans, although it’s currently prioritising yet another live service multiplayer game, in Horizon Hunters Gathering.
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Whether this one will have any staying power remains to be seen, but the studio has assured fans that it’ll still work on single-player games too. In fact, a third Horizon game was basically confirmed in 2023 and is likely already in active development.
Unfortunately, most of the team is reportedly working on Hunters Gathering, so progress must be going slow. So, even with a potential console delay, Horizon 3 will probably be pushed back to become a PlayStation 6 title.
Haven Studios
Even with Sony running back a lot of its live service plans, Haven Studios is still trucking along with its multiplayer shooter Fairgame$. It’s easy to be sceptical about it, though, when it’s seen no real updates since its 2023 teaser reveal, which didn’t even feature any gameplay.
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Early impressions were reportedly positive, but the same was said for Highguard and look how that ultimately turned out. Also, six months ago, Haven lost game director Daniel Drapeau to Warner Bros. Montréal, which hardly bodes well for Fairgame$.
Last we heard, the game was pushed into 2026 but if it was due this year, you’d think Sony would have mentioned it during the last State of Play. Instead, Sony’s main live service project for the year is the aforementioned Marathon reboot, so perhaps Fairgame$ has been hit with another delay or even cancellation.
Housemarque
It’s been nearly five years since Returnal and in that time, Housemarque has been working on a spiritual successor in Saros, easily our most anticipated PlayStation 5 game of the year.
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Thankfully, Housemarque hasn’t been waylaid by Sony’s live service plans and was able to focus all its energy on Saros, which remains a single-player roguelike blending third person shooting and bullet hell action.
It launches on April 30 and although there’s no sign of a PC release, we imagine one will follow eventually.
Insomniac Games
While Insomniac’s Wolverine game was announced all the way back in 2021, the studio has managed to maintain a consistent release schedule, since Wolverine will arrive only three years after Spider-Man 2. That makes it Insomniac’s fourth PlayStation 5 title after Spider-Man: Miles Morales (and the remaster of the original) and 2021’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
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You can expect more updates on Wolverine this year, although the real question is whether it will still meet its autumn release window when GTA 6 is coming out around the same time. Don’t be surprised if Sony winds up pushing it back.
A lot of Insomniac’s post-Wolverine plans leaked thanks to the 2023 hacking incident, which mentioned multiple Marvel games and another Ratchet & Clank. Plans have no doubt changed as a result, although the studio remains committed to further Marvel collaborations.
Spider-Man 3 is obviously one of them, but whether those leaked Venom and X-Men games are still planned is anyone’s guess.
Media Molecule
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Game creation tool Dreams remains active, but active support ended in 2023, with Media Molecule saying it had moved onto a new project, without ever porting Dreams to the PlayStation 5.
This means the studio hasn’t released anything for current hardware and unfortunately, there remains no updates or even rumours on what its next project could be.
It’s unlikely the studio will return to LittleBigPlanet, considering the series hasn’t had a proper sequel since 2014’s LittleBigPlanet 3 and has only continued through spin-offs like Sackboy: A Big Adventure. None of which Media Molecule was involved with.
The safest assumption, based on its previous work, is that anything Media Molecule releases next will involve player-generated content of some kind, but who knows what Sony’s intentions with the studio are nowadays.
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Naughty Dog
After what felt like endless Last Of Us re-releases, Naughty Dog has an entirely new game in the works, with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Only vaguely described as an action adventure game, rumours point to it having an Elden Ring inspired open world.
There seemed to be signs this would be one of Sony’s big 2026 releases, but reliable insiders have said this won’t be the case. Between Saros and Wolverine, Sony can arguably afford to hold Intergalactic back for a 2027 release.
Development doesn’t sound like it’s been running smoothly, though, since Bloomberg reported that the project has missed multiple deadlines, prompting a crunch period just to get an internal demo ready.
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Naughty Dog is supposed to have at least one other game in the pipeline, with a rumour alleging it’s from the director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, but the studio is unlikely to share any details on that until after Intergalactic comes out.
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony is no doubt working on a Gran Turismo 8, with studio CEO and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi teasing it in 2023, but there remains no sign of it.
Sony may not feel any pressure to push a sequel out until Gran Turismo 7’s microtransactions stop being profitable, but the company has given no indication of how much money it’s still making from those.
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If anything, Gran Turismo 7, which launched in 2022, is perhaps one of Sony’s few live service successes, since it’s clearly still popular enough to be getting new cars and events as recently as last month.
San Diego Studio
There’s not much to say about San Diego Studio, since all it really does nowadays is make annual MLB The Show games for baseball fans.
It wasn’t mentioned in the last State of Play, but this year’s entry – MLB The Show 26 – is launching on March 17 and is available for pre-order. It’s also a rare example of a PlayStation franchise going multiplatform, with it following last year’s example and launching for Xbox and Nintendo Switch… but not Switch 2.
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Santa Monica Studio
After years of silence, Santa Monica Studio dropped quite the bomb during the last State of Play. Not only did it shadow drop a God Of War prequel, in the form of Sons Of Sparta, but it’s remaking all three of the original Greek era games – or at least someone is, it’s not really clear.
While Sons Of Sparta was developed by Mega Cat Studios (Santa Monica just wrote the script), it’s not clear how involved they are with the remake trilogy. Whether they’re doing it all themselves, or co-operating with another studio, it seems to suggest that an entirely new God Of War sequel won’t now see the light of day until the 2030s.
However, rumours point to another Santa Monica game that’s being helmed by God Of War director Cory Barlog; one that could be announced later this year and launch in 2027. Apparently, it’s not a new IP but it ‘might feel like one,’ which doesn’t really narrow down what it could be… unless it’s resurrecting 2001 racing game Kinetica, the first thing Santa Monica ever released.
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Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch only launched Ghost Of Yōtei last year and development hasn’t actually ended yet, since it’s currently planning to add co-op multiplayer to the game on March 10.
Since the studio focuses on only one game at a time, its next project likely won’t launch for another five years and the PlayStation 6 should be out by then. Sucker Punch also doesn’t seem to have committed itself to a third samurai game yet, but Sony higher-ups may push for it since both Ghost Of Yōtei and Ghost Of Tsushima were financial hits.
If not, it’s more likely Sucker Punch will pursue an original IP rather than revisit either of its Sly Cooper or inFamous franchises, having shown no interest in reviving them since the PlayStation 3 era.
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Team Asobi
Considering Team Asobi is the only real remnant of Japan Studio left, it’d be nice to see it crank out a wholly original and inventive game akin to Japan Studio’s past work.
The success of Astro Bot, though, means it’s more likely Sony is pushing for more games starring the robotic mascot, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing as Sony is incentivised to pursue the family market again.
Astro Bot as a character lends himself well to myriad genres geared towards families, but hopefully Sony doesn’t overuse him and make a bunch of homogenous Astro Bot spin-offs. But at the moment, Team Asobi has given no real hints on what it’s working on.
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teamLFG
Between this, Bungie, and Haven, Sony has three dedicated live service game teams (Sony)
teamLFG was only formed last year, having been spun out of Bungie and consisting of developers who’ve worked on successful ongoing games like League Of Legends and Fortnite.
It’s apparent that Sony wants this studio to pump out a new live service hit, with its first project believed to have started under Bungie before being moved over to them. It’s explicitly described as a multiplayer game inspired by ‘fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog type games.’ And no, we still don’t know what frog type games are.
Perhaps Sony has recognised that it’s better to have dedicated studios for live service games, rather than forcing ones that mostly did single-player games to pivot, but it’s still far too early to tell if teamLFG will find any success with its work. Especially since there’s been no word from the studio since its formation.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman upheld a complaint raised by a daughter over her mother’s care at Aria Court in March.
A care home in March “failed to provide a good standard of care” to a former resident, and lost some of their personal jewellery after they died. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that staff at Aria Court did not feed the woman in their care in the way they should have done, causing distress to her family.
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The Ombudsman upheld a complaint against Cambridgeshire County Council due to the failings of the commissioned care provider. The county council said it is working with the care provider to ensure steps are taken to reduce the risk of something similar happening again. The management at the care home has also since changed.
The Ombudsman report said the woman, referred to as Mrs X, moved into the care home in October 2024. It explained that she had dementia and was no longer able to speak or feed herself.
The report stated that Mrs X’s care plan explained that she needed one-to-one assistance to eat and drink, and that each hour she should be encouraged to drink. Her care plan also set out that when being fed she needed to be carefully positioned sitting up in her bed with pillows at her sides to support her.
However, Mrs X’s daughter, referred to as Ms B, raised concerns after visiting her mother and noticing that in the two hours she was there no staff came to check on her mother or offer her a drink as required. The following day Mrs X was admitted to hospital with dehydration and suspected sepsis.
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The family spoke about the issue with Mrs X’s social worker, who spoke to the team leader at the care home setting out the guidance for how to help Mrs X eat and drink when she was discharged. Mrs X was discharged back to the care home on October 29, but was readmitted to hospital the next day.
She later returned to the care home in November, where her family continued to notice ongoing problems with their mother’s care. The Ombudsman report said Ms B has photographic evidence of care workers trying to feed her mother with her head down, and said at times Ms B saw staff trying to feed Mrs X while she was lying on her side.
The report said Ms B raised these concerns with the care home. Mrs X’s social worker also went on to raise concerns, highlighting that they had noticed staff trying to feed Mrs X whilst she was in a “reclined side laying position” stressing that this was “unsafe”.
The care provider later replied to the social worker stating that staff were now making sure Mrs X was in the correct position before eating, and was being offered regular drinks. However, Ms B said that on a visit in December they found Mrs X “being fed on her side, head down” and that no one tried to offer her mother a drink while she was there.
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Ms B also claimed staff openly talking in front of her mother about the end of life medication they were giving her, and saw staff giving Mrs X large spoonfuls of medication and not waiting for her to swallow before “pushing” in another.
Ms B said she also saw staff filling out a 30 minute observation sheet prospectively, and later saw a care worker enter her mother’s room at 8pm and fill out the observation for 7.30pm, when she knew they had not been there, as she had been in her mother’s room at that time.
Mrs X died in January 2025. After she passed away her daughter said rings her mother had worn on her left hand were missing and that the care manager had not been able to find them.
The Ombudsman report said the care provider acknowledged it had not always responded to Ms B’s contacts, and agreed that sight charts had been completed retrospectively and apologised for this. The report also said the care provider had acknowledged some of Mrs X’s jewellery remained missing.
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After Ms B complained to the Ombudsman the issues were highlighted to the county council, which said it had not seen the complaint before, although the care provider was required to notify its contacts manager about any complaints.
The county council told the Ombudsman that the management at the care home had changed, and the home was also seeking to improve staff knowledge of the need to maintain proper records.
‘Family caused distress to see failings in mother’s care’
The Ombudsman report said: “There were concerns voiced by Ms B about Mrs X’s positioning for feeding from her readmission to the home in November. Despite the care plan and the discharge note from the hospital, care workers continued to try and feed Mrs X when she was poorly positioned.
“That was a potential breach of the regulations, it was not treating Mrs X with dignity, it failed to meet her nutritional needs properly and it was not appropriate for her needs. It caused Ms B and Mr X [Mrs X’s husband] significant distress to see it continuing.
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“The care provider acknowledges it failed to maintain records properly, or communicate properly with Mrs X’s family. That was also a potential breach of the regulations. Inaccurate records for one resident cast doubt on the entirety of the care provider’s recording system.
“The missing jewellery is a further distressing event for Ms B and Mr X. While it may not be possible for the care provider to trace that now, there should have been an accurate record of where it was.”
The Ombudsman said the county council needed to continue to review with the home’s current management the concerns about adherence to the guidance for caring for residents and how training can be provided.
It also said the authority should offer £500 each to Ms B and Mr X in recognition of the “distress they suffered witnessing the care provider’s failures to treat Mrs X correctly”.
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The Ombudsman also said a further £250 should be offered to Ms B in recognition of the time and trouble she had been through in making the complaint.
A spokesperson for the county council said: “We accept the findings of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman who has identified shortcomings in the service provided to this family and we are complying with all their recommendations.
“The care provider has acknowledged their responsibility for the issues and the council has actively worked with them to ensure that steps have been taken to reduce the risk of something similar happening again. A full update on progress towards this will be provided to the Ombudsman within the three-month period specified in the decision.”
Athena Care Homes (UK) Limited, which runs Aria Court, was contacted for comment.
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Piers Morgan has forecasted that President Donald Trump will become “a lame duck president” if the Republican Party loses the House in the 2026 midterms.
On Monday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, the British broadcaster praised Trump for initiating a major shutdown of the US-Mexico border, then said that he was “going way too far” with the nationwide expansion of ICE raids.
“Whilst [Trump] did brilliantly in shutting down the southern border after the ridiculous hemorrhaging, sort of open border under [former President Joe] Biden, and whilst he was quite right in assessing that Americans, broadly speaking from all the polls, are happy for people who are in the country illegally, who then commit crimes unconnected to their status, to be deported, it’s the behavior of ICE on the streets of American cities and towns in going way too far with people who may have been in the country for 10 years, raised kids, got jobs, paid taxes, and so on, that is not supported by the American people,” Morgan said.
Morgan also predicted that Trump was “going to get the whiplash back from” the deadly ICE raids during the 2026 midterms.
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“[The Republicans are] gonna lose the House, and then he’ll become effectively, as everyone does in that scenario, a bit of a lame duck president,” Morgan said. “And if that happens, he’ll only have himself to blame for going too far with the way that ICE has been on the streets.”
This is not the first time Morgan has disagreed with the president. He also defended Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance against criticism from Trump and his MAGA supporters. When Trump condemned the Grammy winner, an outspoken critic of the administration’s immigration crackdown, Morgan showed support for the musician in a Feb. 9 X post.
“Couldn’t disagree more, Mr President. I absolutely loved Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Amazing (best in Super Bowl history?) theatre/choreography, great energy, superbly confident performance, and a very welcome unifying message,” he wrote alongside a screenshot of Trump’s post.
Morgan then took another swipe at Trump, who complained about Bad Bunny predominantly performing in Spanish, adding, “Oh, and Spanish is 1st language for 50m+ Americans!”
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In a separate X post, Morgan clarified that he was still “friends” with Trump, adding, “I just disagree with him about a lot of things (and agree about others).”
Setting sail from the busy port of Plymouth in Devon, the tall ship Pelican of London takes young people to sea, often for the first time.
During each nine-day voyage, the UK-based sailing trainees, who often come from socio-economically challenging backgrounds, become crew members. They not only learn the ropes (literally) but also engage in ocean science and stewardship activities.
As marine and outdoor education researchers, we wanted to find out whether mixing sail training and Steams (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics and sustainability) activities can inspire young people to pursue a more ocean-focused career, and a long-term commitment to ocean care.
Research shows that a strong connection with the ocean can drive people to be active marine citizens. This means they take responsibility for ocean health not only in their own lives but as advocates for more sustainable interactions with the ocean.
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Trainees get out of their comfort zone during each nine-day voyage. Pelican of London
Based on scientific evidence, our theory of change models how Steams activities can cause positive changes in personal development and knowledge and understanding of the ocean (known as ocean literacy). It shows how the voyages can develop trainees’ strong connections with the ocean and encourage them to act responsibly towards it.
Tracking change
Surveys with the participants before and after the voyage, and six months later, measure any changes that occur – and how these persist. Through our evaluation, we’re exploring how combining voyages with Steams activities can go beyond personal development to produce deep, long-lasting effects.
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Our pilot study has already shown how the sail training and Steams combination helps to develop confidence, ocean literacy and ocean connections.
For example, the boost to self-esteem and feelings of capability that occur on board help young people develop their marine identity – the ocean becomes an important part of a person’s sense of who they are. As one trainee put it: “I think the ocean is me and the ocean will and forever be part of me.”
Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.
This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.
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As crew members, trainees access a world and traditional culture largely unknown to them before the voyage. They learn to live with others in a confined space, working together in small teams to keep watch on 24-hour rotas.
Trainees are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone through activities such as climbing the rigging and swimming off the vessel. Our pilot evaluation found the voyages built the trainees’ confidence and social skills, boosting self-esteem and feelings of capability.
One trainee said: “I’ve felt pretty disappointed in myself not committing to my education or only doing something with minimal effort. But after this voyage, I want to give it my all.”
The Steams voyages encourage the development of scientific skills and ocean literacy through the lens of creative tasks at sea. These activities are led by a scientist-in-residence who provides mentoring and introduces research techniques.
The voyage gives trainees the opportunity to use scientific equipment, ranging from plankton nets and microscopes to cutting-edge technology such as remotely operated vehicles. The Steams activities introduce marine research as a potential career to these young people. One said they wanted to train as a marine engineer at nautical college following the voyage.
Taking part in wildlife surveys while on board. Pelican of London.
Ocean experiences provide a foundation for ocean connection. Trainees experience the ocean in sunshine and in gales, day and night, rolling with the waves and observing marine life in its natural environment.
Citizen science projects such as wildlife surveys and recorded beach cleans also develop their ocean stewardship knowledge and skills. One trainee explained how they have “become more interested [in] our marine life and creative ways to help protect it”.
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Over the next 12 months, the information we collect from the voyages will help us to better understand the benefits and contribute to an important marine social science data gap in young people. It is important to understand how to develop young people’s relationships with the ocean, and the knowledge and skills that will empower the next generation of marine citizens.
As one trainee put it: “Being out on the Pelican showed me how vast and powerful the sea is – and how important it is to respect and care for it.”
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Jose Mourinho was criticised by Clarence Seedorf after appearing to suggest that Vinicius Jr had provoked racist abuse by celebrating his goal for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League and inciting the scenes that followed.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius had sent Madrid into the lead in Lisbon with a superb strike in the early stages of the second half before dancing by the corner flag in front of the home supporters. He was booked by the referee for an excessive celebration.
Before the match resumed, Vinicius exchanged words with Benfica’s Ginaluca Prestianni and reported the player to the referee over an alleged racist remark.
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Gianluca Prestianni hides his mouth while arguing with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr (AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement on Instagram, Benfica winger Prestianni said he had not directed racist insults at Vinicius who he said had “regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard”.
But the match was paused for 11 minutes, as the referee followed Fifa’s racist abuse protocols, with Mourinho seen talking to several Madrid players, including Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, as tensions rose in the stadium.
Mourinho was later sent off for demanding a second booking for Vinicius after a foul from the Brazilian. Mourinho stormed towards the fourth official but was himself cautioned for his protests, but continued remonstrating and was promptly shown a second yellow card.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho said he had spoken to both Vinicius and Prestianni nd could not be biased against either player. But he criticised Vinicius for his goal celebration.
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“It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game… these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way.”
Mourinho was asked if Vinicius had “incited” the Benfica players and the crowd with his celebration and he responded: “Yeah, I believe so. The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don’t comment about it.”
The Portuguese manager then revealed his own talks with Vinicius and explained what he had told the winger during the pause in play.
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Jose Mourinho spoke to Vinicius Jr during the break in play (AP)
“I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back,” Mourinho added. “And then when he was arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.
“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always.
“I’m saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal absolutely crazy goal and then game over.”
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Vinicius Jr alleges he received a racist remark on the pitch in the Champions League clash with Benfica (AFP via Getty Images)
Amazon Prime pundits Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott seemed stunned by Mourinho’s comments with Rooney labelling them “unfair” and Seedorf saying Mourinho made a ‘big mistake’.
“As he said he’s trying to stay independent but I think it was very unfair what he said about Vinicius,” Rooney said when pressed for comment by presenter Gabby Logan.
Seedorf further explained by adding: “I think he’s [Jose Mourinho] is still emotional. I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today. He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s okay when Vinicius provokes you, that is it okay to be racist and I think that is very wrong.
“We should never, ever justify racial abuse. And Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. And I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately I believe. Because we should not be telling the people at home that someone makes a dance or something then it’s okay to be racist.”
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Theo Walcott plainly finished: “That’s the one time we shouldn’t have heard from him [Mourinho], tonight he should not have been in front of the cameras.”
It looks like another surprising turn in the career of Jesse Lingard (Picture: Getty Images)
Jesse Lingard is continuing to build a unique career as he nears a move to a little-known club in Brazil.
The England international left Nottingham Forest in 2023 and made a surprise switch to South Korea, where he spent two seasons with FC Seoul in the K League.
A star name in the division, Lingard played 41 times last season in all competitions, scoring 13 goals as club captain.
However, he departed in December 2025 and has been looking for a new club ever since, available on a free transfer.
Lingard made 67 appearances for FC Seoul, scoring 19 goals (Picture: Getty Images)
Clube do Remo were promoted from Serie B, the Brazilian second tier, last season and are now in the alongside the likes of Flamengo, Palmeiras, Fluminense and Botafogo.
The report from Globo states that negotiations have been ongoing for weeks and a deal has been edging closer over recent days.
There is now a ‘good chance’ of the former Manchester United player signing for Remo until the end of the current season.
The Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A season runs from January to December so is already underway, but only three games into the campaign.
Lingard has entered a globe-trotting phase of his career (Picture: Getty Images)
Remo currently sit 16th in the table, with two draws and a defeat from their opening three contests.
Lingard will bring vast experience if he does make the switch to Brazil, having made 232 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 35 goals.
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He won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League with the Red Devils, with his best individual season coming in 2017/18 when he scored 13 goals in 48 outings across all competitions.
The 32-cap England international had loan spells at Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby County early in his career and a memorable stint at West Ham in 2020/21 when he scored nine goals in 16 Premier League games.
Lingard won the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017 (Picture: Getty Images)
He left Manchester United for Nottingham Forest in 2022 but had a forgettable season at the City Ground before moving to Korea in early 2024.
On leaving FC Seoul in December, he wrote: ‘This wasn’t an easy decision. My time in South Korea has been unbelievable — the football, the atmosphere, and the passion around this club have been top-class. The love, support and the appreciation you have shown towards me for these last 2 years has been truly amazing.
‘Playing football here has been an unforgettable experience and one I will always value.
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‘I want to thank FC Seoul, my teammates, the staff, and everyone associated at the club for trusting me and welcoming me from day one. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to play for such a massive club.’
The star has been a regular on the Channel 4 show since it first started in 2013 but was notably absent in recent episodes.
07:51, 18 Feb 2026Updated 08:01, 18 Feb 2026
A Gogglebox star has disclosed why he’s been absent from the screen recently. Raza Siddiqui, a fan favourite on the popular Channel 4 series, had to take a break from filming. He had been a staple on the programme since its inception in 2013. He frequently appeared with his family as they shared their views on the latest programmes alongside the likes of best friends Jenny and Lee, and sisters Izzi and Ellie.
However, he was conspicuously missing in the most recent series, leading fans to wonder about his whereabouts, whilst father Sid and brothers Umar and Bassit continue to provide entertainment. Now, Raza has shared an update from his hospital bed. Posted on the Siddiqui family’s Instagram account, the upload featured an image of him receiving hospital treatment, and snaps of him recovering at home, reports the Mirror.
To clarify his absence from the show, the post read: “For you eagle eyed Goggleboxers, you may have noticed that Raza (@razathefaint) hasn’t joined us on the sofa so far this season. Sadly he had a bit of a fall, a few weeks back and cracked some ribs.” The post stated that they fully anticipate his return in a few weeks as he is recuperating well. It continued: “He’s absolutely smashing his recovery, staying positive and keeping himself entertained with walks, telly, reading and nephew cuddles with Theodore.
“I know you guys reaching out and sending your well wishes will put a bigger smile on his face than morphine ever could. Can’t wait for all four Siddiquis to be back on team @c4gogglebox with the rest of the fab families.” The post was greeted with a wave of positive responses and well-wishing messages. One user commented: “Bless you get well soon, we look forward to having you back on our screens when you are well enough. “Another expressed hope for his “speedy recovery”. A third chimed in with: “Oh no! Get well soon!”
Away from the show, Baasit is married to wife Melissa, and the couple have two children, Amelia and Theodore. Umar and Raza are believed to be single, while dad Sid – a retired engineer who relocated to the UK from Pakistan when he was just 16 – is married to wife Nasreen and they also have two daughters, who have opted to never appear on the show, The Mirror previously reported.
While the Siddiquis often talk about family life on the show, Nasreen has never appeared in front of cameras, and previously dismissed any chance of joining her sons on-screen. She told The Daily Mail: “It’s not something for me, I don’t speak very good English and I’m very shy. It’s best left to the boys. You won’t get me on the TV.”
Regarding how the Siddiqui family secured their place on Gogglebox, Umar recounted their distinctive audition experience to Radio Times: “We did a bit of an audition, where people came round with a camera and some flash cards – images of Boris Johnson, Simon Cowell. “And they said, ‘Right, just say the first thing that comes into your mind’. Whatever dynamic we had seemed to suit the show, because they asked us if we wanted to be part of it. And they’ve kept on asking us.”
The Siddiquis weren’t the only family with a missing member in the recent series. Viewers quickly noticed that brothers Tremaine and Tristan Plummer were without their sibling Twaine. The trio had joined the programme in 2016, but Twaine has been noticeably absent from recent episodes. Prior to an episode’s airing, Tremaine and Tristan confirmed on Instagram: “It’s just the two T’s today as Twaine left us to go on holiday. So we’ve got a new member of the team now,” before introducing their charming dog.
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Twaine expressed his sentiments in response to the post, explaining how gutted he was to be missing out and stating: “Wish I was there. ” His fans were quick to rally around him, extending wishes for a happy birthday. Celebrating his 40th birthday, the star enjoyed a trip to Colombia, writing on Instagram: “lived 14,610 days.”
The brothers made their Gogglebox debut 10 years ago, but have very different jobs away from screens. Two of the stars, who live in Bristol, Twaine and Tristan, have enjoyed professional footballing careers, though Twaine has since worked as a DJ, while Tremaine presents a breakfast radio show on Bristol’s Ujima FM.
The bird has been spotted in a courtyard which is surrounded by buildings at Royal Bolton Hospital.
The area has a net over the top of it – it is unclear how it got in that position, but it is said to have been stuck there since before Christmas, according to staff.
The estates team at the hospital are said to have installed a cage with a fake magpie in it, alongside food, to allow them to catch the bird and set it free.
However, that was reportedly over six weeks ago and has not yet bore fruit.
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The Bolton News spoke to a member of staff at Royal Bolton Hospital, who wished not to be named, about the bird.
The magpie on a ledge (Image: Public)
He said: “There are different zones in the hospital, this is a courtyard between buildings near the blue zone, when you go there you can see it through the window, everybody in the hospital knows about it.
“Staff have been throwing food down to it from the top, but you can see the food still on the floor, I don’t think it is eating it.
“It has been trying to fly around everywhere, it has definitely been there at least since before Christmas.”
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The worker said the issue had been raised and described the cage which had been installed in efforts to catch the bird.
He added: “But that has been there for six weeks.
“Nothing else is being done, everyone is putting complaints in. I reported it to the RSPCA.
The netting over the courtyard (Image: Public)
“It upsets me because it is like it is in a prison. Imagine if it was you locked in there, it is still a creature.”
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A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We are aware of this incident and want to reassure the public that we have visited and are in contact with the hospital.
“While the use of netting to prevent birds nesting is legal, it’s critically important that it is professionally installed and regularly maintained and monitored.
“Problems can arise when netting is put up without a regular maintenance contract in place, is installed incorrectly or becomes damaged or eroded in the weather, leaving gaps where birds can enter and become trapped.
The bird (Image: Public)
“Every year we receive a large number of reports about bird-deterrent netting. Unfortunately it is often fixed in high or hard-to-reach areas, which can make the rescue of trapped animals difficult and dangerous.”
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The Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Royal Bolton Hospital, has been approached for comment.
The RSPB advises any netting used to stop birds nesting or roosting should be “fit for purpose, inspected regularly and maintained”.
It adds that any trapped birds or other wildlife should be “immediately released”.
Innovators have taken a cue from nature to help solve one of washday’s dirty little secrets: microplastics leaching into waterways via household laundry.
A single synthetic garment can release up to 1.5m fibres during a standard wash cycle, and studies point to household laundry as the number one source of microplastics in our oceans.
Yet ironically, it was marine life which inspired the solution dreamt up by a trio of young inventors at the Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, US. Dismayed at existing laundry filters’ tendency to clog, they designed an alternative based on the cone-like mouths of manta rays, which capture plankton in swirling eddies. Their patented Vortx filter traps microplastics in tiny vortices and funnels them into a disposable pod – a method they say is 300% more effective than traditional filters.
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CEO Max Pennington, alongside co-founders Chip Miller and David Dillman, have since gone onto launch a startup, Cleanr. Their device sits on top of a standard washing machine and sells in the US for $359 (£269).
Although this specific device is expensive for the average household and has its own challenges when it comes to disposal, Pennington’s hope now is that microfibre filters will become mandatory in new washing machines. Six US states, including Pennsylvania, Oregon and California, are already discussing laws.
“Legislators are starting to realise that we really need to cut this off at the source,” Pennington said.
Main image: Cleanr
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Expert Mel Schilling issued the lengthy statement on social media following a “heartfelt decision”.
The 53-year-old TV star has been a part of the Australian version of the show since series 2 in 2016, replacing Sabina Read.
The show features a group of strangers taking part in an experiment, being paired together by experts.
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Married at First Sight expert Mel Schilling leaves show
Despite leaving the Australian version of the show, she will remain a part of Married at First Sight in the UK.
The UK version originally aired in 2015 on Channel 4, before moving to its sister channel E4 in 2021, the same channel that airs the Australian counterpart.
The full statement from Ms Schilling on Instagram reads: “After 12 extraordinary seasons, I have made the heartfelt decision to step away from my role as an expert on Married at First Sight Australia.
“This hasn’t been a choice I’ve made lightly. In recent years, my health challenges and living in the UK, spending up to three months a year away from my family is no longer sustainable.
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“It has become clear that I must make a change that puts my family, health and time at the very centre of my life.
“What began as a small social experiment has grown into a global phenomenon, and I have felt truly privileged to be part of that journey.
“I am incredibly grateful to the fans, the production team, and my fellow experts for their trust and passion over the years.
“I am leaving not with sadness, but with a deep sense of gratitude for everything we’ve achieved together.
“Stepping away from the Australian series is the right move for my future, though I look forward to continuing my work with Married at First Sight UK. Thank you for being part of this chapter with me.”
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Married at First Sight stars send wishes to Mel Schilling
Fellow MAFS stars have wished Mel well after announcing she was leaving the show.
Australian expert John Aiken, who has been a part of the show since series 1, said: “Such a privilege to sit beside you, Mel, for a decade. Onwards, my friend, to new beginnings. Big love.”
MAFS Australia 2025 star Jeff Gobbels wrote: “Thanks for everything @mel_schilling1, you’re one of one. Good luck with everything in the future!”
Recommended reading:
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Cam Merchant, who appeared on MAFS Australia in 2019, added: “Be so proud Mel. Beautiful journey.
“Thank you for being ultimately you with the most incredible, heartfelt & postive intentions in all that you.
“Been such a privilege & your next chapter will continue to be special.”
Will you miss Mel Schilling on MAFS Australia? Let us know in the comments.
The episode has emboldened critics who say the unelected house is antiquated, undemocratic and far too slow at punishing bad behavior by its members. Supporters say the chamber of more than 850 members-for-life who sport the titles of “Lord” or “Lady” is an unwieldy but essential part of parliamentary democracy.
Almost everyone agrees it needs reform, but that task has eluded successive governments.
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“It’s a mess,” said Jenny Jones, one of two Green Party members of the Lords. “In spite of our being supposedly a modern democracy, we have a semi-feudal system.”
Relic of the past
For most of its 700-year history, the House of Lords was composed of noblemen — not women — who inherited their seats, alongside a smattering of bishops. In the 1950s, these were joined by “life peers” — retired politicians, civic leaders and other notables appointed by the government, among them the first female members of the Lords.
In 1999, the Labour government of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair evicted most of the more than 750 hereditary peers, though to avoid an aristocrats’ rebellion, 92 were allowed to remain temporarily.
A quarter century on, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s current Labour government finally introduced legislation to oust the remaining “hereditaries,” calling them an indefensible relic of the past.
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The lords have put up a fight, forcing a compromise that will see some hereditary members allowed to stay by being “recycled” into life peers.
“Hereditary peers actually work harder than average peers,” said Charles Hay, the 16th Earl of Kinnoull, who leads the group of cross-bench, or non-party affiliated, peers in the Lords. “It means that you chuck out a lot of people who are actually being effective.”
Most agree that the House of Lords plays an important role in reviewing legislation passed by the elected House of Commons. The lords can amend bills and send them back to lawmakers for another look. But when push comes to shove, the upper house is supposed to give way to the will of the elected chamber.
Critics say the upper chamber has sometimes overstepped the mark by blocking legislation, as with a current bill to legalize assisted dying. It was approved by the Commons but has become bogged down with hundreds of amendments in the Lords.
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Lords-a-misbehaving
Long gone are the days when out-of-favor lords could be imprisoned in the Tower of London or beheaded for treason.
Until recently there was little parliamentary authorities could do about peers who commit ethical breaches or crimes.
Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, otherwise known as the thriller-writer Jeffrey Archer, was imprisoned for perjury in 2001, while Lord Black of Crossharbour — the media baron Conrad Black — served a U.S. prison sentence after a 2007 fraud conviction. Under the rules of the time, neither could be kicked out of the Lords.
Since then, the law has been changed to allow members to be expelled for breaching the Lords code of conduct, imprisonment or non-attendance. To this day, no one has been expelled for bad behavior, though a couple have quit before being kicked out, including one who committed sexual assault and another filmed allegedly snorting cocaine with sex workers.
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Ex-peers get to keep their lordly titles and the cachet they bring. Mandelson — who in one message asked Epstein: “Need a Lord on the board?” — has lost his job and faces a police investigation for misconduct in public office. But he remains Lord Mandelson.
Also under pressure is Starmer’s former chief of staff Matthew Doyle, now Lord Doyle, appointed to the House of Lords despite his friendship with a man later jailed for possessing indecent images of children.
Removing disgraced lords’ titles would require new legislation, something that has not been done since 1917, when several lords were stripped of their titles for siding with Germany in World War I.
Slow pace of change
Labour remains committed to eventually replacing the House of Lords with an alternative second chamber that is “more representative of the U.K.”
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But change is slow. In December, the Lords set up a committee to look at introducing a retirement age of 80 and tightening up the participation requirement.
“Lords reform is glacial,” said Meg Russell, a politics professor who heads the Constitution Unit at University College London. “Things are talked about for decades before they happen.”
The fall of Mandelson, who was appointed to the Lords in 2008 by a previous Labour government, has renewed concern about the quality of members and the way they are selected. Anger among Labour lawmakers about Mandelson escalated into a crisis for Starmer that could yet end his leadership.
Russell says the Mandelson and Doyle controversies show the need to change the way Lords members are chosen. While crossbenchers are appointed by an independent committee, most life peerages are handed out by the prime minister, often to reward aides, allies and donors.
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“There’s really no proper quality check and there’s no limit on numbers and it just looks so anachronistic,” she said. “It’s clear that there ought to be more rigorous processes to check people on the way in.”
The Green Party that Jones represents wants to go further and abolish the Lords, replacing it with an elected upper house.
“We should call it the Senate or something and stop this ridiculous class-based nomenclature,” said Jones, whose formal title is Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb. “I’d be happy to be called senator and not lady.”
