Young stars are the flavour of the months within Man United keen on Lens teenager Mezian Mesloub as JJ Gabriel heads for the exit door, with Real Madrid and Barcelona leading the chase, but Chelsea also in the mix. The Blues are expected to explore January deals for Alex Scott, Adam Wharton and Lamine Camara in January, reigniting their summer interest, while they also keep tabs on Bournemouth winger Rayan.

The Prince and Princess of Wales dazzled on the red carpet tonight as they joined acting legend Tom Cruise for the world premiere of his new film.

While it’s hard to outshine Hollywood royalty, all eyes were on the future king and queen as they arrived for the Royal Film Performance of ‘Digger’ at the Odeon Luxe on London‘s Leicester Square. 

Princess Kate stunned in a purple flowing gown, wearing a love heart necklace and pearl drop earrings with her hair half-up-half-down, while Prince William looked dapper in black tie. 

There was huge anticipation in advance of the princess’s latest red carpet look.

It was something of a reunion for the couple and Cruise, 64, who met at the UK premiere of his hit film Top Gun: Maverick in May 2022.

Cruise is even reported to have organised a special screening of the movie for the Wales’s family after hearing the prince was a huge fan of the 1986 original.

Speaking about the Prince and Princess before their arrival, Cruise said: ‘I just love them. They are lovely people and I have great respect for them.‘

The star and the future king have also worked together at an event to support the London Air Ambulance charity. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales arriving at the Digger world premiere on Tuesday night

Kate stunned in a purple flowing gown, while William looked dapper in black tie 

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The royals met with Hollywood royalty as they chatted to acting legend Tom Cruise on the red carpet in London’s Leicester Square 

It was something of a reunion for the couple and Cruise, 64, who met at the UK premiere of his hit film Top Gun: Maverick in May 2022

The purple loveheart necklace Kate was wearing was also worn by Queen Camilla at the Royal World Premiere of ‘Skyfall’ at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012

Acting legend Tom Cruise joined the Prince and Princess of Wales on the red carpet for the premiere of his new film, Digger, in Leicester Square

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Tom Cruise stars as Digger Rockwell in the new satirical black comedy film ‘Digger’

He has said of William: ‘We have a lot in common. We both love England and we’re both aviators. We both love flying.’

Tonight’s premiere, hosted by Warner Bros and held in aid of the Film and TV Charity, saw William and Catherine greeted by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of London and senior charity representatives before being escorted down the red carpet.

Digger is a satirical black comedy with Cruise playing a wealthy oil tycoon who unleashes an environmental disaster and then tries to prove he is the only man capable of saving the world.

The royals were introduced to members of the cast and creative team, including Cruise and filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu, before the cinema manager showed them to their seats in the auditorium, where they also met beneficiaries of the charity’s work.

The last Royal Film Performance was the premiere of Gladiator II in November 2024, which was attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The King is patron of the Film and TV Charity, which benefits from royal premieres.

Prince William arrived earlier today at the ActOne community cinema in Acton, west London

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2022: William and Kate met Tom Cruise at the Royal Film Performance for Top Gun: Maverick

Tonight’s event is the 73rd Royal Film Performance in the organisation’s 100-year history.

The charity provides support to those across the film, television and cinema industries, many working behind the scenes, with everything from mental and physical wellbeing to financial support. This includes a 24/7 helpline, free counselling and financial grants.

Prince William is also president of BAFTA, which supports film, television and video game production in the UK.

Digger was filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

Kensington Palace said the Prince of Wales was ‘passionate about championing the British cinema industry’, from nurturing emerging talent and local filmmakers to celebrating major international productions.

His appearance tonight came after a visit to the ActOne independent community cinema in Acton, West London, where he served popcorn to shocked filmgoers and attempted to use the till.

He also met local filmmakers who have been supported by ActOne, highlighting the vital role grassroots organisations play in opening up opportunities for young people.

“Since then, I’ve experienced some incredible moments in a Chelsea shirt. Winning the FIFA Club World Cup, having a season I’m proud of, being voted Player of the Season by our supporters and having the pride of becoming Chelsea’s number 9 are memories I’ll always carry with me.

Taylor Swift revealed her return to music on Tuesday with the release of a new single titled Patient Zero.

The pop icon, 36, who wed NFL star Travis Kelce, 36, in July, left fans speculating she was about to drop her wedding photos when her website launched a mysterious two hour countdown on Tuesday.

Swift, known for her previous countdowns and Easter Egg messages to fans, has shared past, similar cryptic posts eventually teasing the release of new albums, new photoshoots and limited edition merchandise.

Not content with tantalizing fans on her website, Swift had also altered both her Twitter and Instagram bio to read, ‘And, baby, that’s sh0w business f0r y0u’ along with a fire heart, with zeros replacing the letter O.

As 2pm ET struck, Swift revealed the cover art for her new single, which appeared to be in homage to the star being described as ‘patient zero’ for emotional contagion in a 2024 LA Times article.

She posted a sultry new snap, captioned, ‘I’ve been impatiently waiting to tell you that my brand new single “Patient Zero” will be out on September 25 (!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it’s available to pre-order now on my website for 24 hours.’

The pop icon, 36, who wed NFL star Travis Kelce, 36, in July, left fans speculating she was about to drop her wedding photos when her website launched a mysterious two hour countdown on Tuesday 

The photos showed Swift draped in revealing black dresses, while she sported smoky eye make-up and her signature red lip, seemingly launching a new era. 

Fans were able to preorder three different $3.99 versions of the track, including acoustic and piano singles.

The gothic shoot, which appeared to have taken place in a crypt led fans to speculate that Swift’s single could be from ‘a sister album to the life of a showgirl and it’s the death of a showgirl.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Swift’s representative for further comment – and has yet to hear back.

Ahead of the announcement fans had quipped ‘plot twist it’s taylor and trav’s wedding photos behind the countdown’ and ‘the countdown is for the wedding photos!!’

Others speculated Swift was set to release a deluxe version of her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, while many said the three zeros were signifying angel numbers, signaling a ‘new beginning’ for the star.

Swift’s last album release came in October 2025 with the release of The Life of a Showgirl, while her most recent single, I Knew It, I Knew You, from the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, topped charts in June. 

Swift and Kelce tied the knot at Madison Square Garden on July 4 when the star’s publicist Tree Paine sent an email blast to journalists detailing the event – and how the couple were styled by Christian Dior.   

The bride complemented her look with Cartier jewelry and custom Christian Louboutin shoes. However, two months on from the nuptials, fans are yet to see any photos from the event.

‘Taylor & Travis did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen. Instead, her brother Austin Swift served as Taylor’s Man of Honor and Jason Kelce was Travis’ Best Man. The ceremony joined both families together and was officiated by friend Adam Sandler, Paine’s statement read.

Swift commemorated her wedding, an event she has fantasized about in her songs for decades, by serenading her new husband in front of their A-lister guests.

The pop star reportedly took the stage alongside music icons Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney, though no video or pictures from inside the venue have been released.

A downpour swept across Manhattan just moments after Swift and Kelce said ‘I do’ – a sign of good luck undoubtedly noticed by the famously superstitious bride. 

The dramatic summer storm provided an unforgettable backdrop as the newlyweds kicked off the evening’s celebrations inside Madison Square Garden. 

‘The bride and groom’s wedding ceremony looks have been created by Christian Dior Haute Couture. They are designed by Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of Dior Women’s, Men’s and Haute Couture Collections, in close collaboration with the Bride and Groom,’ Paine wrote in her statement.

Not content with tantalizing fans on her website, Swift also altered both her Twitter and Instagram bio to read, ‘And, baby, that’s sh0w business f0r y0u’ along with a fire heart – with the ‘o’s’ replaced by zeros

As 2pm ET struck, Swift revealed the cover art for her new single, which appeared to be in homage to the star being described as ‘patient zero’ for emotional contagion in a 2024 LA Times article

Swift flashed her engagement ring in the striking new snaps 

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Fans had speculated the reveal to be Swift and Kelce’s wedding snaps, saying ‘plot twist it’s taylor and trav’s wedding photos behind the countdown’ while a second typed, ‘the countdown is for the wedding photos!!’

Others speculated Swift was about to drop a new album, even a deluxe version of her most recent LP, The Life of a Showgirl

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Swift was seen flashing her wedding ring as she supported Kelce at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday

The Life of a Showgirl is the twelfth studio album from Swift and was released in October last year

‘This is the designer’s first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity. Their shoes were custom made by Christian Louboutin and the bride wore Cartier jewelry. 

There was no glimpse of a wedding dress, or titbits from speeches, with every guest under the rule of a strict non-disclosure agreement. 

Stars including Steven Spielberg, Jay Z, Paul McCartney, Graham Norton and Beyonce flooded MSG in blacked-out SUVs, while NYPD officials, briefed for the occasion, shut down streets in the sweltering heat. 

Swift’s beloved girl squad were by her side throughout. She started the day by getting ready at best friend Gigi Hadid’s house. Her other trusty sidekick, Selena Gomez, was in attendance, as was Lena Dunham, Ellie Goulding, Dakota Johnson and her childhood best friend, Abigail Anderson Berard.

Making a surprising appearance was Swift’s former close friend Karlie Kloss, who wowed in a gold dress alongside her husband Joshua Kushner.

Swift did not attend Kloss’s 2019 wedding after the pair had a rumored feud over the model’s close bond with the singer’s nemesis Scooter Braun.

Kelce was joined by his brother, Jason, members of the Kansas City Chiefs team, and longtime friends Ross Travis and Aric Jones. 

Guests included business executives, singers, movie stars and models. 

EasyJet cabin crew are set to walk out for five days in October and again in December over working conditions causing havoc with flight cancellations

Brits hoping to head off on holiday could see their easyJet flights cancelled with hundreds set to be axed over a staff walk-out.

Cabin crew in Portugal have decided to go on strike for five days in October and again in December with flights affected from Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports.

The SNPVAC union has been in a bitter row with easyJet bosses over pay and claims of unequal treatment. The first strike will be carried out from October 2 to October 6 with around 500 flights axed.

From the UK, easyJet operates flights to Portugal from airports including Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Gatwick, Luton, Southend, Manchester and Newcastle.

Then a second walk out will take place from December 19 to December 23, messing up hundreds of holidaymakers’ travel plans over the festive period.

While easyJet has stated that it is “extremely disappointed” with the SNPVAC union, around 188 of the airline’s workers have unanimously agreed to take part in the strikes.

The union claims that easyJet “does not respond” to its concerns while saying working conditions for Portuguese staff continues to deteriorate. It alleges that the staff are paid less than the other cabin crews in Portugal, as well as other easyJet staff in other countries.

SNPVAC also claimed issues with planning and staff shortages which has led the crew to be pressured into working overtime.

While the potential of over 500 flights being axed in October is a worrying issue for the airline and travellers, the union stresses that the Christmas strike could be even worse, reported the Daily Record.

During the festive season, airlines usually operate fuller schedules. As such, this could result in greater disruption to easyJet’s operations if flights from the three airports are shut down.

Sharing its stance on the strikes, a spokesperson from easyJet told The Sun: “We are extremely disappointed that SNPVAC is planning strike actions despite our willingness to continue a constructive dialogue.

“We had just started a conciliation process through the mediation of DGERT with the aim to reach an agreement to meet our employees’ requests and protect the sustainability of easyJet business in Portugal.

“The current union demands are unworkable especially given that our crew are already paid significantly above the Portuguese national average.”

They added: “We are doing everything we can to minimize the impact of the strike on our customers including actioning some cancellations in advance to allow our customers to rearrange their travel plans.”

The Mirror has contacted easyJet for comment.

The global superstar will perform at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Wednesday, December 2, as part of a three-date UK tour.

It marks her first UK tour since 2019.

Dubbed the ‘Queen of Christmas’, Carey is expected to deliver a festive show featuring her famous holiday hits alongside chart-topping classics like Fantasy, Hero, Heartbreaker, and Always Be My Baby.

Her 1994 single All I Want For Christmas Is You remains a seasonal favourite and finally reached number one on the UK charts in 2020, more than 25 years after its original release.

The song has consistently returned to the top five every Christmas since.

Carey has hinted at a return to the UK for several months, and fans have been eagerly awaiting the announcement.

The Manchester show will be the final date on her UK tour, which kicks off on Friday, November 27, at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, followed by a performance at London’s O2 Arena on Monday, November 30.

Carey last performed a series of UK dates in 2019, though she has made a handful of one-off appearances in recent years.

If you were left sobbing after that EastEnders cliffhanger tonight, which saw Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) depart Walford, then you weren’t alone.

The much-loved character resolved to leave the Square after Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) blackmailed her into doing so, threatening to tell everyone that she’s pregnant with Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) baby.

Priya decided to remove Cindy’s leverage by telling Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) the news herself and, although he was devastated that the baby isn’t his, he resolved to stand by her and raise the little one as his own.

Priya, however, began to fear that Max would find out about the baby’s paternity and stage a kidnapping, much like he did with baby Abi all those years ago.

Armed with fresh concerns after a conversation with Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), she decided to leave the Square after a heart-to-heart with one true love Ravi, who intends to follow her to Leeds at Christmas.

Elsewhere, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) found out that Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) knew of Max’s infidelity and failed to notify Cindy prior to her marrying the lothario and Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) met Craig Ingram (Matthew James Bailey) for a drink but, when he noticed her self-harm scars, she swiftly exited.

For a first look at what’s to come tomorrow, you’re in the right place!

What happens next in EastEnders? New spoilers for Wednesday, September 23

The aftermath of Priya’s departure will send shockwaves through the Square, with Ravi no doubt set to take the sudden changes in his life quite bad.

Will he be able to keep shtum about the baby’s paternity?Will he blame Max for Priya’s exit? Or will it be Cindy he holds personally responsible?

The jury is still out but a confrontation with Cindy is most certainly on the cards as she tells Ravi the baby secret won’t stay hidden forever.

What’s more, Avani (Aliyah James) and Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) didn’t buy their mum’s reasoning for her swift exit so will they put two and two together?

Lauren, meanwhile, is set to face the music as Peter confronts her over her knowledge on Max’s affair with Priya. The raised tensions couldn’t come at a worse time for the couple as Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) is back on the Square.

Lauren is taken aback when she spots him heading to see Vicki (Alice Haig), who is delighted – but the happiness is short-lived as Mark reveals he’s only stopping by to say goodbye before heading back to Florida.

Unaware of such a thing, Lauren wonders if Mark returned for her and thus she seeks him out, only to find out he’s intending on leaving once more.

Will sparks fly?

That remains to be seen but she later tells Peter that she’s sorry for keeping the truth of Max’s affair from him. Later, Cindy finds out about her knowledge of Max’s betrayal – and exposes it.

Elsewhere, Amy remains drawn to Craig – and brushes Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) off as a result – while Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) celebrates his birthday in The Albert.

EastEnders airs these scenes Tuesday September 23 at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

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After one of the driest periods in recent memory, rain has finally returned to many parts of England. Lawns that were brown only a few weeks ago are green again, rivers have begun to rise and the parched appearance of the landscape is starting to fade.

So why are drought warnings still being discussed? And why have some experts suggested that it could take months of sustained rainfall, potentially through much of autumn and winter, before water resources fully recover?

The answer lies in a simple but often misunderstood fact. A drought is not just about the weather. It is about how much water is stored in soils, rivers, reservoirs and groundwater.

When rain finally arrives after a drought, the visual impact on the landscape can be surprisingly rapid. Vegetation responds quickly to this water, grass regains its colour and surface soils become wetter. To many people, these visible signs suggest that the drought is over. However, appearances can be misleading. These surface improvements tell only part of the story, and recovery from drought is often much slower than it first appears.

One way to think about drought recovery is using the analogy of a household savings account. If you spend more money than you earn for several months and draw down your savings, one pay cheque may help with immediate expenses, but it does not restore your finances to where they were before. First, the accumulated deficit must be paid back.

The same is true for water. Returning rainfall is undoubtedly welcome, but before drought can truly end, depleted water stores have to be replenished.

Different kinds of drought

Part of the confusion comes from the fact that scientists recognise different types of drought. Meteorological drought refers simply to a lack of rainfall. Agricultural drought occurs when soils become too dry to support crops and vegetation. Hydrological drought develops when rivers, reservoirs and groundwater fall below normal. These different droughts do not begin or end at the same time.

Much of England is still experiencing all three, even if recent rainfall has begun to ease agricultural drought, with surface soils replenished and vegetation recovering. The landscape already looks healthier than it did just a few weeks ago.

However, the deeper water stores that sustain rivers, ecosystems and public water supplies often remain depleted long after the weather has changed. This is why reports suggesting that some areas may need months of rainfall to recover can at first sound surprising. For most people, drought means dry ground and brown grass. For hydrologists, it means depleted water reserves. While vegetation may bounce back within days or weeks, groundwater levels can take many months to recover.

Where does the water go?

If England has experienced weeks of rain, a natural question follows: where has all that water gone?

The first destination for rainfall is often the soil itself. During drought, soils progressively dry out and develop what hydrologists call a soil moisture deficit. When rain returns, much of the incoming water is used simply to rewet the soil and there is nothing left to top up water stores.

Plants are another important destination. Vegetation rapidly responds to renewed moisture, using water to support growth and recover from dry conditions. Some of this water is then returned from the vegetation to the atmosphere through transpiration. At the same time, evaporation continues from soils, rivers, reservoirs and vegetation. During warmer months these losses can be substantial, reducing the amount of rainfall available to recharge surface and underground water stores.

Also, heavy rainfall is not always the solution many people imagine. During intense downpours the ground may be unable to absorb the water fast enough, especially when the soil is baked hard after hot weather. So instead of soaking into soils and replenishing groundwater, a greater proportion flows over the surface into drains, streams and rivers. This means rivers can rise dramatically after storms while groundwater levels remain below normal.

Much of the focus therefore turns to what is happening beneath our feet. Groundwater is stored within aquifers, layers of permeable rock and sediment that store water underground. These act as one of England’s most important natural water reserves, helping supply drinking water and maintain river flows during dry conditions. But they recharge slowly.

The most effective groundwater recharge often occurs during autumn and winter, when temperatures are cooler, evaporation rates are lower, and vegetation is less actively using water. Under these conditions a greater proportion of rainfall can infiltrate into the ground and replenish deeper water stores. This is why drought recovery is often measured not in days or weeks but in seasons.

The recent rain marks an important turning point. It has helped replenish surface soils, supported recovering vegetation and begun restoring river flows. But drought recovery is about much more than making the landscape look green again. Before water resources fully recover, dry soils must be replenished, ecosystems must rebuild, reservoirs must refill and groundwater stores must gradually recover. That process takes time. So, while the rain signals the beginning of recovery, for many parts of England the drought is not yet fully over.

Alan Shearer has picked out his most impressive player of the Premier League season so far, naming Brighton and Brentford as the clubs that have impressed him most – outside of leaders Manchester City.

The Seagulls and the Bees have both enjoyed fine starts to the campaign, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side picking up 10 points from their first five games and Keith Andrews’ managing nine.

Brighton, incredibly, have scored 16 goals in their five league outings, three more than any other side in the top flight.

They also picked up an eye-catching win in the Carabao Cup as they came back from two goals behind to beat Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford.

Brentford are still going in the Carabao Cup as well, but it has been their 3-0 victories in the Premier League over Tottenham and Chelsea that have really grabbed attention.

Shearer has been thoroughly impressed by both, but picking out an individual performer, the Newcastle legend has been blown away by Brighton’s Pascal Gross.

The 35-year-old has been in superb form, pulling the strings in midfield for the Seagulls, while contributing three goals and three assists already this season.

The Germany international spent seven seasons with Brighton from 2017-24 before moving to Borussia Dortmund for 18 months and returning to the Amex in January this year.

He now looks better than ever and has caught the eye of the Premier League’s record goal-scorer.

‘I have been really impressed with Pascal Gross at the start of this Premier League season,’ Shearer told Betfair. ‘I think there’s two clubs that have been the standout at the minute other than [Manchester] City because City have won five from five, but you have to say Brighton and Brentford have been superb.

‘Anyone going in against those two teams know that they’re in for a battle because they can do a bit of everything because they’re strong physically, but they’ve also got technically very good players, both teams.

‘So, Brighton and Brentford have impressed me massively up to now and Pascal Gross has impressed me the most so far this season from a player perspective.’

The German’s incredible engine in the middle of the park looks to be in perfect working order, despite his advancing years.

Hurzeler joked that Gross would be looking for a running race to compete in over the international break, but will encourage him to rest up instead.

‘I think he’s looking in the free time now, “Where can I run a race?”’ Hurzeler said.

‘He will never stand still and maybe he’s playing a little padel, but I will say to him that he needs to get a few days off.

‘But it also shows his character. Not only his character, he just has this winning mentality and it definitely helps us.’

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