A hit Apple TV thriller led by an iconic Hollywood star is finally back for a second season

Advertisement

Thriller enthusiasts can already pencil in their Friday evenings as the highly anticipated second series of one of the decade’s most gripping programmes has finally arrived.

Series two of The Last Thing He Told Me is unmissable viewing for Apple TV subscribers this week, launching today (Friday, 20th February).

Boasting an exceptional ensemble headed by Hollywood star Jennifer Garner, the acclaimed thriller draws from Laura Dave’s novel of the same title.

Garner plays Hannah Hall, a woman who launches a frantic hunt for her vanished husband whilst forging an unexpected connection with her stepdaughter, Bailey (portrayed by Angourie Rice).

Spoiler warning – the first series disclosed that Hannah’s husband Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) fled to safeguard his family after witnessing a crime perpetrated by a dangerous criminal organisation, reports the Mirror.

Advertisement

READ MORE: ‘Super intense’ thriller that keeps you ‘hooked from the start’ is now streamingREAD MORE: Handmaid’s Tale star lands very different role in thriller based on ‘addictive’ novel

Owen, now going by his true identity Ethan, returns in series two alongside fresh and familiar faces as the family attempt everything possible to restore normality to their lives.

A synopsis states: “When Owen shows up after five years on the run, Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey find themselves in a race to figure out how to reunite their family before the past catches up to them.”

Apple TV has announced that the series two line-up will additionally feature Augusto Aguilera, Josh Hamilton, Nick Hargrove, Michael Galante, John Noble, Michael Hyatt and Luke Kirby, with a guest spot from Judy Greer. Following an almost three-year hiatus since the first season concluded, the second season premiere is now available for streaming, with fresh episodes dropping every Friday through to 10th April.

Watch Ted Lasso on Apple TV

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

7-day free trial, then £9.99/month

Apple TV

Buy Now on Apple TV

To watch Ted Lasso, avid TV fans can sign up for a seven-day free trial before committing to £9.99 per month.

Advertisement

Whilst the inaugural season garnered somewhat divided opinions, a dedicated fanbase remains enthralled by the thriller and maintains it merits viewing.

“Loved the book and was very excited to see how the series would turn out,” an IMDb user said in a 10/10 review.

“Watching the trailer made me even more excited to watch it! The series did not disappoint me once. Great cast, great writers, great storyline, great directors and lovely locations.

“It was also so amazing to see these characters that I had fallen in love with whilst reading the book come to life on screen.”

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.** Click here to activate**** or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.**

Another viewer enthused: “Loved this series! You have to watch all of it to truly appreciate it. Best show I’ve watched in a really long time.

“Each week left me on the edge of my seat awaiting the next week’s episode.”

A further admirer noted the programme “keeps you hooked” and remarked: “I think it was great.

“The suspense, storyline, actors. It has it all and keeps you not wanting to stop watching. I binged it all in a day which isn’t normal for me.”

The Last Thing He Told Me season 2 continues Fridays on Apple TV.

The star of Euphoria and The Last Ship has died, aged 53, less than a year after reporting his diagnosis

Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane has died aged 53 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – a foirm of Muscular Neurone Disease. The US actor died less than a year after publicly revealing he had been diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease.

His passing was confirmed by his representatives in a statement to the Associated Press, who said he had been surrounded by friends and family. The statement said: “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world.

“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.”

Dane’s career took off when he joined long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy as fan-favourite Dr Mark “McSteamy” Sloan. He played the suave surgeon from 2006 until 2012, returning to the show for a guest appearance in 2021.

Dane later reached a new generation of viewers when he was cast as Cal Jacobs, the conflicted antagonist of the HBO hit Euphoria. Other screen credits include roles in Charmed, Burlesque, Marley and Me and Valentine’s Day.

Between 2014 and 2018 he played Tom Chandler in post-apocalyptic action series The Last Ship. Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart in 2004 and the pair share two children. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018 but later filed to have the petition dismissed.

In December, she wrote for US magazine The Cut that while the two lived separately and dated other people, they shared “a very complicated relationship, one that’s confusing for people. Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love”.

Dane later drew on his own experience for a guest role on the TV series Brilliant Minds in November 2025, portraying a firefighter diagnosed with ALS who struggles to share the news with his family.

According to the NHS, early symptoms of motor neurone disease (MND) often begin gradually and include weakness, stiffness, or cramping in limbs (particularly hands, legs, and feet), along with slurred speech. These symptoms often start on one side of the body, such as a weak grip, tripping, or difficulty climbing stairs.

Common Early Symptoms:

• Weakness or Stiffness: Muscle weakness, especially in the hands causing difficulty gripping, or weak legs causing trips and “foot drop”.
• Muscle Issues: Twitching, cramps, or spasms.
• Speech and Swallowing: Slurred speech (dysarthria) and swallowing difficulties.
• Mobility: Difficulty lifting arms (shoulder weakness) or dragging a leg.
• Physical Changes: Unexplained weight loss, often due to muscle wasting.

These symptoms are initially subtle and may be mistaken for other conditions. The NHS advises seeing a GP if you experience these symptoms, especially if they are getting worse, to secure a prompt referral to a specialist.

Most benefits have been uprated in line with inflation at 3.8%, ensuring payments better reflect rising living costs.

Meanwhile, the State Pension increase for 2026/27 is protected by the government’s Triple Lock guarantee, which ensures the pension rises by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%. For 2026/27, this means a 4.8% increase.

Whether you’re a pensioner, carer, disabled claimant, jobseeker, parent, or someone unable to work due to illness, the Department for Work and Pensions has put out its 2026/27 to every major UK benefit, detailing its updated payment rates .

Out Today: DWP benefit statistics: February 2026
Accredited Official Statistics and Official Statistics release of the main DWP administered benefits through Stat-Xplore and supplementary tables https://t.co/cHKlLQZLhg pic.twitter.com/8YNbsJIYvh

— Steve Ellerd-Elliott (@SeeStats) February 17, 2026

Disability benefits provide extra financial support if you need help with care or mobility. Many of these payments are tax-free and not means-tested, meaning savings and income do not affect eligibility.

Attendance Allowance

For people over State Pension age who need help with personal care.

2026/27 Rates:

• Lower rate: £76.70 per week
• Higher rate: £114.60 per week

Key Features:

• Not means-tested
• Tax-free
• No mobility component
• Can increase Pension Credit and Housing Benefit
• May allow a carer to claim Carer’s Allowance

At the higher rate, this is worth nearly £6,000 per year.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

For working-age people with long-term health conditions or disabilities.

Daily Living Component (2026/27):

• Standard: £76.70
• Enhanced: £114.60

Mobility Component:

• Standard: £30.30
• Enhanced: £80.00

PIP is not means-tested and can significantly increase Universal Credit or Housing Benefit awards.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Being replaced by PIP for adults but still paid to some children.

Care Component:

• Lowest: £30.30
• Middle: £76.70
• Highest: £114.60

Mobility Component:

• Lower: £30.30
• Higher: £80.00

Today we’ve announced the largest above-inflation increase to the Minimum Income Guarantee in over a decade.

Helping working-age disabled adults pay for everyday essentials.

We’ve also confirmed £723m that could fund home adaptations for around 60,000 older and disabled people. pic.twitter.com/yRzJcVfryE

— Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) February 17, 2026

Advertisement

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

For people unable to work due to illness or disability. Many people have now been moved to Universal Credit through a ‘managed migration’ process.

Contributory / New Style ESA (2026/27):

• Under 25: £75.65
• 25 or over: £95.55

Additional Components:

• Work-related activity: £37.95
• Support component: £50.35

Income-Related ESA (selected 2026/27 rates):

• Single 25 or over: £97.75
• Couple (both over 18): £153.61

Premiums:

• Enhanced disability: £22.00
• Severe disability (single): £86.05
• Carer premium: £48.15

Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) replaces six legacy benefits and supports working-age households.

Standard Allowance (2026/27):

Single under 25: £338.58
Single 25 or over: £424.90
Couple (one or both 25+): £666.97

Child Elements:

First child (pre-April 2017): £351.88
Subsequent children: £303.94

Disabled Child Addition:

Lower rate: £164.79
Higher rate: £514.71

Carer Element:

£209.34

Childcare Support:

One child max: £1,071.09
Two or more: £1,836.16

Work Allowances:

Higher: £710
Lower: £427

Capital Rules:

• Upper limit: £16,000
• First £6,000 ignored
• £4.35 assumed income per £250 above threshold

Pension age benefits

State Pension 2026/27

New State Pension (full rate):

£241.30 per week

Old Basic State Pension:

£184.90 per week

Most pension payments increased by 4.8% for 2026/27.

Pension Credit

Guarantees a minimum weekly income.

Standard Minimum Guarantee:

Single: £238.00
Couple: £363.25

Additional Amounts:

Severe disability (single): £86.05
Carer addition: £48.15

Savings Credit:

Maximum single: £17.96
Maximum couple: £20.10

No upper capital limit applies, but tariff income applies above £10,000.

Pension Credit can unlock:

• Free NHS dental treatment
• Council Tax Reduction
• Cold Weather Payments
• Free TV licence (age 75+)

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb, now a partner at pension consultants LCP, said: “With households continuing to face a high cost of living and further increases in bills such as Council Tax, these annual upratings are vital to make sure that pensioner living standards are protected against inflation.”

Recommended reading:

Housing Benefit

Now mainly for pensioners and some supported housing claimants. This has been frozen again.

Personal Allowances (2026/27):

Single 25+: £95.55
Couple (18+): £150.15

Premiums:

Family: £20.22
Disability (single): £44.85
Severe disability (single): £86.05
Carer premium: £48.15

Universal Credit includes housing costs for most working-age claimants.

Carer’s Allowance

Weekly rate: £86.45

Must:

• Provide 35+ hours of care weekly
• Earn no more than £204 per week

Can also trigger extra Universal Credit or Pension Credit additions.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Contribution-based:

• Under 25: £75.65
• 25+: £95.55

Income-based:

• Single 25+: £95.55
• Couple (18+): £150.15

Income Support

Single 25+: £95.55
Couple 18+: £150.15
Dependent child: £87.88

Premiums match ESA and JSA disability rates.

Bereavement Benefits 2026/27

Bereavement Support Payment

Standard:

• Lump sum: £2,500
• Monthly: £100

Higher:

• Lump sum: £3,500
• Monthly: £350

Widowed Parent’s Allowance (legacy): £156.65 per week.

Statutory Sick Pay

£123.25 per week

Statutory Maternity Pay

£194.32 per week

Also £194.32 for:

• Statutory Paternity Pay
• Statutory Adoption Pay
• Statutory Shared Parental Pay
• Statutory Neonatal Pay
• Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

100% disablement rate: £233.90

Constant Attendance Allowance:

Exceptional: £187.20
Intermediate: £140.40
Normal maximum: £93.60
Part-time: £46.80

Unemployability Supplement: £144.65

Maximum life gratuity: £15,520

Greater London:
Couples / single with child: £25,323 per year
Single adult: £16,967

Rest of Great Britain:
Couples / single with child: £22,020
Single adult: £14,753

Certain disability claimants are exempt.

Universal Credit & Working-Age Benefits:
Upper limit: £16,000
Disregard: £6,000

Pension Credit:
No upper limit
First £10,000 ignored
£1 income per £500 above threshold

Yahya Sinwar, the overall head of Hamas, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in October 2024, and its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli attack in Iran in July that year. Hamas’s military chief Mohammed Deif was also killed that July, in an Israeli air strike on Gaza.

The best clothes steamers are quick alternatives to ironing. They remove creases, kill bacteria, and freshen garments using less electricity. Unlike ironing boards, which take up space, steamers only need a hanger and a nearby plug.

“Steaming is the best way to refresh delicate clothes,” says Florrie Thomas, head stylist at fashion platform Wrapp10. “A steamer is quicker, gentler on clothing and far more environmentally friendly, saving time, money and energy over repeated dry cleaning visits or tumble dryer cycles.” You can also use clothes steamers to freshen curtains, upholstery or to de-crease duvet covers.”

The right type of clothes steamer depends on the size of your laundry load. Handheld models hold enough water for a few items at a time. Upright steamers can manage larger loads, but they’re less portable. We’ve written full reviews of both types of clothes steamer and answered all your FAQs below. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five:

The best clothes steamers: At a glance

JUMP TO REVIEWS

How to choose the best clothes steamer

First, consider which type of steamer best meets your needs. A handheld model is great for quick touch-ups. You can even take it in the car or on the train to refresh your outfit before an event. Upright steamers have larger tanks and work better on big loads and heavy fabrics like denim, but they take up more space and cost more.

Fashion stylist Emma Lightbown recommends finding a steamer with a water tank large enough for your average load to avoid refilling too often. “Look for steamers that are instant steam rather than those that leave you waiting around while they heat up the whole tank,” she says.

Steamers often have a control dial that tweaks the temperature for different fabrics such as wool, linen and cotton. Before buying, check the settings suit your wardrobe.

If you plan to use your clothes steamer often, choose one that feels comfortable to hold and heats up fast. A well-designed steamer that works quickly can make everyday life easier.

How we test clothes steamers

Over the past two decades, the close friendship that’s blossomed between Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer has given me immeasurable amounts of joy.

For this nostalgic millennial, 13 Going on 30 has been one of my favourite films since its release in 2004. So much so that I even dressed up as Jenna Rink for my 30th birthday, multicoloured Thriller dress and all.

So when I recently had the chance to speak to Jennifer about season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me for Metro alongside her co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, I had to know how it felt for her to reunite with Judy on-screen… as well as telling her about my fancy dress outfit.

The Apple TV Plus thriller, which premiered in 2023 and is based on the novel by Laura Dave, follows a woman called Hannah (Jennifer) whose life is turned upside down when her husband Owen (Nikolaj) vanishes, leaving her with his stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) as they grapple to piece together the mystery of his disappearance.

It turns out that Owen’s real name is Ethan, and he was previously married to the daughter of a mobster lawyer called Nicholas Bell (David Morse).

After Ethan’s wife was murdered, he fled with his daughter to create a new life for them both with fresh identities. Eventually, he met, fell in love with and married Hannah.

Ethan’s involvement with the police, leaking information to them to bring down members of the crime syndicate, results in him being forced to go on the run.

The season one finale ends with a five-year time jump, when a heavily disguised Owen discreetly visits Hannah after she was forced to sacrifice their life together to protect Bailey.

In season two, the stakes are at an all-time high. Hannah knows that her husband is alive, but is not supposed to have contact with him. Owen (aka Ethan) is still working to bring down the dangerous criminals who threaten his family, and Judy enters the fray as Quinn, the eldest daughter of the Campano crime family.

‘Judy and I have been friends ever since 13 Going on 30. There’s such a lovely shorthand. You don’t erase the history that you have with someone,’ Jennifer, 53, told Metro, shortly after Apple TV’s press day in Los Angeles.

‘She’s carried me through the last 20 years, and I’ve a little bit carried her. I’ve watched her evolve into a more and more formidable, stronger, deadlier actress, and so to be on the other side of her in these scenes was… it just really asked me to up my game. I was thrilled to have that opportunity.

‘I get to do that with Nikolaj, but it’s usually you’re with a man to do that. With another woman, it’s really special.’

While The Last Thing He Told Me might be an action-packed thriller, at its core it’s an enthralling family drama, complete with complex relationships and generational trauma.

One of the overarching questions that runs through the centre of the story is how much you’re willing to sacrifice for the people you love.

‘It’s a question we all struggle with all the time, because we all know it’s very easy to have opinions of how other people should live their lives when you see it from afar,’ Game of Thrones star Nikolaj, 55, said.

‘It’s not that simple when you have to sacrifice stuff. You would hope – I would hope – that there would be no limits to do whatever you could for the people you love. There’s different families within the show, and they all are faced with these very foundational questions.’

Jennifer, who’s also an executive producer on the series, added: ‘What’s interesting is that as we are trying to dive into these real-life tough questions at the centre of this show, we’re being chased, and we are barely one step ahead, and not even always one step ahead of losing our lives.

‘You have this super propulsive energy, and you have this real family love story in the middle of it, and then you have this real baddie of Judy Greer showing up and her whole family, Luke Kirby and John Noble, they’re so amazing.

‘This season really does offer more of the same, deeper, better. Laura’s sequel did not become an instant bestseller on the New York Times list for nothing. She wrote a fantastic story.’

The Last Thing He Told Me season 2 premieres on Friday February 20 on Apple TV Plus, with episodes being made available to watch weekly.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Health boards in Wales have been told to prioritise urgent patients while the shortage continues

A shortage of a surgical material has resulted in operations being disrupted in Wales. A Welsh health board has said that the shortage is expected to cause “disruption” to those waiting for surgery and some replacement operations are being paused.

There is a global shortage of bone cement that is used in a wide range of emergency and planned orthopaedic surgical procedures including knee and hip replacements.

The shortage has been caused by a manufacturing issue at the production facility of one of the main suppliers of the surgical material which is causing delays across the UK.

Heraeus Medical, the main supplier of bone cement for the NHS, which is based in Germany, reported a packaging fault affecting its bone cement products. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has issued a statement regarding the shortages confirming that health boards in Wales have been told to “prioritise those patients who are in the most urgent need to ensure that emergency surgery can continue safely”.

This has meant that all planned (elective) joint replacement operations in Wales which require the use of cement are being paused temporarily.

The health board said: “There is currently a global shortage of bone cement affecting the NHS nationally following a manufacturing issue at the production facility of one of the main suppliers of the material.

“Bone cement is essential in a wide range of emergency and planned orthopaedic surgical procedures and as a result of this shortage, we are anticipating disruption to some planned joint replacement operations.

“Across Wales, we have been asked to prioritise those patients who are in the most urgent need to ensure that emergency surgery can continue safely.

“As a result, all planned (elective) joint replacement operations in Wales which require the use of cement are being paused temporarily.

“We will be contacting all patients whose procedures have been affected directly to explain the next steps.

“If you have not been contacted by the health board, please assume that your operation will be continuing as expected. Whilst this situation is beyond our control, we apologise for the inconvenience caused and are working hard to minimise the impact and return to normal service as soon as possible.”

Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Manchester United are close to returning to action after a lengthy break, with a Premier League trip to Everton on the horizon for Michael Carrick and his players

After a honeymoon period under interim boss Michael Carrick, the serious business is about to begin for Manchester United. With 12 games remaining in the Premier League, they know what’s needed to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Those games are United’s only remaining responsibilities after early exits from both domestic cups. They sit fourth, one point clear of Chelsea and even further ahead of the chasing pack.

That means United’s fate remains in their own hands, with spring games against Chelsea and Liverpool looming large. A fourth place finish may make it harder for the higher-ups to look past Carrick when it comes to appointing a permanent manager in the summer.

We’ve got a Carrick-related update for you today as well as news on former United striker Mason Greenwood. Here’s the latest from around Old Trafford and beyond.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Greenwood’s Marseille find new boss

Mason Greenwood leads the Ligue 1 scoring charts this season but his club, Marseille, have been in turmoil of late. They will hope that changes with the appointment of a new permanent manager in the form of Habib Beye.

Roberto De Zerbi, who signed Greenwood from Manchester United in 2024, left after Champions League elimination was followed by a 5-0 defeat to rivals Paris Saint-Germain. Jacques Abardonado took temporary charge for one match, a draw at home to Strasbourg, but former L’OM defender Beye will now take over after a spell at Rennes.

“The choice of Habib Beye as OM’s new coach is fully in line with our desire to recruit a coach with the leadership skills needed to take charge of a team that obviously needs to be re-motivated after a difficult period on the pitch,” sporting director Mehdi Benatia said. “From our very first discussions, he struck me as extremely committed and totally focused on the future, with clear objectives for everyone: to quickly get back to winning ways, aim for a place on the Ligue 1 podium and try to win the Coupe de France to give the people of Marseille a trophy.”

Benatia himself had looked to be on the way out amid a chaotic few weeks. However, he was convinced to stick around and oversee the appointment of the new head coach.

Fletcher kept Carrick secret

Darren Fletcher didn’t tell his Under-18 squad that first team boss Michael Carrick was in attendance for their FA Youth Cup win against Oxford. Carrick and assistant Travis Binnion were at the Kassam Stadium as JJ Gabriel was among the goals in a 4-1 away win.

Gabriel, who scored United’s third round winner against Peterborough, helped open up a 2-0 half-time lead after Albert Mills’ opener. Chido Obi made it three after the break and Noah Ajayi rounded off the scoring after Josh Holton briefly gave Oxford hope.

“I’m not sure if they’re aware of it, to be honest,” Fletcher told MUTV when discussing the presence of Carrick and Binnion. “I didn’t want to draw their attention to it and add more pressure, so ultimately it’s just great that they were there.

“Whether the players were aware of it, I’m not sure, we just stayed in our own little bubble and I didn’t want to allude to the fact that the first-team manager was there and the staff were there. I think the biggest thing is they’re there to support and get their eyes on the players and that’s amazing.”

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£49

£35

Advertisement

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

A little-known American lawsuit could end up reshaping popular music. A US federal court is preparing to rule on a landmark copyright dispute. At its centre is an interesting question: can a short rhythmic pattern – one that appears in thousands of reggaeton tracks – be owned?

The case, known as the Fish Market dispute, asks whether a looping beat widely associated with reggaeton can be protected by copyright. More than 150 artists and producers have been named as defendants, and around 3,600 songs are implicated.

But the consequences stretch far beyond potential damages. If the claim succeeds, a rhythm that underpins an entire genre could become private property. The lawsuit exposes a long-standing weakness in copyright law, which is its inability to clearly define what makes a piece of music “original”.

Copyright is meant to be straightforward. Original musical works receive legal protection but copies do not. In practice though, music rarely fits this neat, binary logic.

Songs are built from shared elements like rhythms, chord progressions and harmonic patterns. Musicians can reuse, adapt and transform them. These building blocks are how music communicates. But copyright law offers little guidance on which musical elements can be protected, and which belong to everyone.

Unlike literature or visual art, music lacks clear legal definitions for its basic components. There is no settled guidance on whether courts should compare melody, rhythm, harmony, tempo, timbre or pitch, or indeed how much similarity is too much. As a result, judges and juries are left to decide these questions case by case, often without musical expertise.

That uncertainty has made music copyright litigation expensive and unpredictable. Jury trials are particularly risky, and damages can be eye-watering. Two recent American cases show just how inconsistent the system has become.

When courts can’t agree what counts as copying

In 2018, a US jury found that musicians Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams had infringed Marvin Gaye’s work with their song Blurred Lines, not because of a shared melody or lyrics, but because of a similar “feel” or “vibe”. The decision marked a dramatic expansion of copyright protection, suggesting that a musical mood could be owned. Critics warned this risked allowing artists to monopolise styles rather than specific creative expressions.

By contrast, a 2024 US court ruling in a case involving singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran took the opposite view. The court held that copyright does not protect the basic building blocks of music. Shared rhythms, chord sequences or stylistic elements, it ruled, are part of musical language itself. Protection applies only to concrete expressions such as specific melodies or lyrics.

The Fish Market case magnifies this contradiction and raises the stakes considerably.

The plaintiffs – Steely & Clevie Productions, which represent the musical catalogue of the influential Jamaican dancehall duo Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson and Cleveland Browne – claim that their 1989 instrumental track, Fish Market, introduced the so-called “dem bow” rhythm. This is a distinctive beat, they argue, which forms the backbone of reggaeton. They are seeking copyright protection for that rhythmic pattern.

If successful, the ruling would grant two rightsholders control over a core musical feature used across a global genre. Unsurprisingly, many musicians and scholars see this as an attempt to claim ownership of reggaeton itself.

They argue that the rhythm predates Fish Market, drawing on long-established Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Cuban traditions such as the habanera beat. Reggaeton, they say, emerged through cultural exchange: from Jamaican dancehall, through Puerto Rico and out into the world. According to this perspective, the plaintiffs are not protecting originality but attempting to privatise a shared cultural inheritance.

Why rhythm is so hard to copyright

Rhythm sits at the heart of the legal problem. It is abstract yet fundamental, short in duration but repeated across a song and deeply tied to cultural identity. Copyright law, designed to compare fixed and discrete works, struggles to evaluate such elements. When courts attempt to isolate rhythm from its musical and cultural context, they risk mistaking convention for originality.

Copyright once played a limited role in musical life. Over time, as recorded music became a major commercial industry, songs increasingly came to be treated as economic assets. Ownership and control moved to the foreground, often at the expense of recognising music as an intellectual and cultural practice rooted in borrowing, influence and exchange.

The dispute around the “dem bow” rhythm lays bare the clash between subjective creativity, economic regulation and the law’s demand for objective rules. That clash is becoming harder to ignore as AI-generated music floods the market, trained on existing works and capable of producing endless stylistic variations. If copyright cannot clearly define originality now, its limits will soon be tested even further.

The reggaeton rhythm on trial is not just a fight over a beat. It reveals a fundamental mismatch between copyright law’s rigid standards and the reality of how music is made.

The Fish Market case offers judges an opportunity to clarify where protection should end, and to recognise the dangers of stretching originality so far that creativity itself becomes collateral damage.

Consumer champion Which? has shared a simple German ventilation hack to tackle damp, which is a simple and affordable method that helps fight off any mould in your property

Advertisement

Winter is often the worst time of the year for damp and mould in affected homes. Caused by excess moisture, the problem is exacerbated when the temperature drops and people spend more time indoors with the windows and doors closed. However, people have now been left stunned after learning about a ‘free’ method that helps to banish and prevent mould growth in your home in five minutes.

Which?, the UK’s leading consumer advocate that evaluates products and services, has brought the technique to public attention through social media. The organisation posted a video on Instagram showcasing the German Stoßlüften method to fight off and prevent mould, which requires opening every window in your property for five minutes, two times a day.

The term Stoß means ‘shock’ while lüften translates to ‘ventilation’, making this a shock ventilation strategy. It represents an inexpensive, straightforward and accessible solution for addressing mould issues within your property.

During the Instagram video, the Which? representative explaining Stoßlüften remarked: “Have you got a damp house? Well this is what the Germans would do about it and it’s basically free.

“Some ways of conquering damp can be expensive or require a fair bit of DIY. Germans have a great habit that anyone can get into: Stoßlüften, literally shock ventilation.

“Wrap up warm, run around the house and open all your windows wide for five minutes twice a day. Yes, even in the freezing cold!”

The presenter elaborated: “The warm, damp air in your home will quickly get replaced with cold, dry air. When you’re sealed back up again the temperature should quickly get back to comfortable but now the moisture in the air is banished and won’t be condensing in damp patches on your walls and windows.”

The post was captioned: “This simple German hack will help you tackle damp and mould without spending a penny.”

The Instagram clip has garnered 3.5 million views, 37,000 likes and close to 1,000 comments, as people shared their bafflement by how easy the hack was.

One viewer remarked: “What great advice. I have a German/Dutch brother in law and a very good German friend and they always sleep with the bedroom window open.”

Someone else chimed in: “The lung clinic at my chronic asthma hospital team also recommend this – get them windows open!” A third person who’s tested the method wrote: “Done this for years, in a council block, that has huge issues with damp and mould. Works perfectly and really is a life saver.”

Numerous Instagram users sharing their experiences in the comments revealed that Stoßlüften has proved effective for themselves or relatives who’ve given it a go. A cottage dweller explained: “I open my windows every day all year. I live in a very old cottage with no damp proof course. And no damp at all inside. So it works. I’ve always needed fresh air. Glad I’m doing something right.”

That said, a number of UK-based Instagram users expressed doubts about its effectiveness in Britain. One pointed out the “air in England isn’t dry, it’s damp, especially at the minute”.

This sentiment resonated with many others.

Another user disputed this claim, offering clarification: “A lot of people in the comments seem to mistakenly believe that the cold air outside their house is as humid (or even more humid) than the warm air inside their house. This isn’t true: cold air has a much lower carrying capacity: it can’t hold as much water vapour as warm air.”

They continued: “When you open your windows, the dense cold air flows into the house replacing the less dense warm air (which is driven outside). This means that you have replaced warm air with a high moisture content with cold air with a lower moisture content.”

The explanation went on: “As that cold air warms up inside your house it absorbs moisture from surfaces and materials. Doing this multiple times a day will therefore move moisture from inside your house to outside your house.”

Which? then posted a follow-up video addressing viewers who argued that Britain’s damp climate would render window opening ineffective against mould.

In the clip, their spokesperson described this as a “confusion between relative humidity and absolute humidity”.

Using a visual aid of two water glasses – one small and filled to the brim, another larger but containing less liquid – he illustrated the concept.

Gesturing to the smaller vessel, he explained: “This very full glass is like the air outside on a cold day. It’s at 95% capacity. It is holding as much water as it’s capable of holding but warm air can actually hold almost twice as much in a house compared to the cold air outside.”