Netflix’s latest true crime film examines the theories behind Mackenzie Shirilla’s case and ‘why did she do it’

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Netflix’s latest true crime documentary explores several theories surrounding an extraordinary car crash case, though some questions still remain unanswered.

The shocking feature-length documentary, titled The Crash, has been streaming since this week (May 15) and is certain to keep armchair detectives thoroughly engrossed.

According to its synopsis, it examines the investigation that unfolded after a car carrying three young adults slammed into a brick building at 100 miles per hour in Strongsville, Ohio, leaving two dead and one seriously injured.

Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan both died at the scene. Dom was the boyfriend of the driver, 17 year old Mackenzie Shirilla.

While it initially appeared to be a tragic accident, detectives soon uncovered something far more sinister. Shirilla was subsequently arrested, charged and convicted of murder. Although she could spend the remainder of her life behind bars, her parents continue to maintain her innocence, reports the Mirror.

They dispute the prosecution’s claim that Mackenzie deliberately drove the car into the wall. So what drove Mackenzie Shirilla to crash the vehicle? Here’s everything you need to know, according to the new Netflix documentary.

Why did Mackenzie Shirilla crash the car?

The Netflix documentary explores a number of theories as to why the car crash occurred. This encompasses arguments and suggestions put forward by both the prosecution and the defence team representing Mackenzie throughout the trial. According to an interview given to a local news station in 2025, Shirilla’s parents Steve and Natalie claim that their daughter suffered a medical event right before the crash and did not intentionally kill her boyfriend and friend. They say they had a neurologist review evidence.

However, neither this evidence nor testimony from an expert witness suggesting a medical episode was presented as a defence during the trial. Dominic’s mother Christine revealed that her son and Shirilla had been in a relationship for four years and moved in together in 2021.

His brother alleged that the couple had ‘broken up many times’ throughout their relationship. Christine also disclosed that her son’s relationship with Shirilla had become ‘strained’ in the months leading up to the crash. There were reported incidents of ‘fighting’ and a video circulated in which Shirilla threatened to break into her boyfriend’s house.

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Prosecutors ultimately argued that she deliberately crashed the car to kill Russo and bring their troubled relationship to an end. The evening before the crash, the three attended several gatherings with friends. Data retrieved from their phone activity indicates that they began making their way home at around 5:30 a.m.

While the journey started without incident, the vehicle accelerated sharply just minutes before the crash. A forensic mechanical expert assisted with the investigation and analysed the car’s event data recorder, which is essentially the vehicle’s equivalent of a black box. The data revealed that the accelerator pedal was fully depressed with no application of the brake just seconds before the collision. This indicates that there was no attempt to lift a foot off the accelerator or apply the brakes.

The data also established that there was a sharp steering movement to the right, and the car shifted between neutral and drive in the moments preceding the crash. The reason for either of these occurrences remains unknown.

In the Netflix documentary, the lead prosecutor suggests the two victims may have been attempting to regain control of the vehicle. This has not been proven, and it could not be established whether it was the driver or a consequence of the car’s movement at speed.

Shirilla maintains she has no recollection of what occurred in the moments leading up to the crash. It was determined that she had traces of marijuana in her system, but nothing else.

The forensic expert further noted there was “no indication of any precrash mechanical or electrical failure that may have caused a loss of accelerator control, a loss of braking or a loss in the ability to steer the vehicle”.

While some questions may linger over the case, the Judge remained convinced. In her sentencing remarks, Judge Russ said: “This was not reckless driving. This was murder. The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant. She chose a course of death and destruction that day.” Shirilla received a sentence of 15 years to life for both murder charges. She is presently serving 15 years to life with the possibility of parole.

The Crash is streaming on Netflix

Connecting with nature is a desire many people share throughout the summer months and one scenic walk has been praised for its “magical” beauty – and it’s less than two hours from Cambridge

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A “magical” walk has been praised for its ethereal beauty and connection to nature – and it’s less than a two hour drive from Cambridge city centre.

There’s a wealth of scenic and historic walks to enjoy throughout Cambridge but for those looking for something a little further afield, Norfolk may have the answer. A Norfolk mum keen to showcase the best the area has to offer recently praised a historic ruin with expansive grounds bathed in swathes of snowdrops.

This “beautiful” plant is recognised by its drooping, bell-like, bright white flowers, which create a delicate yet distinctive look.

The destination in question is Walsingham Abbey, a historic house in Walsingham, north Norfolk, which is also home to the ruins of a medieval priory, Our Lady of Walsingham. The Abbey’s grounds are a popular destination thanks to the abundance of snowdrops carpeting the surrounding woodlands.

The so-called “snowdrop season” at Walsingham Abbey typically lasts from late January until the end of October. In the springtime, the grounds are also home to daffodils, bluebells and wild garlic.

Mum Jes shared a video of a walk through Walsingham Abbey, showcasing the “amazing” snowdrops. Over the top of the footage, which was posted on TikTok, Jes added text which reads: “I think I just found the most magical place in Norfolk”.

In the caption, the mum elaborated: “If you’re looking for the prettiest spring walk in Norfolk, this is it. The medieval ruins [are] surrounded by thousands of snowdrops.”

The video has racked up hundreds of thousands of views, with fellow TikTok users flocking to the comments section to share their thoughts. One person said: “Ooohhhh I went a couple of years ago but it looks more amazing with snowdrops!”

Another said: “Wow nature is beautiful, what an amazing place” while a third commented: “I lived in Walsingham for 19 years, beautiful place to visit”.

Someone else took issue with the admission charge and said: “It’s lovely but £7.50 per person to go for a walk?”

To which, another replied: “Usually I agree but places like this are disappearing. The money helps upkeep the place. If it helps the environment, the wildlife, the insects, I’m all for it. It was only £6 last time we went though”.

And another shared: “It’s a shame there’s not proper funding for it, I appreciate the money goes towards the up keep and I’m glad it is still around”.

Getting there

Travelling by car is the simplest method and can take as little as 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

A common route is to head from Cambridge onto the A14 East/North, then the A11 towards Norwich. Pick up the A47 (towards King’s Lynn). Then, follow local roads via Fakenham to Little Walsingham (often A148/B1105 depending on sat-nav).

By public transport – Get the train from Cambridge King’s Lynn, then a bus to Fakenham. You’ll need to get another bus to Little Walsingham, or you can take a taxi.

Alternatively, visit by getting a train to Norwich (often via Ely). Get a bus to Fakenham from the city centre, then you can take more public transport or a taxi.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Blink and you might miss the few stone walls that are all that’s left of the village that Yusuf Abu Hamam’s family was forced to flee when he was an infant in 1948.

The village, al-Joura, was demolished by the Israeli military at the time. It has since vanished under neighborhoods of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and the grounds of a national park.

The neighborhood where Abu Hamam’s family ended up — and where he spent most of his life — now lies also largely in ruins. Buildings in the Shati Camp in the northern Gaza Strip have been razed and wrecked by Israeli bombardment and demolitions during the past 2½ years of war.

On Friday, Abu Hamam and millions of Palestinians mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, Arabic for “catastrophe,” referring to the mass expulsion and flight of some 750,000 Palestinians from what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation. It’s the third commemoration of the Nakba since the war in Gaza began.

The 78-year-old Abu Hamam, one of a dwindling number of Nakba survivors, says the current war is an even greater catastrophe.

More than six months after an October ceasefire, he and the rest of Gaza’s more than 2 million people are now crammed into less than half of the 25-mile-long strip along the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by an Israeli-controlled zone encompassing the rest of the territory.

“There is no country left,” Abu Hamam said, speaking next to his home, which was heavily damaged by Israeli shelling earlier in the war. “A square kilometer and a half extending from the sea, this is what we are living in … It’s indescribable, unbearable.”

What was the Nakba?

For Palestinians, the Nakba meant the loss of most of their homeland. Some 80% of the Palestinians who lived in the area that became Israel were driven from their homes by forces of the nascent state before and during the war. The fighting began when Arab armies attacked following Israel’s establishment as a home for Jews in the wake of the Holocaust. Palestinians who remained behind hold Israeli citizenship.

After the war, Israel refused to allow Palestinian refugees to return to ensure a Jewish majority within its borders. Palestinians became a seemingly permanent refugee community that now numbers some 6 million, with most living in refugee camps in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Gaza.

Around 530 Palestinian villages in what became Israel were destroyed, according to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics.

Abu Hamam’s birth village was one of them. Al-Joura was seized by the Israeli military as it advanced against Egyptian forces in November 1948. Soldiers were ordered to destroy every home in al-Joura and neighboring villages to ensure their Palestinian populations couldn’t come back, according to military archives cited by Israeli historian Benny Morris.

Refugees swelled the population of the tiny patch of territory along the southern coast that became the Gaza Strip. They stayed in tent camps, run by a newly created U.N. agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, which provided aid and schooling. Those camps, like Abu Hamam’s Shati Camp, grew into dense urban neighborhoods over the decades, before many were flattened during the latest Gaza war by Israeli bombardment.

In Gaza, Palestinians live a new Nakba

The ancestors of Ne’man Abu Jarad and his wife, Majida, were already living in what would become the Gaza Strip in 1948. They both recall stories from their families about refugees streaming in by foot from areas further north, like the village Abu Hamam came from.

Though they avoided the original Nakba, there was no escaping from what Majida now calls “our Nakba.”

Their hometown has been wiped off the map. Over the past year, Israeli bulldozers and controlled detonations have razed nearly every building in the northern Gaza towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun. A new Israeli military base stands about 700 meters (765 yards) from where the Abu Jarads’ house once stood, according to satellite photos.

Also gone is the southern Gaza city of Rafah, once home to a quarter million people, and other villages and neighborhoods located in the Israeli-held half of the Gaza Strip. The military says it is destroying positions used by Hamas and preparing the area for reconstruction. Satellite photos show nearly every structure reduced to rubble.

Over the last 31 months of war, the Abu Jarads and their six daughters have been displaced more than a dozen times as they fled Israeli bombardment and offensives. They currently live in a camp in the southern city of Khan Younis. Their tent offers little shelter from biting winter winds or summer heat, Majida said.

Their daughters have been out of school for over two years now.

“The Nakba of ’48, I don’t think it can be compared to our Nakba,” Majida said. “In ’48, they say people were displaced once and settled in one place, and they are still there until now. But our Nakba, honestly, is more severe because our displacement has happened multiple times. There is no stability.”

Around 90% of Gaza’s more than 2 million people have lost their homes, according to U.N. estimates, with most of them now sheltering in huge tent camps with rat infestations and pools of sewage. They are dependent on aid to survive.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 72,700 Palestinians, according to local health officials. It was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people. Militants also abducted 251 hostages.

In the northern West Bank, tens of thousands of Palestinians are entering their 15th month of displacement, after the Israeli military ordered them out of their refugee camps as it launched an operation it said was targeting militant groups.

Since then, troops have demolished or heavily damaged at least 850 structures across the refugee camps of Nur Shams, Jenin and Tulkarem, according to an analysis of satellite imagery by Human Rights Watch released in December.

Saving what was lost, again and again

The 1948 Nakba also brought the loss of Palestinians’ history, as those fleeing struggled to keep hold of the documents and possessions tying them to their homes.

One of the largest archives of Palestinian documents dating back to the Nakba belongs to UNRWA.

UNRWA staff members, who fled their offices in Gaza after Israel ordered the north evacuated, had to leave behind the agency’s extensive archive.

The staff then launched a mission to rescue the most crucial documents — birth, death and marriage certificates and refugee registration cards, according to Juliette Touma, a former senior UNRWA official.

Without those documents, Palestinians could lose their rights and refugee status. Staffers crammed their personal suitcases full of papers and carried them through checkpoints and out of the territory, Touma said.

The current war has cost Palestinians in Gaza what little remained of their personal histories. Majida’s parents’ home in Beit Hanoun was destroyed, and with it family photos.

“There is nothing left,” she said.

Abu Hamam, too, says everything has been lost.

“When this war came, it devoured trees, stones and people,” he said. “Entire families were erased from the civil registry. Hundreds of families are still buried under the rubble.”

The man in his twenties is seeking treatment in hospital

A man in his twenties has been taken to hospital after a collision early on Friday, May 15 morning. Gwent Police received reports of a collision on Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny at around 6.15am on Friday.

A pedestrian, a man in his twenties, has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following the incident. Officers have closed the road between Rother Avenue and Underhill Crescent including the footpaths.

Residents in the area have reported seeing an air ambulance land near the scene as the pedestrian was taken to hospital.

Officers currently remain at the scene while enquiries are ongoing. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

Anyone with any information, including dashcam or CCTV footage, is asked to contact Gwent Police quoting log reference 2600151351.

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Imagine a holiday that takes you from exploring ancient temples and spotting wild elephants to gorgeous overwater villas and some of the world’s dreamiest stretches of sand.

The shores of the Indian Ocean offer it all, and by twinning lush Sri Lanka with the tropical idyll of a private island in the Maldives, you get a holiday that offers double the unforgettable experiences.

Sun Siyam has unforgettable escapes in both destinations. This collection of 24-hour premium all-inclusive resorts is 100 per cent Maldivian-owned, offering an authentic way to immerse yourself in the rich cultures and pristine scenery that define Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Choose your escape

In Sri Lanka, Sun Siyam Pasikudah is a boutique hideaway that forms part of Sun Siyam’s Privé Collection, a group of small romantic resorts for an intimate, authentic experience, where barefoot simplicity merges with gorgeous design and a richly intuitive service.

In the Maldives, the Privé Collection continues with Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, where you can snorkel the colourful house reef and take your pick from tropical villas tucked among the coconut palms or set on stilts over the dazzling waters.

And then there is Sun Siyam Iru Veli, another boutique hideaway where hand-thatched villas all come with private pools and dolphins frolic offshore.

For the ultimate indulgent experience, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is a Luxury Collection property, ideal for couples and families. It combines private island exclusivity with a jungle spa and signature experiences. Walk from one world-class restaurant to another, where the only choice is between which sunset view is the most heavenly and what to ask your butler for next.

Families and active couples will want to choose a resort from the Lifestyle Collection. Siyam World is a tropical realm of constant wonder where no two days look the same, offering 24-hour premium all-inclusive adventures in a stunning setting. Splash with the kids in the region’s largest floating water park or go horse-riding on the beach, trotting through the surf.

Spread across three islands, and only 40 mins by speedboat from the airport, Sun Siyam Olhuveli should be at the top of your travel list. Arrive by zipping over the waves, before taking a trip to dive under the waves to discover marine life.

Where are you going to choose for your twin-centre Indian Ocean escape?

Sri Lankan soul

Start your journey on the north-east coast of Sri Lanka, where Sun Siyam Pasikudah invites you to immerse yourself in the island’s vibrant culture and relax on jungle-fringed beaches.

At this secluded hideaway, there is an expansive infinity pool along the white-sand shoreline and an Ayurvedic spa. And once you’ve drunk your fill of those amazing views, bespoke experiences will help you discover the local area.

Join the Sun Siyam chef in the local market, selecting the catch of the day for lunch in a cooking class teaching you about the rich spices and exotic fruits that mark Sri Lankan cuisine.

Explore the ancient temple complex of Dambulla or the ruins of Polonnaruwa, both Unesco World Heritage Sites, meet locals at a nearby village or spot wild elephants and a kaleidoscope of bird species at Minneriya National Park.

A secluded escape

Once you’ve had your fill of Sri Lankan history and culture, it’s time to find tranquillity in the Maldives.

At Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, you can snorkel right out to the reef from your beach villa, a hideaway beneath a green roof of palm fronds. Or opt for a water villa, set right over the lagoon, so you can simply dip into the water from your private deck.

Wellness treatments at the spa are rooted in traditional wisdom, and dining options combine Indian and Italian flavours, fresh fish and plant-based cuisine featuring fresh ingredients sourced from island veggie gardens.

Explore more of your surroundings through immersive island experiences, from Cinema by Moonlight and breakfast in a traditional Maldivian village to early-morning fishing on a local dhoni, dolphin spotting at sunrise, visits to neighbouring islands or even a hands-on Maldivian cooking class.

Head out at dawn on a traditional Dhoni fishing boat and catch a glimpse of dolphins frolicking in the surf, visit neighbouring islands or take a Maldivian cooking class.

Multi-island adventures

Perhaps you’d like to combine Sri Lanka’s cultural immersion with the endless possibilities offered by Sun Siyam Olhuveli, an idyllic haven, spread over three islands, that combines the tranquil beauty of villas and bungalows on white-sand beaches or poised over the waves, with an invigorating adventure destination.

Here, you can swim with manta rays or whale sharks – the gentle giants of the deep – windsurf across the glassy-clear waves, go jetskiing, or go scuba diving at any of the 50 dive sites.

Families and couples will find plenty to entertain them here, from whizzing over the crystal waves on a kiteboard to swimming laps in the Maldives’ longest pool. You can even zip across the lagoon on a sporty jet car.

And when you return, laughing and windswept, enjoy an island-inspired wellness ritual in one of the three spas: one set in lush jungle, another overwater and the other on its own island.

And you’ll love the foodie options, too, with 24-hour premium all-inclusive, you have access to 20 restaurants and bars that take you from relaxed beach eats to fine dining and bars that combine crafted cocktails with sensational views.

Sun Siyam makes it effortlessly easy to enjoy the best of both worlds in a single holiday. It’s the perfect Indian Ocean escape where you can enjoy cultural immersion, gorgeous scenery and everything wrapped up in your all-inclusive stay.

Find out more and book your holiday at SunSiyam.com

Actress Kelly Reilly keeps her life away from the cameras mostly under wraps, but we do know some details about the Dutton Ranch star

Dutton Ranch is the latest Yellowstone spin-off hitting Paramount+ this week and will finally continue the story of Beth Dutton (played by Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).

Almost two years after the thrilling conclusion to the flagship Western drama starring Kevin Costner as notorious rancher John Dutton, the hit Western franchise created by Taylor Sheridan will finally return.

Beth and Rip are once again carving out their destiny in the new series premiering today (Friday, 15th May), which sees them moving to Texas and purchasing a new ranch.

As the highly anticipated new series, helmed by director and executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros, gets started, fans will want to know more about the beloved stars behind their favourite characters.

Lead actress Reilly keeps her personal life relatively private, but we do know some surprising titbits about what she has gotten up to away from the cameras.

Early Life

Kelly Reilly was actually born Jessica Kelly Siobhán Reilly, shortening her name when she began her acting career.

The British star was born in 1977 in Chessington, in the borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, making her 48 years old.

Her mother was a hospital receptionist while her father Jack was a police officer. Her grandparents on her father’s side were Irish, hailing from County Galway.

Reilly has even credited her grandmother as being one of the first people in her life to nurture her love of acting.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, she recalled: “She’d come around and pick me up, probably when my brother was at football or something, and we’d go off to church. And I remember thinking that was my first taste of theatre.

“The stage and the costumes and the ritual and the incense. I had no idea really what was going on other than I loved the experience of it. It was like I was observing it, rather than being part of it.”

Romantic History

Reilly has been married to financier Kyle Baugher since 2012, having met two years previously at a wedding in Texas.

While Baugher is not involved in the entertainment industry, Reilly’s previous relationships have been a little more high-profile.

She was previously engaged to Israeli actor Jonah Lotan in 2007. Lotan is best known for appearances in hit TV shows such as Hostages, Foyle’s War and 24.

A year later, Reilly was involved with director Guy Ritchie, going on to star in his 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr as the famous detective.

Marriage to Kyle Baugher

A touching Instagram post from Reilly in 2023 confirmed she and Baugher were married in Somerset. She has called the event, which took place on 5th June, 2012, “a magical afternoon”.

Speaking about her husband on The Drew Barrymore Show, Reilly explained that they met each other at his brother’s wedding, to which she was her friend’s plus-one.

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“I thought he was Texan… he’s from Long Island,” she revealed. “He’s the love of my life. The most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me is my marriage.”

It’s believed that the couple do not have children together, though they do have a schnauzer dog.

They split their time between Long Island, New York and a 300-year-old cottage in rural Sussex, England.

Dutton Ranch continues Fridays on Paramount+.

During the live show, Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Battle, performed his song Eins, Zwei, Drei, while dancing energetically with people dressed as computers.

At one point, Battle attempted to get the crowd to sing with him, chanting: “When I say eins, you say drei.”

Battle has already qualified for Saturday’s grand final as part of the big four, along with Italy, Germany and France, who contribute the most financially to Eurovision, as well as Austria as this year’s host nation.

The YouTube star wore a pink boiler suit during his song, as performers in fluffy headwear danced in a mock workshop while he played a synthesiser and later ended up in a cardboard box.

He later told Eurovision presenter Victoria Swarovski he chose a song title in German, despite it being Eurovision’s weakest-performing language, as “people liked counting to three”, before telling the crowd “I hope you liked that”.

Viewers react to Look Mum No Computer’s first Eurovision performance

Eurovision viewers took to X to share their thoughts on the British act’s first performance.

One person said, “Look mum no computer was fantastic.”

Another viewer wrote, “I love Look Mum No Computer. He’s lovable! I’m so glad he’s our representative this year.”

How many of these shocking Eurovision entries do you remember?

A third Eurovision fan said, “Look Mum No Computer has got to be the most creative entry we’ve seen tonight! He was jumping off tables, shouting to the crowd and still wasn’t out of breath!”

However, not everyone was a fan of the performance, as one person wrote, “Why does the UK do so bad at Eurovision? Look Mum No Computer is another car crash of a performance”.

Recommended Reading

Battle began his YouTube career in 2013 and has amassed more than 85 million views, 1.4 million subscribers and followers across his social accounts.

He is best known for his homemade musical instruments, which include an organ made from Furby toys and a triple oscillator synthesiser made out of Nintendo Game Boy consoles.

Will you be watching the Eurovision grand final? Let us know in the comments.

Dave Allen shakes his head at how his homecoming against Filip Hrgovic came together but the British heavyweight hopes to snatch his “million-to-one shot” this weekend.

The affable, self-deprecating ‘White Rhino’ packs a punch although he readily accepts a fight against Hrgovic, who is ranked in the top 10 by all four major sanctioning bodies, is a mismatch on paper.

Hrgovic will be looking to use the bout as a springboard to challenging for a world title, with Allen simply grateful for a chance to fight at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium, a 10-minute walk from his home.

“I don’t know how I got here, really, how I’m boxing Filip Hrgovic on Saturday, I’m still none the wiser, don’t know whose idea it was – mental isn’t it?” a grinning Allen told the Press Association.

“I hope we find out on Saturday when I chin him. It doesn’t make any sense. I’m actually quite chilled about it because anyone who knows boxing knows I’m a million-to-one shot and I love that.

“I’ve watched him and I feel like there’s things he does do which I feel like I can take advantage of. But at the same time, he’ll be watching me and thinking exactly the same thing.”

Allen (25-8-2, 20KOs) hopes home advantage will benefit him against the Croatian, whose only defeat in 20 professional contests was against recently-crowned WBO champion Daniel Dubois two years ago.

“I’ve been going to the stadium every day and walking round the perimeter just to get used to it,” Allen said.

“When you go to the arena on the night, you get a weird sensation – that nervous feeling like you need the toilet. So I’m just getting ready in anticipation for Saturday because it’s such a big night.

“I never thought I’d do too much with the boxing. I knew I had potential but I never really thought I’d live it and I always thought it would pass me by and I’d end up having a very normal average life.

“I haven’t done it the conventional way but here I am anyway so I’m very proud of it, as random as it is.”

Allen has used the fight to reconnect with old friends from school – although former classmate and One Direction star Louis Tomlinson will not be in attendance as he has commitments abroad.

“My old teacher gave me a yearbook, so I started making a group chat on Instagram and I added all these people and we’ve all been conversing,” the 34-year-old said.

“And I thought, ‘I’m not even the most famous person in this chat, it’s heartbreaking’. Louis is in Mexico but I’ve given tickets to some of them to come on Saturday, I haven’t seen them for 18 years!”

I have my regular band of merry-makers that come over for dinners, films and game nights. In my line of work, I’m fortunate to always be making new friends. From the moment I started working with Mason Alexander Park on Much Ado, I knew we were kindred spirits and we’ve had a lot of laughs this year. Felicity Blunt and her husband Stanley [Tucci] (who’s an excellent cook, as it happens) are the best hosts in town and wonderful to be around. When I first met Felicity 20 years ago, I slipped and went flying into some Soho rubbish bins. We’ve been friends ever since.