Number One Fan stars Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay in the new Channel 5 psychological thriller

Audiences have been left split over a new Channel 5 psychological thriller.

Number One Fan debuted on Monday evening, featuring Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay.

The fresh drama centres on the assault of a popular TV presenter, who confronts her stalker.

Jill portrays morning programme host Lucy, who is rescued from an assault in a car park by an unfamiliar woman called Donna, portrayed by Sally.

Donna’s behaviour initially appears harmless, presenting herself as Lucy’s “number one fan”, but circumstances rapidly become increasingly menacing, reports the Mirror.

Her sinister fixation starts to permeate Lucy’s professional life, family and friends, extending to kidnapping her daughter and resorting to blackmail.

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The series synopsis states: “When a beloved TV presenter’s seemingly perfect life is disrupted by a chance encounter with an adoring fan, admiration slowly turns into something far more unsettling.

“As the spotlight intensifies and trust begins to fracture, fame becomes a dangerous place to hide… And the line between fan and foe starts to blur with devastating consequences.

“To her horror, Lucy comes to realise that Donna has a link to a hidden secret in her past which threatens to derail the career she has so carefully curated.”

Following the first episode’s broadcast, one viewer criticised: “Not sure there’ll be a series 2.”

“I don’t know if I can manage another episode,” another agreed.

Someone else commented: “I thought this might get better as I love Sally and Jill. But guys this is bad. This is really bad.”

“This is ridiculously bad,” yet another said, as another wrote: “This is terrible.”

“Oh dear. This is going to be really bad isn’t it?” another said.

Other viewers were quick to express their enthusiasm for the series, with one writing: “I just knew this show was gonna be incredible,” as another said: “Loving it.”

One viewer said: “I already sense this is going to be one of those dramas I’ll never forget and I’m here for it,” as someone else commented: “Sally Lindsay+Jill Halfpenny = Perfection.”

Someone else wrote: “The way this show is cringing me out so badly, but yet I can’t stop watching it bc it’s so weirdly intriguing.”

Teasing what to expect, The Madame Blanc Mysteries star Sally described the series as “dark and a bit of a rollercoaster”.

She added: “You think it’s taking you down one path with this famous TV presenter, the queen of daytime television, who meets someone who adores her and then you go down this completely different path that you’re not expecting.

“When I read it, I was like, ‘Well, I didn’t see that coming.’ It’s quite contemporary but it also explores television’s past and things that just wouldn’t happen now.

“For me and for Jill, we’ve been knocking around for nearly 30 years, so we remember living through all that.”

Number One Fan continues on Tuesday at 9pm on Channel 5

Nicole Kidman made an early statement on the Met Gala red carpet, arriving in a bold Chanel look alongside her daughter Sunday Rose.

As one of the evening’s co-chairs, the Oscar-winning actress fully embraced the spotlight, wearing a striking sequined red gown complete with feathered detailing at the waist and wrists.

The sculpted silhouette and high-shine finish ensured she was among the first stars to command attention as guests arrived.

Walking the carpet with her, Sunday Rose — Kidman’s 17-year-old daughter with ex-husband Keith Urban — provided a softer contrast in a strapless pink and purple gown, paired with coordinating statement earrings.

The pair’s joint appearance comes after reports that Urban was left ‘heartbroken’ following an interview in which Sunday praised her mother without mentioning her father.

Speaking to  Elle Australia, the teenager described Nicole Kidman as ‘my biggest inspiration in life’, adding: ‘She is a key part of everything I do.’

However, there was no reference to her father in the interview — something a source claimed had left the country singer struggling to respond.

‘Keith doesn’t know what to say, but he’s trying to put on a brave front,’ a source told New Idea at the time. ‘He knows he has to be patient; however, this latest snub… has stumped him. It’s like he doesn’t exist.’

Kidman and Urban, who married in 2006, confirmed their split last year after 19 years together. They share two daughters, Sunday Rose and younger sister Faith Margaret, 14.

Following the separation, it was reported that Kidman would take the girls for the majority of the time, with some weekends spent with their father.

The pair posed together for photographers, with their obvious affection for each other making a subtle statement about dynamics within the family.

This year’s theme, ‘Fashion Is Art’, has already delivered a wave of elaborate and theatrical ensembles, with Kidman’s feathered Chanel gown already among the standout moments of the night.

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The US military claims to have sunk six small Iranian boats as tensions continue to rise in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (Centcom) commander admiral Brad Cooper said Iran was targeting commercial shipping and US military ships with cruise missiles. An Iranian military official denied the US navy report, according to state television.

It comes after the United States rejected claims by Iran that two missiles struck an American warship intending to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Tehran’s semi-official state news agency Fars reported the warship was turned back after it was struck while sailing near Jask island, following an earlier threat from Iran to attack any US boats that sought to enter the strait.

Centcom said on X that “no US Navy ships have been struck”. It did not directly respond to claims that a warship had been made to turn back.

The United Arab Emirates, a key American ally, also said it had come under attack from Iran for the first time since the fragile ceasefire took hold in early April.

The UAE Defence Ministry said its air defences had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran. Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals. The UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE.

The latest conflict came after US president Donald Trump had vowed to free commercial ships stranded in the waterway as part of his “Project Freedom”, an operation to guide foreign ships past Iran’s blockade, which was imposed shortly after the US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February.

Centcom later said that two US-flagged merchant vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz as US Navy guided-missile destroyers operated in the Gulf. Tehran has not yet responded to the claims.

Admiral Cooper claimed to establish a lane for ships to cross through the strait in Oman’s waters, saying it had set up an “enhanced security area.”

Trump warned Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they attack US vessels carrying out Project Freedom in an interview with Fox News’ Trey Yingst on Monday.

It came after his lengthy Truth Social post on Sunday, where he declared the “humanitarian” mission, beginning on Monday morning, would “free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong”.

Several ships were running low on food and other supplies, he said.

“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Mr Trump wrote.

He said “Project Freedom” came as the US held “very positive discussions” with Iran, who have reportedly issued the US president a one-month deadline for negotiations on its proposed deal to reopen the strait and bring an end to the war.

A senior Iranian lawmaker had previously warned that any US involvement in managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would constitute a violation of the ceasefire.

Ibrahim Azizi dismissed the idea that the waterway could be directed by Washington, saying the strait and the Persian Gulf “would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts”.

“No one would believe Blame Game scenarios!” he added.

Hours before claiming to have struck a US warship, a statement from the Iranian military declared it would “respond harshly” to any threat from foreign vessels.

Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces’ unified command, said in the statement that commercial ships and oil tankers must refrain from any movement in the absence of coordination with Iran’s military.

“We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces,” Mr Abdollahi said.

“We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz.”

Later on Monday, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent called on China to step up efforts to help the US end Iran’s blockade of the waterway.

Washington will be watching to see whether China steps up its diplomacy with Iran, he added.

Manchester City’s failure to beat Everton on Monday night means Arsenal have a five point advantage in the Premier League title race with just a handful of games remaining

Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal can wrap up the title this weekend if they beat can beat West Ham after Manchester City dropped points against Everton.

The former Premier League champions headed to Hill Dickinson Stadium knowing that only a win would do with Arsenal six points ahead of them, albeit having played two games more. But a second half implosion meant they had to settle for a 3-3 draw, with Jeremy Doku rescuing a point right at the death.

City’s failure to win means their fate is no longer in their own hands, with Arsenal five points ahead of their rivals. And while nothing will be confirmed this weekend, Carragher and Gunners legend Thierry Henry both pinpointed this weekend’s trip to West Ham as a decisive one in terms of the destination of the title.

“It’s a tough away game, they [Bournemouth] are in great form,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

READ MORE: Man City hand Arsenal control of title race despite dramatic comeback vs EvertonREAD MORE: Premier League explain decision to allow Everton goal vs Man City

“From an Arsenal perspective, tonight is about the league, but can you imagine the stadium tomorrow [for the CL semi-final second leg]? The excitement for the competition, the energy from the fans that will be in that stadium. To get to a Champions League final, the league is in your hands with three games to go.

“If Arsenal win against West Ham next Sunday, they win the league.”

Henry stressed that he would not be getting ahead of himself as there is still scope for Arsenal to also drop points and pinpointed the trip to West Ham as the game that ‘worried’ him the most.

The Frenchman said: “I thought Man City would drop points at Everton… they came back into the game and he [Pep Guardiola] has to be positive because they still have plenty of points to play.

“The only thing that has changed is it is now in Arsenal’s hands only.”

He continued: “Now it’s back in Arsenal’s hands. It’s not in Man City’s hands anymore. I said at the beginning of the show that I could see City dropping points against Everton and that I’m worried about the West Ham game. So I’m going to stay in my lane and not celebrate too early because nothing is done. But I could see that happening.

“I saw a bit of nervousness with City because they imploded. They brought Everton back into the game with some mistakes. The game became crazy.

“Arsenal can see that Man City dropped two points, but you can’t start to think that, ‘Now, maybe…’ There’s no maybe.

“Win your games. Don’t look at City. It’s in your hands.”

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Wu Yize has become the second youngest winner of the World Snooker Championship after a stunning 18-17 victory over Shaun Murphy.

It was the first time the Crucible final had gone down to a deciding frame since Peter Ebdon beat Stephen Hendry in 2002.

22-year-old Wu had never won a match at the Crucible before this year, but has produced an incredible run of performances in Sheffield.

Victories over Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, Hossein Vafaei and a dramatic deciding frame win over Mark Allen took him to the final, where even more drama followed.

The two relentlessly attacking players stuck to their guns and took it to each other over 34 brilliant frames.

Momentum swung each way as the big breaks kept flowing and neither lost their nerve as they went punch for punch and Wu just pipped Murphy to cross the line.

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The next edition will look back on what has been a great World Championship yet again, so there’s no better time to sign up.

After Zhao Xintong became China’s first world champion last year, the country can now boast two Crucible kings.

Taking defeat impressively, Murphy said: ‘It’s been an excellent couple of weeks for me and my team here in Sheffield. We’ve had an amazing time, some great performances, we’ve had a lot of laughs and jeez we came close, we were very, very close.

‘I’d like to be the first to congratulate Wu Yize, his family and everyone around him on being a wonderful world champion, congratulations.’

Wu started the last day of the tournament 10-7 ahead, having finished Sunday night in some style, but the composure he had shown seemed to have deserted him in the third of four sessions.

The Englishman reeled off the first five frames of the day, knocking in breaks of 76, 52, 59 and 60 along the way, to take the lead at 12-10.

Pressure had not seemed to be an issue for Wu over the entire tournament, but he appeared to finally be cracking with the finish line in sight.

He filled those cracks before the session ended, though, stopping the rot with a 64 and moving level again in the penultimate frame of the afternoon.

Wu then looked superbly composed and dangerous again in the 25th, knocking in a very difficult break of 61 to help him on his way to 13-12 ahead.

The Chinese star looked like a spent force but roared back into fine form to get his nose back in front.

There was a rousing reception for both as they returned for the last session but there were contrasting entrances from the players, with Wu barely acknowledging the crowd as he walked down the stairs, while Murphy soaked up the moment.

The younger man certainly appeared more settled at the start of this session than the last, knocking in a powerful 88.

The tit-for-tat went on, though, as Murphy made 82 and then took the next to level up once again at 14-14.

Then came two dramatic steals, one from Wu and next from Murphy in stunning fashion as the Chinese star made 70, only for the Englishman to clear up with 65 to pinch it on the black.

That could have been a real blow for the youngster, but he was in again with a long red, blasting the pack apart and making a half-century to move 16-15 up.

Back surged the Magician with a beautiful 131, bringing the crowd to their feet, as the match was even yet again.

Both did make errors in the next two, but were still playing well enough to pounce on the mistake of the other as Wu went one from victory with a 91 and Murphy responded with a 75 to send us to a decider.

It was the Englishman who briefly got in first, but played safe and Wu who got the first really good chance thanks to an excellent red to middle.

He made a break of 85 in yet more swashbuckling style to get the job done and become world champion.

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The high-profile legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has come to an abrupt and unexpected end after a year and a half, with both sides agreeing to settle just weeks before they were due to face each other in court.

The pair, who starred together in It Ends with Us, had been locked in a bitter back-and-forth since late 2024, after Lively, 38, filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni, 42, of misconduct on set and alleging a coordinated effort to damage her reputation.

Baldoni denied the claims and launched a countersuit of his own, drawing in his production company Wayfarer Studios as the dispute escalated into one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal sagas.

The production of the pair’s 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel came under the spotlight when tensions first emerged between the two co-stars during the film’s publicity tour.

While both starred in the film, Baldoni also directed, while Lively was an executive producer.

A trial had been scheduled to begin in New York later this month, with both actors expected to testify, but that will no longer go ahead following Monday’s agreement.

The terms of the settlement have not been made public.

In a joint statement, lawyers for both sides said they hoped the resolution would allow everyone involved to ‘move forward constructively and in peace’, while emphasising a shared commitment to respectful and safe working environments.

They also pointed to the film at the centre of the dispute as something they remain proud of, adding that raising awareness around domestic violence — a key theme of the story — continues to be an important goal.

The legal fight had already been narrowed before the settlement. A judge had dismissed the majority of Lively’s claims, including those relating to sexual harassment, while allowing a smaller number, including breach of contract and retaliation, to proceed.

She had originally alleged that Baldoni is liable for at least $161million (£117million) in damages and lost income arising from what she claimed was a smear campaign levelled against her during the movie’s release.

Baldoni denied all claims and then sued The New York Times for libel over their siding with Lively’s account of events, and sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.

The ruling that dismissed many of Lively’s claims hinged in part on her status as an independent contractor, meaning certain workplace protections under US law did not apply in the same way as they would for employees.

However, the judge indicated that allegations around a retaliatory campaign could still be examined in court, noting the potential reputational impact in an industry where public image is closely tied to career prospects.

The dispute first became public in December 2024, though rumours of tension had already begun circulating during the film’s promotional run, when the co-stars notably appeared separately.

Despite all the drama, It Ends With Us proved a major commercial success, taking more than $350million at the global box office despite mixed reviews.

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Wu Yize claimed a 18-17 win over Shaun Murphy at the Crucible Theatre to win the World Snooker Championship

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Wu Yize has won the deciding frame against Shaun Murphy to win the World Snooker Championship.

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Thierry Henry said he would put faith in Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid after his performance against Fulham.

Lewis-Skelly was afforded a first ever-start in his preferred central midfield role as Mikel Arteta rung the changes against Fulham at the weekend.

And the teenager rewarded his manager’s faith with an all-action display in the middle of the pitch to help his side claim a vital 3-0 home win.

Martin Zubimendi, who was the man replaced by Lewis-Skelly, has shown signs of fatigue in the last few weeks after a gruelling campaign, which has seen the Spaniard already make 52 club appearances in all competitions.

And analysing Arsenal’s win over Fulham, Henry was quick to highlight the added intensity and physicality that Lewis-Skelly brought to the Gunners’ midfield.

‘Miles was just different,’ the former Arsenal striker told Sky Sports on Monday.

‘I didn’t see Zubimendi do that often – the legs, anticipation, stopping someone, boom, making someone feel that you that you are there; he was there all the time.’

Zubimendi will still be expected to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, as Arsenal bid to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.

And while adamant that the Spaniard would bring more ‘security’, Henry said he would lean towards giving Lewis-Skelly another chance to impress from the start.

‘Because of the magnitude of the game, he’s going to think to be a bit more secure,’ Henry said. ‘But Lewis-Skelly showed that that might be a new position for him in terms of next season.

‘He did extremely well. I wouldn’t mind if he starts him but then I can understand because of the magnitude of the game and how Zubimndi plays, sometimes you need to be a tiny bit more secure. We will see. But in this game, he was brave.’

Henry continued: ‘It’s one thing to be patient. It’s one thing to maybe be upset about the situation. But he was ready.

‘He didn’t look like he didn’t play for a very long time. He controlled the game. He went forward. He buzzed the game at times. That’s outstanding.

‘Do not underestimate experience in this type of game. But would I like to see him on Tuesday or tomorrow, obviously? Yes. Why not?’

Earlier on Tuesday, Arteta confirmed that Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are back available for selection, but Jurrien Timber remains out with injury.

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A federal judge reportedly apologized on Monday to accused White House Correspondents’ Dinner attacker Cole Tomas Allen for how he has been treated in jail.

After his April 25 arrest, Allen was temporarily put on suicide watch in restrictive conditions, according to his attorneys. They said this meant being confined in a padded room in straitjacket-like restraints, while being subject to visitation limits, around-the-clock lighting and repeated strip searches.

“At a minimum, I should be apologizing to him,” Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui reportedly said during a hearing on Monday. “We are obligated to make sure he’s taken care of. Mr. Allen, I’m sorry that things have not been the way they are supposed to.”

“To me, it’s extremely disturbing that he was put in five-point restraints, a person with no criminal history,” the judge reportedly added, arguing that even people accused of storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, hadn’t faced such conditions. “It’s troubling. I never heard of one Jan. 6 defendant who was put in five-point restraints or in a safe cell. If the only way to keep him safe is the most punitive thing, that’s a problem.”

Over the weekend, Allen, 31, was taken off suicide precautions, according to his attorneys. Still, Judge Faruqui demanded the parties return to court on Monday to address the detention conditions, writing in a Sunday order of his “grave concerns” about Allen’s “seemingly unprompted solitary confinement for days.”

A jail psychiatrist evaluated Allen and initially concluded that he posed a potential risk to himself, Tony Towns, acting general counsel for the Washington, D.C., corrections department, told the court on Monday.

“Every case is different, your honor,” he said.

Allen, who is accused of attempting to storm the dinner while armed with multiple guns, told FBI agents he didn’t expect to survive the attack, a Justice Department prosecutor said in court on Monday.

The 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California, is charged with attempting to assassinate the president and multiple weapons charges. He has not yet entered a plea.

The court has ordered an update regarding Allen’s jailhouse conditions by Tuesday morning.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.

People hoping for wetter conditions in Wales may be disappointed this week

Whilst it may not be good news for gardeners, many people in Wales will be glad with the Met Office’s forecast for Wales this week with the dry spell set to continue. After a dry April, those hoping for some rain to help their garden grow may be waiting a bit longer as while there are showers around some areas could miss them completely.

The Met Office has said that any rain in the week ahead will be in the form of showers which are “hit or miss” and it may stay entirely dry for some in Wales.

The forecast for Tuesday, May 5, predicts dry weather with sunny spells and cloud building through the afternoon, perhaps with the odd spot of light rain. Temperatures around average with a maximum temperature of 15 °C. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

Whilst the weather will remain cool and rather cloudy on Wednesday, with some showers, especially in the west. Thursday will see warmer temperatures with ” a mix of sunny spells and occasional showers.”

The long range forecast for the UK shows the potential for wetter conditions with more widely unsettled conditions.

The forecast from Saturday, May 9 until Monday, May 18 states: “Initially, slowly-evolving weather patterns are expected in the vicinity of the UK, with low pressure over western Europe and high pressure building across or to the north of the UK.

“Whilst largely settled conditions are likely in northern areas, there may be some rain or showers across portions of England and Wales, which could be heavy and locally thundery. However, there is a slight chance these wetter conditions could remain over the nearby Continent.

“Deeper into next week and beyond, there may be a tendency for more widely unsettled conditions across the UK, with some rain or showers at times.

“Whilst some occasional warm days are possible, temperatures overall are likely to be near or below average, especially in the north, with an ongoing risk of overnight rural frost.”

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