For millions of 90s TV viewers, Dean Cain embodied the ideal man. 

With his movie-star looks, Princeton education, and starring role opposite Teri Hatcher in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Cain became one of the decade’s biggest heartthrobs, helping turn the Man of Steel into appointment television for an entire generation. 

At its peak, the show attracted more than 15 million viewers per episode and made Cain a household name.

Three decades later, however, the actor’s public image looks very different.

What did Dean Cain say about Milly Alcock?

This week Cain found himself at the centre of fresh controversy after appearing to endorse a social media post mocking new Supergirl star Milly Alcock. 

The backlash began when an X user questioned how Supergirl could have pierced ears if her skin was bulletproof. Another user then replied with an image comparing Alcock to Cha-Ka, a character from the 1970s TV series Land of the Lost.

Cain responded: ‘Dang it… I laughed.’ 

Backlash quickly followed, with many fans pointing out how disappointing it was to see a former Superman actor appearing to join in with a joke at the expense of a 26-year-old actress about to inherit one of DC’s most iconic roles. 

Many ritics accused Cain of participating in misogynistic appearance-based mockery and undermining a younger performer, with one writing on Reddit: ‘She is like the most conventionally attractive woman ever. We can’t win,’ while another replied: ‘THIS. RIGHT. HERE. They just hate women. Period.’

And the backlash did not prove to be a learning experience for Cain.

Since Sunday, the MAGA-supporting actor has replied to or reposted at least 30 posts related to the Supergirl controversy, interspersing them with messages attacking Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and praising President Donald Trump’s appearance at Monday’s NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden.

The incident is only the latest chapter in a long and increasingly divisive transformation.

How did Dean Cain become famous?

Before Hollywood came calling, Cain looked destined for an entirely different career.

Born Dean George Tanaka in 1966, he excelled academically and athletically, playing football at Princeton University before briefly signing with the Buffalo Bills. A knee injury ended his football ambitions and pushed him towards entertainment instead. 

After a series of commercials and guest appearances, he landed the role that would define his career in 1993.

As Clark Kent in Lois & Clark, Cain embodied a softer, more romantic Superman, becoming a fixture on bedroom walls and magazine covers throughout the decade.

The role remains his most famous achievement, despite subsequent appearances in projects including Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and later a return to the Superman universe in Supergirl. 

He also became a major heart throb and source of tabloid intrigue, including a six-month relationship with fellow ’90s sex symbol Pamela Anderson at the beginning of her Baywatch run.

He also, famously, dated Brooke Shields during his time at Princeton.

In recent years, however, Cain has become almost as well known for his political views as for his acting.

What are Dean Cain’s political views?

The actor, who has publicly supported Donald Trump, has increasingly used television appearances and social media to weigh in on culture-war issues. 

He said in an interview with Variety: ‘I love President Trump. I’ve been friends with him forever. Trump is actually one of the most empathetic, wonderful, generous people you’ll ever meet.’

He also joined the board of the National Rifle Association, a pro-gun lobby widely accused of preventing gun-sense legislation aimed at halting school shootings, and became a regular voice in conservative media circles. 

Did Dean Cain really join ICE?

Perhaps the most controversial moment came in 2025 when Cain announced he was joining ICE, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

In a video posted to social media, he encouraged others to sign up too, saying the agency was helping to ‘save America’ and support immigration enforcement efforts. 

He said: ‘I am a sworn law enforcement officer, as well as being a filmmaker, and I felt it was important to join with our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans, not just talk about it. So, I joined up,’ he said.

‘Since President Trump took office, ICE has arrested hundreds of thousands of criminals, including terrorists, rapists, murderers, paedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers…you name it. Very dangerous people who are no longer on the streets.’

He then went on to encourage others to sign up too, pushing how people could ‘earn lots of great benefits and pay’.

As the theme music of Superman played, he told followers: ‘You can defend your homeland for great benefits’. He then cited a $50,000 (£37,000) signing bonus, student loan repayment, enhanced retirement benefits, and special pay.

Dean then added that ICE was ‘helping save America and remove the worst of the worst from America’s streets’.

‘I like that, and I voted for that. They need your help to protect our homeland and our families. Join today if that’s something that’s tickled your fancy…because we need you.’

The move generated widespread criticism online, with many pointing to what they saw as a contradiction between Superman’s long-standing status as an outsider seeking acceptance and Cain’s support for an agency frequently criticised by immigration advocates.

Some critics also highlighted Cain’s own experiences with racism after he was cast as the Man of Steel in the 1990s.

In a previous interview with Variety, the actor recalled being targeted with racist abuse shortly after landing the role.

‘It was 1993 and I remember a fan going, “We wanted Superman, not Sushi Man”,’ Cain said, referencing a comment about his Japanese heritage.

Cain’s biological father was a Japanese-American serviceman, and the actor has previously spoken about navigating prejudice throughout his career. Despite the remark, he insisted he wasn’t offended.

‘For the love of God, he’s a Kryptonian. He could be green. Does it matter,’ he said.

For some former fans, those comments only deepened the irony. As one social media user put it: ‘To make it worse, he’s literally talked about receiving backlash and being given racist nicknames for being a half-Asian Superman actor. And yet here he is endorsing and actively participating in those same systems of bigotry and shaming.’

What did Dean Cain say about new Superman films?

Ironically, some of Cain’s most controversial comments in recent years have centred on the very character that made him famous.

Ahead of the release of James Gunn’s Superman reboot last year, the actor criticised the director’s description of the character as an immigrant story, accusing Hollywood of making the iconic hero ‘woke’.

Speaking to TMZ, Cain asked: ‘How woke is Hollywood going to make this character?’

He continued: ‘How much is Disney going to change their Snow White? Why are they going to change these characters [to] exist for the times?’

The comments came after Gunn described Superman as ‘the story of America’ and ‘an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country’.

While Cain acknowledged the character’s origins, he argued there needed to be limits to the comparison.

‘We know Superman is an immigrant – he’s a freaking alien,’ he said.

‘The “American way” is immigrant friendly, tremendously immigrant friendly. But there are rules.’

He added: ‘There have to be limits, because we can’t have everybody in the United States. We can’t have everybody, society will fail.’

The remarks sparked backlash online, with critics pointing out that Superman has long been interpreted as a metaphor for the immigrant experience, dating back to the character’s creation by the sons of Jewish immigrants in the 1930s.

The remarks prompted debate among comic-book fans, many of whom pointed out that Superman has always been, quite literally, an immigrant from another planet.

Now Cain finds himself embroiled in another DC-related controversy just weeks before Alcock’s debut as Kara Zor-El in the upcoming Supergirl. 

Whether it’s supporting ICE, embracing polarising political causes, or laughing along with jokes aimed at younger actors, Cain has spent much of the last decade alienating sections of the audience that once adored him.

And for some former fans, the sight of yesterday’s Superman taking shots at tomorrow’s Supergirl feels like the saddest twist of all.

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A United States Hercules military plane has been tracked heading westwards across the Atlantic before it suddenly turned around after apparently declaring an emergency and returned to Cardiff

A US military plane has turned around after appearing to declare an emergency and returned to Cardiff Airport.

The USAF C-130H Hercules was tracked heading westwards across the Atlantic before it suddenly turned around for unknown reasons and landed at 1.15pm.

It is understood that the plane transmitted a 7700 code, indicating there is a general emergency, but at this stage it is unclear the reason.

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport plane made in the United States by Lockheed Martin.

Designed to carry troops, cargo and casualties for medical evacuation, the aircraft is able to take off and land on rough unprepared runways.

When a pilot enters the four-digit emergency code 7700 into their transponder, it immediately alerts air traffic control that the aircraft is in distress and requires priority handling.

The exact nature of the incident is unclear as it acts as a “catch-all” for any emergency situation that isn’t a hijacking (7500) or radio failure (7600).

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A study of 2,000 men found 92% would urge a friend to visit the doctor – but almost half would delay seeking medical help for their own men’s health issues

A survey of 2,000 men revealed that most would urge a friend to visit their GP, with 40% having stepped in when a pal refused to seek help. Of those, 22% said they’ve had to intervene on more than one occasion. Yet 47% admitted to delaying an appointment themselves for exactly the same symptoms.

Just 14% seek help as soon as they notice something is wrong, with 40% typically waiting weeks before booking a GP appointment. More than half (52%) confessed they frequently wait until symptoms become impossible to ignore before seeking medical attention.

Worryingly, almost a quarter (23%) of those who delayed seeking help said their condition later turned out to be serious.

Reasons for postponing an appointment ranged from hoping the problem would resolve itself, to feeling it wasn’t severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. Others were put off by lengthy waiting times (21%) or claimed they were simply too busy (18%). Some also felt they needed to “tough it out” (18%).

The research was commissioned by health test provider Medichecks, which has teamed up with former footballer and broadcaster Chris Kamara to urge men to open up more about their health.

The brand has transformed the Trent Navigation Inn in Nottingham into its Well Man Arms Bar, welcoming men to watch football while weaving health discussions into their everyday conversations.

Chris Kamara said: “Football fans can spend hours debating who’s in the starting eleven, whether the manager got it right or who’s coming in during the transfer window. But when it comes to their own health, a lot of blokes go completely quiet.

“What struck me from the research is that nearly every man would tell a mate to get checked out if something didn’t seem right, but many won’t take their own advice.

“We’re brilliant at looking after our mates, but not always so good at looking after ourselves. I know from my own experience how easy it is to brush things off and think, ‘I’ll deal with it later’, the problem is, later can sometimes be too late.

“If we can get even a few men to stop putting things off, book an appointment, get a health check or simply talk to someone about something that’s worrying them, that’s a win in my book.”

The findings also showed that 73% of men believe outdated masculine stereotypes, such as the expectation to stay stoic and suffer in silence, are to blame for many feeling unable to seek the medical attention they need.

Yet attitudes appear to be shifting, with just 17% of those polled, via OnePoll, now admitting they wouldn’t open up to a friend, teammate or family member if something was troubling them.

And once they do make it to their GP, only 13% would feel uncomfortable discussing their concerns with a healthcare professional.

Dr Natasha Fernando, medical director at Medichecks, added: “One of the most striking findings from the research is the disconnect between how men look after others and how they look after themselves.

“The issue often isn’t a lack of awareness, it’s the tendency to put our own health at the bottom of the priority list. The reality is that many serious health conditions, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, can develop silently with few obvious symptoms.

“That’s why being proactive about your health matters so much, whether it’s booking a GP appointment, having a conversation with a healthcare professional or getting a health check.”

Murder for Two is a breathtaking, madcap romp that will leave you struggling to keep up as an astonishing pair of actors take silliness to a whole new brilliantly barmy level.

Lucy Keirl and Tom Babbage in Murder for Two (Picture: Tony Bartholomew)

The Octagon really does need to install seatbelts for this production where the humour is so rapid, the switch from one character to another is like lightning and where the audience is clinging on for dear life.

This is a real runaway train of a show which relies on the magnificent Lucy Keirl and Tom Babbage to prevent it from running into the buffers.

Originally written as a murder mystery, this production offers an added twist to the award-winning show.

Set in a BBC radio studio in 1959, the scheduled programme has been cancelled at the last minute and the two studio technicians bring to life a musical murder mystery as a last minute replacement.

Somehow it manages to send up just about every genre you can think of from film noir and the Hollywood musical to the golden age of radio.

A leading literary figure is shot dead at home just before his birthday party. A hapless wannabe detective arrives on the scene to be confronted by an eccentric line-up of party guests who all appear to have a motive. Poirot and Marple never had to deal with anything like this that’s for sure.

The Octagon’s ‘in the round’ setting is perfect for this production with props galore turning the radio studio into the murder victim’s home.

Tom Babbage plays Marcus the beat cop with ambitions, aided by an invisible assistant (obviously). He’s the fulcrum around which the whirlwind that is Lucy Keirl revolves.

Lucy Keirl in Murder for Two (Picture: Tony Bartholomew)

It’s unlikely you will ever see another performer work as hard as she does during this play flipping from one character to another in an instant. There’s a French ballerina, a German psychologist, a couple who constantly row, a widow who dreams of Broadway stardom, an innocent girl with a passion for criminology, three surviving members of a boys’ choir (you don’t want to know what happened to the others) and a slightly deranged fireman. I suspect I’ve missed some off the list but you get the gist.

There are no costume changes, new characters are introduced simply by a new accent – some of which are deliberately and hilariously bad -and an immediate change of stance. It’s such a physical performance as she constantly changes posture to seemlessly move from one of this motley crew to another.

In lesser hands this show could become a total car crash. It is so frenetic, so surreal at times and so plain daft at others, the audience could be left wondering what on earth they had come to.

But this inspired duo pull it off remarkably. It may look to be on the verge of spiralling out of control but you know they are in total command.

There is a discipline and precision that you can only sit back and admire.

They interact with the audience, some of the gags are spontaneous and they have licence to improvise which they both seize on with gusto. And they are clearly having just as much fun on the stage as the audience is having in watching them.

Lucy Keirl and Tom Babbage in Murder for Two (Picture: Tony Bartholomew)

As if all the total nonsense wasn’t enough, the show is also a musical with a grand piano taking centre stage. Both actors are consummate players, often at the keyboard at the same time, and the comedy songs and their antics around the piano are one of the joys of the show.

There are elements of the great silent comedies, with Tom Babbage’s facial expressions worthy of any of the great clowns. There is slapstick, sound effects galore and rubber chickens – it’s just not like any other play.

Murder for Two is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Be warned it is a celebration of daftness; it is silly, it is anarchic and even has elements of pantomime thrown in.

Subtle it is not. Logical it is certainly not. But what a hoot! It is inspired lunacy from two comedy actors who surely deserve some sort of recognition for their efforts.

Murder for Two runs until Saturday, June 27. Details from www.octagonbolton.co.uk

England, meanwhile, face Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in their final warm-up match today. That should include the four late-arriving Arsenal stars, before the squad fly out to their World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13. You can follow all the latest news and updates from across the tournament – including insight and analysis from Dom Smith in the States – with our rolling news live blog below!

The beautifully-crafted work of art can be seen in the Merchant Adventurers Hall on Fossgate, bringing together royal history, British heritage, and Yorkshire pride.

The piece was designed to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III while also honouring the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Historic York hall’s new stained glass honours King Charles III and the late Queen Elizabeth II. (Image: Merchant Adventurers)

The new window tells a story that bridges past and present, serving as both a tribute and a celebration. It captures a significant moment in the nation’s history and reflects the continuity of the Crown through two historic reigns.

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Beyond its royal connections, the design showcases the rich diversity of Britain’s natural world. Intricate stained-glass details celebrate native flora and fauna, weaving together elements that reflect the beauty and character of the British landscape.

Merchant Adventurers Hall in York. (Image: Submitted)

Visitors with a keen eye will also discover a number of distinctly Yorkshire touches incorporated into the artwork, including a tribute to York’s famous Tansy Beetle, a rare and much-loved local species.

The window has been brought to life by the York Glaziers Trust, renowned for their expertise in traditional stained-glass conservation and creation. The team has meticulously crafted each element of the design, ensuring a work of exceptional quality and lasting significance.

The window features a tribute to York’s famous Tansy Beetle, a rare and much-loved local species. (Image: Merchant Adventurers)

Dr Marie Groll, director of York Glaziers Trust, said: “The York Glaziers Trust has been privileged to work with colleagues at the Merchant Adventurers Hall on this new window, which is a celebration of nature and of the monarchy.

“Our in-house stained glass designer Anna Milsom has used as her inspiration the flora and fauna found in the gardens surrounding the Hall, bringing the outside in. We hope there is much hidden in the window to delight visitors to the Hall.”

The design of the new window features the diversity of Britain’s natural world. (Image: Merchant Adventurers)

The Governor of the Merchant Adventurers Hall, Professor Sarah Brown, said she was delighted with this addition during her year of office.

“The artistry and craft of the stained-glass artist has changed little since the Hall was built in the middle of the fourteenth century.

“Stained glass remains at the heart of the heritage and culture of the city of York and it is a very fitting medium in which to pay tribute to the late Queen and the accession of His Majesty the King in a building which remains central to the celebration and promotion of business, enterprise and creative entrepreneurship.

“This sensitive evocation of the garden in which the Hall sits will bring pleasure and delight to our members and our visitors alike.”

The window will provide a lasting legacy within the Hall, enriching the historic building while commemorating a defining chapter in modern British history.

From June 25 until September 1, the cost of all day wristbands will be reduced and children’s meals at all the food outlets, including the popular Monterey Jack’s diner, will also be reduced.

Families and visitors can take advantage of lots of free entertainment this summer at M&D’s and to top it all the attraction is lowering its prices following the UK Government’s temporary VAT reprieve for the hospitality industry.

From June 25 until September 1, the cost of all day wristbands will be reduced and children’s meals at all the food outlets, including the popular Monterey Jack’s diner, will also be reduced.

Jensen Taylor Connelly, Director, M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park said, “We want to make sure that families enjoy great days out this summer and are passing on the VAT savings to our customers.

“We also have some great free entertainment and many attractions for all age groups that people can look forward to over the school summer holidays.”

From Saturday, June 27, until Tuesday, August 11, visitors can meet Bonnie the friendly brontosaurus and Europe’s largest walking dinosaur. As well as meeting Bonnie, visitors can join free activities in the Ranger Training Academy and uncover hidden treasure in the Fossil Dig Zone.

On Sunday, July 5, from 9.30am until 11.30am, the four star Alona Hotel will be hosting Breakfast with the Baby Dinosaurs.

Tickets, which are priced at £15.95 per child and £12.95 per adult plus booking fee, include a photo opportunity with the baby dinos on arrival, a buffet breakfast, fun and games as a Dinosaur Ranger, play time in Krazy Congo Soft Play and a special Dino party bag to take home.

This summer new rides have been added to the Theme Park and all the favourite attractions will be open including Amazonia tropical indoor rainforest with lots of exotic plants and animals, Devil’s Island Adventure Golf, Cosmic Bowl, a ten-pin bowling alley, and Krazy Congo Soft Play.

All day wristbands, providing access to the rides, can be purchased at https://scotlandsthemepark.com

Parking is free and there are also many food outlets to enjoy, from snacks to restaurant meals.

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And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

Taylor Swift never misses a fashion beat.

The Grammy-winning artist rocked up to the Toy Story 5 premiere in Los Angeles yesterday, where she nailed the method dressing trend, loved by celebs from Zendaya to Ariana Grande.

The reason for getting into character? Taylor has provided the original end-credit song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You,’ which she performed for the first time at the premiere.

She was later joined by Randy Newman (who has scored every film in the franchise) for a duet of You’ve Got a Friend in Me. But that’s an iconic story for another day.

In terms of her outfit, Taylor understood the assignment, wearing a patchwork mini dress from Erdem’s fall 2026 collection — a subtle nod to Jessie, her favourite cowgirl.

The sculptural dress featured a strapless bodice with statement bows and was embellished with gems arranged in a floral style.

The skirt was complete with different floral fabrics, which provided the patchwork effect, and finished with raw hems.

The Renaissance-esque shape of the mini skirt created the sculpted effect. Similarly, the vintage fabrics gave the look a nostalgic-cum-futuristic feel.

While there’s no price tag on the dress, Erdem’s collection, titled The Imaginary Conversation, doesn’t come cheap.

From a £3,595 tulle fitted blazer to a £6,495 textured satin wrap coat, there’s nothing available under £495. Even a pair of stone earrings will set you back £575.

But for a billionaire like Taylor, these huge price tags won’t seem so, well, huge.

Alongside the Erdem dress, Tay donned a pair of Aleví Milano satin sandals that retail for £577.

She finished off the look with another tribute to Jessie: an antique diamond Sophie Jane horseshoe necklace.

Her other jewellery pieces included a pair of silver hooped earrings, and of course, her Kindred Lubeck engagement ring from fiancé Travis Kelce, estimated to be worth between $500,000 and over $1 million.

But perhaps the sweetest outfit addition? Instead of a dainty clutch bag, Taylor opted for her own vintage VHS copy of Toy Story.

After the photo call, where she posed alongside actors Tom Hanks and Joan Cusack (who voice Woody and Jessie), she asked the Toy Story legends to sign the video.

The Toy Story premiere isn’t Taylor’s only epic recent look — she’s been serving plenty of fits over the last month or two.

From her chic business-meets-pleasure fit in New York, which literally cost more than most of us will ever earn, to her bridal pleated white skirt and matching turtle neck, there was also the sweet prairie-style floral maxi dress she wore on a date with Travis.

It won’t be long until the pair tie the knot, either, as reports say their marriage is set to take place on July 3 in NYC.

However, not much else is known about the ceremony, as Taylor and Travis are reportedly being very cloak-and-dagger about the event, even watermarking invites to ensure every detail stays under wraps.

What we do know is that, with Taylor and Travis being one of the most famous couples on the planet — plus with celebrity weddings getting more elaborate than ever — it’s likely going to be an unforgettable event.

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As well as our MEN hustings, we’ll also be bringing you updates from the Makerfield by-election campaigns and the wider politics events of the day.

Labour have now accused Reform of “dragging politics into the gutter” after one of the party’s councillors posted a fake poll about the by-election.

Sarah Mason claimed Reform and Labour are neck-and-neck a week out from polling day, with both candidates at 44 per cent. The Scarborough councillor has now deleted the post.

A Labour Party Spokesperson, responding to reports of Reform misinformation, said: “Reform are dragging politics into the gutter. They’re stooping to new lows online because they know Robert Kenyon isn’t fit to be an MP – yet they won’t admit it.

“Instead of spreading misinformation online they should be forcing their candidate to apologise to the public for the vile comments he’s made about women and disgusting false narratives he’s peddled over the Manchester Arena bombing.

“While Reform continues to be mired in scandal and they reach for desperate underhand tactics, Labour’s Andy Burnham is determined to deliver the investment and fairer future all communities across Makerfield deserve. Send Reform packing next week – vote for Labour’s Andy Burnham on Thursday 18 June.”

The stand-off between Ten Hag and Sancho lasted four months, before Sancho joined Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the season and helped them reach the Champions League final.

But they could not afford to keep him and, although United sporting director Dan Ashworth was credited with brokering the truce that allowed Sancho to join up with United in the pre-season of 2024, it was a temporary situation, which Chelsea seemed to solve by agreeing a loan that committed them to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

Yet, after five goals in 41 appearances, Chelsea preferred to pay a £5m penalty to send Sancho back to Old Trafford.

This time, there was no olive branch. Sancho was placed in Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ and had to train away from the first team until he joined Villa on 1 September.

Now United have decided not to trigger the one-year option.

At 25, Sancho still has a lot to offer. There were glimpses of quality during his time at Villa, but he was only introduced off the bench nine minutes from the end of the Europa League final victory over Freiburg on 20 May.

“Seeing Jadon close up, technically, he’s got an awful lot of ability,” said current United interim head coach Michael Carrick when he was asked about Sancho in March.

Carrick worked with Sancho as part of Solskjaer’s backroom team and managed him for three games during his short stint in charge after the Norwegian’s dismissal.

“In and around the box; his ball carrying; his little plays; the connections; his creativity; the way he handles the ball – he’s got natural ability,” said Carrick.

“He’s always had it all the way coming through. That’s one part of football.

“But – and I’m not talking about Jadon individually on this – it is just how it is and how it should be.

“You can’t just assume it’s all going to be smooth. It’s proven that it’s not always like that.

“You’ve got to find a way through it. If you are playing in a good team with good players and a good squad and depth, that’s part of the challenge to stay at the top.”