The Love Hypothesis, Prime Video’s latest release, is an enjoyable enough quirky rom-com – but it’s missing the spice its devoted fans will be hoping for.

Based on author Ali Hazelwood’s extremely popular STEM romance of the same name, the film is an adaptation of the original BookTok sensations during the Covid lockdowns.

The story began as ‘Reylo’ fanfiction about the relationship between Star Wars characters Rey and Kylo Ren (played by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver) before Hazelwood reworked it into a novel.

The film’s casting then added another layer of excitement, with Hazelwood fans thrilled to see Lili Reinhart paired with Tom Bateman – who happens to be Daisy Ridley’s real-life husband.

Directed by Claire Scanlon (Set It Up) and written by Sarah Rothschild, it’s fair to say it arrives with plenty of hype.

In the film, PhD student Olive (Reinhart) invents a boyfriend to convince her best friend Anh (Rachel Marsh) to date their friend Jeremy (Nicholas Duvernay).

But when Anh catches Olive working alone in the lab one Saturday night, Olive panics and kisses hotshot professor Dr Adam Carlsen (Bateman), who is nicknamed ‘Dr Evil’ by students for his intimidating reputation.

Olive then persuades Adam to fake a relationship with her to keep Anh convinced – while Adam hopes the arrangement will help him secure an extension to his university funding after being deemed a flight risk.

It’s an unrealistic and somewhat laughable premise, as the story touches on Adam’s entirely reasonable option of filing a sexual harassment claim.

However, fake dating is one of the most popular romance tropes, and this latest version does well to sell it without it being too cringey.

There’s also a sweet and easy chemistry between its leads, particularly in the clumsy initial interactions – there’s a mortifying hug and forehead kiss – but it’s one that could have burned a little hotter.

The Love Hypothesis’s famous climactic sex scene, for example, is a bit of a polite and rushed letdown. Of course, it was never going to match the book for on-page horniness, but it needed a fair bit more heat alongside the sweetness to match fans’ expectations, as well as offer something new and exciting to the genre.

The film also glosses over Olive being demisexual and the vulnerabilities that brings to exploring a relationship, especially when it turns physical, which is a big theme with Hazelwood’s characters.

However, while the central relationship struggles to translate all its elements well from page to screen, the acting is very good.

Reinhart makes for a convincingly awkward but also adorable Olive, entirely relatable as a heroine, while Bateman does well with Adam’s spikiness and as foil to Reinhart – although his interpretation is rather cooler than the Adam in the book.

The true revelation of the film though is the fabulous Marsh (The Morning Show) as Anh, who radiates a protective and understanding vibe as Olive’s BFF, projecting a meaningful friendship onscreen that you would entirely understand Olive – to whom she has become family, following her single mum’s death – risking everything for.

Jaboukie Young-White (Abbott Elementary, Companion) is also entertaining as the fun-loving, hard-partying Malcolm, another friend of Olive’s who has made Adam his nemesis.

In fact, in The Love Hypothesis the gentle comedy often outweighs the romance, which keeps things ticking along nicely even if it’s not quite the central relationship as portrayed in the book.

Prime Video has really hyped The Love Hypothesis as one of the biggest titles in its recent strategy of flinging itself headfirst into BookTok adaptations (Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus and the Your Fault series previously, as well as the upcoming romantasy adaptation Fourth Wing and Elsie Silver’s Rose Hill cowboy romances).

However, it does hint at the problems much-hyped adaptations of much-loved properties can face when it comes to meeting fans’ sky-high, often incredibly specific expectations.

The Love Hypothesis is streaming on Prime Video from today.

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The store shared the announcement on Facebook.

A popular vinyl store in Aberdeen has just announced it will be closing down. It has left loyal customers distraught at what they have called “gutting news.”

Maid in Vinyl took to Facebook earlier today (September 23) to share in a statement that it would be permanently shuttering. The move has been made due to “ongoing cost increases” that the business “can no longer sustain.”

At the moment, no official closure date has been confirmed by the second-hand record store. It has now launched a huge clearance sale, advising that “everything must go” and that there is a “huge stock clearance.”

Located on Rosemount Viaduct, Maid in Vinyl has become a popular haunt for music collectors. Officially opened in 2016, the independently run store stocks a large selection of pre-loved vinyl LPs, 45s and 12-inch records.

While mostly known for its second-hand vinyl’s, it can also stock newer titles. It has also previously taken part in ‘Record Store Day’, a semi-annual event that was launched in 2008 to “celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store.”

Following the store closing down, the business has confirmed that it will set up a shop on the online marketplace Discogs, while also setting up local delivery. No date has been set for either but they are confirmed for “the near future.”

The full post on Facebook read: “We have made a decision going forward to close the Aberdeen shop. This is due to ongoing cost increases which unfortunately the business can no longer sustain.

“We hope that you all will take advantage of some fantastic deals before we close and thank you all for your support over the years. We will offer a Discogs shop and delivery locally in the near future which will be extensive.”

Many local Aberdonians have been responding expressed their sadness over the news. The devoted fanbase has also confirmed they will be supporting the businesses up and coming ventures on Discogs.

One shopper commented: “Absolutely gutting news, it’s expensive to keep things running so I understand. We will miss you lots on our wee bit of Rosemount Viaduct.”

A second shopper responding to the news said: “I am so sorry to hear this. I know I only come in a couple of times a year but always go home with some bargains. You will be very much missed.”

Another upset customer wrote: “Sad to hear but understandable. Best wishes with the new adventure.”

It’s just the latest closure to hit the Scottish high street recently. The Titan hotel and restaurant in Clydebank is set to close down this month, although bosses at Greene King are yet to confirm the date.

The parent company has said the “difficult decision” was made as part of a strategy to “deliver sustainable and profitable growth for the future”. A sale of the venue has been agreed subject to contract, although Greene King said it was “unable to share further details on the future of the pub at this time.”

For more information on the Main in Vinyl closing down sale, follow the store’s Facebook page and website.

Royal Navy bomb disposal experts from HMNB Devonport have now been spotted at the scene in Falmouth.

Lt Cdr Ben Brown, commanding officer of the Royal Navy’s Bravo Squadron bomb disposal team, described the explosive device as a “general purpose bomb” that could have come “from any number of sources”.

He said: “It could have been an American bomber that’s come back from a mission, not successfully executed that, not dropped its payload and it needed to get rid of the bombs before it landed.

“It could have been an emergency and it needed to just ditch. You could put the same bomb in a slightly different location, on a different day, with different weather conditions, and have a completely different response required.”

He added: “This is on the larger side of ordnance that we would deal with, but the Plymouth team in particular have dealt with a lot of these recently, certainly this year to date, but it’s on the slightly larger side.”

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “Royal Navy bomb disposal experts from HMNB Devonport continue to support Devon and Cornwall Police following the discovery of an unexploded World War Two American air-dropped bomb near Falmouth Docks.

“Bravo Squadron’s vital role is to keep UK waters safe and free from unexploded wartime ordnance.

“With some of the most advanced equipment available, these highly trained Royal Navy divers work in challenging conditions to protect the public and keep our waters safe.”

Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, has reportedly been arrested at an airport by counter terror police.

A post on his X account reads: ‘Tommy has been detained again, at an airport by Counter Terrorism Police.

‘They will never stop trying to destroy this man.

‘Why are they so scared?’

In a previous post, Tommy Robinson said he was willing to fight the ‘establishment f***ing w****s’ rather than Russia.

It is not known which airport the activist is being held.

Counter Terror Police have been approached for comment.

This is a breaking news story… More to follow…

Spanish fashion brand Bershka will open in the Metrocentre’s upper Red Mall this November, marking its first North East location.

The announcement has been met with excitement from shoppers, many of whom have shared their enthusiasm on social media.

One shopper said: “It was there years ago, was best shop in there. Pleased it’s coming back.”

Many others simply wrote that they are “so excited.”

Bershka’s new store will bring together the brand’s three signature ranges – Bershka womenswear, Man, and BSK for teens – alongside footwear and accessories.

Ben Cox, director at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, asset managers of Metrocentre, said: “Following in the footsteps of sister brands Zara and Stradivarius, and soon to be joined by Lefties, Bershka’s arrival will also see Metrocentre become the first destination in the North East to offer all four Inditex-owned brands under one roof – a major win for fashion-conscious customers.”

Bershka will join fellow Inditex brands Zara and Stradivarius, which already operate in the centre.

Lefties, another Inditex label, is also set to open at the Metrocentre later this year, making it one of only three UK locations for the brand.

Metrocentre bosses say fashion sales at the centre have continued to grow strongly this year.

They believe the centre’s mix of international and independent retailers has reinforced its position as the region’s top shopping destination.

The exact opening date for Bershka has not yet been confirmed, but bosses confirmed it remains set for November, as planned.

Cat Deeley was left visibly choked up as she fought back tears after a very emotional segment during This Morning on Wednesday. 

The TV presenter and her co-host Ben Shephard were joined on the show by two mothers, Gemma and Sarah, who tragically lost their children to suicide as a result of bullying. 

Honey Cook was just 15 years old when she took her own life back in 2021 and Jack Allcott was also 15 when he died by suicide last year. 

And as the two mothers opened up about their awful experiences, Cat, who is a mother of two herself, was seen fighting back tears as she became overwhelmed with emotion. 

After hearing about Honey and Jack’s stories as part of This Morning’s Know The Signs Anti-bullying Campaign, Cat was visibly choked up and struggled to make it through to the end of the segment.

Reading the call-to-action to viewers, Cat said: ‘A reminder that you can find more information on our know the signs campaign by scanning the QR code…’ before her voice began to break. 

Reading the call-to-action to viewers, Cat said: ‘A reminder that you can find more information on our know the signs campaign by scanning the QR code…’ before her voice began to break

Gemma has since set up a charity in honour of her late daughter Honey, called Bee Kind for Honey, which makes mental health and grief boxes for young people to help prevent suicide. 

It isn’t the first time Cat has been overcome with emotion during her time on This Morning after she struggled to control her emotions as she spoke to Tiana Krasniqi who watched her husband James Broadnax, convicted of double murder, die by lethal injection weeks after getting married.

James, who was put behind bars in 2008 after he was accused of shooting and killing two music producers, was sentenced to death for the crime, and faced the penalty on April 30 just two and a half weeks after he married Tiana, 31.

Recalling James’s death, Tiana explained: ‘You get called in to go into the prison, and you wait there until the phone rings when they say that he’s been, in other words, strapped in and the IV has been inserted in his veins…

‘You have this long walk, it feels like you’re going through hospital corridors in the beginning, the door then opens, and they say to you, “once you go in there, once the door is closed, you cannot come out until they declare him dead”…

‘It’s a small room, no chairs, you see him right in front of you, in front of a massive window, strapped in the gurney and in that moment, I screamed…

‘My brain couldn’t comprehend what my eyes were seeing, it was a horrendous thing to ever see, not just because he’s my husband but in general, nobody should ever have to see anything like that…

‘I came to very quickly realise that he could hear me… we were consistently speaking back and forth throughout the whole thing, talking to each other in a weird way brought a bit of comfort knowing we could have our final conversation face to face…

Honey Cook was 15-years-old when she took her own life back in 2021 and Jack Allcott was also 15 when he died by suicide last year (Honey’s mum Gemma (L) and Jack’s mum Sarah (R))

‘It just wasn’t enough, there was never enough time. You don’t know how to deal with it in the moment, you don’t know what the right reaction is.’

Cat’s voice broke and she appeared teary as she asked: ‘When it was over, did you get to hold him or be with him? Because up until this point, you’d never touched each other before.’

Tiana explained of seeing her husband in the funeral home: ‘That’s the first time I saw him, I was told that I wasn’t allowed to touch him anywhere below [the neck] because the injection may leak and it’s dangerous to touch…

Thanking Tiana for appearing again on the show, Cat’s voice wobbled as she said: ‘Don’t just fight though, take care of yourself too, take a second and take care of yourself, too. Thank you so much for coming today, I know that it’s been so terrible.’

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123 or email jo@samaritans.org 

Taylor Swift has announced three brand new songs less than 24 hours after announcing her new single, “Patient Zero.”

The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore — the deluxe version of Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl, which was released October 3, 2025 — will be released Friday, containing new songs “Patient Zero”, “Cleveland!”, “Pink Clouding”, and “Babylon”.

“About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing,” the singer wrote Wednesday morning on Instagram. “Something that completely blew my mind… You gave The Life of a Showgirl the biggest first week for an album in history.”

She continued: “I took a trip to Sweden to celebrate with Max and Shellback, my two collaborators on this album. Really we just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in, but there was a studio there and we did what we do when we feel anything at all: We wrote more songs.”

Swift said the four songs were “born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made.”

It comes after Swift announced Tuesday afternoon that “Patient Zero” would be released Friday.Three versions of the song are available to buy as CDs on Swift’s website: the original, an acoustic version and a piano version. All three CDs feature different photos of 36-year-old Swift.

Speculation over a potential musical release kicked off Tuesday morning when Swift fans noticed that the singer changed every “o” in her Instagram bio to a zero. Lyrics of her songs on Apple Music and Spotify also replaced random “o” letters in songs to zeroes.

The 14-time Grammy winner is slated to attend Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards— which is where she announced her album Midnights in 2022 — Sunday to receive the Inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, which will make her the most awarded artist in the award show’s history.

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Swift sent fans into a frenzy after last week’s Emmy Awards, when she made a surprise appearance in a pre-taped sketch and appeared to hint at new music.

“I think what we’re going to be looking for is hiding in plain sight,” Swift told Emmys host Mariska Hargitay in the clip before rattling off what seemed to be a series of Easter eggs pointing to upcoming music: “Saccharide. Aries. From the vineyard. North or south.”

Before this, the last song that Swift released was “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which she wrote for Toy Story 5.

The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore will mark the first new music that Swift has released after tying the knot with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.

Former Wales defender James Collins has accused Cole Palmer of feigning injury after the Chelsea star pulled out of England’s squad for the side’s upcoming Nations League matches.

Thomas Tuchel recalled Palmer to his latest 27-man party after controversially leaving the attacking midfielder out of his squad for this year’s World Cup.

Palmer has enjoyed an encouraging start to the new season after a deeply frustrating campaign last term, featuring in all seven of Chelsea’s matches while registering four goals and two assists.

But five days out from England’s opening clash with Spain, it was announced that Palmer was one of five players to withdraw from Tuchel’s squad, along with Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice and Tino Livramento.

Everton’s James Garner and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White have been called up to England’s camp as cover, with the Three Lions also facing the Czech Republic (home and away) and Croatia over the next two-and-a-half weeks.

Palmer was struck down by a persistent groin injury for large parts of last season, which meant he was only able to start 24 of Chelsea’s 38 games across the club’s Premier League campaign.

His latest injury setback is being described as a ‘minor muscular issue’ but when addressing the news on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, ex-West Ham centre-back Collins sounded rather sceptical.

The former Wales international theorised that Palmer had asked Chelsea to come up with an excuse as he has the ‘hump’ with Tuchel in the wake of his World Cup snub.

‘I would say he’s got the hump,’ Collins said.

‘He’s got the hump that he didn’t go to the World Cup and he’s pulled out. Listen, that’s my opinion.

‘I don’t know the lad but honestly, from an ex-player, player point of view, for me, he’s got the hump.

‘It sounds to me as an ex-player that he’s gone to the fitness coach and gone, “Really? Don’t fancy it… say something, load management”.

‘Listen, it might not be but I’ve played the game.’

Sam Allardyce, featuring as Natalie Pike’s other guest on the podcast, echoed Collins’ skepticism following Palmer’s withdrawal from England’s squad.

The former England and Bolton manager also suggested Palmer should start ‘looking after himself better’ if he wishes to enjoy a long and successful playing career.

‘He’s had the summer off!’ Allardyce said of Palmer’s withdrawal.

‘Right now, I would say that this is such a talented player that all of a sudden it’s a career point where he decides how long he wants to stay in the game.

‘I would say it’s time he changed… and I might be completely wrong because I don’t know… and started looking after himself better.’

Allardyce did, though, underline just how much he enjoys watching Palmer strut his stuff when he’s fit and firing for club and country.

‘He does it with so much ease, he makes me jealous,’ the 71-year-old added.

‘I wish I could look that cultured, that skillful on the ball. He floats past players and it looks like he’s not really running.’

England kick off their Nations League campaign against Spain at Wembley in five days’ time.

The Three Lions then travel to Prague to take on the Czech Republic next Tuesday before locking horns with Croatia in Rijeka on October 3.

Harry Kane and Co conclude the international break by returning to Wembley to play host to the Czech Republic on October 6.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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North Yorkshire Council says 507 people from 100 households have been resettled under Afghan resettlement schemes as of September 15.

Of those, 64 people from 12 households have subsequently moved out of the county.

A further 180 people from 46 households have been resettled in North Yorkshire since February 2021 through the separate UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS).

The council originally pledged to accommodate 200 people through that programme.

However, completion of the pledge has been delayed due partly to the larger-than-anticipated number of Afghan arrivals.

The UK’s Afghan resettlement schemes were established to relocate vulnerable Afghan nationals and former UK government employees following the 2021 Taliban takeover.

North Yorkshire Council says its immediate priority is finding new homes for Afghan families currently living in Ministry of Defence accommodation as their leases come to an end.

Twenty-three households remain in MoD service family accommodation without an offer of replacement private rented, council or social housing, although the report says most still have some time remaining on their three-year leases.

North Yorkshire is also expected to accommodate 73 people a year under the Afghan Resettlement Programme as part of a national “fair share” approach based on population.

The council has been awarded funding to purchase nine properties for Afghan households between 2026/27 and 2029/30.

The report, which goes before the council’s Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday (September 28), also gives an update on how refugees are integrating into communities.

Families receive three years of integration support from the Refugee Council, initially involving intensive casework before moving towards greater independence.

English lessons are provided alongside courses covering subjects including driving theory, workplace communication, IT and life in the UK.

The council says progress in helping refugees into employment remains “steady”.

Jobs secured range from professional roles to semi-skilled and lower-skilled employment, while some refugees have established their own businesses.

Three former doctors from Afghanistan are studying to become doctors in the UK, while eight refugees have secured jobs with North Yorkshire Council through its normal competitive recruitment process.

Barriers to employment include English language skills, difficulties matching existing qualifications to available jobs, access to transport and health issues.

The report says there are no additional financial implications for the council arising directly from the programme, with the UKRS and Afghan resettlement schemes funded by the Home Office.

By ERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER

Published: 14:35 BST, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 14:48 BST, 23 September 2026

For those living near airports or under busy flight paths, aircraft noise can be a seriously unwelcome disturbance.

Yet some areas in the UK are affected more severely than others, with takeoffs and landings interrupting everything from afternoons spent in the garden to futile attempts at sleep.

But where are you most likely to find yourself reaching for a pair of earmuffs? 

Research has revealed which UK locations experience the highest levels of aircraft noise, with offending hubs including spots in London, the north of England, Scotland and beyond.

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The study, from wellness firm Nature’s Best, highlights where residents may be most exposed to the sounds of flights overhead when trying to get a good night’s rest.

Luton tops the ranking for the highest level of nighttime aircraft noise with 51 decibels (dB).

Luton Airport operates 24 hours a day and allows night flights, which could help explain why the town records a particularly high level of nighttime aircraft noise.

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Luton Airport tops the ranking of airports exposed to the highest degree of noise

Leeds ranks second at 46 dB. 

Leeds Bradford Airport sits relatively close to several residential areas, including Yeadon, Horsforth and Rawdon, while also being around eight miles from Leeds city centre. 

This proximity to built-up areas could help explain why aircraft noise is more noticeable for some residents, particularly those living close to flight paths.

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London ranks third at 38 dB. With several major airports serving the capital and surrounding area, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City, residents can be exposed to a complex network of flight paths.

However, it must be noted that some of the largest airports are subject to specific night-flight restrictions.

Leeds records the second-highest level of nighttime aircraft noise

Top 10 UK locations with highest level of aircraft noise at night

1. Luton – 51 dB
2. Leeds – 46 dB
3. London – 38 dB
4. Southampton – 36 dB
5. Reading – 35 dB
6. Liverpool – 35 dB
7. Glasgow – 35 dB
8. Bournemouth – 34 dB
9. Aberdeen – 34 dB
10. Bradford – 34 dB

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Further down the ranking, Southampton records 36 dB, while Reading, Liverpool and Glasgow hover around the 35 dB mark. 

Liverpool John Lennon Airport also operates across a 24-hour period, with specific measures in place to manage noise from nighttime flights.

Rounding out the top ten are Bournemouth, Aberdeen and Bradford.