Archive June 28, 2025

EastEnders’ Michelle Ryan pictured back on soap set as Zoe is set to reunite with Slaters

Michelle Ryan has been spotted filming the EastEnders set for the first time since her surprise return to the soap opera Zoe Slater, who was portrayed by her.

Michelle Ryan pictured back on EastEnders set for first time(Image: ISOIMAGES LTD)

Michelle Ryan has been spotted back on the set of EastEnders for the first time since making her surprise return to the BBC soap just weeks ago.

Viewers were left in shock when Zoe made her return to the soap after 20 years, although she scarpered once again after a close run in with her mother Kat. During her brief stint earlier this month, Zoe was seen away from the Square in Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner’s) flat as Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) came to help.

After a close encounter with her mother Kat, Zoe revealed that everyone would “hate her” for knowing that she was hiding a sizable secret in Barcelona. Alfie is currently attempting to rescue Zoe while she is in Barcelona. The first images of the star on set were released later this year, making it known that Zoe will be making another appearance at The Square.

Michelle Ryan
Michelle has been pictured filming for Zoe’s return later in the summer(Image: ISOIMAGES LTD)

In the pictures, Michelle could be seen filming on set with Sonny Kendall, who plays Kat Slater’s (Jessie Wallace) son, Tommy Moon. Zoe has never met her half-brother Tommy, but from the pictures, it looks like their first meeting could be happening very soon. As well as Tommy, Zoe also has half brothers Bert and Ernie, who she’s also yet to meet.

Fans can anticipate more drama when Zoe finally reunites with her mother, Kat. A turbulent relationship between the two led to revelations about Kat’s past and the truth about Zoe’s parentage. The pair’s relationship rebroke despite a reconciliation, and they have since remained apart.

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Tommy Moon
Michelle was pictured filming alongside Sonny Kendall who plays Zoe’s half brother Tommy Moon(Image: ISOIMAGES LTD)

However, Alfie hopes to bring the two back together by bringing Zoe back from Barcelona, although we could see dramatic scenes if his plan backfires. Keeping Zoe’s return a secret from his wife, Alfie told Kat he was off to Australia, as his brother Spencer needed help.

Kat is already becoming suspicious, as she was heard telling Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) that she hadn’t spoken to Alfie since he left – and Spencer had been acting weird when she called.

Michelle Ryan on EastEnders set
Zoe will be back onscreen later this summer(Image: ISOIMAGES LTD)

Kat was reportedly eavesdropping on Alfie’s departure and saying that their relationship would end forever if she discovered his whereabouts. Can Kat come to terms with him? And how will her family’s reunion go?

Zoe’s return marked the first episode for new Executive producer Ben Wadey, but it’s not the only legendary return we’ll be seeing. This week, it was announced that Karen Henthorn would be reprising her role as Julie Bates, as Nigel’s dementia gets progressively worse.

Zoe
Zoe is expected to have a dramatic reunion with her estranged mother Kat(Image: ISOIMAGES LTD)

Michelle Ryan’s return to the soap was on Wadey’s wish-list of returnees, Wadey said, “Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees because, despite havingn’t seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.

Michelle and I are both delighted to welcome her back to Walford, and I am delighted to have her back. Zoe’s return is just one of the many exciting storylines we have planned, though I can’t say too much at this point.

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Trump battles for credit for his Iran intervention

Trump’s erratic pivots appear to be driven more by optics than coherent diplomacy, from negotiations with Iran to bombing its nuclear facilities to negotiating with Iran. However, traditional Western media outlets are easing the burden by portraying Iran as an existential threat and downplaying Israel’s illegal actions.

Contributors: 

Senior fellow, European Leadership Network, Roxane Farmanfarmaian
Journalist Seamus Malekafzali
Author of Iran’s Rise and Rivalry with the US, Mohsen Milani
Samira Mohyeddin, a journalist for On the Line Media

on our radar

Few atrocities compare to the massacres Israel has repeatedly committed against Gaza’s starving refugees, despite receiving little media coverage of them. The most recent developments at the aid distribution sites have become the stuff of the dead, according to Nic Muirhead.

Assal Rad: “Getting the headlines right is really important.”

Assal Rad, a historian, has been fixing false information from the mainstream media about Israel’s genocide in Gaza for the past 20 months. She walks us through the unmistakable parallels that Israel’s 12-day war with Iran has revealed.

Glastonbury Festival bosses issue warning ahead of Kneecap’s controversial performance

Kneecap has received crowd-straining orders from Glasgowbury Festival. What are the anticipated audiences for the bosses’ lists, according to them.

For their 4pm West Holts show, they promised to draw a sizable audience, according to festivalgoers. If you don’t want to see them, consider taking alternative routes there. If you intend to attend, please bear in mind that if the field is full, we will need to close it as part of our crowd-planning efforts, please pay attention to the stewards.

Kate Nash, who “looks set to draw a large crowd to Left Field at 9pm, is a good choice if you’re hoping to catch her set,” was also highlighted.

At 10:30 p.m., the Scissor Sisters will be very busy, they added. As part of our crowd planning strategies, we’ll probably need to close the field once it’s full. At 10:30 p.m., Charlie XCX will be well-known in our new, expanded Other Stage arena.

Music fans can choose the most well-known acts to see at festivals by using the Glastonbury app to find out who are the most well-known performers.

Singer Kate Nash performs onstage
Kate Nash, who will play tonight (Getty Images), was warned of large crowds for the opening set (Getty Images).

The celebration of Glastonbury Festival 2025 is in full swing on day four, with revelers bringing it up until the weekend.

A mystery act is scheduled to perform on the Pyramid Stages on Saturday from 6:15pm to 7:15pm. Everyone from Haim to Pulp to Chappell Roan is a target of rumors.

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts are expected to take the top spot on the Pyramid Stage tonight, but it’s unclear whether home-grown fans will be able to watch his performance.

A BBC spokesman stated that viewers will be able to watch live performances on Saturday on BBC iPlayer, our Glastonbury Channel, and five main stage streams. We won’t be livestreaming Neil Young’s set at the artist’s request. Our plans, including those for our TV highlights shows and on-demand coverage, are still in development right up until and during the festival.

However, Charli XCX’s headline performance on the Other Stage from 10.30pm and RAYE’s performance on the Pyramid Stage from 8pm to 9pm will both be aired as usual.

Doechii, who will be playing on Saturday’s West Holts stage from 10.45pm, is one of the other big acts playing. When they play on the Woodsies stage starting at 10:30 pm, Scissors Sisters will make a brief comeback.

Gary Numan and Caribou will perform on the stage later today, with a mysterious showtime slot running from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Additionally, Hard-Fi’s indie rock band will take the top spot from 11 p.m. on the Avalon stage.

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Molly-Mae makes ‘scary’ parenting admission as she talks rollercoaster confidence

After meeting on the ITV2 reality series Love Island, former Love Island star and influencer Molly-Mae Hague is expecting her son, Tommy Fury.

Molly-Mae has talked about motherhood(Image: Instagram/ @mollymae)

Molly-Mae Hague has made a “scary” parenting admission as she opens up about her rollercoaster confidence. The mum-of-one took to her Instagram page where she asked her followers to send in their questions.

How did you find motherhood, one fan inquired? Then, Molly responded in a lengthy response, describing how recently she’s been taking care of her daughter Bambi.

The mother-of-one frequently talks about being true to herself on social media, and this is no exception. She made a joke about how long she had left before she responded, “how long have you got?” before delivering a lengthy response to all of her followers.

READ MORE: This Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader-approved setting spray will keep your make-up in place this heatwave

Molly-Mae asked her followers to ask her questions
Molly-Mae asked her followers to ask her questions(Image: Instagram/ @mollymae)

One subject that I can really talk about, according to Molly-Mae, 26. Motherhood is a very complex subject, and I find that because of how frequently it changes.

I know I’ll miss my little one so much that I’m counting the days until bedtime, so I genuinely don’t even want to put her to bed.

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Then, Molly continued to discuss how sometimes motherhood can affect her self-assurance. She continued, “I’ve been very confident with Bambi recently.

Molly-Mae is mum to Bambi
Molly-Mae is mum to Bambi(Image: Instagram/ @mollymae)

I spent my first day with her completely by myself yesterday, which was a great thing since Zoe and Danny moved in, but I was genuinely anxious because I didn’t know how to handle the tantrums and defiance by myself.

That’s a little frightful to admit that I was concerned for my own daughter? The truth is exactly that. My best friend constantly reminds me that Bambi senses my energy and that I must strive to stay calm and avoid becoming stressed out. But sometimes, despite doing my best to be super calm, positive, and the best mother I can be, she is still not happy.

The actress then went on to say that when Bambi occasionally throws tantrums, she doesn’t “know how to handle it.” Molly stated at the end of her post that she is unsure whether she is expecting yet.

She said, “I was talking to a gorgeous mother about it yesterday, and she said she completely understood, and then she said, “and then you go on to have three more children because you forget,” and then I sat back and thought, okay maybe we aren’t feeling the same.”

“Because I know there’s just not a world in which I would have another baby right now… or maybe there is one day. I just don’t know.”

Bambi was born in January 2023, according to Molly. Since then, she has been sharing updates on raising Bambi and being a mother.

She shares her daughter with her boyfriend Tommy Fury after the couple met on Love Island. The two of them split last year but recently announced that they were back together.

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Record attendance expected at Budapest Pride march despite Orban warning

A record number of people are expected to march in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, to protest a ban that has regressed LGBTQ rights in the European Union without precedent.

Following the amendments to the constitution and laws earlier this year that the annual celebration would not be allowed to take place, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling coalition on Saturday brought about the event. The Orban government has consistently argued that the legislation upholds traditional family principles and safeguards children.

While President Donald Trump’s anti-diversity campaign has sparked protests at home and the condemnation of the EU and rights organizations, the prime minister’s own initiatives have been condemned.

The nationalist leader said on Friday that those who participated in the 30th Pride march should be aware of “legal consequences” even though police would not “break up” it.

More than 35, 000 people are scheduled to march near Budapest’s city hall at 2 p.m. (12:00 GMT), an hour before the march begins, despite the threat of a fine.

In defiance of the ban, ministers from a number of EU nations and dozens of prominent politicians are expected to show up, which is reminiscent of what happened in Moscow in 2006 and Istanbul in 2015.

If this law isn’t overturned, Eastern Europe could face a wave of similar measures, according to Pride organizer Viktoria Radvanyi.

Ursula von der Leyen, EU chief, requested that the ban be lifted earlier this week.

In addition, thirty-three nations have voiced their support for the march.

Attendees can face fines of up to 500 euros ($580), while parade organisers face a year in prison. Authorities can now identify those who participate in facial recognition thanks to the most recent legal changes.

Along the march’s planned route, newly installed cameras have appeared on lamp posts.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony has argued that no protesters will face reprisals because the march, which was co-hosted by the city hall this time, is a municipal event and doesn’t need police approval.

During a briefing with EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who is in town to attend the event, Karacsony stated, “The police have only one task tomorrow, and it is a serious one: to make sure the safety of Hungarian and European citizens attending.”

Along the procession’s intended route, far-right organizations have made numerous counterprotest announcements.

Due to the police ban, Justice Minister Bence Tuzson this week issued a letter to EU embassies warning diplomats and staff against participating.

Numerous EU countries have made travel advisories available to citizens to warn them about potential fines.

The nation of 9.6 million people has consistently resisted racial discrimination since Orban’s re-election in 2010.

In effect, legal changes have prohibited transgender people from changing their name or gender in official documents, as well as the prohibition of “display and promotion” of homosexuality to minors.

A bill amending the 2021 law to prohibit any gathering that violates its provisions was passed in March by politicians in opposition of the annual Pride march.

A constitutional amendment to strengthen the legal foundations of the ban was also approved by parliament a month later.

Political analyst Daniel Mikecz told the news agency AFP that Orban is using a tried-and-true recipe to create a conflict ahead of the election in the upcoming year. Orban, he continued, was “polarizing society.”

According to polls conducted by voters, Orban’s Fidesz party has been losing ground to the opposition.

Spain’s Bonmati hospitalised with meningitis ahead of Euro 2025

Aitana Bonmati, a two-time winner of the Women’s European Football Championship, has been in a hospital with viral meningitis less than a week before the women’s European football championship will begin.

Late on Friday, Montse Tome, Spain’s coach, announced that her star player had a meningitis test positive and had been taken to a hospital in Madrid.

Spain’s squad will make its way to Switzerland for the tournament on Sunday. On Thursday in Bern, it plays Portugal for the first time. At Euro 2025, it will also face Group B countries like Italy and Belgium.

After Bonmati missed Friday’s friendly against Japan in the Spanish capital, when Spain defeated the visitors 3-1, “Aitana is a very important player for us,” Tome said.

Early on Friday, Tome claimed Bonmati started to feel ill and had a fever.

Tome remarked, “She has authorized me to declare that she has viral meningitis.” The doctor tells me that she is under control, but the word is frightening. We’re not sure how long she will stay in the hospital.

Aitana Bonmata, Spain’s Aitana Bonmat, celebrates with the trophy following its 2023 World Cup victory [Hannah Mckay/Reuters]

The 27-year-old Bonmati has previously won the top individual award for women. The Barcelona player was crucial in Spain’s 2023 World Cup victory.

Barcelona has won three Champions League titles in a row thanks to Bonmati’s vision, dribbling abilities, passing, and goals.

Alexia Putellas, herself a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, and fellow Barcelona midfielder Patricia Guijarro would be under more pressure to take the lead in Spain. Vicky Lopez, 18, replaced Bonmati in the Japanese match.

Putellas injured her ACL three days before the European Championship in 2022, three years ago. Without the country’s top player, Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals.