Archive May 10, 2025

Hull KR beat Catalans to reach Challenge Cup final

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Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final

Hull KR (16) 36

Tries: Batchelor 2, Lewis, Broadbent 2, Burgess Goals: Lewis 6

Catalans (12) 12

Hull KR reached the Challenge Cup for the second time in three seasons, after overpowering Catalans Dragons 36-12 in York.

James Batchelor crossed within four minutes and then claimed a second score after a lengthy video review to put Rovers on top.

Two tries in five minutes from Reimis Smith and Luke Keary put Les Dracs ahead, but Mikey Lewis wrestled back a narrow 16-12 lead before the break.

Hull KR restarted with high intensity as Lewis, who contributed 16 points, booted a penalty before Jack Broadbent’s scorching run opened up a 12-point cushion.

Hopes rising in Humberside

Hull KR have gone 40 years without a major trophy and lifted their only Challenge Cup even further back, in 1980.

But hopes are sky high in Humberside, with Rovers sitting top of Super League and now in their ninth Challenge Cup final after an emphatic second-half display.

KR showed first as both sides ignored the unusually high spring temperatures and went full-tilt in a breathless first half.

Batchelor chased down Lewis’ kick through to score after Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet failed to punch the ball out of the in-goal area, and then added a hotly-debated second try after a lengthy video review.

Matthieu Laguerre appeared to ground the ball at the same time as the second-rower, but video referee Ben Thaler could not overrule Chris Kendall’s on-field decision to award the try.

Dragons offered little in attack in the opening 15 minutes but then exploded into life, as Smith cut back inside to split open the Rovers defence and cross near the posts.

And when Keary chased down a chip ahead soon after, Thaler did this time overrule Kendall – who had called offside – as the Dragons pinched the lead.

Catalans went close to extending that lead moments later, but Julian Bousquet’s rash flicked offload just metres from the line instead found a Rovers hand.

But the match turned again before half-time as Jai Whitbread’s brilliant offload in the tackle sent Lewis flying over to restore the Hull KR advantage.

Lewis booted a penalty as Rovers piled on the pressure after the restart and then cracked the French side when Broadbent spotted a gap and launched a scorching diagonal run through to the posts.

Jez Litten’s thrilling run from his own half sparked a breathless move which fell just short, but KR killed the game with 10 minutes left as Catalans visibly wilted.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Batchelor, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Whitbread, Minchella.

Interchanges: Luckley, Tanginoa, Brown, Leyland.

Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Laguerre, Smith, Cotric; Keary, Fages; Pangai Jr, Da Costa, Bousquet, Sims, Whitehead, Partington.

Interchanges: Satae, Navarette, Seguier, Sironen.

Related topics

  • Hull Kingston Rovers
  • Catalans Dragons
  • Rugby League

Mickey Callisto vows to ‘bring the full Freddie experience’ to Britain’s Got Talent semi-final

EXCLUSIVE: The intergalactic-inspired singer is set to return to the Britain’s Got Talent stage for the ITV show’s third live semi-final this evening

Mickey is gearing up for an explosive semi final tonight on Britain’s Got Talent

Mickey Callisto is set to dazzle once again as he returns to the Britain’s Got Talent stage tonight for the third live semi-final – and he’s promising nothing short of a “passion-packed, flamboyant” performance that’ll light up Saturday night TV.

The intergalactic-inspired singer, whose Freddie Mercury tribute wowed judges and viewers earlier in the series, is aiming to book his place in the grand final and edge closer to the life-changing £250,000 prize and a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Performance.

“Like always I am very excited just to be able to perform again for the nation!” Mickey tells us exclusively. “The stage is where I am happiest and to entertain people is the only thing I was born to do.”

Rock icon Freddie Mercury
Rock icon Freddie Mercury was adored around the world as the frontman of Queen

With eight acts competing tonight – including Electric Umbrella, Bao, Jasmine Rice and gymnast Albert Amores – the stakes couldn’t be higher. Only two acts will make it through to the final, either via the public vote or a Golden Buzzer from the judges.

Mickey, who says his performance will be full of “passion, flare, flamboyance but most of all fun,” is fully aware of the expectations, especially performing in front of Bruno Tonioli – who once counted Queen frontman Freddie Mercury as a friend.

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“To perform for Bruno who actually knew Freddie is a great thing in itself. There is always pressure but I would like to think I was doing the Queen fans proud too and of course my fans,” he says. He adds, “I hope Freddie would have loved it. He taught me to sing with passion and make people feel involved in the performance. I think he would have liked Simon for his honesty and also sense of humour.”

His show-stopping audition not only earned him a standing ovation but also helped bring Queen back into the UK charts – something Mickey describes as “like scoring a goal for your favourite football team.”

“Not many things make me shed a tear but I certainly did seeing that,” he said. “To think I have contributed to their already phenomenal legacy… It was a very proud moment.”

MICKEY CALLISTO
Mickey’s act is based off an impression of Freddie Mercury

Off-stage, Mickey is a self-described space fanatic and football lover who writes and produces all of his own music. His alter ego was born out of a fascination with astronomy. “Callisto is one of the 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter,” he explains. “My star sign is Sagittarius which rules Jupiter in astrology – hence Mickey Callisto.”

Fans can expect another glam look this evening – and yes, he’s ready to compete with Amanda Holden in the style stakes. “Of course it will be a glam outfit,” he laughs. “You’ll definitely have the passion of Freddie but you will be getting the full Mickey experience.”

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The Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals continue tonight on ITV1, with guest appearances from musical Just For One Day and last year’s winner Sydnie Christmas — who Mickey says is “a great personality as well as being an amazing singer.”

Could Mickey be next in line for the BGT crown? He’s dreaming big: “One is perform at Wembley Stadium and also the Stadium of Light… Whether I sing Queen or my own songs, I receive the same response.”

GBBO’s Prue Leith shuts down husband’s fear of being outlived with blunt response

Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith has been married to John Playfair since 2016, following the death of her first husband Rayne Kruger

Dame Prue Leith gave a defiant two-word reply to John Playfair’s fear about a dog outliving him

Dame Prue Leith, the culinary legend from Great British Bake Off, has shared her husband’s fears of adopting a new dog that might outlive him. The restaurateur and baking sensation has become a familiar face on our screens through her various TV stints.

The 85-year-old is perhaps best known for her stint as a judge on Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off, where she joins Paul Hollywood at the judging table. In her personal life, Dame Prue is married to John Playfair, whom she met at a dinner party in Yorkshire, following the death of her first husband Rayne Kruger.

The couple tied the knot in 2016, and while they share a loving home with their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, they’re in discussions about whether or not they should add another furry friend to the mix.

Dame Prue Leith and John Playfair
Dame Prue and John have been married since 2016(Image: Getty Images)

John voiced his concern that any new pet might outlive him, but Dame Prue has been having none of it, reportedly dismissing his apprehension with a firm: “What nonsense”, when she spoke to the Times.

In addition to this, the expert baker has been frank about her own age, expressing on the Travel Diaries podcast: “I haven’t got much longer, I’m 85, I want to spend as much time as I can with him.”

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The Bake Off judge has also discussed the dynamics of her relationship, praising her husband’s down-to-earth nature.

She said: “One of the wonderful things about him is that he is totally without ego, he doesn’t feel threatened by the fact that I have a higher profile than he does, when I introduce him (to people) he always just says, ‘I’m the handbag carrier, I’m her chauffeur’.”

Her journey in the culinary world began at the age of just 20 when she trained at the Cordon Bleu Cookery School. This led to an impressive career that includes launching her own restaurant.

Dame Prue later joined The Great British Bake Off in 2017, when she replaced Dame Mary Berry. Eight years on, and she’s started to talk about life after the popular baking programme.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Prue Leith and John Playfair attend the National Portrait Gallery's reopening in front of
Dame Prue Leith gave a defiant two-word reply to John Playfair’s fear about a dog outliving him(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images for The National Portrait Gallery)

Speaking to the Mail On Sunday earlier this year, she admitted that she would take part in the 2025 edition, but didn’t know if she would be around in future seasons.

She explained: “I’m doing this year’s Bake Off, and I don’t know if this will be my last. I’ve got to stop some time, so I might stop next year. I thought I’d just see how I go this year, because I definitely feel a bit older this year than I did last year.

“Things like getting out of a chair takes me longer than it used to. I don’t like big steps without a handrail. None of these things worried me two years ago – I could run upstairs – and so I’m very keen to leave Bake Off before I’m asked to leave.”

Dame Prue has also graced screens on some of the nation’s most cherished shows, including The Great British Menu and Prue’s Cotswold Kitchen.

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Yungblud says he’s ‘calmer than ever’ after confronting his demons and taking up boxing

EXCLUSIVE: The singer, 27, is coming out fighting with his new music – and he’s not shying away from the hard topics to climb the charts either

Yungblud is releasing new music amid of confronting his demons

Yungblud is coming out fighting with his new music. He’s confronted his demons, taken up boxing and is battling against toxic masculinity. And what he delivers with album Idols really packs a punch.

“I really had to face myself… figure it out and face it,” he tells. And Yungblud, 27, reckons he has really grown in the process. “I would use food and alcohol to distract myself and push things down,” he says.

“The album is a mirror to that. I have singing lessons. I don’t drink as much and I’ve been getting better at sleeping. I’ve been getting better at being able to navigate this whole thing better – that’s been epic.”

Yungblud
Yungblud says his album is a mirror to his demons

Idols is Yungblud’s fourth studio release, the first coming out in 2018. He filmed the music video for single Hello Heaven shirtless during a -14C blizzard in Bulgaria – and is enjoying flashing the flesh.

Having previously opened up about his battle with body dysmorphia, the Doncaster rocker – real name Dominic Harrison – tells how he has now “cut out people that were not good” for him, and that posing topless for his album promo is a “kickback against those people”.

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Yungblud is not shying away from hard topics to climb the charts either. He says: “Me and my friends were talking about sexuality. It was what young people were talking about but it wasn’t being represented in music at all. It was kind of like, ‘Oh, don’t sing about that. It’s too political to go on Radio One.’

“I was like, ‘This is what people want to hear, this is what I want to say, this is what I want to sing about’.” After his last album, Yungblud opened up about the fear of being predictable – but that is one thing you can’t accuse him of with this record.

YungBlud
Yungblud wants to be a positive role model for other men

“People knew exactly what I would sing, wear and say,” he says. “I was repeating myself and I was starting to not tell the truth.

“The past two years has been a real reset for me to provide a new outlet and a new journey. I feel calmer than I’ve ever felt because it’s truly written. If it’s not real, people can smell it”.

Describing the creative process, he said: “It’s like crying or having an orgasm… it just comes out of you without f***ing responsibility or consequence”. And Yungblud, who recently took up boxing with a trainer in LA, wants to be a positive role model for other men.

Previously addressing the issue on Jamie Laing’s podcast Great Company, and referencing hit Netflix series Adolescence, he says: “What I see are these psychos like Andrew Tate and this toxically poisonous stuff that young men are consuming.

Yungblud
Yungblud will be heading on tour soon

“I really feel like there needs to be people who embrace masculinity and embrace this element of physical activity, but also do it like me – from a place of law, respect and equality.

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“I want to portray that it’s cool to embrace masculinity in a new way that highlights emotions but respects that there isn’t just this kind of old school idea that’s being peddled.”

Idols is out on June 20 and Yungblud’s world tour starts in LA on August 23. Bludfest in Milton Keynes on June 21 is his only UK date this year.

Tom Cruise makes rare comment about ex-wife Nicole Kidman as he reflects on career

Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were married from 1990 until 2001 – and while “irreconcilable differences” were cited as the reason for the divorce, the pair still have good things to say about each other

Tom Cruise has reflected warmly on his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman(Image: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise has showered his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, with praise – hailing her abilities as an actress. The 62-year-old action star was married to 57-year-old Australian actress Nicole from 1990 until 2001 and shares two children with the Oscar winner.

The couple met on the set of the Tony Scott directed sports drama Days of Thunder which was released in 1990 and they later appeared in the romantic drama Far and Away in 1992. The duo also stunned film fans when they appeared in the erotically charged drama Eyes Wide Shut in 1999.

The pair announced their separation in February 2001, with Tom citing “irreconcilable differences” when he filed for divorce two days later. While some Hollywood divorces have been filled with drama, the split between Tom and Nicole was regarded as amicable.

And it seems the pair still hold each other in high regard all these years later. In an interview with Sight and Sound magazine, the Mission: Impossible star reflected on working with iconic director Stanley Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut – and revealed he petitioned for Nicole to be cast in her role as Alice Harford due to her exceptional acting abilities.

He explained: “I flew out to [Kubrick’s] house and I landed in his backyard. I read the script the day before and we spent the day talking about it. I knew all of his films.

Tom Cruise has reflected warmly on his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman
The couple caused a stir when they appeared in the 1999 erotic drama Eyes Wide Shut(Image: Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
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“Then it was basically he and I getting to know each other. And when we were doing that, I suggested Nicole play the role [of Alice]. Because obviously she’s a great actress.”

Eyes Wide Shut famously demanded more from its cast than they expected. Filming was initially tipped to last three or four months – but ended up taking 15 months due to Kubrick being a perfectionist.

Casting his mind back on the film, Tom said: “I thought the film was very interesting, and I wanted to have that experience. When I go to make a movie, I do a lot of detailed investigation and a lot of time with the people before I commit so that I understand what they need and want and they understand me and how we can work together and really create something very special.”

The film arguably helped put Nicole on the map as a serious actress as she was nominated for a string of Best Actress awards following the film’s release – including the prestigious Satellite Awards.

She went on to receive her first Best Actress nomination at the Oscars in 2002 for the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! – and later won the top gong at the 2003 ceremony for her role in The Hours. Nicole has also been nominated for the Best Actress award for Rabbit Hole in 2011 and Being the Ricardos in 2022.

She has been nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award once – for playing Sue Brierley in the 2016 Australian biographical drama Lion, which was directed by Garth Davis and with the cast led by British star Dev Patel.

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Tom has been Oscar nominated four times over the course of his career – three times for Best Actor and once for Best Supporting Actor, but he has not scooped any of the coveted golden statuettes so far.

Next year, Nicole will be reprising one of her most beloved roles, returning as charming witch Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2 – alongside Sandra Bullock who returns as on-screen sister Sally Owens. And this year, Tom is set to play Ethan Hunt yet again in the latest Mission: Impossible film, titled The Final Reckoning.

At least 33 people killed in suspected RSF attacks in Sudan

At least 33 people have been killed in Sudan in attacks suspected to have been carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as the brutal two-year war claims its latest victims.

An RSF strike on a prison on Saturday in el-Obeid killed at least 19 people, while on Friday evening, at least 14 members of the same family were killed in an air attack in Darfur, local sources said.

The attacks – part of the RSF’s ongoing war with the military-led government’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since 2023 – came after six straight days of the paramilitary group’s drone attacks on the army-led government’s wartime capital of Port Sudan.

These attacks damaged key infrastructure, including a power grid and the country’s last operational civilian airport, which was a key gateway for aid into the war-ravaged nation.

The war has left tens of thousands dead, displaced 13 million people and triggered what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The attack on the prison on Saturday also wounded 45 people, a medical source told the AFP news agency. The source said the jail in the army-controlled city in the North Kordofan state capital was hit by an RSF drone.

The night before, 14 people were killed at the Abu Shouk displacement camp near el-Fasher in Darfur, a rescue group said, blaming the paramilitary.

The camp “was the target of intense bombardment by the Rapid Support Forces on Friday evening”, said the group of volunteer aid workers.

The camp near el-Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur still out of the RSF’s control, is plagued by famine, according to the UN.

It is home to tens of thousands of people who fled the violence of successive conflicts in Darfur and the conflict that has been ripping Africa’s third-largest country asunder since 2023.

The RSF has shelled the camp several times in recent weeks.

Abu Shouk is located near the Zamzam camp, which the RSF seized in April after a devastating offensive that virtually emptied it.

RSF escalation

Elsewhere on Saturday, SAF warplanes struck RSF positions in the Darfur cities of Nyala and el-Geneina, destroying arms depots and military equipment, a military source told AFP.

The RSF has recently said it had taken the strategic town of al-Nahud in West Kordofan, a key army supply line to Darfur.

The RSF’s escalation in Port Sudan earlier this month came after the military struck the Nyala airport in South Darfur, where the RSF receives foreign military assistance, including drones. Local media stated that dozens of RSF officers were killed in the attack.

Sudan’s army-aligned authorities accuse the United Arab Emirates of supplying those drones to the RSF, which has no air force of its own.

The war began as a power struggle between SAF chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. It has effectively divided the country into two, with the army controlling the north, east and centre, while the RSF and its allies dominate nearly all of Darfur in the west and parts of the south.