Jennifer Lopez’s highly anticipated residency in Las Vegas recently came to an end, but not without renewed attacks from her critics who remain vocal in their opposition to how the pop star dresses.
The Jenny from the Block singer kicked off her “Up All Night Live in Las Vegas” residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Dec. 30, 2025, and performed the final show on Saturday. She’s set to return to the Colosseum with several dates in March.
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While many fans of Lopez across social media celebrated her recent Las Vegas performances and her looks onstage, some critics online took the opportunity to level all-too-familiar digs at the singer and actor: that the 56-year-old performer – whose Las Vegas costumes included bodysuits, bikinis and sheer catsuits – was apparently not dressing for her age … whatever that means.
Lopez has long faced scrutiny for how she dresses. Last July, right-wing pundit Megyn Kellyripped Lopez for wearing a thong bodysuit during a performance onstage, calling Lopez a “soft porn star” during an episode of her podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show.
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“She’s 55 years old, and she hasn’t come to grips with the fact that she’s not a sex symbol anymore,” Kelly said at the time. She had also criticised Lopez the year prior, saying Lopez was “past her prime”.
Lopez clapped back at the hate she receives over her clothing choices during her residency in Las Vegas, saying at one point onstage: “I do laugh at some of the things [people say online] sometimes, because they do say funny things, too.”
″‘Why is she always dressed that way? Why don’t she dress her age?’ – I’m like, ‘Huh?’ ‘Why’s she always naked?’” she continued. “And I say, ’If you had this body, you’d be naked, too!” she added as the crowd cheered.
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Monica Cwynar, a licensed clinical social worker with Thriveworks who specialises in trauma and coping skills, said she believes the attacks against Lopez and how she chooses to dress are “rooted in societal perceptions of ageing, particularly for women”.
And there’s a reason behind it.
“Many people hold ingrained beliefs about how women should physically present themselves as they age,” Cwynar told HuffPost. “Partly because of a perception that desirability should dwindle as we age.”
“It stems from the same place that people don’t want to think of their parents or grandparents as sexual people,” she continued. “Because of that, there is a cultural expectation that women should adopt more conservative or demure attire as they get older.”
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Cwynar emphasised that Lopez is an entertainer and that her personal expression and her body autonomy is “hers to display how she sees fit”.
“Women like Jennifer challenging those stereotypes can lead to backlash as it forces people to confront their own biases about age, femininity, and sexuality,” she said.
Denise Truscello via Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez photographed performing during her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on December 30, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Societal norms have historically regulated women’s bodies – but there are ways to push back against criticism about your choices
“Historically, women’s bodies have been objectified and regulated by societal norms, leading to a policing mentality regarding female sexuality,” Cwynar said, adding that society has long asked women to dress in a way “that makes others feel more comfortable”.
Cwynar emphasised that there are societal double standards regarding the expectations for how celebrities should dress.
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“When Brad Pitt, who is close in age to Jennifer Lopez, has his shirt off, no one seems to have a problem with that – in fact, it’s likely to be celebrated,” she said, adding, “We often allow men greater freedom in their self-expression.”
And Cwynar thought that Lopez’s response to her critics was “proof of her empowerment and agency” and that the singer emphasised that she “finds joy in her body at 56, encouraging a more inclusive perspective on beauty standards”.
And for any woman navigating criticism about their choices as they age, Cwynar recommends that you embrace your individuality and ignore the noise.
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“Recognise that value and beauty come in many forms and that self-confidence can be empowering and extremely sexy. Engaging in practices that promote body positivity can foster a greater sense of peace with oneself,” she said.
She also recommends finding people and community that allow you to “be yourself and celebrate diversity and uniqueness.”
And when it’s appropriate, it may be helpful to engage your critics. “Share your perspective and the importance of individual expression and agency,” she said.
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Overall, Cwynar said that it’s important to emphasise personal satisfaction over external validation.
“This is your life and you need to live it in a way that makes you happy, so dress in whatever makes you feel great.”
Nigel Farage has insisted the racism and antisemitism allegations against him will “go away” if he ever gets into No.10.
The Reform UK leader has been accused of referring to the Holocaust by saying “Hitler was right” and “gas them” to at least one Jewish pupil when he was studying at Dulwich College.
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Farage has denied the allegations and repeatedly pointed out they occurred around 49 years ago.
The Guardian first reported on the fresh claims against the politician in November – but, on Times Radio on Wednesday, the MP for Clacton insisted the claims will “go away” in time.
“Once one person says something, you’ve got safety in numbers, you can say what you like. I deny it,” he began.
When Times Radio host Hugo Rifkind said there had been criticism from within the Jewish community that Farage had not taken the allegations seriously, the Reform UK leader said: “I don’t take lies seriously. No, I never have.”
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He claimed he has been more scrutinised than anyone else in mainstream politics, and that he does not believe anything said by other party leaders said “nearly half a century ago” would come under this level of scrutiny.
Rifkind said: “You can either deny it or you can say it doesn’t matter because it was so long ago.
“The point is, these aren’t going to go away if and when you are prime minister –”
“Oh, they will go away,” Farage cut in. “Because they’re not true. they can’t be proved. And we’ve got more important things to talk about that what people did aged 13.”
Farage was also asked by ITV News today if he would apologise to those who have reported the allegations.
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He said: “I don’t apologise for things that are completely made up fantasies. Some of what I heard was just absolute nonsense by people with – if you looked – absolutely obvious political motivations.”
Reform have led onto their steady lead in the opinion polls even after the Guardian’s story broke.
Keir Starmer has told ministers to “hold their nerve” even after Labour faced a nosedive in the opinion polls.
The prime minister held his first political cabinet – meaning deputy party leader Lucy Powell could attend – of the year and tried to lift their spirits following a difficult 2025.
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Hours after a new YouGov poll put Labour in third place behind Reform and the Tories, Starmer insisted that the government is facing “the fight of our political lives”.
According to a readout, he said: “A Labour government renewing the country or a Reform movement that feeds on grievance, decline and division.
“They want a weaker state, they want to inject bile into our communities, they want to appease Putin. This is the fight of our political lives and one that we must relish.
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“I do not underestimate the scale of the task. But I have no doubt about this team. Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither.”
Powell also addressed the meeting, thanking ministers for “embracing me as deputy leader” and saying she relished “helping to tell the story of whose side we are on”.
Powell served as Starmer’s Commons leader before she was booted out of the job in a September reshuffle.
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During the regular cabinet meeting, the prime minister also told ministers that the cost of living will “remain our focus” regardless of what happens around the world.
He said the government would be judged at the next general election on whether the public “feel better off”, adding: “That will require hard work, focus and determination from all of us. Together, as a team, we will rise to that challenge and deliver for the whole country.”
There’s actually a term for getting up to pee in the middle of the night: nocturia.
Most people will experience more nocturia as they age, because older bodies create less antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps us “hold it in”.
Still, while peeing up to twice a night is within the realm of normal (that number goes up to four times a night for those over 90), the NHS said that going more than that per night might mean you need to see a doctor.
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Nocturia sometimes happens after drinking alcohol, because of certain medications, or due to drinking too much water close to bedtime.
Why might walking lower the number of loo trips at night?
The 2007 research, published in Biomedical Research, looked at 30 men with an average age of 71.
The researchers recorded their nocturia rates before and after walking at a brisk pace for half an hour in the evening for eight weeks.
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Just over two-thirds (67%) of the men said they experienced deeper sleep, which the researchers think might explain why nocturia instances went down so much.
The number of times they got up to pee shrank from about three times per night, on average, to two times per night.
60% of participants enjoyed “excellent” or “good” results after the end of the trial, meaning they experienced less nocturia.
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Why might walking help reduce nocturia?
This is not the only study to find an association between light exercise and decreased instances of nocturia.
Some researchers think this might be because exercise can help to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity and lower systemic inflammation levels.
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A 2015 study, which also looked into walking and nocturnal polyuria, or the overproduction of urine at night, found that walking before dinner was linked to a reduction in nighttime bladder voiding from 2.3 times a night to 1.6 times.
They suggested that walking could get rid of excess fluid through sweating, too.
When to see a doctor about nocturia
Rarely, nocturia can be a sign of diabetes, high blood pressure, bladder or prostate problems, or heart disease, though the NHS stresses most cases aren’t anything to worry about.
Per the Cleveland Clinic, “contact your healthcare provider if you find yourself waking up to pee more than once or twice per night”.
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The site suggested: “It may be a sign of something else going on, and the frequent wake-ups may leave you feeling exhausted.”
Last month, The Sun reported that the Britpop group was “at the top” of James Bond producers’ wishlist to record the theme song for the next movie in the franchise.
Noel subsequently appeared on TalkSport on Monday, where he insisted he’d not heard anything from the 007 team, but would be up for it if they were to get in touch.
“Of course, it would be an absolute honour,” he enthused, before stating his belief that “those kinds of things should be done by Brits and not Yanks”.
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Daniel Craig as James Bond in 2012’s Skyfall
Moviestore/Shutterstock
Noel previously told NME back in 2008 that he thought it was a “piss-take” that so many American audiences were invited to record Bond themes over talent from the UK, despite the character being “the greatest British agent of all time”.
“I’ve written a couple of Bond theme tunes,” he then revealed. “They haven’t got very Bond-esque titles, so I would have to tailor the title accordingly.
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“The latest one that I wrote, I listened back to it thinking, ‘Fucking hell man, that’d make a fucking great Bond theme’.”
As for Liam, he responded to the rumours on X last month…
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Over the weekend, the Daily Mail also reported that Dua Lipa, Callum’s fiancée, was being eyed to write and record the next James Bond film, following on from Billie Eilish, who won an Oscar for her contribution to No Time To Die.
Meanwhile, other acts who’ve been reported to be in the running to record the theme song for the upcoming 26th James Bond movie have included Raye and Lana Del Rey.
Donald Trump stunned the international stage when he initiated a takeover of Venezuela over the weekend – but this could just be the beginning.
The US president initiated military strikes against the South American country on Saturday and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, before indicting him on narco-terrorism charges.
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Trump has since promised to “run” Venezuela until a safe transition of power can take place.
The US president has also made it clear that he wants to expand America’s president internationally, and revive the 19th-Century idea known as the Monroe Doctrine, designed to keep Europe out of the Western Hemisphere.
He said his modern-day equivalent would be called the “Don-roe Doctrine” and establish US dominance over the whole hemisphere, backed by military strength.
He has repeatedly threatened to take action against other territories, both in South America and outside of it, particularly those run by leftist governments.
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While UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s top team insists the idea of Trump seizing other countries is just “hypothetical”, the US president has openly been welcoming the idea of initiating action against other countries.
Here’s what you need to know.
Colombia
Speaking on Monday, Trump said: “Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States and he’s going to be doing it good for very long, let me tell you.”
Asked if that meant there would be a US operation into Colombia, he said: “Sounds good to me.”
It comes after Trump told his cabinet in December that military strikes on land targets inside Venezuela would “start very soon”.
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As he claimed any country producing narcotics could be a potential target, he called out Colombia – even though the nation has been working with the US government for decades on its war on drugs.
Trump said Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro had to “watch his ass”.
Petro has already been slapped with sanctions by the US administration following claims that he has been involved with the global drug trade.
But Petro warned the White House: “To threaten our sovereignty is to declare war; do not damage two centuries of diplomatic relations.”
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He added: “I deeply reject Trump speaking without knowing; my name does not appear in the judicial files on drug trafficking over 50 years, neither from before nor from the present.”
Trump’s comments could also have been related to the upcoming presidential elections in Colombia, where leftist Petro will be prevented from running again, according to the constitution – so the US might back a right-wing candidate.
Greenland
Trump has long had his eye on Greenland for its advantageous location and its untapped oil supplies.
But, as part of Denmark, it is Nato territory – meaning Trump could run into major trouble if he attempts to seize it.
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The US president told The Atlantic on Sunday: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
Former Trump administrational official Katie Miller also posted a map of Greenland on social media covered with the US flag, along with the caption: “SOON.”
But Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said Trump has “no right to annex” the land, and the States already has access to Greenland through security agreements.
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She said: “I would therefore strongly urge the US to stop threatening a historically close ally and another country and people who have made it very clear that they are not for sale.”
Prime minister Starmer has already made it clear that he stands with Denmark if Trump attempts to move against it.
He said: “Denmark is a close ally in Europe, it is a Nato ally, and it’s very important the future of Greenland is, as I say, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and for Greenland, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
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Other European leaders have also followed suit in backing Denmark.
Cuba
Cuba is under a particularly microscope within the Trump administration especially after US officials claimed Cuban bodyguards were protecting Maduro when he was captured.
Cuba also admitted 32 of its officers were killed in Trump’s military strikes.
Trump told reporters: ”[Cuba] is going down. It’s going down for the count.”
US Secretary of state Marco Rubio claimed the country is “run by incompetent, senile men, and in some cases not seen now, but incompetent nonetheless.”
Rubio – the son of Cuban immigrants – adding: “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit.”
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Cuba has been under US sanctions since its revolution in 1959, and according to Trump, its already struggling economy will face further upheaval without subsidized oil from Venezuela.
The country’s president, Miguel Dias-Canal has already denounced the US capture of Maduro, claiming it is “state terrorism”.
Iran
Iran is enduring a period of domestic unrest, with deadly protests rocking the whole country.
Human rights activists say protests have taken place in at least 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces in the last week, and approximately 19 protesters and one member of the security forces have been killed.
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As its economy struggles following its brief conflict with Israel last year, the public are questioning the Islamic Republic.
Trump has weighed in, promising protesters: “We’re watching it very closely. If they [Iranian authorities] start killing people like they have done in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.”
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he claimed.
It remains unclear exactly what action the US would take against Iran but US bombers were involved in strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year.
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But supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised Iran “will not yield to the enemy”.
Mexico
Trump also criticised Mexico after his strikes on Venezuela.
“You have to do something with Mexico. Mexico has to get their act together,” the US president said, claiming they must do more to address drug trafficking.
Trump claims to have repeatedly offered to send US troops to Mexico but that president Claudia Sheinbaum has prevented it.
He claimed that she is a “terrific person” but she is “concerned, she’s a little afraid” about military action.
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Trump also said the Mexican government is capable of addressing the issues of the drug trade, but “unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico”.
According to Reuters, Shainbaum has already rejected Trump’s remarks, saying: “The Americas do not belong to any doctrine or any power. The American continent belongs to the peoples of each of the countries that comprise it.
“It is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico, the people rule and that we are a free and sovereign country-cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no.”
Hundreds of schools have been forced to close on the first Monday of the new year as snow covers parts of the UK.
This follows temperatures as low as -10.9°C recorded on 4 January, in Cumbria and 52cm of snowfall recorded at Tomintoul in Banffshire this morning (Monday, 5 January).
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Yellow snow and ice alerts are in place across Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North of England, Devon, Cornwall, the East of England, and the West of Wales.
These warnings mean “possible power cuts and an increased risk of other services, like phone signal, becoming impaired,” the Met Office’s site reads.
That’s why experts recommend getting some “essentials” together in advance in case you’re affected by a power cut, as driving in the snow is best avoided when at all possible.
The office added that if you’ve been affected by a power cut, you should unplug all electronics that need to be attended at the wall. That way, when the power comes back on, you won’t accidentally restart them and forget, eg, a pair of hair straighteners that you were using when the power cut began.
Leave at least one light on so you can figure out when the power is back, and check to see if your neighbour has the same problem (if they don’t, the problem could be a tripped switch).
Wrap up warm, keep internal doors shut to trap in heat, and use a portable heater if you have one.
Additionally, you can call 105 – it’s a free service for those in Scotland, England, and Wales which allows you to report the power cut to your electricity network operator, and receive more information if you need any.
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Why do snow and ice cause power cuts to begin with?
Snow and ice can build up on branches and power lines in a way that water, which drips off, can’t.
Then, there’s the simple fact of the temperature. The many component parts of a power system each have ideal running temperatures; very cold and very hot weather can throw them off, forcing the network to work harder.
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Even in the absence of snowfall, tree roots can sometimes provide a pathway for ice on the ground to make its way to underground power lines.
It’s now been almost five years since Daniel Craig’s departure from the James Bond franchise in No Time To Die – and somehow there’s still been no confirmation on who will be succeeding him as 007.
Despite this, an actor playing Bond is still to be selected – and while for some time it looked like the role was Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s for the taking, new reports suggest the part could be going to someone else entirely.
As we dive into the latest 007 rumour, here are 17 more stars who’ve all been rumoured at some point to be taking over Daniel Craig at the helm of the iconic franchise…
via Associated Press
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Who is he? Callum Turner has been putting in the work for more than a decade now, but he’s enjoyed a real breakthrough in the last few years.
Some of his most recent projects include the Fantastic Beasts movies, in which he played Theseus Scamander, the sports drama The Boys In The Boat and the star-studded Apple TV+ series Masters Of The Air.
Where did the rumour come from? In December 2025, several news outlets spotted that betting odds had been suddenly slashed on Callum being cast as James Bond.
Since then, Callum’s name was mentioned in an article published by the Mail, suggesting he’d been “blabbing all over town” that he’d landed the coveted spy role.
What has he said? Despite the Mail’s reports about Callum’s loose-lipped approach to his Bond casting, he hasn’t said anything publicly yet, but HuffPost UK has contacted his team for comment.
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via Associated Press
Who is he? Until recently, Aaron has been widely considered as the frontrunner for the role of James for more than a year now. His past credits include the superhero comedy Kick-Ass, the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
Since then, he’s appeared in projects as varied as Marvel’s Kraven The Hunter, the arthouse horror flick Nosferatu and Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later.
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Where did the rumour come from? In November 2022, Aaron supposedly met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli (who has since left the franchise), with follow-up reports claiming the meeting “went well”.
Who is he? The James Bond rumour that’s being going around the longest time involved Idris Elba, whose acting credits include the Thor films, Beasts of No Nation, the Fast & Furious series and the BBC detective drama Luther.
Where did the rumour come from? Idris has been rumoured to be in the running to play 007 for more than a decade (since the speculation began in 2014, there’ve been three new films in the series released), with leaked emails from Sony executives suggesting he was a favourite for the part. Following this, then-Bond boss Barbara Broccoli said Idris has been “part of the conversation” about who the role goes to next.
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However, in August 2022 it was reported that Idris had made the decision to take himself out of the running – and in the last few years his casting has seemed less and less likely… although we’d kind of love it if he got the opportunity to play Bond at least once, given just how long he was associated with the franchise.
What has he said?“James Bond is a hugely coveted, iconic, beloved character that takes audiences on this massive escapism journey. Of course, if someone said to me, ‘Do you want to play James Bond?,’ I’d be like, ‘Yeah!’. That’s fascinating to me.”
TOLGA AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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Who is he? A more recent addition to the list of rumoured potential 007s is another Aaron, this time fellow Brit Aaron Pierre.
As well as voicing the title character in Disney’s Mufasa, Aaron appeared in The Underground Railroad, played Malcolm X in the anthology series Genius and starred opposite Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal in the sci-fi dystopian drama Foe.
Where did the rumour come from? The news appears to come from movie “insider” Daniel Richtman, who claimed in June 2025 that Aaron is “being considered” for the part.
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What has he said? Nothing just yet, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled in case he has anything to add on the rumours.
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Who is he? He’s Tom Hardy! You may have seen him in films including Max Max: Fury Road, Dunkirk, Legend, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception or Venom.
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Where did the rumour come from? Like Idris Elba, speculation about Tom Hardy playing 007 goes way back.
Things hotted up in 2020, though, when the film blog The Vulcan Reporter claimed he’d done several auditions for the part and was “basically locked into the role”.
What has he said?“You know, there’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race. So I can’t possibly comment on that one! If I mention it, it’s gone.”
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Who is he? Probably best known for his role as Loki in the Marvel universe, Tom also won a Golden Globe for his performance in the drama The Night Manager.
Where did the rumour come from? Around the time The Night Manager was airing, many viewers pointed out that the British actor might be a good James Bond, and he was soon spotted having a meeting with the franchise’s chief Barbara Broccoli.
What has he said?“What can I say that you don’t already know? It’s interesting in itself that I’ve suddenly become very aware of what I’m saying, is it not?
“Because there’s something about what I’m saying that becomes the story. Not for you, but the world outside. Whatever I say, I’ve found, generated more questions.”
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Who is he? After rising to fame in Game Of Thrones, the Scottish actor later won a Golden Globe for his leading role in Bodyguard.
Where did the rumour come from? The action-packed Bodyguard led to Richard being tipped to succeed Daniel Craig as Bond, with the Daily Mail reporting at the time that the drama had caught the eye of former 007 boss Barbara Broccoli.
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Bodyguard’s producers even teased that a potential second series of the drama would depend on “what happens with James Bond”.
What has he said?“I’m more than flattered to be mentioned, for people to consider putting me in that role. I’m very flattered and thankful. It’s a really brilliant thing to be in.
“I don’t want to curse anything by saying anything. I think that’s the curse of that. If you talk about it, you’ll curse it.”
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Who is he? James is perhaps best known for his TV roles, which have included Happy Valley, Grantchester, McMafia and The Trial Of Christine Keeler, though you may have also seen him in action in the recent big-screen adaptation of Little Women.
Where did the rumour come from? While many of the actors named as potential replacements for Daniel Craig are based on anonymous “insiders” and source quotes, the rumours about James seem to stem primarily from bookies’ odds.
What has he said? “It’s so weird and bemusing. But yet again, it’s based on pure speculation and it makes for a good little clickbait moment in the media. Other than that, it’s just fun and bemusing.”
via Associated Press
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Who is he? Jack Lowden has had a massive few years, scoring Bafta, Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his work in Slow Horses and appearing with Nicole Kidman in the breezy Netflix mystery The Perfect Couple.
Where did the rumour come from? This is another story that’s based on bookies’ odds, with Jack’s name soaring towards the top of the list when Amazon acquired creative control of the spy franchise.
Who is he? The British star of films like Crazy, Rich Asians; A Simple Favour and the Guy Ritchie action film The Gentlemen.
Where did the rumour come from? After Daniel Craig’s exit from the James Bond franchise was confirmed, fans began campaigning for Henry to take over the iconic spy role.
What has he said?“[The speculation] definitely [came] from Crazy Rich Asians, maybe the white suit coming out of the park. [And] because I’m Asian and everybody’s fighting for a diverse Bond – sorry, white guys.
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“I don’t know. It’s an honour to even be in the conversation. It’s one of the greatest film roles ever, you’d be stupid to be like, ‘I don’t want to do that.’
“Isn’t it great that people are like, ’OK, now’s the time, why the hell can’t we have a black Bond, an Asian Bond, a mixed-race Bond, a non-distinct Bond?”
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
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Who is he? After appearing in Sunshine On Leith and Pride, George landed his biggest role to date when he took the lead in the Bafta-winning 1917, and he’s since appeared in Femme and The End.
Where did the rumour come from? According to a 2021 report in Page Six, Bond producers were hoping to reboot the franchise after No Time To Die, making the Bond character younger, which is where the idea to have George play a rather different 007 was reportedly born.
What has he said? “You’ve got to consider it for sure. I mean, it’s an amazing thing, but it would also be a massive thing. I don’t know if that’s a reality, but if it ever became one, of course, it would be a consideration. But be a careful one.”
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Who is he? Regé-Jean became an overnight sensation in 2020 thanks to his role as the main love interest in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton.
Where did the rumour come from? Fans immediately began suggesting Regé-Jean as a potential Bond, and when he announced he wasn’t returning for the second season of Bridgerton, the rumour mill hotted up even further.
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What has he said?“Ah, the B word. I think if you are British and do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.
“That’s fairly normal and I’m flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed.”
via Associated Press
Who is he? Charlie’s biggest acting credits include Green Street, Queer As Folk, Sons Of Anarchy and Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. In 2025, he caused a stir when he was cast as Ed Gein in the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster.
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He was also famously cast in the role of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, and was replaced by Jamie Dornan.
Where did the rumour come from? Charlie’s name being linked with playing James Bond largely stems from his devoted fanbase, as well as bookies’ odds.
What has he said?“I would be so flattered and honoured to be considered to play James Bond as an Englishman. But my intuition tells me that I shouldn’t be waiting for that phone call to come. I think there are many people ahead of me on that list.
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“It’s very flattering sort of fan dialogue. Nobody’s ever, on a professional level from within the industry, brought that up to me.
“As much as people want to talk about me playing James Bond – please continue. Maybe that’s the genesis of these things. Maybe fan chatter leads to industry people actually talking about it in a more serious way.”
CHRIS DELMAS via Getty Images
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Who is he? Sam is best known for playing one of the lead roles in the historical drama Outlander.
Where did the rumour come from? Sam has actually been on Bond producers’ radars for a while, having previously auditioned to succeed Pierce Brosnan in Casino Royale, which would eventually become Daniel Craig’s first outing in the role.
What has he said?“I don’t know if there is a conversation being had apart from in the media, but I think it’s an incredible franchise and a great character, so of course I would jump at it.”
Matthias Nareyek via Getty Images
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Who is he? Henry is famous for playing Superman in the superhero’s most recent big-screen offerings, and also has the lead role in the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher.
Like Sam Heughan, Henry also auditioned for Casino Royale, back when he was just 21 years old.
What has he said?“I would absolutely jump at the opportunity. At this stage, it’s all up in the air. We’ll see what happens. But yes, I would love to play Bond, it would be very, very exciting.”
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Who is he? The chart-topping singer made a name for himself as a member of One Direction, before making a name for himself as a Grammy-winning solo artist.
In addition to his music career, Harry also had a short-lived career as an actor, first appearing in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk before getting mixed-at-best reviews for his work in Eternals, Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman.
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Where did the rumour come from? This might sound like the work of over-excited Directioners, but in 2021, The Sun reported that Bond producers were hoping to take the character in a “new age” direction, and tipped Harry for the role.
What has he said?Harry’s reps said the rumours were “not even remotely true”. Too bad, tbh.
via Associated Press
Who is he? Ted Lasso fans will recognise Phil from his Emmy-nominated performance as Jamie Tartt.
Where did the rumour come from? Interestingly, unlike most of the names on this list, this rumour comes straight from the horse’s mouth, with Phil confirming that a “conversation” was had about him playing Bond – albeit a short one.
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What’s he said? “There was a conversation one of my agents had but they quite firmly shut the door in their face.”
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Who is he? Another addition to the list of rumoured James Bond stars, Lucien Laviscount’s past credits include Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens and Emily In Paris.
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Where did the rumour come from?The Daily Mail first reported in December 2022 that Lucien had caught the eye of James Bond producers, with an unnamed source claiming he “ticks all of the boxes” as a “super talented” and “extremely handsome” young actor.
However, it appears there’s one drawback.
According to the Mail, Lucien’s reality TV past (after leaving Waterloo Road, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, and was involved in a brief showmance with a certain Ms Katona) has put off some execs behind the scenes.
What has he said? Again, he’s yet to address the rumours directly, so make of that what you will.
I am a Scouser living in Glasgow which means you can assume three things about me: my family are aggressively working class, I have a soft spot for dockyards and I LOVE to swear.
I don’t even think about it, it’s just so enjoyable. Nothing quite punctuates a sentence like a healthy f-bomb and getting into a healthy gossip session absolutely requires being able to dish out the delicious c-word.
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However, I do know that for some people, it can be offputting and make them uncomfortable. I’m careful in polite company and wouldn’t ever want to make somebody needlessly uncomfortable so I had planned to tame my spicy tongue a little until I heard that actually, swearing is good for your health.
How does swearing benefit your health?
Writing for The Conversation, Michelle Spear, a Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol says: “Research shows that a well-placed expletive can dull pain, regulate the heart and help the body recover from stress. The occasional outburst, it seems, isn’t a moral failure – it’s a protective reflex wired into us.”
Ever screamed some expletitives after stubbing your toe? That probably helped your body out. Wild.
Spear continues: “Recent research shows that swearing can actually change how much pain people can handle. A 2024 review looked at studies on swearing’s pain-reducing effects and found consistent evidence that people who repeated taboo words could keep their hands in icy water significantly longer than those who repeated neutral words.
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“Another 2024 report found that swearing can also increase physical strength during certain tasks, further supporting the idea that the body’s response is real rather than merely psychological.”
So, while for us it can feel emotional, it appears that swearing is much more
Have you ever had devastating news and screamed out loud, feeling that if you didn’t, it would just build up in your chest, begging for release? Spear explains that swearing is beneficial here, too.
“Swearing also helps the body recover from sudden stress. When shocked or hurt, the hypothalamus and pituitary release adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream, preparing the body to react.
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“If this energy surge isn’t released, the nervous system can remain in a heightened state, linked to anxiety, sleep difficulties, weakened immunity and extra strain on the heart.”
I should’ve known it was coming for me – the fog, the forgetting, the cognitive impairment. My father, his brother, their mother, their grandmother all had it… I just didn’t expect how it would come for me.
At 54, it seems my forgetting is linked to a neurodegenerative disease. But even before my own memory and language issues began, I’d written about and wondered what my own neurological inheritance might be.
In 1981, I spent several afternoons in the peacefully lamp-lit office of an elderly, retired professor and child psychologist and underwent a variety of aptitude tests and personality assessments. It turned out I was a “highly sensitive” 5th grader with the vocabulary of a high school senior.
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While most of the kids in my Midwestern neighbourhood rode their bikes, played flag football and Frogger, I was tucked away reading book after book. When I ran out of books, I’d spend entire afternoons seated cross-legged on the floor, poring over the pages of a set of hand-me-down Encyclopedia Britannicas. I dog-eared pages. I made notes in the margins on the Dalai Lama, the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 that registered a 9.2 on the Richter scale, and gladiolus — one of August’s (my) birth flowers that my paternal grandmother grew in her 4-H award-winning garden.
I’ve loved and collected words like treasures for as long as I can remember.
In March 2023, I started experiencing marked muscle weakness in several areas, most noticeably my left forearm. With any exertion, the muscles rippled beneath the skin, and my finger strokes on the keyboard weren’t landing as efficiently as they once had. Words were missing letters: Knoledge. Languge. Mariage.
My struggle with short-term memory increased. I mixed up words in conversation, and it felt like words I’d used frequently had been stowed away on shelves in my brain that I could no longer reach. Then came things like walking out of the kitchen with the faucet running, leaving the refrigerator door open, forgetting the stove burners were on and, recently, putting a container of yogurt in the drawer with my Pyrex lids.
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The next few months brought resting tremors and trouble swallowing. My speech grew sluggish in the evenings when I was most fatigued. Now, I’m also experiencing more consistent, significant autonomic dysfunction, with a myriad of other symptoms.
In May 2024, almost exactly two years after I’d completed my midlife MFA in creative writing at 50, I was diagnosed with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. This brain – which I’ve filled with 10 years of study in higher education, ideas for essays, books yet to be written, language, memories of my children, their children, my parents when we were all much younger – is forgetting.
Courtesy of S.C. Beckner
“This photo is from my hooding ceremony when I received my first masters degree in my 40s.”
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The first results read something like, “On the WMS-IV Logical Memory Subtest, immediate recall for two short stories was in the low average range. Delayed recall was impaired. Retention of information was impaired. On a 15-word list-learning task (RAVLT), she demonstrated a fluctuated learning curve and an impaired total learning score. Immediate recall was impaired. Delayed recall was impaired. Phonemic verbal fluency (FAS) was impaired. Semantic verbal fluency was impaired.” Impaired. Impaired. Impaired. Where did my words go?
The most recent results revealed “frontal subcortical dysfunction likely consistent with Multiple System Atrophy” – the neurodegenerative disease I was diagnosed with late last summer. Multiple System Atrophy, or MSA, is like if the worst forms of Parkinson’s Disease and ALS bore offspring. There’s no cure, and little treatment. It’s considered a terminal diagnosis with a life expectancy of five to eight years from symptom onset, maybe 10 if you’re… lucky? I’ve been told and read that every patient progresses differently. I’m nearing the three-year mark since my initial symptoms started.
I rebel against the forgetting, rebel against the losing – when I remember to. I pray. I meditate. I play word games on my cell phone well into most nights, as I’ve lost the ability to sleep for more than an hour or two in a stretch. Scrabble. Wordle. Words with Friends. Word Stacks. I work to sharpen the edges of my dulled memory, preserve what’s still firing in my brain, and search for the words that have already been wiped clean from the slate of my brain.
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How many words could I spell with the letters V O I D E N? Void. Vine. Vino. Din. Dive. Ion. Dove. Done. Nod. Id. End. I plugged the letters into allscrabblewords.com to see how many I’ve missed. The site lists 55 words for that letter combination. I found 11.
Everything is different now. Each day arrives with some measure of frustration and fragility. When I have the capacity, I make lists of words that I most want to remember: Fecund. Cacophony. Loquacious. Serendipity.
My words, thoughts, and ideas are now submerged deep in a vat of midnight dark molasses and some days I can no longer retrieve them. They’re buried so deeply, and I am tired – brain thick with fog, limbs heavy as though they’ve been dipped in concrete. I know the words are still there – they have to be. I’ve studied and loved them for so long.
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As a writer, storyteller, teacher, and someone who loves to be in conversation, the idea of losing those things is almost unbearable at times. In 20 years of marriage, I’ve written letters to my husband. In the beginning, letters of love and wanting, and more recently, letters of apology, request, and reflection.
I’m sorry you ended up with a sick wife.
The fear of the future washes over me and I can’t imagine the language and words that have made me who I am will be gone.
Courtesy of S.C. Beckner
The author at her desk in 2022.
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In recent months, I’ve felt like the light of who I am is maybe starting to dim. I know that sounds dramatic, but I don’t know how else to describe it. I continue to try to write something every day, each word, every cohesive sentence – another rebellion. Whether it’s working on bits and pieces of a new essay or article I’ve had an idea for, trying to write new copy for a work project, or a journal prompt, I tell myself I have to keep writing. My desk houses stacks of Post-it notes and shards of scrap paper with scrawled notes, ideas, and words I don’t want to forget.
Some days, a paragraph might take several hours. Other days, I crank out sentence after sentence, only to return to the page to find missing words and ideas that don’t quite make sense or a story told out of order. Losing language, intellect, and what I’ve worked so hard to learn is like losing pieces of the woman I’ve worked so hard to become post full-time motherhood – a part of who I’ve always been, yet only recently had the opportunity to discover.
I hold onto my language, cradle the words I still have close to my chest like I once held my children, now long grown and living all over the country. I hold the words close like I once held those encyclopaedias while I read, then returned to them again and again. Alongside the words, I think of the faces of my children and their children. I imagine them older. In my own forgetting, I hope not to be forgotten, so I leave pieces of myself behind on the page.
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S.C. Beckner is a freelance copywriter, essayist, and editor. Her work can be found at Salon, Business Insider, NBC Think, as well as other platforms and literary publications. S.C. is currently working on her memoir in essays. She lives in coastal North Carolina with her dog.
