Entertainment

A banana duct-taped to a wall has sold for $6.2m (£4.9m) at an auction in New York.The conceptual art piece, called Comedian, became a viral sensation after Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan debuted it at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019. Festivalgoers tried to make out whether the single piece of fruit stuck to a white wall with silver tape was a joke or cheeky commentary on questionable standards among art […]

The voice actor behind Milhouse Van Houten - Bart Simpson's very uncool friend - is stepping away after 35 years on the show.Pamela Hayden, who also voiced Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey and Malibu Stacy, will sign off from The Simpsons on 24 November in a Treehouse of Horror episode. "It's been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show," the 70-year-old […]

The winner of an "unprecedented" literary double has said he will not accept his latest £50,000 prize until the sponsor shares a plan to reduce its "investment in fossil fuel extraction".Richard Flanagan has been named the winner of the 2024 Baillie Gifford Prize for his memoir Question 7 - a decade after being awarded the Booker Prize for fiction, for his sixth novel, The Narrow Road To The Deep North. […]

The winner of an "unprecedented" literary double has said he will not accept his latest £50,000 prize until the sponsor shares a plan to reduce its "investment in fossil fuel extraction".Richard Flanagan has been named the winner of the 2024 Baillie Gifford Prize for his memoir Question 7 - a decade after being awarded the Booker Prize for fiction, for his sixth novel, The Narrow Road To The Deep North. […]

Movie fans are being warned they must not sing along to music in the new Wicked film.The movie, which features British singer and actress Cynthia Erivo and American star Ariana Grande, will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 22 November. However, according to an advisory video shown moments before the film in the US, AMC Theatres tells the audience "silence is golden" and fans should stay quiet so everyone […]

A letter in which Ernie Wise attempted to break up the double act that would go on to bring both him and Eric Morecambe worldwide fame is going on sale.It's part of a large archive of items belonging to Morecambe which are being sold at auction following the death in March this year of his widow, Joan, aged 97. Morecambe died of a heart attack aged 58 in 1984. Wise […]

Irish actor Paul Mescal says meeting King Charles was not on his "list of priorities".The 28-year-old star was introduced to the reigning monarch at the Gladiator II world premiere on Wednesday. Image: The King greets the film's stars at the world premiere The historical epic picks up 20 years after the Oscar-winning original, and marks Mescal's first big studio movie after success in TV and independent film, playing Roman warrior […]

Zoe Ball is leaving her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after six years.The 53-year-old, who recently lost her mother to cancer, will present her last show on Friday, 20 December. Image: Ball leaves Wogan House with her replacement, Scott Mills. Pic: PA She said she was leaving to focus on family, but will remain part of the Radio 2 team and will give further details next year.Announcing the news on […]

The leader of a church in New York where pop star Sabrina Carpenter filmed a provocative music video has been relieved of his duties.An investigation into Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Brooklyn was launched after he gave permission for US singer Carpenter to film the video to her hit song, Feather, last year. Mr Gigantiello has now been stripped of any oversight or […]