The UK entertainment industry is abuzz with recent developments, from the return of popular reality shows to significant legal victories and evolving industry dynamics. Here's a roundup of the latest news involving UK celebrities.
**Celebrity Big Brother 2025 Returns with Star-Studded Line-Up**
Celebrity Big Brother 2025 has made a grand return, airing nightly on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, with its live final scheduled for April 25 at 9pm. Hosted once again by AJ Odudu and Will Best, the show features a diverse group of celebrity housemates, including EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, actor Mickey Rourke, Coronation Street's Jack P Shepherd, Olympic athlete Daley Thompson, and singer JoJo Siwa. As of now, Chesney, Chris, Danny, Donna, Jack, and JoJo are the six finalists competing for the top prize. The house has moved to a new location, and viewers can connect with the show through behind-the-scenes content and late-night coverage.
**Celebrity Traitors UK Set to Premiere with Star-Studded Cast**
Celebrity Traitors UK is set to premiere on BBC1 later in 2025, likely in late summer or early autumn, following the success of The Traitors UK season 3. Hosted once again by Claudia Winkleman, this celebrity edition will see well-known faces competing in the popular murder-mystery format. Confirmed participants include Tom Daley, Bob Mortimer, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, and Clare Balding, among others. The show, filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, will follow the usual format: celebrities will start as Faithfuls, with a few secretly selected as Traitors aiming to deceive the rest. Through missions, players build a prize fund of up to £120,000, with celebrities aiming to win up to £100,000 for charity. Regular banishments and “murders” spice up the gameplay, culminating in either the Faithfuls or a remaining Traitor claiming the prize.
**Prince Harry Settles Lawsuit Against Rupert Murdoch's Newspaper Group**
Prince Harry has settled his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group, News Group Newspapers , which included an apology for unlawful actions related to The Sun. Harry sued NGN over alleged unlawful activities by journalists and private investigators at The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World from 1996 to 2011. NGN, owned by News Corp, has settled claims from over 1,300 people. The phone-hacking scandal emerged in 2006, leading to arrests and the closure of News of the World in 2011. This settlement is significant as NGN admitted unlawful activity at The Sun for the first time and avoids a potentially damaging trial. Harry's deal is seen as a victory, and he plans to pressure politicians and police to revisit the scandal.
**Rupert Murdoch's UK News Group Settles with Almost 40 Claimants Over Alleged Phone Hacking**
Almost 40 public figures have settled their cases with Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers over alleged phone hacking and other unlawful activities. This leaves Prince Harry and Lord Tom Watson as the remaining claimants heading to trial. The settlements involve celebrities, such as Louise Redknapp and Alfie Allen, and politicians Andy Burnham and Sir Norman Lamb. The trial for Prince Harry and Watson is scheduled for January and is expected to last up to eight weeks. Prince Harry's team is seeking additional correspondence involving Murdoch's employees and the Royal Household, while NGN denies any undisclosed agreement with the royal family. NGN has settled most phone-hacking claims over a decade, with total payouts exceeding £1bn. The company aims to finalize all disputes without trial, continuing its longstanding commitment to settle justified claims.
**Influencers Matter as Politicians Move to Meet Voters Online**
The British political landscape is witnessing a media shift as an increasing number of voters, including older age groups, consume news via online videos and platforms like YouTube. Reflecting this trend, Downing Street is set to host its first-ever reception for social media influencers, with 70–90 attendees across various niches. Labour leader Keir Starmer will address them, acknowledging the growing influence of digital media in reaching swing voters. A key chart from Ofcom’s Media Nations report underscores the broad uptake of video-on-demand, even among over-75s, highlighting the changing nature of how information is consumed.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the UK entertainment industry, where new shows captivate audiences, legal battles reshape media practices, and political strategies adapt to the digital age.
