The UK entertainment industry has been abuzz with significant events and announcements involving its most prominent celebrities. From legal victories to new television series, the landscape is evolving rapidly.
In January 2025, Prince Harry achieved a notable legal victory against Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers . The publisher admitted to unlawful actions at its tabloid, The Sun, and agreed to a substantial damages payment. This settlement, reported to be over £10 million, primarily covered legal fees and marked the first time NGN acknowledged such misconduct at The Sun. The apology pertained to actions of private investigators, not journalists. This development may signal the conclusion of similar lawsuits against NGN, which has faced significant financial repercussions from prior lawsuits involving phone hacking and other illegal information-gathering activities.
On the television front, the UK is set to witness the return of "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2025. The show, which has been a staple of British reality TV, is scheduled to air nightly on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, with its live final slated for April 25 at 9 pm. Hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, this year's celebrity housemates include EastEnders star Patsy Palmer, actor Mickey Rourke, and Olympic athlete Daley Thompson. The house has relocated to a new setting, and viewers can engage with the show through behind-the-scenes content and late-night coverage.
Additionally, "Celebrity Traitors UK" is set to premiere on BBC One later in 2025, likely in late summer or early autumn. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, this celebrity edition will feature well-known faces competing in the popular murder-mystery format. Confirmed participants include Tom Daley, Bob Mortimer, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, and Clare Balding. 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.
In the realm of legal affairs, NGN has settled claims from over 1,300 individuals, including celebrities like Louise Redknapp and Alfie Allen, over alleged phone hacking and other unlawful activities. This leaves Prince Harry and Lord Tom Watson as the remaining claimants heading to trial. The trial for Prince Harry and Watson is scheduled for January and is expected to last up to eight weeks. NGN aims to finalize all disputes without trial, continuing its longstanding commitment to settle justified claims.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the UK entertainment industry, where legal battles, new television ventures, and celebrity engagements continue to captivate the public's attention.
