The 14 best true crime documentaries to watch now, chosen by the Daily Mail's crime experts
The true crime obsession is here to stay – and audiences captivated by these tragic tales still can't look away.
Real-life mysteries, killer plot twists and jaw-dropping courtroom revelations keep armchair detectives glued to their screens.
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Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Step By Step star Christine Lakin, 46, rose to fame as a child actress in the '90s... see her now
Christine Lakin has come a long way since breaking out in Hollywood in the early 1990s. The actress, now 46, got her big break as a main cast member on the sitcom Step By Step, which she starred on for 160 episodes over seven seasons. She played Alicia 'Al' Lambert, the daughter of Patrick Duffy's character Frank, who is getting used to his new marriage to Suzanne Somers ' character Carol. Although critics never paid much attention to Step By Step, it was popular with viewers for several seasons, though ratings began to flag by the show's sixth season. For its seventh and final season, it moved from ABC to CBS, though that turmoil only exacerbated the exodus of viewers, and the show was canceled for good in June 1998. Now, more than two decades after the show that gave her her big break went off the air, takes a look at what Christine looks like now. The film and television actress was spotted out in Los Angeles this week when she attended her son Baylor's Little League game. Christine was dressed in a sporty white tank top that highlighted her toned arms, and she paired it with acid wash jeans and brown Birkenstock sandals. She opted for minimal makeup and covered up with aviator sunglasses and a blue denim-style LA Dodgers baseball cap. Christine carried a bag with her son's equipment, including his baseball bat, and she also brought along a fan for the sweltering late-spring day. Despite being decades away from the role she's best known for, she still looked shockingly youthful. In 2014, she tied the knot with the actor Brandon Breault. In 2016, they welcomed their first child, daughter Georgia James, nine, and in late 2018 she gave birth to their son Baylor B., six. Christine managed to make a successful transition from being a child star to an adult actor after her first series ended, and even though she's never appeared in any film or show as successful as Step By Step, she has continued to be a prolific actor and has even expanded into directing in recent years. After wrapping on Step By Step, Christine — who described herself as a 'recovering child actor' in an interview with Voyage LA last year, became an in-demand guest star on shows including 7th Heaven, 3rd Rock From The Sun and the Touched By An Angel spinoff Promised Land. Christine was dressed in a sporty white tank top that highlighted her toned arms, and she paired it with acid wash jeans, brown Birkenstocks, aviator sunglasses and a blue denim-style LA Dodgers baseball cap. She opted for minimal makeup As the 2000s rolled around, she appeared in episodes of Boston Public, the original Touched By An Angel series, the cult teen mystery-drama Veronica Mars, CSI and Bones. Her next series to get picked up was the CW's Valentine in 2008, but the series only lasted eight episodes. Although she mostly appeared in low-budget films throughout the 2000s, she had a surprising connection to Paris Hilton's attempt to launch an acting career when she starred opposite the heiress in The Hottie And The Nottie (as the Nottie). It took extreme makeup and prosthetics to cover up Christine's natural beauty, though she eventually gets to show off her real visage after a 'makeover.' The film was panned by critics and earned the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for Paris, as well as three other Razzies. The Hottie And The Nottie was also a failure at the box office, grossing only $1.6 million against a relatively modest budget of $9 million. She rounded out the decade with roles in Disney's Race To Witch Mountain — which starred Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino and Ciarán Hinds — and the all-star ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day. A year later, she reunited with director Garry Marshall for a small part in his follow-up ensemble rom-com, New Year's Eve. As the 2010s started up, Christine began a successful run as the voice of Joyce Kinney, as well as multiple miscellaneous characters, on the long-running animated series Family Guy. She continued guest starring on shows like NCIS, CSI: NY and Modern Family, and she had multi-episode runs on Melissa & Joey and the Cartoon Network series Clarence. Her film work in the 2010s was less prolific, but she again played a small part for Marshall in his rom-com Mother's Day, which starred Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson and Jason Sudeikis, among many others, and she also returned to the Veronica Mars universe with a role in the sequel film from 2014. Christine has also established herself as a television director begin in 2012, and she got some of her most high-profile directing gigs beginning in 2018 on The Goldbergs. She went on to direct 12 episodes of the series through 2023, along with three episodes of its spinoff series Schooled. More recently, she helmed an episode of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. While speaking to Voyage LA last year, she explained her shift to working more behind the camera. 'I have always been interested in the production of television and the behind-the-scenes action that goes on with live and scripted production. Being a self-starter and creating my own lane with projects was something born out of necessity in a competitive town like Hollywood, but also appealed to my creative brain to constantly try things and bring folks together to create something fun and unique. She added that 'saying yes to opportunities that sometimes scared me, that didn't always seem like a linear path to where I thought I wanted to go' had helped her in the past and motivated her to give directing a try. However, she found road blocks along the way since she hadn't been trained extensively as a director before trying her hand at it. 'It's hard to be competitive for that first big job when you've had no experience at that level before,' she explained. 'The feedback can feel like a Catch-22: You desperately want to prove you can do it, but folks have a hard time taking a chance on someone new.' In the same interview, she noted that being a child actor had been a far different experience for her than it has been for other stars, both those who found success later and those who left Hollywood. 'I had the most fun working as a child and surrounded by wonderful people,' Christine admitted. 'I love the fans that still approach me today and those who are now watching Step By Step again with their kids. There's a nostalgia that, as a fan of that time, I can completely appreciate.'
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Riley Gaines hits Simone Biles with ultimate comeback as she resurrects gymnast's horrific past in trans feud
Conservative activist Riley Gaines has fired back at Simone Biles with a pointed dig at the gymnast's harrowing past amid their bitter online feud surrounding transgender athletes' participating in women's sports. The USA Olympic hero, 28, launched a scathing attack on Gaines Friday night when she compared her to a man after the former swimmer criticized a Minnesota high school softball team for competing with a trans player. Gaines, 25, who has been one of the most outspoken voices against transgender athletes in women's sports, responded by referencing the horrific abuse Biles and other gymnasts suffered at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar. 'All the horrific sexual abuse @Simmone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings,' the former collegiate swimmer posted on X following the gymnastics legend's attack. 'You know how many gold medals you'd have if your "inclusive" dream came true? Zero.' Gaines later doubled down, sharing a clip of Biles testifying before Senate about the abuse suffered at the hands of the former team doctor. Alongside it, she posted a screengrab of Biles' tweet. 'Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men,' she wrote. Gaines, who tied for fifth with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, later clarified her position, insisting that she hopes Nassar 'spends the rest of his life rotting away and miserable in prison.' She said that the gymnasts were 'failed by a system that protected an abusive man at the expense of the girls' safety.' However, she claimed that female athletes were equally being failed by the same system amid the gender row sweeping through sport. Nassar was a leading doctor at Michigan State and with USA Gymnastics, but used his position within those organizations to sexually abuse young women under the guise of treatment at the now-closed Karolyi Ranch National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas. He was sentenced in federal court in 2017 to 60 years in prison on charges of possessing child sex abuse material. The following year, Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years and up to 125 years, respectively, in two separate Michigan courts for molesting female gymnasts under his care. Biles publicly broke her silence in January 2018, revealing in a powerful tweet that she was one of Nassar's victims. In 2019, Biles revealed that the trauma of the assaults had left her struggling with suicidal thoughts. Gaines has forged a career as a political commentator for OutKick and Fox following her time as a swimmer, where she competed against trans athlete Lia Thomas. Her campaigning has won praise from Donald Trump, who welcomed her to the White House before signing the 'Keeping Men out of Women's Sports' executive order in February. On Friday, Gaines retweeted a picture of Minnesota team Champlin Park celebrating the state high school title that they won with transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger on the team. 'Comments off lol,' Gaines wrote in response to the post. 'To be expected when your star player is a boy.' Gaines clarified that hopes Nassar 'spends the rest of his life rotting away' in prison It sparked a blistering response from Biles, 28, who first criticized Gaines' view and then compared her appearance to a man. Biles wrote: 'You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. 'You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! 'But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!' She then tweeted at Gaines again, saying: 'Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' Gaines replied: 'This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest.' She continued: 'My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams? Didn't have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028.' Gaines then addressed Biles mocking her appearance, saying: 'And the subtle hint at "body-shaming" ???? Plzzzz I'm 5'5".' Sage Steele, the former ESPN reporter who has also been a vocal critic of trans athletes, backed Gaines up with a fiery tweet of her own. Biles attacked Gaines on X on Friday night after her latest remarks on trans athletes 'Easy to say this @Simone_Biles when you only had to compete against fellow women. Every one of your Olympic medals came competing against fellow women,' Steele wrote. 'Riley Gaines was not only forced to compete against a man, but forced to share a locker room with a man. THAT is SICK. Shocked and disappointed that you'd attack another woman who has done nothing but uplift other women. 'If YOU think it makes sense to create a league for trans people, go for it! Use that huge platform of yours! But to attack Riley for what she has done for little girls who want to be the next Simone Biles is……..sick.' Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, also gave a savage reply to a Trump voter that wrote back to her: 'Simone, there is a reason they have rings in men's gymnastics, and not women's. Male athletes have a biological advantage over female athletes. That will never changes.' Biles wrote back: 'Can you even read? I see we are lacking comprehension skills as well…..' The gymnast has offered no further comment other than to retweet her original post calling Gaines 'sick'. The issue of trans athletes in sports has been a bigger talking point in the US this week with the Minnesota high school team reaching the state championships. Rothenberger is biologically male. At nine, Rothenberger's mother applied in district court to alter her child's birth certificate after their ninth birthday, with the petition being approved, per Reduxx. Rothenberger was issued a new birth certificate showing to be born female, switching their name from 'Charlie Dean' to Marissa.
BreakingNews.ie
39 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Will Ferrell ‘excited' to bring Eurovision musical to Broadway
Will Ferrell has said he is 'excited' to bring a musical version of the Eurovision Song Contest to Broadway. The American actor, 57, is basing the project on his Netflix movie, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga, which he starred in opposite Canadian actress Rachel McAdams and British actor Dan Stevens. Advertisement 'We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway,' said Ferrell. 'The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.' Ferrell starred opposite Canadian actress Rachel McAdams, pictured, in the Netflix movie (Ian West/PA) The production will feature a book by Ferrell, Harper Steele, who both co-wrote the original film and were in the documentary Will & Harper together, and Anthony King, a TV and Broadway writer. Music will come from Savan Kotecha, who was behind the songs for the Netflix movie, and will be directed by Alex Timbers. Advertisement 'Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes,' Timbers, a Tony award-winning director, said. 'And when I first saw their joyful movie Eurovision during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time. 'With this stage adaptation, I can't wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence, and awe to audiences across the world.' In the 2020 movie, The Notebook actress McAdams, an Oscar nominee, and Elf star Ferrell play Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir who are competing at Eurovision. Advertisement JJ from Austria won Eurovision 2025 (AP Photo/Denes Erdos) It was nominated for a best original song Academy Award for Husavik (My Hometown) written by Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus, and Rickard Goransson. Eurovision director Martin Green, from the organising group, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said: 'This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaption of a film the world loved. 'Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally – especially as we approach our 70th edition in 2026.' Last month, the 2025 winner of Eurovision was crowned as 24-year-old opera singer JJ from Austria, who entered with the dramatic Wasted Love. Advertisement The UK came 19th in May after Remember Monday earned 88 points from the national juries for their song What The Hell Just Happened? and no points from the audience. Netflix has previously turned its popular science fiction show Stranger Things into a play in the West End called Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which serves as a prequel to the series.
