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Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I visited the 'silent city' that's starred in Gladiator, Troy and Game of Thrones'
Ask random people on the street what they know about Game of Thrones, and you'd probably hear the same three things over and over: dragons, nudity and beautiful locations. And while I didn't experience much of the first two, I very much enjoyed the third of that golden trio during a trip to Malta. The ancient walled city of Mdina, once the capital before it was supplanted by Valletta, is known as the 'silent city' for its lack of cars and a population of only 250 people. But the residents are anything but silent when it comes to their claim to fame. Part of a rich Maltese TV and film history, which includes Gladiator, Troy and erm…the 1980 live action version of Popeye, Mdina was used as the filming location for King's Landing in the first season of Game of Thrones. The city's main gate is featured and Mesquita Square even played host to Littlefinger's brothel where Sean Bean's Ned Stark is reunited with his wife…among other things. And everyone you meet in Mdina has a story. Our tour guide Audrey, for instance, was hired as an extra to play one of the Dothraki and rubbed shoulders with Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa in between educating groups about the history Mdina has to offer. And it really does have a lot to offer. For a city that's less than half a square mile in size, it has seemingly endless palaces, quaint lace shops on most corners and by all accounts, the best chocolate cake in Malta, found at the Fontanella Tea Garden. And Mdina is only the tip of the iceberg. With anti-tourist protests sweeping across Europe's holiday hotspots, it can be hard for Brits to find a new getaway. But with a large British expat presence and supportive attitudes towards tourism, Malta is a country that caters for all tastes. If you're a history buff, you've got hundreds of years of the Knights of Malta to dig into. For foodies, try out Malta's famous rabbit stew or pastizzi – savoury pasties normally filled with ricotta or peas. Or if you just want sun, sea and relaxation, you can do that too. But luckily, in my whistlestop three days in Malta, I was able to do all of that – and more. We started in the capital of Valletta, taking in the opulence of the Grandmaster's Palace. Dominating St George's Square in the heart of the city, it was from here that the Knights of Malta, then known as the Knights Hospitaller, ruled Malta for about 250 years, before Napoleon and later the British conquered the island. With thousands of military mementos housed inside the Palace's original armoury building, it's an absolute treasure trove, even if I did personally start to flag after a big lunch and a tour of seemingly endless rows of armour. Similarly ornate albeit far more tranquil was the iconic Caffe Cordina. One of the oldest cafes in Europe, it serves traditional Maltese food and the island's increasingly popular domestic wines, all under a spectacular vaulted ceiling. Off the main island of Malta, our second day took us via ferry to Gozo, for my money one of the true hidden gems of the Mediterranean. Malta is brilliant but Gozo, about a quarter of the size of its big brother, is packed full of rustic charm and striking landscapes reflective of the relative lack of development. Gozo has 46 churches crammed into just 26 square miles and boasts its own historic fortified city in the shape of Cittadella, overlooking the main town of Victoria, but it is something much, much older which predominantly draws people to the mini-Malta. Named as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Ggantija Temples are potentially about 1,000 years older than the Pyramids of Giza and were created without the use of wheels or metal tools. The two structures, both housed within the Ggantija Archaeological Park, remain in remarkable condition more than 5,500 years on. Much newer and more luxurious was our base for the trip. We were the very first guests to stay at the Best View Fortina Luxury Suites, a complex of beautiful apartments right on the waterfront in the affluent coastal town of Sliema. The suites are the brainchild of entrepreneur Michael Zammit Tabona, a one-time ambassador to Finland and long-time Manchester United fan, not that I held it against him. And while he's also known as the owner of the superb four-star Village Boutique Hotel and Spa in Naxxar, it is his new venture that's got people talking of late. Combining the luxury and opulence of a five-star hotel with the independence of your own apartment, there is nothing that hasn't been considered. There's of course the usual – exclusively en-suite rooms, plush furniture, a balcony with fine sea views – but there's also some homely touches most places simply don't think about. All the kitchens are fully equipped with everything from an air fryer to an ice machine and while every apartment comes with a fully-stocked laundry room, there's also a laundry service and 24-hour concierge. So whether you want to be pampered every minute of the day or cook your own meals, you can build your holiday your way. Guests also have access to the on-site spa, indoor pool and outdoor lido, and a gym, perfect for burning off pastries. If that wasn't enough, anyone who stays also gets a discount at three nearby restaurants, all within a two-minute walk of the apartments – Manta offers Mediterranean dining by the seafront lido, Tora showcases oriental fusion and The Queen Elizabeth Pub is a proper boozer, with football on the TVs, a good range of beers and brilliant food. And while there were a couple of small teething problems on our first day, understandable when we were the first ever guests to visit, the blueprint for success is clear to see. But don't just take my word for it – as we were leaving, a contract was being signed for the lead star of a new British TV drama to stay in one of the apartments while they filmed nearby. Game of Thrones may have left our screens, but Malta will be staying in the spotlight for a while yet. GET THERE Flights to Malta are available from Belfast International, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Liverpool, Luton, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Southend and Stansted. BOOK IT Rooms at the Best View Fortina Luxury Suites in Sliema, Malta, start at £125 a night.
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fresh scandal hits Strictly as BBC call in cops after external probe into show weeks before new series starts
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BBC has brought police into the Strictly probe — engulfing the show in its biggest crisis. Beeb bosses alerted the Met after lawyers began an inquiry into the scandal-hit series. 3 Strictly Come Dancing has been engulfed in its biggest crisis after police were brought in Credit: PA 3 BBC bosses alerted police after lawyers began an inquiry into the scandal-hit series Credit: Getty 3 It is understood that detectives from the Met Police are examining allegations Credit: Getty Police being brought in to investigate allegations surrounding Strictly Come Dancing is not a good look for the scandal-hit BBC, sources said last night. The corporation had already launched an inquiry into its flagship Saturday night family show amid claims two of its stars had used cocaine. It is understood that detectives from the Met Police are examining other allegations relating to the telly ballroom hit, which has been rocked by a string of controversies. Our latest shock revelation comes as the BBC prepares to launch Strictly's 23rd series next month - after officially announcing the line-up of celebrities including reality TV star Dani Dyer. A source told The Sun on Sunday: 'It's a significant new development in the BBC's recent string of crises that they have now got the police involved in investigating allegations surrounding Strictly. "This is a very dramatic turn of events. 'Despite all the show and its team have been through over recent months, it's hugely controversial that you've now got Scotland Yard detectives probing Strictly. 'This is their biggest prime-time family entertainment show, so it's not a good look for the BBC.' Strictly has been the subject of inquiries into bullying and inappropriate behaviour over the past 14 months. But this is believed to be the first time the BBC has been in contact with the police over allegations linked to the show. Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup IN FULL - including Game of Thrones star & famous YouTuber It is understood the matter was referred by the BBC after it launched an inquiry, conducted by external lawyers Pinsent Masons, into alleged drug use on the show. The Sun on Sunday reported two weeks ago how it was 'well known' that two Strictly stars took cocaine. It was claimed one accused another of being 'off their face' - saying: 'Have you seen their pupils?' It's hugely controversial that you've now got Scotland Yard detectives probing Strictly Source Lawyers were brought in after ex-Strictly star and opera singer Wynne Evans made allegations in a legal submission to the BBC in March. In relation to the drugs allegations, the BBC said a fortnight ago: 'We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. 'We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. 'It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.' Plunged into crisis The BBC previously investigated bullying allegations by actress Amanda Abbington against pro Giovanni Pernice. Graziano Di Prima was fired over claims he kicked celeb partner Zara McDermott. Earlier this year Evans was dumped by the BBC after he was filmed making a 'spit-roast' comment to EastEnder Jamie Borthwick at the Strictly tour photocall. In June Borthwick was suspended after The Sun on Sunday revealed he made an offensive slur against disabled people and Blackpool. It was also claimed he filmed himself messing around with a sex toy in a Strictly tour dressing room. The BBC has also been plunged into a crisis over its cookery show MasterChef, with co-hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode fired. Meanwhile, corporation chiefs have also been probing claims of bullying on BBC Breakfast, including allegations about host Naga Munchetty's behaviour. Last night Scotland Yard said: 'On Monday 4 August, the Metropolitan Police received a third-party allegation. "The police investigation is in its early stages. No arrests have been made at this time.' We approached the BBC for comment.
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sophie Turner says kissing Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington left them 'retching'
Sophie Turner was selected as one of the producers for the horror film when she nominated Kit Harington as her co-star, which he warned would be 'really weird'. Sophie Turner has revealed that reuniting with her former Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington on screen became more challenging than expected when they found themselves forced to kiss on camera. The actress, who famously played Sansa Stark on HBO's high fantasy show, stars alongside Harington in the upcoming gothic horror The Dreadful. Despite their excitement to work together again, Turner admitted that their sibling bond from Game of Thrones made filming romantic scenes deeply uncomfortable. While on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the 29-year-old confessed: "We put it out of our minds, and then when it came to shooting, we were both retching. It was vile. Honestly, the worst." This comes as Sophie issued a savage response after she was mum-shamed over her kids. Turner explained that while she hadn't worked with Harington since Game of Thrones wrapped in 2019, their friendly sibling style relationship had continued off-screen. That familiarity made it almost impossible to tackle the romantic scenes they were presented with in the Dreadful. When writer-director Natasha Kermani asked who she envisioned as the male lead in The Dreadful, Turner said Kit was the obvious choice. She recalled: "I sent the script to Kit, and he came back saying, 'Yeah, I'd love to, but this is going to be really weird, Soph.' Then I went through the script again and it's just kiss, kiss, sex, kiss. And suddenly I realised, oh right, that's my brother." The awkwardness hit straight away, as their very first scene together involved kissing. Turner joked that even a scene from her thriller Trust, which required her to stay still in a room with cockroaches and rats crawling over her, didn't compare to that moment. "Kissing Kit was still worse," she admitted. The Dreadful is set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses in 15th-century England, and follows Anne (Turner) as her fragile existence with her mother-in-law Morwen is upended when a man from her past (Harington) returns and sparks a dangerous chain of events. The cast also features Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, Laurence O'Fuarain, and Jonathan Howard. A release date has yet to be announced, but the film is already generating buzz thanks to its high-profile lead stars. Both Turner and Harington rose to fame as members of House Stark, one of the central families competing to rule over Westeros in Game of Thrones. Although Jon Snow 's true Targaryen heritage was revealed later, audiences still strongly associated him with Sansa's family, making the idea of a romance between the two particularly uncomfortable. Turner previously joked to Vogue: "Sorry guys, it's weird for all of us." This comes after Turner's recent confession that she once accidentally broke up a celebrity couple at a Comic-Con afterparty. A simple wave to an actor her friend admired spiralled into chaos when his fiancée confronted Turner for "flirting" with him. The pair ended their engagement that same night. Turner laughed: "Turns out, they broke their engagement off that night because of my [wave]. I didn't realise I held this power."
