Latest news with #Who
Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
MasterChef must die
As Oscar Wilde didn't quite put it, for one MasterChef presenter to depart because of a scandal may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose both looks like carelessness. After Gregg Wallace received his P45 from the long-running BBC cookery show, his co-presenter John Torode has also been given the boot, having allegedly made a racist remark during filming in 2018 – a claim Torode denies. It is clear that all is not well behind the stove. Wallace and Torde's antics have made MasterChef a joke. The stories about Wallace that have dominated the headlines over the last week have long since veered into ridiculousness – not least the piquant detail that he is apparently unable to wear underpants because of his autism. But when Torode put out a statement saying: 'Personally I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it's time to pass the cutlery to someone else. For whoever takes over, love it as I have', it became clear that, whatever the future incarnation of the show, it will not be the same. You do not have to be the greatest fan of either Wallace or Torode to acknowledge that the reason for MasterChef's success in recent years was in large part because of their on-screen chemistry and how well they interacted with their guests. Each had their clearly defined persona. Wallace was the cheeky-chappie costermonger, ever ready with a quip or tension-deflating gag. Torode was the straight man, bringing a calming sense of order and confidence to proceedings. The two began hosting the show in 2005, after Torode was chosen instead of the higher-profile and more acerbic food critic, the late AA Gill. An especially notable feature of MasterChef in the Wallace-Torode era was its kindness to contestants, some of whom made a veritable pig's ear of the dishes that they were preparing. Gill, you imagine, would have made sneering, sarcastic comments about their ineptitude. But Torode and Wallace managed to bring a humanity and jocularity to proceedings that kept matters light and forever entertaining. Since it was invented in 1990 by Franc Roddam, who film buffs may remember was the director of the Who film Quadrophenia, MasterChef has been one of the BBC's most lucrative and beloved shows. The format has been sold to 65 other territories worldwide, where it is said to be watched by as many as 300 million people. Some of its most high-profile winners include the likes of Thomasina Miers, Dhruv Baker and Shelina Permaloo, who became the first woman of colour to win the show in 2012. It has, undeniably, been a great British success story, and the BBC will now be trying to find two permanent presenters who can replace Wallace and Torode and make viewers forget the scandals that have tainted the show in recent times. This is understandable, but it is also tempting to suggest that it is time that MasterChef takes a break from television, perhaps an extended one. Thirty-five years is a very long time for any show to be on air, and the format was beginning to flag at times in recent years, despite the continued energy that its presenters brought to the screen. While I don't believe that anyone will be put off watching a revived incarnation of the show because of the opprobrium directed towards its former hosts – 'Oh, John Torode said something dodgy seven years ago, I won't watch the series that he used to present' – now might be a valuable opportunity for its makers to pause and reflect what it could be in the future. Axing MasterChef is not an easy decision. Should a Gill-esque host be hired to dispense haughty quips and withering put-downs? Or should the programme double down on hugs and tears, no doubt accompanied by would-be inspirational music? There are arguments for both, or an entirely different approach. But rather than the producers insisting on 'business as usual' and reaching for the contacts book of the usual suspects, recent events might lead them to take a step back. They should reconsider whether this show, now well into its fourth decade, could do with a proper rethink to keep it relevant and interesting and to ensure that the recent unflattering headlines are soon forgotten. Otherwise, this particular kitchen might end up shutting down, possibly for good.
Pink Villa
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BTS' Jimin makes history with Who and Like Crazy as both songs spend 50 weeks on Billboard Global charts
BTS' Jimin is proving once again that when it comes to breaking records, he's in a league of his own. On July 12, 2025, Jimin's solo single Who officially marked its 50th consecutive week on both Billboard's Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts. It's a feat only a handful of global artists have achieved; and none from Asia until now. Jimin's Who from Muse holds strong on Global Charts Who is the lead track from Jimin 's second solo album Muse. The song currently ranks at No. 108 on the Global 200 and No. 66 on the Global Excl. US chart. Since its chart-topping debut in 2024, the song has continued to resonate with fans worldwide. It's all thanks to its emotional depth, sleek production, and Jimin's signature vocal color. Jimin's Who follows the path paved by Like Crazy Jimin's first chart-dominating solo hit, Like Crazy, led the way for this milestone. The track is from his debut solo album Face. It currently holds a staggering 61 weeks on the Global 200 and 68 weeks on the Global Excl. US. This set the longest-charting record for any K-pop soloist to date. It also made history as the first K-pop solo song to reach No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100. And with the latest achievement, Jimin becomes the first Asian artist ever to have two separate tracks chart for 50 weeks or more on both Billboard global charts. Jimin's Who sets Hot 100 record for K-pop soloist Who also made waves on Billboard's main Hot 100 chart. It spent 33 weeks on the list and peaked at No. 12. This is the longest run by a K-pop soloist at the time, until recently. These back-to-back achievements reflect not just Jimin's star power but also the massive support from fans. Supporters continue to stream and promote his music relentlessly across the globe. What's next for Jimin? As BTS gears up for their group comeback and world tour in 2026, Jimin's solo era remains a powerful chapter in his career. With two record-smashing singles under his belt and millions still listening every week, Jimin's place as a global chart titan is firmly secured. And if history is anything to go by, this likely won't be the last time we see Jimin rewriting the record books.
Korea Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
BTS' Jimin logs record 50 weeks on Billboard charts
Jimin of BTS reached a 50-week milestone with his solo single 'Who' on both Billboard's Global 200 chart and the Global Excl. US chart dated July 12. The lead track from his second solo album, 'Muse,' ranked No. 108 on the former and No. 66 on the latter, after a chart-topping debut in 2023. Jimin has become the first-ever Asian artist to have two songs with 50-week streaks on both charts. His first song to log 50 frames on the charts was 'Like Crazy,' which fronted his first solo set, 'Face.' It is now spending 61 weeks on the Global 200 and 68 on the Global Excl. US, marking the longest run for a K-pop solo song. 'Like Crazy' is the first song ever from a K-pop solo artist to land atop Billboard's Hot 100. 'Who' stayed on the main songs chart for 33 weeks, the longest stay for a K-pop musician until last month, peaking at No. 12.
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First Post
09-07-2025
- Health
- First Post
Stratus Update: How XFG is likely to become the next dominant Covid variant
A new Covid variant XFG, nicknamed 'Stratus', has been found in 38 countries. According to an expert, the countries showing the highest rates of detection of XFG as of mid-June include India at more than 50 per cent followed by Spain at 42 per cent, and the United Kingdom and United States with more than 30 per cent each read more The most recent addition before XFG was NB.1.8.1 which the Who declared a variant under monitoring. Representational image/Pixabay Given the number of times this has happened already, it should come as little surprise that we're now faced with yet another new subvariant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid. This new subvariant is known as XFG (nicknamed ' Stratus') and the World Health Organization (Who) designated it a 'variant under monitoring' in late June. XFG is a subvariant of Omicron, of which there are now more than 1,000. A 'variant under monitoring' signifies a variant or subvariant which needs prioritised attention and monitoring due to characteristics that may pose an additional threat compared to other circulating variants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD XFG was one of seven variants under monitoring as of June 25. The most recent addition before XFG was NB.1.8.1 (nicknamed 'Nimbus'), which the Who declared a variant under monitoring on May 23. Both nimbus and stratus are types of clouds. Nimbus is currently the dominant subvariant worldwide – but Stratus is edging closer. So, what do you need to know about Stratus or XFG? A recombinant variant XFG is a recombinant of LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, which means these two subvariants have shared genetic material to come up with the new subvariant. Recombinants are designated with an X at the start of their name. While recombination and other spontaneous changes happen often with SARS-CoV-2, it becomes a problem when it creates a subvariant that is changed in such a way that its properties cause more problems for us. Most commonly, this means the virus looks different enough that protection from past infection (and vaccination) doesn't work so well, called immune evasion. This basically means the population becomes more susceptible and can lead to an increase in cases, and even a whole new wave of Covid infections across the world. XFG has four key mutations in the spike protein, a protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, which allows it to attach to our cells. Some are believed to enhance evasion by certain antibodies. Early laboratory studies have suggested a nearly two-fold reduction in how well antibodies block the virus compared to LP.8.1.1. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Where is XFG spreading? The earliest XFG sample was collected on January 27. As of June 22, there were 1,648 XFG sequences submitted to GISAID from 38 countries ( GISAID is the global database used to track the prevalence of different variants around the world). This represents 22.7 per cent of the globally available sequences at the time. The advice for combating Covid remains unchanged, including vaccination as recommended and the early administration of antivirals for those who are eligible. Representational image/Pixabay This was a significant rise from 7.4 per cent four weeks prior and only just below the proportion of NB.1.8.1 at 24.9 per cent. Given the now declining proportion of viral sequences of NB.1.8.1 overall, and the rapid rise of XFG, it would seem reasonable to expect XFG to become dominant very soon. According to Australian data expert Mike Honey, the countries showing the highest rates of detection of XFG as of mid-June include India at more than 50 per cent, followed by Spain at 42 per cent, and the United Kingdom and United States, where the subvariant makes up more than 30 per cent of cases. In Australia, as of June 29, NB.1.8.1 was the dominant subvariant, accounting for 48.6 per cent of sequences. In the most recent report from Australia's national genomic surveillance platform, there were 24 XFG sequences, with 12 collected in the last 28 days, meaning it currently comprises approximately 5 per cent of sequences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The big questions When we talk about a new subvariant, people often ask questions, including if it's more severe or causes new or different symptoms compared to previous variants. But we're still learning about XFG and we can't answer these questions with certainty yet. Some sources have reported XFG may be more likely to cause 'hoarseness' or a scratchy or raspy voice. But we need more information to know if this association is truly significant. Notably, there's no evidence to suggest XFG causes more severe illness compared to other variants in circulation or that it is necessarily any more transmissible. Will vaccines still work against XFG? Relatively frequent changes to the virus mean we have continued to update the Covid vaccines. The most recent update, which targets the JN.1 subvariant, became available in Australia from late 2024. XFG is a descendant of the JN.1 subvariant. Fortunately, based on the evidence available so far, currently approved Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective against XFG, particularly against symptomatic and severe disease. Because of SARS-CoV-2's continued evolution, the effect of this on our immune response, as well as the fact that protection from Covid vaccines declines over time, Covid vaccines are offered regularly and recommended for those at the highest risk. One of the major challenges we face at present in Australia is low Covid vaccine uptake. While rates have increased somewhat recently, they remain relatively low, with aged 75 years and over having received a vaccine in the past six months. Vaccination rates in younger age groups are significantly lower. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the situation with XFG must continue to be monitored, at present the Who has assessed the global risk posed by this subvariant as low. The advice for combating Covid remains unchanged, including vaccination as recommended and the early administration of antivirals for those who are eligible. Measures to reduce the risk of transmission, particularly wearing masks in crowded indoor settings and focusing on air quality and ventilation, are worth remembering to protect against Covid and other viral infections. Paul Griffin, Professor, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Queensland This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Rumor About 'Doctor Who's' Future Going Forward Is More Positive Than We Expected
"Doctor Who" ended its latest season on an exciting cliffhanger with a big mystery to unravel regarding why The Doctor looks like Rose Tyler. However, there's a bigger issue for the series to solve in the real world. There's still no official ruling on a season renewal for the series, and with persistent rumors that Disney may pull out of its co-partnership with The BBC, the network has some big questions to address ahead of any new episodes. Fortunately, there is a positive rumor to shine some potential light on what could've been a dark time for the franchise. The news comes from "Who" insider Daniel Richtman, who notes that while the days of streaming new episodes of "Doctor Who" with a Disney+ subscription may be at an end, there's optimism it will end up elsewhere
