Shonda Rhimes Teases Creating First Queer “Bridgerton” Storyline with Francesa and Michaela Romance (Exclusive)

Key Takeaways

NEED TO KNOW

• Shonda Rhimes shares excitement for Bridgerton season 5, which features the show’s first queer love story

• Francesca Bridgerton’s storyline shifts from the books to include a romance with Michaela Sterling, promoting inclusivity

• Rhimes says Bridgerton’s Regency-era style inspires her home decor, adding glamour with elements like Regency wallpaper

BridgertonExecutive ProducerShonda Rhimescan't wait for the Ton to see the show's first queer love story.

TheGrey's Anatomyshowrunner, 56, spoke to PEOPLE about Season 5 of the show, which focuses on the love story between female leads Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela Sterling (Masali Baduza).

"The fans have been so supportive of sort of every direction we've gone with story, which has been wonderful to me. I really thought the reaction to season 4 was extraordinary. I'm just excited for fans to get to see what we do in Season Five," Rhimes says.

Francesca experiences unimaginable loss in season 4 of the show, as the character's husband, John Sterling (Victor Alli),dies suddenly in his sleep. Sterling's cousin Michaela returns to the family estate in London, and Francesca must decide whether to reenter the marriage market or "pursue her inner passions," according to the logline.

In theBridgertonbook series, the novelWhen He Was Wickedfollows Francesca as she finds love once more with John's cousin Michael Sterling. Author Julia Quinn detailed the decision to instead make Francesca's love interest a woman on Instagram in 2024, stating that she is "deeply committed to theBridgertonworld becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen."

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Rhimes says season 5 has begun filming and that she "loves" watching the storyline expand to include relationships that fall outside of the heteronormative mold.

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"I'm really excited. I can't tell you any story points because that would be spoilers, but I'm really excited and we've started filming and I think it's been amazing so far," theShondalandcreator says.

The series is set in fictionalized 1813 Regency-era England, and many viewers tune in for its frilly, extravagant fashion.

Rhimes herself is inspired byBridgerton's lavish 19th-century style, she told PEOPLE, and has even brought elements its design in her own home.

"I have a lot of Regency wallpaper in my apartments, in my homes. And I try to stay in that world a little bit. I mean, everybody could use a little bit of glamour, right?" she says.

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

April 26, 2026

Shonda Rhimes Teases Creating First Queer “Bridgerton” Storyline with Francesa and Michaela Romance (Exclusive)

Key Takeaways NEED TO KNOW Shonda Rhimes shares excitement for Bridgerton season 5, which features the show’s first qu...

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Syria’s first public trial of Assad-era officials opens in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The first public trial in Syria of officials linked to the rule of former President Bashar Assad opened in Damascus Sunday.

Syria Trial

Atef Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in southern Syria's Daraa province under Assad, appeared in the courtroom to face charges related to “crimes against the Syrian people,” state-run news agency SANA reported.

Najib was in that position in 2011 when teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti on a school wall in Daraa were arrested and tortured. The case became a catalyst for mass protests against the repressive policies of Assad's government security forces.

The protests were met by a brutal government crackdown and spiraled into a 14-year civil war that ended with Assad's ouster in December 2024 in a lightning rebel offensive. Assad fled to Russia, while most members of his inner circle also escaped Syria.

Assad himself and his brother, Maher, former commander of the Syrian military's 4th Armored Division — which Syrian opposition activists have accused of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking, in addition to running its own detention centers — were charged in absentia, along with a number of other former high-ranking security officials.

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Najib was the only one of the defendants who was arrested and present in person in court Sunday for a preparatory session in the trial, which will continue next month.

Crowds gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate.

The government of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has faced criticism over delays in launching a promised transitional justice process. Syria is struggling to heal following 14 years of civil war that left an estimated half a million people dead, millions more displaced, and the country battered and divided.

Authorities now appear to be moving more aggressively to prosecute officials linked to Assad.

Syrian authorities on Friday arrested Amjad Yousef, a former intelligence officer who appeared ina video leakedfour years ago that purportedly showed him and his comrades executing dozens of blindfolded and shackled prisoners in the Damascus suburb of Tadamon during the country’s civil war.

byJastin Mags

in

April 26, 2026

Syria’s first public trial of Assad-era officials opens in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The first public trial in Syria of officials linked to the rule of former President Bashar Assad opened in Damas...

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Russell Brand gets roasted after struggling to find Bible passage during awkward Piers Morgan interview

Russell Brand is getting roasted for his awkward new interview with Piers Morgan.

Key Points

• Morgan asked the disgraced actor about taking a Bible into his February court hearing addressing his allegations of rape and sexual assault.

• Brand then spent over 90 seconds during the interview trying to find the Bible passage that he read in Southwark Crown Court.

Russell Brandis getting roasted for an awkward moment that occurred during his new interview withPiers Morgan.

On the latest episode ofPiers Morgan Uncensored, Brand addressed everything from his pivot to right-wing podcasting in 2021, to him becoming a Christian, to themultiple allegations of sexual assault and rapethat he has been battling in U.K. courts since 2023. TheForgetting Sarah Marshallstar has denied all allegations against him.

At one point during the interview, Morgan brought upBrand's court hearing in February, during which he pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexual assault, including one of rape. The actor could be seen holding a copy of the Bible during the hearing, which he also brought with him for his interview with Morgan.

"Can I go back to asking you a question about your Bible?" Morgan asked Brand. "Is that the one you took into court? What was your thinking of taking it into court? And you were seen looking at some passages — what were the relevant passages?"

Brand thanked Morgan for the question, noting that the passage came from the Book of Isiah, and began flipping through the Bible, muttering to himself about needing to be "chill." However, he spent over 90 seconds attempting to find the passage he'd previously referenced as Morgan sat in silence, shooting awkward looks at the camera.

The comedian finally gave up. "I can't actually find the verse that I had that day," he said, "but this is good enough. This is from Isiah 12."

It didn't take long for clips of Brand's fruitless search to begin circulating on social media, with users mocking the exchange and calling it "painful."

"This is, hands down, the most uncomfortable two minutes I've watched in a long time," oneuser wrote on X. "Russell Brand is asked to identify a Bible verse relevant to his, um, legal battles and spends a few minutes clumsily thumbing through scripture and arrives at nothing."

Another user wrote, "There should be a class act lawsuit against Russell Brand for making anyone suffer through this awkward moment. 2 mins of my life I will never get back."

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"This two minutes of paper shuffling is significantly funnier than any movie he has ever made,"another X user wrote.

"No clip has ever captured the essence of born-again Christians quite like this,"another wrote.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Others speculated that Brand had made the moment cringe-inducing on purpose. "You snobs can't appreciate that Russell Brand just totally reinvented prop comedy,"one user wrote.

Morgan himself got in on the jokes,sharing a photo of him and Brand during the interview. "I knew my Russell Brand interview would be an interesting experience when he insisted on saying a prayer for both of us before we started," the TV host wrote.

Brand has been embroiled in a number of lawsuits in the U.K. He wasaccused of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse by four women in 2023, followinga joint investigationbyThe Times,The Sunday Times, and Channel 4's investigative seriesDispatches. The incidents allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2005. Just two months after the bombshell investigation made waves, he wasaccused of sexually assaulting an actresson the set of the movieArthur.

The actor refuted the first raft of allegations in the days following the 2023 investigation, perNBC News, and has continued to deny all the allegations made against him.

Watch Brand's appearance onPiers Morgan Uncensoredabove.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byJastin Mags

in

April 26, 2026

Russell Brand gets roasted after struggling to find Bible passage during awkward Piers Morgan interview

Russell Brand is getting roasted for his awkward new interview with Piers Morgan. Key Points Morgan asked the disg...

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“NCIS” Star Mark Harmon Reflects on the Phone Call That Changed His Life

Mark Harmon recently reflected on his early career and how he initially worked in advertising before deciding to pursue acting

NEED TO KNOW

• The now-74-year-old explained that a chance phone call helped open the door to his first real opportunity in Hollywood

• Now, Harmon has become synonymous with NCIS after playing Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for nearly two decades

Although now synonymous withNCIS,Mark Harmon's pathinto acting wasn't exactly straightforward.

During a recent appearance onThe Fifth Columnpodcast, the 74-year-old reflected on the unexpected turns thatled him into acting.

Before landing major roles, Harmon revealed he was working as a merchandising director, trying to build a stable career outside of Hollywood. That chapter of his life, however, never quite felt like the right fit.

“When the advertising stuff kind of stopped being… I just knew I had to get out of that and do something else, and I said that to my parents,” Harmon told hosts Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan and Matt Welch.

“I had been in acting class, and I had been going and doing that, and I didn't know where to go from there. I didn't have an agent. I didn't know what to do," he continued.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

As the son of actress Elyse Knox and football star-turned-broadcaster Tom Harmon, Mark grew up around both entertainment and sports. His first on-screen opportunity came in 1973 with a guest role onOzzie's Girls, a connection made possible through his sister Kristin and her husband, singer and actor Ricky Nelson, who were already part of the television world.

Still, breaking into the industry wasn't seamless. At one point, Mark found himself watchingDragnetwhen he saw the studio ident for Mark VII Limited.

Acting on impulse, he tracked down the company's number and called on a whim. On the other end was a secretary who could have easily dismissed the unknown caller — but didn't. That moment of chance led to a conversation with Jack Webb, the man behind the company.

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“We talked for a couple minutes and [Webb] said, ‘Why don't you come in and talk to me?'” Mark recalled. “And I said ‘Okay,' and I went into Universal, and I went into Mark VII, which at that time... Universal was a big enchilada, man."

During their conversation, Mark noted that Webb "just kinda listened to me." Webb pointed to the actor's experience as a college quarterback as why he might make a good actor, noting that he "always pretended that [he] had the ball when [he] didn't," an element of "make believe" just like in acting.

That meeting ended up opening doors for Mark and led to a steady climb through film and television — including an early role playing Officer Gus Corbin in a 1975 episode ofAdam-12.

Mark later made guest appearances onPolice Womanin 1975 andLaverne & Shirleyin 1976. Around the same time, he transitioned into film, appearing in projects likeComes a HorsemanandBeyond the Poseidon Adventure.

Since then, he has appeared in projects likeSummer School,The Presidio,Crossfire TrailandFreaky Friday.

His most defining role arrived when he was cast as Leroy Jethro Gibbs onNCIS, a character that would anchor the series for nearly two decades. Mark ultimatelystepped away from the role in 2021after 18 seasons, but has since reprised his character in afew scenes forNCIS: Origins.

"As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go," Steven Binder, executive producer,told PEOPLEin a statement at the time of the actor's departure.

"So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years…never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out."

Read the original article onPeople

byJastin Mags

in

April 26, 2026

“NCIS” Star Mark Harmon Reflects on the Phone Call That Changed His Life

Mark Harmon recently reflected on his early career and how he initially worked in advertising before deciding to pursue acting NE...

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Why LeAnn Rimes' wedding anniversary was 'filled with tears and worry'

LeAnn RimesandEddie Cibrian's wedding anniversary was emotional for different reasons this year.

In a candidInstagram postThursday, April 23, the country music icon, who's been married to the "Sunset Beach" actor since 2011, shared that the couple's 15th anniversary came amid some strife in their home lives.

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"We got to step away for three days amidst work and some very tense, heart wrenching things happening at home with family," Rimes, 43, wrote alongside a photo of the couple posing together at a beach.

"It's been a different anniversary, one filled with tears and worry, but in between, there were moments of laughter and deep gratitude for this love of ours," Rimes continued. "Day by day, we walk hand in hand through the rollercoaster of life… and God, I'm so grateful that it's with each other."

byJastin Mags

in

April 25, 2026

Why LeAnn Rimes' wedding anniversary was 'filled with tears and worry'

LeAnn RimesandEddie Cibrian's wedding anniversary was emotional for different reasons this year. In a candidInstagram postThu...

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The Latest: Trump sending Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran's foreign minister

U.S. President Donald Trump is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to take part in a second round of ceasefire negotiations with Iran, the White House said Friday.

APTOPIX Iran War

Iran Foreign MinisterAbbas Araghchimet overnight with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir shortly after arriving in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, officials said.

Pakistan also is preparing to receive Witkoff and Kushner for the start of the renewed talks, although officials have not specified when they are due in Islamabad. Vice President JD Vance will not attend, the White House said.

The Trump administration announced it is placingeconomic sanctionson a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil. The move appeared to be part of the administration'sthreat to impose secondary sanctionson entities doing business with Iran in order to cut off Iran’s oil exports, a key source of its revenue.

Here is the latest:

Pakistan president will travel to China

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to travel to Beijing on Saturday to begin a weeklong visit at the invitation of the Chinese government.

Discussions will include economic and trade cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

China hasplayed a role in facilitatingPakistan as a host for ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran. Zardari is expected to discuss his country’s efforts to host a second round.

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The visit is part of a longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China and holds special significance as they mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.

“It reflects the deep commitment of both countries to further strengthening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,” the ministry said.

Iran's foreign minister arrives in Pakistan

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met overnight with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir shortly after arriving in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, officials said.

Araghchi is scheduled to meet them again Saturday. Photos released early Saturday by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry showed Araghchi seated with Dar, Munir and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the Iranian delegation will hold talks with Pakistan’s senior leadership on the latest regional developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.

The visit comes as Pakistan also is preparing to receive U.S. envoys, although officials have not specified when Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due in Islamabad.

Egyptian and Pakistani officials discuss the Iran war

Egyptian and Pakistani foreign ministers late Friday discussed efforts to launch a new round of talks between the United States and Iran.

Badr Abdelatty of Egypt spoke by phone with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The Egyptian foreign ministry said the diplomats affirmed that negotiations are the best way to end the war.

byJastin Mags

in

April 25, 2026

The Latest: Trump sending Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran's foreign minister

U.S. President Donald Trump is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to take part in a second round of ceasefire n...

Read More

Tom Latham wins toss as New Zealand sends Bangladesh in for series-deciding ODI

CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh (AP) — New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat Thursday in the series-deciding third one-daycricketinternational.

Bangladesh lost the series-opener by 26 runsbut rallied with a six-wicket victory to level the series, with fast bowlerNahid Rana taking a five-wicket haul.

The hosts made two lineup changes with pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam replacing Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain.

New Zealand, aiming its second straight series victory in Bangladesh, recalled left-arm paceman Ben Lister in the place of Blair Tickner.

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Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Tanvir Islam, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana.

New Zealand: Henry Nicholls, Nick Kelly, Will Young, Tom Latham (captain), Muhammad Abbas, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Jayden Lennox, William ORourke, Ben Lister.

AP cricket:https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

byJastin Mags

in

April 25, 2026

Tom Latham wins toss as New Zealand sends Bangladesh in for series-deciding ODI

CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh (AP) — New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat Thursday in the series-deciding...

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