Bridget Jones 4 is officially on its way, with the fourth and final instalment, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, set for release on Valentine's Day 2025. And with a supporting cast of Leo Woodall, Hugh Grant and Chiwetel Ejiofor joining star Renée Zellweger, the upcoming release is all anyone can talk about.

It is the casting of the original Bridget Jones that made headlines this week however, with reports resurfacing that several A-list names were being considered before Renée Zellweger.

Yes, really. According to reports, creators were considering Kate Winslet, Emily Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Cameron Diaz, Rachel Weisz and Cate Blanchett for the part.

And one A-list actress, Toni Collette, was even offered the iconic role, but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts.

"While I was doing Wild Party, I turned down Bridget Jones's Diary, because I didn't know when Wild Party was going to close," Collette, 50, explained to the Miami Herald in 2006.

"I wasn't available," she later recalled on Watch What Happens Live last year. "But sometimes I think about it and I think, I don't know, that character's so similar to Muriel [from her 1994 film Muriel's Wedding]. It might've been too close. And I try not to repeat myself.

"I think there are no coincidences," she continued. "Anything that's meant for you in life is meant to happen. I have no regrets - life happens as it's meant to."

Ultimately, the role went to Zellweger. And while she has earned critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination for her performance, the creators have since explained that her casting was a major risk.

"Everybody who worked on the film had a different idea of who Bridget is," explained director Sharon Maguire via Total Film, back in 2000. "And nearly everybody who has read the book knows Bridget - either it's themselves or it's their friend, so casting her was very scary.

"I figured that when [Renée Zellweger] walked in the room, we'd know. She did walk in the room, and we did know. And we went 'Oh fuck, she's a Texan.'

"We were in the curious position of people saying: 'They've gone for some American to make it more marketable,'" Maguire continued. "Well, we weren't thinking we'd make loads more money because Renée's not in the Julia Roberts or Mel Gibson stratosphere. But she's got this inner irreverence and she's got this innocence and vulnerable exterior. She also has a very good sense of physical comedy and was so dedicated to getting it right."

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is set for release on 14 February 2025.

Leo Woodall has been front and centre this season. And since his breakthrough performances in The White Lotus season two and One Day, he has been catapulted to stardom.

This is something that is only set to increase in 2025, with Woodall, 28, starring in the upcoming fourth instalment of the Bridget Jones films, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Yes, with Woodall starring alongside Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Chiwetel Ejiofor, in the highly-anticipated release, his fame is expected to reach stratospheric heights this year.

However, according to Woodall, this doesn't come without its complications, with the British actor seemingly opening up about the difficulties of dating in the spotlight.

Woodall has been dating fellow actor and White Lotus co-star Meghann Fahy since 2022. And while the couple is reported to still be going strong, they are notoriously private, only going Instagram official in February last year.

With both Woodall and Fahy gaining increasing public attention, they are sure to have experienced the overnight difficulties of dating in the public eye - something that Woodall seemingly touched on in a recent interview with Vanity Fair.

"Doing One Day I didn't really have a personal life," Woodall recalled. "I knew that I wanted to make that easier on myself in the future."

He later continued: "I've become very aware nowadays of how a person can feel overexposed in your private life. And it's not that fun."

Fahy has also opened up about her approach to romance in the past, telling Cosmopolitan in a 2017 interview that "love is always worth it, no matter what the risk".

"My experience in the world is that you never really know who you’re gonna meet, when you’re gonna meet them, and how they’re gonna make you feel," Fahy explained. "So personally, to put a limit on oneself in that way isn’t something that would work for me. It’s complicated and tricky and in some circumstances can be really risky, but if you find somebody that you think is really special and worth exploring, love is always worth it, no matter what the risk.”

Well, that's that.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is set for release on 14 February 2025.

In just a few short weeks, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy will land in cinemas, and it's safe to say that everyone who grew up with the frazzled Brit is very excited. Renée Zellweger is reprising the iconic role for the fourth time after almost a decade, and although Colin Firth won't be back to play Mark Darcy (sob), we will see Hugh Grant returning as Daniel Cleaver and One Day star Leo Woodall is making his Bridgetverse debut.

And while the plot has been a huge point of interest for fans (with Hugh claiming it's going to be 'very sad'), in an interview with Vogue Renée opened up about the secret undercover job she took ahead of filming in order to prepare for the role. For context, before the first film's release in 2001, Renée got a job at publishing house Picador as a means of method acting, to perfect her British accent and immerse herself in the culture. Under an alias, she explained that none of her colleagues even realised she was a Hollywood star.

Speaking with Hugh as part of the interview, he asked: "How did Bridget come about for you?”

In response, Renée said: "There was a hullabaloo at the time. 'Oh, we can’t have an American playing this British icon.' I remember that... I became aware of it when I worked at Picador. I was ‘Bridget Cavendish’ because Jonathan Cavendish, the film’s producer, was very good friends with the gentleman who was the editor of Picador."

Expanding on her secret job in publishing, she said: "Part of my job was to take the newspaper clippings from the daily papers and file them under Helen Fielding’s file, as they represented her. And I started having to clip these articles about this ‘crap American actor’ who was set to play Bridget Jones."

When Hugh pointed out that she was already 'well known then', Renée insisted that 'nobody knew' she was undercover. She said: "Maybe I was out of context... It was odd. One of the ladies who worked in the office was reading the Anna Quindlen novel One True Thing, and they made a film out of it [that I starred in], so I’m on the cover of the book. And she’s there telling me about having finished it on the Tube on the way to work and how marvellous it was."

Talk about commitment to the role!

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is due to land in UK cinemas on February 14th.

It’s official, we’re in award season. Sunday saw this year’s Golden Globes and this morning, the 2025 nominees for the BAFTA Rising Star Award were officially revealed at London's The Savoy Hotel, where Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at EE, reminded guests that this was the very site of Julia Roberts’ and Hugh Grant’s swoony kiss in Notting Hill.

The exclusive press conference was hosted by film critic Ali Plumb, and actor Jack O’Connell (who won the Rising Star Award award ten years ago) announced this year’s nominees, who—drumroll, please—are: Marisa Abela, Jharrel Jerome, David Jonsson, Mikey Madison and Nabhaan Rizwan.

BAFTA CEO, Jane Millichip, reminded guests that the Rising Star Award, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is in honour of the late British casting director Mary Selway who championed emerging talent throughout her illustrious career.

Mia McKenna-Bruce took home the award at last year’s BAFTAs and previous winners include such starry names as Tom Hardy, Emma Mackey, Kristen Stewart, John Boyega, and Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya.

The BAFTA EE Rising Star Award is the only award voted for by the public and voting is now open here until Friday 14th February 2025 at 12pm.

The winner will be announced on Sunday 16th February 2025 at the EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony.

Hugh Grant is one of the most talked-about people in the world. And from his candid words about the new Bridget Jones movie to his thoughts about Taylor Swift's Eras tour, the actor is known for speaking his mind.

This week, it was Grant's own acting credits that got him talking, as the 64-year-old looked back at his most iconic roles in a video with Vanity Fair.

This unsurprisingly featured 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill, seeing Grant star as William Thacker, a London book shop owner who falls in love with Hollywood movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts).

While reminiscing about the project, Grant voiced an issue he has with his character, and his surprising comments have gone viral.

"Whenever I'm flicking the channels at home after a few drinks, and this comes up, I just think, 'Why doesn't my character have any balls?'" Grant explained of Notting Hill.

"There's a scene in this film where she's in my house and the paps come to the front door and ring the bell, and I think I just let her go past me and open the door, and that's awful," he continued.

"I've never had a girlfriend, or indeed, now wife, who hasn't said, 'Why the hell didn't you stop her? What’s wrong with you?' And I don't really have an answer to that. It was how it was written and I think he's despicable, really."

Grant later went on to open up about working with Julia Roberts, praising her "brilliant" acting skills.

"Probably all the time with Julia, as with any brilliant actress, you're just thinking, 'Oh, Christ, they're really good. I'm not going to be as good as her,'" Grant recalled in the interview.

"And she is great at emoting, and she's got that kind of quality where it looks like her skin is wafer thin. You can sort of see her soul."

Well, that's that.

Spoiler alert: Bridget Jones 4 plot details ahead...

The next Bridget Jones is officially on its way, with fourth film, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, set for release on Valentine's Day 2025. And with new A-list cast members (ahem Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor) and upcoming trailers, the world is gearing up for the highly-anticipated final instalment.

It was the Bridget Jones 4 plot that made headlines this week, with returning cast member Hugh Grant's moving words about the storyline going viral.

The fourth film in the series will revisit Bridget Jones, now in her 50s, after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), navigating motherhood after loss.

And while Firth unsurprisingly won't be returning to the franchise, Hugh Grant will be reprising his role as Bridget's ex Daniel Cleaver, despite being absent from the third film.

"It's actually a very good and moving script," Grant has explained of the upcoming instalment. "And I say that as someone who's horrid about scripts. This was brilliant."

"As well as being extremely funny, it's very, very sad," Grant recalled of the Helen Fielding script, written by the author of the 2013 novel that inspired the film.

"She had a sad story," Grant explained of Fielding's real-life tragedy. "She got married to an American screenwriter, she had children and then he died. So she made it into a Bridget Jones book, and as well as being extremely funny, it's very, very sad.”

Grant also opened up about Daniel Cleaver’s return to the franchise, explaining that initially there was “absolutely no role” for his character. But due to creators “wanting to cram [him] in”, they worked out a good storyline for him.

"I felt that he needed a third dimension,” Grant recalled during a recent appearance on the Graham Norton Show. “He’s in his 60s now, you can't just have him smoothing his way down King's Road eyeing up young girls. Something needs to have happened to him in the interim. So we invented a rather good - I invented a rather good - interim story.”

Well, this is exciting.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is set for UK release on 14 February 2025.

Bridget Jones fans, we come bearing news. There have been some brand new details released about the fourth film, which is likely to hit screens next year. 

Since the announcement that our fourth dose of Bridget Jones is coming in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, we've all been wondering who the new love interest for our endearing protagonist will be. 

With whispers of a new toyboy doing the rounds and Hugh Grant confirmed for the cast as loveable rogue Daniel Cleaver, things were already looking very interesting for Bridget. And now we can confirm there's a third man in the mix—a teacher at Bridget's son's school. 

A film source told the Daily Mail: "Never before has Bridget had so many choices of men. It is going to be brilliant, all three are very different.

"Chiwetel, as the teacher, is the more secure and safe one and of the three certainly the best choice, but then you have the hunky Rockstar who Bridget meets on social media. He is much, much younger than her but she adores him, though their age gap makes things difficult."

The source then goes on to discuss the possibility of Daniel Cleaver, one of Bridget's original love interests, coming back on the scene. They continued: "But will Bridget be able to give up the temptation of Daniel Cleaver, who has been in and out of her life since she was in her 20s?"

Bridget Jones' Baby saw our heroine once again deciding between two very different men. With echos back to her Mark Darcy/Daniel Clever dilemma, this time she was juggling feelings for a smooth-talking new guy on the scene, Jack Qwant (played by Grey's Anatomy's Dr McDreamy Patrick Demsey), and old flame Mark Darcy (played again by the original Darcy, Colin Firth).

This time Bridget will choose from three potential suitors, and there's a famous face in the mix that has us all very excited. The White Lotus and One Day star Leo Woodall is one of the most talked-about actors at the moment, winning over audiences with his cheeky chappy persona in the Sicilian instalment (and second season) of The White Lotus and then graduating to fully-bonafide heartthrob with his layered portrayal of Dexter Mayhew alongside Ambika Mod in One Day.

He'll be competing against Bridget's ex, Daniel Cleaver, with Hugh Grant back in his role alongside Renée Zellweger. 12 Years A Slave star and all-around acting legend Chiwetel Ejiofor is the newest addition to the lineup and has had less air time so far, but his character, a teacher at Bridget's son's school, is still firmly in the running for Bridget's affections.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is rumoured to be making its way to screens around Valentine's Day 2025, but the UK release date is yet to be confirmed. 

Watch this space for more details... 

Earlier this month, the fourth Bridget Jones movie was officially confirmed after years of speculation that Renée Zellweger would reprise her role as everyone's favourite city-dwelling (and frazzled) Brit. After an eight year hiatus she's back for the next instalment, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, and it seems that the 'boy' in question is none other than One Day star Leo Woodall.

Excitement is at an all-time high for those who have defended the need for the millennial heroine in 2024, and Renée will be joined by the likes of Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson once again - much to fans delight. However, one name that was notably missing from the cast list was Colin Firth. The actor has played Mark Darcy since the first film was released in 2001, but he doesn't seem to be returning for round four.

But during an interview with People, Hugh Grant appears to have addressed the missing Mark furore. He shared that he has seen the script and not only does he believe it's 'very good', he also gave weight to a theory currently doing the rounds online. The latest Bridget Jones sequel will be based on the fourth book in Helen Fielding's series. That novel, Mad About The Boy, sees a 51 year old Bridget looking for love again - and navigating the chaos that is dating apps - after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy. When Colin Firth's name didn't appear in the new cast list, fans were convinced that the movie will follow the same plot as the book. And after Hugh's latest comments, it seems that it's exactly what fans can expect.

In the interview, Hugh Grant said: "It's partly based on Helen Fielding’s experiences of bringing up two children by herself after her husband died. And so Bridget is bringing up two kids and wondering whether she should ever go back to dating. It’s a very good script."

However, it is worth noting that there is no official confirmation just yet - so if you're still hoping for a Mark comeback against the odds, then same.

Notting Hill, the classic '90s rom-com, is one of the greats. Starring a young bumbling Hugh Grant, Rhys Ifans and - of course - Julia Roberts, it's the hit of nostalgia that never ages. And while Julia is the perfect person to play Hollywood star Anna Scott, in a new interview she explained that she very nearly turned the role down.

Julia Roberts was recently interviewed by Notting Hill's writer, Richard Curtis, for British Vogue. The actor is the cover star for the February issue, and Julia describes how the iconic role was one of the 'hardest' of her career, as it involved playing a film star. 

"Honestly, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was your movie [Notting Hill, 1999], playing a movie actress. I was so uncomfortable! I mean, we’ve talked about this so many times, but I almost didn’t take the part because it just seemed – oh, it just seemed so awkward. I didn’t even know how to play that person."

Julia was starring in a lot of high-profile films in the '90s - think My Best Friend's Wedding, Hook and, of course, the iconic Pretty Woman. As a huge Hollywood star herself, we can imagine the role hit a little close to home. 

The Sleeping With The Enemy actor also didn't take too kindly to her chosen wardrobe for the film, which we can assume was a little more movie-star-centric than what she eventually ended up wearing. Julia explained that she 'loathed' the wardrobe choices so much that she requested to wear her own clothes instead for the scenes. 

"We had issues about your costume in that film, didn’t we? Where you…" Richard continued before Julia jumped in with "Loathed…" 

And Richard explained: "Loathed being dressed as a movie star. The clothes you’re wearing in the scene where you came back to Hugh and said, “I’m just a girl…” – am I remembering right that they were the ones you rocked up wearing in real life that morning?"

To which Julia replied: "My driver, lovely Tommy, I sent him back to my flat that morning. I said, 'Go into my bedroom and grab this, this and this out of my closet.' And it was my own flip-flops and my cute little blue velvet skirt and a T-shirt and my cardigan."

Well, now you know!

Northerners, listen up! Hollywood star and all-around man of the moment Timothée Chalamet thinks that the sexiest accent in Britain is from... Hull. 

Timothée, who is currently on tour across Europe to promote his latest film, Wonka, made the surprising confession during an interview with Keegan-Michael Key for LADbible. 

When asked by the fellow actor if he thinks French is the sexiest accent, Timothée replied: "I like the Hull accent."

"You like Hull?" replied Keegan-Michael Key. To which Timothée replied: "Yeah, why's everyone cracking up?" Before confirming: "Hull is sexy." Well, there you have it. 

And it doesn't stop there. Timothée then revealed his "top three" accents saying: "I like Hull and Essex is in my top three, and I like a middle-aged Northern accent." To which Keegan-Michael replied, sounding slightly confused: "So middle-aged Yorkshire?"

Since the comments, Hull City Council Leader Mike Ross has invited the Hollywood star to pay a visit to Hull. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'As leader of the council here in Hull, can I say you are always welcome to come visit the city, I know we'll give you a very warm welcome.'

Timothée is currently starring in Wonka, a reimagining of Willy Wonka's early adventures and the story of how he met the Oompa-Loompas (with Hugh Grant starring as sarcastic Oompa-Loompa Lofty). The film has so far received rave reviews, with critics praising Timothée's performance as one of the best of his career so far. 

Needless to say, there's been a bit of a reaction on social media after the confession, with fans both delighted and confused at Timothée's penchant for the Hull accent.

One wrote in reference to Hull's City of Culture year, which took place in 2017: 'Timothée Chalamet doing more to put Hull on the map with one sentence than anything in 2017 ever did.'

'How the hell does Timothée Chalamet know about Hull,' wrote another fan on X.

While another said, 'Timothée Chalamet declaring his love of the Hull accent feels like a fever dream.'

While another wrote, 'I’m more confused that Timothée Chalamet knows about Hull than the fact that he likes our accent tbh.'

While another wrote, 'Okay so I’m honestly obsessed with award-winning superstar actor Timothée Chalamet randomly saying HULL has the UK’s sexiest accent. He speaks nothing but facts.'

Perhaps we'll see Timothée and Kylie on a date night up in Hull sometime soon...

Responding to his remarks on BBC Radio 5Live, TV star Lucy Beaumont had a warning for Timothée: "I've had this accent for 40 years and no one has ever told me it's sexy."

The actress, who wrote the northern sitcom Hullraisers, added: "He looks like a very lovely young man and he should stay away from the region or he'll be savaged by middle-aged Hull women."

The Oscars 2023 buzz is still going strong, thanks to another sparkling night of awards, glamour and viral moments. 

Whether Lady Gaga's stripped back performance gave you goosebumps, or you welled up at Michelle Yeoh's historic Best Actress win, the chances are that you're all caught up on the biggest events of the evening. Oh, and the after party dresses? Exquisite. 

However, one slightly less glitzy moment happened just before the ceremony - and it has been a huge talking point for viewers and film buffs who tuned in to watch. 

Model Ashley Graham was pitched on the newly-champagne carpet to interview the stars as they entered the Dolby Theatre in LA. 

One celebrity she nabbed for a chat was none other than Hugh Grant. But the interview quickly went south when the Notting Hill star seemed rather unenthused by the questions he was given. 

Ashley attempted to build a rapport with the actor, asking if he was excited to see anyone win, to which he replied: "No, not one in particular."

Sensing the awkwardness, she continued: "OK, well what are you wearing tonight, then?" 

He responded: "Just my suit."

Changing tack, Ashley asked about his involvement with the movie Glass Onion. Hugh replied: "Well, I'm barely in it. I'm in it for about three seconds."

While some have slammed the British actor as 'rude', others have insisted that his dry sense of humour just didn't translate. 

Either way, there's one thing that pretty much everyone who has seen the clip can agree on: it was very, very awkward. 

Now, Ashley has spoken about the cringey interaction. 

When asked about the situation by TMZ the following day, she had her say on the matter. 

She explained: "You know what, my mama told me to kill people with kindness, so there you go."

Well, that's that!

Okay, this is making us feel incredibly old - Love Actually, the ultimate Christmas film, is turning 20 years old - and we can't quite believe it.

Whether you're a fan of Hugh Grant's Prime Minister's dancing scene, Andrew Lincoln's cringe 'cards on the doorstep' love admission to Keira Knightly, or you just love the audacity of Bill Nighy's character, then you'll probably be as surprised as us that the film is reaching its 20 year anniversary. 

But, in a bid to relieve our shock, the cast has got together to record a one-off special celebrating the last 20 years and they're giving us behind the scene secrets about filming the Christmas movie.

The special will see journalist Diane Sawyer interview the actors in a show called The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, quizzing some of the film's actors such as Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson on why they feel the film has had such longevity. What a great Christmas treat.

In the trailer for the show, which is due to air on ABC on November 29th, Emma Thompson recalls what Hugh Grant, who will play Prince Andrew in a new royal film, said to her after the UK premiere about the film. 

She reveals Hugh said: "Is that the most psychotic thing we've ever been in?" 

And although Hugh's dance scene is now iconic, it nearly didn't happen, with the actor saying: "When I saw it in the script I thought I'll hate doing that." 

However, he went on to reveal: "I will give myself this credit - it was my idea to have the secretary catch me."

While Emma Thompson goes on to talk about what the film meant to her: "Love and all its messiness and its' unexpectedness and that you'll find it in the weirdest places."

Interviewing the writer Richard Curtis for the reunion show, he explains the premise behind his idea: "I do think the way to think about life is that every day has the potential to be gorgeous."

The show will also interview actors Bill Nighy, Laura Linney and also Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played Liam Neeson's son Sam in the film. 

Thomas admitted to People magazine a couple of years ago that he didn't realise just how big the film would be: "I remember already having the part and going into the read-through and not knowing who else was in it."

"And then all these faces started walking in through the door and I realised that this is probably quite big."

Now, is anyone in the mood for a Christmas film - maybe, hmmm, Love Actually?

The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later will air on ABC on November 29th - but is yet to have a UK release date.

‘It’s 14 years ago now and we’ve all lived lives’

Last month saw Red Nose Day Actually, a 10-minute comedy sequel to Richard Curtis’ 2003 romantic comedy, reuniting the original cast from Keira Knightley and Colin Firth to Bill Nighy and Martine McCutcheon, all in the name of Comic Relief.

While for us it was a fun segment, seeing Rowan Atkinson elaborately wrap red noses, Colin Firth struggle with the Portuguese language and Hugh Grant delivering another killer Prime Minister’s speech, for many of the actors it opened up old wounds.

With so much happening in the actors’ own personal lives in the fourteen years between the two Curtis productions, some spoke out about how the reunion led them to reflect on life.

Liam Neeson, who played Daniel, a recent widower, in the 2003 film, spoke out about how reuniting for the Love Actually sequel led him to reflect on his own wife’s death eight years ago.

His wife, Natasha Richardson, died in 2009 after a fall while skiing in Canada, leaving behind Liam and their two sons.

‘It’s 14 years ago now and we’ve all lived lives’ Liam explained to Entertainment Weekly. ‘Some of us have died. Oh my dear old friend Alan Rickman, God rest him. Some have gotten divorced. I’ve lost my wife’.

He continued: ‘And oh sure, plenty of times I’ve thought about this film and my own life. Love Actually, that’s the way it is. That’s the tapestry of life.’

Emma Thompson was another one of the original cast members to speak out about the emotions the reunion evoked. Emma, who played Karen in the 2003 rom com, was one of the few main characters who didn’t return for the reunion, following the death of her on-screen husband and close friend, Alan Rickman who died of pancreatic cancer in 2016.

Speaking of the decision for her not to return for the sequel, Emma explained to Press Association, ‘Richard wrote to me and said, “Darling we can’t write anything for you because of Alan,” and I said, “No of course, it would be too sad, too sad”’.

She continued: ‘It’s too soon. It’s absolutely right because it’s supposed to be for Comic Relief, but there isn’t much comic relief in the loss of our dear friend really only just over a year ago.’