") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gBkjJh::before{display:none}}.fqxTeP{min-height:389px;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.fqxTeP{min-height:380px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr .taboola{display:none}}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.jImJId .tp-container-inner,.jImJId .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.jImJId.closed{display:none}.buqclE{width:32px;color:#627aac}@media(min-width:768px){.buqclE.mobile-only{display:none}}.buqclE:hover{color:#9cabcb}.iVjrWB{width:32px;color:#4e4e4e}@media(min-width:768px){.iVjrWB.mobile-only{display:none}}.iVjrWB:hover{color:#919191}.icVQKT{width:32px;color:#25d366}@media(min-width:768px){.icVQKT.mobile-only{display:none}}.icVQKT:hover{color:#66e093}.gfyViz{width:32px;color:#ef4757}@media(min-width:768px){.gfyViz.mobile-only{display:none}}.gfyViz:hover{color:#f58992}.dJrOFo{display:flex;gap:12px}.eZumoJ{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.eZumoJ.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.dRVLpc{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.dRVLpc.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.dRVLpc.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cWTSTp .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.eoIBc{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;display:flex;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.eoIBc{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.eoIBc{--modal-width:635px}}.fNhASP{--close-button-margin:16px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin)}@media(min-width:768px){.fNhASP{--close-button-margin:24px}}.caBZHW{width:100%;max-width:437px;margin-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.caBZHW{margin-bottom:18px}}.dgWryu{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;width:.01em;height:.01em;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap}.eUOcMf{width:100%;margin:0}.dEYNzg{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dEYNzg{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.itdeLI{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.itdeLI{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.funPAy{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.bXVQbr{padding:0}.gzKeOP{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7}.cJKiex{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.hzDNyM{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hzDNyM{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share [type='facebook'] svg,.hzDNyM.amp-social-share [title='bookmark'] svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#627aac}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#9cabcb}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#4e4e4e;--color-alt:#919191;background:var(--color)}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#66e093}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email{background:#ef4757}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#f58992}.hzDNyM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.kdvWjb{display:flex}.sticky .kdvWjb{flex-direction:column}.bfkmcy{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.bfkmcy{height:25px}}.fczuIa{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fczuIa::after{content:':'}.IOUwh{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.IOUwh::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .bwpCMN{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .bwpCMN{margin-top:-407px}}.bwpCMN>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .bwpCMN>p{line-height:27px}.bwpCMN>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .bwpCMN>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .bwpCMN>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.bwpCMN>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.bwpCMN span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.hQjaQn{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.hQjaQn{min-height:450px}}.teads .hQjaQn{display:block}.hQjaQn [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jZcooN{display:none}}.jZcooN[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.jZcooN.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.hlPMMm{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.euTVax{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jBfdop{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jBfdop{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.jBfdop{max-width:622px}}.hKRbzg{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.hKRbzg{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.cKIkhp{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cKIkhp{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.feSJtK{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.feSJtK{display:none}}.bErStG{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.bErStG{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.vaVnf{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jWuFRk{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jWuFRk:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jWuFRk:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.hKrnEq{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.dWUzhG{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.dWUzhG{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bDgIJb{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bDgIJb{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.EYumw{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.EYumw{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.kCOwPr{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.kCOwPr{display:none}}.iGXncB{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}@media(min-width:768px){.iGXncB{display:flex;position:relative;width:auto;height:40px;order:-1;opacity:1;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.iGXncB::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-to:#fde8ea;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from),var(--fade-to));content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}}@media(min-width:768px){.doTReP{order:-1}}.ggPDxB{display:none;padding-top:8px;margin-top:16px;border-top:1px solid #919191}@media(max-width:767px){.ggPDxB{display:flex}}.gibhIT{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.gibhIT{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.dxwzhm{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.dxwzhm{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.gHNATZ .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.bJycyU{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.bJycyU .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.bJycyU .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.bJycyU .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJycyU .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.bJycyU .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.bJycyU .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .bJycyU .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .bJycyU .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.bJycyU.sponsored-article img,.bJycyU.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.bJycyU.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.bJycyU .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.bJycyU .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.bJycyU .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.bJycyU .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.bJycyU .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJycyU{max-width:624px;margin:0}.bJycyU.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.bJycyU{padding-right:0}.bJycyU .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.kvSKnI{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.eXEVFg{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:20px}}.eXEVFg::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.eXEVFg:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.eXEVFg{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.eXEVFg::before{margin-top:2px}}.eXEVFg time{display:block}.eXEVFg time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eUdsoy{color:#fff}.jGlqRq{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.jGlqRq:hover,.jGlqRq:active{color:#f58992}@media(min-width:768px){.jGlqRq{margin-bottom:0}}.enHDwq{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.enHDwq::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.enHDwq:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.enHDwq{margin-bottom:0}}.jmYqVV::before{color:#fff}.hfnwMY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.hfnwMY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hfnwMY{width:30%}}.hrDjjf{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hrDjjf{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hrDjjf{flex-direction:row}}.dnLbAr{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dnLbAr{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .dnLbAr{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.dnLbAr{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .dnLbAr{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.dnLbAr a{color:#fff}.dnLbAr a:hover{color:#f58992}.dnLbAr a:hover::after{color:#fff}.dnLbAr a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.dnLbAr a:last-child::after{display:none}.azcVx{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.VFZbw{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.VFZbw{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.VFZbw{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.VFZbw p{font:inherit}.article-feature .VFZbw a{font-weight:bold}.hsJCLD{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222}@media(min-width:1000px){.hsJCLD{padding:0 16px}.parallax .hsJCLD{max-width:1240px}}.bJjAgi{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.hZFQIi{background:#222}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.hZFQIi .sc-22qwnu-0,.hZFQIi .sc-22qwnu-0 a{color:#fff}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-2,.hZFQIi .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.hZFQIi .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}.gMEOzX{position:absolute;top:0;left:0}.kHLDmJ{max-width:100%}.hXZgkU{position:relative;aspect-ratio:16/9}.hXZgkU>div,.hXZgkU>img{position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%}.iGIgRn.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.iGIgRn .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#fff;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.fOZYEG{position:relative}}.fOZYEG .jw-flag-floating.jw-floating-dismissible .jw-wrapper{bottom:2rem}.fOZYEG .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper{right:0}.fOZYEG .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper.jw-float-to-top{top:0;bottom:auto}.JCJLP{max-width:100%;clear:both}.dyGKzS{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .dyGKzS{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.gIldS{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.kFPmfF{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.kFPmfF.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.iaRZct{min-height:600px}.iaRZct #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.bFiDnI{min-height:250px}.jAzEot{max-width:100%}.eDScvc{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.CmSgF{margin:0 0 12px}.lbFVDq{height:380px}.bsSHYO{width:100%;height:51px}.bjKtIv{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.jLzsCV{margin-bottom:16px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.kNZMQb{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.kNZMQb{display:none}}.iFeFcz{width:308px}.iFeFcz.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.iFeFcz{display:none}}.article-liveblog .fbWdwj{background-color:#f7f7f7}.eFgmkR{justify-content:center}.cvujVr{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
Culture TV & Radio News ‘Sam Levinson has lost his mind’: The Idol fans in disbelief at end of episode four Viewers had been unaware of one key fact about next week’s episode
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more Viewers of The Idol have reacted in shock after watching the latest episode of the controversial HBO series.
The drama, released in the UK on Sky and NOW, has attracted criticism for its explicit sexual content , and Sunday’s (25 June) episode delivered more raunchy scenes featuring The Weeknd ’s character Tedros. As well as starring in the series, the “Blinding Lights” musician also serves as co-creator, alongisde Euphoria ’s Sam Levinson .
However, it was for a different reason that viewers were complaining on Sunday – with many seemingly unaware until now that next week’s episode will be the season finale. The first season of The Idol comprises just five episodes, an unusually small tally for an American series.
At the end of the episode, when the preview for next week’s season finale was teased, viewers reacted in disbelief.
Fans voiced their frustration with the show’s impending end on social media.
“They should’ve spent less time on the sex scenes and more time on the story bc how tf is the season finale next week and we’re JUST now getting into the action,” one person wrote.
“I’m sorry, next week is the FINALE of The Idol ???” another commented. “The story is just BARELY starting to move. Sam Levinson has lost his mind.”
“On the season finale...” Wait...there are only FIVE episodes in this damn show??” someone else asked incredulously.
“Ain’t no way they said next week is the season finale,” another person remarked.
A second season renewal remains up in the air. While reports earlier this month had claimed that HBO had already decided against comissioning another season of The Idol , the US network issued a statement on social media debunking these claims.
Suzanna Son as Chloe in ‘The Idol' (HBO/Sky) A Page Six report on 15 June quoted an insider source as saying: “This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always… a limited series.”
However, another source cited in the report claimed: “It’s definitely not a decision [yet]. At this point, this is normal in our process… we’re only two episodes in.”
On Twitter, the official HBO account addressed the rumours outright. “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,” HBO wrote in a tweet.
“It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
The Idol can be streamed now on Max in the US and on Sky and NOW in the UK.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments