Emma Saunders
Entertainment reporter

Thanks for joining us today - we'll be back tomorrow with more news from the world of arts and entertainment. See you then!

And we'll leave you with this little gem.

You know how it is - you're filming a multi-million dollar blockbuster movie, but you have down time between takes where you end up twiddling your fingers.

So what do you do? You make up a rap about the film you're working on, that's what you do.

Star Wars actors Daisy Ridley and John Boyega showed off the lyrics they created while on set for The Force Awakens, which includes lines on being in the desert and not being allowed to eat chocolate bars...

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Mark Savage
Music reporter

Swedish star Tove Lo recently teamed up with dance producer Diplo for a recording session - but things didn't quite go according to plan.

"First session got interupted by a rattlesnake getting shot in the head," she wrote on Instagram. "But the rest of it was 🔥❤️."

Cripes.

It's not clear whether the session was for Tove's new album or one of Diplo's side projects, Major Lazer or Jack Ü. We'll let you know as soon as we do.

Image source, AP

When William Shakespeare died he famously left his wife Anne only one thing: their 'second best bed'. But new infra-red analysis on Will's will claims this was far from a snub, but an act of love from a man who knew he was dying.

The new scientific analysis on the historic last will and testament is helping paint a vivid picture of the personality of the playwright, and just what he thought of his family.

Find out more here.

A funding page set up by an Archers listener to raise money for domestic violence charity Refuge has reached its £100,000 target.

The abuse suffered by Archers character Helen Titchener has had listeners on the edge of their seats over the past few months, and the storyline reached a dramatic climax on Sunday night. 

More than 5,000 donations were made to the Helen Titchener fund.

The Helen and Rob saga has been one of the BBC Radio 4 show's most controversial storylines, but how much impact has it had on how the public understand abusive relationships?

Find out more in our feature

Radio Times

If you missed Neighbours last night, look away now - you have been warned!

As the drama continued on The Archers, there were also tragic scenes in Australian soap Neighbours as one of the characters was killed off when a hotel exploded.

The Radio Times noted that many of the long-running show's fans took to Twitter to express their distress at Josh Willis's demise - and to comment on the Adele track running in the background.

Read the full story., external

Radio Times soaps writer David Brown was also moved (and you'd think he'd have toughened up by now!)

But some were none-too-impressed with the sound levels of Adele's When We Were Young playing in the background as Josh took his last breath.

Image source, Getty Images

In November it was announced the BBC would be making a TV adaptation of Phillp Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials.

Now it's been revealed that screenwriter Jack Thorne will be penning the drama series.

Thorne was nominated for three TV Baftas last week in as many categories - best single drama for Don't Take My Baby, best drama series for The Last Panthers and best mini series for This Is England ’90.

He said:

Pullman added:

Casting and production are due to start later this year.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Image source, AP

Don Cheadle is one of Hollywood's most recognisable actors, thanks to a 29-year career that has included roles in Ocean's 11, Crash, Traffic and Hotel Rwanda, for which he was nominated for a best actor Oscar.

His new film is Miles Ahead, about the jazz legend Miles Davis, in which he plays Davis and also directs.

His co-star Ewan McGregor plays a journalist who manages to interview the musician during a reclusive period in the 1970s. 

Here's the latest trailer for the film:

Cheadle appeared on the Today programme this morning and spoke to presenter Mishal Husain about the difficulty of finding financing for a movie that didn't have a white lead actor.

Listen below:

Image source, Getty Images

Indonesia's environment and forestry minister says Leonardo DiCaprio "lacked complete information" when he criticised the destruction of rainforests.

The Oscar-winning actor took to social media, external last month after a visit to a protected national park.

But Siti Nurbaya has said the current government is "working hard" to protect the environment.

"We are fixing the problems of the past decade," she said.

Nurbaya added it was "rather unfortunate" that DiCaprio had not, she claimed, obtained comprehensive information about issues such as deforestation in Indonesia.

Read more.

Spoiler warning! Do not read if you've not watched The Walking Dead season finale yet!

We've warned you...

Stop reading now if you haven't seen it... we mean it!

Image source, AMC

If you're still with us, you will have seen the cliffhanger ending of season six and super villain Negan apparently kill one of the major characters - except we don't know who it is.

We'll have to wait until the first episode of season seven in October before we find out who - much to the anger of fans who have faced a couple of cliffhangers this season which ultimately led to nothing.

This was typical of the feeling of fans who felt their emotions had been toyed with too much.

But Andrew Lincoln, who plays lead character Rick Grimes, has defended the plot twist, saying the episode did exactly what it was supposed to do.

He told The Wrap:

Read the full story., external

Yes, you read that right. Student Charis Dishman combines her cross-stitching hobby with her passion for rap music.

She's influenced by a movement called subversive cross-stitch - yes, that's really a thing. 

Charis creates the designs and patterns herself and spends weeks stitching portraits of the likes of Tupac and Notorious BIG.

Check out the video below.

Radio Times

Image source, Radio Times

James Phelan, the nephew of Debbie McGee and the late Paul Daniels, is to appear on the upcoming series of Britain's Got Talent with his own magic act.

The 23-year-old told Radio Times he wouldn’t be where he was without their influence:

The young magician said he wasn’t so much tutored by his uncle, but rather “absorbed” the tricks of the trade from a young age.

Britain's Got Talent returns to ITV this Saturday.

Read the full story., external

Image source, New Adventures

Leading choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne is to create a ballet version of the classic Oscar-winning dance film The Red Shoes, it has been announced.

The work will be premiered at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in November before playing at London's Sadler's Wells over the Christmas season.

Sir Matthew is best known for his contemporary takes on classic ballets such as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

He most notably made headlines when using a male ensemble for Swan Lake.

Read the full story.

Image source, Getty Images

Australia's entry for next month's Eurovision Song Contest has been cleared of breaching rules on product placement.

Sound Of Silence, performed by Dami Im (pictured), features the lyric "trying to feel your love through face time," which some have interpreted as a reference to Apple's video-chat service FaceTime.

Eurovision rules, external prohibit "messages promoting any political cause, company, brand, products or services".

But organisers say the lyrics do not make specific reference to Apple's app. They said:

Didn't know Australia were competing again this year? Well after their special appearance last year as part of Eurovision's 60th anniversary celebrations, the country has been allowed to participate again - although it will still have to qualify in the semi-finals.

Here's Dani Im's entry - get your power ballad rock fist ready to pump.

 Read the full story.

Image source, Reuters

Ronnie Wood has confirmed that The Rolling Stones are working on their 23rd album - after a gap of 11 years.

"We're actually in the studio in the moment cutting new stuff," Keith Richards told BBC 6 Music.

Guitarist Ronnie Wood said the band recently recorded "11 songs in two days. Just 'bang' - like that."

"It was a surprise to us. We didn't intend doing it," he told Matt Everitt. "I wish I could play them to you now. I'm so excited about them."

They were speaking at the launch of the Stones' new exhibition at London's Saatchi Gallery - where the gift shop is stocking some of the most expensive memorabilia ever seen, including a £225 umbrella and a £450 cashmere sweater.

Arts editor Will Gompertz went to see the show - and spoke to the band about their 54-year career (the video is only available in the UK, sadly).

Image source, AP

Game of Thrones fans, you're in for a treat.

In a similar vein to The Talking Dead - the companion show to The Walking Dead - HBO are launching a weekly after show for Game of Thrones in a link-up with website The Ringer, run by US sports columnist Bill Simmons. 

Simmons signed a deal with HBO last year and this is the first project they will have worked on together.

After The Thrones will debut in the US on 25 April, one day after the season 6 premiere of Game of Thrones, and will be hosted by Andy Greenwald and Chris Ryan from The Ringer.

It will be available in the US on digital services HBO Now and HBO Go, as well as through HBO On Demand. It is not yet known if it will air in the UK.

According to the channel, each week "the show willrecap the latest episode, explaining the who, what, when and where, exploring the complicated politics and history of Thrones and offering absurd and not-so-absurd theories about future episodes".

The UK already has its own Thrones aftershow discussion programme, Thronecast, on Sky Atlantic.

Image source, Getty Images

Oscar winner Steve McQueen, who directed 12 Years a Slave, has made his first advert for Burberry's new men's fragrance.

The short film for the perfume, described as "capturing the essence of London" follows a couple's romantic weekend in the British capital.

"I wanted to convey the idea of two people who are passionately in love," the British director said in a statement.

"It's that moment in a relationship where all you are thinking about is each other, and all you want is to be with each other."

Oo-er.

X-Men actor Shawn Ashmore, who plays Bobby Drake - aka Iceman - in the film franchise, has told BBC Radio 5 live his character coming out as gay in the comic book series is an extension of the diversity at the core of X-Men, adding: "What makes us different makes us strong, makes us great."

The star also talked about his enthusiasm for any future X-Men film, although he said he did not foresee an origin story for Iceman like there has been for fellow characters Wolverine and Deadpool.

Mark Savage
Music reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Sometimes music news comes from the strangest quarters... In this case, we're learning about the Fleet Foxes reunion in an article about woodwork.

The Seattle indie band have been quiet since 2011's Helplessness Blues - with drummer Josh Tillman finding time to release two acclaimed albums as Father John Misty.

Guitarist Christian Wargo took up carpentry instead, making wooden stools in his back yard.

"Being in a band can be so serious and so heady," he told art website Distinct., external “Making a stool is like sitting in the woods by yourself strumming an acoustic guitar for no other reason than the feeling of doing that."

Then the magazine dropped a bombshell.

"While this article was being fact-checked, Christian brought up that Fleet Foxes, after five years on hiatus, may be getting back together," wrote journalist Caroline Ryder. 

"It’s not, like, ‘announced’ or anything, and none of us really knew it was coming," added Wargo, "But it’s happening. Possibly unofficially at this stage, but it’s definitely a thing.”

Good news Taylor Lautner fans - BBC Three comedy Cuckoo has been commissioned for another two series.

The final episode of the third season aired last night on BBC One after premiering on BBC Three online and now Taylor, Greg Davies, Tyger Drew-Honey, Esther Smith and Helen Baxendale will return for a fourth and fifth outing.

Dan Hine, executive producer for Roughcut Television which produces the show, said: