Showbiz in 2025: Eurovision turmoil, Oasis reunion tour, new 'Harry Potter' show starts filming

Turmoil at the Eurovision Song Contest, Oasis's reunion gigs and filming of the new "Harry Potter" series were some of the headlines from the world on entertainment in 2025.

Israel was cleared to enter the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest by the organiser, prompting Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw over the Gaza war and plunging the competition into one of the biggest rows in its history.

The broadcasters who had threatened to boycott the event cited the death count in Gaza and accused Israel of flouting rules meant to guard the contest's neutrality. Israel accuses its critics of mounting a global smear campaign against it.

After a meeting in Geneva on December 4, the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, decided not to call a vote on Israel's participation, saying it had instead passed new rules aimed at discouraging governments from influencing the contest.

Right after that announcement by the contest organiser, the Dutch, Spanish, Irish and Slovenian broadcasters said they would withdraw, meaning singers from their countries would not compete in the contest that draws millions of viewers worldwide.

Both the Israeli government and opposition leaders celebrated the country's inclusion.

The next edition of the contest will be held in Vienna in May. 

British rock band Oasis delighted fans with a reunion tour as the Gallagher brothers put more than 16 years of acrimony behind them to deliver hit-packed sets that took thousands of fans back to the optimism and swagger of the 1990s.

The Manchester band defined the "Britpop" revival of guitar music, before tensions between Noel Gallagher, the band's main songwriter, and his younger brother, lead singer Liam, led to its split.

The tour kicked off in Cardiff in July, before moving to the Gallaghers' home city of Manchester. It continued in Britain and Ireland, followed by shows across North and South America, Asia and Australia. It wrapped in Sao Paulo in November.

Many fans waited for hours in online queues to buy tickets last year, only to find prices had jumped when they eventually had a chance to get them.

Britain's competition watchdog launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over the sale, including the use of "dynamic pricing" to hike the cost to fans at the last minute. In September, the regulator said it had secured commitments from Ticketmaster to ensure customers are fully informed about prices after complaints about the sale of the Oasis tour tickets.

Production of the new "Harry Potter" television series started at the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, north of London, United Kingdom.

HBO released a photo of 11-year-old Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin in costume, wearing the boy wizard's trademark glasses and Hogwarts school uniform and holding a movie clapperboard marking the first take of the first scene of the first episode. His castmates include Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

Warner Bros. Discovery announced the series in April 2023 as part of the company's plans for its Max streaming service, which combines HBO Max with unscripted programming from Discovery.

Like the blockbuster movies starring Daniel Radcliffe, that grossed $7.7 billion globally from 2001 to 2011, the series is based on the beloved books by author J.K. Rowling, who acts as one of the show's executive producers.

The series features a new cast, including John Lithgow as head-wizard Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hogwarts magic school's groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as the dark arts teacher Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch. Each season will be devoted to one of Rowling's books. 

The plan is for the series, which will debut in 2027, to unfold over 10 years.

Country singer Dolly Parton sought to reassure fans about her health after comments by her sister stoked concern that the Grammy winner was near death.

"I ain't dead yet," Parton, 79, said in the caption to an Instagram video.

"Do I look sick to you? I'm working hard here," the "9 to 5" singer said with a smile from a set where she was filming commercials for the Grand Ole Opry. 

Parton had previously announced she was postponing a series of shows planned for Las Vegas to deal with some unspecified health issues. 

Before her Instagram video, her sister, Freida Parton, said on social media that she had been "up all night praying" for the singer. She later said she "didn't mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious."

In her video, Parton said she had neglected her own health during the illness and death of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March. She was now working with doctors to address some issues, she said.

"I want you to know I'm OK. I've got some problems ... nothing major," she said, adding, "I'm not dying."

The Grammy-winning singer, a star of movies including "Steel Magnolias" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", received an honorary Oscar in November.

Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie visited one of Ukraine's most dangerous frontline cities and a neighbouring region, meeting medical staff, volunteers and civilians living under constant attacks from Russian troops.

"At a time when governments around the world are turning their backs on the protection of civilians, their strength, and their support for each other is humbling," Jolie said in a statement released by the Legacy of War Foundation, which supported her visit to Kherson and nearby Mykolaiv.

"The people of Mykolaiv and Kherson live with danger every day, but they refuse to give in," Jolie said.

Photos showed Jolie in a flak jacket in a basement, and meeting children in a windowless room. The group said she toured medical and educational facilities that had been relocated underground to escape constant Russian attacks.

Kherson, once home to nearly 300,000 people, is the biggest city within range of Russia's frontline weapons, making it one of Ukraine's most dangerous cities. It was occupied by Russian forces from March 2022 until they withdrew eight months later across the Dnipro River, where they remain on the opposite bank.

Jolie previously came to Ukraine's western city of Lviv in the spring of 2022 to meet people displaced by the war.

David Beckham, one of Britain's most celebrated soccer players, was knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle, recognizing his decades-long contribution to sport and charitable causes.

The 50-year-old former England soccer captain received the honour at the royal residence, more than 20 years after he was awarded a separate royal honour recognizing his contribution to football. Beckham, a lifelong admirer of the royal family, was dressed in a suit designed by his wife, Victoria Beckham, a fashion designer and former member of the Spice Girls pop band.

A campaign for American Eagle starring "Euphoria" and "The White Lotus" actor Sydney Sweeney faced backlash on social media over perceived racial undertones related to genetic traits.

The "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" campaign showed the actor posing in the outfitter’s denim jeans and jackets and talking about how she has “great jeans” and describing how “genes are passed down from parents to offspring” and how her “jeans are blue”. 

The campaign became a talking point, with U.S. President Donald Trump also commenting on it. Multiple local news outlets reported the actor's voting records show her being a registered Republican. Reuters has not independently verified this. When told by a reporter Sweeney was a registered Republican, Trump said, “Now I love her ad.” 

Following the backlash, American Eagle issued a statement on Instagram saying: "'Sydney Sweeney has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way."

A fan jumped a barrier and rushed towards actor Ariana Grande as she walked down the yellow carpet at the premiere for "Wicked: For Good" in Singapore.

The man was seen running up to Grande and putting his arm around her as she stood beside her co-star Michelle Yeoh. Their co-star Cynthia Erivo was seen attempting to pry him away from Grande as security moved in to apprehend him at the event at Universal Studio Singapore.

Several news outlets, including NBC News, identified the fan as Johnson Wen, a social media personality who posts about rushing concert stages and sporting events.

According to Singapore court documents, Wen, 26, was charged with one count of committing a public nuisance under Section 290 of the Penal Code.

Wen posted about the incident on his Instagram account, appearing to claim responsibility for the stunt and stating that he had been released following an arrest.

Heidi Klum chose to dress up as a slithering Medusa - complete with animatronic snakes on her head - for her famed Halloween party this year. Her hand-painted costume featured fangs, a split-snake tongue and an 8-foot tail.

Klum hosted the Halloween party - her 24th - at the Hard Rock Hotel New York: The Venue on Music Row.

-Lisa Giles-Keddie and Marie-Louise Gumuchian