Latest news with #MattWilson
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Neighbours set to turn up the heat with first-ever gay love triangle
As Neighbours faces its impending cancellation, the iconic soap opera isn't holding back, introducing its first-ever gay love triangle that promises to shake things up. The storyline sees Aaron (Matt Wilson), who is still reeling from the loss of his husband last year, entangled in a romantic web involving two exes: Rhett (Liam Maguire) and Colton (Jakob Ambrose). The trio's paths collided unexpectedly at a yoga class this week, igniting a competition for Aaron's affection. In a shock move, Aaron boldly decided to date both simultaneously, setting the stage for expected chaos. Actor Liam Maguire has shared his excitement about being involved in such a compelling storyline. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Reading the scripts I kept finding myself laughing and that felt like the most progressive thing about the storyline,' he told Yahoo Lifestyle. 'It's so confidently queer while being able to be funny and playful, because all the characters are entirely comfortable with who they are.' 'It definitely was something I recognised reading these scripts... that we were going to be given the chance to portray queer characters in a really fun, messy, playful, honest way,' Jakob Ambrose added. 'I think it's important all our colours are seen on screen - the happy family, but also the messiness it sometimes takes to get there. Working with Liam and competing in a way has been the best way to be forced to step it up.' Fans have taken to social media to praise the long-running soap opera for creating such an engaging story. 'Best scene in Neighbours I've ever watched. Absolutely hilarious, hats off to the writers,' one person wrote. 'The best thing on Neighbours for a long time,' a second added. It comes after the long-running soap opera was abruptly axed in February, after Amazon did not renew their contract with production company Fremantle Australia. In response to the shock announcement, an Amazon spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Neighbours has brought so much joy over the last 40 years to its fanbase globally. 'Forty years is an incredible milestone and we are proud that Amazon MGM Studios was able to have a small part of bringing further episodes to Freevee and Prime Video customers over the last two years.' In a heartwarming post, the crew assured fans that new episodes from the 40th anniversary season would continue to be broadcast on Prime Video and Ten, with 'all the big soapie twists and turns that our viewers love.' The show's Executive Producer Jason Herbison went on to celebrate the many years of Neighbours and the success it had experienced since its inception. 'Audiences all around the world have loved Neighbours for four decades. We are proud of the success over the last two years including often appearing as one of the Top 10 titles in the UK and the show's first ever Daytime Emmy nomination,' he said. 'As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally.' He ended the post, saying: 'We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.' The final ever episodes will air at the end of 2025 with fans forced to say goodbye to Ramsay Street for a second time, after first being axed in February 2022.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
North Carolina girl, 12, attacked by an alligator while playing in shallow water
A young girl was attacked by an alligator while swimming in the shallow waters of a North Carolina lake. Lake Waccamaw Police said that multiple children were playing in about four feet of water on Friday when one shouted, 'Something bit me!' All the children rushed out of the lake, and an alligator, between six and seven feet long, surfaced from the water. Lake Waccamaw Mayor Matt Wilson told WECT he knows the 12-year-old girl who was attacked. 'A good friend of mine called me up and let me know the situation. I was over there about 30 minutes after that,' he said. Authorities noted that the injuries sustained were serious but not life-threatening in any way. 'It is also unclear as to if the injuries were caused by a bite or a claw. But they were definitely caused by the alligator,' the police department said. Police, along with the members of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, were able to capture and euthanize the alligator responsible for the attack. 'The alligator responsible for this incident has been neutralized,' Lake Waccamaw police said. Alicia Wassmer, an expert alligator biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, told WBTW that alligator attacks are rare. 'Although the alligator's behavior was unusual, it was not predatory in nature,' Wassmer said. 'Anytime an alligator makes contact with a person, our protocol is to euthanize it regardless of the circumstances. 'Our officers responded quickly and worked with the community to identify and dispatch the alligator.' The mayor warned that as the town continues to develop, community members need to be cautious of the alligators. 'People are coming in, tourists are coming in, we need to educate people,' the mayor said. 'There's more and more people moving to Lake Waccamaw, houses are being built everywhere, and there's more alligators. 'Be mindful of your surroundings, do not feed the alligators, do not dump your table scraps from supper from the night before in the lake.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Shropshire firefighter praised for saving life of cricketer
An off-duty firefighter has been praised for helping to save the life of a cricketer who had suffered a cardiac Wilson, 41, had been watching his son make his senior debut at Wellington cricket club in Shropshire on Saturday when one of the visiting team the player's son administered CPR, Mr Wilson used the club's defibrillator to help him Wilson had been trained by the fire service to use the equipment and said: "I was straight into trauma incident mode I guess." The cricketer, 59-year-old Simon Parker from Calverhall Cricket Club, had been batting in the match against Wellington's fourth team when he suddenly Wilson said: "I can remember the over had just finished and Simon, I could see, had just turned around to talk to our wicketkeeper."He said he turned away for a minute and then heard shouts for first aid and saw Mr Parker lying on the added that he ran over to help and found Mr Parker's son, Alex, performing captain, Oliver Griffiths, said watching it all unfold had been "pretty horrific"."Watching a son try and save his dad's life was quite emotional and it still affects me a little bit now," he added."He was saying come on, I'm not letting you go, come back to me." 'Calm management' Mr Wilson said Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service trained its firefighters "to a relatively high level for trauma and first response care".He set up the defibrillator and operated it, with Wellington Cricket Club praising him for his "calm management of the situation".He said: "I just got in there and helped and guided people and we did what needed to get done I suppose."After shocking Mr Parker three times with the defibrillator, an ambulance Griffiths said: "They were very clear that by the time they arrived the hard work had been done and people like Matt and Alex had saved Simon's life."He added that he had spoken to Mr Parker on Tuesday and he was doing "very, very well" and had thanked everyone who helped said one of the first questions he asked was "How many runs did I score?" and noted that Mr Parker was disappointed they had not won the Griffiths said that was typical of the man, but there were "much bigger things than cricket". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Arlington prepares for global spotlight as 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches
With just one year to go until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, preparations are well underway in Arlington. AT&T Stadium is set to host nine matches — the most of any venue in North America — and officials expect millions of fans to flock to North Texas during the month-long tournament. "A lot of times people say that it's nine Super Bowls," said Matt Wilson, executive director of the Arlington Sports Commission. "It's even more than that." City leverages experience with major events Arlington, already a seasoned host of major sporting events, is drawing on years of experience to prepare for the international spotlight. "We'll take all the lessons that we've learned over the past 10, 15, 20 years here to make sure that people have the best experience they possibly can," Wilson said. Thousands of people are expected to gather in Arlington's entertainment district, whether or not they have tickets. City leaders say the infrastructure is ready to handle the crowds, pointing to the success of events like the Texas Rangers' World Series parade in 2023. "First and foremost, we want to have a safe and fun environment, and preparations are well underway to make sure that's the focal point," Wilson said. Economic impact expected to be massive The World Cup is projected to generate an estimated $2 billion for the North Texas region and boost tourism across the state. "Folks will be here for the games, but then they will also have time to explore communities and to branch out to see more of Texas and all that we have to offer as a destination," said Erika Boyd, president and CEO of the Texas Travel Alliance. Local businesses gear up for global visitors Local hotels, restaurants, and businesses are already preparing for the influx of international visitors. "And the experiences that we create for visitors in Texas have a lasting economic impact for the state and actually help to offset the household taxes that all Texans pay," Boyd said. A global stage and a lasting legacy As the countdown continues, local leaders are embracing the opportunity to showcase the region on a global stage. The hope is that Arlington's moment in the spotlight will not only impress the world, but leave a legacy that lasts for years to come.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LNW Q1 Earnings Call: Tariff Mitigation, Product Pipeline, and Margin Focus Shape 2025 Outlook
Gaming products and services provider Light & Wonder (NASDAQ:LNW) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025 as sales rose 2.4% year on year to $774 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.94 per share was 16.7% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy LNW? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $774 million vs analyst estimates of $809 million (2.4% year-on-year growth, 4.3% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $311 million vs analyst estimates of $308.3 million (40.2% margin, 0.9% beat) Operating Margin: 22%, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $7.66 billion Light & Wonder's first quarter results were shaped by operational progress in its core gaming, SciPlay, and iGaming business segments, with management emphasizing the performance of new game franchises and continued expansion of its North American installed base. CEO Matt Wilson highlighted gains in market share—particularly in premium and recurring revenue titles—and noted the company's ability to add over 500 gaming units sequentially. Despite cycling over tough international comparables and weather-related headwinds in the U.S., the company maintained stable operating margins. Wilson also pointed to ongoing strength in SciPlay's Quick Hit Slots and 88 Fortunes, and described the company's focus on content diversity as a key lever supporting growth across all business lines. Looking forward, Light & Wonder's executive team reiterated their commitment to operational discipline and margin expansion, even amid macroeconomic uncertainty and evolving tariff policies. Management expects growth to accelerate in the second half of the year, supported by a robust product pipeline, integration of Grover Gaming's charitable assets, and expanded direct-to-consumer (DTC) initiatives in SciPlay. CFO Oliver Chow stated, 'We have line of sight to top-line growth to get us to the $1.4 billion target,' citing ongoing cost optimization, supply chain adaptation, and further investments in first-party content. Wilson added that resilience in gross gaming revenue (GGR) across U.S. markets and upcoming platform efficiencies will be critical signposts for achieving the company's full-year objectives. Management attributed Q1's performance to successful product launches, expanded DTC channels, and proactive supply chain adjustments to address tariff uncertainty, while also highlighting strategic preparations for the Grover Gaming acquisition. Gaming operations expansion: Light & Wonder increased its North American installed base by over 500 units sequentially, now exceeding 34,000 units, with 51% of machines classified as premium. Management noted a 400-basis-point share gain in North American game sales over the past year, underscoring momentum in both hardware and content franchises. SciPlay DTC momentum: The SciPlay segment sustained its outperformance versus the broader social casino market, with Quick Hit Slots and 88 Fortunes posting double-digit growth. The company's DTC platform now accounts for over 13% of SciPlay revenue, and recent regulatory changes around alternative payment methods are expected to further increase DTC penetration and margins. iGaming content launches: Light & Wonder reported ongoing success with new first-party games and exclusive partnerships, such as the launch of Huff and More Puff with FanDuel and Wizard of Oz Over the Rainbow with BetMGM. These titles set single-game records and are expected to drive broader market expansion as exclusivity periods end. Tariff and supply chain mitigation: Management detailed efforts to mitigate tariff impacts through supply chain reconfiguration, including inventory pull-forwards and increased sourcing via Mexico. They emphasized that current inventory will remain tariff-unaffected for several quarters, giving the company time to adapt further. Grover Gaming acquisition progress: The Grover transaction remains on track, with regulatory approvals expected by the end of Q2. Management views this acquisition as a strategic entry into the regulated charitable gaming market, accelerated by Indiana's recent legalization of electronic pull tabs, which was not included in prior forecasts. Management's outlook is anchored in margin expansion initiatives, supply chain adaptation, and increased contribution from digital and regulated gaming channels. Second-half weighted growth: Management expects improved sales momentum in the latter half of the year, driven by the rebound of SciPlay's Jackpot Party, new game launches, and anticipated contributions from the Grover Gaming acquisition. They see recurring revenue and premium product mix as key drivers of this acceleration. Margin optimization and cost control: The company continues to implement margin enhancement strategies, including ongoing supply chain right-shoring and operational efficiencies. These efforts are intended to offset tariff headwinds and support sustained EBITDA margin performance at or above current levels. Digital and platform investments: Light & Wonder is increasing investment in its DTC channel for SciPlay and advancing its Carbon platform to enable simultaneous game releases across business lines. This should improve cost efficiency and scalability as new markets, such as Indiana's charitable gaming, come online. In the coming quarters, our analysts will be tracking (1) the pace of DTC adoption in SciPlay and its effect on segment margins, (2) the integration and revenue contribution from the Grover Gaming acquisition, especially in newly legalized markets, and (3) the company's ability to further optimize supply chain and operational costs to sustain margin expansion. Execution on the Carbon platform and the rollout of high-performing content across channels will also be key to monitoring progress. Light & Wonder currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 15.5×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
