We've been in the midst of a Hollywood star twice in the space of less than a month, as Mads Mikkelsen has once again been 'papped' in a beloved local Leeds restaurant.
The Danish actor has been in West Yorkshire on more than one occasion over the past month, and let's be honest, he's a hard face not to notice.
Best known for roles in Casino Royale, Hannibal and recently the hit videogame, Death Stranding, the Mikkelsen
The suave, striking and distinctive thespian was seen in Leeds once again this past weekend, popping into beloved Southeast Asian spot, ZAAP Thai, for a bite.
Imagine just going for a bit of street food and seeing Le Chiffre sat there... Mad.
Writing in the caption to their post on social media, ZAAP Thai said: "A huge thank you to the brilliant Mads Mikkelsen for visiting Zaap Leeds this weekend!
"An incredible actor and an even kinder man, it was a pleasure to welcome you. From Fantastic Beasts to 007, and now to ZAAP Thai – a man of great taste!
"We’re honoured you chose to dine with us. Hope to see you again soon, Mads!"
For those of you wondering why he's been around these parts, Mikkelsen is currently working on a new project called Sirius, which is producer Pascal Degove and Oscar-winning film editor, Lee Smith, are also tied to.
While most of the details surrounding the upcoming thriller are still under wraps, the trio were in town to discuss the movie; as for what brought him to ZAAP Thai for this second sighting, we can only assume it's the incredible food.
In case you hadn't heard the news, ZAAP are spreading even further across the North this year too, having just opened up another location over in Greater Manchester.
See more down below.
A very cool-looking and VERY tasty new Thai restaurant is opening in Manchester later this week. 🇹🇭 👀
Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? Well, this might just be your calling then.
The BBC is, once again, casting for the next series of Race Across the World.
The BAFTA-winning hit show draws in thousands of viewers each week, and now producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea for the next seried – and that includes Yorkshire residents.
With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic people from Yorkshire are being encouraged to take part.
On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.
Adventurous Mancs are needed to take part in the next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC
Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions.
But, as producers are keen to point out, ‘the physical journey is only half of the story’. That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.
“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.”
Fancy it then? Applications for the next series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 29 March 2026, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.
You may have heard of the funny Star Wars stripper show or even seen clips of it online, but rumour has it that nothing can quite prepare you for the cheekiness of seeing this romp in the flesh.
In case you’ve been completely immersed in the dark side until now, here’s what you can expect:
Now well over a decade into its success and more than 200 Las Vegas shows, ‘The Empire Strips Back’ made its long-awaited transatlantic debut earlier this year.
Getting away at London’s Riverside Studios from May and enjoying a run until this past August, the comedy-driven twist on the classic Star Wars stories and beloved sci-fi characters was an instant hit with us Brits.
It started in Australia way back in 2011 and has gone not only to tour across Europe, but land a coveted residency at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Nevada.
Now set to seek out new padawans and storm-strippers all over the cosmos, and by that we mean the UK, ‘The Empire Strips Back: Burlesque Parody’ is coming to Manchester.
Set to land at TESTBED in February from from Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 specifically, we cannot wait to see how this goes down with Northern crowds.
It’s also worth noting that this two-hour show, including intermission, is a strictly 18+ only event; if you’re interested, you can find out more info and grab your tickets right HERE.
Danny Jones -
8th July 2025 
