Is Tom Cruise Cool?

Why is Tom Cruise so extra? Is Big Brother here forever? Is it ever okay to ask for a selfie? Plus SNL UK, and justice for Stacey Solomon

Welcome to the kennel of the algorithm bloodhounds, bred to sniff out the hottest takes for the chronically online. Columnist Raven Smith, and author Joel Golby, are here to provide you with their cheat sheet for what to think about culture right now. They’ll tell you what they love - but, more importantly, they’ll tell you what's a Please Don’t.

Got a hot take? Or even a hot take on Raven and Joel’s hot takes? Email ravenandjoel@bbc.co.uk

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Why is Tom Cruise so extra?
Hollywood’s biggest action hero and eternal enigma, Tom Cruise, has been out and about a lot recently, ahead of his new film Digger. With one or two exceptions, it’s his first non-action film since 2000.
His press tour has included his first magazine cover in 20 years, and the reception has been…interesting. Raven thinks he lost his cool-factor when he jumped on Oprah’s sofa. Joel completely disagrees and will tell you why. And should we be calling him Thomas Cruisington?

Who are the dark horses of SNL UK?
Can you hear that? It’s a phrase being bellowed from the capital to the world - “live, from London, it’s Saturday night”...
SNL UK is in the full swing of its second series, after a stonking debut. There’ve been big hits (British Pork, Princess Diana, The X Factor sketch), and some swings that haven’t quite landed (someone please check on Jeff Goldblum?).
But who are the show’s MVPs? Joel bigs up new boy on the block Freddie Meredith, Raven tells us how he got too shy to say hello to Celeste Dring in the shops, and there’s a collective wow and bow at the altar of George Fouracres.

Is Big Brother here forever?
AJ Odudu and Will Best are back on the box with Big Brother, and this year’s Housemates are already proving spicy.
Big Brother has been watching us since 2000, and has the rare badge of being one of the only shows to have aired on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 - but why do we love it so much? And why would you want to go in the House now?
Raven thinks it gives you the perfect level of fame; for some reason, Joel has the knives out for The People’s Prince, AngryGinge; and he’s also demanding justice for Kinga from Big Brother 6.

Plus, hear why some in Chelmsford are wrongly angry at Stacey Solomon of all people, and Raven’s asking why anyone would want a pic with Kim Kardashian.

Raven and Joel are back next Thursday.

Please Don’t is a Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds.

Producer: David Chipakupaku
Digital Producer: Christian Dametto
Assistant Producer: Annie Keates Thorpe
Executive Producer: Lily Ames
Head of Production: Dan Jackson

Audio credits:

09:15 - "Digger" trailer - Legendary Pictures, TC Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures