Tall Tales: Tom Cruise tried to get in Rishi Sunak's car
The Week's round-up of the latest odd news
Cruise gets carried away
Hollywood star Tom Cruise had an "awkward moment" at a heliport in Battersea last week when he accidentally tried to jump into Rishi Sunak's car, said the Evening Standard. The "Top Gun" actor was caught on camera attempting to open the door of a black Audi after touching down in London, before realising his error and being led to his own vehicle.
"Unlike the Hollywood star", the prime minister "had no trouble finding his car" when he arrived at the heliport later that day, "as an aide held the door open for him".
Penny farthing pinched in London
A London cyclist put out a desperate plea for witnesses after his penny-farthing bicycle was stolen while he was getting a haircut this week. Roberto Torto had left the wheely big vehicle outside the barber's, and CCTV footage showed the suspected thief grabbing it and racing off. Torto's appeal has gained support on social media, with fellow cyclist Jeremy Vine posting on X: "Really important we get this back."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The television presenter later posted that the thief had "realised there was too much heat" on them, and returned the bike to Torto. "Yet another argument for the mass adoption of penny farthings," said Vine, "they're virtually impossible to steal, and it takes 3 months to learn to ride one."
Survival linked to silver neck chain
A man in Colorado survived a brush with death when his 10mm-wide chain necklace stopped a bullet from penetrating his neck. The victim had been embroiled in an argument when the shooting took place, Sky News reported, but he walked away with just a puncture wound from the attack.
"We'd say he really dodged a bullet," said officers in Commerce City in a Facebook post, "but in reality he lodged a bullet."
Sign up for The Week's Tall Tales newsletter for more news to make you smile, delivered every Wednesday.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julia O'Driscoll is the engagement editor. She covers UK and world news, as well as writing lifestyle and travel features. She regularly appears on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast, and hosted The Week's short-form documentary podcast, “The Overview”. Julia was previously the content and social media editor at sustainability consultancy Eco-Age, where she interviewed prominent voices in sustainable fashion and climate movements. She has a master's in liberal arts from Bristol University, and spent a year studying at Charles University in Prague.
-
How to financially prepare for divorceThe Explainer Facing ‘irreconcilable differences’ does not have to be financially devastating
-
Why it’s important to shop around for a mortgage and what to look forThe Explainer You can save big by comparing different mortgage offers
-
4 ways to save on rising health care costsThe Explainer Health care expenses are part of an overall increase in the cost of living for Americans
-
The 5 best movies based on TV showsThe Week Recommends From biblical parodies and space epics to an unappreciated auteur masterpiece, these movies breathed new life into preexisting TV series
-
Film reviews: Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, Lilo & Stitch, and Final Destination: BloodlinesFeature Tom Cruise risks life and limb to entertain us, a young girl befriends a destructive alien, and death stalks a family that resets fate's toll.
-
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning: an 'awe-inspiringly bananas' conclusionThe Week Recommends Tom Cruise undertakes 'death-defying' stunt set pieces in this 'dazzlingly ambitious' finale
-
Best movies of 2025: from One Battle After Another to SinnersThe Week Recommends A devastating family drama, a thrilling dystopian sequel and Ethan Hunt’s last mission: these are the films to watch
-
Stars close out Paris Olympics, toss to LASpeed Read A Tom Cruise stunt and Billie Eilish concert ended the 2024 Paris Olympics
-
Tall Tales: thousands slip in Gloucestershire cheese-rolling raceTall Tales The Week's round-up of the latest odd news
-
Tall Tales: dogs pose at the Pet GalaTall Tales The Week's round-up of the latest odd news
-
Tall Tales: church dedicates service to Taylor SwiftTall Tales The Week's round-up of the latest odd news