The decision means that the BBC will not commission or broadcast future main-series episodes of the British edition. The programme’s current eighth series will continue its scheduled run on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

The broadcaster attributed the move to “significant financial pressures” and the savings it is required to make. In a statement reported by multiple outlets, a BBC spokesperson said the corporation had been forced to make “some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly.”

The BBC said it was “incredibly proud” of the programme and thanked RuPaul, World of Wonder and everyone involved in making it.

A move to WOW Presents Plus

The franchise will continue on WOW Presents Plus, the streaming service operated by World of Wonder, the production company behind the programme.

The move will include future seasons of the main UK competition and the international spin-off RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World. The programme itself is therefore continuing, although its UK broadcast home is changing from the BBC to a subscription streaming platform.

Variety reported that UK subscribers to WOW Presents Plus will be able to access all eight main-series seasons and all three seasons of UK vs The World. The Independent likewise reported that the existing main-series and spin-off catalogue would remain available through the service once the transition is complete.

The change may alter how audiences in the United Kingdom watch the programme. The BBC currently makes the series available through BBC Three and iPlayer, while WOW Presents Plus is a streaming service requiring platform access.

What “eight series” means

Reports have described the decision as the end of Drag Race UK after eight series, while some coverage has referred to 11 series.

The distinction reflects the difference between the eight main UK competition series and the three series of the international spin-off RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Taken together, those programmes account for 11 series associated with the BBC-era UK franchise.

The eighth main series began airing on BBC Three in September 2026 and remains on the BBC during the current run. The BBC’s announcement therefore concerns future seasons rather than an immediate cancellation of episodes already being broadcast.

First UK All Stars edition announced

World of Wonder has also confirmed plans for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: All Stars.

Variety reported that the programme is scheduled to premiere globally on WOW Presents Plus in autumn 2027. It will be the first UK edition of the All Stars format and is intended to bring back queens who have previously competed in the UK franchise.

The planned series will be available to viewers worldwide on WOW Presents Plus, including subscribers in the UK. The announcement gives the franchise a confirmed continuation beyond the current BBC run, although details about the cast and format have not been announced in the sources reviewed for this article.

Financial pressures and representation

The BBC’s explanation places the decision within a wider effort to reduce spending. Deadline reported that the broadcaster is seeking savings of £500 million, with Drag Race UK among the programmes affected by the financial situation.

The BBC has not said that the programme was removed because of its subject matter or LGBTQ+ content. Its public explanation has focused on financial pressures and required savings. The broadcaster has also described the series as groundbreaking and expressed its appreciation for the people who made it.

The Independent reported that the announcement prompted criticism from people concerned about the BBC’s treatment of programmes serving marginalised audiences. Those reactions are separate from the BBC’s stated financial rationale and do not establish that LGBTQ+ representation was a factor in the commissioning decision.

For transgender people, queer communities and drag performers who have appeared on or followed the programme, the practical change is that future UK episodes will no longer be released through the BBC’s public-service platforms. The available reporting confirms the change in distribution but does not provide audience figures or research measuring its effect on LGBTQ+ representation.

The current series will remain available through BBC Three and BBC iPlayer during its run, while the franchise’s next phase is planned for WOW Presents Plus. The first scheduled production under the new arrangement identified in current reporting is RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: All Stars, due in autumn 2027.

In an interview published by The Australian on September 10, Anderson described herself as “pan, as in pansexual, as in attracted to all genders.”

The statement represents a change in emphasis from Anderson’s earlier public comments, in which she discussed relationships with women but stopped short of choosing a definitive sexual-identity label.

Anderson is known internationally for playing FBI agent Dana Scully in The X-Files and for appearing in productions including The Crown and Sex Education.

What pansexual means

GLAAD defines pansexual as an adjective describing the capacity to form physical, romantic or emotional attractions to people of any gender, regardless of gender identity.

The organization places pansexuality among identities commonly included under the broader bi+ umbrella, while recognizing that people may use “pansexual” and “bisexual” in different ways.

Anderson’s own wording—“attracted to all genders”—was reported as part of her explanation of why the term “pansexual” feels appropriate to her.

The term describes an individual’s potential pattern of attraction; it does not require a person to have had relationships with people of every gender.

A label considered over time

Anderson’s latest comments follow a discussion that became more public after the release of her book Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous, an edited collection concerning women’s anonymous sexual fantasies.

In a 2024 profile for The New Yorker, Anderson questioned whether “bisexual” or “pansexual” might describe her, while also expressing concern about overstating her experiences or claiming an identity that did not feel fully hers.

The New Yorker reported that Anderson’s reflections on sexuality developed while she was working on the book and considering the language available to describe her past relationships.

In a separate interview published in August 2026, Anderson discussed a relationship with an older girl during high school and said the relationship felt secretive because she and the girl believed they would not be accepted as a couple.

PinkNews reported that Anderson said she did not think of herself as LGBTQ+ at the time because she had also had relationships with boys.

That earlier account did not amount to a public declaration of a particular identity label, but it provided additional context for Anderson’s later comments about attraction and self-description.

Why the announcement matters

Anderson’s remarks have been reported by LGBTQ+ publications including PinkNews, Them and Pride following publication of the Australian interview.

The coverage has focused on Anderson’s own words rather than treating her previous relationships as proof of an identity she had not chosen for herself.

That distinction is significant because sexual orientation is self-defined, and the existence of a relationship or sexual experience does not automatically determine the label a person uses.

Anderson’s comments also illustrate that people may arrive at an identity label after years of reflection rather than adopting one immediately.

The actor’s statement does not require a revision of her earlier descriptions of her relationships, because those accounts and her current self-identification address different aspects of her personal history.

For now, Anderson’s clearest public description is her own: she is “pan,” meaning pansexual, and attracted to all genders.

Sotheby’s estimates that the black silk evening gown will sell for between $150,000 and $300,000, equivalent to a top estimate of about £220,000.

The sale is significant because the garment is returning to the public market for the first time in nearly three decades.

Sotheby’s identifies the lot as a Christina Stambolian dress worn by Diana on June 29, 1994.

The 1994 Appearance

Diana wore the gown to a fundraising dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in London.

The appearance took place on the same evening that then-Prince Charles publicly acknowledged his infidelity in a television interview.

The timing and Diana’s choice of clothing made the appearance an enduring subject of international media and fashion coverage.

The dress is an off-the-shoulder black silk design with an asymmetric hemline and a chiffon train, according to Bloomberg’s account of the auction announcement.

The term “revenge dress” was applied by the media after Diana’s 1994 appearance; Sotheby’s lists the lot under that widely used name.

Exhibition Tour

Before the sale, Sotheby’s will display the dress in London from September 18 through September 24.

The London exhibition is scheduled to coincide with London Fashion Week, according to Sotheby’s reporting.

The garment is then scheduled to travel to Hong Kong, where it will be exhibited from October 1 through October 15.

Its next planned stop is Geneva, Switzerland, from November 6 through November 11.

The final pre-sale exhibition is scheduled for Sotheby’s New York location from December 2 through December 8, one day before the auction.

The international itinerary gives prospective bidders and members of the public in four cities an opportunity to see the garment before the sale.

Charity Proceeds and Auction Context

Part of the sale proceeds will be donated to NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Reuters reported.

CNN likewise reported that a portion of the proceeds would support NHS Lothian Charity.

The charity’s connection to the sale places the dress within a broader tradition of using high-profile royal garments to raise funds for health-related causes.

The precise amount or percentage that will be donated was not specified in the reports reviewed for this article.

The upcoming auction follows earlier sales of clothing associated with Diana, including a 1997 sale of dresses arranged by the princess to benefit AIDS and cancer charities.

That earlier sale is distinct from the forthcoming Sotheby’s auction, which concerns the original Stambolian gown worn by Diana in 1994.

The 2026 sale should also be distinguished from auctions of replicas made for screen productions.

Why the Sale Matters

The gown has remained one of Diana’s most recognizable fashion pieces because its public debut combined a dramatic silhouette with an unusually charged royal news cycle.

Its auction estimate reflects the commercial value assigned by Sotheby’s to a garment linked to a major moment in late-20th-century royal and fashion history.

The final price will depend on bidding at the December 9 sale and may differ from the presale estimate.

Until then, the planned exhibitions will make the dress available for public viewing before ownership passes to the successful buyer.

For Sotheby’s, the sale places an internationally familiar royal garment at the center of its December fashion program in New York.

For the public, it offers a scheduled opportunity to encounter the original dress—not a television replica—before its next chapter in private or institutional ownership.

Mollica discussed the subject in an interview with SFX Magazine ahead of the Marvel series’ premiere. The comments were reported by multiple entertainment and LGBTQ+ news outlets on September 9 and 10, placing them within the past three weeks.

“I don’t know if it’s explicitly referenced,” Mollica said, according to the published reports. He added: “But I feel like myself as a bisexual actor embodying Tommy, hopefully that comes through in just personality and self and is something that can be explored in the future.”

Mollica’s wording does not confirm that the series will exclude a bisexual storyline, nor does it confirm that the subject will be addressed directly in the first season. The actor described the possibility as something that could be explored in the future, leaving the onscreen treatment of Tommy’s sexuality unresolved.

Tommy in Marvel Comics

Tommy Maximoff, also known as Speed, is a character whose bisexuality has been established in Marvel Comics. Reports on Mollica’s interview identify the character’s relationships with both women and men in the comics as the basis for questions about whether that aspect of his identity will carry over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The distinction between comic-book continuity and the television adaptation is significant because Marvel Studios has not publicly confirmed how VisionQuest will handle Tommy’s sexuality. No statement from Marvel or Disney confirming an explicit bisexual storyline was included in the reports reviewed for this article.

The reports therefore support a narrower conclusion: Mollica hopes elements of his own queerness will inform his performance, while the series’ specific narrative plans for Tommy’s sexuality remain unannounced. Any claim that Marvel has definitively removed Tommy’s bisexuality from the adaptation would go beyond what Mollica said.

Mollica’s Role in VisionQuest

Mollica is set to play the adult version of Tommy, the son associated with Wanda Maximoff and Vision, in VisionQuest. The character is also known as Speed.

The series is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on October 14, 2026. It is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s continuing storyline involving Vision and the Maximoff family.

A preview reported by United Press International depicts Vision questioning aspects of his past, including whether he fathered Tommy with Wanda. Mollica’s comments add a separate question about whether Tommy’s established identity from the comics will be part of that television narrative.

Mollica also described Tommy in the SFX interview as “a grifter,” “a small-time thief” and “a bit of an artful dodger,” according to Queerty. Queerty reported that Mollica characterized Tommy as someone who is “lost in his life,” is looking for a purpose and eventually travels with Vision.

Those character details do not establish anything about Tommy’s sexuality in the series. They do, however, indicate that the publicly described version of Tommy is being introduced through his relationship with Vision and his search for direction.

Representation and Uncertainty

Mollica’s statement links his performance to his own identity without claiming that the character and actor share every aspect of their lives. His phrasing also recognizes that representation can be conveyed through characterization even when a storyline does not state a sexual identity explicitly.

At the same time, the available reporting does not show that Tommy will be identified onscreen as bisexual in VisionQuest. It also does not show that Marvel has ruled out exploring the character’s sexuality in a later season or another MCU project.

For now, the confirmed development is Mollica’s public response: he is uncertain whether Tommy’s bisexuality will be explicitly referenced, but hopes his perspective as a bisexual actor will contribute to the role and leave room for further exploration. The series’ eventual treatment of Tommy’s sexuality will become clear only when *VisionQuest* is released or Marvel provides additional information.

The 52-year-old comedian and actor made the disclosure during a conversation with Romesh Ranganathan on BBC Radio 2.

“I’ve never, ever spoken about this publicly, but I’m autistic,” Lucas said in the interview.

The BBC’s published clip shows Lucas discussing autism while speaking about theatre work and the contrast between being surrounded by people and working alone.

Lucas said he enjoys “periods of being very sociable,” citing the theatre as an example, while also enjoying “those periods of solitude where I can just write on my own.”

Recharging After Social Contact

The conversation focused on how Lucas manages his schedule when working in live theatre.

He said theatre work involves performing six days a week and that his day away from performances is important for rest, including resting his voice.

Lucas also said he generally prefers not to see people on that day, explaining that the time helps him recover from the intensity of social and professional activity.

“I like not to see people and give them a break from me,” Lucas said, adding that having time to recharge is important to him.

His comments presented solitude as one part of his personal routine rather than as a rejection of social contact.

Lucas specifically described moving between periods of sociability and periods when he wants to write alone.

What the Sources Confirm

The original BBC clip confirms the wording of Lucas’s disclosure and his description of social activity, solitude and theatre.

The BBC’s social-media post also identifies the conversation as one in which Lucas discussed autism, theatre and cancelling plans when ill.

The *Metro* reported the disclosure on September 4 and said it occurred during a discussion with Ranganathan about balancing busy periods of work with time alone.

*Parade* independently reported the same disclosure on September 7, identifying Lucas as a former host of *The Great British Baking Show* and linking his remarks to his preference for alternating between social settings and time alone.

The Greek publication Ethnos also reported on September 6 that Lucas had publicly spoken about being autistic for the first time during the BBC Radio 2 discussion.

These reports agree on the central facts: Lucas made the disclosure on BBC Radio 2, said he had not previously discussed it publicly, and connected his experience to the need for time alone after periods of intense social interaction.

Return to the West End

The disclosure came as Lucas prepares to appear as Fagin in Oliver! in London’s West End.

According to the Metro, his six-week run is scheduled to begin on September 22.

The production is scheduled at the Gielgud Theatre, where Lucas is due to play the leader of a group of young pickpockets in the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist.

The theatre schedule provides the immediate professional context for Lucas’s comments about working six days each week and using his day off to rest and spend time alone.

Understanding the Language

Lucas used identity-first language when describing himself, saying, “I’m autistic.”

This article retains that wording because it is Lucas’s own description of his identity.

The reports reviewed for this article do not provide further details about when Lucas received an autism diagnosis, the assessment process, or whether he receives any particular support.

They also do not establish that Lucas’s experience represents the experience of all autistic people.

The verified news is therefore limited to Lucas’s own disclosure and his account of how he navigates social demands, theatre work and writing.

In a post on X dated September 7, George questioned the political significance of the slogan “Free Palestine” and directed a personal insult at Faith, describing her as “about as political as a soggy tuna sandwich.”

George also criticized what he called Faith’s “stupid virtuous squealing of delight” over Macklemore’s remarks, while separately accusing Ed Sheeran of having “no spine” for not publicly addressing the controversy.

The comments placed two British pop performers on opposing sides of a wider argument over artists’ political speech at major concerts and the way public figures respond to the war in Gaza.

Macklemore’s Concert Remarks

Macklemore made the comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, while appearing as an opening act for Sheeran’s Loop tour.

Before performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” Macklemore told the audience that one reason he wanted to take part in the tour was to stand on stages across the United States and say the words “Free Palestine.”

The song “Hind’s Hall,” released in 2024, is associated with Macklemore’s criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his support for Palestinian rights.

Macklemore performed while wearing a keffiyeh, a scarf widely associated with Palestinian identity and solidarity, according to coverage of the performances.

The rapper’s remarks drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including the Israeli-American Council, which launched a petition calling for him to be removed from the remainder of Sheeran’s tour.

The Israeli-American Council characterized Macklemore’s intervention as a one-sided political message at a mainstream concert.

Macklemore’s Response

Macklemore subsequently said his comments were not intended as an attack on Jewish people.

In a video shared on social media, he addressed Jewish audiences directly and said that criticism of Israel, opposition to apartheid and opposition to genocide were not criticisms of Jewish people.

The BBC reported that Macklemore framed his remarks as a call for freedom and equality rather than an expression of hostility toward Jewish people.

The distinction between criticism of the Israeli government and hostility toward Jewish people has been central to the reaction surrounding the performances.

The available reports do not establish whether Sheeran personally endorsed Macklemore’s remarks or whether he had advance knowledge of the content of the opening set.

Faith’s Position and George’s Criticism

Faith’s support for Macklemore’s comments was reported as the immediate reason George included her in his post.

The reports reviewed do not reproduce the full wording of Faith’s original response or establish whether she made additional comments about Israel, Gaza, Jewish people or the political debate.

George argued that slogans such as “Free Palestine” can create the appearance of moral courage without requiring substantial political knowledge.

He also said the dispute made him “queasy” and expressed approval of Pink, who had publicly spoken out in the wider controversy.

George’s criticism was directed at Faith’s political response rather than at her musical work or identity.

Neither the reports from PinkNews or Attitude Magazine reviewed for this article document a public response from Faith to George’s latest comments.

Their Earlier History

George and Faith previously worked together as coaches on the BBC music competition *The Voice UK*.

They joined the program’s coaching panel for its fifth season alongside will.i.am and Ricky Wilson.

The pair attracted attention during the program after Faith pretended to fall asleep while George was speaking to a contestant.

George responded by calling Faith “extremely rude” during the exchange.

Faith later discussed the incident and said she had “blacked out” after what she described as an ill-timed joke, while George said the pair had subsequently gone out to dinner and could cope with each other.

The earlier television dispute is separate from George’s current criticism, which arose from a disagreement about Macklemore’s political speech and Faith’s reaction to it.

A Wider Debate Over Political Speech

The controversy illustrates the continuing dispute over whether musicians should use large entertainment events to make statements about international conflicts.

Macklemore’s supporters have treated his intervention as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians and a call for an end to violence.

His critics have argued that a concert connected to Sheeran’s tour was not an appropriate setting for what they viewed as a partisan political message.

The resulting debate has involved performers, political advocacy groups and concert audiences, rather than being limited to the personal disagreement between George and Faith.

George’s intervention has added a celebrity dispute to that broader argument, with Faith’s reported support for Macklemore becoming the focus of his criticism.

As of September 10, reports reviewed for this article confirm George’s remarks, Macklemore’s concert statements and the petition seeking Macklemore’s removal from the tour, but do not document a response from Sheeran or Faith addressing George’s latest post.

Bonomolo told Out that he relocated from New York City to North Carolina after being cast in the Fayetteville theatre’s upcoming production. Reports said he was dismissed the day before rehearsals were scheduled to begin, during a meeting held approximately an hour before his first call time.

Bonomolo said the theatre did not provide an official explanation for ending his contract. He alleged, however, that he was informally told the decision was connected to his history in adult films and his former OnlyFans activity.

The reported dismissal has not been independently established as having been caused by Bonomolo’s adult-entertainment work, because Cape Fear Regional Theatre had not publicly confirmed that explanation in the reports reviewed.

What Bonomolo said

Bonomolo discussed the incident in videos posted to Instagram, according to Out. The reports said he described the termination as related to his past “involvement in sex work, OnlyFans, and studio porn.”

In a statement reported by Out, Bonomolo pointed to what he described as an irony involving the production itself. He said Bright Star portrays a person who is shunned and punished for being sexually active and making personal choices, while he had been dismissed from that same production because of his own past.

Bonomolo also criticized what he characterized as a double standard in theatre: performers may be praised for portraying strippers, sex workers, or sexually liberated characters, while people with real-life experience in adult entertainment may face professional consequences. He urged his online audience to support people working in the adult-film industry.

The reports identified Bonomolo’s former adult-content name as Troye Jacobs. Out reported that Bonomolo said he had not filmed adult content in more than a year and had stopped using the social-media account associated with that work.

The production

Cape Fear Regional Theatre lists Bright Star as part of its 2026–27 season. The theatre describes the musical as inspired by a true story and centered on a North Carolina setting, with a bluegrass score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Local reporting said the production was scheduled to run from September 10 through September 27, 2026.

The musical’s stated themes contributed to Bonomolo’s criticism of the reported decision. His account connects the production’s fictional treatment of sexual stigma with what he says was a real-world employment decision based on his own sexual history and adult work.

Cape Fear Regional Theatre had not responded to requests for comment cited in the coverage reviewed. The theatre’s public website promotes *Bright Star* but does not, in the material reviewed, provide a public explanation for Bonomolo’s departure from the cast.

Employment and privacy questions

The case has drawn attention to the professional risks faced by people whose past adult work becomes known in another industry. The reports do not establish whether Bonomolo’s contract contained provisions concerning outside employment, public conduct, online content, or reputational concerns.

They also do not establish whether the theatre’s decision violated any employment law or contractual obligation. Any legal assessment would depend on facts not publicly documented in the available coverage, including the terms of the agreement, the theatre’s stated reason, and the applicable law.

The available reporting therefore supports a narrower conclusion: Bonomolo says he was removed from the production after his former adult-entertainment work was discovered, while the theatre has not publicly verified that account or supplied a competing explanation in the sources reviewed.

As of September 10, 2026, the public dispute remains based primarily on Bonomolo’s account and published reporting about it. Further comment from Cape Fear Regional Theatre could clarify whether the stated reason for the termination was related to adult-entertainment work or to another matter.

The latest image is the most recent reported development surrounding Forty Love as the film moves toward its planned French theatrical release. French film outlet AlloCiné also lists Beckham and Kircher among the film’s leading performers and gives November 25, 2026, as the French release date.

The new picture does not establish an international release schedule beyond France, and no confirmed release date for other territories was identified in the recent reporting reviewed for this article.

Beckham’s Acting Debut

Forty Love marks Romeo Beckham’s first reported feature-film acting role. Beckham is the son of former footballer David Beckham and designer and former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham.

Before moving into acting, Beckham was publicly associated with football, tennis and fashion modelling. The film therefore represents a move into a new creative field for the 23-year-old, whose public profile has largely been connected to his family, sport and fashion work.

Available reporting identifies Beckham as playing a charismatic new challenger whose arrival affects the competitive and personal life of Kircher’s character. The precise character name assigned to Beckham has not been consistently stated in the recent coverage reviewed.

Kircher Plays Tennis Prospect Sacha Gallo

Kircher plays Sacha Gallo, a young tennis player preparing for a major competition in Paris. Earlier industry reporting described Sacha as a tennis prodigy pursuing major sporting success under the close supervision of his father, who also serves as his coach.

The film’s central premise places sporting ambition alongside an attraction between rivals. Reporting has characterized the project as a queer or LGBTQ+ tennis romance, with the arrival of Beckham’s character threatening both Sacha’s championship ambitions and his established understanding of himself.

The available descriptions do not indicate whether the film is based on real people or events. The story is presented as a fictional drama situated within elite tennis.

Cast and Creative Team

Forty Love is directed by Pierre-Ange Carlotti, a fashion photographer making his feature-film directing debut. Studiocanal is handling global sales and is distributing the film in France.

The principal cast includes Kircher, Beckham, Guillaume Canet and Benjamin Voisin. Catherine Deneuve is also listed among the cast in industry coverage of the project.

Kircher is known internationally for his work in French cinema, including The Animal Kingdom. Canet and Voisin are also established French performers, while Deneuve is one of the country’s most internationally recognized actors.

The film’s production status has been described as post-production in recent coverage. No trailer or complete public synopsis was identified in the sources reviewed.

Release Plans

Studiocanal has scheduled Forty Love for release in French cinemas on November 25, 2026. AlloCiné lists the same date for the film’s French theatrical release.

The distributor’s involvement means that international sales are being managed by a company with an established global film operation. However, the sources reviewed do not provide confirmed dates for releases in the United Kingdom, United States or other international markets.

The newly published image arrives less than three months before the planned French opening and gives audiences a further look at the pairing at the center of the film. Beyond the image and the announced cast and release date, further details about the film’s marketing campaign and international distribution remain unconfirmed.

Frontman Caleb Followill was working on new music last spring and about to join his bandmates on a European tour when he broke his foot playing with his kids one night before bed.

“I thought I was in better shape than I was and so I was going to hurdle the couch to make the epic tag,” he says, laughing. Instead, he got a foot caught in the couch, stumbled and went down. “It was a gnarly, gnarly break.”

Followill was upset, feeling he was letting everyone down. After a few days of wallowing in self-pity, he picked up a guitar. What came out surprised him: It was stripped bare, like the music that he and his drummer brother Nathan had written before there was a four-time Grammy Award-winning Kings of Leon.

So out went the four or five electric-leaning songs that he and the band had been exploring. In quickly came a clutch of new stripped-down tunes, more melancholic than bombastic, about gratitude and family. The 13-track album is called “O My Beloved” and it's out Nov. 6.

“The songs just took on a different meaning, and so all the songs that we had been working on, they no longer were as attractive to me,” says Caleb Followill. “I feel like just the whole temperature changed around us. And we realized that we’re going to make something a little more significant.”

What did the rest of the band think? They had to change course, too, after all. “I’m happy with the direction,” says Nathan Followill. “I think it might be my kids' favorite record.”

The first single is a scene of domestic bliss

The first single, “My Whole World,” out Thursday, is a perfect taste of the way the band was now leaning. It poured out of Caleb Followill after the whole tag accident.

While he and bandmates — brothers Nathan and Jared and cousin Matthew Followill — called off their European tour, and Caleb's family was preparing for a cruise, he was glancing at their countdown on the wall when these words came out: “29 days 'till our ship comes in/We’ll be together again.”

“My Whole World” is a scene of domestic bliss — with references to “peanut butter pie” and a “pin oak tree” and tossing a football around while babies coo. “I’m grateful / Each day for / My whole world,” he sings. A video for the single features old home footage of the boys growing up — Christmas mornings, goofing around and swimming holes.

Caleb Followill says he was nervous to debut the acoustic-led song to the other guys, in part because he didn't normally play his guitar that way and because the lyrics made him emotional.

“I wasn’t in control of it. The words were just coming out,” he says. He thought of his mom dying and all the feelings he had put aside as a busy dad and rock and roller for the past quarter century.

“We have already surpassed anything we ever imagined we could do and we’ve built something that’s so beautiful,” he says. “So, as opposed to having a 25-year anniversary where we kind of put out the greatest hits or something, I thought, wouldn’t it be beautiful to make an album that is looking back on all of the things that we’ve done and appreciating how we got here?”

Bassist Jared Followill says the band was free to explore this new direction since the new album would be the first time they would be producing themselves.

“The songs just really started to pile up one after another and it became apparent that there could be something there and let’s just dive in,” he says. “No hesitation from us.”

‘O My Beloved’ includes song inspired by childhood

One album highlight is the joyful, laid-back “KOYSAR” for “Kick Off Your Shoes and Run,” in which Caleb Followill uses his childhood memories of romping around with his siblings to inspire his own kids.

“Kick off your shoes and run/Don’t let them turn you away/Your life is better when/You have something to say,” he sings.

“All I could picture was our childhood, running through sprinklers and my kids and those little simple moments,” he says. “You’re always trying to teach your kids something, and I feel the best way to do that is through your experience and through the mistakes that you’ve made and how you’ve gotten to where you are.”

On “Such a Pretty Thing,” he writes tenderly about a high school sweetheart, singing, “I like to lay in the light of the moon/And think about the summer that I had with you.”

“That was the kind of songs that we wanted to write, and then we started the band and kind of went a different direction. But on this album, I feel like we kind of got back to that,” says Caleb Followill. “We finally got to do it on album 10.”

The title track is unconventional, too. It's a musical interlude that has the title on it, a tiny, lo-fi slice of Caleb Followill singing and playing captured on a smartphone in the wet and cold outside the band's Nashville studio with the sound of a train rumbling by.

“It turned out really, really cool and so we kept it,” says Jared Followill.